Land of Beasts
I Own No Beyblade
Chapter 3: Surround and Avoid
Kai opened his eyes much later in the day. Someone placed a hand to his forehead and they sighed. He felt cold, wet and sick. He looked over to the person sitting beside him and was surprised to see Dranzer. She smiled at him and then placed a damp cloth on his forehead. Kai closed his eyes and listened to the sounds around him. He could hear Rei and Drigger talking a ways away. There was a rustle of leaves nearby and birds singing in the trees. Kai slowly drifted back to sleep, the noises becoming quieter and quieter.
Dranzer sat beside Kai for a while, keeping check on his temperature and condition. She changed the cloth again and ran her fingers along the side of his face. She stopped at his chin, then slowly pulled her hand back. Dranzer could tell that Kai was still much to cold, and she really hated how he was shivering so badly. Her fingers began to glow with red heat and she carefully placed touched them to Kai's neck. When she pulled away, there was a small, red hot mark on Kai's pale skin. It slowly faded away, as his body absorbed the heat.
"We found you collapsed on the ground near a large cave. When we couldn't find Kai anywhere near, we went to look for him as well. We found him passed out by a small fire he had made, but he was soaking wet and freezing cold. We took both of you and brought you here, where it would be safe and dry," Drigger explained to Rei.
"Thank you so much. I would've died if you hadn't saved me," Rei said. Drigger brushed a lock of white hair out of his face. His bright green eyes look strait into Rei and Rei could tell he was saying 'you're welcome'.
The two were hunting for some food. Drigger was showing Rei how to handle a spear properly and how to throw one.
"You're holding it wrong again. Tilt the front a little bit upwards. No, that's to high! Rei, just listen to me and don't be so cocky," Drigger growled. Rei sighed and looked to the older boy beside him.
"Hey, Drigger, how come you're a person? I mean, I've always known you as the 'mighty White Tiger'," Rei asked. He stabbed the sharp end of the spear into the ground and rested his chin on the flat end.
Drigger sighed and folded his arms across his chest, preparing for another bombardment of questions, "Well, you see, Rei, this is our world. We can do almost anything and everything here. It is easy to wander around in the form of the beast, but it takes less energy to be a human. We also get to experience the world in another way when we are human."
"Um… please don't find this offensive, but, are you and Dranzer… uh… together?" Rei shifted nervously under Drigger's gaze.
"That is another advantage of being humanoid. The ancient laws say that we must love with our own kind, like a phoenix to a phoenix, or a tiger to a tiger. But many times, one falls in love with one from a different type. Dranzer and I are part of an outcast group that believes the old ways are not the right ways anymore. Of course, we are small in numbers now, but we are still a band. Others like Dragoon and Draciel despise us because we are so rebellious. They still believe that the old ways work for us."
"So… would the others accept us?" Rei questioned, his eyes beginning to shine with hope.
"Yes, they probably wouldn't kill you. But they wouldn't hesitate to harm you if you didn't give our vow to them. I can teach you, but if you run into one who is not part of the rebellion, they will still kill you, despite the vow you say to them. It won't mean anything to them." Drigger spent the next little while making Rei memorize the vow. Then they went back to hunting.
Kai woke up many times over the next three days. He was still quite feverish and only stayed awake for a few minutes at a time. Dranzer always stayed behind to keep an eye on him. One night Rei had come back late from exploring/hunting and had seen Drigger kiss Dranzer, but all he did was smile and chuckle quietly. It almost seemed like everything was going to be okay, but of course, reality won't let that happen.
Rei and Drigger were out hunting and Dranzer was tending to the fire near Kai. She had to keep it at the right temperature so that he wasn't too cold or overheated. Kai coughed and opened his eyes. She smiled at him as he sat up. Kai looked around for a while before his eyes rested on Dranzer.
"Good morning. I hope you're up for good now," Dranzer said sweetly. Kai sighed and rubbed his forehead painfully. He attempted to get up, but Dranzer pushed him back down.
"Stay in bed. You need your rest." She looked him in the eye and Kai nodded weakly. What she did next shocked Kai. Dranzer leaned forwards and kissed his forehead gently in an act of kindness.
Kai was sitting by the fire when Drigger and Rei returned. Rei ran over and patted Kai on the back, congratulating him for getting better. Drigger just said 'hi', though Kai didn't reply. The human-tiger embraced Dranzer in a hug, and she returned it. Rei smiled, physically and mentally.
They moved to a different camp the next day, incase someone, or something, was searching for them. Dranzer and Drigger explained that they were basically outlaws, if they were captured, they would most likely be killed. Kai and Rei asked no more. Drigger secretly noticed how Dranzer would look at Kai. It made him curious, but he never spoke of the issue.
Rei and Drigger would go out hunting everyday, and since Kai was still getting over the fever, he stayed back at camp and helped Dranzer with keeping the fire going and getting ready to make dinner. Life was going well, for everyone but Kai and Rei.
One night, Kai and Rei were lying side by side in a meadow a ways away from the camp. They had gone off on their own to discuss some things that were bothering them.
"It's finally starting to set in that we're not going home…" Rei trailed off as his voice began to choke with tears. Kai changed his gaze from the stars to his friend beside him. He wanted to comfort the neko-jin, but tears were threatening to spill in his eyes. It had been a long time since Kai had felt this sad, distraught. The only time he probably would've come close to this feeling was when Dranzer was taken from him. Rei blinked most of the tears away, but some spilled out onto his tan face. He wiped them away with the back of his hand.
"Sorry, I don't usually get this emotional," Rei laughed, but it was a sad laugh that was only trying to cover his distress.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. We're… alone. And that's how it's gonna be," Kai sighed sadly.
"Alone… but what about Dranzer and Drigger?" Rei asked.
"They're the ones who brought us here. They belong. But us, we're outsiders. We don't belong and we never will," Kai explained, looking back to the sky.
"We don't belong, kinda like you," Rei laughed and playfully punched Kai in the shoulder. It wasn't a rude remark, not meant to be mean. Kai chuckled quietly, but deep down, he was crying.
Drigger sat by the fire with Dranzer. The phoenix had her head resting on his shoulder. They both felt terrible about bringing Kai and Rei here, but it was better than being wiped from existence… like the bitbeasts had.
The human-tiger sighed and rested his head on Dranzer's head. She put an arm around him, to comfort him, and he kissed her. They looked into each others eyes and saw a burning passion. Drigger remembered back to when he had first met Dranzer, when they were very young, for bitbeasts. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and she still was. They had done everything together, never to be separated or torn apart.
And then that terrible day came.
They had woken up to find their home too far away to ever return. They had woken up to find that nothing was the same. They had woken up to find that they could take the form of a beast. They had woken up immortal.
Drigger had his hands clasped in Dranzer's hand. His grip suddenly tightened and Dranzer knew he was thinking about that day. She took her other hand and gently stroked his face with her warm fingers. Drigger calmed down and then patted her hand. He said thanks in his silent way of talking then looked up to the stars. Dranzer followed his gaze and they were both thinking about the humans and what might've happened if they had left them in their world… would they have survived?
Tyson looked up as he heard the door open. He heard Hitoshi slam the door closed and put his jacket on the rack. The older Granger walked into the room and paused to looked down at Tyson. Tyson smiled and gave him an idiotic wave.
"There's still no news on your friends, Tyson. No evidence of anything. They're still looking, but I don't think Kai and/or Rei will ever be found." Hitoshi sighed. He grabbed Tyson's can of pop out of his brothers hand and finished it off.
"Hey!" Tyson cried.
Hitoshi tossed the can back to him, empty, "Thanks."
Still no sign huh? Well, I bet, no I know they'll be back. I know I'll see them again. Just you wait Hitoshi, just you wait Tyson thought as he watched his pessimistic brother walk into the kitchen.
Tyson turned his attention back to the TV It was another News Report on Kai and Rei. There was still no trace of them…
Kai stared aimlessly into the fire. So much had happened over the last few days, it was still sinking in. He was still feeling the pressure of being in another world, not that he missed humans all that much, but the fact that this place was so different. Kai winced as he felt the bruises around his torso from Draciel's claws, a thought occurred to him that Max was just a pawn of Draciel's… but he shook his head at the idea. There were still hundreds, maybe thousands of beasts out there, and only a small handful might protect them. Rei had talked a bit about some vow Drigger had taught him, but Kai hadn't really paid attention. Rei came and sat down beside Kai, the cut on his side from when they had rolled down the hill was scabbed over, but looked painful. Rei managed to put on a smile and poked at the flames with a stick.
"Dranzer and Drigger have to leave today," Rei whispered quietly. Kai looked to Rei questioningly.
"Whenever Drigger and I go hunting, he always looked to the mountain, and, today the two of them are being secretive and pulling away, so that we won't notice them disappear until it's too late." Kai nodded understandingly.
"What are we supposed to do until we happen, by ill fate, to run into them again?" Kai raised an eyebrow.
"Survive, I guess," Rei shrugged, dropping the stick into the fire so that it didn't burn his hands.
"That sounds reasonable to me. Survivor Ultimate. Survive or die, no immunity, truces or rewards. Just plain survival." Kai leaned backwards so he was lying on his back.
They heard the breaking of twigs as Dranzer and Drigger slipped into the forest. Kai cursed under his breath and walked to a nearby tree, breaking off a thick branch which he then broke again over his knee. Kai tossed one half to Rei and then sat down, picking up a rock and preparing himself for the agonizing task of making another spear.
Rei winced as Kai raked his thumb and once more, the line of curses followed. With an almost amused sigh, he shook his head and began sharpening his spear as well. It took some time, not as much time as it had the first time, but now Rei had the task of showing Kai how to throw a spear properly, though Kai wasn't very agreeable.
"Tilt it up a bit more," Rei said.
Kai looked over to him, "I'm holding it how I want to."
"Tilt it up."
"Why?"
Rei growled, "Because that's the only way you're going to learn how to do it properly."
"So? I'll do it how I want."
"Listen to me! I know ho to do this! While you were back here helping Dranzer at camp, Drigger was teaching me how to properly use a spear, and now I'm going to teach you!"
Kai shook his head with a cunning smile, "Great. You learned from Drigger, and I'll teach myself." He then went and sat down on a nearby stump. Rei muttered a few curses under his breath then wandered into the thick undergrowth. Kai snorted and then followed after Rei.
When the Russian caught up, Rei was making his way back towards their first camp with Dranzer and Drigger.
"Where are you headed?" Kai asked.
"Back to where we first 'met' Dragoon," Rei replied calmly.
Kai stopped dead in his tracks, "Are you serious? Draciel and Dragoon will be all over that place looking for us! Because they want to kill us! They'll devour us alive and get drunk on our blood you idiot!"
Rei turned around and glared at Kai, still annoyed at his attitude while Rei had been trying to mentor him, "Well, you haven't been the bravest person here! You've been acting more like a retard! I was the one who rescued you from Draciel! I was the one who fought my way out of Dragoon's fangs! I was the one who went hunting to get you some friekin' meat to cook on the fire like some sort of friekin' girl!"
Kai was taken aback by his friends words, he looked to the ground, "No, Rei… I didn't, I mean… I didn't mean it like… like that."
Alas, Rei was not one to be put off. His grief and anger came spilling out aimed at Kai, "There you go again! Acting like some little kid! Is that it, Kai? Are you just some lost kid trying to find somewhere to fit in, but all you can do is act cool and tag along like some stray mutt?"
"Stray mutt? Stray mutt! I lived in Balcov Abbey for as long as I can remember! In fact, it was so bad that I decided to forget it! I'm doing the best I can to fit in, but it's too hard for me! My grandpa hates me, I don't have any other family and I'm nothing like you, or Max, or Tyson!" Kai yelled in defense.
"So is that it? You're trying to fit in?" Rei sneered coldly, "but guess what, Kai. You fit in more than I do! Everyone always turns to you and looks to you for your silent support! I'm the one always left alone! I'm the one who's always let out of conversations and events! Before they ask me to go to the park or anything, they ask you!"
"That's cause they know you'll go! You're as close to them as a brother! I'm the distant one who no one feels comfortable around! They only reason they turn to me is because I've grown up knowing how to deal with the problems they're facing! I have the experience! That's all!" Kai turned and walked back into the woods, out of sight. As soon as he was gone, Rei fell to his knees and punched the ground with a shaking fist. Tears spilled from his eyes and sobs shook his body.
Rei was now alone.
He waited there, confused, as he relayed what had just happened. Kai was gone. He couldn't go back to the Russian, even if Kai had been a total jackass. No, Rei was now on his own and that was what he was going to have to get used to. With a sad sigh, Rei stood up and, picking up his spear, headed towards Draciel and Dragoon.
Kai stormed back to the camp. He kicked at the dead embers from the old fire. He kicked at the beds that he and Dranzer had made from grass and leaves.
"Why?" he screamed to the surrounding forest, "why am I such a freak?"
Kai ran blindly into the woods. The only thing he carried with him was his spear. He crashed through the thick undergrowth, twigs, sticks and branches cut at his arms as he tried to protect his face.
"There is still no news on the location of world Beyblade stars, Kai Hiwatari and Rei Kon. We ask that if you have any information on where these two boys are call in immediately.
Kai and Rei vanished nearly two weeks ago in a match during the world tournament, which has been postponed until they are found. Investigators have been searching all this time, but little hope is left that they are alive.
Once again, if you have any information, please call this numb-"
"They're alive! They're alive!" Tyson screamed.
"Tyson! Shut! Up! You've been saying that for weeks! Just go prove it! I'm sick of hearing you complain and whine as you just get a potbelly and weigh the couch down!" Hitoshi suddenly screamed from the kitchen. Tyson quickly fell quiet.
Hitoshi had been very moody lately. Yelling at Tyson for no apparent reason, breaking out in anger fits. He had once just started balling his eyes out in the middle of the hallway. Whenever Tyson got to close to figuring out what was wrong, Hitoshi turned around and was furious at him for a day or two. He was gone more and more and never hung around for long. He had just come in a few minutes ago and started washing the dishes.
"Hey," Tyson asked hesitantly, "how's Grandpa?"
Grandpa's age had finally caught up with him and the old man was having serious trouble staying in motion, all his training had finally taken its toll on him. It turned out he was a diabetic, and his lungs were half full with dirt and grime. Unfortunately, Grandpa was now confined to the hospital, and Tyson hadn't been able to visit because Hitoshi wouldn't drive him and the hospital was all the way across town.
"Fine." Hitoshi didn't bother adding any emotion at all, Tyson could tell he was struggling to keep from yelling again. There was the sound of water draining down the sink as Hitoshi finished the dishes. The older Granger ('--U'I couldn't remember their Japanese last name) walked into the living room and turned to Tyson.
"I'm leaving for a while, and I don't expect to be back for a while. See ya," he turned and walked out.
"Make sure to bring some more food!" Tyson called after him.
Tyson wandered around the house for some time. It seemed so empty. He traced his fingers over the familiar boards in the training hall, and he laughed as the memories leapt off the wood and called out to him.
"Come'on lil' dude! How'd you ek'spect to succeed without your whole mind?"
"But Gwampaa! It's too hawd!" a young Tyson complained.
"Nonsense! I know you can do it, dog! Just believe in your sweet moves and practice, practice, practice!" Grandpa patted Tyson on the shoulder.
"Wes, Gwandpa. But… I miss Mommy and Daddy and Hitothi. It's bowing here wif-out dem!" Tyson wiped away some tears from his big eyes.
"Aw! Don't worry lil' man! You and me'll do jus' fine in our new crib!"
"But I's too bwig for a cwib!" Tyson cried out in alarm.
Tyson sighed sadly and walked along in silence. He cautiously wandered outside and threw some bread crumbs to the cod in the pond Grandpa had built. Everything here shouted out with the essence of the old man. It made Tyson feel so calm, though this wasn't the best of times to not feel any worry or sorrow. Tyson looked up at the sky and lifted his arms to the clouds.
"Please!" he begged, "please change my life back to normal! Bring Kai, Rei, Grandpa and Hitoshi back to me! I feel so lonely without them!"
Tyson really was alone. Hilary was off visiting relatives, Daichi was back home. (Wherever that is) Kenny was with Max in America, with Judy, and no one wanted to hang out with him, because there was some suspicion he was the reason Kai and Rei had vanished.
Tyson looked down to his beyblade. Slowly he touched the bit chip to his forehead, "Dragoon, I'm begging you. Please bring Kai and Rei back. Please help my Grandpa get better and please let me figure out what's wrong with Hitoshi."
There was no reply.
Tyson walked inside and a few minutes later, the sound of a television could be heard from inside the 'crib'.
Awww, poor Tyson. I guess I had to throw in some angst because everything is chaos in both worlds… doesn't really seem like that where Kai and Rei are, but hopefully it'll start to make some sense. Thanks for the reviews and please review some more! I have a vague idea of where this story is going, so please bear with me. R&R please and thank you! Bi!
Demenior