Pieces of the Puzzle

I looked in on Angel's sleeping form and stared at him intently as a one would at a brother- so to speak. I know that I don't sound much like the boy that first introduced himself to you at the beginning of the story, but it is me: Alucard Tate, in the flesh. So many things have happened to us since we left our homeland its unreal. Sometimes, I find myself thinking of going home to my parents and leaving the team and my friends behind, but I always opt to stay and help as best I can. Besides, didn't China say something about Angel finally defeating our true nemesis? I honestly hope so.

Given the fact that this all started on Ty's birthday, it was pretty cool to have been invited to travel around the world defeating team after team and working steadily in the direction each of us wanted to go in. each of us had something we liked to keep top priority in our lives, and some of us (namely Angel) chose to keep some things hidden altogether. Of course, I didn't mind, and Nick said it was probably for the best anyway until the captain of Shadow was ready to talk. Apparently, that explanation wasn't enough for Tyko or Alixhi- they wanted the truth or they wanted out.

Oh yeah, real cute; Ty walk out on me and the tournament when we were about to literately storm the world with our skills as beybladers. Somehow, I felt that there was nothing in the world that could stop us, until the day that Angel's stepfather showed up on the Guerilla's doorstep with his mother- who, might I add, was heavy with child at the time.

"Please," she had said in Russian (Ty translated for me afterward). "I need to see my son." Lord Robert led her and her husband to the room where our fallen teammate lay in rest and showed them into the heavily guarded suite. "Angelion, my sweet baby, please wake up. Mama's here, darling." Angelion? So that was his real name! And here I thought it was Angelus or some other form of that particular name.

"Let him rest, sweetheart. There's not much we can do for him right now, so we might as well talk to the next best thing to our son." The man had said. Wait a minute! He said 'our son' not your son. This guy really went to lengths to be a father to Angel, didn't he? "Why don't his friends and Voltaire tell us what happened two days ago and let Angel get some well needed rest. Heck they might even have a few questions that we can answer."

I just stared at them the whole time and didn't leave the room until Voltaire came and said it was time to go tot dinner. Confused, dazed, and nearly out of my mind with worry, I was led to my room where I sat in the darkness for a few moments before I let the sleep that I had been fighting overthrow my consious mind and passed out. It was about ten in the morning when Lewis came and woke me for breakfast. That's when I realized that skipping supper was never a good a idea- especially if you were me.

I never really did get the chance to tell you how or why my rivalry with Tyko started, did I? Nope, didn't think so. Why don't I just tell you now. It all started when we were in fifth grade. I had been transferred to that grade from grade four because I was considered too smart for that age group. I met up with the gang as we always did after school at the BMX park on Central Main Street. Ty was trying out for the 8th Annual Intercity Compitition and, for once, it was something we had a common interest in besides beyblading.

I had just finished my moves when he was up next, busting moves that no one in our group even knew he had and stole my victory right from under me. When he was done, he held out his hand and said:

"No hard feelings?" I slapped his hand away and we were walking on thin ice ever since until we realized our true feelings a half a year before the World Beyblading Championships. The move he busted and won the compitition with was something he liked to call the 'Neck-breaker'. He really could have broken his neck too if his timing had been off by a mere split second.

I walked down to the kicthens and asked if I could possible have some extra items on my breakfast plate, Sheri said I could and I sat down by the window and stared out at the scenery of the castle grounds. Something I saw gave me a jolt and I almost bolted out and into he rose garden by the fountains. It was probably a shadow of the past that I had seen. There was no way that Angel could have woken up during the night and left the confindes of the huge manor... right?

"Sheri, has Angel gotten up yet?"

"Not that I know of, Master Tate. Though my shift only started forty minutes ago, so I guess he could have." She replied as she handed me my meal. I gulped it down and ran out to the gardens after thanking the cooks.

"Angel?" I breathed as I stumbled into the maze of hedges and toward the fountains. And that was exactly where I had found him, too. Laying on his back on one of the finely carved benches, his eyes were closed as he basked inthe late morning sunlight. "Hey dude, how are you?" He sighed, but otherwise was silent. "Do you want to talk?"

"You could have left." He said finally. "In fact you had well over enough chances to do so. Why didn't you?" I was surprised.

"So." I answered truthfully. "Is there something wrong with being around you?"

"Alucard, I've hidden secrets, shied away from my past because I was scared, and I put you all in grave danger."

"And your point is...what exactly?"

"I just thought that with all that's been going on you and Tyko would have been the first to leave me to the wolves."

"Sit up and shove over, Angel." He did and I sat beside him. "Listen to me good because I'm only saying this once. When I pledged my alliance to you in the begining of this trip, I knew that nothing would ever be the same again because you were such an unusual guy with unusual ways. Besides, what good would it do to leave now when we're all so damn close tot he victory we all want to achieve? We have a tournament to win and you have a daring counter-half who's going to need you by his side pretty soon." He laughed as I mentioned Nikki. A slight blush covered his cheeks and I knew then that my guess had been right the whole time.

"You, my dear firend, are absolutely right. I have people who care about me- love me even. I have a little sister on the way. I'm leading this team to the finals of this Championship if it kills me, and I'm not giving up just because I've finally put that miserable excuse for a biological father in his final resting place so nothing is going to stop me from getting my goal." It was my turn to laugh as he rambled on about various things. "I'm rambling, aren't I?"

"Yeah, but it's nice to hear the real you for a change and not that carbon copy of an ideal adult we were all use to."

"Carbon copy adult?"

"Yeah, it was like you had no real time for fun because all you did was work and train."

"Really? Well then, I guess I have to get you five to take me out on the town then don't I?"

An hour or so later we were sitting in the game room when one of the serving women came running up to Angel and the gang. Her face was pale and her breathing ragged as she stammered out the words that we were all waiting to hear. "Master Angel, your mother... she's having the baby now!"

"Holy shitake mushrooms! Come on, guys, my sister's here!" I heard Nikki mutter something that sounded very much like: "I'm never that happy to see China, what's so special about sister's anyway?". But I didn't say anything back to him as we ran into Angel's mother's room. Three angonizing hours later, we witnessed the very disgusting yet wonderful birth of Abigail a.k.a. Abby Rodriqueze. Angel held her as he named her and started singing to her the Russian version of Hush Little Baby.

Hehe, at least I finally got it posted!