Ruby: Hey you guys! I'm back to "Haunted by Darkness". I was so surprised by the appreciation this fic has received… THIRTY reviews for one chap! That's a new record for me! Thank you very much, guys!
Ray: As thanks, Ruby would like to give Kai-shaped cookies to the following readers:
A dragon's crystal, kitty, Tntiggris, essenceofthedark, Kurai Eymru, UlTiMaTe KaI LuVa, Rena Kon, Prozacfairy, Yume no Anime, freya kurenai, KyokiXKurama, jak'idiot, animeobsession, Hikaru-Fan, keisan, Kiko Cat, Jen Sweden, Echo in the Dark, Yumi-Ulrich4ever, Nights Child, Tru Seramath, M.S.K., Amethyst Tiger Tears (lovely name), Reis1gurl, Little-Purple-Phoenix (kawaii name!), Daughter of Helba, Evil Rubber Duck (lol your name is pure genius!), JaCk0492, Sign of Wish, and Cat Girl.
Enjoy! They're REALLY yummy!
Kai: And now, she WILL continue the fic. (glares at Ruby) Won't you, little sister?
Ruby: (sweatdrop) Sure, sure! ' Whatever Kai says. Ray, sweetie, disclaimer, please!
Ray: Sure. Ruby-chan doesn't own Beyblade or any of its characters. She just borrows them. Kai's mine…
Kai: And Ray is totally mine. So back off.
Ruby: Well, let's go. We'll start in… 3… 2… 1… Let it RIP!
Dedicatory: This chapter is dedicated to MingMing, whose birthday was last week (Happy Birthday, Ming2! ) and to my dear Linne-Linne . You guys are awesome! Now enjoy!
Haunted by Darkness
Chapter 2
"I try… to go on like it never happened… I try to forget… but I just can't..."
"I pray to be vanquished of this nightmare… but… that's something my past will not allow.."
"Ray! Stop! It's me!"
Kai placed his hands on either sides of Ray's head and forced the neko-jin to look at him straight in the eyes. "Ray!"
Ray gasped when he found himself staring into startled crimson orbs, belonging to none other than his team captain. In return, Kai widened his own eyes when Ray threw his arms around his neck, whimpering in fear. The neko was shaking like there was no tomorrow.
"Ray, what's wrong?" he whispered and wrapped his arms around the other boy's light frame. Ray burst into sobs.
"Kai, please, don't let him get me…" Ray pleaded desperately. "Please don't leave me alone!"
Kai's eyes widened once more. "Get you? What are you talking about?"
"Kai, he wants to kill me!"
...
"Ok… now settle down."
The boys had ended up in Kai's room, for Kai didn't think it was a good idea to return Ray to his room at the moment. Kai made the tiger sit on his bed and placed a thick warm blanket over the Chinese boy's shoulders. Ray shuddered as he pulled the fabric to wrap closer around his body.
"Thank you…" he whispered. He then shut his eyes tightly as a roll of thunder crashed down.
"I'll get you something warm to calm you down." Kai said, getting up. He was already halfway out the doorway when he turned to look back at Ray. The other teen looked anxious. Kai sighed and ran a hand through his slate bangs. "I'll be right back. Stay here."
Reluctantly, the Chinese neko-jin nodded, so Kai left for the kitchen. Ray found himself all alone again. He now pulled the blanket almost completely over him as his eyes darted from corner to corner, looking for something out of place. Apparently, the storm had no plans of letting up for tonight.
And that's when it happened. Ray gasped in dismay when the lights started to flicker, until they shut down completely. He was left in consuming darkness. The only light now came from the bolts of lightning that fell relentlessly outside.
"Kai?" Ray called out nervously, hoping from an immediate answer. But there was none.
Around him, the shadows moved in ghastly intricate patterns, and seemed to close in on him. His eyes widened in despair and he raised his voice. "KAI? Please answer me!"
But nobody came. Ray shivered when the strange sounds invaded his ears once more. He could hear voices… whispers… blood… death… Ray sprung to his feet, attempting to shake off the noises and shadows. But the shadows followed him, and the voices came from his head. He could see vivid images in his mind. And he could hear that voice… that bone-chilling voice…
Rei was paralyzed in fear. He was drenched in his mother's blood, and a crimson pool was forming around her body and his. The little neko shivered as he looked up to see a cloaked figure stalking towards him with a crimson knife held high. A lightning bolt crashed down, illuminating everything enough for Rei to notice the mad grin on the figure's face.
"Rei… you're next."
"Ahhhh!"
Back in the dark kitchen, Kai almost jumped up three feet in the air when he heard the scream. He dropped whatever it was he had in his hands with a shatter, and raced among the shadows back to his room. He was starting to get scared.
"What's… what's going on?"
With his heart stuck in his throat, Kai burst through his door to find a wide-eyed Ray with his hands to his head. His pupils were reduced to a mere dot and his breathing was labored. He was shaking from head to toe and cold sweat bathed him completely. The look on his face was one of pure terror. Kai jumped when Ray started to toss around.
"No! Get away! Stop it!" he screamed, vigorously shaking his head from side to side. Kai grabbed his arms trying to make him stop, but Ray wouldn't settle down. The younger boy was now crying as he pleaded for whatever it was that was hurting him to stop.
"God, please…" Kai muttered. Mustering his strength, he semi-tackled Ray onto the floor and held him down. Ray struggled, but Kai managed to pin his hands over his head.
"Ray… RAY!"
The neko gasped as he snapped out of his daze. Still panting and crying, the Chinese tiger looked up and came face to face with crimson pools once more.
"K-Kai?" he half sobbed. His voice sounded terribly broken and frightened. Kai nodded and let go of Ray's hands. Yet he let out a surprised yelp when Ray clung to him, pulling him down onto himself.
"Ray?" Kai gasped.
"Oh my God, Kai! I'm so sorry!" Ray cried.
Kai pulled them up to a sitting position and then wrapped his arms around Ray's trembling body in a comforting embrace.
"Sh… Ray… It's ok." he hushed the neko in the gentlest tone he could muster. Comforting people was not something he did often. Hell, he had never comforted anyone else in his life! But this case was different and, for some reason, he was scared shitless for Ray. "It's okay… I'm here now. Nothing's gonna happen. Nobody's gonna hurt you."
Ray lost himself in the tight embrace and spilled everything… Absolutely everything.
"It haunts me, Kai. I can't get it out of my head…" he whispered, as if afraid someone other than Kai might hear his shaken voice. "It's there, in the darkness. I close my eyes, and it's there. And every time it's worse than the last. It all seems so vivid… so real… I can feel my mother's blood spilling over me…"
Kai widened his eyes in horror as he took in everything Ray was saying.
"I hear their screams… my father in pain… my agonizing mother… I hear his icy voice… He stalks toward me… his knife covered in blood…"
"Sh… say no more…" Kai put his fingers to Ray's lips. He was completely taken aback. This was a side of Ray he didn't know. But then again, he doubted it was something Ray was willing to share.
"He's back, Kai. He's gonna kill me… Kai, he's gonna kill me." Ray repeated and closied his eyes tightly. Kai shushed him and rubbed his back soothingly. "I'm so scared…"
To Be Continued…
Ruby: Well, that's done… for now. (smile)
Kai: Quite short, don't you think? (raises eyebrow)
Ruby: Maybe. But I had to update. What with my new job… and about to start my senior year in school, I barely have time to update… And my Spanish fics have been slightly neglected...
Ray, Max and Tyson: (come in throwing confetti and streamers) Congratulations, Ruby-chan!
Kai and Ruby: 0-0 What the?
Ray: it's been a year and a month since you first started writing fanfiction!
Max: And that's a reason to celebrate! (giggle)
Tyson: Yeah, congrats!
Ruby: (blushes while laughing sheepishly) Wow. Thanks, you guys. I had totally forgotten about that. So yep, it's my first anniversary here at fanfiction. Yay! Lol I never thought I'd make it this far… and I owe it all to you guys, Thank you very much!
Well, I gotta go. DT 2 is waiting for me! So, until next chapter!
XOXO
Ruby Hiwatari aka Neko Phoenix Girl