NEXUS PART 2

By: Melinda

11/27/05

Her blue eyes scanned the area around her as her heart skipped some as she walked along the pathway with him so close to her. Melinda didn't know what appealed to her the most…the new place that her and her friend Lea found themselves in or the strange male that was guided them along. She wasn't quite sure yet where she was at, except for the fact that it was in fact some different dimension parallel to their own that hosted some tournament called the Battle Nexus. Everything seemed so peaceful as if she was back in time in Feudal times. The air seemed so clear, not a sound of a car or plane nearby. The only thing that could be heard was the distant sound of a waterfall. The sky was a light shade of lavender and pink, which made the place more beautiful to her. Melinda was still a bit scared from the shook that she had when she first arrived here in the Nexus, but soon she found herself to be comforted. Was she truly meant to be here like the strange figured named Kyoji told her and Lea? Mel found herself start to ponder as she started to recall the conversation that they first had….her eyes soften and she frowned.

Earlier that morning, Mel had arrived on the 10am train at Grand Central Station. She was already a nervous wreck for finally seeing her friend after so many months. It seemed like they hardly could see each other throughout the years due to their locations. Lea had got Mel's dream job of finding a career in New York City. For years Mel was dying to try to get a job in the Big Apple, but to no avail, she got a job at a local Insurance corporation of being a computer analyst. She spent her days on the phone with clients, helping them with their numerous computer problems. She felt like such a big nerd inside. She had looked forward to seeing her best friend, who was practically like her sister, the entire year and finally she got the chance. Everything seemed to be going fine until Lea saw the weird charm that was attached to Mel's bag. A charm that Melinda had no recollection of how she obtained it. It just sort of appeared….soon she found just how important that charm was. Her and Lea were met by a weird transparent figure that seemed to have the ability to levitate called the Kyoji. It started to tell them how they were chose to be some sort of witnesses for an upcoming tournament called the Battle Nexus…a tournament they had never heard of. If that wasn't scary enough, they soon found themselves in a weird dimension where the tournament was supposedly held. Melinda bit her lip as she pondered over the day's past events and then remembered what the young male she was walking with had told her…"But that makes no sense, because you see, it reacted to both of your presences, which means it was meant to find you. The both of you must just be special." Melinda's eyes soften and she shyly glanced up at the young male walking with her. He was around his mid twenties in what appeared to be traditional Feudal clothes. He had long flowing hair that was held up in a pony tail with pointy goblin like ears; his eyes were a bright green and he had on some sort of goblin like red mask. Melinda couldn't really see his face, but something about his voice and the way he was looking at her, charmed her. He went by the name of Ve-Sama and claimed to be the Daimyo's son. Supposedly his father, the Daimyo, was the one in charge of holding the Battle Nexus tournament. Melinda's friend, Lea, was still very annoyed on her frustration about not knowing exactly what was going on. Nothing to her was making sense and it wasn't really making all that sense to Mel as well. Ve-Sama had agreed to escort them to his father where he assured them would explain things better.

Soon a structure started to appear. Melinda's eyes went wide as she looked upon it. She stopped in her tracks, Lea did as well. Both of their eyes became wide as they stared at the glorious sight. There ahead of them was a structure shaped like a Feudal Japanese Castle. In front of was a large circular arena and behind it was a huge waterfall. All around it were tiny little shops that looked like an open air market and Feudal homes. "This is our home…" Ve-Sama finally spoke. "Where the tournament is held…"

"It's beautiful…" Lea replied in awe. Mel looked over at her, smiled and nodded. She noticed that Kyoji had continued onto the castle.

"Let us continue." Ve-Sama started to continue on and Melinda followed him, her hand still around his arm. For some reason she liked being this close to him. She hardly knew who this guy was, but she felt strangely drawn to him.

Ve-Sama led them through the giant arena that was in front of the castle. All around the castle were banners with Oriental writing on them. "Soon this place will be filled with others just like yourself to observe the tournament and of course the fighters. After they pass the qualifying rounds, they enter the tournament. Believe me, it is quite a spectacle to see."

"So do you fight?" Melinda asked as she looked up at him.

"No, I help my father with the ceremonies for when I will resume his position when that task is passed onto me…" Ve-Sama's eyes started to linger upwards some as he turned his focus away from Melinda…his voice stopped as if he was deep in thought of something. Then he looked back down at her, eyes appearing as if he was smiling at her. "Would you like to see me compete?"

Melinda felt her face start to blush; she didn't reply back but grew quiet. Ve-Sama moved his arm gently away from her and motioned to the steps that led up to the large Keep of the castle. "My father is expecting you." He motioned for them to follow him up the stairway.

Lea walked up close to her friend's side and glanced over at her as she watched him walk up the stairs to where his father was. "You OKAY sis?" She smirked at Mel teasingly.
Melinda playfully nudged her and started to walk up the stairs with her friend.
Soon later they entered the large Keep of the Castle. There inside Ve-Sama waited with a soft smile, this time his mask was off. Melinda felt her heart skip a beat as she finally saw the man's face from his mask and looked away shyly. She then focused her eyes on the older man in front of her. He was much taller around the height of 7' and also had on Feudal tradition like clothes. His hair was long as well but completely down and it was white…he also had a white beard and mustache as well….his beard blended down with his hair. He also had goblin like ears. His eyes were soft and had a glow by a warm heart. "This is my father, the Daimyo." Ve-Sama motioned to him.
The Daimyo stood up from his throne chair and walked towards them. "It is an honor to finally meet you both…I am glad to have 2 witnesses from the dimension, 3rd Earth, and to be female as well." He bowed to them. Melinda's eyes went wide as he spoke and looked over at Lea, confused on what to do.

Lea looked kind of unsure as well but then returned the Daimyo's soft smile and bowed down back to him. "It is an honor to meet you as well." Melinda bowed quickly as well, hoping not to show any disrespect.

"I bet you 2 have been looking forward to this event for some time." Daimyo spoke as he looked back up at them. Then he noticed their puzzled expressions. "Is something the matter?"

Melinda, still trying to regurgitate what was being said, blurted out, "3rd Earth? You mean we have different dimensions?"

"Why yes of course. There are multiple dimensions…an infinite number. We are in between dimensions." Daimyo replied softly.

"Forgive me for asking…but I am not quite sure WHY we are here though. We had no idea about this place…I really think you got the wrong people…" Lea replied almost kind of sadly.

Daimyo studied her a moment and then glanced over at Kyoji, who was floating nearby. "They had the mark, your highness." Kyoji replied.

"But it wasn't really given to us…" Mel answered sadly. "We sort of stumbled upon it."
"Things happen for a reason…you were chosen for this, however if you do not wish to be part of this tournament, I will not force it on you. I will have the Kyoji return you back home if that is what will suit you." The Daimyo replied, his voice showing no anger at all. It was still soft.

Melinda frowned some as she listened to the Daimyo's words; she glanced over at her friend, who still seemed kind of hesitant on what to answer. Mel then let her eyes linger over at Ve-Sama. The Daimyo caught her glance and looked over at his son and then back at them. He smiled warmly. "Perhaps if you had a little bit more time here…my son would be happy to guide you around our castle and show you where you would be staying if you deem it to be acceptable."

Mel glanced over at her friend. Lea smiled back at her friend and then replied, "We will stay."

"Then it is settled." He motioned for his son to walk over towards them. "I have honored guests arriving soon…some of them arrive for the feast that I have in the Great Hall this evening, while the others arrive tomorrow for the qualifying rounds. Kyoji, when is Miyamoto Usagi and Splinter-san arriving?"

Kyoji floated beside the Daimyo and took out a scroll. His expressionless mask peered down at the scroll. "Miyamoto Usagi of 2nd Earth will arrive this evening for the feast and it looks like Splinter-san will arrive tomorrow for his qualifying match with Zhen."
"Excellent," Daimyo answered and then looked over at his son. "It would be great to see my friend Splinter once again."

Ve-Sama bowed politely to Lea and Melinda. "Allow me to escort you to where you will be staying."

The castle was enormous was countless halls with ancient murals and statues. It seemed almost like they were in Ancient Japan. "This is all too weird, sis…" Melinda giggled as she looked around. "It feels like we went back in time…"

"Maybe we'll get to run into some Samurai or Ninja…" Lea smirked back at her friend.
"So how come everything does look like Ancient Japan?" Melinda asked out loud, towards Ve-Sama.

"Centuries ago, we visited your dimension and influenced your culture so to speak. Course most of the people in your dimension took us to be Tengu." Ve-Sama replied as he continued to walk down the hallway.

Melinda grew puzzled and glanced over at Lea and whispered, "Sis…what's a Tengu?" Afraid to ask in embarrassment for not knowing.

"A goblin…" Lea whispered back and smiled at her friend.

"A lot of what you know of your past culture as you may call it is similar all around us here. I am trained in ninjitsu myself."

Melinda blinked at him. "You're a ninja?"

"Yes. I am training to become one of the best." He paused at a door. "Here is your room." Ve-Sama opened the door to a huge room with 2 double size beds both of the feudal style. The place had a large window with a dark red curtain that draped down in front of it all the way to the floor, which made the room kind of dark.

Both of the girls' eyes went wide as they saw the room.

"This is our room….?" Lea asked.

"Can we afford this?" Melinda commented as well.

"Does it not please you?" Ve-Sama asked them, confused by their reaction.

"No no…it's wonderful. It's just way too much." Lea replied, still in shock.

"As my father and I both stated…it is an honor to have you here. The Kyoji will be here momentarily to help you with new wardrobe."

Lea walked on inside the room and started to make her way over to the window to look out. "I hope that you 2 will attend my father's feast tonight…it would be a great pleasure…and honor to escort you, Melinda…" Ve-Sama's green eyes looked at her.
"H-how did you know my name?" Melinda asked, almost in shocked.

"The Kyoji already had your names registered. You were meant to be here…" Ve-Sama replied coolly.

"Oh…" Melinda turned slightly red and then giggled kind of nervously. "Uh, sure you could…" She started to tense up, growing very shy. She couldn't find the right words to respond to him.

Ve-Sama smiled back at her. "Good. I will see you later this evening…" He took her hand and kissed it lightly before turning swiftly and walking out of the door, leaving Melinda standing there, blinking, confused once again by the day's past events.

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