Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or any of its characters.

Beyblade

Broken Down Ghost House

By: Plushie-Sensei

Chapter 9: With Me In Spirit

I've been searching inside myself for a reason to live for the longest time now. My family is dead and I am alone in the world. I recently found that I could be close to other people and refer to them as my friends. Sure, I had friends that were similar to me in many ways, but I just couldn't get used to being near people all the time with the longing to be with my parents once again. I had left them and found new friends. I was always finding new friends, and then I met my team, the Blade Breakers. Never before had I felt so close to anyone. I battled with them, ate with them, shared precious moments and thousands of laughs with them, but I was still incomplete. I was still only a small portion of their cycle, and I wanted to be a reason for a cycle instead...

I have a very selfish heart, though at times I find it hard to admit even to myself. I've found that it was my greed and hunger for the feeling of being loved that made my vision so narrow. In reality, I had a home, a special place, and reason for living. I live to fulfill my duty as a precious link in my friends' chain. I have no right to disrupt their chain, just because I wanted to own it. Truth be told, we all owned the chain at sometime. It belonged to Tyson when he won the Beyblade Championship Title. It belonged to Max when he found a new way to lighten the mood and have fun. It belonged to Kenny when he fixed our Beyblades to perfection. It belonged to Hilary when she drilled us just as ruthlessly as Kai would, and made us lunch as a reward. It belonged to Kai when he led us through even the most difficult of challenges. And it belonged to me when someone needed a shoulder to lean on, or a helping hand when in trouble. We all had a portion in this chain, and I see that now.

The only problem now was...

I am dead...

I need a way to get back to them! Which leads me to another problem...

Suddenly, I've forgotten whom I was supposed to get back to...

It seems, though, that the closer I get to them, the more I remember...

I just wish I was faster...

Just when I thought it was hopeless, I find him... I always do...

Kai stood in the hallway, panting slightly from the speed of his earlier running. Just in front of him, the small black and white spirit cat of all his troubles stood on shaking paws, panting even harder. Kai's eyes narrowed at the sight of him. He felt so angry, blaming Rei for abandoning him, even though he had no right to do so.

"Rei." The cat's ear's fell back as his paws drew him forward. The little bat at his side stayed put though she wasn't afraid. She'd met Kai before and he'd even helped her.

"K... Kai... I'm so..."

"Why did you leave with her?" Kai asked, keeping his face devoid of any emotion. Internally it was the toughest battle of his life.

"I... I had no choice-"

"You did have a choice..." Rei looked up, feeling his emotions readying to spill out of him at any moment. "I promised that I'd save you... You didn't give me a chance..."

"Kai, I didn't want you to get hurt! I wanted you leave here forever so nothing would happen to you!"

"But I got hurt anyway!" Rei flinched, stepping back as Kai began to walk forward. "It killed me when you chose to come back here with that bitch and leave me behind." Rei felt his chest tighten as Kai kneeled in front of him and pulled him into his arms in a crushing embrace. "I wanted you with me, Rei. I wanted to save you and return you to your human body myself. I wanted to... embrace you and welcome you back myself..." Rei pressed himself closer to Kai, his body regaining the lost feeling of warmth and compassion.

"I didn't want you to suffer..."

"And look what you did..."

"I'm sorry!" Rei cried, trying to loose himself in Kai's embrace. Madeline watched as her heart melted with happiness. It was only right she gave Rei a favor for such an experience.

"You are Kai?" Kai looked up to see the little bat from before, with a tired smile.

"Yes... and you-"

"I am Madeline, but you needn't worry yourself with names. I want to help you return Rei to his original body." Kai looked suddenly fearful.

"You mean... you know how...?" Madeline nodded. "You... don't know how much that means to me... to Rei..." Madeline nodded again.

"Please, it's the least I can do. Rei's been so kind to me... Now let's hurry. A soul can only last for so long outside of its body. Kai held out his hand allowing the little bat to climb on and up to his shoulder before speeding back down the hallway, Rei's spirit in his safe arms once again. Rei, however, felt a strange sensation pour through him, and opened his eyes to reveal a pair of glowing amber orbs.

"You think you can return so easily...? You're friends shall share your fate..."

Max made his way down the hallway with a frightened look on his face.

"I should've brought a buddy..." he gulped. Suddenly a noise to his right stopped him in his tracks. A bluish light appeared below his feet making him look down in question. Within seconds the light extended and enveloped his entire body.

'Oh no... What... is this...?' Max's eyes dulled and a small orb floated out of his chest containing a tiny turtle creature. Max's lifeless body fell to the ground as the little orb began to grow. It became larger and the entire area filled with a raging emotion of sorrow and frustration; a very tragic feeling. Within a few minutes, the orb burst, and a large reptilian beast emerged with hatred in its eyes that emptied the hall of any spirit that formerly wandered there.

The beast trampled through the hallway, ignoring the dead body beside it and began howling into the atmosphere; an eerie howl that scared even the most grotesque of spirits.

Not too far away, Tyson shared a similar experience, his spirit orb morphing into a ravenous dragon. It tore through the halls, occasionally devouring a careless soul as it passed.

"Two down, one to go... I may as well let them say goodbye..."

Rei felt an overwhelming calm wash over him, although there was a large amount of pain. His head and back felt as though he's been slammed into something. He felt cold and overall uncomfortable. A released a small groan of discontent as he opened his eyes ever so slowly. He felt his head being lifted into someone's embrace and finally, he opened his eyes all the way. The first thing he saw was Kai, smiling down at him with an emotional look in his crimson eyes. He breathed, finding even that task a little difficult.

"Am I...?" he questioned, he voice slow and raspy. He smiled as Kai nodded and pulled up his hand, showing Rei that he had made it. He was alive once again, and back in his original body. Rei smiled sleepily. "Well, I was beginning to give up hope-"

Rei's body froze when he felt a pair of soft lips press against his own. His whole being grew warm and a new feeling stirred in his heart, making his chest hurt. He'd never experienced such a wonderful feeling before.

He lazily closed his eyes and placed a hand on Kai's cheek, shyly parting his lips as Kai's tongue massaged his own. Rei sat up further, deepening the kiss as Kai wrapped an arm around his shoulder, pressing their bodies closer. This was the feeling that Rei had longed for. The feeling of being completely loved by someone, and having the heart to love them back. The feeling of a safety zone within the aura of another. The feeling of belonging to Kai, in any way...

Kai's lips lingered on Rei's for a few precious moments afterward until he reluctantly pulled away, opening his crimson eyes. Rei's amber orbs met with them shining with a happiness Rei had never felt before. Kai pressed his forehead against Rei's knowing that his body was probably extremely sore. Sure enough, Rei closed his eyes and leaned heavily against Kai, seeking some comfort from the possible bruised back and broken ribs. Kai looked up to see Kenny and Robert from a distance, while Hilary looked through papers at the front desk.

Finally... Rei was back within his grasp, and he was ready to finish that horrible woman once and for all...

Suddenly, every door in the area, including the windows, began to open and close with such force that various shutters broke off the hinges and plummeted to the ground.

"I finally have all the pieces I need..." Kai looked up to see Miss Mary hovering in the doorway, her face covered in a thick film of blood. "Join us, Dragon of Wind and Chimera of Water!" The ceiling gave way just as a huge blue dragon dove in, while one of the hallway doors blasted out as a huge dark green chimera trampled through. The dragon landed near Miss Mary and stood strong beside her and the chimera did the same. Hilary watched the dragon with a heavy feeling in her heart, and soon took a few steps forward.

"Tyson...?" The dragon growled warningly as she stepped closer and closer.

"I'd stop if I were you..." Just then, the dragon lashed out, barely missing Hilary's face. She remained where she stood for a moment before falling to her knees and sitting, a feeling of being lost evident on her face. "Now all that's left... is the Phoenix of Fire..." With a wave of her arm, Kai felt something sharp and thick pierce through his body and within seconds he blacked out...

Kai opened his eyes seeing a world of endless blue lights and streaks completely surrounding him. He peered down taking notice that he was floating in midair, the area void of any form of ground or gravity. A strange ooze of red caught his eye, then, and it appeared to be small droplets of blood trickling from his chest. A rather large wound almost covered his chest and there wasn't much shirt to cover it.

He turned, ignoring the wound, as it didn't hurt, and found that he was not alone in this world. As a matter of fact, he could see more than a dozen people some far, some closer. The closest, he noticed, were none other Max and Tyson. Unlike the others and himself, though, they were constricted by thick thorny vines of spiritual energy and appeared to be in pain. Tyson's eyes stood open, the entire eye covered in a dull blue light, as Max's were green. They were the only ones like that, but why, Kai didn't know.

He carefully pushed himself forward, toward Tyson, to try to release him, but stopped as the pain in his chest increased more and more to a point where it was starting to become unbearable. He keeled over, holding his chest, feeling his whole body burn. He opened his eyes gasping at the steadily forming vines over his ankles. He released himself to grab at the vines, but within seconds he was completely constricted and unable to move.

Kai's heart began to pound in his chest making even more blood ooze from his wound, but soon, a numb feeling began to surround him and he limped, feeling nothing but a powerful rage burning deep within him.

Rei slid back across the floor, holding his bleeding chest. He looked up watching with a heavy heart as Kai's body lay limp underneath a fiery phoenix, flapping its wings in anger. Miss Mary smiled in content, snapping her fingers. The phoenix turned her way with angry crimson eyes, glaring intensely at her.

"Come to me and do as I say. Pretty soon, I'll have enough power to make myself live for millions of eons." The phoenix snorted and turned away, looking toward the dragon and chimera in a challenging fashion. The other beasts looked ready to do battle until Miss Mary smacked the dragon's snout. "How dare you disobey me! Phoenix! Come forth now!" The phoenix once again snorted and flapped its wings, crying out. The dragon and chimera suddenly left the lady's side and all three beasts exploded through the ceiling. Miss Mary screamed in frustration and within seconds flew into the air as well, following the ensuing battle between gods.

"Rei!" Rei turned as Hilary ran up to him, asking if he was alright. Rei turned to Kenny.

"Where are they?" Kenny jumped in fright, then quickly looked to his computer.

"They're all above the roof. I think they're fighting one another..." Rei growled and tried to stand, but Hilary stopped him.

"Rei, don't move! You were barely brought back and it looks like you've still got your injuries from your... first death..." Rei carefully pushed her away from him and stood, holding his chest.

"We have to stop them from fighting and find Tyson and Max's bodies." Kenny raised a hand as if in question, then continued.

"I've still got them pin-pointed from the trackers. Robert and I will get them. Together rather than separate, mind you. You never know... what else is out there." Kenny looked white in the face as he said that. Rei nodded, then felt a tug on his pants. He turned backing up in fright, almost knocking over Hilary.

"What the hell is that!" he shrieked, eyeing the corpsy body trying to crawl to him.

"The room... Downstairs..." Rei continued to back up, feeling his stomach lurch.

"Wait a minute... She looks familiar..." Rei turned to Hilary with a disgusted look.

"Oh really...? So you've seen this... corpse... before?" Hilary suddenly gasped in recognition.

"It's Evelyn, the maid! I'm sure of it! Look at... well... what's left of her hair..." Rei grimaced again, before yelping in fright as Evelyn grabbed his ankle.

"Get off of me... please..." Rei whined, trying to shake her.

"Downstairs... room... souls..." Rei looked more willing to listen at the mention of souls.

"What do you mean...?"

"Two trunks... use... six... keys..." Rei's eyes widened at her... struggled... words, as he looked toward Kenny and Robert's retreating forms.

"Wait! Give me those keys!" Kenny and Robert turned and fell over as Rei grabbed the keys and raced off.

"Rei, come back!" Hilary yelled, concern evident in her ruby eyes.

"Too late..." Kenny droned. "He's already down the hallway..."

Miss Mary restrained the chimera within the forest, but found it difficult to restrain the dragon and phoenix. Fire and wind erupted all around her as the two beasts did battle. She almost cried in disappointment at the various wounds marring her beloved souls.

"Stop it! You're killing each other!" They paid no mind as they continued, as forceful as ever. Mary turned to the chimera in her grasp, wincing as it began to break loose. "Stop! I haven't absorbed enough souls for this kind of power!" she yelled, her body starting to die slowly. The moon was approaching its whole way to fast for her own safety. If she didn't absorb those spirits fast, she would parish...

Rei started to slow as he ran. His blood was slowly draining from his tired body and it was getting harder and harder to breath. He knew his body was shutting down, but he had to hold out long enough to save his friends. He'd finally found his link in their chain and had no choice but to try. He could feel his heart beat pitifully as he thought of his nearing end. he seriously doubted he'd make it out alive, again...

Rei finally fell to his knees, taking a short break to catch his breath. He turned to the side as Madeline landed on his bruised shoulder, offering as much comfort as she could. Seeing her animal form gave Rei slight inspiration to continue, so he forced his dying body to stand and continued to walk forward.

"Rei, you don't have to continue! You're going to kill yourself!"

"I have no choice... They're my friends... I own them that much..."

"But, your body will die long before you succeed!"

"Have a little faith in me..." Rei whispered, smiling slightly. Madeline felt tears in her eyes watching him press forward. Soon enough, the door he'd been searching for came into view. Rei's smile widened, but Madeline continued to cry. She fell off his shoulder and watched him struggle the rest of the way. Rei's shaky hands gripped the ring of keys and unlocked the first door. Another door lay beyond, so he repeated the process. Rei stopped after the fourth, feeling his insides shifting into uncomfortable positions. He couldn't- wouldn't give up, until he succeeded, and was able to find the strength to open the final door. With only one key left, Rei trekked forward into the darkened room to unlock the final chest.

TBC...