DISCLAIMER: Of course, as I've said before and will say again for as long as it takes, I do not own Beyblade or any of the characters I am using other than my originals and their possessions, including the songs. DO NOT COPY.

Note: I am SO, so, SO sorry for keeping you all. I haven't had enough time to start this new chapter (and think up good ideas to keep it alive), so for all of you who bear with me, I am grateful. And if you see anyone copying my hard-worked ideas and getting my hard-earned rewards, please tell me and I will be more than happy to punish them.

Chapter VI… Family Wise

The electric lamp shining on Lily's death-black hair formed a thin halo of shine, which put the idea in your mind of an angel of death. Kai had no idea what she was about to tell her, but those markings on her face meant something. He never saw them before, back in high school. Sure, she was pale as ever, and that was probably the make-up that washed off now. Even still, she never liked him touching her face. Ever.

Lily sighed so long it seemed like forever, and then she began to speak, "It all started when I was thirteen, before I met you. I don't remember much, but I do remember sneaking over to a friend's house and playing beyblades or watching the tournament. My parents were strict about 'those possessed toys' that people so obsessed over. I was one of the brainwashed people, another face in the crowd, with my familiars as hired hands of the flock. They didn't know how much I loved the game, or how far I would go to get my way and play with those 'possessed' tops." Lily hunched her shoulders and emitted a small growl. "I hated the way they banished them from my life. It was as if I was being exorcised!"

"Beyblades were a part of your life, too." Kai said in a low voice, as if someone else might be eavesdropping on them.

Lily nodded. "Yes, and just like most others, they engulfed my life. I loved Beyblades, inside and out. Couldn't get enough of them. And finally, after a few months, he came."

Kai's had a puzzled look on his face, and Lily didn't have to turn around to see it. She knew already. "When I say he, I mean my brother. Well, technically, he wasn't my brother then, but he promised me a life away from my parents who despised what I loved. He took me in, took me away from everything else, but I could at least be somewhere that no one gave me dirty looks for what I loved to do the most…"

"Lily, excuse me for interrupting, but what is his name?" Kai asked, leaning forward a bit so that he could talk even softer. He didn't know precisely why he was doing it, but he felt the need to get closer to her, as if something bad was going to happen.

"His name is Sanguinex, or rather, Blot." Lily replied without hesitation.

Kai's blood ran cold. Blot? Wasn't his team the one that attacked his own on the subway…? Lily was that… monster's sister?

"You're probably wondering how he could be my brother," Lily said with a hidden smirk. "Right? I've known you for so long I can read you like a book without even looking at you." She sighed and looked out past the door. "Well, I joined his 'cult' he had, and met everyone he knew to be a sibling. Howling, Zomb, and Cairo. I remember how I felt when I first met them all… But, oddly enough, it was my beyblading friend who introduced us…"

Flashback…

"Lily, there's someone I want you to meet!" Lily's friend Jaida exclaimed as Lily walked through the front door.

Surprised at the greeting Jaida had given her, Lily nodded and followed her best friend back outside.

"You packed a lot of clothes, right?" Jaida asked. Her pale blue eyes contrasted with her flaming red hair that curled to no end. Lily was always envious of Jaida's beautiful, bouncing hair compared to her own black, flat mane. But there was no conflict between them; each was envious of the other and told each other about it. So in the end, there was no war to be settled.

Lily nodded and shouldered her pack. "Yup. All here."

Jaida nodded and grinned, her freckles sparkling. "Good, 'cause you're never going back home."

These words were a shock to Lily, but she took it as sarcastic fun and dismissed it.

Jaida led her to the heart of their hometown, eventually hitting the abandoned Building 18. Once a veteran's hospital, it was currently occupied by roaches, spiders, and anything else that bothered to live there. Most of these creepy-crawlers were already alive and kicking while the hospital was running. Across from Building 18 was the prestigious and expensive veterans hospital with the same curriculum, showing the principle that the grass is greener on the other side.

Creeped out by the sound of bats, rats, and pigeons causing a small ruckus on the few floors of the hospital, she quickened her pace and stayed closer to Jaida. Jaida then quickened her own pace and so did Lily. Soon they were both flying up rickety stairs and stomping down on the floor, causing a racket throughout the whole building. Suddenly Jaida stopped and Lily bumped into her friend, almost toppling them both.

"Hey, what's with—" Lily started, but Jaida turned and gave her the meanest glare Lily had ever seen, both ever and on her friend's face. Scared, she recoiled and fell silent.

Jaida turned back to the darkness and switched off the flashlight. Little moonlight filtered in through the dirty window on the other side of the broken room.

"Master Sanguinex, I have brought her." Jaida called out into the room. Her voice echoed deeply, and reached farther out into the building.

"Hell no!" Lily hissed at Jaida. "You're not bringing me into some dumbass freaky cult, girlfriend! I'm leaving!" Lily turned to the door, but found a dark shape blocking it. Then something touched her shoulder, something cold and clammy…

Yelping and backing from the coldness, she felt a pair of huge hands grip her arms. She tried to get out, kicking and screaming. Then the clammy hand came up again and touched her face. Lily, terrified, stopped struggling and dared not to breath. All muscles tensed.

"She is a beautiful flower; you have done well, Jaida." A male voice said from in front of her. The owner of the clammy hand!

Now she dared to speak; "Jaida, what's going on? What the hell is this? Jaida, ANSWER ME!" She again fought and the clammy hand released her, only so that the huge pair of hands behind her could push her against the wall; she was totally pinned. She wasn't going anywhere.

"So the beautiful flower becomes a vicious snake—"

"JAIDA!!" Lily screamed, kicking against the wall. Her fear turned into anger, and finally hate that would last into a long grudge against her former best friend.

The same clammy hand wrapped itself around Lily's thin neck. "You will speak when spoken to!" The voice hissed.

"Why the hell should I?" Lily roared, oblivious to the hand that could suffocate her. The hand then tightened around Lily's neck, and she began to see stars. She didn't even bother grabbing the hand; she knew what to do. Falling limp and giving in, all hands released her and she fell to the floor, catching herself on hands and knees. She spat out a piece of mucus that had caught up in her throat and tried standing up. Her knees failed her and she fell forward, ending up in the arms of the same clammy hands.

Panic and fear would have overtaken her, but the care in which those hands caught her was astounding. The male voice spoke softly, "I would never dare touch the face of a flower," He started. "You came wanting freedom, right?" Lily could barely believe what she was hearing, after all that he had done! But, lulled into a sense of security, she accepted it.

Lily nodded, slowly. She was feeling calm, almost dizzy.

"Good," said the voice. He let go and Lily staggered to stand straight. "You will join my team. I can give you everything you want, as long as you follow us." Lily's head wasn't so fuzzy anymore and she heard what he said perfectly. Looking into the darkness, she nodded.

A dim light flickered on and she could see the faces of her captors. They were an odd bunch, especially the boy in front of her. He had such pale skin…

Jaida sat in the corner, shaking and terrified. Lily's face burned with anger as she turned her way. "Jaida, I'm going to—" Lily started as she began Jaida's way, but the pale boy stopped her. He shook his head.

"Your friends saved you," Lily snarled. She turned to the boy. "So what now?"

"We leave for home," he told her. He let go of her arm and walked away. Everyone else walked off, including Jaida, who nervously stepped around Lily. She followed.

Lily followed wherever they went, even down manholes and across thin pipes. When they finally found their destination, the pale boy turned to Lily.

"You keep up well. Keep that pace here and we'll get along fine," he said. He turned to the building and pushed open the door…

…End Flashback

"So, he took care of me," Lily continued, "and I became part of the family. I was Sister Therin of our clan, but to the rest of the world, I was known as Lily. So as I trained and practiced with my beloved beyblade, my power and fame grew. Then I pursued a career in music when I had found my natural voice. I did not leave my brothers, they are still in my heart."

Kai had a hard time drinking this all in. She was part of that creepy band of supernatural brothers? The thought was too stupefying; he didn't even have time for chills. He just watched her back, eyes wide and mouth slowly agape. Lily couldn't turn to him. The water had washed off most of the makeup that kept her from looking as white as a sheet. Kai's mind was blank as well.

He finally knew what to do. Slowly, he edged over to Lily's side and tried to look into her face. She turned her head, not allowing him to view this "ugly" part of her. A pained look crossed his face. "Lily," He said softly.

"I… I don't want you to see me like this…" She told him.

Kai put an arm around her. "Lily, I really could care less what you look like," He said firmly, "Pale, tan, or dark, it doesn't matter to me."

Lily felt something touch her heart. She could barely breathe; the tears pushed at her eyes so hard she thought she might've had to gouge her eyes out with her nails. She grinned and chuckled, "Kai, you're so sweet." She leaned on him and sniffed back tears. She could smell his musty cologne that she remembered from years ago…

"You don't need to be ashamed of yourself," Kai told her as he stroked her death-black hair. "You know I've known you for a long time. I would never judge you by the way you look."

"Kai, that's enough." She said smiling. Kai smiled down at her and held her closer. He then let go so they could have the chance to cuddle up with their Electric Reindeer and flannel blanket.

Lily chuckled as she looked around, slowly buzzing from the wine (she wasn't very good at holding her drink…). "This reminds me…" She said slowly, very slowly…

I'm sorry to finish here, but it's very, very late, people. I (sometimes) have a life to live. Look for me in the next chapter!