Chapter 40: Friendship

3 Years Ago

A 14-year old Ricky Blade dressed in a black trench coat, black gloves, white shirt, black belt, black pants and black boots walked into his home. He saw Robert, glaring at him with his arms crossed. "Hey Ricky, how's school today?" He asked sternly.

"Fine." Ricky said softly as he narrows his eyes and put his hands into his pockets.

"Fine?! I got a call from your principal today, saying to me that you beat up three students."

"They attacked me first!" Ricky protested.

"But you don't have to fight them back!!!" Robert yelled. Ricky just narrows his eyes while Robert calmed down and sighed heavily. "Look, I know you miss your mother, but you have to get over it." Robert puts his hand on his shoulder, but Ricky shoves it away.

"No! NEVER! She was a good mother to me and I'll never have another person like her who loves me deeply again!" Ricky yelled. He rushes towards his room and slams the door behind him. Robert looked at Ricky's room door with a sad expression on his face.

The next day, Ricky sat on a dumpster as he lowers his head and shuts his eyes. It's been two years since his mother's death and he still couldn't get over it. His mother was the only family he ever had. He wishes he could have at least one more hug from his mother, but no, that was all gone forever. Things would never be the same and Ricky knew it. Sure Robert was nice to him, but still, he will never get over his mother's death.

Ricky had absolutely no one left in the world.

"Hey, you're that bully from school, right?" A voice said. Ricky turns his head and narrows his eyes as the voice came from a 10-year old Ben Tennyson.

"You skip school again, do you?" Ben asked as he folds his arms calmly.

"Yeah, and you're Ben Tennyson. One of the top students in school, right? What do you care?" Ricky sneered.

"Of course I care. Are you going to bully people and live as a stray, for the rest of your life?" Ben asked. "What's wrong and why are you doing it?"

"What are you? You think because you are smart and rich, you can talk down to me! I have every right to express my rage! I'm the only one who has lost everything, especially my family! So what would you know?!"

"So, you're bullying because you lost your family huh? Now I understand." Ben said sadly as he lowers his head. "And of course I know quite a lot. My cousin Gwen and I lost our parents in a tragic car accident during their vacation in Alaska. So, my grandfather adopted us. Both of my parents died, but Gwen and I still got over it. Because I knew our parents want us to be happy instead of being sad for the rest of our lives."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say that you have to get over your family's death."

Ricky widens his eyes, then look down. "You're right. My mother died trying to protect this country…and me."

Ben smiled and said, "Yeah, and I'm sure your mother doesn't want you to feel sad and depressed after her loss."

"You're right."

"Come on. Let me take you somewhere." Ben smiled as he walks over to Ricky and grabs his arm.

"What?" Ricky said as he climbs down from the dumpster. "I…I don't know."

"Come on! You're the toughest bully in school and you can't even go somewhere with me? Let's go!"

First, they go to a nearby lake where Ricky and Ben both use fishing rods to try to catch some fish. Ricky then felt his fishing rod shaking.

"Hey, I think I caught one." Ricky said He quickly pulls back his fishing rod and he and Ben widen their eyes as they see how big Ricky's fish was.

The two boys look at each other and laughed.

Next, they go to a basketball court and Ben throws the basketball into the net.

"You're good." Ricky said.

"What about you?" Ben asked. Ricky walks to the basketball and picks it smirked as he spins the basketball on the tip of his finger, then throws the ball into the net with his back facing the net.

"Awesome!" Ben yelled.

"Thanks." Ricky smiled.

After a whole day of playing together, Ricky and Ben both sit together on a bench that evening and watch the sunset.

"Ben, I've been thinking about what we did together today and I've come to a sudden realization. You've been a good friend to me." Ricky said as he turns to Ben. "And you have become my first friend since my mother died."

"Thanks." Ben nods his head.

"From now on…" Ricky holds up his hand and smiled. "We only have each other."

Ben smiled as well. "You got it." He grabs Ricky's hand and shakes it.

Flashback Ends

"He was my only best friend. And I can't believe he sacrifice his life to save me while I never did anything for him." Ricky said as a tear rolled down his cheek and splash onto Ben's face.

"Sad. But still, this is life." Soi Fon said in a monotone voice as she holds up her Suzumebachi and points it at Ricky. "And everybody has to experience pain and death. And now, it's your turn to have your life taken away."

Ricky narrows his eyes angrily as he gently places Ben's body on the ground. "No." He said with rage. "It is you who will die first." He grabs his Carsomyr sword and looks at Soi Fon angrily. Soi Fon gasps and widens her eyes in shock as suddenly, Ricky's eyes turn red and his sword ignited with flames. Ricky slowly stood up and the flames on his sword become larger. "I will not let my friend die in vain!"

"What…kind…of power…is this?" Soi Fon said in horror.

"You will pay. You will pay for killing my friend!" Ricky growled. "AND YOU WILL DIE FOR THIS!!!"

He yells angrily as he charges over to Soi Fon while Soi Fon gets ready to defend herself.

END OF CHAPTER

DW64: Stay tune for the concluding part of the fight!