TEDDO

Chasing Yesterday

By: Lucas McDrake

Chapter 9 - Teddo

"Teddo."

Smiling, I turned to Father, looking up into his warm eyes. "Yes?"

"Do wish to see-" He mouthed a word, his voice lost to my ears. "-again?"

Upon recognizing the word, I remembered the past I'd been trying to forget for the past few years. That word... It burned my heart, and it was so painful.

But I did want to see it again. If only once more...

After a moment of hesitation, I simply asked, "Why?"

"I could give you another chance. I could give you all another chance," Rozen stated. "To-" Again, he was mouthing words, as if he had became mute. After a short pause, he continued, his expression downcast, "I...I made big mistakes, and I didn't have everything under control." Rozen sighed. "I'd like for you and your brothers to start over."

I didn't quite understand what he was saying - but I never completely comprehended his ramblings. "If that is what you wish, Father."

He smiled. "It is exactly what I wish for all of you. You deserve better than what occurred before. You deserve another chance to find the truth."

"Truth?" Perhaps it was another rambling of his. I found I couldn't concentrate hard on things as I could before... There could only be uninterrupted bliss.

"Yes, truth." Father smiled wider, his white teeth showing. "I wish for you all to find the truth... Come with me, Teddo."

"Where are you taking me today?" I asked.

"I'm taking you to...your destiny, perhaps." Oh, his riddles befuddled me so! It was quite irritating, sometimes.

He patted his workshop table, signifying that I should get on top as I occasionally did when he wanted to show me his work. Climbing onto the table, I saw my new brothers. Father had been working on them for quite some time now, and they looked flawless. All four of my new brothers...

"Let me introduce you to your new brothers," Rozen stated, fondly handling the first in the row. "This one - the fourth Rozen Knight - is named Ransu." Placing Ransu back, he lifted the next one. "This one - the fifth Rozen Knight - is Ivon." He repeated the procedure for the last two. "This one, the sixth Rozen Knight, is Yu-Jin. And this one, the seventh Rozen Knight, is Je-Muzu." He straightened the row they made, saying, "I will be sending you and all of your brothers back into the world for another test."

"Another Alice Game?" I asked.

"Yes," he sighed. His smile suddenly flipped into a downcast expression, his eyes losing the abounding life that was normally so natural. "Another Alice Game."

Memories - burning, hateful, accursed memories - flooded through my mind. As soon as one appeared, the next tagged along, making it painful to try and latch onto them. Painful to confiscate them. Each one hurt more than the previous, and finally-

I awoke with a scream, gasping to recover a calm state of mind. It didn't help that I didn't recognize my surroundings - the dark innards of a suitcase, I realized after a few moments.

The last thing I recalled was what occurred in my dream. But was it a dream, or another memory I couldn't quite remember? And where was I now? Trying to remember, I found it hurt. The memories were buried beneath layers of pain... How long was I sleeping? The only things I could remember without biting anguish were vague, broad ideas - my seven brothers. An Alice Game previous to this. I was aware that I had won, and went to see Father again. I was even aware that, according to my nightmare, Father had told me nearly every secret to life. And I even agreed to descend from my position in Rozen's household, though I didn't realize it at the time...

But what was "it"? What was it I had missed, after winning the Alice Game? What could I possibly miss from that world? Bitterness raging within, I re-concluded that the best thing to do at this point was destroy every brother, and collect their Rosa Mystica.

Again, I was reminded of the love we shared. I suddenly recalled how Yuan's eyes had lost their life as I drew his Rosa Mystica from him... I didn't want to have to go through that again.

Shaking my head as if through the action I could rid myself of the memories I did have that I didn't want, I looked around in the dark suitcase. Maybe I should peek outside... Had I already left Rozen's workshop?

Lifting the lid, I observed my surroundings. I was in an alley, the night sky peeking at me from between the rooftops. Very few stars peeked back at me from the dark canvas of the sky, which must have meant I was in a semi-large metropolis.

This was where the previous Alice Game had taken place. Yes, I remembered at least that much. This was nowhere near Rozen's abode.

Recovering from my discovery, I made my suitcase hover in the air, and flew into the night.

Maybe by exploring this city further, I could remember more. If the next Alice Game had already started, I needed to get my bearings, and gain the upper hand. Ugh, it seemed every memory had its mouth clamped on the back of my mind, giving biting pain and just out of reach. I should remember this.

I flew over the tops of buildings - stores. Another memory let go - there was the elementary school. That had some significance in my last life; maybe I could use it as a central point.

Veering to the right - it seemed so natural, like it was a habit - I let my instincts take over. Going to...a house. Yes, that was right.

I pulled to a stop in front of this house. The lights were on! That must have meant... Was "it" in there?

There was a crash from within the house, followed by a scream.

No! Throwing my suitcase to the side as I jumped out, I turned the doorknob and rushed inside.

A bespectacled brunette girl was fainting onto a couch as I charged into the threshold, and a doll bearing a pole was fighting Yuan.

Yuan. So I'd found one of them.

My emotions from before were overridden by a sudden gush of malice, and I found myself smiling evilly at Yuan. I could kill him right here, while he was still trying to fend off a daemonic toy. I could gain a Rosa Mystica, and be that much closer to getting out of here.

Wait. There was a reason I came here... All I could remember was a sense of urgency to protect someone. Everything else was blank. The memories were nipping at the back of my mind again. Those accursed things!

"Teddo!" Yuan was in a defensive position, using both of his swords as guards as the doll pressed the pole downward, when he noticed me. "Help me!"

Brought back to my senses, I summoned my weapon. As soon as I felt the light I called solidifying in my palm to form a club, I clutched it and rushed the doll. Light trailed behind my club, making it appear as if glitter was slipping off its surface.

As I struck the doll, it naturally bounded back somewhat, but it was otherwise not perturbed in the slightest. Instead, it took advantage of the slight setback, heading for the girl, who was still strewn across the couch.

I felt so helpless! I remembered that any Rozen Knight was nearly powerless without a medium to draw from...

"Vivi!" Yuan leaped from the floor, lunging for the doll. The girl started to twitch in her unconsciousness slightly; she must have been on the verge of losing all of her energy. Assuming she was Yuan's medium, anyway. Taking note of Yuan's obvious advantage over me, I sprinted headlong for the couch.

The doll fended off Yuan with a single movement of its pole, continuing on its course for the girl.

A memory overtook me - I was seeing something else. Feeling past emotions of a former self. The room was slightly adjusted, and the girl had transformed to a little child, completely helpless. Strewn across the couch. The doll had changed to take the form of Yuan, threatening to harm the girl, the tip of his sword dangling menacingly over her head.

My medium. My medium.

"Elli!" I cried, bashing Yuan to pieces. He wouldn't lay a finger on her. Not if I could help it. Every blow had to count. Finally, Yuan lay on the couch cushion, using his swords as guards, begging for mercy.

But there could be no mercy.

"Teddo. Teddo!"

Suddenly, everything was back in focus. I was in the present. My club hit the cushion one last time - no, wait. It was crushing the white, fluffy remains of the doll.

Did I obliterate it? How so - in my rage? I wasn't even fully focused...

"Teddo. What just happened?" Yuan was the owner of the voice that brought me out of my trance. Turning to him now, I saw that he bore a perplexed expression.

He was asking a question. I realized this, but it was taking me awhile to respond. I felt my eyebrows furrowing as I tried to decipher my thoughts. Already, I'd forgotten what occurred. My memory was letting everything leak through...

"Teddo." Yuan put his hands on my shoulders, shaking me a little.

"I don't know," I simply replied. I wasn't really seeing Yuan right in front of me. Or was I? "I don't know anymore." I found myself shaking my head, wishing for sense to come from reality.

Or for reality to reveal itself.

I have to thank my beta, drifblims, for the input she gave. I, of all people, should know that every fanfic author on the face of the planet has a hard time coming up with an absolutely perfect masterpiece, and is never able to achieve it. And it is the feedback of our readers, our betas, and our friends that help us reach our full potential. Thank you.