Greetings my loyal readers! Sorry this is taking so long. I've got a plot in mind but I've struggling to put it down on paper (or prehaps I should say screen).
At the moment, the others are having lunch, so I can ask this question before they come after me with sickles. I need to know who you think Hikaru should end up with at the end of the book, Tsubasa or Hyoma. The plot sorta varies around who you pick, so choose wisely. Currently Tsubasa is winning so if you guys want Hyoma and Hikaru together vote fast. Any reviews that aren't flames are welcomed!
A quick notifier, my new OC will debut in the next chapter. I've got a name for him already.
Okay, that's it from me. Enjoy the chapter!
The Light and Darkness Chronicles
Chapter Fifteen - Loss
Hyoma only got two hours of extra sleep. He got dressed and put some food out for Hokuto before the white dog could complain about lack of meals around here. Thankfully he and the bey spirits were asleep. Hikaru kept on groaning and turning over, halfway between sleeping and waking.
"I'm just going out Hikaru" he told her, pulling his coat on "There's food for the two of you in the fridge if you want it." Hikaru just rolled over and mumbled something. Taking that as a sign she had heard, Hyoma went outside.
Turning off the path, he headed up to the top of the cliff on the edge of the forest where he liked to be at sunrise or sunset. Looking down upon the sleeping village, he mused how strange it was to be sharing his house with someone. He hadn't done that since…
His breath caught in his throat and he angrily wiped tears for his eyes with the sleeve of his coat.
'Stop it!' he told it 'Just stop it!' But the memory was too real to push away.
"Do you seriously need that many sweets?" A man with dark brown hair folded his arms as a ten-year-old Hyoma proceeded to take a whole armful of sweets and chocolate out of a kitchen cupboard.
"Of course Dad!" Hyoma insisted matter-of-factly "It's a whole weekend in the mountains!"
"Sweets contain sugar, useful for energy" a lilac-haired woman pointed out. Hyoma gave his mother a 'thank you' smile. At least one person backed him up.
"Aren't you on my side?" his Dad protested.
"Nope" his Mum took the sweets and dropped them into a rucksack Hyoma had been packing.
"You can never take too many sweets on a mountain trip" Hyoma pointed out. His Dad lunged forwards and tried to tickle him. Squealing, Hyoma took a step back and almost tripped over a coil of rope on the floor. His Dad then left the room to find a sleeping bag.
"Let's hope it doesn't rain, eh?" his Mum smiled, giving him a hug "Are you sure you'll be okay without us Hyoma?"
"Yep" Hyoma pulled away and nodded his head "I'll be fine on my own."
'I didn't mean forever' Hyoma thought, swiping thin air as if he was swiping the memory away 'Mum, Dad, why did it have to happen?'
"Someone looks a little down." Hyoma jumped and spun round to see who had snuck up on him. He exhaled when he realised it was only a very surprised Tsubasa.
"No need to disembowel me, I just came to say hi" he said, warding off the angry glint in Hyoma's purple eyes. Tsubasa walked to the top of the slope and stood in line with Hyoma "You're acting jumpy."
"Nightmares for three weeks in a row tend to do that" Hyoma replied bluntly.
"Not to the point you give a death glare to the first person you hear" Tsubasa pointed out "What were you thinking about?" Hyoma didn't answer "Come on."
"I doubt you'll understand" Hyoma sighed.
"Try me" Tsubasa looked at him with expectant golden-brown eyes. Hyoma gave a long sigh.
"My parents" he answered finally.
"Ah" Tsubasa turned to face the rising sun, his silver hair looking like it was ablaze in the red light of the dawn "By the tone of your voice I can tell they died a while back, right?" Hyoma swallowed.
"That would be correct" he nodded, avoiding eye-contact.
"Thought so" Tsubasa said "You were wearing the same look Yu says I do." Hyoma blinked.
"Are you…?" he began.
"An orphan, yeah" Tsubasa nodded "Not need for apologies, I'm use to it by now." He gave a long sigh "I was fourteen. My Ottosan was an archaeologist, always interested in artefacts and stuff. With no Okkosan or siblings, I spent a lot of time alone when he was away from Hanako Village. That's why I made friends with Eagle I guess. It gave me something to talk to. Anyway, I was at home one day and I was told the ruins my Ottosan were in had collapsed, none of the team had survived. That's when I moved to the city." Hyoma just nodded, his eyes on the rising sun
"I guess Ginga was right, we do have a lot more in common than we think" he said. There was another small silence.
"You were great friends with Ginga at one point, weren't you?" Tsubasa asked.
"Still are, I hope" Hyoma answered "He was the first friend I ever had, except maybe Hokuto." A smile worked its way to his face as he recalled a memory of the past "He was always watching out for me back then. When we were seven, Uncle Ryo set up a waterslide thingy in the back garden. I got too much momentum and smashed into a tree. Ginga carried me on his back all the way home." He sighed "He's sort of the brother I never had."
"Well, now you guys have finished with your 'Who Do You Think You Are?' moment."
Both boys turned around to see Hikaru walking up the hill towards them. Tsubasa blinked. She wasn't wearing her usual attire. She was wearing the outfit she supported when she had been a beyblader. Not to mention she looked generally tired, frustrated and grumpy.
"You're awake" Hyoma commented.
"And grumbling" Hikaru sniffed; there were bags under her blue eyes "Do you have any coffee?" Tsubasa started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Hyoma raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry, I should've told you" Tsubasa laughed "Coffee is very important in the mornings for Hikaru. Trust me, if she doesn't get it, things can turn really ugly!" Hyoma joined in the laughter. Hikaru just scowled.
"Alright, I'll see if we have any left over" The lilac-haired boy walked back down the hill, followed by his companions. He wasn't a big fan of coffee himself, he preferred tea, but he might have some left over from the last time Ginga visited.
"By the way Hikaru, how did you know where to find us?" He asked "Did Hokuto tell you?"
"That lazy lug is still asleep" Hikaru snorted "He wouldn't wake up if there was an earthquake going on!"
"Then how?" Hyoma repeated. Hikaru smiled.
"Let's just say a little birdie told me" she smiled "Or should I say, a little peacock-wielder told me."
Ten minutes later, the coffee had been found and breakfast had been made. Hokuto was eating, again, Aries was still asleep in his beyblade and Eagle had gone hunting. With the family jungle under control, the humans were now about to have some bacon and eggs.
"This is really good Hyoma!" Hikaru smiled at him, swallowing some bacon "I didn't know you could cook."
"I just picked up a few things here and there" he shrugged. He gulped as he felt his cheeks enflame 'Stop blushing you idiot! She's not interested in you! Get over it! She looks like cute when she smiles… No! Enough! Stop staring at her like that! Bad Hyoma!'
After he had finished mentally berating himself, Hyoma realised Tsubasa was looking at him with an unreadable expression. Muttering something about a sunburn, Hyoma tried to hide his blush by taking a sip of coffee.
"So, where do we go from here?" Hikaru asked. The boys blinked "This Hanako Village. What do it have to do with Hyoma's nightmares?"
"Good question" Hyoma agreed "I've never been there before. I'd never even heard of the place until Tsubasa mentioned it last night."
"Well, what do we know about it?" Hikaru asked. All gazes settled upon Tsubasa. He set down his mug and looked thoughtful for a few seconds.
"It's a bit like Koma Village actually, a sacred village cut off from the outside world" he explained "I can get in, being from Hanako Village myself. Hyoma probably could too, being from Koma. But Hikaru…" He trailed off, looking at the only female at the residence.
"If they don't let me in, I'll jolly well give them a piece of my mind!" Hikaru growled. The boys stared at each other with shocked and surprised expressions. Tsubasa then sighed.
"I'll just say you're my cousin or something" he said "Hopefully we'll get in without bumping into anyone."
"Is Hanako Village guarded like Koma?" Hokuto leapt up onto the table.
"Yes, but not in the same way as Koma Village" Tsubasa replied "I think we should go there. We might uncover something whilst we're there. Plus I've always wanted to visit the village again. I haven't seen it in years."
"Sounds like a plan" Hyoma nodded "But, we'll need somewhere to stay whilst we're there. And probably someone with knowledge of local myths and legends." Tsubasa paused for a few seconds, staring into space. Then his eyes widened.
"Don't worry. I think I know just the person."