Hello everyone alright so strap in for a long authors note.
So I started this story on my old computer I had my storyline and everything typed up, everything including the first chapter. Well then my old computer died. *Sigh* because of that I lost everything but here is the thing, I had already posted the first chapter so I tried to reconstruct the storyline from memory. Well things happen and the story developed into something that while I LOVE how it is turning out, I am kind of bummed at how far it has strayed from the original Storyline. The reason I know it has strayed? Simple after the last update a friend of mine pulled my old documents and I got the Old storyline back. That is when I noticed the time mistake from Chapter one and the rest of the story. It is a very sloppy mistake on my part and I am super sorry about it so here is my question for you all. Would you like me to go back and correct the laps in chapter one or continue as is and you just overlook the time mistake? Tell me what you think, until then I will just continue with this story as if I never got back the old Timeline. Alright enough of me rambling, on to the story……..right after the disclaimer.
"Speech"
'Thought' in other words look for ',,,,,'
"Speech in other language" in other words look for",,,,,"
Disclaimer: Is Ray the main character? Is there a lot of dark secrets? Is the past amazingly important to the show? No? Well then I don't own it!
"Voltaire I have told you more than once leave him out of this." Voltaire places a hand temptingly on the bars. "And I have told you Shun. Your son is more in this than even you are. There is nothing that can separate him from this now."
His golden eyes split in anger. "Why are you here Voltaire? I am guessing that it wasn't just to taunt me, no matter how much you love doing that." Voltaire stepped aside and Shun had to fight to keep a straight face. "Hello Shun it's been a long time hasn't it?"
"Alexei," Shun hissed anger seething through his teeth. "What in hell are you doing here?" Alexei gave Voltaire a sharp look and the old man smiled. "I'm leaving don't worry." Voltaire said as he was walking away. When Voltaire was far enough away Alexei fished into his pocket pulling out a ring of keys.
"Alexei what are you doing?" Shun hissed at the other man. Alexei unlocks the door and steps into the cell. He knew it was a dangerous move since Shun no doubt still wanted to gut him for what he had done. "Shun hear me out please. I know I have no right to ask anything of you but please just give me a shot." Shun knew it was a bad idea but he sat back closing his eyes. "Thank you br-" "DON'T call me that!" Shun spat his eyes opening in slits.
Alexei nodded twice understanding Shun's hatred of the name. "Understood. Shun, Voltaire plans on taking you to the tournament in China to coach his new team." Shun nodded once he had already been alerted of this. "Your point?" Alexei took a deep breath preparing his plea. "Kagen is on that team." Surprise was apparent on Shun's face as he heard the boy's name but still part of him didn't understand and apparently Alexei saw this and continued. "Shun, he's dying." If Shun wasn't surprised before he sure was now.
"Wh-What are you talking about? He's dying? That can't be he's only fourteen." Alexei nodded once before turning his head away from Shun. There was something he was hiding and Shun intended to find out what it was. "Alexei if you want me to do something to help save Kagen you know I will, but you have to tell me what is wrong."
"I, it, it was all to protect him I swear!" Shun stood despite his muscles protest. "Alexei what did you do to Kagen?" Alexei turned back to face Shun his crimson eyes dark. "I did what my father told me. I separated his mind. I thought if the real him didn't have to put up with my father that it would help him retain who he was but it didn't work. His mind is self destructing because he is fighting with himself for control." Shun's hand curled into a fist as Alexei finished his tale.
"You did what to your own son?" Shun spat hatred seeping into every word. "I thought you were different from your father but apparently I was wrong." Alexei could see his chance slipping away. He had to change Shun's mind before it was to late. "Your right, I am no different from my father. That isn't what I am trying to say though. You are smart, you have background in the medical field and you can save Kagen if you are willing to." Shun knew that Alexei was being honest about one thing, Kagen was in trouble.
"What do you need me to do?" Alexei allowed himself a slight smile before returning to the serious nature of things. "The only way to save Kagen is to fuse his mind back together. If that happens he can focus his strength back on fighting the virus." Shun nodded despite the fact that he had absolutely no idea how he would fuse the boy's mind together. "I know you have no idea what I am talking about but you don't have to. Kagen will trust you, you can convince him it is best for him, and it is, then you will bring him to the local hospital and I'll walk you through what to do, alright?"
Shun walked over to the other man standing on by the door. "Alright let's go then. I am eager to see young Kagen again." Alexei smiled at the neko-jin. Shun might never trust him again but he would never let the boys down. "Thank you Shun, I know you aren't doing this for me but-" Shun held up his hand to silence Alexei.
"Your right I am not doing this for you I am doing this for Izabella. I could never let her children down; unlike you family means something to me" Alexei made no attempt to fight Shun on the issue. He would save his son first, than he would regain his best friend's trust.
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Kagen threw his bag onto the hotel bed. It was going to be a long week of waiting. He was glad to be out of the Abbey for the whole week but there were some problems, the biggest of which being he was unable to get to his Grandfather until the tournament was actually starting.
"Just be patient Kagen, you'll get your shot." Kagen looked back at the redhead that had just entered the room. Tala threw his bag on the other bed before settling in one to one of the armed chairs that sat in the corner. Kagen fell back on the bad behind him, kicking off his shoes as he landed. "Ugh I hate jetlag." Tala nodded tiredly into his arm as he pulled his legs into the chair. "Yeah I know what you mean."
Both teens sat in silence as the thoughts of what they were about to do ran through their mind. "We've been through a lot together haven't we, Tala?" The redhead looked over at the bed, seeing the deep blue eyes staring back at him he smiled slightly. "Yeah we sure have. This is only the beginning though the rest of our journey will really start when we are free of the psycho forever." Kagen nodded before returning his gaze to the ceiling as Tala became interested in the window beside him.
"Tal?" Tala looked back at Kagen. "Yeah?" Kagen looked over at Tala as a smirk covered his face. "I think it's time to give Voltaire a good shake." Tala sat up strait already liking the sound of things. "What did you have in mind Kay?" Kagen swung his legs over the edge of the bed sitting up to face Tala. "Biovolt has a headquarters here in China right?" Tala nodded eager to see where this was heading. "Voltaire wants me to use the dark Phoenix right?" Once again Tala nodded. "Well then maybe it's time we stop in and give Voltaire what he wants."
Confusion was plain on Tala's face as Kagen continued. "You saw how much this thing can do when Kai let it go. What if someone was targeting things inside Biovolt? One blast from Black Dranzer and you have a toasted headquarters and no one is the wiser." Tala stood up a smirk plastered on his face. "I'll grab Wolborg." Kagen smiled at the thought of making everything his Grandfather owned go up in smoke. 'Time to take on Biovolt, I'm coming for you Grandfather. It's time you learn, Kai's not the only one you need to worry about.'
Ray's POV
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"Were almost there Ray." I looked back at the boat driver as he smiled at me. "Thank you." I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts I hadn't seen the land coming into view. I looked behind me only to find that Kai had drifted off to sleep in the long boat ride, or at least he looked asleep.
"Hey Kai, we're almost there time for you to wake up." Kai opened his eyes without a moment hesitation, okay maybe he wasn't asleep. "When we get there I'll have to talk to the elders first. Then maybe I can give you a tour or something."
'If they don't throw us out first.' I thought to myself but still somehow managed to put a smile on my face. Kai narrowed his eyes at me and I wondered why I even tried to hide things anymore. It seemed like now that he was looking he could see past my mask without a moment's hesitation.
Thankfully Kai wasn't ever one to really press too much for answers. "Here we are Rei-son, I hope things work out for you." I looked back at our guide and smiled brightly. "Thank you." We got off the boat and for the first time ever Kai got a real look at my hometown.
I don't even pretend to be an expert in Kai speech but when his eyes widened a little I took it as shock.
"Yeah," I said working off my first reaction. "Most people are surprised when they come here. It's never what anyone expects it to be." My village was beautiful there was no doubt about that. With the surrounding mountains, blooming cherry trees and distant waterfalls it was like nature's garden. Also with no cars or technology to disrupt the delicate balance of nature it was a serine and quite place.
"Let's go and get into the village before it gets dark." I said, Kai nodded his silent agreement and we made our way down the hill. I couldn't help wondering how the village elders would react to Kai. it was a worrying dilemma. If they didn't accept Kai's present a fight would no doubt break out.
"Kai I don't really think I need to say this but if you could let me do all the talking." I said looking back at Kai. "Sure." Kai said shortly as expected. I let myself smile for a second before returning to my thoughts.
I had no idea what I was going to tell the elders or how I was going to convince them that Kai could be trusted but I didn't have a choice in the matter.
We entered the village and the homecoming, I have to admit, was better than I had expected. "Dǎoshī!" A little boy called running up and throwing his arms around me followed by a few other kids. "Hey kid-o how are you all doing? Practicing I would hope?" All the kids smiled at me and nodded. One of the boys looked around me and his eyes widened.
"Dǎoshī, who is that?" The boy asked in wonder. I smiled knowing they were referring to Kai. "This is a friend of mine, his name is Kai." The only little girl in the group pushed her way to the forefront of the pack and hugged me before asking her question.
"Dǎoshī? Does he Beyblade like you?" I smiled at the girl and nodded. "Yeah he does Kai is the captain of the team I am on currently." All the kids turned wide eyes to Kai. "Wow, your Dǎoshī's captain? You must be really reaaaaallly good."
I shook my head before waving my hand. "He is and I expect you to treat him with the same respect you show me understand?" All the kids nodded quickly. "Yes Dǎoshī!" They said enthusiastically. "All right you all, I have to go talk to the elders alright?" The kids took no time in bowing their respects and running off in different directions.
"Dǎoshī?" Kai asked looking at me with a raised eyebrow. "It means Mentor or teacher. I taught most of those kids how to Beyblade and so they call me their Dǎoshī as a sign of respect." Kai nodded and we made our way to the main house that sat in the center of the town.
The guards caught sight of me and one of them entered inside to alert the village elders of my presences. I bowed to the guard that had remained. "Ray you are here to see the elders I suppose?" I nodded once, not willing to speak to the guard. The other guard exited the building and glared slightly at me. "You may enter now." He said his voice slightly bitter. Kai looked over at me for a cue of what to do so I started walking in.
The elders sat in a circle, Lee's grandfather sitting in the middle of the group. "Xiǎo Ray please have a seat so we can talk." I did as I was told and gave Kai a look that told him to do the same.
"Your friend does not speak our language does he?" Lee's Grandfather asked. "No elder, he does not." The elders exchanged a quick glance before turning their attain back to me. "Ray who is your friend?" I took a deep breath; this is where things were going to get tricky.
"He is a teammate of mine; Kai Hiwatari." Well as you can guess that went over like a ton of bricks. "Are you out of your mind Kon! Bringing one of them here!" One of the elders barked at me and I prayed that Kai would keep his word and stay quite.
"No I am not out of my mind. He is my teammate, my captain, and my friend. I would trust him with my life; in fact I have already done so and would gladly do it again." I could see that some of the elders were ready to decapitate me for speaking out against them, but as always the one elder that mattered seemed to be on my side.
"Ray if you truly trust Hiwatari, than I will trust your judgment. Although you know that this is inevitable." I nodded, he didn't need to say it but I knew he would anyways. "You must accept full responsibility for him and that means you get full responsibilities if something goes wrong." One of the elders said with hint of expectation before Lee's grandfather interrupted. "Ray please understand that if something does go wrong all the blame will fall on you."
I closed my eyes and nodded. "I know Kai, he won't betray me. So I accept the terms you have laid out, but because of that I do request that you all treat my friend as you would any other guest to our village." The elders seemed upset by my last request, but I wasn't going to back down on that part of the agreement. "Of course. Kai Hiwatari allow me to be the first to formally welcome you to the White Tiger village. Please enjoy your stay here."
I smiled before standing up and bowing low again. "Thank you elders." I gave Kai a look and he got up and bowed as well. Not saying a word as we left, thank you Kai.
After we had exited the house and got a few steps away Kai said the first thing he had said since we had entered the house. "Ray what did you just accept?" I stopped and looked up at the sky. "What does it matter Kai? You aren't going to betray me. I know you well enough to know that." I felt his crimson eyes narrowing into a glare. "Ray." He said warningly I sighed and looked at him.
"If you betray this village because you couldn't be punished as a member of this village someone has to take the fault. I accepted to take the fault it you betray us and before you ask the punishment for treason is death." I could see Kai was taken aback at this news but I didn't feel like waiting for him to recover.
"Come on Kai. I need to find the White Tigers so I can ask them something . Besides I owe you a grand tour."
Kai's POV
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I don't care if I wouldn't ever betray him! If something where to happen and my Grandfather were to make it look like I had. Death is not something that can be played around with. I knew it was too late to argue him a bought it, still I didn't like it.
As we walked through the village I could hear Ray going on about some of the things around us. I have to admit though I tuned him out for the most part to think. I needed to get something's straight and it seemed like as good a time as any to work them out.
Something wasn't adding up in my head. From everything Ray had ever said about his father I couldn't figure out why he would have ever possible been friends with a man like my own father but that wasn't the only thing.
My grandfather now that I could remember things clearer had always hated Ray's mother, what I couldn't put together is why. Why was it that our dads were best friends yet our families had been worse enemies?
The other thing I had yet to figure out is why in all these years we had know each other, neither of us had ever recognized the other. Yet Kagen had seemed to recognize Ray right off, it made no senses.
"KAI!" I blinked once and looked at the person who had yelled my name. "Hn?" Ray crossed his arms and shook his head at me. "You haven't heard a word I've said have you Kai?" I decided it was most likely safer not to answer that.
It was then I noticed where we were. It was a tiny little house maybe two rooms, it was off the beaten path a little ways but it appeared to be in good shape. "I said welcome to my home. Gezz Kai can you try not to zone out on me?" We walked in the house and I noticed just how small the place really was.
Definitely not a house made for a family. "This isn't where you grew up." I said, it wasn't really a question I mean I knew what the answer was. "The house I grew up in mostly was burned to the ground when I was a little kid. This is where I lived when it was just me and my dad." I had never really asked Ray what had happened to his mother.
All I really knew was that she had died when he was little and that was all he had ever felt like saying. "Ray? Your mom? What happened to her?" He took a breath falling sitting down on the floor in front of what looked like a old fireplace. "She died, in the war." He began playing with the hem of his shirt before continuing with his story. "She was burned up along with my house. It was just another one of the phoenix's examples that they made out of us."
I felt a little bit of guilt at the confession. Ray had stood up for me despite the fact that it was my people that had been responsible for his mother's death. "Ray I'm-" Ray cut me off without a second thought. "Kai there is nothing for you to apologize for. You had nothing to do with what happened in the past."
I knew he was telling the truth but something in me still felt the guilt. "So have you liked the village so far?" Ray asked and once again I found that I had zoned out, I had never done that before. "Hn?"
Ray rolled his eyes before standing up. "I asked how you have liked the town so far?" I nodded before taking another look around the house. It was a main living room that consisted of a small kitchen a fireplace and two pads for seats on the floor and one bedroom, with a bed that didn't look big enough for one person to have stayed in much less two. "It's nice." I said not really sure of what I was referring to, it definitely wasn't the house.
"Well this is where we'll be staying for a few days while we wait for the tournament to start up. Um, you can take the bed. I can get a sleeping mat from Lee so don't worry about that. I feel like there was something else I needed to tell you." I looked back at Ray and waited.
"Oh yeah, if you can try not to say your last name much around here or anything that ties you to the phoenix clan. I know the elders promised you would be treated like anyone else but something tells me that if someone were to decide to do something, the elders wouldn't do much about it."
I nodded once before figuring it was as safe a time as any to ask. "Ready to finish your story?"
Normal POV
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"Everything is in place sir." Voltaire spun in his chair to face the person who had spoken. "Everything?" The man smiled a wicked light in his red eyes. "Yes sir, everything. All the way down to your two grandson's are where they need to be." Voltaire nodded once before narrowing his eyes. "What about the other one?" The man pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to the older man.
"When he finds out the truth, he will be willing to do the dirty work for us. That much I can guarantee you." Voltaire smiled at the man as another man with purple hair walked in. "Boris, Leonid, go get our guest of honor. It's time to put the final piece of this puzzle in place." Leonid let his pleasure at the idea become visible.
"Then we get to watch it all fall apart." Voltaire looked over his two most loyal servants. "The best part of this plan is no matter who wins I'll be the one coming out on top."
A/N
Alright Chapter 13 is UP!
So I am giving you all a lot to think about when you review this chapter, first off the stuff at the top and second off this.
In the upcoming chapters I am debating killing off a Hiwatari. I want your opinion should I kill off one of the Hiwatari guys or not and NO I will not tell you which one. Tell me in your review what you want and if no one answers then I will have to go ahead with my current plan, which you may or may not like.
Suzanne: tehe sorry you didn't get a real answer to what happened to Ray's dad, of course if you couldn't tell he is going to be back in soon. Hope you liked that new chapter and thanks for reviewing.
Mimi 007: I agree without secrets stories get boring and then you just want it to end. I am glad you don't think the grammar is that bad (I am trying to get better about it) But like you pointed out it is hard to catch your own mistakes. About not getting on with Invincible don't worry about it I completely understand, thanks for reading Meltdown though it really does make me feel good to know it is interesting.
Chaseha-Wing: Sorry you didn't get your happy reunion in this chapter, maybe the next chapter or maybe not Hahaha, sorry psycho outburst. Anyways about your question no it is not going to turn into Yaoi. It is going to remain what it is. (Invincible is my Yaoi story, so yeah) Thanks though for always reviewing
Ice cold wolf: Thank you very much for your complement and I understand about being lazy I have been in getting this chapter up. (Sorry everyone) and here is your update
Racerabbit: *smiles* thank you very much for the complement! And trust me I will not abandon this story. I already have the end plotted out and am eager to see peoples reaction to the ending. *smiles evilly* Also I must thank you for all your reviews on my other stories and your input about "Heavenly Flames"
My Own Demise: Ahhh What took you so long to review huh? Ya know you could keep your mouth SHUT about how I write brother but at least you PM me the other stuff. You are getting really close and I must admit I am kind of surprised that you are getting it so close.
Love you all and Sorry this took so long to get up