Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or any of its characters.
Beyblade
Broken Down Ghost House
By: Plushie-Sensei
Chapter 10: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Hilary stood on the nearly destroyed porch with tears in her eyes. The dragon continued to beat the phoenix senselessly, while the phoenix retorted with equally powerful attacks. It was difficult to watch such a sight; former best friends' spirits waging war against one another for no apparent reason. Hilary drew back into the building collapsing against a wall. She pulled her knees up to her chest feeling absolutely helpless. There really was nothing she could do for them. All she could do was weep as her heart ached...
Kenny leaned down observing Max's hollow body with a sick feeling in his stomach. He mentally thanked his short stature seeing as though he was too small to carry any of his friends.
"It's going to be a little difficult to carry both back..." Robert whined, already carrying Tyson's body on his back.
"Well, this'll only happen once, so just deal with it for now." Robert glared at him as Kenny helped him get the blond on his back as well.
The final chest was in sight, and soon Rei would save whom he cared for. He leaned on the chest, breathing heavily as he raised his hand with the last key. The key fit easily within the lock, but Rei stopped. His vision was blurring and his body began to feel numb in various places for brief flashes of time. His heart began to beat quicker suddenly afraid. He knew he was about to die, and more and more he became terrified.
"I don't want to die..."
The phoenix slowed its attack, backing down. Its eyes grew wild with uncontrollable rage as it clumsily thrashed around, knocking over trees and small portions of the house. Miss Mary suddenly gripped her chest tightly, releasing the chimera to the forest.
"He's unlocking the chest!" she gasped out. She fell to her knees, shaking her head frantically at her disappearing limbs. "I'll stop you, you little beast..." she spat, disappearing through the roof.
Kai's body lay motionless, his back bloody with the stab wound he'd received from Mary. His skin was pale, lifeless and cold, void of any emotion. A strange thing happened then. Kai's fingers began to very slowly move. They steadily formed a weak fist and a small heart beat sounded against the hardwood floor.
Rei twisted the key, tears slipping down his face as he gripped his chest until his whole hand became white. The fear of dying made him sob as he fell off the chest, allowing the top to pop open and souls were released into the darkened room. Rei could barely make out the hundreds of lights dancing around, and winced when a forceful pressure was added to his neck. He found himself being dragged off the floor and suspended in the air. He opened his eyes seeing a very angry, dying woman.
"You've ruined everything!" she screamed. "And now, I will ruin you-"
"Go ahead..." Mary paused, glaring at him. "I've won... I've saved them and there's... nothing you can do about it..." Miss Mary's face cringed with anger and in a flash she screamed out, her hand flying forward, followed by a sickening snap.
Hilary pulled her head up, hearing an odd noise, and gasped in surprise as Kai's body began to move. She made a motion to help him, but stopped hearing Kenny and Robert returning with Tyson and Max's bodies.
"Kenny, Kai's still alive!" she yelled, pointing to the moving corpse. Kenny made a face.
"That's impossible! His spirit is outside fighting things as we speak!"
"Oh yeah?" she challenged and Kenny turned yelping in fright as Kai began to pick himself up.
"Holy-" A loud, thunderous crash blew open the whole front wall as the phoenix rushed in screeching in pain. Hilary watched with fright, but snapped toward Kai with a whine as he began to speak.
"Come back... You belong to me... and I'm not about to let you go... just yet..." he whispered. The phoenix's body sparked with flames for several minutes, trying to regain control, but was suddenly sucked away, and headed straight for Kai's body. Kai yelled out in pain as the soul filled his being with life once more. His wounds began to close; leaving small marks where once had been great openings. The flash of fire blinded everyone in the area, but faded soon. Kenny looked up with widened eyes to see Kai standing up observing his hands with a frightened look in his eyes. Kai slowly lowered his hands and looked up, his eyes full of life and spirit, along with a hint of confusion. "What... happened?"
"Oh my gawd, you live!" he heard Hilary sigh. He turned and gave her an odd look as she hugged him. Soon, though she released him and Kenny and Robert joined them with Tyson and Max.
"How did you come back?" Robert asked, intrigued. Kai gave him a confused look, then suddenly looked frightened again.
"Where are their spirits?" he asked. His answer was a horrifying screech from the chimera as it blasted through the room, currently being attacked by the dragon. "Oh..."
"We have to stop them!" Hilary yelled, grabbing Kai's arm. He watched her for a moment before turning to the two 'dead' bladers on the floor.
"You have to try to wake them up..." he said quietly. Hilary turned to Tyson's body and immediately fell at his side, shaking him and calling his name. Kenny proceeded to help Max in the same manner.
"Please, wake up! Tyson!" she sobbed, shaking him with as much force as she could. Kai turned to the dragon, hope shining in his eyes as the dragon began to act confused. The chimera thrashed around with the same stupidity as well, signaling that it was working.
"Keep it up," he said lightly.
"Tyson, if you don't wake up this second!" Hilary yelled and suddenly, the dragon screeched and the flashes of lights returned.
"Come on, Max! You've almost got it!" Kenny urged, watching the blonde's hand fist itself. Hilary stopped her shaking as she backed up, watching Tyson pull himself off the floor. The dragon faded into a blinding light as well as the chimera, and the room erupted with wind and water droplets, making it difficult to breath.
Miss Mary turned to the empty chest, crying dry tears as she looked inside it. She turned toward Rei's still body with a glare.
"You ruined everything!" she yelled, and soon began to gag. Blood spilled from her face, leaking from her eye sockets and mouth by the gallon. Soon, she was emptied of her blood and half of her skeleton form fell into the chest, along with various internal organs. Her blood slowly flooded toward Rei's body, stopping just short of his own, smeared across the floor. Rei's face paled considerably as the life slowly left him, but he found enough strength to open his eyes and stare up at the turning ceiling.
"Oh no..." Rei's eyes moved to the side, his head following afterward. A young woman covered in a soft welcoming light kneeled beside him, placing a warm hand on his face. Rei leaned into the touch, wanting desperately to leave his aching body. "Rei, you mustn't give up! You need to live!" Rei looked to the side, seeing a tall man beside her. He still couldn't recognize her though she sounded so familiar...
"You've helped us so much..." the man said. "Please try to hang on..." Rei shook his head slowly, a smile forming on his bloody lips.
"I can't... I don't want to..." he whispered. The woman placed a hand over her aching heart.
"You have to try..." she said brokenly. Rei shook his head once again.
"No..."
"So..." Rei turned to the man again, eyeing him as he spoke. "You're just going to give up? You're just going to leave your friends?"
"Yes..." The woman grabbed his shoulders, anger clear in her voice.
"And what about Kai!" she yelled. She backed up at the look in Rei's eyes. Tears began to slip down his cheeks as his brow rose in sorrow. "Yes... Think about what you're doing Rei. I know it hurts, but you have to try..." Rei choked on a sob as his heartbeat began to quicken.
"Hold on, they're coming," the man said, placing a hand on Rei's stomach. Rei closed his eyes tightly, the pain ripping through him like knives. He wanted so desperately to just let go, but these people were right. He didn't have the right to leave. He began to sob even more as his heart rate quickened steadily.
Kai raced through the hallway with almost blinding speed, ignoring the various souls trying to find the exit. Fear crept up his spine with every step he took as he turned into another hallway. He slid to a stop upon the vision of a door opened to reveal nothing but blackness. He paled at the dying sounds from within and rushed forward.
"Hang on, Rei... I'm almost there..." Kai gulped.
The woman stepped back, covering her ears at the sight of such a dear friend dying in agony.
"Madeline!" the man called. The woman shook her head backing up, then stopped, turning to find Kai in the doorway, his eyes dilated with fright.
"Hurry!" she yelled, snapping Kai back to reality. Kai rushed forward, taking the man's place at Rei's side. The man rose to his feat, holding the woman close to him as they watched.
"Rei..." Kai muttered, staring at Rei as his body racked with sobs. Kai carefully lifted Rei's head into his arm. "Rei, look at me," he said, trying to suppress his aching heart. Rei began to calm his thrashing, but his breathing continued to come in short gasps of air.
"No... I can't... no more... I don't want-"
"Rei, stop it! I'm right here! It's me! It's Kai! I'm right here!" Rei shook his head, weakly flailing about.
"Let me go!" Rei yelled, continuing to fidget restlessly. Kai pulled the boy into his arms, holding him tightly. Rei's fidgeting began to stop.
"Never..." Kai growled, squeezing Rei's body. Rei's eyes opened to look over Kai's shoulder. Madeline and the man were watching him with soft eyes, but looking fearful. "You can make it, Rei... You've done it before..." Rei's eyes softened.
"I can't... do it again..."
"Why not!" Rei flinched at the forceful tone in Kai's voice. The numb feelings in his legs and arms began to settle in and the pain was slowly going away.
"You have to let me go..." Rei mumbled, closing his eyes again. Kai pulled away looking at Rei's face as he became more and more peaceful.
"I said no!" he yelled, shaking him. Rei opened his eyes again, a cocky, yet weak smile in place.
"I finally have the nerve to say it... Kai..." Kai blinked in confusion.
"What... Say what?" he asked, his voice cracking. Rei forced a small chuckle from his throat.
"I hated... that stupid collar..." Kai felt his heart sink in his chest. "Oh and... one more... thing..." Rei's speech was beginning to slur.
"What...?" Rei raised a hand onto his stomach and with a bit of struggling, was able to raise his hand to Kai's trembling face.
"I... love you..." Kai's body froze as his face became neutral; void of any expression. Rei's hand shook for a second as it slowly slipped off of Kai's cheek. Kai could feel the cold sick smear of blood across his painted face, his lip trembling as Rei's eyes softened and dulled. Kai's hand on Rei's chest shook for a second then abruptly stopped. He could no longer feel Rei's heart beat.
Madeline turned to the man beside her and sobbed against his chest, an utter feeling of defeat heavy on both their astral shoulders.
"We can no longer stay here..." he whispered. Their souls began to slowly fade into the nothingness of the room, dimming it to its former blackness. Kai pulled himself up into a sitting position watching Rei's body with a pain in his chest.
"What... do you think you're doing...?" he said, anger taking over his entire being. "You'd better wake up right now..." he hissed, a small spark of flame lighting the room once again. "I said... get up!" he yelled, the fire erupting into every inch of the small room. Miss Mary's body completely disintegrated within the flames, leaving no trace of her existence. "Get up!" Kai yelled again, fiery feathers surrounding him.
He drew in a breath to yell again, but stopped as Rei began to whimper in pain. Kai looked up taking notice of the soft feathers around him and drew himself together with a determined expression.
"I'm not letting you go! Not again! I need you with me, Rei! Don't leave me by myself!" Kai crushed Rei's body against his, trapping the emerging spirit inside. Slowly, the fire licked at Rei's body, burning away the mars and bruises as it did so. Rei's eyes opened to reveal a flash of light as his spirit danced within him, unable to find a stationary point to hold on to.
"It hurts!" he yelped, his hands rising to grip onto Kai's shirt.
"I know... I know it does, but bear with me, Rei. You can pull through. I need you to pull through for me!" Kai soothed, holding Rei as close as possible. The flames began to disperse as they reached the peak of their action. With a final yell, Rei's eyes focused into their familiar golden radiance and his skin shone with life. Rei gripped Kai's shoulders with a deathly hold, bruising the skin as Kai held steadfast. Soon, the light faded and Rei's body went limp. Kai fell forward panting for lost breath on Rei's beating chest.
He pulled his head up to look at Rei's trembling face, smiling softly as the neko-jin tried to catch his breath. He placed a trembling hand on Rei's untouched face and stroked it softly. Rei's eyes began to open, a flash of golden meeting with the tired crimson of Kai's own orbs.
"Kai... I'm sorry... I almost..." Rei discontinued as Kai weakly pulled himself forward and gently kissed his lips. Rei shut his eyes tightly, his body still too weak to really move.
"I love you, Rei... So much..." Rei grabbed Kai's shirt as Kai lifted him up and into his arms. He held Rei as the boy softly sobbed.
It was finally over...
oOoOoOoOoOo
Kai released a soft sigh as the wind gently played with his silvery bangs and long dark coat. He stood on the rim of a boat, watching the crystal blue waters clash beneath him.
"There you are!" Kai looked up in surprise and turned to see Rei pouting at him a few feet away. Kai watched as the boy walked up in a huff, his long white sleeves and tunic flaps fluttering gently in the cool ocean breeze. Rei turned to Kai pushing his long raven braid behind him. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You promised to show me the dolphins on shore!" he whined. Kai gazed at him for a while, before smiling softly and placing a gloved hand on Rei's cheek. Rei blushed lightly at the action, his anger fading.
"You can see them fine from everywhere, Rei..." he said. Rei blinked with large curious eyes.
"Really? Where?" Rei began to search the sea for the dolphins, but frowned when he could find none. He sighed and slumped against the railing. "They must hate me..." he whined. He felt Kai pull his bangs away from his face and looked up in question. Kai continued to smile at him. "What? What are you smiling for...?" Rei's eyes slid shut as Kai leaned forward, softly capturing his frowning lips in a slow kiss.
Rei's lips curled upward a margin as he opened his mouth, allowing Kai entrance, and wrapped his covered arms around Kai's neck. Kai pulled Rei to him, never wanting to let go again. They soon separated with a content smile on Rei's face.
"What was that for?" he asked, grinning like an idiot. Kai shrugged, playfully rubbing his nose against Rei's, earning a chuckle.
"You know..." he began. Rei looked up, his eyes bright with wonder.
"What?"
"It's not very smart to be spending so much time around water, Rei..." Rei gave him a questioning look, then smiled nervously.
"Oh yeah..." Rei pulled one hand in front of his face, smiling at the tiny sparks that flew across his fingers. "That maybe true, Kai... But..." Kai raised an eyebrow as Rei glared at him. "You promised to show me dolphins, so get to looking for them!" Kai sighed in exasperation, turning away, and releasing Rei from his grip.
"Oh boy..."
"Don't you walk away from me! I want to see dolphins!" Kai raced down the length of the boat with Rei right on his heels, passing by Tyson and Hilary sitting side by side on the dock. The two exchanged sheepish grins as Kai leapt off the boat, Rei inches behind.
"Aw, how cute..." Max sighed, licking the ice cream in his hand as Kai and Rei rushed past him. Kai turned back with a smirk as Rei chased him, enjoying the irritated look on the boy's face. He suddenly stopped, turning his heel on the sandy beach and held out his arms.
"Kai, you idiot!" Rei shrieked as he barreled into him, knocking them both in the water. Rei sat up, gasping for air as he flailed his arms, his outfit completely soaked. "I'm going to..." Rei trailed off as he watched Kai gazing at the setting sun in the distance.
"It's kind of nice to go on a vacation without a bunch of supernatural crap going on..." Rei felt himself smile in agreement.
"Very true..." Rei didn't mind the soaking feeling of water in his pants so much anymore as he leaned against Kai's shoulder, sighing contently as Kai pulled him closer.
"Um... Excuse me?" Both teens quickly pulled apart, acting as though they hadn't done anything and turned back to see a scrawny man standing on the beach. Rei tilted his head in confusion as Kai stood.
"Yes?" he asked, thoroughly annoyed.
"Yes, I have a letter for a... Rei Kon," he said, handing an envelope to Kai. Kai took it, looking it over as it slowly became wet from the water on his hand.
"What's this for...?" he asked, looking up. He paled in fright as the beach was suddenly empty again. "Oh, shi-"
"It's for me, right?" Rei asked, interrupting the older teen's previous thoughts. Kai stood silent as Rei snatched the letter and opened it. "OH MY GAWD!" Kai snapped around just in time to catch Rei as he jumped toward him. Kai carried Rei's trembling body in a bridal fashion with a look of dismay.
"What is it!" he asked. Rei pointed to the piece of paper lying in the sand partly covered. Kai gently placed Rei on the ground and carefully picked up the paper. In huge letters, written with smears of a dark red liquid, "This isn't over..." spilled across the dampened paper.
"She's coming to get us!" Rei yelped, running in circles. Kai turned the paper over and read carefully, smiling softly. Rei continued to race around, until he was swept up back into the bridal fashion within Kai's arms.
"Calm down, Rei."
"But, but, but-"
"It's alright..." Kai said, walking back toward the concrete area of the beach. "I don't think that awful woman will ever bother us again..."
"What makes you so sure?" Rei whined, grabbing Kai's shirt. Kai could only smile.
"Just a feeling..." Rei continued to pout all the way back to the boat as the two left the quiet beach. The small piece of paper blew in the breeze, catching itself in the waves. Upon the back, a comforting phrase slowly washed away in the depths of the sea.
"It's just the beginning... Love, Madeline..."
The End...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I've finally finished! I personally enjoyed writing this and look out, I may make a sequel, which I MAY have already started...
Anyways, I hope you liked it and I do plan on writing this with original characters as a screenplay or something. I may have to change a few things though... Like Rei's gender...
So, yeah, review and make me happy! Goodnight, and pleasant dreams...