Chapter 12:
Read Between the Lines Part 2

"Hey Ray, what are those things hanging from the door?" Tyson meant to ask however, due to the half-eaten food that occupied his mouth, his words came out jumbled, garbled mess. Bits of food mush fell on his shirt which he brushed away with barely a glance. He shoved another rice dumpling into his mouth as Ray turned around, walking backward to give Tyson a confused glance. "Those things." Tyson lifted his arm and pointed at the shop doorways as they passed.

Ray's eyes followed the line Tyson's arm made and then his eyebrows lifted in recognition. "Oh! Those are mugworm leaves. Or wormwood. We hang them up to ward away evil spirits. Especially around the festival, it's used to preserve the spirit of Qu Yuan who sacrificed his life rather than watch his land get invaded."

"Not that it seems to be working," Kevin muttered beneath his breath. A deep, sullen grunt rumbled in Lee's chest granted him Kevin's attention. With a lazy shrug, Kevin lifted his arms and rested them behind his head, locking his fingers together. "What? It's the truth. With everything going on, we may as well throw ourselves into the river. The villagers are getting restless."

"Everything will work out," Lee stated with an air of finality. He glanced at Kevin out of the corner of his eye as he spoke. "With the extra protection around their worries will soon be forgotten. It's not every day you get a dragon and a phoenix around here."

At Lee's words, a frown pulled at Ray's features. His pockets sheathed his balled fists as his teeth worried his lip. Extra protection. Never in his life did he ever expect something to happen to his village. To his home. Something that would bring along such fear and worry that even a wedding and a highly regarded festival didn't bring their moods around. No one dared to try to invade or enter their compound, traps and tricks were planted to keep anyone out. (Save for Mystel and Ray was still trying to figure out how he got in). Physical threats he could handle, but when he didn't know the root cause for his village's distress? That's just plain torture.

The Elder couldn't do much about it either, being as sick as he is. He knew not to bother their leader with his concerns but that only left them more vulnerable than Ray liked. Surely, he already knew about the concerns sifting through his village but in his weakened state there wasn't a lot he could do. Ray's fingers curled in tighter. How could he leave his village in such a state?

"Lookin' a little lost there." Ray blinked and looked over at Lee who ambled beside him. He casually picked up a handful of lychee from a nearby stall and pierced the skin. He removed the outer shell and popped the pulp into his mouth. "In your thoughts."

"Not lost. I'm just trying to figure some things out," Ray replied. He glanced down at the fruit in Lee's hands and sighed. "You should pay for that."

"Zhao Wei knows I'm good for it," Lee said, followed a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. He held a peeled lychee out to Ray. He hesitated a moment and then took the fruit. A small smile appeared on Lee's face. "What were you thinking about?"

"The village," Ray replied. He sighed. "It's all I've been thinking about lately, honestly. Mainly its future."

"I hear you," Lee said. His once jovial tone took a turn and his deep sigh seemed to carry the weight of the world. Ray could almost see it piling on his shoulders. "I don't think the Elder's getting any better," he finally uttered.

Ray's heart sank at the admission. If he were honest to himself he always knew, deep down, that the Elder's resilience only went so far. He was a strong man but he was an older man; he didn't move as fast as he used to and while his mind was till sharp the rest of him was aging and there was nothing they could do to stop it. The coughs and the wheezes of him gasping for air filtered into his dreams and left his sleep light and restless.

"I've been thinking about that too," Ray replied. "The people of the village are on their toes already. If the Elder goes, especially now—"

"I know," Lee interrupted him. Ray nodded. Since they were little he and Lee seemed to be able to read one another's minds. Being on the same page truly had its benefits. Lee glanced over his shoulder, noting how far back the others were. Even so, he dropped his voice. "But what are we going to do? We don't even know what it is that's disturbing the village."

"That's what I plan on finding out," Ray replied. "When I leave on my journey." He steadied his nerves and finished, "…After the ceremony, tonight."

"You're leaving tonight?" Lee briefly stopped walking only to be bumped by passersby. Ray grimaced. It was a tamer reaction than he expected but he hoped, somehow, that the surprise and shock wouldn't be as striking. Lee hurried to catch up to Ray. "I know you said you were going to leave afterwards but I didn't expect it to be so soon. A few days, maybe."

"I know but…I can't just let everyone live like this. Not when I can do something. I figure the sooner I start out, the better chance I have to find some sort of relief for everyone." He spotted the way Lee looked at him; half surprised and half apprehensive. He kicked at the ground. "What choice do I have? I have to go on the journey anyway."

"Yeah, but I figured it'd be at a better time. What are we supposed to do with you gone? You're the wielder of the White Tiger, Ray." He grunted. He didn't need the reminder, especially from Lee of all people. He could claim to be okay with that outcome as much as he wanted but he knew, deep inside of Lee, the choice still hurt him. "You're the one who carries the spirit of our village with you."

"That may be so, but you're the Elder's grandson," Ray pointed out. "You're the next in line if something were to happen. The whole village will turn to you for guidance."

Lee snorted and popped another lychee into his mouth. "Not without a wife. And with how stubborn Crystal can be, that's not going to happen any time soon."

"Well…" Ray rubbed the back of his neck, "I don't disagree she can be a little…rough around the edges. But I believe that she will come to terms with her duties to the village and do what's right for it."

Even as he spoke the doubts came to his mind. She had been very vocal about her disdain for the idea of her own arranged marriage but she'd seen the benefits of them over the years. The Elder and his wife—may she rest in peace—other couples of the village, his own parents were arranged and they've been together ever since. It wasn't a faulty belief and it wouldn't have held on strong on their traditions if it weren't ideal. Right?

"Yes, and what about you?" Lee pressed. Ray lifted an eyebrow. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. When the time comes, can you put your duties ahead?" He clicked his tongue. "Look, man. If there was anyone else in the village that my sister had eyes for, they wouldn't be able to stand to talk to me about it. Even so, I won't let you break her heart. Got it?"

He was silent for a moment. Such a simple question but it struck him hard. While he still wasn't sure how to address his relationship with Mariah, he couldn't deny that there was a strong connection there. In fact, it took him a little while to even see her as anything more than a friend and teammate. Deep down, he couldn't quite understand why she held him to such regard sometimes. Surely she would want to be with someone stronger than he; he still hadn't reached his peak. And yet she still stood by his side, still had his back. He didn't know how much he needed her support until he returned to the village. It was something that helped keep him grounded and motivated to better himself in any way he could. Could he really give that up? He pressed his lips together. What a dilemma.

"We both know what we have to do," he finally replied. That seemed to placate Lee and he was thankful for the change in subject brought on by Tyson's boisterous need for stimulation (or was it attention?).

"So, where's this beyblade tournament?" Tyson demanded to know from behind them. Ray and Lee both turned to see one hand in his other fist, cracking his knuckles. "Dragoon and I need a good opponent. You want in on this, Maxie?"

"Sure, why not? Draciel and I could go for a good battle."

"Heh, don't treat so lightly," Kevin commented. His eyes flashed and he bared his fangs as he grinned. "There are scores of people waiting to take you on, Tyson. You can't stay the World Champ forever."

"Ha! We'll just see about that. Dragoon and I are ready to take on anyone that stands in our way."

"If you say so," Kevin said, his voice taking on a sing-song tone. "You're in luck. Welcome to your doom, World Champ."

Tyson and Max exchanged a glance as they peered up at the building. Compared to the high rises on either side, the building they stood in front of was plain. The other buildings had flashy signs, bright advertisements, and enticing window displays. Their building was covered in beige paint, a few faded advertisements sat in the window, and the paint on the door was cracked and chipped in some places. A lone, gray cat sat in the front window, eyeing them.

"This is the place?" Tyson didn't bother to hide the disdain in his voice.

"You don't get out much, do you?" Kevin laughed as he shook his head. "Come on, World Champ. The party's 'round back." He walked into the alley between the two buildings, taking the lead. Tyson glanced at Max but then followed him into the alley. Gary, Lee, and Ray took the rear and followed at a nonchalant pace.

Then they heard it. Muffled shouting, hoots, and hollers. In a second the apprehension left Tyson's face and was replaced with a large, confident smile. Up ahead, Kevin maneuvered around a pile of slanted, saggy boxes, tin trash cans, and piles of black trash bags bulging at the seams. He approached the door nestled into the back wall and tapped a rhythm into it. The door creaked open a minute later, revealing only a single eye. Kevin leaned forward, muttering something in Chinese, and moment later the door swung open. The burst of sound—yelling, whistles, and noise makers—filled the alleyway.

"After you." Kevin waved his arm. A mischievous twinkle settled in his eye. Ray hid a grin. He'd seen that look many times before. Tyson was sure due for a rude awakening.

Tyson's chest swelled as he took in a breath—or perhaps due to his stoked ego—and he marched past Kevin into the building. The rest of the boys followed him into the darkened hall. The air, thick and smelling of stale smoke and moist dirt, wafted past their noses as they followed the swells of cheers and jeers.

Ray and Lee trailed at the back of the pack; excitement rushed past them in waves. Waves that once would send sparks through his body, get his fingers twitching and his soul itching for a good battle. But this wave wasn't right. It wrapped around his heart, a prickly piece of barbed wire that hurt deep within his chest and tightened his muscles and applied weight to his shoulders. He frowned.

"Everything alright?" Lee asked.

"…Yes," Ray replied after a moment. Which it was. Nothing had happened so he had no idea why he felt so apprehensive. Being alert was the best course of cation for the moment. If something were to happen he would be ready. He gulped. He hoped nothing would.

Tyson's reaction to the crowds were drowned out by the noise but Ray could see the shock and awe on his face. He remembered feeling the exact same way when he was first taken to The Ring as they called it. For good reason. The place was packed to the brim with spectators surrounding a large beydish on the floor, egging on the two wielders of the spinning beyblades. Their fingers were clenched into fists, fire sparked in their eyes, their feet remained glued to the spot; muscles carved in their legs as they held up their stance to ensure maximum stamina for their battle.

The spectators waved their curled fists in the air, the colorful currency swaying to and fro above their heads. Sweat dripped down their faces, due from the force of their screaming to be heard and the heat trapped within the room. Over by the furthest wall lay a wooden table that a few boys sat behind. Every now and then spectators would come up to the table and say something. Those behind it would not, write something down, and then wave a couple of fingers towards the boys standing by a large white board. Numbers would be added and erased as the minutes went by and the battle ramped up.

"This is insane!" Max managed to yell over the noise.

"And you thought you've seen beyblading before," Kevin laughed, a cocky grin flashing across his face.

"What's going on?"

"Don't you get it? There are more stakes to this battle than just getting bragging rights."

"So, what, they win their opponents beyblades if they lose?" Tyson asked. Ray didn't miss the hostility that rose in his voice as he spoke.

"No, stupid," Kevin replied. He motioned towards the white board. "They win money. Big money if you play your cards right."

"So, what, they're…gambling?" Max asked.

"Duh," Kevin uttered airily, as if it were a normal occurrence. Ray didn't miss the troubled looks Tyson and Max exchanged. He didn't blame them. The idea of it bothered him as well but there wasn't much he could do. If people wanted to beyblade this way they could. He preferred honest work, this fast-track to monetary gain wasn't for him but, as long as people didn't get hurt in the end, who was he to say what was right or wrong? Picking and choosing his battles was the best way to move forward.

"Well, how much do they win?" Max asked.

"They get a cut taken out of the total entry jackpot but they tend to make a tidy profit in the end." The group whirled around to see who spoke to them. Ray's eyebrows lowered and his mouth turned into a snarl before he could stop himself. As if someone had encroached in his territory, he could almost feel his hackles rise at the sight of Ryu Lam and the smile on his face that screamed I'm-glad-you-asked.

Ryu took his time taking in Tyson and Max from head to toe, his golden eyes staring in a piercing manner. Ray had seen that look many times before and it still left him wanting to take a step backward, after all these years. "So, these are the infamous world champions," Ryu drawled, his words curling almost as much as the sides of his mouth did as he spoke. He waved his hand in a circle as he bowed deeply in a flamboyant fashion. "I'm honored to have you here at my establishment."

"You own this…?" Tyson asked.

Ryu lifted an eyebrow. "This business? Yes."

Lee snorted. "If you could call it that."

If Ryu had been disturbed by Lee's dismissal he didn't show it. In fact, his smile stretched so wide he resembled a jack-o-lantern. "It's all legal, Lee, I can assure you of that. Someone was going to corner the market on this, why not let it be me? After all…" he turned his gaze over to Ray; as he spoke his eyes hardened, "if I'm going to be providing for my future wife I want to be sure she's well cared for." Then he glanced at Lee again. "I'm sure you can even appreciate me wanting to make sure Mariah wouldn't have to lift a finger."

"Whoa! So, you're the guy who—" Max started.

"Has been arranged to Mariah? Yes," Ryu replied. "Ryu Lam, at your service." He casually slipped a hand into the pockets of his black Mao suit and used his left to run a hand through his choppy, brown hair. Ray eyed it, noting the thin golden embroidery. No surprise of the extravagance there; Ryu wasn't shy about wanting the finer things when he was traipsing around the village. He looked forward to the day he could officially visit the city once he reached of age; he came back with stars in his eyes and they all knew he wouldn't be staying much longer. It came as no surprise when he officially left, chasing after a life of prestige and notoriety. If he were to be honest, Ray didn't miss him when he was gone. "I got lucky. The granddaughter of the Elder? Can't get any better than that."

A growl rumbled deep within Ray's chest and a fire sparked in his center. He felt Lee's tentative hand on his shoulder, the weight a relaxing grip as his fingers dug into the fabric of his sleeve. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and repeated a quick Chinese mantra to ease his nerves. Ryu always knew how to push his buttons. He thought he'd grown out of it by now. Maybe there was still some of the old Ray in him that he hadn't let go of just yet.

"But it's a good thing you're here," he continued. "Getting the World Champions in here is sure to be a draw, not to mention raise the stakes." His head tilted as he glanced over at the largest member of their group. "So, Gary, are you looking to make some extra money? Waddya say, big guy? I could use your muscle for some of the more, erm, rowdier guests."

"Hmm…I don't know…" Gary replied, his words slow.

"I could pay you handsomely of course. All the food you can eat," Ryu added hastily.

"He's not interested," Lee interjected.

"Still playing leader, I see," Ryu said with a hearty laugh. Beside him, Ray sensed Lee bristling. "Isn't that your job, Ray? Having the White Tiger and all? That still eats you up, doesn't it Lee? Your own grandfather giving it to him instead of you?" Lee's growl made Ryu's smile widen. "Yeah, I heard about that all the way out here. I'm still connected to the village. Quite a turn of events, must say." Ray grabbed onto Lee when he started forward; Ryu, unfazed, waved his hand and turned back to Tyson and Max. "Anyway, do you two want in?"

Max shook his head. "No thanks. Throwing money into beyblading is just asking for a bad time."

"Your loss." Ryu shrugged and then turned his sights. "How about you, Tyson? Itching for a spin?"

"Well, I dunno," Tyson replied, scratching at his cheek. "I don't want the money, y'know? It just seems kinda…weird."

Ryu's eyebrow twitched slightly "Then…how about a spin against me?" Ryu asked.

"D'wa?" Tyson's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he regarded the elegantly dressed boy standing in front of him. "You beyblade?"

Ryu snorted. "Sure. Can't run a company based off other's beyblading skills and not be able to back it up. Had to get investors somehow, y'know?" His lips parted and he bared all his teeth; his attempt at a smile Ray supposed. When Tyson didn't object Ryu said, "I'll take that as a yes. Follow me."

Kevin was the first to follow Ryu's slow, steady pace through the crowd. Gary then followed them with Tyson and Max on his heels. Lee and Ray exchanged a look and then brought up the rear.

"Think this is a good idea?" Lee asked.

Ray didn't reply right away. His eyes were trained on Ryu's back, eyelids lowering until he squinted at the older boy. His lip curled in the corner, a brief flicker of emotion before he shut it down, pulling his eyebrows down along with his mouth. He closed his eyes and folded his arms. "I don't know yet, Lee. Everyone wants a piece of Tyson. All we can do is keep watch and make sure nothing happens."

It was a line of thinking he'd thought he put to rest months ago but, with their experience at the Bahamas fresh on their mind, his idle thoughts became few and far between. Ryu always had a loose tongue attached to a calculated mind; a combination that once drew much ire of those in the village that came across him. It seemed he hadn't changed at all, if anything he got worse.

What a shame.

"—And it was a tough match, I have to say. In hindsight, we underestimated the power that Gary brought to the dish with Galzzly and he let us know it. He completely destroyed the beydish. I didn't think the tournament would continue at that point to handle the repairs, thankfully the BBA staff always have backups on hand in the event of an outcome such as that. It was a tough match for Max, the toughest he and Draciel had been up against that far. They put up a formidable fight but Gary won in the end—"

"…strange to be battling your old teammate, Mariah?"

"…because we were still upset that he had left on such short notice but then it was just like the good ol' days! In fact, Ray even…"

Little bits and pieces of Hilary's, Mariah's, and Kenny's conversation filtered in through the static of Crystal's mind. Must be nice… The intruding thought passed through before she could cut it off; it made her take pause and flick her thin pancake around on her plate. Retellings of the past wasn't an activity she felt particularly inclined to indulge in. The hazy layer of nostalgia atop of her past had been forcefully removed ages ago, it still stung when she allowed her mind to drift that far back. Their memories held a golden glow; hers were covered in a thick, heavy cloud.

A sharp, stinging pain pierced through her and was then replaced with a dull throbbing ache. She frowned. That hadn't been felt in a while. She once had sealed off any sort of emotion that dared to rise at the mere thought of her past. She had told herself long ago that it would do nothing but hold her down, attach a weight to her ankle as she tried to ride through the storm. She had made it out to the other side, stronger, tougher, and free from the weight. Or so she thought. Maybe coming back was a bad idea. But she did need answers and there was no other place she would get them. And then what?

School was her answer but the longer she thought about it the more reality set in. Mr. Dickinson and Grandpa Granger were helping her as much as they could but even she knew they had only so much pulling power. The rest would be on her and her smarts weren't exactly at the highest level, if she were to be honest with herself. She sucked in a breath, held it, allowed it to burn in her chest before she let it go. Your future's not guaranteed, no need to worry about that yet. Just get through the task at hand first and then worry about it. It's how you survived…

That was it then. Her mouth turned into a line as she resigned to her plan. Get in, and get out. No one would get hurt and she could move on like she always did. It was about time for her to set new roots anyway. She never stayed in one place too long. Getting attached only made things harder. But aren't you already attached?

A hard flick to her ear made her jerk to her head and forcefully yanked her out of her thoughts. Her eyes immediately swiveled over to her left and to Mariah's grinning face. She playfully stuck out her tongue and lowered her hand.

"You sure do eat slow," Mariah commented.

"It's a nice change of pace, though," Hilary said dryly, her cheek propped up on her hand.

"Unlike Tyson, I like to actually taste what I'm eating," Crystal supplied. It was the simple answer; in truth, it was a habit that still hadn't died. Even when she was guaranteed a meal every day her body still made her eat as if it possibly was her last one. She didn't want to miss a single bite if that ended up the case. Her future wasn't set in stone, even after all this time. Even if it was a little better. "Besides, what does it matter? You've been staring at that shop door for half an hour. I'm not keeping you from going in."

Mariah had lead them around the streets for a while, pointing out different shops and gushing about how she and the rest of the White Tiger team went there when they were younger. Hilary, especially, loved seeing all the shops, darting into them only to reemerge with another colorful bag. Kenny had plenty to say on the history and architecture of the buildings and spaces they passed by. And Kai, quiet as ever, trailed behind them.

It wasn't long until he scrumptious scents of the prepared food lining the streets and floating from shop windows got the best of them and their stomachs. A few orders of thin pancakes later and they were crowded around a table eating as many as their appetites would allow. While Crystal's was ravenous—she hadn't eaten good, authentic Chinese food in a long time—to rush through it was simply a silly idea. Even with Mariah's random huffs and glances towards the door of the shop she wanted to visit oh-so-badly.

"I'm…preparing myself," Mariah stated. Her fingers idly played with a bit of thread she had pulled from her top.

"You're stalling," Crystal corrected her. She picked up her forgotten food and took another bite of it. Explosions of flavor seeped over her tongue and she smiled in appreciation. "Though that's fine. I don't think you should do it."

Mariah's head whipped up so fast Crystal had to back away to keep from being slapped in the face by her ponytail. "It'll be fine."

"Maybe." Crystal lowered her voice and turned sideways on her seat so her back faced Kenny and Hilary. "Let's say this palm reader can actually read your future. And let's just say that they spell out that you're destined to be with Ray. That's good news, right?" Mariah nodded. "Fine. You get the guy you want. What happens when you lose the village in the process? Can you really tell me that you'd be happy giving up your family—your life—for him? Honestly?" She sighed. "You're a girl of tradition, Riah. Maybe you do end up with Ray, it'll be for a short while though. Because you're going to end up following the path they laid out for you because it's your 'duty'."

"And you won't?"

Crystal snorted. "Me? Y'kiddin'? I'm a lost cause, don't you know?" She picked up the last bite of her thin pancake and popped it into her mouth. She took her time chewing, swallowed, and then sighed. "I'm just checkin', d'ya really want to go after something temporary? To live the rest of your life wondering 'what if'?" She shook her head, eyes downcast. "Trust me, it's a hollow life and it's torture. Torture that I would never want anyone else to experience."

Lifting her head, Mariah set her jaw. Crystal had seen that look many times over the years; like a bull, Mariah was a stubborn one and Crystal knew she had a slim chance of turning her around so she sat back in resignation. Attempting to change her mind was like trying to get a hippo to lose weight; an impossible feat. "I'll be okay. Like you said, I know where my life's laid out. I just want to know. So…so there are no surprises."

Letting out an unconvinced grunt, Crystal tugged on the end of her hair. Fine, if that's the way she wanted it, she could have it. At least she warned her. "Okay then." She rose and swung her leg over the chair, standing tall. "Let's go."

"Wait…now?" Mariah asked. Her eyes briefly widened and she glanced at the door.

"Yeah, now. Before I change my mind." Crystal took Mariah by the upper arm and got her to her feet as well. "We'll be right back," she addressed Hilary and Kenny. "Won't take us too long. Just stick to this street so we can find you guys when we're done."

"We'll be fine, we have Kai with us," Hilary said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. The lone blader sat a few tables away, taking a sip of his tea every now and then. "Besides, there are a few more shops I want to check out. My grandmother would love to have a few of those knots over there. She's very into feng shui."

"Has she found any correlation between the practice and her health?" Kenny asked, intrigued.

"I'm not sure," Hilary admitted, "she says she feels stronger but that could just be because she moves her furniture around every other week."

"That often?" Mariah asked.

"Oh, yes. I told you, she's very into it." With a giggle, Hilary added, "Once I went to sleep on one side of the room and woke up having been moved to the other in the middle of the night!"

The ensuing laughter seemed to ease Mariah's nerves; Crystal found it easier to steer her across the street. She glanced over her shoulder as he went, surveying the group they were leaving behind as they went. Hilary and Kenny were bent behind his laptop, looking at something. Kai hadn't budged from his table, not that she expected him to. She briefly wondered why he bothered to come along with them if he was just going to lag behind but she let it go. That's just how Kai was, or else that's how she observed him. And she understood, sometimes she wanted space for herself.

Even so, he was still an enigma to her. Lately they've barely exchanged much in conversation; she would ask how he preferred his tea, if he wanted to go with them when they were headed to the park or into town, or what he was reading and he'd keep his answers short. If he replied at all. Not that she was looking to probe into his life—well, maybe a little bit but who could blame her?—but a sentence wouldn't kill him would it? But what does it matter? Aren't you moving on soon anyway?

"You really don't have to come if you don't want to," Mariah remarked. Crystal, yanked from her thoughts, glanced at her out the corner of her eye.

"If I didn't drag you, you would've nagged me about it," Crystal admitted bluntly, "but I also know that you need someone in your corner right now." She shrugged. "Figure the best thing I can do is be there for you, no matter the outcome."

Mariah stopped walking altogether, making Crystal take pause by the door. Her face screwed up into a look of half confusion and half aversion when she saw the way Mariah's eyes began to mist. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Mariah said, bringing her clasped hands up to her chest.

Her lip twitched, curling up towards her nose as she took a step back. "Geeze, Riah, you were just a kid. I never expected any of you to go against the Elder." But even as she said it aloud and thought back to that dark day she was officially cast out, something about it was…off. Taking away the blinding, all-consuming anger allowed her to look back on that day with fresh eyes and realize just how…wrong it all was. The Elder wouldn't cast out a child, just like that, for something they had nothing to do with; not one that wasn't even given the chance to see their recently deceased parents. …Right? She waved her hands. "Anyway, we're…we're not talking about this. Let's get your palm read."

With that, Crystal grasped the old door knob to the shop, twisted it, and gave the door a hard push. After brief resistance, the swollen door swung inward. Their eyes adjusted to the darkness inside in a matter of seconds; large, colorful silks hung on the walls and draped from the ceiling, transforming the space inside to a temple. In the middle of the room was a low table, a teapot and tea cups stationed in the middle, with red and gold pillows scattered on the floor around it.

"Hello!" Mariah called out. Her voice seemed to be swallowed up within the darkened space. "Hello?" she tried again, her eyebrows furrowing. "We're here to get our palms read."

"I know why you're here, young one." The two girls' heads whipped around in the direction that the voice had come from. A woman with long, silver hair stepped out of the darkness that shrouded a hidden doorway. Her long sleeves swept against the floor as she glided into the room. As she passed by, as if by magic, a candle set up in the middle of the table ignited and bathed the room in a golden glow. "Please, sit my dears."

Mariah immediately did as he was told, plopping down on a plush pillow that billowed up around her but Crystal stayed rooted to the spot as she did when she spied the woman's face. Her eyes widened for a second and then her pupils immediately turned to slits as her arm shot up as she pointed a finger at the woman.

"You're that lady from before!" she exclaimed.

"Please, sit," the woman repeated, waving her arm to motion to the pillows.

"No way." Crystal shook her head and crossed her arms. "Nuh-uh. I'm not staying. Mariah, this lady is crazy." Her lips twitched when Mariah's eyes widened at the word she chose and a flush appeared on her cheeks. 'Respect your elders' flashed through her mind like a neon sign, a rule they were to abide by since they could comprehend the guidelines imposed upon them. But surely that could go out the window when the elder in particular was a strange one. "I think we should leave."

"We just got here," Mariah replied. "At least let me hear what she has to say. Then we can go." She put on a charming smile and added in a sing-song voice, "And I'll buy you as many sticks of tanghulu you can eat."

Crystal sniffed. She didn't know which was worse, the fact that Mariah was planting her feet so stubbornly or that she thought that she could be won over by the promise of candy—rightfully so, if she were to be honest. But candy wouldn't erase the unsettling vibe the woman gave off; Crystal's hair stood up on her arms, her fingers twitched, and her eyes darted back and forth between the woman and the exit.

"Unless you're scared," Mariah continued as she glanced at her nails.

"Of what?" Crystal managed to say after a few start-and-stop spluttering attempts.

"Of your future."

Her eyelashes fluttered due to her rapid blinking, Surely Mariah wasn't serious. Of all things to be afraid of… "Up until a few months ago I wasn't even so sure I had a future. It's not something I'm afraid of."

Grin widening, Mariah leaned over and patted the pillow next to her. "Then sit and let's see what she says. Aren't you curious to know if you become the world's best beyblader?"

A shuffle of Crystal's feet followed by the clearing of her throat was her initial answer. "…That's not what I want to be so it doesn't matter."

"You, Frowny Face." For a moment, she wondered if Kai had walked in behind them until Crystal realized that the woman was addressing her. She faltered, her expression dropping to one that was a mixture of shame and discomfort. "Sit. You rest. You weary, your shoulders heavy." With a heaving sigh, Crystal knelt on the pillows. It would give her a good starting point if they needed to make a quick escape. "Now, you, eager one. Your hand please," she addressed Mariah. She stuck out her left hand. "Other hand, dear," the woman said.

"Oops, sorry!" Mariah put out her right hand, palm facing upwards. The woman cradled Mariah's palm in her hands, clicking her tongue softly while turning her hand this way and that, pressing the pads of her thumbs into her palm and spreading out the lines etched into her skin. Mariah sat still, with wide rapturous sparkling eyes. Every time she muttered "I see, I see" Mariah tensed, so much so the ribbon in her hair seemed to stand up as well, like dog ears when alert. Crystal made a mental note to ask her how she did that.

"This line, see here," the woman said, jabbing at the line that ran from Mariah's first finger, across the top of her palm, and over to her pinky. "This is your heart line. It is nice and long. You have an abundance of love within you. Your dreams, very big. And I see…high expectations. Please be wary of your own desires; they may not match with what is laid out in front of you." The woman pointed towards where the line broke and one fork titled downwards. "This line here, my child, indicates you are willing to sacrifice everything for love. It is a powerful thing, do put care into just what it is you are willing to sacrifice. You may not get the outcome you expect in the end."

After brief settling silence, the woman continued with Mariah's reading; Crystal sat back and watched, watched Mariah and watched the woman that kept Mariah more enthralled than she'd ever seen. It was on par to when the girls watched the women in the village perform a fan dance for the first time. Her golden eyes appeared to have stardust thrown in them, sparkling beneath the flickering candlelight. She made it appear so easy, being relaxed, taking it all in.

"…not only enjoy a happy marriage but also achieve great success and career during your marriage." The woman's voice yanked Crystal out of her thoughts. She gave her head a shake as the woman continued with an air of finality, "There will be constant love and support; being able to coordinate with each other will bring out the best of yourselves." She gently curled Mariah's hand into a fist, patted the top of her hand, and then clapped her own together. "Now then!" She reached beneath the table and produced two pieces of red paper and laid them on the table. She set down two bowls of ink and laid out two brushes next to them. "To finish this reading, I would like for you both to write a spell, or perhaps a wish, on these pieces of paper."

"Oh, this isn't for me. Just for her." Crystal pushed the paper away with her index finger and dropped her hands into her lap.

The woman smiled and pushed the paper back towards her. "Everyone could use the ease of mind. I have seen yours, my child. It is cloudy, hazy, filled with smoke and ash. A nice reprieve, a clean breath of air for a change, would be welcome, yes?" She motioned towards the paper again, sliding it back across the table with a firm push.

Heaving a sigh, Crystal took the brush and dipped it in the ink. But when she held it over the paper her hand froze. Her shoulders slumped and the corners of her eyebrows and mouth pulled down. What could she possibly write? A plethora of ideas flashed through her mind, possibilities unearthing from where she buried them years ago. She didn't have room in her mind for daydreams about a different life; other priorities came first. And now that it all came flying into her mind at once, the whirlwind grew louder and louder. She clenched her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut and tried to pick one out of the rest but nothing stuck. What did she want? More than anything, what did she want?

Beside her, the clattering of Mariah putting down her brush reached her ear. Of course she already knew what to scribe. Her life was on a lit path, she knew exactly how it was all going to turn out. Knew how to get and achieve what she wanted. A feat nearly impossible for her, unless it was possible to reanimate the deceased or go back in time…

Just get this over with. Hastily, Crystal left brush swipes on the paper depicting a few characters and set her brush down. She glanced over at Mariah who beamed down at the paper. Crystal's mouth twisted to the side as she took in the excitement that radiated off Mariah and felt herself ease. She set Mariah's face and her smile into her memory, just in case.

"Well that was fun!" Mariah announced as they exited onto the sidewalk. Crystal hummed in response, her eyes already searching across the street for their friends. "Why didn't you want to talk to her?"

"Because—" the words halted on her tongue before she continued. Mariah's eyebrows rose as she turned, waiting. Crystal hesitated. What if Mariah didn't believe her? Called her stupid or laughed in her face? Her nose wrinkled and she squashed her doubts. If there's one thing she could always count on, no matter how much they disagreed, was that she was a good listener in spite of it all. "When we went around getting the perfumes for the boys…I ran into her. She said…weird stuff." She shrugged and shoved her hands into her pockets. "It's not important."

"Well, what'd she say?"

"Nothing, it's nothing. Don't worry. We should find the others."

"Hey!" Mariah grabbed Crystal's hand and pulled down, effectively stopping her. Her lips curled back, revealing her fangs as she said with conviction, "Stop it! I want to know. Don't be so…so cagey! We're a team! We help each other out. Just like we always do!" She huffed, briefly biting her lip, only to look her in the eye as she continued. "If you're going to be my sister, we should be able to talk to each other."

If you're going to be my sister…my sister…sister…

Air rushed out of Crystal in one hard swoop, as if a heavy blow had been dealt to her. Sister… She turned her head away, a bright flush appearing on her cheeks. How could that have not crossed your mind? The answer came at an instant. She'd been so abhorred by the idea of marrying Lee that…that the idea of getting a sister out of the deal had slipped her mind. A sister…and a family…finally.

Her eyes cast another glance across the street. She froze. What? A sheet of royal blue hair turned beneath the sunlight, slipping between passersby as the figure turned away. Crystal's body shook, sweat flooded her palm which was still grasped tight in Mariah's hand.

"…Mom?"

"Huh?" Mariah's commented faded beneath the rapid beating of her pulse in her ear. She slipped her hand from Mariah's grasp and took a shaky step forward. Someone thumped her in the shoulder but she barely noticed. She took another step forward, and another. It had to be her mom, just had to be…

She pitched forward, feeling a slamming weight on her back and she stumbled into the middle of the street. Everything slowed.

"Crys, stop!"

"Look out!"

Horns honked. Tires screeched. The grill of a taxi grew closer. She smelled the pungent scent of burning rubber. Her muscles stiffened and her eyes locked with the man behind the wheel.

A hard yank to her arm took her off her feet. Pain shot through her back when it collided with at the ground. Her legs bounced against the pavement, her elbow stung where it scraped roughly beneath her. Her heart thundered against her ribs. Sound rushed at her: honks, revving engines, muffled voices, unbroken strides, and the shrieking giggles of unfazed children.

"Crys, are you alright?" Hilary asked. She leaned down, coming into Crystal's view, albeit upside-down. Her eyes were wide and filled with worry.

"Oh…yeah, I'm fine. I'm good. I'm good," she said. Her words shook as she spoke and every attempt to regain control slipped through her fingers. Changing tactics, instead of speaking, she managed to sit up. She rubbed at the back of her head, feeling a knot beneath her hair. Could've been worse. "I'm okay." If okay meant peeling herself off the sidewalk like a cartoon character who had smashed himself into a wall, then she was a-okay.

"Good thing Kai got to you in the nick of time," Kenny said.

"You stepped right off the crub," Hilary noted. She brushed her hands against her eye and let out a breath. "Did you see something?"

"Maybe the sanity you lost?" Kai's abrupt addition to the conversation made her jump. Glancing over her shoulder she noted Kai's stern gaze directed right at her. He sat behind her with one arm bent over his raised knee but the heavy rise and fall of his chest gave away his almost too casual state. She briefly locked eyes with him, feeling his gaze straight down in her gut, and then turned away, sniffing.

"Ha ha," was the only thing she could mutter. "I just…got distracted." But maybe he was right. No normal person could see deceased family members, could they? She looked up, spotting Mariah still standing across the street. Staring. Her face blank, as if looking right through them. A car passed by. All emotion returned to Mariah's face and in the next instant she knelt by the group. "I'm fine," Crystal insisted before Mariah could even open her mouth. She tossed a quiet albeit a tad begrudging "thank you" in Kai's direction and got to her feet. Her body stopped shaking but her heart still thrashed around in her chest.

It could have been a coincidence, in fact she would have been steadfast on that belief if it wasn't the second time she'd almost been hit or the second time she swore she saw her mom. And she couldn't exactly ignore the idea that she hadn't just tripped and that she was shoved right into the path of the car. Tao's and Kevin's accidents came to her mind as well, chasing off the lingering doubts that clung to her. No, something was out to get them. She was sure of it now. And if it targeted them out there, then they couldn't be safe wherever they were.

"Come on Dragoon, finish him off!"

Tyson's frustrated command filled the private room Ryu had ushered them into for the battle. The windowless box held a singular, hanging light from the ceiling. It illuminated the beydish below, one that had been built right into the floor. A simple sloping dish with a few holes drilled into the plastic rim. Landing a Beyblade there could be an advantage or a disadvantage; while one blade could stall and give the other an opportunity to hit them, one false move and the opponent would fly right out of the dish. On the other hand, if the beyblade stalled in place too long the opponent could land a hit on its underside, effectively knocking it off balance and out of the dish.

Ryu and Tyson kept their beyblades in the center of the sloped dish, attacking each other once they had an open shot. Dragoon hit Ryu's blade head on, causing his blade to skid backwards. A sight that at the start of the match had Tyson grinning at an inevitable victory, but now it made his hands clench and his teeth grit and his pulse jump. He just couldn't be beaten! But why? Tyson had fought against stronger, more skilled, and much more motivated bladers in his three years of the World Championship circuit and he came out on top. But now, here he was blading against someone who wanted to monetize the sport, blading against someone who didn't have the heart for the sport, and he was losing. Losing!

A frustrated growl burst from Tyson's throat. "Dragoon, c'mon!"

"This is weird," Max muttered. His comment easily garnered Ray's attention. "Tyson should have been able to finish this battle ages ago. It's almost like Dragoon is just bouncing off rubber."

"Yeah, well, if he doesn't keep his head this match will turn out a lot worse," Ray said. His eyes narrowed as he took in Ryu's nonchalant and almost bored stance across the dish. He could at least pretend to be interested in the battle in front of him, rather than insulting his friend with his noncommittal attitude. Ray's fingers twitched against his crossed arms.

Max turned large, worried eyes over to Ray. "When has Tyson been known to be practical?"

"Exactly."

"I gotta say, Tyson, I thought the battle would be a little bit more exciting," Ryu commented. "I mean, you are the World Champ, right?"

"Yeah, I am!" Tyson said. His chest rose and fell with every deep breath that seized his body. "I have the trophies to prove it!" Dragoon gave an extra hard slam to Ryu's bronze Beyblade. It toppled over backwards but still managed to keep its spin on its tip.

"Are you sure they weren't just participation trophies?" Ryu's face twisted into one of mock concern. "I know how they like to hand these out to make everyone feel better about themselves for trying. Even if they're not good."

"What!?" Tyson's outburst caused Dragoon to repeatedly smash into the bronze Beyblade, barely backing off before it landed another blow.

Ryu shrugged. "I'm just saying they must just let anyone in."

The muscles in Tyson's forearms bulged and his hands shook as he locked a steely gaze onto Ryu. It was one thing to comment on the battle but another to comment on his and his friends' beyblading skills when Ryu hadn't even been to a tournament! What did he know about it, anyway? He didn't even seem like the sort of person to train long and hard every day to build up the stamina needed to Beyblade. It may be a game of spinning tops to the outside world but to them it meant something. They worked hard, fought hard, built up strategies and made changes on the fly. It was their lives. And Tyson would be damned if he ever let someone just…tear it all down.

"Dragoon! Wipe him out!"

"Whoa," Max, Ray, Lee, and Kevin uttered simultaneously when Dragoon came out of the Beyblade with a mighty roar. The mighty blue dragon stretched upwards, extending his long claws and locked his eyes on the Beyblade in front of him. The air shifted. A light breeze whipped around the room and Dragoon attacked.

"Now that's more like it!" Ryu said with a large grin. Responding as if having woken up from slumber, his bronze blade met Tyson's attack head on. Sparks flew between the two beyblades as they spun around each other, neither backing down. The distinct, acrid smell of smoke and burning metal began to fill the air. "Well, World Champ, show me what you got! Show me that you deserve your title and it wasn't a fluke!"

Ray's anger spiked for his teammate. Ryu knew how to push buttons and poke holes in all the right places. He would instigate fights between Ray and Lee for fun, tease and bother Mariah until she either cried or kicked him in the shins, made slights against Gary's weight, mock Kevin's short stature, and commented on the quality of Crystal's work around the village. He was smart, knowing the right strings to pluck so he didn't blame the seething anger of which radiated off Tyson and seemed to fill the room like a thick, stifling blanket. He's lucky Kai's not here. Ray's lips twisted at the thought. If only kai were there; he'd shut Ryu down in a second and give him a proper lashing for his flippant comments.

Dust and loose dirt swirled up around Ray's feet, lightly hitting his ankles. How odd. His eyes drifted from Tyson's tense face over to the new expression on Ryu's. Gone was the placid expression he'd mastered over the years and in its place, was euphoric mania. It shook Ray deep down to his core. The only other time he'd seen that expression was back when Gideon and their cyber bitbeasts came into play.

As if sensing Ray's distress, Dragoon's winds whipped up and slammed into him. He brought his arms up to protect his face. Out the corner of his eye he saw Max turn his head to the side, his eyes squeezing shut to keep the flying dirt out of his eyes. The wind tugged at his clothes, whistled in his ears, sucked the breath out of his lungs.

"Tyson, what're you doing?" Lee's voice was miniscule compared to the roaring, rushing wind.

"Beating him!" Tyson bellowed. A tornado rose up from the dish, stretching upwards until it touched the ceiling. The light above swayed as it was thrown this way and that beneath the wind. The light flickered beneath the onslaught, allowing every move to be cast in slow motion due to brief glimpses. But every flash of light illuminated the steadfast look in his storm blue eyes; the hard, steely determination that they'd see every battle was mixed with something else. Something so new it made a shiver roll down Ray's spine at the sight of it and fear clutch at him: pure hatred.

"This is getting out of control!" Max yelled over the noise. "We have to stop him before someone gets hurt!"

Ryu's laughter from the other side of the room cut through the wind. "This is great! Come on, Tyson, show me your full power!"

The raging wind got louder, roaring in their ears. Their ears popped and pressure pushed down on top of them. Every breath they took was robbed from them as they struggled to protected themselves, struggled to breathe, struggled to fight the suffocation. Ray peered out through the space between his arms and there Ryu stood, unflappable as ever. But where his golden eyes used to be were two black pits and rather than wind flying around the room was dread. Thick, heavy, stifling dread.

"Ray!" He looked over to see Max fighting against the wind, fighting to get closer to his best friend. Gary stood grounded nearby, holding onto Lee and Kevin to keep them from being tossed around by the wind. With gritted teeth, Max managed to bring his arms up, ready to get Draciel into the fight. Ray managed to get Driger out and loaded as well, ready to fight.

A flash of green of green flew past him. His gasp was sucked out of his mouth and obliterated.

"Kevin!"

In the blink of an eye Kevin was sucked halfway across the room, towards the massive tornado that still spun in the dish. Tyson, his attention finally broken, dove for him, tried to catch him, but in the last second Kevin was thrown in the opposite direction. He slammed into a wall and crumpled into a heap on the floor.

"Kevin!" The arrival of their friends had gone unnoticed due to the vacuum in the room. Everyone moved at once. Crystal immediately rushed over to Kevin's side, dropping to her knees once she was close to him. She barely glanced in Lee's direction when he arrived by Kevin's other side. Kenny, Kai, Hilary, and Mariah

"Ray! What's going on?" He felt Mariah's hands on his arm, securely locking place before her words carried to his ear. All at once the tension in his body melted away due to her soothing touch. He turned and looked at her, her bright pink hair whipped around her head and her eyes were filled with worry and concern.

"Dragoon's going out of control," Ray replied, pressing his mouth against her ear so she could hear him. He felt her tremble against his side. He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned his attention back to his friend as she pressed against his side.

"I've never seen his tornado get that big!" Kenny commented, holding his laptop close to his chest. He grabbed the tail of Gary's shirt to keep himself grounded.

"Why isn't Tyson stopping?" Kai asked, his hard gaze trained on the beydish where the two beyblades were still going at it.

"He wants to beat the guy," Max replied. Then he frowned and said a bit dryly, "He's not exactly pleasant."

Mariah leaned forward on her toes, squinting. "Is that—?"

"Yep," Ray said, his reply curt.

With a roll of his eyes, Kai had Dranzer loaded and ready in five seconds. Ray's mouth quirked up in the corner at the sight of their captain stepping up to the plate like he always did.

"Well, he needs to stop!" Mariah stated. Ray could almost see a fire flare up in her eyes. She let go of him and, with difficulty, worked her way around the room. It wasn't until she grabbed onto Ryu's arm that his stare down with Tyson was broken. He blinked and then his eyes widened as he looked down at the fury in her face.

Ray looked harder, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Ryu's eyes being back to normal. Or were his eyes just playing tricks on him? He shook his head, shifting his attention back to Tyson who still stood rigid by the beydish. He grabbed onto Max's upper arm and helped pull him forward, flanking Kai. They got their beyblades ready and, in slightly staggered fashion, launched their beyblades into the fray.

Dranzer, Draciel, and Driger landed in the dish, scattering around due to the strength of the wind but they quickly regained their balanced and forced their way between Dragoon and the bronze Beyblade.

"Guys, stay out of this!" Tyson yelled.

"You need to call Dragoon back, Tyson!" Kai yelled.

"Back off, Kai! I almost have him!"

"This whole building's gonna come apart if you don't stop!" Max said.

"No, I won't lose!"

"Ryu, stop this battle now!" Mariah tried, shaking his arm.

"Oh, come on! I want to see how the World Champion does under pressure."

"By hurting Kevin in the process?" She waved her arm, motioning over to where he was now kneeling on the ground, rubbing at his head as Crystal and lee asked him quiet questions.

"Tyson's the one going crazy, not me!" Ryu insisted.

Ray almost laughed aloud at that. He, for certain, wasn't dreaming when he saw the mania on Ryu's face not too long ago. The pure glee nestled in his features. And yet here he had the gall to lie straight to Mariah's face. Then again, a niggling feeling wormed its way into the back of his mind and cast a wide net of doubt. Ryu appeared…confused when Mariah arrived, not just to see her but to see everything all at once. It was a brief glimpse but Ray caught it and it made him uneasy.

Mariah pushed his arm. "You've been egging him on! Stop the battle! Now!"

The smell of burning metal filled the air once more as Driger and Draciel two-teamed Ryu's blade, keeping it separated from Dragoon, giving Dranzer the honor of taking Tyson on. As the gray and blue beyblades smashed into each other, Draciel stalled himself on the edge of the dish. The bronze Beyblade went for him and, when it got close enough, Driger zoomed in and hit it hard. It bounced off Draciel's side and flew out of the ring, flinging into the wall behind Ryu's head. A split second later Dragoon, Draciel, and Driger followed the bronze beyblade's path. Dranzer was left spinning in the middle of the dish.

"Was that necessary?" Max asked. He flinched at how loud his voice sounded in the now empty room. Kai shrugged.

"Kevin, are you okay?" Mariah asked as he, Crystal, and Lee approached.

"Yeah, 'm fine," Kevin replied, now rubbing his shoulder. "Gonna feel that one for a while."

"I thought you said you guys were going to a tournament!" Hilary said, barely concealing the annoyance that seeped into her voice.

"We were," Max cut in before Tyson could reply. "Ryu owns this place. The tournament that's going on is…his business."

"What?" Mariah and Hilary uttered at the same time, turning their attention back to Ryu.

"I needed to see if the World Champ is up to snuff. Can't guarantee a draw if he's going to be knocked out in round one," Ryu explained.

"But still that doesn't explain Tyson going crazy," Lee said, fixing the end of his wind-swept ponytail. As he spoke Tyson approached, clutching Dragoon in his hand as a frown sat upon his face.

"Dragoon was just…I don't know." Tyson shook his head as he gazed down at his sidekick. "I'd never seen him like that before. It was like I was…feeling everything he was feeling. All this…rage. It was almost like he was—"

"Possessed?" Kevin offered. Lee uttered a heavy sigh. "What? It's not the first time your bitbeasts have gone weird, right? What's going to happen next? They turn on you guys?"

"Is that even possible?" Hilary asked.

"Of course not," Lee insisted. "It's just—"

"Coincidence?" Crystal supplied.

"Exactly."

But was it? Even Ray wasn't sure of that anymore. Draciel had gone haywire only a few weeks before, then there was the battle between himself and Tyson that didn't end well, and now this? He was certain of his decision to leave and investigate before but this only solidified it. Even If in the end it all ended up coincidental, at least he would know and at least he tried to get an answer. Their bitbeasts were getting out of control, they couldn't deny it at this point, and he wasn't going to stand by and just let Driger—his partner, his friend—turn on him. Calling off the wedding now probably wouldn't work—in fact the notion would send most of their relatives to an early grave—and there was still the hope around the village that having a phoenix and a dragon in their midst would bring forth some ease.

But, as he saw one half of their symbols of protection turn due to indiscernible reasons right before his eyes, for the first time in his life Ray wasn't confident in his home's unwavering faith in their celestial guardians.

a/n - So it has been over two years since I updated and I apologize for the long wait. When I was close to finishing this chapter and getting you an update, I got into a work accident and injured my hand. As I healed, my confidence in my writing ability waned and my motivation went along with it. It wasn't until I followed more beyblade blogs on tumblr and talked to other fanfic writers that I got my motivation and excitement for this story back. Reading the new beyblade rising manga chapters has helped too (not to mention thinking of the next story in this series. I can't get to that part until I finish this one.)

The time away helped me get a better idea of how I want this story to unfold so, after a few revisions and outlining, I'm back with a vengeance! So Mariah got her future with Ray laid out and Crystal may have been pushed by her into the street! Not to mention this is the second time Dragoon has lost control and his resulting power was much more devastating. Now they're all starting to see that something is seriously wrong but the question is, what's the driving force? We'll see a little more of the festivities, the wedding, as well as Ray on his journey to uncover the truth around the village while seeing how everything works without him in the next few chapters.

If you're still sticking around after all this time, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you're new, please read and review! I hope you enjoy the story I'm creating as well as my oc.

You can follow me on twitter and tumblr at the same name, cerulean musings if you'd like. Please read and review!

~Musings