Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Afriad of the Light ❯ An Ally? ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

Ozuma smiled a natural smile for the first time since his family had moved. For the rest of that first week things had actually been pretty normal. Maybe his parents were right. The move must have effected his mood somehow causing him to hallucinate things that weren't really there. And since he couldn't figure out what was scaring him, like Zeo said; anything scary in a monster movie is suddenly at your house. But not anymore; Ozuma feels calmed and confident that his minor insanity fit was over.

He stretched his arms over his head and yawned. He was sitting outside on the porch waiting for Zeo to come get him so the two of them could go go-karting with Tyson and Max. When his arms came down at his sides he raised his palm again catching sight of something orange on the wood beneath it.

So much for not making a mess. He brushed his hands together as though some of the orange may have gotten on his hand, even if it had long since dried during the week that he had made it. Speaking of which, Where is my mask? He looked around the tiny porch for any sign of the thing. I know I didn't take it inside, it was left right here.

Twisting and turning his self, he then pushed a hand down onto the wooden floor to help him stand. "Mom! Have you seen my mask?!" Ozuma called loudly incase his mother had moved somewhere else in the house. "I can't find it!" He turned his head at the call of a bird that sounded to be laughing in the distance. Looking back at the front door his father emerged pushing it open.

"Hey son, give your old man a hug." He spread his arms.

"Where're you going?" The young boy took his father into an embrace.

Himani sighed, pulling away. "Well they need me back in Kita, they got a few things they want me to look over in person, but it won't take long, I'm going by plane."

Tsugani came outside, tugging her hair from her jacket. "Do you have the car keys, Mani?"

"I think so," He checked his pocket.

Ozuma watched his parents moving around him and out of the porch. "Mom, have you seen my mask?" He remembered.

"What mask?" She was already down the little wooden stairs heading toward the car.

He stepped out of her way. "The one Zeo and me made last week, I can't find it."

"I haven't seen it. Maybe it's in your room." She grabbed a bottle of old root beer off the front seat tossing it to the back, mumbling about cleaning the thing out before the month was over.

Ozuma walked up behind her, watching intently. "Are you driving Dad to the airport?" He was getting a little nervous now. Bravery with people was one thing but, bravery alone was a whole other thing all together. "When do you think you'll be back?"

"In time for dinner," Tsugani answered. "So what do you want me to get you?"

"I'll just eat a can of soup," he then laughed when adding. "I don't think I can eat any more fast food,"

The car door closed on the passengers side as his father got in. "By the way," His mother added, putting on a pair of dark sunglasses. "I want you to be here when I get back, so you're gonna have to hold off on the go-karts for today."

Ozuma frowned at that, the day wasn't even half way started, couldn't he just go for a little bit? But his mother said these things for a reason, he knew she wasn't some type of 'party pooper' for lack of a better phrase. So he might as well listen- besides the others might want to stay with him. They could go swimming! Or play in the woods, Beyblade- anything.

But when his parents left and a few minutes after that his friends came over they didn't seem too thrilled about the idea.

"Well why not?" Asked the boy, he couldn't believe they had rejected his ideas. They were fun, and they would have done it any other time, what made today so different?

Tyson stuck a finger in his ear. "Because, I was kinda set on go-karting today. Can't you just come with us your mom'll never know."

"Oh, she'll know and then I'll be grounded."

Max shrugged. "So you can just come with us another time, come on you guys." Max waved a hand for them to follow him. "We'll see you later Ozuma."

Zeo stood where he was, seeing the pleading look in his friends eyes, a stab of guilt washed over him. "I'm gonna stay here with Ozuma." He muttered looking down.

Tyson turned around, his jaw to the ground. "Zeo, a word." He snatched the boy around his shoulders and walked him away from the others. "Zeo, the boy sees ghost! He's not.... you know, normal. I think we should just hang out with him over the phone or something, that's how you two talked before he moved here so-..."

Zeo didn't know whether he wanted to slug Tyson or agree with him. But he couldn't abandon Ozuma, not now. They had such a good time last week, and his pen pal mentioned nothing of ghost during the rest of it. He was probably just still getting used to the big move but now everything was fine- no he couldn't leave him behind like he had never known him. He really liked Ozuma in and out, even if sometimes he was weird. That just meant he had a side of him that needed getting used to. Not everyone can be everything you want them to be. Right?

"No Tyson, I'm gonna stay with him." He explained. "Besides, he might get scared alone and.... I'd feel badly for just leaving him like this."

"Tch, suit yourself. I'll just hang with Maxi today." He released his grip around the boy's shoulder, giving it a tight little pat. "Come on Max, we can come by later."

"Bye Ozuma, maybe you can come with us next time." The blond mentioned, waving a hand.

"Bye."

The pair walked away, hand in hand, leaving Zeo standing next to Ozuma.

"Forget about them." Said the blue hair boy. "We can have tons of fun without them around anyway."

Ozuma shook his head. "Zeo... if you wanna go with your friends- you can go..."

"Ozuma, you're my friend too." He took his hand into his, receiving a pink blush on his Indian friends face. "And if they don't like it, they can take a hike."

"Yeah but...." He trailed off.

"Forget about it." Zeo walked towards Ozuma's home. "You got any video games? We could play for a while."

"Sorry, I'm a reader- but I do have cards!" He shrugs. "If you don't mind card games?"

"Not at all, I used to play with my Dad before he became too busy to be bothered."

Ozuma blinked, his face flushed with guilt. Zeo used to tell him all about how much he respected and admired his father then one day nothing but insults and bitterness. To say the least the man ignored him completely now. "I'm sorry." He stated lamely.

Zeo waved it off. "It's nothing, I'm used to it." He held the door open for his Indian friend, and followed a step behind him.

The two boys walked into the living room, Zeo took a seat on the couch while Ozuma located the deck of playing cards, from the junk drawer in the kitchen. "My family has a ton of these things laying around the house." Says the mixed child as he walks back into the living room. "We're not sure how we got them, but they're good for a rainy day."

Zeo reached out for the deck of cards. Ozuma sat down beside him and handed the deck over.

"I'm a good shuffler." The blue hair boy mentioned as he unsheathed the cards. His small hands made quick work of rearranging the cards, Zeo was a very good shuffler. "And here you go," He dealt them out, five for each of them and placed the deck between them on the couch.

The cards slid over into a stream of cardboard. Zeo chuckled, scooping them back into a stack he then placed them on the coffee table beside them. "There, now they won't fall over."

Ozuma smiled, Zeo could be so charming with the quaint way he speaks. Shaking his head lightly to clear some air, he looked at his hand. "Hmm? What are we playing?"

"Go fish."

"Who starts?"

"Uuuhh," points his free hand. "You start, it's your house."

"Okay...." Studying his cards, he glanced up to see Zeo's poker face. "Have you got anyyy.... three's?"

Zeo smiled, not even glancing at his already memorized cards. "Go fish." He stated.

Reaching beside them, Ozuma snagged a card from the deck. It was a Nine of Clubs. Shoot. His eyes narrowed at the offending card. Glancing back at his hand his eyes relaxed and he slipped it into his deck next to another Nine he had, then he placed them beside the deck. "Ha!"

Zeo chuckled shaking his head. "You know, I never got the point of this game, I'm not even sure I know how to play it right."

Ozuma laughed as well. "I don't either."

The two boys rocked with laughter. No wonder we're good friends. We have everything in common. Thought Zeo.

"It's your turn."

Zeo thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. The Ace in the hole. "Do you have any two's?"

Ozuma turned his nose up at his friend. "...Go fish." He said smugly.

Zeo reached for a card from the deck.

A low knock came from the front door. The two boys froze.

"Who is that?" Zeo mouthed.

Ozuma shook his head, with an expression that read: "I don't know."

The door bell came after the knock as though the person at the door didn't think the knock were loud enough.

"I'll go see,"

"Do you think it might be your mom?"

Ozuma shook his head, standing. "No, she said she'd be back around dinner time." He vanished in the hallway.

Zeo remained seated, looking after where his friend had gone.

Ozuma walked quickly but his hands froze just before they reached the knob. What if it’s them- No, now is not the time to start thinking like that. It's probably just girl scouts or something. He tugged the front door open, blinking in shock at who was standing there. "Rei?"

Rei blinked, confused at how this boy he's never met knew his name. "Yeah, do I know you?"

"Oh, no. I just heard about you, that's all." Explained the Indian child, his hand raised to show he meant no offense.

Rei narrowed his eyes. If Ozuma had 'heard about him' that could only mean he was friends with that upstart Tyson. "Forget it." He muttered.

"No wait. It's nothing bad, honest." He opened the screen door. "Did you need something?" He looked over Rei's shoulder, seeing Kai standing outside of the porch with a look on his face that read: Bored. But his eyes seemed to be casing the outside of the place. It worried Ozuma to see that kind of look, as if Kai were the kind of person to spot something he liked and come back for it when he thought the owners were away or sleeping.

"I wanted to know if I could use your phone?" Rei said, glancing over at Kai.

"My phone?" repeats the boy. "Is yours broken?"

Rei smiled kindly. "No." Mischief then graced his features. He was a looker, especially up close, he had sharp feline features and strange golden eyes, yes, much better looking then when his family first saw him at the lake. "It's just that, if I go home then my mom will start asking me a bunch of questions and she'll know that I'm lying."

Ozuma looked skeptical.

Sighing, Rei rocked on his heals. "It's not for anything bad, I just wanna stay the night at Kai's and my Mom isn't exactly cool about everything- if you know what I mean?" His eyes were hopeful that he didn't have to explain any further.

"Let's just go," Kai said out of nowhere. His voice sounded huskier than Ozuma would have imagined. It suited him. "If the kid doesn't wanna help us, someone else will."

Quickly back pedaling, Ozuma opened the screen door wider. "No, no. You can use my phone, come on in."

Rei walked by him and waited in the hall. Kai remained where he was and looked as if he didn't plan on moving, even if a herd of wild animals came by to trample him. So out of courtesy, Ozuma left the front door open. The Indian child led the way down the hall into the living room.

Zeo was taken aback when he looked up to see Ozuma leading Rei Kon into the living room like it were no big deal. He didn't hate him, he didn't even dislike him, but the two haven't spoken since Tyson declared he and Kai, 'not acceptable friends.'

Rei smiled politely, then said. "Hi Zeo, it's been a while."

Cautious, Zeo raised a hand without waving it and replied. "Hey Rei."

"The phone's over there." Ozuma pointed to the wall entering the kitchen where a black phone hung sideways.

"Thanks, I won't be long." Rei walked to the entry of the kitchen and picked up the receiver.

Zeo snagged Ozuma's arm, pulling him down roughly onto the couch. "What is he doing here?" He asked in a hushed tone.

"He wanted to use the phone." They both glanced at the chinese boy. He hadn't began to speak yet, he must still be waiting through the rings. "I don't see why he can't, I don't mind." He looked back at Zeo. "And he seems nice."

"Yeah but...." He shook it off, there was no use arguing. Besides, it was actually kinda cool to be in the same place with someone you weren't supposed to, kind of like a rebel of sorts.

"Hi Mom, yeah I'm fine...." Rei started talking.

The two of them went back to their game, trying not to be nosey.

"You got any fives?" Ozuma asked.

"Yeah," Zeo handed him the five in his hand.

"Do I keep going?" Asked the mixed child.

"I think so, like pool- you go till you mess up."

Rei looked around listening to his mother talking to him about who knows what, he had tuned her out long before she could really get into anything. Looking up the stairs into the dimly lit hall, Rei saw a dark shadow standing at the top of the stairs. He thought it was kinda weird that the boys mother would watch him, so to be kind, he waved at her. But she backed away.

Weird. He thought and a chill ran down his spine. But when his mother finally had a break in her sentence, he spoke. "I was just wondering if I could sleep over at this new kids house? He invited me to."

Ozuma looked up at that, he didn't know he was going to be part of any lying.

"He invited me, I swear." He listened quietly for a moment. "Really, look he's right here." Rei took the phone away from his face and mouthed. "Say something."

"Uhh, yeah. I invited him." He said hopefully loud enough for Rei's mother to have heard him.

"We met at the lake, we were all there swimming...." The chinese boy was silent again. He looked at Ozuma and waved him over.

Ozuma glanced at Zeo, who looked like he were ready for a caper of any kind. Standing, he walked over to Rei and had the phone put to his ear.

"Umm, hello Mrs...?"

"Kon." Rei replied.

"Mrs. Kon... This is Ozuma." His voice sounded rudely thick in his ears. He hated trouble and being in any part of it. "Is it alright if your son stays over at my house tonight, I can give you my number."

The woman spoke briefly to him, he listened to her as she went on about not doing this or that and if his parents would be there. No wonder Rei wanted to get out of there, this woman sounded like a fall out mess over him being anywhere for too long, did he have some kind of medical condition, he wondered. "Yes ma'am, my mom will be here. I swear."

Rei smiled when he heard his mother say that it was ok, for him to stay over- even though he really wasn't. When Ozuma hung up the phone, he looked at Rei as though he had lost his mind. "I'm not gonna lie for you anymore, what if your mom calls here and asks if you're really here and my mom gets the phone before me?"

"She won't, I promise." Rei turned to leave the house. "Thanks for helping me, Ozuma. I owe you one."

Ozuma sighed in frustration. Rei wasn't listening at all! "Yeah," he answered to his gesture.

"I'll see myself out." He walked into the main hall way.

Zeo watched him go, then looked back to Ozuma. "That was weird. I wonder what those two are gonna be doing?"

"I can take a guess." Ozuma frowned. "Do you think that.... they... you know?"

"Have sex? I think they do- they're old enough." Zeo shrugged.

This shocked Ozuma, he didn't plan on doing that until he was like, eighteen maybe. "They're a little young, aren't they?"

"16 and 15." He looked down at the new card he'd drawn.

"That's all!" His mouth was agape. "I'm 15! I couldn't even imagine knowing what to do during that."

Zeo looked up with an impish smirk. "Oh come on, every body knows how to do it." He leaned over getting into Ozuma's face. "You just have to let your body do the work." His hand came down between the Indian boys legs.

Ozuma laughed, scooting back from his friends approach. "Zeo, cut it out."

"Why, am I exciting you?" He kissed him on the nose. "And I'm not Zeo, I'm Rei. Now come over here and give me some sugar."

Ozuma continued to laugh, failing at dodging Zeo's kisses. "Hey, I thought we were gonna wait until we got to my house to fool around?" He played along with him.

"Oh Kai, we don't need a house, we're too hot for each other."

Ozuma howled with laughter feeling the blue haired boys lips on his throat. He had never been kissed there before. "Mmm, baby." He kissed Zeo back- though on the cheek. "How 'bout a nice hick'..." When their lips met, Ozuma's laughter stopped and he leaned up into his friends mouth. He didn't mind kissing, just as long as nothing else happened.

Zeo's hand came up to Ozuma's cheek and his other hand found its way to the boys groin. When his palm applied pressure against it, Ozuma moaned in response. Deepening the kiss, Zeo smiled against Ozuma's lips when he felt the mixed boy begin to buck up into his hand.

Zeo backed away for a second to move down to Ozuma's neck when he saw the cards in Ozuma's hand. "Hey you sneak!" He sat back. "You said you didn't have any sevens."

Ozuma laughed, getting up from the couch, he ran into the kitchen for safety.

Zeo was a step behind him. "Oh no you don't cheater. It's the big house for you." He grabbed the smaller boy, holding one arm behind his back, while the other wrapped itself around his chest. "Come on."

Ozuma laughed the whole way to wherever Zeo was pushing him to. "Ha ha, Copper! You'll never keep me locked up, I'll be out on the streets again in two days."

"That's what you think." He led him over to the pantry, removing the hand that was around the smaller boys chest, Zeo opens the door and shoves him in, closing it behind him.

"Zeo no!" He panicked seeing the darkness around him. "Open the door!" He pounded his fist on the door.

Zeo laughed as though it were part of the game missing the pure fear in the boys voice. "Uh uh uh Ozuma, you have tooo...."

"Please Zeo!" He continued to bang. "Open the door!!" Ozuma crouched down, covering his ears. He didn't mind being in the pantry as long as the light was on. Grabbing the door knob, his shaking hands twisted it back and forth. "Zeo please, I don't wanna play this game anymore, let me out."

"I'm trying, it feels jammed...." He looked around the kitchen for something to use to pry it open. There was nothing. "I think this might be a light switch." He yelled through the door as though Ozuma suddenly couldn't hear him very well. Flipping up the switch next to the door a light came on over the shaken boys head. "Is that better?"

Ozuma uncovered his head, his vision went up to look at the light bulb over his head. But instead of light he saw the face of the man from the street. And after that, all Zeo heard was a loud scream.....