He wasn't sure what it was, what his big brother was hiding, but it wasn't good. That's what Fenrir told him, quietly gathering information from the other beys.

Something bad is going on, Ryota, and it involves your brother. I couldn't find what was wrong, though. Sorry.

It's fine, Fenrir. I don't mind. Thank you for telling me. This really helps.

An hour later, when Daigo came home covered with sweat and smelling like the forest, Ryota confronted him in his room.

"Nothing," his big brother replied. He moved to leave the room, but the boy stopped him, now more sure than ever something was up.

"You weren't here last night- I checked to see if you would tell me a story- and according to mom and dad, you ditched the second half of your classes, which you never do. Something is up. What is it?"

"I told you, nothing," Daigo said, turning around. "I just did a bit of late training."

The boy squinted suspiciously. "That's not what Fenrir said."

Don't bring me up!

Sorry, Fenrir. I won't next time.

His brother slowly turned around. "And what did he tell you?" Daigo's voice was dead calm, a clear sign of anger for him. "WHAT did he TELL YOU???"

Ryota flinched. "H-He said that you were -- were ditching class to go somewhere else."

Liar. But that's good enough.

Daigo relaxed. "As if. " He looked down. "I'm sorry. Do you want me to give you a bedtime story?"

Daigo:

Daigo thought of his exhaustion and hardships. That would make a good story.

You tell anyone, and I'll have you sprint to the Shakadera Dojo and back.

...

He walked to Ryota's room, and sat on the bed. "Once upon a time," he said slowly, starting to piece the story together. "There was a royal family." Ryota placed the dark blue bey in the resting area, and got into bed. "In it, was a the queen, king, and two brothers. One... was caring and loving, the kindest and most innocent of all people. The other, well, he was cold and unforgiving to the world. Together, they were the aspects of the whole kingdom."

The violet eyed boy leaned forward excitedly. "What happens next?"

"Well," he said slowly, thinking of the next part and smiling a bit. "The twin princes were out riding one day, when they came upon an exhausted girl, with ice hair and dark eyes. The innocent one wanted to help her, but the cold one wanted to leave her. The innocent one betrayed the wishes of the other, taking her back to the castle. The older on had no choice but to follow."

Ryota smiled. "You're a great storyteller."

"Little did they know, a dark shadow was slowly making its way towards the family behind the girl. It inhabited the girl, and was severely weakened by the amount of light in her. The shadow was tired, and tried to inhabit the queen and was weakened further. Then the king. One more wrong choice, and the shadow would be destroyed."

"This is where the good guys win, right?" His brother shifted his pillow towards Daigo. "Right?"

Daigo sighed. "Not exactly. You see, instead of choosing the brother that brought the girl home to help her, he chose the other one. The brother's cold heart fed the shadow, giving it strength.

But day after day, as the boy got weaker, the shadow got stronger. The girl and the brother began to notice something was wrong.

"By that point, the shadow had more power over the boy than the boy had over himself. So he told them nothing was wrong, and they believed him. The cold hearted boy began to spend time with the ice girl, and little by little, he began to appreciate her company. At the same time, the shadow was falling a back a little. Light had pierced his soul for the first time, and it affected the spirit.

One day, the prince realized he was falling in love. He tried to speak to the girl. He opened his mouth, but could not speak. He finally understood what was wrong. The prince struggled to speak.

'What is wrong, my friend?' the girl asked.

But he could not speak.

'You would always speak to me,' she said, more to herself than the boy. 'But you do not now. Could it be... A few months ago, something dark refused to let me speak. It is the same thing?'

He shook his head. 'I know it is that spirit, my friend. Just, always be brave, alright?'"

"The next morning, the ice-girl flound a note on the table. It read; You are right, it is a spirit, possessing me for some time now. I've done my research. THe only way to get rid of it once it had entered you is for it to willingly leave or to die with the person. This will be the last time you will hear of me. I will not hurt another by passing this on, so I shall die with it. I have to save my kingdom, and you. I love you. You were there for me, and I am truly sorry for not seeing the light inside you when I first came across you in the forest. You are the one I love. You are the light to my shadow. I love you, now forever, and always.

Scared, the ice girl ran to the boy's chambers and found him smiling peacefully, having died in his sleep to save his kingdom. SHe closed her eyes sadly, and whispered, "You are the shadow to my light. I love you, now, forever, and always. When the brother and the rest of the family came, they found the girl and the boy peacefully together at last, in death.Sorry for the freaky ending, Ryota."

Ryota shrugged. "Eh. The only thing I'm scared of is fire and spiders and bugs and ghosts and you when you get mad. So, I guess a lot and zzzzz...."

He smiled. "I guess you never change.."

Oh, Daigo, if he figured out your hint, forget the dojo, I'll make you end up like that boy in the story.

Daigo paled. What? You wouldn't.

I would. So you'd better stay quiet, or else. Now, go to bed, slave, or else.

Tomorrow was the tournament. He would win. For Ryota, for his weakness, for- for his ice-girl.

Story within a story.... yay! Two more chapters until Daigo versus Yugo... and then- you know what, I won't spoil it. But I've been planning the next four chapters for a while!!!

Robin out!