Yo! Chapter 6 for All Bets Are Off is being a real btch. I can't seem to get things to flow right. I had a friend look it over and this was te reaction : (stares blankly st screen, looks at me, back to screen, opens mouth, pauses, closes mouth, repeat last three gestures) "Are you kidding me? Eager for smut in a nightclub, aren't you?" - So everything's being fixed!
Cause apparently we can't have steamy smut in a nightclub without giving away a few secrets.
So I've brought you all my fic titled: Proud Warrior. I'm not sure how many chapters cause I wrote this out without chapter divisions so I'll break them when I deam it necessary. I don't own Beyblade and I never will. Warnings: My characters are OOC. Definate OOC. Cause Tala's WAY too soft in this. But what can you do?
Proud Warrior
(Tala's P.O.V.)
How can you even blade with someone like that?
Tch. I hear that question all the time. I know. I know. He's an unfeeling bastard but (sigh) I guess that's why I put up with him. I'm that way too I guess.
Even now, when you're supposed to be completely in tune with your emotions, it's like he doesn't have any. He remains impassive, indifferent, unconnected. It's a wonder he's still spinning so strong.
Wolborg circles the dish, apparently immune to the effects of the battle in the center of the dish. The twin horses were concentrating on him without paying me any attention. I'd have been insulted but this was classic behavior. Attacking the stronger of the two was their strategy but I admit it is overused. A tag team was supposed to fight both.
The twin horses assaulted the blade but it still remained still. It's Blader acted indifferent to the attack and my Wolborg continued to circle.
Patience. I could be patient. It may not be their most notable trait but wolves could be patient.
It was laughable really. How many times had people looked at me and Kai and saw no similarity? If we had one it was our scowl and attitude but even then Kai acted different.
His element was fire. His bit beast hailed from the beasts of the air. His mood was frequently passive and cold. He only ever responded with one word syllables unless he was calling out Dranzer. His blade ran on internal anger, that was all I knew about it.
I'd seen the match after I reawakened. Never before had I ever seen Kai display so much power, so much…emotion. I'd never watched a battle for so long without breathing but I found that every time Kai would fall, my heart would stop. He burned with power and he conqueror the god of the bit beasts. I watched as he fell, only to be caught by his team, and then walk away. I'd never known anyone to be so strong.
But I saw him afterward. He had fallen from the highest pedestal. He had burned himself out but the pride never vanished.
And it's still not gone. When Dranzer vanished, she seemed to take with her the very soul from Kai. But each day that came back piece by piece. Each day we found him at the bey-dish, fingers and arms shaking from fatigue and panting heavily. Each day, he climbed back up. He was reborn.
F-Dynasty move in now. Raul launches Julia's blade into the air in their signature assault. Her blade slams Dranzer MS and finally Kai's blade shows that it has been affected by something. I catch his eye and I know what he wants to be done. Wolborg charges in and icy mist trails after him. It's a pre- Novae Rog mist. Just cool enough to drain away the heat.
Dranzer returned to him. I remembered that day clearly. Tyson's battle. He seemed to call Dranzer from inside him. She appeared in all her ruby-gold glory and joined the assault against the god. She burned her way inside of him and he kept her there. I can see the flames in his eyes even now.
Wolborg slammed Dranzer and the contact threw the two blades apart, Julia and Raul spinning in the center. Now, do you want to finally see what Kai and I have done with our bond? Do you want to witness our powers now?
Mist rolls from Wolborg and instead of striking Raul or Julia, I direct him towards Dranzer. Dranzer begins to glow and flames lick the sides of her blade. Wolborg lowers the temperature below freezing as Dranzer burns like a volcano. The two temperatures are conflicting but they increase to the highest and lowest degrees possible. Wolborg twines around Dranzer and her flames lick my blade.
I looked Kai straight in the eye. This attack wasn't quite perfect yet but you have to fail before you succeed. Wolborg and Dranzer wrap their temperatures around one another and their blades begin to dance. F-Dynasty attempts to evade but in one fell move, Dranzer wraps them in a wreath of flames and ice holds the two together. Wolborg flips Dranzer into the air and then streaks after Raul and Julia. He shatters the ice and the blades fly into the air. Dranzer calls again and dives from her element, a burning creature of blue flame.
She hits the two off kilter blades and they fly out of the stadium. However, Dranzer is still burning and Wolborg still spinning. They crash into one another but it's unlike all the other times in practice. Their conflicting velocities created a single moment of frozen time. Dranzer slides aside to spin beside my Wolborg and her blade gently flecks away the ice chips still clinging to him, keeping him stationary.
I turned to stare at Kai, to see if he had any explanation for what our bit-beasts just did. He was staring at Dranzer, his eyes wide and his mask gone. He held up his hand to catch her as she flew from the dish. I caught Wolborg but I never took my eyes from him.
Without his mask, there was fatigue and raw determination. He looked like he was going to collapse but pure strength of will kept him standing. That and the glowing bit-chip in his hand.
"Hey, Kai. I've got the data on your battle just now." Kenny called from behind us. He turned to look at their technician and I finally moved my eyes off Kai, and onto my Wolborg. Something sparkled on the attack ring, jammed between the bit-chip and the ring. Frowning, I turned the blade and it fell into my palm.
"Show me that last attack on screen." He said as he walked over to the small boy.
I held it in my palm, studying it. It was brilliant red but cool to my touch. Like I froze a piece of Dranzer's fire.
Our battle with F-Dynasty filled the screen on the far wall. Raul and Julia walked over to stand beside the other two, watching the battle to find their flaws. I stayed by the dish to watch the battle. I didn't need to see it again. I could see it play over in my mind.
"Pause it here Kenny." He said and I looked over. The screen was paused on te section of the battle when Dranzer and Wolborg were supposed to crash into one another and send each other flying.
"I don't know how to explain it, Kai. Dranzer should have hit Wolborg head-on. After that attack, there shouldn't have been enough power to generate a strong enough force to push the other away." Kenny said, frowning at the computer screen.
"What's going on, Tala?"
I looked up to see Bryan and Spencer leading a bunch of worn bladers into the battle diagnostics arena. I closed my fist over the little jewel and pocketed Wolborg.
"Kenny, can you play the last half of the battle for everyone?" I asked with a slightly raised voice. Bryan frowned at me but I shook my head. "Just watch the screen."
They all turned their eyes to the screen, except for Kai who was staring at Dranzer. Guess he can't figure it out either. I walked over to Kai and watched him play with Dranzer, trying to remove something from her attack ring. He pulled it away and held up a piece of ice blue crystal.
"It's warm." He muttered just loud enough for me to hear. I opened my fist discreetly and showed him the red crystal. "And this is cold." I said in a questioning tone.
He caught my eyes and ten turned to Kenny. I understood. We'd have to ask the Chief about it. But later, once practice was over.
Heh. That's right. We're BBA now. All the teams are really, except for the BEGA. I don't really know what they're going to do yet but I have a few very educated sources. What I know will blow some of these people out of the water.
But anyway, the Blitzkrieg Boys are BBA now. We joined because, well, honestly, it was because of Kai. He was G Revolutions and our defiance to BEGA had made us prime candidates right after him. We were recruited in. Not that we minded, Ian was coming back from Russia to stay here. Our true home was back in Russia, in Moscow, but we had a home here too.
Better yet, we were needed here. That's a first in itself. We weren't needed in Balkov Abbey. We were expandable there. Like their own tools they could modify and play with until a better model came along. A better tool like BEGA. Now, we were vital to the BBA. Our knowledge, experience, our blading styles, our spirit for the game, we were needed here heart and soul.
That's why no one felt any more tension with us. The White Tigers X had forgiven Bryan and were now even training with him. They valued his speed and power. He could smile with them, something he never did in the past and now did frequently. His animosity was still there. Just redirected. He certainly didn't warm up to Kai completely, not even after BEGA.
Spencer had, surprisingly, become good friends with Rick and Max. The two burly teens sparred all the time and Max and he combined their knowledge on water-beasts and were now very apt at manipulating the element completely. He still said little but when he spoke, it was hardly ever a biting comment.
And me, well, I guess you could say that I'm still working on it. They respect my talents and generally laugh at any of my sarcastic comments. But it seemed odd. It was almost hero-worship, but to a lesser degree. Heh. My fight out of a coma I got myself into had affected them all. It was now like I was a precious object that decided to walk around.
The only ones who treated me without that amazement and admiration were my Blitzkrieg Boys and Hiro. Even Tyson acted like that sometime. Tch. Picture it, a group of bladers, all of whom by the way have unbelievable talent by themselves, are treating me, one of their worst enemies in the past and ruthless blader now, like some glass statue or a figure of devotion. It was purely sickening.
Sure, I fought top protect our Blading world. I formed the Blitzkrieg Boys for the sole purpose of saving everything we loved so much. Okay, I fought my way out of a coma, with Kai's help which they all seem to forget occasionally, that should have kept me until I died. But seriously, where was the joy in that?
They all stand up for their beliefs and while they may falter, they remember what that strength was and kept fighting. That's the spirit we're teaching here. The Blitzkrieg Boys are the ones who show the new bladers and others what it truly means to be a Beyblader.
Tch. I don't know. That's what bothers me the most about that. Dranzer and Wolborg acted independently, something they usually did when no one noticed, and generated high levels of power without taping ours. Not consciously anyway. And then there was these crystals .It was like I froze fire and Kai burned ice. Heh. Listen to me spouting poetry.
"Kai. Let's set up for the next round." Ray said as he gestured to the beydish. "Who do you want next?"
He turned away from staring at my hand. To stare at Ray, the tiger blader stood by the dish along with all the others. They looked at him expectantly. He really did lead this group. Guess his battle and determination showed them how hard he could fight for them.
"PPB All-Stars and White Tigers X. Two on two. Use as little bit-beast action as possible." He said and then walked over to the adjoining room.
Their orders received, the teams paired up and everyone counted down the battle. They launched and the sounds of grinding metal filled the room. The Chief was typing away and battle stats appeared on screen as he adjusted them.
I nodded to Bryan and Spencer , who were watching me, and then walked out of the room. My job for the day was done. They didn't need me for this, I only battle with Kai. Just like Tyson and Daichi, Max and Rick, Claude and Miguel, and Ray and Lee always battled their best with one another. It's just how things went, and seeing as I wasn't on either the All-Stars or the White Tigers, I could go hang around for a bit.
I stalked the halls in a foul mood. Nothing had changed. I still had no idea why Wolborg decided to go off and leave me high and dry. If I couldn't control him anymore, then was I getting weaker? Maybe I wasn't good enough to be partnered with the ice wolf anymore.
I slammed my fist on the wall and let it slide along the cool metal. Now I was doubting myself. Just freaking great.
Wolborg responded to confidence, determination, strength, self-awareness, leadership. If I was doubting myself now, then it just proved that I can't partner him anymore.
He glowed coldly in my pocket, but the sensation was a comfort. I knew what he was telling me. He disagreed completely with my earlier doubt. He sent more chill air out of my pocket and it curled around my spine soothingly. I brushed my thumb over the bit-chip to in turn soothe the disgruntled wolf. I could almost hear the low appreciative growl through my jacket pocket.
I stopped walking when I reached the dorms. I pulled open the door to my room and walked over to my desk and turned on the computer. My messenger told me that Ian was now happily situated on a bus to the airport. And he sounded so thankful about it too. Though if the pictures he sent were any clues, he decided to move with company of a more beastly variety. This was going to be terrific. Heh.
I closed it and tilted back in my chair. Now that everything had cooled down, it was nothing but train, eat, sleep, train, etc. No new threats on the horizon. No new bladers with unusual bit-beasts that threatened to destroy our sacred blading world. No new corporation bent on world domination through the honorable game of Beyblading. This was going to suck. I lived for the new. It seriously looked like, for once, a boring year.
I dropped the legs back to the floor and ran a hand through my hair. Kai would keep them training for most of the night. So I was going to blow off the rest of the day, and go spend my time people watching.
I pulled my jacket off and changed into street clothes. The ratty denim hung loose and the black t-shirt boasted the name of some off-color local band. I grabbed a hat and mashed my devil horns down. I could almost hear my teammates now. Aren't you afraid of ruining your perfect hair, captain? and All that hair gel gone to waste, what a shame. and Wearing your hair down like that makes you look even more feminine than usual. All that was generally said with laughter and teasing. Sure, it annoyed me, but, heh, what can a guy do? I had to admit, really grudgingly, I liked them well enough not to kill them.
I smoothed it down and grabbed my jacket, it was a real common one now. People would think that I admired that Tala Beyblader they all watched on TV.
I grabbed my cell phone too, stuffing it in my pocket beside Wolborg. I checked to be sure I had my wallet and then slipped out of the room and into the hallway. I was out of there within a minute. Come on, do you really think that the security system here could hold a candle to that death trap known simply as The Abbey?
I walked the sidewalk in the same way I saw all the normal, high school students doing. My skills in that are lacking I admit, but I probably knew more than any of their highest students. I liked to watch them. I don't know why but it calmed me. To see all these people enjoying themselves without ever knowing what could have happened had I won that tournament years ago, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Heh.
I turned a corner and walked into the coffee shop that sat on the corner. I opened the door and warm coffee scents, and mellow music assaulted my senses. I sighed and took a seat at the table against the wall. Tch. Just because I'm paranoid, didn't mean they weren't out to get me, right? I smiled slightly at the waitress as she came over.
She was a nice girl. She didn't ask me any questions, didn't flirt, didn't stare at me, even after she figured out who I was. She had just smiled conspiratorially and brought me my order. I liked this girl. Thank gods for smart people.
She placed my usual order on my table after a three minute break. I slid my chair back to the floor and bit into the muffin. Banana nut muffin just the way I liked them. I took my time eating it as I watched the people in the coffee shop and on the streets through the glass window.
Just regular people doing regular things. All of them mindlessly going on. None of them had to worry about their control over some ancient spirit. None of them had a cold crystal of red in their pocket. None of them had the apathetic attitude that I was currently sporting.
I tilted back again and balanced my coffee cup on my knee. This was really going downhill wasn't it? I rocked back and forth and sipped more coffee. I pulled out the crystal and set it on the table. I stared at it. It was mocking me. I knew exactly what was going on in that little crystal mind of its. And all of it had to do with laughing at the red-haired blader sitting across and above it.
I moved the cup to my other hand and reached out to run a finger down the side of the red crystal. It shimmered in the pale light of the coffee house and cast a red haze on the table. It was a complete mystery to me. I opened my link with Wolborg and conveyed to him my concerns over the delicate shard in front of me. I felt the swell of emotions from him. He had no clue where it came from, what it was made of, or what it was doing with me. I didn't know whether to be relieved or annoyed. If he didn't know then it was doubtful that anyone else would. But I was going to ask Kenny anyway, cause that's what Kai wanted to do so, heh, why not?
I downed the last of the coffee and placed the cup on the table, beside my tip. I picked up the crystal, slid it in my pocket, and went up to the counter with my check. I paid and waved slightly to the waitress. She nodded and cleaned up the table as the bell chimed behind me. I followed the crowd down the street to the crosswalk.
A few guys were waiting at the crosswalk. They were laughing hysterically, holding on to one another as they shook with laughter. I watched them curiously. No one I knew acted so immature. Scratch that, I did but I never was with them when they acted like this. Come to think of it, I wasn't with anyone who was so open all the time. Even Daichi had a serious side that he showed when he wasn't in training, on occasion anyway.
When the light turned, they started across the street and I followed them for only a block. I heard snatches of conversation but then I turned to walk down to the park. I sighed appreciatively at the lush grass and calm wind. If I had to pick a third favorite place, after Russia and the coffee shop, this would be it. I walked deep into the park and continued on off the grass down to a grove of trees. They stood tall and caught the wind.
I laid down on my back and stared up at the tree branches. They swayed sensuously and I crossed my arms behind my head. I closed my eyes and relaxed. All the tension coiled in my arms and legs eased and I sighed again. I let my mind wander.
There was the crystal, Wolborg and Dranzer acting independently, and all the stress this week. Maybe I was going crazy and dreamed this whole mess. Maybe I never left The Abbey at all and this was some virtual world that existed only in the part of my mind that had fused with the cyberization. Maybe…Heh. Too many maybes and not enough answers; that was the problem here.
X-X-X-X-V-X-X
Feel like scooping out your brains or sending me hate mail yet? I'll welcome any and all. More apologies for getting Tala off on the wrong foot and neatly explaining why they're all living in the BBA Headquarters like a happy little family.
I'll make sure the next chapters better. And I'm not telling any secrets. Not for all the smutty scenes in the world. Oh, on a slightly related side-note, this will have Yaoi of the TalKai variety. (That's right. TALKai. Dominate-Tala's a real smexy idea) "Ja'ne!" (Flame me if you dare!) -St. MySoul