DISCLAIMER: BeyBlade is © copyright Aoki Takao and Bandai.

NOTE: Before you even think about jumping to conclusions, this is not meant to replace The Last Moment and Movie Chaos, however thanks to my inspiration going out the window I can not think of any updates for either so this is to fill in the gap and keep you, the readers entertained. This is not a one shot and will be a chapter fic, it is indeed an AU that has morbid themes and a lot of angst. Overall I hope you enjoy the fic!

Dying To Live

by Koukotsu (JDM)

Prologue

It stung. It stung BADLY.

I feel a warm liquid forming on the front of my shirt, the thousands of gasps around me are heard as I weakly raise a hand, I can't believe it... the crimson color is staining my pale hands, DJ Jazzman stands over the arena with a shocked expression, Brooklyn caught his black blade in his hand before casting his icy blue eyes towards me, I can only gasp out a short breath of pain, I hear footsteps gathering around me, whispering and terrified screams. I don't quite understand what happened, I can only remember the darkness Zeus created dragging me under, it was like a cold and thick liquid.

I, Kai Hiwatari died September 13, 2003 during that tournament, all I can remember is the screams and the scared whispers, I'm sure I must of been dead in seconds though I never really felt the pain at all, I only remembered feeling something split through my chest and then I fell back onto the cold, hard floor with a deep red stain forming on my clothing and spilling onto my once white scarf. But the whole thing was so much like slow motion, the bright lights above me blinded me, but they were gradually becoming more and more dim as well as fuzzy and blurry.

I thought dying would hurt more than it did, but no, seeing my team's sadness and the tears they cried hurt even worse despite I barely felt the impact, I can't explain how it happened so quickly, one moment it was just a tournament, I was determined to defeat Brooklyn but the tables were turned, I never thought it could end this way, I remember gasping again from the faint throb that ached through me, I faintly remember Tyson dropping down beside me, his hands planted firmly on the cold floor and the crimson blood staining them red, his brown eyes glazed over with tears.

"Kai! Please...don't die!" Tyson shouted jarring my almost limp body, I swore I could feel his tears pattering against my exposed flesh, from the corner of my eye - in my dying vision, I could see a horrified Hilary standing in the background, her ruby eyes wide as she lifted a hand to cover her mouth, tears coming to her eyes. I wanted to assure my team that I wasn't dying, that everything was alright.

But I couldn't.

I wanted so much to tell them that it didn't have to end here, but it was just too hard.

It's still as clear to me as it has ever been, I remember seeing the look in their eyes, begging and pleading me to hang on, that it would turn out alright in the end. But their eyes told a different story, they knew it was too late. I wanted to tell that that I was alright and that everything would be okay, but no words came. Only a gurgle and the taste of something warm, sticky and salty. I couldn't tell rather I was already dead or if I was just on the verge of it, but all I can remember is Tyson looming over me with tears pouring down his now pale face and everything just went black.

I couldn't see anymore but I could feel him and my other teammates on the floor down next to me, crying and hugging me. The last thing I remember was hearing Tyson's words of "It'll be okay, Kai, we'll get you help...you'll be able to live..."

I thought to myself, "So this is what it's like. No bright light at the end of the tunnel, no angels with trumpets, only an icy darkness. No watching your life replay itself in front of you."

I couldn't have been more wrong.

--

To be continued...