Hello everyone! Welcome to the first chapter of "Not One of Us!" I don't have much to say other than that except enjoy!
"I can't believe this."
"Doji can't be telling the truth. We know Gingka better than that."
"Are you really sure that he wouldn't join the DNA, chief?"
Madoka turned to Maru with a slight smile on her worried face.
"Yes. The first time I saw Doji, Gingka entirely lost his cool and chased him off in anger. There's absolutely no way he would join them."
"Then why would Doji claim that he had, and how would he have his bey?!" Ren asked.
"I don't know. He must be in trouble." Tsubasa sighed.
Madoka nodded.
"I'll assume you're discussing what Doji has just kindly announced for us." Argo's voice said.
The entire group turned. Zero froze and held his breath in shock, his eyes the only ones to catch the figure shrouded in the shadows behind Argo. He instantly knew who it was, having seen the exact same form merely a few months before, the night before the Neo Battle Bladers final match.
"Alright, what have you done to Gingka?" Tsubasa demanded.
"You'd better not have hurt him!" Madoka said angrily.
"Oh no, he's perfectly fine." Selen said.
"Aren't you, Gingka?" Ian turned towards the back of the room.
The group standing in the WBBA headquarters gasped as the familiar redhead stepped slightly into the light, leaning against the wall calmly. His eyes flashed from the shadows that hid his face as he scanned the group, focusing for a split second on Zero before he looked at Argo, who narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded.
Gingka sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, crossing his arms and thinking deeply for a few seconds before he raised his head and looked at the ceiling.
"What Doji said… It's true. It's your choice whether or not to join DNA as well, but... I've made mine." he said, his voice deathly calm.
"No…" Madoka whispered, tears springing to her eyes.
"I think we've made our point now. The decision is yours, Tsubasa." Argo smirked as Gingka again closed his eyes, looking down at the ground.
Tsubasa growled as the connection cut off.
"He's out of his mind." Benkei said in disbelief.
Tsubasa growled and turned to the group of shocked young bladers behind him. He scanned over the group, noting each wide eye, each open mouth.
"Don't you guys dare switch sides. We'll work this out, there's got to be a solid reason why Gingka joined them, and it had better be good." he said sternly.
The young bladers nodded hesitantly, looking down at the ground in thought.
"Run off to Bey Park or something. We'll take care of this." Benkei said.
Zero nodded slowly and left.
Madoka sat down on the couch and ran her fingers through her hair, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why…?" she whispered.
"We have to get the others here." Tsubasa sighed.
"Others?" Benkei said quizzically, raising an eyebrow.
"The other Legendary Bladers." Tsubasa explained, looking down at his computer with narrowed eyes for a few moments before keying in a few commands.
"Ahh, Tsubasa. How's it going over there?" a female voice came through the speakers at Hikaru came onscreen.
"Fairly well, but we've got trouble. Are Ryo and Kenta there?" Tsubasa asked.
"Hang on, I'll get them." Hikaru disappeared for a few minutes before returning with a worried-looking Kenta and a frantic-looking Ryo.
"It's about Gingka, isn't it?" Ryo said, fighting to keep his voice steady.
"Unfortunately." Tsubasa replied.
"What's happened to him? We already know about Doji." Kenta said.
"We just got a call from the DNA. He was there. He said he had joined DNA." Tsubasa said.
Ryo's eyes widened. "No… He'd never do that!"
"Apparently he would. Kenta, we need you and the other Legendary Bladers to come here and try to convince him to come back, find out what's happened, anything."
"Got it."
"I'm coming too." Ryo looked down, narrowing his eyes.
"There's got to be something behind this, and we'll get to the bottom of it." Madoka said determinedly.
"We'll take the first flight to Metal Bey City we can get." Ryo said.
"Alright. See you soon then." Tsubasa said, ending the connection.
"What do we do now?" Ren asked as she and the others left the WBBA headquarters.
"I don't know." Zero muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking off down the street.
"I'm going home." Kite announced.
"Me too." Eight said.
"I don't suppose anyone wants to join me by the river for a battle?" Shinobu said halfheartedly.
Zero shook his head. "I can't." He whispered sorrowfully.
Ren put an arm around the Ifrit blader's shoulders. "Let's go to the river anyway."
Zero nodded and allowed the blonde to guide him off towards the sparkling ribbon flowing through the city.
"Are you alright?" Ren asked once they were seated by the river.
Zero sighed and laid down, tucking his arms behind his head and staring up at the sky.
"I'm fine." he said after a few moments.
"No, you're not. I can see it in your eyes." Ren said, laying down on her side next to him and resting her head in one hand.
Zero rolled onto his side and looked at her.
"I didn't think he would join them." He admitted.
"He's got to have a reason."
"Yeah. Maybe we're fighting on the wrong side."
"I don't think so."
"But how do we know? After all this time, fighting for the WBBA, for our bey spirits, were we wrong?"
"The Director doesn't seem to think so."
"I know… But after meeting Gingka that night, I'm confused. I mean, he gave me Ifrit all those years ago so that I could carry on and lead the new generation of beyblade, and he helped me by telling me just what I needed right when I needed it so that I could defeat Kira, and now…" Zero sighed and looked away from Ren, over the river.
"Now he's joined the DNA and you're wondering if you should again do as he does and says."
Zero nodded.
"Just be patient. I think we should stick to the WBBA and our bey spirits. Joining the DNA, well, it would mean we'd have to give up battling for fun."
Zero sighed and rolled over onto his back. "I guess you're right."
Ren sat up and looked over the river. "I hope I am." she said quietly.
"You're kidding me."
"Unfortunately, Kyoya, I'm not."
"Hagane's probably just pulling a prank. He'll show up soon enough with that crazy grin of his and tell you that, mark my words."
"But how would he get Doji and the Garcias to believe him if it was a prank? He was there, at the DNA headquarters. And, he was dead serious when he said he had joined the DNA." Tsubasa said.
Kyoya frowned. "Alright, fine. I'm on my way."
"Call any of the others you know. I don't have ways of reaching Dynamis, Titi, or Chris."
Kyoya nodded. "I can do that." he said before cutting the connection.
Tsubasa sighed and called Beylin Temple.
The setting sun turned flowing white to blazing gold. A slight breeze created the appearance of tattered wings behind Gingka as he stood atop one of the towering pieces of the DNA building.
"There you are."
The sound of the smug voice caused Gingka to turn slightly.
"As promised." Kira said, holding out Samurai Pegasus towards the redheaded blader.
Gingka took the silver and azure bey with a slight nod and placed it in his carrying case before turning back to look out over the barren landscape.
"You've been awfully quiet, considering how the Garcias always described you." Kira commented.
"I've changed in the last few years." Gingka said coldly, narrowing his eyes at the DNA blader. "You got a problem with that?"
"Not at all." Kira said smugly, turning and heading back inside.
"Just be sure that you are ready to use your power against your former friends." Kira said before disappearing into the hallway inside.
Gingka sighed and looked down at his hands. "Don't worry." he muttered. "I'm ready."
"How did you ever convince Hagane to actually join us?" Selen asked Argo as the two watched Gingka on the security cameras.
"Easily." Argo smirked, turning and striding down the hall.
Tadaa! There's the first chapter for you guys.
Gingka: I hate you.
Me: No you don't. Now go on, I stocked the emo corner with burgers.
Anyway, until next week, Galaxy out!