Chapter 1: Encounter

The cloaked figure made its way through city, silent as ghost. Determination showed itself through every step he took. Where is he? Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a tall, green haired boy walking down the other side of the street. He watched the boy suspiciously as a big, round guy ran up to him and started talk, well yell, excitedly about a battle.

" Kyouya-san," the battler was saying, "Ginga's battling Masamune at the arena and said he wants to battle you later!"

Ginga! The figure watched attentively as Kyouya followed the big battler toward the battle arena. "If that kid is friends with Ginga, then if i follow him he'll take me straight to him," he thought to himself. He followed the two boys until they reached the bey stadium. From within came the faint sound of a bey battle.

"Lets go Benkei, it sounds like their battle is almost over." Benkei followed Kyouya through the entrance without a word; obedient like a dog. The figure followed silently after them.

-:0:-

"Go Pegasis, Star Gazer!" Pegasis shot sown from the sky and collided with its opponent, Ray Unicorn, before sending it out of the dish.

"N-No way, we lost," Masamune said as bent down and retrieved Ray Unicorn, " Ginga! I want a rematch!"

"No way kid, its my turn," Kyouya announced as he made his way towards them, "Ginga its time to settle this once and for all!" As he said this, kyouya pulled out Leone and got him ready to launch. Ginga smiled and did the same.

"Well then, ready 3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Let it Rip!"

Leone and Pegasis shot through the air, but before they could make contact, another bey intercepted them with huge shock sent both Ginga and Kyouya flying backwards. When the dust settled, Pegasis and Leone had been knocked out of the dish and in their place was a single, black bey.

"What was that!" Kenta exclaimed from somewhere in the stands. Madoka, who was standing beside him, looked around the stadium and spotted a cloaked figure at the top of the giant TV.

"Look, everyone, up there!" she yelled pointing to the figure. Everyone turned their heads in time to see the figure jump down from his perch and land on one knee on the ground.

"Bastard!" Ginga shouted, " Who are you and what do you want?" The cloaked figure seemed to look at him skeptically before removing his hood, revealing a shock of brown hair and emerald green eyes.

" My name's Toboe, " the boy said, only looking at Ginga. "and I'm here to battle you. So get ready!"Ginga narrowed his eyes and stared at Toboe. Something about him seemed so familiar, but he couldn't remember. However, before he could respond to Toboe's challenge, Kyouya stepped up from behind him.

"If you want to battle Ginga, your gonna have to go through me." he said as picked up Leone and put him back on the launcher.

"Kyouya..." Ginga said, shocked. Why was Kyouya going to battle for him?

"Idiot!" Kyouya barked at him, "this isn't for you, its so we can go back to our battle. Got that." He never took his eyes of the newcomer as he said this. Ginga smiled and took a couple steps back.

"Fine, whatever, just make it quick." Toboe looked at Kyouya, then Ginga, and then back to Kyouya. This isn't what I wanted, but this one looks pretty strong too...Hmph, we'll just have to see won't we.

"Ready!" Kyouya called out to him.

"Yeah, lets go!"

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Let it Rip!"

The beys shot through the air and landed on opposite sides of the dish, Leone was quick to stop and stay spinning in the middle with his opponent circling around him.

"Go, Dark Tiger, Tiger Slash!" Toboe's bey raced down toward Leone and hit him straight on, sending him back. It then began to attack repeatedly, slowly pushing Leone to the edge.

"Leone, Lion Gale Force Wall!" Leone let loose an explosion of wind that sent Dark Tiger flying to the other side of the dish, who barely managing to stay in the ring.

Ginga watched in fascination as the two battlers exchanged blows again and again, but the longer he watched Toboe, the more familiar he became. The way his eyes never seemed to waver from the battle and his fighting style reminded him of someone he once knew, but had forgotten.

"Your pretty good kid, but that won't be nearly enough. Leone, finish him!" Leone shot forward for a final attack against Dark Tiger and hit him directly. However, Dark Tiger didn't even falter, instead it pushed Leone back.

"Wha-what!"

"Please, did you honestly think that sort of attack would work on me? Let me show what a real final attack is. Dark Tiger, Physic Blast!" Toboe's bey began to glow with a dark energy and the ground beneath it began to crack.

"Leone!" Kyouya cried out to his bey; but it was useless, it was already too late, Leone was done for. The moment Toboe let loose that attack, Ginga knew exactly who he was and it scared him. If he was here, that meant that the others were there as well.

He looked at Kyouya and then at Leone; he couldn't let this attack go through, if it did Leone would surely be destroyed! Ginga raced up the steps and pulled out his launcher.

"Go, Pegasis!" Pegasis shot towards Dark Tiger, stopping it before it could complete its attack, creating a huge explosion. When the dust settled, Pegasis and Dark Tiger were still spinning, but Leone lay between them defeated.

"Ginga! What the hell was that for?" Kyouya yelled at him, but Ginga ignored him and instead glared at Toboe.

"Now, Toboe Haruka," Ginga said, his voice filled with asperity, "Why are you really here?" Toboe looked Ginga straight in the eye before lowering his gaze. When he raised his head again, his eyes were filled with pleading.

"Please, Ginga I need, no, Alice needs your help. I can't save her on my own!" Ginga looked at Toboe in surprise. This can't be happening.

-:0:-

Alice knocked on the door once, before entering. Master sat his desk playing a game of chess.

"What is it?"

"'Master," Alice knelt down onto one knee and bowed her head, "It seems that subject E-57 has made contact with subject A-1." The man stood up from his desk and walked over to the only window in the dark room.

"Is that so," Master turned and faced Alice, who still knelt at the floor, "Rise Alice, I have a job for you. I want you Mina, and Edward to go after A-1 and bring him back to me. Alive." Alice stood and pushed her brown hair out of face.

"Yes, Master."

As he watched Alice leave the building, the man laughed to himself and went back to his chess game. He moved his queen to check the oppenant's king.

"And so it begins, Hagane Ginga."