If anyone reading this follows me on tumblr you've seen this one already.

This chapter is set the night before Kai faces Brooklyn again in the BEGA tournament. I was wondering why they still let Kai compete even though he'd just been released from the hospital (so they all thought. We all know Kai is useless at caring for himself and just... wandered the city... instead of getting medical attention) and I've always thought Kai's development from s1 where he punched and kidnapped and threatened people from BBA, to s3 where he dies for them, was something really touching, and I wanted to hint at that kind of devotion and how the BBA team didn't really know how far Kai was willing to go for them.

Characters: Rick, Kai, Mao, Max, Takao, Emily, and Rei

Warnings: mentions of Kai's injuries from his first match with Brooklyn, so like, stitches and bruises. Otherwise this should be a pretty clean chapter.

Rick turned to face Kai, eyeing his tattered clothing and all of the stitches and bruising on his body, "Not to rain on your parade, because you're the only other person who mastered the metal gear system, but I feel like I'm pointing out the obvious in asking if you're really our best choice for tomorrow's match."

The former Bladebreakers all turned on Rick to defend Kai, but Rick held up his hands in a pleading gesture.

"Hey I mean no offense, but Kai literally just got out of the hospital," Rick explained, "from battling one of the guys that's still left on the team to face. I feel like we want someone who's in their best form if we actually want to win—which let me remind you we have to."

"Yeah," Max said, "I get your point, but Kai is the only one who can control a metal gear system. He's the only choice we've got."

"Not exactly," Mao butted in, leaning over Rick's lap to join the conversation, "Kai at his best is a sure deal, but maybe we'd be better off sending in someone healthy—even without the metal gear system."

"We could but… you saw how strong these guys are Mao," Rei said softly, "I think we're still putting our best foot forwards with Kai."

"My health won't be a problem," Kai said.

"Look I get that you're tough, but these fights are taking everyone to their limits. If your injuries hold you back, I don't know if I'll be able to forgive you for losing it for all of us," Rick said.

"Rick," Max chided.

Mao shrugged, "I agree with him—though in nicer words. Kai these matches are really intense. What if you get put back in the hospital? Or worse?"

Kai shook his head, "It won't be a problem."

"We need a win, Kai," Rick said, "at all costs. If you're willing to do that, then I can support you."

"Okay but don't kill yourself," Mao amended, eyeing Rick warily, "as long as you believe you can win, we're with you one hundred percent."

"I believe in you!" Takao added.

"And you really think you can win, hey?" Emily leaned in over Mao's shoulder, "what makes you think you can do what no one else has?"

Kai glanced at his team mates, "Because they need me to."