Thanks to all you AWESOME reviewers! Here's the next chapter for ya!

XXXXXX

XXX

XX

Sharik

Kill the Man-Child! He is alone, and there will be nothing but bones left by morning! Kill! Kill!

The barking was deafening as four angry dogs latched onto the boy. Luck saved him from an instantaneous death, for two of them had grabbed onto his scarf and refused to let go. The third, a stocky and thick-furred spitz mutt, had sunk its fangs gamely into Kai's calf. A hiss escaped from Kai's lips when the dog, determined to immobilize its 'prey,' shook its head, and he felt the teeth drag in his skin. The pain was sharp and burned like a knife wound, but this was no time to show weakness. The biggest of the group, a fully grown male Akita, had lunged for Kai's throat, but Kai had grabbed onto him, one hand tugging at the skin on its cheek and the other gripping its ear. Blunt claws scratched at his chest and face as the mad dog struggled wildly, saliva landing in threads on the boy's face. His strength kept him alive for the moment, but the sticky, warm sensation on his right leg told him this would not last for long. He had to kick that one off… he had to stop the constriction of the scarf around his neck… he had to wrestle the Akita onto its side and hold it down… He had to live. Twisting slightly, he kicked out, catching the spitz on the side of its head. The creature yelped and released, shaking its head angrily and pawing at its eye. Kai took advantage of borrowed time and quickly dealt the Akita a swift jab on the nose. It leapt and howled in rage, allowing Kai to jump forward in attempt to pin the dog down…

But a python-like grip around his throat caused him to gag and fall backwards. The two dogs attached to his scarf engaged in a vicious game of tug-of-war, the muscles in their necks bulging and their jaws clamped like a vice. He kicked out again, sending the spitz flying as it went again for his leg, this time catching the mutt below the ribs and winding it. It whined pitifully as it huddled on the ground, tail tucked tightly between its legs. The Akita, however, was a fighter. Eyes bloodshot with fury, it subdued the pain it its bleeding snout as any warrior would, and with raised hackles and hunched shoulders, jumped in again for the brawl. Kai raised his arms to protect his face, but his head was swimming. The two dogs dragged him backwards mercilessly and he couldn't breathe… this was the end.

The barking intensified.

And suddenly, they let go.

Off of him! …Stupid boy! You humans never know how to pick your fights! Let the dogs do the work for you, eh? …Off of him, I say!

An ear-splitting cry rendered the air as Sharik sank his fangs into the nearest dog, a short-legged shepherd mix. Its head was twisted back as the brindled dog's jaws neatly clenched its throat, and blood spurted freely from the severed artery. It stumbled numbly as Sharik's weight drove him backwards.

"M…mercy, I surrender! Let me go and I'll tuck my tail under and leave…"

There was a rule on the streets, and it was "eat or be eaten." Nights of cold and hunger wore away at even the toughest of breeds, and whichever could make it were the hardened, battle-tested of the bunch, with only one instinct: to survive. The brindled one bit down harder and flicked his head. There was a crack, and a second later the body lied limp at his paws.

Slowly, everything came into focus as an odd silence clung about him. Kai could still hear the shuffling of paws, and the occasional huff of breath or low growl, but chaos had stopped for the moment. He struggled to sit up using his hands to bear his weight. He looked down to his side when a warm, tingling sensation met his fingers, then quickly withdrew his hand in disgust. It was a river of blood, seeping out of the throat of the smallest, scraggliest dog, its head now bent at an impossible angle as its dead eyes stared at him with a permanently petrified expression. Then, he felt hot breathing parting the hair on his head, and he swung around, still crouching on the ground, ready to face the enemy, fully expecting to die that night, amid the wild dogs…

But it was only Sharik.

Sharik, whom he had chased away earlier. Sharik, who was half the size of the Akita staring him down. Sharik, bearing a tiger's coat, and perhaps its soul… Sharik, whose dim-yellow eyes stared unafraid into the fiery red ones of his opponent, his breathing even and controlled, reeking of blood… his tail held proudly, his chest out and his head tall.

"YOU! Step aside, mutt! This Man-child has trespassed in my territory and now I will kill him… And then I will kill you for what you have done to my packmate!"

The brindled dog sniffed indignantly. "You know the law. Dogs are forbidden to hunt Man… unless you are wishing death. Your pelt will be hanging on the wall by tomorrow!"

The Akita's eyes blazed as his pride was struck. He snarled and lunged… "DIE!"

Kai was nearly knocked over again as the hundred and ten pound beast leapt for the one behind him. He rolled aside just in time to see the Akita bearing down on Sharik. The mutt had guts, that was for sure. But there was no way he could win against a powerful, bear-like animal nearly twice his weight. Dust rose once again as the two grappled on the ground, and Kai knew he had to act fast. The remaining dog, a lanky, short haired creature with big, pointed ears, paced nervously at the edge of the fray, not daring to join in. The fight was gone from it. The one Kai had kicked was sitting miserably against the wall, neck drooping and breath ragged.

Kai was trained for this. He was taught never to panic, never to succumb to pain or to fear or to… anything. Like the alley dogs, he was streetwise and resourceful, and like them he was scarred, untrusting, hardened, and taught the rule of thumb (and paw): Survive.

A shrill whine sounded behind him and he knew which dog was losing…

Come on, where are you…

It was hard to see in the practically nonexistent light, so Kai crept forward, much to the protest of his right leg, running his hands over the outlines of objects on the ground. The smooth texture of bone passed through his fingers, along with bits of cloth and a shredded takeout container. His pants were soaked to the knee. There wasn't much time left…

He hated this. He hated crawling on his knees like a beggar and reaching out blindly. He felt helpless, but then he remembered he did not know how to feel that way. He hated that he needed help, that he was saved… by a dog, no less. He hated that he needed to now save that dog, because he owed that dog his life…

There! A phoenix's fire erupted within his hand as he held on tight. Finally, finally, Dranzer was back. Now he turned to face the fight, pulling his laucher out of his pocket… Kai had never done this before. This was not what beyblades were meant to do. But he knew Dranzer could chip solid rock and sheer through aluminum as if it were butter, so flesh and bone should not be a problem…

He was already breathing heavily as he stood up and slumped against the wall, but his arm was steady as he took aim. His free arm tensed as he mentally said in his mind, "let it rip!" Then there was a whir as the rip cord zipped through the launcher, a whoosh of air as Dranzer shot out like a bullet, and the most unearthly sound, as her talons found her target.

The dog convulsed wildly, ramming its head into the ground and screaming shrilly. A glint of metallic blue, coated with red, shone from under the fur at the back of its head as the Akita desperately attempted to dislodge it. Then, its body gave one final shudder and it was gone.

The outline of the smaller dog lying on the ground twitched and the shape of a head rose, perked ears focused on the boy. The shadow trembled as it rose to its paws and drew closer…

He hated that his hand instinctively went out to stroke the animal, the dirty, stupid animal that didn't know how to properly pick fights. The dirty, stupid, brilliantly brave creature…

"Sharik, you crazy mutt," Kai muttered, scratching him behind the ears. He could tell the dog was wounded, though even then it did not forget to wag his tail. Dranzer was removed with much difficulty (and disgust) and put back where she belonged, and the two slowly made their way back into town.

You're a strange one, wolf-eyed boy. Why did you protect me? No, you don't understand… I was protecting you, and you were supposed to run. I was supposed to die and you were supposed to live. But I suppose we're both alive now… though this whole mess wouldn't have happened if you'd listened to me to begin with. And I don't suppose you have anything nice for me in your pockets this time, eh? Ingrate.

Street lamps once again appeared, their eerie glow as comforting as campfires compared to the darkness before. Kai looked back and behind them was a void of black, as it was when the dogs came at him. He remembered going through the underpass because he knew Dranzer was there. He knew. There was a brief glow of red, the bitchip calling to its master. But then there were shadows, and growling, and then came the fangs.

Under the lights Kai could see the deep gash on the dog's chest, as well as numerous other cuts on its body. Though while he couldn't help but limp with each step, Sharik was showing no signs of pain at all, his pace still brisk and light. Kai sighed deeply. He knew he would live, though the loss of blood was making him a bit light headed… Not to mention he had to clean out the wound once he got back. And oh, the questioning he would get from the rest of the Bladebreakers. Suddenly, he was dreading the return more than the fight before… but the Granger Dojo loomed ahead, and he knew he would have to face them eventually.

XX

X

The lights were out, meaning they had gone to sleep. They were used to Kai leaving early in the morning and returning late at night, or the next day, or whenever he felt like it, really. Sharik, on the other hand, wagged his tail, remembering this as the place where the dragon-boy was earlier. He liked that boy. A sudden thought struck Kai: what am I going to do with the dog? He paused at the gate. He doubted they would mind him dragging home a stray animal (Rei brought cats back all the time). But, it was so… unlike him to do such a thing. Sharik was already sniffing around the garden though, perhaps looking for a scrap to eat. And he did need some fixing up...

Soundlessly, Kai slid open the screen door and reached out once more. Sharik cocked his head at the dark opening, where he smelled warmth and good food. It was enticing. He was at the foot of the steps now, but he went no further.

"Let's go, Sharik," Kai said quietly, not wanting to wake the household. He gestured with his arms for the dog to go in, but apparently Sharik did not understand, for he stood his ground. Kai's leg shook, reminding him he had other things to take care of as well… He gently put a hand on the nape of the dog's neck, which Sharik allowed, but it was when he pulled at the loose skin that things went wrong…

With a surprised and angry bark, he twisted his head and snapped at Kai's fingers, missing them by mere inches. Then he backed away, shaking the feeling out of his fur and shooting the boy looks of anguish. One by one, the lights turned on and the doors to the rooms slid open. Voices and commotion sounded from within the dwelling and Kai groaned, anticipating what was to come. He could see an outline of a person stumbling down the hall, groping the walls for the light switch. It was Rei, first to react and most intuitive of the bunch, Kai knew. Tyson was probably still asleep… Stupid dog, look what you've done! Kai turned, but Sharik was already gone. He was suddenly aware that he was sitting on the steps now, his leg painting the wood red. The gate looked dark and empty.

"Hey Kai…" Rei yawned sleepily, totally unsurprised that his captain was sitting at the porch at such an hour (oft times he was on the roof…) "Did you hear tha…. KAI! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEG?"

And then Kai knew he had more to worry about at the moment than just some dog.

XX

X

Ah, I know that scent. The slave-dogs reek of it when they prance down the street with their masters. Ohhh, but now I know what draws them so…That smell, smells like the way your hand did when we first met…

Suddenly, he stopped, a vague memory sending off warning signs in his head that this was not a safe place to be. He couldn't place it properly… but there were shadows of big, burly Men, and there was an enticing smell like this… but it hurt to be in the Man-cave. He couldn't remember what hurt, but it did…

And then he remembered, because the wolf-eyed boy, his wolf-eyed boy, had grabbed his neck. He remembered the feeling of claws scratching against the ground, and the clattering of paws scrambling, and the uncomfortable twisting below his head, and he knew this must be how an animal felt before a wolf killed it in their jaws. The boy wanted to drag him in to his Den, where there was Hurt.

Hey! Let go of me, Human! Don't you DARE. You killed that big dog without touching him, you did, but I'm not afraid of you… you or your wolf eyes! Were you tricking me all along, eh? That is so like your kind…

Sharik was confused though, because the boy's eyes were suddenly very wide, and he was suddenly very still. Dogs were expert at reading eyes, and Sharik could have sworn this one said I'm sorr… But he didn't get the chance, because the boy had turned around to look behind him, where other Men were awaking and crawling out of their dens.

I don't understand you, Wolf-eyed one. Your hand is warm, yet it bites. Your actions are questionable, yet your eyes seemed sincere…

There was a lot of sound and motion, and that meant soon more Men would be here… A stinging in his chest reminded him he needed to lick his wounds, and it was time he was gone from there. And so he ran. He was good at that.

****End Chapter***

XXXXXX

XXX

XX

YES I am aware that this was horribly unrealistic. Can a scrawny 65 lb mutt really last that long against an Akita and get out with only a few gashes? Can a beyblade really go through somebeast's head like that? Probably not. Bear with me.

Dogs are resilient though, so you have to give them that much at least.

Inspiration comes sporadically, I apologize if the next update doesn't come for a while. Hope you liked this one though!

-Canyx