Eternally Bound

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade; I only own this plot, Arnia, and any other characters you may not recognise.

Author's Note: My first attempt at a Beyblade fanfic, so I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3

The corridor in which I travelled was not only void of humans, but was clinically free of almost everything else besides, and the emptiness caused an echo with every step I took against the laminated flooring, despite the softness of the soles of my shoes. The rhythmic sound of my feet comforted me and I leant against the lemon wall and allowed my self to realise a small unhindered sigh.

Although I had been wandering around for the best part of an hour, I didn't allow this to dissuade me and I felt content. Whilst I had suffered great frustration not 20 minutes ago, I let that pass and began to make the most of my situation. After pulling open every door I happened upon, and realising this place had more storage cupboards than even I could imagine, I soon became exhausted of this futile method and instead relied upon my ears.

Upon arrival at the BBA headquarters in Moscow, both my parents and I travelled the height of the building and arrived at Mr Dickenson's private offices. Here a clandestine board meeting would take place concerning private benefactors, organiser's and hosts for the world championships due to start in a matter of days.

In the hope of keeping up appearances, I of course, had been brought along so my parents seemed the attentive sort who wouldn't leave their precious only child at home alone in an unfamiliar country. I, myself did hazard a guess at the truth that it was more likely because they didn't want me going off with the blader's. This, though, I didn't know for sure, but judging by my mother's recent actions it seems like something that could only be on her agenda. I was still unsure of my mothers reasoning behind this opinion of hers and she of course was in no rush to tell me.

My parent's plans for me today were to sit quietly at the back of the board room, observing the meeting but not making any sort of input. But as my luck would have it, it wasn't quite what Mr Dickenson had in mind. Stopping my parents and I before we had even entered the room, he announced in a loud carrying voice that as I wasn't on the committee I was not allowed to attend the meeting for the privacy of the subject matters. Before my parents had time to object he had shepherded me towards the lift, whilst surreptitiously telling me the Bladebreaker's where in the building doing some last minute training, and I had his full permission to roam the building until I found them.

But the crafty old fox must have planned that all along. I couldn't count the number of times I had been forced into those meetings and there had never been a problem before. Yet suddenly there is a worry about privacy which happens to coincide nicely with my friend's presence in the building. All I could do was thank God that my parents had been blessed with all the brains that He gave to a goldfish. And while I was at it I should be thankful that I didn't get my intelligence from them.

Then again I wonder where my brains did span from, perhaps the same person I inherited my hair, I wondered as I ran my fingers through my still all too unfamiliar blonde tresses. Each day I still got a shock as I looked in the mirror and many a times had spun round to check there was no one behind. I guess my hatred for the colour had led to my reluctance to get used to it, plus give it a few weeks for things to cool down between my mother and I and I would dye it back to its original colour.

To arrive at my current destination I felt I must have travelled the full length of the building. Swimming pools, gyms, cafeterias, faculty rooms, this building truly had them all in abundance. But the one thing I couldn't fathom was that it was sparse of all people. I had seen a few workers and the odd trainee but other than that the building was almost deserted.

I wondered if the Bladebreaker's where honestly that famous to warrant having the whole building emptied just for there privacy. From what they'd shown me by my becoming friends with them, they way they acted around me and others, you wouldn't have thought so, but I must admit the publicity did seem to speak otherwise. You couldn't seem to go anywhere around Moscow without seeing the face of at least one of them plastered to some random surface. It's pretty unnerving flicking the TV on first thing in the morning and find Kai glowering down at you, but I'd slowly gotten used to it and even the paparazzi don't scare me anymore.

Pushing myself off from the wall I realised it was imperative for me to find the boys as quickly as possible if I wanted to spend any real time with them at all. Once again I carried on down the corridor and soon reached the stairways leading on down to the 3rd floor. Just to the left stood a vending machine stocked full of drinks which I quickly pounced upon with the intention to cure my increasing thirst. Sliding in a few coins into the slot, I stood a while debating which of the drinks to choose to do the job. Disregarding the many lines of coke, I decided to try something a little more native and punched in the numbers. With a loud clatter out popped the Kvass and I took hold of the metallic surface, relishing its coolness before snapping the cap and taking a few grateful gulps.

With can in hand I commenced down the stairs at a steady pace. When I was within 5 steps of the bottom a faint whirring sound drifted toward me and found its way into my ears. Quickening my pace I took the remaining stairs at a run and barrelled through the door at the bottom, straight into a stark corridor so like the many others I had travelled. This one, however, was different. With each step I took the sound became louder, and a clinking noise now accompanied it.

Carrying on running towards the ever increasing sound I slid to a halt when I realised the sound was no longer coming from in front of me, but instead through the double doors to my left. Pressing my ear against it, I found the sound to be much louder inside, and my heart leaped as I realised I may have finally arrived at my much wanted destination.

Pushing on the door I created a slight gap between the two and slipped into the room beyond, keeping hold of the door until it had shut fully and silently. I found myself into what first appeared to be another corridor but the openness of the other end showed me it was a tunnel leading on to a further destination.

Edging along slightly, keeping myself pressed to the walls as not to disturb anyone that could be in the room, I moved towards the end of the tunnel. From my vantage point I had a full view of the whole area with the added bonus that the shadows kept me shrouded from sight. Looking around I found myself in a large stadium, about half the size of the ones I had seen on TV but huge non the less. In the middle was a giant Beydish which the boys I had been searching for where stood around.

Taking a slight step forward, I started calling out to them when I caught myself. Staring down at their faces I couldn't bring myself to disturb what was happening between them, slinking back into the darkness I contented myself to just watch for now.

On each of their faces, Tyson, Max, Ray and even Kai, was a look of utmost concentration, but beyond that what I found most interesting was the sense of euphoria printed there. Each of the boys was doing what he most loved and putting every ounce of his soul into doing it with passion.

Looking down at the spinning tops in the dish below them, even they seemed different. No longer did I just see little toys, spinning erratically with no sense or purpose. No, now it seemed different, these blades where an extension of the person controlling them, they worked together, not just worked, they where together, as one. The love these boys held for the sport was greater than anything I'd ever seen, or anything I'd ever experienced.

Beyblading was their life, and at this moment they wouldn't exist without it. Watching them blade gave me a new found respect for the sport, and I knew I would forever see it in a different light. I felt as though some long forgotten feelings where stirring up inside me, and by watching the exchange between the boys, I was finally allowing my true self to break free. I wanted nothing more than to go down and join them, to live the second they where living, but chose to remain hidden a little longer.

Beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads, and even from this distance I saw their damp hair stuck to their foreheads. The battle in the dish that still raged on was reduced to Tyson vs. Ray. Both exhausted but neither willing to yield. However friendly the match was, not one of them was going to give less than everything.

The more I watched, the harder I concentrated on the game, the clearer a strange understanding came to me. I knew this game. Everything they did I could follow. Every strategy that was put into place, I knew it's meaning and could predict it's outcome. Five minutes ago the game seemed to me as if it would last forever, now, now I knew that wasn't true. The way Ray's blade teetered on the corner's, how every so often, if only for a few seconds, it's speed would drop, how his teeth where clenched against the effort it took to maintain the pretence he could win. Tyson would be the winner of this match, not because of any supreme skills, but because he knew his opponents weakness was stamina, and he knew how to play that against him.

Within mere moments of this thought crossing my brain, Ray's blade slowed down substantially and his hit's against Tyson where weakening with each attempt. With one almighty thrust of strength Tyson directed his blade to smash into Ray's, knocking it off course and spinning out the dish, landing at Ray's feet. Letting out a small Ha! of triumph, a smile crept onto my face at my success of predicting the outcome of the match. The smile only grew ever larger as I watched Tyson celebrate his success in such an over the top way I thought Ray would become violent, but instead joined in the congratulations, quickly joined by Max. The only person not joining in was Kai, who still had a serious look on his face as he re-attached his blade to his launcher.

With only enough time to let out a piercing scream, Kai's blade shot towards me at a terrifying speed. Missing me by a quarter of an inch the blade sliced clean through the can I was holding as if it was nothing more than butter, burying itself in the wall behind me, causing the sticky red liquid to splash over my leather bound feet.

As the shock of what had just happened solidified, I let out a shaky breath I must have been holding in. Trying to turn around and walk quickly away, knowing I was unwanted was impossible as my feet where still rooted to spot. Closing my eyes to at least imagine myself away from this place, I took a few more deep breaths, only to open my eyes to find Ray, Tyson and Max running towards me, looks of concern gracing their features.

Seeing them speed towards me, I snapped me out of my current state and took two steps forwards, only to be enveloped by Ray's strong arms and pulled into his tight embrace. Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, he gently whispered "Are you ok?"

Most likely feeling rather than seeing my nod he gave me one last squeeze before releasing me, but keeping one arm slung around my shoulder's whilst Tyson came over and placed his arm round my other. With Max leading the way we headed down the stairs built into the stadium, towards the arena at the bottom.

As we reached the bottom Max took us to the seats in the front row, opposite the dug out in which their team captain currently resided. Relinquishing hold of my shoulders the two boys allowed me to follow Max into a seat whilst they stood away a little in the aisle eyes fixated on Kai. Anger flashed across their faces and without warning Ray and Tyson jumped over the barrier at the bottom and strode over to Kai. Taking hold of my hand Max gave it a little squeeze and I knew that I may not like what was about to happen but it was for my sake.

"Are you completely stupid, what did you do that for." Ray's voice reverberated around the stadium and his anger rang clear.

"Not that it's any of you're business what I choose to do Ray, but she shouldn't have been spying on the practice." Kai's voice by no means matched Ray's in volume but the emptiness of the stadium amplified every syllable.

"Spying? Who's she going to report to? She probably just wanted to come down and speak to us but didn't want to disturb the practice. That and she didn't want to face you're wrath, since you've been nothing but horrible to her since she came." Ray carried on.

"I don't like the girl, if you continue being friends with her you'll find she's nothing but trouble, but that's your choice and I've made mine"

At Kai's words I couldn't help but let out a small gasp, is that what he really thought about me?

"Whether or not you like her Kai, that doesn't give you the right to hurt her, she could have been seriously injured with a move like that, why would you want to do that?" Tyson injected.

"I don't have to justify myself to you Tyson, now you can have a 15minute break and when I come back we'll start the real training." With that Kai got up and left the arena.

Seeing Kai was gone, me and Max ran down and joined Tyson and Ray beside the dish. Seeing the dejected looks upon both their face I put both my arms around their shoulders, mimicking what they had done to me early.

"Thanks, what you just did, it meant the world to me," I told them.

With a mixture of thanks and no problems given to me in reply, I stepped away from them and mounted the platform in which the Beydish was set into. Running my finger across the edge I marvelled at the smoothness in which it had been created. I jumped slightly as the dish was soon filled with three beyblades, the agility they showed in their ability to dodge around each other, was unlike a sport but held more resemblance to a dance.

Turning round I flashed a smile at the boys, trying to convey how magical I thought the blades where. Obviously I must have been successful as they soon joined me on the platform and Ray offered to give me a quick lesson how to blade.

"Would you really?" I asked in delight.

Laughing slightly at my enthusiasm Ray said "Of course, here try this," He quickly recalled his blade from the dish and was just about to attach it to the launcher when I put my hand on his arm to stop him.

"Can I use this one?" As I spoke I pulled out the blade Tala's grandfather had given me out of my pocket.

I don't know why I had brought it with me today, nor why I had kept it on my person everyday since receiving it. It was just something inside me compelled me to take it with me. It was as though if I didn't carry it something bad would happen, and it's presence would prevent that. I had spent hours examining it and now felt as though I knew it almost as well as myself, and I wanted nothing more that to honour Tala's grandfather's wishes and see it in action once more.

"Yeah that'll be fine" Ray took the blade from my open palm, and upon looking at it closer let out a low whistle.

"Let me see, let me see," Tyson said childishly in response to the fact Ray was obviously impressed.

The three boys huddled round the blade and scrutinised it closely in such a way it seemed as though it was not just the blade but me they where judging.

"I don't know where you got this from Arnia, but I'd hold onto it, its old true, but it's exceptionally strong, with a few little tweaks you're looking at a champion blade, good enough to rival any one of ours in the right hands." Max stated still looking at my blade in awe.

"Max is right, even though it could never beat Dragoon; it's still got some power in there waiting to be released." Tyson said impressed.

"It's strange though, it's built in almost the exact same way as Kai's blade and I've only seen a few like those, all from his old team. Never mind that, so you want to learn, lets see if you can handle the strength this possesses." Ray said as he attached my blade to his launcher.

Coming up behind me, he turned me to face the dish and placed the launcher in my hands. Adjusting them so they where all in the right places he hooked my index finger into the rip cord.

"On three we're going to pull this as fast as we can and try to aim the blade into dish, ok, ready, one…two…three,"

With as much speed as I could muster, I yanked the cord as hard as I could and sent the blade flying, soaring right to the other side of the platform.

Giggling slightly I went to retrieve my blade ready to start again.

I positioned my self back in front of Ray and tried another three times unsuccessfully to get the blade in the dish. On my fifth time however my aim was perfect and the blade landed square in the middle of the dish. Letting out a shriek of delight, I took Ray by the hands and did a happy dance with him around the dish; however to my dismay my blade began to falter and soon stopped altogether rolling onto its side in the dish.

Breaking my hold of Ray I stood staring at my blade wondering where I had gone wrong.

"Well you definitely seem to belong with that blade, that's for sure." Stated Max after watching what had happened.

"Huh?" I answered reticently.

"When a blade and a blader have a bond, the blade will respond to everything its owner is thinking or feeling, even the person's movements to a certain extent. So when the blader loses concentration of the match the blade picks up on that and doesn't work as hard and even stops. That's why if I didn't know better, I'd say this blade was made for you." He explained.

Max's words did make sense; I guess if what he was saying was true, that would explain why I always brought my blade wherever I went. The connection between us was so strong already, it amazed me.

"Right I think you're ready to have a go on your own" said Ray.

Nodding I stepped up to the dish, determined to show the boys that I could do it, and even though they had said nothing of the sort, I wanted to show them I was worthy enough to control such a blade.

"3…2…1…let it rip!" I shouted pulling the cord sending the blade flying to almost the exact spot as it did before. Except this time the blade spun almost twice as fast as I had seen it earlier, zipping round the dish. Concentrating hard I managed to make the blade do a 180 turn and it sped round the other way.

"Lets see if you can handle this then,"

Before I knew what was happening Tyson had launched his blade into the dish and with speed unknown to me followed my blade around the dish. Sooner than I'd expected Dragoon had caught up with my blade and began hitting into it. With a huge amount of concentration I caused my blade to push back against his. The harder I pushed, the faster my blade spun, and the inside seemed to glow a pale blue.

"Erm…guys, what's happening?" I asked after realising what it was doing wasn't normal.

"You're kidding me. You didn't say you had a bit beast." Tyson said in astonishment.

"I…I didn't know." I answered truthfully.

"Well this I want to see, give me all you've got." Tyson leaned forward preparing for a new wave of attacks, but before either of us had a chance to make a move, a new blade sliced through the dish, causing Tyson's blade to fly out the dish, and mine to fly straight into Kai's outstretched hand.

After studying it for a while, Kai's orb widened and he fixed his stormy gaze on me. Striding over to where I was stood he grabbed my arm tightly causing me to emit a little squeal at the pain he caused me. Thrusting my blade under my nose, he tightened his grip and shook me with every word that he spoke.

"Where did you get this, tell me where you got this from. TELL ME!" He shouted whilst still continuing to shake me.

Suddenly, almost as if something inside him connected and he realised what he was doing he dropped my arm and let my blade fall to the floor. Shaking his head he took two steps backwards before turning around and running from the stadium.

Watching him go I realised something, I was sick of how he was acting towards me, and then what he'd just done, I wanted to know why. And the only way for that to happen was to ask him myself.

Heading towards the door, I barely heard the boys shouting, asking where I was going and I paid them no heed, knowing that if I stopped I wouldn't dare to continue.

As I entered the corridor, a strange sight met my eyes. Kai was leaning heavily against the wall, his chest heaving as if he had just run a marathon. But what struck me as odd was the regret that was personified in his posture, however much in doubt I was that Kai could feel such things, here it was laid clearly in front of me, proving how wrong I was.

"Kai?" I asked softly.

Jumping as if I had just shouted those words at him, he raised his head and in a split second his eyes changed from regret to hatred. Stepping back at the ferocity of his gaze, I shook my head and figured he doesn't deserve my sympathy. I was here for one thing, and by damn I was going to get it.

"Did I wrong you in another life Kai? What's you're problem?" I demanded.

Standing up and walking over to me, Kai leered at me and I realised with lament, that once again I had allowed him to gain the upper hand over me, placing me at his mercy.

"There's something about you Arnia," He then placed his finger under my chin, forcing me to lock onto his fiery gaze. Something seemed to stir beneath the surface of his crimson orbs that I recognised but was quickly replaced by his fury. My knees buckled slightly but I forced myself to remain upright, trying to keep my expression impassive, I wouldn't, I couldn't let him see the power he had over me. Pressing his lips onto my ear, his warm breath tickling my skin, but his hardened tone sent shivers down my spine. "Things haven't been right since you arrived, your name, your face and now you come along with that blade. I'll give you one chance to get out, to leave now, because I will find out what it is, using whatever means possible, however much hurt it causes, and believe me when I say this, it is within my power to do so."

Without another word or a backwards glance he strode off down the corridor, and I watched him go, until he turned the corner, leaving me, just as he had at the airport. Turning round to go back into the stadium, at the sight before me, I let a weak smile return to my face. No, it wasn't the same as last time, because there stood Tyson, Max and Ray, welcoming me back to them. And that, at this moment, meant more to me than any of Kai's words could.

Author's Note: And that's all for chapter 3, hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Once I got into it the words just seemed to flow so it was great fun!

Sorry for taking so long to update, I'm over a week late and I feel terrible about it. I'd love to say the next one won't be so long in the coming but I don't want to raise your hopes! My cousin is coming to stay though, so she'll probably force me into doing loads of writing, not that I mind of course!

Thank you ever so much to my reviewers, you mean the world to me, and make me realise this story is definitely worth writing.

Quick question by the way, does anyone think this story is moving a bit slow? There isn't a lot I can do to change that but I would like to know, so I can do what I can!

Thanks for reading and if you have time don't forget to leave a review. If you can, leave a signed one because I'd love to read and review your stories!

Thanks again!

Lots of Love

Kirsty

xoxoxox