Hello again to all of you!! Chapter 7 has finally arrived!!

****chaos****: OH. MY. GOD!! First person to COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE!! Yup. Yup. You won!! BUT THE CHALLENGE IS STILL IN PLAY!! So happy that someone figured it out. ^-^

Keirran: You were just thinking about the fic and you just so happened to find the e-mail I sent in your inbox? Oo ... Interesting. And you think my hints are cute! ^-^ Do you mean for Leena's feelings or for what team Leena is on? Anyhoo, you're the second person to guess that Star-Crossed is the team Leena is on. Unfortunately, Star-Crossed isn't Leena's team. Sorry. Nice try, though. Star-Crossed made a lot of sense to have as Leena's team's name, but I thought it was too obvious. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!! ^-^

Camrmina Burana: Are you okay? All that was said and 'done' in the review seemed pretty painful. And don't beat yourself up for not getting the hints. It's okay. Really it is. You're gonna find out what team Leena is on in chapter 10 anyways. I don't want my readers to kill themselves over my challenge. So please, stay alive. Besides that, thanks for reviewing. ^-^'

Nina Heart: Such sweet people keep reviewing. It makes me so happy. ^-^ Anyhoo, thanks for all your support. People like you help me keep going with this fic. And I'll try my best to upload/update more!! ^-^

The Masked Instigator: Okay. If you read Keirran's shout-out, you would know that you're lucky number three to guess that Star-Crossed is Leena's team. Once again, I am sorry to inform that Star-Crossed is not the team Leena is on. Real sorry. And like I said two times beforehand, Star-Crossed was a possibility, but it just seemed too obvious. Anyhoo, I know that the Ace is really long. It takes up a year and a half to finish it. But don't worry, the end is upon us! I hope that didn't sound as corny as I thought it did (which would be a lot). And I'm so happy that you liked how Bit and Vega bumped into each other. Thanks so much for your compliments!! ^-^

Kitai Matsuru: It was great? And humorous in some parts? I should write more soon? I'm touched. I really am. You're up there on my list of "Reviewers/Readers That Have Been With This Crappy Fic Since It Was First Uploaded". I'm so happy you're one of those people. And like you said ... GET BACK TO WRITING!! I WANT TO READ MORE OF "HISTORY OF VEGA OBSCURA"!! ^-^'

twenty-four cent: Yeah. I finally came back. What's next? If you read the author's note at the end of the last chapter, you would know. Thanks for reviewing!! ^-^

****Shadow****: Yeah!! Another person loves my story. And second to GUESS LEENA'S TEAM RIGHT!! So happy. ^-^

****KageTasumi****: Yet another person who loves my story, even with all the mistakes I make. Wow. I love you people. And the third to FIGURE OUT WHAT TEAM LEENA'S ON!! Wow ... ^-^

Hanamaru: Yet another Star-Crossed guesser. It's really too bad that the team isn't Leena's. SORRY!! I'm really sorry about that, but it just isn't right. Anyhoo, thanks for giving me such great support. I'm glad that chapter 6 was "great great great". ^-^

lester: I try to update as quickly as possible, but I have a lot of obstacles from doing so. Like with this chapter, I got a really bad case of writer's block so it ended up pretty bad. Neeways, it's all right for you to put a date on your reviews, though you really should go to sleep earlier. And to answer your question, YES, I am going to finish this fic. I promised, didn't I? Still ... Thanks for telling me of ways to do better as a chaptering author on ff.net. You're so great!! ^-^

****Sweet-Calmness****: YET ANOTHER WINNER OF MY CHALLENGE!! CONGRATS!! I'll try my best to update soon!! ^-^

Commando115: You said my chapter was 'nice'. That's sweet. Thank you! ^-^

****zero talon****: GOSH!! Fifth person to figure it out. Man. YOU DID GREAT!! And thank you so much for the compliments. ^-^

TAKE NOTICE!!

Even though chaos, Shadow, KageTasumi, Sweet-Calmness, and zero talon have solved the challenge, THE CHALLENGE IS STILL IN PLAY. That is why I didn't reveal the team Leena is on. The team will still remain a mystery until chapter 10 when the Ace is finally over. So if you so happen to guess the right team before chapter 10 is uploaded, the reward is still available (refer back to chapter 4 for further reference). HAPPY HUNTING--err ... GUESSING!! ^-^

Remember: if you want to be e-mailed when I upload, say so in your review and leave your e-mail. ^-^

Disclaimer: I hate these things. Anyhoo, I own NOTHING!! Besides that, I do own this fic, Karin Lao, Zoid Crew News, and all the teams for the Ace that I made up.

~*~

Becoming A Better Me

Chapter 7

Thoughts & Such

~*~

The backdrop was a midnight blue with billion upon billion of small lights littered across the surface. Two similar spheres hung amongst the lights, barely touching, just out of reach. Below on the cold concrete of the Toros base, lay the eldest and only male child of Doctor Steven Toros, Leon Toros.

For the past sixteen and some months, he hadn't caught a glimpse of his baby sister. It hurt him knowing that he had pushed her aside when he left the Blitz team. He had seen her 24/7 for the first seventeen years of his life, thinking that a few months (and maybe years) without her would be somewhat of a kind of freedom. Now here he lay under the stars, wishing he could be able to talk and see her in person.

She had done exactly what he did when he left almost three years ago (actually it's more like 2 and 2/3, but we'll give him credit). Leena had gone out to find the best in her and bring it out to show everyone that she was deserved to be where she was. Because of that, he felt the most responsible for her leave. If he had stayed and been there like an older brother should have ...

'If only I had been the brother I should have been ... Maybe she'd still be here ... Maybe she would've realized that she was already worthy of being here ...' He couldn't give himself all the credit, as Brad wouldn't have it any other way. God knew how many times Leon had tried to convince Brad that it wasn't his fault. Only God knew how many more times Brad had tried to convince Leon that somehow it was the longhaired man's own fault. And only the King of Kings and Lord of Lords could possibly know how many times the two brunettes had argued over who's fault it was.

Leon seriously didn't blame anyone for Leena taking off but himself. He tried to make that point clear to Brad, but the two of them were too much a like, just too stubborn. Everyone else had given up on trying to take the blame long ago when Leon first found out about Leena.

"Leon?" The nineteen-year-old lifted his head to get a better look at the only door leading to the roof to be greeted by a confused eighteen-year-old blonde. Heaving his upper body into sitting upright, Leon greeted the warrior who took over his position on the Blitz team.

"Hey, Bit. I didn't know you knew that there was a door to the roof." Bit scratched his head while laughing nervously.

"I didn't really. I kinda got lost ..." Cue blinking, then delayed face fault. Leon slowly got up while chuckling softly, rubbing his bruised forehead.

"You never seem to amaze me ... So how has Class-S been treating you this past week?" Since about three months since Leena left, Leon started to accompanying Naomi to the Toros base. He didn't know why, but Leon felt more at peace when he knew he was somewhere close to his sister. Bit sighed and took a seat on one of the many chairs that were scattered around the place.

"A word of advice to you: Leon. Don't join Class-S. We haven't battled in weeks. It's so boring!" Bit relaxed into his seat and sighed again.

"I bet it would be more fun around here with Leena around. I can't wait to see her face and tell her ..." The green-eyed youth let his voice trail off as Leon eyed him.

"Tell her what?"

"... Nothing?" Leon gave Bit a hard look, telling his junior by one year that he wasn't convinced.

"Try again." Bit swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to think of something to say.

"... That I miss her?" Which wasn't exactly a lie. And yet again, only God knew how much more that meant. Unfortunately, Leon knew that as much truth that held that it wasn't what Bit had intentionally wanted to say. He made sure Bit knew that by the evil eye he was giving him.

"Do I have to?" A firm nod was his answer. Sighing in defeat, Bit leaned his head against the chair, looking up at the uncounted stars.

"... I still really miss her. I guess, the saying 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' is a perfect example of me ... I mean, I know that my feelings for Leena aren't like Harry's ... It's not a crush ..." The silence that greeted his words urged Bit to go on.

"I don't know exactly when it happened ... Maybe when I first met her ... I really don't know ... But since then, I've felt this intense fire inside of me ... At first I thought it was the battling with Liger, but that's an entirely different experience ..." Bit scuffed his shoe against the pavement of the roof.

"I remember the first time I ever entered a battle. And it was with you guys, too ... The first thing I did was save Leena ... I didn't know why, but I knew I had to ... It was the same thing when she was kidnapped those two times ... The fire in me was flickering in the wind, going wild ... I was afraid that the flame would burst then go out ..." Swallowing hard, Bit continued.

"Whenever she caught someone's eye, was forced to go out with Harry, Harry sent her a love letter, or cared for anyone more tenderly than me ... The fire in me would grow and flicker again ... It made my blood boil, yet still have it run cold ... It's hard to explain, but ..." Bit looked at Leon's solemn face.

"You already knew that. Didn't you?" Leon shrugged and averted his gaze to somewhere else.

"I had my suspicions," Leon gave his full attention back to Bit, "but I wasn't sure whether or not you were serious about Leena. You really can't blame an older brother looking out for his baby sister ... But I guess I can put my doubts aside now ... So when did you realize your feelings?" Bit stretched where he was and yawned.

"After Leena left, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was everywhere to me, even in my dreams ... I'll tell you about them later, though." Bit's lips curled up a bit with some sadness as he thought back upon his dreams. It was nice to pretend that she was still there. It was only his imagination though, and a man needed more than memories and make believe. Noticing that Leon was raising an eyebrow at him, Bit went on.

"Anyways ... I was confused as Hell by all of this. And Harry finding Danielle only made me more frustrated ... Liger kept telling me how much all my problems had the same answer... He even said how dense I was to not be able to see it in the first place. When I look back on it now, I have to agree with him ...

"About six months ago, I wondered into Leena's room after getting hit in the head by a VCR thanks to Doc. Usually, I fall asleep with ease when I'm in there. This time, I couldn't get myself to sleep, so I thought I'd look around the room. I ended up at the wall where Leena use to stick all her posters and pictures up ... I started thinking about her again and got all frustrated ... I took it all out where the photo of the team use to be ... You can go ahead and look at the damage I left ...

"I realized something then ... After looking it all over, I knew that it couldn't have any other explanation ... I can't help it ... And I can't believe I've been such an idiot about it ..." Bit looked back up towards the stars above.

"I love her ... I really do ... I just hope that the Leena Toros I fell in love with still exists when I see her again ... And if she is ... I can only pray that she won't completely set me aside when I tell her ..." Leon sighed and ran a hand through his own tall hair.

"Wish I could give you some advice right now ... but you know I can't sympathize with that kind of category in life." Bit nodded and sighed.

"Sorry I laid all of this on you, Leon. It must be ... weird hearing this about your sister." Leon just collapsed into the chair across from Bit.

"It is weird, but I was kinda expecting to hear it sooner or later from someone." Leon turned to face the younger man.

"I'm glad it was someone I can trust to leave my sister with." Bit went wide-eyed, whipping his head to look at Leon. A soft smile played on Leon's lips as he moved his to look above.

"Don't be so shocked, Bit. I pretty much left everything in your care when I went away, including Leena." Bit shook his head and followed Leon's example, turning back to the stars.

"She got kidnapped twice and was almost killed if Layon didn't show up to protect her that one time in the Royal Cup." Leon laughed a little, much to Bit's surprise.

"You can't protect her from everything." Sighing once more, Bit closed his eyes.

"I want to protect her ... The only thing that's keeping me sane right now is knowing that she'll come back ... I must sound crazy right now, though ..."

"You have it bad for her ..." Leon watched as Bit just continued to remain unmoved, eyes closed.

"I know ..." With a sigh, Leon stood up and made his way to the edge of the roof, which was protectively surrounded by metal railing.

"So ... Have you told anyone else besides me?" Bit shrugged and leaned back further into the large cushioned seat.

"Just Liger, though I think Jamie knows something."

*

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"GRR!! NO ALREADY!! NOW DROP IT!!" Oscar and Jamie just stood off on the sidelines, their heads moving side to side as they watched the exchange.

"NOT UNTIL YOU GO AFTER HER, YOU BUFFOON!! SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!" Doctor Layon (don't know his first name) waved his oversized hands in the air, producing quite a gust.

"I KNOW SHE'S MY DAUGHTER!! THAT IS WHY I AM GIVING HER THE SPACE SHE NEEDS TO BECOME A WOMAN!! IF YOU HAD A CHILD OF YOUR OWN, YOU'D UNDERSTAND!!" Doctor Steven Toros firmly held his ground as he glared at the forty-year-old man. The two had been arguing about Leena's whereabouts and whether or not to go find her since Layon came over with Oscar about 3 hours ago.

"OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE A CHILD, BUT IF I DID, I'D RAISE THEM SO THEY WOULDN'T GO RUNNING OFF TO PROVE THEMSELVES WORTHY. I'D RAISE THEM SO THEY WOULD KNOW THEY ARE WORTHY OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS!!" The speculating father and son winced.

"That was a low blow." Jamie nodded in agreement with his old man. Doc grinded his teeth, but he was too full of rage to feel that his slightly moving jaws were causing his gums to bleed.

"That may be all right with you, but I refuse to have my children believe that they can just fit in anywhere. They have to earn their right to be where they are. Through what they've bone they've become more capable then what they could've been if they stayed here."

"Nice." Oscar couldn't help but nod slowly ay Jamie's statement. It was then that the two zoid geniuses ended their dispute with a staring contest.

"Well, I guess it's safe to say that they won't be tearing up the base with anything today. So why don't you and I have some quality 'father and son' bonding, eh Jamie?"

"Sure. Think we should invite Doc and Leon?" Oscar looked back at his zoid model obsessed friend, who was still glaring at Layon.

"Maybe not. Besides, I'm sure Leon wants to be alone at the moment. Not for the same reasons as Brad and Naomi, mind you." Jamie chuckled and shook his not.

"Of course not."

*

"It's nice just being with you, doing nothing," a yawn accompanying Naomi's words as the TV blared with the movie they had recently rented. Brad nodded into the redhead's hair, pulling her closer into himself while wrapping a blanket around both of them. The pair sat on a couch directly opposite of the television with a blanket, Naomi's back to Brad as she sat between Brad's legs and leaning against his chest.

"Yeah ... But I don't know ... I prefer when we're somewhere private and--" Brad didn't finish his sentence because Naomi had shoved a bunch of the nearby popcorn into his mouth, almost choking him.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, you might choke. Besides, I don't want you thinking that I'll be lying next to you when morning comes. Leon and me are leaving bright and early so we can get to our next battle." The brunette swallowed the remaining popcorn in his mouth and tightened his grip on his girlfriend.

"But I don't want you to go. How can I sleep without my little vixen? You'll just have to take me with you." Naomi mustered a small smile at the pet name Brad had given her. It was more used to describe the female fox, the fox being his favorite animal. He could be so cute and irresistible at times that it made it so hard for her to leave his side. Now was one of those moments.

"I bought you that red fox plushy with the big green bow on her head. So you still have a vixen with you." Brad kissed Naomi's neck and then shoulder.

"But I want she isn't much of a companion, if you know what I mean." The sniper just couldn't help but hit Brad over the head with the now empty popcorn bowl.

"Neither is that gray fox plushy." Brad pouted and nuzzled his head into the crook of Naomi's neck.

"Shadow's just there to protect you from any hungry wolves." Naomi sighed and turned in her seat to face Brad.

"I doubt a fabricated beast stuffed with cotton and foam can protect me." Brad just gave a toothy grin, the kind he would only give to Naomi.

"Humor me, okay?" And with that Brad closed the distance between them and Naomi made no objection as the movie was long forgotten.

*

Once again Jamie was left out of he fun. His father had gone off to go play candy poker, the only type of poker he ever played. Maybe it was because Oscar just loved sweets too much. More than his own son? Let's hope not.

Jamie sighed. He couldn't find Bit anywhere. Usually the blonde would jump at the chance of gambling, especially when sweets were included, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. Leon was also missing. Jamie knew that when Leon couldn't be found, he didn't want to be found. It was hopeless to try and spend time with Naomi and Brad. The couple was probably getting it on right at that moment since the movie they had rented had obviously ended about an hour and a half ago. Harry came over by himself and had joined in on the gambling of candy in the Rec. room along with Oscar, Doc, and Layon.

Deciding to take a midnight flight, the sixteen-year-old strategist climbed into his Raynos and rode off into the night. The stars were high above, small but as bright as ever, laid over a dark velvet blue sky. Below was the planet Zi, insignificantly small in the vast recesses of space. Looking over the scenery underneath his feet, Jamie caught sight of two figures on top of the Toros base's rooftop. Obviously evident that the two were male, Jamie made an easy assumption.

"So that's where Leon and Bit went. I wonder what they're talking about." A thought came to mind that was too obvious.

"They have to be talking about Leena." Jamie thought of how everyone had changed because of Leena's absence. Brad had once been scarcely seen during the first year since Leena left, but became the silent man in the background he once was. This time however, he had the ever-present Naomi by his side. The strategist raised his zoid higher into the dark sky.

Leon had come to be more in attendance around the base, being as helpful as he could. It seemed as though the ex-Blitz team captain was unaffected by his sister's leave, though he and Brad did get into childish arguments. Leon's presence also lifted Doc's spirits. The older man wasn't as hyper as he once was. Doc was more solemn than before, but one couldn't really tell unless they paid close attention. Jamie tucked in for a barrel roll.

Professor Layon had only heard of the news about five months after Leena's unexpected departure. Layon visited every two months and every time he came, friendly squabbled were constantly heard between Doc and him, making up for the absence of violent arguments that once were. Leaning back into his chair, the aerial combat specialist let his aircraft slow down a bit.

Harry came as often as he could in between family business meetings, zoid battling, and private dates with Danielle. When Leena first disappeared, the young Champ heir was more determined to win Leena's heart and more annoying then before. However, Danielle came into his life and had made him into a respectful gentleman over night (in a manner of speaking. SO GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE GUTTER!!). Danielle had gone to the base only when Harry was her escort, but the two were always lost in their own world when together. Jamie was pushed into the back of his seat as he accelerated in a barrel roll towards the stars.

Jamie himself hadn't changed so much, then again, he liked keeping to himself unless necessary. Though there were at times he truly couldn't help but miss the 'big sister' he never had. That, and he had the Wild Eagle become more part of his personality instead of his alter ego. Stopping the roll, Jamie had the Raynos nosedive towards the quickly nearing ground.

Then there was Bit Cloud, the former punching bag and stress reliever toy of Leena Toros. Though Leena had most of the time put Bit through misery, she had been forthcoming to Bit on more than one occasion. There was a bond that Jamie knew existed between the two since they first came face to face. The ever-present thought that some people hide their true feelings was there in Jamie's mind and he had always felt that there was more to Bit and Leena's relationship than what was physically displayed. Jamie pulled up at the last moment, leveling his craft just twenty feet from the ground just beneath.

This theory had been put to the test when Leena decided to go on her 'worth proving' trip. Bit had taken the whole thing harder than anyone had, Brad had confirmed it when he told Jamie about his encounter with Bit in Leena's deserted room. Then there was a long period of time when Bit had lost all of his enthusiasm, and air confusion and frustration surrounding him. Then after a year into the depressing mood, Bit had confessed a hint of his problems to Brad. Nevertheless, Jamie and Brad had figured out what was troubling the blonde. Gaining speed quickly, the teen turned sharply to the left, still close to the dried soil of Zi.

It was obvious that Bit had deep and strong feelings for his ex-teammate, but being the dumb blonde he was, Bit had no clue whatsoever. Not too soon after confessing to Brad, Bit broke away from his gloomy aura, quickly returning a close match his former self, only a little more down to earth. From what Jamie could process, his captain had made a breakthrough and figured out his true feelings. And guessing from the damage dome to Leena's old picture wall, he blew off a lot of steam while putting together the pieces of the puzzle.

Seeing that he was flying a little bit too far from the base, the strategist turned his zoid around in a wide turn. It was then that he began to think about how Leena must have been taking this; her being away from everyone and almost everything she grew up around. Random thinking about it included that she was being stubborn about proving herself in the Ace and struggling to keep in the game.

His head hurting from thinking too much, the sixteen-year-old shook his mind free of all thoughts. With a sigh, Jamie lowered his Raynos onto the ground and carefully guided it to its own area in the hanger. Jamie got down from the cockpit, making sure not to harm himself in the process.

"I wonder if she'll come back after the Ace is over."

~*~

OKAY!! IT'S FINISHED!! Well, just this chapter. I know that it was more crappy than usual, but I had a major case of writer's block and I didn't want you guys to wait too long on me. It's my nature to try and do my best for those that support me. ^-^'

Sorry about all the talking and all the thinking in the conversation between Bit and Leon as well as Jamie's scene. I'm also sorry about the extreme unpleasantness and horror of my writing in the two scenes in the middle. It was in these two that I hit a big roadblock in my writing creativity ... THE DREADED WRITER'S BLOCK!!

Anyhoo, the next chapter is gonna be near the one year and a half marker of the Ace competition. That's right. THE ACE IS SOON TO BE OVER!! Chapter 8 is gonna be about the 100th battle. So it has finally come to part of the Ace where each remaining Ace representative shall face one representative from a Class-S team. READ AND FIND OUT HOW BAD I TRULY WRITE ZOID BATTLE SCENES!!

REVIEW!! YOU JUST HAVE TO!! REVIEWS FUEL MY IMAGINATION!! COMPLIMENTS RAISE MY SPIRITS AND FLAMES LIGHT MY SOUL WITH A HIGHER BAR TO PASS!! THAT MIGHT HAVE NOT MADE ANY SENSE, BUT I MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!

~*Sakura Scout*~