Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! ^_^ It's nice to know that people are reading my fic.......anyway here's chap. 7

CHAPTER 7:
THE THIRD PHOENIX OWNER

The three looked at the blond-haired boy.

He just returned their stare.

The room was quiet for a while.

Marianne decided to break the silence by introducing themselves first.

"Ey there-I'm Marianne, this is Meia, and this is Kai." Marianne said.

The blond boy spoke.

"What do you want?!" he asked.

"We came to ask you to join our team." replied Meia.

The boy paused for a moment then turned his back on them. "I'm not interested."

"Listen to what we have to say first, will 'ya!" Meia demanded.

"I told you already that I'm not interested." repeated the boy. "You can go now." he added coldly.

"Why you-" Meia began.

Marianne held her back. "Cool it. We should tell him everything Mr. Dickenson told us. He should know about it."

They turned to the boy.

"I already told you that I'm not joining your team. How many times do I have to tell you that. And another thing...I don't even know you people." the boy repeated, sounding irritated.

"We have something important to tell you." Meia said. "You need to know about it. It's about your Bit-Beast."

"Will you at least listen?" Marianne asked him.

He looked at them then sat down. "Fine."

After telling him the entire story....

"Well?" Meia asked him.

He looked away from them. "No."

"Why not?!" Meia screeched. "You have such great power! We need that power to save the world! There's nothing wrong with joining our team!"

"I'm sorry. I can't help you." he said, walking away from them. "My butler will show you your way out."

"I think we found your brother, Kai." Meia teased.

Marianne giggled.

Kai ignored them and spoke to the boy. "Mind telling us why you won't join our team..?"

He stopped and replied. "My brother is the only one capable of controlling that Bit-Beast. He's the only one who can use it. I don't deserve it."

"But didn't he pass it on to you?" Meia asked.

"Dralter is too strong for me. Only my brother can use him."

Kai threw a disgusted look at him.

"Are you saying that you're weak?" Marianne shot, voicing out what everyone was about to say.

"I...."

"What on earth made you think you can't control your brother's Bit- Beast.?!" Marianne shot again. "Why do you think he passed it on to you?! Common sense, dude! I don't think he wants his Blade to be kept unused, you know! He wanted you to use it and become a great Blader like he was!"

"What do you know?!" the boy shouted, losing his temper.

"Common sense will tell you your brother's intentions!" Marianne shouted back at him.

Silence.

The blond boy just stood there and was speechless for a while.

"You've made your point." he said, looking away. "But I've already quit Blading."

"....Why?!"

"I used to love Blading. My brother taught me everything I needed to know about it." he began. "But since his death, many responsibilities were thrown my way. I never had time to practice Blading. I decided to quit Blading. The whole game suddenly felt pointless. My bother was dead and no one was there to support me. I lost my inspiration. He wanted me to use Dralter but...I knew I couldn't control him. Only my brother can. Don't think I'm a shallow person. I just don't want to disgrace my brother and disappoint him."

"You're already disgracing and disappointing him, you idiant!" Marianne remarked. "He wanted you to Blade but you won't! Just because you think you're too weak, you coward! Don't look so lowly on yourself! If you don't want to disappoint your brother, then at least try to use his Blade! That's what he wants! Don't you get it yet?! Show us what you can do! Show your brother! Don't let him see you ignoring his beloved Bit-Beast! The only thing you're proving is that you're nothing but a lame excuse for a Blader!"

Meia clapped. "You go girl!! What a speech!"

Marianne blushed a bit.

The boy was stunned. He couldn't argue anymore.

It was true. Everything the girl had just said made perfect sense. Maybe he was just a coward. Maybe he was nothing more than a lame excuse for a BeyBlader. Was he really like that?

'No.' he told himself. 'I'm not that shallow. I'm not pathetic.' he clenched his fists.

"You seem to be finally getting the picture." Marianne said looking at Ron's face.

The boy seemed ashamed. He remained silent. He wouldn't even look at the people who stood in front of him.

There was a brief silence.

Meia was the first to speak "Are you alright?"

"I think Marianne overdid it." Kai said.

"I think so too." Marianne agreed, sweat-dropping.

The boy didn't speak. He was deep in thought.

'She's right. She's right about everything.' he thought. 'I'm probably disgracing my brother. I'm a coward. But..I won't let it stay that way! I won't! I have to show everybody what I can do! I have to prove that i can be great..just like my brother.' he said determinedly while clenching his fists even tighter.

Images of his brother flashed through his mind. He saw his brother Blading happily. He saw his brother teaching him how to Blade. He remembered all the things his brother told him. All the things that served as his inspiration. He loved Blading. He admitted it. Why did he throw it aside just like that? He knew what he should do now.

He slowly walked closer to Kai, Meia, and Marianne.

"Can I..join your team?" he asked softly and slowly.

They stared at him, surprised.

"Are you serious?!" Meia exclaimed.

His serious face formed a smile. He looked cute...^.^

"Cool!!" Meia exclaimed again. "Our team's complete!! Yay!!"

Marianne cheered with her.

"And all thanks to Marianne's sharp tongue!" Meia stated causing Marianne to blush and smile at the same time.

"You sure know how to persuade a guy!" Meia remarked again.

^_^ Marianne giggled.

The boy watched the two girls laugh.

He felt better.

"I haven't introduced myself yet." he stated. "I'm Ron." he said smiling.

"You already know we are!" Meia said. "Welcome to the team, Ron!" she exclaimed happily.

Ron seemed happier that he could Blade again. That he had a team. A team that seemed fun to be with (maybe except Kai)....but anyway, he could feel that things will be better.

'This is not only for the world. It's for my brother too.' Ron thought as he remembered his brother again. 'And I guess I'm doing it for...myself too.'

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Sorry if you found that chapter too mushy but anyway...........

I know it's not exactly great but it'll get better.......hopefully o_O

PLEASE review!!

^_^ -blue-phoenix5