Author's Note: Oh my gosh, I'm not dead! Sorry about the less-than-satisfying chapter last time. I was sorta blocked on it, so it didn't come out as well as I had hoped. Hopefully this chapter will be better. Get ready for some more angst and tension between Eri and Tala. My goal is to keep you guys on the edge of your seats this time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. I just own my OCs.
Chapter 9: The Breaking Point
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Bit beast mind-chatting with master
Eri woke up to the annoying buzz of her alarm before rolling over groggily and slamming the snooze button. Ugh…remind me why I set an alarm to wake me up.
Because the team wanted to hit the beach later this morning before the big crowds arrived, Pyrix explained calmly.
Oh yeah. Um…where's Tala? Eri asked.
He…went out with Tammy this morning, Pyrix replied hesitantly.
"AGAIN!" Eri asked in indignation, waking up completely and sitting upright. "What is with that guy? Do I no longer exist?"
I honestly don't know what's going on. But I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Once we head back to Russia, he'll probably forget all about her. He loves you, not Tammy. Remember?
Yeah…I guess. I just feel like I haven't gotten to spend any time with him lately.
Meanwhile…
Tammy was walking down the street holding on to Tala's arm when a familiar presence invaded her consciousness. Our plan is working perfectly, Tammy. It won't be long before Eri snaps completely.
Excellent, Umbra, Tammy replied. And once that happens, Tala will be completely vulnerable. She smirked inwardly before cutting the contact and returning her attention to Tala.
Later that morning…
"Ugh…why is this so hard?" Eri asked in frustration after falling hard on her backside for the sixth time. She had already tried surfing, and that had been a total flop. Spencer took to it easily, and Tala had learned quickly as well. Now Bryan was trying to teach Eri how to ride a skimboard.
"You have to try and center your weight on the board," Bryan explained. He offered his hand and helped Eri get back on her feet. "Now watch and learn," he added with a teasing smirk. He waited until the incoming wave broke and crashed onto the shore before tossing his board into the shallow water parallel to the shore. The wave carried it down the shore, and Bryan hopped on and rode it for several yards before it came to a stop.
Eri sighed. "You always like putting me to shame, dontcha?"
"Yeah, basically," Bryan teased. Despite his ribbing, Bryan still cared for Eri. She was like a little sister to him, and he would do anything to protect her. "So you wanna try it again?"
"Um…maybe later. I think I'm gonna go get something to drink and take a break," Eri replied. She picked up her board and returned to the team's little spot on the beach where they had set up the umbrella and laid all their stuff. Tammy was lying on a towel in the sunshine working on her tan. She wore a sky blue bikini that matched her eyes perfectly and flattered her slender figure. Eri chose not to bother her and instead sat under the umbrella and got a bottle of water out of the cooler. She amused herself by watching the guys. Tala and Spencer were currently engaged in a surfing contest where whoever wiped out first lost. Bryan was still riding the waves along the shore, and Ian was floating in his inner tube, as usual. Her mind started to wander through all the events that had taken place in the past two days, and they started and ended with Tala's sudden relationship with Tammy.
You seem distracted, Pyrix cut in, sensing a pang of sadness in her master's heart. Is there anything you want to talk about?
No, not really. Just then Tammy got up, ignoring Eri completely, and jumped into the water. Tala wiped out first, and Tammy decided to reward his failure by splashing him and shoving his head underwater. When she finally let go, Tala broke the surface gasping for breath but still laughing. You know what? Suddenly I don't really feel like playing on the beach. Eri got up, grabbed her clothes and beyblade, and left.
Two hours later…
Tala and the others finally decided to call it a day and went back to pick up their stuff. However, Tala noticed that someone was missing. "Hey, have any of you guys seen Eri?" he asked, immediately growing concerned.
"I was with her about two hours ago," Bryan said. "We were skimboarding, but she decided to take a break. I haven't seen her since then."
"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about!" Tammy added cheerfully. "She's probably at the hotel eating lunch or something."
Wolborg, do you know where she is? Tala asked, wanting to get a second opinion.
After a brief pause, Wolborg answered, Pyrix says she left two hours ago. She mentioned something about her being tired.
Oh, then it's nothing to worry about, Tala said, feeling better. He turned to his teammates and said, "Let's get back to the hotel." However, Eri was nowhere to be found when they got back. Tala even resorted to using a room key to enter her room, but she wasn't there. 'Okay, this is getting weird,' he thought. After changing into his regular clothes, he headed back down to the lobby, where the others were gathered. "Eri's nowhere in the hotel. I don't think she even came back, or else she didn't stay long."
Spencer shrugged. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
"Well, I'm gonna go look for her anyway," Tala replied resolutely. He headed out the door without another word and started combing the city.
Somewhere in the city…
Eri wandered the streets alone, wanting to get lost in the crowds. She didn't pay any attention to where she was going. She just wanted some time alone. She even set up a mental block around her mind so Pyrix couldn't contact her.
Back with Tala…
Tala had no luck finding Eri even after a whole hour of searching. Okay, now I'm starting to get worried. I don't care what Spencer said. This is not good.
Tala, you must not get so worked up. Eri can take care of herself. I'm sure we'll find her in no time, Wolborg said, trying to reassure his master.
"Hey, Tala! Wait up!" Tala spun around, hoping for a second to see Eri, but calmed back down upon seeing Tammy run up to him. "I'm guessing you didn't find her, huh?"
'Sheesh, what do you think?' Tala thought irritably. However, he chose a more polite answer and said, "No, I still can't find her."
"Look, why don't you just forget about this silly search? It's obvious she doesn't want to be found," Tammy suggested with a tinge of ice in her voice.
"And how would you know that?" Tala asked defensively.
"Uh, hello, I am a girl. Call it female intuition." She smiled and stepped closer to Tala. "Besides, you could always hang with me until she comes back," she added, running a finger down his chest. Tala could feel his heart racing. Then Tammy did something unexpected. She kissed him on the cheek. (A/N: For those of you who know who Tammy is, get your minds out of the gutter. This is not an incest fic!)
Back with Eri…(A/N: I bet you know what's coming next…)
Eri was still wandering the streets aimlessly, trying to get her mind off Tala, when she turned a corner and stopped dead in her tracks. Tala was standing with Tammy a few yards away. Neither of them noticed her, so she stayed hidden behind the wall and watched. She gasped when Tammy stepped closer and ran a finger down his chest, but what happened next broke her heart in half. Tammy kissed him. Even thought it was just on the cheek, she could still feel her anger rise to the breaking point and cloud her vision red. 'How dare he! Why isn't he doing anything!' She couldn't take it anymore. She stepped around the corner and yelled, "Tala!"
Tala jerked away from Tammy and saw Eri standing there, her eyes watering with unshed tears. "Eri? I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"How could you?" she cried, her voice cracking with a sob. "I didn't think you would stoop so low!"
"Wait…it's not what it looks like! You gotta believe me!" Tala pleaded, his eyes begging her to believe him. But Eri was in no mood to listen to his excuses. She just turned and ran, wanting to get away from everyone and everything. Tala left Tammy behind and ran after Eri. He was able to catch up and grabbed her arm. "Eri, please listen to me," he said softly as she struggled to break his iron grip. She refused to turn and look him in the eye. "I would never do anything to hurt you." He gripped her shoulder with his free hand and forced her to look at him.
Eri stopped struggling and looked down at the ground, tears streaming down her face and landing on the ground. "You know what, Tala? I thought you were better than this," she stated numbly. "After all we went through at the Abbey, I…" She didn't finish her sentence.
"Eri, please. I love you."
Those words pierced Eri through the heart. Her anger spiked again. How could he say something like that after he had been cheating on her? "I can't believe you!" she exclaimed, finally bringing her tear-stained face up to meet his gaze. "You say that now, but you haven't even noticed that I or the rest of your teammates exist for the past week! All you ever do is talk about Tammy or spend time with her! Do I mean nothing to you? And then you didn't even do anything when she kissed you! In fact, I think you liked that!"
"Eri, if would let me explain…"
"No, there's nothing to explain," she snapped, cutting him off. Eri flung Tala's arms off her like they were on fire and backed away. "Tala, it's over. I never want to see you or speak to you ever again!" With that, she turned and ran, and this time Tala didn't pursue her. He felt like his heart had been ripped out.
"What…what have I done?" Tala whispered. His heart was breaking fast as his eyes swelled with a flood of tears. His knees gave out, and he fell to the ground and cried bitterly for what felt like an eternity.
Meanwhile…
Tammy, the time has come to act. Tala is vulnerable now, Umbra reported.
Hahaha, I must remember to thank Eri. She has played her part magnificently, and she doesn't even know it! Too bad I'll have to kill her right after I thank her.
Back with Tala…
Tala couldn't think. He couldn't feel. His soul was trapped in the depths of his grief, once again sealed over by ice. He couldn't go back to face his teammates either. They would place all the blame on him. They would not welcome him after what he had done to Eri. There was only one option left. To disappear. He let his feet take him wherever they pleased until he found the seediest, shadiest part of town, where the street lights didn't work and shadows of broken-down buildings blocked out the sun. This place was perfect for someone like him. Someone who wanted to disappear and never be found.
"Well, look at what we have here," a female voice said above him. Tala looked up to see three cloaked figures standing on top of three light posts. Their black cloaks made them almost invisible in this part of town. They leaped off the posts in unison and easily landed in front of him. The center figure spoke again. "If it isn't the great Tala Ivanov," she mocked.
"He doesn't look so great to me. He looks more like a has-been," the shortest girl added.
"Aww, what's the matter? Did you get thrown out to the doghouse by your girlfriend?" the tallest one mocked.
"We've…met before," Tala stated, speaking to the central figure.
"Indeed, we have," she replied. "And of course you remember how that turned out." She pulled out her black beyblade and attached it to her launcher. Her two accomplices followed suit and also prepared to launch.
"I don't have time for this," Tala said.
"Hahaha, you don't really have a choice," the center girl laughed as they all launched their beyblades. Tala reacted quickly and sent Wolborg into the fray.
"Let's give him all we got!" the tallest girl stated. Their three blades formed a triangle around Wolborg and slammed him from three sides repeatedly, doing major damage.
"Wolborg, you gotta fight back!" Tala ordered. Wolborg kicked up an icy wind that blew the three blades away and gave him some time to regroup. "Now attack!" Wolborg charged for the blade blade.
"You don't stand a chance against all three of us! Umbra, attack!" The black wolf emerged from the shadows and dealt a brutal slam to Wolborg.
"Delphinos, attack!"
"Let's go, Colubra!" The dolphin and cobra bit beasts emerged as well and surrounded Tala's beyblade.
"Enough of this! Go, Wolborg!" Tala ordered. The mighty ice wolf erupted out of his bit chip and roared threateningly.
"Attack!" the three girls shouted in unison. Their bit beasts charged for the attack, and Tala tried to brace himself for the impact.
Meanwhile…
Eri, Tala's in danger. He needs help, Pyrix pleaded. But her words fell on deaf ears. Eri still had a mental wall around her mind to keep Pyrix out. She didn't need her meddling bit beast to invade her thoughts right now and tell her what she should and shouldn't do. Pyrix finally gave up on trying to reason with her stubborn master and tried to reach Bryan.
With Bryan…
…Bryan? Bryan, can you hear me?
Bryan gave a start as he jolted awake. He had been dozing in a chair at a small café while Spencer and Ian finished eating lunch. Pyrix, is that you? he asked.
Yes. Listen to me. Tala is in grave danger right now. He desperately needs your help, as well as that of Spencer and Ian.
What about Eri?
She cannot help. Something…came up. I shall relay the coordinates now.
After getting directions from the fire spirit, Bryan turned to Spencer and Ian. "Guys, we're leaving now," he stated urgently.
"What's wrong, Bryan?" Spencer asked.
"Tala's in danger."
Tala struggled to stay on his feet as he gripped his bleeding arm with his free hand. Blood poured from numerous gashes on his body as the battle took its toll on him and Wolborg. Umbra, Delphinos, and Colubra dealt blow after blow, and Tala was forced to share in his bit beast's suffering. He felt every fang, tooth, and claw wound. Wolborg hardly had any strength left either as he struggled to fight off Umbra. His current mental state didn't help matters either. Tala was still trapped in the depths of his grief and could barely keep his focus on the battle. His thoughts kept wandering back to Eri and how he had hurt her so badly. He couldn't have called upon his special attack if his life depended on it. And his life probably DID depend on it.
"Umbra, Shadow Darts!"the dark spirit'smaster ordered. Umbra leaped back and shrouded himself in a shadowy aura. Hundreds of dark needles shot out from the aura and struck Wolborg. Tala felt every single one and dropped to his knees, crying out in agony.
With Eri…
Eri gasped as a sudden burst of pain shot through her arms and legs. She fell to the ground and gripped her arm and sides, trying to make the pain go away. What's going on? Pyrix, where are you? As the pain slowly subsided, it suddenly hit her. Tala… She jumped to her feet and ran. She didn't know where she was going, and yet she did. She just hoped she wasn't too late.
Back with Tala…
Tala forced his pain-wracked body to obey and struggled to his knees. "I think it's time we put you out of your misery," the center girl stated. "Umbra, finish him off!"
"Tala!"
The girls halted their attack to see Bryan, Spencer, and Ian rushing toward their captain. They all pulled out their beyblades and released them at the same time. "Falborg, show no mercy!" Bryan ordered.
"Seaborg, attack!"
"Wyborg, go get them!" All three bit beasts rushed out of their beyblades and stood between Tala and the girls' bit beasts. Tala couldn't stand the pain anymore and collapsed on the ground unconscious. Wolborg gave up the fight as well and retreated to his beyblade, which stopped spinning.
"Fine. We'll deal with you first and then take care of Tala. He's as good as dead anyway. Umbra, Shadow Darts!" Umbra once again unleashed a volley of shadow darts at the Blitzkrieg Boys.
"Falborg, Stroblitz attack!" Bryan ordered. Falborg surrounded himself in razor-sharp winds that cut through the shadow darts as he brutally slammed into Umbra, causing the wolf to cry out in pain.
"Seaborg, Stramolyon!" Spencer commanded. The whale spirit overtook Delphinos with a massive tidal wave of water.
"Wyborg, Sand Bind!" Ian shouted. The snake spirit dove underground and re-emerged underneath Colubra, dealing a devastating blow to the cobra.
The girls' leader saw that the battle was going badly as the Blitzkrieg Boys fought with all their heart to protect their captain. "Retreat!" she commanded. The girls' bit beasts retreated into their bit chips and returned to their masters' hands. "This isn't over yet!" They dashed away from the battlefield and faded into the shadows.
The Blitzkrieg Boys recalled their beyblades and hurried to Tala's side. Bryan dropped down next to him and supported Tala in his arms. "Tala, can you hear me? Say something!" Tala moaned slightly but didn't open his eyes. Bryan's head shot up as he heard footsteps approaching quickly but relaxed when he saw that it was just Eri.
Eri stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Tala in Bryan's arms unconscious and covered in blood. "I'm…too late," she whispered. "What have I done?"
End chapter 9
Author's Note: Yes, I know I cliff-hanged you again. DON'T KILL ME PLEASE! This is one of the longest chapters I've ever written! It's over 7 pages in Microsoft Word! W00T! I really hope this makes up for the lackluster chapter last time. Sorry this one took me so long. I've been really busy and stressed from school. I only have three more weeks, so hang in there with me. Please tell me what you think about this chapter and review! I won't even think about writing the next chapter until I get some reviews! That means you will live with this cliff-hanger forever! MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
