Heart of Darkness

I am sooo sorry for not updating, but what with exams and all it hasn't been easy! Anyhow, I must thank MyOwnWorld, a.k.a. Sharon for most of the characters for this upcoming tournament! No way I could have done it without the extra bladers, so thank her for this Chappie! Anyhow, I won't keep my wonderful reviewers waiting! (hint, hint)

Chappie 8

The team sat on the benches facing Kenny in their locker room whilst they awaited their 'call to battle.' "Tyson, you'll start things off, as you're a good lead blader. Rhea will beybattle second, and Ray will be the third blader." Kenny explained.

"Alright! I can get straight into it!" Tyson yelled, clenching his fists in anticipation.

"Can the two teams participating in the opening match please proceed to the stadium floor." A voice rang out from a speaker in the top corner of the room. "I repeat, can the two teams participating in the opening match please proceed to the stadium floor. Thank you."

"Well guys, its showtime." Tyson scratched his nose as he stood up.

"Hang on a sec, where's Kai?" Hilary asked.

"Huh? He's right . . . . here?" Tyson muttered, looking round the locker room. It was completely devoid of the slate-haired teen.

"Aw man, not again!" Tyson yelled. "He ALWAYS does this! Just before a match, poof! He vanishes!"

"Hehe . . . nice sound effects, Tyson." Hilary teased as she and the team sweatdropped.

"I wouldn't worry about it." Rhea said.

"Yeah, Kai will turn up as always." Ray agreed. "Besides, he's not playing in the opening match, so we shouldn't worry about him."

"Ray's right, we should head to the stadium, and worry about Kai later." Max nodded.

The Bladebreakers team, minus Kai, made their way down the corridors towards the stadium and the roaring fans.

"Nervous?" Hilary asked Rhea.

"Me? No!" Rhea answered, her voice a little shaky.

"Just relax! It'll be fine. Concentrate on blading, nothing else." Max advised.

"Thanks, Max. I'll remember that." She thanked.

As the team were about to pass through the mouth of the tunnel, and walk out onto the stadium floor, Kai stepped out of the shadows

"Kai!" They all gasped.

"What kept you? The other team is here already." He replied, as emotionless as ever.

"Where were you?" Max asked. "We were worried."

"Let's go." Kai said, leading them out onto the floor.

"I'm Brad Best sitting next to AJ Topper; we're bringing you all the action live from Seaside Dome, today!" The voice of the commentator sounded above the fans.

"And let me say how great it is to see the reigning World Champions back in action! I for one have certainly missed seeing them play!" AJ added.

"Brad! AJ! I thought you guys were busy?" Tyson called up to the commentators.

"Hehe, my family is watching this on TV so I cancelled my trip there! Hi mom!" Brad laughed.

"Yeah, the day I stick a laser in my eye is the day Jazzman quits hosting!" AJ said.

"Speaking of the Jazz, here he is!" Brad informed them.

"Welcome back fans for the opening match of this charity tournament!" DJ smiled as he stepped out onto the floor. "Now, without further ado, let's meet the players!"

"Good luck, Tyson!" Hilary said as he stepped forward. She and the rest of the rest of the team sat on the team bench behind, as the spotlight rested on Tyson, and his stats appeared on the jumbo TV screens around the stadium.

"No stranger to these tournaments is 2-time World Champion Tyson!" AJ introduced.

"An amazing kid with some real talent, eh AJ?" Brad asked.

"Yeah, I remember when he was just a rookie here almost 2 years ago." AJ nodded. "His Dragoon bitbeast is definitely a force to be reckoned with, and a reputation to scare off even the most hard-core of bladers."

The crowd cheered even louder as Tyson approached the lid of the dish. It was fairly large, about 20ft in diameter, as the smaller beydishes from the preliminary round had been removed.

"And now for Tyson's competition! Stepping up for the Alaula Bladers, its Alexis!" Jazzman waved to the other side of the stadium floor. The spotlight fell on a blue haired girl. She made her way up to the other side of the beystadium, as her stats replaced Tyson's on the screens.

"Alexis isn't a rookie to the sport of Beyblade, Brad and I have seen her team around, and it's no surprise they're stepping forward to challenge the champs!" AJ announced.

"Lexi's bitbeast is the ice phoenix Icilous, and is just as powerful as the polar opposite, Dranzer, wielded by the one and only Kai. It's a shame we don't get to see those two squaring off, eh AJ?" Brad asked.

"Well we have to just go with the flow, Brad." AJ said to his co-host.

"Good luck, Lexi!" Tyson smiled to her, as he loaded Dragoon into his launcher. He received a cold nod of acknowledgement. 'Great, another Kai.' Tyson thought to himself, as the dish lid opened, revealing a perfectly smooth red beystadium.

"Bladers take your positions!" Jazz told them. Lexi loaded her light blue beyblade, and fed the ripcord through. "Good luck to you too." She laughed.

"Huh? Oh, thanks!" Tyson laughed back, happy she was talking at least.

"You'll need it." She added.

"Thanks, but I doubt that!" Tyson smirked.

"3. . ." Jazz began.

"I am 2-time Word Champ, after all!"

". . 2 . ."

"That doesn't matter when you're in the dish with me!" Lexi grinned.

" . . 1 . ."

"Let it rip!" They called out together as they launched simultaneously.

. . . and I think I'll leave it there! Hehe. . . sorry again for the wait, and thanks again to MyOwnWorld for the characters. I'm hoping to get 15 reviews by the end of this 10th Chappie, so please review, review, review!