Hi guys! Again sorry it took longer than it should, I'm slowly getting to the point where this story won't be showing much of what Ling is going through. The future chapters will be following Ling's point of perspective so it will take a while to have them uploaded in time. And again, if I do make any grammatical mistakes or whatever errors I may have miss please do tell me and I'll correct them!
Anyways, thank you Little-Miss-Loveless for reviewing! And thank you Dragon. Network57 for following and favourting my story!
Important notice please read: Do understand that sometimes my creative juices doesn't seem to work from time to time and usually the only time I have any creativity is during 10/11pm and I only have like 2-3 hours before I head to bed. I'm usually extremely exhausted in the day and I don't have the time to write it in the day. If the process of uploading any future chapters takes longer than usual I'm so sorry in advance if it does happens!
Disclaimer: I do not own Metal Fight Beyblade, Adachi Takafumi does. I just write stories for fun.
Chapter 10: The Beginning
A groan echoed the surrounding, Ling lies there tiredly as her eyes tried to open. She groans again, slowly placing her hand on her forehead. Her head was pounding hard, she could even hear her heartbeat beating loudly in her ears. As she opens her eyes, she feels an unbelievable familiar sensation.
Darkness…where am I…?
She tries sitting up but with the pressure pushing her down, she could only make it half way before forcing herself to sit upright. As she tries to look for something, anything, all she could see was a void. Just when she thought she was all alone, the familiar voice spoke up from behind her.
"Hello again me!"
Ling turns her head to see her doppelgänger waving at her. She disappears only to find her suddenly standing right in front of her. She was startled but she couldn't move to back away from her.
"Aww, what's with that face? I thought you would miss me."
Ling frowns at her annoyingly innocent face and said nothing to her. The doppelgänger tried to bait a sentence out from her.
"Why the silent treatment? Come on, I'm not that horrid that you don't want to have a conversation with me right…?"
Ling's face continued to stay the same much to the doppelgänger's dismay.
"Hey, come on! I'm talking to you! Say something?!"
The longer Ling ignored her, the more furious she gets.
"Don't you ignore me!"
Ling's body suddenly felt a strong pull causing her body to slam onto the ground. She gasped in pain feeling every part of her bones rattling and twitching. Her doppelgänger squats down to her level sneering at her.
"If only you listen, you wouldn't be on the ground eating dirt."
She shifted her head to glare at her. She hissed at her mockingly, "There isn't any dirt on the ground."
"Ha! You finally spoke! Great!"
Her doppelgänger sat down, not releasing her hold on Ling. She started humming happily to herself as if she just accomplished something big.
"What do you want?"
"Oh! Now you want to talk to?"
If Ling wasn't pinned to the ground, she would've smacked her right there and there. Look-a-like or not, she hates tolerating people like her. As if sensing her anger, she decided to speak up.
"Well, isn't it obvious? It's the biggest elephant in the room after all!"
Her eye twitched in annoyance, "And that is?"
The doppelgänger pokes her nose playfully, "Why our parents of course!"
Ling's body turned stiff at the mention of it, making the doppelgänger smiling cheekily at her.
"That Dr. Ziggurat sure is sneaky huh? Mentioning our parents like that! Makes you wonder what he could be doing with them eh?"
"…and what are you trying to say?"
The doppelgänger taps her chin with her pointer finger. "Hmmm, I wonder… Maybe I know a few things that you don't know?"
Ling stares at her incredulously. "You're joking."
"No, nope, I'm not!"
She glares at her, "I'm not an idiot, you're nothing but a dark spirit! A horrible subconscious that should be shoved out of my body!"
"And what makes you think I don't know anything hm?"
"Easy, you're...!"
Me… She wanted to say, however, she didn't want to believe it. She quickly pursed her lips and looks away from her doppelgänger, not wanting to look at her any longer. The doppelgänger shrugs deciding not to care.
"Yeah you're right, I know as much as you know."
"Then why did you lie?"
"Just wanted to see your reaction, not as funny as I thought it would be."
Ling was seething on the inside, her eyebrows narrowing closer together.
"Although, I'm pretty sure that you and I know the Dr. is hiding something."
Ling gives her doppelgänger a knowing look. Feeling she was thinking the exact something she was.
"Unfortunately for you, you don't remember much about your parents after that trauma. But! Fortunately for me, I still remember it clearly!"
"But you're not going to tell me about it."
"Duh!"
She watched as she cackled with her hands covering her stomach.
"It won't be any fun seeing you suffer a little now wouldn't it?"
Ling felt her body was suddenly lifted up with force, her chin was scrunched up by her doppelgänger's hand forcing her to look right at her.
"I can't wait to see you break when the time comes! Au revoir(goodbye)!"
The doppelgänger pushed her aside, she suddenly felt her body floating and her head lightheaded as she slowly descends back to reality.
"…up… Oi! Wake up!"
Her eyes fluttered struggling to get them open. As she inhales she started wheezing, her hands on her throat trying to get the air into her lungs. An arm wrapped around her waist pulling into something warm. A hard hit to the back causing her to exhale painfully, she slowly sucks the air hungrily. She heard clanking and pouring liquid to her side, once she opens her eyes the first thing she saw was a glass of water. She quickly grabbed it and drank it down. She looked to see Ryuga looking at her intensely with a frown on his face.
She finally turns to look her surroundings to see that they were on the floor. She had a confused look on her face and Ryuga answered her.
"You fainted on the floor."
She whispered in her raspy voice, "I…see."
He watches and waits for her until she was stable enough to stand. She makes her way back to her bed and sat on it while Ryuga leaned to the side of the wall watching her. She turns to look away, feeling extremely embarrassed that Ryuga saw her that way. It felt disgusting to her, to feel so weak and vulnerable. Especially when Ryuga was there to see it, what he saw, what he thought, it was horrible and terrifying. He could easily dismiss her and throw her away like many other bladers here, just like her uncle did.
"When you're done with whatever imagination you're conjuring in there, I'll be gone."
Just as he started moving, she unconsciously grabbed his arm. He turns to look at her with no hint of emotion. She finally snapped back to reality she realizes what she did she hastily lets him go like he was on fire. She murmurs a quiet apology to him. She could feel his eyes on her but she was too scared to even look back at him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
She flinches at his harsh tone unaware that her finger was twitching.
"You can't even look at me in the eye can you?"
Her head slowly lifted to look at his intimidating posture gazing down at her like a tiny insect. Her eyes quickly look away causing him to scoff at her.
"Tsk, I didn't peg you to be this weak."
…weak..?
"I didn't think you would become a coward to even face me."
Coward?
She jolted up and stood in front of Ryuga in the fit of anger. She glares at him while he looks at her with an uninterested gaze towards her. This made her furious to see him looking down on her.
"Don't you dare call me a coward."
He had his brow raised, "Then what should I call you? You seem to be too afraid to even look at me."
She was gritting her teeth, "I'm not afraid of anything."
"Then tell me, why the hell do you looking like a curled up animal?"
"That is none of your concern."
"None of my concern?! Ha! That's hilarious if you've forgotten Ling, I own you. Whatever I choose to do to you is my rule."
Both looked at each other with menacing glares not willing to back down.
"If you're not going to talk I can easily pass you back to Doji. I'm sure he'll be ecstatic to have you kick out of this organization."
His threat swarming in her head with many warning bells calling back to her days as a child. As she hears his footsteps going further she quickly yelled at him to stop. His body was facing the door while his head tilts towards her. As he continues to watch her, she could feel her face slowly getting hotter feeling her earlier emotion rising again.
"…"
She was murmuring so softly he couldn't hear what she was trying to say.
"Speak up, I can't hear you."
"…was embarrassed…"
His eyebrow lifted indicating her to go on, making her face go even hotter.
"To see me weak…fainting on the ground…embarrassing…"
She could see he was slowly putting two and two together, his brows furrow together until he hit a sudden realization. He turns his head facing the door, she could see his shoulders bobbing up and down knowing he was laughing at her. She sighs and tries to look anywhere else away from him.
When he turns back to look at her, she peeks at him to see amusement and that annoying grin he always wear.
"That was it?"
She huffed her face still feeling hot, "Oh shut up. It's not like you didn't faint after you got L-Drago."
He continues to grate her nerves, "I gain more power, you just look sicker."
She growls at him, "Exactly, it feels disgusting feeling so weak. I'm embarrassed that you had to see it!"
He chuckles making her glare at him. He sees her red face and just laughs again how unintimidating she was.
"Keke, unbelievable…"
This girl…
He couldn't help but find it funny just the way she acts. He also didn't understand why she had to react that way. Sure she was much weaker than him, even more so now. Was she worried he would get rid of her after seeing that?
Che, what a silly girl.
"Seriously, that's what made you curl up like a scared animal?"
He could hear her sigh in annoyance. "I've known and seen how you're like Ryuga."
He frowns, "And you thought I would throw you away? Heh, I've wasted my precious time watching you for years now. I'm not going to drop you away after seeing your progress this far."
He walks towards her, placing his pointer finger under her chin to lift her face upwards. As he looks down at her, he could feel her stiffen and her eyes growing wide with bewilderment. Unconsciously, his aura of power was seeping out causing her to flinch.
"I did not waste all of my years just for you to turn out useless. You have the potential, I've seen the stubbornness and passion in your eyes. That's what I need for my purpose."
He leans closer to her ear, whispers a stern and chilling message. "Now you know the feeling of weakness, get stronger."
He slowly releases her and walks out of the room. Once she understands that, she'll surpass his expectations.
Humans…are weak…
His brow twitched as L-Drago speaks.
Human emotions…are troublesome. An unnecessary thing to have and a burden to one's goal…
He frowns and decides to ignore L-Drago's thoughts, although, he couldn't help but agree with some aspects of it. After all, his greed for power had led him to L-Drago. It led him to where he is standing.
That human has to go…she's too weak.
Enough L-Drago!
Why do you keep her? One does not need a broken tool.
She is not yet broken.
How would you know?
He smirks at his bey's inability to see what he can see.
The look in her eyes earlier, it lit the same burning passion and loyalty I've seen many times. She won't disappoint me, she never does.
You put your faith on this human far too much.
A soundless chuckle along with a hazed far away look in his eyes of his past.
Heh, maybe so.
A couple of days pass and she was still stuck in the infirmary bed. Her mind had been in between thinking of her current situation and staring at nothing. Ryuga stopped visiting her after that day, she assumed that he had allowed her to sit and reflect on her childish behavior.
She frowns and silently scolds herself in her head. I keep forgetting how scary he can be… If I let it slip again, who knows what he'll do. I have to be strong no matter what, if I don't-
"Hey, Ling you there?"
A voice brought her back from her mind. "Ah, sorry Yu…"
The young child pouted with his arms on his waist. "Sheesh! Don't space out on me like that! You know it's rude when people are trying to talk you know!"
She chuckles, "I know."
Yu was a frequent visitor that seem to enjoy her company, Dan and Reiki visited time to time, however, they've been busy with a secret they weren't willing to share with her. The young boy was a very talkative person, she usually didn't say much but he didn't mind doing most of the talking. It was interesting to hear stories from the boy and he also brought in the liveliness within the white bland white walls.
As time goes on, she had gotten to know more about him. He showed off his Flame Libra expressing his excitement when he's fighting strong opponents, especially on Ryuga. She respected Ryuga as well, but not as much as this little bundle of giddiness this blonde boy had displayed. Somehow half of the conversation ended him praising Ryuga, much to her discontent and discomfort. She didn't need to be reminded of how weak she was and how Ryuga's ego is slowly getting bigger each time he mentions it.
"Oh! Has Ryuga told you about how he found me?"
"No, he didn't."
"Well, he found me in a desert while I was training! I was busy minding my own business and then all of a sudden I heard a whirling noise! I look up to see Ryuga and Doji on a helicopter! I was so surprised to see them but I knew they were bladers so I launched Libra and used my special move, Ryuga used his as well and I lost like instantly! I've never met anyone who could beat me like that! Wah, Ryuga is the best!"
She tiredly smiles at him watching him so full of energy as he raises his hands in the air.
"Sounds really interesting, I wish I was there to see it."
"I wish you were there too! It was so awesome! So awesome that I decided to join you guys!"
This cause a slight concern for her. "Has…he ever told you what we do here?"
Yu tilts his head in confusion. "He…?"
He scratches his head and he seems to figure out who she was talking about. "Oh, you mean Doji! Hmm, he just said he wanted to make Ryuga stronger and he needed my help to make him be the number one blader."
"Is that so…"
It was no surprise to her that her uncle was just using him. He was merely another puppet for him to use. She looks at him with pity, such a joyful person should not be here.
"I'm quite jealous of you, you know."
He tilted his head to the side in confusion, "Huh?"
"Even though you lost, you still decided to join, why? It can't him being 'awesome' be the only reason you joined."
"Well isn't it obvious?"
Yu sat on the bed and scooted closer to her. "I may not be strong to beat him now, nor will I be strong to beat him anytime soon. But until that day I do, I want to see him be the strongest blader out there! Being next to him, makes me want to improve my skills you know?"
He reaches out his hand and thrusting it towards the ceiling, "To see how far I can set the bar, my limit, to watch Ryuga grow would make me want to beat him one day! And when that time comes, I can call myself the strongest! I can be his equal!"
Her eyes slowly widen at the boy's declaration and look at her hands. She clenches it as her brain was soaking in what Yu had said.
To be his…equal?
She unclenches them and stares at her palms intensely, to be his equal, it kept ringing in her mind. To become strong, to be standing on the same pedestal as he is. She smiles to herself, as his second in command, she'll do whatever it takes to be strong. She was sure that's not what Ryuga had intended for her to reflect on but…
It doesn't hurt to be, hopeful…
She slowly moves her left hand, placing it on her chest. She felt invigorated.
Unaware that she was being stared at, Yu was smiling as he watches her. For the past few visits he came to see her, she's been gloomy. He tried to visit more often to try to cheer her up. Just seeing her smile again made him happy.
"Yu."
She looks right at him with a gentle smile and a soft look in her eyes. "Thank you."
He could feel his cheeks getting warmer, his hand moves to the back of his neck to scratch a non-existent itch and chuckled nervously.
"Ah haha, i-it's n-no problem a-at all."
She shakes her head, "No truly, thank you."
He continues to chuckle nervously trying to give her one of his big smiles. He suddenly felt something warm on his head. As he glances up, he sees her patting his head. This made him smile wider.
She didn't know how else to repay him, petting on his head wasn't how she wanted to do it but he seems really content with it. She continued to pet him a while longer before moving her hand away.
Suddenly a cough rose up again breaking the atmosphere. Yu quickly grabbed a glass of water and handed over to her. No matter how much she willed it, her insufferable coughing fit comes and goes whenever it wants. After it subsided, Yu seem to have remembered something and went back to his hyper self.
"Oh yeah! Survival Battle is coming up tomorrow! I can't wait for it, I get to see and battle strong bladers there and have loads of fun!"
"Survival Battle?"
He gasped like it was the end of the world, "You've never heard of it?! Survival Battle is basically just battling every bladers who enters, whoever loses will be eliminated and the only one left standing will be granted any wish they want from the WBBA!"
She looks doubtful, "Any wish?"
"Yeah!"
She arches her eyebrows disbelievingly, "Sounds really generous of them."
You could see his delight as he was bouncing on the bed, "They are! And once I win I'll be able to make Battle Bladers happen!"
It soon clicked in her mind and decided to ask anyways. "He's sending you to make that wish then?"
"Yup, they totally trust me to take this one in the bag!"
"Well, then you don't need my support then."
"Huh?!"
She looks up at the ceiling pretending to not care, "Well, since you're a strong blader, you don't need me to cheer for you. You can win the matches easily after all…"
She smirks as she sees him starts flailing around. "T-that's not what I meant! I-I still want you to cheer me on!"
She made a soundless chuckle and pats his head again. "I know, don't worry I'll root for you from here."
She watches him do a happy cheer. "And besides, you are the strongest blader."
He puffed out his chest, "You mean 'was', Ryuga won that title not that I'm upset or anything! Ryuga totally deserves it!"
She rolls her eyes in amusement, "Of course."
"Oh, I have an idea! I can ask Doji to bring you along to I mean not to battle but for Ryuga and Doji's grand entrance!"
"…grand entrance…?"
"Yeah! They're planning on doing that after I win!"
"…"
She was beyond speechless and extremely unamused with the whole situation. She wanted to slap her hand to her forehead but reframed from doing so. Both of their egos that could be as high as a skyscraper, though she was pretty sure Ryuga's is further up in space somewhere but still… All she could do was cover her face in her hand in shame. And to think she's related to him…
"Hey, Ling! Are you alright?"
"Yes, it's just... Thinking of how it'll turn out, the image of it is…"
"Oh, that made you totally speechless right?! I can totally imagine everything is going to be awesome! Ryuga is going to show off is L-Drago and Doji will be there all high and mighty…"
She tuned out Yu's excited voice and decides to just to hide her face again.
Honestly…I don't even know if I should be laughing or cringing at the sight of it all…
The next day came quickly as the Sun shone from her window. Just as Yu mentioned yesterday, he already left to participate the Survival Battle. He came earlier this morning hoping to see her before he leaves. This made her warmed up to him and pats on his head giving, showing her support for him.
Not long after Yu left, another visitor came to see her. Although he looked like he was brooding, in his eyes, he was vigilantly observing her. After that day, she was sure he was wary of her.
I wouldn't be surprised if he was planning on using me as L-Drago's meal…
If Yu hadn't talked her out of it, she would be very worried about her situation. He leaned at his usual position at the wall as he continues to watch her. The past few seconds felt like hours as the tension around them was thick. She decides to break eye contact and takes a drink of water. Her throat was still itching but it was manageable so far. She goes back to look at him again to see his eyebrow arch as if he was expecting something.
"Take a picture, it last longer."
He stares at her some more before giving her a satisfied smirk.
"Heh, acting like your old self aren't you Pancake."
"Well, what should I be acting like?"
His smirk widens, "An obedient dog that listens to his master."
She frowns at him not before throwing her pillow at him as she watches him dodge it, making her more irritated.
"Come over here and let me take a hit at you."
"Ha, no thanks. All you're going to do is just miss no matter how close I am to you."
Narrowing her eyes further with her slightly twitchy left eyebrow showing her annoyance. He did move closer to her and as tempting as it looks, she held back from smacking him. He places his hand on his hips as he talks to her.
"I'm surprised you manage to get the shrimp to get permission from Doji to bring you along with us."
She sighs, "It wasn't my idea, I'm pretty sure he wanted me to see him be the winner of Survival Battle."
"Tsk."
She was mildly surprised by his distaste in her answer but at the same time, she knows that he would rather hear him talking about his accomplishments and power.
"However, he also did mention that he wanted me to hear your grand speech once he announced his wish for Battle Bladers."
His expression changed to a smug one. "Heh well, of course, as the strongest, those weak fools should be listening to me!"
She rolled her eyes knowingly full well she had purposefully rubbed his ego. He seems to pick that up earlier and decided to act out a bit dramatic just for amusement sake.
Heh, I'm sure he thinks of himself that way.
"Maybe I should add a red carpet there for you to walk on."
She sees his toothy grin widening, "Don't tempt me Pancake or I will tell you to do that everywhere we go."
She gave him a deadpan look as he snickers at her. Just to change the subject she was curious how Yu had managed to convince her uncle to allow her to follow them.
"How did Yu convince him anyways?"
"From what I saw when I walked in his office, the shrimp seem to be clinging on his arm spouting whatever he was screaming about. You should've seen the look on Doji's face, he even stepped on his glasses and broke it trying to get him off!"
She grins as she tries to hold down a laugh that's trying to weasel it's way out.
"Ah, I missed something that'll never happen ever again."
He grins back at her. "That you did."
As she was looking at him from afar, she was suddenly right by his side. He suddenly pulled her out of bed and she landed face first into his chest. She squeaked in pain as Ryuga was grinning evilly down at her.
"What the hell was that for?!" She snapped at him while rubbing her nose.
He was extremely amused and completely unfazed by how hard she had slammed against him. Just as she tried to get her revenge he was already blocking her arm while the other was secured by holding her wrist.
"Ryuga!"
"If you've forgotten, we have somewhere to be right now."
He drags her off to the bathroom while blocking her hits with one free hand.
"Couldn't you give me a warning!"
"Now that wouldn't be fun would it?"
"Ryuga I swear one of these days I will punch you so hard-!"
"Oh that's rich, can't wait for that day to happen!"
She growls at him as he shoves her into the bathroom closing the door in front of her.
"I still haven't picked out my clothes Ryuga!"
"Then hurry up, I don't want to be late for my grand entrance!"
"You pushed me in here!"
"Then get yourself out!"
Just as she got out she tries stomping on his feet to only be unsuccessful by his evasive maneuver. He quickly leaves cackling to himself while she was fuming as she watches him make his exit.
Once she was done, she quickly went up to the roof where her uncle and Ryuga would be at. As lift pinged and the doors opened, she immediately saw her uncle glaring daggers at her. Her first reaction was to blankly look at him and pretends to not feel his obvious anger towards her. He shifted his glasses upwards showing his distaste.
"You've wasted a lot of our precious time Ling."
"Can it Doji, the more time we waste talking the less time we'll make it there."
Just as Ryuga steps in one of the helicopters, he turns around and gives an order to her uncle.
"She's joining my ride, you can take the other."
"W-what?! But Ryuga-"
"That's an order."
He went in without looking back on her uncle. She lets out a worn out sigh and brisk walk towards the helicopter where Ryuga went in. The whole way there she could definitely feel the atmosphere getting ten times colder than it did before.
Halfway through the journey, Ling was clearing her throat every so often. As time went on it slowly caused Ryuga to give her the look of irritation.
"Have you still not cleared up your stupid throat yet?"
"No, I didn't have a chance to take my medicine."
"And why haven't you?"
She sighs as she speaks in an annoyed tone, "They don't seem to help much in all honesty. The doctors said it would but it's more like a placebo."
He mockingly said, "Tsk, why do they bother to stuff you with all that junk then?"
She shrugs, "Who knows, all those pills just makes me extremely drowsy."
He turns to glare at the window with his mouth slightly covered by his hands on his mouth. She could barely make out what he had said.
"Wouldn't surprise me if Doji wanted it that way."
From the way he was postured, he looked agitated and wasn't interested in any further interactions with her. So she sat quietly and watch as the scenery moves past them. She pretends not to see that side of him, she knew he never liked to look weak in any kind of form. Even though she can understand that, there are times she wonders if he'll ever give in and talk to her about it.
Just as her mind started to wonder elsewhere, her lungs decided to constrict itself tightly. She suddenly could barely breathe a puff of air as she tries to breathe in the air through her mouth. She had to hunch her body as she could feel the pain of what felt like needles hitting her chest. It felt like her ribcage was hitting every part of her nerve system as she tries to let the air in her body. She could hear Ryuga moving but she stopped him by holding her hand up towards him. She looks at him trying to show her indifference which obviously she couldn't.
"D-don't…worry about m-me. I-I'll be f-fine…"
He slowly sat back down with his arms and legs crossed, staring at her as she tries to regain her composure. After a while, even though she started coughing up again, she could sit straight and proper. Her hand that was clutching her chest soon lets go feeling slightly better. What felt like eternity to her soon washed away just as how the pain came.
She looks at him and smirks a little, albeit a slightly pain one. "See, all better."
She could see his displeasure but soon became blank and returns back to watching the scenery. She was confused as why he gave her that look. She would think he'd be happy that she was trying to handle her own situation.
She decided to poke fun at him a little bit. "You know, should be more focus on Battle Bladers."
He frowns at her. "Of course I am, what do you think I was doing?"
"You're worrying about me."
He scoffed, "No I wasn't."
One of her eyebrows arched up, "Really? Because what I saw was you coming over to help me."
"Ha! I think both your eyes and brain needs to be checked. L-Drago must've taken more from you than I thought."
"Then why do you look embarrassed?"
"I never look embarrass Pancake!"
"Then why are you looking flustered?"
He growls at her, "Don't taunt me girl…"
She grins while biting down the inside of her mouth trying to hold in her laughter.
He looks so serious too…
Soon they heard a ping and Doji's voice announcing they'll be reaching the mountain soon. Ryuga quickly stood up from his seat and was slowly edging towards the door.
"What are you doing so close to the door?"
He turns back and smirks at her. "I'm jumping down and making my grand entrance, what else am I going to do huh?"
Heh, this is going to be fun.
As he was partially listening to Doji, he watches the ants around the so-called Survival Battles.
So many weak opponents. Its no wonder the shrimp won.
His eyes were scanning around the area until he found what he was looking for. Ginga Hagane. His teeth were showing as he smirked knowing that he lost against the so-called strongest. He must've gotten weak the last time he'd seen him lose to a weakling like him.
Just as he looks at the corner of his eye, his brain suddenly pinpoint to a certain memory he despised. All he needed was his face and looks from Doji to know who he wanted to crush after Ginga. The green haired punk, Kyoya Tategami. He was suddenly bubbling with silent rage. He remembered what he had done to his toy, he will not forget that name so easily. His menacing aura surrounded him, unconsciously summoning L-Drago.
Once he heard his name, he jumped out of the helicopter not hearing Ling's gasp under the loud whirling noise. L-Drago's spirit flew spreading both fear and awe by the spectators. A few individual, however, were glaring at him.
"Ryuga!"
He could hear Ginga's cry under L-Drago's powerful crackling lightning deciding to taunt him.
"Long time no see, Ginga. I'm surprised you're still using your bey, you don't learn very fast do you?"
As he watches Ginga getting his bey ready, he immediately stops him with L-Drago's power. It's been so long, too long since he felt this power coursing through his veins. Weeks of not being able to use his full power with the exception of fighting Ling. He had to bottle it up because of weak opponents, to see how they fear his power, to see them scream in terror, it was a sight to behold.
He baited Ginga to join Battle Bladers up to the qualifying rounds to be able to fight against him. Ginga would be a great meal for L-Drago to feast on. Anybody else who's strong would be desserts for his bey.
Just as Doji and the shrimp were spouting whatever rules they had set, his emotions reached the boiling point hearing the green haired brat's voice.
"Pfft, so that's the deal? They want everybody's points!"
"Heh, do you think we want your stupid points Kyoya Tategami?"
Kyoya looks at him surprised that he knew his name. "Huh?"
His face slowly grew sinister, angrier by the second. His mind kept replaying back to her wrist, seeing her pained expression, her swiftness to dodge her attempt to keep her silence, to protect him! He was beyond furious, she was his toy and nobody elses. Nobody uses her as a shield, nobody breaks her!
She is mine!
His aura spiked further causing L-Drago to go more chaotic. Flying around more erratic than before, people around it were trying to dodge the dragons.
"You have the nerve to break what is mine?"
"Break what is…yours?"
The look of bewilderment on his face made him more enraged.
"Don't think you don't know what I'm talking about! Heh, maybe this will jog your memory!"
He takes the braces out from his pockets and threw it down close to Kyoya. As he sees him looking at the hand braces, he could see his expression changed to realization.
"If you even reach to the qualifying rounds Kyoya Tategami, I won't allow you to even be able to lift your bey once I'm done with you."
He takes a step back and was about to get back to the helicopter until Ginga shouts at him. He growls and releases L-Drago showing the immense power with just a clash of beys. He didn't have the patience to deal with him as he pushes everyone, including Pegasus, back away and summons L-Drago back to him. He jumps onto the helicopter and returns back to his seat with his eyes closed. He could feel Ling's gaze on him but he crossed his arms and ignores her. He didn't want any unnecessary fights between them.
For the first time, he doesn't want to talk to her. Not until he knows why he was still feeling so much hatred for him.
As they reached back home, she watches Ryuga from behind as they walk towards Doji's office. She was frightened by what she had seen, her hands were still slightly shaking from earlier. She had never seen him this angry before, even as he sat the opposite side of her, she could feel so much pressure and anger emitting out from him.
Her mind kept going back and replaying his earlier 'talk' with Kyoya. She never knew how much he had bottled up and just blast so much negative energy in him. Even Saber was shivering that how much it caused. Even now, he still doesn't want to look at her.
Ryuga…
She didn't know what to do, or how to act. The plan had been simple, Ryuga challenged and taunted Ginga and everybody else to taking the bait. Kyoya, on the other hand, was not part of that plan and she was sure of it. It seems she had underestimated how far Ryuga would've gone to instigate a fight with the person who hurt her. Even to go as far as to have a grudge against him. Ryuga was never one for grudges, it was usually the other way around!
He never bat an eye for anybody else but the strongest, he had deviated slightly just to have a grudge match against Kyoya. For some strange reason in the deep depths of her heart, she was, for lack of a better word, happy. In some twisted sense in her mind, he cared for her, cared enough to beat him senselessly. However, that didn't mean her other logical conscious wasn't scared of him.
My hands, they are still shaking…
She clenches them tightly into a fist, trying to will them to stop. She took soft deep breathes so Ryuga couldn't hear that she was trying to calm herself. Just as she finally does they were already standing outside of her uncle's office. Ryuga slams the door open causing both people in the room to jump in shock.
Her uncle sitting on his chair pushes his glasses up trying to shrug off Ryuga's loud entrance.
"Since everything is settled except for you Ling…"
He looks at her with distaste ignoring the atmosphere Ryuga was giving off.
"I'll repeat myself just for your sake. You'll need to get 50,000 bey points within three months. Between getting from official battles to barbaric one-on-one fights outside said officials, it'll count for your counter and entry to Battle Bladers."
It seems that he was being extremely generous to give to outsiders who's going to join. She could feel there was something more to this, something that she'll have to conquer. Yu started a tantrum, making Ryuga and her unaware that the both of them were already discussing this before they arrived.
"But it's so not fair! Why can't we join in the rankings to? Why do we have to sit this one out and wait a full three months for Battle Bladers to happen?!"
"That is the decision I choose Yu, we as the Dark Nebula Organization don't need to partake in such menial tasks like they do."
"But I want to fight! It's going to be so boring doing nothing around here! Three months Doji! Three months!"
She and her uncle could feel the atmosphere turned tense, just by watching her uncle's worried look over to Ryuga was enough for her to know everything. She could feel Ryuga's annoyance as Yu continues to complain further.
Doji quickly intervenes. "Now, now, be patient. You'll be able to show off your skills when the competition starts and be able to surprise all of the bladers with your power."
"But-"
"That's how the plan goes Yu, or are you saying Ryuga's plans are not worth your time?"
Yu opens and closes his mouth until he drops his head pouting to himself.
"No…"
"Very good."
He pushes his glasses and turns to look at her with a gleam in his eyes.
"Now, Ling on the other hand…"
She watches as her uncle touches his fingers together as his elbows resting on the table. He leans closer to her with a crooked smile plastered to his face.
"You will have to partake in those menial tasks."
Yu made an outburst, "What?! Why does she have to do it! She's part of the Dark Nebula longer than me but she has to do it?! It's not fair!"
"That was not what we agreed on Doji."
Ryuga's tone was eerily calm, too calm for her liking.
"Oh on contrary Ryuga, I'm following your plans exactly as you said."
She could feel Ryuga's heated glare from behind, even Yu was showing his discomfort.
"You are her tool, after all, I've given you permission to do whatever you want with her. However, as her…guardian, I have more authority over you."
"Wait, guardian, you're her guardian?!"
Just as Yu's exclamation happened, Ryuga's anger was slowly getting stronger. She could feel his aura just as they were in the helicopter. Her body shivered and her fingers twitched. Her uncle still had his crooked smile, his glasses hiding what his eyes were expressing.
"Of course I am, don't you see the resemblance? Actually, don't. I rather not have any with the filth."
"F-filth? H-how can you say that to her like that?"
"That is none of your business Yu!"
He squeaked timidly at how harsh her uncle became.
"Now, back to what I wanted to say…"
He turns back to look at her again to see a void of no emotion on her face. His lips twitched slightly annoyed by it.
"Although you are still part of Dark Nebula, I am generous enough to allow you to work your way to getting into Battle Bladers much to Ryuga's request that you should join said fight."
He could see Ryuga's snarl was directly at him, he could even see his dark aura rising out from his body. Behind his glasses, he was trembling with fear. If he thought the icy glare he gave back then was worst, then he'd prove himself wrong. This was by far worst than it was before. He truly felt that Ryuga was ready to pummel him, to rip him to shreds. He could feel his body twitching, his mind shouting him to run. However, he stood his ground pretending like it didn't affect him.
"Let me ask Ling, how many bey points do you have?"
"…30,430."
"I see…"
Yu seems to be slightly cheery seeing he had that many points. "That many?! You should be able to get enough points very quickly!"
"Unfortunately for her, she is not allowed to use her bey counter. She'll be using a brand new one."
"What? But why?!"
"It is my rules and she has to abide by them."
He throws an empty bey counter towards her, as she went to grab the bey he still had some more to say to her.
"Oh I almost forgot, there's more to it than using an empty counter."
He was slowly drops of sweat was dripping down his forehead, even when he wasn't looking at Ryuga he could literally feel the pins of needles striking at him.
"You can only do the junior league, if I ever see or hear that you were on the major ones you will be barred from participating."
This cause a shocking retort from Yu.
"What?! The junior ones only give 50 to 100 bey points per win!"
"And your point being?"
"My point?! My point is that there's a chance she might not even get 50,000 bey points in time for it!"
"Well, that is a predicament isn't it?" He said sarcastically.
A loud boom caused him and the other two pawns to turn where Ryuga stood. The door was wide open with cracks visible on the walls. They watched him stomp out of the room in fury unable to say anything but watch him move. Once he left, a dreadful silence filled the room.
He quickly hid his hands under the table gripping them tightly. His hands were shivering uncontrollably, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. He dared to look at him in the eye and he cursed at himself for doing so. That unbridled rage in his eyes told a thousand words.
He slowly takes a deep breath and continues to speak rigidly causing both of them to turn back to him. He could see Yu looking scared while Ling looking paler than usual.
"Fortunately for you, I'm generous enough to give you this sheet."
He used one of his steady hand to grab the paper from his drawer and place it on the table. He saw both of them walking stiffly towards the paper. As they took their time to read it, Ling spoke up first.
"This is…a list of every junior league around Japan…"
"Yes, it is. I hope you'll use it wisely because that's all you'll be given."
He motions a hand gesture telling them to leave. As they did so, he was clutching his heart and hunching towards his knees. He whole body shaking uncontrollably at the pain and paranoia Ryuga did to him.
He shakily kept whispering to himself, as if repeating a martyr to assure himself he was doing the right thing.
"T-this is for y-your own g-good Ryuga… I-I'm doing this for y-your own s-sake…"
Yu and Ling solemnly walked slowly to nowhere, the were both in shock by both Doji and Ryuga. Especially from Ryuga, Yu did not think he would walk out of the room without a fight. As he takes a side glance to her, he couldn't tell what she was thinking.
His mind quickly made up, he snatches the paper out from her hand and reads through it. As his mind started working, he was calculating how long it would've taken her to get 50,000 points.
Wah, this is so sly! These are just barely enough for her to get those points!
What's worse, the three-month deadline just enough to earn those points! All of the locations for the junior league was another problem. They were so far between each other that she'll have to go back and forth to different prefectures. There was also a time constraint for her as well, it seems she wasn't allowed to have any breaks except during the night!
This…this is just too mean!
"Yu."
He snaps his head up to look at her. He was surprised to see determination and confidence shone in her eyes. She squats down to his level and grabs the paper from his hands. She took a long look at the paper and just chuckle at it.
He widens his eyes in confusion, he didn't understand why she was laughing. She suddenly pats his head again. Just as he wanted to ask what she was doing, she smiles down at him.
"Don't worry about me Yu, I've taken many cases of abuse from Doji before. I've always come on top from those in the past and I will do so again today. This won't put me out of the fight, I will push my way through and join both you and Ryuga."
Warmth was coursing through his body as she said that. The warm and comforting feeling she's giving off surprised him.
"Will you not cheer me on Yu?"
He quickly grabs her hand that was still on his head tightly to his chest. He waves it up and down enthusiastically with a big smile on his face.
"Of course I will!"
He was happily dancing around her showing his support and confidence she could do it. From the corner of his eyes, he thought he saw something moved. As he blinked it seem to have disappeared. He decided to just shrug it off and ignore it and continue his happy dance around Ling.