Hey there my dears!! As it's my birthday, I thought I'd give all of you guys a present by updating!!

Thanks to all of those who reviewed!! -glomps-

Enjoy!

Chapter Ten

But in his heart, anguish filled him. 'Please … get through this, Kai … you have to ...you just have to …'

A feral smile barely ghosted across Tarkoz's lips at the expected command from his opponent. If he were to admit it to himself, he would've realised that he was afraid, but as of the moment that Dranzer had arisen from his blade, he had pushed aside all his petty emotions into the recesses of his mind, instead relishing in the ultimate power he felt coursing through his veins. And with the power that engulfed his body, came the intensified feelings of humiliation and anger. Right now, all that mattered was hurting the boy in front of him. Hurting him so badly that he would never ever be the same again.

Kane gritted his teeth, an image of Kai, bloodied, hurt and possessed haunted his mind to the point that it would be a memory that he would never forget; that would never leave his mind. Kai had been scarred and now … so had he. Cyber Dragoon's energy sang in his mind, sang with a strength so powerful, so totally consuming that for a split second, Kane was afraid that he had lost control once more, but the smooth, heavy feeling of the ruby pendant resting against his chest comforted him and banished that fear in to oblivion. There was no way he would allow himself to be controlled, not after both himself and Cyber Dragoon had worked so hard to strengthen that bond, not when everything that mattered to him, everything he held dear, depended on the final outcome of this battle. He would not fail Kai, he would not fail Cyber Dragoon, but most of all, he would not fail himself. He was determined, and that alone was all he needed right now.

The blue-haired teen steeled himself, bracing himself and his bit beast for the blow that was mere milliseconds from occurring. And that's when it happened. Tarkoz's blade … disappeared; Dranzer's form vanishing from sight … and Cyber Dragoon was left to whiz past the area where the blade had been. Kane's eyebrows drew together into a frown, confusion touching his face as his dark sapphire gaze flitted around the entire bey-dish, searching for any sign of the elusive blade. A sudden burst of fire shot its way towards him from his left, and with a cry of surprise, Kane barely ducked the attack, the tips of his hair catching fire. Swiping at the flaming strands, Kane breathed a heavy, relieved sigh, realising just how close he had been to possible death.

However, he didn't have much time to think about anything else, as Nemesis shot towards Cyber Dragoon, clipping the side of his blade before launching up in to the air and vanishing from sight once more. Growling, Kane's fists clenched by his sides, the muscles bulging subtly. His eyes searched the bey-dish and the area around it wildly, trying to locate any sign of his opponent's blade.

'I don't understand … how is he able to manipulate Dranzer so easily? Dranzer is one of the four legendary bit-beasts … she's not meant to be so easily tamed by someone other than Kai …'

Tarkoz watched Kane from his side of the dish impassively, his dark eyes frightfully unnerving. He watched the emotions flickering through Kane's intense sapphire eyes, the twitch barely touching the teen's left eye, the clenching of fists, lean body taunt, ready for attack, and he stopped. His eyes cleared slightly, the barest of green touching the black that dominated his eyes. Wonder and confusion flooded his insides. He didn't understand … he just couldn't understand why the other boy would risk his life for another. On the streets, it was either hunt or be hunted. There was no looking out for anyone else. You came first, and anyone who chose differently were usually the first to die on the streets. It just wasn't logical, and it didn't make any sense to Tarkoz.

He tore his gaze away from the other teen and towards the gaping hole in the wall where the teen he had attacked days ago, lay, bloodied, battered and no longer human. His breath caught in his throat and he fought back a gasp, the reality of the situation hitting him. He had caused this. He had caused the suffering of another. That itself didn't scare him, but that fact that someone else was now risking their lives for another, did. He had never had that. Had never had anyone stick up for him … protect him … care for him. He had been abandoned at such a young age that he no longer remembered how it felt to be loved.

His feelings swept him up in a wave of torrent emotions, his eyes completely cleared, their pale green depths once again visible as he turned back to watch Kane. The longer he stared at the determined teen that had yet to realise where his blade was, the more he longed to stop the battle.

Gideon, having finally stood up, noticed the sudden change in Tarkoz, although Kane didn't, and almost growled. Just when things had started to go as planned, the stupid teenager was having seconds thoughts. Without a seconds thought, Gideon promised himself that he wouldn't let that happen. He couldn't let everything he had strived so hard for slip out of his fingers again.

Striding towards the confused teen, Gideon snarled at his side. "What are you doing?!"

Tarkoz froze and turned towards Gideon, Kane pausing his search and following his opponent's movements, a frown touching his brow.

"I can't do it, Gideon. I didn't want this to happen. No one was meant to get hurt this bad. Especially not Kai. It had nothing to do with him … it was solely between Kane and myself …"

"Shut up, boy! You knew exactly what you were getting into. You knew that something like this would happen ,, you knew it would! You knew that you would eventually get your revenge on Kane. The teenager who humiliated you, nearly destroyed your blade! You're not going to let him get away with that now are you? Not when he's right in front of you?!"

Tarkoz hesitated, suddenly unsure of his change of mind.

Gideon leant in close, "Do you remember the way your gang kicked you out? Do you remember the humiliation you felt? Do you remember how they chased you out of the lair that you established? Do you?!"

Tarkoz growled, those painful memories flashing through his mind tauntingly, mocking him, reminding him of all the shame he had experience, the betrayal, and ultimately, the anger. The anger that once again built up within him, coursing wildly through his veins. The anger that touched his mind. The anger that Nemesis fed off. The anger that once again turned Tarkoz's pupils an ebony black that chilled Kane to the bone as the blue-haired teen watched in subtle confusion.

A dark smirk touched Tarkoz's lips as he stared at Kane evenly. "You're right old man. He deserves this. Both of them do." He paused, turning his head slightly, his black eyes staring in to the grey depths of Gideon's. "But no one tells me what to do ... especially old men like you." He sneered slightly, his upper lip curling.

Gideon took a step back, fear chilling his blood. "What do you mean?"

"It means that you no longer have a purpose in all of this. You've given me the opportunity to defeat Kane ... I don't need you anymore."

Gideon stuttered, his mind racing with thoughts as he struggled to come up with a reason why the younger man still needed him. He grinned suddenly, almost throwing Tarkoz off guard. "Oh, but I do have a reason. I know something that you don't know. Something that could secure your victory over Kane ... kill me and you'll never know what it is."

Kane frowned, not entirely sure what was going on on the other side of the bey-dish, for he could not hear a single word that was uttered between both his enemies. Ignoring them for the time being as none made any action to move, Kane continued his search for the missing beyblade, willing Cyber Dragoon to keep calm as the bit-beast was becoming agitated, wobbling slightly in its excitement. Kane clutched at the pendant, closing his eyes and forcing Cyber Dragoon to calm through their connection.

::Please Cyber Dragoon ... you cannot lose control.::

Cyber Dragoon growled low in his mind, the sound pulsating throughout him, allowing him an insight in to his bit-beasts emotions. Pure adrenaline coursed through his bit-beasts body as it span in the centre of the dish, ready for some action.

::I will try not to, Master. But the longer I stay still, the harder it becomes for me to ignore the call to attack.::

::Please, Cyber Dragoon. For Kai. For Dranzer. You have to stay calm. You have to stay in control.::

There was a hesitant pause, then ::Yes, master.::

Tarkoz glared at the man standing next to him, considering whether or not to believe him. "How do I know that you're not just making this up to save your pathetic life?"

"You don't. But think of it this way, if what I tell you is completely useless to you, you can kill me," Tarkoz smirked at this offer, "However, if I do tell you something worthwhile, you must promise to let me leave alive."

Rolling his eyes, Tarkoz nodded. "Whatever old man."

"Do we have an agreement?"

"I haven't killed you yet have I?"

"So that's our agreement ... your promise?"

Tarkoz growled, "Yes, damnit!"

Gideon smirked, stepping closer and bringing his lips close to Tarkoz's ear. His lips moved as he revealed his secret, and after doing so, stepped back, grinning at the look of shock plastered across the young man's features.

"You sure?" Tarkoz frowned, not entirely sure.

"100%"

"He won't-"

Gideon shook his head, "No … he won't. He can't."

"Good ... but ..." Tarkoz paused and grinned darkly, "now that you've told me what I need to know ... you have no use."

Gideon's eyes widened. "No ... you promised."

"Promises mean absolutely nothing to me, old man …"

"You can't … I … I helped you … I got you to where you are now!" Through the desperation in his voice, Gideon took a wavering, frightened step back.

Tarkoz nodded, "Do you think that matters to me? …", his dark eyes glinted maliciously. "Goodbye Gideon."

Tarkoz's shriek suddenly echoed throughout the room, shocking both Kane and Gideon, the latter staring at the teen in pure terror. Within a second, Nemesis' blade appeared out of thin air from above Kane, who backed away in fear, and shot towards the scientist, impaling itself in his chest and with the sickening sound of crushed bones and the gurgle of blood, emerged out of his back, the sticky red substance of life clinging to it like a second skin. Gideon's corpse crumpled to the floor, thick, oozing blood pooling underneath.

Kane felt himself retch at the sight, turning away and collapsing on his hands and knees and throwing up the contents in his stomach. He could vaguely sense the concern radiating from his bit-beast as images of Gideon's gruesome death flashed through his mind.

Tarkoz let out a manic laugh, his booming voice filling the large room, every shred of sanity that he possessed flying out through his vocal cords.

Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, Kane stood up on unsteady legs and turned back to his opponent, swallowing back the shudder that threatened to run the course of his weakened body. He refused to look towards the fallen scientist that had plagued his life, for fear of throwing up again. He had never witnessed a death before, and to say he was shaken, staggered and exceptionally horrified didn't seem to describe the torrid emotions that swept through him.

Forcing himself to look into blackened eyes, Kane gulped slightly, his veins seeming to freeze under that intense, expressionless gaze.

"How could …" Kane swallowed the thick lump in his throat, before carrying on, his voice wavering in the slightest. "How could you do that?"

"He was no longer needed." The impassive reply scared Kane, the teen wondering just what his opponent was capable of at that moment.

"It didn't mean you had the right to kill him," Kane knew that it was dangerous to argue with the dark teen, but he couldn't stop the words from leaving his mouth. "Does it not bother you that you just killed somebody?"

"No."

Kane blinked, "I don't understand … why are you doing this?"

"I told you already … you humiliated me in front of my gang … the gang that kicked me out! You took away EVERYTHING that I made for myself! Absolutely EVERYTHING!! The Backstreet Bladers meant everything to me and you took that away … I can never get that back … I can never get THEM back. They stopped respecting me the moment my blade shattered and I returned bloodied and battered with a half intact bit chip! And you have the nerve to ask me why I'm doing this?!?" a wild look took over Tarkoz's features, the teen breathing heavily and his fists clenched tightly by his sides.

"What about Kai?! What about what you had planned for him? What about the fact that you tried to attack him … you and your gang! What if I hadn't come along when I did … where would Kai be?" fury building up within him, Kane ignored Cyber Dragoon's desperate attempts to calm him, "I'll tell you where he'd be! Lying in a hospital bed, possibly an inch from DEATH! What do you say to that?"

"He had it coming." The simple answer forced a growl to escape Kane's throat.

"'He had it coming'? That's all you can say … 'he had it coming'? …" Kane hissed, barely holding back his temper, "He did not have it FUCKING coming!"

"He did."

"Shut the fuck up!" with a livid howl, Kane's remaining control over his way-ward emotions was shattered, his reluctant blade shooting out and towards Tarkoz, ignorant of that fact that he was resulting to measures just as bad as his opponent's. All that he could feel was the huge amount of resentment towards the teen standing on the opposite podium. His feelings were clouding his judgement, and in the back of his mind, he realised that this sudden loss of control was down to the feelings that Kai provoked within him. He couldn't bare to see the other teen hurt. He wanted to protect him. And he knew that he couldn't do that with Tarkoz around. The other teen was a threat. A threat to Kai's safety. "CYBER DRAGOON!"

"NEMESIS!" The immediate counter bellow almost threw Kane off track, for the scream did not come from Tarkoz … but from.

"Kai?"

Forcing his beyblade to carry on the attack, Kane turned his head to the right, his dark blue eyes clashing violently with Kai's ebony orbs, flecked with the faintest traces of gold and crimson. Huge midnight black wings flexed behind the teen, stirring the thousand broken shards into movement by his feet.

The ruby pendant burned against his chest, Cyber Dragoon launching itself in to the air and tilting just the slightest, gaining speed, heading straight towards Tarkoz, who had yet to move. His head spun the longer he stared in to Kai's empty eyes, desperation coursing through his veins.

"Kai, fight it … you're stronger than this. You're stronger than Nemesis. You're stronger than Tarkoz! You're stronger than both of them! You can beat them!" tears trailed down his cheeks, his heart clenching painfully as desperation coursed through his veins. He was loosing Kai ... "Please Kai. You told me to do this for you … for us … but I can't do it on my own, we need you. We can't do this on our own."

"Attack!" Kai's hoarse cry cut through the air swiftly, Tarkoz's blade launching itself in to the air a split second before Cyber Dragoon's attack could hit its intended target. Sparks flew as the two blades collided dangerously, the screeching of metal on metal ricocheting around the huge room. All the while, Tarkoz remained impassive, a small smile twitching the corners of his mouth.

"Perfect." His whispered was heard by himself only.

Kane yelled for Cyber Dragoon to move away as soon as the blade hit the dish at the wrong angle, flipping over and barely regaining its balance. His eyes scrutinised his blade quickly, assessing the damage done, the ruby pendant at his chest cooling down noticeably. He let out a soft sigh after concluding that Cyber Dragoon had escaped serious damage.

"TARKOZ! Stop this!" Kane's yell was in vain though as Tarkoz merely sat down on the floor, crossing his legs, arms folded across his chest and his eyes slipping shut. This action confused Kane greatly, his head spinning. "Get up! End this match! There's too much at stake!"

"Only for you." Came the simple reply.

"Nemesis attack!" Kane's attention snapped back towards the dish as Kai's voice once again echoed around the room; Tarkoz's blade bearing down on Cyber Dragoon steadily, and he had but a second to divert the attack, Cyber Dragoon barely wobbling out of the way.

"Kai! Stop this!" The teen was the sole focus of his attention, as he pleaded with him desperately. "You have to stop this! You have to fight the hold they have over you!"

"Kai, attack him. Get rid of him … finish him." Tarkoz uttered the command so quietly that Kane had almost not heard it, but once he had, terror seized him.

Kai's wings raised and lowered a little more forcefully, stirring the broken glass into a whirlwind of deadly gems, his feet lifting of the ground, and with a ear-piercing shriek, Kai launched himself at Kane, his agile form cutting through the air gracefully and bearing down upon the boy whose heart he had captured, whose heart his had been captured by.

"Kai! NO!"

Kane felt the air forced from his lungs as the teen barrelled into him, sending him crashing to the floor with the smaller teen atop him. Fire coursed through him as soon as Kai made contact with him, his skin searing and burning, causing him to scream out in pain. But through the pain, he brought his arms up and circled Kai's waist, pulling the possessed teen flush against his body.

"Please … please, Kai … for you … for me … for us …" he winced through the haze of pain, but gritted his teeth, staring up into hostile black depths. "I love you …" His lips brushed against Kai's and he fell into oblivion … darkness claiming his mind in an instant.

O.o

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