Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only character I own is Marina as she's my OC. Any other references I make are purely coincidental.
Chapter 10: Secret
During the wait until Kai and Marina's match, Tyson was the one who was excited. It must have been the possibility of keeping his title if Kai won and they became Tag Team Champions.
"I can't help but wish it was me. I know I sent Tala packing…" started Tyson.
"Did you forget already, Tyson? You tied with Tala." reminded Ray.
"Yeah, but I still got a message through. Don't mess with the Champ." answered Tyson.
Kai, who had been leaning against the wall, just looked up at Tyson and sighed. Some things will never change.
In another locker room, the Blitzkrieg Bladers were interested to see if Marina could handle Kai.
"Bryan, what do you think?" whispered Ian.
"I don't know. When she almost screwed up the match with F Dynasty, I was worried she might not be ready for Kai, but now I'm not so sure." whispered Bryan in response to Ian's question.
"I think she can do it. If she keeps her mind on Zeroth and his power, she can't lose." whispered Spencer.
"Will you guys zip it? Marina is prepared for Kai. I know it." said Tala who was getting annoyed at his team-mates' whispering.
He looked over at Marina and she turned to face him.
"Are you sure you don't need to practice?" Tala asked her.
"Tala, all I can think about is winning at the moment. I do not underestimate that captain with his fiery pest of a bit beast." said Marina and she stormed past Tala out of the room.
"Is she nuts? I wouldn't use the words 'fiery pest' to describe Dranzer." said Ian as the door closed.
"That's just what I was thinking. What is on your mind, Marina?" Tala asked himself.
About half an hour later, Marina sat by a fountain not far from the stadium.
"I can do it. I can't let you down now." she said to herself.
"Marina!"
She looked up.
"Tala? What are you doing here?" she asked surprised.
"Looking for you. You have about 25 minutes left."
She turned away as he sat next to her.
"I hate to ask you a personal question, but what is on your mind?"
She looked at him and was met with the icy gaze of his blue eyes.
"Well, if you won't tell me that, will it distract you in the match?"
"No, it won't. It is what keeps me going in this tournament. It's the reason I entered this tournament as part of your team." she answered quietly.
"If it doesn't stop you then I am no more use here." he stood up.
"Wait, Tala. Please."
"What?" he asked.
She approached him and he almost backed away.
"What are you doing? You wuss." she said teasingly.
He frowned, but didn't say anything. She stood right in front of him, then tiptoed and whispered a secret in his ear.
"Now you know. I have to defeat Kai. I must." and she ran away crying.
Tala stood there in shock as the reason she had given him sunk in.
"Now I understand. I better keep an eye on her." he said to himself and went after her back to the stadium.
At the arena, it was finally time for the final round of the tournament.
"Welcome all Beyblade fans. It is time for the final round of this year's tournament. We are on the second of two rounds between the Blitzkrieg Bladers and the Bladebreakers." announced Jazzman and the crowd cheered louder than ever.
"I can't wait to see this match. Go get her, Kai." said Tyson.
Kai walked over to the beydish.
"For the Bladebreakers, it's Kai!" announced Jazzman.
"Kai has to be the perfect man for the job. Dranzer is strong enough to burn through the weaker beyblades." said AJ, who was slightly exaggerating.
"His Blitzkrieg Blader opponent is Marina!" said Jazzman as Marina approached the beydish.
"Go for it, Marina! Get your revenge." said Tala to himself.
"Marina is the sort of blader who could easily be a challenge. She seems to bring out more power with her emotions." said Brad as Marina's stats were shown.
"You can forget the championship trophy, Kai. It's mine." Marina said as she readied her launcher.
"Whatever. Just don't complain when your blade is in pieces." said Kai as he readied his launcher.
"3…2…1…let it rip!" and the blades were released.
Marina's blade defended against Kai's blade very well.
"Don't worry, Kai. I won't beat you too quickly. I'm dragging this out. Zeroth, attack!"
Her blade started to push Dranzer back. Kai couldn't get away.
"Dranzer, get away from her!"
His blade managed to escape and came around for a side hit.
"Nice try. You are powerful, but you won't win. I guarantee the Blitzkrieg Bladers will become the Champions."
"Dranzer, Blazing Gig!"
His attack was blocked completely and didn't budge her blade.
"Was that it? My turn. Lightning Flash!"
Her attack hit Dranzer bad and left it sparking a little.
"I can't believe it. That one attack lowered his defence big time. If she makes another direct hit like that then it's over." said Kenny worryingly.
"You are not going to win. I never let my team down!" shouted Kai.
"Yeah right. Tala has told me what stunts you've pulled over the years. Only one of them bothers me." she said.
Her blade used one of the rocky mountains to do a back flip over Kai's blade and attack it from behind.
"Marina just nailed Dranzer. This match is not going Kai's way, that's for sure." said Jazzman who was excited by the action.
"Kai, you can do it. Get Dranzer above her bit beast and you have the advantage." said Tyson.
Kai realised Tyson was right, for once, and he made his blade use the mountain as a ramp to get above Marina's bit beast, Zeroth.
"No, he figured it out." she said.
His blade landed on hers and nailed it pretty bad, making the match a little more even.
"I won't lose. I owe it to him. No! Lightning Flash maximum power!"
Her blade powered up and an electric shield surrounded the dish and the two bladers.
"You are going down!" she laughed as Kai looked confused at this strange development.
What does this electric shield mean?