Chapter 10

- Video -

Kat clenched her fists from where she sat on the bench. She couldn't BELIEVE this! This was HER match! And those damned judges were actually talking about cutting it right there! Fuck no! SO what if they had already lost! This was IMPORTANT! Couldn't they see that! Finally, a judge walked up to her.

"We have decided, that for your safety, we will stop the match ri-"

"FUCK YOU!" Kat broke in. Normally, she would have been appalled that such a foul oath had come from her mouth, but this was hardly normal. Her two friends needed medical attention, and both had lost their partners, she would know their pain when they awoke, and the least she could do was tell them that at least she had avenged their loss.
"Now Miss Muller!"

"Don't pull that formal crap on me!" She hissed, her voice laced with venom. "I HAVE to do this! It's not a choice. My friends lost their bitbeasts! Don't you understand!" She demanded. The judge blinked.

"Bitbeasts? Oh, those supposedly mythical beasts you claim exist in your blade. Well Miss Muller. I'm sure you can get another bitbeast at a toy store." Kat couldn't believe her ears. Sure, bitbeasts had just been discovered in blades recently, and maybe not all believed in them, but . . . . for god's sake! Did they just think those attacks had come from only plastic and bits of paint! Ridiculous! It was albeit that only a few could actually see them, but come on!

"I'm fighting this last match, and you can't stop me."

"We'll disqualify you from future tournaments." The judge threatened, it was a hollow threat.

"I don't care. It's not like I'll be blading in a tournament again after this, don't you remember? My team lost their bitbeasts, and besides. I'm going to prove to the world, once and for all." She glanced over her shoulder to gaze at him, in that instant he was frozen, it was if her eyes were endless and icy. "That bitbeasts do exist." And with that, she slammed the door shut.

-

"You're mine!" The last contestant of the Demolition boys taunted. His bright blue hair was spiked all over the place and a long scar ran down the side of his face. Kat was undaunted and simply summoned her spear. Meg and Akkiko who had come around earlier during her argument with the judge, sat on the bench, and despite their body's protests, both were leaned forward, backs straight with tension.

'Goddess protect my sister.' Meg thought.

'C'mon Kat. I know you can pull through.' Akkiko repeated in her mind, both of them, clenched the shattered and now blank pieces of their bits in their hands. Akkiko felt a small itch on her hand, she ignored it. Most likely caused by her fingerless gloves, she eased them gently, then felt a pang of curiosity overwhelm her for a moment. A memory came back. She had received these on her 11 birthday, but never known why. With them, had come the bit piece that held Falcon, and yet . . . to this day, she hadn't never figured out how, or why. Meg sighed and kept tapping the archer wrist bands on her arms, she had received them on her 11 birthday, along with the bit Talon. She had never questioned it, just knew . . . it was meant to be. Kat set herself for a launch, her spear with it's crescent top was over her shoulder, her body straight.

"The last contestants of the world finals are; Kat from the Mystics! And Lyle from the Demolition boys! Are you ready?" He called. Kat didn't bother a reply while Lyle set his launcher.

"Three!" Kat took five steps back. She was going to give it everything she could.

"Two!" She ran forward and jumped into the air the blade of her spear still at her shoulder.

"One!" Kat did a quick backwards spin in the air for momentum, her eyes closed. Memories flashed before her eyes.

- "Katstup . . . ."

"Don't call me that." Kat growled glaring at Akkiko who grinned.

"C'mon Katsup!" Meg laughed.

"You can't laugh at me cereal box." Kat retorted grinning. Meg stopped laughing abruptly.

"That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair." Akkiko broke in with a sly wink.-

Life isn't fair . . .

"LET IT RIP!"

"GO RAZOR!" She cried as she swung her spear down, the blade dislodged itself from the spear and flew down spinning at the dish. Lyle had already launched his blade, and just as it landed, the crescent blade flashed white and struck it dead on separating into two separate gray streaks of wind. The two streaks flew to the sides with the impact, before joining and forming her blade.

Kat landed on her feet and held her spear beside her body, like a ruler. Lyle was not impressed.

"You have your flashy tricks, but I have power." He hissed and raised his hand. Light flared, and Kat knew what he was doing. Well . . . it's a good thing she had a back up plan.

"Razor!" She cried.

"Dagger!" Lyle cried. Both bitbeasts were revealed. Kat's silver wolf, Lyle's ice eagle.

"Razor! Use wind crash!" She ordered. Her bitbeast howled, and anyone watching, could suddenly swear they saw the lights darken. The judges gasped, they had seen a flash of outlines. Outlines of great beasts hovering over the beyblade stadium. Was it just possible. . . that bitbeasts really existed! Wind suddenly, in a tornado of power, appeared and began to attack anything in it's path. Mainly, Lyle' blade.

"I won't attack you. I'm not that dirty." Kat snapped, her anger mounting. Lyle smirked.

"Then you are weak." He snapped his fingers, only once. People in the stadium had the experience of holding their breaths, they could almost see the outlines again, clearer this time. Dagger rose into the air, and flapped his wings, with a screech it unleashed ice in a torrent. The ice flew down like daggers striking Razor, her wolf bitbeast howled.

"Razor!" Kat cried shielding her ice from the ice storm, unfortunately, she herself was at danger. The ice needles cut into her skin, drawing blood. Deep gashes were opened as she cried in pain.

"Kat!" Akkiko and Meg cried as one. Lyle laughed cruelly. Once again, the outlines of the bitbeasts became clearer to those watching. Now they weren't flashing, they were becoming permanent.

"Give up." Lyle taunted. Kat glared at him, arms crossed protectively over her chest.

"You wish!" She hissed. "Razor! Strike back! Don't let him win!" She cried, her blade shot forward, only to miss. "Dammit. . . ." Kat hissed. Lyle laughed again, with that same cruel and chilling laugh.

"Don't even bother. I can anticipate your every move." Kat ignored him.

"Try again!" She called to Razor. Again her blade attacked, and again, she missed. Lyle chuckled.

"You don't learn do you? Another lesson is in order I think. Dagger!" He snapped his fingers again. Once more, a torrent of ice fell down, daggers pierced her skin, drawing blood. Razor howled his agony. Akkiko and Meg growled, both stood up, their hands clutching their shattered bits. Akkiko opened her hand and looked at her bit, she was trembling.

"Meg." She croaked. Meg looked at her. "We only have one choice if we want her to come out of this alive." Meg shook her head.

"No! He might not!"

"Meg. . . you know he will kill her. He won't stop until he has, and he will use his ability of ice and wind to keep the battle going until then." Akkiko interrupted, voice soft. Meg was silent, she looked at her own shattered bit. Then sighed, a lone tear fell onto the broken piece.

'What do you think?' She asked Talon.

'We agree.' Talon whispered.

'Akkiko is right. He won't stop until he has killed her.' Falcon agreed. Meg trembled now.

"Alright." She mouthed, her voice barely a whisper. Akkiko and Meg both closed their eyes, and focused.

"Holy light, from so long ago." Meg whispered.

"The radiance you shined. The purity you created." Akkiko continued.

"Tainted by mans' greed."

"Their lust and hate."

"You vanished, until . . ."

"Hope was seen in the hearts of the young."

"Untainted purity in the hearts and souls of humans."

"We call upon such a power once again. . ."

"Are you ready?" Meg whispered. Akkiko nodded at her, and there was a reply from their bitbeasts.

'Yes.' Both girls took a deep breath, and with shaky voices. Continued.

"Anamchara . . . you who we have bonded with." Akkiko whispered.

"An eye for an eye. A soul for a soul." Meg continued.

"We now take that bond, to protect another."

"At the cost of our own souls."

"Consequences there may be."

"We shall accept them all."

"For the chance-"

"To save-"

"Our friend." Both finished. Their bodies began to glow. Akkiko was surrounded in a black aura, Meg a blue mist. It was then, that white light flashed in the area. And that was when, a single, unanimous gasp was heard. The world, was able to see bitbeasts. The judges were shocked to see to giant beasts fighting the arena, originating from the blades. The audiences were astounded. World wide viewers didn't know what to say. EVERYONE could see the bit beasts. Akkiko and Meg however, had bigger problems. Both held the shattered bit pieces in their hands, each glowed their own respective color.

"Talon."

"Falcon." At once . . . both girls, threw the pieces at Kat.

"For the Mystics. One last battle." Meg whispered. The pieces sailed through the air, before Akkiko's flashed black, Meg's flashed blue, and suddenly Falcon and Talon appeared. Both flew in a spiral towards Kat, before circling around her, Falcon wove himself around her and protected her from ice, while Talon circled over head, as if silently daring Lyle to try and attack Kat again. Kat blinked and looked back at Akkiko and Meg, who gazed sternly back.

"You-" Kat gasped. "You . . . IDIOTS!" She shrieked. "WHY? You still have a chance to save them!" She yelled.

"We chose . . . to save you instead." Meg choked. Akkiko looked away. Kat looked, then closed her eyes.

"Thank you . . ." She murmured.

"Hey! Pay attention!" Lyle demanded. Kat turned to look at him, and opened her eyes. Slowly. Her eyes were icy, endless.

"No. You pay attention. I've had it. You're going to lose. And badly." She hissed.

"Yeah right." Lyle taunted.

"Razor. Wind streak." She said softly. Wind erupted from all around, crisscrossing over each other, it flew towards the blade and attacked it from all sides. Lyle was shocked.

"WHAT!"

"Destroy his blade." Kat whispered. Her blade glowed silver. "Our last battle Razor. Our last battle." She repeated over and over. Razor howled, not in agony this time, but one of a wolf who scented a finish to his prey. In a split second, he flew forward, Lyle however, had a change in game plan.

"Do not think you will walk away unscathed!" He hissed. With a snap of his fingers, his bitbeast rose in a flash, too fast for Falcon or Talon to stop him. His bitbeast clapped it's wings once, then wrenched them apart, unleashing a circle of blue. Among them, were two giant icicles. They flew. . . at Akkiko and Meg.

"NO!" Kat cried out turning to look at her friends, who were paralyzed, even if they had been able to move, it wouldn't have worked because of their injuries. There was a sudden roar and screech. Akkiko was flung onto the ground, hand over her face. She opened her eyes a crack, then blinked and looked up. What she saw. . . made her world tear apart.

"No . . . NO!" Meg looked as well. She too wished she hadn't, her world fell. "NO!" Akkiko sobbed, tears were running freely now. "FALCON!" Her bitbeast had taken the icicle for her. What happened next . . . had she not seen it with her own eyes, Kat would never have believed it happened. Both Meg and Akkiko's bitbeast split into two. One black, one white. The white form of the spirits were sealed into an object on their hands. In Akkiko's case, her gloves, and in Meg's case, her wrist bands. The black part however, solidified. Then vanished in a small explosion knocking her two friends back. Kat was silent. Then she turned, to look at Lyle. And perhaps, for the first time in his life. Lyle felt true fear. Her eyes had turned icy cold, colder then his bitbeast.

"You . . ." Kat couldn't even find a word to describe this gutless stinking worm. "DIE!" She snarled. Razor, feeling her anger, howled. Wind flew in a wave of power. Smashing into Lyle, he was sent flying back, right into the wall, causing spider cracks. His team was in shock. Kat snarled angrily as the wind hacked up Lyle's blade to bits. Feeling a little more satisfied, she smiled grimly, and started to walk off the platform.

"Don't even think to walk away unhurt." Lyle hissed. Kat froze. His bitbeast gave a final death cry, before it vanished. Though not before loosing a final icicle at Kat. Meg opened her eyes, just in time.

"K-Kat!" She croaked. Then her eyes widened. "KAT!" Kat choked as sudden pain sprouted from her stomach. Gasping, she looked down, and drew away her fingers. Blood. The icicle had pierced her skin and gone a quarter of the way in. She choked, then fell to her knees.

'You will not die.' A voice hissed.

"R-Razor?"

'I will not let you die.' Razor murmured walking up to her as a wolf.

"B-but! If you do that then you'll! You'll lose your power and!"

'Enough.' Razor ordered her sternly and clamped his jaws around the ice dagger enticing a hiss of pain from Kat. He yanked it out in a swift move, then tossed it aside. Looking back at Kat, his muzzle was coated with blood now.

"Razor. . ."

'I will miss you kit.' Kat closed her eyes. Medics arriving on the scene, couldn't believe what they saw. Silver white light flashed once, coating Kat's body, her wound healed as crystalline tears fell.

'Razor . . .' Then . . like the other two bitbeasts. Razor separated into two parts, white and black. The white sealed itself in her bracers, while the black solidified, then vanished.

-

"And for today's news. At the Beyblade world championship finals, the last match became a disaster. Four bladers were all placed in the ER, and one is lying in a near state death. It had just been officially declared, the fourth blader, known as Katherine Muller, has been brought into stable area and is expected to live. The other bladers, known as Lyle Vladimir, Kimiko Cimatura, and Magoto Satsuka, have all reached stable status, and are expected to make a full recovery. . ."

- End -

Silence. No one had any idea of what to say. Even Tala was at a loss for words. Meg cleared her throat.

"When . . ." She choked and Akkiko placed a comforting hand on her back. "You see . . . when you bond with a bitbeast. You exchange a part of your soul with each other. In our case . . . we exchanged half. We had half of their soul . . . and they had half of ours. After our bits had been shattered. . . well, there was a chance that we could take the half we still had of their souls and anchor their spirits into another bit. But instead . . . we made the sacrifice. When we did the chant . . . we put the half of our bitbeast's soul into the shattered bit parts. So . . . when the icicle . . ." She cut off and looked away. Akkiko continued with a calm voice, but her eyes were bright with pain.

"When the icicle struck, it took all their strength, in all aspects, it should have killed their anchoring in this world. But . . . I guess we did manage to keep some of their spirit with us, and thus . . . when the icicle struck, their soul and bodies, were split. Their soul was split into two halves, good. And bad. The good part was sealed into these." Akkiko held up her gloves. "The bad . . . got the bodies. Even so . . . the bad considers the good part of them still to be themselves. As such . . . they seem to think that sealing us will free the rest of them. But we can't do that yet . . ."

"Why not." Tala asked. Kat cleared her throat.

"Because we still have to regain revenge on Ira, Rakish and Lyle."

"Isn't that selfish?" Oliver murmured. Meg shook her head.

"No, because until we defeat them, the souls of our bitbeasts, will never rest. And they must be defeated . . . with us."

"And . . . . the weapons?"

"The weapons are created with the spirits of our bitbeasts. It's not that powerful since we only have half of their soul . . ." Ian gulped. From what he had seen, his entire team couldn't stop that's bitbeast's attack, and she had with a chant and a sword. Only at HALF power? What about full?

"So you left because you knew . . ." Kai trailed off.

"They would attack you to get to us." Meg mumbled.

"You idiot! Did you think we can't protect ourselves!" Tala snapped. Akkiko looked at him.

"Ian, is as equal in power to most of you. And he couldn't even touch me, and Falcon is far more stronger then me. I didn't THINK you could protect yourselves Tala." Akkiko whispered. "Sorry . . . but I KNEW."

"Is that how you felt about us?" Robert asked of Kat who averted his gaze.

"I thought . . . . you would hate me for that. You're the first people, aside from Meg and Akkiko, to actually pay attention to me. I know it's selfish . . . but I didn't want to lose you. Not ever. I . . . I was scared for all of you." Kat whispered, tears threatening to fall. Oliver walked up and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. When she looked at him, he smiled.

"Kat, we care about you." He said calmly.

"Yeah. You're one of us now . . . . I guess." Johnny grumbled.

"I'm sorry. I understand in you're angry. But . . . we did it to keep you safe." Meg mumbled. Kai glared.

"That's no excuse." He rasped. Meg looked up.

"Huh?"

"I'm team captain, and I have a rule that says we watch each others' back. Got it?" Kai snapped, a tint of red on his cheeks that might have been a blush.

"Am . . . am I a part of your team?"

"Kai's initiation of team, means you've stayed with him for half a day and he hasn't told you to get lost or he hasn't killed you yet." Tyson said with a grim smile. Silence. Meg broke out laughing.

"I WAS SERIOUS!" Tyson complained. Meg continued laughing. Akkiko looked at Tala.

"Gomen. Sorry Tala." Tala rolled his eyes.

"Like the stupid wench. You've picked up the bad habit of blaming yourself for things that couldn't be controlled." He said sarcastically. Akkiko glared.

"HEY! SORRY IF I JUST WANTED TO LOOK OUT FOR YOU! SORRY IF I'M NOT-" she choked. "NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!" She shrieked, voicing her greatest pain. Tala rolled his eyes yet again. Ian glowered.

"Don't you get it yet!" Akkiko blinked.

"Huh?"

"We accept you because your smarter then the average class airhead." Brian said quietly.

"I agree. You don't do stupid things, like complain about your hair or how cold it is. True you do complain, but only to vent anger, you don't throw stupid tantrums, and you pull your weight in work. We approve of that." Spencer told her. "We accepted you and your habits a long time ago." Akkiko was stunned. Then she blushed and looked down while twiddling her fingers.

"Uh . . . thanks." She stammered. Tala rolled his eyes . . . . .again.

"Say . . . Kat?" Enrique said grinning suddenly. Kat's alarms went off.

"What?" She demanded suspiciously.

"Remember the terms of our agreement?" He asked winking. Kat blinked.

"Huh?"

"We play hide and seek, and if I found you, I got to kiss you." He declared.

"WHAT?" Everyone in the clearing looked at Kat who suddenly blushed as memory returned.

"Oh no . . ." Enrique wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh yes." Robert sighed.

"Well, it is custom to keep your word. Even in such an awkward occasion like this . . ."

"Oh man, I'm gonna go look around, if I see this, I'm gonna hurl." Johnny muttered and tramped away. Enrique walked up to Kat and smiled. Kat rolled her eyes.

"Do it quick and put me out of my misery."

"Not with all these people watching!" He said with a death glare at the others, who suddenly scattered. Even Meg and Akkiko. He smiled. "Better." Kat blushed and looked skywards praying, suddenly she took a deep breath.

"Enrique . . .?"

"Hm? Yeah?" He asked turning to look at her.

"I'm . . . I'm so sorry . . ." She mumbled. Enrique blinked.

"For what?"

"Well . . . for worrying you and!" Enrique put a finger to her lips with a wink.

"Kat. You always worry me. I wish you wouldn't be so bottled up all the time. I mean, it can't be healthy. And I can sort of tell you're worried. I mean, if you really don't want to do this, I can save it for later." He offered kindly. Kat blushed even deeper.

"No I . . ." She stammered. "I've just . . ." The next part was a mumble. "Never kissed anyone before."

Silence.

Enrique gaped in disbelief, before chuckling.

"Well then, I have no right to take a first kiss for a bet. Call me later then okay?" He said slyly. Kat flushed.

"Enrique . . . ."

"Yeah?"

'Aw man . . .how do you SAY something like this!' Kat thought embarrassed.

"I . . . I want . . ."

"Huh? Want what?" The Italian blader asked confused. Kat gulped.

"I want YOU to be my first kiss." Enrique . . . was stunned.

". . . . Me?"

"Y-yes." Kat stammered. Enrique smiled.

"Alright." And walking up, he tucked his fingers under her chin, tilted her face up a tiny bit, and pressed his lips gently to hers as both of them closed their eyes.

-

Meg and Tyson walked side by side through the trees.

"A bet. I can't believe Kat made a bet like that . . ." Meg muttered shaking her head.

"Hey, don't I get a reward for finding you?" Tyson asked in dry humor. Meg thought for a moment. Then smiled.

"What KIND of reward?"

"You know, like a five course meal or something." Tyson said shrugging. Meg smirked.

"Tyson . . . have you ever had a girlfriend?" Tyson tripped in shock. Pulling his face from the ground he blinked.

"WHA-WHAT?"
"You know, a girlfriend. Someone you kiss, hug, break curfew for." Tyson blushed.

"Yes! No! Sort of!" He yelled vainly. Meg laughed and helped Tyson up. Brushing off leaves and dirt, they set off again.

"So. . ."

"So what?"

"You never answered. What's my reward?" He asked. Meg grinned and kissed him on the lips for a brief moment. Pulling back she gave a quick and smug grin.

"That's your reward." And she walked off laughing, leaving a stunned Tyson. It took a few minutes for what she had done to click . . . . and then . . .

"Hey Meg! Can we try that again!"

-

Akkiko sat on the edge of a river, dangling her feet in the lukewarm water. Glancing up, she saw the stars poke out from behind the clouds and sighed.

'So much has happened tonight. I wonder if things will ever be the same.' She thought dimly. She didn't notice a figure come up behind her.

"Hey." Tala said softly. Akkiko jumped in surprise, turning to face him, she lost her footing on the slippery rocks, and grabbed the nearest object for balance. In this case, Tala. Both fell into the river with a large splash.

Silence.

Tala glared at Akkiko, Akkiko blushed and hoped desperately Tala wouldn't try to kill her, both were eye to eye as she laid on top of him. Tala was glaring at her with his gray eyes . . . and suddenly . . . he burst out laughing. Akkiko gaped at him, then started laughing too.

"This time I did fall in I guess." She said blushing.

"Next time I'll just stay away from you and rivers."

"Funny. Very funny."

"No, not funny. I'm wet."

"So am I!"

"I shouldn't be wet. It's your fault I'm wet."

"Oh excuse me!" Akkiko snapped. Tala grinned.

"You look cute wet."

Silence.

"Wait- what?" She stammered, her blush suddenly a bright red.

"You look cute wet." Tala repeated patiently.

"I'm . . . cute . . .?"

"Wet." Tala finished. Akkiko raised her eyebrow.

"Are you flattering me?"

"I would hope so. And don't think I'm a masher, I just don't have enough experience in that field."

"Okaaaaaay . . . . so uh . . . what experience DO you have in this field?" Akkiko stammered. Tala smirked.

"You really want to know?"

"Er . . . yeah."

"Come closer."

"Oh . . . .okay." Akkiko leaned in close, and Tala moved close to her ear, as if to whisper. Instead, he kissed her cheek, causing Akkiko's eyes to widen. She looked at him in disbelief as he grinned smugly.

"Tal!" She squeaked when he sealed her lips. He just never thought he'd do it with his own.

Disclaimer: I do not own, I only own plot, OC bitbeasts and Akkiko. Kat owns herself, Meg herself, and yada. yada, whatever.