Hello nice people!
Thanks for all those who left comments and those who are still reading!
This chapter has a lot of beyblade battles in it...which I will admit...I suck at writing and personally don't enjoy reading myself. Unfortunately necessary for this chapter I had in mind. I probably won't go in to huge detail of the battles just to save you from the boredom of badly written matches. I'll just summarize them and you guys can use your imagination. Probably better that way lol. But just to let you know the vagueness is kind of done on purpose.
Hope you enjoy! (Little warning...it's a long chapter...)
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Chapter 10 – The Tournament.
The long awaited tournament was finally apon them.
After smashing their way through the semi finals, the Bladebreakers were once again facing off against the last team standing in the finals.
It wasn't all good news though...
Max had come down with a high fever the night before, and was forced to sit out today's finals.
Which meant it was all up to Tyson, Rei and Kai to defend their team's title.
They knew they had their work cut out for them, too...
The team they were going up against were a new and upcoming team, The Stingers.
Despite the 'stupid name', as Tyson put it, they were no pushovers. They'd destroyed their competition on the way to the finals.
The Stingers consisted of four brutish looking guys a little older than them.
The captain called himself 'Spider'.
Then there was Tito, Donny, and Joey.
The four of them had bit-beasts that were insects. Hence the name.
The pairings were set.
"Good morning Beyblade fans! I'm AJ Topper..."
"And I'm Braaadddd Best! Coming to you live from the Bey City Stadium!"
"The pairings for the final match between The Stingers and The Bladebreakers have finally been decided! Let's see if the Bladebreakers can keep their reigning title...or if they'll be passing the torch over to the Stingers!"
DJ Jazzman danced his way in to the spotlight, being extra as usual.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Are you ready for the FINAAAAAAAAAALS!?" he yelled in to the mic.
The crowd errupted in the stadium.
In the crowd, Mr. Harris felt himself tingle with excitement. Not just because of the electric atmosphere...but because he finally was going to see his boy in action.
Kai had bluntly demanded he not come. He didn't want his teacher there.
...So he got himself a ticket...courtesy of Mr. Dickinson. Which meant they got excellent seats at the railing closest to all the action.
"This sure is exciting!" he almost squealed, "I've never seen a beyblade match before! Only a little on TV!"
"Me either!" Reuben said, sounding just as excited.
…Mr. Harris may have also gotten some of his homeroom students to come along, too...to support their classmate. It was a Saturday, after all. So why not?
Only a few...Just Reuben, Scotty and few others who were interested in finally seeing their pro classmate in action.
Not that Kai knew they were there...
DJ Jazzman took a deep inhale before bellowing in to the mic again.
"Let's get this party STARTEEED! First up...from the Stingers...please give it up for TIITOOOOO!"
The crowd burst in to cheers again as a rugged looking guy in his late teens stepped up to the dish. Ripped jeans, flaming red t-shirt and spikey black hair.
"Tito and his bit-beast Invicta have really been putting their opponents through the ringer this tournament...a fiery blader teamed with his fire-ant bit-beast means they are hot stuff..." AJ announced.
"And from the Bladebreakers...give it up for the one and only KAAAIIII!" Jazzman yelled as Kai stepped up to the dish.
"Tito and Invicta may be hot stuff...but they haven't met Kai and his bit-beast Dranzer yet...and while Tito may be firey, Kai's well known iciness could well put that fire out..."
"...And then...set fire to him again with his also fire-based bit-beast."
"...Right."
Kai stepped up to the dish. Mr. Harris squirmed uncontrollably in his seat.
He looked so... cool with his blue warpaint and flowing scarf. It wasn't often he saw him out of his school uniform.
He'd told himself before coming to just be cool and keep a low profile.
The atmosphere was taking hold of him though.
"GO KAAAAIII!" He yelled as he near enough leaned over the railing with his fist in the air.
Meanwhile, Tyson and Rei were cheering him on, too.
"Get 'im, Kai!" Rei called out.
"Yeh! Squish that buggy little creep!"
"Bladddeeersssss...readyyyy?!"
Tito and Kai assumed the position.
"Three...two...one...let it riiiiiiiiiip!"
The two yanked their rip cords and their blades flew in to the dish, crashing in to each other and flames immediately roaring.
Mr. Harris watched the whole thing open mouthed. Almost unable to blink.
He'd heard Kai was a strong player, and of course he was skilled, he was on the world class team...
but seeing it in the flesh made it all the more incredible.
This Tito guy was no weakling either.
They two went at each other, walls of flames jetting up before a blinding flash of light.
A giant, ferocious looking ant appeared, glowing red. Its pincer like mouth snapping open and closed as it shrieked.
Mr. Harris' face fell almost in terror at the humongus, monstrous insect.
Tito let out a smug laugh.
"Ready to get stung, Kai?"
Kai did what he did best.
Smirk.
And say nothing.
"...Dranzer! Now!"
With an equally blinding flash of light, the mighty phoenix rose from the blade, spreading her magnificent wings and flapping.
Mr. Harris' jaw dropped further.
Bursts of flames continued to engulf the dish and the surrounding area as they fought. The stadium started to heat up.
Tito was getting annoyed.
"Uurrghhhh...Invicta! Acid-Spit Attack!" he yelled.
Kai's smirk grew.
"...You know what to do, Dranzer."
Kai had noticed while watching previous matches that this was Invicta's strongest attack...but it also came at a price. There was a short window where it had to recover from spewing out the acid. Which meant missing could be fatal. Tito probably knew not to break this move out unless it was absolutely necessary...and that suggested he was running out of cards to play.
Kai, on the other hand...still had a full deck.
The ant lunged, vice like mouth trying to grab hold of Dranzer, having no success. Invicta began shooting acid from it's mouth...but his opponent was airborne.
She dodged easily and waited out Invicta's attack.
Kai waited, too.
There was his chance.
"Now, Dranzer!" he yelled.
The phoenix flew up, her beautiful feathers transforming into ferocious flames before pile driving down in to Invicta. There was an almost explosive bang and shockwave of flames.
The smoke cleared.
Kai's blade was still spinning...
Tito's was not.
"And the winner is KAAAIII!"
The crowd went wild.
But none more so than Mr. Harris. His students sinking in to their seats, embarassed as their teacher behaved like a crazed fangirl.
Round two, however, wasn't so victorious.
Invicta managed to lunge and grab hold of Dranzer's talon before she could fly out the way, Tito taking his chance to use his Acid-Spit attack.
Dranzer let out a shriek of agony. She went down.
Round two ended in a loss for Kai.
Rei, Tyson, Dan and the students were on the edge of their seats.
It all came down to the third round.
Kai's focus sharpened, knowing this was the decider...he didn't know how much damage the acid attack had done to her.
But he wasn't going to be beaten by some creep and his ant.
They launched for the last time. Blades slamming in to each other and the sound of grinding metal.
Once again, Tito was quick to bring out Invicta. Feeling cocky after his win the previous round.
Kai bided his time, going on the defensive while Invicta went at him relentlessly
Luckily his idea worked.
Invicta seemed to be slightly running out of steam.
Now was his chance.
"Dranzer!" he yelled.
The phoenix once again rose powerfully from the blade, immediately burning red and orange.
"Fire Arrow!" he commanded.
Spears of blazing flame shot down, plunging in to Invicta.
Her attack was too much for the other to handle, with a flash of white light and a pained shriek, the light diminished as the fire-ant returned to the wobbling blade, which slowed and toppled.
"And the winner of the first stage is KAI!"
Mr. Harris was jumping like a mad man, grabbing Reuben beside him and shaking him.
"HE WON! HE WON! ATTA BOY, KAI!"
Kai returned to the bench.
"Next up for the second round. From the Stingers...DONNNYYY!"
"Donny has also been piercing their way through this tournament. Donny's hornet bit-beast Vespa and it's lethal sting are not something you want to be the wrong side of." Brad informed.
"And from the Bladebreakers...TYSOOONNN!"
"Tyson and Dragoon aren't something you wanna be on the wrong side of either. They have been keeping viewers on the edge of their seats three tournaments in a row...can he make it a fourth?" came AJ, "...Who doesn't love Tyson?"
"Probably that guy going against him..."
The first round ended in a quick victory for Tyson, as Dragoon caught Vespa off guard and sent his blade flying.
...Donny didn't take it kindly.
As they launched for round 2, he was quick to bring out his hornet, Vespa. And even quicker to throw out his Deadly Sting attack...
It got Dragoon on his side and paralyzed him.
He was toast within three minutes. Giving Donny his revenge for his fast defeat in the first round.
Tyson stared wide eyed in disbelief as his blade landed at his feet, motionless.
It all came to the last round.
The blades made impact and Tyson summoned Dragoon...only to find he was still damaged from the previous battle. His moves weren't as fast or powerful.
Vespa went for the kill and crashed into him with everything he had.
It was game over.
The second stage went to Donny of the Stingers.
Mr. Harris was speechless. He couldn't believe Tyson lost. And now it all came down to the last stage.
Tyson picked up his blade and kept his head down in disappointment as he walked back to his team.
He'd let them down.
"I'm sorry guys..." he said, ashamed.
"It was just unfortunate, Tyson. Once he'd stung you, there was nothing you could do. Don't beat yourself up about it." Kai said plainly.
Tyson's face dropped in surprise...he was expecting a chewing out for getting stung in the first place from Kai...this was new.
"Yeh, don't sweat it, Tyson! I'll beat the crap out of Spider and we'll still keep the title!" Rei said cockily.
It was all up to Rei now...
Kai felt a shudder of worry.
The last stage was Spider vs. Rei...
Spider was the strongest of all of them...
And if Tyson lost to Donny so badly...
He frowned and slapped himself mentally.
"Have faith in him! This is Rei we're talking about! He's just as tough as that guy and more skilled! He can do this!"
Rei stood up.
"...You've got this, Rei." Kai said confidently.
Rei turned back to him and smiled.
One sentence from the right person settled his nerves in an instant.
He walked to the dish. Feeling determined.
"YOU CAN DO IT REI!" Mr. Harris screamed from the stands.
Spider was stood on the opposite end.
He was dressed all in black. A red vertical stripe down the middle of his shirt.
"Spider has been the one to watch out for this whole tournament. His Black Widow bit-beast Latrodex has been lethal to every single opponent who has faced her this tournament...Rei better watch his back."
"Rei's no push-over either though, AJ. He gets better every time he fights, this tournament has been no exception. He and Driger definitely won't be going down without a fight..."
They assumed the position...
"3...2...1...LET IT RIIIIP!"
They pulled their ripcords. Their blades swirling around the dish parallell to each other for a while, feeling each other out.
Driger finally made a move and slammed in to him, the two blades pushing against each other violently. Neither willing to budge.
This was going on a little too long for Spider's liking.
He growled.
"Latrodex!" he cried out.
His blade glowed red. Out from the chip, an enormous black widow spider rose. All black bar a deadly siren red marking on her abdomen. Her eight legs stomping, eight beady eyes glaring and fangs bared.
Rei couldn't help but feel intimidated.
Neither could any of them.
Even Kai. He'd never seen a bit-beast quite like this one.
"Driger!" Rei called, summoning his own beast. The glorious tiger roared out of the middle of Rei's blade, displaying his own power.
Kai watched intently...what was the best way to beat him?
If Rei attacked from the front, he risked getting bitten.
If he attacked from the back, he risked getting caught in her web...
Rei was thinking exactly the same thing...he played it safe while he thought and kept on the defensive.
Spider soon became bored of him playing it safe.
"Latrodex! Silk-Thread attack!
His beast obeyed and shot glistening white web at Driger. The powerful tiger was dodged the stream of web.
Spider looked put off.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Rei mocked.
"Driger! Tiger Claw!"
The tiger lunged at the Black Widow.
"Latrodex! Arachno-attack!"
The spider used her many legs to attack him from several points at once.
They collided.
The power of the collision sent both their wielders flying back, landing on their backs just outside the dish.
Kai got up from his seat, wanting to see if Rei was all right.
The two rivals sat up.
Spider's blade had stopped. Rei's was still wobbling in the dish before it toppled over.
"...The first round goes to...REI!" Jazzman announced.
"Well, AJ. Looks like Rei's the one to break Spider's perfect record! Can he do it again and take the win?"
"Let's watch and find out, Brad! Judging by the look on Spider's face, Rei's going to have give it everything he's got."
Spider looked menacing as he reapproached the dish.
Rei had, as Brad said, beaten his flawless record...
But it wasn't going to happen again.
Rei picked himself back up and went up for round two.
They launched.
Rei felt more confident and went more on the offensive. Exactly what Spider was hoping for. More opportunity for Latrodex to ensnare him in her web and take him down.
"TIGER CLAW!" Rei cried out, Driger getting ready to pounce.
Spider let out an evil grin.
"Latrodex! Silk-Thread attack!"
The Black Widow turned and shot white, glistening steams of web as the tiger leapt, entangling him mid leap. His attack failed and he crashed to the ground.
The tiger struggled, unable to get free.
Rei felt himself start to sweat.
Latrodex eight legs stomped towards him, preparing for the kill.
Rei growled, tensing up and summoning every ounce of strength he had.
"Fight, Driger!"
The beast thrashed as powerfully as he could against his restraints.
Spider's demonic grin grew larger.
"Hey Latrodex..."
The Black Widow's attention went to his master.
"...Venom-Bite..."
Rei shuddered as the Black Widow's fangs bared and dripped, raising herself up before slamming down and sinking them in to Driger. The large cat roaring out in agony at the sharp pain.
"Driger!" Rei called out to him.
The tiger seemed to convulse.
"Your poor little kitty is in a world of pain, Rei..."
Rei looked up at him and glared.
"So I'll do the right thing and put him out his misery...Now, Latrodex! Arachno-attack!"
Latrodex's legs went in to a frenzy as they slammed in to the helpless tiger with a force Rei hadn't experienced before.
With every blow, Rei was hit, too.
He cried out as he felt the impact on his limbs, his body getting knocked around as much as Driger was around the dish.
"Rei!" Kai gasped and felt himself get up. He couldn't intervene...but he had to think of something.
With one final, almighty blow, a shock-wave sent both Driger and Rei hurtling back, throwing them both out the dish.
Rei yelled out as his body was propelled high in to the air, his body flailed as it became almost airborne.
He tried to position his body to land on his feet, as cats did.
His feet made contact with the ground.
SNAP.
He let out an agonising cry as his left foot landed awkwardly and cracked.
He collapsed to the ground. His blade landing beside him.
Mr. Harris and the others hung over the side, dumbstruck, trying to see if Rei was all right.
"And the winner of round two is SPIDER!"
The applause from the crowd became white noise to Kai as he saw Rei hit the ground.
He instantly ran to him, kneeling down at his side.
"Rei!?"
Rei panted on the floor. He was hurt. His body had taken multiple blows and he was pretty sure something was broken.
"...Sorry, Kai..." he said breathlessly.
"Don't be sorry...where does it hurt?" he asked looking over him.
"I think...I think my ankle is broken..." he admitted.
Kai's eyes widened.
"MEDIC!" he shouted.
"No...I'm all right...I'm sure I can stand." Rei protested.
"Don't be stupid, Rei. You think your ankle is broken. It's over."
"...But the tournament. With Max out, we don't have a sub..."
"You're more important than the tournament!" Kai snapped.
Kai looked around. Where was the damn medic?!
"I'm gonna take you back to the seat, all right? Get you off the floor..."
He slipped his hand under Rei's knees and made him put his arm around his shoulder as he stood up, picking Rei up with him and taking him back to the seat.
"Rei!" Tyson and Kenny cried in worry as they gathered around him.
Kai set him down on the bench and sat by him.
"Where is the god damn medic?!" Kai yelled angrily at Jazzman.
"On his way...hold on!" Jazzman begged, knowing Kai long enough to know not to annoy him.
The medic appeared and checked Rei's foot.
As the medic had hold of his foot and felt it, Rei's face winced in pain.
He gently moved it and Rei let out a loud yelp, his eyes watered.
Kai felt his chest start to smolder with anger. He turned his gaze from Rei across the stadium to Spider, looking at them triumphantly.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
The medic tended to Rei's foot before pulling out a radio and talking in to it.
It was broken all right...
Rei was down.
But what did that mean?
The crowd waited with anticipation to find out what was going to be decided.
Jazzman put his hand to his earphone as a message came through.
"Rei has no choice but to sit out the last round of the tournament. It's been decided that another member of the Bladebreakers will be allowed to step in in his place. Bladebreakers, you have one minute to decide..." he announced over the mic.
Tyson stood up, panicked by the time restraint. He turned to his team.
"...So, how do we decide which one of us will go?"
"Uh...I think it's already been decided..." Kenny said weakly as he pointed behind Tyson's shoulder.
He turned around.
Kai was already storming his way to the dish.
"...Oh...I guess its Kai, then..." he said as a bead of sweat fell.
Kai marched to the dish, his violet eyes burned as they fixed on his target.
His face seven shades of pissed.
Bitter revenge-seeking rage pulsed through him.
He was going to destroy him for what he did to Rei.
He reached up to his neck and unraveled his scarf, tossing it roughly behind him just as he reached the stairs to the dish. The long, white cloth floating to the ground.
"Ooooohhhhh...the gloves are off!" Tyson gasped.
Rei felt his heart flutter before it started pounding against his chest.
Mr. Harris let out a smirk.
Of course it would be Kai.
He felt his stomach squirm again as he saw the scarf come off.
This was going to be good.
"...Go get him..." he growled in his head, desperately wanting this Spider guy to get his ass handed to him by his rage-fueled student.
Kai stepped up to the dish, glaring daggers.
Spider just continued to look smug.
"I hope you're more of a challenge for me than your pathetic excuse of a teammate..." he goated.
Kai's eyes just smoldered harder.
Jazzman struck a pose.
"It all comes down to this, ladies and gentlemen! Who will take the title!? Bladers, are you READDYYYYY?!"
Kai set up his launcher and got in to position, gripping it until his knuckles went white.
Spider went from smug looking to determined.
"3...2...1...Let it riiiiiiiiiiip!"
Kai snarled before he cried out furiously, yanking at his ripcord ferociously.
His blade propelled out and slammed in to the dish, flying its way towards Spider's, leaving a slight trail of smoke.
Spider rose to him and sent his blade towards him.
They collided.
Spider's blade instantly got propelled back.
His face dropped, not expecting to be pushed back like that.
Kenny went wide eyed as he checked the data.
"Kai's power level is off the scale! I don't know where this level of power is coming from!"
"Oh, I doooo!" Dizzi said teasingly.
Apparently Kenny missed it...his eyes too busy scanning the data.
Kai's pupils constricted and his teeth grit. He wasn't going to waste any time.
"DRANZER!" he near enough screamed as he clenched his fists.
The rapidly spinning blade began to glow and the white light expelled from it. Dranzer emerging in a blaze of strength, looking larger and more glorious than ever before.
Kenny almost let out a shriek.
"I don't believe it! I don't think I've ever seen Dranzer so powerful!"
Tyson ran to look over his shoulder before looking back to the match.
Spider looked intimidated only for a second before recomposing himself.
"Wanna get right to it, huh? Fine! Have it your way! Latrodex!!"
The monsterous Black Widow reemerged from the blade.
"Silk-thread attack!" he yelled, wanting this over quickly.
"Fly, Dranzer!" Kai commanded as the white strings shot at her.
With a powerful flap of her wings, Dranzer soared.
...But the white thread caught one of her talons. Just like in the battle he lost to Tito.
Tyson, Kenny and Rei gasped...this could end badly.
Spider laughed.
"I knew I'd take you down as easy as your weak little friend!"
Kai smirked menacingly.
"Take her for a spin, Dranzer!" he commanded.
Dranzer's eye glinted as she swooped down, grabbing the spider around the middle with her talons and taking off.
She couldn't bite, she couldn't shoot her web, she couldn't touch her.
She soared vertically.
Kai's face turned aggressive.
"Now drop her." he ordered violently.
Once again, Dranzer's feathers ignited into intense, blazing flames as she plummeted down at an alarming speed, releasing Latrodex at the last second, slamming her in to the ground.
The stadium shook.
Spider wobbled as the dish also shook from the impact of his bit-beast to the ground, stunned.
Kai also steadied himself, still looked raging. He didn't want to just beat him. He wanted to destroy him.
The rest of his team watched intently. Even Kenny was no longer looking at his computer. They'd seen some great, powerful moves from Kai. But this was different.
Throught the huge plumes of dust from Latrodex's crash to the ground, Dranzer's blazing form flew up in to view.
The space around Kai's feet began to spark, a circle of flames appeared around him as he clenched his fists, bared his teeth and almost hunched over in fury.
"You picked the wrong guy to mess with..." he growled raspily, "You picked the wrong guy to hurt and the wrong guy to call weak...and you're gonna pay f or it!" he yelled fiercely.
The fire surrounding him grew from small flames to roaring ones, engulfing him.
Spider looked on, scared.
Kai growled as he lifted his arms before bringing his fists down to his sides.
"DRANZER, INCINERATE THEM!" he practically screamed as the flames surrounding him raged fiercly.
Dranzer burst in to a blinding flames.
She flapped her wings and the dish became incapsulated in a vortex of blazing inferno that shot up from the dish to the top of the stadium.
The dazzling light made the spectators shield their eyes.
With a powerful call from Dranzer, there was loud blast that once again shook the stadium.
From the fiery vortex, Spider was blasted powerfully out the ring, hurtling back as he had made Rei. As he hit the ground, his body continued to skid along it from the force.
His blade also flung out the dish, propelling so powerfully it slammed in to the wall near the Stingers' bench.
The flames evaporated and Dranzer returned to her blade. The smoking blade flew up and Kai snatched it roughly.
There was stunned silence.
Jazzman blinked.
"And the winner is...KAI! MEANING THE BLADEBREAKERS TAKE THE TITLE ONCE AGAIN!"
The crowd burst in to screaming cheers.
Kai made his way back to his team. As he approached them, they were staring at him.
He looked between them.
"...What?"
Before they could answer, Jazzman appeared, telling them they had to come get their trophy.
Tyson and Kenny helped Rei up and supported him up to the podium for Mr. Dickinson to come and hand them their prize.
The crowd went ballistic.
Kai went down the stairs again first, turning when he reached the bottom to wait for the others.
Tyson had the trophy under one arm, his other around Rei's waist, supporting him as he hopped.
As he took his next hop, Rei's foot slipped on the edge of the stair.
He fell forward.
Kai lunged forward to catch him and Rei instinctivly grabbed hold of him.
He looked up, slightly red faced from falling in to him.
"...We should get you to the medical ward. Get that wrapped up." Kai said firmly.
Before Rei could reply, Kai had swept him up in his arms and started carrying him out.
His face grew a little more flushed as he was picked up ...for the second time that day.
As much as he was enjoying being held by those strong arms...he also couldn't shake off the feeling he had when he watched Kai battling.
Kai felt the strange tension.
Meanwhile, Tyson and Kenny waited in the locker rooms.
They too feeling weird about the battle.
They were watching it back on Kenny's laptop.
"I don't think I've ever seen Kai play like that before..." Kenny stated.
Tyson sighed.
"I know...I mean...I'm obviously glad he won, and glad he got revenge for Rei...but it just seemed a little..."
"...Excessive?" Kenny finished.
"Exactly...
"Well..." came Dizzi's voice, "Strong feelings do that to a person."
"What do you mean, Dizzi?"
"I'm just saying, certain feelings can make you a little crazy...like hate...or...love."
"But Kai's always had a temper...I've never seen him quite flip his lid like that..." Tyson responded.
"Must have just caught him on an off day..." Kenny added.
Dizzi wished she had hands and a face so that she could face-palm herself...
Rei had come to her last weekend...she was sworn to secrecy, but figured dropping a few hints was probably fine...
Unfortunately, they were as stupid as Kai and Rei.
xxxxx
Rei arrived at Tyson's. It was the weekend before the tournament. They had work to do.
Kai had choir practice, he'd be joining them later that afternoon.
But Rei couldn't focus...
The night he and Kai made up for looking in his file, they practiced together on the roof again.
As their blades collided, that weird full-body tingling feeling they'd once experienced came back. This time with an intensity that almost brought Rei to his knees.
He had to know what it was...
He walked over to Kenny bashfully.
"Hey Chief...Uh...I know this is going to sound weird but...could I, possibly, talk to Dizzi...in private?"
Kenny frowned...that was an odd request.
"Um...sure?" he replied as he quizzically held Dizzi out to him.
Rei flushed and took Dizzi to the next room, shutting the door behind him.
"Well...this is a first." Dizzi's voice came, "What's up, Rei?"
"I need to ask you about something that's happened...but I need you to swear you'll keep this between me and you."
"My lips are sealed!" she said, seemingly pleased she was going to get some secret of some kind.
Rei took a breath before telling her about the two occasions where the weird feeling happened.
Dizzi listened.
"I see...and you know for sure that Kai felt it too?"
"He did."
"Hmmm...I wonder what it could be..." she said almost slyly.
Rei's face fell.
"You don't know either?" he said, disappointed.
"I think Driger and Dranzer are trying to tell you something..."
"So you do know what it is?!" Rei asked hopefully.
"Maaaaaaybe...but you need to figure that out on your own."
Rei sighed, almost annoyed.
Why couldn't she just tell him?
"All right...thanks Dizzi, I guess..."
"You're welcome!" she teased, "let me know when you figure it out..."
xxxxxxxxxxx
She was surrounded by idiots, apparently.
Back in the medical room, and the doctor had just finished putting Rei's ankle in a cast.
Kai sat next to him and waited with him.
The doctor stepped out, leaving the two alone.
There was still an awkward silence.
The awkwardness coming from Rei. It made Kai uncomfortable.
"...Is something wrong?" he asked finally.
Rei turned to him, a little surprised. Kai never usually sounded so concerned like this. Usually it was a blunt "What is it?" or "Spit it out..."
"I..." Rei started before pausing, carefully considering his words. He let out a sigh.
"...it's nothing."
Kai resisted rolling his eyes.
"Just spit it out, Rei."
Rei smiled slightly. There he was...
The smile disappeared.
"Its just...I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything...you stepped up to the plate when I was down and won it for us...and you got him back for me..."
Kai frowned, wondering where the problem was.
"...but I'm quickly getting more and more worried about you, Kai..." he said softly, avoiding eye contact.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kai said as his frown got deeper.
Rei turned to him.
"It was a beyblade battle, Kai...I lost fair and square. I got hurt. I'm not thrilled about it, but it happens. I wanted you to beat him...and you did that...but you also let your temper get the better of you...again."
Kai stared, confused.
Hadn't he done the right thing by Rei?
"You got violent again...you weren't satisfied with just beating him in the match. You wanted to hurt him. I've never seen you throw such a powerful attack like that before. It was more scary than it was impressive...you lost control. It's just lucky Spider didn't get seriously hurt..."
He felt Kai stiffen.
"...I see...I'm the asshole once again..." Kai said darkly, "...remind me never to stand up for any of you again..." he spat as he stood himself up.
"Kai, wait...don't be like that!" Rei pleaded.
He ignored him, storming out the door and slamming it shut.
As he left the room, Tyson and Kenny approached!
"Hey Kai!" Tyson greeted, "How's Rei? And how are you?! That was one hell of a show, bud..." he said, having not had a chance to talk to him about it yet.
Kai growled.
"Don't start on me, too!" he yelled as he pushed past them and kept walking, leaving Tyson and Kenny baffled.
"...What was that about?" Tyson asked.
"...I dunno...but let's let him cool off...we should check on Rei anyway."
Kai continued to storm down the hall.
"KAI!" came a familiar voice.
He whirled round and felt himself groan.
"I thought I told you not to come!" he snapped.
Mr. Harris' face fell as he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Charming! I just came to congratulate you! Well done on winning the title again!"
Kai's face turned angry.
"I told you not to come! Why can't you just do as I ask and leave me alone?!" he yelled.
Dan sighed.
"...What's happened?" he asked, sensing his little outburst wasn't actually to do with him.
Kai's face instantly went from angry to upset.
"I just wanted to get him back for hurting Rei...why am I the bad guy?! I'm always the god damn bad guy!" he said, frustrated as he kicked the wall.
Dan waited for more of an explanation. Kai turned to him.
"Rei's not happy with me because he said I lost my temper again. But I didn't! I was just doing what anyone would do! Getting payback! He hurt Rei so I hurt him back!" he argued defensively.
Mr. Harris thought for a moment.
"Well...I see your side...but as someone who watched it, I can kind of see Rei's, too...I think what Rei's saying is there's a fine line between getting even and being excessive..."
Kai frowned again.
"So you think I went overboard, too?!"
"Well...I mean...It was pretty intense...I don't know much about this sport...but I do think you could have beaten him easily after you dropped him. But you literally exploded in flames...I mean...I literally can't think of a better analogy than that."
Kai huffed.
"...I don't think Rei is saying you're the bad guy, Kai...or that he's mad at you. I think he's just worried about you and being honest with you."
"Hn." Kai huffed again, folding his arms.
Mr. Harris cracked a small smile.
"...Right. Enough of this. You two can talk about serious stuff later. Right now you and your team just won a tournament. Put it aside and go celebrate with them."
He grabbed him by the arm and dragged him protesting to the locker rooms.
As he threw open the door, Rei was stood up, a crutch under each arm. Tyson and Kenny with him...as well as Kai's classmates who were excitedly praising them and discussing their victory.
"Ooooh! Look! The whole gang's here!" Mr. Harris beamed.
Kai felt himself cringe. What the hell were these guys doing here!? He turned his head and gave a stabbing look at Mr. Harris. He prefered his school and personal life to be kept seperate. Now here they were mixing.
They all turned to see the two in the doorway.
Reuben and his classmates lit up.
The four classmates charged towards him.
"Kai, you were amazing!"
"Such a badass!"
"Way to save the day in a blaze of glory!"
Kai froze at the stampede of classmates heading his way. He tensed as they took hold of him by the arms and legs and lifted him up horizontally.
"What the hell are you doing!? Put me down!"
"Three cheers for Kai!"
"Hip! Hip!"
They bent at the knees before coming up and throwing him up in the air.
"Hooray!"
Kai let out a shriek as he briefly got thrown in the air, coming back down and being caught again.
"I'm serious! Stop it! Put me down!" he insisted as he wriggled.
"Hip! Hip!"
"I'm warning yo-"
"Hooray!" they ignored as they tossed him in the air again.
"I mean it! Knock it off!" he let out flustered as he got caught the second time.
"Hip! Hip!"
"Oh for the love of..."
"Hooray!" They shouted as the tossed him as hard as they could for the last time before setting him back down.
Dan snickered and Rei, Tyson and Kenny were laughing hysterically at how much he hated it.
Kai flushed at the embarassing display his classmates just put him through and started to glare at them, getting ready to tear in to them.
But Dan got to him before he could.
"I haven't had my shot yet! C'mere you lil' fireball, you!" he said proudly as he swung his arm around his shoulder tightly and ruffled his hair.
Kai violently pulled away from him and turned his glare to him, running his hands through his hair to fix it.
They spent some time hanging out with the team before Mr. Harris announced it was time to go back to school. Kai and Rei had arranged to go back that evening anyway, so he drove them all back to Tyson's in the school minibus he'd managed to use for the two to get their things.
As they head back to the school, Kai stayed silent.
Rei wasn't particularly talkative either, answering when the other boys talked to him. But only short answers, unlike him.
They arrived back at the school. The boys went back to their dorms and Dan instructed Kai to help Rei to his room.
Student's weren't usually allowed in the teacher's dorms...but he knew there was still tension between them from the tournament. They needed to figure it out.
Kai quietly supported Rei up the stairs, staying silent.
They reached his room.
"...You need any more help, or...?" he mumbled quietly.
Rei's face saddened. They'd not long fallen out over the whole thing with the file...he didn't want any more arguments. And now he'd had some time to think it over.
"...come in, Kai." he said gently as he took his crutches and hobbled in to his room.
Kai hesitated before following, he also didn't want another fight.
He shut the door behind him and Rei offered him a seat.
"...Kai-"
"Hold on, Rei...let me talk."
Rei zipped it. This wasn't like him...
Kai sighed.
"I know I probably went at him harder than was necessary...but I'm not sorry for it."
Rei tilted his head.
"You were right. I wasn't happy with just beating him in the match. I wanted to hurt him. You're one of the few people in this world I actually give a crap about...if I ever see anyone hurt you, I won't sit back and do nothing...I'm sorry if you don't like it, but that's the way I am..."
"I know..." Rei said with a soft smile
It was Kai's turn to tilt his head.
"I've had time to think, too...I didn't mean to throw what you did for me back in your face. You really stood up for me...It's just since I've been here a lot of things have happened...you've been in trouble for your temper so much in such a short time, I'm worried about you...what I said wasn't out of ingratitude...I'm just looking out for you, which is why I get on your case so much...I'm sorry if you don't like it, but that's the way I am..." he smiled, repeating Kai's words to him.
"But for what it's worth...you were incredible up there..." he added.
Kai smiled back.
There was a pause.
"...Just promise me you'll work on your issues, Kai..."
The smile faded.
"...I don't want to see your demons eat away at you and ruin your life..."
Kai felt uncomfortable with the sudden depth of the conversation.
"...Because I'm seeing it start to happen and I couldn't bare to see you fall...there's only so much other people can do for you...it has to come from you."
Kai didn't know what to say to that. He didn't like this vulnerable feeling.
He stood up and cleared his throat.
"Well...now that's cleared up...I'd better go...keep that ankle up, got it?"
"...I will." Rei smiled, letting the heavy stuff drop.
Kai gave an akward nod and hurridely left the room.
As the door closed, Rei flopped back on his bed.
Although he had felt Kai lost control during that match and he was worried about him...there was another side to it.
The strength...the fire...for him.
Once again, Kai had been his hero.
He squirmed a little on the bed and let out a dreamy sigh as he played it back in his mind and felt himself tingle.
Kai stood outside Mr. Harris' door. He kept holding his hand up to knock, but changed his mind and tried to walk away...only to change his mind again and go back.
This little back and forth went on several times before the decision was made for him.
The door opened.
Mr. Harris jumped a little to see him there.
"Kai? What are you doing here?"
Kai jumped, too.
"I, uh..."
Dan waited.
Kai sighed.
"Can I talk to you a minute?"
"Of course...come in...excuse the mess." Dan replied as he let him in.
He shut the door.
"What's up?" Dan asked as he gestured for Kai to sit at his desk chair.
As Kai sat, a file hanging off the edge of the desk fell off, scattering papers across the floor.
"Sorry!"
"It's fine, my own fault for being so unorganised..."
The two got on the floor and picked up the papers.
Kai's eyes fell one of the papers by him.
His heart sank as he picked it up.
"Notice of Requested Transfer"
Dan scooped up some more papers before he caught Kai staring at the paper in his hand.
He held his hand out.
"...Sorry...I just saw it...are you...leaving?"
Dan's face fell as he realised what he'd seen.
He let out a sigh.
"Well...nothing is set in stone yet...got to have a few more meetings and so on...but another school has requested me, apparently."
"Oh..."
There was an awful silence.
"Like I said...nothing definite yet. Just talks."
"Right..."
"So...what did you want to talk to me about?"
"...I wanted to ask if we could...wait, when would you leave if you were going?"
"End of term."
"In like two months..."
"Yeh."
"And when will you know if you're going?"
"In a few weeks, I think...Why? Would you cry if I left?" Dan asked, forcing a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.
Kai composed himself.
"Pff, don't be ridiculous..."
Dan's smirk grew.
"Soooo you wanted to ask...?" Dan said, bringing him back to the topic.
"Oh...I was just gonna ask...that doctor your brother saw...can we go see him?"
Dan looked stunned.
"Yes! Of course! ...Really!?"
Kai nodded.
His sly smirk came back.
"This wouldn't have something to do with Rei, would it?" he asked, putting two and two together...funny how straight after Rei displayed concern about his temper, he was willingly coming forward to ask to see a therapist.
"Awwwww you got it bad, son." he gushed in his head.
Kai scowled as he turned slightly pink.
"Oh...hurry up and transfer, will ya?" he barked as he stood up and head back for the door.
"You mark my words, Kai...If I do, you'll cry!" he joked, "and I'll call the doctor first thing tomorrow...I'm proud of you."
Kai didn't turn back or respond... because he was struggling to hide that his heart was breaking.
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PHEW!
End. Of. Chapter.
14 and a half pages...super long. I apologize. Got carried away and it wouldn't end!
Despite the length, I hope you enjoyed it!
Please R & R!
See you next time!