Just as darkness began to engulf me, a familiar voice from a memory came back: "With these MS blades, your spirit has more power than you can ever imagine…so use it, Alana, use your spirit to win!"
My eyes flashed open, my forehead blazed with the image of my phoenix. Kai…Kai had told me that when I had been learning to master the Hard Metal System.
In a flash of flames, Goldflame and I had broken free of our bindings. "Inferno Strike!" my cry rang out.
As my Bit Beast swooped as a bolt of flame into its opponent, I found myself falling backward, my strength gone. I landed on the grass with hardly any impact, golden feathers drifting softly down to settle on my motionless form and on the ground around me.
Goldflame vanished into my still blade. Damon's blade had also stopped spinning.
I opened my eyes to find myself gazing into a face framed by silver hair with a dark-blue battle insignia painted on both cheeks. A long white scarf flowed on the wind. Calm violet eyes looked at me steadily.
"Kai?" I said in a coarse whisper.
"Are you okay?" the Russian asked quietly.
"Yes…now you're with me again."
"Hn." Kai smiled slightly. Relief was evident in his eyes.
As carefully as he could, my boyfriend gathered me up into his arms and carried me out of school once he had scooped up Goldflame. People stared after us in awe, particularly Miles. There was no sign of Damon when I glanced over his broad shoulder.
As soon as I got home, I was confronted by my anxious parents. They bombarded me with questions and I mumbled some lame explanation that some stranger had fought me at school, I had won but they had disappeared before I could stop them. I brushed off my wounds when they asked to see them, wanting to be elsewhere rather than talking about what had gone on.
The moment I entered my bedroom that evening, a hand caught my arm. I spun around. It was only Kai. Kai's lips came crashing down on mine with such force and hunger I found myself right up against the wall. He held me like he would never let go. It had been months since we had last seen each other, not to mention shared a kiss.
That was it. I clung to him as if he was the last string of hope that could bring me out of the sorrow I had been drowning in ever since being sent back to my own world. I nestled my face into the folds of his dark-purple t-shirt. Feeling the safety and relief of being close to him again, I let a river of tears flow from my eyes and cried.
Kai wrapped his muscular arms around my heaving, trembling body, gently and comfortingly rubbing my back, easing my sobs. Our closeness was warm and pacifying; the soft scent of winter filled my lungs, making me breath easier. We stayed like this until I had stopped crying.
My boyfriend then seated me on the toilet seat in the showeroom next door and used the first aid kit to begin cleaning each small but painful minor wound. I tried not to show how much they hurt me but my moans seemed to seep through my clenched teeth. The pain was quickly replaced with pleasure though when Kai's soft, warm lips brushed against my sore skin.
"Kai," I began in a voice of the verge of more tears. "Are you going to join the Blitzkrieg Boys in the Olympics?"
Kai pulled me into another embrace. "I know I can battle Tyson anytime so there's no need."
"Good. It's just that…I've missed you so much."
"Me too," Kai whispered, his kiss ceasing my quiet sobs.
He took me to his own universe, where we crept into the dark dojo on soundless feet and into the room where the rest of the team were sleeping.
My boyfriend laid out his futon on the smooth, polished wooden floor. I slipped in beneath the thin quilt, sighing with content. It smelt so good. It smelt like him.
Kai removed his jacket, t-shirt and scarf, revealing his toned upper body. He also took off his trousers so he was only in his boxers.
I stared openly at his bare chest. He had a six-pack that would make any fan girl go weak at the knees. I had never seen him like this before.
He slowly climbed in beside me, drawing me close to him as he pulled the cover over himself. I blushed brightly, my heart pounding; I was aware of my bosoms pressing against his solid chest as well as the fact that only my thin cotton night-dress prevented closer contact between us.
Tiredness soon dissolved my embarassment. I had hardly slept at all during the time we had been apart.
Kai hushed me gently when I tried to talk.
"Shh now. You need your rest," he advised softly.
I nodded and let the tender, loving kiss of my boyfriend draw me from reality.
I blinked in the golden light of morning as bright summer sunlight touched my face with gentle, slanted rays streaming through a gap in the curtains, bathing Kai and I in soft radiance. Kai was still asleep. His arms were wrapped around me protectively.
I snuggled closer to the warmth of his body beside me, nestling my face into his chest. I relished the feel of his skin against mine for a little while; I had not felt his touch for so long.
Kai's warm breath tickled the back of my neck as he subconsciously buried his face into my hair. I smiled, raising my head to breathe into his ear, "Wake up, Kai."
The boy opened his eyes. "Morning, Alana."
He let his hand run down my cheek and neck to my shoulder where he trailed lazy circles. His finger sliding over my skin made me giggle. He noticed this and tickled me playfully.
"Hey…" I gasped, breathless with laughter. "Stop…it!"
"What's the magic word?"
"Could you…stop…please?"
Smirking, Kai did so. He grunted when I scowled at him mockingly, catching my breath.
I sighed, grinning at him. I could never stay annoyed at my boyfriend for long. "Ya lublu tebya, Kai," I told him softly. I love you.
Kai's violet eyes widened slightly but I kissed him before he could react any further. She's full of surprises, he thought. I can't believe she just said she loved me in Russian… I felt him smirk as he responded to the kiss and it quickly became more passionate.
Once I was dressed in the usual clothes I wore in the Beyblade world, Kai and I proceeded to the dining room for breakfast. The only person in there when we slid back wooden door was Daichi. An early bird like we were, he was already tucking into rice, knelt on a mat beside the low table.
Tyson's grandpa entered the room as we seated ourselves on mats too and took our places.
"Ohayo, Granger-sama," I smiled as Mister Grangerplaced bowls of rice with chopsticks in front of us. "Arigatou gozaimasu." Good morning, Mister Granger. Thank you very much.
The old man looked a little bemused for a second then grinned back. "Ohayo, Alana-san." Good morning, Alana.
Kai raised an amused eyebrow at our exchange while Daichi glanced fro me to Tyson's grandpa in awe. It was plain he had understood every word - after all, he was Japanese.
"I didn't know you could speak our language!" he gasped.
I smiled ruefully. "Only a small amount. I've taught myself."
"It was dogone Japanese at that, dog," Mister Granger remarked to Daichi. "You're one fly sister, Alana. Wait till your dudes hear about this!"
When the rest of the team entered the dining room four hours later, Tyson's grandpa told them about it. I heard their surprised voices when they talked to the kendo sensei as I practiced with Kai and Daichi out in the small front courtyard of Tyson's dojo.
Tyson himself rushed outside minutes after.
"Can you really do that?" he asked.
"Yes," I nodded.
"What other languages do you know - or is that it?"
"Hmm…let's see," I replied thoughtfully. I began ticking each one off on my fingers. "I know Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Mandarin…and English of course…"
A dull thud resonated in the front garden. It had been too much for Tyson.
"That's a heck of a lot of languages…" he commented dazedly.
Daichi and I burst out laughing. Kai shook his head, smirking.
"It's certainly good to see you again," Max told me light-heartedly later on as we engaged in mock battle.
"Yeah…" I agreed, smiling. Then I had a sudden thought. "Did you see Rebecca at all when I was away?"
"Oh yes," Max answered enthusiastically. "Almost every day - she was pretty worried about you though. She said she hadn't had a phone call or anything from you…what happened anyway?"
"You know that guy - the Black Hell Bladers' leader? His name's Damon. He somehow sent me back to my own universe and stopped me from getting back here," I replied. "That's why you didn't see me for three months. No matter what I did the portal remained closed. Damon came to my world yesterday - we battled and he tried to take Goldflame from me…"
I recalled the events of the other day. My friends listened intently until I had finished.
The Chief was thoughtful. "It looks like what you said about that team having the power to travel between worlds was right, Alana. We now know that your universe's in danger as well as ours. What I want to know is, where do they get it from?"
"Yeah…" Tyson agreed.
"There's gotta be a source, right?" Hilary asked. "We thought it might be their Bit Beasts."
"We'll have to battle them again to know that!" Lee pointed out.
A brief silence fell. Everyone mused about the Black Hell Bladers. After a few minutes of reflection, Ray spoke up.
"I guess the only we'll know how to beat them is to watch their battles in the Olympics - we might pick up something," he suggested.
"You're right," concurred Kenny. "I'll email Mr. Dickenson right now and tell him what we came up with and Alana's story!"
He began setting up Dizzi.
Max and I turned our attention back to our battle. Draciel and Goldflame MS collided and both were knocked out of the dish from the impact. We caught our blades, laughing. It was a tie.
"Oh!" I gasped suddenly.
"Huh?" my friends glanced at me quizzically.
"I've got to get back, everyone!" I explained. "My parents will wonder where I am!"
"Okay." Hilary smiled. "See you!"
I nodded.
In a flash of light, I vanished the second I touched Goldflame.
I reappeared in my own room dressed in normal attire again just as my younger brother burst through the door. He looked flustered and bemused.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Beyblade…it's on the news," the ten-year-old blurted.
"What do you…"
Then it sank in. Beyblade…that must mean…I inhaled sharply. The BBA in my world - maybe it's been set up! I promised the G-revolutions I'd tell them when it happened. This could be it!
"Let's go!" I urged impatiently.
I dragged my dazed sibling downstairs, unable to contain my excitement.
We were right on time. I stared hard at the living room televison screen in anticipation while the reporter introduced the news item for Beyblade.
"The spinning top game that captivated millions all over the world has now become a sport," she informed us. "Only yesterday, the British BBA headquarters was declared open in London by none other than BBA chairman Mr. Dickenson himself."
Shock was highly visible on my relatives' faces. "What?" they exclaimed together.
A beaming smile spread across my face and tears of joy welled in my eyes as I watched the reporter interviewing the old man. The BBA was for real now; Beyblading was truly here to stay in my universe. The Japanese and American headquarters had been opened a couple of days ago and many more were to be opened across the globe in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia, China, Australia and lots of other countries.
Takao Aoki, the manga artist of Beyblade, spoke on TV too and explained how the anime and manga were based upon the Beyblade world itself. The events in the comics and TV series were a mixture of being close to the truth and imaginary although most of the characters were real like their Beyblades and Bit Beasts. He said that only true Beybladers would discover this universe.
My family was completely taken aback by his words. Disbelief was evident on all their faces as they listened to him speaking.
I closed my eyes and let the tears of happiness flow.
I clutched Goldflame in my jeans pocket. Thank you so much for choosing me to be your partner. I'm forever grateful to you, my friend.
Right back at you, the phoenix sang, its melodic trill resounding in my mind. It was our destiny to be together. I'll never leave your side.
Me too. We'll always be united, Goldflame! Friends forever.
Yes, my Bit Beast replied, its presence filling me with love and warmth. Now and always.
I felt another presence beside me. I could tell by the smell of winter it was Kai. He was invisible to everyone else but me.
"I can't believe it, Kai," I whispered. "The BBA's finally set up and Beyblading's now a sport - just think, soon it'll be as popular as it is in your universe!"
"Yeah," my boyfriend agreed. "I'm glad it's back again…this time it's never gonna die."
"That's right!" I threw my arms about his neck, holding him tightly.
His arms gently fastened themselves around my waist. We hugged each other for sheer joy.
We pulled away a short time later once the news article about Beyblading was over.
"We'd better tell the others."
"Hn. Let's go."
We crept out of the room and upstairs to disappear back to the Beyblade world.
The G-revolutions sat in a wide circle in the room with the Dragon Heart sword at one end after we had arrived, looking at me curiously. I beamed around at all of them.
"I promised I'd tell you when it happened," I began.
"When what happened?" Tyson wanted to know.
"When the BBA became real in my world…and it has. Beyblading's now a sport like it is here!"
My team-mates smiled and started talking excitedly.
"I can't believe it," Daichi gasped.
"We did it!" Max cheered.
"Beyblade's staying in your universe for good now," Ray told me warmly.
"Definitely," I answered.
"Now no one will treat like it last year's fashion," Lee added. "Beyblading should not be disrespected like that in any world. It'll finally be regarded as the sport it should be."
"You said it!" Tyson grinned.
"All our hard work paid off," Kenny remarked to Hilary.
"I know!" she giggled happily. "It's great to see Alana so thrilled - and we are too."
"I wouldn't have got this far with the revival of the game without you guys and your world, so thank you," I said to them gratefully. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me and my universe."
They glowed with pride and elation.
I felt a surge of pleasure. I was so lucky to have friends like them and was glad they could share in the joy of Beyblade's return in my world.
The Beyblading spirit would live on forever in both our universes.