A/n: First and foremost I would like to thank Baby Angel for the sudden increase in reviews and thanks to her I have achieved a 100 reviews for this story! Also not to forget my loyal and ever patient reviewers…or-chan, brezzybrez, ShadowWolfDagger, and faith. I love you guys!
Also, to those who do not know this yet, the creators of Beyblade will be releasing the FOURTH SEASON some time in summer. Your loyalty and support to the show are not in vain and has paid off! Hopeful they will be using our dearly beloved original cast and not some new kids. Hence to celebrate this news, I present to you the next chapter.
Now on to the story!
Chapter 10 – Eyes of the World on You
The ride back to the hotel passed in silence. Each Bladebreaker mauling over their battles today, wondering what had gone wrong and how they could have made any difference. Hilary was trying to comfort them, for once not picking a fight with Tyson over his lost. Once in a while she would shoot Kai questioning glances as if demanding he do something about the team spirit. But Kai would brush her off, letting his team wallow in their state. Not that it mattered now. It was over.
"Oh for the love of god!" she snapped once they had arrived at their hotel and returned to their suite. "Snap out of it! It's not the end of the world!"
"For us, it is." Tyson said pitifully. "Everything that we worked for. All for nothing."
"But-." pleadingly she glanced at Kai.
"I guess that means it's over for us." Tyson said mourningly.
"Not quite."
"What?!" all eyes flew to their captain sitting calmly at a window still.
Unaffected by the startled looks they gave him, Kai sighed dismissively. "We're not out of the tournament yet. Seeing as how we are the reigning world champions and currently have two wins and one lost, we are still going to compete in the quarterfinals."
"Something you would know had you been listening during the briefing." Hilary added in acidly at the four stunned boys.
"Wha-!?" Tyson didn't know whether to cry or to laugh in joy. This was the best news he has ever gotten especially from Kai! "Why didn't you tell us!?"
"I wanted you to realize the extent to how serious this is." the phoenix said. "Now you know how real defeat feels like."
"You're kidding!" Max cried in disbelief. "You mean we were all soppy there for nothing?"
"I wouldn't call it for nothing. You lost to the Majestics, remember?" Kai said briskly. "That's something you should be upset about."
"So you knew. That's why you told Ray to throw in the match." Kenny said slowly as all the pieces clicked together. "You knew we would get a second chance at battling the Majestics again. You knew we had nothing to loose."
"Except the respect of some of the fans." the state-haired teen shrugged carelessly indicating he wasn't going to mourn for that lost. "Like I said, it was either Driger or the title. You chose well, Ray."
"Thanks...I guess." the neko-jinn muttered still trying to comprehend the knowledge that Driger's sacrifice had not been in vain. His thoughts were interrupted by Tyson throwing a heavy arm around his shoulder.
"Ya hear that, man? We're still in the tournament!"
"I hear you, man. No need to yell."
"Good! Because I'm not gonna let today repeat its self again! Majestics, watch out!"
Watching them, Hilary allowed a smile across her face. It seems that the team was back to their old selves. Good. Now she wouldn't be stuck with a bunch of moping teenage boys.
Although it was uncalled for when Kai decided to let them drown momentarily in their defeat….
Then again she supposed that was Kai's way of kindness to his team. Flopping down into a sofa in front of the flat-screen television, she reached forward for the remote and flicked it on. The channel that came on was the sports news update and Hilary stared at it apprehensively for a few moments before her brain kicked in.
"Um, guys?"
Her first attempt only caught Kai's attention and he tore his eyes away from his celebrating teammates to stand behind Hilary's sofa. His dark eyes, shielded by his slate-haired bangs watched the screen carefully, finally understanding what had caught Hilary's concern.
Hilary's second try was more impressive and more effective.
"WILL YOU BOYS JUST SHUT UP AND COME SEE THIS?!" she shouted.
Silence resonated followed by the sound of scrambling feet as the rest of the team settled around the television to see what she had to show them. On the screen, a woman reporter was reading out the latest result of the world championships.
"Joining the Majestics, The Bladebreakers, White Tigers and the British team in the quarterfinals are the Blitzkreig team and their opponents, the Canadian team."
"Sweet. Lee's team made it." Ray said in relief.
"As expected of the Russian team, the Blitzkreig team has advanced into the quarterfinals after easily making short work of their Canadian opponents. However some say it's because of homeland advantage that the fearsome team had only managed to defeat Canada's bladers. A fact that will soon be tested when the Blitzkreig team will battle the Canadian team in Canada for the quarterfinals of Group A, next week."
"I just bet Tala's team is gonna be moping the stadium floor with the other team!" Tyson said excitedly.
"Hush, Tyson!" Hilary hissed, hitting him over the head.
"Ow..."
"I don't think Tala would need homeland advantage to defeat his opponents." Ray said dryly.
"Now in a shocking revelation, the American team, the All Starz experienced an unexpected defeat in the preliminary round of Block B to newcomers, the Silver Wolves." the reporter continued. In the background, they could see the replay of the battles as the All Starz pairing team made of Steve and Eddy were quickly defeated by members of Faith's team and Emily faced off against Faith herself only to lose in the end.
"I don't believe it!" Max gasped, eyes widening in shock. "Mom's team lost? It can't be."
"And Emily didn't even have time to call out her Bitbeast." Kenny observed.
Tyson waved his hand in dismissal. "You guys are just over-reacting. I'm sure Faith just got lucky and you know how your mother likes to collect data on her opponents."
Max pondered the theory and nodded slowly. "Yeah. You're right, man. She's probably just collecting data and information on Faith's team for their rematch in the quarterfinals. Mom would never let her team lose to an unknown team for no reason."
"Well, technically the All Starz did lose to you guys when you were an unknown team." Hilary reminded them warily.
"Look where that got us now."
"That's not my point, Tyson!"
Blocking his teammate's voices from his surroundings, Kai concentrated on the television, focusing on the continuous replay of the last battle between the spectacled blader of the All Starz and Faith. Somehow he didn't think it was planned as Tyson had suggested. The shock and disbelief on Emily's face as she watched her beyblade leave the Beystadium in broken pieces certainly wasn't planned. They were genuine emotions, drawn on by her unexpected defeat to an unknown opponent. As real as the small tears of defeat that followed.
No...they did not lose on purpose. They lost for real.
The quarterfinals took place a week later with the world's top television channels broadcasting the matches live through satellite. The Bladebreakers gathered in the living room of their hotel suite after a day of training while Hilary turned up the volume of the television currently showing the match between the Blitzkreig team versus the Canadian team in the latter's homegrounds.
Despite their disadvantage in homeland, the winners were pretty clear when Bryan and Spencer made quick, merciless work of their doubles opponent. Alexis despite her lacking in the area of sacred spirits, fought with a vigor that showed that she just wasn't any ordinary female blader and ended the match swiftly. It was decided. The Blitzkreig team was in the semi-finals against whichever team that won the Block B quarterfinals be it the All Starz or the Silver Wolves.
"Huh." reaching out for another helping of popcorn only to have his hand slapped away by Hilary, Tyson pulled a face but continued his comment. "What else is there to expect of Tala's team? I swear that team is on drugs!"
"Either that or they've really trained their butts off for this tournament." Ray put in.
The capped boy shrugged. "Well, so did we."
"I think it would be cool to face them again." Max said cheerily. "Then this time we'll actually get to see who's the strongest."
"Hey, look!" Kenny exclaimed suddenly. "The All Starz's match against the Silver Wolves is on now!"
Quickly quieting down, the teens resumed their places in front of the television to watch the start of the match although there was a commotion between Max and Tyson squabbling over the beanie bag which Hilary quickly settled by snatching it away from them. The excited voices of A.J and Brad could be heard blasting from the television set as they reported the happenings of the tournament.
"AND WE ARE BACK WITH THE REMATCH BETWEEN THE WORLD CLASS TEAM, THE ALL STARZ VERSUS THE UNDERDOGS –and I do mean underdogs literally- THE SILVER WOLVES!" Brad announced.
"That's so lame, man."
"I know."
With enough grandeur as usual, Jazzman made his appearance, rising up above the crowd with a microphone to his mouth as he waved his arm. "Ladies and gentlemen, introducing all the way from America….THE ALL STARZ!"
The spotlight hit the American team, basking them in its light and revealing a full gloating Michael who drank in the attention he was receiving. He blew kisses at his fans and when someone threw a bouquet of flower at him, he proved his baseball skills by easily catching it in his glove.
"Michael, stop showing off!" Judy reprimanded, her brows furrowing in displeasure.
"Relax, Judy. I'm just giving the fans what they want. More of me!" that said, the captain flashed a wink and a grin directly at the cameras.
Judy sighed, resisting the dire need to either throw her laptop at him or to take an aspirin. Then when Jazzman announced the other team's entrance, her entire demeanor shifted becoming sharper as she narrowed her eyes on the opponents. The team to whom her team had lost to previously strolled into the arena confidently with no sign of hesitation. Faith led the team, her dark gaze looking around in a bore manner before they noticed Judy scrutinizing her. She smirked and Judy stiffened. She wasn't going to be getting anything out of her just by looking.
She turned back to address her team, satisfied that Emily had pacified Michael. "Alright, team. You know the drill. We've been through this and no fooling around this time. I'll not tolerate a loss like last time."
All serious now, the team standing before her nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Alright. Steve, Eddy. You're up first. Make it fast." the director instructed.
"Yes, ma'am." both boys saluted her before heading forward.
Two members of the other team broke away from the bench, calmly striding up to the arena. They looked like fairly normal Chinese and Japanese girls, both of the same height with an average built for girls. The Chinese girl wore a red traditional Chinese top over a simple pair of white three-quarter pants. The red of the top matched perfectly with her black hair tied into a tight bun with a chopstick and brown eyes that were kind and soulful. Whereas her partner on the other hand, was perhaps best deemed as the opposite of her for her red locks were dyed with blonde streaks and her eyes, light brown twinkled with mischief. The top she wore was designed like a kimono only shorter, blue with cerulean blue ribbons lining the hem over a black three-quarter pants.
"Hey there. Fancy meeting you here again." Steve mused, studying them.
Eddy nudged him in the ribs. "Knock it off, man. We're here to win, not flirt. Besides Director Judy will kill you." he warned with a careless chuckle.
The Japanese girl looked at them curiously before turning to the black-haired beside her and whispered something to her ear. An amused smile curled the Chinese girl's lips before she nodded and turned back to their opponents.
"Iris said, it would be fun to kick your butts again." she informed them in perfect English.
"What?!" surprised and very irritated by the bold proclamation, Steve and Eddy glared at the Japanese girl only to have her grin even more mischievously.
"And I must say, I agree with her." the Chinese female added in with a sly grin of her own.
"What?! Why you cocky little –!"
Thankfully Jazzman interrupted before Steve could complete that sentence. "Today, going up against the American team –Steve and Eddy- yet again are Iris and Freya of the Silver Wolves! Will the bladers please take their position?!"
All four bladers yanked out their launchers, locking in their beyblades into launching position.
"AND 3, 2, 1! LET IT RIP!"
Simultaneously as the blades were launched into the stadium, the crowd gave out a loud excited cheer and applause as the match started. Instantly Steve dived into attack mode, aiming for the royal purple beyblade that he knew belonged to the Japanese girl. He intended to finish her fast. No toying around, no mercy. Now like last time. Somewhere else in the stadium, he could feel his partner holding the other girl at bay, preventing her from coming to her partner's aid.
Perfect, he thought as his blade swooped in on the motionless blade. "Game over!"
No one noticed the slightly grin and the predatory glint on Iris's face. No one all save for her partner who shared the same smirk.
Their blades collided, throwing up dust and smoke from the impact and blinding everyone from clear sight of the battle.
"Whoa! I can't see a thing!" Jazzman exclaimed as he franticly waved his hand on front of him to clear the dust from his face.
"I doubt any beyblade would have survived that." A.J commented in excitement.
Watching from the comfort of their hotel suite, Max and Tyson instinctively leaned in closer to the television screen until Kenny started complaining that they were blocking everyone's view. Hilary grabbed both boys by the cuffs of their neck and yanked them back into their original sitting places with a stern command to 'sit and don't move or else…'
"That was one powerful attack." Ray said. "I don't think she would have survived that."
"Nah." Tyson waved off his words in dismissal. "Steve is all power. It would have been easy for Dragoon to dodge that attack and get him on the rebound."
"Says you now." Hilary muttered under her breath.
"But Iris didn't move from her spot even at the point of impact." Kenny said worriedly. He nibbled nervously on his lower lip. "It's either she's too slow or she's up to something."
Slowly as they watched, the smoke cleared and soon they could hear the familiar sound of blades spinning. A shocking sight greeted them when they finally got clear view of what happened. Iris's beyblade had not only survived the attack but also reversed the position of attack to her favor as her blade spun atop Steve's, using its spin momentum to grind the heavy blade deeper into the stadium. Already cracks appeared on the floor of the dish like spider webs.
"What the hell –!" Steve shouted in rage and shock.
"It seems that Iris is still in the game and has obviously turned the tide against Steve!" Jazzman confirmed the scene eagerly.
Again the crowd roared their approval of the exciting heart-stopping match. Iris smirked confidently, obviously enjoying the attention.
"Tryhorn, shake her off!" the American blader bellowed.
His blade tilted from side to side viciously, trying to throw the blade upon it off-balance. To Steven's frustration, it only drove his blade deeper into the stadium.
"A little help would be nice, man." Steve grounded out to his partner.
"Hang in there, Steve." Eddie said. He swiftly switched his attention to his beyblade. "Trypio, go!"
His orange blade started to move in but out of nowhere, a blood red blade collided into his from the side, nearly knocking it out of the stadium.
"You ain't going anywhere." Freya said coyishly.
"Whose gonna stop me?" he bit back.
Her lip curled slightly. "We are." she replied.
Then as everyone watched in amazement, Iris's blade eased up its attack on Steve, abandoning it in pursuit of Eddie's instead. Both blades attacked him relentlessly in a swirl of purple and red.
"What the hell?" the basketball player gasped.
Freya and Iris shared a glance as an unspoken message ran between them both. They nodded and simultaneously, the blades pulled back slightly, only to return with a colliding force that slammed the weakening blade right from the stadium.
"Ouch!" A.J shouted. "There goes Eddie!"
"Whoa…" Max and Tyson muttered under their breaths, eyes completely glued to the screen. "Damn…"
"And with one down, that leaves only Steve in the game!" Jazzman informed the crowd excitedly.
"Correction." Freya interrupted suddenly, speaking loudly and clearly over the roar of the audience. "They are both out of the game."
"What?"
The camera panned away from the bladers and concentrated on the stadium where only two beyblades remained calmly circling the dish like two red and purple fishes in a pond. Of Steve's blade, there was no sign of it until a soft 'click' was heard near the bench of the All Starz. Emily stood up to inspect it and her eyes widened when she realized the item was Steve's blade.
"AND JUST LIKE THAT! IT'S OVER! THE SILVER WOLVES TAKES THE DOUBLES ROUND AGAINST THE ALL STARZ, TAKING THE LEAD!" Brad announced.
"What the hell…?" Tyson blinked against the screen. "What just happened?"
"When did they attack Steve?" Hilary frowned. She turned to the boy huddling over his laptop next to her. "Anything, Chief?"
Kenny tapped the keyboard. The screen showed the recording of match with the Silver Wolves' blades closing in on the Eddie's blade, creating a whirl of colours; red and purple. The Chief slowed the play speed and watched closely. He let out a cry when he found something.
"I got it! Apparently, their first attack on Eddie creates an illusion of colours that tricks naked eye into believing we see both Beyblades. With everyone concentrated on the main attack, Iris's blade pulls away and goes after the remaining opponent with his guard down the same time, her partner eliminates Eddie instead."
"Wow, Chief." Hilary muttered, impressed by his observation skills.
"Are you kidding me? The All Starz lost to a cheap trick like that?" Tyson exclaimed loudly.
"No way." Max shook his head slowly. "Mom's team wouldn't loose that easily. Not like that."
"Maybe they're betting their best on Emily and Michael." Ray suggested in a consoling manner.
"Maybe." Max muttered, concentrating his attention back on the television set.
"With that lost, the Silver Wolves takes the lead!" Jazzman was announcing. "Can the All Starz redeem themselves by winning the singles? Next up, ready to avenge herself against Faith is Emily!"
The camera panned in on Emily's determined face as she rose from the bench and removed her team jacket. Judy and Michael approached her, blocking her way.
"What?" she looked at them from one to the other.
"Emily…" Judy began slowly but firmly. "I think it's better if Michael takes this round."
"What?" said the tennis player again. "But I…"
"Emily, I'll take care of Faith for you." Michael assured her with his usual cocky grin. "Don't worry about it."
"Faith knows what you are capable of." Judy tried to reason. "She won't know what will hit her with Michael."
Emily's eyes darted between them, reading their expressions. As much as she wanted to get her revenge on the opponent for her defeat, she remembered she had to do what was best for the team first. Shifting her gaze to the dark-haired female across the stadium, she drew back on her jacket and nodded. "Alright. Make her pay, Michael."
He grinned and flipped her a thumbs up before he headed forward, drawing out his launcher and Beyblade.
Jazzman, having realized the change, held the microphone to his mouth and shouted. "There appears to be change in bladers from the All Starz. Instead of Emily, Michael would be battling against Faith."
Kai found himself gritting his teeth, his jaw muscles tightening when the camera focused on Faith's confident smirk unfazed by the switch in opponents. She was as he last remembered her. Overconfident and annoyingly deceptive. She cocked her head as she regarded Michael with anticipation.
"How sweet. Stepping in for the damsel in distress." she taunted slyly.
Michael for one, allowed his grin to widen as he studied his opponent and found he liked what he saw. "On the contrary, I am doing it so that I could meet another damsel. Although the distress part will probably come later when I beat you."
She laughed dryly. "Oh, so funny and so ridiculously lame."
"You got lucky in the previous round, Faith but this time it's going to be different." Michael said coolly.
She didn't bother replying but smirked instead as she held out her launcher, ready to go. Michael copied her, preparing his launch.
"Bladers, ready!" Jazzman shouted. "3, 2, 1! Let it rip!!"
"Let's do this, Trygle!" Michael roared, pumping his fist in excitement. "Fast Ball Attack!"
"I don't think so." Faith injected. Her eyes bored as ever, now flashed up with keenness for the kill of her prey. On cue, the center of her beyblade started to glow just as her blade increased in speed.
Michael's blade sliced in, faster than the eye could follow but Faith herself had moved, unable to be tracked even as Trygle recovered its bearings.
"What the hell?" Michael swore. His eyes scanned the dish, finding nothing but his own blade spinning alone close to the side to prevent an ambush.
"What's wrong, Mikey?" Faith asked with fake concern. "Something wrong with your eyes?"
"Wow! And just like that, Faith has gained the upper hand!" Brad exclaimed in excitement. "I guess this is what they mean by 'out of sight, out of mind.'"
"Huh." the All Starz captain smiled his lopsided grin. "Time to get serious. Trygle!"
His blade started to glow from its center and the form of an eagle emerged from the bit, taking shape like crystal particles before everyone. Completed in form, it threw its head back and released an ear-piercing shriek.
"Oh, man. He's serious now." Tyson snickered.
Faith remained unfazed, undisturbed. If anything, she was amused. Scoffing softly under her breath, she shook her head, reprimanding her opponent for his actions.
"Well, if you insist."
Then to everyone's surprise, her beyblade was just there. Out of nowhere. Hovering directly next to Trygle, silent as death. The center of her blade was shining, spilling out a red-black light that grew only brighter and brighter.
"A Bitbeast?" Max gasped. "She has a Bitbeast too?"
"Makes sense. She could only have gotten this far with one." Ray reasoned.
Kai silently agreed with his teammate, curious to see what sort of Bitbeast she had and whether she had the skill to wield it.
The glow from the beyblade was starting to overwhelm the stadium to the point Jazzman and the spectators had to squint their eyes through the light in order to see what was going on. Michael found himself doing the same, shielding his eyes from the core of the light as he gasped in shock and awe at the raw unseen power emitting from the blade.
"Trygle!" he shouted in desperation when he realized he couldn't see his Bitbeast.
Even those watching from their living room seats were blinded by the glare of Faith's Beyblade. The dark light was hurting his eyes but Kai didn't care. He had to see what the source of Faith's power was.
"Damn…" he heard Tyson muttered in awe.
Without warning the image sizzled out and only static coloured the television screen, leaving them in a state of confusion.
"What happened?" Kenny cried out.
Hilary turned to Tyson accusingly. "Tyson, did you trip the wire or something?"
"I wasn't even moving!"
"Did someone sit on the remote?"
"Guys, hang on a minute." Max interrupted, his attention however somewhere else as he listened keenly to his headphones. The radio in his mp3 player was on and his thumb flicked to turn the volume up a notch. "It's not our television." he announced after a moment. "Apparently, Faith's attack interrupted the camera signals at the stadium. It's the same with every television station broadcasting the match."
His announcement left them stunned.
"She did this?" Ray summarized hollowly.
Max nodded, pulling the headphones from his ears. "Yeah. Seems like it."
Tyson glanced around, taking in their impression and finally raised a hand, voicing his thoughts. "So how exactly powerful is Faith's Bitbeast?"
How powerful indeed, Kai thought with a frown.
Hilary then voiced the next thought that came unhindered to everyone's mind. "Do you think Michael would have survived that attack?"
They exchanged looks, hoping the other would know the answer. Kenny shook his head.
"Well, looks like we'll only find out tomorrow then when it comes out in the news."
The next morning, the whole beyblading world was greeted with a shocking surprise. It was on the front page of every newspaper in town and every sport channels was talking about it. The amazing feat accomplished.
The Silver Wolves had defeated the American world class team, the All Starz in just a two round match which ended in less than an hour. The underdogs move on to the semi-finals against the Blitzkreig team.
"Dammit. They must be better than we thought." Tyson muttered when he saw the headlines. He glanced at the blonde boy next to him, reading the article with a sadden face. "Max, are you okay?"
"I'll be fine. Mom must be devastated to lose the world championships like that." Max said quietly.
"Hey, don't worry, Maxie. We'll get even for her and the All Starz. Besides, Faith's gonna have to go through Tala's team first before the finals. She won't stand a chance against him." Hilary piped in confidently. "Tala will probably wipe the dish with her blade!"
Max glanced up at his teammates and noticed that Ray and Kenny were agreeing with the girl. He supposed what she said was true. Tala's team was tougher than most teams out there. The semi-finals for their division should be something to watch.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he glanced at Kai and couldn't help but notice the disturbed look that crossed the taller boy's face as he stood there in silence, watching the team discuss the tournament results so far. His crimson eyes, however, were glazed over, his mind somewhere else.
Max wondered what had their emotionless captain so uptight. Surely he wasn't worried…was he?
A/n: I got nothing to say. But you do! Read and Review!