Emptiness

By: Black Dranzer

"." speaking and thinking

---------- Scene Change

--flashback sequences--

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. I only own any of the characters that you haven't seen in the original Beyblade series.

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In the last chapter of Emptiness:

(("Danger sensed." The digital voice that Kazuki had heard before confirmed, "Attack or defend?"

"Quit form," Kazuki replied with annoyance as she found that she couldn't move.

But the voice returned, "Attack or defend?"))

(("Attack or defend?"

"Stop!" she shouted back, not noticing the stranger was still there.

"Acknowledged, danger form disengaged."))

((Tala was quiet for a moment, as he hadn't decided what to say yet.

Then he replied slowly, "I was just walking by," he paused, feeling awkward at the lie, "were you crying?"

"Cry? Me?" Kazuki smirked, hiding her fear below her arrogant face, "Don't go making assumptions."

Tala shrugged, "If you say so,"))

((The two stared at each other for a while, confused.

"This can't be real," Kazuki thought to herself, "I must be hallucinating,"

"Then I'm hallucinating too," a voice replied.

"Who?" Kazuki asked as she looked around.

"Me I guess," Tala replied standing to face her.

"You can't have said that," Kazuki said, "Your mouth wasn't moving."

"But my mind was," Tala replied.))

(("Would it hurt?" he thought to himself as his mind fought over whether to talk to the girl or not.))

((The eyeball started to change shape and a few seconds later, it had taken the shape of Dranzer.

"Attack him Spectrya!" Changer shouted, smirking to herself that at Kai's surprise.

"Black Dranzer," the boy thought with remorse, "But it's long gone now, I can't let it rule my fears."

"Counterattack Dranzer!" Kai shouted as his own bit beast came back to life, "Don't let that cheap copy faze you!"

The two phoenix' slammed against each other and a giant flash of light blinded both bladers.))

(("Who won?" Tyson asked.

"Neither of us," Kai said and started to walk back to the mansion.

Tyson looked confused.

Ray sighed and cleared up for him, "It was a draw Tyson,"))

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Chapter Ten: Vigilant

"Alright," Kazuki's voice drifted into Tala's mind.

Tala frowned. He had sensed her transmitter and receiver shut off.

Opening his eyes, he almost jumped back in surprise but collected himself just in time to save him the embarrassment.

His aqua eyes were now glaring at the other Demolition Boys who were smirking at him.

Tala shared his room with his three other teammates; they each had their own beds and closets.

"What do you want?" Tala growled.

The boys looked at each other and snickered again.

"You were lying there with a smug smile, like you were dreaming that you took over the world or something," Spencer informed him.

To change the subject, Tala snapped, "We're training tomorrow at a new destination with Kazuki,"

"Go to sleep!" Tala snapped louder and stormed out of the room.

"What's gotten into him?" Ian asked, as the other boys shrugged.

"Isn't someone going to tell the Balkov girl that we're meeting somewhere else?" Spencer asked before getting into bed.

"We'll inform her tomorrow morning," Bryan said and climbed into his bed as well.

Ian followed his teammates' example and turned off the single light bulb that lit up the room, plunging them into darkness.

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Red-brown eyes glared at lavender ones who returned the glare.

"Jaquel - I mean Jackie," Robert said to the red-haired sister of Johnny sitting next to him, "would you like some of this delicious shrimp?"

Jackie just kept on glaring at Kai, without acknowledging Robert.

"Jackie!" Johnny practically shouted. Everyone turned to stare at the redheaded boy. Jackie looked up startled at his brother.

"What?" she managed to say.

"Robert is trying to offer you some food," Johnny said in a half-controlled growl. He didn't like his sister staring at Kai.

"Oh!" Jackie said in an embarrassed voice, "Sorry Robert,"

"It's no big deal," Robert replied smiling and started a conversation with her.

Kai just closed his eyes instead and sat back in his chair as if he couldn't care less.

Johnny thought to himself with a frown, "Kai better stay away from Jackie or else,"

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Kazuki lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She hadn't slept most of the night as most of her nightmares kept her up. She had tried sleeping pills but she always woke up with a start whenever her nightmare returned to her. Added to the fact that she didn't think sleeping pills would work for cyborgs either.

Tired of staying in bed, Kazuki got up and started to pace her room.

Too much had happened since her tests; she had become a cyborg, her brother is in a reformatory cell, her past had come back to her, and..

She trailed at the last thought.

After all these years, after her mother had died, she had remembered the person who was ultimately responsible for causing her so much pain.

"I'll cause him even more pain," she thought viciously.

She stopped pacing her room and went over to the small wardrobe containing her belongings.

Opening the mirrored doors, Kazuki fumbled inside a bag lying inside. When she withdrew her hand, a shining object with a pointed tip lay in her clasped palm.

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"You've got mail," Dizzi's voice called Kenny as he opened his ever-present laptop.

"Who is it from Chief?" Tyson inquired.

Kenny clicked on the "Open Mail" button and read the address.

His face turned white.

"What's wrong Kenny?" Ray asked when he noticed that Kenny's hands were shaking over his keyboard.

"The mail is for you Kai," Kenny finally said as he turned towards the former team captain leaning on the wall.

Kai's eyes opened and looked at the smaller boy, "Who is it from?"

"I don't know," Kenny said and turned back to the computer screen, "there isn't an address."

Kai walked up to the laptop and looked at the message. His eyes widened as he read, "I will avenge my family Kai Hiwatari."

"What does it mean?" Max asked with his head cocked to one side.

"Wonder who it is?" Ray said inspecting the letter again, "Do you know?" he turned to the blue-haired boy.

Kai just stared at the screen.

"Uh..Kai?" Tyson said waving his hand in front of his friend.

Could it be? No, it can't its just a - a joke that's it. Kai was shaken on the inside.

Kai snapped out of his trance. He glared at Tyson and turned around to leave.

"Hey! Come back here!" Tyson said starting to chase after Kai.

"No Tyson!" Ray said and grabbed his wrist, he shook his head at Tyson and said, "Leave him alone,"

"Fine," Tyson pouted and sat down on his bed. Each of the five Bladebreakers had their own beds in the large guest room on the second floor of McGregor Mansion. Johnny and Jackie each had a room on the third floor and Mr. Dickenson had arranged for the Bladebreakers to stay at Johnny's house while he went to a hotel. As for the Majestics, they each had a royal suite on the same floor as Jackie.

"Let's go for breakfast then!" Tyson shouted, making everyone sweat drop.

"Tyson!" Kenny said and pointed to a clock, "It's only seven!"

Tyson's stomach replied with a large rumble.

"That probably woke everyone anyways," Max joked and they all laughed.

Sure enough, the Majestics and Jackie arrived at the dining table only a few minutes after the Bladebreakers.

Jackie looked around.

"Where is-?" she started as she noticed her blue-haired rival was not at the table.

"He's off in a tantrum 'cause someone sent him some hate mail," Tyson replied casually and continued working on his dish of food.

"Hate mail?" Enrique asked questionably.

"Yes," Ray replied, "Someone sent him an email saying something about avenging someone,"

Enrique raised an eyebrow, "And I thought that guy only received fan mail."

"Not this time," Max said, then he brightened, "but it was probably just a hoax."

"I hope so," Kenny said worriedly beside Max.

"Come on Chief!" Max said cheerfully and pointed to the dishes of food, "Dig in and stop being a worrywart."

"I guess," Kenny said and tried some of the food, "Hey, this is good!" He forgot about the mail and started to eat his breakfast.

--To be continued