"Chimera! Special Move, Battering Ram!"

"Leone! King Lion Gale Force Wall!"

"Heh, when they get like this, you'd better just sit and watch," Hikaru laughed lightly, watching as the two Tategami brothers battled each other.

"No kidding," Madoka agreed. She typed on her computer, "While Chimera is nowhere near the attack or defense level that Pegasus or Leone is, Kakeru is showing exceptional stamina and brains... I honestly never would have expected someone as impulsive as he is to be able to actually think though a battle strategy."

"Was that a thinly veiled insult?" Platina questioned.

"Huh?" Madoka blinked, "Oh! Oh, no, I'm just surprised. I figured Kakeru would be more like his brother in battle than I expected... but he has his own style."

An explosion caugh the trio of women's attention. They looked up in time to see the mythical beast chimera bust through the wall of wind that Leone had created. With a roar, the beast charged, swiping its goat horns underneath the king of the wild, Leone, and tossing him into the air.

"Hah! Big mistake, Kakeru! Don't you know," Kyoya grinned, watching as Leone flipped upside down in mid air. "That it's a bad idea to give Leone an air boost! Leone! Special Move, King Lion Reverse Wind Strike!"

"Ah!" Kakeru yelped in surprise, as Leone released it's wind bursts. The tornado began to form, upside down, the winds in reverse direction, "Damn! Chimera's trapped!"

"Get through this, brother!" Kyoya yelled over the howling winds.

Kakeru growled, and wiped his chin from the sweat rolling down his face.

Okay, Pegasus simply powered through, in Gingka and Kyoya's battle... If Chimera was left rotation I could get through these winds easily, but Chimera is being sucked up into the- wait! Sucked in!

"Chimera! Ride the wind!" Kakeru shouted, sweeping his arm out. He grinned as he watched his Bey fly into the tornado, and swing up higher and higher into the air, closer and closer to Leone, "NOW! Special Move, Snake Bite Attack!"

Chimera roared to life, and everyone watched as the snake tail of the three animal beast struck out and slammed into Leone.

"Don't you know it's a bad idea to be so high over the stadium?" Kakeru laughed as his attack successfully knocked Leone out of the stadium and at Kyoya's feet, still spinning.

"If that was an actual battle, you'd be out of the game on the account of a stadium out," Ryuga appeared next to Hikaru, causing the girl to yelp in surprise, stepping behind Platina and Madoka.

Kyoya glanced over as he summoned Leone back into the palm of his hand. He shrugged, "We're just getting some last minute training in."

"That was training?" Kakeru asked, blinking.

Kyoya's eyes snapped open, "What's that mean?!"

"If I had known it was a training session, I would have asked you to go full out!" Kakeru exclaimed, "Not summon up a couple of simple breezes!"

"What?!"

Madoka and Platina sweatdropped as Kakeru continued to poke at his brother. Even Hikaru let out a small chuckle as Ryuga rolled his eyes.

"Kakeru," Ryuga caught the younger's attention. "It's a bad idea to use your full strength so close to a battle; you don't want to wear yourself out before you get a chance to battle. Your's is the first out of the match ups. You're against Ariana Klariea, and from what I've heard she's as good of a strategist as you are when it comes to her battle style."

"So why are you putting me against her?"

"To get you to think. You've got a sharp mind, and I think you could use the practice of battling someone who can give you an actual fight," Ryuga crossed his arms.

Kakeru couldn't exactly argue that logic. He sighed, and pocketed Chimera, "Okay, alright. I get it."

"What are the other match ups?" Madoka asked.

"Taylor Wilde and Hikaru, and then Hunter Hart and Platina," Ryuga answered.

"... Is there a chance that he's related to Damian?" Platina questioned.

"Unfortunately," Ryuga sighed. "They're brothers."

"And you're putting Platina against someone related to the guy who destroyed Excalibur?!" Hikaru exclaimed, popping up over Madoka's shoulder.

"Problem?" Ryuga fixed her with a glare.

Hikaru flinched, but stood up straight, chin held high, "I won't let you put someone at risk like that."

"I doubt she'll be at risk,"

"Damian Hart is evil! Who's to say his brother isn't either?!"

"Funny, you once classified me as evil, and yet here I am,"

Hikaru stuttered, unable to form a response as Ryuga turned around and began to walk away.

Platina tugged on Madoka's sleeve, getting the woman's attention. She lowered her voice, "When is the wedding?"

Madoka blinked, and snickered a little.

"Kakeru, your battle is at ten tomorrow morning," Ryuga called over his shoulder. "Take the rest of the day off and be ready."

"You got it!" Kakeru saluted, "And don't you worry! I'll make sure to win!"

Ryuga didn't bother to reply.


"Stop! Stop, please! I- I can't take it anymore! Please, stop! I'm begging you!"

Platina watched in horror from the darkness as a single light shined down on Kakeru Tategami. The purple image of Chimera stood over him, cut and scarred, trembling on his legs but trying to stay strong.

Evil laughter rang through the darkness, and a warped voice asked, "Stop, you say? Why should I stop? I thought you were Kakeru TATEGAMI? I thought you Tategami's were the strongest Bladers in Japan! Maybe I was wrong... Maybe I should just put you out of your misery!"

Platina gasped, staring in shock as a shimmer of dark blue rose up directly in front of Kakeru. The beast was that of a horse, with a mane of dark blue fire and red eyes. It whinnied, and leapt forward, hooves flashing as they struck at Chimera.

Kakeru screamed as his beloved beast was thrown to the ground, "Stop! Stop! Stop, please!"

More laughter rang in the darkness, "Now! Finish him off! ... he doesn't deserve the title of being the Earth wielder! With even one out of the way, the Mistress will rise again!"

Kakeru screamed as the horse struck again and again at Chimera, "Chimera! No! Please! Chimera! Chimera!"


Platina screamed and shot up in bed. In the bed next to hers, she heard a cry of surprise and a thump as Hikaru fell out of her bed.

"Huh- wha- where's the fire?" Hikaru demanded, shooting up into a standing position, "Platina?"

Platina's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. Dimly, she was aware as Hikaru sat next to her, hands on her shoulder to try and comfort her.

"Platina? Are you alright?" Hikaru asked.

"I... I... I think so? It... It was just a dream... a really weird one," Platina sighed.

"What was it about?" Hikaru tilted her head.

Platina frowned, "Kakeru, of all people... It... something... someone, was attacking he and Chimera... Like, like in a Beybattle."

Hikaru's eyes flickered, "Kakeru battles first thing today... Could it have been a warning?"

"A warning?" Platina blinked.

"Like a vision... Your Bey is Diamante Fortuna, yes? She's modeled after the goddess of luck, in mythology," Hikaru said. "Luck can be compared to fate... and you can get warnings and visions about fate." At Platina's look of bewilderment, Hikaru figeted, "I, ah... Dynamis and I spoke a lot while he was recovering here in Japan."

"Oh," Platina frowned, and reached into the drawer of her bedside table. She pulled her Bey out, surprised to see it glowing her signature pink color.

Hikaru yawned, "I'm going to take a shower and get dressed."

"Mmhm," Platina mused. She looked down at Fortuna, worry filling her, "What are you trying to tell me, Fortuna?"


"Ladies and gentlemen here we are in Metal City! It is time for the first battle between Team Coastal Riders and Team Wild Justice! Our first battle is in between Japan's own Kakeru Tategami-"

As Kakeru walked out on Blader DJ shouting his name, he could feel the adreneline running through his viens. The crowd was chanting his name, and he had never before felt so alive.

Kakeru looked up into the crowd, searching. In the stands just to Blader DJ's left, he spotted his brother, Kyoya, along with Gingka Hagane, Kenta Yumiya, Tsubasa Ootori, Benkei, and Yuu Tendo. Kakeru grinned, and waved at them. While his brother only offered him a smirk, the others of the group erupted into wild cheering and waving.

"And from Team Coastal Riders, it's Ariana Klariea!" Blader DJ announced.

Kakeru focused back on the impending battle, looking across the stadium as a redheaded girl with crystal blue eyes and pale skin walked out. She seemed confident, but not cocky. She stopped on her side of the stadium, hands on her hips.

Kakeru let out a low sigh, Alright... I can do this. Granted, I don't know much about her, but I can win. I can.

"This crowd is roaring with excitement, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't either! So let's not waste another minute! Let's get this battle started! Three!"

"Two!" Both Bladers readied themselves.

"One! Let it rip!"

Both Beys landed into the stadium. While Chimera landed in the stadium and began to spin to the right...

Risque Aphrodite, left rotating, high attack and defense type Bey, Kakeru thought, watching as Ariana's light purple Bey spun in the opposite direction of his own. Of course it's high attack power, all left rotation Beys are; L'Drago, Destroyer, VariAres...

"Where you going pal?" Ariana's voice caught his attention, and Kakeru froze, slowly looking up; Ariana's voice was like silk, smooth and entrancing, "Looks like your mind is anywhere else but here! Aphrodite!"

"Chimera!" Kakeru shook himself out of a daze. Damn, he'd almost been distracted by Ariana's voice alone...

The two Beys clashed head on, sending up an explosion of light.

"Heh, you're not too bad, kiddo," Ariana smirked. "But, you're gonna lose."

"Really?" Kakeru raised an eyebrow, "You think so?"

"I know so, honey," Ariana blew a kiss at Kakeru, momentarily throwing the greenette off his game.

"Uh..."

"Aphrodite!" Ariana yelled.

"Gah!" Kakeru yelped in surprise as Chimera was sent flying into the air, "Chimera, hold on!"

With barely a second to spare, Chimera landed in the stadium. Kakeru exhaled in relief.

"Holy Beyblade, what is going on out there?" Blader DJ yelled, "I've been announcing Kakeru's battles for years and yet never before have I ever seen him so upset in battle before! Could it be that Kakeru has finally met his match?"

"Grr, you like to distract your opponent, don't you?" Kakeru asked Ariana.

The girl giggled, and twirled a piece of hair around her finger, "You've certainly caught on faster than most men do! Most of them see me and think they can get a quick win just because I'm a girl! So I love to just prove them wrong and send them flying!"

Kakeru blinked, straightening, "Wait... so because of some sexist bastards in the past you... you distract your male opponent? You... cheat them out of a proper battle?"

"Basically," Ariana shrugged. "And you'll be no different, even if you have caught on to my strategy."

"Heh, then you and Ryuga were wrong. He said the rumors about you were that you were a strategist, someone who could give me a run for my money. And now that I know what your game is, I can see through it and give you a proper battle! Chimera!" Kakeru smirked, sweeping his arm forward, "Special Move, Battering Ram!"

Chimera's spirit flashed into the air, the lion's head ducked low and the horns of the goat ready to launch its attack. With a cry, Chimera flung Aphrodite into the air.

"Ah! Aphrodite!" Ariana cried out. She growled, "Why you! I'm gonna show you what happens when you get in my way! Aphrodite! Special Move, Cupid's Arrow!"

"Cloven Defense!" Kakeru yelled back.

"Yowza! Now it's turning into a Be-eybattle!" Blader DJ called out.

A violet woman with long hair and covered in silver armour appeared in the stadium. She was quite beautiful... if it wasn't for the fact she was pointing a razor sharp arrow at Chimera.

Chimera roared, and put its goat horns down, defending itself as the arrow bounced off.

"No way!" Ariana threw her arms up as Aphrodite was flung back, "How did you defend that attack! That attack never gets repelled!"

"Boom baby, Chimera pulls out its signature defense, and Kakeru looks to have gained the upper hand in this battle!" Blader DJ called, as the crowd roared.

"Hah! That was your best shot?" Kakeru asked, grinning wildly with his eyes blown wide; it was very obvious he was enjoying the battle at hand, "Please, I've trained with my brother for years! You don't even compare! When it comes to defense, I've got it in the bag!"

Ariana gasped, watching as Kakeru's bey spirit lit up around him, a dark purple aura that surrounded him like flames. At the same time, she could swear that another person stood behind him, someone with the same dark green hair and dressed in purple robes. But in the blink of an eye, the image was gone, leaving Ariana to pause.

"Trust me, Ariana... if any of us encounter any of the Seven in these World Championships... we'll know," Taylor spoke, confidently. "And when or if we do... you've got to put any pride aside and go full force. It's the only way to truly be sure, because you'll have to put their spirit and bond with their Bey to the ultimate test."

The ultimate test, Ariana thought, straightening and then spreading her feet to shoulder width apart. Set aside my pride, and go full force. Heh... no problemo.

She closed her eyes and tuned everything around her out.


"What is she doing out there?" Hunter asked, leaning against the rail of the team stage.

Taylor smirked, "I think I know... Kakeru's riled something up inside her... and she's seen something in him."

"Wait, so Ariana is about to... to battle seriously?" Next to Taylor, a girl with brown hair and green eyes looked up at him.

"For a good reason Kelsea... I think Ariana believes Kakeru Tategami is one of the Sacred Seven."


What is she doing? Kakeru thought, as Ariana closed her eyes and went very still. Aphrodite stopped moving, spinning in the very center of the stadium while Chimera circled her.

Dimly, he heard a ringing in the back of his mind, causing him to straighten up.

Be on guard, Kakeru, he heard Chimera growl. She's planning something.

"Obviously," Kakeru muttered. "What do we do though?"

Strangely enough, he didn't get an answer.

Ariana's eyes suddenly flew open, and a violet light surrounded her, her Blader's Spirit. She flung her arm out in front of her, her left palm up and her right fist next to her right hip.

"Wait- that's one of Beylin Temple's poses-" Kakeru cut off as Ariana suddenly shouted out her next move.

"Aphrodite! Ultimate Move, Aphrodisiac Control!"

Aphrodite glowed purple, a pillar of light shooting up into the air, before bending in a circular direction and causing a dome to cover the stadium.

Kakeru yelped in surprise, stepping back, "Chimera!"

A hissing sound caught his attention, and his eyes were drawn to Aphrodite as began to release a pink mist.

"Chimera, get away!" Kakeru yelled.

"No use!" Ariana smirked.

"Huh- Ah!"

Chimera crashed into the dome, getting flung back into the stadium... and directly into the mist. Almost instantly, Kakeru gasped in surprise, feeling in his spirit the moment he lost connnection with his Bey.

"Because now, Chimera is mine!" Ariana laughed.

No, Kakeru thought, but even he couldn't deny the fact, as Ariana shouted at his Bey, to change from defense to attack. Aphrodite shot forward, and Chimera was flung into the barrier, before bouncing back into the stadium.

No... No, no, no, this isn't happening! Chimera! Come on, answer me, you're my partner, not her's! Kakeru thought, desperately. He could hear Chimera crying out in pain, could feel his Bey's own desperation in trying to get out from under Ariana's control, but there was something holding him back, causing him to stay stuck.

Come on, there has to be a clue here... Think, Kakeru! Think! Kakeru thought, gritting his teeth in anger. Come on, what did she do? She stopped dead in her tracks... her pose, when she called out that special move of her's was so similar to those I've seen in Beylin Temple's training! Aphrodite picked up in spin speed, and then released her special move... the barrier is keeping Chimera in, and the mist is what is controlling him, I know it!

Ariana began laughing, "Oh, I guess I was wrong! I guess I was wrong! You are no warrior! You're just another Blader! Well, no matter! Because guess what! I'm going to end this here and now! Aphrodite! Special Move, Cupid's Arrow!"

"No!" Kakeru yelled, "No... No, do you hear me? I don't care that you have Chimera under your control! Because no matter what... No matter what, Chimera is mine, and mine alone!"

With a loud war cry, Kakeru's Blader's Spirit soared into a raging inferno around him.

Ariana gasped as, through the dome, a dark purple glow rose up. The barrier surrounding the stadium shifted, trying to contain it, but couldn't. With a BANG! that shook the arena's foundations, Chimera burst into the air, roaring loudly.

"Go now, Chimera!" Kakeru roared, "Ultimate Move, Earth Buster!"

Chimera snarled, loudly. Lightning cracked through the air, as the Bey came hurtling back to the stadium. With a loud BOOM!, Chimera crashed back into the stadium. Dust and debris flew into the air as the occupants of the arena struggled to stay on their feet.

Slowly, the dust began to fade. An eerie silence fell over the arena as they took in fact that the entire stadium was in shambles.

And only one Bey was spinning.

"Kakeru Tategami wins it! Ladies and gentlemen, the first battle of the Australia verses Japan round goes to Team Wild Justice!"

Hm, Taylor thought, as Ariana fell to her knees with a cry. So it's true... Officially, the first of the Sacred Seven has been found. Kakeru Tategami… You are the warrior of the element of Earth... Soon, you, along with the others, will fulfill your duty to ensure that the Mistress of the Night doesn't plunge the world into eternal darkness.


And in a surprise comeback... Kakeru wins it! With two more battles to go in the Coastal Riders verses Wild Justice match up, it's anybody's guess as to who could take this thing, but keep in mind, Wild Justice has a big lead ahead of Coastal Riders, so the Australian team better buckle down if they want to move on to the next round!

Blader DJ: I couldn't have said it better myself, my DJ in training!

lol sorry guys, I had to, I got so hyped myself from writing this battle, I couldn't help but pull out my inner DJ!

Anyways, I hope ya'll will be kind enough to leave a review!