I AM SOOOO SORRY! I have so many Vocaloid stories up, and I've been focusing on them more than this! *headdesk* So here's the long-awaited update:D Hope you all enjoy~! And thanks SOOO MUCH for OVER 4,000 views!:D You've no idea how much that means!

WARNING: Mild Benkei insults. T-T

Enjoy~!

Chapter Twenty: Executing the Plan (Part One of Three)

"You've really outdone yourself this time, Ginga!" Madoka exclaimed, leaning a little bit closer to the redhead boy.

"Yea! This plan will surely guarantee us success," Shuske agreed, clasping his hand into a fist and punching the air with an enthusiastic little leap.

Hikaru narrowed her stormy violet eyes at the boy, a little peeved at his excitement, but she did have to admit that Ginga's plan would definitely be one that brought them victory. Ginga had explained his whole idea to them at the B-Pit: they were going to bring the battle right back to the Dark Nebula. If they were to wait until the Dark Nebula decided to strike again, how much stronger might those evil bladers be? If Ginga took too long to put an end to this all, it would be too late.

So, the eight of them were travelling to the infamous Dark Nebula castle to challenge Ryuga and Doji, and any of the others who were trying to help such cruel people gain world dominance.

"Hikaru?"

She gave her head a little shake as she turned to look at Kyoya, who'd whispered her name in a soft voice.

Kyoya squeezed her hand and butted his shoulder against hers playfully. He lowered his head so that he could whisper next to her ear. "Is everything all right?"

"She's just a little nervous about this mission," Shuske said, spinning around so he could walk backwards and meet Kyoya's sky blue gaze as he spoke, "because she doesn't have a beyblade."

Ginga halted, one red eyebrow raised. "Is that true, Hikaru?"

Hikaru blinked, lowering her gaze. She hated to admit that she was actually a little afraid of what the outcome of such a battle could be. "Partly, yea," she admitted quietly, looking back up to glance around all of her friends, who'd stopped walking and circled around her. She blushed at the attention.

A low chuckle came from deep within Kyoya's throat. "Oh, please, Hikaru. I'm here to protect you."

"Ick! Ew, I just hate it when couples get all sappy!" spat a voice from the shadows.

Hikaru shivered; she knew who that was. Ayumi, the same little brat who taunted her before she was thrown into the cell with Alice. The ice-blue haired blader turned around just as the thirteen-year-old girl emerged from the shelter of several thick trees, with another girl at her side – Kuroi, the person Shuske battled right after her and Alice freed him from the cell.

"What the hell do you want?" Shuske snarled at them, stepping forward with one clenched fist held out in front of himself as though he were going to hit them. His eyes rested on Kuroi. "Are you back for a rematch?"

Her dark eyes narrowed. "We're here because you fools won't be getting to the Dark Nebula any time soon," she growled.

The young, athletic girl smirked and turned to Hikaru. "You got out, eh? Such a shame. I didn't want to have to do this." Before any of them could even blink, Ayumi had launched her beyblade directly at Hikaru.

Hikaru squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth, bracing herself for the pain of the blow, only…it never came.

"Let it rip!"

Kyoya had leaped out in front of her, launching Leone just in time to block Ayumi's attack. The two beyblades clashed fiercely in mid-air, sending a flurry of sparks to scatter over the ground. Ayumi allowed a string of profanities to pour from her mouth upon realizing that Hikaru's teal-haired boyfriend had protected her from the attack; Kyoya only smirked and laughed cruelly as both beys touched the ground and began to rotate at a steady speed next to their owners' feet.

"I'd question this, but we really don't have the time," Ginga said, padding over to Kyoya and tugging his arm.

"Oh, please. I have to show this sorry brat that she should never mess with my girl!" Kyoya snarled back to the red-haired boy, casting him a sideways glance.

Hikaru blushed furiously as she dropped her gaze to stare at the ground.

Ayumi was quick to begin with her taunts. "What, you have to have your boyfriend protect you because you're so weak, huh?" she sneered. She turned to Kuroi, and the two girls tapped their knuckles together in a fist bump.

"I'll beat you down without a beyblade!" Hikaru screeched, lunging for the two showy bladers.

Shuske caught her before Kyoya could, wrapping his arms around her waist firmly and holding her back. "Let's not get hasty now, Hikaru~!" he sang, though it was clearly obvious that he was dying to see some kind of a girl fight break out.

"Guys! We have to go!" Ginga insisted, yanking on Kyoya's arm once again. "They're probably just a distraction."

"And what makes you say that, pretty boy?" Kuroi asked, tilting her head to the side with a growing smirk.

Before anyone could respond, Benkei nudged Kyoya back. "Don't worry, Kyoya, buddy! I'll take these girls down!"

"As if, fatso," Ayumi snorted, rolling her eyes.

Kenta bounded over to Benkei's side and whipped out his beyblade. "There are two of us you have to deal with!" he cried out, launching his bey so that it landed next to Benkei's.

"As if some jolly fat guy and a little annoying kid are going to stop us," Ayumi spat as Kuroi launched her bey as well.

"You'll regret saying that!" Benkei bellowed. "We'll break your beys to bits! You shouldn't use them for evil like that!"

Kyoya patted Benkei's back once. "Atta boy." Then, he took Hikaru's hand and led her after the others as they bounded in the direction of the castle.

I have moments when these chapters absolutely suck, and then moments when I think they're amazing. This is a moment when I think it sucks. XD

Credits.
Ayumi Sang belongs to interrobangs
Kuroi Yami belongs to Becca145
Alice Hara belongs to Destened-star-girl
Shuske Masamori belongs to Arttailfox021

.::Review Replies::.

MaziMe: THANK YOUUUU! XDD Ahh, I'm sorry the update took so long! I'm starting the next chapter AS SOON as I post this, though. So maybe I'll update it faster than I just did. XD

A.B.D.Y.Z: Ahh, thank you so much!:D I shall continue writing! XD

HacamaSkyWalker: Well, ohaiyo. Thanks for pointing out that error; I went back and changed it and thanked you in that chapter^^ And I could probably include Sky at the very end, but it won't be a big part, because I've already got a spot for everyone else. But if she's gonna be in it, she'll be one of L-Drago's victims. Thanks bunches for the reviews~!

FreakyPokeGirl01: Ahh, I'm glad you like it!:D I know; I'm really gonna miss writing this. XD

RockGodNamine: Aww, well thanks for coming back! I fell off the world of fanfiction, too – neglected this story for over a year, but because I was grounded for creating this account without my parents knowing. D: It's okayyy~! Haha, I'm so glad you're back and reviewing! That review really made my day. XD

Reviews mean the world to me! Support me and this story in its last few chapters! T3T

(:Mizune