Shadows of past Chapter 26: Déjà vu, a beyblade fanfic

A/N: Oh yes, the chapter is finally here! It's finally time to find out whether Kai will regain his memory or end up trashing his friends' blades!

First things first… WOW! You guys actually like this story, huh? After all this time. I just… I can't believe this! (sits down in shock) Thank you from the deepest… depths of my soul! You have no idea of how valuable you are! (HUGS)

Okay, you guys are probably gonna strangle me if I won't get on with the story, so without anything further… Here it comes! Hope you'll like!

Oh, one more thing! The song in this chapter is "Bring me to life" by Evanescence. And as much as I'd love to, I don't own a single word from it.

CHAPTER 26: Déjà vu

/ how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home /

The gang-members shared stern looks, all sending the same message.

Don't lose. For your bit-beasts, and especially for Kai.

" Who wants to go first?" Tyson asked them.

" No." Kai's voice brought all their attention to the boy. " I told you that I want to have some fun, didn't I? Where's the fun if I defeat you all in less than five minutes?"

Tala arched an eyebrow, having some dark ideas. " Then what are you suggesting?"

Kai's eyes flashed. " You all against me."

This took the gang by surprise. They had a massive overpower! What the heck was Kai planning? There was no way he'd be able to defeat them!

" Alright", they finally agreed. " As you wish."

Giving a humph, Kai walked up to the dish and took his place on the other side. The Russian prepared his launcher, looking at them expectantly. " You coming? I don't have all day."

With a slight hesitance, the gang walked up to the dish as well, and prepared for the battle.

" Okay, guys, here goes nothing." Kenny sounded more tense than ever. " 3… 2… 1… LET IT RIP!"

And so the battle begun.

But to Kai's great surprise, every single one of his opponents brought him memories. And to his shock, he now remembered names for the faces. Every name and memory brought him pain.

" LUMERA!"

/ Alissa sitting beside Tala's hospital-bed. /

" FALBORG!"

/ He and Bryan meeting for a first time as kids, crying Bryan telling how his mom was killed. /

" WOLBORG!"

/ He and Tala as kids, Tala bandaging his nasty wounds, he biting his lip not to cry in pain. /

" DRACIEL!"

/ He and Max practicing blading together, his Dranzer pushing Max's blade off the dish. /

" DRAGOON!"

/ Tyson reaching out for his hand at the lake Baikal, tears in the boy's blue eyes. /

" DRIGER!"

/ Ray comforting him as he woke up from yet another nightmare. /

" GALEIDON!"

/ He as a kid, teaching Nadja – his sister – blading, both of them laughing. /

" ZEBA!"

/ He and Dara hugging each other tightly. /

It took all of Kai's might to keep a gasp from coming. So many memories… So many people who cared about him… " BLACK DRANZER!"

He couldn't give up. There was no turning back, not anymore. He'd came too far. Perhaps those people had been his friends, but that was now long lost.

All the other blades crushed against his and despite resistance he winced, feeling horrifying pain hit his body. Sparks flew in mighty showers, sound of blades screeching was almost deafening.

Damnit, these people are strong!

Dara had tears in her eyes as she looked at him. " Kai, please, don't make us do this! I love you! Don't make me hurt you!"

Love… you…

Kai's eyes widened, his feelings were no longer under his control. Black Dranzer screeched and attacked its opponents mercilessly, creating destruction. Some of the other blades flew off the dish.

No…

" Kai, please!" Nadja begged, first tears running down her cheeks. " We care about you, you have to remember! Stop this, please!"

And he did remember.

/ (Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I've become /

Silent tears were rolling down Kai's tattooed cheeks.

" We believe in you!" Tyson screamed, stormy eyes burning.

" Come back to us!" Tala hollered, blue eyes pleading.

" We need you!" Ray joined in, amber eyes filled with affection.

It was too much, far too much… Kai's head and heart were hurting as the memories returned, bringing back all the suffering, all the tears, all the sorrow.

He squeezed his hands tightly against his head, like that could've locked out the pain, and slowly sunk to his knees onto the floor. " AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

" KAI!" He couldn't tell who was screaming, perhaps it was the all of them.

The attacks of the others finally paid off. Black Dranzer fell off the dish, falling to Kai's knees.

The gang didn't know what to do as they looked at Kai, who screamed in pain, over and over again, tears rolling down his cheeks. (Their cheeks weren't dry either.) At first Dara thought about going to the boy, but then decided not to. She didn't know if Kai still remembered; she couldn't be sure he wouldn't hurt her. It took all of her self-control, but she stood still, watching, waiting.

/ now that I know what I'm without
you can't just leave me
breathe into me and make me real
bring me to life /

Kai felt like someone had been pushing thousands of knives deep into his flesh, and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut and wrapped his arms around himself, desperately trying to overcome the pain. " P – please…", he gasped to no one in particular, tears of pain escaping. " Make… it stop…"

But if anything, the agony became even worse, and he gave a moan that should've rather came from a wounded animal as it reached its peak. Along with the pain, he could hear Voltaire's voice.

/ " Why do you keep struggling? Just let it take over, grandson. Make it easier on yourself." /

" No…"

/ " You are my own little robot now." /

Eyes still closed, Kai gritted his teeth. " I… am not… a mindless robot…"

/ " Never forget that you belong to me, Kai. You are a Hiwatari. You will always be my possession." /

" I… am nobody's possession…"

/ " Now you're finally mine." /

" NEVER!" he hollered, and gave a desperate scream when his entire body teemed with pain.

The others watched with extreme horror and worry as Kai kept making feral, heartbreaking screams of pain, tears of agony escaping and hands clenched tightly against his head. It was hard for even them to hold back tears. " We have to something!" Nadja almost screamed, teary voice filled with anguish. " He… he can't take much more of that!"

Tears almost spilling, Dara shook her head. " I can't just watch anymore." So saying, she rushed towards Kai, not giving a damn if he remembered her or not.

Kai was just about to lose his consciousness, when he suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around him, steadying him. He tried to back away at first, thinking that the touch was meant to hurt him, but then realized that it was gentle, almost… protective. And… the pain was suddenly gone, almost like a switch had been flicked. The person hugging him whispered soothing words, but he couldn't hear any of them. Shivering all over, he allowed this person to hold him, too exhausted to protest when something as simple as breathing and staying conscious took all his energy.

When he finally had the strength it required, he slowly lifted his head a little and inched his heavy eyelids exhaustedly. He met a pair of teary sapphire eyes. " Hi", the girl whispered. Her protective hold on him tightening slightly, almost like she'd feared he might run away.

Not caring about the audience, Kai clung to her tightly and buried his face into her soft, purple hair, tears – this time ones of happiness and relief – escaping through tightly closed eyelids. " Dara…", he whispered, trying the name he'd longed to say for so long. " I'm so sorry…"

" Sh…" She parted from him slightly and, with a soft smile upon her face, wiped away his tears, not even noticing her own. " It's okay. You're back with us now. Everything's gonna work out."

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life /

Blinking his eyes, still in daze, Kai lifted his head a bit more and looked at all the people in the room, unable to understand how they could be there. " But… You all died… He slaughtered you… because of me…" (1)

" No", Bryan corrected. " That was what Voltaire wanted you to believe."

" Do we look like a punch of ghosts to you?" inquired Tala, a mischievous glint in his eyes. The redhead's entire essence was radiating tremendous relief.

With a small help from Dara, Kai got up to his legs that still felt awfully weak – but got tackled back down immediately as Nadja threw herself into his arms with a power that was too much for him. She clung to him with all her strength as she landed heavily onto his chest.

Having been harmed by every single touch he'd received for so such a long time, Kai felt himself tense under the embrace. " Nadja…"

" I'm sorry", his sister interrupted, sounding like she'd wanted to say those words for ages. She sobbed quietly. " God, I'm so sorry… I was so stupid…."

" Sh…." Relaxing when realizing that she wouldn't hurt him, he brushed the girl's hair gently, and slowly her sobs ceased. He whispered to her in Russian. " We both know what Voltaire is capable of. He's used us both. None of it was your fault, Nad. Everything's okay…"

When the girl finally released her hold of him, Kai was surprised to find a glowed hand offered towards him. Looking up, he met a pair of stormy, midnight-blue eyes filled with affection and relief. Blinking his eyes, feeling dazed once again, he took the hand, and Tyson's pull helped him to his still trembling feet. As soon as he was up, the Japanese threw his arms tightly around him, holding him as close as possible. " You have no idea of how much I've missed you", Tyson whispered.

At first, Kai hesitated for a longest time, eyes widening with wild panic as memories of everything Voltaire had put him through resurfaced. But… No… Tyson was his friend – he could trust on this boy. Tyson… Tyson wouldn't hurt him, ever – right?

Closing his eyes, he returned the hug, entire body shivering.

As soon as Tyson let go and Dara once again wrapped her arms protectively around Kai, burying her face into his chest, the Russian suddenly felt that he was being watched. Small frown upon his face, he lifted his gaze to find Tala looking back at him.

No matter how hard Kai had tried to cover his arms with brand new wrist-bands, Tala still spotted the bruises on them. There were several of those – smaller and bigger – but what froze Tala's blood were those on Kai's wrists. Rope-burns that cut deep into skin. " Kai…", he gasped, so quietly that the others – who were bouncing all over the place – couldn't hear. " What the hell did that piece of shit do to you?"

Kai's eyes immediately widened with sheer panic. The boy shook his head furiously, desperately, pleading look in his eyes. It was obvious that he wasn't going to answer.

But Kai's reaction was all the answer Tala needed. He found his blood, his entire body, boiling with such hatred that it almost scared him.

Gods, he was going to make Voltaire pay. He would skin that bastard alive.

After several minutes, the gang had finally calmed down enough to think of what to do next.

Kai looked at Black Dranzer with disgust in his eyes. " We have to destroy that, once and for all. Otherwise it'll never stop haunting us."

" We can do it", Max announced, voice bubbling with unwavering confidence. " All of us, together."

" Max is right", Kenny noted, typing on Dizzi. " According to my calculations, your joined power should be enough to destroy Black Dranzer."

Kai felt a sudden bang in his chest as he realized something. There was one blade that couldn't help with the destruction…

Dranzer…

How could he have betrayed the Phoenix so badly, again? Because of him, she'd been destroyed in that warehouse. He guessed he'd never deserved her in the first place.

" Kai." Ray's words woke him up from his thoughts. The neko-jin was standing before him with a small smile upon his face. " I believe this belongs to you."

Surprised, Kai took Ray's offering – and let out a small gasp. Sure enough, it was his blade – unharmed, the bit-chip shining brightly, expectantly.

He looked at Ray, bewildered. " How?"

Ray's smile widened. " I took the liberty to save her the day Voltaire took you."

For a first time in months, Kai let a small smile light up his features. " Thank you."

Ray shrugged, with a smirk just like Kai's trademark-one upon his face. " Whatever." The boy motioned towards the others, who were ready to begin the destruction. " Wanna take part?"

Hell yeah!

/ frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead

all this time I can't believe I couldn't see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life /

Kai and Ray walked up to the dish, and, hatred squeezing his heart, Kai launched Black Dranzer for a one last time. He smirked coldly as he looked at it spinning on the dish.

Because of that blade, he'd lost his parents, his life, his free will, his dignity. Now, he finally had the chance to pay back.

Time to say goodbye.

" You ready?" Kenny asked, though he already knew the answer. " 3… 2… 1… LET IT CRUSH!"

One by one, they all launched their blades. Gasps could be heard when all the blades started to glow as soon as they'd hit the dish, almost like they'd been in some sort of a connection with each other. The colorful display of light almost blinded them.

Lavender. Warm, deep brown. Ice-blue. Yellow. Midnight-blue. Rich green. Amber. Deep purple. And finally, ruby-red joined to the mixture of colors, and the glow became even brighter. The connection was complete.

Nine glowing blades flew towards the black blade, and hit it with all their strength. After that they hit it again, and again, for more times than they could count. Satisfied with their work, they called their blades back and watched Black Dranzer anxiously, waiting.

At first, it seemed that they'd failed. Not even wavering, Black Dranzer kept spinning, almost like mocking them. Then, all of a sudden, it begun to crack, piece by piece, until it laid on the dish completely destroyed. The only thing left unbroken was the bit-chip. Everyone else but Kai retreated with gasps as the huge, chillingly beautiful reddish-black bird emerged. " Kai, what are you doing! It's gonna hurt you!" Tyson yelled, fear in his voice.

Shaking his head, Kai begun approaching the expecting beast, nothing but certainty in his glowing eyes. " It won't touch me", he reassured his friends, stone-hard eyes tightly locked to the beast's fiery ones.

No matter how little I like the idea, I'm its Master, the only one who can control it. Just like Dranzer and I, we'll always be bound to each other – unless I set it free.

As Kai was just one step away from the bird, he stood still and they looked at each other, studying one another. ' Master?' Black Dranzer's masculine voice eventually asked, anxiously, almost desperately.

No one in this world should behold a creature with that much power, Kai realized. No one could resist the temptation it brings. Even I couldn't…

Face calm and even, he nodded. ' You are free to go now'.

No further permission was needed. Everyone else but Kai gasped in surprise and disbelief as the dark beast and its Master shared a nod of understanding, and Black Dranzer rose to its magnificent wings, lighting up into a breathtaking flame, and flew up. ' Thank you, Master'. With that it disappeared through the ceiling. All that was left behind from the bit-beast was one black feather that slowly hovered to the floor and disappeared.

(Bring me to life)
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
(Bring me to life) /

As soon as the gang properly realized what had happened, exclaims of relief and happiness erupted.

The long nightmare was finally over.

Or so they thought.

" So, grandson, you decided to make another wrong decision, did you not?" Voltaire's all-too-familiar, chilling voice stated.

Spinning around, they saw the man standing at the doorway with about ten of his armed men.

Kai growled and clenched his fists into tight balls, taking a stand before his friends. " Take another step, and I'll kill you with bare hands."

Voltaire plainly shook his head. " Such a stupid, arrogant boy." He looked at his men, then ordered them in Russian. " Lock up the others for now, I'll get back to them later. Leave my grandson and that Dara of his." His soulless eyes glanced at Kai. " We have some unfinished business that I intend to bring to closure."

TBC.

A/N: Oh man… I'll better hide somewhere, because you guys are seriously gonna kill me for that cliffie, aren't you?

Well, until next time! Hope I'll meet you all then! Until then… PLEEEEEEEZE review!

(Btw… If you wanna know which 'blade's glowing-color' I picked for each person, check out the memories Kai received. They're in the same order.)

(Btw 2… It was just heartbreaking to hear Kai say I'm sorry after all he's been through, wasn't it?)

(1) Just in case you've forgotten… Back in chapters 8 and 9, Kai was left (by Voltaire, of course) into the belief that all his friends had died in the fire of warehouse Voltaire lit in chapter 7. And he also thought Dranzer was destroyed in the same chaos.