Disclaimer:

Dear Heartless, Money-grabbing Jackasses (lawyers),

Instead of doing something productive with your questionable career choice, like say, prosecuting

rapists to ensure they get more than 3 months is prison, you're here on a FANFICTION website. In your hand is most likely a magnifying glass, bigger than your already colossal ego, looking through the fine print of each fanfiction story, trying to see if one of us broke-ass motherfuckers have the audacity to try making money off stealing another author's characters by either murdering or forcing them to preform coitus for our amusement.

Kindly fuck off.

...Unless your pants are around your ankles and you're strictly here for the porn...

in that case carry on.

Sincerely,

~RPS

So the reason why this chapter is late is pretty damn legitimate...I got into a car accident. Buddy rear-ended me while I was stopped and trying to change lanes because of construction. Currently I'm suffering from whiplash, and I've only taken one day off of work to deal with insurance and getting a rental.

The good news is that my daughter wasn't in the car with me and her dad is keeping her for the next few days until I'm feeling better. I'm also seeing a physiotherapist to help me through the pain for the next few months. More good news is that the whiplash isn't too bad. My back hurts, but its my neck that's been really causing me problems, like constant headaches. Plus my shoulder I sometimes want to saw off. I couldn't write for a little while after the accident because my brain was a bit jumbled from processing too much. Now, my brain is finally processing things a bit better and I can return to writing.

Also, if that weren't enough, I've started a new job and I'm basically working 6 days a week. That will only last for the next few months though, I'll be quitting one of the jobs come the new year.

I want to thank Granger Rebellion for really supporting me through this. She's been messaging me everyday, and listening to me cry and been an absolutely amazing best friend through all of this, even though she has enough shit of her own to deal with. Been totally a light in the darkness and someone I can always count on. She's a true friend. Please go read her stories. 3

Thank-you to HibarixTsunaxlover, Demons of the arch angel, Violet Hiwatari and Tyka's Flower for your reviews!

Enjoy chapter 51!


Space was tight as they were all crammed inside the emergency room, each of them fidgeting in their own ways as they waited anxiously for any word on Max's condition. It had been a lucky break for everyone that Hiro and Brooklyn were the ones that were drawn to battle next. Kenny and Hilary had stayed behind at the stadium to collect data from the match. There was luckily no more battles scheduled until tomorrow.

For Tyson though, a torrent of emotions waged war inside of him. Max had to be ok. He just had to be. He wouldn't let himself imagine what life would be without the cheerful blonde because Max was going to pull through this.

A nudge brought him out of his thoughts and he looked up at Kai who nodded over to Rick who was sitting right across from them. Tyson's heart lodged into his throat; He had never seen the man look so broken. Rick's massive form was shaking, his lips trembling- he looked like he was about to fall apart at any second. Exchanging a look with Kai, Tyson knew what the Russian was hinting at. Without a word, the Dragoon-wielder slowly stood up and leaned on the wall next to the African-American. "Max will be fine."

"He got struck by lightning! How could you possibly know that?!" demanded Rick with tears gathering in his olive eyes.

"Because," The Champion paused and stared right into Rick's blood-shot eyes, "I know Max. He doesn't give up. When he walks out of here, he might need our support until he gets better, but we can do that. We need to be strong for him."

"Yeah." The massive man nodded and rubbed his misty eyes with the back of his hand. "I can do that."

Across the hallway Kai stood up from his chair. "Ray and I are going to the vending machines. Anyone want anything?"

"Coke for me!" said Tyson. "I SO need the caffeine right now."

Ray glanced over at Max's mother who was staring at the door anxiously, leaning against her husband who had his arm wrapped comfortingly around her narrow shoulders. "Coffee Judy?"

"Oh...what?" she asked absentmindedly.

"Coffee?"

"Oh. Yes please...Thank-you." She went back to staring.

"Same for me." said Mr. Tate, forcing a smile.

Kai and Ray left the group and once they we well out of ear-shot and in an empty stairwell, Kai grabbed Ray by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "Just what are you playing at Kon?!" he growled.

Ray's heart thudded against his ribcage as he stared at the Russian like he had suddenly lost his mind. "I don't know what you mean Kai!"

The Fire Master tightened his grip. "Look, it's not that difficult. Just pick one. They're both crazy over you and if you can't choose then do Max a favour and back off! Then, at least he can find happiness with someone else."

The neko-jin's eye's widened in realization. "You mean Rick..." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Apparently you haven't noticed it yet, but I have backed off. When Mariah fell of that platform and was bleeding out in my arms, that's when I knew I couldn't live without her."

"That's all I wanted to know." Kai released the Chinese male and turned around, "I hope you're happy with your decision."

Ray chuckled. "I knew you had a heart underneath all that ice. So when are you going to fess up to Tyson? He's not going to wait around forever you know."

"Hn. That's my business, it would be wise for you to stay out of it."

Angered, Ray balled up his fists. "So what gives you the right to press me for an answer when you have no intentions of doing the same?! For all you know someone can come and sweep Tyson off his feet in an instant and then what you will be left with, Kai?!" But when Kai turned around, Ray immediately wished he could take back his words; The death-glare that Kai was giving him was raw and filled with so much pain and anger. "K-Kai...I'm sorry."

"Get this straight Kon: All I want is Tyson to be happy. If some other guy came in and did that, then so be it. But if he ever hurt him, I would have the bastard begging for mercy before drowning him in Lake Baikal."

"Careful Kai, it's not wise to plan a murder out loud." Ray then smiled, flashing his canines, "But you know I would help you carry the body."

The Phoenix Master then gave the barest of smiles before they resumed descending down the stairs. A comfortable silence passed between them. Ray's statement had solidified their friendship. In the end, they would go to any lengths to help each other protect their loved ones, but they couldn't force each other to confess until they were ready.

When they returned, a very shaken doctor emerged from the operating room. Everyone stared at him curiously, as his hair and clothes were soaking wet. The doctor glanced at the group nervously. "C-can I speak to Judy and T-Taro Tate?"

The parents stepped forward. "What is it doctor?" asked the mother, fearing the worst.

His green eyes glanced around the room. "Can we talk in private?"

"Whatever you have to say, you can say it to everyone here...they're all family." said Taro, gesturing to the group.

The doctor sighed. "Very well then. So, by some miracle, despite being struck by lightning...Max is fine." There was a collective sigh of relief from around the room. "But the lightning strike appears to have caused some other...shall we say unique side-effects."

"How so doctor?" asked Judy.

"I think you need to come see for yourself." The group followed the healthcare professional into the Operating Room and jaws dropped in shock.

Max was in a sphere of water, his body was curled up and he appeared to be cowering from a doctor who wanted to give him an injection.

Surprisingly, Tyson was the first to figure out just what was going on. "That's wicked Max! Raiju's lightning attack unlocked the powers that you share with Draciel!"

"SAY WHAT?!"

Max looked at his water shield. "Oh. So that's what happened."

"Yes. The powers connect strongly with your emotions, right now you feel scared so the water is behaving like a shield." explained Kai, remembering his anger when he burned Kusenov's men.

The doctor holding the syringe backed away and Max's shield dissipated. "Sweet." Max said in awe before looking over to his parents, "Does this mean I can go home now?"

Misa Tsubana was organizing patient files when she caught glimpse of "Alexander" and "Takao" leaving with some people that she recognized that were in the waiting room with Takao when Alexander came in covered in blood. Concerned, she asked her friend Marlowe if he knew why they were there.

"I have no fucking clue. I just heard one of the nurses come out of O.R. three saying something about lightning and a weird kid who can control water." He threw his arms up into the air. "I quit! I'm so fucking done with this place Misa. It's so weird!"

Misa giggled, knowing her friend wouldn't actually quit. She cast her eyes to the door where the group was exiting and wondered if she would ever see the strange teenagers again.


They arrived back at the stadium just in time to watch Hiro's blade be knocked out of the stadium, and Kai couldn't help but smirk as he watched the arrogant blader sink to his knees in defeat. He wondered briefly if Hiro would make Brooklyn sleep on the couch that night in retaliation.

"And Brooklyn wins the match, giving Hiro his second strike of the tournament!" The audience cheered, and from the sounds of things, they had missed an awesome battle. "This concludes the matches for the day, but first thing tomorrow Ray and Eric will be pitted against each other- You won't want to miss it!" announced DJ Jazzman.

Ray stared up at the mega-screen where his picture and Eric's were standing side-by-side. Narrowing his eyes, his muscles tensed as he felt all eyes land on him.

"So Ray, are you up for this?" he heard Kai ask.

Clenching his Drigger blade, he said "Yeah, but there's one thing I gotta do first." He turned to his friends, a serious expression etched on his handsome features. "I need to go to the next level. I need to unlock my powers with Drigger!"


"C'mon guys, let's do it one more time...Let it RIP!" Ray launched his blade once more and Tyson and Max charged, knocking it out of the dish. Ray sunk to his knees and punched the ground in anger. "Arg! Why can't I do it?!"

'Why indeed?' Kai thought to himself. Ray had been training ever since they left the stadium, and while his skill level increased, he was no closer in creating that bond with Drigger. His closed his eyes and pondered as they started again.

Tyson was the first of them to display any of his powers, back with his battle with Brooklyn at the BEGA tournament- but that was hardly a surprise. Tyson and Dragoon always had such a deep and strong bond that it really didn't come as a shock to anyone when the World Champion took flight into the war torn sky. But...the Russian furrowed his eyebrows...When did Tyson get the power to control the very air itself? Recalling the day he and Tyson had escaped Boris and Gideon, he remembered when they were in the lab and the beyblades were launched at them in all directions to prevent them from leaving. Tyson had created a whirlwind out of nothing.

Goosebumps ran up his arms and he gripped his elbows in anger. Boris must've done something to trigger Tyson's powers while he was unconscious.

He then thought about when he had unlocked his own- Tyson's shaky voice urging him to run as a gun was pressed against his temple. The pure rage he had felt in that moment.

Max triggering his powers may have not been accidental- he had nearly died.

That's when it finally dawned on him. In each of their cases, they were all under extreme emotional duress. Kai chewed on his bottom lip and glanced at Ray...What could make the usually level-headed neko-jin snap? He thought about Mariah, but even when the girl was dying in his arms, Ray was busy thinking logically to solve the problem.

...So what if they created a problem that Ray couldn't solve with just logic alone and get him emotionally fired enough to tap into Drigger's power?

Ruby eyes narrowed as the answer came to the forefront of his mind...and he immediately thought against it. Minutes ticked by as he wracked his brain trying to come with another solution, but time was against them. Unfortunately, his plan had to go flawlessly or else he would lose more than just a friend.


"Why have you dragged me way out here at 3:00 in the morning Kai? I have a match in just a few hours."

"You want to be able to tap into Drigger's power don't you?"

"Yeah, but I don't see how walking through the city at the dead of night is going to accomplish that." grumbled Ray.

"RAY KON!" A booming voice cut and echoed into the night air, making both bladers look up. Way up high was cloaked masked figure standing on top of a sky scrapper, in his hands were thick silver chains and- Ray's heart rose into his throat- Mariah and Lee were hanging from those chains on opposite sides of the building, their bodies swaying in the wind. Angry amber eyes darted to the masked figure. "Let them go!"

"Gladly." The man let go of the chains and both hostages plummeted.

"STOP!" At once the masked figure gripped the chains and the victims stopped their descent. "Okay, you have my attention! What do you want?!"

"We're going to play a game Ray Kon. I'm going to let them go again and you're going to pick which one you're going to save. Oh, and if your friend decides to help you in anyway..." A bullet was shot at the ground just mere inches from where Kai was standing. "There will be another body. I'll give you 10 seconds to decide. 10..."

Ray broke into a sweat. No matter which one he chose, he was basically killing someone. If he chose Mariah, she would probably hate him forever for letting her brother die. If he chose Lee, he would hate him for not choosing Mariah instead, proclaiming he would rather have died and be spared the pain of losing her. Either way...the guilt would destroy him.

"8..."

"Wait!" he pleaded. "Leave both of them alone and kill me instead!"

The man paused his countdown. "God, you're predictable. 6..."

Ray was sent into a blind panic. No matter what he did, someone would die. What could he do?!

"2..."

This was it...he had to make a choice.

"1..."

Everything was happening in slow motion. As he watched both of his friends fall, he sprinted towards Mariah first. Maybe...just maybe...he could save them both. His heart racing, he picked up his speed. He pumped his energy into his legs, moving them impossibly faster when he suddenly felt Drigger's warm power flow through him- giving him strength- giving him SPEED! He ran as fast as he could, catching Mariah in his arms, before running to the other side of the building, grabbing Lee by his collar just before his body hit the ground.

"I don't believe it."

Was that- "Tala?" Ray looked up to watch Tala jump down from on of the buildings with a sniper riffle in his hands. "What the-"

"Sunshine said you could do it, but we didn't believe him." said the mysterious figure as he jumped down from the skyscraper. He removed his mask.

"Bryan?!" Ray's eyes narrowed until they were nothing more than slits, as he gently placed Mariah and Lee on the ground, his hand reaching for his launcher. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I figured out that our powers only activated when we were under extreme emotional stress." Kai said, walking up to the Chinese man.

If looks could kill Kai would've died several times over with the amount of pure hatred that was pouring out of Ray's irises. "So you thought putting my friends in danger was the best way to do it?!"

"But Ray, we were never really in danger." said Mariah softly.

"Yeah." Lee agreed. "Tyson has been here the whole time, if anything had gone wrong, he would have caught us."

Tyson stepped out from the shadows, rubbing his nose with his index finger and a cocky smile, "What's up Ray?"

Ray's face softened. "So...no one was ever in danger?"

"No. Kai and the others called us up with this crazy plan. Mariah and I were sceptical at first, but we did a couple of trial runs to make sure that everything would work out in the end." explained Lee.

"Oh." The edges of his vision began to blacked and Ray wobbled on his legs and lost his balance, but Lee reached out and caught him.

"Your body isn't used to such power. That's going to happen a few times, until you gain full control of your powers." explained the dual-haired Russian.

"Yeah, it's probably best if we carry him home guys." confirmed Tyson.

Ray opened his eyes weakly. "By the way guys...what exactly did I do?"

Tyson grinned. "You just ran around an entire skyscraper in less than 0.00001 of a second. You're basically The Flash, dude."


And another chapter done! So there! All the Bladebreakers have their powers now! Leave a review and I'll try to have the next chapter up pronto!