There's ALGEBRA in this! Actually it's pretty easy. Oh well. Try not to
be too revolted.
Chapter 8
"Mommy?" The little boy stumbled to catch up to her.
"Don't follow me anymore." She ordered him harshly. He stared up at her face in confusion and hurt.
"But-" He sniffled. She frowned in disgust.
"Stop that. You're always whining and sniveling. It's childish and embarrassing to me." Her words made him flinch as if they were brandishing a whip.
"I'm s-sorry." He whispered tearfully.
"You're always saying that you're sorry. It's stupid. Go away."
"Where can I go?"
"Somewhere that isn't near me. Go away brat!" She yelled angrily when she saw him running after her. Turning she slapped him hard on the face. He stumbled back and tripped over his feet. Now tears were pouring out of his turquoise eyes.
"Pathetic. You don't deserve to live" She spat and walked away. The boy stood up, but didn't follow. He felt lonely, it was 2 hours later when a woman finally found him, standing all alone in an alley.
"What's wrong sweety?" She asked kindly. She stretched a hand out and was about to touch his shoulder gently, when he flinched away.
"Are you okay?" She asked mildly.
"Leave me. Please." He whispered. She stared, the youth was trying to make his voice cold, it wasn't working. It still held that tone of childish innocence.
"How old are you honey?"
"5." He whispered.
"C'mon. Lets go get you something to eat. You look too skinny." She said kindly as she took his hand, he stared, then began to trot after her, a shaky smile on his face. "After that we can find your mommy." She told him as they stepped out into the sun. He stiffened.
*Don't follow me anymore!*
"Is there something wrong? Are you okay?" The woman bent down to look as his face.
*Go away brat!*
He shivered and slowly released her hand from his grip.
*Pathetic. You don't deserve to live.*
"I don't deserve to live. . . ." He whispered quietly.
"What's that?"
"I don't deserve to LIVE!" He screamed and bolted.
"Hey! Come back!" She called after him, he ignored it. She chased after him, he ran on. Normally, an adult would have run laps around a kid as tiny as he was, but the boy was driven by something else, hate. Not at his mother, but at himself. He was too weak, that's why his mother left him. He was scrawny, puny, a little nobody. After a strait hour of running he plopped down onto a bench in a park. His breath was coming out in ragged gasps. Mind set he looked up at the now clouding sky, puffs of rain clouds were beginning to cover the stars.
'I'll get stronger. Then you won't be ashamed of me.' He said quietly, making a vow to his long gone mother. The boy sighed and stood up, he didn't notice that tiny little card sticking out of his pocket, it had written on it;
Name: Tyler Paladin
Age: 5
Birthdate: October 9th, 1989
Parents: Unknown
Home Address: Unknown
He slowly walked away, he needed to find a shelter for the night. Slowly, hands in his pocket. He walked away thinking;
'I promise. For you, I'll be stronger.'
I'll be stronger. . . . . .
"Tyler!" Lessa shook the mumbling youth awake.
"Wha-?!" He sat up right in his bed. He hadn't even bothered to undress before plopping onto his bed.
"You were having a nightmare, or something. You kept mumbling 'I'll be stronger' of something." Striker commented looking spooked. "God, don't do that again. You scared the hell out of me. Say, why did you come back to the hotel room so late last night?" The blonde wondered lightly. Tyler stared for a minute. Last night?
~ Flashback ~
"What makes you think I let your team win those battles?" Tyler wanted to know smirking.
"At first I thought I was being paranoid, but then Max said something, about Lessa being in total control of that battle. That was when my thoughts were confirmed." Kai declared. Tyler laughed.
"You're smarter then I thought Kai. Alright, the only reason was to show you how powerful we are. That we are in total control." He said grinning. Kai stared.
"Save your lines for a B graded movie." The youth spat and walked away. Tyler stared at the youth still smiling.
'Kai.' He thought. 'You have no idea what's going to happen you and your team.'
~ End ~
The fact that Kai hadn't even asked about Falcon was weird. Maybe he had already figured it out. Oh well. Tyler glanced at his watch. 7:00 am. Hmm, he'd slept in today. Tyler stood up and walked over to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and changed into a black pair of jeans and a red shirt. Putting a smooth black vest over his shoulders, Tyler smiled and walked out the door. His team following closely. Kurai stared at Tyler's back. He'd been so different when he was young. So different, as if he was someone else entirely.
~ Flashback ~
"Get in here!" The man yelled angrily. "That's the ninth home you've been kicked out of. Why don't you behave like a good little boy?!" He demanded. The brown haired boy shook his head violently and tried to break away. Kurai stared at this scene from the corner he sat in.
"I don't care! LET GO OF ME!" He yelled. Kurai looked at him. Why did he fight? He couldn't have a life any worse then his could he? To watch your parents die in front of you. That smell of burning flesh would stay etched in Kurai's mind forever. The man sighed and let the boy go, the boy in turn stomped away. He came into the room that Kurai was in and didn't bother to look at him. Suddenly the boy fell to the floor and lay there on his back. His chest was heaving, he was biting his lip as if to stop from crying.
"A family is something I don't deserve." He whispered out. Kurai stared at the boy. He seemed to be about 4 years older. The boy sighed and turned over on his stomach. Getting up, the boy looked around the room and saw Kurai. His eyes widened. Kurai huddled farther into the corner, as if it would hide him.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" The boy asked. Kurai shook his head. The boy sighed.
"Lost your parents too huh? I bet they didn't abandon you like mine did. What's your name?" He asked. Kurai stared. It had been a week since he had come here, Kurai hadn't talked to anyone. Many of the adults left it as shock. The boy waited. Kurai shook his head.
"You can talk right?" The boy asked raising an eyebrow. Kurai nodded. The boy sighed again. "My name's Tyler. Tyler Paladin. I prefer Ty if it's all the same. You?" Kurai stared. Then smiled. Something about Ty called him, like as if the pain they felt was one in the same. Kurai got up and walked over.
"My name is Kurai."
~ End ~
"It's day two of the tournament. Now lets see who's here today." AJ yelled from atop the stadium in his secret little place.
"Here come the contestants. There's the Bladebreakers, they don't look to thrilled at all." Brad said calmly.
"Well after yesterday's loss I would think I wouldn't be too happy either."
"Man, I can't believe it. One loss and everyone thinks that we're going to lose everything." Tyson said angrily. Kai said nothing, he was thinking as usual. Max was staring hard at Draciel while Ray was staring around. Looking for any sign of the others. Half an hour later the friends were sitting in the food court. Food was free to beyblade tournament competitors. Tyson was wolfing down all he could as usual. The others were thinking and weren't very hungry.
"So you guys lost too huh?" Ray asked the All Starz. Michael sighed.
"Thanks for rubbing my nose in it Ray." He said sternly. Max smiled.
"You may still make it to the finals." He said quietly. "You heard what Jazzman said, the two teams with the highest points make it to the finals." Emily nodded.
"Which is why we must double our efforts." She said quietly and began to type on her laptop. Robert smiled.
"You put up a wonderful fight. Truly worthy of a warrior of your class." The youth commented. Eddy smiled.
"You'd better believe it!"
~~~
"So how will this work?" Tyson asked as they gathered around the front of the entrance. Jazzman stepped up, microphone in hand.
"Here's how this'll work. The winners of yesterdays matches will be put into column A. The losers in column B. What will happen is that we will hold A matches in one section, B in another. The next day we shall switch. Now. Will these teams step up for the drawing. Black Falcons!" Tyler and his team stepped up calmly and swiftly, not one of them grinning. Kurai stared at Tyson in the eye as he passed. Tyson nodded.
"The team Tsunami, White Tigers, and the Majestics." The three other teams stepped up smiling and waving. Except for Robert and his team, but that was normal for them. Tyson stared at the Black Falcons who didn't smile, in fact, they barely moved. It they weren't breathing, you would've thought they had died on their feet.
"Black Falcons, draw first." Jazzman said and Tyler walked up. He slowly fished out a white ball with the number 'A3' on it. White Tigers received 'A1' and the Majestics 'A2'. The only team left, the Tsunamis were given 'A4'. After that, the A column headed towards the pool, while Column B stepped up to choose.
"Bladebreakers." Kai stepped up and got a 'B2'. All Starz were given 'B4' and faced the Slayers who got 'B3'. Tyrants were given 'B1' being the only number left. They were sent off to the dolphin show area.
~~~
Column A
Black Falcons vs. Tsunami
White Tigers vs. Majestics
Column B
Bladebreakers vs. Tyrants
Slayers vs. All Starz
~~~
"What the?!" Tyson yelled when they got there. The dolphin had been relocated to a large and vast pool. In the middle was a rectangle that had fencing around it. The rectangle had a bey-stadium on it and enough room for the beybladers to stand on.
"Beware this stadium, the bowl is classic itself, but the problem is. Our loyal trainers will be on the side commanding the dolphin to do random tricks. You're job is to figure out the pattern and use it to your advantage cause every time the dolphin do a trick, the stadium will move. Alright. First team to battle. Breakers and Tyrants. Choose your representative and go." Tyson was up first, a red haired, short and stocky boy was his opponent. Jazzman signaled for them to go, Tyson's opponent was cocky, thinking that the champion had gotten soft in these times of victory. Tyson showed him how wrong he was, in two seconds flat the blade was out and Tyson had won. Ray was next, same result. It was only six seconds before Max had sent his opponent's blade spiraling out as well.
"Well, well, well. It seems our champions are back on their hotstreak. Too bad for the Tyrants, I'm sure you'll do better in your next matches." Brad commented. AJ continued.
"The All Starz are up next, their opponents the Slayers." 3 minutes later, the Slayer's were done for. Apparently the All Starz had been doing some prepping. So let's see,
Bladebreakers = (-1) + (+1) = 0
All Starz = (-1) + (+1) = 0
Slayers = (-1) + (-1) = -2
Tyrants = (-1) + (-1) = -2
~~~
Tyson and his team were walking out of the dolphin area and were walking over to the pool when all the people streamed out the doors. Tyson sighed.
"Guess we missed it." Tyson said dully and ran through the other doors which were marked 'IN'. Tyson gasped. Ray and the others came over and gaped. Kai only stared unwavering. The entire pool was evaporated into a gush of smoke. There was a large dent in the middle of the pool. Tyler stood there smiling lightly. Tyson gaped.
"He was in a good mood today." Kurai commented from behind them. Tyson spun around.
"He did that in a GOOD mood?!" Tyson croaked, his mouth had suddenly gone paper dry. Kurai nodded.
"I wonder what will happen to that team and their beyblades. I heard them muttering, Ty scared them out of their wits, they're thinking of giving up beybladeing for good." Kurai walked up to the rail and leaned on the side. Tyson scowled.
"He didn't have to go THAT far! What's wrong with him?" Tyson demanded.
"He doesn't feel worry, of pain. Or even fear, he only feels hate and reject. I went searching through the government files." Kurai said suddenly. The others looked at him. He shrugged.
"Hacked. Anyway, I went through a few files. They found Tyler's mom." He said quietly. Tyson stared.
"And?" Kai asked quietly.
"She said she never had a son, when they held up a picture of Tyler she said, and I quote;
'I would never have a son that is weak like that boy'. You could tell by her face she was lying, she hated that picture, she must have been Tyler's mom. Later, she confessed to physical and verbal abuse to her son. She never said what her son's name was." Kurai was staring, face impassive. "I think he remembers what his mom was like. He hates himself for it. I heard him muttering in his sleep once.
'I'll be stronger. I'll make you proud.' He just kept saying it over and over." Kurai muttered looking down at the ground. Tyson was gaping, Max just looking lost, Ray was stern faced.
"It's no wonder he hated us then. He thinks we're weak." The raven haired youth said quietly. Kurai nodded, turning around he was about to reply when all of a sudden
"KURAI!" A voice yelled. Kurai spun, Lessa and Striker stood on the walkway. Staring at him in anger. Kurai backed away.
"Lessa! Striker! Wait! I can explain!" He said quickly. For the first time ever, Tyson saw Kurai scared. Ray stepped in between them, Max by his side.
"If you're going to hurt him, you'll have to go through us." Max said, more bravely then he felt. Striker snorted.
"Say that we actually fight you, do you think you'd win?" He asked sneering. Ray glared.
"We may win or not."
"But we will help a friend." Kenny said in a squeak. Striker stared for a moment. Silence. Then the blonde broke out laughing, it wasn't cruel or mean, it was just pure humor.
"Good lord, that sounds sappy." He gasped out. Lessa was grinning.
"Why the heck would we hurt Kurai? He's like a little brother to us." She said calmly. "I just wish he'd told us he was going on about Tyler's past. Was this the plan you were talking about?" She said turning to Kurai. The youth nodded and blushed.
"Plan?" Kai asked turning to him. Kurai stared.
"Well . . Like I said before. I've known Tyler since I was a kid, only 4 years old. I've felt like he's been an older brother since, but in the last few years. He's grown colder and colder."
"Almost like ice." Lessa put in solemnly.
"So I decided that if me, Lessa and Striker couldn't get him to his normal self-"
"You'd get someone who knew what it was like and had succeeded in finding happiness." Kai said suddenly with realization. Kurai nodded.
"You've betrayed your friends, then found out what real friendship was about." Kurai turned to Max.
"You've fought against loved ones and still managed to stay together." He turned to Ray.
"You fought against the will of your friends and village, then managed to right it all." Then he turned to Tyson. Silence.
"You managed to do the impossible and beat Tala, you showed the world what friendship is really about! If you could show that to Ty. Then maybe he would. . . . ." Kurai trailed off. Striker nodded.
"It's worth a try. We can't do anything, none of us has ever known what true friendship or happiness is. So we can't really do anything." Tyson nodded.
"So you need our help to do this right?" The three nodded. Suddenly Striker burst out laughing once more.
"GOD! We're in a soap opera! THIS IS too much sap even for ME!" He walked off cackling. Kurai shook his head.
"He's having a moment." Lessa said grinning and staring after her friend's back. Turning to Tyson she said
"Watch out, Tyler wants to sink his claws into you." She said quietly, then raced after Striker. Kurai smiled after him.
"Get back soon and be careful Kurai!!" Lessa called out waving back to him. Kurai waved back.
"Nice team you have." Max commented. Kurai blushed.
"Yeah, they're really great. They understand how you feel too." He smiled.
~~~
On a balcony above the entrance to the pool Tyler stared at Kurai.
'So, he's with the Bladebreakers." He thought smirking. 'So you've chosen to be a traitor. Fine by me, you're just another bug to squash Kurai.' He turned around and slid down the slide on his feet. They weren't wet, there was no water on the slides today. As he reached the bottom he jumped off and landed on the steps.
"So, my team has betrayed me. oh well, I never needed them in the first place now did I?" He said looking at Falcon, the blade gleamed red. He laughed.
'I'll show them, I'll show the world, that I'm the strongest. And I want the world to know that I don't need that stupid whore I once called mother.' He walked off, hands in his pockets.
Black Falcons = 2
Majestics = 2
Bladebreakers = 0
All Starz = 0
White Tigers = 0
Tsunami = 0
Slayers = -2
Tyrants = -2
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but plot and the Black Falcons
Chapter 8
"Mommy?" The little boy stumbled to catch up to her.
"Don't follow me anymore." She ordered him harshly. He stared up at her face in confusion and hurt.
"But-" He sniffled. She frowned in disgust.
"Stop that. You're always whining and sniveling. It's childish and embarrassing to me." Her words made him flinch as if they were brandishing a whip.
"I'm s-sorry." He whispered tearfully.
"You're always saying that you're sorry. It's stupid. Go away."
"Where can I go?"
"Somewhere that isn't near me. Go away brat!" She yelled angrily when she saw him running after her. Turning she slapped him hard on the face. He stumbled back and tripped over his feet. Now tears were pouring out of his turquoise eyes.
"Pathetic. You don't deserve to live" She spat and walked away. The boy stood up, but didn't follow. He felt lonely, it was 2 hours later when a woman finally found him, standing all alone in an alley.
"What's wrong sweety?" She asked kindly. She stretched a hand out and was about to touch his shoulder gently, when he flinched away.
"Are you okay?" She asked mildly.
"Leave me. Please." He whispered. She stared, the youth was trying to make his voice cold, it wasn't working. It still held that tone of childish innocence.
"How old are you honey?"
"5." He whispered.
"C'mon. Lets go get you something to eat. You look too skinny." She said kindly as she took his hand, he stared, then began to trot after her, a shaky smile on his face. "After that we can find your mommy." She told him as they stepped out into the sun. He stiffened.
*Don't follow me anymore!*
"Is there something wrong? Are you okay?" The woman bent down to look as his face.
*Go away brat!*
He shivered and slowly released her hand from his grip.
*Pathetic. You don't deserve to live.*
"I don't deserve to live. . . ." He whispered quietly.
"What's that?"
"I don't deserve to LIVE!" He screamed and bolted.
"Hey! Come back!" She called after him, he ignored it. She chased after him, he ran on. Normally, an adult would have run laps around a kid as tiny as he was, but the boy was driven by something else, hate. Not at his mother, but at himself. He was too weak, that's why his mother left him. He was scrawny, puny, a little nobody. After a strait hour of running he plopped down onto a bench in a park. His breath was coming out in ragged gasps. Mind set he looked up at the now clouding sky, puffs of rain clouds were beginning to cover the stars.
'I'll get stronger. Then you won't be ashamed of me.' He said quietly, making a vow to his long gone mother. The boy sighed and stood up, he didn't notice that tiny little card sticking out of his pocket, it had written on it;
Name: Tyler Paladin
Age: 5
Birthdate: October 9th, 1989
Parents: Unknown
Home Address: Unknown
He slowly walked away, he needed to find a shelter for the night. Slowly, hands in his pocket. He walked away thinking;
'I promise. For you, I'll be stronger.'
I'll be stronger. . . . . .
"Tyler!" Lessa shook the mumbling youth awake.
"Wha-?!" He sat up right in his bed. He hadn't even bothered to undress before plopping onto his bed.
"You were having a nightmare, or something. You kept mumbling 'I'll be stronger' of something." Striker commented looking spooked. "God, don't do that again. You scared the hell out of me. Say, why did you come back to the hotel room so late last night?" The blonde wondered lightly. Tyler stared for a minute. Last night?
~ Flashback ~
"What makes you think I let your team win those battles?" Tyler wanted to know smirking.
"At first I thought I was being paranoid, but then Max said something, about Lessa being in total control of that battle. That was when my thoughts were confirmed." Kai declared. Tyler laughed.
"You're smarter then I thought Kai. Alright, the only reason was to show you how powerful we are. That we are in total control." He said grinning. Kai stared.
"Save your lines for a B graded movie." The youth spat and walked away. Tyler stared at the youth still smiling.
'Kai.' He thought. 'You have no idea what's going to happen you and your team.'
~ End ~
The fact that Kai hadn't even asked about Falcon was weird. Maybe he had already figured it out. Oh well. Tyler glanced at his watch. 7:00 am. Hmm, he'd slept in today. Tyler stood up and walked over to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and changed into a black pair of jeans and a red shirt. Putting a smooth black vest over his shoulders, Tyler smiled and walked out the door. His team following closely. Kurai stared at Tyler's back. He'd been so different when he was young. So different, as if he was someone else entirely.
~ Flashback ~
"Get in here!" The man yelled angrily. "That's the ninth home you've been kicked out of. Why don't you behave like a good little boy?!" He demanded. The brown haired boy shook his head violently and tried to break away. Kurai stared at this scene from the corner he sat in.
"I don't care! LET GO OF ME!" He yelled. Kurai looked at him. Why did he fight? He couldn't have a life any worse then his could he? To watch your parents die in front of you. That smell of burning flesh would stay etched in Kurai's mind forever. The man sighed and let the boy go, the boy in turn stomped away. He came into the room that Kurai was in and didn't bother to look at him. Suddenly the boy fell to the floor and lay there on his back. His chest was heaving, he was biting his lip as if to stop from crying.
"A family is something I don't deserve." He whispered out. Kurai stared at the boy. He seemed to be about 4 years older. The boy sighed and turned over on his stomach. Getting up, the boy looked around the room and saw Kurai. His eyes widened. Kurai huddled farther into the corner, as if it would hide him.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" The boy asked. Kurai shook his head. The boy sighed.
"Lost your parents too huh? I bet they didn't abandon you like mine did. What's your name?" He asked. Kurai stared. It had been a week since he had come here, Kurai hadn't talked to anyone. Many of the adults left it as shock. The boy waited. Kurai shook his head.
"You can talk right?" The boy asked raising an eyebrow. Kurai nodded. The boy sighed again. "My name's Tyler. Tyler Paladin. I prefer Ty if it's all the same. You?" Kurai stared. Then smiled. Something about Ty called him, like as if the pain they felt was one in the same. Kurai got up and walked over.
"My name is Kurai."
~ End ~
"It's day two of the tournament. Now lets see who's here today." AJ yelled from atop the stadium in his secret little place.
"Here come the contestants. There's the Bladebreakers, they don't look to thrilled at all." Brad said calmly.
"Well after yesterday's loss I would think I wouldn't be too happy either."
"Man, I can't believe it. One loss and everyone thinks that we're going to lose everything." Tyson said angrily. Kai said nothing, he was thinking as usual. Max was staring hard at Draciel while Ray was staring around. Looking for any sign of the others. Half an hour later the friends were sitting in the food court. Food was free to beyblade tournament competitors. Tyson was wolfing down all he could as usual. The others were thinking and weren't very hungry.
"So you guys lost too huh?" Ray asked the All Starz. Michael sighed.
"Thanks for rubbing my nose in it Ray." He said sternly. Max smiled.
"You may still make it to the finals." He said quietly. "You heard what Jazzman said, the two teams with the highest points make it to the finals." Emily nodded.
"Which is why we must double our efforts." She said quietly and began to type on her laptop. Robert smiled.
"You put up a wonderful fight. Truly worthy of a warrior of your class." The youth commented. Eddy smiled.
"You'd better believe it!"
~~~
"So how will this work?" Tyson asked as they gathered around the front of the entrance. Jazzman stepped up, microphone in hand.
"Here's how this'll work. The winners of yesterdays matches will be put into column A. The losers in column B. What will happen is that we will hold A matches in one section, B in another. The next day we shall switch. Now. Will these teams step up for the drawing. Black Falcons!" Tyler and his team stepped up calmly and swiftly, not one of them grinning. Kurai stared at Tyson in the eye as he passed. Tyson nodded.
"The team Tsunami, White Tigers, and the Majestics." The three other teams stepped up smiling and waving. Except for Robert and his team, but that was normal for them. Tyson stared at the Black Falcons who didn't smile, in fact, they barely moved. It they weren't breathing, you would've thought they had died on their feet.
"Black Falcons, draw first." Jazzman said and Tyler walked up. He slowly fished out a white ball with the number 'A3' on it. White Tigers received 'A1' and the Majestics 'A2'. The only team left, the Tsunamis were given 'A4'. After that, the A column headed towards the pool, while Column B stepped up to choose.
"Bladebreakers." Kai stepped up and got a 'B2'. All Starz were given 'B4' and faced the Slayers who got 'B3'. Tyrants were given 'B1' being the only number left. They were sent off to the dolphin show area.
~~~
Column A
Black Falcons vs. Tsunami
White Tigers vs. Majestics
Column B
Bladebreakers vs. Tyrants
Slayers vs. All Starz
~~~
"What the?!" Tyson yelled when they got there. The dolphin had been relocated to a large and vast pool. In the middle was a rectangle that had fencing around it. The rectangle had a bey-stadium on it and enough room for the beybladers to stand on.
"Beware this stadium, the bowl is classic itself, but the problem is. Our loyal trainers will be on the side commanding the dolphin to do random tricks. You're job is to figure out the pattern and use it to your advantage cause every time the dolphin do a trick, the stadium will move. Alright. First team to battle. Breakers and Tyrants. Choose your representative and go." Tyson was up first, a red haired, short and stocky boy was his opponent. Jazzman signaled for them to go, Tyson's opponent was cocky, thinking that the champion had gotten soft in these times of victory. Tyson showed him how wrong he was, in two seconds flat the blade was out and Tyson had won. Ray was next, same result. It was only six seconds before Max had sent his opponent's blade spiraling out as well.
"Well, well, well. It seems our champions are back on their hotstreak. Too bad for the Tyrants, I'm sure you'll do better in your next matches." Brad commented. AJ continued.
"The All Starz are up next, their opponents the Slayers." 3 minutes later, the Slayer's were done for. Apparently the All Starz had been doing some prepping. So let's see,
Bladebreakers = (-1) + (+1) = 0
All Starz = (-1) + (+1) = 0
Slayers = (-1) + (-1) = -2
Tyrants = (-1) + (-1) = -2
~~~
Tyson and his team were walking out of the dolphin area and were walking over to the pool when all the people streamed out the doors. Tyson sighed.
"Guess we missed it." Tyson said dully and ran through the other doors which were marked 'IN'. Tyson gasped. Ray and the others came over and gaped. Kai only stared unwavering. The entire pool was evaporated into a gush of smoke. There was a large dent in the middle of the pool. Tyler stood there smiling lightly. Tyson gaped.
"He was in a good mood today." Kurai commented from behind them. Tyson spun around.
"He did that in a GOOD mood?!" Tyson croaked, his mouth had suddenly gone paper dry. Kurai nodded.
"I wonder what will happen to that team and their beyblades. I heard them muttering, Ty scared them out of their wits, they're thinking of giving up beybladeing for good." Kurai walked up to the rail and leaned on the side. Tyson scowled.
"He didn't have to go THAT far! What's wrong with him?" Tyson demanded.
"He doesn't feel worry, of pain. Or even fear, he only feels hate and reject. I went searching through the government files." Kurai said suddenly. The others looked at him. He shrugged.
"Hacked. Anyway, I went through a few files. They found Tyler's mom." He said quietly. Tyson stared.
"And?" Kai asked quietly.
"She said she never had a son, when they held up a picture of Tyler she said, and I quote;
'I would never have a son that is weak like that boy'. You could tell by her face she was lying, she hated that picture, she must have been Tyler's mom. Later, she confessed to physical and verbal abuse to her son. She never said what her son's name was." Kurai was staring, face impassive. "I think he remembers what his mom was like. He hates himself for it. I heard him muttering in his sleep once.
'I'll be stronger. I'll make you proud.' He just kept saying it over and over." Kurai muttered looking down at the ground. Tyson was gaping, Max just looking lost, Ray was stern faced.
"It's no wonder he hated us then. He thinks we're weak." The raven haired youth said quietly. Kurai nodded, turning around he was about to reply when all of a sudden
"KURAI!" A voice yelled. Kurai spun, Lessa and Striker stood on the walkway. Staring at him in anger. Kurai backed away.
"Lessa! Striker! Wait! I can explain!" He said quickly. For the first time ever, Tyson saw Kurai scared. Ray stepped in between them, Max by his side.
"If you're going to hurt him, you'll have to go through us." Max said, more bravely then he felt. Striker snorted.
"Say that we actually fight you, do you think you'd win?" He asked sneering. Ray glared.
"We may win or not."
"But we will help a friend." Kenny said in a squeak. Striker stared for a moment. Silence. Then the blonde broke out laughing, it wasn't cruel or mean, it was just pure humor.
"Good lord, that sounds sappy." He gasped out. Lessa was grinning.
"Why the heck would we hurt Kurai? He's like a little brother to us." She said calmly. "I just wish he'd told us he was going on about Tyler's past. Was this the plan you were talking about?" She said turning to Kurai. The youth nodded and blushed.
"Plan?" Kai asked turning to him. Kurai stared.
"Well . . Like I said before. I've known Tyler since I was a kid, only 4 years old. I've felt like he's been an older brother since, but in the last few years. He's grown colder and colder."
"Almost like ice." Lessa put in solemnly.
"So I decided that if me, Lessa and Striker couldn't get him to his normal self-"
"You'd get someone who knew what it was like and had succeeded in finding happiness." Kai said suddenly with realization. Kurai nodded.
"You've betrayed your friends, then found out what real friendship was about." Kurai turned to Max.
"You've fought against loved ones and still managed to stay together." He turned to Ray.
"You fought against the will of your friends and village, then managed to right it all." Then he turned to Tyson. Silence.
"You managed to do the impossible and beat Tala, you showed the world what friendship is really about! If you could show that to Ty. Then maybe he would. . . . ." Kurai trailed off. Striker nodded.
"It's worth a try. We can't do anything, none of us has ever known what true friendship or happiness is. So we can't really do anything." Tyson nodded.
"So you need our help to do this right?" The three nodded. Suddenly Striker burst out laughing once more.
"GOD! We're in a soap opera! THIS IS too much sap even for ME!" He walked off cackling. Kurai shook his head.
"He's having a moment." Lessa said grinning and staring after her friend's back. Turning to Tyson she said
"Watch out, Tyler wants to sink his claws into you." She said quietly, then raced after Striker. Kurai smiled after him.
"Get back soon and be careful Kurai!!" Lessa called out waving back to him. Kurai waved back.
"Nice team you have." Max commented. Kurai blushed.
"Yeah, they're really great. They understand how you feel too." He smiled.
~~~
On a balcony above the entrance to the pool Tyler stared at Kurai.
'So, he's with the Bladebreakers." He thought smirking. 'So you've chosen to be a traitor. Fine by me, you're just another bug to squash Kurai.' He turned around and slid down the slide on his feet. They weren't wet, there was no water on the slides today. As he reached the bottom he jumped off and landed on the steps.
"So, my team has betrayed me. oh well, I never needed them in the first place now did I?" He said looking at Falcon, the blade gleamed red. He laughed.
'I'll show them, I'll show the world, that I'm the strongest. And I want the world to know that I don't need that stupid whore I once called mother.' He walked off, hands in his pockets.
Black Falcons = 2
Majestics = 2
Bladebreakers = 0
All Starz = 0
White Tigers = 0
Tsunami = 0
Slayers = -2
Tyrants = -2
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but plot and the Black Falcons