Desires of the Heart


Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of it's characters.


Last chapter:


Kai started up the steps. The doorbell rang. He raised an eyebrow, and went to answer it. Dranzer would save him from any danger. His blade and launcher was in his pocket. He stepped up to the door, and pulled it open...


~~~Chapter 2: Battles Begin~~~


Kai cautiously opened the door... He expected some salesman or danger... The last thing he expected was that the door would fling open and someone would grab his hand and rigorously shake it.


Kai stumbled a few steps back, then straightened up and tore his hand from his visitor's. He glared at the one who had grabbed his hand. Kai blinked.


He said, not exactly joyfully, or cheerfully, but somewhat eagerly, "Hey, Kai! I'm like, totally your fan!" His carefree voice didn't reach his eyes. Kai was amazed at how close the voice was to his own.


Standing there, was a boy a few years older than Kai. His stature and size was similar to Kai's, but slightly taller, due to his age. The boy's - man's, really, as Kai was near the end of his teenage years - cold ruby eyes stared into Kai's. The ruby eyes were like a reflection of his own. Colour contacts, Kai thought to himself.


He had the same shade of blue in his hair as Kai. Kai frowned, convinced it was dyed, but couldn't deny the authenticity of the carefully spiked hair, near identical to his own.


The boy's face had been painted just like Kai's, the triangles carefully positioned and coloured. He wore a black sleeveless shirt, that, unlike Kai's, had silver stitching. The boy had a light blue jacket over it, the zipper open. He wore dark blue training pants that looked like Kai's, but had big cargo pockets, that could each hold a regular beyblade. He wore black training boots, that looked big, heavy, and uncomfortable. He also had a black backpack slung over his shoulder.


Kai gave an icy glare at the look-alike. Surprisingly enough, the visitor didn't flinch from the look; he returned it with his own. Kai asked venomously, "And you would be?"


"Name's... Koji. Koji... Sakoyama. Koji Sakoyama."


Kai paused for a few moments. The young man had a certain hesitation as he said his name that Kai just couldn't understand. Either he didn't want Kai to know his name... or... that wasn't his real name at all. Kai tried to shrug it off. After all, if he didn't want Kai to know his name, he couldn't force him to tell. But the hesitation wasn't the only thing to give him pause... It was... that name... Koji Sakoyama. Kai felt like he had heard it before... Sakoyama seemed familiar from somewhere. But Koji Sakoyama... Kai was almost positive he had heard that before.


/Dammit... I've never seen this kid, and I'm... almost positive I've heard his name before. But I remember... Dad used to say, "Only fools are positive," and I think he's right. Dad... I'll find you someday... I'll never give up... Grandfather took the soul and spirit out of me... but I fought back. He was positive that his plan to use me like a tool would work. He was a fool. He was a fool... not like you, Dad. I just wish my life could have been different./


Kai shook his head, halting his thoughts to give Koji a frown. "And what brings you here... Koji?


"I came to see you! You're, like, my idol!"


Kai thought it was strange the way he spoke, as if it was some sort of act. And despite his warm words, Koji had yet to smile, or even remove that murderous glare. Kai asked, one eyebrow raised, "Really?"


"Yeah, totally!" He suddenly broke into a warm, comforting grin.


Although it seemed impossible not to like him, Kai found an air of deception around him, and there was just something too warm about that grin. So warm that it looked fake. But Kai ignored it... for now. But he reminded himself to watch his back and to keep his eyes on this guy.


"And what do you want?"


"What do I want? I want you to teach me how to blade way better!"


"And why would I want to waste my time doing that?"


"Hmm... well... I've got the skill and technique, but I blade without feeling or heart, or any of that stuff."


Kai tried to keep the astonishment out of his voice. "And you expect me to help you on that?"


"Um... well, if you can't help me on that, you could always... help me... perfect my technique."


"Hmm..." There was something about the young man that gave Kai pause. A sudden thought rushed to his head. "Let's do it this way," he offered. "If you... can beat me in a beybattle, I'll help you."


"Hmm... outright beat you?"


Kai considered this, then added, "I'll settle for a close draw."


"Um... only on one condition..."


Kai's eyes narrowed again. "And that is...?"


"You have to show me your bit-beast!"


Kai was about to agree, but stopped himself. What if this guy was just here to spy on his moves? Kai replied, "Only if you prove worthy enough."


Koji agreed, "Alright then! Where do we blade?"


Kai gestured to a door. He opened it, revealing a flight of steps going down. "Here."


Koji walked down the steps without the slightest hesitation.


/Well, that's strange... He acts like... he knows and expects what's down there.../


Kai quickly followed him, switching on the light. Several large dishes, some plain, others decorated, were built into the floor.


Koji asked, "Which one?"


Kai shrugged. "It's all the same to me."


Koji picked a plain dish and prepared to launch. "Ready?"


Kai pulled out his Dranzer blade and launcher from his pocket. Kai didn't notice that Koji's eyes were suddenly bloodshot, focused on Kai's blade, or more specifically, his bit-chip, bearing the red phoenix named Dranzer.


Kai replied, "You better believe it."


Koji counted down, "3... 2... 1... let it rip!"


Two blades whizzed into the dish, a black and a blue. Kai noticed Koji's blade had a striking resemblance to Black Dranzer, old and fierce, but without the picture of a bit-beast in the centre... though the blank bit-chip looked fairly new, as if it had been recently replaced. Someone else wouldn't have noticed... but Kai Hiwatari, not noticing an old blade with a brand new bit-chip?


Kai didn't understand. Bit-chips were just about the most durable and sturdiest pieces of a blade... A whole blade could be easily shattered, while the bit-chip remained without a scratch. They were made to last, so that the bit-beast would stay contained safely, through tough battles... It was almost as if Koji hadn't wanted anybody to know what his old bit-chip looked like...


~~~TO BE CONTINUED...~~~


I'd love getting some feedback on how this story's going!