Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. Please do not sue me. I have no money as it is. ^_^;
Chapter 4
"Lee?"
"That's right." laughed the other boy, smirking down at him. "What's the matter? Surprised to see me?"
"What-what are you doing here?" asked Rei in shock as he pulled himself up.
"I just wanted to have a little chat with you." he replied smugly.
"What a pity, we were just leaving." interrupted Kai, stepping in between the two.
"Don't worry. It will only take a few minutes."
"And a few minutes is time we don't have." he replied, narrowing his eyes at the cat-like boy.
"Kai wait!" cried Rei pushing in front of him. "Okay Lee, tell me what you want all ready."
His ex-team mate snorted. "I'll tell you when I'm good and ready. A 'traitor' like you has no right telling me what to do."
Rei flinched. Would he be branded a traitor for the rest of his days?
"What's the matter, Rei? Can't face up to what you've done?"
"Lee tell me what you want or-"
"Fine. All right Rei, I'll tell you what I came here to say." he interrupted, his face looking deadly serious now. "I just wanted to say how much of a failure I think you are. I heard of you're battle last night and it sickens me the way you acted. Back in the old days you would never have dreamed of letting your guard down. There's no room for sympathy and pity in Beyblading. Beyblading is more than just a sport but like a sport you play to win no matter what the cost."
"You came all the way here jut to tell me that?"
No I also came here to give you this!" he yelled drawing back his fist and planting in straight into Rei's jaw sending his ex-team mate falling backwards.
"Rei!" cried Kai rushing to team mate's aid. "Are- are you all right?"
"Yeah I'm fine." He groaned, holding on to his jaw.
Furiously Kai pinned Lee up against a rock. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"
"Back off, this doesn't concern you."
"Considering Rei is one of my team mates I would have to disagree and say it does concern me." He barked back.
Letting go of his jaw, Rei moved toward them. "Because of what you just did Lee, you betrayed the so-called honour of the White Tiger team."
"Not really. You see, you needed punished for your stupidity, and since I figured no one else had the guts to it I figured who better to do it than one of the people you back stabbed."
"Lee I never backstabbed you! I've all ready explained my reasons why I had to leave!" cried Rei.
Lee snorted. "You never HAD to leave it all. You made that choice all on your own."
"I suppose I did, and you know what, I don't regret that decision."
Rage flashed upon his face. "You traitor! You abandoned us! You abandoned your own team-mates!" Kicking Kai in the stomach he managed to escape his grasp. "I'll never forgive you for what you did. Never!"
Rei frowned. It seemed that his old team mates wouldn't understand his intentions no matter what he said. "I'm sorry that you feel that way, Lee."
"Don't play that innocent act on me. I'm not as stupid as you are to fall for some cheap lie."
"How can you say that when you team is the one that set it up?!" demanded Kai.
"Kevin's actions had nothing to do with me. It was only after the match that I found out what had happened. I don't agree with the method he used to defeat you Rei but then again maybe it was for the best. After all, it did show that you were idiotic enough to fall for it, but more importantly he showed that you are unworthy of having the White Tiger in your possession. Your bit beast finally saw that and thus left you. He made the right choice."
"I may havemade a huge mistake but that doesn't mean that Driger won't return."
"Don't make me laugh. You really think Driger will return to you after what you did?"
Rei nodded.
This time Lee did laugh. "I think that defeat messed with your head. You've become completely delusional!"
Rei sighed, not able to take much more of this. "All right, you've laughed, you've criticised, you've had your fun now we're leaving"
"I'm afraid I have one final request to make."
"And just what would that be?"
Lee held out his beyblade.
"You're trying to make me jealous by showing me your beyblade?"
"I want a battle."
Rei blinked in confusion. "A battle?"
"The White Tiger had been handed down from generation to generation in my family, but instead of it being my turn to uphold the family tradition, Grandfather gave it you. I didn't understand this but I decided to trust you. But in the end you betrayed my trust! Once more you have brought dishonour upon our village and your old team mates. Driger is out there somewhere and finally I shall make him mines."
"But-"
"I'll prove my skill and powers by defeating you, the former master of the White tigers. Once he sees my skill he will come to me as my partner just as it was supposed to be."
"And just what makes you so sure he would go to you?"
Lee smirked. "The White Tiger bit beast has been in my family for hundreds of years. We have a connection. Besides if something were to happen to you, Driger would be mines anyway."
"You can just take something like that from a person whether they're dead or alive." growled Kai.
"No Kai, he's right. If I died then Driger would be handed down to the next person in line for possession, and since I obviously haven't got any children to hand it down to then…"
"It will go to me."
"So you're going to prove your better than me once and for all, is that it, Lee?"
"That's correct."
Rei chuckled slightly. "I still don't understand this competition between us. I mean we used to be best friends, inseparable."
"Everyone used to love you Rei. They all looked up to you. I looked up to you. We were a team. I thought that you, Mariah, Kevin, Gary and I would be together forever. But you destroyed that hope. You shattered their hopes, their belief in you. But now I shall restore their belief. Their belief shall be in me. So Rei do you accept my challenge?"
Rei stared intensely at ex-team mate before answering. "Fine I accept."
"What?!"
"I knew you would Rei. I hope you are prepared."
"Prepared to win, yes."
"Oh confident, are we? Don't think that will do you any good though." Turning he started to walk towards the hole were their battle would commence.
"Rei what are you doing?!" asked Kai angrily. "You and I both know that you can't defeat him without Driger on your side!"
"Sorry but I have to do this. I have to regain the trust Driger placed in me and if that means battling against Lee and his bit beast then so be it."
"Rei…"
"I know it sounds impossible but if I do defeat Lee then perhaps Driger will-"
"Don't be an idiot!"
Rei's eyes widened. He had never seen Kai so angry before. He frowned, sad that Kai didn't seem to understand. "I won't let Lee get Driger."
"I understand that but to battle in this condition is pointless. You're just after training for hours, you're tired and once more you don't even have a bit beast. The odds are definitely against you."
"So what are you saying, that I should just give up?!"
The blue haired boy sighed. "I'm not saying that but if you used your senses then you'd see that finding against Lee at the moment is a bad idea."
"You're the one who told me that I had to train and battle to prove myself to Driger, and now after all of that you're telling me to stop?!"
"It's not like that Rei."
"I wish you'd make up your mind."
"You were once a member of the White tigers. You know how powerful they are. Do you really believe you stand a chance now?"
"Rei are you going to come battle me or have you realised that there's no way you can win and have decided to back out?" cried Lee, still waiting.
Rei sighed and gazed sadly at Kai. "Sorry Kai but I'm going to battle whether you want me to or not. Besides it doesn't matter to you if I get hurt does it?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm just a team mate remember. You have no choice whether to train me since you're the team captain. Besides if I loose this match it'll just prove that I'm not good enough to be on the team." Kai didn't reply and with that Rei walked over to the hole ready to do battle.
"Get ready Rei because this could be the last battle you ever participate in."
"I wouldn't count on it."
Lee drew back his launcher. "All right, let-"
"Wait!"
Startled, Lee dropped his launcher. "What now?"
"Kai, I all ready said that I was going to battle Lee and-"
"No you're not. I am."
"Wh-what?"
Rai snorted. "I cam here to battle Rei not you."
"Well let's just say I'm his substitute."
"Listen, this is between Lee and if. It has nothing to do with you."
Kai ignored him.
"Rei is without a bit beast, 'for the moment', therefore it's unfair to let him battle against someone of your power for something so important."
"What and you're saying that you think you can beat me?"
"Exactly."
The Chinese boy started to laugh in amusement. "Oh I get it now. Rei can't handle himself so he got a body guard to take care of him."
"Kai's not my body guard!" cried Rei before turning around furiously to Kai. "What are you trying to do, embarrass me?! I may not have a bit beast anymore but I can handle myself. I don't need you to fight my battles for me!"
"Fine do whatever you want." he replied before walking away.
"Kai I-"
"Are you ready or do I have to wait until dawn break tomorrow before we can finally battle?"
"Let's get this over with then!"
"Good. I just hope there aren't any further interruptions or are you really just stalling for time?"
"Go!" cried Rei launching his beyblade with everything he had. He was going to win this battle no matter what.
"Galeon go!" yelled Lee launching his blade with equal determination. Time to reclaim what is rightfully mines.
"Just to make it fair, Rei. I won't have Galeon come out from his blade and attack. Perhaps that will stop your blade from getting completely thrashed."
Rei's blade bashed quickly against Lee's, only to be hit again by the same attack. "Kuso."
"Give it up. Such a weak attack like that won't put a scratch on my blade."
Kai watched intensively from the side lines. So far Rei wasn't doing so great. He bit his lip. I know I should be praying for him to win but this seems impossible. I've watched hundreds of bladers get their asses whipped but for some reason I can't bare to watch Rei loose. If I had been out there battling I'd have… Wait. Why did I even volunteer to battle for him? It's his battle not mines? We just play on the same team. What happens to him outside an official team battle shouldn't matter to me should it? But then why in the world was I so determined to fight for him? I've never fought for anyone but myself before. I've never cared about anyone but myself before… Rei, what the hell have you done to me?
Realising what was going on around him his attention instantly returned to the battle that was going on. Rei looked extremely tense. His blade was trying to collide with Lee's but every time he tried Lee's blade easily leapt out of the way.
"It's useless! Why don't you just give up now!" taunted Lee.
I need to come up with a better strategy, but what can I do? Come on, think Rei!
No matter what angle I look, Lee seems to have the advantage. Even without using his bit beast like he says he won't he can still do a lot of damage.
"I must say that I'm extremely disappointed. I admit I didn't expect much of a battle but this is pathetic. I wonder what Mariah and the others would think if they were here now?"
"Guess that just makes me lucky that they're not here then." he replied irritably.
"Well Rei, your luck's just ran out! Dark lightning!" Sparks of black electricity came shooting out of Lee's blade one by one, and one by one they started prickling Rei's blade.
"No…"
Lee laughed seeing the panic on his ex-team mates face as he watched Rei's blade almost toppling over. "All right, time to finish this off!" he shouted as his blade started charging at Rei's. The next moment Rei's blade was flying into the air. "No!"
"Oh too bad Rei."
Come on Rei, hold on. If your blade lands back in the dish then you'll still have a chance.
By magnificent luck Rei's blade hit off the side of the hole and swirled back in. The raven haired boy let out a sigh of relief.
"I wouldn't look so relieved if I were you. You haven't even begun to see my power!"
Rei's golden eyes narrowed. I don't know if that was a sign or just plain luck but it did make me realise that there's still hope yet. Kai is absolutely right, the chances of me wining this match is a million to one. I'll definitely need a miracle to defeat him, but miracles don't happen themselves, there something that people make happen. I have to try my hardest no matter what. I have to overcome my rival to get Driger back, to help my team mates get to the finals, and Kai.
"Galeon Dark lightning!" Rei's eyes shot back open as Lee's beyblade started to glow.
"Dodge it!" Obeying his will his beyblade leapt out of the way of the lightning attack.
"What?! Attack him faster!" shouted Lee, pushing his bit beast to do better. But with every spark his blade shot, Rei seemed to vanish from sight.
A smile edged on Kai's lips. He's doing it. He's finally discovered away to protect himself against Lee's attacks. Throughout this whole match I've wanted to run out there and help him. I still don't understand why. Why do I care so much? In the end he didn't need me. He found the answer on his own. Without Galeon actually coming out of his blade, his lightning attacks only go so far, but will Lee keep his word?
"I don't understand! What in the hell's happening?!" screamed Lee, enraged.
"I guess I'm not as weak without my bit beast as you thought I was. I'm still able to dodge your attacks!
The other boy gritted his teeth. "Your Beyblade will run out energy sometime! It can keep going like this forever!"
"The same applies to you. It looks like your blade is getting pretty tired out from all those sparks it's been shooting out." Indeed Rei was right. With each shot Lee's attacks seemed to be getting weaker and weaker, and if Rei could just keep on going like this he would win the match for sure.
Rei lifted his head to look at Lee, expecting to see the same panicked look that he had worn earlier, but instead he was actually smiling.
"Huh?"
The tiger-like boy started to burst into laughter.
Rei suddenly found himself become nervous. "Could it be he's gone insane from the pressure of loosing?"
"Oh Rei, how you amuse me." snigger Lee contemptuously.
"What are you-"
"Do you really think I'm down and beaten yet? As I said earlier you haven't even begun to see the full extent of my power!"
Realisation struck Rei hard. "You mean?!"
"That's right! Unlike you I have the strength and will to harvest the powers of an almighty bit beast! Now you'll see what a true master blader looks like!"
"You said you wouldn't use your bit beast you fucking liar!" bawled Kai furiously.
"That was when I found Rei to be an unworthy opponent. I'm surprised at just how well he did against me. That was just a test, now the real battle will begin!"
"Lee don't you remember anything the elders taught us?! Battling with such deceit and spitefulness is wrong!" cried Rei unable to believe the way his old team mate was acting.
Lee growled. "And you're a fine one to talk about that! You're the one who abandoned the village as well as the team and the lessons you learnt!"
"There's no way I could ever possibly forget those lessons Lee! I may have left the village but I'll always treasure the memories I had there. They're a part of me and I'll never forget them no matter how far I'll go in beyblading! I'll always remember you, Mariah, Kevin and Gary as my friends!"
Lee tightened his fists as a few moments silence took place. "I-I… No… you lie. You're a fucking liar! I won't fall for your pathetic trickery! Galeon crush him and his blade!"
Lee's blade started to grow black until finally a dark bit beast emerged from it.
Rei stood wide eyed. "He-he wouldn't…"
"Rei get the hell out of there!" screamed Kai rushing towards him.
"Dark thunder!" the tiger-boy roared at the top of his lungs. Galeon immediately charged straight towards Rei at such immense speed that the neko-jin found himself unable to move. A black flash of lightning surrounded the sky and struck Rei and his blade with extreme force.
"No!!!" The edge of cliff started to crack and instantly the Chinese boy was tossed limply over the side of the cliff.
"REI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Authors Notes: Cliff hanger… literally. I hope this chapter was all right. Sorry to any Lee fans for making him a bastard. It's not that I hate him. Thank you lots to Tidah, Thorn, meeeeee, Riku, Angel of pure darkness, Catty Hiwatari, Platinum Rei and devilburns for reviewing last chapter. ^_^
Any feeback or advice on how I could improve would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!