Anime: *in the corner, messing with a freezer shaped box* Maybe it's this combination.

Anya: Sorry folks; Anime is still trying to work out how to get Kai out of the freezer.

Anime: 4132?.....no; 1142?.........no........ARGH!!!!

Anya: *jumps* what!?

Anime: I realised it's time for the next chapter!!!

Anya: Don't worry, I'll do this, you just get Kai out of there!!! Ok, Anime does not own Beyblade, but does own me and other OCs.

============================================================================ ============================

The two blades smashed into each other. Anya swung her arm forward to cheer her bit beast on. Ark followed suit.

"Draphiel!!!!" "Vileark!!!!"

A black and aqua shark emerged from the ninja's black and aqua blade to confront Draphiel. Draphiel grabbed Vileark's snout before he came any closer. Vileark thrashed violently. Anya saw Draphiel was losing her grip.

"Draphiel!! Get back into your bit!"

Draphiel did as her mistress commanded. Ark sneered at Anya.

"What's the matter? Giving up? Vileark, send that blade flying!!!" "Far from it. Draphiel, evasive manoeuvres!"

Before the shark could snap her blade, it zoomed around and waited at the top of the dish. She'll regret ever putting her blade up there Ark thought, sneering. Vileark turned and went straight for Anya's blade. Anya narrowed her eyes, waiting. Ark didn't notice, but his captain did.

"Ark!! Pull back!!"

Ark didn't hear Mark, but carried on. Draphiel was within grabbing distance. Anya lifted one arm in the air.

"Draphiel, move, NOW!"

Draphiel, with her trademark speed, soon appeared behind Vileark, who had taken her position at the top of the dish. Draphiel pulled back, then with a burst of speed, smashed the black and aqua blade out of the dish. Now it was Anya's turn to sneer.

"AND THE WINNER IS ANYA!!! DARK NINJAS, SEND OUT YOUR THIRD!!!"

Ark walked back to his team, somewhat sheepish. Mark just shook his head and nodded to the tallest member of the team. He had black hair sticking out of his mask and indigo eyes. Anya grabbed her blade and waited for the match to begin. The ninja brought out a black and orange blade.

"Well AJ, looks like the Dark Ninjas have sent out team member Bark to challenge Anya." "That they have, Brad, and with his bit beast Vilefox, they are definitely sneaky with their attacks."

"BLADERS, READY!! 3, 2, 1, LET IT RIIIIIPPPPPPP!"

Anya and Bark sent out their blades. Anya couldn't help but pull her face into a small smirk.

"Are you going to make me work for my win, or will you be a pushover like the rest of your team?" "Your overconfidence will be your downfall", was all Bark said.

At DJ Jazzman's count, the two released their blades. Anya's blade kept to one end of the dish, whereas Bark's own blade was on the opposite side. Anya watched this blade carefully. Now, which is the best way to kick this guy out of the arena....Anya thought.

"Draphiel; let's finish this quickly!! HARPIES'....." "Vilefox!! Fox Illusionist!!!"

An orange and black fox emerged from Bark's blade. The fox ran towards Anya's blade.

"Draphiel!!!"

Anya's blade moved aside. Anya stopped herself from cheering. Bark's blade had disappeared. The crowd looked around. DJ Jazzman looked confused.

"Err...Look's like Bark's blade has disappeared..."

"Does this mean Bark has lost, AJ?" "I have no idea, Brad, but unless Bark's blade turns up, Anya will win by default."

"What's happening? You're not really gonna make me win THAT easily, are you Ninja Boy?" Anya taunted. "Far from it. VILEFOX, NOW!!!!!"

From just a few millimetres behind Anya's blade, the black and orange blade appeared momentarily before the purple and white blade was knocked out of the arena. Bark sneered. Anya gasped in disbelief, but regained her composure, accepting her defeat. She picked up her blade and walked back to her team. Wordlessly, she sat down in her usual position; arms and legs crossed, her cap overshadowing her eyes. Max stood up and ran to the dish. He looked back and waved at the Blade Breakers.

"Don't worry guys! I'll get this match over and done with!" "Don't get too cocky, kid. I won't be as lenient with you as I was with her", Bark...barked; "You'll be taking your blade home in a small box!" "No problem; my blade travels in a small box anyway!"

"BLADERS, ARE YOU READY!? THREE, TWO, ONE, LET IT RRRIIIIPPPPP!!!!!"

Max and Bark released their blades. Max's blade landed in the middle of the arena. Bark's blade landed on the side. Bark sneered.

"Are you ready, chump? FOX ILLUSIONIST!"

Bark's black and orange blade circled Max's green and blue blade. Bark's blade moved round and round, and suddenly, the blade seemed to split into several images of the blade. Max gasped.

"No way!"

Bark just grinned. "You are going down Blade Breaker! Vilefox!"

The black and orange blade came out and smashed into Max's blade. Bark's blade then went back to the multiple image spin. Again and again, the black and orange blade came out and smashed into Max's blade. Max faltered. This guy is sneaky. How can I beat something I can't find!?

Kai noticed Max's hesitation and looked into the dish. His sharp eyes watched the Dark Ninja's blade. After around five seconds, Kai thought of something. Unsticking himself from his spot on the wall, Kai walked to Max.

"Max." "Huh, Kai?" Max turned noticing his captain behind him. "Focus. The Ninja is giving you all the clues; it doesn't take a sleuth to figure out his strategy." "What do you mean? What clues?" "Focus. Observe what he is doing, don't just see it."

With that Kai walked back to the team shelter and leaned against the wall.

"Aww, did the captain give Max on of his trademark pep talks?" Dizzi gushed. "Shut up, you loud-mouthed piece of scrap metal." "Oohhhh, I'm scared now!" Dizzi retaliated.

Max looked from Kai back to the match. Observe what he does? How do I do that? Max thought. Watching the blade, Max tried to figure out what Kai meant. From Bark's side of the dish, Bark's blade came out of its illusion and smashed into Max's blade. Max's blade was wobbling dangerously now. Bark's onslaught kept coming. From the right, from the left, from behind, then from in front again. Right, left, back, front; right, left, back....

"I GOT IT! Draciel! His blade's coming in for a frontal assault!"

Max's blade regained its spin and moved before the black and orange blade could crash into him. Bark frowned in disbelief.

"What?" "Alright, Draciel! Now from the right!....the left!!!! Now from behind!"

All the time, Max managed to dodge the black and orange blade. Bark grew more and more frustrated. "You stupid bit beast! BEAT HIM!"

"How could you say that about your bit beast? That's plain mean!" "Vilefox is my bit beast. I call him whatever I want!" "If that's what you think, then you'll never win!" "It's worked so far."

Max clenched his fist. He doesn't respect his bit beast; I will prove to him that respect DOES matter.

"GO DRACIEL! I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!" "VILEFOX; YOU BETTER WIN!"

The two blades crashed into each other. Max and Bark searched through the dust for their blades.

"WOW AJ, Neither blader is accepting defeat!" "But one of these bladers will lose; the question is Brad, who will it be?"

The dust settled. The black and orange blade was lying on its side; Max's green and blue blade was on its last spin. Max punched the air when he picked up his blade.

"ALRIGHT, WOO HOO!"

Max threw Bark's blade back to him, smiling good naturedly.

"Hey, Bark! Hope you don't take it too personally!" "Hmph."

When Bark sat down, Mark stood up. He walked to the dish, glaring at Max. Max's smile was still on his face. This is it...Max thought. Kathy, this is for you.... The two bladers readied their launchers.

"BLADERS AT THE READY!! 3, 2, 1......." "LET IT RIP!"

The two blades touch downed in the dish and they crashed right into each other. Sparks flew, but Max noticed something. Green bits of his blade were chipping off.

"WHAT THE!?" "You should always study your opponent's blade before a match, boy."

"No way!" The Chief cried. "Hey, Chief, don't blame me! I wasn't the one who designed it!" Dizzi replied. "Chief, what's up?" Tyson asked. "Mark's blade; the attack ring is made of pure solid titanium, AND sharper than any other regulation blade!" "What?" Tyson cried. "Looks like Max's in trouble, guys...and Anya" Ray announced.

Ray was right. The dish was littered with green blade fragments. Max had already started avoiding Mark. Max clenched his fists, sweat forming on his brow. I won't lose, Max thought, I promised Kathy I'd beat this guy...

"Draciel!"

Draciel's bit chip begun to glow. With a burst of energy, Draciel emerged from his bit. Mark retaliated by summoning Vilebra. The purple tortoise and the green cobra roared and hissed at each other before rushing at each other.

"VILEBRA; COBRA VENOM!" "Draciel!! DON'T GIVE IN!!! METAL BALL DEFENSE!"

Vilebra's fangs were bared, ready to bite into Draciel. Draciel managed to defend against the blow. Max called out to his bit beast.

"Draciel, I know you can do it!"

"Huh?"...Max found the surroundings melting around him. All he saw was a purple glow in from of him. It was familiar...it was Draciel!

"Draciel?" "Max; I thank you for the support you have given me over the past year since you inherited me. I won't let you down..."

Max gasped when his attention returned to the battle. Looking down into the dish, Draciel looked more revived and ready for battle. Draphiel blocked another attempt by Vilebra. Suddenly, the purple turtle swung around. Using his tail, Draciel knocked Vilebra to the other side of the dish. The blade wobbled before coming to a stop when the cobra bit beast returned to its chip. If Mark's mouth wasn't covered by his half mask, he would've gaped.

Max's Draciel blade flew back into his hand. Max's smile spread across his mouth.

"WOO HOO!!!"

Max jumped up and punched the air. "OH YES!" "MAX!"

Tyson and Ray landed on top of Max, cheering. Kenny followed close behind, and Kai stood a little way off. Kai smiled a little.

"Well done Max. I knew you would win." Max looked up at Kai. "Really? How did you know?" Ray smiled and winked at Max. "Well, we know there is a certain someone..." "Yeah. You should've seen your face when Kathy lost..."

"Max?"

Max looked up at the new voice. Kathy stood there, Anya just behind her. "K....Kathy?" Max stuttered, blushing.

Kathy held out her hand to help Max up. Max accepts the hand, blushing a deeper shade of red. Kathy smiled at Max when he stood.

"Max; Anya caught me before my team returned to the village." "Anya?"

Anya stood back from the two and gave Max the thumbs up before leaving. Ray and Kenny got the idea and left with Anya. Only Tyson was nearby. "Huh? Ray, Chief, Anya? Where are you guys going?"

Kai grabbed Tyson by the neck and dragged him away. "GAck! Kh...Kai! ...Y..you're...ack...ch..choking me!"

Max and Kathy sweatdropped, anime-style, before facing each other again.

"Max, Anya told me that you won that match for me..." "Uh...she did?" Max heard himself say. Anya! Man, if you weren't a girl, I'd tackle you to the ground! Max thought. He blushed when he looked Kathy in the eye.

"Well, I gotta go...but if you ever come back to China, maybe we can, you know, hang out and catch a movie or something..." Kathy muttered, staring at her feet. Max couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Uh, SURE! Oh wow, Kathy...I, I don't know what to say!" "Well, how about 'it's a date'?" "You bet!"

The couple linked arms and walked out of the arena. Well, half way there, they ran when they realised how long they had left their teams. Outside, most of the Blade Breakers were already in their bus, and the White Tigers were in theirs. Kai and Lee stood outside the respective buses, waiting for their team mates. Gary leaned out of his window and hollered at Kathy.

"C'mon, cuz! We have to get back to the village! The Elders have invited us to a HUGE Banquet!" "Max, we need to get to the train station. The Russian Tournament is our next stop." Kai called. "And we need to go early to stop by the hospital; Kai's grab on Tyson's neck has practically cut off the oxygen flow to the brain." Ray smiled. "Yeah, he's just not speaking coherently..." Anya commented. "Oh, in that case, no need to stop by the hospital; Tyson's better already!" Dizzi replied.

Max and Kathy smiled at each other. Before they parted ways, Kathy gave Max a peck on the cheek. Max blushed when he sat in the Blade Breaker bus. Kai boarded and they set off.

"Alright!" Max whooped, happily. "Russia, here we come!"

============================================================================ ============================

Anime: ....how about this one.....? *something clicks* ALRIGHT!!!

Anya: What?

*The cryogenic freezer heats up and thaws Kai. He walks out, not too happy and a little dazed.*

Kai: Who are you? And WHY IN GOD'S NAME AM I COVERED IN COOKIE DOUGH!?

Anya: Don't look at me. Anime and ShadowYami is the one responsible!

Anime: Eh heh *sweat drops*, this will take a while...roll the review replies!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mizu-Tenshi - I know! I think they make a cute couple! What does everyone else think?

Achika - ??? Okay, you sound like Max on an extra sugar high after winning a blade match. Well, I guess all I can say is thanks....!

ssykes4000 - ARGH! Noooooooo!

Rena- Hey thanks! And don't worry, I'll bet you come up with something new and exciting that will make you write a great fic!

DragonMasterEmerald - (chappie 3 review) What d'you mean? D'you mean Kai's last quote? Well, isn't that what characters WOULD say? (chappie 4 review) Anya was something I cooked up in my head. She's not a Yami, but I suppose a muse or something... Anya: *walks into the small closet* Or something..... Anime: Hey! I'm meant to be doing reviews! Anya: Kai's still looking for you, and he's not too pleased... Anime: Well, don't tell him you found me! (chappie 5 review) And yeah, Draphiel's attack is like a blizzard, but its ice she throws, not snow (if ppl throw snow at you, you don't exactly go Ow! do you? Ice is harsher.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kai: *opens closet door* "FOUND YOU! Anime: *gack!*