Okay, this is going to be NON Yaoi, but there are some R rated scenes in here, so yeah, if you can't take, then I suggest you move on. Eep! There are warnings, so, if I get a review saying I didn't warn you, RYUUJIN WILL COME FOR YOU!! BWA HAHAHAHA!!

Chapter 7

"Kenny!!" Max called out, his voice seemed distant to his friend, Kenny was focusing on one thing, the match, and the match included, Tyson, himself, the blades, and the sharp pang of bite when the wind cut through his skin leaving a bloody trail in it's wake.

"Tyson . . ." Kenny grunted out. Tyson smirked.

"Sorry dude, but either you join us, or I defeat you. Take a pick." Tyson said in a laid back voice.

"I-I . . . ." Kenny didn't know what to say, he'd never been strong like the others, what was he DOING up here?! He couldn't blade! Reality hit him like a slap to the face, he was weak, and he was going to be pummeled. He closed his eyes.

"I . . . . I sur-"

"DON'T YOU DARE!!" Max screamed. Kenny's eyes snapped open, he turned to look at the infuriated blonde.

"How can you THINK about surrendering?? Kenny, you're not only fighting for yourself up there, and not just for us either! If you lose, what'll happen to Emily?!" Max demanded pointing to the female. Kenny's eyes widened.

"Do you think Tala will spare her just because she's a girl?? And what about Tyson! Kai! And Ray!! They're all under HIS control! If you give up, then EVERYONE loses! You're not fighting just for us! You're fighting for the WORLD, the entire freedom of mankind is counting on us! Counting on YOU Kenny! So don't you DARE even THINK of giving up!!" Max screamed. Kenny stared.

'The world . . . . then entire nation . . . is depending on me? Is that even possible? Book worm Kenny, savior of the world?'

"Hey dork, we going to finish this battle or not?" Tyson demanded irritably. Kenny turned to look at him, then smiled.

"Yeah. We're going to finish this alright." He suddenly snapped his head up.

"Dizzi!!" White flashed like a beacon, and in split second, there she was, in all her glory. Basked in the glow of yellow light was a panther. Sleek skinned and razor sharp claws flexed.

"POISON CLAW!!" Kenny screamed, his blade dove in for the attack.

"Gale wind!!" Tyson retaliated, in that split second, the room held it's breath as the two blades clashed. A blinding light flared, then all was silent. And both blades were out.

"It's a tie . . ." Max breathed. Kenny stared, then picked up his blade and gave a sigh of relief.

"We tried Dizzi. And at least we didn't lose." Emily slapped him on the back.

"Way to go chief! You did it!" She cried out smiling, then she kissed him on the cheek. He flushed heavily. Tala scowled. That was it, no more failures. It was time to take matters into his own hands. He stepped down and stood next to Kai, Max and the others noticed this, and began to watch him carefully.

"Well, well. So you're holding your own. Do you think you can actually win? Let me correct you." Suddenly he held up his blade, and the center flashed for a moment. Kai's eyes cleared. He shook his head, and looked around wildly.

"Wha-?" Suddenly he stopped. "Why . . . why can't I move my body?!" He demanded. Tala laughed.

"See, I can release someone's mind, but not their body, so that I have total control. Now, observe." Tala held his hand out, and Ian immediately placed a blade into his hand.

~ Here comes the bad parts ~

Tala drew his arm back, and slashed down. Max growled as Kai yelled out from the sudden surge or hot pain. His arm now wore a heavy and bloody gash. Tala smiled.

"See, he can obviously still feel pain, however . . ." Tala placed the knife back with Ian, then grabbed Kai's arm and dug his nails into the bleeding flesh. Kai screamed once more in pure agony. Max gritted his teeth and growled in anger.

"B*stard . . ." Tala smiled, then wagged a bloody finger in the sign of 'Naughty, naughty.' While making the 'tsk tsk' sound.

"Now you know whose in control." Tala hissed with a smirk, and held his blade up again, once more the center flashed, and once more, Kai's eyes returned to a blank and dazed look. He looked at his bleeding arm in dull fascination.

"But of course, that's not all I can do." Tala said sadistically. He snapped his fingers once, and Ray automatically was at his side. Tala smirked and pointed at Kai, Ray blinked once, then nodded and walked down the steps, eyes void of emotion, he took Kai's arm gently, and started to lap up the blood.

~ You can read again ~

"YOU BLOODY FREAK OF-!!!!" Kevin screamed out and lunged at Tala.

"Kevin!" Max tried to shout a warning, but all too late, Kevin came head to head with a knife.

"Don't move." Tyson said in a hiss. Kevin gulped, but stood still. Max scowled.

"You've proved your point!!" Tala smirked.

"Have I now? By the way Max, have you noticed something odd?"

"Like what?" Max hissed. Tala smiled in a secretive manner and started looking at his nails.

"Oh, like the fact that Maria hasn't said a thing about Ray's behavior." Max paled. He turned slowly.

"Why-?" He was cut short as he realized something. Maria wasn't there. Gary spun around.

"Where?!" He demanded.

"For shame Gary." A curt voice said softly, Lee walked up.

"Don't you watch your team? Pathetic." Gary scowled.

"You not Lee. Where Maria?"

"Over here . . ." A soft and dead voice declared, a small form slowly walked down the steps, almost tripping at some moments. But she made it to the floor in once piece, and looked at Max with hollow eyes. She no longer wore her white uniform, but a white skirt, sneakers, and a black tank top. The eagle pin placed over her heart. Mariah had been taken, and from beneath Max's very own eyes.

Disclaimer: Not mine, I own plot and paladin.