Outcast
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade!!!!!!
A/N: Okay, now here's the gab - this is going to be the last chapter. L-A- S-T C-H-A-P-T-E-R. I think I'll put up an epilogue after this one and then a chapter for dedications and credits. Believe it or not, this story would have long been taken off this site if it hadn't been for all those people who reviewed!
Oh yeah, this wanders off the original storyline in the anime. You'll see why.
---- Kai ----
Right at that moment, I felt nothing. It was as if the world had fallen away, leaving only Voltaire, in the stands, and me. I suppose it was because I was too numb to do anything - after all, I had just launched a lethal Beyblade at the bloody guy's head in front of a huge crowd.
When I finally came to, I realised the stadium had gone quiet. Unnerving silence and tension filled the air, choking me. Voltaire's eyes burned like hellfire, damning me. But his expression also held something else. Was it - surprise? Oh yes, he should definitely be surprised. After all, hadn't I supposedly been put under his control like Tala?
"How did you - "
Hah! I felt momentary triumph as he cut himself off in mid-sentence. He couldn't very well ask me how I came out of the experiment as if nothing had been changed inside me. He knew those freak experiments he and Boris conducted in the abbey were illegal and very dangerous. If he accidentally let it slip - oh yes, this was going to be fun.
"Retain my memories?" I finished mockingly. "Yes, it was very difficult. I had tremendous help from a good friend of mine. He was willing to sacrifice himself for me."
"Who - who . . . ?"
"Remember Phineas? He's a master of disguise. He offered his services after I informed him of your little plan." Voltaire had gone pale. "Perhaps I should have told my team mates about this earlier, but I didn't want to until I was sure. Until I had enough evidence. Why are you looking so frightened? Surely the great Voltaire Hitawari, renown President of Biovolt, wouldn't have something to hide?"
Murmurs and hissing erupted from the rest of the stands as I finished speaking. I was smirking in a self-satisfied way, but part of me was beyond grateful to Phineas, my one friend and ally in this battle. He had received orders to leave the country immediately afterwards. I hoped to see him again. But just then, what was in front of me was more important.
"My GRANDFATHER," I continued loudly, after a moment to let my previous words sink in, "has been conducting freak experiments inside the old abbey."
"You can talk, my dear grandson," Voltaire spat, regaining the use of his voice, "but you need proof. Solid, hard evidence. I've told you that over and over. In order to believe something, you have to be able to prove it first."
"But I already have," I replied. Another smirk. "At least, to the people who need to know."
---- Max ----
Footsteps thundered behind our team. Scrambling to look around the bench, I was just in time to see a group of security guards burst in through the door, with - wait a minute! That was Mr Dickenson! They marched over to where Kai's grandfather was standing.
"Voltaire Hitawari," Mr Dickenson said coldly, which was a big change for him. His eyes were hard and angry. "You are now formally charged with high treason by the Russian government. You will receive no hearing and will be taken to the National High-Security Prison - immediately."
"You cannot!" Voltaire shouted. "You have no evidence that I have committed treason -"
"They've seen the laboratories in the abbey, Grandfather," came Kai's voice, strong and defiant. Heads turned to look back. "Boris has been arrested - this morning, in fact, shortly after you left headquarters. I trust, Mr Dickenson, that you've seen everything?"
Mr Dickenson turned to look at Kai, who had dropped his launcher and rip cord on the floor at his feet. The BBA chairman smiled and nodded. Voltaire paled. Okay . . . I didn't understand a word of what was going on. What lab? And when Kai said abbey, did he mean that one we passed when we first came to Russia?
Holy turtles, I was lost!
"You can't take me away!" Voltaire was practically howling. I suppressed a grin, knowing it would spoil the moment, at the thought that a Voltaire who was being dragged away by six armed members of security reminded me of a big bawling baby. "I am President -"
"No longer, Voltaire," Mr Dickenson told him triumphantly. "Biovolt has been destroyed."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
---- Rei ----
As everyone watched Voltaire being dragged away, I watched Kai.
His posture was slouched and his shoulders seemed heavy. His arms hung loosely at his sides, weighed down considerably by the burden of his arm guards. For a moment, I was worried about him and almost moved to ask him if he was feeling all right. Then his fists clenched tightly and he let out a small laugh.
Tyson, who was on his feet and running towards us from the bench, hadn't heard. He made to charge straight up to the Beydish and at Kai. Sensing his movement, I threw out an arm and flung him back before he could pass me. He glared at me reproachfully.
"I have to talk to Kai!" he shouted. "Lemme through, Rei!"
"He's fine, Tyson," I told him firmly, not looking back. "He's just fine."
Kai looked up, a fiery defiance in his eyes. His face was set, rigid with determination, squaring his shoulders and holding himself tall. There was no turning back for him. When Mr Dickenson and the security guards dragging Voltaire had left, all attention was fixed on him. From what I already knew about Kai, he wouldn't show signs of weakness in front of all these people. Michael yelled for his attention.
"What are we going to do about the match?"
"I won't be battling." Kai's voice was clear and rang through the whole stadium. "Max will battle in my stead. I don't feel like battling right now."
He stepped down from the dish and Max bounded forward. On their passing, I saw Kai put a hand on Max's shoulder. Edging slightly closer, I heard him say softly.
"You can do this Max. Don't doubt your strength."
"I won't, Kai, promise. I'll win this for all of us!"
---- Kai (an hour later, hotel room) ----
I'm never going to Beyblade any more.
That's what I thought, as I locked myself inside the hotel suite, refusing anyone entrance. There was just no point to Beyblading any more. I'd never wanted - no, I had started out believing that Beyblade was my passion, my everything . . . the reason I lived. But that had all been destroyed.
I hated it.
I clenched my fists and blocked out the sound of metal, snapping underneath my feet. I refused to let the tears fall as I recalled what I had done, back at the stadium, after I attacked Voltaire. I couldn't bear the thought . . . I had just destroyed my own Beyblade . . .
"KAI!"
This was my chance. If I wanted to run, I had to do it now. What happened in the corridors leading away from the main stadium was behind me. It was all over. But if I didn't take the chance, the full gravity of the situation would hit me hard and I would regret it. Regret wasn't what I wanted to feel. Grabbing what was left of Dranzer, I set it down on the table, on top of a sealed letter and swung my pack over my shoulder.
"KAI! IT'S US! WE WON!"
It was a parting gift from them, even if they didn't know it. You guys have always been the best. I didn't show it, but none of you ever failed to amaze me with your belief, passion and talent when it came to Beyblading. It was something real, based on true feelings and free will. Me? I only bladed because I had to. You'll understand, once you read the letter, why I've decided to leave all this behind.
See you guys.
"Kai?!" Rei's voice, urgent. "Kai, let us in!"
"Are you in there Kai?"
See you guys - and take care. There's nothing more that I can do for the team. I've left a letter and the remains of my most faithful companion of all my fifteen years.
Going to the balcony, I glanced down briefly and vaulted myself over the railings.
---- In the Epilogue ----
"How did you find me?"
"Aw shucks, you don't have to be THAT touched because we couldn't forget our buddy!"
"You're part of the Bladebreakers. We wouldn't have a team without you."
Rei stepped forward, hand outstretched. I brought out my own hand, palm up and he dropped something into it. A brand-new, dark blue Beyblade made of an indestructible alloy. At the centre of it was a fiery core, branded with the fire bird that flashed a greeting. On the attack ring, the words were engraved in gold:
DRANZER X.
"So, do the Bladebreakers have our captain back?"
I gave the only answer I could.
"No."
---- End of Chapter Nine ----
A/N: PHEW! That was the last chapter rounded into a nice neat package. Sorry if Max didn't sound like himself during his part. I know he was a bit OOC.
Anyways, I'm done and I've got the preview of the epilogue.
Please review because the button's down ...........
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
\/
Here ^_________________________^ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade!!!!!!
A/N: Okay, now here's the gab - this is going to be the last chapter. L-A- S-T C-H-A-P-T-E-R. I think I'll put up an epilogue after this one and then a chapter for dedications and credits. Believe it or not, this story would have long been taken off this site if it hadn't been for all those people who reviewed!
Oh yeah, this wanders off the original storyline in the anime. You'll see why.
---- Kai ----
Right at that moment, I felt nothing. It was as if the world had fallen away, leaving only Voltaire, in the stands, and me. I suppose it was because I was too numb to do anything - after all, I had just launched a lethal Beyblade at the bloody guy's head in front of a huge crowd.
When I finally came to, I realised the stadium had gone quiet. Unnerving silence and tension filled the air, choking me. Voltaire's eyes burned like hellfire, damning me. But his expression also held something else. Was it - surprise? Oh yes, he should definitely be surprised. After all, hadn't I supposedly been put under his control like Tala?
"How did you - "
Hah! I felt momentary triumph as he cut himself off in mid-sentence. He couldn't very well ask me how I came out of the experiment as if nothing had been changed inside me. He knew those freak experiments he and Boris conducted in the abbey were illegal and very dangerous. If he accidentally let it slip - oh yes, this was going to be fun.
"Retain my memories?" I finished mockingly. "Yes, it was very difficult. I had tremendous help from a good friend of mine. He was willing to sacrifice himself for me."
"Who - who . . . ?"
"Remember Phineas? He's a master of disguise. He offered his services after I informed him of your little plan." Voltaire had gone pale. "Perhaps I should have told my team mates about this earlier, but I didn't want to until I was sure. Until I had enough evidence. Why are you looking so frightened? Surely the great Voltaire Hitawari, renown President of Biovolt, wouldn't have something to hide?"
Murmurs and hissing erupted from the rest of the stands as I finished speaking. I was smirking in a self-satisfied way, but part of me was beyond grateful to Phineas, my one friend and ally in this battle. He had received orders to leave the country immediately afterwards. I hoped to see him again. But just then, what was in front of me was more important.
"My GRANDFATHER," I continued loudly, after a moment to let my previous words sink in, "has been conducting freak experiments inside the old abbey."
"You can talk, my dear grandson," Voltaire spat, regaining the use of his voice, "but you need proof. Solid, hard evidence. I've told you that over and over. In order to believe something, you have to be able to prove it first."
"But I already have," I replied. Another smirk. "At least, to the people who need to know."
---- Max ----
Footsteps thundered behind our team. Scrambling to look around the bench, I was just in time to see a group of security guards burst in through the door, with - wait a minute! That was Mr Dickenson! They marched over to where Kai's grandfather was standing.
"Voltaire Hitawari," Mr Dickenson said coldly, which was a big change for him. His eyes were hard and angry. "You are now formally charged with high treason by the Russian government. You will receive no hearing and will be taken to the National High-Security Prison - immediately."
"You cannot!" Voltaire shouted. "You have no evidence that I have committed treason -"
"They've seen the laboratories in the abbey, Grandfather," came Kai's voice, strong and defiant. Heads turned to look back. "Boris has been arrested - this morning, in fact, shortly after you left headquarters. I trust, Mr Dickenson, that you've seen everything?"
Mr Dickenson turned to look at Kai, who had dropped his launcher and rip cord on the floor at his feet. The BBA chairman smiled and nodded. Voltaire paled. Okay . . . I didn't understand a word of what was going on. What lab? And when Kai said abbey, did he mean that one we passed when we first came to Russia?
Holy turtles, I was lost!
"You can't take me away!" Voltaire was practically howling. I suppressed a grin, knowing it would spoil the moment, at the thought that a Voltaire who was being dragged away by six armed members of security reminded me of a big bawling baby. "I am President -"
"No longer, Voltaire," Mr Dickenson told him triumphantly. "Biovolt has been destroyed."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
---- Rei ----
As everyone watched Voltaire being dragged away, I watched Kai.
His posture was slouched and his shoulders seemed heavy. His arms hung loosely at his sides, weighed down considerably by the burden of his arm guards. For a moment, I was worried about him and almost moved to ask him if he was feeling all right. Then his fists clenched tightly and he let out a small laugh.
Tyson, who was on his feet and running towards us from the bench, hadn't heard. He made to charge straight up to the Beydish and at Kai. Sensing his movement, I threw out an arm and flung him back before he could pass me. He glared at me reproachfully.
"I have to talk to Kai!" he shouted. "Lemme through, Rei!"
"He's fine, Tyson," I told him firmly, not looking back. "He's just fine."
Kai looked up, a fiery defiance in his eyes. His face was set, rigid with determination, squaring his shoulders and holding himself tall. There was no turning back for him. When Mr Dickenson and the security guards dragging Voltaire had left, all attention was fixed on him. From what I already knew about Kai, he wouldn't show signs of weakness in front of all these people. Michael yelled for his attention.
"What are we going to do about the match?"
"I won't be battling." Kai's voice was clear and rang through the whole stadium. "Max will battle in my stead. I don't feel like battling right now."
He stepped down from the dish and Max bounded forward. On their passing, I saw Kai put a hand on Max's shoulder. Edging slightly closer, I heard him say softly.
"You can do this Max. Don't doubt your strength."
"I won't, Kai, promise. I'll win this for all of us!"
---- Kai (an hour later, hotel room) ----
I'm never going to Beyblade any more.
That's what I thought, as I locked myself inside the hotel suite, refusing anyone entrance. There was just no point to Beyblading any more. I'd never wanted - no, I had started out believing that Beyblade was my passion, my everything . . . the reason I lived. But that had all been destroyed.
I hated it.
I clenched my fists and blocked out the sound of metal, snapping underneath my feet. I refused to let the tears fall as I recalled what I had done, back at the stadium, after I attacked Voltaire. I couldn't bear the thought . . . I had just destroyed my own Beyblade . . .
"KAI!"
This was my chance. If I wanted to run, I had to do it now. What happened in the corridors leading away from the main stadium was behind me. It was all over. But if I didn't take the chance, the full gravity of the situation would hit me hard and I would regret it. Regret wasn't what I wanted to feel. Grabbing what was left of Dranzer, I set it down on the table, on top of a sealed letter and swung my pack over my shoulder.
"KAI! IT'S US! WE WON!"
It was a parting gift from them, even if they didn't know it. You guys have always been the best. I didn't show it, but none of you ever failed to amaze me with your belief, passion and talent when it came to Beyblading. It was something real, based on true feelings and free will. Me? I only bladed because I had to. You'll understand, once you read the letter, why I've decided to leave all this behind.
See you guys.
"Kai?!" Rei's voice, urgent. "Kai, let us in!"
"Are you in there Kai?"
See you guys - and take care. There's nothing more that I can do for the team. I've left a letter and the remains of my most faithful companion of all my fifteen years.
Going to the balcony, I glanced down briefly and vaulted myself over the railings.
---- In the Epilogue ----
"How did you find me?"
"Aw shucks, you don't have to be THAT touched because we couldn't forget our buddy!"
"You're part of the Bladebreakers. We wouldn't have a team without you."
Rei stepped forward, hand outstretched. I brought out my own hand, palm up and he dropped something into it. A brand-new, dark blue Beyblade made of an indestructible alloy. At the centre of it was a fiery core, branded with the fire bird that flashed a greeting. On the attack ring, the words were engraved in gold:
DRANZER X.
"So, do the Bladebreakers have our captain back?"
I gave the only answer I could.
"No."
---- End of Chapter Nine ----
A/N: PHEW! That was the last chapter rounded into a nice neat package. Sorry if Max didn't sound like himself during his part. I know he was a bit OOC.
Anyways, I'm done and I've got the preview of the epilogue.
Please review because the button's down ...........
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
||
\/
Here ^_________________________^ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
