ME: *shudders* This chapter is…

CS: *sniffles* So sad!!!

Yami FireKali: ME: *glares at ff.net* How could you let poor FireKali lose her lovely reviews!!! Here FireKali *hands out mallet* If they do it again, just whack them over the head with this!!! It might just knock some sense into them *grins evilly at ff.net*

Weeping Angel: ME: *scratches head* You sure like asking questions, and I'm not sure if I can answer all of them…as far as I know, Kai and Tala have always been possessive (it's been there in all Kai/Tyson/Tala fics I've read.) And they've really considered Ty-kun's opinion. Dragoon is kept back due to favoritism. Really mean of ol' Prickly isn't it? But in the end, Myros only wants to protect Dragoon, even if his methods are...wrong in a way. As for Kai being recognized as the Chosen of Dranzer…let's see!! ^___^

crescente nuwedes: ME: I'll try add on more MaRe, but with so many characters running around, it's a hard job. ^^* But I'll see what I can do.

Skittles the Sugar Fairy: ME: *watches Skittles fly off* ^^* Knew those brooms would be useful. Look at her go!!! As for awesome chapters, this one is my fave so far. CS: For the wrong reasons. ME: ^^* I really had to do it CS!!! CS: Evil girl. ME: Took you how long to figure that out!!

Ms Hobgoblin: *watches Ms. Hobgoblin fly off* Guess everyone liked the brooms. CS: I want one!!! ME: *holds broom out of CS's reach* Anyway, you can expect more TyKa to come!!! CS: *pouts* I wanna broom. ME: Grow up CS. CS: -__- How can you expect me to grow up if I'm a friggin' chibi!!!! ME: o0; Touchy…

Rumi-Chan: ME:*watches Rumi fly away cackling evilly only to bang against a building* That HAD to hurt. A lot… And I won't kill you for Faint. I wrote a death-fic inspired by it. Needless to say, Angy was *very* angry with me at that point of time.

I luv Yugi and Daisuke so :p: ME: I should attach safety harnesses to those brooms *hands you towel to clean yourself*  Thanks for the e-mail address!! I'll mail you (as soon as possible)

Angevar: Me: o0; Ahhh…*edges away* Authoress on sugar high is…*still edging away* scary. *jumps out the window* CS: -___- That's taking it a little too far though.

TLPhoenix Forever: ME: *squeals* You reviewed!!! Arigatou!!!! Love your fics!! You should update soon. Oh, and tell your sister for me. She's doing a good job for someone who's just started. ^^* Anyway, it's gets better (or worse) from here on!

ME: It's return of the Timmy!!!

CS: -__-;; Return of the Timmy? I really don't want to know…

Tyson: Now what?

Kai: Ask the authoress. She's the one who makes us do all the hard work 'round here.

ME: I'm hurt Kai. After making you pair with Tyson in all my fics, this is how you repay me? *sobs in a corner*

Tyson: *glares at Kai* Now look at what you did!

Kai: What makes you think I did it?

Tyson: Apologize now!!!

Kai: Do I have to?

Everyone: YES!!!

Kai: Fine. I'm sorry, happy?

ME: *sniffles* Really?

Kai: Really.

ME: *smiles* Since I want you to prove it, you have to do the disclaimer!!!

Kai: O__O WHAT!!!!!!!

ME: Now don't be shy and do it!

Kai: *grumbles* Timmy does own Beyblade or its characters. Happy?

ME: Yeah!!!

Kai: I should get a raise for this job.

Chapter Six

Battle Axes and Swords

Kai murmured something under his breath, his hand moving across the stone floor as if looking for something.

But that 'something' wasn't there.

Kai's garnet eyes snapped open and his breathing hitched a notch.

Tyson wasn't there.

Kai scrambled onto his feet, his mind in a panic.

Where could he be? Tyson!

Kai took in some deep breaths and calmed down. Tyson wouldn't have left him.

That wasn't like him. Kai closed his eyes.

Could he have just gone out for a minute? For a walk maybe?

Kai snorted to himself. They were in the middle of nowhere.

So then what?

Suddenly, the breeze blew past, unfurling his scarf. A familiar scent caught him.

It smelled of fresh dewdrops and mint.

Tala.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alia covered her eyes. The light always made her edgy. That's probably why she preferred the dark of the North. She was Ice.

Yet, the same edginess that she always felt when she was near something warm was not as uncomfortable as it usually is.

Could she be melting?

Kaleb brushed his blue/black hair off his face, "You're upset." He said quietly.

Alia glanced at him, her eyes flickering, "Not upset. Just… thinking."

 "That's not something you do very often, is it?" He said lightly.

Alia ignored the jib. It was too hot to snip at each other.

Too hot though.

Then a knife whistled through the air as it struck the tree right next to Alia. They were immediately alert.

"Company," Kaleb said, his body tensed as he removed his throwing daggers.

Alia nodded, similarly unsheathing her katana, "Oh goody."

The bushes trembled ominously. Alia and Kaleb waited.

Out of the bushes came,

"Allison!" Alia exclaimed, dropping her weapon in surprise. The blonde hadn't heard her though as she was currently whacking a brown haired boy in the head.

"Told you not to use the knife until we knew who it was, but nooooo…you had to show your throwing skills didn't you?" Allison raged, making Jason cringe. Kaleb chuckled quietly.

Jason grumbled, "I had to be prepared…" he trailed noticing Allison was glaring at him. Alia cleared her throat so that she could catch the young couple's attention, "Umm…as amusing as all this sounds, I think we need to skip this."

Allison and Jason blushed.

Allison (still blushing) changed the topic, "Right. Where were you'll heading exactly?"

Alia and Kaleb looked at each other and shrugged, "No clue. We weren't exactly expecting to be whisked away to the middle of nowhere," Kaleb said, his voice heavily sarcastic.

 Jason fingered his rat braid, "We're heading towards Gailen."

Alia's mouth open, "Are you crazy?!"

"Of course," Allison answered sweetly.

Alia shut her mouth, "Forget I said I said that."

"Will do." Allison turned back to Jason and Kaleb, "That's the only way for now. We can try and get a map from there."

The boys nodded. Allison pushed her sandy blonde hair from over her face, "We should hurry."

She didn't need to finish that sentence. They knew that now.

Time is valuable. Never abuse that priviledge.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kai pushed the branches away from his face. He was trying to hone his powers on seeking human body heat. He was getting close. He knew it.

Tyson, please be okay…

He didn't want to think of what Tala could have done to Tyson. Tyson was his…

And no way is he going to fork him over to a pointy haired red head.

Tyson…

His almond garnet eyes glowed for a minute. He could feel the residual traces of human warmth. It was getting stronger. Kai unsheathed his scimitar.

Tala was going to pay for messing with what was his.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tala trailed his hand down Tyson's cheek. The boy was sleeping, being exhausted from struggling with Tala last night and coming all the way here. Tala let his arm travel down Tyson's arm to his sides. The unconscious boy shivered. Tala so badly wanted him to wake up. To show him those wide bottomless starry pools of storm and midnight.

 Those eyes which were a living reminder of his dead mother.

Tyson sighed softly in his sleep, making Tala smile softly. Tyson was so innocent…

All Kai would do is taint that innocence. The thought of Kai made Tala clench his fists.

Kai took everything away.

But Kai isn't getting Tyson back. Not without a fight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dragoon stared out of the window. He could see the recruits suiting up. They needed no real weapons, just their powers. They were wearing dragon scale uniforms, a sign of the Brethren.

"Dragoon."

"Uncle Myros. What a pleasure," Dragoon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Myros regarded Dragoon coolly, "You're upset."

Dragoon's temper flared, "Oh, and why do you think that? How could you?!"

Myros said nothing at first. Then, "I did it for you."

Dragoon snapped at him, "And you didn't ask once what I wanted. My best friend is going to war and you're keeping me back!"

"Do you have a death wish? You know you will die."

"At least I won't be the only one."

Myros pursed his lips in annoyance, "I can't understand you. You'd think it would be better if you didn't go. But you want to go to war!"

"Because I must. We need everyone on this."

"My decision stands. You are NOT going!"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Dragoon left, leaving Myros to stare out at the window.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alia and Allison couldn't stop bickering all the way to Gailen. The boys just sweatdropped.

"So, when we reach Gailen, then what?" Kaleb asked as that thought struck him. Suddenly, Allison and Jason turned their faces guilty. Alia caught on.

"You mean…you don't know!" She said shocked.

Allison glared at her, "Well, I don't see you offering ideas."

Alia would have decapitated her than and there if Kaleb hadn't held her back.

"Alia!" He hissed, "Don't be stupid and control your temper."

She turned to snap at him, but she calmed down. Kaleb was right; there was no reason to get so hyped up. Plus, she had to save her energy if she was going to pound Calyph to the ground.

"Fine," Alia said gritting her teeth, "What do you suggest we do when we get there?"

Allison pursed her lips. Kaleb remained thoughtful, "Wait…what if Tyson is at Gailen?"

Allison remained blank, "Tyson?"

Kaleb, "He's a Brethren. He could defend us if we get caught by the Brethren!!"

Alia was doubtful, "That could work. Bu how much influence does Tyson have on the Brethren? After all, the Mythicals are the highest authority, not us."

Kaleb cut in before Allison could open her mouth, "We really don't have a choice. We have nowhere to go and I don't know how long we can last in the open. With our powers. Am I the only one who noticed that the weather is getting…worse? The Sun bears the kind of heat you'd find in a desert and the nights are darker and colder than before."

Jason murmured, "Yes I know. It's as if the world is punishing us."

Allison was puzzled, "Punishing us for what?" She queried, "We didn't do anything!!"

Alia understood, "It's because we were supposed to have peace. That's why we went to Speres in the first place. But, we didn't. Calyph destroyed that." The tears were coming, "Calyph destroyed the chance of ending this goddamn fight!!!"

Kaleb placed a reassuring and on her shoulder and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

Alia wiped the tears from her amethyst eyes, her face hardening.

The next time she met Calyph, she was driving him into the ground like a nail.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tyson groaned as Tala ran his hands through his sides. It was a soft tinkling sound and Tala's ears rang with it.

Suddenly, his ears perked up. There was someone here.

Kai.

Tala slowly got, not wanting to disturb Tyson. He kissed Tyson softly on the forehead and then took out his battle axe.

Well, somebody has to greet Kai.

Kai crept into the cave, his scimitar drawn. The body heat was strongest here. And the smell of frost.

Tala.

There, he was standing in all his glory with a battle axe out. Kai growled murderously. Tala just smiled.

"I knew you were coming."

"Good for you."

Kai lunged at him, his scimitar at an angle. He then swung it as the scimitar gracefully curved into an arc heading towards Tala. Tala blocked it with his axe and took a couple of steps back.

Tala then raised his axe and slammed it onto the ground. Kai twisted from his previous position, millimeters from Tala's axe.

Tala's sky blue eyes flashed. Kai felt his legs freeze. Surrounding his feet, were twin walls of ice. Tala rushed towards him, the axe raised for a second try. But he underestimated Kai.

Kai's garnet eyes burned and a pillar fire erupted in front on them, halting Tala's attack. Then, he melted the ice and swung his scimitar at Tala's feet. Tala somersaulted, dodging the blow. Then, in the air, he let out a haze of mist.

Kai whirled. The mist blocked his senses of sight. He was blind here.

And Tala was not.

"Leave Kai."

"No. Not without Tyson."

"He's mine now."

Kai growled, "No. He was never yours." He tried to gather his power. The mist filtered his senses. He struggled. Stay together Kai! He said to himself silently.

"You'll only hurt him."

"You think taking him away from me isn't hurting him? In the name of Sora Tala, he loves me!"

"No. I won't let him."

"Tala. If you truly love him, let him go."

"NO! I want him to be happy with me!!" Tala let out an anguished howl.

"Tala!"

"No! He stays! I lost mother. I refused to lose another person close to me!"

Kai closed his eyes. Focus on the body heat…His hands glowed like embers on a dying fire.

Tala spoke again, "You have people who care about you. I have…no one."

"What about Alia?" Kai asked, still focusing on the body heat. The mist was dampening, making it harder for Kai to find him. But he didn't have much time!

There was silence after Kai's answer. Tala answered heavily, "She left me."

"She's always been by your side!"

"No. She left me for that Fire-Born. You took everything Kai! Everything! Your kind has been the root of all my problems!"

Got it!

Tala raised his axe, "This ends Kai."

He didn't see the scimitar whistling through the wind. He didn't see Kai fling his scimitar at his chest. He didn't see the scimitar burrowing itself in his chest. He didn't see Kai walk out of the mist, his eyes dark.

The blood was flowing. It was so beautiful.

"Alia…"
The axe fell.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Somewhere in the darkness, Alia woke up, her sweat drenching her face. And she knew.

And she cried for something that was beyond her control. She thought she could save him…

But she only helped him fall harder.

She wept, her salty tears falling to Earth.

Tala…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kai drew his blade from Tala's body and wiped it.

"You're right Tala. It has ended. For both of us."

And he went to look for Tyson, leaving behind the fallen axe.

ME: *wails* I killed Heidi!!!

Kai: Yay!!!!

CS: I'm under the impression you don't like Tala, Kai.

Kai: Whatever gave you *that* idea?

CS: The way you're been shooting darts onto Tala's picture.

Kai: Oh.

ME: *sniffs* Poor Heidi…

Tala: Why can't you call me Tala?

CS: Heidi sounds better.

ME: Plus, I think Tala is a girlier name than Heidi.

Tala: *groans*

ME: Reviewers receive—

CS: Tala battle axes!!!

ME: Can be used for torturing muses and little siblings!!!

CS: *swings her axe* Review!!!