Disclaimer: Nope ...
Note: Second half is rewritten and expanded. So it's best to be reread too.
As the Ice Breaks.
Part 22: Match 2: Wicked Winds.
"Bold." – Commentary by AJ and Brad.
"Yesterday's whale of a match ended with young Max going home the loser."
"The Demolition Boys totally dominated the first session of the World Championships here in Russia, Brad."
"You can say that again, AJ. The Bladebreakers are officially up a creek without a paddle in this tournament."
"What will they do? Second match sees Tyson going up against Bryan of the Demo Boys, and if anyone can pull a win out off the dish, Brad, it's Tyson."
o-o
The Bladebreakers stayed in their locker room, awaiting the start of the second session.
"You sure you're up to this, Rei?" Tyson clasped a hand on Rei's shoulder, "there's still time to –"
"I am, Tyson. You just worry about Tala, and let me handle this. I'll win one back for us."
Tyson grinned. "For sure, Rei man."
"Be careful, Rei," Kai walked up to him, "Bryan is not one guys you want to get into trouble with. It doesn't help that he's been extra irritable lately." He added after remembering Tala's words.
"But why me? Why not Tyson or someone else?" Rei looked confused. "I've never even met him before."
"Maybe he's just jealous of you hair." Max grinned.
"Or ... of your lovely tan." Tyson added while glancing at Rei with a mock smitten look.
"Or it could be the fact that him being a colorless vampire and you're the one with the fangs." Max laughed, followed soon by the others.
Kai just shook his head. If they only knew, he thought.
"We should get out there," Tyson ran to the door, "wouldn't want to keep the adoring fans waiting." He grinned and disappeared from sight.
"Hey, Tyson, wait up!" Max chased after him, and Kenny followed suit.
"You're not coming, Rei?" Kai asked after noticing that Rei still hadn't moved from his seat.
"In just a minute. I have to ... think something over." Rei smiled at him.
Kai just nodded his head and walked out.
As the door clicked shut, Rei closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and held his hand firmly against his clammy skin. Why do I feel like I'm getting a fever? Maybe this is fates way of telling me not to go on with the fight. He mentally smirked. Unfortunately for them, a little virus isn't going to stop me ... I'll win one back for my team ...whether they like it or not. He stood up from the bench and walked over to the door, ready to follow his teammates to the stadium. I'll make them proud.
As he left the room, he recalled the events that had happened prior to the second session.
== Flashback ==
"You can't go though with the match, Rei," Mariah pleaded with him, "you're still not well. And the doctor specifically said –"
"I know what the doctor said, Mariah," he sighed, "but I can't pull out now. He challenged me ... and to back down now would mean that I –"
"- Care for your own health." Lee cut him off. "I'm sorry, Rei, but I must agree with Mariah. Entering this match in your current state could be very bad for your health." He shook his head.
"Don't treat me like a sick puppy, please. For one thing ... I'm not a puppy, and another thing, I'm old enough to know what's good and not good for myself." Rei seemed to be getting uncharacteristically irritated by his friends' doubts of his capabilities.
"Rei –"
"No, Mariah," he said exasperatedly, "there comes a time in someone's life, when they're given a chance to show their worth ...this is my chance, Mariah ...it could possibly be my only chance, and I can't – won't pass it up."
"But Rei. The future still holds –"
"That's enough." Lee quieted her.
"I think Rei should go ahead with the match." Johnny said a loud to Enrique and Kevin.
"Yeah ...I mean ...how bad can it really get?" Enrique laughed.
"Relax, Pinky," Kevin said to Mariah, "Rei's a big boy, and he can take care of himself."
"Shut up, Kevin!"
"Mariah," Rei looked at her, "I will take care of myself." He smiled and cupped her cheek in his hand, "you remember the promise we made, back at the village?"
She sniffled and nodded her head. "We'll always have each other."
"Well ...I have not intention to break that promise anytime soon." He smiled.
Mariah wiped the tears glistening in the corner of her eyes. "Oh, Rei ...please be careful."
"You know I will."
Mariah returned his smile. They stood, looking at each other for a few minutes, when a cough interrupted the moment. They turned to the teasing faces of the others.
"Oh, Rei," Kevin said in a high, squeaky voice and hugged Johnny tightly around the neck, "I remember the promise, Rei ...now we can gaze lovingly into each other's eyes, and if we're lucky, everyone will turn their backs so that you may kiss the pink out of my hair, then," he twirled a finger in his pony tail and gave Johnny a loving look, "...you might even get lucky tonight." Kevin laughed and dodged a lamp that way aimed at his head.
"Come back here, Kevin!" Mariah chased him around the room and out the door, leaving the others sweatdropping behind her.
"So ...Rei ..." Tyson raised an eyebrow, a sinister look on his face.
"Shut up, Tyson." Rei rolled his eyes and walked out, leaving Tyson and the others before they could come up with smart comments about his moment.
== End Flashback ==
I'll win this for you, Mariah ... for the guys ... and ... he smiled, remembering the conversation he had with him the night before ... Mr. Dickinson.
== Flashback ==
"Are you sure you're going through with your decision, Rei?" Mr. Dickinson took a seat next to Rei. He had been searching for the boy in question for nearly an hour after he had left the others, and had found him sitting outside, on the side of the frozen lake.
"I've already been through this, Mr. D. I'm ready. I will compete in the match tomorrow, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop me." He said firmly.
Mr. Dickinson sighed in defeat. "I don't want to be the enemy here, Rei. Believe me, I have full confidence in your capabilities ...it's just the untrustworthiness of the Demolition Boys that I worry about."
"Max got through his match unscathed ...so ...they can't be as bad as people make them out to be. I mean ...when it comes down to everything, they're just human ...like us."
Mr. Dickinson smiled at the wisdom of his young charge. "That is true what you say, Rei ...but to be truthful ..." he looked straight at Rei, "I also fear the wrath of Dr. Olga when she finds out that I allowed you to enter a dangerous match."
Rei laughed at the anxious look on his face.
"But seriously, Rei ...what is the real reason behind your firm decision to compete tomorrow?"
"To help the team get a better footing in the competition ..." he answer didn't quite convince Mr. Dickinson.
"I know there is another reason behind it, Rei ...I just want to help you, please don't lie to me." Mr. Dickinson looked directly at him, as if trying to read his thoughts.
"I ..." he looked away sadly, "I just ...want to prove myself ..."
"I'm sure everyone believes in your power when you battle."
"That's just the problem, Mr. Dickinson ... 'I' don't!"
"What do you mean?" he looked puzzled at the raven-haired blader.
"I mean ...I don't know why I'm in Russia ...I don't know why I'm even in the Bladebreakers in the first place. It's like ...I have no reason to even be here. I need to battle Bryan tomorrow, so that I know that I have a reason to be in this tournament." He pulled his knees up to his chest and looked away from Mr. Dickinson.
"What makes you say that, Rei?" the manager seemed to be speechless at thoughts running through his mind. "Don't ever say anything like that," he gaped at Rei's back. "You have as much reason to be here as the rest of the team. All of you have fought hard against competitors. You deserve to be here."
"'They' deserve to be here, not me! I lost to Steve right after getting an upgrade on my blade, what does that say about my own abilities?"
"Rei –"
"No, Mr. Dickinson!" he silenced the elderly man, "Tyson's dad is an archeologist who works for you. He helped uncover the secrets of bit-beasts that are important for the BBA. Tyson deserves to be here because he is a talented blader and you probably already know about him from his dad. Kai is the grandson of Voltaire; he knows things about the Abbey and is probably one of the best bladers in the world. Max ...you know his dad too. He owns a Beyblade shop, and is valuable when it comes to fixing and upgrading blades. Even Kenny, who knows more about Beyblades than our entire team combined," he stared at the lake, sadness shinning clearly in his eyes, "and what about me? What part do I play in all this?"
"Rei ..." he shook his head sadly, "is this what's been bothering you?"
He nodded his head, still avoiding eye contact with Mr. Dickinson.
"Oh, Rei ...it's true that I've known Bruce for a long time. I also knew that he had a son, but the first time I've ever met him was at Max's father's shop. The senior Tate used to be a known blader back in his days and I was his manager. Max did take up after his father, blading skill wise. Kai ...I've known him since he was a young boy. He's like a grandson to me; it's nothing to do with his grandfather or his past. And Kenny ...he was a kid I met along with Tyson, and thought his intelligence would come in handy," he took a deep breath. He reached a hand over and turned Rei to face at him. "And you ...Rei ..." he smiled, "since that day I saw you blading at the park in Hong Kong ...I knew I had to have you on my team. The skill and poise you possess when you battle is what had drawn me to you."
"Really?" he had tears glistening in his eyes.
"Would I lie about things like that?"
"I guess not," he smiled and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, "thank you, Mr. Dickinson."
"You can thank me by coming back in one piece tomorrow." He smiled back at Rei, who just nodded his head.
"I will, Mr. D. And I'll take a win back with me."
"Good," Mr. Dickinson patted him on the thigh and stood up to go inside, "you're not coming?"
"I'll be just a minute."
"Not too long, Rei. We don't want you to catch a cold." He laughed.
== End Flashback ==
Maybe I should have listened to him. He thought ironically.
o-o
"Are the machines set up?" Boris paced the floor of the basement that was located exactly below the stadium.
"Almost, sir. It'll be ready in time of the start of the session."
"It had better." Boris glared at the man. Soon, Kai ... you will pay ... then, I'll punish that traitorous little lover of yours. Nobody makes a fool out of me. Nobody! Rage burned brightly in his eyes.
o-o
"This is it, ladies and gentlemen, the second session of the World Championships! If you didn't tune in to yesterdays soaking first session, it ended with Spencer of the Demolition Boys coming out the victor. What will be the conclusion of the second session? Will the Demolition Boys take in a second straight win? Or will the Bladebreakers pull a rabbit out of their hat, and win the second session? Why am I asking you all these questions? So without further ado ... start the second session!"
"This is it. Good luck, Rei."
"Thanks, guys." Rei smiled at them.
"Rei ..." Kai walked up behind him, "I'll remind you to be careful of Bryan. He has a falcon bit-beast that can manipulate the air around you ... so be extra vigilant."
"I will, Kai." Rei nodded his head. His attention turned towards the opposing team, and scanned through them, looking for someone, but turned back when he heard DJ Jazzman's voice.
"So ... representing the, yet undefeated Demolition Boys, the ferocious and unpredictable ... Bryan!"
The crowd cheered loudly at the mention of the lilac haired blader. Bryan stepped up to the dish, his eyes never leaving Rei.
"And representing the, previously undefeated Bladebreakers ... Tyson – huh?" Jazzman looked confused for a moment.
"Speechless Jazzman. That's not something you see everyday."
"Right-o, Brad. I wonder what's the big hold up."
"I have just gotten word that Tyson has stepped down from this match. Blading in his stead will be ... Rei!"
The crowd gave another round of cheers as Rei stepped up to face Bryan.
"Glad you could make it, Kitten." The side of Bryan's mouth curled into a smirk.
"I never turn down a good challenge," it was Rei's turn to smirk, "Whitey."
At his words, Bryans smirk dropped, and he glared heatedly at Rei.
Back in the Demolition Boys' stand, Tala dropped his head into his hand while the other two just snickered.
"I thought Kai would have warned his teammate about not making fun of Bryan's inability to tan." Ian snickered and glanced at Tala. "So ... how long do you give him, Tal?"
"I'll say ... ten minutes." Spencer crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the match.
"That much?" he took out a piece of paper and scribbled something one it, "I'll give him five. What about you, Tal? Care to join in the festivities?"
"I'll say ... three rounds."
Ian's eyes grew round. "You're kidding right? Bryan's gonna tear him apart."
"I wouldn't brush him off just yet. Kai speaks very highly of him, so he must have something." Tala surveyed the two contestants eyeing each other while waiting to find out the dish they would be battling in.
"Both the contestants must be twisting where the stand in anticipation. So, let's not keep them waiting any longer," he pointed to the dish, "now let us present you the stage of the second session. And let me tell you, this custom made dish will make your head spin!"
"Cheeky announcer guy."
"Our two contestants will be battling in the RPM. This is one dish, AJ, which has a nasty little secret. We'll let the man do the demonstration."
Suddenly, the floor opened to reveal a dish that had a smaller dish built into the middle of it. As the crowd watched on in wonder, the smaller dish in the middle began to spin counter-clockwise.
"RPM is in Revolutions Per Minute."
"A demonstration." DJ Jazzman jumped off the balcony he was standing on and launched a beyblade into the said dish. The beyblade stayed in the middle dish for a few seconds before whizzing out of control. It slammed into the side near Rei's corner and shattering into small pieces.
"Whoa!" The crowd gasped.
Rei snapped him self out of his thoughts after watching the destructive force of the dish. A dish in a dish is a dish. So what if this one spins? Focus on the task at hand. He turned his attention to the smirking face of Bryans'.
"Is that a smile we see?"
"He likes the dish. Let us just hope that Rei still has one of his nine lives before the end of this match."
"Blades at the ready," Jazzman raised his arms high, "three ... two ... one ... let it rip!!"
Both bladers shot they beyblades with as much force as they could muster. Bryan's blade, thought, took a different route from Rei's and ended up hitting the side of the dish, chipping off a part of concrete. The broken off piece of debris fell into the smaller dish, and without warning, shot towards Rei, slamming hard into his gut.
"Oof!" the sheer power of the debris knocked the wind out of Rei, bringing him down to his knees, much to the protesting of his teammates and friends. He glared at the smirking face of Bryans'. "Cheap shot."
His smirk grew. "That was just my way of saying hi. There's much more where that came from, Kitten. And before the end of this match, I'm gonna put you through the ringer."
"Says you ... I have no intention of rolling over and handing the win over to you so easily." Rei pulled himself up to his feet. "Driger!"
Both Falborg and Driger went head to head. They power almost equal.
Suddenly, Bryan smirked. "Falborg!"
Rei's eyes narrowed as he felt a cool breeze gathering around him. "Wha -?" he didn't have time to finish his sentence when he felt a sharp pain in his chest and felt his body being thrown backwards, landing as a heap at the bottom of the stairs; Driger dropping to the halt beside him soon after.
"First session victory goes to ... Bryan!"
"Rei!" The Bladebreakers ran towards their fallen friend.
"I don't want to base the entire result of the tournament on the first match, AJ, but the way things are going, I'd say we'll have an instant replay of yesterday's match."
"Oh no." Up in the seats, the other teams gasped in disbelief.
"What the hell happened?" Johnny stood up abruptly.
"Rei was tossed out of the ring like a rag doll." Kevin also stood next to Johnny.
"Bryan's attack ..." Judy surveyed the fallen Rei intently then looked towards Bryan's retreating form, "turns moving air into a weapon!"
"How?!"
"I don't know ..."
o-o
"... It is possible, if you train your bit-beast to attack the opponent's blade as well as the opponent himself." Kai had his arms crossed over his chest.
"But why would he do that? Why would anyone want to do that?" Max looked at Kai with his blue eyes.
"Because the Demolition Boys are ruthless bladers –"
"- And they also have Boris as the team manager." Rei continued for Kai.
Kai studied Rei intently, having understood the hidden meaning behind his words. His eyes widened when he saw Rei rub the back of his neck while his eyes still staying on Kai.
Rei shook his head when Kai broke eye contact and unconsciously pulled up his scarf.
"Don't let it get you down too much, Rei."
"But –"
"Clearly Bryan is superior to you in battle the of strength," they turned to Kai, "but that's why you have to concentrate more on your strategy and wit. You have to outsmart him." Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, unnoticed by the others, but Rei noticed.
He motioned zipping up his mouth, indicating that he wouldn't tell anyone, and Kai returned the gesture with a nod. "Thanks, Kai." He smiled.
Kai just 'humphed' and returned to his position near the wall.
Tyson looked back and forth between Rei and Kai, and decided to break the silence. "Now lets get out there and kick some Demolition ass!!" he held his hand out.
"Yeah!!" Max covered Tyson's hand with his, as did Kenny. Rei laughed and joined in. And last but not least, to the surprise of the others, Kai did the same.
"The Demolition Boys are going down!"
The five of them walked out of the locker room, to the second, and one would say, deciding match of the day. If they lost this match, it would also mean the end of their run in the tournament.
As they walked out, Tyson pulled back behind them. He looked towards the door they had left and remembered a certain dyed redhead that had burst through the very same door just the day before.
"Sacha ..." he thought, "what the hell happened?"
== Flashback ==
The four teams and their managers were sitting at the table, the silence of dinner only broken by Tyson scorfing down his third serving. A sudden knock at the door caught their attention and Bruce stood up to go answer it.
The teams all were guessing who would be visiting them so late in the night, but when they heard a frantic voice of a woman's they all went to the hallways to find out the problem. Mr. Dickinson, Judy and Mr. Tate stopped them in their tracks.
"I wonder what all the fuss is about?" Tyson raised an eyebrow and proceeded to press his ear against the door, trying to hear what was being said inside the room. His curiosity, however, wasn't long lasted. The door suddenly swung open, and Tyson unprepared, fell forwards onto his knees, much to the amusements of the others.
"Tyson ..." Mr. Dickinson looked at him gravely, "there's someone here to see you." He motioned to an unfamiliar looking woman standing in the middle of the hallways, her right hand clutching firmly the other and sweat, beading down her face. Which was unusual, considering the below ten degrees temperature they were experiencing. He raised his eyebrows and walked sheepishly towards the woman, who was looking rather pale. "Umm ... hi?" he said, unsure.
"You're Tyson?" the woman voice quivered and she looked anxiously at Tyson.
"Yeah ..."
"My name is Oksana Vlasov."
Tyson looked at her, nodding his head, clearly confused as to this strange woman's visit.
"I heard about you from my son," her voice hitched a sob, "Sacha."
"Yeah ... the kid we ran into that day."
She looked desperately at him as she dropped to her knees and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Did you see him at the match this afternoon?"
Tyson, startled by her actions, gulped. "Yes. He came to our locker room after the second match, then left soon after, sobbing of happiness." He snickered at the thought.
"Oh god ..." she clasped her hands over her mouth; eyes watering with unshed tears.
"What's the matter? Did something happen to him?"
"It's all my fault," she sobbed, "if only I had gone with him ... its all my fault."
"What's wrong with him?" Tyson looked at Max, who shrugged.
"I had grounded him. He wasn't supposed to go to the tournament," she looked at Tyson, "he dyed his hair without my permission."
"I saw ... like Tala ..."
She nodded her head. "But he went anyway ... and he hasn't returned. My husband went to report to the police, but they said he could only be considered missing after twenty-four hours. I'm so worried. What is something happened? What if he's hurt?" she sobbed into her hands.
Bruce dropped to one knee and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll help you find him."
"Hmm ..."
"This isn't the time, Kevin." Mariah glared at him, but was completely ignored. Instead he turned to the woman, Oksana.
"The kid ... about my height, red-hair?"
"Yes!" she looked hopefully at him.
"I saw him ... he ran into me, which I might add, seems to be a hobby of people nowadays." He glared at Johnny.
"Kevin!" Mariah cried out exasperatedly.
"Oh, yeah. He was crying about something, didn't seem to notice me actually, typical."
"Then what happened?" Lee urged him to continue without getting off topic.
"Nothing much, but when I was looking for the toilet, which," he raised a finger to make a point, but a dozen glares made him drop his point making finger and continue with his story, "hn ... well ... yeah ... I saw him leave with a freaky looking dude with purple hair."
== End Flashback ==
Boris! Tyson's eyes narrowed.
End Chapter 22.
Okay, this chapter has passed inspection =D [[Rejoices]] I have a certain expectation of my chapters, and the previous chapter twenty-two just didn't cut it. I hope this one is better.
SyaoranLover: Tyson did know, they all knew, but like I said. Previous version just didn't cut it. Honestly ... I like Sacha too, and he started out so Tyson-like, and turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself.
Unigirl: Thanks for the nice comments. About the Kevin, Enrique, Johnny and Kenny thing, well ... they were trying to find out what Emily and Kenny did in the forest that night. But the both of them are too good for that ... or so we think [[winkwink]] Kai in V-Force ... let's just say that the make-up company sells a lot of foundation to him. You're really warm on that Sacha thing. So if you have any more questions, PM me.
Ellen: Don't worry, the second of the previous did stink XP Btw, I didn't know Voda mean's water. You learn something new everyday, ne?
MasterFranny: I do like some character torture =D Though Tala and Kai won't end up together, they're close friends ... very close ... but no Yaoi ... maybe some Shounen-Ai if I feel like it XD When are you going to send the chappie?
x-Shadow-x: You didn't think it sucked? That's odd. Hopefully you'll find this better =D [[Gets covered in confetti]] Thanks. And about that Blitzkreig Boys thing ... cool meaning, but weird name. It sounds like some side dish to be honest. [[takes out umbrella]] Watch with the icky and splattyness ... I just washed my hair ;D
Grandsummon: Edited it, and twenty-three will be out soon. I just got broadband [[celebrates]] Unlimited Internet access for just seventy-seven Malaysian dollars a month. I'm not sure about the Naruto thing, though. If you lived here, you could get them original Japanese version and subbed, like me XD I have it till episode eighty-seven-ish. [[pokes]] Update soon, ne? =P
CrimsonShadow: Don't worry, a little extra ideas never hurt anyone. I got a few good ideas by reviewers before, and I have decided to use them. You'll have to wait to see which one though XD
Kai-Lovr: As I progress with this story, I find myself liking Bryan more and more XD I like to make him cool, patient and has dry humour of possible. And yeah ... loves those TaKa moments too. There might be more in the future. Start crossing your fingers now.
Tomgirl27: Oprah is a talk show host. You know ... The Oprah Winfrey Show? and Dr. Phil is a psychologist of some sort.
Star-Fire: [[Winkwink]] XD
Darkest Winter: I won't say Tala's gay ... I'll just say ... he's prone to Yaoi-ness, but not too much in this fic.
Jirachi: I thought chapter sixteen conversation was pretty good too. I like the shounen-ai in this one. I've become a TaKa obsessor.
Over five hundred reviews!!
[[Dies]]
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