Chapter One

Scream Team

"Kai, let's go! We have a tournament to attend. Right guys?"

"Right, Ray. Don't be such a slow-poke, Kai! We wanna make a good impression." Tyson grinned at the team captain. Kaiaden Hiwatari, or Kai Flamewing, was the coldest Beyblader in Japan. Which was exactly how everyone liked him. Normally, anyway. But did he have to be so slow!?

"Yeah, whatever." Kai got up and walked into the stadium, momentarily surprised at the large crowd. In America, everyone's favorite Beyblading team was the Holidays, which was actually an organization with different teams to ensure at least a semi-finalist in all matches. The Blade Breakers were going up against Team Halloween. The Chief, the Breakers' strategist, was pretty sure all the matches would be draws. Kai wasn't too happy about that, and neither were the others.

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Flashback

Their team is pretty strong. I'm not sure they're even actually beatable. If they pair this right, or wrong as it were, all our matches are most likely going to be draws." Kenny said. "Their team is extremely good, and every member of their team has a bit beast. Most of them are humanoid, and those are some of the strongest types."

"Uh," Tyson began, "what's a draw?"

"A tie. Neither of us will win. Now, some pointers. Don't go easy on some of those Bladers jut because they're little kids. They-"

"How little?" Ray asked curiously. Kenny replied, "The youngest is five, but she's pretty good. Those kids kick ass just as hard as we do. Ray, you'd better look out for three Bladers specifically. Joanna Ascaria, Wendy West, and Bindi Shado. Joanna's young, but she's tough, believe me. Max, you look out for those three, as well as Julian Savage and Winter Wolfe. Tyson, you look out for all of them, because they know how to get around Dragoon."

"Are you serious? But Chief, how is that possible?"

"That's what I haven't quite figured out yet, and I'm still working on it. Kai, watch out for Winter Wolfe, and the team captain, Midnight Vaperio."

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"Okay!" The announcer guy cried out. "First up, it's the high-flying Kai Kaido versus the legendary Vampiric Blader, Midnight Vaperio!"

"Well, Jim, it looks like Miss Midnight has her work cut out for her, with Kai's bit beast Draanzer and its Flaming Arrow attack."

"But don't count out the girl ghoul yet, Brad, because Midnight's pulling her weight with her bit beast Dunpeal and its Blooded Fang Strike. That Midnight is one ferocious Blader, and her bit beast is pretty vicious, too."

"You said it Jim. I heard she once drained the power from her opponent's blade the way a Vampire drains blood. And a quirk of hers is that her beast actually ha a name. It's supposed to be a half Vampire, half human bit creature."

"It looks like Kai can handle himself okay, though. Let's get on with the match. Bladers, assume position."

"3-2-1… let it riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippppp!" Kai's cobalt blade flew into the ring at the same time as Midnight's jet and crimson one glided inside. All the boys were puzzled, and more than a little disturbed, by Midnight, her launcher, and even her Beyblade.

Midnight wore a crimped burgundy skirt down to her knees, a pair of black tights and black shoes with red roses on them. Her shirt was a red silk tank, with a black velvet jacket. Her hair swept over slightly pointed ears with delicate tips and a high, pale forehead with perfect, crow-black brows. Her lips were red as blood, hair like coal, and her face as white as the snow.

Her launcher was actually an ornate Carpathian dagger, with a black leather hilt and a wicked looking hematite blade, sharpened to a razor point.

Her Beyblade was unique, black as a moonless and starless night, with a pair of red drops of blood that looked very real. The defense ring was blood red and had a spike collar attached. A pair of full, blood-red lips had been painted on the top, with glistening white fangs dipped in blood. Her bit piece was glowing ebony and scarlet, like the demonic flames of Hell.

"Hey, Kai, you aren't too bad! I'm actually enjoying myself. But, how about moving it up a notch!" Midnight pushed her hair out of her piercing blue eyes. Kai smiled slightly, knowing she was up to the challenge.

"Draanzer, Flaming Arrow attack!"

"Stauss, my Vampire love, Blooded Fang Strike!" A whirlpool of blood shot out of the Beyblade and swirled overhead, forming a giant cobra. The blood slowly turned from ruby red to black, the black leaching away the color as Draanzer's color began to fade, its energy fading along with it.

"What's going on, Chief?" Tyson cried out. Who did this girl think she was, using a freaky Goth Beyblade to ruin their team?

"Don't worry, Tyson. Kai knows what he's doing. Midnight thinks she's got him right where she wants him, but Kai can take care of himself. Ray, I want you to look out in this upcoming round. You're going up against Bindi Shado, and she's an excellent Blader. Her Beyblade is powered by the shadows, and grows stronger the more light you shine on it, so watch out. Her Beyblade also can withstand Drigger's attack, because her bit beast makes it seem like her blade's actually made of shadows. You hafta find a weakness." Kenny looked earnestly up at Ray. The older boy smiled at the young Beyblading genius.

"No problem, Kenny." Ray said. "But, what about Kai?"

"Don't worry about Kai. Midnight's blade is weak against fire. He can handle it." As Kenny was saying this, Kai was thinking, going through his list of attacks.

"Draanzer, Mystic Fire Quicksand attack!" A blinding flash of light, in which the only thing heard was "Stauss, Victorian Silver Bite!" When the smoke cleared, and everyone quit seeing stars, both blades were lying on the floor outside the dish. Kai was standing, gazing across the game dish.

"What is he staring at?" Max asked quietly. Ray pointed.

"Whoa, look at Midnight!" Tyson cried. The young Blader was lying on her back, chest heaving, skin paler than paper. Kai jumped across the dish, kneeling beside her.

"Hey. Hey, are you alright?" She didn't look bad, just like she was out of breath. She shook her head, gasping, eyelashes fluttering.

"I'm great, I guess. Just need more iron in my blood. Light has this weird effect on me when it's a great mass like that. Sorry if I freaked you out." Kai helped her to sit up, and suddenly felt her stiffen. When he touched her arm, he felt a shock of electricity pass to her skin from his fingertips. There was a sense of déjà vu, of recognition. It was most disorienting. Midnight heard a voice in her mind cry out, Hey! Don't I know you?!

Her eyes locked on his, and he heard a voice in his head breathe softly, Auramdas? Her breathing slowed down, while his breathing quickened. The teenage boy stared at her, unable to look away. Again, the word resounded in his head, more certain this time: Auramdas. He didn't know what the word meant, but hearing it left him breathless and aching, hot and hard, and he nearly moaned. Auramdas. Again it came, echoing inside his skull, this time seductive, sinful, deliciously wicked, a sultry whisper, an invitation for long, hot nights tangled in black silk sheets, tasting her sweet kisses... he shook his head. What the fuck? He gazed at her, drinking in the sight of her, unsure of what was going on between them. He tried to put the word in her head.

Auramdas?

Loshan, nim Auramdas. (Yes, my Auramdas) This was almost a decree, a demand. His body grew harder.

Say it out loud. Please? Midnight's full, lush, succulent lips parted, and he could see the tips of her fangs (fangs?) and her tongue as she breathed in a sensual whisper, "Auramdas."

Kai almost died. A wave of pleasure washed through him as she murmured again, "Auramdas." He didn't know the word, didn't recognize the language, but at the sound of her voice saying that one word, his blood began to sing in his veins and golden heat pooled low in his body. His stomach clenched in unexplainable anticipation as he looked into Midnight's eyes. "Now you."

"Auramdas." Midnight's golden eyes closed slowly and dreamily, as if savoring a wonderful aroma or the taste of a sweet, rare wine. She smiled, looking thoroughly content and satisfied, as if she'd just had a round or three of awesome, sweaty, passionate sex. Kai shook himself and almost yelped, "Oh, here are your team mates. Come on!" Kai helped her to stand, but was reluctant to let her go.

'She still looks a bit wobbly." Kai thought. But a tall girl with pale skin and a few pale scars on her face helped Midnight away, and a younger girl dressed in a pretty white frock smiled up at him and whispered, "Thank you." Kai just nodded. He did not need anyone's thanks. He helped her because she needed help.

'I helped her because I wanted to.' Kai thought to himself. 'Whoa! Where the hell did that come from?! And what the fuck was that feeling? And the deal with that word?'

"Good game, Midnight! Hope to battle you again." He whispered softly. He liked her, this supposed Vampire Beyblading girl. She was worthy to battle, and worthy to call friend. He was glad of that. And then, there was that strange attraction. Walking over to the other Blade Breakers, they peppered him with questions.

"What happened?" Max inquired.

"Did she faint?" Kenny asked.

"Is she tough?" Ray asked.

"Is she pretty?"

"Is she a skilled Blader?" Max asked.

"Is she pretty?" That was Tyson. Again. Kai had to answer him.

"No, she didn't faint, she physically collapsed while still conscious. She's allergic to intense light. She is tough, but not so tough that I can't beat her. She's a very skilled, very talented Beyblader, yes."

"You didn't say if she was pretty, though. And why do you look like the proverbial walking hard-on?" Tyson snickered.

"Oh, grow up, Tyson! But, did she call her Bit Beast 'Stauss?' I thought it was called Dunpeal." Ray interjected curiously.

"It is." Midnight's voice rang out. Kai's pulse quickened, his blood heated. "But to call him that would be like saying, 'Hey, human!' It would be pretty rude. So, he helped me pick out a name: Sergio Stanilauss. He picked it, not me. And, as for Kai thinking I'm pretty, I like to think I am, but I may be just a tad bit conceited." Midnight smiled, revealing oddly pointed teeth that shone like glimmering pearls.

"Ah, Miss Vaperio! So good to see you again!" A warm voice cried jovially. Kai noticed Midnight stiffen. Ray could smell her fear. She looked like a deer caught in someone's headlights. Her eyes were wide, and they suddenly looked bright gold. When Kai blinked, they were back to being blue.

"Hello, Vlad. I'm slightly surprised to see you." Midnight murmured. The brunette man that came to stand beside her simply smiled.

"I'm slightly surprised to see you, as well, Midnight. I thought I told you to let Winter handle this match."

"Winter wasn't skilled enough to Beyblade against Kai. I am. So I did."

"But you lost."

"The match has been rescheduled, Vlad. I didn't lose. I've never lost, and you know it. So stop getting so whiny. I refuse to stay home while my team battles against another, especially one so strong and highly skilled as the Blade Breakers." Her voice had taken on a chilling edge, like a frigid blade of ice. Vlad grinned at her, and merely said, "Ah, but, who are your friends?" Kai and Ray caught the girl's annoyed look before she banished it from her countenance.

"These are the Blade Breakers. This is Maxwell, Kenneth, Raymond, Tyson, and Kai." She turned a pleading gaze on each of them. Something wasn't right, Kai suddenly thought. Something strange was going on between this girl, his Auramdas, and this strange, new man. Something in Kai's deepest soul raged, roaring in anger, Rival! Rival! Rival! Viranoshimik!

Then a tiny little voice in his head asked, What does that mean?

"You know it's improper to spend too much time alone with a bunch of boys you hardly know, Midnight." Anger flashed in her eyes as they turned a hard yellow. She had had enough of this condescension and disdain.

"We're not alone, we're well within sight of the crowd. Even if we weren't, who cares what the press says? I am the Captain of this team, not you, Vlad!" Midnight looked triumphant for a brief second, and then horror and chagrin snatched the look from her face. Her eyes turned a pale gray. What on Earth had she been thinking? Vlad simply stared, anger in his eyes and a cold, cruel smile on his lips.

"I'll quote you on that. Don't spend too much time with these… boys, darling, or people might start to talk."

"I can take care of myself, boyo!" she whispered fiercely.

"Tiger, tiger burning bright in the forest of the night. No mortal hand nor mortal eye can tame your fearful symmetry." He reached out to touch her, and she flinched, but he merely brushed a lock of hair from her cheek and left. Midnight nearly sagged with relief. She gave the boys an apologetic smile.

Kai stared at her mouth. At her perfect, Cupid's bow lips. They were red, lush and full, inviting… he desperately wanted to kiss her. He had to kiss her. If he wanted to live another ten minutes he had to kiss her. He had every right to kiss her, she was his Auramdas. Wait, his what? A voice in his mind whispered huskily, Loshan, nim lani, ni shal nur'e Auramdas. (Yes, my love, I am your Auramdas.) The words in his head washed over him like a gentle caress, and the urge to kiss Midnight intensified, throbbing in his head, in his teeth, in his heart, and between his legs. Kiss her have to kiss her dominate make her submit kiss her seduce her make her… his thoughts shifted into a strange, smooth language that wasn't English. Heneshar, yes, loshan, make her sirmishar, make her burn, heneshar, tharish, make her beg for it…. (hunger…yes, yes… make her submit, make her burn, hunger, thirst, make her beg for it….)

His thoughts raged at him. Then, sweet and cool as fresh spring water, a voice whispered, kiss her later. Kai relaxed, though not visibly. He could wait. 'Wait a sec! I shouldn't have to wait. I shouldn't want to kiss her in the first place.' With a curt nod in everyone's general direction, Kai swiftly exited the stadium. Because of Midnight's collapse, the match had been postponed until further notice. Seeing as it was fall, and hurricane season, that might be a while. That was good. Kai had some profiling to do.

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