Dranzer sat by Kai's bed most of the previous night, even after Wyatt had come in from the celebration. From what he said Daichi had heard Takao telling him that he wanted Wyatt to join the Blade Breakers in his place.
She spent her time brushing the hair out of his eyes and simply watching him sleep, listening to him breathe. It was hard to explain, but Kai was her master, she felt she must protect him. And someone certainly wanted to hurt him. She could feel it. Something familiar but dangerous.
An hour or so after Wyatt had went to bed Dranzer left. She returned to the bed she shared with Hiromi. There was really no reason she couldn't go back to her blade now, but Kai hadn't told her to, and she didn't really want to herself.
The next day the semi-finals began. The matches would be the Blade Reapers versus the White Tigers and the Demolition Boys versus the Blade Breakers. They would begin at exactly noon.
Kai had waken up early as he always had. Quietly he leaned into Dranzer and Hiromi's room through the adjoining door. Dranzer was up, it seemed that she had been for at least an hour.
Dranzer looked up from the chair she was sitting in. It was Kai. She decided to join him.
Kai walked out of the hotel with Dranzer. She was in her bey blade again so that he could practice with her.
Soon he arrived at the place where the semi-finals would be held. He might as well start out in their stadiums for the practice. But when he entered he saw that he was not alone. A boy was there with his bey blade. Not just any boy though, the fifth member of the Blade reapers.
The boy looked up, noticing Kai he collected his bey blade and smirked.
Kai watched as he brushed past him, but then he stopped.
"Kai. Kai Hiwatari, right?" He spoke in a normal enough voice, but had the slightest accent. Something that Kai couldn't quite place. Kai nodded.
"That's right. And you?" Kai asked suspiciously, the boy still had his bey blade in his hands. It looked average enough. From what he had heard from his team the boy used a bit beast called 'Xoreon' a fire-wind combo bit beast. He had heard that it was a dragon.
The boy simply smirked back at him. "You'll know soon enough." He said mysteriously. "Good luck in the tournament." He said a bit too sweetly as he waved passing Kai. "You'll need it." He muttered as an afterthought. Kai had no idea what was coming at him.
Kai glared at the door where the boy had just left. He would blade him, and he would defeat him. Kai prepared himself, and let his blade go. Hard.
Later that day the first match was about to begin, It would be the Blade Reapers versus the White Tigers. The first match was the short boy of the Blade Reapers versus Kiki of the White Tigers.
"Alright! We're about to begin the first match of the day! Let it rip!" Brad Best yelled as Kiki and the blonde boy faced each other. The blonde boys name seemed to be Rinoka, and he bladed with a bit beast called 'Tsukeon' a dark bit beast. It seemed to cast a spell of darkness over the ring so it was impossible to tell exactly what it was.
Kai watched intently, though young, this Rinoka seemed to be very powerful. When the match was over and the darkness cleared, only Tsukeon was left spinning and Kiki looked terrified. Rei looked worried.
The White Tigers, to say the least, were shocked. The boy Rinoka had just demolished Kiki.
"Oh wow! Amazing!" Brad yelled as the next match was prepared. "Next we have a real 'cat-fight'!" Brad yelled as the bey stadium was cleared. "Mariah of the White Tigers and it seems Kisara from the Blade Reapers!
"Prepare yourself kitty." Kisara spat from across the ring, angering Mariah. She hated being called 'kitty.'
"You're goona eat those words when I'm through with you!" Mariah hissed back to her opponent.
"Go Galux!" She screamed as her jungle cat jumped out of her blade.
The girl Kisara with the green hair smirked and laughed, angering Mariah even more.
"Is that the best you have kitten? If it is, this'll be no sweat." Kisara replied in smirk as she called out her own bit beast.
"Go! Oreon!" She screamed as a bit beast that looked like a seal came out.
Mariah gasped as Kisara took control of the match. Kisara mouthed 'bye' as she let her final attack go.
Galux flew out of the ring right into Mariah's hand serving to knock her down.
"Mariah!" Rei yelled, he saw what Kisara was doing. He saw what Rinoka had done to his other friend Kiki. The Blade Reapers were going down.
"That's two wins for the Blade Reapers! According to semi-finals rules if the White Tigers lose the next match, the Blade Reapers win by default. And the next competitor is… Gary from the White Tigers and Saki of the Blade Reapers! Let's watch!" Brad yelled as the two largest members from both teams took their position.
"When I'm done with you… There'll be no need for a fourth match." Saki the large blonde said as he stood to blade.
The small boy with the dark complexion and the team leader had themselves propped against a wall. The leader Hikaru had his cloak back on. Though it was obvious both were smirking.
Kai watched on, then the boy with the dark complexion mouthed something to the larger boy Saki. Saki nodded his head and turned to smirk at Gary.
The match began and Gary took an immediate lead. Saki didn't seem pleased.
The boy with the dark hair frowned as he watched the match continue. Obviously it wasn't turning out to his liking.
Saki looked back at the boy and cringed. From that point on, Kai noticed, he was on offense, ruthlessly tearing at poor Gary.
Saki screamed a final attack and Gary fell. The match was over. The White Tigers lost.
"Wow! That was a great match but so one-sided! The White Tigers have lost three matches in a row which means they're out!" Brad Best shouted as he laughed, congratulating the Blade Reapers.
"Now for our next match! The Demolition Boys versus the Blade Breakers! This should be good! Does everyone remember last years tournament? The excellent match between Tala Ivanov and Takao Kinomiya? I certainly do! Let's hope for as good of a match this year!" Brad screamed as the crowd went wild.
"-I love you Bryan!" A random girl screamed from the audience as the Demoltion Boys entered.
Kai entered in front of the rest of his team. Takao grumbled behind.
"How come girls never shout for me?"
"-Because you're annoying, and there are way cuter boys to cheer for." Hiromi offered, Max laughed a bit at her retort.
"Oh laugh it up Hiromi!" Takao yelled, losing his composure.
"Get over it." She replied casually, serving only to make Takao steam a bit.
"Stop acting so immature." Kai reprimanded as he glared at the two.
"Yeah, honestly you tow bicker like husband and wife!" Rei added cheerfully. Though he had vowed revenge on the Blade Reapers for his team.
"Hey-why is Daichi blading again?" Max asked quietly so that the little guy couldn't hear him.
"I couldn't get him to stay at the hotel." Takao whispered back as he shielded his mouth from Daichi-who wasn't watching anyways.
"Alright! The first match-as decided by the teams-will be Daichi versus Gregeri! Will Daichi be able to stand this match? It's too much to watch!" Brad cried out as he held his face as if he may burst out in tears. Quite the actor.
"I'm-cnifh!-ready." Daichi yelled as he walked up to the stadium. I have to do this. I can't let my team down again. I have to win! Daichi's mind prodded him as he faced down the newest Demolition Boy.
Gregeri laughed at Daichi's attempt to look fearsome.
"Let it rip!" The two bladers called out to their bey blades. Daichi was doing much better than in his match against Michael. Gregeri still laughed at him though.
Daichi growled and called out his bit beast. "Strata Dragoon! Go!" He yelled as the large yellow dragon appeared.
When the match was over and the dust had cleared, the only blade still spinning was Daichi's.
"Yeah Daichi! You did it!" Takao yelled as he greeted his young teammate.
Daichi was horribly out of breath and staggering to sit down.
"You guys were right…" He breathed as he started to cough a bit. "I can't do this again."
"Daichi…" Takao whispered as Daichi coughed.
"Just let Wyatt take my place in the finals." He seemed downtrodden.
"Dai' he can't take your place! Just make his own! Yours is always there!" Takao yelled happily as he made a V for victory sign.
"Yeah!" Daichi yelled as the two friends seemed to overcome any difficulties they had in the past. Everyone else agreed as well.
"Wow! Great match for Daichi! He first lost horribly to All Star Michael-and then pulls through with this! Amazing!" Brad Best yelled-also making a V for victory sign.
"Next match: Ian versus Max!" He yelled. Ian took his place in the stadium as Max was cheered on by his friends .
"C'mon Maxie! You can do it!" Takao yelled as he was backed up by everyone else. Even Kai gave a thumbs up for him.
Max took his place as well and prepared to face Ian of the Demolition Boys.
Ian and Max battled back and fourth a while longer, before Max started to get tired. "No…" He whispered before Ian's serpent overtook him.
"Ooh! Second match goes to Ian of the Demolition Boys! They are now tied 1:1!" Brad Best yelled. Match number three will be Bryan and Rei! I remember last years tournament…" Brad finished as Bryan and Rei took the stage-or stadium in this case.
Rei was furious-he remembered what Bryan had done to him before- and he saw what Bryan had done to Miriam.
"Bryan…" Rei growled as he set up his launcher. Drigger and he would win. Just like they had before. Rei was sure of it.
"Go Drigger!" Rei yelled almost immediately, not wanting to take any chances..
"Falborg!" Bryan yelled out as he flung a few stray rocks with the wind he was creating.
Rei was panting towards the end-as was Bryan. Neither had given up-neither had relented-both were bent on winning that match.
"Drigger…" Rei commanded as he attacked Bryan-who in return expertly defended himself. "Drigger!" Rei yelled as he gave up the last of his strength. Bryan was defeated. He had done it.
"Whoa! Amazing! Rei has just defeated Bryan Kuznetsov for the second time!" Brad Best cried into the microphone-grappling with his oversized 'Russian' hat. "The next match will be… Kai versus Spencer! This should be good!" Brad yelled as he introduced both bladers into the stadium.
Kai looked intently at Spencer. He had lost before. He would make sure that that didn't happen again.
"Go Dranzer!" Kai screamed as he let the blade rip out of his hands.
"Seaborg!" Spencer yelled in reply.
NO! We can do this! Dranzer and me together! "Dranzer! Attack!" Kai screamed to the fire phoenix as she whirled around and caught Seaborg before he could attack.
Seaborg countered with his most vicious attack. Kai momentarily backed down, but came back with a vicious attack of his own-involving fire…
"Dranzer!"
"Seaborg!"
Kai and Spencer breathed hard as they continued their attacks on one another.
Then it happened. Dranzer's blade was knocked out of the ring by Seaborg. He lost. Kai lost. Spencer had won. Kai inhaled deeply as he went to pick up his fallen blade.
Staring at it he wondered how it had happened. He had the power. Dranzer had the power. Why hadn't they won? It took him a moment to realize that the match was over and Tala and Takao were going up to blade against each other once again.
He stayed to watched Takao's match. Takao won-no question there. Directly after Takao's match was over Kai left, leaving his team to celebrate on their own once again.
Kai walked down the cold Russian street. It was usually so warm in Japan-even the winters when it snowed couldn't compare to the Russian climate. It was just cold-so cold.
Kai returned to the hotel on his own. How could he lose? It didn't seem possible. He and Dranzer were the perfect team-what happened?
He let himself fall onto the bed in a very un-Kai-like manner. Kai moved his hand around his pocket until he felt the cold metal of Dranzer's blade.
Soon the room held not one-but two people.
"Kai?" Dranzer asked as she waited for a response. She was so ashamed of herself. She had lost. She had failed her master. She had failed Kai. Dranzer looked at him-she hated the look in his eyes.
"Kai?" Dranzer asked in a more demanding manner-keeping her voice steady and emotionless-except for the twinge of worry in her voice that she couldn't control.
"What?" He finally asked as he turned over and grabbed a pillow to put his head on.
Dranzer waited-she simply didn't know what to say. She wanted to apologize, but she wasn't sure how to put it. Not sure what to say.
"Did you have something to say Dranzer?" Kai asked exasperated, upset with himself.
"No, I guess not." She finally admitted as she let herself sit down next to him. He was always so hard on himself. He never blamed her for losing. Except-except when he chose Black Dranzer over her. Then though he was being manipulated by his grandfather. She couldn't blame him-not after all of the good he's done for her as well.
"It wasn't your fault you know." She said as an offhanded statement.
Kai glared up at her a bit, though there was really no feeling behind it.
"Yes it was. I was too weak. I didn't have enough power. I didn't win." He rattled off as she simply watched. "I failed…" He whispered a bit as he let his head return to the pillow. His outburst had forced him to lift it.
Dranzer frowned. He could be horribly immature at times. It was then that she had to remind herself that he was only fifteen. He was simply acting his age. But he was normally so mature that it would make one forget how old he actually was.
"No. You did not. You are anything but weak master Kai, you are the strongest, most powerful person I have ever seen-" Dranzer had to stop herself from saying something stupid. There was so much emotion behind those words that they sounded strange to her ears. She had meant it of course. But she hated seeing him mope-she wanted him to be happy.
Kai looked up at her again, she seemed to mean everything she said-even seemed to believe it herself. Kai had to let out a small sullen smile. Not really a happy smile, more sad really.
"I mean it…" She finally said-blushing from her outburst before.
Kai looked at her-she did mean it. She believed in him-why couldn't he believe in himself? He would just have to try, if not for himself then for her. He couldn't fail her again. He wouldn't fail her again.
Dranzer smiled a bit as a sliver of confidence seemed to be renewed within her master. Kai. He was always hard to figure out. One minute he could be miserable but then if you made him happy-it was nice though.
The next day the finals would begin. Kai swore to himself that he would win. And he would face the boy who's name he still didn't know. He'd really have to figure that out.
Yeah! Two more chapters! Three tops! Then it's all over… Kind of sad actually… I really like this fic.
I might do another fic-so could you tell me what Kai pairings you like? I'd like to know. What about KaixDranzer? I know it would be weird but I kind of have an idea-but It would be a stretch. Just please tell me what you think! Yay finals! Please read and review! Thank you!