Shitza: hello again, sorry for the long wait. Been busy… I'm also off to holiday so I hoped to update this before I'll leave.

Kai: Which you will see if she managed down below in this fic.

Shitza: Yeah, also thanks for all reviews. I am most thankful!

Kai: Don't encourage her too much, okay! I won't be able to stand that!

Kenny: Okay, you too better take this argument somewhere else or the hearing of these readers will surely degrade to less then 10 .

Shitza: Kenny, they are readers. They can't hear our arguments you know! Just do the disclaimer and then we can get going!

Kenny: Of course! Shitza don't own Beyblade. However she owns this fic and I think she won't be pleased if anyone would try to steal her plot, ideas or OCs without her agreement.

Shitza: now, let's get going!

Kai: Humph!

Chapter 19 Fiery Rivalry

Raya Otahi, sixteen years hung on her shoulders, her fiery red hair danced before her eyes as she and her teammates prepared for their training. She was second best in the team, having the power of awesome fire. Her bit beast Avez gleamed in response as she threw her knife skilfully through the air, her blade fastened on it. The knife landed in the wall and the blade in the dish.

She, Sakhmekh, Anto, Rumoto, Lei Dan, Inito of Love, Hanetho of Wisdom, Rin Dao of Ice, Omoniseth of Darkness and Eikoso who represented the Illusions all concentrated highly upon the battle. Their fearless leader sat on a chair, tending to the wounds a certain Daiku Chin had caused upon him. The young Earth blader's latest attack Avalanche had caused some serious bruises upon his back. Not only that his blade had been smashed, but his dignity had been broken as well. He was a powerful enemy, and now the Bladebreakers had a reason to fear him. He wouldn't just steal the bit beasts; he would crush them as well.

Suddenly a blade was thrown out. Veymo looked up to see the shocked blader, who turned out to none other then Raya. His pupils slithered thinking that one of his strongest bladers had lost to a much weaker opponent.

"Don't expect any mercy now, Raya!" Anto said grinning evilly. Raya sighed; she didn't understand how she had lost. One second had been to decide, when her thoughts had turned to the leader of the Bladebreakers. Why she had no idea. It seemed that her encounter with him some days ago had made her start thinking a lot.

She shook her head, wondering where all these thoughts came from. For the last days she hadn't been herself. She had no idea where all this came from? How could one meeting affect her goals like this, she wanted to beat them to prove their village the rightful honour. Even the saint Shields had gotten more credits and they were barely anything compared to them.

But what was her true goal, what would eh gain from this? She felt so confused… she didn't know what she would achieve from this. When Veymo had told her about his plans it seemed like the right thing to do. But now she wasn't sure.

'I have to talk to them, perhaps test them. But on what, they are already bonded with their bit beasts in a way few outside trainers are. They know many of the secrets about bit beasts already. But then, what will I question them. If Phoenix wouldn't be with them, then…'

Tears trickled down her cheeks. She felt so confused. Deep inside she knew Phoenix had very little things together with them. Yes, her brother was a team member and Kai happened to be an old friend. But she too was an old friend, why did she feel so scared?

She sighed and jumped down from the dish. Behind her the practise continued. She didn't even notice Veymo sneaking up to her.

SMACK!

"Get back up there! I want to see you crush those like insects understand!"

Tears slid down her cheeks as she hurried past her furious leader. She didn't stop; she didn't stop until she reached the stadium, five kilometres from their camp. From the stadium there was roars of cheers. She wondered who was playing.

Quickly she sneaked away inside, pass the guards and into the stadium… hoping to find some answers.

Kai gritted his teeth angrily. King was a much better sneaker then he had thought and Dranzer had taken a lot of beatings. King was one match ahead of him, having won once. Kai was gaining on him, but that didn't help out enough. King could be on one place and then show up on the other side of the dish.

Behind Chief sat typing furiously on Dizzy, looking for answers on King's plans. But the bit beast nor and data had any info about the strange attacks he was using. All data he had was on the latest known attack called Thunder Strike, but it was old news for everyone.

Suddenly everyone gasped to see Kai badly scratched but smiling. The scratches were marks that came from his bond with Dranzer, it affected him as well. The same pain the bit beast felt seared within his blood. But no matter the pain he still stood fighting and what surprised most people was that he had won.

"How, how is this possible?" King asked shocked.

Kai smirked. If you don't know your bit beast, and how it feels for you. Then you don't know the true pain.

King looked puzzled, but prepared for a second launch. The dish changed as well, from the fiery battle it had split in two parts. Now it was what looked like a normal dish, except for a spinning whirl in the middle that could clearly throw any blade into small pieces. And worse, the dish had been drenched in soap, not giving the blades and balance.

Kai hissed angrily. He hoped he would be able to win next match quickly or there wouldn't be any Dranzer left for him to tend to. He watched Jazzman demonstrate wildly sending a blade down. It immediately lost balance and glided down into the moving area of the dish, where it split into pieces. Both King and Kai looked at each other, wearing the same horrid look. Even if both were very experienced beybladers they had no idea how to survive this.

"Beybladers let it rip!" Jazzman called dramatically. The two foes didn't spare a second but launched furiously into the dish. The blades wobbled making contact to the dish. Kai had to use all his strength just to keep his blade spinning. King too seemed to suffer from problems, but his mind was also planning something. Kai didn't like this… He hated this feeling of being used.

King smiled. His blade glowed and once again he went into this strange attack Kai had no idea how to stop. Kings blade bounced from wall to wall, disappearing before Dranzer managed to get there. Instead the poor bird received many beatings, screaming into the air.

Kai clenched his fists. It couldn't end like this… no, it couldn't! Bit if he didn't do anything soon, it would!

'Kai, he's the one in the fight' Raya thought. 'But he seems to be in a tight spot, not surprising.'

The red haired teen watched King's blade soar around knocking him dead. 'Hey, what's this?' she wondered. The attack the white haired boy was using reminded her of something. She couldn't figure it out. She saw the battle continue and miraculously Kai won. Raya clapped among the rest.

But then as the next dish was introduced she too looked frightened. She had to admit it was a horrible condition in a fight, and guessed it was the judges' way of slowing down the fight. Once more the two bladers launched and she clearly could see the problems they got from the dish. This was torture! It also got worse as the white haired boy once more used his weird attack, now leaving marks on the edges.

'Marks, of course that's how he attacks' she thought taking out her own blade. She knew Kai would never see this attack, but she had and she didn't know why, but she felt like she needed to help him. Without another thought she launched, her blade landed in the sand copying the same movements forming a pentacle. Her blade went back to her hand sand she waited.

"Eureka!" Chief claimed as he finally figured it out, having looked at the strange blade that had made this pentacle on the ground, giving them the clue they needed, It had been the same movements King used.

Kai too had figured it out. With his strength and bond with his bit beast he stood on his ground, knowing now where king would attack. King's blade bounced upon Dranzer and then fell into the whirl. King dropped down defeated, as well as his sister had been. Now, they were equal in points.

Kai retrieved Dranzer, who soared into his hand. He looked back to the place he had seen the blade soar from, and was surprised enough to see Raya standing in the doorway, smirking. Not only him, but also everyone else.

Kai smirked back, Dranzer practically burning still in his pale hands. Raya smiled and then as the dust from his teammates running footsteps, she was gone. But the question remained. Why had she done it in the first place?

"Wonderful, you did it!" Ray, Tyson, Kenny, Hilary and a very hyper Max said. In his hands Max held a lollipop in his hands, his prize for winning all three rounds.

Kai shook his head as the five members of the team suddenly dived up on him. His score against King felt like saving their skin. Kai didn't know how to react, his body answered by shifting back while his mind flashed with good emotions and he had to give in for the friendship they all shared.

Raya stood at the other gate, watching the six members of the team celebrate their victory. A tear of feelings trickled down her cheek and she felt deeply jealous of the team spirit they all shared. Their efforts weren't each ones effort. They were one. One for all and all for one.

Suddenly she felt cold and she looked back, but there was nothing more then emptiness behind her. Maybe she should go there and tell them she had been the saviour, or she should follow her team's rules and return.

She was confused, so confused she just stood rooted to the ground. She didn't even notice the lost little bird that seated down on her shoulder. Nor did she notice the hand that stretched out to touch her.

"Raya?"

Raya shook wide-awake and drew a knife from her belt. But when she saw the impostor in the eyes she dropped it. Her mind told her to run or take this thief back to the father. But her emotions were against her for deep inside she found out in those moments how much she really had missed her.

'Why?' she wondered. 'How can she affect me?'

Phoenix smiled and then turned, the battered dark cloak swung on her shoulders as she went back into the darkness. Raya stared at that particular spot. Everything she had been concentrating on disappeared. For inside the undying bird's eyes she had seen the pain she experienced. And in those eyes those words of hate had disappeared instantly.

The judges were fully discussing the next outcome, for in truth most dishes had already been destroyed and no one had been able to imagine the total mass out of dishes that had appeared. There was an hour of break before Zeo's and Tyson's final duel and until then both teams could take a break, plan out new strategies and figure out how to fix the other ones.

Kenny sat furiously typing on Dizzy for answers upon the mysterious blade that had shown up. He knew he had it on his files, but he wasn't too sure from where. Not until one short clip showed him…

"I have it, the mysterious blader was…"

"Raya, from the Elementals. I know already Einstein!" Kai finished. Kenny fell down from the bench he sat on and everyone turned to Kai.

"How did you know?" Kenny asked.

"I saw her, she stood in the doorway, until you managed to dust her out from the spot. I don't know what her intentions where, but she was after something."

"Then we have to be on our guard. Because if the Elementals are spying on us then we must close up on our most secret moves!" Ray said.

Daichi shook his head. "That is not her style. I know Raya, and she isn't a spy. The spies we have to be on our watch for are Sakhmekh and Rumoto. The remainders are powerful enough to mind their own business."

"Then what was she here for?" Max asked popping the lollipop out from his mouth.

"To be honest Max, no idea!"

Tyson stretched and then looked up, eyes shimmering. "Well, since we have a break, why don't get something to drink. After all shouting I bet everyone is a bit thirsty. Not to mention I am."

"Tyson, you are impossible!" Hilary stated as she hurried after the guys back to the changing room.

Raya didn't know where she had fled, but she was more confused when the door opened behind her and pulled her away. What shocked her was the people coming in, none other then the Bladebreakers. The team opposite her stared at her exactly as she looked at them. Then finally, after what seemed like ages, she looked away. Tear once more trickling down her cheeks. The Bladebreakers looked at each other before the Chinese teen and the Russian boy bent down to help her up and she was carefully led to the closest bench by the brown haired girl, called Hilary.

"Raya, what is the matter?" What is it, please tell us, we can help you?" Hilary asked. Normally she wouldn't care, but having met the Elemental blader in these condition had not only been shocking, but also emotional felt. Ray was getting a glass of water, max and Tyson both sat on the bench opposite her. Kai stood with arms crossed, leaning against the wall. Ray shortly returned and the red haired girl took it with a shaking hand, drinking slowly.

Daichi sat underneath, legs folded together neatly waiting for the girl to start.

Raya coughed weakly and then looked down at the boy sitting by her feet. She sighed. "I guess I owe your family an apology for my deeds. After all, I knew she was punished, but not that much…"

Daichi sighed. "Save it for later, okay! Just tell us why you came over here! I don't need more sympathy, I need a cure!"

That had to be the most outright answer the ex-Elemental had ever given and Raya smiled. She couldn't help it; Daichi had a really unknown magic over her to make her smile. She tried to stop the tears, but they would continue falling.

"Why did you help us?" Daichi asked.

Raya didn't open her mouth to speak, but she looked at Kai with tears shining in her eyes. Kai met her eyes, seeing some kind of an answer, but he looked away quickly. She looked down again… "I don't know." She finally managed to say. "I am just so tired of the lies your sister's father have been telling me. I wanted to feel like I did something right… I don't know what hit me… I'm a warrior… I shouldn't be… doing this… this… sniff, sniff…"

Daichi looked up at her, his eyes burning with some kind of hidden secret, but he looked understanding as well. "And I thought that being a warrior in your village meant to stand for what she believed. Not follow the orders from a general. You have to listen to the voice within you!"

Raya sniffed drying the tears with her hand. The Bladebreakers all looked puzzled, but Daichi seemed to understand and get everything he needed.

Raya looked up to face them all. Promise me you will defeat us in the next match, if you reach there. There is no knowing what will happen if not, but he has taken control over us. My teammates aren't what they used to be. They are cruel, and they have stopped listening to their inner souls. Please, you must defeat us for the sake of your own bit beasts."

She returned to her feet and disappeared crying. The Bladebreakers all looked as she left, her footsteps silent echoing in the corridors.

The break soon ended and three new dishes had been transported to the stadium in order for the last match. On one side Zeo stood, his hand held tight around Cerberus. Tyson stared back at his friend on the other side of the stadium. The spectators, were roaring, the crowd was with them. Jazzman was about to give a signal… what else could go wrong?

Let It Rip!

To Reviewers:

fastblurd: Great, thanks for replying, and hope you liked the chapter!

hikari: I am really happy you like it, since it's been alive in my mind for about… ages. Anyway, there is still a bit more to finish before this is done, so hope you enjoyed!

Z Star: Oh, I hope you liked the continuing. And sorry for the long wait. It will be explained more below this.

End Notes:

Shitza: ARGH!

Ray: What's up with her?

Max: Her mother's computer crashed some days ago, and she closely lost this chapter. Weirdest thing is that only her account on it went down, the rest of them can still log in. She is currently forced up to her room.

Kenny: Hey, that was my lines!

Tyson: Not to mention, she is also angry on the Internet, since it closes down without reason.

Shitza: Computers are evil! I guess I will have to borrow my brother's account to post this. Sigh, everything seems to be against me, but thankfully this was written before I'm off. Won't see you guys for ten days. I'll miss you!

Kai: Getting sentimental already!

Shitza: Aha, you guys are the best. See yah after the 18th.

Shitza