Disclaimer - As stated before if you recoginize anything, I don't own it or am I making any money off of this.

(Author's Note - I want to thank those who reviewed this story. I've been busy and just haven't been in the mood to write. I prefer to read all of the wonderful fiction that everyone else writes. To Blunightrunner, thank you for the advice and I did focus a bit on Akane in this chapter since it was necessary to explain her past. To kicking-serious-ass, I love the BEGA bladers especially Brooklyn! He's my favorite bishie! Also if anyone is OOC, I apologize. I'm finding it difficult to keep everyone in character. Now, I did have to alter Brooklyn's past a bit since he will not go insane in this story. Also, you might want to read the prologue again since I did change it a bit b/e of my OC.)

Chapter One - The Chaos that Followed

Several weeks later . . . .

Life was reluctantly forced to continue after Takao's disappearance. His brother and friends had searched desperately for the teen who had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. The BBA had been frantic to find Takao after what happened at the tournament. It had left the spectators and competitors in shock to see the World Champion lose his cool in such a manner. His former teammates were furious and they had a good reason. The tournament and subsequent title meant nothing after Takao had left since they had went their separate ways to earn a battle against him.

The controversy marred the rest of the tournament as if they didn't have enough to contend with by the suscipious behavior of one of the teams. All the fans and the sports casters would talk about was Takao's disappearance; causing some of them to turn on his former teammates since they considered it their fault. There was a big black cloud hanging over the stop in Italy as the fans jeered three of the teams with the exception of BBA Revolution, Barthez Battalion and F-Dynasty. Hitoshi was having the hardest time of trying to keep the rest of his team together. Daichi boasted that they didn't need Takao but Hitoshi doubted that they would make the finals with only he and Kyoujyu blading.

The controversy intensified in Spain. Robert Jurgens and Johnny MacGregor of the Majestics confronted the Barthez Battalion about their cheating during the European preliminaries and was still doing so. BBA Revolution overheard the argument as the two European teens told them of their tricks in the locker room. Kyoujyu had found proof on his laptop that showed the European's claims were true. They were split over what to do with the evidence since if they told the chairman then it would forfeit the entire tournament and it was too late to start over. Max and Rick of the All-Starz agreed with Daichi and Hitoshi so it was decided that they would battle the team in the next round.

The only one that was nervous was Kyoujyu since he was essentially taking Takao's place. Well in the end, somehow BBA Revolution managed to pull a win against the Barthez Battalion in Spain. It wouldn't have happened if not for Kyoujyu and his new bit beast or should I say old that appeared in a flash of white light during his battle with Miguel. Dizzi who had been released from his laptop after the last tournament reappeared in Spain to help him defeat Miguel. Miguel had come to realize that maybe they were right and that cheating was wrong. They would follow the right path after this.

Well in the end, the championship ended up between F-Dynasty with their superior tag team skills that had earned the twins a place in the finals and the Blitzkrieg Boyz. Kai had proven himself to be quite the power house and between he and Yuriy, they won the tag team title easily with most of the other teams tied for third place. His victory had been hollow and left a bitter taste in his mouth. His match with Julia should have been against Takao instead. He was angry that the former world champion had ran away while Takao was mad that Kai had abandoned him. Maybe one day they would be able to settle their differences.

At that particular moment when Kai had won the trophey, Takao was in the middle of his training by doing sit ups in the gym. He had matured and grown since that fateful day in New York. His muscles had toned from the exercises he did and his beyblading training. He was starting to develop a nice set of abs and biceps. His navy hair was shorter and tamer but still pulled back into a ponytail.

He was one of the best bladers in the soon-to-be new organization that was destined to be called BEGA. There was no doubt that his ability had improved but the rest of his new teammates were good or even better than he was. Akane came in a distant fifth in the rankings after Garland, himself, Mystel, Ming Ming with Moses just a place behind her. He took a brief pause to look at his sister to see her on a match and sparring with Garland. The past few weeks he had spent with his older sister had been quite wonderful.

Even after nearly ten years apart, they had clicked almost instantly in the car. Unlike Hitoshi, he could tell her anything but especially the news that he had feelings for a former teammate. She had figured it out quite easily of why Kai's betrayal had hurt him more than the others. When Kai had deserted him without saying a word and left it to Hitoshi to break the news, it had broken his heart. Then Rei beating and humilating him had sent a blow that he was still reeling from.

He had never mentioned Akane to his friends. He had not wanted to discuss the fact that he had an older sister, who lived with their maternal grandfather. Even after all of this time, their separation still hurt. Akane had celebrated her sixteenth birthday only a few days before he had turned fifteen. There was barely a year's difference between the two of them. When their mother had died in a car accident when he had been three and she four, their father had been unable to cope and deal with the three of them in his grief.

He had left his family shortly after to travel and do research in the field. Grandpa Ryu had been unable to take care of two toddlers and one nine year old so that is where Ojiisan Masoe came in. He had offered to take Akane since she reminded him of the daughter he had lost. Neither their father or Grandpa Ryu had objected to the arrangement. It hadn't been that bad at first. She had visited quite often but as they grew older it all begun to change.

The older she got, the more she reminded them of their mother. She wasn't the living breathing image of her but it was enough to make their father relive her loss every time he saw her. She often went back to Kyoto feeling like she had done something to cause his grief and suffering. It had been difficult for a young child to understand but eventually she had stopped visiting and her only ways of contact were through letters, e-mail or the occasional phone call. Takao had suffered the most since they had been close before their mother's death and it was like he had lost his sister that day as well.

It was not a surprise to discover that she had turned to beyblading as well. It seemed that the sport was programmed into their genes. She had confided in him that she had turned to the sport because it was the only way she still felt connected to her brothers. Hitoshi had been the first to beyblade and he in turn had introduced Akane to the sport during one of her visits. She in turn had given Takao his first beyblade after she had gotten a new one. Even though it couldn't be used in any of his battles now, he had kept it as a memento of what he had lost.

She had been the force that had influenced him to join Balkov's new venture aptly named BEGA or the Beyblade Entertainment Global Association. He might not have been after world domination like before but he was wanting the money and power that controlling the sport could give. That is where all of them came in. He had recruited other teens before Takao had joined. They all had been handpicked and chosen by him especially for his new venture.

Takao did have to admit that the BBA couldn't compare to what their new facility had to offer and soon he would be able to make a lot of money off of his chosen sport. He did have to admit that his skill had improved since he had joined and knew that his new training schedule had a lot to do with it as well. He had never been so focused before and knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish in the future. It was only a matter of time before he did but still his 'friends' plagued his thoughts. They were a distraction that needed to be forgotten especially the two-tone traitor that he had cared for. It was difficult being a hormonal teen-ager especially a gay one that was attracted to a bishounen Russian blader.

Fortunately, Garland finished his sparring match with Akane and turned on the television to break him out of his sullen mood. He flipped the channels until it landed on the sports channel to check on his siblings who were all sport celebrities. He was the sixth Tzebult sibling and all of them were experts in their chosen sport. His three older brothers either raced Indy cars, played professional baseball or soccer. His two older sisters played tennis and golfed professionally.

He wondered why he had cut his sparring match with Akane short but one look at his sister told him what happened. She was wrapping her ankle tightly with gauze; signifying that she had probably twisted it again. It had happened only a few days before but he thought it had healed since she had been walking on it normally. The sports news wasn't on but instead the TV came on at the end of the world championship tournament where the Blitzkrieg Boyz were celebrating their victory. Well, the other teams were celebrating while they stood away from the others with sulky looks on their faces.

This caught Takao's attention as he rose from the floor and joined the other three teens in front of the television. Garland was watching the news cast with his arms crossed while Moses towered behind him. Akane was standing gingerly on her ankle as he joined her side. His fist clenched from the memories that were resurfacing because of the faces in the crowd of beybladers. Even though the others had lost they seemed to be trying to snap the Blitzkrieg Boyz out of their sour moods.

"The world champions don't seem too happy that they won," Akane mused, "do you think it has something to do with what happened during the first round?" The three teens took a moment to look at Takao since they all ready knew the answer and he was smirking. "They left the team so they could battle against me," Takao remarked with a devilish smirk, "I am the former world champion and knowing Kai that trophy means nothing to him without battling me for it. He probably feels that he didn't earn it. I was the one about to set a record after all."

"Akane," a voice called as their attention turned from the television to Boris, who was standing in the doorway of their private gym. They saw his look of disgust as he looked at the television and the camera that was focused on the Blitzkrieg Boyz. "I see the tournament is over," he remarked, "It will be the last one that the BBA will host. I seriously doubt that any of those bladers will be joining with us." "Maybe they will give you a second chance, sir," Garland spoke up, "whatever you did is in the past and you have changed. Besides, they won't be able to participate in tournaments if they are not a member of BEGA."

"That will happen when pigs fly," Takao snorted as their attention turned to him. "I believe Takao's sentiments will be shared by the majority of the current world class bladers," Boris admitted with a thin smile, "especially when it concerns the Blitzkrieg Boyz." "And the others will follow Kai's lead like good little bladers," Takao continued with a smirk, "I doubt even I will be able to change any of their minds when they are set on something." "What did you want, sir?" Akane ask, respectfully as she bowed before him, "you were calling for me before. Was it something important?"

"Have you seen Brooklyn?" he ask as they shook their heads no but all knew where he could be found, "I need to speak with him. Can you find him for me?" "Not a problem, sir," she replied, "I'll be back shortly." She left to visit the park near the building that he constantly frequented. Boris had sent her since she was the only one who could talk the teen into anything since she had known him longer than the others.

She had known him since they were both nine and had met him after challenging him to a beybattle in the park. Over the years, her feelings had changed and she harbored quite a crush on the other teen. It had been quite amusing over the last few weeks to watch his older sister flirt with the boy and he would only smirk at her efforts. Takao found Brooklyn to be somewhat of an engima. He couldn't quite figure the ginger-haired blader out and it had been several weeks since their introduction at his sister's hands.

Brooklyn was quiet and reserved in manner which reminded him of Kai but his disposition was baffling. When outside the bey stadium, he was the kindest, most gentle person that one could ever meet. Inside the dish was an entirely different matter. He was cold, ruthless and arrogant. Sometimes it was like he was two completely different people. Garland had been the first to warn him about the teen. He simply said "stay away from Brooklyn" and don't challenge him to a beybattle.

Of course, he had been too pigheaded to listen especially when Akane and Garland discussed how he was a natural born blader and didn't have to practice to keep up his skill. He had been born with the talent and Takao had foolishly spouted off about his own skill and title upon entering the complex. Let's just say that he had learned his lesson the hard way. He thought Brooklyn to be hot air and overrated at first. He would launch his blade at the beginning of a match and it would just sit in the place it landed in the middle of the dish.

He would just dodge and let his blade be the last one left spinning without a single attack. When he had foolishly went on the offensive, he had brought about his own downfall since Brooklyn had the ability to mimic any of his opponents' attacks. Dragoon hadn't fared too well from being hit with one of his own special attacks. Before he even knew what happened, he had been thrown backwards from the platform into Akane and Garland's arms. His beyblade had been smashed into pieces with only the bit chip surviving intact after their first and only battle.

The battle had nearly cost him Dragoon and his injuries had been enough not to desire a rematch. Takao had looked at the teen differently afterward and would not make the mistake of challenging Brooklyn to a battle again. He felt sorry for anyone who went up against him in the future since he knew what it felt like to be put through the ringer by him. The memory of that battle was still etched vividly in his memory and made him shiver to this very day. When he had looked into the glowing eyes of Zeus as he stood behind his avatar in the inky darkness, he swore he had saw his death.

None of the others would challenge the ginger-haired teen because they had tried and lost. Garland, who was ranked first, had even been beaten by him. He said the most he had gotten out of Brooklyn was "Nice warmup, Garland." Because of his skill and power, Brooklyn was allowed to wander off and do whatever he wanted. The funny thing was that Balkov allowed him to get by with it. Takao figured that if he had been the same man that had run the Abbey, he wouldn't have allowed it.

"Has anyone seen Mystel?" Boris inquired as they waited for the other two to return. The blond Egyptian was prone to take off whenever he felt like it and just disappear. Takao had to hide a grin since that behavior reminded him of his old Russian teammate too. Kai had been particularly good at it but Mystel didn't have his demeanor or attitude. He had a bubbly personality and made friends with everyone he encountered because of his charm. He was quite the character and his lighthearted personality could always put you in a good mood.

Mystel was another really strong blader that Balkov had found. Takao often wondered where all of these talented bladers had been hiding. Mystel had an unique launching technique that made him a force to be reckoned with in the dish if you could withstand it. Takao remembered his first battle with him vividly. His slingshot had almost knocked Dragoon out of the dish at the beginning of the match but he had regained control and won. If you excluded himself, he had only beaten three of the top six bladers since he had tied with Garland in their match with both of their blades exiting at the same time.

Akane would not battle him and would always refuse a request citing their relationship but he felt there was more to it than that. He just couldn't figure out what it was. They must have watched more of the celebration than Takao realized since Akane had returned with Brooklyn following behind. His hair was toused and he yawned quite loudly to everyone's chagrin. "You wanted to see me, sir," he remarked in that sleepy but arrogant tone of his. "Yes, I did, Brooklyn," Boris replied with a thin smile, "Akane will you join us? What I wish to discuss involves you as well."

Akane nodded with a smile and followed the two out of the room. "Her crush is so obvious," Moses remarked with a chuckle, "is Brooklyn even aware of it?" Takao turned to Garland to hear his thoughts on the matter. Out of the other teen boys, he was the only one that Brooklyn would talk too in a private way since they were roommates. "He thinks it is cute," Garland remarked as the news that he had been searching for came on, "that is all I could get out of him when I ask. He can be frustrating when he ignores you in favor of his birds and butterflies."

Takao coughed to cover up his laughter since he had been dissed in the same manner by Brooklyn. If it had been anyone else, he would have lost his cool and shouted in their face. Brooklyn was unique and he would give you one of those superior smirks that would leave you speechless and thinking what the hell just happened? He had that effect on everyone except Akane who would just sigh dreamily and doze off into a daydream. Her infatuation was beginning to become quite an obsession in most of their opinions and if he didn't respond to her flirtations soon; she was liable to get desperate and kiss the boy senseless. She couldn't wait forever or was she was the type too.

Takao burst into laughter by that image since he could just imagine the look on Brooklyn's face if she got that desperate. The other two teens looked at him with shock since they thought he was losing his mind. "Takao, are you all right?" Moses ask since Garland wasn't going to approach the hysterical teen, who was now rolling about the floor from the image in his head. "I'll.be.fine." he managed to ground out before the laughter returned anew, "I was just thinking about something really funny." The two looked at him with confusion for a few moments as Garland raised an eyebrow. "If all the BBA bladers are like him," Moses mused over Takao's laughter, "we are in trouble." Garland smirked slightly at the scene and turned his purple irises back to the television; he would ponder Takao's problem later.

AS