Disclaimer - As stated before, if you recoginize it, then I do not own it.
Thank you to Minako Mikoto, darkevolutiontyson & kicking-S-ass for reviewing. I'm glad that you are enjoying this. All of you are on right on track. There will be an epic showdown b/t Kai & Takao in the next chapter. I had it planned from the beginning. Now, this chapter is just a filler for the match in the next one. I hope that you all like it.
To FlamesOfFury - Thank you so much for reading & reviewing this story as well. I apologize for the spelling mistakes. I can read over my chapters 10x & still find them. I guess I need a beta reader. I'm glad that you liked Ares' attack. It was the only thing I could think of when I got to that part & it fit him. I was thinking 'I hope FlamesOfFury doesn't mind that I use his name'. It is so hard to come up w/h original attacks & bit beasts since I don't want to copy another author's.
Chapter Eight - The Price of Failure
Shortly after the last match of the day, Boris announced that there would be one last match to decide the outcome of the tournament. A winner take all battle if you will. The BEGA team had expected it as had G-Revolutions. Now it was time to decide who would blade in the final match but before they could decide, the five teens had been called to Boris' office. None of them, even those who had won, had looked forward to that meeting.
To say that Boris Balkov was furious was an understatement. The five teens in his office shuddered from the rage in his voice. "ALL OF YOU ARE WORTHLESS!" he spat, sending a stack of papers to the floor with an angry swat of his hand, "none of you are even worth the effort to train. Why did you even join BEGA if you can't win a simple match?" His eyes were mainly focused on Akane, Garland and Mystel, who looked surprised by his change of attitude.
Takao had figured he would react like this. If they lost this tournament, Boris was set to lose everything he had worked hard for. He had done his part and won his battle but three of his teammates had been unable to finish the job. Mystel's tie had been fine at first but since Garland had lost to Yuriy and then Akane had fallen to Kai, they too fell under the director's furious gaze. "I handpicked you to be the best beyblade team in the world," he continued to rant, "you were suppose to be the strongest that BEGA had to offer but you are just losers that aren't even worthy of handling a beyblade. NOW, GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
The teens sprinted for the door but he called one of them back. "Takao, I need a word with you," he stated as Takao gulped. The other four shot him a sympathic look before they darted out the door. "With Akane's loss," Boris snapped, his eyes focused on the teen before him, "it means that we are tied. There will be one final match to settle the dispute and I want you to represent BEGA in it."
"Why me, sir?" Takao ask, "Brooklyn is also capable of battling against Kai since that is who G-Revolutions is likely to pick to represent them. He might be the better blader for this-" "I do not want Brooklyn to be burdened with such a responsibility," Boris continued, "what he has in ability and talent; he lacks somewhat in spirit; even though Rei did teach him a valuable lesson during their beybattle. I need someone who can fight Kai on an even playing field. You are the only BEGA blader who has the necessary skill and spirit to defeat Kai. I want you to blade in the final match."
Takao gulped nervously but knew that he did have a point. He guessed that he would have to apologize to Brooklyn after all. He had thought his vision about he and Kai's battle had been wrong since he had figured that they would win. After witnessing Akane and Garland's defeats, his mind had changed. He knew that he was the only blader for the task. Boris trusted him to get the job done and he would have to do it. Besides, isn't this what he joined BEGA for?
"I will do as you wish, sir," he replied, "I will finish the job that my teammates could not." "Very well," Boris remarked, calming a little as his attention turned to his phone, "I am counting on you. You are dismissed and I suggest that you prepare yourself for this match." "As you wish," Takao replied as he bowed and then left the room. He wondered why Boris was requesting to see Ming Ming and Moses but pushed the thought aside for the moment. He had more on his mind than Boris' plotting.
"He chose you to represent us for the final match," Akane remarked from the shadowy hallway as he closed the door to Boris' office, "am I right?" He looked toward her to see three of his four teammates standing in the corridor. They had waited for him and for that he was grateful. "I will battle in the final match against Kai," he stated, "but I need to practice. Will you help me prepare for it?"
"Certainly," Akane offered as they walked away, "but I have never seen Boris that angry before. We did our best so why can't he understand that?" "He will lose everything if G-Revolutions wins this tournament," Garland informed, darkly, "I guess he has every right to be angry. We did fail him after all. I not only let him but my family down as well."
They followed Takao into a private training room that was only for their use. There were some advantages to being the top bladers in BEGA and this was one of them. "Who wants to battle first?" Garland inquired. "I have a better idea," Takao remarked with a smile, "I challenge the three of you to a simultaneous beybattle." He smirked as Brooklyn, Akane and Garland exchanged a look with one another.
"If that is what you wish," Garland remarked with a shrug at they prepared their launchers and blades, "it's your funeral." "3, 2, 1 - LET IT RIP!" they shouted together as their blades landed in the dish. In a normal situation, Takao would have been afraid to battle three other top ranked players with such odds but this situation wasn't normal. They hadn't trained together like the other teams had for the world championships. They didn't know what it was like to work together as a team. They bladed as individuals or so he had hoped and thought.
Garland was the first to attack as Akane and Brooklyn held back. Their blades began to saw away at one another. Garland wasn't holding back his power either but Takao held his own against the avatar of Apollon. He was surprised when he noticed the two black blades coming at him from opposite sides. It seemed that Garland was only holding him in place as his teammates attacked. It was obvious that he didn't know everything about them as he thought he did.
He managed to move Dragoon in time as the three blades collided and were sent bouncing around the dish. "You saw right through our attack," Garland added, "I'm impressed." "I didn't expect the three of you to know what teamwork was," Takao admitted, "I always thought you bladed individually." "If you had spent as much time together as we have," Akane informed, "You get tired of the same old one-on-one beybattles. We had to come up with something more interesting during all of those evenings of boredom."
"I learned to battle with Mystel," Garland stated, "while Akane teamed up with Brooklyn. Moses often worked with Ming Ming so we all had partners." "And usually we were the only team left standing," Akane added with a smile toward her partner, "but it was because of Brooklyn and not me." "It seems that there is still a lot that I don't know about all of you," Takao remarked, "but your teamwork is not going to be enough to defeat me. Go Dragoon!"
A few minutes later found both Garland and Akane's blades thrown out of the dish and only Brooklyn still battling. Takao found out how his sister and captain felt as Dragoon was violently thrown from the dish from one of Brooklyn's slams into a wall. It left an impact crater as Brooklyn stood there smirking and then laughed lightheartedly. "Let's try that again," Takao stated with a renewed determination, "just you and me, pal." "That is fine by me," Brooklyn replied as he took Zeus back to relaunch.
They launched their blades again as Garland and Akane stood back to watch. "Remind me why the two of us were needed again?" Akane ask after Brooklyn had beaten Takao again five minutes later. Takao was determined to win a battle as he grabbed Dragoon to launch. "You need to clear your head," Brooklyn suggested, "and not overthink your moves. That is why you are losing."
(A/N - Sorry to interrupt but I have to divert the story away from Takao for a few paragraphs to make the next part work. I need to focus on Mystel, Garland & Akane a bit.)
Akane got tired of watching each additional rematch and decided to get something to drink. She had just walked out into the hallway when she saw Mystel hanging upside down on the outside of the building tapping on the glass. She motioned toward a balcony that was nearby as he shook his head and disappeared. Whatever he wanted must have been serious from the expression on his face and the way that he had mouthed Garland's name. She decided to get her team captain since he had been ask specifically for as she opened the door to the training room. Brooklyn and Takao were both absorbed in their beybattle that they didn't notice her motioning to Garland, who was standing against the wall.
He looked interested as she motioned for him to come out into the hallway and fortunately Brooklyn or Takao didn't see them. When she glared at him, he finally got the point and came to the door. He didn't have time to ask a question as she drug him to the balcony where Mystel was waiting. "Garland, we have a problem," he stated, "I was outside enjoying the night and just happened to be near Boris' office when I overheard a conversation that I wish I hadn't." "What is wrong, Mystel?" he ask with concern.
"After we left, Boris sent for Ming Ming and Moses," Mystel explained, "he ordered them to pay Kai a visit but make it seem like he hadn't sent them. They didn't want to go but he blackmailed them. He is intent on making certain that Kai won't be able to blade in the final match." "Why would Boris send them after Kai?" Akane ask, "doesn't he have faith in my brother? Takao is sure to win the last match and there is no need to cheat."
"We have to stop them," Garland stated as he ran back to the door. "What about Takao and Brooklyn?" Akane ask as she followed but Mystel leaped over the railing and would meet them at the front doors. "There is no need to involve either of them in this," Garland reassured, "Takao has enough to worry about. The three of us are more than capable of stopping them. Do you know where G-Revolutions would be staying?" "Follow me," Akane instructed with a smirk, "I know exactly where they would stay."
Fortunately, BEGA headquarters was not far from the suburb where the Kinomiya clan lived. They managed to run or bounce to the dojo. Akane was winded by the time she reached the block where her grandfather lived. She vowed to start exercising more since she had been neglecting her martial arts training in favor of practicing her beyblading. She would remedy that after this tournament was over.
Both Mystel and Garland stopped for a moment to give her a breather when they heard Akane weezing. "I hate you," she murmured as Mystel smiled but they heard shouts coming from the dojo, "but this has to wait, let's go." Mystel bounced over the gate as they heard several of the rebel bladers trying to reason with Ming Ming and Moses. The gate was locked so she was forced to follow Garland over the fence. Of course, she didn't have the agility or strength to follow as Garland stood on it and smirked. He had to lend her a hand as she grabbed it with gratitude. When she was up, Garland jumped down and ran to the duo.
"Moses, Ming Ming, pack it in!" he ordered but the two bladers weren't listening. "We can't!" Ming Ming protested, "we promised Boris!" Akane looked at the two and even though she wasn't fond of Ming Ming, there was no way that she would allow this to happen. "Moses, Ming Ming, stop this nonsense now!" she shouted. The two backed off their attacks just as Lei and Rick were thrown aside and Kai was left vunerable. They had been protecting Kai as her brother's former friends watched the scene intently. They hadn't thought that a member of BEGA would come and defend them from their own.
"I can't," Moses cried, "I can't do it." He fell to his knees and hit the ground with his fists as Akane sighed with relief and collapsed to the ground from her run. "You did the right thing, Moses," Garland reassured as he put a hand on the crying man's shoulder. "But what do we tell Boris?" Moses ask, inbetween tears, "I made a promise to him." "We tell him the truth," Akane reassured as Mystel jumped down from his perch, "there is no way that I will allow cheating. Besides, his reaction can't be much worse that what happened earlier."
"I have a feeling that he would find the truth out anyway," Garland added as he looked toward the bladers gathered on the porch, "I apologize that this had to go this far." "Boris will pay for all damages," Akane stated, "I will make certain of it." "Akane wait," Hitoshi called as she turned back to face her older brother, "can I talk to you for a minute?" "Sure," she replied as they walked away together for a moment of privacy. Mystel stepped forward to offer Grandpa Ryu a hand out of the hole that he was stuck in from where the porch had collasped.
Garland was talking quietly to Ming Ming and Moses as Mystel joined them after briefly talking to the elder Kinomiya and Rei. Everyone was quiet and uncertain of what to say to one another from what had just happened. The rebels didn't trust the BEGA bladers and the BEGAs were uncertain of how the rebels would treat them. A few minutes later, Akane returned to her teammates and grabbed Moses' arm. Their conversation must have been satisfactory since both Hitoshi and Akane were smiling by whatever had been said.
"Let's go," she stated as Garland led Ming Ming by the arm out of the dojo as she continued to apologize for her actions. Moses was still crying and upset as Akane and Mystel led him away. They didn't hear the conversation that followed. "I suggest that you watch your back during your next battle, Kai," Hitoshi warned, "Takao has been chosen to blade in the final match and he is training as we speak." "This is the battle that I have been waiting two years for," Kai remarked with a smirk, "this is the battle that I wanted at the world championships but was denied because of his cowardly action."
Hitoshi was going to defend his little brother but Grandpa Ryu nodded his head no. "Unlike you, I have talked to the little dude," he informed, glaring at Kai, "and I understand why he left. Don't judge Takao until you hear his side of the story. Takao may be a member of BEGA but he hasn't changed. He's still the same boy you were teammates with for two years. He just had some issues that he couldn't deal with on his own and Boris was there to take advantage of him during a moment of weakness."
Akane and Garland were both furious when they returned to BEGA headquarters. Neither of them was going to allow Boris to attack their teammates as they departed ways in the lobby. They sent Ming Ming and Moses back to their rooms while Mystel decided to check on Takao's training. The three had agreed to keep this to themselves for the moment. That just left the two of them to confront Boris over the incident. Neither Akane or Garland were in a forgiving mood as they stalked to the chairman's office.
If they had been upset about Boris' treatment before, they were even more enraged now. They were beginning to understand why the Blitzkrieg Boyz would not join BEGA. They had half a mind to abandon Boris to his own plotting and take the other top bladers with them back to Mr. Dickerson and the BBA but that wouldn't solve anything. He would just recruit other bladers to take their place but his scheming was about to stop. Boris was about to receive a taste of his own medicine.
Mystel entered the training room to see both Brooklyn and Takao's blades leave the stadium at the same time. It seemed that Takao had improved since they had left. He was now drawing even with the king of games. "Mystel," Brooklyn called out, "would you like to take over for a while? I am getting a little bored."
"Where have you been?" Takao ask with curiosity, "have you seen Garland or Akane? One moment they were here with us and the next they were gone." "They had to go and talk to Boris," Mystel explained, putting on the best smile that he could muster under the circumstances, "they should return in a few minutes." He must have fooled Takao since he turned back to the dish but Brooklyn gave him a calculating look like he knew something had happened. He shook his head no since he had promised the others that he wouldn't tell Takao as he took Brooklyn's place on the other side of the dish.
Brooklyn stood off to the side waiting for them to return and watched the match with little interest. He knew something had happened; although he didn't know what it had been. Ten minutes later as Mystel and Takao were still battling, both Garland and Akane returned. Both of them looked as though they had been sucking on lemons from their sour expressions. It was a good thing that Takao's back had been turned or he would have seen the looks of disgust on their faces that were masked quickly.
"We need to talk," Akane whispered to Brooklyn as he nodded and left with her. That just left Garland and Mystel with Takao. Takao noticed that Garland had returned when he launched Apollon into the dish. The former world champ grinned from ear-to-ear from the challenge. A few minutes later, both Apollon and Poseidon were thrown from the dish, leaving Dragoon spinning perfectly in place.
"You will be unstoppable in the final match," Mystel complimented with a smile, "I wouldn't want to be in Kai's shoes." "Well, I have been training for this battle," he remarked, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a swipe of his sleeve, "I knew that it would one day come down to me and Kai eventually. I've been preparing myself for it." He looked around but saw the room was empty except for the three of them. "Where is Akane and Brooklyn?" he questioned as the two shrugged.
"She came in with me," Garland replied with a sigh, "but she left with Brooklyn. Takao, there is something we need to discuss and we are not sure of how to tell you this." Takao's eyes narrowed from the look on Garland's face as he wondered what could cause his captain to look totally disgusted. Even Mystel was not his bubbly self. "Does this have something to do with your disappearance before?" Takao ask as they both nodded.
"Yes, it does," Garland began, "Mystel overheard an interesting conversation after you left Boris' office. He wasn't eavesdropping on purpose but just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Boris summoned Ming Ming and Moses to his office." "Yeah, I know," he replied, "he was calling for them as I left." "Do you know why he wanted to see them?" Garland ask with interest.
"I wasn't really concerned with what he wanted them for," Takao replied with a shrug, "I thought he might be up to something but I had other matters on my mind." "I'm not one to beat around the bush, Takao," Garland stated, "He sent them after Kai to prevent him from battling in the tie-breaking match against you." "That would ensure his victory," Takao whispered as his fist clenched and his nails dug into the palm of his hand. He growled in frustration as both Garland and Mystel looked ready to subdue him if he decided to pay Boris a visit. "We have all ready confronted him," Garland reassured, "Akane and I discussed the matter with him on our return. He may not agree with our convictions but he will listen to our terms. If not, all of the top bladers will leave BEGA and he does not want that to happen."
"I think I have practiced enough for the moment," Takao remarked as he pocketed Dragoon, "I'll be back shortly and don't worry, I am not going anywhere near Boris' office." He stalked from the room, intent on finding his sister. Akane always told him the truth since she appreciated honesty like he did and he had a feeling that Garland was leaving something out. He walked around for about fifteen minutes and was no closer to finding her than when he first started. She wasn't in the cafeteria or in any of the training rooms.
He decided to check her room before he went to the park so he headed toward the dorms. Since there weren't as many girl bladers, all of them got their own room. When he reached hers, he held up his hand to knock but heard a noise inside that made him back away from the door. It seemed that she and Brooklyn were quite busy with one another. His face paled from the moans coming from her room that sounded suscipiously like his ginger-haired friend.
Takao had to hide a grin since he hadn't expected the two to jump each other so soon. He braced himself for the coming tempest as he held up his hand and knocked really loud. The noises stopped and if he had pressed his ear to the door, he would have heard soft cursing and the sound of someone throwing on some clothing. He heard the door unlock as it opened a crack to reveal Akane, whose fury faded when she saw it was Takao. "We need to talk," he said, simply, pushing the door open, "I hope that Brooklyn is dressed."
Takao pushed himself inside to find Brooklyn sitting on her bed with only his pants still on. Takao blushed since Brooklyn caught him staring at his pale chest. Takao wasn't thinking about him but remembering what a certain dual-hair looked like without his shirt. Obviously they hadn't gotten too far with their foreplay so he decided to make this quick. "Garland told you," Akane muttered, closing the door behind him as Takao sat down in the chair that sat at her desk. "Yes, he did," he informed, snapping out of his hentai thoughts, "but not everything. Why didn't you tell me?"
"There wasn't any time," she replied, sitting next to Brooklyn on the bed, "and you were busy with practice. I didn't want to tell you but Garland said you needed to know. You have too much on your mind with the upcoming match that I didn't want to add even more stress. I knew that you might even quit the team if you found out." "And you would be right," Takao fumed, "there is no way that I will blade against Kai for Boris. He will have to send someone else out instead."
Akane paled by that threat as she jumped up suddenly. "Takao, you have to blade in the tie-breaker match," she insisted as her eyes were wide, "do you realize what will happen if you don't?" "I think it is time that I swallow my pride and support my friends," Takao replied, "since Boris doesn't have faith in my abilities. Why are you still loyal to him after this?" Akane didn't answer but Brooklyn did.
"We don't have a choice but to support BEGA," he said, softly. "Why is that?" Takao demanded, looking between the two. "We signed a contract," Akane stated, softly, "we literally belong to the organization and him. If we attempt a coup, we will be kicked out of beyblading forever. It's a contract that can't be broken unless he agrees to it and if you think Kai winning the match will solve anything it won't. BEGA will still remain an entity even with the return of the BBA. Boris isn't going to give up everything he has worked hard for over a bet and the fan base will still be split between those who support the BBA and BEGA."
Takao's mouth dropped open from that news. "He didn't make me sign such an agreement," he remarked. "He knew that if he mentioned it," Akane said, simply, "that you wouldn't join BEGA and he needed you to legitimize his business venture. You could leave but the rest of us are stuck here." "So no matter if I win or lose," Takao murmured, "we still come out the losers." "If you win," Akane suggested, "then you would have more of a say over matters since he would owe you for saving his company. If you lose, then I don't even want to think about the consequences."
She shuddered violently as did Brooklyn. "Garland didn't mention this," Takao noted with interest. "I know that Ming Ming, Moses and Mystel signed the contract," Akane informed, "along with Brooklyn and myself. That is why we are loyal to him. He promised us so much and we were attracted to the fame and fortune. We saw the real Boris Balkov in his office earlier but he has never shown his true face before. He had always treated us well and has never raised his voice to any of us before this whole tournament started."
Takao thought about the situation for a few moments as Akane and Brooklyn looked uncomfortable by the silence and his presence. He decided that he would have a list of demands ready just in case Boris did decide to pull something else. If what Akane said was true, Boris needed him. He might could get more out of this situation than he had expected. His eyes briefly turned to Akane to see that she had a hickey on her neck and decided to leave since Brooklyn looked quite uncomfortable as well. He knew when two teens wanted to be alone.
"Well, you have given me much to think about," he remarked, rising from the chair, "I will leave the two of you to your other activities." "Please don't go and confront Boris," Akane pleaded. "Don't worry," he said with a wave of his hand, "I won't and I will blade in the match. It is just that I have a few demands to make of my own." He let himself out and as he stood in the hallway, he heard the door lock behind him.
He definitely didn't want to hear what was going to happen next as he strolled away. He decided to go back to the training room to let Dragoon spin for some relaxation and meditation. Garland and Mystel had disappeared by the time he returned as he closed the door and turned off the lights, leaving the room in almost total darkness with the exception of a few emergency lights. He launched Dragoon into the dish as he sat down beside of it and removed his jacket. He crossed his legs and cleared his mind of all thoughts.
Twenty minutes later found Dragoon still spinning in the dish and Takao in the lotus position. He was interrupted from his meditation by Garland. "I was just looking for you," he remarked as Takao opened an eye. "I was just thinking," he stated, rising and stretching his muscles, "and I needed some quiet time alone." "I know that feeling," Garland admitted, "do you think you are ready for the match?"
"Honestly, yes," Takao informed as Dragoon flew into his hand, "I am ready to beat Kai at his own game." He was about to add more when Mystel entered the room. Garland looked at him with concern since he looked like he had been startled by something. "Garland, you will never guess what I just overheard," he stammered as he jumped up and down from nerves, "I was going to find Brooklyn since I found this great spot in the park during my wanderings that I knew he would love and-" "You discovered that he is Akane's room with her," Takao finished as he raised an eyebrow, "and doing things that only the two of them could do together."
"How did you know?" Mystel ask, wide-eyed and pale. "I kind of interrupted them before," he replied with a sheepish grin, "I figured that they would continue on with their activities after I left." "You mean they are-" Garland choked, unable to form a coherent sentence. It was quite funny to see the captain of Team BEGA, speechless and caught totally off-guard. Takao had to smile even more from the look on Garland's face.
"I know that you aren't naive, Garland," Takao added after a few moments. "I didn't think it would happen so soon," he admitted as he shook his head in disbelief, "I guess I owe you and Moses twenty dollars, Mystel." He pulled out his wallet and gave the bill to the blond who had recovered. "You bet on when they would have sex," Takao squeaked, "why didn't you let me in on the betting?" Garland chuckled from his reaction.
"And here we thought you were too naive," Garland added, "but I didn't think that you would want to discuss your sister's sex life." "I am not naive," Takao protested as Mystel bounced out the door, happy with his newfound wealth, "why does everyone think I am a child?" "Because you act like one," Garland noted with an amused smirk, "but seriously, I was just kidding, Takao. We just thought that you wouldn't like to gossip about it. If you are interested, there is another betting pool concerning Mystel and if he will ever ask Rei out. Most of those involved say it will never happen since Mystel is too shy."
"I want a part of that one," Takao remarked with a grin, "what are the odds of Rei asking out Mystel?" "Why?" Garland inquired. "I'll give you a little heads up," Takao continued with a smirk, "I know for a fact that Rei is at least bi. He had a wet dream once when we were sharing a room in New York and he moaned out Kai's name. Then I overheard a discussion between the two when Rei finally admitted his feelings for him but Kai didn't return them."
"That is an interesting piece of information," Garland remarked, "if he doesn't ask him, then maybe we should get involved and set the two of them up." "And get Rei more mad at me?" Takao questioned, "I think not. Just let nature take its course and see what happens. Eventually they might get together like Brooklyn and Akane did." "They shared a past together," Garland reminded, "otherwise Brooklyn would not have been interested."
"I am not so certain of that," Takao mused, "in some weird way, those two are meant to be together. I think Mystel and Rei would look good together as well. Did you sign a contract like the others, Garland?" Garland seemed surprised by the way he had suddenly changed the conversation. "I believe we all did," he admitted as his arms crossed, "It was part of joining BEGA. You are the only one who is free to leave without any consequences."
Takao's eyes narrowed at his remark. 'I am going to change that,' he thought to himself as the conversation came to a close and they decided to return to practice, 'Boris isn't going to own anyone when I am through with Kai.' They practiced until after midnight when both boys were near exhaustion. The next few days were going to be interesting as Takao went to the bed for the night but took a pad and ink pen with him as he jotted down his demands. If Boris was going to use him to legitimize his beyblading organization, then he was going to have a bigger say in how everything was run.
AS