A/N: Anyway, sorry for the slight lateness of this chapter, I've been rather busy lately. But for your wait, this chapter will have: The most important beybattle of the story, Tyson and the gang finally meet up with Kai, and a warning of cliffies ahead! So, beware!
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Craving Freedom
Chapter 7: Fallen to the Darkness
"Over here!"
"No Tyson. We've already gone that way. It's this way."
"We've gone that way as well, Kenny." Max sighed. "That's it, we're lost."
"There has to be some way we can go to get out of this rat trap." Ray reasoned. "The question is how?" Ray began to rub his chin, deep in thought. The others looked at him quizzically. "Maybe we can retrace our steps somehow. Figure out which door originally brought us here."
"We tried that a few hours ago," Kenny butted in. "We ended up back here every time."
"Maybe we should just go back in the vent system," Tyson thought aloud.
"Except there are no vents around here," Kenny pointed out again.
'Think, Tyson, think,' Tyson told himself. He leaned against a wall. "We need to find Ka-aiiiiiiiiii!" Tyson yelled as he fell backward through the apparently solid wall. It hadn't been very visible, but the dark hall they were in had a few doorways lining it. Tyson had accidentally leaned against one of the invisible doors that had opened of its own accord. The others stood shocked at their lack of observation.
"What is this place?" Tyson asked picking himself up from the ground and dusting off. He stepped into the room. The others, not wanting to be separated from him, walked forward as well into the darkness.
There were no lights in this room. The black of the room pressed against all their eyes. They walked cautiously expecting to bump something sooner or later. About ten steps into the room, however, a blaring light suddenly shone in their eyes and blinded them for a few moments longer. Shielding their eyes with their hands, the Bladebreakers looked around.
They were in a vast room. It reminded them of a warehouse. Metal sheets acted as walls on four sides. A few different doorways allowed for exits to the room. A hall led out at the back of the room. It was the only open exit apart from the door from which the Bladebreakers entered. The ceiling was metal as well and had several pillars cross from side to side, leaving space for people to walk out on top. This was probably used for changing the light bulbs when a fluorescent one burnt out. They were the only providers of light in this room due to the lack of windows. In addition, these lights were obviously motion-sensitive.
"Do you think one of those doors will lead us to Kai?" Hilary suggested.
"It's possible we wandered through here and didn't trigger the lights," Kenny pointed out.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Ray said excitedly. They began to run to one of the doors. They were almost there. Tyson held out his hand to grab the doorknob. And, like a streak of lightning, something slashed across and Tyson pulled back his hand. Cradling it, he noticed it had been cut. The thin, red line cut into the back of his hand stung sharply, as a shallow paper cut would.
"What is it, Tyson?" Max inquired, stopping just behind him. The rest of the Bladebreakers stopped around him, staying clear of the door.
Hilary spotted the blood running down from his hand. "Tyson, you're bleeding!" she said shocked and worried.
Tyson ignored her, however, and after recovering from the surprise of the object, started to look around for it. He had heard its whoosh as it passed by him and its spinning sound still reached his ears, wherever it had landed. His eyes scanned the floor quickly and found the item with relative ease. It was the only object in the room apart from the five teenagers.
It was a small, black beyblade. It was now spinning innocently in one place. Tyson's eyes grew wide and his heart beat faster and faster. He knew this blade. He watched it spinning there for a while. It had a perfect spin and perfect balance. Its rotation was flawless and lost no energy with each spin but rather gained more as it used its small circumference to pull itself around. Tyson could tell it had the perfect weight also as its sound told him. That blade was the perfect blade. And Tyson didn't have to stop it to know what bit was at its centre.
"It can't be! Kenny gasped.
"But it is – "Ray said calmly. He was lost in thought. Only one person had the ability to control Black Dranzer, and if he was reunited with it, he was as good as gone.
"Where are you?" Tyson yelled out, spinning around as if expecting to see Kai there. His voice didn't hide the anger he felt building up in his chest. "Show yourself!" How could Kai betray them again? No, Voltaire had forced him from his home, retained him to a laboratory table, and held him captive against his will. Wherever Kai was, he would come with them the moment they found him. "Coward!" Tyson yelled again, trying to lure the beyblader from his hiding spot.
No one was there. Whoever had launched that blade had left. The room was completely empty. No matter where they looked, the BBA couldn't spot the person responsible for launching the blade.
"Looking for something?" a voice mocked from above. All heads snapped upward. High above them, on one of the pillars, a dark form stood upright and authoritative. The Bladebreakers gasped as they recognized the teen – Kai.
Tyson's lips curled into a brief smile before his expression broke. Something was wrong. It wasn't the Kai they were looking for.
Kai wore all black, from his boots to his gloves to his scarf. But that wasn't what worried Tyson the most. Kai's attitude seemed different. He had his arms crossed, a calm stance, and a large smirk across his face. His regular blue triangles on his cheeks seemed darker and sharper, if that were possible. And, Tyson shivered, his eyes were strange. His pupils were narrowed almost to the point where his eyes seemed blank which gave him a possessed look.
"Kai?" Tyson said cautiously, taking a half step toward the figure of darkness.
As soon as Tyson had said it, Kai jumped, landing perfectly on his two feet almost fifteen meters lower, as if he soared down upon invisible wings. The Bladebreakers gawked. It was impossible.
Resembling a pet returning to its master, the black beyblade, still spinning strongly, went and circled Kai, waiting for his instructions to it. Kai's smile broadened.
Tyson willed himself to believe it was all his imagination. "Kai, you're okay!" he said hoping the other would nod.
He was too hopeful.
"Cut the crap, Tyson. I've been waiting a long time for this." He gazed down at his beyblade. "Tyson, I want a rematch!"
"Huh?" Tyson was surprised. "Aww, come on Kai. You haven't changed. We've been looking for you. The least you could do is say 'hi'." Tyson smiled. Maybe everything was all right. He hoped by acting like it was, it would be. It was wishful thinking, though, as Black Dranzer hummed from the floor. But he would do anything to get Kai back; Kai was still his friend, after all.
The strike was quick and precise. Black Dranzer shot up from the ground and hit Tyson's left shoulder, cutting it like his hand. Tyson backed up and grabbed his shoulder. Black flames lingered on his shoulder, licking at the inside of his cut. They died away and so did the sting. Max and Ray put their hands on Tyson's back to steady him. Kai wasn't fooling around.
Tyson stared into the stone-cold eyes of Kai's trying to find any sign that his friend was still in there. Finally, Tyson reached a hand into his jacket pocket and took out his old launcher and Dragoon. It had been a while since the last time he beybladed. Sometimes, he still took it out and watched the white blade spin in front of him as he gathered his thoughts. But, ever since all of his teammates had left, he hadn't bladed against anyone. It wasn't that he lost all interest, but that he had other things to do. Tyson frowned. If he had to use Dragoon to get Kai back, then he would. That is why he brought his beyblading things. But did he still stand a chance against Kai after not beyblading for over a year? It was amazing to think how so much had changed without Tyson even realizing it.
Gripping his launcher, Tyson yelled at Kai, "If I win, you're coming with us and you're going to explain everything: why you're using Black Dranzer for one, why you stopped talking to us..."
"I figured you'd try to strike a deal. Very well. That seems fair. But when I win, you are prisoners here."
Tyson nodded not thinking about what he was agreeing to. He had made up his mind; he wasn't going to lose! Tyson's blade flew out of his launcher and went straight for the attack, hitting Kai's beyblade before even hitting the floor.
Tyson's attack was relentless. It came from every side pounding the black blade, which seemed to mock him as it continued to spin as if untouched. Tyson's attack was furious, but pointless.
Finally, Kai decided to go on the attack. With each strike from Tyson, Kai's beyblade hit back. Kai wasn't going to sit back and watch this battle. After using his rebound technique on Tyson for a while, Kai decided to switch into an all-out attack mode. Black Dranzer was now the one pounding from all sides. He hit Dragoon and made it fly backwards through the air before landing back on the ground again. And again Black Dranzer hit it. It seemed like Kai was taking advantage in the battle but Tyson wasn't going to let him win that easily.
Tyson had been studying Kai's attack pattern and came up with his own counter attack. Dragoon dipped down as Black Dranzer hit it again and this time, Dragoon held his ground. The assault was a stalemate.
Tyson looked up at Kai and was taken aback to see his expression had changed dramatically. Kai no longer had the smirk he had placed on his face up until that point, but now wore an appearance of complete contempt and rage. He looked mad, his pupils retracting even more, his eyebrows low over his eyes in anger.
"How DARE you defy me! Never!" he screamed. The BBA gasped. It was the first time any of them had seen their friend looking so insane.
The black blade reflected its master's anger. Its attacks suddenly became much more powerful; every blow damaged Dragoon. Kai had just as suddenly turned the match back in his favour.
"Kai."
Tyson looked back to where the voice whispered his opponent's name. Behind him, he saw his friend's shocked expressions. Ray, who had just mumbled Kai's name, had left his mouth open. Max, too, had his mouth dangling and eyes wide in wonder and fear. Kenny was rigidly still. Hilary had her hands cupped over her mouth and tears in her eyes. None of them could believe what they were seeing. Tyson turned his head back toward Kai but left it bowed down. He gripped his hand in a fist.
When all seemed lost, Dragoon had a sudden fervour of attacks. Kai continued to look worse. Tyson looked up. He spoke clearly. "I won't fail my friend."
Those words got a reaction from Kai, but not the one Tyson wanted. Kai began to laugh. In fact, his laughter turned into a cackle. He had shut his eyes and was laughing to the ceiling. Tyson didn't relax.
"Your – your friend? Ha hah! You're even more ridiculous than I ever would have thought!" The Bladebreakers didn't know what to think at this remark. "Don't you get it? Your friend is long gone! I am not the one called Kai! My name is Black Dranzer!"
Tyson felt weak.
"Kai is gone!" Black Dranzer roared again. "Now, let's fight! I've been waiting for my revenge for three years!"
'No,' Tyson thought, 'Kai must be in there somewhere. I won't believe he's gone.' "I can't!" he yelled.
His fury was now reflected in Dragoon, just as Black Dranzer's had been in his blade. Black Dranzer was still attacking but Dragoon wasn't sitting quiet either. A black flame twisted itself around the black beyblade and wind circled around the white one as they clashed together, spitting fire in a whirlwind. Both attacks were vigorous.
Each blade spun against the other giving all might possible. Tyson added an extra boost of energy that knocked his blade away from the black one. He wouldn't have been able to keep the attack up. He was now panting.
"Kai!" Tyson bellowed, "I know you can hear me, Kai! Fight it! Fight the darkness! Fight Black Dranzer!" Black Dranzer didn't react.
In Tyson's distress, he had lost his concentration on the battle. Black Dranzer was now thrashing Dragoon, causing Dragoon to wobble dangerously. It was slowing down.
"Kai!" Tyson still tried to reach his friend. He wasn't going to give up, no matter what! "Kai! Answer me, Kai!"
Buying some extra time for himself, Tyson used his engine gear, building up the speed of his beyblade again. "I won't let you win, Black Dranzer. I will do everything I can to defeat you and help Kai."
In response, Black Dranzer's blade charged again and hit Dragoon with an extreme force. Tyson attacked back. Tyson was staring defiantly at Black Dranzer.
"Why don't you give up?" Black Dranzer questioned. "You can't win! Dragoon isn't strong enough to beat me!"
Tyson simply continued to attack.
Black Dranzer's smile turned into a frown. Dragoon was slowing down again and its attack ring was being shredded, but Tyson didn't stop. "The way you treat Dragoon so carelessly, you don't deserve his companionship," Black Dranzer uttered in a deathly quiet whisper.
Tyson continued to attack despite it. Black Dranzer lost all composure. With fury he threw out his arms and Tyson's eyes caught a glimpse of light shine from his hands. In between his knuckles there were three spikes on each hand. As Black Dranzer's anger rose, each talon-like metal blade shot out further, just as retractable claws would. Tyson felt sick. What did they do to him? "You can't win this fight!" Black Dranzer yelled. "Is winning worth more to you than Dragoon? Is Dragoon worth it? Answer me! Is Dranzer worth it, Kai?" Black Dranzer's eyes snapped open. They were surprisingly full again. "Ahhh!" he yelled holding his head and bowing down as if suddenly inflicted with a terrible headache.
"What's he talking about," wondered Ray from behind Tyson.
'Kai, that's it!' Tyson thought. 'Fight it.'
Kai put his arms back down and lifted his head. Opening his possessed-like eyes, he shouted, "I will end this now!"
The black blade rushed at Dragoon. Without the chance to react, Dragoon was handled as a sitting duck. A black phoenix erupted from the blade and flew itself at an image of a dragon above the white blade. Smashing into it, the wings and beak of the bird clipped the dragon. The white blade flew through the air and broke apart. Bits of plastic and metal were thrown everywhere. A small yellow bit landed at Tyson's feet. A slash had also appeared across Tyson's stomach and he was now bleeding. Looking up at the blue dragon, Tyson saw the same cut across its stomach. "Dragoon..." he mumbled. As the dragon disappeared from the air and re-entered the bit, Tyson gazed down at it. The bit was slightly cracked. He picked it up silently.
"Tyson," Max reached out a hand to him. Tyson didn't speak. Dragoon would be permanently damaged. In any tough battle, even with a new blade, the bit could be shattered. Tyson knew the solution but didn't want to believe it; Dragoon would never battle again.
"I told you, you should have quit. You didn't want to listen. And Dragoon paid the price." Black Dranzer's voice, Kai's voice, was nothing but sardonic.
"Leave him alone! I'll fight you!" Ray shouted.
"And so will I!" said Max.
"No, he's right. I never stood a chance. I shouldn't have put Dragoon in that situation." Tyson said quietly. Max and Ray looked at him. "Draciel and Drigger don't stand any more of a chance than Dragoon did."
The two bladers knew he was right.
"Then you'll give yourselves up without any fight? That makes my job so much easier. Guards!" Black Dranzer yelled. In a swift moment, five men came into the room from the back corridor and each grabbed one of the children.
"What the – ?" Tyson articulated.
"Our agreement: 'When I won, you would be prisoners here.' " Tyson glared menacingly.
Black Dranzer then stepped forward in front of them, leading the guards back down the small passageway. They walked quietly, Tyson wondering if there was any way to get his friend back in control of his body. He had seen it briefly in that battle and was given new hope that his friend was still there. He just needed a way now to help him.
"Hey, wait! Where are you taking us?" Hilary's protests cut Tyson from his thoughts. He looked back to see that Hilary and Kenny were now being led down the hallway they had just passed, away from the group.
"What is this?" Tyson growled at Black Dranzer. How dare he split them up?
Black Dranzer continued to walk forward without even glancing back. Tyson, Max and Ray walked on, their guards not giving them time to shout back to their friends. Hilary and Kenny would have to protect themselves from now on...
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I hope you enjoyed it! What will happen to Tyson, Max and Ray? And Kenny and Hilary? You'll have to wait and see!
Golden Lunar Eclipse: See? You get to be first when you keep your promises! Good girl! Throws doggy biscuit to Yana So, what do you think will happen next? Hmmm??? Any thoughts? ... This is only fun when you haven't read ahead... it makes taunting so much funner... heh Gibby... gibber... erish... k, enough of that!
CrystallineWolf: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. The enigmatic Black Dranzer will stay that way a while although more info on him will be given in a couple of chapters.
starfiredevil: Heya! Thanks for reviewing all the chapters. Yep. Still more Kai torture to come. Sorry for having Black Dranzer and Kai merge, but I promise, there's more to it than you may think. In chapter 9 there'll be more on the bond between the two.
MasterFranny: Eheheheheh... Ummm... pulls at collar I suppose this isn't a good time to mention that it may be a while 'till I update again? Puts up hands I surrender? Anyway, we won't see Dranzer in human form. Black Dranzer as such will only be seen within Kai's mind. It's sort of a way for Kai to relate with Black Dranzer. So, um, we're good on the death threats? heh?
Light of the Blue Rose: Thanks for the compliment! And, yes, this story will have quite a bit to do with the Hiwatari family... but that's for later! Don't want to spoil anything for you! winks
Anyway, now I have something a little bit sadder to say... I may not update for a few weeks from now. I have a couple of back to back water polo tournaments coming up that I'll be training hard for, homework to keep up with and other various 'real world' problems that I have to settle. I hope to be able to continue to update weekly, but that may not be possible. Now don't think I'm abandoning you here! I'll definitely update before December, it's just uncertain how much I'll be able to.
Well, whenever I'm able to get it up, chapter 8 will be Trust and Deception. 'Till then!
True friendship is like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it be lost. -Charles Caleb Colton
.:Fey Phantom:.