I'm sorry this took so long to update. For some strange reason, this website kept forgetting thatI logged in and it refused to let me update my stories. I have decided to rewrite this chapter because I didn't like the way it turned out. I hated it, I hated it, I hated it. I think I've made my point. Flames are accepted, but please, if you're going to flame me, at least login. I'm not going to do anything about it. Small Warning: there will be some... colorful language in this chapter. (A.k.a.: Swearing )

To everyone who reviewed: Thank you so very much for reviewing. I never imagined that so many people would like it. Oh, and by the way. Here's a question for all you dedicated readers. Should there be a sequel to this fanfic?

Disclaimer: The only things I own in this fanfic are the plot and Starr.

Chapter 9: Battle Royale.

"Three. Two. One. Let it RIP!"

Rei's POV.

Three beyblades landed in the dish. Kai's, mine, and Starr's. They spun around so fast that even to my half neko-jin eyes, they looked like blurs. 'Why Starr? What did she ever do to deserve this? I...I don't think I can do this.' my thoughts repeated over and over. 'They're using her.' It made my blood boil. I knew I didn't like her as just a friend. I loved her.

I saw Kai out of the corner of my eye. He had this look of pure determination on his face. The only other time I had ever seen him like that was he had beybattled either Brooklyn and Tyson. A painful expression crossed his face before disappearing. He didn't want to fight against her either. I wasn't alone. I was lost in my thoughts until a voice yelled "Pay attention!"

Kai's unexpected warning scared me, and I barely managed to avoid a black and silver beyblade as it rushed towards Drigger. A plume of dust rose into the air when the blade made contact with the concrete side. It cleared, revealing a huge jagged hole in the dish.

"Starr. Why are you doing this?" I asked her.

"You can't win." she said mechanically. I could see the struggle going on in her eyes. I almost couldn't recognize her; they were so dark and empty. It scared me all the way down to my heart. She was a stranger, struggling for control of her own body.

"Starr, please. I don't want to do this." I said.

"If you want to help her than you have to fight her, Rei. Nothing else will work." Kai said. He attacked with Dranzer, but his blade only bounced back from Starr's. Surprise showed clearly behind his ruby eyes, but he hid it well.

"Together." he mouthed. I nodded. I knew it might not work, but I would do anything as long as she returned to normal.

"Drigger! Dranzer! Attack!" we yelled. The room suddenly darkened, and fear made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. A purple glow emitted from her beyblade and surrounded her. Her eyes flashed red and she held out a hand.

"Black Dranzer." she spoke in a monotonous voice. The summoned bit beast made it's appearance gracefully in all of it's chaotic wrath. It shrieked and flapped its wings, beating a wall of heat and ashes towards us.

A gust of fire hit Kai's beyblade. I could see him gritting his teeth. Then I witnessed something I never thought he would do.

"Dranzer. Attack."

His bit beast emerged, screaming a cry of rage and fury at its darker copy. She flew towards it and his beyblade collided with Starr's. They ground together violently, sending off blue shock waves. Starr smiled grimly.

"Come on, Rei. Don't you want to blade with me?" she questioned. My hands clenched into fists by my sides. She saw this and smirked.

"Rei. I could use some help, damn it." Kai grunted as he slammed his blade against hers.

I nodded my head. 'Starr. I don't want to do this but I have no choice.' I thought.

"Drigger!"

My white tiger emerged from his home, growling angrily. The shock waves almost knocked him over but he braced himself against impact. I bit my lip, tasting salt and sweet, metallic blood. The salt was from the tears that were flowing freely down my face.

"Rogue Tiger Claw!" Drigger raced towards the black phoenix. He yelped as a clawed foot struck out and broke off a piece of his front armor. Blood from the wound stained the ground, turning the beydish into a slippery mess.

He didn't give up. He attacked her blade over and over again, but it seemed to have no effect. I could see bits of the blade flying off. 'How much longer can Drigger stand the pain?'

"Black Dranzer. Pyro Twister."

Kai's POV.

'Oh, shit. Not that! Anything but that. Please, please. There's no way Rei can stand up to an attack like that.'

"Rei! Back off. Get as far away from Starr's blade as you can. Stand behind me. Now!" I yelled. I could already see it forming in my mind's eye.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"Don't question me. Get over here NOW!" I yelled again. I watched as Starr's blade began to spin in an unbelievably small circle.

Rei ran behind me, pulling back Drigger until it rested on the very edge of the dish.

"What's going on Kai?" he asked. I noticed the tear-streaks down his face but said nothing.

"Shut up and brace yourself. You better be ready to fight this battle, because I might not be able to help after this." I whispered lowly. He froze, and then shook his head slowly. His eyes held fear, but also curiosity.

I turned back to watching Starr's blade. It started to glow a dark red and small flames formed around the edge. It spun faster and faster, gaining momentum. The flames grew higher and higher. They touched the ceiling, licking it as if it were a hungry monster. 'Which it is.' I reminded myself.

The red flames turned a bluish green at the top. I knew those flames were hot, well over a thousand degrees.

"Dranzer. Pyro Twister." I called to my phoenix. She shrieked softly, asking me if I really wanted to do this.

"No questions, Dranzer. Take what you need and go." I told her. She spread her wings out and I felt energy being taken from my body. I felt slightly dizzy, but I ignored it and kept myself focused on my beyblade. She began to spin faster and faster. It glowed and flames leaped out of my blade, flaring brightly. They touched the ceiling.

"Go!" Starr yelled. The inferno swirled about, creating a tornado of fire. It rushed towards Dranzer.

"Dranzer." I commanded her.

Rei's POV.

I watched as the two gigantic walls of fire pushed against each other. Shock waves cracked the dish, disintegrating They shoved each other back and forth. A flash of light pierced my eyes. I felt a massive wave of heat spread across my body. Wind shook the stadium and I felt myself being lifted off of the ground. My back met the concrete wall. Pain shot through me into my right arm.

A roaring sound told me that the entire stadium was falling apart. The wind stopped and I opened my eyes. Kai was still standing, but smoke drifted up from his clothes. He turned to me. I saw him nod his head and his eyes closed wearily. He fell to the ground, unmoving.

"Kai!" I yelled. I walked slowly towards him, unable to go faster because of the pain in my back and arm. I already knew that my arm was broken. I gritted my teeth and bent down to examine his injuries. Burn marks covered his face, shoulders, and arms. Most of them looked very severe. Kai's ragged breathing was the only sign that he was even alive.

I saw my blade, or rather, what was left of my blade laying on the ground. I picked it up. The attack ring and the bit chip were the only thing left. 'Thank God, Drigger. You're safe.'

"Rei. I'm sorry."

I whirled around to see Starr. She looked at me with steel grey eyes. They were full of tears. Burns also covered her face and hands, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Are you okay?" I asked her. She nodded wordlessly. "It's my fault, isn't it?" she asked, coming to stand beside me.

"Listen to me. It was not your fault. There was nothing you could've done." I grabbed her shoulders and shook her, mindful of her injuries. The tears spilled, coming faster and faster.

"Starr?"

"Yes, Rei."

"I... I like you. I like you...a lot." I admitted, blushing hotly. She looked at me.

"Really?" she asked.

"What I meant to say was...I love you, Starr."

"I love you too." she whispered. I felt so happy I could burst. We had won.

We stood there, looking at each other. I reached up my left hand and touched her cheek. Suddenly, she hugged me tightly. She tilted her face towards me and her lips tickled mine. Slowly, softly, I kissed her. She kissed me back.

"Aww, isn't this cute."

We pulled away from each other and looked down. Kai was sitting up, coughing and attempting to smile at the same time.

"Kai!" Starr groaned. Just then, the building began to shake.

"This place is going to collapse on us if we don't get out of here soon." I said.

"Let's go. Kai. Do you think you can walk?" she asked him. She reached out a hand but he didn't take it.

"No, I can't." he muttered unhappily.

"I'll carry you." said Starr. She reached down and turned her back towards him. He winced as she moved his arms into the proper position. She stood up, shifting his legs under her arms for a better grip.

"That hurt." he said tightly.

"It would probably hurt less if you stopped talking." Starr suggested. Kai merely growled before falling asleep, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Rei. Are you hurt in any way?" she asked, turning to me.

"I know my arm is broken and my back feels funny." I admitted. "I can't walk very fast."

"Well, let's try to go as fast as we can because otherwise, we'll end up pancakes." she started walking slowly, making sure I could keep up with her. Each step sent a ricochet of pain up my back, but said nothing. It would've been more for her to worry about.

The rumbling started again, louder this time, and dust billowed in the air. I heard a sound behind me and turned to see a chunk of concrete come crashing down.

"RUN!" I yelled to Starr. She and I started to run. I tried to keep up but fell further and further behind.

"Rei! Come one. You can make it!" I heard Starr shout. I felt so tired, I just wanted to collapse. My surroundings blurred but I kept placing one foot in front of the other. I tripped and fell forwards into something soft and warm. My vision caught a glimpse of red, and then the tiredness overwhelmed me, dragging me into the darkness of unconsciousness.

Finally! I finished the entire chapter. I liked this one much, much better. Everyone gets one guess on what the red thing belongs to. I hope you liked this version better than the other one. I'm going to go take a nap now. Goodnight (or technically good morning for me).