Author's Note: I'm so sorry I took so long to update. I've been fighting writer's block and school. First I would like to thankMs. Controversy, wolf of the snow, Hiruka-Rei's-Kitty, hobo bob (anon.), chocolateriku, PureBlackRaven, and kay1fire for reviewing.Your encouragement has been so helpful! And Ms. Controversy has reviewed every chapter so far! You don't know how much that means to me. I'm not sure when I will have time to write the next chapter, so I hope this is long enough to tide everyone over! I will be slightly changing the plot of the Beyblade anime from here on out, so don't kill me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. I just own Pyrix and Eri. Michelle and Dramikun belong to my friend.

Chapter 5: The World Championships: Round Two

"I'm so sorry, Eri. This was all my fault," Pyrix apologized as she laid her head on Eri's chest.

"It's…not your fault, Pyrix," Eri replied, reaching up to scratch Pyrix's head. Even that slight movement caused her to wince in pain. She was lying on top of her bed with bandages covering most of her arms, legs, and back. She had gotten back into the Abbey just a couple of hours ago, but one of the guards spotted her. Eri wouldn't tell him what she had been doing, so he had punished her by beating her. It was around 3 in the morning, which meant the bell would ring in three hours to rouse the trainees for breakfast. "Ugh…I don't want to go to practice today." But she knew the guards would make her go, probably with another beating, if she tried to stay in her room.

"But I was the one who suggested that you sneak out to find Michelle. I should have known better," Pyrix insisted.

"Hey, I was the one who made the decision to go," Eri replied. "Besides, it was worth it. We now have a contact who knows Mr. Dickinson. If anyone can help us, it's him."

"But what if the Bladebreakers can't defeat the Demolition Boys?" Pyrix asked. "We'll be back to square one."

"We…have to try," Eri said, fighting against the pain surging through her body. "Wake me when the bell rings. I need some sleep or else I'll never make it through training." She closed her eyes and immediately fell into a deep sleep while Pyrix kept watch.

Meanwhile…

Kai leaned against the wall in the corner of the Demolition Boys' locker room, eyes closed and arms crossed. It was still early, so he had the room to himself. He could feel Black Dranzer's consciousness around his heart. 'Such power…' Kai thought. 'I will never lose to anyone. As long as I have Black Dranzer, I'll be invincible.'

Kai… a dark, malicious voice whispered.

Kai jerked his head up. Black Dranzer always caught Kai off guard when he contacted him. What is it? Can't you see that I'm busy? Kai asked in annoyance.

Hungry…I crave sacred spirits…

Kai smirked, an evil glint in his eye. Heh…you won't have long to wait. It'll be dinnertime soon.

Two hours later…

"Demolition Boys, fall in!" Boris ordered. Tala, Bryan, Spencer, and Ian immediately stood at attention. Kai, on the other hand, still stayed put in his corner. "Today we are facing the White Tigers. You will beyblade and win. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir!" the Demolition Boys replied with a salute.

"Kai, I want you to let Tala and the others handle this. You need to conserve your strength for the later matches," Boris said.

Tala was indignant. "What? You're gonna make us fight just because Kai might be tired?"

"My orders are final!" Boris snapped.

"But sir—"

"Do I make myself clear?" Boris roared.

"Yes sir," Tala said, snapping back to attention.

Kai jerked his head up and walked over to Boris. "Let me blade. I can take on that whole team by myself." He looked down at the blade beyblade in his hand. "Black Dranzer is still hungry for more bit beasts."

Boris nodded. "Very well, Kai."

Tala thought, 'This has gone too far. Maybe Eri was right about Boris.'

Boris had his own thoughts about his team. 'Tala is becoming more rebellious. It's all Eri's fault. If she didn't command the Fire Wolf I would have killed her years ago. Once we win this match, I will have to do something about Tala. Then maybe that insolent girl will finally learn her place.'

"And it's my pleasure to welcome all of you back for the second day of the Beyblade World Championships!" boomed DJ Jazzman over the microphone. "Today we have a fierce match-up, with the Demolition Boys facing the White Tigers!"

Lee was dumbfounded to see only Kai sitting on the Demolition Boys' team bench. "What's this? Do they dare insult the White Tigers by sending in only one blader?" he asked indignantly. Kai didn't seem to hear Lee's words but continued to sit on the bench as if meditating.

"The Demolition Boys are certainly taking a risk by sending only one blader. Can Kai do take the win?" asked DJ Jazzman as Kai approached the dish.

"I've had enough of this," Lee stated. "Gary, go teach this guy a lesson." Gary obeyed his captain and stepped up to the dish.

Once both bladers were ready, DJ Jazzman began the countdown: "3…2…1…Let it Rip!"

Gary didn't waste any time going on the offense. "Galzzy, Bear Axe!" The mighty bear spirit emerged from his beyblade and tried to pile-drive Black Dranzer, but Kai easily evaded the blow.

"Tryhorn, Stampede Rush!" Kai ordered, calling upon Steve's bit beast. A herd of bulls rushed from Kai's beyblade and dealt so much damage to Galzzy that his beyblade exploded into a million pieces. Black Dranzer then absorbed the helpless bit beast into his bit chip.

"Oh…my beautiful Galzzy," Gary lamented as the reality of his defeat set in. He walked dejectedly back to the bench as the announcers confirmed Kai's victory.

Furious, Mariah stepped up to the dish next. "I don't know what happened to you, Kai, but I'm going to take you down!" Mariah exclaimed. Kai just smirked and prepared to launch for the second match. As soon as the DJ called Let it Rip, Mariah went on the offensive. "Galux, Cat Scratch!" The mountain cat emerged and leaped straight for Black Dranzer at a lightning speed.

"Trypio, Sting Shoot!" Kai ordered. The scorpion bit beast scored a direct hit on Galux, and her beyblade started to wobble.

Mariah sank to her knees as she realized that Galux was in serious trouble. "Run! Run, Galux!" she called desperately.

"The venom has paralyzed Galux," Kai stated. "Now, Trygator, attack!" Emily's alligator bit beast attacked and dealt the finishing blow to Galux, shattering her beyblade. She yowled in pain as Black Dranzer absorbed her as well.

"No! He's taken Galux!" Mariah exclaimed in horror.

"And Kai wins the second match!" DJ Jazzman announced as the crowd erupted in applause.

Lee had had enough. Seeing his sister's bit beast stolen was the final straw. He threw off his vest and stepped up to the dish. "You destroyed my teammates' beyblades. Now you will pay!"

"Hmph. We'll see about that," Kai retorted, confident that he would win this match as well.

Both beyblades hit the dish and attacked each other with a vengeance. Lee immediately called for his ultimate attack. "Galeon! Black Thunder! Dark Lightning!" The black lion emerged amidst the thunder and lightning emitted by the beyblade.

"Trygle! Attack!" Kai commanded. Michael's eagle bit beast dived for the attack and pushed Galeon back. "Now, Black Dranzer! Finish him off!" Immediately the eagle changed to the black phoenix as he dealt the fatal blow. Galeon's beyblade shattered into tiny pieces as he was helplessly drawn into Kai's bit chip.

DJ Jazzman was nearly speechless. "Whoa! Kai has defeated the White Tigers single-handedly! The Demolition Boys advance to the next round and will face the Bladebreakers in the final round of the World Championships!"

Back at the Abbey…

Eri subconsciously tightened her grip on Pyrix's beyblade. She had been watching the match on a TV screen in the Abbey, along with the other trainees. She could clearly feel waves of distress from her bit beast. I…can't bear to watch this. This is just too horrible. Even now I feel the cries of those sacred spirits…I feel their pain, Pyrix mourned.

I know. I can feel it too, Eri replied. But I know this must be even harder on Michelle.

At the hotel…

Michelle sat on her bed, oblivious to everything around her except Dramikun and Dranzer, whose beyblades she clutched in her hand. She had seen the whole thing on the TV. How could this happen? How could he change like this and betray us? she asked the two phoenixes.

Black Dranzer was created based on my genes, Dranzer replied. Except that he has ten times the power I have.

I can understand why you would not want to go watch the match at the stadium today, but is it really all right to just hide here forever? Dramikun asked his master. There must be some way to bring Kai back.

Yes, Dranzer agreed. Kai always seemed more open around you, Michelle. If anyone can bring him back, you can.

Thanks, Dranzer. Thanks, Dramikun, Michelle said. I will try my best to help him. That's a promise.

Back at the Abbey again…

Eri was startled out of her dreams by the whir of helicopter blades. Ugh…who could be running a helicopter at this hour? she asked Pyrix sleepily.

That is Boris' helicopter. He must have brought the Demolition Boys back to the Abbey, Pyrix replied.

Eri jerked awake. Then that means…Tala's back! She jumped out of bed, threw on a sweater, and grabbed Pyrix before sneaking toward the landing pad. She watched from behind the corner as Boris and the Demolition Boys, including Kai, stepped out of the helicopter. She strained her ears to catch what Boris was saying.

"You have done well to make it this far, but your victories have still been too slow and not frightening enough for the audience," Boris snapped. "The next time you beybattle, I want each of you to focus entirely on eliminating your enemy and striking fear in the hearts of everyone in that stadium!"

"Sir, yes sir!" the Demolition Boys replied with a salute. Kai just stood there with his arms crossed. "I want each of you to meet in the training grounds at dawn tomorrow. You will train nonstop for your next mission. Dismissed!" The Demolition Boys saluted again and broke off to return to their respective rooms. Tala started walking toward Eri's hiding place. She crept away and intercepted him alone in the stone hallway leading to his room.

"Eri? What are you doing here at this hour?" Tala asked. But his tone wasn't as sharp. He actually sounded slightly…worried.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Eri asked defensively, crossing her arms. "I was worried about you! Haven't you seen what Boris is making Kai do?"

"Boris isn't making Kai do anything," Tala replied. "Kai chose to accept the power of Black Dranzer and join Biovolt, and now he is acting on his own."

"You mean Black Dranzer's controlling him!" Eri exclaimed. "Kai's totally possessed by that bit beast's power. What if that happened to you?" Tala stood there emotionlessly. He had no answer for her question. "I don't…want you to suffer like that." She looked away. "I'm scared, Tala. I'm scared of what Boris has planned for you."

Then Tala did something unexpected. He stepped forward and pulled Eri into a tight embrace. He didn't know what compelled him to act this way. 'Wait…what am I doing?' Tala thought. 'Emotions are a sign of weakness, so why do I feel something now?' He abruptly pulled away and deadpanned, "You should return to your room before Boris catches you here." With that, he stepped around Eri and continued down the hall.

'What was that all about?' Eri thought in confusion. 'First he acts like he doesn't care, and then he's holding me. Maybe there's still hope for him…'

End chapter 5

Author's Note: Well, I hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed that. I also hope I didn't rush the battle scenes too much. I know I have been focusing a lot on the Bladebreakers and Kai when this is supposed to be about Tala, but it does have a lot of significance for the plot later. Okay, you readers know what to do. Just look at the little button labeled "Submit a Review." Later!