Silvan Arrow: Okay, it's time for a new chapter. And you know what that means? A new victim…err, I mean volunteer…to do the disclaimer!

Tyson: I'm not doing it again! You nearly killed me with your stupid cookie!

Silvan Arrow: I didn't mean to! I guess I need a new bribe. Hey, Kai, you wanna do it this time?

Kai: …

Silvan Arrow: Uh…Kai?

Kai: …No

Silvan Arrow: I've got pocky/waves box of chocolate pocky in front of Kai's face/

Kai: O.O Is that…pocky?

Silvan Arrow: You betcha! I was planning on giving some to whoever did the disclaimer, but I guess you just don't feel up to it.

Kai: Silvan Arrow does not own Beyblade or any of its characters. GIVE ME POCKY!

Silvan Arrow: Okay/grins/ Fetch/tosses pocky in the air/

Kai/chases pocky/

Silvan Arrow: Okay! While I grab some popcorn and watch Kai chase the pocky, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 9: World Championships: Round 3

The next morning came all too soon for Eri. Pyrix nudged her to wake up. "Five more minutes, Pyrix…" Eri moaned. She was still sore from yesterday's beating.

"I'm sorry, Eri, but you must get up. Boris is on his way," Pyrix apologized. She quickly retreated into her bit chip just before Boris entered.

"So, Eri, are you feeling any less defiant today?" Boris asked in his usual oily voice. She just glared at him as she got to her feet. "You'll learn soon enough. Now come. The rest of the team is waiting for you." Boris turned and left quickly, expecting Eri to follow. She walked behind him, making sure not to limpor portray any sign of weakness. He led her to the locker room where the Demolition Boys were already gathered. "Demolition Boys, fall in!" Boris barked. Tala and his team immediately stood at attention. Boris gripped Eri by the neck and shoved her toward the others. "Stand at attention, Eri." She grudgingly obeyed, knowing that she was in no condition to oppose him. Satisfied that he had their complete, undivided attention, Boris began: "Today is the first round of our match against the Bladebreakers. I want you to think only of completely dominating and eliminating your opponents. Once we win the World Championships, no one will dare oppose the power of Biovolt. Do I make myself clear?"

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

Bryan sent Eri a death glare and asked, "And what is this traitor doing here? I thought you had eliminated her already." Eri glared back at him.

Boris replied calmly, "Well, Bryan, I decided to bring her along so she could learn how to instill fear in her opponents from observing the four of you dominate the World Championships. Don't worry. She has already received her punishment for causing such a commotion yesterday. If she defies me again, I will let you discipline her. Does that proposition please you?" Eri cringed inwardly. Of all the Demolition Boys, Bryan was the most brutal. He enjoyed causing his opponents pain in battle and would certainly not show any mercy to her. Boris continued, "Our first match is in one hour. Spencer, you will go first."

"Understood, Boris," Spencer replied automatically.

One hour later…

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the final round of the Beyblade World Championships!" DJ Jazzman announced amidst the cheers of the crowd. "Today we will have our first best-of-three round featuring the defending champions, the Demolition Boys, and the challengers, the Bladebreakers!" Both teams entered the stadium and took their places at the team benches. Eri locked eyes with Michelle momentarily; Michelle gave Eri a sympathetic look.

Dramikun is saying that Michelle is worried about you, Pyrix said.

Tell Dramikun that I'm okay and that the Bladebreakers need to concentrate on winning the World Championships, for all our sakes, Eri replied.

I shall relay the message, Pyrix said before she went silent.

"Now, will our first bladers please approach the dish?" DJ Jazzman requested. Spencer and Kai got up and positioned themselves on either side of the dish, which was designed to look like a seaside harbor. A deep pool of water took up most of the space in the middle.

'Come on, Kai. I know you can do it,' Michelle cheered silently.

DJ Jazzman began the countdown: "Bladers ready? 3…2…1…Let it Rip!" Spencer and Kai both launched their beyblades and charged for the attack.

"Dranzer, attack!" Kai ordered. Dranzer attacked Seaborg viciously and knocked it into the water. Dranzer hopped onto a boat floating in the water. This is too easy. Spencer's got something up his sleeve, Kai warned Dranzer.

I am ready, Dranzer replied resolutely. Just then the water churned as a whirlpool appeared. It's coming!

"Seaborg, Voda Impact!" Spencer ordered. The whirlpool turned into a vortex of water that trapped Dranzer and flung it out of the dish.

"And Spencer takes the first round!" DJ Jazzman announced. Kai was stunned. He had never seen that move coming, even with all his experience. He simply walked out of the stadium and into a hallway to be alone and think before his next match. (A/N: I'm just gonna skip the part where Voltaire confronts Kai. We all know how that goes, right?)

Spencer walked back to his team bench grinning. "I won! That was easy!"

"You took too long to defeat your opponent!" Boris admonished. "I want you to win the next match in half that time! Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir!" Spencer replied with a salute.

Thirty minutes later both bladers returned to the dish for the second round. As the match began, Spencer didn't waste any time forcing Kai to play defense. The two beyblades pursued each other, trading blows along the thin border around the pool of water. Finally Spencer grew tired of waiting and directed Seaborg into the water for his ultimate attack. "Seaborg, Voda Impact!" The ancient whale spirit materialized from a vortex of water and dived to attack Kai's beyblade.

"Dranzer, Fire Arrow!" Kai shouted, feeling his spirit connect with that of his bit beast. Dranzer emerged from her beyblade, glowing a majestic red. She could feel Kai's strength flowing through her body as she soared through the air and made a beeline for Seaborg. 'So this is how it feels to fight for my friends,' Kai thought.

It is a wonderful feeling, Dranzer said. She shrouded herself in flames and dived into Seaborg's vortex. Water battled fire in a swirling tempest that rose to the ceiling of the stadium, stunning the entire audience into silence. But when the smoke cleared, only one beyblade was left standing. The pool of water was completely dried up from the intensity of the attacks, and Dranzer lay motionless at the bottom while Seaborg was still spinning. Kai gasped in horror and could only watch helplessly as Seaborg drew Dranzer out of her beyblade andcaptured her as the spoils of victory. He heard her last cry fade into oblivion. Kai…I will never forget you… Then all was silent.

"And Spencer wins the second match! Round one goes to the Demolition Boys!" DJ Jazzman announced. "Join us tomorrow for the second round!"

Eri was horrified. She had known Dranzer, and now she was yet another victim of Boris' greed. I…can't believe it, Pyrix lamented. This can't be happening. Eri could feel Pyrix tremble inside her beyblade but could offer no words to comfort her bit beast.

Kai appreciated his team mates' words of encouragement after his defeat, and he put up a neutral front so they couldn't see the grief plaguing his soul. When Dranzer had been with him, he could always feel her warm, soothing presence next to his heart. Now he felt as if someone had ripped out a piece of his soul. Dranzer was a part of him, and he had lost her. He had lost his best friend, the one who had stood by his side for so many years. He aimlessly wandered the dark labyrinth of halls in the deep underbelly of Biovolt Stadium, trying to get his mind off his present situation. Kai felt his vision blur from mental and physical exhaustion as he sagged against the wall and dropped to his knees. The reality that he would never see Dranzer again bore down on his shoulders like a mountain. But then he heard soft footsteps approaching. "…Kai?" He didn't move or try to get up as Michelle knelt in front of him. "Kai…I'm so sorry."

Kai didn't look up to meet her eyes. "Why did you follow me?"

"Because I was worried about you," Michelle replied. "I know how much Dranzer meant to you, and the rest of us are going to do everything we can to get her back." She stood up and offered her hand. "Let's go back to the others. I'm sure they're worried too."

Kai took her hand as she helped him to his feet. Then he startled her by pulling her into his arms and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. He pulled away and said, "Thank you, Michelle. You mean more to me than you could ever imagine. I love you."

Michelle laid her head on Kai's chest and whispered, "I love you too." He cupped her chin in one hand and brought her face up to meet his gaze. They both leaned in and shared a passionate kiss. Michelle wrapped her arms around Kai's neck and cherished these few precious moments together as he held her close.

In the Demolition Boys' Locker Room…

The Demolition Boys and Eri were gathered in the locker room, listening to Boris' lecture. "I have just spoken with Voltaire. We have agreed that the time has come to show the people of Russia the true meaning of fear. Therefore, we have selected Bryan to blade in tomorrow's match. Bryan, show your opponent no mercy."

"Heh, it would be a pleasure," Bryan sneered with a wicked grin.

I fear for whoever the Bladebreakers choose to fight tomorrow. Bryan will not be easily defeated, Pyrix said.

"Tala, take Eri back to her quarters and meet us at the hotel in 20 minutes," Boris ordered. "She needs some time alone to ponder what she has seen today."

"Yes sir," Tala replied automatically. He gripped Eri's forearm and led her out of the locker room and into the hallway. He let go when he was certain they were out of Boris' earshot. "I'm sorry, but I had to make it look convincing."

"I figured as much," Eri said, rubbing her sore arm. She walked beside Tala until they reached the same room she had stayed in last night. "So I'm guessing Boris is saving you for the final match."

"If he even needs me," Tala interjected. "Bryan will most likely win tomorrow. And then we willwin the tournament." He paused for a moment before changing the subject. "I'm sorry you have to spend the night here again." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a granola bar. "This is all I could salvage. I'm guessing Boris is trying to starve you into submission as well."

Eri took the proffered food and replied, "It's okay. I survived for five years on less than this before coming to the Abbey. Pyrix and I can take care of ourselves."

Tala nodded. "I must go. Take care." He left the room and locked the door behind him, according to Boris' wishes.

Eri sighed as she was left in the dark. 'It's going to be a long night…'

The next day…

"And round two of the match goes to Rei! The score is tied one-to-one. The nextbattle will decide the outcome of this round and whether the Bladebreakers stay in this tournament!" DJ Jazzman announced.

Rei felt terrible. Bryan hadn't spared any expense in causing him pain. He had Falborg strike him in the stomach with a rock in the first match and then slice his arms with razor winds in the second match. The thirty minute rest was barely enough time for Rei to catch his breath. His team mates said that they wouldn't hold it against him if he forfeited. But he had already resolved to finish this match no matter what. The Bladebreakers had come too far to give up now.

Bryan began the third, tie-breaking match with his usual dirty tricks. He called for Falborg's Stroblitz attack, which shrouded the dish with razor winds that sliced anything it touched, including Rei. He held up his arms to shield his body from the brunt of the attack and could feel the warm blood dripping from the numerous cuts. Bryan laughed cruelly. "Is that all you got? This is way too easy. Falborg, finish him off!" Rei moaned in pain as the winds continued to slice him and attack his beyblade. Bryan was surprised that Driger was still spinning. "What's this? You should have gone down already!"

"I'll never let you win, Bryan," Rei replied resolutely. "My team is counting on me! And I have Driger fighting by my side!" Just then Driger rose out of his beyblade as a ball of energy and shielded Rei from Falborg's relentless attacks. "Driger! Tiger Claw Attack!" The white tiger spirit threw all of his power and strength into one final attack. The two beyblades collided in a flash of light that blinded the entire audience momentarily. When the light faded, Driger was still spinning, and Falborg was still.

"I don't believe it! Rei has defeated Bryan! The Bladebreakers are still in this tournament! Tomorrow's match will decide a new world champion!" The crowd cheered in excitement.

But Rei didn't fare so well. He collapsed from exhastion after the match and was rushed to the hospital. Also, Drigar had disappeared. The white tiger had used up so much energy in his last attack that he disappeared. No one knew if he would ever reappear.

In the Demolition Boys' Locker Room…

Bryan collapsed on the floor and clutched his stomach where Boris had punched him. "I thought I made it very clear that I do not tolerate failure, Bryan! You are a disgrace to Biovolt!" Bryan growled in anger and would not meet Boris' icy gaze. "We will deal with yourincompetence once we return to the Abbey. Come along!"

"But the final match is tomorrow. Why are we going back to the Abbey?" Spencer asked.

"We must prepare for tomorrow's match. Tala, you are going to battle and you are going to win. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Yes sir," Tala replied automatically.

"Good. Come to my office when we reach the Abbey. The rest of you will return to your quarters," Boris stated.

As the group walked back to the helicopter, Pyrix said, Something's not right. I'm afraid Boris has some terrible plan for Tala.

I know, Eri replied. But the question is…what?

End chapter 9

Author's Note: Hey, guess what? I just cliff-hanged you! But at least you got to read this nice long chapter. I've been succeeding in making them steadily longer. Once I got into this one, I just couldn't stop! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You each get a plushie of whichever Beyblade character you want/Throws plushies into the air/ I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter, and I hope you enjoyed this one too. Please review! I want to make sure everyone still likes where I'm going with this story. Plus, reading your reviews encourages me to keep writing! The next chapter will add some more angst to the story and focus mostly on all the happenings in the Abbey before Tala's final match with Tyson. Okay, join me on my next update!