AN/ sooooooooooooooooo sorry it has been so long please forgive me this is kinda just a link between chapters and will explain a little more about the people that Sam used to know. I DONOT own beyblades or any of it's characters however the LoveSeekers, WildFires, DarkHunters, Avengers and Sam's Family are mine so no stealing!
Chapter 10:- Preparation for the impending battle
Sam groaned as she realised she had stumbled over the boys things yet again. Then she came to the realisation that someone rather than something had broken her fall. She looked up in trepidation only to have her worst fears confirmed. She had crash landed onto Kai. He smirked at her and rose an eyebrow. Sam noticed that she was straddling him and let out a faint cry before flinging herself sideways off him and nearly hitting her head on a rock in the process.
"I suppose I should apologise for knocking you over, but if you and the boys didn't leave your things laying around then we never would have had this conversation and ended up in other predicaments." Sam murmured trying to regain her composure and temperament. 'She is so cute when she blushes…' Kai thought to himself and then mentally kicked himself. 'WHAT! I can't think of her like that!'
"Whatever. Don't let it happen again." Kai said coolly. Sam frowned slightly and strode off into her room. 'What just happened?' Sam asked herself and stared blankly out her balcony window. Kai's eyes had seemed to warm up and deepen if that was at all possible but then it was as if a shutter fell over it again and Sam had felt as if her had pushed her aside yet again. Sam caught her faint reflection in the window and noted her pale complexion and the way her eyes had darkened 'Why?' She asked herself softly before shaking her head and opening her laptop. She messaged the LoveSeekers so that they knew she was safe and checked out her competition for the morrow. They were against a team known as 'The Avengers.' The team captains name was Alexander. Curiously Sam looked at the photo that accompanied her data and realised that she knew the boy from Biovolt and had a direct hand in helping him once he was free. Sam recalled the distinct chill that had been in the air as her breath fogged infront of her and the panic of the informant that had run to Boris
- Flashback -
"M…Master Boris, the BladeBreakers have arrived." The young informant said trying to make his voice cold and careless but his fear of Boris almost poured off him.
"Well then we must welcome them. Sam, keep a close eye on them but don't let them see you or realise you are doing so." Boris sneered with his famous smile that boded no good for the one at the receiving end of it.
"Yes Boris." The almost 14 year old replied her voice even, cold and emotionless. She turned and merged with the shadows. Boris went out to greet the newcomers as Sam directly went to her trainees or rather the trainees she had taken under her wing. Boris' son Alexander was among them. Sam put her arms around him and adjusted his grip and aiming slightly. "Now try Alex." The young Sam whispered withdrawing slightly to get a better view of his launch.
"K Sam." Alexander whispered back. He launched his blade and watched it spin with more speed and accuracy than the previous launch. Alex let out a soft cry of triumph and Sam allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction. He had improved greatly since she had first taken him on and given the training she had planned for him he would become a master in his own right by his test time in a fortnight. Suddenly Sam looked up as if scenting danger. A group of boys walked in with Boris and several other Abbey members. Sam ran quick and low hugging the shadows as she made her way to the kitchen. She watched as the group sat down in the mess hall. Sam took the appearance as a signal and warned the cooks that Boris and his guests had arrived. Immediately waiters came out and started taking food to the 'privileged' ones. Sam meshed in with the group but ran into more shadows instead of hanging around the table. Crouching low and getting ready to run again at her signal she positioned herself behind the eldest looking boy with two toned hair. She knew unquestionably that it was Kai. They spoke of teams they had met on their journey to Russia and Sam took careful note of all that was said and seen. The meal itself lasted a good hour and Sam shifted her weight slightly willing them to hurry up so she could get back to other tasks that needed to be taken care of. Boris looked around casually but did not notice her at first. A slight frown crossed his expression until he spotted the girl. He nodded at her not taking his eyes from hers. The meaning was clear. She could go and act accordingly but was not to be seen by the group and was to report as soon as they left. Sam let out a hissing breath and bolted clear across the floor to where she needed to go. Her little group of fighters looked up immediately as soon as she came into vision.
"Listen and listen good. Judging by all I saw and heard just now Boris is going to make one of you battle against the BladeBreakers as they do not see why we do things the way we do here. Alex, it would not surprise me if he chose you so I am going to concentrate solely on you and your attributes. All others go and practise your launching style I don't want to loose any of you. Have I made myself clear?" Sam demanded. There was a faint hiss of indrawn breath as they scattered to prepare themselves. Sam took Alex aside and true to her word she prepped him as best she giving him all the information on all his possible opponents. Not twenty minutes later Boris appeared with the boys and Sam shoved Alex among his comrades and pretended herself to be one of them. She double and triple checked that her appearance was flawless and made her bangs shadow out her eyes. Her gaze shot up to some of the abbey windows as he heard a slight tapping against glass. She caught sight of Rick, Delilah and more importantly of Tala. They each pointed to Alex and she bared her teeth at them in anger and utter outrage. Knowing instinctively that she could not stay much longer, she shot across the courtyard and watched. Boris strode up and down the ranks of boys and demanded who was willing to fight. 'None. None are ready. I haven't finished with them!' Sam yelled silently in her mind. Boris halted his stride infront of Alex and Sam felt her gut clench. He lent down and spoke softly and Sam instinctively knew the words as she had heard them once already too. "Damn you Boris you are cutting it fine. He isn't ready yet. He is better than he was and Voltaire would be pleased at the progress but he is not ready to compete at Tyson's level. Her anger was beginning to draw her BitBeast and no one was meant to know about her yet. She had to calm down and fast. Boris made Alex fight and as the whole group walked past, Sam kissed Alex's cheek lightly and slipped a piece of paper into his pocket. Her way of a formal goodbye. Boris gave his son a giant launcher and told him to battle Tyson. Sam forced herself to watch and mentally kept a record of the battle. Things looked up for Alex but Tyson had his team-mates for support while Alex only had her and a few of the others from her group. Together they worked out how to win and Alex's blade clattered from the dish. Alex sank to his knees and instinctively looked for his friend and trainer. Sam drew back slightly when Boris stepped forward and harshly destroyed his own son's blade. "NO!" Sam yelled just as Rick's hand came over her mouth.
"Listen to me destroyer. You know the rules. We all face them. He lost and so he was unworthy. Forget-" that was as far as he got before Sam ducked and took his feet out from under him.
"He was MY charge. I told all of you that he was not yet ready but you don't seem to listen very well. One week ago I was given a month to get him ready. ONE WEEK Rick. YOU cut his time and have lost what little trust I gave the lot of you. Let Voltaire and the others deal with this. I will no longer train anyone other then myself!" Sam ran off after the screaming boy who was reaching out for her and for Kai. Sam didn't look back. "I will escort him from here." Sam said coldly and was given brief nods from the guards who strode off in a different direction. Sam gently took Alex's arm and checked for bruises before tugging him slightly toward the exit.
"Sam, please. Let me stay I beg of you. Please!" Alex beseeched her. Sam's eyes grew warm and she hugged him to her.
"It is better this way Alex. This way you won't become cold and uncaring. This way you will enjoy the sport and the game of life. I wish I could help you more but if you check your pocket you will find an address and telephone number of another BeyBlading academy that owes me a favour. They will take you in and train you. Train hard and well Alex." Sam said softly. She withdrew slightly and handed him an almost exact replica of his destroyed blade. She had altered it slightly and upgraded as much as she could with the limited access she had to computers and BeyBlading equipment.
"Thank you Sam. Thank you so much." Alex said his eyes tearing again but this time from joy.
"I am not as cold as others seem to think I am but don't tell the others that OK?" She added with a wink.
"OK. See you in the dish someday?"
"Count on it" Sam said as he ran off. "Dasvidanya my friend."
- End Flashback -
Sam smiled and closed her computer. This and this alone would be the one battle she would go into blind. She wanted to be surprised. She strode off to her training dish and practised with her blade for a while before toning up her body. She lifted weights, did push-ups, sit-ups and aerobics. Finally she started running laps around the house.
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Kai stood alone at his own balcony deep in thought. He was trying to work out when his feelings for the girl took a turn and why he was so against it. His friends had proven loyal. She hadn't. But She had known him when he was small and they had then fallen in love until he had been forced to go to Biovolt without her. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of the girl he was thinking about as she ran around her home. She didn't seem to slow down but did occasionally pick up speed. 'What has her so hyped up?' Kai asked himself as he unconsciously ran a thumb over his BitChip. The sound of his door opening and voices getting louder made him turn to find the other boys shuffling in.
"I got the information about the team we are against tomorrow. We will be battling a team known as 'The Avengers' who's team members are Carla with her BitBeast Crina, Emiel with his Bit Crinthian, Gustav with Crimara, Immeril with Crinton and Alexander with Criantha. This is the newest team introduced to the BBA from a BeyBlading Academy known as S.H.A.M.B. We Don't know what it stands for but we do know that they are very skilled and have honed bladers skills for about eight years now. I would suggest that Tyson and Max go against Carla and Gustav, Ray and Kai go against Emiel and Immeril and leave Alexander for Sam." Kenny stated.
"Oh and Hillary is coming over from Japan on Wednesday." Tyson muttered
"Well considering Tomorrow is Friday we had better tell Sam to expect one more in six days." Max said grinning at his Team-mates discomfort.
"If you can catch her." Kai said distractedly as he looked out the window again. The others shuffled over to where he was standing and watched in astonishment as Sam ran past and out of sight.
"What's up with her?" Max asked
"Maybe she is still hyped about landing on Kai!" Tyson said grinning and nudged his team captain slightly. Suddenly the bell rang saving Tyson from Kai's glare.
"I'll get it!" Sam hollered and when she next ran past, she had Tenebrae running two paces behind her. The boys blinked when not three laps later all of the LoveSeekers were in formation with her.
"3…2…1 Lets go!" came the chorus of their voices. The sound of blades being launched echoed around the room. Sam's blade flashed past and the girl quickened her pace still more so that she was running beside it. The others ran beside their blades too.
"Faster!" Sam demanded as the BladeBreakers ran downstairs and watched on.
"They are working on stamina!" Kenny exclaimed as he watched Sam's statistics and strength skyrocket.
"We should do the same." Kai commented quietly before launching his own blade beside Sam's and running. Sam looked at him and her eyes widened as he took her hand and pushed her to go faster. Sam grinned and tightened her grip on his hand. They ran like that for a while before the other Boys decided to join in.
"Free fall." Sam called out and let go of Kai's hand. Kai clenched it as Sam danced ahead and tried to suppress the thoughts of just how soft her hand had been in his.
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Sam felt the energy that was pumping through her veins, heard the music that was playing through her mind pushing her to go to the limit and beyond. Suddenly another blade caught her attention and cut across her path.
"Blaise" She growled and abruptly changed the direction she was going. She ran low and flat out chasing the blade. She held her hands infront of herself as lightning lit up the dark skies overhead. Sam smirked as it flashed making her eyes glow dangerously. One could barely see Blaise's silhouette in the darkness. Sam stopped abruptly crouched low before slowly standing and widening her stance. "Back for more Blaise?" Sam sneered
"Always Destroyer." Blaise shot back. Sam bit back a growl and cast a quick glance around.
"Where is she?" Sam demanded coldly all emotion leaking out of her voice. Delilah came out and stood proudly beside Blaise. "Hello Betrayer. Feeling better?" Sam asked mockingly. Delilah rubbed her ribs absently and scowled. Sam's eyes darkened still more as the shadows made themselves known and abruptly sent her blade crashing into Blaise's.
"Stabilise Arno." Blaise demanded.
"Not today Blaise. As it is you already lost once today. Voltaire would not be pleased. And since when do you take orders from him or anyone anyway?" Sam demanded.
"I am controlled by no one but myself and my blade." Blaise spat harshly
"If you allow your blade to rule you instead of work along side you, what does that say about your inner self?" Sam asked before spinning in a full circle with arms outstretched. Dyane responded similarly and rammed Arno into a rock face. "End this not." Sam drawled before drawing the heels of her hands together until they barely touched and then shoving them forward.
"Destroyer NO!" Blaise called out panicked and recalled his blade in horror as if awakening from a dream.
"Do not let them do that to you again Blaise." Sam hissed before both of the other teens ran off. Sam shook her head and wearily sat on a rock. Darn that had come too close.
Would you really make me do that again? Dyane asked softly very much aware of her mistresses troubles.
"No Dy, but neither of them need to know that. I may harbour a dark child but that does not mean that I would willingly give myself up to it. I am no longer heartless." Sam whispered
What you did at the abbey proved that beyond a doubt.
"Well that had been the final straw." Sam spoke and a whisper of a smile tugged at her mouth. Dyane emerged from her blade and tackled Sam to the ground. Sam laughed and rolled around trying to pin her BitBeast. It seemed impossible to the others as the came up to her but Sam had played with Dyane since she first got her so they had a special type of bond. Ray looked up as the storm cleared and the moon shone high in the sky.
"Time for bed team. We have a match tomorrow." Ray stated. the others nodded and they all made their way toward the house. Sam hugged each person from the other team as they were leaving.
"Good luck with Alex tomorrow Sam." Ten murmured in her ear. Sam's smile was brilliant and quick
"The academy says he has done exceptionally well. I trust my employees and look forward to a brilliant match." Another small smile flitted across her lips as she looked up at the sky. The others knew she was going in blind. A gentle rain started to fall as the other boys went in. Dyane retreated into her blade and flew into Sam's open palm. Unthinkingly Sam tucked the blade into the top of her sash and felt it against her skin. She smiled on last time before heading inside and going to bed.
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Sam slept well for the first time in a long while. She got up at five and did her usual morning routine, dressing in her own blading attire. She was hyped up and ready for this. She bladed for an hour before heading downstairs to the kitchen and starting on breakfast. She turned on her mix CD and turned it up so that it echoed throughout the house. She laughed and danced as the set the table with Cereal, toast, juice, coffee, pancakes, toppings and cutlery. She sang joyfully and ran to each boys room and knocked on the door. "Come on!" she hollered as only Kai came out with wet hair. She hugged him briefly before turning up the music still more and opening each room. She got each up and threw Tyson into a cold shower, clothes and all.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" He yelled
"Good morning." Sam said smiling
"What time is it?" Max asked groggily
"Six forty-five." Sam said smirking and glanced at her watch.
"Last minute training?" Ray asked.
"Yep you need it for the team you are going against today. Dizzi, it is time you met Dara." Sam turned and took them to the dining room before heading back up to her own. She pressed her hand against the wall and a panel slid up. Sam punched in a combo and the opposite wall spur around taking her bed and chest of draws and left a wall length mirror. The music was directed straight into her room on her surround sound system. She began to stretch and worked out to the beat of the music. She was dancing beside her blade both her body and action mirroring that of the blade when Kai found her. He was struck dumb at the sight. Sam caught sight of his expression in the mirror and laughed. She grabbed his hands as she spun past and drew him into the dance. As the music dimmed somewhat Sam drew back and bowed majestically before tying her hair back. She turned the whole system down so they could talk comfortably.
"You still do that every morning?" Kai asked as Sam hit another combo and the room flicked back to normal. She glanced up at him.
"Given the chance then yes," Sam said with a quick laugh before becoming serious again, "I do a lot of things I did then. Just not every thing."
"Are you angry with me?" Kai asked carefully
"I was up until recently. I realised that things had changed and I had to let go." Sam said in a monotone. "You can not be blamed for all the things that happened to me in my past Kai. It just wasn't your fault. It was Voltaire and Tala's."
"You know Tala?" Kai asked in disbelief.
"Unfortunately." Sam said on a sigh
"I… I'm sorry." Kai murmured
"I told you. It isn't your fault and I don't need your apology." Sam said non-chantly
"I believe you do… I l-" he was cut off by the rest of his team who burst in laughing and full of energy.
"Cool room Sam." Tyson said
"It's about to get better. Ready?" there was a chorus of voices. Sam put her hand against the scanner again and a smallish tunnel appeared in the middle of the ground. Sam saluted mockingly and back-flipped in. she was followed by Ray then Kai, Max, Kenny and lastly Tyson. The tunnel was long and dark except for the lights along the side that glowed dimly.
"Is this thing safe?" Kenny yelled
"Of course I designed and built it! No one knows of this place." Sam yelled back Sam suddenly flew into the air and flipped before landing in a slightly crouched position in a brightly lit room. Kai did the same after Ray landed on his feet. Max, Kenny and Tyson ended up butt first in a pile of cushions.
"Identification please." Came a computerised voice.
"Hanara, Samantha Anne. Number four-seven-three-six-nine-oh-one-nine." Sam recited dutifully.
"Welcome mistress!"
"Hey Dara could you please train the BladeBreakers for me? They're on file six-one-nine B."
"Certainly. You can also hook up the other computer that holds a BitBeast to terminal three. Go meditate." Sam grinned and showed Kenny where he could plug in Dizzi before heading over to a platform and sitting down cross-legged. Suddenly water began to flow over her shoulders and down her back.. As Dara cross-checked info with Dizzi, she began to train the boys separately before as a team. After three hours Sam came out of her little waterfall and raised her arms. A drying machine came around her and blasted her with hot air. She was quickly dry except for her hair and went over to her work bench. She drew up a chair and perched on it before logging on to the network mainframe manually. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she made adjustments and threw statistics around. She threw all caution into the wind and called out to Dara for approximation regarding price and the availability of parts. Figures flew onto her screen and Sam's eyes darted from one to the other before grinning wickedly. She looked for her first guinea pig and locked eyes on Kai. She let her blade fly into the dish he was practising in and had Dyane knock it straight into her hand. Sam got out a small briefcase and punched in another code. She took out a tiny engine that could be called up on will.at this point in time it was still voice activated and only to her voice. She took Kai's blade apart and recalled her own doing the same. Kai looked over at her and realised she had his blade in pieces. Her quick and nimble fingers finished installing what she was doing and made a few minor adjustments to his already superior blade.. She did the same to her own and analysed them yet again. She let a satisfied smile creep across her lips before tossing Kai his blade back.
"What did you just do?" he demanded.
"Tyson. Battle Kai." Sam said ignoring her 'team-captain' both loaded their blades and Kai noticed how his seemed lighter. Max shouted out the countdown and Sam watched on with eyes narrowed and arms folded tightly. At first tyson seemed to have the advantage and it looked like Kai was about to loose. Kai was loosing his patience and was cursing Sam under his breath. Considering how close she was Sam caught every word and a frown line cleared from between her brows. "Right. Engage." Sam said firmly and circled the dish. Immediately Kai's Blade spun with more power and more accuracy. "Speed one-oh-one." Sam mumbled and the blade went faster. Tyson panicked and tried to call out for his phantom hurricane attack but Sam pre-empted him. "Dranzer you know what to do." Sam said coolly. Kai looked panicked as his blade was barely listening to him. "Kai. Call it." Sam yelled at him.
"DRANZER!" Kai yelled.
"Use new voice print." Sam yelled and stepped back.
"Dranzer, Volcanic Fire Emission." Kai yelled and was relieved when his blade responded to his voice again. Within seconds there was a searing heat the blew the hair back from Sam's face. And Tyson's blade flew out looking a little toasted. The rest of the team gaped and Sam walked off in satisfaction. She sat back down and made a few minor adjustments to her own blade and stood up.
"What just happened?" Kai asked confused
"You just beat Tyson in a BeyBattle." Sam said calmly not looking up. Irritated Kai strode over to Sam and grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger.
"What did you do to my blade?" Kai demanded not letting her eyes wander from his.
"I installed 'Dochas'." Sam said simply
"What is Do… Doch-ass?" Tyson asked.
"Dochas is the Gaelic word for hope.. It is what I have been working on for sometime now. It is an updated version of the turbo most blades have inside them." Sam said. Kai tapped her chin gently which caused her to shift her gaze back to him.
"Why?" he asked softly
"Why what?" Sam asked tilting her head slightly to one side
"Later." Kai said simply and let go of her and stepping back.. Sam blinked and looked at the others.
"If anyone else is interested in Dochas then I could install it but remember that it is a prototype. And not yet voice activated." Sam said calmly and the other BladeBreakers grinned. And held out their blades. Sam spent half an hour setting them up and voice activating them. They were all ready for this battle. Sam tied her hair up tight and opened up the path to her garage. The Garage in turn opened to the green fields not too far from the docks. Sam strode out not faltering in anyway. The BladeBreakers were several steps behind and they all walked towards what was sure to be a brilliant match.