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Italics - thoughts

… … … - new scene

Bold - Past memories

Chosen

Destiny shines in the darkest and deepest of chasms. It visits each and everyone of us as we sleep at night in the dreams we use as a fleeting break from the on going war we call life. It is this same destiny that made Kai toss and turn in a furious dread. His muscles constricted making his blood stutter through his veins as vicious creatures consumed him from within. Alone in his sweltering hot room he gasped for breath as lucid images flashed through his sleeping mind; the piercing eyes of the angel Nascita forever haunting his mind and the little girl's smiling whispers corrupting every sound. The secret had began to unpick it's stitches and discard the cloth that had kept it under wraps for so many centuries, gently showing it's true form a piece at a time… A piercing scream ran through Kai's head waking him from his nightmares. He felt his heart race uncontrollably as he sat up taking deep breaths keeping his eyes open, causing tears to fall down his face as he didn't blink at the thought of gazing into those intense blue eyes which sent nausea surging through his being. His dreams were telling him exactly what he didn't want to know. Enticing him to step forward into history and to help the angel spread his wings and fly. Kai sighed and got out of bed to make his way to the toilet. The beige tiles were a cold shock to his bare feet but he soon got used to it as he walked over to the basin and turned the tap on. As he cupped his hands beneath the running water it shimmered in the pale buzzing hotel light and his heart eased with the familiar chill present in the grotto. He scrunched his eyes tight as they stung with sleep deprivation and threw the water over his face feeling the sharp icy chill sting through his pores as some hit his face while others trickled down his neck and forearms. After rubbing his face dry with a soft black towel Kai threw himself back into bed. He lay looking up at the pale ceiling as sleep took him over, and with his last ounce of woken awareness, he braced himself for another bout in the turbulent gauntlet he once used as an escape.

… … …

Hiro watched the team as their concentration made the peaceful atmosphere shatter. The sun glimmered off of the sleek metal blades as the sweat from the bladers merged with the high temperature and thirsty breeze. Ray felt himself grow dizzy and weak from dehydration but put it to the back of his mind as he looked across the blading dish at Takao and Kai. He gave his signature smirk with his infamous shining amber eyes as he realised the strength his team had and the powerful opponents he would face one day face again to be the number one blader. Kai looked up at Ray raising an eyebrow at his rival's high spirited expression and gave a muted laugh. Takao's head snapped over to Kai displaying his routine air of utter confusion. Am I missing something? He looked at Ray and Kai as his head whizzed with what they could be plotting. Hiro caught Takao's mind wandering and clicked his fingers to put it back into place.

"Pay attention." Hiro's voice came out strong and commanding. From the shade brown eyes watched the passionate bladers give their all as they trained underneath the relentless heat. The figure stepped forward passing the bundle of towels and water bottles Hiro had gathered for them.

"You boys not enjoying the siesta?" Hiro and Takao looked up smiling as they heard Luka's voice while everyone else blocked his presence out. Kari knocked out Max and Daichi's blade with a crushing swipe and Drafang swooped back into the centre of her hand. Luka looked up noticing her cat like eyes glinting against the sunlight. "Hiro, you're not pushing the young girl as hard as the boys are you?" Kari made a low purring growl at the insinuation that she couldn't take the same intensity of training that the guys could and walked passed Hiro into the hotel.

"Hey! We're not done yet!" Hiro yelled after her but she was deaf to his words. Luka laughed.

"Having trouble handling your team?"

"If you can call them a team." Hiro murmured as Luka strode over to his side and patted his shoulder.

"They look a fine bunch." Luka beamed before noticing Max who was trying to calm an out of control Daichi who had his arm stuck in the middle of a sturdy fence. Serves him right trying to take my chocolate! Max thought giving him a tug making it as painful as possible for some sweet revenge. "He could use a bit of work though." Luka pointed Daichi out to Hiro who rolled his eyes and grabbed Daichi by the waist pulling at him forcefully so he'd get out before his arm went limp and he would be nothing but a nuisance to the team.

"AAAA! You're breaking my elbow!" Daichi moaned clinging onto the fence wanting to stay whole and stuck instead of broken and free.

"I'll break more than your elbow if you don't zip it!" Hiro put his full force into yanking Daichi out. Daichi squealed putting everyone but Kai into a spasm of laughter as he and Hiro fell on their backs. Daichi sat up and looked down at his arm, it was slightly swollen and the skin was marked with an orangey red colour to mark where the jaws of the railings had captured his arm. He hugged Hiro tightly praising him for his heroic actions. "Get a hold of yourself!" Hiro struggled to get Daichi off of him nicely so ended up shoving him off before dusting Daichi entrails off of himself. Luka watched bemused and checked his watch. He looked up at Takao, Kai and Ray.

"How about some horse riding? I can take you to Fontetuna."

"Is there blading?" Takao asked gripping onto Dragoon feeling his pulse beat against his skin with excitement at the thought of seeing what kind of bladers this part of Italy could yield.

"No." Luka told him making his enthusiasm flop away down into the pit of his stomach, where it waited a few seconds to be reawakened, "But there is free food." Takao beamed as the two last words done the trick.

"ALRIGHT! What are we waiting for?" He bounded over to Hiro's car and gave the hood an enthusiastic and random hit. Hiro glared at Takao hitting a button on his car key making the car doors click open. Kai stood still while Takao climbed in and Hiro, Ray, Max and Daichi made their way to the car. He turned his back on them and began to walk away. Takao watched Kai leave feeling a bit pissed that he was doing the loner thing again when Luka had just invited him somewhere. He stretched over Hiro and hit the horn making Kai turn. He popped his head out of the sunroof. "Where you going?" He yelled furrowing his forehead. Kai didn't answer. "Come with us!" Takao beckoned going back to his usual happy smile. But it didn't affect Kai in the slightest. Kai gave Takao a solid stare trying to shield the sun from his eyes and expressing how much he hated Takao's grins. He continued to walk away with Luka and Takao watching him go.

… … …

The horses clipped up the mountain side with ease as the sun shrank behind a mountain. Takao's arm brushed past a tree from the woodland as he watched Hiro and Luka lead the way with a shade of envy in his stomach. They rode the finest black stallions while Takao was left with a half decent dusty brown horse. But then again, it wasn't all bad, Max had to share with a grumbling Daichi who occasionally thrashed his arms about trying to scare off the gathering midgies. Ray smiled as he walked on the dusty road and watched the shadows grow along with Max's temper and the volume of Daichi's griping. Takao shivered at his side as he went through a shadow suddenly feeling an emptiness inside as he let his horse slip to the back, slowly stopping to look over at an aging landscape; the slightly burnt grass that was home to the flocks of sheep and cattle, the numerous but distinctive villages that drifted into their night's rest and the secluded mountains in the distance that bore a head of snow which gently climbed into the sky like a young child clambers into the arms of his or her mother when in need of love and comfort. Ray stretched noticing something was missing by his side and he stopped recognising Takao's figure looking out into the distance with a lost gaze. He sighed as he saw the misery dress itself in the cloak of the night air and gently plague itself upon Takao. The crunching of stones from behind Ray made him stand to the side as a proud dark stallion went by him creating its own path to Takao.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Takao looked up at Luka watching his eyes smile as he looked out on his home land. "Question is could it get better." He met Takao's gaze. "What d'you think?"

"No. It's perfect the way it is." Takao smiled looking out at it feeling at ease now that someone was chatting to him. Luka grinned taking a look at Takao with eyes filled to the brim with success.

"You have a big heart, but then again I could tell from your blading." He commented as he began to leave the spot with Takao closely beside him. Takao looked up at Luka who transcended above him as the stallion flared its nostrils anxiously and shook its head. "There must be wolves near." He said patting the stallion's neck to calm it. "We best get a move on, before we become their snack." He laughed and dug his heel into his horse making it gain a little speed. Takao followed.

"Luka can I ask you something? D'you really think the legend's true?"

"I believe so."

"So what are they for? Protection?" Luka laughed at Takao's interest.

"You're very curious."

"It's good to learn things, especially if you're the best at it." Takao smiled as he thought about Beyblading before suddenly pulling at the reigns as Luka turned his horse in front of Takao's, blocking his way.

"And I believe you can be the best, but not in this. The Bitbeasts are special. The key to prosperity for all Bitbeasts and, in a way, humans. That's why they are so valuable. They will make things right." He gave Takao a friendly punch on the face. "You need not worry about it. I'll look after you." Takao smiled at the shining face he trusted as it went back to the head of the group with Hiro. A crack from the woodlands beside them separated itself from the crunch of the gravel and Takao looked into the murky depths. What the…there's no way that's a… He grinned and jumped down from his horse looking around to see everyone go ahead before following the sifting echo into the wolf filled forest.

… … …

The trees gave the perfect cover, but the shadows within had been shifting abnormally ever since the sun fell. Kai stopped in the shade and listened in to the motion of the leaves and the cracks of twigs from the far distance. He glanced at the ground; it was besieged with traps ready to snap and give warning of his predatory approach. The trees were the only way. Feeling slightly stupid he began to climb the nearest tree and before he knew it his feet were rapidly carrying him from one branch to the next. He stopped as he heard laughing and peered through the gap to the trail that Luka was taking the team through. They didn't seem to detect him. Good. More time to find out what was going on. Kai leapt down to the ground when it became bare and perfect for lurking. Slowly the trees began to disappear and whizzing echoed through the woods. Blades. Out here? He crept forward and passed over a low bridge before coming to an empty sand pit. Kai saw evidence of digging but it was too little to have been done by Takao's dad and his team. He walked forward into the centre of the mini desolate desert and lifted up a spade that had been left on the ground. He looked at it carefully before throwing it down on the ground. It fell with a tinkly clunk . …? Kai picked it up again. Since when did spades do that when they hit the ground? He threw it to another side where it fell with a pat. That was more like it. He dropped to his knees feeling hard broken metal puncture into his kneecaps. Kai jumped up and watched dark red blood run down his trousers. He gave an angry snigger and balanced on the balls of his feet as he submerged his hands under the sand feeling the grit wedge itself underneath his finger nails. His fingers began to ache as the minutes passed and he scratched more urgently until he felt his nail snap against the rigid surface of the metal. He breathed through his teeth and looked at his nail which hung onto an inch of his skin. He tore it off and pulled at the object before hearing a rip. What? Kai yanked the grains of sands apart as best he could when he saw an old piece of parchment. He took it out carefully keeping the fibres together so he could look at it as a whole. There he saw the metal that held his blood, silver and jagged, holding onto the paper as the zipping grew louder. Kai shoved it into his pocket, hearing it rip apart, he gritted his teeth.

"Thought you didn't want to come?" Kai turned to see Takao catch Dragoon who had been spinning by his side. Kai rolled his eyes and walked away as the morsels of sand gave way beneath his feet. "Kai!" Takao ran after him and pulled at his shoulder. "What are you up to?"

"What does it look like? I'm trying to get away from you." Kai pushed against Takao's shoulder and took his leave. Takao growled.

I have to teach him manners when we get back to Japan. He thought kicking a sand clod out of his way as he immersed himself back into the woodlands to get to the pathway.

… … …

Kai sat in his room listening to Takao, Kenny, Max, Daichi and Hiromi run about in a panic. Occasionally Kai would smile as he heard Takao's voice burst out over the rest in a progressively more flustered tone. The crickets' chirps flew through the slits of the shutters as Kai locked his bedroom door and carefully withdrew the two halves of paper. The small wooden table in his room stood ready for use as Kai pulled the metal cord on the table lamp and sat himself down on the wooden seat. The writing was faded and the paper's creases were over run with fragments of dirt and sand making it almost impossible to read a word clearly. Kai breathed out through his nose and looked around the room. It was at times like this his minimalist packing approach seemed more damaging than helpful. With reluctance he dragged himself up and outside Takao's chaos ridden room. He knocked the door and waited but the rioting still continued. Kai tapped his foot wondering if he should just leave it or go with the less subtle way of getting in the room. Hiromi gave a squeal as the door swung open with Kai's foot print on it. Everyone went silent as he walked in and looked at Hiromi.

"Where's your room?" He demanded. Takao sniggered thinking of a joke, "I'll get you later." Kai snapped harshly making him shut up.

"Why?" Hiromi stood up to him looking ridiculously short compared to the towering sixteen year old in front of her.

"Kenny where is it?" Kai demanded turning his glaring eyes on Kenny, who wasn't too happy about being brought into all of this. Hiromi gave Kenny a hard stare trying to intimidate him into not telling Kai, but she wasn't that scary, Kai was the one who could break his neck with one hand.

"One next door." He held his neck at the thought of Kai sadistically snapping it in half. Kai smirked at Hiromi making her fume and left the room. Hiromi's huff faded as she felt the metal keys rest against her skin in her pocket.

"How d'you expect to get in when I have the keys?" Hiromi gloated but Kai was already two steps ahead of her, rather, two kicks ahead of her, as he smashed open the door with his foot. "KAI!" Hiromi squealed running into her room and seeing him look through her make up bag. She raised her eyebrow, "Trust me my tone of blusher will not suit you." She lunged forward and grabbed her small Moschino bag from him. Unfortunately for her he already got what he wanted. "You can't use that!" She screamed as he left, "It's Louis Vuitton!" Kai smirked. It would be such a pleasure ruining it now. He closed his door over as he got over the threshold of his room. The yelling became hushed whispers which would soon return to the roaring panic it had once been as Kai looked at the make up brush. Am I really this serious about finding out what all this is?….too late now. He sat down and pulled the chair closer to the table as he began to sweep away the muck with the fine strands on the head of the brush. It was a rubbish substitute but all he had to use at such short notice. The dust and grime fell from the paper like the seconds that slowly became distant reminiscences of a long and tiring night. The yelling from Takao's room had evaporated with the night as sun rise slowly approached. Finally… Kai threw the ruined brush across the room looking at the complete manuscript that lay before him. His heart seemed to give way as he quickly read the paper not paying any real attention as his eyes kept travelling across to the blood encrusted metal. After seconds he found his fingers cautiously prying open the tight metal seal cutting his fingertips even more. He bit his lip as the metal sliced into his finger. Shit! He kicked the wall putting pressure on it with his other hand and bouncing his knee for a while to hold in the pain. When he opened his eyes he looked down at the enigma before him. Now it was so much clearer.

… … …

Takao shuffled his feet through the airport as he thought of the brutal death that awaited him when he got home to his grandpa. He beat himself up inside How stupid am I? Who can lose a sword? Their family sword!… He sighed, Man…why'd I let Daichi work me like that? He looked over at Daichi who had a sour look on his face. Takao felt guilty at the spot of happiness that came through the thickening clouds of his lingering death. At least Daichi was going down with him. Hiro watched as they both traipsed behind everyone else with long faces. He couldn't feel any remorse; they'd both done the stupidest thing known to mankind, now they'd see they had to grow up and be responsible, no more stupid games. (AN: ¬¬). The rain pelted down against the glass windows as the inside recreated the perfect sunny weather predominantly experienced in Italy, but it wasn't the same. The way the check out girl's smiled freaked Hiromi out as their white teeth shone underneath their unflatteringly bright red lipstick. They should so go for clear lipgloss she thought as she politely grabbed her passport back off of one of the manikin like women and took cover behind Hiro. Kari stood alone as the team ascended the escalator to the gate. Her mind filled with worry at the last thing Kai had said to her,

"I won't be long." Kai smirked, "But don't wait up."

Kari smiled remembering Kai's smirk and the last hug she had received from him. She hated to admit it but it seemed like decades since she'd felt his touch when it was actually only five hours ago. She looked up at the second floor as it came into view. Her heart beat slowly as her mind worked through what he could be staying in Italy for when he had stuff at home that had to be taken care of. Takao saw the usual anonymity that her face held break a bit to show a dash of fret. He looked around. Stupid Kai should be looking after her….WOAH we forgot Kai! Takao made a dash for Hiro when Kari grabbed him back by the ear making him give a quiet yelp.

"I wouldn't if you know what's good for you." She let go of him and folded her arms disregarding Takao's tetchy complaints about how her and Kai were way too violent and unforgiving when it came to explaining things to him because, in his exact words, he was "slower" than them. Kari smirked as she found it hard to let that comment slip past her undetected. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes as she stepped off the escalator which Takao tripped over not realising it was the time to step off.

"And besides!" Takao picked himself up and ran back to Kari's side to continue his rant. "I am way nicer to yous than I should be! I mean take the time I gave Kai his food! All he done was throw it over the railings to watch that cool legendary statue. And then when I saw him in that place he just stalked off after hiding somethi-"

"Statue?" Kari looked at him, "The angel one you keep rabbiting on about?"

"Yes Kari!" He clicked his fingers in her face, "Keep up will you!" Kari dropped her bag on his toes and twisted his arm around before forcing it up his back. "Ka-!" Kari put her hand over his mouth and hissed quietly to him.

"Go to that statue."

"Mmm?" Takao looked at her with wide eyes and Kari let go of him looking at her hand in disgust as she saw saliva sparkle on her palm.

"Charming." She wiped her hand on Takao's shoulder.

"KARI! That's my favourite jacket."

"It's your only jacket Rafiki. Now get going." She pushed him onto the escalator that was descending down to the ground floor. Takao looked up at Kari as she picked up her bag and began to go out of his view. "I'll get you and Kai another flight home. But if you come back without him-"

"Your too late, gramps is first in line." Takao mumbled as he turned his back on her and walked down the escalator. As he got to the bottom he smiled. If I save Kai gramps won't kill me! I'll be the hero not Kai! He'll be in my debt! He skipped out of the airport thinking of the times ahead when Kai would be in his debt for the valiant rescue he was about to demonstrate. The glass on the swing doors were immaculately clean as Takao made a dash for the door falling over his open shoelace which made the daydreams of being Kai's saviour become tangible and a little out of reach.

… … …

The regular setting of the cavern came to Kai as he sat on the ground in front of the magnificent but lifeless statue. That was when he knew something was wrong. The fear and strength that had once pulsated through the angel's eyes were gone along with the shadows that were once cast out by the moon's pale light. He got up to his feet as obscured eyes watched him with interest and amazement. The young man that stood before the symbol of infinite strength and protection had unravelled centuries of mystery in the amount of time most people take to finish a single chapter of a fairytale. The curled brown leaves wheeled their way around Kai's feet as he reached out to the small split in the stone. The crack seemed deeper than before. He closed his eyes disconnecting imagination from truth. Pain… He opened his eyes. How can stone feel pain? Kai removed his finger and laughed softly to himself when he recognised pristine cracks growing across the wings of the angel and the back of the wolf. He leaned against the opposite wall. Waiting. It was then that the prophecies of the scripture and engravings came true as the moon blocked itself out. The words burned in Kai's mind as the next events warped past him

"The moon shall fade and the protection will be pierced with one trace of legend. The Spirit shall flow without reason until He faces the one with The Essence. It is then he shall be guided to destiny. To the conflict. To victory and defeat."