I wanna apologise str8 of f or this part of the story coz wen I read it ovr it seemd really hard goin coz of all the detail and shit. Hope it doesn't make it a complete train rek to read. Sorry xx

Italics - thoughts

… … … - new scene

Chosen

Takao whistled a happy tune as he entered the village from the South. He shivered as he followed the trail of the night's shadow to get to his destination. Tonight the heart of the village seemed neglected and brought a shudder to the last of the lost souls that wandered the land of their living ancestors. Takao swung his arms back and forth while he walked around the corner into the piazza that led to the grotto. This was so typical. He always looked for Kai and then ended up getting multiple heart attacks when Kai crept up on him from one corner or another. Takao yawned as Italians stood in the doorway of the church. As the grotto loomed ahead of him Takao called Kai's name hopping up onto the step that separated the quaint cobbled streets from the cemented ground of the grotto.

"Yello?" He put on a weird voice and waited as he saw dark figures muttering and moving in the distance. "Kai don't make me come in there and get you!" Takao took a step forward as a bright light blinded him and an explosion sent him soaring to the other end of the piazza while shaking the grotto to its very foundations causing its once beautiful and archaic structure to be reduced to nothing more than a mix of dust and debris. Takao's flight stopped as his back whacked off of the church's wall making the women scream at the sickening crack that came from his head scudding off of the wall. The children wailed as he fell to the ground in a daze as the wall began to slowly crumble. It seemed like chaos as panic gripped all the inhabitants who had came to their doors to see what was happening before suddenly fleeing the village. Thanks for helping me… Takao thought feeling the crumbs of plaster from the church wall drop onto him. He rolled away and growled quietly in pain. His back felt broken in half and he had the worst whiplash he'd ever known. Stupid Kai, always gets me hurt one way or ano…. Takao scrambled up to his feet feeling pain surge through his spine and legs as he hobbled along to the ruined grotto. "KAAAI!" A horrific eagle screech made Takao cover his ears as he peered through the gaps in the rubble looking for Kai.

"Takao!" Takao turned to see Luka struggling from underneath the rubble with Kai leaning against his shoulder looking half dead. "Get out of here! The Bitbeasts have been awakened, their rampage will begin until they find the one they seek. Go! I'll take care of this." Luka put Kai's arm around Takao's shoulder. "Whatever happens they mustn't find you, understood?" Luka looked down at Takao with a seriously intimidating stare. Takao nodded and began to stagger off with Kai. His pace quickened as he heard shifting beneath the wreckage as Luka grabbed something and ran off yelling instructions down his phone. Kai's weight felt like a ton of bricks to Takao's damaged back but he knew he couldn't stop.

I have to keep going, even if it breaks my back… Luka said so. Finally Takao reached the park near the Northern exit and Kai began to stir. Takao gave a chuckle of relief as he continued to pull his friend along with him. Kai shook his head and pulled his arm away from Takao stopping to push his shoulder blades back feeling the tension mount up before distributing itself equally on his back.

"We need to go!" Takao said impatiently grabbing Kai by the wrist only for Kai to jerk back looking at his shattered team mate smirking and running back from where Takao had just come from. Takao gritted his teeth. "KAI YOU FUCKIN-!" He stopped mid sentence as he darted after Kai whose feet thundered down the alleyways. He leapt down the spiral steps taking Takao down the path to where he would finally meet his fate.

… … …

There he was. The living legend. Kai stood in shock at the lofty Bitbeast that scanned the area with sharp blue eyes. His wings beat slowly and strongly on the failing wind as he hovered perfectly still a few inches above the air. One step closer. Takao heard his heart beat in his ears as he stopped behind Kai. The angel didn't look too vicious but its presence was known and obliterated any trace of bravery that ranked remotely close to its own. A small white earless wolf padded across the piazza from the rubble turning the grey dust into healthy looking bricks. Takao's jaw dropped open in disbelief and he pinched himself urging himself to wake up from what he thought was a bizarre dream. When the cub's grey eyes fixed themselves upon Takao he went rigid giving a squeal to get Kai's attention. Kai turned to look at it and smiled.

"What is there to smile about?" Takao snapped, "I'm about to become an appetiser!"

"I don't think his taste's that bad." Kai took a step forward only to be shoved out of the way as Luka burst through with a miniature army. "What are you doing?" Kai yelled as he noticed what was in Luka's hand.

"Hey! That's my family sword!" Takao came out of his paralysis and stood beside Luka looking up at him angrily.

"I know. And it's the only thing that can strike down the beasts!" He grunted tossing the sword with exact precision at the wolf's heart. Kai shielded his face as a blue energy blasted across the piazza followed by a deafening roar. When he uncovered his face he looked around seeing half of the men lying dead on the floor while Nascita removed the sword from his chest and threw it to the side. The blade glittered in the corner of Kai's eye as he saw the sword reborn with a youthful blade and a shining honour that had long been hidden by its mature appearance.

"Ok what the hell is happening here?" Takao demanded pulling Dragoon out, ready to fight with whoever wasn't on his side. Kai rolled his eyes at Takao's hot headedness.

"The beast is taking revenge on the ancestors of those who mistreated the Bitbeasts in order to expand the Roman Empire." Luka looked over at the sword. "With your family sword we could destroy them." He looked down at Takao silently asking for his help. Kai watched Takao as he didn't think twice and nodded gesturing his willingness to aid Luka. Can't let him die can I? Kai thought taking Dranzer out of his pocket. Takao smiled at Kai finally fighting by his side instead of against him like they usually did.

"Thanks." Takao smiled at Kai who rolled his eyes.

"Don't think I care, I just wanna show who's the real threat around here." Kai launched Dranzer who exploded from the blade with Dragoon following a millisecond behind. Neonato pounded away to safety to the rooftops while Nascita plunged into Dranzer causing a mass wave of vibrations to crash over the small village knocking everything but a few buildings to the ground. Dust billowed upwards sticking into bare eyes wherever they were momentarily blinding Takao and Kai. Kai rubbed his eyes and looked up from the cobbled streets as Neonato gave a heartbreaking howl with endearing watery eyes as they stared down at where Nascita had collided with Dragoon and Dranzer. Takao grunted and bolted up as the smoke cleared showing no Bitbeasts. Kai stood looking around as his heart pounded and he heard Luka shout out orders to the remainder of his troops to surround the area. Like that'll help, they can fly.

"Dragoon?…" Takao looked up in the air to see the thickening sky look lower than it ever had. DRAGOON! Takao began to panic and turned to Kai who walked forward as the ground began to tremble and the three Bitbeasts shot through the ground. "Alright!" Takao punched the air as Dragoon and Dranzer pursued Nascita who growled viciously launching another attack wounding Dranzer who began to waver in the sky.

"Dranzer!" Kai said quietly to himself as he watched Dranzer recover and hover in the sky in a deadly gaze with Nascita. Takao watched the action with frustration and ran directly beneath the Bitbeasts yelling out orders beneath the rumbles of the impending storm Mother Nature was conjuring.

"Go for it Dragoon!" Takao's voice rang out reaching greater heights than Dranzer who flew higher into the sky still gazing at Nascita's devastated appearance as Dragoon bellowed creating a hurricane in the sky and trapping Nascita in the midst of the centre where the winds cut through his wings and body making him falter in the sky. Neonato looked up helplessly before giving a wail of agony and thudding to the ground. Nascita looked below as the tiny wolf lay in a puddle of silver mist. The tornado burst open unleashing the agony Kai had felt from the steel grey rock. Huh?… Kai looked upon one of the few remaining rooftops to see Luka's figure stand tall with the restored Kinomiya sword clutched in the palm of his hand. The eagle shriek shook the earth as the angel plummeted down to Luka's frame. Takao screamed and ran forward as the building cascaded down swallowing Luka whole. He knelt beside the bricks throwing them aside frantically as he screamed for Luka. Dragoon faded into his Bitchip while Dranzer met Kai's crimson eyes making Kai smile and nod in approval as he watched Dranzer vanish back into the blade. Kai ran over to Takao tossing him to the side while the bricks began to slide as the ground caved in under the immense pressure from the collision. The sandstone spewed out in all directions as Nascita erupted from the ground. Crystal clear teardrops fell from the corners of Nascita's eyes as he stared down at the limp cub in his arms. He…he done it…. Kai clenched his fists as he looked at the soft grey coat of Neonato that was still as stone except for the occasional wind that moved the strands of his fur. Nascita's pupils disappeared as he lay Neonato down at his feet and shrieked making Kai's eardrums rupture and leak throbbing red blood. A powerful blow over his head sent Kai down to the ground as Nascita watched Luka crawl out of the wreckage. Takao felt his head become a swollen lump as he picked himself up gazing at Nascita who picked the wolf back into his arms. Takao felt his body weak as he looked over at the creature who stood still cradling the baby wolf in his arms. Then he noticed Kai and Luka and his family sword which lay neatly and conveniently beside him thanks to the force of the cave in. The hilt hit his hand covering it with the silver substance that had poured from Neonato. He launched himself forward raising the sword above his head and lowered it down forcefully as he approached the angel.

"AAAARGH!" Kai blocked Takao's way.

"KAI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Takao yelled watching Kai's hands become slashed by the blade. The blood ran thick and dark down the blade and down Kai's forearms as his face went dark and shadows hid his eyes.

"Don't you see Takao?" He clung onto the blade making it crunch against his bones as it mustered the strength to crack them in half. "This isn't needed." Takao looked at Kai thinking he was a bigger idiot than before.

"That blow to the head back there musta made you bonkers." Takao concluded trying to take the sword out of Kai's hand so he could finish the job he had started. Kai gave a growl and held the blade tighter feeling the blade grind against his bones.

"Think about it!" Kai yelled as Luka got to his feet and ran behind Takao, "He fights only against Dranzer but he won't even touch Dragoon! He's only weak to your family sword! Think Takao THINK! How did your family sword get here? I'll tell you how, by someone consumed with the legend that he's spent almost his whole life trying to find it! NASCITA'S NOT YOUR ENEMY!" Kai took the sword and threw it to the ground. If Takao was thinking straight he probably would have been pissed that Kai had done that but his head was too heavily burdened with what Kai had just said. Luka…no…it's…no…. He watched the blood leak out of Kai's hands creating a small river that trickled away into the gutter. The angel supported Neonato in his arms gently breathing a precious tint of life onto his small eyelids that batted open as his neck slowly lifted his head to see the carnage once again. Luka grabbed at Takao in a furious panic.

"You go, I'll look after you. He won't fulfil his deeds"

"NO!" Takao screamed and pushed Luka back. "What in the hell's going on?" He tried to look at Luka with hardened serious eyes but found he could only display betrayal and confusion. Luka stared angrily at Kai.

"Are you happy now? He could have lived without this! And now you've brought him to his death!"

"I brought him truth." Kai said normally taking Luka aback by the cool attitude he was displaying. "Without truth, he would be dead." He took his disfigured hands and picked up his blade walking to Nascita's side. Takao wanted to smile as he felt the air fill with distrust and hatred between the two but now wasn't really the time.

"What truth?" Takao asked looking to the side at his family's sword that was surrounded by Kai's oxygen starved blood. Kai looked across the devastation and into Luka's eyes. Finally the deception fell and for the first time Takao saw greed flood through his eyes and smile.

"I tried to protect you." Luka started to explain as his bladers surrounded the area making Kai realise it wasn't the Bitbeasts Luka had been wanting to trap. "I tried to keep you as part of the resolution, not the problem, but you've shown what you really are." Luka cackled as he saw Takao look down at the cobbles,

No! Not Luka! I TRUSTED YOU! Takao's eyes snapped up onto Luka's figure filled with loathing.

"Ah trying to fight back are we? Too late. You see as we speak your big bird of an ally," He pointed back to Nascita who didn't take being called a big bird too kindly. "Is losing so much power he's a disgrace to be called The Deliverer of All Bitbeasts."

Takao felt angry at himself why don't I know what he's on about?

"Not that you'd know what that is of course." Luka added smugly.

"It's pretty self explanatory." Takao crossed his arms trying to keep his temper so he could find out what was happening and why he was a hiccup in Luka's plans. "What does it have to do with me? With Kai?" He looked at the sword on the floor, "With my family?" Luka chuckled.

"Your family? Boy, you're still not the brightest crayon in the box are you?"

"It's Dragoon." Kai called over from his position beside Nascita. "Only a legendary Bitbeast could awaken Nascita and Neonato. He chose Dragoon. The sword was the origin of Dragoon and contains a touch of his potent essence. Making it perfect to unlock the legend." Kai narrowed his eyes at Takao. "And someone made it all so easy by bringing the damn thing with him for a stupid dare!"

"Bravo! Bravo! You seem adapt to a legend that I took almost all my life to understand." Luka smiled and clapped slowly.

"Then it's not Takao that's the dumb one." Kai's remark echoed through the strangely silent air. Takao raised his eyebrow. Did Kai just defend me? Luka clenched his fist.

"It will come….no good can come of their existence…" Takao stood back as Luka's eyes became sadistically twisted and filled with anger. "They have no place in our world!" Kai smirked creating an uncontrollable anger and hatred that erupted inside Luka's soul as he shouted orders to his men who had dissolved into the back ground. In a matter of seconds blades darted towards Nascita. A whoosh of air pushed Kai to the ground as Nascita darted head first to meet his attackers. Chinking on the cobbles made Takao look up as Neonato made his move leaping and bounding towards him. Kai launched Dranzer who blasted from his blade with an intense fiery rage and exploded forward to create his own rampage, unwillingly, by Nascita's side. Blades cracked and the screams of death rang through the area. Every colour and pigment presented itself in blurr to everyone in the vicinity as time took control of the situation. Takao screamed grabbing Kai's attention and time lapsed to it's normal pace. NO! Kai bolted to Takao's side as he fell with a dull pound to the ground; his neck carved open as his body went into a fit of convulsions. Luka had the sword and was swiping it about furiously trying to get Neonato whose agility easily out done his adversary's.

"Luka!" Kai smashed Luka in the face before grabbing his wrist and snapping it so the bone jutted out of the skin making Luka cry in pain dropping the sword. Luka looked at Kai as he saw the smirk upon Kai's face. Kai now held the sword. The seal to Luka's fate. "See you in hell." He lashed the sword through the air skilfully cutting deep through Luka's heart and throat killing him instantly before lifting his leg in the air smacking his heel off Luka's head aiding him in a plummet into the depths of the rift caused by Nascita's most recent impact. Kai looked down at his hands which felt heavy with the blood of the life he had just took…with the future he had now inherited. Neonato looked at Kai with lost eyes and padded his way to Takao's side. Nascita and Dranzer became still as their slaughter of the enemy ended and Dranzer returned to his blade. Kai watched silently feeling his heart race as Neonato nudged Takao's wrist slowly fading from sight, No turning back. He turned his back to the scene behind him and walked away from it all.

… … …

Chichai pulled a seat to Takao's bed side and sat down eating the last slice of pizza as she watched him lie in the hospital bed. She looked around at the light that made its way through the room and over the white cotton sheets on his bed. The flowers Hiromi had sent three weeks earlier lay drooping on the small cabinet by his bed along with the heaps of chocolate Hiro, Max and Kenny had sent him. His progress was good. He had slowly been weaned off of his life support machine onto the oxygen mask and now onto nothing more than a drip and heart monitor. Finishing off the pizza she stood feeling bored as she watched the tiny trickles fall down the line of the drip. The needle in his arm made her feel queasy but that was exchanged for a light excitement when she saw the silver wolf symbol upon his wrist. Chichai smiled with disbelief while Takao's eyelids opened.

"…Chichai? …Why are you here?" He pulled himself up feeling his head ache. He put his fingers to the back of his head feeling stitches weave in and out of his scalp.

"Visiting. You took a nasty bump to the head when you came up against Nascita and Neonato." Takao's eyes widened as he remembered everything that had happened. "You feeling ok?"

"I feel like something's taking me over inside." Takao felt his stomach as it squirmed in pain.

"Well, he is." Chichai sat back down swinging on her seat.

"Excuse me?" Takao said a bit too loudly making passing nurses look in at him. Chichai smiled nervously at them as they continued down the corridor. She turned back to Takao slightly red in the face.

"Look at your wrist." Takao held his wrist up to his eye level feeling a sickening unease course through his body as the silver image shone underneath the light. He looked up with his eyes filled with an empty confusion. "Oh you still don't know the whole thing do you? Aw poor thing. Gimme a bar of chocolate and I might tell you." She smiled jokingly making him nod gesturing to the cabinet of chocolate he wished he could eat. Chichai crossed her legs up on the chair opening the packet. "The force inside you, that's Neonato. He's going to guide you to your destiny."

"What destiny?"

"The fight thing that's gonna happen when someone tries to destroy all Bitbeasts." Takao's body went at ease.

"It's ok Luka's already done that. It's over."

"Since when were things that easy? Whoever you and Nascita are going against is gonna be solid. If yous win you'll save Bitbeats and their trainers but if yous don't yous'll be dead and we'll all hate you cause our Bitbeasts are gone." She took a bite off of the chocolate smiling while Takao's head went blank totally missing everything she'd said after her casual mentioning of his death. Chichai swallowed the chocolate thinking his vacant expression was because he didn't understand something, "What exactly don't you get?" Takao looked at the foot of his bed for a while before answering.

"Why's it me?"

"Cause you have Dragoon. He was the Bitbeast used to break open the seal."

"What's gonna happen now?" He looked down at his wrist with a solemn face, "Is it gonna take over me?" Chichai laughed.

"No. You're taking this way too seriously Takao! It'll be fun! You've got one of the strongest things on earth silently honing your skills in every way so you can fight alongside with an angel. Wish it was me."

"I could die!" Takao looked up at Chichai who shrugged. "Thanks a lot!" She laughed.

"I didn't mean it that way T. Everyone dies. But your death, if it comes because of this, which I really doubt, will be remembered whether your successful of not. Unlike the rest of us - you know your reason. You should stop moaning." She put her feet on Takao's bed and leaned forward as he went back to staring into space. "Anything else?"

"Who will it be?…That I go against." He looked at her seriously as she gave a wave of the hand.

"Doesn't matter, point is you've gotta do your thing." Takao sighed and Chichai bit her lip realising she was being very insensitive. "Sorry Takao. I promise it'll be ok. Italians really believe that you and Nascita will save the Bitbeasts, you won't be alone. Everyone'll help you as much as possible."

"Thanks Chichai." Takao said lethargically as he picked at the tape that held the needle into his skin. Chichai smiled as she opened another chocolate bar and put it under Takao's nose. He laughed as she pulled dumb faces and took the bar of chocolate hoping that maybe Chichai was right and it wouldn't be so bad.

... … …

The sun began to crawl its way to the West ready to light a new day leaving the East to wait for the prevalence of the full moon through the thick clouds. Kai felt his skin die as he looked through the cold dark shade of the room to the scenery surrounding the hotel. Suddenly things began to make sense. His insatiable appetite for power, control and perfection all came from this. The secrets he had long held inside and thought he had destroyed as he grew apart from his hatred of blading…but no...He couldn't escape. He looked down at his eternally scared hands as his mind raced through everything he had ever known to be true. The things that had been prised into his being would never leave him. His fate had been sealed by a person whose powerful influence Kai had always feared; his grandfather. Kai shook his head. Blaming someone wouldn't change anything. He sat down on the cold dusty floor gripping onto Dranzer to seek solace in the energy that surged through his veins. He smirked slightly. He would make the end begin, but Dranzer would be there throughout it all making him stronger and stronger, making him unstoppable. Kai looked up imagining the dawn of the day he would face Takao for the last time. He didn't plan on losing and he had a few tricks up his sleeve. Takao would never know what he was in for…until his last blood drop splattered on the floor.