Ayamari: Notes:
1) I do not own Beyblade
Chapter 9: My Life
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Mariah POV
"Galux, you're alright?" I say as I step forward. "I missed you so much."
Galux steps closer growling. Kai pulls me back slightly, making sure I don't run forward and try something reckless no doubt. Kai's soft voice causes me to look back, "Something's not right with your bitbeast or this place. Be careful don't forget the rest of us. Your bitbeast might not respond as well as it used too."
I nod slightly, he's right. Something's wrong and if Galux attacks we're all in trouble. I step forward, noting that Kai's following while everyone else backs off. I take another step, and Kai stops. He's not afraid, not Kai, He knows that we may need a little space. He wants to be close enough to help without interfering if there's a chance Galux will help us. But if this goes bad he wants to be able to help everyone. I can't help but respect him, even if this sudden protective streak annoys me. Where's the Kai who would tell us to go ahead and kill ourselves if we thought it would help. He's changed, but not entirely. He still scowls at everyone in sight when they approach without permission. I bet that if he'd stop scowling and loosen up he'd have every girl within a hundred blocks begging for a date.
Focus. I MUST get through to Galux for everyone's sake. All others thoughts are an unwanted distraction that I CANNOT afford. Softly I whisper, "Hey Galux. How are you? It's been a while since we last saw each other. You wanna join us by the fire, we have some berries, sorry it's not much, but it is food."
Kai pulls me back as Galux growls and advances. I can get through to him I just gotta try again. I try to struggle as Kai slowly edges us around so the fire sits between us and Galux. Galux keeps advancing as Kai whispers in my ear, "Take the other two as far back as you can get."
I hesitate for a moment and he turns his very serious eyes to me. He looked scared despite the steel in his eyes so I quietly follow his instructs and slowly back into the cave with the two boys, Eddie and Dunga. Kai stays where he is, guarding the entrance so we won't get hurt. He's brave but he'll get killed so we slow, expecting him to come with us. He turns to glare at us; we're not moving fast enough. The look in his eyes, he's already dead, not physically, but his heart is gone. I grab Eddie and Dunga and back off, we've no choice.
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Steve POV
"Tryhorn!" I shout as my Bitbeast walks towards us. Menacing is the first word to come to mind, but I can't let that faze me. I can feel the others huddling closer to each other in fear. I pull myself up and I gazed levelly at my bitbeast.
"Move back." Ozuma ordered and the others quickly obeyed. I hesitated a moment before I took a step forward, hoping to talk to Tryhorn. I could feel the waves of apprehension rising from everyone behind me so I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
"Steve," Ozuma said as he gently touched my arm. I kept my eyes forward and edged out a little farther. Ozuma stepped forward and grabbed hold of my arm. He tried to take me back into the cave, but I refused to budge.
"Tryhorn, how are you? I've been worried about you." I started to talk, keeping my voice as comforting as possible. Tryhorn stopped me when he growled. He came forward, threatening us and Ozuma had finally had enough. He tossed some extra firewood onto the fire and forcefully pulled me back. I complied as I watched Tryhorn advance, almost straight into the fire. Ozuma tossed more firewood, and the flames shot into the sky as the rest of us backed even farther into the cave. I wonder how long Tryhorn will stay there, or if we'll live through this night?
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Joseph POV
"Is that what I think it is?" Kenny asked. I stepped forward, but was stopped from going further by Lee's hand. His grip was light but firm.
"Vanishing Moot?" I asked hesitantly. Lee stepped up beside me, his hand still on my shoulder.
"You think your bitbeast will listen?" Lee asked softly. I nodded and took a hesitant step forward. Lee didn't stop me and he let his hand fall away from my shoulder. I could feel him standing just where I'd left him waiting in case he needed to pull me to safety. He stood patiently and said, "You two move back farther. We'll join you if this fails."
I didn't like the sound of that, but I knew what he meant. Failure could mean death for all of us. We couldn't afford to have me fail. I closed my eyes softly, hoping and praying for success before I reopened my eyes and focused my attention solely on Vanishing Moot. Softly I start talking, "Hey. I missed you. You seen any of our other friends? My sister?"
Vanishing Moot radiated anger and I knew it was over. If all he felt was anger there was no way I could get him to help. I sighed sadly, all my hopes of finding my sister fading away. Lee knew this was getting nowhere when I started to back away. He grabbed my shoulder in a comforting embrace before he stepped forward to stand between me and my bitbeast as we slowly backed behind the fire. Lee sent me to the back of the cave as he tossed a few extra pieces of wood into our fire. He joined us at the back as I said, "Sorry guys. It didn't work. We'll wait until morning, and if the bitbeast is gone we're heading out to look for everyone else."
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Michael POV
"Draciel!" Max yelled as he raced forward. I reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. He looked back at me and frowned. "Let me go Michael. I trust Draciel, I promised to always trust Draciel! I can't fail now when I'm needed most."
"Max, I know you trust you bitbeast, but don't do anything stupid, we need you," I said as I let him go. He walked around the fire, smiled back at me, and raced to Draciel. I realized too late that he wasn't planning on following my advice. He wrapped his arms around the bitBeast and hugged him tight. I watched in horror as his bitbeast reared back dropping Max to the ground in front of him. Max stood and started to talk quietly to his bitbeast even as Draciel roared in rage. Draciel reached out and struck Max, sending his body into a tree. Max's body stayed limp at the base of the tree as the bitbeast walked over to inspect the fallen boy.
"MAX!" Mariam screamed. She tried to rush to his side, but I reached out and held her tightly to keep her from going forth. She may have argued with Max all day but watching him fly though the air like a rag doll had us all worried. I watched Draciel walk towards our fallen friend for a moment before I snapped back to reality and turned on the remaining members of our small dysfunctional group
"Gary, Mariam get to the back of the cave." I yelled and watched as Gary grabbed Mariam and started back. The two got halfway back in the cave as I watched Draciel lift Max in the air. Gary came back to my side and grabbed my arm. I frowned as I looked back at Mariam who was crying silently as I asked, "Gary?"
"You're coming too," Gary said. Mariam nodded, tears trailing down her cheeks as she looked over to the bitbeast holding Max against the tree. I looked away and walked back in the cave with the other two, feeling tears start down my cheeks.
"Sorry Max, I'm so very sorry everyone. What do I tell his mother?" I whispered as we settled at the back of the cave. Mariam curled up on the floor between me and Gary and cried. Gary and I cried as well, having watched a good friend die in this frightening jungle. There was no possible way for Max to have survived Draciel's vicious attack. I looked at the entrance as Mariam cuddled closer to Gary and me seeking comfort. I waited until Gary and Mariam drifted off to sleep before I pushed away from them and walked to the entrance. The night outside was cold and dark, but Draciel still sat at the tree, tossing Max's lifeless body into the air like a bouncy ball. I shut my eyes for a moment before I walked back into the cave and sat beside Mariam again and whispered softly, "I'm so very sorry Max. Goodbye dear friend."
