A/N: Konnichiwa! Hikari here with the much-awaited (for some) Chapter 8! Again, a BIG thank you to those who still read this...I know its getting boring for some, but its probably going to bet more interesting soon...
Mei: (sniff) There haven't been many reviewers lately...and I know you've been hoping for the exact opposite...
Me: There, there, Mei. Some people just don't know how to appreciate a good story with a novel idea...
Aki: Can we just get on with it?
Me: Fine...Hey! You're back! Okay, you do the disclaimer:
Disclaimer - Aki: (sigh) Once again, Hikari doesn't own Beyblade nor its characters. The only things in this fic she owns are the OCs (and damn are there a lot of them...)
Chapter 8: Showdown
"For the final round: Team Leviathan's Takenori Shizuka goes against Fujiwara Kumiko of Team Phoenix! Who will prevail?"
Kumiko stepped up to the dish, brow furrowed, as she put all thoughts save for those concerning her teammates and friends.
Shizuka also approached the dish. "So, we meet again, Fujiwara…" she said scathingly.
"So we do, Takenori," The amethyst-eyed teen replied, reaching into the red bag she wore at her hip for her launcher. "And what of it?" she continued, arching an eyebrow in feigned boredom. She was applying a tactic she'd used many times before, but never before a Beybattle: infuriate your opponent, and victory is almost guaranteed. Sure enough…
"Don't make light of this match, Fujiwara!" the brunette cried, whipping out her launcher. "I've improved since we last battled, and I can assure you that this won't be an easy battle."
"I hope you intend to adhere to that," Kumiko replied, continuing to act unimpressed as she readied herself for the opening launch. "I tend to tire of boring battles…"
It was a good thing, then, that as the raven-haired teen was speaking, DJ Jazzman was giving the signal to launch; the second after Kumiko mentioned 'boring battles', Shizuka's steel-blue eyes flashed angrily, and she let loose her blade with a loud cry. Across the dish, Kumiko did the same, only not as vocally as her opponent.
"You'll pay for that remark!" Shizuka exclaimed as their blades circled each other, dark blue chasing crimson. "Icy Prison!"
"C'mon, guys! We can't have missed much!" Takao said as he ran along the corridor. He and his friends had just come from the infirmary, where they also learned that Kumiko was battling alone now – physically, at least, for two of her teammates were trying to recuperate from their own battles, and the other was fighting a battle against illness.
Soon they entered the competition ground – they'd missed the opening launch – and made their way hurriedly to the now-empty team bench belonging to Team Phoenix.
"Icy Prison!"
Max blinked. "Did I hear that right?" he asked, sticking a finger in his ear for emphasis. "I could have sworn I heard Kumiko's opponent say 'Icy Prison'…"
"It wasn't just you, Max," Rei unsmilingly assured the blonde. "We all heard it…"
"And it can only mean one thing," Kai added, his face grim as he watched the two teens battle. "Team Phoenix's last two opponents, Hikitsu and Tetsuro, held two of what used to be Team NeoBorg's bit beasts: Wyborg and Falborg, respectively. Now, if information is correct, the girl Kumiko's battling now is their captain, and we all know who the team captain of NeoBorg was."
Max nodded slowly, understanding immediately what his captain meant; Takao turned his attention to the ensuing battle, wondering if the slate-haired teen was right and praying his wasn't. Because if he was, the stormy-eyed teen knew that Kumiko would have some difficulty coming out of this unscathed.
"You call this an attack?" Kumiko asked. Her Dranzer swerved left and right, avoiding all the deadly sharp icicles her opponent's blade was 'throwing' at it. "And you said this match wasn't going to be easy…"
"Just you wait, Fujiwara," Shizuka snarled, sweat beginning to bead on her forehead. "This is only the beginning."
Then the steel-blue orbs closed, and Shizuka quieted; in the dish, her blade ceased attacking, spinning slower than it had a while ago.
Kumiko smirked. Now was the time, while she was trying to tap into her bit beast's 'vibes' – yes, she knew Shizuka had a bit beast, even without seeing the girl's blade.
"Dranzer F, Spiral Flame!"
At once, the blue blade shot towards its opponent and circled around it, going faster and faster until it wasn't even visible anymore. Then, there was a thunk! as the blades connected, and Shizuka's crimson one was sent flying. It landed, with a clatter, in front of its wielder, who stared at it, wide-eyed with shock.
"Amazing!" DJ Jazzman exclaimed into the microphone. "With one attack, Kumiko knocks Shizuka out of the dish! I don't think this team captain is very happy with what happened to her teammates earlier…"
Shizuka picked up her blade, attached it to her launcher once more, and then turned to glare at the raven-haired teen across from her. "You made a fatal mistake in crossing me, Fujiwara," she hissed, brows knitted in fury.
Kumiko chuckled. She couldn't help it; it sounded ridiculous coming from someone she'd beaten! "Excuse me? I think that's where you're wrong, Takenori…" she replied, retrieving her blade from the dish and re-attaching it to her launcher. "You couldn't even hit me with your attacks earlier!"
"Well, that was only the first round…"
"3…2…1…Go, shoot!"
Once more, both bladers launched their respective blades into the dish, and this time, Shizuka did not waste time.
"Wolborg!"
A chilling roar, deep and sounding like it came from beneath the ground, resounded in the air. And then, an enormous silver wolf emerged from the center of the red blade. The fur glistening, as though real silver, the dangerously sharp claws protruding from its paws, and the deadly collar of icicles it wore – it was a fearsome sight to behold were one knew to the blading world.
Once more Wolborg gave a might growl, announcing its arrival to all; Kumiko stared at it, worried now, though she tried not to give it away. She knew of the connection between blader and bit beast – that when Wolborg attacked and Suzaku, when and if she decided to release it, were to be injured, so would she – but it was just as dangerous to fight an opponent and not release your own beast; you could still get hurt. The amethyst-eyed teen remained firm in her decision, though, to not unleash her bit beast unless it was absolutely necessary.
She decided to continue to use her tactic from the first round. "That's a cute pet," she commented, pretending to look amused. "Where'd you get it?"
Shizuka smirked. "Whatever you're trying to pull, Fujiwara, it won't work this time!" She locked gazes with her bit beast and then nodded. "Do it!"
Almost instantly, icicles began forming around the giant wolf, and then came flying towards Kumiko and her blade.
Amethyst orbs widened upon seeing the attack, and Kumiko attempted to dodge each icicle as it came. A fair number, however, found their mark, earning a strangled cry from the victim as each one hit.
"Oh, no! Kumiko and her blade have been hit by Shizuka's attack, boys and girls!" DJ Jazzman commented, worry evident in his voice; he remembered well the events of two years past, when a blader was hospitalized, and one was reported to have died – and been reborn, or something similar to that – after coming out of matches like the one playing in front of him.
"You…surprised me with…that attack…Takenori…" Kumiko said weakly as she got to her feet. She gazed at the dish and saw that her blade was still spinning – it was kind of slow, but nevertheless, it was spinning.
"I'm surprised you're still standing after that attack, Fujiwara…" Shizuka smirked, folding her arms across her chest. And then suddenly, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "But I'm sure you and that blade of yours won't be standing after this attack! Wolborg! Ice Cavern!"
"What -?" Kumiko began, but the cried out in pain; her arm felt like it had been crushed beneath something, yet had not broken. She clutched at it, feeling for broken bones; there were none. She turned her attention to the dish – and gasped.
The dark blue blade that was Dranzer was slowly disappearing under a steadily growing pile of ice and snow. All of a sudden…
"AAAAAAGH!" The raven-haired teen screamed, flying backwards as though she herself had been attacked and landing with a dull thud on the platform behind her; a few moments later, Dranzer came whistling out of the dish and came to rest beside the girl, mere inches away from her outstretched hand.
"And Fujiwara Kumiko is out for the count!" the energetic announcer exclaimed. "Will she be able to rise and do battle once more, before she and her team are disqualified?"
"And in how many minutes will that be?" Shizuka asked loudly, smirking. DJ Jazzman looked taken aback by this brazen display of hate towards a fellow blader, but he recovered quickly.
"In answer to your question, Shizuka, cut-off time for disqualification will be…" – he consulted his wristwatch – "…five minutes from now."
Meanwhile, Team BBA had rushed towards the stadium – for who else would see to it that the amethyst-eyed teen was still alive?
"Kumiko?" Rei called softly, giving the girl a gentle shake. No response. Max, Takao, and then Rei – again – tried their luck, to no avail.
"She's not…she's not answering us…" Takao looked truly panicked now. "Kai, what should we do?"
Kai didn't reply, but heaved himself up onto the stadium itself and knelt beside the unconscious girl.
"Kumiko," he called, his voice soft, but firm. "Kumiko, you need to get up. We know you're in pain, but you have to get up now. Otherwise, your team will be disqualified, and Team Leviathan will win by default."
At these words, Kumiko stirred, groaning as she did so, and sat up wearily. "Kai-san…" she began. "What…happened?"
"You were battling Takenori Shizuka, and you were knocked unconscious," the slate-haired teen replied. "Now get up; you don't want your team to be disqualified now, do you?" He got up and held out a hand to her, ready to help her up.
Kumiko shook her head. "I can get up by myself, thank you," she said, pushing herself painfully to her feet.
"Kumiko, are you sure you're all right?" Max asked, his brow knitted with concern. The ebony-haired girl turned and smiled at the blonde.
"Hai, daijoubu…" she said, trying to reassure her trainers.
Suddenly, the competition area filled with cheers; Kumiko turned back, startled. Across the stadium, she could see that Shizuka was fuming; DJ Jazzman, on the other hand, was happily announcing the 'news'.
"Yes, folks! Fujiwara Kumiko manages to avoid disqualifying her team by a mere forty-five seconds! But that doesn't mean the battle's over! We still have the third round to accomplish!"
"Kai-san, I think you'd better go…" Kumiko muttered to the crimson-eyed boy beside her. "I can take it from here."
Kai jumped down from the platform, and then motioned for his team to follow, which they did.
"Here we go!" DJ Jazzman was saying as they took their seats. "Bladers ready?"
"Wait…" Kumiko interrupted. "There's…something I have to fix first."
"What is so important that you interrupt the countdown?" Shizuka asked, frowning. "For all we know you could be attaching a…a razor or some other sharp object to your blade, or something like that…"
Kumiko looked up from attaching her blade to her launcher, purple orbs flashing. "Never accuse me of such trickery, Takenori!" she burst forth. She raised the arm that held the launcher, her fist at a level with her eye, and reached the other hand up to the buckles that held her armguards in place.
"Ha!" Shizuka let out an impertinent laugh upon spotting the red armbands. "Do you take me for a fool, Fujiwara? Just because you use a pair of armbands modeled after the ones Hiwatari Kai-shi 1 uses doesn't mean you have the strength or abilities he has."
Kumiko ignored the remark; she'd let her actions speak to her. Keeping her gaze trained on Shizuka, she silently unbuckled the straps on both armguards, and let them drop onto the platform.
THUD!
"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" DJ Jazzman asked, rubbing his eyes in bewilderment. "All this time I thought the armguards the captain of Team Phoenix wore were just copies of Kai's, but it turns out they're the real deal! Does this mean-"
"- That you've been holding back?" Shizuka asked, incredulous. It has to be a trick…she thought.
Kumiko smirked, raising her hands above her head – her favorite launching position. "Not really, Takenori…I think of it as a…self-handicap, if you will."
"Looks like we're all set, folks, so let's do this! Bladers, 3…2…1…Go, shoot!"
"Ikuzo, Wolborg!" Shizuka cried as she let fly her blade, a crimson blur as it entered the dish. Across from the steel-eyed girl, Kumiko brought her arms swinging downwards and, as was her custom when performing the Fury Launch, pulled hard on the ripcord when they were at a precise 45-degree angle to her torso. There was only a dark blue streak in the air, and then…
Shizuka's eyes widened. "Where…where did it go?" The blue blade had vanished. A sudden vibration shook the stadium, nearly knocking the blue black-haired teen off her feet; it was so strong! "What was that?" She glanced at her opponent.
Kumiko smirked. She'd been waiting for this chance! "That vibration? It was caused by my blade slamming into yours, Takenori…"
"Your – no way!" Gray-blue orbs widened with alarm, and then pain as a stinging sensation ran up her left side. "But…your blade's not even in the dish! How can you be attacking?" she asked hoarsely, clutching at her arm, which hung limp as though broken.
"Look closely."
Shizuka did so, and gasped. At regular intervals, the shadow of a blade would appear next to her crimson one, and then her blade would jerk wildly as though struck by something. She glanced back up upon discovery of this, eyes narrowed dangerously. "So I see…" she half-whispered. "You weren't joking, then, with this little armband stunt you pulled."
"Who said I was?"
Shizuka didn't answer; instead, she turned to her bit beast – which she'd released as she was 'chatting' with her amethyst-eyed opponent. "Now, Wolborg! Crush her! Novae Rouge!"
Suddenly it seemed as though there was ice all around the stadium. Kumiko frowned. This isn't good; with all this ice, I won't be able to use the speed I'd gathered at the beginning of this round, unless… It was risky, but worth a shot. She sent the silent command to her blade – which only she could see at this point – and it began spiraling crazily around the dish and shattering the icicles it came across. That is, until it his a particularly thick one and bounced off, becoming visible to its opponent once more.
"Mitsuketa!" Shizuka exclaimed, eyes glinting. "All right! Wolborg!" At once, Kumiko's Dranzer was encased in ice, and the crimson blade moved in for the kill. A sound like shattering glass, a stifled shout, and the raven-haired teen stepped back, trying to stay on her feet.
Kumiko glanced up after a few seconds, her face devoid of emotion. "Okay, Dranzer, Goukakyuu Arashi!" The dark navy blade began to emit huge fireballs – when compared to the size of the blades – shooting off in every direction.
"Looks like Kumiko's turning up her offensive, and boy, is this match heating up!" DJ Jazzman yelled into the mic; he hadn't commented the past few minutes because he himself was caught up with watching the match.
"No! Wolborg, dodge!"
But there was no need to dodge the attacks; Wolborg was not Dranzer's target…at least, for now. Almost immediately, the remaining ice in the stadium melted, and then evaporated.
"Dranzer, do it! Flaming Crash!"
The dark blue blade began to whiz around the dish once more, increasing its speed until it was nothing more than a blur again. And then…
"NO!" Shizuka cried. Her blade was flying through the air now. The jet-haired girl closed her eyes and prayed that it wouldn't land outside the stadium, but…
"Shizuka's OUT, ladies and gentlemen!" DJ Jazzman yelled as the crowd burst into spirited applause and cheers. "In a dynamic finish, Team Phoenix knocks Team Leviathan out of the race for the last spot in the finals!"
Kumiko retrieved her blade, and then silently approached her opponent, who was kneeling on the ground dejectedly. Kumiko stood in front of the girl and extended a hand; Shizuka looked up, puzzled.
"Nani?"
The raven-haired teen offered a small smile. "Congratulations, Takenori."
"What for?"
"For doing your best in this match, that's what." Kumiko replied. She arched an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for? You can't sit there in defeat for the rest of the day; you have to get up at some time."
Shizuka was silent for a while, and then reluctantly grasped Kumiko's hand. The amethyst-eyed teen's smile grew wider a bit, and then she braced herself and hauled the other girl up to her feet.
"Let's give it up for the two of them, folks!"
Once more the audience burst into applause. Hesitantly, Kumiko began to smile and wave at them; Shizuka followed suit seconds later, just as shyly.
"Kumiko!"
The raven-haired teen whirled around at the sound of her name, and a grin broke over her face. Running towards her were Takao and his friends, grinning broadly – well, Kai wasn't running, but he was close behind his companions, and he had a small smile on his face.
Kumiko hastily made her way down the platform steps to meet her trainers, who showered her with shouts of 'Congratulations!' and 'You did it!', and other praising remarks. The heliotrope-eyed 2 teen blushed as she accepted these words. Then her eyes widened as she remembered.
"Kinomiya-sensei," – she addressed everyone save Kai in this manner, for they had not yet given her permission to call them by their given names – "How are Chiaki, Kaito, and Taichi?"
Takao smiled. "Chiaki's fine, Kumiko. You remember, don't you, that she came from her match with only scratches?"
"Hai…but I can't help but worry about them; they are my friends and teammates, after all…but what of Kaito and Taichi? Will they be all right soon?"
"We don't know yet, Kumiko," Rei answered for the dark blue-haired teen. "We came from the infirmary a few minutes into your match, but we couldn't ask the physician about his prognosis for both Kaito and Taichi; he wasn't there, and the attending nurse doesn't know the prognosis either…"
The phoenix wielder was silent for a moment, and then muttered, "I see…"
"And there you have it, girls and boys!" DJ Jazzman was saying as he indicated the announcement screen. "The two championship teams who've made it to the Finals: Team Basilisk, and Team Phoenix!"
The BBA commentator waited for the cheers to die down, and then continued. "Team Basilisk's benefactor has kindly suggested that the Finals take place two-and-a-half weeks from now," – here there were indignant cries from the audience, and Jazzman had to raise his voice – "in order to facilitate the recovery of Matsuo Kaito and Shimamoto Taichi. Seeing as Team Phoenix would be two members short if the Finals were to take place immediately – a rather unfair disqualification, in the BBA's decision – we have decided to follow his suggestion."
"I wonder who this benefactor is; he seems awfully nice…" Kumiko commented, scanning the sponsors' box – a special area of chairs where the benefactors for the different teams were seated. When she found none, she shrugged.Maybe they didn'tdesignate a specific area forsponsors this year... she thought.Oh, well...
She turned to her companions. "Willyou guys excuse me? I think I'll go see Kaito and Taichi now, and probably meet up with Chiakiin the team room later."
Max smiled. "By all means, Kumiko, go ahead! We don't mind."
"Catch you later!" Takaoadded, grinning widely.
Kumiko began to run towards the corridor leading to the infirmary, but glanced back over her shoulder and waved at the group. "Yeah, later!"
"Hey, Kaito," Kumiko greeted as she came in. Kaito gave her a wan smile, and the raven-haired teen wearily closed the door. "Did anyone tell you?" Kumiko continued, still smiling. "We've made it to the finals!"
"That's great!" the chocolate-haired teen exclaimed with as much excitement as he could muster in his current condition.
"Um-hmm…" The amethyst-eyed teen nodded. "So, how are you feeling?"
"A little better, Kumiko…" Kaito answered. "The doctor said it was something in what I ate earlier, and not to worry; I'll get it out of my system soon enough…"
"I see…" Kumiko returned, though she still looked worried. Something in the food? she thought. It seems impossible; we ate at the same restaurant, and it was a buffet! How come only Kaito was affected?
"Have you gone to see Taichi yet?" Kaito asked, breaking into the amethyst-eyed teen's thoughts. The girl shook her head slowly.
"But I'll go to see him soon; I just wanted to check up on you since you were the first to be taken ill."
Kaito grinned and rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Oh, please…you're sounding more like a mother hen than a team captain! You worry too much about us, and look at the state of you, all scratched up."
"Huh?" Kumiko sounded surprised, and then realization hit her. "Oh, yeah, that…"
"I think you'd better get some rest yourself after you visit Taichi, Kumiko…" The teal-eyed teen suggested.
"Nah, I don't think so; these are just scratches…And, I forgot to tell you that you and Taichi have two weeks and a couple of days to recover; the sponsor of our opposing team, Team Basilisk, suggested this 'cause he thought it would be an unfair disqualification or something like that…"
"That's good…" Kaito replied, glancing at the silver blade that lay on his desk.
"Well, you rest now so you can participate in the upcoming finals, Kaito…" Kumiko continued, making her way towards the door and opening it. "I hope you get better soon."
"Yeah, thanks."
The door swung shut, and Kaito was lost in his own world once more. He picked up his blade and gazed at the bit chip. There, Byakko, the white tiger, gleamed a pleasant green, as though to reassure its young master.
"Maybe the boys aren't cut out for Beyblading…" Chiaki said suddenly. She, Kumiko, Yuujin and Shun were in the team room, while Kai and the others were out on a nighttime stroll.
"Pardon?" Kumiko looked up from the book she was reading.
"I said that perhaps Kaito and Taichi aren't suited to blade," the ash blonde teen repeated herself, a small grin on her face.
"Why?" Yuujin asked, turning her attention away from her TV show.
Chiaki's grin grew wider. "Well, so far, only they've been admitted to the stadium infirmary, and you and I, Kumiko, came out of our matches with only scratches – and pretty minor ones at that…"
"You're kidding, aren't you, Chiaki?" Kumiko arched one slim eyebrow, grinning as she did. "I know you wouldn't be so serious about such things if you were to say them…especially where Taichi is concerned…"
"Huh?" Chiaki looked genuinely puzzled, but there was no mistaking that slight tinge of pink on her cheeks. "Why Taichi?"
Kumiko put down her book and went to join her friend at the table. "I've seen the way you look at him, Chiaki," she said as she sat down.
"What do you mean?" The emerald-eyed teen asked, looking at her hands in her lap in order to hide the blush, however small it was.
"Oh, come now!" Kumiko replied, smiling gently. "Don't give me any crap that you see him only as a friend. You like him, don't you?"
Chiaki glanced up, surprised. "Wha-? How-?"
Kumiko gave a small laugh. "I saw how you reacted when he got injured during his match in the Semi-Finals, and I've watched enough soap operas to know how someone in love reacts when the object of their affections is injured or admitted to the hospital…"
"It's that obvious?" Chiaki half-whispered, glancing back down again, the blush spreading even wider. "Does he know?"
"Don't worry, Chiaki," Kumiko reassured. "I don't think he's noticed…yet."
"You won't tell him, will you?"
Kumiko shook her head. "No, I won't. Like I said, don't worry; your secrets safe with me…"
"Uh, don't you think you guys had better be going off to bed?" Shun asked, looking up from his laptop. "It's nearing nine, and if you guys are going to recover quickly, I suggest you get more sleep."
"Fine by me," Kumiko replied, getting up and stretching. "Especially since I plan to be up early so I can train a bit; I certainly can't let these two weeks go to waste."
"Good idea," Chiaki piped up, standing up as well. "I guess I'll join you in your training tomorrow, so that means I'd better go up to my room now, too."
"Great! See you at around eight-thirty?" Kumiko suggested.
"After breakfast?" Chiaki asked. The raven-haired teen nodded, and Chiaki smiled. "Okay. Eight-thirty it is. See you!" And the green-eyed teen was out the door. Kumiko stayed behind for a while.
"What about you guys?" she asked, turning to Shun and Yuujin. "Aren't you going to go to your rooms, too?"
"Not yet," Shun replied. "I still want to finish typing this up,"
"And I want to finish this movie," Yuujin answered, her attention back on the TV set. "It's getting interesting."
"Okay, well, see you guys tomorrow, then. Oyasuminasai."
"Oyasuminasai."
"Hiwatari-sensei!"
Kai turned when he heard his name being called; running towards him was Yuujin, and – this fact disturbed him greatly – she looked really worried. It was the day after the rather disastrousSemi-Finals (for some members, at least), and seeing one of Kumiko's friends in such distress...
"Nani, Yuujin-san?" he asked as he stood still, allowing theauburn-haired teento catch up with him. She did after a few moments, and bent forwards, her hands resting on her knees as she caught her breath.
"Have you…have you seen Kumiko this morning?" she asked, between gasps.
"No, I haven't. Why would you be looking for her?"
"She and Chiaki made an agreement to meet up at eight-thirty this morning; they were supposed to train together. Chiaki came up to me just a few minutes earlier and told me that she never showed up! Shun didn't see her in the team room, and Kaito and Taichi said that she hasn't been to visit them today yet."
"Have you or Chiaki asked Takao, Max, Kyouju and Rei?" Kai suggested, trying to calm her down. "Perhaps they've seen her."
"We both asked them already, and they haven't seen her either."
"She could still be asleep. Maybe she was so tired she didn't hear her alarm, or she could have forgotten to set her alarm. That sometimes happens."
"You could be right…" Yuujin said, crossing her arms and looking thoughtful. "I never did check in her room. Could you accompany me there?" she asked.
Kai nodded. "Fine. I'll come with you."
"Arigatou." Yuujin bowed, and then turned and started down the hall, with Kai close behind her. After around five minutes, the two were standing outside Kumiko's bedroom. Kai stepped forward and rapped smartly on the door.
"Kumiko?" he called rather loudly.
There was no answer. Once more the slate-haired teen knocked on the wood, even louder than the last one. "Kumiko, open up! What are you doing in there, anyway?" Once more there was no reply, and Kai grit his teeth in frustration. He turned to the aqua-eyed teen beside him. "Itoe, go and call a stadium official and ask for the key to Kumiko's room. I'd open the door myself, but..."
Yuujin got his meaning, turned, and ran down the hall. Kai leaned against the wall in his habitual fashion, trying to come up with different reasons why the wielder of Suzaku wasn't answering them.
Soon the auburn-haired teen returned, a rather burly man at her heels. Wordlessly, the bigger man stepped up, produced a set of keys, and, after selecting one, handed it to Kai, who merely nodded his thanks. He turned back to the door and inserted the key in the lock.
Click!
Hearing this, Kai grabbed the doorknob and swung the door inwards to reveal the room. Yuujin gasped, and the slate-haired teen stood frozen to the spot, hardly daring to believe his eyes.
The room – which he knew his protégée kept quite tidy – was in complete disarray, showing signs of a struggle. The cushioned chair that always stood in front of the oak desk at one wall was now upended and leaning against the opposite wall, and the sheets were strewn about the room.
"What – what happened here?" the burly official asked, finally finding his voice. "It looks like a twister hit this place…"
"I'm afraid I have no idea, sir…" Kai replied. And then, he spotted two pieces of paper lying upon the desk. Quickly, he strode into the room, went over to the desk, and picked up the sheets and examined them. The handwriting on the second note was smaller, and it was lengthier than the first. The first note, Kai realized, was in Kumiko's handwriting, and it contained just one word.
'Tasukete.'
Garnet orbs widened, and then he quickly scanned the second note.
'We have the girl. Don't try to look for her; you'll only get hurt.' The note said. Seething, Kai crumpled it into a little ball and threw it into the wastebasket nearby.
"Hiwatari-sensei, what is it?" Yuujin asked, looking even more worried than before. "The note you picked up, it was from Kumiko, wasn't it?"
"Actually, there were two notes, Yuujin-san," Kai replied, closing his eyes in an attempt to calm himself. "The one I threw into the wastebasket wasn't from Kumiko, but someone who apparently has her with him – or her – as we speak."
"You mean…" Aqua eyes widened, threatening to tear up. "Kumiko's been kidnapped?"
Kai nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. The first note I read was from Kumiko, and it said 'help', nothing more…"
"Oh, no…"
"I'll go inform the chairman right away," Kai said, turning on his heel. Seconds later, they could hear his urgent footsteps dashing down the hallway.
"Wait! I'll go with you!" Yuujin called, dashing after him
"This is outrageous!" Chairman Daitouji exclaimed, looking worried. "That means four bladers have been kidnapped in just one night!"
"Four, sir?" the slate-haired teen asked, puzzled.
"Yes, four. At around nine this morning,a member of Team Basilisk - I forgot whohis name -approached me, looking frantic. He said that his team captain, Akimoto Ryushi, had failed to meet with him and his teammates, sothey went to his room to check. Ryushi's room showed signs of a fight of some sort taking place, and on his desk,they found this." Here the elderly man held up three small white sheets of paper. "The other two were found in Takenori Shizuka and Tachikawa Takeshi's rooms; unfortunately, these last two were also reported missing, some fifteen minutes before you two came in.
Kai's eyes widened when he read the topmost one.
"Chairman, these notes are identical to the one I found in Kumiko's room!" he exclaimed.
"Then that means it was only one person – or one group – that kidnapped all five…" Daitouji mused, setting the notes back on his desk.
"What can we do?" Yuujin asked. "And…if they kidnapped all the team captains of the semi-finalist teams-" the young girl had noticed the pattern – "doesn't that mean that they'll soon be after the members, too?"
"Yes, that's possible…" the balding man said. He reached into his pocket, took out a handkerchief, and mopped his brow. "As for what we will do…we certainly can't neglect the safety of our bladers." He turned to Yuujin. "You are a friend of Kumiko's, aren't you?" Yuujin nodded, and Chairman Daitouji continued. "Then please tell her teammates what has happened, and tell them also not to worry. We'll do everything in our power to protect those still here, and also to finding the victims."
"What of the tournament?" Kai asked.
"Well, it will have to be postponed again if we don't find the four of them soon."
Kai nodded, and turned to the auburn-haired girl beside him. "Let's go, Yuujin-san; we have to tell Chiaki and the others as soon as possible."
Yuujin nodded, still worried, and followed the scarlet-eyed teen out of the office. Kumiko… she thought, clutching a hand to her chest, where can you be?
"What?" Kaito shot up in bed – he was feeling better now, but was still confined to the infirmary. "What do you mean she's been kidnapped?"
"I mean just that, Matsuo," Kai replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "She and three others – team captains, just like her – were reported missing just this morning.
"But…but who would do such a thing?" Taichi asked. He had been transferred from his solitary ward to this one, with a bed next to his teammates.
"We have no idea, but Chairman Daitouji has vowed to find out for us, and hopefully to rescue those kidnapped. Now he wants everyone not to worry, and also to be watchful of ourselves; we don't want anyone else to fall prey to this kidnapper – or kidnappers."
"What will happen if Kumiko and the others aren't found in two weeks?" Chiaki asked. Initially, she'd thought that her captain had simply forgotten to meet her that morning, but when she learned the girl had been kidnapped…
"The tournament will be postponed even further."
Suddenly, the door banged open, and in dashed Takao, dragging Max and Rei behind him. "Is it…is it true?" the stormy-eyed teen asked between gasps, finally letting go of the blonde and the neko-jin in order to rest his palms on his knees to steady himself.
"Yes! Kumi-chan's been kidnapped!" Yuujin burst forth from her seat near Kaito's bed.
"Phew! What a relief!" Takao heaved a great sigh, and then flopped down onto the nearest stool. "I thought for a moment there, she'd decided to follow Kai's footsteps and gone to the opposing team or something. You guys remember, when – OW!" He suddenly yelped, rubbing the back of his head where Kai had clocked him.
"This is serious, Kinomiya; there's no time for kidding around…"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever…" Takao huffed.
"So how will the BBA find them?" Max asked, also taking a seat on the blue couch that occupied the wall next to the door. Rei sat down beside him.
"We don't know…" Yuujin replied, looking down at the floor. "Daitouji-sama said they'd do everything they could."
"And they expect us to do nothing?" Chiaki looked riled at this. "Why can't we go looking for them, too?"
Kai uncrossed his arms. "Because you might get hurt in the process, and the chairman doesn't want that." The slate-haired teen walked over to the open window and gazed outside. On the surrounding lawn, the teams affected had gathered, apparently discussing courses of action. "There isn't proof that whoever kidnapped Kumiko and the others isn't going to come after you, too," he added, continuing to stare out of the window, but gazing at nothing in particular.
"But you can't prove that they will come after us, can you?" Kaito asked, a small smile on his face.
The garnet-eyed teen was silent as he pondered Kaito's remark. It was true; there'd been no sign that the other members were in danger as well. He sighed. "Hai."
Rei glanced at the teal-eyed teen. "Kaito, in gaining that information, what do you plan to do?"
"Well…we can't just sit and wait for Kumiko and the others to be found. We're their friends, and they need our help. I don't know about you guys, but I want to go look for them as soon as I feel better."
"I agree with Kaito," Taichi said as he slowly sat up. He was recovering very fast, the members of Team BBA noticed, and they all thought he'd be out of the infirmary in less than three days. Already most of the color had come back to his face. "What kind of team would we be if we left her to deal with this situation alone?"
"That's true…" Max commented. "However, I don't thing the BBA search committee, if there is one, would-"
"Who said anything about the BBA search committee?" Kaito grinned. He reached over to the side table and grasped his Beyblade. "Kumiko told me once that bit beasts could sort of sense each other; they just need to be informed on who to search for, and then it will be a simple task of following them."
"Hey, you're right!" Chiaki grinned. "That way, we waste less time!"
"And the sooner we find them," Taichi added, also smiling. "There are more chances that they haven't been hurt by their kidnappers."
Takao stood up. "I think it's a great idea!" Around him, his companions nodded in agreement. Only Kai didn't comment, something that didn't go unnoticed by his friends.
"Kai?" Max glanced at the stoic teen. "You're the only one who hasn't said anything about Kaito's suggestion."
Kai turned away from the window. "In case any of you are wondering, I was listening the whole time. Kaito's idea would have worked, in theory…"
"What do you mean, 'in theory'?" Takao asked, a small frown creasing his frown. His captain's words worried him.
"I mean, it would have worked if circumstances had been different. There's just one small problem…" The crimson-eyed teen reached into his back pocket, took out something, and held it up for all to see. "I found this lying beside her bed earlier."
It was Kumiko's Beyblade.
A/N: dundunDUN... XD woooh, boy...another cliffhanger there...Just a question: is it quite obvious who kidnapped the four missing bladers? If it is, well, I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do; the fic's pretty much set in stone now...
I'll keep this 'goodbye note' short...Peace out and God bless!