Disclaimer: Mentioning of death.

Katyusha rushed across, opening all portals and collecting the bit-beasts in the Beyblade. Tears barely repressed behind her eyelid. She couldn't even register her movements as she rushed to collect the bit beast before they were hurt by the machine any more than they already had.

There were things related to the beyblading sports which only she and her fellow witch hunters knew about. They were the magic flowing through the bodies of the witch hunters.

Every witch hunter had their bit-beast. These bit-beasts had the magic to their life, literally and figuratively. Bit beast were the feelings for a human; hear of a human; breath for a soul and everything corresponding to that line of thoughts.

Barely registering her motion, Katyusha shoved Kai aside as she made her way, collecting all the bit beast. She couldn't stop until she had all the bit-beasts in her arms, cradling as if they were her children. The blades of the Beyblade pierced her inside as she pushed them into a cart left abandoned around the area. Knowing that she had all the Beyblade in her arms, she could relax a bit, but prevailing out of this dungeon was also a part she had to get through.

Thankfully, this hall had lights on while the whole area was under dark, which just said how much they had been trying to preserve the bit-beasts even in times of crisis. Even thinking of what they could have wanted out of it was thought would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Kai rushed to her side, "Do you know how many were there inside here?"

She shook her head, "I had just seen a glimpse inside the room, I didn't get time to see what was happening or how many were there inside."

Kai gave her a nod and had just started to move towards the entrance when he took a sharp double-take. Startled she waited for him to speak.

She could see the hesitance in his stance before he whispered, "Drowena? Do you… have her?"

Blinking twice, "Yeah, I had her all along," she said, showing off her Drowena on her side zip. A slow sigh of relief escaped him before he could have helped, The concern was gone, Kai turned back to his previous track and stalked forward. Katyusha hurried close by with the trolley in her hand.

"I honestly wonder why they didn't take yours," Kai said as she slid in beside her.

"I am not sure either. Maybe, because the Psykicks wanted to know how powerful I was as a blader or wasnt sure if the energy of my system were from the blade or not. Next time, I got abducted-before you guys look for me, look for my Beyblade. It will be a lot more helpful than me running around and chasing all the villains for the same."

All she received was a death glare, "You try getting into a problem once more and I won't look back once again in my life to leave you off alone. Without regret."

"Then leave my side, Hiwatari. You can go your way," Katyusha batted her eyes at him.

Without a single glance in her direction, "Isn't it unfair that you say that but also tag along everywhere I go?"

Katyusha's sigh came back, echoed, "I wish I had a chance like yours. I would take it and flee. Just because I am meant for you, I can just stalk you throughout your life. Kai, you had once done it already. It would be so hard to do it once more. In fact, it might be even easier for you sooner."

Kai looked at Katyusha, as she realized she had said 'meant for him, but before she could clarify her thoughts, the boy turned to the cart in her hands. With a pause, Kai's started to pick all of them and throw them in his pockets.

Katyusha left in utter disbelief, she couldn't imagine the amount of space the pocket had for all the seven Beyblades to be packed inside there.

"This isn't a time for a leisure walk. We need to make a way out of this building as soon as possible," he said as an explanation. "The other team must be waiting outside by now. The guy we met said he saw the others leaving already. We both need to hurry." As the last word slipped out of his mouth, he started to jog back they had come. Staring at him, she took a late start, following him closely.

"But how will you run like that? Doesn't the blade hurt?"

"The pant has many layers to it. It doesn't come directly in contact with my skin," Kai said with a smirk spreading across his face. Katyusha couldn't lie. She had been wearing a waistband across her hips attached to her Beyblade. Katyusha never found a pant worth investing nor did she find them comfortable enough. The male section of the clothing industry had an advantage over the girls in that part of living.

As they took a turn, she crossed him and took the advance. With Kai following her, it was much better if Katyusha took the rein in her own hand.

Being in the front was much better than feeling that something would pop out of nowhere by chance.

Kai's voice hung in the air around her as he asked, "Why didn't they take Drowena?"

This was the question she had been wondering since she had taken care of the Bit beast. Why would someone leave the Beyblade on her when they know just how important it is for her survival; if anything, it might be the death of hers too.

"I am not sure, Hiwatari. It's such a huge mistake to be overlooked, it doesn't feel like a mistake any longer. The Psykicks seemed to know my origin already. It would be weird if they didn't even know how important Drowena was for me to even fight back if must."

"Is it more important for you than your friends? The Psykicks don't seem like they are too dependent on their blades, and for whatever is the matter I have never seen u fight without your blade to date either. You never even used a spare, either."

Katyusha shouldn't have been shocked by how well Kai knew that. But ignoring the increase of hammering in her chest, she said, "They were the reason for their survival, for the bit beast carried the part soul of the afterlife of the witch hunters. Unlike all the emotions felt by them, the magic in the bit beast could be distributed into other forms of bodies."

"The power won't be reduced but using the bit beast for natural elements such as ice, is more advisable for the bit beast since it takes a lot of power to use it through your body and no other part of your body needs to contribute to it," she said

between the breath.

Running had never been her best attribute, and talking while running was not helping. Katyusha had started to appallingly run out of breath.

Her mind grew fuzzy with growing minutes. She pushed through to go on. To continue till the end.

"But others who have powers which need the use of head, body and particular materials, their powers are more stable in their own body than through a particular source. Suppose, for Therese as a shapeshifter, or even Q, who uses the mind games to shape different thoughts into your head. He is scary due to how accurately he can do it with his head, but he isn't a blader for the same reason-"

They took a sharp left turn. The door the Psykick guy had pointed towards at the end of the hallway was in the view. They had finally found it. Without wasting time, they continue down the hall

"-What was I saying? Yeah, for example, Q just casually Beyblades with us from time to time. But he ain't a very experienced player in that place. As for Therese- yeah, he is capable of changing his style. Since he can shapeshift-" she stopped midway, unable to catch her breath. Cursing herself for not getting out of this situation faster was a bad idea, but the only idea that popped in her head. Kai stopped two steps away from her.

Breath was making the way out of Katyusha's lungs by very narrow margins. Her chest was stinging with overexertion. She had to only make it out of this building, she thought to herself.

It will be all good now. She just needs to get out of this building. Then, she can make it home. She could get through it if she persisted a little longer.

Katyusha's breath was ragged, but she was a soldier, she knew how to fight. This was the fight. She had people waiting for her and waiting on her. She wasnt ready to give up just yet. And she had Kai to protect too.

Without heads up, Katyusha leapt into motion with Kai by her side. She might have imagined it, but he looked worried for her. As he moved past her and slid the door open, the light of the night made his face sparkle.

editing is done till here

Katyusha could see the stars in the sky. This was a wonderful sight to witness in bear eyes, for even after years of travelling around the earth, the beauty in the skies in her hometown still bested the world. But in the present, all she could think of was the fact that she was hours away from her city side, from her house.

Katyusha had expected to be fine once she had crossed the borders of the building she was trapped in. But, all she could think was how tiring getting to her home would be. Absently, she wondered if she could even hold still till then.

With her limps shivering, her leg ready to give up under her. She tried her best not to let on what she was feeling but a glance on Kai's face was enough to know that she was doing a terrible job in it.

Worry lines that hid in the dark were now gleaming under the moonlights touch. Katyusha couldn't stop herself as she took in all of him. He looked way more exhausted than she had expected.

Kai's face was falling apart, his breath no less harsh than her own. She had thought that she could protect him from any danger, but she knew, she had just added something to the list of 'never forgiving herself for what she has done to the world around her while being selfish for her good'.

Bracing herself, she turned back to the rocks in front of her. If they could get through this part, they could get help on the way. The other part of the group was on the other side. She just had to make it till there. In one more strand, they both made their way out of the exit. The night light spilt over the mountain rocks and the tracks thick enough to let them run along the side. Katyusha started to walk again, slowly at first then picking up pace gradually.

Kai started to jog behind her. Something she had missed before she noticed that he kept an arms distance between them.

That's when it struck her what she had overlooked before was the fact that he didn't close that distance. Kai must have noticed the effect he had started to take on her. His presence itself was infectious but something he didn't know was it was like a drug for her. His presence was terrifying but was also the reason she still could muster the courage to walk. His energy, his natural presence aside from their blood connection was something she couldn't stop treasuring even in presence of her obvious depleting health.

Her body stopped.

Katyusha couldn't move. Her body wasnt ready to move one bit more than she had forced it to move till now. All the worked up energy inside her started to show up in different forms inside her. Unsettling emotions worked up and down her spine, making her want to run away from her own body.

She hated this. She hated how she couldn't live up to her potential but she hated more that she couldn't help anything right now. Helplessness clouded her entire self. Scream strangled against her throat as emotions flooded into her senses.

"Kai.." she said as a plea, tears rimming her eyes. He stopped on track, his eyes unexpressive which made her want to sob in his arms. Tears started down her face, the wetness combining with her clouded senses. Her heart hurt.

Katyusha's brain spun. She couldn't feel right, she couldn't think right. She was all wrong. As if every part of her broken and put back the wrong order.

But in between the haze, she could still sense him. Sense him like beauty. Like tragedy, such a harsh lesson to be learned. A lesson she still has to learn. Like a broken wish, a wish for something more out of this lesson strung deep inside her body.

She needed him. Katyusha wanted him closer to her. A part of her heart started to tear apart, making her gasp. The feeling only ever grew. The feeling of longing, of anguish, of pure disgust over her feelings for him. She hated herself for what she was doing. How much pain he must have to endure thanks to her? How long does she have to be concerned for this tugging feeling at her heart which she can't avoid anymore? What good will it bring to them? She wanted to be fine.

She was okay, but not fine. She wanted to be fine on her own. But it wasnt fine. It wasnt right without him. The need, the want all spoke through her. The energy of magic flowing through her body intensified. The blurriness which had started to the cloud was now flooding her vision. She could barely stay still. She needed him; she had to have him.

"KATYUSHA!" she heard him scream in front of her, tearing her thoughts away. She looked up just when Kai came chasing down at her. He knocked her behind rocks, slapping his body on hers as he tucked in. Kai curled into her as if she had wanted to do so as much as she had wanted it. His hand slipped behind her back guarding her back from scrapping into the rocks behind, his head tugged between her shoulders, assaulting her vision.

Katyusha looked around, paralyzed from the sudden motions around her. Kai was stuck to her. She was sandwiched between him and the rocks behind. The sharp edge uneven wall pierced through her shoulder blades, scarring her back. But she couldn't move either. Kai was blocking her with his own body, making it impossible for her to recognize the cause for such his. His head beside her made her dizzy. Dizzy from nothing corresponding to her physical condition till now, and all with the fact she could smell him, and she could smell rain…and something off too.

That's when her nose perked up. Amid Kai's scent, she felt the pang of rain. In a second, the sky above them split open.

That's when Katyusha felt the shift beneath her. Kai pulled a bit back, enough for her to poke her head through over his shoulder. Noticing her peeking over, Kai pulled her back in her position, locking in her between his arms.

"You just lost your control, didn't you?" he inquired.

"Was it that noticeable?" she said, feeling kind of guilty for making him go through it but not so guilty for he now was blocking her view. Pissed off because he won't let her see anything over his shoulder, "You, move."

"No," he said with finality to his voice. She sighed aggressively, "What do you want now?"

"Your safety, what else?" He said easily. Her heart skipped a beat. Right, not exactly the time for him to get all sentimental but who was she to blame when she was having a breakdown seconds ago.

"Kai, what is happening? I am pretty sure you aren't fighting the raindrops now."

"With raindrops comes a lot more nature involved."

"Yo, I doubt we have enough time to spit fire on each-" That's when she heard the slipping of rocks over them. Shit. This wasn't right. SHIT.

She pushed his grip, but he was iron next to her fragility. "Stop moving," he said coldly.

"Is it a landslide? Kai, if this is what I think it is, then WE HAVE TO LEAVE," she voiced her concerns. She hadn't gotten a good view of which part of the mountains they were in. All she knew was the slides were death alternatives and they had to cross a rather short alleyway. All those descriptions were practically applicable to all the mountains in her neighbourhood. She hadn't even thought where they were.

Psykicks…you guys seriously have a death wish, don't you?

"Where are we, Kai? How much did it take for you guys to come?"

"Six hours on cycle."

Holy lord. They were standing in the region of the landslides. Like right below the slide to be completely honest.

"Your home is nearby right? Witchhuntera entry is not so far from here?" Kai asked. She nodded in response.

She hadn't expected Kai to know the location of the entrance to Witchhuntera. But well, when your family comes from that part of the world, you tend to know more than you needed. And, Katyusha doubted Kai wants to know anything about his heritage more than he already knows. That wish went as far as actually regretting knowing her. She couldn't blame him for this. She couldn't blame her reality for this either. All Katyusha could do was hope that her past self took the right path for both for her, and she took the right path for herself in this life.

Thunder clapped in the background, sending shock waves through the stones below her. This wasnt right.

They have to leave before rocks start falling on them.

Anyway, snap back to reality, Katyusha.

"What are you doing here trying to block me, either way? We have to leave before it comes crashing down on us," Katyusha let out urgently.

"You aren't wrong-" he started

"I KNOW THAT," she shouted in frustration.

"LISTEN TO ME FIRST," he snapped at her, bending even more forward. Trying to maintain distance for good measures, she looked away from his face. She can't possibly take his face in without hyperventilating.

Rather take precautions than lose her might once again.

"So, what are we gonna do?"

The way down this way isn't good enough for us to even run. The only way around is to stay still and hope that it goes horizontal rather than on us. Or.."

"Please tell what or is otherwise else I will assume you have lost your mind."

He caught her shoulder, shaking her a bit, "Katyusha, you know this area better than me. So, tell me how does the rock fall? Is it rocks or the whole area sliding down?"

"I might be living in this area, Kai but don't forget that I haven't been caught up in a spontaneous rock falling before either."

"No one ever saw how the rocks fell then?"

"How am I supposed to know that? What are you even talking about.."

This is death. They have to get out of this... But even she knew how much risk that might be. The stone below her feet was drenched. If they were to run, there was a hundred per cent chance of them slipping to death. And if they had to make out of this situation, they had to run without fail.

Cursing herself for not reading newspapers more, Katyusha couldn't recall a moment when they have told how the rocks usually fell in this area.

"Katyusha, I have an idea," Kai whispered low at her ears. His eyes were fixed on the gate they had run out of.

Cautiously, "Speak."

"How long can your magic hold right now?"

Katyusha stopped breathing. If she had been breathing ragged till now, she had stopped now. This…

"Kai, you know what you are asking, right?"

She still remembers the day he had asked her to never show her magic ever again in front of him. They had been barely seven years old. Seeing her capable to perform magic had been more than traumatizing for the small soul.

Heartbroken and disgusted with her powers, she had fled to her home. Katyusha had cursed herself for even showing him her powers for the years ahead. With time, she had gotten more comfortable with her powers, but that day still haunted her. Even now, the only time she had ever demonstrated her power was through her beyblading.

"Katyusha, we don't have an option," Kai said, his eyes darting back to hers. She could see what took of him to say it. His eyes bold and daring her to do so. He was such a small kid when he had stumbled across her and her darkness. It had taken everything from him, learning the truth of his heritage. He had to face so much just due to her silliness. She didn't want to ever be in such a position ever again.

Her hesitance must have shown on her face as he settled himself even closer to her, cupping his hands around her cheeks, forcing her face towards him. Not able to hold his eyes more than she already had, she tried to move away but was left with no space at all.

His exhale mingled with her own. "I am sorry for what I'm demanding of you, right now. But there is no option around it," he said softly. She wasnt used to this side of Kai Hiwatari. It made the tears hidden inside her eyelids fall off.

It was true they had no choice here. All they could do was just standstill now. She had to protect him, even if it scared him off. The after-effects need to be dealt with in future, for that they had to make it through this.

"I will do what I can," she said without lifting her eyes to meet his. She wasnt that confidence in herself for that. All, she knew was she had to protect him and herself. With a resolution set in her mind, she found his brown eyes again.

He looked ten times more confident than she felt but he didn't seem to be scared at least. In fact, under the harsh shadows angelling on his face, he looked even more determined than he looked a moment ago. No form of anger could be seen even after searching his face. Eyelashes wet, eyes strong, he gave her the confidence she needed.

As she searched his face, the mountain started to shake behind her. Stones from the top started to fall over them. With her body slapped against the rock, she pulled Kai into her. Crushed together, he was practically hovering above. Before she thought something nonsense, she stretched into herself.

Going inside herself, searching for the coil of radiation wasnt as hard as it had been to date. It came around her arms in soft coils, flowing energetically to all the parts of her mind and body connected. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel herself shifting.

The blue rays of light burst through her fingertips as a shield of fire burned over their head, wrapping them into a protective layer of shielding. The violet ribbons in mid-sky were harsh enough to hurt her vision even with her eyes.

She let a sigh escape as she tried to energetically focus all her being into the protective layers forming. She could feel Kai's shift. While he had been closer to her, now Kai had started to pull away from a little by little. Even when she didn't want to know why he took a step back from her, even though she didn't want to see the pure hatred she had already seen before ever again. As every main protagonist does in a story, she opened her eyes.

Waiting for the disgust to show up on his face would have taken forever for he looked at the sky folding above him with such wild expressions, she had to physically stop herself from reacting. The ribbons of her magic over their head gave light to every curiosity, to every beauty he saw in her powers. In her.

Just when she was sure she would have leapt into his arms, the first drop of the mountain crushed her with enough wait. Had it been a minute late when she had forgotten everything about their condition, they would have turned to dust.

FOCUS, KATYUSHA.

It took her everything, her all powers to even stand up against the weight bowing her down. She pressed her powers against the rocks as she gasped for air. The air supply was never blocked when she had used her power before but she knew this was just a sign of one thing. Pushing against the fading light from her eyesight, she pushed against the hold of the magic.

And if the situation was already tight enough, the next bits of rocks started to shower over them.

Katyusha fell to her knees, hands shaking as she held strong. Kai had rushed back to her, enclosing her once again. His one hand wrapped around the wrist. Katyusha had been a moment away from rolling to darkness if he had not taken note of her condition. A shiver snapped into her mind as her body stopped shaking against the weight of the rocks. Pulling her over to his side, his hands brushed her hips as he strengthened his hold on her. One hand on her wrist, stretched above them to keep the hold strong.

Pulling Katyusha closer, he whispered, "Katyusha…we will leap the moment this tide stops. You won't need to hold for so long. Just stay with me, okay?"

Unsure if she could take the word out of her throat, she nodded in response. Not so satisfied with the answer it seemed, Kai didn't leave her side.

"Close your eyes, Katyusha," he said softly, putting away the hand on her wrist to close her eyes with his own hands. With the lids of her eyes down, she could feel the control flowing back into her hands as she stretched her power to protect them. Katyusha was enough to do so. Her courage mustered, her weakness grounding itself into the earth below, she felt like electricity; excited and ready to work up.

Blinking her eyes open, she saw Kai's eyes stuck on her. He had seemed to abandon the happening above them all together and had resumed staring at her. Bronze eyes found hers as the power broke apart over them.

Grabbing his arms in her hands, soft muscles against her grip, she pulled him after her. Katyusha hoped the power remained constant over their head as she ran down the tunnel she had woven for them, the rocks thundering over her head. Kai picked up his pace once he was out of the shock of action.

After making past rows and rows of mountains, the rain stopped over them, the thunderclap clapped a little less, the rock fell a little lighter. Light-headed with exhaustion, she tried to rub off the feeling of tiredness as she fell behind step with Kai. Kai had just turned the right moment as her leg gave up under, and she fell right into him.

With her so close, she could feel the racing heartbeats under her skin. Her face plastered around Kai's ears, her eyes falling into a slumber, she tried to pick herself back. Katyusha was burning against his body. At the sharp contact of cold skin against her, she shrieked back, but Kai's arms came around her, just like they had earlier today.

"Kai.." I am burning, Kai. You need to leave your hold on. Katyusha had meant to say so much but no words formed in her mouth.

"It's okay, Katyusha," Kai said patted her hair away from her neck. The caress was enough for her to forget all her worries. As if pressuring her brain to stop worrying too much. To care too much. His gentle fingers were enough to let the darkness which Katyusha had tried to escape for so long come and take her away.

Unsure if he could still hear her against the drizzling over their head, against the twin beating of their heart, against her sigh, she whispered, "Kai…I think…I will..sleep.."

Reader,

this chapter had me more excited than half of the book did, not going to lie. I finished it in about two days time. I never wrote this much before, and writing so fast was just such a brilliant thrill. Hopefully, you will enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it down.

And in case, the editing of this chap wasnt good, I'm sorry. My editor has exams ongoing so she couldn't help me with editing. and with my poor skills in editing, I am sure I made enough mistakes. but let's hope my story is better than my editing skills.

-Kyre(i forgot what name I use but I will go with my penname I guess?)