Depression sucks. It took me a bit to force this chapter out but I'm at least proud with it! What took me the longest was actually this first bit, doing some backstory and stuff for my girl, Kuro. And, Bao, too.

It had been a while since Kuro had entered a tournament. The last time was the most recent Tori Yu Mon Tournament, where she'd battled alongside her brother to help raise money for the repairs Nemesis had done to China. They'd ended up in the finals, where they had lost to the Gingka-Yuki team. Bao had muttered something about they'd deserved the win, after the last time where he and Aguma had won, but he was still sulky about it.

Kuro remembered said match. She'd been in the audience, had watched and listened to them. She'd felt the incredible urge to hunt her brother down and literally knock some sense in his head. Maybe Aguma too. But before she could, Johannes had come along and snatched them up before she could stop him.

Kuro sighed, and placed her face in her hands, elbows on her knees. Her mind whirled with 'what if's and the thoughts of past mistakes. She'd always wondered if she hadn't left, would Bao had turned out the way he did? He'd always been ambitious, but angry at the world had been new when she saw him again after five years. A strong leader, and surely the Beylin Fist leaders had picked up on it, and used that to their advantage, the manipulative fuckers. Part of the reason why they had kicked her out- she knew they knew she'd keep her brother on the right track. Other reasons included her strength at just thirteen, she'd been stronger than even the eldest members of the group. Sexist bastards, thinking only men could have any type of power.

Kuro had learned from her time in the Beylin Fist that power meant people either feared or respected you. Unfortunately, women were never respected in the Beylin Fist. They were to be seen, not heard, and Kuro had fought that rule since the moment she could walk. Her and Bao's mother, bless her soul, had been the one to persuade Kuro to keep doing it, saying that her daughter would be the one to bring about a better change among the Fist members. Kuro had hung on every word her mother had told her, her mother had been the one to gift Fernis to her and helped her to train in secret.

When she had come up pregnant with Bao, Kuro wasn't sure how to take being an older sister. Bao had cried a lot as a baby, and Kuro found him annoying, initially. Especially since he took what little of her father's attention off of her. Again, damn sexist bastards.

The third pregnancy had been rough for their mother. Kuro had been eight. Bao was four, barely old enough to remember… But Kuro did. Kuro remembered when her mother had gone into labor with the twins (twins!)… she remembered how the doctor had stepped from the delivery room, and solemnly shook his head, stating that she had died giving birth and that the twins had as well. Kuro had been too young to understand the medical mumbo jumbo, only that her mother was dead and so were her would be siblings.

She only had Bao, then. Four year old Bao, who didn't know what was happening, and only wanted his mother. Kuro had taken both the role of big sister and woman of the house at eight, and she had hated it, since all she had ever wanted to do was focus on proving herself to the elders of the Beylin Fist. Fights with her father had become more frequent. She trained herself in secret, and as the years went by, not only did she manage to set herself apart from the other Bladers, but she learned how to be a sister. Bao looked up to her, and…

She'd thrown it away. She'd got too ambitious, too determined to prove herself in a group that didn't recognize her as the warrior she was. An ultimatum was eventually given: leave, or conform to the rules. Kuro had decided, fuck it, and left.

Her one regret was the fact she had left Bao behind. But honestly, he was in better hands, without her there. Their father would look after him. Aguma was there. She needn't worry.

At least… that's what thirteen year old Kuro had told herself.

Footsteps approached Kuro, but she didn't hear them, eyes closed and so caught up in her thoughts.

"Kuro," A familiar voice rumbled, and Kuro jerked to sit up, banging her head on the concrete wall behind her.

Wincing, she rubbed her head, "Ow."

Aguma looked vaguely amused, "You didn't hear me?"

"I didn't know it was you," Kuro grumbled. "What do you want?"

"I think I know my best friend well enough to know that she's probably freaking out and overthinking the little things," Aguma shrugged, as he sat on the bench next to her. "Bao is… not as docile. He's wearing a hole in the waiting room floor."

"He never was," Kuro muttered. "Tournaments always have riled him up. Just the mere mention of them had him rambling on and on. How he even manages to stay calm during the tournament is something that's boggled me forever."

"Oh, he doesn't," Aguma snorted. "He's got his tics. I hope you can stand tapping fingers or bouncing feet when you get on the team."

"If,"

THWACK!

"Ow?!"

Kuro rubbed her shoulder from where Aguma had punched it, before scowling and kicking him in the shin. He grunted and winced, muttering, "Yeah, I deserved that, but damned if I'm listening to you be self depreciating. You have a good chance of getting on the team."

"Says the guy who's been promised a spot!"

"Don't we have a bigger task to be focusing on?"

"Oh sure, change the subject, you brawnie…"

"Takes one to know one,"

"Shut. Up,"

"Make me- Ow!"

Kuro smacked him upside the head, deadpan.

"One of these days, I'll do something worse. Honestly, you had to pick up the sass from Bao," Kuro sighed, and lowered her hand.

Yeah well, I spent a lot of time with you too, Aguma thought, grumbling under his breath.

"… Silver comet… what type of Blader you think we're looking for?" Kuro finally asked, after a moment of silence.

"Tough to say," Aguma sighed, shrugging. "This is the qualifiers, so honestly… We may not know. Qualifiers are pretty easy, no one's going to want to show off their full strength before the tournament even begins."

Kuro mumbled and mused to herself, before conceding that Aguma had a point. With a sigh herself, she stood up and stretched her arms over her head. She linked her fingers behind her back and stretched her arms out behind her before dropping them and slumping them a little.

"I'd stay as far away from Bao as I could. He'll be going out with a bang and you don't want to chance running into him," Aguma commented.

"Yeah, yeah. You know which stadium he said he'd go to?" Kuro asked, waving a hand.

"Stadium B, I think?" Aguma stood up, rubbing the back of his head, "He said it didn't seem like a lot of competition."

"Then I'll go for Stadium C," Kuro decided.

"Well if you two got B and C covered, I'll keep an eye on Stadium A," Aguma mused, as the two began to walk side by side down the hallway. Kuro shoved her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket, and kept walking even when Aguma stopped, "Hey, Kuro?"

Kuro didn't turn, "Yeah?"

"Good luck," Aguma called.

Kuro paused, and glanced over her shoulder at that. Aguma was… well, he wasn't fully smiling, those he reserved for special moments or people, but he was giving her a half smirk, half grin, full of confidence. It… pleased her, in a way. To know there were people out there who supported her.

"Hey, big guy," Kuro grinned, all teeth. "I'm not the one you should be worried about."

As Kuro turned away, Aguma sweatdropped, That's exactly what I'm worried about.

To say Kakeru was nervous would be the understatement of the goddamn century. He'd barely managed to get any sleep the week before, and had ended up waking Kyoya two hours before his alarm went off. Kakeru was still nursing the bruise on his jaw from where Kyoya had thrown his clock at him and Kakeru hadn't been fast enough to duck. The moment had resulted in a moment of panic and anger courtesy of both brothers, before turning into amusement.

The qualifiers didn't start until nine o clock, but they were up at six. Despite Kyoya fixing Kakeru's favorite for breakfast, pancakes and bacon, Kakeru could barely eat. Kyoya didn't comment on Kakeru's nervousness, only ruffling his hair as the time for registration drew closer and closer.

It was only after Kakeru had put his papers in and got his number- 358 out of 582- and when he was standing in the shadows of the stadium hallway with Kyoya on his fourth cup of coffee- "Are we sure you're not an addict?"- that Kakeru finally voiced his concerns.

"Do you think I'll do well?" Kakeru asked.

"You'll do fine," Kyoya answered, scrolling through his phone and sipping at his coffee.

Kakeru was surprised he was still here. Both in physical and conscious terms. Kakeru would have assumed Kyoya would have gone on to work or even passed out by now.

"What, I can't cheer on my baby brother? I'm here because this means something to you and I'm awake out of pure spite," Kyoya looked up, raising an eyebrow.

Kakeru blinked. Had he said all that out loud?

"Yes, yes you did,"

Again?!

"Yes,"

Fuck.

"Language,"

"Gah! Shut up already and answer my question!" Kakeru shouted, scowling at Kyoya. Kyoya just raised an eyebrow at him and sipped his coffee. Kakeru resisted the urge to smack it out of his hand.

"Do I think you'll do well? I think you have a better chance than any of these other fools out here," Kyoya finally said, shrugging.

"Is that you trying to give me a pep talk or your ego talking?"

"… Both?"

Kakeru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Why am I not surprised? Kyoya, can't you just give me a straight answer?"

"Why do you need a straight answer?"

"Because this is important! In more ways than one!"

"Is it?"

"Kyoya fucking Tategami I swear to every deity there is-"

Kyoya finished off his coffee and stood up, tossing the disposable cup into a nearby trashcan. Before Kakeru could work himself up, he pocketed his phone and looped his arm around Kakeru's neck, taking him towards the entrance of the stadium floor.

"You will do fine. And even if you don't, don't worry. Just know you did the best you could. You're not the only one who's worried here, alright? I'm worried," Kyoya sighed.

"… How did those words taste coming out of your mouth?" Kakeru asked, dryly.

"Like vinegar," Kyoya deadpanned. "Don't dare repeat what I just said to anyone."

"Who, me?"

"Kakeru,"

"Yeah, yeah, you gotta keep your tough guy act," Kakeru ducked out of Kyoya's grip, falling silent into his thoughts. "Any word on Japan's member of the Seven?"

"Nothing yet. Hopefully they'll show up here, though," Kyoya shrugged. "Then again, a lot of people entered from Metal City, and might have entered at one of the other stadiums. Ryuga's in Tokyo-"

"You sent the Dragon Emperor to the capitol?!"

"Hush, he volunteered,"

"He volunteered?!"

"… Okay so maybe he was outvoted,"

"… Madoka threatened him, didn't she?"

They had faced down the god of Destruction, Nemesis himself, and yet, standing in front of them all with hellfire in her eyes and devil's horns sprouting from her head, Gingka, Tsubasa, Kyoya, and Ryuga all felt like bugs under a microscope.

"Enough arguing!" Madoka snarled, voice echoing in the silence of Ryo's office. "I'm assigning you where you'll be looking out for the member of the Seven, and if any of you so much as question me, I won't be repairing your Beys for three months! Am I clear?!"

"Yes, Madoka," All four Bladers chorused, properly chastised.

Madoka's mood did a full one eighty and she smiled brightly, "Good! Now that I have your attention…"

Imperceptibly, all four males let out sighs of relief at having narrowly avoiding Madoka's wrath. To the side, Akira shook his head and turned away to hide his smirk.

Promptly, a shudder ran through Kyoya, a haunted look filling his eyes, "Can we change the subject?"

Kakeru dissolved into peals of giggles, holding his sides as he erupted into full blown laughter. Kyoya scowled at him, then thwacked him upside the head, "Hush, you. I'd like to see you face Madoka's temper sometime."

"Challenge accepted," Kakeru muttered under his breath. Kyoya either didn't hear or didn't care.

"So, Ryuga's in Tokyo. You're here in Metal City. Where are Gingka and Tsubasa?"

"Tsubasa's in Sapporo, as is Hikaru. She's competing this year,"

"Wait, really? Good for her! I hope she makes the team!"

"Gingka's in Hiroshima with Yuki. You know how Gingka gets with a Bey battle," Kyoya shot Kakeru a look. "Not a word."

Kakeru closed his mouth, smirking up at his brother.

"Ryuga, as you pointed out, is in Tokyo. I think I saw in the list of entries that your friend, Platina, got transferred to Tokyo since she didn't get hers put in in time for Metal City's qualifiers," Kyoya commented, as he pulled his phone from his pocket. "Hey. First round will be starting in about fifteen minutes. You should get backstage."

Kakeru suddenly felt it very hard to swallow, fear and anxiety blocking his throat and sending a cold spike through his chest. Before he could lose himself in the negative emotions, Kyoya's hands were on his shoulders and whipping him around so he could look him in the eyes.

"Listen to me," Kyoya said, firmly. "You will do great out there. I know it, and you know why?"

Kakeru shook his head, wordless.

"Because you're my brother," Kyoya said. "And if anyone can come out on top here, you can. No, I'm not saying that because of my pride, I'm saying it because it's the truth. You've worked harder in the last few weeks than anything I've seen you throw yourself into. You've got the spirit and the dedication to take Japan back to the top."

"But-" Kakeru started. His voice cracked, "What if I fail?"

"Then just know you did the best you could, and weather you win or lose, I am so proud of you," Kyoya spoke with conviction in his voice, and Kakeru…

Kakeru believed him.

Kyoya smirked, as he saw the fear subside in Kakeru's eyes. With a soft laugh, he ruffled Kakeru's hair, "Go get 'em, tiger. I'll be watching."

Kuro was bored.

Never a good thing.

None of the other Bladers in the tournament were giving her a challenge. Her blood was singing for it, and she felt like a wolf pacing it's cage, snarling and hackles up while waiting to be set free so it could wreck havoc.

That's what Kuro was best at. Causing chaos. Kicking ass. Taking names.

She wasn't even having to use her full strength to take on her opponents. Not only was Kuro itching for a fight, but so was Fernis, howling and clawing and snarling at not being met in battle. She wanted a fight too. It'd been a while, Kuro having forced herself to avoid battles that would take a lot out of her, in order to build her energy and stamina for the qualifiers.

It seemed that Kuro's plan was backfiring on her spectacularly.

On a mid afternoon break, right before the final round of the semi finals of the qualifiers, Kuro finally turned her phone on, munching on a bag of chips from her assigned waiting room. The first of the last two semi final battles were to start in about five minutes. Kuro's was up next, and if she won, she'd be facing off whoever won the upcoming one in the finals.

With her current streak, she had no doubt she'd win both.

As her phone booted up and went through showing her missed messages and notifications, Kuro found her gaze turning to the tv screen, as the Bladers for the first match of the semi finals were announced.

Her blood ran cold, and then she was diving for her phone.

Back In Black: Hypothetically speaking, Johannes is here.

Barry Allen: Hypothetical, huh?

Death Comes: Don't do anything stupid.

Barry Allen: Kick his ass.

Death Comes: Bao.

Barry Allen: A

Back In Black: Let me at him. He won't go after either of you ever again.

Barry Allen: I can't watch it live so I'll have to watch the rerun of Kuro beating him. Give me this.

Death Comes: No! New leaf, remember? Revenge is bad.

Barry Allen: I'm not a dog.

Death Comes: Wolves. Close enough.

Barry Allen: …

Barry Allen: Been a while since I threw a level five.

Death Comes: You wouldn't.

Barry Allen: WOULDN'T I?

Kuro watched as Aguma tried to formulate a reply. Bubbles appeared several times, and disappeared several times, and with it, Kuro felt pride filling her. Eventually, Aguma replied.

Death Comes: … fine.

Kuro grinned.

Back In Black: Very good little brother. We'll make a master manipulator out of you yet.

Death Comes: DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!

Back In Black: I do what I want.

A knock on Kuro's waiting room door startled her. She looked up to see a WBBA worker poke his head in, "Ms. Blackheart? Your match starts in ten minutes."

"Already?" Kuro raised an eyebrow and turned her attention to the screen. Petty satisfaction filled her when she saw Johannes' face as the winner, "Well then."

"Good luck," The man said, and ducked back out.

Back In Black: Guess who gets to fight Johannes in the finals?

Death Comes: Goddammit…

Barry Allen: Destroy him, Kuro.

Kuro grinned as she shut her phone off. She had plans to do just that.

Aguma glanced down at the final battle about to take place in Stadium A. After a moment of debate, glancing between his now silent phone and the two Bladers preparing for battle, Aguma stood up and decided Kuro's upcoming battle was the better option. Besides, he had watched long enough to figure out none of the Bladers in this stadium were any one of the Seven they were looking for.

He made it to Stadium C right as the count down was beginning. He managed to weave through the crowd and get to the railing that separated stadium levels two and three.

"One! Let it rip!"

The first clash of Beys sent up a whirlwind of, well, wind. Aguma found himself gripping the railing just a little tighter, and squinting to see the battle going on below.

Kuro wasn't holding back. With the spiked extrusions on Fernis' fusion wheel, she was doing significant damage to Lynx's own. Johannes snarled something that Aguma couldn't hear over the roar of the crowd, and on the big screens, Aguma watched as Lynx' spin track extended, managing to avoid a head on attack that surely would have been his own demise.

The cameras flashed to Kuro's expression, the DJ demanding to know what Kuro expected to do now in the face of an opponent who could avoid her strong attacks. Instead of looking frustrated or irritated, Kuro looked…

Kuro looked wild, her lips curved up into a manic smirk that showed off all her teeth and eyes mere pinpricks. Aguma's heart thumped erratically against his ribs, a strange mix of fear and awe as he watched Kuro straighten in the face of Johannes' taunting.

"Your first mistake was coming into this thinking it'd be an easy win, Johannes," Kuro spoke, voice dark but flat. "Your second mistake is not knowing who I am."

"Who you are?" Johannes sneered, "And what does that have to do with anything?"

"My name is Kuro Blackheart," Kuro snarled, and Johannes… went white. Aguma nearly cackled, "I see you know my name. Yes. Blackheart. As in Bao Blackheart. I'm Bao's sister. And I've been waiting for this moment for years. To pay back what you did to my brother in my own way."

Johannes hissed, "Lynx!"

Kuro's grin widened, "Fernis!"

Lynx's extended spin track is about to work against him, Aguma thought. Kuro was counting on this, wasn't she?

Sure enough, the spiked fusion wheel of Fernis began to shred at Lynx's spin track. Johannes promptly panicked, screeching at Lynx to run away, but Fernis… Fernis was a predator. Once she had a trail to pick up on, she went after it like a beast possessed.

Kuro was much the same. If there was something to be said or done, she bit down and didn't let go of it until she got what she wanted.

The chase went around the Bey dish for a couple of minutes, circling around the full circumference, before Johannes ordered Lynx to run wild, to try and throw off Fernis in unpredictable movements, even going so far as to sit on the edge of the dish and move out of the way at the last second in a bid to get Fernis on a stadium out.

It won't work, Aguma thought. That's a move Bao did a lot as a kid and Kuro wised up to that pretty quick.

Sure enough, Aguma's hunch was right. Lynx bolted away, and Fernis went airborne. It was clear from the arc that she wouldn't land out of the dish, and Johannes hissed in frustration.

"Nice try," Kuro admitted. "But that's old school, for me. Still. It gave me the boost I needed."

"What?!"

What?

"Fernis!" Kuro shouted, taking a stance, "Special Move, Jaws of Death!"

Kuro's Blader spirit flared to life, a bright silver and black aura that was nearly too bright to look out. In the air, Fernis appeared, a black wolf with red eyes and jaws open in a terrifying snarl.

"Lynx! Meet the attack!" Johannes screeched, and Lynx appeared in center stage. He settled back on his haunches, before leaping into the air, claws out-stretched and teeth bared.

They met midway, still in the air. An explosion rocked the ground, sending the wind whipping at hair and clothes again. The light was enough for Aguma to shield his eyes, so he was unable to see the end result until the noise died down.

"And there it is, ladies and gentlemen! In an explosive show of power, Kuro Blackheart has secured her place on the Chinese team!"

Unbidden, Aguma let out a breath of relief that he didn't realize he'd been holding. Then, thinking on it, he realized exactly why he felt said relief.

At least with Kuro, he didn't have to worry about anyone backstabbing the team.

The day came to an end. It had been long, hot, and tiring.

Kakeru had never felt so exhausted and anxious in his life, and he had a list that exceeded the amount of fingers he had.

For now, he was content to flop dramatically into the seat beside Kyoya as the Bladers and spectators awaited for the final tally and the results of the qualifiers to be announced. Kakeru tilted his head back towards the setting sun and closed his eyes, muttering, "Any word about a potential candidate?"

"No," Kyoya sighed. "Then again, this is the qualifiers. I wouldn't expect anyone to use their full power." He handed Kakeru a bottle of water, and Kakeru drank half of it down greedily, "I'd have been more surprised if someone did."

"I sure felt like it a few times," Kakeru murmured. "Some of those Bladers out there are good."

"To be expected. A tournament on this scale is going to bring out the strongest Bladers," Kyoya commented, scrolling through his phone- no, wait, he was texting someone. Kakeru tried to lean over and take a peek, but was quickly stopped with a glare, "What have I said about being nosey?"

Kakeru chuckled nervously and leaned back into his seat, sipping more at his water.

"We're back, Bladers! Results are in, we have our members for Japan's team, and boy are there some surprises in here I didn't expect!" Blader DJ's voice startled Kakeru, and he looked up at the big screen, as a hush fell over the stadium, "As you all know, Yuki Mizushawa has already been guaranteed a spot on the team, as the leader. We've got three more spots to fill with first and second guard, and finally the sub member. We'll start with the Blader who got the sub spot and work our way up! Coming in with three hundred and two points- not a bad start!- and hailing from Japan's very own Metal City, we have…"

Kakeru found himself leaning forward, eyes wide, hope flaring in his chest as the screen went through a series of images, and finally landing on one.

"Give it up for Hikaru Hisama!"

"Not bad," Kyoya mused, looking very interested at the result. Kakeru felt his shoulders drop a little, before remembering, wait, there's two more spots.

"Coming in for the second guard position, she's a powerhouse! She's coming crashing in with four hundred and thirty two points, let's hear it for Platina Triton!"

Kakeru found himself cheering despite his drop in mood. Platina had made the team, and he couldn't be more happier for his friend! Still… he let out a sigh of defeat and fell back in his chair, sulking. There was only spot left, and Kakeru knew he hadn't made it.

"And now… the Blader that gets to have the honor of first guard," Blader DJ paused, building up the suspense. "Coming in with five hundred and forty nine points, beating out Kyoya Tategami's own record…"

"Give me a name DJ, I just wanna talk," Kyoya muttered, eyes narrowed. Kakeru snorted and rolled his eyes at his brother's pride taking a, in his opinion, small blow. Trust Kyoya to want a challenge when his spot as the number two Blader was threatened.

"I've been watching this guy's battles for years! I'm not at all surprised he got the first guard spot, so ladies and gentlemen, hailing from Metal City, let's hear it for…" The screen flashed, and finally, finally, landed on a picture.

"Kakeru Tategami!"

Kakeru stared at his picture, frozen in place, before he turned to look at his brother who seemed to be equally dumbfounded.

"What the fu- Kakeru!"

That was the last thing Kakeru heard before he fainted dead away.

Aguma: Why am I the only adult here?

Kyoya: My brother is a demon.

And that concludes the qualifiers! Yes, there are other teams, but I want to hold on to a few things as plot twists. Yes, some are the same as from the original fic, and some are new, so that's why I'm being a bit secretive. *wink*

If you're curious, don't worry. Bao did make the Chinese team. We'll meet the final member in the next chapter when we get into the darker side of things.

Hope you guys enjoyed and will leave a review!