I'm back~ Sorry, work got in the way of this one -_-

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

A sense of unease had been bugging Aguma since the day before, since the interview. And as much as he'd tried to write it off as a stress from the tournament. It was getting to all of them in some way or another: Bao was losing sleep, Xue was quadruple checking everything, Kenchii was skipping meals in favor of training, Kuro's headaches were worsening, and Aguma himself was struggling more to turn his ever-analytical mind off to keep their team going.

They were a good team, no doubt about it, but they all had their flaws. Honestly, Aguma low-key hoped that they were knocked out of the main heat just so they could stop and breathe and reorient themselves in the Wild Card matches. And as they stood as a team, staring across the stadium at the Russian team to the sound of the crowd's excited humming, the sense of foreboding in Aguma worsened.

"Doesn't matter which one of you loses, 'cause Kuro is gonna end up battling Bella anyways," Xue said, worrying her bracelet. "I mean, it'd be good if Bao and Kuro won so that Kenchii won't have to battle, but let's seriously not push it to a tiebreaking match. We've all seen those girls battle, I've run the stats to you about their power, and Bella all but declared war on Kuro yesterday. It goes without saying we need to be careful."

Unlike Chao Xin, who was laid back when it came to his battles, his twin was the exact opposite: she worried, and she did all the research she could to ensure the best possible outcome.

"Whatever," Kuro's voice was flat, her hair down from its normal high ponytail and a pair of dark shades on. She must have woken up with a headache, if she had gotten any sleep at all the night before. The crowd's cheers and the coming battles would not do her mood or attitude any favors, "Let's just get this over with, yeah?" She tilted her head slowly in Aguma's direction, "Good luck, Brawn."

Aguma grinned—he couldn't help it, because that nickname was a sign that the Kuro he knew was still here—and held his fist out for Kuro to knock her own against, "Who needs luck when I got you as my cheerleader, Brains?"

Kuro cracked a smirk of her own and then lowered her arms to cross them and lean against the railing. Aguma made his way down the steps to the ground level of the stadium.

Khione is quick in her battles. She never gives her opponents much of a chance to fight, so I need to be quicker, smarter… Aguma mused, pulling Kronos from his case and staring down at his partner. Kronos' purple energy ring gleamed in the light as Aguma ran his thumb over the facebolt. Kronos buzzed with power in his hand, steady and ready.

Aguma put Kronos into stamina mode as the DJ started to hype the crowd up. He glanced across at Khione, who was studying him intently, intelligently. Aguma didn't doubt that she knew about Kronos and of what he'd just done, of what his plan was.

Hah. But what sort of Legendary strategist would he be if he didn't expect her to try and figure out his plan? Aguma smirked.

"So, let's get this party started! Bladers, at the ready!" DJ called out, bringing Aguma from his thoughts. He pulled his launcher out and attached Kronos, "Three!"

"Two!" The crowd chanted.

"One! Let it rip!"

"Nightmare, Cosmic Blast!" Khione shouted, right off the bat, right as Aguma had expected.

Direct attack, won't connect, Aguma thought, and sure enough, Nightmare blew right by, much to Khione's irritation and anger, if the shriek she let out was any indication. Don't give her a chance to regain her balance. End it now!

"Kronos!" Aguma called, "Special Move, Heaven and Earth Strike!"

It was a risky gamble, using Kronos's strongest move so early in the battle. Aguma was risking draining his stamina, but if Aguma wanted to stop Khione in her tracks, this was the move to do it with. He just silently hoped this risk paid off…

Khione screamed as the titan of time appeared in the air, swinging his scythe down on to nightmare. The blow connected and Nightmare let out a shriek of pain as an explosion shook the earth beneath the Bladers's feet. When the chaos subsided, the Chinese crowd erupted into pandemonium upon seeing Nightmare laying motionless in the dish.

"Aguma wins it!" DJ exclaimed.

Aguma smirked and called Kronos back into his hand. Khione her teeth in a truly vicious snarl, but Aguma was unfazed. He'd seen more terrifying looks on his best friends before, and Khione didn't come close to even concerning Aguma.

He'd at least proven that one of these girls could be beaten, and he was a Legendary Blader. If Khione was Nyx's heir or one of the Seven, then she should have beaten him, and she hadn't. The thought brought some relief to Aguma.

Now, all they had to do was win two more battles. Hopefully Bao would be able to pull off a win against Thorn.

Of course, it wasn't that easy. It never could be.

Aguma's arms were locked tight around Kuro's chest and waist and even as strong as Aguma was, she was still a struggle to keep still.

"You can't go out there, Kuro!" Kenchii exclaimed, frantic, cutting worried glances between Kuro and Bao, "You go out there, and we're kicked from the tournament!"

"Fuck that!" Kuro snarled, enraged, digging her nails into Aguma's arm and dragging down. Aguma winced, grip loosening slightly, and Kuro managed to wiggle out from under the arm around her chest. Aguma locked both arms around her waist and yanked her deeper into the platform, "Aguma, let me go!"

"No chance in hell," Aguma growled, wincing as she elbowed him in the stomach. "Dammit, I'm just as upset about this as you are, but we can't just jump in!"

Below, Thorn laughed again as Oizys continued to smack Hades around. The spirits were in view for everyone to see, and it only made the sight worse, truthfully, as the goddess continually whacked the owl down into the ground. Bao, stubborn bastard that he was, hadn't gone down yet, but he was wavering. He hadn't yet pleaded or begged for mercy, but Aguma knew everyone had their limits. Bao must be reaching his…

"Bao please!" Kuro called, apparently giving up on trying to break free of Aguma's hold. Aguma didn't trust her not to run the second he let go, so he kept holding her, "Just forfeit already! Stop pushing yourself!"

"Listen to her, Bao!" Kenchii shouted, distress coloring his tone.

"Hades Crown can't take much more damage!" Xue cried, looking up from her laptop with tears in her eyes.

Another blow from Oizys, this one accompanied by a strong gust of wind, send Bao into a backwards tumble. He landed on his elbows and knees, and the sound Kuro let out punched Aguma in the gut.

"You damn idiot, listen to your sister!" Aguma thundered, "For once in your life, stop being so stubborn and just give up!"

"Hah!" Bao chortled, climbing unsteadily to his feet. Any other time, Aguma would have been impressed at his determination, but right now, he was just exasperated, "Since when does Beylin Temple give up?"

"You're at your limit," Thorn sneered. "You should listen to your team."

"Over my dead body," Bao snarled back. "Because a Blackheart never gives up, bitch, and I'm here to prove a point."

Thorn rolled her eyes, "And none of you know when to quit, huh. Alright then." She sighed, a put-upon act, "Fine. I'll put you out of your misery for good… Oizys! Finish him! Special Move, Woeful Wail!"

Thorn grinned as the goddess of misery and depression appeared in center stadium, red eyes glowing. The goddess opened her mouth and let out a scream, shockwaves blowing through the arena and running straight for Hades Crown.

"No!" Xue exclaimed, and slammed her laptop shut, covering her ears and closing her eyes.

"Not done yet," Bao whispered, a bright crimson aura surrounding him. His eyes glowed underneath his bangs, burning bright with enough rage that had Thorn stepping back, "Hades Crown! Special Move, Crimson Fangs!"

"Bao!" They all yelled.

To everyone's surprise, Hades Crown pulsed a bright red, and went from wobbling dangerously, to picking up spinspeed. The owl spirit flashed into the stadium, standing proudly, before swooping up charging Oizys.

"Impressive!" Thorn grinned, "But you're making a mistake! Shadow Bolt!"

Oizys' arm became encased in dark energy, before her fist crashed hard into Hades' face. For a moment, they froze.

Then, a blast of white light lit up the stadium, a shockwave sending people flying back into their seats. Aguma's back hit the wall, his grip on Kuro loosening, and giving her the opportunity, she needed to break free.

Kuro scrambled to her feet, rushing for the rail, "Bao... Bao! Bao!"

The dust began to clear, and Kuro's heart leapt into her throat.

"Look at that, folks! Thorn's Oizys has had a stadium out! But where is Hades Crown?!" Chinese DJ exclaimed.

Thorn growled, angrily, as she knelt for her fallen Bey. She glared across the stadium, but her anger turned into a victorious smirk as the dust blew away, and a ripple of shock rang through the arena.

"N- no way! Hades Crown has had a stadium out as well! Uh- where is Bao?!"

"Bao!" Kuro screamed, and leapt over the rail, landing on her feet. She bolted forwards, to the still form she saw on the ground, "No, no, no, no... Bao!"

Kuro dropped to her knees, and grabbed Bao's shoulders, turning him over, "Bao... brother, come on, wake up... Wake up!"

"It's a tie!" The Chinese DJ exclaimed, "Unbelievable! In a shocking turn of events, this battle ends up in a tie!"

"Kuro..." Bao groaned, softly. A feeling of relief filled the girl as she saw Bao's eyes open slightly, "H- Hades Crown..."

Kuro glanced to the side and shook her head. She reached out, picking up the pieces of the shattered Bey. She quickly pocketed it, "Don't worry about it, little brother..."

"Dajie... I stopped her, dajie..." Bao whispered, "Don't need you protectin' me…"

"I know," Kuro said, softly. "I know..."

Bao coughed, violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He closed his eyes, breaths shuddering.

"Kuro," a heavy hand laid on her shoulder, and through tear filled eyes, she saw Aguma's form standing over her. "The medics are here. You have to let them take him."

"We'll take good care of him, miss," a young man in a uniform knelt next to her. "We promise."

Reluctantly, Kuro stood up, stepping back as the two medics laid her brother on the stretcher and took him away. Once they were gone, Aguma nudged her shoulder.

"Come on, let's get back to the team room. We have fifteen minutes until the next battle... your battle," Aguma reminded her.

"Why wait?" Kuro asked, coldly. She turned around and strode up the stairs to the newly replaced stadium, "Why wait?! Go ahead and send out my opponent, Night Risers!"

"Kuro, wait!" Aguma called, and ran up next to her, "Hold on! You're not in any state of mind to-"

"Stay out of this, Aguma!" Kuro shouted at him. She slammed her palm into his chest, shoving him away, "You should be just as upset, if not more! Bao is your best friend! Shouldn't you be raging about his loss, too?!"

"I am mad! But clearly unlike you, I can control my temper! You need to calm down—"

"Fuck you!" Kuro roared, whipping her sunglasses off. Her golden eyes were near black with rage, her expression contorted into something dark that Aguma had never seen before. He stepped back, and Kuro smirked, vicious and dark and bloodthirsty, "Step back and let the Wraith handle this, sweetheart. I never needed you before, and I don't need you now."

Kuro honey... Aguma, please don't take offense, Kuro's just a bit emotional.

Where's Christina when you need her, huh? XD Maybe to be seen soon... :3

hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter and will leave a review! Next chapter: Kuro and Bella clash!