Hey guys, Idol here, back with another chapter! Also, great news: I'm free! The exam was a breeze! I've already scored well on one, so I'm waiting for the results for the other two. So I can upload more frequently now, and I'm graduating from middle school this year too! (Middle school is the same as Junior High.) So yeah, I'm excited, and I can update more as well!

The plot's moving along fairly well now, and I'm excited to see your reactions to the twists and turns I have planned! (insert evil laugh here) Also, I decided I'd be giving song recommendations, and anime recommendations, each chappie, cuz why not? So for this one, Song: Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling and the anime is Haikyuu.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter, and please leave a review! They keep me motivated and I can update faster if you leave some encouragement. If you have any criticism, please throw it at me, cuz I really need to improve.

Bye for now!

- Idol

Footsteps echoed through the metal halls. A boy chad in white and red pressed his hand to a sensor, opening the door in front of him. He stepped into the bare room, eyes scanning everything through the mask. The room was gray, like everything else in the building. In the middle of the room was a chair with a boy chained to it. The boy had a messy mop of green hair with red hair underneath, making it look like a tomato. On his head were orange-tinted goggles, one lens having a blue star on it. His skin was pale and his face peaceful in sleep. He wore a red tank top with a white jacket that looked like a school uniform, which he wore like a cape. He had olive baggy trousers with built-in Bey Holders. He wore maroon sneakers. This boy was sickeningly familiar to the room's intruder, but he didn't dare acknowledge it.

He slowly stepped forward and knelt to he was eye-level with the sleeping boy. The faint noise made the trapped boy stir, and he blearily opened his striking red eyes. "Ugh, what the-"

Suddenly he froze, looking at the boy in front of him like a deer looking at headlights. He made a small choking noise and refocused. "S-Shu!?"

Shu smirked. "It's Red Eye to you."

"What-" The boy tried to move only to find a cold sensation on his arms and legs. The chains bound him tight, leaving angry red marks on his skin. He looked back at Shu in shock as Shu stood. Everything was different; his posture, expression, the mask obscuring his face. He was only recognizable because when the boy looked at Shu, he had a sinking, nauseating feeling, just like he had after his nightmares.

Shu addressed the prisoner. "I had orders to check up on you and have a little chat." Shu walked behind him and pulled a chair over to sit in. Heck, even the way he held himself while sitting spoke volumes about how much he had changed. "For starters introductions. But they really aren't necessary. You know me and I know you, Sakaki Yuya."

Yuya growled, still trying to break the chains, though he knew it was futile. "Where are Valt and the others?" He tried to lace his voice with venom, but it really didn't work much since he wasn't used to conveying much except happiness. Even in the Zarc incident, he couldn't force hate into his voice no matter how he tried.

His attempt was apparently even worse than he thought since it made Shu burst into laughter. "You know you're just a teddy bear inside, so why are you even trying? I honestly can't believe you are really a fourth of Zarc!" He let chuckles escape from his mouth for a bit longer, ignoring the death gare Yuya was sending him. "To answer your question, yes, they are fine. I just met with them earlier. They came here to search for Shu and you, then they tried to challenge me. Quite foolish if you ask me. They lost in a few seconds. Valt really deteriorated."

"You dare-" Yuya tried lunging out of the chair but failed, since the chair was bolted to the floor. "Shadow…"

"Noticed, huh?" Shu-no, Shadow, stood and started circling Yuya like a predator whose choice prey was cornered. "Anyway, let's cut to the chase. I have a proposal."

Yuya stopped struggling to hear out the megalomaniac. "A proposal? Like you want to marry me? In that case, that's a hard NO."

Shadow cringed and facepalmed. "NO! What kind of maniac would want to marry you?"

"EXCUSE ME?"

"You set yourself up for it…" Shadow muttered. "Anyway, I have a...bargain for you," HE clarified, choosing his words carefully so Yuya wouldn't get any more ideas. "Refusing a deal like this would be a crime."

"Alright. Spill."

Shadow sighed, going over the conditions in his head. "You join the Snake Pit. You train under Ashtem like the rest of us, and we respect you and give you fame and glory. In return, you must obey Ashtem's every order."

"Who do you think I am?" Yuya countered. "I don't care what you do to me. Torture me like you did to Shu, I really couldn't care less. Kill me if you want! But I'm not going to hurt my friends!"

By this point Shadow had completed a full circle around Yuya, so Yuya was able to see the psychopathic grin that filled his face. "Oh, did I mention what happens if you refuse?"

Shadow continued, each word sending more terror in Yuya. "Firstly, you'll never see Shu again. That's because he will be buried six feet deep!" He cackled when he saw Yuya's blanched face. "Secondly, we have some important info. Ever wonder where your father went?"

Yuya's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking in fear. "You wouldn't…"

"Oh yes I would!" Shadow drew closer to Yuya. "We will let you escape, but with the burden of knowing that you were so close to our father!" There was virtually no distance between the two anymore. Their noses were touching, and Shadow gripped the metal chair behind Yuya. Yuya could see through the glass in the mask where Shadow's eyes were, and he gasped in surprise- they were pure black. "Our leader will do away with him, I promise you. His speeches about smiles are infuriating! You wouldn't want to leave with the burden of having condemned the two people dearest to you, now, would you?"

Yuya tried to keep himself rigid, but he couldn't stop the trembling. The longer he stared into those pitch-black eyes, the more his breath quickened and his palms sweat. It was all he could do to keep the defiant expression on his face. Was this really the same Shu who had taken him in when he didn't have a home, who had comforted him on the sofa so long ago, reassuring him that he would get home?

No, this wasn't. Yuya knew that much. Something had happened that compelled Shu to come here and become a slave to Shadow. Who was Shadow? A dark part of Shu's personality that had manifested when Spriggan broke against Longinus? Thinking about it made Yuya feel all the more apprehensive.

After he had deemed the shorter boy had had enough, Shadow pulled away, a creepy smile still playing on his lips as he turned towards the door. "Well, I'll give you a day to think about it-"

"Wait! I'll do it!"

Now it was Shadow's turn to be surprised. He whirled around to face the captive. "What did you say?"

Yuya bowed his head in shame. "If it means Shu and my father will be safe, I'll do it…"

After a moment of stunned silence, Shadow grinned again. "Now, that's what I like to hear. Good boy. I'll be taking my leave; Astem will surely want to see you shortly." He pressed his palm to the sensor and left.

Yuya sighed in relief, and then gasped in realization and dread. What did I just do…

"DAMMIT!"

Wakiya punched a tree in frustration. Nobody stopped him, even though he left a sizable dent. They just stared at the ground with sullen faces, too depressed to do anything. Wakiya was just taking out his anger on the tree.

They had just woken up after they were ejected from the Snake Pit. They had come to the training center to find Shu, and instead lost one of their own brethren, Yuya. "If only we were a little more careful...RED EYE, IF YOU LAY A FINGER ON SHU OR YUYA I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO SEE YOUR DEATH!" Wakiya screamed at the sky after he bruised his hand.

"What do they want with Yuya?" Tears started filling Valt's eyes. "He never did anything to them!"

Another uncomfortable silence followed Valt. He looked close to sobbing at this point. After all, he had lost two of his most precious friends.

Gongenzaka was probably the worst off. He was sitting in the corner with his face in his hands, trying not to sob. He had vowed to protect Yuya at all costs when he was younger, and he had just broken the oath. Rantaro was trying to console him.

Cuza wiped the tears off his face and stood up. "What are we doing?" He questioned quietly, drawing attention to him. "We lost horribly to Red Eye, lost one of our comrades, and all we can do is cry? What kind of pathetic friends are we?" He shook his head, and a determined glint shone in his eyes. "Sitting here weeping won't do anything. Yuya needs us, he probably can't get out, considering how strong Red Eye is. So we have to train. Train until we drop, until we are strong enough to reclaim Yuya!" He looked around at his friends, who had long since wiped their tears away. "I'm not as close to him as you guys, and apparently a guy named Shu is missing too, but I know that if I were Yuya or Shu, I'd be really disappointed right how!"

"Yeah, the acrobat is right!" Kumicho agreed.

EVeryone looked at eachother, a newfound courage in their hearts. Valt broke the ice. "So, what's the plan? BC Sol?"

Cuza looked at him. "Wait, you guys are from BC SOL!? Why did I not know about this?"

"What team are you from, Cuza?" Gongenzaka inquired.

"Top Wand," Cuza answered. "Hey, maybe we could get the teams together for a training camp!"

"Omigosh, yes!" Valt jumped in excitement. "That would be awesome for training!"

"The Europe Tournament is coming up soon," Wakiya contemplated, bruised hand forgotten. "This would be a good chance to brush up on our skills against unknown Bladers, as well as keeping the goal of beating Red Eye in mind."

"Exactly!" Cuza nodded.

Valt gasped in realization. He looked at Kumicho. "Hey, didn't Daina join a beyblading team in France?"

Kumicho gasped as the fact hit him. "He did! We could call and invite him and his team over as well!"

"What are we waiting for?" Gongenzaka smashed his fist into his other palm. "Let's get to Spain and plan!"