Disclaimer - If you recoginize it, then I do not own it.
A/N - I apologize for taking so long to post this chapter. I did not intend to make you wait nine months but I kind of got stuck & had no idea of how to write it especially one of the battles. Fortunately, I decided last night to just sit down & finish it so here it is. Thank you for sticking around to read this & don't hate me for the ending. All will be resolved in the remaining chapters. So Enjoy!
Thank you to 00kamijin, Kai's kitty, shrouded-obsession, animelover6000, FlamesOfFury, LadyLove92 & Katja Kitayima for reviewing.
Chapter 18 - Title At Stake!
"Any idea of who Kai chose to blade in the fourth match?" Julia ask from her seat on the bench where she was sitting next to Akane, who looked slightly nervous.
Akane knew she had to win her match; there was no other option. She had her fingers in her mouth as she bit and picked at her nails. In a comic display, Julia popped her hands like a mother would a small child as Akane jumped from the action and then glared at her girlfriend.
"Stop that," Julia chided, "it is not a nice habit."
"I can't help it," Akane murmured as her eyes turned to DJ Jazzman, "I'm a bit nervous since I don't know who I am blading against. I wish G-Revolutions would come and get this over with. I am tired of waiting."
"You are about to get your wish," Hiro added darkly as they saw movement in the other tunnel.
They all rose ready for the battle that was ahead. Brooklyn was almost as nervous since even he did not know who his brother had chose to battle in the fourth round. Akane was fidgeting uncomfortably from where she was standing but it was understandable. The future of BEGA was on her shoulders but a glance at Garland showed that he was more calm and composed than his teammate. Garland had experience dealing with pressure since he came from a family of professional athletes that expected only the best and he had been taught to deal with stress.
"Good Afternoon Everyone!" DJ greeted as the crowd went wild with applause, "it is time to get today's matches under way. The Bega team is ready and waiting and I believe that Kai is making his way to the stadium as I speak."
As if on cue, Kai appeared from the tunnel with Rei, Max, Lei and Tyson. Hillary and Kenny were a few paces behind them.
"They still haven't chosen a blader for the fourth round," Garland remarked since all they saw was the five bladers, "I guess you will be battling Kai, Akane."
"Oh joy," Akane replied quietly as she stood up. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves but the thought of battling Kai was not helping. Her stomach felt like there was a swarm of butterflies inside it and knowing what she would have to do to win against him almost made her nauseous.
"I see that you finally made it," Daichi taunted as he stood on the bench so he could be seen with his hands on his hips and a smirk on his face, "let's get this over with. Akane is ready to battle and we are ready to win."
"Daichi," Akane hissed as she groaned. He didn't need to make him even angrier because she would be the one he took it out on.
"Yes, I made it," Kai replied without a hint of emotion in his voice, "but I am not the one she is going to be battling. I have chosen the blader that will compete in the fourth round."
He pointed to the tunnel where footsteps could be heard and an outline of a figure could only be seen at first.
"Wow," DJ exclaimed as he recoginized him first, "I don't believe my eyes. This is unreal!"
The BEGA bladers took in a collective breath as Brooklyn whispered, "this is quite unexpected. I didn't expect Kai to chose him but it does make the most sense if one thinks about it."
"This is an unexpected turn of events, ladies and gentlemen," DJ announced, "Kai has chosen Bryan Kuteznov to blade in the fourth round. They needed a sixth blader and they hit the jackpot with Bryan. He was known to have a ruthless streak in the dish when he bladed with the Demolition Boyz and according to Kai, Bryan will be up against Akane in the fourth round."
"Well, let's go," Hillary snapped, "or are all you Bega brats too scared to finish the tournament now?"
"I would hold my tongue if I was you, Hillary," Julia replied as she rolled her eyes, "You have no right to talk about blading when you don't even know how to launch a beyblade. Are you their cheerleader because you don't seem capable of anything else?"
Brooklyn started coughing to hide his laughter as Hillary's eyes nearly popped from her head. He had wanted to say something of that effect to her for years since she had the annoying habit of following his brother's team everywhere. Tyson and Max had to restrain her from storming their bench and getting into a catfight with Julia.
"I do not wish to battle Akane," Bryan stated, his eyes burning with fury, "It is Garland that I want to blade! Or are you too afraid to face me?"
"The challenge has been made!" DJ Jazzman shouted as the crowd stood on edge, "will Garland accept Bryan's challenge and battle him for Tala's honor?"
"You don't have to do this," Hiro stated as he turned to look at the teen, who was expressionless, "I can send Akane to battle Bryan and you can have the match against Kai."
"No," Garland replied so softly that they almost missed it, "I have to battle Bryan. It is the only way to restore the honor to my family's name. Besides he will not blade anyone but me."
He stepped forward and walked to the dish.
"Good luck, Garland," Brooklyn added, "I believe you are going to need it." He was referring to the look on Bryan's face since he looked even more stubborn and determined than the bladers before him.
"I think you might be right, Brook," Garland replied with the corners of his mouth turned upwards in a slight smile, "he does look like a formidable opponent. I am going to enjoy this battle."
"Our first match of the day pits Garland of the BEGA bladers against Bryan of G-Revolutions," DJ announced, "and what dish is worthy of such a battle?"
The platform retracted to reveal a minature model of a Buddhist temple.
"They will be blading in the Combat Temple," DJ continued, "it is fashioned after a Buddhists temple, where mind and body become one."
"The perfect dish for Garland to blade in," Rick remarked with a grin, "Hiro, did Boris tailor each dish to match the personality and skill of the blader that was chosen to compete?"
"Probably," Hiro shrugged, "He will do anything to give each of you an advantage over G-Revolutions."
"Is it a wise move for Kai to use Bryan in this match?" Mystel ask, "what if he lets his anger get the better of him?"
"Maybe that is what Kai wants," Brooklyn whispered as his eyes darted to G-Revolution's bench to see several of the team looking nervous with the exception of his brother. He looked oddly at ease with his arms crossed over his chest. Kai met his gaze and smirked slightly as Brooklyn frowned.
"What are you up too, big bro?" Brooklyn murmured as his attention turned back to DJ and the beginning of the battle.
Round Four - Garland vs. Bryan
"Are you ready?!" DJ shouted as launchers were held at ready, "3, 2, 1 - LET IT RIP!"
The two blades were launched into the stadium and the battle began. It started as a standoff with both blades just spinning in place and the two bladers facing down the other. It seemed that neither Bryan or Garland wanted to make the first move. The crowd was getting bored from the standoff and boos could be heard coming from the spectators. It started off as a repeat of Garland's battle against Tala as Bryan went on the attack first.
"Looks like Bryan got a new blade as well," Mystel remarked as he pointed to the small blade that Bryan was using, "do you think it will make any difference?"
"I think it will make a big difference in his game," Hiro noted, "if he could dominate a blader with Falborg before, can you imagine what he can do now?"
Brooklyn shivered as he thought back to the match where Bryan had battled Rei for the first time. Rei had won but just barely and had ended up in the hospital for his effort but that was when they had been under Boris' control. What was different now? Instead of Bryan being the one under Boris' influence, it was now he and his friends.
"Is that the best you can do, Bryan?" Garland taunted with a smirk, "this battle is about as enjoyable as the one I had against Tala."
With the mention of Tala's name, Bryan gritted his teeth together in anger. A vein twitched over his right eye as he clenched his fists together.
"Don't you dare speak his name," he seethed as he glared at Garland, "Tala is in the hospital because of you and that is where I intend to put you. I am not going to feel guilty about it either."
"This is not good," Brooklyn murmured as all eyes were glued to the stadium, "his personality is reverting back to the time when he was with the Demolition Boys. You do remember what happened to Rei."
"I remember," Hiro agreed as he swallowed hard but the others looked confused since they obviously had not seen the battle, "and I almost feel sorry for Garland."
Bryan then went on the attack as the battle intensified with each strike. They seemed to be evenly matched when it came to strength and skill.
"Appollon, climb," Garland ordered as the yellow blade shot up the side of the temple. Brooklyn knew he was preparing to strike Bryan from the air but did not have enough time since Falborg followed his path. Garland changed his strategy as Appollon spun contently in place while Bryan sent Falborg skyward and then slammed into the yellow blade from above. The force of the blow sent debris and dust everywhere but there was no sign of Appollon. Garland had moved his blade at the last possible second to avoid being slammed but he seemed surprised by Bryan's power.
"I've been anticipating this battle since the moment of Tala's defeat," Bryan sneered, "I have been training hard in my spare time when I wasn't sitting at his bedside. I intend to fulfill his vow and bring BEGA down. I won't let that slimeball Boris win. That is why I came out of retirement. Falborg use Stroblitz!"
He sent the yellow blade skyward again as the blue falcon rose from the bit chip. He spread his wings wide as the blade descended back to the dish with a vortex of air swirling around it. This time Garland did not have time to move his blade as Appollon was slammed into the building. Unlike the match before, Bryan seemed hesitate about physically harming Garland with Falborg's attack. Brooklyn did remember how distraught he had been after the first time especially when he had visited Rei in the hospital and had apologized so much that he had lost his voice.
His thoughts moved back to the present as Falborg pounded Appollon from every direction. Garland didn't know which way to turn as he was being overcome and his kicks were not having any effect on Bryan. His family principles were useless in this situation. If the frown on Boris' face was any indication, he was not happy with how this match was progressing. Garland gritted his teeth together in frustration and took a momentarily lull of action to get Appollon airborne.
"I tire of this," he snapped, his temper getting the better of him, "it is time to end this match. Appollon, Radiant Thunder!" A bright flash of light followed but not before Bryan countered with "Falborg, Stroblitz!"
The two attacks met head on making everyone wince from the light eminenting from the dish. The two blades collided in mid-air as Brooklyn held his breath. He watched as Appollon struck Falborg and with a growl and wave of his hand, Bryan managed to repel the yellow blade with a mild wind attack that he was once famous for.
Appollon went flying from the dish and landed near Brooklyn's foot as every mouth on the BEGA bench gasped at the same time. Even Hiroshi looked mildly surprised by the outcome as he pursed his lips together in thought.
"Unbelievable!" DJ shouted, "Appollon has been knocked clear out of the dish! It is over! Bryan has won the battle! What an incredible win for Kai's team and what a major upset for BEGA. If they lose the next match, BEGA will be no more!"
Bryan held out his hand as Falborg returned to it. He walked down the steps as his team cheered loudly. He was almost glomped by Max and Tyson but stopped then with a wave of his hand. Instead they all shook hands instead of hugging. Brooklyn had to hide a grin from that action since Bryan never showed affection in public; only in private.
No one knew what to say as Garland walked down the steps and came toward them. He didn't look at anyone as his eyes focused on Appollon. He bent down to pick up the beyblade, sighed sadly and then headed to the hallway without a word to anyone.
"I didn't think that Garland would lose," Daichi whispered as his face paled, "but that was some incredible blading though."
Brooklyn's eyes darted toward the stands and he noticed that Boris had disappeared from his seat. His stomach did backflips when he thought about his reaction to the loss. He had wanted the matches to be interesting but not in this manner. Bryan's win had inspired Kai as Brooklyn glanced at Akane. She was very pale and looked about as sick as he felt.
She must have felt the stares since her eyes turned to find all of them looking at her. She swallowed nervously as she pulled her blade from her pocket. She followed Garland's path and then the rest of the team followed her. They found her sitting in the locker room but Garland was nowhere to be seen. They figured that he was in Boris' office. Akane was sitting on the edge of the couch and sighed as she tightened her hold on her black blade.
"You don't have to say a word, coach," she murmured, so softly that they had to strain to hear her voice, "I know that the future of BEGA is on my shoulders. You have nothing to worry about. I will win."
Hiro nodded as Garland entered the room at that moment. He didn't say a word to anyone as he walked to Akane.
"Akane," he stated, "BEGA's chance for victory is now up to you. Boris will not accept another loss." Brooklyn felt nauseous from that statement but Garland looked relatively unharmed. He had a bad feeling that this next match was going to be something he would never forget.
"I know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, "don't worry about it. I will do what is ask of me."
"How was your meeting with Boris?" Rick ask with interest but Garland shot him a dark look of 'don't ask'. He obviously wasn't going to tell anyone what happened in that office. Brooklyn was certain that he didn't want to know.
Round Five - Akane vs. Kai
Brooklyn found himself fidgeting nervously when they returned to the stadium. Everyone on the BEGA bench was nervous about the next match since they knew it was going to be quite intense. Akane's eyes drifted often to Boris' seat. The chairman's expression was a mixture of anger and fury. The vein over his right eye was throbbing and that was not a good sign.
"It is time for the final match of the Justice 5 tournament!" DJ greeted, "will Akane be able to win and tie this tournament, giving BEGA another chance or will G-Revolutions have the ultimate victory? It is the rookie versus the veteran blader! Who will stand victorious in the end?"
Akane's eyes nervously looked toward Kai, who stepped to the platform. Akane jumped up from the bench with grim determination as she secured her launcher on her arm.
"Good luck," Brooklyn whispered with a slight smile that she returned before she climbed the steps to the platform.
"I believe we are in for an exciting final match today, folks!" DJ stated as the floor began to retract to reveal the stadium beneath it, "and here is the dish. This one is called the Glory of Greece. It is a replica of Athens during the peak of its power. Notice the ancient architecture with the famous Parthenon on the hill. This dish is almost too beautiful to blade in."
Everyone looked to Rick expecting him to say something about the design of the dish but he just shrugged.
"We cleared that up last time," he added with a smirk as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Are we ready?" DJ ask as the two bladers nodded, "3, 2, 1 - LET IT RIP!"
The two blades went flying as Akane's landed on the narrow street but Kai wasted no time and sent Dranzer on the attack from the moment the ripcord left his launcher. Some would have thought that it was an unfortunate misfire as Dranzer landed on the roof of a building, chipped off a piece of the rock and sent it right at Akane. She didn't have time to dodge as the sharp piece of marble caught her in the arm, tearing the sleeve of her shirt and leaving a bloody gash in its wake. The BEGA bladers held a collective breath. Brooklyn knew that maneuver was no accident having witnessed it once before.
"Kai is blading more like Bryan," Brooklyn murmured to Hiro, who nodded in agreement, "that was not an accident."
"Kai wants revenge," Hiro agreed as he swallowed hard, "and he intends to take it out on Akane. This is going to be one rough match."
Akane just looked at Kai with curiosity but then their blades collided with with such force that it nearly knocked her off the platform from the power of his blows. Kai had a grudge to settle if the look in his eyes was any indication. He wanted payback for all the wrongs that had been done against him including the lock of hair she had cut off during their confrontation in the atrium. He was not known to be the forgiving type.
The following moments were brutal as Kai assaulted Akane's blade which resulted in hurting her as well. Bryan had been hesitate to attack Garland directly but Kai was having no such doubts. He was angry over this entire situation and wanted it to come to an end. If he had to harm the blader then so be it to obtain victory. He believed his reasons were justified as he continued the assault.
"MAKE IT STOP!" Julia shouted as she tried to dart to the platform but Raul pulled her back, "tell Boris to call this match off!"
She squirmed in her brother's grasp as she tried to free herself from his grip. Garland had to step forward and help restrain her. Brooklyn shuddered and had to avert his eyes from the scene on the platform. Kai had decided to make an example with his match and Akane was paying the price. She was taking a beating in her match but she was not backing down.
She stood firmly in place as Kai ruthlessly pounded her black blade. It was almost too painful to watch as Brooklyn averted his eyes and looked at Hiro. His expression was tense as he bit his lip between his teeth. They knew Boris was furious over Garland's loss and if Akane didn't manage a victory, well, they didn't even want to think about his reaction then.
"AKANE!" Julia screamed as even Kai's teammates tried to stop the battle.
Rei was pleading with Kai on the other side along with Max and Tyson but their pleas were falling on deaf ears. He was listening to no one. Hiro's eyes turned from the stadium to look at Julia. Brooklyn knew that he felt bad about what his blader was going through but he could not stop to the match. He did not have the power or authority; only Boris did and he definitely was not going to lose a match by forfeiting.
"Get her out of here," he ordered as Moses stepped forward.
Julia may have been small but she was putting up quite a fight against Rick and Moses. Raul had been scratched and had stepped away since he was unable to restrain her. The crowd was silent since they did not know how to respond to such a barbaric display of beyblading. Kai was trying to pound Akane into the ground and he was showing no mercy but Brooklyn felt that Akane had not shown even a fraction of her power yet. She was just waiting for the right opportunity to strike back.
Julia's cries revebrated around the stadium as she was pulled down the tunnel and escorted to a locker room to calm down; all the while fighting Moses and Rick. Raul followed with Daichi to see if they could offer any help, leaving only he, Mystel and Garland to cheer Akane on.
"I can't bear to watch this," Mystel murmured as Brooklyn had a feeling that Mystel's eyes were closed behind his mask, "this is too much."
He wished he was wearing one now so no one could see the disgust in his eyes because of his brother.
"Hiro," Brooklyn whispered, tugging on the sleeve of his jacket, "You have to put a stop to this."
"I can't," he replied back, his voice void of emotion, "I do not even want to think of what Boris would do to me if I did. Akane must deal with this on her own. She knew that a match against Kai was going to be tough. She knew of the consequences of her actions before and she accepted them. She will see this through to the end. I have faith in her ability."
Brooklyn reluctantly turned back to the match to see Akane flinch from another attack to her blade. Her teeth were gritted together in determination as scratches littered her body. Brooklyn even saw blood dripping from the particularly deep gash on her forearm that Kai had done at the start of the match. Her eye brows were narrowed as well showing that her concentration was on the battle and like Kai, Akane did not talk much. She found it a waste of time and energy.
Brooklyn flinched and almost stepped forward himself when Dranzer slammed into her blade so hard that Akane nearly fell from the platform again. With a surprising show of strength and endurance, she swayed but then did something surprising. She was grinning but not in madness. More like in the manner that she knew something they did not. In a frightening display, she rose to her full height and stood tall and proud. He knew then that Kai was about to get a taste of his own medicine.
"It is time to even up the score," she smirked, "I hope you have insurance on your blade and bit beast because you are going to need it."
"I have all ready seen your power," Kai smirked as his arms crossed, "and I must say that I am not impressed. I have seen children blade better than you."
Akane laughed a cold and bitter laugh, making Brooklyn wonder about her bit beast and how much influence he had over her. She did not seem at all fazed by her injuries or that she was being overwelmed by the older blader.
"You haven't seen anything yet," she added with another smirk, "Ares likes to get a taste of blood before he fights back. You are about to meet your match and it is not going to be pretty."
Brooklyn heard what sounded like a neigh as Akane's bit chip started to glow. He noticed that the light was getting brighter as more blood dripped onto the platform next to Akane. He had never seen Akane's bit beast during all of their time together and a sense of dread filled him since he knew that he was a Greek beast. He briefly wondered what Ares was like and if he was truly related to his own.
"This match is about to get a bit nasty," Hiro murmured as Brooklyn briefly turned his eyes away from the stadium to look at him, "I am glad that I am not in Kai's shoes at this moment."
A shockwave from the stadium made him turn back to the battle. Akane's blade had slammed Kai's and knocked Dranzer into the wall on his side of the dish. Kai looked surprised by her display of power if the frown on his face was any indication. Dranzer emerged from the debris still spinning but Brooklyn had a feeling that she wouldn't be for long if the power radiating from Akane was an indication of her true power. He swallowed nervously as the blades began to dance around one another and mimicked his own style of blading.
He was mesmorized by the sight as the blades would dodge and then strike, sending off small shockwaves that made everyone's skin sting and crawl. The audience was transfixed by the display of skill and power as he was but Akane grew tired of the game rather quickly as she began to pound Kai's blade. He started to sport injuries from the battle as well but nothing happened until a drop of Kai's blood fell on the platform on which he was standing.
"I summon forth, Ares, the God of War!" Akane called as a bit beast that could strike fear into the heart of a blader emerged from her bit chip. Brooklyn had always suspected that Ares was a horse but never had he imagined the beast that was standing above them. Ares was a mighty black stallion with a spiraling silver horn like a unicorn but similarities between the two ended there. He had a set of leathery, bat-like wings on his back with what appeared to be armor instead of a normal saddle and bridle. His tail was not hair but actually a serpent that was whipping around wildly with its tongue darting in and out of his mouth.
His mane was silver and stuck up at odd angles but that is not what made Brooklyn uneasy. It was the blood that was splattered all over his coat and mane. It glistened in the light and matched the color of his blood red eyes that could bore into one's soul. He neighed but it was a horrible sound that made Brooklyn want to cover his ears and never hear again. Even Garland was unnerved by the display and usually he was calm and collected in any situation.
"Is that her bit beast?" Mystel whispered as they stood in shock, "He is scary."
Scary was not a word that Brooklyn would use to describe Ares' appearance but what could he say, his own bit beast Zeus had been called worse names as well.
Ares darted forth and looked as though he was going to attack Kai but the bit chip on Kai's blade began to glow as Dranzer appeared. The black beast slammed into the fiery phoenix sending the bird backwards. They almost went into the stands but the phoenix flapped her wings, sending a hot breeze through the stadium as she used her strength to defend her blader against the God of War. Ares didn't even seem fazed or impressed by the phoenix's efforts. He snorted, reared back and then slammed into the bit beast once more.
"I have never felt such power," Garland remarked as Brooklyn turned to his friend, "I didn't know Akane possessed such a powerful beast."
"Boris wanted G-Revolution to underestimate her ability," Hiro informed with a slight smile, "she was instructed not to show off her true power or bit beast until this very match. She can usually win a match without having to call him out of his bit chip. I don't think that even Rick or the others have seen Ares."
"Unbelievable," Garland muttered as Brooklyn's eyes were glued to the dish and the match. Kai had been confident and cocky moments before but now he was being beaten badly. It was taking all the strength that he had just to keep standing upright from the strength of Akane's attacks. The bit beasts were battling in the air above them as Ares defended himself against each attack by the fiery phoenix. Dranzer seemed to be weakening and the Greek beast was taking advantage of the situation.
"Not as confident or cocky, hahn Hiwatari," Akane remarked from where she was standing, blood dripping from her wounds as Kai stumbled backwards from a particularly powerful slam that nearly knocked him off of his platform, "I have never lost when Ares has come out to play. Sure it takes quite a bit of strength and power to call him forth from his bit but he is well worth the effort."
Brooklyn gulped at the same moment that Kai did. Kai knew that he had underestimated Boris and the power of his bladers especially Akane; although he would never admit it. Dranzer was getting pounded as Kai gritted his teeth together and tried to find every last bit of strength he had to give his bit beast but it was not working. With each drop of blood that spilled on the floor, Ares kept getting stronger. It looked as though he did not have a weakness.
Brooklyn then gasp as he came to a realization. He now understood Akane's behavior and connection to her bit beasts. It seemed that she did everything for a reason and she was closely bonded to her bit beast. The more blood she spilled, the stronger Ares would become. It almost made him sick to come to that conclusion and wondered how she had met such a beast or did he really want to know. Now, he knew why she had been cutting with her blade that one time he had found her and why she had been hesitate to say why.
With each attack and slam, Ares grew stronger while Dranzer began to weaken. It was becoming a struggle for her to simply stay aloft and she was using most of her energy to protect Kai since Ares did not have a problem with attacking the blader himself. This gruesome display eeriely reminded him of Rei's first battle against Bryan but he thought this was worse. He watched as Akane looked toward the box where Boris sat. The head of BEGA was smirking and nodded his head to the unask question.
"This is it," Brooklyn muttered as his companions looked at him except Hiro, whose eyes were firmly fixed on the dish.
"I'm going to finish this now," Akane smirked as her eyes narrowed, "I am fixing to tie up this tournament. Ares, Day of Judgement!"
Whatever attack Brooklyn was expecting was not this one. Chains shot out of Ares' armor and wrapped themselves around Dranzer's wings, immobilizing the phoenix. Dranzer tried to fight but the chains were too tight and she was tired from the previous assault. The chains then started to glow as the phoenix trilled loudly and from pain. Kai looked on helplessly as Ares drained the remaining strength out of Dranzer who went limp in his hold.
Brooklyn was horrified by the scene but could not tear his eyes away from the display. With the phoenix unable to fight back, Ares began to glow with an unnatural fire and then shot forward in a flash of red flames. The resulting impact nearly made everyone in the building blind and deaf. No one could see including DJ who had been thrown away from the dish. When he could see again with dots swimming in his vision, Brooklyn found Hiro looking at him with a sad expression. Obviously his glasses had protected his eyes from the spectacle.
Brooklyn's eyes darted back to the stadium to find Akane still standing in place. The expression on her face full of regret and disgust at what Ares had done. His eyes turned to look at Kai, who was on his knees on his platform as they heard DJ groan and struggle back to his feet.
"Unbelievable!" he shouted, "what a display of power and stamina! Is it over?"
Brooklyn ran forward and looked in the dish to find it leveled by Akane's last attack. Ares was still spinning perfectly in place but as his eyes turned to the small beyblade that had been his brother's, he could barely breath. Dranzer was still and the blade was totally destroyed. It could not be repaired as he watched it crack into pieces before his very eyes. Tears came to his eyes when he saw the bit chip split in two as Dranzer disappeared in a flash of red and gold. Her beautiful song echoing around the stadium as her final memory.
Akane had destroyed both his blade and bit beast. His eyes turned back to Kai, who struggled back to his feet. He glared briefly at Akane and him before he walked back to his teammates. Brooklyn had to turn away when he saw Voltaire approach Kai from the tunnel. Even though, he felt bad at the outcome of the match, he couldn't stand to look at that man.
"Akane has won this round!" DJ announced to a stunned crowed, who didn't know whether to cheer, cry or boo because of the vicious display, "the tournament is now tied once more! What a display of skill and power from both BEGA and G-Revolutions!"
Akane didn't say anything or even smile as Ares shot to her hand and she quietly walked down the steps. Her cuts had stopped bleeding as she quickly walked past them without a word to anyone. Brooklyn wasn't certain if he could say anything to her after watching that battle. It was like a part of him had died as well as Dranzer. His eyes turned to Boris, who looked satisfied and smug.
His fist clenched together in anger but a hand on his shoulder calmed him. He looked up to meet Hiro's gaze. A tiny smile escaped the corner of his mouth and oddly comforted him.
"Dranzer will return," he remarked, reminding him of the legend, "a phoenix is reborn from its ashes. She will return to Kai with time. She is not gone forever."
Brooklyn nodded as he was led down the tunnel with Garland and Mystel but he couldn't help but wonder what Boris was planning to achieve ultimate victory. Who would be sacrificed next?
R & R
AS