The Other Side of the Story
Summary: After the BEGA incident, Reine finds herself unable to cope with the blind side of the world which turning away from all that's been done and will happen with the sport of beyblade. As a new BBA program was set into action, she finds herself, along with her beyblade-hating town, stuck as the prototype. The BBA program was made to help blader-haters all over the world to cope and even get to love beyblading as a sport. Reine finds herself in the middle of things when the bladers chose her school for their first experiment? What would happen if you throw beybladers at blader-hating mobs? Nothing pretty.
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. I do own my OC's as well as the plot.
Pairings: I've got most of the kinks out, I hope.
Rating: T for mild swearing
Quick AN: This story is told in multiple points-of-views so the key below should help to determine what's being said. I hope it's not too confusing.
(action)
'thoughts'
"talking"
/talking to bitbeast via mind link/
Chapter 19 – Of Past and Present
Eris' POV
I gritted her teeth in frustration. Even with Chione's help, the Skullz member was still too strong.
'Come on, Tyson. Hurry up and reload already!'
"Oh no! Dragoon!"
I turned just enough to see Tyson eyeing his beyblade worriedly. His eyes were wide, taking in every detail of his battered and broken blade. He groaned loudly.
"What am I suppose to do now?"
"Tyson!" Toji called as he ran over, "Borrow my blade and help Eris. She's just a beginner! She doesn't stand a chance!"
Holding out his burgundy blade, Toji waited patiently for Tyson to take it. He had just eliminated the two remaining thugs and was eyeing me worriedly out of the corner of his eyes.
Tyson shook his head.
"Sorry, dude. Your blade just isn't compatible with Dragoon. Your blade is too heavy and leaning towards defense too much to be a good match. I think it'll be better if you battle instead of me."
Toji's lips tightened. Now, it was all up to him.
"No pressure, guys," he muttered sarcastically under his breath before reloading his launcher and sending it hurtling towards the dueling pair.
"Chione! Let's try again! Sheering Winds!" I called as I watched the gray beyblade wearily.
The snow leopard growled deeply in its throat as it vanished into a raging blizzard. I shivered as I pulled my black, leather jacket closer to my body. I guess I'm thankful that Toji let me borrow his jacket when I didn't have one.
"Incoming!" I briefly heard over the howling winds before a burgundy blade slammed into the gray blade, sending it back a good couple of feet and relieving me a little.
"Thanks, Toji-kun!" I beamed, feeling my confidence gather as Toji backed me up. With a sudden power boost, I released a blast of freezing wind.
"Let him feel the subzero temperatures of Switzerland!"
A loud roar pierced the air, leaving behind an eerie silence just like those before a massive storm. Suddenly, the sky darkened even more, if it was possible, as the gray hyena was trapped in the unrelenting blizzard.
"Toji! Slam him now!" I urged as I held gray blade back. Toji's burgundy blade sped up, tearing into the storm, effectively ejecting the offending blade. The hyena howled with pain as it landed, it's dull, yellow eyes turning an angry shade of red.
"Uh guys? I think you made it mad," Tyson said, gulping.
"No shit, Sherlock. What gave you the first clue?" Toji snapped sarcastically only to elbowed in the ribs by me.
"Be nice," I commanded, "He's on our side. If you want to vent your anger, just flip the weird dude in the cape a birdie."
Toji sweatdropped at my comment.
"Right…Okay, back to the battle. So, what's the plan?"
"Try to stay alive," I answered curtly, "I mean, duh, if you're dead, then who's going to back me up?"
"I was afraid of that," I heard Toji groan and grinned to myself. Turning serious, I wondered at our chances of actually defeating such a power enemy.
/Don't worry, Mistress. I won't let that rabid sorry excuse of a dog hurt you./
Smiling to myself, I thanked Chione.
Suddenly, our conversation was cut short as the hyena came hurtling at us at breakneck speed. Taking a quick glance at the displeased Skullz member told me all I needed to know. Not only did we manage to piss the hyena, we pissed him off, too.
"Go Kilmeir! Shadow Manifestation!" he roared as his hyena growled in agreement.
'Shit! What are we suppose to do now?'
Reine's POV
'I know that face anywhere! He's Aliahe's murderer. No doubt about it. I can never forget that gaunt face and cynical green eyes.'
/Be careful, little one. He's much stronger than the last time we faced him,/ Esilé warned as her tail thrashed restlessly.
"Reine!" I heard Kai call.
'What am I suppose to do?'
/It's probably best to tell him not to worry and that you have the situation under control./
'You know we call that lying, right?' I replied, dryly.
/Would you rather have him worry?/ Esilé stated bluntly.
'You have a point,'
"Don't worry, Kai. I've got this under control," I answered coolly and calmly, just the opposite of what I'm currently feeling.
"So you aren't a sniveling coward anymore," he sneered, "I'll have you bowing down to my power! Go Korkash!"
Launching his blood-red beyblade at me, I barely managed to roll out of the way. I faintly heard Kai's worried shout. Gritting my teeth in anger as the bubbling hate welled up inside me.
'It's time, Esilé.'
/I'm ready whenever you are, little one./
Quickly grabbing my blade, I reloaded it and launched it at the blood-red blade.
"This is for Aliahe!" I shouted as my orange and white blade slammed into his.
"Oh, so that was that bitch's name," he laughed, "Well, I guess she died for nothing because I'll be killing you anyway! Go Korkash!"
'What? It's my fault Aliahe died?'
Stunned, I barely managed to maneuver out of the way.
/Pay attention!/ Esilé roared angrily in the back of my mind. Quickly shaking my head to snap out of it, I focused on the battle again.
'Can't let him psych me out,' I scolded myself, cursing as I barely dodged another attack.
"What? All bark and no bite? Well, you've had enough time. Korkash! Rise!" he commanded.
I watched with dread as his blood-red vulture rose out of his blade with a screech.
"Someone go help Reine," I heard Kai command.
"No!" I shouted as I turned and glared at a startled Kai, "This is my fight, stay out of it."
"But you'll need their help, little girl," the man sneered, "You won't be able to defeat me all by yourself. After all, I am Bloody Gin, head of this facility."
"I don't care if you're Boris himself, I'm gonna pummel you into a pulp."
She saw Kai and the Blitzkrieg boys openly wince.
'Hehe, oops?'
"You'll be smart to fear Boris! You're so naïve. Anyhow, you won't live to see it! Go! Nightmare Rain!"
'Boris? I was kind of kidding about that, but from what I can tell from what that idiot Gin just said, he's behind all of this. At least we got what we came for.'
"Esilé! Finish this! We have what we need!" I shouted as Esilé reared out of her blade and stopped Gin's attack. Scoffing, I turned my hard gaze onto Gin.
"Who's the weak one? Finish him! Serpent's Twister!"
Esilé roared in agreement as the temperature dropped drastically as the water particles started to gather in a vortex around Esilé as the twister slowly began to build in power.
"Wolborg!" I suddenly heard Tala command before a bone-chilling howl was heard.
'What the hell is Tala doing?'
Turning my attention to the battle at hand, I commanded, "Release it!"
With a burst of power, the twister broke free and spun towards Korkash at a surprising speed. As it gathered around the startled vulture, I heard Tala shout, "Novae Rog!"
'Oh, so that's what he was doing.'
In a flash of bright light, the ice wolf froze the vulture in a case of ice. Sending Tala a grateful nod, I turned to Esilé.
"Destroy him!" I commanded as she roared approvingly before diving headlong into his blade, shattering it from the force of the impact.
"As you were saying?" I taunted smugly. Hey, I don't have to be modest all the time.
"Oh don't worry. I might not be the one to kill you and get rid of that Ancient bitbeast of yours, but someone will, and they'll do it nice and slow."
Suddenly he was picked up and slammed against the wall.
"Like I'll let them," Kai growled as he tightened his grasp on Gin's neck. He only managed to gurgle before he fainted.
"Hmph," Kai grunted as he tossed the limp man onto the stack of unconscious men, "I guess we're done here."
Looking around, I saw that the guys had cleaned up the guards nicely. They even got the data from the main office and destroyed it. No, not destroyed, obliterated. I jumped slightly at a large crackle.
"Relax Reine, it was only the radio," Enrique smirked as I blushed faintly. Reaching for it at my belt, I shot a glare at the snickering Italian.
"What is it?" I answered, slightly miffed.
"It's Team 2. They're in dire need of assistance. Seems like Tamayo and Celine disappeared a while back and Tyson's blade is being totaled," Kenny whispered frantically. I heard a fist slam into the wall behind me, no doubt Tala. Whether it's for Tamayo or Celine, I don't care, but the prospect that someone is beating the crap out of the world champion is no small thing.
"We're finished here. Have everyone meet back at base except for us. We're going to support Team 2. I take it that everyone's finished what they were supposed to do?"
"Yeah, everyone reported in except Team 2. I heard from Emily that Eris had requested backup and was forced to blade instead because no one could be spared. Apparently, one of the higher ups was out back. No one is picking up the radio right now, so I'm guessing that they've got their hands full."
Contemplating the situation for a moment, I made eye contact with Kai as he nodded to show that he'll go with whatever I had in mind.
"Okay Kenny, here's what we're going to do. Bring your spare parts in case someone's blade was totaled or destroyed during the mission. Have Daichi accompany you and meet us out back. Like I said before, have all other teams, including the rest of your team and Brain 2 meet back at base. Got that?"
"Sure Reine. We'll be there in a few minutes."
With a click, the radio went dead. Putting the radio away slowly, I turned to face everyone.
"Did all of you get that? We're heading out now."
Everyone nodded, except for Tala whose back was faced towards me. Signaling to Kai to take everyone out back, I headed towards Tala. Once I was sure everyone was out of earshot, I touched his shoulder.
"Come on, they need you."
"What if something happened? We left on bad terms," he whispered as he leaned against the wall, resting his forehead on the cold concrete.
'So it was Tamayo, not Celine. He might have another chance, yet.'
"She'll be fine. She's strong," I replied as I felt my gut wrench at the lie. I really don't know what happened, but there's that nagging feeling that all isn't well and dandy as I hoped, but I don't think Tala would be too happy to hear that.
"Besides, the sooner we get there to help them, the sooner they'll be safe," I finished, more to comfort myself than him.
"Right," he mumbled as he pushed himself away from the wall and walk quickly down the hall before turning back, "What're you waiting for? Like you said, the sooner we get there, the sooner they'll be safe."
Smiling, I jogged after him as we caught up to Kai and the rest. I noticed that Daichi and Kenny were already there. Nodding in satisfaction, I whistled quietly, getting everyone's attention.
"Make sure that once you spot them to help them immediately. Don't wait for backup because we'll help you as soon as we can. Okay, move out."
Splitting up into the previous groups of three, with Daichi and Kenny with me, Kai, Robert, and Garland, we ran off into the darkness.
Normal POV
Eris winced as another cut appeared on her already battered body. Toji was no better. Determination glinted in her eye as she called out another attack.
"Chione! One more time! Sheering Winds!"
The Skullz member scoffed in contempt as his gray blade dodged the attack again.
"What makes you think that if that measly attack of yours couldn't hurt me the first time that it would work the second, third, fourth, or fifth time?"
"Just wait until I get my hands on you," Eris threatened as she commanded her white blade to attack again. Once again the gray blade dodged it. She screamed in frustration. It wasn't helping that her opponent was constantly taunting her about her weak and ineffective attacks.
Yawning widely, her opponent sent her a bored look before speaking.
"I'm bored now. This isn't anymore fun. Well, I guess it's time for the both of you to die! Kilmeir! Shadow Manifestation!"
She saw the gray blade hurtling at her again and shut her eyes, waiting for the impact, but it never came. Opening her eyes slightly, she felt them widen as she saw a yellow beyblade slam into the gray blade, causing it to go off track before spinning protectively before her.
"You okay?" a gruff voice asked.
Turning around, she caught sight of Garland. Sending him a grateful smile, she nodded.
"Why don't you let me take over? Help the others look for Tamayo and Celine," he commanded as he took his position before her and Toji, "You probably have a better idea of where they might be."
Nodding gratefully she turned away only to turn back and in a serious voice said, "Beware of him. He's stronger than he looks. His special attack is Shadow Manifestation and it attacks before drawing back."
Garland grunts to let her know he heard. Smiling, she turned and ran towards Tyson, who Toji had already reached when Garland first appeared. Kenny was already there fixing up Tyson's damaged blade while Tyson looked on hopefully.
"Done!" Kenny announced as he handed the repaired blade back to Tyson, "Be more careful because those are all my spare parts. Your blade was damaged quite badly."
"Gee thanks, Chief!" Tyson beamed.
"Now that you're ready, do you mind helping us look for Tamayo? I think she and Celine were separated from us about halfway."
"Right, well let's head there now."
"Hey, wait a minute. Wasn't there an alley there?" Toji suddenly said as he remember running past it and marking it in his memory in case there was a need for a place to hide.
"They're most likely there, then," Eris concluded as the trio ran off, "Do you know where it is exactly?"
Toji nodded, "Just follow me."
As they were nearing their destination, they saw a bright, white beam light up the sky.
"If that isn't Tamayo, then I don't know what is," Toji stated. Nodding in agreement, they picked up their pace.
-------------------------------
Meanwhile Kai, Reine, and Robert had joined Garland in his fight against the Skullz member. Let's just say he wasn't fairing any better than anyone before him.
"Let it rip!" the remaining members shouted as they released their blades, trapping the hyena in the middle of the circle.
"So it takes four of you to take down me? I hate to see how many it takes to bring down Gin!" he sneered.
"Hate to burst your bubble, but he's already been brought down, only by one person too," I said coldly as the Skullz member jerked in astonishment, "And now, it's your turn!"
"Griffolyon! Wing Dagger!" Robert commanded as his magnificent purple griffon rose out of his blade. With a loud screech, the huge griffon unleashed a torrent of feathers as sharp as knives down on the hyena. The hyena howled in pain once before disintegrating back into his blade.
Snarling in disgust, the Skullz member turned to flee only to be whacked in the head by Bryan holding a metal bar.
"He's going to be out for a while," he said sadistically. Reine sweatdropped at his behavior but decided not to comment. At that moment, they caught sight of the white beam that shot to the sky.
"Tamayo!" Tala suddenly shouted as he came out of his hiding spot around the Skullz member and ran towards the light.
"Let's go," Reine commanded as she sprinted after Tala with Kai hot at her heels. Robert sighed as he and Garland took charge of taking the Skullz member to where the rest were held.
-------------------------------
As Tyson, Toji, and Eris turned the corner, they caught sight of Venom striding over to the nearly unconscious Tamayo. Tyson whipped out Dragoon and launched him immediately just as Venom looked up.
"Dragoon! Phantom Hurricane Attack!" he commanded as Eris and Toji rushed to Tamayo's side.
Venom immediately jumped back as his black blade knocked Tyson's blade away from him.
"Well look, the losers did come after all," he sneered, "Well you're too late. She probably won't make it."
Eris kneeled next to the now unconscious girl as she felt her pulse. It was slowing down and extremely weak. Panicking, she shook the unconscious girl, trying to get her to wake up.
"Come on, Tamayo. Hang in there. Don't die on us!"
Toji grasped her slowly cooling hand, his face white with tension.
"Don't show him mercy! Dragoon! Destroy him!"
With a murderous roar, the azure dragon appeared and the white blade hurtled towards Venom. A loud clang ensued as his mask was split down the middle revealing the last person they would ever expect. (AN: I'm sure you all already figured it out. :-P Am I that predictable?)
"Celine?" Tyson gasped in surprise. Celine snarled in reply, taking this opportunity to escape. Her black blade flew back into her hand as the poison dart frog disappeared back into its blade.
"Yes, of course it's me. Who else would know all about this stupid plan of yours?"
She tilted back her head and laughed maniacally.
"You are definitely stupider than I thought, especially that Tala. He disappoints me. All of you have made him weak, especially that stupid girl there that I took the pleasure of eliminating."
Just as she finished speaking, Tala followed by Reine and Kai ran into the alley. Tala froze at the sight in front of him. Tamayo lay unconscious, dying on the ground and his childhood friend Celine standing on the metal fence, the boundary between captivity and freedom glaring contemptuously down at him wearing the uniform of the Skullz organization. He found his mind blank as he tried to process the image before him.
"Having a hard time there processing all that information? I guess your cybernetic brain needs more enhancing," Celine sneered down on him, startling him out of his daze.
"W-why?" was all he could whisper.
"Why else but power?" Celine crowed, "You of all people should know. The overpowering rush of energy at your fingertips and stepping on all those naïve and foolish people who believe there is good in this godforsaken world."
Her tone turned bitter, "I thought you knew better. It's not too late. Come. Join us, the winning side."
She held one gloved hand out to the stunned redhead. By then, Reine was steaming.
"Don't you dare talk like you know everything there is to know in the world. I don't know how your twisted mind works, but I can tell you this. You are wrong, completely in everyway. Power isn't everything. If you have power and you're alone, what then?"
Celine merely scoffed as her violet eyes narrowed.
"A weakling like you would never know," she answered and with a swish of her cloak, she ran off into the night leaving the devastating scene behind. Her voice drifted back just before she disappeared into the shadows.
"Your companionship made Tala weak. It's all because of his weakness that those precious to you are hurt so badly. This is only the beginning, it will only get worse."
Tala stiffened as he realized that it was indeed his fault. Suddenly, Eris' scream snapped everyone out of their reverie as she began to shake Tamayo harder.
"Come on! Breathe, Tamayo! Breathe! Don't die on me!"
Tala immediately rushed to her side, worry evident on his face. Reine turned to Kai and held out her hand.
"A cell would be good," she demanded rather than asked. Kai handed over his black Katana to Reine as she quickly dialed for police and an ambulance.
"We're at an old factory about five miles out of the city. Yes, yes, okay, thank you."
Closing the phone with a snap, she handed it back to Kai and pulled out the walkie-talkie.
"Guys? We're meeting at the front. Lead all the grunts out there and we'll bring Tamayo. Celine isn't coming. I'll tell you guys later. The police and ambulance is on the way. They'll be in about five minutes. Hurry your arses up."
Turning it off without waiting for a reply, she headed out of the alley. Kai looked after her uncertainly and frowned.
"She's probably blaming herself," he heard Eris say softly next to him as Tala picked up Tamayo bridal style and followed Reine out.
"She must know it's not her fault," he replied. Eris only sighed.
"She knows, but it doesn't stop her from blaming herself anyway. You better comfort her tonight. I have a feeling she's not far from a breakdown."
Nodding, Kai walked out with Eris and Toji lagging behind.
Reine's POV
I watched silently as all the Skullz members were lead away and Tamayo was carried into the ambulance, it's red lights flickering staining the white snow like blood. I felt someone come up behind me and hug me. I sighed and leaned back as I watched a white Tala climb into the ambulance with Tamayo. They have to keep her on an oxygen mask. Apparently, she inhaled too much toxic fumes.
'Damn that Celine. I knew she was bad news.'
I bit my lips so hard that I felt the coppery taste of blood in my mouth.
"Stop that, it's not your fault," I heard as Kai's chest rumbled behind me.
"I know, but-"
"-you can't stop blaming yourself. Yeah, I heard from Eris," he finished for me.
"Traitor," I mumbled under my breath.
Kai chuckled before holding me tighter.
"I'm never letting you go. They'll never hurt you."
I smirked at his words.
"Who was it that kicked your ass at the tournament without breaking a sweat?" I teased as I felt some stress ease.
"Hn," Kai grunted, apparently annoyed.
Turning my head to look up at him, I smiled.
"Thanks Kai," I whispered as I relaxed in his hold.
The Next Day (Still Reine's POV)
"Well her condition is still unstable, but since she made it through the night, not without difficulties, she'll probably be fine," the doctor announced as we huddled outside Tamayo's room, anxious. Tala was the one in the worst shape. He didn't get a wink of sleep as he sat beside her bed all night.
"Let's get more coffee," I whispered to Kai as the doctor walked off, "It looks like Tala will need it."
"Yeah," he answered as we headed down the hall towards the elevators.
The doors opened with a soft ding. We stepped inside as the soft music washed over us.
"I'm glad that was over, but there's still Durby's sister we have to look for during Winter break," I sighed as I leaned against the carpeted wall.
"We'll worry about that when it's time," Kai answered quietly as he stood next to me, "Now, we need to focus on Tamayo's recovery. Mr. Dickenson said he'll transfer her to a Japanese hospital at the end of the week if she still doesn't wake up."
"Yeah, but I don't think that's everything," I muttered tiredly, "There's still Kael. I never managed to find his partner before the end of the trip. Do you think we'll encounter him again?"
"You're worrying too much again," he answered simply as I glared at him.
"Gee Kai, thanks for being so understanding," I said sarcastically as he smirked.
"That's what I'm here for, after all."
With another soft ding, the elevator doors opened.
"Now let's get that coffee."
Author's Note:
I'm sure you weren't expecting an e-mail to pop up saying I updated. :-) DON'T KILL ME! –ducks from all thrown objects– I'm so sorry for not updating for…um…nearly half a year. X( I'm just really busy! Well, I hope this chapter is enough to sate your hungry appetites. ;-) Also, I'm working on a Christmasy tangent from this story. It'll be an oneshot. I guess that's equivalent to me uploading two chapters. Anyway, this chapter was sort of a rush job to put down my ideas before they go "poof". If there are grammatical errors, please ignore them. Thanks!
Well, there's a twist in the plot (that most of you knew was going to happen). :-( You guys are sharp, or I'm predictable --; but I like the former better so let's go with that. xD
I'll try to update again this week, but no promises. I've learned that since I barely had enough time to update this chapter. I have yet to finish my History Fair Project. I'm too busy listening to the new Evanescence CD I got for Christmas. Hehehehe…
YAY! I have 100 reviews! –squeals– Thanks a bunch to all of you that review! –glares at those that don't–
DaCow Takao – Sorry! I don't know that band or that song. Send me the lyrics and I'll probably add it in my story. ;D
A million thanks to AnimeCrazy88, soldier4Christ, DaCow Takao, Sakura-Moonlight, Distant Storm, SweetPlum, Ms. Controversy, whyamidoinghtis01, and last but not least Musee.Picasso for your reviews:-D If I forget to mention you, I'm terribly sorry! Some of my e-mails got deleted by my stupid account and I don't know if some of those were reviews. Dx
If any of you have questions, feel free to e-mail me or sent me a PM. :)
Please R&R!
Rand-chan