Disclaimer: Still don't own Beyblade... isn't that nice to know...

Author's Notes: Okay, so I'm going to try and pick this up, and at least finish it. I know there's one person reading this, at least... no one else has let me know, but that's alright. I don't mind the writing.

OH, and by the way. Someone will die. You've been warned.

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Chapter Ten- The Rising

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Tyson stared at the small crescent shaped marks in his hand for the upteenth time. She had cursed herself for taking out her pain upon him, something he told her not to worry about. He wasn't that stupid; he knew she was in a world of pain all her own. And at all costs, she had made him swear, on his life, not to tell Kai. That would break him. And let him put together the final piece of the puzzle. Apparently Angel wanted to have something on him after all.

Leaning back in his bed, he glanced over at Ray, who looked at him curiously. The white tiger was obviously having trouble sleeping as well. Max and Daichi were snoozing to his left, and Kenny- and Dizzi, lest we all forget- were across from him, both sleeping peacefully. Kai was awake as well, his eyes taking in every detail of the group.

"Get some sleep, you two," Kai's voice called out, in a no-nonsense tone.

"If you're waiting for us, dude," Ray said, "Don't bother. Get some sleep."

"I don't want to wake up with green hair."

Tyson snickered. "Nah, man, Zeo's the only dude who could do green." Silence overcame them again, and for the longest while, it was silent. The door inched open about six inches, only to stop. A small pool of light spread across the floor, and Tala's head peeked in upon them.

"Tyson, is Kai asleep?"

There was no 'hn,' and Tyson got up, walking over to their captain's bed, only to find him out cold. "Yeah," the blunette whispered, once he was closer to the door, than to Kai. Ray gave Kai a glare, and seemed to believe the same. The captain had finally fallen asleep.

"Okay. You and whoever else's up want to practice?"

"It's like two am," Ray said, without access to a clock, "Why the hell not?"

"We're in serious need of a re-match," a second voice said.

"Bryan."

"Alright," Tyson said, grabbing his beyblade and launcher. "Count us in."

Within thirty seconds, Tyson and Ray were out the door silently, waiting for a moment to make sure Kai wasn't secretly awake and avoiding them. They heard no movement and shut the door.

Tala gave Tyson a slightly frightful look, one that was detected by Ray, who said nothing. Bryan and Ian stood beside Ray, watching the tiger padding silently down the hall, as if it was an indication of Drigger's movements as well.

"What's going on?" Tyson asked quietly.

"Nothing out of the ordinary."

"She sick again?" Ray asked, looking in their direction.

The redhead glared. "Yes, if you must know. Getting rid of Alexander was hard on her." Tyson bit his lip, not knowing which side to go on. He couldn't betray Angel, but he also had to defend his team mate and best friend.

"I'm fine," A voice called enchantingly. All heads turned up to the balcony, where Angel rested against it. "And don't give me that mother-hen bull, either of you," She said, with a mischevious look to both Ray and Tala, whom blushed. "I'll go to bed when I'm good and ready. It's a starry night. I live for them." She walked down the stairs peacefully, looking to them with a fleeting look of suspicion. "What're you doing up this late?"

"Training." All of them answered in sync.

Angel smiled and ran a hand through her hair. "It's nice to see the two best team's members getting along. It will be even better when the B.B.A.'s back up and running." She kept her even pace, looking up toward the corridor before her as she walked. "Any of you know if Kai's still- nevermind."

"He was asleep when I went to get-"

"Hn."

A smile was stratigically placed upon Angel's face. "Guess he fooled you," she said, walking over to him. "I was hoping to talk to you, and since you're still up-"

"The roof," he said, and she nodded. He figured, judging by what she had previously said. She wanted to see the stars. Why she wanted to talk to him though, he had no idea.

Tyson smirked. "There goes our future couple."

There was a bit of laughter. "You think?" Ray said. "I think Angel's too stubborn, but I guess we'll see."

Bryan nodded. "They're both underdogs, though."

"True, true."

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For not feeling too great before, the cool night air felt good on her pale skin. "Not too many quiet nights like these," she said quietly.

He nodded. "What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

She laughed. "Typical you. Always cutting to the chase. No small talk whatsoever." She fell silent for a moment before she looked at him again, words seeming to form on her lips, but somehow, they weren't spoken. Without so much as a word, she gazed upward again, taking in the stars. "I was going to ask you something, but it seems insignificant now."

"What?" He asked, wishing to know the content of her question.

The wind flitted about them, stirring her hair and his scarf. "How long do you think this will last- I mean, how long until this all ends?"

"How soon do you want to make it?"

"I can't wait much longer." She traced the frail pattern of her most recent bang-up, a bruise from Alexander's fight that was not going away, though she had tried everything, resorting to make-up in increasingly closer to her skin tone, going by incraments each day, as to make it look as though she was healing. In all reality, Tyson and Tala had taken to caring for her behind closed doors, from which she emerged for small periods of time.

"You've been on edge lately; hiding in your office and whatever."

She nodded. "I've been off lately, and I don't want to drag this out anymore. I'm tired," she added quietly.

"Then you should go to bed."

"I didn't mean it like that." Actually, she knew he could take it a few other ways, and prayed he did not lead her down the worst case scenario one. She wondered, if for the moment, that was what she meant- truly- when she said it.

Kai shifted and dangled his legs over the edge. Angel sat down beside him and felt an arm pull her in closer to him. This one was new, she realized. Kai wasn't an initiator of affection, and whatever started him now was probably somekind of emotional insecurity, one of many he hid at any given time.

"This fighting is pointless," She said softly. "We just need to get Mina and the others out, and go back in and blow the rest of them up."

"That would be pointless. You know he pushes people into things. How many brainwashed, bribed minions does he have in there?"

"You're the biggest minion of all."

Kai's arm dropped from her shoulders, and he looked at her in slight anger. "Excuse me?"

"So much of this went on right from underneath you, and you thought all was well. You didn't even detect just a little bit of strangeness when Mina appeared, from out of the blue? Or if you did, you didn't look into it? This isn't about me, I'm just looking out for the kids who shouldn't have to go through what we went through."

The look in his eyes was wild, indescribible. She searched his eyes with sympathetic ones of her own, though her remorse was limited. "You really know how to make someone feel good," he commented, haggardly.

She sighed. "It's hard on all of us, they play to our emotions, like it, lump it, or deny it. You're strong at hiding your emotions, but people can see through. And of those select few that could, Boris saw you like an open book, playing to your emotions, or at least the ones you showed."

"Like with Mina."

"Exactly."

Kai looked up for a moment. "How did she do that?"

No hesitation was noted as she lied. "I don't know."

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Within ten days, orders were given. There was to be no more delay.

Tyson and Tala seemed a bit unsure of the entire ordeal, being the informed ones in the matter. Angel seemed fine, to those on the outside, at least. Kai gave her an unsure once over.

"How do we know what we're up against?"

"Riku does his jobs well," Angel responded to his question. "He told me that we should be okay, going against them. I'll trust his oppinion."

Kai nodded, 'hn'ed, and went on his way. He would be toward the back, with Angel and his team mates, as they would be the ones to deal with Voltaire and Boris personally.

The next hour was spent in silence, as they would be leaving shortly. The battles would be nearly over, leaving smoldering debris and broken beyblades, wins and losses for both sides. Angel wouldn't be using her beyblade in this fight, as an attempt the week before had been disasterous. She was dying. And there was nothing she could do without abandoning them. The pills had stopped working a week before, at least, that was when she noticed it, and she knew damn well she couldn't fight forever. The deterioration in her health struck her suddenly, however she knew it was to be expected. The second time was always harder than the first. That was why, when she left her office, she had left something behind for them.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Ray said, sauntering away with both Max and Kai on his heels. They would lead a few smaller groups of bladers, then fall back with the self-proclaimed 'big-wigs' of the group.

Once they were alone, Angel lowered herself into her plush leather chair and relaxed in it. She was exhausted. Tala looked over at her, concern flooding his features. "You shouldn't be out there at all. You should be getting help."

"They're going to use me against Kai, and if I'm there in person we stand a better chance."

"And why is that?" Tyson asked, angrily. "They'll just kill you."

She rolled her eyes. "Why the hell would they kill me if I'm dying?" She paused, taking a shaky sip of water. "They like to draw things out, not end them quickly."

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Mina rolled her eyes. Well, she figured, at least the past- well however long it was that she was stuck here, she had lost some weight, not that it ever was an issue. She was always fed well, however when she failed to contribute an answer, she was slapped around. Her grandfather's henchmen must've figured out some secret training program, because they got really strong really quickly.

"Of all the days to choose, I suppose things got to be a little too much for them."

She listened in carefully. After hearing that Alexander had been caught, the dirty spying bastard that he was, she knew it was only a matter of days before she was to be retreived. She just hoped that the rest of the group that was captured was alright. She heard yelling from the floor below and realized that it was indeed her fellow team mates, if you wanted to call them that. Either way, they were on the same side, and they were released. They'd never get to the top floor alive, Voltaire had warned them of that, and he had offered negotiation.

She prayed that they wouldn't trade her for Kai. Angel wouldn't know what to do. She was, unfortunately, the leader. Kai, if he was the leader, which sometimes she wished he was, he would know exactly how to save both of them, or at least how to save her with as little damage to himself as possible. Angel was unpredictable. Not too many people knew about her previous issues. They would easily become her weakness if she wasn't careful.

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Tala looked at Angel, every few seconds. Mind you, he hand never dealt with her at any point in time when he knew she had cancer. When she was in in remission, yes, he had seen that. He had absolutely no idea what was too protective, what was too careless... His mother-hen nature was shining through magnificently, and he knew she didn't want all of it displayed publicly.

"You have to tell us if this is too much for you," Tyson said. Riku looked at him, bewildered, but let it roll of him as a joke said to Angel.

She nodded, her small body braced at all times, as if to keep from shaking like a maraca. "I think that we should take a left at this next door," She said. "My guess."

The attack on the B.B.A.'s ex-headquarters was a success as of late. A few hours ago, they had gotten up to the board room, and thrown around some BioVolt big-wig beybladers who stood no chance. Right now, she was with Tala, Tyson, Enrique, Johnny, Riku, and Robert. The rest of the gang was dealing with small problems. Once Boris was found, their own 'big-wig' beybladers would join up somewhere.

When they opened the door, Angel was surprised to see what she saw. The training room was huge. She'd never been in any training physility like the ones the B.B.A. offered in it's main headquarters. This room was nearly identical to an arena, being a replica of the actual one a few blocks away. It was perhaps a thousand seats smaller, but it was enormous to someone like Angel or Riku, both of whom had never been given the opportunity to compete in large tournaments.

"Holy shit," Riku said, incredulous at the sight before him. Angel nodded. "This is freakin' huge," The boy continued.

Tyson smirked. "One of these days, you'll be battling in the real thing. It's a lot bigger and a lot more exciting. Trust me."

"This place is awesome, though," Angel said. "I would've loved to battle in a place like this." Tala and Tyson looked guilty, though a hidden nudge from the young woman told them not to feel bad.

Tyson reminisced. "This is the place where I first beat Kai all those years ago. Don't tell anyone, but I slammed his ass back in the days when we still had cage matches without the fear of someone getting killed." Angel laughed, along with Johnny and Enrique.

Robert looked around. "Ah yes, I remember seeing that beautiful match on the television back in England," He placed a hand on his hip. "It was quite the upset. We didn't think that some novice out of Japan of all places would've ended up the champion."

There was laughter, to which Tyson growled, "Hey! I could beat your ass now!"

Tala threw his arm out between Tyson and Robert, more for Tyson than for the knight. "Let's save the rematches for after all this." Tyson was given a reprimanding glare, to which he growled, but backed down.

It was strange though, a dimly lit light shone through in the furthest back part of the room. Angel squinted, feeling a little dizzy after, but lucky enough for her, the wall behind her supported her weight while making her look casual. However, she couldn't do this for long, because during her squinting, she made out two figures. They had yet to see her group coming, but she knew that there would be an ambush waiting, even before Mina was brought out by Boris.

"Call Kai and the others," Angel said sharply. "Boris and Mina are up on that platform."

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Boris clicked his tongue against the top of his mouth, waiting patiently for the group that was obviously behind this attack. He had plans this time. More emotional at first, but with a physical reality that none of them could ignore. The man laughed in his usual, maniacal manor.

Mina smirked. "Don't think you've got us beat just yet. You don't know what Angel's got up her sleeve."

The Russian tormentor grinned evilly. "I know exactly what she's got up her sleeve. A list of untold secrets, and some horrific truths that have gone unsaid."

"You won't kill her," The young Hiwatari said defensively. "You can't."

He had known that he had no intention to kill the woman from the start. "Oh no," Boris said finally, "I won't kill her." Silence came over them for the longest time, the barely lit room housing a series of eight high-powered beybladers. "But the cancer will," He finished, too quietly for her to hear. That small scrap of information was of more imortance- not to mention hard hitting- and would be divuldged in front of the group at a point later in time.

The slam and crash of the locked door on the far side of the room alerted Boris, his henchmen, and Mina that her rescuers had arrived. They all piled into the room, leaving the Blitzkrieg Boys, Bladebreakers and Majestics to take on the awaiting henchmen. As fast as those battles had commenced, the combination of power on the side of good was far too much for the henchmen, just as Boris had predicted.

Yep, Boris predicted that he would lose. But he still had Mina, and she was all he needed.

"Well, well, well, I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised to see you all here," The madman stated casually, as if he were a guest welcoming visitors into his home. None of the group were interested in pleasantries.

"Give me back my sister," Kai demanded, his rage and anger written across his face with such hatred that it scared the younger Hiwatari. In the course of her life, if she knew one thing about his brother, when he was angry, he stepped into bad situations.

Mina's eyes locked with Angel's. Had the older girl lost weight? From her point of view, the amethyst-eyed girl believed it to be so. Honestly, Angel didn't look well. Probably fatigue. Tala had an arm against her protectively, as well as Tyson. While it made Mina a tad jealous, she knew that Angel and Tala were nothing more than brother and sister.

Boris pressed a button on a remote that he pulled from his pocket, allowing the cage that had once contained Mina to collapse, leaving her out in the open. The girl tried to run for it, but should've known better, as one of the henchmen from before seemed to materialize from behind her, grabbing her by the throat, and putting her in a good position for a headlock. She felt pressure against her temple- and it was definitely metal, so she decided to hold off on the escape attempts.

"Now, now," The older man said, waving his finger in a way associated with an annoyed school teacher, "If you jump the gun-" He looked to the henchman holding Mina, "Petar here will pull the trigger."

Kai straightened up from the fighting stance he had taken on. Tyson left Angel's side and had gone up closer to Boris, standing next to Kai, and close to the rest of his team. Near them were the Blitzkrieg Boys, leading a group of The Rising's most powerful bladers. They all straightened as well, their grip on their launchers still remaining the same. At any sign of trouble, there would be about thirty beyblades launched. Simultaneously, mind you.

Riku looked to Angel, while Tala kept his arm around her waist as extra support. She got tired quickly these days, though she'd never let anyone show it. "You never should've came here," Tala whispered quietly.

"I had to," She whispered back, "And you know it."

When the two focused on Boris, he was walking slowly through the ranks of beybladers, toward them. However, he stopped before Kai, giving the boy a devious smirk that all wished would be slapped off his face. Kai met his beady-eyed glare, scrutinizing the hell-bound man's eyes.

"I'm not sure," Balkov began, "Who to have say it. Your sister, or Miss Asmerov." A tantalizing smile came across his lips. "It's quite the decision, but I think I will reserve it for your sister."

"Don't you dare hurt her," Kai said angrily.

Boris turned and began his walk back up the stairs leading to the top of the platform. "Oh, it'll hurt you more than it'll hurt you. Nothing physical though, I promise." The burgandy-haired man sauntered to Petar, who held Mina tightly. Boris pulled out a gun, smirking as Petar fired his at the ceiling. The group cringed at the noise, but no damage was made.

"That asshole!" Tala growled. "That gun wasn't even loaded!"

"That one is," Angel said, as Boris now held the girl firmly around the waist. She looked around, trying to decide if there was an angle from which to catch the man off guard and get Mina out of his grasp. So far, she saw no openings that she could reach, much less Tala. Her beyblade and launcher were still attached to her belt, though she would be of no use with it. If she appeared without her blade, they would obviously know something was up.

Mina looked out at the group. She could practically see the gears grinding in Angel's head. Unfortunately Mina saw no opening either. Though together, the duo had probably concluded that this was the moment of truth.

Which it was, of course, but Boris, surprisingly, knew more than thought.

"I'll make you all a deal."

"Not interested," Bryan said. Boris' deals were lies. Any type of reasoning used with him was always and forever a lie.

Boris laughed heartily, pressing the gun against Mina's temple gently. She could feel the cold metal against her. "No, you might want to hear this." He stopped. "Well, since I'm the one holding the gun, I believe you will listen to this." Mina braced herself for the words she knew she would hear.

"Miss Asmerov has a secret she has neglected to tell you all." He looked directly at Kai, who looked to Angel, whose glare was hard. She was handling rather well, considering. although, she had handled rather well the last time as well. He wouldn't have known if it wasn't for those meddling doctors he had to fire- er, kill. Boris' lips played into a brilliant smile. "I'm sure some of you know it," He looked at Tala, "but for those of you who don't, I'm sure Miss Hiwatari here would love to inform you."

Mina gulped, looking at Angel, who nodded to her, a delicate smile gracing her pale face. If Angel was okay with it, so would Mina. Boris continued. "You see, all of you were told that Mina had once had cancer, after all, that is why she was kicked out of the Abbey almost a decade ago. But what you didn't understand, is why she was alive, after all this time, without even an ounce of remorse for the pain she has put you all through." Mina closed her eyes, feeling them flutter.

She had felt remorse. Every day of her life, she knew it would eventually lead up to this. "Anyway, Mina, your brother and his friends made an astounding discovery. The BioVolt Mainframe had your files messed up. You had traded with someone the day you were dismissed, didn't you? Afterall, the doctors never knew the difference between the children at the Abbey, did they? No. Answer this: did someone else tell those doctors they were you?"

Mina nodded. "Yes," she said, her voice as strong as she could muster. "I did."

Kai looked as though he had been punched in the stomach. That was how she had cheated death? She lied? Why would she do that? She could've told them- no, he remrimanded himself. It would've been too risky. Someone could've found out.

"Now, I'm sure you all are wondering just who would do something so heroic, aren't you?"

Mina growled. She prayed that they'd put it together, but no, they were too clouded by anger. Any outburst by her would probably get herself killed, so she couldn't risk that either. She watched as the group nodded, all at different times. All except Angel, who was quietly weaving her way to the front of the group, Tala in tow.

"Well, Mina, why don't you tell them?" He forced a little more pressure on her temple. "Tell them who really had cancer-"

"A-"

Boris moved the hand around her waist so that it covered her mouth. The smile she was given was horrific. He continued. "Tell them who really had cancer..." He paused for dramatic effect, now that Mina wouldn't interrupt, "and still does."

Well there went everything. Mina broke out into tears, which made the Russian man backhand her with the gun, causing her to fall to the floor. "I suggest you answer them," He reminded her, as she stood up, her amethyst eyes accentuated by uncommon tears. "They're waiting," He said, tapping his foot impatiently.

Angel closed her eyes and stepped to the front of group, leaving Tala beside Tyson and Kai. "It's alright," Angel cooed, like a mother talking to her child. "You can tell them."

Boris turned the gun from Mina to Angel. "Don't think I won't kill you either!" He boomed. Angel smirked as Mina took off at a sprint, silently getting away from her captor, who was too concerned with the smile that blossomed on the raven haired girl's face as she tucked a red streaked strand of hair behind her ears.

The Russian female laughed. Laughed aloud. Angel thought this was funny, did she? Boris realized his mistake, firing the gun so that the bullet hit the step Mina was about to hit, causing her to freeze. She didn't stop though, praying that Boris had only one bullet on him.

"I'm dying Boris," Angel said, holding her arms out. Mina quickly rushed to her brother, hugging him tightly. She knew that she was crying, and judging by his shaking, so was he. It seemed impossible, didn't it. "If you were to shoot me now, you'd be doing me a favor." Kai's eyes widened. "Go ahead Mina, tell them."

Mina stared at Angel. Had she lost her mind? "A-Angel," She said, the one word having the utmost difficulty leaving her mouth. Mina couldn't honestly believe it. Angel had cancer? Again?

Boris smirked. "Your 'Maffia' seems shocked, so tell me, how much do you weigh now? Ninety pounds?" He twirled the gun in his hands, letting it rest so that the end firing the bullet would blow her head right off. "You've lied to all of them. According to my information-" The name Alexander flickered through the heads of all those informed, mainly Tyson and Tala, the only two not too surprised by any of this, "Your time on this Earth was to be expired a month ago."

Tyson and Tala stared at her. "How did you-"

Angel nodded, looking at her appauled team mates. She looked at Kai the longest, her eyes pleading him to meet them. She saw the tear stains he had tried desperately to hide. "Why didn't you tell us?" He asked, and she closed her eyes, then opened them quickly.

"Because I knew I was needed here." She looked at Boris. "You've never accounted, in your life, for miracles. In the lives like those of the people standing behind me, they see miracles all the time. Me? I'm a miracle. I have no idea how the hell I'm standing, but I do know one thing: I will fight you until they put me in the ground."

The bladers around her watched as she raised her right arm, as if a battle cry were about to be made. Around them, she saw the henchmen. There seemed to be hundreds of them. She smirked victoriously. "Meet The Rising, Balkov. The light will always conquer the dark."

"That's what you think," Boris said, nodding his head to send out an order. "Get her."

With henchmen surrounding them, the group knew they had one option left. "Let it rip!"

Commencing now, was the battle of the ages. All others given that title were quickly forgotten, as it seemed to be a thousand against fifty. The group fighting on the side of good stood in a circle, promising only to move out. No one would be admitted into their circle. The battle was difficult, and one by one, bladers began to fall. These henchmen had been trained to beyblade; All of them used cyber bit beasts, of the likes of which none of them had ever seen. Those creatures didn't feel, but the Rising sure felt it.

Meanwhile, a group of henchmen especially designed to catch the leader of the operation- it wasn't hard, she thought , after all, she had lost like thirty pounds. They brought her to Boris, releasing her as one of them handed him a new gun, in exchange for his own.

"You didn't think I was going to kill you," He said, his voice coming to her above the loudness of the battle. "You were wrong," he said, raising the gun level with her heart. "I'll see you in Hell," he said, as he pulled the trigger. Angel's mind froze, but quickly resorted back to action. She moved quickly, crying out in pain as the bullet grazed her arm. Oh God, she thought, she would die from that. She'd never stop bleeding.

The group fighting had heard the gunshot, but there was nothing they could do, for the events happening beyond the circle of henchmen were clouded by the oversized bit beasts.

Closing her eyes, she felt icy tears pool up as she began to shake. She then opened them, glaring at Boris with the most piercing jade eyes he would ever see. She held up her beyblade, extending it so that the Russian man could see the bit chip glow red, as the light came rushing toward him, in the form of a phoenix. Angel screamed it's name, beckoning it to take form. "TAIYDRA!"

Never before had any of them ever seen such a spectacle. Out of nowhere came a black phoenix. Their first instincts told them it was Black Dranzer- but they saw the crown of red and realized whose bit beast it was. They had seen it only a few times, however, it was definitely Angel's bit beast. They hadn't heard her yell, however.

It streaked in a large circle, obliterating the opposing cyber bit beasts. The last thing the accumulated members of The Rising remembered before all went black was a pair of crying jade eyes.

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