STOP.
IMPORTANT AUTHOR STUFF ALERT.
As of 14.Sept.07, there has been a MAJOR reshuffling of the earlier chapters. Chapters "Zero-One" and "Zero-Two" have been merged, which means that every chapter prior to this update has been moved forwards by one chapter. Ch.3 is now 2, 5 is now 4, and so on.
If you are accessing this chapter via an AUTHOR ALERT or STORY ALERT, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you go back one chapter. Why? Because there's two new chapters at once, this one and "Zero-Six"! "Zero-Seven"won't make sense unless you do!
So don't say I didn't warn you, okay? ;
X X X
Did you read the author's note? ): I hope you did.
X X X
Switchblade Beta: Zero-Seven.
X X X
It's on one of the screens overhead that a countdown has begun. Both competitors have their launchers at the ready so that when the Referee finally blows his whistle, the Beyblades fly through the air like twins, landing safely in the dish. The cheers rise to a deafening roar, but Kai's not joining in. They could be rioting for all he cares, because for the next few minutes, Kai's world has shrunk down to what lies in the centre of the stadium floor: a Beydish, two fighters, and their Bitbeasts.
He's always been attuned to Black Dranzer in a way that he doesn't really understand, but doesn't care to question. Kai has simply figured that because of his own Dranzer, he's more aware of the powers that other Dranzers have; the same way that Rei's more attentive to Hiro's Metal Driger than anyone else's. Other than his own Bitbeast, of course.
So in the instant that the referee's whistle blows and Black Dranzer skids across the ground, chill spreads though his whole body. Kai can feel it - Black Dranzer is furious and fighting the hand that commands it. Rei's soft hiss is enough to tell Kai that he can tell, too. It's good, and it's bad, because it means that Rei hasn't lost his touch.
It also means that Black Dranzer's on the brink of being out of control.
The dark Beyblade - even more distinct against its white opponent - skids up the side of the miniature volcano fast enough to cut a deep trench in its wake. Furlimoth can't keep up, and takes refuge at the top of a small palm tree. For Black Dranzer, it's an easy target, flinging off the side of the volcano to strike it into the sand of the fake beach. It's a cruel strike and Furlimoth recovers badly.
Kai grits his teeth, watching for Tai's next move. There's an arm gesture that he knows is familiar: the BioVolt's silent signal for 'kill'.
As though pre-empting the command, Black Dranzer has already begun to move by skirting around the little island, picking up speed on the edge of the Beydish. An unnatural wind's picked up in the stadium, tearing at everyone's hair and clothes as though trying to pull it all into the Beydish. It only drives the audience wilder, amazed at the power they're seeing, but not realising that it's created by one Beyblade, not two.
Kai's still studying the fight intently, arms folded but sitting forward where he's afforded a clear view. Though much of the watching world would never be able to tell the difference, it's clear to him that Black Dranzer is fighting this battle for itself.
Then he sees Tai, and forgets completely about the part where this is a tournament.
Tai, the BioVolt minion, looks nothing like the proud, almost arrogant teen he encountered less than a half hour ago. He's leaning heavily to one side as though it takes all the strength in the world to stay on his feet. He's watching his own Beyblade with a deep scowl; Kai remembers the feeling vividly. It's as though every beat of your own heart is put into trying to get the black Beyblade to do as commanded, but every passing second makes it more difficult to persevere. It takes a frightening amount of strength and as Tai's face turns paler and paler, Kai finds himself hoping this battle will end swiftly.
The Beyblading world doesn't need to lose another good fighter, questionable Bitbeast or otherwise.
Furlimoth is still floundering in the sand, and never stands a chance when Black Dranzer comes in for the kill shot. The Phoenix is in the air and then it's hitting the less powerful Bitbeast in a dead bullseye.
Abigail's Beyblade shatters on impact and her defeated cry rings around the Stadium. There's a stunned silence then the stadium erupts. Whistles, claps, jeers and cheers: the crowd has split in two, but Kai is ignoring that.
Black Dranzer hasn't returned to Tai yet, even though doing so is a traditional exit for the victor. Instead, it's begun to zigzag madly back and forth across the dish, looping around the volcano and the beach in sporadic loops. It is gravitating closer to Tai, like a true beast challenging the enemy with intimidation.
Kai notes with interest that Tai's straightened, drawing himself up in readiness to meet the attack. The rest of the crowd has gone quiet again too, entranced by this Bitbeast acting like it's after another fight - with a human.
He's not sure if Rei's still watching. It can't be afforded, but Kai wants to spare a glance in his direction. He settles for a gentle elbow nudge.
"I know," his friend murmurs in answer.
Black Dranzer circles around the side of the Beydish one more time, then slings out and towards Tai, rocketing through the air like a bullet and carrying the same intent: to harm. Kai can feel Rei flinch next to him.
Tai catches Black Dranzer one-handed, like it's what he meant to do all along.
For a long time there isn't a sound in the stadium. There are no cheers, or whistles. There's no foghorns or catcalls. The entire audience is silent, not daring to so much as clap. It's as though they are waiting for the next part of the performance: for Tai to speak, for Dranzer to react… anything. Kai can feel the tension in his friend and wonders if he's caught up in it too.
Whilst thousands of people wait, Kai is watching the young man from a different angle. He knows from experience just how sharp Black Dranzer's attack ring is, with the scars on his hands to prove it. His fingers flex with the memory, gripping Dranzer tightly. Somehow the Beyblade has made it into his hands, even though he doesn't remember pulling it out of his pocket in the first place.
The crowd cannot hold its breath any longer and bursts into a furore of noise. Every sound that was absent a moment ago is brought to life tenfold. The noise is deafening, but Tai doesn't respond. Whilst thousands of people are on their feet all around him, Kai is still studying the Blader. As he steps down from the Beydish and turns to make his exit, the world's second-best-Blader finally sees the evidence that Tai is human.
The fingers gripping Black Dranzer are slick and gleaming with moisture under the stadium lights. As he walks back the way he came, tiny red droplets of blood hit the ground in his wake.
Kai wonders if he's the only one who can see what the catch has cost him.
X X X
After the heat of the stadium floor, it was a relief to step into the quieter, darker atmosphere of the walkway. The Blader known as Tai waited until he was safely out of sight from the fans, before sagging against the wall. Slowly, he slid down to the ground, back leaning gratefully against the cool cement wall. Tipping his head back to rest it, Tai vowed to stay there until his heart stopped racing and he had the strength to stand again.
That was, until a quiet 'ahem' reached him. His eyes snapped open and although he didn't straighten, every muscle in Tai's body was immediately on the alert. Looking deeper into the hall, he saw the source immediately - Boris.
Closing his eyes again, Tai asked slowly, "What is it?" Every word took effort to speak properly and not simply let the sounds slur together.
"Where is Black Dranzer?" Boris asked, hooking his cane over one arm. For the first time, Tai realised that the lackey - the one with the case - stood beside the older man. He doubted that Boris had been tipped off - he'd come down for another reason, but Black Dranzer was obviously a higher priority than that.
He looked down to his hands, at the dark Beyblade that was slick around the edges with blood. "It's right here," Tai answered dully. He made to get up, but by the time he'd gotten his feet under him the lackey stood in the way, holding out the case. Obligingly, he put reached up and put the Beyblade on the velvet.
As the boy retreated - to go put it away, he supposed - Boris moved forward to take his place.
Doing his best to ignore a certain sense of doom, Tai examined the cuts on his hand before looking up to his mentor. "Black Dranzer's getting worse," he said flatly.
"The word is stronger. All it means is that you're getting weaker."
Tai couldn't help the irritated look. "It's my fault the thing nearly tried to kill me?"
"We did not have this problem at the start of the program. If it no longer views you as master - "
"It has never acted like I am the master," he snapped out, interrupting the growing speech.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the cane whipped through the air. Tai barely got out of the way in time, the end of it thudding against the wall where his head had been less than a second earlier.
"You forget your place, boy," Boris hissed. "So I will remind you of it. We leave for Russia tomorrow, and when we return to the Abbey, you will double your training." He stepped back and turned to walk away. "We'll see if you remember to hold your tongue when you're too tired to think, hm?"
As the 'click---click' rhythm faded down the hall, Tai released the breath he'd been holding and slumped back against the wall. He had no wish to continue the Tournament, much less compete in the Russia-hosted finals. Black Dranzer was almost beyond his control… something that extra training sessions would not help.
If only he had the will to defy.
X X X
In the space of thirty seconds, I've gone rip-roaring deaf, I'm certain of it. From all sides the crowd is caught in absolute euphoria; the noise that they are generating is like nothing I've heard in years. There was a time when I would have been one of them, no question: back when the BladeBreakers dominated the Beyblade world and every match ended this way.
Then again, I've been out of the loop for a long time. Maybe this is still the norm.
I've been watching Kai from the corner of my eye throughout the match, and it's obvious he's deaf to the world around him. I can't help the resigned sigh: it's so typical of him.
The board overhead is displaying the victor - Tai - in an obnoxious show of lights and flashing words, whilst a red "X" stamps itself over Abigail's picture. The poor girl is still sitting on the edge of the Beydish, broken pieces of her Beyblade cupped in her hands. The coach and an official are approaching from the side, ready to coax her out of the stadium.
It's a situation I would have liked to follow with no small amount of interest, but Kai's suddenly on his feet. I follow without even thinking about it. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he answers distractedly. I'm not sure if it's because he's lying, or if he's still thinking about the fight we just witnessed - and Black Dranzer's attack on its owner. I'm not fooled; Tai was lucky to catch it.
"You're lying," I tell him firmly.
Kai glances to me as though he's only just realised I'm there. The look of surprise is unsual for someone who's normally so contained. I grin, enjoying the moment. "What's wrong?" I repeat.
He stares for a little longer, but something's different about the way he's looking at me. Finally, he looks out across the crowd before answering, "We should go before the crowd quietens."
My frown's immediate. "But -"
"Do you really want to be set on by all these people?" he asks, cutting me off with a gesture to the crowd around us - the crowd who is still on its feet, going mad.
My shoulders slump in defeat. Kai has a point, there. The media will know we're here, and they'll be waiting for us… if we aren't, as Kai put it, 'set on' by fans first. We managed to get through the plane flight without too much hassle; I'm not looking to break the track record. "Alright," I concede at last.
"Then let's go." Kai brushes past me, faultlessly navigating his way past the people who are all but jumping on their seats. I'm not nearly so graceful in following, but that's exactly why I stay a few steps behind - so he doesn't see.
We jog up the stairs to the top of the stands, and slip out the big, double doors. From there it's smooth sailing: with all modern Beyblade Stadiums having a largely uniform design, it's easy to find the fastest path to the exit. Even away from the central arena, the noise caused by the crowd is phenomenal, and it echoes dimly through the halls that we're tracing our way through. It's growing fainter and then from somewhere overhead there's a series of clicking noises as the doors are opened to let them all out of the stadium. A lot like water breaking a dam, the sound of an excited crowd reaches us all over again. I glance to Kai, but he's not concerned.
I take that to mean he's confident we won't be caught up to by them, but I can't relax. Maybe it's because of the hyper-awareness that comes with tension, or perhaps it's because my hearing is naturally good. Whatever the reason, we haven't gone much further before I hear the sound of people approaching. It isn't until I hear the whirr-click of a camera that my feet stop.
Kai comes to a halt only a step after me, turning with a frown. "Kon?"
Listening for confirmation, the jingle of bag straps tells me that we're about to have an unwanted kind of company. "They must have realised we left early," I mutter to my friend.
It only takes Kai a moment to realise what I'm talking about and then he's turned around, walking firmly the other way. I follow immediately, glancing over my shoulder at the approaching noise.
"We need to hide," he mutters, turning up the very same stairwell we've just come down from.
"- Kai! We can't go that way!" Patrons would be coming this way any minute, and against sports paparazzi they weren't what I would consider the lesser of two evils.
"It'll be alright," he answers confidently. Reaching the top, he takes two strides towards the wall - towards a door I never realised was there. He doesn't wait for me to catch up, pulling it open and slipping inside. Without a thought, I follow.
And find myself in a very small, very dark space… one that's much to small for two people.
"Where the hell are we?" I ask, turning in a circle. I can't see a thing and have no idea which side Kai is on.
"Broom cupboard." It's a disembodied voice that answers, so close to my ear that I jump. Whirling around in that direction, my arm hits him - I try taking a step back and instead almost trip over a mop-and-bucket combo.
Kai catches my arm before I can fall over, pulling me back up with enough strength to tug me right up against him. For the briefest of moments, I'm ensconced by the warmth he generates, the sound of his breath over one shoulder and the strangely gentle touch he has on my arm.
He holds until I've got my balance back. "Thanks," I mumble, and he lets go quickly.
"Don't mention it." Kai's tone tells me that he's dismissed it already. I'm not entirely sure how to take it, so I say nothing else.
Deciding to keep a hand on the wall for safety, I sigh and decide to break the silence. "If they find us, you better have a really good excuse --"
"Shh."
I clamp my mouth shut obediently. For the first time, it occurs to me that I've started listening to him too much for my own good. Kai may not pass out orders without an excellent reason behind it, but he's not my coach anymore… or my team mate.
The sound of people running comes closer; I can feel Kai tense. From the sound of voices bantering back and forth, or tossing information, I count five - maybe six - individuals. The moment when they're right across from the door is when they're loudest. Neither Kai or I breathe, even when their voices fade as they move further away. Kai's plan has worked, but we hold our breath for at least another minute.
By then, a new noise has started - the sound of a thousand excited fans streaming out from the nearest stairwell, funnelled through the stadium by bright signage, officials, and the general understanding that all stadiums are the same.
"Damnit," I mutter.
We're going to be here for a while. I wouldn't mind so much, if I knew where the hell Kai was in here.
X X X
It's a full hour before we can be safely assured that the flood has slowed to an insignificant trickle. Even then, we only take baby steps down the hall until we're sure that the coast is clear. After standing in the dark for so long (we never found the light switch) everything has a strange too-bright quality to it. My eyes are streaming, though Kai doesn't seem affected.
This time we move a lot faster than before, trotting down steps only when we know the hallway is clear. Kai seems to be hell bent on taking every shortcut he knows, until I've almost completely lost my sense of direction.
At last we burst out of one of the stadium's side doors and into the bright, warm sunlight. The boulevard is still as busy as it was before, but no-one looks twice as Kai and myself carefully merge with the flow of pedestrian traffic.
Kai hasn't said much since he hid us both in that cupboard and like always, I wonder what he's thinking when he's silent, even if I'm not game enough to ask. Thus it is that we continue on quietly, until I find myself rubbing my forehead tiredly. "It's time for coffee," I tell my friend in a mutter.
Strangely, he comes to a stop. As I look up, I realise that he's gesturing to a vendor that stands only a few metres in front of us. "I thought it might be," Kai answers.
Realising that we're at a the exact place I want to be, I throw him the same accusing look that I used on the plane - he knows me better than I thought. Choosing to dismiss it with a shake of my head, I step forwards to order. Kai follows automatically but doesn't throw anything in for himself.
Pocketing my change and moving off to the side to wait for a straight black, I can't help but lapse into thought. The match we witnessed, although having a predictable outcome, was nothing short of incredible. The memory alone of Black Dranzer's power is enough to send a shiver down my spine, especially in this early-afternoon winter sun.
"Hey, Kai," I begin, turning to face him. "Where…"
Kai's gone. I turn to the other side immediately, but he's not there either. I turn in a circle, now scanning every nearby person with sudden worry. 'The Great Hiwatari', although independent and unpredictable, knows a few basic things about communication - like telling someone that you're walking away, whether for a little or a long time.
So why would he just.., vanish?
I turn one more time, my heart slowly sinking as I realise that he's not there… at all. All kinds of questions come to mind - did he say something and I just didn't hear it? If not, why didn't he say something? Was he told not to? By who? What if he left of his own choice? Why would he do that?
You're being irrational, I tell myself, even if I'm not going to listen. The vendor signals that my cup is ready, and collecting it absently, there's a new depth of comfort in holding the hot polystyrene that has nothing to do with the winter air.
The first time that Kai showed up unexpectedly, outside of a Stadium, I had coffee. He led me to this place… Not just to the coffee, but to New York, to this world of suspicions and guesses about BioVolt's intentions.
Maybe if I stand right here, with this coffee, he'll come back.
Until he does, I want nothing else.
So I stand and I wait, scanning the passing crowd constantly - and then, a flash of blue catches my attention. I perk up, ready to approach the male whom it belongs to… only to recognise it's Hiro... coming this way. I frown at this: what is the Chairman doing out here? I'm so caught up in questioning it that I don't realise he's not alone until the very last minute.
With a sudden thrill I realise that Kai is back, a step behind and a little to the left of Hiro. I straighten up and break into the first real grin (albeit filled with relief) since I encountered him in Japan. My reward is a slight smile of his own. It's not much by the world's standards, but that's still a lot for him.
I almost lost him, so I should be pissed… but I can't do that when I can't stop smiling, even when the two of them are close enough to reach out and touch.
"Where did you go?" I ask, skipping over the miscellaneous greetings and pleasantries.
"I needed to talk to Hiro," He answers, arms folding easily now that he's come to a stop.
I huff at that, and to my best to avoid sounding sulky. "A little warning would be nice."
"Then I will warn you next time," Kai concedes. "At the moment, though, Hiro has something for us," he adds, with a nod in the Chairman's direction.
I eye the folder he's holding with suspicion. "… Us?"
"Yep. I got Max and Kenny to dig up everything they could, on our friend Tai. His history, his stats, his Bitbeast," Hiro answers, passing the folder to Kai, "Everything from the colour of his eyes to how many freckles he has."
I frown. It's an awful lot of attention for someone who just happens to have a powerful Beyblade, BioVolt minion or not. "Why?"
"Because if we're going to get him on our side, and get Black Dranzer back, we need to know everything about him," Kai answers absently. He's opened the folder already.
"You do this with all your friends?" I ask Hiro cooly. The older man has the grace to look sheepish.
"You missed something," Kai says suddenly, looking up from the data he's been engrossed with.
"What?" Both Hiro and myself ask it at the same time, but our voices blend together and it sounds the same.
Kai's red eyes blink at us before he answers calmly, "How long he's been with BioVolt."
Hiro shrugs helplessly. "Well, his records don't go very far back, but it's stated in several places that he's been there since he was a kid -"
"Hiro, I was there as a kid. I can tell you that he was not."
Taking a sip from my coffee, I decide to throw in two cents to what appears to be a growing debate. "BioVolt doesn't have more than one facility?"
Kai's sigh comes from limited patience. He's an excellent teacher - but I know how he hates being questioned. "Look. At the earliest opportunity, Boris and Voltaire single out their most promising Bladers - the ones who will make up their elite fighters, to lead teams or infiltrate other ones. I was one of them, for a time - and in that time, we went all over the world, to every training facility to cross-examine every scenario. I might've been a kid at the time, but I can tell you that until he appeared this year, I have never seen him before."
It's a lot of words for someone who doesn't normally talk - both Hiro and I recognise this, with a quiet glance to each other. "So you think it's a lie," Hiro says.
Kai's eyes narrow. "I know it's a lie."
I shake my head, interjecting again. "So he joined them after you left, or maybe he was just really young at the time."
Hiro's got a calculating look on his face. "If they train their best from a young age… why would they waste their time acquiring older Bladers?" he asks, but it's in a murmur and not directed at either of us.
"Because he was exceptionally good…" Kai answers anyway, flicking another page in the folder. "Even before becoming one of theirs. That's the only possible reason."
I'm sure there is more on his mind than just these strung out thoughts, but I can't make myself call him on it. Finally, he shuts the folder with a 'fwap'. "I'm going to Battle him," he says decisively.
"A street challenge?" Hiro tilts his head. "That'll draw a lot of attention."
Kai snorts lightly - an obvious no. I watch him as he studies the printed name on the front of the folder. "I'm going to fight him in the Exhibition Match," he says, looking up to Hiro and me. "Instead of you."
My jaw wants to hit the ground, and Hiro's silent for all of three seconds before spluttering a protest that is destined to fall on deaf ears.
It's obvious that Kai is not going to leave this up for debate. He ignores Hiro's protests, turning away with the folder still in his hands. In three steps he's vanished completely into the crowd. I've always said that he's too damn good at hiding, although it suits him perfectly to do so.
My heart's sinking again. "That's Kai for you," I mutter.
Hiro throws me a dark look as I take a fresh swig of coffee, but doesn't disagree.
X X X
To be continued.