Hey everyone! Sorry i haven't updated in a reaaaaallly long time. I've been terribly busy and i had writer's block (need to read more story books and watch more anime) but I've lengthened the chapter to make it up to you guys. Hope you like it! As for the next update, hopefully i have the time but i'll try my best :)
Chapter 60------In the Rain
"Riya? Riya open up!" Mai rang the doorbell several times. When there was no answer, she proceeded to try Drex's room but got the same response, which was…well…no response. 'Where could they be at this hour?' Mai was getting frustrated. Everyone seemed to be keeping things from her. Was she the only person who didn't deserve to know what the hell was going on? The boys had run off, Riya and the rest weren't around, 'Wait!' The girl put two and two together, 'what if—?'
Mai headed for the lift, the search had just got more urgent. 'Those two only get together for one reason.' She had to find them and find them quick, before one party gets hurt.
-Park-
The thunder rumbled overhead and the rain beat harder on the teenagers' heads as they watched with bated breath. It was about to start.
"3!" Riya fitted his beyblade onto his launcher.
"2!"
"1!"
"LET IT RRRIIIIIPPPP!" Both boys shouted in unison and pulled their ripcords. Their beyblades landed on the ground, spurting rainwater as they zigzagged through the puddles. Dranzer and Alzea collided in one big bang that sent Riya and Kai's feet sliding backwards. –BANG! - Again the shockwaves rippled, shaking the trees and hitting the rest like a blast of loud music from a speaker. –BANG! - Everyone turned away as another round of shockwaves hit them.
'If this goes on any longer…I'm gonna have a mega headache!" Max shielded his face as the wave hit him, fluffing up his hair as it ran through the golden locks.
Kai knew they had to stop tackling each other. The impact of the shockwaves would be enough to wear them out if it carried on for too long. "Dranzer, evade!" The dark blue beyblade sped to the farthest end of the playground with Alzea hot on its heels. Dranzer continued its evasive manoeuvres, trying its best to avoid even the slightest scrape by Alzea. They raced between the lamp posts, up the see-saw and down the other side.
"Tsk!" Riya was starting to get very annoyed. He had heard great things about Kai, about how he could destroy his opponents in one fell swoop. But all Kai was doing now was running away! The damn guy was a coward! "Time to stop playing games…ALZEA! GREY WIND!" The green phoenix shot out of Riya's beyblade and soared high into the sky, extending its brilliant wings to maximum length. It enclosed its feathery arms around its body, giving off a pale-green radiance. Instantaneously, a clone formed and both birds swooped down for the inevitable attack against an unsuspecting Dranzer. The light blue blades rammed against Dranzer, locking it between them and drilling at its attack ring like a buffing machine.
'Dranzer!'
When Dranzer turned right, Riya's blades turned right. When Dranzer turned left, they'd turn left as well. Or more likely…it was Alzea that was controlling Dranzer's movement!
"GET OUT OF THERE!" Kai yelled.
Riya smirked, "As you wish." The light blue blades dispersed and stood spinning in line with Dranzer. 'What? He's not attacking?' Kai gritted his teeth. Riya was making him look like a fool. The boy knew when to attack and when to hold back, he was making Kai look like an inexperienced hot-head. And then it struck him. 'Riya knows everything… He already knows everything about this battle! That's why he can afford to control himself! That's why he can battle as he likes without having to worry about his opponent! Because…because he knows he'll definitely win!'
"Shit…" Kai muttered under his breath. Riya read him perfectly. If he changed his battle strategy, would Riya see that coming too? "Shit…." He cursed again. What a predicament he was in.
By now, Dranzer was being treated like a pinball being knocked and jostled about by Alzea and its clone. "What is he DOING? KAI! STOP FOOLING AROUND!" Tyson shouted angrily. "I KNOW THAT!" the Russian snapped. So now his team mates didn't think he was doing his best? Pfft! But Kai knew he had to try, no matter what, he had to make himself unpredictable. Even if it meant…using that.
"ALZEA!"
The green phoenix swiped at Dranzer with its sharp talons, ripping out some feathers in the process. Kai took every blow and fell to the muddy floor. Despite the bruises and rips in his garment, he'd endure all the pain and humiliation. For nothing, nothing was going to prepare Riya for what he was about to do next.
The boy stood up shakily. No surprise there, Riya knew he wouldn't give in so easily. It was better this way, now he could have more fun with him. Alzea charged in for another attack, unwilling to give its opponent any time to recover. But Dranzer, despite its losing streak, managed to dodge it skilfully. This didn't go unnoticed and Riya shot a look at Kai, 'That guy…'
'That guy' was just standing there, eyes shaded by his wet bangs. He neither moved, not even a flex of his finger, nor paid any attention to the battle. Something was different. The Kai now…was not the Kai before. Riya braced himself. The real battle was about to begin.
"I'll show you…" a red aura shone around Kai, 'the real me.' His gaze penetrated through his fringe and shot at Riya like an arrow through the heart. "DRAAANZEERR!" Red and yellow streams of energy pierced through the storm clouds with Dranzer soaring high into the air. "FLAME GENESIIISSSS!" With a shrill cry, a blast of flames rained down on the beybladers below…
-Wherever Mai is-
Mai made her way to the top of the tower. She was wet and cold and her shoes were drenching the carpet but she didn't care if anybody stopped her. Hell, she'd push anybody who stood in her way. The window! She had to get to the window!
Mai pressed herself against the cold glass and stared out at the vast urban skyline. 'WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?' She chewed her lip in desperation. Somewhere, a battle was being fought. Somewhere, someone was getting hurt. Somewhere, something terrible could happen… She banged a fist on the glass, "Where ARE you?" Her eyes searched every part of the city, from the forest of buildings, to the harbour, the quiet residential areas to the—and that's when she saw it. Not too far from where she was, something shot up in the air: an orange light, one that most probably belonged to a bit-beast.
She bolted for the lift.
'GUYS!'
'RIYA!'
-Back to the park-
Blazing red feathers plunged to the ground, stabbing the earth. No one was spared from the cloud of raging fire that fell from the sky, not even the Bladebreakers themselves. The orange monster engulfed the whole area, spreading to the edge of the forest where its fiery tongue lapped at the barren trees. The fire ignited everything that stood in its path and not even the rain could subdue its persistent embers.
"RIYA!" Drex shouted through the chaos. Amidst the flames, he managed to keep one eye open to survey the situation, which didn't look all too good at the moment. Everywhere, the fires burned and everyone hacked terribly on the thick smoke which cloaked their bodies. He stumbled his way around, shouting, calling out for his friend "RIYAA!"
And then a tiny voice wove through the clamorous inferno and instantly the fire was gone! Everything had been thrown into the way it was before, as though Dranzer's attack had never happened at all.
Kai stood as stiff as a rabbit caught in headlights, looking as perplexed as hell. The fire! Where had the fire gone? It'd seemed like a minute of illusion…He blinked hard and refocused his vision, 'No! It can't be! I swear I summoned the attack!' But his eyes were not deceiving him: it was still raining, the trees were still standing and a few metres away the beyblades stood spinning. Further back Copellia was comforting Mit-chan and the Bladebreakers were…
The pitter-patter of the rain filled his ears.
It was still raining…
Still raining……
Sti—
A jolt of pain exploded in his head. Kai cried out in agony and collapsed on his hands, squeezing his eyes shut in futile attempts to ameliorate the pain. Drop by drop, the rain fell, blooming into tiny crystal flowers as it smashed onto the ground. But among them, a red flower appeared. Slowly, another bloomed, then another. And then two more!
The boy felt a warm sensation slithering down his shoulder and cautiously opened his eyes. The red on the ground reflected the red in his eyes and he came to a horrifying conclusion. Timidly, he lifted a hand to touch his shoulder. His palm was painted red, redder than the Grand Canyon, redder than roses, redder than anything he had ever seen in his life— the garish metallic colour of his own blood.
"You lose," an unfamiliar voice came from behind.
And suddenly he could hear everything! The frantic shouts coming from his friends, the rumbling of the thunder, the howling of the wind, the pounding in his head…
"KAAI!"
"KAI!" Tyson twisted in his captor's grip, "KAI!"
But Drex, Copellia and Mit-chan held them back. There was no way to help him now. He was a lost cause. Eden had gotten to him. It was too late…
Eden stood behind his fallen opponent, watching, waiting; like how a black widow waits for its prey to succumb to the poison…and then die. He broke into a devilish grin seeing how he so easily triumphed over these filthy creatures. Once they held his fate in their hands, but not anymore. Not. Any. More. "Weaklings," Eden sneered and turned around to walk away. His job was done here.
Just a few feet away, the sound of rubber soles grinding against soil made him stop in his tracks. His smile glinted in the darkness.
"It's…not over yet."
Kai struggled to stand up, his right hand squeezing his injured shoulder to stop the bleeding. "Our blades are still spinning," he spoke through clenched teeth as though it hurt enough to even utter a word. "It's not over yet."
"Kai…" The Bladebreakers watched as their friend staggered forward. It was unbelievable that Kai could still stand after that attack but challenging Eden again? How lucky can one guy get? He was asking for a death wish! But none of them said anything. They knew Kai; the guy could push his limit's limits!
Eden cocked his head back, revealing his devious smile, "You want to die that badly?" Kai stared back with fierce red eyes. Eden took his time to return to the battleground, hopefully his lack of urgency would quicken the pest's demise but unfortunately for him, Kai still stood as sturdy as a rock. He had to admit, the guy had courage. The foolish kind of course.
The Russian's red orbs remained unwavering despite the danger looming before him. Eden narrowed his eyes at this; Kai showed no trace of fear or trepidation. Why wasn't he intimidated? Why wasn't he cowering in fear? WHY? "Sono me wa kirai da (I don't like those eyes," Eden spat. Kai still held his gaze, mentally numbing himself of the pain that stung his shoulder. Eden's patience was growing thin. It was no fun toying with prey that refused to fight back, especially one showing him a dirty attitude. He'd make this one slow and painful…
The brunette shut his eyes, taking in a long breath and exhaling gradually. He concentrated on drawing out the power within, the power coursing through his veins. He'd condense it into one final attack, one attack that would blow them away…
…One attack that would end everything.
Kai and the rest watched as a white light framed Riya's body. "Run," Drex said sharply as he tugged on Rei's arm.
"Why?"
"We have to get out of here, NOW!" He stressed with urgency in his voice.
"But—KAI!" Tyson exchanged quick glances between his team mate and Drex. "IF WE DON'T WE'LL GET BLOWN TO BITS!" Drex shouted exasperatedly. His life, no, EVERYONE'S lives were at stake here! "There's no way I'm leaving Kai!" Tyson tore his arm out of Copellia's hold and raced towards his injured friend.
"TYSON!"
"Jamada. (Don't' interfere)" Eden shot out a hand and immediately, Tyson slammed into a barrier. 'WHAT?' He pounded against the invisible glass, "KAI! –pound pound pound- GET OUTTA THERE! –pound- KAAII!"
Kai didn't turn a deaf ear to his friend. He could hear it, the desperation and concern in Tyson's voice. He knew very well what was going to happen to him. But…
"Go." His heavy tone hung in the air.
'!' Were his ears deceiving him? Kai couldn't have said… "DON'T BE A HERO! GET OUTTA THERE NOW YOU IDIOT! –pound pound-"
"HAIYAKU NIGENASAI! (Get out of here now!)" Kai snarled.
"Demo—!" Tyson's palm slid against the barrier; then formed into a fist as anger came over him, "–pound- WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO SELFISH? SO WHAT IF YOU DON'T CARE IF YOU DIE, OTHER PEOPLE CARE DAMMIT! WE CARE!"
'We care?' The images of Rei, Max, Tyson, Grampa, Mai and everyone whom he had met in his lifetime flashed in his head…He knew without a doubt that they cared, but…"This is my battle. If I give up now," Kai looked up at the forlorn sky and closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting the rain hit his face, "I'll lose more than this battle."
Tyson still wore a frantic expression but ceased banging his fists. Slowly, but reluctantly, he understood what Kai meant. "Promise you won't die?" It was probably too much for him to hope for but please, let there be a possibility.
Eden broke into a smirk, "Too late for that. ALZZEEAA! BLACK CARNAGE!"
Alzea's transformation began: its wings shifted to its back, turning a soft white while its bird-like face moulded into human features with flowing jet-black hair. The new form was clothed in milky-white attire as he brandished a silver blade in his right hand. Alzea whizzed through the air with the shiny tip of the blade aimed straight at Dranzer. The red phoenix flapped its wings, generating a gust of wind which propelled him higher up into the sky to—Too late!
"ARRGGGH!"
The pain was palpable although he wasn't the one impaled. It felt as though his left shoulder had burst open and Kai squeezed it tighter, sending another trail of fresh blood running down his arm. He glared at the aerial battle with indignation; he'd pay Eden back double for this! "DRANZER! BLAZING GIGS ATAAACCK!"
The bird flapped its injured wing limply but nonetheless, managed to conjure up a stream of fire. The flaming snake coiled around Alzea, binding its feet, twirling up its body, restraining its arms and roping around its neck like a python. The angel struggled, forcing it limbs against the restraining force.
"FLAME GENESIS!"
Once again, dagger-like feathers shot at the immobilised Alzea, turning it into a flaming angel. A small sigh escaped his lips as Kai watched the sight. At last, at last he could turn this battle around. But sooner said than done, Alzea had managed to break out of its fiery entrapment and now reigned over the skies. It swooped down and slammed into Dranzer, sending him crashing into the trees below. Kai fell on one knee, head still held high to observe the battle despite his aching body. Eden wiped a bead of sweat with the back of his hand, "Heh. Didn't I tell you? You LOSE."
White spear-shaped lights began to materialise behind Alzea, multiplying every second into vast numbers that it began to look like a glaring canvas. Kai's eyes widened, 'No!'
"Go." Alzea shot out a hand, sending the lights racing towards the lives below.
A blinding light fell upon them. Some closed their eyes, others watched in silent horror as their end drew nearer—
"YAAAAAAMEEETEEEEEEE! (Stoooooopp!)"
'!'
The white cracked into a million pieces.
The lights stopped dead in their tracks and clattered on the floor like a hundred needles.
"MOU YAMETE! (That's enough!)" She stood panting heavily, arms outstretched in front of her captain.
'Mai!' Riya's eyes reverted back to its normal shade of purple. He lost his balance for a while as fatigue took its toll but managed to stay on his feet. Meanwhile, Mai rushed to tend to Kai's wound. She took the scarf off his neck and bound it tightly around his shoulder. The blood seeped through the layers of cloth and Mai knew it wouldn't do. Kai had to get proper help.
"Why'd you come?"
The girl didn't answer, nor did she meet his gaze. Inside she wanted to scream at all of them for doing something so incredibly stupid but she channelled that rage into tightening the knot on Kai's make-shift bandage. He winced and took that as her answer.
"Mai…" Riya took a step forward. She spun her head around and glowered at him. "Mai, I…"
Mai stood up and walked towards him, "Urusenai. (Unforgivable)"
"But Eden, he—!"
'!'
A hand ran across the side of his face.
"Who are you?" Her voice quivered with anger. She could no longer recognise the person standing in front of her. Where were those kind eyes? That gentle smile? Where? WHERE? "KOTAE! (Answer me!)" She couldn't stand it anymore! There were so many questions left unanswered, so many truths left untold! Why were they hiding things from her? Why didn't she deserve to know anything? Even the people she cared about were fooling around with her! She didn't know anything anymore! Pretty soon she might find out that she was living a big fat lie!
"It really wasn't his fault. He can't control Eden!" Copellia desperately tried to intervene but Mai grabbed hold of Riya's shirt, "ANATA WA DARE? RIYA WA KAISHITE! KAISHITE! (Who are you? Give me back Riya!)"
"MAI!" Drex firmly took hold of her arm but she continued to hit her fiancé with her free hand. And he let her. For all that he had done, even if it wasn't entirely his fault, she had every right to be angry with him. For she no longer saw him as Riya, but the reflection of the monster within him…
Riya clasped her wrists, "Yose. (Stop it)" His voice was dearth of emotion. But the girl continued her childish tantrums. "RIYA WA AITAI! KARE WA KAISHITE! (I want to see Riya. Bring him back) KAISHIT—!"
"KARE WA MO INAI! (He's already gone)"
'!' Mai froze. Riya was gripping her wrists so tightly that she could feel them shaking.
A dark shadow draped over his eyes, revealing only the pallid complexion of the lower part of his face. He spoke through thin lips, "He's gone. Don't ever look for him again." The words fell to the ground like a lump of clay. But to Mai, it sounded like an atomic bomb had been dropped on her. Her hands slipped out of Riya's hold and hesitantly, she placed a palm on his cheek and tilted his head up. The Zeelan came face to face with cold eyes the colour of glaucous marble chips. Not even a tear lined the rim of his purple orbs; they were completely soulless, completely hollow…
Not even the rain could cry for her now.