A.C.: Ah here it is... the final chapter

Anyone disappointed...? (As in even before you've read the chapter?)

I swear, I was going to post this earlier but just couldn't get past my writer's block -makes a sad face-

Now this is where I list off all the sentimental crap about having started this back in '0x but I was never that wordy of a person

Sucky grammar person but wordy? Not in real life.

Yes, though I may have been inconsistent about posting disclaimers everywhere, this is a fanfic

Borrowing words of many wonderful authors on this site, if I owned the beyblade franchise, would I be here?

Anyways, it only took what? 3... years to complete 20 or so odd chapters? Thank you , Ayatsuji, GabZ, Miako6, nssk2202, catchmeloon, YuriyTalaIvanov, Samu, Pikke Wood, valenciadarkness, tacks, Nameless Little Girl, sickofme, Reivin17, Ketsueki-Ken, Tuli-Susi, Mizuki Hikari, Kailover2008, innocentsmile, Lioku, and others for walking with me all the (mid, little...) way with me :P much appreciated and thanks for reading!

With much regrets, unsaid laments I give you Chapter 21-

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"We're blowing this joint?"

Boris sounded incredulous and pleased. He tossed one of the housemaids a saucy wink before glaring daggers at the Wyborg blader's back. "Why?" mutely, Ivan held the box of ashes closer to his chest and even Boris had to swallow down his next string of words at that. When he spoke again his voice was much quieter, more subdued. "Why now?"

"Because we're leaving."

"Leaving," Boris repeated, leaning against the decorative tables in the living room. "For good?"

"For good," Ivan confirmed, passing the taller Russian strips of paper that had dates and times printed on the front. "Or I guess until the next bey blading tournament but who's insane enough to host another one after last time?" Boris nodded noncommittally.

"The mansion?"

"Taken care of."

"Place to stay?"

"Also, taken care of."

"Kai?"

"Outside"

"Yuriy?"

"Somewhat aware"

"You?"

"Masterminding this"

"Me?"

"In the dark."

"The maids?"

"Not… coming with us."

"And you wonder why you're the baby of the group."

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"You know how this story ends, we all do."

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His cut bled all over the snow.

He held his hand, furious and hurt. The three pairs of eyes turned their gaze towards him and the disturbed layer of snow, one haunted, the other taunting and the third very far away. There was something about him; there was always something about him that he could never put a finger on. And it's been that way ever since they had become acquaintances had it not? They were all warnings, the cuts, the kills, the wounded... they had be subtle clues left by him and the fates was it not?

What was it about the Japanese teenagers made the motions of a single man look like the acts of a god?

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There is a fire that extinguishes

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"Why do you interfere? He is no longer one of yours; this has nothing to do with you."

"You're trespassing," said Kai slowly as though he thought it obvious that Ozuma understand.

"No more warnings."

With a hiss a dog-sized panther curled its body around Ozuma's back. Its feet sank deep into the snow, the melted water running off into steam. It dulled the violet coat into dull black until it lit up again, spitting gray ashes into the snow. The green-eyed teen pushed the feline's head back, breaking its deadly eye contact with the half-Russian. It flexed its claws in frustration and Takao scrambled backwards, packing snow in front of him with his feet.

Seiryu, the war god, stared malevolently. Did they truly not see the danger in having Takao carry the burden in his state? Did they not understand the detrimental effect of a blader's taint upon his bit beast? Kai's darkness, Dranzer-Suzaku's darkness, was natural stemming from the situation of the half Russian's birth. Takao's was not, he was growing up. He would not be able to retain his childish innocence and purity into adulthood. Many have tried in their greed, all had failed, St. Shields had been stuck cleaning up afterwards.

Ozuma curled inwardly. The state of failure would be less than desirable. The end of the world would be less than desirable. And the disappointment on his teammate's faces would be devastating. Flash Leopard tensed as though to jump. Ozuma held firm, burning the pads of his fingers in the myriad of spots on the plush fur. Kai stared at him with unreadable eyes. Ozuma stared back and wondered—was the young man before him the one he met only few years ago?

Impossible

"You have no right." Kai said as though they were the only ones in existence, on the edge of the Hiwatari property. And Ozuma shivered, his bit beast raised its spine in an effort to make itself look larger, more threatening. "Who are you to tell us which one of us should exist and which should not?" the bleeding had slowed and clotted over the cuts. But as though some internal dam had broken inside of him, the cuts burst and bled darkly through the bright colors of his clothes. Ozuma gritted his teeth, his eyes raw and burning as he managed to reply,

"We're here to keep the balance; we're here to save the world."

The pain lifted.

And he saw...

He was staring at plumes of black feathers.

"The world does not need to be saved."

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"Shall we leave him?"

"Someone will come looking for him." Kai nodded and turned towards Takao whose grip on his bey made his hands look as though they would shatter at the next touch. "Go home Takao, listen to Hiroshi for once."

"You're leaving again." The blunette stabbed accusingly, "why? Why do you always have to leave when something happens?"

"Because things happen, things that even I cannot control." Kai replied harshly, eliciting a flinch from Takao. Yuriy made a motion to grab his elbow to steady him. Kai jerked his arm to his side, breathing heavily and alert as though he had been running, fighting—fucking—for hours on end. "Because I'm still required to keep you safe."

In a small broken voice, Takao whispered—"it's not fair."

"It's not supposed to be fair." Yuriy interjected.

"Why didn't you... why didn't you guys ever tell me this?"

"It never came up?" Kai chuckled humorlessly, "he never wanted me to tell you. We never felt the need to tell you. It's not a game Takao, it never was."

"Did it mean anything to you, when I kissed you, when I told you that I loved you?"

Something might have flickered in Kai's eyes then, something that might have given him hope. But there was nothing. There had never been anything.

Takao's hands began to bleed. "How do I know that what you say is true? How do I know... h... How am I supposed to know that you're not lying, that it's not Kuro Su-"

"Go Takao, and stay out of trouble."

Takao began to cry. Not just the tears that would glide over his red cheeks and freeze on his clothes but full sobs and wails that rang so much loudly in the cold air. Kai's mouth fell slack,

"Don't let him fall..."

"I won't." Kai's face never hit the ground. Yuriy had been too quick for that. "I won't ever let you go."

And slowly, tears began to brim from beneath the thick lashes.

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Maybe it was too late, maybe it wasn't. Hiroshi continued running.

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A childish voice chimes—"really, you loved him?"

"Enough, I have loved him enough."

A sheepish smile unbefitting of the young man wearing it, "I suppose it's true what they say."

"Which is...?"

"That it makes us do foolish things."

"You're not making sense Brooklyn."

"No, I guess not."