A little chat with the reviewer(s):

Eden – I'm glad to hear that you're starting to like this. Thank you!

Aki no Kaze – Oh okay. You confused me a little bit there. Hahaha…

Author's Note:

This chapter gets a little violent in the end… just to let you know if you don't like violence. There would be blood…! Something like that. Maybe it's just me but it's nothing extreme too, at least I think so.

Oh and lately a bunch of storylines appeared in my head for a couple of weeks now so updating will be a lot slower from here. I've been thinking about getting an account on fictionpress to put my "original" work up. I'm not so sure about it yet but anyway… on with the story! Please leave a review. Thank you!

I Love Beyblade

Chapter 10 – The Truth

"So, you're going to live here then?" Grandpa smiled brightly at Kai. "Well then! You can have the room next to Tyson's!"

Kai and Hilary stood at the front gates and Grandpa ran around the dojo to gather bed sheets for Kai. "No, that's not what I meant… I'm just here to see if Tyson shows up," Kai stated. It has been a few days since Dranzer was stolen away.

"Don't be shy!" Grandpa ran up to him. "It's not like you have anywhere else to stay, right?" Kai looked at him, knowing he's right. "You're welcome to stay over until Tyson's back, Kai! We've known each other since… since Tyson met you!"

Kai looked away, annoyed. Hilary laughed, "I'll come by often then, Grandpa. So I'll see you two tomorrow!"

She rushed out of the yard as Kai watched her go. He looked back at Grandpa who's no longer standing in front of him. He's just probably getting his room ready for him. Kai turned around and gazed the yard. Memories from five years ago reappeared in his mind from the time he met Tyson and the others. He shook them out of his mind and needed to take a walk. His motorcycle is by the front gate.

He heard Grandpa's voice when he had already walked about a block away from the dojo, but ignored him. It's not like he's going to be gone forever, after all he has nowhere to stay. His hands are in his pockets and he stared at the ground while walking.

"You can call me Ruby," a voice echoed in his mind.

Kai stopped walking and he punched a streetlight pole right next to him. "Why am I thinking about that time?" he glared. He hated lies. Everything until now, he hated almost everything. Dranzer… I swear I will get you back. He vowed, not forgiving Ruby for what she had done. But why is she working with the Empty Hearts? What about Eve? The first time he met her, Ruby was saying something about the Empty Hearts. She talked as if she did not really know them at all. Was she really working for them?

The confusing thoughts disappeared when he heard the sound of he bell nearby. It sounded just like Ruby's. He would have thought about not caring if she's around here or not, but he looked around for her anyway. He saw two women, forty-year mother and her daughter who looked over seventeen years old, walking on the other side of the street. The both of them had blond hair and violet eyes. The mother had short hair and the daughter had really long hair, which reached to her back and untied. The two women were carrying plastic bags in their hands, carrying food.

He looked at the bell and it's on a bracelet, hanging around the longhaired girl's left wrist. Kai turned and walked away. He somehow felt disappointed, knowing it was not Ruby who should have been walking from across the street. Why do I keep thinking about her? He rubbed his head, grunting his teeth. She's the person who took Dranzer, his precious Dranzer who had fought along side with him in his beybattles.

"Aren't you Hiwatari?"

Kai looked up and the same longhaired girl, with the bell on her wrist, stood next to him. She smiled at him and he turned away without replying.

The mother walked by and patted on the girl's shoulder. She turned to her mother as she started to form the letters of alphabet with one hand. Her mother's expression was showing she was wondering why Kai did not answer her when she asked him something.

The young girl giggled and smiled her mother. "I think I came up to him at a wrong time. He looked depress."

Do I? Kai glared, hearing her. What would he look so depress about? Sure, Dranzer. He glanced back at the two women and they were walking away. She almost looks like… Ruby. He thought, feeling like he is depress about something but does not want to admit it.

Ruby walked down the dark hallways of the Silver Company. Leonardo had prepared her room a few days ago and he told her to stay in her room until he wanted to see her and tell her the rules. As if she's going to stay in there forever, which she tried. The only things in her room were a big screen TV, bed, tables, a small refrigerator, microwave, and a next-door restroom. Everything's okay, but hat she hoped for is at least one window!

"Why is it so pitch black?" Ruby complained. Her right hand is along the metal wall so she can feel her way through the hallway. "It's like they're trying to hide something here… hey, maybe that's it." She smiled, snapping her fingers.

She kept on walking and walking, no signs of doors. The wall she was touching started to feel hot. Her hand drew away when it burned her. "Ow!" she cried. She could barely see her own hand in the dark but it felt really warm and her hand's shaking. "What was that?" she wondered, walking again.

Up ahead of her, there is a dim light. She walked faster and walked up to a door. There is a button by it and she pressed it. The door opened and she peaked inside, eyes widen in surprised. There is a guy with red hair with a violet headband in a huge room with a really huge flaming salamander, the double size of Falborg. "Salamalyon, more fire!" the guy shouted. He did not notice someone is watching him because his back is towards where Ruby is standing.

Salamalyon's bright red flames flew around the area and blackened the metal walls. The floor seemed to be fire proof though. Ruby walked in and looked around the empty room. Is this supposed to be a training ground? She wondered and then looking at Salamalyon. "…Hey! What's your name?" she asked.

Feeling like they were being sneaked from behind, the guy sharply turned around as the flames rapidly went towards her. "Who's there?" the guys shouted angrily.

Ruby took a step back when some of the fire hit her. The sound of her bell faded away too. The flames were really hot, which caused her to fall on her back. She thought the flames would instantly burn her, but then it quickly faded away.

Salamalyon realized it was no one but a girl so it stopped its flames from consuming the stranger. The red haired guy walked to her as she sat. "Who the hell are you?" he glared. "I thought I told Leonardo not to let anyone interfere with my training. If you were someone else, I would have Salamalyon devour you!"

She looked up at him, her skin burnt a little. This was not a fun experience, the feeling of being burn to the bone. "So, what's your name?" she asked again.

He just looked at her with a confuse look when she had asked the same question again. He found it that it would not hurt to tell her and said, "Johnny."

"I'm Ruby," she smirked.

"So?" he gave her a light glare. He turned away and walked back to Salamalyon. "Get out of here. I'm training."

Ruby pouted. She looked around again and saw a round black object on the ground. She gasped when she realized what it was and went to pick it up. "Ow!" she threw it back on the ground. It's still burning hot. "My bell…"

Johnny glanced back at her. "Your what?"

She glared and walked up to him. "You destroyed my only clue to…!" she trailed off and stopped walking. Wait… I can't tell him that… she told herself.

He looked away and crossed his arms. "If you're done talking, leave already," he said.

Ruby looked back at her burned bell, eyes sadden. She wanted to make him pay for what he done to her precious item, the only connection to her past. "Che…" she smirked. "I don't think I'm done talking."

He glared at her. "What do you want, woman? …Wait, who are you anyway?"

"I'm just another member of the Empty Hearts," she said, shrugging. "So, are you also one?"

"Yeah," he said. "But I didn't hear anything about a new member."

"Well, how long have you been in here?" she asked, curious.

Johnny gave her a flat look. He had been here for days now so he probably would not know anything about the outside. "Anyway, if you're going to stay here, don't disturb me! If you get burn, blame on yourself." She nodded and he turned away. "Geez… you're really going to watch me?"

"I don't see anything wrong with it," she said.

He slightly blushed and touched Salamalyon's arm. He just felt embarrass if any girl just stood there and watch him train. "If you have more to say, say them now. I want you to leave right away after that, you hear?"

She grinned. "It seems you're doing something rather suspicious… what are you up to?"

"Nothing!"

She chuckled and thought about Eve. Maybe he might know where she is… but judging by the way he looks, he could have been in here forever. She sighed. "Okay, just answer me this," she said, wanting to know anyway. He looked at her with a light glare. "Do you know a woman who have blond hair and blue eyes? She's being held captive here."

"Jamie?" Johnny asked, smiling and feeling hopeful.

"No… but where is she right now?"

Johnny shrugged. "I don't know! I don't even want to know!" Just thinking about her gets him really mad. "So, is it Eve?" he looked at her.

She nodded, "Yes! Have you seen her?"

He snorted. "No, but I heard about her. Jamie told me that Leonardo killed her off the moment she came here. After that, I've been here ever since." He looked at her again and tears suddenly fell down from Ruby's eyes. He took a step back, shock. "W-What are you crying about?"

"Ev… Eve…?" Ruby grabbed his arm. "Leonardo… did what?"

Johnny looked at her, unsure what to say. "You heard me," he told her. "The moment Leonardo saw her, he killed her. It wasn't him exactly, but it was his bit beast. I'm not sure of the results when they did it though."

Ruby let him go after slowly squeezing his arm. She wiped her tears as they continued to fall. So, all this time… I was fighting for no reason! She sobbed. She had plan if she had taken Dranzer away and give it to the Silver Company, Eve would be released. Then Ruby would have secretly contacted Eve and ask for her help to sneak into the Silver Company's security and steal Dranzer back. But now that she's gone… what am I doing standing here? She asked herself, angry. She did not have a choice now. She had to get Dranzer back no matter what. She did not want Kai to misunderstand her more if she stayed with the Silver Company and the Empty Hearts any longer than she is now. "Nnnn…" she cried, trying to wipe her tears on her brunt sleeves.

Johnny silently stared at her. He has no idea what is going on with her, crying all of the sudden. "Hey…" his hand reached to her. She quickly turned away after a quick thought, not getting anymore second ones. Johnny watched her go, even more silent. "I don't have a good feeling about this…" he looked at Salamalyon.

She left the training room and ran all the way back in the dark hallway. "Kai, I'm so sorry… I'm sorry… I'm so, so, so sorry…" she said, breathing between every apology. "I'll get it back for you, no matter what!" She cried, "I promise!"

Retracing her steps, she found her way back in the dim lights and her room. She rushed in and grabbed her two guns on the bed. When she turned to leave, she remembered the chimera on the desk, where she left it but never touched after the day she came here. She walked up to it and picked it up, looking at it. She felt this chimera might be able to help her somehow, remembering that Xue had warned her about Leonardo's ability as the leader of the Empty Hearts. She was unsure to believe that she would make it out alive but she had to do it. A cold air went down her spine. She also have a bad feeling about this chimera too. Forgetting these useless feelings, she rushed out of her room.

"Leonardo, sir," a man called. "It seems we have an intruder."

They were in a dark room with a lot of screens were on three walls. A security room, you might say. Leonardo usually would check up on them to see if anything goes wrong, but he was just sitting and reading the newspaper. "Who's the intruder?" Leonardo asked, not looking up from the paper.

"The new member from few days ago," the other replied.

"Oh, that's just Ruby," Leonardo flipped the page, sounding casual. "She's new here so she wouldn't know where not to trespass. Just tell her to-"

"…Sir, she's shooting the guards with guns," one said. All of the guards were wearing white suits.

Leonardo stopped reading and glanced at the screens. Ruby was running around and reloading her gun. She shot the guards legs and continued deeper into the area. Leonardo stood up and walked up to take a closer look. "Wow, she looks serious," he smiled.

"What are your orders?"

"I'll take care of her myself," he said. "Every member of the Empty Hearts is my reasonability…" He walked away, grabbing a headset. "Keep in touch and tell me her movements in the building," he ordered, putting the headset on.

"Yes, sir."

Leonardo smirked. "Get ready to have some fun… Serpent."

Ruby shot every guard she sees in the leg, avoiding taking their lives. She found out where Dranzer was when she threatened one of the guards before causing a commotion and is on her way to find it. Kai… Kai… she thought, the only thing she could think about right now. It helped clear her mind as she ran along pass the guards and through each door. What she found weird is that why did they not trap her between the hallways? Like bring secret doors to trap her? Not that it really matter now because she need to hurry.

"Over there!" a guard shouted, bringing along guns.

The hallways had gotten brighter and she can clearly see them. She ran straight towards a few of them as they fired at her. Her eyes concentrated on the bullets and she shot right back at every one of them with her own bullets. One of her gun did not have any more bullets and one guard shot her right in her right arm. She ignored the pain and ran right pass them.

"Don't let her get away!"

"Damn…" she glared. "Just when my wound was starting to heal." They had shot her in the same spot from the other time when she was shot. She stopped running and hid behind a wall, reloading her guns. Almost there… she breathed back and forth heavily.

"All guards, we have an order for you all to go back to your stations," an announcer came on the speakers from the ceilings. "This is an order from Leonardo himself. I repeat…"

Ruby smirked, "What do they have in store for me now?" She ran off, knowing no one will be getting in her way now. Less people, the better. She needed to save her bullets, just in case, for Leonardo if he tries to do anything.

Johnny walked down the hallway, hearing the odd announcement. He looked around and saw wounded guards walking around. "What the hell is happening?" he wondered. He's thinking it might involve with Ruby somehow, the way she acted when she left. He saw one of the guards with a headset. "Hey you!" Johnny pointed. The guard looked at him. "Tell me what happen here."

"This must be it," Ruby stood in front of the enormous machine doors. It opened to let her in, control by someone who is watching her probably, and she looked inside. "Dranzer!" she smiled. It was yards and yards away but she could still see it with her eagle-like eyes.

The beyblade chip was on a little stand, the wires were connected to it and going up to the ceilings. Looks like an experiment to her. She quickly ran on her weak two legs as the doors behind her closed. She paid no attention to it and kept running.

"Why, hello there, Ruby," Leonardo's voice came on the speakers in the room. He walked into the room from another door and walked towards Dranzer. When he stood by the stand, he looked at Ruby who was still running. "I can't believe you're already becoming a traitor when you just joined us."

She ignored him and kept running.

"The reason why you betrayed is because of this thing?" he asked, pointing to Dranzer. "Are you going to take away what you stole for us?"

It wasn't for you… she glared. It was for Eve, but you went and lied to me. I won't forgive you for that. She tightened her grip on the guns.

Leonardo smirked, amused that she is still running and willing to meet him dead on. "If you're going to take it away, you'll have to go through me," he said.

"Fine by me!" she shouted angrily. She lifted her gun and pointed it at him and open fire.

The bullet flew straight towards him, but then pillars of water geyser appeared from the ground and slowed the bullet. "You won't be able to touch me, you know," he said, snickering.

She glared. She shot more towards him, but the water stopped it again. The water turned into a wave and rapidly flowed to her. She closed her eyes and covered her face as the water hit her and it carried her further back. Her body hit against the wall and the water retreated back to Leonardo. Ruby fell on her knees, coughing the water out. She looked up and found herself right from the beginning again. What kind of bit beast does he have? She fiercely stood up and ran towards for Dranzer again.

Leonardo went to sit down further away from the stand to a nearby chair. He crossed his leg and smirked. "Xue talked a lot about you ever since he met you," he said. "But he never said how feisty you are, being able to stand back up and run again like you are now. Heh." Most people would have fear and stood still, but what is her reason to want to stand and do it again? To him, it was interesting.

It went on for a moment and she continued. The water pushed her back and she ran again. She tried to dodge the wave once but it still did not work. Leonardo snapped his fingers and the water grabbed a hold of her, from her feet to her shoulders. "What the…?" she looked around her. She struggled but her arms were tightly on her sides. The water took her guns, crushing them, and brought her all the way where the dark blue haired guy is.

He chuckled and as the water hung her above him as he remain sitting. She only angrily glared at him. He lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss on her lips. "You're pretty cute every time you look at me like that," he said, smirking.

She blushed and glared harder at him. "What the hell was that for?!" she shouted furiously, wanting to kick his ass so bad for the stupid kiss he gave her. Her legs were locked in place though.

"I'll give you a chance," he said, leaning on his palm. "If you remain with the Empty Hearts, I will forget what happened and forgive you. You can become my girlfriend while we're at it."

"In your freaking dreams!" she hissed behind her teeth. If I can't move… and if it has come to this… She reached her hand into her pocket as he continued to talk away about their romantic dates together. "Stop dreaming asshole…" she hissed once more. While he kept talking, she tried her best to grab for something in her pocket.

"Even if you use the chimera, you won't be able to control it," Leonardo said, looking at her with a serious face.

She narrowed her eyes at him and continuing to grab for the chip in her zipper pocket of her jacket.

Leonardo sighed. "That chimera is a fail experiment, Ruby," he told her. "It was one of the first few chimeras the Silver Company done. The only one who could release it out was only one person. When that person called it out, it rampaged the entire building. It's pretty weak but at the time no one was around to stop it. And if a person like you tried to summon it, it wouldn't listen to you."

"But Xue said it belonged to me now," she said. "His boss informed him that I could keep it. Why give it to me when no one have ever released it, huh?" She would not believe that she is not able to call it out. Leonardo has to be lying. Maybe he is just afraid if it does come out, he will not be able to stop it. She's not going to let this chance slip by, her only thump card is the chimera.

He looked at her with a cold stare. I didn't hear about this. He thought. Is the boss just testing to see if anyone else is able to use it? Why her? He watched her as she struggled to grab it. "Ruby, I'm telling you to stop. You won't be able to manage its power. You'll just put yourself in danger."

"Do I look like I care right now, asshole?" she asked, frustrated. The water completely stopped her hand from moving and all she could do now is giving him her angry expressions. Eve…Kai… she thought about them. If only Xue was here, he would have helped her. After years of being alone, she never felt so useless and trying to do something for someone so much. The pain Leonardo had left in her heart… she would hate him forever. "I swear I'll kill you!!" she shouted in his face, mad. Please, hear my call! She closed her eyes, clutching her hands into fist.

A shadowy black ray appeared from her pocket and broke off the water around her, pushing her and Leonardo away. She lay on the ground right next to the stand where Dranzer is. The sound of a tiger growled from the moving shadows as the chimera stepped out from the same black ray. Ruby stared at it, silence. The tiger's fur is black with orange strips, long and narrow wings, and its tail had a black snake's head with its long legless body on the ground. The tiger is only the size of a real tiger would look like, but with long wings and a snake as a tail.

The tiger seemed to be in pain and confused. It looked around and then roared loudly. The shadows started to strike against the ceiling and the ground, tearing them apart.

"Wait!" Ruby said, wanting the tiger to stop. It would cause the room to collapse if it does not stop attacking randomly. She would have just grab Dranzer first, but there is something about this beast that she wanted to say first. She grabbed its leg and looked up at it. "Stop it!"

The tiger glared at her and it bit on her left arm, ripping it off. Ruby's eyes widen, shock from the pain as blood flew into the air.

Author's Note:

Sorry, that's a little violent for me. I didn't want to make it too graphic with the blood… so yeah. (This is rated for T after all, unless some people don't mind it.)