Disclaimer: How much do the rights of beyblade cost anyway?
Yeah, yeah, I know. Updates are taking forever. I'm trying!...Okay, I'll try harder. The good news is that I quit my second job, so I have a lot more time for writing. I also have started working on a new project for you all to read sometime in the new year.
Thank-you to HibarixTsunaxlover, Tyka's Flower and Laharl (who tracked me down on facebook) for reviewing, and to everyone who has been reading this story.
I believe that there is only 6 chapters left of Borderline left! It should be 60 chapters total. MAYBE 61. Depends on how everything works out with editing and I need to re-write one of the chapters. My goal is to have this story finished by Christmas for you all. Hope you enjoy the ride!
WARNINGS: Nothing for this chapter.
"Welcome to Phoenix Stadium where the semi-finals are about to begin! All players are down to their last strike!"
Kai eyed Brooklyn. "Didn't you have 2 left?"
The ginger shrugged. "Thought it would be more interesting this way."
Kai was torn between being thankful that there was less bladers that he had to cut down to have his battle with Tyson, or annoyed that Brooklyn would throw away such a huge advantage, like it was nothing more than yesterday's garbage. Before he could decide, Jazzman continued.
"Alright players, let's see what fate has in store for us today!" Everyone turned their heads toward the mega-screen as player's names were scrambled. The seconds seemed to tick past like years as the roulette slowly came to a stop. "So it's:
Max vs Ray
Brooklyn vs Tyson
Hiro vs Kai"
Kai locked eyes with Hiro and everyone within a 10 foot radius could feel the tension as the veterans silently murdered each other in their heads.
"Oh man." said Tyson looking between the two males, feeling the hatred radiating off their bodies. Terrified that his brother would suddenly burst into flames on the spot, he looked up at the ref. "Yo Jazzy! Can Kai and Hiro settle their match first?"
"Yeah!" piped up Max, eyeing the males warily. "Ray and I don't mind if they go first...honest!"
DJ Jazzman looked down to see what had Tyson of all people volunteering to go last, when he saw Kai and Hiro glowering at each other, looking like they were about to tear each other's heads off. Max, Ray and Tyson were all looking up at him with pleading eyes.
Oh he wasn't stupid.
If Kai had it in that badly for a player, it was way better to get the beybattle out of the way instead of letting the dual-haired male stew in his anger. What was curious to him though was that Kai's anger was directed at Hiro of all people. From everything he had witnessed this tournament, Kai and Tyson seemed to be on better terms than usual. He had even heard a rumour that the sworn rivals were now living together...but he couldn't see how any of that would involve Tyson's brother. He vaguely remembered that in the last tournament Kai had launched a beyblade at Hiro's head for benching Tyson, but he couldn't still be upset about that...could he?
"As requested by the other participants, Kai and Gin of the Gale will go first! Both players have 5 minutes to make any necessary modifications to their blades before they must report to the beydish!"
Tyson was at a loss for words as he watched both his best friend and his only brother calmly turn their backs to each other and walk towards the opposite sides of the beydish. Their heads were held high, their strides long and purposeful. They rode the platforms up to the dish and readied their launchers. They locked eyes once more and the air itself seemed to crackle with the intensity in which they were glaring at each other. The stadium fell quiet as the spectators slid to the edge of their seats, wondering just what they were about to bear witness to.
Hiro was the first to break the silence. "I think it's safe to say that we both want to battle Tyson in the finals."
"Hn. Not me. Right now all I want is to see you on your knees, admitting your defeat to me." Kai said evenly.
"Getting lost in your fantasies again, Kai?" Hiro bated, "You had best get your head back into reality if you hope to spare your blade."
"Hn. Now whose the one dreaming?"
DJ Jazzman braced himself for what he was sure was going to be a rough battle as he started the countdown. "3...2...1! Let it rip!"
Black and navy blurs whizzed out of their respected launchers and collided in the centre of the beydish, then circled each other. Kai made the first move.
Metal Dranzer dodged the attack easily and came at Dranzer from the side. The blue blade narrowly avoided the charging black blade before executing a counter attack, which Metal Dranzer evaded.
Tyson watched as the two blades furiously dodged each one of the other's blows. "Wow!" He glanced up at the clock. "It's been 10 whole minutes and neither one of them has landed a hit yet?!"
Ray closely studied the blades' movements. "Their technique is flawless!"
"Yeah, but at this rate one of them will end up burning themselves out and running out of steam." said Max.
"I'm not so sure about that." said Kenny as he analyzed the battle.
Tyson glanced over at the beyblade mechanic. "What do you mean Chief?"
"Both of their beyblades have been modified for endurance. Between their bitbeasts and their sheer willpower, it really comes down to who makes a mistake first. Because from the looks of it," they all looked up at the pair—neither of them had even broken out into a sweat! "both of them have energy to burn."
Kai was really starting to get irritated. He knew that his opponent was just toying with him. It was time to get serious.
The audience watched as Metal Dranzer hit Dranzer – HARD. Collectively they gasped as they watched the navy blade be thrown across the dish. Tyson's heart stopped as he watched Dranzer's tip go over the edge of the dish. Everyone's eyes were glued to the mega-screen as the blade flew into the air, arching over the dish and land on the opposite side, before nailing Metal Dranzer from behind.
"YEAH! GO KAI!" Tyson screamed, jumping out of his seat as the black blade was knocked to the other side of the dish.
"Woah! That was genius!" gasped Kenny as he observed Dranzer's increased rotation. "Kai purposely let Metal Dranzer hit him so that Dranzer could absorb his energy. He has the upper hand now!"
Hiro was impressed with his opponent's quick thinking and manipulation skills. The Phoenix Master knew what his weaknesses were and how to get around them.
"Go Dranzer!" The blue blade went on the attack again, striking the black blade with a frenzy of violent attacks.
"Way to show him Kai!" Tyson cheered.
"Don't get too excited Tyson." warned Max.
Tyson turned to look at his friend. "Huh?"
"Look at Metal Dranzer. The attacks aren't doing any damage. Hiro is just feeding off the energy that Kai is attacking him with."
"What?!" The bluenette stood up from his seat. "C'mon Kai! You have to face me in the finals remember?!"
Kenny smiled, amused that Tyson hadn't shown any support for his brother at all in this match.
From the sea of shouts, over the sound of the grinding metal, 50 feet in the air, once voice made it's way to Kai's sharp ears. "Go Kai! You have to face me in the finals remember?" Kai's heart immediately swelled. Tyson was cheering him on instead of Hiro?
He looked back to Hiro's smirking face and realized something. Hiro wasn't Tyson. His Metal Dranzer, didn't come close to Dragoon. He was indeed a clever and worthy adversary, but- His eyes widened- Hiro was too calculating. Every move he made was planned. No doubt that the veteran had studied his past battles, discovering his weaknesses. He grinned. It was time to take a page from the book of Tyson.
Gin of the Gale gasped when his attack bounced off Dranzer. He had been owning this match just a second ago! What the hell? He cast his eyes towards the Hiwatari and his blood ran cold. Those demonic eyes were brimming with confidence, and a sly smirk was playing on the Russian's lips.
"What's wrong Hiro?" The Phoenix Blader taunted.
Aggravated, the Kinomiya attacked the navy blade, only to be left standing there dismayed when the attack just bounced off. He closely observed Dranzer's movement patterns and his raised his eyebrows as he placed the pieces together. "You've changed your strategy." He squinted as he observed the navy blade's erratic movements. "Do you even know what you're doing?"
Kai chuckled. "Winning!"
For the next 5 minutes, Metal Dranzer chased down the blue blade. Hiro's frustration increased as Dranzer would pull a surprising turn or just flip over his blade to avoid confrontation, then suddenly pull a surprise attack out of nowhere. Kai was rapidly switching from offensive to defensive tactics with seemingly no clear course of action.
His mouth dropped.
It was a mind game. And he was losing, horribly.
Hiro smirked behind his mask. No matter, mind games were his was time to back Kai into a corner and reveal his truefeelings for Tyson. Discreetly, he purposely took the next few attacks so his beyblade could destroy the sound devices, so their conversation could be kept private. Once Metal Dranzer destroyed the last device and recovered from Dranzer's attack, the Kinomiya crossed his broad arms over his chest. "Do you really think my brother will fall for you?"
"Leave Tyson out of this! This battle is between you and me, Hiro!" shouted Kai.
"Pathetic. Well if you're aim is his virginity, I'm afraid you're too late."
"What do you mean?!" growled Kai, jealousy and fear creeping into his heart.
"I mean that Tyson is in love with Max. I caught them laying in bed together one night, after hearing them moaning."
Kai's heart shattered in his chest and he bowed his head so his bangs covered his face. Max? "Shut-up."
But seeing that he was hitting a nerve, Hiro kept going. "I watched Tyson pull out of Max, kiss him on the lips, swearing his love for him, before they finally noticed me in the doorway. They've been keeping it hushed, but they're eloping in-"
"I SAID SHUT-UP!"
A brilliant, blazing inferno erupted from Kai's blade, forcing everyone to shield their eyes as a scorching wave of heat was released. When they could finally see again, flames were crackling and scorch marks could be seen on the protective glass that encased the arena, but due to the thick smoke, no one could see the bladers. The sprinklers came on to douse the flames, and once the smoke cleared, mouths dropped in shock.
The beydish was nothing more that a piece of melted, twisted steel and right in the centre of the destruction, Dranzer stood spinning. Metal Dranzer was no where to be seen and Hiro was on the ground, his clothes singed and blacked...laughing.
"Hahahahahahaha! Oh wow! You really do love him don't you?" Tears were pouring out of his eyes as the bluenette clutched his sides, laughing his ass off. "Who knew a little white lie would make you burn down a freaking stadium?!"
Gritting his teeth, Kai clenched his fists. "It was a lie?!" He wanted to burn Hiro's body till he was nothing more than ashes, but he barely had enough energy to see straight...
"Hahahahaha! I had to see what you're true feelings were. But wow, I couldn't stand in your way if I tried!" The elder Kinomiya slowly got off the floor and dusted off his charred clothes. "My brother is a lucky man."
Kai froze. "Are you-?"
Hiro caught his blade which seemed to fall from thin-air. "Good luck Kai."
The dual-haired teen stared at the man's retreating form in disbelief as he recalled his Dranzer. A slow grin spread across his cheeks. He may have won the beybattle, but Hiro had won the war. He turned and stepped down onto the platform.
"And Kai is the winner!" announced DJ Jazzman and the crowd erupted into applause as Kai disappeared into the exit hallway. The Russian was unsurprised to see Tyson waiting for him, concern written all over his face.
"What did Hiro say to you?"
Without looking up, Kai stated, "Nothing you need to worry about." Walking past his rival he added, "You don't need to worry about Hiro and I anymore."
Tyson spun around in confusion. "Wait, so you're friends now?"
"I wouldn't go that far Kinomiya. Anyways, don't you have a match to prepare for?"
"Right...Brooklyn." But a proud smile remained on the Dragon Master's face, happy that through beyblading, Kai and his brother had finally come to some kind of understanding.
There, Hiro finally pulled the stick out of his ass and approves of Kai dating his brother. He's still an asshole though. Please send me a review of what you thought of this chapter and I'll update as soon as I can!
