Disclaimer: I do not even own a strong work ethic, and you expect me to own an anime?
Hello everyone, sorry for being gone so long! I basically had house inspection after house inspection which ate my days off, zapped my energy and basically completely demotivated me to write anything half-decent. And even right now as I type, I have noisy neighbours knocking on our door about our cat. -_-#####
Then once all of that was out of the way, I had to collab with Nawmay to figure out this new villain he inserted into the story and that required some re-writing. And then I've basically spent the last three months finishing up the last chapters of this story in between work (extra shifts, extra duties) and being mama.
Then basically half-way through writing this chapter, a friend of mine was accused of second degree murder of a toddler, which delayed this chapter by another week as I dealt with many of our mutual friends messaging me completely disgusted and disturbed by the whole thing. I'm doing everything to stay out of the media at the moment, but the whole thing has been an absolute nightmare. I'm organizing a support group on Tuesday. *sighs*
HUGE MESSAGE: IF YOU'RE EVER FRUSTRATED WITH A SMALL CHILD, PUT THE CHILD IN A SAFE PLACE AND WALK TO ANOTHER ROOM AND CALM DOWN. DO NOT SHAKE/BEAT/SCREAM/HIT THAT CHILD!
Hopefully this is up to standards, if not I promise to give this chapter a make-over whenever I decide to go back and edit the other chapters. Huge shout-out to my boyfriend for helping me math out the effects of the explosion.
For all intensive purposes of this fanfic, and to pose less harm to other characters... let's just say that Max's water shield is indestructible. There, authoress powers defeated math and probabilities. Fuck you math.
Warnings: This is not a light and fluffy chapter. This is meant to throat punch you in the feels. Reader Discretion is advised.
Silence.
Nothing but cold silence as the dust particles settled over the ruined stadium.
Tyson's body trembled, his eyes staring at the bloody sphere in disbelief, his mouth agape.
'What?...What just happened?'
"Tyson!"
At the sound of his name echoing throughout the arena, he turned his head slowly to see Kai running towards him. "Kai..."
The acrobatic Russian leaped from the stands and jumped down into the arena. "Are you okay?!"
"Y-yeah." He looked down at the two boys that were clutching to his tattered clothes, his eyes checking them over for cuts and bruises. "We're fine, thanks to...him." He longingly cast a look to the sphere.
"D-Daddy?" The little voice rang despairingly through the dead air.
"Where's Daddy?" the youngest child asked.
Tyson looked at the children at a loss for words and the reality hit Kai like a truck. That man he had talked to earlier...that man he had asked to keep Tyson safe; he had valued Tyson like his own child.
"Max!" Everyone looked up at the blonde who was still holding the shield with shaky hands. "Max, you need to let go."
"I-I can't. When I do, I'll see what I've really done." Tears were streaming down his ashen face.
"Then don't look. Just close your eyes and I'll take us both down, and let you know when it's safe to open them." said Ray, placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder, and giving a reassuring squeeze.
Max inhailed deeply. "Ok."
"Tyson, Kai! Cover those kids' eyes! They don't need to see it either."
The rivals nodded and turned the kids around. Kai placed a hand on the eldest boy's shoulder. "Starting from today kid, don't ever look back. The choices that you make from here on out will shape the man you will become. Just keep looking the future head on. You need to be strong for your brother."
The boy stiffened and nodded. While he may be only the tender age of 8, he understood what had just happened. After all, this was the second time he had felt the cold empty pain of loss. The first time was when his mother had died shortly after giving birth to his younger brother. Kai was right, his choices now effected the both of them. Gently he took his brother's hand into his. Later, he would have to explain to Mikey that both of their parents were in heaven, watching down on them.
Seeing that Kai had things under control, Ray turned his attention back to Max, "On the count of three. One...two...three...Let go!" Max relinquished control of the water barrier and squeezed his eyes shut. He felt Ray wrap a strong arm around his waist and together they jumped. They landed on the steel dish successfully. He felt Ray whisper into his ear, "Just don't look back, okay?"
But Kai had to see for himself the damage Boris had caused. He motioned for Tyson to keep an eye on the children and turned around, watching the barrier come down, steeling himself for anything.
Bile immediately rose into his throat.
The rifle green ash poured from the fallen barrier like a heavy fog over a lake, through the haze he could make out various small chunks of scorched carbon, among it scattered small shards of jagged and blackened bones in the eerie orange glow of the melted and twisted steel. The smell of ozone and burnt metal was thick, and suffocating. The heat pricked and irritated the fire master's eyes, helping him to shed tears for those who were lost.
Boris really had won this time.
"AHHHHH!"
Everyone's heads snapped towards the stands where they saw Daichi decapitating Tala with a long, serrated blade.
"Daichi!" Tyson cried in horror, his stomach churning, "What did you do?!"
"He's been brainwashed by Boris' program. He won't listen to reason." explained Ray.
Tyson's eyes widened. "Oh no!"
"Hehehehehe." Daichi cackled. He held up Tala's lifeless head that was still dripping blood from the neck. "Now who shall be my next victim?" His voice was distorted and unnatural. His feral, soulless eyes scanned over the group. "Should it be sweet little Maxie? The fearless White Tiger? Or loudmouth Tyson?" He raised the blood-soaked knife to his lips and licked off the crimson liquid. "I wonder which of you I can make scream the loudest."
"I've had enough!" As cold fear sunk into his heart, Kai's anger exploded and a massive ball of flame formed in his hands.
Panic washed over Tyson as he realized what was about to happen. "Kai, no! Wait!"
But Kai had already launched his attack, the fireball hitting Daichi directly.
Tyson, Max and Ray looked away as Daichi's body burned, his screams of agony ripping apart their hearts as they stood there frozen. At last the cries finally died and the charred body fell over with a 'thud'.
Tyson looked at his rival with hate-filled eyes. "Why did you do that? We could have saved him! He'd be back to normal in less than 30 minutes! We could have done something!"
"And what would we do in that 30 minutes Tyson? Pull our punches and try to dodge him? There's no guarantee that the effects of the program would wear off. What would you do then?"
"Yeah but-"
"Tyson. That wasn't Daichi anymore."
Their eyes met and the younger teen saw the anguish in those ruby eyes. Angry, Tyson collapsed to his knees and punched the ground. "Some heroes we are."
"We never could have known that the bomb was in the crowd. If we had, we might have had a chance to save everyone." said Ray, clutching Mariah's pink hair ribbon in his fist.
"I wish we could go back in time and stop this. Stop Boris as soon as he showed his ugly mug." Tyson's voice was becoming more and more broken with every word.
"Is that your wish Tyson?"
Everyone's blades began to glow and the four sacred beasts appeared before them.
"Dragoon?"
"Do you want to turn back time?"
Tyson jumped to his feet. "You can do that?!"
"At a price." said Dranzer.
"What price?" demanded Ray, willing to pay nearly anything for a chance to see Mariah again.
"Us."
A stunned silence fell over them.
"W-What?" asked Tyson, praying he misheard.
"Turning back time will use up most, if not all of our power. When that happens, our spirits will need to rest." explained Draciel.
"For how long?" asked Max.
"The last time something like this happened, we were asleep for a thousand years."
The boys froze.
"No! There has to be another way!" said Kai sharply, looking up at Dranzer with panic in his eyes, silently begging. But the phoenix shook her regal head slowly.
The tension became thick. They all had loved ones that had died in the chaos.
Max's parents.
Mariah.
Kai's mother.
Grandpa and Hiro.
But, the bitbeasts were apart of them. A comforting voice in the dead of the night. A gentle reassurance. A friend that was constantly with them that had their back, no matter how dire the odds. They were more than partners. They were a piece of their soul. Ray, Max and Kai had all felt the hollow emptiness when they had lost them in battle. They knew the heaviness of this sacrifice.
Ray stepped forward. "It's up to you Tyson."
"Me?"
"Yeah." Max nodded in agreement. "You and Dragoon have the strongest bond. Whatever you decide, we will stand with you until the very end."
"Really?" He glanced over to his rival. "Kai?"
Kai gripped his elbows tightly. "Just follow your heart Tyson." He trusted Tyson's judgement more than his own.
"I see." The pony-tailed boy bit his lip and cast his gaze to the steel dish as his friend's eyes fell on him, waiting anxiously for his decision. A small breeze blew, tousling his torn clothes and matted hair as a full minute past. Finally, he looked up at Dragoon with his trademark smile. "I'm gonna miss you buddy." The beast smiled and nodded, and Tyson rushed up to the majestic beast and gave it a huge hug. "Don't worry though, the four of us will take care of each other."
With the decision made, Ray walked up to the glorious white tiger and the bitbeast pounced and licked his face, he laughed and stroked the tiger's forehead. "Thank-you my friend."
"I hope that you and Mariah will be happy. Tell Gallux that I'm sorry for not saying good-bye."
Ray hugged the guardian tighter. "I'm sure she will understand."
Max approached Draciel with tears running down his pale cheeks and hugged the great turtle's face tightly. "Thank-you for everything you have done for me." he sobbed.
Draciel smiled. "You have become so strong, you don't need me anymore. Believe in your own power Max."
Max cried harder.
Kai looked up at the phoenix who had been watching over him since his birth. Hundreds of emotions passed through his scarlet orbs.
"Try not to get yourself killed."
He smiled a watery smile. "Look whose talking." His voice was barely above a whisper, cracking more with every word.
Knowing her stubborn master, the Phoenix flew to him and he hugged her feathery body, she wrapped her wings around him so the others wouldn't see him cry. "Find happiness with Tyson."
"I will." His voice was high-pitched, his shoulders shaking as his tears dampened her feathers.
"Be strong Kai."
After several moments, they all pulled away and the bitbeasts gathered in the centre of the stadium. The winds shifted and their bodies were surrounded with a magnificent aura. "We're going to turn back time." promised Dragoon.
"No one will have any memories of what happened here, except for you four." explained Dranzer, glancing over at the two young boys who were watching the scene intensely.
"Oh, and one last gift." said Draciel. The bitbeasts shut their eyes and the beyblades in their partner's hands glowed in response before transforming. "Kenny will want to see those. They're infused with the last of our power, so you will always have a piece of us with you."
"I don't get it." said Tyson, looking at his transformed blade with confusion.
"They'll obey your commands so you don't have to use as much of your spirit to control them." explained Drigger.
"Unfortunately, we're running out of time." reminded Dranzer.
Tyson and Dragoon locked eyes and Tyson grinned. "Don't even think about saying it Dragoon, because I know that we'll see each other again."
The ancient beast chuckled. "Till we meet again, Tyson Kinomiya."
The four sacred beasts then began chanting an ancient incantation and the aura around their bodies got thicker and glowed brighter before slowly combining, emitting a bright white light that was slowly encompassing the stadium.
The teens were forced to shut their eyes.
The next time they opened them, Kai and Tyson were in the middle of the crowded stadium, lips locked, both of their eyes wide open as they tried to process everything.
"FUCKING FINALLY!" Tala's voice rang clearly throughout the stadium, and soon the hoots and hollers of fellow beybladers were drowned by claps, whistles and cheers from the fans.
It had worked! They had travelled back in time! Which meant-
"AAAIIIIEEEE!"
The deafening scream of the little girl silenced the crowd, and everyone looked over to see Boris holding her high, a victorious smirk plastered on his wrinkled face. "Thank you for getting their attention young lady. You did a remarkable job."
Anger swelled in Kai and Tyson's hearts. History was repeating itself again.
But this time they were ready.
Before the murderer could say another word, Drigger rose up and charged, snatching the little girl out of his grasp. Dragoon then came from behind and knocked him down onto the steel staircase beside the aisle, and pinned his weak body to the steps so he couldn't escape. Draciel soon located the bomb inside the purse of the woman that was seated next to Boris. He snatched the whole purse and threw it through the hole in the roof. Dranzer then flew up and grabbed the purse in her sharp talons and carried it high into the atmosphere before it detonated. The audience watched in awe as the sky lit up with red and orange flames.
Stanley Dickenson was the first to realized what had nearly happened. "Security! Arrest that man immediately and call the police!" At once twenty security guards came and placed the villain in handcuffs. The crowd watched in fascination, some parents covering their children's ears as the madman called his captures a list of very colourful expletives.
Up in the stands, Tala and Bryan were filming the entire thing with their cellphones, laughing their asses off. The only thing that would make this better were if they were the ones who were laying well-placed punches to the ass-wipe's head and stomach.
With the danger neutralized, Max, Ray, Tyson and Kai looked up at their bitbeasts who were fading rapidly. They all gave a small nod, and the bitbeasts disappeared, with them their picture faded on the their respective beyblade's bitchip as well.
Kai wrapped his hand around Tyson's waist and the younger rested his head on his broad chest, silently comforting each other as they whispered their good-byes. The coldness that filled their hearts was suffocating...
Once Mr. Dickenson was sure that everyone was safe, he took centre stage. "Well now that is out of the way, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honour and pride that I-"
"Hold up Mr. D!"
Sighing, the chairman asked, "What is it this time Tyson?"
"Wouldn't it be more awesome for the former world champ to crown the new one?"
The director blinked before giving a low chuckle. "And here I was thinking that it would put a strain on your relationship. Yes, of course young man! You and Kai both get up here!"
The rivals stood tall as they walked across the arena. Mr. Dickenson handed the trophy to Tyson who then turned to his former captain. "Kai, after so many years of beyblading together, we've both come a long way. You deserve this buddy." He handed the large, golden trophy to the Russian and winked, "Don't get too used to it though; I'll take it back from you next year."
"Hn. You can go ahead and try." They shared a smile.
"Ok, no one cares about who won the stupid trophy! Kiss again already, goddammit!" Bryan hollered from the back corner of the stadium.
"Yeah, kiss!" encouraged Ray.
"KISS!" screamed Max.
"Kiss. Kiss. Kiss." Bryan and Tala chanted, with the rest of the crowd joining in. Soon all anyone could hear was the chant.
Tyson glanced at Kai with a cocky smile and wriggled his eyebrows. The enigma rolled his eyes and shouted, "FINE! If it will get you all to shut-up!" They leaned forward and captured each other's lips again. Electricity jolted up both of their spines, igniting their passions. The kiss deepened, their tongues sliding against each other as their fingers became entangled in each other's hair. When they finally pulled away for air, they were panting with flushed cheeks.
The audience went crazy.
That was enough for Kai.
"Kai! Woah, what the-" Tyson exclaimed as the Russian hoisted him up over his shoulder, giving him an excellent view of his perky ass.
"You and I have some unfinished business."
"But we had our beybattle! Kai, where are we going? Kai!" But his question was ignored as the World Champion carried his prize out of the arena.
Tala leaned back in his chair with a knowing smile. "Well he doesn't waste time."
Catching on, Bryan chuckled. "Hope Tyson is ready. He's going to be sore in the morning."
"Huh? Why is Tyson going to be sore?" asked Spencer with a confused look on his face.
Tala sighed. "Never mind. We should get out of here before everyone else decides to get the same idea and we have to fight our way through the parking lot."
Ian suddenly burst out laughing.
"Dude, care to share the joke?" asked Bryan.
"I just realized...Kai is World Champion. Remember how Dickenson forced Tyson to do all those appearances and crap?"
Tala grinned. All media outlets will be hounding the BBA to get an exclusive interview, and if they couldn't get one out of Kai, they now knew that Tyson was his boyfriend. Which meant either Kai agreed to the interview or risk having Tyson spill all his secrets to the world. "That poor bastard."
So finally done this chapter! Hopefully with a little luck I can get the next one out before the end of the month. Please leave a review! 2 chapters left and I can promise the next one you will LOVE!
