I'm soooo happy, guys! No school tomorrow, no grades less than a 90, AND my dad's letting me go to a dance with this really awesome otaku guy! So to celebrate, I shall be posting this chapter earlier than I intended.^^

Chapter Ten: ...Or New Foe?

"What did you just say? "

"Was I speaking French?" she retorted, narrowing her piercing sapphire eyes. "You heard me. I said Ginga Hagane is alive."

He snatched a chair in one hand, effortlessly flinging it through the air. However, Stephanie saw it coming and ducked just as the chair flew over her head. It crashed loudly to the ground behind her, and a fierce throaty snarl erupted from Hisoka's throat when he realized the threat this boy was to Stephanie.

But Stephanie stayed calm and collected, raising an eyebrow at the white haired teen boy as he approached her. His golden eyes were cold, his whole face distorted with anger. He halted in front of her, leaning closer, his evil gaze boring into hers as if he expected her to recoil.

"And why is Ginga Hagane still alive?" he demanded, raising his voice over Hisoka's deafening growl.

"I wasn't going to kill him myself. What'd you expect me to do: push him back down into the gorge?" Stephanie asked, gritting her teeth to hide her anger at his arrogant smirk. "Ryuga, Ginga Hagane is weak. He is of no threat to you now."

"I didn't say it was okay for you to help him," Ryuga pointed out.

Stephanie shook her head. "You do not have to kill or physically harm him to prove that you are better than he is." She let her gaze drift down to Hisoka, who had his fangs bared at Ryuga.

"You do not call the shots, Stephanie," he answered. Ryuga took a small step back, eyeing the beautiful golden wolf suspiciously.

"Ryuga, so you doubt my loyalty to the Dark Nebula?" Stephanie asked, her voice calm. Her face betrayed no fear or hate towards the arrogant boy. She tipped her head to one side. "You know I have done nothing wrong, nothing that should make me an enemy in your eyes."

"Stephanie, you shut that mutt up, right now!" Ryuga ordered, pointing at the wolf as he opened his jaws to release a loud bark.

She returned his glare defiantly before her gaze softened. She could not risk losing any more of Ryuga's trust. Stephanie knelt down on her knees, placing a hand on her wolf's head. "Hush now, Hisoka," she murmured soothingly, her muscles relaxing as Hisoka's growls faded into silence. "Good boy." Stephanie stood up again, crossing her arms as she stared at Ryuga. She'd make him pay later.

"I don't like you, Stephanie," Ryuga said, quite unexpectedly.

Stephanie's eyes widened in surprise, but she kept quiet as he reached for his bey launcher. She felt her heart speed up; she knew her time was up. Beside her, Hisoka was bristling, poised to leap to his owner's defense at any second.

Ryuga continued: "I think there's something you're hiding from me, something big." He took one step toward her, his face only inches from hers. "Your mission at Wolf Canyon was to make sure Ginga was gone, not to play hero." Sarcasm laced his voice and mockery filled his gaze. "You deliberately saved him, though I am not sure why, but now you will pay the ultimate price." He lifted his arm and retrieved his bey from the dragon armband.*

What do I say? Stephanie thought desperately, not daring to take her eyes off him for a second. There's no way I can get out of this.

"Ready your bey, girl. Your time at the Dark Nebula is up."

Slowly - not shakily - she reached for her beyblade, hoping to buy some time. She could always order Hisoka to attack Ryuga, but that would mean leaving her best friend behind. She just couldn't do that to Hisoka. And she couldn't turn and run. She's never get away in time.

The door to the room suddenly opened, and a girl bounded into the room, her shoulder long golden brown hair falling into her face. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath, and her legs shook. Stephanie guessed shed been running for quite a while.

The girl bowed her head. "Forgive me, Ryuga," she said breathlessly. "I didn't meant to intrude." Her head was still bowed.

"Ayumi." Doji slinked out if the shadows of the room. His footsteps were slow, almost intimidating, since Stephanie knew exactly what she was capable of. She certainly didn't like the cruel gleam in his eyes.

The girl looked up.

"What do you need?" asked Doji, watching her through the sparkly glass as he took a sip of juice.

"It seems there was a...disturbance from one of the prison cells," Ayumi told him, straightening up. She glanced from Doji to Ryuga and back again. "An explosion, to be exact."

"Have you gone to see what all the commotion is?" Doji asked calmly.

"Kuroi is in her way to check it out now, sir."

"We will meet her there. Ryuga?" The tall man turned to look at the teen questioningly. "Are you fine with that?"

"Actually, I have some unfinished business."

That was when they noticed Stephanie was gone. She had slowly been edging her way out of view while Doji and Ryuga were focusing on Ayumi's report. And now, she ran as fast as she could with Hisoka behind her, heading down the winding corridors of the Dark Nebula castle. She had thought they'd focus on the prisoners before her, but she knew someone would come after her. As she turned to take the abandoned hallway that led to the exit, she heard Ryuga back in the room, cursing angrily.

Credits.
Stephanie Starlette Doci belongs to Duelist of the Stars.
Ayumi Sang belongs to interrobangs/primed-pandemonium.
Kuroi Yami belongs to Becca145.

Sorry for errors, I wrote this in my iPod. :P Point them out if you wish so I can fix them.

And yes, I told one person ahead of time who was going to intercept Hikaru and the others before they escaped. :P

.:::Review Replies:::.

MaziMe: Heh. Now you know who will be getting in Hikaru's way. ^^ hope you enjoyed! Thanks for being one of my most faithful reviewers. (:

Zineb1996: Thank youuuu!(:

Kingdom's Oathkeeper: Well I PMed you, so you know what I had to say ;D

Red Moon Night: Thank you soooo much for the review! It means a lot! Who was your friend who knew who it was? :P I'm so glad you like reading this, though^^ And omnom, gummy bears:3

A.B.D.Y.Z: Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed! (:

(:Mizune