Hey, hey! Sorry I took so long! I started several stories for Vocaloid, and I've been keeping up with them. Not to mention the dance with that guy started up tons of drama with my ex-best friend and his girlfriend that I've been dealing with. D:

But now it's spring break and I'll try to upload more! (:

Also, I'll be starting a couple of other Beyblade fics. And they'll be the last of my work for this fandom^^ Trust me, it'll be a bittersweet goodbye, haha XD

Enjoy~!

Chapter Twelve: Drowning in the Past...

I couldn't fight anymore. Pegasus had been thrown into Wolf Canyon.

And I knew from the look in his eyes that I was next.

I wanted to run. But...I found that to be quite a cowardly option. That, and it was practically impossible for me to even stand with all the vicious, swirling wind. Kyoya was well aware that he'd beaten me, yet he commanded his Leone again and again, and the wind only got stronger.

He knew what he was doing. When he ordered Leone to 'take no prisoners,' I knew what would happen to me. It felt like a tornado, just throwing things around carelessly. And I was lifted into the air with ease, tossed around like a ragdoll before I was sent reeling over the edge into Wolf Canyon.

Despite the odds that I would die, I reached for the rocky cliff side and dug my fingers into the dirt and rock, painfully aware of the skin being scraped off my hands as I slid - fast - toward the bottom of the gorge.

••••

"Ginga! Ginga, wake up! Oh...Ginga!"

His eyes flew open, and he sat bolt upright with a loud cry of fear. But the strain made him wince; his whole body ached, though he wasn't exactly sure why. Memories of the day before were fuzzy, but only bits and pieces remained. Dropping his gaze to his bandaged hands, he struggled to recall yesterday. He squinted, his eyes shut, gritting his teeth as he searched his mind for answers.

"Ginga! Thank goodness you're okay!" Madoka flung her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"Ma...Madoka..." Ginga lifted a hand and patted her back once, still a little puzzled. She pulled away and met his gaze, her eyes concerned. She opened her mouth to speak, but Ginga beat her to it. "What happened?"

"I was hoping you could tell me that," Madoka murmured, gently touching his shoulder. "Stephanie said she saw you climbing out of Wolf Canyon."

Ginga gasped as the events started to play his head. "Stephanie!"

••••

"Take my hand; I'll help you!"

I wanted to. Oh, I really didn't want anything other than to be done climbing. Already, I was barely able to hold my eyes open. Exhaustion enveloped my nerves, each breath was laborious, and blood soaked my clothes. She placed her hand over mine and clenched my wrist. Her touch sent just enough energy and hope through my veins that gave me strength to tighten my grip on her.

It was obvious that I was causing her a lot of trouble, but I just wasn't able to pull myself up on my own anymore. Nevertheless, I strained my muscles and pushed up with my legs, hoping that the rocks supporting my weight wouldn't give in.

With the help of her bushy-furred golden wolf, they hauled me up over the edge

I collapsed onto my belly, eyelids drooping.

She lifted me up, wrapping one arm around my waist and holding me up. As she walked hurriedly away from the canyon, my feet dragged on the ground. Her voice was slurred and echoed in my head as I fought to stay conscious. "Hold on, Ginga. I'll get you there in time. You'll be fine."

I dropped my head. When...when did I tell her my name?

She forced me to lean more on her shoulder, refusing to loosen her grip. "I'm Stephanie."

••••

"Snap out of it, Ginga!" Madoka cried, snapping her fingers rapidly just inches away from his face.

Ginga blinked a few times and rested a confused gaze on his best friend. "Sorry. I...just, ah..." He closed his eyes and shook his head. So much was still unclear about the day before. All he needed was something to trigger these memories. Surely Kyoya hadn't been responsible for all this? But the fierce blader was the only one he could remember from the battle. "Madoka, what do you know about what happened to me?"

Madoka looked down, her voice quiet. "Not much. Er...I really don't know anything. It must've been some bey battle, though. Pegasus was in your pocket, damaged pretty badly."

"Oh..Pegasus." Ginga closed his eyes, thinking of his precious little beyblade, remembering how it had been sent flying into Wolf Canyon.

••••

My muscles burned more and more with each movement. I reached up to grab a strong rock, grasping it as tight as I could with my raw hand. My hand extended above my head, the sticky blood oozed down my arm, tickling and irritating my skin. I heaved myself up, scrabbling for a good foothold. Just above me was a thick, jutting rock, a perfect place for me to rest. I gritted my teeth and sucked in a deep breath of air, summoning the remains of my energy to get me to that rock for a few minutes' rest.

I dug my fingers into the rock, swung my legs up over the edge and crawled over to lean against the cliff. I heaved a relieve sigh. I was almost to the top.

Something glittered in the sunlight. Something right at my side. I looked at it, going rigid with shock at the sight of Pegasus, smashed into several little pieces...

•••••

"Can you repair it? Pegasus, I mean," Ginga added, aware that he'd zoned out for a few minutes. He turned back to look at her, smiling when their eyes met.

"Of course I can! I've finished cleaning the pieces; all that's left to do is put it back together. It could take some time, though." Madoka flashed her teeth in a smile, but her eyes were distant. Sad, even. She turned her back to the red-haired boy, clasping her hands together.

"Madoka, are you-"

"Ginga, listen." She sighed as she turned to look at him yet again. "I care about you, really. You're like my best friend. And you...you have no idea how worried I was."

"I'm sorry..." Ginga raised a brow at her words, following her movements as she slowly made her way back over to the couch where he was sitting.

"Please don't hate me." Madoka grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close, pressing her lips to his.

And the memories came flooding back.

•••

I kissed Hikaru goodbye, but there hasn't been that spark I so desperately wanted. She said she had to go challenge other bladers, increase her number of points, get stronger. We separated, and no sooner than I returned to the B-Pit did some Face-Hunter come and say Kyoya wanted to talk.

Then, there was that awful battle. I remember it all now...Hikaru chose Kyoya, and - though I didn't mind - he decided to get rid of me. There was something more behind the whole thing, but I was thrown into the gorge before I could do anything about it.

••••

"Hikaru!" Ginga shoved Madoka away, shocked at everything just one kiss reminded him. The last thing he remembered was a vicious Kyoya and a frightened Hikaru. Were either of them okay?

"I'm sorry, Ginga..." Madoka murmured, starting to back away from him.

"No, no." Ginga grabbed her arms, refusing to let her move, even though it hurt his hands to hang on to her. "I didn't mean it in a bad way." He leaned closer and captured her mouth with his lips, skin tingling.

Surely Hikaru could wait a while longer?

Credits.
Stephanie Starlette Doci belongs to Duelist of The Stars

No review replies this time; my thumbs are killing me from typing it all on my iPod. Next time, then(:

Thanks for reading! Everyone gets cookies! XD

(:Mizune