Chapter 12

The BBA council agreed to let the national Beyblade tournament happen and Mr. Dickenson phoned Kai to let him know that they got the ball rolling. In the interim Kai had checked out Max Mizuhara-Tate, who had freshly moved to Osaka. The blond boy was a good Beyblader, but it didn't seem that he was in the possession of a Bit Beast. Surprisingly Max had formed a friendship with Takao Kinomiya, the Blader whose Beyblade he had unintentionally destroyed. The boy got a new Beyblade, a more powerful one, and if Kai's feeling wasn't fooling him this big mouthed ape had somehow gained the power of a Bit Beast. That's why he kept an eye on the little group that was completed by the brown-haired boy with the glasses he had met when fighting Takao. Everyone referred to the boy as Kenny and he was the tinkerer of the group. He created the new Beyblade of the ape only with the help of his laptop. As a loner himself, Kai was always astonished how strong someone could be when being part of a team; alone those three were weak, but together they weren't to be underestimated.

Kai knew that Mr. Dickenson had informed the trio about the national tournament which would be held in Osaka next weekend. And he also knew that Takao was eager after battling him again, because Mr. Dickenson had told him so.

The last days before the tournament Kai found himself training a lot, but he didn't train to become stronger. More or less the contrary was the case. He trained to hide his true strength and to adjust his power to the power of his opponents. Somehow he ended up to take the ape as a benchmark.

This wasn't the only thing Kai recognized. The whole mission got extremely serious. Voltaire really planned to take over the world and although Kai wasn't interested in the fate of the world, he didn't want to live under a dictator like Voltaire. Of course, the thought about inheriting the man's power was tempting, but not tempting enough. Kai had accepted the mission under Ivanov's conditions and he would never betray an employer, because of his own desires. That was against the teen's ethics.

The tournament was held at the Seaside Dome on the 11th of June. There were two rounds. In the first round four groups (A, B, C, D) had a multi-match where only the winner reached the second round. The second round contained one on one battles. Kai was in group B and had to fight Kenny in the first round. This would be easy since Kenny was only a good tinkerer, but not a good Blader. The match was over within two minutes. First, Dranzer kicked out all the other Beyblades and Kenny's jumping Blade in the end. Even the little power he used was enough to destroy the boy's Beyblade. Kai was sure that the next Beyblade Kenny would build was a lot better than this one, because after watching the trio for some days he recognized the talent of the brown haired kid and he valued it.

Just this morning he had a brief talk with Mr. Dickenson and they talked a bit about Kenny. Kai suggested including Kenny in the team even if he loses in round one, because of his talent in analyzing and creating powerful Beyblades. Mr. Dickenson, who had also recognized Kenny's talent, agreed to the idea.

They also talked about Max and Rei. Rei arrived in Osaka yesterday and Kai hadn't had the chance to meet him yet. "He will be in the tournament as my special guest. He has a good chance to be part of the team, because of his Bit Beast Byakko," Mr. Dickenson had explained to Kai. "He will be in group D."

"Okay. So with Kenny as an inactive and Rei and me as active Bladers we need to find two more. Maxie is good, but he doesn't have a Bit Beast and without one he wouldn't stand a chance against the Demolition Boys." Kai paused for a moment, then he continued, "Although I don't like him, he would be a good teammate."

"You mean Takao?" Mr. Dickenson asked with a smile. Kai's distaste of the blue haired teen was clearly visible in his face and tone. "It seems he has a strong bond with his Blade Dragoon."

"Okay. He or Rei will be the flagship of our team," Kai stated.

Mr. Dickenson was surprised. "Are you sure? I thought you will be the number one?"

"No, I'm not interested in drawing all the attention on me. I will stay in the background and function as the team captain and emergency man."

"Does this mean you plan to lose in the final round?" Mr. Dickenson was still amazed.

"Hm," was the only response the president of the BBA got. Kai finished the talk by turning around and walking away. Losing, although deliberately, wasn't something he was really after. After all he hated to lose.

Due to Mr. Dickenson's authority Max was in group A, Kai and Kenny in group B, Takao in C and Rei in D. If all went according to the plan Kai would come upon Max in the second round and Takao had to show his skills against Rei. And everything went according to the plan. Takao had to fight against Carlos, who participated as well, and this time he managed to win without any difficulties. Rei was as good as Mr. Dickenson had told him. With the help of his Beyblade Driger he cut all the other Blades into two and won in group D.

Kai watched the Chinese Blader with interest. He was not only a strong fighter, but also very good looking. The traditional white Chinese clothes pleased his overall appearance: long black hair tight back in a white wrap reached down to the ankles and golden colored eyes. Especially the eyes were alluring, since they reminded Kai of a cat and Kai loved cats since he was a little boy. If they were together in a team, his self-imposed sexual abstinence would no doubt begin to totter.

Rei had to battle Takao in the semi-final and this match flustered Kai more than his own against Max. Without the power of a Bit Beast Max wouldn't stand a chance against Dranzer's fire attacks. Rei and Takao both had Bit Beasts, but Rei had Byakko for months, whereas Takao got Seiryu just some days ago. They didn't have so much training, but somehow Kai had the feeling that the annoying teenager would win against the calm Chinese, although it was illogical. Nonetheless, he had a hunch…

After a thirty-minute break the first match started. D.J. Jazzman, the most popular host, was presenting the battle. "Are you ready?!" he asked the crowd which screamed enthusiastically as a response. "Here we go! In the first semi-final Max will fight Kai, so guys, take your start positions! 3 … 2 … 1 … GO SHOOT!"

Kai noticed that Max used a new Beyblade and it was now rushing to the top of the tower in the middle of the beystadium, but Dranzer was also heading there. Both failed. The green Blade didn't stop and started to spin towards the top again, this time with success.

'If I use Dranzer's Spin Fire Attack, I might destroy the other Beyblade and would win the match after one fight,' Kai thought while Dranzer sprang into the air. "Dranzer, Spin Fire Attack!" With a devastating strike he kicked Max' Beyblade out of the stadium. Kai and Dranzer won the first round. 'His Beyblade is still in one piece. Not bad, but without the power of a Bit Beast he can't win against my Dranzer.'

"Are you ready for the second round?" Jazzman asked the opponents. "3 … 2 … 1 … GO SHOOT!"

"This time I won't lose, Kai!" Max said confidently.

'I wonder what he's planning,' Kai thought, but instead he responded, "We'll see."

Max shot his Blade directly at the top of the tower, but this time it spun the other way round. Kai still didn't know what Max had in mind, so he concluded that the blond just wanted to confuse him. Since Kai would never call himself imaginative, except any sexual subjects, he tried the same as in round one. "Spin Fire Attack, Dranzer!" And again Dranzer landed a direct hit on the green Blade's top, but somehow this time it kept spinning around. Due to the power of the impact a tremor went through the whole Seaside Dome.

"Interesting, but it ain't over yet," Kai praised Max.

"I know, but when my Beyblade starts spinning in the other direction it will absorb Dranzer's power," Max finally explained his plan. "You'll lose this round, Kai." And as if proving Max' words to be true, Dranzer was tossed off the tower and Max was the winner. The third match would show who will fight in the final.

Suddenly max Bit Chip broke and the Beyblade kicked itself out of the stadium. First, it didn't look like Max could fix it, but then the blond smiled again. He picked something up from the ground, something that must have been in this clunky looking necklace he wore for this match. Kai, who had almost thought the battle was already over before it could get really interesting, tried to look at the thing Max now put on his Beyblade.

'Could this be a Bit Beast?' he wondered and if Dranzer had heard him and wanted to confirm him, it gleamed for a second. 'Seems like the team is now complete,' Kai smiled inwardly, 'and Dranzer wants to fight some more.'

Max looked confident, but also a bit insecure since he didn't know what power he obtained just now. D.J. Jazzman counted for the third match, "3 … 2 … 1 … GO SHOOT!" Both Blades rushed to the top of the tower and attacked each other forcefully. After several seconds still no winner was in sight. Both Beyblades spun down to have more space to attack with even more power. Dranzer attacked the green Blade with the power Kai allowed it to use. It wouldn't be very convincing if he used much more power than in the previous battles and he still wanted to lose in the final, so he couldn't be weaker all of a sudden again.

Max, who now called his Beyblade Draciel, because of the Bit Beast, defended the attack and the battle got so fierce that Draciel appeared. With his power Draciel kicked Dranzer in the air, but the match wasn't over yet.

'I haven't fought against a Bit Beast since my battle with … Not the right time to think about him.' Focusing on the Beystadium again Kai commanded Dranzer to appear as well and with a final blow Draciel flew out of the stadium. Dranzer and Kai were the winner.

For this day the battles were over. The second semi-final would be held tomorrow. Takao faced Rei and this time a classic Beystadium was used again. Kai watched the fight from the grand stand and wasn't surprised when Rei won the first round. His Beyblade Driger hunted Dragoon like a cat hunts a mouse and with the infamous Tiger Claw Attack the blue Blade was kicked out and totally destroyed.

The official rules said that Takao must fix his Beyblade otherwise Rei would be the winner. It didn't look like Takao could continue and Rei started to walk out of the arena when Kenny came with a bunch of replacement equipment. Now Takao was allowed a little time-out in which Kenny repaired Dragoon.

Twenty minutes later the second round started. Rei immediately attacked with the Tiger Claw, but this time Dragoon just pushed it off. The blue dragon started a counter by creating a tornado and first it seemed that Takao was at an advantage, but the white tiger eliminated the storm and finally showed itself.

"I can't believe it," Kai said out loud and continued in his thoughts, 'Why does he have a tiger and I a phoenix? I want the cat.' Kai wasn't a jealous person, but when it came to cats he was. Although he liked Dranzer really much, or Suzaku, how he had named the red phoenix secretly, Rei's Driger was as beautiful as the owner. And untouchable, at least until he finished his mission. When would this be?

After minutes of relentless attacks, both Blades seemed to be equipollent. Then, a new tornado emerged and within it the blue dragon Dragoon appeared. Another minute later and Driger flew out of the stadium. Takao won the second round.

Rei approached Takao, who was already surrounded by Kenny and Max, and they had a brief talk. 'Seems like Takao will be the new national champion,' Kai thought while following the movements of Rei's lips to read what he was saying. Rei gave up the match and from watching the quartet Kai concluded that Rei was now a friend of the other Beybladers. 'You've got to hand it to him. Takao easily makes new friends.' It suited Kai just fine since they were all in the same team soon.

After the semi-final was a two-hour break before the final started. Takao used the time to let Kenny fix his Beyblade and to make it even stronger. Furthermore, today was Takao's birthday and his grandfather came with some people from their neighborhood to celebrate. He even asked Kai to celebrate with him, but he refused and walked away.

At 5 p.m. the final started for real. The stadium used in the final was just called the cage, because it was encircled by bars. Three rounds and the one, who won two of them, was the champion. D.J. Jazzman was once more the presenter. "3 … 2 … 1 … GO SHOOT!" The match began.

Dranzer and Dragoon made short work and rushed towards each other. Takao was the one, who attacked first with Dragoon's tornado. Kai was pushed back against the bars and Dranzer followed him suit. Takao and Dragoon won round number one.

Everyone in the Seaside Dome was surprised. Most of them reckoned that Kai would win the first two rounds and would be the final winner. Well, they all knew nothing about Kai's plan. Only Mr. Dickenson rolled his eyes.

"Hey Kai, I know you can do more than that. Why don't you use your power?" Takao asked after the first round.

Kai smiled. "Maybe I underestimated you, but that won't happen a second time," he responded while he asked himself, 'Should I let him win the second round or should I make it exciting?'

"At least you have smiled once."

"Oh, did I do that? Then treasure it, because it won't happen again."

"I don't know what your problem is, dude." Takao was surprised by Kai's harsh reply since he only wanted to be friendly.

"I don't beyblade for fun like you. Let's go back to business."

Both Bladers took their start positions and Jazzman announced the second round, "3 … 2 … 1 … GO SHOOT!"

Takao didn't lose any time and assailed Dranzer with Dragoon's Storm Attack. This time Kai unleashed Dranzer and with its Fire Arrow Dragoon was kicked out of the stadium.

'Let's make it a bit exciting, Takao. Now show me what you really are made of.'

As fast as Kai lost the first round he won the second, but Takao didn't seem depressed. He was even more joyous then before. "Now we are on equal grounds, Kai."

'You think, but I won't disappoint you birthday boy. You will have a good fight with me. That's my present to you. Like this, you can be proud of yourself.' Kai didn't say anything of this out loud. He just looked at Takao and took his start position.

"Are you ready for the final?!" Jazzman asked no one in particular. "Here we go! 3 … 2 … 1 … GO SHOOT!"

Dragoon and Dranzer started immediately to attack each other and both Bit Beasts didn't wait long to show up. Storm and fire dashed into each other and caused an explosion. For a moment nobody could say who had won the match, if there even was a winner.

'Please Dranzer. I know it's hard to lose, but please, be the loser this time,' Kai repeated mantra-like. As soon as the air cleared Takao and Kai looked for their Beyblades, but they couldn't find them in the arena. Then, they noticed them falling of the sky and Dragoon and Dranzer started to attack each other again as if the match had just started. When both Blades came down, Dragoon hit the edge of the Beystadium and spun back to the middle of the arena. Dranzer hit the edge as well, but it fell off and stopped spinning before Kai's feet.

'Wow Dranzer. This was a good stunt. Now nobody will think that I lost deliberately.'

D.J. Jazzman announced Takao as the new national champion, but before the blue haired teen could say anything Mr. Dickenson and Rei walked up to the two finalists. "You two know how to give a good performance," the president of the BBA praised both.

Before Kai and Takao could reply anything, the lights went out and four spotlights went on. Each one focused on one of the four semi-finalists Max, Rei, Kai and Takao. "These four outstanding Beyblader will represent the BBA in the World Championships in Moscow and the national championships in Asia and America," Jazzmam enlightened everyone. "Takao, Max and Rei will be the active Beybladers and Kai will serve as the team captain and their trainer." After a short moment Jazzman added, "And Kenny will be part as well. He will be the tinkerer of the … by the way, what's the name of the team?"

By the opportunity to become the best Blader in the world, Takao jumped in the air and with pure enthusiasm he suggested Bladebreakers as the team's name. Since nobody said anything against it, the official name was decided. Max and Kenny ran towards the national champion and everyone seemed outright happy, except for Kai, who looked uncomfortable.

"Why aren't you happy, Kai?" Mr. Dickenson whispered to him. "Everything went as planned."

"Yeah, but they are so annoying," Kai frowned while looking at the cheerful group that was now the Bladebreakers. "I won't survive. This Takao-guy pisses me off. I can't stand him." Kai was earnestly, but why did Takao annoy him so much? He didn't know himself.

"You will get used to them," Mr. Dickenson encouraged him. "Keep in mind: We have to stop your grandfather."

"Hm."

Takao walked up to Kai to shake hands with him. They were teammates now and so for Takao it was natural that Kai was now his friend. Kai walked away before Takao could reach him and across his shoulder he said to all of them, but especially to the blue-haired boy, "Enjoy this day. Tomorrow morning training will start and I won't go easy on you. Be on time."

Kai could hear Mr. Dickenson saying, "He's okay. Just do what he says and everything will be fine."

When Kai came home this Sunday evening, he was exhausted. Not because of the tournament, everything went according to the plan, but this Takao-guy! He was so tiring.

"I won't survive. I can't. This is too much!" Kai slumped down on the couch and face-palmed. "I knew that this guy is a big mouthed ape, but … Good Lord … this is too much. I'll never survive until the World Championship in Moscow, if we ever make it so far."

The reason that Kai was so annoyed by the blue-haired teen was not only his behavior during the national tournament. It was more because of the interview Takao gave afterwards. Kai saw it on his way back to his apartment and couldn't suppress a loud sigh. Now that he was the number one in Japan, Takao totally overestimated himself. He had talked like he was already the number one in the whole world. And something this stupid pissed Kai off. Back when he was a fighting as child soldier there were many kids like that and in the end, they all wound up dead.

To calm his anger and frustration Kai audibly cursed Takao with his goofy grin. Anger, because he had to lose against such an annoying ape and frustration, because Takao, Rei and Max were good, but far away from the level of the Demolition Boys. In two months the Word Championship in Moscow would be held and until then he had to train those three. They were, no doubt, all talented Beybladers, but nobody was a natural talent like himself.

"It can't be helped. Tomorrow training will start and in one week we will fly to China to win the Asian Championship," Kai whispered quietly. "And after that, we will fly to America and try our luck. And in the end, when we won all the Championships, we can fight the Demolition Boys in Moscow." 'And I will see Tala again,' he added in his thoughts.

As soon as he thought about the Russian his groin ached. His self-imposed sexual abstinence was harder to bear as he had imagined. Now, that he stayed away from any sexual interactions, he realized how addicted he really was.

"I'm totally fucked up." He sighed and stood up to pace the room. The brief thought about the redhead had awakened an unfulfilled desire within him. "Shit!" Kai went into the bathroom just to walk back out again seconds later. "Shit." He breathed out and slumped on the couch, jumped to his feet and walked back into the bathroom. There he undressed in less than ten seconds and turned the cold water of his shower on. The ice-cold water washed every thought in his head away…