Thanks to inyoface and Moonblossoms for reading this story chapter by chapter! Much appreciated and I hope you enjoy it to the very end!

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Chapter Three: A Clash of Wills

Mystel re-adjusted the golden mask on his face as he made his way to the remains of the Bega Headquarters. Months had long since passed since Bega's downfall, but there were people who still lived in fear of the name. To avoid unnecessary conflict, Mystel shielded his face with his golden mask, only removing it when he was in the presence of someone he trusted.

Mariah was one of those people. Despite Lee's hostility towards him, Mystel had persevered with building a friendship with Mariah over the past couple of months. All she had to do was send a friendly text his way and he'd come running, drawn to her as if she were a magnet. She was simply intoxicating and just thinking about her put his mind at ease. Perhaps it was a mistake to drop his guard when he was around her, but he couldn't find it within himself to pull away.

Her long curls of pink hair fell down her back, bouncing with each step she made, her eyes alight with excitement and intelligence. She was wearing a pink tank top and matching pink shorts. Often, people would laugh behind her back about her clothing colour preferences, but he wasn't fussed. In fact, it only made her more likable in his eyes because it was a telling sign that she didn't allow others negative comments influence her thoughts.

"I'm surprised you're here," Mystel said, removing his mask.

Mariah smiled. "I would never turn down an opportunity to spend time with you, Mystel," she said softly, taking a seat on the wooden bench beneath a gnarled tree. "But how are you even managing? I mean, financially. I can't keep flying to Japan and back."

He sighed. "Worried your brother or Tao might get suspicious?" Lee was the typical over-protective brother, always worried someone would take advantage of his baby sister. It was pathetic, really – after all, Mariah was seventeen and old enough to make decisions on her own – but she was hopelessly devoted to him.

Mariah patted the space next to her. He took that as an invitation to sit down as well. "My brother doesn't hate you."

"Hate no, but dislike? Yes."

She sighed. "Lee's heart is in the right place. He wants what's best for me."

"And that's me staying away from you which is why it's a risk flying here and back."

"It's not like that at all," she defended, one brow furrowed. "He's just… a little shaken after the whole Bega incident, and I can't really blame him. When it was made known Boris was the mastermind of Bega, it made many us quite fearful of you."

Mystel rolled his eyes. It always came back to Boris. What exactly had the old man done that earned him so much hatred? "So, you all wrongly assumed the worst in us? We all joined Bega for different reason, Mariah. Hell, we didn't even know anything about Boris's history when he sent us the invitations. I still don't know much about it and I don't really care. It's in the past."

"It's hard to shake what happened."

"So, tell me so I can understand better."

She sighed. "Boris worked for Voltaire – Kai's grandfather. They created Biovolt Corporation and dedicated themselves to creating mass weapons of war to take over the world. Tala's team? Remember them? They worked for Boris and stole our bitbeasts."

Ah. That would explain the rage Tala and his teammates had towards Boris. "Boris wasn't cruel towards us. I mean, he never hurt us."

"He did towards the Blitzkrieg Boys – Kai included." She paused then sighed. "I don't want to talk about Boris anymore. I've forgiven Tala and the rest of his team, but I can't ever stop hating Boris."

"Boris is behind us now," Mystel replied with a frown. "We should look forward to what the future may bring."

She raised a hand and ran her fingertips through her pink tresses of hair, then sighed. "I'm not blaming you. I don't hold you at fault for anything that happened, but my brother…" Another sharp intake of breath, then she added, "He has a hard time letting go of grudges."

"We don't need to worry about Boris or anyone else like that anymore," Mystel said, tilting his head to the side. "Let's talk about the tournament instead. Talking about old men is quite depressing especially on a brilliant day such as this," he said, gesturing towards the clear-blue sky.

"The tournament. Are you competing?"

The team had debated the issue for the past several weeks. Ming Ming and Crusher were both in favour of it, but Garland and Brooklyn were not. It had been up to Mystel to cast the final vote and he voted against it. What was the point? What else did they need to prove? Who really cared about winning a piece of silverware anyway? It's not like it improved your health or anything. It just brought more public attention to yourself and sometimes that was more of a curse than a blessing. No. Once was enough.

He shook his head. "We argued about it for weeks but in the end, we decided against it. We wouldn't have the funding anyway to support us. Not every team is given a big grant to survive the journey. Once Bega had collapsed, it was over. Boris hadn't left us with a cent." Unlike Tyson and his friends. No other team received any special funding from the BBA. They had to make do on their own.

There was actual disappointment in Mariah's eyes. "But all the sponsors. The media."

"No one wants to give money to the villains."

She frowned. "It would've been nice to battle against your team."

"Except we're not really a team," he corrected. She raised a brow. "Garland, Ming Ming and Crusher are okay and all, but Brooklyn… is Brooklyn. He talks to you when he wants something, and even then, he's not pleasant about it."

"Can't you just do your own thing?"

"It's hard to go back to the lives we had before we became popular for all the wrong reasons." Most employees were terrified they would blow up the building. Others believed they still had connections with Boris and were spying for him, waiting for the right moment to strike back. It made finding a job or a sponsor difficult. "Best we stick together now and hope for the best."

"Why did you enter the tournament then? You knew it was going to change your life forever."

He shrugged. "I ask myself that every day. Why did I compete in such an important tournament featuring the biggest battles of all blading history knowing quite well what it would entail?" He glanced down at his lap and drew in a deep breath then exhaled. "It was a chance to try something new and Boris made a convincing offer. When the opportunity is there, you take it, right? You don't think about the consequences. You just do it and worry about it later."

Currently, he was living with his team in a small dodgy house in the countryside. Most of the windows didn't close properly, and the door's hinges were so broken they had to push the cupboard in front of it to stop it from swinging open. But it was quiet, and the less people he had to deal with, the better for his mental health. Money was made by teaching other countryfolk how to blade, but it wasn't enough to live a decent life. It took a month to save up for a game of bowling. That's how dire things were.

"You know if you ever need any help, you could always ask."

He shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but we'll make it through this."

At least he hoped they did. Perhaps this was how the Blitzkrieg Boys felt after their tournament with Boris at the helm. The entire world would've been against them, and they too, would've been struggling financially to survive each day. He wondered how they did it. He was about to speak further when he felt a vibration in his right pocket. He took the phone out, entered his pass code and brought up the message.

"Something wrong?"

Mystel read the text. We're playing a round of bowling tonight. You know where to go. Garland expects you to be there, so don't be too late – Brooklyn. One of Garland's 'team bonding' activities. The man was determined to make things work, and he felt if they became close friends, somehow their lives would turn around for the better.

Putting his phone away, he stood up from the chair and glanced down at Mariah. "Garland's called a team meeting. We'll be debating about what we should eat tonight. Same time next week, yeah?"

She nodded, also rising to her feet. "Of course." She wrapped her arms around him, embraced him for a few moments then pulled away. "Just remember, if you need help, we'll be there to lend a hand."

"I'll keep that in mind."

She stepped back. "Bye, Mystel."

"Bye, Mariah."

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There was no other place quite like home. Mariah and her brother had returned to the White Tiger Hills to pay their grandfather a visit. It had been months since they last returned, and Lee figured it could be quite some time before they had another chance to visit home. The village itself was based in the mountains far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

It was the perfect place for training as there were no distractions. No computers. No video gaming consoles. No electricity. Everything out here had to be done in the traditional methods of their ancestors, and she believed that gave her team a stronger mental edge in battles. Those who didn't understand this claimed they were 'old-fashioned' and a little 'backwards', but Mariah never let those comments get to her. Without their unique background, she doubted they would even be in the top blading teams in the world.

There was something relaxing about being surrounded by the wilderness. Something beautiful. Something you couldn't get by living in the city. They had peace here in the hills. Every morning she'd wake up to the sounds of bird song. In the evening, she'd have the best view of the sun dipping below the horizon. When she needed time to herself, she visited the waterfall and listened to the soothing sounds of water. It certainly beat anything the city could offer.

"Grandfather needs to speak with you about something," Lee said, walking towards the main wooden cabin.

"You know about it?"

He nodded. "I've heard bits and pieces, but I don't know the fine details."

The cabin was in the centre of the village marked by a single mailbox. As they neared the building, she spotted two young children run past, chasing after an out-of-control beyblade. She smiled to herself. The next generation of bladers of the White Tiger tribe. She remembered spending countless hours struggling to get her blade right. It wasn't until Rei took over her training that she finally mastered the basics of blading.

"Go on in," Lee said, pushing open the door. "I'll wait outside."

Mariah walked through the door and closed it. The cabin was small. No bigger than a typical children's bedroom in a house in the city. It was also quite simple. No table. No bed. Just a mattress on the floor, a photo of the team on the eastern wall, and a couple of books. It was hard to believe she had spent most of the life here in the village with the most basic of items.

"Grandfather, you wanted to speak with me?"

The old man was sitting on the middle of the floor, his legs crossed, and arms folded over his chest. The man was in his last few years of life. It had become more difficult for him to walk, and carry out basic tasks, but his mind was as sharp as ever. He smiled and motioned for her to sit down across from him. She obeyed and sat down cross-legged.

"It's good to see you again, Mariah."

"And it's good to see you too, grandfather."

"I wanted to speak with you about the future. About the future of this tribe."

She raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"You know that I am nearing the end of my days, and I want you and Lee to carry on my legacy."

"We won't disappoint you."

"That includes carrying on the line," he said.

She raised her other brow. "Come again?"

He cleared his throat. "You've achieved a lot in the past few years, Mariah. The White Tigers are known throughout the world as one of the best teams thanks to your efforts. But not only that, you've kept the team together. You've reminded them of what teamwork and friendship is all about. You've kept the spirit of the White Tiger alive, and that is why I have arranged for you to marry Rei."

Wait. Marriage? She was only seventeen years of age and her grandfather was speaking of marriage? Maybe his mind wasn't that sharp after all. "But the world tournament. I want to compete."

"And that is fine. This marriage won't take place until after this year."

She forced a laugh. "Marriage?" she repeated. Marry Rei? She might've had a crush on him (what girl didn't?) when she was a young girl, but those feelings had long since gone, and she was certain he felt the same way. "I'm seventeen, grandfather."

"And at seventeen years of age, you're almost considered an adult. You'll be of legal age come your eighteenth birthday."

Her thoughts drifted to Mystel. Marrying Rei meant she'd have to stop communicating with him. She'd have to cut him out of her life forever because a disloyalty was frowned upon. A wife of the White Tiger tribe had to be completely devoted to her husband. She was not allowed to spend time with other men unless her husband was in the room as well.

"You can't ask this of me."

The man frowned. "I am not asking this of you. It had already been decided the day you were born."

The marriage had already been organized for that long? Did that mean… did that mean Rei had been was forced to become her personal trainer at a young age as a way of bringing them closer together? "You can't just… do that," she replied, feeling her stomach churn.

"But Mariah, it's Rei. You've always liked Rei. As a young girl, you said you were going to marry Rei," he said, frowning, as if he couldn't understand why Mariah was upset.

"That was a long time ago, grandfather. People change. Feelings change."

His frown remained. "It doesn't have anything to do with that boy, Mystel does it?"

"Wh-what?" He knew about that? Mystel had only visited the White Tiger Hills just once.

"Your brother told me."

She narrowed her eyes, her shock fading, replaced by an uncomfortable tightening feeling in her stomach. Of course, Lee would intervene and tell their grandfather about the blond from Bega. Anything to discourage her from seeing Mystel. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Keep calm, Mariah, she told herself. You'll get a chance to speak to him later.

"I do not want to discourage you from having friends, Mariah, but he is not one of us."

"I can't believe you," she said. "You're arranging my marriage without even checking with me to see if it's okay! What if I don't want to marry, Rei?"

"Then I will have no choice but to disown you. You will not be recognized as a member of the White Tiger tribe. It will be like you never even existed," he replied calmly. "Please Mariah, don't be difficult. It's Rei you are to marry. He is a good man and he'll make a fine husband to you."

She wanted to barf but fought back the urge to do so. He didn't even care. Her own grandfather didn't care about what she wanted. He was thinking of the future of the tribe, and his family line, but not about the wishes of his own grandchildren. But she couldn't refuse. How could she? Refusing and running away would only banish her from the tribe.

"I'm going to get some fresh air," she said, rising to her feet. Before he could get in another word, Mariah left the cabin, relieved to have gotten out. If she stayed in there for a few moments longer, she knew she'd say something she'd later regret. Lee was outside waiting. He smiled at her, but she didn't return it.

"Mariah? What's the matter?"

"Why do you hate him so much?" she demanded, storming over to him, pointing a finger at her brother.

He frowned. "Who?"

"Mystel!" she blurted. Several heads in the village turned. "He did nothing to you and yet you hate him. He's my friend, Lee. You can't stop me from being friends with someone." Fortunately, they were wise enough to keep their distance. That was one another thing she liked about her people – your privacy was considered special. In the city, people would intervene at random, but that was considered rude here.

Lee brought a hand to his forehead and rubbed it. "Because he's not good for you, Mariah. I'm looking out for you, trying to protect you like an older brother should."

Placing a hand on her hip, she said, "What? Because he was part of the Bega League and served Boris for some time? He didn't even know anything about the man, and only joined because it was something new to him." If Mystel had known about Boris beforehand, she doubted he'd join.

"How could anyone not know about Boris? It was global news, Mariah! The entire world knew about it! He's known as the world's greatest criminal mastermind!"

True. Fair point raised but Mystel had been on the road for a long time. She doubted he bothered to read the local paper in the towns, and had a hard time picturing him sitting down inside a café reading the paper. He also didn't carry a handheld device that could access the internet. He seemed like the type to enjoy the simple things in life.

"Well, he didn't know."

"That might be so, but it doesn't change the fact that he worked for Boris. When Boris's true intentions were revealed, he still stayed. Have you forgotten what Boris did all those years ago? Look what he did to the Demolition Boys! Look at what happened to Kai! Look what he did to all the teams who had their bitbeasts stolen!" He lowered his voice and sighed again. "I'm just saying Mariah, you can't trust someone who worked for Boris."

"I appreciate you trying to look after me, Lee, but I'm not a little girl anymore. I can handle myself and that means choosing who I want to spend time with." She bit down on her bottom lip, feeling tears threatening to spill. It was something she had never been able to control well. When faced with conflict, the tears would always threaten to spill. "It may be hard for you to understand, but people do change."

"Mari-"

She raised a hand, extending the palm towards him. "I don't want to hear it. I want to go back home. Our other home. We have a tournament to focus on."

His shoulders slumped. Maybe she had been a little too harsh on him, but he'd understand. Siblings always fought. Sometimes, a bit of conflict was good. Lee was as stubborn as a mule, but in a few days he'd come to realize he didn't need to protect her. "All right. We'll return home."

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The Blitzkrieg Boys (now renamed as the Demolition Boys) had arrived in Japan. Kai noticed the status update on BeyNetwork, the number one social networking site for bladers all around the world. That could only mean one thing – Tala and his friends were interested in participating in the upcoming world tournament and he knew exactly where to find them.

Their accommodation was nothing more than an old apartment block in the shady part of town. It was the same place they had stayed at previously. Only the brave would walk the streets after the sun dipped below horizon for unruly bladers prowling the streets. They were yet to have been given an official name, but Kai called them 'wild bladers'. Wild bladers were hunters. They worked in pairs, sometimes groups of threes, prowling the streets at night, waiting to ambush an unsuspecting victim.

In some ways, they reminded him of the infamous parts hunting duo, King and Queen. It had been two years since he had last seen them, but he hadn't forgotten losing to the pair. The duo had since disappeared after the second tournament and Kai hoped to never cross paths with them again.

Pushing grim thoughts aside, Kai curled his fingers into a fist then knocked on the door three times. He waited what seemed like minutes when the door opened, revealing Ian, the youngest member of the team. That was a face he hadn't seen in years. What exactly had the boy been doing?

"Kai, we meet again," Ian said, glancing up at him, a smug smirk plastered on his face. He pulled the door back, stepped aside and allowed Kai in before closing it behind him.

The apartment's exterior was nothing to be boastful of, but its interior was surprisingly half-decent. It wasn't exactly large, but there was enough space for four people. A glass table for four separated the kitchen and the lounge. A leather couch was pressed up against a cream-coloured wall positioned beneath a large painting of the outback. Opposite to the couch was a seventy inch plasma television screen sitting on top a black table.

"Tala, he's here!" Ian crowed. He moved towards the couch and flopped down on it, crossing his right leg over his left.

Moments later, Tala appeared. He was accompanied by Bryan and Spencer. "Look what the cat dragged in," Bryan commented sourly. There was no love between Kai, Bryan and Spencer. Relations had soured after an intense training session which had left the two bladers unconscious on the floor. Kai hadn't even bothered to check up on them afterwards.

Kai ignored them. Tala was the only reason he had come to this part of town. "Did you come here looking to strike a deal with us again?" The red-headed blader asked. His arms were folded across his chest, and his eyes were narrowed with suspicion. As welcoming as ever.

"I have no interest in joining with you again, Tala," Kai replied calmly.

"Then why have you come? I can't imagine you came all this way out of the goodness of your heart."

Kai took a step closer. His eyes didn't miss the clenching of fists from both Spencer and Bryan. So, that's how it is, Kai thought. You still don't trust me… and I don't suppose I've ever given you a reason to. "I'm here because I thought you might like to know about the recent turn in events. Spencer, Bryan, I suggest you lower your fists… I'm not here to cause trouble."

The two bladers looked to Tala. Tala nodded. They relaxed – but only just. Kai was sure if Tala gave the order, Bryan and Spencer would not hesitate to launch their blades at him. Their devotion to Tala was fascinating and something his mind struggled to comprehend. Why hadn't they ever shown such loyalty towards him? "Speak."

"Stanley's dead. He was gunned down in broad daylight just a few days ago during a public event."

Tala raised a brow. "So, the old man has finally dropped dead. I don't see why this concerns us – we have no ties to the BBA."

"It should concern you because it means there's another player in the game," Kai explained, moving closer still. Now he was just an arm's reach from his former teammate. "Someone who wanted the BBA out of the way permanently. What better way to achieve that than to shoot the man behind the organization dead?"

Ian sat up, brows furrowed. "You don't think it was Boris, do you?"

Kai shook his head. "As delusional as Boris was, I doubt he'd shoot someone dead. That's not his style. Besides, he's behind bars and no one can see him. There's no way he can pull the strings from there." His preferred method was mind games and tricks. The man had a natural way with words. "It can't be Voltaire either. He is still behind bars." He knew this because the man often sent him letters to 'meet up'.

"A former Biovolt employee?" Spencer said. "Boris can't have been the only madman in the organization."

It was possible. Perhaps a few of them had taken inspiration from Boris and decided to do something on their own. But the timing was all wrong. If this was a former Biovolt person causing problems, then why hadn't he pulled this stunt earlier?

"Possible, but I don't think Biovolt is behind this," Kai replied. "They wouldn't wait this long to strike back. Are you sure you want to compete in the upcoming tournament?"

"Nothing will change our minds, Kai. You of all people should know that," Tala answered. "But then again, you were never the one to concern yourself with the thoughts and feelings of those around you."

Resentment? Jealousy? Did Tala still bear a grudge against him after all these long years? Kai narrowed his eyes. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"You left Bryan and Spencer unconscious on the floor in a private training room," Tala pointed out. "You didn't tell me where you had taken my teammates. I reported them missing and it took hours for the security to locate them. Fortunately, Bryan and Spencer sustained only minor injuries, but it could've been a lot worse."

"Tala, we were training. They agreed."

"That doesn't excuse you leaving them injured."

Kai sighed. "They were fine, Tala. They weren't in danger of dying."

Glowering, Tala said, "I don't appreciate you using my team to further your own ambition. You didn't even ask me, but I shouldn't be too surprised. You always had your secrets. People used to talk about you back in the Abbey – they said you were an asshole. Seems like the stories were true."

Kai snorted. He couldn't help it. "If you're trying to get a rise out of me, you won't."

"So, speak your mind."

"I wanted to warn you about a potential threat." Kai paused, studying Tala's expression. He was frowning. Tala wasn't stupid, but he certainly had a lot of pride. "We don't have to see eye to eye, but we're all on the same side here. Someone wants to ruin the sport of blading – as bladers, that should concern all of us."

"Boris and Voltaire aren't a threat. You said it yourself. Your grandfather is rotting behind bars for ten life sentences and Boris will meet the same fate." Tala folded his arms across his chest. "All their goons are gone. Maybe it was the actions of a madman. I can't think of anyone else unless you're suggesting someone from Biovolt has gone rogue."

Kai shrugged. "Is it not possible? You and I both know what happened in there."

Balling his fingers into fists, Bryan growled. "You were there for a small part of it. You have no idea the hell we endured. You turned tail and ran like a little bitch, but that's what you are good at. Being a traitorous cunt. Like you're grandfather. Must run in the family."

Kai tightened his jaw. A bubbling pit of anger stirred in his stomach. To bring Voltaire into a conversation and compare that… that monster to himself? "I am nothing like Voltaire," he hissed. "He used others and myself to achieve his goals without care for anyone else." He used me to carry out his mad plans, and I was a fool to believe in him, he thought.

Eyes narrowed, Tala said, "And how is that any different to your actions, Kai? You ran from Biovolt twice. You turned your back on the Bladebreakers countless times. You even turned your back on this team twice. How long will it be until you abandon your friends again? Betrayal is in your blood Kai, and I'd be a fool to trust you again.

Stubborn fool, Kai thought. "You don't care about the danger we're facing?"

"Stanley's dead. That I believe," Tala replied, his ice-cold gaze unflinching. "But I never cared for the man. Whatever hell awaits us out there, we'll be prepared for it. We're not as weak as you think us to be. We have Biovolt to thank for that. The next time we'll meet will hopefully be at the tournament."

Why had he bothered visiting the Blitzkrieg Boys again? What a waste of his time this had been. "Fine. Have it your way. I'll see myself out." He turned his back and headed for the door, feeling their eyes watching him retreat. He was not Voltaire. The man didn't deserve to have his name in the same sentence as his own.

"And don't come back. You're not one of us, and you never will be."

Kai slammed the door shut.

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