Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ The Battle For Everything ❯ Expanded Rivalries ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

The only thing I think I can say is that you people are lucky for the update, I almost spent my afternoon in my basement hiding from a tornado that touched down less than an hour away. Luckily, no one was hurt too bad, but it was pretty damn scary. I live just outside of Buffalo, NY for Pete's sake. There hasn't been tornadic activity here in 19 years!


The Battle For Everything
Chapter Three: Expanded Rivalries
Distant Storm

There is a battle for everything. It's not just to determine who's the winner. There's a battle for power, for money, for love, for truth, for justice, for hate, for any little thing that makes a person or affects them in any way. It's the overall winner that determines the victory, right? Wrong. You can be the most powerful person in the world, and you will never have won the battle. The battle for everything. What is it? It's life.

Kira walked into her penthouse at one am. She had just been out with Tala, a person she had previously considered in her category of silent types, and had a good time. Her annoyed attitude with Kai had caused him to chose a different destination, and they had ended up at the South Street Seaport, with Chinese food, watching boats pass them by. Tala had promised her another time like that, once everything settled down, considering the appearance of Mr. quiet and grumpy. She was quick and quiet, noting the sleeping bodies made visible by the low light of the television. One pair of eyes met her glance as she walked in the door. Kai's, she figured, walking into her room.

Libby had decided to use her bed, seeing as the four bedrooms of the house all had oversized beds. Mana and Diana were probably sharing a room as well, allowing the visitors some comfort. When she passed Diana's room, she saw a single figure in bed, causing her to smile. Hilary was a fighter, and she was going to kick someone's ass if that girl wasn't given her own bed.

Sneaking past Libby, who was curled up in the corner of her queen sized bed, she approached her closet, opening the door quickly and undressing in front of it. She wore a pair of shorts and a little tank top, which clung tightly to her figure, which had been toned down when she ditched the tomboy for the more feminine person. Afterwards, she slipped back out into the living room area, disregarding Kai again.

"I'm awake," he said quietly, somewhat concerned about his team mates and their sleep. She turned away from her initial destination, the balcony, and faced him, her electric blue eyes being hauntingly highlighted by the only light in the room, the television.

"I'm aware," she said, turning her back to him and walking out onto the balcony. Placing both palms on the railing, she leaned out into the New York night, looking at all the lights out in front of her. A gentle breeze played with her hair as she inhaled deeply.

"We need to talk," he said suddenly, coming up behind her. She paused in her moment of reflection, looking at him again. His eyes were large and serious, lined with emotions she had learned to read. His two-tone blue grey hair moved with the breeze, and she shrugged. "What did you do with Tala tonight?"

"I have nothing to say to you," She murmured, turning her back on him again. "I'm tired. This can wait until tomarrow." Her bare feet were arched between pillars that mounted the railing to the floor of the balcony. She looked up at the sky, and almost suddenly, a bolt of lightning flew across it, illuminating her face. Kai looked at her in awe, the way he had before, the first time he had seen her. "There's a storm coming," she said, though both knew it. A rain drop landed on his cheek, and she reached up her hand to move it away, however, he took a step back.

"Don't touch me," he said, colder than he had intended.

"And I am supposed to have a 'talk' with you?" She asked, as the thunder rattled beyond them. "It doesn't work that way Kai," she said, almost pleading. "Things change," she whispered. "I've changed." With that, she released her hands from the railing and turned away from the stormy sky, leaving Kai there alone. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed as he watched the storm in all its rage and beauty.

Meanwhile, Kira was lying on the floor behind the couch, watching the storm through the windows that covered the back wall, extending to the balcony. Kai walked in a moment later, barely wet, and laid down next to her. She closed her eyes, then opened them again, focusing them on the outline of a cloud that only appeared when the lightning traveled in a certain direction. Together, in silence, the two watched the storm. Once the lightning had subsided, Kira looked over to the boy next to her. He had fallen asleep, lulled by the rain as it fell around them. She smiled. Kai had never been able to resist the lullaby of a storm. Maybe that was why she was the only girl who could be considered as one of his girlfriends. She grabbed a blanket from the closet, throwing it over his sleeping form, before retreating to her bedroom. There was something about Kai, and she couldn't escape it, unfortunately.

By eight in the morning, the entire group, save Tyson, was awake and ready to go do some serious training. Kira had already been up and showered before most of the group had been up. This surprised everyone, seeing as she was the last one home the night before.

"Mornin'," Libby called, when Kira walked in, her hair dripping, from the hallway that held the bathroom and bedrooms. It opened up into the living room, and the kitchen was behind it. They had inserted a bey dish where a large table could have gone.

"Hey guys," She responded, walking into the kitchen. Ray, who was sitting at the island in the middle, on a barstool, smiled at her.

"Long time, no see," he said, grabbing her shoulder. "How are you?"

"Good," she answered grabbing a cup of coffee from the pot. Libby opened the refridgerator and threw her some milk. "I've done a lotta changing," she said, spinning around. " Do you like it?"

"You took good," Ray said. She was wearing a pair of jeans, like the ones from the night before, and a black t-shirt, her typical outfit, that only changed on special occasions, or when she needed a change. Which happened a lot.

"Thanks," she said, pouring milk into her coffee and grabbing the sugar bowl. "I'm sorry about yesterday," she apologized. "I think I just needed to show someone up. It wouldn't have necessary if Tala hadn't shown up, but he did, so..."

"No problem," Max said, shrugging. "The look on his face was priceless." Daichi nodded, running over to her, and shaking her hand.

"Serves him right, for all the times he's tried to kill me with that dang scarf of his." Daichi jumped up and down, making his way to the coffee pot.

"Something tells me this kid should be better off without sugar," Mana said, moving the coffee pot and sugar out of the kid's reach.

"Bingo," Hilary said. They all moved into the living room, where Kai was, watching the international news. Dickenson was going to be arriving at ten, so they were all supposed to be ready to go. Dickenson had told all of them to bring clothes for they were going on a weekend trip. Where? No one knew.

"Who's going to wake up the rock?" Max asked, referring to Tyson. Everyone stopped, and turned to look to the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

"I've got it," Daichi said, running to the kitchen and grabbing a donut from the box in the center of the island. "Food always works." He took off down the hallway, causing the four First Strike girls to watch in wonder. There were several thuds, followed by a louder thud.

"Tyson must have knocked him down," Hilary said, with a sigh. A moment later, Daichi had wound up on the couch between Mana and Diana, and a half awake Tyson ran into the room, a small spot of drool coming from the corner of his mouth.

"Okay, okay, Daichi, I'm up. Can I have the donut?" Tyson asked, his face all cute like a little kid's. Daichi smiled.

"You knocked me down," the little red haired kid said, opening his mouth wide, and inhaling the donut. "Next time, be nice and maybe you'll get it."

"There's more on the island in the kitchen," Kira said, with a smile. Kai looked over at her. She had changed a lot from when they had been together. They were only fourteen, but both had been mature for their ages. And now, she had become something he had never thought she could be. He knew he had to figure out what was going on, but he also knew that Tala's involvment meant that there was going to be more complications than he needed. Tala had always taken an interest in the girl, for reasons he had never understood. Perhaps their rivalry went beyond just beyblading.

"Come on, let's go!" Mr. Dickenson yelled at the group. "I said ten o'clock!"

"And you should've allowed Tyson the extra hour. Since when is he ever on time?" Hilary asked. The chairman nodded. Tyson was always late for everything. Especially in the morning. Morning was never his strong point.

The group piled into the elevator, waiting for the twenty some level drop that was to come. After a few minutes, they landed on the ground floor, exhaling deeply. The elevator never seemed to have enough air for all of them. Kira followed up behind them. She had no idea what was going on, but she had a feeling it involved fresh air and a good beybattle.

"Miss Storm?" A voice called behind her. It was the blonde haired secretary of their building, which also had a few offices on the first five floors. "A young man just came in here looking for you."

Kira turned on her heel, approaching the blonde, who looked slightly impressed. "Let me guess, orange hair and piercing eyes. He looks Russian, has a beyblade launcher that looks like a gun..."

"That's exactly him! He's rather cute," She bubbled. Kira nodded.

"I was with him last night," she whispered. "Is he still here?"

"He said he was looking for you. It was only a minute ago, he might still be here." The secretary looked up at her with bright brown eyes. "Go find him, and please, if you don't want him, give him my number."'

Kira laughed, the sound resonating and echoing back from the glass walls. "He only dates Russians, sweetie, but I'll do you the favor.... maybe." They both laughed again.

"Kira," Kai called, from the door. He had it half open, and his voice showed his anger, like his eyes. She knew he was angry, though she didn't know the reason. Most likely Tala.

"Ahh," she said to the secretary. "Off to spend the weekend with my ex, who's apparently angry because I got pretty without him knowing." The secretary stared at her in shock.

"That's the World Ch...Champion."

"Bingo," Kira said, with a wink. "He's probably jealous of Tala," She turned around, walking away. "Have a good weekend Steph," she said, walking out in front of Kai, who was still holding the door.

Tala was waiting outside, leaning against the building. Kai did not look impressed, nor happy.

"Hey Tala," she said, giving him a hug, which he returned. She'd have to thank Kai for the gaining of a new friend in one of his rivals.

"I just came to say goodbye." She looked up at him in curiosity.

"I thought you were going to stay longer." He shook his head briskly, a smile gracing his face.

"Nah, I gotta go train with my team, after all, you're training my rivals, so I better work on my skills as well. Don't need Hiwitari showing me up, you know?"

She nodded, knowing he was right. "Yeah, can't have that, now can you?" He shook his head. "I'm still holding you to that little bet we made."

"I know, I know, I'll be around for a battle again soon." He ran a hand through his hair, as Dickenson began getting even more annoyed, briefing the others on their little adventure. Kai hung around close to the two of them, rather defensive. "For a guy who dumped you, he seems a little more than protective of you."

"He just can't take the fact that I became so far out of his league," she whispered into his ear. He laughed quietly.

"Well you remember what I said. All of it." She nodded. "Voltaire will probably start with either me or Kai, so I'll keep you posted. And I hope out everything works out the way you want it. If it doesn't, give me a call and I'll knock some sense into him." She laughed.

"Do it," she said, jokingly.

"I would, but the chairman of my sport happens to be right there." Kai met Tala's glance, which was challenging. Kai knew that their rivalry had definitely become expanded to the opposite sex at that moment. At least, that's what he thought. Tala changed languages, talking in Russian. "Before I leave, though, I have one favor to ask. I rented this-" he handed her a set of keys,-"for a week. Can I trust you to give it back next Friday?"

"Of course!" She launched herself at him again, hugging him tightly.

"I'm serious, if anything, and I mean anything happens, let me know." His voice dropped lower, and quieter as well. "You've become an amazing woman, Kira, just remember that. Make sure you let him know." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, still locked in an embrace with her. Kai scowled, and he let go of her a moment later.

"Thank you Tala, for everything. I had a lot of fun last night."

"Me too," he said, smiling at her, despite his usual cold and dark attitude. "We'll do it again sometime." With a hand raised in the air, he turned around, walking away.

"What was that all about?" Mr. Dickenson asked. She looked at him from the side, before approaching the sleek sports car.

"Tala just asked me to use up the rental time on this car of his." She opened the door and slid into the driver's seat of the Ford Stage Three Roush Mustang. It was black with a red racing stripe down the center of the hood. She inserted the key into the ignition, starting the car and revving it up like she was about to street race.

Libby jumped into the passenger's seat. "Our trip's been planned, we're going to the Adirondack Mountains for a weekend camping trip. I know where our camp is, so let's get the heck out of here!" She looked to Mr. Dickenson , who shook his head. Typical Kira, and even more so Libby. He knew he could trust them, so he got into the van he had arranged for the other members of the group.

"Anyone else wanna ride?" Libby asked. Ray, Mana, and Diana all ran over to the car. Hilary shrugged, she didn't really care either way. Besides, she planned on checking out Tyson's beyblade. He would be due for an update pretty soon.

When they had arrived at camp, the group had thrown their belongings into their cabins, save their beyblades, and ran back out to the picnic shelter, ready to battle an opponent. The first one up was Libby, who decided upon Ray as her opponent. Ray had outsmarted her with the use of his tiger bitbeast, which obliterated her beyblade. After a series of hit and miss battles, Kira had offered to take someone on.

Tyson, who was always ready for a challenge, was excited. "You're going down," he said, excitedly. He knew that she was good, but he was confident in himself, as well as Dragoon, who had yet to let him down, in victory or defeat.

Kai and Ray leaned back against a picnic table. "You think she stands a chance?" Ray asked.

Kai didn't respond, keeping his eyes trained on the two beybladers who had their launchers out and at the ready. Kira nodded to Tyson, and Max jumped in-between the two. "On my mark!" Max called. "Three, two, one..."

"Let it rip!" The two yelled, launching their beyblades at a speed barely recognizable. Tyson had taken an advantage of the speed from his launch, using it to begin the first assault.

"Don't be too hasty," Ray called. "Dickenson sent us up here to train, and them with us to teach. Don't be surprised if she's got a few tricks up her sleeve."

"Don't be too surprised when I win," Tyson said, his ego inflating even more. "Dragoon, get her!"

Hilary and Kenny watched on with Max as well, noting how calm Kira was. She looked up at the sky, closing her eyes. "Be careful Tyson, I know you can do it!" Hilary called, her eyes focused on her. She smiled at the girl, knowing that there was some kind of emotion behind the look she was giving the boy. It was the same look she had once given Kai.

"Do you rely a lot on your friends backing you up?" Kira asked. Her eyes shimmered dangerously. their color growing more and more intense. She glanced over at Kai, meeting his gaze. Tyson nodded, unsure of where the girl was going with her question.

"Why?"

"Could you still beat me without their advice, or support?" As she said it, her bitchip began glowing a bright azure color. Soon enough, a circle formed on the ground, glittering the same color as the bitchip on Kira's blade. "Rogue, you know what to do!" A dark, almost navy blue wall began to rise up from the ground, encircling and trapping the two beybladers. Tyson looked slightly shocked, but did not look entirely knocked off balance.

"I'll still beat you," he said, noting the unusual silence, the only sounds being their voices and beyblades. "Although, it is a smart idea." Dragoon charged back at Rogue, but the beyblade evaded the attack quickly, ending up in the air, then plummeting down with renewed speed at Tyson's white beyblade, knocking it a little off kilter.

"Well now, don't get too cocky, I'm the one with the upper hand. Though, it is nice to have a little more of a personal battle, it will have to end. Rogue-"

"Dragoon Galaxy Storm!" A large twister rose up from the white beyblade. Kira allowed her beyblade to be drawn in.

"Good going, Tyson, but not good enough. Rogue, Aqua Rising!" From in the twister, a blue light began to take over, as an arrow began to shoot up from the beyblade, up beyond the wall, before falling back down with more speed than the twister. However, what Tyson didn't know was that his opponent's beyblade began spinning the opposite direction causing the storm to disintegrate. Her attack didn't do too much damage, but she was willing to take that chance and start the next one.

"I'm not going to lose that easily, right Dragoon?" The bitchip began to glow again as Tyson started another attack.

"Now, now, now, Tyson, don't be so cocky. Rogue Storm!" She paused before meeting her opponent's eyes. "This is the reason I'm called by my middle name too, not just my first." Rogue appeared out of the beyblade, a blue aqua phoenix that glowed with a light that surprised Tyson a bit. A large blue twister formed surrounding her beyblade, and before he knew it, he was in the middle of an earth shaking storm that pulled both of them upward. Kira closed her eyes, feeling herself be pulled off the ground. When she had risen a foot up in the air, she opened her eyes again. "Rogue, finish him!" Tyson watched the ground in front of and below him in wonder as the bird came tearing toward his beyblade, knocking it hard with a fierce shriek.

"Dragoon, let's go!" A white twister started up again, colliding with the blue one. Suddenly, Tyson felt himself fly against the blue barrier, only to go through it as though it wasn't there.

"Tyson!" Hilary ran over to her friend, who got up shakily. The navy colored wall faded away, leaving Kira standing there firmly on the ground. Tyson shook his head carefully, thinking about the battle, wondering how they had both ended up in the air. It wasn't possible, he decided. You were imagining it.

"And that," she said carefully, her beyblade retreating from the ground into her hand, "Is why you don't get so cocky."

Kai smirked. Kira had become much better than he had expected. So good that she had taken on two world class beybladers and trashed them both. Perhaps she was worth it.