Through the fire

by Ajedrez

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

Summary:

After a tragic loss, the Bladebreakers are finally back on track, only to find themselves and their friends in another of those 'situations'. Secrets and lies, new threats and new hopes. Things aren't always what they seem. A changed outlook on the past might just provide new perspectives for the future. (Set in two timelines after the first season.)

AN:

Those of you who read my other story know that I do not really have to know much about a fandom to actually start writing in it. As a matter of fact, with Beyblade it is even worse than with GW – I haven't even seen a single episode in its entirety and the snippets I have seen are all from the first season (so Kai will always be a bluenette for me...). Therefore, I once again claim artistic license if I get anything wrong – this story is AUish anyway, so it should not matter too much. I don't want the AN to get longer than the first chapter/prologue, so one last remark: better ignore the poem at the beginning – it was rather a spur of the moment thing...

Fallen Star

Sometimes I remember

Brighter days with darker shadows,

When things seemed black and white -

Yet now I see some of the grey inbetween.

Sometimes I seem to forget-

Then, even a patch of blue

Amongst the grey clouds

Can remind me of you.

A look over my shoulder

Makes me wonder-

Was this pain really mine?

Were those tears maybe yours?

Now under the night sky

I'm waiting for a falling star

To wish for the best for you,

Wherever you are -

But the heavens guard their shining jewels jealously,

Since they lost their brightest star

- in you.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

I. (remembering the dead)

The Kyoto stadium was packed with people. The finals were over and the audience was giving them standing ovations, the ever present fan girls were screaming and fainting. Another tournament they had managed to put on their name and once more they were well on their way to the next world championships. Yet, while the rest of the team and the spectators were celebrating, one boy's thoughts took a different turn as they went back to someone who, despite his absence, still played a key role in their victory. Without him they never would have come this far. Nonetheless, it seemed as if the world around him had forgotten...

For some reason, the boy felt irritation at his own team well up inside him. He angrily brushed a long strand of raven black hair out of his face. It was exactly two years to the day, that the news had reached them, had spread around the world – and here they were, partying thoughtlessly... as if that disastrous incident had never happened. What a way to cherish someone's memory...

Later that night, they were having a little celebration with their families and friends in a restaurant the BBA had rented especially for this occasion. After a rather lean year, the Bladebreakers were going strong again. Their chances to win the world championships seemed to be increasing with every match.

Stanley Dickinson let his gaze wander over his team. He was so proud of them. There was the ever hungry and boisterous Tyson - not much had changed there. Then again, that was not quite true. Although the boy was still known for his antics, he was now a little calmer than before, and knew when it was time to work in order to get somewhere in life - hard as it sometimes was for him. As for his appearance, he had gone through a growth spurt, so in the meantime he had become rather tall and lost his baby fat, which made him appeal to even more fan girls than before.

Next in line came Max. He, too, had matured a little over the years, though his bubbly, cheerful nature could never really be subdued. His taste in clothing was now less flippant and his features showed that he was growing up to be a good-looking young adult, even though he lagged a little behind Tyson where his height was concerned.

Always at their side, just like at the moment, was Kenny, who still was the brain behind the Bladebreakers' success, although he tended to remain in his team mates' shadow. The most notable change about him probably was the fact that he had finally agreed to cut his hair and his intelligent eyes were now actually visible.

Then there was Ray. Dickinson's gaze lingered on the Chinese teen's face. Usually very attentive to his surroundings and his team mates, he now seemed really far away. Just like earlier this afternoon. The BBA director wondered what was bothering the young team leader. Sometimes he thought the kid had not been ready to take on the responsibility for the team, still he did a good job at it in his own, calm manner, always sticking to the role of the older brother unlike…

No, tonight he would not let the old feeling of guilt spoil this joyful moment…

He continued on to the newer additions to the team, the girls… There was Hilary - not a blader herself, yet always a reliable source of help for the team. Whether they needed someone to get their feet back on the ground or to spur them on, she was always there for them.

Last came Nina, the dark haired senior of the Bladebreakers who had joined the team shortly after they first won the world championships in Russia. Unbidden, his thoughts went back yet again, to a time when things had been different in so many respects...

xyxyxyxyxyxyxy

The Bladebreakers were once again cooped up in a hotel suite. Not long after their victory at the championships in Moscow, they had started a promotional tour through the world. It wasn't always easy to keep their mood up, but the kids managed not to clash too violently, mostly due to the fact that, after the events in Russia, Tyson attempted to be more understanding (which admittedly wasn't an easy feat for him) and Kai gave his best to be less anti-social. Although the team captain still kept much to himself, he tried really hard – even if the others did not quite notice his efforts.

That evening Mr. Dickinson dropped by with a surprise. When he came into what could be called their living room for the time being, he wasn't alone, but brought along an Asian-looking man in a business suit and a girl their age, maybe a little older. They had an interesting proposition to make.

The stranger, apparently a business man who managed a chain of hotels in North America, wanted to sponsor the Bladebreakers under the condition that they accepted his daughter into the team. The decision had not been an easy one. Despite their success, they really could not afford to cross a possible associate with financial back-up. Notwithstanding, none of them was willing to have a new member on the team who did not know how to blade or did not fit in. They were not open for bribery. As for the first prerequisite, however, Nina demonstrated her skills by beating Max and tying with Ray in a test match, so not even Kai could find much to object – not that he voiced any opinion, strange as it seemed. As for the second, they were given time to get to know each other, before the final decision was to be made, but the girl was amicable and easy-going, so the adults did not expect any problems there.

Yet, for one among the group, this evening marked the beginning of the end…

zzzzzzzzzzzz

TBC

AN: That's it for now. Overall there will probably be shorter chapters than in my other story, but just the same kind of drama overload. Most likely no pairings, though I'm known to change my mind frequently.

I'll stop rambling now, but I'd love to know what you think of it (keep it constructive, though). Thanks.

03/05/06