Your POV 

'(y/n)? (y/n)!'

My eyelids fluttered open as the strange dream was lifted. The red glow vanished, replaced by a blinding white light. A figure with spiky, blue hair and a taller figure fanning me stood huddled around me. My vision was a blur of colour and light.

'Where am I?'

It looked nothing like the forest I had lost consciousness in. From what I could see, the room I was in was just a small, white neat room with bright lights.

'She's awake!' A familiar voice cried, and the person with the fan disappeared. I blinked again the blurriness disappeared, restoring my vision to normal. A slender teenager with maroon pink hair as well as two small children and the person with the fan walked into my view. 

'Here,' Chris offered, placing a cup of water in my shaky hands. 

'Thanks,' I replied gratefully, sitting up slowly. I sipped the water gently, the clear liquid bringing sweet relief to my windpipe. 'What happened?'

'Well...,' Valt chewed his lip nervously. 'You kinda...collapsed.'

I stopped drinking, freezing up as I took in this information. I directed my stare towards Valt's chocolate hues. 'Again?' 

'Look, I'm sure anybody else would have fainted in your position, (y/n),' Chris tried to reassure me, patting my back. She pressed my body into the crevice of soft, white pillows and blankets. 'Just try to relax-'

'How can I relax!?' I shrieked, wringing my arms in distraught. Distress filled my thoughts as everyone took a step away from me as if I was a wild animal driven crazy by love. I probably was. 'The love of my life is gone!'

'But we found him,' said Valt anxiously, his eyes fixed on the floor. 

'That's what you convinced yourself to think. We may have found him, but in the three months he's been missing, he completely changed! He's a completely savage beast that thirsts for revenge! He's-' my voice broke, and I could feel the salty water tethering on the edge, ready to fall down at any second. 

'He's not the person I fell in love with.'

As soon as those words left my mouth, it felt like any emotion left as well. Numbness clawed through my insides as shock seemed to have taken my whole body, rendering me completely emotionless and utterly broken. I could feel the tears beginning to leak, streaming down my cheeks slowly. 

'Can all of you please leave,' I managed to croak out in barely a whisper. They all nodded and promptly left. Good. I didn't want them to gawk at me like I was some sort of animal caged in a zoo for public display. 

Tears continued to stain my face, scarlet blotches appearing around my neck. Yet I made no effort to stop crying. Everything was silent in the room that I suspected was the infirmary at BC Sol. No nurse or doctor was here, however. Maybe they got the hint I wanted to be alone. I could hear shouts and chants coming form the training room, but apart from that everything was drop dead quiet, including my tears.

Silent tears. 

The worst kind of tears. 

Suddenly oxygen had trouble getting through my windpipe. I gasped for air, clutching at my throat as the abrupt panic attack took a worst turn. I clenched my eyes close and dug my hand inside my shirt. My fingers enclosed around the delicate disks of Xcalius and Spryzen, carefully mended together. 

All was quiet in my house. Xander wasn't home, and I didn't feel like going to the dojo. The empty pit in my stomach seemed to be multiplying endlessly, eventually turning my into an empty shell with no emotion or feelings. I closed my eyes and swung my feet onto the bed, ready to fall asleep even though it was only two in the afternoon.

A bell sounded through the house. I groaned internally before somehow managing to walk to the door. Nobody was there. Nothing was there except for a box perched on the "welcome" mat. I bent down and wrapped my fingers around the small compartment.

The crimson velvet was extremely soft, almost comforting to my hollow body. Diamantes glistened on the velvet bow placed on the top of the box. I slowly opened it, excitement building up in the tension. 

I let out a gasp. The jewelry was fucking beautiful. It was a necklace with a simple golden chain, but what mattered most was the pendant. It wasn't beautiful, but it was meaningful. And that's what mattered. The intricate broken half of the original Xcalius had been fixed to the scarlet mighty bey that had fallen a few days ago. Spryzen. 

It's owner was the reason why I felt so empty and hollow. The love of my life had left me yesterday in the afternoon. I know it wasn't the last time we would see each other, but it might be the last time we saw our love. So much could happen in three months. But I was happy for Shu. I meant it. 

I took the sparkling necklace out from it's case and hung around my neck, where it glimmered. A paper note slipped out the case. Tears began dancing in my eyes as I read the note, clutching my heart. 

"May our hearts always be one"

- Red Eye <3

'Always.'

'Always.'

I closed my eyes heart-wrenchingly until the last of the tears seeped out. My breathing went back to it's original pattern and soon enough, everything on the outside of me was normal. Just in time. 

'(y/n)!' Valt cried with excitement, bursting into the infirmary with Kitt, Cuza and Chris trailing behind him. Strange. Honcho wasn't seen. Valt waved a card with golden embroidery in the air. 'Guess what? We're invited to compete at the God Blader's Cup!'

'The what?' I asked, extremely confused at the scene that was unfolding around me. 

'She doesn't know, yet,' Chris reminded Valt. I frowned. What didn't I know? 'I'll go get the TV and explain to her.'

'Can she read this while waiting?' bounced Valt impatiently, gesturing towards the formal invite. Chris sighed, shaking her head. 

'If you insist.'

She promptly walked out of the sick bay. Valt jumped onto the bed that smelled faintly of puke and threw the invite into my hands. 'Open it!'

'Alright,' I hummed slightly, gently flipping to invite open, careful to not tear it. My name was embroided in beautiful golden handwriting that glinted in the light. A piece of cream paper fell out onto the blue sheets. I picked it up carefully, excitement building up in the tension. 

Dear (y/n) (l/n),

You have been invited to participate in this year's God Blader's Cup, arranged and hosted by none other than Alexander Glass, owner of the Raging Bulls. 

The God Blader's Cup is a tournament designed to find out the top blader in the world. Only twelve bladers will be invited to attend and participate in this prestigious tournament. Last year's tournament was won by Free De La Hoya.

The twelve bladers will be placed into two groups, Group A and Group B. You have been placed in Group A. More information about how the tournament works will be sent to you as the tournament draws closer. 

This year it will be held in the Grand Canyon, USA, in one month on the 25th of July. You will be expected to make an appearance there. If you cannot make it, please email Alexander Glass. 

Kind regards, 

Alexander Glass, owner of the Raging Bulls

No fucking way. 

I was being invited to the God Blader's Cup? I was chosen out of nearly ten billion people to participate? I glanced over at Valt and Cuza, who were showing off their beys. No wonder they were so excited and pumped up. Fireworks seemed to be exploding in my stomach, and I grew dizzy with disbelief. 

Yet something seemed strangely off about it...

'I have it!' Chris announced, wheeling the TV into the infirmary. She smiled proudly and clapped. 'Good job, all of you!'

'Now can we please see the video?' pleaded Cuza desperately while Valt nodded enthusiastically. Judging from their gestures, they hadn't seen the video either. I turned my attention to Valt. 

'Who else got invited from BC Sol?' I asked him while the TV whirred to life.

'Uh...' Valt paused and tapped his chin, as if he had forgotten already. 'You, me, Cuza, Silas and uh...oh yeah! Free!'

'Free?'  I repeated in utter disbelief. 'Why is he back?'

'Well...' Valt nervously chewed his lip. Whatever he was going to tell, it wasn't going to be good. 'You see...Lui challenged him to a battle. Trad videoed the battle and sent it to BC Sol. And you won't believe it...Free lost. And he just appeared at BC Sol again. Nobody knows why.'

'Wher-' I began, but Chris cut me off by an excited squeal.

'It's starting!'

'Hello boys and girls!' Hanami waved from the TV, wearing his usual upbeat smile. 'We have news about who's participating in the God Blader's Cup, our first 10 participants have already been chosen!'

The room immediately went silent with tension. 

'From BC Sol, it's Valt Aoi, Cuza Ackerman and (y/n) (l/n)!' 

Pictures of us and our beys flashed on the screen. Huh. Free wasn't there. So the WBBA hadn't been informed about his move yet. 

'From Raging Bulls, it's Free De La Hoya and Joshua Burns!' 

The two stars appeared on the screen, their beys also. 

'From SB Rios, Xander Shakadera and Renwu Sun!'

Good to see you, cousin. 

'Rising up the ranks is Boa Alcacer!'

My eyes widened in shock. It was the same guy we had seen in Snake Pit, the one that had collapsed right in front of me. How did he acquire so a strong bey and make it to this tournament in such little time? My eyebrows knitted together. Something seemed off about this. 

'Finally, it's the mysterious Red Eye!'

Red Eye appeared on the screen, along with Legend Spryzen. Even through the screen, I could sense his thirst for vengeance, which made my heart ache with sorrow. 

'Who has been revealed to be the Beyblade genius from Japan, Shu Kurenai! However, for some unknown reason, he has asked to be called Red Eye. It seems like Shu Kurenai has gone.'

I gulped in fear and terror. 

So it was true. 

Shu Kurenai was gone. 

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Yes, yes, I know this was a short chapter. 

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Word count: 173