i've mentioned that y/n and fubuki are family friends and have like a sibling relationship, but i wanted to elaborate on that this chapter

also, idk if any of you remember, y/n is also family friends with the haganes like gingka and mei, but those two families also hung out with the sumiyes (fubuki), too.

Fubuki's POV 

Ever since I was little, all I've ever seen of (y/n) (l/n) was her back. 

Being only two years older than me, (y/n) was like an older sister who me parents wanted me to idolize. And I did. I always followed after her, chasing her from behind. Even if she wasn't as muscular as her cousin Xander Shakadera, or as cunning as Mei Hagane, she was the one who inspired me. 

The one who inspired me to beyblade.

She was a genius at beyblade, one of the first champions to rise. I remember seeing her play when I was only seven. She was so fierce, so strong in her movements. Everyone loved her. The crowds, the commentators, everyone at school. She was so friendly, and everyone wanted to help her. 

I was shocked when she was defeated by Lui Shirasagi. It shocked me even more that she didn't want to get back up and fight like she usually did. She closed herself in. She stopped showing up to tournaments. Her friendly demeanor vanished. Crowds, commentators and most of her friends stopped helping her. I remember her telling me that Valt, Shu and Xander were the only friends she ever wanted. 

It scared me. Having (y/n), the person I thought would surely become the best, crumble down to pieces. I lost the will to be friendly like her, and, unknowingly, started to close in like her. I trained by myself, engrossed in the idea of becoming a champion that would crush Lui. 

Our families grew apart slowly. Our hang outs became less and less frequent. I could hardly help someone I barely saw. But one day, she was different. It was like someone had lit the flame in her again, the flame I couldn't light. 

"What changed?" I asked, glancing up at her.

She hesitated before smiling wistfully. "I met someone."

"Who? Is it...is it a boy? Do you guys kiss and stuff?"

She laughed at the disgusted and bewildered look on my face. "Sometimes."

"Is it Ukyo?"

"Nah, we broke up," then she stared right into my eyes. "It someone who has the same pair of determined crimson eyes like you."

I frowned, thinking of all the top bladers in the country right now. Then it hit me. "Is it...Shu Kurenai?!"

She laughed again. "You look like you have stars in your eyes. But yes, it is him. You remember him from last time?"

"Yeah. You always wanted to marry hi-"

"Shh! Be quiet! Xander's gonna hear, and then he's gonna tease me!"

"I heard my name?" the redhead walked towards us with a massive grin. "What you guys talking about?"

"How (y/n) always wanted to marry Sh-Ow!"

A small smile graced my lips at the memory. Then I immediately wiped it off. This was not a time to smile. This was just like a time before, when (y/n) was enveloped in darkness. 

And she needs a certain someone just like before. 

I glanced at the owner of Raging Bulls who was seated besides me.  It had only been a few days after their fight, and the hurt caused by each other was still fresh. They were the angriest they had ever been with each other. 

But when I look at the same pair of determined crimson eyes like me, I only see concern and care. Then I realized,  even though they were the angriest they had ever been with each other, this was the time when they needed each other the most.

It's rather beautiful how love is a two-way thing, isn't it? Lovers light flames in each other. 

I turned my attention at the figure on stage, whose aura was at its darkest, and hoped that she realized that. No matter how loud the crowd taunts, or how sharp Hyde's words are, I hope she can hear my silent plea for her to realize that.

Because it's going into the second battle.

"Ready? Set!"

Both bladers got ready into their stance, (y/n) preparing for Soaring Boost. The thirst for victory rippled off them. "3 2 1! Let it rip!"

As expected, both of them had a superb launch, but it seemed to be child's play for them. (y/n) clenched both of her fists. "C'mon Xcalius, let's end this clown! Give them your repeated Strike Launch!"

Xcalius swooped in and unleashed attacks that usually would've bursted the bey. But Hades wasn't the average bey. It's defense was off the charts, and it seemed to be taking no damage from Xcalius. No matter how much Xcalius attacked, it couldn't break through.

Surprisingly, (y/n) kept on urging for Xcalius to attack Hades. Bolts of purple and golden lightning emitted from the clashes, showing just tight this battle was going to be. 

Next to me, Shu tilted his head slightly, trying to get a better view of (y/n)'s face. I wonder what he was trying to see, but then it hit me. Every failed attack only aggravated her more. She was panting, and her voice was getting more and more distorted.

Xcalius broke away from the clashes just as (y/n) let out a loud roar. Wind floated through her, swaying her coat and lifting her bangs. I could feel the angry lash of the wind, the electrifying feeling of darkness. The familiar dark aura was once again surrounding her. I could only imagine what she and Hyde must be feeling. 

A circle of flames erupted around her, and the dark version of Xcalius emerged, slashing its sword so powerfully.

"Show this guy who the real champ is," demanded (y/n). "Do your thing, and blow Hades away!"

The two beys finally made contact again. I sharply inhaled, not wanting to miss a single second of this battle. Xcalius was going more faster and more stronger. At this rate, Xcalius was finally going to break through the defense. 

But this power, not only was it strong, but it was dark. That worried me.

"Keep it up, Xcalius!" commanded (y/n).

Hyde only smirked as flashes of purple surrounded him. "Wonderful. Outstanding. Give me some more! Don't disappoint me."

Xcalius swerved across the length of the stadium before crashing into Hades, knocking it into the air. 

Hyde laughed gleefully, and then all of a sudden, he activated his dark aura too, streams of purple flames and currents.

With flashes of lightning, Hades emerged in beast form again, prepared to swing the scythe again. Hades zoomed around the stadium at an extraordinary speed, even for top bladers like them. His eye gleamed in excitement, "Hades, it's time! Dread Gravity!"

A ball of purple energy seeped out from his hands. It seemed like an eternal abyss filled with darkness and lightning. An eternal abyss that Hyde wanted to drag (y/n) into.

Hades went faster, trapping Xcalius inside a circle. The purple abyss appeared inside the stadium, just waiting to destroy Xcalius.

Ranjiro gasped, "Are you guys seeing this?"

"I am, but it doesn't seem real," I muttered. "It's too powerful!"

"Break out, Xcalius!" (y/n) shouted, but Xcalius couldn't seem to break out of the wall of purple flames. "This isn't over yet!"

But as (y/n)'s desire to win increased, so did the purple. Suddenly, it lit up like pillar of flames and Xcalius was tossed into the air.

And...Hyde's previous prediction came true.

(y/n) will lose four to zero.

(y/n) gasped, and for a second, her eyes became a blinding purple, before kneeling onto the floor like she was in pain.

"(y/n)!" I, and many others near me, gasped.

"Hyde wins with a score of four to zero!"

The cheers from the crowd were defeaning. Of course they loved Hyde, that was one of the most incredible moves I had seen in my whole life. (y/n), who had seemed to powerful and strong, fell again. She lost her crown, the crown that now sits upon Hyde's head.

"We're looking at a new champion, folks!"

Hyde leered down at the fallen (y/n), and, even though I couldn't hear, undoubtedly taunted her. Then he said in a loud voice, "Now who's the real champion!"

The crowd chanted Hyde's name over and over again, it seemed like a praise. I've never seen anything like this adoration for Hyde before.

"(y/n)," Nika softly murmured.

"Oh man," Valt whispered, in shock. 

Ranjiro bit his lip. "Is she gonna be okay?"

"I don't- I don't know," I gazed at the score flashing brightly on the big screens. I still couldn't believe it.

(y/n) slowly stood up, gently putting Xcalius into her pocket. Then she turned on her heel and ran.

"(y/n)!"

Then a flurry of white and black ran past me quickly. 

"Shu!"

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

Your POV 

I ran.

I didn't know where I was going, all I knew was that I need to run away. I needed to get away from Hyde's sneers, from the crushing score being displayed to everyone, from the loud cheers opposing  me. 

Somehow, I ended up at the old stadium surrounded by ruins. I sat on the rusting stairs, tipping my face slightly up so the sunlight would warm me. 

"(y/n) (l/n)," an unfamiliar voice called out. 

Without moving, I replied, "What do you want?"

"My name is Evel."

The elder man stood in front of me, blocking out the sun. He had pale skin that was tinted purple  only underneath his dark eyes. His alternating, different-shades-of-blue hair was most slicked down. To go with his blue colour scheme, he wore an immaculate pale blue suit. 

He continued in his monotone voice, "Hyde asked me to deliver a message to you. He would like you to know that he enjoyed battling against you."

I would've snapped at Evel and told him that I for sure did not enjoy that battle with Hyde, whose endless taunts still echoed in my head. But I was tired. Too tired to deal with anyone right now.

"Hyde told me that you, along with another, have the potential to become stronger," Evel informed me. Then he cocked his head slightly. "Right now, according to the data, you ate absolutely powerless against Hyde. The results of any future battles are obvious. Rest assured. My calculations are one hundred percent correct. Hyde will always be the victore."

Then he cocked his head slightly. "Aren't you going to retaliate?"

"No."

"My research shows that you have a snappish personality," Evel said so matter-of-factly, it shocked me that he thought it was that much of a fact. But maybe it was. "You don't let yourself be the victim, and always fight back. But perhaps my research is a little outdated. It is obvious you aren't feeling well. Like someone extinguished your flame."

"That's an accurate comparison as to what I'm feeling."

"Moving on, I am not here to discuss your feelings," he extended an cream invitation, sealed by a scarlet stamp. "You have a personal invitation to Dread Tower. An acquaintance of yours, Aiga Akabane, also has received one. It is a place for people to get stronge-"

"If it's about strength, count me out," I said firmly while snatching my invitation and ripping it to shreds. 

Evel raised any eyebrow. "Are you sure about this decision? It seems as though you need a lot of strength right now."

Ouch. 

"I'm sure."

"Very well," he straightened his blazer before turning around and walking off. "Just know that Dread Tower will consider you as a trespasser if you ever lay foot on the grounds."

"I never will."

"Perfect."

He left the area, leaving me once again, alone in the sun. Just one week ago I was having my battle at Aiga. I was so sure that I was the best blader. The power I had felt absolutely limitless. Now...if felt as though I had been drained of all of that power. I closed my eyes.

Why did I lose?

My resonance with Xcalius had never been stronger.

No, that's a lie.

That's a lie.

That's a lie.

That's another lie I've made.

Xcalius won't even talk to me anymore. I was deluded to believe that darkness was the only way to conquer. Didn't I, myself, prove that wrong years ago? I fell into the same hole that I rescued Shu from. 

Shu. 

I've been telling myself that this is all to protect Shu, to protect Valt and Fubuki and Xander and everyone else, but all I've done is hurt them even more. I willingly pushed them away. I willingly accepted the darkness. I think that must've hurt them more than any blade. 

I could see it in their eyes. 

Their disappointment. Their sadness. But the thing was, I wanted to protect them so bad that I was willing to lose myself for it. I hope that can make up for it. I can only hope that they know that, and they'll forgive me. 

But maybe, in the end, all I really wanted was my crown and for my friends to hail me as the champion. And for everyone else would fade into the darkness.

I hate myself for that.

I truly am weak. Beyblade wise, I am strong. Mentally, I am weak. I wasn't satisfied with being anything than number one. That weakness drove me to accept the devil's offer. I got unbelievably strength, yet I used none of it mentally. I only pushed people away, out of fear, out of love, out of hope that they wouldn't see my flaws. 

I think I can see the truth now. True strength isn't gained from one person. It's gained from multiple. Creation always needs more than one person. A baby, for example. And I think, rebuilding the bonds I severed could, hopefully, restore a little of my previous, true strength.

"(y/n)."

My name called again. Yet this time it wasn't by an unfamiliar person who I had never met before, who called me weak as if it was a fact. This time it wasn't by the fickle crowds who had once supported me. This time it wasn't by my opponent who saw me nothing more than a toy to taunt and sneer at. 

This time, it was by a soul so kind and so true, I wondered how I could ever push something like that away. 

This time, it was by my light. 

My flame. 

I opened my eyes. 

And I saw a blinding crimson. The same colour which I had seen so many emotions in. Determination, love, hate, anger, sadness, disappointment, regret, happiness. And then it felt like I was experience those very emotions.

I felt like crying.

"Shu."

My voice sounded hoarse and cracked. So tiny compared to his clear one. I wondered if somebody like him could ever fall in love with someone like me again. And then I hoped for it. 

I hoped that he would see past all of our woven lies, all of our buried secrets and treasure our relationship once again. Because I know I will. And this time, so so so much more. 

I opened my eyes and stood up. I opened my mouth to talk again. 

I'm sorry.

And the words got caught up in my throat. I couldn't handle it. The rush of emotions and memories I felt, the unexplainable urge to cry and bury my face in his chest. It overwhelmed me.

I ran away.

Again.

I disappointed him. 

Again.

And I hate myself for that.

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

wooo, another chapter done! personally, i think that was one of my best chapters. i loved writing it so so so much. 

REMEMBER...VOTE...COMMENT...SHARE!!!

Word count: 2604