Your POV

I took in the appearance of the Raging Bulls manager before launching myself into a hug with him.

"Shu, you're really here," I mumbled into his shirt. We let go and an ecstatic smile took over my face.

"Yeah," he smiled too. "Congrats on defending your title."

He opened his mouth again, and I knew he was going to confront me about the whole darkness situation. I didn't want him to know about that, I didn't want him to know about my flaws.

So I interrupted him smoothly, "I know you're going to ask about the darkness thing. But relax, I defeated Phi. I'm free!"

I made my smile stretch even wider, and looked at him hopefully, hoping that he wouldn't see through me and see all of my flaws. 

It seemed like an age, until, "That's great!"

I let out a silent sigh of relief. "I know, right! I even have a conference to go to!"

"Would I be allowed to come?"

He saw through me.

And now he wants to come watch over me. Like I'm a fragile person or something. I don't want him to think that. I'm supposed to be strong and brave and powerful for him, right? "I wish, but only paparazzi, Hanami and I are allowed to enter."

That's when the lies and secrets started between us.

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I was descending down a hole. 

An extremely dark and deep hole that made me wonder if I was ever going to reach the bottom. I was going down there willingly; there was no up or side for me - down was the only option. I continued to venture down, tightly clutching the rope that stopped me from plunging into the depths of what seemed like eternal blackness. 

My rope snapped, and I let out a soundless scream, followed by a breath of relief as I was saved by a ledge jutting out from the hole. Now I could hear the soft echo of flickering flames that originated from just below me. 

I stuck my foot out, prepared to jump into the fire when another rope was dropped; almost as if it was a warning - climb up, or else. 

I woke up. 

I was no longer climbing down a hole, but I was in a car with Shu. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I realized that this was the fifth time this week I had had this dream. Of all the five times, I had never found out whether or not I had jumped into the flames or climbed back up the rope.

Rubbing my eyes, I glanced out the window and felt a rush of excitement when I saw the conference building.

Shu's POV 

Behind all the inquisitive clamoring and the bright flashes, I patiently stood in the darkness. Nobody knew I was here, not even (y/n) who was on stage now; also, the target of the large crowd of paparazzi. 

I wanted to see for myself whether or not she was still underneath the influence of the dark power. She didn't seem like she was being controlled, but there were undertones here and there that suggested something else. 

She had lied to me about how I couldn't come to the conference, so it would only make sense that she was still underneath the darkness.

"To all you super strong bladers out there, listen up!" (y/n) declared, her eyes bright with eagerness. "I want you all to face me! I can't wait for to blow you away!"

"Well, you heard it hear first, bey fans!" Hanami announced. "What a stunning declaration from our champ! Her confidence knows no bounds!"

(y/n) nodded, a smug grin plastered onto her face. "Duh! I'm the world champion!"

There it was. 

A small snippet of proof that (y/n) was still under control of the darkness. (y/n) always acts confident for the crowds, but that wasn't confidence. This is arrogance.

"Go (y/n), you rule!" a small gaggle of Beigoma Academy Bey Club students chanted. The exception was Toko and Nika, who stood on the outskirts of the club. Both were wearing puzzled expressions.

"You know it!" (y/n) lifted a fist in the air. "Originals are always the best!"

The Bey Club cheered louder, even if that was a direct diss towards them and their generation of bladers.

"So," Hanami continued excitedly. "To defend your place in the top spot, you're willing to face anyone!"

"I mean, I've won against every blader, including Phi," (y/n) shrugged like it was nothing. "Who else could there be that's not weak like everyone is?"

It hurt to think that (y/n) thought of BC Sol as weak, that she thought of her friends like Xander and Valt to be weak. It hurt that she thought I was weak. 

I let out a slow exhale, and reminded me that this wasn't her talking. I reminded myself that (y/n) had to deal with me acting like this for so much longer, and had to endure so much more pain. The least I could do was endure for her.

"Just you watch!" she was saying proudly. "I'll beat anyone who comes in my way!"

"Huh?" blinked Hanami. "Did you say you won against Phi?!"

Gasps of awe emitted from the Bey Club, as their level of respect grew for (y/n), even if she had none for them.

"Yeah. The two of us had a little battle and I crushed him."

It amazed me how she sounded like she had put hardly any effort in, when I know that Phi was her biggest nightmare.

"Oh, gingersnap!" Hanami exclaimed, and the cameras set off again. "I can hardly believe what I'm hearing!"

"Believe it!" (y/n)'s smirk grew wider, and her face looked slightly scary with all the camera flashes on her. "I'm the strongest blader in the world!

"What a joke."

(y/n)'s face contorted into shock and I frowned. The dark, rude voice seemed to be coming from above me.

"Eh?!" blinked (y/n). "What the...is that Phi?"

A loud, sarcastic cackle answered. I heard a grunt, and the mysterious person jumped off from the balcony overhead, before landing like a cat just in front of me. 

Lavender, messy locks reached his waist and he donned an extravagant suit with gold and purple linings. From these odd looks, I vaguely recalled the name Hyde of the Turbo 4.The cameras swiveled to face  Hyde, and to face me.

My eyes met (y/n)'s widened ones, and in that moment I knew that she had seen me. Hurt flashed across her face, but before I could do anything, Hyde turned towards me, an emerald eye screaming that he was up to something. He whispered, "Watch me turn her to the darkness."

"No!" I shouted, but those words were caught up and died in my throat. He was gone already, pouncing, running and tumbling until he arrived right in front of a confused (y/n).

A low, satisfactory growl came from Hyde. I could only see his head, but I could tell he was flashy her a toothy grin and his only visible eye was gleaming with malice. 

(y/n) recovered from her shock of seeing Hyde and her hurt from seeing me, and, leaning forward carefully inspected him. "Wait a second. You're not Phi!"

She executed a graceful acrobatic move, tumbling until she was standing on stop of the conference table. She pointed at Hyde, "Who are you?"

"The surprises just keep coming!" Hanami exclaimed, ever the commentator. "I never would have guessed we'd get an unexpected guest visit from him! It's one of the Turbo 4, and Phi's younger brother - Hyde!"

Shocked whispers rippled throughout the audience. Hyde let out a shrill laugh. "Phi, I can't believe you lost to a wimp like this! How in the world did you mess up such an easy match?"

"What's he doing here?" I heard a hushed whisper. Glancing to my right, I saw Ranjiro, Fubuki, a pissed-off looking Aiga and his sister.

"No clue," I answered.

"Eh, you probably lost because you didn't read the manual," Hyde was saying, scratching the back off his head. 

(y/n) scowled, "What did you just say?"

Hyde grinned again, "On second thought, maybe you were nice enough to give up your toy so that I could play with it? Though, I wish it was a better looking model."

She clenched her fists. "Xcalius doesn't need to look good for anyone, and how dare you call it a toy? Stop joking around!"

It occurred to me that I should help (y/n) out from Hyde's taunts. But when I thought about how she lied and how she said she was strong, it only made me want Hyde to sneer at her anymore. I tried to help her. But she refused me, and now she has to pay the consequences. 

"But you're so fun-sized!" Hyde held out two fingers in a peace sign. "Here's my prediction. After the first battle, I'll have two points from a burst finish. During the second, I'll do the same for another two points. You'll lose four to zero. The extra point will be the icing on the cake!"

Her face darkened, and she jumped off the table, looking as if she was about to hit Hyde. But she stopped. 

I blinked, and realized that Fubuki had ran up to the front and grabbed her arm. "(y/n), chill!"

"Let go of me!"

"You can run away if you want," leered Hyde. "Lots of people get scared when they have to play with me."

"Let's go right now!" demanded (y/n).

Hyde laughed again, "I'm down to play if you are.

"Oh my!" Hanami's yell interrupted their conversation. "I just received breaking news that Bladers and bey fans alike would like to witness the reigning champ defend her title yet again, this time in a match with the infamous Hyde!"

Hyde's expression couldn't be smugger. "There you have it! It's settled."

(y/n) freed herself from Fubuki's grasp before storming off.

Your POV

Lilac, out-of-control hair framing a pale face and hiding an eye. Acid green shining maliciously. Sharp teeth pulled into a wide smirk. 

I let out a frustrated scream. 

Whatever I did, all I could think about Hyde's taunting, irritating face. It was driving me mad. Using the anger, I launched fiercely. I panted as I watched Xcalius zoom around the stadium. 

Still not enough. 

knock knock 

"Come in."

I paid no attention who had just entered my room and launched again. 

"(y/n)."

I didn't even need to look to see who it was. It was the owner of the other face that had been haunting me. 

"Oh. It's you."

"You know, you had no right to look so hurt when you saw me."

I still didn't even glance at him. I launched again. 

"Yes, I did."

Yes, because why can't you just believe in me for once? Why do you see me as a little child who needs to be cared for? Don't you know that I'm trying to be strong by myself? I don't think I would deserve the title 'strong' if somebody helped me.

"So, you're not going to even tell me why?" anger was evident in Shu's tone.

"Why should I?"

Why should I when I don't need your help. I don't need your watchful eyes or everyone else's on me.

"Because I'm your best friend!"

No. You're so much more than that. 

He continued, "I can help you train and get stronger."

"No. I want to find and follow my own path. I want to learn independence," I explained. "Too much help leads to no independence. That's why even you train by yourself."

"Yeah, but not all the time. It's good to get some help too. I don't see why you have to be so damp independent. You're just pushing your friends away!"

I stopped launching. I turned my head so that I could see him. His body was trembling with anger. His eyes never held so much disappointment. Seeing it, it broke me.

And all of a sudden, I wanted to tell him everything.  How I want to become strong so badly, but I can't do it if the people I love help me. How I want to be respected and acknowledged, but I can't do it if everyone knows how flawed I am. How I want to protect everyone, even if it means using the dark forces. 

But I couldn't. Because what if there was nobody left to love and protect if I showed how I was protecting them.

I reached out to him, touched his shoulder, ready to pull him into a hug and said softly, "Shu...I-"

"No." 

He took a step backwards, slapping my hand away. He looked directly at me, and I realized he wasn't shaking anymore. My heart dropped. His chin lifted up, his expression utterly blank. "Don't fill me with your lies anymore."

No.

No, no, no, no, no.

I watched, frozen, as he left my room, leaving it utterly empty besides me. Then, the shock turned into something else. I felt anger flare, so strong and so pure it made me shocked again. "Fine! I don't need your eyes constantly on me anyways!"

It was still relatively early at night, but I curled up into my bed, clutching Xcalius so tightly I thought I would break it. The sound of my sobs echoing the room echoed throughout the room until I slept. Crying because I was hurt, angry, or ashamed, I didn't know. Perhaps it was a mix of both.

That night, I dreamed again.

I was descending down the hole again.

An extremely dark and deep hole that made me wonder if I was ever going to reach the bottom every single time I had this dream. I was going down there willingly; there was no up or side for me - down was the only option. I continued to venture down, tightly clutching the rope that stopped me from plunging into the depths of what seemed like eternal blackness.

My rope snapped, and I let out a soundless scream, followed by a breath of relief as I was saved by a ledge jutting out from the hole. Now I could hear the soft echo of flickering flames that originated from just below me.

I stuck my foot out, prepared to jump into the fire when another rope was dropped; almost as if it was a warning - climb up, or else. A lone tear fell out from my right eye as I ignored the rope and jumped.

I jumped into the pit of black flames, where it seemed I would stay there for all eternity. 

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guys, literally most of Australia is burning, please pray for us and all of the animals. it's so sad and it hurts me to see my home dying. please please please donate and pray for us and the country.

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