ahhh there might be a season five of beyblade with shu, free and lui in it. i really hope that's true!

btw, aiga, fubuki and the rest of them are staying at bc sol while they're in spain

Your POV 

It's the morning of the next day after my fight with Shu. It's been on my mind constantly. Sometimes I just want to give in and tell him I'm sorry. Then I remember that I need to do this by myself, and he needs to understand that. 

Unfortunately for me, Shu's staying over at BC Sol for at least another week. Meal times at the cafeteria are awkward as hell, considering that we sit on the same table too because we have the same friends. Other than meal times, I spend all of my time alone in my room, with the occasional company of Sasha and Honey. 

Even if they're with me in the room, I don't stop to chat. I need to use every second I have for training. Sweat lined my forehead as I vented all of my frustration and anger towards Shu and Hyde into my launching. I wiped my brow and bit my lip as I examined the launch. There was so much to improve in such little time. 

knock knock

I stopped launching and walked over to the door to open it. I was hardly surprised who the person was at my door. "Hey, Valt."

"Hi (y/n)," his familiar cheery voice greeted me. "Practicing for your battle with Hyde?"

"Yeah," I frowned down at Xcalius in my hand. "Something's off about this, I can't place my finger on it, though."

"I get it. How are you feeling?"

How am I feeling? Valt never asks those questions. Maybe 'how are you', but not 'how are you feeling?'. His voice was overly smooth and rather cautious. It makes me feel as though I'm in hospital and he's the doctor. Like I'm someone fragile who needs to be looked after. I hated it. "I feel as though my friends think I'm sick or something."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "Listen, (y/n), something about you-"

"Has been off recently, I know," I rolled my eyes. "I'm pushing people out of my life and I'm more arrogant. Isn't that what Shu told you?"

Valt stared at me, shocked at the anger in Shu's name. I waited for an answer, but he gave me none. The silence confirmed it. I huffed, "Great, now he's dragging people into our drama? What is it with you people dragging yourself into things? People want to solve their own problems."

"(y/n), we can help-"

"No, you can't," I interjected. "Just go away."

I shut the door resumed my training, a sliver of guilt bubbling away. About a minute later there was another knock on my door. Irritated, I opened the door and said, "If Shu sent you here, you can piss off."

Fubuki blinked at me. "Uh, he didn't. Is-is everything alright between you two?" 

"Oh, Fubuki, it's just you," I sighed before gesturing for him to come in. We both took a seat on opposing armchairs. "Everything's fine."

"That's a lie, (y/n). Everyone here at BC Sol can sense the tension between you two," Fubuki glanced at me. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Great, even Fubuki's making it sound as if I have a disease or something. Why is everyone acting like my therapist? Trying to hold my anger in I responded, "Not, not really."

"Oh, okay," mumbled Fubuki. 

"Why are you here?"

He brightened up instantly. "Oh, Toko found some information about Hyde's bey."

I smiled and leaned forward. "Let's hear it then."

"He found out that Hyde uses a balance type bey called Dread Hades," Fubuki pulled out a tablet and showed me a picture.

"Dread Hades. So that's his bey," I murmured. It seems heavy. No doubt that would be good for both offence and defense.

"As I'm sure you're thinking, it's super heavy," Fubuki noted. "That adds to its striking power, and it can switch from both offence and defense. Apparently, Hyde has some major launch power, too. These are top-notch abilities. You'll have to play it smart."

"That doesn't matter," I smirked as I thought about my new power. It'll crush Hyde instantly. "I've got this in the bag."

"I hope so," Fubuki stood up, prepared to leave. "Oh and, despite your fight, I think Shu's coming to watch you."

I hated myself for feeling such happiness at those words.

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

"Hello all you bey fans! Welcome to the bey arena in Spain! Are you having a good time?"

I stared at Xcalius, so focused on the bey in front of me that I barely heard Senor Hanami's words that echoed from the arena. Ever since my battle with Phi, Xcalius has been silent. No matter how many times I've tried to communicate with it, it wouldn't respond at all. I could hear to voice of the darkness ringing so clearly, but Xcalius' voice was silent.

"It's time to go," a member of the staff told me. When I didn't respond, he tapped my shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts. "Excuse me, but your battle's about to start."

"Oh, right," I shoved Xcalius back into my pocket. "Sorry."

As I walked towards the waiting area of the blue corner, I could hear Senor Hanami's commentating getting louder. "Champion (y/n) (l/n) will soon defend her title against Hyde of the Turbo 4! I'm sure it'll be a match we'll never forget! Trust me, everyone. You won't want to miss this historic battle! With that said, please allow me to bring out our challenger!"

"Rumor has it that this sensational blader has traveled through the depths of darkness and beyond!" Hanami continued. "He's a warrior who leaves his opponents in terror as he shatters them apart! Give it up for the Phantom Blader, the dark prince of the Nether! It's Hyde! He and his bey, Dread Hades, are here to bring it!"

The sound of fire and crowds cheering reached my ears. I stared at the area opposite me where Hyde emerged from the darkness with his loud cackle. As he hyped up the crowd, a bad feeling in my stomach began to brew. Xcalius. I tried calling out again, but it was no use. I bit my lip as the off vibe only seemed to grow stronger.

More fire surrounded Hyde, and the crowds' cheering made my head pound. He seemed to have gained more popularity. Up at the top box, Senor Hanami winked at me. That was my cue to walk out. I let out a deep exhale. Concentrate. This is your home stadium. 

Rule it. 

Lifting my chin up, I walked towards the bey stadium, not letting the heat from the flames put me off. Senor Hanami was talking again, I could see his lips moving, but I couldn't hear his words. 

All of my energy seemed to concentrated on my eyes, my eyes that scanned the crowd so desperately to see his face. I saw my close friends. Free, Kit, Fubuki, Valt. And then I saw him. 

As soon as he noticed, he glanced away. I looked away too. I don't know what I was expecting from Shu. 

"Keep your eyes on the enemy, not your boyfriend," Hyde's harsh words brought my attention to him. He smiled smugly. "Or maybe, your boyfriend is turning into the enemy."

"Shut up," I muttered. I wasn't in a mood to deal with Hyde's crap.

Of course, he knew that, but that only urged him to provoke me further. He gazed out at the crowd. "The way I see it, there's a fake champion on this stage. Do you guys want to see a real battle? Do you wanna see a real champ throw down?"

The roar from the crowd is terrifyingly loud. The crowd that, I thought, once supported me. Now they wanted to see my demise. Crowds are fickle. They support the one with the most strength and power. There was once a time when I thought Zac was idolized by the crowd; the best in their eyes. 

But I saw at the God Blader's Cup, and here once again, that crowds go with the stronger one. Zac didn't have a crowd, he had fans. Members of crowds that always support you aren't part of the crowd. They're part of your fans. 

I stared out at the hundreds of people who wanted to see downfall, and wondered if I had any true fans. I doubt that. 

"Leave it to the Hydemeister to give you a show you'll never forget," Hyde was saying. "After this is over, you will all know who the greatest blader in the world is!"

"Shut up," I said more loudly this time, so that more people than just Hyde could hear it. The crowd jeered at me. It must be nice to have the power of the crowd to push you to be stronger. 

"Sparks are already flying in the stadium and the battle hasn't even begun!" Hanami cried in excitement.

"Go Hyde! Go Hyde! Go Hyde!" I heard the scream of his supporters.

"(y/n)! (y/n)! (y/n)!" a whisper from my friends. I was grateful for that, even if I could hear the doubt in their voices.

"Hah!" Hyde laughed before thrusting Dread Hades out. "This match is mine! You remember my predictions, don't you? I'm gonna put an end to this with two bursts."

I drew my shoulders back. "Give me a break! You and your predictions are going to get blown away!"

"Ready? Set!"

I got into the Soaring Boost stance. "3 2 1! Let it rip!"

With surprising speed for such a heavy bey, Hades began circling the stadium along with Xcalius. I frowned in thought. So Hades is in attack mode, huh.

Wasting no time, I activated the dark aura. I felt the superior strength that came with it. Xcalius appeared in beast form, but it was still silent for some reason. Maybe...I shook my head. I had to concentrate on the battle.

I heard the familiar high-pitched laugh and glanced at Hyde. To my shock, he had activated the dark power too. I blinked, but the purple tinging the air around him was the unmistakable sign of the dark aura.

The purple air was getting so bright and vivid until it drown every single other colour. All I could see from his body was his gleaming green eye, looking even more like a burning acid. In a distorted voice he yelled out, "Hades!"

Lightning flashed amongst the darkness as a monster appeared clutching a black and crimson scythe that shined maliciously. Crimson. 

The exact colour of his eyes.

Time slowed down, just like in that time.

Crimson.

I slipped, but a pale white hand reached out and grabbed my wrist. I looked up, and suddenly I was staring at a pair of crimson eyes. For a moment, it seemed like the whole world vanished and it was only Shu and me, holding on to Shu for dear life, the breeze ruffling our hair. It was only a moment, but for that moment it was like we were in our own little world. 

Crimson. 

Concentrate! a voice in my head yelled. I was jolted back to the present. In a haste I yelled out, "Xcalius! Union Launch!"

"Not so fast!" Hyde yelled maniacally. "Dread Impulse!"

The eyes of the bey lit up in an evil way. Hades clashed with Xcalius, and Hyde simultaneously screamed out in ecstasy. I watched in shock as the energy layer landed right next to my right foot. I whispered, "No."

That attack. 

It was out of this world.

How? 

How can he pull off such a feat?

My mind was spinning, and my hands moved by instinct to assemble Xcalius again. It seemed like I wasn't the only one the darkness had appealed too. Hyde was so strong. It overwhelmed me. For a second, one fleeting second, my eyes flitted in Shu's direction before I pulled away.

I wanted to know; what did he think of the battle? Was he concerned about me? What did he think about both me and Hyde using darkness? Were we both the villains in his eyes?

Did he know how much I thought about him?

The crowd was yelling something, Hanami was commentating again. I tuned both of them out. But I couldn't tune my opponent out.  I clenched my fists tightly.

"Turns out you really were a fake," his scathing voice was filled with amusement. "Now the whole world knows!"

I unclenched my fists. Crescents of crimson dotted my palm. I breathed out, "I said...

On its own, the darkness activated. This time, it was even more. It amazed me and scared me at the same time. If I was think straight, I would've realized that I'm not willing to go this far.

But I wasn't thinking straight. I just wanted more and more power. And the darkness obeyed. It multiplied itself and its power continuously in an instant. This was next level. This power, it was inhumane. It thrilled me.

I yelled, and when my voice came out, it came out as a distorted growl that I didn't recognize. "SHUT UP!"

There was no going back anymore.

This is my turning point. 

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kinda thinking about renaming this whole series to 'crimson' and changing all of my book covers.

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Word count: 2223