Your POV 

Go away.

I knocked the outstretched hand away, waiting for it to dissolving into nothing. But it remained like an annoying pest that didn't know when to stop.

Why won't you just go away?

I felt anger. My life was just getting on track again, and now the darkness is back to mess it all up. But then I realized that this was the darkness worming its way into me through anger. So I ignored it and continued with the battle against Hyde.

The second battle seemed to drone on forever. I was struggling to fight the darkness off just as much as I struggled to counter Hyde's attacks, even with my aura activated. I spent majority of my effort focusing on the battle and ignoring the tempting offer that was just waiting for me to accept it, the offer that was starting to sway my mind.

I said, go away!

With a sudden burst of frustration, I unleashed Final Strike against Hades. It connected strongly, but it only ended up being a ring-out finish. Of course. Even if it was a powerful move, if meant almost nothing if my head was distracted.

If you had my help, you would've won by now, the distorted voice leered. 

I bit my lip. Really?

I could almost hear the scratchy laughter, laughing at how pitiful I sounded. Yes, really. Accept me again. And you can rule again.

A memory surfaced.

One so deep inside my brain, I had to concentrate to get rid of the blurriness. 

"I want to rule again," four year old me said bitterly, kicking the sand of the kindergarten playground.

The albino next to me, my best friend with beautiful crimson eyes who I secretly thought of more than a friend, tilted his head slightly. "But it's Valt's turn to be the emperor."

He gestured to the top of the slide, where Valt was acting as an emperor with a smug, big grin with Xander hailing him. I smiled at the sight of the two of them having fun. "I know. But I don't know, I like the feeling of having an imaginary crown on my head."

Shu frowned and I sighed. "That sounds bad, doesn't it? It is. But it's a stupid flaw of mine. I act like I was given this flaw, but I made it. It's my fault. I'm just a bad person who wants to be the ruler. I-I...hate myself."

He grabbed my hands, and I liked it. I liked the feeling of clutching onto him and his warmth. "(y/n)...don't say that."

I was crying. "But it's true."

"No, it's not," he was hugging me, and it was overwhelming, the feeling of him surrounding me. I liked that too. "You're not a bad person, so don't ever hate yourself. I'm right here. If you ever feel like this, just tell me. I'll be there, I promise. And then you can rule again."

It repulsed me. 

The way the darkness had taken Shu's kind kind words and twisted them into something else. I inched away from the darkness, but my head was spinning. Was the darkness trying to take over me by force?

In a panic, I glanced to the place where my friends were sitting. An empty spot between Valt and Fubuki stood out to me, a certain figure missing. 

Did he desert me?

I mean, it would make sense. He probably didn't want to be associated with such a weak blader. Such a weak blader who still made the same mistakes. Such a weak blader who was still so toxic.

Where is he?

Where are you, Shu?

a/n lolol that rhymes

a/n i spoiled the moment, didn't i? oooops

a/n, anyways ;)

I reached out my hands, fumbling in search for a source of flames, of light in this darkness that always seemed to linger around me.

Where are you, Shu?

"I'm right here."

Warmth encompassed me.

It was overwhelming, but I liked it. 

Warm hands that radiated comfort and happiness and fond memories were roped comfortably around my body. 

I stopped moving my hands.

I had forgotten about a promise, a promise in which warmth stopped me from drowning in the cold, cold, darkness. 

However, it was also heavy and wet, sobs into my shoulders that spoke levels of pain and agony that I could never [except for one time] reach. 

And so I cried too, tears burdened with shame and guilt and hate. No, not hate. Long ago I would've hated myself for crying in front of an opponent and in front of the person I wish to spend my whole life with.

But I liked this too. I liked when we revealed our emotions to each other, tearing apart the carefully woven nets and webs of secrets and lies.

I think choosing to cry in front of a person is the utmost form of trust. 

"I'm here," he was repeating to me, breath that tickled the nape of my neck and sent chills down my spine. "I'm here, I'm here."

Why did I choose to fall into a hellhole of darkness instead of falling in love with him?

Why did I choose to burn myself in the hot, hot dark flames instead of embracing the warmth he carried?

"And guess what?" he whispered. "You're healing. You're not broken or toxic or weak anymore."

I'm healing, right?

I'm passing my quatervois. 

I'm healing.

I'm healing.

"Your crown is being fixed," he continued on. "So don't do anything that will damage it again. And...face me, (y/n)."

He spun me around, his hands on my shoulders now, his elysian eyes locked onto mine. 

Crimson eyes that seemed to draw me in; enchanting me even more than the stars of the universe and even more than the warmth that he held. Time always passed quickly when I stare at them, they capture my gaze, and my heart too, it seems. 

Crimson eyes told me that I was going to be okay. Because I'm healing.

Crimson eyes that I fell in love with.

I fell harder for the person who owned those eyes, though.

"You can rule again."

I smiled tenderly at those words.

A crack in my crown disappeared. 

And I fell even more into the hole of love for Shu Kurenai that I seem to dig deeper every day.

"What are you going to do now, kiss?" 

The snide voice of Hyde broke the moment. He stared in disgust, disapproval written on his mocking face. 

I smiled wider, and my hands moved on their own to caress Shu's face. "Yeah."

I leant in, not caring about the hundreds of people who booed and pretended to gag. It was like that time in Japan before we moved to different continents. I didn't care about anyone else, only about the person I was kissing.

 His lips were warm and soft, the kiss delicate and passionate. His lips tasted like cherries that shared the colour of his eyes and were filled with sweet, saccharine goodness. It reminded me of all our days shared together, whether it be in Shu's apartment, in a New York shopping mall or in freezing Antarctica. 

I closed my eyes and let all the feelings wash over me, making me giddy and dizzy. I basked in this elation, this euphoria.

Gosh, how I missed this feeling.

But then he broke apart, leaving me hungry and wanting for more, to kiss him, to stare at him, t hug him.

I wondered when I became so selfish.

"I believe in you (y/n)," he said, and his eyes, oh, his eyes, lit up with belief. He went back to his seat in the audience but the image of his eyes lingered in my mind.

He was determined. Strong, unwavering belief that I would succeed. He really did trust and believe in me. Shu Kurenai gave me more strength than any darkness could.

Then I looked at the rest of my friends, then at the cameras that was surely broadcasting this to Ojii-san, my cousin and all of my other friends. I could feel the strength flowing into me, empowering me with all of their hopes and wishes.

And that's when I knew-

Thank you, Shu.

Thank you, everyone.

-that I was going to win the match.

----------------------- 

Aiga's POV 

"Xcalius!"

"Hades!"

I peered down at the title match happening right in front of me. Bright flashes of purple, crimson and white, along with the wind, nearly blinded me, but I kept on watching, curious to see how this match would play out.

I wish I didn't keep watching.

With extreme power, precision and speed, Xcalius shot out to Hades, doing the impossible and stopping the Dread Gravity, which had seemed like a portal that sucked you into losing. As much as I hated to admit it, (y/n) had done the impossible and had broken out of Hyde's best move. Xcalius' Turbo blades had activated at the beginning of the third round, but I don't think that's the reason behind her newfound power.

The two bladers both shouted and their auras lit up brighter than the sun, each one fueled by different things. Their beys clashed, and so did their beasts, sending flashes of lightning everywhere.

Everyone was excited or nervous, their emotions running high either way. I was on the edge of my seat, and Ranjiro besides me wasn't even sitting anymore. The only person that seemed calm and confident was Shu. He sat down, his posture good as ever, with unmovable determination in his eyes. It was obvious who he believed would win.

The collisions got louder, and I turned my attention back to the match, just in time to see the stadium light up in bright white, lightning crackling and wind pushing my hair back. The light was blinding, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from this match.

The all-too familiar sound of a bey bursting echoed throughout the watching crowds who had been silent this past minute. Hyde screamed in pain, clutching his chest.

No way.

I widened my eyes and clenched my fists.

No way.

Hades was in three pieces, laid on the stadium floor in front of a crestfallen, but mostly shocked, Hyde. 

"U-Uh," the referee was also shocked, and I think everyone in the stadium was, even (y/n), "Turbo Xcalius wins with a burst finish. With a final score of three to one, the winner of this title match is (y/n) (l/n)!"

Then there was deafening roars and applauds that reverberated across the whole arena. Hyde merely scoffed and turned away, but I don't think anyone else was looking at him.

"She really pulled it off!" Ranjiro exclaimed.

Fubuki looked shocked, but then his lips curved into a smile. "Yeah. That was amazing."

"Oh yeah!" whooped Valt. "(y/n) did it!"

Then Valt jumped and punched the air, and then it was obvious he couldn't contain his happiness.

But I think the happiest one was Shu, the one that wasn't making any noise. He sat back in his chair, a smile on his face as if he already knew the outcome. I knew he was proud of (y/n). So, so proud. 

I stared on, still in shock. 

I stared at the figure on near the stadium that was cowering on the floor from the happiness she was feeling. Tears were like waterfalls on her dazed face as the referee draped the title belt on the floor in front of her.

I think she was the one who was shocked the most. 

She was receiving yet again the title which she had cruelly snatched away from me.

All around me, people were celebrating her victory.

Why are they doing that?

I clenched my fists tighter.

Why should she have that title? Why should she be the one with the belt and the one with the strength that triumphed over everyone's?

She was a monster who selfishly wanted victory of herself. She humiliated me on International TV, cracked Achilles slightly, who smirked at the sight of me going angery, who called me a failure and stared at Achilles as if it was nothing but something to destroy.

How can they believe she changed from that person?

"Now, let's hear it from our champ!" Hanami was announcing.

I grumbled silently. Great. Now she's going to make some sappy speech dedicated to Shu, and win the crowds over with the romance.

But she didn't do some sappy speech dedicated Shu, and she didn't win the crowds over with the romance. Instead, she looked at me straight in the eye. She thrusted Xcalius proudly out into my direction, and then smiled a huge, genuine smile.

I looked away, down at Achilles. I questioned Achilles, "I wasn't able to win, so how did she? How did she beat Hyde? She didn't even use that strong power!"

"Yo," Ranjiro called out. He moved to stand next to me, concern etched on his face. "Yo, what's with that gloomy look?"

I ignored him, and kept on staring at Achilles, waiting for an answer to come to me. Behind my back, I could feel Ranjiro and Fubuki exchanged glances.

(y/n), Valt and Shu whispered to each other before leaning the now empty arena. Poor Valt, having to witness their make-out session.

"Here, this'll make you feel better," Ranjiro offered one of his trademark lollipops. When I ignored him again, he just sighed and plopped it back into his mouth again.

"But still..." I trailed off. "I don't get it. Why did Shu give her this sudden strength? She was in a tight spot, and they just had a conversation and shared a kiss, and then suddenly she's so much stronger. I don't get it at all."

"Well, it's because strength comes from your bonds," Ranjiro explained. I nearly groaned. He sounded like the teachers I had back in primary school. "Right, Fubuki?"

Fubuki nodded. "Yeah. Whenever I feel cornered, I always remember everything (y/n) and Shu taught me, and that they both support me."

"And then you win the battle!" Ranjiro grinned. Then his happiness slid off his face as he peered at my downcast face. "Don't you remember your friends when you win?"

"Well, yeah," I said, but even to me, my voice sounded unconvincing. "Of course I do."

"Could've fooled me," Ranjiro raised an eyebrow. "Especially lately. All you've been thinking about is destroying your opponent, right? Am I wrong?"

Ranjiro had hit the nail on the head.

"So what?"

(y/n) did that too.

"What's wrong about thinking like that?" I looked up at Ranjiro.

(y/n) thinks like that, and she's the top blader!

Ranjiro stared back, ever so calm. "Listen, man. You're a strong blader, but still, you need your bonds to blade. Even just having a battle you need friends. And even when you lose, you can talk it out with your bey, and that's the best part of it all! Before, you said something like 'I am Achilles', but you know, I don't think that's the right way to go about it."

My fists were shaking with anger. "You're trying to tell me what's right, huh?"

I stepped closer to Ranjiro and shouted, "You still don't get it! Achilles and I are one! And that's why we're so powerful! We're connected with a resonance that's stronger than either of yours!"

"Aiga..." whispered Fubuki.

Ranjiro frowned. "Chill out. Seriously, what's gotten into you?"

"I should be asking you that!" I exclaimed angrily. "Why does it feel like neither of you understands me?"

I stared at the both of them, but only confusion was written on their faces. If they like the bond and friends stuff so much, then why don't they try to understand me. "I've had enough!"

Ignoring their cries, I ran up the stairs. I pushed open the creaky doors and ran across the open hallways of Dread Tower. The sky was still gloomy, shades of purple and blue that seemed to want to suffocate me with its dread.

And then I saw a figure. A tall person with billowing white hair and extravagant clothing in shades of red. I groaned. Just as a nightmare was going away, an old one came back.

Phi.

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

sudden ending, but i was rushing to finish it. since i updated sbiwstk [the sequel], this took longer

word count: 2664