"ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss ɪs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ"

-ᴍᴀʏᴜ "ᴛᴏɴᴏᴍᴇ"
ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴɪᴍᴇ ɴᴏʀᴀɢᴀᴍɪ

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

"Ne, Shouko. Have you heard about the blader who got kidnapped? Isn't he one of your son's friends?"

Shouko blinked twice before nodding.  It's been two weeks and she hasn't heard anything either from her husband or her son.

Shu.

She takes out her bey from her coat. The aesthetic glocious-grey coloured bey shines under the sun as a moon shines during night. She remembered she promised to hand her bey to her son if he was ready to become a blader but instead of that, Shu found his bey. His partner. 

That was it. Now she's forty-one years and she retired as a blader eighteen years ago after she got married. She remembers how her bey roamed violently the stadium and fought with other boys.

"Miss Kurenai, someone sends a letter for you. More like an invention"

Shouko blinked. She had a bad feeling about this.

---
Ragging Bulls, New York, USA.

Today is a tiring day for Shu as you can see. After Wakiya's disappearance and the foreign blader announcement, he has to deal with reporters and many more. He slumps against the executive chair with a heavy breath.

He heard from Valt about Phi's Bey becoming physical. It was unbelievable to believe but after he met Vincent at the Asia Bey Festival, perhaps all the things are connected.

○○○

"Shu-Chan~! It's been years! How are you?"  

Shu keeps his deadpan look on the azure-eyed male. For four years he wished he would never see one of them again and here he is. 

Shu: What do you want Vincent? Or should I call you.. Azure Eye?

Vincent chuckled but it died down after he grab Spriggan's blader hand and headed to the near cafē.

Vincent: We need to talk. Privately. 

.

.

.

"So, Snake Pit losing bladers too? Huh, that was.. odd. Aren't Snake Pit supposed to be hidden from the outside world?"

"That was what I thought. Even Norman went missing too. Maybe the rumour about Ghost Eye is true.."

Shu blinked in confusion. Who?

Shu: Who is Ghost Eye? Never heard about him.

Vincent: You don't know? It's a famous story in Snake Pit. Silver Eye told us before don't you remember Red Eye?

Shu winched after hearing the name. Red Eye. A single name gives him a thousand painful memories. Vincent who notices the younger look down immediately changes the topic.

Vincent: About Ghost Eye. Perhaps her or his story was connected with all bladers' disappearance.

Shu: Her or his?

Vincent: Who knows? There's a rumour said he is she or she a he but no one can confirm that theory. Second, he's one of the Requiem Project.

Heard about Requiem Project, Shu accidentally choked his drink making customers look at him. Shu apologized for the afterword.

Shu: I-I thought I'm the first blader involved in Requiem.

Vincent: That was what the other Snake Pit bladers thought too. Not until we heard from Norman that many bladers had become of the Requiem Project lab rats. Unfortunately, none of them was last long to live. We're kinda shocked after finding out you survived the project. Alongside Spriggan Requiem.

Shu cross his arms over his chest and slumped on the chair.

Vincent: There is a big chance that the missing bladers were connected with dark resonance as we did. In other words..

Shu: They are looking after us next.

Vincent nodded. He takes out Shadow Brave Valkriye and stares at it. He takes the last sip of his tea before standing up, ready to leave the cafe.

Vincent: I'm sure you are aware, Shu. Lane Valhalla might be the victim along with Aiga Akaba.

Shu's eyes widen. Think- Aiga and Lane also had dark resonance to strengthen their bond with their beys.

".... Upper-Rank Bladers might be looking for you, Shu. Be careful"

He looks at shadow blader who smiles widely at him before disappearing into the crowd.

○○○

Shu groans resting his head on the table with his arms crossed as a pillow. What does Vincent mean by Upper-Rank Bladers? He thought Masked Blader count as Upper Rank.

Shu: I hate this..

---

Back in Spain, Valt lazily opens the window to bring the fresh air of Spain through his sharing room. He grabs his headband and stares at Phoenix who hasn't done anything since she went back to her bey body. Kitt and Honcho were not in the room probably already heading to the cafeteria for breakfast.

.

.

.

"Yo, Valt!"

"Valt-Senpai! Heya!!" 

Valt look at the duo protagonist who waving at him. Drum runs and crush him with a hug while Aiga sighs with Dragon's blader attitude. Valt pat the latter head as he let go of the hug.

Valt: Nice to see you two again! What are you doing here in Spain?

Aiga: My dad has some business with Raul about something. Lane and Hyuga are here too.

Drum: Ne, Ne! I hear the Legends will have a battle here tonight! Is that true?!

Valt: A wha..?

"Valt?"

The Valkriye blader turns around and meets a pair of baby-pink eyes staring widely at him.

Valt: Miss Shouko..? What are you two doing here?

Valt asked at the same time watching his tone after seeing the former Ragging Bulls manager. He tried to ignore his presence. Drum and Aiga stare at each other. They heard from Sisco that Valt is very aware of that man after an accident a few years ago. Aiga had a feeling it wasn't an accident.

Shouko: We just visiting.

Aiga blinked.

"You two knew each other?"

.

.

.

"That was the story. The End"

Raul said clapping his hands. The BC Sol blader awe at the story as Aiga looks at his father in disbelief.  

Aiga: I never know you were the closest friend with a legend! You never tell me!

Taiga: You never ask.

Aiga growl while Drum giggles amused by the BC Sol's trainer story. His green eyes shine looking at Mrs Kurenai who looks embarrassed by the story.

Taiga: This place is the place I met her and Theodore when friendship battles. Oh god, that was long ago..

Shouko: Jimmy must be so proud, Christina.. This BeyClub weren't the same after he passed away.

Chris bows her head and smiles sadly. Free stares at her. Of course, Jimmy Koruda, BC Sol's former manager. The person who adopted him so he can stay and be Chris's friend. Be a part of the BC Sol family.

He remembers how sad the Magenta-haired girl was after her grandfather's death. She skip school only to take care of her grandfather's beloved Club.

Taiga: How about a battle then?

Everyone inside the room gaze at the champion's father and is shocked. Did he just ask for battle?

Taiga: Why? I'm sure Selene misses battling my bey. Just like old times, like the first time we met? 

Honey: Selene?

They all glance at the white-haired woman and realized a strong and powerful red flare around her. Mrs Kurenai takes out her bey for her coat and shows it to the blue-haired Akaba with a grin on her face.

Shouko: It would be my pleasure to burst Tartarus like the last time we met.

Aiga and Valt gulp feel uneasy feeling between those parents.

"Oh god.."

.

.

.

"You're here too?"

Valt asks the teal-eyed man. Surprisingly Valt thought Lane would come with Shu he come with Fubuki and Ragging Bulls' former manager, Theodore Glass. Theodore nods unaware of the glare given by the Valkriye blader.

Shouko: Theo? I can't believe you came.

Theodore: I can't let my old rival have fun without me. What's the fun in Beyblade in that? Genghis would love to battle with his old rivals.

The BC Sol's bladers gaze on silver-black bey. Based on its looks, It's a Balance Type Bey. Kitt searching for something on his tablet and the sequel makes all bladers in the hall look at him. Information about old bladers, not only Theodore but Mrs Kurenai and Mr Akaba appear on the screen as well.

「 Name: ᴛʜᴇᴏᴅᴏʀᴇ ɢʟᴀss

     Bey: ᴛɪᴛᴀɴ ɢᴇɴɢʜɪs
     Bey-Type: sᴛᴀᴍɪɴᴀ ᴛʏᴘᴇ

     Name: sʜᴏᴜᴋᴏ sʜɪʀᴏᴍɪ
     Bey: ᴇᴛʜᴇʀᴇᴀʟ sᴇʟᴇɴᴇ

     Bey-Type: ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʏᴘᴇ
 

     Name: ᴛᴀɪɢᴀ ᴀᴋᴀʙᴀ
     Bey: ʜᴇʟʟ ᴛᴀʀᴛᴀʀᴜs
     Bey-Type: ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ ᴛʏᴘᴇ  」

Honey: Not many facts about them but, all we know, is they were the strongest bladers in the '90s.

Valt was impresses by the information he got. Back in the '90s, the top ten bladers were called Prime Class and surprisingly, BC Sol's former manager, Late Jimmy Koruda was one of them.

Raul: How about a Royal Battle? I'll be the ref.

All of them agree. Drum squeal and Aiga stand hoping to get a closer look at the battle. Mrs Kurenai borrows Valt's launcher since she never care any launcher with her.

Raul: Ready..? SET!!

"Three.. Two.. ONE! GO SHOOT!!"

The three boys were launched into the stadium and sped off. Titan Genghis turned towards the middle of the stadium but was stopped by Hell Tartarus who attacked by surprise. Free examines the three boys, three of them are not Sparking Bey so it's likely the battle will end quickly. Lane and Fubuki see Bey belonging to Mrs Kurenai that spins counterclockwise.

Lane: Oi Sumie, See that..?

Fubuki: She using defense mode.

.

.

.

The battle ended smoothly with Mrs Kurenai with three points, Mr Glass with four points and Mr Akaba with two points.

Honey replays the battle for the third time impressed by how Ethereal Selene Glide through the air and attack both beys at once and create a very strong shockwave. Sound impossible with defense type bey.

Drum: Genghis went WOSH WOSH and Selene went WHIP BANG! That was amazing, Mrs Kurenai!

Aiga: That's Shu Kurenai's mother for ya.

Shouko: That was nothing.. I'm glad everyone is having fun. Ah, those two..?    
Mrs Kurenai meets Fubuki and Lane's eyes, staring at those younger bladers.

Valt: Oh! This is Fubuki Sumie and Lane Valhalla. Both of them are Shu's students.

Shouko: Of course. Fubuki Sumie, Shu said a lot about you in his letters. He even sent me your picture when you were a kid, oh, that was so adorable. I saw how hard you to train to catch up with others.

Fubuki's cheeks turn red almost as his eye colour fluttered by the pink-eyed Kurenai. Mrs Kurenai moves to Lane. The Lucifer blader takes a little step back feeling uncomfortable being starred.

Shouko: Lane Valhalla. I watched your Tag Team battle with Shu. It was impressive. I see you can resonate with you Bey without any.. problem.

Lane looks away trying to hide his flustered face from the others. He clicked his tongue and walk away.

Aiga: That was rude. At least he should say something.

Valt: I guess he was just flattered. We should head to the cafeteria now. Ms Ange must be waiting for us.

.

.

"Valt, can we talk to you for a moment?"

Valt, stare at his best friend's student. Fubuki isn't the type of person who likes to talk except it is important.

"Yes..?"

"I want to talk.. I need to tell you something important"

---

"My, my.. tired already? We started our game a few minutes ago, Delta.."

Delta hugs himself, adjusting his red jacket to cover his body. Wakiya who was in the same cell with him hugged the younger blader wiping his tears. His hair looks messy and his arms are full of blood and shaking uncontrollably.

Wakiya: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?!

"Shh.. you should be preparing yourself for your training next instead of him. He's young, and he has so much potential to become a Champion but instead, he wasted it and lets his little friend take his spotlight. If I was him, I'll just push him away.."

Wakiya: You know nothing! I-

Wakiya was cut off by Delta's coughing. Sound like he choked but he manage to stabilize himself before falling unconscious in Wakiya's embrace. Wakiya checked his forehead. He's boiling.

Wakiya: Delta- You have a fever!

Silence fills the cell. Wakiya's blue eyes look around perhaps something can help them get out from there or something can help Devolos blader. He found a bowl with white cloth left in the cell. Wakiya blinked.

Wakiya: What is he..?

---
.

.

.

"Thank you for having me. Christina. I hope we can meet again. BC Sol is indeed an interesting Bey club."

Mrs Kurenai said with a polite bow. Valt who was standing next to the chairman of the Bey club could only smile. mr. Glass went home last night after dinner while Mr Akaba will stay at BC Sol for three days.

Chris: It was my pleasure to have one of the legends in our club. I feel honoured to meet you. Be careful on the way.

Mrs Kurenai gives Valt a hat pat before walking to the car. Unfortunately, she had a call from work so she can't stay for too long. Drum waves his hand along with other bladers.

Drum: I'll miss her! Valt..? Why do they have to battle at night? Isn't it easier to battle during the day?

Valt: I don't know.. But I know they must have their reason to do that. I guess..?

"That's because Ethereal Selene was made out of moonstone"

Raul's voice interrupted. The others blink.

"Are you serious..?"

.

.

.

After a few hours of flight, she arrived at her house, Shouko received a message from an unknown number. She texts her husband and stares at her phone for a few seconds before the curse, received another message. She put back her phone in her coat, ready for the challenge the next day. 

"Meet me at the location with your bey. Wakiya Murasaki and Delta Akane will be our bet.. Dead or Alive."

---

"Welcome to Asahi restaurant! Oh, Hello Hikaru needs anything..?"

Mrs Asahi looks at the blue-haired boy who seems looking for something. Hikaru shook his head and lent a black envelope with Hyuga's name on it.

Hikaru: Someone asked me if I can give this letter to Hyuga. It's important.

Mrs Asahi takes the envelope and thanks him before watching him walk away leaving the restaurant like a ghost.

"Terumi? What's wrong?"

"I have a really bad feeling about this.."

Mr Asahi put down the knife and stare at his beloved wife. After their older son went missing she turns to be quieter than usual but still tries to be happy for their younger son. He put a hand on his wife's shoulder and pull her into a hug.

"We will find him.. I promise.."

Little did they know, the game already started.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

 I know, Look I made it many times skip in this chapter. I ran out of ideas. I deeply apologize..

Second, StOp Be a silent reader and vote Meh! I need encouragement!