Media: Dan and Reiki Sodo

I didn't know why I took note of the twin used to refer to Eagle. I had always addressed it using pronouns such as it.

He... That's right, you're a male, aren't you?

In my brain, something hummed. It seemed to flow from the back of my mind, a rough but comforting noise that flooded any noise piercing through the air.

I knew Eagle didn't completely trust me yet. But we were getting there, bit by bit.

As the thought flickered across my mind, my nerves grew warm. Liquid fire ran along my veins, but was somehow calm.

Before I knew it, Eagle had smacked Leone into a wall, getting in front as if protecting the lion beyblade.

I could feel the intensity of Kyoya's glare turn on high power. He hadn't expected that from me, even he might've done it to me.

"Go to Doji, Kyoya," I commanded. "I'll take care of these two."

His mouth opened to object, but something seemed to cause the air to vibrate, a roar that rose from an unknown source.

"Leone?" Kyoya asked in disbelief. "You...?"

Several moments of silence elapsed, and Eagle deflected a blow from Gemios. Dan's eyes were trained on the battle, while Reiki's unwavering gaze was on me.

Extending his hand, Leone leapt into the open palm. Kyoya closed his hand, before turning his back and hurrying down the hall.

"All right," I drawled, extending my arms. "Let's dance."

Fury flashed across both their faces.

Killer Gemios... same as Killer Hydra... so, if they put their minds to it, the twins can execute the same move- or along the lines of it- as Kato's Hooked Claw thing.

"Gemios!" Reiki commanded.

"Reiki, wait!" Dan snapped, but Gemios had heeded the first command.

The air vibrated as Eagle and Gemios clashed fiercely, and a violent shock rippled through me.

It was mental toughness that kept me standing. Every blow Eagle withstood caused a shudder to whip through my body.

My vision often doubled- not in a bad way- where it would flicker from my view to the ground, up close where I could see Gemios.

Eagle's eyes.

The connection I could feel with Eagle was there. Humming, eager to spread its' wings (no pun intended), warm as it flooded my senses.

"Gemios!" The twins shouted in unison, and Gemios drew back, still circling Eagle. My beyblade waited patiently in the middle, giving no indication it- he, I reminded myself, could move without a command.

Yet, as he waited, I could feel the longing behind it. The longing to go, to smash, to behold the power Eagle wanted.

Go, I said in my mind. The buzzing in my ears got louder, but smoothed out to an even thrum. Fight how you want.

It was a dam-break.

The instant the thought that left my mind, Eagle surged with an aqua-like aura, zipping from his spot.

The sudden burst of speed seemed to surprise Gemios and the twins. Dan make an aggravated noise that was somewhere along the lines of a grunt, while his brother's brow furrowed and his teeth sunk into his lower lip.

Let's just say this: Eagle was unbelievably vicious. A flurry of sparks exploded every few moments, and often sent Gemios reeling. My companion seemed unaffected by the combat, and sometimes even bounced off the wall to give him more leverage.

Is this what Eagle had been holding back the whole time?

The soft 'hurmph' in my mind told me the answer as he shot after Gemios again.

"Enough!" Reiki shouted. "Dan!"

"Shut up, Reiki," his twin hissed back at him. "No, we're not-!"

"I'm tired of waiting for you to make the right move!" he shot back. "You're such a coward, saying 'wait' over and over again! Finish the beyblade off!"

"Reiki, enough!"

Eagle paid no heed to their relentless bickering, and merely stole the opening. In a spinning blur, he smacked into his opponent, causing them to bounce backwards.

Meanwhile, Reiki and Dan were still bickering.

Fantastic, my opponent...s isn't even going to pay attention to me.

Another noise of agreement in the back of my head. The corners of my mouth turned up a bit.

"Dan, I'm tired of waiting for you to make a move!" Reiki yelled. "Gemios! Attack!"

Gemios circled back, and shot towards my Eagle. They collided in a shower of white-and-yellow sparks, often drawing back before smacking into one another again.

"Eagle!" I yelled.

"Your Eagle can't fight to the best of his ability!" The taunt caused me to tense. "He's flapping his wings in an enclosed area of the hallway!"

With a grand gesture around the hallway, Reiki's eyes narrowed. "We're at the advantage!"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

He raised an orange-haired eyebrow. "Oh? I know these pathways far more better then you," he boasted. "I've wandered them for years!"

"Does it really matter about the pathways?' I retorted. "Get your head in the game-" No, I didn't care about the High School Musical Reference. "This is a beyblade battle, not a race to Doji's room. So why should I care?" 

"Reiki, ignore her!" Dan commanded, but his twin glared daggers in my direction, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You doubt Eagle's power," I murmured. "Even I do- we're not at that extend of trust yet. But you're a fool for underestimating him!"

In my chest, my heart grew warm as Gemios was smashed back repeatedly, bouncing back to avoid the hints, but not successful. The beyblade smacked into the wall once last time, before coming to a stop.

"What? How?" Dan exclaimed. 

"If you'd excuse me," I snipped, shoving past the two. "I've got somewhere to go."

They didn't stop me.

-

As the twins watched Tess' retreating back, Reiki's lips curved into a frown. "Was that very necessary?" 

"It was Doji's orders," Dan answered shortly. "Had we gone full-out here, she wouldn't be moving on." 

The camera- Merci- dropped out of the ceiling near Dan's head. "You did well, Monsieur Dan, Monsieur Reiki. Excellent~!"