Dont judge. Luis in three chapters in a row. Deal w/ it...

but to make up for it, first is a 900 word or so scene on Shalt! and then the rest of the story.

Valt:

There are good ways to start your day, and bad ways. A good way to wake up would be to, say, a victory dream and beybread. A bad way... how I woke up.

Two adorable somethings crushing me. "Valt! We are not your alarm clock!"

Just to annoy them, I shot out of bed and yelled, "I WIN!" Toko and Nika toppled off me, laughing.

"Still dreaming about beys?" They asked at the same time. I nodded cheerfully, putting on my headband. Without it, my hair isn't spiky at all, which is really sad. I pride myself on being not-ordinary, so flat hair is a major no.

Once that was done, I tried to find my clothes. My room is the messiest in Japan. I probably would win an award for it. While I was trying to find my shus—Uh, I meant shoes, Toko noted, "Oh, by the way, your last day of school starts in ten minutes."

"WHAAATTT?" I was not expecting that. "I HAFTA GO! WHERE ARE MY SHUS?"

"Your shoes," Nika corrected, handing them over.

"Exactly!" I protested, running for the door. "Gotta go!" I ran for the stairs, but tripped and faceplanted a story down. Seriously, I either have insane healing skills or I've fell down the stairs too many times to count, because I did not instantly die."Owww...."

I heard Mom talking to someone. Standing up unsteadily, I made my way to the kitchen and found a large basket of beybread waiting for me. "Aw yeah!"

Happily carrying the really heavy basket, I tried to find the source of the voices. "Mom? Where are you?"

"Right here, sweetie! You're boyfriend's here!" She popped her head out from the bakery section of the house.

Shu! I wouldn't admit it to anyone but Valkyrie, but I was worried about him. He SEEMED alright, but whenever he thought I wasn't looking, his face changed from the peaceful look to deadly anger. I followed him around after the match yesterday, and he was still training at one in the morning when I went to bed. I figured I should probably make sure he was actually happy and safe.

"Yay! Shu!!!" I bounced through the bakery and put down the basket. "You're here!"

He looked tired, but otherwise alright. "Of course," he said, smiling. "It's the last day of school. Today's special."

"Yeah!" I agreed. "And beybread!"

"And beybread." He nodded sagely. "Beybread is very important." Shu gave me a kiss on the forehead, then leaned down and picked up the basket. "Ready to go? We've got five minutes."

"Five minutes?" I wailed. "I can't get there in five minutes!"

He smiled. "That's why I came over. I knew you'd wake up late."

This was getting confusing. Weren't we both going to be late now? "You lost me."

"You'll see." Shu grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the house. "Bye Mrs. Aoi!"

Thirty seconds later, I was sitting behind Shu on his red bike. My hands were wrapped around his waist as he tightened his grip on the handlebar. One foot was braced against the ground. "Ready?" Shu checked.

I don't get nervous easily, but being so close to Shu had my nerves humming. It didn't help I'd never biked before. But I was Valt Aoi, the one who would take down Lui and avenge my boyfriend. I refuse to be cowed by a bucket of bolts. "Yeah!"

I screamed as he took his foot off the ground and pushed off. The wind whistled around us while my Shu confidently pedaled at top speed through the streets, easily dodging people. He, to my surprise, let out a whoop as we transitioned from the sidewalk to the grass nearby. Now we were going faster, and I closed my mouth in awe. If I thought that was top speed earlier, I was very wrong.

"Awesome, huh?" Shu yelled to me.

It was really awesome, and it made me wish I knew how to bike without falling over and breaking my nose. "Yeah! So cool!" To be honest, I never knew that Shu loved going fast. He seemed too methodical for something as wild as this, but here we were; my arms around him, tearing through the grass.

The streets were mostly empty by now, so Shu went onto the black concrete and pedaled even faster. He was gasping for breath, yet I could see how his eyes shone happily and knew if he had the energy, he'd go like this forever.

The bike screeched to a stop as we got to Beigoma Academy's gates. "Three minutes, eleven and a half seconds," Shu said as he dismounted. He stumbled, then regained his balance, squeezing his eyes shut. When I let out a cry of concern, he shook his head. "It's a weird feeling to be moving, then be back on solid ground." He offered me his hand as I slid off the seat, and I got what he meant. While we were going through the streets, I got used to that crazy speed which was the reason Shu would never get a license. Now, the still ground seemed to be spinning and only the moving things were safe to look at.

"I wanted to share this with you," Shu smiled as we entered the school. "The ride, I mean. I figured you'd like it."

"It was great!" I said energetically, and I meant it. I gave him a hug. "Thank you so much!"

"Now," he told me, taking the basket off the bike. By some miracle, none of it had spilled. "How much beybread are you going to eat in class?"

The warning bell rang, and Shu looked like he wanted to murder the bells. I laughed at his expression, but inwardly worried. That face made him look like Lui. "I guess half of it."

"Half?"

"Yeah." I decided to tease him a bit as we got to our advisory. "The rest is for playing the Pocky Game."

As I hoped, his face suddenly looked like an open fire. "WHAAAATT?"

Mission accomplished. "Just kidding! The other half's for you, silly!"

His startled face softened into a smile. "My Valt."

===

After school, the BeyClub went up to the roof. At least everyone was here, but then again, who wouldn't be? It was the last day of school and I had beybread!

Robin and Daigo were sneaking photos of Rantaro and Wakiya. They were playing the Pocky Game, and Shu was trying to block them from my view in an embarrassed way. Toko and Nika just arrived at the roof, looking tired but super excited. Toko had his tablet out and seemed to be calculating stuff about Luinor. Nika was nodding and adding info at random.

"Hey," someone said quietly. Three someones, actually. I knew that voice really well until he had to move schools. The soft voice changed to rough growl: "We missed you, guys." It shifted to a loud up-and-down tone. "So we're here to help!"

I turned and ran to give him a hug. "KEN!"

He laughed and smiled at me. "Me. Uh... could you let go? I don't think your boyfriend appreciates this."

Shu, somehow already next to me, along with Honcho (who had traded his lollipop for a Pocky stick) hummed in an amused way. "It might have bothered me before I knew him, but there's no point in being angry with him. He's too cute."

Robin groaned. "Cut the flirting, Shu! We're here to train!"

"Train in stalking?" he shot back. Robin and Daigo's faces flushed.

Ken sighed. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Anyways, what does Valt need to practice?"

Daigo detached from his girlfriend and nodded. "Right. Your.. what do you call it? Sprint Boost?"

"Jump boost!"

"There's no jumping involved," he pointed out.

"Oh. Right."

He shrugged. "Yeah, your Sprint Boost needs to be perfected."

I had been thinking about this before I went to bed last night. "Actually, before we get to that, I have something I want to try out."

Wakiya gasped. "You? Try something? Who are you and what have you done to Valt?" Then he yelped as Shu kicked him from behind. "Okay! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

I let off an angled launch. Valkyrie? Ready?

She smirked. I'm a Valkyrie. I'm always ready.

Valkyrie hit the outer rim and sped up. This time, instead of circling the outer rim, she went straight and hit the wall. Everyone else gasped, expecting her to fly out of the stadium. Except she didn't. Using some lame physics laws (ask Shu,) she bounced off the wall, automatically gaining a huge speed and power boost. I guessed that it might be able to burst Xander's bey in a couple hits like this!

She slowed down and stopped. I scooped Valkyrie up and turned to the others, who were all gaping at me.

"I call it Winged Launch!"

The Kurenais were the first to get their act together. She nodded appreciatively. "Extreme amount of power after hitting the walls. That could work in your favor. However-" when he said however, I figured he was back in Shu the Prodigy mode. "The speed goes down extremely fast, which is pretty bad. I think it could be a good counter against Lost Spiral if you can figure out a good launch for that."

Robin nodded. "Yeah. There's your perfected Sprint Boost. Would that be enough?"

I thought about it. It made sense, but Sprint Boost just didn't have enough power to it. It was super awesome, sure. It gave me a huge boost of strength, Yeah. But Lui's special attack, even without Nightmare Boost, was deadly. I didn't have a chance.

How did Shu get so close to winning?

First launch: Crux Launch.

Second launch: Blindfolded Crux launch.

Third Launch: Something I didn't know.

The second launch had been twice as powerful as the first, and the only difference was the closed-eye Attack. There was my answer; a Blindfold Launch.

"I'll do a Blindfolded Sprint Boost!" I exclaimed. "How hard can it be?"

"I dunno, dude," Honcho said doubtfully. "Isn't a Blindfold Launch something only the Kurenais can do?"

Shu stepped forwards and shook his head. "It's difficult, yes, but I've learned to never doubt an Aoi."

"And my Blindfold Launch is the closest to pathetic in the family," Robin put in, shrugging carelessly. "Anyways, Yeah, Valt should be able to master this in about six hours."

"SIX HOURS!?" We all screeched at the same time. "ARE YOU JOKING?"

"Can't rush perfection," she replied with a smile. Robin seemed to be smiling more, since her loss against Lui. I didn't understand it, but she wouldn't appreciate my asking.

I was the first to react cheerfully. "Well, let's get started!"

Lui:

Hold the image...

An evergreen forest clearing. Each needle was clearly defined on the hundreds of ageless plants. The grass was ankle high, a slightly lighter color than their tall counterparts. The soil gave way to sand and water a few meters into the clearing. The small lake glittered purple, ice white, and silver and gold, reflecting the flame tinged orb slipping gracefully behind the forest's curtain.

Hold the image, hold the image, hold the image...

There was a small dock protruding over the water, but the man-made addition to the peaceful scene melded with the surrounding nature seamlessly. Small, brightly colored fish splashed in and out of the softly glowing liquid.

Oh no, not this! Nonononono. Hold the image, hold the image...

There was someone standing on the dock, beautiful light blue hair swaying softly in the wind. Their back was turned to him. He wore a light blue jacket, high collared that ended at his knees. Loose black pants and worn shoes contrasted with the dyed ice hair. Pale skin peeked out from gold and red fingerless gloves. There was something quiet about him, as peaceful as his surroundings.

Go away!

As if they heard him, the person gasped with that seductively gentle voice and whipped around, their shoulder length hair swishing back and forth. Perfect ruby eyes that looked just like his own widened in surprise. The all too rare smile glowing on his face dropped away, replaced with the common scowl.

Leave me alone!

Shu Kurenai stared at him. "What are you doing here?"

Lui jolted from the bench like it was on fire. Violet eyes dilated, he leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. Not again! That stupid jerk keeps ruining my meditation!

Gabe looked up from where the rest of Rideout was. "Are you done?"

"Yeah," Lui scowled. "It got messed up."

Kyo turned red. "Uh, it didn't have anything to do with a loud noise, did it?"

He pinned the kid under a fierce glare. "Of course not! My concentration is way stronger than that!"

Kyo shrank back, and Lui started to think he had been a little too rough with him this time. Katana shot him a glare, but Lui brushed it off like he did most other people. Usually no one stuck to his memory, so the ones that did made him take notice.

Those people stuck a bit too well.

"Let's battle," Lui snapped. "I've got to practice."

"I thought you said you weren't worried about Valt," Shinki recalled slyly.

"You first, Broccoli Boi."

His face flamed red with anger. "Do you seriously not remember my name?"

He pretended to think, and only Gabe knew he was playing around. "Are you important?"

Every single member sweatdropped at that. "That's our Lui," Katana sighed.

Lui beat Shinki with his eyes closed, just to make a point. He was at the top of the rankings, and he was not to be messed with. As the bey split into three pieces and the silver tongued male gasped, Lui had to roll his eyes. "Did you really think you had a chance at beating me?"

"Well, me losing is only a ninety eight percent chance, according to the computer," he pointed out, collecting his bey.

Lui groaned as he facepalmed. "Alright, that was too easy. I'll take all of you on- at the same time."

"Four to one?" Kyo asked, unsure he had heard right. "But... you'd lose, right?"

No one else would meet Kyo's eyes, though they were probably agreeing with him. Shows what they know. After Shu screwed up his meditation, he was pretty grumpy. And when Lui was grumpy, he loved crushing people's dreams.

It took less than a minute to beat them all. It wasn't even worth the author's time to describe the pitiful scene. Lui let Kyo's bey survive a little longer than the others as an apology for the rough treatment earlier, but everyone else- beaten in a few seconds.

"Could you give me a real challenge?" He growled. "I'm trying to get ready for finals here."

"He beat all four of us," Gabe whispered in awe, eyes on a burst Gianon.

"And didn't even break a sweat," Kyo added, eyes wide.

Personally, Lui thought he had been very polite during that, but refrained from saying so. "I hope you don't have any dates planned."

Katana gulped nervously. "This doesn't sound good."

"Since you guys won't give me a challenge," Lui decided, knowing how much they'd hate this decision, "We'll be training for the next three and a half hours. No breaks."

Kyo bounced up, a determined look on his face. "Just enough time for me to beat you!" Seeing the other's scolding looks, he shrank back. "Or not."

Lui decided to change things a little. The young boy clearly idolized him, which was a huge mistake on his part, but maybe the ice cold Shirosagi could stand to be a bit nicer. You know, just for him to copy. Not for any other reason. That would be hilarious.

Hmm? Are you sure? Luinor taunted, watching Lui's face turn red. It seemed like he's your little brother!

Oh,shut up you-

Now, now, don't get testy now, you little tsundere.

His hair flamed up. WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?

See?

He mentally facepalmed. Well, maybe I get it... NO IM NOT AGREEING WITH YOU!

Valt:

I gasped for breath, trying a Blindfolded Sprint Boost for-

"Try eight hundred fourth six!" Daigo announced. "Get ready!"

I stepped backwards slowly and closed my eyes. In my mind, the stadium reformed in the total darkness. Lui, his image flickering like an old television, stood behind it, violet eyes burning into my head. Even now, I could still feel his firm gaze boring through me.

That didn't matter. I could see the stadium, where it was, and how far I had to run to get there. Valkyrie stood beside me, pale azure armor gleaming and orange eyes sparkling with the challenge. In my head, I could hear her voice clear as day. Her Japanese sounded harsher than mine, the English accent matching her powerful figure. "Let's do this, Aoi."

"Yeah," I agreed, holding my launcher. "Three!"

I started running.

"Two!"

"One!"

I jumped, and I think I did it right, because I didn't fall this time.

"Let it... rip!"

There was a tense silence. For about twenty seconds, I heard Valkyrie's taunts and Daigo's Darth Vader or whatever it was yelling brutal responses. Seriously, some of those were so rude that if I said the, I wouldn't get beybread.

Then there was a boing sound, or something like that. Both beyblades were silent, so I didn't know which had burst.

"You can open your eyes now," Daigo told me.

It took a few seconds to see what was in the stadium floor. Valkyrie wasn't spinning, that wasn't what I heard. No, it sounded more like...

The three purple pieces scattered around the ground.

"YASS!" I jumped up and down, cheering. "I FINALLY DID IT!"

"In four hours, too," Robin said admiringly. "That didn't take as long as I thought. Hey Daigo, you good?"

"Yeah." He picked up the Beyblade. "Let's go for another round."

I picked mine up, too. "Yea!"

"No," Shu said quietly. That got my attention along with everyone else's. Wakiya was the first to say what we were thinking.

"Are you serious? If Valt doesn't get this down, he won't win! Is that really what you want?"

"No," he replied. His teeth clenched. "But Valt's clearly exhausted, and there's no point until we've had a break."

The stadium titled alarmingly as I accidentally faceplanted. "I'm tirreeeeedd," I mumbled. "When did this happen?"

Shu pulled me out of the stadium. "Your adrenaline rush is gone now. Actually, I've got a special delivery of beybread. You remember this morning?"

Suddenly, I was a lot more energetic. " Yeah!"

"Hey, guys?" Daigo's girlfriend called, holding up he phone. "Hate to break you guys up, but we got a situation."

Everyone crowded around her, munching on beybread.

"So, Shu... Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow. They just texted me. The plane lands... at twelve."

Twelve was when my match was. Exactly twelve. Fate must really hate me to be such a jerk, huh? If Shu wasn't there, I still had to give it my all, but it would be so much more difficult. Shu means everything to me. I couldn't have gotten this far without him, and I cant get through the match without him being there.

Shu's face paled even more than it already was. "This is a joke, right?"

"Afraid not," she replied. "However, you could skip out on it, just be prepared for a lot of verbal pain."

Daigo looked uncomfortable. "Are your parents mean to you?"

"No. They, well..." She looked to my boyfriend, who was fuming. "You explain better."

"They look down on everyone and pick apart any performance of ours, decide what we can do better, ask why we didn't. I get that's normal, but there's something about them that looks so disappointed, like we're pathetic."

I winced. My mom and dad never questioned me when I screwed up, never poured salt in my wounds. His parents sounded foreign to my world, and I wasn't happy about it. If he had to live under that for so long, it wasn't much of a surprise that he wore such a perfectionist mask.

"They're also nosy," Robin added, "and they hate on all our friends. So maybe Valt and Daigo should stay away from them?"

Personally, I thought running away from any problem was a bad idea. Run toward it, and the problem can't sneak up on you. That's my philosophy. Or it will be when I figure out what a philosophy is. Before I could speak up, though, Valkyrie slapped her hand mentally over my mouth. Don't be an idiot. Shu's more stubborn than a donkey. You can't change his mind.

I rolled my eyes at that. "So.. what now?" I asked everyone.

"Keep training," Shu said. He hesitated, then said, "But I promise I'll be there."

Another promise, I thought, suddenly gloomy. I recalled Valkyrie's words: some promises are meant to be broken.

Is this promise a meant to?

I couldn't force him to choose between family and h8s boyfriend, now matter how strange the family might be. It just wasn't right, so I chose for him.

"No."

The albino fairy's head snapped up as he stared at me in confusion. "Huh?"

"My match doesn't matter as much. Go to the airport tomorrow with Robin. Your sister and your parents are first priority tomorrow. Okay?"

His jaw dropped. In a quiet voice, he mumbled, "Fine. But only for you, not for them."

Breaking the sweet moment, Honcho poked her head into our discussion and said, "ENOUGH WITH THE SWEET TALK! I WANT ANOTHER LOLLIPOP NOW!"

That's how we ended up at the store buying lollipops for my friend.

"WELCOME BACK TO THE FINAL ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT!" I heard these words and watched Hanami announce from the waiting room. The camera swept across the crowds, and I sighed. Still no Shu. A flash of white here, ruby eyes there, but not my Shu- anywhere. It was a good thing, sure, because he hadn't needed to make the choice, but I was lost without him. Completely and utterly lost.

"ITS BEEN ONE TO REMEMBER! BUT NOW! THE FINALS! VALT AOI VERSUS LUI SHIROSAGI! CAN THE UNDERDOG DEFEAT LUI, OR WILL THE FOUR TIME CHAMPION CLINCH HIS FIFTH WIN???"

God, that was getting annoying.

"Let's get started! In the red corner-" I started getting ready. Launcher and Beyblade, check.

"Is none other than Lui SHIROSAGI!"

Charm from Shu, check. Charm from Dad, check. Beybread on the table in case of me loosing? Check.

"And in the blue corner, is Valt Aoi!"

I tried for an All Might entrance. I ran forwards through the smoke and yelled, " I AM HERE!"

Or tried to.

After the second word, I tripped and fell. Worse, the spotlight followed me as I tumbled across the stage and hit the stadium. Just like my fall down the stairs. Very impressive.

Not.

I bounced to my feet, pretending it hadn't hurt, and saw Lui glaring at me. "What are you doing?" He scowled. Was it just me, or did he look twice as terrifying with the day off? I had asked for it for him, because he looked so exhausted, but clearly it was the wrong decision. Lui is super scary, forgive me for saying the obvious.

Ignoring the questions, I held out Valkyrie, who had somehow escaped the fall. "Ready to lose?"

He spat out a cruel laugh and held out his own bey in return. Luinor glinted with a red long, which worried me. Luinor was blue and silver and white, not red. "As if I'd lose to the likes of you."

I almost rolled my eyes at that.

Just to pour salt into the wound, he added rudely, "Ill crush you like I did your friend. And speaking of friend, where is he now? Was he too scared to show his face? It looks like Azura was too. The cowardly Kurenais, ha! You fit right with them!"

I glared at him coldly. "Never insult my friends!"

Lui took a step back, mild shock on his face. It was quickly replaced by indifference. "Whatever. You're dead."

I began to back up for my Sprint Boost and shut my eyes.

"Three!" I ran forward with as much speed as I had. Thank you, wonderful hundred meter dash for preparing me.

"Two!"

"One!" I braced my foot and jumped, angling my launcher at fourty five degrees.

"Let it..." Oh, Shu. Wherever you are, please help me.

"Rip!"

Valkyrie hit the stadium with all the force of a speeding train, putting a small crack in the stadium. Luinor started off much the same way, except without the crack. Shu wasn't here, but I had to do everything I could to make him proud. WITHOUT me using any Descendant powers, because Shu would be mad if I got disqualified.

"Flash Launch!" I yelled, watching her circle the outer perimeter behind Luinor. During training, I had learned she could transition between those two attacks the best. Combo Special Attacks just might take him by surprise.

"Don't even try that combo! Lost Spiral!"

Or not. The bey sped up with insane amounts of energy, a bit given by Lui. It was fast approaching Valkyrie, and if that dragon touched her, boom. Instant burst finish. There wasn't any time to transistion. Only one thing I could do. "Valktryek! Dodge!"

She began to glow turquoise and turned inwards, barely missing the lighter blue and purple bey. That was a close one.

No more messing around! She snapped. Do I do Winged Launch or not?

Do it!

"NOW!" I yelled. "Knock it out of the park!"

She clanged into the wall. Sparks flew as she hit two more. Mercifully, Hanami was silent. Valkyrie grinned to me, then yelled, Charge!

The two beys collided, Lost Spiral versus Winged Launch. For a few seconds, both Lui and I were pushed back by the energy coming from them, and then it stopped with a ching!

I knew that sound. Each bey, which I learned yesterday, has its own unique sound. If you pay enough attention, which I rarely do, you can tell which is which. Orochi told me.

That was Valkyrie.

"Lost Luinor with a burst finish. Lui Shirosagi scores two points." Even the ref sounded slightly unenthusiastic, though it could be because Lui terrified him. Poor guy probably had nightmares.

I stared at the three pieces and slowly picked them up. "Woah..."

For the first time, I could actually feel myself despair. As Lui threw back his head and laughed and laughed, I shut my eyes and pretended it was nothing, and that Shu was there with Dad and Mom and Nika too, just for me.

But they weren't. So I had to finish this on my own.

Now... what was the best way to annoy this dude? Valkyrie, now put together, suggested something, and I almost laughed. It was such a beautiful idea, really, I was amazed no one had tried it before.

"I'll give you one chance to forfeit before I crush you," he sneered at my face. "What's wrong? You gonna cr-"

"THAT WAS SO AMAZING!" I jumped up, opening my eyes until they were huge and innocent looking, smiling as wide as I could. Lui jolted back with a stunned look on his face, like what is wrong with him?

Valkyrie collapsed, laughing her head off.

"THE LOST SPIRAL, LIKE SWOOSH! AND BOOM, SO COOL!"

Lui rolled his eyes. "I'm done."

I stopped. "Whaaaattt??? No! I still wanna battle!"

"Then quit screaming already!" He scowled, evedently more aggravated than I thought. Valkyrie, you are a true genius.

She took off her helmet so she could flip her hair. Well, of course! NOW SYNC, PEASANT!

Ugh, forget what I just said.

I did sync, though, and saw Lui and Luinor doing the same. The white dragon with it's sleek build and rippling muscles coiled around Lui, complete with dark blue horns, talons, and other sharp nasties. He himself looked slightly dragon like as well. His flaming hair morphed into a burning helm. His clothes, to dragonscale armor, and his boa to glorious wings. The launcher glowed with light, transforming to outstretched claws.

"LUI HAS TAKEN THE LEAD, AND VALT ONLY HAS ONE MORE CHANCE TO GET BACK IN THIS? WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW? DON'T LOOK AWAY FOLKS, THIS WILL BE A BATTLE TO REMEMBER!"

Lui and I had the exact same reaction to this: look up at Hanami and glare. He gulped and looked away.

We looked at each other, his expression curious, mine amused. I smiled at him. "Hey Lui?"

"Whaaattttt?l"

"You're about to lose."

--

comment! Vote! Etc! U already know whos gonna win this, right? BUT NO SPOILERS! next chap coming soon/ Thanks for getting this far.

Robin out!