PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
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i'm sorry for all the notifications but us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up but votes are not... its hard for my motivation!

Belle walked through the mall alongside Sam, their arms weighed down by shopping bags from different stores. It was one of those rare moments where everything felt almost normal. No karate, no fighting, no chaos-just two friends indulging in a little retail therapy.

But Belle's mind wasn't in it.

She was only half-listening as Sam talked about a new pair of boots she'd been eyeing, her thoughts drifting back to him.

Miguel.

No matter how much she tried to push it away, she could still hear his voice. The way he had looked at her that night at the Sekai Taikai, the anger, the betrayal in his tone.

"Your boyfriend is a killer, Belle."

She clenched her jaw, shaking off the memory.

"Belle?"

She blinked, realizing Sam had stopped walking and was now looking at her with that hesitant, I-have-something-to-tell-you-but-you-might-not-like-it expression.

Belle sighed. "What?"

Sam shifted her shopping bags in her arms before finally saying, "Miguel feels bad."

Belle stiffened slightly but tried to play it off. "For what?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.

Sam gave her a knowing look. "You know for what."

Belle let out a sharp exhale, turning her head away as they passed a window display of overpriced sneakers.

"He wants to talk to you," Sam continued gently.

Belle let out a bitter laugh. "And say what? That he really meant it?"

Sam frowned. "Belle-"

"No, Sam," Belle interrupted, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "I don't know if I can forgive him."

Sam stayed quiet, letting her talk.

Belle swallowed, forcing herself to say the words that had been running through her mind ever since that night. "He called my boyfriend a killer." Her voice wavered slightly, but she steadied herself, breathing through it. "Axel didn't even kill Kwon. Kwon is the one who fell on Kreese's sword."

Sam nodded. "I know."

Belle shook her head, looking down at the floor. "It's not just what he said, Sam. It's that he believed it. He looked me in the eye and thought that Axel-my Axel-was capable of murder."

"I get it," Sam said quietly. "I really do."

Belle sighed, running a hand through her hair.

Part of her wanted to just move on, to let it go. But another part of her-the part that had once considered Miguel family-was hurt in a way she couldn't even begin to explain.

Sam reached out and touched her arm. "Just try talking to him? Please?"

Belle hesitated, gnawing on her bottom lip.

She hated this. She hated how everything had changed. How they weren't the same people they had been before the tournament.

Finally, she let out a long breath. "I guess."

Sam smiled slightly. "That's all I'm asking."

They continued walking, but Belle wasn't really paying attention to where they were going. Her mind was too full, too cluttered with the weight of it all.

And then-her eyes landed on something up ahead.

A sleek-looking hair salon, its sign glowing with warm, golden lights.

Belle slowed her pace, staring at it as an idea suddenly began forming in her mind.

Sam followed her gaze. "What?"

A slow smirk spread across Belle's lips.

"I just thought of something," she said, already turning toward the salon, her previous conversation momentarily forgotten.

Sam sighed, exasperated but amused. "This better not be another one of your impulsive decisions."

Belle only grinned, pushing open the door to the salon.

"Guess we'll find out."

The bell above the door chimed as Belle and Sam stepped into the sleek, modern hair salon, the soft murmur of conversations and the gentle hum of blow dryers filling the air. The smell of shampoo and fresh styling products was overwhelming, but in a comforting way. Belle hesitated, biting her lip. She'd been debating this decision for weeks, but today felt like the right day. The nervous energy buzzing through her made it hard to keep still, so she twirled a lock of her hair around her fingers.

Sam, noticing Belle's hesitation, nudged her with a knowing grin. "You're going to look amazing. Trust me."

Belle hesitated again, glancing around the salon, unsure. "I don't know, Sam. What if I regret it? What if I look ridiculous?"

Sam chuckled, giving her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "You won't. And even if you do, who cares? You're doing this for you, not anyone else. Besides, it's your time to shine."

"I guess," Belle said, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at Sam, the weight of her words slowly sinking in. "I've been stuck in the same routine for so long... maybe it's time for a change."

"Exactly," Sam agreed. "Now, let's make it happen."

They approached the counter, where a stylist with platinum blonde hair and a friendly smile was working behind the desk. Her name tag read "Maddie," and she greeted them with a warm, welcoming expression.

"Hi! How can I help you today?" Maddie asked, setting down her tools to pay attention to them.

Belle took a deep breath. "I want to dye the underneath of my hair white," she said, a little shakily. "Just the underneath, though. The rest stays as it is."

Maddie's eyes lit up. "That sounds awesome! It's going to look amazing with your hair color. I love it already." She smiled brightly at Belle, clearly excited by the idea. "Come on over to my station and we'll get started."

Belle followed Maddie to the styling station, where she was asked to sit down and settle in. Sam stood beside her, grinning widely. "This is going to be so cool. I'm already picturing the results."

Belle felt her heart race as she sunk into the chair. She couldn't help the nerves that were bubbling up inside her, but she also felt a sense of excitement she couldn't ignore. Sam snapped a quick photo of Belle, who was caught off guard.

"Sam, seriously, stop!" Belle exclaimed, though her words lacked the usual sharpness. She was smiling now, despite herself.

"Oh no, I'm sending this to Axel. He needs to see this," Sam said, already pulling out her phone. Belle rolled her eyes but didn't protest. She knew Sam would do it anyway.

As Maddie began the process of sectioning off Belle's hair, Belle let her mind wander. She knew she was making the right decision. For once, she wasn't doing something because someone else told her to. She wasn't seeking validation-she was just changing something for herself. She thought about Axel, who was still in Germany, dealing with his own issues. Despite the distance and the tension that still lingered between them, he'd been supportive from afar. That was enough to make her feel grateful, even though they hadn't spoken in a while.

Maddie worked quickly, applying bleach to the underneath of Belle's hair and letting it sit for a while. Sam stood by her side, talking about random things to keep Belle distracted, but Belle's thoughts kept drifting back to Axel. She wondered how he was doing, how he was handling everything. She missed him more than she cared to admit.

After what felt like hours, Maddie finally washed out the bleach and began applying the white dye. Belle watched in the mirror as her transformation slowly took place, the white streaks in her dark hair beginning to take shape. She couldn't help but smile-she looked so different already. It was like she was shedding a part of her past, one color at a time.

Once the dye was finished, Maddie rinsed it out, dried her hair, and gave Belle the final reveal. The white underneath blended perfectly with her natural dark color, creating a stunning contrast. Belle could hardly believe it. She looked in the mirror and felt like a completely new person.

"It's perfect," she said, awestruck. "I look... amazing."

"See?" Sam grinned, snapping a few more pictures of her. "You look incredible. I knew it."

Belle chuckled and turned to Sam, her smile growing. "I feel like I'm in a whole new world."

Sam grabbed her phone, typing quickly before showing Belle the message she'd just sent to Axel. "I sent him the picture. He'll flip."

Belle raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you actually did?"

"Of course I did," Sam said, her voice lighthearted. "I told you he has to see it."

"Whatever," Belle muttered, though she couldn't help the flutter in her stomach at the thought of Axel's reaction.

Not a minute later, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Belle pulled it out, eyes widening when she saw it was from Axel. She opened the message.

"Looks awesome. You're gorgeous, Belle."

The warmth that spread through her chest was overwhelming. For a moment, she just stared at the words.

Sam, noticing Belle's reaction, smirked. "See? I told you he would love it."

Belle smiled softly, her heart swelling at his words. "I didn't expect him to say that..." she trailed off, feeling a mix of emotions wash over her.

Sam nudged her gently. "You're pretty awesome, Belle. You deserve the compliments."

Belle took a deep breath and glanced at Sam. "I guess I'll message him back... thank you."

"No problem," Sam replied with a grin. "But hey, let's go show off this new look in person. You're going to turn heads."

Belle laughed, standing up and grabbing her bag. As they made their way to the door, Sam glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, and by the way-if you want to, you can totally message Axel back and tell him how amazing you look in person."

Belle's smile widened. "I might just do that."

As they left the salon, Belle felt the weight of the last few weeks lift off her shoulders just a little bit. Maybe she wasn't quite ready to face everything with Axel just yet, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was herself again.

The warm California sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows over the Miyagi-Do dojo. Belle walked down the path, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She had agreed to meet Miguel after days of texting back and forth, but now that she was here, she wasn't sure what to expect. Their last interaction had been strained, to say the least. The words he'd thrown at her-words that still echoed in her mind-had stung deeper than she cared to admit.

But now, after everything that had happened, she was ready to move past it. She had to be.

As she approached the dojo, Miguel was already waiting by the door, looking both uncertain and hopeful. His eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, neither of them said anything. Belle just stood there, her arms crossed, her new white streaks shimmering in the light.

Miguel exhaled, breaking the silence first. "Hey, Belle."

She nodded in acknowledgment but didn't say anything right away. Her mind was still sorting through everything-his hurtful words, his apology, and the complicated feelings she had about their past.

Miguel shifted awkwardly. "Look, I know I screwed up. What I said... I was angry, and I shouldn't have said those things to you. About Axel. About... everything." He paused, his voice growing softer. "I didn't want to hurt you, and I know I did. And I'm sorry. I just-" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I want to be your friend again, Belle. I miss having you around."

Belle took a deep breath, absorbing his words. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the way he was trying to make things right. She could also feel the weight of his apology hanging in the air between them. It wasn't easy, but she was willing to hear him out.

"You were pretty harsh," she finally said, her voice steady. "You made me feel like I wasn't allowed to move on. Like my relationship with Axel wasn't even real." She paused, her gaze softening slightly. "But I get it now. You were hurt, too."

Miguel nodded quickly, grateful that she wasn't shutting him out entirely. "I was. But that doesn't excuse what I said. You were always my friend, and I should've respected your choices. Axel's a good guy... even if I was too stubborn to see it at first."

Belle smiled faintly, her heart easing a little. "It's okay. I get it, Miguel. Things are complicated, and I know we've been through a lot. But I think I'm ready to let go of the past." She paused, her smile widening. "I forgive you."

Miguel's eyes softened with relief, a sincere smile spreading across his face. "Thank you," he said, his voice low but filled with gratitude.

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of everything finally starting to lift. Then, Miguel's eyes flicked to her hair, a flicker of surprise and admiration crossing his face.

"Your hair," he said, almost in awe. "It looks amazing."

Belle ran a hand through her newly dyed locks, the white streaks glinting in the fading sunlight. "Yeah, I kinda just... needed a change, you know?" she said with a shrug. "A new chapter, I guess."

Miguel chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, it suits you. You look really good."

Belle smirked. "Thanks. I was kind of nervous about it, but I'm glad I did it." She paused, her gaze softening. "You've changed too, you know? I can see it. You're not the same guy who walked away from me at the tournament."

Miguel looked down at his feet, his expression becoming more serious. "I know. I'm not proud of how I handled things. But I'm trying to be better. For you. For myself. And I want you to know... I still care about you. I always will."

Belle's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected him to say that. Her heart thudded in her chest, but she stayed composed.

"I care about you too, Miguel," she said softly, her voice unwavering. "But things are different now. I'm with Axel."

Miguel met her gaze, his expression full of understanding and sincerity. "I know. And I'm not trying to mess that up. I'm not asking for anything more from you. I just want you to know that I'm happy for you. And I'll support your relationship with Axel, as long as he treats you right. He's a good guy. I see that now."

Belle smiled, touched by his words. "Thank you, Miguel. That means a lot to me."

Miguel grinned, his eyes warm. "You're welcome."

For a moment, the world seemed to pause, and the tension between them eased. Belle felt a weight lift off her shoulders-this was the closure she'd needed. She no longer had to carry the burden of resentment or guilt. They were finally moving forward, in different directions, but without the past hanging over them.

"Hey," Miguel said, breaking the silence. "Do you want to grab some lunch or something? I'd like to catch up more, if you're up for it."

Belle's smile deepened. "Yeah, I'd like that."

They started walking side by side, the distance between them now filled with understanding and mutual respect. As they reached the parking lot, Miguel paused and turned to her.

"Just so you know," he said, his voice a little quieter now, "I'll always love you, Belle. But not in the way I used to. I care about you, and I want you to be happy, with whoever you're with."

Belle's heart skipped a beat at his words, but she didn't shy away. "I know, Miguel. And I'm happy. With Axel."

Miguel gave her a gentle nod. "I'm glad. You deserve it."

With that, they walked off together, a new chapter beginning for both of them, each finding their own way, but both with the knowledge that they were finally free of the past and ready for whatever the future held.

Belle had just stepped into her apartment after the long day, her heart still processing everything that had happened with Miguel. It had felt good to finally clear the air with him, but now, there was a new feeling creeping in-excitement, maybe even a little dread, at the thought of what was coming next. She kicked off her shoes and set her bag down on the kitchen counter before pulling out her phone. Just as she was about to scroll through her messages, her phone lit up with a call from Axel.

Her heart skipped a beat as she swiped to answer. "Hey, Axel."

"Hey, Belle," Axel's voice came through, a little lighter than usual, but still with that familiar edge that made her smile. "I've got some news."

Belle raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's up?"

Axel let out a breath before answering, "The Sekai Taikai is back on. It's happening at the All Valley Arena. I'm coming back to the valley to fight."

Belle's heart did a quick flip. The Sekai Taikai? Back on? After everything that had happened, she wasn't sure how to feel about it. But hearing Axel's voice made it real in a way. "Wait, seriously?" She let the question hang in the air. "I thought it was all over after... well, after everything with Kwon."

Axel sighed, the sound heavy with mixed emotions. "I thought so too, but word got out. The competition's back on, and they're bringing it to the All Valley Arena. It's gonna be huge. Everyone's already talking about it."

"That's insane," Belle said, running a hand through her hair, thinking it over. Her mind flashed to Zara, the girl who had been gunning for her during the last tournament. "So, I have to fight Zara, then?"

Axel chuckled lightly, but there was a tension in his voice. "Yeah, she keeps boasting about it. She's been talking all kinds of trash about how she's going to take you down."

Belle's stomach tightened at the thought. Zara was fierce-no one could deny that-but Belle wasn't about to let her intimidate her. "She's not the only one who's been training. I'm ready for whatever comes next."

"That's what I like to hear," Axel replied, his tone warm with approval. "I know you've got this. You've trained hard, and I've seen what you're capable of. Just don't let her head games get to you."

Belle leaned against the counter, the weight of what Axel was saying hitting her more than she expected. The Sekai Taikai was back. It was real, and now it wasn't just a rumor. "I just-" She paused, unsure of how to articulate what she was feeling. "I don't know, Axel. This feels so... big. I never expected it to come back, and now I'm supposed to face her again, after everything. After everything we've been through."

Axel's voice softened, and she could almost picture him, looking at his phone with that steady focus that she knew so well. "I get it. It's a lot, and I don't blame you for feeling that way. But I'll be there with you. Whatever happens, we've got each other's backs."

Belle's chest fluttered at his words. "Yeah," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know."

There was a long pause on the line, as if Axel was considering his next words carefully. Then, he spoke again, his voice firm but affectionate. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I'm coming back to the valley for this. And I'm not just doing it to fight-I'm doing it to be with you. I want to see this through, whatever it takes."

Belle's heart swelled, and for a moment, she felt like she could breathe a little easier. "I'm glad," she said, her smile warming her face. "I don't think I could do this without you."

Axel laughed softly. "You could, but I'd rather not find out. Anyway, I'll be there soon. You ready for what's coming?"

Belle took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "Yeah. I think so."

"Good," Axel said. "I'll see you soon, Belle."

As they hung up, Belle stood there for a moment, letting everything sink in. The Sekai Taikai was back, and so was Axel. But the real challenge was ahead. She was going to face Zara again. This time, she wouldn't back down. She couldn't.

With newfound resolve, Belle turned and walked toward her bedroom to prepare. It was time to get ready for the fight of her life.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

shortish chapter and i apologize! this just a filler chapter and next chapter will be based in episode 12:)

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! PLEASE!!!! PLEASE JUST VOTE AND COMMENT!! ITS NOT HARD

STOP BEING A FREAKIN GHOST READER!!! VOTE PLEASE!!!!!!!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! PLEASE!
i'm sorry for all the notifications but us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up but votes are not... its hard for my motivation!