Not One of Us: Chapter 4: Break Me Down

They were cheering, but he couldn’t hear them. All he could hear were those words, those haunting, painful words. He had never asked for this, but, as he stepped up to the stadium for the third time, he supposed that he deserved it. This was his punishment, his payment for what he had done. Perhaps he should have fought harder, have tried more, but now there was only one thing he could do. He could only brace himself and take it as it came.

With every battle, he broke a bond. The invisible strings that had connected him to the others were breaking one by one. He hid it well, even from those who knew him best, but he could never hide the truth from those that were causing all of this. He knew that they were watching, listening with some sort of sick pleasure to every snap, every quiver of his being. Only one question rose in his mind now.

“What will I have to break next?”

In that instant, he decided that he just wanted this to end. Yet he was entirely powerless to end it. No matter what choice he made, somebody would die. So who would it be? How long could he last? How long could any of them last?

“This ends here and now, Gingka.”

Startled golden-brown orbs lifted from the ground only to meet with determined dark brown.

“I suppose it does… Kenta.”

Kenta raised his launcher. “You probably know what I’m going to say, so I won’t bother wasting my breath.” He said.

Every fiber in Gingka’s being cried out against him as he slowly moved into position.

“I wouldn’t want you to bother then.”

Kenta narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his launcher. “Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

“Let it rip!”

“Okay Kenta, time to find out what’s really going on.” The greenette muttered to himself.

“Sagittario!”

The attacks came, rapid even for Sagittario. Kenta had improved greatly, that much was obvious. However, Gingka was not going to stand still and take it any longer. Here the running began. Pegasus struck, then made a beeline for the other side of the stadium. Gingka narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering the word that that clash had brought into his mind.

Why?

That was what they all asked. No matter who or where or when, the first word was always why? Gingka’s mind became so occupied with that one thought that he forgot about his surroundings entirely, until a sudden jolt of pain ripped through his being and snapped his attention back to the battle at hand.

“Pegasus!” Gingka barely managed to stammer out as he broke away from Sagittario's attacks.

Gingka’s mind clouded as he struggled to maintain control of his silver and blue bey. He became frantic, struggling to maintain an outward sense of calm. Soon enough, Pegasus’s attacks were reflecting the turmoil inside his body.His golden-brown eyes clouded over, blocking his vision.

Just end it… Just end it, now. How much longer..?

“Pegasus, finish it!” Gingka called, too occupied with his own thoughts to realize what he was doing.

“Another falls, and another breaks.” Argo cackled, watching on the screen as Kenta fell backwards, landing with a sickening thud.

“So that’s why…” The greenette whispered, looking across the stadium as best he could at Gingka, who had fallen to his knees.

“Gingka…”

The redhead glanced up slightly, his eyes soft  for a split second before they hardened as he stood and left the arena.

“I understand…” Kenta whispered before slipping into unconsciousness.

“We can’t let him do this anymore.” Tsubasa sighed. “I can’t watch Gingka take down anyone else. Kyoya, I’m switching the tournament battle order. You’re fighting him next, tomorrow.”

Kyoya’s turquoise eyes hardened in determination as he nodded solemnly, turning to leave.

“I-I’m going to the hospital to check on Zero and the others.” Madoka whispered.

“Good work, Hagane.” Argo smirked as the redhead entered the room, his eyes dull.

“If you can call it work…” Gingka muttered, sitting down against the wall and closing his eyes.

“Was it really that easy to do?” Argo sneered.

Gingka made no reply, turning his back to the DNA executive and curling up in the corner. He opened his eyes slightly, gazing at the wall. A single tear splashed onto the ground and he quickly swiped it away, not wanting to admit to the pain.

“They’re unfortunately disqualified due to injury.” Benkei sighed, looking through the window at the group of younger bladers.

“Zero and Ren both got concussions and a few fractured bones… The others just got head injuries.” Madoka sighed worriedly.

“Everyone who’s encountered Gingka since he joined the DNA has ended up the same way: comatose.” Tsubasa growled angrily.

“This is like Ryuga and Battle Bladers all over again…” Ryo muttered under his breath.

“Did you ever catch Gingka last night?” Benkei asked.

Ryo nodded. “Yeah. And I told him something that he’ll never forget, something that will hopefully bring him back to his senses.”

“I’d like to have a word with him.” Madoka muttered angrily.

“We all would…” Tsubasa sighed.

“Ladies and gentlemen, due to Ren Kurenai being unable to battle today, Genjuro Kamegaki will be advancing to the next round as if he had won. Please enjoy the rest of the tournament.” Guider announced. The crowd seemed shocked.

“Let’s see the WBBA explain that.” Argo smirked.

“They know it was me.” GIngka muttered.

“What?!” Argo whirled.

“It’s not exactly subtle to cause an explosion.” Gingka replied.

“His father gave him quite the lecture when he caught up to us.” Baihu said gleefully.

“I see. Then they’d better not try anything, since they know it was our action.” Argo growled.

“Admitting that Gingka did it to the world would be admitting that they know he’s on our side.” Selen said. “I don’t think that their minds want to do that… Yet.”

“Hence why we sent him.” Ian said. “Plus, that action only proves to their minds that he is on our side.”

“The WBBA can do nothing to stop our advancing in the tournament and winning it.” Enzo snickered.

“You’re forgetting something.” Gingka said quietly.

“Are we now? And what, pray, might that be?” Argo asked sarcastically.

“A certain eight-year-old tie.”

“All ties with your former friends must be broken. We have been over this, Hagane.”

“Not that kind of tie.” Gingka said, standing and locking gazes with Argo, who raised an eyebrow slightly at the sudden boldness of the redhead.

“Ladies and gentlemen! We hope you enjoyed the third round today, but before you leave, we have a special announcement about the fourth round, which you definitely won’t want to miss!” Guider said from the TV before the camera swiveled to face DJ.

“Beyblade is known for its intense battles between friends and rivals. While we have seen some amazing and shocking battles already. the first match of the fourth round will be one that you do not want to miss! Perhaps the first names to come to the mind of anyone who hears the words ‘ultimate rivalry,’ tomorrow’s first battle will be,” DJ paused for a moment, flinging an arm dramatically at the screen behind him as two bladers appeared, “Gingka versus Kyoya! Will the eight-year tie continue, or will someone come out on top?! There’s only one way to find out!”

“Oh… That tie.” Selen whispered.

“You will defeat Kyoya Tategami, the same as the others.” Argo said.

“And if I once again can’t break the tie?” Gingka asked coolly.

“Then we'll decide what will happen.” Argo replied calmly.

Gingka narrowed his eyes slightly, his right hand shaking as he clenched it into a tight fist. Yet, no matter what he did, this was one battle that he could never win. However, he intended to fight as far as he could.

“Stand down.” Argo said.

Gingka stiffened, indecision clouding his mind for a few moments. Should he obey and play it safe, landing and allowing his wings to be clipped further? Should he stretch his wings to their limit and strike back? Gingka’s body became rigid as every muscle tensed, ready for action should action be needed.

“Stand down.” Argo growled slowly, ominously.

Gingka remained motionless, as if frozen solid. His breathing was slow, concentrated.

“You know what we can and will do if you don’t. Don’t try my patience.” Argo said menacingly.

Gingka held his breath, Argo’s words hitting him like a brick and causing him to stagger backwards before he collapsed to the ground, panting. Argo smirked and turned away, ordering Yoshio to make sure that Gingka stayed in the room.

Gingka laid on the ground where he had fallen. Argo’s words had merely been the first brick of many that were now crushing him, as the hopelessness of his situation settled in. The pressure on his mind was overwhelming. The redhead curled up into a tight ball, trying to focus his thoughts on something, anything to relieve the pain. He thought of Madoka, but then remembered that he couldn’t reach her. He thought of Zero and the younger bladers, only to remember that he had been forced to harm them so that they wouldn’t be a threat to the DNA. If the WBBA fell, it would be his fault.

The DNA bladers raised an eyebrow at Gingka as he laid on the ground, face hidden in his scarf as he panted and gasped for breath. The weight of the world was once again on his shoulders, but this time, there was nobody there to bear it with him, and it was crushing him bit by bit. The breaking point was approaching, and nobody could stop it.

Gingka raised his head slightly from his scarf as he heard muffled voices. The DNA bladers were whispering gleefully among themselves, probably talking about him. Gingka narrowed his eyes, his vision blurring slightly. He hated them, all of them. He wanted nothing more than for this torture to stop, for this to all be over. Their maniacal evil laughs rang eternally in his ears, causing him to panic. His breathing became frantic, as blackness clouded his vision and slowly took it over.

“Did he just faint?” Baihu asked suddenly, causing the eerie laughter from the others to stop as they all turned and looked at the redhead laying motionless on the ground.

Kira crossed his arms as Captain Arrow bent over and peered into Gingka’s face, chuckling slightly at the unsteady breathing and the half-closed, glazed over eyes.

“He’s out cold.” the masked blader stated, stepping back.

“The stress of the last few days was too much for him, I suppose.” Baihu said gleefully.

“He’ll be fine. If he’s not, it won’t matter.” Kira stated with a slight smirk.

“So will all who defy us end up.”