Chapter 26: Baki calls out to Lucy, and Requiem battles, to see who's the strongest.
Chapter 26: Crimson Flames! Prince of Darkness!
{December 20th, 2022}
Baki and the members of Valhalla, had gathered to practice for the last day before, the team was made.
War: “Alright Captain Baki! What’s today about?”
Baki: “Um, well I don’t-”
Finn: “Hey, keep it down. We don’t want outsiders shaking the entire region with their loud mouths.”
Baki: “Uh, guys, it’s fine.”
War: “Oh, just because I worked with Van for 4 months makes ME the enemy huh? Okay!”
Finn: "4 months is too much don't you think? And yes, you are an enemy!"
The two began arguing more and more, and the pressure began getting to Baki.
Baki(Mind): “I can’t do this! Being a captain is... impossible!”
Then Lucy walked up and called out.
Lucy(Mad): “Can’t you two see? you are stressing our captain, Baki, out. I have a wonderful idea, Finn stays to the left side of Valhalla and War stays to the right.”
Baki looked up, and saw Lucy dishing out orders, almost as quickly as a chef showing off their skills at a live kitchen.
Finn looked at Lucy, then at Baki, and then at War.
Finn: "If I see you on my side, you're done with. Deal?"
War: "Same with you"
Both shook hands and went to the far corners of their sides. standing there.
Then everyone began battling, and Lucy turned to Baki and asked.
Lucy(Concerned): “Baki! You all good?”
Baki(Inspired): “Y-yeah, thanks Lucy.”
Lucy smiled, her bright smile piercing Baki’s heart.
Lucy(Happy): “I’m super happy to hear that!”
Lucy then turned and went to walk away, Baki looked at her, the sun illuminating her brown and blonde hair. Even though it was warm in Valhalla’s Blading Room, Lucy still wore her scarf and buttoned up jacket.
Baki(Mind): “How come I can’t take my eyes off of her?”
Without thought, Baki called out.
Baki: “Lucy! Wait!”
Lucy turned around, startled by Baki’s sudden outburst, and so were the rest of the bladers.
Baki(Mind): “I can’t stop now. I’ll just ask if she wants to go out, and get some coffee or something, just a little ice-breaker!”
Lucy(Mind): “Oh no, no, no. Please, Baki, don’t ask me out in front of everyone here. I wouldn’t say no, but it’s so scary with everyone looking up here!”
Baki(Calmer): “Hey Lucy, would you like to grab coffee with me or something?”
Baki asked, but his head was to the right, and his eyes looked down at the ground, he was blushing, which is only normal.
Lucy: "Of course! I’d love too!”
Lucy blushed, and her already bright face, was lit up more from the sun, but most importantly, her blush showed that this was important to her.
Then everyone at the stadiums began calling out.
Samson: “Nice going, Baki!”
Barry: “Do her well man! Never let a girl down!”
Percy: “Wait, why are we celebrating?”
Yuito: “Hm, that’s cool. You win, Baki. I should’ve been quicker.”
Yuito then walked to the fridge, and grabbed a cold cola, and opened it while he watched everyone cheer Baki and Lucy on.
Yuito: "Who drank one of my sodas?"
Percy: "Uh... I think it was Finn"
Yuito sighs, and walks away.
Samson: "Close call"
Then the two (Baki and Lucy) walked out of Valhalla, and began walking to the near coffee shop: "Heartache".
Both of their shoes trampled through the snow, and both of them couldn’t find anything to say, but then Baki spoke up first,
Baki: “Hey, I’m sorry about that Lucy. I just wanted to go out somewhere, with y-you.”
Lucy: “It’s fine, Baki. I would have done the same if I was brave enough.”
Lucy blushed a little
Lucy (slightly flustered): "I mean, I'm not used to people. Talking to someone is hard sometimes"
Baki looked over and the winter sun, once again, brightened Lucy’s beautiful face.
Baki smiled and said.
Baki: “Well, at least you can talk to me"
Lucy blushed a little more and hid part of her face on the scarf
{Inside Heartache}
Baki and Lucy sat at a table, and were talking, while Lucy drank her latte, and Baki drank his mocha
Lucy: "So, how does it feel being the new leader"
Baki: "It is great, though honestly it is very hard. Thank you for the help back there by the way"
Lucy: "Oh, that was nothing. Just helping a friend. By the way, how Keith was like when he got Kratos2?"
Baki (a little angered): "Let's just don't talk about him right now, I don't want to ruin the moment)
Lucy looked to the side curious about what may have happened and noticed two different posters on the window.
“Christmas Ice Skating, come for the skate around the tree.” And the other said, “On the 21st only, Photos at the Kuroda’s Photo Palace, First three are free!”
Lucy then spoke up and said,
Lucy: “I’m really sorry for interrupting, but could we go get photos together?”
Baki blushed and said,
Baki(Flustered): “Oh yeah, that’s fine!”
The two got up and walked to the Kuroda’s Photo Palace, and entered. A girl with long red, blue and black hair was on her phone, when she saw Baki and Lucy enter.
???: “Ah! Finally, another customer!”
Lucy: “Hi! I saw the poster on Heartache’s window, about free photos?”
???: “Finally! Someone came for them! Pair 2 done, 1 left”
She ran over to the two, and grabbed a camera, while signaling for the two to follow her.
???: “Also, you two can call me Hailey.”
Lucy: “Alright Hailey, what type of photos could we take?”
Hailey: “Alright, so we have the Winter Special and the Christmas Special. Both are very good, what changes is the photo formats and places”
Lucy turned to Baki, smiling and asked.
Lucy: “Which would you rather do, Baki?”
Baki: “I think the Christmas one sounds really nice.”
Hailey’s eyes lit up and she said,
Hailey: “Really, no one’s picked it yet! Hooray for me, take that Amanda!”
Hailey ran and grabbed everything, and brought them to the first scene.
Hailey: “Alright, this photo is just you two, sitting on a bench under a snowy tree.”
The two sat down, and smiled like normal.
Hailey: “No, no! Pretend the camera isn’t here, and just talk, I’ll take the picture at the right time.”
Lucy and Baki followed what Hailey said, and that shot went well, and the next shot, of the two in a carriage ride, went the same.
Then the final one came up, and Hailey said.
Hailey: “Alright, under the mistletoe, and I want you two to make peace signs together or put your hands together and make a heart, k?”
Lucy then walked into the frame, and got ready while Baki stood there, and was processing everything.
Baki(Mind): “Under a mistletoe with Lucy! Make peace signs or a heart! I can’t take this.”
Lucy looked to Baki, and asked.
Lucy: “Baki, are you alright. We can come another day if that makes it easier.”
Baki then realized how much Lucy wanted to do this, and walked into the frame saying.
Baki: “No, I’m good.”
The two stood together, and Lucy went to make peace signs, when Baki put his hand into a heart, and put it to the middle.
Baki: “You good, Lucy?”
Lucy blushed, and her heart began racing.
Lucy(Mind): “Could it be, he likes me too? No, no, he just wants to do this with his good friend.”
Lucy then stood next to Baki, and their fingers touched making a heart, and Hailey called out.
Hailey: “1, 2, 3! And it’s done, guys, meet me out at the printer then.”
Baki and Lucy walked out and went to the printer, and Hailey came behind the counter saying.
Hailey: “Ok, here’s the free copy. Now would you like to purchase another strip of them?”
Lucy: “Oh here, Baki. You keep it.”
Baki took it, and Lucy went to grabbed her scarf, and in that time, Baki pulled out his wallet and bought another strip of photos.
Hailey: “She must mean something to you, huh?”
Baki: “Yeah, a lot actually.”
Hailey(excited): "So cute! Does she know?"
Baki: "Not yet"
Baki and Lucy got together, and left, Hailey waved and said.
Hailey: “See ya’ll later!”
Baki and Lucy walked through the deep snow, and Lucy said,
Lucy(Happy): “That was really fun, thanks for today, Baki!”
Baki held onto her shirt, and said,
Baki(Flustered): “Wait, h-here you go.”
Baki gave Lucy the strip of photos he bought, and she blushed looking at all the beautiful photos, they had taken together, Baki then said.
Baki: “I thought you should have one too”
Lucy blushed, and hid her face in her scarf.
Lucy(Mind): “He bought me another set of photos? Why?”
Baki thought he had made her mad, and spoke up,
Baki(Concerned): “Lucy, your not mad right?”
Lucy looked to Baki, her face barely coming out of her scarf and said,
Lucy: “Of course I’m not mad dummy. I'm just... out of words. Normally I don't... get along well with people, but you're different. I like you.”
Lucy, then realized she didn’t even think and just let that out, and Baki blushed and was surprised by Lucy saying she did.
Baki: “Then would it be fine if we went to the Christmas Ice Skating together? Not today obviously”
Lucy hugged Baki, and said.
Lucy(Overjoyed): “Of course!”
A boy stood outside, watching Baki and Lucy.
???: “So, that’s one weakness, haha!”
The boy jumped off the hill and his pink hair became bright with the sun, it was Payne getting info on them for the upcoming fight.
Payne: “I can’t believe it, Van truly is on a whole other level."
{Van’s Mansion, 1 hour ago.}
Everyone: “Go Shoot!”
{Phoenix, Valkyrie, Gladius, Orion and Vulcan hit the stadium floor. Phoenix took center, and Gladius began lightly hitting it, while Orion, Valkyrie and Vulcan sped around the outer ridge.}
Kai: “Burning Shoot!”
Van: “I’ll beat everyone, now Calamity Shoot!”
Obito: “When stars align, new fates can be born. Orion, now we’ll burst Gladius in one blow. Zodiac Shot!”
{Orion, Valkyrie and Vulcan darted for the center, Vulcan and Valkyrie hitting Phoenix, and Orion hitting and bursting Gladius.}
Gemma: “I always seem to lose.”
{Vulcan and Valkyrie, went back to the outer ridge. Vulcan losing spin quickly, while Valkyrie was still speeding around.}
Kai: “Rah! I don’t lose!”
Obito: “Everyone loses. Zodiac Upper!”
{Orion hit Vulcan out of the stadium, and rushed to Phoenix.}
Payne: “Come on, try your best but, it’ll be worthless!”
Obito: “Our bests are different, I’ll beat you. And you, Payne, will lose.”
{Orion and Phoenix began clashing, and Valkyrie began losing speed and spin. And Van’s eyes glew.}
Van: “Valkyrie, destroy him! Calamity Rush!”
{The plastic tip on Rush retracted, and the soft rubber star hit the floor, instantly jumping in speed.}
Van: “Now! Calamity Sword!”
Obito: “You won’t win! Zodiac Shot!”
{When both of the beys hit Phoenix, and it’s armor shot off.}
Payne: “Haha!”
{The armor fell, and Phoenix hit the armor. The armor began hitting the stadium wall, and Phoenix. Then Phoenix hit the armor, and it flew towards Valkyrie.}
Payne: “Now’s our time, we were reborn in the flames, Everburn Crush!”
{Phoenix’s armor shot away, and hit Valkyrie, but Valkyrie hit the armor away, and it fell out of the stadium.}
Van: “This is it! Calamity Sword!”
{When Valkyrie hit Orion, and Phoenix, the stadium cracked, and all the beys had stopped spinning, and Obito said.}
Obito: “I believe, Van wins.”
Van then commented.
Van: “Your all too weak, for me and Valkyrie to battle. Your all toys now.”
Kai(Pissed): “What did you say brat!”
Gemma(Irritated): “Now Van, this is a little extreme.”
Payne walked up into Obito’s face and said.
Payne: “Think your so cool, huh?”
Obito walked up, and put his arm between Van and Payne.
Obito: “Leave Van alone, Payne.”
Payne grit his teeth, and turned walking to his room, Kai and Gemma went to their rooms.
Van launched Calamity Valkyrie again, into the new stadium Obito had just brought out.
Obito: "Good Grief, tomorrow's our battle."
Van: "Yes, but I have a feeling that you'll prove your worth."
Obito: "Of course, I will, me and Orion are amazing."
Van: "And under every circumstance, don't take off your mask."
Obito: "Okay?"
Van(Mind): "Hopefully, he does take it off, and completely wreck Valhalla's spirit. Obito, I'm truly counting on you."
Next Chapter, Valhalla Versus Requiem, and the end of Keith's Requiem Arc, and the beginning of the Yacht Battle Royale Arc.
