Fubuki Sumiye: The Escape from Dread Tower (Book 2)(Completed)

Ep 25: The Talk!

After waking up Fubuki was thankful that it was all just a nightmare. Last night he was met with Red Eye but when he took off the mask it was Fubuki.

Getting up it was a dark rainy day fitting in with the mood. Fubuki slept in but so did everyone else. Since the cloud cover of the Dread Tower made it seem darker than it already is. This only made it seem like night.

Fubuki was bit groggy from last night but he got up anyway. Unlike last time it was 8, right on time. Breakfast was probably being served and then the battles would begin.

Going down to the cafeteria Fubuki got breakfast. Most of the bladers were up but Fubuki could tell a few were missing.

Sitting down next to Valt, he noticed Aiger wasn't up yet.

"Poor Aiger." Fubuki said quietly.

"Yeah I totally get where he's coming from. I felt the same way when Shu went missing."

They were both quiet, lately Valt had been that way to Fubuki. His once optimistic and friendly attitude was now replaced with determination. He was still friendly but he seemed a bit more...distant.

War hardens the heart.

Fubuki looked down to see Forenous glowing.

Just as Fubuki was about to tell Valt, Aiger walked in lazily still in his pajamas. Getting breakfast he sat down.

"Sorry I slept in today's my day off." He said while yawning.

"Wait who's battling?" Fubuki asked.

"The first battle is Kyle and Hyde the second is Fubuki and Blindt."

"Oh I need to start training."Fubuki finished breakfast and took off in pursuit of the training room.

It was only the second day of the tournament but it seemed like so much had already happened.

Fubuki didn't mind skipping out on Kyle and Hyde's battle but he could always hear about it later.

Finding his own training room Fubuki focused on his launches, moves and more importantly. He made sure to lock the door so no one would bother him.

As he was training Vincent had taken notice of Fubuki's attitude towards training. He was worried for his friend, that morning he had already talked to Valt about Valerie and Fubuki.

Valt told Vincent to just be a friend and be there when Fubuki needed him just like he was when Shu was Red Eye.

After their talk Vincent went to go check on Fubuki.

Knocking on the training room Fubuki opened the door.

"Fubuki."

"Vincent, what are you doing?"

"Just checking on you, how are you?"

"Fine."

"You sure?"

Fubuki let out a sigh.

"It's these nightmares and my power. I'm afraid of what I'm becoming. And it doesn't help that Phi...."

"What about Phi?"

Fubuki hesitates but decided to tell him the truth.

"It doesn't help that Phi made me steal Red Eyes mask and gauntlet."

"But I thought his mask was broken?"

"I guess they put it back together, but anyways it's been giving me nightmares ever since I touched it. But besides all that I'm just..."

"Scared?"

Fubuki nodded his head.

"We change what we can and we manage what we cannot. You resist control, what you must learn is acceptance. By learning to accept that nothing stays the same the easier it is. In order to control your power you must not let it control you."

"You know it's funny how much you sound like Shu."

Vincent started laughing.

"Well I've had a lot of time to think and reflect, maybe even learn a thing or two."

"Yeah but you are right though, but the first step to this is understanding what I'm up against before I can start accepting this."

"Look who sounds like the fortune cookie now?" Vincent said smiling at Fubuki.

Fubuki playfully punched Vincent and the boys broke out laughing together.

After joking around the boys got serious. Fubuki tapped into his dark power during the battle.

He could feel the power resonating through his body. He focused on pacing himself by breathing steadily and he concentrated on his negativity.

Amping up the power Forenous attacked over and over while Venatrix defended itself.

"Ultra Tsunami Drift!"

Forenous crashed into Venatrix it flew out of the stadium bursting into pieces. Vincent wasn't surprised but he was happy for Fubuki.

The air around him loosened as the darkness surrounding him dispersed.

"I think my work here is done." Vincent picked up Venatrix and walked out.

"You owe me a rematch sometime but if you need a friend I'll always be here." Vincent said standing in the doorway.

"Umm Vincent?"

"Yeah Fubuki?"

"I know that I can control this but how do I permanently stop this?"

Vincent let out a sigh.

"That is something only you can answer. I'm sorry I can't give you a better answer."

Vincent walked off leaving Fubuki to train.

******

It was finally time Fubuki versus Blindt. Each blader stood on either side of the stadium.

Fubuki didn't really know that much about Blindt other than he was an interesting blader and artist.

"Fubuki Sumiye, how interesting."

"What about it?"

"You're one of the first bladers I've seen like this in a while. You have a touch of darkness in you. An inner turmoil you struggle to control."

Fubuki was taken aback.

"No I don't!" Fubuki's eyes started glowing and a dark aura surrounded him.

"You're only proving my point and besides I can't wait to see what kind of power you hide."

Both bladers got into their launching stances.

Holding out his launcher Fubuki narrowed his eyes.

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"Let it Rip!"

Balkesh took up the center while Fubuki attacked over and over.

Fubuki wanted the battle to end before everyone realized he was slowly being corrupted. But it was too late, out of the corner of his eye he could see people pointing at Fubuki.

What Shu think of me?

Those words caught Fubuki off guard. Blindt saw his reaction and took the opportunity. Balkesh attacked sending Forenous flying out of the stadium.

Blindt said nothing only smiling at Fubuki.