They've been blading since they were kids, and now look where they were.

Shu, the new owner of the Raging Bulls. Valt, a world renowned top blader.

From beginners to where they are now, everything seemed right with the world. Dating since high school, they moved in together shortly after the World Tournament. Shortly after the whole 'Red Eye' incident... Valt still loved him. Does Shu ever remember as to why? No, his beloved was still an anomaly as always.

"... Rip!" Red eyes stared down in content, a slight twinge of discomfort buried deep within. Paperwork done and time to spare, Shu decided to kill the time by training. Except, a familiar problem he hasn't had in years was poking at him. Spryzen stopped and fell to the side, a pale hand reaching down to pick him up.
"Shu!" A cheerful voice called happily, a certain blader crashing full speed into him and sending them both spiraling to the floor. It was like a fire ignited, Shu gritting his teeth as Valt giggled in his ear. "Sorry about that, I kinda got carried away."

Valt smiled as he stood, reaching out to his beloved partner.
"I couldn't find you at your office and heard you were training! So I thought I'd join you!"
"Sorry, I was just finishing up." Shu grunted, taking his hand and getting up. Valt pouted, eyes closed in disappointment.
"Aw man, I was hoping to battle you again..." The blue-haired blader sighed, deflating. Shu smiled softly and kissed his head, watching a fiery blush ignite across tan cheeks.
"Alright, one battle." The albino told him, shaking his head in defeat. They're getting married, doesn't that mean they could battle whenever?

He didn't have the time to question before Valt beamed, rushing to the other side of the stadium.
"Awesome!" The smaller blader grinned, already having his Bey out and ready to go. Red eyes blinked as the team owner sighed, grabbing Spryzen from the stadium to get the battle started.

~~~

Shu grit his teeth as he held his shoulder, sitting in the waiting office of a clinic. His shoulder only got worse through the week though Valt was none the wiser, the Spryzen blader finally sneaking away to get it looked at. If he found out, Shu would never hear the end of it. Just like the last time.
"Shu?" A nurse called, smiling when she saw him stand. "Follow me, dear. How are you today?"
"I'm good, thank you." Shu smiled politely, following her through the hall. Vitals taken and initial assessment, he was brought to an exam room, the nurse smiling."
"Give the doctors just a couple minutes, okay?"
"Thank you."

The blader sighed when the door shut and carefully shuffled his coat off, holding his shoulder in discomfort. The next set of team battles was about to start up and of course something had to go wrong. Something always seems to happen during blading season.
"What is Valt going to say if he finds out?" He asked himself, trying to press his fingers into the aching muscle.
"Knock knock." The doctor said, knocking on the door as he opened it. "Mister Kurenai, how are you today?"
"I'll be better once I figure out what's up with my shoulder." Shu answered, a slightly strained smile on his pale lips.
"Well I should be able to help you out with that. Now, from what I'm reading on your chart is that this isn't the first occurrence where you've experienced severe shoulder pain. Tell me, when did this all start?"
"When I was sixteen was the first time I had problems. The doctor in my hometown said to rest it and ice it and it would heal in no time."
"Sixteen? That's awfully young for such severe pain. What is it that you were doing at that age?"
"I'm a blader. I've been doing it for years."

The doctor nodded and wrote some things down, setting his clipboard down before getting some gloves on.
"Would you mind removing your dress shirt? I'd like to take a closer look." The doctor smiled politely, Shu nodding as he undid the buttons to his shirt. He winced as he shuffled his shoulders, the doctor noticing as he stepped forward. "It does look like it causes you a lot of pain."
"It does. This is the worst it's been in a long time." Shu groaned, the doctor pressing his gloved fingers into his skin. The physician's eyebrows furrowed as he felt around, taking in a deep breath.
"I'm going to be straight, I can feel a lot of inflammation. This can mean quite a few things so I think you should get checked out at the hospital. You might need surgery."

Surgery?

"I can't have surgery this close to the team battles, I need to be able to help my team." The albino said in disbelief, red eyes becoming upset at the news.
"Mister Kurenai, I'm sorry, but it may be the only way for your shoulder to heal. You could have severe nerve damage."

~~~

Severe nerve damage...

He could have severe nerve damage.

Shu punched the steering wheel of his car, hissing at the pain that shot up his arm before starting his car. Now he has to go to the hospital to figure out his shoulder. It shouldn't be this difficult.
"I can't have surgery, I have a team to lead..." He sighed, driving off to the hospital. He didn't have a choice. "So frustrating..."

Arriving, he parked and shut the car off, locking it before walking up toward the emergency room doors. The Spryzen blader checked in with the nurse and told him the clinic doctor sent him, the nurse nodding as he typed away.
"Okay Shu, date of birth?" The nurse asked, holding up a bracelet.
"September 23rd." The man answered, holding his wrist out as the hospital bracelet was wrapped around his wrist.
"Alright, go ahead and have a seat. A CNA will call your name shortly."
"Thank you."

This all seemed like a lot of hassle for such a small problem. Shu sighed as he pulled out his phone, finding a message from his partner.
'Where are you?' Of course he would realize he was gone, it's been an hour and a half for it to be a "lunch". The silver-haired man shook his head and didn't answer, putting his phone away. He couldn't tell him, not until he had answers.
"Shu?" A CNA called, said man raising his hand as he stood, walking over the door.

Another round of vitals before he was brought to another room.
"So, the doctor will be in shortly to assess your injury then we'll get you down to Radiology for an x-ray. Sound good?"
"Sounds good to me." The door shut at that and Shu was left waiting yet again, red eyes annoyed at the situation.

He just wants it to be over with.

~~~

"So, your shoulder is in pretty rough shape. You can see here that there is severe inflammation and the reason it hurts so much is because you tore a pretty good portion of your muscle." The doctor explained, pointing to the areas on the x-ray. "Unfortunately, and I know this isn't what you want to hear, you're going to need surgery to fix this issue."
"Doctor, I can't have surgery. Tournaments are starting up, I have a team to lead, I can't be out with an injured shoulder." Shu told him, his heart dropping at the news."
"Mister Kurenai, I understand why you're upset, but we can't put this off. If you don't have this surgery, it'll permanently damage your shoulder and you won't be able to blade again."
"What about physical therapy? Surely there's another option besides surgery."
"Mister Kurenai-"
"I'm begging you, I can't have surgery."
"I'm sorry but it's the only way to properly fix your shoulder."

Shu wanted to scream, he was so angry. What was he going to do? What was Valt going to do?

So here he was, setting up the date for his surgery before he was able to leave, storming out to his car and shutting the door angrily. He had a week before this procedure, and the team tournament starts just after, his arm back in a stupid sling. The team owner left the parking lot and drove to the Raging Bulls headquarters, his head aching from the sudden stress he needed to deal with.

What great timing...

He stormed his way through the front door, coat fluttering with his movements as teammates watched, confused and concerned as to why he was so angry. No one spoke, the owner walking into his office and closing the door. Valt was nowhere and Shu wasn't sure if that was good or bad. Nevertheless, they needed to talk.

~~~

"What?!"

The sudden exclamation was justified given the news, brown eyes gaping at his lover in shock.
"What do you mean surgery?! We need you for the team battles!" Valt cried, his arms thrown dramatically in the air.
"Trust me, I'm not happy about the news either, but it's the only way. The doctor said if I don't have the surgery, I'll permanently damage my shoulder." Shu explained, eyebrows twitching in annoyance.
"Then what are we doing about the team?!"
"Someone will blade in my place, Valt. I'm out."
"That's not fair!"

The two lovers stared at each other with a harsh intensity, neither faltering.
"I never said it was fair! You think I want this?! I want to blade in this tournament more than ever but I also want to be able to keep blading!" Shu yelled angrily, blinking then sighing. He collapsed on the couch in his office, wincing when he adjusted his shoulder. "Blading means the world to me, it hurts hearing that I would have to give it up if I didn't fix my shoulder."
"And you're sure this surgery is going to fix it? Like, no more problems in the future?"
"It's what we're going for."

Valt sat down next to him and kissed his cheek, holding his hand gently and he laid his head on his uninjured shoulder.
"I'm sorry if I overreacted. Hearing the possibility that you can't blade anymore makes me just... So mad."
"Trust me, it didn't make me happy to hear it either. But, I guess whatever helps, right?"
"Yeah! And you'll be able to coach us so we can win!" The Valtryek blader grinned, suddenly beaming with energy as he jumped up. "Come on! Let's get everyone together and start training!"
"Wait, Valt-" Shu didn't get the chance to stop him before he was out the door, letting out an exasperated breath.

Valt is one strange blader.

NightBear15 signing off...