Grey Eye's expectations were not met, at all. Shu wanted to make all the Snake Pit Bladers question themselves, not just the masked ones. For that, he needed to find a source of information. Someone who could tell him about what was going on and how and when to rebel. Grey Eye knew only one person who could do it.

"This is Boa", he told Shu. "You might remember him. He's always been a little rebellious, so you might really have found a great ally here."

"Boa", Shu said, nodding his head. Boa glared. The kid was even younger than Shu, one year younger, and had wild brown hair and bright green eyes. He was strong, yes, but because of his rebellious nature Ashram had not made him a masked Blader.

"You're rebelling now? What caused such a drastic change of mind, Red Eye?"

Boa crossed his arms, waiting for an answer. Grey Eye was just as curious but stayed quiet. No need to aggravate Shu.

"One of Ashram's experiments", Shu said. "Don't know exactly what happened but I won't be Red Eye any longer."

Boa didn't seem convinced. Shu sighed.

"Come with me", he said, the command tired but just as powerful. Grey Eye raised a questioning eyebrow.

Shu didn't grace any of them with a response as he led them to the next free training room instead of a meeting room. Shu took out his launcher and Bey and looked them both in the eye.

"Watch", he said, took his stance in front of the stadium and launched.

Red, orange and golden flames danced around him and his Bey, Spriggan was fast, faster than Grey Eye had ever seen. An inferno danced around them, but Shu just stood there. Calm, staring down at the Bey in silence as Grey Eye and Boa had to cover their faces from the air being blow around.

"Do you see it now?", Shu asked, as the wind slowly stopped, the heat left the air and Spriggan stopped spinning.

"I understand", Boa said and Grey Eye wondered just what he'd understood. However, he also knew that it didn't matter. Boa was on their side. That's all that mattered.

"So", Shu said, picking up Requiem. "We have a lot to plan."

"Then let's get started", Boa said.

Grey Eye smiled. They were fine.

Violet Eye was confused, to say the least. He was completely, utterly, confused right now. More and more the masked Bladers seemed to be leaning towards rebellion. Violet Eye wondered if he should, too.

Grey Eye, Yellow Eye, Azure Eye, even Silver Eye, seemed to be rebelling. Gold Eye was against it and Black Eye was something else. He probably didn't mind but kept it to himself.

And Shu. The kid was something else. He was fighting harder than all of them. For what? Violet Eye didn't know. Had not a clue.

"Violet Eye, can I talk to you?", Shu asked. His posture was perfect, his eyes unreadable. Good. He'd need it if he wanted to best Ashram.

"Am I just a rebel for you?", Shu said, voice more demanding than questioning.

"I don't know. All I know is that you're not the Red Eye I knew."

"Knew?", Shu questioned. Then he chuckled. "Don't write him off like that. It's rude."

Violet Eye wondered how he could speak of himself as a complete other person. Though, the more he thought about it, the more it actually made sense. They were different. Violet Eye separated Red Eye and Shu in his mind, too. That was the only thing that made sense.

"I understand. I'm sorry."

Shu's eyes were strong, unyielding, he was questioning whether Violet Eye would help or not.

"How do you feel about the Snake Pit?", Shu asked. His voice was a little softer, now.

"I don't know", Violet Eye said. "It was my home. Now, I'm not so sure anymore."

Shu's smile was sympathetic. "You don't know whether you want change or not, huh? That's okay. Just remember, being indecisive can be just as bad as being too set on a goal. You always have to keep a slightly open mind."

"I understand."

Shu laughed. "You're all so polite with me. Look, I'm just a fifteen-year-old teenager who wants change. You don't have to treat me like a superior."

Violet Eye nodded. He didn't know what to respond to that.

"I would recommend to soon come to a conclusion", Shu said as he started walking away. "This place might not exist for long."

As Violet Eye watched the retreating figure of the young Blader, he thought his decision was made.

It was time to start a new life, one where he was in charge. Where no one decided his fate but himself.

"Black Eye?", Gold Eye asked. Black Eye turned around, and smiled.

"Gold Eye, what a surprise. Is there something you want to talk about?"

Gold Eye sat down at the table in front of Black Eye and tried to come up with words to describe how he was feeling. It was harder than he thought. Black Eye watched for a while before sighing.

"It's about Shu, isn't it?"

Gold Eye looked up in shock. "How did you...?"

"Everyone wonders about Shu these days", Black Eye said, polishing his bey. Gold Eye waited. "The kid's starting a revolution. Of course people are going to talk."

"They're not just talking though", Gold Eye said. "Red Eye started more than just a little rebellion as he's trying to make everyone think! Have you thought about what happens if he succeeds? We'll lose our home!"

"True", Black Eye said, strangely calm. Gold Eye was fuming. He stood up and banged his fists on the table.

"How can you be so calm about this!?"

"Shu's brought change. And I don't know about you, but hearing people laugh and encourage each other kind of lifted a weight of my chest. I actually feel happy, I think. So, maybe, it's time for things to change. For us to find a new place to call home."

Gold Eye's anger evaporated. A new place to call home? Where? And...without Ashram?

Gold Eye cared about that man, no matter how crazy he'd become. He'd been a solid presence for years. And just... betraying everything he stood for? Could Gold Eye do it?

"It's a lot to take in", Gold Eye said, sitting back down. Black Eye nodded.

"It is. But, maybe this place isn't worth calling home anymore. You've seen how Ashram has been getting worse over the years? We remember the good times. Shu does not. And maybe, his perspective is a little less biased because of it."

Gold Eye considered it. Wondered about it. Shu had only seen the worst, had scars all over from Ashram's experiments and had never dared to disobey until now. Though, he also seemed different. Who was that teen who fought so hard, who taught so well, who was light in its purest form? Gold Eye didn't know. But maybe it didn't matter.

"I do want change", Gold Eye admitted. It felt wrong to say so but also so, so right.

"Then join him", Black Eye told him, smiling. "That's what I'm going to do. We can only win if we work together. And, you might be able to save the person most dear to you, too."

Gold Eye wondered how much Black Eye knew. How much he had seen through Gold Eye. Or maybe, he'd seen through Norman instead. Because Norman was much, much easier to read that Gold Eye was. Maybe, he didn't need to separate them anymore.

"I- I'll try", Gold Eye said. "Maybe, it's time to do so."

Black Eye's smile seemed even brighter.

"You're the last to join him", he said. "Meet us tomorrow in the training hall. There'll be fireworks, I'm sure."

Gold Eye nodded. He wasn't sure what to make of the fact that there was already a solid plan in place, but he decided that it didn't matter.

Tomorrow, Norman Tarver would fight for his freedom.

Black Eye smiled as Gold Eye left. The last had joined them. That was how it was supposed to be.

"Don't you think so, too, Shu?," he asked. Shu stepped out of the shadows. His eyes were glowing.

"How long have you known I'm here?"

"Since the start", Black Eye replied. "Your presence is easy to distinguish."

Shu chuckled. He walked over to Black Eye and sat at the table. He leaned his head on his left hand and drummed the table with his right.

"I still can't quite see through you", Shu said. "I don't know what you're thinking, what you want from me. Oh, well. All I need is your cooperation."

"And you have it", Black Eye said. He couldn't really tell Shu how interesting he was. That since the kid had first arrived at the Snake Pit, Black Eye had kept an eye on him. That he felt he knew Shu better than any other Snake Pit Blader.

"Tomorrow is the big day", Black Eye said. "It's only been a little over a week. I'm impressed by your influence."

Shu's eyes seemed far away. "If only I was always so convincing..."

Black Eye refrained from asking. It was not his place to pry. He knew that Shu had secrets, had things he had never shared with anyone. It had only gotten worse since Ashram's experiment. Black Eye thought he knew exactly what had happened. Should he reveal it?

"Go ahead", Shu said. "You have something to say, don't you?"

"A hunch", Black Eye replied. "I wonder if you could confirm it for me?"

Shu motioned him to tell. Black Eye was curious. There was nothing to lose.

"You're not from this world."

Shu's smile was predatorily, dangerous. His eyes glowed as if there was fire in them. Black Eye trembled.

"True", Shu said. The lights flickered. "I'm not from here. I'm impressed that you guessed as much."

"Your soul, it's from somewhere else..."

"Yes", Shu nodded. "Red Eye's and my soul probably switched. I'm not quite sure what happened to him, actually, but I know he's safe. Trust me on this."

Black Eye nodded, hesitantly. He did trust Shu's word, Shu hadn't bothered to lie until now so why would he do it? Still, something was bothering Black Eye...

"I'd appreciate it if you kept quiet about this. At least, until dusk tomorrow."

"Why dusk?"

Shu stood up, and put a strand of hair behind his ear. The scar was on full display.

"You'll see then."

With that, Shu left the room. Black Eye sunk into his seat. His hands still trembled.

He wasn't going to question Shu. Years in the Snake Pit had taught him one thing he would never forget; don't cross people more powerful than you. No matter how gentle, how kind, how forgiving. If you make one wrong move, do one thing they absolutely despise...

You can bet you'll never forget it.

"Tomorrow, huh?", Shu said. The room was still alight, even if it was late in the night. It made no difference.

"At dusk I am taking you back, Crimson Flame. Don't forget. I don't care whether you're done or not, you're going home."

"You're making it sound as if I don't want to go home", Shu chuckled. "I want to go home, Requiem. Back to my world. I just hope that my words and actions will stick."

"I believe that they will. You're more convincing than you think."

"Maybe."

Shu looked around the room. Red Eye's room. He was still wondering so much about the other teen. He had brought forward so much change in the short time he'd been here.

He deserves an explanation, Shu thought. He found a block and a pen. He sat down and spun the pen. Now, how to start? What do I want him to know?

Shu thought that the other teen probably had as much questions as he did. Wondered who Shu was. All Shu could do was telling him the answers to Shu's own questions. And hope that they still thought alike.

Shu felt Requiem's presence around him, curiously watching, but not interfering. Requiem had learned to respect Shu's boundaries. Hopefully, Red Eye would be able to implement the same respect.

Shu wrote word after word, explanation after explanation, and finally, he was done. He breathed lighter. The letter was shorter than he thought, but that was fine. Red Eye would probably appreciate it anyway.

He neatly folded the paper and wrote 'Red Eye' on it and then put it on the desk. No one should come looking anyway.

Shu put out the lights and lied down on the bed. He closed his eyes and went through his planning again. He couldn't allow himself a mistake.

The masked Bladers had changed so much. Their eyes were bright and hopeful and it made Shu smile. He wanted to keep that light.

He opened his eyes and turned onto the side. Red Eye would probably be confused. Shu had made sure to sleep at least five hours every night, more than what Red Eye had done, he knew, and had stretched every day. He felt much less tense, and hoped that Red Eye would appreciate it. He had also, after the first two days, eaten regular meals. It did wonders for his physical strength and concentration.

Shu would miss the long hair, he decided as a strand fell into his face. It was strangely soothing to brush out long strands and it was much, much easier to hide his scar or expression. Maybe he'd let his hair grow out again.

One thing he would not miss, though, was the everlasting darkness. He missed the lights of his city, the light of the stars, and also the fresh air. He would not miss being cooped up all the time. He didn't know how, as a boy, he'd done it for months. Now, he couldn't ever imagine staying. If he'd been here for longer than a week, he would have run away into the jungle.

Shu chuckled as he imagined running away and imagined Ashram being furious that his experiment ran away. Shu knew that he was the only one who could find amusement in Ashram's fury. Shu was the only one who didn't fear the man. Not anymore.

Shu used to fear Ashram. Fear Alexander Gilten. He remembered the time after his injury, the time where he came back to the Bulls. Gilten had scared him. He hadn't wanted to be near the man, and he the man had used that. He'd made Shu cower. He hadn't thought that Shu would lash out.

And oh, did Shu lash out. He took over the team, which was a feat in and of itself. Then, he brought his team to the World League. And they won.

Afterwards, his fear of Gilten left him. There was nothing to fear from a man who decided to threaten his successor, to threaten his team. To threaten Shu's team.

Shu's fear had left him in the second Gilten had started to attack the Bulls. Only anger, hot, blazing anger had remained. Gilten had never threatened Shu again. Had never tried to take any of his Bladers again. Why? Because the man knew that Shu was dangerous.

Ashram would learn it, too. Ashram would learn to fear the Crimson Flame, the coach and Legend that he'd unknowingly summoned. Shu would make him.

But, that wasn't his main goal. His main goal was to free the Bladers that thought they had no other place to go. That they had no choice but to stay in the Snake Pit until Ashram grew tired of them or they succeeded.

Shu would save them. Bring them to the light. Just like Valt had done for him.

Shu ignored the bitter feeling in his chest as he thought of Lean, of his problem child, and how he couldn't do anything for him. Ignored the tears he felt burning in his eyes as he thought of that closed off, angry child who thought the entire world was against him. He ignored, as best as he could, how he held back sobs as he thought of his failure.

Requiem stayed through the entire time, strangely comforting, as Spriggan usually was.

Shu would do anything to make sure the same wouldn't happen again. He knew he couldn't give up. He knew it was so hard, so difficult, but he couldn't give up.

He took a breath and promised himself to not give up on Lean. If he could change the opinion of so many Snake Pit Bladers, whose determination was legendary, he could change Lean's view of the world.

He hoped, at least.

"Sleep, child", Requiem said. "You'll need your energy for tomorrow."

Shu listened. He closed his eyes, felt the exhaustion in his limbs. His breathing evened out, and he dreamed of home, of his students whom he couldn't wait to see again.