DISCLAIMER:

I DO NOT OWN METAL FIGHT BEYBLADE OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

I only own my OCs.


I'm not using the plot of The Painful Truth or The New Generation. Here, Isamu and Yumiko are twins, and this is told from Isamu's point of view.

This story was developed in my head when my family went indoor-rock-climbing in Antipolo!


"The technique to rock climbing is finding a nice, steady rock or crevice to serve as a good handhold," Dad was saying. Note that he sounded pretty bored, if you ask me. Not that you could actually hear him... or... ask me.

Well, whatever.

As curious as ever, I (in ten-year-old version) raised my hand. Yumiko, who was sitting beside me, sighed in frustration. She hates it when I ask questions—they sometimes get out of hand.

I get it, Yumiko. No need to tease me about it.

Dad looked like he wanted to be anywhere but teaching his kids about how to climb a mountain. "Yes, Isamu?"

So I asked, "What if I can't find one?"

Yumiko face-palmed. Yes, Yumiko, there is such a word as face-palmed!

Dad growled—nothing new, just Dad being... well... Dad. "Just find one!" He was—and still is—a horrible teacher. I have no idea how Uncle Kenta got stronger by traveling with him. Something about being pushed around and breaking boulders, I think...

We finally agree on something, Yumiko. I'm glad... No, I don't care that you couldn't care less about my happiness.

I'm hurt a little...

Oh yeah—my dad's Ryuga, the strongest blader in the world. Yeah, that's right—I SAID IT! I wanna be just like him when I grow up! Well, actually, I'm sixteen now, so... I don't care what they say about him being evil and demented, because he's the best at what he does, no doubt about it. He could crush Uncle Gingka like a bug! An ant, probably, 'cause Uncle Gingka's pretty tough and ants are kind of hard to kill... sort of... for me.

If you're reading this, Uncle Gingka, you know I love you, so no offense, but I think that Dad's a better blader-slash-martial-artist-slash-rock-climber-slash-wilderness-survivor. Oh yeah, and he can also pawn you at archery, even though he never gets bulls-eyes. But you, on the other hand, never hit the target at all.

I could go on forever, but I don't think you'd be too happy about that, Uncle Gingka.

Plus, I'm getting off topic... Yumiko says that I have a talent for rambling...

Alright, Yumiko, I'll get on with the story. Just shut your trap and get out of my face—I'm telling the story, not you! Got it?

Ow—you just slapped me. You just slapped me! Yumiko, I need my face!

Okay, so... where was I? Shut up, Yumiko! Oh, right—I was up to the "Just find one!" part. Alright, so yeah, that was it, right, Yumiko? Yumiko? Oh, now you shut up! Well, it's true that I told you to... tch. Never mind.

Well, Dad was teaching me about rock-climbing. Yeah, I know—not something that he would probably do. He didn't really do it willingly, sort of—I kind of begged him.

I repeated my question. "What if I can't—"

He smoothed back his white-and-red hair, identical to my own in all but size—mine was shorter. "I hate to admit it, son, but I don't know everything!" he said, exasperated. Did I mention that besides getting off topic, I also have a knack for asking a lot of questions? I have a lot of anno—

SHUT UP, YUMIKO!

Anyway, I was confused. Dad always acted like he knew everything. Always. Like that time when I found a turtle in the toilet of he was like...

Yes, Yumiko, I now know that they can't see my expression, now please... just... be... quiet... and... let... me... tell... the... FREAKING STORY! Yes, I KNOW THAT I'M RAMBLING AGAIN! THIS WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER IF YOU'D JUST... SHUT... UP!

So when I found the turtle in the toilet, Dad looked like he knew something about it. At the time, I wasn't suspicious (after all, I was six), but as I grew older... well... things change. Oh yeah, in addition to those two annoying habits, I have an excellent memory and voice. Yumiko calls me a self-obsessed egomaniac, but I don't think that I'm like that.

In case you guys can't tell, I'm smirking right now.

Don't roll your eyes at me, Yumiko.

So... Dad told me that he didn't know everything. I was confused, but I just let that slide, and instead, asked, "Can we just get on to the rock-climbing already?" Ten years old was the age when I wasn't that good at rambling.

He sighed, seeming relieved. "Alright." He gave me a gentle shove towards the cliff. "Go as high as you can."

"But won't I fall?" I yelped. "I need a rope!"

"You can't rely on rope all the time. If you fall down the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere, all alone, you most likely won't have any rope to help you. Plus, those things are useless."

"You didn't think that they were useless when you used one to help make yourself a hammock yesterday," Yumiko said. She was always the smart-mouth out of the two of us twins. Actually, I hate to admit it, but she's smarter than me.

You're welcome, Yumiko. No need to look so smug about it.

Dad scowled. "That's different!" Then, he grumbled under his breath, "And that hammock broke as soon as the dog sat on it, so that just proves my theory that rope is useless."

"Rope is actually one of the most useful inventions ever created!" Yumiko protested. What a dork...

OW! No, I won't apologize! OW!

"What?" I scoffed. "You have a special connection with rope? A rope obsession? Huh? Do ya?"

"Shut up, Isamu." Seething, Yumiko crossed her arms and pointed to the sky. "Climb."

You climb, I wanted to tell her. What?

I looked up and swallowed. Then, I hesitantly put one hand on a tiny ledge and started to inch my way up the cliff side nervously.

No, Yumiko, I'm not a chicken! No, I'm not! Gr! You want me to tell Haruki about—

I thought so. Huh. I should've done that many sentences ago.

I'm crushed, Yumiko, I am. (NOT!)

Several minutes passed, and I felt like my arms were gonna fall off of my body, and that Yumiko was gonna sell them to illegal people, or something. I grinned. "Dad! Dad, I made it!" I was so happy that all my hard work has paid off that I felt like letting go and dancing with the monkeys.

No, Yumiko, just... no.

"Yes, you did, son. Yes, you did," Dad said, sounding slightly amused.

And that was when Yumiko butted in and ruined everything, as usual.

That wasn't a compliment, Yumiko.

Anyway, she said, "I'd hate to burst your bubble, Mr. Accomplished, but you're only two feet off the ground. And... it's only been thirty seconds."


Tell me what you think, and if I should add another chapter about the rock-climbing lesson in Yumiko's POV!

Phew, that was so tiring! All this after I woke up!

Nah, just kidding. I have tons of energy left.