Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the disclaimer. That's right, the disclaimer. I do not own 'Beyblade' nor any of the characters, places, inventions and ideas. They belong to their creator, Takao Aoki. I do however own the idea for this story, the oc character 'Theresa' and her family, past, present, future etc, etc...So I hope you enjoy. Have fun my children!
Please remind me.
Why did I ever agree to go along with this?
Here I am, sitting in a window seat of and airplane on my way to Tokyo, Japan. Staring at the endless streams of clouds, cursing myself for being dragged into this. Or should I be cursing my parents? After all, if they hadn't said, and I quote. "We think you should go. It'll be a good opportunity for you to grow and an individual. Besides, we're sick of seeing you moping around the house." End quote. I'd be sitting at home, chillin' out, doing whatever I liked before joining the wonderful land of university. A good opportunity for me to grow as an individual, then why didn't one of you go in my place. Because, let's face it. I'm a coward. Always have been, always will be. A coward is a coward, no matter how hard you try to change that. Besides, I'm fine with being a coward. You'd think I'd have got some say in the matter.
Apparently not.
So here I sit, a cowardly 18 year old girl. Sent solo to "grow as an individual" in Japan, famous Land of the Rising Sun. Courtesy of family friend Mr. Stanley A. Dickenson, and of course, the pushy parents aka Mum and Dad. Well, at least I can speak basic, and I mean very basic Japanese. As long as people speak to me like I'm mentally challenged, I can get around safely…as safely as possible anyway. Considering the circumstances.
I wanna go home already and I'm not even there yet. They told me I'm to stay at a dojo with a friend of Mr. Dickenson's. Tyson Granger I believe was what he said, current beyblading world champion. I know what they're trying to do. They want me to reveal my dirty little secret. Well, it's not a dirty little secret, but it is my secret that only my inner circle of friends and family know about. And that's the way I like to keep it. I also wonder why they think something like this will work in the first place. Not only am I a coward, I'm anti-social too. People have never been my expertise, they've never really liked or accepted me, and I the same toward them. Animals are so much easier to live with. I bet the moment I see these people I'll pull a complete mental blank. Freeze up in fear and resentment. Ha, these guys are gunna love me.
The flight attendant taps me on the shoulder. Pulling my iPod earphones out of my ears I listen to what she has to say.
'We'll be landing soon, so we request that you turn off all electrical devices.' She smiled brightly at me. For a moment I wondered if she sensed I was distressed.
A nodded a response to her. Right in the middle of an awesome song too, find me a person who doesn't like Queen's song "We Will Rock You" and I'd probably have to hurt them. Reluctantly I did as she asked. She smiled some more and then trotted off to the next person.
Here's a note for all future travellers. Being at an airport by yourself is freighting. Now take into account, being an absolute coward, and add in an international airport, where you can barely speak the language. There where people everywhere. I had no idea where the hell to go. So I did what I would normally do in this situation. Follow the people from your flight. You need to get your luggage, so do they. Following works perfectly. Following works perfectly up until the point where you have your luggage and now have no idea where to go to get out. Following doesn't work, because they're going all different places. I envy their confidence and the way they seem to know where they're going. In a situation like the obvious, logical thing to do is to ask for directions. But remember, I'm a coward and anti-social, barely speaking the language. So forget that idea. Aimlessly I walk around. Terrified. I was supposed to meet Mr. Dickenson at the airport. Trouble is I forgot to ask where at the airport. I was sure he was freaking out. If anything happened to me, I know he would never forgive himself. I tried not to imagine how scared for me he must be. It was making me want to burst out in tears. Despite the fact that he is one of the reasons I'm here against my will, I still like the old man. I have no clue how long I'd been wondering aimlessly around searching for a familiar face before I got taken completely by surprise.
Someone had grabbed me from behind and was calling my name in a very, relived tone. I knew who it was instantly; well, once I heard him call my name. Mr. Dickenson had found me.
'Theresa, Theresa. Thank the heavens you're alright!' He sounded like he had just run a marathon. 'What have you been doing? I was so worried. When the plane had come in and I couldn't see you I feared something had happened to you. Did you get lost?'
'Yup, that's me. Can't get around anywhere without getting lost. It's okay really. I'm fine. You can chill out now Mr. Dickenson. You know you almost sent me into cardiac arrest, sneaking up on me like that.' I cave him a hug, reaffirming my position on the I'm fine thing.
'Have you got all your things?' Mr. Dickenson peered down at me. Down at me because I'm short.
'Yup, I sure do. I was at least able to find my way to the luggage clang.' By way of stalking others of course. But I wasn't going to tell him that.
'Good, good.' He said cheerily. 'Well come along, we mustn't keep the driver waiting much longer.'
'Okay then.' I attempted to sound happy at the prospect of arriving at the dojo and meeting my impending doom. All Mr. Dickenson did after that was smile at my joyfully until we reached the car.
'Nice car.' I commented. And it was. Clearly very expensive. Not that I really knew anything much about cars. I can drive them yes; in fact I can drive manual. Something not many people my age know how to do nowadays, seeing as most learn auto now.
'Why, thankyou my dear.' Is all he said in reply.
During the car trip, he distracted me from my gazing out the window, asking me about how my family was doing back home. I answered to the best of my ability, I was still distracted by how different the cities of Japan where to back home. They where so much more crowded.
He interrupted his cross questioning me to say, 'Ah, we're almost there. Are you excited?'
I could only think to myself. Oh boy. For his sake I tried to sound pleased. 'Great, can't wait.' In truth, I could wait. I could wait a very long time.
The car rounded the corner and I guessed where we were pulling up was the outside of the dojo. A pleasant wooden fence surrounded the place. And as far as other buildings in Japan were concerned, it was pretty big. Mr. Dickenson's door opened and he got out. Butterflies were forming in my belly. Cheery as ever he coaxed me out of the back seat.
'Come on dear. You'll be fine.' A calm, placid tone.
I gathered all my guts together, which wasn't a lot. I too, got out of the car and swallowed back my saliva. With my bags in hand I faced the dreaded dojo. Well, no turning back now.
So that was the first chapter. I hope you didn't find it a waste of your time. And even if you did, please don't flame me. I BEG YOU NOT TO FLAME ME!! Oh, and if you leave me a review saying you hate the song 'We Will Rock You' I will cry myself to sleep and then, via brainwaves (similar to that of Hanajima in 'Fruits Basket') I shall find a way to hurt you...Not really, but you get the idea. Idle threats really. I used their English names because although I know it's not their REAL names. Truly, I can't be bothered to remember and type their Japanese names. Besides, I watched the English dub version. It's my precious familiar.
To the internet and beyond!