A/N: I've listened to Radiohead's "high and dry" about seven times by now, and I can't get this mental image out of my head of what I'd imagine it must be like while the White Tigers (minus Ray, of course) wait around in their hotel rooms as the tournament day draws near. I don't know why, but Mariah, Li, Kevin, Gary, and Bruce have always been such interesting characters for me, and since the first time I saw them, I fell in love with them. They seem so loyal to each other, like they are and always have been the best of friends. Anyways, this would be a great fic to read while listening to "high and dry", which is the song they're listening to in this fic, even though I don't say it, and one of the most calming songs I've ever heard. Basically, this is packed with White Tiger fluff. XD Love it, live it.

Notes: I chose to use their American dub names because I don't know their names in the Japanese sub. Oh, the shame. Another thing, this is in Li's POV.

It's a beautiful midday afternoon, and we're inside, waiting for it to rain.

Radiohead plays in the background, providing a peaceful atmosphere in the hotel room we're in. We're all anxious about the upcoming tournament, and we're doing our best not to show it.

Mariah is dancing in her white nightgown, dancing all around the room, pausing to stand on the bed and twirl around, arms above her head, waist-length pink hair flying all around her, and I wonder if she knows how beautiful she looks. As she passes in front of the window, the shadowed outline of her body can be seen through her nightgown, and I look back down to the floor, smiling.

Gary is singing to himself, along with the music. No one besides the five of us - and Ray, of course - knows how good he can sing. With such a gruff speaking voice, it came as a surprise when we found out about his hidden talent in singing. He's pretty shy about it, so he doesn't sing in front of anyone besides us.

Kevin is watching TV, occasionally telling Mariah to stop dancing in front of his view of the screen, but we all know that he doesn't really care whether she's in the way or not. I look up at him and see he's watching her dance, and he's smiling such a gentle smile that I can hardly believe he can act so tough around other people. His soft green hair is falling over one eye, as usual, and his visible light purple eye is glittering in the light falling through the window and playing about his face.

Brucey is sitting on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, reading a book. He's always been a very quiet one. Mariah passes in front of him and her nightgown brushes over the top of his book. He glances up at her and blushes, then lifts the book in front of his face to hide it. I stifle a small laugh.

I'm sitting with my back to one of the walls, legs drawn up in front of me, hands resting on my knees, relaxing and trying not to think of the tournament. This is our first long break in a while. We've been practicing way too much lately. I ought to do this a little more often, but I get so worried about our performances in the tournament that sometimes I fail to see that we need to take care of ourselves as well as our Beyblades.

So for the time being, we can relax in each other's company. Suddenly Kevin turns to the window and reaches a hand out to touch it. He shakes his hair from his face and for once I can see both of his eyes. He's grinning, mouth open.

"Hey, guys! Guys, it's started raining!"

We all leap to our feet - well, Mariah was already on her feet, but the rest of us do - and run out the door of the hotel room. Outside, sure enough, the rain is starting to fall down in a gentle pitter-patter on the red brick ground. Mariah chooses not to go out into the rain, since her nightgown is white and all, but Kevin runs right out into the middle of it, arms spread out and mouth open, head tilted back to face the sky.

Gary turns to me and says, in his deep, booming voice, "Isn't it great, Li?"

I cross my arms over my chest - always the practical leader - and laugh. "Yeah, it's great, Gary."

~ ~ ~ ~

"It's the best thing that you ever had. . ." - Radiohead, "high and dry"