Chapter 2: Society
"Let it RIIIIIIIP!" the announcer roared as Block A got underway.
This was the pre-mentioned regional championships, taking place inside the Seaside Dome next door to the endless ocean. Crossing my arms as I sat in my seat next to my uncle in the front row, I began observing the competitors in Block A. There was only one decent entry in it who was predictably going to be the winner, a blonde kid by the name of Max Tate who interestingly used a defensive style Beyblade. And with a goofy smile to match.
When I looked at any sort of rookie though, I always found myself wondering whether they took this sport seriously, instead of just doing it for a hobby. The crowd all around me were proof that you could both enjoy and play this game for simply entertainment and not for a living, as pros do. I would even bet that some of them didn't even know half the rules to this sport. Therefore, I think you can assume that I was in the pros category. And you're right. Beyblading was my life, as was my Bit-Beast, Drachia. And as Block B came on, I saw another who had a similar opinion as I. Kai.
Weirdly though before the match started, he searched the crowd a little, narrowing his eyes as he looked. Naturally, this caught the attention of the commentators and half the crowd, all now curious on where on earth was the thing he was looking for. Back to Kai though, he then turned his head to get a better field of view and looking to his right, he found what he was looking for.
Me.
Or I think it would be better to say the Beyblading skills within me. After all, I had fought him before on a number of occasions and the record currently stood at 3 wins, 3 losses and a draw. Pretty even I know. But because we were so damn even, Uncle wants us to have an observational match - which has been made official now by the way- because being evenly matched apparently made it more exciting to watch, as well as being a bit lengthier than a 'normal' battle.
But with these kinds of matches, there's always a certain design to them. Basically, because Kai was the champ and I'm not, it's meant for me to show my skills, power, strategies, etc, but still lose. However, Kai's social reputation didn't mean a monkey's to me so he was very welcome to pack up, leave, and put his champ title on the table on his way out. I smirked as I imagined Kai's expression when he would lose in front of all these people.
Kai however, did the unexpected.
Blinking quite furiously now at Kai as my arms were now crossed in empty confusion, I simply stared with a slightly agape mouth. Just before and I mean just before Kai turned to face his opponents again, he shot a smirk at me. For real! Hang on. I blinked again. That was an arrogant smirk.
"Are you picking a fight with me, Kai?" I yelled as I stood up from my seat to stand on the barrier, shaking a fist at his back. Barely reacting, Kai looked once more to me with that iron expression that had nothing to show.
"No. Just be quiet and watch."
Not bothered to say anything else, he turned back as the announcer started the countdown after he had said a not so amusing comment on what Kai just said to me. The JERK! (Kai I mean).
"Now, now, Yuffie-chan, don't get all riled up. Your match with Kai-kun is just after the semi-finals, so you've got to stay focused you know," my great uncle hastened to say, holding me back by my collar with his cane as I screamed profanities at Kai.
But eventually forced to listen and obey after my uncle said a few more words, I slammed my butt on the chair again, snorting my disapproval. Those negative feelings however whittled away as Block B began. Obviously Kai won, but at least I saw something original and interesting. Simply put, there was a kid known as the 'Chief' who showed up with a hopping Beyblade. It was quite extraordinary really, since you had to know the physics behind it all and still come out with a workable blade. At least in this way I could say it was marginally better than the previous Block.
Despite this, I once again had to sharply breathe out through my nose in disapproval. Kai was being a show off. Again. Who wouldn't get annoyed when a guy just wants to prove that they're better than everyone else by continuing to spin and spin without end in the dish? My uncle however, had a different mind track.
"Bravo! That child never ceases to amaze me," he said.
I felt slightly annoyed at this. I could be amazing too! Or at least, that's what I wanted to think. My record within tournaments was average or above average depending on how you looked at it, but my grandmother simply thought it was 'abysmal'.
Feeling suddenly fidgety as I felt my long orange bangs were forced to cover my face nervously, twirling my hair around a finger. My hands itched for something to do, something take my mind of my terrible record, so I tightened my complicated blue bun.
The commentator let out a sound of surprise. "Hey, Kai's walking up to some unknown on the floor!"
I raised my head automatically, my attention peeked. I wondered if it was me again for a moment, before instantly realizing it couldn't be – the guy said floor after all. I turned my head then to behold the 'unknown'.
The kid in question was a boy, seemed around my age, and sported casual clothes and a cap which matched his long blue hair. On first glance I guess he seemed like your average extrovert from middle-school. After all, he seemed pretty on edge and hot-headed, although that could be an effect of the tournament. But hey, don't mind my comments, I was just prejudicing.
So looking back to Kai as he was the source of this commotion I saw him walking forward, and forward, and then past the kid.
I sweat dropped. Kai didn't even want to acknowledge him.
Despite that, he stopped when Bluey issued a challenge to him, but then the Chief came up from behind, restraining him. Evidently, the Chief and Bluey knew each other.
But that wasn't why I was interested. It was because both the Chief and Bluey seemed to know Kai. So getting up from my seat I began to briskly make my way over, ignoring a comment from a boy in the crowd mumbling on my clashing colours of blue and orange. Tch. Oh, and before you say anything about colour clashing too I say "They're complimentary colours so go away and work in an old clothes shop."
My brisk pace across the floor was soon over though as I entered the talking and listening distance between Kai and Bluey. Kai was already in the midst of trash talking in response to Bluey's challenge. I stopped walking a few feet away and crossed my arms, prompting Kai to notice me.
"You need something?" he asked coldly. I smirked. Kai glared at me, annoyed by my confidence.
"Nothing really. I'm just making sure you don't get into trouble," I replied smoothly. Kai hid a twitch with a 'hmpf' and began walking away.
"Yeah, whatever," he suddenly said.
The vein popped. He doesn't believe me?
Pulling a face at his back, I spun round on my heels and began walking back to the stands, with my eyebrows furrowed and a cheek puffed up to show my annoyance. I was being practically innocent in my objective, simply saying hello out of curiosity for Kai's relationship with that kid. Sure, that wasn't exactly what I said I was doing but...
I slapped my forehead. Hypocrite of the Week I am...
"Hey WAIT!"
Turning around automatically to see whether it was directed at me, I saw the two rookies from before jog up to me with a cheerful air and smiles on their faces. I couldn't think of a single decent reason that they would want to speak to me. We had no business, so were they just, like, saying hi?
Either way, I took the opportunity to survey them briefly because I now had a chance to look at them properly. (No perverts, not in that way. God...) But this time I spent more time on the smaller kid known as the 'Chief' next to Bluey. Curiosity was instantly sparked when I saw that his hair always seemed to cover his eyes, hiding him continually from the world until he could get a haircut. From his clothes, well, I would imagine he'd get along quite well with my uncle so they could compare formal attire. I even found myself wondering what they would wear at a posh party at the Whitehouse.
Taking my mind off that for a moment, I then observed the polite smile on his face. He really seemed glad to be here. So maybe, just maybe, he took this sport for what it was worth. So as a human and as a Beyblader, I started to like him.
"Hey, do you know Kai?" asked Bluey, seemingly hyperactive and excited. I crossed my arms again (my favourite habit) and looked to him, the smile on my face wiped off instantly.
Wouldn't you like to know. Memories that made me burn with rage flew through my head briefly.
"A little," I said simply. Bluey however laughed at my response and put his hands behind his hand.
"A real grouch isn't he? Oh, and my name's Tyson Granger, future World Champ and this here's Kenny, also known as the Chief!" Tyson then gestured to his friend beside him, at which Kenny did a slight bow and saying some words for politeness' sake. It was now officially my foresworn duty to introduce myself too.
I bent my head a little. "I'm Yuffie. It's nice to meet you both."
"Sweet! So, do you blade?" Tyson eagerly asked. I simply nodded in response, still making observations on why he hasn't stopped talking to me.
"That's pretty neat, you don't see too many girls interested in the sport these days," said Kenny. I let out a small sigh. Yes, this had happened before. Why must people always assume that Beyblading was a boy's sport that was comparable to football? In both sports I had seen many talented women, some even better than men, play their sport with nothing less than dedicated enthusiasm. Take tennis for instance. That's widely seen as a non-gender specific sport. Why couldn't Beyblading be seen that way?
Nevertheless, I smiled at the boys. They'd learn eventually.
"I guess I'm rather abnormal then!" I said.
"Oh no, we could never do that. It's great that Beyblading is being accepted by more and more people!" said Kenny, instantly earning a smile of appreciation from me.
"So did you enter the tournament?" asked Tyson eagerly.
"No, I didn't," I replied simply. Tyson seemed both confused and annoyed from those three words of information.
"But if you blade, you must have entered! Tons of rookies are here too!" he cried. At a certain word in his second sentence, I pointed my index finger at him, barely an inch from his forehead. My aura was now no longer friendly and lively.
"I'm not a rookie, Granger-kun! I just missed registration!" I clearly declared, making sure there was no way in which he could misunderstand me.
This sudden change in attitude from me brought on a changed one in Tyson as well, albeit a less angry one. Stepping back as he recoiled, sweat drop in hand, he grinned awkwardly as he shook his hands in front of his face.
"Okay, okay, I got it!" he said, ungracefully showing his discomfort. With that said, I quickly got rid of the awkward moment with a grin as I removed my finger.
"So if you areentered, are you in the next Block or the one after?" I asked, changing the subject skilfully. Tyson wasted no time in getting rid of the awkwardness too. What a good boy.
"You got it; it's Block C all the way for me!"
I smiled up at him. Sure I was shorter than him by an inch or two, but I made sure he knew he had my support, as friends do. Well, I don't know if he knew that actually. I actually haven't had any proper friends since I moved to Japan and with that being four years ago, I've pretty much forgotten the art.
"I hope you win then! But before this tournament is over, I think you will see me in the stadium. See you later, boys!" I said, sending them off with a wave as I began jogging back to the stands, leaving them to think on my words.
~Tyson's P.O.V.~
"Does that mean she's gonna blade in the stadium before this tournament's over Chief?" I asked through my confusion. With it being a tournament and all, you would think that if she wasn't entered, she couldn't blade, right?
"It seems so, but I can't fathom how. It must be through some sort of special event, or an observational match," Kenny suggested, pulling his glasses further away from his covered eyes as he looked after Yuffie with his own confusion. I shook my head violently though.
"I can't think of weirdly clothed girls now though Chief, I need to get through this Block! Any advice you can lay on me?" I asked desperately. I'm gonna win this!
With my straightforward thoughts then compared to what I would learn, it was no wonder really that it took me a while to realize how important my meeting with Yuffie was. Without her, I would never have become who I am today, the same as with any of my other friends. Sure at the time, she was just another girl that I didn't really care for, but she sure was a weird one anyway. She still is in fact, now that I think about it...
~Author's Note~
My first story so...well I hope it's alright at least. I'm trying my very best not to make Yuffie you-know-who, but well, I have my fantasies. So I would really appreciate if you review! Flame me if you wish, at least then I have feedback! Not like I get many reviews anyway...
