Chapter 4: Names and the #1 Rival: Shadow
Disclaimer: TOF: WOOT! Chapter 4!
Kai: Why are you so happy?
TOF: I never thought that I would start chapter 4 right after finishing the third!
Kai: …I stand by my earlier comment; you have too much time on your hands.
TOF: So what?
Kai: So what's going to happen in this chapter?
TOF: (smiles) I'm not entirely sure yet.
Kai: (suspicious) What are you smiling?
TOF: Can't a person smile every once in a while?
Kai: But your smiles mean something's going to happen.
TOF: Ok guilty. But yes, something is going to happen. (smirks at Kai)
Kai: (glares) …(thinks: That looks she's giving me, I don't know if I like it)
TOF: (looks to readers) Enjoy the chapter!
It had been a few days since Krad and Miguel were introduced to the odd group of friends, and they found that they quite liked the quirky group.
This was Krad's group's last day of being 'grounded' and they were both excited and nervous since afterwards they'll be going on their first mission.
Also over the last few days, the two blondes had managed to acquire nicknames for themselves, although Krad despises his.
It starts off like this, Krad, like Dark has wings except his are a shinning white. But unlike Dark, Krad prefers to keep his wings in good condition, which means pulling out the old feathers to let the new ones grow in. It was at this moment that he was pulling out the old feathers that Kyouko walked into the groups sleeping cavern. Time seemed to stop. Krad had been sure that no one would find him.
Kyouko approached and touched the white feathers. "Like an angel's." she muttered. Then her eyes lit up. "Ah ha! Your nickname shall be…Angel!" she jumped around in excitement. Krad needless to say wasn't pleased with this turn of events.
Krad did his best to calm her down and explain to her that he would not be referred to as Angel. But it was to late. Kyouko bounced out of the room mumbling something about telling everyone else. That's how Krad got his nickname and it's also how he learned that once an idea is in Kyouko's head, it shall remain there.
Now Miguel was a little different. This blond had learned that he wasn't the only blader here. Kai and Rei also had beyblades. People with blades were usually just named after whatever their bit beast was. So Rei is Tiger and Kai is Phoenix, making Tala Wolf and so on. The only exception is Tyson, since 'Dragon' is taken he uses his bit beasts name Dragoon…that or the ever popular Piggy after his eating habits.
Back to the point. They discovered that Miguel's bit beast is a gargoyle. So that ended up being his nick/code name.
Miguel wasn't sure at first. Gargoyles are frightening looking creatures, but Kai assured him that it was a fitting name. Kai told Miguel that gargoyles were guardians; they protected and watched over those that needed them and was confident that the name would be good for the blond.
Kai was a very good judge of people. He had this… thing where he could see through lies, through masks and right to your soul. He just knew things before you did. Though Miguel heard from Amaya that Kai was sometimes a bit naïve and didn't realize he could do those things. She also warned him to take care of himself as Kai tends to get fussy to people who do not.
So that's how Miguel and Krad got their nicknames. They also learned their friend's nicknames. They had to for missions.
Let's start with the sisters, sometimes known as the Jinx Sisters because of how much trouble they tend to get into. Amaya as we all know is Weather Shifter due to her ability to change the weather when angry.
The second oldest sister Riku everyone calls Double T. The 'T' stands for Trouble. Riku can make copies of herself, like Naruto. The difference is that her clones don't disappear once they're hit. It takes a killing blow to make them go poof.
Then there's the oldest sister Kyouko known as Neko or Kitty, mostly because she loves cats. Not to mention she purrs and meows like one…most think she's half nekojin.
Dark uses the name Phantom as he used to be a phantom thief; he decided to stick to the name.
Bakura is Tomb Robber and Yami is Pharaoh. They're actually spirits of Egypt's ancient past that were given bodies of their own. Bakura was a thief and Yami was a pharaoh. And they never call each other anything but those names since they despise each other. No one is quite sure why Naraku and Marik put them on the same squad.
And we already know most of Kai's team but just to go over it again. Kai is Phoenix after his bit beast like Rei is Tiger. Naruto is Fox because of a nine-tailed fox demon locked away inside him. Sasuke is Raven. It's unknown to most why he's called that but Naruto's been calling his boyfriend that name for a while. Most people think it's because of his dark eyes and hair. But Kyouko and Amaya like to joke that his hair looks like the back end of a bird. It severely pisses him off, but do think they cared?
And then there's Saru. The only girl on Miguel's squad. He sometimes wonders how she puts up with it. Now, her name is Flame or Pyro. Not only because she likes fire but because of her ability to control it. She also has a twin sister named Tora, but she controls water.
Currently Amaya and Bakura were training and decided to drag Miguel and Kai along for the hell of it.
Amaya had said something about getting rusty with her sword skills and promptly took Bakura with her as well as Kai and Miguel to the training grounds.
They, the training grounds, are actually what looks like an old town. Apparently there used to be an underground city for refugees but it's now abandoned and is used for people to train and exercise.
Miguel and Kai stood off to the side. Amaya had both her swords and Bakura had sais.
"No shadow magic this time Bakura. I don't want any more accidental explosions." Said Amaya.
Bakura huffed. "Fine. You take the fun out of it though. Ready?" he asked getting into an offense stance, watching as Amaya did the same.
"Ready when you are asshole."
Bakura smirked. "Bitch."
"Camel breath!" she attacked first and Bakura expertly blocked the swords.
"Dumbass." He attacked this time while Amaya dodged.
"Elephant face."
"Freak." They clashed, both trying to push the other back.
"Gak face." They jumped apart and landed across from each other.
Bakura looked in confusion at his opponent. "Gak face?"
Amaya shrugged. "All I could think of that started with 'G'."
"Heh, whatever hose brain." Again they clashed. Neither one winning.
But Amaya jumped back and propelled herself towards Bakura again, this time pushing him back a few steps. "Not bad for a hose brain huh idiot." She grinned.
"Jerk."
Amaya sighed. "We can do better than this and we both know it. Right… Kura-chan?" she laughed as Bakura bristled at the name.
Miguel and Kai sweat dropped as the two people insulted each other in alphabetical order. "Do they do this a lot?" asked Miguel.
"Uh huh. Although that last one from Amaya was a low blow." He said.
"You're gonna get it you little loser!" Bakura shouted charging towards Amaya, sais poised to attack.
Amaya used one sword to block and the other to attack but Bakura saw this and jumped back, the blade just missing him,
"We both can do better." She said.
"Yeah. It seems we're a bit rusty."
"Indeed. Um…what letter are we on?" she asked.
"Hm, 'M'."
"Heh thanks motor mouth." Amaya got ready to attack.
"You're the motor mouth nimrod." Bakura retorted.
Kai turned as they attacked each other again. "Come on. It's not going to get anymore interesting." He and Miguel left and began walking up a long tunnel, but stopped when they heard Bakura.
"I'm not an old man!" he cried, followed by a kaboom and Amaya shouting, "Heeeeeey! I said no shadow magic!" then nothing.
Kai sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I stand corrected." He looked at Miguel and saw him laughing. He cracked a small smile. "What?"
Miguel looked at Kai with his blue eyes. "It's just…this seems like hardly the place for people like them."
"No. The fit right in, but I think you meant something else right?"
"They just, make it so interesting here."
Kai nodded and continued walking, Miguel falling into step beside him. "Yeah. Without them around, this place would be very dull." They continued walking but stopped when an annoying voice spoke.
"Well look who it is." A guy in his late teens early twenties stood in front of them.
Kai narrowed his eyes at the guy. Miguel stepped a bit closer to the phoenix. Something about this guy troubled him.
"Shadow." Kai glared.
Miguel guessed that Shadow was this guy's nickname. And he could see why. He wore all black leather with black boots, black hair and dark golden eyes. He sure looked like a shadow.
"How's my little phoenix?" he asked teasingly and gave a flirtatious wink.
Miguel bristled at this while Kai merely glared harder. "Don't call me that."
Shadow smirked but then glared at Miguel when he saw how close he was to Kai. "Aww, little phoenix, you cheating on me? Shame on you."
"To be cheating on you I'd have to be dating you…and I'm not." Kai replied angrily, trying to keeps his anger in check unaware that Miguel is doing the same.
"Don't you know you shouldn't bait the wolf or in this case phoenix Shadow?" they turned and saw Kyouko.
"Neko." Shadow muttered bitterly. "Where are you sisters?"
"Away from you and your thugs." Normally playful eyes were now cold, hard, and serious. Miguel had never seen them like that. He noticed a red color seeping in and replacing the green.
"Ah to bad."
Kyouko didn't react to that. She merely warned him. "Get out of here and stay away from us." Although she was referring to her squad and Kai's, she was mostly trying to protect Kai, Amaya and Saru, as they are the three youngest of their larger group. Even Naruto and Sasuke who are sixteen, but they will be seventeen in just a few months.
Shadow shrugged. "What if I don't want to." He was treading on thin ice now, and he knew it.
Kyouko's eyes became a very deep crimson red and the rocks around them began to move around on their own.
Miguel knew that odd things happened when the three sisters got angry but he had only ever experienced that because of Amaya. Kyouko is telekinetic. It seems that when angry her powers get all out of whack.
Seconds later, the ground shifted, shook and Riku appeared. She makes the earth shake like an earthquake. Riku saw the dark crimson red in her older sister's eyes, anger. Kyouko's eye color changed depending on her mood and emotion. Emerald green is her normal color. Bright green is envy, deep blue is sadness, normal blue is clamed, and white and yellow is understanding and comfort. Black is hate. And her eyes had only ever been black once.
They noticed the wind pick up and saw Amaya coming back with Bakura.
Shadow backed off a bit. The ground shook, rocks flew around and a strong wind blew. Shadow decided now would be a good time to leave, and left, shouting out that he'll be back.
Miguel muttered to himself. "I really hate that guy."
"Join the club." Kai said back.
Miguel then looked at the three sisters puzzled. They haven't calmed down yet and he was unsure about how to snap them out of it.
"Uh, what do we do?"
Bakura stood in front of Amaya, motioning Kai and Miguel to do the same.
"Slapping them is the only way that works." The three boys promptly slapped the girls in the face. Although Bakura hit much harder than the other two as Amaya now has a very bright red and sore check.
It took a second, but everything calmed down. Kyouko's eyes had gone back to normal and she and Riku thanked them for snapping them out of it. Amaya on the other hand…
"What the hell Bakura!?" she shouted and slapped Bakura back.
"I was only trying to help!"
"Yeah well did you have to hit so hard!"
The other's sweat dropped as the two friends – both with red cheeks – fought as if the 'Shadow incident' never happened.
'Kai was right,' thought Miguel. 'This place is a mad house.'
TOF: HA! Done!
Kai: That wasn't so bad. I thought you made me do something embarrassing.
TOF: I was going to but I changed my mind.
Kai: So what are you going to make happen next?
TOF: …I'm still not sure…Err…REVIEW PLEASE!