Okey-dokey! Let's get this under way! Before we completely start, I have a favor to ask of you readers. Yes, you. No, nothing big. I just need help deciding something with my drawings.

So here's my question.

I have a list of things I want to draw, but have no idea where to start, so you guys can help me with that! xD What should I draw first? The Ejito-Preston family in yukatas? A RinXNile picture? A KyouMado picture? A Rin and Jaiden battle picture? ( This one will take longer since I'm still learning how to draw beys) A picture of Nile and Kyouya being awesome without yaoi being involved? Bad Apple!Jaiden?

You decide for me. I'll show you all as soon as I finished.

This is mostly to get some projects out of the way, since I'm sort of an idiot and bit off way more than I could chew. Silly me.

Wish me luck, guys! Now without further ado, my first ever battle and chapter six of Caught Up! I changed the title of this chapter because that's who i am! :DD

I kept checking through different episodes of Metal Fight Beyblade, and Metal Storm Beyblade and Gingka's Challenge (both by WaveRipper) for advice in writing battles, but hey I tired. Nothing helps you more than experimenting I guess... God, I'm anxious DX

SCREW LOGIC I HAVE BEYBLADE!

Oh wait no I don't. I don't own it, remember? …Oh well, screw logic anyway, I have Arrow's ramen.

All of the humans in the tram were surprised at the hot sparks that flew as the two spinning beys clashed once and split apart, flying in different directions. Rin wondered if she had the advantage, Leon could never hear her commands to Gryphon, right?

The beys began to circle each other, both spinning at their fastest, trying to measure the other up.

"Let's see how you work, I suppose. Akuma, you know what to do!"

She could see it, a fire beginning at the face bolt and flowing all the way through the bey and to the Spin Track. The opponent's bey moved to the center of Gryphon's continuing circle, not coming close to attacking.

What… What was he doing?

That question was answered immediately when bursts of fire sprung from the small bey, creating images so brightly even Rin and the spirit of light had to look away and shut their eyes.

Leon's bey was shooting off fireworks.

Gryphon! Are you alright?

'Don't take your eyes off the battle Rin! Not for a moment!'

She heard the mental shriek of her loyal partner as the fireworks continued to block Rin's eyesight. No, the fireworks did not touch Gryphon, but in the midst of the confusion, the opponent's bey was attacking with a barrage of attacks at all sides.

"Don't make this too easy for me, kid."

Rin forced her eyes open, and was met with more blinding colors. Then, the figure of the reason she was even battling here appeared, the same floating girl of her dream, blocking her eyes from being blinded.

"Something the matter?"

The light blader stared at the spirit as she giggled. No, everything was perfectly fine! It wasn't like she was being blinded and her partner was hurting in a place she couldn't see or anything!

Since the sprite knew what she was thinking, Hako-chi only burst into more laughter.

"Haha, I know, I know. Shall we show them our power?"

Rin cocked her head to the side, still worrying about the sounds of metal being scratched violently and she swore over the fireworks she could hear her partner being burned. She knew Gryphon was fighting back, but speed and stamina were more of their best features. What was it that Leon was doing?

"Don't think us spirits will let you guys have all the fun! You can borrow my power whenever you're in battle! So, shall I show you?"

Yes! Please! Let me help Gryphon!

"Good idea!"

Suddenly, everything was clear, she could see Leon smirking in triumph, the girl beside him smiling happily, and more importantly, she could see the two beys attacking each other. The large image of her griffin battling with… a fire demon?

That would explain the bey's name, but Rin refused to be afraid of the scary concept of the beast inside Leon's bey. The dark red demon had its arm clinging to her partner's wings, before slamming the mythological creature to the floor of the tram. She mentally screamed as she wished she really could, when the tram began to grow darker. Leon and his friend gasped as the tram became too bright to see to too dark.

"What did you do?"

Hako held up a peace sign as she grinned happily, though only Rin could see.

"I took all of the light from this space, hoarding it into me, to be dissolved or used whenever my chosen wants me to! Your fireworks are still going," she said, her point being proved by the noises still loud in the tram as it continued uphill, "but this way, Rin can easily see what's going on!"

This was true, Leon could see what was going on through the fireworks, but the dark confused him, only allowing him to hear the noises Rin had to rely on just a few moments ago.

"Akuma! Whenever you are, finish this quickly!"

Rin, however, since being bonded with the shadow-attributed bey for years had grown accustomed to the dark, and found that she and Gryphon worked best in the shadows. She could see everything quickly, Leon's annoyed face, the beys battling back and forth, trying to one up each other.

And she saw Gryphon, with new vigor as he grew more comfortable with his advantage in the dark.

"Will you need me again, Rin?"

The answer was sudden. No, me and Gryphon can take of it from here. Thanks, Hako-chi.

The sprite nodded, "Later then."

Rin took one step forward, ordering her bey to attack with everything the flying beast had. She could see the demon backing down, unsure of where its fire was going and where to shoot it.

Here's where the pair chosen by light took advantage of their speed, attacking from random directions, with no pattern to help the pair who could not see. Rin saw the other bey beginning to wobble, and felt a decrease in Gryphon's energy as well. They weren't used to battling, so this had already taken a lot out of them.

"Promethean Spiral Fire! Burn them all, Akuma!"

Rin jumped in shock, as did her bey when the opponent jumped away from their attack and flames were thrown in every direction, the temperature in this enclosed space soaring as the girl had to dodge a flame at her left side. She could feel sweat beginning to form at her forehead and at the back of her neck, under her dark hair, and could hear the scream for the other older female in the room and the distinct shriek of her partner's pain. The bey had been hit multiple times, and from the heat, Rin wouldn't be surprised if she saw some melting in the black-hued metal of her griffin.

As she saw the wobbling and slowing down of her bonded partner, she began to panic. Was it her loss? Would she ever be able to speak again? How hurt was Gryphon? Would this battle put her friend out of commission?

Please no…

She paused for a moment, staring as the opponent dropped down again and both began attacking each other anew, staying strong.

Stop.

Calm it down.

In. Out. Breathe, Rin.

You're not about to lose this.

She owed it to Gryphon, no worrying was allowed at this point. Whatever happened after this point was something she'd have to bare, and with her partner. She wasn't alone. The spirit of the griffin had promised her that much.

New confidence she didn't dare question surged through her, and through her to her partner.

"You're getting serious this year, Hako."

"I have to, and you surely know why Hino."

The spirits talked as they watched the battle, seeing the small 15-year old grow in strength. Hino's eternal smile was gone as he watched, already have lent his power to his chosen, now waiting to see if he was needed again. Unbeknownst to the two chosen bladers, no real setback was given to the loser, as far as he could see.

Not saying he liked losing though, so he watched with a strict eye as the heroine of light rose above the hero of fire.

Rin and Gryphon drew back away from their opponents charging up power and hiding away in the shadows. Li Xiao gritted his teeth as he felt his bey's confusion, not knowing what to do or what to say.

"Where are you, kid?" he yelled, his eyes open, yet not able to adjust to the complete darkness. No light came from outside and the setting sun. He hated this, he hated being blind.

Then, he felt it, a strange aura surround the area, energy waves that were unfamiliar coming around him, around everything. Pivoting around the chair he sat in, around the girl at his side, and everything else. He was close to the end, but this felt like an all-out attack, so he could conclude they were as well.

"I don't want to, but the only choice is to try and overpower you, I suppose. Hino!"

The fire sprite was at his side in an instant, becoming a glowing orb and landed gently in the palm of his hand. The spirit's chuckle was heard as he bellowed out, "Alright!"

"Promethean Spiral Fi—!"

The older teen was cut off by his bey being attacked by another. It came out of nowhere, and loudly in his mind did he hear the yell of a female.

Now Gryphon! Shadow Revolver Rift!

The flaming move was cut off, but hot bursts of fire still burned through, hurting the black bey in its attack. The griffin barreled through, however, driving into the other bey through the rift in the dark, in this space. He pushed through until the bey was slammed into the wall of the tram, borrowing dark energy from his environment as it helped him. He could feel his power drop, and as the friction grew, he didn't allow himself rest as the bey holding the fire demon grew slower and slower. The friction became too much…

One bey had to give in, and neither wanted to admit it could be them. It was only until Akuma flew upwards and back, Gryphon happy to realize that its spin had halted, that the shadow bey returned to its preferred place, in front of its blader. He could hear the click of metal as the exhausted bey landed into the older male's hand. The tram grew lighter, bright with the last fleeting light of sunset.

He, and his blader Ejito Rin, had won.

Leon stared, dark brown eyebrows furrowed over shut eyes as he felt the weak, exhausted metal of his partner. His opponent was odd, and caught him completely off-guard. The girl beside him squeezed his hand and he sent a slight smile her way. Sure, he was irritated he had lost, especially like that, and with the pain of those stupid large shackles that made him feel like his legs would burn up right to the bone, but her attempt at comfort helped a lot.

The bey he lost to, Shadow Gryphon, was wobbling violently as he realized he was close, it just wasn't enough. That black-hued bey, he could feel it from here, used its last ounce of energy to jump into the girl's waiting hands. Pale eyes were widened with shock, and joy. Pure joy, like a child being reunited with its mother after being separated.

"I… I did it!"

Happiness that carried over to the girl next to him, Yue, and upon seeing both of the bright smiles, his anger seemed to fade away.

Well, not completely.

He grabbed the body of the floating red boy, who hadn't thought to return to his normal size and fit perfectly into Leon's hand.

"H-Hey! Li Xiao! Dammit, let go of me!"

"I battled for you, idiot! Get these damn things off!"

"I…! I can't!"

"What do you mean, you can't?"

With Rin, Hako-chi was cheering loudly, her eyes shut in happiness as Rin was laughing. The shy blader paused.

Laughing.

She could laugh.

"H… Huh?"

Rin's hand flew to her neck. She searched for the offending material, trying to feel for the stinging pain that once surged through her.

No pain was given, and all she could feel was a small chain. She pulled it up and tilted her head to see. A pure white chain shined around her neck, and joined at the end, was the image of a star, with a small crystal in the middle. The crystal seemed to be alive, shining with a bright light she had been growing accustomed to.

Who cared about her new accessory, she could speak! She brought her faithful bey closer, the still heated and scratched metal rough against her cheek. "G-Gryphon…"

A small roar echoed in her head and she felt instant comfort. Her partner was tired, burned and scarred, but he was happy. They won!

"Congratulations, Rin! Your first challenge is completed! Now, I can fully join you in the outside world through that pendant! No more mysterious dreams, hehe!"

"R-really?"

The small sprite of light nodded happily and Leon's deep irritated voice was heard throughout the tram.

"Now, it's time you two give us an explanation of what the hell is going on."

Rin would've jumped at the scariness of Leon's voice, but instead nodded, agreeing and wanting all of the blanks in her head filled.

The two spirits gave each other a foolish glance and nodded, then turned to their chosens and began, Hino-chi speaking first.

"Okay, so we've already told you two that before our tournament, each chosen must go through challenges, right?"

When all three humans nodded, the fire sprite continued, an annoyed look on his face, hating the boring explaining.

"Well, really you guys have only three. The first one is a battle with another chosen, with, as you guys can guess, a handicap. Each spirit chooses a handicap for their chosen and they must find another chosen and battle. The challenges before the tournament have a point system, which is your lifeline in the last challenge. The first two are so you guys can get the most amounts of points that you can."

Hako then spared Hino and started explaining herself.

"At the end of the last challenge, only four of the six chosens will enter the tournament. Since the winner of this one is Rin, she gets 1000 points! Li Xiao, Even though it's your loss, you still get 500 points for participating! Rin, for you I chose that you would lose your voice, only because you're naturally shy and quiet. Also, I never approved of bladers yelling of all things to add power to their beys. Yet throughout this challenge you displayed wanting to scream, and to protest, and be heard. Though the sketchpad was a good idea…"

Hako-chi knocked on Rin's head once again, only to have the heroine of light squeak.

"If you don't speak up, you'll never be heard, got it?"

"Y… Y-yes?"

"I can't hear you!"

"Y… Yes!"

Leon and Hino couldn't help but chuckle at them and the spark of determination between the two. That was then they too, got knocked on the head.

"Don't laugh at her! That girl's such a little sweetheart! Don't be mean, Li Xiao!"

"Yeah, yeah, Yue. Sorry."

Rin then turned to the opposite three. With a questioning glance, she stared at the other girl in the tram.

"M-Mr. Leon… C-Can she see them?"

As Hako-chi mumbled something about 'old habits dying hard' and 'stupid stutter' the teen boy nodded and waved a hand at the golden-eyed girl next to him.

"She's my plus one, I suppose."

"P-plus one?"

"Didn't Hako tell you? Each chosen can choose one other person to cheer them on in these events and stuff. Funny thing is, they have to be the opposite gender."

Rin didn't know at the moment if she should strangle the little grinning sprite or faint with exhaustion, so she stuck with giving the meanest glance she could at the girl of light.

This only caused Hako-chi and Yue to giggle at how 'cute' she looked.

A warm flush was brought among Rin's face, when Yue's hand was stuck out in front of the pale-eyed girl.

"It's really nice to meet a sweetheart like you, Rin. I'm Yue, Li Xiao's girl-"

"Friend. She's a friend."

Yue giggled as Leon choose to glare at her, the two girls shaking hands. The older girl winked slyly at the younger and everyone realized that the tram had stopped. Their trip uphill was over. And Rin noticed the shackles around Leon's ankles.

"H-How come they d-didn't disappear?"

"Oh yeah. The loser's shackles don't disappear after their first challenge unless the winner lets them go. That's why I couldn't remove them." Hino's eternal grin returned as he shrugged. The winner in question now squeezed the metal of her tired partner and rushed at the fire sprite.

"I let him go! P-please release him!"

Her response was a full-out laugh and a giggle from the two friendly and manipulative spirits.

"Wow! You were right Hako!"

"I told you! My chosen's too cute not to be nice~!"

With more laughter, the red shackles began to fade from the teen boy's legs. They left behind no redness or any sign of the previous pain they caused, just a red-chained anklet with the charm of a firework around his right ankle. The immediate reaction was Leon standing quickly, and walking around the tram. The walk quickly became a run as the boy started laughing, happy to be free.

He finally skidded to a stop in front of the girl he lost to, and grinned widely, a complete change from the male she had met earlier today.

"Thanks, kid. I feel much better. Since you beat me this time, I expect seeing you all the way at the end, got it!"

The younger girl nodded and then looked out to where they were. A pathway was just outside and she could see a lot of plant life.

"Mr. Leon? Miss Yue? W-Where are w-we?"

"Oh, it seems we're at the top of The Peak. It's the highest point in Hong Kong. Ah, the sun's set, so we can see the city lights from here. It's a great sight for tourists, I suppose, come see kid."

So she followed the couple out to the platform of The Peak, the two spirits bidding them good-bye and disappearing into their charms. The sight Rin was met with blew away all of the other sights she'd seen and left them in its dust. The colorful lights given off by the various building reflected into beautiful images in the water of the harbor, accompanied by the boats that floated calmly and slowly, giving off lights of their own. The lights contrasted with the dark of the night sky, and made the shades of navy and grey stand out. Even with all of the bright lights, Rin could see her wonderful stars clearly, living in harmony with the lights below them. If she could've Rin wished that she could've slowed time and stayed in this amazing moment of wonder. The only thing that would've made everything better…

Rin didn't dare blink, or shut her eyes, for she couldn't tear her eyes off of the sight, and she knew if she did she would see the brunette mechanic that supported her even in her shyness, her mother's smiling face, proud no matter what she did, navy blue eyes hidden by dirty blonde hair on a younger boy yelling out profanities.

The image of the wonderful desert boy who always seemed at the back of her mind.

She sighed and continued watching the sight that did not lose its splendor, now fully aware of Yue and Leon holding hands and being happy next to her. It was something out of a manga.

She spun Gryphon and watched his slow, tired spin, wondering if she was going to get her manga moment.

"We did well today, Rin."

She placed a smile for her partner and watched as he flew and mixed with the colors of the night. She was being silly. With her new adventure still beginning, 'manga moments' weren't needed.

"Yeah… I guess we did."

Her partner's wings flapped gracefully and a small breeze blew by them, sending Rin into her own world. What would she do now? She could leave this city in the morning, but did she want to? This city still had much she wanted to explore, but she had this overwhelming urge to go visit someplace else. She had her whole life ahead of her, if she wanted to come back, she always could. She had friends here she would never leave behind, even if she only knew them for a day.

"Is that her…? Rin-chan!"

Speaking of friends…

Turning her head, on the stone path she grew to know Hong Kong for, she saw pink-hair stand out through the dark greens surrounding them. Soon, she saw the figures of Wang Hu Zhong as well. They were here too?

Blue eyes and curly pink hair ran up to her as Mujakina greeted her friend again.

"Funny meeting you here again! Good too, that dummy hotshot won't leave me alone!"

The silly tone of Zhou Xing's voice was heard. "I only want your number, Kina-chan!~"

"And I told you to go google it, you ass!"

Rin turned completely to face her friends and laughed at Mujakina's retort. Yup, she definitely had a reason to visit this city again.

"I'm happy I could see you guys again."

The five people all seemed startled at Rin's voice, and the girl herself was happy she could let go of her stutter for a little bit.

"You… You spoke!"

"Y… Yeah, I tend to do that…"

Trying her best not to stutter, she ended up sharing the beautiful sight of Hong Kong with those five friends, and ended up introducing Li Xiao and Yue. The two older teens watched over them as they conversed, talking and sharing tidbits as new friends tended to do. She marveled at Chi-Yun and Da Xiang's stories of childhood, weakly cheered with Mei Mei about her upcoming challenge to the tanned blader of the team. The Virgo-wielding hotshot annoyed the tsundere, as Rin labeled Mujakina, and more than once did Rin catch blue eyes softly staring at the idol as he talked to Da Xiang and Chi-Yun. The pink-haired youth then seemed a bit sad when Rin stated she would be leaving tomorrow morning.

"Okay, but maybe we'll find each other in Japan again, or somewhere else in the world. Right, Rin?"

She nodded excited and promised she would visit Wang Hu Zhong in the Bey-Lin temple in the future. Mei Mei held Shadow Gryphon and laughed as she said it'd be nice to train with another girl. Finally, the smallest out of all of them, Chi-Yun spoke out.

"If today's your only day in this city, then there is one final place we must go."

"Chi-Yun, you don't mean…"

"Alright! More money out of the WBBA's pocket!"

Rin looked around at all of the faces she would've never known if she hadn't left home and for a moment, thought to thank the little light spirit for manipulating her.

For a moment.

"You kids are going to Jumbo Kingdom? Oh, Leon let's go!"

"Sure, free dinner, I suppose."

"J-Jumbo Kingdom?"

As the group filed into a tram and began their trip downward, they all had stories they've heard about the amazing restaurant that floated in the harbor. It was said to have 'six-star food' and gorgeous dining rooms. Mostly to Zhou Xing's amusement, it sounded heavily expensive.

As the lights of the city grew closer and the chatter of the very unlikely group continued in Rin's ears, she shook with a giggle and happiness etched on her face. Another mean remark towards the tanned Chinese blader from the sakura girl. Rin briefly thought that she definitely had something with Zhou Xing, but dismissed that thought easily. She talked with Yue and Chi-Yun about the battle with Leon while Da Xiang was listening—or at least she thought he was—at Mei Mei's daydreaming of all the delicious food.

She really wouldn't have traded this decision for anything.

How the damn hell did he get caught up in this.

The bustling city of Seoul, South Korea. It was interesting, no doubt about that. Nothing compared to his home city, he was sure, but this trip was mandatory, it was something he had to do and it took one full day to convince Kasumi of this.

The dummy's friend had yelled at him, and Kasumi began tearing up again for no reason.

They weren't anything to him, they had no reason to.

He was out here looking for the only family he had left.

But that thing was…

He took the wrong flight.

See, the American wasn't good with directions. He lost his way in Central Park time and time again enough to prove that.

So he sort of expected to be lost in this city, especially when he wasn't even supposed to leave the airport!

But…

"Please! You must help me mister! You're the only one who can help!"

The noise of chains moving and the sight of the large… shackles over the girl walking backwards in front of him was seriously irritating. Just because they bumped heads in the airport and he was suddenly able to see… whatever those things over her eyes were, didn't mean he had to help her!

Seriously, how the hell did he get caught up in this?

Okay, Leon/Li Xiao's battle is over and finished! (Please allow me to collapse of exhaustion now.) Researching Hong Kong and tourist attractions was actually kind of fun! :D

I needed epic music to help me with the battle, but all I found was some amazing anime ending that was epic, yes, just not epic enough! Request me an epic song?

I now feel confident to tell you guys who this wonderful teen of fire and his (girl)friend belongs too. My bestest buddy in the world (*cough IN NY cough*), John! He dived into the bandwagon of Beyblade FC's about 2 days before I wrote the characters into the story.

Thank you Johnny! We were actually arguing over who would win this battle (He was rooting for Rin and I was going for Leon) We tried rock, paper, scissors; we tried tic-tac-toe; we even played Connect 4! That was a very fun day in Bio… We even got half of the class to vote for who would win after me and him had a debate on why either would win.

Rin was our lucky winner!

I have stated before that Rin losing would be no trouble to me, it would make her more real. We all lose sometimes right? It's my job to build up story so I can make sure if Rin's strong enough to overcome the loss.

John owns everything about Leon. Yue, Akuma (Full name: Temporal Akuma) the way Li Xiao always says "I suppose". He even came up with the special moves! (Yea, Rin's too. He's such a helper.) He looked over my shoulder through this whole chapter and acted as a beta. He lied and told me the battle was good D:

Anyway! Me and Johnny thought this over, and since he didn't want to make another FC, we decided to have the reviewers help us! Our subject? The girl following Jaiden! We gave you guys a start, like she is a chosen one with shackles over her eyes. But, what's her element?(Can't use these: Dark, Light and Fire) What's her name? What does she look like? (don't give eye color we have an idea for that) Why is she in that country? (Is she Korean or is she visiting?)

We'll be choosing different tidbits from each person who wants to try! Nothing will be shunned! So have fun!

I hope I did okay in my first ever battle! I hope you guys will still stick with me! Thanks so much for reading and leave a review if you want (Satisfy my review urges~)!

Arrow! Try and get your ramen back! :DD *collapses due to lack of sleep*