"I, Gingka Hagane, will be on the coast of Tunisia in one week from today." Gingka concluded his speech in front of the podium. "I expect to see everyone who participated in the world tournament and all legendary bladers there as well. From there..." He paused. "Only from there, we should finish things once and for all."
The crowd cheered as others took pictures. As soon as Gingka stepped down and exited the stage, reporters got to work, asking many questions at once, shoving microphones his way. "Mr. Hagane, what are you going to do when you get to Tunisia?" Someone asked. "Mr. Hagane, who will be there?" Someone else asked. "Mr. Hagane...? Mr. Hagane...?"
Gingka ignored them as he had a habit of doing. As soon as he left the auditorium, he went into his limousine where Masamune and Yu waited for him. "Look what we found!" Masamune raised a champagne glass.
"Well done." Gingka climbed in and took a glass for himself.
"Madoka called." Yu said. "She booked us a plane that leaves tomorrow morning."
"Excellent!" Gingka raised his glass. "Things are working as planned!"
Things may have been looking up for Gingka, but things were getting heavy in the Otori home. Tsubasa woke up that evening with a headache. Izumi was sleeping next to him with nothing but her bra on. He saw his robe on the other side of the room, and Yu was due back any moment.
Tsubasa quickly got out of bed and put on his clothes. "Izumi..."
The woman stirred and finally woke up.
"You have to get up and dressed. I don't want Yu to see us like this." He said. "It's bad enough that I betrayed his trust."
She didn't reply.
"Can you please help the kids get ready?"
"Oh, so now I'm your servant?" She asked, tying her blonde hair up into a ponytail.
"No…"
"I'm joking." She smiled. But then it faded. "I'm sorry about...this."
"Don't be. We were drunk..."
"I wasn't." She admitted.
"Let's just not talk about it." By this time, he was finished getting dressed and started sorting through his clothes. He cringed at the pain from his back, remembering that he didn't have his back brace. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to be so active.
"Be careful of your back." She said. "Let me get your brace." He didn't answer. He let her go as he lied back down on the bed.
Just in time, Yu arrived home. "We leave in the morning!" He cheered.
"Yu, hi!" Izumi greeted as she handed Tsubasa the brace.
"I have good news. Ging-ki knows where Mamoru is!"
Everyone had his attention then. "What?" Tsubasa asked. "Where is he?"
"He's being held captive by Tetsuya, so he'll be fine. They'll meet us in Africa, we'll kick his butt, and everything will be fine." He answered. "We're leaving early in the morning, so we should get ready for bed now."
"But it just turned six." Chieko complained.
"Pack up and help Asami." Tsubasa told her. "I'll get Shou and Mamoru's things."
"We'll make dinner." Izumi volunteered Yu and herself.
"Good idea." Tsubasa nodded.
"Tsubasa," Izumi called, "I suggest that you use your chair now."
"No, I'm going to give it back to the hospital. I don't need it." He said, bringing out his cane.
Yu sighed as soon as he left. "He sure doesn't want to be called old." He said. "Does having a wheelchair age you that much?"
Izumi shrugged as she began to wash her hands. "I think he just doesn't want to hold everyone back."
"Maybe..." He trailed off. Yu wrapped his arms around her, but she quickly pulled away.
"I can't do this." She said. "I...just washed my hands."
Yu pulled away. "Right... Well... Are you excited for Africa?"
"No." She said. "But I have to go. I'm the nurse." And at that point, that's all she felt like: the nurse.
And on the other side of town, Masamune was nursing too: his finger. He was cooking dinner until he cut himself while chopping vegetables. He growled as he rinsed it with water. "I'm terrible at this."
"You're doing fine, Chico." Luz said, resting on the couch. "So what's the big news?"
"We're going to Tunisia in the morning." He said. "I know it's terribly last minute, but it's mega important." Masamune sighed and continued cooking. "I don't know if I should go or not."
"Don't you have to?" She asked. "You're number one in the world!"
Masamune laughed as he put the vegetables in a pot. Then, he sat down next to her. "I know, but I don't want to leave you here. You're too far along to travel."
"You're right..." She sighed. "Well, I'll just have to cheer you on from home." The unborn child started to move around. "¡Oye chica!"
"Cherimoya, are you causing trouble?" Masamune asked, feeling his wife's stomach. The baby started kicking happily.
"Masamune, you aren't helping!" She giggled. "I can't wait until she's born."
"No kidding!" He said. "Cherimoya, how long are you going to keep us waiting?" Masamune got up and went back into the kitchen. "I don't know when I'll be back. I just know that we're leaving in the morning and battling in a week."
"You have to be sharp."
"I do..." He said. "But I'll be thinking of you. What if you go into labor while I'm across the world?"
"I have my parents and you in my thoughts." She said simply. "But you need to be focused. You're fighting for the good of beyblade, Masamune. This battle will determine if Cherimoya will grow up and strive to be number one in the world or grow up fearing beyblades."
"Okay. Now, I'm nervous."
"Don't be." Luz said. "Because you can do it."
He nodded. "I can, can't I?" And that put the huge cocky smile back on his face.
"¡Numero uno!" She held up one finger.
"Number one!" He did the same.
The only thing I could remember was being shipped home after losing King. I clutched my ticket tightly as I sat in the airport. I couldn't help but to remember King still being there. He probably thought I died. Snapping me out of my thoughts was a girl. She smiled at me before sitting down. I smiled back but that quickly faded.
We didn't talk. We just sat and listened to people passing and announcements being made. She chewed her fingernails and cleared her throat until she asked "Are you okay?"
"Me?" I asked. "Fine. Just…fine."
"It's just that…you're trembling."
I shook my head and lowered it. "Yeah…yeah…I'm fine."
"Okay." She didn't say anything else.
I sighed and sank into my seat. People shuffled around trying to get somewhere on time. I just hoped that one of them was King hurrying to find me.
I stood up when they announced my plane was boarding. I had no intention of speaking to the girl again, but she came with me. "Heading to New York?" She asked. I nodded. "Maybe we'll get lucky and sit next to each other."
We weren't. She sat a few rows in front and across from me. Every once in a while, we'd poke our heads out into the aisle just to see each other, smile, and wave. It was pretty juvenile but it kept my mind off of things and it made the ride go by a little faster.
As soon as we stepped off, she said "My name's Luz."
That night, the couple went to bed at an early hour. It was the first time they'll be apart since marriage. No one said a word. They just enjoyed each other's silence and company. They both feared what was to come. They feared death mostly. All three were all at risk. But as long as they didn't talk about it, the fear wouldn't grow.
And then dawn came.
Masamune got the call, waking him up. "Hello?" He said in a low tone to not wake his wife.
"Hello, Masamune!" greeted Gingka on the other line. "This is your wakeup call!"
"Thank you." He sighed and hung up the phone. Then, he kissed Luz on the forehead and cheek.
"You must be leaving." She said, unable to open her eyes. "Either that or you had another nightmare."
Masamune didn't respond. "Just go back to sleep." He told her, getting ready. "Toby will be here to take care of you later."
"I don't need anyone. I'll be fine." She moaned.
"No, you won't. You can't go out by yourself, remember?" He said. "Especially if you're unarmed and pregnant. That's why Toby is on his way." Masamune buttoned up his shirt and put on his tie. Then he picked up his suitcase. "I love you."
He left the room immediately after that. She never said anything even if she wanted to. Masamune left into the darkness. As he walked down the street, more streetlights were broken. It was as if there was an abyss down the block. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to leave his light behind.
