Chapter 10: Pride

~Yuffie's P.O.V.~

Stretching back on my seat at the restaurant, I felt completely satisfied. I had never actually tried Chinese food before so it was a nice change, especially since in Japan it's all sushi, noodles and green tea.

"Any room for tea then, Yuffie?" asked the waiter, although he was pouring it anyway. I was about to take him up on that offer, but his face caught my eyes and I almost jumped out of my skin.

"ZWAH!" I cried and leaned too far back on my chair, causing it to fall over with a loud thud and make me hit my head hard on the floor.

"RAY!" I yelled, raising a fist at our 'waiter'. "Please don't scare me!"

Although Ray apologized and helped me get up, my swelling wouldn't go down that's for sure! My eyes suddenly narrowed at a realization. I was pretty sure that in recent days, ever since I had met Tyson, Max and Kenny, that these boys kept scaring me with their pranks. I brainstormed possibilities of a conspiracy, although it wasn't really a prank in this case, so to speak. I made a mental note to pay more attention to my waiters from now on.

With Ray now sitting down with us though, the Bladebreakers were complete. Looking around at those boys with a small smile, I wondered what sort of adventures we would be able to have in the future. Will it just be a leisurely stroll up the Beyblading ladder I wonder, or will it be fraught with danger? Although I silently prayed it wouldn't be the latter.

Either way, I hoped it wouldn't be too difficult to make friends with the boys as we travelled. Not since I left Russia have I really had any proper friends, but for them to all be boys, well, I guess you really couldn't win 'em all. The Asian Tournament would be a great place to start as well. It was a simple three on three as it usually was and for Max and Tyson especially, this would really help them grow.

"You have to ripen the fruit before you pick it"...right? said Drachia from my pocket. I shook my head slightly, not wanting to think like that. Even if it was only to get them to trust me, I had to be good teammate to them.

"Kai come on, don't leave," beseeched my uncle suddenly. I blinked myself out of my thoughts, alerted to this information. I glanced to Kai. He did seem pretty ready to since he was standing up.

"But a team with these joker babies?" Kai quickly argued back. My mild wonder turned instantly to mild annoyance.

No need to say it out so loud Kai; I'm not exactly one for teamwork either you know. Catching his eye, I just gave him a 'just put up with it' look. He 'hmph'ed it and walked away, leaving the rest of my team to call after him fruitlessly. I glared at his back, sighing at his ability to always make my job so bloody difficult.

"Captain!" I called after him, causing him to stop and look back over his shoulder. I remained in my seat and leaned on a hand, but I didn't remove eye contact with him.

"Whether you like it or not, you should stay here. And not just as a part of this team Kai," I lectured, my words swift and to the point while also making sure I didn't say that I was annoyed by this teamwork thing too.

"What then, girl?" he prompted, annoyance in every syllable. Just hear me out Kai, we're getting there.

"As our captain," I replied simply, ending with a small smile and a softened expression. Kai looked at me for a second, but then he turned his back to me and without a response began walking away. I then realized something.

"And quit calling me 'girl', you jerk!" I yelled after him. No response once more and cue walk away Kai. I didn't want teamwork, I didn't want friendship. I didn't even want proper captaincy! The only thing I desired of him was for him to just stop calling me that!

Instead of my wish though, I was comforted by my other teammates as Kai left the scene.

"Don't let what he says get to you Yuffie-san, we're here for you!" said Max. That's quite sweet of him actually.

"We're a better team without Kai anyway, Yuffie-chan!" said Tyson. Fair enough I suppose....

"Don't you think we should do after him though? He is a member of this team isn't he?" suggested Kenny. No, please no.

"Well, I guess we must. I can show you round the city then!" added Ray. That's just an excuse!

But there was no persuading them out of it and I knew it.

~Kai's P.O.V.~

Storming out of that restaurant with rage coursing through me, I pushed myself past everyone in the random street I was in, trying furiously to get away from it. When I was at least a few blocks away, I slowed my pace as I began to retreat into my head. And yet the conversation I just had with that girl just kept coming back.

But for that team of brats I owed nothing! I didn't have to play teammate or captain to that team if I didn't want to! It'd be better if I just entered the World Championships by myself I thought; at least then I had a chance.

Inadvertently though, a vision of Yuffie learning that news popped into my head, complete with that pose of superiority she uses when she knows she's beaten you. She was just grinning.

Or something like that. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but dread that scenario. If you don't know what you're doing, it was all too easy to lose to Yuffie in an argument. All too easy. One of the many reasons she continually managed to piss me off.

Walking into an alleyway randomly then, I punched the nearest wall angrily. But it's because of that dammit, that I couldn't leave! Removing my fist in the wall though, I then wondered: What if I could just outwit her? I immediately began brainstorming, surprising myself at how much thought I was giving this. But what did I know of Yuffie that sounded like something I could use against her?

Well she had a short temper for one. But I couldn't draw anything except that.

Furious at my lack of knowledge, I punched the wall again. I had to do data gathering now? I had to act like a freaking captain in order to know her and therefore get away from her and this team?

But then suddenly, I heard a noise in that dark alleyway filled with trash. I couldn't mistake that sound. There were Beyblades spinning nearby. Walking casually towards the source, I hoped it would be some amateur blading, and therefore someone I could take my anger out on. Turning the last corner though, the spinning of two blades reduced to one so I began picking up my pace up to a brisk stroll.

The group of bladers then came into sight. It was my team. Of course it had to be. Since it seemed that they had won against their challenger, I almost considered walking away again but then I heard another, new Beyblade spinning. Whirling towards the source, I saw its line of fire as it went into the dish where Tyson's Dragoon was still spinning. Dragoon was then knocked out the dish, but then I saw that it was spinning straight through the air towards a target.

Yuffie.

Then let's see what I can use against you from this! I instantly snapped Dranzer onto my launcher without a second thought. Pulling back the ripcord, Dranzer deflected Dragoon's unintentional attack and both blades landed back in their owners' hands.

Show me your weakness, Yuffie!

~Yuffie's P.O.V.~

Well we've found Kai at least now. Shame that it was in such a dingy setting. There we were, the Bladebreakers, looking for said guy through the back alleys of China until we ran into a challenge. Tyson defeated said challenger, but another blade added itself to the mix, knocking out Tyson from the ring. His Dragoon headed towards me, possibly resulting in future injury, until Kai butt in and saved me with his own Beyblade.

"Uh, thanks Kai," I mumbled, a slight heat in my cheeks as I avoided his stone gaze. Yup, the previous paragraph was hiding my true feelings of annoyance and envy of Kai's street moves. Man, why can't I do that...?

Perhaps because you only got your experience through tournaments?

Shut up Drachia, I didn't ask for your opinion on this.

Ooh, Yuffie's in a strop now because she's been saved by her rival!

I said shut up!

"Don't get the wrong idea," Kai then said, fortunately stopping Drachia's tart reply. I looked to him. "I'm just here because you guys need training."

My eyes flashed evilly and I put a hand on my chin. "Ah, so that means you care about whether we become World Champions or not after all Captain! Thank you very much for worrying so!" I gloated, my hand moving to my mouth to suppress my amusement. Kai's eyebrow twitched at this, but it only added to the pile of victories I had claimed from previous arguments. Ah, thanks the heavens I have such a smart mouth!

You have yet to outwit me Yuffie. mumbled Drachia. My line of good luck creaked to a halt.

Oh yeah? We'll see about that chicken!

You-

"I'm surprised that you are inexperienced in street battles though, Volynski," Kai surprisingly retorted, with his own smirk.

For a moment I couldn't think as my eyes began to widen, instantly halting Drachia's and mine mental argument. He had just called me by name again, something he hadn't done since before the regionals! My eyes then narrowed as I speculated on what might have gone through his head since we saw him last. But then realization flooded me as I figured out his intentions behind this: he wanted to see how I would react.

Composing as quickly as possible a fairly unmoved expression with crossed arms, I began my reply.

"S-So I go into tournaments to get my experience, what's wrong with that?" I said coldly. Kai didn't reply to that, but although I guessed he could have, he seemed almost satisfied with my comment.

...What's with him?

~Author's Note~

I'll try and get more of the Bladebreakers P. in more often, I promise. They're fun yet hard to do.