A/N: Guys, I am SO sorry with the late update! D: Totally unintentional, but you know what it's like in the holidays, I'm sure. You're busy with family and friends, you take advantage of the time off school and neglect stuff. Your dad buys you the Sims and you lose track of EVERYTHING while you make people and build houses. Ahem, yeah, sorry. Anyway, as promised, here are the White Tigers, finally getting some screen time.

Thanks to country-grl20 and AquilaTempestas for reviewing. Much love. :)

Chapter Nine: Prickly Pears and Pearls of Wisdom

"Now Galux, Cat Scratch attack!"

"Dodge it Galman, Crazy Monkey!"

Mariah watched as Kevin's beyblade began to wobble and blur before splitting into three. She effortlessly dispatched of the two decoy blades when they shot towards her, before coming to collide with Kevin's blade in midair. His Galman was pushed backwards and landed clumsily on one of the stepping stones in the lake they were practicing on. Mariah was stood at one end of the lake on one of the larger stepping stones, smirking as she watched Kevin try to make Galman regain balance after the last attack. Kevin was at the opposite end of the lake, glaring at his blade and trying to make it stop wobbling.

It was the middle of the afternoon and the White Tigers were practicing for the tournament. The sun was high in the sky and the sounds of birdsong weaved through the breeze that passed by. Every now and then a catfish or two would jump out of the lake, as if they'd been sent up by their friends to get an update on the match. The lake was spotted with stepping stones and water lilies, and it was here that the bladers practiced on to hone agility and precision.

Lee was stood at the far end of the lake with his arms folded, overseeing the match. Gary was sat on the bank of the lake with his toes in the water. He was smiling as some curious little Koi fish swam up to see the cause of the ripples in their lake, and he was contentedly eating a mango.

Kevin cursed as his blade began to loose speed from spinning out of balance for too long. Then he cursed again as he heard Mariah's tinkering laugh from the other side of the clearing. "Argh, quit your laughing. Galman, attack!"

Mariah watched through sparkling eyes as Kevin's blade wobbled once, twice, then jumped up off the stepping stone it was spinning on. It flipped over pathetically once in the air before landing on the next stone and wobbling again.

"All right Mariah, wrap it up," Lee called, bringing an end to the clearly one sided battle.

"No problem, Lee. Galux, finish it!" In one swift movement, Mariah's blade shot off the stone it was balanced on before meeting Kevin's unbalanced blade in the middle. She knocked it backwards with ease and it landed on the bank behind him. She then called back her own blade and pocketed it with a sly smile. "Well, I'd like to say that was fun, but it really wasn't."

"Shut up, Mariah. It's not me, it's this stupid new magnacore! It's gotta be broken or something." He trailed off, grumbling to himself.

"Ha, whatever Kevin. You're just loosing your edge."

"Hey, break it up you two and get over here." Lee voiced, calling an end to the bickering before it began. Mariah sent one more teasing look towards the smallest member on their team before lithely skipping from stone to stone across the lake and stopping beside her elder brother. Kevin merely jumped backwards off the stone he was stood on before trudging around the lake the long way to meet his team, grumbling the whole way with his hands in his pockets.

"So Lee, how'd I do?"

"Mariah you were fine. You've got the hang of controlling Galux with the magnacore, but I just want you to work on putting a little more power into your attacks. Right now you're favouring speed over everything else, I want you to balance your approach a little more."

"Sure thing, Lee."

"And Kevin," said the captain, turning to Kevin who had just reached the group. "You really need to start focusing."

"What?" the green haired blader exclaimed, throwing his little arms up into the air. "I am focusing! I'm not the problem, it's the stupid magnacore –"

"It's not the magnacore, Kevin. You've gotta stop thinking of ways to distract your opponent and start focusing on your own blade, otherwise you'll never get control of it. It was your idea to upgrade our blades, anyway. Remember?"

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Kevin mumbled, folding his arms and blowing a puff of air up his bangs.

Lee was about to speak again when they were all interrupted by the sound of a long, low grumbling to the side of them. In unison, Kevin, Mariah and Lee all turned their heads to the side and looked down at Gary, who was still sitting at the side of the lake and was now smiling at them rather meekly. His stomach gave another grumble to fill the silence.

"Oh Gary," Mariah said rolling her eyes, "Don't tell us you're still hungry. You've been eating this whole time!" She walked over towards him and crouched down at the side of the lake, twiddling her finger around on the water to try and attract some fish. She smiled when a Koi fish came and nudged her hand.

"Only mangos," Gary protested. "I have a big appetite."

"You don't have an appetite, Gary," Kevin said, jumping on Gary's back with a mischievous light in his eyes. "You have a black hole."

"Hey Kevin, watch out –" Mariah started, but it was too late. Gary had already lost balance and toppled forwards into the lake with a splash. She shrieked and held her hands out in front of her to cover her face from the splashes and the Koi fish wriggled away just in time to avoid being flattened. Kevin had fallen with his mouth wide open in mid-laugh and was now spluttering and trying to regain his breath. Gary resurfaced just a few seconds later with a lily pad gracing his head and he leveled Kevin with a highly unamused glare.

"I'm wet," the bearlike blader said through narrowed eyes.

Kevin took just a few moments to stop coughing before croakily snarking back, "Well done, genius. You fell in the lake."

"You pushed me."

"No I didn't!"

Gary quickly lost patience and pushed Kevin under the water by the head. He was splashing around trying to wriggle free and Lee decided to cut in before Gary actually accidently drowned him.

"Hey! That's enough guys, quit it."

Gary let go of Kevin and climbed out of the lake, shaking the water out of his hair and making Mariah shriek and hold out her hands in front of her again. "Gary!" The big blader just laughed a little before turning to look at his captain.

"Right, we may as well head back now and grab some lunch," he said, much to Gary's delight.

"Aw, sweet, 'cause I'm starting!" Kevin piped up, climbing out of the lake and sweeping his wet hair out of his eyes. "I claim the dumplings!" he announced.

"No you don't!" Mariah said, shoving him back into the lake with a splash with a flourish, "I claim the dumplings since you ate them all last time!" She then began to run off down the path as Kevin climbed out of the lake and chased after her.

Lee shook his eyes at the pair with a faint glimmer of mirth in his eyes before turning to Gary and making his way down the path as well.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Kevin propped his chin up on his hand and look down miserably at his bowl of rice, and huffed. Mariah beat him to the dumplings and Lee and Gary were chowing down on the stir fry, so he was left with just rice and a few spring rolls. They weren't even duck – just vegetable ones! Stupid team, ganging up on him because he was small. He turned his purple eyes longingly to Mariah's dumplings.

"Keep your eyes off my food, Kevin," she said, looking down at him from the corner of her eyes.

"Pft. You know, Mariah...it would probably be good for you if you let me have some of those."

"Oh, really," she said, rolling her eyes and turning to him. "And why's that?"

"Well, I was just thinking," he began with a sly look at his pink haired friend, "Now that you're like, with Rei and all, you'd wanna watch your weight." He spared a moment to appreciate the highly unamused look, before continuing. "And I would hate for all those dumplings to go to your hips."

She swatted him with her hand sharply and bit back, "Whatever, Kevin. Just keep your eyes off my dumplings and my hips."

Kevin cackled with laughter at the statement for a few moments, earning himself another swat. Then he said, "Would you share your hips and your dumplings with Rei if he asked?"

He ducked as Mariah aimed a heavier blow towards his head, before scooting off his chair and sitting next to Lee on the other end of the table. He was rewarded with an elbow in the ribs for his crude teasing, but nothing more.

They were quiet for a few moments before Kevin, never one to sit in silence, started up another round of conversation. "So, who d'you reckon'll be showing up at the tournament, then? I mean, apart from the Bladebreakers. We all know they're going, since Mariah's been pining over Rei since he left," he ended with a smirk.

"T'ch, I have not been pining," she countered through narrowed eyes.

"Yes you have. I'm sure I saw you daydreaming about him yesterday. You were drooling and everythi – ouch!" He exclaimed as Mariah kicked him under the table and glared.

"Well, I think that American team – the All Starz – will be going. You know, 'cause they like to be a part of everything." Mariah said, ignoring the little green haired annoyance.

"I hope so," Lee said, "they'll be good for competition."

"T'chh, they'll be good for a laugh, you mean. That pretty boy captain of theirs is always showing off," Kevin said, rolling his eyes.

"Oooh, I hope he puts on a show this time!" Mariah said with bright golden eyes, leaning forwards on the table. "That sky-diving stunt he pulled at the American regionals was kinda fun to watch. He really made an entrance."

"Ha! Don't let Rei hear you say that, he might get jealous."

"Ugh, shut up, Kevin!"

"Yes, Kevin, give it a break – it's getting old." Kevin mimicked his captain under his breath for a moment before muttering about how he was just sour that his friend had his hands on his baby sister. "What was that, Kevin?"

"Nothin', nothing'," he huffed, turning back to his rice. Then he hurriedly ate the last of his spring rolls when he noticed that Gary was eyeing them up having finished his own meal.

"...D'you think the Demolition Boys will be there, Lee?" Mariah asked pensively after a few moments. She was staring into nothingness and holding her chopsticks up in front of her, paused midway to her mouth.

"I doubt it," Lee replied after a few seconds. He then sat back and folded his arms. "I don't think Mr Dickenson would have invited them anyway, after what they did – and what they would have done if Tyson hadn't beaten their captain in the final round."

"...Yeah." Mariah replied, still zoned out. She remembered the state Rei was in after that pale headed blader was finished with him. It was horrible – that anyone would even think about attacking the blader instead of the blade revolted her. Bryan. That was his name. Even if Mariah didn't see him again until the day she died it would be too soon. Or any of them, for that matter. They'd all done terrible things and intended to do even worse, she was sure. Tyson was a godsend for managing to pull off a win in the final rounds – he'd practically saved the world. Though, she'd never tell him that, because Rei told her the boy had an ego bigger than his appetite, which was pretty huge.

"But, even if they do turn up, we should remember that they weren't the masterminds of the plan and that they may well have all turned a new leaf by now. If they've changed their ways, I think I'd give them a second chance."

"What? Lee, whether they were behind the plans or not, they're all responsible for their actions." Mariah banged her hands on the table to emphasise her angered incredulity. "You know, things like the Holocaust would never have happened if people took responsibility for their actions instead of just blindly doing whatever they're told!"

Lee repressed a sigh as he looked up at his little sister. She was on her feet now, and glaring at him. He knew the Russian bladers were a touchy subject for her, but he couldn't be blamed – she brought them up in the first place! "Mariah," he started hesitantly, "please don't blow things out of proportion."

"Out of proportion?" Lee sighed and ran a hand over his eyes tiredly. She just repeated him. Repeating things meant that her temper had gotten the better of her and there was no reasoning with her when she was worked into a passion. "Lee, are you saying that trying to take over the world is no big deal?"

"No, I didn't –"

"And that Rei getting torn to shreds by that guy isn't that bad?"

"Mariah, will you just –"

"I thought you were supposed to be Rei's friend, Lee!"

"I am his friend!" he said, getting to his own feet and leaning forward on the table.

Mariah leaned back to get out of his face and narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah? You've got a funny way of showing it." She then twisted around on the spot and stormed out of the room gesturing angrily and muttering things like 'second chance,' and 'out of his mind.' Her long pink hair was trailing behind after her. Soon it had disappeared around the doorframe and she was gone.

Kevin whistled to fill the awkward silence that now filled the room and Lee sat back down in his seat, running a tired hand through his jet black hair.

"So…" Kevin started, clearing his throat, "d'you think one of us should go after her?"

"...No. Just leave her, she'll cool off soon enough."

"She's still holding a pretty huge grudge against those guys in Russia, huh?"

"Yeah," Lee said shortly.

"I don't hold it against her. I mean, they did take like, everyone's bit beasts. And Rei was torn up pretty bad. It wasn't like he just had a few scratches, he passed out and everything! Bryan put him in hospital for days!"

"Yeah, I know and I'm not saying that we should just forget that. Rei's a close friend of mine, too, you know. As close as a brother," the dark haired captain said, folding his arms. "But, you heard the news that got out after that institute was closed down. I wouldn't wish what happened in the Abbey to anyone. We have no idea how that might have affected all the boys that grew up there."

Kevin chewed pensively on one of his fingernails for a moment before replying. "Yeah, I guess. But Mariah's got a point, you know. Everyone knows that stealing and killing and stuff is wrong, no one can excuse that."

"Unless they're brainwashed from childhood. Then they wouldn't know."

Kevin's eyes widened, "Dude, that's even worse! That'd make them even more dangerous, 'cause they really really wouldn't know right from wrong!"

Lee chuckled a little at Kevin's shocked expression, "I'm not saying that the Demolition Boys are like that, I'm just trying to look at things from a different angle. After we made things up with Rei, I realised what a hard position it is to be in when everyone's against you, refusing to overlook your mistakes and give you a second chance." He stared off into the distance for a moment, and then said, "You know when people ask you, like 'What would you like to say to a person who did some unexplainable bad thing' and you spend ages thinking about how you would call them up for what they've done and make them see things your way – I think the more appropriate thing to do would be to say nothing, and listen to them instead. I'm sure they'd have their story to tell."

Kevin was silent for a few moments as he stared up at his captain. "Okay, so who are you and what have you done with Lee? Since when have you been so calm and fair and understanding?"

Lee rolled his eyes before answering with a smirk, "Well, one of us on this team has to be."

"Pfft, too right. Mariah makes mountain bears look like baby kittens when she's in a temper. Although as far as bears go, Gary's pretty tame too," he said with a sly glance in their huge team mate's direction. But he wasn't there. "Hey, where'd Gary go?" He turned towards Lee with a confused look on his face. Who knew Gary could be so big yet so move so quietly? "Did you see him leave?"

Lee was just as perplexed, "No, I didn't even know he was gone."

"Hm," Kevin said, scratching his head, "...maybe he's gone to get more food?"

Lee shrugged and turned back to his stir fry and Kevin greedily eyed Mariah's left over dumplings for a few moments, before reaching over and taking them for himself.

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Mariah sat in the little rock garden just outside their village. It was a beautiful little place, with cherry blossom trees and small wild shrubs planted in the sand. Instead of benches there were seats made out of chiseled rock, and one lone rope swing was tied up to one of the branches of the sturdiest looking tree. Mariah was sat there and she was playing absentmindedly with a blossom in her hand. She was swinging limply on the swing, ignoring the petals that fell around her as she moved.

Hearing the sound of heavy footsteps approaching her, she said, "Go away, Lee. I'm not talking to you." Receiving no response, she turned around and said more forcefully, "I said, go away – oh, it's you. Sorry, Gary…"

Mariah turned her head meekly back to the floor as Gary sat down on a rock beside her. He was carrying a few prickly pears in a small wicker basket and he set it down on the sand before taking out a small knife. Before he started peel it, he looked up at Mariah and said, "Do you want one?"

Mariah offered him a small smile before saying, "No, thank you Gary."

He shrugged and returned to carefully peeling the pear. Then he smiled and said, "It's funny."

Mariah turned to him and said, "...what is?"

"Who was the first person that thought of eating a prickly pear?"

"I don't know...why?"

"'Cause they don't look good on the outside. They're hard and spiky and really don't look nice." He then looked meaningfully at Mariah before continuing, "but if you ignore all that, you are surprised by a really sweet treat. If you ignore its appearance, you are rewarded with something much better." He then looked down to the pear and continued peeling it, and the two sat in silence for a few moments. Then Mariah spoke.

"Oh... I know what you're trying to say."

Gary looked up at her. "What?"

She rolled her eyes. "You're trying to say that the Demolition Boys are like those pears – really hard and dangerous on the outside, but probably nice once you look deeper – right?" Gary did nothing but smile faintly, knowing that she had gotten his point, and continued peeling his pear. She looked down at him and narrowed her eyes. "Well, I don't think I buy it."

She was sure she saw him smirk. "...I was talking about you, actually. You've got a horrible temper, but you're nice. Sometimes." he said.

Mariah raised her eyebrows, knowing he was just saying that. Everyone thought Gary was slow, but he wasn't. He just tended to keep his thoughts to himself. She pushed him playfully on the shoulder before saying, "Oh, really?" He did nothing but peel his pear, ever quiet.

She smiled contentedly. Stupid Gary with his prickly pears and surprising insight – whenever she or the other members of the team had issues, it was always Gary who tried to make them see sense with his covert little pearls of wisdom. When Rei left and they all raged a vendetta against him at the Asian tournament, it was Gary who managed to soften them all up enough for them to hear him out. And she was grateful for that. She hated fighting with Rei, but her stubbornness wouldn't let her forgive him for leaving.

And now, in spite of herself, she was already beginning to feel a lot less angry at Lee. She still didn't trust the Demolition Boys at all, of course, but as long as they kept well away from her and Rei she probably wouldn't spit poison at them if they did come to the tournament.

"You know…I think I'll have one of those after all," she said quietly. "Kevin's probably eating my dumplings by now, anyway."

Gary smiled and handed her the pear that he'd just that minute finished peeling before carefully picking up another one from the basket and peeling it for himself.

A/N: There you have it. I hope you're not all too disappointed after the long wait! I had trouble writing Gary as an idiot, so I've mad him the surprisingly insightful, but apparently stupid, guy instead. Maybe he does it because it's easier for people not to take him seriously, I dunno. Anyway, there may not be an update next Saturday, I'm afraid. I have work to get through before uni starts back up. However, if I manage to get through it in time to write up another chapter before Sat, then there will be an update. Who knows.