A/N: Hey everybody! Its summer holidays! This means while nearly everybody is going on holiday or relaxing, I'm doing GCSE revision. ¬¬
So, at times I'm going to be sneaking a chapter especially this one. It may be harder because I have to revise.
But anyways, I wrote this one as quick as possible for you readers and don't worry, there should be perfect grammar and spell checked. Enjoy!
Chapter 14: A Sense of Direction…and Affection
Melody splashed water from the basin on her face. The image of herself in front of the mirror showed an undecided girl making a choice she had to make. Not only that, but the blonde-haired girl was still weary from sleep as all she could think about was what to do today. I wonder if I should have really quit. But then again, they were probably planning on repeating the same things that were going to happen in the last tournament.
She could always leave. If Melody wanted, she could just forget about beyblading altogether and take of her grandmother. Then the blonde-haired girl wouldn't have to think about what to do at her battles and how nervous she would get.
But then again, Melody would miss it all; the beybattles, the action and her friends. She couldn't just throw it all away, all the training she had done just to get here would be for nothing.
Most importantly, she wanted her bit-beasts opinion on things; should I go to Tyson's house like Ray said? She thought to herself. Drazine, what do you think I should do?
It is your decision. I will be with you no matter what.
Melody sighed at her bit-beasts answer. I know you will, but do you want to battle in the tournament or should we wait until next year for another chance?
There was a long pause before Drazine replied. A year is a long time to wait for another chance and I would rather like to participate now, this could be our last time, you never know.
Drazine was right and Melody felt determined now than ever. She nodded and began to leave her house. Thank you, Drazine. I know now what to do.
--Back at Tyson's House--
"Do you think Melody is going to come back, Ray?" Tyson asked in concern thinking over the events yesterday. None of them except Ray had bothered to go after her but now, they began to think she really wasn't going to come back. "I can't imagine the team without her."
Ray had asked them to wait for her in case she would actually come after telling them what happened. So far, they had been waiting a while.
"Let's just wait a little more and see if she will come. I'm sure Melody is making her way here now." He assured his Japanese friend. Even Tyson wasn't eating as much as he always did without Melody around. He had never seen her like that and it made him worry.
"Is that how she felt this whole time?" Max asked. "How come none of us noticed she felt out?"
I did, Kai thought as he leaned against the wall and listened to his team-mates talk. Just then, a familiar person walked towards Tyson's house. Everyone fell silent as Melody walked towards them. "Guys, I want to apologize for yesterday. I don't want to quit the team but I also want to explain why I was so angry yesterday."
"Sure, go ahead." Tyson said, smiling at her.
"Throughout the previous tournament, I haven't really had a chance to battle as best as I can. I only got to do two battles and not only that, but I feel like I don't get my say in things. I know now that's partly my fault because I never really spoke out and told you how I felt until now. I only hope you can understand what I am feeling now and you give me a chance this tournament to fight too."
"I'm sorry too, Melody." Kenny said, he lowered his gaze to the ground and scratched the back of his head, he really badly for what he did. "I should have included you and let you have your say in what you wanted to do."
Melody smiled, she could see he really wanted to be forgiven. She never imagined their beyblade expert was like this. "That's okay. You're forgiven."
"So then, you're back on the team, right?" Tyson asked.
She smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, I was stupid to say I was leaving, I don't think I would want to leave the Bladebreakers anytime soon."
"Great! That reminds me Melody, I need your say on the second team." Kenny spoke, "We've all agreed on something and what to know what you think."
"Ok, I'm listening."
"We wanted to change it around so it would be you and Tyson in one group and Ray and Max in the other." Kai told her.
Me and Tyson? What about…Kai? She looked at him for a while wondering if he was really ok with this, it surprised her because she thought he really wanted to battle. But she only smiled at them. "Thank you, guys. You won't be disappointed."
They all smiled at her, glad to have their Melody back and decided to make their way to the stadium. She was excited but then again, nervous at the same time as always. She stood beside Kai at the back so they were able to talk privately. "Are you ok with this? You won't get to fight, you know?" Melody asked.
Kai nodded. "Doesn't bother me. No-one would budge so I spoke up plus…" He turned to face her, a small smile on his face. "…all those annoying fan-girls will stop screaming and cheering for me, right?"
Melody turned her head away from him and folded her arms. "As if those girls bother me. You're only doing it on purpose."
He grabbed her chin to kiss her on the lips. He broke away from her and smiled, walking behind the others like nothing happened.
"Hey!" Melody whispered. "What was that for?"
"Because I know you won't have trouble facing against the competition this year." A blush appeared on Melody's face and she just smiled without a word throughout the walk to the beach.
"Hey! Bladebreakers!" They turned their heads around and saw two familiar figures that used to be in the Psykicks; Salima and Kane. Salima looked at Ray and smiled at the Neko-Jin. Melody noticed when he smiled back and it made her think.
"Kane! Salima!" Tyson said happily as the two walked up to the Bladebreakers. "Hey, what are you guys doing here?"
"We're entering the tournament too!" Salima told them.
"Cool. But what about Jim and Gouki? Are they not here with you guys?" Melody asked.
"Oh those two have decided to go all over the world to teach kids beyblading. Last we heard, they were in Timbuktu." Kane said.
"Hey Melody! Hilary! Give me your numbers so we can keep in touch, I really do like that idea of a girl beyblading group that you were thinking of." Salima said taking out her phone.
"You're not seriously thinking about that plan still, Melody?" Kai mumbled, knowing how well she was determined to do this ever since she was talking to Hilary about it the other day.
"Of course! Let's meet up some time and talk, ok? I'll see you later!" Kane and Salima nodded and waved goodbye to them and walked away.
"Shall we go train now? Hey Tyson isn't Zeo doing it with us today?" Ray asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. He said he would meet us by the river bank. If he's running late, Zeo told me to start without him."
"Ok then, let's go!"
Training started off. Melody figured that the more they progressed through the rounds, the harder Kai and Kenny would push them, her theory was right. First off, they had run from the beach to the river bank where their real training was beginning. Tyson being the slowest dragged behind and Melody just before him, it was unusual because she was always first or second. Then they did half an hour practice on working on their launches.
However despite Kai's words earlier, Melody did worry a little bit and what was worse, training was starting to get tiring. She was starting to lose focus on the simplest things like who they would be facing next. Kenny told them he was going to push them more than they had ever been. They had no idea what could happen and had to be prepared for a tough challenge.
They took a break afterwards and were exhausted. For a while they laid on the grass for a while as Kenny looked at their beyblades' progress.
"Hey Melody, can I ask you something?" Hilary asked her.
"Sure, what is it?" Melody sat up to listen to her friend.
"I wanted to ask you…if you could teach me how to beyblade during the summer?"
Melody's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you serious? What bought this up? Is it Tyson? Trying to impress him, are you?"
Hilary blushed and she shook her head quickly. "N-No! Of course not! Why do you always say that for? I just want to see what it is like to be a beyblader and enter tournaments like you guys! It's looks fun too!"
"So, what bought this up then?" Melody asked curiously.
"I want to be an actual beyblader in the team and also…Tyson and I had this argument the other day when we went to go get lunch that made me kind of upset but also think a lot."
"Oh yeah, I remember that day. Tyson said you went back to your house. What happened?" Hilary sighed and looked away. She didn't want to explain it but because she knew Melody was a good friend, she could trust her.
--Flashback: Two Days Ago--
Hilary and Tyson were on their way to go get some lunch for the team and it was getting boring for them to be walking and not say a word to each other so Hilary thought she would say something. "Hey Tyson?"
"Yeah?" He said annoyed. Tyson was having the best daydream until Hilary messed it up.
"What would you say if I told you I wanted to be an actual 'Bladebreaker'?"
He raised his eyebrow. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"You know how I thought beyblading was for losers and it was boring?" Tyson nodded knowing full well she thought of this. "Well I'm actually kind of liking the sport and I was hoping…if maybe you could train me and help me become a beyblader so I can feel really like a part of the team."
For a second, Tyson looked at her and then began to burst out laughing. Hilary stopped walking and stared at him. How could he laugh at her when she was being serious?
"That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! You – being in the team as an actual Bladebreaker, I think Melody is all we need." Tyson said, still laughing at her idea.
Hilary frowned. "I'm serious, Tyson. If you won't train me, then I'll find someone else to train me. Someone other than the lazy and always-eating champion. I still think you ate your way to the top and they gave you the title!"
The dark blue-haired boy looked at her in disgust. "Oh like you would know anything about beyblading and by the way, eating and beyblading wouldn't come in the same competition. I would know about that."
"Of course you would. That's all you think about all day." Hilary fought back. "Though I think eating is what you are really good at."
Tyson growled. "I doubt someone would want to train a self-absorbed and weird person like you. Who would train you anyways?"
Hilary thought for a moment and then looked back at Tyson. "I'll get anyone who wants to train me, anyone is better than you!" She pointed at him. "And when I do, I'll beat you in a match and you're going to have to say I'm good and I should be in the Bladebreakers."
"For the last time, you could never be a Bladebreaker, let alone a good one like Melody! You haven't got the skills or the looks!" Tyson shouted but it was too late. Hilary looked at him in shock and then ran away.
"Hilary, wait! I didn't mean…oh man!" How could he have known said that to her? He called out for her one last time and watched her until she disappeared out of sight.
--End of Flashback--
"I see." Melody said, understanding the situation. She looked back at Hilary whose eyes were on the river in front of them, she was sad, Melody could tell. "Alright, I'll help you do it. But it's got to be after the tournament, ok?"
"Really?" Hilary said watching Melody nod, her eyes brightened up. "Thanks so much!"
A gasp from Max made everyone look at him and where he was pointing too. "It's Zeo!" Max called, looking at the bridge.
"Yeah, your right!" Ray waved at the green-haired boy.
"Hey Zeo, down here!" The green-haired boy suddenly began to run away. "Come back here! Wait up!" Tyson ran after him with the other Bladebreakers behind.
Zeo turned around them and stopped. "No, don't!" Zeo shouted.
"What's wrong, bud?" Tyson asked, taken aback by his yell.
"Just leave me alone, ok?" Zeo told them. "Everyone, just leave me alone, just leave me alone! From now on, we're enemies you got that!" He pointed at the Bladebreakers. "Forget that you even met me!"
What's gotten into him? Melody thought. Watching him closely, he seemed to be angry but something wasn't right. The other day he was nice and happy to see them, what could have happened to make him get so angry at them for?
"You're not making any sense! Why should we forget something like that?"
"Just because and the next time we meet, we'll be in battle Tyson."
"Hey, you just can't run away, Zeo! Stop!" He stops for a moment and turns back to Tyson. "What's…What's going on Zeo? Don't leave us hanging."
Without replying, Zeo ran off leaving them clueless. "No! Wait! "
"Let him go. He needs space." Kai spoke.
"Excuse me."
"He's made his choice and unfortunately, we're not part of it so just let him go, Tyson." The Russian leader told him. "Maybe one day he'll tell us the reason."
"But why? What happened?"
--Tyson's House--
Between what happened at the bridge a few hours ago and now, nothing much had changed. They left the river bank back to Tyson's house and tried changing the subject to something other than Zeo, although they still had their thoughts on what he was talking about.
For once, Tyson was at the back and quiet, still thinking to what Zeo had said and no matter how much everyone tried to cheer him up, he said he wanted to be left alone. Even Hilary didn't bother him.
Melody stayed at Tyson's house for the night. She stepped outside and was greeted by the moon above her. Its bright glow made Melody smile. The blonde-haired girl noticed someone sitting on the wall – Kai. Maybe I could go talk to him for a while. She thought.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Ray said, surprising Melody and walking up to her.
She nodded. "Yeah, it is. What are you doing out here?"
"Ah, I wanted to watch TV but Tyson and Max area arguing about what to watch so I stepped out here. Seems like Tyson is back to his old self."
"I see." She replied.
"Hey, do you want to go for a walk for a little while? I have something I want to tell you." Ray suggested.
Melody nodded. "Sure." They began walking out of Tyson's house and Melody forgot that Kai was there and watched as the two left. Where are those two going? Kai thought as he got off the wall and began following them quietly.
"So uh, what did you want to talk about? And why are we going up here for?" She asked. "Ray?"
"Wait. I'll tell you in a moment." They continued to walk in silence to whether Ray was taking them. Melody was curious because no matter how much she looked up at him, he didn't seem to look down at her and say anything, what was going on?
Ray knew Melody was watching him but he kept his eyes forward. He had to tell her his feelings that he had kept so secret ever since Tyson told Melody himself. More than ever, he wanted her to accept them and go out with him and as they walked up the stairs towards the area they had encountered Wyatt in.
"Melody?" Ray said with his hands over the railings and his eyes concentrated forward.
"Hm?" She looked up at him.
"Well, remember that time when I told you I had a crush on you?"
"Oh yeah! I remember!" She said, clasping her hands together. "Tyson was determined to get you to talk and was trying to make me say 'yes'. It was funny though, why do you ask?"
Ray looked at her for a moment and then turned away. "Well, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Sure, what is it?" He remained quiet and stared out to the sea. Ray felt like he was going to burn up even though Melody could see. "Uh Ray?" She placed her hand on his head and his cheeks went into a deep shade of red and he quickly turned away, biting his lip. "Are you hot or something because you're…"
But before she could reply, Ray pushed his lips onto hers. She didn't know what to say, to think. Even worse…
Kai had seen them kiss and was now on his way back to Tyson's house hastily. He didn't want to stay there, normally Kai would have walked up to them but today, he was so hurt and angry.
He stopped abruptly and then turned back. Kai was going to show Ray to never mess with him like that. Melody too, she should have stopped but it wasn't her fault. But he changed his mind.
Kai went back in the direction of Tyson's house; he wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. Questions began to form in his mind; even though this was one kiss that he saw, had this been going on for long? His good friend and his girlfriend. His friend and his girlfriend. Why? Why did this happen to him for?
A little peace and quiet was all he needed to think and reflect back what just happened. All Kai needed was a little time to calm down and not jump to any conclusions but how could he not when he had his feeling of ripping his heart out. Dranzer tried to talk to him but the Russian teenager would not listen. On arriving to Tyson's house, he was wrong about his peace and quiet and saw Tyson and Max fighting over the remote. Hilary rushed up to him, seeming to what him for something.
"Kai! Finally a responsible person! Can you please tell Max and Tyson to stop fighting?"
"He won't let me have the remote control." Max told him.
"I told you already, Max! It's my house and my turn!" Tyson argued.
"Does it matter? Max just wants to watch one show, Tyson! You can watch whatever you want when we're not here!" Hilary then turned to Kai waiting for his response. "Kai, what's wrong with you?"
His head was down at the ground, he seemed to be breathing heavily and his hands were clenched tightly.
"But you're always here to boss me about when I live here! It's not fair!" Tyson yelled.
"Both of you just shut up." Kai ordered angrily as he slammed his fist on the wall, it was so hard that it left a dent on the wall. Tyson, Hilary, Max and Kenny all looked at their leader confusedly, blinking in almost disbelief at Kai's sound of authority.
In the midst of silence, he ran out of the house while his team-mates stood in surprise. "What was that all about?" Tyson asked but no-one answered.
A/N: Sorry for the beybattles being short, I'm not very good writing them but I can tell you the last battles will always be the most described and detailed!
Kai is seriously angry now! But you're all just going to have to find out what happens in the next chapter. It's going to be hard writing the next two chapters but anyways. There's still another surprise in store for Melody. Thanks for reading and please review!