Oh thank goodness the beloved white tiger is back! Now the question is, where the heck did he went off too? Oh well, he is back and better than ever! Everyone except Kai (since he lacks team spirit) and I (simply because I don't feel like running up there towards the stadium) ran towards Ray and congratulated him for his victory and of course, Driger's return. We were definitely victorious on this day. And many more to come. Sadly, Lee still doesn't believe that Ray is worthy of having the white tiger. I hope that soon he will. So much for persuading him.
The very next morning I was the one who got up bright and early first. It would be fun messing around with the guys and maybe draw on their faces. Yet, I am way too nice and decided to go out for a long walk instead. It's been how many days or weeks have I been here? Probably too many to count. I'm enjoying every minute of it yet I still miss a lot of people back home. I wonder what they are doing. If I'm here in this world then what's happening over there? Is there a clone back in the real world that looks like me and acts likes me so people won't wonder how I somewhat disappeared? There are times where I really want to go home and there are times where I don't want to go back home and stay here maybe forever. Then again, I'm still convinced that this whole thing is a realistic dream. I am having a few doubts here and there. I mean, it's not everyday you wake up in an anime show right?
A scream suddenly echoed throughout the whole area shocked me. I should worry but I already know that scream came from Tyson. I assumed cat-boy, also known as Ray attempted to wake up the hero by feeding him some red hot chilli pepper. And judging by that loud yell, It worked.
Hey! How come I wasn't there to witness that? I am very disappointed at myself right now.
"Hey princess!" a mocking voice called out as I turned around to see Kai walking towards me. That bastard. Why on earth did my cousin and I had a huge crush on him?
"What the heck do you want Mr. Grouchypants?" I asked.
"Are you coming to the tournament or not?" he questioned. I rolled my eyes due to this annoying demands and held my temper long enough to answer him.
"Yeah I'm coming! Just give me a second and I'll follow, grouchypants." I mumbled at the last part.
"I heard that!" Kai growled as he went ahead acting high and mighty.
"Good!" I yelled. "Because you are one!"
Thank you Kai, for ruining my morning by calling me 'princess' even though it is quite true that I am one. At least in this world. Back in the real world, I am not. I am still not used to this at all.
"Did we got out from the wrong side of the bed today Emi?" a friendlier voice appeared making me calm down a bit.
"Oh hey Ray," I greeted. "Not really. Well I wasn't that cranky til Kai mocked me. Lucky for him I didn't gave him a knuckle sandwhich with a fruit punch. By the way, what the heck happened to him?"
"Tyson?" Cat boy took a quick peek at the snoring little guy. "Well we tried to wake him up. My idea worked but only for a minute."
"You should have tried this," I suggested and came closer towards the two and shouted(lied) with glee, "Hey Tyson wake up there's a free buffet and it's all for you!"
"Where? Where?" Tyson got off of Ray and got all excited. It took the boy a while to realize there was no buffet anywhere whatsoever.
"There's no buffet is there?" Tyson groaned.
I mouthed a 'no' and shook my head. Tyson suddenly got furious by my little white lie.
"Emi!" he screamed, turning red as a beet. "How could you that? That's the second time already!"
"Second time?" Ray wondered.
"Simple," I replied. "We needed to wake you up since food is one of the ways for that to happen. Where is everyone else? I know Kai called me just a couple of minutes ago."
"They already left for the tournament," Ray replied. "But I told them that the three of us will catch up soon. Thanks for waking him up Emi! I don't know how long I can carry him. Tyson you need to loose some weight."
"Well you need to work out more!" Tyson insulted back. I resisted laughing but I couldn't. Seriously, I laugh at everything. Besides, that was quite a good comeback.
"We better get going," Ray commanded. "We have a long way to go towards the tower."
"Wait," I asked calmly before freaking out. "We're gonna walk all the way there?"
"Not really," he replied. "If we're lucky, a bus may pass by and the driver can give us a ride."
"Oh great" I groaned.
Oh man! I don't know how long we have been walking but everytime I take one more step, the dang tower seems to be drifting farther away. Tyson and I were dragging our feet as we hiked up the road while Ray made it look like a walk in the park and was way ahead of us. Walking is great but walking upwards like this? No way. What's worse is the sun beaming down on our faces. Bus driver hurry up already I am dying here!
"Can't you just wait for a minute?" Tyson complained. "I feel like something died on my mouth."
"Quit your complaining," Ray told him before we noticed a bus driving by towards us.
"Finally!" I sighed in relief as Tyson gave the driver a signal for the vehicle to stop and give us a ride.
"Got room for three more?" Tyson asked the driver as he was waving. The man looked towards the window nodded and we entered the nice, air-conditioned bus.
"Thank God!" I praised as I stole one of the comfy seats.
"How can you be so tired already?" Ray asked. "We've been walking only for about ten minutes."
"Really?" I almost screamed. "Because that so does not feel like ten minutes of walking!"
"My apologies, your majesty." Tyson teased.
"Don't start Ty," I glared when I suddenly started to shiver as if I have a bomb ready to explode. And whenever that happens, something bad will possibly occur. I was getting goosebumps on my arms.
"Hey are you alright?" Tyson asked me.
"I feel like something is about to happen." I answered. "and why is the bus driving slowly?" I looked out from my window to see a bunch of other vehicles blocking the road. I immediately got back inside with a frustrated look on my face.
"You have got to be kidding me!" I whined. "There's a huge traffic jam right now and the stadium is still quite far away!"
"What?" Ray and Tyson exclaimed with wide eyes and decided to go check it out for themselves. I remembered suddenly how this traffic jam occured. It was that damn landslide that the monkey boy had caused.
"Great!" Tyson groaned while I was making my way out. "Why out of all days must there be a traffic jam?"
"All of them are headed for the semi-finals just like us." Ray observed. "There's no reason for you to get upset."
"Uh yes there is!" I replied. "This whole fiasco is making you guys late and do you know what will happen if we're not there yet? They'll have to forefit and if they forefit we loose and if we loose we can't move on!"
"Calm down Emi!" Ray touched my shoulders.
"This is all my fault!" I told him. "I should have known that this is going to happen!"
"The traffic jam?" Tyson asked.
"Yes! There's a landslide right now causing it thanks to monkey boy!" I replied.
"Monkey boy?"
"Kevin. I believe he did that so that we could loose the semi-finals."
"Why that little brat!" hat boy clenched his fists with anger. "When I get my hands on him I'll-"
"Cut it out Tyson," Ray stopped him. "There's no need to waste your energy like that. What we need to do is find a way to get there."
"Don't tell me," I whimpered like a little puppy. "We're gonna have to walk again."
"I'm afraid we're going to have to run Em." Ray replied and I moaned in disappointment. I wish I had a jet pack right now! Or Tinker bell and her pixie dust to exist so we won't have to walk miles and miles again. I swear when I see that little green-haired boy he so owes me a new pair of shoes!
"This is partly my fault too since I slept in." Tyson admitted.
"Yup it is!" I told him making the teen feel more guilt.
"We better get going or we'll never make it at all." Cat-eyed told us. "We have to climb up there first."
"Great!" I said in a sarcastic manner. "This day just keeps on getting better and better. I can't climb that!"
"Do you got a better idea then I suppose?" Driger's owner questioned.
"Oh yes," I grinned. "We can find a fairy named Tinker Bell and maybe she can give us some of her pixie dust magic so we can fly outta here!"
"There's no time to be sarcastic Em!" Tyson sent a mini glare. "And there's no way we can climb that!"
"Are you two being a chicken?" Ray taunted. I wasn't being a chicken but I do know I never climbed up a mountain and I'm expected to do it without any gear? Great. Just great. I was running out of patience and time was running out. The more we talk the lesser time we have to get to the tournament. What other options do we have?
"Let's just get the heck out of here!" I exclaimed while making my way towards the path and started climbing. I just hope everything will turn around. As in someone will make my bad day good.
"Well, this doesn't look bad!" I cheered confidently. "Pssh we'll be there in no time!"
"Oh I am dying out here!" I whined to myself. Everything is so not fine. I don't know how long we have been hiking but I'm not used to this! Already Ray and Tyson were way ahead of me even though I had a head start.
"Hey are you okay down there?" Tyson called out.
"Oh I feel fantastic!" I replied gleefully with a hint of sarcasm. "How far do we have to go?"
"Don't worry," Cat boy encouraged. "We're almost there."
"We better" I mumbled as we continued climbing upward. The mountain suddenly felt shaky but it doesn't seem like an earthquake yet we heard a loud rumbling followed by two gasps.
"Look out!" Ray warned as the rocks were rolling towards our direction. Luckily, we were able to somewhat dodge them.
"I think I almost died!" I sighed in relief before meeting up with the others. I noticed Ray was holding on to his ankle. My guess is that he was injured.
"Are you okay?" Tyson asked, being concerned of his friend.
"No," Ray admitted. "I think I twisted my ankle!"
"Oh dear" I said.
"Now what are we suppose to do?" Tyson almost panicked.
"First of," I started to reply. "Calm down!"
"Well you're the one who is all in panic mode this whole entire time!" Tyson mumbled.
"Second, Ray and I will stay here while you go to the semi-finals, compete, win and send Mr.D to rescue us" I continued.
"Are you crazy?" Tyson refused. "There's no way I am leaving the two of you here!"
"Just do it!" I yelled. "Or do I have to remind you who I really am?"
"I don't care!" Tyson opposed.
"You better do what she says Ty," Ray advised. "Unless you want to be severely punished by her highness."
"Yeah you better do as I say got it?" I threatened at first but then pleaded. "Please? We'll be alright now go!"
"Okay,okay I'm going!" Dragoon's owner finally obeyed. "I'll go get help."
"After you guys win the competition first." Ray reminded him. "Hurry Tyson, just keep following this path and you'll be there in no time."
"Than-"
"No time for that," I interrupted. "Go!"
Tyson started to run as fast as his legs can carry him leaving me and Cat dude out here hanging. Well not technically. The path isn't that steep and we're not that far from the top. And here I thought this was going to be my last mountain climbing.
A few minutes later after Tyson left to go get help, I crouched down next to my teammate who seems to be doing not too good. Heck, I remember when I twisted my ankle. It was embarrassing.
"You doin okay?" I asked while staring at his ankle.
"Yeah I'll be fine," Ray smiled a little. "But we can't stay hanging on this edge for long. Do you think you can help me go up there? It's only a few climbs away. We can just wait up there until someone comes and gets us."
"Uh" I stammered. "I'll try."
Cat boy struggled a bit to get up and put his arm over my shoulder for support. We both started to climb towards the top. I was struggling a bit but we made it. Ray let go of me and sat down again. I groaned and stretched my arms.
"Dude," I began to say. "You're pretty heavy."
"Well I believe someone needs to lift some weights sometime soon." he sort of insulted towards me.
"Hey!" I pointed. "that was my joke!"
"Not technically," Ray said. "the little joke is still different one way or another."
"It is not," I protested. "and don't start saying 'Is too' or we'll be playing that game of 'Is too and it is not."
Ray chuckled for a bit before I sat down next to him.
"I hope Tyson can make it." Ray hoped.
"He will," I encouraged. "Unless he sees free food then we'll be in trouble. But in this case, he's reliable. We'll be rescued in no time."
"Ah" Ray nodded. "Are you going to be okay though? I mean you are afraid of heights aren't you?"
"I think I can manage," I replied. "But I hope they do hurry. I can't last here for too long!"
"Then meditate. It helps with beyblade training." Ray suggested and started to relax.
"Meditate?" I raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? I can't sit still for more than two seconds unless I'm unconscious or in a good sleep."
"Just try," he tried to encourage me. "It will help you be a better blader. I do this all the time."
"Nah," I refused. "It's just not my type of thing to do. I think I'll just lay down there and you can do your so-called training."
Someone and I mean Tyson, please hurry! I prayed.
Since I have no watch or any sort of device that tells time, I have no idea how long we have been stuck here. I glanced over at Ray who seems to be relaxed even though he has a bad ankle. He looks so focused right now that I just wanna sneak up on him to break his concentration! Yes, I can be evil like that. The sun was blazing hot already and sweat was starting to drip out of my body. I was getting a headache thanks to heat. I must say that the view of the tower from this angle I'm standing is quite extravagant. I would really love this as my home. Looking at Ray again, I am eager to scare him. Maybe I should but then again who knows how much affect it will have in him.
Oh what the heck? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity scaring an anime character so why not do it? I started making my way towards the relaxed 'tiger'. So far he hasn't even noticed or at least that's what he wants me to think. I slowly approached in front of him before going behind him. I sneakily try to scare him however,
"What are you doing?" Ray opened one of his eyes.
"Oh my gosh!" I gasped.
"I can hear your footsteps, Emi." the boy confessed.
"Darn it!" I said disappointingly. "I don't know what else to do here except maybe watch grass grow!"
"Well we're gonna have to wait a little longer but don't worry Tyson will come back soon."
"I hope so," I agreed. "But I have bigger things to worry. I mean every minute I- never mind."
"Hm?" Ray wondered, hoping I would continue to say what I was saying just now. "What other things to worry?"
"Uh I meant the finals!" I lied. They can't know about black dranzer yet. "Yeah the finals! We will be facing the White Tigers closer than you think. "
This whole thing. Vasilia, Black Dranzer, my supposedly real home Elenya is giving me quite a migraine. I guess suggesting being left behind for a moment gives me time to relax. Except this will be over soon. I mean the part where we wait for Tyson. This kind of fate and destiny, is it even possible?
"But you already know what's going to happen anyways," Ray commented. "May I ask who will I battling against with? That is if I'm playing."
"That my friend," I replied. "is a secret. But when the competition comes, I'll tell you. That is if I feel like telling."
"Emi!" a voice called out from out of nowhere. I looked around, searching for whoever called me.
"It's Max!" Ray noticed.
"Is it?" I hoped and saw a familiar boy wearing a green shirt and orange overalls(Do orange and green go together though?) running upward towards us waving.
"Yes!" I cheered. "Help is here!"
The rest of the team and by the rest of the team I mean Tyson and Kenny, (who knows where the heck went off to probably either back at the inn or training more)came back with a couple of people from the medics with a stretcher and first aid kit. When they came, I immediately ran up to greet them while the medics began to treat Ray's ankle.
"Took you long enough!" I told the two. "How was the beyblading against the other team?"
"Well the other teams' beyblades were not that well considering they were made out of mostly scrap metal," Max explained. "It was still impressive that they came that far. As a gift, I gave them my old beyblade. And when Tyson came to the stadium, he was having a hard time telling us what happened since he was catching his breath."
"Then he told us what happened." Kenny finished. "Are you guys all right?"
"Well I am," I pointed at myself. "And I'm pretty sure cat boy there will be fine."
Yeah, I seem to be fine but not really. Do I yet regret suggested being left on the mountain? Not anymore.
Well it's official. Today we face Ray's old teammates. Today conflicts will be settled in a term of a battle. Well, a bey battle that is. Everyone is determined I bet at this moment.
Sleep was quite well for me. That is until the head of the BBA, Mr. D woke me up first before waking up the rest of the team. As usual when I am having a good and deep sleep, I find it almost impossible to get up. I took a semi-quick shower, changed my clothes and went outside seeing Tyson already up before anyone else.
"Wow," I was quite impressed. "You're sure are up early today. Did the smell of scrambled eggs woke you up?"
"Oh quit joking Em," Tyson groaned before launching his dragoon blade. "You always think food is the only thing I ever think about! It's the finals today! It's much more exciting than some meal!"
"Did I heard that correctly?" I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ray already dressed with his usual white Chinese outfit.
"Oh hey good morning there." I greeted. "Is everyone else awake?"
"Not really," Ray replied. "But they will be soon. I should have known you're going to be here Tyson. Looks like someone is ready for the finals."
"You bet!" Tyson smiled with confidence before retrieving his blade. "We are going to win this right Emi?"
"Um yeah!" I hesitated a little.
"You don't seem confident" Tyson assumed.
"Let's just go yes?"
While the bus was taking us to the finals, Kenny started 'lecturing' about the White Tigers. Warning them how stronger they are than us. Kai couldn't care less and was too busy sight seeing a bunch of tall trees. He won't show it but I bet the poor little guy is upset since he won't be battling. I should be battling too! I mean I do have a powerful bitbea-I mean bithuman. Either way, this is more exciting than watching the action on television or online.
"You seem distracted," I noticed Ray. "Are you all right?"
"I am," he insisted. "This tournament right now is more important."
"Friendships are more important." I said. "Lee does seem to be changing his mind about you but he's still has trouble. But I guess we should focus on the finals itself."
"Remember guys, it's war!" Tyson told us.
A war? It's just a game about spinning tops!
Oh wait, I forgot. In this reality, beyblading is more than just a game for some people.
"Just relax," I told them. "We'll be fine."
"Right!" Kenny said. "Because you will tell us everything you know."
"And ruin the suspense?" I said in a sweet voice before turning sour. "I don't think so. You guys are on your own."
"Emi!" all of my teammates yelled and I just laughed.