Ugh, gomenasai, this took so long. You would not believe the month I had. And the fact I'm easily distracted. That aside, school is starting, or has started, for most of us, and I'm getting a new email as soon as I think of a good screen name (someone took the one I wanted). I've also been anticpating the next part of this series, and I'm so anxious to start...as soon as I get the next few chapters over with. And also, and apology to Max fans. Honestly, I'm (or I feel that I'm) no good with parts that involve Max to a serious level, and Tysa and Max share no affectionate bonds (as Tyson is her brother and both Ray and Kai are in love with her). So, if you must criticize, be a little nicer than you feel to be. I only slept in my own bed for a total of fifteen days this summer, so I have not had time to be here. So, another apology if you feel this is lower than my usual writing. I'm trying, and I'll try to get the next one up faster.
If, of course, I get five helpful reviews to get me out of my 'Oh my freakin' God, school's starting!! Holy ----!!' mood. Arigatou!
Chapter 25: Earth
Max stared blankly along the blue sky, sitting on a park bench. A few kids ran by, playing tag.
"Max...oh, Max..." Michael called, but with no respond. Max was completely spaced out. "Hmm." Michael took a deep breath. "HEY, MAX!"
"Aaaah!" Max cried, falling sideways. He quickly sat up. "What was that for, Michael?!" Michael caught a baseball with his hand and started to toss it up and down.
"You were zoning out, dude. It's Saturday. You can nap in class." (if that wasn't enough of a clue, this is America) Michael stated, tossing the baseball to Max. Max caught it as Michael continued. "What were you even thinking about anyway?" Max stared at the baseball.
"I...don't really know. There were lots of people then...nothing. Nothing was there." Michael looked around.
"Because it's six o'clock. People probably left to go home."
"No, not at the park!"
"Then what?" Michael asked. Max looked back at the baseball, then tossed it back to Michael.
"I guess it's nothing." Max got up and started to walk home. "I should get going soon too."
"Hold up!" Michael walked up to Max. "What did you get your parents for their anniversary?"
"Um...my support?..." Max groaned. Michael laughed.
"Your parents will be so happy."
"Shut up, Michael."
--in China—
"So, what now?" Kenny asked. He, Ray, and Tyson were sitting in the hotel as Tysa floated around.
"Well, first..." Ray took out the Driger bit. "I should get a beyblade for this."
"You mean you don't have one too?" Everyone else stated, surprising poor Ray.
"Um...no. We only had enough to make one for the supposed owner of Driger but..." Ray hung his head and looked at Driger. "Knowing that I'm actually Driger's owner won't be so good on his part and..." Ray's voice turned low and quick. "I stood up his sister." Tyson blinked.
"Man, you're screwed, aren't ya?" Tyson asked. Ray groaned. "So, why did you? Did you not like her or something?"
"Well, not that I didn't like her but..." Ray's eyes drifted around the room and rested on Tysa, who wasn't paying much attention. "I sort of like...someone else..." his face flushed a bit, but no one noticed. Tyson continued to pry.
"Oh, who? Come on, tell me!" Tyson whined. Ray felt himself become annoyed, but accustomed to it. He had to admit it was sort of unnerving to see Tyson collected, even though he had only met this guy.
"I..." his eyes went to Tysa again, then turned away as she met his gaze. "I'm not telling."
"Why not? Come on! Is she ugly or something?!"
"N-no!" Ray stated. "Look, the main thing is that I don't have a 'blade and I can't get one for the Driger!" Ray sounded like he wanted Tyson to shut up.
"Max..." she said thoughtfully.
"Who?" everyone asked. Tysa shrugged.
"It's just a name...you said you needed a beyblade and I thought of America."
"So maybe that means that America's our next destination." Kenny started clacking away on his laptop. "I'll look for beyblade shops. Do you know Max's last name?"
"Eyh? Well, the shop was pretty small..."
"It's ok. I have all sort of 'blade shops on my laptop. The small ones have some pretty good stuff too." Kenny guaranteed. Tysa started to think.
"...I think it was Tate." She said.
"Max...Tate..." Kenny started to type quickly. "Ah, here it is! Tate Beyblade shop. Owned my Mark Tate. It's not as small as you think, Tysa..."
"Eyh?" Tysa floated over to the laptop and choked. It was not the home-run store she knew, but a giant building. "...Well, I learned something today."
"I've heard of the Tate Beyblade shop. They're one of the best retail shops." Tyson stated (that's on the only reason he's heard of it). He turned to Ray. "That would be the best place to get you a beyblade."
"That's fine but...just one thing." Ray said. "How are we going to get there?" Everyone was silent until Tyson gulped.
"Wait, Tyson. Don't you have the money your mother gave you for the return trip home?" Kenny asked. "We could use that to get to Ameri—"
"No!" Tyson snapped at Kenny. "No way, no how! I've already missed two days of school! TWO DAYS! There's no way I'm going to America!"
"Not even for your own sister?" Tysa asked in a way that made Tyson feel guilty.
"Er..."
"Oh, c'mon, Tyson. When the dimension's fixed, it won't matter how many days of school you missed, no one will remember it." Kenny replied.
"That's true. You said you defeated a black bit beast like yours, right?" Ray asked, then looked at the Driger bit. "Mine ran off. I have no idea when it will come back again." Ray looked at Tyson with determined eyes. "I need to get to America, Tyson." Tyson groaned and made a small whine. With three people depending on him, he had no choice.
"F-fine then." He stated. "But as soon as we get your beyblade, we're going right back to school, Kenny!" he yelled.
"But we still need two more people." Tysa stated. Tyson snorted his nose out.
"Life's tough, sis." He stated. "I can't afford to lose a lot of days in school, and I'm not going to be responsible for someone else. After we get Ray's beyblade, Kenny and I are going back to Japan. You and Ray can find those other two guys." Tysa and Tyson had a staring contest, until Tysa lost patience (having no body, she really has no need to blink, but she gets annoyed with it fast).
"Fine then. Ray and I will find the other two. Happy?" Tyson grinned.
"Very much so." He stated and got up. "I'll check us out at the hotel." Tyson left the room, smug. Kenny got up as well.
"Before we depart, I'm going to look around China some more. I saw lots of bey-rings. I'm going to look at them for data. Zai Jian!" Kenny ran out the door, leaving Ray and Tysa behind. They both blinked, then slowly turned to each other.
"Hi..."
"Hi..."
Thump
Thump
Gulp
Gulp
"So..."
"So..."
"Are they always this eager to move around—" Ray cut himself off when Tysa thrust her body on his and hugged him.
"I...know you may not be the same...but...I..." Ray took a deep breath, embarrased. Then, felt himself relax and put his arms around her.
"...I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I feel like...I did something that made this all happen."
"..." Tysa hugged tighter. "Don't...think that."
--in America—
Max looked at the door to his house. Hmm...no yelling, no breaking...one of them must not be home. Max sighed as he opened the door.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" There was no response. "Hmm. Guess they're both out." He replied as he walked to his room. When he got there, his dog was on his bed, eagerly wagging his tail. "Hey, Lucky. Kept you waiting?" Lucky barked happily as Max petted him. "Ok..." Max turned around to different beyblade parts on his desk. They went from simple to technologically advanced, and Max felt torn. Lately, his parents hadn't gotten along so well. His dad had been busy running Tate Beyblade Shop, which sold countless of 'blade parts, and his mother's been busy inventing new parts with the latest technology. They would often argue about the choice in parts but over the years it had drawn in other things as well. From the paint color in the bathroom to even their own son. Each thinking that he would chose them over the other.
But Max didn't want to choose. He liked all sorts of beyblade parts. He sat at his desk and examined the parts. He wanted to make a beyblade that had both simplicity and complexness, but it wasn't that easy. He thought that maybe the 'blade would be the first step to solving the problem, as small as it was, but knew that part of the marriage was beyond repair.
"Hmmm...this one...can goes to this one...but then this blue one..." Lucky looked at Max as he examined the different beyblade parts. "Ok, this can work!" he connected two green pieces together. "Now, about this purple one..."
--the next day—
Max woke up with his head on his desk. He lifted his head up with two beyblade parts imprinted on his cheek.
"Ugh...it's morning already?" he gazed at his clock. Lucky started to wake up from his peaceful slumber. This was the sixth day that he had gotten the bed to himself. He barked happily to the half-asleep Max.
"Yeah, yeah. Lucky..." he muttered the name as more of an adjective. He looked at the two beyblades on his desk—a green one and a white one. He scratched behind his neck a bit, sighed, and went downstairs.
"Ah, good morning, Max." Mrs. Tate greeted her son cheerfully. "Did you have a good sleep?"
"Not really..." Max stated.
"This is the sixth morning you woke up like this, Max." his mother stated, starting to imply something. "Is anything going on?"
"No, mom, it's nothing." He lied. He got his sneakers on started to walk out the door. "I'll be back soon, ok?"
--at the American Airport—(air travel is not this fast. Do no yell at your airline if they can't get you from China to America and vice versa in a day)
"So, this is America." Kenny replied as they walked out.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get Ray's beyblade and go home. I've missed three days of school! Who knows what we did?!" Tyson cried.
"It wouldn't matter because you probably know it already..." Kenny stated.
"And isn't today Sunday?" (most Japanese schools have Sunday as their only weekend) Tysa asked.
"Well, let's just find Tate Beyblade shop." Ray stated.
"Hey, you four are looking for Tate's?" a guy went up to them looking their age.
"Well, yeah." Ray replied. The kid grinned.
"Then let me take you there. You all look like you're from way out of town...no offense." The kid stated.
"That'd be great! The sooner the better!" Tyson cheered. The kid chuckled.
"Hey, I overheard you saying you miss school. What kind of kid are you?" he asked as they started to walk.
"The kind that wants to be a doctor." Tyson said proudly.
"Heh, lucky. You already know what you want." The kid mumbled.
"Hey, wait!" Kenny stopped. "Tate's is that big building over there!" he pointed at the building that was getting further behind them. "Are you playing games with us?" the kid laughed a bit.
"No, no. It's just...I know a shortcut." He replied. "C'mon, let's hurry."
After a while, they arrived at a house and the kid stopped proudly.
"Ok, we're at Tate's." he stated. "A 20-dollar tour guide fee then!"
"No." all four stated.
"Ha ha ha!" he laughed. "You four are taking everything so seriously! Loosen up!"
"This isn't even Tate's!" Kenny yelled. "It's a house!" as Kenny yelled at the laughing kid, Ray leaned by Tyson and Tysa.
"Hey, you guys. Don't you think it's a bit strange he's saying 'four' of us?"
"But there are four..." Tyson stated.
"But I can't be seen by just anyone..." Tysa said, looking at the blond kid who seemed to find Kenny's anger like a comedy routine.
"Arrgh, what's your name anyways, kid?" Kenny asked.
"'Kid'? You look shorter than me, little man." The guy teased. "But my name's Max Tate. So, technically..." he turned around to the house. "This is Tate's!"
"Deh..."
"Hey, come on, guys. Don't be like that! Just come in!" Max walked inside his house and the others, after looks, followed him to his bed room. "So, you guys must need a beyblade, right?" They were unable to answer when Lucky came in the room and started barking at Kenny, Ray, and Tyson.
"W-what's with this dog?" Ray said, looking like he could puke.
"C'mon! Down, Lucky!" Max called. Lucky walked over to him. "Guess he doesn't like you three. He doesn't really like new people. At least..." he smiled at Tysa. "New people he can see."
"Wait so..." Tysa floated over to Max. "You knew no one else could see me."
"Yep. I haven't been known to see ghosts, so I have to say it was a little strange, but, hey, whatcha gonna do?"
"Well, I'm not really a ghost." Tysa replied.
"Oh, I get it! You're a hallucination!" Max stated.
"No! I'm a non-existant!"
"A what??" Max asked, getting lost. "So, you come from the previous form of this dimension...That is so cool!" Max grabbed Tysa's hand. "I can't believe I'm actually talking to one!"
"You know what they are?" Tyson asked, disbelieving.
"Of course! I'm a huge fan of paranormal activity, which drives Emily crazy," he added to himself. "But I never dreamed I'd actually meet one! Do you have a name?" he asked Tysa excitedly.
"Er...Tysa."
"Tysa! That's so cool!"
"It's a name..." Tysa said, but Max was in his own excitement.
"In honor of meeting you guys, I'm willing to give you beyblades for free!"
"Really?" Kenny asked.
"You were going to charge us?" Ray muttered, suddenly not liking Max's sudden excitement over Tysa.
"Yep, but hey, we're friends now, right?" Max told Ray. "It's all in the past now."
"Eh." Ray muttered, turning his head.
"But are they any good?" Tyson asked, looking at Max suspiciously.
"Hey, I wouldn't give bad 'blades to my friends. Have some faith!"
Afterwards, Ray put the Driger bit in his new white beyblade.
"Come on!" Max led them back downstairs. "There's a beyblade arena in the basement. You can test it out there!" Once in the basement, Ray stood in front of an old-fashioned beystadium and test-shooted his Driger. He watched it whirr around the stadium for a while until he was satified with it.
"Ok, it's good." Ray said. Max grinned.
"See, I told you!" Max laughed. "So, how long are you guys staying in America?"
"Not very long. We just needed to get Ray a beyblade." Tyson told him. Max nodded.
"I see." During this time, Kenny was looking around the basement.
"There's so many different types of beystadiums here." Kenny said in awe.
"Yeah...that's from my mom and dad. It's because of their different types of beyblade ideas that they don't get along so well anymore..." Tysa watched Max carefully.
"Are they...married?" What sort of stupid question was that?!
"Yeah. Maybe not for long but...hey, come on, you guys, let's quit with the sad mood!" Max suddenly said. "Let's go upstairs—" As soon as they came upstairs, the T.V. was showing a flash bulleton.
"This just it—it appears that a giant tiger and chimera are attacking the main city." The newscaster said.
"What?" Max said.
"A giant...tiger?" A live camera shot of the two black bit-beasts were showing them stomping around the city and of course, people screaming.
"Aaah! It's the bit-beasts..." Kenny shook.
"Bit beasts?" Max asked. "You mean the spirits of the gods?"
"Come on, we have no time for this!" Ray stated. "We have to get to where they are!"
"W-wait!" Max cried as the three boys ran out. "Why?"
"Because if we don't, this dimension will never be fixed." Tysa told him. "You stay here." Tysa was about to float out the door, when Max stopped her.
"Wait!" he said again. "I'll be right back!" Max soon returned with a necklace and showed it to Tysa. "It's something for you, so now you can't forget me, even if you wanted to!" Tysa decided to go for the necklace and grabbed it. She looked at it quizzically, considering she shouldn't even be able to touch solid objects and noticed a familiar engraving on the necklace's charm.
"Is something wrong?" Max asked, looking at Tysa's surprised expression. She turned to him, with a small surprise on her face, and thrust the necklace back into Max's hands.
"Take out that charm." She commanded. "Place it in a beyblade, and follow me."
--With Tyson, Kenny, and Ray--
Dodging the crowd of screaming people, Tyson, Kenny, and Ray got to a distance where it was still safe to view the two black bit-beasts. Ray's eyes were locked onto Dark Driger and he growled.
"This time, I'm not going to let you get away! Driger!" Ray shot out Driger towards D. Dri's beyblade base. Ray was amazed was the speed and power his new beyblade had. So, maybe that kid knew what he was doing after all...Ray said, narrowing his eyes. After all, he still didn't really like Max. "Alright, Driger! Tiger claw!" Driger came out of its bit and started to attack its dark counterpart. Driger let out a growl of pain, attracting the attention of Dark Draciel. D. Dra let out a roar and then charged into Driger, which D. Dri quickly followed up. Tyson shot out his beyblade next.
"Dragoon, help out Driger!" he shot out Dragoon, only to have it return straight to him. "Hey, what's the big deal? You're not broken, are you??"
"This isn't your fight..." a voice echoed in Tyson's head.
"B-but...if I don't help..." Tyson looked at Driger, which was taking a massive beating, and Ray wasn't taking it lightly.
"Errgh...Driger..."
"Hang in there, Ray!" Max and Tysa ran up and Max armed his new green beyblade. "Let it rip! Draciel!" Draciel shot out and the chimera bit beast automatically came out and charged into D. Dra. (oooh, sumo wrestling, ninja turtle style!) D. Dra. wasn't anticipating that and gave an angry roar towards Draciel, locking them in a pushing match. Driger was having a hard enough time with D. Dri.
Ray's breathing started to slow, showing his exhastion. He had never fought a battle this hard in his life. Lee was the one supposed to lead the White Tiger clan...
-Flashback: Right after Lee recieved the Driger bit-
"Ray."
"Huh?" Ray turned around on his way out and saw Lee's grandfather approaching him. Lee's grandfather gave Ray a reassuring smile, but Ray saw right through it. "Is something wrong, Hu-san?"
"Heh. Always to the point, Ray." Hu-san looked up at the sky and felt the breeze. "The breeze feels harsher than usual. I wonder if it's questioning my judgement."
"What do you mean 'judgement'? Don't you pass it down through family members?"
"It only seems that way, but...it actuality, the Driger spirit is passed to the most suitable leader in the White Tiger tribe. It just happened that our family members were...but I'm concerned about my grandson. Ray..." Hu-san turned to Ray. "I'm thinking I might withdraw my decision, and give the Driger to you." Ray felt a mix between excitement and regret.
"But Hu-san..." Ray started to say, the regret of hurting his best friend taking over. "Lee's much more suitable to me the leader of the White Tigers...everyone thinks I'm like the wind, and will drift easily."
"When earth is in wind's path, does wind stop?"
"What?" A riddle? Before Ray could say anything else, Hu-san walked off.
"No. Wind finds other paths as earth stays put. But, I will respect your decision, Ray, although I regret my own."
-Now: Right when Max and Ray ain't doing so well-
"Ray!" Max yelled, snapping Ray out of his memories.
"Eh, what?" Ray asked.
"Focus!" Max turned back to the battle as D. Dri and D. Dra began charging their own super moves.
"Driger! Tornado claw!" Ray stated.
"Iron Defense!" Max commanded, both the 'blades charging towards their opposing ones. There was a huge flash of light then—there were no bit beasts left. Just a white beyblade and a green one barely spinning.
"We...won?" Tyson asked. Kenny fell to his knees.
"W-wow...too much excitement for one lifetime." He sighed. Ray was silent as he picked up his beyblade and Max picked up his.
"Double wow!" Max agreed cheerfully. "That was so cool! This is the best day ever!!" Everyone groaned to Max's cheerfulness. Tysa closed her eyes in relaxation.
Finally...she thought. It's done...she suddenly felt a blast of cold hit her, shocking her into reality. W-what? She was on a snow-covered road in the middle of a town, and alone.
"W-what? Tyson, Max, Kenny? Ray?" she looked around frantic to how she got here.
"Relax, Tysa. You're in Russia." Tysa looked up to Ying Hua who was standing on a nearby streetlamp.
"R-russia? Why?"
"The last one is deeply locked in your memory. There would be no way you could have figured where to go without my help."
"But where's everyone else?! Don't we need them?!"
"Don't worry. They're safe. Focus your energy on convincing the last guardian." Ying Hua started to disappear. "He won't be as easy as the last."
-Inside the Voltaire base-
A blue-haired boy groaned to the usual sound of beyblades clashing together in the morning. The sound was often heard at anytime in the abbey.
"Mr. Hiwatari." Kai looked at the black-hooded guard that had come into the doorway. "Your grandfather requests to see you." Kai blew air out of his nose.
"I'll be right there." Kai stated, getting out of bed. On the way out, he took his Black Dranzer beyblade and walked to his grandfather's office.
"Well, look who's up." Boris taunted. Kai ignored him.
The only reason I've been sleeping late is because of those weird dreams. He mentally told himself. He walked into the office to see his grandfather.
"You wanted to see me, grandfather?"
"Yes." Voltaire Hiwatari looked up from the latest report, put it in his desk, and looked at Kai. "You have been handling Black Dranzer very well over the past year and a half. I'm quite satisfied. After all, one day I'll be gone, and you'll be left to take care of Biovolt, and continue the plan to dominate the world. Are you happy with that future, Kai?"
Before Kai could answer, the back of his head felt a sting, as if he'd been pegged by something.
"Kai?" his grandfather asked again.
"Nothing..." Kai looked at his grandfather firmly, clutching Black Dranzer in his hand. "Of course, grandfather."
Yay! Kai's on the side...(drumroll please)...of evil! (Claps) Ok. In a sense of seriousness, that's not good. 'Just have Tysa have Kai see the light' you are thinking. Eh...not so fast. Just that will be boring and uneventful. And besides, Kai wouldn't see the light if Tysa shone a flashlight in his eye. He'd be pissed, and close his eye so that he would see dark again, as most people would do. Except Kai would be extra pissed and walk off. So Tysa would follow him and let him vent his anger, until he looks at her, and grumbles off, silently forgiving her. And that's the end of the mini-story. Bye now!
Mizuki Sakura