Homecomings

The trip to Hong Kong was uneventful, to say the least.

Well…the meeting at the airport was something else.

"Takao, Takao, Takao, let's go do some SERIOUS Bust a Move when we get to Hong Kong, first thing we do after we touch down at the AIRPORT!" Tsukiyo told her best friend, pulling at his sleeve.

"What, microbe?! You STILL didn't HAVE enough Bust a Move here, you're gonna terrorize another arcade away from JAPAN?" Kai retorted, frowning. "Takao, why did you BRING that retard along?"

"I am NOT a RETARD you WOODSTOCK REJECT!"

"At LEAST I'm not a skinny retard MICROBE."

"For the LAST time I'm NOT a MIIIICCCCRRROOOOBBBEEEE~~~~!!!"

"Hey Lei, are we going to stay at Hong Kong for a couple of hours before heading on to your village?" Max asked Lei, who was looking through an airport catalogue one of the passengers has left lying on the benches.

"That's the idea," Lei answered. "Jet lag can be tiring, and I want everybody to be at their best before we head on out to the mountains. It's very cold by now, and the air's so thin."

"That's fine by me," Professor told him. "Hey, do you by any chance know of any cool dimsum restaurants in Hong Kong, aside from the restaurant where you worked ages ago? I've a feeling Takao needs to raid ALL restaurants as soon as we touch down at the airport. I need a list so I could just shove it to him."

"Errh…OK." Lei had a huge sweatdrop on his head.

"Where's Miss Asaya? I thought she said she'd be here by now," Takao said, blinking.

"…" Max blinked, then pointed. "I think here she comes now."

They all turned to look. A huge black cloud was seen even from a great distance, and when it got a little closer, it was found out that the cloud actually was the Asaya Ninomiya Cheering Brigade in FULL force.

"Princess, write to US!"

"Don't forget that you are my one and only starlight!"

"I get to sit right beside you at the OPENING!"

"~~~~" SD Asaya had a helpless look on her face. "Yes, yes, I'll see you! Don't worry, I won't take long."

"We have to show you our NEW routine!" The front guy looked behind him. "OK people, let's give it a GO!"

They all got their paper fans then some started banging on huge o-taiko with their bamboo banging sticks (^^;;).

"She's so FINE she's so DIVINE the Goddess from the Heavens descended and so SUBLIME~~~!!!"

"Good GRIEF." SD Kai had a huge sweatdrop on his head.

"Errh…I'll just SEE you guys at FRANCE!" SD Asaya was nodding. "Thank you, thank you very much!"

They all departed with much racket and fanfare as they came, throwing popping party favors and confetti about. SD Asaya sighed, then slowly turned around, her eyes little slits. "Hello. Sorry I'm late. I got held up by…errh…a traffic jam on the way here."

"It's…OK." Takao's eyes were wide. "Wow, I didn't know the Brigade's THAT huge already…"

"They're going to FRANCE?" SD Lei asked her, blinking.

"Yes. They support me in all my Bey Blading endeavors, all the way. They seem…different…but they're really nice once you get to know them a little more." Asaya blinked. "So. Are you guys all here?"

"Yes. You're the only one left we're waiting for," Max answered.

"I'm really SORRY!" SD Asaya turned into a wobbly-eyed chibi neko. "If I'd only known they'd be blocking the WHOLE expressway just to get to me I should've used the HELICOPTER…"

"It's not your fault you have LOTS of fans." Kai turned then started walking away. "They just called our flight. We better board the plane right now, it's still quite a flight to Hong Kong."

They all turned and walked off. Lei was about to leave when Asaya came up to him. "Lei? Are you feeling fine…"

"Queasy." Lei nodded. "Thanks for worrying."

"Lei, whatever happens, it's NOT your fault."

"?" Lei was puzzled, but he nodded, nonetheless. "Alright. As you say…"

"Lei…"

"Yes?"

"Thank YOU." With a small smile, Asaya went after Tsukiyo and Kai, who were still bickering as they went through the ticket inspector (^^;;).

Lei just stood there, his amber yellow eyes thoughtful and expressive.

***What did she mean by that…?***

"LEI! Hurry! OH BOY they've got a wide selection of FOOD right HERE!" SD Takao yells, jumping up and down in a giddy manner.

"O-oh! Yes, Takao, I'm coming." Lei went after Asaya.

***What could she probably mean by THAT…?***