"…this is IMPOSSIBLE~~~!!!"

Jimmy could only look on in disbelief as Iori connected with a PERFECT Level 5 SDM Moon Slayer that took out ALL of Dark Chris' remaining health (which was still like ¾ full).

The whole audience was quiet. SD Takao, Tsukiyo, Max, Professor, and Lei could only watch with circular eyes and their mouths hanging open. The bald men turned paper white and looked like perfect replicas of The Scream painting. The man holding the microphone let it roll down to the ground, his face having thin vertical dark blue lines underneath his eyes.

Asaya stretched her arms over her head, then smiled sweetly at the still shocked Jimmy. "Still on for another round, Mr. Ko?"

The whole arcade burst into thunderous applause, the guys screeching and whistling very shrilly. The guys who bet on Asaya hurried to get their payment, then Asaya went with Jimmy someplace else.

Tsukiyo was still unbelieving. "Gosh, I know she's a game freak but not like THIS…"

"Imagine, coming full circle…Jimmy's got 39 wins…she just let him loose until it was just right…then she took off like a lightning BOLT…" Takao burst into ecstatic tears. "DAMN! She's a GODDESS~~~!!!"

"Going from 0 to 40 wins is no mean feat when the opponent's like 1 win away." Max shook his head. "She's got a definite future in video gaming, aside from Bey Blading."

Lei looked at the hanging gear clock by the entrance of the video arcade, and saw that it was already 9:30. "Oh no! The bus will arrive 9:45!"

"Oh, CRIPES!" SD Takao looks around, panicking. "Are all your things still with you?"

"Yeah," Max replied. He looks over at Lei. "Lei, we'll go hail a taxi outside, while you wait for Miss Asaya. OK with you?"

"Y-yes."

"OK. Takao, grab your things and let's head on out! Tsukiyo, Professor, come with us!"

They all bolted out of sight. Lei waited for Asaya, and she appeared a few minutes later.

"Asaya, there you are. Listen, we have to hustle, the bus would be arriving 9:45, and we have to get to the other side of Hong Kong just to get to it."

"OK." Asaya nodded. "Thank you for waiting."

"…?" Lei blinked, his amber yellow eyes puzzled. "Asaya, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Asaya nodded again. "Let's go."

They arrived at the terminal with a full minute to spare. The bus has just barely opened its doors for its passengers when the 6 of them arrived.

"I get the back seats," Takao announced. "I'm beat."

"It's a good thing we're the only passengers aboard this unholy hour," Max said as he followed Takao. "We saved them from Takao's really orchestral snoring."

"HEY!"

Kai arrived a few seconds later then swung onboard then sat right in front, behind the driver. Tsukiyo and Professor sat on the middle aisle seats, while Lei sat on the seat a few seats behind Kai's. Max sat right in front of Takao, and Asaya sat opposite Tsukiyo and Professor.

"Alright, all aboard?" the driver asked them.

"Yes, sir!" Max calls happily from the back, where he was pestering Takao.

"OK." The driver then pushes the button that has the automatic doors slide slowly shut, shifted gears, and then they were off. It would be a very grueling 8 hour trip to the mainland, and Lei wasn't sure if he could get to sleep.

The bickerings and stifled giggles became softer and softer until the whole bus became quiet. Lei was looking at the full moon hanging like a golden disc right outside his window when Kai's soft voice drew him back to reality.

"How many tribes are there living in those mountains, Lei?"

"Quite a few. But most of them have come down to the valleys below. The White Tiger Clan has been taking care of the mountains ever since the days of imperial China…at least that's what the elders told me."

"Had you always been an 'assassin tribe'?"

"That was quite a long time ago. We only took out those people opposing the empire. You could pretty well say we're loyal to the Emperor of China. But…times change…people change…we're no more than a clan of farmers right now. They said…there was a misunderstanding…one branch took to the peaceful ways of living while another took to the darker side of power. We preserve our traditions as once proud warriors, yes…but we don't fight unless we really need to." Lei was puzzled. "Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing, really. I was just…thinking of something." Kai closed his eyes. "Better get some sleep, Lei. You need all the strength you can in order to return to your village tomorrow."

"…yes. I'll do that."

Kai became quiet a little while later. Maybe he's drifted off to sleep, too.

Lei's eyes started to droop. The gods know how much he has been very worried. But they were right. There was nothing to worry about.

Lei closed his eyes and slept.