Everything came back to normal during the plane ride to France.
Takao was still as hungry as a wolverine. Professor was becoming embarrassed for him as he devoured food in the first class cabin where they stayed.
"TAKAO! Don't finish up all the FOOD! Leave some for the other PASSENGERS~~~"
"I can't help it, Professor, the Pocky treats back at the airport were no GOOD."
"AAAARRRGGGH!!! What am I to DO with YOU~~~?!"
Max was seriously at work catching Pokemon on his Game Boy Advance. Tsukiyo was reading a paperback novel, and was still being pestered by Kai from the back.
"You've got a romantic little soul, microbe? Hey, I thought the germs ate up whatever shred of soul you had left."
"DAMN IT!" SD Tsukiyo transformed into a burning ogre. "Are you going to LEAVE me ALONE or do I have to PUSH you off the PLANE?!"
"Either way would be fine. But I'd do it myself, thank you. It would save you a load of stress from your miniscule brain. I mean, thinking ALONE gives you too much stress, right?"
"~~~~" SD Tsukiyo just burrowed deeper into her paperback novel.
Lei was having a hard time putting the headphones in his ears due to his chest wound (it hurt him much just to raise his arm just a tiny bit) that was why Asaya helped him with it.
"Thank you," Lei managed to wheeze out.
Asaya nodded, then put her own MP3 player earphones in her ears. She was soon drifting off to sleep with the strains of Suteki Da Ne revebrating in her ears when she felt someone was looking at her. She opened her eyes and saw that Lei was gazing at her like so.
She blinked, then she stared at him. "Is something wrong, Lei?"
"Nothing." Lei was quiet. "I…never had the chance to thank you for saving my life back there…"
"Oh." Asaya blinked again, then turned SD, smiling and her eyes closed happily. "Think nothing of it, Lei. I'm just glad everything turned out OK."
"…"
"Lei?"
"Oh…sorry." Lei turned sharply to the left, and his sudden movement made his chest sear with pain. He turned chibi neko, tears pouring in wavy torrents down his cheeks, his eyes little slits.
"Lei!" SD Asaya became extremely worried. "Where does it hurt?! Oh dear, you shouldn't have turned around so fast like THAT!"
She touched him lightly at the shoulder, and SD chibi neko Lei fell over like some deflated overcooked vegetable. She looks over at Max, looking very agitated and panicky indeed. "Max…Lei…he just…"
"He's just in pain. Let him rest easy on his back and stay still. The pain would pass," Max told her, without looking up from his Game Boy Advance.
Asaya straightened him up, her eyes wobbly with tears. "Lei, are you comfortable? Don't turn around so fast like that again, you hear? OK?"
"…" SD chibi neko Lei just nodded without another word.
"…" Asaya settled back into her seat and closed her eyes. Max turned SD and Tsukiyo just looked at him. "What?"
"Nothing." Max gave a happy little grin. "I have a very bad feeling about THIS."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, NOTHING!" Max laughed. He looks at Tsukiyo. "How're the Hobbits coming on?"
"…"
"It has become extremely clouded today, don't you think? VERY clouded."
"Yes."
"It's going to be one very INTERESTING tournament."
"…" The tall young man's fine, straight silvery white hair fell behind his back in one glorious sheet. He was staring out at the gardens of the manor done in the ancient Chinese style, the winds blowing some strands of his hair across the lower part of his face.
"You would be seeing him?"
"Yes. And I can't wait."
"Of course." The old man seated on the antique cushion strewn sofa blew on his long pipe. "And everything would be fine?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Good." The old man nodded. "They wouldn't be too pleased to 'see' you again, after 10 long years. And he, too."
"They would be very surprised, Grandfather. VERY surprised." The young man looks at his deep maroon Bey Blade, set upon his satchel strap, his curious amber yellow eyes thoughtful. "Geiger would be meeting them. Very SOON."
The birds on the small pond before them took wing in surprise. The old man just threw his head back and laughed.
It would be one very INTERESTING meet.