Chapter Five: New Lodgings

The tournament morning dawned bright and early, and there was actually a bit of sun. Then it started to snow lightly, and it soon got cold. When the coach pulled up for them at six thirty five the next day, the Blade-Breakers were standing outside - well, all but one Blade-Breaker. As usual, Tyson was late. He tended to arrive at the last minute.

"Where is he?" Kenny fretted, looking around himself, "We can't get on without him! You have to get on the coach as a team!"

Max rolled his eyes. "He'll be here, late, but here."

Tyson suddenly barged out of the door, clasping his cap in his hand and his Beyblade in his teeth.

"Mff . . . mmumming!"

Rei grinned. "I think he said 'coming'!"

Kai scowled at Tyson. "Get a move on. We're about to leave."

Tyson panted as he came up, pulling up his sock and twisting his cap onto his head, flattening his spiky hair in the process. "Sorry I'm late!" he said breathlessly, removing his Beyblade from his mouth, "I couldn't find my shoes!"

"Couldn't lace them either, by the looks of it!"

Tyson turned to the coach and saw Jenna, Leanne and Tony leaning out of the window. He looked at his shoes and saw the girls' point - his laces were untied and he looked ridiculous.

"Oops!" he blushed. The Chief shook his head in exasperation. "That can wait. Quick, before we miss the coach."

"Wait, my luggage!" yelled Tyson, realising he had not packed his baggage. Rei grinned. "We took the liberty of packing it ourselves - knowing you'd forget!"

Tyson sighed in relief. "Phew!"

Then, the Blade-Breakers clambered onto the bus, took their seats, and the bus revved up and chugged off slowly.

********

The trip up the precipitous mountains was lengthy and rocky. The driver had to take the corners slowly and carefully as the roads were thin and slippery and there were no fences or walls to stop the coach from falling. The snow had grown heavier and was falling fast, blurring the driver's vision and making the journey even slower. The road was very windy and the coach never exceeded twenty miles per hour.

The Blade-Breakers sat reading, playing games, or talking about Beyblade. The only other team there was The Comets, and they were chatty and excited too. They discussed the other tournaments they had been in, and what they thought this one was going to be like. The only people who didn't really talk were Rio and Kai - surprise, surprise.

After a three hour journey the more excited of the Blade-Breakers - Tyson and Max, that is - were getting jaded and were rigid with anticipation. When the coach finally pulled to a stop, they bounced off it, eager to see the stadium, the crowds, the teams they'd face.

The coach pulled up in a parking lot filled with other coaches. Other Beyblade teams milled around - some practising, some meditating, some just chilling and relaxing. Before them was a huge, pale blue stadium, about five storeys high, and next to it was a glamorous looking hotel. Tyson was overwhelmed by the sheer size of it!

"Cool!" he mouthed at Max, who nodded, his eyes wide. The girls seemed just as impressed, staring open mouthed out of the coach windows and at the building. On the front of the larger building, there was a sign saying 'Arctic Dome' in sparkling white letters - which were surprisingly clear against the white backdrop.

"I sure can't wait to get in there!" said Rei, stepping off the coach after Tyson and Max had leaped off, "It looks amazing!"

"Yeah!" agreed the Chief, stepping off the coach, followed by Kai, and even he looked impressed. The Chief opened Dizzi up.

"Ooo, Chief, look who's moving up in the world!"

"Can it Dizzi, I can't help it if I've got better accommodation than you do."

"Neither can I - you trapped me in here, remember?"

The Chief snapped Dizzi shut, not wanting to get into the old argument again.

"Ok guys, let's go register. We need to sign in."

The Blade-Breakers made their way across the huge parking lot, still awed by the scenery. There was every type of Beyblader here, Tyson was sure. He thought about how awesome the tournament was going to be when he stepped through the door of the Hotel Arctic.

"Woah!"

Inside was just as extraordinary. The whole place was decorated in blue and white, and there was a luxurious looking reception desk to their right. There were stairs leading up ahead of them, which were brown with gold banisters, and there was a door to their left.

The Chief went up to the reception desk. "Hi. We're the Blade- Breakers."

An attractive young girl at the reception desk smiled at him. "Hold on, let me look for your name," she flicked through some pages on a clipboard until she found their name, her silky light brown hair falling into her soft, coffee brown eyes, "Ah, here we go. The Blade-Breakers. Welcome. We hope you enjoy your stay here. Rest assured that you will receive the best treatment here at the Hotel Arctic, and, on behalf of the whole hotel staff, I'd like to wish you good luck in the tournament."

Tyson grinned. "Thanks, Miss."

The girl giggled. "Please, call me Janine. Now, I need the Team Leader to sign you all in here . . . and here . . . and then I'll find out which one of the hotel staff is assigned to looking after you. Each team gets their own personal service."

Kai stepped forward, took the pen that Janine held out to him, and began to write on the forms she handed him. Janine stared at him, for a moment forgetting that she had a job to do, and when he looked up at her and gave her the pen and forms back, their eyes met and she looked away diffidently.

"Well . . . let me see," she said, fiddling with a strand of hair, "Um . . . who will be staffing you? Um . . . " she flipped through some more sheets underneath the desk, "Oh, it's Danny . . . hey Danny?"

A young man of about twenty stepped out from a through room behind the reception desk as she called him. He had spiky brown hair with jagged blond streaks in it, and he wore a badge reading 'supervisor'. Janine went and talked with him very quietly and briskly for a second, before returning, smiling affably.

"My mistake. Looks like it's me who's staffing you! Just give me a minute, and I'll go get your bags and then show you to your room!"

She stepped out from behind the reception desk, clothed in a blue and white uniform consisting of trousers and a blouse and blazer. She was only young - sixteen at the very most - with pale skin and a slim figure. She spoke perfect English - she almost sounded like she was American.

"We'll help you with the bags, Janine," called Tyson, and she turned around.

"That's alright! It's my job!"

"No, we'll help," said Max cheerily, "There's a lot of stuff."

Janine smiled gratefully. "Alright. Thank you."

The Blade-Breakers followed Janine out of the hotel Arctic and across to the parking lot. Rei pointed out their coach and she spoke to the driver.

"Hello again, Jeff!"

"Hi there Janine. Good weather, huh?"

Janine smiled and then Jeff the driver opened the luggage compartment. Janine began to look for their bags.

"Um . . . ah, this one belongs to . . . Kenny. Kenny?"

The Chief took his bag from her, looking a little startled by Janine's willingness to serve. She rooted through the baggage in the coach, searching for all of their bags. Tyson offered to help but she insisted she was fine.

"This one is . . . um . . . it says Rio. I take it none of you are Rio."

She continued to root, pulling out bag after bag. The Blade-Breakers were a little amused. They had never felt so important before.

"Kai. Which one of you is Kai?"

She stood up, nearly banging her head on the door of the compartment when she saw whose bag it was.

"I . . . like . . . I like your bag," she said coyly as he took his bag out her hands. The others expected Kai to mock her or at least scowl at her or something - they were used to this by now - but he simply nodded and moved away.

"Not even a glare!" whispered Tyson to Max, "Weird!"

Once Janine had finished with all of the bags she shut the luggage compartment, threw the keys to Jeff and led them back into the hotel.

"Do you like the hotel, Blade-Breakers?"

Max nodded. "I love it, Miss Janine. I can't wait to see the room!"

"You think this place is cool," she said, "just wait till you see the Dome! It's fantastic!"

Tyson felt like he was going to explode. "When can we see it?"

"You have to wait until the opening ceremony," Janine said, going behind the reception desk again, "and that's this afternoon. It's when you meet your opponents!"

She bent down, rummaged in a drawer, and then popped back up again, slapping two silver keys on the desk.

"Keys to your room. These two are for you. I have to keep a spare one. If you need it come and find me. Breakfast is at eight, lunch at twelve-thirty, and dinner is at five-thirty. Don't be late, or you'll have to order it on room service, and that is pretty expensive."

"Thanks, Janine," said Rei decently, "Can we see our room now?"

Janine came from behind the desk. "Sure - oh wait ! One more thing!"

She looked uneasily at the Blade-Breakers, and the contented atmosphere almost immediately broke. "I . . . I have to take your blades."

"What?!?" cried Tyson, instantaneously distrustful, "No way!"

Janine looked very apologetic. "I'm sorry, but it's company procedure. You aren't allowed your Beyblades in between matches!"

"But isn't that what Beyblading is about?" asked Max, puzzled, "improving your blade? How do we practice if we don't have our blades?"

"Well," explained Janine, "This tournament isn't just about your blades. We wanted to make it just as much about the player - more so if possible. So we adapted it. You're the one who has to improve yourself to defeat your opponents, not the Beyblade."

The Blade-Breakers looked dismayed.

"This is weird," said Rei, looking at his Driger in his hand. He didn't much feel like parting with it, even for a little while. Each Breaker felt the same. Their blades were their partners, their companions, and, with the whole 'photograph' incident still fresh in their minds, they didn't feel like letting their blades out of their sight for one minute.

Janine looked upset. "I'm sorry about this. If you don't hand over your blades, you can't compete."

There was a short silence, each Blade-Breaker looking at their blade.

"We'll compete alright," said Kai suddenly, handing Janine his Beyblade. She took it, stunned. It was the first time she had heard Kai speak.

"Th - thank you, Kai."

"Look after my Dranzer," he said directly, gravely; staring at Janine straight in the eyes, "I'm trusting it to you."

Janine looked down at the red and blue blade in her hands. "I'll take good care of your blade. I promise. I'm the only person who has the key to the Beyblade safe."

Kai nodded and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. The other members of the team, surprised as they were, followed Kai's example, and, feeling they could trust Janine, grudgingly gave her their blades. Tyson felt completely wrong, but he did it anyway.

Just keep an eye on them, Janine," he said, "There's been a lot happening recently, so watch our blades carefully."

Janine nodded enthusiastically as she put their Beyblades in a small metal safe and locked them away in a cupboard underneath the reception desk. She then smiled brightly, and now that the previous tension was over, they were all eager to see their room. Janine picked up three bags and began to make her way upstairs.

"You'll have two rooms, and if you like you can use one for storing clothes and luggage and so on, and the other for sleeping, relaxing, and whatever you feel like, really," Janine said as she led them up the lavish looking stairs and onto a swish corridor, which was again blue and white with luxurious wooden flooring and velvet cream curtains. The Blade- Breakers felt very important. Tyson gaped at all of the stylish looking pictures and decorations on the walls, which were flat and a clear shade of sky blue.

"Or of course you could just split up if you liked - it's up to you," Janine continued, stopping at a white door with a gold handle and taking out the required key.

"Well, here it is," she said, opening the door wide as so to give the Blade-Breakers a good view. They gasped.

"Well this is more like it!" said Tyson, putting his hands on his hips. The room was stunning. There were five comfy looking beds, each with a duvet and an extra blanket at the bottom, and there were three closets, each walk-in wardrobes. There was a blue sofa in one of the corners of the room, and opposite was a cable ready TV. There were pictures on the wall, and sophisticated looking vases of flowers placed in various spots around the room. There was a huge window, with a balcony, overlooking the front of the hotel and giving them a beautiful view of the peaceful mountains.

"Wow," said Kenny in awe as he walked into the room. Tyson bounced in, flung off his socks and shoes and began to ruffle his toes on the huge cream rug in the middle of the room. Rei placed his hand over his face, embarrassed. That was just not how to behave.

Janine giggled, amused by Tyson's antics, and watched as Max and the Chief joined him, testing out everything in the new room. Max almost got lost in one of the wardrobes - even though it had a light inside and everything - it was just enormous! There was an en suite bathroom too, so the guys didn't have to trudge down the hallway if they needed the bathroom in the night.

Rei and Kai went and saw the other room - just as marvelous. Everything was clean and tidy - there were even mints on their pillows.

"How's about you and I share this room, Kai?" asked Rei tentatively, "And leave those three to have the other room?"

Kai looked at him, thought, and then nodded. "Yeah, ok."

Janine looked pleased. "You like your rooms?"

"Like is an understatement," said Rei, his face glowing, "They're excellent!"

Janine smiled gleefully. "Good. Well, I'll just take these cases to the other room. You're just opposite each other in the hallway, so there should be no problems finding each other. Settle in and I'll bring you your bags in a moment."

She disappeared and shut the door. Rei examined the room with interest, and Kai lay down on the bed and put his hands behind his head. It wasn't long before Tyson and Max burst in.

"Wow, guys, isn't this amazing! It's just a little bit better than the other place, don't you think?"

Rei rolled his eyes. "I know it's amazing, Tyson, and I bet you can't wait to go explore - but put your shoes on before you go anywhere else."

Tyson looked down at his bare feet and Max did the same. "Shucks, Rei! Come explore! It'll be fun!"

"Nah, I've gotta unpack my bags."

Tyson pouted. "Fine. But don't complain to me when you don't know your way around. We're off to explore. Coming, Kai?"

"Nope."

"Why am I not surprised?"

Tyson rolled his eyes, and then he and Max left the room, banging the door behind them. When the door opened again in two seconds, Rei sighed, exasperated. But it was actually Janine with their bags. She placed them just inside the room.

"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here. If you need anything, just call the reception desk. The number's by the phone, which is over there next to the TV. Feel free to ask for anything you like."

She was about to shut the door and leave. "Oh, wait, I almost forgot! The opening ceremony starts at three this afternoon. Don't miss it - it's your chance to size up the opposition!"

Rei nodded in thanks, and Janine left, giving Kai a timid glimpse as she left. He looked at her for a moment and then looked away again, and stared out of the window. Janine glanced at the floor and shut the door quietly.

Rei sat down. "This sure is the life, huh Kai?"

Kai didn't respond, and Rei sighed.

********

Meanwhile, Tyson, Max and Kenny were up on the next floor, exploring vigorously. The whole hotel was just as impressive as their rooms were. They discovered that the Comets were on the floor above them, and they also found the dining hall, which Tyson seemed to like the look of greatly. The Chief laughed as Tyson suggested they try and bribe the cooks to bring them food at two a.m.

"Not likely, Tyson, but it's a good idea nonetheless!"

Max giggled too. Then he looked up. "What's on the other two floors?"

Dizzi, who was being carried in Kenny's hands, bleeped. "It's a major sports facility. There's a swimming pool, an indoor ski ramp, a Jacuzzi, a basketball court, a tennis and badminton court, a skate ramp, a running track, and trampolines."

"WOAH!!!" cried Max, eager to go upstairs. Kenny held out his hand.

"Hold it, Max. The facilities - well, all except the Jacuzzi - aren't open until after the opening ceremonies. You'll have to wait."

Max was downcast. "Darn. Oh well, there's still plenty to explore."

"Yeah," agreed Tyson, "I still wanna see the stadium!"

"Nope, that's off limits till this afternoon too."

Now Tyson was disappointed. "For real?"

"Yes - but the ceremony is at three, so you don't have long to wait. It's almost twelve now."

"Yeah, and food is at twelve thirty!" cried Tyson, his spirits lifting once again. Max laughed.

"Nothing can keep you in a bad mood when food is involved, Tyson!"

Tyson grinned. "Yeah, well, you can't beat food!"

********

The Blade-Breakers met up at lunch. They were all impressed by the massive dining room, which was filled with lengthy brown tables. There were huge windows along the left and right walls, and the sun from outside shone in and glistened on the silver that was neatly laid out at each table. There were chandeliers and tables with vases of roses on them, and there were light blue tablecloths with a creamy edge.

"I don't feel like I should even be allowed in here!" said Max as he walked in through the big double doors. Rei laughed.

"Yeah. It's kind of a step up from the last dump we stayed in!"

"True!" said the Chief, looking around in awe. Dizzi, who he had brought with him, bleeped.

"Very classy, Chief! Buy me a drink, would ya?"

The Chief smirked. "Yeah right. Be quiet, Dizzi!"

"Fine then. If anyone wants me, I'll be in my A: drive!"

Kenny closed his laptop and looked around. "Well, let's eat!"

The Blade-Breakers took a seat next to Comets (Rei looked embarrassed when Leanne waved a shy hand) and began to talk immediately. The Comets seemed just as impressed with their new accommodation. They were also joined by a few of the hotel staff - who had heard of the Blade-Breakers and wanted to speak to them. Janine was amongst them.

"So, you're the Beybladers. It's an honour to meet you!" One of the hotel staff said.

Tyson, halfway through tearing some meat off a turkey leg with his teeth, blushed. "Yup! Pleasure to . . . eat . . . sorry . . . meet . . . you!"

The man laughed. "You're a character, Tyson. You all are. I watched you on TV."

"Cool," said Max, almost dropping a bit of salad down his dungarees. "You like Beyblading?"

"Love it! Wish I had my own one-day! I'd sure love a Bit-Beast!"

"Take me!" Dizzi bleeped from on the Chief's knees, "He's keeping me cooped!"

The man laughed again. "By the way, I'm Mr Neilson. Call me Giorgio if you like. I'm one of the staff managers here."

Giorgio then busied himself in eating his salad - a tall, straight- faced man with jet-black hair and deep, inset eyes that stood out against his pale skin.

"And you're the Comets," said another of the staff, "I've heard stories. Rumor has it you're all amazing!"

"Ah well, only rumors, huh?" said the Chief, grinning at Tony, who laughed.

"Yeah, but no smoke without a fire!"

"Touché!"

They all laughed, and the amusing conversation was kept up through lunch. There were three courses! There was a soup starter, a kind of buffet salad for main course, and then cake for desert. Tyson had never been happier, and he stated so when he finished his chocolate cake off.

"You mean you're happier than when we won the Asian tournament?" said Max curiously. Giorgio looked up.

"Oh, I saw that one! Rei, you fought your old rivals, huh? Bet that was tough!"

"Yeah, but we're friends again now. We made up," said Rei in between forkfuls of cake, and for a moment his thought drifted to Mariah, and he almost smiled. Giorgio nodded.

"Still, it made for some interesting viewing, huh?"

He had a point. Then, as waiters and waitresses came and cleared up, Tyson stood.

"Well, we got two hours to kill. I say we go to the Jacuzzi. Apparently it's huge!"

Max looked excited. "Can we? I haven't had a nice hot soak for ages! It's sooooooooo relaxing!"

Kai stood. "Fine. Whatever you want. But be ready to work later. We need to train up."

The Chief nodded. "Kai is right. We still have serious training to do - but an hour in the hot tub won't harm any of us!"

"Let's go then!" said Rei eagerly. The Comets stood up too.

"We'll come as well. We've been training really hard too, and we feel we need a break!" (Rei tried not to show his annoyance when Leanne pouted really stupidly at him. He thought it was best not to say that she looked like a duck. He had a feeling his hot tub trip might not be so relaxing after all . . . )