BEYBLADE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE TOURNAMENT FINALS

Rei started following after the rest of his team had reached the bottom step, his thoughts reeling in anger and fright.

" I have to win against Bryan tomorrow. It's the only way I'll get him to truly leave me alone...not that I'm complaining.. Gah, Rei. You're talking to yourself again."

********

The Next Morning

"Ladies aaand gentlemen! Welcome to the two thousand and four Beyblade World Championship! Today's finalists come from across the globe." D.J Jazzman yelled into the microphone from his usual levitated place, a platform above the audience. "Tonight's finalists come from across the globe. Our final team is the home-grown, locally frosted and hard to beat Demolition Boys! Their opponents are the healthy, wealthy and oh so very wize... BladeBreakers!"

The crowd went berserk at the mention of the home team, yet the name "BladeBreakers" received no more than a clap here or there.

" Oh come on!" After all we did last year, they still don't cheer for us? Buncha bozos."

"Aw Tyson." Max forced a chuckle.

" Tyson, just remember... we're not the home team, they are. We should be greatful we haven't been booed out of the arena."

Max pointed. " Kenny has a point."

" Aww, but chief. I'm not used to complete silence as a welcome."

" Well, Tyson. You'd better start getting used to it now. Alright, do we all remember the strategy?" The team nodded. " Alright.. Max, get ready."

Max stood from the bench and gripped his shooter and beyblade. " Ready as I'll ever be." He winked, a cheesy grin forming across his lips.

" Yeah... Ready as I'll ever be!" Tyson cheered.

D.J Jazzman lifted the microphone to his mouth and spoke. "Aaaalllright! It's time for Round one of the finals! First up, is the silent, violent ice-capped Bryan, of the Demolition Boys!"

Rei's ears perked at the mention of his rival's name and he stood, placing a hand upon Max's shoulder as the blonde blader walked out. " Max! Let me fight the first round."

Tyson and Kenny blinked.

" But Rei, that's not the battle order." The latter interjected.

" I don't care, Chief. I've gotta do this." Rei stared at Bryan who stood at the ready, at the opposite end of the arena.

" Aaaand representing the Blade-Breakers is the cheery, hyperactive blondy, Max!" D.J Jazzman tilted his head and placed a fingertip to the comm of his headphones, nodding after a moment of silence. "Now wait. I've just received some information that the order is not clear for the Blade-Breakers." He leaned over the railings and spoke pointedly at the team. "Guys, you need to make a decision within the next minute, otherwise you'll be automatically chosen."

Kenny shrieked and pointed to Rei. "Rei! Rei is the first blader!"

D.J. Jazzman nodded and spoke. "We have confirmation that the dark, mysterious, heart-throb REI is to battle for the Blade-Breakers!"

The girls in the crowd cheered and whistled while the guys cheered and wooed. Rei stepped up to the beyblade dish and readied his blade as he eyed the lavender-haired boy, sunkissed eyes shifting over their opponent's form. Bryan caught Rei's gaze and flashed a smirk.

" Let's hope Bryan can control his temper a little more, this time around." Avoice came from the hallway beside the Blade-Breakers.

Tyson, Max and Kenny turned their line of vision to the hallway, spotting green hair and dark clothing as a man stepped forth from the shadows.

" Mr. Murdock? I coulda sworn I just heard Kai." Max scratched his head.

" Yar, me too." Tyson blinked.

" You did." Murdock waved a hand to his right and Kai appeared from the darkness.

Max and Tyson both stared wide-eyed. "Kai!"

Max chuckled. "See? I told you he'd be fine."

Tyson narrowed his eyes and sweatdropped. " Yeah, whatever. You were the one who was most worried about our captain, Max." He nudged the boy beside him.

Kenny pointed a finger. " Actually, that was Rei."

Tyson blinked and turned to view Rei and Bryan, cupping his hands around his mouth as he called out. "Rei!"

Rei, without turning to get a proper look at the midnight-haired blader, answered with an urgent- "Yeah?"

Rei turned and caught a glimpse of Kai, a slight smile creasing his features. "Kai!"

Kai stepped forward and nodded to Rei, grinning very faintly. "That's my name."

The former White-Tiger felt a new wave of confidence hit him and turned to face Bryan as he spoke.

" Quite the lovely reunion." The Demolition Boy spat, collectively.

" Yeah, too bad you're teammates don't see you the way mine see me."

" That's all going to change very soon, Rei."

" Say what?"

D.J. Jazzman interjected and held up a hand. "Ready, boys? Three... Two... One... Let it riiiiip!!!"

Both bladers let loose their bit-beasts just mere seconds into the battle, Falborg colliding with Driger in an awesome array of sparks and light. Kai remained where he stood as Tala spoke to him from the shadows. Tyson, Max and Kenny were too busy watching the battle to pay any attention, though they were also excited and glad that Kai had made it back safely.

"Go, Drigger! Get'm, buddy! Tiger Claw, Attack!!" Rei thrust his ripcord-wielding hand downward, sun-kissed orbs following his blade's movements.

Bryan twitched and folded his arms across his chest, simply glaring down at his own blade. Falborg spun around and dodged the tiger's attack, spinning back to knock against the defense ring of Driger. Driger lost his balance yet as he spun away from the opposing blade, regained it and swung around for a final attack, which landed correctly, sending Falborg reeling into the air and out of the ring.

D.J. Jazzman stared down at the battle and blinked curiously before lifting the mic to his mouth. " Uh..." He began. " ...And.. round one goes to REI!"

The crowd was separated. Some were cheering and most were booing. Not exactly the 'winning thanks' Rei had hoped for, but at least he had beaten Bryan. He stepped down from the beydish and walked into the cheering arms of his teammates who soon put forth the next blader, Tyson.

Ian stepped forth from the Demolition Boys and aimed his launcher at Tyson, soon after aiming it at the beydish. D.J. Jazzman shouted the battle countdown and the blades were launched, vicious circles of wind and hot air swirling within the dish's width. The battle was soon ended as Tyson's blade lifted from the dish and zoomed passed his ear, spinning to a stop outside the ring.

"Uh-haw... Not cool." He stared in awe.

Ian grinned as D.J. Jazzman declared him the winner of round two. Tyson stepped away from the dish and retrieve Dragoon before sitting at the bench behind his teammates. They all walked over to him and gave him praise, although he had lost the battle.

"Good." Kai murmured, sorrel occules staring at the opposition team.

Tyson blinked. "Wha? Good? Kai, are you mad? I lost! That isn't good!"

"Yeah, Tyson... it is. Every match you have won up until this one. Even the greatest of champions needs to experience defeat at one point in his life, or another."

"Kai has a good point." Kenny murmured in return, though he too was down in the dumps and depressed. "Anyway... Max's turn next. Are you ready, Max?"

Max put on a cheesy grin and nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be, chief."

(A.N.= Sorry this took so long to get out. I just kept getting writer's block..Anyway, chapter fourteen. Enjoy. =) )