An: Yo… wee yet ANOTHER update! Go me! This came as a result of being threatened twice today to update lol. This one goes out to Leina who has been very supportive as well as Jade-55 who always encourages me. (Sorry I tried to fit the scene you requested in this chapter, but it was getting too long! Next chapter I promise!) Anyways one to the chapter! Oo before I forget ppl! Go read me and Jade-55's fic Breaking at the Seams! http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=994801 its good! And we don't have many reviews u.u;; also Zero Systolic drew a picture of Robert and Liika from a couple chapters back here it is; http://fate.xantonium.com/robertliika.jpg it may be down cause my servers is being ghey… but try anyway!
"Poor, poor Enrique!" Rei moaned as he and Mariah traveled down the hall towards his locker after the last class of the day.
"Poor Enrique? What about poor you!" Mariah pouted back, locking her arms about his waist.
Rei laughed and stroked his girlfriend's hair, gently urging her to continue walking. "I didn't get it that bad, at least I'm paired with a girl."
To this Mariah snorted and let go her death grip on his waist, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she did so. "Girl? More like witch! She's had her sights on you since she moved here! This is just the opportunity she needs!" Mariah huffed, scowling and crossing her arms over her chest.
They had reached Rei's locker but instead of opening it, Rei pulled Mariah towards him and wrapped his arms around her, smiling into her hair. "Do I sense a bit of jealousy my dear?" he asked softly, not being able to hide the amusement in his voice.
Mariah continued to scowl against his chest, but wrapped her arms around his back as well. "Jealous? It's just a stupid project."
Rei's smile grew, he knew that she didn't feel that way, he could her it in her tone. "Alright if it's just a project, then I suppose I don't have to be jealous of Oliver?"
"Oliver??" She exclaimed pulling away with wide, outraged eyes. "What the hell would make you think I'm interested in Oliver?!"
Letting her go completely Rei tilted his head back and let out a loud laugh. With a shake of his head, he opened his locker, still chuckling. "You never know… you might decide you like someone a bit more pretty."
"Rei Brandon Kon! You better take that back!" Mariah yelled, turning him around and slamming him against the closed locker beside his, her eyes narrowed and visibly annoyed.
Rei blinked in surprise and grinned. He liked it when his girl got spunky, it was much better than her pouting about some girl that meant absolutely nothing to him. Still grinning, he leaned down and caught her lips with his own, kissing her thoroughly to make sure that she knew he was indeed taking it back and that he had no interest in any other girl but her.
"Take it home, or I will find other activities to occupy your time!" A voice snapped, cutting them off.
Jerking apart they turned their attention their attention to the tall dark man who was glaring at them in contempt. "Sorr-ry Mr. Amery!" Rei stuttered, clutching Mariah's waist protectively.
Mariah cowered as well. Boris Amery was the meanest teacher at Bakuten High, and every student from freshman to senior was petrified of him. He wore tinted glasses that made his eyes appear to glow red, and the students were convinced he didn't really need the glasses, but used them for effect. He was tall, with slicked back purple hair, what his natural eye color was, no one could say, as he was never seen with out his glasses. But perhaps the scariest thing about him was what he taught. Drama. He was the exact opposite of any drama teacher they had ever met or seen on TV.
With a final sneer the tall hideously frightening teacher turned on his heel and stalked away. Mariah shuddered and stepped away from Rei, pushing at him to get his things from his locker. "Come on, we have practice to get to! Who knows what fun surprises that new captain has for us!" She said grimacing.
Rei chuckled again and leaned over, kissing her on the cheek. "Whatever you say babe."
Kai tapped his foot and waited for the whole team to show up. It was the day of reckoning, and after that horrid Family Management class, doing what he was about to do would make him feel better. There was nothing like getting a group of people to follow his orders exactly, and seeing the shocked faces on the girls when they see that they were not included in the ranking tournament he made up would make it all worth it. Anything to annoy that stupid blue haired girl would be worth the grief he would have to put up from the other girls. He would get her back for his eye, which by the next day was completely black and blue, but no one had said anything that day, for which they were lucky.
They were almost all assembled in front of the rolling white board he had borrowed from the PE department. It was turned away from there, the writing hidden from view. Deciding he would not wait anymore he coughed loudly and said in a very clear voice. "Pay attention now, because I'm only going to say this once."
The group quieted quickly enough, all focusing their attention on him and the whiteboard he was standing beside.
"What's with the white board?" Tyson asked scratching his head.
"If you shut up I will tell you." Kai replied, snorting, to which Tyson shrugged at. "Today we start the ranking tournament that will decide regulars for the team. As you know, there are eight spots, two doubles pairs, three singles and a spare, however, in this ranking tournament you will all be battling in singles style, we will decide doubles after we have decided the eight." Kai stated the authority very clear in his voice. Then shooting a look at Liika, who was all but snarling at him, he hid a smirk and turned the white board around. "This is the order of playing, be ready for the first round in five minutes." With that he started off to ready his own blade for combat.
"Wait a second. I'm not on that list." Emily spoke, scrutinizing the board.
"Neither am I." Jade added, then frowning said, "Actually none of the girls are."
Kai could feel the stares of the entire team on his back, but he just shrugged and continued on his way –that is until an angry voice snarled behind him, "Asshole!"
Kai turned and found himself face to face with livid turquoise eyes and clenched fists. Gazing back calmly he nudged her away. "Please step away from me." He said flatly.
"How dare you?! You can't do this!" She spat poking him in the chest.
His eyes hardened and his mouth flattened into a straight line. Leaning forward he whispered to her, "Watch me."
Liika twitched, her fists clenching in rage. She once again found herself struggling not to hit him, and like before she was losing the battle fast. How dare he not allow the girls to play for spots on the team?! They were just as good as the boys, if not better! "We have every right to be able to blade in the ranking tournament!" She yelled back in his face.
"Actually, you don't. I am the captain and I make up the tournament, and I feel that you are not good enough to compete, deal with it." He replied coolly, his chestnut eyes flicking over all the girls that stood still and silent too shocked to speak. Pushing past Liika he motioned to the boys, who were just as surprised. "Go on, get ready. You have three minutes."
The rest blinked and still did not move, their eyes all turning to Liika who stood stock still. Mariah, however, was having none of it. "Liika's right! You are an asshole! What makes you think that we're so much worse than the boys?" Mariah demanded.
Kai eyed her, barely acknowledging her existence. "You're girls, that's all I need to know." Was all he said.
It was the straw that broke the camels back. Liika screeched and lunged at Kai's back, Mariah not far behind her. Robert and Lee glanced at each other quickly and intercepted the girls before they could touch the blue haired captain.
Robert's arms encircled Liika's waist and pulled her against him. Lowering his head he murmured in her ear. "Don't give him a reason Liika." Liika ceased all movement and relaxed against Robert.
Mariah continued to struggle against Lee's hold and shrieked, "It's not fair! You can't do it! We are apart of this team too!"
Kai glanced over his shoulder, and continued on his way, this time completely ignoring the girls. Jade and Emily stepped over to where Liika and Mariah were being held and put there hands on the girls' respective shoulders. "He's not going to listen. Come on, there's nothing we can do now." Jade said softly, shooting a withering glare at the retreating boy's back.
Liika and Mariah nodded and broke away from the hold imposed on them, all heading towards the exit.
"Well you can sure as hell bet I'm not supporting your sexist ways!" Enrique burst out angrily at Kai, who paused and finally turned around. Enrique stalked over to where the girls had stopped at his out burst. "Care for some company ladies?" He gave them a lopsided grin, earning a giggle from them.
"Nor am I." Robert spoke, following the girls as well. "Excluding people based on gender is revolting and dishonorable."
"I agree." Lee glared at Kai, the also followed.
Max fidgeted, and frowned, not sure what to do. His principles didn't agree with Kai, and secretly he wanted to support Emily, his long time crush, but he didn't want to lose his place on the beyblade team, he loved the sport. Debating with himself a second more, he stepped forward as well. "Me too." He said bravely and walked over to the group that had assembled by the gate, blushing at the surprised faces.
Kai crossed his arms and surveyed the rest of the boys that had not yet sided with the girls. "Anyone else?" He sneered.
The boys looked at each other nervously and each shook their heads. Rei flinched as he heard Mariah hiss his name, but he too shook his head. "I'm sorry Mariah." He said softly, looking down.
She growled a "Fine!" and turned away.
"Well then, if that's all of you that has decided to forfeit your spot in the tournament and on the regular team, there really isn't any need to hold a ranking tournament beyond to rate your skills. In eliminating the girls, it seems I have narrowed the team down to eight," Kai shrugged. "Easier for me that way. Now those who have not made the regulars, please leave. We have work to do."
Liika's group of eight glared at the remaining group, but mostly at their leader then turned as one and left the outdoor beyblading course.
"I can't believe Mr. Dickenson took his side!" Mariah shouted shaking her fist and the door they had just exited, which happened to be the office door.
"Hiwatari was totally out of line, I can't believe that the principal actually went along with him!" Emily exclaimed with a shake of her head.
"No kidding." Jade replied, looking less than pleased.
Liika was surprisingly quiet, and had been throughout the meeting with Mr. Dickenson. She had left the explaining up to the other girls as well as Robert and Lee. She stared at the floor as they made their way out of the school, not commenting on anything any other the others where saying. In her head her mind was whirling. Accusations, as well as solutions floated around her head, but one main thing stood out.
It was her fault.
"It's my fault." She murmured under her breath, still looking at the floor.
Mariah's ears twitched as she picked up the faint murmur. Scowling she marched over to her blue haired friend and placed her hands on Liika's shoulder, giving them a good shake. "Don't you say that Liika-Amanda! What that jerk did was in no way your fault!" Mariah cried, shaking her shoulders more.
"But don't you see?" Liika pulled away. "It is my fault. If I hadn't have let my temper get the best of me on Friday and if I hadn't have punched him he would have never of taken it out on all of you!" Her voice was full of regret and tears were gathering in her eyes. "And then Lee, Robert, Max and Enrique wouldn't have gotten caught up in it as well! Now none of you get to blade and its all my fault!"
Jade stepped over beside Mariah, then Emily followed her example. The boys watched, but said nothing, picking up that this was something the girls would have to deal with at the moment; Robert, however, dearly wanted to go over and comfort the distraught girl.
"Liika, you're being too hard on yourself. I have a feeling that Kai would have left us out of the ranking tournament no matter what you did." Jade said, patting Liika's shoulder.
Emily nodded and pushed up her glasses. "That's right, and if you ask me, I think he's threatened by our presence. I think he knows just how good we actually are, and therefore got rid of us before we could prove that we were actually better than he is!" She grinned.
Liika's lips twitched, a smile starting to grow. "You think so?"
Emily grinned back, "You bet I do!"
Mariah joined Emily in grinning and threw her arm over Liika and Jade's shoulders. "Em's got the right idea! He's probably petrified of our mad skills!"
This caused the four girls to dissolve into giggles, hanging on each other for support. The four boys smiled at the show, it was good to see that they didn't take one sexist boy's actions to heart, there had to be a way to get around Kai.
After the giggling quieted they continued on their way out of the school, and as they reached the front doors and stepped out Jade paused, a thoughtful frown on her face. Suddenly her face lit up as she had a brilliant idea. "Hey, I just got an idea!" She said, smiling brightly.
The others turned and regarded her curiously. "And that would be?" Mariah asked tilting her head to the right.
"Well, there's eight of us here right?"
"Yes…so?"
"Well then," she paused, her smile growing a bit, "Why don't we start our own team?"
The rest of the group blinked in surprise, looking between each other with thoughtful glances. "Can we do that?" Enrique asked, scratching his head in thought.
"Technically, there is no rule in the rule book that says one school can't have more than one beyblade team, in fact I know of several large schools in other states that have two beyblade teams. The problem is every team must have a sponsor that knows something about beyblading, and it's clear the Principal Dickenson won't sponsor us as well as Kai's team." Emily said, pushing up her glasses again.
This brought a frown to everyone's face. Who in their school would sponsor them? Max brightened then and chirped, "Well what about my mom? She works here and she knows a lot about beyblade!"
"Do you think she would sponsor us Max?" Robert asked, looking at the shorter boy.
"You bet! She's been dying to be able to coach a team, but Principal Dickenson has always taken it in his own hands. This will be a great opportunity for her!" Max grinned at the girls.
Liika glanced at each of the other girls. "Well why not? I mean there's no harm in trying…"
"True!" Mariah grinned, "Now we can show Kai that we're not weak at all!"
Jade and Emily beamed as well, both exclaiming at the same time, "Yeah!"
"Then I guess it's settled, we're Bakuten's second beyblade team." Lee spoke with a nod of approval.
Robert smiled and stepped over to Liika, looking down at her with soft eyes. "Every team needs a captain."
Liika blushed and studied her feet. "Me captain? Look what trouble I got you all into last time."
Mariah tsked and shook her head. "We've been over this, it wasn't your fault!"
"Robert has a good point, I think you'll make an excellent captain." Lee added.
"And I bet my mom will think so too!" Max said grinning ear to ear.
Liika smiled at her friends, her insides feeling warm and fuzzy, glowing with pride. "Thanks you guys."
"Besides!" Enrique exclaimed, pushing everyone out of the way and glomping her, his arms around her neck. "I wouldn't have any other captain!"
This brought a laugh out of the blue haired girl. "You guys are the best!"
"What are friends for?" Max laughed.
"Now, I think it's time for us to go home. I'll give you a ride if you wish, Liika." Robert spoke, a slight nervous edge creeping into his voice.
The only one who picked it up was Mariah who hid a grin and stopped herself from jumping up and down. Enrique, being completely clueless grinned sheepishly at Robert and asked, "Can I have a ride too?"
Robert frowned at the blond boy. "You have you skateboard?"
"Of course!"
"Then no. Ride home."
Enrique pouted. "Aww fine, be that way."
Liika blushed again and nodded. "Thank you."
Lee nodded at Robert as he guided Liika down the steps and towards his car. Then turning towards the other girls and Max he asked, "Would you guys like a ride? I have my mom's van today."
Jade, Emily and Max nodded and added their thanks, Enrique pouted further, no one ever wanted to give him a ride! Mariah's face fell, and an angry look crossed her features. "Thank you Lee, since that traitor of a boyfriend of mine is occupied." She all but growled.
"Don't be too hard on Rei, he just wanted to keep his place." Lee said.
"Hn. Well he's gonna have a lot of explaining to do!" Mariah huffed.
Jade and Emily glanced at each other and chuckled, they all knew Mariah would forgive him with in a week, she always did.
"Let's go then. See you tomorrow Enrique!" Lee called, leading the group to his car.
"Yeah yeah, bye." Enrique muttered, heading back into the school, now that he needed his skateboard. No one ever cut him a break!