AN: Wooeee!  I wrote this chapter Friday, but me being the evil authoress I am decided to hold out on you… MUAHAHA! *ahem * Anyway, here is chapter…17?  I lost track now lol  But I would just like to say to the people that commented about Price of Tennis… yes I did get the Golden Pair from PoT (I love Eiji & Oishi XD)  You'll also note that I got the match structure from their tennis matches too.. wahaha… this fic is what happens when K-chan watched too much Beyblade and Price of Tennis, that it is.

I would also like to say that I forgot to mention that Riley and Jade do not belong to me… yeah I have been meaning to get around to it for awhile.. . Riley belongs to Leina and Jade to Jade-55 wee.. two of my favourite authoresses ;)  Jade-55 is my idol ;)

And just for matchmaker…well and Galux Kitty and Galux Pheonix, there is some heavy Rei/Mariah fluff at the end of this chapter ;)

"Why hello Rei… Tyson."  Lee greeted, a smirk plastered on his face.

Rei and Tyson approached their respective platform.  Tyson was still sulking about the injustice of having to blade the 'Golden Pair'.  It just wasn't fair!  Tala and Ian were supposed to face them!  They had more experience in doubles.

"Come on Ty, cheer up!  Even if we know we have no chance of beating them we still have to try!  I mean what kind of bladers would we be if we let them have an easy win?"  Rei consoled, laying a hand on his partners shoulder.

Tyson perked up at Rei's inspirational speech and pumped his fist in the air excitedly.  "You man, you're right!  I won't just stand there and take this!  Let's get it on!"

Lee and Mariah sent each other amused looks at Tyson's behavior, while Rei just laughed.

"Bladers get ready!"  Judy called.  Since she was the only adult there, they decided that she would official the match.

The four teens placed their blades in their launchers and readied themselves for launch.

"Hey Rei, don't think you're getting off easy just because I'm your girlfriend!"  Mariah teased, winking at Rei suggestively.

Rei looked flustered for a moment, as pink tinged his cheeks, but that soon went away.  His eyes narrowed in determination and he replied, "Likewise Mari."

She grinned.  Tossing a look at Lee the two prepared to launch.

"Ready?  3…2…1… Battle blade!"  Judy called starting the match officially.

The two pairs wasted no time in launching and starting their assault.

"Driger!"

"Dragoon!"

The two boys summoned their bit beasts and sent their gray blades hurtling at the black and pink blades that spun on the other side of the dish.  Lee and Mariah's grins grew.

"You'll have to do better than that!"  Lee yelled.

"Twin Mirage!"  The two exclaimed simultaneously.

Immediately the tow blades were set into motion.  They began crisscrossing each other so fast that they eventually disappeared from view.

Rei and Tyson's eyes scanned the dish for traces of the elusive blades, but found none.  "Awww… This is so not fair!"  Tyson moaned.

Rei grit his teeth and hissed, "Concentrate Tyson!"

But it was too late.  The two blades reappeared on the other side of the dish, catching the two boys off guard.

"Galux!"

"Galeon!"

"Cat Scratch!"  They shouted together.

The two blades began to glow, one blackish violet, the other bright pink.  Two large cats emerged, crossing each other and clawing the two gray blades.

The gray beyblades shuddered for a moment before coming to a complete stop.  Lee and Mariah called back their blades and gave each other a high five.

Kai's eyebrows shot up.  The set had not even lasted two minutes.  He knew Rei and Tyson were no amateur bladers, so it made the victory that much more shocking to him.  He had never seen such skill in doubles before.  It was if their blades were connected some how.  They reacted as one and their timing was perfect.  I was amazing.  Kai knew doubles was his team's one weakness.  They were all singles players and the only ones with any real doubles experience were Tala and Ian, but even they preferred to blade alone.  The "Golden Par' would have to be watched.  His mind started working out a training schedule to train a pair to deal with the Golden menace.

The next set went much like the first only Rei and Tyson didn't even get a chance to attack.  Lee and Mariah chose to defeat them quickly, rather than string them along.  The third set was decided as a mercy, that there was no point in continuing it as Lee and Mariah had already won.  Liika's eyes met Kai's across the court.

Liika: 1, Kai: 0

Rei and Tyson made their way back to their bench.  Tyson's head was hanging –yet again-, however, Rei looked unfazed.

"You were right.  You never stood a chance."  Was Kai's only comment to the two boys, who sat back down on the bench.  "Valkov, Mitchell, your up."

Tala and Ian stood, smirks already gracing their faces.  "Ian, you ready to kick some ass?"

Ian snickered.  "You better believe it."

Liika sucked in a breath and gripped her white blade tightly.  She couldn't show she was nervous; Tala and Ian would pounce all over it.  While she couldn't show it outside, she could feel it inside.  Doubles wasn't really her strength, and she knew Tala and Ian were fairly good at it.  Then there was Bryan, who didn't eve know the meaning of the word teamwork.  But, it was his idea.

A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up to see Bryan all but glaring at their opponents that had already made their way to the platform.

"They'll underestimate us.  Wyborg's under belly is weak and Wolborg's easily surprised from the left side."  Bryan said, his voice never wavering from his normal low tone.

Liika nodded.  She wasn't sure she wanted to know how he knew that.  Bryan left her side and stepped out onto the platform.  Liika was about to follow him when someone caught her wrist.  She looked up into soft crimson eyes.  "You'll do just fine."  Robert said softly, kissing her forehead gently.

Smiling she replied, "Thank you."  So he could see her nerves.  She just hoped the devil hadn't picked them up.

As soon as she stepped onto the platform her two opponents pounced.

"Well, well, well… Since when does Wakeman blade doubles?"  Ian shot, readying his blade in his launcher.

Bryan ignored him, readying his own blade.  Liika rolled her eyes.  Boys in the small town were so immature sometimes!  Check that, most of the time.

"And what about you Iki-my dear?  I heard you tried to jump Kai's bones in the Caff. yesterday.  Get tired of Jagen and decide to go after someone with personality?"  Tala taunted, smirking.

Her cheeks tinted red.  The familiar feeling of wanting to pound someone into the ground came rushing in.  Gritting her teeth, she glowered at the red head, snorting.  "If you think that," She pointed directly at Kai, "has personality, then you are blind as well as stupid."

Enrique laughed from off to the side and called, "Nice one Iki!"

Tala merely continued smirking, completely unfazed by her jab. 

"Alright children, that's enough.  Ready?"

At Judy's sign the four readied their launchers.  "3…2…1…Battle Blade!"

They launched the four blades into the dish, and settled them down; neither one wanted to make the first move.  Liika's eyes watched her opponents' blades carefully, looking for any weakness.  She was surprised.  Just the way they launched their blades had improved since she had last seen them.  Kai was a better captain then she thought.

"What's the matter?  Too afraid to attack?"  Ian jeered.  "Then allow us to do the honors!  Go Wyborg!"

"Go Wolborg!"  Tala joined, both commanding their blades forward.

Both blades headed directly for the medium sized white blade, completely ignoring the purple blade that spun a foot beside it.  Liika's fists clenched.  She knew their game, pick one blade and zero in together, especially when facing opponents inexperienced in doubles blading.

"Bastards."  She hissed. "Akala!  Light Screen!"

Her defense, however, came late and both blades collided with her blade with enough force to send the white beyblade shooting towards the platform.  Suddenly, the purple blade shot up and blocked the while one's exit, then dropped back into the dish beside its partner.

"Forget I was here?"  Bryan asked, a hard edge creeping into his voice.

Everyone –especially Tala and Ian- stared at the burly, pale haired boy in shock.  Liika's face transformed from a serious frown to a blinding grin as she looked up at Bryan and hugged him around the waist.  "Thank you, Ryanny!"  She exclaimed, letting go.

Bryan scowled but it didn't reach his eyes.  His face tinged pink and he crossed his arms over his chest, snorting.  "Whatever."

Tala and Ian, meanwhile, continued to stare, mouths open.  Did Bryan just do that? 

"What the hell?  Tala, tell me Bryan didn't just pull off a signature pairs move?"  Ian muttered to his partner.

Tala shook his head in disbelief.  "I-uh…dude I think he did."

Once again Bryan snorted, only this time in irritation.  "You don't think I spent years blading with my sister and learn nothing about doubles?  Liika was right.  You are stupid."  He growled, scowling at them.

They glared right back.  "Man, you're letting a woman make you soft.  The more time you spend with your little 'team', the more you catch their loser ways."  Tala retorted, crossing his arms.

"Whatever."  Bryan said again.  "Just shut up and blade."

"Gladly."

The battle started again, all four blades slamming each other fiercely, yet no one called their bit beasts.  Finally after about five minutes of neither pair gaining ground, all four blades were sent shooting out the dish, landing with a clang on the platform.

With out any trash talk the teens reloaded their launchers and waited for the sign to launch.  When it was given they launched and started where they left off.

"This is getting bo-ring!  Wolborg!"  Tala called.

Ian followed suit and summoned his bit beast as well.

An arctic wolf appeared to 'jump' out of Tala's gray and blue blade.  A large snake with long fangs and slitted eyes appeared above Ian's purple and green blade.  The two bit beasts eyed the other two beyblades as if they were mortal enemies, which in this case they were.

"Liika."  Bryan barked.

"Mmhmm."  She replied.  "Akala!"

"Falborg."

As soon as their names where uttered the two bit beasts appeared.  A majestic falcon rose from the purple blade, its keen eyes trained on the other two bit beasts. 

Kai's eyes narrowed in on Liika's blade as her bit beast rose, he would have a huge advantage if he knew her beast type and element, while she knew nothing.  He watched as a creature cocooned in white wings rose from the bit.  Eventually, having risen enough, it flung its wings back to reveal a humanoid female.  Kai's eyebrow shot up in surprise.  Her bit beast looked something like the dog demon Inuyasha he remembered seeing while he was flipping through channels.  In the white glow, he couldn't distinguish any of the colors that marked her.  She had long flowing hair that framed her face and eyes –eyes that looked exactly like those of a wolf, matched with the wolf ears on top of her head.  On her cheeks were triangular strips that looked not unlike the tattoos he had on his face, except her stripes covered her whole body.  Her fangs protruded out her top lip a bit.  Her striped body was covered in a high necked, sleeveless halter top that ended just under her breasts, a belt with a star gaped buckle circled her waist, holding up a skirt with wide slits up both sides.  Her clawed feet were bare, but she wore some sort of leg guards as well as matching arm guards.  The claws on her hands looked sharp and extremely dangerous.  Kai raised his other slate eyebrow.  The witches bit beast looked like a dog demon with angel wings.  Interesting.  He wondered idly what element she controlled. 

"Che.  Must you make your bit beast always have a flashy entrance?"  Ian moaned in annoyance.

Liika shrugged, smirking.  "It's not my fault Akala's so much prettier than your hideous snake thing."  She retorted, prissily.

"Hey!"  Ian growled back, "Wyborg is not hideous!"

"Uh-huh.  Whatever you say shorty."

"Grr.."

"You're no taller than he is Iki."  Tala interjected, sighing.

"Shut up."  She muttered, knowing he was right.

"Liika."  Bryan caught her eyes, nodding toward the dish.  "L."

She blinked at him for a few moments, trying to figure out what he was trying to say, before it dawned on her.  L = left!  Left = left side!  He was going to attack Wolborg from the left, which meant…

Liika nodded back, her lips curling at the corners.  "U."  She replied simply.

"Now!"  Bryan commanded.  "Stroblitz left!"

Liika soon joined.  "Angel Claw, under!"

The two bit beasts responded immediately.  Through their link with their human partners, they knew what was being asked.  Falborg flapped his wings, blowing razor wind at the left side of Wolborg's head.  Akala tensed, her wings lifted, then sprung towards the snake, striking its under belly with a brightly glowing claw.

Wolborg howled and was sent crashing into the side of the dish.  Wyborg emitted a piercing shriek and recoiled away, back into its bit.  Both blades stopped spinning and fell to their sides.  Bryan and Liika recalled their beasts and caught the blades as they flung out of the dish.

"That was cheap."  Ian growled picking up his blade and hopping out of the bowl.

"I expected as much from Wakeman, but you Liika?  I'm very disappointed."  Tala seconded.

Liika tensed.  "There is nothing cheap about using your opponents weaknesses against them!"  She replied frowning.

"She's right."

Kai's sudden interjection surprised the two boys.  Kai's eyes were closed and his arms crossed.  "You did the same thing when you attacked the witch alone together.  Instead of whining about it, lean from your errors and weaknesses."  He continued, finally opening his eyes.

The two boys nodded in understanding.   "Right!"

Despite Bryan and Liika's best efforts, Tala and Ian took the next set.  They did indeed learn from their first mistakes.  The rest of the match went by rather quickly.  Oliver won his battle, taking the first and third sets; Michael defeated Enrique, whose arms were completely seizing up by the third launch, in the second and third sets and Robert decimated Johnny in three straight sets.  At the end of the match each team had two wins and a draw so Judy declared a tie.  After being made to shake hands, they all went their separate ways, making their way home.

"Hey Mari…"  Rei called, catching his girlfriend's attention as she left the girl's locker room.

Mariah looked up to see Rei leaning against the school, back at his feet, hands behind his back.  She smiled at him tentatively and walked over.  As she reached him, he stood up, taking her hand.  He began to lead her to his car. 

It being early October, the sun set at around 5:30.  The clear sky had darkened significantly in the pre-dusk and was shot with orange, pink, sky blue and navy, as the sun sank lower and lower on the horizon. 

They walked in silence to the car, where Rei unlocked Mariah's door then made his way around to his own.

"Rei…?"  Mariah asked just before he could get in, her door still firmly shut.

"Hmm?"  He replied, looking up.

She had a strange pensive, sort of guilty expression on her face and she was fiddling with the hem of her uniform sweater.  "Mari?  What's the matter?"  He questioned with concern.  He dropped his keys onto the seat and walked back around the Cressida to her side.  His hands reached up to cup her cheeks gently, and lift her face.  "Mariah?"

"Rei…" she paused, "You're not mad at me for beating you and Tyson so badly are you?"

At the question, asked so hesitantly, Rei began to chuckle; letting his hands drop from her face.  Mariah's guilty expression turned into a pout.  "Rei Brandon!  I don't see what's so funny!" She exclaimed, placing her hands on her his and tilting her head.

Her expression drove him into even more chuckles and her found himself defending against half-hearted slaps.  "Ah…I'm sorry Mari.  It's just that you looked so distraught, I thought it was something serious."  He smiled down at her.  Slipping his arms around her waist, he rested his hands gently on her bottom.  "Of course I'm not mad at you.  It's just a silly game.  How could I get angry at the love of my life for something that I knew was going to happen before it ever did?"  His voice was calm and almost like a caress.  He ducked his head so that their faces were so close, they could feel each other's breath fanning their mouths.

"Love…?" Mariah repeated, her eyes shining with unshed tears of happiness.  Rei had practically just told her he loved her.  Her heart was beating a million times a second.

"Mmmhmm.." He whispered back, closing the distance between their lips.

Their kiss was unlike any other kiss they had ever experienced.  It was soul searing.  It stole Mariah's breath away, while at the same time breathed new life into her.  She had never been as happy as she was at that moment.

"I love you Mariah.  I always have."  Rei whispered as they came up for air.  He reached up and brushed away tears that were spilling from her eyes. 

"Oh Rei!  I love you too!"

Gagging noises alerted them that they were no longer alone.  Breaking apart slightly, they turned to see Liika making gagging motions.  Robert stood behind her, one hand on her hip possessively, shaking his head at his petite girlfriend.  Bryan and Riley stood a few meters away on either side of Bryan's four-wheel drive Jeep.  It was covered in mud, which attested to its use for off-roading.  Riley grinned and winked at the couple, waving goodbye before jumping into the already started vehicle so that her ill-tempered twin could not leave her behind.

Mariah blushed and sent her friend a glower.  "Oh shut up Ika!  You're not better with him!"  She said motioning to Robert.

"I am too!"  Liika denied with a huff.

"Not according to Enrique."

Liika snorted, pouting.  "Yeah well, Enrique whines too much."

The other three laughed at the now pouting blue haired girl.  "Come on Liika, I have to go." Robert said, sending a farewell nod to Mariah and Rei.

"Bye!"  Liika yelled getting into Robert's Grand Am.

Rei and Mariah waved their goodbyes.  "What you say we go grab a bite to eat and a movie hm?"  Rei asked, opening the door for her.

"Sounds good to me!  I'm starved!"