Disclaimer-Beyblade is not mine. The characters do not belong to me.
I wasn't all that intent on seeing Carlos again, but I couldn't resist the urge to spend more time with her. I nodded as I packed up my stuff to follow her outside. We walked over to a shady area nearby wherea group of nine or more were engaged in an intense Beyblade battle. The small colorful tops were spinning furiously around a good sized Beystadium that had obviously been constructed for amateur battles. Artesia joined Carlos, who was one of the competitors, cheering as his Beyblade knocked off each of his opponents one by one. "You guys are pathetic compared to me. I don't know why I bother allowing you to be a part of my gang." Carlos told them. "Hey, who's the new guy?" one asked. "This is Kai, everyone. Kai, this is mine and Carlos' gang, the Street Sharks. He's their leader, but sonce I'm his girlfriend, I have some say too." she said. "You wish." another teased. "We are the champion Beybladers in this town, undefeated by any outsider. We have yet to find a member within us that is strong enough to go to the regionals, but with enough practice, I'm sure we will soon enough. Artesia and I are the leaders because we are the top two Beybladers." Carlos said. "You're into Beyblade?!" I asked Artesia. "Definitely! I've been blading for years. That's how I got involved with the Street Sharks and met Carlos. I'll let you borrow my Beyblade if you want to try. You are familiar with the game, right?" she asked. "Yes, I'm familiar, but no thank you." I tell her. "Not willing, huh new boy? Shame on you, Artesia, for bringing us someone who won't play. He's as cowardly as he looks." one boy said. I took personal offense at his words, his friends laughing in agreement. Call it made pride if you like, but I had a reputation to protect. "I'll accept if you insist." I tell them, taking Artesia's offered Beyblade. Preparing the palm sized contraption in my hand, I looked over at Artesia as she parted from Carlos and came over to me. "Here, maybe this will help." she said. I tried not to stare as she moved within inches of me and unbuttoned the first two buttons of my shirt. She then helped me roll up my sleeves, her long fingers lingering for a moment there as she did so. "Are you ready, Kai?" she asked. "I'm ready." I told her. The youngest member of the gang by the name of Francis decided to challenge me, so not to intimidate me in my first Beyblade battle. I recalled quickly the strategy my father had taught me, pulling the contrapation close to my face, reasy to release when he gave the command. "Okay guys, let it rip!" Artesia said. Pulling back forcefully on the trigger, I released Artesia's Beyblade into battle. The whole gang gathered around to watch as our two Beyblades spun around the stadium. I watched as my opponent gasped. "I've never seen a Beyblade do that before." he said. I smiled, seeing my method had been a success. The way I had thrown my Beyblade into the stadium had caused it to gain a very fast speed very quickly and it was almost like a blur as it circled around Francis' blade like an animal stalking it's prey. My adversary gasped as all of the sudden my Beyblade snapped to attention and slammed into his, knocking it out of the stadium and a few feet away from the crowd. "Wow...I guess you won..." Francis said. I pulled Artesia's still spinning Beyblade out of the stadium and handed it to her. "I guess so. It's no big deal." I told him. "No big deal?! I've never seen a newcomer handle a foreignBeyblade that way. I didn't know you were so experienced at the game." Artesia said. "I'm not. My father just taught me some of his moves a few years ago. I've never really particapated." I said. "You might just have what it takes to qualify for the regional championships." she told me. "Playing in one Beyblade battle is enough for me. Thanks anyway." I told her as I walked away. "Who is that kid/" Carlos asked. I don't know for sure, but I sure want to find out, Artesia thought.
"You've barely glanced at your homework tonight, son. Do you have something on your mind?" my dad asked. I sighed. "Yes. I met a group of kids today that were members of a street gang called the Street Sharks. They challenged me to a Beyblade battle, and told me I should try out for the regionals when I beat one of them." I told him. My dad smiled. "Making friends already, huh? Well, I don't know if I approve of you being a part of a street gang, but you know I've always told you how good a Beyblader you are." he told me. "Yes, I know. There was this cute girl that was with them who was into it too. She's seeing another boy, but I kinda like her. It's all very confusing." I told him. "I understand. I had the same problems when I was your age. You're smart, I'm sure you'll fiqure everything out." he told me. He certainly had a lot more faith in me than I had in myself. I couldn't stop thinking about Artesia. The smell of her hair, the feeling of her hands gently running over my arms...if there was ever a reason for me to try to get into Beyblade, being around her was the best reason of all. I knew we probably could never be together because of Carlos, but that was okay. I enjoyed her friendship and company in whatever circumstances possible. That night I pulled out from underneath my bed a small travel case my Dad had given me a few years before. It was obvious how long it had been hidden by how much dust I had to clear off it. Within the case laid my Dad's old Beyblade, some spare parts and a few tools in which to work on it with. Sitting lotus style on the bed, I examined it's contents carefully, taking apart the small purple Beyblade and fitting it with with the components I wanted it to have. Satisfied with the finished product, I put it and it's small launcher inside one of the backpack pockets for school. The next time I was challenged to a Beyblade battle I would be ready with my own weapon.
I wasn't all that intent on seeing Carlos again, but I couldn't resist the urge to spend more time with her. I nodded as I packed up my stuff to follow her outside. We walked over to a shady area nearby wherea group of nine or more were engaged in an intense Beyblade battle. The small colorful tops were spinning furiously around a good sized Beystadium that had obviously been constructed for amateur battles. Artesia joined Carlos, who was one of the competitors, cheering as his Beyblade knocked off each of his opponents one by one. "You guys are pathetic compared to me. I don't know why I bother allowing you to be a part of my gang." Carlos told them. "Hey, who's the new guy?" one asked. "This is Kai, everyone. Kai, this is mine and Carlos' gang, the Street Sharks. He's their leader, but sonce I'm his girlfriend, I have some say too." she said. "You wish." another teased. "We are the champion Beybladers in this town, undefeated by any outsider. We have yet to find a member within us that is strong enough to go to the regionals, but with enough practice, I'm sure we will soon enough. Artesia and I are the leaders because we are the top two Beybladers." Carlos said. "You're into Beyblade?!" I asked Artesia. "Definitely! I've been blading for years. That's how I got involved with the Street Sharks and met Carlos. I'll let you borrow my Beyblade if you want to try. You are familiar with the game, right?" she asked. "Yes, I'm familiar, but no thank you." I tell her. "Not willing, huh new boy? Shame on you, Artesia, for bringing us someone who won't play. He's as cowardly as he looks." one boy said. I took personal offense at his words, his friends laughing in agreement. Call it made pride if you like, but I had a reputation to protect. "I'll accept if you insist." I tell them, taking Artesia's offered Beyblade. Preparing the palm sized contraption in my hand, I looked over at Artesia as she parted from Carlos and came over to me. "Here, maybe this will help." she said. I tried not to stare as she moved within inches of me and unbuttoned the first two buttons of my shirt. She then helped me roll up my sleeves, her long fingers lingering for a moment there as she did so. "Are you ready, Kai?" she asked. "I'm ready." I told her. The youngest member of the gang by the name of Francis decided to challenge me, so not to intimidate me in my first Beyblade battle. I recalled quickly the strategy my father had taught me, pulling the contrapation close to my face, reasy to release when he gave the command. "Okay guys, let it rip!" Artesia said. Pulling back forcefully on the trigger, I released Artesia's Beyblade into battle. The whole gang gathered around to watch as our two Beyblades spun around the stadium. I watched as my opponent gasped. "I've never seen a Beyblade do that before." he said. I smiled, seeing my method had been a success. The way I had thrown my Beyblade into the stadium had caused it to gain a very fast speed very quickly and it was almost like a blur as it circled around Francis' blade like an animal stalking it's prey. My adversary gasped as all of the sudden my Beyblade snapped to attention and slammed into his, knocking it out of the stadium and a few feet away from the crowd. "Wow...I guess you won..." Francis said. I pulled Artesia's still spinning Beyblade out of the stadium and handed it to her. "I guess so. It's no big deal." I told him. "No big deal?! I've never seen a newcomer handle a foreignBeyblade that way. I didn't know you were so experienced at the game." Artesia said. "I'm not. My father just taught me some of his moves a few years ago. I've never really particapated." I said. "You might just have what it takes to qualify for the regional championships." she told me. "Playing in one Beyblade battle is enough for me. Thanks anyway." I told her as I walked away. "Who is that kid/" Carlos asked. I don't know for sure, but I sure want to find out, Artesia thought.
"You've barely glanced at your homework tonight, son. Do you have something on your mind?" my dad asked. I sighed. "Yes. I met a group of kids today that were members of a street gang called the Street Sharks. They challenged me to a Beyblade battle, and told me I should try out for the regionals when I beat one of them." I told him. My dad smiled. "Making friends already, huh? Well, I don't know if I approve of you being a part of a street gang, but you know I've always told you how good a Beyblader you are." he told me. "Yes, I know. There was this cute girl that was with them who was into it too. She's seeing another boy, but I kinda like her. It's all very confusing." I told him. "I understand. I had the same problems when I was your age. You're smart, I'm sure you'll fiqure everything out." he told me. He certainly had a lot more faith in me than I had in myself. I couldn't stop thinking about Artesia. The smell of her hair, the feeling of her hands gently running over my arms...if there was ever a reason for me to try to get into Beyblade, being around her was the best reason of all. I knew we probably could never be together because of Carlos, but that was okay. I enjoyed her friendship and company in whatever circumstances possible. That night I pulled out from underneath my bed a small travel case my Dad had given me a few years before. It was obvious how long it had been hidden by how much dust I had to clear off it. Within the case laid my Dad's old Beyblade, some spare parts and a few tools in which to work on it with. Sitting lotus style on the bed, I examined it's contents carefully, taking apart the small purple Beyblade and fitting it with with the components I wanted it to have. Satisfied with the finished product, I put it and it's small launcher inside one of the backpack pockets for school. The next time I was challenged to a Beyblade battle I would be ready with my own weapon.