CRL: *hides for the sharp objects and tomatoes thrown at her head* I'm sorry!!! It's all my fault! Please forgive me for not updating! I'll make it up to you. An extra long chapter!

Chapter in Rei's POV

Disclaimer: We don't own anything. Except when you see something or someone not from the first season.

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I'm walking. Walking away from my new friends. The people I am unworthy to be around at the moment. But when I get Driger back I'll be stronger than ever.

Kai... How could he be so mean yet so right at the same time? He is an extremely complicated person. I'll never fully understand him.

'You had the chance to beat him, yet you let him win. What kind of Beyblader are you? I didn't expect this from you,Rei. You let the power of Driger slip right through your fingers. And now you're left with nothing.'


I don't know how I could've been so careless.


'There's not much we can do now. And no matter how much we want to, we can't change the past.'

Darn! Why did I hesitate! I should've known Kevin would try some filthy trick.

I'm almost at the top of this mountain. Good, now I can almost find Driger again. My life isn't of any value without a bitbeast. Without a bitbeast, I'm nothing.

Finally I reach the top. I throw my bag on the ground and pull out my beyblade; trying to smash the stones in front of me.

I've got to try harder. Driger must come back. But at this rate I'm not going to smash these stones but the beyblade.

I pick up my empty beyblade. 'I'm ought to try again.' I think while launching again.

Suddenly a flash of pink comes from above me. I can bearably avoid the blade that's now spinning on the ground. But that's... Galux...

"Galux?!"

I look up. There stands Mariah on a cliff, smirking.

"Mariah? What do you think you're doing?"

Mariah just keeps smirking. "Destroy him, Galux!!!"

Her blade crashes into mine several times. What does she want? What does she have to prove?

"This doesn't have anything to do with you, right?"

"Oh, you're wrong, Rei. This has everything to do with me. Galux, Cat Scratch Attack!!!"

Her blade again crashes into mine for an amount of time. I can't understand why she was doing this! Why are girls so complicated? And what is she trying to prove? That she's stronger than me?

"What are you trying to prove?" I yell.

No answer. Her blade heads for mine again and I have to dodge it. My blade stops spinning.

Then I only find myself looking at Mariah jumping off the cliff and landing on her feet gracefully.

"Here you go, Rei. I looked everywhere for you." She says, soon standing in front of me and handing over my beyblade. Girls!!!

I take my beyblade out of her hand without any thank you. I don't know what to say at all. First she's trying to defeat me, now she's being all nice.

I wanted to ask millions of stuff, but the first question that escapes my lips is "Why are you here?".

"I was worried about you."

Okay, so she's trying to destroy me out of worry. Makes sense. Meanwhile Mariah started to pace around.

"Okay, reality check. I can't believe you lost to Kevin. I can't believe you fell for his trick." Mariah says. I can only frown. The next one in a row who thinks I was stupid.

"You left the Bladebreakers. You think it's different this time? No! Two minuses don't make a plus, Rei!"

Why is she saying this? She doesn't understand, she didn't loose her bitbeast! If that's the only thing she can say...

"I miss having you in our team, Rei. Why don't you join us and start all over again?" Mariah squeaks.

W-What? Start over again? It does sound appealing. I know they will find me worthy enough for their team.

"We can forget the past and be just like in the old times!"

I sit down. What to do? Perhaps it's better to change sides now, than to get dumped later on by the Bladebreakers, when I have a stronger relationship with them. "I don't know, Mariah..."

She falls on her knees beside me and looks expectantly at me. "Don't you miss your old White Tiger buddies? Don't you miss us, Rei? "

"I guess I do..." It's the truth. I do miss them. When I traveled around all alone I was so lonely, that I completely focused on beyblade. I forgot everything and became arrogant. I almost forgot the essence of beyblading: that you had to have fun.

"Remember the old times? When we were young? Every day we would be blading in the alley behind the grocery store, battling other kids. And you defeated everyone, Rei!"

The old times... Yes... They were wonderful... "I remember it, Mariah. But things are different now. When I was young I loved beyblading, and when I wasn't blading I was reading history about it. I read about my family's history and how there was a tribe called 'the White Tigers'. I read about how they developed a new weapon called 'Bey' and how they used it to defeat their opponents. They already had bitbeasts. They handed those Beys over from generation to generation, and they were only destined for the worthiest of all warriors. So when I got it instead of Lee, I wanted to see other bitbeast like that and really earn Driger. That's why I left."

"I don't care why you left, Rei. All I want for you is to come back now."

I smile. It's time to tell the truth. "I do miss the White Tigers and their spirit..."

"What?! So you're jumping ship?! Is that it?!" Tyson's voice cut trough the air. I turn around in terror. This is not how I want this!

"Tyson, it not what you think..."

"Why you-!" I have never seen Tyson that mad.

"I may not be like Tyson, Rei... but how could you do this? We want you on our team, whether you have a bitbeast or not!" Max says. I can only look and frown. How in earth am I supposed to decide whether or not I should go away?

"Rei's coming with us!!! Right Rei? Tell them!"

Oh Mariah, it isn't that simple. I- Aaarg! What am I supposed to do?!

"How about we decide this with a beybattle! If you win, you do whatever you want, no questions asked, no hard feelings. But if you lose, you're coming with us." Tyson proposes relaxed.

I... I have to do this... So I can make my own decision. "I accept!" I declare.

"Stop! I'll battle you instead!" Mariah yells.

I will win! "This is none of your concern, Mariah! I said I accept."

"Rei, at least remember your past! You were a good blader, even without a bitbeast."

She's right. I was a good blader. If I was able to be a good blader without a bitbeast then, than I can win now too. "You're right Mariah! Thanks!"

We both launch our beyblades. Oh my kami, Tyson is so predictable. I'm going to win this match!

"Driger, aim your Tiger Claw Attack at that rock!!!"

Yes, it works! He cuts right trough the stone! I...I won!!!

"What? Impossible!" Tyson yells out.

"You did it Rei! Welcome back to the White Tigers!"

"Rei... Good job, man. You're free to do whatever you want. But I just want you to know that, even if you don't have a bitbeast, we still would've wanted you back."

W-What? Are they serious? "R-Really, Tyson?"

"Yes."

"We got to go, Rei." Mariah says softly.

I turn around smiling, exactly reflecting how I feel, and spread my arms. "I made my decision, Mariah. I'm staying with the Bladebreakers. Thanks for making me remember that you don't need a bitbeast to be good."

I see Mariah's expression change from sad to a soft, content face. "You made the right decision, Rei."

"Mariah! What are you doing here with the worthless traitor and his friends?"

I turn around at the familiar voice. I knew it. It's Lee. I feel a strange feeling a threat in my stomach. I hate it to be confronted with Lee.

Max and Tyson protest, but I can't let any word escape my mouth. The little bit of happiness I just felt is gone. My best friend... This isn't fair...

Then the White Tigers jump off the platform. I see Tyson and Max staring downwards and I put a happy expression on my face.

"Need a push?"

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*angel face* It's not superb, but it not bad either. I don't think the feelings were described very well, and I have a bit of problems with remaining in the Present. I always write in the Past. I want the Past back *cries Sailor Moon style*.

THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!!!

Please review again. Onegai?

Tootles!