A/N: I've changed the number of people standing in the door-way cause I misinterpreted myself… ^^" They're FOUR okay? And I realized that it's Brad who's the "main" commenter and A.J is the "sidekick"… Ooops.
Buttery: Thanx for standing up for me ;) They're not SO mean but I appreciate it. And the reason for the late update is because of my lack of time…
Silverninja: Can U call someone A WET BLANKET??? O.o What a funny thing to say! I think I'll try calling my friends that… They will not understand a word… And thanx for thinking that my spellin' isn't so bad! And I won't tell Kai, promise!
ANgirl: Thanx for telling me about the All-StarZ thing! I won't change it in the latest chappie cause I'm a lazy soul…
Lil Tanuki: Thanx! :) Promise that you'll come back with a review after reading the rest!
Smoochy_whoopY: Big thanx, but is it really that good? Good for me that u don't think my spellin' so bad ;)
riotgrl620: Thanx for loving my story. I feel honored. But as I said to the person below, is it really that good?
Disclaimer: I DON'T own Beyblade or any of its characters. I DO own Laynie, the Black Cats and their bitbeast. Or, to make it easy, I hope I own all of the characters you don't recognize. And if you think I don't, tell me!
Chapter Seven: There's Different Starz
- "I think it's the All-Stars."
He stepped aside and a group of four peoples came into the room, smiling.
- "Mum!" Max rushed up from his position and hugged her mum tightly.
- "Max, long time no see!" Max's mum Judy hugged her son back. They hadn't seen each other since the American Championships.
The rest of the Bladebreakers closed up to Max, the White Tigers awaited.
- "So, are you guy's in the tournament?" asked Tyson.
Judy reluctant let go off Max who still was beaming like a sun and smiling happily.
- "Yes, and we're gonna win." Declared Steve, tossing around his football. Eddy smirked to agree with Steve. He spun his baseball on his finger.
- "Someone's still got his bad attitude." Dizzi said from the laptop in Kenny's knee.
Steve frowned and was about to say something when Michael got his gaze on Laynie.
- "Oh, who's this?" He said flirtingly and sent a charming smile. "Have you ever met a Star before?"
Laynie watched him in disbelief. "Come closer and I'll make you see some REAL stars!" She said and turned her back on him.
- "Don't play hard to get now…" Michael was still smiling flirtatious. "I know you want me, who wouldn't?"
He too a step closer to Laynie, still smiling, and stretched out one hand to take Laynie's hand.
- "Touch me and DIE." She snarled. Baseball-boy's attitude had started to get on her nerves… She needed to hit something…Hard.
But Michael seized her hand.
Laynie's punch came so quick that no one had the chance to react. And it wasn't some bitch-slap with open hand, no it was a fist, slamming into Michaels left cheek leaving a red market.
Michael's eyes widened. "Bitch!" He said.
- "Told you." Replied Laynie coolly and went back to Mariah, who stared at Laynie with wide-open eyes.
Laynie frowned. "What? He deserved it didn't he?"
Mariah snapped out of her trance. "I can't believe that you hit him! And who are they?"
- "I don't know who they are, and I don't think I wanna know either." Said Laynie with loud voice and sent a death-glare at Michael who examined his cheek.
- "Oh, this is the All-Stars! They're from America and we met them in the American Championships. And this is my mum Judy, she's the research scientist." Explained Max.
- "Why would they need a researcher? I thought this was a beyblade team?" said Lee.
- "Our bitbeasts are created from a computer and we use technology to improve our beyblade skills."
- "You're kidding? You didn't earn your bitbeasts? You just GOT them?" snorted Laynie. [Okay, I've known them for like ten minutes and I hate them already…]
Michael shrugged. "So what if we didn't 'earn' them or something. We're the best and all that's counts is that we're winning."
- "Shut up. Or do I've to punch you again? Whatever, I'm out of here." Laynie walked past the two teams standing next to the door and through the door. She was fed up with the All-Starz and wanted back to the hotel room.
- "Laynie, where are you going?" She could hear Tyson yell behind her but she didn't care. She needed to get out of there and that was quickly!
[Damn you, Laynie! Why can't you ever stay calm and cool in big groups?] Laynie thought and started to regret her little punch on Michael's oh-so-pretty face. [Nah, he deserved it…]
Laynie waited for the elevator-doors to open when she heard a cold voice saying:
- "Well, well… Isn't it the foolish traitor?"
Laynie turned around and once again, she looked into Nicholas' stone eyes. It might have passed five years now, but cold eyes like his wasn't forgotten so easily. And after all, he was her brother…
- "What do you want?" She spat out and looked at him in disgust.
- "The same thing I always want. The bitbeast of Kim. But that can wait til after our victory in the Championships." Smirked Nicholas and now could Laynie see that the whole Black Cats was there.
Michi, still dressed in black clothes stood there looking like a shadow with her twin brother on the left side. Stephen was taller than ever and his icy blue eyes gazed on Laynie with coldness. Jonathan was a little shorter than Stephen and his brown hair was in a spiky style. And a little behind the others, stood a boy she never had seen before. And Nicholas… He was the tallest and his gray eyes were cold and rough. His gaze made Laynie think that he was capable to anything to reach a victory…
- "Your victory?" snorted Laynie. "Sorry, but you must mean OUR victory?! I don't have any time for some small talk so I'll see you later. If it can't be avoided…"
She turned her back on them when the door opened and she found the Bladebreakers, the White Tigers and the All-Starz in it.
(A/N: It's a VERY, VERY big elevator okay? ^^")
- "Hey Laynie! We were going to get some food cause suddenly I was sooo hungry. Why don't…" Tyson stopped when he saw the people behind Laynie.
He frowned. "Who are they? Some friend of you or what?"
[My friends? Don't make me laugh, Tyson.] Laynie tried to make Tyson shut up with her gaze but he didn't notice.
- "So? Are you guys Laynie's friends?" He said and stepped out of the elevator followed by the rest.
Nicholas faked a laugh. "Laynie is actually my sister. But only by blood. Personally, I would rather call her traitor of the Kim family." He said, and met Laynie's gaze.
- "What is he talking about Laynie?" Ray put a hand on Laynie's shoulder.
Laynie shook her head. [Later, Ray…] She thought.
- "Are you in the Championships or something?" Tyson was still confused and his head wandered from Laynie to the gray-eyed boy.
- "We're the Black Cats and we're planning to win this Championships." Nicholas gave Laynie a last gaze and gestured to his team to follow him, walking into a corridor.
[I never thought it would feel like this to see Nicholas again.] Anger, confusedness, helpless mixed around in her made it difficult to think. Laynie just stood very still and gazed into the empty lobby. She didn't notice that everyone was looking at her, waiting for some response.
- "Laynie? Are you okay?" asked Mariah worried.
Laynie shook her head twice and forced a smile on her face. "Yeah, I'm okay. Let's go and eat."
- "Are you sure?" Max didn't seem convinced.
- "Positive. But where's your mum?" Laynie started to walk out of the hotel, followed by the rest. She had noticed that the blonde woman wasn't with them.
Max smiled. "She had to do some research." He said and shrugged.
~*~ At a Chinese restaurant… ~*~
- "Tyson, is it too much to ask for some proper behavior?" Kenny turned away his gaze in disgust. The All-Starz, Kai, Laynie, Ray and Mariah had already moved to another table, not capable to take any more of Tyson' s way to handle the food…
- "Can't Chief! This is SOOO YUMMY!" replied Tyson happily with his mouth full.
Laynie, who sad enough had watched him in that particular moment, buried her head in her hands. First the meeting with the Black Cats and this on top of it would drive anyone crazy. "Can this get any worse?" She said out loud and sighed.
- "I can't believe that he's still hungry? We ate for like four hours ago." Ray sat next to Mariah, leaning on his elbows.
- "Something I can't believe is that someone has to pay for all that stuff he's eating." Said Mariah and shook her head so the pink strands flew around her.
Michael saw an opportunity to catch Laynie. "Something I can't believe is that a beautiful girl like you is single!" He said and looked deep into Laynie's green eyes.
- "I was kidding before. It CAN get worse." Groaned Laynie. "Besides, what makes you think that I'm really IS single?"
Eddy laughed, but stopped when Michael elbowed him in his ribs.
- "What? Do you have a boyfriend?" Mariah sounded surprised. Then she blushed. "Not that I think you're ugly or something… You don't look like 'girlfriend, boyfriend' type."
Laynie snorted. "Love." She spat out. "Love is a weakness. It makes you dependent and incapable of decide for yourself. I'm not weak so I think I'll be fine without any of that 'love junk'."
[Interesting] Thought Kai. [I wonder why she thinks so? Something must've happen in her life. But why do I care?]
Cause you care about her[I don't!]
You want to be with her[What!? I don't wanna be with her! She's… She's just a team member! And I'm the captain!]
Liar, liar[I'm not lying! And I refuse to have a discussion with myself. Goodbye!]
Kai opened his eyes and his gaze fell on Laynie. She was resting her chin in the hand, looking worried and thoughtful. Kai felt an odd feeling of…wanting to comfort her. She seemed to be so lost and alone that Kai wanted to tell her that everything would be fine.
(A/N: Okay, you need tell if Kai's getting TOO much out of character. But hey, we've never seen Kai's soft side have we?)
But he didn't. Something held him back and he did what he always did; watched.
Suddenly, a mobile started to ring. Michael started to search his pockets and picked the mobile with a triumphing smile.
- "Bet it's some fangirl!" He declared. "Hello? Michael from the All-Starz."
It was Emily. "Where the hell are you guys? And stop swaggering around, Michael!"
- "It's only Emily." Said Michael to the others.
- "What!?" yelled Emily so loud in the mobile that everyone heard. "Give the phone to Steve. NOW!"
Michael smirked in a superior manner and handed the mobile to Steve. He accepted it with a bored expression.
- "Yeah." He muttered. "We're on Wong's Chinese. Bring Jennifer over if you want."
- "No, Judy wants you back here immediately. Remember, we've a battle against the Black Cats tomorrow!" Emily said and cut the line.
Steve gave to mobile back to Michael. And with a "see you later", they left the restaurant.
~*~ Back on the hotel-room… ~*~
Laynie went out from the bathroom and passed Ray on her way to bed. He stopped her by placing his hands on her shoulders.
- "What was the tall guy talking about? Are you his sister?"
[I knew this one would come… Shall I tell?] Laynie hesitated. 90 percent wanted to, but the remaining 10 told her that she should keep it to herself.
- "Laynie?" Ray's dark eyes met Laynie's and she decided to tell him.
- "It's a long story Ray, so you might wanna sit down…" sighed Laynie and sank down on her bed. Ray placed himself next to her and looked at her, waiting for the long story to begin.
- "The guy you met, was my older brother Nicholas. But as he said, we're only brother and sister by blood. I was kicked out of my family for five years ago."
Ray frowned. [How can you be kicked out of a family? A family is to support and love you?]
- "I was supposed to join the Kim's beyblade team, the Black Cats, but I refused. And on top of it: Drizzler, which really should have belonged to Nicholas, chose to come with me instead. Now, Nicholas wants him back and get his revenge."
- "But where do you live? I mean before you joined our team?" asked Ray.
- "With my grandmother. She left the Kim's a year before me." Answered Laynie. "End of story."
Ray smiled and rose from the bed. "Thanks for telling me Laynie. Good night."
- "You too." She curled down into the soft pillows. But then she sat up straight again. "Who's playing tomorrow?"
- "Yeah, I forgot to ask!" Kenny looked up from the computer's screen. "Kai?"
Everyone turned their gaze toward Kai, who was sitting on the bed in his usual style. He opened his eyes.
- "Tyson, Ray, Max." Kai mumbled and everyone was looking at Laynie.
She frowned. "What? Didn't you hear what he said? Unless you did, I can repeat it. Tyso…"
Tyson interrupted her. "No! We just wonder why you're not playing?"
- "Maybe cause the captain says I'm not?" Laynie faked a yawn. She wanted to get away from having everyone's attention.
- "Wow, someone who shows the captain some respect." Snorted Kai from his side of the room.
~*~ Next day… ~*~
- "And the winners of the black B is the unstoppable Bladebreakers! They'll continue to the semifinals!"
- "YEEEES! Now we gotta go and see how's it going for the All-Starz."
The Bladebreakers rushed through a narrow corridor to see the All-Starz meet the Black Cats in a battle of which team who should make it to the semi-finals.
Emily stood in the middle of the stadium with her beyblade ready on the launcher. On the other side of the dish stood Michi, and a gray blade shone in the light.
- "Well, this doesn't look too good for the All-Starz. Jonathan pretty easily beat Steve and if the All-Starz looses this battle too, they're out of the Championships. I'm Brad Best, and I got my buddy A.J Topper here. What do you have to say about the All-Starz chances to catch up?"
- "Thank you, Brad. The All-Starz has proved that they're no pushovers but the Black Cats just showed up from nowhere and is still undefeated in this Championships."
- "Bladers ready? Good." Jazzman's voice was heard all over the stadium. "THREE… TWO… ONE… LEEET IIIT RIIIP!"
The two blades was launched into the dish and started to fight each other immediately. Emily's blade seemed to be weaker and inch-by-inch, it was pushed to the edge.
- "Emily is loosing! Check the stats Dizzi!" shouted Kenny.
- "You can't even add a please. The young today. Phft!" Dizzi uploaded some pages, but not without some whining.
Kenny scrolled down the page. "It looks like Emily is in big trouble! She needs a miracle to win this!"
But no miracle came. Despite the fact that she called out Trygator, she lost the battle. Her blade flew out of the dish and landed behind her.
- "No, can't be!? Emily LOST?" Tyson's jaw dropped as he watched Emily pick up her blade. The attack-ring was broken.
[That means that we have to keep an eye on the Black Cats. If they're able to beat the All-Starz without even make any further effort.] Thought Kai and made a note to himself to train the team, and himself, even more.
- "I can't believe this…" Max shook his head. "Poor mum!"
Laynie glanced at him. "She's a grown up women for god's sake Max. I think she can handle it. Besides, didn't you beat them in the American Championships?"
Ray nodded and Jazzman announced the results.
- "And with that loss is the All-Starz out of the Championships. Must be sad to play the last round when it's all over all ready… But Michael will probably try his hardest to save his team from a total debase. In this battle, captain vs. captain!"
Michael stepped up to the dish, smiling confidential. He caught Laynie's face in the crowd and made a nonchalant wave.
- "Pleeease…" muttered Laynie sarcastically, not waving back.
Kai smirked. "You don't think you should be nice to him now when they're out of the Championships?"
Laynie looked at him, surprised that he had said something to her without needing.
[Maybe he's starting to open up and be a little friendlier?] Laynie smiled.
- "Why should I? I don't think the defeat will change his attitude…" She said ironically and shook her head. "Nah, he's born to be boasting around."
- "Maybe this will change his attitude after all. Look!" Ray pointed down on the dish. Michael's blade was knocked out of the dish, before he even had the chance to call out his Trygle.
- "And the Black Cats make it to the semi-finals where they'll meet the White Tigers who already won their battle against the Raving Magicians." Shouted Jazzman and the crowd started to applause.
- "Wow, I guess that the All-Starz's feeling a little down now." Stated Max and his usual cheery smile were gone.
The rest nodded. They looked down on the All-Starz, standing gathered around a laptop and Judy. Probably trying to calculate why they lost so easy.
- "It's nothing we can do now. Let's take the bus back to the hotel. We've training to do if we wanna beat the Black Cats." Kai rose from his seat and started to walk towards the exits.
[We HAVE to beat them. I need to get my life back. And if Nicholas still thinks that he can take me on and win, it's impossible. I have to win. For my team and for myself.] Thought Laynie and followed Kai.
She knew what she had to do. The question was if she could do it. But she was sure on one point. She wasn't alone anymore. She had a team who wanted to help her. If she let them.
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Tam tam tam! Seventh chapter done! I got so into the fic so I couldn't wait for Sunday to come… Maybe I'm able to update chapter eight then? I don't promise, but I'll try! And it depends a little on you too, my beloved reviewers. If you review and tell me what you think, then I can write better (probably). It's okay if you wanna flame me or something, but I would appreciate if you stayed out of my spelling… I know it's a little bad sometimes, but I don't think it can get better…
Gotta go now. But hey! Do you feel that odd feeling of wanting to push the purple button down there and tell the authoress what you think of the chapter? Strange huh?
/ Emma a.k.a dragon-eyes22