ME: Hello it's me again! And lets just say, I thank my reviewers, though being I am off line while writing this I have forgotten your pseudonyms, but thank you to the one honest reviewer who was brave enough to say what was on my mind as well as the mind of the others. This story lacked action. So, here is my attempt to make up for it. Though I really suck at running sequence, and I have yet to write anything involving beyblade battles, you will see minor changes, or not, but anyway....
Soft tapping of uncut claws echoed as the fuzzy little creature crept through the halls, tail held high as it danced amongst the thin cloud of dust, uplifted by the brushing of soft paws against the wood floor boards. With a soft mew it lowered itself outside a thick mahogany colored door. Staring up at a faded door knob, it crouched down low, and pounced, jingling the knob between dark paws, hanging before it gave a click, the door cracked open, and with a satisfied mew, the cat pushed through.
Amber eyes pierced through the darkness of the room, taking a few tentative steps it reached a dark shape, taking a quick sniff it grasped an unfamiliar scent, and held it, following it through the air to an odd structure. Driven by curiosity it jumped up on top where the scent became even stronger. It rubbed against the figure affectionately, and gazed at it expectantly. Yet no reaction came. Gently it leapt on top of it, and froze as a grunt came to ear.
Oddly enough, the creature sat down, staring out the window at a bird, flying back and forth from side to side, mesmerizing. The cat's tail twitched, perch forgotten as it watched, tail flickering and twisting, back and forth back and forth, and . . .
"ACHOO!" The cat sprung up in surprise as the blanket beneath it was torn away, feet hit the floor and the cat dashed out the door, the awoken jumped form his bed, and hung out the door watching the tip of the cats tail disappear from sight.
"Damn cat." He muttered, withdrawing back into the room to get dressed.
Minutes later he was back in the hall, fully dressed. He quelled a yawn, and glanced down the hall at closed doors. Snores still rattling through the air, he stretched, then wandered down the stairs and into the kitchen, not surprised to see, he wasn't alone.
"Morning." Silver muttered, placing her coffee mug down beside her blank-covered book, the emaciated grey tabby staring at him spitefully from her lap. Grey eyes flickered toward him momentarily. "Did stitches wake you up?"
He opened the refrigerator to find it empty. He threw it closed and took a seat at the table.
"Yeah, no one's gone shopping in a while . . . " She turned the page of her book, stitches jumped on the table and stared at him. He glared back, noting the black stitch like stripes around its left leg. "They gave us a week before we have to go off to the preliminaries." She paused, taking a sip of her coffee, and glancing up at him. "They're in California by the way."
"Then enough of this lethargic behavior." Kai pushed his chair away from the table. Starling the already skittish cat and it's master. "Help me get the others awake. Were training."
The sun was still just breaching the horizon. The stars still dominating half the sky, and the air remained sodden with cool, fresh, dew. He had made the mistake of giving them a whole day of rest, but it was one he would never make again.
Pushing a strand of hair from his eyes he watched as the two teams staggered onto the field, and raised an eye brow in amusement.
"We have a week before the preliminaries begin." He informed them, watching the sleep vanish from their eyes and quickly became weary interest.
"And from this day on, to the end of the competition, we will be training, same time every morning."
"Oh come on!" Tyson moaned as if wounded, but his pitiful sound went ignored as Kenny began to speak.
" Dizzy and I have put together another list to help you train . . . " Tyson's thoughts wandered back to Hillary, sitting all alone back in Japan. "The first matter we will attend to is your blades, I have some new components for the bladebreakers, but I wish to examine the blades of both teams. A sort of check up . . . "
"And while he does that, you all have to run laps, as many as you can!" Dizzy piped up.
"Run laps!" Gabby cried. "Why do we have to run laps!?"
"We'll explain later, now come on." Jinn and Ashei said as they dragged her to the gravel track
The boys followed, even Tyson, who trudged grudgingly through the grass, contemplating an escape route from morning rituals and grumbling to himself, Kai couldn't help but smirk.
Silver threw her long jacket onto the bleachers, and zippered off the bottom part of her pants, still wearing her boots. With a sigh she fell back on the bleachers, and studied the bladebreakers from the corner of her eye, but her gaze fell on Kai, for some odd reason he aroused an odd interest in her mind, she needed to know, she needed to know why she couldn't trust him, or at least gain a reason to . . .
"Earth to Nny. Are you there?" Opening an eye she hadn't realized she had closed she glanced up at Ashei, who stuck her tongue out. Silver on the other hand, looked at her with slight disdain, and glanced over where Kai had been before, and found, in disappointment he had moved. Turning her attention back to the redhead she stood up, stretched her arms above her head, and smirked
"Lets teach these boys how to run shall we?"
"On your marks, get set . . . GO!" And they were off. Dust trailing behind them as their feet slapped against the ground gravel, kicking it up in clouds, for this track had never truly been taken care of. Barreling down the track as they were over come with sudden bursts of energy. Yet it had been only two laps before the first person fell behind, panting and sweating, Gabby plopped down on the side and stared up at the sky, but saw nothing, and was deaf beyond the sound of her pounding heartbeat. The second was a girl as well, Jinn who instead of the messy exit, simply stopped and sat Indian style on the grass beside Gabby. They watched, and were both slightly impressed by the boys who, all but for Tyson seemed yet to show exhaustion. But it was Kai and Silver who caught their eyes. Both racing ahead, neck and neck.
"This isn't going to end well." Jinn muttered, cloudy blue eyes turning gracefully to Gabby, who was forcing herself into a sitting position.
"How do you know?" Gabby asked, her voice but a hoarse whisper compared to the loud, overconfident, tone it usually held. She watched an eery smirk form on Jinns fair face, Tyson collapsed on the side of the track, Max at his side.
"I am psychic. I know all." And with that, a flash of lightning illuminated her from behind. Gabby groaned, and fell back on the ground.
Silver shuddered as a cool rain drop trickled down her shirt, heart racing, pace set, she spared a second to glance up at the sky, the light blue overcome with dark grey clouds, the clear morning air pulsing with electrical currents, The sudden change was instantaneous. She hugged the next turn and glanced at Kai, who was watching the sky as well, yet showing no sign of wanting to stop. As long as he continued, so too would she, returning her eyes to the obstacle ahead, quickly her mind went blank, and all she could hear was the pounding of her feet against the gravel and the sound of her heart beat against her sanity.
She quelled the urge to laugh out loud, for running brought up a swell of joy in her stomach, and instead directed it to her feet and bound feet ahead of Kai, but when she glanced aside, he was there, and then before her, and so she followed suit, passing him once more only to be mirrored once again. Her chapped lips twisted into a smirk, she loved such games to a certain extent, but it had not worn off on her just of yet. She sped up, rushing ahead, and honed her senses, hearing his footsteps, she continued to accelerate, she could hear him do the same, the rain was falling harder, but it didn't seem to matter as she swung her legs out farther, faster and faster she went, tearing through the rain, the adrenaline kicking in as she attempted to meet the need for speed.
But Kai wouldn't be beaten either, watching the girl tear ahead, he clenched his teeth and pushed his body to go faster. The whole time they had both been playing with each other, testing their limits and faults but now, with a burst of adrenaline, he would show her what he could really do.
"Their going to end up killing each other!" Max said in awe from the sidelines, his heart beating anxiously as he attempted to suppress the energy of excitement running through him as he watched. "Come on Kai! One more lap! You can beat her!"
Ashei scowled and tackled Max to the ground, straddling his abdomen as she leant back and began waving her arms. "Go Nny!"
The others joined in, except for Gabby who was watching from under an umbrella with a sly smirk.
"Last lap?" Silver muttered between breaths, keeping her eyes ahead as he grunted in reply. Silver quickened only a bit as the final stretch came into view, it was now or never, with a mental nod she drew forward, lengthening her strides, her head was spinning, and he legs were throbbing, threatening to collapse beneath her at any second. But that's all she needed, a second, the end was in sight, she panted as she splashed through the mud as fast as she could the finish line now in sight . . . so close . . . her legs slid out form under her, and the next thing she knew she was sliding sideways over mud-covered gravel. She bit her lip to suppress a dismayed cry as her body was suddenly thrown into the air and sent spinning into a brick wall.
Kai slowed down and jogged over.
"Are you alright?" He inquired, eyeing her with a smug smirk. She glared at him and growled.
"You sicken me." He raised an eyebrow. She was in quite an interesting position, her back buried in mud, staring up at him while her legs were pressed against the wall, arms lost somewhere beneath her. With a grunt she dropped her legs to the side and pulled under him beneath her so she was kneeling before him. He held out a hand, but she pushed it away, picking herself up and stumbling past him, only to collapse in the mud again. He gazed out toward the others who stood far across the field, why weren't they coming? He wondered, positioning himself before her.
"Get up." She raised her head to glare at him, hair plastered to her forehead, mud trickling down in tiny streams as the rain tried to wash it away, her clothes . . . her white shirt . . . it was sort of well . . . he shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. "You heard me, get up."
"Bastard." She hissed, swinging her leg out suddenly, taking his out from under him. He was taken by surprise as his back smacked down into the mud, rain beating against his face as a clap of thunder rumbled from somewhere in the distance, a shadow stood above him, illuminated by a strike of lightning.
"I don't want your help. I don't need your help." She spat, shaking the raindrops free from her hair, stopping her voice rose. "And never demand anything of me again, or I may have to harm you."
With that she began to walk away, but Kai's reflexes had been underestimated and in a second he was on his feet. Quickly he closed the gap between them and grabbed her arm. A shock ran through her, freezing her blood, stilling her body, and sending a shiver up her spine, her muscles tensed as he stepped out before her. She studied him for a second before turning her eyes to the ground.
"Do you know who I am?" He questioned, staring at the top of her head as she lay an arm across her chest, gripping the arm he held. She continued to stare down at her muddy boots. "Answer me will you!"
But she didn't, and slowly, he took his hand away from her arm brought it to her chin, lifting her face to his, softly he began. "I am the team captain, I am your superior and while both teams are in this tournament I call the shots. Do you understand me?"
She stared at him, and it was in that moment he noticed her eyes. The emotions reeling behind them, resentment toward him, embarrassment and shame. In an instant he dropped his hand and turned to join the others. With a sigh Silver did the same, brushing a clod of mud the rain had missed from her hair with a look of disgust.
"Rei?"
"Hm?"
"Is this Mariah girl going to be at the tournament?" Jinn asked lightly, almost wistfully as she twisted her ebony locks dry above the kitchen sink. Rei glanced at her over the top of his beyblade magazine and couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing his pink haired friend again.
"Probably." She glanced at him, and with one final twist she pulled a chair up for herself. He watched with curious eyes as she gazed at him from across the round table.
"Well?" She asked placing her elbows on the table, her chi n on her open palms, raising a pencil thin eyebrow. "Would you like to elucidate?"
"Elucidate what?" He asked cautiously becoming suddenly uncomfortable under her stoic gaze, yet she seemed unfazed, busying herself with a rubber band she had found, stretching it as she opened and closed the space between her finger tips.
"Your relationship." The rubber band suddenly flew from her fingers only missing Rei's ear by an inch. She stared for a second before breaking into a fit of soft giggles. "I'm sorry, but please answer the inquiry honestly."
"We're just friends . . . "Rei trailed off, watching as a rather, clean, yet angry looking Silver stormed into the room dressed in a clean pair of baggy black knee length shorts, her boots with long black and red striped socks and a red and black corset top with a tight long sleeve black shirt beneath it. Jinn had returned to placing her fingertips together, then separating them and didn't seem phased as Silver dragged a whole cooler of soda and ice back out the kitchen where she had come. He blinked, glanced at Jinn, then back out the door as a confident, pajama wearing Gabby passed by with a smug smile.
"Conflict." Jinn whispered smiling bemused to herself. Rei stared at her for a second, shrugged off the feeling of confusion, and returned to his magazine.
Gabby leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling as she listened to the constant typing of computer keys. Studying the plain white ceiling and the single dead lightbulb hanging uselessly in the center. There was no light in the small cubicle, and above all things, there was no color. It was dead. She shifted the weight to her left leg and drew her eyes down to the computer.
"Gabby, you've been standing there for the past thirty minutes." Gabby blinked, slightly unnerved at the image of Silver, her face looking almost evil cast in the eery green glow of the computer screen. "If there is something you wish to say, say it, if not I wish you leave."
The blond reached down into the cooler at her side and drew out a soda, Gabby watched her open it and take a sip, grey eyes pausing to glance at her. "You're not gone."
"No, I'm not." She smirked under the angry glare, and pushed herself away from the wall, and bent down over the table. The typing stopped, and the flames of animosity behind the grey eyes clashed with the smirking glint of indigo. "I think I know why you have been so contentious lately."
"Let me ask. What demeaning theory has your mind concocted this time?"
"Kai is a decent athlete isn't he?"
Silver tensed, her eyes, usually full of such raw emotion became icy and illegible. Gabby smirked.
"He is decent." Silver replied coldly, a hint of suspicion drowning beneath the ice, turning back to the computer. "If you are here to talk about boys, I'm not interested."
"Oh but I think you are." Gabby's smirk twisted into a sly smile. "I think you're very interested."
In a second she was crushed, painfully against the wall Silvers hand tightly clenched around her throat, Gabby's feet swinging uselessly inches from the ground as she tried pulling the hand away, choking.
"What are you getting at?" Silver hissed, eyes narrowed dangerously as she watched the girls struggle. "Answer me dammit."
Gabby's closed her eyes tightly, furrowing her forehead as she croaked. "I can't breath!"
Silver growled and tightened her grip "Answer me!" Gabby opened her eyes, her pupils to the ceiling, she could feel her face changing color as her heart began to slow. Silver stared at her in disgust and threw her into the corner where she fell in a crumpled mass on the ground, holding her neck as she tried to gain back her breath. Silver turned and walked calmly back to the computer chair. Gabby glared at her until she gained control of her breathing.
"You like him don't you?" Gabby questioned forcefully, confidence returning to her hoarse voice as she picked herself up, she couldn't say she didn't expect such actions from Silver. "It's obvious, the way you keep looking at him, you've never fought so passionately against anyone before him but Alex."
"Obviously you are delusional." Silver said coldly, but Gabby could see a faint set of mixed emotions reeling behind her eyes. "I respect Kai, but I feel nothing more for him."
"That's what you want me to believe." Gabby said pointedly, feeling spiteful toward the blond. "But it isn't just me who noticed. The rest of them have noticed it as well."
"Gabby, if any emotions were to be developing, it would take much longer then a few days." Gabby rolled her eyes. "I feel nothing for him."
"You really expect me to believe that?" She said with a laugh of disbelief, bending over the computer desk, giving the blond no where else to look but at her. "I know you better then that, there is no way you can lie to me, It's love at first sight!"
"I don't believe in love." She retorted trying to avoid eye contact.
"You're in denial." Gabby insisted as if trying to force both of them into believing it. "I understand such emotions. You can be honest with me."
"You're trying my patience." Silver growled through gritted teeth.
"You're lying to me." Gabby was nearly yelling. "I know it's true and you do too!"
Anger flashed like lightning behind Silvers eyes as she nearly launched herself over the desk at Gabby, seizing the collar of her buttoned jacket she pulled back her hand and let her fist fly. "Get it through your head! I feel nothing toward him! I feel nothing toward any of them!" Silver screamed, tossing her away harder then she had meant to, watching the girl stagger, stunned as she cclutched her jaw, then collapsed down onto her knees, gaping. "Holy shit."
"I'm sorry." Silver spat, but the brunette didn't seem to hear it, only stared at the far wall. "Gabriella?"
"You're telling the truth." she whispered. "This is the first time I've ever been wrong."
"Go get your jaw checked." Silver answered, stepping over her to open the door. "I'm sure the others have heard by now."
Gabby nodded dumbfounded, and staggered up onto her feet.
"I'm sorry I . . . "Gabby began, moving her jaw testing it to see if it was broken. "I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions."
Silver blinked and stared at her for a moment, it was out of character for Gabby to apologize, and it seemed the indigo eyed girl knew it as well for in the next moment she tried to smile, but winced as the pain increased, and with one more glance at the blond, ran out of the room. Silver pushed it shut, and returned to the computer chair with a sigh.
"Now if only I could make myself believe that." She whispered cheerlessly, staring at the cooler as she buried her throbbing fist in the ice. "If only."
Within her mind a creature stirred, golden eyes flashing as heads began to raise and fall as thunderous roars sounded, wings beating, chains clanging, and in her mind it gnawed away at more of her sanity.
Didn't the running bore you to death? It made no sense did it? Oh well.
Oh I want you all to vote on something, to make up for the lack of action, I'm going to allow you to vote on which character I will have murdered to be replaced by an already existing character in the original show.
It can be any of the girls except Silver, and even any of the boys but Kai, if you wish you can choose the weapon or method used as well!
Oh I love death scenes! Anyway, review please! It would make exams so much easier to stomach.
And when I said I had homework to do, I meant my normal homework load, and the homework I had neglected to do since the beginning of the marking period.