Hi! Sorry, I took so long in updating again. But I was having problems getting back my virus protector. Plus, my computer was acting very funny. I think my mom and I got all fixed up by now though. Thank goodness! So, without further ado and chatter, here's the next chapter. And just a reminder to review after reading. Let's go!
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Chapter 8- Koji's Big Mistake
Koji had just finished practicing his beyblading out back and wasn't too satisfied with his results. He thought if he had a bit-beast like Kai and the Phoenix team, then he would be champs like them. It just wasn't fair! He practiced like they told him to; he dedicated himself to the sport, so why didn't it feel like he was improving. Alex had been watching and he smiled encouragingly at Koji.
"Great job, Koji," he said. "You're getting better. You've got some good endurance and I think I saw some chips fly out of the dish there before."
"Yeah," Koji agreed sarcastically, "chips off my blade from trying to break stone. Give up the encouraging attitude Alex, I haven't improved squat!"
"Sure you have," Alex stated firmly. "Now what do you say we have a game?"
"No thanks. I think I'll go for a walk."
"Ok. But don't be long. You know how Miss Kelm gets when we come in late."
"What are you, my boss? Don't worry, I'll be back before sundown."
"All right then. Bye!"
Koji nodded and walked away.
He didn't really pay any attention as to where he was going, and soon found himself walking through town. He soon was passing by some alleys. Suddenly, Koji shivered and he couldn't really shake the feeling that he was being watched. Just then, a strong pair of hands grabbed a hold of him, and he let out a squawk of surprise as he was pulled into the shadows. Koji was pushed against the alley wall by the figure who had seized him. The place smelled awful, although he couldn't really tell if it was the smell of rotting fish or the guy's breath. It was so dark, that he couldn't see anything and he started to struggle in panic.
"Easy, kid, easy," said a voice from in front of him. Koji figured it belonged to the guy who had grabbed him and stopped struggling.
"Who are you?" asked Koji.
"None of your business," the figure hissed. "Now, look, I happen to know that you want a bit-beast, right?"
"Yeah," Koji answered. He squinted his eyes trying to get a look at whose grip he was in, but it was too dark. "But what's it to you?"
"I know where you can get one," the figure said shortly as he put Koji down.
This got Koji's attention. "You do?" he asked, suddenly all excited. "Where? Which one?"
"Yes. It's called Dranzer," replied the figure.
"Dranzer?" said Koji, mystified. "But wait a minute. Dranzer already belongs to Kai of the BladeBreakers. It can't be mine."
"Sure it can," the figure answered. "Now listen, I need you to get Dranzer for me. Do that, and I promise Kai'll leave that place you're staying at, plus you can have Dranzer. Think about it.
"I already have," snapped Koji, without hestitation or thinking it through. "I'll do it! Especially if it'll get me a bit-beast."
"Good," said the figure, giving Koji a sly grin through the dark. "Meet me back here tomorrow, with the fire phoenix in hand."
"Right."
Then, the figure just walked away. Koji peered around the corner after him, hoping to see whom he just had that conversation with. All he could see though, was the guy's long, swishing hooded trench coat. He also thought he could make out purple hair, or maybe it was just his imagination. Koji pushed it all out of his head for the moment, sighed, and headed back in the direction he thought led to the Shelter. It did. And he just happened to arrive back at the same time that Kai and Sanka did.
"Hi Koji," Sanka greeted cheerfully at him, even though she didn't like him much.
"Hi," Koji grumbled back as they entered the Shelter. He shot a dark look at Kai, who simply just looked away. "What's he still doin' here?" he asked.
"Kai's decided to stay here for awhile remember?" Sanka answered. She turned to face him. "Hey Kai!"
"Yeah?" Kai inquired from his position by the wall.
"Wanna go out back for a bit of a game before supper?" she asked hopefully.
Kai shrugged. "Uh, well..."
"Great!" Sanka cheered before he could finish. "Let's go!" She seized a hold of Kai's hand and pulled him off back outside again.
"Sanka, I really don't..." Kai started.
Sanka wasn't listening though as she pulled Kai away. Koji thought that if Kai really wanted to, he could break out Sanka's grip no problem. She wasn't that strong after all. He ran after them to watch.
Once out back, Sanka let go of her friend and ran over to the dish. She pulled out her launcher and beyblade, and looked over expectantly at Kai. Kai shrugged again and decided that he might as well. He took out his blade and launcher too and joined Sanka at the dish. They both released at the same time. It started almost in a dejevu of their last match against each other, with Dranzer starting off by hitting Icies first, and then Icies doing counterattacks back.
"Icies, Sonic Blizzard!" Sanka ordered after awhile.
The thick snow and ice storm formed and whipped around the place. Dranzer was being pulled into its vortex again. Sanka grinned sure that she'd be the winner this time too.
"Fire Arrow, Dranzer!" Kai commanded suddenly.
"What?" Sanka cried, surprised.
The arrow of fire shot right through the center of the storm, causing it to evaporate and clear. Icies was weakened now and Dranzer just had to literally tap at it before it stopped spinning. Kai smiled as Dranzer zipped back into his hand. Sanka sighed and then smiled too as she picked up her blade.
"Great match Kai," she said. "I guess I still have a lot to learn about Beyblading."
"Uh-huh," Kai agreed with a slight nod.
"Supper's ready!" came Miss Kelm's voice.
"Coming!" everyone called back.
Kai and Sanka tucked their blades in their pockets and headed back inside. Koji had been watching their whole match from a distance and was very impressed with Dranzer's power, and soon he would have it for himself. He followed them back inside, while thinking up ways to get Dranzer away from Kai.
Hours later, Phoenix City Shelter had fallen into silence, only broken by some people's odd snores. Everyone was asleep. Well, all expect one. Koji was wide-awake. He couldn't stop thinking about what the figure in the alley had told him. Dranzer? His? He looked around the room until he saw Dranzer clutched in Kai's hand. Koji groaned. This was going to be a lot harder than he had first thought it to be. Koji sighed and soon fell asleep.
Kai was first up as usual next morning. He put Dranzer down, let go a smile, and went to go wash up. Koji opened one eye, and watched and waited until he heard the bathroom door click shut. He sat up, already dressed, and then spotted Dranzer on the side table. 'Dranzer' thought Koji to himself, 'is now mine!' He grabbed a hold of the bright blue blade, just as Kai stepped back into the room.
"Koji, what are you doing?" Kai asked, completely surprised (which is rare for him). "That's my Dranzer!"
"I know," Koji said, "and now he's mine!"
Koji quickly tossed a pillow at Kai's face and then ran out the door. Growling, Kai snapped on his red wrist guard thingys and chased after him, grabbing a hold of his launcher on the way out.
"Give me back my Dranzer now Koji!" Kai shouted as they ran down the corridors.
"Make me!" Koji taunted back.
Kai chased Koji all the way to the main hallway before he finally caught up. He didn't like to admit it, but Koji was fast. Kai was finding it very hard to control his temper as he watched Koji tossing Dranzer back and forth in his hands. Normally, Kai was one to remain calm under pressure and such, but then suddenly something within him snapped and he lunged at Koji. Koji let go a yelp as Kai pushed him flat to the ground.
"Why'd you do that?" Kai demanded.
"I ain't telling you nothin'!" mumbled Koji.
"Why do want my Dranzer?! Spit it out Koji!"
Koji frowned and then gave a kick at Kai's hands, forcing him to let go. Kai stood up, while glaring at the boy. Koji stood up too. Before either of them could do anything thing else, they heard people getting up and yawning.
"What's going on out here?" inquired someone. It was Miss Kelm, who walked over and into view. "You two woke the Shelter up with your ruckus."
Sanka, Alex, and Kazu soon joined her, followed by everyone else, who were all rubbing sleep away from their eyes.
"Guys, it's way too early too early for all that shoutin'. Do you know what time it is?" Kazu grumbled, stiffling a yawn. "What's goin' on?"
"Koji, why do have Kai's Dranzer?" Sanka questioned, clearly noticing the blue beyblade in Koji's hand.
"Uh." Koji thought for a second. "Later!" he yelled, making a bolt for the front door.
"Not so fast," Kai growled, grabbing the back of his shirt as he ran past. "I think you've got something that's mine."
"Oh yeah?" said Koji with a frown. "Well, if you want Dranzer back, you're going to have to win it back, see. And I won't let that happen."
"We'll see, Koji," Kai said forcefully, frowning even more. "I don't make a record of losing to chumps like you. I lost Dranzer once and that's not going to happen again. Your first big mistake was taking Dranzer, your second was challenging me! You're going to lose Koji!"
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Well, what do you think? I kinda find it better than my last one. Funny, how that works sometimes, huh? So, I guess that's it for now. So, Ciao!