Shitza: Hello again, missed me?

Kai: Thinking of how many reviews you've received so far, don't think so.

Shitza. Now, who is the one turning my mood down!

Zeo: Don't mind him! He's just the plain old sourpuss around. You should concentrate getting this story finished.

Shitza: Wish me luck on that. It's so many chapters to make and write it's getting REALLY long.

Max: So what, continue. Even if no one reads I read.

Daichi: Huh?

Tyson: It would probably be a good thing to review, since then the energy to write this would go over the roof. Come on, review and the cool guy here will visit your dreams!

Hilary: And I suppose you are that guy!

Tyson: Hey, I'm being serious!

Hilary: So am I!

Chapter 16 A Day of Surprises

Kai was like always first up in the morning, and being first up meant he at least could have breakfast before everyone else. Yet his breakfast always was the same, a cup of coffee to keep him awake and ready to take on Tyson. Even if Tyson was a bit more mature now, he was still just an annoying kid.

Kai slowly opened the morning newspaper by the door to read. It was a good thing for him that he could almost understand Swedish fluently; it was only his speech that needed practise. He still had some minor problems, but he never gave the language a thought before.

Twenty minutes later ray woke up, still yawning and stretching out his arms in the air. He had to get up early or the rest of the team would never get a decent breakfast. Yet it had still not occurred to him about the lack of thanks he was given for his morning duty as it had become. Still he liked to cook and make food. But a bit more credit would of course not hurt…

Third person awakening was the Chief, or at least third person out from the rooms were the short brown haired boy, like always carrying his precious laptop under his arm. He simply sat down by the table, continuing working. If he had been working all night or had just awoken no one knew. Chief was a bit unpredictable.

Fourth down was Hilary, who looked fully awake. She was carrying a drawn schedule of the day she had planned over the night. It was only one day of work. First there would be an opening ceremony by all the teams that had competed in the tour, and in the evening the Semi Final would take place.

Max finally bounced up around 7am, and poured a bowl of sugarcoated cereals in a bowl. To it he added even more sugar in the milk. No one bothered though; they were all buried in their own thoughts.

Daichi, who had been sleeping on a rug, was shaken awake by all the noise in the morning and went to join to eat. Usually they would have to wake him up later, but the red haired boy had had an uneasy sleep.

Last up was Tyson, who had the wake up call by Hilary. Yet this time the two of them had found a better way of waking him up, in some ways more romantic.

It was good for one thing. The team didn't need earmuffs as they ate because Tyson could yell when he really wanted.

The day started out with a close to food fight at the table. Daichi had accidentally sent his pancake in Tyson's face and he had thrown a spoon of jam that landed on Max rather then Daichi, who had ducked right in time. Max was about to send a spoon full of cereals when Kai all gave them a warning glare, which was for the best. They were grown men now, not three-year-old boys.

After the finished breakfast Kai dragged them down to the basement again, to train for the upcoming match tomorrow.

(Arlanda, same time)

From all parts of the globe airplanes landed by the airport, all having their team. From America came the All Starz and the Black cats. From all corners of Europe flew the Majestics, the Dark Bladers, Barthez Battalion, F Sangre and The Vikings. From Asia landed the White Tigers, Saint Shields, Team Psychic, BEGA. Everyone was looking forward to the Semi Final and Final to take place.

By the Black Cats the girl and also horse star Tenesee was almost bouncing of anticipation. Her teammates had to steadily calm her down; she just hoped she soon could find Max in this mess. It had been a long time since they last met.

By the White tigers Kevin was teasing Mariah about Ray. In truth the Entire White Tiger Village had heard about this, and were looking forwards to welcome them into it. Even Lee had given them permission, and Mariah was sure that before she would know it she would be married. Because so where the rules where she lived.

From the Majestics and Team Psychic there were really nervous moves, because both teams wondered if the Phoenix would show up once more, and if so how her reaction would be. Both teams wanted the strange girl back, but how was another question.

Five different guides from BBA took the teams to the hotel the Bladebreakers all stayed; all of them were welcomed by a loud rumble coming from below.

"Now what was that?" Julia asked, holding the arm of one of her teammates Antonio. Her twin brother Raul put his ear to the floor, listening carefully. Everyone watched him, wondering what on earth was going on.

From below the Spanish player could hear several voices, all calling orders and he heard a very common sound. Beyblades.

He smiled to his team, and everyone else. "I think there is something highly interesting going on down there, shall we go and see?"

Most teams nodded and followed. The teams that stayed outside it all were the Dark Bladers and the Vikings. The dark Bladers explained they didn't have time for those things, while the Vikings more wanted to go out and meet their fans on the streets, after all they were the home team!

(Down in the Basement)

"Dranzer, twirl and avoid!" Kai called. His blade suddenly changed rotation, so that it instead of spinning anti-clockwise spun clockwise. Max, whom he was battling, inhaled deeply as the blue blade hit Draciel, with a devastating force!

"Draciel, come on! It's just an over-sized bird, we can take him down!"

However his words were true, Kai didn't take the words over-sized nicely and a second later the green blade lay by Max's feet.

By another dish Ray battled Daichi, which had taken an abrupt turn as Daichi once more had called for his double spirit bit beast. Ray was shocked, even if he had seen this move plenty of times by now. But it didn't stop him from being shocked. By every match Serpera seemed to grow in strength and he had a feeling it would soon be able to beat dragoon by just whacking it.

"Driger, Thunder Growl! Bring it down!" ray said. His blade had some difficulties in the sandy desert dish, but it still worked.

Driger growled furiously and attacked, sparks flying from his mouth. Daichi raised his arms as sand and splinters of the dish flew over him. Moments later Serpera lay by his feet, defeated.

Meanwhile Tyson was letting Dragoon spin through a complicated dish the Chief had set up for them. It was all the elements they would perhaps battle in.

As they all were full up in practise, not noticing the intruders, dozens of blades suddenly landed in the dishes all around. Each of the Bladebreakers' blades had been surrounded by opponents, whom they slowly would have to work through, thinking of all attacks that came.

What first looked like an extremely serious battle soon more became a friendship match. Everyone knew each other as the teams they were in, some people of course knew each more private. But even Kai could find time to enjoy the battles as he commanded Dranzer to attack. Beyblade was a sport, but it was also meant to be fun, and fun they had as opponent after opponent were beaten. Soon only the team captains stood left from the opponents side, but they too were defeated.

"Fancy seeing you all here!" Max said as Tenesee crawled over to him giving him a light kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah, is it party already?" Ray asked as Mariah hugged him.

"Nah, we were checking in when the earthquake from here broke out. What were you guys doing?" Michael from the All Starz asked.

"It's called training, and we still have a lot to work on. Weren't there supposed to be an opening tournament by now?" Kai asked, clearly not wanting anyone to disturb.

"Yeah, but not for another three hours or so. Besides, all teams here want to see how great your team really is. Let it RIIIP!" Kane shouted letting his blade land on the already dusty floor.

More bladers followed him, and the Bladebreakers found themselves surrounded by opponents.

"Many of us, maybe are counted out off blading, but we still have some efforts left to test you out! Salamolyon Attack!" Johnny from the Majestics said.

"Not counting, we want you to be in top shape to defeat Zeo and his gang, not to mention those Elementals as they call them. I have never seen anyone else without less sense of style! Cyber Driger Attack!" Salima said.

The Bladebreakers all laughed before moving into the match. With all these people cheering on them, they were bound not to loose!

In another part of the hotel Zeo was making his team train hard for the match. King was battling with the captain in a fierce battle. Gordo had still some push ups to finish, with Queen sitting on his back while doing so. It was hard work, but none less a good way to build up your physical strength.

Gordo was breathing harshly. Queen kicked him lightly on his left leg. "Come on, ten more and then we can move on. My dear little brother and Zeo are way ahead!"

Gordo growled, but obeyed order. Zeo watched them and smiled. Even if the team was mainly made of sneaky bladers they had a good spirit towards each other.

"Ariel, take him down!" King said. Zeo's eyes wandered back to the match; just one second without focus could be devastating.

"Burning Cerberus, let's finish him off! Death Extract!"

King could only stare at the violet blade that started glowing, sending night dark flames towards his bit beast. The flames surrounded Ariel, and the bit beast fainted, sweating terrible. His blade was knocked away, but he still had no idea what had happened. Cerberus soared back into its owner's hand.

Queen opened her mouth slowly to say something, but no words came. She stood up again, making Gordo fall as the weight was lifted. Zeo smiled victoriously.

"This will be my test upon the Bladebreakers. Cerberus told me about his own powers, and from all the training I can say it all paid off. This will be really interesting!"

Queen nodded, helping Gordo back to his feet. King took Ariel from the ground.

"We are with you captain, even if the sluts manage to beat us we are with you. No one, I mean no one can beat the true power of this team."

'No barriers will be able to crush their hope' Queen thought as Zeo and King readied themselves for a second match. She sat down, on a bench watching them. Unknown off the gentle gazes Gordo gave her.

The Bladebreakers stood together with the two other remaining teams of the tour. Zeo and his companions stood by their right side, posing for photographers. The Elementals looked as if they had been fed sour lemons, nothing ever seemed to make them smile. The Dark man Veymo Thon had summoned all ten youths together, and it all sent shivers down their spine. Only the bravest took pictures of them.

The Bladebreakers seemed to be the spotlight of the upcoming games. People all over the globe believed them to become the winners. Kenny seemed to be the only one not able to think so, he kept on screaming about all the statistics, which made the five guys wanting to kick him out. It wasn't until Hilary dragged him out that they could relax, posing up in front of the magazines, answering questions.

"Mr Tate, Mr Tate! Tell me, are the American rumours true that you are dating Miss Tenesee from the State of Texas!"

"Mr Kon, How do you make your so flashy hair?"

"Mr Granger, Mr Granger! Tell us, what are your expectations for your upcoming match, do you think you can keep your title as world Champ?"

"Mr Hiwatari! What kind of face paint do you use, I think most of our readers would like to know!"

Even Daichi had questions, which was a change from the World Championships and Justice Five. Yet most of the Questions were about his role as an Elemental. It wasn't fully unknown anymore about his past life, a life he sometimes just wanted to drop!

From the stands most other captains and top bladers started getting slightly jealous of the attention below. The opening would still not take place for a further of ten minutes and most bladers had already made their way down. Indeed, Rick and Steve were shouting tiring down towards the photographers that up where they stood there were some real bladers. But no one seemed to hear them.

As the opening proceeded, a tremendous dish was introduced and the different bladers were allowed to start. Around the dish stood Johnny, Salima, Miguel, Mathilda, Sanquinex, Michael, Julia, Jim, Kane, Ozuma, Mariah, Kevin, Robert, Oliver, Emily, Olivia from the Vikings, Tenesee, Ian, Brooklyn and Ming Ming. The dish was a death dome, that they called it. It was a stone dish, cracked all over so there was really no place safe.

Jazzman counted down, and the match began.

Twenty blades soared down into the dish. It was a fiery match, and only after five minutes three quarters had been eliminated. The remaining ones were Venus, Unicolyon, Cyber Driger, Galux and Wyborg. Ian had played dirty, but so far no one had seen what he did. He had knocked five blades out in a row, and none of it had been made with legal stuff.

"Cyber Driger, Love Beam!" Salima commanded. Her blade slammed into his, and their bit beast fought furiously. I pink beam shot from Cyber Driger's mouth, smashing into Wyborg bringing it down. Ian's blade stopped spinning, and Salima's team was cheering on her!

Just then a pink blur slammed into it, sending her flying.

"Looks like Mariah is splitting things up!" Jazzman said as the pink blade continued slamming into Venus. Ming Ming was startled. The light blue haired girl ordered her blade to attack, but ever since the downfall for BEGA (the company) the team's powers had descended. They were still elites, but not that good elites.

Mariah even sent Venus flying, and things looked very well for her, until the ground started shaking furiously. She turned and saw Oliver, his blade was glowing, and within seconds Galux was thrown out.

The boys in the team were practically in tears as they congratulated their friend for his won. Mariah felt defeated, until Kevin showed up and started to tickle her furiously. It was his idea of a brotherly joke. When her team showed up, she felt s lot better. After all, they had been close to winning, and showed the other teams some things about battling.

It ended with a friendly handshake between the captains and then the competitors. Like it should be, friends between foes. Some stared a bit uneasy at the Elementals. All wondering what was up with them.

Two hours left until them match, and Tyson was pacing furiously back and forward. Ray was meditating, calming his soul and his energy, saving it for the battle later. Max was stretching, warming up and Kai and Daichi were nowhere to be seen. However the team knew they would show up soon.

The rules had changed now; there would no longer be one representing up, one battle, a total score. No, these matches were different. Each blader had three matches; each match was counted in the score. The team with the most and highest score won the match.

All in all there would be fifteen points divided and they were really getting nervous! After all, it was no knowing what would happen. Everyone hoped they would win, none knew the outcome.

A minute later Kai returned, looking exactly as distant as usual. Arms folded over his chest he leant back to the wall and waited like the rest of them. Now, where on earth could Daichi be? Time flew, one hour to go.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, bladers and sportsmen… welcome to the Semi Final of this tour!" Jazzman said from the top of the closed not yet revealed dish. The spectators went wild, and among them sat all the teams that had been beaten through the tour.

Jazzman walked of the dish, and it opened behind him. As the smoke cleared they saw it was a beautiful landscape of a certain village.

"I can't believe my eyes!" Mariah said.

"It's…"Kevin started, but he couldn't get the words out.

Gary smacked his lips, thinking of homemade food.

"Home, it's our village!" Lee said.

Indeed it was. Experts had taken the long journey to the village to take pictures, which they sculpted back into the dish. Everything was in there, the houses, trees, stores and waterfall.

"Let us proudly introduce the first dish, the Chinese Hell. It may look like a paradise, but watch closely."

Suddenly the dish started shaking, and from small holes, unable to be seen, fire erupted. The White Tigers all stared at it, unable to say anything. What in the world was going on?

"And now, please welcome to this first round. Zeo, the captain of the team, and Ray representing the Bladebreakers!"

The floor opened, and slowly the two bladers rose to the scenery in front. Ray, who clearly recognised the place, stared in shock seeing the burning sculpture. For Zeo this was just a dish, for Ray it was his memories.

Mariah shook her fists angrily; it was no way in the world Ray would find enough strength to fight in this. She knew, from knowing Ray, how he still could feel emotions for his home.

'You CAN do this Ray, you WILL win!' she thought.

Ray walked up to the dish, as his teammates arrived like he had, from the floor. They all went back to the bench in order to wait and survey. Everyone except for Daichi, who lingered some seconds before following. Daichi had arrived, a minute before Jazzman introduced them.

From the other side Zeo and his friends all whispered about something before Zeo went to face Ray. Ray had no idea what they were planning, all he knew that he had to win, both for his current team, and his past one.

The first match of two was about to start, and so it would be. Ray took out his launcher, which had been redesigned by the Chief. He put his blade on and waited for the signal. Three… Two… One… LET IT RIIIIIIIIP!

Zeo launched at the exact time, his blade landed and started zigzagging between the houses. Both blades followed each other's movements, not giving out a crack of weakness in any parts. It was a very even match.

Suddenly Zeo decided to quit the circulation and start attacking. His blade hurried to attack and crashed into Driger with an amazing force. The Bladebreakers all gasped. Somehow, ever since Zeo had turned human his powers had grown tremendously. It was a real shock.

"I'll teach you not to mess with the White Tiger!" Ray said. Driger, attack!"

His blade glowed and the fiery and clawed bit beast emerged, chasing after Cerberus, not giving the blade time to do anything. Sparks flew, sparks of Driger's electrifying powers flew everywhere, not only amazing the teams but the whole world.

"Driger, Thunder Growl!" Ray said, his eyes glowing in the same luminous green light as the electric sparks themselves.

"His powers are moving beyond anything!" Chief cried out, yet no one seemed to listen. It was as if everyone knew this would happen, even the cloaked person sitting two metres away, from everyone's attention.

"Cerberus, Arising darkness!" Zeo said trying to fight back. Indeed it worked; Ray was gradually loosing his control. Zeo took this as his advantage, and sent a heavy tornado of dark storms at him.

"Ray, attack now while you have the chance!" The White Tigers called from the stands, everyone could see how open Zeo's defence was as the battle became more and more heated. But Ray didn't move, his eyes were fixed in the dish, his eyes wide of horror.

"Ray, what are you doing, attack now!" Mariah said worriedly.

"He's not focusing!" Kevin whispered to the others. "But he used to be the best!"

The first match of three was soon over, by Zeo's blade throwing Driger out from the dish. A bell rang and the scoreboard clearly showed everyone who was leading the match.

Ray looked at the dish one last time before turning back to his friends. There Tyson and max met him, both looking a bit disappointed.

"Ray, that was a really easy one, you could have won that easy enough." Max said.

"What made you loose focus, buddy?" Tyson asked.

Ray shook his head, wondering the same. He went to sit down and gulp some water from a water bottle Hilary handed him. By his left side sat Daichi and by his right, Kai. Both wore the same look on their face.

"Ray, what reason did you have to loose focus? After all, this isn't your home town you know!" Kai said.

Ray stared at him, how did he know what he was thinking?

"Next round, make sure to remember where you are. I know it's different battling when you know people are counting on you to win, but hey… You can't lay your guard down, remember what we are. You're a champion, I'm a champion. Are we going to loose to these freaks just because someone here misses home!"

Ray stared open-mouthed at him. Daichi looked at him.

"I can win this." He said.

Daichi snorted. "If that is so, prove it!"

Ray closed his fists, and walked back. The second round started, and Daichi ore a smile of victory on his face.

"Why did you do that for?" Tyson asked. Daichi didn't answer, just continued smiling.

The second match started out as the first. As soon as the two bladers had launched the blades started circulating each other. Yet this time, it was Ray who started the attack!

"Driger, Thunder Growl!"

The grey blade smashed into Cerberus, and almost sent it out.

'Like I couldn't win this match, that little dwarf will pay!' Ray thought as Daichi's words… prove it, rang in his ears.

His thoughts were abrupt as once more Zeo started attacking with a power they had never seen before, but once more his defence was purely open, giving ray time to attack.

It all ended quickly, Zeo's blade flew out and landed by his feet. The crowds went wild; Ray's team went to congratulate him.

"Excellent, one more and then we'll win this!" Tyson said patting his friend on the back. Ray blushed from all the attention. He looked up to the stands, to see Mariah beaming at him. He knew that if the rest of the Tigers weren't here, she would have been down here with him.

However, from the other side of the dish, Zeo picked up his blade and started laughing. Everyone turned to him as he had a mysterious smirk on his lips.

"I wouldn't be so self sure about the match pussy cat, after all, the real fight will soon begin."

No one could understand what he meant, but it would soon be shown and soon be witnessed.

TBC

Shitza: Is this counted as a cliffhanger perhaps?

Max: You bet on it, continue and stop writing on those other things you write on. To tell you all, she writes too much!

Shitza: You start to sound too much like my mum. (And that annoying thought in my head) Relax, I am going to update this, but right now I have another chapter to write, on another BB story.

Kai: the one you dragged me into!

Tyson: How comes he is so popular and I'm not.

Shitza: he is fun to annoy, so no worries Tyson you don't miss anything. And till next time, review people! I am not giving up this story; after all I have four sequels to follow this.

Kai: Ruining the fun?

Shitza: No, I'm borrowing your face paint again!

Kai: WHAT!

Everyone else: (runs away from Kai's wrath)