Chapter Two

Team Mate?

The next morning, it was just the same as the last day; all were up early, including Chief and Hilary. Tyson, however, was still asleep.

"Just let him get up when he wants to." said Chief. Hilary sighed.

"Where's Carmen?" she asked.

"She's coming, you can hear her singing. Listen." Rei said. They all listened carefully, and sure enough, amongst the sounds of the city, was Carmen's singing.

"Lifestyles of the rich and the famous… They're always complaining, always complaining. If money's such a problem, well they've got mansions, think we should rob them?" Carmen sang.

"She'll blow her eardrums out if she continues listening to her walkman on full blast." Hilary said.

"She's always done that, and her hearing is fine." Rei said at once. Carmen came into the back, looking ready for anything.

"Hey guys." she smiled, putting away her walkman. She looked at Rei.

"Well, about that four on one battle, Carmen." Kenny began.

"Oh yeah, that!" Carmen said. She seemed excited about the match.

"Yes, well, are you sure you want to battle Kai, Ray, Max and Tyson?" Kenny continued.

"Of course! It's what I'm known for!" she exclaimed.

"Seriously?" Tyson asked, as he walked out.

"Yeah..." Carmen said. She wasn't too happy about seeing Tyson, after yesterday. Tyson caught sight of her walkman out of the corner of his eye.

"YOU WERE LISTENING TO THAT THING AGAIN!" he yelled.

"YEAH! YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT!" Carmen yelled back. Tyson didn't say anything.

"That's what I thought." she said, crossing her arms across her chest.

-X-

Later that day, Carmen was waiting at the park for them. This was where they were to have their four-on-one battle.

"Where are they?" she asked herself, looking around. She sighed, then sat on a nearby park bench.

"We're here!" Hilary called. Carmen looked up.

"Good! I was beginning to think you got lost or something!" Carmen called back.

They all stood around the dish. Kenny and Hilary were standing at the sides as referees.

"Three, two, one!" Hilary and Kenny shouted.

"LET IT RIP!" the other five yelled. Their beyblades landed in the dish. Carmen's was the only black one.

"Dragoon!" Tyson yelled.

"Tyson, WAIT!" the others yelled. Carmen looked pleased that Tyson was about to attack.

"Alright. If that's how you want to play, then that's how we'll play. SOULBREATHER!" Carmen shouted. A bright white light shot from the bit chip of her be blade. A beautiful white tiger appeared, then let out a mighty roar.

"DRAGOON!" Tyson yelled, then the mighty dragon appeared above Tyson's blade. The two blades crashed into each other.

"DRIGGER!" Rei yelled. Rei's bit beast soon appeared, as did Draciel and Dranser. They all surrounded Carmen's blade, attacking her at every angle.

"You're done for Carmen!" Tyson said excitedly.

"You wish bozo. You wish." Carmen said slyly.

"What do you mean!" Hilary exclaimed. Carmen's blade was rather battered up, but it was still spinning, as were the others. Drigger, Draciel, Dranser and Dragoon were spinning beside each other in a line, but Soulbreather was spinning alone.

"You'll see what I mean." Carmen said. "SOULBREATHER, SOUL STORM ATTACK!" she yelled.

"How can she still be going?" Max asked. Soulbreather charged toward Dragoon, considering he didn't have very much power left in him.

-X-

With Tyson out, only Rei, Kai and Max were left with Carmen in the dish.

"Well, it seems Mr. Big-shot is out of the picture!" Carmen smiled.

"Beginner's luck!" Max said harshly. Carmen shot Max a slightly dirty look.

"Beginner? Luck! Honestly! I'm not a beginner!" she stated.

"Well, you're playing like one!" Max said shortly. Max, Rei thought, don't test her! Max had totally forgotten about Rei's warning on not testing Carmen. Carmen's eyes narrowed at Max.

"I'm playing like one, hmm? Well then, that'll have to change, won't it?" she said hotly. "SOULBREATHER! ATTACK!" she yelled again. The black blade that spun alone charged towards Draciel.

"DRACIEL!" Max yelled. He was ready. Hilary clapped her hands over her eyes.

"I can't watch!" she cried. The battle was surely intense, but it was one of the greatest matches the boys have had. Carmen had them all out except for Kai and Rei. Her blade began to tilt to the sides. She was beginning to lose.

"Well, you've lasted longer than expected. I'll give you that much." Kai said. He was slightly impressed by Carmen's battle style, her endurance, and her skills.

"Yeah. I expected you to be out along time ago!" Rei agreed. Carmen gave a slight smirk.

"Well, I'm not like any other girl." she muttered. Rei and Kai exchanged looks, thinking the same thing as each other. Carmen watched as her blade tilted to each side, slowly but surely loosing speed.

"Drigger!" Rei yelled.

"Dranser!" Kai yelled, shortly after Rei. The two blades went for Carmen's.

"I'm not out yet!" Carmen hissed as her blade gained balance once, and most likely for the last time in this battle, and darted off into another direction. Both Drigger and Dranser chased after Soulbreather. Come on, Carmen thought as she watched, I can do this!

"You're out-numbered, Carmen." Kai called. Carmen watched eagerly as her blade was being chased down by Dranser and Drigger. Soulbreather raced around the dish, with Dranser and Drigger right behind him.

"Come on Kai! We've got to catch up to her!" Rei said, looking at Kai.

"Right behind you!" Kai agreed. Both Dranser and Drigger sped up, to catch up with Soulbreather.

"Come on!" Carmen muttered.

"COME ON GUYS! YOU CAN BEAT HER!" Tyson and Max yelled from the sidelines. Hilary watched through her fingers, as her hands were covering her face. I don't know abut that, Kenny thought.

"I'm not about to give up boys. So if you think I am, keep dreaming!" Carmen told them.

"No problem. DRANSER, ATTACK!" Kai yelled. Dranser charged for Soulbreather, and the hit was one-hundred percent accurate. The two blades were crashing up against each other, but Soulbreather was closer to the edge than Dranser.

"You're done for!" Tyson yelled. Carmen smirked.

"You think I am?" she said slyly.

"Oh no. Not another one of her tricks again!" Max exclaimed. And sure enough, Max, was right. Carmen's blade managed to get away from the edge, making it seem like Soulbreather and Dranser switched places.

"No!" Kai yelled. Carmen smirked again, but didn't see Drigger heading for her blade.

"Attack, Drigger!" Rei yelled, then his blade collided into Carmen's. The black blade started to lose balance again; Kai and Rei had her exactly where they wanted her.

"NOW!" they both yelled. Both Dranser and Drigger collided with Soulbreather. And the outcome: Carmen, had lost.