Chapter Eight

Reason of Default

"The White Tigers are out, and The Demons advance! Join us tomorrow for the next match!" DJ said, then the spot light went out, and he disappeared in the darkness.

"That was rather unexpected, what Carmen did." Tyson said as they walked out of the stadium. Rei nodded.

"Carmen's been a great fan of Simple Plan, but I never expected her to have one of their songs memorized." Rei said.

-X-

"Hey, Chief, can you bring up Carmen's profile again?" Rei asked as they got back to Tyson's dojo.

"Sure, why d'you ask, Rei?" Chief replied.

"Well, doesn't it say what a blader's technique is and what-not?" Rei asked.

"Yes." Chief said.

"Well, I'd like to see what Carmen's technique is." Rei said.

"Okay, hold on." Chief said, getting Carmen's profile.

"Here it is, go ahead Rei!" Chief said, handing Dizzi over to Ray, who began reading aloud:

This music loving beyblader has her own style of battle. With knowing as much as there is to know about music, she's an original. There's no other blader like Carmen Riley out there!

'I take my blading seriously, and I take my music seriously.' says Carmen. Her talents make her technique. That's right, music is her beyblading technique! A single rock song sung in her talented voice is enough to set her bit beast off! A song such as 'I'm Just A Kid ' by Simple Plan could easily get Soulbreather in a rampaging mood to take out it's opponents quickly. However, a sad and slow song such as 'A Moment Like This' by Kelly Clarkson tends to put the beast into a calm mood, taking out opponents not as quickly, allowing the match to be longer. This only happens inside the arena, though. Outside the cheering of fans inside the Bey Stadium of the BBA, her technique is very different, making her seem a poor-classed blader.

-X-

Later that night, The Demons were still celebrating their victory. Alex grabbed a pillow, then smacked it at Carmen.

"You won, Carmen! You won!" Alex smiled. Carmen laughed.

"I knew I could win!" she said. The others grabbed pillows, then smacked them at Carmen. Soon, what started out as a celebration for their victory, became a pillow fight. After they had finished, they all sat around, staring at each other. Carmen put a hand on her head.

"My head hurts now.." she said. The others nodded, then they all went to bed.

-X-

The next day was much like the last. Only, The Bladebreakers weren't late. They were actually one of the first to be at the stadium, so they got good seats.

"Who's playing?" Tyson asked. "The Demons against The Blade Sharks." Kenny said, reading the stats for the up coming match.

"This should be an interesting match, then." said Max.

The lights went out, then a spot light settled on DJ Jazzman. "Hello there, folks! I've got an unfortunate announcement to make! The Blade Sharks were unable to make it to the match here today, so The Demons win by default. Also, the match which will consist of The Demons VS. The Majestics will be cancelled. This is because The Majestics will not be able to make it. The Demons, again, win by default. Thus, The Demons are in the finals. Sorry everyone!" DJ Jazzman said into the microphone. The crowd roared with boos, hisses, and complaints.

-X-

"Win by default! That's not fair!" Tyson said loudly on their way to Tyson's dojo.

"Tyson, it is so fair. If a team can't make it to a match, then the opposing team wins by default." Kenny said.

"But Chief!" Tyson whined.

"No but's, Tyson!" said Kenny. Tyson stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants.

-X-

Later that day, The Bladebreakers were all in Tyson's back yard. Rei was sitting, tinkering around with his blade. Tyson and Max were practicing.

"Come on Dragoon!" Tyson yelled.

"Go Draciel!" Max shouted. The two blades tore away at each other. Kai was also sitting down, tinkering with his beyblade as well.

"Well, at least we know what we're up against for the finals. Considering The Demons have made a clear and straight path right into the finals!" Hilary exclaimed. Kai nodded. Rei found it a bit odd, without Carmen's singing around. He began humming the tune to the song that Carmen was singing when the team first met her, across the street, outside a music store. Kai looked up at Rei. Rei continued to tinker around with his blade, and humming the tune.

"Rei." Kai said suddenly. Rei looked up at Kai.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"You're humming. Who're you thinking about?" Kai asked. Rei stared at Kai.

"Nobody." he said plainly.

"Carmen?" Kai asked. Rei stared Kai in the eyes.

"No, I'm not thinking of anybody." he said with the straightest face possible.

"Yes, you are!" Kai exclaimed.

"I am not!" Ray said loudly. Everyone turned around and stared at them.

"You are s-" Rei interrupted Kai.

"I am not thinking of anyone!" he said loudly, then took off. Everyone looked at Kai.

"What was that all about?" Hilary asked. Kai shrugged.

-X-

Rei walked along the side walk, looking into the windows of the stores that he passed. He soon stopped at the beach, staring at the water.

"Why did Kai accuse me of thinking of her?" he sighed. Then, Rei heard a familiar sound which was fairly distant. He looked up, in the direction of the sound. As the sound got closer to him, he began to recognize it.

"Carmen.." he whispered.

He figured out that it was a singing voice, one of which was indeed familiar to him. It was Carmen's soft singing voice, which could only be heard if she was singing a sad song, slow song, or some kind of Christmas carol such as Silent Night. Rei couldn't make out the words, but he knew it was her voice. Then, her voice was intense, like it was during her battle against Mariah. Rei shook his head.

As Carmen got closer, the words became clear. She was singing Kelly Clarkson's new song, 'Since You've Been Gone'.

"But since you've been gone, I can breathe for the first time. I'm so moving on, yeah yeah. Thanks to you. Now I get what I want. Since you've been gone." she sang. Ray acted like he didn't hear her. "How can I put it? You put me on. I even fell for that stupid love song, yeah ye--Oh! Hi Rei!" Carmen said, seeing Rei. Rei looked up, acting surprised.

"Hey Carmen!" he smiled. She returned the smile.

"So, your team is in the finals. That's great!" said Rei.

"Yeah! You never know, both our teams could be facing each other in the final match!" Carmen said excitedly. Rei nodded.

"That would be awesome! We haven't faced your team in the bey stadium yet." he said. After talking, they both lay on the beach under the shade of a tree. Carmen took in a deep breathe. Ray smiply watched her from the corner of his eye.

"It's nice being away from the team every now and then." he said suddenly. Oh shit! Did I just say that out loud, Rei thought, now realizing what he just said.

Carmen paused for a second then said, "Yeah. The boys have been driving Alex up the wall.." Rei nodded.

"It's been… Different, with you not being around all the time." he said.

"Yeah, I've missed being around you." she agreed. Rei looked at Carmen, who then looked at Rei. Then, Rei stood up. He grabbed Carmen's hand, pulling her to her feet. A smile spread across his face, saying he was going to do something drastic. Carmen stared at him, confused as hell.

"Rei, what are you doing?" she asked. Rei's smile seemed a bit larger with the question. A small glint in his eye told Carmen something. She opened her mouth, as if she heard something shocking.

"Oh no! No no! No no no no, Rei! Don't even think it!" she said. But before she could do something, Rei began chasing her around the beach.