A/N: SHIT! Sorry AthleticBlueFire, I couldn't quite remember how your name went! I couldn't check because my internet was down -insert VERY long line of curses here- Very sorry! Swamped with homework, huh? Ack, wish I could help ya... ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENGLAND IN THERE? Laugh my ass off... joking. I know what you mean! THANK YOU Reis#1gurl! DJ Jazzman... DJ Jazzman...got to remember that! Thanks again!

Chapter Eighteen

Champions Decided

The next day none of them wanted to move. They only wanted to sleep the day away... for some odd reason. Carmen tossed and turned; Max and Aaron tossed as they were tightly wrapped in the sheets; Nick asleep on the floor with the sheets tightly binding him; Sandra silently asleep; and Alex was asleep on her stomach with her redhead under the pillow.

All of them were asleep in their beds... Er… well, the majority of them. As sunlight seeped its way through the drawn curtains that hung in front of the windows, they continued to sleep. Rays of sunlight dotted their faces, pillows and sheets. Mrs. Riley had asked the team to stay at the Riley's home, and they gladly accepted her offer.

The bedroom door began to creak open, and a figure slipped through. This small figure made its way toward Carmen's bed, then slowly and quietly got up onto the bed. She's not going to get up very easily! the shadowy figure thought, then jumped into the air. The small being jumped on Carmen's bed, then landed on Carmen herself.

"OUCH!" Carmen cried, then peered through the dimly light room, to see a small boy's face.

"JAKE!" she yelled. Her younger brother got up, and continued to jump on the bed and land on his sister. The others moaned, rubbed their eyes, and looked up.

"What's all the racket for?" Aaron asked sleepily.

"JAKE! GET GOING BEFORE I THUMP YA!" Carmen hollered as her sibling continued his torment. Alex chucked her pillow toward Carmen's bed, and only just missed Carmen's face.

"JAKE! MUM!" Carmen shrieked.

"Jake! Get down here, now!" came the angry voice of Carmen's mother. Jake stood still on the bed, near Carmen's rib cage.

"You just had to ruin my fun!" he whined, staring down at Carmen.

"Shut it, swine." Carmen hissed. Jake jumped off the bed, then ran out.

"Carmen, couldn't you just thump him one on the head?" Alex moaned as she looked up; her hair was fairly messy.

"I would've." Carmen answered.

Nick was surprised to see himself on the floor that morning. All three boys had a good laugh as they untangled themselves from the sheets. The lot made their way downstairs sleepily. Carmen wore her usual tight black jeans, and a soccer jersey for England's soccer team, while her hair was pulled back into a French braid. Alex wore a single pair of blue Capri's and a white tee shirt, as did Sandra. As for the boys, the usual jeans and tee shirt.

"Aren't we cheerful today!" Carmen's elder sibling, Nick, said sarcastically.

"Jake jumped on me and nearly landed on my rib cage!" Carmen hissed.

"Aw, what's the matter? Is little Caramel upset because she could've been in the hospital with broken ribs again?" Nick said sarcastically. His voice was one that you'd use if you were talking to a baby, or was being a tease.

"NICK!" she hollered, then turned to her friends.

"This is what it's like early in the morning." she added.

"Only when Carmen takes on the role of a jackass!" Nick added, then caught his mother's eye.

"NICK!" Carmen yelled again. The boys burst with laughter.

"Carmen, Nick, that's enough!" called Carmen's mother. The two siblings stared at each other darkly.

-X-

The Bladebreakers and The Demons stared around at each other.

"Well? We've got to do something other than just sitting here staring at each other!" Alex said finally.

"Like what?" Drzazga asked.

"Sing The Anthem?" Alex suggested.

"YESH! The Anthem! Good Charlotte's GREATEST song!" Carmen said happily.

Kenny looked kind of scared. "Does...she have an obsession with music...or the song The Anthem? Or Good Charlotte?" he asked.

"Ah, I'm afraid so. Riley knows just about every song Good Charlotte wrote, same with many other bands or singers." Alex answered. Kenny slowly nodded.

"No no, let's not sing." Aaron declared.

"Why?" Sandra asked.

"Why not?" Nick asked.

"Because we always do! Can't we just relax?" Aaron answered. They all looked at each other, nodding their heads.

"That's true, we do perform often..." Drzazga said.

"And we don't relax often.." Nick added.

"Then it's settled! We'll relax!" Aaron declared.

-X-

The crowd filled with excitement as they waited for the final match. Alex and Sandra were going a bit... Crazy as they waited.

"Oh gosh, oh gosh... OH GOSH!" Alex cried.

"I know! I broke a nail!" Sandra cried. Aaron, Carmen, Nick and Max sweat dropped.

"Easy there girlies! Don't worry Sandra, your nail will grow back. Look at mine, I rip them off and bit them and do all sorts of other fun shit to them." Carmen said, holding her hands out for Sandra to look at them. Sandra stared at her captain for awhile, then looked at Carmen's nails. The boys burst with laughter at the sight of Sandra's face; she looked like she just saw a cat get run over by a car.

"Sandra! The look on your face is just... Priceless!" Aaron laughed as he clutched his stomach. Max and Nick were both pounding their fists on the floor as they laughed. Carmen tried to hold her laughter in, but failed. Sandra became quite for awhile, staring at her own finger nails.

"Come on! It's time for the match!" called Mr. Dickenson from the opposite side of the door.

"Coming!" Carmen called back, then turned to her team.

"Alright, we know what we're doing?" she asked.

"Yes." the others chorused.

"Very good. We know who we're up against? We know the stakes?" Carmen asked.

"Yes." the others chorused again.

"Very well." she smiled slightly, then the team went out for the crowd.

-X-

The rays of light from the spotlights beamed down upon the two teams; it was time.

"Welcome, once again, to the Final Match of the World Championship Tournament! We are here in Manchester England, with the Final Match! Our two competing teams are; our returning champions, The Bladebreakers! And the opposing team, one team that has proved they were good enough for the finals.. The Demons!" introduced DJ Jazzman. The cheering fans stood up from their seats, clapping and cheering.

-X-

On the rather large television type screen behind DJ, there was a chart, showing which blader would go at which time. The chart went as follows:

First, Tyson VS. Nick

Second, Max VS. Alex

Last, Ray VS. Carmen

Between the pictures of Nick and Tyson read 'Winner - Tyson'. But, Alex and Max were both still in their battle. Determination gleamed in both their eyes. The battle was well underway; neither of them were about to give up.

"Come on! We can do this!" Alex said encouragingly.

"Come on, Draciel!" said Max under his breath. Carmen was on her feet, wearing the same out fit from when she had first met The Bladebreakers. Come on girl, come on. Make up for Nick's lose in battle, Carmen thought as she shot a sideways glance at Nick. He was staring at the ground, ashamed of himself; though it seemed.

-X-

As the dust rose, both Rei and Carmen were not visible. Alex had won her match, but now it was up to Carmen to win them the title as Champion. Carmen was singing Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson, and had already finished the song. The dish was practically torn apart, which was the source of the dust.

As the dust settled, both beybladers came into view. The two lay on the floor, tired and slightly weak. The beyblades began to lose their balance. The winning team would be decided very, very soon. Carmen placed her hands on the cold floor, pushing her upper body back into the air. Her eyes met Rei's who was already on his knees, watching the blades.

Her eyes drifted down to the decreasing in speed blades; Soulbreather seemed done as dinner. No, she mouthed, please no.

"Come on… Come on..." Rei pleaded. Each blade toppled to the sides, although Drigger seemed to be still in the game.

"No… Not now, please no. We've come too far to lose now. Soulbreather...please." Carmen said quietly. But there wasn't any hope. Soulbreather bit the dust; Rei had won.

"Rei wins! The Bladebreakers remain the champions!" DJ called. The crowd stood up clapping, and seemed to have enjoyed the match. Carmen's mouth hung open slightly, staring at her blade in slight disgust. It.. It... It can't be! But, it is. We've lost... Carmen thought.