GOMEN to all readers out THERE! GOMEN for taking so long to update my fic. I'm currently working right now, 6 frigging days of the week, and the only free day I HAVE is SUNDAY. T_T Wow. Talk about a major bummer. Anyway, don't worry, I will try my best to update my fics on a weekly basis. OK, on to the DISCLAIMER!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bey Blade, its characters, teams, and respective Bey Blades; I own the original characters, teams, and "fictitious" Bey Blades written herein. This story takes place right after the Russian Finals. There are cameos of your favorite teams here, and their respective members. I'm also using the Japanese version names here; swing me an e-mail if you're confused as to who is who: it's at eduin_goddess@yahoo.com, and a new address which is Eidolon_Masouki@hotmail.com. Oh, and do I hear Yuri Ivanov (Tala) waiting in the wings as the newest BBA Team member….?! Cha-CHING~~~!!! 8D
"Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP, TAKAO~~~!!!"
"…" Takao Kinogu rolled to the other side. "…man…5 more minutes…"
"Wake up Takao, you're going to be late for SCHOOL~~~!!!" Grandfather Kinogu whipped out his shinai then started hitting his grandson with it on the bum. "When would you EVER learn to wake up EARLY?!"
"Alright, ALRIGHT ALREADY! SHEESH! You didn't have to hit me THAT hard," SD Takao yelps, rubbing his sore bum gingerly.
"And you call yourself a descendant of a noble lineage of SAMURAI~~~!!!" Grandfather Kinogu was fuming. "Max is waiting for you DOWNSTAIRS, for crying out LOUD."
"WHA~~~?! Grandfather, why didn't you TELL me?!" SD Takao grabbed his shower things from the chair beside his bed and bolted out of the room.
"I've been trying to tell you THAT for the last 5 MINUTES." Grandfather Kinogu shook his head and sighed. "My grandson, the stone sleeper."
Takao appeared at the top of their new house's steps. "Max, SORRY! I'll just take a quick shower!"
"I don't mind Takao, don't WORRY!" Max Mizuhara's voice floated from downstairs. "Just hurry up, we'll miss the bus to town!"
"OK! See you in 10 minutes!"
The 2 young men hurried to the bus stop, Takao biting on a piece of toast as he half-ran towards it with Max at his side. "Man, what a day to OVERSLEEP…" Takao grumbled.
There were a bunch of people already waiting at the bust stop, and they were a battalion, to say the least. SD Takao's eyes turned wobbly. "At the rate things are going, we're lucky if we make it before the school closes for the NIGHT…"
"Don't worry Takao, it's still quite early." Max looked at his watch. "We still have about a good 15 minutes before the flag ceremony starts."
"I still can't get over the fact that we moved here from Sendouji (a fictional little town I cooked up; lifted from "To Meet Again" and "BLADED!")," SD Takao said, blinking as he munched on his toast, his eyes thin little slits.
"Mmm-hmm, everything's so fast-paced here," Max told him. "Not unlike Sendouji."
"Man, I miss waking up 15 minutes late and STILL make it to school on time because the guard forgot the main gate keys." Takao sighed again. "But as Grandfather said, change is a good thing, as long as it's for the better, not for the worse."
"I'm just glad we moved right into the same neighborhood," Max said with a grin. "That way, we won't really lose contact with each other!"
"Yup." Takao nodded. "Oh, look, the bus is here!"
"Come on, let's grab the window seats," Max said. "And get acquainted with Tokyo City life the easiest way possible through this little trip to school."
"HEY! Wait up for US!"
Takao and Max stopped dead in their tracks, then looked over their shoulders. Takao blinked. "WHA~~~?! LEI! You're…"
"Yes, that I am." Lei Kon grinned.
"And you're with Rai and Mao," Max said, blinking.
"Right after the Russian Tournament, Chairman Daitenji agreed to put us through the BBA Scholarship," Rai told them. "Gao's left at the White Tiger Valley to look over things for us, then Keiki would be following us next week."
"We're staying over at our Uncle's place," Mao added. "It's right in this neighborhood."
"But how come we didn't get to SEE you?!" Takao asked, blinking.
"We've been pretty busy, moving in and all, we just arrived 3 days ago." Lei nodded. "So…we're all going to the same school."
"Seems like it." Takao grinned. "Heh heh, this would be a school term to REMEMBER! I can't wait to hit school!"
"WOW!" Takao was wide-eyed.
"Wow" was an understatement. From the sun-dappled tree lined walks to the impressive looking building right in the center, and down to the students all hurrying through its many gates, Kyouin Junior High School was a sight to behold.
"Kyouin Junior High School, home to Japan's best junior high school soccer team and a stepping stone to its premier senior high schools," Max told them. "At least that's what I've heard."
"I can't believe I'm actually JUNIOR HIGH!" SD Takao was practically dancing. "Heh heh, not only would it be the home of the best junior high soccer team, it would also be the home of the BEST BEY BLADERS IN THE WHOLE WORLD~~~!!!"
They entered the gates and they all went to the bulletin board set up front on which the sections with their respective students' names were listed.
"Section II-A," Mao announced.
"Section III-A," Lei and Rai both answered.
"I-A," Max put in.
"I-B." Takao became SD. "Am I to be the only one in B-section right HERE?"
"Don't worry Takao, it's not that bad," Max told him. "I'm pretty sure you'll make it to A section next year."
"I sure hope so…"
"Excuse me."
They all blinked as a tall young girl stood right behind them, her slanted gray eyes expressionless. She cocked her head inquisitively. "Is something the matter?"
"Uh…nothing." Max blinked.
"IF you don't mind." With that, the girl passed right through the middle of the entire group, her long straight shiny jet-black hair falling down far below her waist in one shimmering banner.
SD Mao was fuming. "Who does she THINK she IS?!"
"Trouble," Rai said, blinking at how a lady could be so indifferent.
"Come on, we're running LATE!" Lei nodded. "See you recess!"
Max was reading through his thick history book when he overhears a couple of students in his classroom a little while later.
"He's half-American?"
"Yes. He's from Sendouji…"
"Wow…"
"His father owns the Bey Blade Hobby Shop that opened just a few days ago."
"So that means he's THAT Max Mizuhara of the BBA TEAM~~~?!"
"Yes! Hey, did you see that Chinese guy and that loud boy from B-section?! They're BBA Team members TOO!"
"WOW!"
There was general chaos as the teacher came in, dressed in a business suit. "Good morning class. Now, before we do roll call, I would like to say that we have a very important guest staying in for a week. As part of the Japanese government's efforts to promote goodwill among different schools of the metropolis, the Department of Education has launched a campaign for an exchange student program for 2 quarters until semestral break. Each student representative would be staying over to study, participate in activities; and share everything about the school he came from, whereas the host school would basically share everything with him. Now, we are lucky to have been chosen as host school to a representative from St. Magdalen Junior High School in uptown Tokyo. I trust you know what that means."
"Wow…they say only children of the wealthiest people go there…"
"Not only that, they're also INTELLIGENT!"
"And cute looking!"
"And we're lucky enough to play as host 'family' of sorts to that representative." The teacher nodded. "I trust you'll all be on your best behavior. Alright, you may come in."
"…" The sliding door of the classroom slid open. And they all gazed eagerly as to who might be it.
"Shizue Tsukigata," the girl said, her lovely gray eyes unblinking. "I am very honored to be here with you, and I'm very glad."
"Wow…HEY! Isn't she that girl from the Fuyutsuki SHRINE?!"
"Yes…"
"She's the Miko there…no wonder all guys wanted to visit that shrine. She's way too HOT."
"Class, Miss Tsukigata would be your classmate from this day onwards till the end of 2 quarters. Please be all nice to her."
Max's eyes were wide. It's that girl from the bulletin board fiasco.
Shizue Tsukigata looked over at him, and their eyes locked.
Max gulped.
He had a strange feeling that girl's pure trouble all right.
Starting with the fact that the teacher said Max would be her "tour guide" of sorts.
