Chapter Three

Let the Games Begin

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I woke to the ring of my cell phone, which automatically wasn't not a good thing. Groping around on the side table I picking up my phone and flipped it open with out even opening my eyes.

"Wha," I said sleepily.

"Ryan get up now, team meeting at Tyson's house in a half hour," I was so tired I didn't even know who was on the phone.

"Who, dis?" I asked with a yawn rolling over more under my covers.

"Hitoshi, now get up," Hitoshi commanded.

"Ok, I said drifting off again.

"Ryanna Annabella Isabella Frances-Gwen Hiwatari get up NOW," Hitoshi yelled into the phone so loud I jumped and ended up rolling right off the edge of my bed. I landed on the floor with a thud.

"I'm up, I'm up damnit that hurt," I whined as I picked up the phone that had been dropped.

"Well get up, you and Kai get to Tyson's house in a half hour or else," He threatened before hanging up with out even saying goodbye.

Mutter about rude blunettes and about it being too freaking early I rubbing my rear end as I glanced at my wall clock, which confirmed it was too early because it read 9:15.

Rolling my shoulders I grabbed one of my infinite pink polo shirts and black jeans before going into the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, a record of me, I was washed, dressed, combed and down stairs waiting for Kai by the front door.

I jumped a little bit when I felt a warm pulse in my jacket pocket. Reaching into my pocket I dug around till I found what was making the warm feeling and pulled out my Beyblade. Pluto, my bitbeast, was glowing and pulsing in a rhythm that I'd never seen before, she was also making this humming sound that sounded really pretty. I was so into the song I didn't notice Kai until he was right next to me.

"What's she doing?" Kai asked me making me jump and drop Pluto, when it hit the ground it automatically stop humming.

"I'm not sure she never done that before," I answered looking down at Pluto before bending and picking her up. When I fingers brushed hit bit chip she pulsed one more time before going silent. Slipping her back into my jacket I turned to my little brother.

"Come on lets go before we end up being late," I said exiting the manor.

As we were leaving I swore I could feel someone watching me. When I looked up I didn't see anything out of place. When I stopped looking the feeling came back. Rubbing the back of my neck I chalked it up to being paranoid and ignored it. However no matter how much I ignored the feeling it didn't go away until I slipped into the driver's seat of my Lotus Elise Convertible. I waited until Kai was buckled in before pulling out of the drive way. Leaning forward I fiddled with my CD changer until American Hi-Fi's Another Perfect day came out he speakers. Singing softly I drove the familiar streets to Tyson's house.

I'm holding on, waiting for your call.
It's simple, but I can't explain this.
I'm sinking down; I feel like I could die.
I'm falling off; I don't know why.

I still believe it when you say
It's another perfect day,
Another perfect day.
I still believe it when you say
It's another perfect day,
Another perfect day.

As I drove the only sound in the car was my singing and American Hi-Fi. Kai sat quietly gazing out the window.


So I might try to leave it all behind.
I know tomorrow's not so bright now.
I'll say goodbye 'cause nothing good can last.
You wear and fade; you're nowhere fast.
But today, I don't know how to keep it all inside,
But I guess I'll let it slide.

Two songs later we'd made it to Tyson's house. Turing off the radio then the engine I took the keys out and waited. I didn't have to wait long before Kai spoke.

"I think this is a bad idea."

"Why?" I asked settling in a better position to look at him. He was still looking out the window and not me.

"All of a sudden we get invited to this supposed to be exclusive tournament, one that none of us have ever heard of, and we're just suppose to go, I don't know it seems off."

"Well we can't prove it so let's just go and hope we're both just being paranoid," I said gently brushing my fingers over the nap of his neck. He leaned into my hand as I curled my fingers. I loved the feel of his hair, it was always so soft and silky. I ran my fingers through it for a few minutes as he sat still with his eyes close lost in his own thoughts.

"Come on lets go before we're late," he said suddenly opening his eyes and opening the car door. Following him I clicked the lock and hurried after him.

When we entered what was used as the living room I glanced around. Max and Tyson were curled lazily around one another trying to catch a few more minutes of sleep in a pair of bean bag chairs. Kenny and Hilary were talking to one another over on the other side of the room looking at things on Dizzy, while Rei, Hitoshi and Yumi, who I wasn't to, shocked to see, where talking to one another across the room. Sakura was by us talking in rapid French on her cell phone, a different one from the one I picked up yesterday. I had no clue what Sakura was saying, my second language was English my first being Russian but I didn't know any French, well not enough to make out her conversation.

With a sigh I made my way to Tyson and Max to find out what this team meeting was about and why it had to be so damn early for. Kai walked by me making a bee line fore Hitoshi, Rei and Yumi.

"So what's so important that I have to be up so early for?" I asked the two when I came in hearing distance of the,

Tyson lazily cracked an eye lid before closing it back, "I don't know but it's too early," he said with a yawn.

The two things that Tyson and I had in common were our love for sleeping and our love to eat. Smiling slightly I sat down in front of them leaning back on Max's leg. Curled up I closed my eyes and hoped I could catch a few Z's before the meeting started. Sadly the world just wasn't going to agree with me for the second I started to doze lightly Hitoshi called the meeting to start.

"I'd apologize for waking you up so early but I'm not really all that sorry," he started which make me glare at him half heartedly.

"So what was so important that its couldn't wait," Max asked with a yawn.

"I got the list of countries," Hito said shorty.

"Country's?" I asked confused.

Hitoshi started to explain but a loud 'FUCK' interrupted him. Turning around half way I saw Sakura glaring at her cell.

"What?" Hitoshi asked annoyed.

"He won't come, he quote 'Will not be bothered with things that aren't his business'," she glared at the occupants of the room, "When I get my hands on him I'm going to show him his damn business."

"Who?" Tyson asked.

"Brook, lazy ass," Sakura said flopping down on the hard wood floor and laying out all but in the door way.

"Brooklyn?" I wondered aloud.

"Yeah, he's my best friend," she said and Yumi snorted.

"Oh," my annoyance must have leaked into my voice because she said.

"Got a problem with that?"

"He almost killed my brother," I said with narrow eyes. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kai make some sort of move.

"But he's not dead is he?" She said eyes never wavering.

"So what, that doesn't make it right," I had to restrain from yelling.

"I didn't say it did but your brother's fine isn't he. He's not mad at Brook is he?" she flicked to Kai before continuing, "No he isn't, so what gives you the right to bitch at me or at him for that matter?" she glared at me.

"But," I started but she cut me off.

"But nothing, there are only three people in this room that have any reason to bitch about what happen that day," she glared at me.

"And who would that be?" Max asked softly from behind me.

"Kai because he was the one that almost died, Tyson because Brooklyn would have hurt him worst than what Bryan did to Kon," she looked at Tyson with an odd smile then before continuing, "And me because it was all my fault." She ended resting her head on the floor with her eyes closed.

I waited for her to explain how it was her fault but after a few minutes of silence I knew she wasn't going to say anymore. Finally she spoke up when I thought she had finished her say, but it had nothing to do with her pervious statement.

"Irelands, Amber, Ruin, Beth and Clover, they're easy enough to find but convincing them to battle is a whole different problem. I don't know who the blader is for Russia but I know someone who probably knows so we'll ask him. Gawd only knows what he's going to want for this but it'll be worth it."

"What?" Hilary said confused.

"The Kamazia Pastoral Tournament rules number twelve, all participants must travel to eight different countries assigned to them by the board. They must find the board approved blader, or bladers battle them and acquire the map piece that will lead them to the current location of they tournament," she quoted.

"And just how are we supposed to pay for this?" Hilary asked.

"We got it covered," Yumi said from the other side of the room.

"Gotta make a stop first though, to pick up Brook and Kira," Sakura said lazily.

"And why do we have to do that?" I asked coldly.

"Oh get over your self, we need Brooklyn," she snapped.

"Oh yeah, why?" I asked getting annoyed.

"Because you gotten Italy and guess what Italy is Jordan and Madison, I'm sure of it. And neither one of them will get any where near me, they have like a Sakura radar that lets them know when I'm at least five block near them," she snapped. "And two England's on your list and guess who the bladers for England are?"

I simply glared the back of my throat suddenly dry.

"Thought so, your, well my plane leaves at 3:30 sharp, you're not there you will be left. Pack enough for at least a month I doubt we'll be back before the tournament ends," she said standing up and heading for the door.

"What about my grandpa?" Tyson asked before she could leave.

"Your grandfathers cool as long as you call once a week, Max your dad said just call and when we go to America to stop in with your mom in New York. Kon? Kai?" she glanced at the last two with out another comment before leaving.

"You know the rules Hito, you can explain everything else. See you at three," Yumi called trailing after her sister. A few seconds later I heard the revving of a motorcycle and then nothing. Tuning out Hitoshi's explanation I glanced out the window and wondered why a deep since of dread filled my body.

TBC