Family Face-off- Part One

AN: bit-beast talking is /... /

From the personal diary of China Hitwari

June 7th, 2022

I know I demolished David of the American team, made some pretty cool friends along the way, too, but I can't help but tremble at the thought that Ty brought to light. With the way that things are going, we'll be facing off against my Uncle Lee's team soon enough; I sincerely hope that one of the two Shadow Storm teams can fail to pass- even though there's no way any of us are going to. White Tigers. That's what I'm afraid of. My Uncle, you see, is a very strict teacher so my cousin is bound to come into battle at full force.

China D. Hitwari

The plain idea of the tournament was not to be fighting your own family but that rule doesn't hold too well with people these days do it? As for me, I cam think of three very good reasons that we should not go to the Chinese Tournament to battle and they all end with TIGER. That's right ladies and gentlebugs, I, China Destiny Hitwari, is afraid to battle against my own kin. Well if it doesn't boil over by the time we get there the others have full permission to throw me off the plane at 25,000 feet so that I'd be dead before I hit the ground. Nikki's bouncing around like a jackrabbit in heat because he can't wait to mop the floor with the White Tiger's beyblades.

"...Point blank." Alixhi said from three seats back as he and Alucard argued back and fourth about who was going to win what after their next game of hangman. I sighed. Exactly how many games are they going to play between now and bedtime? I have no idea. I got up from my seat and dragged myself towards our rooms because in pure spite of my own values I was hitting the sack early enough to draw attention to the hallway I was in. Grandpapa looked at me- adoration shining in his dark eyes- and I returned his wholehearted smile.

"I'm too tired to stay awake. Can you get Nikki to wake me when we land?" He nodded. "Thanks so much, Grandpapa."

"You're welcome, sweetheart." Alixhi took instant notice of my not-so-hasty departure.

"Tired?" He asked through a falsetto of emotions. There was always the one person in the group that felt out the ones who wore the masks- in our little clique that person was me. Papa Rei told us all when we were kids that Daddy Kai had had a seriously hurtful past and didn't care to show much emotion; I saw past everything and soon enough I became 'Daddy's little Girl'. "Can I lay with you?"

"Lex." I groaned. Gods in the Seven Heavens damn the person who invented the puppy-eyes look.

"Petty pweaze?" Baby talk? Has my grand lover gone as low as to talk baby talk to get his own way?

"Fine," I growled. "But no hanky panky." He makes his eyes go as round as saucers and I laugh. I swear- the guys in this world are not getting better- their getting worst!

Many hours and minutes later we stood outside the Chinese Towers. No, Lex and I didn't do 'it' on the plane! Gods! How can you people be so far into the gutter? Besides, you can't exactly do much with a very alert old man outside the door.

"Wicked." Tyko said as he surveyed the area. "Hey, Alucard, how about some practice time?" Wolfsbaine probably wants some air. /I could use some of that as well, Master. / I smile as my bit-beast sounds his alarm. If it wasn't for Fangorn I'd be late for school as well as practice everyday of my life; daddy would not like that. I noticed the mountain area where the White Tiger team spin out and began to walk in that general direction before Alixhi catches a hold of my arm.

"Maybe we should stick together here?" I remember now! Alixhi was in Nagasaki that year Nikki and I went to visit our relatives in China and no one bothered to tell him about our little excursions.

"It's ok. I know the area from my last visit. I do have relatives here, Lex."

"He-he, I forgot about that. Well, be careful, Ina." Ina: one of two derivations of my name. The other one is Chi. A well known, yet also well hated nickname. Suddenly, a small blue and green bundle of nerves barrels into me, knocking me onto my ass.

"Cousin China! I'm so happy to see you! Is Nikki around?" Katzie and Peril are twins; though the latter is more conserved her sister is more likely to slit your throat in your sleep before she even thinks of befriending you. They are also my Uncle Kevin's kids and part of the White Tiger line up.

"He's over there." I say as I try to catch my breath. "Where are Uncle Lee and Aunt Mariah? I want to know if everything's alright for the tournament."

"Not a pleasure visit, eh?" /I know that voice. / Fangorn growls and I follow his lead like a tiger in hunting season. "I'm sure you remember me by the way that you're growling. No biggie, I'm sure your brother still has what I want." I look up into one of the trees only to be faced with my cousin Ronan- a.k.a 'Little Lee'- who is in a constant battle with Nicholas over Hellion (the bit-beast that Nikki won in a face off tryout two years ago).

"Look, it's a bug." I let my voice drop to a danger-level. "Get out of my sight before I make it so that your parents never recognize you again." He blanched and I made, once again, for the mountain village. Put very bluntly: I don't like Ronan any more than Tyko likes the dentist back home and that says a lot. Jumping the last few stones up the mountainside, I took notice of a length of hair hanging like a tail from one of the ledges. Spirit: Uncle Gary's daughter. I reached for the ledge but the braid was gone and so was Spirit.

"Looking for someone?" How? I turn around to see her standing with her eyes closed just five feet from the river. Her jet black hair hung in a tight braid to her ankles as she held her balance on one foot. "Coming up for a visit are we? Business or pleasure, dear cousin?"

"Bit of both I guess. How are you, Spirit?" I copy her technique on another rock in the middle of the river. Papa taught me well, don't you think?

"Fine, but it could be better with the upcoming tournament."

"Ronan?" She scowled and I feel her pain at the mention of the blader.

"Yes. You've run into him I assume?"

"Briefly."

"I see." I would have said 'with your eyes closed?' but I knew her far too well for childish games like that. "Are you in the tournament as well, China?"

"Yeah, actually, Nikki and I have our own team now so we're participating." Her eye's flash open as she flips onto another rock only to resume the same position once more.

I pull out Fangorn and let him rip onto the now vacant rock in front of me. She does the same and we let our energy feed our bit-beasts. "Tetris looks to be in better shape."

"You hide something from me, that's not good for our friendship, China." She knows, I realize and recall my blade. "However, if you wish to speak with the elders I will accompany you." I sighed a breath of relief and follow her further up the mountainside.

"Uh, Spirit?"

"Yes?"

"I may have to fight against my own brother in the finals- that is if we make it that far."

"I have no doubt that you will. There are two teams from Japan? I wasn't aware of this tidbit."

"Well, we figured why have anyone sit it all out when we can take the team we have and split it in two. I'm sided with Tyko and Angel while Nikki is on a team with Alucard and Alixhi."

"Who's Angel?"

"He's our new team member and an associate of Grandpapa Voltaire's."

"A member of the Order, then, is he?"

"Yeah, you might even say he's our sponsor." Nothing else was said and I felt like a ton of bricks was just air-lifted off my shoulders.

"The moment of truth, beyblade fans, who will be moving on to battle in the next round? Watch and see!"

"Well, Tom, I do believe that that's China Hitwari taking the stand for the Shadow Storm team. I wonder what she'll be pulling out of her little bag of tricks."

"Yes, I know, Chad. Her stats are off the charts with this one. Let's not forget who her partner is."

"That's right, the incredible Fangorn."

"Three! Two! One! Let it ri-i-i-i-i-p!"

"You're going down, Quantum!"

"I do believe the proper termination is you're winning streak is over, China." Quantum Chang is an excellent bey blader and a member of Team Dragon, but he's still no match for me.

"Fangorn, Flame Blaster Attack!" In a whirlwind of flames the battle is over and I step down from the platform. "Don't loose, Rodriquez." I muttered as Angel passed me on his way to the arena's platform.

D.M.Q.: So here's another chapter for my beloved reviewers to indulge themselves in. T.T.F.N.!