Chapter 6

Even after midnight, Jade could not get her battle with Kai out of her mind. She laid on the bed of her own bedroom staring up at the ceiling, arms behind her head. Draizer sat on the table by her bedside, the ancient spirit inside sated and now quiet.

What's wrong with Draizer? I never seen it act like that before....

In her mind she kept replaying the scene in her mind, remembering how both blades had refused to battle.

Sighing she reached out and picked up the Beyblade from the table. She held it above her head, gazing at it.

"What's going on, Draizer?" she asked aloud.

The blade made no response.

Closing her eyes, Jade curled her fingers over her blade and held it close to her as she let sleep take her in its folds of blanket like a drug.

In the silent darkness, the Bit glowed faintly.

Two weeks of hard training flew by in a blink of an eye. Soon it was the first day of the World Championships and everyone was excited. Especially Tyson.

"We're gonna win this." he gloated in the bus on the way to the newly-built Thai stadium. "I just know it."

"Let me guess." Dizzi said sarcastically. "You can feel it in your bones?"

"Gosh, Dizzi." Tyson sneered. "How did you know?"

"Come on, Dizzi." Max said cheerily. "You know how Tyson's before a big match."

"So, Chief, how's the competition?" Ray asked leaning over to Kenny.

"Let me see..." Kenny said, typing in to his laptop. "I heard the competitions in Block A will be tough."

"Is tough!" Dizzi piped in. "And guess what? The White Tigers team are in the same block as us."

"Oh, kill joy." Tyson muttered.

"Hey, it'll be great to see them again." Max said.

"Yeah. I wonder how much they've improved." Ray said just eager to see his old team.

They got to the stadium early just so they could get their bearings on the area and hopefully check out the competition. Mr. Dickenson was there to show them to their waiting room and while he and Kenny went to sign the team in, the rest of the team planned out their battle plan of who's to go first.

"So who's gonna battle first?" Max asked glancing at his teammates. Kai was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of him, eyes closed.

"We don't know we're up against first so I suggest we wait for Kenny." Ray said.

Kenny came back that moment. "I've checked the competition arrangements and it turns out if we want to have a go with the White Tigers, both teams have to advance into the finals for this block of the tournament." he explained.

"No sweat, Chief." Max said confidently.

"We're already planning to get into the finals." Tyson said.

"So who're we up against first?" Ray asked.

"A team called the Trashers." Kenny said. "I don't know anything about them except they play aggressively. No strategies. I think for the first match, we'll send in Jade since we do not know her proper power capability yet and just to be on the safe side. Okay, Jade?" he looked at the girl slouched on the couch.

She shrugged. "Sure." Perfect.

"Great. Then Max and I'll take the second and third matches followed by Tyson and Kai." Ray suggested.

"No problem." Max gave them a thumb-up.

Kai opened his eyes, watching Jade from the corner of his eyes. Now let's see what you got, Jade.

"Good day, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the first day of the Beyblade World Championships!" Jazzman announced from his position high up above the crowd overlooking the stadium. "Today we have the first battle between the Trashers versus the one the only....Bladebreakers!"

The crowd roared. Most of them were fans of the Bladebreakers and were shrieking for them to appear.

"Listen to the crowd, A.J." Brad said to his co-commentator. "You would think the match has already started."

"There's no doubt here that the Bladebreakers are obviously the crowd's favorite." A.J agreed.

"First up we have from the Trashers, their leader, Rocky against the Bladebreakers's newest member, Jade!" Jazzman introduced

"Jade is the newest member in the team thanks to a new rule of five matches each round." Brad explained.

"Being the rookie in the team, it's unsure whether she has a Bitbeast to help her pull through. But this girl must sure have some serious skill to land her in one of the strongest team around." A.J continued.

Jade frowned as she stepped up to the center of the stadium. Rookie? I'll show them.

"Hey, Jade." After I win this, how 'bout a date?" Rocky called from across.

"I rather die." she replied coolly.

Rocky's face went from smooth to angry. "Then I'll just have to end this fast. I show you who's a rookie."

She yawned. "Don't have to. I'm looking at him."

"Don't mess with me, girlie. Or else...." he threatened.

She smiled unkindly as she held up her launcher in a ready position. "Or else what? You'll bore me to death? Ooh, scary."

Jazzman interfered before Rocky could think of a retort. "Beybladers, ready!" he shouted holding up three fingers in the air.

They held up their loaded launchers.

"Whoa, Chief! Check out that Beyblade!" Tyson exclaimed staring at Rocky's Beyblade.

Dizzi was opened and ready, taking in the opponent's blade structure. Rocky's blade was bigger and obviously heavier than Jade's Draizer. Its attack ring was armed with four nasty looking horns like a bull's.

"That are some pretty nasty horns." Dizzi commented. "Jade better be careful."

"3, 2, 1! Let it rip!" Jazzman hollered.

With a shout, Rocky launched his blade into the usual smooth Beystadium. Jade launched hers too and her blade positioned itself in the center of the dish.

"Attack it now!" Rocky ordered.

His spiked blade lunged at her blade.

She had expected an attack like that. Without so much as a flinch and with a small smile, she gave out her order. "Draizer, make it fast!"

The Bit in the center of her Beyblade started to glow in a pale blue light.

"Flamethrower!" she ordered.

A snarl ripped from the core of her blade as a blue form leapt out of its Bit.

"And the Bitbeast is in the house." Dizzi stated dryly.

Kenny was gripping his laptop tightly. "Are you getting this, Dizzi?" Kenny said with excitement in his voice.

"Of course I'm. What do you think I'm?" his Bitbeast replied sassily.

So this is Jade's Bitbeast, Kai thought in amazement, staring at the creature in awe. It was like nothing he ever seen before. To tell the truth, it reminded him of another wolf Bitbeast that belonged to a certain blader....

The Bitbeast that appeared was a wolf, blue and silver glimmering in its fur. A mane of blue fire flowed down its lean neck. The air it placed its paws on lilted with blue fire which faded quickly. A blue aura surrounded it that made it seem pure and mystical.

Draizer's yellow eyes narrowed at the sight of its prey. Without warning it released a powerful blast of blue fire on the attacking blade.

"No way!" Rocky wailed as the flames engulfed his blade sending it flying from the stadium. It landed outside with a click, smoking out smoke.

"That was fast!" Brad exclaimed.

"What a turn-over!" A.J joined in. "I certainly didn't see that coming!"

"Me neither." Brad agreed.

"And the Bladebreakers take the lead by one!" Jazzman announced.

Jade smirked. "Who is the rookie now?"

She summoned back her blade and returned to the benches, passing Max as he headed out for his match next.

"That was some awesome Bitbeast." he said brightly.

"Thanks." she called back. "Good luck, Max."

Tyson, Kenny and Ray rushed out to greet her as she returned.

"That was so sweet!" Tyson exclaimed.

Ray grinned. "Cool Bitbeast."

Kenny broke in eagerly. "Can I see it please?"

"Guys." Kai said commandingly. "You can fawn over her Bitbeast later but right now we're in the middle of a match here."

Jade was relieved for his interruption. Keeping Draizer in the pouch of her belt, she sat down next to Kai and glanced at him. "So, how did I do, captain?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm.

He grunted in reply.

Jade smiled secretly as she turned her focus to the up-coming battle.

"Come on, Max! You can do it!" Tyson cheered.

Max turned and flipped him a thumb up. Alright, Maxie. You can win this one.

He turned his gaze over to his opponent, a boy slightly bigger than him in size.

"From the Trashers we have Jacky versus Max of the Bladebreakers!" Jazzman yelled. "Bladers, are you ready?! And 3, 2, 1! Let it rip!"

Both Beybladers launched their blades into the Beystadium. Max's Draciel took an immediate stand for defense.

"Come on, Draciel! Keep your ground!" Max urged.

"Attack!" Jacky yelled.

His blade slammed into Draciel but the green Beyblade refused to budge.

Jacky gritted his teeth. "Again!" he ordered.

Max grinned. "Alright, Draciel! Show your stuff!"

His turtle Bitbeast appeared and without warning it slammed into Jacky's blade.

"Alright!" Tyson shouted as Jacky's Beyblade rocketed from the dish.

"No..."Jacky moaned, crumbling to his feet.

"The Bladebreakers takes this match! And that's two to zero!" Jazzman declared.

"If the Bladebreakers keep this up, today's match will be over in no time!" A.J said.

"Next is Ray from the Bladebreakers! Can he keep his team's winning streak?" Brad declared.

"And fighting Ray to save the Trashers from elimination is Becky!" A.J introduced as a brown-haired girl came forward

"Ready!" Jazzman hollered. "3, 2, 1! Let it rip!"

"Driger!" Ray shouted as he launched his blade. "Tiger Claw!"

The third match ended faster than anyone expected. Becky didn't stand a chance against Ray's Driger. It was no surprise to Kai. He knew the out-come of the match before it even started.

As Jazzman was announcing the Bladebreakers as this round's winner, Kai headed to the exit, leaving the team behind to celebrate.

"Hey, Kai. What's the rush?" Tyson called after him.

Sighing impatiently, Kai answered without breaking a stride. "The other half of the tournament is going on in the next arena. I'm going to check out the competition. Jade already went ahead."

"So that's where she went." Max said.

"That girl has no idea the meaning of team!" Tyson cried out in frustration.

"Let's go, guys or we'll miss the match!" Ray said breaking into a run to catch up with Kai.

They hurried to the next arena. Jade was already there watching as the White Tigers took turns defeating their opponents.

"What took you guys so long?" she said in a way of greeting.

"Jade, why did you leave the team without telling any of us?" Kenny scolded.

She rolled her eyes. "So sue me. Anyway the White Tigers won this match by a landslide." she informed them.

"Happy, Ray?" Tyson mischievously nudged Ray.

"Hey!" Ray said defensively. "They are my friends. Of course I'll be happy."

Tyson and Max raised an eyebrow each. "Uh-huh."

Ray moaned as they burst out laughing, knowing that his crush on a certain pink-haired White Tiger member was no secret. "Give me a break, you guys..."

The Bladebreakers were heading for their bus when they heard a familiar voice and Ray was ambushed by a pink mop.

"Ray!" Mariah said happily throwing her arms around him.

"Hi, Mariah. Congratulations." Ray managed to gasp out but all the same glad to see her.

"What? No 'congratulations, Lee for a job well done'?" another voice said

"Ray looked up to see the rest of his old team approaching them. "Hey, Lee."

Lee grinned. "Been a long time, Bladebreakers."

"How did you guys do?" Kevin asked curiously.

"What do you think?" Tyson said proudly. "We got into the next round."

"Congratulations." Gary said bluntly. "Now are we done here? Gary want food."

Tyson's eyes went wide. "Food? What food?"

"I see he hasn't changed." Lee said. His gaze fell on Jade who looked bored. "And she is...?"

It was obvious he was rather taking by the lovely dark-haired girl.

"So not interested." Jade said smirking.

She heard Kai chuckled under his breath as Lee blinked in confusion.

"Hey!" Mariah pulled away from Ray to glare at the newcomer. "Lee's our captain and you should respect him."

"Calm down, Mariah." Ray said.

"Guys, this is Jade Raven, the newest member of our team." Kenny said. "Jade, these are our friends, the White Tigers."

She barely acknowledged them.

Mariah growled at her. Lee coughed under his breathe, unsure what make of Jade now. "A charming girl I'm sure."

"So Ray, will you be there to watch us tomorrow?" Mariah asked.

Ray blinked at her. "Be where?"

"Tomorrow we'll be battling to qualify in the quarterfinals, hopefully against you." Lee explained.

"We'll be fighting against this team we never hear about before. They call themselves the Psychics. Doesn't sound so tough." Kevin said with a snort.

To this Jade looked at them with a glint of interest in her green eyes but didn't say anything.

"You guys will be there, right?" Mariah asked, mainly Ray.

"We'll be there." Tyson cut in.

Lee nodded. "Good. Let's go." he lead the way towards the door. Kevin and Gary followed.

"Great seeing you, Ray." Mariah said adoringly as she followed after her team.

"You too, Mariah." Ray mumbled.

As the White Tigers left, Ray noticed his teammates grinning at him. "What?"

"Smooth, Ray. Very smooth." Max said.

"Is that the best you got?" Tyson asked playfully. "No goodbye kiss whatsoever?"

"Grow up, Tyson." Ray snapped pleasantly.

"Don't count on it, Ray." Kai said as he headed to the bus waiting for them outside. "He'll never grow up in a million years."

"Hey!" Tyson protested. "Don't walk away, Kai!"

"Watch me." was the retort from the bluenette.

"Get back here, Kai Hiwatari!" Tyson thundered after their captain.

Ray, Max and Kenny sighed at Tyson's immature behavior and followed closely from behind. No one noticed the small smile that unwillingly appeared on Jade's lips as she too started walking.

It's actually nice...to have friends again...to be a part of something...

But it won't last..., a voice whispered. One day, it'll all come back and they will get hurt...

That was the truth and she knew it. Like she knew its risk and prices.

They must never know...