Chapter 10

"What?!"

Everyone stared at Jade in shock. She stared back, placing a hand on her hip. She had expected this reaction. She rolled her eyes.

"In lame-man's term...it's called mind reading." she told them as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But...But that's just not possible." Kenny sputtered. "Mind reading is not possible."

Jade glanced at Dizzi who said. "See? I told you so. Kenny doesn't believe in things that don't make any scientific logic." the Bitbeast trapped in the laptop sighed. "Alright, listen up, guys. According to our research, we found out that the Psychics came from an unknown remote village in the Amazons."

"And how did you do that?" Kenny asked suspiciously.

Dizzi let out a nervous giggle. "Um...Jade...kinda hacked into the BBA profile on the bladers."

"You what?" Kenny looked at the girl in shock. Shock to find out she would do such a thing and secondly that she was able to do it. He knew from experience it wasn't an easy task getting into the BBA system.

Jade shrugged. "Piece of cake."

"Besides..." Dizzi added with an accusing tone. "You're not all that Mr. Goody-Two- Shoe either, are you, Kenny?"

That got Kenny to shut up.

"As I was saying," Dizzi continued. "Jade and I checked out the local rumour there and lots of them mentioned a special ability the people of that village possessed. The ability to read minds."

"Man, what a bummer." Tyson said with false sympathy. "Can't keep a secret with everybody reading your mind. Where's the fun in that?"

"What do you think, Kai?" Ray asked turning to look at the bluenette.

"It does make sense." he said carefully.

"You can't be serious!" Kenny exploded. Of all he had certainly not expected Kai to take Jade's side. "There's no such thing as telepath or telekinesis for that matter. It's not scientifically possible!"

Jade raised an eyebrow. "Do you have another theory?"

For a moment that caught Kenny off guard, rendering him speechless. He struggled to gain himself but his words came out in a sputter. "I...I...no, I, don't. But I can tell you that mind reading has been proven scientifically impossible!"

"Here we go again." Dizzi sang in a tone that meant she was about to argue for what she believed in.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how one would look at it, Ray cut in. "Okay, say it's possible." he said taking a reasonable tone. "If it is, how can we counter it?"

"Ray has a point." Max agreed.

"So far...we haven't found a way. "Dizzi admitted.

"Maybe we could wear helmets into battle?" Tyson suggested brightly.

"Only if you want to be laughed at." Ray said.

"Let him." Kai said with snort. "The other team will be laughing so hard they can't concentrate on anything."

"Hey!" Tyson snapped offended.

This time it was Jade who interrupted. "You guys do what you want. Me? I'm gonna soak for two hours in the hot springs." she strolled out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

"So..." Ray said slowly. "Now what?"

"We have hot springs here?" Tyson asked in disbelief.

"I know!" Max declared. "Let's hit the hot springs!"

Everybody collapsed and even Kai sweatdropped.

"I still say Jade's theory is impossible!" Kenny protested loudly.

His voice was over-ruled by Tyson who was yelling at Max. "How can you think about taking a bath at a time like this?!"

Their voices could be heard from outside where Jade stood listening in the hallway that leaded to the hot springs.

She smiled shaking her head to herself. "Crazy people." she muttered before she headed to the springs.

A couple of minutes later Kai stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. All that noise was giving him a headache.

He drew a deep sigh and stopped, nostrils flaring as he caught a familiar scent.

Jade...

Old feelings of uncertainty flooded him. It was the same sense of feelings that had filled him when he returned to the abbey for the first time in years. He felt he should know the dark-haired girl but he just couldn't remember her. That was why he told Tyson to back off and leave her alone. They don't know a thing about her. Her past was a mystery and it was most likely she was going to keep it that way. Mr. Dickenson trusted her and that was the only assurance they have of her. Until he finds out who she really is, they had to be careful.

Moonlight spilled from above, shining into the open air hot springs. High bamboo fences kept prying eyes away as well as separated the girls and the boys sections. The hot springs were heated naturally. Rocks surrounded it.

Heat swept through her body, relaxing her muscles as Jade leaned against the rocks and closed her eyes with a satisfied sigh. No one was there so she had the whole place to herself. Just the place she needed to relax and think.

Her hair was tied-up in an up-swept style held in place with a simple Thai chopstick to keep it from getting wet. A towel was wrapped over her body tightly, completely submerged under water. Her arms, white under the moonlight, were rested on the edges. Steam rosed, sticking to her skin making her alabaster flesh look sleek.

Even though her eyes were closed and she looked as though she was asleep, she has never been more alert. Her senses were wide opened, taking in her surroundings. The team latest problem rested heavily in her mind. How can we beat a team who can read your next move before you even make it?

The word of an old friend, a mentor filled her mind like an echo. The mind is powerful thing, Jade. Only the most skilled warrior may control and shield their mind from the enemy. If not...it may lead to insanity.

Her own reply was curious. How can we shield our minds? Can you teach me, sensei?

It takes years of practice, child. A wall cannot be built in one day. But if you are willing, I'll teach you.

With a sigh she opened her eyes, gazing up at the full moon above. On my own, I know I can take on the Psychics easily. But that isn't the case here. I don't have a choice. How can I help the others...? Come on, Jade! Think!

She closed her eyes and let her mind wandered back to the days of her training.

Sensei...what about those who are...weaker?

There's no such thing as weaker being, child. Every person is different with different abilities and potential. To reach a certain goal, one must open their mind and find another way of achieving that goal.

"Another way..." she didn't realize she had spoken aloud until the sound of her own voice drew her out of thought. "There has to be another way..."

Then it came to her. A plan, simple yet effective. A smile broke across her face as she knew what they have to do.

"Jade, you're crazy!" Kenny exclaimed when she told him her plan the next morning in the training room. Only Kai and Ray were there besides Kenny. Max was still trying to wake Tyson up. "First your none-logical theory on the team now this?"

Jade crossed her arms in front of her, fuming silently. "I beg your pardon. Crazy doesn't descript me. Besides, this'd the only shot we got as a team."

Ray interrupted. "Wait a minute. What do you mean 'the only shot we got as a team'? Are you saying there are other ways?"

She hesitated. "Yes but right now this is the only way the whole team can master in the shortest period of time."

"Hey, what's going on?" Tyson asked stiffening a yawn with his hand as he entered the room with Max at his heels with an accomplished look on his face.

"I got Tyson to wake up." Max announced happily.

"Congratulations, Max." Kai said sarcastically.

"So..." Tyson waited for an explanation.

"Jade thinks we can counter the Psychics's mind-reading ability by not giving orders in battle." Kenny explained.

"Okay...sounds..."Max looked lost for words.

""Dangerous." Kenny finished for him. "I mean how can we control our blades?"

"Easy. We train our blades to react on instinct in battle." Jade said.

"Train..." Tyson moaned. "My favorite word in the world."

"I don't understand." Max said. "What do you mean on instinct?"

"I get it." Ray said slowly. "It's like an animal reacting whenever it's threatened. Like a cat when being chased by a dog."

Jade nodded. "Bingo."

"This is crazy." Kenny declared.

On the table, Dizzi tsked. "Oh dear. Kenny's going crazy."

"Been for a long time." Jade said to the laptop.

"How can we teach our Beyblades to react without our orders?" Kenny asked in mock. "It's against the point of the sport!"

Jade lifted a challenging eyebrow. "Unless you have another way, this is the only way we got."

"But..." Kenny faltered before he turned to Kai in a desperate attempt to plead some sense into Jade. "Kai, tell her this is crazy."

"I agree with Jade." Kai said meeting her gaze and held it. "Unless you, Kenny, have another way against the Psychics, I agree this is the best shot we got."

"What!" Kenny groaned. "The whole world is against me..."

"Tough." Jade smirked at him.

"But..." Kenny looked as though he wanted to argue his point.

Tyson grinned. "Looks like you're out-voted, Chief."

Defeated, Kenny let out a sigh. "All right. Fine."

Max caught him around the neck in a lock and ruffled the smaller boy's hair. "Don't feel too bad, Chief. So shall we begin?"