"T-Tsubasa?!"
"About time we meet again." I stared at the young man. Dressed in his usual garb, he looked almost exactly the same as the last time I saw him. Which was about two years ago.
««{{Flashback}}»»
"So you are really leaving?"
"Yeah. I need to get away for a while. Figure out what I want to do. This town is my home, but I feel like something is waiting for me."
"Where will you go? Everyone in the world was watching that battle."
"I might have to change my appearance. But I'm surprised the cameras picked me up out there. I was a nobody compared to the world champions, so maybe nobody will recognize me." I gently ran my fingers through Eagle's feathers as it closed its eyes. It was sitting on my arm as I sat next to Tsubasa and Yuu on the edge of a tall building.
"But what about us?! What about your friends?!" Yuu said, not happy about me leaving.
"Once everything dies down, I'll come back."
"Aw, but Jay-Jay..." I fondly messed with his hair.
"It's alright Yuu, we'll see each other again." Tsubasa looked at me, finally accepting what I had said.
"James...if you're sure."
««{{Flashback End}}»»
"Well, are you just going to stand there?" I latched my arms around him in a hug, which he returned. I pulled back and looked him in the eyes.
"How? What? I mean, Tsubasa, what are you doing here?!"
"Saving you from getting arrested, that's what." He turned to the cops that were walking up to us. "Don't worry about this guy boys, I've got him."
"Who do you think you are?" Tsubasa pulled out a card and held it up.
"Tsubasa Otori member of the WBBA." The cop took the card and looked it over.
"Well, my apologies. But we are still going to need a personal witness of what just occurred here." I held up my own card while relaying what had happened.
"Here's my number in case you need anything else."
««{{¤}}»»
"So, what are you doing all the way in America?"
"I'd ask you the same thing. I've been looking for you for almost a year now. It took all of the WBBA's resources to track down even a hint. After everything died down, I expected you to walk into the B-pit at any moment." I scratched the back of my head.
"Sorry. Once things settled here, I kind of got caught up in school and things."
"School? I didn't think you the type."
"I'm not. But I had to do something, so I got a temporary education visa, which expires in a few months. I was going to come back at that point, but it looks like you found me first." Tsubasa shook his head.
"You crazy man." I stretched my arms over my head.
"Well, should we go get lunch? I know a good place across town."
"Yeah, sounds good."
««{{¤}}»»
"So what are you studying?"
"History, computer design, and physics."
"No Beyblade class?" I snorted as we sat at a booth.
"Maybe if it had been three years ago. The kids on campus may not be weak by regular standards, but they are not even close to my strength. One of my new friends just tried to get a measure on my strength by having me mock battle some Beys. I blew them out of the water with little to no effort."
"Is it because of the Star Fragment?" I nodded.
"Yeah," I opened my mouth to say something else, when a very familiar, and very annoying voice piped up.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the big geek. Going out to lunch with your boyfriend?" I deflated and turned to look at Jason. Tsubasa started to retort but I held my hand up, stopping him.
"Hello Jason."
"Hello gay boy. Honestly doesn't surprise me." I snorted.
"The fact that I have friends who are the same gender as me must be too big of a concept for you to grasp because you always have your cheer team hanging off of you like moist paper towels." It took him a solid second to understand I had just insulted him.
"What?! Why you! I'll knock you flat!" He held up his launcher. I sighed and pushed myself into a standing position. Tsubasa was here to at least to help if I started to lose control.
"Fine. But I'll give you this one warning, you won't win."
"HAH! Yeah right, punk!" He ran out into the streets. I followed at a calm pace, Tsubasa catching up with a confused look on his face.
"Alright, what's going on James?"
"He's a student that lives on campus. He thinks he is the best of the best. I'm about to flatten that vision and not even try."
"Are you sure this is safe to do here?"
"I'm not even going to have to use any Special Moves on him. His Bey is Cyclone Orso, meaning a heavy hitter, but low stamina. I'll simply wait until his energy is wasted on pointless attacks and then knock him over."
"If you're sure..."
"We've all dealt with these types of guys before. They're all talk with maybe some bite." I stepped across from Jason and loaded my launcher.
"Are you ready to get flattened?!"
"Are you ready to shut your face?"
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"Let It Rip!" Both Beys landed on the sidewalk, Leone planting itself in between us two Bladers.
"Go Orso!" The Bey charged right at Leone, only to slide around it like nothing happened. "What?! Grr, try again!"
"Useless." Same attack, same result.
"What? Why isn't it connecting?!"
"Leone's Spin Track is in Up Guard mode. It is smooth like a shield, providing a perfect cover against attacks. I'm not going to fight you Jason. I'm just going to watch you wither away."
"No defense is perfect! Go Orso!" The Bey attacked and slid around Leone again. Again and again and again, Orso wasted energy trying to hit Leone. The latter of which just sat there, acting like it hadn't been touched at all. Orso stopped attacking, pulling back to Jason's feet. "What?"
"This defense is far from perfect. But it's perfect in beating you."
"Grr! Orso! Tear it to pieces!" Orso dashed sideways, jumping a smashing into a wall. "Throw them with all of your strength!" Orso slammed into the debris, launching it at Leone with high velocity. Tsubasa was ticked at the dirty play.
"Hey buddy! What's the big idea?"
"It's fine Tsubasa." He looked at me in confusion.
"James?"
"Look." I pointed to Leone, who wasn't affected in the slightest. Piece after piece flew at Leone, only to be obliterated the second it touched its Fusion Wheel. A purple energy was flowing around it, flickering like a flame. I noticed a small crowd was gathering. "Leone's power is vaporizing the rubble before it can touch it. Also a useless attack."
"I've got you now!" I blinked when a piece of rubble was vaporized, revealing Orso behind it. Orso slammed into Leone, actually connecting with the Fusion Wheel. Orso pushed into Leone with all of its strength.
"Leone." Orso was knocked away, a shockwave releasing in all directions, blowing everyone's hair and clothes around.
"What?!"
"Good move. Too bad it does nothing." I stood there like nothing happened.
"I'll squash you flat! Go!" Once again Orso's attacks were deflected by the Spin Track. Tsubasa had a bead of sweat running down his face.
"I knew Leone was strong, but this is absurd."
"Please Tsubasa, you were there two years ago. You know very well how strong Leone is." Leone moved to the side and smacked Orso away. "I don't have time for this." A whirlwind swirled up, once again blowing everyone's clothes around. Orso was struggling against the wind before it was torn off of the ground and was thrown around, slamming into the same brick wall it hit earlier.
"Orso no!" Orso spun out of the dust. "Would you just fall! Grah!" Orso charged up and dashed at Leone, only to get tossed high into the air by the whirlwind.
"Just give it up already. You can't beat me, Jason."
"I can and will! Haaaaaa!" He shouted and a large orange bear appeared above us, falling back down to the ground. "I will win! Special Move: Ursine Fang!" Orso rocketed back to the ground, right at Leone.
"Meet it." Leone's Beast appeared and leaped into the air. Lion and bear clashed midair, Leone grabbing Orso by the neck and throwing it to the ground. Orso landed with an explosion.
"Orso no! How did you deflect my Special Move?!"
"It was too slow. Unlike Leone." I pointed out the beast still hanging in the air. Leone flashed and let out a burst of purple fire, falling to the ground at a rapid pace. I took a step back as it crashed to the ground, a large blast of energy spiraling outwards. I lowered my arm when the energy dispersed, seeing Leone still spinning against a stopped Orso. It bounced off of Orso and sat there, calmly spinning. Jason ran over and dropped to his knees, picking Orso up out of the small crater it formed when it fell.
"How?! How could I lose?!"
"Train for ten years, and you might be able to make me work for a win." He glared at me.
"This isn't the last you'll hear from me punk!" He took off running.
"Well, shall we get back to lunch?" Leone jumped straight to me, and I caught it with ease. Tsubasa sweat dropped.
"You act like you didn't just battle that guy."
"That's because that wasn't a real battle. Not even close." We sat back down at our table. "Now, where were we before we got rudely interrupted?"