By: Lady Sapphire
Author's Notes: Just a quick little note, there are some stuff here that I made up, since I haven't finished watching the entire series. So just in case something sounds a bit, erm, incorrect, that is my reason. Oh, and Kai/Mariah is a fan couple, made up by fans. It is not official. Now on to the long awaited chapter...
Disclaimer: Beyblade is not mine. *sobs* :(
Chapter 2: Over the Edge
It was faint at first, but then it grew louder: a noise that sounded very familiar. Kai opened his eyes and concentrated on the sound. It sounded like metal scraping across stone. There was no doubt about it; he would know that sound anywhere. It was the sound of a spinning Beyblade, a sound he had known all his life.
'Who could be Beyblading here?' he wondered to himself, frowning that he was no longer alone. Deciding to investigate the intruder, he got up, brushed himself off, and headed towards the direction of the scrapping sound.
*~*~*
"Attack!" cried out Mariah, as the pink Beyblade crashed against some rocks, sparks flying as it chipped away the granite. Although she was out practicing with her Beyblade, her heart wasn't completely into the sport. She too, had matters on her mind, unavoidable matters that just didn't seem to go away.
She had stumbled into this isolated forest by accident. Thinking that it would be a nice quiet place to contemplate and train, she decided to stay. She had to get away from the pressure of the team.
'Lee said that if I don't shape up for next year's tournament, he would replace me with Kevin!' she grimaced at the thought. Beyblading was her greatest passion and to be kicked off the team would be a major disappointment.
'He still thinks that I lost to Ray in the Asian tournament on purpose! Why would I lose on purpose?!' she thought angrily. 'And when I try to convince him that Ray is not a traitor, he just brushes it off saying that this was not about Ray, but rather the reputation of the White Tigers.' All he cared about was being the best.
She sighed. 'I miss Ray. He would always help me train when we were young. He never gave up hope on me, no matter how bad I was. And when I was down, he would always be at my side,' she smiled at the old times, wishing for her memories to become real. 'But, ever since he and his team won the world championships, he never has any time for me. He is always out on some tour.'
She shook her head. 'No, I should be happy for Ray. I always knew he would become a champion. He truly is the best beyblader I've ever known,' she told herself. Pushing her thoughts of Ray out of her mind, she concentrated on the rotating top.
"Galux, scratch attack!" she called out to the spinning blade, but before the bit beast could appear, another blade came flying out of nowhere, crashing into hers and knocking it out. Mariah, surprised at what just happened, caught Galux as it flew away from the force of a blue Beyblade. She glanced at the direction from where it was launched and gasped.
"You? You're…" she struggled to remember the name, "…Kai, right? What did you do that for?" she yelled. How dare he launch his blade like that without any warning?
Kai stepped forward from the shadows from where had had been hiding and observing her. He knew that she wasn't focused, since any conscious person would have heard the rustling of the bushes from where he hid. "What do you think you are doing here?" he growled in a low voice, glaring coldly at her.
"Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" she asked tauntingly. She silently smiled to herself, as the glare on Kai's face deepened significantly. "I'm practicing with my Beyblade, not that it's any of your business. Why, is that a crime?" she asked innocently. She did not mean to sound rude, but she couldn't help it. His attitude was so cold and frigid, and that glare did alarm her, if not a lot, then a bit. Besides, if he hadn't interfered with her training…
"Get out, you're not wanted here," he commanded, pointing a finger to the nearest exit out of the forest. He wasn't going to stand around and take sarcastic remarks from anyone. Especially her.
Mariah now returned his glare. "Why should I leave? It's not like you own the place! The forest is vast, I don't see how I could be bothering you," she spat, frustrated. He was really pushing her limits now.
Both stood, glaring daggers at each other, neither one yielding to the requests of the other.
Finally, Mariah spoke, "Humph, I don't have to take this from you. I'll go where ever I want, and if you don't like it, then tough." Turning her back on him, she walked away to another part of the forest to train.
'The nerve of that guy! Has he not any manners? What is his problem, barging in and demanding that I leave? What did I ever do to him?' she thought furiously. She had never met such a rude person in all her life. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she stopped walking and launched her blade.
Kai followed to make sure she had left, but he was mistaken, when the sight of the pink-haired girl greeted him. Instead of the direct approach of simply commanding her to leave, he decided to try another. Besides, his first method had already proven futile against her. She was no push over.
He knew that Beybladers like her had one common weakness: criticism. People like her just couldn't stand criticism, and he planned to use this knowledge to his advantage. "Your Beyblading skills have diminished. You used to be much more precise with your launch. Also, you should have used more force when pulling the rip cord. Your posture could use a little work too. And-"
"Shut up!" screamed Mariah, covering her ears. She couldn't take it anymore. His arrogance was driving her insane! Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? "When I want you advice, I'll ask for it!" she snapped, "In the meantime, keep your stupid comments to yourself and LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Leave now, the forest is a place for tranquillity. Your shouting is disturbing the peace," he stated simply, smirking to himself.
Mariah was about to explode. What would it take to get it through that thick skull? She was not going to leave! She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Clenching and unclenching her fists, she cooled herself down. "Let's say we settle this with a little Beyblade match, hm?" she asked in the most polite tone she could muster.
Kai scoffed, "Ha, you and your petty little Beyblade won't even stand a chance, so why bother?" He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a look of disgust.
That was the final straw. Insulting her was one thing, but her beyblade too? It was too much. "You inconceivable little fool! How dare you insult Galux!?!?" she shrieked, eyes flaring.
Kai remained neutral. "I dare, and I did," he said calmly, unaware of the hole that he was digging deeper and deeper for himself.
Words obviously wouldn't dent that guy. She glanced at him and saw what she needed to make him pay for what he said. Dranzer.
As quick as lightning, she pounced and grabbed the blue blade from his hand and made a dash for the wilderness.
Kai was taken completely by surprised. As soon as he recovered from the initial shock, he realized that she had stolen Dranzer. Without a second thought, he chased after her, yelling, "YOU STUPID GIRL, GIVE ME BACK MY DRANZER!!!"
But, keeping up with the pink-haired girl wasn't as easy as it seemed. She had the agility and dexterity of a cat. Jumping here, swinging there, dodging this, ducking that. There were even a few times Kai had almost lost her. But, fortunately for Kai, he knew this forest better than anyone else, and soon he had her right where he wanted her: cornered at the edge of a cliff.
Mariah halted to a stop, just inches before the edge of a cliff. She turned to run the other way, but it was too late, for when she turned, there stood Kai waiting with a smirk.
"There's no where to run now, you foolish girl. Hand over Dranzer and I'll let you leave," he said coldly, glaring as usual.
She wasn't about to give up. She put the blade behind her back and demanded, "First you have to take back everything you said about me and Galux."
"Why should I take back something that is true? Besides words can never be taken back."
"Then apologize for what you said!" she retorted.
"I can't apologize for something I didn't say wrong," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Then you shall not get it back!" she shouted.
That was all Kai was going to take from her. He started advancing towards her, a step at a time. "You Will Give Me Back My Blade, Even If I Have To Resort To Other Means," he said through clenched teeth. His words sounded like sentences.
Mariah, frightened by this sudden change, and his advancement, began stepping backwards. "Not until you apologize," she managed to utter out shakily.
Soon they were at the very edge of the cliff, in the midst of a glaring showdown. Their obstinacy was something one could credit them for. Neither one conceding to the other, they stood there like statues, not even noticing that the ground they stood upon was beginning to crack.
Suddenly, the edge of the cliff broke apart and crumbled away, sending the two young teens tumbling down to the bottom. Screams of terror escaped their lungs and filled the air. And then, there was silence.
*~*~*
AN: Oooooo.....cliffhanger......literally! Sorry about that, you guys, but you'll just have to wait until I update again to see what happens to them! (Come on, do you honestly think I'd let them die so soon in the story? ^_~) See you next time!