AN: W00tage.. finally finished it.. the last eight of the last scene took me FOREVER! Sorry about the wait XD

Not much to say.. just want to say that there are some major twists coming up.. ;)

Oh yeah I don't want to hear about how much of a whore Mariah is. She's not a whore. She had a reason. P

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Enrique was pissed.

Why? Liika had no idea, but she could definitely tell that he was royally pissed off, and that it had something to do with her. She had a fairly good feeling who it was that was upsetting setting him so bad. There were only a few things in the world that got Enrique upset enough to be angry.

Her having a relationship with another guy was foremost on that list.

Liika tried to make time for him, and she did at least once a week, but he didn't seem to understand that even though they were best friends, her first time priority had to be her boyfriend.

His first was his girlfriend.

It was a stupid, oh so typical, male double standard. Her life should revolve around him, but his life didn't have to revolve around her. Ha.

The one good thing about Enrique's anger was that it was so easy to tell he was angry.

When he stopped acknowledging your existence, for example.

He had been getting progressively worse since she had come back from Aspin. What has started out as just whining and pouting, had turned into glares and silence. That was the tell tale sign that Enrique was really pissed off. And when he had started sitting across the room in homeroom, as he had that morning, well let's just say she got the message.

"Stupid Enrique," Liika muttered, struggling with her lock. Every year, same locker, same lock. She should just learn and get a new lock.

"It's 52 to the left, not 53."

Liika glanced up beside her briefly murmuring, "Thanks Mari," before doing a double take and staring up at her best female friend, her eyes growing darker with concern. "Oh my god, are you alright?!" She exclaimed, immediately forgetting about her locker.

Mariah did not look alright. Her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been crying, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was hazardously pulled back into a messy ponytail, and her uniform was uncharacteristically sloppy. Overall she looked very un-Mariah like.

When Mariah, Rei and Tala had not shown up to the bowling alley on Saturday no one had been overly surprised or worried. Tala had expressed that he didn't really want to go, and that if he didn't show, then not to worry. Rei and Mariah obviously had issues to work out so it was practically obvious that they weren't going to go. Rei had called in sick on Sunday—they knew he wasn't sick, but no one told Judy that—Mariah just didn't show, and Tala looked right pissed off and a little depressed as well. She hadn't questioned him (she thought Kai probably had, though she didn't ask him either) and hadn't seen Mariah yet to ask her why she had been absent from training camp.

Now it was almost transparent.

Almost instantly after the words were out of Liika's mouth, Mariah threw herself at her smaller friend and began to cry on Liika's shoulder. Liika frowned, wrapping her arms around Mariah's back, and rubbing soothing circles over her uniform blouse. "It's ok…" Liika murmured awkwardly, "Let it all out and then you can tell me what is wrong."

"I did something horribly stupid," Mariah hiccupped between sobs, her grip on Liika growing tighter. "Something horribly, horribly stupid!"

Liika winced as Mariah let out a particularly loud, wail, and she was thankful that the bell had gone five minutes before so the halls were deserted. She was also thankful she had a study at that point so that she wasn't going to be late for anything.

"Bad time?" a whispered voice asked from their left. Mariah took no notice.

Liika looked up to see Kai standing there, looking both uncomfortable and like he had knowledge of what the hell was going on. She wanted to glare at him and demand he tell her, but knew that that wasn't such a good idea. Mariah would tell her eventually…she hoped.

She nodded, grimacing and motioning him away, mouthing that she'd meet him in the study hall shortly. Kai gave Mariah an almost-sympathetic glance before disappearing down the hall

Sighing, Liika turned her attention back to the problem at hand: why Mariah was having a meltdown in the middle of school.

"I'm sure whatever you did wasn't that bad," Liika said amiably, trying to lighten what ever it was that Mariah thought was causing her world to end.

"I slept with Tala, how is that not that bad?!"

Liika went dead still, her eyes widening to saucer proportions, her mouth dropping open, and her hands stilling. She did what with who now?! "Mariah, you did what?"

Mariah pulled away, rubbing her eyes and effectively smudging her makeup beyond repair. "I slept with Tala ok! It was a mistake! I never meant for it to go that far! It was just Rei… and he said he couldn't be with someone who associated with a manwhore like Tala, and …I told him that Tala was my friend… and he said I had to choose… and then I told him that I wouldn't choose… then he said that I had already made my choice and then he pulled over and told me to get out…like ten blocks from my house and when I did he drove away! And then I just ended up in front of Tala's house…it just seemed natural to run to him… and then things escalated and before either of us could stop it we were already in his bed…"

Oh dear lord. Liika moaned in her head, taking a large breath, her eyes drifting close. It was now suddenly clear what Tala's problem on Sunday was, and why Mariah didn't show up for camp. Liika was suddenly glad the drama of her life amounted to an overly jealous best friend.

"And the worst part about it is, Rei called me last night and apologized and wanted to get back together and I agreed. I'm such a whore Liika…I used Tala on rebound just because I wasn't feeling loved." Mariah was crying again, slumping to the ground in font of the lockers.

Liika sighed, dropping to the floor beside Mariah. "I suppose you told Tala Sunday morning that it was a mistake huh?"

"Yeah. He got really mad, called me a bitch and said Rei was welcomed to me." She rubbed a hand over her eyes. "I'm a horrible person."

"No you're not." Liika said flatly, sighing a third time. "You're just human, and humans make mistakes. Ultimately the blame lies with Tala as much as it does with you. He should have known better. He wasn't a crying wreck of emotions, he had a clear head. There is no way he should have let it escalate that far. He should have known better than to think that whatever happened between you was more than a rebound thing, no matter what you feel for each other. There were too many things left unresolved between you and Rei, hell between you and Tala to go jumping into bed with each other at first opportunity."

"I'm still a horrible slut. Everyone is going to hate me."

At this Liika snorted. "I'm not going to dignify that with an answer. Besides, no one has to know, it's not like you're going to wear a sign on your back that says: "Hey! In a moment of weakness I fucked my ex-boyfriend, whom I adore, only hours after I broke up with my boyfriend!" That, and if anyone did find out, and judged you for that, then they are retarded imbeciles that don't know anything about the human condition. You didn't cheat on Rei, he broke up with you. Just try to keep that in mind before you're too hard on yourself."

Mariah exhaled loudly, her face a mask of miserableness. "I suppose you're right. Nothing to do but move on. That doesn't mean of course that I'm not going to sulk for a good couple of days."

Liika laughed, nudging the taller girl with her shoulder. "Of course, that's what highschool's for. Teen melodrama and angst." She winked. "Just be careful about who you're sulking around. I'm sure Imoraz would have a field day trying to get out why you're so unhappy. He did trying to get out why Tala was so pissed yesterday.

Mariah grimaced, her face showing the disgust she felt for the Abbey captain. "That's right, they're supposed to be joining us this block right?"

"Yeah," Liika replied, "We were supposed to pick them up at the gym during nutrition break. I actually dropped Sakura off in study then went to get my books. Since you weren't there yesterday we didn't bother putting any of them with you."

"Who was the lucky one that got Imoraz?"

Laughing, Liika pulled herself to her feet, helping Mariah to her feet as well. She then opened her locker with relatively little difficulty and retrieved the books she had come to get. "Oliver, poor guy. We figured that he probably had the best temperament to deal with him, that and Michael was assigned to the asshole's best friend. Besides, who doesn't like Oliver?"

"Point taken."

xx

"Orlando Bloom is pretty hot, but I think I'll always be a Frodo girl," Sakura giggled, leaning against the locker beside Mariah's.

Mariah smiled, only traces of tears left in her eyes. She, Liika and Sakura (who had been filled in, the two girls felt a certain kinship with the third) had spent most of the day talking about silly things and forgetting about boys. Mariah had decided that she needed a break from them. She thus avoided Rei and Tala, Sakura and Liika only happy to help.

"I like Faramir too, and Eomer… I just don't remember their actors' names," Mariah said, opening her locker.

Sakura nodded almost sagely, a thoughtful look on her face. "Gaara likes Eomer, says it was cool how he took down those two Oliphants. He doesn't like Legolas, too pretty and girly. He doesn't think much of girly boys." She laughed again, leaning around Mariah to look at Liika with bright green eyes. "What about you Liika?"

"I like Sean Bean." Liika replied, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. "As an actor, that is. Boromir was cool, but Haldir is where it's at. It's too bad Craig Parker is rumored to be gay."

"Really?!" Mariah burst out, picking things from her locker and shoving them in her bag. "I never would have pictured it."

"Me either," Sakura chorused, blinking wide-eyed. "He seems so… I don't know. But then, Kankurou said the first time we watched the extended version of FOTR that he was flamingly gay. I never believed him."

Liika grinned, pushing herself off the locker on Mariah's other side. "I don't know if I believe it either, it was just something I read on the internet. The same internet that says Orlando Bloom is gay. Actually, with all the yaoi/slash fangirls out there, I'm sure you can find some rumor about any actor or anime guy being gay. It's rather amusing."

"Yaoi/slashi?"

"Guy/guy pairings," Liika and Mariah said at once, throwing themselves amused glances.

"It's all the rage in fandom these days."

"A fad or something. I don't get it."

Mariah closed her locker and picked up her bag, just in time to see Enrique walk by, scowling at them as he did so. She blinked, watching his blond head disappear down a perpendicular hallway, on his way to the gym.

"Is there something wrong with Enrique?" She asked, looking at Liika.

Liika rolled her eyes, shifting her own backpack on her shoulders. "You mean you haven't noticed?" she quipped, sarcastically bright. "He's pissed at me. Haven't you noticed him avoiding and ignoring me lately?"

The pink haired girl looked thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, yeah. What's his problem?"

The B captain shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. I haven't had a chance to ask him. My guess is that he's jealous. I've been busy lately, with school, beyblade and Kai."

"Figures," Mariah also rolled her eyes, "It's so like a man to figure that their world should revolve around them."

"Amen."

Sakura looked a little lost, her sage eyes blinking rapidly. "Ok, time out. Enrique…? The blond that just walked by?"

"The very same," Liika replied, starting to walk in the direction of the gym.

"He's your best friend isn't he?" Sakura asked, tilting her head.

"One of two yes."

Mariah smiled, nudging Liika in the shoulder. "He has a bad habit of getting testy when Iki doesn't spend enough time with him. They grew up together; he's used to being the center of her world. Doesn't get that they're growing up and that they won't be together forever."

"That's too bad. To lose a best friend over something like that…Did you ever think that maybe he's like… secretly in love with you?" Sakura's expression was mischievous. "You seem so popular with the boys Liika!"

Mariah grinned as well, catching on quickly. "Yeah, she's a regular Mary Sue slut."

This earned Mariah a punch in the shoulder, to which the pink haired girl whined immensely. Ha. Mary Sue slut indeed. Liika scowled at the very idea. "I am not. And anyways, Enrique is not in love with me. Enrique is an only child and used to having people dote on him. He'll get over it, eventually. It won't effect our friendship as I'm going to have a talk with him. Reminiscent of the one I had with him last year about Robert."

"You mean this isn't the first time this has happened?"

Liika shook her head, throwing the cotton candy haired girl a grim smile. "No. Happened last year with my last boyfriend—Robert, the tall purple haired one? Anyway, I thought that maybe he'd get better after he got a girlfriend, but after I got together with Kai. Yeah, he just got worse again."

"Shitty."

The girls had reached the entrance to the beyblade gym by then and entered, still chatting amongst themselves.

Liika really liked Sakura, as did Mariah. They had a lot in common, and a common hatred for one Akito Imoraz. Sakura told them more about Abbey, and gave them a more accurate picture of what it was like. It was filled with rich, snobby brats, but not all of them were bad. Only about 70, she had said, earning laughs out of the two Bakuten girls.

"It's nice of you to show up ladies, you're late. Hurry up and get in line, I don't want to have to explain this twice."

Liika froze and the cold, familiar voice. Looking up towards the front of the room, beside the office doors, she saw what she feared she'd see.

Kevin Hiwatari.

He was standing in his characteristically haughty and arrogant manner, his face set in a mask of icy indifference. Liika shivered, the mere sight of him scaring her more than it should have.

Mariah tugged on Liika's arm, pulling her into the back line of the two lines that had formed in front of Kai's father. Kai shot her an almost apologetic look from his place in the middle of the front line, his auburn eyes dark with anger.

"Now then," Kevin Hiwatari said briskly, surveying the two lines with calculating eyes. "We can begin. As you know, I am Kevin Hiwatari, co-owner and CEO of BD Pharmaceuticals. BD Pharmaceuticals is your official, and biggest sponsor. To get right to the point, it is within my right to demand a blood test of the team we are sponsoring, and in light of recent… events I have decided that it is in my company's best interest to do so."

With a snap of his finger, he summoned one of the large, hulking bodyguards forward, one who had a stack of papers in his arms. "These are release forms, stating that you took the blood test of your own consent."

Tyson stuck up his hand, flinching when Mr. Hiwatari's cold eyes fell on him. "Yes?"

Tyson gulped. "What if we don't want to take the blood test?"

"Then you don't want to blade," Mr. Hiwatari replied simply. "Those who wish to blade for the American team must take this blood test—this includes the four Abbey members that will join you in Japan."

Murmurs began among the two lines of teenagers. Liika once again caught Kai's eyes, a questioning look in her own. Kai shook his head, passing on the message that he didn't know what was going on any better than she did.

"May we ask which Abbey members will be joining our team?"

Kevin Hiwatari's eyes swiveled instantly to his son, narrowing on eyes the same color as his own. Apparently he picked up on the slight sarcasm that rang in Kai's voice. "Your coach will in form you as you all sign the forms." He answered, sparing his son no more than a brief glare.

The man in the black suit began to pass out the forms, while Judy sighed, glancing at her clipboard. "Due to the number of individual events, your sponsors and I have decided to add two or three people to each team. The stats and line ups will be detailed after the blood test; however, I will say which Abbey members must take the test. Gaara and Kankurou Sanderson, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, Sakura Haruno and Akito Imoraz will be joining us in Japan."

Once again murmurs, louder this time, sounded from the group. There were a few groans at the mention of Akito's name, but they were silenced quickly by glares from both Judy and Mr. Hiwatari. By then the forms had been passed out and were being skimmed over.

Liika was starting to panic. It wasn't so much what was written on the form—she barely even read it—but it was more the fact that she was deathly afraid of needles. Deathly. She was already starting to hyperventilate.

"Are you ok?" Sakura whispered, looking concerned.

Everyone had already moved towards the three chairs that had been set up, with three nurses with small tables with various medical supplies beside them. Liika hung back, Sakura hanging back as well, the only one that seemed to notice Liika's hesitation.

"No."

"Miss Tomoda." Kevin Hiwatari appeared beside them, causing both girls to jump slightly. "I'd like the captains to go first." His eyes dared her to challenge him.

Liika went sheet white, her hands beginning to shake. She couldn't challenge him, her fear rendering her speechless and intelligible. Instead she nodded, stepping forwards to the empty chair. Kai and Akito had already taken the left two chairs, which left Liika with the rightmost chair.

She was majorly hyperventilating by the time she made it to the chair, her entire body shaking. The nurse smiled sympathetically and took her arm, tightening an elastic around her upper arm and alcohol swabbing the inner elbow.

Liika's eyes squeezed shut as she tried to regulate her breathing, however, she failing, and failing fast. Calm down Liika, it's just a needle… it doesn't hurt…it will be over in a second…

"Alright, you'll feel a slight pinch when I insert the needle, are you ready?"

"Yes," she whispered hoarsely, squeezing her eyes tighter. Don't panic, don't scream…Akito will laugh at you…Oh God…

All it took was the tiny pinch in her arm to send her over the edge. Her breathing became completely erratic and for the few seconds the needles was in her arm, Liika thought she was going to die. Blackness edged around her vision and she could feel herself starting to pass out.

Vaguely she heard the room moving around her, and the various murmurs of her friends. However, one voice suddenly stood out far above the rest of them, suddenly very close.

"Oh shit!" the voice cursed, "Oh my God, how could I forget! Liika! Come on baby, you can get through this…breath! Stay with me!" Hands fell on her knees.

"Young man, you'll have to step back!" The nurse's voice.

"What the hell are you doing Sattiay? What's the matter witch?" Kai's voice.

"Shut up! She's terrified of needles, she's having a panic attack!" Enrique's voice.

And then it was black.

Enrique caught Liika as the nurse removed the syringe and she fell forward, passing out. He himself was on the verge of panicking, guilt swelling within his chest. He had known! He was the only one that knew! He should have been there for her, she wouldn't have reacted so badly if she hadn't been alone.

The situation, by now, had attracted the attention of everyone in the room, and as Enrique lowered himself and his best friend to the floor, pulling her into his lap so that her head rested on his shoulder. His free hand came up and pushed her bangs off her forehead, stroking her cheek gently.

"I'm sorry," he murmured mournfully. "I'm so sorry Iki."

"Ok everyone back away," Liika's nurse stated briskly, pushing people back.

Kevin Hiwatari once again appeared on the scene, his face still the icy mask it always is. "Everyone get in line, we'll take care of this. Ms. Please return to your job."

The nurse raised her eyebrows but didn't argue with him. Everyone else milled for a few seconds, Liika's friends sending worried looks at her and Enrique. Enrique shuffled himself and Liika off to the side so that others could get to the third chair. Kai and Judy settled beside them, Kai scowling at Enrique and trying to take Liika from him. Enrique stubbornly glared back, tightening his hold on his best friend.

Judy sighed, ignoring the silent battle of wills between the two boys. "Enrique let me look at her," she said, leaning forward, checking Liika's pulse.

"She'll be fine." Enrique stated crossly. "She just needs to be held for a bit, to calm down. She needs to see something familiar when she comes back so that she can calm her breathing. I know the techniques to calm her down."

"You mean this has happened before?" Kai demanded sharply.

Enrique tilted his head towards the taller teen. "Yes. Any time a needle comes near her."

"And how do you know these 'techniques' but no one else does?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "Come on Hiwatari, it should be obvious. I've known her since birth, I know everything about her. I've been present for every needle she's ever had to have. They trained me, my mother and her grandfather to deal with her panic attacks so that she won't go into cardiac arrest or something."

"Well, if you're sure she'll be ok, I suppose there is no sense in overreacting." Judy retreated, bringing herself to her feet. "Watch her, how long is she usually out?"

Enrique shrugged. "Depends, generally she doesn't pass out. It's cause she was alone, and was trying to hide it. My guess is only a few minutes."

"Alright. Come on Kai, Enrique knows what to do. Drink some juice then help me organize everyone so that I can explain what's going on. Hopefully Liika will wake up in time." Judy said briskly, motioning at Kai.

Kai sent a longing look at Liika, but nevertheless, stood and followed his coach.

Enrique continued to fuss over the unconscious girl, looking up only briefly to notice that Kevin Hiwatari had watched the entire thing. Enrique shuddered. The man was too creepy for his own good.

Mr. Hiwatari knelt down beside Enrique, causing the blond to blink in surprise. He would have never expected the cold older man to 'dirty' his suit by kneeling on the ground.

"You're sure she will be alright?"

Enrique looked up in both shock and consternation. He was suspicious of the blue haired man's motivation, unsure if he was really concerned, or if he had some ulterior motive. He nodded. "Yeah, she's been having fits over needles since she was a baby. It's an irrational fear."

Mr. Hiwatari jerked his head, standing and brushing off his knees. He gave Enrique one last surveying glance before turning on his heel and walking away.

Creepy. Was the only thing Enrique could think before he turned his attention back to his best friend. "Oh come on Iki, it's not that bad," he murmured softly.

As if to answer him Liika's eyes fluttered open, and as if she suddenly remembered what was happening her body stiffened and her breath started coming in short erratic gasps.

"Iki!" Enrique commanded firmly, moving her face so that she looked up into his sapphire eyes. "Concentrate on me now and breathe with me. In," he inhaled slowly, Liika mimicking his actions. "Out, two, three, four. In…and out, two, three, four. That's good." He grinned his goofy grin. "There you go, see? It's over now."

Liika followed his breathing patterns, in and out, concentrating on the feeling of his chest moving up and down. Slowly her breathing began to even out and the panic began to subside. She could think clearly again.

"Wh-what happened Enrique?"

The grin diminished a little bit. "You had a panic attack. I'm sorry Iki, I should have been thinking. Why didn't you say something?" He explained, helping her sit up.

"I didn't want to worry anyone." She replied, rubbing her head. "Damn, I have a headache."

"Iki, you know that you have to have someone with you when you get a needle, you could have come to me." His tone was slightly chastising.

Liika threw him a dry look. "Right, you've been pissed at me for weeks. What was I supposed to say, "Oh Eniki, I know you're pissed and jealous, but could you possibly come and hold my hand and walk me through one of the most frightening experiences of my life?"

He scowled back. "Yes, as a matter of fact. And for the record I'm not jealous. I'm mad at you for a completely different reason."

"Oh? And what reason might that be?"

Enrique paused, his eyebrows furrowing and his eyes rolling up in the back of his head. "Uh…" he then rubbed the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "I don't honestly remember."

Liika dead panned, her lips flattening into a straight line. "So you're saying that you've been glaring at me, ignoring me, and avoiding me for the past two or so weeks and you don't even remember why?!"

"Uh…sorry?"

She smacked him upside the head. "You're such a dolt Eniki."

His lazy grin returned, his eyes glinting mischief. "But I'm your dolt!"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah. Best friends again?"

"Forever!"

"Witch? Damn it, are you ok?"

Liika turned at the sound of Kai's voice. He had approached while they were having their little 'moment' and had only now decided to intrude upon their 'moment'. He had to shove down the raging jealous that rose like bile in the back of his throat.

The blue haired girl sighed, nodding. "I'm ok, a little shaken and weak, but I'll be ok."

Kai gingerly helped Liika to her feet, Enrique standing as well, a slight frown tugging at his lips. Kai pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Don't do that." He growled, scowling down at the top of her head. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me you had an irrational fear of needles?"

"It's not irrational! It's just something that happens! I've always been afraid of needles… I thought that maybe I could handle it." She shot back, pulling away a bit.

Kai glared at her. "Yeah well, next time inform us ok? You gave us all a good scare."

She smiled a little, leaning her forehead against his chest. "Sorry," she muttered.

"Ok now that everyone is done, I want you to all sit in the middle of the gym, just in front of the bey dishes—Akito stay away from the dishes until I say so—so that we can do some explaining." Judy called over the group of milling teenagers, most of which were rubbing their arms.

By this time the nurses were already packing up and Mr. Hiwatari and his bodyguards had disappeared, leaving the three beyblade teams in peace. Liika and Kai made places for themselves in the front row, Enrique settling beside Liika. Mariah, who was sitting beside Liika, leaned forward and half hugged her friend, asking quietly if she was ok. Liika nodded, smiling back at Mariah, and Sakura who was beside her looking worried.

"I'll explain later," she mouthed, getting nods back.

"Alright, now I know there are questions to be answered," Judy started, sighing, not looking like she relished the idea of explaining.

"Why don't I explain some eh Judy?" Kakashi cut in, throwing a grin at the blond Biology teacher. His eyes swept over the large group of teenagers, who were watching them—half of them with bored eyes.

"Alright, to start, the BBA has decreed that no two teams can have the same coach, so we have decided, along with the sponsors, that Judy will coach the A team—which will be known as USA 1—and I will be coaching the B team—aka USA 2."

"Wait, wait!" Enrique interrupted, looking annoyed. "Why is it that we have to be USA '2'. Why can't they be 2nd for once?"

Half the A and B teams sighed, while half of Abbey snickered. Judy rolled her eyes, rubbing her forehead as if it was pained. Kakashi merely smiled, shrugging. "Can't help it…Sattiay right? The BBA has already decided. Besides, does it really matter—we're gonna win anyway." He winked at Liika, who smiled back.

Most of the teens that did not belong to the B team snorted, including Kai who nudged Liika with a smirk. "Gotta get through us first witch," he murmured into her hair.

"Whatever. You're going down Hiwatari."

"As Mr. Hiwatari alluded to earlier, some members of Abbey will joining the two Bakuten teams in Japan. The reason being that your sponsors, having watched all three teams, feel that some members will be beneficial in the events other than the team battle." Kakashi took a deep breath, knowing that if he didn't explain there was going to be floods of questions. "Now, along with the customary team battles, there will be six other competitions, which are as follows: Singles skills, Doubles skills, Singles battles, Doubles battles, Doubles sync and Bit Beast sync. Now, because the BBA wants teams of nine for the main competition, Gaara will be joining USA 1 and Shino will be joining USA 2, both filling the number three-blading spot. Kankurou will be blading for USA 1 in Bit Beast sync, and Shikamaru will be blading in Singles skills for USA 2. Akito will be blading Singles battles for USA 2, and the lovely Sakura will be helping Miss Wakeman manage USA 2, as well as being an assistant for both myself and Judy."

Murmurs began to flood the group of teens, as all began to discuss the new turn of events. Abbey bladers taking the place of Bakuten bladers? Just how did that work? There was more than one Bakuten blader that had the feeling that they had been bumped to an alternate.

"Moving on. I promised I'd reveal the final rosters for the tournaments, so here they are. Keep in mind that while this roster is final, and it is the one that is being submitted, even if you are in an alternate position, does not mean that you won't blade." Judy explained, flipping over some papers on her clipboard. "Starting with USA 1. The order of singles is: Kai, Tala, Gaara, Tyson, with Rei in the alternate slot. Doubles are: Oliver and Michael, and Ian and Johnny. For USA 2 it is as follows: Liika, Robert, Shino, Enrique, with Jade as alternate. Doubles: Mariah and Lee, Max and Emily. Remember, like I said: just because these are the order, doesn't mean you will not blade."

Akito was the first to vocalize his opinion of the new circumstances. "I think you're making a mistake. Why are you putting Sanderson and Aburame in team blading and not me? I'm better than both of those posers put together."

There was a mass rolling of eyes from everyone in the room, including the two teachers. Akito merely smirked, reclining back and looking the very picture of arrogance. He knew he was hot, what did he care what all the losers around him had to say?

"That attitude is why." Kakashi stated flatly, throwing his student a dirty look. "Besides, we picked bladers that were best suited to the team, not by what skill they had."

"Coughbullshitcough."

"Cram it Imoraz, no one asked for your opinion."

"True, I suppose. But we all know how desperately you wanted it little witch."

"Fuck off Imoraz!"

Judy sighed again. She didn't think she could survive the next year with the three teams. She was seriously considering giving up teaching all together. Teenagers were too much for her to handle.

"That's enough you three," Kakashi interrupted, narrowing his blue eyes at the three teenagers. "Why don't you do your jobs, and lead your teams in warm ups. You're up to it right Liika?"

Liika nodded, but not without shooting the smirking Akito with a dark glare. He wiggled his eyebrows and winked back. She pinked a bit and would have raged at him further if Kai hadn't have stepped in between them, cutting off both of their field. He threw a withering look over his shoulder then pushed Liika in the direction of her milling team.

"Ignore him."

Liika shrugged and stepped away from Kai, joining her team. Akito Imoraz wasn't worth her time.