AN: First of all.. I apologize for the near uselessness of this chapter. There are only a couple of things of importance that happen.. it's filler so to speak.. because next chapter is WORLDS! yay Worlds will go on for awhile since it's very important
Second of all I think you all for your patience with this
The two blades came together in a shower of sparks, bouncing off each other and the walls of the dish in a carefully controlled manner. A foot tapped impatiently, and turquoise eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He was purposely making her life difficult. She could feel it. He wasn't taking her seriously either. Like she was an easy mark. Asshole!
She had won nationals after all; and he had no right, new teammate or not, treating her as if she was an amateur. A smug smirk tugged at her lips as she made her blade quickly evade one of her opponents rather poorly executed attacks. At least it would cost him dearly.
He would be knocked out of their block so easily.
Liika snorted, propping one hand on her hip, she glared at Akito who smirked back at her. "You're such a fucking jackass," she spat, not without maliciousness. "You're blading crappy on purpose."
The blonde's smirk seemed to grow, especially as his eyebrows rose. "Well, I don't the point in exerting much effort. Why waste good energy on you?"
On me huh? Liika snorted inwardly, her own smirk developing. He really was a bigoted asshole. He was so stuck in his ways that he couldn't even see that he was way outclassed. "Why don't I give you a reason hm?" The smirk on her face was full blown by this point and the hand that had been on her hip dropped. With flashing eyes Liika extended a hand, palm facing Akito. "This is a new one I've been working on; you should feel grateful that you were the first to feel it." She took a deep breath, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. "Akala!" The white blade responded immediately and a white light shot up into the air.
Akala was a humanoid bit beast with four vast wings and long, flowing, royal blue hair held back from her face except for two long strands by a black headband adorned with an ankh. Her tail waved languidly behind her, just under her wings. Any exposed skin (which included pretty much only her legs and arms) was pale blue in color and marked with sky blue stripes that include the skin on her face that surrounded her vivid and cold gold eyes. Interchanging with and over top of the strips on her arms were bands of black tattoos as well as half-circles enclosing dots. It was a strange pattern.
Her eyes were currently locked on her small mistress, questioning, but bland. Liika ignored the haughty, unimpressed snort that Akito released and raised her chin. "The new one Akala," she said with a smirk, tilting her head.
Akala bowed her head slowly before turning to the opposing blade. Akito had deigned to call out his bit beast by then, and thus the tree headed fire-wolf stood half-hunched ready to pounce. Akala looked unfazed and merely reached down to her side, picking up the mask that lay attached there. With no ceremony, the bit beast slipped the mask over her face.
Everything started to move all at once it seemed. The air stirred even before the angelic bit beast moved. When she did, her hands came up in front of her and her eyes closed behind the mask. White energy began to congeal around her in rings and the faint ringing of chanting echoed through the immediate area. Within seconds the energy too moved, shattering into thousands of tiny pieces and flying towards where her outstretched faced Kaeth. Slowly the energy conversed once more, coming together to form what looked like a really old book. The book opened facing Kaeth and within seconds ribbon-like strands of light shot out and wrapped themselves around the fire-wolf's various limbs and appendages. Akala let her arms fall. A feathered quill appeared, poised over the book as if ready to write something.
"Kaeth," the bit beast seemed to speak. Her voice was almost otherworldly, not belonging to this plain of existence. It was ethereal, melodic, and just a bit creepy.
Akito groaned out loud, rolling his eyes. "Is this going to take forever? Jesus, talk about over doing it."
Liika smirked, watching the quill scratch something in the book, seemingly unaffected by the strands of light. "Book of Judgement!"
The book snapped shut, instantly severing the strands attached to it. Kaeth howled, pawing at its heads and falling to the ground. Akito too moaned in pain, falling to his knees as he tried to paw the invisible threads off of him.
Kaeth disappeared and his blade stopped spinning, leaving Akala and Liika standing there, the latter looking triumphant. "Drawn out, but affective hm Akito?" Liika taunted, her hand returning to her hip. "And for the record, I drew it out just for your benefit. No way in hell any other opponent is just going to stand there and watch themselves lose."
"You fucking bitch," Akito ground out, slowly pulling himself back to his feet. "What the fuck?"
Liika shrugged, recalling Akala, catching her when the blade flung from the dish. "Worlds is nasty Akito, it's probably a good thing you aren't really blading there. Wouldn't want wittle Aki to get hurt." She knew she was being obnoxious, but she couldn't help it; he just pissed her off.
"Nice attack Tomoda," another voice said from off to the side.
Liika turned her head and was met with the smiling face of her World's coach. "Thanks Kakashi! I know it needs some work, but its well on its way!"
Kakashi nodded knowingly. "He's right though, you need to work on the longevity, it needs to be shorter. Anything else you got cooked up for Worlds? Less than a month away now."
She nodded, hopping off the platform, completely forgetting Akito who bristled at being blown off. "Oh I know, that was prolonged on purpose. It will be about a third of that time… it still takes time to set up though, I'm working on a paralyzing attack so that I can get some of my longer attacks off before they have a chance to counter." She smiled as he handed her a water bottle to drink from. "As for other attacks, well I have two or three. I have a feeling they will come in handy in the stiff competition."
"More than likely," he said, taking back the bottle when she was finished. "If not in actual battles, then at least in the various competitions. They keep adding them, more are announced every day. I believe they are up to eighteen events now, including the main team battle."
"Eighteen!" Liika cried, looking incredulous. "How many different ways can a person beyblade?"
Kakashi shrugged. "There is more to this sport than just battling. The Worlds is a forum for the best of beyblade talent, which includes a hell of a lot more than battling. It's a test of control, stamina, and various other things that connect a beyblader with their blade. The battle is done, you're up now."
"Thanks!"
The other matches flew by as the two Bakuten teams and the entire Abbey club trained for the upcoming Worlds. Four blocks had been set up for the second third of the practice, each block would battle until there was only one person left.
"Okay, listen up guys," Judy called the milling teenagers to attention, back from their break. "Though you probably already know, here are the winners. Winner of Block A: Liika Hiwatari," there was a round of cheers, mostly from the B team and various girls from Abbey. "Winner of Block B: Shino Aburame," there was some clapping, but not nearly the uproar. "Block C: Kai Hiwatari," again some cheers, some clapping, and also some grumbling. "And finally Block D: Robert Jagen. Very good you guys."
Akito muttered obscenities to Broderick who snickered beside him. He glared at Liika who merely smiled sweetly in return. Judy turned to Kakashi after announcing the four winners and began a low conversation, leaving the teenagers to mingle for a couple of minutes while the next activity was set up.
"So what's happening after practice?" Enrique asked as he, Liika, Mariah and Sakura formed their own little social group to talk.
"Father alert," Liika replied with a grimace. "Get to spend three fun filled hours doing… actually I don't have a clue what fun he has planned for us today, but I bet it will be exciting!" The sarcasm rung loud and clear through her voice. "Last week, we went to his Denver office and I got to sort one of the various stacks of paper into severity of claim," she fake-gagged.
Sakura patted her new friend on the shoulder. "I feel your pain, I once had to help Gaara sort his father's cases all day. It was the worst eight hours of my life. I didn't talk to Gaara for two days." She giggled.
"I thought we were going to hang out tonight?"
Liika shrugged, squeezing the blonde's arm. "We are, after the father show. You can take my car after practice and go to a mall to wait or something… I'm sure Sakura can tell you some good things to do here."
"Can I come?" Mariah asked, looking somewhat nervous. "With Enrique, I mean."
Enrique looked confused but shrugged nonetheless. "If you want," he grinned, "Not big on alone time anyway. Do you want to come as well Sakura?"
Sakura smiled. "I was going to ask anyway," she laughed sheepishly. "Gaara has plans with his new best friends, and all my Abbey friends are busy… not that I have many," she made a face. "If you guys like games or whatever, there's this arcade that doubles as a café downtown. It's pretty fun, we could hang out there and you can get your father to drop you off there if you want."
"That sounds like a good idea, what do you guys think?" Liika looked at her other two friends expectantly.
The two nodded, both smiling and looking rather excited. In perfect timing, the two teachers called the practice back in session. All talking ceased, and many sets of eyes turned to the two adults, expectation in their eyes.
Kakashi gestured at Sakura, who came forward on demand. "Sakura, why don't you lead us through your research and tell us what you found?"
"Okay, but we'll need to go into the prep-room for it. It's on power point."
Kakashi nodded, motioning to Judy who then motioned to the group of teenagers. "Through that door," she said pointing off to one of the many doors that connected with the gym.
The group began to make its way towards the door, of course not without its fair share of pushing and shoving. The girls present in the group rolled their eyes. Boys were boys, and boys were immature. Most of them anyway. Liika smiled at Shino when he opened the door for her – one of the few boys that weren't pushing each other like elementary school students.
They filed into the rather small briefing room, everyone scrambling for one of the fifteen available chairs. Sakura was already there, her laptop set up on a little podium, the projector on. Liika, since she was one of the first in the room, had a seat front row. Enrique was on one side, Shino on the other, Mariah was just behind her, with Robert and Rei on either side of her. The rest was a mix of Bakuten and Abbey students.
"Okay, quiet all of you!"
It took a few minutes for the group to actually comply, so Sakura waited, power-point ready, and impatient look on her face. When they had finally quieted enough for her to talk, Sakura began, her voice official and steady. "Kakashi asked me to profile each of the captains of the top ranked teams in the country. In my research I came across four teams other than us that are favoured to win." With a click of a button she brought up the first profile she had done, the name Brooklyn Kingston was written in bold across the top.
"Brooklyn Kingston, as some of you may know, captains the Britain1 team, the defending world champions." With another click the next slide came on. On one side was a picture of a rather good looking boy with orange hair, turquoise eyes and a benign smile." A couple of the girls in the audience actually giggled, the guys rolled their eyes and snorted. Sakura chuckled.
"Yes, he's really hot. Moving past that detail," she grinned, winking at the girls in the first two rows, "He is also unbeaten. His record thus far in official competition is 40-0. I suspect we'll have the most difficulty with him and his team, though all four of these teams are something to watch out for. His bit beast is named Zeus, Shadow-type, and apparently has an attack that instantly wins a battle, leaving the opposing blader in a sort of daze. It's legal. His co-captain is Garland Wakeman, who has a record almost as impressive as his captains. Both were on the last World Championship team."
With a click of the mouse another picture appeared beside the one of Brooklyn Kingston. He had silver-blue hair and sapphire eyes, high cheek bones and an unsmiling mouth. "Hey!" Enrique shot out, tilting his head, "He looks a bit like Riley."
This earned some glares from the back room, which he pointedly ignored, having dealt with them for the past month. Bryan, who was standing off to the side a row back from the first row snorted, looking unimpressed. "That's because he's our cousin. His little brother blades for that team as well."
More than one eyebrow shot up, but no one commented. Enrique was stopped from speaking by a well aimed elbow to the stomach from his best friend.
"Moving on," Sakura said, changing it to the next slide. The name across the top said An Tachibana, and corresponded to a picture of a pretty, honey haired Japanese girl who was smiling bright for the camera and seemed to have an almost calculating gleam to her eyes. "An Tachibana, the captain of the Japan 1 team, the only team thought to be able to defeat the menacing British. Also, one of only two female captains out of the 67 teams registered for Worlds." With this she winked at Liika, who winked back. "Her record is somewhat different then Brooklyn's as she blades doubles with one Syusuke Fuji. Their record is close to USA 2's Golden Pair, having lost only once in official play. Her bit beast is Aeron, an Earth-Type. Her co-captain is Keigo Atobe, he generally blades in the single's three slot, and is reputed to have a very large ego."
His picture showed a good looking boy with straight white teeth and an arrogant smile. Then it was gone, as Sakura moved on to the next captain. "This is Marik Ishtar," she motioned to a dark skinned boy with indigo eyes and spiky and wild white-blond hair. "His reputation is that of violence, his bit beast Ra, a Shadow-type. He's rash and powerful, and I advise whoever has to face him – Liika or Kai – to be wary of him. Rumor has it that he's a bit unstable. His vice-captain," a picture of a brown haired, blue eyed boy with a scowl on his face, "is Seto Kaiba. There are a few Japanese-born on this team, as well as a half-Japanese, half-British. It's probably the most diverse team I've seen yet.
"And last but not least is the Canada team," she paused a bit before moving the slide on, her gaze sliding to Liika for a few seconds. "Led by Athrun Zala." When the picture came up most of the room froze. Those who didn't freeze gasped, all eyes instantly turning to Liika.
Liika stared at the screen, a frown firmly on her face. "What, so he looks a bit like me? Big deal. Akito looks a bit like Tala, sorry Tala."
"Um witch," Tala said, eyes still fixed on the screen. "He looks more than a bit like you."
"Christ, it's like there's two of you in the world, and one is a guy." Akito shuddered at the thought.
"Sorry Liika," Sakura murmured with an apologetic smile. "Athrun Zala has a bit beast called Damius, a Shadow-type. He is considered the best in Canada, which is saying something since they had a pretty competitive beyblade league. His co-captain is Nicol Amarfi." The picture was of a boy with green hair, that slightly resembled Oliver, only his hair was curlier. "Though it's not thought that they can beat either Japan or Britain, it is thought that they will place high in the tournament. And that concludes our opposition study."
"It's kinda eerie don't you think?" Enrique stated the moment the lights had been turned back on. "I mean, how that guy looks exactly like you."
Liika rolled her eyes. "Yes well, I distinctly remember everyone ooing and ahhing over how much Akito and Broderick looked like Tala and Bryan when we first met them. It's probably just the picture anyway, he probably doesn't look anything like that in real life."
"Well, you know what they say," Mariah spoke up, a laugh in her voice, "Everyone has a twin in the world. Maybe we found yours!"
Liika and Enrique laughed. "Must be! We've found Tala's, so why not?"
"True that."
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"That's it! I've had enough!"
Liika and Enrique instantly looked in the direction of Mariah's raised voice, concern on their faces. The pink haired girl was standing in front of her locker, Rei in front of her, both looking angry and frustrated. "What's going on?" Liika whispered, glancing at Enrique before they both looked away.
"I can't say for certain, but I can tell you that I went through a scene like that about a month and a half ago."
"Oh boy…"
"Mariah listen to me!"
Mariah shook her head wildly, glaring through snapping gold eyes. "No! I'm done listening Rei. For weeks it's been question after question, you following me, having to know where I am at all times. Controlling. All because you don't trust me enough, or think Tala's going to paw all over me the minute your eyes are not on me. I've had it!" She stomped her foot in emphasis.
"You're blaming this on me! You're the one that has been distance for months! You won't talk to me, hell, half the time you won't even see me. You're always busy with Liika, or for all I know Valkov." Rei shot back, looking equally as angry, though his anger held a touch of desperation. "Can you blame me for wanting to know where my girlfriend is?"
"As a matter of fact I can," she replied with a flip of her hair. "I didn't ask for another father Rei, and I don't need you breathing down my back every five seconds. I have been hanging out with Liika a lot, because you know what? Unlike you, she doesn't ask me questions every five seconds!"
He sighed in frustration. "That's because you tell her everything anyway! She doesn't need to ask you things she already knows. Part of having a boyfriend Mariah, is talking to him. Relationships only work out when a couple shares information, not hiding things behind the others back, which I know that's what you've been doing."
"And that's why I don't need this anymore. I have a best friend, a confidant. I don't need some boy around telling me what I can and cannot do. For once in my life I want to be alone, to make my own decisions."
"So what are you saying?"
"Am I not being clear or something?" Now it was her turn to sigh in frustration, raking a hand through her tousled bangs. "It's over Rei. I'm sorry, but I can't handle being in a relationship right now. With Worlds coming up, and exams, and college applications, I don't have time for a boyfriend. Not you, not Tala, no one."
Rei looked as if he had been hit. The expression only lasted about ten seconds before it disappeared behind a mask of anger and spite. "Fine. You go have your alone time, but this time don't come sobbing back to me when you realize what a mistake you've made."
"Fine," she stared at him as he stalked away, his hands jammed in his pockets, obviously clenched.
Enrique and Liika let out a collective sigh of relief and anxiety. "It's like break-up central around here." Liika muttered, shoving some books in her locker.
"You had to know it was coming though," Enrique said, looking thoughtful. "I mean with Rei being a dolt and fighting me and all. He was asking for it. What girl likes to be controlled?"
"I know, but really. I mean Jade and Ian just broke up last week, although thankfully it was peaceful and there was no screaming or crying. But still... with worlds around the corner… I can see Judy having a heart attack now."
"Sorry guys."
Enrique and Liika turned to Mariah, who had vacated her locker and stepped over to them. She wasn't crying, which was surprising in itself. Instead she looked righteous, a little guilty, but righteous all the same. She smiled weakly at the pair, and were greeted with smiles as well.
"It's ok," Liika replied, placing a hand on the taller girl's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Mariah nodded. "Yeah… I've known it was coming for awhile. Since your party in fact. I knew that it wasn't fair to be with either of them. But then Rei got really smothery, and I just thought that I needed a break. Boys are a lot of unneeded work, no offense." She winked at Enrique who grinned back.
"You think we're work, you should try seeing it from our position!"
"Anyway, if you want to hang out tonight we could watch movies or something, just us girls?" Liika asked, looping her arm through Mariah's and closing her locker door.
"Hey! What about me?" Enrique pouted, shouldering his backpack.
Liika huffed, sending him a pointed look. "You have an English test tomorrow, and you are going to go home and study. College is around the corner buddy, and if you want to go, you have to make the grade."
"Bah," Enrique scoffed. "College is so much work… almost too much work to be worth the effort!"
Mariah laughed, interrupting the two. "This is my stop, I'll see you at study 'kay Ika?"
"Sure."
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"So what do you think?" Liika tapped a pen against her lips, a concentrated frown on her face. Her eyes scanned over the page rapidly, multiple times as if to check for any flaws that might be present.
"Why should I care?" Kai replied glancing at Liika from his position across the kitchen table. "Why don't you ask your vice-captain?"
"She was," Robert interjected, throwing the blue haired boy a dry look. "Focus on your own work Hiwatari."
Auburn eyes clashed with crimson causing the other two occupants to share a look of their own, one that included rolling of eyes. For some reason, Kai and Robert never really worked out their differences. It was odd, Robert, though sometimes haughty, was generally at least polite to everyone. But not Kai, he either ignored his ex-girlfriend's brother, or was actively hostile to him. Kai, for his part, didn't like anyone that didn't like him, as well, he had never entirely forgotten the dent the purple haired boy had put in his car.
"Oh please," Liika shot, snorting and pointing her pen at Kai. "We are a team, whether or not we are separate teams. Try acting like it sometimes."
An eyebrow arched. "That makes no sense witch," Kai said mildly, smirking at the blue haired girl. "However, I know what you mean, even if you are unintelligible."
"Che," Liika ignored him then, turning back to Robert, "So, what do you think? Provided that the BBA doesn't add any more events, does this line up work you think?"
Robert took the piece of paper from her and looked it over, eyes judging and weighing options. "Perhaps we should put Nara in Obstacle. From what Kakashi and Judy have told us, Obstacle requires a strong connection with one's bit beast and a superior level of skill. Nara is lazy, but no one can refute his uncanny skill."
Liika hummed, finger tapping on the table. "You're probably right. I'd like to give him something else to do anyway, since dragging him out to Tokyo for one small event seems silly."
"Who are you putting in male singles?" Kai asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Me," Robert replied for Liika. "It's the logical choice."
"Obviously," Kai snorted. "Personally I think we should be able to put two competitors into the male singles competition."
"While that would be beneficial for us, I know why they don't do it. For one, with what, 68? teams that would an insanely large competition. For two, there aren't enough girls in Beyblade competition to allow for nomination of two of them. It wouldn't be fair, or so they would see it. Could you imagine the whining that would take place if two men were allowed, but only one girl?" Tala scoffed, cradling his chin in his palm.
Liika struggled not to backhand him. She knew that he was baiting her, that he had chosen his words carefully. She also knew that he knew that she held feminist tendencies, though she would probably not identify herself as a feminist. Thus, it was not a surprise that when she glowered at him, his eyes flashed saucily back. "You're an ass," she muttered, rolling her eyes skyward.
The kitchen door swung open then, revealing a brightly smiling Katherine holding two boxes of pizza. "Dinner time, my hard working world champions. I thought you would like something like this rather than something cooked by me." She set the pizzas down in the middle of the table with a laugh and a wink before twirling out of the room as fast as she had come.
"Ahh, I love your mom, why couldn't she have been related to me instead of you?" Liika commented with a wistful sigh, opening one the boxes to reveal a Hawaiian pizza.
Kai shot her a dry look, opening the other box to reveal a standard pepperoni. "Too bad, she's mine, and you're stuck with me."
"Lucky me," Liika bit into her pizza with an exaggerated moan. "Aren't you eating Robert?"
Robert raised an eyebrow, looking almost as if he was too good for pizza. "I do not wish to intrude."
"Oh can the patrician attitude Jagen. Katherine got the pizza for all of it, just eat it." Tala said before Liika could reply. He emphasised his point by taking a bit of his own piece of pepperoni.
Robert relented rather than replied, not willing to be drawn into a pointless battle of words with the other vice captain. Liika, however, just had to comment. "Oooh.. Patrician, nice word use. I didn't even know you knew such academic words." Her expression was cheeky and her eyes teasing.
Tala made a face back at her. "Please, you can't honestly tell me you think you're the only one who knows how to use uncommon words properly? In case you forgot, I did take world history I last year."
"Shut up and eat, both of you. We have a lot of work to do." Kai muttered, only half focused on eating. The other half of his attention was taken up by the roster that was currently sitting in front of him speckled with pizza sauce.
"Aye, aye cap'!"