Hey all readers. I think it's obvious that the names of the Bladebreakers in this story are not mine. However, Sam Coredori and her bitbeast Drazema. Along with the team the Carnivora Catz and their bitbeasts are all mine so please don't take them without my position. Thanks bb4564
Chapter 23 – Something to Prove!
Sam awoke and looked about her. She was alone in her room and going by the light coming through her otherwise dark room, it was early morning. Slowly sitting up, Sam felt a pain flood through her mind, and gingerly brought her hand to her forehead, moaning softly. It was then that she saw the cuts and bruises on her arms and as she stood up, all the events of the day before rushed through her mind. Sam closed her eyes and sat back down on the edge of her bed.
Taking a few deep breaths, she pushed back the tears that were threatening to form and stood up. Swaying slightly, she walked over to her wardrobe and pulled on a pair of ankle-length jeans and a blue, long sleeve turtle neck shirt – trying to hide the bruises as much as possible. Looking in the mirror she saw that there were some bruises on her cheeks and jaw, a few small cuts, a large cut on her bottom lip and gash above her eyebrow. She also had the faint showings of a black eye.
Quickly brushing her hair, she took some concealer out of her make up bag and covered her face with it. She then added some non-stick red lipstick (lipstick that doesn't rub off) to cover over the cut on her lip and some dark blue eye shadow to make up for the black eye. Looking at herself in the mirror again she was much more satisfied with her appearance and went into the kitchen to have a cup of tea.
She saw Kai sitting at the table reading the paper and drinking tea. He didn't look up when she entered, so without saying anything she made herself a coffee and looked at the clock. It was six thirty. "We'll be late for training," she said, taking another sip of her tea. Kai glanced up at her in surprise. "What?" she asked, "you didn't think I'd let a little thing like yesterday keep me from blading?!" She laughed heartily, taking another sip of her tea. Kai didn't reply as he closed the paper, finishing off his tea and made his way to the sink. Quickly washing his cup, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. Sam shook her head as she did the same.
Once everyone was downstairs, Sam couldn't help but notice the way the rest of her team – excluding Kai – kept staring at her, but whenever she met their eye they would look away suddenly. None of them asked her what had happened yesterday, something she was quite sure Kai was behind. Still the staring was beginning to make her self-conscious and it was affecting her blading. Kai noticed this too, but didn't say anything, knowing that Sam had to handle this herself.
After twenty minutes of blading, Sam felt eyes on her and glancing up she saw Max looking at her. He quickly looked away and Sam sighed. "Why is everyone staring at me?" she demanded, keeping her voice low. Max jumped in shock, as though forgetting she was capable of speech. "What?" he asked. Sam recalled her blade and folded her arms across her chest. "You heard me? Why are you all staring at me?" Max rubbed the back of his head and glanced nervously across at Kai. "Ignore Kai!" Sam snapped, "I want to know, what it is about me you are all finding so fascinating." Max swallowed as the rest of the team – except Kai who remained leaning against the wall – gathered around Max.
Sam looked at each one. "Well?"
"How did you get all those injuries?" Tyson suddenly blurted, then realised what he said and blushed. Sam smiled knowingly; she had been right in speculating that that was what was bothering them. She brought a hand to her face and gently touched the cut above her eye. "Is that all?" She asked offhandedly, and the boys nodded, all slightly embarrassed. Sam just shrugged. "Well I wish I could tell you," Sam said calmly, "but I can't. You're all just going to have to trust me when I say I'm fine now and stop staring at me." She smiled smugly. "I mean I know I'm gorgeous, but you guys just have to get over it!" All the boys laughed at this, Kai smiling slightly his face hidden from view by his hair.
Sam looked around. "Now, are any of you babies actually going to give me a challenge?" she demanded, loading her blade. Max laughed and stepped up to the dish, but a voice suddenly stopped him. "May I have the honour?" Everyone looked up to see who had spoken and were surprised to see the Jazon standing there, the rest of the Carnivora Catz standing about him. Sam glowered at him, baring her teeth. "What are you doing here Jazon?" she demanded. Jazon shrugged. "What's the matter Sam, aren't you happy to see me?" Sam just narrowed her eyes in reply. "Oh, come now. You're not scared are you?" Sam laughed harshly. "I've never been scared of you Jazon." There was no doubting the deeper meaning underlining her words.
Jazon smiled. "Then how about a battle?" Sam was about to accept when Kai spoke up. "No!" he snapped, pushing himself off the wall. Everyone looked at Kai in surprise. "Ah the heroic leader Kai," Jazon said, bowing mockingly in his direction. Kai didn't reply, but only stepped up beside Sam. Jazon smirked. "What's the matter Kai? Don't think Sam could handle it?"
"Not at all," Kai replied naturally, "I think Sam is more then capable at handling you, but that's not saying much." Jazon clenched his teeth at this statement, but Kai didn't give him the chance to speak. "This is our teams practice time, if you want to battle, save it for the championships."
"Your pathetic team needs all the practice they can get," Adonia called out from behind Jazon.
Kai didn't even glance at her, but kept his eye on Jazon. Adonia obviously didn't like being ignored. "What's wrong oh great leader? Scared we'll see just how pathetic your team is? You obviously need me to show you how to blade." With that she loaded her blade and launched it towards the dish. Without taking his eye off Jazon, Kai whipped out his blade and launcher and shot his blade at Adonia's. It hit the blade head on, knocking it back at her before returning to Kai's hand. "Perhaps you didn't hear me," Kai snapped, "this is our blading dish. If you want to battle, go find you're your own!"
Adonia gasped as she caught her blade. "Lucky shot," she spat then turned to the boys standing next to her. "Let's show him Bretz." Bretz nodded and pulled out his blade and launcher. Loading his blade he and Adonia launched their blades together. Kai raised an eyebrow launching his blade again and hitting Adonia's back before rebounding off hers and hitting Bretz's then returning to his hand. The two teens stared at him in shock. "Enough!" Jazon snapped, causing them to jump. "We're wasting time. I came here to battle Sam, not you!" He glared at Kai.
Sam glanced between Kai and Jazon then looked at Kai waiting for his decision. He looked at her from under his hair and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Sam tilted her head to one side, hiding her face from Jazon and smiled nastily at Kai. Kai smirked and shrugged his shoulders. Stepping back, Sam looked at Jazon. "You're on!" Jazon loaded his blade as he stepped up to the dish. Both teams gathered around the dish in anticipation. "3…2…1…LET IT RIP!"
Both blades hit the dish and immediately went for each other. Kai looked at the Jazon's white and gold blade with interest, wondering what kind of bitbeast it concealed. Kai heard a noise beside him and out of the corner of his eye he saw Kenny working overtime on his laptop. Kai turned back to the battle and watched the two blade collides and rebound off each other, Jazon's blade seeming to have a the upper hand. Sam was not easily fazed and rammed his again, sending his blade skidding back a little. "Is this all you've got?" Jazon demanded. Sam smirked. "You should know Jazon." Sam replied. "Besides, where's the fun in ruining all the surprise?"
Jazon shook his head. "You're right Sam, I do know you. Which is why I know you won't be able to handle this! Crazema use Lightening Crash now!" A golden light started to sweep around his blade, lightening flashing from within it. Sam smiled. "On the other hand Jazon, I am very ready for it. You see there are some things you don't know about me. Like that I am a lot stronger then I was the last time we met. Let's show him what we got Drazema! Attack now!"
Jazon looked a little shocked; this was not what he had expected. He had expected Sam to counter it with a strong attack, not just go for his blade. As he watched Sam's blade started attacking his from every angle too fast for him to see it. His attack was growing but suddenly his blade started to wobble and the attack stopped. The Carnivora Catz all gasped whilst the Bladebreakers cheered. "You see Jazon," Sam said conversationally, "I know you. I know where your blade is vulnerable and I know when and how to get you." Suddenly Sam hit his blade and it was thrown from the dish. Jazon caught it and looked at her in shock.
She had never bladed like that before! None of the Carnivora Catz could believe it, except Garnet, who cheered along with the Bladebreakers, earning her dirty looks from her team. Sam recalled her blade and smiled at Jazon. "I thought you would have learnt by now not to underestimate me Jazon, but obviously I was mistaken." She stared to walk away but Jazon had more to say. "The battle isn't over yet Sam!" he called harshly. Sam looked over her shoulder. "I see no point in humiliating you further. I'll see you at the championships Jazon, and this time, make sure you are prepared to give me a challenge!"
Jazon glowered at Sam before turning on his heel and storming from the room. Sam watched him go before leaning against the wall and letting out her breath and inhaling deeply. "You ok Sam?" Max asked. Sam smiled.
"Made it look easy didn't I?" Max laughed and nodded. "So it wasn't?" Sam shook her head and leant further against the wall. Kai watched her from a distance and smiled. She was definitely a better blader then he thought.