Chapter Six

"Why…would…he…ask…me…something…like…that?" I punctuated each word with a punch to the punching bag that hung in front of me. Growling in frustration I aimed a roundhouse kick to the punching bag. It swung back a bit and came towards me. That time I hit it with a spinning hook kick. I used my palm to stop the bag as it swung back to me. I clenched my hand into a fist as I panted a bit. "How dare he!"

"Remind me not to be on the receiving end of your anger," Lee joked a bit, walking over to me. I glanced at him but didn't say anything. "What's up?"

"A preposition," I replied, flexing my fingers which started to ache a bit. I grinned at the confused look on Lee's face. These guys really needed to get out more. There's more to the world than just a few walls of the village. "That's a grammar joke."

"Oh."

I placed my hands on my hips and looked at him. "What do you want, Wong?"

"You're missing practice," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You mean I'm not put on probation or anything?" I asked sarcastically before turning back to the punching bag and landing a series of punches on it. "Does it matter if I train with you or not? I thought you guys didn't trust me."

"Despite that fact, we're still a team."

"Could've fooled me." I kicked the punching bag again and growled under my breath when he didn't bother to leave. "Look, I know you guys don't want me here and, frankly, I'd rather not be here either. We're stuck with each other, I get that. But I'm not going to practice with people who constantly remind me that I'm not wanted. You guys didn't want me here in the first place, so I'm making it that this tournament goes by quickly for us all and then I can leave you guys so you'll finally be at peace or whatever."

Lee grabbed my wrist on my back swing. "You're right about me not wanting you here. Hell, I'd rather you have not come back at all, but it's in the rules. Yes, we're stuck with each other, but we're on the same team now and our team works like one. No one gets special treatment."

"And yet I'm the only one you keep giving the stink eye to," I pointed out, pulling my hand out of his grasp.

"You expect me to just forget what you did to our village?" he demanded, clenching his hands into fists.

Ok, that was the last straw, I was not holding back on this one. "You guys do not know about anything that happened that night yet you hold a stupid grudge over me for this long? I've been gone for years and you still haven't gotten over it!"

"How can we now that you're back?" Lee spat. "Elder shouldn't have change the rules."

"You're right, he shouldn't have, and I'm pissed as Hell that he did because I have to deal with amateur bladers like you!"

"Amateur!?" I could practically see the fire that was in Lee's eyes once the words came out of my mouth. It seriously would've freaked me out if he didn't look so damn ridiculous. So ridiculous, in fact, that I started to laugh, which caused him to seethe in anger even more. "Who're you calling an amateur?"

"You, genius," I replied. "You always let your anger get the better of you, that's why you lose so often. It's no wonder you didn't get Driger and the Elder's your own grandfather too." I shook my head slowly, enjoying how angered Lee was getting. "Bringing disgrace to the Wong name like that." I scoffed. "And Mariah, I'm surprised she's even made a name for herself. Doesn't she hear the others' ridicule? I wonder how she got this far by focusing her attention on Ray than on Galux, but hey, if that's the only way she can join the team–"

"Shut up!" Lee whipped out his beyblade and launcher. I tensed, reaching for my own. No one catches me off guard like that.

"What's going on here?" Kevin demanded, pushing open the door to the room. He was quickly followed by Mariah and Gary.

"Lee, you're supposed to be at practice," Mariah scolded.

"I am practicing," Lee replied through clenched teeth. "Practicing on getting her to keep her mouth shut."

"Well isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!" I shot back.

"That's it! Go Galeon!" Lee launched his blade.

"Dricen, let's go!"

As soon as our blades landed on the ground they started attacking each other. Sparks shot out between the two of them as they tried to get the upper hand on each other. I watched closely, waiting for a chance to strike. I glanced up a bit and saw that Lee was fuming. 'Great, he's just falling into the same mold as before. This'll be too easy.'

"C'mon Galeon, knock 'em out," Lee commanded. The black blade backed away from my metallic blue one before charging forward with unbelievable speed.

'Oh man, I forgot about their speed.' "Dricen, evade, quick!"

I didn't give Dricen enough time to move out of the way. Galen clipped him with enough force that Dricen flipped over a few times, but he regained his balance. I sighed with relief as Lee chuckled. I looked up, to glare at him, only to flinch. It was slight, the others didn't see it. Mariah, Gary, and Kevin were cheering Lee on, telling him to take me out and stuff. Something about that got under my skin and it made me itch to make them pay for constantly hounding me about the past.

"C'mon Galeon! Spiral Lightning!" Lee commanded. Purple light shot out of his blade and Galeon appeared with a roar so loud it made my heart jump a bit. 'Hmm, I kinda figured he'd use a White Tiger move. Ah, well, he's still leaving his defense wide open.'

"Drice', hold off a bit," I commanded.

"What is she doing?" Gary whispered.

"She's only going to get a firm beating this way," Mariah commented. "There's no way she can dodge this attack. She's only signing her death wish."

I grinned. "Don't underestimate me," I warned. 'Wait a bit more, Dricen.' I watched as Galeon continued to charge its lightning. Finally it tensed, ready to shoot out the attack. "Now! Ice Cannon! Hurry!"

"What!?" Lee gasped.

I smiled as Dricen came out to play. His bright blue ice tipped fir glinted in the light as it arched its back, in a very cat like manner, and its fur stood straight on end. It The hairs on his back lengthened a bit before shortening and repeating the process, sending ice spears flying at Galeon in a split second. 'Heh, this match is over.'

That was Lee's downfall; he left himself wide open before Galeon could even release its lightning attack. He always waited a split second, maybe even two, to shoot it out at his opponents. It seriously didn't surprise me that he hadn't picked up on that yet. I watched, smirking in satisfaction, as Galeon was flung into the wall. He returned to his blade which had made an indent into the wall and then fell to the ground lamely.

"I win, again." I stressed the word to see if Lee would lash out again. I loved battling him in that state; it made it a lot more fun to defeat him. Course, in a way it was cheating, but it's his own fault he's so damn emotional.

"Oh Lee," Mariah said sadly as Lee picked up his black beyblade. Lee stared at Galen so pitifully that it was starting to get on my nerves. God, the guy can't even lose gracefully!

"Lee," I called. He looked up from his blade, his golden eyes fierce yet his face expressionless. God, I was going to really hate myself for this. "Your leave yourself wide open when you use that attack. Galeon takes too long to release the lightning, you have to find a way to charge up the lighting and be on the move when he releases it so he won't be vulnerable."

Lee grunted. "I don't need your charity."

I bit my tongue. Fine, that's the last time I'm helping any of you losers!

"What is going on in here?" Ray's voice boomed across the room. God, now I need Captain Boy on my ass. We all turned in the direction of the door way and saw Ray standing there, seething in anger. "Lee, I thought I told you to go and get her," he stated.

"I tried!" Lee said desperately. "But she–"

"And you three!" Ray rounded on Mariah, Kevin, and Gary. "You were supposed to bring them back as well, not jump in on the bandwagon."

"But Ray–" Mariah started but he held up his hand to stop her from speaking.

"Why does it seem that you're causing more trouble than I need?" Ray demanded, finally turning to look at me. I held his fierce gaze, not afraid of him and not willing to back down. I stayed silent. "I don't think you understand that you're part of this team now. And as a member on this team I expect you to follow the rules."

I scoffed. "What rules? Listen to everything you say 'cause you think you're right?" I laughed. "No fucking way, Kon. Stop acting like you're my superior 'cause, compared to me, you're nothing but a little kitty." I turned my back to them and made my way over to my spinning blade. I reached down to pick it up but jerked my hand back when Driger came flying past my hand, barley hitting it, and smashed into Dricen. I turned around and glared at Ray who glared back. "You're asking for it, Kon," I snarled.

"Bring it on, if you dare," he shot back.

"No way, kids," the manager of the hotel's weight room said as he came in. "Take it outside. I don't want you damaging the equipment."

I held out my hand and Dricen returned to my palm. "I don't have time for this." I walked past them all and was out the door, almost far out enough that I could escape but a hand clapped down on my shoulder, fingers digging into the bone.

"You say you want respect for the team but you're doing a lousy job returning it," Ray said, forcing me to turn around.

"Why should I respect people who clearly don't respect me, who don't even want me here?' I questioned.

"Because we need you," he responded. I scoffed. "I'm not joking. You're the third strongest blader on the team. Your skills are far more advanced than Mariah's, Kevin's, or Gary's." 'Ha, you little Pink Princess, bet you won't think of Ray the same once you hear that.' "We're going to be going against some powerful bladders out there and if there's the chance that one of us gets knocked out and you don't blade, we're finished. The others haven't seen the power I've seen and they wouldn't know how to stand up to it. You can."

"That little speech is getting you nowhere." I knocked his hand off of my shoulder.

"This one might: battle me, right here, right now. If I win, you're on the team. No more complaining, no more disrespect. If I lose, you can train however you want."

"Are you deaf as well as stupid?" I asked before turning to walk away. I was done with this. "The guy said no fighting; he doesn't want to ruin the equipment."

I felt the small shift in the ground before feeling air rush past me. I quickly stopped, bent at the knees, and did a backflip. Just in time too or else I would've been slammed into the wall by Ray's 'surprise' attack. I landed on the ground easily and lifted my head, barley moving out of the way of his next punch. "What the hell is your problem?" I demanded, grabbing his arm and twisting it, bringing him down to the ground. He swung his leg around, sweeping my feet out from underneath me and I landed hard on my back. 'Ok, if he wants a fight...'

I braced my palms on the ground behind me and did a lip-up onto my feet. I quickly leaned back to avoid the kick that Ray had aimed at my face. I braced my hands on the floor, brought my legs up, and used enough strength to hook Ray and throw him over me, giving me enough time to get back onto my feet and try to make it to the stairs.

"Driger, go!"

"Shit!" I yelled when I felt Driger fly past my arm, followed by stinging pain.

"Stop running and fight!"

"Fine!" I whipped out my launcher and sent Dricen to attack Driger before turning back to Ray. I ignored the others who were standing at the other end of the hall, watching with transfixed eyes. I blocked his kicks by bringing my arms up to protect my face and he growled in frustration. I charged forward and sent a fist into his stomach. He skidded back a couple of inches but smirked as he grabbed my wrist and twisted it. I dropped to a knee in pain before I used my free had to punch him hard in the stomach again. He let go and I jumped back as he aimed a kick at my head.

"You've gotten stronger."

"Thanks for noticing," I responded with a smirk before it disappeared. I could hear Dricen's roars of pain faintly in the back of my head. "Now let's finish this!"

"Gladly!" he responded as he charged for me. I aimed a roundhouse kick to his head but he punched me hard in the stomach, causing my breath to get knocked out as pain exploded in my stomach and spread to my other limbs. I dropped to my knees, gripping my abs, narrowly missing the kick he aimed for my head once more.

I quickly swung my right leg around, to try and knock him off of his feet, but he was quicker and easily knocked me onto my back. I tried to sit up but he pressed a foot on my collar bone and leaned his weight on me. I grabbed his ankle and tried to pry his foot away but my arms gave way as I let out a breath and squeezed my eyes shut. I heard the faint tink of a stopped blade.

'Crap.'

"Practice starts in half an hour."

The can that I kicked bounced against the ground, metallic clanks filled the air with each bounce. I ran forward and kicked it again, causing the can to fly through the air. It disappeared over a wall and I curled my fingers until my hands formed fists. I wanted to strike something but then that would ruin my chances of blading even more.

"Just because they're boys..." I grumbled and continued stomping down the street.

Ray and Lee were chosen as the two to blade in the tournament. That made a world of sense, but they were the only ones. We didn't even have substitutes for our team, as if those two were going to take our team all the way! Ha! It was an insult to the time I've put in. It was all going to waste. All of that time and energy training with them all, tolerating them all...for nothing.

Mariah was a bit upset as well if her eyes were of any indication but her face remained blank at the news and she actually cheered for her brother. The girl has no backbone, I swear. Gary and Kevin didn't care, they don't fight much on the team anyway but what was the point of me doing so much for nothing?

"This is a load of shit!" I growled.

I went to kick at another can but stopped when I heard a peculiar sound. The sound of a beyblade spinning. But no one was around. My muscles immediately tensed and I stood stock still, looking around to see where the noise was coming from. There! I jumped back right as a beyblade launched at my feet, creating a small hole where it had been before. My shoes skidded against the ground as I tried to regain my balance. "Who's there?" I called out.

Laughter was my response. I looked up to see someone standing on the roof of the building closest to me. He wore a cloak and underneath the hood the only thing I could see was a smile.

"If that's the way you want to play..." I released Dricen and watched him attack the other blade, sparks flying at the contact. Dricen reared back and smashed into his opponent. The blade bounced backwards a few times before regaining its balance. Dricen then went on the attack, easily pushing the other one back. "Wait...this is too easy," I mumbled.

"Heh, now you're getting it," the figure laughed. "Attack!"

What!?

I barely had time to move before the other beyblade jumped over Dricen and launched at me. I managed to twist out of the way, landing on the ground on my hands and feet. I got back to my feet and looked around for Dricen. He was still spinning. Turning around I bent backwards to avoid the other beyblade hitting me again.

"What gives? You never use a beyblade to attack a blader!" I called out.

"We're not playing by those stupid rules!"

This time I was too slow to avoid the attack. His beybade slammed into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. I doubled over and grabbed my abdomen to try and ease off the pain. It shot through my midsection and wraped around my back, almost as if it were attacking my spine. Falling to my knees I tried to draw in some air, my stomach cramping in pain as it expanded.

"That was just a warning. Next time I won't go easy on you!"

Urg, that was easy? I struggled to get back to my feet, wobbling slightly. It suddenly felt as if al of the energy I had before was sapped from my body. I had to grab onto the chain-link fence by my side to stay up. "Drice'..." I let out a sigh of relief when I saw him still spinning on the ground. Holding out my hand he jumped into my palm.

"Hey! Crystal, are you alright?"

"Hmm?" I hummed, turning my head, feeling as if I were moving in slow motion. Kevin's violet eyes were wide with concern. "Me? Oh, yeah. I just...got into a bit of a scuffle that's all."

"You look as if you're in a bad shape," he continued. "Come on, I can take you to Ray."

"No!" I protested and shook my head. "Then he'll want to know what happened."

"But he can help. He's good with medicinal stuff."

"I said 'no', Kevin!" I snapped and checked my arms and legs for bruises. "I'm fine." I looked up to where the figure had been before but now it was gone. "I'm fine."