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11

I stood impatiently at the bleachers, looking from the crowd to the judges, then to the guys, then to our opponents, then to the other teams…everything was getting more anxious by the second and when I looked over at Tyson, all I could do was marvel over his ability to eat at a time like this. We weren't exactly on speaking terms ever since that incident in the cafeteria, so I didn't say anything. He could do anything he wanted, I wasn't his mother.

I think I was doing pretty well, though. I was standing there, looking calm (even though that was the last thing I felt) but I guess I was getting a little better at hiding what I was feeling, hopefully. Cuz the thing was, that I was tired and I was sleepy, but I was glad that the nerves were doing their job in keeping me awake.

"Maybe you shouldn't eat too much, Tyson." I heard Max say, and looked behind to see Tyson opening a large-sized Cheetoh pack he had brought with himself.

"Don't tell me what to do, Max." Tyson, being a pig that he was, snapped back at Max before filling his mouth with a handful of the chips. Max sighed loudly, a little exasperatedly before turning to the crowd, where I am sure he was searching for this red-headed girl.

"Alright everyone!" Tyler spoke into his mic so suddenly that it startled me. I sat down on the benches, just next to Kenny. "Settle down, settle down."

When the crowd hushed, Tyler continued.

"So, yesterday was a shocker wasn't it? I mean, who would've thought that The White Tigers, who've been so consistent this year, would leave?"

The crowd made some noise as they were reminded of the news. It was true, yesterday was the first semi-final match between Gary's and Drew's team. As much as I hated to admit it, but Drew's team really had put up a fight, and when they won the tie breaker, everyone had been more than just disappointed. All of us had gone to their suite to talk about, and everyone was so upset. The guys had wanted there to be a match between us and the White Tigers in the finals.

"They're sitting there, in the crowd, right now." Kenny pointed out, motioning towards a familiar group of people who were waving over at us. I smiled as they gave us a thumbs-up.

"But the Dynasties did great and, congrats to them." Tyler continued, smiling and looking over at the Blitzkrieg Boys, who were our opponents today. When I looked over at them as they calmly leaned against the wall, or sat at the benches with such serious faces, I shuddered inwardly. I, among many other people, knew how deadly they could get in a battle.

"So, we're gathered here today, for the second semi-final between the Blade Breakers," Tyler motioned towards us, before turning towards Tala's team again. "And the Blitzkrieg Boys."

He waited for the crowd, who had gone wild with excitement, to quiet down before continuing.

"So, could the players of both the teams, step out?"

Tyson got up, smiling smugly as he did, and walked over to the bey-stadium. Tala, who was standing ahead of everyone else, looked back at Ian, and nodded. Ian, with his uncanny appearance, looked more menacing than usual wearing that cold, serious-looking mask. When he walked over to stand in front of Tyson, I fought the urge to shudder again, and wondered how Tyson was taking the pressure….cuz, honestly, I felt like I would puke. But as angry as I was at Tyson, I trusted him enough to know that he'd give his best. I just hoped his best was enough.

I clutched anxiously at the seat and bit my lips, as I watched both of them ready their launchers. When the countdown began, the crowd went silent, as it usually did and I tensed a little bit more. It was the semi final….this match would take the guys to the finals…if they could just win two matches…..

"Let it rip!"

"And the winner is…."

It seemed as if everything was immobilized, and everyone paused as they held their breath, waiting for the smoke to clear, so that they could see what had happened, to see who lasted….Tala or Kai.

It seemed to take on forever, and I could barely breathe properly…I just wished it would end soon, both of them could barely stand as it was. They were looking at each other, just waiting, as they gasped for breath, for the fog to clear….then suddenly, Tala smiled.

I watched with horror as he smiled, my heart beating so loudly against my chest, and my knees suddenly started to feel week. It couldn't be….

Kai, who was a little hunched, with his hands resting on his knees, straightened up just a little before I heard it; a low, metallic sound…sort of like a ripping noise, and before we knew it, something flew out of the bey-dish and squarely hit the wall opposite to the judges, and a blue-colored blade, appeared tearing out of the thick mist, landed firmly on the marble corners of the dish.

It took a while for everyone to fill in what had happened, and when the news finally set in I could swear I would've gone deaf at the noise.

"KAI!" Tyler announced unnecessarily, but no-one could hear him anyway. I smiled at Tyson as he literally shot up in the air with happiness, at Max who joined Tyson just a second later and couldn't help but laugh a little as they went over to hug Kai. Of course Kai just gave them a look, but did they care? No, cuz right then, they were in the finals and that was all that mattered. And for once, in weeks, I felt happiness this great. I was so proud of everyone.

Even though we had won, the first place we had gone to was the hospital, cuz Kai had a couple of cuts that were bleeding, and he said he was feeling a little lightheaded. So, there we were celebrating our victory by eating a large-sized pepperoni Pizza, (with extra mustard, courtesy of Max) and drinking Pepsi while watching Kai get bandaged up. How joyous…

"I hope you get better soon, Kai." The nurse said, smiling at Kai who, even though was looking at his bandaged arm, seemed like was smiling back. At least, that's what I thought, cuz his face was turned up around the corners. I wanted to believe that Kai was smiling at his victory over Tala, but the way that nurse was flirting, I found that hard to believe….even the others were finding it hard to not crack up at her.

And even though I knew she was doing the most useless thing she's ever done (useless, cuz there was no use flirting with the great Kai Hiwatari) I felt this pang of jealousy, which I know was very stupid and immature of me, but ONLY GOD can control how and what I feel anymore, heavens know that. Maybe it was because, I had been the only girl up till now that Kai's really opened up to so much, the only one who he smiles at…and he had stopped doing that, smiling at me that is, and I guess it kinda bothered me that the reason he was smiling was someone he barely knew.

When the nurse left the room, everyone just burst out laughing, even Kenny. I just smiled a bit and shook my head before sitting down on a chair with a bottle of my drink. Now that the adrenaline and all the nerves were gone, I was starting to feel sleepy and tired again.

"She was all over you, Kai." Tyson said, finishing the last remnants of his drink.

"I just wish," Kenny said, swallowing a bite of his Pizza, "that I was that attractive to woman as you are."

"Thanks." I heard Kai reply, but I wasn't looking at him at all to see how sarcastic his expression was.

Everything in the room was quiet suddenly, and as I unconsciously picked at the straw as I tried to ignore the awkwardness. It kinda struck me that I wasn't on speaking terms with neither Tyson nor Kai, and I'd have to speak to them eventually to congratulate them but I tried to not let that bother me. What would I say to them, anyway? Would they hear me out? Would they still wanna talk to me? They'd probably listen and then ignore what I had said.

"So," I heard Ray say after coughing a little and I looked up. "Congrats Kai, Tyson….both of you did a great job."

"Especially you, Kai." Max said, smiling as he playfully punched Kai's shoulders. "Though, you almost gave us a heart attack at the very end."

"But it was a great match." Said Kenny, "I'm sure you enjoyed it."

"I hope we can do the same in the finals," Tyson suddenly looked serious again. For a while, everything was quiet again, a little less awkward but a little more serious. Everyone took in the news that next time they had to battle the Dynasties, which was a very strong team by the looks of it. I didn't want to think about it, about anything….Why couldn't I be happy for a change?

I sulked a little more in my chair. Maybe I just needed to sleep.

"Aren't you happy for us, Hils?" I looked up immediately, when Tyson said my name. He was looking at me with this hesitant expression.

"I am," I spoke for the first time that day, noticing only then how tired I really sounded, and how my voice was kinda quieter than it usually was. "Of course, I am."

It wasn't helping that everyone was looking at me now, even Kai. Didn't they realize how I had grown to feel uncomfortable at so much attention?

"Well, why aren't you saying something?"

I was offended. What was he pointing at, anyway? Did I really have to say something all the time? But then again, he was talking to me, wasn't he? Tyson, I mean. He was addressing me; which meant that he probably wanted to forget about everything that had happened that day, didn't he? I was determined not to mess things up anymore than they were.

"I'm just tired, Tyson." I replied, getting up from my seat. Everyone's eyes followed my movement, and I wished they'd just turn away. "I haven't had much sleep lately."

"But," I continued, cutting Tyson off as he started to speak. "I'm so proud of you guys. You did a great job today."

I saw Tyson smile smugly again, the same way he had when he was called for the match, before I turned towards Kai.

"You, too, Kai." I smiled at him, but he never returned it. He just gave me this calculating look so I turned away immediately, and towards the door. Suddenly, I wanted to leave the room.

"Would you guys mind if I leave?" I asked, looking back at them. I wanted to get away from them, away from their strange gazes and over-concerned behavior, away from their judgmental assumptions about what I should say, or shouldn't, away from their opinions about my actions or words.

They looked at me disapprovingly, and I noticed the frown Tyson was giving. What was wrong with me, anyway? Leave it to me to make them frown on one of their best days.

"I'm sorry," I said defensively, "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just tired. Hope you don't mind."

"Of course not," Ray sighed and Tyson exchanged a long, meaningful glance with Kai, who I couldn't see cuz my back was towards him.

"I'll be in my room." I turned away from them before I had to look at any more disappointed faces anymore, and left the room without saying anything else.

"…just fix it in, like this."

There was a soft sound that I recognized as metallic, and I turned to look behind my back to see if anyone else other than me was here. I know it was wrong to eavesdrop in on a conversation, but I couldn't help it….cuz I had distinctively heard a very familiar mysterious tone in an equally familiar voice that I knew was Drew's. So, while half of my mind wanted to maintain that miles-away personal space I had with Drew, half of my mind wanted to see what he was up too. Cuz there really had been something suspicious about the tone in his voice.

And so, there I was, standing in a deserted hallway, that was barely even lit up if it weren't for the sunlight coming from the windows, but even that was dim. I wondered whether it was safe to stay here any longer, but then I heard his voice again.

"Okay." I was right. It was Drew.

I looked around once more, before turning ever so slightly towards the right, from where I kept hearing the voices, careful so as to not make any sounds, and I saw him. He was wearing this red jacket that was visible, even in the dimly lit area. I positioned myself so that I was standing, just outside the slightly-ajar door to the room that he was in. From outside, I could see he was talking to someone. That person had his back towards me, but he was very huge, even taller than Drew and had these muscles that were bulging out from the tight shirt he was wearing. He was…kinda scary, I had to admit.

"So, when you launch your blade," the man spoke in his thick voice, "…let me show you."

There was slight shuffling as Drew looked for his launcher and fixed his blade in it. For a crazy second, I don't know why, he looked at the doorway where I was standing, almost as if he knew I was there but I thought I had turned away quickly enough…or I hope so…

I started panicking, now. He probably saw me, I should go. I should leave right now.

"So tell me, Jack." It was Drew's suddenly clear voice that stopped me in my tracks. "If I launch the blade, it'll tear everything in it's way, won't it?"

Jack, the guy he was talking to, probably must've nodded because I didn't hear a voice except Drew's slightly self-satisfied, "Okay," that followed. I was panicking, thinking that he knew someone was outside the door. But through the panic, I wondered…

He's cheating! Was my first thought, and I didn't find it in me to argue to that….I had to do something.

I shuffled slightly from one foot to another as I heard Drew fix his blade into the launcher, and wondered again if it'd be better if I just leave. I had a bad feeling about this. Maybe if I walk fast pass the door and make a run for it, there was still a chance I'd get away.

I angled slightly towards the left, towards the way I had come from, maybe Drew wouldn't even notice. But I was just too late.

"NOW!"

I gasped as something sharp hit my shoulder when I tried to run, and immediately, I took a few steps back, holding a hand up to my bleeding wound. Drew's blade went gliding across the wall in front of me, indenting every inch of the wall it hit and then landing smoothly on the floor.

"Oh, crap." I whispered as it circled a little before returning to its owner, who was all of a sudden, standing just beside me, looking dark, menacing and angry.