Chapter six:
The Princess Beyblade strikes back
It was much, much later he came back, only to find her sound asleep. She didn't even notice him coming in, something that put a smile on his face. He quietly made his way over, even sitting on the edge of her bed. She still didn't notice him. 'Heh, even sleeping she's kinda cute.' he thought, and shook his head.
What had she done to him, causing him to fall so hard? Suddenly her eyes shot open. ''Oh, hey.'' she said with a soft voice. ''Hey, did you sleep well?'' he asked her, amused by her hair, currently a big mess. ''Amazing. I think I have only ever slept this well after we had cram week for the exams. Has it really only been two hours?'' she asked, stretching a little.
''Well.. it's been a bit longer. Kai kept us training hard today too, but in a more reasonable way then yesterday. And there is a tournament coming up.'' he said. ''Good. How much later is it?'' Hiromi asked. ''Almost time for supper. Spencer is working on it as we speak.'' he told her. ''Spencer?'' she asked. ''Ray told him he's good at cooking, apparently he has talent. I will bring you some supper, and then we are headed for the on ice show.''
''I can still kiss you and probably get you sick.'' she offered. He grinned at that. ''My immune system sucks.'' he told her. ''So, for sure get you sick. Not sure how I feel about that.'' she said. ''A little kissing probably won't hurt.'' he told her, settling on the bed more comfortably. ''Because we have been so good at keeping it at a minimum.'' she said with a smile, still moving closer.
He gently cupped her face. ''Not my fault that you make me lose count.'' he told her, before softly kissing her. Despite her being sick, it was still something he enjoyed so much. He slowly embraced her hips with one arm, and the other, formerly cupping her face, now got entangled with her already messy hair. Not even thinking about it, he pulled her closer, and before he realised it himself, she was seated on his lap.
She gingerly placed her arms around his shoulders, never once breaking the kiss. ''Hey Hiromi, Spencer made this and-'' Max, who had barged in, stopped in his tracks. The kissing pair jumped apart, staring owlishly at Max. ''Ehrm, I brought you food.'' he told Hiromi, taking in the scene.
''Wasn't Spencer still working on that?'' Tala asked, as Hiromi left her spot on his lap, and covered herself with a blanket. ''Yeah, but, considering she is sick, he made her some soup. It's her favorite.'' Max said. ''Ah..'' Tala said, getting up. ''I should be checking in on the others. Rest well, and I'll tell you how the on Ice thing was.'' Tala promised, before leaving the room.
''It's really sweet that you brought me some soup.'' she told Max, who still seemed frozen in place. Max just quietly nodded, before bringing the soup to her nightstand. Hiromi shook her head, Max was innocent in so many ways, she hoped they didn't scar him. ''Are you feeling a little better?'' he asked.
''Well, a bit better than this morning. But not fit enough for the show.'' she replied, eyeing the soup. It was indeed her favorite. ''It's not like you were looking forward to it.'' Max said, and she nodded. ''Well, I should get going. Enjoy the soup.'' he told her, before heading back. Hiromi nodded her thanks, missing the sudden sullen voice Max had, before eagerly starting in on it.
When he came back, he found the table ready, and dinner really smelled amazing. ''Can we finally start? The hag has her soup, right?'' Daichi asked, gaining a glare from Kai. ''Hiromi has her soup.'' Max affirmed, taking his seat. ''It smells amazing, what did you make?'' Ray asked Spencer. ''Plov.'' he said, placing the first pot on the table. ''Plov is close to Paella, but with lamb.'' Kai explained, and Bryan nodded. ''It's one of the first warm dishes I had in Russia.'' Spencer mentioned. ''It looks delicious.'' Ray said, and Tyson was just drooling. ''Let's eat.'' Spencer said, feeling a bit shy about all the praise.
After eating, the guys got ready to see the show after Tyson had checked if Hiromi was fine one more time. He found her doing her last bit of homework. ''Busted.'' he grinned, though more amused than anything else. ''You caught me. I am not really sick, just taking my time doing more homework.'' she said sarcastically, equally amused. ''Diabolical.'' he said, before looking at it.
''I didn't know you started learning Russian?'' he said, sitting down next to her. ''I started before the guests arrived actually.'' she said. ''Cool. But… you do take it easy when neccessary, right? I have seen you sick once before, and it was scary to say the least.'' he said, remembering how ill she had gotten after their exams. ''I think it was because a gigantic amount of stress, and the flu, mixed. It's not that bad this time.'' she promised. ''But thanks for caring.'' she added quickly.
''Well, you did the same when I was depressed about the others leaving before the world championships began. And that's what friends do, being there when neccessary. Even if the flu is convenient, it still would have been more fun going with all of us.'' Tyson said. ''Remember what I said back then, about you almost sounding mature there for a minute.'' Hiromi told him, and Tyson nodded.
''You are starting to sound more mature by the day.'' she said proudly. ''We have all grown here and there. Have to keep with you, with your first relationship and everything.'' he said. She rolled her eyes. ''It's just kissing.'' she said, and Tyson gave her a look. ''Have fun taking them to the show.'' she said instead, and Tyson nodded, before leaving her be.
She smiled contentedly to herself, over the last years they all had grown so much. Not neccessarily more mature, but better persons than they had been for sure. And she couldn't help but think the same counted for their guests. When Kai had told about his former team at first, they had sounded like a total nightmare. Who knew she would end up liking them? She placed her homework on the nightstand, instead opting to rest for the time being.
Those with no rest were the guests. Kenny was going insane with excitement, and funnily enough, it was contagious. When they arrived on the scene, there were hordes of fanboys and fangirls, eagerly waiting to get inside. ''Do I dare ask what to expect?'' Bryan asked, eyeing the happy faces everywhere. ''A good plot.'' Ray started, ''A pretty good amount of beybattles, if the show matches the movie.'' Tyson said next.
''Heartwrenching story.'' Daichi said, tearing up a little. ''And me as a princess.'' a sombre voice added. The group turned to see a blue-haired, very tiny, girl, dressed in a oversized coat, clearly very much done with all of it. ''Ming Ming!?'' Kenny said excitedly, and she offered a small wave. ''You don't sound too excited about being a princess.'' Ian said.
''That's because I am not.'' she whispered, sounding desperate, but then composed herself. ''When I heard you guys came, I booked a VIP room. We can hang there, and wait until the thing starts.'' she offered. ''Oh, yes please!'' Kenny said, he hadn't seen a VIP ticket, but hanging out with Ming Ming was like a dream come true.
''Follow me.'' she told them, before leading them to another entrance. When she got them safely inside, the boys found out that by VIP, she meant hanging in her dressing room. ''Where is Hiromi?'' she asked when they got there, hanging up her coat. ''She is sick.'' Max told her, not having the heart to tell that she never wanted to go in the first place.
''Oh, for a minute I thought she fled. Which I want to do too, the entire show is getting on my nerves, even though I love being in the spotlight.'' she said, clearly aggravated. The boys fell silent not sure what to say. It was Tyson who spoke next, ''But the fans like it, right? And we have seen the movie, it was good.'' he told her.
''Have you really watched it? I wanted it to inspire people, to get more girls to love the sport or at least understand it. And what has it done? Inspire tons of people to the romantic side, which should have nothing to do with it.'' she ranted. She sighed to herself when she saw that she only got blank looks in return and then added, ''I get that you don't get it, but I bet Hiromi would. It takes a girls' mind.'' ''It sounds annoying, if it helps. And when girlypop told us about it, she made it sound pretty bad.'' Bryan said. ''She also barely paid any attention to it.'' Kenny said, indignant.
''See, a girls' mind. We might not get along that well, but at least she understands. Can I tag along after the show for a girls evening. I promise I will take care of her.'' Ming Ming said. ''She is really sick.'' Ray told her, to which she pouted. ''And plenty taken care of.'' Max said, sounded begruntled there. Tala frowned at that, as did Ming Ming.
''Just think it over, please. I am in desperate need of girltime.'' she requested instead, and to that the bladebreakers nodded. ''Even my teammates became fans of the darn film. I wished I never signed for it.'' she shook her head. Then there was a knock on the door. ''Fifteen more minutes.'' a voice called out. ''Well, better start getting dressed. Go find your seats, and try to enjoy it.'' she told them, before letting them out.
''Wow, Ming Ming seemed pretty upset.'' Kenny said, feeling for her. Kai instead looked at Tala. ''What did Max mean by plenty taken care of?'' he asked in Russian as they were headed for their seats. Tala shook his head, ''He caught us kissing. That was all.'' he said. ''Ah.'' Kai reacted, though he was sure that Max had never been flustered at people kissing before.
''Yup.'' Tala reacted. ''Doesn't your immune system suck?'' Kai asked, frowning. ''I am good at catching flu's.'' Tala reacted, ''But she didn't do it to make me sick. We're just really drawn to eachother. Ever been around someone that when you are around them, they become the sole thing present in that room?'' Tala asked. Kai shook his head.
''You'll experience it one day.'' Tala replied. Kai scoffed at that, ''Sure, just as sure as the bladebreakers are normal people.'' he said. ''I don't know how you've lasted with their chaos so far.'' Bryan replied to that, clearly having heard their conversation. ''You get used to it. At some point.'' Kai said. When they arrived at the rink, it was evident that Kenny had probably spend all of his money, because he had gotten them front row seats.
''You really are into this show, aren't you?'' Ian asked him. ''I feel a little conflicted about it now. I mean, it's really good, but if Ming Ming hates it that much...'' Kenny said, feeling a little guilty. ''Too bad Hiromi didn't make it here too, they could have bashed the show together.'' Tala grinned. ''Is that the only reason you regret Hiromi not being here?'' Max asked, borderline sounding harsh, gaining a surprised look from his teammates.
''Are you ok, Max?'' Ray asked, a bit astounded that Max was sounding so harsh, for Max's standards, that was. Max himself seemed kind of taken aback by his own tone. ''Uh, yeah. Sorry, a bit tired.'' he said, shaking his head. ''Maybe you are catching the flu too.'' Ray said, concerned. Tala just gave him a look, he probably knew what was bothering the teen.
Bryan, sometimes just as observant, noticed the look on Tala's face pretty quickly. Putting one and one together, he shook his head. ''We should give him some space. Let's see that awful rink. Tal, stay here with him until his headspace clears up.'' he said, before dragging Kenny with him. The rest shrugged, following in tow, Ray giving Max one more concerned look.
''Sorry, I was lashing out.'' Max said, once the rest had left. ''Hey, very understandable. I'd the same in your shoes.'' Tala replied. ''Doesn't make it any fairer.'' Max said, giving him an unsure look. ''I really do get it. Hiromi is your coach, and a close friend to all of you. But I wasn't harming her.'' Tala explained.
''Do all of you really think I am that naïve?'' Max asked, and Tala didn't answer that. ''And I am not going to harm her at any point.'' he continued instead. ''I never said you were going to.'' Max said, frowning. ''Okay, adressing the big elephant in the room. If we are going to continue on the path we are currently treading, I don't plan on leaving her. I and everyone in the BBA knows it's a sore spot for you because of your parents, and I commend you for treating your friend well, but I really don't plan on harming her or leaving her.'' Tala said.
Max blinked a few times. ''Unless I am mistaken, and you just like her a lot?'' Tala asked, before brushing that off. ''Nah, that can't be it.'' he told himself. ''You think I am projecting my parents on you two?'' Max asked, disturbed. ''Is it something else?'' Tala asked. ''Uh…'' Max wasn't sure how to reply. Not that he had a chance to, because the crowd started roaring inside. ''I guess it's close to starting time.'' Max said, dropping the subject. ''Let's go and see a terrible show.'' Tala said, and Max nodded to that.
Hours and hours later, Hiromi, who had grown tired of just laying around doing nothing, had settled in the living room, her homework discarded when numbers started to look like letters and the other way around. She was watching a nice show, clearly fanmade, but the premise was interesting, however, she got interrupted when a boisterous crew waltzed through the door, clearly still excited by the show. She paused her own show, to greet them when they got in.
''Girly-pop, I don't know how you got distracted so much in that cinema, it was amazing. I can tell you now, Tala's abs are not that good.'' Bryan told her. Disturbed by that sentence, she frowned. ''Was the on ice show some different story? And Tala showed his abs?'' she asked. ''It was a million times better. And not Tala's, but the guy that played the part of the prince did.'' Tyson said when he came in.
''A million times worse.'' a screeching voice corrected him from the hall. Taken aback, Hiromi thought it over for a second. She was sure she knew that voice. ''Ming Ming?'' she coughed, in surprise. ''Jup.'' Ming Ming called back. Blinking, she gave Tyson a look. ''She needs a girls night. She hates her own movie, and seeing you weren't into it either, she figured you two could properly bash it.'' Tyson explained.
''Okay, I've spiraled into madness, some kind of Alice in Wonderland mirror effect. Or a very disturbing fever dream. It can't make sense any other way, me and Ming Ming agreeing means the end of the world somehow.'' she said, feeling her own forehead to see if the fever got any worse. ''Dramaqueen.'' Bryan told her with a grin.
''Consider it from my viewpoint, even Tyson sounded wiser today.'' she replied. ''Oh, fever still treating you that bad?'' Ray asked when he came in, and she nodded. ''I can make you some tea, so you can sleep well. You don't feel any worse.'' he told her, once he checked her temprature. ''Tea sounds good.'' she said with a grin, and he dutifully went to the kitchen to get her some.
''Unless it's tea from the mad hatter, right?'' Bryan teased. ''Still going on about fairy tales?'' Tala asked when he came in, petting Hiromi's hair softly as he did. ''The play didn't fool you, right?'' Hiromi asked. ''Not going to lie, it was actually pretty amusing. Masterpiece is overrated, but there are some pretty nice points to the plot.'' Tala replied, messing with her hair a bit more. ''Fever, it's just a fever dream.'' Hiromi told herself in a mantra, as Ming Ming stepped into the room. ''Worse, it's an absolute nightmare.'' she grouched, before seating herself next to Hiromi.