Some Things Never Change

[Jacquie]

Some Things Never Change

“I – (Your first name), I think I’ve fallen for you.” The sound of his words resounded in your head. The starry night seemed to jump out at you as a chilly breeze hit you and you shivered. Instantly arms were placed around you.

“What? I – No!” You broke free of his embrace. A pain in your chest arose; it felt like a knife was piercing through your heart. No! How could they? He and rest of your – no, his friends, playing with you like a pawn for so long! You had trusted them and now they ridiculed your affection towards their leader! Why pull a ruse like this? They must all hate you…no really, but why? Oh that’s right for the sole reason of grinding your feelings into the dust.

Tears flew from your eyes as you turned and ran. I’ll never be able to show my face in this village again, I’ve got to get out of here, was your only though as you ran into your ‘hut’ you had built yourself.

You went to your closet and pulled out your brown duffel back and hurriedly threw hygiene items, clothes and an extra pair of shoes into it. Then you put in a treasured picture of your long deceased parents as well as a notebook, a pen and your beyblade.

“Why?” You almost yelled as tears fell from your face. You then put a few small packets of tissue into the duffel bag and put on a coat as you slung the bag over your shoulder and quietly exited your ‘hut’ after drying your tears and writing a note to the leader of your clan.

“(Your first name) Shakaku? What are you doing at this time a night?” You froze, oh well; guess I get to give him the news in person. You turn around slowly to face your clan leader – his grandfather.

“I, uh,” You stutter and then remember the letter and turn it over so you can read it. “I feel I need to expand my horizons and therefore I need to leave the village for a while.”<br>
“Why aren’t you leaving tomorrow, (your first name)?” Your leader’s voice is soft.

“Because of personal matters; I cannot and that is that. Please accept my sincerest apology for any betrayal you feel this is causing to the clan.” You recite and bow. “Goodbye Sensei [1], I have learned much from this clan and you are like a father to me, but I must leave as I feel I do not belong here anymore. Even you must admit I have no place here, I am not originally from this clan and therefore I feel I must leave. Please do not ask me to explain why, Sensei, please.”

Your clan leader had taken you in after your parents’ were attacked by a bear and killed; he had become like a father to you. They apparently were on a hunting trip, your father shot its cub by misaiming and then they were attacked. This was the knowledge you grew up with on your parents’ death. You miraculously survived as you were at the campsite, which was quite near the White Tiger Clan [2].

“(Your first name), I accept your decision, but I must demand that you return here in three years. I want to see if you have improved your skills any, if so, I will let you go back out into ‘civilization’ as it has been christened, if not you will stay in the clan. Do we have an accord?” Your ‘father’ responded.

“Yes, we do, thank you father!” You could not stop yourself from hugging the old man as he hugged you back as soon as you pulled away, you spoke again, “I must ask that you do not tell Ray, Lee, Mariah, Kevin or Gary about where I have gone or when I am going to be back – if at all.” Your voice now sounded stoic.

“Goodbye, be safe, Shakaku,” Your sensei replies softly. This was a nickname given to your by your so-called friends, after they had witnessed you battling a bear family who looked at the time like they had wanted to eat you. Shakaku meant Angel of Fire and you had adopted it as your last name, as your parents left behind no ID as to what your real last name was.

You then turned and ran towards the gates of the village. Just keep running, you tell yourself, don’t look back. You then reached the village gates and no surprise they were locked. You then climbed over the tall gate and onto the stone wall that protected your village. You and Kevin had done it many times, at the thought of his name you growl lowly, traitor! Just like the rest of them! You jumped off the wall and landed on all fours.

Under the full silver moon and the chilling breeze, you started your journey into the beyond. With each step you had taken you had felt more and more confident and this led up to where you were today.

*~* Present Time (two and a quarter years later) *~*

“COME ON! SHAKAKU, HURRY IT UP!” A boy with spiky black hair yells at you as you run around the track panting for all you are worth. Which doesn’t look like much at the moment considering you are getting the impression your team leader wants to kill you all BEFORE the tournament and you decide to tell him just that…<br>
“ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US BEFORE THE TOURNEMENT? CAUSE IT SURE AS HELL SEEMS LIKE IT!” You shout from across the track.

“Shut up, Shakaku, or he’ll make us do more laps and that’s the last thing we all want!” Ramie scolds you as he jogs up to you. Now for the explanation, after a year of being out on your own, since the night of the silver moon (which is what you had decided to name the memory), you had managed to be put on a new BBA team formed the same way the Bladebreakers were.

On your team besides you and Ramie Dalls, are two other members. Your leader’s name (yes the person you were just yelling at) is Dean Malachuski and your fourth member’s name is Nicol Armstrong. Together you make up Orison, South America’s national team.

Now back to the lovely laps you are running. “Hey guys,” A soft voice penetrates your ears as you look back to see Nicol sprinting up to you both.

“Hi Nicol.” You and Ramie reply in unison, which makes Nicol chuckle a bit.

“So how many more laps do we have to do?” Ramie asks, you sigh, if it weren’t for us, Ramie would forget his head.

“We’re on the last one now.” You say in an exasperated tone.

“You people know we have a tournament coming up! MOVE IT!” Shouts came across the field loud and clear, courtesy of Dean and megaphone, you grin at the thought.

“DONE!” You cheer at the top of your lungs as Nicol and Ramie come in two seconds after you.

“You know, I’ve noticed that training’s gotten much more intense, now that we’ve got a tournament.” Nicol observed.

“We need to be at our best.” Dean replied, “And there’s no way I’m letting you guys get off that easy.”<br>
“Sometimes I wonder who appointed him team captain!” Ramie mutters under his breath, but you catch it, standing right beside him and all.

“Mr. thingyenson, that’s who,” You reply in a whisper to him.

“So guys, the tournament starts next week, but we won’t be beyblading until the semi finals as we’re the national team from South America and we’ll be taking part in the Asian tournament because Mr. thingyenson asked us to. I believe the team we’ll be taking on in the semi-finals is called, The White Tigers.” What? You mentally scream, as Dean shoots information at you. His last sentence is swimming around in your brain. ‘We’ll be taking on in the semi-finals is called, The White Tigers.’ White Tigers? That’s my villages name! My teammates know nothing of my history, maybe I can just sit this one out, after all, we don’t need four bladers, only three. You remind yourself as you hear someone calling your name.

“(Your first name)! Hello, come in, Shakaku!”<br>
“Eh? What?” You blink as you stare around the track.

“You spaced out, Dean and Ramie went on ahead,” Nicol tells you. Mr. Faithful, yep that was Nicol. You didn’t know how he found the heart to beyblade; he was so calm and too nice, though you knew he could be very threatening, that was for sure. He acted just like that character – Ryou Bakura – off of that anime Yugioh. You smiled at the thought, ‘cept he isn’t British and he doesn’t have a big gaudy piece of jewelry around his neck all the time! He did have platinum blonde hair though, that was for sure, it only went down to his shoulders though.

“Oh sorry, I was just thinking about…” You trail off not knowing what to substitute for your memories of your clan.

[Jacquie]

“About?” He prompted as you both began to walk across the track towards the exit.

“About…If I tell you this you can’t tell anyone else. Promise?” You ask your eyes are now shining in a mix of sorrow, hope and mistrust.

“I promise, (your first name), I won’t tell a soul.” Nicol replies as he grabs your hand. “I promise.”

“O – Okay. Well, you know before our team was formed…” You start your story and tell your best friend of what had happened in your clan, of Lee, Mariah, Gary, Kevin and Ray and of your parents and generally everything that had happened before you had made contact with Mr. thingyenson, through your winning of a local tournament. “Can you take a guess at what the name of my clan was?”<br>
Nicol looks thoughtful, “I can but I’m not sure I’d be correct.”

“Try.” Is your only word.

“The White Tiger Clan.” The sound of the words hit your ears.

“That’s right and now I have to face them, come the American Tournament…” You trail off, as you feel tears forming, you didn’t think you could do it, it’s too painful, why in the seven hells am I so weak? WHY?

A tear drop slipped down your cheek and you quickly brushed it away. Nicol put an arm around you, “Look, (your first name), we’ll be here for you, I’ll help you get through it, you’ll be okay.”

You start to sob quietly as Nicol embraced you in a hug for a few minutes. You then put your head up, “Let’s go, I’ll be fine…I think. Anyways, the others are probably wondering where we are.”

Nicol nods with a soft smile on his face, “Alright.”<br>

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

“Come on guys, get up, we don’t want to be late for the first round of the semi-finals!” Dean shouted as you, Ramie and Nicol groaned.

“How can you be so energetic at this hour?” You ask your team captain still half asleep.

“How can you not be?” Dean sounds energetic and hyper.

“Alright, which one of you fed him sugar?” Ramie asks growling.

“Not me, Shakaku?” Nicol asks timidly.

[Jacquie]

“Well I had a chocolate bar with me yesterday, but…” Oh shoot! Your mind screams as you wander over to your dresser and find your chocolate bar missing.

“Shakaku!” Ramie cries throwing his hands up in the air.

So a few hours later after everyone was actually awake and Dean wasn’t sugar high anymore you all walked towards the bus stop.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Shakaku?” Nicol whispers as you board the bus.

“Nicol, I may be weak but I am not a coward, just as long as I don’t have to beybattle him.” You tell your best friend.

“Well, I’ll take your place, if you get picked.”<br>
“You can’t do that – Ramie’s our substitute…” You trail off, remembering that the round picks were completely random. “The best thing you can do is be there for moral support.”<br>
“I’d be doing that anyways,” Is Nicol’s answer.

“Thanks.” You reply as you take your seats in front of Ramie and Dean.

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

You, Ramie, Nicol and Dean sit on your team bench as you admire the floor, so as to hide your sorrowful expression. “And for round one, we have…” The Jazz man looks at his card, and you hold your breath as you feel Nicol put an arm around you, “LEE FROM THE WHITE TIGERS!” The Jazzman throws his arm toward the White Tigers as Lee steps up to the stadium. “AGAINST SHAKAKU OF ORISON – THE SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS!”<br>
“Go on, (your first name), you can do it.” Nicol encourages you as you keep your head down and walk up to the stadium.

“Go (Your first name)!” You hear Ramie yell along with Dean.

You look up and ready your blade with a stoic expression on your face to contrast Lee’s shocked one, “(Y-your first name) Shakaku?”<br>
“That’s my name, Lee.”

“3…” Jazzman starts off.

“2…” You join in with a growl.

“1…” All three of you say together.

“LET IT RIP!” You and Lee yell.

“Go Nakia!” You yell as your beyblade charges for Lee’s.

“(Your first name), why’d you run off? My grandfather wouldn’t tell us anything on your request, I might add!” Lee growls, though you can tell he sounds a bit hurt.

“You and your friends played with my emotions and my life! I thought I could trust you, but I was taught differently that night!”

“I did love you! I still do!” Lee yells to you over the wiring and clashing of your beyblades.

“Prove it! Beat me and then prove it to me!” You challenge and Lee smirks.

“Fine, I will.” Lee consents, “GALEON! DARK LIGHTNING!”<br>
Nakia swerves as Galeon misses his attack on you. “You seem to forget Lee, I know all moves.”

“And I yours.”

“Not anymore, you don’t. I learned a lot after I left and then some thanks to my team.” You tell him as you look over to your team bench and see Dean give you the okay for your big attack. Thing is, your attack could blow up the stadium if you used it in the wrong circumstances and so Dean being Mr. Genius in your group would give you an okay signal when you looked over for it. You also knew that it had to work, otherwise you would faint in the middle of this battle (something you could not afford to do), and then Lee would win.

“Show me, then, (your first name). Show me what you’ve learned.”

“NAKIA! ULTIMATE ELEMENT FUSION!” You cry as your bit-beast comes out of your blade and starts to drag energy from you, as it did not have enough energy to complete the attack from its own body strength.

A ball of fire then starts to form in its mouth and joined by water, earth, light and darkness, and wind. The balls of energy fuse together in a swirling multi-colored ball as Nakia throws back her head and spits the ball at Galeon.

You now feel extremely weak, and stand on pure adrenalin as Galeon comes back for more. You’re kidding me, you think; he really got stronger. I will win!

“I have improved as well, (your first name).” Lee smirks as you feel ready to faint and look back towards your bench for moral support. Nicol gives you a smile and thumbs up, thank god, well at least someone I’ll catch me if I faint, you think as you see Nicol run up towards the stadium.

“Shakaku! Use your tear of angel attack and then apprehensible darkness! It’ll work!” He shouts to you and you nod.

“Thanks!” You reply as you feel a little more energy come back into your system…or is that confidence?

“NAKIA! TEAR OF AN ANGEL!” A tear falls from Nakia’s eye and as it hits the stadium floor, Lee’s bit-beast is frozen in its attack. “COVER THE FIELD WITH APPREHENSIBLE DARKNESS AND THEN ATTACK WITH FIRE RUSH!” You command your bit-beast as you feel a sense of power wash over you. I’m gonna win!

Suddenly the field is covered in dark clouds making everyone and anyone (including yourself) able to see the field. You could battle with your eyes closed, you had learned to and thus this attack was extremely useful to you. “I can’t see what’s going on here and no one else can either! How will Shakaku win with her own attack covering her eyes?” Jazzman yells through the microphone.

You close your eyes for effect and then wait for Nakia to finish her fire rush attack. You then hear a clink of a beyblade out of the stadium and you look to see who’s blade is left.

Galeon is still spinning, as you look behind you in horror. I…lost. Those two words are the only thing going through your head as you fall to your knees out of pure exhaustion. Nicol comes running up, “Are you okay, (your first name)?”

“I’ll see during the intermission.” Lee tells you as he summons his beyblade back to his hand and walks back to his teammates. You nod to his words and then faint.

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

“Where – where am I? What happened? Did we lose?” You sit up bolt right off of what you notice to be a bed.

“Calm down Shakaku. You’re in the BBA’s medical room, you fainted from loss of energy and yes we did lose.” Dean replies.

“I’m sorry I lost! I thought I had him, I was wrong to think a simple attack could beat him. I’m sorry you guys!” You hang your head in shame as Nicol lifts up your chin.

“(Your first name), you came the closest to winning out of all of us, it just shows we have a lot more work to do.” He informs you softly.

“WE LOST ALL THREE MATCHES?!” You shout in shock.

“Yes, you did.” A new voice enters the conversation.

“What do you want?” Ramie asks glaring at the people whom you cannot seem to see because the rest of your teammates are blocking your view.

“We just wanted to make sure, (your first name) was okay.” Mariah! You think in shock, is she on Lee’s blading team as well? I wonder if Kevin, Gary and Ray are….

“Yeah are you gonna live Shakaku? I mean first time I’ve seen you in three years and it wouldn’t be any fun if you died before I could prank you.” Yes that was Kevin all right, and you hear a grunt from Gary.

“Where’s Ray? Shouldn’t he be on your team as well?” You question the White Tigers.

“He betrayed us. He left the village a month after you did! Something about expanding his horizons! We’re battling them in the next round.” The finals you think bitterly, they made it to the finals against the Bladebreakers? Ray’s on that team, boy Mariah must be thrilled. Lee must be ready to kill Ray for deserting the team, so why isn’t he ready to kill me? You think, oh yeah, I wasn’t on their team – because I wasn’t good enough! What a load of crap.

[Jacquie]

“I see. Can’t say I’m surprised.” You reply your voice still stoic.

“She’s fine. You guys can leave now.” Ramie breaks in and you make a mental note to thank him later.

“It’s the intermission (Your first name).” Lee says pointedly in your direction.

“Right, it is. People, I told Lee I’d talk to him by himself during the intermission. See ya.” You give your teammates a reassuring smile. “Oh and Nicol, go ahead and tell Ramie and Dean. Guys don’t get mad at me for keeping a secret.”<br>
“What secret?” Ramie asks as he bounces out of the room after Dean and Nicol grinning at the thought. You sigh and shake your head; you had the weirdest friends. Soon after the rest of the White Tigers file out of the room, by order of Lee.

“Before you say anything (your first name), give me a chance to explain everything.” Lee states.

“I’m listening.” Your voice is cold and impatient.

“That night, I meant what I said, I know you and the rest of the white tigers weren’t on good terms but I didn’t want to fight with you. The only reason you weren’t on the team was –”

“Cause I wasn’t good enough, I know!” You say anger is apparent in your tone.

“No, that wasn’t it! It was just that you weren’t on the same level as the rest of us. I honestly didn’t think it would affect you that much, Mariah didn’t think so anyways. But Shakaku, listen to me, I meant what I said, you have to believe me.” Lee solicits.

“Prove it.”

“How do I…”

“Figure out a way. From what I know, you and the rest of your team were never my friends in the first place and for some reason you felt it fun to play with my feelings. I still have to kill Mariah; she was the only one who knew I liked you.”

Lee grins at your words, “Well, you can kill her after this.”<br>
“What –” You are cut off with Lee’s lips touching yours and after a few seconds you break for air.

“You told me to prove it, (your first name) and I did.”

You smile, “Alright, I believe you. Now can you all forgive me?”<br>
“Do you have to ask?” Came a voice from the doorway.

“MARIAH! I’M GONNA KILL YOU!” Truthfully Mariah had been your best friend before you left along with Kevin of course, but she always loved to bug you…something never change.

“Run for it, Mari…” Kevin suggested as you dashed past him.

“How much did you see?” You ask once you and her are out in the hall way and you’re still chasing her.

“The whole thing!”

“You’re dead; you’ve sealed your fate. So much for saying hi to Ray!” You smirked, you knew of her crush and this was the perfect time to use it as blackmail.

“SHUT UP SHAKAKU!” Mariah’s pink hair flies in her face before she can say anymore.

“Did some one call me?” A new voice is music to your ears. It turns out you’ve been running through the hallway of team rooms and incidentally passed the Bladebreakers.

“No! BUT CAN YA HELP ME KILL MARI?” You shout as you run backwards watching most of the Bladebreakers come out after Ray most likely to try and figure out what all the ruckus is about.

“(Your first name)?” Ray asks in shock.

“Yeah that’s my name, don’t wear it out!” You yell back as you corner Mariah.

“So, Mrs. Kon…” You say quietly, “You let out my secret eh? Perhaps I should let out yours?”<br>
“Shut up, (Your first name), you do and I’ll kill you! Ray! HELP! (Your first name) is going to kill me, remember her secret? Well she found out and now they’re together.” Mariah calls as Ray walks down the hall followed by people you recognize to be Max and Tyson. Your hands tighten on Mariah’s shoulders.

“Shakaku, don’t kill Mariah, she still needs to battle. Come on, but hey why’d you run off, that’s the only thing I’m still trying to figure out.”

“Mariah don’t tell the whole world and I may just let you go.” You growl, “Ray, I left because,” And you tell Ray just what you had told Lee.

“But, (your first name), that wasn’t it at all.” Ray starts.

“I know, Lee informed me…” You say trailing off.

“So you are together, I’ve been wondering about that, and (your first name), I didn’t betray the White Tigers! I was just feeling too cooped up in our clan and I needed to get out into the world! Can you please put in a good word for me with Lee?”

“Ray have you gone nuts? We both know how stubborn Lee is, it’d take a miracle to change his mind.”

“Change my mind about what?” Lee’s voice is heard as everyone turns around to see him walking down the hallway.

“Ray.” Lee’s expression changes to a glare as he stalks past him towards you and Mariah.

“Shakaku, Mariah, let’s go. (your first name), your team is looking for you and Mariah you need to come with me and prepare for the final round – away from this traitor.”<br>
“I’m not a traitor.” You can hear the malice in Ray’s voice as you throw him an ‘I told you so’ look.

“But Lee, Ray’s r –” You are cut off.

“No he isn’t right, whose side are you on anyways, (Your first name)?”

“No ones side. Come and get me when you work this entire fiasco out.” You reply as you turn into a different hallway away from Lee and Mariah.

“Hey Shakaku.” You hear Nicol’s voice.

“Oh thank god! I am so going to kill Mariah and maybe Kevin for the heck of it, when I get a chance! Nicol, guess what? I’m back together with the White Tigers and Ray – ‘cept they can’t stand each other. Nicol, why is it that when everything is going great it’s gotta rain?” You ask.

“I guess that’s what life’s all about, (your first name). I think that’s the point, to solve your problems, don’t worry, it’ll clear itself up.” Nicol answers.

“You know sometimes I think I have too many friends to worry about…by the way I think Dean owes me a candy bar…”

Nicol laughs as you both run off to find Dean and Ramie. Life was good, but why couldn’t you seem to get rid of those problems? You grin as you hear Ramie and Dean shout at you and Nicol. “You owe me a chocolate bar Dean Nelson!” You yell across the hall as you all walk into the stadium to watch the white tigers battle the Bladebreakers.

“SHUT UP (YOUR FIRST NAME)!” Dean shouts at you for the use of his middle name, which he cannot stand – thus why you used it.

You smiled a real smile for the first time in years as you watched Mariah get ready to battle Ray…now who to root for?

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

A/N: All right, what’d you think, as usual I accept flames, nice reviews and all in between reviews! I’d like to think this is one of my favorite one-shots I’ve written, but of course that’s just my opinion.

[1] Sensei means Teacher in Japanese for those of you who don’t know

[2] The White Tiger clan, I’m not sure if this is what Ray’s clan in the China Mountains is really called but since it’s the name of their beyblading team I figured it’d work for this fic!