:!:For Every [:Step:] I've Stumbled:!: (Kai Hiwatari) [01]

“What do you want Haruhi?” The red head replied pulling her short hair back into a pitiful excuse for a ponytail. She sighed pulling her baggy black top back over her shoulder as she leaned against the stone wall.

Her friend giggled as she spun in a circle near her red haired companion. With a cheerful grin she smiled at her team’s captain. “Are we really gonna be in the competition this year! I wanna verse the Bladebreakers!”

Will smiled at her friend before turning to her three other teammates. “Well, what do you three think?”

The black haired girl nodded clapping her hands together with a cheerful smile. Her long black hair swayed gently behind her as she bounced up and down.

She wore an off-orange skirt with a matching jacket and a white stripped blue tank top underneath. Along the sleeves of her jacket (that were pushed up to her elbows) had bright yellow paw prints along the length of the jacket and on the chest. On her back was a large paw print.

On her left arm she wore a blue and purple arm sock and on her right she wore a black ribbon that rapped up to her upper forearm. Around her neck was a similar ribbon that tied gently behind her neck, rapping around her neck loosely. She wore black knee high socks with white tennis shoes.

“What a splendid idea Haruhi! It’ll be great to get back in the ring again after all this leisure time and training.” She grinned, her amethyst eyes arched with excitement.

“I’m ready whenever you are.” The blue haired girl smirked. She was wearing a green, slim fit tee with tiger stripes and dark blue skinny jeans. Clad to her feet were a pair of neon green converse with obnoxiously pink and orange laces.

Her hands were covered by a pair of black fingerless gloves with green outlining and forearm guards as well as elbow pads, an orange wrist band around her slim upper arm. Chains hung from her studded belt to her back pocket and her bright blue hair was tied up in a messy bun.

“I agree. I miss the thrill of the fight.” Answered the quietest of the group. She was a tall girl (taller then Will anyway) with silver hair, the undertone a dark slate grey, tied up in a mid-height ponytail held up by a green bow and bright green eyes .She wore a white turtle neck top with a green and grey off sleeved top, the sleeves held together on the inside by small orange straps.

The top extended past her bottom, a brown-orange belt made her top appear to be split in two. White skinny jeans clung to her thin legs and were tucked into black knee high boots. Around her neck was a long silver chain that ended towards her stomach with a bright red jewel incased in a golden trim.

“Glad you guys agree!” Will smiled as she again pulled her black top over her shoulder. Her top was similar to her silver haired team mate only she didn’t wear a turtle neck underneath.

Her top was wide at the neck and hung loosely off her shoulders and was extremely baggy on her slim figure, the sleeves ending at her elbows by a tight band. Dark grey skinny jeans clung to her slim legs and high top black and white converse clad to her feet. Chains clung to her hips; on each side of her jeans were three chains each, crossed in front and behind.

Her hands were covered in black fingerless gloves with grey trim. Around her neck was a small silver chocker with a small wolf charm on it given to her by her mother, another necklace hung from a long piece of yarn that ended just below her breasts with a bright pink charm encased in an odd silver encasement.

“So it’s decided!” Haruhi beamed as she jumped up and down. “Will, Kikiyo, Lynn, Paine and Haruhi will be competing in this year’s beyblade championships!” She squealed happily as she clapped her hands together rapidly.

“Who gave her sugar?” Kikiyo questioned quirking a brow and placing her hands on her hips. Will shrugged before smiling happily.

“Better yet…why is she speaking about herself in third person?” Paine enquired, a large sweat drop rolling down the back of her head. Lynn shared a sweat drop as well as the two watched the hyperactive purplenette.

“Who knows, I’m just glad we’re all back together.” Will smiled as she looked back at them watching as Haruhi bounced around chanting her previous statement.

The others nodded as they walked from the school, their book bags in hand as they all went their separate directions. Kikiyo and Will continued to walk to her grandmother’s house, where Will had convinced her grandmother to allow Kikiyo to stay since she really had no home.

“Did you really mean what you said back there Will?” Kikiyo asked hours later after both girls had gotten home and sat in the shop that Will’s grandmother owned. Kikiyo watched as Will continued stocking the shelves.

Will turned from her job and blinked at her friend before smiling. “Of course.” She nodded. “You know better then anyone that I always mean what I say.” She grinned jabbing a thumb in her own direction.

“I wouldn’t doubt it at all Will.” She smiled softly before turning her head towards her hand where she held the pendant from her necklace. “It’s just…I wanna see him again. I just wish, everything was back to the way it’s was supposed to be.”

Will stared at her friend carefully catching the scars on her hand and wrist. “Don’t worry Kikiyo, we’ll see them again. I promise.”

“Thank you.” She smiled clutching the ruby pendant in her hand tightly. “I wonder if he still has my pendant.”

Will’s reassuring smile turned into a frown as she watched her friend. She and her friend both shared memories that they wished had never been but that had been what brought them closer. We’ve come so far and yet, I…we both still can’t shake those memories. She thought. It’s almost like…it’s a never ending nightmare. She had it the hardest though, being separated from her brother and all.

Will continued to watch her friend as she rubbed the ruby pendant carefully, as if it would suddenly disappear. She sighed shaking her head. “Why don’t we…close up for tonight and head over to the BBA Building and sign up for that tournament?”

Kikiyo lifted her jade gaze from her pendant to meet Will’s eyes before giving a firm nod. “Sure. But…” She paused as she placed a finger on her chin as she imagined a chibi styled thought of Will’s grandmother biting their heads off as the two ran around for closing up early. Gulping she turned blue as a small sweat drop slid down the side of her head. “Um…I would think that it would be a wise decision to consol grandma Vandom first.”

Will paused from taking off her apron for a second before a sweat drop found its way to the back of her head as she rubbed her neck sheepishly. “I think that would be the best idea.” She stated with a nervous laugh. “GRANDMA!!!” Will screamed as she ran down the hallway of the shop towards the back office.

“She never changes.” Kikiyo sighed mushroom style as her sweat drop grew.

“What is it now Wilma?”

Will growled as her eye started twitching. “It’s Will grandma not Wilma you know I hate it when you call me that!”

“Don’t you talk back to me like that Wilma, it’s not ladylike.” Her grandmother retorted as she continued to fold clothes from the laundry (Will uttering a mushroom sigh as a small cloud of despair appeared over her head). A tic mark appeared on Will’s head as her eye continued to twitch.

“Grandma!”

“Um, excuse me Grandma Vandom?” Kikiyo asked as she came into the room. “But do you mind if we close shop early so Will and I can register for the local tournament coming up?”

“Ah! Of course Kikiyo.” Will’s grandmother beamed waving her hand dismissively before turning to her granddaughter and placing her hands on her hips. “Will, why can’t you be as respectful as Kikiyo?”

“Because I don’t have to worry about you getting rid of me.” Will grumbled crossing her arms defiantly across her chest.

“What was that dear? You’ll have to speak up my hearing isn’t as good as it used to be.” Her grandmother cried dramatically receiving a nervous sweat drop from Kikiyo and a mushroom sigh from Will.

“Never mind Grandma.” She paused before interlocking her fingers in front of her as if she were praying. “Now can we go grandma?! I really wanna go!” She exclaimed with stars in her eyes.

“Of course dear just be—!”

“Iwillgrandmathanks!”

“What did she say Kikiyo?” Her grandmother asked turning to the two-tonette.

“I actually don’t know Grandma Vandom.” She blinked, her hand coming to rest on her chin in a thoughtful pose as her large jade eyes blinked twice anime style. “I think it was something along the lines of a ‘thank you’.” As she said this she heard the front door slam. “Um…I better go before she gets herself into trouble.”

“Yes that would be wise.” Her grandmother advised with a gentle smile marring her aged face. Kikiyo nodded before racing after her friend and room mate, making sure to flip the closed sign as she left.

Will grinned as she ran. She had always loved to run; she was just hoping that Kikiyo knew that she was heading towards the park. With a lighthearted shrug she continued on her way fingering the large pink orb on her own necklace.

Something tells me that this year we’re going to run into a lot of problems. I’m almost afraid and kind of wish that Haruhi never saw that poster for the BBA sponsored tournament. She thought as she ran her fingers over her gem. I don’t think I have to worry about our individual skills; no we’re proficient on that because we normally work on our individual strategies but…She paused her thought as she stopped before the railing of the lake that the park overlooked. I have a feeling we’re gonna need more then skill to keep up in this tournament.

“Heads up!”

Will was cut from her thoughts by a shout and she turned, holding her hand palm out in front of her face as the small metal object made contact with her hand. She grabbed it and opened her eyes as she glanced at the blade momentarily.

“Sorry about that!”

Will looked up to see two boys standing before her. The first was shorter with blonde hair spiking out in every direction. His complexion was fare and freckles lined his nose. Bright blue optics stood out from round shaped eyes.

He wore a yellow tee shirt with a green neck and green sleeves, a small M written in orange script on the left side of his chest. He wore bright orange sweat pants that she noticed to be a jumpsuit with the sleeves tied around his waste. Green and orange fingerless gloves clad to his hands and green and yellow tennis shoes on his feet.

The second was taller then the first with rich black hair that, similar to the first, spiked out in all directions only his hair continued from a ponytail rapped in white and cut off by a red band. He wore traditional Chinese attire of a white, kung fu styled top trimmed in gold, the latches a deep blue and the sash a blood red color.

Black training pants hung from his hips and black Chinese style slippers were clad to his feet. His black bangs were held out of his striking, cat-like amber eyes by a red band with a yin yang in the center and on his hands were red fingerless gloves with the same theme.

“Are you alright?” The second boy asked casting Will a worried look as he noticed the blade had cut through her glove into her hand.

“Yep I’m perfectly fine.” She smiled reassuringly. “Nothing I haven’t dealt with before anyway. Name’s Will, Will Vandom.” She smiled extending her uninjured hand towards the boy.

“Ray Kon, a pleasure to meet you.”

“And I’m Max Tate.” The blonde boy smiled extending his hand. Will smiled as well and shook his hand before examining the blade.

“Wow, who’s blade is this!?” She asked examining the blade closely. “This is one of the best looking blades I’ve ever seen, way cooler then mine anyway.” She stated awestruck.

“Oh, that’s my blade. It’s name is Dracil.” Max smiled as he allowed her to continue to examine his blade.

“Whoever made this—I must congratulate the genius that made such a crafty blade. I’m assuming that it fits with your strategies. It’s balanced finely and strong more towards the center. I guess you’re a defensive player huh?”

“Wow! How’d you know that?” Max asked as she handed it back to him.

“A player on my team has a similar blade that I made her. It’s a crafty thing but it gets the job done.” Will smiled as Ray and Max stared at her.

“You have a beyblading team?” Ray asked as the two looked at one another.

“Well I—!”

“WILL!” All three turned as Kikiyo ran up before leaning over as she panted lightly. “You ran off without me again! Your grandma was furious!”

“Naw she wasn’t.” Will smiled waving a dismissive hand at her friend and Kikiyo rolled her eyes. “She always acts that way when I run off. She knows that it aint gonna stop anytime soon. I’ve done it since I started living with her.”

“Tell that to her.” Kikiyo muttered shaking her head. “Sorry if she’s been a problem (“I’m not a problem Kikiyo!” Will yelled with several tic marks adoring her face as her eye twitched furiously). I’m Kikiyo Hiw-Kurohanna.” She corrected herself noticing Will’s look. “It’s a pleasure to meet you um…”

“Max Tate.” Max smiled offering her his hand. She stared before taking it with a small smile and shaking it.

“Ray Kon.” He smiled happily, exposing his fang like teeth. “Pleasure is all mine.” Kikiyo blushed lightly before nodding to him. Will frowned. She knew that something like this would have happened. Kikiyo wasn’t used to being around boys because she has a thing about them.

Ever since those years she’s isolated herself from men, thinking that all of them are the same. Can’t say I blame her though…Will paused her thought. She has a bad repore with ‘em.

“Why don’t you come train with us? I’m sure our other members wouldn’t mind beyblading with other people.” Max suggested. “Besides, we’re getting pizza afterwards too!” He grinned.

Kikiyo and Will looked at one another before shrugging. “Well we’d love to stick around but we already have a previous obligation.” Kikiyo sighed smiling sadly. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey it’s no problem.” Ray smiled. “Maybe you can stop by for some pizza!” He stated with a friendly smile (“YES! Finally other pizza buddies!” Max cheered in the background.) Will looked at Kikiyo with what appeared to be a sly smirk.

“Well, Whada ya think Kiki?” She asked with an impish look tinting her large brown eyes. Kikiyo looked back and forth between her friend and the two boys before she placed a hand to the side of her head.

“Will—!”

“It’s settled then!” Will beamed. “We will meet you for Pizza!” She grinned as Max cheered and Ray smiled.

“Excellent. Here’s our numbers so you can call us when you’re done and we can meet at one our friend’s house.” (“NO ONE EVER SAID AT ANOTHER PERSON’S HOUSE!” Kikiyo exclaimed animatedly in chibi form with large anime tears streaking her small face.)

“Cool and here’s mine and Kikiyo’s numbers as well.” She smiled happily as she programmed the boy’s numbers into her phone before stealing Kikiyo’s. “We’ll give you a call as soon as we’re done.”

“Right and if not then meet us back here.” Ray smiled as he began to walk away, dragging a now hyper Max with him. Will looked to Kikiyo who was watching Ray as he left.

“He’s cute huh?” Will asked with a knowing smirk at her friend.

“Wha—!” Kikiyo gasped as she snapped her gaze to her red headed friend. “He’s not! Well he is but that’s not he point I mean URGH—!” Kikiyo rambled, flabbergasted.

Will could only laugh as her friend sputtered an excuse. “Don’t worry about it too much Kikiyo. It’s good that you’re finally checking guys out, and I gotta say you got some mighty fine taste.” She joked nudging her ashen haired friend in the ribs playfully. “Whelp, let’s go to the BBA building and sign up!” She cheered happily dragging a moping Kikiyo behind her.