The Other Side of the Story
Summary: After the BEGA incident, Reine finds herself unable to cope with the blind side of the world which turning away from all that's been done and will happen with the sport of beyblade. As a new BBA program was set into action, she finds herself, along with her beyblade-hating town, stuck as the prototype. The BBA program was made to help blader-haters all over the world to cope and even get to love beyblading as a sport. Reine finds herself in the middle of things when the bladers chose her school for their first experiment? What would happen when you throw beybladers at blader-hating mobs? Nothing pretty.
Disclaimer: I don't earn Beyblade. I do own my OC's as well as the plot.
Pairings: Still uncertain but I'll work it out soon so just keep reading. ;-D
Rating: T for mild swearing
Quick AN: This story is told in multiple point-of-views so the key below should help to determine what's being said. I hope it's not too confusing.
(action)
'thoughts'
"talking"
Prologue
The building started crumbling around me. The air was full of dust and sediment deposited by the ceiling, urging me to escape while I still can. I couldn't believe how much power he had to collapse buildings 20 to 30 miles away from where he actually was. I hate to even think about how things are where his main influence was.
Suddenly, I heard a groan from up above. I looked up with a grim expression.
"Reine! We have to go! The building's about to collapse any second!"
I took one final look at the television screen, watching the mass chaos take place in the beystadium, and hurried through the now disfigured opening leading to safety and freedom. A distant sound, like the roar of thunder, filled my ears mere feet away from the entrance.
"Come on…. We can make it."
I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw Eris panting by my side as we neared the entrance. A strangled sound of despair escape my throat when I realized the building was going to give before. The building swayed and gave a final wallowing groan before collapsing into a rubble heap on us. I heard an earsplitting sound of collapsing concrete before darkness enveloped me.
Chapter 1 – What Have I Got Myself Into?
Reine's POV
The blobs of students passing me turned to background fuzz as I glanced around me with disinterest. It's been 3 months since the BEGA incident and everything is almost back to normal. ALMOST being the key word here. Eris and I had been buried alive for 30 hours after the collapse of our house on Tanako Street and we suffered severe concussions as well as a couple of broken bones. It was surprising that we didn't suffocate to death. Most people would've but I guess we had guardian spirits looking out for us, but I don't want to believe in stuff like that anymore, not since I witnessed the uncontrollable, impalpable power of Zeus, one of BEGA's mighty bitbeasts. Zeus was intent on darkness and pain, he was warped and power hungry. What if our guardian spirits were like that? I hate to consider what would happen.
"Heellooo? Earth to Reine! Anyone in there?"
"Huh? Wha?"
I shook out of my mental debate and saw Eris waving her hand in front of my face.
"I've been calling your name for the past 30 seconds! Where were you? Mars?"
I just shrugged at her. It was too early in the morning for her to be this happy and hyper. I think she suffered the worst concussion of both of us since she seems even more bubbly-headed than even before the disaster. I think it's due to the lack of brain cells. She must have lost some of the last brain cells that were still alive and functioning in that skull of hers.
I sighed. I shouldn't be thinking of my twin sister like that. After all, we are identical twins, although you could probably tell just by looking. Even though we look alike, our personalities couldn't be anymore different. She was loud, easy going, cheerful, and always has a comment on whatever you say. Me, on the other hand, I only spoke if I needed to. I'm labeled as introverted, keeping to myself or buried in a book, the kind of person you would come to for advice.
"God Reine! You're impossible. Whatever you're thinking about, snap out of it because we just arrived at school!"
I stared blankly after Eris as she ran to meet Toji, the last of our trio. We all grew up together so we knew each other the best. We never drifted apart and I hope it stays that way. I stuffed headphones over my ears as I sauntered back over to them, J-pop and J-rock blasting at my eardrums. This will be a long day.
Normal POV
Reine sauntered into the courtyard full of kids as she headed for a bench in the shade of a sakura tree. Eris and Toji went over and joined her, talking about whatever popped into their minds. Currently, it was about beyblading.
"I wish I had a bitbeast! It would be so cool!"
Reine cracked open an eyelid at the sound of her twin's voice and grunted in annoyance. Her voice can penetrate the barrier of loud music blasting from the earphones. How she does it, Reine will never know. Annoyed by their constant banter, Reine just tuned them out, ignoring their stupid conversation.
"Yeah! I know what you mean. I think it'll be cool to have a companion always." Toji replied, fantasizing about his bitbeast. How it would look, what attacks, you know the works.
"I wonder what my bitbeast would look like," mused Eris.
"I bet it's something pink," snickered Toji. Eris's love of the color pink didn't go unnoticed at Tochinomaki High.
"I dunno. Probably. It would be cool if it was."
Toji sighed.
"You know how everyone is feeling about beyblading and bitbeasts here, nowadays, don't you? They fear them and would probably confiscate beyblades if they see them. It's probably because they're afraid the beyblades and bitbeasts might somehow destroy the high school or something. I can't really blame them. The stunt Brooklyn pulled with Zeus was what put them on edge."
Eris nodded quietly. It was the first time she was quiet all morning. The disaster was looming in her mind and her 2 month stay at the hospital. Both her and Reine still had one eye covered by bandages where their eyes got hurt by a piece of concrete that fell in-between them as they ran. Eris shivered. She hated that experience. It was the most excruciating 30 hours of her life. She turned and looked sadly at Reine. She knew how introverted Reine was to begin with but after the incident, she was more withdrawn and she had tired bags under her eyes. She felt bad for Reine because she couldn't help her.
Suddenly, Reine tensed up when she felt an odd prickling sensation at the nape of her neck. She snapped her eyes open and couldn't believe what she saw. Surely those can't be beybladers walking through the school gates and heading towards the main office.
"Are those bladers?"
Eris followed Reine's line of vision and was just in time to see Kai Hiwatari and Tala Valkov bring up the rear of the group.
"Holy shit! No fucking way."
"Yes fucking way," Toji muttered. He always had to have the last say.
Reine's POV
I can't believe my luck. The more I try to get away from beyblading, the more it pushes itself on me. Just last week I finally locked my best friend and companion into a box and shoved her into the attic, and now I have to deal with more distractions? Why me?
"Do you think we should follow them?" Toji whispered.
I snorted. Toji was always curious and it's sometimes frustrating to convince him that what he wants to do is NOT a good idea. This time, I was too tired to try. Sensei would probably ask me anyway; why bother looking for trouble when it comes looking for you? I can name at least 10 incidences where this happened. Whenever I tell someone trouble looks for me, they don't believe me. I hope this doesn't happen again; I'll just keep quiet and hope for the best.
Eris finally answered for me and for once, I think she's using that thing inside her skull.
"No. We don't want to be associated with them unless it's absolutely necessary. I mean, come on. The hate for beyblade in this city is suffocating. They can't really expect us to welcome them with open arms. Our city is practically swimming in debt because of all the repairs we had to make."
"Yeah. You're right. Once they realize how much they aren't wanted, they'll probably leave."
Finally, they became quiet for more than 5 seconds. I can hear Hikaru Utada singing into my ears as silence surrounded me in sweet bliss. I guess I can enjoy peace while it still lasted. You never know what's going to happen with bladers around.
Normal POV
A red blob hurtled towards the trio as they finally had a couple minutes of peace and quiet to only shatter it with a loud shriek.
"Eri! Eri-Chan! Are you okay? What about you Reiniki? Eh, Reini-chan? Oh, hello Toji-kun!"
Eris turned around. Only one person called her "Eri" and that was…
"Tamayo! Tamayo-chan! Why wouldn't I be okay? Oh right, the building collapsing. Well, I'm fine. What about you Reiniki?"
Eris elbowed Reine in the ribs to get her attention. It seems like she had taken the peace as a sign of quietness and drifted into another one of her mental self-discussions.
"Eh? Oh, hello Tamayo-chan. Yeah, I'm fine too. Sorry I'm kinda out of it."
"She's been like that for a month now, Tama!" Eris whispered, "It's not normal!"
Reine shot her a dirty look as Tamayo whispered back,
"When has Reini-chan ever been normal?"
They burst out laughing at Reine's expense. She huffed and went back to her music, adamant about not taking part of the conversation anymore. As Tamayo got a hold of her laughter, she turned to Toji.
"So Toji-kun, have you told her yet?"
She snickered at how quickly Toji's face turned bright, tomato red.
"Wha-at? I don't know what you're ta-talking about," he stuttered.
"Ah, but yes you do."
Toji shot Tamayo an evil glare before huffing and leaving to join on some other guys' conversation.
"Aw, you had to scare Toji away didn't you, Tama-chan?"
"It's not my fault he doesn't want to be honest with himself, now is it?"
"So what's this about?"
Tamayo sent her a sly look and ran away to the other side of the courtyard before shouting,
"Not gonna get it out of me!"
Unknown to them, a pair of blue eyes was watching the entire scene unfold, marking them as his unsuspecting target.
Reine's POV
I sighed when I heard the bell ring. Time for torture to start and it will last for at least another 100 days if not more.
I jostled my way through the crowd to look at the homeroom list and found myself in 2B with 23 other sophomores. I pushed my way out of the crowd and went in the opposite direction in which I came in to reach room 2B which is on the second floor.
As I pushed the door open, I realized I was first.
"Score! I get dibs on window seats."
I turned around to see a blonde haired boy with blue eyes. He had a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he held his hand out to me.
"The name's Max. Max Mizuhara. What's yours?"
I stared at his hand and decided it would be rude to not take it and with reluctance I shook it and said,
"Reine."
He gave me a wide smile and started to bounce with happiness. Literally. This kid was too happy for me.
"So Reine. Do you blade?"
I looked at him as if he had grown two heads. It must have seemed questioning to him since he started to dig through his pockets until he pulled out a green blade.
"You know. As in 'Beyblading'. Here's my blade and that's Draciel. Do you have a blade and perhaps even a bitbeast?"
I stared at him as if he's insane. He probably was seeing that he was talking about beyblading openly in a city where that was not welcome. I decided my best course of action was to shake my head and sit as far away from him as I could, but I never got the chance to even run away as Sensei came and spotted us.
"Ah, Reine. The best student at work again I see. So what do you think about helping one of the new students that'll be attending Tochinomaki High with the rest of the student body?"
All I managed to do was stare at him.
'One of the new students'?
Does he mean there are MORE of them? How many of them are there?
"There's more of them?" I managed to ask. Sensei looked at me uncomfortably, loosening his tie a bit before answering,
"Yes, of course. There are at least 4 people per team and I'll estimate at least 5 teams are here. It's a new project by the BBA."
I looked at him dumbfounded.
'Why did they have to choose this school out of this city to
start this blasted program!'
Normal POV
Eris saw Reine stomp to their bench, under the same sakura tree where they had sat that morning, followed by a hyperactive blonde and a group of bladers.
'She wasn't kidding when she said trouble looks for her,' Eris thought.
Her sister had an uncanny ability to attract trouble. She's like a magnet for negative energy.
"Hey Reine."
Reine glared at Eris before
plopping down onto the grass, grabbing her lunch, and taking a bite
out of her sandwich. She was obviously NOT happy.
"So, how did it go?"
It was obvious what the answer is to that question, but Eris had to ask it in an attempt to show she cares about her twin's wellbeing. As usual, the outcome was fruitless.
"What do you think?" Reine snapped, indicating with her head to the group of bladers following her. She growled angrily before taking another bite out of her sandwich.
"Hey, hey now. No need to snap at someone who's trying to help," the hyperactive blonde interjected, trying to keep the peace between the sisters. Eris looked at him curiously. Suddenly, he turned around and shoved a hand into Eris's face before saying,
"Hiya! My name's Max! What's yours?"
Startled, Eris took his hand and mumbled, "Eris." Max shook Eris's hand vigorously, causing her whole arm to shake.
"So are you to related?" a purple-haired midget asked. He had joined the group, unnoticed, during Max's introduction.
"Oh, and the name's Ian."
"No, they just happen to be two people who live together under the same roof with the same parents," mutter Toji, sarcastically.
Toji had joined the group of people under the sakura tree.
'Great, the group just keeps growing bigger and bigger,' Reine thought dryly.
Suddenly, Toji reached over a took a piece of sushi from Reine's lunchbox before popping it into his mouth. Reine shot him a glare that clearly said, "Touch my food again and you will die a very painful death."
Oblivious to the intended sarcasm of Toji's comment by mistaking him to be slow or just plain ignoring him, Ian continued,
"So if y'all are related, are you guys twins or something? I mean, you guys look completely identical!"
Both twins turned to look at him, their silver hair dancing in the breeze with the warm sunlight making it seem as if they both have silver halo's floating around their heads. Bright, cherry-red eyes stared at him unblinkingly, wondering how stupid he could possibly be as he continued to blabber.
"The only difference I can see is that you (he points at Reine) have short hair and glasses while you (he points at Eris) have shoulder-length hair without glasses."
Irritated with his pointing and unable to cope with his stupidity and lack of common sense, Reine snapped.
"Do you have a problem with that? Isn't it a bit obvious we're identical twins?"
Reine's POV
I glared him down as he digested this information. It took at least 5 seconds for him to completely process what I've just told him and answer me.
"Jeez! Sorry if I'm just curio-"
"Every heard of the saying 'curiosity killed the cat'?" I snarled, startling everyone with my outburst, even myself.
I just can't contain my hatred and disgust for these bladers. Just below the surface, I can feel fear shimmering, threatening to overrun me to the point of insanity.
Unable to cope with their stares, I got up, abandoning my lunch, and headed towards the gym, my hair covering my angry eyes. Calculus, Japanese, and History do not make a happy and tolerable Reine in the morning. Perhaps working out will help dissipate some of my volatile emotions as they threaten to boil over. Thank goodness I have Gym next, I can vent some of my anger.
"Hey! Wait up!"
I looked back from the corner of my eyes just in time to see Max trying to catch up with me. I grunted in annoyance and picked up my pace. This is NOT something I need right now.
"I said wait up!"
I turned around to give Max a piece of my mind to find myself looking at him face to face. I was startled. How did he manage to catch up so fast?
Max leaned over, grabbed his knees, and tried to catch his breath.
"You sure… can.. walk fast.." he panted.
I just stared at him before some sense crashed down onto me and made me turn around and walk away quickly, determined to reach the gym and leave him and everyone else behind.
"Wait! I just caught up!"
I just ignored his voice and kept walking. Anger threatened to take over my actions, but I summoned all my will power to keep going and ignore the tiny voice in my head that's whispering for me to be humane and actually wait for the poor guy.
'After all, you were assigned by Sensei to look after him. It would be your responsibility if he got into trouble, you know,' the tiny voice whispered in my head.
I sighed. I knew it was right. For my own selfish reasons, I stopped and waited for Max to catch up before heading towards the gym again, conscious of the blonde's apparent happiness at being acknowledged.
"So where're you heading to?"
"Gym."
I decided monosyllable responses are the best because he might get tired of trying to talk to me. Apparently, I was wrong as he kept chatting about random things, not caring if I wasn't nodding at the appropriate places or even paying attention. I stared at him out of the corners of my eyes, unable to figure out why he's so happy and what he's so happy about. Suddenly, his chatter halted in mid sentence as he crashed into me as I stopped abruptly.
"So that's how I got into beybl-"
"Shit." I muttered under my breath. There, hanging out around the front entrance of the gym, were more bladers.
"Just what I need… Hey! What're you doing?"
Max was trying to get their attention by flailing his arms around, wildly. I attempted to stop Max by holding his arms down. He stared at me quizzically, not understanding the urgency of this situation and how it's affecting me. Unfortunately for me, I hadn't been able to stop Max quick enough for a blunette had spotted us and waved back.
"Hey Maxie! What's up? Who's that with ya?" Max grinned and answered,
"Hey Tyson! This is Reine and she's suppose to be my tour guide of this place. What was it called again? Tachinomoki High? No that's not right… Tokinamiki High? No, that's not right either…" Max furrowed his eyebrows in concentration as he tried to remember our school name.
"It's Tochinomaki High." I said dryly.
"Ah! Yeah, that's right! Thanks!" He beamed at me. I sighed in defeat as more bladers detached themselves from their main body and wandered over in curiosity.
Normal POV
Reine looked on sourly as a group of bladers headed towards her, Max, and Tyson. In the lead was a raven-haired teen accompanied by a pink-haired girl.
"Hey Max," the raven-haired teen greeted, "Didn't see you in any of my classes. Hope your day was more eventful than mine. It seems like all the kids are avoiding us, but it looks like you're friends with at least one of them."
Reine just stared at him.
'He though SHE was Max's friend? What a joke!'
Max turned nervously and looked at her, trying to gauge her reaction, but her blank expression didn't help. She's almost as good as Kai at hiding her emotions so it's useless to even try.
"Er… Reine is just my tour guide, well, for now at least."
Reine snorted.
'That's right. I'm just a tour guide. (Reine rolls her eyes.) More like babysitter if you ask me.'
The raven-haired teen turned and held out his hand.
"My name's Ray. Ray Kon."
Reine looked at his hand for a second before grabbing it, thinking it would be faster if she just played along, and abruptly shook it while muttering,
"Reine."
"Well Reine, it's nice to meet you. This (he gestures toward the pink-haired girl) is Mariah, and he (he points to a dark-skinned teen behind Mariah) is Lee. Lee and Mariah, meet Reine."
They stepped forward, one at a time, and shook Reine's hand. Mariah shot Reine a grin while Lee only solemnly looked at her and nodded. From the sidelines, Max could hardly contain his joy. Before he could help himself, he found himself shouting happily,
"Alright! We got ourselves our first, new friend!"
Reine sighed in exasperation. Now she won't be able to get around without bladers trying to act all friendly, friendly with her 24/7.
Author's Note:
So what do you think about the first chapter? This is my first fic so I really would like some pointers. :-D
Re-Posted AN: I had to reload this chapter a couple of times because of small errors. :-( Sorry for the inconvenience!
Please R&R!
Rand-chan