Hey guys! Can you believe it? I'm updating and it's only been a week! LoL ^^;; Anyway, hope you don't mind that this chapter is again shorter than the last one. Although I hope that my fast update makes up for it! Well, I guess it's not that fast, but compared to how I've been updating recently, this is fast ^^;; Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter, it was so fun to write! And just in case your wondering, there's gonna be more with the Bladebreakers next chappie^^ I just needed to clear a few things up, LoL ^^;;

Star Horizons

Chapter 12: Not So New Girl

'Baka baka baka baka! Ugh! I can't believe I did that!' the girl in orange inwardly wailed, continuing to run down the sidewalk. 'The hotel address was 38 Maine Street, not 83 Maine Street! I am so gonna get nagged about this!' she continued to fuss.

Sharply turning a curve, she nearly slipped on some black ice had she not grabbed onto something, or rather, someone.

"You mind watching where you're going?" a deep voice snapped. "And if you'd release me, that would be great too," he added sarcastically.

"Whoa, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," she laughed, letting go of the disgruntled teen in black. "By the way, thank you so much for walking by when you did. I probably would've fallen flat on my back!"

Ryo rolled his dark scarlet eyes. Oh how those perky bouncy girls got on his nerves. Almost as much as opinionated minxes. Actually, correction, almost as much as an opinionated minx. One with turquoise hair in pigtails, to be exact. That girl didn't seem to have a lid on that mouth of her's, especially around him.

"Right, whatever," he shrugged, dismissing her as he continued on his way. Although much to his dismay, the playful teenager tagged onto his side. "Is there something you want?" he asked, irritated, as he kept his pace.

"Where are you going?" she asked, looking at him up and down as if trying to verify something.

"Why should I tell you?" he shot back, ignoring her examination.

She couldn't help but laugh at his remark. "You know that's the second time I've heard that today," she pointed out, following him closely. "So if you're not gonna tell me, you mind if I guess?"

Ryo remained unspoken.

"Okay then! I'll take that as a yes! Hey that rhymed!" she commented happily. "Y'know, yes and guess, just in case you missed that," she winked

Her companion cringed. Of course he knew what she was referring to, but it's not like he rejoiced over it. He inwardly groaned. How did he get into this? A girl who was amused by words that rhymed was actually walking beside him. Ryo almost wished that he was back with the minx.

"Are you heading back home?" she questioned, interrupting his thoughts.

He sighed. "No."

"Going out for something to eat?"

"No."

"Um…" she began to ponder, "heading to the movie theatre? Although that would be weird since you'd be going by yourself and most of the time when people go to the movies they go with friends because that's usually the way things-hey wait! Maybe you're meeting them there and then that could actually-"

"No, I'm not," he interjected her endless chatter. "And why are you following me? Don't you have anything better to do?" he asked the go-lucky teen. The girl simply grinned and shook her head.

He rolled his eyes and wondered if she took him for a fool because if she did, she was in for a surprise because he could read her like a book.

If he wasn't mistaken, she was probably trying to use her cheerful nature to break his pompous attitude. Nice try, but she wasn't dealing with any typical prick. She was dealing with Ryo, a prick that could not only notice the smallest things based on the way people talk, but could see pass the appearances as well. It's too bad he never considered that perhaps she could do the same thing too.

"Alright, I'll make a deal with you," she began in a teasing voice. "I'll guess one more time and if I get it right, then I get to come with you, okay?"

The boy cocked a dark eyebrow. "And if you get it wrong?"

"Well duh, I'll leave you alone," she answered matter-of-factly.

The raven-haired teen narrowed his alluring crimson eyes on her. Would she actually keep her word? After a moment of assessing, he figured that she probably would. She didn't seem the type to lie. Besides, it's not like she'd actually know the answer.

"Fine then," he consented. "Guess."

"Okay then…let me see…" she grinned mischievously. "Umm…I am guessing that you are going to meet some people. Am I right so far?"

He stayed silent.

She smirked, continuing. "You are meeting them because they're like a group you belong to… a team maybe? How are my guesses so far?"

Still no comments.

"And finally, a location," she went on with much amusement. "Umm…a hotel? Hmm…let me pick a random address at the top of my head…38 Maine Street?"

And finally, he spoke. "How the hell do you know all this?" he asked brusquely, stopping to face her.

"That's a nice way to ask," she replied, pausing as well. "You're not a people person, are you?"

"Gee, I wonder what gave that away," he countered sardonically, picking up his pace again.

She held in a laugh. Pricks really were fun to deal with if you could play your cards right. Of course, it took her a lot of practice and a lot of pathetic failures to learn how to deal with them, but it all worked out in the end anyway.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," she apologized, walking by his side again. "I just can't resist a challenge with people like you."

He scoffed, annoyance written all over his face. Before he could retort though, he soon found, much to his horror, that the girl had intertwined her arm around his. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he instinctively exclaimed, prying her off.

The girl looked back at him with sad light blue eyes, pouting at the same time.

He groaned. "Do you have no pride?"

"Of course I do!" she answered. "And just for the record, I wasn't coming on to you either, if that's what you think. You know, it is kind of snowing, if you haven't noticed big shot. And snow equals cold. Besides, haven't you ever learned that people emit body heat?"

"Yes I have," he stated flatly, "but I am perfectly fine."

"Fine! Be that way!" she huffed, crossing her arms.

You'd think that she'd give up by now, wouldn't you? Apparently though, she had other things in mind. Before even a minute had passed, she began to speak again.

"Hm…I've got an idea. How about we play another little guessing game and if I get it right, you let me link arms with you and if I get it wrong, I'll keep my distance, okay?"

Ryo scowled and was about to object when an idea suddenly popped into his head. "How about we play who can stay silent the longest," he suggested. "If I win, I get to walk ahead. If you win, you get to walk ahead."

"But we don't get to walk beside each other either way!" she replied in protest.

"Exactly my point," he retorted bluntly. "Okay ready? Let's start."

"But I didn't-"

"Oh, looks like I win," he promptly cut her off, quickening his stride.

"Hey get back here!" she yelled, taking after him. "That was so not fair Ryo!" She instantly gasped before instinctively stopping dead in her tracks, her right hand covering her mouth. 'Oh damn, can we say busted?' she asked herself, smiling nervously at the boy who had already ended his walk and was now giving her a questioning stare.

"Did you just…say my name?" he asked.

"You mean Ryo's actually your name?" she blinked innocently, not wanting to quit the charades. "Wow! I really am good at this guessing thing, huh?"

Ryo crossed his arms, watching her carefully. 'How did she-' he suddenly broke his thoughts, coming into a ghastly realization. 'Oh shit. No. Don't tell me that she's the...No... OH HELL NO!'

It finally hit him like a ton of bricks, and very painfully too, if I may add. He couldn't believe his luck. Only Ryo would have the fortune of having a team like his. There was only one thought that provided him with any comfort, and that was that the day couldn't get any worse. Hypothetically at least.

The three girls lounged around, scattered in the living room, wondering what they should do now. Casey was comfortably situated on a snug chair, while the shadowed redhead had long returned and was now lazily plopped on the couch beside Jade.

When Alex had arrived earlier, her first task, surprisingly enough, was to smooth things out with their new fearless leader. Everyone was absolutely speechless when Alex had walked through the door and just waltzed up to him and apologized for her behaviour earlier. In addition to apologizing, she also elaborated and explained to Ryo that she only acted so callous because of the whole Richi issue.

The scariest part of the whole scene was that she actually said to him, "let bygones be bygones". Now that remark turned a few heads. Nobody had ever expected such mature behaviour from Alex.

In contrast though, the same calming discussion couldn't be said about Casey and Ryo. Now those two's interaction was like the incarnation of friction itself.

"You could've tried to have been a little bit nicer to him Case," sighed Jade, lazing on the couch upside down. "He wouldn't have 'gone for some fresh air' if you weren't being so mouthy. It's so unlike you too! I mean, even Alex was nicer to him when she got back, and isn't she supposed to be the unreasonable one?"

"Hey! I resent that!" protested the returned teen.

The lighter redhead let out an amused, hearty laugh. "Please Alex, you know it's true. One question though, did you happen to slap Richi when you were with him? And don't tell us that you didn't run off to go see him either because you know you can't lie to us."

The darker-haired girl scoffed, refusing to answer the question, while Jade, soon joined by Casey, continued to poke fun at her.

'She so totally slapped him,' declared Jade in her mind. Usually when people refused to answer a question, it was because they had committed the said crime. In Alex's case, it was charge number 5.020: slapping a guy.

"So what if I did?" she finally spoke up. "It's not like he didn't deserve it. He is a guy, after all."

"Amen to that," added Casey. "Guys are only here on earth for one thing, to help females procreate."

Jade raised an eyebrow, glancing at the girl in pigtails sitting across from her. "Since when did you become such a feminist?"

"Since I met the prick that probably caused the whole feminist movement," she exaggerated. "And don't you dare tell me that I shouldn't have called him a two-bit egotistical prick that couldn't find a dog even if it bit him on the ass because I was merely stating my opinion. Besides, did you hear what he called me? A minx! Do you even know what a minx is?" she asked, flipping her palm upwards. "It's a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men! You really think I'd let him get away with calling me that?"

Jade attempted to stifle a giggle, but failed to do so. "But it's true!" she smiled, finally deciding to sit upright. "Let me ask you something Case, you refer to him as a prick, right?" The light-haired teen nodded. "And you tease him, don't you? As in annoy, provoke, irritate, etc. right?" Casey stared at her friend for a moment before slowly giving a second nod. "Well then, that would make you a prickteaser, right?" Once again, the adolescent gave a time-consuming nod.

Jade smirked roguishly, switching into her highly intelligent mode. As she folded her arms in a professional manner, she let her crystal blue eyes meet with a pair of lavender one's. "Now you do realize that prickteaser is a synonym for minx, right?"

The girl's violet orbs soon widened, coming into a quick understanding. "That is-"

"Completely true," Jade finished her sentence, smiling triumphantly. "You proved it yourself! Didn't she Alex?" she turned to the other redhead, receiving a nod in return.

Casey sighed, shaking her head. "You conniving little-"

"Okay, that's enough," Jet broke in, finally making his presence more known.

While the girls were in the living room, their supervisor had been sitting in the kitchen the whole time, trying to have a nice, relaxing cup of coffee. Although obviously by now, that ambition was surely shattered.

"I know that a lot has happened and everyone isn't in the best of moods, but girls, please just try to calm down a bit, okay? It's not gonna help anyone if we're all emotionally high-strung."

The female members of the team all resignedly agreed, knowing that their manager was right. The day really has been anything but ordinary so far. Everything that they never expected to happen has happened. Little did they know, there were still a few more surprises up ahead. One of those surprises was actually about to arise. Right about…now.

"Knock! Knock!" came a sprightly voice at the door, a fist thumping against the wood at the same time. "Hey open up! It's beauty and the beast waiting out here!"

The three teens all shot each other a confused look, while their amused director concealed the smirk playing onto his lips. Jade was the first to actually get up, slowly heading to the door. She was soon followed by her curious teammates, who tagged closely behind her.

"Hello?" the female voice emerged again along with the knocking. "Come on! Don't leave me out here with the Easter bunny gone vamp!" After that comment was said, a very annoyed scoff was heard and the girls in the room knew right away who that had to be.

Casey immediately brushed past her two friends and paused in front of the door, crossing her arms "So where have you been Ryo? I never thought you'd be one to bring home a girl."

"You barely even know me," replied the boy on the other side of the door. "And what I do is my business alone. You respect other people's privacy, don't you Casey?"

She felt like laughing, but held it in. "Of course I do, but remember that respect is a two-way street. I respect those who respect me as well. Isn't that the way you work?"

"To a certain degree," he answered. "Although it also depends on the person. Some people don't deserve respect."

"Oh I agree completely," smirked Casey, leaning against the door.

"Have you forgotten about the girl he brought home?" the feminine voice suddenly cut in impatiently. "I know that you two wanna have a verbal war, but can't it wait till after you let us in? Besides, who knows what this vamp can do to me!"

Ryo scoffed a second time, sending the girl in front of him an irritated look. "Must you call me that?"

The shorter adolescent whirled around to face him with teasing sky eyes. "Of course! It's no fun if I just call you by your normal name. Hm…unless you want me to make up a nickname for you using the letters already in your name…let me see…" she began to contemplate on an alternative nickname for the aggravated teen. "Oh I know! Ryo is like Yoyo! Wanna be called Yoyo instead?" she asked cheerfully.

At that same moment, the door finally opened, just in time to allow Jade, Casey and Alex to see the revolted expression etched on Ryo's face. His crimson eyes clearly stood out like large orbs of dark fire, while his mouth took on the typical 'o' shape of fear. It was absolutely priceless.

"Damn, I wish I had a camera," simpered Casey. "I could so blackmail him with a shot of this."

The tinted redhead laughed just as Ryo quickly stepped out of his trance and cast her friend an evil stare. "Now whatever happened to your sense of decency?" she grinned.

"Oh it's still there," Casey replied, now meeting Ryo's seething glare. "It's just that I prefer to save it for people who are actually worthy of it. Wouldn't you agree with me Ryo?"

The scowl on his lips soon curved into a wicked smile as he nodded. "Of course Casey. I couldn't agree with you more."

Although before the minx and prick could get into another all out duel, the orange-hooded girl quickly grabbed Ryo's arm and spun around, dragging both him and herself into the hotel room. Upon entrance, she immediately released her reluctant hostage and causally strolled into the middle of the living room.

She soon paused, with her back still facing the door, and let out a soft laugh. "You know for two people who seem to understand each other, there's a huge lack of love in the relationship."

The teen slowly began scanning the room and quickly noticed Jet looking very entertained in the kitchen. She eventually got to look back at the doorway, and immediately spotted three teenage girls standing there. It took all her strength not to laugh, as their stunned expressions were worth at least a dollar of giggles.

'No, it can't be her,' Alex stared in disbelief. 'There's no possible way that she's the same person…'

Casey watched as the familiar-looking girl playfully winked at them before jumping onto the couch, grabbing a pillow to hug. 'No way, this is all just coincidence. That's it. It has to all be coincidence.'

"Aren't you going to say hi to your old friend?" Jet finally broke the bewildered silence. The three girls remained motionless and mute, while Ryo had somehow made his way into the small hall and was now simply watching the situation unfold.

The silver-haired man grinned, pushing himself out of his chair and walking over to the maybe-not-so-new girl. "Hey kid, have a good flight?"

She bobbed her head in reply. "Yep! Oh, and sorry that I took a while. I sort of got mixed up with the directions," she admitted sheepishly.

A warm smile crossed Jet's face as he shook his head. "Don't worry about it. At least you made it here." He then turned to face the other females in the room and arched a silver eyebrow. "Well? What are you guys standing there for? You know I thought you'd give her a warmer welcome than this."

Disliking the suspense, a soft voice finally said what all the girls were dying to ask. "R-Riley?" Jade spoke up quietly.

The girl's light blue eyes immediately lit up as a warm smile quickly appeared. She soon slipped out of her orange hood, revealing long, night-coloured hair tied in a loose ponytail with an orange headband keeping most of the strands in place. "I'm glad somebody still remembers me," she grinned brightly.

The stunt bomb immediately wore off and the next thing you know, four girls were on the couch squealing and hugging as if there was no tomorrow. It was as if they hadn't seen her for six years! Well, I guess it's because they really haven't seen her for six years.

Jet looked on with much delight. He was really happy to see the girls acting like they usually do, like typical teenagers. All the news he had given them prior wasn't exactly the most pleasant, and he was glad that he could finally tell them something that would cheer them up.

"What are you doing here?" Jade laughed, hugging her old friend tightly. "Did you move back to Japan or something?"

Riley ended the close embrace and leaned back, staring at her childhood pals. She still couldn't believe it herself. It had been so long since they were all together like this; it was almost like a dream. She never thought in a million years that she'd ever get the chance to see them again after she moved to the States.

"To answer your first question," the black-haired girl began, glancing at Jet, "I'm here because I got a call from a certain manager a few weeks ago about how his Beyblade team needed a fifth member. He also mentioned something about wanting to make up for replacing a particular team captain that has an affair with chicken. Um…Richi still likes chicken, right?"

The three girls burst into a fit of giggles in response to her question. "I'll take that as a yes then," smiled Riley. "And to answer your second question, I'm only here in Japan to join up with you guys. Jet told me that I wouldn't be staying here long because we're supposed to go somewhere soon."

The uninformed trio promptly desisted their laughter and gave their friend a strange look. Subsequently, their gazes drifted over to Jet, who was once again seated in the kitchen. What else did their manager have in store for them? Before any of them could ask a single question though, someone else beat them to it.

"What is she talking about?" the team captain articulated in a solid tone.

All eyes were on Jet now and yet, he didn't feel the slight bit nervous. It's true that he didn't exactly handle things too well when the whole soap opera stuff began, but since both Ryo and Riley were here now, he had a feeling that things just might work out even better than he expected.

Keep in mind that just like his uncle, Jet knows a lot more than he lets on. After all, there's always a reason behind an action. It's not like he picked Riley just because she coincidentally happens to be an old friend of theirs and a talented blader as well. And out of all the bladers in the world, Mr. Dickenson didn't pick Ryo out of a hat either. No. There's more to it. Much more.

"Hey Jet, planning to keep us in the dark all day?" Alex probed forward.

The metallic-haired gentleman shook his head, folding his arms at the same time. Gradually, he allowed his dark eyes to flow across the room, glancing at each of his team's members for a brief second. The ball was finally beginning to roll, and their first stop was going to be…

"Iceland."

The five teenagers instantaneously bestowed him with a pentagon of confused stares. Did he just say what they think he said?

"W-what?" stuttered Casey.

Jet smirked. "You guys better start packing because tonight, we're on the next flight over to Iceland."

Whoa! Talk about dropping a bomb! First their fifth member is a childhood bud, and now they're going to Iceland! And what about the Bladebreakers? Do they have the same arctic fate? Tune in next time for the next chapter of Star Horizons!