The next day, Daigo met with Robin after school. "We're going to sign up for the tournament," he told her. "Wanna come?"

"Definitely." Robin took her beyblade out from her pocket. Rise Phoenix almost seemed to glow in the sunlight. They started walking. "You're a Descendant, right?"

Daigo frowned. "And you knew this... how?"

She grinned. "You go silent a lot, sometimes in the middle of a conversation. Also, Doomscyther told me." 

Daigo said nothing.

"You're doing that again. It's really annoying." She smirked, then blinked. "Um... hello?"

He blinked."Huh?"

She sighed. "Nothing. Tell me about tournament rules?"

God, did I actually ask instead of demand? Guess I've got a soft spot for underdogs. They're just like how I was... thank god Xander saved me.

The tournament had this way of signing in that was really weird. She had to put her launcher on the registration pad, which was a whole new level of technology, then take a picture. God, she hated pictures. Waste of time and effort, for such a tiny thing.

 After they all signed up, the battles began. First, Valt and Honcho. Valt was super overconfident, and lost the first round, but to Robin's mild surprise, beat Honcho in the second. With a burst finish, too. She didn't expect it out of such a little thing, but his enthusiasm kept up.

"Wow," she muttered.

"Yeah," Daigo agreed. "Didn't expect that."

Next Wakiya versus some other guy. Wakiya won. Shu versus another guy, and naturally he won. As a Supreme Four member, it'd be embarrassing if he didn't. Even Daigo won his match in a record of five seconds, only matched by her stupid brother. The quiet Ken won too, and she didn't even know how, especially since he wouldn't take off the puppets.

 Now it was her turn. Standing up, Robin grabbed Phoenix and closed her eyes.

Let's try not to use any super special moves unless absolutely necessary. Robin frowned. I'm not sure we'll win, so I have to at least keep some moves secret for now.

Phoenix rolled her eyes.Yeah.

"And in the red corner, Robin Kurenai with Rise Phoenix!" Hanami yelled. Robin took a deep breath and stepped out into the light.

She didn't realize it, but she was glowing slightly, her aura visible to just about everyone with a power. Robin was a little nervous, but she didn't really want to show it. Her hands wouldn't shake, she knew that, so as long as she actually kept her head, she could do it.

"In the blue corner, Bob Bobson!" How Hanami said that without dying of laughter, Robin had no idea. Bob Bobson, why? Just why?

I'll have to just go for center. This guy's bey is all attack type, so Back-to-back survival finishes should work.

"Ready, set!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!" She straightened her wrist and squeezes the ripcord.

"Let it.... Rip!" Robin pulled as fast as she could.

Phoenix took center, and the other bey circled around, obviously coming in for an attack at eleven o'clock.

When he tries to hit you, circle around and boot him from behind. Eleven o clock!

Got it.

Rise Phoenix spun around the inner circle as he went in for an attack, and slammed into it from behind. As it went flying, the bey burst.

Phoenix! Robin complained. Now we might have a target on us! We're so screwed!

No. They'll be more afraid to go against us now. They would also be more afraid if you stopped slouching.

She wished Phoenix would stop telling her to stop slouching.

"Rise Phoenix with a burst finish! Robin Kurenai wins with a score of two to nothing!"

Bob stared at his bey. "H-how..."

Robin turned to the crowd and gave a bow, right arm sweeping through the air, then left the stage.

Daigo nodded at her as Robin came into the wait room. "Impressive." He actually looked impressed, meaning the "i'm-going-to-use-this-random-person-to-piss-off-Shu," part seemed to be over. But she still had things she wanted to know.

"Used to me already, huh?" Robin laughed. "Guess I'll have to work harder."

"Yeah."

I'm going to ask about the hospital.

It's rude, Phoenix pointed out.

Too bad.

"Daigo?" Robin said.

"Hmm?" Daigo was focused on his bey.

"Why were you going to the hospital yesterday?"

It was a good thing there was nobody in the wait room, because his collected, calm disguise fell off just then as he shot up. "You were following me?" He clearly looked angry, and with his bey in one hand, he looked like he might stab her with it.

Robin shook her head. "No. Ramos stopped me, and- aacccckkk! Spider! Kill it! Ahhhh!"

Daigo watched the spider, brows smoothing and a teasing smile on his face. "You're scaring it."

"Scaring it? Oh, very helpful!" she shrieked, balancing on the top of a chair

He grinned as he picked the spider up. The spider held very still in his hands as he moved towards Robin, arm extended.

"Waahh!" Robin jumped backwards. "Kill it already!"

"No way." Daigo put it on the windowsill. "Some would say that's karma."

"No, Karma is a badass redhead child." Robin realized he hadn't answered yet. "Answer the question."

Daigo shrugged. "Okay, I was visiting my brother."

Her face was petrified with shock. Daigo continued. "His name is Ryota, and he's about eight. He's in there for removal of cat ears and tail, along with mutant genes."

Robin noted the use of present tense pronouns(she never thought Japanese pronouns would come in handy here) and blinked. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"This is awkward."

"Yep."

Do you say anything other than yeah?"

"Mhm."

"Wow." A pause. " I'm sorry, I'm being kind of insensitive. So... Your brother's a... Neko?"

Daigo shrugged. "They already did the surgery. A week more, and he can come home." Daigo smiled. Not one of those weird, creepy smiles that he gave everyone else while battling, but an honest, happy smile. Wait. Out of all people, in two days, she was crushing on Kurogami?

Told you it was worth asking.

Yeah. It was.

What are you, my spirit guardian?

Well, of course!

I need advice on how to improve my writing. I've written several chapters in advance, so ill start using it when I can if I can figure out how to use said advice. Thank you for reading!

Robin out!