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ceruleanmusings · 2 years

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Mayblade 2022: Bubbles

Note: I’ve been wanting to write about the White Tigers as children for a while so Mayblade gave me the excuse to finally do it. It contains my beyblade oc because Mariah needs another girl to hang out with. Mariah and Crystal (the oc) are about 6 and Lee and Ray are 8.

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Mariah’s head popped up from beneath the cloth when the creaky, squeaky wheels came to a stop. Looking this way and that, her teeth pressed into her lower lip and her shoulders rose to her ears. Was the man coming back? She lay hunched, waiting, watching the faces of the passersby for any she recognized, breath stilling in her lungs. That is, until an elbow to her side made it all come out at once as she jumped.

“Move outta the way!” Crystal grumbled, lifting herself up next to her. “Your big head’s blockin’ me.”

Mariah stuck out her tongue and turned back to the shuffling crowds, awash in the golden glow of hanging lamps running up and down the streets. “I think the guy left.”

“Good! Let’s go!” Crystal swung her leg over the back of the cart and dropped down to the ground. Stumbling, she landed on her knees only to pop back up and brush her small hands together. “Come on!”

“Maybe we should go back.” Even as Mariah spoke, she had one leg over the back of the cart, straddling the wood, squeezing to keep her balance. She brought a hand up to her mouth, biting on her knuckle instead of her lip as she looked around. “We could get in trouble.”

Huffing, Crystal rolled her eyes and stomped her slippered foot on the ground. It barely made a noise beneath the crackling and popping coming from nearby woks and the din of conversation from passing customers. “Don’t be such a weenie!”

Mariah’s eyes narrowed into a glare, her golden eyes sparking to life with aid of the flickering flames of a nearby lamp. “I’m not a weenie!” she shot back, all but baring her fangs.

“Then prove it! We’re already here! We won’t get caught.”

“But the Elder—”

“He goes to bed before sunset! He won’t notice.”

Mariah gritted her teeth. Sneaking out of the village was one thing, sneaking back in was another. They were lucky they got past the patrols on their way out. No one expected for someone to leave. Because they weren’t supposed to leave. But Crystal dared her, and she couldn’t let her think she was a weenie. She wasn’t a weenie! But she didn’t want to get caught either. The Elder wouldn’t ever let her forget it and she wasn’t sure she could live with that disappointment.

“Come on! This is our only chance!” Crystal’s impatient bouncing made the plethora of braids in her hair swing tow and fro. “Hurry up!”

“Okay! Okay!” Glancing over her shoulder once more, Mariah pushed aside the nagging pit in her stomach and jumped down from the cart. The minute her feet touched the ground, Crystal’s electric blue eyes lit up and her face split into checkerboard grin. And as the seconds passed, giddy glee flushed their cheeks and lit up their spirits and tingled at their fingertips as the blanket of rules and regulation fell off their shoulders.

“Let’s go!” Mariah pushed at Crystal’s shoulder and took off running, the two cloth-covered buns on her head bouncing with each exhilarated step. Crystal caught up with her quick, the two falling into step as they weaved in and out of the thick throngs clogging up the streets. Their giggles melted and shifted over to gasps of wonder and awe as they moved from stall to stall, eyes widening at the sight of food and trinkets covering every surface.

Mariah’s stomach growled as she was smacked in the face by a thick heavenly aroma of sweet dough and pork. “Wait! Wait!” She shifted her weight, skidding to a stop. With a lurch forward, she grabbed at one of Crystal’s braids and gave it a tug.

“Ow!” Whipping around, eyes narrowing, Crystal grasped the braid that had been tugged and petted it, as if soothing a worried animal. With a grunt, she stepped forward and flicked Mariah on the nose.

“Hey!” Mariah’s hands clapped against her face, indignation seeping through her eyes. “I was trying to get your attention! Look!” Pinching Crystal’s sleeve, she pulled the girl over to a cart where a stack of bamboo steamers towered above them. They nearly brushed the underside of the sign lit up above them, screaming for all to see. “They have baozi like the aunties make.”

Crystal leaned against her; head tilted backwards to look up at the sign. The way her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth puckered let Mariah know she thought the same: how could the city be so bad when the people there make the same foods as back home in the White Tiger village?

They’d been told time and time again, under no uncertain terms, they were never to set foot in the city. The city was a rough place, not meant for their kind and they would do best to stay away and stay out of sight. But, as Mariah looked around her, at the smiles on peoples’ faces, at the bright neon signs and the savory foods, at the shiny silks hanging from shop windows, at the people dancing along to the punchy music pouring out of shops, she didn’t understand. Was it possible the Elder, her grandfather, was wrong?

“Let’s get some.” Crystal’s insistent prodding to Mariah’s ribs untangled her from the mess in her mind. “We have money.” She dug into her pockets and produced the shiny coins as if to prove her point.

Mariah gasped. “Where’d you get that?” Chores were an expectation in the village, not a choice and they certainly didn’t get paid for it. They were all expected to pitch in and help in any way they could, no matter how old or young they were it. The White Tiger Village was a community and the only way for their community to thrive was to put in the work to instill discipline and accountability.

Crystal’s hand closed around the coins before Mariah could pick one up, her mouth turned down to a frown. “Does it matter?” she asked.

Mariah squinted, placing her small hands on her hips. “Did you steal it?”

“No! Of course not!” Crystal shook her head so vigorously her braids whipped around her face. “I just got it, okay?” She brushed her hair away and huffed out a little breath. “Get some.”

It was Mariah’s turn to shake her head as she pushed back Crystal’s outstretched hand. “You get it.”

“Don’t be such a weenie!”

“I’m not! I don’t wanna get in trouble!”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “You worry too much. We’re already out.”

“Your grandfather’s not the Elder!” Mariah kicked at the ground beneath her slipper. “I don’t wanna upset him.”

“Fine! I’ll get it!”

Mariah stepped to the side as Crystal stood on the curb, lifting herself up so she could just see over the edge of the cart. She smacked her palm down on the metal surface, making Mariah jump. She almost hurried to shush Crystal but kept her mouth shut, instead looking around. Did she draw attention to them? It couldn’t be too out of place for a few kids to buy their own food, could it? No, they were fine. They weren’t the only kids running around. Mariah let out a slow breath. They were fine. Things were fine. They would eat, jump back in the cart, and be back in the village before anyone noticed they were gone.

Heart leaping into her throat, Mariah squeezed herself behind the cart stand. Was that Lee? No, it couldn’t be…right? Slowly, she peered around the legs of those taller than her, analyzing the crowds around her. Her shoulders sagged with her gusting breath of relief. The kid was too tall and too poised to be her brother. Still, that was too close a call. They needed to get back. Now.

“Whatcha doin’ over here?” Crystal asked, squeezing into the small space next to Mariah. The two girls wiggled and squirmed until they got comfortable sitting on the ground. “I got one of each. And look! They had this thing called C…Coa…” Crystal squinted as she read the side of the red and silver can. “Coa-Coola.”

Mariah’s nose wrinkled as she took the can, turning it around in her palms. “What’s is it?”

“A drink, I think.”

Curling a finger, Mariah picked at the tab sitting atop of the can, jumping when a hissing sound came from the top. Was it about to explode? When nothing happened and the hissing settled, Mariah pulled the rest of the way and the tab gave way to the seal, allowing a dark liquid to bubble up. “Oh!” she gasped in surprise, the bubbles frothing over the top. Was that supposed to happen? A quick scan around the surrounding area and she spotted a man leaning against a storefront nearby, bringing the can up to his mouth, his adam’s apple bobbing with every swallow. With an apprehensive wince, she brought the can up to her mouth, tilted it back, and took a sip.

A rush of thick, sweet coated her tongue and bubbles careened around her mouth and down her throat. Starbursts danced in her eyes and a fizzy elation rose up within her. “Whoa! This is really good!”

“Lemme try.”

Mariah passed over the can and took the small plate holding two baozi, split in half, balancing it on her upturned knees. Her first bite into the steamed dumpling washed away the sweetness with a hearty and savory mix of spices, juices, and tangy pork. It wasn’t exactly the same as the aunties made, but it was still good. The minute she swallowed she took the can back and had another sip, mixing the two flavors together.

The two girls passed the can back and forth, taking sips as they ate their baozi halves and pointed out captivating sights from their perch, from an older woman slowly shuffling down the street, waving an intricately designed fan to a man with a dragon tattoo on his face, curling and crawling down his neck. This was the most people Mariah had ever seen in one space and they were all so different! Some were tall, some were small, some were wide, some were skinny, some were young, some were old, some dressed in bright colors, and some stuck to grays and blacks but they were all happy and enjoying life and alive! This wasn’t so bad!

The girls wiped their sticky palms off on their clothes and brushed the crumbs off their mouths with the back of their hands. With full bellies and bright eyes, they shoved themselves back into the crowds and stretched out their limbs

Crystal’s eyes sparkled like the stars above when she asked, “Okay, waddya wanna do next?”

“Explain yourselves.”

Eyes popping wide, Mariah stiffened at the stern voice crashing into her. Out the corner of her eye she saw Crystal suck in a breath, her eyes wide as well. Slowly the two girls looked at each other, gulped, and looked over their shoulders.

“Heh…hey Lee,” Mariah greeted her brother, voice sheepish and small beneath his and Ray’s identical cross-armed stances and frowns etched deep in their faces. The golden light behind Lee made his lion-mane of hair seem to expand, allowing him take up more space above them.

“What are you doing here?” Crystal asked. Mariah resisted the urge to reach out and pinch her. That was no way for her to talk to them! Lee was her brother, but he was also her superior. He was in line to take over the village one day, if their parents didn’t return that is. And Ray, as Lee’s best friend, carried a lot of weight in the village as well. Everyone loved Ray.

“Looking for you,” Ray replied. He sighed and dropped his arms, the frown on his face easing. Resting his palms on his knees, he couched until he was eyelevel with the two girls. “You know you shouldn’t have snuck out.”

“Yeah,” Mariah mumbled, lowering her head, cheeks burning. Upsetting the Elder was bad but this? This was worse. She couldn’t have Ray be upset with her, she just couldn’t! Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She knew she shouldn’t have let Crystal talk her into this, no matter how good that Coa-Coola ended up tasting. It wasn’t worth the shame spinning in her stomach. “I’m sorry.” Lifting her head, she turned to Lee. “I’m sorry, big brother.”

“We’re okay. Nothing happened,” Crystal said. The fight remained in her eyes but her words, Mariah noticed, were much more subdued as she spoke around her pouting lower lip.

“Yeah, ‘cause you got lucky,” Lee said with a snort. “The Elder told us we’re not supposed to be out here for a reason. You know we’re not allowed.”

“We just wanted to see the city for once.”

“And going against the Elder’s wishes was the way you wanted to do it?” Mariah and Crystal exchanged a look. Mariah twisted her fingers together and lowered her head again, staring at her feet. “I’m ashamed of you both.” She winced. Was it possible for her brother to speak such mean words to her? She hung her head lower, the weight of guilt pressing on her.

“Hey, c’mon, go easy on them a little.” Peeking up through her bangs, Mariah spied Ray lightly tapping Lee’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “It’s one mistake.”

Lee grunted. “They made a choice and they’re lucky nothing bad happened to them.”

“Lee.” Ray gave Lee a look that made even Mariah shiver at the crackling intensity behind it. “Give them a break. They’re just kids and I’m sure they’re not going to do this again. Right?” Both Mariah and Crystal nodded their heads rapidly. No, she would never ever ever do this again. She couldn’t have Ray be disappointed in her. Nor Lee or the Elder.

Throwing his arms in the air, Lee conceded. “Fine. Come on, you two, let’s go home. You’ve had your fun.”

Mariah stifled a giggle when Ray winked in her direction. He placed a hand on Crystal’s shoulder who shrugged him away and walked ahead. Lee wrapped his arm around Mariah’s shoulder and pulled her into his side. She buried his face into the dark fabric of his shirt. All at once the weight of the night pressed on her and she couldn’t wait to get back to her hut and get some sleep. “How’d you know we were gone anyway?” Mariah asked.

Her ears twitched at the soft laugh slipping out from Ray’s mouth. “Kevin tattled on you,” he supplied with an amused grin.

“Kevin!” Mariah and Crystal groaned in unison, their anguish lost beneath Ray’s and Lee’s laughter.

#mayblade 2022 #beyblade #mariah wong #lee wong #ray kon #crystal manning #ming xiaoyan #my writings #this hasn't been beta read so there might be spelling errors

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