Duel of a Lifetime

Chapter 1

The Beach and the Package

A/N: Hey everybody! Um well I’m just writing this for fun and I know many people wont read this or wont even be bothered reviewing this but if you do review try not to judge k? I mean, it’s for fun. Anyway enjoy and plz review! Bye!

Chapter summary: This chap’s about finding out who the main character is, who’s her family, what’s happened to get to this part and blah blah blah. I know, sounds boring and maybe it is 2 some people but its gotta be done otherwise there’ll be confusion.

Bold are their thoughts ok?

Minako Barai walked slowly along the beach, her vivid green eyes looking out across the ocean. She was supposed to meet her brother, Shiro, and the rest of her friends down here. She sighed and let the ocean breeze whip around her. She undid her ponytail and her black hair cascaded down her back, the red highlights in it looking even more prominent than usual in the setting sun’s light. The wind blew up again making her hair whip around her face and caused her black mini skirt to push against her legs. The black singlet top with a red outline around it and a red design of a dragon complemented the skirt. Over it she wore her favourite red hoodie. Minako was pretty and she knew it. After all, her name did mean beauty. She pulled off her slippers and carried them in her hands, feeling the soft sand beneath her feet.

“Hey Mina!! Over here!!” Yelled someone.

Minako turned her head and saw a group of people sitting near the shoreline. She smiled, waved and dashed over to them.

“Hey! Hey nii-chan (A/N: Nii-chan is an affectionate term for big brother in Japanese)”

She grinned setting herself beside her big brother. Shiro gave her a quick hug and smiled. Shiro was 2 years older then her and had taken it into his responsibility to look after her from a young age. Ever since their parents died and they moved into their grandpa’s house Shiro had looked after Mina as best as he could and Mina worshipped him. He was the best big brother anyone could have. His brown hair flopped slightly over his green eyes. He had taken his jumper off and has sitting there in a short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, grinning at something somebody had said.

“Ah, the rose of all flowers has just arrived’ Tim laughed at her. Everybody gave him a funny look. The blonde looked round looked around. “What? It’s a play on her name. Barai…rose… Get it??”

“Give it up man. Not that funny.” Yuu shook his head. His spiked up hair whipped in the wind. Tim looked hurt but after a second, he gave up his charade and started pestering Shiro, who had to put up with Tim since they were seven on account of them being best friends.

Lina sighed at Tim’s idiocy while Sasha blushed never getting used to the fact that her brother has and always will embarrass her. They both leant over and gave Mina a hug.

“Got you guys something.” Mina announced pulling a box out of her bag. She opened it revealing heaven on earth to Tim and Yuu. Inside the box was rice buns. The sweet kind. The two boys dived on the box and Mina pulled it out of the way.

“Uh-uh-uh boys. Ladies first.” And passed the box to Lina right in front of Tim’s nose making him drool.

“Why? WHY? Why do you have to be such a tease!!” Tim cried. Mina just grinned evilly and passed the box round giving the two boys the last pick.

They sat there chatting and talking while eating their rice buns and enjoying the peaceful sunset for a while.

“It’s so great to finally have a few days to ourselves. School’s really getting on my nerves. I really don’t want to go back tomorrow.” Shiro sighed contently.

Lina agreed and leant her head on Shiro’s shoulder. Shiro and Lina had been going out for a week now. Everybody knew they had a crush on each other. It just took them a while to figure it out for themselves.

Mina looked at them and smiled. They were so cute together. Pulling Shiro’s jumper closer, she placed her head on top of it and looked up into the greying sky. Her Nii-chan was right. School had been kind of hectic…and kind of weird. Ever since Shiro and her had entered this competition, people have been kind of weird around them too.

‘Those who wish to enter must put in their names. Two people in your team! Remember, those who win get world renowned recognition and ONE MILLION DOLLARS! This is international competition so you will be competing against people all over the world! ‘

‘We need the money Mina. We’ve got to enter.’

‘Hey Shiro! Mina! You’re entering too. Mai and I are entering as well!’

‘You’d better move your game up a notch Tim Walker! I’m not partnering up with you unless you’re planning to win.’

‘You have to do martial arts, weaponry fighting, riddles, and puzzles all in a REAL LIFE MAZE. The maze is made out of concrete and hedges and has many puzzles waiting for you!’

“And the winners are Japan’s very own TEAM ROSE!! Toushiro and Minako Barai have beaten Kai Gyoku by a marginal difference! They’ve just become King and Queen of Games!

“Hey, I was thinking…” Mina said sitting up straight.

“That’s a first.” Tim laughed cheekily and cringed away when Mina gave him ‘The Glare.’ You don’t take Mina lightly. Being a black belt in Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Judo seemed to make her a bit more dangerous than she looks. She has a mean backhand punch.

“Why did they hold the King of Games competition?”

“Dunno… never thought about it. Well, our lives can never get boring with all the stuff we have to do.” Tim answered.

“I think it was just a publicity stunt.” Shiro turned his head down to her.

“Ugh. The media. They’re so complicated. They give me a headache.” Mina groaned, giggling slightly at the same time.

“That’s why I try not to think about that.” Tim scratched his head.

“That explains why you’re failing at school. You don’t think. Ha!”

“Hey! Just because you’re the smartest behind Kai doesn’t mean you can make fun of me.”

“Kai’s not usually there so it means that Mina is the smartest.” Sasha chimed in.

“Maybe Joey and Tristen should consider going back to high school.” Lina snorted.

Tim gave them a cute little pout and turned his back to them. Suddenly he jumped up and started brushing the sand of him and neatening himself. The rest of the gang looked to where he was staring and saw Mai. She walked up to them and stared at Joey who mumbled a weak hello.

“Hey American boy. Hey you guys! Just thought I’d join you.” She said and sat down promptly by Mina. Tim rushed to her side and immediately fell over face first on the ground. So much for making a good impression.

“She’s too pretty for ya mate. Give it up.” Yuu stage whispered in his ear loud enough for everybody to hear. Tim blushed tomato red and ducked his head down. Soon he joined in the conversation again with his stupid little comments that made everybody laugh.

Mina laid her head back onto the soft sand and sighed contently. Shiro looked down at her and smiled. He knew she loved the peace and quiet as much as he did. They both loved to just hang around with their friends and not have to worry about much. Although, he had to admit that Mina had a habit of getting into trouble and loving it. She was a feisty girl and loved to have fun. That’s what drew lots of guys to her. Shiro was a protective brother just like any other but now more than any other time. Since what happened to her and Keith.

Mina lay on the sand and listened to the conversation that was taking place. Mai, Lina and Sasha were gossiping and Tim was being an idiot as usual. Everybody loved Timmy. She had to admit though. She did have a crush on him once. And he actually was quite a good-looking guy, with his blonde hair blindingly different from everyone else. I’m totally over him of course. Tim’s a great guy and all but I have my own boyfriend now. Jordan’s an awesome guy and totally hot. And I think Shiro likes him. You never know. He knows I wont get to close to any guy anyway. After what Keith did. I wont go close to any guy again. Other than Shiro, Yuu and Tim. Shiro and Tim looked out for Mina and decided that she would go out with the guys that they approved of. Not that she cared about the rule. She’d go out with who she wanted to. Anyway Shiro was generally nice and looked at the good side of the guys (most of the time) and Tim kind of didn’t like any of the guys so it didn’t really matter.

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“Hey guys, it’s getting late and we really got to get home.” Lina yawned.

“No way! You can’t be tired! It’s only 7:15.” Yuu laughed in disbelief.

“Well, I at least do some work such as going to dance rehearsals and lessons unlike some people who laze at home and watch TV. AND we have school tomorrow.”

“Aww… Don’t remind me.” Tim moaned.

“Wait, wait. You still go to school?” Mai asked in disbelief.

“Yeah… University. You don’t go?” Shiro asked.

“Nup.” She said proudly. “I’m earning a living doing modeling. I’ve been to school once and that’s enough. I’m not going to waste a few hundred bucks just to go into more detail of what little we had leant in high school.”

“That’s a very bleak out-take on life.” Mina laughed while getting up and dusting herself off. She stretched a bit then stuck her hand out to Shiro who grabbed it and used it to help himself up. He, in turn helped Lina up.

The gang headed down towards the car park where they had parked their vehicles which were parked side by side. Mina headed up to her motorcycle. Yuu had decided that she’d love a bike and all of them pitched in and got her one for her birthday. Mina kinda got a bit obsessed with them after that. This one was a black and red Harley. The original bike that the guys had got her. She loved it like her baby. Shiro and Lina got into Shiro’s car while Sasha and Tim headed off to Tim’s car. Yuu got on his motorbike and Mai got into her car.

“Wait! Wait! Shiro Barai? Minako Barai? Tim Walker! Mai Shoten!” a voice sounded breathlessly behind them.

Shiro raised an impatient eyebrow to Mina and they both turned.

“Yes?”

“I have a package for you. It’s an invitation to a new game. It is an event of a lifetime and you wouldn’t want to miss it. Only invited contestants from the last two King of Games competition will be there so you will only be playing with the elite. All the information is in the package.” A man said all in one breath. He handed Mina and Shiro the first packages and then Tim and Mai the next two packages. There was still one package in his arm. The man swiveled his head round as if looking for someone.

“Who’s the last package for?” Shiro asked curiously.

“Kai Gyoku. Is he here?”

“No! Why would you think he was here?” Tim retorted sharply.

“Well I guess because I thought he was your friend and –“

“Well you thought wrong!” Tim answered harshly and jumped into the car. Everybody knew that Tim had never had a great relationship with Kai. They hated each other’s guts more than Mina and Kai hated each other.

Mai sniffed and walked away while Mina gave the man an apologetic look. Shiro thanked him and the man turned around and jogged off.

“What’s in the package?” Lina asked Shiro as the roar of Mina and Yuu’s bikes had died off and the others had driven away.

“I’m not too sure. I haven’t opened it yet. Its about a new gaming tournament.”

“Are you going for it?”

“I don’t even know who the game is hosted by so I won’t be sure until I read it.”

Shiro started up the engine and they cruised away to Lina’s house.

“I’ll see ya tomorrow ok?” Shiro smiled down at Lina.

“Yup!”

Shiro leant his head forwards and placed a tender kiss on her lips. She smiled when it ended and opened her door.

“Try not to stress out too much about the game ok?” She added before closing the door.

Shiro smiled and walked back to the car. When he got home, he went straight to his room only to find his sister there waiting for him, all showered and changed, with her invitation package in her hand waiting for him to get back so they could open it together.