(A.N for the record, everything in this story is copyrighted to me, except for the characters from Beyblade, and the concept of the game. This story takes place three years after everything else. One year after its prequel, and two years after the G Revolution incidents. Please excuse me if I have personalities of certain characters incorrect, for I've not seen the last Beyblade series just yet. Anyhow, it's a little different, but I hope you enjoy.)

BEYBLADE

EMOTION

CHAPTER ONE

A DIFFERENT START

Waking up on this particular morning was one of the hardest things he'd had to do the entire week. With an arm bent against the firm mattress, hand buried within sheets of silken white, he pushed himself into a sit and let his head droop, slate-grey tendrils of hair creating the most insane multitude of shadows upon his face. They slid across the contours of each cheek, passing along his skin like rippling waterfalls of darkness, until each strand of shadow etched itself in just the right places to accentuate the shape of his face.

What happened two years ago? Why can't I remember the events that took place?

The young man stood and walked across the marble flooring, his sorrel eyes shifting in the dim light provided from the rising sun outside. For the most part, his living quarters were relatively neat and cozy. Blankets, sheets, pillows, chairs and a bed all made hiding a worthwhile ordeal. He had no idea what it was he was hiding from exactly, but he knew that he didn't want himself seen by it.

As far as the teenager's appearance went, he seemed relatively trim. The hair on his head was neatly kept, bangs from the front tucked behind either ear with stray tendrils floating across his vision, a long white shirt hugging his lean body as if it were indeed a second skin -though seeming loose fitting at the same time-, and dark baggy cargo pants, which kept his legs comfortably warm. All he needed then, was a suit jacket and he'd be able to enter a restaurant of high class: but that wasn't his concern, or problem, nor did he wish to make it so as he slipped the silken length of a scarf around his neck.

The wooden door crept open with the push of his hand to reveal a dark and narrow hallway, which he poked his head out to gaze at. Not a single person was awake other than himself. They were all still hiding in the confinements of their dormitories, and for the first time in his eighteen years of life, he felt truly alone. For the first time, his solitary surroundings bothered the emotionless walls of his mind, creating thoughts of doubt and worry; but they were only fleeting thoughts.

This sucks.

Kai ventured into the area of the hall and turned left of his room, one leg moving in front of the other as he walked upon the dark-crimson carpet. Slowing to a stop at the end of the stretch of flooring, the young man lifted a hand to rake each digit through his hair, a silent sigh soon after emitted from his lips. It was still relatively early; therefore, the darkness shrouding the atmosphere provided him some comfort, as he stood there motionless.

What a day.

He read four passed seven on the clock ahead of him as it hung above the exit, and continued on his way. The young man finally reached the outside world and cast a vigilant glance at his surroundings. After a brief moment of wavering decision, he stepped out onto the cold concrete and began his short travel out of the alleyway, only to be stopped by the feel of a square hand upon his shoulder.

What now?

Kai turned his head and shifted his orbs into the corner of his eyelids, peering at the culprit through his peripheral vision. Turns out, the crimson-haired teen known as Tala was the owner of the hand, and as the former's eyes perused his face, he lowered his hand from his shoulder and returned it to his side.

"What?"
Tala stepped forward, revealing his form to be enveloped by deep maroon-hued robes, which hung over a tight body suit of black leather. "Come now, Kai. Must you be so hostile?"

Kai gave his head a brief shake and shrugged his shoulder as he began into the shadows; though the other teenager's voice lilting through the air made him pause.

"I wouldn't go that way if I were you."

The slate-haired teen halted in his steps and once again directed his eyes over his shoulder. "And you say that because...?"

Shifting his weight into one leg, Tala leaned toward the left and folded both arms across his chest, a thin brow rising as he spoke. "Kai, there's an ambush waiting for you at the end of this alley. Go north, and you'll surely meet it." A sadistic gleam flickered through his cerulean eyes, threatening to spill into a most noticeable expression.

Kai's body turned into a rigid frozenness of muscle, bone and flesh, the only thing to indicate his surprise. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Yes. If you don't, you'll die." The other teenager adopted a casual demeanor, his eyes shifting from Kai's head to the end of the alley. "I suppose I can't stop you, however." He was obviously attempting to help the younger teenager; even his voice harbored tones of a curious sort of concern.

Kai raised a brow as he listened to the other boy's words. "Are y'sure about that?" He turned around to face Tala, only to realize that the other former blader had disappeared from sight. "Hn."

Sixty more meters and Kai would find himself at the end of the alley, but as he turned his head back to the front, a slight feeling of hesitation began to build within his stomach. Was there really an ambush waiting for him? He was just about ready to keep himself still when something told him to move. Quickly, the young man pushed himself into a forward dash and skidded to a halt three meters away from his previous location, turning back to glance through the morning clouds.

As soon as he had gained focus on the fog's blurry body, a silhouetted form burst through the mist and landed before him, the blade of its scythe cutting into the cement mere inches from Kai's right foot. He blinked at the weapon and instinctively took a step back, eyes almost wide enough to convey his surprise -almost.

The figure rose from its landing position, which had been a crouch, and let loose a dry chuckle, tones twisted into malicious hatred as a singular word sifted through breathy air. "Kai..."

Kai peered thoughtfully at the figure for a moment, eyes narrowing in imperceptible thought. "Don't wear it out."

Another chuckle followed, this one filled with more depth and warmth. " Still the same humorous boy, I see."

The teenager raised a brow as a glint of light caught the emerald hue of the figure's hair, outlining the overshadowed areas of its visage. "Who are you?"

The stranger stepped forward into a more lit area of the alley, forcing himself closer to Kai's body, though he still remained a good three feet away. He lifted an arm and curled his bony digits around the hilt of his scythe, pulling it out of the ground. Once it was clear of all cement and flooring, he held the weapon horizontally and peered passed the metallic blade, crimson eyes glimmering in the reflection.

"Tomoshu."

Tala was right. Why the heck didn't I listen to him? Maybe because I hadn't seem him in over two years, maybe that's why... Hnf.

Tomoshu took another step forward and Kai held his ground, no matter how much he wanted to do otherwise. The aforementioned boy came to an elaborately slow stop in front of the latter and bent an arm in front of him, sliding a single digit beneath the stray tendril of emerald hair that had fallen out of place. He lowered his head very slightly as a smile creased his features, and let his eyes droop closed upon speaking to the other boy.

"Yes, Kai. Do you know why I've returned?" The tone of Tomoshu's voice was drenched with sadism, nicely hidden, however, beneath a thin layer of cheery happiness.

Kai began to twitch inside from the discomfort of the situation, keeping a collected demeanor about him as he parted his lips to reply. "I can hardly begin t'guess."

"Well... Would you like me to explain?"

The taller teenager took a fourth step forward, which finally made Kai decide to move back. He hated being smothered by anyone and everyone, most of all his enemies and rivals. The former lifted a hand and held it out to the slate-blader's body, awaiting the return gesture.

"Join Boris, Kai.... He wishes for your talents."

The eighteen year old raised a brow and couldn't help but keep the surprise he felt, hidden.

Hn. Boris wants my talents, does he? He always wants my talents. No matter how hard he tries, he can never create anyone as powerful as me.

Kai remained silent as if he were awaiting more words to pass through Tomoshu's mouth, and for a long while, nothing else came. The other blader finally broke the silence when he lifted his other hand and reached out with all digits to grasp at Kai's face, causing the younger teen to take another step back, which inevitably led him to notice the presence of someone behind him. He turned his head to allow a full gaze over his shoulder, line of vision falling upon the outline of ginger hair, which obviously led him to gaze upon the overshadowed figure.

"Brooklyn."

Brooklyn took a step forward to close the distance between Kai and himself, a simple nod the only thing send at the latter to convey his reply. Kai jerked his gaze back to Tomoshu and let his eyes drift over the other blader's visage, narrowing in imperceptible thought as the other dropped his hands to his sides.

"Brooklyn was kind enough to show me your location, Kai." He began. "Apparently you weren't hard to find."

"Not hard at all." The tones of the other's voice lingered through the air until they passed Kai's ears from behind.

"Beyblade's finished, Tomoshu." Kai retorted: his eyes focused on the jade -haired former blader before him.

"Yes..." Tomoshu stepped forward again, closing the gap between himself and Kai. "...But our bit-beasts are still flying strong, my friend."

Kai raised a brow, ignoring Brooklyn's presence for the time being. He had an inkling he knew what Tomoshu was talking about, knew something about the bit-beasts still being in use despite the lack of beyblades.

(A.NSorry the chapter is so painfully short. I really couldn't think to fit anything else in the story AND have the cliffhanger. The others will be longer, I promise.)