... How bizarre.

Of all the places that Kai thought he would be after his career as a beyblader, he didn't think it would be here. Waking early every morning for the past year to birds chirping rather than stale silence, he was reminded that he was some place new. He was no longer held back by militant-esque family members or work schedules. Kai Hiwatari, the infamous beyblader, was now a title of the past.

He leaned on a high counter top, and looked out of large glass doors leading to the patio. The doors faced the rising sun that had only just begun to grace the city of L.A. with its Hollywood heat. It wasn't summer yet but things were already warm enough. Kai was from Russia, after all. Anything that wasn't snowy weather was warm to him.

He was glad that he was out of there, Moscow. That place was a hell-hole, with his obsessive grandfather, Voltaire, and his good-for-nothing crony, Boris. Fucking Boris. That man was a terror to rival them all.

So, sick of it all, Kai packed up his stuff, transferred money from his Swiss family bank account into his own, and secured his own savings in a place that he would refuse to share if ever asked.

See, the bizarre part wasn't that he was living in Hollywood Hills, looking to pursue a degree at UCLA. It was that he had recently found the rest of his teammates over Facebook (he was pretty fresh with the internet), and had given them his address. Even that wasn't really the oddest part; Kai had even bought them all tickets to have them transported over for the spring break.

Kai smirked. "I must be getting soft. This is atrocious," he thought to himself. He vowed that he would never be like Voltaire- ruthless and heartless. However, that didn't mean that he was going to give up on his being the calm, although sometimes unreasonably intense one. That was who he was, and he had given up denying it.

Taking a sip from his cup of coffee, he thought back to his former teammates. What were their responses again when he had told them?

Kenny says:

Kai! So glad to hear from you. See you finally got yourself a laptop ;)

I'm thrilled and admittedly surprised that you would invite me to your Hollywood Hills home. Perfect timing, with it being spring break, really. I'm with Max, working with him and his mother at the BBA facility branch in Frisco. The plane tickets won't be necessary- we can drive down there just as well.

Can't wait to catch up with you,

Kenny.

"Kenny, being the tech nerd as usual."

Max Tate says:

Hahaha, oh my God, look who it is on Facebook! Of all people…

It's real nice of you for the invite Kai. Kenny told me about you at breakfast at work, so I'm guessing you know the plan. Can't wait to catch up!

See you soon,
M.T.

"As bubbly as always. Its been something like 5 years and he still sounds like a child, even through Facebook messages," Kai thought, turning from the splendid view to the kitchen counter-top, refilling his cup with coffee from the carafe.

Ray Kon says:

When I read "Kai Hiwatari", I could hardly believe my eyes. It's so kind of you to be inviting me, and I'd love to come. I'm guessing the other guys are headed over too? I owe you for the plane ticket, Kai. I have to be honest- without it, I'd probably have to deny your offer. I'm as broke as can be, operating from a China field school. I do charity work for a living now, so you can probably guess that I'm not getting a six-figure wage.

Can't wait,
Ray.

Kai nodded his head, sipping at the bit of coffee he had poured for himself. "Charity work? Of course- a typical Ray move. Probably teaching homeless kids how to blade."

Hilary Tachibana says:

Rock on! I need me some vacay time! School here is driving me nuts! Thanks Kai! Totally unexpected, but thanks!

She sounded loud, even through text.

And of course…

Tyson DaMasterrrr says:

FUCK YEAH, SPRING VACATIONNNNNN!

"I have a sinking feeling I may regret his coming over…" Kai muttered, putting his cup in the sink and silently making his way to his bedroom to put on a shirt and change out of pajama bottoms.

{ p r e v i e w o f t h e n e x t c h a p t e r }

Kai shook his head. He couldn't be thinking about her right now. They agreed that they had moved on- that he would try his best not to think of her faintly slanted smile when she was amused, that her hair smelled like tropical fruits, that-

"Snap out of it Kai, Jesus. It's over- it's over," Kai said to himself, turning away from his reflection. His voice echoed a little throughout the hall, sounding almost disgusted. "Over," he voiced with finality, pausing a moment, letting the last of the echo fade. As soon as it did, he carried on as if the little episode was non-existent. Love is weakness, Kai used to convince himself. Any love is weakness.