A/N Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or the Bladebreakers, but I might bring in a made up character along the way. Are we all good? Good. Then you may begin reading (just don't sue me):
To: Tyson worldchampblader
From: Ray drigerandray
Subject: RE: COME HOME OR ELSE!
Hey Tyson. I got your email yesterday. Sorry I couldn't check it sooner, but I was busy teaching my younger cousin to Beyblade.
I totally agree that the Bladebreakers have to get back in action. It's been two and a half years since we were together. I guess we've all just been too involved with our own lives. I got an email from Kai saying that he got a job in Russia, coaching a junior Beyblading team. I haven't heard from Max.
Kenny's been updating me on all of your local Beybattles. I heard about the one you lost to that kid, Timothy. I heard he whipped you like an egg-beater! Speaking 'egg-beaters', I have to get ready to go to work. I recently got a job in a little café, and I love it. E-mail me back, okay sport?
-Ray
Tyson stared at the computer screen until his eyes began to grow sore. Rubbing them, he re-read what his friend and ex-teammate had said. It's been two and a half years since we were together.
He had received the same email from Kai as well. It was a two liner, shortly telling him that he was coaching some kids in Russia, and that they were just too hasty in battle. Leave it to Kai to figure out what's wrong with a Blader's strategy in the blink of an eye.
An instant message icon flared up with a small beep in the corner of his computer screen. Max is online, it said.
Without hesitation, Tyson clicked on the box. A private chat room opened up on his screen. Sure enough, in the right hand corner, was a picture of Max with a small profile. Hurriedly Tyson typed a greeting.
Tyson: Max!
After a moment, Max replied.
Max: Hey Tyson. How are you? How are things in Japan? How is Kenny?
Tyson: Hey, hold on a sec. Even I can't answer a million questions all at once.
Max: You can ask them well enough.
Tyson: Ha ha. Anyways, I'm fine. Japan's is fine (with the exception of raised prices of food), and Kenny's fine.
Max didn't reply.
Tyson: Max? Max?
Max: Tyson, are you sure you're okay? I mean, hasn't the separation of the Bladebreakers bothered you at all?
Tyson stared at the last message. Max had hit a home run. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should he tell Max how he was really feeling? He bit his lower lip, and he had to close his eyes because they were beginning to sting from staring at the monitor.
Max: Tyson…are you still there?
Tyson: I'm here…and I think you're right. It has kind of been bothering me. I just got an email from Ray…and a note from Kai.
Max: Hilary and Kenny have been keeping in touch with me, as well as Ray. Kai…not so much. He's sent me a line or two here and there. Tyson, you're the only one that I never keep in touch with.
Tyson: You don't have an email address.
Max: I'm going to go visit you in Japan.
Tyson: WHAT?!
Max: I'm going to round up the Bladebreakers and we are going to go to Japan. And we are going to blade together.
Tyson could almost see Max's steely gaze through the computer screen.
Tyson: ………okay.
Max: It's a deal. We'll be here next week.
Tyson: NEXT WEEK! THAT'S-
Max has logged off.
Tyson: That's crazy.
After a moment, Tyson smiled. Max had grown a lot more determined and outgoing since they began blading together. He turned off his computer and propped his arms behind his head in thought.
The phone interrupted him. "Can't anyone have a moment's peace around here?" Tyson moaned, knocking his head against his desk in frustration.
"Hey dude, you okay there?" Tyson heard his grandfather shouting towards his room.
"Yes, Grandpa," Tyson replied before picking up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi, Tyson." Tyson would recognize that voice anywhere. It was his old friend, Kenny.
"Hey, Chief," Tyson said, sounding a little less than enthusiastic.
"What's wrong?"
Tyson leaned back on his chair and propped his feet on his desk. "Nothing. I was just talking to Max in a chat room. He's going to bring the Bladebreakers here next week." Tyson chuckled despite himself. "I'm just thinking about the chances of that."
There was silence on the other end.
"Chief?"
"Tyson, Max doesn't go in chat rooms. He can't. He doesn't have a connection at his place."
"Maybe he does now."
"He doesn't. I got a letter yesterday. He told me that he wished he could e-mail us or chat with us, but he can't." Kenny's voice sounded strained.
"So what are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is that that couldn't have been Max in the chat room."
"An imposter? Pretending to be Max?" Tyson sounded confused. "Why?"
"There's a major world tournament coming up," Kenny reminded Tyson.
"Uh-huh." Tyson cradled the phone between his shoulder and his ear, and picked up Dragoon. The blue-and-white blade had been perched on his desk.
"Maybe whoever this person or persons is, they're worried that you'll get back together and win the tournament. So –"
"So they want to knock the Bladebreakers out of the running!" Tyson gasped, realizing what Chief was getting at. He paused. "But how did whoever it is get the profile?"
Kenny sounded exasperated. "Ty-son. Ever since you guys became world champs, you could look anywhere on the Internet and find pictures and bios."
"And would know the members of the Bladebreakers…"
"Exactly," Kenny replied. "But, of course, that is only a theory. Perhaps Max did –"
"I need to gather the Bladebreakers," Tyson exclaimed. "For real."
"Tyson, let's not jump to conclusions…"
"Kenny, get Dizzy warmed up. We have a tournament to enter." Tyson hung up, and fit Dragoon's rip cord into his launcher. He smiled at the thought of really putting his blade to the test once again.
Hold on, folks. Chapter 2 is on its way! Keep checking back on my profile for updates.
-River J
