Author's note: First of all, a note on why I am putting this thing back up.
Yes, those of you who have seen this before, it has already been on the
net. I was under the screen name 'Hello Kitty', which was actually an
account that I shared with somebody else. However, now I have started my
own account (don't ask why, because the logistics are not necessary). All
you need to know is that Hello Kitty is now a one-worker organization, and
I am now Sherbet Mayhem. Yes, I lost all of my reviews. Sob, sob. Which is
why I need you guys to review to help me get them all back again! (Not like
there were many - just 24 for ten chapters!)
Thank you to every one who has previously reviewed this story. For those who are interested, yes, there is a sequel coming soon. In the meantime, this'll have to do. There are people I have to give credit to. Janine (yes, Janine from the story is a real life person), you're always complaining that you get no recognition. I give it to you now. You helped me write this story so much and I could never have done it without you. It is dedicated to you entirely and if I get any credit for this then it is split with you. You are a true friend and I love you a lot. (mush!)
Also a big hello and thank you to Lindsay - sorry, Bey-Girl-Nicky. A fellow writer with a heck of a lot of talent and a great personality. You are an inspiration to all writers. Never give up, and you're my best e-buddy too! Yay, e-buddies! Lol.
Another huge hello and thank you to Jessica (from Alabama - sorry, I don't know your full name! If you've already told me and I've forgotten it then I'm so sorry!). As a fellow Christian I am completely inspired by you. What little I know of your history and strength astounds me and you are fantastic. God has blessed you and you, in turn, bring a blessing upon those that you are known to. Thank you so much.
Lastly, a few points to make about Hidden Adversary. It's not slash - i.e. there is no gayness or gay activity at all. It just isn't my style - if you don't like straight stories, then just don't read it! Simple as! Hidden Adversary also contains no swearing. I'm not one for swearing, either. I like to keep my writing as clean and subtle as possible. So if you like your language coarse and rough look someplace else. Another point to make is that Hidden Adversary is already finished. You see, I complete my stories and then put them on the net. I don't really work with the chapter- by-chapter method. I might try it on the sequel. Until then, you'll have to wait.
To me, Hidden Adversary is a story about determination, passion and friendship. If you don't like love-links between the characters, well, I guess this isn't for you. Also, this story is high on detail. I like to be as vivid as I can, and so if you aren't one for description then I guess you should avoid it too. But, to be honest, I urge you to give it a try, whatever genre of story you like. Hidden Adversary is a blend of all types. There's adventure, tragedy, romance, and mystery all rolled into fourteen lengthy chapters. It's not a story for the faint-hearted. It is, however, a story for the Beyblade fanatic - more accurately, a story for the Kai fanatic. He is the central character. I've tried to keep the characters as similar to how they would portrayed on the show as possible.
This has been a very long author's note, hasn't it? Well, last point. I'm open to any kind of criticism that you may have. I believe that the reader's point of view is the essential one that should not be missed. Flame me if you like - because each reader is entitled to his or her own point of view, and I'm not afraid to hear it. Construction would be nice, though. Or praise. I like praise. Praise is good!
Well, that's about it from me. If you have any queries or comments, e-mail me at reiko_hiwatari@hotmail.com. Or you could just review them to me. Your choice! Well, enjoy Hidden Adversary. As for the whole disclaimer thing, er, well, I own nothing. Except a small box of wood-chipping. So you can't sue me. On with the story! (By the way, none of the other author's notes will EVER be this long! Just in case you were worrying!)
Chapter One: Meetings and Greetings
"Attention passengers. The plane has landed safely. We hope you enjoyed your flight. Please dispose of all your litter in the nearest trash disposal unit. Thank you for flying with us. Good bye and good luck!"
The flight attendant stopped speaking and the intercom crackled. There was a short silence while the passengers took in what she said, and then chatter broke out all over the plane.
There were seven passengers on the plane (a private hire) - two of them old men and five of them teenage boys. One of the men spoke.
"Well boys, that certainly was an enjoyable flight," he said with a very well spoken accent. Mr Dickinson was a very prestigious man - not only was he the original founder of the Blade-Breakers, but he was also the founder of the BBA - the Beyblading Association. He was a short, dumpy man - similar to the guy on the Monopoly Board with the black tux and bowler hat.
The other older man laughed. He was very oddly dressed - he was wearing a fisherman's hat, a pair of baggy brown shorts and a multicoloured Hawaiian style T-Shirt. For an old guy, he looked kind of strange.
"Dude, it was totally buggin'! Those pretzels they fed me, well, man, they had to be at least as old as I am! What a flim-flam!" That was Gramps - or Mr Granger.
The boy behind Gramps groaned. "Grandpa, why d'you have to talk like that? Please be a normal Grandpa! I'm beggin' you!"
I suppose that now is as good a time as any to introduce you to the Blade-Breakers, the team of renowned and talented young Beybladers who had recently stormed the Beyblading world with much success. But first, let me tell you a little about Beyblading . . .
Beyblading is a sport, in a way, but is also an art. Beyblading was first developed in ancient Japan. It is a game, where each player has a launcher and a Beyblade - which is a small, spinning thing built up of attack and defence rings to help it sustain its balance. The object of the game is to stop the opponent's Beyblade from spinning by knocking it over or hitting it out of the ring; the ring is usually referred to as the 'dish' as that is just what the rings are - dishes. Some are just plain dishes, but some are decorated and are very unusual.
In the centre of each Beyblade, which is shaped like a miniature spinning top, can be found a Bit-Beast. This is a powerful tag, if you like, which has the ability to strengthen a Beyblade and increase it's moves and capacity. Bit-Beasts are legendary and rare, and are actually spirits of living things trapped inside a seal. There'll be more on Bit- Beasts later. But now back to the Blade-Breakers.
The boy who spoke was Tyson. Tyson was the loudest Beyblader on the team. He was very sociable and very positive, and had a very tough Bit- Beast named Dragoon - a huge blue dragon with a lot of intensity and vigour behind it. He wasn't particularly clever and ate way too much, but was daring and an extrovert, and always was up for a new challenge. His grandfather trained him in martial arts and tried his best to teach him patience and wisdom, but Tyson was rather too buoyant for this. He lived to Beyblade and was always the first to accept a challenge from an outsider. Known to most as the lucky rookie player of the team, he was unpredictable in the game and was admired for his resolve and determination to succeed. He was tall and quite handsome for a kid his age, with spiky hair and a spherical, open, pleasant face. Tyson worked with a youthful quality, and had an appetite for life. He wanted to be the greatest he could be.
Max was Tyson's best friend. Pale, flecked and impish looking, Max was quite new to the Beyblading world. However he had taken up the challenge efficiently and was an expert, having helped his team to win both the Asian Tournament and the American Tournament. He, too, had a Bit-Beast, called Draciel. He specialised in defensive manoeuvres. His mother managed a different Beyblading team, the All Stars, whom they had battled at the American tournament. However this didn't stop Max from holding a lot of admiration for his mother and he always did his best to make her proud. His dad owned a Beyblade repair shop so he was good at piecing together Beyblades. Max was a devoted, reliable and steadfast friend to Tyson and was a very hyperactive boy, so he did well in the spirited, heart stopping sport of Beyblading.
His name may have suggested it, but the Chief - or Kenny - was not the team Captain. He did not own a Beyblade - he had done but it had been destroyed beyond repair a long time ago. He specialised in finding out opponent's strategies and helping his teammates work their Beyblades to a higher level. He did all this with the help of his highly advanced computer laptop, named Dizzi - actually, Dizzi was a Bit-Beast trapped inside his laptop, and she frequently reminded Kenny of the fact that he put her in there. The Chief was also a master of physics, and so he was an expert Beyblade repairman. He was small with big, light brown hair that flopped over his eyes so you couldn't see them. He avoided taking hazards in life if he could but was not cowardice - on the contrary, he was a quick thinker who, if he could stay composed, was likely to be able to find a way out of any situation.
Rei had Beybladed for almost all of his life. He had once belonged to a championship team called the White Tigers, but he had decided to make a move to a new team. He was an asset to the Blade-Breakers, his flair, aptitude and intellect being welcome refreshment from Tyson's brash antics. He was quiet and trustworthy, and had an incredibly strong Bit-Beast, Driger, which was a giant white and green tiger. Rei essentially loved to Beyblade, being known as an extremely capable competitor in the sport. All the girls who were Blade fans adored Rei, not just because of his floppy black hair and striking fine looks, but also because of his direct, welcoming and realistic personality. However he seemed to be taken by an old teammate of his when he was part of the White Tigers; a sweet young Beyblader with a lot of talent called Mariah, who had grown up in Rei's hometown and had been mentored by him for years.
Last came Kai, the team Captain. Kai had grown up in a sombre and conventional background with his grandfather. He had once been the leader of a streetwise Beyblading gang called the Blade-Sharks, but he had been convinced that he would be at an advantage in the Blade-Breakers. He was usually withdrawn and quiet, seeming to think his teammates beneath him, and preferring silence to clamour, shadows to illumination, and loneliness to camaraderie. However, underneath his unsmiling appearance, he had a worthy heart, and if the motivation was there, he would try to help anybody if he could - usually by giving counsel. Although not intellectually outstanding, he was extremely quick and incisive, and was frequently the one who thought of solutions to problems. He definitely cared a lot about his team, making sure they avoided trouble where possible - even though he would hate to divulge that. He was undeniably the most evenly composed player on the team, his attack, defence and balance skills being equal and at an extreme standard. His Bit-Beast, Dranzer, a red phoenix, was exceptionally formidable. Kai wasn't the most likeable of people. In fact, most of the time he was blatantly hostile. Despite this, any girl who knew anything about the Beyblading world went giddy over him, purely because of his greyish floppy hair with shadowy sapphire at the back, his chocolate eyes, his dangerous smile, and his powerfully built body, which he tended to exhibit (inadvertently) with a body-hugging black tank top.
So now that you know a little of what's going on, we can get back to the story. The Blade-Breakers and the two chaperones were chatting about the flight when the door opened and they were free to get off. Tyson, excited, ran out onto the steps, in a hurry to see what it was like outside, but then dived back in.
"Arghhh! It's freezing out there! Why is it so warm on this plane?"
"Because they have the heating on!" giggled the Chief, watching Tyson rubbing his hands together, "And you'll have to wait until we have our bags till you can get a jacket! It was you who insisted that you were tough enough to face the cold of the poles, so Iceland should be a breeze!"
Tyson shivered. "Darn."
Max grinned, sporting a cheeky dimple. "It's ok, Tyson, I have a spare jacket I can lend you. I packed two - I get cold easily!" The goose pimples were already raised on Max's slim arms but he said nothing.
Tyson beamed at Max gratefully. "Thanks bud!"
Rei chuckled. "Let's get outside and see what it's like. I don't think Tyson saw much on his last visit!"
He strolled over to the door, pulling on a light blue denim jacket as he did so. He poked his head out and looked around.
"Woah, guys, come and look!"
The Blade-Breakers all gathered on the stairs leading down from the plane. The view was stunning. They had finally landed - after an eight-hour flight - in the deserted section of Iceland, a vast desert of snow and ice, where a spectacular Beyblading tournament was being held. Tyson looked beyond the quiet airport to the glistening dunes and snowy flats of the land. He had imagined it to be cracked, and made out of icebergs and slushy dark blue water. But it was a huge plain of fresh, soft, creamy snow. The sun was shining vividly and the snowy caps of the undulating dunes were iridescent in the morning light. The air was more crisp than cold, and Max blew a smoke ring in it.
"I'm gonna love it here!" he said happily, looking around in awe. Strangely enough, the airport seemed deserted - their plane was the only one on the runway. There weren't any other passengers in sight, let alone other Beybladers. They couldn't even see many crewmembers or airport staff.
"It's so quiet," said Kenny, opening Dizzi, his laptop. She spoke vivaciously.
"Hey there Chief - oh, it's cold out there! You'd better be careful, my screen might freeze!"
"Dizzi, the Master of all puns."
"Mistress."
The Chief rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I just wanna put this in our day to day diary. It'll be nice to remember this view a few years on. What a view."
"I'm more interested in where the other Beybladers are," said Kai, speaking for the first time since he had gotten onto the plane, his low, smooth voice slicing the brittle air, "I don't see anybody."
"Relax, Kai!" grinned Tyson, who, it must be said, reviled Kai and was unloved back. "This is a holiday too, you know. Chill out."
He realised the joke he had just made and laughed. "Chill out! Get it? Man, I am funny!"
Max sighed. "Yeah, funny. That's the cheapest thing I've heard in years, Tyson!"
Tyson blushed, despite the cold weather. "Hmm."
The kids decided to make their way down the steps. A crewmember handed them their bags as soon as they made it into the terminal and Tyson dug deep into his for his extra jacket - even though it was slightly too small for him - which was similar to the one he wore in colour but had more pockets on it. Kai too, who had not worn one on the plane, took out a navy blue jacket with a cool looking hood on it and pulled it on over his bare arms.
Mr Granger and Mr Dickinson went to ask for details about what was happening, and the Blade-Breakers wandered around in the shops in the airport.
"What's 'Flændüg'?" asked Max, leafing through a gamer's magazine in one shop. He, Tyson and Kenny wandered around the game shops, and Kai and Rei wandered into a small Beyblade repair shop. It was dark and dank. They looked at the parts and read all the posters on the walls in what little light there was in there.
"Like Beyblades, eh boys?" came a strange voice. Kai and Rei turned around and saw an old man at the counter. He was very strange indeed. He was gaunt - his eyes were squinted underneath his huge brow and he had very little hair left. A small grey curl wisped on the top of his head. His hands were gnarled and skeletal and his chin was large. He was wearing a sort of blackish cloak and spoke in a disturbing voice (mixed with his strange drawl). But most startling were his eyes. They were intense azure - not true blue - and he almost looked as if he was wearing contacts. But somehow, he didn't seem the type.
"Um, yeah," ventured Rei, a little apprehensively, "Yeah, we're on a Beyblading team. We're here to fight in The Extreme Tournament."
"Oh yes . . . " mused the man, his voice guttural and curious, "Yes, I remember. Are you by any chance from the Blade-Breakers?"
Rei smiled respectfully, while Kai turned back to the Beyblade posters.
"Yes," said Rei, "We are. You've heard of us?"
The man nodded and came from behind the counter. He walked laboriously and dragged one of his legs gracelessly. There was a strange impression coming from him.
"The Blade-Breakers. I am honoured."
Rei concurred, smiling politely for a second time, not quite feeling secure talking to the bizarre man. The man introduced himself.
"My name is Mr Hondo - but you can call me Bill if you like. Everybody calls me Bill. Everybody."
Rei was positively getting the shivers. The man had been coming nearer and nearer as he was talking. He turned swiftly to Kai. "Yeah, well, we'd better go. Right?"
Before Kai could retort, the man spoke. "Your friend didn't seem too involved in our little conversation."
Rei shrugged. "He never is."
Kai spoke. "We should find the others."
The man stared hard at Kai, wrinkling one of his eyes and sniffing. "Well, if that's how you feel, then don't stay and talk. Mr Hondo'll be fine all alone . . . "
He began to make his way back to the other end of his shop, and Kai was entirely content to leave him to his isolation - after all, he had gotten used to it after a while. But Rei felt guilty and he looked at Kai pleadingly.
"Let's keep the guy company. He's strange, but I feel kinda mean leavin' him alone like that."
Kai rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Whatever. But we can't be too long."
Rei nodded and raised his voice. "Mr . . . Mr Hondo? Bill? Um, I have a question . . . "
The man turned around and engaged in a conversation with Rei, obviously pleased to be in good company. Rei was trouble-free, easy going and a good talker, and was pleasant to speak to. Kai didn't say a word. He started leafing through some books on Beyblading in silence. They were all dog-eared and one of them had a lifeless bug in it.
"Uh," he muttered in disgust as he slid it back onto the shelf, raising a small cloud of dust. He wrinkled his nose and turned back to Rei, to listen to him and Bill natter.
"So . . . you like to Blade. When I was a kid, Rei, we used to Blade all the time . . . "
Kai was about to turn back to the disgusting books when he did a double take and looked back at Bill sharply.
"How does he know Rei's name?" he mused, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, "He could have watched us fight in the tournaments on TV, but even so, he wasn't even sure if we were from the Blade-Breakers a second ago! And we never introduced ourselves! What's his game?"
He decided to test the man. "Um, Bill?" he said loudly, disturbing Bill and Rei's 'interesting' conversation about Blading on a cattle ranch in Texas, "Um . . . I was wondering . . . do you have any books on Bit- Beasts?"
Bill hobbled over, and Kai observed Rei's astonished stare. Bill squinted at Kai.
"Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, Kai, you have a lot of interest in Bit-Beasts, don't you?"
Kai was startled but he didn't show it. Instead he nodded. "Yeah. So you got any books or what?"
Bill ambled slowly over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book from the top that Kai hadn't been able to quite reach. A cloud of dust fell on their head, coating their hair and penetrating their throats. When it cleared, Bill coughed a raspy, old man's cough and handed him the book.
"Thanks."
Bill returned to Rei, who sighed and pretended to look interested. Kai began to leaf through the book absently, not reading what was in it.
"Something's going on here . . . " he thought as he turned the pages. Abruptly, something fell out. It was a petite sheet of fresh paper, and it landed at his feet. Quickly glancing at Bill to make sure he hadn't noticed anything happen, Kai picked up the paper. His eyes widened when he read it, his pupils contracting sharply.
"Rei, we're leaving."
Rei looked up as if stunned from sleep. "Huh?"
"Now."
Bill looked disappointed. "But Rei and I-"
"Now."
Rei followed Kai in bewilderment, giving Bill a brief apology as they left. Once they got outside into the light again, Rei grabbed Kai's arm.
"What was all that about?"
Kai frowned at him. "We need to find the others, Rei."
Rei nodded, still confused. Kai turned back to the shop and found that Bill was watching them, his blue eyes glinting oddly and his mouth curled up in a small, creepy sort of smile. Kai scowled as Bill winked. He turned quickly, his scarf trailing behind him, and followed Rei towards the other shop where Tyson, Max and Kenny were still puzzling over 'Flændüg'.
Thank you to every one who has previously reviewed this story. For those who are interested, yes, there is a sequel coming soon. In the meantime, this'll have to do. There are people I have to give credit to. Janine (yes, Janine from the story is a real life person), you're always complaining that you get no recognition. I give it to you now. You helped me write this story so much and I could never have done it without you. It is dedicated to you entirely and if I get any credit for this then it is split with you. You are a true friend and I love you a lot. (mush!)
Also a big hello and thank you to Lindsay - sorry, Bey-Girl-Nicky. A fellow writer with a heck of a lot of talent and a great personality. You are an inspiration to all writers. Never give up, and you're my best e-buddy too! Yay, e-buddies! Lol.
Another huge hello and thank you to Jessica (from Alabama - sorry, I don't know your full name! If you've already told me and I've forgotten it then I'm so sorry!). As a fellow Christian I am completely inspired by you. What little I know of your history and strength astounds me and you are fantastic. God has blessed you and you, in turn, bring a blessing upon those that you are known to. Thank you so much.
Lastly, a few points to make about Hidden Adversary. It's not slash - i.e. there is no gayness or gay activity at all. It just isn't my style - if you don't like straight stories, then just don't read it! Simple as! Hidden Adversary also contains no swearing. I'm not one for swearing, either. I like to keep my writing as clean and subtle as possible. So if you like your language coarse and rough look someplace else. Another point to make is that Hidden Adversary is already finished. You see, I complete my stories and then put them on the net. I don't really work with the chapter- by-chapter method. I might try it on the sequel. Until then, you'll have to wait.
To me, Hidden Adversary is a story about determination, passion and friendship. If you don't like love-links between the characters, well, I guess this isn't for you. Also, this story is high on detail. I like to be as vivid as I can, and so if you aren't one for description then I guess you should avoid it too. But, to be honest, I urge you to give it a try, whatever genre of story you like. Hidden Adversary is a blend of all types. There's adventure, tragedy, romance, and mystery all rolled into fourteen lengthy chapters. It's not a story for the faint-hearted. It is, however, a story for the Beyblade fanatic - more accurately, a story for the Kai fanatic. He is the central character. I've tried to keep the characters as similar to how they would portrayed on the show as possible.
This has been a very long author's note, hasn't it? Well, last point. I'm open to any kind of criticism that you may have. I believe that the reader's point of view is the essential one that should not be missed. Flame me if you like - because each reader is entitled to his or her own point of view, and I'm not afraid to hear it. Construction would be nice, though. Or praise. I like praise. Praise is good!
Well, that's about it from me. If you have any queries or comments, e-mail me at reiko_hiwatari@hotmail.com. Or you could just review them to me. Your choice! Well, enjoy Hidden Adversary. As for the whole disclaimer thing, er, well, I own nothing. Except a small box of wood-chipping. So you can't sue me. On with the story! (By the way, none of the other author's notes will EVER be this long! Just in case you were worrying!)
Chapter One: Meetings and Greetings
"Attention passengers. The plane has landed safely. We hope you enjoyed your flight. Please dispose of all your litter in the nearest trash disposal unit. Thank you for flying with us. Good bye and good luck!"
The flight attendant stopped speaking and the intercom crackled. There was a short silence while the passengers took in what she said, and then chatter broke out all over the plane.
There were seven passengers on the plane (a private hire) - two of them old men and five of them teenage boys. One of the men spoke.
"Well boys, that certainly was an enjoyable flight," he said with a very well spoken accent. Mr Dickinson was a very prestigious man - not only was he the original founder of the Blade-Breakers, but he was also the founder of the BBA - the Beyblading Association. He was a short, dumpy man - similar to the guy on the Monopoly Board with the black tux and bowler hat.
The other older man laughed. He was very oddly dressed - he was wearing a fisherman's hat, a pair of baggy brown shorts and a multicoloured Hawaiian style T-Shirt. For an old guy, he looked kind of strange.
"Dude, it was totally buggin'! Those pretzels they fed me, well, man, they had to be at least as old as I am! What a flim-flam!" That was Gramps - or Mr Granger.
The boy behind Gramps groaned. "Grandpa, why d'you have to talk like that? Please be a normal Grandpa! I'm beggin' you!"
I suppose that now is as good a time as any to introduce you to the Blade-Breakers, the team of renowned and talented young Beybladers who had recently stormed the Beyblading world with much success. But first, let me tell you a little about Beyblading . . .
Beyblading is a sport, in a way, but is also an art. Beyblading was first developed in ancient Japan. It is a game, where each player has a launcher and a Beyblade - which is a small, spinning thing built up of attack and defence rings to help it sustain its balance. The object of the game is to stop the opponent's Beyblade from spinning by knocking it over or hitting it out of the ring; the ring is usually referred to as the 'dish' as that is just what the rings are - dishes. Some are just plain dishes, but some are decorated and are very unusual.
In the centre of each Beyblade, which is shaped like a miniature spinning top, can be found a Bit-Beast. This is a powerful tag, if you like, which has the ability to strengthen a Beyblade and increase it's moves and capacity. Bit-Beasts are legendary and rare, and are actually spirits of living things trapped inside a seal. There'll be more on Bit- Beasts later. But now back to the Blade-Breakers.
The boy who spoke was Tyson. Tyson was the loudest Beyblader on the team. He was very sociable and very positive, and had a very tough Bit- Beast named Dragoon - a huge blue dragon with a lot of intensity and vigour behind it. He wasn't particularly clever and ate way too much, but was daring and an extrovert, and always was up for a new challenge. His grandfather trained him in martial arts and tried his best to teach him patience and wisdom, but Tyson was rather too buoyant for this. He lived to Beyblade and was always the first to accept a challenge from an outsider. Known to most as the lucky rookie player of the team, he was unpredictable in the game and was admired for his resolve and determination to succeed. He was tall and quite handsome for a kid his age, with spiky hair and a spherical, open, pleasant face. Tyson worked with a youthful quality, and had an appetite for life. He wanted to be the greatest he could be.
Max was Tyson's best friend. Pale, flecked and impish looking, Max was quite new to the Beyblading world. However he had taken up the challenge efficiently and was an expert, having helped his team to win both the Asian Tournament and the American Tournament. He, too, had a Bit-Beast, called Draciel. He specialised in defensive manoeuvres. His mother managed a different Beyblading team, the All Stars, whom they had battled at the American tournament. However this didn't stop Max from holding a lot of admiration for his mother and he always did his best to make her proud. His dad owned a Beyblade repair shop so he was good at piecing together Beyblades. Max was a devoted, reliable and steadfast friend to Tyson and was a very hyperactive boy, so he did well in the spirited, heart stopping sport of Beyblading.
His name may have suggested it, but the Chief - or Kenny - was not the team Captain. He did not own a Beyblade - he had done but it had been destroyed beyond repair a long time ago. He specialised in finding out opponent's strategies and helping his teammates work their Beyblades to a higher level. He did all this with the help of his highly advanced computer laptop, named Dizzi - actually, Dizzi was a Bit-Beast trapped inside his laptop, and she frequently reminded Kenny of the fact that he put her in there. The Chief was also a master of physics, and so he was an expert Beyblade repairman. He was small with big, light brown hair that flopped over his eyes so you couldn't see them. He avoided taking hazards in life if he could but was not cowardice - on the contrary, he was a quick thinker who, if he could stay composed, was likely to be able to find a way out of any situation.
Rei had Beybladed for almost all of his life. He had once belonged to a championship team called the White Tigers, but he had decided to make a move to a new team. He was an asset to the Blade-Breakers, his flair, aptitude and intellect being welcome refreshment from Tyson's brash antics. He was quiet and trustworthy, and had an incredibly strong Bit-Beast, Driger, which was a giant white and green tiger. Rei essentially loved to Beyblade, being known as an extremely capable competitor in the sport. All the girls who were Blade fans adored Rei, not just because of his floppy black hair and striking fine looks, but also because of his direct, welcoming and realistic personality. However he seemed to be taken by an old teammate of his when he was part of the White Tigers; a sweet young Beyblader with a lot of talent called Mariah, who had grown up in Rei's hometown and had been mentored by him for years.
Last came Kai, the team Captain. Kai had grown up in a sombre and conventional background with his grandfather. He had once been the leader of a streetwise Beyblading gang called the Blade-Sharks, but he had been convinced that he would be at an advantage in the Blade-Breakers. He was usually withdrawn and quiet, seeming to think his teammates beneath him, and preferring silence to clamour, shadows to illumination, and loneliness to camaraderie. However, underneath his unsmiling appearance, he had a worthy heart, and if the motivation was there, he would try to help anybody if he could - usually by giving counsel. Although not intellectually outstanding, he was extremely quick and incisive, and was frequently the one who thought of solutions to problems. He definitely cared a lot about his team, making sure they avoided trouble where possible - even though he would hate to divulge that. He was undeniably the most evenly composed player on the team, his attack, defence and balance skills being equal and at an extreme standard. His Bit-Beast, Dranzer, a red phoenix, was exceptionally formidable. Kai wasn't the most likeable of people. In fact, most of the time he was blatantly hostile. Despite this, any girl who knew anything about the Beyblading world went giddy over him, purely because of his greyish floppy hair with shadowy sapphire at the back, his chocolate eyes, his dangerous smile, and his powerfully built body, which he tended to exhibit (inadvertently) with a body-hugging black tank top.
So now that you know a little of what's going on, we can get back to the story. The Blade-Breakers and the two chaperones were chatting about the flight when the door opened and they were free to get off. Tyson, excited, ran out onto the steps, in a hurry to see what it was like outside, but then dived back in.
"Arghhh! It's freezing out there! Why is it so warm on this plane?"
"Because they have the heating on!" giggled the Chief, watching Tyson rubbing his hands together, "And you'll have to wait until we have our bags till you can get a jacket! It was you who insisted that you were tough enough to face the cold of the poles, so Iceland should be a breeze!"
Tyson shivered. "Darn."
Max grinned, sporting a cheeky dimple. "It's ok, Tyson, I have a spare jacket I can lend you. I packed two - I get cold easily!" The goose pimples were already raised on Max's slim arms but he said nothing.
Tyson beamed at Max gratefully. "Thanks bud!"
Rei chuckled. "Let's get outside and see what it's like. I don't think Tyson saw much on his last visit!"
He strolled over to the door, pulling on a light blue denim jacket as he did so. He poked his head out and looked around.
"Woah, guys, come and look!"
The Blade-Breakers all gathered on the stairs leading down from the plane. The view was stunning. They had finally landed - after an eight-hour flight - in the deserted section of Iceland, a vast desert of snow and ice, where a spectacular Beyblading tournament was being held. Tyson looked beyond the quiet airport to the glistening dunes and snowy flats of the land. He had imagined it to be cracked, and made out of icebergs and slushy dark blue water. But it was a huge plain of fresh, soft, creamy snow. The sun was shining vividly and the snowy caps of the undulating dunes were iridescent in the morning light. The air was more crisp than cold, and Max blew a smoke ring in it.
"I'm gonna love it here!" he said happily, looking around in awe. Strangely enough, the airport seemed deserted - their plane was the only one on the runway. There weren't any other passengers in sight, let alone other Beybladers. They couldn't even see many crewmembers or airport staff.
"It's so quiet," said Kenny, opening Dizzi, his laptop. She spoke vivaciously.
"Hey there Chief - oh, it's cold out there! You'd better be careful, my screen might freeze!"
"Dizzi, the Master of all puns."
"Mistress."
The Chief rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I just wanna put this in our day to day diary. It'll be nice to remember this view a few years on. What a view."
"I'm more interested in where the other Beybladers are," said Kai, speaking for the first time since he had gotten onto the plane, his low, smooth voice slicing the brittle air, "I don't see anybody."
"Relax, Kai!" grinned Tyson, who, it must be said, reviled Kai and was unloved back. "This is a holiday too, you know. Chill out."
He realised the joke he had just made and laughed. "Chill out! Get it? Man, I am funny!"
Max sighed. "Yeah, funny. That's the cheapest thing I've heard in years, Tyson!"
Tyson blushed, despite the cold weather. "Hmm."
The kids decided to make their way down the steps. A crewmember handed them their bags as soon as they made it into the terminal and Tyson dug deep into his for his extra jacket - even though it was slightly too small for him - which was similar to the one he wore in colour but had more pockets on it. Kai too, who had not worn one on the plane, took out a navy blue jacket with a cool looking hood on it and pulled it on over his bare arms.
Mr Granger and Mr Dickinson went to ask for details about what was happening, and the Blade-Breakers wandered around in the shops in the airport.
"What's 'Flændüg'?" asked Max, leafing through a gamer's magazine in one shop. He, Tyson and Kenny wandered around the game shops, and Kai and Rei wandered into a small Beyblade repair shop. It was dark and dank. They looked at the parts and read all the posters on the walls in what little light there was in there.
"Like Beyblades, eh boys?" came a strange voice. Kai and Rei turned around and saw an old man at the counter. He was very strange indeed. He was gaunt - his eyes were squinted underneath his huge brow and he had very little hair left. A small grey curl wisped on the top of his head. His hands were gnarled and skeletal and his chin was large. He was wearing a sort of blackish cloak and spoke in a disturbing voice (mixed with his strange drawl). But most startling were his eyes. They were intense azure - not true blue - and he almost looked as if he was wearing contacts. But somehow, he didn't seem the type.
"Um, yeah," ventured Rei, a little apprehensively, "Yeah, we're on a Beyblading team. We're here to fight in The Extreme Tournament."
"Oh yes . . . " mused the man, his voice guttural and curious, "Yes, I remember. Are you by any chance from the Blade-Breakers?"
Rei smiled respectfully, while Kai turned back to the Beyblade posters.
"Yes," said Rei, "We are. You've heard of us?"
The man nodded and came from behind the counter. He walked laboriously and dragged one of his legs gracelessly. There was a strange impression coming from him.
"The Blade-Breakers. I am honoured."
Rei concurred, smiling politely for a second time, not quite feeling secure talking to the bizarre man. The man introduced himself.
"My name is Mr Hondo - but you can call me Bill if you like. Everybody calls me Bill. Everybody."
Rei was positively getting the shivers. The man had been coming nearer and nearer as he was talking. He turned swiftly to Kai. "Yeah, well, we'd better go. Right?"
Before Kai could retort, the man spoke. "Your friend didn't seem too involved in our little conversation."
Rei shrugged. "He never is."
Kai spoke. "We should find the others."
The man stared hard at Kai, wrinkling one of his eyes and sniffing. "Well, if that's how you feel, then don't stay and talk. Mr Hondo'll be fine all alone . . . "
He began to make his way back to the other end of his shop, and Kai was entirely content to leave him to his isolation - after all, he had gotten used to it after a while. But Rei felt guilty and he looked at Kai pleadingly.
"Let's keep the guy company. He's strange, but I feel kinda mean leavin' him alone like that."
Kai rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Whatever. But we can't be too long."
Rei nodded and raised his voice. "Mr . . . Mr Hondo? Bill? Um, I have a question . . . "
The man turned around and engaged in a conversation with Rei, obviously pleased to be in good company. Rei was trouble-free, easy going and a good talker, and was pleasant to speak to. Kai didn't say a word. He started leafing through some books on Beyblading in silence. They were all dog-eared and one of them had a lifeless bug in it.
"Uh," he muttered in disgust as he slid it back onto the shelf, raising a small cloud of dust. He wrinkled his nose and turned back to Rei, to listen to him and Bill natter.
"So . . . you like to Blade. When I was a kid, Rei, we used to Blade all the time . . . "
Kai was about to turn back to the disgusting books when he did a double take and looked back at Bill sharply.
"How does he know Rei's name?" he mused, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, "He could have watched us fight in the tournaments on TV, but even so, he wasn't even sure if we were from the Blade-Breakers a second ago! And we never introduced ourselves! What's his game?"
He decided to test the man. "Um, Bill?" he said loudly, disturbing Bill and Rei's 'interesting' conversation about Blading on a cattle ranch in Texas, "Um . . . I was wondering . . . do you have any books on Bit- Beasts?"
Bill hobbled over, and Kai observed Rei's astonished stare. Bill squinted at Kai.
"Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, Kai, you have a lot of interest in Bit-Beasts, don't you?"
Kai was startled but he didn't show it. Instead he nodded. "Yeah. So you got any books or what?"
Bill ambled slowly over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book from the top that Kai hadn't been able to quite reach. A cloud of dust fell on their head, coating their hair and penetrating their throats. When it cleared, Bill coughed a raspy, old man's cough and handed him the book.
"Thanks."
Bill returned to Rei, who sighed and pretended to look interested. Kai began to leaf through the book absently, not reading what was in it.
"Something's going on here . . . " he thought as he turned the pages. Abruptly, something fell out. It was a petite sheet of fresh paper, and it landed at his feet. Quickly glancing at Bill to make sure he hadn't noticed anything happen, Kai picked up the paper. His eyes widened when he read it, his pupils contracting sharply.
"Rei, we're leaving."
Rei looked up as if stunned from sleep. "Huh?"
"Now."
Bill looked disappointed. "But Rei and I-"
"Now."
Rei followed Kai in bewilderment, giving Bill a brief apology as they left. Once they got outside into the light again, Rei grabbed Kai's arm.
"What was all that about?"
Kai frowned at him. "We need to find the others, Rei."
Rei nodded, still confused. Kai turned back to the shop and found that Bill was watching them, his blue eyes glinting oddly and his mouth curled up in a small, creepy sort of smile. Kai scowled as Bill winked. He turned quickly, his scarf trailing behind him, and followed Rei towards the other shop where Tyson, Max and Kenny were still puzzling over 'Flændüg'.