Disclaimer - I do not own the characters of this fanfiction, they are all the rightful property of Takao Aoki.
The sun was shining over the city, the breezes were gently tugging the clothing of its inhabitants. Every corner of the city was illuminated by the sunlight as it was reflected from countless beyblades. Dozens of beybladers had taken to the streets to train, to practice, to trade, and to hopefully one day become the world champion. The few who weren't training were the Bladebreakers - the last world beyblade tournament was behind them once again as was the BEGA tournament, it was their time to relax or so it should've been. In the backyard of the Granger Dojo, Daichi and Tyson were attacking one another in a feat of beyblades while the remaining members of their illustrious team were resting in the backyard.
The fight had started, with a challenge from Daichi who wanted to beat the world beyblade champion and thus become a champion himself. This was very typical, ever since the end of the championships Tyson would be occasionally challenged by the local beybladers, with the most consistent one being Daichi. The stout red headed beyblader faced on his taller blue haired teammate, watching their beyblades and their bit-beast counterparts attack each other with increasing velocity and power. It was a usual scene, enough so that the other Bladebreakers were doing their own tasks.
Kenny, the brains of the group was off to the side, sitting in the shade of the dojo, with Hilary looking into his computer while his bit-beast Dizzi was replaying the footage from the last championship and encoded all of the details, as well stats of each combatant and beyblade into its memory. Max worked on his beyblade alone near the edge of the patio, weighing it each time as he changed the shield rings – to ensure maximum defense but not to inhibit its speed greatly. Hiro was sitting with his and Tyson's grandfather, Ryu overlooking the two beyblades battle it out. Ray and Kai were sitting by tree, both no longer aware of the eternal battle that consistently happened. The stoic beyblader was atop one of the braches looking upward into the skies while the neko-jin Bladebreaker was sitting against tree, looking up towards the sunlight passing through the leaves of the tree.
"Hey Kai,"
"What is it?" Shifting his vision, he stared down at his teammate. Ray didn't notice though because the sun was behind Kai's face. All he could see was the proud beyblader's silhouette, while Kai could see every detail of Ray's face, from the symbol of yin and yang that he wore everyday to the bright depths of his gold cat like eyes.
"I don't know. The last tournament is over and BEGA is now gone," replied the quiet wielder of Dranzer.
"Will you be going back to the Blitzkrieg Boys now that our job here is done?"
"Are you thinking about going back to the White Tigers?" replied the older youth without answering the nekojin's question. In truth he had thought about it, he had thought about going back to his new team in a new attempt to become the new world champion whenever the next world tournament came.
"I won't be going back, I miss the White Tigers but I know I belong here with the Bladebreakers." Unaware that Kai could see his face, he smiled openly into the air. "I'm happier with you, Tyson, and Max, just like how it was when we first met. I'm happy with the others too but the four of us, went through things together that the others can't understand."
"What would happen if any of the four of us left?" The question hung in the air, Ray's smile faltered but it didn't disappear. Looking downwards, away from Kai's eyes, he answered,
"I would be sad for a while, but that's life – besides the four of us have been reunited many times in the past, it is likely that the four of us will remain in contact wherever we go. If you do go back to the Blitzkrieg Boys, send me a card. I'll come visit you."
Jumping down from the tree, Kai landed in front of Ray and stared him down, his blue-grey eyes staring into the younger bladers feline pupils. "I didn't say I was leaving anytime soon, you're not getting rid of me that easily." Saying that he walked away, headed for the inside of the Granger residence with his scarf flowing behind him.
"I'm glad to hear that," replied Ray to Kai's retreating figure, unaware of the small smile that spread on Kai's face when he heard that.
Clang!
That was the sound of Strato-Dragoon being knocked out of the battle stadium again by Tyson's Dragoon. What should've ended the conflict, became a bigger conflict as Daichi challenged Tyson another time.
"Kai! Ray! It's your week to make dinner, go to the grocers to get what you need! Max, Kenny and I will be going to the park to test out Max's new beyblade," shouted Hilary, with Max and Kenny heading towards the sidewalk.
Kai and Ray looked at each other, both unsure of what to make for the night but in actuality were very relieved to leave the Granger Dojo at the moment. Ever since Daichi and Tyson had restarted their match, everyone else was hoping to get away from their constant cries for their bit-beasts. However the only ones who could escape were the five of them, Hiro and Ryu had to remain in case any of the beyblades destroyed their property. Kai and Ray initially had nowhere to go and were ready to slip out when no one noticed but since Hilary mentioned it, they might as well go get the grocery for tonight's dinner while sparing their ears. The champions and their friends went their separate way, while neither Tyson nor Daichi noticed.
The pair walked in silence, while other beybladers revered them from a far. No one dared to challenge Ray or Kai, the blue haired teen was known for being relentless as well as swift when administering defeat, while the black haired teen was too well liked by everyone in the neighbourhood. They continued to walk down the stone paved path, both enjoying the temporary silence that was created after leaving the dojo.
"Kai, what are you going to make tonight?"
"I don't know. What are you planning?"
"I don't know either, do you have any suggestion?"
"It doesn't matter what we make, as long as it's edible. Only we will notice the taste anyways."
Ray laughed out loud his pony tail swinging with mirth. It was more or less true, out of all of the Bladebreakers, only Kai and Ray had the most experienced palette, both having paid attention to what they ate at every place they had gone to. Daichi and Tyson were okay with eating anything – they never really noticed the hard work that went into their food, unless it had to do with how fast it came out of the kitchen. Max and Hilary were more partial to North American food, Kenny to noodles, and both Hiro and Ryu were much like Tyson but with more dignity.
"Then which of my dishes do you like the most?" asked black haired teen, since it was clear that the out of all of them only Kai would be the one really tasting his food.
"Whichever one is easier for you to make, how about you? What would you like to eat?" Kai attempted to appear nonchalant, but deep down he did want to know what Ray liked most from his cooking.
"I'll make stir fried rice with deep fried crab dumplings, I noticed you tend to go for seconds whenever I make either of those two dishes. I prefer your raw seafood dishes especially sushi."
Kai was shocked that that Ray with his cooking experience enjoyed some of his dishes and was as equally shocked that Ray had noticed his desire for the fore mentioned dishes. He hadn't been aware that his companion had read him so in depth. Lost in their thoughts the two of them continued to walk towards the grocers.
The two of them didn't notice the shadow behind the light post detach itself and follow after them.
"Hey guys, did you hear that?" asked Hilary in a slightly panicky voice.
"Hear what?" asked the two that she was with.
The three of them had arrived in the park shortly after saying good bye to Ray and Kai. It wasn't that far off from the dojo, if one were to step on to the slide or climb up one of the taller trees, they could easily see the backyard of the Granger residence. Max was running maneuvers with Draciel while Kenny and Dizzi carefully analyzed the speed and rotation of Max's bit-beast infused beyblade. Hilary had been sitting on the swings watching the two from afar when she heard something.
"I heard a voice, saying 'Max'."
"It's probably one of the other beybladers who wanted to talk to Max," replied Kenny without looking away from his screen.
"Haven't you both noticed that we're the only three still in the park? The other beybladers left a long time ago, there's not even a bird here, no chirping or any natural sounds." She was right - the park was devoid of anything moving save the three of them. Even in the bright sunlight, there was something eerie going on in the park. There was no voice though, the three still agreed to leave as quickly as possible.
Departing the park, they didn't realize the five figures that followed after them.
Author's comment: Please review as you like if you have any constructive criticisms.