Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade, however, some of the original characters, and the plot line belongs to me.

Family Ties

Chapter One

Distant Storm

x x x

Max Tate ran a hand through his spiky blonde hair, and put on a pretty happy smile. He had been waiting months for this event. His parents had decided, with his consent of course, upon their getting back together, that they were going to do something drastic. The American beyblading champion had to agree with that. This was very drastic, but a great way to say that they definitely were going to make sure things worked this time. Their story would have two happy endings by the time they were through.

"We're going to go into the lobby and talk to Mrs. Peters. You can hang around here and see if you find anyone you particularly connect with."

The boy nodded, blinking once as his parents separated from him. Here they were, at the entrance of the Saint Joseph's Boarding School, in a spot on the Earth known as Portland, Oregon, USA. Basically, this was an orphanage and a boarding school rolled up in one. He kind of felt bad for all the occupants, some had no parents because of illness, disasters, or because they didn't want their children. He felt like he was going to pick out a pet, and all these kids were on display. He wouldn't be looking in this place if his mother hadn't decided to take the mini job, nine months of research in the B.B.A. labs here in Portland. The city was beautiful, he had to admit, and he enjoyed the weather as well. Not to mention the fresh air. It was just like his home, and he wouldn't mind living here when he eventually got his own place.

Max rounded a corner of the hall, finding a few guys. He wasn't sure how he'd quite know who would work, who he'd like to have as his brother or sister. A brother, his age or younger would be cool, they'd all get along well with the guys, hopefully. Although, having a sister would be cool. None of his friends had sisters, unless you counted that Li guy from the White Tiger X team. Well, there was Meriam too... his thoughts became momentarily off topic, and he had to shake his head to get the blue haired girl out of his mind. He'd have to deal with that issue later too.

After an hour of countless conversations in which kids were obsessed with him, being the American champ, he began to feel a bit depressed. He'd talked to what seemed like a hundred people, and none of them seemed to click with his personality. He sighed and took a seat on one of the benches in the hallway outside the café.

"Overwhelming, heh?" A person said from next to him. A girl, definitely, if you judged by the voice. "Probably worse since you're a big shot, right?"

He looked at her, however, she was still looking ahead, her hair blocking her face. "Yeah, kinda," he admitted. "Must suck to be here."

"You learn to deal," she said, with a smile. She turned her head to look at him, and he swore he was staring into a mirror. She had his eyes for sure. They were the exact same color, and she had a charming smile, that seemed to make her eyes dance in excitement. "Xia," she said, when he didn't stop staring.

"Huh? What?"

"My name, it's Xia," she said, with a laugh. "People call me Xi. And yeah, same eyes. People tell me that all the time. I say you're a copy cat."

"I beg to differ," he said, with a smile. "And I'm Max."

"Really? I had no idea, you're only the most adored person in the country." She extended a hand and he shook it. "Looking for a sibling?"

"Uh huh." He nodded, and glanced around at the large amount of kids coming and going.

She pointed to a light blunette walking down the corridor."Well, Jimmy's pretty cool, he's a pretty good beyblader, but he has one heck of an appetite. We call him Tyson sometimes, just because he's a bottomless pit. And Lisa, she's pretty sporty, soccer's her thing, and she's pretty nice. She's real competitive." She motioned to a blonde that had just passed by.

Max nodded. "What about you?"

"I'm one of those bratty kids with a horrible past, but a surprisingly sunny disposition. I've been here for like four years or something now. People hear that I've had a problematic past, so it's kinda a turn off." She shrugged. "Anywho, if you don't mind me asking, have you found anyone you clicked with yet?"

He shrugged. "Not really." She nodded in understanding, her golden brown hair bobbing a bit from it's length at her mid back.

"It'll happen soon, don't worry. A ton of people say that." She leaned back, putting her hands behind her head until she was against the wall. "This place isn't that bad though, everyone's always nice though."

"So, Miss Optimistic, do you beyblade?"

She froze a bit. "I used to," she said, quietly.

"Oh." He looked a bit remorseful at her response. For him too, that was a major bad thing. Blading was his life. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Don't get me wrong, Max, I love beyblading. It's kinda my past though. Someday I'll take it back up. For now I just give advice." She smiled. "You're a kick ass beyblader yourself. I'll never forget your battle at the last championship. It was amazing."

"So you're a Kai type?"

"With a lot of optimism. I face my demons. Well, almost all of them. The blading thing's a work in progress."

"I'm sure you'll come out eventually. I understand though."

She smiled beautifully. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

She stood up and stretched, then turned to look down the corridor's opposite side, from where it bent upon the entrances to the cafeteria. The girl glanced around, and caught sight of the blonde woman who looked like a scientist with a man who she could recognize as the boy next to her's father. "Well, I'll see you around, Max, it was nice meeting you."

He nodded, a bit confused, but shook her hand again. She turned and walked away.

"So," Judy said, with a smile. "Did you meet anyone special?"

Max smiled. "Yeah." He looked down the corridor to the lone figure walking toward the double doors at the end of the hallway. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey, Xi!" He yelled. "Come back here!"

She turned, and the light from one of the windows hit her face, making her olive complexion radiant, and her eyes shimmer angelically. She looked confused for a moment. "Yes?"

"I want you to meet some people." She nodded, and for the moment, all was silent, with the exception of the Catholic school girl uniform clad brunette walking down the hall, her heels clicking against the tiled floors. Max drew an arm around her, and she looked at him, surprise on her features. "Mom, Dad, this is Xia."

"Hi honey," His mother said, extending a hand. She smiled and took it, looking up at the woman who gasped. Max laughed, and both he and Xia said the next line at the same time.

"I know, same eyes." They both burst out into laughter.

"Max, what're you thinking?" His father asked.

"I'm thinking that we should ask her," he said, a smile gracing his face, "If she'd like to become a member of our family."

Xia did a complete double take. "Whoa, hold up. Me?"

"Yes, you. Unless you have a twin around here that I was just talking to."

"Nope, I'm the only Xia here." Max dropped the arm around her and held her hand. "And I am completely stunned here."

"Good. Me too. I didn't think I'd click with someone when I was just about at the end of my rope. Now come on."

"Yes," His father chimed. "It's time for lunch. We passed a place just down the street, why don't you come with us? It'll give us a bit of time to get to know you better."

x x x

"Aww, come on, Maxie, what do you mean you aren't going to be back for a while? You said your mom'd be done with her job in two weeks and then you'd be coming back!"

Max sighed. "Something came up, Tyson. I promise, it's a good thing. We've got to stay for a few months longer. Then we're coming back. I promise!"

"You better hope Kai doesn't kill me by then! He's been staying at my place since the last tournament, and I swear he gets moodier and more on my case by the day!"

"You say that every time I call."

"But it's true!"

There was a knock at the American's door. "Sorry, uhh... my friend's here, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later, okay? And tell sourpuss I said hi."

"Thanks, way to abandon me."

"You're welcome," He said, hanging up the phone and rolling over onto his back on the twin bed.

"Who was that, if you don't mind me asking?" She said, her golden brown hair tucked behind her ears, and her eyes meeting his.

"God, I do mind." She frowned, and he laughed. "I'm just messing around. I was talking to Tyson."

Xia nodded and sat down next to him. "Have you told them?"

He shook his head. "Nah. I'm going to surprise them. Even Kai'll be shocked."

She giggled. "You make it sound like it's going to be such a practical joke." She paused and traced the outline of his quilt pattern. "I'm glad I can help you pull one over them, but come on, let's go do something. I want to go do something!" her voice was exasperated and dragged out, as though she were dieing from boredom.

It had been a month since she had first met Max, and the two had pretty much been inseparable. He had introduced her to the PPB All-Starz, and they had become fast friends. Emily and Xia occasionally went shopping, and she gave the boys tips on their blading skills, though she hadn't once launched a beyblade in the time he had known her.

"I was going to go train. Want to watch?" Max had learned, after one unsuccessful attempt, not to force her into beyblading.

"Why not," she said, getting up with him. "Are the All-Starz coming?"

"Nah, they're with my mom at the lab. I'm planning on having a real battle with Michael before we leave for Bakuten in a little while, so I figure I should train."

"I'll help," she offered, following him out the door and into the kitchen, sliding on her brown jacket and heading for the door with him. "Dad, we'll be back in a little while," she called behind her.

She had no problems with refering to the Tate's as her family. It had taken them about twenty minutes to decide that they'd be honored if she took their last name as her own, and she had agreed enthusiastically.

Max motioned for her to follow, which she did, until they came to the park. The leaves were in a vibrant green state in the June weather. It was still pretty cool here, as jackets were still needed, but the air was refreshing. "I love it here, really. After being in Japan though, you'll really like it. You'll want to stay there for just about ever." He drew out his beyblade and launcher, leaning back a bit to stretch.

"That's awesome," she said, watching him do his launch and a jumbled array of different positions and patterns with the green top. "Max, you're a little loose on your defense ring."

He looked up at her, shock on his features, and recalled his blade. "I didn't see any- wow, you're right," He said, clicking the ring back into it's rightful place. "I didn't even see that, how'd you know?"

She leaned against the tree. "It was once my job to know. I was taught just about everything about detecting other people's flaws and holes in their blading.

"You definitely are a Kai type. Just watch, his ass falls in love with you."

"From what I've heard, if he has a relationship, he's going to keep it underwraps, and if you think he's going to fall in love with me, I think you've gone off the deep end. Tyson-style."

"Tyson's always been off the deep end, there's never been an action for it. Don't worry though, I'll give you a ten second warning if I decide to go insane."

She nodded. "Thanks, it's always appreciated."

"I'd bet."

x x x

"You little brat! I said to come here, and when I tell you to do something, you listen!"

Crack.

"If there's anything you decide to pick up here, you bitch, I suggest you learn to respect your elders!"

Crack.

"No one will save you now, little girl. You're too far away for them to hear you. So scream. I dare you."

Crack.

"I won't."

Crack.

She stood before the man, as a mess of bloody ruin that used to be a child. Her eyes sparked in amusement at the man's treatment of her. She was used to it. So used to it. Now it didn't matter. If he was going to kill her, well, she'd be just peachy with that. She'd never have to go back. Never. And that would be great.

"What did you just say to me?"

"I won't." She repeated. She held herself out, her exposed back to him. "I dare you. Kill me."

"You're only ten years old, and you'd like me to kill you?" He smiled maliciously. "As much as I'd be obliged to carry out your request, I believe there's more for you yet." He paused, spinning her around towards him, and giving her shaking bloody form a once over. "Three hundred launches. When you're done, you can clean up the mess hall. And after that," He said, with a sneer, "come back to me. I'm sure there's more you can do before you'll give into me."


"I won't."

Crack.

x x x

Xia shot upward, her breathing shallow and her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Well, she thought, what am I supposed to dream about? Rainbows? Ha ha, that'll never happen. She felt guilty, but she'd keep her darkened past-reality to herself, even if it meant dealing with these horrible dreams each night.

Perhaps, some night, she'd dream of Ashton, her first real friend, and the good times they had shared. Or perhaps when she had these dreams, she'd be saved from the monsters who were still out there tormenting people. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself, half of her still underneath the quilt.

Or maybe, when she had this dream, the cracks of the whip wouldn't sound so God damned real.

"Xi?"

She gulped, not knowing anyone else was there when she held herself, and rocked back and forth. "Yeah?" She asked lightly, her voice weaker than she had hoped for.

"Are you okay?" She nodded, as Judy came into the room and sat on at her side. "I heard you tossing and turning in here, I just wanted to make sure you're alright."

"Yeah, just a bad dream."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"It's a long story."

She nodded. "Have you told Max?"

Xia shook her head, her hair pulled back behind her, but messy from what she figured had been her thrashing, trying to get away from the whip. It was always how it was. She'd try and try, but she hadn't moved as a child, so she'd never move in the dream. "It's a lot like Kai's history, he's got enough to deal with, with him."

"Come on," Judy said, extending a hand and drawing the girl up from the bed. Xia took it and let herself be led to the den, and onto one of the couches. "I've got today off, so let's hear. Then we'll worry about getting some sleep."

"I'm not so sure you want to hear this," She said to her mother-figure. "It's not exactly something nice."

"I'll manage." Her voice became quieter. "Go ahead."

She nodded and decided, at that moment, if the woman was going to become her mother, the mother she had never had, she'd have to tell her everything. "Alright. Well, they told you that they don't know who my parent's are, right?" Judy nodded. "My parents gave me up, because they didn't want me." Judy took her hand, and stroked it. Xia felt bad. If Judy thought this was the worst part, she was saidly mistaken. "That's what I was told, and I never asked questions. I was taken to a place in Spain, and I spent a few months in Italy. The place in Spain was called 'The School,' and I went there when I was about three. It was hell on earth, and a lot like the abbey, except for the person running it. There was no middle man, if you know what I mean."

"What?" She looked shocked, like she had been punched in the stomach.

"Voltaire Hiwatari ran that place, and it was for children with nothing except for beyblading. Voltaire never killed anyone's parents if you went here. You were given up, and that was the beauty of his scheme. The Abbey kids knew their parents, so their training started out much less severe. Ours started at a brutal pace, and of course, we got the punsishment regiment twice as bad as anyone like Kai or the Demolition boys or whatever." Xia paused. "I don't like telling people this," she said, quietly. "The doctors know, because when I finally ran away, I had to go to somewhere where I'd be safe. I went to the only place I could, and that was the B.B.A." She took a deep breath. "I actually, in my twelve-year-old glory, passed out right into the arms of the chairman, who was the one who figured it out."

Judy made a face, and Xia felt that she'd have to explain. "They'd whip you if you didn't do as told, lashings, ectetera. At one point, they had a spike tipped whip. They liked that one, but I was good when they had it. Then I broke it." She smiled at Judy. "Dickenson helped me get to Saint Joes Acad., and promised me that when I was ready, I could come back to see him, and that we'd see about a league for me. I haven't heard from him since. The last time I beybladed, it was because he asked to see what they'd taught me. Even then, it was horrible. I hated the tests, all they did was bring up the memories.

The woman opened her arms, and Xia crawled across the couch to be wrapped up in the them. "I have a feeling that's the edited version, huh?"

She nodded, and without her consent, she realized that she had been shaking, and was now crying into her newly appointed mother's arms. "Wow, I'm sorry," She said, after a few minutes. She wiped away a tear. "I feel like a baby."

"Oh please," Judy said, squeezing her tightly. "Don't ever feel like a baby. I've always told Max that if his friend Kai did this, he'd probably be a hell of a lot less moody and a lot better off."

"Now that's hard to imagine."

She smiled. "Tell me about it."

Xia nodded, and got up. "If I'm going to tell you this the right way, there's something I have to show you." She ran to her room silently and came back, pressing something into her mother's hands.

The woman gasped in awe at the beaten up beyblade. It was a white color, with curved blades that made the top bigger than the rest of it, but the center looked like it was made up of liquid metal. "Is this yours?" It began to glow viciously, as if defensive at the touch of the woman's hands against the blade. Standing beside her, it illuminated the girl, whose highlights appeared in the eerie silver light.

"Yes." She paused, talking the blade from her mother. "Eden. It's alright. She's family." After a moment, the molten liquid began to glow and took shape into a creature. "Mom, this is my bit beast."

Her mother trembled a bit, for she had heard the legends. She looked up at her soon to be official daughter. "The titan of destruction."

Xia nodded. "Eden."

x x x

Author's Note: This one's pretty short. Not very good either...

So review, and hopefully we'll have a quick update coming up!

x3 Distant Storm