Thank you for giving my story a chance :) Well, I've worked hard on it so far. I'll be updating every Saturday unless something comes up to where I absolutley cannot update. All of the locations I use are actual places i have looked up and they are as accurate as i can make them.

Again, thank you. Please enjoy!~

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, Takao Aoki does. Nor do I own the actual places I use in the story.

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Tap tap tap tap…. Tap tap tap tap…. Tap tap tap tap….

What's that weird tapping? Oh that's my hand. No! No fidgeting allowed! Fidgeting means that I can't think of anything to write. Come on Rei! Get those brain juices flowing! Ew brain juice. I hope they don't try to market that as some kind of energy drink… I need to get to work, this paper isn't going to write itself. I wish it would though. That would be great! Computers that could write whole essays for you to take complete credit for! This, my friend, is a perfect world. No one would even have to touch a keyboard, like the one I am currently touching. Wow have my hands always been this small? They look so dinky compared to the rest of the laptop and….

I really need to write this paper….

Well hello there inner monologue! I didn't see you there in the dark crevices of my mind. What are you doing behind the Christmas decorations? Well let me clear some things up. My name is Rei Kon, college student majoring in international affairs, ex-member of the Bladebreakers, 19 years old, and currently writing a research paper on, well, international affairs.

How does that old bat of a professor expect ten whole pages on the subject? There isn't even a textbook out there with ten pages on international affairs. Give me an American housewife cheating on her husband with a Brazilian. Now that is an international affair!

Well, as I was saying earlier, the Bladebreakers have retired from BBA tournaments. It has been almost a year now. Tyson has opened his dojo to train the next generations on how to improve their beyblading skills (and kendo skills to appease grandpa G). He and Max are both attending Musashi University. Max continues to run his father's shop out of school hours. He and Tyson have kind of partnered together to help the youngsters improve all aspects of their beyblading.

Kenny, being our little egg-head with glasses, began a study abroad program with Tokyo University right out of high school. Apparently he was offered a full scholarship before he graduated. He is studying in America, and he swears it is so he can improve his English. Yeah right. We all know it's so he can go visit the PPB headquarters whenever he wants. Judy would let him too.

As for me, I surprised everyone by getting into Tokyo University as well. I can't say that I wasn't offended by the complete shock on everyone's face when I received my letter. What? No one thinks I have brains in anything other than beyblading? I traveled the world dammit! No one could possibly know more than I do! Well you don't learn how to write essays by traveling the world, but that stuff is easy to master…. After a while….. whatever….

And Kai? Well, he's around….. Somewhere. Oh hell I don't know where he went! Sometimes he drops a line just to let us know he's not lying in a ditch with stray cats eating his eyeballs. He could be calling me from right outside my window and I wouldn't know any better! It would be even scarier if he was calling me from inside my apartment! Just like that one movie, about the white girl that was babysitting those kids and the killer gets in the house…. Was anyone else bothered by the fact that she never thought to check on the kids?

Maybe I should start seeing a therapist. I'm pretty sure talking to yourself and waiting for a reply isn't normal.

I'll back off so you can liveThat is all I can sayI'll forget you so you can live better~

I like this song… it's so pretty and the singer's voice is so nice and oh that's my ringtone. I pick up my Docomo and check who's calling. Well there's a number I don't recognize. This should be interesting. How do I answer again? Oh yea, push the button that says "answer". Been typing too long haven't you Rei?

"Hello. This is Rei."

"Hey." Someone check my pulse because I think my stomach just dropped out of my ass and jumped off the balcony. I know this voice anywhere.

"Kai… it's been a while," approximately two months, three days, and… five hours. It's not like I was waiting for his call or anything…

"It has.." ….. Oh Kai. Ever the conversationalist. Guess I'm steering this one… again. Let's see..

"How have you been?"

"Alright."

"Well as long as you're alive." (insert casual chuckle)

"Same for you." (insert awkward silence)

"Well if that's all I've got some work to finish."

"Ok. Bye."

"Bye."… Yup. That seems about right. That's how it usually carries out anyway. So here goes.

"How have you been?"

"Alright." as expected…

"Well as long as you're alive." I follow this up with my friendliest laugh as per usual.

"Same for you." And here it comes, the dreaded silence… wait a couple more seconds… annnd time for the closer!

"Well if that's all-"

"There is something else." This….. Is new… someone give me a line!

"Ah sure, what is it Kai?" Good enough.

"I might be coming back to Japan sometime soon. If I do, I need to rely on you, all of you, for something." Wait wait wait wait, BACK to Japan? When did he leave?

"You mean you left the country? When? And where are you now? What do you mean 'might' come back?" I'm sure my onslaught of questions doesn't give away my surprise.

"It doesn't matter…" no one can answer multiple questions with one statement like our Kai! "Rei can I count on you?"

Like a calculator! "Sure Kai." That works too.

"Thanks. Bye." That click must mean he hung up. Doesn't even wait for my goodbye! Asshole… I wonder what he needs from me…

I'm not worried though. I would give one of my arms, or both, if Kai needed me to. No questions asked! You don't ask questions when someone as hot as Kai tells you to do something. Especially if he was asking for a favor…. A special favor. Hell he could barge in right now and screw me on my desk until this damned paper is due and I wouldn't think twice about it. I wonder if he likes role play…

Oh did I forget to mention that? Let me take you back a couple realizations.

I, Rei Kon, am gay. Extremely. I'm more flaming than an 80-year-old's birthday cake! I've got a summer home in my closet somewhere in Narnia! I piss rainbows and watch interior design shows and, yeah. You get the picture.

But that's not all. I'm in love…

With none other than Kai Hiwatari himself. Yeah, I'm asking for it.

Tap tap tap tap…. Tap tap tap tap…. Tap tap tap tap….

I need coffee.

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"Hey sweetie, got a minute?"

This is what I get for retiring from beyblading. No tournaments means no publicity. No publicity means no one sees my face anywhere. No one seeing my face means people forget what I look like. People forgetting what I look like means people forgetting my long hair. All of this leads to creepy guys mistaking me for a girl and throwing pick-up lines my way. Beyblading had more benefits than I thought.

I ignore the creeper and continue on my way to my part-time job. Luckily beyblading also left me with enough popularity to get me a job. The manager took one look at me and practically gave himself a hernia trying to find something for me to sign. I was hired before I filled out the application!

Ego aside, I work in the care-free cafeteria at the Tokyu Department Store in Shibuya. It's an easy job and the older ladies love me. Plus, I can check out the hot guys for longer periods of time than the clothing stores. They have to actually sit and eat their food! Plenty of time for guy hunting! Too gay? Sorry, I'll tone it down.

Stepping through the glass doors I'm hit with the familiar scent of, well, Tokyu. They sell everything from clothes to bedding! All that merchandise creates a scent that can only be a department store. The smell is comforting after a boring day at Tokyo U.

"Rei-hun~ How were your classes? Did they give you too much work?" Ah sweet-ol' Sachiko, one of the cafeteria workers. Worries over me like my own mother.

"They were fine Mrs. Nakamura." Lies. "I didn't receive as much work today." All lies. I received three more papers and a presentation assignment. Plus, Professor Tashiro or, as I like to call her, Dragon-Lady harassed me again because I pronounced "established" with too much of a Chinese accent. Sorry that I am Chinese! But I won't tell Sachiko all this. Why bring down her mood? She didn't do anything to me.

"Oh that's good to hear! Hurry and get dressed now! Your shift is almost starting." Oh really? That explains why I'm here at this time. I offer her a smile before she hurries toward her work station. True fact: she makes the best crepes anywhere!

While in the locker room my mind starts to wander. It does that a lot. I should invest in a leash.

… I wonder when Kai is coming… if Kai is coming at all. What does Kai need me for? It sounded important to Kai. Or else Kai wouldn't have called… It's been two weeks since Kai called but nothing since. Blah blah Kai blah blah blah Kai blah Kai…Yeah my mind is a difficult thing to decipher.

I quickly braid my knee-length hair and pull it into a messy bun on top of my head. Then I cover it with the chef's hat they provided all of the cafeteria workers. One last mirror check.. Yeah, I'm adorable.

I make my way out of the locker room and through the kitchen when I catch sight of something delicious. Someone prepared a chocolate mousse cake for today's dessert special! I want it… It's calling me! Rei~ grab a knife and cut a slice! Forget your strife, I'm super nice!

"Ahem!"

That sounded angry! Must be directed towards me. Turning, I come face-to-face with the head chef, Sergeant Tanaka. I call him sergeant because he runs this kitchen like a Naval battleship. I swear he must have been in the military at some point.

Sergeant Grumpy is still leaning over me and breathing heavily. Me thinks he doesn't want me touching the cake. Or he doesn't like me even more today. Sergeant Grumpy hasn't liked me since I got this job and took away all of his admirers (ie: the old ladies that work here). Apparently, before I got here, he was the stove stud or whatever. I think it's all the muscle.

Giving my fakest innocent smile I hustle out of that kitchen as fast as I could. Good timing too. The dinner rush would be starting soon. And it's a Saturday. May the gods spare me today.

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I. Am. Exhausted!

Nothing but a continuous flow of teenagers stopping by after school before the weekend. Nothing but constantly chattering girls and no-good guys for the past 3 hours! Why are they eating so much anyway? Don't your families feed you?

A group of three high school girls stop in front of my station. They're looking at the menu but they keep turning away and giggling to each other about whatever they were talking about. Great. I know they're type. They'll stand there and giggle and talk about the different things on the menu but won't really choose anything. Then one of them will think they want to try something but the others in the group will shoot down her idea because the item is either too expensive, too fattening, or better somewhere else. They will then continue to flock and giggle until whoever is behind them gets pissed and orders ahead of them. They will then decide that whatever this person gets is exactly what all of them want to eat. I'm in no mood for this.

"Hello, what can I get for you?" I hope that sounded polite enough. I guess the group of pigeons just noticed that, hey, there's an actual guy waiting for us to make a damn decision! What are the odds? They look at me and then look back at each other before they… start giggling again! And this is why I'm gay.

Ok plan B. "May I recommend the Mongolian beef with broccoli or the vegetable stir-fry? They are fresh out of the kitchen." Perfect. Both are delicious, not fattening, and freshly cooked. Now they have no choice!

To my relief, one of the girls mentions that she likes vegetable stir-fry. Yes! Convert, all of you!

"But even though it's vegetables it's still stir-fried. It's greasy…" Ironically, the chubbiest girl is the one who says this. Well, go back to the pastures and munch on your grass then Bessy. Great, they've gone back to giggling. I've had about all I can take.

"Look! I'm tired! I'm hungry! Just pick something or leave!"

The group of pigeons are dumbfounded (along with a few people at the surrounding tables). The smart one, who wanted the stir-fry, suggests they eat at her house and they turn to leave. The fat one gives me a pissed-off look before leaving in a huff. Believe me, if I could get my hands around your bloated neck, I would choke you little girl!

"Rei-sweetie~ Don't worry about them, they're just silly teenagers. Mrs. Nakamura made you a crepe. Take a short break!" Fujiyama you are an ANGEL! I feel bad for having shown an angry side to my co-workers, and during work no less. But they still treat me like their own son! What would I do without these middle-aged saints? I thank her quickly and take the crepe to a nearby table. Hmm let's see what flavor.. Yes! Chocolate-banana! She knows my favorite! Now time to sit and devour- uh enjoy.

That's strange, I don't remember there being someone at this table when I sat down. No wait, they sat down after me. Get away from my crepe! Go get your own! They haven't said anything yet, and I feel eyes on me. I think it's a guy. I look up slowly and.. Yup. Definitely male. And definitely looking at me.

"Hey, I don't think you remember me." Smart boy. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll try to refresh my empty mind without further persuasion from me.

"I was here last week and I had ordered gah gah goo goo…" Ok he didn't turn into a baby, I just tuned him out. No offense, the guy isn't bad looking, I'm guessing mixed Caucasian and Japanese. I, on the other hand, am looking ever so attractive with a fork full of delicious in one hand and my mouth hanging open as I stare at him lazily. Bottom line is I'm hungry, I'm tired, I need chocolate-banana! What do you want?

"…. a movie next week." Safe to say I missed the entire purpose of this guy interrupting my amazing snack. Okay Rei, don't hurt his feelings. Try not to let him know that you weren't listening at all.

"... Wha…?" That'll fool him.

He's starting to look nervous. He's scratching his head now. Maybe if I make him uncomfortable enough he'll just go away! Alright game-plan! Now what's the most awkward- whoa whoa WHOA! There was not a hand on mine earlier!

"I'm probably coming on a little strong but I've been eyeing you for a while.." am I a designer bag? ".. and I've been wanting to ask you out for some time." Oh he's asking me out….

…. wait…

"You're asking me out?" That echo sounded a lot like my voice. Oops… poor guy didn't know what he was getting himself into. I can honestly say I have not recently been asked out by a guy, sadly. I've been hit on by plenty of males who thought I was female, but never asked on a date. Girls are a different story…

"Uh yea…. Is that okay?" He's looking around at all the other people now whispering and glancing at us. I don't care. They think he's gay, not me.

But what do I say? I haven't been in this kind of situation for a long, long, long time! Think think think…. Uh oh. He's looking expectant. He wants an answer. Come on mouth, make words.

"I'm hungry." Not those words.

"Oh! Right! I'm sorry! This must be a bad time." Never mind, he's getting up! Perfect words! I love you brain!

"I'll just, uh, give you my number and you can call me if you would like to meet up or something." He pulls out a pen from his messenger bag but can't seem to find anything to write on. I reach over and hand him a napkin from the dispenser on the table, no point in being a complete ass. He smiles in thanks and quickly slides the napkin back over to me with his written (scribbled) number on it. "Do you have a Mixi?"

Mixi? Don't only high school girls use that site? Oh yeah, he's gay.

"Uh, no. Sorry." I flash him an apologetic smile and he turns as red as Maybelline's Very Cherry 635 lip color. I have this power?

"No, that's fine. So, um, I'll see you around I guess." He starts to walk away. I don't even know his name.

"Oh by the way! I'm Matthew. Matthew Satou." Get out of my head Matthew. Might as well return the favor. "I'm Rei Kon. It was nice meeting you." Another flashy smile and he leaves looking like a dog drenched in red paint with his tail between his legs. Anyway, back to my first love, besides Kai. Chocolate-banana I've waited long enough!

"You seem popular."

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Next Chapter: Kai's return, and his proposal for the Bladebreakers.

Reviews are welcome! See you again hopefully!~