Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade. However, my original characters and the plot line belong to me.
Family Ties
Chapter Two
Distant Storm
x x x
She stepped into the airport from the small corridor extended from the jet. "You really do travel in style, Maxie," She said, with a grin. He nodded, and slung an arm around his newly appointed sister. "I'm really excited. What will your friends say?"
He shrugged, scratching his head. "You know, Xi, I'm not quite sure. They'll be shocked, like I said before. They'll probably think you're my girlfriend or something, until I explain. Then it'll freak them out more."
"That's what I'm here for."
"I figured." He sighted their ride, a man with a prim and proper outfit, who was waiting for him.
"Master Max," The man said, with a discreet smile. "How good it is to see you again."
The boy shook his hand, a mischievious smile coming across his face. "You know by now that I'm informal. I swear Kai hired you just because you can put on this good act like you're some proper limo driver who doubles as a butler from a sitcom. You have a sarcastic, hysterical personality."
The man nodded, catching the girl waiting silently next to him. "Max, who is this?"
"If I tell you, you can't tell anyone until I do. I don't want the entire world knowing just yet. So far, so good."
"What is such a big secret that you won't tell the world before your team mates? The world keeps secrets better than those boys and Hilary ever could."
Max shrugged and the scheuffer led them to the limo that would take them to the Granger Dojo. "I told the guys I have a surprise for them, and I think Xia here's a pretty good one."
"If you don't mind me asking, is she your girlfriend?"
Both shook their heads, trying to contain their laughter. "No, not at all, Scott." The elder man nodded. "She's my sister."
The man hit the brakes a bit to fast and all three passengers were sent forward with a jold. "Master Tate, I didn't think you had-"
"His parents adopted me when they got back together. It's odd, but I'm thrilled with it." She smiled at the old man via the rearview mirror. "Besides, someone's supposed to uproot your employer, and apparently another addition to their little group just might do it."
"Perhaps he will lighten up since someone else has joined your group, and he has no choice but to be nice if he wants Mr. Dickenson's favor again, after his side changing antics in the previous tournaments." The man turned on his blinker and made a left turn, so they were about halfway to the Dojo.
"You know," Xia piped up, "You or someone from your team should write a book called 'How To Save the World In Less Than Two Weeks.'"
The threesome began laughing. "You know, Master Max, it isn't a bad idea," Scott pressed.
"I'd say that Tyson should write it, but he has trouble writing his own name."
"You're so nice to your friends, Maxy, I swear."
Max shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. "You'll see what I mean, don't worry." Scott chuckled with the blonde.
"Don't worry, Miss Tate, you'll probably agree. Tyson and Daichi are quite a handful. They more than make up for Kai's silent nature."
"Now, now," Max said. "Don't talk bad about your employer."
Scott smirked. "Now, don't you tell me that, because I know all the bad things you all say about the 'human glacier,' or 'sourpuss.'" Max blushed.
"We'd never talk about Kai like that," The blonde pressed, a bit defensive.
Xia laughed. "Oh no." The girl leaned forward so that her head was just in front of the front passenger seat, her chin resting on it. "He only called him 'the human glacier' this morning." The group laughed while Scott pulled up in front of the Granger Dojo.
"Well now, Master and Miss Tate, this is where I leave you. I have to go pick up Master Hiwatari's back up scarf from the dry cleaners."
Xia laughed. "Thank you, Scott," she said, with a smile and a slight curtsy. He nodded and Max thanked him as well. Both took their duffel bags from the six unused seats and exited the vehicle.
Once the scheuffer was out of sight, Max grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "You're going to love it here, but it might be a bit akward at first. Don't worry, you'll get used to it, I promise. Ray and Tyson will bend over backwards to make sure you're comfortable here. Just be grateful Mom wants us to sleep at our house, otherwise you'd probably never sleep. Tyson's snoring is insane.
Max went on ahead, motioning for her to stay at around the corner of the dojo's backyard. Xia obliged, watching her brother place the bags just inside the front door silently, then sneaking around. She leaned against the blue and white building and listened carefully.
"Hey guys!" There was laughing, the sound of contact, hugs, beyblades, and a slightly akward grunt. She had to smile. That had to be Kai. Silent, inconsiderate, and from what she had seen in pictures, pretty hot. She shushed herself at that one. The last thing she needed was someone to rag on her for being a teenager. She'd heard enough bad things about Kai, so she figured she'd focus on them and keep the rest to herself.
"Maxy!" She heard her brother beg for mercy at the noogie he was receiving, and then gasp as he was enbraced by another member of the group.
There was a silence, and a feminine voice joined the group. "Wow, look at you," it echoed, merrily.
"Look at you," he said, in response. "You've grown up."
"Yeah, but her attitude hasn't changed, she's still as stubborn as ever." There was another silence. "Hey! Sorry, Hil, I'm just being honest- Ouch!"
There was a murmur that Xia could make out, something about interests not changing either. She assumed it to be in reference to Hilary and Tyson. It would make sense, the tabloids were chomping at the bit just waiting for any little inkling that the two of them would indeed become a couple.
"Guys," Max said, and Xia straightened considerably. Here it came, she figured, bracing herself. "I told you I brought a surprise for you."
There were a few comments made in excitement, and Kai decided to kick the entire timeline in the ass and get it rolling. "Just spit it out, Max."
She heard a gulp and peeked a bit around the corner. He was backing up a bit, moreso toward her. He smiled. "I want you to meet someone."
"Who? Who?" That had to be Daichi, as the voice was high pitched, young, and wild. She resisted the urge to laugh.
"Xia?"
She lifted her head to find him directly in front of him, a hand extened. Tucking some hair behind her ear, she took his hand cautiously, and allowed herself to be guided in front of the group.
"Whoa, Maxy," Tyson said, whistling a bit. Hilary knocked him on over the head. "She's hot."
She smiled at Tyson, and looked to the rest of the group who stared at her, completely floored. "Who is she?"
"This is Xia," Max said, casually.
Suddenly, Tyson's grandpa came out. "Hey little dudes, how are y'all- who's the new homie, M-Dude?"
Max smiled as Xia processed the man's lingo in her head. "Her name's Xia."
"Well," Ray put forth, "Who thought Max would be the first one with a girlfriend?"
Max shook his head, trying hard not to laugh. "No, she's not my girlfriend!" Xia laughed a bit too, catching everyone's attention.
"Come on," Daichi said slyly, "you don't have to hide it from us."
The blonde went to say something, but suddenly Xia extended a hand. "Allow me," she said quietly. "I'm definitely not his girlfriend."
"Then what are you?"
"A girl, dipshit," Hilary said. She smiled at Xi and motioned for her to continue.
"When Max's parents got back together, they kinda, um, adopted me."
"What?"
Kai looked slightly surprised for about all of a nanosecond, then retreving his facade, he settled back into his stature of icy indifference. "That means they're family, stupid," Hilary responded to Daichi's shock and horror. The brunette then took a few steps toward Xia and extended a hand. "I'm Hilary."
"Hi," she said, shaking her hand and then smiling. "I'm Xi."
Ray stepped forward next, congratulating Max and introducing himself. "Where are you from?"
She smiled. "I was born in the US, spent my childhood years in Spain and a bit of Italy, then came to Portland."
Tyson backed away. "Oh God, it's Enrique number two!" He screeched like a girl and Xia rolled her eyes.
"She fits in already," Kai said, with a shrug. "She already knows Tyson is a complete idiot."
"Enough," she said, in a Spanish accent that surprised even her brother. She never spoke in Spainish before him. "No hable."
Tyson shut up. Kai smirked. "Wow, I need to learn that one," Hilary said, with a smile. "I have a feeling we're going to get along very well."
"Well of course," Max said suddenly. Tyson glared at the girl who smiled sweetly at him. "Chill out Tyson, Xi's really cool."
"Just about as cool as Mr. Glacier over here, I'm sure."
Xi looked a bit hurt at that. "You know, little dude, you should be nice to Max's sister, 'cause I'm sure she's a groovy dudette. Catch my drift?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be nice Grandpa, jeez."
Xia stepped in. "No, it's fine, I'm cool with it. You can't force 'em to like me. I'll settle for what I can get."
"Well that's the most educated thing I've ever around here," Kai said, walking away. Max sighed.
"I think Kai might actually like you," Ray said, slinging an arm around her. "You're two for two on the compliments." She smiled, pleased with herself, though Kai's version of a compliment was rather weak.
Daichi got right up in her face. "Do you beyblade?"
She shook her head. The youngest of the group looked a bit depressed for a moment, and she smiled sympathetically, while Tyson said something vicious about how she'd never fit in if she didn't beyblade. He was then met with the fiercest of glares, coming from none other than Max himself. That was a shocker. Kai was the only one who could glare like that, that Tyson had been aware of.
"Max, chill out."
"That's okay," Daichi said, with a smile. "Hilary watches too, you can hang out with her when we practice." Hilary ruffled the boy's hair and he pushed her hand aside. "I'm thirteen, not eight, old lady."
"Hey!"
"And I was about to say that you grew up." Max shrugged. "I guess you matured... a little," He said, his anger forgotten at his sister's request, "But it didn't do much for your height." The entire gang laughed and a grunt of approval was heard from inside. Xia figured it was Kai again. He always seemed to know just what was happening.
Tucking a hand in her pocket, she was met with the cool, refreshing feel of metal against her fingertips.
'I know, I know, we don't, A voice echoed in the back of her head, But don't you want to?'
'Her eyes shut for a moment. You have no idea,' she replied silently. 'You know what would happen. I'd put them all in danger.'
'It isn't-'
'Of course not! Not you, Eden, never you. Your power is your curse, my friend.'
Her hand wrapped around the beyblade and she gave it a reassuring squeeze, her eyes opening somewhat. "So, what are we going to do?"
Hilary took her hand and led her to the steps. "We're going to watch them beybattle. Of course, we get to laugh at them when they all look like idiots, and we get to tell them to work harder. Then of course, when Kai comes out, we get to tell him how to push them around. New ideas are always welcome."
Xia nodded, smoothing out her shirt as she sat down, and resting her hand on her pocket, more specifically, over her beyblade. That was exactly what they did. Kenny and Hilary chattered about, watching and recording data on the team as they worked on their beyblading skills. She had to admit, her brother was good.
That saddened her though, because she knew, when she did fight, there'd be a consequence for not telling anyone.
'Do you know, that power, is a bad thing in like two serious cases? And ours is the first one?'
'If you're worried about the legend, don't be. Since I am in your care, I am fine. If you and I get into a brawl and we both get angry, we'll worry about it when the time comes, assuming we don't destroy each other.'
'Thanks, that's something pleasant to think about, Eden. What if we do end up in that situation? Then we'd have to explain to them about the four sacred bit beasts, you, and then figure out how to save all our asses.'
'Focus on the beyblading for now. Make sure they're up to par with our standards. Should the earth find itself in danger again, both of us will be ready. For now, make your wait worth it. I sense something very different on the horizon.'
'Change?'
'I'd suppose you'd know as well, little one. Be prepared.'
'You too.'
"Oh, hey look, here's Kai," Hilary said, watching as the captain stalked outside. The boys stopped their miscellaneous battles and focused on him.
"Tyson, you're with me. Ray, take on Max and Daichi." Xia watched with interest as Kai and Tyson began to spar, directly in front of them. Hilary cheered, providing both tips and encouragement for Tyson.
"Come on, just a little more," Hilary said, through clenched teeth.
"You've been training without us again," Tyson said to Kai, who smirked.
"I don't wait for someone to tell me to, if that's what you mean."
Kenny analyzed the computer screen. "Tyson, come on! He's gaining on you!"
The two beyblades collided in a shower of sparks. "Dragoon!"
Xia focused on Kai's beyblade. He was good when he had a clear shot at victory, but there was also the small fact that all members of his team were better as the underdog. She watched the blue beyblade spin. It's form was perfect... Almost.
"Tyson, three seconds, right flank."
Hilary and Kenny stared at her, and Tyson wasted no time getting to the right side and slamming Kai hard. Dranzer went flying, landing in the dirt. "What was that?"
"Analysis," she said, in response to Kenny's question. Kai retrieved his beyblade then padded over to her.
He glared at her, staring her directly in the eyes. She met his gaze, and Max threw an arm around her shoulder. "Leave her be, Kai, she's got good senses."
Yeah, right. That wasn't just any kind of recognition.
When he went to turn, she raised her eyebrows. "You know, next time, the attack ring should be centered better. You wouldn't have been thrown off so much by that attack." With that, she stalked away from him.
Only my grandfather's affiliates know those types of attacks. That girl knows how to beyblade.
xxxxxxxxxx
Well, the chapters are kind of short, but I'm trying to keep everything organized for now.
Review, por fabor!
x3 Distant Storm
