Author's Notes: Well, I've got this story pretty much mapped out. Each chapter is in four parts, and I plan on incorporating some point of view.

HOWEVER: I have absolutely no idea pairings wise. I could make it Kai/Hil, Ty/Hil, Kai/Oc, Bryan/Oc, Tala/Hil, ANYTHING YOU WANT, JUST REVIEW. I SHALL DO WHAT YOU WANT THIS TIME AROUND. UNLESS YOU DON'T TELL ME, AND THEN I WILL END UP DOING WHAT I WANT WITHOUT ANY CARES AS TO IF YOU LIKE THE PAIRING CHOICES. (pokes fingers together) I would like to make it Kaioc though... ah well, I'll go for your decisions.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot, and my Oc.

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Today As We Know It

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I'm not exactly sure where everything fits into place. Where I fit into place. Because when I left that Abbey, things went spiraling out of control. I mean, Kai lost control of Black Dranzer, had his memories erased, and ended up on a championship team as a captain. Then he went on a side-switching frenzy. God, I wanted to strangle him.

Then there was the rest of the group, who stayed together. Which was good, but up until the time Kai found them, the bastards were evil darkness lovers. I'm not sure if that's an oxymoron or not, but I know it wasn't good. They aren't that way now, thankfully. I felt so bad when I watched Tala get the crap beaten out of him by Garland.

I'll never tell anyone this, so long as I live, but I went to that hospital. I saw Dranzer's beyblade sitting there next to him, I saw my friend's fragile state. I was scared to death, but there was nothing I could do. The doctors were kicking me out as fast as I had shown up, and I knew Mr. Dickenson wasn't going to be able to do much now. So I did the first thing I could. I snuck into B.E.G.A. headquarters and totaled everyone I could find.

Then Tyson's brother Hiro showed up. I guess I learned where Tyson got it from, but he wasn't all that tough. I beat the crap out of him and his Drigger-look-alike and took off, destroying the rest of the training center the way it had been revealed that Kai had totaled the abbey. It was fun, I'll tell you that much. And I was on the right side.

But before B.E.G.A., I had a part in the B.B.A. I was the US champ the year before Max, and at that point in time, Mr. Dickenson had asked me to work for some of the tournaments the years after. So I saw all the fights. And I'll be damned that no one recognized me. But in the B.B.A. jacket, I guess it's kind of hard.

Speaking of which, I guess that they never thought I'd grow up into a 'girl.' I was always 'one of the guys,' not the 'girl.' Of course, when we were at the abbey that would be inferiority... But now, I think that most of the female bladers kick major ass.

There's one other thing I learned. I have a family. Holy crap, no one in the abbey has a family. Well, I've done my research, and apparently I have one. My mom was sixteen when I was born, my dad was eighteen. From what my guess is, they either didn't want me, or they couldn't keep me. Probably a combination of both. I have a sister. With my last name, so we've got to be related. Though in today's society, you can't be sure. Other than that, I don't really pay attention. I've seen a picture of her, and you'd never guess who she is. Or maybe you would, I don't know.

I guess my life has been a lot of me learning that I know absolutely nothing. All my old friends and I are two worlds apart, it wouldn't matter if we were sitting next to each other. They wouldn't know me. I guess that's better for them, though. Ah well, I'm getting it a little by little.

When I looked at the clock, it said three thirty. Time for my ass to get to the mall. I've got some clothes to buy. Go me.

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"Alright, get your asses out of bed! Hop to!" Hilary began stomping across the room, her ruby eyes spirited and bright. "We have to go see Mr. Dickenson in less than an hour."

Ray laughed from across the room. "Some things never change."

It had been almost a year since B.E.G.A. had been taken down. Team BBA was going strong, and instead of it's typical separation issues, it was one unified entity. One team, one goal. When he had said that, Max began laughing. No one else got it, but the blonde had thought it was hysterical.

"Mommy, five more minutes."

"Wow," Max began, "some things ne-"

"Say that once more and I swear that you won't like the result."

Max looked sheepishly at Kai, nodded, and retreated over to Ray. Hilary had exited the large bedroom and came back in a moment later, carrying two buckets of water. Kai gave her a look, and she handed him one. "Care to count us down?"

A playful smirk crossed his face. The Kai they had always known and well, tolerated, hadn't changed much, but he had indeed grown a bit more sarcastic, and just a bit more open. And strong, to boot. He nodded, and instead of counting, Kai and Hilary immediately dumped their buckets of water on Tyson and Daichi, respectively.

"Hey!" They both yelled, jumping up. "That was cold!"

Kai snorted. "That was the point."

"God, he's a dolt. Pleasure working with you, Kai," she said, nudging his shoulder as he passed by. "Come on, you two, let's go! We're going to find out about the tournament!"

The duo pumped their fists in the air, and danced around before heading to the door. "What are we waiting for?" They asked, about to slide open the shoji. Hilary had somehow gotten in their way, holding the door shut herself. "Well?"

"How about you two put some clothes on?" She asked sarcastically. "No one wants to see you two in your boxers." The group of boys behind the two boxer-clad bladers laughed as they blushed. Tyson and Daichi took off for their bedroom again, screaming about clothes.

"This is going to be disasterous already," Hiro said, shaking his head. "And as the captain, I can tell."

Kai shrugged from behind the elder of the Granger brothers, his pride not allowing him to agree completely.

By the time they got to the chairman's office, the group was chattering excitedly about the possibilities that awaited them. Tyson knocked in a pattern that was distinguished as only his own. The founder of the B.B.A. welcomed them happily, as he hadn't seen them in a few months.

"So, you've gotta tell us," Tyson started.

Daichi quickly intervened, his attitude and his impacience getting the better of him. "Now, now, now! Come on, old man!"

Hilary slapped her team's youngest member. "Dai! Watch your mouth!"

Mr. Dickenson laughed warmly. "Now, now, Hilary, let him go from that headlock. He's just an excited tyke. I have many things to tell you about for this year's competition."

"Like...?" Kai was slightly annoyed that the man had specifically stated that he was to come today. He wasn't planning on being stuck in that room forever.

Mr. Dickenson gave him a wry smile, before looking up a bit higher, toward Hiro. "Now, before I explain all this, you have to keep an open mind about it." He recieved an array of nods. "Alright. I have found out that other beyblading associations around the worlds, the beginner ones, the previously non-competitive ones, basically, every blading club wishing to participate will be providing a team of whomever they decide is worthy to compete. This means-"

"We aren't just going up alone in this, are we?" Kenny typed away on Dizzi, trying to come up with a list of the world's best beyblading clubs.

The chairman nodded. "No, you are going to be put in a team with all of your home teams, and perhaps a few more teams, depending on who registers on registration day. Basically, anyone who has come in contact with who I put on the team, and has permission, may compete. However, I have decided to alter a few things..."

The group looked at Mr. Dickenson, who trailed off for a moment. His eyes closed for a moment before he sighed. "Hiro," He began, his voice firm.

"Yes?"

"I am revoking your leadership of the B.B.A. team." Everyone, save the chairman's eyes widened a great deal, while a heavy silence overcame the room. Hiro looked surprised, but he seemed to have a glint that said that he knew.

Hiro looked up at the man, a determined glare set on his features. "And why is this?" His anger and temper seemed to echo through his actions.

From beside Tyson, who seemed just a bit distraught but not surprised, Hilary nodded. "Why are you taking his position away?"

Mr. Dickenson expected this question. "I don't want to say that I don't trust you Hiro, but this is not your team. I would like you to start training a group of new bladers in the States."

Tyson stood up. "Then who's gonna be our captain?"

The chairman's eyes flickered around the room. "I thought you would know instantly," He said, and Tyson's eyes brightened before he smiled. Ray and Max both nodded, high fiving each other before looking at a bewildered Daichi.

Hiro looked at the chairman, then around the room. Kai's eyes had opened from his typical silent, indifferent state. The Russian knew what was being proposed. Hilary looked at Kai.

Kai looked up for a moment, first meeting Hilary's eyes, then Mr. Dickenson's. "Reverting back to old policies?" He asked arrogantly.

"If you accept-"

"Ohh man," Tyson said, getting pumped. "The Bladebreakers are back!" There was a knocking of fists, and a lost look on Daichi's face.

Hilary looked at Kai, earning a half-smile, as she liked to call it. It was too happy to be a smirk, but not enough to be called a smile.

"Well?" The group asked, all eyes on the Russian and former captain of their team.

Kai reclined in his chair, crossed his arms, closed his eyes and opened them again for a moment before he spoke in a pushy, commanding tone they hadn't heard in a long time. It was welcomed and happily accepted. "I don't know why you even bother asking."

"Oh yeah, we are so back!"

Ray gave Dickenson a curious look, disregarding Max's previous statement. The White Tiger spoke. "But I thought you said we were entered as a league-"

Kai's eyes opened and their steely grey glimmered with just a tint of a warm amethyst color. "Wait-"

Mr. Dickenson didn't redirect their realization. "When I implied that I wanted Kai to be the captain, I did mean of the league. He will be the captain for the B.B.A."

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Hilary was excited. She had accomplished a great deal in a short period of time, not to mention the fact that she had received a deal of good news as well. Kai being the team captain of the B.B.A. was just about the best thing that could happen. She personally believed he was the best blader, possibly short of Tyson. However, her admiration of Tyson was another subject, a story to be saved for another time involving a late night movie, one couch, a blanket, and the blunette. But that was only once-

The mall was packed on this day, however, she wasn't in too much of a rush. She walked into one of the more popular department stores, going straight to the juniors section to try and find some new clothes. It wasn't like she needed them, but it was always nice to have what she wanted.

Hilary reached toward a clothes rack, going for a deep green halter top that would go perfectly with her jeans, only to find someone else's hand attached to it from the other side. "Oh, sorry," The brunette said, sailing around the display of identical tops, none of which, she noted sourly, were in her size.

The girl whose hand was attached to the article of clothing looked up, and ruby met a sparkling blue color. The girl thrust out the shirt. "Here, take it. I've got plenty of almost identical things at home."

"You sure?" From a quick once over, she guessed that the girl was older than she was. It also made her feel a bit wierd. She gave the girl a confused look.

The blue-eyed brunette nodded. "Yeah, it's totally fine." She seemed to pause for a moment before speaking again. "You seem familiar. Do I know you?"

Hilary smirked. "I'm the tech and manager for the B.B.A.'s G-Revolutions. Well, Bladebreakers, but you get the idea." She extended a hand. "Hilary Tatibana's my name."

The girl across from her's mouth dropped. "Do you have an older sister?"

Hilary's mind was sent reeling into an abyss of childhood memories, one in particular when she asked about having a brother or sister. She was told that she had a sister, but she wasn't really a part of their family. "Honestly, I've never met her, but I'm told that I do."

"We need to talk then."

Hilary followed the girl, her green halter forgotten on the rack it was found. The girl, whose name she had learned was Marissa, was suddenly in a strange mood. She led Hilary to the food court, where they sat down, before Hilary noted the slight uncertainty. After sitting for Marissa for a moment of complete silence, Hilary began to speak. "What's up? Did you know a girl who says she's my sister?"

Their eyes met again, and Hilary gave her a quick once over. She looked...

She looked just like herself. With blue eyes. And just a little bit of longer hair, but not much. Her bangs were overgrown and parted to either side. "My name," Marissa said quietly, "is Marissa. Marissa Tatibana."

Hilary's mouth dropped. "Are you saying that you're my sister?"

"No." Hilary gave her a strange look. "I have no idea if you are or not. I have no idea of my family, other than my parents are alive and that I have a sister. In the place I was raised... I stole some files on my family, but it didn't have names. Only family roles and if they applied or not. And I... I've done my research-"

"How would you not know if you had family?"

Marissa ran a hand through her hair, causing it to repart and have just a little more volume. "Where I was raised, they didn't want you to know."

"If my parents had a child, I think they'd want to keep it."

"How old are your parents?"

"I- they're thirty-four."

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"I'm eighteen. Your parents would've been sixteen." Marissa leaned back. "I'm not trying to interfere with your family, I just want to know. And as you've probably guessed, I'm just a touch impulsive."

Hilary laughed. "I had no idea. My idea of a shopping trip does involve fighting over a shirt, not getting asked if I have a sister." The brunette looked at her. "I'll asked my Mom, here, you know what, there's nothing like using a cell phone." She picked up her cell phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mom, it's me. I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"What was the deal with my big sister?"

Her mother faultered for a moment. Marissa had gotten up, leaving her purse at the table, to go buy something along the line of food or... something. "Why do you want to know? I'd rather tell you this if you were here with me."

Hilary rolled her eyes. "This is kind of important. I can't explain right now, I just need to know."

"Hilary, honey, that was a long time ago. Your sister- ah, she'd be about eighteen right now." Hilary's eyes widened. "Your father and I were so young, so foolish. We couldn't take care of her. She was premature, we didn't even know if she was going to live... I guess we just knew that we had to give her up to someone who could take care of her."

"What was her name?"

"We named her Marissa after my mother, she had her grandmother's bright blue eyes- and gave her your father's last name, so it would be the same as yours-"

­The phone nearly slid out of her hands, but she composed herself, as Marissa came back to the table. She finished up the conversation saying something about discussing why later before looking at the blue eyed brunette.

"My Mom just described you in a nutshell. You were named after your Grandma. Our Grandma."

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"Jeez," Tyson said, blowing a bout of air up at his messy, overhanging blue hair, "How many people are on this team?"

Kenny shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. They're all supposed to be here to meet us this afternoon, and we've already got like seven people here, not including us."

Scattered around the room were bags belonging mostly to the Russian team, the Blitzkrieg Boys, whose flight came in early that morning. They were most likely sleeping in the basement, as they enjoyed their quiet and a location void of disturbances. Kai would be joining them, from the rest of the group's guess. Besides the bags, a great deal of beyblade parts were laying out, in a variety of color, sizes, and shapes. There would be major beyblade reconstruction later, upon every blader's analysis. Everyone except the Bladebreakers and Daichi, of course, as they had theirs completed the day before, with the exception of Kai, who needed no person to tell him how to construct his beyblade.

Aside from the Blitzkrieg Boys, Mariah and Lee of the White Tiger X were flying, their flight arriving around noon. Max was leaving from his Dad's to pick up both Michael, and Emily, the latter of the two to serve as a tech to the group along Kenny and Hilary. Other than that, there was a possibility that Robert, Enrique or Johnny would appear. "TYSON!"

The blunette rolled his eyes before yelling back, "What, Daichi?"

"You ate my LAST ice cream sandwich!"

The next sound to be heard was that of a squealing beyblade flying through the air, toward Tyson, and Daichi, both of whom were in the doorway. Both boys hit the ground before Hilary reached out and grabbed the blade, surprising everyone with her reflexes. Kenny was staring at the back of Hilary's hand, which had shielded him from the blader's assault, whoever he was.

Hilary examined the blade, holding it up to show Ray and Max, who laughed. "Wolborg, eh?" Max said, with a smirk. "You two had better watch out."

A jet-lagged, exhausted Tala appeared in the doorway. "Whoever's voice-" He looked around at them angrily, reinforcing his point, "Rises above a whisper before I wake up, will not wake up tomorrow morning."

With that, he sauntered to the door on the far side of the kitchen that led to the basement, shutting it softly behind him. Within a moment, he re-opened the door, causing an array of jumping and frightful movement.

"Shit," Ray whispered. "Nobody say anything."

Tala sent him a harsh glare, growling all the while. "Be grateful that I'm tired, otherwise I'd really fuck you up." He looked to Hilary and Kenny. "That was my analysis."

"Okay," Hilary said, nodding prettily and giving him a smile. "Go get some sleep."

Tala did a drowzee double take and shut the door, this time, heading down the stairs.

Tyson and Daichi were still frozen, on the floor, their hands over their heads. Kenny backed toward the living room, a location where the sleeping Russians beneath them wouldn't be able to hear them speak. Hilary nudged them both with her foot before walking past them and entering the living room, on Kenny's heels. Kai smirked at Hilary.

"He must be tired," The Russian said indifferently, "Because usually, he can't stand girls who can hold their own against him."

Hilary smirked. "I could beat the shit out of him," She said, earning a smile from Ray and Max, who didn't doubt it. Tyson and Daichi nodded their heads, having been the targets of such beatings for their behavior.

"Oh, we know."

Hilary gave Tyson a challenging look and he immediately backed down. Kai laughed at him, earning a glare from Tyson, and looks of horror from everyone, save Hilary. "Tala doesn't stand a chance against me either. Maybe if you weren't such babies..."

"WE'RE NOT BABIES!"

Hilary and Kai saved their laughter for when Tala came bounding mercilessly up the stairs, lugging something known only as Ian's trusty rifle.

The rest of the group ran for dear life, screaming bloody murder at the same time. Hilary watched as Tala passed them a third time, stopping only briefly to smirk victoriously, however sleepily, at Kai.

"I wonder how long it will take them to realize that this thing isn't loaded..."

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Author's Notes: a few reminders:

1. Let me know what pairings would be interesting in this story... don't forget about all of the other bladers, like Johnny, Enrique, or if you want to see TRIANGES! Triangles are a lot of fun! (Just no yaoi, since I don't write it.)

2. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Act like you love me or... something... I don't know. Just DO it.

3. I tried to encorporate some humor, let me know if that was good or not. It seems like a hell of a transition since last chapter... erm... the prologue was so serious, but it'll pick up.

4. FINALLY... do not curse me for my inability to write... I know this isn't very good.

Distant Storm, Signing off!