Disclaimer: Don't own beyblade. Who? Me. Ah well...

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By the time he had risen from the queen-sized bed, it was already past noon. Barely, but after the half-day mark. He growled before rising. Once he had fallen asleep, there was no waking him, especially since he had neglected sleep during the flight home, as well as the time change. The difference between Japan and Miami was a big deal, yet he was used to it. This change, however, threw him off, since California's time was four hours behind Miami's, even if it was closer to his own. He rolled his eyes and stood up, heading to the shower.

And to think, he wanted to have a morning practice session too.

Before he stepped into the warm water of the shower he noticed something posted on the bathroom mirror. It was a simple note, since Kai probably would neglect his cell phone too. Speaking of that, he had no idea where it was either.

He scanned the message collecting the major points. AJ went to Tyson's, she has Dranzer, and she has a surprise for him. Whatever that was. Hurrying up, he showered, only to get out and realize that his clothes had already been laid out for him. AJ was a smart girl. She even hung up the scarf. He reminded himself to thank her for that later.

Within fifteen minutes, he finished getting ready, said hello to all the family, and headed out the door towards his car, only to see that it was not where he left it. Within five seconds, he had his cell phone whipped out and on his ear, ready to rip Audrey's head off. That was his car, not hers. She had one, back in Miami, and certainly enough money to buy another or bring it overseas.

"Audrey, where is my car?"

Giggles ensued on the other end of the conversation. "I borrowed it."

"Why?"

"Well how do you expect me to get across town if I have no transportation?"

"Tyson has a car. Go wreck his."

She rolled her eyes on the other end, he could tell. "Fine, no surprise for you."

"Fine."

"And I'll keep the car, while I'm at it. Perhaps you forgot who else you gave a set of keys to..."

"Aud..."

"Chill, Kai, I'm coming back to get you, don't worry. I didn't even let anyone else ride with me."

"That's good to know."

"Yeah, love you too, Phoenix. Be there in five."

"You too."

She grumbled. "Sourpuss."

"Don't you-" He noted that she had hung up, and rolled his eyes. A moment or two later, a dark blue truck appeared, and he noted that the driver slid into the passenger-side seat.

"G'mornin'," She said cheerfully.

He growled and rolled his eyes, walking around the front of the car. He slammed the door, obviously voicing his grumpiness without words.

"Brought you coffee," she said softly. He took it and drank, satisfied with the brew. She said nothing as he put the car in drive, obviously headed in the direction of Tyson's house.

He looked over at her once, noticing her seemingly distant look out the window. Apparently she felt his gaze though, since she looked in his direction, smiled sweetly - but not too sweet - and looked away. "I hate planes," he said after a moment.

She shrugged, taking his hand. "I know." They said nothing else as he finished the short drive to Tyson's, but instead cranked up the radio, letting the Rascal Flatts cheer him up - well, uhh, make him a bit less cantankerous. To AJ, at least. The rest of them were due for some hardcore training.

"You gonna help me?" He asked her. He still held that aura of grumpiness, but she did her best to ignore it.

She shrugged, knowing that would probably be an affermative.

"How about I start by giving you back your beyblade," she said simply, placing a warm item in his hands. It must have been in hers the entire time, because the warmth coming from it was incredible.

"Thanks," he said flatly, and shoved it in his pocket. She said nothing, not bothering to tell him what she had done. He'd notice eventually, and the longer he had no idea, the greater her reward.

Great, she chastised herself, now she sounded like a lap dog.

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The room was dark. The only light came from a computer in the corner, and an eerie blue-green glow from a large tube in the opposite one. There was a black screen implanted in the wall, obviously a plasma-screen television which was not in use at the moment. A figure stood in the center of the room, looking around.

"Perfect."

A moment later, two men walked up behind the figure, both dressed in black suits. They were bulky, like bouncers, and obviously just as smart as the stereotypical bodyguard.

"Sir."

The figure turned around as light from the hallway behind him spilled into the room. It was still eerie inside, as multiple tubes began to light up, some radiating black light, others in the same turquoise color, and one with a dark shade of violet.

"The plan. How is it coming?"

"We have everything in place, Sir," One said, not bothering to move out of the hallway. His boss liked the darkness.

The figure nodded, smirking. He took a step toward his two henchmen.

"Within the week, Sir," The second said, a bit shorter than the first. He cracked his knuckles as his boss formulated a response.

"Good work. I assume you will be doing it yourself?"

"Of course," they answered simultaneously.

"Good."

The two men bowed before backing out of the room. When the door shut behind them, their boss smiled.

Audrey Carson would never know what hit her.

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"C'mon, Kai! You've been gone all week!"

Tyson stood across from one of his best friends, his launcher pointed out in front of him. Cocky was a wonderful word used to describe Tyson. Kai used it frequently. The rip cord was already in place, as well as Dragoon, the blunette's trusted fighting partner.

"Alright," Kai said, slipping his hand into his pocket to pull out Dranzer. Her beyblade was still as exceedingly warm as he pushed it onto his launcher without a glance.

The Dragoon wielder looked at Audrey, who shrugged in sheer annoyance. The blunette smirked. Kai's grumpiness had obviously taken away from his ability to note subtle changes in his environment.

"Alright," Hiro said, walking up to the two. He stood between them with his arms up in the air. "On my count. Three, two, one!"

"Let it rip!"

Both beyblades went careening into the dish at a speed reached only by champions. Kai's blue beyblade spun faster than usual, much to the notice of both Kai and Tyson. "Wow," Kenny said, overlooking the battle with Dizzi. "That spin's almost twenty-five percent better than your usual best. Changes like that are catastrophic for opponents!"

Hilary nudged AJ. She'd spent hours reconstructing that beyblade. Neither Tyson nor Hilary had ever spent that long on miniscule modifications. Perhaps if they did, they could also achieve results like that.

"Go for it Tyson!" Hilary cheered. "So what if he's faster than usual!"

"Thanks, Hil," Tyson said, as much sarcastic as he was serious. "Remind me that he's got the better beyblade."

There was a shower of sparks and the sound of heated metals colliding. Max and Ray came out of the dojo, obviously moved by the beybattle unfolding before them. "Wow," Max said, looking at the intensity between them. "This one will be close."

Audrey nodded. "I'm sure it will be."

Collisions of beyblades ensued, until Tyson had taken enough. "Dragoon!" He called, and his beyblade's speed doubled. A cyclone quickly developed, and a bluish-white dragon arose from the eye of the storm.

"Dranzer!"

All spectators watched anxiously for the arrival of the phoenix. Sadly, nothing happened.

All eyes landed on Kai, who went from being his pleasantly grumpy self to being downright pissed off. Hilary nudged AJ again, and the girl said nothing.

It wasn't needed, considering the amused smirk that crossed her dark-stained lips. She began to laugh, though she controlled its intensity for the most part.

"What's so funny?" Kai growled at her. This was obviously not his day. "Dranzer, what the hell are you doing?"

"I don't think she likes you today," Hilary said, a smile breaking out on her lips as Audrey lost it, rolling on the ground laughing at her boyfriend's misfortune. A few moments later - following a number of angry looks from Kai, and confused looks from the rest of the team, save Tyson and Hilary - she regained enough composure to smile at Kai between gentle chuckling.

AJ noted his sheer anger, but beyond that, his slight embarassment. "Okay, Dranzer, you've punished him enough. Whether he's an insensitive asshole or not, you should really help him out."

"Because that's going to do anything," Kai yelled at her.

She shrugged. "We'll see, won't we, Kai?"

Sure enough, a moment later, his beyblade glowed a warm red as Dranzer emerged from her bit. Kai growled and ordered an attack, which was executed perfectly.

"Dragoon, Galaxy Turbo Attack!"

The dragon viciously assaulted the phoenix, resulting in a catastrophic-looking smoke cloud. When it cleared, however, the victor was clear.

"Kai wins!"

"Wow," the group said, surprised at the outcome. They gazed in the dish, noticing a reddish tint to the blue beyblade. Dranzer's aura had surrounded it, keeping the entire structure perfect. Kai wordlessly recalled his beyblade, only to drop it on contact, thanks to the scorching heat.

"Stupid bird," he muttered.

Audrey shrugged, unimpressed. She knew he was crabby, but she had literally gotten up hours early just to make that goddamn beyblade perfect for him.

"You're welcome," she said curtly, before turning on her heel and walking away.

The group watched her exit the Granger's property wordlessly, before Kai spoke. "What's her problem?"

Hilary rolled her eyes. "I don't know, you were pretty mean."

"Yeah," Tyson said. "She was just trying to lighten things up."

"Dranzer not listening is real funny," he retorted sarcastically.

Silence reigned as Max ran over to the dish to pick up Kai's discarded beyblade.

"Hey, Kai, where'd you get the new beyblade?" The blonde asked. "It's sweet!"

Ray nodded, looking at it in surprise. "That's freakin' awesome, dude. Did you do that yourself?"

Kai growled as he swiped back the beyblade. "I did nothing-" Realization hit him like a slap to the face as he looked at the beyblade. It's dull blue color was replaced by that of a metallic navy and black chrome. The attack ring jutted out in a newer, more aerodynamic variation, and the entire beyblade was lighter in his hands. It fit perfectly. It was a completely different beyblade. How had she done that? He never said he wanted a new beyblade, not to mention how picky he was with parts and pieces, as well as the overall feel. She really knew him well, didn't she?

Hilary and Tyson smiled knowingly. "She spent all morning on that, just to let you know."

The Russian looked quickly to a smirking Hiro, who was obviously gloating over Kai's idiocy. "Granger, train these losers. I'll be back."

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Rose Carson rubbed his shoulder as she passed by; Kai was far too hard on himself. "She knows you're just a little moody. She'll get over it."

The Russian placed the beyblade on the table. "I didn't even notice."

The woman sat across from him, a cup of coffee in her hands. "And how many times have you done something for her that she never notices?"

Kai stayed quiet. She had a point.

"Exactly, honey. And you never say anything. This time it was a bit more noticible, but even I was jet-lagged. And I travel the world like a fiend."

Kai nodded, thinking for a moment. He still felt bad, but at least Mrs. Carson - Mom - treated them both rationally, unlike any other mom in the world who would have laid the blame entirely on him.

"Could I make a suggestion?" A voice called from the doorway.

"Sure, Dad," Kai said, sighing. He'd take what he could get.

Mr. Carson smirked, entering the room. "Perhaps you should go check out the beach. She hasn't seen it in over a week, and we all know it is her favorite place."

Within five seconds, Kai had gone out the door, leaving the two parents to look at each other. Hilary's mother, Carolyn walked in the room. "You know, I've never seen him feel bad before." She paused. "Well, at least never when someone's life wasn't in the balance."

"That's our Kai, the silently emotional one."

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He had scowered the beach high and low, looking for her. Sadly enough, she was not there. It was strange though, that he got these wierd feelings. What if something happened? What if someone else found her? What if she totally gave up on him? Would she even do that?

His mind was reeling as he continued his walk. He had a knack for concocting the best worst-case scenarios in his mind and convincing himself that they were most likely real.

"God damn it."

He looked around again, saw no one, and sat down, gazing at the waves. If he went out to look throughout the city, she would end up on the beach. So, he figured that he would wait.

And wait.

And wait...

Okay, this was not going to work, he realized.

Time to hit the streets.

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Green eyes blinked, then looked around. Gosh, she had never meant to be gone this long. She was just being the typical girl, walking off her anger. In reality, she was just a tad annoyed, not even enraged. She hated when Kai talked to her like that. He was short with his friends sometimes, but almost never with her. And if he was short, he never took a monotone in addressing her. That pissed her off, because she had never met an individual as complex as he happened to be.

"Hey baby, whatcha doin'?"

Audrey looked over her shoulder at the boy. He was pretty cute, but his only thoughts seemed to come from his pants.

"Walking away from you."

The boy caught her wrist as she took a step.

"C'mon, you're hot, I'm hot, let's do something."

She broke from his grip, only to have him pull him in with his other hand.

"No, let go of me."

"What? Obviously no one is with you, girly," He yanked her hand, to pull her in close, "So stop complaining. Plenty of girls wanna be with me. You're lucky."

She rolled her eyes. "I doubt that, loser."

His grip on her only tightened, and in her position, she had no ability to pull away. He had her, and things were starting to get bad. That was not a beyblade in that pervert's pocket.

"If you go nicely, this will all be a lot more fun."

AJ growled. "Never, you pervert."

"Is a little fun too much to ask?"

"Far too much."

He began to lead her forward, keeping his hands around her rather provocatively.

"My boyfriend will kill you," AJ threatened.

He seemed to care less, choosing a very nice alleyway ahead and to the right. At that point he pinned her against the wall, listening to her wear herself out screaming for him not to touch her. His lips curved into an amused smile.

"Yeah, baby, I like 'em fiesty."

"Don't touch me!" Hot tears spilt from her eyes. She was Kai's. No one else's. No one should be touching her. She felt dirty, impure, though nothing had happened. Just this freak's gaze made her feel as such.

"C'mon, it's nothin' too serious, after all, we're just messin' around."

A haze seemed to engulf the air as a very dark voice echoed from behind him.

"Touch her and I kill you."

Audrey Carson had never seen Kai Hiwatari so angry. In a flash, her harasser had been thrown to the ground brutally, already bleeding from the mouth.

"Whoa, hey man, I didn't know she was yours."

"Liar." His eyes were almost a deep violet, his rage getting the best of him as he punched the pervert into the concrete repeatedly.

"Kai, stop. He's not even conscious."

The Russian didn't. Instead, he continued on with a feverish intensity. "You deserve to die," Kai said heatedly, his assault failing at no point.

She reached out and grabbed his arm. "Kai... Kai... Phoenix, please, I beg of you. You've avenged me." He blinked twice, as if coming out of a trance. He stood up straight, only to have AJ fling herself at him, tears flowing down her cheeks. He saw the shame in her eyes. "I thought he was going to - God, I'm so sorry."

Sorry? She was sorry? Kai composed himself, catching her under the knees and picking her up like a bride on her wedding night. He continued in silence, never ceasing to carry her until they reached the beach, at which point he set her down beside him in the sand.

"Don't say you're sorry."

She gasped, looking at him. Her mind was reeling. This was it, wasn't it? "B-but-"

He pulled her very close, examining the ring on her left ring finger. "Have you ever thought of wearing this on your other hand?"

She looked up at him curiously, her tears subsiding. He wordlessly plucked the ring off her left hand and placed it on her right. What was he getting at?

"The beyblade-"

"Don't mention it."

He looked down at her. "Syao-Ai," he began, "Ano..."

"Thank you." He looked at her. Damned girl could never say angry at him.

"Gomen nagasai."

"Don't apologize, Phoenix, I know." He held her, examining the damage. There were bruises on her perfect skin from where her attacker had grabbed her, refusing to let go.

Without words, he kissed her, admiring the taste of her lips, her tongue, her mouth. She was a flavor all her own, and it was this one that he found to be his favorite. When finished, she smiled against his lips. "We should get back," She said softly. "I'm sure that the guys will be wondering what happened to us."

He nodded, standing up first, only to extend a hand to her. She took it, keeping their hands locked as they began the walk back. "How did you know how to build it?"

"Dranzer," She said sheepishly. "If the beyblade felt warm, I knew she liked it. If not, then I knew you wouldn't be satisfied."

He rolled his eyes.

"What?" She asked, slightly concerned.

An amused smirk appeared on his face. "What can't you do?"

"Beat you in a bey-battle," she said, only to get another kiss.

She supposed it was the correct answer for Kai, but someday... oh yeah, he'd be going down.

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Four figures stood at the ready, dressed in identical uniforms.

"Aishiteru, Kai-kun."

Laughter.

"Wow, Audrey, you're definitely catching the drift of this Japanese stuff," Tyson commented. "Well at least the romantic stuff we hardly ever use."

"I'm not exactly ordinary, Ty, get used to it."

"That's for sure."

The sound of a slap resonated throughout the yard.

Unnoticed by them, the four figures behind the large bushes separating Hilary's backyard from that of the outside world checked their communicators.

"Pathetic," one of them said.

Another smirked. "Agreed."

"When do we move in?" The shortest asked.

"When One gives us the okay. Until then, just watch. We need all of them together."

The sound of a communicator was heard. "This is Rex. One, do you copy?"

"pssh... This is One. Are the three targets within our grasp?"

Rex pressed the button, allowing One to receive his voice on a communicator identical to his own. "Yes, One, sir, we have the three targets within sight. We await your orders."

"pssh... Wait until they're good and comfy then begin the assault. You know how to begin it. Take the couple out from behind, and make the rest of them hurt over the grand finale."

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Notes: Hmm... so what's going to happen?! I know, but you won't find out unless you review! Oh, and as far as chapters go, I'm not entirely positive how long this will be, but it will be a tad dramatic, and full of action and twists. Hope you like it! I stayed up until almost 2:30 am, my time, editing it. Oh, and by the way, I have up to the mid-way point of Chapter SIX done. MoonlightSerenity has been my peronal reader, apparently she likes the paragraph by paragraph as I write thing. Either way, Review and I post. No reviews and you get nothing.

By the way:

Syao-Ai means Lil' Lover.

Ano means umm...

Gomen nagasai is an 'I'm sorry.'

Love ya, Distant Storm

Psst... Review!