Disclaimer: same as before- I don't own beyblade

Ch2. Courtyard

"Tyson!" shouted Kenny.

Tyson jumped. He had been sleeping under the tree.

"Will you concentrate?" Kenny almost shouted again. He glanced at Ray. He had already demolished the rock he had been practicing on.

"We need to practice," said Kenny.

"Yeah, yeah, I was just taking a break," said Tyson.

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"Kit, can we take a break?"

Selene leaned against the wall. Aeris was on the ground, her beyblade spinning in front of her. Dierdra was covered in many scratches, and she was breathing hard.

"I guess then," said Kit. Dierdra fell to her knees.

Aeris stood up.

"We've been practicing all morning," she said, "Kit, its noon, can we go get something to eat."

"Yeah, whatever," said Kit.

Dierdra wasn't listening. She still had not gotten up.

"Dierdra?" said Selene.

"Huh?" asked Dierdra, "Oh OK."

Selene shook her head. "Family issues," she said, under her breath.

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"Hiro!"

Tyson jumped up and ran to his brother.

"Tyson- no," said Hiro.

"Hey Hiro, did you here? Kit's here too," said Tyson.

"Yeah," said Hiro, having already seen her when he arrived.

Hiro looked around at the exhausted Bladebreakers.

"You've been at this all morning, haven't you?" he asked.

The looks on everyone's faces gave him the answer.

"How long has it been since you all last ate?" he asked.

"Too long," said Tyson.

Hiro sighed. "Let's go then, I'll buy you guys something to eat."

"About time," said Tyson.

Ray and Kai looked as though they did not want to stop practicing.

"Come on you guys," said Max.

"I think Ray's determined to beat his sister in the tournament," Tyson whispered to Hiro.

"Ah yes," Hiro said, "I did hear about his situation. But I don't think that's exactly what he wants."

"What do you mean?" asked Tyson.

"Never mind," said Hiro, "come on, let's go."

"Where are we going to eat?" asked Max.

"At this courtyard, by the park," said Hiro, "it has fast food stands set up around it.'

One by one, the Bladebreakers left the area they were training in.

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"I understand you want a ... normal tournament this time around, but aren't you over thinking a few things?" asked a woman, with dark, wavy hair that fell just past her shoulders. She also had dark, brown eyes.

"What do you mean Valerie?" asked Mr. Dickenson, from behind his desk.

The woman called Valerie sighed. "I looked over some of the rules you have set," she said, "and I have to wonder. Do you actually think they are going to follow these rules?"

"They won't follow them exactly as they are stated," said Mr. Dickenson, "but I do believe they will follow them to some extent. Don't forget I have known these teenagers for quite a long time."

Valerie shook her head. "But do you know teenagers in general?"

Mr. Dickenson seemed lost in thought. "Don't worry about it; I know what I'm doing."

Valerie sighed again. She realized there was no point in arguing.

"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about," she said.

"Yes?"

"I realize this new tournament has introduced a few new teams," said Valerie, "and I also understand that these new teams put new strains on the bladders."

"Are you referring to the Blade Raiders?" asked Mr. Dickenson.

"Yeah," said Valerie, "Kit Kinomiya, Tyson's cousin. And-" she hesitated.

"Dierdra Kon, Ray's twin sister," finished Mr. Dickenson.

"So it's true then? Ray has a twin sister?" asked Valerie.

"You know I don't know what people find so hard to believe," said Mr. Dickenson, "Raul and Julia are twins. And a few years ago, we had King and Queen. So why is it that everyone has that reaction."

Valerie fell silent. She turned to leave.

"Look, right now I'm concerned about what would happen if those two were to go against each other," she said, "from what I've heard, Dierdra has a short temper, and a lot of anger. I can only imagine how bad that battle will be." She left the room.

Mr. Dickenson was immediately lost in thought again. 'I understand Valerie. However, that match is inevitable.'

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"So this is the courtyard?" asked Kit.

The four girls at arrived at the courtyard, and were looking around. There were a few teams sitting at picnic tables, while others were sitting on the grass.

"Come on," said Kit.

They all sat down under a tree. Dierdra lay back, and put her head on her arm. Kit climbed up the tree, and sat on one of the branches. Aeris sat cross- legged on the ground. Selene leaned against the base of three.

"Hey Kit!"

"Damn it," said Kit.

Tyson was approaching the tree.

"What do you want!" shouted Kit.

"Just to say hi!" Tyson shouted back, "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"There's a reason for that," said Kit, in a low voice.

"What did you say?"

Kit glared down at her cousin. "You've said hi already," she said in loud and clear voice, "now leave me alone."

"That's mean Kit, come down from the tree and talk to me!"

"No, thank you, I'd rather stay up here!"

"KIT!"

"Family meeting!" called Hiro, in a voice louder than Tyson's or Kit's. He grabbed the back of Tyson's shirt, and began to pull him away. "You too, Kit!"

Kit hesitated. She then jumped down from the tree, and followed.

Hiro didn't stop until they were well away from anyone else. He let go of Tyson, and turned to face the two of them.

"What is going on with you two?" he asked.

"Ask Kit," said Tyson.

Kit rolled her eyes. "I'm just not, and never will be, in the mood for these kinds of attacks," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"Yesterday, at the reception, you literally jumped me when you gave me a hug," said Kit.

"I did not jump you," said Tyson.

"Yes, you did," said Kit.

Hiro sighed, as the two came very close to arguing.

"Look you guys," said Hiro, "I know you two don't exactly agree on many things. But this tournament is supposed to last a month, and I don't want to spend that month listening to you two bicker and argue. So you guys are going to have to learn to get along.

Kit was now glaring at him as well. She looked at Tyson.

Tyson shrugged. "I'm fine with that," he said.

Kit knew there was no point in disagreeing. "Give me another more hug like that," she said, "and you won't be able to sit down for a week. Other than that, I'll try to be friend with you. Deal?"

Tyson nodded.

They were silent for a minute. Hiro then looked over Kit's shoulder.

"We should really go back now," he said.

"I'll say," said Kit.

Hiro glanced at her. "It looks like were about to have a little showdown between the twins."

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Dierdra was on her feet, glaring at Ray. The remaining team members from both teams remained quiet, waiting for an argument they knew was going to happen.

All Ray had done was ask Dierdra if she was still mad at him. However, that had been enough to make her a little angrier than she already was.

"I'm sorry I upset you last night Dierdra," said Ray.

"That's all? Sorry?"

"What more do you want?" asked Ray, "honestly Dierdra, this whole thing is stupid."

Dierdra shook her head. She turned, and strode out of the courtyard. Ray ran to catch up with her.

"Dierdra," he said.

Dierdra turned around to face him. They were both in the middle of the street.

"Come on," said, pulling Ray's arm. She pulled him into a back alleyway.

"What are we doing here?" asked Ray.

Dierdra said nothing. She pulled out her beyblade.

"You've got to be kidding me," said Ray.

"Am I?" asked Dierdra.

Ray stood there and stared at his sister.

"Fine then," he said, "but I'm not holding back Dierdra."

"I don't expect you too," she said.

"And I hope I get my message across," said Ray.

"And what message is that?" asked Dierdra.

"That you're being stupid about this," said Ray.

Dierdra's eyes flashed, as she prepared to battle.

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End of chapter 2

Ch.3 Battle