This one isn't as good as the previous ones….but I guess my element of continuity i.e. the emotions still goes on in this one! And another thing: this is just a bridge between events – like a chapter that simply makes some aspects come out clearly. Still… hope you enjoy it!

Schooling Squirts

True to his word, Tyson has begun tutoring Hilary how to beyblade. She wasn't bad at all. Of course the time she launched a blade in the bus was pathetic – but now she was doing very well indeed for a starter. Although she didn't have a bit beast yet, she was free to be one of them. A part of the Bladebreakers!

The team had gone back to school, where mercifully Kai did not have to face any confrontation so far. Max, Ray and Kenny seemed to like school and Tyson's favorite class was recess. Because that was the time they were all allowed to blade. And Tyson would never pass the chance of showing off.

"I rather like this coming back to school concept" said Tyson, on their way home from school one day. "Who knew we had so many kids loving us, idolizing us, wanting to battle with us!"

"Careful, Tyson" warned Ray "Don't get such a swollen head, so soon."

"Swollen head?" Tyson echoed.

"Ray's right" said Hilary "You really should be concentrating on your studies instead of blading all the time."

"Come off it guys" said Tyson "What could possibly happen to make me forget to beyblade?"

Kai spoke up, "Learn to be prepared all the while, Tyson."

"Mr. Sour pants always, huh?

Max giggled. "You really should put in a bit more effort in your studies Tyson. It doesn't always pay to be the World Champ!"

"Yeah well, look who's talking" said Tyson "you left me, because you wanted to beat me."

"Stop it, Tyson" said Hilary "We're all friends here, I thought."

"Some friend!" Tyson said, sulkily.

He never did forgive his friends totally for betraying him in his last championships. He had hated it and he still felt sore remembering that incident. Only Hilary and Kenny had stood by him then. And Daichi. That little squirt had helped back then though both of them resented it at first.

A grin broke out on Tyson's face. The others watched in surprise. It wasn't like Tyson to suddenly give up a fight.

"Wonder when Daichi will come back to us" he smiled "Hard to accept it, but I really miss that little guy!"

"That squirt!" said Hilary, disgusted.

She and Daichi had never really got along well. Each thought the other to be total trouble makers!

"Daichi?" asked Kenny "Oh, I think tomorrow or day after. He went off to visit his father."

"And I'll bet his father will try to have his son home for as many days as possible!" said Max, logically.

"Lets get going home shall we?" asked Ray.

They walked in silence for sometime. Then came the parting of ways, Hilary and Kenny went towards their home on the same street, Max a different way, and the others headed towards Tyson's house.

Kenny and Hilary hadn't gone very far when they heard a voice calling for them to stop. They halted and turned around. Their teacher, Miss Heifer came towards them and took Hilary's hand.

"Could you please do me a favor?" she asked them.

"Like what?" Hilary questioned nervously.

"You see the school is short for volunteer teachers for the field trip of the juniors!" explained Miss Heifer.

"So-?" asked Hilary, surprised.

"Would you and your friends please take them?"

"Without a chaperon?"

A sweat drop appeared behind Hilary's head and Kenny blushed a little at the teacher's exuberance.

"You are the chaperons, dear" said Miss Heifer, surprised.

"I'm not-"

"But I was counting on you so…"

Kenny suddenly pushed himself forwards and said, "Yes we'll be happy to help!"

"Oh, thank you – thank you!"

Miss Heifer began walking away from them, when Hilary called out, "When is the field trip?"

"Oh that?" she called over her shoulder "Tomorrow."

She was soon lost from view. Hilary turned on Kenny, "That's a piece of news you get to tell the Bladebreakers!"

Kenny grinned sheepishly.

The Bladebreakers met that evening, in their favorite spot next to the river. The place that held so many memories for them….the place where Tyson had first met Max, where they had practiced for so many of their matches…the place where –

"I love being back in school" said Max "I really missed it with all our world tours and stuff…"

"Yeah!" said Ray "Never thought I'd like it!"

"Well, we've news" said Kenny "Tell him, Hilary"

"We met our teacher Miss Heifer" said Hilary "and – you tell them the rest, Kenny."

"Ok" sighed Kenny "She wants us to volunteer for the junior field trips!"

"WHAT?" chorused the three "No way?"

"Unfortunate, but true" said Hilary, apologetically.

"No way!" exclaimed Tyson "We're gonna have to school squirts all through that field trip which is ….is…"

"Tomorrow" supplied Kenny, dejectedly.

He looked around at Hilary, hoping she would contradict her but she didn't. He looked at Max and Ray. Both looked as surprised as he did! Then, Max spoke.

"You sure, Hilary – Kenny?"

"100" said Hilary "Sorry, you guys. But the thing is we promised."

"Doesn't matter" laughed Ray "We'll do it. I mean how hard can looking after a bunch of squirts be?"

The others cheered up at once. Except Tyson – he moaned at the very thought.

"So long they aren't like Daichi!" he said.

"Don't worry" said a new voice.

All of them looked around and saw that Kai was standing there. He was wearing his usual I-couldn't-care-less-about-this attitude. Kai was faced the other way, eyes closed. Hilary was smiling slightly, and Tyson was gawking at him. Max, Ray and Kenny seemed surprised at Kai's attitude.

"I'll chaperon those kids" said Kai, simply.

"Thanks a lot Kai" said Hilary.

Kai remained silent. The others had to agree with him, much to Kenny and Hilary's relief.

"Kids! Kids! Please pay attention" said Miss Heifer to the class next day "You'll be divided into three groups. Each led by two of these young adults you see standing here. You're going to be divided into A, B and C. Each group consists of 6 members." She turned to the Bladebreakers "Keep them out of trouble, okay? And pair yourselves up."

"I'll go with Kenny" said Max, at once.

"Wanna come with me, Ray?" asked Tyson.

"Sure" said Ray.

"I guess that just leaves you and me, Kai" said Hilary.

"Whatever" said Kai, indifferently.

Hilary was crestfallen at this attitude. But she had learnt to grin and bear things. She turned towards the groups.

"Who's taking group A and B? We'll be taking C".

Tyson and Ray chose group A and Max and Kenny took B. They walked off with their groups and only group C was left standing there.

"So, then –" said Hilary, cheerfully "What d'you want to do first?"

"See the monkeys" said a child.

"No. Lions please" said another.

"No"

A fight broke out amongst the kids. Kai didn't look like he'd be of any help to Hilary at this minute. She sighed helplessly.

'This is gonna be a long, long day' she thought.

Tyson and Ray were no better off with their group either. Fights and squabbles was always breaking out between the children. Tyson had just about calmed some of them down, when a young boy with red hair came charging towards him, yelling his name.

In shock, Tyson turned to see Daichi rushing towards him on all fours! Then he jumped up and sprang on Tyson's back.

"Hello!" he said, pulling Tyson's nose "Did you miss me?"

"In a manner of speaking" said Tyson, trying to get the little trouble maker off his back. He looked angrily at Ray. He was laughing at the pair of them.

"Are you ever gonna help me, Ray?" called Tyson "Sheesh! You're worse than Hilary!"

Ray couldn't answer him, even the children were laughing at Tyson. The world champion for three times!

Max and Kenny did have a little more luck with the young rebellious squirts. They were successful in making them take a tour of the entire zoo they were supposed to be touring. But soon the kids got bored.

"This is so boring" said a little girl.

"Yeah" said another boy "I'm gonna go off to sleep soon!"

All of them crowded around Max and Kenny, claiming they were tired and they hated this entire thing anyway.

"Chief – I'm a bit lost" said Max, backing away from the children.

"Teach us to blade" called a little boy.

"YEAH!" all of them cheered.

A sweat drop appeared behind both Max and Kenny's heads. There really wasn't another way to tame these wild colts!

Group C so far was having no luck. Managed by Hilary and Kai, these children were having the time of their lives dominating Hilary. Kai was still not helping them. The children were really starting to annoy him. Poor Hilary couldn't handle six children clamouring for attention at once.

Suddenly Kai whipped out his blade and launched it. His blade went and circled around the children and flew back into his hand again! The children were awestruck.

"Wow!"

"Did you see that?"

"He's so darn good!"

"Alright, listen up" said Kai, facing the children "I've just one rule for you: it's either my way or the highway! Get it? Anyone who wants to belong to this group should behave or else leave! Understand?"

"Yes" mumbled the small kids.

Hilary turned a grateful face towards Kai. Kai looked away from her.

'Don't look at me like that' he thought, sadly 'I know you'll never feel the way about me – like you do about Tyson!'

"You hear something, Ray?" asked Tyson, suddenly, stopping in his tracks.

Daichi was still on his back. Ray stopped to listen.

Suddenly the little devil Daichi screamed, "Oho! This is the sound of a beyblade! I heard this sound so many times in my life! I can recognize it-"

"Shut your trap!" said Tyson, irritably "Lets see who blades in a ZOO!"

All of them rushed towards the sound from whence came the sound of a beyblade spinning.

Around the bend an astonishing sight met their eyes: Max and Kenny blading against one another, cheered on by the six kids they were in charge of!

"Well I'll be –" said Tyson, trying to realize what the situation was really.

"Hey – Kenny and Max are in a battle!" Ray exclaimed.

"Yup!" said Tyson "and I'm gonna join 'em!"

He rushed forwards, yelling "Let it rip!"

Daichi jumped off his back and launching his own blade called, "Wait for me!"

The children crowded around the four bladers trying to knock one another out… cheering them on. Ray stood for a moment with his mouth slightly open. Then he shrugged:

"Oh well, I jolly well won't be the only one left out!" Whipping out his own blade he shouted, "Let it rip!"

Hilary and Kai had just about take one around the zoo, when one of kids called out, "What's that going on over there?"

He pointed to the place everyone was crowding around cheering and shouting. Hilary looked at Kai. He did not meet her gaze.

"Lets go" was all he said.

They went to the crowded place and discover all the Bladebreakers, save themselves, were battling it out!

'Trust Tyson to drag blading into zoo touring!' thought Hilary, but her usual angry expression wasn't there now. Her eyes were full of emotion…as she watched Tyson blade. Kai saw the look on her face and turned away.

He looked up at the sky once and then began walking away from them all. The kids had all joined the crowd to watch the impromptu battle. Hilary noticed Kai stalking off and said, "Won't you them, Kai?"

'Even her voice …even her voice hurts me…' Kai thought 'If only I could tell…'

"Kai?" Hilary looked so worried about him "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine" said Kai, turning to face her "Don't worry about me, dear!"

With that he walked off. Hilary stood dumbstruck for a minute. She was jolted back to her senses when Tyson sent nearly everyone's blade right out of the stadium.

The battle was finally over. It was a tie between Tyson and Daichi.

"Now listen to me" said Hilary once the noises had subsided "We listened to your request. You listen to ours. We have to tour the zoo in just another hour now. Promise us you'll tour the zoo, make notes and behave yourselves!"

The eager faces turned towards her and cried in unison, "Alright, we will!"

Soon the little squirts were engaged in their rightful works, taking help from the Bladebreakers when needed. Kenny's laptop Dizzie proved to be a great help in the information about lots of animals! And Hilary turned out to be a good artist. She helped some of the 'squirts' with their sketches.

'She really is different…' thought Kai, observing the on-goings from a partial hiding place 'Pity Tyson is too much of a dweeb to understand anything!'

Somewhere in the zoo a boy with black hair was teasing a brown headed girl… their names: Tyson and Hilary!

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