Very very sorry about the huge gap in posting - exam season was so hectic I didn't have any time for extracurriculars :( Anyway, as I felt so guilty about not posting, I thought I'd split up chapter 3 into two, as it was taking me so long to write it. Hence the shortness, but enjoy! Thanks to all my reviewers, especially Chichai, my e-mail/PM buddy!

Risk number 3 – bigger still (Part 1)

When Rei woke up the next morning, Kai's bed was already vacant and neatly made up. Spotting a note on the pillow, Rei staggered out of bed - cursing the time difference and his stupid body clock – and opened it.

Rei – gone to gather information on the teams we're against in this tournament. Go and wake up the others and have breakfast; I'll meet you in the restaurant. Kai.

Trust Kai to be proactive enough to think ahead to the competition, even when jetlagged, thought Rei as he pulled some clothes on and set off on the daunting task of waking his team mates. To be fair, Max and Kenny wouldn't be too difficult, it was just Tyson who would be near impossible to wake, especially so due to the lack of sleep he had had on the plane.

It was as he had predicted – it took all three of them and copious amounts of cold water to wake Tyson, and even then it was the threat of missing breakfast that finally convinced him to get up, rather than their efforts.

Kai was already seated at a table when they arrived downstairs, casually reading a newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. He looked unnervingly awake, considering they had just been on a 7-hour flight and he had already been out and about that morning.

"About time." he muttered, on seeing them approach the table.

"Yeah, sorry about that," said Rei apologetically, plonking his cereal bowl in the place opposite from Kai. "I'm not as good at waking Tyson as you. He's not scared of me!"

Kai didn't seem to be listening. He rummaged in a carrier bag by his feet and pulled out a wodge of papers, spreading them in the middle of the table while trying to keep them as far away from Tyson's many plates and bowls as possible.

"Are these stats on the teams we're against?" asked Kenny curiously. Kai affirmed this with a nod. "Have you got any information on the team we're up against first? What are they called again, Beybladers Unlimited?"

"Crap name." laughed Tyson, shovelling bacon into his mouth. Kenny ignored him and continued talking.

"Because I couldn't find anything. They must be a relatively new team, but even so it's crazy that a team that can make it into this tournament has no available stats, or even a fan base! It's like they've never bladed in public before!"

Kai studied one of the pieces of paper, and handed it over to Kenny. "Use this and think up a strategy for the match." He turned to the rest of the team. "We need to train."

On arriving at the hotel's private training room, Kai set Tyson and Max in a battle against each other, then proceeded to give Rei pointers on how to improve his launch technique. Rei was confused. It was as if their conversation last night had never happened! Had he dreamt it or was it the product of wishful thinking? Kai was back to his usual self, carefully keeping his distance and not talking more than was absolutely necessary. This proceeded to go on for about half an hour before Rei suddenly cracked and, feeling brave, he tackled Kai about his coldness.

Kai gave a curiously furtive glance towards the other side of the room, where the other two team members were blading, and beckoned Rei into the corner. "It's not that I don't want to be friends, Rei," he muttered, "it's more because I don't want to give them" he nodded towards the others, "the idea that I'm in any way playing favourites."

Rei nodded in comprehension. He was just being paranoid, typical. But yet, there appeared to be something Kai wasn't telling him. His glance, the way he didn't seem to want to be overheard… Rei didn't quite buy his story. He started to walk back to the beydish, but stopped when Kai caught his sleeve and murmured "Thanks for last night, by the way.", then carried on walking as if hadn't said anything. Rei shook his head. There was a lot he had left to learn about Kai.

Hope you liked it. The next half probably won't be up for just over a week, as I am going on holiday, unless I really surprise myself with my proactivity, which is unlikely looking at the weekend I have ahead of me! Gah, so many commas lol

Please review and feel free to PM me if you so choose, I like to make friends! SapphyTheElf