Chapter 11:  Startling News

General P.O.V.

"Guys, guys, guess what!" 

Kenny sprinted clumsily with his laptop in his hand into the five star hotel room he and his fellow team mates were staying at.  The room was huge, filled with beautiful water coloured paintings of sunsets and forests.  There were five twin-sized beds to accommodate the world renowned bladers, not to mention their expert beyblade mechanic, Kenny.

"What's up, Chief?"  Tyson asked curiously, rising from his sprawled but comfortable position on his feathery red bed.

The winded Kenny continued, "Avalanche has been knocked out of the competition!"

This caught everybody's attention.  Ray set aside the book he was reading on the history of beyblades, Max diverted his attention from the TV, and Kai emerged from his isolation in the shadowed corner of the room.

"But the tournament hasn't even started yet."  Ray pointed out.

"I know, but this new team came from out of nowhere and has taken their place."  Kenny responded. 

So what?  We're the world champs!  We'll just have to beat these guys too!"  Tyson yelled energetically, doing a series of punches and kicks across the room. 

Max chuckled, "Yeah!  No problem for us, right Tyson?"

"YA!  Nobody messes with the BladeBreakers!"  He laughed.

Kenny sighed, "Tyson!  Quit goofing off!"

"Awww, c'mon Chief. Lighten up a little, will ya?"  Tyson begged.

"Yeah, have some faith in us."  Max said cheerfully.

"If we think like that, we'll get beaten in no time!  A lot of new bladers are going to be in this competition.  If we let our guard down, they could take us out of this tournament!"  Kenny snapped.

"Tyson, I think Kenny's right.  We can't get overconfident."

"Not you too Ray!  C'mon!  We can beat anyone who challenges us!  We're invincible!"  Tyson bellowed, doing a bunch of dramatic poses.

Kai, who had remained distant and silent, decided to speak, "Listen, we need to take each challenge seriously.  Being the world champions doesn't make us invincible, Tyson."

Tyson groaned while Max nodded sadly in agreement. 

"So what's the scoop, Chief?"  Tyson inquired.

Kenny cleared his throat, "We have virtually no data on these guys.  All four of them possess bit beasts, but other than that, I don't know anything.  Having bit beasts must mean they have some amount of skill though."

A spell of silence was cast over the group.

"…LET'S GET SOMETHING TO EAT!"  Tyson hollered.

"TYSON!  You just ate an hour ago!"  Kenny spat.

"I know, but I'm hungry again."

Max laughed, "That's Tyson for ya."

"Do you think we can call in room service?  Mr. Dickinson won't mind."  Tyson asked.  Food was almost as exciting as a beyblade match for Tyson.

"I guess so."  Ray chortled.

Kenny sighed, "I'm going to see what I can dig up on this new team.  Hmm, they call themselves the Beyshadows…"

Nobody was paying attention to Kenny anymore.  Tyson was more concerned over what kind of food he should order than being concerned over some new team.  Max had taken the liberty to call for room service, and Ray was continuing to read his book.  Kai however, had found a very interesting news channel that managed to catch everybody's attention…

"Two weeks ago a young stowaway was found on The Pride of Moscow, a large Russian made passenger boat departing from a coastline close to Russia.  The Pride of Moscow, on its way to St. John's, Newfoundland as thousands of spectators flock there to witness the world championships.  About fifty kilometres away from their final destination, Robert Turner, discovered a boy."

The screen switched to an aged man with grey whiskers.

"It surprised me.  I went to inspect the cargo, and managed to see him out of the corner of my eye.  I called out to him, but as soon as he found he'd been discovered, he ran."

The news woman continued on, "This video was taken by some Russian tourists aboard the ship…"

The screen changed to show the huge passenger ship.  It had polished wooden floors, and its white paint glimmering in the afternoon sun.  Everybody was talking and laughing on the deck of the elegant Russian ship.  No matter of speech could be understood due to the difference in language.  Shouts suddenly erupted as a teenaged boy flung open a large steel door.  He bolted straight across the deck, forcefully knocking anybody who got in his way.  You couldn't make out much as the figure sprinted past.  He was a thin muscular blur zooming across the deck with amazing speed.  The only details anyone could have possibly seen was a flash of a ruby scarf, and his long, tangled ebony hair with brilliant silver streaks in it.  The figure quickly darted to the bow of the ship and didn't hesitate for a second as he leapt overboard.  Cries rang throughout the ship, ropes were cast overboard, and a small lifeboat was set into frigid waters.  The anxious people aboard the vessel awaited the boy's rescue, but the mysterious youth never surfaced again.

The news anchor continued, "The stowaway is assumed to be dead, and his body hasn't been found-"

Kai turned the television off quickly.

Max stared blankly at the screen, "Wow…"

"There sure is some weird stuff happening." Ray commented.

Kenny nodded, "I'll say."

There was a loud knock on the door.

"Room service is here!"  Tyson cried out.

"Don't you ever think about anything other than food!?"  Kenny snapped.

Tyson shrugged, "Of course Chief, but you can't think on an empty stomach."

"You're hopeless, Tyson!"  Kenny sighed.

Kai snorted as he turned off the television.  Tyson ate ravenously, shovelling food into his mouth.  Max, Kenny, and Ray watched in disgust. 

"Tyson!  You're going to make yourself sick!"  Kenny warned him.

Tyson didn't hear, or if he did he pretended not too.  He was too busy ceaselessly shoving noodles and pasta down his throat into his bottomless stomach.  Ray and Max exchanged cheerful looks as they laughed at the ridiculous (yet repulsive) scene.  Kai sighed deeply.  He had more important things to worry about than his friend's uncivilized eating habits.  He didn't make a sound as he got up and slid stealthily out of the hotel room.  He strolled absentmindedly down the streets of Ottawa.  Snow was gently making its way to the earth from the cloudy skies above.  The cold never bothered Kai though.  He was desperately trying to think of someplace quiet and isolated where he could train and clear his mind.  Last year's World Championships in Russia had helped him get some answers. 

Memories of Biovolt that had been lying dormant in the dark corners of his mind were once again awakened.  He remembered Black Dranzer, the accident, and his training.  However, his full memory never returned to him.  Only bits and pieces, fractions of the life he had led at Biovolt had come to him.  Kai didn't care enough to even try and remember.  What did it matter now?  Regaining fragments of his memory at Biovolt hadn't exactly been useful.  He had betrayed his team mates and had stolen countless bit beasts.  Kai was still struggling to figure out why they had forgiven him; he didn't deserve their friendship or forgiveness.  He wasn't even sure if he wanted to accept what they offered him.  But Kai was never the one to dwell on self-pity.  He moved on like everybody else did, or he at least tried to.  He still carried Black Dranzer with him although he would never dare to use it again.  It was his now his responsibility to make sure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.  The truth was, ever since Biovolt had been defeated, his life had changed drastically. 

His grandfather, the only thing he had left to call 'family' was gone.  Kai was alone.  He had always been alone, but now he was homeless with nowhere to go.  He refused to stay on welfare or go into some orphanage, and he was too proud and self conscious to ask his comrades if they could provide him with a place to stay.  He had wandered the streets very much like he was doing now.  He had to constantly avoid encounters with Mr. Dickenson and skilfully dodge inquiries by his friends at all costs.  What would he do next?  Could he go on living like this?  Alone?  Of course he could!  He didn't need anybody!  He wasn't a child anymore, he didn't need anybody, and he never had!  And he'd confront any obstacle that got in his way.  This was just another obstacle he had to overcome, and an easy one at that!  Easy for a world championship beyblader!  And yet…something deep inside himself told him he was wrong.  Something felt wrong.  It felt like…he was being watched.  Kai's chestnut eyes narrowed and darted around the desolate alleyway he had wandered into.  Every muscle in his body was tense.  His white scarf was blown by winter's cold, but gentle breeze.  The only sound that could be heard was the wind playfully blowing loose bits of paper around him. 

"Show yourself!  I know somebody's out there!"  The young fourteen year old demanded.  A long, dead silence greeted his command.

"Very perceptive of you…" a low voice growled dangerously.  The voice was full of suppressed hatred and anxiety.

"Just who are you?"  Kai cried into the darkness, unable to tell where the voice was coming from.

"And just why should I tell you!"  The voice asked.  Kai could now tell the voice belonged to a boy, maybe no older than he was.

"I have no time to play games!  This is a waste of my time."  Kai snorted as he turned and walked farther into the alleyway.  The voice, however, followed him.

"Everything seems to be a waste of time to you, Kai!  Just what is a productive use of your time?"

Kai didn't answer; he continued his leisurely pace down the alleyway.

"KAI!  Answer me!"  The voice screeched, enraged.

Kai continued to neglect the stranger's question.  The mysterious boy cautiously emerged from the nearby shadows that had hidden him from sight.  He slunk soundlessly, creeping up behind the seemingly unaware figure in front of him.  Beads of cold sweat dripped down the outsider's white face as he poised his hands to clasp Kai's throat.  He pounced, only to be thrown harmlessly over the prepared Kai's shoulder.  Stunned, the boy attempted to turn and face Kai's assault.  But Kai moved like lightning, snatching both wrists of his attacker.  A low snarl sounded from the stranger's mouth as he struggled against the powerful arms forcing him downwards.  The boy's mind raced, filled with pure panic and fury.  He summoned all his strength, wrapping his legs around Kai's and flipping positions with him.  Before the youth could succeed in pinning his opponent down, Kai quickly shoved the teenager off him.  Now they both stood facing each other.  Kai stared into the unnatural dark red eyes that danced with utter hatred.  The boy sprinted towards Kai, aiming for a low punch in the stomach.  Kai immediately blocked it, and then delivered a series of upper cuts and quick punches to his enemy.  Lip bleeding, the figure sputtered and stumbled, grabbing his ruby scarf to wipe the blood off his face. 

Damn it!  He's a hell of a lot more powerful than I gave him credit for…  The teenager thought, suddenly fearing failure.  He couldn't afford to fail. If he did, Kai and his feeble minded friends would find out everything.  He'd be killed, by whom it wouldn't matter.

He struggled to think of a better way to assault Kai.  If he didn't think during this fight it would cost him.

He brushed his long, silver-streaked black hair behind his shoulders as he prepared himself to attack again.  A wide grin spread across his face as he leered at Kai's narrowed eyes and emotionless face.  He raised his fists and leapt at Kai once more.  The outsider didn't stop or hesitate for a second, matching Kai move per move as they threw a barrage punches at each other.  The figure bent down and swerved his right leg to send Kai falling towards the ground.  Now he was in control.  Kai felt the air being beaten out of him as the looming figure punched his stomach over and over again.  He felt himself suffocating.  Kai tried desperately to keep the air from escaping his lungs; he could taste his own blood, leeching out from his gaping mouth.  With the remainder of his strength, Kai pushed himself towards his attacker, delivering a painful head-butt.  The boy cried briefly and stumbled backwards giving Kai a chance to take a few deep breathes of air as he stood leaning against the wall for support.

Both of them were gasping for air, hurt and exhausted.  The stranger collapsed, struggling to take in the cold air.  He had obviously been in the winter weather a lot longer than Kai. 

"W-we'll finish this…later."  The boy wheezed.

Kai just glared murderously at the muscular boy as he stumbled on his unsteady feat; disappearing into the shadows.  Kai sighed, relieved that the fight was over. 

Who the hell was that?  And what does he want?  Kai thought worriedly. 

The boy resembled the strong teenager on the news channel he'd watched.  Maybe it was him.  No, there wasn't any maybe about it, it was him.  Kai wiped the blood from his jaw.  He staggered back down the alleyway, clenching his aching stomach and gripping the icy wall for support.  He decided it was best not to tell the others what had happened.  It would be close to impossible to track down the outsider, and they were having a hard enough time training for the tournament as it is. 

It was 10:30 at night by the time Kai stumbled into his hotel room.  All of his team mates were already sound asleep.  Kai silently slid the warm, welcoming flannel sheets over his icy body.  He shivered, trying to clear his mind and get some rest before dawn.          

Phantom Phoenix's Note:  YES!  Kai, Kai, KAI!!  My first BladeBreakers chapter!  Tis a grand thing!  Tell me what you think!  Read + Review.  By the way, I'm bad at geography, so…don't ask about the news report thingy.  SO BAD at GEOGRAPHY!  Couldn't find my way out of a paper bag, so...ya.