Chapter 4

Tyson could hear the buzzing bees from the garden, busy to collect nectar, as he laid on his back in the dojo, staring up at the ceiling. The house was quiet, unnaturally quiet since Daichi had left.

Two weeks ago, the noisy brat's mother had approached before the dojo, demanding his son to return to their village and continue his studies in the school. Daichi had immediately freaked out by the strict woman and tried to reconcile her by telling the great news he had become a champion on the Beyblade World Championship, and although his mother had looked at her little monkey with proud eyes, she couldn't have cared less the title. She didn't tolerate Daichi's truant attitude and forced him to leave with her.

Tyson knew it was for Daichi's good, but he felt a bit pity for his former tag-teammate. He already got used to his loud and annoying companion, and the little boy's heart definitely was in the right place. Tyson didn't need more reason to like someone. Without him, his home became peaceful but dull.

Lonely.

He tried to deny his feelings and pretending he was doing perfectly fine all by himself, without his friends around. Thankfully, he got his silly grandpa who was always busy with various tasks around their property and sometimes either Hiro or his dad called him for a short talk.

When he was free from kendo trainings, Tyson often walked his way to the park close to his home where he could meet with Kenny and Hilary. There was always a bunch of kids in the park, he liked distracted himself with their vivid companion. The dojo could be overwhelmingly lonely in these days and he couldn't stand being alone.

If there was something Tyson hated the most, it was the stillness around him. If he was alone, in peace, in silence, he could hear his own thoughts. Thoughts that filled him with concerns and doubts; he really didn't need those.

But all this was going to change today.

He was waiting for Max and Ray's arriving. They both had left to their homeland after the championship last year and had stayed there for the winter, spending time with their own family.

Tyson had often changed letters or phone calls with them to keep in touch. Being uncharacteristically wise, he asked them about the next championship months before the announcement, and after some thinking of the two, both Ray and Max agreed to sign up for this year's tournament as Bladebreakers once again.

They had asked about Kai, of course, and Tyson had promised them that the grumpy sourpuss was going to join them, too, though he was far from confident that he could keep his word. He hadn't heard about the phoenix since the BEGA-incident apart from the only letter Tyson had sent him weeks ago, and the captain had answered it surprisingly fast. His letter was returned a few days later though Kai didn't dilate upon his answer; the message contained not more than four words.

Dear Tyson,

OK.

Kai

When Tyson received the letter, he had to turn the paper in his hand, hoping he would find more words on the back.

'At least, he had bothered to address me', Tyson rolled his eyes.

Although, it was a positive answer that meant Kai had agreed to form the Bladebreakers again, Tyson was disappointed with the one-word reply. He couldn't relax and celebrate for the reunion as he was not entirely sure Kai wouldn't have changed his mind in the meantime. The phoenix had a tendency to switch among teams even in the last minutes as others changed their everyday clothes, and Tyson couldn't trust him anymore.

He decided to brush aside his concerns when he saw Kenny turning up in the dojo's gate.

"Hey Chief!" The sun shined brighter somehow as the small mechanic plopped next to him on the veranda though the little boy's expression was weary. "What's up?"

"Tyson, hey! Ugh, I'm so tired. I'm glad the champion title defender's team was automatically qualified, and we don't have to beyblade today. Oh dang!" As Kenny dug out his laptop from his heavy bag, several things felt out of it to the dirt.

Tyson quickly bent down to help collect them for him.

"How could you say such thing, Chief! What's the fun when you can't beyblade? Hey! Is this Dranzer?"

Kenny snapped his head with a loud, painful crack in his neck and stared in horror at Tyson's hand that held Kai's beyblade. The mechanic instantly grabbed the demolished spinning top from his grip and snatched it almost violently.

"Ow, Chief! What's with you? When did you meet Kai? Is he in town?"

The bastard didn't even let him know he returned to Tokyo, but already paid a visit to Kenny? Kenny; the one he liked ignoring the most?!

His friend was uncertain what to say. He just stared at Tyson with contemplation, with the phoenix's beyblade in his hand behind his back.

"Chief? Why is Dranzer with you and not Kai? What happened to her that you have to repair it?"

"I just have to modify some things on his beyblade, that's all." Kenny prompted, denying the champion's uncommonly logical questions.

Tyson raised a brow in his puzzlement. Why was Kenny so terrified now, and why did he lie when he saw the broken parts on Kai's beyblade, he couldn't understand.

"What are you talking about? Dranzer is in an awful shape, it's clearly in need of more than just a modification. What happened to her?" He demanded, losing his patience with the mechanic.

Kenny reluctantly acknowledged that it was pointless to pretend anymore. He defeatedly sighed then spoke to the champion on a serious tone.

"I don't know, Kai didn't tell me what exactly happened. He just showed up at my house the other day and asked me – or rather demanded –to fix his beyblade and handed Dranzer to me. I didn't have the chance to ask anything, he left immediately without a word. He seemed frustrated. Now, I have to repair his beyblade before the eighth final starts. I don't have much time!" Kenny lamented, as he examined the damages on the blue beyblade.

"Did Kai lose the battle?" Tyson asked, suddenly feeling concerned by its possibility.

"I don't know." Chief didn't even look up from his work. He was now studying the state of Dranzer's rings. Most of them was slightly scratched but the attack ring became useless, just like the core itself.

Kenny grimaced with discontent.

He had been planning to build a brand new beyblade for Kai; after his intense battle with Brooklyn, Dranzer was literally smashed without any savable part. Running out of his customize gears, he had only been able to provide Kai with an outdated Dranzer design that was a good temporary solution for the eighth finals. Kenny didn't expect the captain would beybattle with that design forcefully so soon. Now, he had to re-schedule his plans and prioritize Dranzer, or Kai was not going to participate on the eighth finals.

"You said he seemed frustrated. It might mean he lost." Tyson pondered out loud. "But who could defeat him? Who could be so strong? Kai's very powerful, his opponent should be some tough case."

Kenny sighed exasperatedly as he rolled his eyes back into his head though it was hidden under his bushy hair.

It was a habit from Tyson to speak so high about Kai. Kenny knew that the champion had mix feelings for the Russian, considering him as his greatest rival and also his greatest friend, which was mystery for Kenny. The guy had betrayed the team numerous times, yet Tyson had forgiven him for each betrayal, welcoming back the traitor with wide open arms. For what reason Kai had battled so fiercely this time, he had several speculations, but honestly could care him the less. He was done with understanding Kai's reasons.

Meanwhile, Kenny counted Tyson as his best friend and never let him down, not in the worst circumstances. But he didn't want Tyson to think he was jealous or had only negative emotions toward their captain. Kai was relatively a good guy, Kenny was aware of the fact, but this didn't make him like the Russian more.

Kenny also knew if he would mention any of his bad feelings on Kai, Tyson had talked him out of it anyway, so he didn't speak with him about it and kept his opinion about the phoenix to himself.

"I don't know, Tyson, I'm just the mechanic of the team, not his psychologist, talking to me about his issues." Kenny replied a little bit bitterer than usual.

Tyson only hummed at the odd reaction of Kenny, baffled by his bad mood, but he quickly dismissed the negative vibes, and changed the topic back to a more pleasant one. The team reunited that day, and he was not going to let anyone to ruin it.

"Did you hear about the new structure of the tournament?"

"You mean the 'fight for advantage'?" It was amazing how quickly Kenny was able to switch between moods and topics; his sunken expression nowhere to be seen, it was replaced by his strategic professionalism. "Yes, I heard. It sounds very exciting and can decide an unpredictable outcome easily. Especially for the teams that are even. We must take the fight for advantage very seriously."

In this season, competitors had to form at least three-manned teams, but fourth-manned was recommended. The organizers wanted to give the chance to new, amateur beybladers to introduce themselves on the tournament, so competitors could register without representing any country. It possibly resulted more participating teams on the championship.

The other big invention of this year was that they removed the random generator that had been selecting the competitors for the upcoming battles on the last tournaments, and they gave instead the opportunity to the teams to fight for the advantage to decide the order by themselves. This was an extra battle before the usual three crucial matches that determined the winner team; so they named this extra battle 'fight for the advantage'.

The team that lost this extra battle had to pre-assign the order of their competing members, hence the team that won the 'fight for advantage' was allowed to adapt and change their competitor choices in the last seconds.

Tyson's face wrinkled like a scrunched paper. He found this new invention exciting too, but mostly because every member of his team would finally be able to beybattle in ever round, and they didn't have to argue about who could beyblade in each round, and who had to sit back on the bench like on their first championship three years ago. He wouldn't have assumed the fight for advantage could be so significant on the tournament that they had to take it seriously according to his genial friend, Kenny.

"Hello Tyson!"

Tyson's head jolted up in happiness at the familiar voice; his smile unstoppably forming its way on his face.

It was Max, waving cheerfully at him and Kenny, under the dojo gate. His other friend, Ray stood beside him with a heavy bag tossed over his shoulder; grinning friendly at his long-seen teammates.

"Max, Ray! You're finally here! "Tyson was overjoyed. He didn't see them for weeks, so he quickly bridged the distance between them and locked the two into a bear hug.

"How was your journey, guys?" Kenny asked with a warm smile, he also missed his teammates very much.

"Too long." Ray admitted with a heavy breath. He didn't like planes.

"Not for me." Max explained enthusiastically. "I've already returned a few days ago but was too busy with helping Mom and Dad unpacking our stuff. I've met Ray at the river on my way to you."

"That's great! I'm really happy you're here." Tyson couldn't stop smiling at the newcomers. He stepped back, invitingly opening his arm at the dojo. "Grandpa made lunch. Let's eat first, you must be hungry. Then we can go to the stadium to see the preliminaries."

"Sounds good, I'm starving." Ray nodded gratefully at Tyson's offer, and followed him in with Max and Kenny.

After they stuffed themselves and made a short catch up with each other's everyday, they headed to the stadium to see the Japanese preliminaries.

Tyson had a feeling he was forgetting something, but he couldn't remember what, so with a shrug of his shoulder he decided it probably was nothing important. They were already walking alongside of the river, enjoying the nice weather and the soft breeze of the late Spring, when a harsh yelling from behind made them stop.

They turned back as one to see Hilary just in time, racing towards them with crazy speed and unheavenly eyes. It was a terrifying sight; the boys recoiled some even.

"How dare you?!" Hilary greeted them furiously. "I told you wait for me at the dojo, but Grandpa G told me you already left without me! You promised me you don't leave until I arrive!"

She violently poked Tyson on his chest, who was just blinking in his shock though now, he finally remembered what was he had forgot.

"Oh right, I did. I may forget about you, Hil." Tyson said sheepishly as he scratched his head, hoping that was an appropriate excuse for not waiting for her.

"Oh, hey Hilary! Are you joining us to watch the preliminaries today?" Max asked politely, trying to smooth the situation for Tyson. The champion appreciated his help with a mouthed 'thanks, man' behind the mad girl.

Panting from the outburst and running, Hilary tried to steady her breath as her expression became hard as she stared at Max like he was some idiot.

"Of course! I have been registered with your team, too!"

"Oh, realy? That's awesome." Ray said, completely perplexed by her announcement. Although he already considered Hilary a part of the team just like Kenny, he didn't know about this fact.

"But not as a beyblader, right?" A sudden horror appeared on Tyson's face.

Kenny, Max and Ray tensed under the vivid memory when Hilary had tried once to launch a beyblade, and held back a laugh. Hilary, meanwhile, was not so amused by Tyson's question and started to tremble with a rage that was ready to explode.

"NO! I am the manager!" She shouted and slapped the impolite boy on his arm like she could beat some manner into him.

"Okay-okay, I see! Geez, stop hitting me, you crazy woman!"

Hilary started to slap his arm even harder at that.

"You guys are never gonna change." Max noted with a giggle and the others relaxed.

"Yeah, you fight an old couple." Ray joked; his reward was a deadly glare from Hilary.

"Who do you call old?!"

"Guys, we're going to be late if we don't hurry." Kenny reminded them, creating immediate order with his rationality.

Hilary's feature softened at last, and raised a sudden smile at Max and Ray.

"I'm glad to see you again, you two!" She greeted them properly and the boys smiled back at her.

"We can say the same, Hilary. It sure is a big reunion." Max chirped.

"Only Kai's missing… Did you hear about him?" Ray asked as they continued their path to the stadium with peace now.

"Nah. He only agreed to join the team, but I'm not sure if we can see him today." Tyson looked around like he was expecting a Kai, defying his words, jumping out from the near bushes.

"Well, it's only the preliminaries anyways." Kenny said indifferently; he definitely did not miss the captain.

oOoOo

At first, Kai thought he wasn't going to watch the preliminaries. He knew the Blitzkrieg Boys played today as well, and he didn't want to see them. He was ashamed by his defeat against the new member, so bad that he even toyed with the thought to quit beyblading, step down from the championship and fulfill his grandfather's request to prepare for his university life in London.

He considered it a momentarily weakness. He was always shaken by the defeat against a new opponent he didn't think worthy for himself enough. It was a lesson he was still learning in the hard way, but that didn't mean he was going to let anyone to intervene into his path.

He had decided that he participated on the championship for the last time, and he intended to leave the Beyblade world with raised head, without unfinished business with anyone. Kai had to show the Blitzkrieg Boys and the new girl that he was still a beyblader who needed to be feared.

His chance to beybattle with Tyson in the stadium had slipped away; and he was still somewhat depressed by that, but he had decided to focus on the team from now on. After all, this was going to be the last time he could officially beyblade on his team's side.

'You should really start to blade for yourself, not for your father.'

Anger and concern grasped his gut as he suddenly recalled the Russian girl's words from their battle.

Did she know him? Did she know something about his past?

Kai didn't remember her, despite spending hours with figuring out who she could be. After his futile, tiring attempts, he eventually gave up and ignored her. He knew that the media had published some details about his father lots of years ago when he had left the Hiwatari Enterprises along with his own family, so it was not a secret, however, only a few remembered this.

Anyhow, if only that was the case and the girl had checked his background, it only meant she was artful. Why did she choose those words? Kai decided that he was going to be careful with Alexandra if Tala had indeed recruited her.

Unfortunately, he not only lost the fight and the open position on the Blitzkrieg Boys, but Dranzer had gotten destroyed, too. Now, he had to wait patiently for Kenny to re-build his beyblade for the eighth finals. Until then, he couldn't develop a strategy against the new Russian team.

Looking up from his deep thoughts, Kai found himself at the stadium entrance. He didn't even notice where he was going, his legs automatically brought him here.

He already could see his teammates in the distance and tried to prepare himself for the noisy and restless company. After a few seconds, he realized he was never going to be prepared for that.

"Oi, Kai! You arrived soon this time." His voice seemed annoyed, but Kai could make out the happiness in Tyson's tone. The guy was literally glowing that he could see his captain approaching on the preliminaries with his team.

"Wow, Kai, nice coat! You look like a real badass." Max complimented and Kai slightly rolled his eyes.

"Hello Kai! How was your holiday?" Hilary asked immediately on a high-pitched tone as if she was welcoming an old best friend.

Kai's respond was only a condescending glare.

"Okay, whatever..."

"Stop standing here and get inside finally! The qualifier starts immediately, and I want to see it. You can talk inside too!" Kenny urged the group, losing his patience.

"Okay, let's go guys! The championship is waiting for us!" Tyson cheered and entered the building with the others.

Kai suddenly grabbed Kenny by his shoulder, preventing him to follow the others. He stretched out a demanding hand with his open palm, waiting for the mechanic to give him something.

"Uhm…" Kenny started on a low voice, knowing he wasn't going to please the elder with the next sentence. "Dranzer is not ready. I need some days to re-build her design."

Kai silently glared at him, dropping his hand to his side. It wasn't the answer he expected.

Kenny gulped then hurried after Kai to the stadium.