Hallo! This chapter would have little actions! However, in the past chapters, I was always emphasizing the relationships between the characters and now I have finally space to write more about battles! Though it may not be that much . . .

To BladebreakerfanATIC: I'm flattered by your comments and I thank you very much. Jus hope people will continue to support and read my story!

Note: I do not own any beyblades.

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* * * * * * Change in setting

" . . . " Talking

' . . . ' Thinking

` . . . ` Bitbeast talking, if any

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Kai watched the match downstairs with little interest as his mind was occupied with Michelle. Ray, Max and Tyson were sharing a pot of popcorn, with Tyson vying popcorn with Max. They were sitting beside Kai.

Ray was helpless as the two of them tussled the pot.

'Poor me. I cannot even get to eat one!' Ray smirked a little at both Max and Tyson.

Just then, Max, who held the pot and nearer to Kai, let slipped the pot. The pot, filled with popcorn, was pulled by Tyson, who had managed to get a touch on it.

But, Tyson's hand slipped too!

The popcorn exploded from the pot and rained down Kai. The Bladebreakers gasped.

Kai glared at them as the pot was turned upside down and landed on his head (Ha! Ha! Imagine this scene, okay?).

Tyson tried hard to suppress his laughter at the comical scene, but Kai's glare made his heart thumped slower as a chill ran down his spine.

However, the other people who were beside them all laughed.

* * * * * *

Standing up, Kai silently swept away the popcorn from his body and walked down the aisle. His eyes left his teammates.

Not even one sentence of words. Kai was just too silent. He found two empty seats and sat on one of them to continue to see the match.

Tyson gulped down his saliva.

"When Kai does not talk, it can be so scary. I'll rather he continue to stare at us then be that QUIET." Tyson whispered.

Ray whacked Max and Tyson's head.

"Look at what you've done to our team leader! Can't both of you be more serious?" Ray frowned and puffed. He left the two and sat beside Kai.

Ray whispered, " Sorry for those two guys' behavior, Kai. What are you thinking now?"

Kai looked at Ray without any emotions. Slowly, he said softly, "Ray. What I'm thinking is not important now that the plan has to go on . . . Why am I telling you this? You really should not care about me."

"Why should I not care?" Ray sighed but continued, "Kai. In this world, there is not only Michelle who can be your confidant and who cares for you. You are like a big brother to me. There must be more people who are more than willing to do so. You have friends - Tyson, Max, Kenny and me. This is a vast world. Even when I was in my village, I had always yearned to go out to the world to find new friends.

Although I know a few who care for me, I also feel that I can meet more friends to have a bigger social circle. Michelle has a fairly big social circle too. Look at her mates at Agent7. They do not grow and meet each other when they were young. Rather, they were willing to take out their sincerity and now, they are really friends who care about each other.

If you open your heart to people, you'll find more friends whom you will be proud of. Trust me."

Kai listened attentively to every word Ray said and warmness crept into his seemingly cold heart. He reflected his actions and realized long ago that he could have so many emotions raging in him. How come he did not accept it?

He had always thought that being cool would let him be more rational in his thinking. He is proven wrong. The more he was cold, the more confused he'll become of his real feelings.

Ray paused and said again, "Perhaps your hidden feelings are because you yearn to prove to Voltaire that you can fulfill his requirements as a member of the Hiwatari family. Am I right?"

Having shortened his thoughts, Kai hid his coldness and smiled slightly. The smile was from his heart. However, he returned to his own self again.

"Maybe you are right. But this does not mean that I have to change my ways of treating people. I can be more warm but not necessary friendly."

"Of course. Leopards will never change their spots."

Ray and Kai looked at each other and smiled with renewed friendship.

Tyson and Max looked at each other and questions marks began to form in their minds.

* * * * * *

" I am Nick Jammers and the first round winner is out! 'Irwinspin' wins 'D- day' by three straight matches!"

He coughed and introduced, "Next round will be the 'Bladebreakers' vs. 'Winder'! We'll wait for the two teams to be at their positions and start the matches . . . Lets give a big welcome for the second group of quarter- finalists! Firstly, Max from the 'Bladebreakers' will take on Wendy of 'Winder'! 3-2-1 let it rippp!"

Max smiled a broad one and launched his blade into the dish. Wendy smiled and launched her blade too. She was not too confident of her chances against a member of the world's top ten Beyblade team.

Nick introduced the dish too.

"As we can all see, this dish is the theme of the Australian desert! The floor of this dish has cracks on the surface so it'll test the endurance of the blades."

Wendy's blade was wobbling on the rough surface. She summons her bitbeast to wet the surface. Wendy's blade was not doing very well but she thought of a ingenious idea - make an attack such that the surface is changed and also attacking Max's blade too. This is to kill two birds with one stone.

"Glower! Floodspill!" Water shot out of her bitbeast's (a duck) mouth as the dish was filled with water.

"Ha! Your bitbeast will drown! You're losing!"

Max looks composed. Even though the flood had reached his blade, it still spun.

"How can it be?" Wendy was shocked.

"My bitbeast is a turtle. Of course he can swim so he won't drown! Draciel! Attack!" Draciel emerged and hit the duck!

"Max wins the game! Next, it would be Ray vs. Jonathon."

Tyson jumped up with joy and hugged Max tightly. "You won!"

"Easy as 1 2 3." Max smiled.

And Ray's match with Jonathon begins.

* * * * * * *

Michelle and Mica knelt beside Lily Kitz's rock tablet stuck on the ground.

They wept silently.

Suddenly, Mica attacked Michelle.

Michelle dodged it with effort; the attacks on her were very aggressive.

She looked at Mica's red eyes and knew that Mica has relapsed from her mental illness!

"Mica! Calm yourself down!" Michelle shouted as she turned her head away from Mica's punch. Michelle could have taken Mica down but she did not want to hurt her sister.

Mica swept her leg at Michelle's stomach. Michelle deliberately was hit. She caught Mica's leg and pointed at her acupoints.

It was then she realized that Mica had not suffered a relapse; rather, she attacked at her own free will.

"Why?" Michelle asked.

"Where is Michie? Why did you not bring out Jason?!" Mica screamed at her sister.

"Mica! Listen to me now. Calm down. Please?"

"No. Tell me the truth. I only want the truth."

"You cannot handle the truth."

"I can handle the truth! Tell me right away!"

"Maybe, if I join in, the explanation would be easier." A deep voice spoke.

"Kenny from the Bladebreakers. What are you doing here?"

"I may not be the real Kenny, you know?"

"What?"

"Kenny." Michelle frowned at the boy who emits a strangling feeling. "Who are you?"

"Guess . . .?" He opened his mouth and then he glowed brightly.

"NO! Leave him alone! Driana, leave us for three more days!" Kenny's body shook violently and strong gusts of wind blew his fringe up.

Mica gasped at the peculiar sight.

Kenny does have eyes. But . . . on of it is yellowish green while the other is a golden yellowish colour . . .

* * * * * *

I'll stop now. People might ask. Is this story's ending a cliffhanger? Well, the readers decide!

I just wanted to write something about Kenny's eyes because in the anime, he is always 'eyeless'. Hope you'' like my imagination on his eyes, will ya review?

Please R&R!

Bye-bye.

Signed Virginia.