Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover


Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. Beyblade is not owned by me. You understand??


"..." people speaking


/.../ thoughts of people in third person


[...] voices in people's heads


(*A/N ...) Author notes


Chapter 2: Blue Skies And Blue Days



I staggered a few more steps, then collapsed. I sat with my back against a tree. An icy breeze flew by. I had to shiver a bit, despite the harsh winters I'd endured in Russia. I only had a thin, light blue windbreaker over my sleeveless black shirt. It was near the middle of fall, October 5th.


I barely had enough time to pack a bit of food into my bag, which was now slung over my shoulder, the food sticking out at the pouch under my arm. But I had to laugh at the scene of those guys running around town. Huh. What idiots. They'd never find me. And even if they did, they'd never get me to join their little team again.


Damn teams. Damn Tyson. Damn the Bladebreakers. Damn it, why was Tyson always the first one to come to my mind? He was the weakest, the most pathetic, the best-looking... WHAT THE HELL?? Oh, great!


Grandfather had said, "Relationships and attachments make you weak, Kai..." But that was Grandfather. He'd never been on a team, had he? Never had friends, never loved or was loved...


And to think I used to love him. Not THAT way, but... that was before. He had forced everything in my life, just so he could use me as a tool for world domination. He was weak. He was pathetic. No... A smile slowly spread across my face. I'm better than Tyson, Ray, Max, Kenny, even Grandfather. They all failed so easily. I'm better than anybody I know.


I couldn't help, but chuckle and scream proudly, fearlessly, "I'm better! I'm better than all of you!"


I'm not sure what this new fact could do for me in the future, but I do know one thing... what it's already done for me. It had lit the fire in my head, the one that Grandfather had built up and extinguished. The one that those Bladebreakers had stifled. The one that was now mine. It was all mine, for once in my life, mine. And it was brighter and fiercer than ever.


In fact... it wasn't JUST mine... it was me.


~~~~~~~


"It's hopeless!" Tyson voiced loudly in Max's living room with a sigh.


"Oh, come on, Tyson. It's not... hopeless." Max's face and tone didn't agree with his words.


Ray sighed and shook his head. "He's left town, and that's that."


Kenny cried, "Then it is hopeless! There are about 10 roads leading out of town, and about 15 neighbouring towns!"


"Well, don't you care about him?" Max's dad asked as he walked in, carrying a tray of chocolate chip cookies and glasses of hot chocolate. He set the tray on the table, where it was hungrily attacked, though half-heartedly.


"Of course we care about him!" Max answered.


Ray said firmly, "He's our friend."


Kenny added, "He's one of the best bladers around."


Tyson pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing.


Max's dad didn't seem to notice Tyson's silence. "Well, when I was your age, if we cared about someone who went missing, we'd stop at nothing to find them, and see them home safely." He laughed. "But I guess that was a long time ago..."


"Aw, dad!" Max said, giving him a hug. Turning back to the others, he said, "My dad's right. We shouldn't give up so easily! If we really consider him a friend, we should try to find him, and make sure he's safe, no matter what!"


Ray and Kenny gave him determined nods in response.


Tyson just turned away with a "Hmmph."


Ray asked, confused, "Tyson?"


Tyson turned back to them, with a slight glare. He snapped uncharacteristically, "What?"


Max blinked. He put in worriedly, "Don't you want to help and find Kai?"


Tyson only gave a moment's hesitation. "No. Why would I?"


Max's eyes widened. He started, "Tyson-"


Ray cut him off. "Max."


Max turned. "Yeah, Ray?"


Ray said pointedly, "If he doesn't want to help, we can't force him to."


"But Ray-"


Kenny caught on. "Ray is right, Max. We can't force Tyson to help."


"Good. Because I'm not!" was the angry shout from Tyson.


Max glanced around innocently, having no clue why his friends were acting this way.


"We really should be asleep, you know. We're going to have to be awake and alert to find Kai." Ray nodded to the clock on the wall, which said 10:30. "Max, we can stay over tonight, right?" Ray gestured towards the sleeping bags the three boys had brought.


Max nodded. "Sure. If you want to."


Tyson suddenly put in, "No thanks, Max. I changed my mind. I'm going home."


Max said with a tone of disapproval, "Alright, Tyson. If you really have to."


"I do." With that, Tyson picked up his stuff with a grunt, and walked out the front door, without a word. The other three boys worked to set up the sleeping bags in Max's bedroom. They had them set up fairly quickly, but no one looked the least bit tired.


"Ray, Kenny?" Max called quietly.


They perked up and glanced at him. Ray asked, "What?"


"Why did you guys just give up on Tyson like that? And why was he acting like that anyways?"


Kenny shook his head and said gently, "Oh, Max. Isn't it obvious?"


Max blinked, bewildered. "No. Why was he acting that way? It's so unlike him."


Kenny replied, "Oh, Max. I don't know if you'll understand."


Max asked impatiently, "What?"


Ray sighed. He decided to give him an explanation. "Max..." he started reluctantly.


"Tell me already," Max whined.


"Max... Tyson... is, well..."


"What's wrong with Tyson? Is he sick?"


"Yeah, lovesick."


Max still didn't understand. "Love... sick?"


Kenny couldn't take it any longer. He blurted straight out, "Tyson is in love with Kai, okay?!?"


~~To be continued...~~


I could use some ideas for the next chapter... but feedback is appreciated just as much!