BEYBLADE

CHAPTER ONE:  KAI'S PAST

Kai awoke in a cold sweat, a soft zehpyr gracing his distant features as it slipped through the curtains of an open window. He sat up straight, white silken sheets slipping from his chest and pooling about his waist as he raised a hand to his forehead. Rei was sleeping quietly beside him to the right, next to whom were Max, Tyson and Kenny, in that order.

Swinging his legs over the edge and placing both feet upon the carpet, he stood, sorrel-red orbs trailing to the clock that sat in the middle of a nearby table.  three-thirty am. He thought.

Walking across the soft, velvety floor, he made his way toward the sliding doors of the hotel room, peering out through their glassy barrier, a barrier that kept the cold wind from stinging his distant features. Staring back at him was his reflection, white and faded in the door before him, as well as the sleeping forms of his team.

Kai shook his head and turned his back to the door, peering at his beyblade as he gripped it in the palm of his right hand. He was unaware that he had removed it from his pocket and gazed down at its dark blue body, Dranzer's power shining through the bit-piece in the middle.

Max rolled over onto his side, a yawn widening his features into awake mode. His blurred vision fell upon his team leader Kai, and he sat up, stifling another yawn as it approached.

"...Mrahh Ai... wha..ahh..oo..oing?" He muffled. (ooc=Translation "Ahhh, Kai.. what are you doing?" )

One of his eyes was closed moreso than the other, the result of sleeping on one side of his face.

Kai looked up, slightly startled at the unexpected question. " .. I was.. nothing. Go back to bed, Max."

Max shook his head as he climbed over Tyson. " Naw, I can't get back to sleep once I'm awake."

Kai blinked and turned, shrugging his shoulders as he slipped Dranzer back into the soft fabric of his pants pocket. "Hn, whatever." Words escaped his pale, cold lips.

Max stretched his arms over his head and smiled cheesily, making his way quietly over to the kitchen area of the hotel room. "Mm.. I'm not normally hungry when I wake up, but now, I guess I am.."

Kai heard Max's words, but didn't really pay any attention to them. He moved over to a dark corner and stared down at the floor for a moment before making his way towards the door. Max dug his hand into the fridge and pulled out a block of cheese, lifting his blue eyes to view Kai as he slipped through the door.

Kai walked down the creamy-pink colored hallway of the hotel, shoed feet silently falling to the soft floor without an echoed thud. The silence was comforting, enveloping his anti-social mind like a warm blanket that keeps away the piercing cold of winter. It was shattered soon however, at the sound of Max's voice.

Kai stopped and turned his head, gazing at the younger blader from down the hall. He was holding a light grey, bulky coat in his hands. Long sleeves, woolen fabric and a hoody.

" Kaaai. You forgot your jacket." Max waved the coat in the air happily.

" No thanks. I don't need it." Kai replied, distantly.

" Oh come on, Kai." A cheesy grin formed its way upon Max's happy face. " If you don't take it, you'll freeze to death."

The younger Blade-breaker lifted his arm and tossed the coat toward Kai, whom, with swift reflexes, caught the item by its hood. The leader shrugged and grabbed a bundle of the fabric tightly, gazing up at Max.

"Where are you going, anyway?"

"Just for a walk."

"At three-thirty in the morning?" Max cocked a curious, blonde brow.

Kai shrugged. " I don't feel like sleeping."

Max tilted his head and closed his eyes, flashing two fingers in the form of a peace-sign at the leader, " Ohhkay then." before slipping back into the hotel, closing the door behind him.

Kai looked down at the coat again silently, slipping one long, bulky sleeve over his left arm before following with the other.

Max closed the door with an unintentional slam, flinching as Tyson snorted awake. "Wait! That's my double cheese combo sandwich!" Max tilted his head and chuckled at Tyson's slurred speach, sneaking across the room and climbing back into bed.

Kenny twitched and kicked his leg at Max's face, forcing the blonde-haired boy to reel back into his pillow. He clutched a hand to his nose and pulled a pained face, "Uhhhhh, Chief!"

Rei awoke at the sudden sound, his features alert and at the ready. He looked around and noticed Tyson, and Kenny fast asleep on either side of Max, who, still had a tight grip on his nose.

" Max, what happened?" Rei asked.

" Kenny... Chief.. kicked me in the face."

Rei blinked and leaned across the bed, peering closer at Max's face. His golden-hued eyes trailed to the empty place beside him, his senses alert to the gap as a cool breeze hissed against his arm. " Where's Kai?"

Max shuffled to get comfortable and yawned, waving a hand at the door. " He went for a walk."

Rei looked at the clock. three-forty. "...At twenty to four?"

Max nodded and snuggled against his pillow. " That's what I said. Told me he couldn't sleep."

Rei nodded. "Mhmm." and slid back under the covers, obsidian-blue tendrils falling across his features.

Kai walked along the dark road, hands dug deep into the pockets of his baggy blue cargo pants, his sorrel eyes gazing at the lines of the pavement as they passed beneath him. The flickering orange ember of a street light that hung above him caught his attention for a slight moment, forcing his eyes to squint very slightly. Slate-blue bangs cast a multitude of shadows upon his face as he catches the movement of a tall body before him.

The figure was shadowed, and he couldn't quite make out who it was among the darkness of night, and shade of the building that it was standing nearby to. Kai stopped and narrowed his eyes, leaning forward to get a closer look. One blink made him lose sight of the figure and he stoo there silently for a moment, thinking and pondering as he looked around. "Hrn."

Kai shivered involuntarily as a strong, cold gust of wind blew passed him, almost causing him to lose his balance. He suddenly darted forward and ran toward the building, his frost-turned breath misting behind him as he exhaled.

He turned the corner and reeled back, bending over and lifting his arms across his face as a bright flash of light enveloped his visage. It faded as soon as it appeared, leaving Kai to adjust to the sudden return of darkness. He straightened and looked around, exhaling once in surprise before collecting his thoughts.

Maybe I should get back...