BEYBLADE

CHAPTER EIGHT: CONFRONTATIONS

The hotel finally came into view and Tyson sighed happily as the bus stopped. He jumped down from the top step of the bus' door and ran through the hotel's doors, spinning to a stop in front of a rather important looking man. The teenager coughed and cleared his throat rather loudly as if he wished to make a point, literally. He pointed a finger at the man's pale face and slurred through the side of his mouth.

"Watch where you're going, mister. He-ith who-th shall steppith in the way of Tysonith and his food shall perish beneath his iron-clad boot!"

Max and Kenny walked through the doors just in time to catch Tyson's little... speech, if you could call it that. " It's iron-clad fist, Tyson, and we're in the twenty-first century now." Kenny interjected, taking the speech seriously as he did, every other thing.

Mr. Dickenson and Grandpa walked passed the boys toward the elevators and stepped into one, calling out along their palms that they'd meet up again either at the hotel room or cafeteria. Mr. Dickenson's frail mouth had been twisted upward into a very amused and genuine grin, probably caused by Tyson and Kenny's short conversation.

Tyson glanced back at Kenny and shrugged his shoulders, waving a hand at Dickenson and Granpda. His clenched fists found their resting place against his hips as he turned back to the man. " Whaaaa..?"

Nothing but an empty space of air with a few by-passers resided where the man once stood. Tyson, obviously scepticle, turned and tapped his foot against the marble floor. "Hookay. I don't mean to sound corny and everything-else and cliche here, but... That guy, he was right in front of me and when I turned away, he disappeared. Did any of you see him leave?"

Rei stepped through the doors and stopped a little way beside Max just in time to hear Tyson's question, Kai following slowly behind.

" Uh.." Max blinked and shrugged also, holding up both arms to his sides, palms facing upward. " Nope. Sorry, Tyson."

Tyson hmmed. " Oh well, noooo biggy!" He turned and ran for the cafeteria and was soon stopped by a tall boy's lithe yet well-built frame, which he evidently crashed into.

"Ooof!! Hey watch where you're go-..." Tyson shook a fist at the boy, yet quickly ceased the gesture as he peered closer. " W-who are you?"

The boy looked down, emerald eyes seeming to grin at the younger boy who still sat sprawled upon the marble floor, though no other facial feature even so much as twitched. " My name... is of no importance to you, mortal."

Rei and Max blinked, Kenny trembled, and Kai for once, actually looked up at the sound of someone else's voice. A cold, familiar voice.

The blade-breakers leader's own sorrel eyes widened the slightest half of an inch, more than likely in curiosity than surprise or shock. Dark-blue hair concealed the top half of the stranger's face beneath shadow, and the chains and buckles upon his unlit clothing created an image of musically evil proportions.

"Hnn.."

Tyson stood and shook his fist again, teeth clenched and grinding against one another. " Mortal? Mortal, you say!? Huh! I'll teach you."

Kai stepped forward through the blade-breakers and stood in front of them, orbs gazing up at the slightly taller boy's own face. The leader's expression was one of unsure determination, yet he felt protective over his team, which he definitely was sure of. Stepping forward was a good idea, for it got Tyson to shut up and probably saved him from any unnatural harm.

The boy of same age looked down at Kai. " Kai...." His lips parted and he spoke, answering Tyson's question while his gaze kept on the leader. " My name.. is Tomoshu. I am a world-class beyblader, the likes of which everyone has yet to experience." It was almost as if he was talking to Kai instead of answering any questions.

Kai gagged, mentally. " Huh. Thought he was a blader.. but world-class, I don't think so. I'll have to see for myself to believe that one."

Tyson tugged on the rim of his glove, tightening it about his hand. " Oh, feel up to proving that?"

Tomoshu broke his seemingly endless gaze from Kai and turned to face Tyson. " No thank you. I'm really busy at the moment, perhaps too busy to battle amatuers. However, I promise when I am free, I shall send my servants in search of you. That is when I shall give you a battle. Might I ask your name?"

"Busy talking to us, maybe.. you sure as heck aren't busy with anything else by the looks of -" Tyson's thoughts were cut short when Tomoshu asked his question. " Oh, my name is T-"

" His name doesn't concern you.." Kai interjected.

Tomoshu cracked a very slight grin and peered over at Kai, blankly. " ...Ah, Sparky finally decides to speak. Very well, then. Good day to you all." He turned on one heel and continued on his way, Kai watching his every move.

Max gave off a small chuckle and Kenny scratched at his head, frantically. Rei cracked the slightest smile and Tyson shook a fist at the retreating back of Tomoshu.

" Gah! I coulda taken 'im!"

" I don't know, Tyson." Kenny said.

Tyson turned back to him and raised both brows. " Haw..? Whadduya mean, Chief?"

" Well, we really don't know anything about that beyblader, so you battling him could have been a big mistake."

" Or it could have been an easy win." Rei added.

"Right," Kenny continued, " Which is exactly why I say it could have been a mistake."

" Who cares?" Kai spat.

" Wha?"

"What's that?"

Rei and Max turned to view Kai, whom had his arms folded across his chest. " The fact that you're all talking about someone we just met whom is so insigificant, disgusts me. Why waste valuable brain matter on that cheese ball when you can work at new battle strategies?"

" Hm, Kai has a point." Max rubbed his index finger and thumb against his chin.

" Yeah, you guys. We should really get to the hotel room and start planning. But.." Rei glanced at the others before turning back to the leader. " Maybe you... should get some rest, Kai.."

" Don't waste your time worrying about me either, Rei." Kai turned toward the elevators and purposely avoided them, making his way for the staircase that stood to the right.

Tyson pondered a thought before jogging after Kai, followed closely by his teammates. " Hey Kai, wait up!"

************

Tomoshu turned the corner and stopped immediately, his emerald hues staring directly in front at the pitch blackness.

"Hn. Four boys. Tala, Spencer, Bryan and Ian. All leaning against the wall, arms folded across their chests or hanging almost lifelessly by their sides." He turned to gaze at the boys and sure enough, he was correct.

There stood the team of four in the exact position that Tomoshu had predicted without a second glance. "Hardly surprising.. They're so predictable."

" A greetings to you Tala, I suppose." He nodded, very slightly.

Tala's brow twitched and he pushed away from the wall, arms dropping rigidly to his sides. Oh how he wanted to lift both arms and clamp his digits around that scrawny, yet not-so-scrawny boy's neck and strangle the life from him. Boris would surely have his head though, if he was to even begin to do such a thing. He nodded in return and passed Tomoshu, Bryan and Spencer following, then Ian. They all cast glances evil enough to put the lord of hell himself to shame, yet the dark-blue haired blader payed no attention, nor did he give the expressions another thought.