BEYBLADE

CHAPTER NINE: AN UNEVENTFUL DAY

Tyson sprawled out across his bed which stood beside the southern window and crossed his arms beneath his head, dark eyes angrily staring up at the creamy-white ceiling. It was early the next morning and everyone was surprised that he was awake, everyone except for Kai that is, whom couldn't quite let go of the fact that he almost perished beneath the wheels of an eighteen-wheeler.

" You're all amatuers. I'll send my servants when I'm ready... when I'm ready!" Tyson sat up and scratched furiously at his head.

" Graaahh! That guy annoys me!"

Max chuckled happily and waved a hand at Tyson, folding his legs beneath him as he sat upon a bed of his own. " Chill out, Tyson. Everyone annoys you."

Kai leant against a wall beside his bed and peered out through the window, head dipped back against the frame. All he really could see was his own reflection in the glass, yet he tried to look passed it. The window was basically frozen over with a layer of thin ice, which created a misty haze that was virtually impossible to see through. "What's wrong with me? I came so close to...."

The leader couldn't help but re-run images of the passing truck that almost took his life the previous day. His thoughts were so strong and mind bending that he lost concentration and had walked onto the busy road. " Hn, I'm such an idiot."

" Yeah, true Max. But this guy really annoys me. Moreso than the other guys!" Tyson sat up and slouched. " Mrf!... How dare he insult me like that."

" Like what?" Rei looked up from his cook book.

" Like... that." Tyson waved a hand through the air. " Saying he'll send servants for me when he's ready to beybattle. He's almost as bad as Enrique or Oliver."

Dizzi snickered, which caused Kenny to look down at her screen. " Tyson, just take it easy. It was probably a bad joke." He said.

Max tilted his head and scratched at his earlobe, thoughtfully. " I don't think so."

Rei thought of adding a comment to the conversation yet stopped himself from doing so. The cookbook that he was reading suddenly got boring and wasn't helpful at all with how to make certain sponge cakes. He was now gazing at Kai, a thoughtfully worried expression hinting in his cat-like features.

Kai turned to the others and parted his lips. " Forget about him, Tyson. We all have to remember what we're here for. The Russian tournament. That's all that matters. The sooner we win it, the sooner we get out of this stinkin' hotel."

" That's better." He thought to himself. " Keep your act together, Kai. Be a leader like you're supposed to be, and lead your team to victory. Forget about yourself, and worry more about the Blade-Breakers and their battles.."

Dizzi perked up. " Kai has a very good point. We should start planning a strategy for the first match."

" Yeah...." Rei closed the book and placed it down upon a foot-rest that stood beside him.

" Alright." Max gave off a slightly crooked grin as he climbed onto Kenny's bed, bouncing a few times before sitting motionlessly beside the chief. " What's the plan, Chief?"

" Okay. Dizzi?" Kenny questioned Dizzi, the tone in his voice indicating that he wished for his bit-beast to bring up some sort of window on her screen.

" Got it, chief." Dizzi said, popping open a window that had conveniently fit Dranzer, Driger, Draciel and Dragoon on one page.

" Okay. Firstly, we're up against the Blade Sharks."

" The Blade Sharks? Are you nuts!?" Tyson spat a piece of bread from his mouth in protest. It landed upon the glass of a window far off on the other side of the room.

" Don't talk with you're mouth full, Tyson." Max chuckled. "But seriously, how did the Blade Sharks end up in the tournament, Kenny?"

" Well Max, apparently Mr. Dickenson invited them." Kenny answered.

Rei linked his fingers together and placed both clasped hands upon his chest as he slouched in his seat. He was sitting beside the door that exited the hotel room and lead to the hallway of the second floor, listening in to the battle plan and to whom is next opponents were.

" The Blade Sharks? .. They're Kai's... old team. Why would Mr. Dickenson invite them?"

Kai turned and gazed at Dizzi's screen. A picture of the Blade Sharks, all four of them was up in a separate window. " Carlos.. Stuart.. Casey.. Trevor. Just what I need. More former team-mates...."

The leader sighed and glanced at the Blade-Breakers.

Tyson bounced away from his bed and tugged on his left glove, once again tightening it around his fingers. " Let's do something, guys. I need to get my mind off o'that cocky so-called blader."

" We could check out the art gallery!" Kenny threw a fist into the air and grinned, a cheesy grin.

Rei gazed over at him and then looked to Tyson. " Do you think we should go anywhere in this weather? Its freezing cold outside. There's more than likely going to be a blizzard if not a strong storm, at least."

" Rei's right." Kenny sighed. " I really wanted to check out the art gallery though. I've never been and apparently its one of the largest galleries in the world."

" There won't be a storm for at least another four hours. You can go off if you want. There's no danger." Kai stared out through the window.

" Mhm! Let's go, guys! Kenny, you go with Rei to the gallery, and I'll go visit a hobby shop with Max." Tyson made his way for the door, followed closely by Max who cried out happily.

Kenny was the next to exit the room and Rei trailed behind him, casting a last glance at Kai as he stepped out. " You're not coming, Kai?"

Kai shook his head, once. " I've got other things to do.." A simple, yet effective answer.

Rei pondered for a moment and nodded, disappearing behind the hotel room door as he closed it.

*********

" Oh yeah, guys! We're finally doing something." Tyson darted through the circular doors of the foyer and ran out onto the pavement, placing a hand over his eyes to bridge the blinding morning sun.

"Yeah, eheheh." Max came to a chuckling stop beside the midnight-blue haired boy.

Rei and Kenny quietly walked up to the two Blade-Breakers and stopped near the edge of the paved walkway, both pairs of eyes scrutinizing the best possible direction to journey in.

" Hmm.." Kenny began as he peered down at Dizzi. " According to Dizzi, this is the fastest and easiest way to get to the gallery from here."

Rei shrugged and began walking and Kenny followed, opposite to the direction of Max and Tyson. " We'll meet up with you guys, later."

Tyson waved and found himself being pulled along the pavement, much to his unexpected curiosity. Max had grabbed a firm hold upon his wrist and was running for the nearest Hobby shop. Apparently he didn't wish to waste time walking.

" Max, slow down a bit, would ya?" Tyson blinked and grabbed a hold of his cap, which had just slipped away from his bangs.

" No chance of that, Tyson. Eheheh." Max chuckled as he turned the corner, narrowly missing an oncoming rush of Russian people.

"Awww, awesome!" Max stopped suddenly and peered up at the sign that hung from the building's roof, managing to keep his feet as Tyson crashed to a halt behind him. " Look, Tyson. We're here, already." He entered.

" M-Max! Wait up." Tyson got to his feet and followed.