BEYBLADE

CHAPTER TEN: SHOPPING AND SIGHT-SEEING

" This gallery is known as the Odoevsky gallery and was founded in nineteen-ninety nine. Before ninety-nine, the exhibitions were performed in exhibition halls of the Ekaterinburg Cinema House. The most brilliant was the nineteen-ninety eight project of exhibition by Johen Ehhman, a famous German artist. " Kenny beamed.

Rei leaned against a wall nearby and chuckled, eyes closed. " You're sure know a lot about Russian art history."

" Well, I wouldn't know half the things I do if it wasn't for Dizzi." Kenny happily held Dizzi within both hands.

" Aww chief.." Dizzi sniffed. " That's ... so sweet."

Rei grinned at the sarcastic tone that Dizzi gave off and lifted his gaze, golden occuli scanning the very few people that ambled, every so often lifting a glance to the exhibits that caught their interest. The former White-Tiger's body immediately stiffened as if a cold, deadly hand was gripping the very thing that kept him relaxed. He inhaled and absentmindedly held his breath, eyes unblinkingly widened to the point of splitting. One word came to his mind. "Bryan."


Sure enough, the lavender-haired teen showed his emotionless face. He strolled from the entrance of the gallery and made his way across the bronze marble floor, heavy leather boots creating the softest of sounds as they fell, one in front of the other. The Demoltion boy was staring straight ahead as if he'd already decided on a destination. The fact that Bryan was alone sent a wave of puzzled thoughts through Rei's mind.

" Why... is he alone? Wouldn't he be with Tala..? Or.. at least, Spencer?" Rei thought.

Bryan sent a dead glance in Rei's direction, the corner of his thin lips twisting into the most sneerish of smirks. This of course, made Rei stiffen even more, if such a thing was even possible considering how rigid his muscles and limbs already were. The smirk on Bryan's face wasn't just evil, it was saying something also. But what?

" H-..hey Chief.." Rei stuttered.

Kenny, without looking back as he gazed at the other paintings and sculptures, answered. " Mmyeah, Rei?"

Rei pushed away from the wall very slowly and tapped Kenny on his shoulder. " We've been here for almost an hour and a half. Maybe... we should go?"

" Go? Why? Is there something bothering you, Rei?" Kenny frowned.

He hadn't been able to spend much time in galleries and museums because of the hardcore beyblade training the team was doing.

" Oh, oh. I'm detecting some seriously cold vibes, you guys." Dizzi spat.

" Yeah..." Rei inched toward the exit, followed closely by a slouching Kenny.

" Really, Dizzi? What do you think it is?" Kenny asked.

" I'm not sure. Let's just say, this vibe is cold enough to suit a demolition boy." Dizzi replied.

Kenny clenched his teeth and creeped closer to Rei whom had just reached the exit. Bryan quietly walked behind the boys, apparently oblivious to their presence. With a sigh of relief as the lavender-haired teen slipped out of view, Rei passed through the sliding doors and onto the walkway, Kenny and Dizzi following closely behind.

*******

Kai had to admit that he was glad to see his team leave. Planning a battle strategy could wait. He needed silence and time alone in a place he felt safe and secure. Although the hotel was four stars recommended and slightly below class of any other that he'd stayed at, Kai felt this was the place he was most secure and safe.

" Admit it, Kai. You actually like this place." he thought to himself.

Just sitting on his bed staring down at Dranzer's bit-piece made the time fly. His teammates had already been gone for at least an hour. It was the longest time he'd been separated from them since they landed in Ekaterinburg, Russia. three days ago. In fact, it had been the longest separation since last time they were in Russia for the tournament. Oh well. Kai shut his thoughts of last year's tournament out. He didn't exactly feel the want or need to reminisce about it.

A double knock shook the door and Kai stood, sorrel eyes idly trailing to the wooden barrier between himself and the hotel's hallway. He waited silently, and another two knocks rang out, forcing him to step forward. He stopped as the door eerily creaked open, revealing the face of Tomoshu and Tala behind it. The crimson-haired boy had his arms folded over his chest and was standing behind Tomoshu whom, buckles and all, stood silently and straight, dead gaze locked on Kai's well-built form.

The Blade-Breakers' leader remained where he was, quietly glancing from one boy to the other. Damn and double damn. All he wanted was some silence and alone time that lasted more than an hour, but obviously he couldn't have even that. Tala had an annoyed expression on his usually over-confident, smirky face and Tomoshu's expression was blank...distant... unreadable. The dark-haired boy, bigger in height and muscle-definition than Tala, stepped one foot forward and Kai, without knowing it before he did it, stepped back.

"Kai, you idiot. Now he thinks you're afraid of him." He thought to himself, slipping Dranzer into the pocket of his teal coat.

Tomoshu smirked at Kai's movements and lifted a hand toward the shorter boy.

" What do you want?" Kai spat in annoyance, ignoring Tomoshu's gesture.

Tala stayed in the hallway, peering passed Tomoshu at Kai's form. A slight smirk twisted his dead-looking mouth upward.

" I don't want anything, Kai." Tomoshu replied, calmly.. quietly. " But someone does wish to see you."

Kai blinked in thought before his brows dipped into an angered frown. " Sorry, kid. I'm not goin' anywhere with you."

" Hm. Alright then, Sparky. Perhaps..." Tomoshu waved a hand toward the door and Spencer stepped into view. " Spencer and Tala might change your mind."

Kai smirked. " Huh. I know what they're capable of. They couldn't force a fly to walk if their lives depended on it."

Tala's brow twitched slightly, as did Spencer's as if they were creepishly in unison with one another.

" True, true.. but you've no idea of what I'm capable of." Tomoshu peered at Kai through his dark-blue tresses.

Kai pondered. " You've got a point there, bluey."

Tala and Spencer lifted their hands to chest-height and brought their beyblades into view, bit-pieces shining furiously as if reaching out to grab for something. Tomoshu did the same, lifting his own beyblade to Kai's face. The slate-haired teen gripped a hand around his pocket, holding tightly onto Dranzer's body as his own bit-piece restlessly shone though the blue material.

*********

A rather dark hobby shop, yet at the same time bright. Bright because of Max's happy attitude and the cheesy expression on his face. Tyson was at the other end of the shop, in fact, he was at the far end while Max strolled through the aisles, picking out Draciel upgrades from every category. Attack rings, Defence rings, Spin bases.

" This is heaven. Heaven I tell you." He beamed while placing a pile of boxes in front of the shopkeeper, whom of course, stared wide-eyed at the blonde-haired boy.

" Uhm.." His gruff and kind voice pushed through his parted lips. " Kid, will you be able to pay for all of that?"

The Russian accent was so strong that Max could barely understand it and placed a hand to his ear, brow raised. " Wha..? I didn't quite catch that."
Tyson chuckled cheesily and jumped on Max, resting an arm on the younger blader's head as he placed down a collection of boxes of his own. " He wants to know if you have enough rubles for this equipment, Maxie." Tyson spoke the word 'rubles' with a bit on an accent.

Max chuckled. " Ohohohhh... Well.." He looked up at Tyson then back at the shopkeeper. " Yeah, I should do.. Uh.."

Tyson grinned and dug a hand into his own pocket, pulling out a bunch of coins and tossing them to the counter. " Of course we can afford this stuff, old paaal."

Max stifled a chuckle and pushed his boxes forward, which were soon scanned by the old shopkeeper and placed in two plastic bags. Tyson's packages followed soon after and both boys sauntered out of the shop, bags happily gripped within their digits.

" What say we get a bite to eat before returning to the hotel, Maxie?" Tyson grinned.

Max shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. " Okay, Tyson." He suddenly dashed forward, calling over his shoulder. " Beat you to the nearest resturant!" murmuring soon after to himself. " Wherever that is.."

Tyson blinked and raised two fists into the air. " Hey, hey! No fair!"