[Disclaimer]

Beyblade and all it's likeness does not belong to me. No profits are being made off this story.

[Chapter Three] The One Who I Could Never Defeat

The noise of city traffic assaults my ears as I walk along the sidewalk in New York City. Max grew up here – I remember as I pass a hobby shop, one of many that is carrying the latest beyblade products.

In a city like this, I can't rely on asking around in the logical places. I had to get the word from the street.

Did a blader come through here? He's seventeen years old, this tall, and usually wears blue face paint…

Goes by the name of Kai. Heard of him…? What about Dranzer, a phoenix bit beast…? Oh, you know him now.

He's Japanese. Tall. Dark hair in the back and light in the front – yes – very intimidating… He went that way…? Thank you.

He's in the city still. I can feel the fear of the other street bladers as I inquire about him. It's strange to see that his name and reputation can strike with such force in another country, in people's hearts I've never met and who probably haven't seen the true extent of Kai's power.

It sends a shiver down my spine.

He holds that much power over me as well. Every twist and turn he takes leaves me breathless but still I move forward. I am drawn to him like a moth to a flame. His - burning so brightly, like the feeling I feel within me every minute of everyday. Like the stars – there always, but sometimes not visible, his presence has left a mark on me like no other.

Every time I turn a corner, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. What if I happen upon him, casually leaning against a brick wall? What if I find him and it's awkward? And I don't know what to say to him?

Oh, I was just passing through...

The chance that all this chasing could end up being an anti-climatic mess makes me slow my steps. What will I say when I find him? If I couldn't pour my heart out two months ago, what's stopping me from doing the same now? No. Never think that. This is your vow.

Find Kai.

A flash of a white scarf gets my heart hammering in my chest, but a second glance confirms it's not him. This thing is slowly making me paranoid!

I continue at a faster more determined pace. One of these street bladers will know something more than just a rough tale on how they 'defeated' the almighty Kai Hiwatari.

When we battled there was never a defeat.

To defeat is to conquer and I'd always give in to him…

****

Eight Months Ago

Laughter and shouts echoed throughout the large gym as Dragoon smashed another Beyblade down.

"I told ya, Sammy! You have to work on your defence." Tyson smiled wryly and placed his hands on his hips. "I'm gonna send you over to Max's group."

"Awww…" Sammy, one of many kids at the gym participating in a Beyblading seminar hung his head. "But I wanna attack like you and Dragoon!"

Tyson shook his head. "Just because you want to attack like me doesn't mean you can't defend like Max. Now get over there kid! He's really fun, I promise."

"Okay!" Sammy replied and headed over to one of the other corners of the gym.

Today the Bladebreakers were to put on a seminar/workshop for kids in the area. They each had one corner of the gym and were taking care of different aspects of the game.

Max was the strategist and defence master, so he taught the kids the philosophy he followed. A strong defence is the best offence.

Ray's specialty was agility and endurance. He was training kids how to control their Beyblades' turns better as well as how to withstand tougher attacks.

Kai was just plain good. He had defence, he had agility and endurance – he was smart. He also attacked like no other, leaving no room or time for the challenger to understand just what he or she was up against. Quick and easy, that was Kai's way of battling. At least, that's how Tyson saw it.

But almost every single kid in town who attended the function was crowding around the world champion.

Tyson sweatdropped as another kid came up to face him. Maybe he should have stopped to give lectures like Max and Ray instead of just telling the kids what their weaknesses were and where to go from his station.

Sizing up the kid, Tyson could tell that he was one of those mean bullies who acted tough because they were better bladers than other little children.

Throwing the punk a glance, the world champ set Dragoon onto his launcher. Another one to take down a few notches… He thought.

"Hey! Kinomiya!" The punk shouted from across the beystadium. "How 'bout showin' us kids a real match?"

Confused, Tyson paused in his launching. "A real match?"

"Yeah!! I'm talkin' 'bout you battling one of your old teammates!!"

"We don't have time for that." The older teen said, huffing. "Now launch your blade so you can go get advice from someone else."

The punk grinned insolently. "Ooooh, too scared to give me your own advice?"

"If you want my advice you have to beat me in a beybattle – which you can't do."

A larger crowd was starting to develop around the two as people started noticing the world champion's voice rising.

"Well no kid here can beat you!" The rough teen jerked his thumb to indicate the rookies in the group behind him. "But I bet one of the Bladebreakers could! I want to see some action!"

"There're too many kids here for me to see, no time for exhibition matches bro." Tyson replied heatedly, oblivious to the now huge crowd that enveloped him and the other blader.

Suddenly a large chant began to come from the children surrounding them making others take notice and come to join the fray.

"We want action! We want action! We want action!"

The chant grew so deafening that the whole gym, including Max, Ray and Kai, had joined the ring around Tyson and the punk kid all cheering at the prospect of a beybattle between champion bladers. Seeing all those happy grinning faces on all those children… Tyson didn't have the heart to say no.

And besides, when did he ever turn down the chance for a good beybattle?

He bowed his head, his long midnight blue bangs covering his face. The place went silent, waiting for the number one blader's words.

"All right then…" Tyson looked up through his bangs and then smirked. "Which one?"

Immediately, suggestions were being thrown.

"Battle Ray!!" A shrill voice yelled.

"No!! Noooo!! Get Max to do it!!!"

"Fight Kai!!!" A large group yelled. "We wanna see a rematch from the last world championships!!!!"

A large burst of yells and shouts were heard as the kids all agreed. No one had beaten Tyson for three years. Not even Kai.

Tyson felt his heart do a funny cartwheel inside of him.

Wait a minute! I gotta clarify something here.

That feeling that made me feel light around Kai had only grown stronger over those past two months, but nothing could ever compare to Beyblading against him. We were both so united, so one, when we were battling each other. It was as if no one else was there, the whole world could end and as long as I was together Beyblading with Kai then, I could go on.

Let's keep going, before I get sappier.

Tyson looked around him and spotted the object of his affections standing next to Ray and Max, where they had broken through the throng of hyper bladers to the front.

"Kai," He shouted, making the fans go wild. "You and me?"

The tall cool blader stepped forward, his scarf waving out behind him. A hush fell over the gym again as Kai walked to stand on the opposite end of the beystadium. The punk kid moved out of the way.

Kai lifted his launcher, Dranzer already in place. His voice was cool and smooth. "Let's do it."

Shivers ran down Tyson's spine, but he tried to focus as a count down came from somewhere to the side.

"THREE!"

"TWO!!" More people joined in. Tyson clenched the ripcord in his hand.

"ONE!!" Everyone yelled.

"GOOOOOOOOOOO SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The whole gym exploded with sound as Tyson and Kai let their Beyblades shoot into the dish.

Sparks immediately flew.

Cheers from the fans were going off like bombs around Tyson as he watched the two Beyblades dance in the dish. It was the only thing that seemed to reflect in his eyes – Dragoon and Dranzer, circling and connecting and making contact with one another.

His moves were always the same.

The way Kai would twist ever so slightly when Dranzer made a turn… The way his lips would part just a bit when Dragoon got an attack in… The way his wine-coloured eyes would lock with his own for a heart stopping instant when they both knew the outcome of the match…

Tyson knew every one of them. How long had he been watching Kai to be able to recognize each? All his life?

Every time he battled, he was searching for a weakness in his opponent's face.

Yet when he looked into Kai's eyes in one brief moment – he knew he'd lost for the first time in ages. Dragoon stopped spinning, but Tyson's heart was beating stronger then ever.

Because the only thing Tyson saw was himself, kissing that face… and he gave in.

"Best two out of three?"