I want to send a shout out to everyone at Redblade who helped me with my "slicing" issue, so thanks guys!

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade, plain and simple.

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+Tsubasa+

//I want to fly.

I want to break free from my cage, spread my wings, and soar.//

Rei didn't remember it raining so much in China. In his memories, it was always dry and the sun shone brightly overhead. There was always laughter, too. Childish laughter: the laughter of his friends, of himself.

Now there was silence. And rain. Lots of rain.

It hadn't been pleasant seeing his old friends, but then again, what had he expected? He had left them, so why should they welcome him back with open arms? Why should they laugh for him? Why should the sun shine, when they hated him?

He was pulling his new team down, and he knew it. The way he was right now would only hinder the Bladebreakers. He couldn't clip their wings, not when they wanted to soar just as bad as he did. No, he had to cut free from them. They would understand.

Then again, he had thought the White Tigers would understand.

"What do you think, Drigger?" He murmured to his beast-friend, his voice breaking through the silence. "Tyson, Max, and Kai have so much potential. Is it right to drag them down just because we're teamates?"

The tiger didn't answer. Or perhaps Rei wasn't listening closely enough?

He sighed and tucked the beyblade into his pocket, resting a hand against the windowpane as he formulated the details of his plan. Stealing away in the night was the best option; the most painless. The mountains were familiar terrain, and Rei would have no problem living in them for a few days. Perhaps he could find his way to the beyblade tournament. He'd like to watch the others battle when they reached the final round.

Back in the bedroom the other boys were sleeping soundly, unaware of Rei as he grabbed his few belongings: his launcher and his day clothes. Kenny had finally joined the others, his disk clutched tight to his chest. Why was he sleeping like that?

. . . Kevin.

It hit him so suddenly, the recollection of what had happened mere hours ago. Kevin had shown up and tried to steal Kenny's data. Then he had battled Rei, and, and . . . something had happened. Something important.

"Drigger."

The name sounded so foreign when breathed to the night air. Tyson stirred in his sleep, a hand clamping firmly on Max's arm, who tried to roll away at the contact. Kenny and Kai remained motionless.

"Drigger," Rei repeated, his voice more sure this time. That was right. Drigger was the reason he couldn't fly anymore. The tiger had fled in Rei's moment of torn loyalties, leaving him cold and alone for the first time in years. He had to find Drigger. The tiger was possibly the only friend he had left in the world.

Grabbing a BBA rain jacket from the coat hanger, Rei slipped out into the wet night. It was clear what he had to do. He had to prove himself worthy of Drigger, so Drigger would come back and give him wings. Then perhaps he could fly with the others. He would like that, Rei decided. But first he had to find Drigger and train. Lots of training. Hadn't that been what Kai implied? That Rei should train more; should sharpen his skills, and then maybe he'd be worthy of being on the other boy's team?

He almost turned around to wake Kai, but thought better of it and made off into the dark night. Kai would understand, if no one else did. After all, it had been Kai's idea, right?

//Give me back my wings.

Please, let me fly again . . . //