Things get a bit lighter in the next chapters and I'm finally introducing some of the other characters! Yay! Enjoy the chapter.

Tyson yawned and scratched at his head as he was led through the wide ornate polished halls of the Catholic College he would be spending his time at over the next three years. His cousin glared at him, though you couldn't really tell, from behind the mess of hair, but Tyson stopped it anyway.

            Party pooper.

            He looked around, taking little notice of the guide leading him and his guardians to the principal's office. Once there, he introduced them and left. The principal, a smiling balding man of about forty-five, rather young for a principal, bade them sit and turned his smile up on Tyson.

            "So, you're our newest addition to the family."

            Tyson forced himself to swallow the smart ass remark he was about to make and tried not to gag as he answered politely, "Yes sir. It is a great honour that you have accepted me among your students."

            The principal nodded, impressed by the boy's tact. He looked down at a sheet in front of him. "It says here that you beyblade."

            "I do sir." Tyson perked up. They had beyblading here?

            "Interesting. We have a team participating in tournaments, perhaps you would like to try out some time."

            "I think I might sir."

            "Good, it's always nice to see a young person enthused about extra curricular activities."

            Tyson zoned out after that when the principal went on to talk about various other boring things that his cousin listened to. He was the one really interested in it. Tyson couldn't care less.

            School wasn't that suited for him. The last school he went to was a boarding school. That didn't last too long. Before that about four or five private schools. More bad ideas. Yet, he'd never been to a Catholic school before, but this was the best school in the district.

            What he really wanted to do was go to a public school, but he thought his parents feared what would happen if he did. Maybe he'd join a gang. Most likely they thought he'd start a gang.

            Adults were paranoid.

            Which is why Tyson was rather glad to have been sent to his cousin to be looked after. Kenny was only seven years older than him and kind of cool to hang out with. He was a bit of a nerd, but easy going. Not to mention he was the manager of one of the most famous heavy metal bands around: Phoenix Tear. His parents didn't know that part, they thought he was being sent off with Kenny to travel around the world and learn business management with him. Boy were they wrong.

            The other man with Kenny was the lead singer of Phoenix Tear and a close friend of Kenny's, Kai Hiwatari. Well, Tyson used the term 'friend' loosely. Kai wasn't really friends with anyone. He tolerated people, but that was about the extent of his friendly nature.

            Still, Tyson liked him, even if they fought a lot. But Tyson could always appreciate someone who could argue with him. It made time just fly by in a rather interesting way.

            The principal's next words grabbed Tyson's attention. "And this man is?"

            "Tyson's other guardian," Kenny explained. Kai sniffed and looked away. "See, I'm away on business often for the band, so whenever I'm away, I'd like to have Kai act in my stead."

            "I see." The man looked over Kai with some distaste. The young man smirked at him, knowing that the man was not impressed with the blue markings on his face nor the blue hair and piercings. Tyson had to admire Kai, he let nothing get him down, especially not others' opinions.

            "Well, I suppose everything is in order." The principal looked over at Tyson. "I assume you have everything ready to start school tomorrow?"

            Tyson nodded. "Yes sir, my uniform arrived yesterday and I have my timetable and map as well as the texts I'm to be studying."

            "Good." The man seemed impressed by Tyson's 'conscientious' behaviour. The poor fool. Tyson was a master at duplicity. Sure he looked innocent and sweet and eager to please, but those close to him knew of his devious nature. This school was in for a shock.

            There was a soft rapping at the door just before a boy about Tyson's age burst in with a glare.

            Tyson's breath caught at the sight of the boy. He was beautiful. Long raven hair that was probably very fine and silky was tied back and wrapped in a long wrapping that went all the way down the boy's back to his hips. Golden eyes flashed dangerously in a flawless tanned face, high cheekbones creating a slightly aristocratic look. Soft lips were parted in a snarl that revealed sharpened incisors and made him look dangerous. A deadly beauty, an exotic deadly beauty. Tyson was completely captivated by him and by his movements, a lethargic swaying motion that was hypnotic.

            "Rei," the principal glared. "You can't just come barging in here!"

            "Sorry," Rei muttered, not looking at all sorry. "Your secretary said you were almost done." Rei looked around curiously. Hmm, a nerd, probably the kid's guardian or something. The kid looks interesting though, very cute, a little mischievous, innocent though, a rarity at most places Rei had been. Finally he looked at the other man and his eyes widened slightly.

            I will not start acting like a rabid out of control fan girl ... must resist the urge ... not quite working. Rei continued to stare at Kai then managed a cheeky smirk, one he was quite good at. Kai looked back at him with amusement in his eyes then looked away.

            "What is it Rei?" the principal got his attention again.

            Rei snapped his head back around. "Oh, your science teacher tried to feel me up so I knocked him out. I was sent up here by the year coordinator since she didn't believe me when I told her about it."

            The principal sighed and ran his fingers through the sparse locks of hair. "Look, I'll talk to you about it later. For now would you take our newest student and his guardians around for a tour of the school."

            "Whatever," Rei shrugged and walked out.

            Tyson looked back at the principal then out at Rei and jumped up out of his seat, following the boy. Kai got up out of his seat without a word and left Kenny to be polite and thank the principal and close the door after them.

            "Bet you're glad to get out of there," Rei commented with a grin, leading them away fro the administration building.

            "Yeah," Tyson agreed.

            "Tyson!" Kenny admonished, but Rei just laughed.

            "Mr. Herald can take people that way, it's only natural." He looked over and grinned. "I'm Rei, Rei Kon." He held out his hand for Tyson to shake.

            "Tyson Kinomiya," Tyson said breathlessly, blushing slightly at the feel of Rei's hand on his. "How long have you been here Rei?"

            "Since year seven. Trust me, four years of this place is enough for me, as soon as I graduate, I'm out of here and never looking back, not even for a reunion."

            Tyson paled. "It's not that bad is it?"

            Rei thought about this and shook his head. "No, I'm just being a bit melodramatic. I'm not one for socialising much and I don't particularly fit in anywhere here. I guess I'm just a bit bitter." He grinned again, showing his sharpened teeth. "But my social life outside of school more than makes up for that."

            Tyson nodded at this and Rei finally started the 'tour'.

            "Most important place in the tour is the canteen. Mostly store bought stuff, so I doubt you'd get poisoning. Though the prices might make you die. Next to it is the library. Never actually been in there myself so I couldn't tell you what it's like. Science labs. You get the picture with those. Normal classrooms for everyday things. Computer labs, probably another of the interesting places to see, which is saying a lot about this school. Performance hall for drama and dance and stuff, not my forte, though I do have drama. It's also used for assemblies. Gym, another of my weak spots. The sporting fields including the beyblade dishes."

            "Cool." Tyson ran over to the dishes and Rei sighed.

            "So you're a blader."

            "Yeah." Tyson frowned. "You don't blade?"

            Rei shrugged. "Yeah, but not often. I've been told I could be great if I had the enthusiasm for it, but I can't be fucked practicing or even caring that much."

            "Fun attitude," Kai murmured, the first words he'd said since coming to this school.

            Rei grinned. "I know, it pisses most people off to no end. I do take some things seriously, but nothing that other people would care about." Rei cocked his head to the side. "You're Kai Hiwatari."

            "I am."

            Rei grinned. "Cool. Bryan will be so jealous. Oh well, he's not the one stuck in this hellhole." Rei looked over at Tyson. "Ready to see the rest of the school?" Tyson nodded and Rei led them towards the last few buildings.

            "Here are the music rooms. I actually like music, so I spend most of my time here whenever possible. We have an interesting curriculum if you're doing it."

            "I am," Tyson nodded.

            "Great, at least the class wont be full of complete bores." Rei frowned. "You are in year ten right?" Tyson nodded. "Good. You'll probably be in a few of my classes. More classrooms, the art rooms, photography lab and of course the last building the chapel." Rei held out his hands. "And thus ends the tour of the school, don't forget to tip your tour guide on the way out."

            Tyson grinned. "Thanks Rei."

            "My pleasure," Rei bowed to him slightly, a smile on his face. "I'm glad there's someone new here that doesn't seem like a complete write-off. Maybe we can hang."

            "I'd like that." Actually, what Tyson was really thinking was: Oh my god! Did he really say that? I get to hang out with him?! Ah that would be so totally awesome! Of course I'd love to! But then, Tyson had always been good at hiding the slightly over enthusiastic side of himself in situations such as this.

            "Great." A bell started ringing and Rei looked at his watch. "I should probably get to English. I'll see you tomorrow Tyson. It was great meeting you as well." Rei waved to the adults then took off towards one of the classrooms.

            "Interesting kid," Kai murmured with a small smile.

            Kenny frowned slightly. "I don't know. Do you really think he is the kind of person Tyson should be hanging out with?"

            "Oh, come on Chief," Tyson pleaded with his favourite cousin, calling him by the nickname he'd given the older boy years ago. "We only just met him. I don't see anything wrong with him."

            Kenny shrugged. "Fine. Well, I hope you're ready for school tomorrow Tyson, I'm sure you'll love it here."

            Tyson looked back as they exited the school and grinned thinking about Rei. I'm sure I will.

*~*

Rei walked in the front door quietly and made his way to his bedroom.

            "Rei?"

            Rei poked his head around the door frame and grinned as he saw Tala. "Hey Tala."

            "How was your day?"

            "Cool. There's this new kid coming tomorrow. He seems interesting, not like the rest of those pompous hypocritical dickheads."

            "Rei," Tala frowned at him. "Can't you at least try and enjoy school a bit?"

            "I will now. Tyson is totally cool, I just hope he doesn't turn out to become another one of those idiots at school." Rei came out of his room and walked over to sit on the couch. Tala sat down in one of the armchairs, feeling positive about the grin on Rei's face.

            "What has the kitten so happy?" Bryan walked out from the study to see Rei grinning and Tala smiling wryly at him. "Did he get into the cream again?"

            Rei poked his tongue out at Bryan then smirked. "Bet you'll never guess who I met at school today while I was taking the new kid on a tour."

            "Who?"

            "Kai Hiwatari."

            Bryan's jaw dropped. "No way." He narrowed his eyes at Rei. "You're lying."

            "I swear I'm not. He's Tyson's guardian or something."

            "Tyson?"

            "The new kid. I'll bet he knows all of Phoenix Tear too." Rei grinned. "And I'll probably get to meet them if I get to know Tyson." He frowned. "Not that I like him because of Kai. Tyson's interesting enough on his own." Reis eyes clouded over a bit. "He's cute too."

            Bryan smirked. "Sounds like someone has a case of kitty love."

            Rei glared at him. "You know, the kitty jokes are getting a bit old."

            "They'll never get old," Bryan assured him with a grin. He looked over at Tala and noticed the strange look on his face. "Tala?"

            "Hmm?" Tala looked up at him then shook his head and smiled. "Sorry. Kai Hiwatari?"

            Rei groaned and held his head in his hands. "You did not just ask that. You're only seven years older than me, you cannot be uncool yet. Bryan knows who I'm talking about and he's older than you!"

            Tala shrugged. "Who is he?"

            "Lead singer of Phoenix Tear." Rei shook his head. "I thought you liked that sort of music."

            "I do, I just don't pay much attention to people in the band."

            "Tala," Bryan said with some exasperation. "Everyone knows who Kai is, even if you don't like that music. He's famous for more than his music you know."

            "Well I'm not one for current events and television. The world can go fuck itself for all I care." Tala shrugged. "I will admit I like his music though. Course the Majestics are much better."

            Rei and Bryan groaned simultaneously. Sometimes Tala was just to strange for them to bear with. Still, Rei reflected, he wouldn't love Tala any other way. That was just the way that Tala was. "Might be nice to meet him though," Tala murmured, a far away look in his eyes. "I wonder how he got his training."

            Bryan shrugged. "I just want to know if the rumours are true."

            Rei grinned. "Well, I can always find out for you. Now, what's for dinner?" He glared as Bryan shoved the apron at him.

            "Whatever you want kitten," he said and laughed as Rei grumbled at him. It was just another typical day for the three of them.

AN: How was that? A bit lighter than before, as the next chapter will be too, but then things get really dark, so it's nice to have breaks like this to lighten the mood.

Well, until next time,

Laters.