Ah, the next chapter already, more introductions in this chapter by various Beyblade stars, some you will like some you may not but will laugh at anyway. Hope you all enjoy.

"Tyson!"

            Tyson turned and grinned seeing Rei approaching the school gates. "Hey Rei. How are you?"

            "Fantastic. Yourself?"

            "Never better." Tyson looked up at the gates hanging over his head. "Though I could go without that." He plucked disgustedly at his uniform of grey and white. Grey slacks, vest and blazer and a white shirt with a black tie and shoes. "And this."

            Rei laughed. "Me too, but school, like life, must be endured and manipulated to our own enjoyment in some way."

            Tyson looked at Rei strangely then grinned. "I like that."

            "Really? I made it up just then."

            Tyson laughed. "And I really like you too." He suddenly blushed, realising what he said and Rei stared at him for a moment before laughing in delight himself.

            "I like you too Tyson. At least things will be more interesting around here now." Rei tugged on his arm. "Come on, let's get to class. What's your homeroom?"

            "Ten-three."

            Rei grinned. "You're in my class! Cool. This way." Tyson allowed himself to be dragged off by the exuberant boy quite happily. He could not believe his luck, meeting Rei like this and becoming such fast friends with him.

            The two of them got to the classroom just as the bell rang. The teacher walked in and closed the door. She looked over and noticed Tyson and gestured him to the front of the room.

            "You must be Tyson," she smiled brightly. "I'm Ms. Faith, I'll be taking you for English and History as well as homeroom."

            Tyson smiled and nodded. "I'm very pleased to meet you."

            "Such nice manners for a boy your age. Take a seat anywhere you wish." Tyson nodded and sat down beside Rei.

            "She seems nice," he whispered.

            Rei shrugged. "She's better than most," he admitted. "Wait until you meet out music teacher. He's the coolest, but try and avoid the science teacher."

            Tyson remembered Rei's comment from the day before and nodded. So far his first day at the new school was turning out quite better than most he'd seen.

*~*

Rei grinned as the bell went. "Lunch time, one of my favourite periods."

            "Me too," Tyson agreed. It turned out that he and Rei had all of their classes together.

            "Want to head to the canteen?"

            "I brought lunch," Tyson gestured to his bag.

            "Me too. Bryan is one of the best cooks around, there's no way I'd pass up his cooking for store bought chips and soda." Rei got up after he'd finished packing up his bag and gestured for Tyson to follow him to where he usually sat.

            "Kind of a lonely spot."

            Rei shrugged as he sat down against one of the school walls near the back of the music block. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm somewhat anti-social."

            "Why is that?" Tyson asked as he sat down beside Rei.

            Rei shrugged. "I didn't ever quite fit in here since I came. I never wanted to either. I never tried to hide who I really was and I never tried to pretend to be something different. I also never could keep my mouth shut about certain things. I'm a bit of a smart ass."

            "I noticed," Tyson commented dryly.

            "So are you it seems," Rei said with a grin.

            "Looks like we'll get along perfectly. I hate fake people. Hence the reason why I never actually started to blade professionally. I'm good enough, but the teams at the schools ... I couldn't stand it."

            Rei nodded. "Well, I'm glad I found you first, I would have hated leaving you in the evil claws of the trendies."

            "Yeah, I'm kind of glad about that too." Tyson smiled at Rei and took a bite of his lunch. Rei followed suit. Both of them were thoroughly enjoying the company they were keeping through lunch. It was a welcome change for both of them to find someone they could relate to finally.

*~*

Tyson looked sideways curiously as there was a soft beeping noise coming from Rei's direction. Rei looked around nervously and reached into his pocket to pull out a mobile phone. He opened it and held it to his ear. "Rei here."

            Tyson was surprised at how professional he sounded. He looked around for any teachers or anyone nearby as they walked towards the gym change rooms. Luckily there was no one nearby and Tyson turned back to watch Rei listen with intense concentration.

            "Of course, Bryan and Tala will be there Saturday night, I'll pass the message on ... oh, okay a double check. Good. Yes sir. No sir, I'm available that week. Tala? Yes sir. Thank you sir, I will. Of course, I'll have Bryan ring again tonight. Yes sir." He hung up.

            Rei smiled as he saw Tyson's curious look. "My boss. Bryan and Tala are my guardians as well as workmates. They offered me a position after I came to live with them."

            Tyson nodded. "That must be fun. Is it good work?"

            "Good money, reasonable hours, a weekend job mostly, though Tala and Bryan work weekdays as well. It's a living I suppose." Rei looked away and Tyson stopped prying. Guess it is his business, Tyson thought as they entered the change room.

            "Hey, you must be the new kid." Tyson looked up and noticed a very tall dark skinned guy smirking at him. He glanced disdainfully at Rei and ignored him. Tyson glared slightly at the display. "You don't want to be hanging with him kid."

            "Why not?" Tyson asked, fully aware that Rei was listening in.

            "You just don't want the wrong sort of influence, isn't that right Steve?" The tall boy called out to his friend standing nearby.

            "Yeah," the stocky boy agreed. "You don't want to turn out queer like him."

            "Queer?" Tyson put on a puzzled look, though Rei saw through the mask and smirked slyly. "I'll admit he is a bit odd, but so is everyone here if you ask me, but then, I'm just the new boy, what would I know."

            Steve looked insulted, but the other boy held him back. "Let me go Eddy," he protested, "I want got get at this kid!"

            "Hang on a second Steve. Where are you from kid?"

            "I'm staying with my cousin for a while, but before that I came from the country." Tyson managed a huge dopey grin. "It's really super to meet everyone here, it's great to see how so many people can be so nice." Tyson frowned slightly. "I don't know what my uncle was talking about, you don't like flowers do you?"

            "What are you talking about kid?" Steve asked dangerously.

            "Well, you see, my uncle recently came back from checking out some schools for me and he said that everyone there liked pansies, but I haven't seen a single flower at this school, but hey, flowers might cheer this place up, make it all gay and lively, don't you think?"

            By this time, Rei was holding onto the lockers for support as he was close to hysterical with laughter. Steve looked ready to kill, but Eddy was staring at Tyson wondering if he was for real.

            "Steve look, just let it go, he's just some idiot country bumpkin, let him stay with the loner and make him learn the hard way." Steve glared once more at the naively blinking Tyson and turned away, stalking out of the locker room. Eddy and the rest of the room went with them.

            Rei couldn't take it any more, he collapsed on the floor and howled, holding onto his stomach as though he were in pain. Tyson grinned and made a flourishing bow to him, making the boy roll around on the floor more.

            "That ... was fan- ... -tastic," Rei said panting as he finally regained his composure. "You're not as naive as you look are you?"

            "It's a good mask to have at times. I think it's more fun to laugh at people who think they're superior than it is to show your own superiority."

            "There I think we both agree."

            "I actually learnt that one off Kai a few years ago. He's always acting superior, so one time I just played up to it and managed to catch him off guard. He learned his lesson, now he does the same thing at times." Tyson grinned. "He's a fun guy, but you really have to get to know him to see that."

            "I can imagine." Rei opened his locker and pointed to one next to him. "This one's empty, you can use it if you want." Tyson nodded and stashed his gym stuff in his locker, but he hesitated as he pulled out his clothes.

            "Hey, Rei?"

            "Yeah?" Rei looked over at him as he unbuttoned his shirt.

            Tyson blushed and looked away. "I hate to ask something really personal, but ..."

            "You want to know if what Eddy and Steve were saying was true."

            Tyson nodded. Rei sighed and continued to undress. "Well for starters, I'm not going to jump you so you can get changed. We don't have much time before coach comes in and drags us out to do laps." Tyson nodded and started to get changed. "I guess that Eddy and Steve are freaked out by the fact that I haven't dated anyone while I was here or anyone outside of school. Hell, I haven't even shown an interest in anyone at school, unlike the poor guys who just can't get dates."

            "Oh, so they don't understand you and exclude you and make up things about you so you fit into their way of thinking."

            "You've seen this before I see," Rei said with a grin as he pulled on his gym shirt.

            "Been there myself." Tyson grinned. "It gets old after a while and you ignore it."

            "Yeah, but it's still nice to have someone else who understands."

            Tyson nodded. "True." He finished getting ready then turned to face Rei, who was also dressed in the uniform of white shorts and shirt with grey stripes around the edges, collar and up the sides of the pants. He grinned and struck a pose. "Tell me Rei," he asked in a breathy voice, fluttering his eyelashes, "Don't you find me just divine in this stunning ensemble?"

            Rei laughed at his friend's antics. "Strangely enough Tyson, you're the first person I've found that actually manages to look good in that."

            Tyson blushed. "You were kidding, right Rei?"

            Rei shrugged and left Tyson the change room to stare after him in shock. "Rei? Rei! Answer me!" He ran out after the boy and glared as he heard Rei's laughter echoing down the small hallway leading to the change rooms. "Jerk," he muttered fondly.

            "I know I am," Rei replied smugly and ran off towards the rest of the class. Tyson grinned and followed him down for the last lesson of the day.

*~*

"Freedom," Tyson grinned as he stepped out onto the street beside Rei.

            "This was only your first day, how are you going to handle the rest of the year?"

            Tyson shrugged. "I was thinking of winging it, dealing with it day by day." He grinned. "Like I've always done and so, too, I suspect you've done also."

            "Guilty as charged." Rei held up his hands in defeat and the two of them laughed.

            "Rei." The two friends turned at the sound of someone hailing Rei. Rei grinned seeing who it was. Tala and Bryan were walking slowly over to them. Tyson looked at his new friend curiously.

            "Who are they?"

            When Tala and Bryan reached Rei and Tyson, Rei gestured to them and said, "Tyson, this is Tala," Tala smirked and waved, "and this is Bryan." Bryan nodded his head. "Guys, this is Tyson."

            "Hey there." Tyson waved cheerfully.

            "Hey. Rei?" Tala looked serious and Rei's cheerful expression faded slightly. "We're going to be out for the afternoon, we tried calling, but your phone was turned off."

            "Yeah, I got a call from Boris confirming for Saturday then I must have turned my phone off, sorry."

            "No problem," Tala waved it away. "We may not be back until late though. We're meeting with Boris anyway and new clients. You can order something for yourself if you want."

            Rei nodded, but Tyson cut in before he could say something. "You can come stay with me for a while if you want. I'm sure Kenny wouldn't mind."

            Rei looked at him. "Are you sure?"

            Tyson grinned. "Sure, besides they met you yesterday. Then you can meet the rest of the band if you want."

            Bryan made a small sound and Rei grinned. Bryan glared at him, which settled it. "Definitely. I'd love to meet them."

            "You evil fiend," Bryan muttered.

            "I know, but I can't help it." Rei looked back at Tyson. "So where are we meeting whoever's picking you up?"

            "Here. Kai said he'd pick me up. Kenny's got some things to do."

            Bryan glared at him again and Tala grinned. "Come on Bryan, we have to get going."

            "But ... Kai Hiwatari!"

            "You'll meet him some other time, I'm sure we can have them over for dinner if you want. You can cook your specialty."

            "Kai Hiwatari ... in my house ... eating my cooking?" Bryan looked as though he were about to faint.

            "He's not that great," Tyson muttered.

            "Bryan's been fan since before Kai became famous. He's got every album and has been to every concert he can reach within a reasonable distance."

            "Reasonable distance?"

            "Within the country."

            Tyson's eyes widened. "Wow. I think I've finally met their biggest fan. You know, so many people say that, but this ... wow." He grinned at Bryan. "You can come over any time if you want."

            Bryan suddenly reaslied he was making a bit of a fool of himself. "Whatever," he muttered. Tala and Rei grinned. He glared at them. "Well, we've got somewhere to be Tala."

            "Right." Tala waved to Rei and Tyson and climbed up behind Bryan on his motorcycle. Bryan revved up the 'cycle and sped off. Rei grinned at them.

            "So they were your guardians."

            "Yep."

            "Your life sure must be interesting."

            "That's one way to sum it up." Rei looked around and noticed someone staring at them. "Hey, isn't that Kai?"

            Tyson looked around and grinned. "Yeah. I wonder how long he's been there?" He shrugged and started walking over. "Kai's like that, he pops up out of nowhere and you find out he'd been there for ages."

            Rei nodded and smiled as he approached Kai. "Hey again."

            Kai smirked at him from beneath his sunglasses. "It's the spunky kid again. You pick up a stray Tyson?"

            Tyson poked out his tongue at Kai. "For your information, he's a friend and I asked him to come over for the afternoon."

            "Whatever." Kai walked away and over to where a sleek black convertible was parked. Rei whistled appreciatively.

            "Nice."

            "Of course it is." Kai got in and the two boys hopped in the back. Kai turned the car on and sped off just as quickly as Bryan had just before.

            "So who were those two on the bike?" he asked after some time.

            "My guardians, Tala and Bryan."

            Kai nodded, thinking something over. "Tala huh."

            Rei froze suddenly and looked at him. "You know him?"

            Kai shrugged. "It's an uncommon name. Don't recall him though. Guess not."

            Rei breathed a little easier. He didn't want Tyson knowing about him just yet. Kai noticed the boy's actions through the rearview mirror and his eyes narrowed slightly.

            I think I'll keep an eye on him for a while. Maybe he's just jumpy when it comes to his family, but I get here feeling he's hiding something big. Kai turned his attention back to the road as the two of them started chatting about something that happened in school. Kai noticed Tyson's happiness and Rei's genuine delight with him and felt a little strange inside. Maybe he's just got something to be ashamed of and doesn't want Tyson knowing. Kai studied the two of them and looked back away.

            Despite how it might seem, he, like the others of the band, were very fond of Tyson. Ever since Kenny told them about the situation and introduced the cheerful boy, Kai and the others had tried as hard as they could to make him feel at home. He didn't know what Tyson had told Rei, but his situation was a bit sad. His mother had died when he was a child and his father was remarried. Unfortunately, she didn't want Tyson around. His father had been devastated, but agreed to send him away. Kenny took him in, the only person who would and the band loved him. He was fun to be around, cheeky, innocently devilish and very caring. For all his young age, Tyson was quite perceptive, amazingly so in Kai's opinion.

            Soon they arrived back at the house. Perhaps it was a bit silly of them, but the four band members and Kenny and Tyson all lived in the same house, a large house, but Kai still thought it was odd. He and Tyson both had separate rooms, but they were the only ones. Well, for Kenny it didn't matter much.

            "We're here," Tyson cheerfully announced to Rei.

            Kai rolled his eyes at the obviousness of the statement. He was parked, of course they were here. Rei laughed at the boy and allowed himself to get dragged along a bit by the exuberant boy.

            Tyson burst through the door and grinned. "Hey guys, I'm back and I brought a friend."

            Rei walked in a bit slower than Tyson and waved at the curious faces. "Hey there, my name's Rei."

            Kenny got up and smiled. "Nice to see you again Rei." He gestured around. "This is Michael." The redhead grinned and tipped his baseball cap to Rei. "Lee." The raven-haired man smiled at him and nodded his head. Rei grinned back. "And this is Max." The bond grinned cheerfully and waved at him before taking Kenny's hand in his own.

            "When did you meet?" Max asked curiously.

            Rei stared at them once, slightly surprised at the closeness of the two then smiled. "At school, I was their tour guide. Not a very good one, but hey, what do you expect? The principal roped me in for duty instead of punishing me for whatever I was sent into the office for."

            "I do recall it being for knocking a teacher out," Kai commented as he walked in a closed the door. Rei grinned sheepishly and Kai smirked at him. "Though I also recall the other part to it."

            "I believe him," Tyson said seriously. "Trust me, Mr. Jacobs is a creep ... a very lecherous creep and I mean very."

            "Sounds like an interesting first day," Lee commented, sipping at his tea.

            "I guess," Tyson shrugged. "It was better than the others."

            "I can imagine," Kenny said. "So Rei, tell us a bit about yourself."

            Rei grimaced comically and laughed nervously. "I'm not that interesting. I live with two guys, Bryan and Tala, I have been since I was eleven, they're out working, that's why Tyson offered to let me come over." Rei grinned. "Bryan's a big fan by the way. He'll kill me for saying it, but he's too serious sometimes."

            Michael laughed. "Sounds like someone else we all know and love."

            Kai glared at him and everyone laughed.

            "Come on," Tyson pulled on Rei's hand again. "I'm sure things will get a bit boring soon, so I'll save you now and let the adults get back to their boring planning for ... whatever band stuff they're doing now."

            Rei grinned and let himself get pulled away by Tyson. Michael and Lee waved to him as he left and Rei felt as though he'd been accepted by the group.

AN: Yay, lots of interaction going on there. Plots twists and darker stuff next chapter.

Hope you all enjoyed.

Laters.