Comrades

Chapter 4: After

From Plan In Action…

With a genuine smile on his face, Kai held out a hand and lifted an eyebrow at Tala. This prompted the redhead to chuckle slightly before smiling and clasping his hand with Kai's. At that moment, the stadium broke out in a resounding cheer that echoed and bounced of the walls of the building.

"Whoohoo! The plan worked! We did it!" Tyson's voice could be heard clearly over the din. It was obvious the navy-haired teenager was ecstatic that everything had gone so well without either Blitzkrieg Boy finding anything very suspicious before they ended up in the stadium too.

Everyone present was glad that the duo had made up and was now friends. All the guys were clapping and a couple were hooting and cheering. The girls, on the other hand, were mainly just clapping although an occasional cheer would arise from them. Tears were still trickling down their cheeks.

Operation Friendship was indeed a success.

As the clapping and cheering continued, Bryan glanced at Spencer. The burly youth gave a quick nod before the duo started towards the direction of the platform where Kai and Tala were still standing with their hands still clasped in a handshake. They seemed somewhat oblivious to the rather deafening volume the claps and cheers had escalated to.

Bryan, personally, was still coming to terms with the fact that he had actually decided to help in this formerly crazy and unfeasible plan. A plan to get someone he viewed as a traitor to be friends with his team captain and vice versa. Which turned out to be successful after all. However, he was even more at odds with that fact that he did get involve with the insane scheme although it wasn't that big of a part.

Did that mean that he would also have to be friendly towards Kai too? Well, even if he had to, he probably wouldn't. Kai would jolly well have to prove to Bryan that he deserved trust first… something that would not take a short time if Bryan took into the account of all the prejudices he had against Kai. But he supposed he could be slightly less hostile, but not enough to be mistaken to be shedding the ice, around Kai… considering the events that happened in the past week or so…

Spencer, on the other hand, had never been as hostile as Bryan was towards Kai. He never fully trusted Kai, be it during the World Tournament or after he returned to the G Revolutions team. But that fragile trust seemed to be increasing a little after the turn of events. There was still some lingering doubt despite the display he had just seen. Spencer decided that he would just trust Tala on this for now.

As Bryan and Spencer reached the platform, Tala turned to look at them. Then he addressed Bryan with a withering look on his features, "I'm surprised you even agreed to be present. Much less participate in it. What did they do? Steal your Beyblade and threaten to destroy Falborg if you didn't cooperate with them?"

Kai masked a highly amused smile at the idea of anyone daring to steal anything, much less Falborg, from Bryan. That person would be mutilated and six feet under before the day ended. With a straight face (which meant his usual look of uninterested neutrality), he added, "Or perhaps they addled your brains with Dragoon's Revolution Storm attack?"

Spencer narrowed his eyes, slightly irritated, as he intoned, "Haha. Very funny…"

"You two are getting chummy rather fast, eh?" Bryan added, feeling somewhat unused to seeing the two in front of him being like buddies. Or as close to being buddies as you could get with Kai and Tala being the ones in question. Which for once, seemed quite close if you really considered how long they had seemed to be enemies in front of everyone including themselves. Bryan wasn't sure if he really liked this change.

"Chummy? Nah… But on a more serious note, why did you participate in this? I'm suspecting the Abbey-like contraptions we faced were your ideas or they dug it out from you… somehow," Tala answered, raising a blood red eyebrow at the two Russian young men standing before him. He wasn't convinced that anyone could force his teammates to do anything against their will. But it also wasn't believable that they would do it on their own accord.

"They somehow convinced us," muttered Spencer almost inaudibly. "Well, more of Hilary did…"

Tala's eyebrow went even higher, until it was in danger of disappearing into his hair. Even Kai's expression changed rapidly and openly to look suddenly interested at where the conversation was going. Never in their wildest dreams, ideas and reasoning would they even come close to thinking that Hilary would've convinced their teammates to participate in such a plan.

"She kind of told us what happened when you visited Kai… though we have no idea how she knew," Spencer finished.

"And I still don't know what possessed me," Bryan added in an undertone, his voice holding disbelief at his own actions. But it was clearly audible for his teammates as their senses were sharper than the norm.

Tala half-chuckled and half-snorted at Bryan's tone of voice as his eyebrow returned to the normal position. Well, whatever Hilary told them, he just hoped it wasn't everything that was said. Then he asked another question, "So… Who was the one who thought of making this 'ingenious' plan?"

"Tyson."

"My ears are deceiving me," Tala declared.

"No. It's typical of Tyson," Kai interjected. "Him and his belief in friendship would've probably prompted him to do something like this… though not necessary such an elaborate plan."

"Hmm… which is probably where the others come in…" Tala mused. Then in a clear voice that had a hint of slyness, he commented, "You know, I distinctly remember wanting to plot the murder of whoever had the guts to play such a joke on us…"

"And I remember wanting a part of the action as well," Kai added with a sadistic smirk.

An identical look soon bloomed on Tala's face and the other two Russians watching the exchange had a feeling that a particular loud-mouthed, navy-haired teen would be in trouble very soon. The looks of Tala and Kai's face were ones that perhaps even the Devil would be afraid of. Or perhaps even proud of, considering the immense evilness, bordering on the brink of homicidal, in which their expressions exuded.

"TYSON!"

Kai's commanding yell overrode the other sounds in the stadium and all at once, the place went unearthly silent. Kai's voice had the natural ability of commanding respect from almost anyone, and this time, the shout clearly meant that he wanted silence from the others in addition to Tyson's response. And only Tyson. From the unnerving smirk on his face, it was enough for anyone to know that the World Champ looked to be in trouble with Kai and Tala.

Not a good combination.

"Um… yes?" Tyson questioned, almost apprehensive about speaking to the two young men. He was rooted on the spot by piercing amethyst and azure gazes, belonging to Kai and Tala respectively. And the smirks on their faces… Uh oh…

"Would you like to explain about this… mm… plan? Like how the ingenious idea for the gun shooters came about?"

Tyson gulped at Kai's tone. It was one that spoke of physical pain to be inflicted soon unless he could come up with a good enough explanation to satisfy both teenagers. Which was going to be very difficult. How Kai even knew that the shooters were his idea, he had no clue. He wasn't about to ask, seeing as he was already in quite a sticky situation as it was. So keeping his mouth shut in case he said something wrong, Tyson thought and thought to try to find a way to explain to Kai and Tala. Without landing up with different body parts scattered in different parts of the world.

"Well, um… it was just to get you… um… warmed up…?" Tyson trailed off lamely, cringing at the cold glares directed his way. I guess it wasn't such a good answer, he thought sheepishly.

Tala raised both his eyebrows and said in a very condescending and dry tone, "A warm up? How would you like it if we set up those flaming and electric Beyblades as a 'warm up' course for you? Hmm… Tyson?" Tala found that Tyson had a big mouth, which the navy-haired boy never really put into good use for more than half the time. He had thought that after two years would've made Tyson more cautious of his words and made him less rash… but he should've known better. Changing one's personality wasn't done as quickly as one, two, three.

"Oh yes. We could arrange another obstacle course for you. Great warm up, I do believe," Kai added. "And I do remember Tala and I were discussing earlier on how to deal with the joker who decided to let us relive some… memories."

"Huh? What memories? Dealing with what?" Daichi suddenly asked, looking genuinely curious and confused.

Tyson smacked his forehead. Great. Daichi had probably hit a sore spot on the question on what memories… And Tyson knew he didn't need to know what was going to happen to him before it became reality. He shot Daichi a glare so reminiscent of Kai, Tala and Hiro's glares all warped into one that Tyson actually spooked Daichi and shut the younger redhead up for once.

The smirks on Tala and Kai's face widened fractionally and the smugness on their features increased. Exchanging another glance, they exchanged a few words in rapid-fire Russian before a pleased, but devious grin settled on both their features. In fact, even Bryan and Spencer had similar looks on their faces, having heard and understood the exchange. This made Tyson all the more nervous as he didn't know what was being said. The two youths could've been planning all the different ways to torture him for all he knew. He just hoped it wasn't that.

"Well, Tyson," Kai started slowly, taking his time to draw out the tension and make Tyson quiver and quake in his shoes, "We've… decided… (Tyson gulped) well, not to physically harm you in anyway…"

Tyson visibly relaxed and let out a relieved sigh.

"Murder would be a much better word," Tala injected his own comment dryly to the sadistic chuckles of Bryan and Spencer.

"Much to our utter regret, I assure you… (Tyson gulped again) But we hope that you and Max, Ray and Daichi brought your Beyblades along," the slate-haired teen finished.

"So what if we did?" Daichi asked rather rashly.

"Then it'd be the alternate way to get some sort of a… revenge against Tyson, instead of letting you find his body parts scattered over the world," Kai answered slowly. "So. Challenge accepted?"

"Oh, you bet Kai!" Tyson grinned widely. "We are so stoked for a battle!"

"It'll be a four on four battle. Us the Blitzkrieg Boys versus you four," Tala stated.

"Hah! This'll be a piece of cake," Daichi boasted as he bounded up onto the opposite platform. "C'mon, let's kick some butt guys!" he then called to Tyson, Ray and Max.

"Piece of cake? I don't think so, Daichi," Ray commented with a slight smile.

"Yeah… I believe I remember a certain small, red-haired boy saying that he had no idea that Kai and Tala were so good in a team battle. Won't you say so, Ray?" Max actually smirked at the disgruntled expression on Daichi's face.

"Cut the yapping, will you?" Bryan called from his side of the stadium.

"Sure, we're all ready," Tyson replied with a wide grin. "Let the battle begin then!"

"Three…"

"Two…"

"One…"

"LET IT RIP!"

The stadium erupted in cheers again as eight Beyblades flew into the dish, each blade picking out its opponent at once. In a matter of minutes, it seemed like it was no longer a team battle. It had more or less morphed into four battles that just happened to be on the same playing grounds. And what were the four battle combinations?

Kai versus Tyson.

Tala versus Daichi.

Bryan versus Ray.

Spencer versus Max.

Familiar pattern anyone? It was to all the teams that had participated in the Russian World Championships. Especially when it concerned the last two combinations. It was a battle to settle a score in more than one way. And it soon proved to be the most exciting team battle that anyone had seen in a long time. Well that is, if you don't count the battle that had ended shortly before this one.

As the battle raged on, it became increasingly difficult for the spectators to determine whom they wanted to root for. There was no ill animosity in the battle. Absolute nothing of that sort. Not even the slightest notion of revenge was present… despite it being the supposed cause of the battle to begin with. But it could be an excuse for a serious rematch against Tyson that Kai sorely wanted. And very possibly, the rest of the Blitzkrieg Boys too – but against different opponents.

"DRANZER!"

"DRAGOON!"

"WOLBORG!"

"STRATA DRAGOON!"

"FALBORG!"

"DRIGER!"

"SEABORG!"

"DRACIEL!"

The stadium was lit up even brighter as the eight bit-beasts appeared from their respective elements. Which brought about much confusion to the temperatures, considering the intensity of the fire and ice coupled with gusts of winds and waves of rather cold water. The power of the emergence of the bit-beasts caused a large hole to be produced on the roof of the building, allowing the bit-beasts to rise up into the sky, forming a majestic picture. But this was a picture that was yet to be completed.

Shortly afterwards, the bit-chips of every Beyblader present started to glow in response, prompting their masters to retrieve his or her blade from their pockets. And in next to no time at all, twenty-four more bit-beasts joined the first eight up in the sky.

Everybody smiled (despite there were varying degrees of smiles that were shown) at the wondrous sight the thirty-two bit-beasts made. It spoke of power and greatness but most of all, a bonding friendship, a unity, between those who played and loved the sport of Beyblading.

And if one looked carefully, a certain python bit-beast happened to be up there too. Despite his master not being in the current crowd.

But perhaps, it wasn't that much of a coincidence, now, wasn't it?

It had been a few days since Operation Friendship and it was time for the foreign teams to leave for their home countries. Ray, Max and Kai had opted to stay in Japan. Ray would be staying for sometime before returning to China. Max would visit his mom in America soon, but like always, would stay in Japan with his father. As for Kai, he had said nothing about his plans on whether he would go to Russia anytime soon.

Currently, the G Revolutions team was at the airport, sending off their friends. First to leave were F-Dynasty, Barthez Battalion and The Majestics. Since the three teams were all bound for Europe, it was no wonder that their flights were about the same timing. Though what surprised the G Revolutions' the most was that the Majestics hadn't decided to take their own personal jets, although they took first class seats. When asked about that, each member of the team had given different responses.

Johnny had snorted and shook his head in what seemed liked resignation – as to what, nobody really knew then. Robert had muttered something that sounded vaguely like, "…rique… air stewardesses… flirt… scandalous behavior…" Oliver had just laughed, smiled very amusedly and then politely declined to answer by changing the subject skillfully. As for the blond Italian himself… well, he had been positively beaming in utmost delight though not answering the question directly. It was then when the words Robert had muttered made a lot of sense, as did Johnny's actions. Well, it seemed that despite two years, Enrique was still very much the ladies' man. It probably had gotten worst too.

Shortly after sending off the three European teams, it was time to say their goodbyes to the All-Starz. After pushing through a crowd of fans, the G Revolutions managed to get through to the American team. Words and handshakes were exchanged between most team members. But it was surprising to say the least when Kai actually shook hands with Rick, who never had a very high opinion on Kai's skills before, only thinking of the slate-haired teen as another 'Pretty Boy'. This viewpoint had obviously changed. Still, the highlight of the moment was when Max bid Judy goodbye.

Mother and son embraced each other, whispering in each other's ears inaudible words to the surrounding spectators. It was an embrace that both parties were reluctant to let go. But like always, it had to end.

"I'll miss you, mom," Max said rather seriously for his usual carefree self.

"As I will miss you too, Max," Judy replied with an affectionate and slightly melancholic smile as she ruffled his blond hair lovingly. She gave a merry chuckle as her son shot her an embarrassed look through his soft ocean blue eyes at the gesture. She hadn't done that since he was around seven years old. Her boy had really grown up.

Before long, the American team left and Max was seen looking a little out of sorts. To try and get him out of his 'funk', Tyson had cracked some jokes in hopes that it would help his friend cheer up. But so far, it had had not much luck. Daichi had pitched in too, so did Hilary and eventually Kenny… though the bespectacled boy couldn't really do much. Finally, Ray stepped in with a different method of approaching the blond youth.

"Max, we know you miss your mother. But I couldn't help but notice you seemed to be having an eye on Emily too."

Max started slightly before chuckling good-naturedly, "Nice one, Ray. But Emily and I are just friends." Actually, Max had long snapped out of his 'funk'. But he had decided to pretend he wasn't feeling happy to see his friends' reactions. Tyson, Daichi, Hilary and Kenny had all responded almost immediately. He now guessed that Ray had been coming up with a better solution. As for Kai… he decided that the youth would probably only step in after Ray's ideas hadn't worked.

Then noticing that they were reaching a particular group of Beybladers (surrounded by an equally large group of fans no less), he added slyly with a cheeky wink, "However, I can't say the same for you and Mariah, Ray…"

Ray had no time to think of a witty comeback when a voice called out, "So there you are! We were wondering if you'd show up to send your old friends off." It was Lee and Ray silently thanked his friend wholeheartedly for interrupting when he had.

"Hello, Lee," Ray greeted with a smile. "We'd never forget to show up."

"Yeah, you can't even think that way," Max added, "Ray does want to send off his favorite feline. He'd never forget even if we did."

"Oh? And who may that be?" Mariah asked, genuinely curious.

Knowing chuckles and looks were shared amongst most members of the two teams as Ray did a very realistic impersonation of Kai's death glares that Kai actually felt almost proud of. This action, however, had had the (unfortunate or fortunate, you decide) side effect of Mariah finally clueing in onto who Ray's alleged 'favorite feline' was. And the Chinese girl's cheeks turned a becoming shade of light pink.

Finally, Ray decided it was of no use to try and hide anything from his friends, since they had long figured it out. And they're going to use it to tease me mercilessly either way… the raven-haired Chinese teen thought wryly. "Yes, yes, Mariah is my favorite feline. Are you all happy now?" he growled out in an annoyed tone, his golden eyes narrowed as if daring them to make a smartass comment.

Kevin, Tyson and Max whooped and hooted. Hilary grinned, as did Gary. Lee muttered in what sounded like a satisfied tone, "Finally he admits." Mariah turned even redder. And the blush increased when Ray slung an arm around her shoulder with a rakish smile on his face as he actually winked at her. There was a collective groan as the fan girls around them saw and heard the exchange. At that, Hilary almost had the mind to rub it into those bitchy girls' faces for Mariah. But she refrained from doing so, settling for flashing a smirk at them.

So amidst teasing and ribbing directed mainly at Ray and Mariah, the G Revolutions team bid their goodbyes to the White Tigers X. Half way through, Mystel had suddenly popped out of nowhere (he was getting increasingly good at that) and announced that he would be going to China along with the White Tigers X. Apparently, the platinum blond youth liked the White Tiger Village from the last time he went there. So he wanted to visit the village once more, and perhaps stay for a longer time.

As the final goodbyes were exchanged, nobody noticed that someone was missing from the G Revolutions team. Until, Mystel suddenly asked…

"Hey, where's Kai?"

Sorry for the long wait. Been busywith schoolwork.I've decided to split the Epilogue into two parts so you won't have to wait too long for an update. This is pretty short compared to my previous chapters, but I guess you guys won't mind it. Right? Thanks for all the reviews!A total of 10, this time round! Yay! I was so happy that everyone liked the part where the girls glomped Tala and Kai and started bawling all over them. I love that part too!

Anyway, some individual review replies below:

Chibi-Lothlen:Well, when they were being sarcastic when they were saying "since the beginning of time". I know it isn'ttrue. XD And I think I remember seeing screenshotsof Kai battling Garland... but I chose to ignore it. Heehee. As for the telepathy,well, nobody knows the true extent of a bit-beast's powers, right? XD

FlamesOfFury: Yeah, I know that Kai got a new HMS blade, but as I haven't watched G-Rev yet, I don't really know what are the new attacks. I think I've read them somewhere, but I wasn't sure so I just used the old one.

The Wicked Witched of Dingl: Yup, I know Kai's eyes change color. Noticed it only in G-Rev though. Cause amethyst is really a very big difference as compared to gray and auburn/mahogany. I don't think his eyes are ever really red though. More of reddish-brown, but not really red.