Hi! Thaks you for the support people gave me with the first chapter! Here's the second, written while I should be doing work! (Opps!)

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblades (wish I did!). The only thing I own is Shiri and the storyline. If you want to use the character, ask me first, please!

CHAPTER 2

Back at Tyson's house, while they waited for Hilary to get back and for Ray to start cooking, Shiri was being asked several questions.

"Your accent, it's really thick," Kenny queried. "Where does it originate from?"

"Well," Shiri scratched her head under her cloak (she said that, once Hilary had gotten back with some clothes and she had washed up, she would take the damned thing off) and said, "I've pretty much travelled all over the world, but the accent is part Russian and part Chinese. Russia and China are two places that I stayed for a while and it was easy to pick up."

"And those horrid rags – I dare not call them clothes – Where did they come from?" Max asked.

"I needed something to wear, after I lost most of my clothes in Brazil," Shiri said, giggling. "These were the only ones I could find. And no, they are not very comfortable, Tyson!"

Tyson gaped as everyone laughed. Kai opened his mouth to ask something, but Hilary rushed through the door with an, "I'm back!" shout. Shiri got up and, hobbling with a roughly strapped ankle, moved over to see what Hilary had brought.

"I'm sorry I took so long, but Mum wanted to know what I was doing with most of my clothes. Plus, she wouldn't let me take half of the stuff I wanted, so you're stuck with my hand-me-downs. Sorry Shiri!" Hilary apologised, dumping two garbage bags and a shopping bag down onto the floor. Shiri opened one and pulled out a pair of jeans.

"That's fine, Hilary," Shiri grinned. "Just don't tell your mother that you gave me a $300 pair of jeans!"

"What!" Hilary shouted. "Those things are worth $300 dollars?"

"Not anymore, maybe about $150," Shiri showed everyone the worn badge on the belt area. "This is a very expensive brand of jeans, imported from America."

"I know that brand!" Max said. "I have three pairs from that company back home!"

"But that label is so worn down, how could you tell they were from America?" Tyson asked.

"I have an oddly keen eye. I can tell that your shirt is a poly-cotton blend, and those jeans you're wearing are very well loved, and are about two years old," Shiri smiled. As Tyson gaped again, she turned back to Hilary and the bags. "What else did you bring?"

"I figured you'd want a shower, so I'm giving you a bottle of shower wash, and a toiletry kit."

"Did you bring a pair of scissors and a comb? I want to trim my hair," Shiri glanced over.

"Yeah. You having a shower now?" Hillary looked confused as Shiri pulled out random items of clothing.

"Please! The only reason why I'm wearing this cloak, other than to hide my face for the moment, is to stop my hair going everywhere. Though I'll call you in to do it."

"Sure!" Hilary said, getting up and grabbed the garbage bags and led Shiri, who carried the shopping bag, into the back of the house to the bathroom. As they left, Tyson, Kenny and Max started talking about her. Kai just sat there and was thinking.

Kai's POV

"If the sound of her voice is anything to go by, she must be gorgeous!" Tyson was steaming again. God, I hate when he does that.

"I thought you were after Hilary?" Max asked, jumping into the spot next to me.

"I...I...I...I...don't know..." Tyson trailed off. I could see him turning red in the corner of my eye. Good, he probably deserved it, I thought.

Hearing Ray cursing softly in the kitchen, I get up and see what's cooking (pardon the pun). Looking in, I see Ray covered in flour and what seems to be a tomato sauce used with pasta.

"Need some help?" I ask. Ray sighs and nods.

"At this rate, I'm going to need all the help I can get."

"What are we making?" I ask, pulling an apron on to stop myself from being caked in sauce like Ray.

"Well, we," Ray emphasised, "are making a simple home-made pasta dish, but I can't seem to do anything right at the moment!" I grab Ray's fist before he can smash it into the bench.

"Now, you can't cook anything good if you can't use your hand," I say, holding it firmly, "and I believe that this meal is being made specially for our young guest?" Ray nodded. "Then lets get to work."

After I let go of Ray's hand, he looked down.

"Sorry Kai. I didn't mean to spit at you like that."

"Understood. Now, lets get this done!" After that remark, Ray seemed to cheer up. Although the two of us are the same age, he mostly seemed like the parental figure in the group. I smiled as I put the sauce down to simmer, wondering what Shiri was doing at that moment.

Shiri's POV

"You know," Hilary said, combing my hair, "you have very fast showers."

I chuckled. "Fast – but efficient. Done?"

Hilary placed the comb down. "Yup, done!"

I grinned. "Hilary, my new friend," I stumbled when I said that, but went on with, "you should be a hair dresser!"

"Don't have many friends, do you?" Hilary asked. I shook my head. "Well, you have us, now, so you'll never be lonely anymore!"

"I hope so, I really do," I mumbled. Then I thought of something. "Can you do me a favour?"

"Yeah, what is it?" Hilary asked, gathering up the horrible rags in an empty bag.

"When you go, I really need you to do this for me," I begged.

"Of course!"

"Well..."

Normal POV

"Kai?" Hilary asked, poking her head into the main room.

"What?" Kai shouted from the kitchen.

"Shiri asked for you," Hilary said, looking confused.

"Why?" Kai scowled, walking out of the kitchen while wiping his hands on a tea towel.

"I don't know!" Hilary snapped. "She just said she had something important to tell you."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, now what's going on! Well, I can't tell you. Not yet. If you want me to let you know when I post the next chapter, let me know, and I'll do it! And again, thanks for the support, since this is my first Fan Fic!

Hugs - Star-shimmered-dragon