"The night is the hardest time to be alive and 4am knows all my secrets.

Tyson relaxed into the mattress, trying his level best for sleep to come. His eyes had started to drip water at the point. He forced eyelids shut. He had always been a deep sleeper. After Katyusha had left them, acute insomnia had seized over. Her departure, even though for a short while, had kicked Tyson in the wrong direction. The other members were just as devastated as he was. They all agreed to one point. Katyusha never does anything without a valid reason. And over the years the one person who stood beside him was Kenny and Katyusha.

Exhaustion caught him once again, but sleep wasn't ready enough to come already. Just when he thought he might have been tired enough to pass out, he heard the clash of a blade.

He jumped out of his sheets, heart ponding. It was over two at night. Everyone in the room looked peacefully asleep. He stood tiptoed over, tossing and turning members. He kept losing his composure due to the random hands and legs covering the ground. Now he felt worse for the other team-mates for if they made this kind of mess in the night, how hard could shaking them up might be.

He made his way downstairs leading to the main lobby. He took a sharp turn, opening the nearest door to the lawn outside the house. The volume had increased, indicating that the source was nearby. He closed the distance and stopped in front of the floor-length window.

Outside in middle fo the open yard, Katyusha practised alone. She had her back turned to him, unaware of the audience. She hadn't changed her clothes. This could mean she must not have even reached the bed till now.

Her hair spun around her as she circled with her blade. The bit beats hadn't been released. But thinking again what was the point of releasing the bit beast when she was competing against a stone wall. The beyblade crashed the barrier back to back in consecutive turns and spins.

He watched her, transfixed looking at her blade which had started to break the wall now. He didn't remember her Drowena having such power before. Her beyblade had always been the manipulative player in the battle but never executed much work in general. Now watching Katyusha, he couldn't help but wonder how strong this girl was.

She had never actually taken part in any tournament and had been mostly a substitute player. Due to her lack of performance, it was exceptionally easy to get deceived by her powers, but she was not less than Tyson himself. She was the girl who fought Kai before the finals of The World Tag Team Championship. Kai, with his built-in ego, had chosen Katyusha of all the other powerful opponents present at the tournament. This simply meant that Katyusha's power was either higher than most of the Beyblades of this generations or that Kai was just showcasing his anti-socializing skills. But the fact that they never won against each other was the most engrossing notion. Tyson sighed. He couldn't ever possibly understand the two.

As if hearing his sigh, Katyusha whipped her head with inhuman skills, her eyes boring into his before relaxing her posture. The fact was that the window was closed, she mustn't have possibly heard his breath.

He threw the door, shielding the friends, open and sat on the extending wood frame attached to the open window. Katyusha followed his suit, bouncing down next to him, panting deeply.

"How did you hear me," It was the first thing he could have said.

"Huh?" she looked genuinely confused before her face pulled her understanding face, "Oh that, I felt someone around so.."

"What were you doing here?"

"Nothing much. I was practising. What about you? Aren't you tired to be awake still?"

"Ahh, insomnia attacked me again" he answered.

"What? Insomnia? How come did you start to have insomnia? You are the dubbed sleeping head."

"It's not like I sleep any less. I can't seem to find sleep at night but I usually complete my cycle by sleeping till late in the afternoon."

"Is it acute or chronic? When did it start," she asked, worry lines appearing on under her eyes.

"After you left, I guess. It started after you left, yes."

She looked taken back. "Due to my departure?" she asked carefully.

"Yeah. I think it is kind of like an anxiety attack. It happens when the team members leave."

He nodded.

She studied his face carefully before standing up and sitting again in a bowing posture. She dipped her head low, letting all the shades of her purple hair scatter around her head. He might have panicked because he practically pulled her head upwards.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I KNOW I M GOOD BUT YOU DONT NEED TO BOW."

Katyusha looked mildly annoyed at this statement before saying, "I am sorry. I shouldn't have left like that. I was being selfish."

Before she could open her thesaurus of apologizes, he helped her in a crossed leg position. She still looked like she will jump into that position anytime.

"I can't say its fine since it wasnt. Honestly, it was a natural reaction. It would happen even if a street cat leaves my place at this point. Everyone has their problem, which cant be a group activity. They have a personal life. Knowing you as a person, you aren't someone who will be loyalty even fifty years later. It can be understood." he explained with emphasizing hand gestures.

Katyusha responded with a weak smile, "You grew up well."

" Oh, I'm very well aware of that," he replied slyly.

She gave him a chuckle before looking away. The night was silent without her blading banging against the wall. The day might have been hot but the night gave the real feel of the winter. The stars shimmered on a brilliant night. A night which poets would sit and write about. The night where imagination was at its peak.

"A night of wonders." He whispered

Katyusha looked at him with disbelief. "You aren't a kind of person who will state random philosophical words around."

Tyson gave her a wild grin, "I might not be like how you are but even I can feel fascinated by nature once in a while."

"Like, 'WOAHHHH' or like 'WHAT' or something worse."

They both burst out in laughter, breaking the silence.

"Ah seriously, its been so long since we have played an official match."

"True. Its been a very long time since I have participated in a battle before."

"Since we are talking about that, Why don't you ever participate? You had a chance to compete against any of the members or join another group much time before. Why stick with me when you won't be able to battle someone?"

Katyusha glanced at him then. Her brown eyes pierced into his eyes. Her brown shade glittered int he moonlight.

"My goal was never to win any kind of championship, Tyson. By playing in someone else's team I would have to play against opponents I have least interest in. I might even play against you guys." she explained. "The only reason I stuck with you was that I knew my rival won't ever be on the same team as you until and unless he doesn't get a stronger competitor to fight against."

"Who is your...agh." Tyson started before realizing who she was referring too.

"I should be mildly upset about the fact that you chose a person over me. Tyson Granger."

She simpered, "I am better than you, Tyson. Even you know that."

He didn't back down, "I can be better now."

" You haven't in the last five years."

"I COULD NOW."

Katyusha laughed it off. " You must, you know. You won't if you continue this aura of pride around you."

"What about your rival, huh? Kai has enough ego to build a castle of pride. If I could earn money with his pride, I might be a billionaire now."

"He won't succeed either then," she replied bluntly. Tyson vaguely remembered why he never asks her something which might hurt his pride ever.

"But why him?"

She regarded it thoughtful before replying carefully, "He challenges me. Tyson, you must be aware that we are childhood friends and that we even went to Kai's grandfathers camp together."

He recalled her telling this story before. "Yeah. Is it where he challenged you?"

"Not really. It was when we first started blading. He used to pride himself over the top to win against me when we had just started beyblading. That's when he had challenged me. If said, the only reason why I continued my training as beyblader was due to his taunts. If he hadn't always called out at me for losing, I might have given up already."

"He is the person who helped you discover your passion?" Tyson tried his best at sorting out all the fragments of past they have told the team in the past. Kai never talked about anything regarding his childhood. Katyusha was usually the person who spoke enthusiastically, to annoy Kai.

"Yes."

"So why haven't you fought against him. He is here right now."

She fell silent. Tyson tried to place out her emotions, but she had always been skilled at guardian her emotion. Finally, after a few long minutes of silence, she spoke up again.

"Sometimes experiences change people more than time, Tyson. His experience changed him into a person who I never knew. To compete against someone so unfamiliar with even after spending a lot of time together. It felt..out of place."

"I wanted that person to return. Even though it was practically impossible but being aloof to the world beyond wasn't the guy I played against." her emotions were not displayed but her gesture, the tone of the voice conveyed everything she didn't want anyone to hear.

With that, they both fell silent. Lost in their world where it was a bit brighter than the actual universe.

XxX

The bladebreakers gathered together, ready to depart for their adventure. Thankfully, the weather cooperated with the gathering, otherwise, it would have been a disaster. Katyusha knew how fluctuating the weather can be in her town.

The boys have changed into cotton, some of which belonged to her brother. Except for Kai. He was still in his daily wear. Seems like he ain't stepping into the water anytime sooner. He caught her checking on him. She gave him a simple shrug before turning her back to him. She ain't allowing herself to feel intimidated by his presence.

"Here comes Tyson," exclaimed Max. The boys looked so fresh and enthusiastic. They lifted her spirits with double the amount.

"Tyson is on time for the first time." Ray approached the world champion.

"Why? Can't I be early sometimes." Tyson snapped right back.

"Nope never." All said in unison.

Hilary and Kenny joined the other members next. Hilary joined her boyfriend who gave a great expression of erupting lava now. Hilary slid her hands between Tyson's arm, pressing herself next to him. Tyson seemed to have calmed down a bit. Hilary and Tyson shared a smile.

"Sure now. We need to proceed further before night strikes right?" she said, trying her best at guiding the group. Tyson had gone quiet out of sudden. He had a mystical look on his face.

"Now don't look at me like that," she said eyeing him suspiciously

"You look pretty today," he explained, amazed.

"Well? Is it supposed to be a compliment?"

"It is a compliment."

"Because I could sense amazement when you said I looked pretty. It isn't needed also because as you know I am stunningly attractive", she said, swinging her body from side to side.

She didn't want Hilary to feel uncomfortable but Hilary seemed normal even after Tyson attempted to lowkey flirt with her. With the look Hilary was giving, Katyusha had a feeling that the other girl might even join her guy in complimenting her.

"Do I look THAT pretty today? Why is everyone staring at me?" It wasn't like she was dressed differently than usual. She was dressed in her formal attire. The only thing which might have changed was the fact that she had let her hair down. Her hair circled her. Each strand shone under the sunlight, the colours glowing under the light.

"Where is Jake?" Ray inquired while taking silent counts.

"He won't be joining us. He would like to stay back."

"He must have been tired. We came uninvited. Having many people at home can be exhausting."

Katyusha waved off the concern shown by her friends. "It's nothing like that. We usually have guests over unexpectedly."

"how to go over there?" Daichi asked, looking distracted.

"We will lend bicycles. I will be guiding, y'all" Jake replied, emerging from the main gate. He looked like a fluffy teddy bear with his fleecy wild hair and a white t-shirt. "I might need to leave due to some personal reasons after dropping you guys off."

Katyusha started to protest, "Why not just let me guide them?"

"And intrust a bunch of people with your guiding skills. Trust me, sis. I would rather come along than actually leaving them under your navigation."

They all sighed in relief. Even Kai dared to break into a smirk. Now she was annoyed, "I remember the path very well. Take a map if you like, but I can go around just well enough."

"I will roller skate along with you guys!" she said, looking for the pair of skates she kept with her. Jake guided the others towards the stacked cycles near the public cycle stands. Each inspected the two-wheeler given with great fondness.

"Why do you have so many cycles?" Hillary asked

"It's not all ours. Some are from neighbourhood children. They usually use them so.." she trailed off. Kai was sitting on her bike.

She had left her cycle because it looked very unfit for riding. She admitted that she was partly ashamed and partly insecure about that cycle. But for some reason, it matched Kai just right. This guy had the power to make even the saddest looking object glow. They all marched to her with their respective bicycles, beaming.

"Ready?" she asked

All looked at each other before returning a nod. The group took off with newfound energy and enthusiasm.