RTC: Hi readers!
Tyson: She's cheerful…too cheerful!
RTC: It's the writer's block! (Bawls.)
Ray: Get a grip, would you? You finished this chapter, didn't you? Come on start rambling…
RTC: Okay. Well, the chapter is not up to my usual standards, so be warned! I'd thought up a bunch of questions to ask you guys and I hope you can help me out. Please? (Puppy-eyes.) How old is Hiro? Even a guess would be helpful right now! And I've had two comments that I feel compelled to point out, for some reason. My friend Iluvbeyblade, noticed that there is considerably more emotion in this fic compared to Just… and another friend, Moonlight Serenity noticed that the POV switches are a bit different. Well, they tie in together as I'm writing this fic mostly from an omniscient point of view meaning that we can see into all characters minds. Also, Inner Dragon along with Moonlight Serenity also picked up on something I've been hinting at for a long while now, congratulations! (But please don't post that in your reviews because I want people to guess!) Take a closer look at Tala and you might see it too! And now, a review reply for an anonymous reviewer:
Sasha: Firstly, thank you very much for reviewing! Hmm, I not quite sure if you're angry with me, or if you're going to keep reading, but I'm going to take it as the latter option. I'm sorry for killing off Kai, I really am and I'm sorry I upset you before your MEA's. (I take it that those are some type of test?) Hope you keep reading and reviewing!
Kai: Okay, he said ramble, not go on for the next month!
Max: Why don't you explain the way this chapter works?
RTC: (Looks angry at Kai.) Sure Max! Well, this chapter is basically an email correspondence between the characters, as they are no longer living nearby. The stuff in italics underneath is the sender's thoughts on the email and life. You'll get to see how they portray themselves, but how badly they're doing on the inside at once. So, the emails are as follows: the-icy-one (Kari), dragoon-rox-my-sox (Tyson), crouchingtiger (Ray), blondes-have-more-fun (Max), emcsquared (Kenny), shopaholics-anonymous (Hilary), howl-to-the-moon (Tala) and monkeyboy (Daichi). As you can see, they reflect the person's personalities and that should be able to keep you straight. Well, that's it, disclaimer please!
Hilary: Ray-Tiger-Cat does not own Beyblade, as she has had us tell you loads of times already.
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E-Friends
To: the-icy-one
From: dragoon-rox-my-sox
Subject: How are you?
Message:
Hey Kari, how's it going? I hope you landed safely. I also hope you have access to the internet... I'd feel pretty stupid if you didn't read this for months! Anyhow, Hilary, Kenny and I packed up all of your and Kai's things and we moved all the stuff to my place for now. As soon as you get a permanent place to live, send us the address and we'll mail it right away. Anyhow, I hope you're doing okay. Write back soon!
It's really weird having to write an email to talk to my friends. What were they thinking when they decided to leave?! The team is falling apart and it's all Kai's fault! Why is it we're always picking up his messes?!
To: blondes-have-more-fun
From: crouchingtiger
Subject: Being home again
Message:
Sorry for not writing sooner Max, but the computer has been a problem... I'll get straight to the point of this email, okay? Does it feel really strange to be back home again? I mean, we're back in our hometowns, but I feel like I should be back in Japan. I don't understand it all, because when we split up after the first World Championships, it was so nice to be home, but now it's like there's something missing. Okay, I'm rambling on, and you probably think I'm crazy. See ya!
Well, everyone thinks I'm crazy already so I suppose it doesn't matter. I just really couldn't care about anything right now! I can barely blade; I know we aren't going to be in another tournament, so what does it matter?!
To: crouchingtiger
From: blondes-have-more-fun
Subject: Re: Being home again
Message:
Yeah, it is strange. I guess it's because when we separated the last time, we had only been a team for a few months and as close as we were, we bonded a lot more over the past few years. I feel pretty bad about leaving Tyson, Kenny and Hilary there and I know Tyson's pretty angry with everyone these days-not that he'd admit it-but I think we're all trying to cover up and move on. I mean, take a look at our screen names; they're all happy sounding, not something that a grieving team would normally chose. We're all lying to ourselves. P.S.: No, I don't think you're crazy.
If anyone is crazy around here, it's me. Mom says that I've become paranoid, and that perhaps I should see a shrink-I won't go-to deal with my fears of losing everyone. I think that my new view on life has just allowed me to see through the deceptions! I'm tired of being innocent and child-like! Time to grow up and deal with the messed up world!
To: the-icy-one
From: shopaholics-anonymous
Subject: Find a place yet?
Message:
So, Kari, I know Tyson emailed you a week ago, but seeing as there's been no reply, I thought perhaps you hadn't received it, and so I'm writing. We have packed everything up, as I'm sure you've figured out and we need an address to send it to. (And what a fun time it was too-Tyson is angry at the world, and Kenny only talks to himself or Dizzi most of the time!) I just need to ask if you're going to be okay. I mean, you've traveled half way across the world and I'm worried that if something happens to you, we won't know about it. I mean, they have shoved Voltaire in prison, but I'm sure there are plenty of his thugs still on the loose and it could be a while before someone catches them. Okay, I'm being paranoid, but do take care of yourself!
Can you blame me for being upset with Tyson and Kenny? The whole time we were packing up, they more or less ignored me and each other! And now Kari is doing the same thing! She's so wrapped up in her grief that she doesn't want to deal with other people, but I'm still here! I feel like I've been left behind...
To: crouchingtiger, blondes-have-more-fun, emcsquared, shopaholics-anonymous, dragoon-rox-my-sox, howl-to-the-moon, monkeyboy
From: the-icy-one
Subject: Sorry for not replying
Message:
Hi everyone. Well, I'm glad Mr. Dickenson set up the BBA network so we could all stay in touch. Actually, I don't have much to say; I'm just writing because I've got at least five emails wondering if I had landed safely and whether I was okay. Yeah, I'm fine and yes I've got an apartment, so you can send the packages, Tyson and Hilary! Don't worry about me too much, things are quite fine here. And Hilary, it's true there are a bunch of thugs still on the loose, but I think I can handle them. You guys should watch your backs too.
It's so hard to try and talk to them. Every time I think about the team, a memory of Kai floats through my head! I miss him like crazy. He was my other half... and now that that half is gone, I can barely socialize. Now isn't that a laugh; he was the most anti-social person I knew. Life is ironic.
To: crouchingtiger, blondes-have-more-fun, emcsquared, shopaholics-anonymous, dragoon-rox-my-sox, howl-to-the-moon, the-icy-one
From: monkeyboy
Subject: Whoa, I missed out on a lot!
Message:
Finally figured out how to work this blasted computer! How the heck do you people use these things on a regular basis anyway?! I've just read my mail and I guess I missed a lot of stuff. Just remember to keep me posted! And in case you were wondering, Tyson picked the screen name for me, okay?! Gah, I'm going to go practice now; I still have to beat Tyson! How is everyone's training going? Bye!
How come I'm left out of the loop a lot lately?! I know I'm the youngest and the one that knew Kai the shortest, but don't they realize that I miss him too? What do I have to do to put things back the way they were?
To: dragoon-rox-my-sox
From: howl-to-the-moon
Subject: Your team
Message:
Well, I seem to be getting a lot of mail recently. I was just writing to see how your team was fairing. It's not everyday you lose a captain... Did you guys pick a new one? Anyhow, have you heard much from Kari? Every time I write, I get a vague, non-emotional, detached response. Just wondering if you got anything better.
I thought I was only supposed to lose one person in my life when Kai died, but now it seems like I've lost Kari too. She's distancing herself. I know that that is a normal reaction to lose (the orphans at the Abbey did that a lot), but that was at a time when friendship was not allowed. It looks like Boris did drill one thing into her head after all.
To: howl-to-the-moon
From: dragoon-rox-my-sox
Subject: Re: Your team
Message: No, we have not picked a new team captain, but then, I doubt we're going to be playing as a team anywhere in the near future. Guess it's time for someone else to take the spotlight and become World Champ. Actually, you're pretty lucky to even get a response; I barely ever hear from her. In her last email, all she wrote was that she had received the packages, and that she would be traveling around a lot. I thought she was going to stay in San Francisco, but apparently not. I can't figure her out.
How the heck was I supposed to know?! He's the one that's close to her! The rest of us wouldn't know something before he did!
To: crouchingtiger, blondes-have-more-fun, monkeyboy, shopaholics-anonymous, dragoon-rox-my-sox, howl-to-the-moon, the-icy-one
From: emcsquared
Subject: Two months
Message:
I hate to remind everyone, but it's been two months since... well, you know. And we are all still lost in our own little worlds. I may have been the quiet one, but I think it's time I stick my neck out and tell you all that we can not function this way. So, stop hiding!
To: crouchingtiger, blondes-have-more-fun, monkeyboy, shopaholics-anonymous, dragoon-rox-my-sox, howl-to-the-moon, the-icy-one
From: emcsquared
Subject: My last email
Message:
Sorry, guys! That was Dizzi! She got really angry and sent that! Please don't be mad at me!
I can't believe Dizzi pulled a stunt like that! Why won't she leave me to my brooding and everyone else to deal with their own problems?!
To: emcsquared
From: blondes-have-more-fun
Subject: Re: My last email
Message:
Relax Chief, we forgive you! I think it's just that our bitbeasts are trying to pull this team back together. Draceil has been trying too. They're fighting an uphill battle, aren't they? And yes, Chief, I'll tell Emily to get in contact with you; I know that should cheer you up.
And here I am again, trying to sound cheerful when I'm not. I should have gone into acting. I'm the happy one; I can't feel pain, remember?! So why do I feel like I'm dying on the inside?
To: dragoon-rox-my-sox,
From: crouchingtiger
Subject: Hiro and Mary Anne
Message:
Is it just me, or are those two getting a whole lot closer and more secretive? Ever get the feeling there's something they aren't sharing with the rest of us? I caught MA on the phone with your brother and the second she saw me, she told him that she was going to have to call him back later. What is going on? Anyhow, I've heard that you've been having a tough time (relayed from Hiro, to MA, to Lizzie, to me.) handling our current situation. Don't get angry, get even, remember? So keep yourself out of trouble.
Tyson's causing everyone a lot of worry lately. Not that we'd admit it, but he keeps pushing himself too hard. According to Hilary he puts himself through several hours of practice a day and when he's not practicing, he's off in a funk, brooding, or smashing things. I think that's what Hiro and Mary Anne have been talking about, but I'm playing it cool to see if Tyson will realize the effect he has on other people.
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RTC: I know it was very different and I hope it wasn't too confusing! It didn't come out the way I really wanted, but that's okay. Meh, for all my rambling earlier, this note is rather short!
Kari: Don't worry, we've convinced her to write less email correspondence in the next chapter, so stick with it!
RTC: You'll see an interesting turn of events in the next chapter! I'm excited for it and I hope it turns out better than this one! Bye bye!