Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only character I own is Marina as she's my OC. Any other references I make are purely coincidental.

Chapter 13: Russian Problems

The Bladebreakers were having another day of rare peace. Tyson, Max, Ray and Kenny were hanging out at the beach.

"You can't blame Tyson for enjoying himself. He hasn't had a proper break for a while." said Kenny, who for once was not on his laptop.

"Don't forget to come up for air." joked Max as Tyson dived under the sea again.

Tyson jumped out the water and did a dive bomb.

"It's a shame Kai didn't want to come." said Ray who was reading a magazine.

Tyson dived again as a wave came, making the wave rise higher, showering everyone with water.

"You're going to pay for that." said Max and he jumped into the sea and chased Tyson.

"Too slow, merman!" shouted Tyson as he dived to escape Max.

Suddenly, a grey beyblade split the water between them. They turned to the beach. Ray was standing there, launcher in hand.

"Prepare for my new move, Driger's Water Headache." said Ray.

The water which had gone up into walls thanks to Driger came crashing down onto Max and Tyson so they dived. Kenny couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, wise guy. How about this? Galaxy Storm." said Tyson launching his blade.

Dragoon made the water rise in a tornado and Ray ended up completely soaking.

"Ha ha ha." laughed Max and Kenny as Tyson smiled.

"Okay, you got me back." said Ray as he dried his ponytail off.

Over in the training centre, Kai was sitting watching the kids practice. It was a sight to see the great Kai not training for once.

"These kids may never be as great as Dranzer, but they sure are determined." said Kai to himself as he looked at his blade.

"Hey, you're Kai, aren't you?" said a young boy.

Kai didn't respond so the kid continued. "Do you want a match?"

"No thanks, kid. I only blade with the best." said Kai walking away.

"Please, Kai. I am treated badly by everyone else, but if I have a match with you, I might get a little respect." said the kid, almost begging.

"I am sorry for your situation, but I don't have time."

The kid hung his head, looking very defeated. Kai turned back and he was surprised that he actually did feel sorry for this kid.

"Okay, kid. One quick match." said Kai and the kid's face beamed with happiness.

"Let it rip!" said the boy and both players released their blades.

Immediately, people came over to watch and the kids who had treated this boy badly were voicing their disbelief that this little nerd kid they knew was battling Kai, the champion Bladebreaker.

"Come on. Show me what you have." said Kai and the kid smiled as he made his blade attack. It didn't do anything of course.

Kai's blade circled round the kid's, drawing out the match.

"Now, Dranzer." and the phoenix emerged.

It soon knocked the kid's blade out, but he wasn't surprised or sad or angry. He was beaming.

"Thank you so much, Kai. I'll never forget this." and he took off, the other kids soon bombarding him with questions on how it felt to battle Kai.

Kai smiled as he picked up his blade.

"I think we gave that kid a better life, Dranzer." and the bit piece glowed in response.

Over in Russia, the Blitzkrieg Bladers were also having another day of relaxation. Bryan, Ian and Spencer were having a snowball fight. Tala and Marina were watching. Marina was leaning against Tala's side as he had his arm round her.

"Come get me, Bryan!" said Ian, doing his usual prankster act.

"Be careful what you ask for." said Bryan aiming the snowball.

Spencer tried to sneak up on him, but ended up slipping in the icy part of the snow.

"Unlucky, Spence." said Marina.

"You're not an ice skater." joked Tala.

Spencer got a big snowball ready to throw at Tala, but Tala hit him with a little one, making him drop the big one on his own head.

Marina laughed as Spencer complained of the cold soaking into his clothes.

"Have you forgotten me?" teased Ian.

Just as he finished that sentence, Bryan got behind him and dropped a big snowball on his head.

"No, Ian. I didn't forget." he said as Ian stumbled around.

Later, in the warmth, Spencer was still complaining about the incident earlier. Bryan was sitting on the window sill until Ian told him to get down and close the window. Tala and Marina were sitting on the sofa, or rather; Marina was sitting while Tala was laid out with his head in her lap.

"Ian, we have a warm fire. If Bryan wants to chill by the window, let him." said Tala.

"Yeah, well. Okay." said Ian slowly.

Marina was fiddling with the strands of hair on Tala's forehead as she watched what the others were doing.

"You know the wind isn't as big a deal for me, thanks to Falborg." said Bryan.

"Yeah, but we don't have ice cold attacks, except for Tala." said Spencer, who had finally dried his jacket out.

Soon after, when night started to fall, Bryan closed the window and sat down in the remaining chair.

"Well, I'm heading to bed, guys." said Marina, who always went to bed a little earlier than her team-mates.

"Have a good sleep." said Ian.

"We'll continue that fight tomorrow and we can slam dunk Ian with snowballs." said Spencer, and Ian frowned.

Bryan just nodded.

"Have a good night, Marina." said Tala sitting up.

"Thanks, Captain." said Marina and she kissed him.

"Get a room!" shouted Ian who was a lot calmer about teasing them now that he knew Tala wasn't going to beat him for it.

Tala just gave Ian the usual look and Ian silenced.

As Marina left, Bryan spoke up.

"Do you feel calm about this? I mean, since all those years with Biovolt." he asked quietly.

"Of course. Remember we have been out that place for the last three years." said Tala.

"Okay, well. See ya tomorrow morning, then." said Bryan and he left with Spencer and Ian.

Tala joined Marina, but as he got into the bed, he thought about something.

"Maybe Bryan is right. I don't feel right. I'm happy, but not comfortable. Maybe I should leave to think about what I should do next or I'll screw everything up."

He made up his mind, silently got dressed and left the base. Not even leaving a note.