Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only characters I own are my OCs. Anything else is coincidental.

Note: This story is another prequel, more of a spin-off and it details the past of my bad OC Pyro.

Chapter 5: A Change

It has now been a year and the young dual haired boy, now at the age of 4, was much more used to the street life. He had learnt to steal without being greedy and he had now lost some of the innocence in his light brown eyes.

This pleasant morning, Nicolai awoke from a good sleep and looked over at the other bed in their little hideout to see it empty. He blinked and rubbed his eyes and looked again then shot up from the bed and looked around.

"Where is he? I hope nothing's happened to him. I'm supposed to be helping him out." he said to himself in concern for his friend.

He opened the door to their hideout and bolted out, then collided with something, or someone.

"Nicolai, what's the big idea?" asked a squeaky voice.

Nicolai looked down and saw his little apprentice shaking his head to clear the small pain he had got from banging into his older friend.

"You haven't been out all night have you?" asked Nicolai.

"No, of course not. I woke up at early morning and wanted some fresh air, so went out." said the kid as he looked up with a small frown on his face.

"Okay. Fair enough, but you have to be careful. You are not that strong or brave or skilled enough to be out there all by yourself." said Nicolai, trying to advise the kid gently, but still getting his point across to him.

"Nicolai, I don't wanna lecture." said the kid in a slight whining tone.

"Well, tough luck, Squirt, because you need it. You don't want to end up in the same position you did last year after those street thugs got you, do you?" asked Nicolai seriously.

The boy looked down sadly as that encounter still scared him and still haunted his dreams. It most likely always will affect his dreams.

"I'm sorry to sound like that, Kid, but I am your friend and I don't want to see you do something foolish and get yourself hurt or worse." said Nicolai as he knelt down slightly and lifted the kid's chin gently.

"It's okay, Nicolai. I understand. I need to be careful." the boy said and nodded.

Nicolai smiled and stood back up. "It's about time I teach you some fighting skills. I decided not to before as you were still nervous, fragile and adjusting to life out here, but now is a good time to learn." he said.

The boy blinked for a second, but then smiled and said "Okay."

"I won't hurt you, Squirt. Just teach you the basics." said Nicolai in an effort to reassure his nervous student.

He nodded and stood opposite Nicolai. Nicolai smiled lightly and got ready to begin the lesson.


"Get your battle position, Kid." Nicolai started.

The boy nodded and stood with his legs slightly apart and his arms slightly raised, with both hands clenched into fists. Nicolai closed his eyes and smirked then muttered to himself "This will take a lot of work."

He stood in his own fighting position, which looked quite easy-going and calm. It made the kid smirk to himself slightly in confidence.

"Okay, Squirt, throw a punch. Let's see what you have." said Nicolai.

He nodded and ran forward and threw his fist towards Nicolai who simply placed his hand out and caught it then used his other hand to push the younger kid backwards and he stumbled.

"A direct attack, Kid? I saw that coming from the moment you started. That level of punch won't save you. Let me show you what's better." said Nicolai.

The kid nodded and Nicolai took a dash forward, manoeuvred to the side and then did a sideways punch that made the kid close his eyes, but he opened them to see Nicolai having stopped his fist inches from his face.

"You see? More variation in your movements is the first step. Want to give it a go?" Nicolai asked.

The boy nodded and went in for another punch, diverting his steps in a less obvious way and then threw his punch and actually caught Nicolai in the cheek. Nicolai was surprised and stepped back then rubbed his cheek slightly and looked at his apprentice.

"Sorry, Nicolai." apologised the kid.

"No need to apologise, Squirt. You landed a punch and that was what I wanted you to do. Well done. Shall we try defence now?" asked Nicolai.

"Sure." answered the kid excitedly, but a rumble interrupted them and the boy looked down embarrassed.

Nicolai laughed. "Let's take a break and bring out the rest of those supplies we got." he said.

Both boys took a seat and chewed down some food. The younger boy wolfing it down as if he hadn't eaten in weeks.

"Someone could lose a hand eating with you." commented Nicolai as he watched his little friend.

"Nicolai...I am a...growing boy." said the kid in-between mouthfuls.

Nicolai chuckled and soon both boys had finished their food.

"Did you learn anything? I hope you did." asked Nicolai.

"Yeah, not to punch directly, but to vary movements." said the kid.

Nicolai smiled. "You're a good kid." he said and ruffled his apprentice's hair.

"Oi, Nicolai. My hair!" whined the kid and pushed his friend's hand away.

Nicolai chuckled and then his friend smiled slightly. Nicolai looked at his friend closely and noticed the dimming of innocence in his eyes, but he thought nothing of it as out here in the rough life, what more could be expected?

"Um, everything okay?" asked the kid as he noticed his friend's staring.

"Huh? Yeah, sorry about that, Squirt. Just thinking how far you've come in such a short time. How strong our friendship is. I'll keep you safe from anything, little guy." Nicolai answered.

The kid smiled and said "I would like to be able to help you too, Nicolai. We are a good team. I hope it lasts much longer."

Nicolai gently hugged his little friend and smiled. He hoped it would last much longer too, but on the street...every day brings a challenge, sometimes new...and unexpected...