The Beast Within

Chapter 2

A week after Tyson's meeting with Rei and Kenny, the three friends were still no closer to solving the little mystery that the glowing blue light had presented. No new incidents had occurred with Dragoon or Drigger, so Tyson had decided to forget about it for the time being. He'd worry about it when the situation became more serious, if it ever did. So far, it appeared that the incident was probably just some sort of fluke.

Tyson walked out of a candy store, opening a fresh box of pocky and grinning in anticipation. As he glanced down the sidewalk absentmindedly, he noticed the girl from the week before. She was walking in the opposite direction, occasionally stopping to examine a window display or poster. She hadn't noticed him and was steadily moving farther away.

"Hey!" he called out, quickly searching his memory for her name. "Hey, Faye! Wait up!" He hurried to catch up to her, doing his best not to spill his pocky all over the sidewalk in the process. She turned around, curious to see who was calling her. Upon seeing Tyson, she blushed intensely and quickly turned away, hoping he hadn't noticed.

Tyson slowed to a walking pace as he approached her. A curtain of hair hid her face from view. Is she ok? he wondered, tucking some of Faye's hair behind her ear so he could see her properly. She was staring at her shoes, her cheeks still a faint pink colour.

"Hi," he addressed her again, "Why so quiet today?"

"...Hi, Tyson..." Faye replied softly, her gaze still locked on her shoes. She was so quiet, Tyson almost missed her reply; her voice was just above a whisper.

"Going somewhere?"

She gave him a quick nod. "I'm meeting my friends. We're getting lunch at the mall." Her voice rose a little in volume, becoming more confident.

"Oh," said Tyson. He popped a stick of pocky into his mouth and then offered the box to Faye. "Want one?"

Faye glanced at the box. Then at Tyson. Without warning, she started giggling, unable to remain tense. "Sure," she replied, pulling a stick of pocky out of the box. Tyson noticed her glance at him again as they munched their pocky, but she quickly looked away to hide another blush. "Thank you," she murmured. He flashed her a smile in response.

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A shadowy figure watched the pair below it closely from the branches of a large tree. It followed them stealthily, leaping between trees and low rooftops along the street. The shadow was swift and silent, making it practically invisible.

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

"You're late, Faye!" Luna exclaimed in mock anger, sitting alone at one of the tables in the food court. "We've been waiting for fifteen very long and hungry minutes!" She glanced past Faye, noticing Tyson munching on some pocky. "Why does he get food?!"

"Well maybe – and this is just a crazy suspicion – but maybe he paid for it?" Tess interjected, approaching the table with a large plate of fries.

"Fries!" cried Luna, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She tried to steal a few of them but Tess swatted at her hand and shielded the plate protectively.

"Not for you. Go buy your own."

Tyson laughed quietly at their weird banter. Luna heard him anyway. She whipped around and glared at him fiercely.

"What's so funny, Mr. Champion?" she demanded in a sarcastic tone, "You think you're so great, don't you? Just because you have a few titles and food!" She turned away and marched stormily across the food court in search of fries. Tyson looked at Faye for an explanation, feeling extremely confused.

"What did I do?"

Faye was trying too hard to stop laughing to be able to answer him. She was doubled over with suppressed giggles.

"You didn't do anything," Tess answered, "...well...unless you count being Beyblade Champion several times in a row and having food around when she's hungry."

"That makes no sense!"

"Sure it does. You know Kai Hiwatari, right?"

Tyson wasn't catching on. "Of course. He's one of my best friends. Not to mention my favourite opponent." His eyes gleamed competitively.

"And you always beat him." Tess pointed out.

"Yeah. So what?"

"Luna hates you for it." Faye explained, having finally controlled her laughter. "Well...actually, she doesn't hate you. Not really. She just hates that you always beat Kai."

No clarity dawned on Tyson's face. He looked just as confused as ever. Faye and Tess sighed in exasperation.

"Oh well, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually." Tess gave him a sympathetic smile.

Tyson shrugged, deciding it probably wasn't important. "If you say so," he laughed. Wow, this girl has weird friends. He laughed again, realizing that he did, too.

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

The shadowed figure stood out of sight, listening closely to the conversation and growing frustrated at the lack of information it was providing. It closed its eyes, thinking over the recent events that had come to its attention. Why had its beyblade glowed blue the week before? Surely Tyson must have found some clues! But so far, the shadow had not been fortunate enough to find an answer.

It opened its eyes and did a quick scan of the food court, lost in its jumbled, frustrated thoughts. Its violet eyes lingered on the moody girl with equally violet hair as she returned to her friends, a plate of fries in one hand and a bottle of pop in the other. She looked much happier now than she had when she'd stormed off.

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

Faye's head snapped up, seeking the source of the delicious smell that had wafted past. Her eyes sparkled as she bounced in her seat. "Luna, my love!"

"What?" Luna asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously and giving Faye a mock-menacing glare.

Faye stared up at her friend, looking as innocent and cute as she possibly could. She even used her nicest begging voice. "Share?"

Luna rolled her eyes, trying to ignore Faye's persistent staring. "It won't work, Faye. It won't."

Faye could tell she was already beginning to weaken. "Just one?" she asked, pouting a little.

Luna did her best to keep scowling. "No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Just one, Luna?"

"..."

Luna was trying so hard not to laugh. "No..." a smile began creeping through her scowl. She had to look away to regain her composure.

"But...fries..." Faye refused to give up.

Luna reached her limit and burst out laughing. "Ok, but just one."

"Yay!" Faye cheered, "Thank you, Luna! You're my love!" She snatched a fry from the plate, looking as happy as if she'd just aced a math test.

Tyson laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Have you no shame?" he joked.

Faye blushed, lowering her eyes quickly and focusing all her attention on the table in front of her. She remained silent, refusing to look up. Her hair was shielding her face again, so Tyson wasn't able to see her expression.

"Hey, are you ok?" he asked. "Did I hurt your feelings or something?"

Faye said nothing in response. Her thoughts raged back and forth, arguing with each other. Oh god, how could I act so stupid in front of him? It's okay, Faye, you're just being yourself. If he doesn't like it, that's his problem. People should like you for who you are. Yeah right! Who the hell actually believes that?! Desperate people, that's who. They do not! Yes they do! Damn it! He probably thinks I'm the biggest loser he's ever met! Why why why did I have to go and act like that? He'll never take me seriously. No shit, Sherlock. Shut up! Oh god, I'm such an idiot-

An arm wrapped comfortingly around her shoulders, abruptly cutting off her mental flailing.

"What's wrong?" Tyson asked with concern.

She stared at him in amazement. Unbelieveable. Doesn't he think I'm a freak? Most people don't even bother trying to understand me. A dark thought slowly crept through her mind, trying to push back her moment of happiness. That doesn't necessarily mean anything. I bet he'd behave differently if he knew about...

Faye stubbornly ignored the thought, determined to hold on to her temporary bliss. She gave Tyson a reassuring smile. "It's nothing important. Don't worry about it."

Luna and Tess glanced at each other knowingly before tactfully changing the subject.

"So you guys seriously look super cute together!" Tess exclaimed, grinning.

"She's right," Luna agreed, slamming her palm on the table. "God I'm good! I knew you were perfect for each other!" She beamed proudly.

Faye glared at her friends.