Hey everyone! I'm back with chapter 3! Sorry I took long to update. I got into a lot of other fics, and I forgot about mine! Ok, just to clear something up, in this story, Rei and Mariah are already together. Yes, together.

Ok so on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade. But I do own Mako Tatsuya. You'll see what I mean.

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Look Who Came to Pick Us Up

"Tyson, quit snoring and look out your window!" Max, who was sitting next to him, was shaking Tyson so fiercely people began to stare.

Tyson, who was dreaming of something that had to do with pizza, grunted and awoke with a start, glaring at Max.

"Ugh, okay, okay, I'm awake! This had better be good…" he said, and looked out his window. Once he did, he didn't regret it. For there it was: China!

"Cool! Hey Rei, when are we gonna land?" asked Tyson, no sleep left in him. He gave Rei, who was sitting in the seat in front of him, a light thwack on the head.

Rei, ignoring the slight sting from the contact, said, "In about five minutes, if you can last that long without dying of impatience." Of course, he can get back at Tyson later. Right now he was too busy anxiously awaiting the moment when he could see his old friends again…

Wait. It isn't normal to not hear Tyson retaliate. Rei turned his head around to look at him. Tyson was staring out his window again, but his eyes looked…well, unfocused.

'Is he looking down at China, or is he thinking of something else…?' Rei

wondered.

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As Tyson looked at the clouds passing by him, he felt a longing for something, something that made him feel incomplete (A/N: not in a sexual way, mind. My story will not have that!) He sighed. 'Thinking of Hilary again, are we?' said a voice inside him. Well, he thought, it's not my fault. I just can't help it if I…miss her…

Flashback

"Tyson, lil' dude, get up! You're friends are here!"

"Ughh…Grandpa, what time is it?"

"6:00 am, you lazy boy, time to be up n' on your way to China!"

"WHAT?" Tyson yelled, as he threw his bed covers off him, and ran into the bathroom, all the while freaking, "I'm late! I'm late!" Sounds like Hilary, if you really take it in.

Ten minutes later, Tyson met up with the others, who were sitting outside in front of the dojo.

"You're not late, Tyson, so calm down," said Kenny, amused at Tyson's Hilary-ish behaviour. "We still have half an hour until we go to the airport."

"So then why'd you make me get up so early? I could've eaten a better breakfast," Tyson complained, taking a bite from his half-eaten waffle. "What are we gonna do for half an hour anyway?"

"Well, Kai had the idea of saying our last minute goodbyes to Hilary," said Max.

Tyson's reaction to this was, well…odd: he looked at Max, then dumped his waffle in the dirt, muttering something about no longer being hungry. He rounded on Kai.

"Kai, huh? I never knew you felt that way ol' buddy," said Tyson, though his tone was colder than his words.

Kai, however, simply glared at him and said, "Don't be ridiculous. I only compete with you at beyblading, not girls. I don't have time for pointless puppy love." He then smirked, clearly satisfied that he both shut Tyson up and made him blush. He turned and walked out of the dojo.

"Guess we better follow him," said Rei, looking rather amused.

As the guys approached Hilary's house, they saw her sitting on her front porch, looking very gloomy. When she saw them, she smiled and waved, but her eyes didn't give their usual happy glow.

One by one, each Bladebreaker went up and gave Hilary a hug, along with a "see you soon," or "wish you could come," with the exception of Kai, who merely shook her hand, his face expressionless. Last to go was Tyson.

Right at that moment, he couldn't feel his legs. It had hit him: how would he feel to not see Hilary for a full two weeks?

Then Kenny gave Tyson a look that urged him to go on. And so, Tyson walked up the steps and was standing in front of Hilary. He let out his hand, which she took, looking slightly crestfallen. Then, without warning, he pulled her into a great bear hug.

Hilary was taken aback by this sudden movement, but then smiled into his shoulder and said, "I'm gonna miss you Tyson."

"I'm gonna miss you too Hil," he said, burying his face in her soft, brown hair, savouring the moment.

End Flashback

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Tyson's thoughts about the morning of the previous day were erased from his mind by a loud screeching noise and the airplane shaking furiously. Beside him, Max had his hands over his ears. "I c-can't hear-r a th-thing!" he said.

Kenny, who was sitting behind them, was squashed by the overweight man sitting beside him. Apparently, the man was still asleep, and, due to the plane's shaking, he had been pushed to his left (which was where poor Kenny was seated) and hadn't moved since. Rei was holding on to his seat, desperate not to fall. Kai, who was grumpy because the noise had interrupted his nap, did the same.

Finally, just when Max was turning the slightest shade of green, the plane came to a stuttering halt.

"Uugghh…I think I'm gonna be sick."

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The airport in China (A/N: sorry, I dunno any names of airports in China) was huge. Here and there were gift shops filled with souvenirs, and waiting areas with tempting armchairs. Food courts filled with people were nearby, which Rei believed had just made Tyson hungry. His hunch was true, when Tyson asked if they could 'grab a snack'.

"Ughh, Tyson, please don't mention food right now," said Max in a pleading voice. He was being supported by Tyson and Kenny, his face still green. Although he didn't throw up like he said he would, he still looked nauseous enough to let it out any minute. Kenny and Tyson, noticing this, took caution and were ready to run if Max showed any signs of throwing.

"He should sit down," said Kai. He had taken up the rear ever since they had gotten off the plane, as if too embarrassed to be seen with them.

"Kai's right," said Rei, leading the others to a waiting area. He was always one to suck up to Kai. But even after sitting for a while, Max just kept getting greener. Now, not even the wise Kai could think of what to do. Until…

"Rei, do you have any coins on you?" asked Kenny.

Rei was bewildered. "Chief, this isn't the time for food! We have to get Max to--"

Kenny cut through his sentence. "That's why I need the coins, Rei! Don't forget," he added in an undertone, so Tyson wouldn't overhear, "you're talking to Kenny, not Tyson."

Rei chuckled, then handed him the money. Kenny walked over to the nearest phone booth, the one where you could call long-distance calls.

"What're you planning to do?" asked Tyson.

"Call Hilary," said Kenny, dialing her number. It ringed for a few seconds, and then someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Hilary."

"Kenny! Oh, it's so good to hear from you! How are you? And the others? Did you land safely?"

"Yes, yes, we landed fine and the others are doing well—oh, that is, except…"

"Except what? Kenny, what is it?"

"See, Max is a little sick from the landing. He's all green. I thought maybe you might know what to do?"

"WHAT! (At this point, Kenny had to put space between his ear and the receiver) Maxy is sick? Oh no, I knew I should've come, I had a feeling something might happen, but I--"

"Its okay, Hilary, calm down! It's nothing serious; we just don't know what to do."

(Pause, and then…)

"Let him throw up."

"I—what?"

"That's right, let him throw up. Then give him some water and something to eat."

"Are you sure?"

"Kenny, who's the expert here?"

"You…"

"Exactly. Now do as I say. He'll be feeling better in no time."

"Ok. Thanks Hilary."

"Anything else? Are the others ok?"

"Yeah, don't worry, the others are doing fine."

"Um…and Tyson?"

"Tyson's alright, too."

"Oh. Well, say hi to the guys for me, ok?"

"Sure thing."

"Ok, well, see you soon…bye."

"Bye. And thanks again."

"No problem."

"Bye."

"Bye."

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"What'd she say?" asked Rei.

"She said to let him throw, give him water, then feed him food," said Kenny. "And she also says hi to everyone."

"Anything else?" asked Tyson, looking hopeful.

"No…" said Kenny, hesitating. He decided not to mention Hilary asking about Tyson. She probably didn't want him to know, and it wasn't really much anyway. After this, Tyson bravely took the Beastboy version of Max (A/N: you know, Beastboy from Teen Titans, hehe) to the washroom to let him throw up. When they came back, they all sat down for a snack at one of the food courts, giving Max the water and nourishment Hilary had recommended for him.

"I'm gonna buy Hilary a gift for this," he said, his face no longer green.

"Where is she?" said Rei, looking at his watch.

"Uh, she's in Tokyo, remember?" said Tyson, looking at him with a face that said, 'duh'.

"No, idiot, I meant Mariah," said Rei. He had stood up and was now pacing anxiously. "She's supposed to come get us, but she's late."

As if on cue, they heard a bubbly feminine voice calling out to them. Rei spun around, just in time to see a dash of pink running towards him, arms outstretched.

"Rei!" squealed Mariah, flinging her arms around his neck. "It's been too long!"

"I missed you too Mariah," said Rei, grinning down at her and planting a kiss on her lips. Behind him, he heard snickering, then three loud 'thump's and Kai's voice saying, "grow up." After a few seconds he and Mariah let go, and Mariah turned to greet the rest of them.

"It's so great to see you all!" she said, ignoring the huge bumps now protruding from Tyson's, Max's, and Kenny's heads. But then she noticed that someone was missing. "Wait…where's Hilary?"

Tyson knew he was the one to answer, seeing as everyone was looking at him. "She couldn't make it. Her parents wouldn't let her come."

Mariah looked crestfallen. "Oh," was all she could say. Silence followed. And then…

"Mariah!" called another voice. Startled, the team looked around to find someone running up to them, face flushed.

"Ohh…phew…Mariah, you ran off so fast I couldn't catch up…," said the girl. She was about the same age as them, tall, with shoulder-length maroon hair and catlike eyes similar to Rei's and Mariah's, but they were bright green. She was wearing a black t-shirt under an army coloured vest, and army shorts.

All was quiet for a few seconds, until Rei asked, "uhh…who…?" he looked at Mariah inquiringly.

"Oh, right. Guys, this is Mako Tatsuya. She and her sisters are our new neighbours. Mako, these are my friends, the Bladebreakers: Rei, Max, Kenny, Kai, and Tyson," said Mariah, pointing at each person as she went.

"Of course," said Mako, taking in their appearances. "I've heard all about you guys! The World Champion Team, oh, I can't believe it!" Then her eyes rested on Tyson for a while longer than on the others. Noticing this, Tyson looked away, feeling uncomfortable. The look in Mako's eyes looked…hungry.

Mariah broke the silence. "Okay, so, now that we all know each other, let's get going!" and she led them out of the airport. The entire way, Mako kept stealing glances at Tyson with that hungry look in her eyes. For Tyson, it was downright freaky.

Who is she?

Where did she come from?

What does she want with him?

Well, whoever she was, Tyson decided he would keep a good distance away from her.

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Ok, that's it for this chapter! I was debating whether or not I should leave it here or keep going, but since its been long updating, I decided I'd leave it here. Next chapter, you'll learn more about Mako and her sisters.

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