Hey everyone, welcome back! I have to warn you I made most of this chapter up so it might not be as good as the other chapters where I follow canon. But here it goes, oh and I still don't own Beyblade, if I did there'd be more kick-but girl bladers.

Slowly I woke up. Mornings are not fun for me. I've always been more of a night owl, you know, staying up late and wakening up later. I checked the digital clock by my bed. 9:44. So early. I rubbed my head and glanced toward Modoka's bed in our shared room. It didn't surprise me that just like yesterday it was empty and the sheets were neatly made. Force of habit I assumed.

The curtains were wide open causing bright mid-morning sunshine to pore onto the Oriental rug. I should get up. I need to get up. The responsible thing to do would be to get up. I rolled to my side and pulled the covers over my head.

Five more minutes…

An hour later I tugged a brush through my brown hair and put it up in two short pigtails, then got dressed in my cargo jeans, tank top, sneakers, and hoodie. Grabbed my hat off the bedpost and glanced in the vanity's mirror on my way out.

Most of my team was lounging around the living area of the room. Modaka, looking awake and refreshed, was typing on her laptop. Tsubasa was in a somewhat meditating trance gazing out the window, his half eaten breakfast sitting on the coffee table. Gingka and Yu were chattering excitedly at the kitchen counter, most likely about the world champitionships that started tomorrow.

They all looked so happy, so content, and so awake…

Stupid morning people...

Why can't there be a better way to start the day instead of waking up?

"Morning." I greeted, rubbing sleep out of my eyes.

"Good morning."

"G' morning Kai-Kai!"

"Morning Kaia."

Tsubasa, Yu, and Gingka replied, respectively.

"Good afternoon's more like it," Modoka said, focusing on the screen, "do you know how late it is?"

"It's before noon, isn't it?" I teased, "I'm still getting used to the time change."

This time she looked up, the beginnings of frustration hinting on her face, "It would be past noon back home!"

"Hey Masamune's still sleeping," I noted grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl, "so I'm not the last one up. Go yell at him."

"Actually Masamune's been gone since like eight." Gingka spoke up. The room phone rang and Tsubasa answered.

"He has?" I took a bite, sitting with him and Yu, "should we be concerned?"

"Nah," the redhead shook his head dismissively, "we told him just be back in time for the team meeting. He'll be fine."

"Oh, right… so when's the team meeting?"

"Modoka said," Yu raised his voice a pitch, "'twelve o'clock sharp! And don't be late'." Gingka and I laughed at his adorable, yet awful Modoka impression.

"Kaia," Tsubasa interrupted, "there's a package at the front desk for you."

"Really?" I was on my feet and halfway to the door, my sleepiness a distant memory, "I'll be back by noon," I promised. Then I glanced at Gingka and Yu, making my voice a little higher then it normally was, "sharp."

I was chuckling all the way to the front desk. The package was a brown two by one foot box from my grandfather. I barrowed a pair of scissors to cut through the clear tape and ripped the lid flaps open. The box was filled with my clothes I'd left behind. I quick-walked to the nearest phone booth and dialed a number. After a few rings he picked up,

"Hello?"

"Grandpa?"

"Kaia! How's China?" I could tell he was smiling, and I felt myself relax hearing his familiar voice. "You better have a good excuse for not calling sooner." He teased.

"Oh boy, do I have an excuse for you."

"It better not be along the lines of 'a dog ate the phone'."

I told him all about the qualifying round, my team, the plane ride, sight seeing, Beylin Temple, and Cho Xin, ending with Masamune's absence this morning. And like every time before he listened, giving an occasional laugh, or some good and subtle advice.

This was the man who'd basically raised me since I was like five. The same person who gave me my first bey, Ice Vulpus, and taught me everything I know about beybladeing. The one who'd picked me up and dusted me off after my first real louse, and told me if I didn't quit sulking I might as well give Vulpus back.

My Grandpa…

…My friend…

…My confident…

…My Sensei.

"Sound's like you're having a good time then." He commented, a bit sadly I noted, when I caught him up to the present.

He missed me. "I am. But I still miss you guys," I twirled the phone chord absently, "Thanks for the clothes. I didn't really expect to make it this far."

"I know," Grandpa chuckled, "I said you would, but you being you decided to only pack for the weekend. You've always been so headstrong."

"Hereditary personality trait, I get it from my pigheaded grandpa." I laughed with him and shifted my feet, wishing I could jump through the phone line, "but enough about me, how're things over there?"

"Oh, same old. You've been gone less then a week you know?"

"It feels like forever! How are the guys?"

"Been by every day waiting for you to call." His voice sounded amused, "in fact this is one of the rare times they're not over here staring at the phone," He took a sip of something.

"You're making me feel guilty! Tell the guys I'll call them back tomorrow, after we get back." I glanced at the wall clock, 11:58, "Uh oh, I almost forgot. I have a team meeting in like two minutes!"

"Always late," he teased, "I'll let you go then. I'm so proud of you. Kick some blade."

"I'm just the second sub. But…" I felt light with joy, he never gave out praise unless he truly meant it, "thanks Grandpa. I love you."

"Love you too Snips. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I hung up and went back to the room, feeling more then a little home sick.

"We have to pay attention to the wings on Thermal Laserta's spin track because they increase its attack power." Battling scenes played on the big TV screen of what Modoka had managed get of Wang Hu Zhong.

"So it you drop your guard even for a moment, the great lizard will attack without mercy." Tsubasa crossed his arms, studying the clips. He'd be battling Chi Yun tomorrow.

"Yes," Modaka nodded, "and Rock Zurfa's strength comes from being able to absorb almost any attack."

"If the opponent stays in a defensive position, winning will be really hard," Gingka commented on his opponent, "How can we break through their defenses, I wonder?"

"The last one isn't that strong," our bey mechanic continued, "it's a Virgo."

"But it isn't just an ordinary Virgo," Yu spoke up, "with an Eartnel Sharp performance tip, and an Eartnal Defense spin track, it appers to've been highly customized."

"The guy himself isn't that average either," I added, "he may have a too-cool-to-care attitude, but, and I hate to admit it, he has talent. And he uses that 'go with the flow' style so a direct attack might not be the most affective."

Tsubasa nodded, "Coupled with Tei Chi, Chou Xin's skill is also quite impressive. Any head on attack will be wourded off and won't do any damage. Whoever battles him must be vary careful."

Gingka winced slightly, "That's the type Masamune has the most difficultly with."

"Yet he isn't even here at the meeting," Yu scoffed, "where is he, and what is he doing I wonder."

"He's probably just blowing off some steam," I reasoned, "after the sucker punch to his ego yesterday, he'll be taking his frustration out an some poor inanimate object. He'll come back when he gets hungry."

"He should tell us where he's going," Yu pouted. It was quite for a few seconds, no sound except the battle clips on the TV, "I'm board."

"Hey Yu?" the attention shifted to me, "since we're just lowly subs, and since these two have to rest up for tomorrow, do you want to battle with me?"

The kid's face lit up almost as fast as Gingka's crashed to the floor. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my chair and towered the door. Gingka and Tsubasa were on our heels, as Modaka called after us,

"Hey wait! This meeting isn't over!"

I backtracked, poking my head in the door, "Oh, just come on!"

They stood on the edge of a private stadium in the back of the hotel grounds. Eyes bright and spirits blazing.

"3..

…2…

…1…

…let it rip!"

The beys hit the ground hard and circled the stadium, getting a feel for it. Libra and Vulpus were basically chasing each other's tails.

"Oh yah," Yu rubbed his head sheepishly, "we're both Stamina types."

"I guess one of us is going to have to make a move. Let's go, Vulpuls!"

Modoka watched the two bladers. As both are Stamina types she wasn't sure who would make the first move. Out of nowhere Vulpus charged and the beys clashed. Sparks flew and Vulpus was knocked back, almost too easily.

Modoka opened her laptop and started to gather data on Ice Vulpus. Said bey was delivering a fast paced barrage attack, each hit slightly stronger then the last. Libra took it easily, and pushed back hard.

"Aw," Yu grumbled, "I thought you'd be stronger then this."

Kaia said nothing, but a huge grin played at her mouth. Meanwhile her bey had abandoned a head on assault and was now dancing gracefully just outside of Libra's reach.

"Interesting…"

Gingka peaked over Modoka's shoulder, "what is?"

"Well, didn't you see those attacks? They were so weak compared to Yu. Ya follow? How in the world did Kaia get into this far with so little power?"

"Libra, Sonic Wave!"

"Not bad kid," Kaia stated casually, as her bey effortlessly dodged the green projectiles, "but all that power won't do you a bit of good if I'm untouchable."

Modoka zoomed in on where the ice bey made contacted with the ground, "the Semi-rubber sharp ball performance tip gives the bey that great speed and agility. But at the same time takes away it's potential for high levels of attack and defense. Ya follow'n?"

"She knows exactly what she's doing too," Tsubasa said, studying the brown-eyed blader, "look at her."

They did. Her eyes, which shone with excitement and intelligence, were darting around, from one bey to the other, then up to Yu and back to the battle. Her fingers twitched at the end of an otherwise limp arm, as if working an invisible keyboard. Kaia was going through the bey database in her head, mentally dissecting Libra's parts, analyzing, and calculating all at once.

Yu, by this time, realized Vulpus could spin circles around his Libra.

"If you won't slow down, I'll just have to make you!" The green eyed blader smiled triumphantly, "Libra; Sonic Buster!"

A brilliant green light flashed, as the sand trap started to engulf the stadium. His opponent gave a low whistle, "so that's your famous Sonic Buster." She chewed her bottom lip unsurely.

"Pretty cool huh? Try and out run this! I dare you!"

She nodded, accepting the challenge. Vulpus turned sharply and charged out on the sand trying different movement patterns before setting on zigzagging over the turf.

With the Sonic Buster ineffective, and a promise to Modaka not to use anymore…property damaging special moves, Libra went on the all out offence. It chased Vulpus down and started attacking in a bey's blind spot, from behind.

"Finely!" Kaia raised her hand to the sky, "Vulpus; special move! Icy Slipstream!" The light blue and gray bey glowed an icy blue, and started to race around the edge of the stadium. The blue glow left a trail, pulling Libra along for the ride.

"Libra!" his owner called, "what's happening?" The bey rammed the blue sides that held it prisoner to no avail.

Modoka gasped, "I get it! That fusion wheel is one solid disk filed off in a sharp edge that cuts through the air like a knife, are you following me? And the spin track is partly hollow, so it can take in the moisture right from the air and spit it back out to reinforce the slipstream, making that move sorta like being trapped in an ice box."

"Resisting is futile, your fate is sealed! Better figure out what you're going to do fast," Kaia cackled with a huge grin on her face, "cause you only have about five more seconds!"

"Five more seconds till what?" the Libra blader watched as the Ice Vulpus spun so fast that it's slipstream was now a continuous ring all the way around the dishes wall.

"Time's up!" Vulpus suddenly cut through the center, whiplashing Libra into a stadium out.

After he retrieved his bey, Yu trudged crestfallenly towered the rest of his team.

With his eyes fixed on his shoes he said to Kaia, "I guess this means you're the first sub now."

The strategist's face was one pure glee. And then as Kaia opened her mouth to except the position, she made the mistake of looking in Yu's eyes…his big green…sad…disappointed…adorable eyes.

"No," Kaia blurted reluctantly, "you've," she swallowed hard, as if it hurt to continue, "earned your spot, who am I to take it from you? And if you'd known what I have up my sleeve, things would have been different."

Yu gave her a big hug, and Kaia patted his head, "Yah, whatever." She mumbled with a resentful expression, "Just, battle me again before I change my mind."

And just like Kaia predicted, the next time Yu knew what to expect and won. Gingka and Tsubasa warmed up with a few practice matches. But it was mostly to keep the red head from wailing about wanting to battle too. They battled all afternoon, just for fun.

Well, eventually we got hungry and went in for dinner. We ordered food and took it up to the room, where we hoped Masamune would be waiting. But the room was empty, just like we'd left it. I checked his room, the kitchenette, and the living room for a note or some sign he'd been back. Nada.

"I can't believe he hasn't come back yet!" Modaka exclaimed after trying his cell phone, "what's happened to you Masamune!"

"We don't know where he went so we don't even begin to know where to look for him." Tsubasa said, always a ray of optimism.

Gingka waved a hand dismissively, "As long as he make's it back in time for the match there's no problem, right?"

"I guess so," Modaka bit her bottom lip uncertainly, "but…"

Gingka continued, "Masamune was totally pumped that he was going to battle Chou Xin again, there's no way he'd miss the match!" the answer seemed to satisfy Modoka as well as Yu and Tsubasa.

"ARE YOU ALL INSANE?" I finely yelled, jumping to me feet and started pacing rapidly, "He could be dead for all we know! Or dying in a ditch of dehydration…or…or kidnapped and being shipped to Antarctica in an improperly ventilated box! Or suffering from amnesia and forced to joining a high wire act under some stupid stage name! Or…or…or…"

I slowly turned around to see my four teammates gaping at me. Their expressions, all wide eyed and opened mouthed, ranged from concerned to confused with maybe a dash of disturbed. For a long while no one said anything. Then…

"Where did that come from?" Modoka asked, feeling my head with the back off her palm.

"Yah," Yu gave a short laugh, "why are you so worried about Masamumu?"

"And you guys aren't?" I crossed my arms defensively, "have you forgotten already what happened yesterday when I was there? I shudder to think of what he's capable of unsupervised!"

Tsubasa gently put his hands of my shoulders forcing me to stand still, "breath…inhale…exhale…good. Masamune will be back in time for his battle tomorrow."

"Masamune will be back in time for his battle tomorrow," I repeated numbly, "Okay, I feel better now."

It didn't last though, long after I was showered and in bed, I tossed and turned for what must have been hours listening for my reckless teammate to come back.

Well? What did you think? In my opinion it's not as good as other stuff out there...but it's one of my first attempts at writing most of the content myself with out copying off the show, and..well...it could be worse though. But enough of my insecurities, there's a few things I'd like to address in this chapter.

(1) I gave Kaia a bit of background. What did you think?

(2) I tried a different POV then I normally use in the middle of the chapter. How did I do?

(3) there was a battle scene between Yu and Kaia. Was it really dumb and unbelievable? Or did I do okay?

Remember I'm just an insecure amateur writer and I...don't really know where I'm going with this. Um, yah.

Hope you liked it,
Penpal678910