Chapter 45------True Colours

'Flight AM907 from Tokyo to New York has just landed. All passengers please proceed to belt 16 to collect your baggage.'

'Belt 16…Where's belt 16?' Mai walked along side Max, pulling the trolley bag behind her. He offered her a box of jelly beans, "Got any grape-flavoured ones?" She wasn't going to take her chances with any other flavour; an orange-flavoured one had left a bad taste in her mouth once, including a bad first impression. From then on, it was either grape-flavoured or none at all.

Max picked out a purple bean and Mai popped it into her mouth, "Thanks."

The group waited at the belt, scanning the flow of bags. "I see mine, yours is coming too, Kenny." Rei informed.

This time Mai was flying solo. Hilary couldn't come with them because of school so she was left with the guys, and being the only girl in the group kind of sucked sometimes…

Like during the 12 hour plane ride…

-Flashback…-

"Oh man that was so cool! Did you see the way he kicked the ball into the net? I tell you know one can beat David Beckham." Max turned to Rei and then to Mai, looking for an approval.

Mai smiled wryly, "Uh…yeah." She hated soccer, couldn't understand the point of the game…24 men (blu: is it 24 men? Pardon me if I'm wrong, I'm not a soccer fanatic, the most I watch is the world cup :p) on the field chasing after one ball like chickens, what idiots…

"C'mon, England's gonna lose. Germany's defence is too strong." Rei argued as the both of them watched the plasma screen fixed to the back of the chair in front of them.

"Hey, David Beckham is like THE best in the world! He—"

It was here that Mai decided she couldn't take it anymore. What was with guys and soccer? She crammed the pillow over her head and tried to sleep. She checked her watch, '5 more hours? Ugh…'

-End of flashback-

Mai pulled her luggage off the conveyer belt and dumped it on the trolley. The last baggage was loaded onto the trolley and the group headed out of the arrival hall.

"Max! Over here, honey!"

"MOM!"

A tall blonde woman gave her son a tight squeeze across the shoulder, "You've grown so tall! I can barely ruffle your hair." She looked up, smiling at her son's face.

"Mom…" Mai whined. The others wore a smug look, 'Mommy's boy,' they all thought.

But on the contrary, Max hardly saw him mom so he was no 'mommy's boy'. Plus, their relationship had only started improving after the American tournament 3 years ago. At that time, Max's mother was on the side of their opponent, the All Starz, so Max didn't like the idea that his mother was working on new beyblade technology to defeat the Bladebreakers. (blu: all of this was in season 1 of beyblade so it's a recap for you guys) Thankfully, with time, they managed to patch up their relationship.

The group started walking, "Where's Dad?"

"He's at home, he's working on a project right now but he'll join us for dinner later." Mrs Tate sighed, "It's so good to see you boys again. And you brought a friend along with you." She was looking at Mai who nodded her head slightly.

"Mai's our new team member."

"Well it's nice to meet you," the woman's pearly whites gleamed, "finally a girl to break the rough image, no?"

"Yeah." Mai smiled.

"Anyway, the taxis are waiting at the drop-off point; you'll all be staying at the institute."

"Institute?"

"My mom works at the Hindenburg Institute of Beyblade Research and Technology." Max informed Tyson who let out an "Ohh."

They reached the drop off point, "Max can ride in the car with me so there's room for one more, any takers?" Mrs Tate offered.

The rest exchanged glances, who was gonna take up the offer? "I'll join you," Tyson finally said.

"So we'll see the rest of you at the Institute then." She gave them a casual wave as she prepared to turn around.

Mai, Kenny, Rei and Kai thanked her and got into the taxis…

-Fast forward-

The two taxis passed the gate of the Hindenburg Institute and Mai saw a huge building come into view. 'Are wa Hindenburg Institute ka? (Is that the Hindenburg Institute?)' In front of the drop-off point stood a magnificent installation art piece formed from pieces of metal and wire to resemble an eagle perched on a branch. The building itself was very modern with your usual glass panels and huge grey pillars; she could see a shiny lobby area too as the taxis careened into the drop-off point. Mrs Tate, Tyson and Max were already waiting for them.

"Oh never mind the bags, I'll get someone to send them up to your dorms. Carl, could you move these bags up to dorms 16 and 17 please? Thank you."

"Miss?"

"Uh…okay?" Mai reluctantly let go of her baggage, she wasn't used to such hospitality.

"Kore wa ii ka? Datte… (Is this ok? Because…)" She spoke in Japanese to Kenny so that they wouldn't understand.

The boy chuckled, "It's fine. When you travel around more often, you'll get used to it." He quickly turned to Mrs Tate, "Sorry for the trouble," and bowed slightly. Mai saw this and quickly followed suit, Rei, Kai and Tyson as well.

"Haha. It's fine, really. And please, call me Judy. Mrs Tate sounds a bit too formal."

"O se wari nari masu. (Thank you for taking care of us)"

"O se wari nari masu."

Once again the group bowed.

"Hmm, looks like we still have some time before lunch. Would you like a tour of the building? I can show you the places where you boys can train for the upcoming tournament or would you much rather prefer to retire to your dorms first?"

-Fast forward-

"We run a top notch facility over here. The kids come from all over the country to train but we choose only the best ones to handle the new technology." Judy explained as the group passed a training room while travelling down the travelator. (you know those long flat escalators they have at airports? Yeah, those are called travelators, well in my country at least)

"Feel free to use the beyblading facilities here. I'm sure you'll find some quite interesting."

"I heard you invented a new beyblade model, one with a greater centre of gravity? (Ahaha, I owe this info to my friends who take physics! Kudos to them XD!)" Tyson questioned.

"Why yes. The GX275 can achieve maximum stability considering its narrow tip so it can stay balanced for a longer period of time."

"Cool!" The bluenette exclaimed. "Will we get to see it?" The group passed a research lab and Judy pointed out that they were now working on a beyblade which could use magnetism to repel the opponent's blade; all in all, it was a way to improve the blade's defence.

"Cheh, bakari da. (It's so stupid.) Using new technology to have an advantage over your opponent? Beyblading is about the soul of the blader and the beyblade working together, not some machine which does all the work… Is this the future of beyblading?"

"Even so, can you stop mankind from fulfilling their greed and achieving the impossible?"

'!' Mai didn't expect Judy to hear her. 'Mankind from fulfilling their greed and achieving the impossible…Grandfather…' "But, what about talent? What about passion? What about bit-beasts? A beyblade is not a machine; it has a soul of its own."

"Yamenasai, Mai. (Stop it)" Kai spoke sternly.

"As man advances further into the future, naturally he would want to achieve greater things; that is inevitable. We may not like it, but it can't be helped. Here, we do it for the industry." Judy answered, her eyes expressing sympathy for the girl.

Mai gritted her teeth, "So it's money then? And with money comes power. Is that all you people care about?" her voice was rising. 'You're just like him…So many of you are like him!'

"Mai!" Kai grabbed hold of her arm.

"It's all right." Kai let go of the girl's arm. "I know. Max and Tyson told me about your story."

Mai shot a look at the two boys who avoided her gaze.

"But still, it's not right to take your emotions out on other people." Judy stood next to her and faced the girl.

Mai couldn't look at her. What kind of first impression was this? She didn't show any respect and she knew she deserved to feel guilty but still! "I know that…but I can't stand the fact that so many people are like him. Because of our greed, because we want power, we end up destroying our own future and destroying other peoples' lives. Is that the kind of world we want to live in? Ede—" But Mai stopped herself, she couldn't say anymore.

"Sorry for my rudeness." Mai bowed. "Please excuse me…" With that she turned around and left the group.

"Oi! Doko ikun? (Hey, where do you think you're going?)" Tyson called after her but she just kept walking.

'I'll find my way around…' she thought.

"I'll take her back to the dorm. You guys go on, bring back lunch for us okay?" Max ran after her. With a bit of hesitation, Kai decided to follow.

-Fast forward-

The door closed behind them and immediately…

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO? She's been very nice to us and this is how you show your gratitude?" Kai scolded Mai who sat on the bed.

She felt like taking the blanket and pulling it over her, anything to hide her from this. She didn't like to be scolded, not when there was nothing to protect her, not when she was exposed. But it was not like she could cradle up in a corner of the room now, all she could do was listen in silence…

"And don't you dare start crying! First you take your anger out on people, then you start crying so people sympathise with you. Quit it with the childish behaviour and grow up!"

'Sou…I cry too much…I'm stubborn…selfish…childish…' Mai recited all that Kai accused her of being in her head. She accepted them, it was true; but she was hardly making any effort to change… 'How many times did I say I want to change? Dekimas—en yo (I can—not do it).'

Kai let out a heavy sigh, "You're really troublesome, you know that? If you want to let your emotions destroy you then do it yourself, don't bring others down along with you."

"Na naze koko ni? (Then why are you here?) If you're scared of going down with me then why did you follow me here? Why are you talking to me? Why do you even care?" She looked up to meet his red eyes.

"Mai…" Max uttered, but he was in no position to take either side. Whenever Kai was around, he took control. All Max could do was to act the role of a bystander.

"As Captain I have to look out for my team mates!" The Russian argued.

Dranzer: You know that's not the only reason

'Shut up!'

Mai said nothing. A smile crept over her lips and she got up and walked towards Kai. She stretched out a hand, gaining a shocked expression from both boys. "Thank you for doing a good job then."

"Baka." Kai turned away.

"Once I find Riya and the others, I'll return to them. That way you won't have to destroy yourself over caring about me."

'What!' Kai turned around. Was she joking?

"You're really gonna do that?" Max asked.

Mai nodded her head.

'Usou! (You're lying!)' Max couldn't believe it. She couldn't do this! "But what about the team?" Max reasoned.

"I don't really contribute much. It'll be better this way. I've caused you guys enough trouble; it'll make life easier for you too, no more worrying, no more fighting or running away, no more risking you lives for me, no more— '!'" She felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.

"Shut up…"

"K-Kai? Nani yo suru? (What're you doing?)" Mai's face was turning a shade of pink.

"Kai?" Max stood there dumbfounded.

"You asked me why I cared so much… It's because you're so weak you make me want to protect you…That's why I keep telling you to be strong, because I don't like what you're doing to me."

The two stayed in that position, neither knew how to respond…

"Kai…" Mai's heart was racing. How did things turn out this way? What was Kai trying to say? And why couldn't she get herself out of his embrace?

Finally Mai pulled away and looked at him, "Is that really how you feel?"

'Did she have to push it this far?' Kai looked to the side. Unfortunately, his slate bangs weren't long enough to hide his blush.

Mai kept quiet, and then let out a laugh, "Sasuga ne (Brilliant). It's the first time you've shared your true thoughts on something with someone." (blu: sigh, can Mai be anymore anti-climax…)

If Max could faint anime-style, he would've done just that. "Bikkurishitta ne (Isn't this surprising) I never suspected our dear Kai," he wore a big grin on his face as he walked towards the two. "C'mon, finish the show. Kiss her."

The two blushed simultaneously, exchanged glances and then looked away.

"What're you talking about? There was never a show." Mai pretended to be ignorant. "And he said that he didn't like it that I was bringing him down, not that he like me or anything…" She quickly added.

"Yeah." Kai defended.

The blond chuckled, "Whatever you say. I wonder what the guys will say about this…" he was still wearing that cheeky grin on his face as he proceeded to head out the door.

'No…he's not!' Mai ran after Max and true enough he was running down the hallway to wherever the rest were. "MAX!"

"C'mon." Kai grabbed hold of her arm and the both of them ran after the sugar-high teen…

Haha, all of you must be going : "Finally! Finally they're together!" Hmm, i've not made this story so easy to predict for you readers ;p Anyway, enjoy the moment for now :))