Jealous?
When a copy of People magazine burst through the dojo doors, held aloft in the triumphant-by-proxy hands of Hilary, that declared in none-too-understated terms that Rei, opposite Mariah, was the sexiest beyblader alive… it was an event.
A party was thrown.
The highly emotive article, page 5, was read aloud and the photos shared. Photos of Rei shirtless; Rei turning with a surprised smile; Rei half-poneytailed with eerily glimmering eyes—paparazzi photos, the contexts thereof at least one of the bladers at the party could identify: last month's beach-Rei, the latest expo's greeting-Rei, last weekend's threatening to rub Tyson's nose in the mess he'd made of their hotel room-Rei…
There was an auction for clippings. The cover (from a White Tiger X photo-shoot: Rei and Mariah, embracing, giving the camera "come hither" looks to rival Julia and Raul's) found a frame and went to the beyblader that could most convincingly deliver a pickup line to Rei… Bonus prizes to any that made him blush.
Everyone loved it. Except Kai, who eventually got to see the article, scanning it vaguely, feeling oddly annoyed and entitled, zeroing in on his name, at the bottom… "Kai Hiwatari"… in a list of Honorable Mentions.
A/N: ...I couldn't help myself. ... ... -grin-
And as for Mariah, well... baby's got back.