Beyblades Bites

Tensions Mount

"Kenny, I'm really worried about Max. He doesn't seem to be getting better, you can tell he's trying but he just doesn't have any fight left in him." Hilary finally turned her face towards Kenny who had stopped typing away on his laptop, for a moment he felt the same concern she did until Max came over and their faces was replaced with a different fake expression.

"Hey Kenny, Hilary do you think I'm getting any better? Is there anything I can improve on?" he crossed his arms with the same smugness that Tyson usually had.

"Actually Max, I'd like you to sit out again today. I know it's our last day of training but I can tell your weak, it's radiating off your beyblade. Why don't you run and get us some drinks and then we'll talk?" a sigh was the only response Max could conger up, and within moments he was up and walking to the closest shop. He pulled out his mobile and began to text.

Just heading shop. Would be a good idea to meet me now.

5 minute chat? Max

It didn't take long for a response and thankfully she'd agreed, as the sun was burning down on the pavement and the trees were lightly swaying in the almost none existent breeze Max began to feel a little like himself again.

"Didn't take you long to get here, did it?" Serena pulled herself from the door way to embrace Max in a short but polite hug, Max instantly breathed in her fragrant scent.

"Yeah, we're down on the beach again today. Coming in? I have to grab some drinks." As she followed swiftly behind tensions were gone and Max was finally at ease with himself.

"So what made you want to meet early? We weren't due for a catch up for another 2 days, are you okay?" he nodded briskly but his nod didn't fool her, her hand lightly grasped his shoulder which caused him to stop, as she swivelled him causing him to face her she smiled.

"You know you can talk to me, don't you? I'm here for you Maxi!" she ruffled his hair and began to walk very slowly around the store with him. His eyes gleamed ever so slightly as he began to remember the times they'd come to the store just to browse and never to buy.

"Thanks Serena, I'm just being silly really but I think I'm losing my game. I can't attack or even blade at all for that matter. I'm worried Kenny may consider taking me off the team for the tournament." Before he'd even finished Serena was shaking her head, while her curls fluttered around her face with the sudden movement.

"You're a good player Max; you have skills that will help against the opponents you'll be going against. They wouldn't risk losing by taking you out, just wait until tomorrow and you'll be back on your way to perfection." His puppy dog face was back; his big blue eyes told Serena everything she had to know. He was weak and needed comfort more than anything, it's just a shame that the people that should be supporting him weren't.

"What do you think I should get them? Water maybe juice." With a twist of Max's shoulders Serena lead him to the drink section of the store.

"You should always get your team water, it's better for them. Plus it keeps your skin looking great." Her vivid smile was back on her face and within minutes they'd paid for their goods and left. It was always this part that caused tensions to rise.

"Serena, when am I next going to see you? It's not the same not having you with us anymore. Isn't there any way you can talk Tyson into letting you back into the team?" her strong but quick nod was a definite no.

"I'm sorry Max, but I have my own team now and I have to consider their feelings now, and the fact that they'd be lost without me is an understatement." There was her beautiful smile again, as she pulled Max into one last hug and kissed him lightly on the cheek he waved goodbye one last time. They only thing that Max didn't know was just how soon he'd be seeing Serena again.

"Tyson, why aren't you focusing? We only have today to perfect our game and then the tournament starts tomorrow." The demanding in Hilary's shrill voice was beginning to grind everyone's nerves down; they couldn't take any more, except from one member.

"Oh, Kai where are you going?" Hilary's eyes flittered over to him and began to watch curiously as he stopped his walk. As he turned to face her in an instant she blushed, her cheeks were almost crimson within moments.

"Just grabbing my other launcher, it's got more strength." As he turned to walk off his usual expression smothering his face Hilary jumped to her feet and began chasing after him, she resembled a teenage girl lusting after an older boy that she couldn't have, the only difference was she had this boy.

"You're so sneaky, how do you think of these little ways of giving us some private time?" her hand was already running lightly across Kai's arms, and before he gave himself a chance to answer he embraced Hilary as he wrapped his arms around her petite figure she gasped lightly at the sudden physical contact. His lips swiftly landed on her and she'd already jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. It wasn't until Tyson ran up the stairs to catch up with Kai that he saw what was happening, he stopped quickly and turned right around and walked back to the beach but instead of walking to the last members of the team he kept walking.

"Tyson, where are you going?" Kenny jumped to his feet and watched as Tyson stormed off and just as Kenny was about to walk after him, Tyson changed into a sprint and kept running until he couldn't stop.

Ray and Max looked between each other and shrugged there wasn't anything they could do to change how Tyson felt, the only thing they could do was carry on training and try to gain some skill before tomorrow, they would be leaving around 7pm this evening to head to the tournament.

"Okay guys, maybe we should call it a day," Kenny closed his laptop and slowly began walking back to Tyson's along with Ray and Max, just as they climbed to the top of the stairs they lead from the beach Kai and Hilary walked along with a smile on her face and a contempt expression on his. She was talking about something unimportant and then finally stopped when she saw who was there.

"Guys, where's Tyson to?" Kenny shook his head lightly, but Ray was the one to talk up. Taking a step forward in front of him, his face told everything.

"We don't know, he's run off, he was meant to go ask Kai if he could train him on something but he got to the top of the stairs and just stopped, next thing you know he's sprinting down the beach before any of us even had a chance to ask him what was up." As he finished they continued walking leaving the conversation dead, Hilary glanced at Kai with a hint of concern lingering in her eyes. There wasn't anything they could do if he had seen them but with a nod from Kai they decided to stop. There was no need to risk tensions between the team so early before the tournament.

As everyone took the short but deadly quiet walk back to Tyson's you couldn't help but feel the urge to blurt out what everyone was thinking, why had Tyson run off like he did? How would Hilary be able to explain everything to Tyson without him throwing a fit? Until Max stood up quietly and leaned against the wall, his stance reassembled the same stance that Kai usually took.

"Guys, I think we have a problem. Look at us, we're meant to be a team and we can't even talk to each other. I can barely fight at the moment; Tyson's run away, Kenny can't seem to focus on our blades and my minds with someone else at the moment. We shouldn't be coping so badly, this hasn't happened before. We should be able to train together like we always did, but we're all constantly trying to get away, what's wrong with us?" his sigh was the last sound he made before sliding down the wall, his weakness gaining control of him once more.

"Max is right; we shouldn't be struggling so badly. Maybe we shouldn't practise for the rest of the day; maybe we just need a break." Ray spoke proudly regaining some composure and speaking for the team, Kai nodded happy enough with the decision while Kenny kept his head down. There wasn't anything he could say that would make things better.

"Max? When you said your mind was with someone else, who was you on about?" he gazed up only slightly and finally spoke.

"It's Serena, she's been helping me for a little while now." Her head tilted slightly unsure of what he meant the only part that Hilary hated was the fact he'd said her name. Kai flicked his eyes towards Max but brought them down just as quickly, he couldn't understand why Max would have any reason to see Serena, but either way he'd have to make a quick visit by her place and see what was going on. Hilary turned to face Kai and smiled, he never smiled back, but he did stand up and walk out of the door. Ray followed swiftly after, grasping his arm to stop him from walking any further.

"Kai, what is it about Serena that makes you run after her when anyone else is near her?" his voice but with a slight edge, Kai turned to face him with eyes as sharp as needles.

"I don't know, I tell her to leave me alone then all I can think about is running back to her. She drives me insane." As he spoke through clenched teeth he turned his back to Ray and continued to walk, his mind was set on one task and that was getting to Serena as quickly as possible.

It was what happened when he got to her, he'd be in for a surprise.