Hey sorry yet again for the delay, I've had a pretty hectic week. But who really cares about that, its update time! Just thought I'd take a little time out to thank you for all the support guys. And a special thank you to all those with the Godzilla-size reviews, I mean whoa, any bigger and they'd need their own postcode.

Disclaimer: I only own Beyblade in a make-believe alternate reality where I rule all. In other words, I don't own it.

Dear Mariah

Sorry for the delayed reply, there were postal problems again.

They sent far too many pink envelopes so your letter was camouflaged.

I'm doing pretty well, thanks for asking.

I've survived here for three years; I think that counts as pretty well. Or award worthy.

Things are pretty normal here.

As normal as ever, meaning complete and utter chaos.

The rest of the team are doing well too.

Not including several near-death experiences since I last wrote.

Did you hear about our fund-raising match against the Majestics next week? Will the White Tigers be attending?

In the name of all that is holy please, please, please come! Just give me someone sane to talk to for a little while!

How is everyone back home anyway? What's happening in the village?

Any word of normality is most welcome.

Sorry for the short reply, I'm pretty busy and have a lot of training to do.

I need to go make lunch before Tyson resorts to eating baking soda again.

Give my best regards to the rest of the team and the elders.

Maybe they'll remember me and demand I take a vacation or something.

Missing you guys loads. Write back soon.

P.S. Tell Lee I'm going to kick his ass next time we battle.

I sigh as I put down my pen and read the letter over again. Well it's true enough even if it doesn't quite say what I mean.

"Hey Rei, writing another letter to the White Tigers?" Hilary asks as she bounces in and peers over my shoulder. Thankfully there's nothing written that needs to be hidden from view, even if she could read Chinese. I nod in reply as I make a face and lick the envelope seal. Yuck, I hate doing that, but it's better than sending an empty envelope home.

"What do you need Hil?" Ok, so it's a little rude but really, she doesn't usually come and seek me out for nothing.

"Oh yeah, I need you to do me a favour. You know how we're swimming every second day now because of the BBASUB thing?" I can assure you it's not something I'll forget so easily Hilary. "Well I thought I'd join in on Friday, and I need your help picking out a swimsuit that'll make Tyson drool!"

Well that won't be too hard, Tyson drools over everything. That's why I store napkins in every room. It's just…picking out clothes for girls, swimsuits no less? It seems kinda awkward, plus I'd have to go into girl's clothes stores, meaning inevitable fangirls…let's see if I can convince her to take Maxie instead. "How about Max, you know he's far better with girls than me, and he'll know what Tyson will like way better."

Hilary gives me a look that says it all. No way in hell, it has to be me. Max's fluorescent green and orange ensemble from way back when has left a permanent imprint on many blader's minds. I get the point and nod reluctantly.

"Thanks a bunch Rei! We'll go shopping as soon as practise is finished!"

When she skips out and closes the door I bang my head against the desk I've been using to write on. "Greeeeaaaat."

I lie there for a few more minutes and almost doze off into much needed sleep when… "Rei! Where are you!"

I groan and attempt to get back to sleep, as uncomfy as the desk is I'd rather sleep here than not sleep at all. Evil Tyson, can't he last without lunch for five more minutes? Maybe if I don't answer he won't find me, plus he might build up a slight immunity to hunger. Hmm, so in theory if I keep delaying how often I give him food then after a while he should be able to last days on end. …Ok maybe I should answer, if only so I stop plotting methods of starving my team mates to death.

"In here Tyson, I'll start lunch in a minute!" I call through the dojo and lift my head off the desk with great effort in an attempt to look semi-alive. I need an aspirin…or twelve. These guys will be the death of me I swear. Either that or Master Tao's concoctions made from various insects and general icky stuff. Either way, I'm going to be gone waaay before my time.

Much to my confusion, instead of Tyson running through the dojo yelling 'Lunch!' or 'Second and third lunch!' he quietly enters through the door. Oookay, something is up here, my neko senses are tingling.

"I said I'd make lunch in a minute Tyson. You didn't have to come and get me."

"Oh…is it lunch time already? Actually I just needed to ask you about something."

I fall of my chair in a very ungraceful manner. This isn't about food? Who are you and where is the real Tyson!? In fact that doesn't matter; you're polite and quiet, so you can keep the old Tyson. With the new Tyson here I might be able to save some money on aspirin.

"Eh…you alright dude?"

Oh yeah, I'm still upside down and entangled in a chair with a very shocked and confused expression on my face. I can see how he'd think I'm insane or something. But better question, is Tyson alright? Losing track of lunch time is like Kenny losing Dizzi. Utterly impossible.

I pick myself up and mentally make note of how many more bruises will be added to my collection. I really need to be more careful. "Yeah I'm fine. What were you saying about…well not about lunch?" Maybe I misheard or something.

"This is important. Lunch can wait."

And there I go again, tripping over the chair and landing on my face this time. Ouch. Now I'm really worried, either my hearing is really in need of checking or Tyson has gone insane…or become sane, not entirely sure which.

I pick myself up again and try to act casual about it. So much for my timely clutziness. "Lunch…can…wait?" Does not compute. Never thought I'd hear those words coming out of Tyson's mouth.

"Yeah, I need your help to break Hil and Max up."

Ah, well that explains a lot. Aww, if he wasn't trying to 'steal' his best friend's 'girlfriend' for himself then the devotion here would bring a tear to the eye. Maybe I should just tell him about Hilary's little plan…wait that wont work, then he'll hate Hilary and then they'll never get together. I'm going to have to play my cards really carefully. Actually I suppose I should be acting surprised right now. "Why on earth would you want to do that! …I mean…they're really…eh…cute together? Why should I help you split them up?"

Ha, I'm a genius. Now he has to admit he likes Hilary else he thinks I won't help him. Damn this would make Mariah proud (she has the odd ability to extract any information she desires and bring the conversation to any topic of her choice, it's scary.)

"Uh…" Aww he's blushing. …Now I'm reminding myself of a fangirl. That's plain scary. "Well you see…um…someone else likes Max…and I'm trying to set them up."

That would have been a good lie, had he not been fidgeting, pausing, and not meeting my eye. Still I'll play along. "Oh…who is it you're trying to set him up with?"

I almost laugh when I see his eyes shifting about the room looking for inspiration. I resist smirking. What? I need to find some way to amuse myself. His eyes land on our group picture that was taken just after the first world championship.

"Eh…Kai?"

I slap my forehead. He could have said Emily, or Mariam, or even made up a girl's name. Hell he could have said Mariah and I'd have more chance of believing him. There are so many flaws with that that I think I've just lost what little respect I had for the boy. "Tyson that's the worst lie I have ever heard. And you'd better hope that Kai never hears about it or you won't survive the night. Just admit you like Hilary."

Wow what a good impression of a fish Tyson does, who knew? "Shhh, don't say it so loud! How did you know!?"

"Cat's are psychic." Ok, lying again, but it's just so fun to know that he'll believe it. He's looking scared already. "Anyway, I reckon that if you just told Hilary that you like her she'd split up from Max. Actually I'm sure of it. In fact I'd tell her right now, before she gets too attached to Maxie. Trust me, I'm psychic."

"What, you mean right now?"

"Yup, right now." It might stop me from having to take Hilary shopping for the swimsuit. As far as I'm concerned the sooner the better!

He tries to protest but I'm already pushing him out the door. What? I don't want to go shopping if I can help it. Tyson is my one and only ticket to safety and avoiding a scarring experience.

"Rei let go of me! I ca…" I cover his mouth with my hand. Sorry Tyson, it's you or me. Except you've got the better deal so be grateful.

"Hey Hil, come here for a minute! Tyson needs to talk to you!" I pat him on the shoulder and mouth good luck before disappearing. Well…trying to disappear. I make it around the corner before my neko side kicks in. I want to know what happens! I hear Hilary's approaching footsteps. I will my feet to move so I can respect their privacy but…

"Hey Tyson, did you want to talk to me about something?"

Hey when did I start peeking around the corner? Oh well, now that I'm here…no harm if I just so happen to overhear right?

"Yeah, well um….you see…" Go on Tyson, you can do it! Get me out of that shopping trip, I'm counting on you man.

"Rei what are you doing?" I whirl round to see Maxie with a soda can in his hand - we have to drink insanely large amounts of the stuff every day so we have enough targets for training - walking over and looking at me like I'm crazy. I don't blame him, I've been questioning my own sanity for a while now.

I put a finger to my lips signifying silence. Max looks confused but nods, I sign for him to come over and he joins me peeking round the corner and watching Tyson's attempted love confession. I feel less guilty now, since I'm not the only one 'accidentally hearing' it.

"Yeah well….I was thinking you know…."

Wow I can't believe he's been stammering for this long. Come on!

Tyson looks behind him and because he's looking kind of lost I lean forward so I'm visible and give him a thumbs up and my award winning fanged grin. I get a very nervous smile in return, you'd think a guy that a guy with his ego would manage to ask a girl out a lot quicker than this.

I duck back out of view as Hilary tries to see what Tyson was looking at. I give a start as I see Hiro crouching down beside Maxie. Guess he noticed something was up too.

"…Um….yeah so like…"

I resist the urge to slam my head against the wall in frustration. Spit it out already!

"So what you trying to say!? That Strata-Dragoon isn't strong enough to take on those royal…"

"No that's not it at all! Just listen to me Daichi. I just mean he might need a tiny bit of a tune-aaamphh!"

Hiro, Max and I simultaneously tackle and muffle Daichi and Kenny. Maxie even goes as far to cover Dizzi's speaker. Of course doing so does cause a bit of a commotion but I don't think Hilary noticed. I have a feeling Tyson might have caught on though.

"Hey what was that noise Tyson?" Hilary asks while walking towards our hiding place. Thankfully Tyson will cover for us, seeing as he knows I'm here at least.

"Eh…it was nothing! Nothing at all, just eh…wind….Not my wind! The normal kind!"

"Smooth Tyson. Real smooth." Hiro mumbles quietly and we all try not to laugh, Kenny and Dizzi have caught on, while Daichi is confused but going along with it.

"Yo what up homies, whatcha…" Gramps!? This is getting to be ridiculous. Next thing we'll have Mr D listening in! Thankfully Hiro has managed to get him to stay quiet and he joins us peering around the corner.

"…So I was wondering if…"

"If?" Good Hilary, prompt him a bit, else we'll be crowding back here all day.

"If…if…if you knew that Rei was psychic! You like that sort of stuff you should go talk to him about it. BYE!" Then Tyson is gone leaving a very confused Hilary behind who slowly follows after him.

Naturally we all fall over due to the sheer absurdity as soon as she's gone. All that for nothing!? You've got to be kidding me! And what's worse, Hilary will still be dragging me shopping later. How cruel.

Just then we hear yet another set of footsteps as Kai carefully steps over all of us as we lay sprawled across the hallway. He stops to try and assess the situation; obviously he has no luck and continues on his way. "Hn. I don't even want to know."

I really have no idea what inspired that. Don't think it's up to my usual standards, but I won't know for sure unless you tell me. So R&R folks. Till next time!