Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Endure ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

Authoress' Notes: Here I go again! A new story from Kali (& muses!) so hold onto your seats, folks! ^___^ Just a few things you need to know…

a) All characters in this fic will be 17 +;

b) I'm making Zeo a cyborg rather than a robot (kind of like Tala) because I didn't like v-force one iota !>_<!;

c) This fic will seem somewhat familiar to some people because I'm using some of my old OCs and settings from an old, deceased series *watches funeral pyre burn brightly while grinning evilly* but don't be fooled! This is a NEW fic. *gets out marshmallows to roast over pyre*;

d) I'm starting after hated v-force and pretending beloved G-Rev hasn't happened (because I haven't seen all of G-Rev yet !!__!!) though you may encounter G-Rev characters (i.e. Hiro/Jin of the Gale).

I intend this to be a love story, pure and simple. I know everyone is probably expecting some enormous, elaborate plot or something (Caitlin: since this is Kali we're talking about), but not this time. I have nothing of the sort planned. I need a break from all that plotting! Also, this fic isn't necessarily going to be a happy one, though I'm going to try my best to add as much humour as possible. Blame it on the stress of classes. {Dryad: You talk too much, Kali! Get on with it!} -__- *sweatdrops* Getting...

The 411: Tyson, Kenny, and Hilary are all still in Bay City. Max went back to the USA. Rei went home to his village. Kai disappeared…again. The St. Shields have gone home. Team Psychic has gone to work for the BBA, continuing to travel a lot in the process. Zeo was taken under the BBA's wing and his father, Dr. Zaggart, was arrested and jailed, though Zeo frequently visits him.

Warnings: Yaoi, adult language, angst, & probable lemons. Specific warnings will be given each chapter if relevant.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, its characters, or anything else to do with it. I only own any OCs that will appear in this fic.

Pairings: TyKa, Rei / ?, Max / ?, Kenny/Hilary, Lee/Mariah, Tala / ?, others TBA.

Summary: A scholarship to a new BBA university reunites old friends, rivals, and loves. Romance, pure and simple!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*~Endure ~*~

Prologue:

~ KAI ~

It was raining again. Droplets of water fell from the sky in torrents, making it hard to see beyond the window any great distance. Dark grey clouds filled the sky, the wind howled and blew the rain around with its force, and bright flashes of lightning illuminated everything for a mere second then were followed by a deafening crack of thunder. All in all, a typical - but no less beautiful - summer thunderstorm.

A seventeen year old boy lay on his side on his bed, his dual-shaded, slate-blue hair flopping into his eyes - twin orbs of bloody crimson flame that could burn one to the bone or freeze one solid with a look, depending on his mood - watching the weather blankly through the huge, open-curtained windows of his bedroom. He loved the rain, especially thunderstorms such as this. He loved them for various reasons, such as the power and majesty of them, the way the colours of the world changed so dramatically, becoming more intense somehow - clearer and cleaner. How the rain would wash away the dirt and grime and dust to make everything gleam. How it smelled of ozone, that wonderful freshness of the outside world during and after the storm was done. And how beautiful, warm, and bright the sun was when the clouds disappeared once more or the way the light of the moon shone softly accompanied by twinkling starlight in a night sky.

But the real reason he loved these storms so very much was because of a memory - a remembrance of another teenaged boy so unlike himself or anyone else he'd ever met. This boy had long blue-black hair perpetually tied back in a ponytail and partially hidden under a ball-cap he wore backwards nearly all of the time and that fell into his gorgeous, emotion-filled midnight blue eyes that held a hint of silver in them. A boy who had been (the last time he'd seen him) just as muscular as he was, yet had been of a smaller, leaner figure than he had been and with a darker skin tone than his own pale self. A boy with a magnetic personality and emotions that were as stormy as his eyes. A boy who was stubborn as a mule, sometimes thick-witted, and sometimes incredibly quick to catch on, who was a friend to all and unapologetic for being himself, no matter how much others might dislike him. A teen with a voracious appetite, an exuberant laugh, and a mischievous spirit. A teen who had given him acceptance, shown him courage and friendship, taught him how to live rather than exist, and who had saved his life and sanity several times over, a champion in many ways…

A teen named Kinomiya Takao. 'Tyson' to his friends and family.

And the one remembering Tyson? His name was Kai Hiwatari, team captain of the World Champion Beyblade team, the Bladebreakers.

Kai sighed and rolled over onto his back, flexing his fingers and wriggling them cautiously. They were still a bit stiff from being unused and immobile for so long. He'd just had the splints and whatnot removed a couple of days ago. It had been a relief to have his hand back.

He looked over at the door when a firm knock sounded and called, "Come in." A tall, thin, greying man in a butler's suit pushed open the door and walked in. "What is it, Gregory?"

"A rather large letter has been delivered for you, Master Kai. I noticed it is from the BBA and was sure you would want to see it immediately." The old man answered, approaching the bed as Kai sat up and moved to sit on the edge, accepting the manila envelope Gregory handed him.

"Thank you, Gregory." Kai studied the envelope and set it aside as the butler made to leave him alone again. "A moment, Gregory, if you have one."

The old man turned and gave a short bow. "Of course, Master Kai. Did you need something?"

"No." Kai smiled faintly. "You do too much around here as it is."

"I just do my job, Master, Kai." Gregory replied, sounding a little confused. Kai nodded and stood up, his black silk pyjamas settling into place.

"Yes, I know. I don't think my grandfather really appreciated it, either. But I do."

The butler blinked at him in startled surprise. "Why…thank you, sir."

Kai waved it off. "I just wanted to ask you something, Gregory, if I may?"

"Certainly, sir."

"Walk with me, Gregory." Kai walked out of his bedroom, the old man walking one step behind him and off to the side, following his employer as the teen wandered along the silent, abandoned halls of the Hiwatari family mansion. "All this…stuff and the place still seems so empty. Lifeless, even."

"Sir?"

Kai shook his head at the concern in Gregory's voice. "Sorry. Just feeling pensive, I suppose." He stopped in front of a pair of large oak doors and reached out to turn the handle and push one open before stepping across the threshold. "This room was grandfather's domain. I was never to come in here unless invited - which of course never happened." The teen flicked on the lights and gazed around at the rows upon rows of books and manuscripts lining the walls around him. "Now that he's gone, Gregory, it's time things changed around here."

"Things have changed, sir. Haven't they? You've liquidated most of your grandfather's estate and paid off all his debts. You have freed those children still at the Abbey and given them a new chance at life. Boris has gone to prison and they've thrown away the key." Gregory watched Kai move slowly around the room, studying the books with interest. "You should be very proud and pleased of all you've accomplished, Master Kai."

"Perhaps. Ironic that Voltaire died in a car accident rather than old age or even one of his many enemies murdering him."

"Yes, well, he nearly took you with him. It's a miracle you survived, Master Kai. I would never speak ill of my employer, especially after working for your family for nearly 45 years, but…" Gregory hesitated.

"It's alright. I understand. What I don't understand is why you stayed. What kept you here when all the other servants that I can remember changed so frequently?" Kai asked, turning to him.

"Why…you, of course, Master Kai." He replied proudly, standing as straight as he could. Kai stared at him in surprise, completely floored.

"Me?"

"Yes, sir. A member of my family has served as a butler and manservant to the head of your family for over three hundred years. It has been my honour and privilege to continue that tradition." He hesitated again and Kai gestured at him to take a seat in one of the oversized, pre-Russian revolution leather arm chairs and join him. Gregory sat obediently. "Thank you, sir. I fear I am not as young as I once was."

Kai sighed. "Me either. Speak freely, Gregory, please. I am not my grandfather."

"No, sir. You are not and I am very grateful for that. I have always tried my best to keep the promise I made to your mother so long ago to take care of you and protect you as best I could when your father died and she fell ill." Gregory folded his hands solemnly. "God rest their souls."

"Promise? What promise?" Kai had never heard much about his parents - knowing his grandfather, that was no real surprise.

"Your father died shortly after you were born, as you know. Then your mother fell ill and was unable to watch over you as much as she wished. She tired so easily." Gregory looked so sad as he remembered the past and Kai felt his heart clench, though his expression remained impassive. "She had never gotten along well with Master Voltaire, no matter how she tried. He didn't think she was good enough for your father."

Kai nodded. "I'm not surprised. He was a racist old bastard - not to mention a stuck up snob."

"Um…yes, sir." Gregory coughed. "She knew you would need someone to watch over you when she was gone. Your father was the only one who could stand up to Master Voltaire and with him gone, you were vulnerable. Your grandfather gave me the task of taking care of your mother until she passed on and I made a vow to her that I would look out for her son as best I could. And that's what I have done."

Kai stood up and went over to him, shaking his head when Gregory went to get up. "No, sit." He knelt in front of the old man and took his wrinkled hands in his. "Thank you, old friend. I can never repay you for all that you've done. I hope that you and your family will stay with me and help me to rebuild the Hiwatari name."

"It would be our honour and a pleasure, Master Kai." Gregory responded, his entire expression lighting up. Kai patted his hands a final time and headed for the door.

"I'm going to bed, Gregory. Whatever you have left to do this evening can wait. Take the rest of the night off and inform the staff that they can go home to their families."

"Certainly. Thank you, sir."

When Kai was gone, the loyal man allowed himself a sniffle and wiped away a few stray tears. "You would be so proud oh him, madam. He has become a fine young man. A true Hiwatari." Gregory spoke softly, wishing the spirit of Kai's mother could hear him.

Who knows? Perhaps she could.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was still raining when Kai returned to his bedroom, pulled back the covers on his bed, and crawled in. Leaning against the headboard, he picked up the manila envelope and opened it up with mild curiosity. Kai dumped the contents out onto his lap and picked up the accompanying letter printed on high quality paper with the BBA letterhead and logo across the top.

Kai read the letter, stopped in shock, and had to re-read it three times to let its contents sink in and to make sure he was getting it correctly.

He set aside the letter and dug though the pile of pamphlets and the forms it had come with until he found one special piece of paper in particular - a voucher that would be redeemable for $15,000 if he decided to accept the letter's offer.

Amazed and feeling a little light headed, Kai put everything on his bedside table and lay back down after turning off his lamp. He stared up at the ceiling a bit dazed. The letter was making him an offer he'd never expected, hadn't even considered a part of his future yet - not so soon after dealing with his grandfather's estate and healing from the accident.

It was an opportunity, he decided, to finally be able to do something with his life as he wanted, the chance to start over again.

With the possibilities running through his mind, Kai curled up under the covers and fell asleep, allowing himself for the first time in his life to dream big for himself and not for what anyone else wanted.

~ Tyson ~

"Tyson? Tyson are you out here?"

A blue haired teen continued to sweep the dojo's walks and pathways, ignoring the voice calling his name. He just wanted to be alone for a while, after being constantly surrounded by people all day, people who had come to pay their respects to his grandfather and say goodbye. Some he knew, others he didn't, yet with the crowd around him he still felt so alone now. Despite the people inside, the Kinomiya dojo felt empty and lifeless without his Gramps and the energy he always seemed to exude.

"Oh! There you are." A tall, young teenaged girl stepped out from around a corner and watched him continue to sweep. "It was getting rather stuffy in there, wasn't it?" Her wine-brown eyes were filled with compassion and sympathy.

"Hil? Did you find…oh. You did." A shorter teen boy with brown hair that flopped over his eyes appeared next to the girl. "How are you, Tyson?"

"Tired." He sighed and went to put away his broom. "I just had to get out of there for a while, Kenny, you know? I couldn't stand to hear one more 'I'm sorry for your loss' or 'he was a good man.'" The other two teens followed him silently and waited as he put the broom away and picked up a watering can, taking it to a rainwater barrel and filling it so he could water the potted plants and his grandfather's beloved bonsai trees. "Besides, there's no one else to look after everything around here any more but me. Gramps would have knocked me senseless with his kendo lance if I let his trees get dehydrated." Tyson had to stop and put the watering can down at the thought and he sniffled.

"Oh, Tyson…" Hilary went to him immediately and placed her arm around his shoulders, drawing him away and over to sit on a bench beside the koi pond. He sat heavily and buried his face in his hands, leaning forward slightly with his elbows resting on his knees to do so. Hilary sat on one side of him and Kenny on the other. "I wish I had something I could say to make you feel better…"

"Thanks, Hil. I appreciate it. I just…feel so alone now." Tyson tried to explain.

"You're not, though, Tyson. You have the Chief, and me, and what about your Dad and Hiro?"

The grieving teen shrugged carelessly. "You and Kenny have your own lives together, Hilary. And Dad has his archaeology that he'll go back to eventually. Hiro…he'll go away again, too. He's too much of a wandering spirit to settle here." He leaned back and stared up at the stars that were just beginning to twinkle overhead as the sun disappeared on the horizon. "I'm all that's left."

"Maybe. Maybe not." Kenny finally spoke up. "For right now, when you need us, Tyson, we're here with you. Any time you need us we'll be here."

"Yeah." The blue haired teen acknowledged.

The three teens sat together in silence after that, late into the night, until the last of the guests had left.

At that point, Tyson's older brother appeared. "Tyson? Oh, hi. I didn't realize you two were still here." Hiro inclined his head at Kenny and Hilary in greeting. "Everyone else has left and Dad's gone to bed."

"I'd better get home anyway." Kenny sighed. "My parents are probably wondering where I am - if they even noticed I haven't come home yet."

"We'll stop by tomorrow, Tyson, and visit." Hilary promised. "Just try to get some sleep, okay?" She gave him a tight hug and let Kenny pull her to her feet.

"Thank you." Tyson said, giving them a tiny smile. As much as he wanted time alone, he didn't want them to go either. He watched as two of his closest friends waved and walked off, leaving him with Hiro outside in the dojo's gardens.

"How are you doing, little brother? Really?" Hiro asked, sitting beside him on the bench and looking at the younger Kinomiya in concern.

"It hurts." Tyson admitted. "I miss him unbelievably. It was too soon for him to go, Hiro! I…" Tears slipped from his eyes and thickened Tyson's voice. "I wasn't ready for him to leave me like this." A sob escaped and Hiro sighed, pulling his little brother into his arms and lap as he had when they were younger and held Tyson as he cried brokenly, tears coming to his own eyes.

"I know, Ty. You meant the world to Gramps, you know. He loved you so much and he was so proud of you. You've done so much to make us all proud, Kid." Hiro stroked Tyson's hair soothingly as he spoke. "And I think Dad's feeling really guilty about working all this time and leaving you alone - not being here to be a father and leaving that job to Gramps."

"He shouldn't." Tyson mumbled, sniffling. "What Dad does is so important and I understand why he did leave me with Gramps. I don't resent him for it at all."

"Well, I think you should tell him that, Tyson." Hiro advised letting his younger sibling get up and wipe his cheeks and eyes free of tears. "Dad needs some reassurance, I guess."

Tyson nodded. "I'll talk to him tomorrow." He motioned for his big brother to follow him inside. "Let's go to bed, Hiro. I'm exhausted."

"Yeah." The elder Kinomiya brother followed the younger inside and they went to their separate rooms.

Once he was alone in his own room, Tyson went to his desk and flicked on his desk lamp as he sat down. There was one last thing he had to do before he went to bed that night. He reached up to pluck a book off his shelf that sat next to his blade and launcher. The bluenette flipped open the book to a blank page and took up a pen, beginning to write.

~*~*~ June 1, 2004 ~*~*~

Today was the day of the funeral. I stood with Dad and Hiro as words were said and people cried and left flowers for Gramps. I didn't cry, then, not as I thought I would. I guess I couldn't shed tears at the time. I was too numb.

I'm so alone now.

Kenny and Hilary came over. In fact they just left a few minutes ago. I really appreciated having my own friends around at this painful time in my life. I'm glad I at least had someone who knew me and how I feel well enough to know when to leave me alone and what words to say that I needed to hear. I just wish Max and Rei could have been here, too. I've been too busy to try and find them to let them know…everything and Kenny said he'd tried getting in contact with them but hadn't gotten any replies yet. I could have used Max's contagious smiles and Rei's cooking - comfort food, I think they call it.

But what I really needed was you, Kai. If I knew where you were, I'd have gladly begged for you to come here and…I don't know, exactly, but just your presence would have been a balm. I don't know where you are or what you've been doing all this time, but Gods, Kai…I miss you. I miss the other guys a lot, but you…it's always you.

How pathetic I am to be writing all this in a journal - almost like a letter - and you will never read this, never know how much I grew to like you, despite all our bickering and your seemingly could, distant ways - no matter how hard I tried to break the ice and get close to you.

You'll never know how much I love you, Kai.

Maybe someday I'll bump into you somewhere and at least get to see you again, for however brief a moment it is. Because no matter how much I'd wish otherwise, I know you'll never return my affection. And I could never tell you face to face out of fear of total rejection. I think I have you reluctant friendship already, and Kai, I have no wish to risk that. So I will take whatever Fate will give me and content myself with it.

There will never be anyone else for me but you, Kai.

I have to stop writing now. I'm yawning too much and I'm about to pass out at my desk.

Yours always,

Kinomiya Tyson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sniffling again, Tyson put the pen down, closed his journal and set it back onto his shelf before turning off the light. He stripped off his clothes and crawled into bed wearily.

He fell into a restless slumber and dreamed of a teen with crimson eyes that bore straight into his soul with a glance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Early the next morning, Tyson woke up in time to watch the sunrise, a bright, molten gold and fiery disk that instantly reminded him of Kai's eyes.

By the time his Dad and Hiro got up and came into the kitchen, Tyson had already had his breakfast, done most of the housekeeping, and had breakfast ready and waiting for his remaining family members.

"Goodness! Tyson, you've been busy! What time did you get up, son?" His father asked, astonished - though it didn't stop him from grabbing a plate and filling it.

"Just after five." Tyson answered, currently scrubbing away at a frying pan in the sink. "I have a lot to do around here, after all."

"I didn't even know you could cook." Hiro teased, nudging his little brother. Tyson shrugged and shoved back playfully, nipping a slice of bacon from the elder's plate and popping it in his mouth.

"I picked up a few things from Rei a while ago. And Gramps taught me the basics." He informed them, letting the water out of the sink. He dried his hands and began making sandwiches for himself for lunch.

"What are you doing now?" The eldest Kinomiya inquired, frowning slightly as he watched his son bustle around the kitchen.

"I'm making my lunch. I decided to go to school, today." Tyson packed his lunch into a paper bag and grabbed a soda from the fridge to take, too.

"School? Tyson…you don't have to go back so soon. The teachers are collecting your homework for you this week and…"

"So? I've only got this one week left anyway, Dad. I may as well go and finish off the year." Tyson said over his shoulder as he headed for the hallway and his room to get his schoolbag and books. "Gramps would want me to." He added, resolutely, not stopping even though his dad had followed him.

"Well, I can't make you stay home. If you're sure…"

"I am." Tyson stuffed his books in his bag and tucked away his launcher in the holster at the small of his back before grabbing his blade and slipping it into his arm pouch and walked out, moving to the front door to put on his shoes. "If any one calls or anything, take a message for me, would you, Dad? I'll see you and Hiro later." Tyson didn't wait for an answer, leaving quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

School went by quite quickly, and despite some of the odd and worried looks he received from his teachers and peers (including Hilary and Kenny), Tyson found he was actually glad to be concentrating on something other than…well, everything else.

After school, the Chief and Hilary walked home with Tyson and he invited them to stay a while and study for their upcoming final exams together. They agreed - after recovering from the shock of Tyson wanting to study.

The three friends were in Tyson's room. Hilary was stretched out on her stomach on Tyson's bed, her textbook open in front of her, Kenny sitting at the desk, and Tyson sitting on the floor leaning against the side of his bed with his own textbook open in his lap. Currently going through history, Kenny was making up questions and the other two were taking turns answering.

"Uh…the Heian period?" Tyson guessed, madly flipping pages in his text, searching for the answer to Kenny's question.

"Very good, Tyson!" the Chief nodded. "You got it!"

A knock at the door distracted the bluenette from the cheering he was about to do. "Come in!" he called instead.

Hiro strolled in, carrying a tray of snacks and sodas. "Hey guys. Thought you might need some brain food." He set it down on the desk next to Kenny. "Well, Tyson, anyway. He needs all the energy he can get if you force him to think."

"Hey!" Tyson scowled at his older brother.

Hilary giggled. "Thanks, Hiro."

"Oh, and some guy delivered these for each of you a couple of minutes ago." The older Kinomiya handed them each a manila envelope. "He was relieved to find out Hilary and Kenny were still here."

"Huh. It's from the BBA." Kenny observed, inspecting his envelope carefully then slitting it open to find out what was inside. Hilary and Tyson opened up their own and simultaneously dumped the contents out in front of themselves.

Reading the letter through quickly, Kenny blinked and exclaimed, "Holy cow! A scholarship?!"

"Yeah! To the new BBA University in Canada!" Hilary cried excitedly. "Oh wow! $15,000 a year for all expenses!"

"Hey, that's great!" Hiro smiled, happy for them. "I guess my little brother's going to get a good education after all." He teased. Then he frowned, watching his brother silently put everything back into the envelope, not smiling at all. "Tyson?"

The bluenette got to his feet and walked over to his desk, dropping the envelope into a drawer and closing it before returning to his seat on the floor.

"Thanks for bringing the snacks and the mail, Hiro. I'll bring the tray back later." He said, his voice carefully blank to hide the sadness and hopelessness he was really feeling at the moment.

"Uh…sure. I'll just…get out of your way." Hiro left quietly, closing the door behind himself, even though he wanted to demand what was wrong with the youngest Kinomiya. He hoped that whatever it was, Tyson's friends would help his little brother sort it out.

"What's wrong, Tyson? You should be excited about this, shouldn't you?" Hilary glared down at him. "Or at least be happy for Kenny and I!"

"Hil…" Kenny tried to intervene before a fight started. He was fairly sure he understood why Tyson wasn't jumping for joy at this opportunity of a lifetime.

"I am happy for you guys." Tyson told her, fighting to keep his temper and his tears under control. "I'm sorry that you thought otherwise."

"Then what's your problem?" She asked, getting a hold of her own volatile temper.

"I can't take the scholarship." He replied softly, staring at the floor. "Even though I want to."

"Oh, Tyson…" Kenny set aside his books and knelt down on the floor next to his best friend. "It's…the dojo isn't it?"

The blue-eyed teen nodded. "Yes. I can't leave the dojo. It's my responsibility now." His hands clenched into fists. "I was just going to take some business classes at the Bay City Junior College after high school."

Hilary laid a hand on his shoulder. "You mean you would just give up all your own dreams and plans for your future because of a building?" She gave him a little shake and he looked up at her in annoyance and budding anger. "That's not the Tyson I know! And I don't believe your grandfather would want you to do that either!"

"Don't talk about something you don't understand!" He jerked away from her hand and gave her a glare that would have rivalled Kai's once upon a time. "This isn't just a 'building!' It's my family's ancestral home!"

"And it's not going anywhere, Tyson!" Hilary glared back. She didn't take much offence at his tone this time because she could see the despair and the deep sadness in her friend's eyes behind his anger. She took a breath and let it out slowly before continuing in a calmer, gentler voice. "I'm sorry, Tyson. I didn't mean to insult your family or anything. I just meant that you can't let an object - no matter how significant it may be to your life - get in the way of your dreams. You can't tell me you didn't have plans to go to university after high school and you can't tell me you didn't have dreams for yourself."

Tyson slumped dejectedly. "It doesn't matter if I did. I can't leave the dojo."

"There has to be some way to solve this." Kenny sat up straighter, punching the floor with a fist to emphasize his words. "Of all of us, Tyson, you are the one who deserves to take this fabulous opportunity and live your dreams. You're a World Champion Beyblader! There's so much you've done for the world and it's time the world did something for you!"

Hilary nodded. "Yeah! Besides, we'd be lonely without you at school if you didn't come, too."

Tyson looked back and forth at them, a faint hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. But he just couldn't seem to manage a real smile. "I appreciate it, guys, but…"

"Uh uhn! Don't finish that sentence." Kenny held up a hand. "You will not give up hope yet, Tyson! I think the first thing you should do is talk to your Dad and Hiro about the scholarship. Maybe they can work something out with you - or help find a solution that will allow you to go. If that doesn't work, then we'll just have to put our heads together and figure out something else."

"I totally agree with that, Chief!" Hilary clapped her hands together once in determination. "You're coming to Canada with us, Tyson, no matter what. Together all the way, right?" She held out her hand, palm down.

The bluenette felt tears sting his eyes and he blinked them back as Kenny laid a hand over Hilary's. "Right." The brunette agreed firmly. They looked at Tyson and waited.

Finally he reached out and laid his own hand over theirs.

"Right."

~ Max ~

"Hey Dad! I'm home!" Max called out as he walked in the door and set his bags down. "Dad?"

His father stuck his head around the corner from the kitchen. "Max! Welcome home, son! I was just throwing together some supper so leave your stuff and come keep me company while I cook. You can tell me all about camp."

"Sure! Smells great, too." The blonde blader wandered back and plopped down at the table, watching his father bustle around the kitchen. "Camp was great! We met some really cool people and I picked up a few new blading tricks that'll blow the guy's minds when I see them next."

Mr. Tate chuckled. "I'll bet. Oh, by the way, your mail is all up on your desk in your room. There was a rather thick envelope from the BBA, too."

"Really? Wonder what it is…" Max shrugged. "Oh well. I'll read it all later. Right now, I'm starved for a home-cooked meal!"

Two hours later, after the meal, cleaning up, and spending some time visiting with his dad, Max went up to his room to unpack and get ready for bed.

As he was putting his blading toolkit away on his desk, he noticed the stack of mail he'd forgotten about and picked it up curiously. Max sat at his desk and booted up his computer, deciding to check his email while he was at it. While he waited for the computer, he list open the letter from the BBA first, since it was the one he was most curious about.

He had to read it three times and stare at the voucher for about five minutes before it sunk in and he shouted for his father in excitement.

"Dad! Oh wow! Dad! You'll never guess what!" The genki blonde blader dashed downstairs to drop the news on his father, forgetting about his computer and email completely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When he got back up to his room, he was so tired after all the travelling he'd done and all the excitement that day that Max simply dropped down onto his bed and fell asleep instantly.

Upon waking up the next morning, Max crawled out of bed, yawning widely and patting futilely at his head, trying to tame his wild blonde mess of hair. He stumbled to the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth.

As he was towel drying his hair in his room sometime later, he noticed he'd left his computer on all night. Pulling on his clothes quickly, he then sat down and opened his email.

"Yeesh! 275 emails in under a week." The blonde sighed and went through the process of manually filtering out the junk mail that still somehow slipped past his spam blocker.

Which narrowed it down to... "Ooooh! 57 emails! I am going to be here for a while." Max frowned at the screen deciding to go grab a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice for breakfast while he worked.

By the time he reached number 32, Max had finally come across an email from Kenny that was marked urgent. Curious, he clicked it open and read it through.

"Oh no…" Max gasped and felt tears well up in his eyes. "Oh, Tyson…" Sniffling, Max typed up a quick reply and shut off his computer.

After a few moments of grief, Max wiped away his tears and stood up. He'd wait to hear back from the Chief and in the meantime, he had practice to go to with his mom's team - the All-Stars.

~ Rei ~

"Hey, Rei! Mail for you!"

Rei opened his eyes and looked up from his spot on the floor where he sat meditating. "Come in, Lee."

The door opened and the captain of the White Tigers walked in. He smiled and held out two envelopes. "Here you go. Sorry if I interrupted your meditation, Rei." He added when he noticed how his old friend was sitting.

"It's fine." Rei accepted his mail and gestured at the small table and chairs in the corner of the room. "Have a seat, pal."

"Thanks. I already delivered the others' mail. I haven't gotten a chance to open my own yet." Lee sat down and proceeded to open his envelope. Rei set the larger of the two aside and opened the smaller one, noticing it was from Kenny.

He read it through quickly and felt a deep pang in his chest at the news it imparted. Without saying a word, the raven haired blader quietly folded the letter back up and set it aside, picking up the other envelope.

"Holy Gods! Rei! Have you read yours yet? A scholarship!" Lee exclaimed in astonishment.

"A scholarship?" Rei opened his letter and dumped the contents out on the floor in front of himself. "Wow…me too! Hey, do you suppose we all got one?"

"Probably. The other letters I delivered to Mariah, Gary, and Kevin were about the same size as these were, and all from the BBA." Lee stood up and headed for the door. He was so excited, he hadn't noticed that Rei wasn't. "I'm going to go see the others and find out. You coming?"

"No. Go ahead, Lee. I'll see you at supper."

"Okay!"

Rei watched his friend run off toward Mariah's house first from the door of his own home. Then he went for a walk by himself, climbing up a small mountain to a spot he often went to when he wanted to be alone or train privately.

He sat on the edge of a cliff and stared out sorrowfully at the landscape below him - his village and the surrounding farms.

"I wish I could be there to help you somehow, Tyson." He said to the wind. "We'll all miss Gramps but he was your grandfather, after all. I'm so sorry, my friend. I hope things turn better for you."

Rei sat there until it was nearly dark, thinking about both letters and wondering what it would be like to go out and get a post-secondary education. Then, too, if they did, he and the White Tigers would be first in their village to do so. Blading was his life but the pursuit of knowledge was a near second to that.

As for his old team-mates, Rei decided that maybe he would go to Japan and stop in to see Tyson, Kenny, and Hilary. He could do it on the way to that University the BBA's scholarship was to.

Full of ideas, plans, and dreams, Rei walked home, eager to talk to his friends and find out what they wanted to do with this new-found opportunity.

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Authoress' Endnotes: We hope you enjoyed this somewhat angsty prologue! It gets happier! I promise! I apologize for the length, too… I don't normally start off a fic with such a long chapter, but this one kind of ran away on me. *sheepish grin* I really need to work on keeping the word count down. ^_^U Now, please! Hit the button (if there is one) or send an email or something, and REVIEW!!!! Please R/R!!