Just a quick note to explain why I use all the dub spellings/names except Rei's. I don't like the spelling Ray, it sounds like an old man's name (no offense to anyone who might happen to be called Ray!), hence the use of Rei.
Prologue
In beyblading, the key to becoming a champion is taking risks. Well-thought-out, calculated risks, but risks none the less. The same strategy had to be adopted when forging a relationship with Kai, Rei was deciding.
He had tried for months even to interact with Kai, but it was to no avail. He always seemed so guarded, intent on pushing others away, thus earning himself the nickname 'the sourpuss' from the team's younger members. True, he preferred to stand apart from the rest, declining to take part in the excited, cheerful conversations as the team waited for the plane to take them halfway across the world to their next match. Yet this intrigued Rei, rather than repelled him, as he watched the older boy out of the corner of his eye.
Subtlety had obviously not aided him in his quest to get to know Kai. Rei sighed, thinking of all the times he had tried to include him, asking his opinion only to get an exasperated sigh and a short, conversation-ending statement, or worse yet, a stiff ignoring. It was time to make a leap of faith – to do something to force Kai to talk to him – even he couldn't last 7 hours on a plane without speaking once, could he? Especially if Rei is on a mission to make him do just the opposite…
He smiled to himself, working the plan out in his head.
"Hey, buddy, what's so funny?" Tyson's loud, friendly voice shook him out of his reverie. Rei shook his head.
"It's nothing," he replied, turning to face the baseball capped youth and the two others with him. "But I was wondering, though, when does the plane leave?"
"Should be any minute now," said Kenny, checking his watch. Max gasped in mock horror.
"We forgot to pick plane buddies!" he exclaimed.
Rei could have sworn he heard Kai groan quietly beside him, but when he turned to glance at the blue haired boy, he was leaning against the wall with his eyes shut, apparently ignoring the ongoing conversation next to him. Rei returned to the conversation, biting his lip to try to keep a straight face as Max, Tyson and Kenny had an earnest discussion about who would sit where.
"So, Tyson and the Chief will sit together because the Chief needs to upgrade his database on Dragoon. That means you're sitting with me, Rei!" Max beamed to his team mate after a few minutes of deliberation.
"What about Kai?" Rei queried, his hope growing.
"Oh, he won't mind sitting on his own, the grouch." grinned Tyson unsympathetically. "It's not like he'd talk to anyone sitting next to him anyway."
Rei inwardly leaped for joy. His plan was coming together more easily than he had hoped. He glanced at the plane tickets Mr Dickinson had given him for safekeeping, and his inward smile broadened. Perfect.
So, baby's first fanfic. Tell me what you think so far!
SapphyTheElf