Author Note: This is the sequel to Beyblade: Cold Competition. There will be delays once we reach the sixth chapter because Phoenix is at Camp America to look after kids.

Some minor editing has been done on the 17/07/12 to this chapter.

Disclaimer: Beyblade belongs to Takao Aoki


Between Two Realms

Prologue

After the fall of BEGA the BBA began a slow recovery. Tyson, Hilary, Kenny and Daichi helped in Japan while Max went back to America with his mother to help there. Ray returned home to China with White Tiger X and Kai headed back to Russia with Tala and the rest of the Blitzkrieg Boys. Most of the bladers kept in touch, including with the other teams, but then Kai disappeared without any word.

After six months, the authorities called off the search, finding only a single item to show that Kai had even been around. His beyblade, including Dranzer's bit chip. Knowing that Kai would never leave his beloved bit beast behind and considering the length of time that had passed; the gang had no choice but to accept that Kai had died.

It fell to Kenny to pass on the news to all the others.

000

White Tiger Hills was an old, traditional village, tucked away in a rural area of China and inhabited by the descendants of a bakeneko, or demon cat. As the descendants of a half demon, these people faced hatred from many full-fledged demons, but as inhabitants of the village they were under the demon council's protection. The demon council was made up of a community of powerful demons who strove for peace between the human world and the demon world, and they worked to keep the demon society secret to achieve those ends.

Their tasks often involved things like keeping some demons in check, punishing others severely and clearing up after mistakes. In return for the council's protection, the people of the White Tiger Hills community did what they could to assist them. Over the generations the blood had become diluted and the demonic cells had grown dormant, but the people were still part-demon, part-human. They represented the unity that the demon council strove for.

There were other half demons all around the world who weren't under the council's protection. Many of them were hunted for sport by the full-fledged demons who saw them as nothing more than worthless mongrels. Some would even attempt to go for the villagers if they thought they could get away with it, but such attacks were few and far between and most demons knew it wasn't worth the repercussions if they got caught.

While the youngsters of the village may have played with Beyblades when they weren't working on their chores, there was a seriousness to the game because the beyblades originated from weapons. Keeping traditions alive, all youngsters were brought up to be able to fight in case of attack. As such, the village had its fair share of warriors. Their top five warriors were also the beyblading team who represented them in world championships, White Tiger X, led by Raymond Kon.

Ray, as he preferred to be called, had done a good deal of travelling to learn more and better himself as a blader and a person, so he had much to teach the younger members of the village, as well as some of the older ones. As such, he spent time teaching other members of the village when he wasn't training himself with his team.

Two months beforehand Fabian, a member of the demon council who kept constant contact with the village elders, brought along a small girl named Yin for the village to look after. She'd lost her parents and had no one else to turn to. Since her father had been a bakeneko and her mother human, she had much in common with the villagers. Whilst there, Fabian made it a point to examine Ray because of a slight change in him and learned that something had awakened the demon blood within him. Ray was the first one she met and Yin began to follow him around a lot of the time, calling him gege, which meant older brother.

000

"You're still too tense. You need to relax, or you'll hurt yourself," Ray told one of his students, before turning as one of the villagers approached him.

"Here, Ray. You've got a letter," the man said, handing Ray an envelope.

"Thanks," Ray replied, looking down at it. It's from the Chief. I haven't heard from him in a while, Ray mused before dismissing the youngsters and heading back to his house. Along the way, Ray opened the letter and began to read it.

Dear Ray,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I'm sorry for not writing back sooner, but things are pretty hectic over here. I had hoped to get back to you when they'd calmed down again because I didn't want to worry you. It can't be helped now though and I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

The thing is, six months ago Kai went missing. He just disappeared without a trace. Nobody knew where he went. Not even Tala. The authorities found Dranzer, but nothing of Kai. The search was called off.

We all know Kai would never just leave Dranzer, so there's no choice but to accept the opinion that he's dead. Sorry again. We're all still trying to adjust to it. Tyson and Hilary are especially affected by it. I wish it had been better news for you, Ray.

Kenny.

Ray hadn't realised he'd stopped walking as he stared at the letter in his hand. There had to be a mistake. He wasn't even aware of his team up ahead or Bao, Mariah's dog, consistently barking. "It can't be..."

"Hey, there you are," Lee called as he approached with the others. "We've been looking for- Ray?" There was suddenly concern in Lee's voice. "Are you alright?"

Ray read through the letter again, three times, and shook his head before looking at Lee. "It's from the Chief," he managed shakily and held out the letter.

Lee scanned through the letter quickly then did a double take and went over it again. His eyes widened in utter shock. "No way... He's..." Lee couldn't bring himself to say it and looked back at Ray sadly. "Ray, I'm so sorry, pal." He reached out and placed a hand on Ray's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

"I can't believe it," Ray commented. "It was odd when the letters stopped coming from the others... but I never thought... This never crossed my mind..."

"Maybe there's been some mistake?" Lee suggested hopefully while Mariah grabbed the letter from his hand so she could read it. They weren't saying anything specific and she was curious. Mariah let out a horrified gasp and covered her mouth with one hand.

"I'll need to go to the nearest town with phones to make a call," Ray decided.

"What about speaking to the elders?" Lee asked. "They might have heard something from the demon council about the Phoenix?"

"Fabian hasn't been by since he brought Yin here," Ray replied. "And he never said anything about Kai when he was here. I don't think there is any news on him there. I guess it couldn't hurt to ask though."

"Up to you. I'll go with you," Lee offered.

"Thanks Lee, I appreciate that," Ray said, accepting the offer. Lee nodded and they headed off together, while Mariah kept a hold of the letter and told Kevin and Gary the bad news. Reaching the Elders' hut, Ray and Lee entered and explained the situation before asking for any news on the Phoenix. Unfortunately, they were disappointed. The Elders were as in the dark about the situation as the boys and could offer no information that might ease their minds.

000

In the end, Ray and Lee were left with no other choice but to travel to the next town and use a phone. It was a long journey, but they covered it quickly because Ray wasn't keen to hang about and wait. Ray made a call first to Kenny who was glad to hear from him but sorry to tell him that it was the truth and there was no change in the situation. Ray thanked Kenny and said goodbye before he hung up the phone. After a moment to compose himself, Ray made another phone call, this time to Tala. He apologised for any inconvenience that his call was causing, he wasn't sure what time it was there, but he needed to know. The last bit of hope was immediately snuffed out and Ray felt numb as he finished the call. He turned away and leaned against the booth.

"Ray?" There was no point in asking if he was okay, because Lee could clearly see that he wasn't. And in all honestly he didn't know what else to say, other than Ray's name. It was a horrific shock which had come completely out of the blue, without warning. It was at times like these that Lee sometimes wished they didn't live in such a remote area.

"We need to go somewhere less public," Ray said quietly as he looked down so his bangs hid his eyes. He could tell he was going to break down, no matter how hard he fought it, and the last thing he wanted was for it to happen in public. Lee nodded and led Ray away from the village, stopping by a fallen tree about five minutes later. Ray moved to sit on the tree, burying his face in his hands. "Even Tala says..." he commented, his voice breaking slightly in his grief. It was difficult to speak as he continued to try his hardest not to cry.

Sitting next to him, Lee put an arm around his best friend's shoulders. "I'm so sorry... I know you and Kai were close..."

All Ray could do was nod as he lost the battle with a choked sob. "I really looked up to him, Lee," Ray said softly once the tears had subsided enough to allow him to speak. "He taught me so much and saved me so many times. He was always there when things went wrong, to save the day and tell us how stupid we'd been."

Lee rubbed Ray's back comfortingly. "I remember you telling me," he said with a sad smile, "How he used to lecture you guys for being so reckless and would then go off on his own and do something worse." He sighed. "There was no one else like him, that's for sure."

Ray nodded with a small smile and sniffed. "I used to get so mad at him for that," he commented. "That hypocrite..."

"I'll bet he got frustrated with you guys too though," Lee replied. "And yet, deep down, I know how much you all meant to him." Lee swallowed. "He wouldn't want you to be sad."

"I guess you're right. But you know I can't help it," Ray replied.

"Yeah, I know," Lee nodded understandingly. "I wish there was something I could do."

"You just being here like this is enough, Lee. I really appreciate it."

"I'll do anything I can to help," Lee assured him.

"Thanks, Lee," Ray responded offering him a small smile before looking up as a shadow fell over them.

Before them stood four boys. Boys who they were both very familiar with. Liam, Blane, Hughie and Omar of the Panthers. "Well looky here," Omar began, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

"Oh great," Ray muttered, looking down again with a frustrated sigh. Of all the times their rival clan could choose to mess with them, why did it have to be now?

"You look blue," Omar sneered. "I guess the news finally reached you country bumpkins, huh? No more Phoenix to hide behind. Word on the demon circuit is that he met with an unfortunate end. Apparently they're looking for the next one now."

"You came all this way just for that?" Ray asked tiredly.

"We didn't actually come for you guys," Liam stated. "We came for Kathleen."

"Well Kitty's perfectly happy where she is, so you might as well turn around and go home," Ray stated.

"You know, Liam, there are only two of them," Omar commented, looking around. "I don't see the other three. Why not kill two birds with one stone?"

Lee wasn't normally one to back down from a challenge, but right now he just wasn't in the mood. And he could tell that Ray wasn't either. "Let's go, Ray. They're just wanting to mess with you because they know your mind is elsewhere."

Ray nodded, pushing himself down from the tree to begin the long walk back home. It wouldn't be long before it started to get dark, but he just didn't have the energy or the drive to rush. So even they knew... he mused miserably. Even they knew about Kai being gone...

"Running away?" Omar sneered. "Well that doesn't surprise me. You guys must know you're no match for us."

"Actually we've decided you're not even worth the breath it takes to insult you," Ray murmured, trying to at least hide that their words had affected him. "We're bored now."

"Yeah, sure. You're nothing without the Phoenix and you know it. It won't be long now before you all go down because you've all gotten soft over the years. You've never faced any real danger because the council has babysat you this entire time. They don't even need us, you know. They have no use for mongrels. You're like their mascots or something. Completely pointless except for them to go yeah that's ours. What a joke. And as for the Phoenix, if you ask me, that asshole got exactly what was coming to him," Omar announced and Ray abruptly stopped walking.

"Ray, don't..." Lee breathed.

Ray looked at Lee briefly, then over his shoulder at the Panthers before looking at Lee again. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly to calm himself. He didn't want to let them get away speaking about Kai like that, but fighting wouldn't solve anything. Ray looked back again, assuming a bored expression. "Wow, that's pretty pathetic. Only having the balls to insult him like that when he's gone. Sucks to be you," he stated before continuing to walk away.

Omar gaped at Ray, doing an excellent impression of a fish. Ray was supposed to get mad and try to fight them so that they could use their number to an advantage and take the white tiger. Not coolly blow him off like that. Plan B then. Just go in for the attack himself. Omar moved to run after Ray, but Liam caught him by the back of his top. "Liam?" Omar asked in surprise as he looked back

"Even we have our lines that aren't to be crossed," Liam told him. "We came for Kathleen. Driger will have to wait."

"Let's move," Lee said quietly to Ray and took off at speed. Ray sighed before following to match Lee's pace despite not being in the mood for it. He was feeling lethargic, plus the news had pretty much bowled him over and he was still in shock. If it hadn't been for the Panthers turning up, Ray would still be sitting down.