I don't own beyblade.
Chapter 04
In Oblivion

"Stupid Tyson, such a heartless bastard he is…."Hilary muttered to herself.
It started to rain. Dark heavy clouds covered the sky, making sunlight difficult to penetrate. Hilary started to feel cold. She should get going, but she wanted to lie there. It felt so nice.
'Why the hell I am crying? He is right after all…what is it that I contribute to the team?' Hilary thought miserably
A lightening flashed across the sky, Blinding everything for a moment with a white light, but Hilary paid no heed. She was busy contemplating over her role that she didn't notice someone stepping in clearing.
"My my….what do we have here?" A cold voice, full of amusement spoke
Hilary sat up in an instant and looked at the newcomer. The newcomer was tall. He wore long black robes with a hood. His feet and hands were bare and oh my how pale they were. Hilary couldn't see his face except for a pair of ice-blue color eyes that had a certain gleam to it, but she was sure it's complexion was pale just like his hands and ankles.
"You will catch the cold" the newcomer said quietly
"So will you" Hilary replied, teeth chattering, pointing towards his bare feet.
The newcomer smirked and let out a low laugh
"I am immune to it"
"What?" Hilary asked, eyes narrowing slightly. This guy was giving her the creeps.
"You wouldn't understand"
"Try me" Hilary challenged. The guy laughed again.
"Aren't you the girl who tags along with the bladebreakers?" The guy inquired smoothly.
At this Hilary started boiling blood. A girl? Tags along?! Of course why would he know her name? She was a girl who clings to them for no reason. She didn't even know how to blade. Wait? Does everyone see her like this? They surely must do. Hilary felt choked at the last thought.
However the next words took her by surprise.
"Hilary Tachibana"
Hilary's eyes widened at this. He knows my name. Well that's kind of good and weird. How come he knows my name? Hilary's musings were however interrupted by a bolt of lightning. She should get going. She didn't want to get caught up too much in storm and she didn't want that weirdo guy to get wiped up too. So she quickly made her mind up and jumped to assumptions.
"Listen mister…."
"Katashi" the guy spoke
"Huh?"
"Name is Katashi "the guy spoke.
"Oh" Hilary mouthed. Then she began speaking" okay…mister Katashi, if you are looking for bladebreakers, they all live in a dojo at the other corner of street. Ask anyone for Granger Dojo and they will point you the direction"
There was silence. Then Katashi spoke softly.
"It not them, I am looking for"
Hilary frowned at this. She then asked.
"Who are you looking for then?"
"You"
"Me?!"
"Yes, Tachibana"
Hilary raised her eyebrows at this and asked curiously" mm why?"
Katashi didn't answer her question instantly, but he took a few steps towards boulders. He stated, rather bluntly.
"You are sad"
Hilary didn't say anything .Is he trying to comfort me? Why would he do that? He doesn't even know me…something is wrong. First he knows my name. Secondly he knows what i was feeling before his coming. And third, that attire of his really fits the description of creepy guy. Hilary decided to deal with him cautiously.
"Yes I was, but now I am okay. Now what is it that you want from me?"
Katashi chuckled. He leaned against a tree and folded his arms. He then said.
"You are lying. Before I came, you were wondering about your role in the team. You think of yourself as a clingy object, a burden and a pathetic piece, that your team has to deal with. You think of yourself worthless!"
Hilary felt like someone has given her a tight slap. Tears started to form in her eyes again. Hilary looked away….not wanting him to give a confirmation. She wanted to deny him, but found out she had no voice left in her throat. Can't answer, let alone snap at him. Who does he think he is?

Katashi was watching her with fascination. She really doesn't know, does she? He then spoke quietly
"I don't think you are like that"
Hilary turned towards him. What is he talking about?
"What?"
"I said you are not like that; actually you are very valuable Tachibana very. The Bladebreakers themselves don't know, what they are missing"
Hilary gaped at him. Me valuable? He must be out of his mind.
"I am afraid, I don't understand sir"
Again lightening followed.
"Tachibana" Katashi drawled" Haven't you ever wonder about that sign on the shin of your left leg?"
How does he know about that? Have he been spying on me? And sign? Wasn't that a birthmark?

"Look mister, I think you are mistaken" Hilary said" it's not a sign. It's a birthmark. Nothing else"
At this, the guy started laughing again. A laughter, which felt cold as the blizzard, which made the hair on Hilary's neck stand up. There was something familiar about that laughter.
"Did I miss a joke?" Hilary asked irritated. Why doesn't he tell anything straight?
"No" Katashi replied, grinning sinisterly" I am laughing, because you have something, you don't even know the worth of it"
'something precious' Hilary thought
"The thing you refer as a birthmark" Katashi continued" Is not a birthmark, but an ancient seal that holds extraordinary powers to overcome others. And by others, I don't mean humans. I mean, bitbeasts"
"Bitbeasts?" Hilary whispered
"Yes Tachibana" Katashi spoke slowly. He then spoke in a low voice "Power that can actually prison and weaken the bitbeasts….or kills them"
Hilary was at shock. No he is lying. He is just toying with me. I need to get out from here. Hilary slid from the boulders and tried to speak calmly without giving herself away.
"Like I am going to believe that" Hilary said bravely "I should get going. The rain is bothering me"
"You are such a terrible liar" Katashi drawled" I am actually the one bothering you, not the rain"

Now! Hilary ran fast from the clearing. She ran without sparing the glance back. But before she can get out from forest, someone kicked her hard on midriff. Hilary went flying and hit her back against the trunk of tree with a dull thud. She slid slowly on ground, clutching her stomach in pain. Before she could recover from shock and a blow, she felt a hand gripping her throat .She was then slammed against a tree. Hilary then met a pair of hungry looking ice-blue color eyes.
"I wasn't finished, you know" Katashi spoke
"What do you want?" Hilary asked thickly
Katashi tighten his grip on her throat and leaned towards her ear. And started whispering which made the eyes of Hilary to go wide with fear.
He then released his grip on throat and Hilary came crashing into ground. Hilary then looked up and saw purple light radiating from the guy's hand. Could this be the meaning of that nightmare that has been haunting her for days? Was he the one that entrapped her legs in black fog?

"You are going to serve me" Katashi growled, bringing his light infused hand and striking it straight to Hilary's heart.
"No…no….please no…TYSON!" Hilary screamed.
Hilary's cry echoed along with lightening. A loudest clap of thunder followed. Then there was silence. But it was eerie.

Katashi kneeled towards Hilary, who lay in wet ground unconscious, a trail of blood leaking from her mouth.
"Well you certainly are their daughter…." Katashi murmured, tracing a lone finger across the girl's cheek. He then lifted Hilary and threw her across his shoulder. And made his way out from forest.
On his way, he found his servant, Shiro who was waiting for him.
"I have arranged the means of ride, Master"
"Good" Katashi praised.
"You were successful in capturing her master" Shiro commented
"Well…convincing her wasn't difficult" Katashi replied lazily, patting Hilary's thighs gently. He then added" didn't I told you Shiro? Stormy days have always proved good for me"
"You did Master….I pray that more of those days come"

****
"I really don't know"
"That's your excuse?"
It seemed that not only the bladebreakers saw Hilary crying, but grandpa also saw her too from the kitchen window. For soon enough he came into backyard, demanding an explanation of her sudden departure. Tyson refused to tell him, so he asked others. When told, a grave expression etched on his face. He told Tyson to come inside, so he can have a talk about it with his grandson.
So here they were, sitting on either side of Kotatsu, the grandfather and the grandson. Tyson was looking away, arms folded, an expression of annoyance clearly on his face. While grandpa was observing him with ebony eyes.
"I am not buying that, Tyson"
"Well you have to grandpa, because I got to train…"
"Oh no mister…you aren't going anywhere" Grandpa threatened" you aren't going to leave this room, until you gave me a good reason" Then he added "Besides you can't train, it's raining"
True, and quite heavily.
Tyson sighed. Truth be told he himself didn't know why he felt a sudden urge to fight with Hilary. Maybe it was the stress. Last night, chief show all the videos of Team Chikara beyblade matches. There was no denying the fact that the team Chikara was more superior then them. Watching them make their swift moves in a blink of eye in videos, Tyson was beginning to doubt himself. Maybe he might have been too hasty in making a quick decision.
Grandpa will become mad if he told him that he had a go at Hilary just because he wanted to get rid of stress.
"I am waiting for an explanation, Tyson"
Oh the hell, Tyson thought. He knew, that grandpa would keep on nagging until he finally gives in. So he told.
It was a miracle that grandpa didn't go to aggressive mood or all hell would have break lose. However he was finding it very hard to not to snap the kotatsu in half and was made to ado in clenching his fists in fury.
With a straight face, he stared directly in Tyson eyes and began to speak.
"So you decided to fight with Hilary so that you can ease your stress? That is very despicable of you….i didn't raise you like that…that one day you are suffering from stress and to get rid of it, use someone as a punching bag…."
Tyson looked down. Grandpa does have a point, Tyson thought, what he did was really low of him. He isn't like that. Maybe he was the heartless one. Which made Tyson cringe.
Grandpa stood up. He then said
"You are going to spend your entire day in this room. You are to think and reflect upon your today's behavior …also you are going to apologize to Hilary first thing tomorrow. And that's not an option"
With that, grandpa left the room. Tyson sighed. He then felt he was being watched. Sure enough his team was standing there outside the room. Kenny, Ray and Max bore sad faces while Kai was looking at Tyson with expressionless eyes.
"Guys?"
But the team left him.
"Hey guys…hear me out, Kai?"
Kai stopped. He then glanced at Tyson, who was looking at him with pleading eyes.
"You shouldn't have done that, Tyson" Kai spoke" Look what a mess you created"
He left. He is right, Tyson thought, he had created a mess. A very big one too.

They had a quiet breakfast the next morning. Tyson and Grandpa were sitting in a kitchen. Tyson was munching a toast while grandpa was sipping sake tea. After 5 minutes, Kenny came to pick up Tyson, so that they can go walk together to school.
Tyson burped richly, patting his stomach and sighing contently.
"Well I am off" Tyson announced loudly, standing up" see you later grandpa"
Before sliding the shoji doors open, grandpa voice rang out
"Tyson don't forget your promise"
"Huh?" Tyson stopped in his tracks" what promise?"
"The promise to apologize to Hilary"
Tyson hid his eyes under his bangs, before answering
"Sure grandpa" then he spoke in a low voice, so that grandpa can't hear" how can I forget?"
"And if you don't.." Grandpa said coolly" you know the punishment, right?"
At this Tyson's eyes widened, he nervously gulped. It wasn't an empty threat. Grandpa can go as far in shutting down meals as well.
"Okay…grandpa, bye" Tyson quickly left. Kenny went out to follow him, when grandpa voice rang out again
"Yo dude!"
"Yes grandpa?" Kenny nervously asked
"Make sure he keeps that promise…or else" Grandpa trailed off, giving Kenny a serious stare.
"I will…" Kenny stammered, grandpa at these times can be so scary.
"Good….now off you trot"

"it's so unfair. Everyone is taking her side….even my own grandpa!"
Kenny didn't say anything. Ever since that fight, Tyson has been hearing lectures non-stop from everyone.
"I know what I did was wrong...but come on can't they let me stretch my back, even I know without reminders that I have to say sorry to her"
'My saying will only worsen his mood' Kenny thought. So he tried to console him.
"Oh come on, Tyson, you just have to say sorry" Kenny spoke, trying to cheer him up.
Tyson sighed and together they walked to class.
The bell rang, prompting everyone to start settling down. Tyson and Kenny sat next to each other. However Kenny noticed something strange.
"Hey, where is.."
But Kenny was interrupted by Miss Kinacid's greeting.
"Good morning class" Miss Kincaid greeted brightly.
"Good morning" the class chanted
"Now let me take the attendance first" Miss Kincaid announced, withdrawing the register from a pile of books on her desk.
"You were saying something chief?" Tyson asked.
Kenny opened his mouth to speak again, but attendance was taking place.
"Lana Ying"
"present"
"Joe ling"
"present"
"Kenny Saien"
"present"
"Tyson Granger"
"present"
"Hilary Tachibana"
Silence.
Tyson looked around. He now knew what Kenny was trying to say. There was no sight of Hilary. Where could she be?
"Hilary Tachibana"
No answer.
"I guess she is not here, goodness that's a first time, she got absent" Miss Kincaid said, putting 'A' beside Hilary's name.
Miss Kincaid continued calling attendance, while Kenny turned towards Tyson and tentatively whispered
"Tyson you don't think she didn't come because of…"
"No Kenny, that's not the reason" Tyson exclaimed, knowing full well what Kenny was about to say" I am sure she might have caught the cold from yesterday's rain, that's why she is not here"
Then he added, with a bit of discomfort on his face" it's not because of me…"
"I hope you are right" Kenny said.

That night Tyson did have his dinner.