"Yu, wake up." The man opened one eye lazily to see his beloved standing over him in bed. "Wake up, Yu Tendo."

He opened his eyes (both this time) and saw Izumi with another syringe, the kind he thought he got rid of. The fear and dread sunk into his face. "What is that?"

"Your medicine." She answered as if it were obvious. "It's time to take it."

"No, it can't be! I killed them all!" Yu sprung up from the bed. "I will never take those again!"

"Yu Tendo..." Izumi pinned him back down. "This is vital. You don't know what kind of effects the drug has."

"No! My body shall remain organic!" Yu flailed his body about to shake off the nightmare he was in. Because that was all it was: a nightmare.

He opened his eyes to see Tsubasa standing at the door with a cup of tea. "Organic bodies, huh?"

"You're up... Don't you need your chair?"

He took a sip before lifting up his shirt to reveal a brace. "No, I'm fine."

"Where's Izumi?"

"She took the girls shopping." Tsubasa sat down at the foot of the bed. Even though he wanted to walk around a bit, his back still needed rest. "I think you should hold onto this one. She's very caring."

Yu didn't say anything at first. "No, I can't." He said. "I think she's using me. I have to relocate myself. I'm not safe here! No one is!" Yu was about to get out of bed, but Tsubasa held him by the arms.

"Yu, calm down..." Tsubasa told him. He could barely understand where the paranoia was coming from. The younger blader was fine just last night. "Why do you think she's out to get you?"

Yu shook him off and started searching through the covers, tearing the bed apart. "There's still one left. There's still one! I know it!"

Tsubasa stood up when he began to look under the mattress. "One what?"

"One of those...syringes." Yu went into the closet and started taking out clothes and boxes. "I can smell it. It's around here somewhere. I can smell its flesh."

"Syringes don't have flesh." Tsubasa said. "Here. Have some tea."

"No!" Yu took the mug and smashed it against the wall. "Something could've been in that! You have to be more careful. You're much more vulnerable now that you're back is recovering.."

"I made this myself. I think it's fine. You, on the other hand, are weirding me out." Tsubasa held him down again. This time, he tried his best to keep him still long enough for him to calm down. "Yu, nothing is going to happen. We're fine, alright?"

"No...we aren't..." By now, Yu's heart was racing. He could hear and smell everything from the crawling in the walls to the smell of tea in Tsubasa's breath. It was all giving him a headache. Tsubasa could feel him trembling and Yu could hear it.

"Calm down..." Tsubasa spoke softly. "Deep breaths, okay?"

Yu frowned. Why was Tsubasa holding him back? Or was he actually trying to help? Finally, Yu agreed and took a deep breath. "Mamoru is down the street."

"He is?"

He nodded. "And the milk has gone bad twenty-nine seconds ago." Tsubasa gave a questioning glance, but Yu was too focused to mind it.

Meanwhile, Mamoru parked the truck about two blocks away. He knew that if he parked at home, it would display how much money they had and become a target for another robbery. As he locked the car, he got a running start so no one would see him. But it didn't work. He felt someone following him, so he stopped. "Who's there?"

"Calm down. It's just us." It was Chikara and Msaka.

"Your dad works for the WBBA, right?" Msaka asked.

Mamoru shook his head. "Not anymore. He retired."

The two younger teens took out their launchers. "We're going to take action no matter what your dad says." Chikara said.

"So what? What does that have to do with me?" Mamoru asked. "I'm in no position to do whatever stupid stuff you're doing."

"Stupid?!" Msaka shouted, stepping forward with his chest out. "You call taking your family back stupid? Buddy, you don't know me. My father left because of Gingka, my mother is probably on her deathbed, and my brother just joined the enemies. I have to do what I can to bring my family back. Now, are you going to help me or not?"

Chikara crossed her arms. "This war is affecting everyone, not just you. And as the descendents of the strongest bladers, it's up to us."

Mamoru didn't say anything at first. He kept his lips sewn shut. "You have a point..." He said. "What do you guys have in mind?"

"I overheard Gingka talking about an attack in Africa." Msaka said. "If we can make it there and stop them, we'll have the world in our hands!"

Mamoru laughed. "Alright, what's your real plan?"

"What?"

"I told you it was too vague." Chikara complained. "I say steal their beys. Just steal them all."

"And then rule the world!" Msaka added.

Mamoru nodded. "If they cut off our resources by destroying the B-Pit, we should be able to do the same to them. I'm in." That's when another thought clouded him. "But...I... I can't leave my family behind. They're counting on me right now."

"That guy, Yu, can take care of them." Chikara told him.

"Unlike the two of you, my father is still here and alive, so I can't just run off without telling him."

"Lame." The two rolled their eyes.

"Talk to him tonight. We're leaving at dawn." Msaka said. "...whether you come or not."

"I'll be training until then. Msaka, join me." Chikara held his hand and walked away. They walked for a while to find an improvised stadium while Mamoru went home.

But, when he did, he didn't get the warm welcome he was looking for. "You're late again." Tsubasa said.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I..."

"It's the same thing every time. When are you going to be responsible about this? After work, you come straight home unless you call and tell me otherwise." He paused. "Did something happen to you? Were you robbed?"

"No, I..."

"I hope you have a good reason or I won't hear it."

Mamoru was taken aback by how his father was acting. Was he really shutting him out? Why was he so worried? Or angry? "Never mind." He brushed passed him.

"Were you with Eagle?"

Mamoru stopped. "Yes."

"Battling when I said not to?"

"No." He said. "I was just stopped by some kids."

Tsubasa didn't say anything else. He wheeled away into the dark master bedroom. Mamoru sat on the couch with a heavy sigh. He was tired. Tired from work, tired of the war, tired of life. It was noon which was the perfect time to sleep.

But first, he was going to pay a visit into his brother's room. At the moment, Shou was heavily reading an article on Beyblades and their structures on the Internet. He coughed as his brother came in.

"Are you okay?" Mamoru asked, sitting down next to him on his bed.

"I think I'm coming down with a cold." He answered. "My chest kinda hurts." He coughed some more.

"You need some medicine." His brother told him. "I can't have you getting sick, especially not after what I have to say."

Shou closed his laptop. "What is it?"

Mamoru took a deep breath. "I don't want you to tell anyone until tomorrow..." Mamoru paused, not knowing what he was doing. What if his decision was wrong? "I'm leaving. I don't know for how long, but it'll be a while."

Shou's heart fell to his stomach. "No! You can't!" Even though he had his voice raised, it still came out as a loud whisper with little voice. "You can't leave us here!"

"Shou, you don't understand..."

"Dad can't work, remember? You're the only one who can. What will we do for food?"

"Yu and Izumi could help."

"But what about you? You could get hurt! You could die!" Shou grabbed onto his sleeves. "Please, please, don't go!"

"Would you stop?!" Mamoru boomed, shaking his arms loose. "It's better for all of us if I go. Remember, I'm the only one with a beyblade. I'm the only one capable of going. I'm leaving at dawn and the car will stay here."

"Can I go with you?"

"No, you'll get hurt. Just stay here and hold the fort down."

"No, I meant: can I go with you today? If something happens, I want to at least spend the rest of today with you."

Mamoru smiled. It was the least he could do for him. "Okay."

Shou was going to reply with gratitude, but another coughing fit got in the way.

"First, let's go to the drugstore and get you something for that cough!"

And that day, Mamoru didn't sleep. He kept Shou closer than normal; practically in his pocket. And at the drugstore, he kept his brother close and away from everyone there. The place was a little crowded with about twenty people. All of them were lined up at the pharmacy. The medicine they got for Shou was over-the-counter, but Tsubasa also instructed them to pick up something for him.

"Mamoru?" The boys were shocked to hear the name out loud. It was Madoka. "How nice is it to see you again?"

"Hello, Ms. Madoka." The boy greeted. "This is my brother, Shou."

"It's nice to meet you." She said. "So, what are you doing here?"

Mamoru lifted up the small box. "Buying medicine." He answered.

Madoka raised an eyebrow. "But, Mamoru, you're only sixteen. You can't buy medicine yet."

He sighed. "I forgot they changed the rules. Damn!"

She giggled. "No worries. It's on me."

"No, we can't ask you to do that, ma'am."

"It's no problem." She took the medicine from him. And as soon as they were first in line, she said with confidence "Pick up for Tsubasa Otori."

Mamoru was in awe from how well she presented herself. She was a woman with class. The way she took the prescription and paid for it was enough to infatuate him. "Here you go." She said with a smile, handing him the bag. Mamoru was lucky enough to touch a knuckle.

"Thank you, ma'am."

Madoka giggled again. "You're so polite! But, really, call me Madoka. We're all friends here."

Shou started another coughing fit. He massaged his chest to make the pain stop, but it wasn't working. "I'm sorry... I..." He coughed some more.

"And that's why we're here!" Mamoru said, patting his brother's back. "He's had it for a few days now."

"Poor guy." Madoka said. "You should get that checked out. We need to be careful about that kind of thing nowadays." She sighed. "Doctors and pharmacists must make a killing!"

"Definitely!"

They both laughed. Then she put a hand on his shoulder. "You guys take care, okay?"

Mamoru blushed and said "Yes, ma'am." She waved goodbye and went on her way.

After the boys left, they helped with dinner, ate with the family, and went to sleep. Shou slept in his brother's bed, draped in his covers when Mamoru woke up. After making sure the younger one was warm and sleeping well, Mamoru carefully got up. Shou started to whimper and choke just when Mamoru thought he was free.

The younger brother began his fight against a fever, and the older never bothered with it. He slipped out the door with nothing but his beyblade and a small backpack.

The early morning was cold without a doubt. Chikara and Msaka were there, waiting for the elder. "You're late." Msaka chided.

"You have no idea how much I'm giving up. My brother could be dead when I return." He said. "Let's just go."

Chikara nodded. "We've spent too much time here already. We have to go before someone finds us." With that, she headed off running. Msaka and Mamoru followed.

But they weren't alone.

Coming around the corner was a tall man in a mask. "You aren't going anywhere." He said in a dark voice. The kids turned around, not able to recognize who was there. The man stepped out of the shadows and started to laugh a dark, crazy cackle. It started from the gut and went high into his head. Listening to it was madness.

"Who are you?" Mamoru asked, taking out his launcher and bey just like the rest of them. "Who are you, and who are you working for?"

Meanwhile, Tsubasa woke up with a start the same time Yu did. He heard Yu call out "Something's happening!"

"What?" Tsubasa sprung out of bed and quickly grabbed his cane. It was much faster than going around in a chair. He made it to the twins' bedroom first where Chieko and Asami were sleeping soundly. Then, he went into Mamoru's room where Shou was trying to sleep soundly. He whimpered and shivered.

Tsubasa pulled the covers that have fallen off over his shoulder. That's when he noticed something: Mamoru was gone. "Mamoru?" He asked. "Shou, where's...?" He stopped when he touched Shou's warm shoulder. His hand made his way to his cheeks and forehead. To his horror, Shou had a fever. Tsubasa swallowed and felt again to make sure, but the results remained the same. "No..." He felt tears coming up.

Suddenly, the sounds of Yu coming down the hallway rang in his ears. "Tsubasa..." He whispered, coming into the room and getting his launcher ready. "Tsubasa, someone's outside and..." He looked up and saw Tsubasa's dark face.

"It's...my son." He said almost in a whisper. Shou sputtered a harsh cough and continued shivering. "He's... He's sick."

"Where's Mamo?" Yu asked, sending another chill down Tsubasa's spine.

"I... I don't know..." He said in terror.

"What's going on?" Izumi came in.

Tsubasa smiled brightly. "Izumi, you're a nurse, right?" She nodded. "Please, help me. Shou has a fever, and we have to look for Mamoru."

"Leave it to me!" She said.

"Thank you so much."

"Just go find him. I'll take care of things here."

Tsubasa kissed her cheek and did just that. "Come on, Yu."

Yu just stared for a second as Izumi smiled. At the moment, he could've sworn she was blushing. He tried to shake it off as nothing, but he kissed her lips to remind her who she's really seeing. "We'll be back."

Once they were out in the cold, Tsubasa saw the mysterious man for himself. "Hey! Get away from them!" He said, bringing out his shotgun.

"Dad...!" Mamoru said.

The man cackled again. It was so familiar to the two men, but then he made it obvious when he let something slip. "C...c...crabby!" He laughed.

"Tetsuya Watarigani?" They both questioned.

"Who are you working for?" Tsubasa asked, pointing the gun.

"Oh no! Don't shoot, my cr... my friends!" He said, waving his hands.

"Give me one good reason why not." Tsubasa cocked the shotgun.

"Because!" With a quick swipe, he grabbed Mamoru and wrapped him in his arms. "Because I have your son!"

Mamoru didn't move. His eyes were on the ground in shock of what was happening. Tetsuya's grip tightened as Mamoru's fingers loosened, threatening to drop his beyblade.

"Don't shoot." Tetsuya laughed again. "You might hurt this little boy!"

Chikara and Msaka aimed their launchers. "Just give us the word." She said. "Meteo L-Drago and I can handle it."

"No, don't." Yu told them.

"Just let him go." Tsubasa said. "I don't want to fight. I just need him safe..."

"Let him go? Why would I just let him go if he's the one I'm after?" Tetsuya asked.

"Why him? He's just a kid. Take me instead."

"You? Please! What would I do with a crippled old man?" He laughed some more.

Tsubasa looked down at his cane and threw it down in response. "Last I checked, Watarigani, you're older than me. Now, give him back before I am force to take action."

"You don't have to. I'm taking the boy!" Tetsuya sang. "Scuttle away!" The man bent his knees in a squat and actually scuttled away. And because he was so fast, the others couldn't catch up to him.

Tsubasa growled under his breath. Then that turned into a howl of the dawn. His roar shook those around him as he clutched Earth Eagle in his hand: the only thing he had left of his son.