Author note: I really sorry about how short all the chapters are, but I have very little time to write. My weeks are so hectic and offer me miniscule leisure time. Just to give you a proper reason for my stinginess: Right now I'm travelling across Canada with a youth program for ages 17- 21 so…right now I work 9-5 Monday to Friday, usually end up doing a few hours of volunteer work afterward, try to maintain a social life for a few hours a week, and then there are all the add-ons like executive counsel meetings, Food not Bombs every Sunday, PL blocks, KCC, volunteer and 2nd language counsel, making as many calls as I can make back home to my family, and household chores. I made this chapter a little bit longer to try and make up for it but, just so you know, they'll probably keep on coming at the length they've been at. OR you could let me know if you want me to keep submitting short ones frequently (like I've been doing) or write longer ones and submit them at longer spaces of time…???

Let me know,

-Kinabee

Chapter 10: Consequences

It was quiet again; quiet for a very long time. Hilary took a slow step forward and jerked to a stop as Tyson spoke.

"You should all leave now." He said quietly.

The group faltered before turning around.

"Wait."

The trams looked back around, locking their eyes on Kai's set, stern face.

"You're next. Who was it talking about?

"What happened with my mother was a long time ago. It's nothing for you to worry about." Tyson answered soberly.

"You didn't answer my question Tyson."

"It's been 7 years; it doesn't matter anymore."

"Then you shouldn't have a problem telling us about it."

"Why do y-"

"Tell me."

""Why do y-"

"Tell me."

"You don't nee-"

"Yes I do."

"Just leave it Kai!"

"No!"

Both boys had raised their voices to a yell now.

"It means you, doesn't it?" Kai said, his voice returning to his normal tone.

"I-" He struggled with himself, "Yes!"

"But it happened a long time ago, so it's nothing to worry about, right?" Max reasoned.

"Exactly" Tyson mumbled.

"So they caught whoever did it?" Miguel asked.

"Excuse me but this wouldn't happen to be the granger residence, would it?"

The group faced the gate. A man stood, clothed in a brown leather jacket, dark blue jeans, and a black baseball cap with pieces of brown hair sticking out from underneath. His eyes were hidden by a pair of aviator sunglasses.

"Yes. It is." Tyson replied uneasily. Something about his wasn't right. Something was too familiar. He had felt this way before.

"Oh good. My name is Jack Ross; I was a friend of the family. Are you…Tyson?" He asked, unsure.

Tyson nodded.

"I thought so. You look so much like your mother. You have her hair and eyes. I always- anyway, I'm really sorry for your loss. I just thought I could drop by to ask about when and where the funeral will be. I assume you'll be having them all at once?"

Tyson's stomach twisted itself into a knot. 'Not in front of them. This just keeps getting worse' he thought.

"I. I-uh" he started tiredly.

"You're a bit late," Rick interrupted. "The funeral ended almost a decade ago."

"What? Oh! No," Jack chuckled, "of course Resa's funeral was ages ago. No. I was wondering about the funeral for Ryu, Hiro and Bruce."

All eyes turned to Tyson, widened with shock. Tyson kept his eyes fixed on Jack, guilt and panic growing in his chest. He could feel all their eyes drilling into him, begging for an explanation.

"There won't be a funeral. They've already been buried, but you can go visit them if you want."

"Oh…could I just pull you aside for a sec?" He said more than asked.

He put an arm around Tyson's shoulders and turned him away from the group.

"They didn't know did they?" he asked.

"No."

"Well they do now…and that makes your job much more difficult…and mine much more fun" He put his hand into his pocket "because if they get in my way, who knows what could happen?"

There was a snap and Jack pulled a switchblade out of his pocket, holding it next to Tyson's throat. Tyson stiffened.

"But I think you have a pretty good idea, don't you?" Jack asked.

"Don't touch them. I swear, if you do-"

"What? You'll run and hide?"

Tyson balled his hands into fists and clenched his teeth.

"I don't want any interferences!" Jack whispered viciously. "This is a fair game and there are consequences for cheating. You learned that lesson last time you asked for help. Mommy didn't fair too well, did she?"

Tears of pure fury started blurring Tyson's vision.

"Do we have an understanding?"

He pressed the blade into Tyson's throat, who glared at him out of the corner of his eye.

"Good." Jack smiled, pocketing the knife, purposely neglecting to snap it closed again.

He stood up straight and clapped Tyson on the back heartily.

"Now!" He said loudly, turning back to the large group of beybladers, "I really must be going and- oh! I almost forgot!"

He plunged his hand back into his pocket and pulled out a slightly bent, sealed envelope and handed it to Tyson.

"I knew you'd lose the first. Just let me know if you need another one, I have tons." He smiled and walked jauntily out the front gates.

Tyson considered running after him, but knew it would be a stupid idea seeing as he was armed. That and the fact that he was still slightly paralyzed from shock uninspired him from pursuit. Instead, he looked back at the mob of teams. Hilary and Mariah already had tears running down their faces.

"Gramps…?" Hilary choked, unable to finish.

Tyson nodded.

"And-"

"Hiro and my dad too."

Tyson started ripping open the envelope, distracting himself from the distraught faces of the crowd in front of him combining with the ever growing pain of his lost family and the renewed fear of being hunted. Fresh tears appeared in Hilary's eyes and she cast her glance downward to the dirt at her feet.

"When did this happen?" Ray asked softly

"Last week?" Tyson guessed weakly. To be honest, he had lost track of the number of days it had been. He'd spent a few days without leaving his room so that had already confused him.

"How- Tyson your neck!" Ray said, walking over quickly.

Tyson reached up to his neck and felt warmth on his hand. Looking at it, he saw glossy, red blood dripping from his fingers. The blade must have gone deeper than he thought and now he could feel a faint stinging on the side of his neck.

"It's fine." He said monotonously, looking back down to the envelope.

He took out the paper inside and unfolded it. Red marker had scrawled a not across the page: consequences. Tyson flipped the page over. If there was any colour left in his face it drained away instantly and a familiar nauseous feeling began to plague his stomach again.

That photo again. He crumpled it in his hands into a tight ball but Ray had definitely seen and the rest of the group had recognizable haunted expressions on their faces. Lee jumped,

"That guy!" He ran to the gate, looking both ways outside. "He's gone."

"I thought you said there was nothing to worry about" Kenny said quietly.

"There is nothing to worry about; nothing for you to worry about." Tyson replied.

"Tyson!" Kenny exclaimed, obviously annoyed, "How can we not worry about this! Someone wants to kill you! We have to tell someone."

"No!" Tyson said anxiously, "You can't!"

"But we have to. You need to tell them what happened."

"No. I can't and I wont…and neither will you."

"Then at least tell us." Kai interjected

"Kai, he needs to tell the authorities." Kenny moaned

"If he doesn't want to, there's probably a good reason."

Tyson glanced over at Kai. He might not have known the full situation but there was an understanding and Tyson felt relieved by this.

"Regardless of that Tyson, we deserve to know the truth; this is the last time I'm going to ask you."

'They deserve to know?!' Tyson thought, 'I don't have to tell them anything! They don't even know me. Up until today, they still thought I would leave a beyblade tournament out of spite and a need for revenge. They did even it think there could be another possible explanation. Then they come barging into my home, demanding my cooperation and-' The anger was rising in Tyson head but a little voice was slowly becoming more prominent. 'I can't do it alone anymore. They're all I have left.'

"Fine." Tyson croaked.