A quick update! We haven't seen that in a while, have we? X)

Anyway! Review if you feel like it. I appreciate any feedback you might have.

Chapter 10

Somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, USA – March 18th, 06:52

"Can you see them?"

"No, not yet." Tyson leant back from the edge of the snowy cliff. He could see the ground fifty feet below, beneath a path so rugged and narrow he would never have thought of climbing it, no matter how drunk, before they understood they had little to no time left. He felt like his lungs were frozen. He'd been on the edge ever since he and the others woke up in the wreckage almost three hours ago. He was hungry, and horribly tired. The deep cut in his shoulder had stopped bleeding, and he had torn a piece of his t-shirt to use for bandaging the wound on his temple. He knew he had broken at least one rib, for his breathing was short with a dull pain he'd almost gotten used to by now. But none of these things truly mattered here, the only thing he thought about was that he needed to keep moving. If he didn't, he would die; the thick winter jacket was not enough to shield him completely from the cold.

"I don't like this," Kenny said. He was pacing back and forth, creating a small path in the snow. Now and then he took his hands out of his pockets, shook them and blew on them. "Ray should not be alone; he is not well, and that leg of his won't take him far."

"He'll come back," Tyson mumbled. "And he'll find Kai, I know it."

"Do you think he's in shock?"

"Who?"

"Kai. I mean he just woke up, and walked away." Kenny stopped pacing for a moment, like he was listening to something Tyson was unable to hear. Then he answered himself, just like he was used to doing. "No, maybe not. Damn it, someone should have been in there with him."

"I know."

"I don't know how to behave out here." Tyson turned to look at his friend. Kenny had crossed his arms over his chest and stood gazing into the snow below his feet. "I'm not exactly in my right element. And all of this," he looked out over the spectacular view of the snowy mountains. "It's too much. I'm the only one who's not hurt, which puts me in a responsible position. We are one teammate short, and God knows where he is. Probably-"

"Shut up," Tyson whispered through his teeth. Kenny's gaze lingered on him for a while, but he knew it was hard for Tyson to admit that his best friend was without a chance of making it alone. And this knowledge was killing him mentally, knowing he was unable to be there for Max when he had needed him the most. When all of this was over, this was another challenge which could not be as easily disposed of.

"Tyson," Kenny wanted to put a hand on his friends shoulder, but he had forgotten which the injured one was. "I know you don't want to-"

"Kenny, I swear, if your keep pushing this you'll be lying face down in the snow."

"I know, Tyson, and if it makes you feel better, I'll let you. But you have to come to terms with that-"

"Quiet."

"No, I won't-"

"Kenny, shut up, I hear something."

Kenny fell silent. For a moment the only sound was the howling wind in their ears. It had sounded like a human voice. Before Kenny had the time to react, Tyson grabbed the front of his jacket and pulled him down in the snow. For a moment he thought Tyson was really going to push him face down into the snow, but a quick look around revealed a still shape only ten feet away. How he hadn't seen them yet, was beyond him. It was a man in his forties, with raven black hair and a very determined expression in his face. He stood by the top of the path leading up the cliff, and little by little he walked down further. A sharp unfamiliar voice broke the silence, and a loud thump made them jump in surprise.

"Kai Hiwatari! I bring greetings from your grandfather!"

Tyson moved as slow as he possibly could, not to make the snow move over the outspring of the cliff and down to the path below. He lay in utter silence, and just watched. Just underneath him stood Ray and Kai, back to back on the path, each facing their own threat. Ray was trying to keep both the black haired man and the edge of the path within sight. Kai was holding one hand over his nose, and Tyson could see his hand was red with blood. On the path below Kai stood a young man with blue eyes and hair so blonde it looked almost white. Both of the strangers wore a heavy black uniform.

Kai removed his hand, he was breathing heavily, and he was a horrible sight as blood had been smeared out over the lower half of his face. Tyson couldn't see his expression from where he lay, but he could hear from his shaking voice that he had been caught by surprise.

"E-Erik?"

"Nice seeing you too," Erik said, still smiling. He came a few steps closer, but made sure Kai wouldn't be able to come near him; since he was at a lower level on the path he was at a disadvantage at the moment. But Tyson knew that the black haired man was not. He was about to reveal himself and shout out for Ray to take a step back, but he was way too late. The older man grabbed Ray's arm in a solid hold and pushed him closer till he held him with one strong arm over his chest. Ray seemed almost powerless. He grimaced from the pain of moving his leg, and a pained yelp escaped his lips. Kai turned around, but far too slow to do anything. Erik stood watching him, measuring him with his gaze.

"P-please," Kai gasped. "Let him go!"

"Why the fuck would I do that? You know why I'm here; you know I have to follow my orders. You were put in this position countless times before you left Moskva.*" He and his colleague shared a glance, and letting go of Ray's arm for a second he pulled out a gun from his belt, which he pointed at the side of Ray's head. Ray froze, stopped struggling, and just stood wide eyed, staring at Kai.

"No no no no, you don't have to do it, and you KNOW THAT!" He shouted the last two words, and Tyson could see a deep anger build up inside him. Kai had always been known for this, especially when doing a battle. It was a kind of anger you could not suppress. Tyson knew that the only thing he wanted at that moment was to tear the other man apart.

"I don't need to know. This is about what I want, and not your idiot of a grandfather. You know this; you have for a long time."

Tyson suddenly made up his mind. He reached inside his pocket, pulled out Dragoon and his launcher, and readied himself.

"I know, Erik. I know," Kai said. "But figuring you got this from Voltaire; you don't even know half of it."

"MY FAMILY IS GONE BECAUSE OF YOU!" Erik was now just as angry as Kai, but whatever Kai's answer, he never had the chance to utter a word. A sharp, agonizing cry silenced them both. Dimitri let go of Ray, who fell to the ground, and clutched his face, where Dragoon's attack ring had left his face almost parted in two. He fell to his knees; Ray barely got out of the way, and kept crying out in desperate pain. For a short second, Erik was paralyzed, and that was all they needed. Kai turned on his heel, helped Ray back on his feet, and with strength he didn't know he had, pushed both Ray and himself up on the top of the cliff. Tyson and Kenny helped him by taking each of Ray's arms and steadied him between them.

"Come on, hurry!" Kenny said, and without looking back they ran through the snow. Ahead, the ground disappeared and became yet another high wall belonging to one of the mountains which had been shielding the small valley from the wind. Here, all sounds became muffled noises. Here, the world disappeared and became a never ending landscape of white.

The Beyblade Reseach Center, California, USA – March 18th, 12:45

There was something out there in a world of nothing. He could not hear it, could not see it; but somehow it had just appeared. He had no idea how long it had been there, or how long he had been without it, but it felt like something he had once known.

He was barely aware of himself. But every second he became a little surer that he existed, and that he was himself. It was a good feeling, like he was walking towards a warm and welcoming fire after hours in the dark. But something held him back. He didn't want to open his eyes; not yet. Right there and then, he was fine. A wonderful feeling of warmth filled him. It was unbelievably amazing. There was nothing he wanted more than to stay this way, for all time, just laying here. For a short moment he disappeared again. He lost all consciousness of himself. He didn't mind. He always knew he would return to this wonderful state of just being. Just existing, without anything else to do than just healing.

But then it came back, and he lost his blissful haven. A sound, far off, blurred and muffled; but a sound nevertheless. Not a voice, not anything man made. He lay wondering for a long time, trying to remember. It was so familiar, but he couldn't collect his thoughts long enough to recognize it properly. This sound grew louder and louder by every minute. Heartbeats. Steady, life-giving heartbeats. He was alive. He was still around.

"Max."

The sound convinced him. Max, himself. Someone could see him, yet he was left in total darkness. It seemed unfair. A familiar feeling filled him. He knew now that if he wanted to, he could move. Just like he'd done before. He moved his feet slowly, because that was where he felt least movement. They were cold. He moved his hand. He could barely feel the movement. And then he felt something entirely different. Something touched his hand. Something warm and living.

With a huge effort of strength, he finally opened his eyes. Just barely. The light felt like fire, and he quickly closed them again. His eyelids felt so heavy, like they had been glued together. But finally he saw. There was a dull light shining somewhere nearby. He looked up into something white. A ceiling. He moved his eyes slightly. A window to his left, curtains shielding him from the outside world. A bedside table. To his right, a door. He looks no further. He was lying in a soft, warm bed, and by the bedside was a chair. Its occupant was asleep, her head resting in her arms leaning on the bedside. Max knew he needed to say something; needed her to wake up. But she was so peaceful. So how could he? He tried moving his facial muscles into a smile, but found he couldn't. This put him off for a moment. A low sound escaped his lips, something between a sigh and a groan.

This was enough for her to wake up. At first she lifted her head slowly, not quite sure where she was and what she was doing there. But then she remembered; he could see the exact moment when realization made her eyes look more determined. And then she froze as she saw him; his eyes half open. He blinked, so not to make her worry.

"Max?" she moved closer, never letting him go with her intense gaze. "Oh, Max!" In the next second she embraced him. He could feel the warmth coming from her, the soft warmth he so loved and missed. He could feel her shaking from crying, and he wanted to say that he was all right. But his voice didn't seem to work properly. She moved away slowly, but held her hands close to his face and looked into his eyes.

"Sweetie, I'm so sorry," she said. "So, so sorry." She was crying like he'd never seen her cry before. Tears of sadness and joy mixed together. Max tried clearing his throat.

"Mom," he said, but it came out slow and weak, like he was talking for the first time in his life.

"I'm here, honey. I'm not going to leave you. My God, I love you so much." She touched his cheek with her soft hand. "You know that, don't you? I love you more than anything."

"You too," he replied. "What is…" His voice cracked, and he started over. "What is happening?"

"You're in California, Max. You're going to be fine."

California. He was remembering this place. The warm sun, the soft sand on the long beaches, and the calm wind. And in one second it all came crashing down on him. It felt physical, like he was crushed by it. The sound of powerful engines running. The feeling of falling, and landing on the hard ground. Voices, screams, people yelling.

"GET IN THE BACK!" Max started breathing heavily. "GET IN THE BACK OF THE FUCKING PLANE!"

"Max, calm down. Please, sweetie-"

"Where are they?" Max whispered.

"Honey, don't-"

"WHERE ARE THEY?" Max bolted upright. Something held him back, something weak and helpless. He punched out with his right arm, and the needles connecting him to the intravenous fell from his hands. Judy got up from the chair, and tried to get a hold of her son. But Max ignored her. He was blinded by a rage so intense he was beyond trying to control it. In a second he had one leg out of the bed, before he collapsed on the floor.

"NURSE! PLEASE!" He could hear his mother yell as she came running to the other side of the bed. Max used his feet to push himself away from her. But as he reached for the bedside to pull himself up, he understood. He could not move his left arm. The realization hit him like a hammer, and he cried out in a hoarse scream he had never thought he would be able to utter.

"NO! WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE-" He hit his right fist into the bedside as hard as he possibly could. "-are they?" His eyesight became blurred with tears. He sat leaning against the wall, sobbing and shaking with tears. Something deep inside him was hurt, shattered, and completely destroyed. He felt people around him. They lifted him up, carried him, cared for him. But he ignored them completely. He wanted to sink back into that warm nothingness and stay that way. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to know.

Somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, USA – March 18th, 07:06

"My God," Erik said. He tore a piece from the shirt he wore under the uniform. "Sit still." Dimitri shivered. The boys' beyblade had made a deep wound across his face. It stretched from his hairline on the left side of his face, and down between the eyes, cut across the cheek and ended with almost splitting his upper lip in half. Dimitri had closed his eyes, and grimaced with every bolt of pain.

"How does it look?"

"I think you have to face the fact that you'll never be able to pursue a career in modeling."

"Oh, you little smartass; just wait till my face is back on, I swear."

Erik chuckled, but felt no real amusement. It was a clean cut, so all he needed to do was to make it stop bleeding. "Can't as well wrap in your entire head, can I. Maybe it wouldn't make any difference."

"That's it! Give me that!" Dimitri took the piece of cloth form him and pressed it hard against his wound. They were both sitting at the top of the cliff. Erik could no longer see the four boys. The mountain hid them well in its snow and rocks, and a strange mist seemed to be thickening around them. In not too long, they would lose the trail, and be forced to start over. They didn't have time for this, and they both knew it.

"We should get going," Dimitri said.

"You sure?"

"Erik," he removed the improvised bandage, which was red with blood, and frowned. "I know you hold a grudge against Hiwatari, and I don't blame you, but you need to focus."

Erik looked away with a sigh and started walking away, towards the ocean of snow waiting for them. "I don't need you to tell me this, Dimitri. Let's get going while we can still follow them."

The Hiwatari Corporation Building, Moscow, Russia – March 18th, 12:34

It had stopped snowing. The clear blue sky felt empty and endless above the city of Moscow. Her brown ankle boots made the familiar sound against the sidewalk which told anyone nearby that here came a girl who knew what she wanted and where to get it. She had chosen to wear her hair down today, curled and shiny brown. She felt a fresh breeze finding its way through the tall buildings. People seemed more relaxed and in less hurry. Whatever they needed to do, be it work or school, it was worth getting there a little late only to enjoy this one glorious day of peaceful sunshine.

Katya smiled at everyone she passed, just like she used to. She rounded the corner with the strange statue of some former tsar, passed the coffee store, the playground and the tattoo shop. Then there were less and less people, as she made her way to the business part of the city. Here, the buildings were even higher to make room for offices. And the one with the sign "Hiwatari Corporations" was among them. It had twenty two floors, more elevators than she could count, and a million steps worth of stairs. Outside was a fountain, where a few dozen people spent their coffee breaks. She waved at some of them, and then made her way through the huge double doors and found herself standing in the main hall. It was a room filled with people going in and out of doors, some holding files and paper, others in deep conversation. She ignored this, and followed the circular pattern on the floor till she was at the other end where was a wall completely covered in elevators. She snuck in beside a glamorous woman and a strict looking elder man reading a newspaper. The radio was on, and as they moved quickly upward she heard that the sky would stay cloudless for another day, and that Lindsay Lohan was back in jail for something as usual.

The same old 'pling' told her they had hit the seventeenth floor. She exited, as the only one, and followed the brightly lit hall to the end, where was a sliding door. A man held it open for her.

"Good morning, Katya. Off to the office?"

"No, to the break room. I left a report in there yesterday. I'm sure Mr. Hiwatari still want those helicopters sold, and my stupidity is not going to stand in the way for that."

"It's still there, I saw it this morning. See you four, then?"

"Sure thing," she replied with a smile. Katya found the door marked 'Break Room'. She grinned every time she saw that the word 'Break' was crossed out with a thick black pen. Over it was written 'Lazy' instead. Kai had done that on the Christmas party held in the conference room. She still chuckled every time she remembered how drunk he'd gotten; so much actually he had started a serious conversation with a stapler. She opened the door, found the room empty, and dropped her purse on the table which occupied most of the room. On it was a bundle of files. She picked up the one with her own handwriting on it, and was making her way out, when someone opened the door from outside.

She stepped back just in time not to be run down by Frank, who stood in the doorway, his hand clutching the handle, and staring at her like she was a ghost. "Something happened," he said.

"What? Frank, what-?"

"The plane. Mr. Hiwatari never made it to California."

Katya stood in utter silence. "But… Why? Did he change his mind? Is he coming back already?"

"No. No one knows where he is."

"You can't be serious." She was watching him angrily, thinking that Frank was the right person to make such a bad joke. But Frank didn't smile, or grin, or laugh, like he usually did.

"Katya, the plane went down somewhere over the Rocky Mountains."

*Norwegian for "Moscow"