Chapter 16.

"No I can't Gottlieb, I just can't. I can't... leave him." Izumis' voice was breaking with each word as she held onto Kai's limp whitish hand; the cannula and IV lines delivering blood and vital fluids was still securely taped in place. Kai was still heavily sedated, in-tubated and completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil of his Grandmother. Her two hands wrapped gently around his left one, her small black bag over one shoulder, standing and ready to walk away but she just couldn't make the break.

It had been agreed with Gottlieb hours earlier that she was going to go back to her home in Hiroshima to gather some bit and pieces, see her husband and get a few hours sleep in the comfort of her own bed. Now the time had come to leave her beloved and injured grandson; she couldn't bear to take those first steps. The helicopter was waiting on the hospital helipad and Mr Gottlieb waited to escort her there.

She had been physically touching Kai almost constantly for a full 24 hours now and the thought of not being at his side made her heart shatter. Every instinct was screaming not to leave him. Gottlieb and the nurses were increasingly concerned about her, she had barely eaten, barely slept and the periodical crying was taking its toll on her 70ish year old body. She was pale and in desperate need of rest and some fresh air. Gottlieb and Nurse Sakura had convinced her that she needed to take care of herself in the short term; to be there for Kai in the long term.

Gottlieb wrapped his large limber hands around her lilac cardigan-covered shoulders and gently tried to guide her away from the bed. "Come now Izumi, Kai is going to be right here when you get back. He's in very good hands here."

Izumis' body resisted and her feet stayed anchored to the spot. "What if something happens to him? I'll never forgive myself." She said as she gripped Kais' hands just a fraction tighter. His hands were quite warm now and the bluish hue of his fingertips was almost gone as a result of her endless cradling. Her wrinkled face stared endlessly at his gaunt sleeping one.

Nurse Sakura stepped in to lend the German a hand. "Mrs Uchiha... Kai is doing ok. He's got us watching him constantly and I really think his friends would like the chance to sit with him too."

Izumi glanced in the direction o f the sliding doors and saw a cubbish Japanese boy with a baseball cap slumped in a chair, he looked listlessly at the floor tiles with his hands in his pockets, a glum look on his wide face. Next to him was a Chinese man with long black plaited hair and long bangs sitting cross legged with his eyes closed and arms crossed. The others were further along the seating area and out of sight range. All of Kais' friends had congregated in the small waiting area outside; including the ones called Saint Shields who had been gingerly cleared as visitors just hours before.

The grieving Grandmother broke out of Gottliebs' grip as she bent down to her "baby", lurched her body over and planted a kiss on his grey haired head, just above his left eyebrow. She whispered "I'll be back soon my darling. Your friends will be with you until I get back." She wiped a heavy tear away from each of her cheeks as she turned and finally left his body. Gottlieb stepped close to her side in case she fell. She shuffled to the sliding doors, took one last look back to watch Kais' chest rise and fall once more before stepping out of the ward.

Gottlieb and Izumi walked into the compact and dreary waiting area and stopped before Tyson and Co.

Izumi eyes stabbed intensely at the cap-wear in jeans and yellow shirt. "Don't you leave his side. Do you understand?"

Tyson shot to his feet and bowed to the elderly lady before him. He may have been a bit of a slob at home but his Japanese manners were deep rooted.

Tyson smarted. "I won't maam. We won't leave Kai for anything or anyone." He then swiped his nose in the typical way Tyson did. Izumis' intense amethyst eyes locked with Tysons' as she glared at him with scepticism. Her eye socket shape, her eye colour, the way she just scowled at him...was just like Kais' trademark scowl and Tyson chortled at the similarity.

Kenny rose to his feet too and bowed. "We have come up with a rota so that Kai will never be on his own whilst you are gone. I can assure you of that." Izumis' gaze turned to this goggled creature who had joined the chubby one before her.

The Grandmothers' face softened, she liked the demeanour of this one; he appeared far smarter than the cap wearing one. "I'm going back home for a few hours but I'll be back by tonight, okay young man."

Ozuma, Dunga, Mariam and Josef rose to their feet in unison with Ozumas' nod. The Saint Shield members each made a fist and held it over their hearts.

Ozuma – "Maam, we the Saint Shields will protect Kai with our lives. Kai is in safe hands with us."

Izumi was impressed but a little disturbed by their gesture and couldn't help but raise a white feminine eyebrow. "Thankyou... young man. I think." Her sceptical face returned. She hadn't heard Kai talk about the "Saint Shields" before and distrusted them to a degree. They seemed friendly enough with the other members of G-revolution and that was enough to let them in.

Gottlieb announced in his usual gentlemanly tone. "I'm leaving too. I have some important affairs to attend to back at Hiwatari Enterprises. When Kai wakes up he's going to want an empire to return to. I'll be back tomorrow. Call me if there are any changes to Kai's condition." His giant white hands passed to Kenny a thick black engraved business card with his name, number, email address and a silver Hiwatari Enterprises logo emblazoning the front.

Gottlieb lowered himself and gently muttered in her ear. "Come now Izumi we must go, the helicopter is waiting."

Izumi could feel her heart thud as she twisted her head round the corner to get one last glimpse at Kai, her baby, her beautiful grandson in his hospital bed. She took one lung full of breath, felt her eyes fill up with aqua...and finally began her steps towards the hospital roof. Gottlieb held onto her tight and led her quietly down the corridor as she sobbed and dragged each step with her slippered feet.


As soon as Izumi and Gottlieb were out of sight; Ozumas' gaze snapped to Tyson. "I have to see him." His voice was demanding and deadly serious.

Tyson rubbed his neck nervously. "Yeah... you can see him. It's not gunna an easy sight though."

Kenny warned. "Remember Tyson its only 2 visitors at a time. So you had better make it quick."

For the Saint Shields, they had never seen the inside of a hospital this high tech before. The village hospitals in rural china were huts with basic first aid; and medicines were herbs and rare lichen. They relied on mystical sages and village elders to heal the sick. This upstate hospital in the middle of Tokyo in one of the most advanced countries in the world was equally scary as it was impressive; like the inside of an alien space ship. All white, humming and beeping machines with a choking air of antiseptic. Nothing could prepare them for how an intensive care patient looked like, let alone Kai Hiwatari, one of the toughest most elusive beybladers they'd ever encountered. Ozuma, Dunga, Josef and Mariams' eyes wandered all over the ward from the charts on the walls, to the curtained bays and at the staff in white coats and blue tunics as they wandered through.

Since Izumis' departure, a nurse had pulled the curtain partially closed around "Patient in Bay 3" to give him some dignity and privacy from the other visitors to Bay 1 and 6. Tyson led the Saint Shields through the gap in the curtain and closed it shut behind them; causing a slinking sound as the curtain reel pulled round on the ceiling runners.

Before them; lay Dranzers' guardian with a breathing tube down his throat, IV lines poking out from under hospital clothing and plastic contraptions in his skin.

Dungas' mouth was agape and his stance wide. "Ohhhhhhhh mannnnnn, shittt guys. Tyson what happened to him?!"

Mariam gasped and felt awash with pity for the fallen beyblader. "Oh Noooo... look what they've done to him." Her voice became bitter. "Shadow Vale are worse than animals!"

Josef clutched crossed his arms tightly and hugged himself. He felt overwhelmingly uneasy; he never had much interaction with Kai and felt uncomfortable about being this close in this manner. "Those bastards." He whimpered as he shook his head.

Tysons could feel tears starting to seep into his lower eyelids. His face fought back emotion as he stammered in his explanation. "Blake threw a dagger at him after defeating Dranzzzzer in a beybattle. Kai started...started... blee bleee... ding out and we couldn't...we couldnt get to him. Paramedics brought him back and this...this is how he is now." By the last word Tysons' cheeks were wet with a fresh stream of tears.

Ozuma didn't do much for emotion but place a heavy gripped hand on Tysons' right shoulder and squeezed. It was as close as a hug or support Dragoons' guardian was gunna get from the Saint Shields leader but the bluenette felt grateful for it regardless.

Ozuma gazed hard at the dark circles around Kais' closed eyes and analysed the apparatus attached to Kais' body. The hiss of the ventilator and machines beeping to his left was such a foreign sound.

Ozuma – "He's got to make it Tyson. Dranzer needs him. The world needs him to make it through this. If he doesn't... we're in trouble."

Tyson wiped his tears away with a tissue from a box on a small table next to the heart rate monitor. The soreness of his face was still there from yesterday and the soft tissue felt like sandpaper on his cheeks. He then took a deep breath and exhaled to calm himself enough to speak in full sentences.

"I know Ozuma. He's gotta make it. He's one of my best friends ya know." Tysons' eyes were alight as he reminded Ozuma of something important; Kai was not just a guardian to a sacred spirit but a human being too.

Nurse Sakura – "Ummmm excuse me, what did I say about 2 visiting at a time?" The pretty lady in blue had her arms crossed, lightly stamping one foot up and down on the tile and one eyebrow raised. She was not amused.

The ninja quiet nurse had parted the curtain and was glaring from behind at the 5 inhabitants. "Out you go please. 2 at a time. ICU rules."

Tyson began panicking he had upset the gorgeous Nurse Sakura as Ozuma maintained his cool. "I'm sorry nurse, we're leaving now. We've seen all we can take anyway. It's time for us to go." He turned his spiky grey and red head to the unconscious phoenix master. "Get on your feet soon Kai. Dranzer needs you."

The 5 skulked out of the bay area and back to join the others in the corridor. Once she had Kais' bedside to herself she busied herself with checking over her patients' vitals with a stethoscope and noting down her findings on his patient chart.


The futuristic sliding doors gave way to the semi trance like beybladers'. Kenny, Ray, Max, Hilary, Mariah and Daichi looked up to see the all too familiar look of pain and anger on the Saint Shields' faces as they returned to the waiting area. Mariam locked eye contact with Max and thought to herself. "So this is what you've been going through Max... no wonder you've not been your happy self."

Ozuma was authoritarian as always. "We're gunna get out of your space now and patrol the hospital grounds. I could do with some fresh air and a long walk. Dunga you're with me. Mariam you with Josef, that ok guys?"

Mariam and Josef chorused as the mirrored each other with crossed arms and sullen faces. Seeing Kai that way had lowered their mood. "Fine with us."

Dunga was the most affected by seeing Kai in his poor state. Out of all the Saint Shields, he was the one who spent the most time with Kai; both as an opponent and towards the end of their V-Force year - a standoffish friend. "Yeah, I guess so." His voice was stroppy and dripping with anger.

Ozuma stormed off towards the ICU exit with his comrades trailing behind him. Bringing up the rear was Dunga, his green eyes and bushy eyebrows were enraged. Dunga was an emotional person and my god when he was angry you knew it. Right now...he was beyond angry. A toxic mix of fury and despair painted his chocolate face. His eyes were in destroyer hunt mode for the piece of shit who did that to Kai. As he passed Tysons' entourage he locked a gaze with Drigers' guardian. What he saw was not the other eyes of another guy, but a reflection. A mirror image of the same volcanic anger in the White Tigers' orbs too. A moment of understanding shot between the two men. Ray nodded and Dunga carried on. A silent pact was made... to the make Blake pay for what he did to Kai.


Nurse Sakura interrupted the group with a patients file wrapped in her arms and clung to her breast. "Which of you guys are sitting with Kai first?"


Tyson and Kenny.

Tyson felt his insides curdle as a young male nurse wearing blue latex gloves, inserted a thin silver needle syringe into the bend of Kais' left arm; for one of many routine blood tests. The bey-champ glanced over at Kenny sat on Kais' right side whom had spun around 180 degrees on his seat so as not to look at the sharp penetrating object. The Chief had a phobia of needles and felt dreadfully uneasy being just feet away from a nurse wielding one. He felt nauseous as his face turned green and he hummed an inaudible tune to himself; sweating profusely beneath his teal collar and green tie. He fingered the lining of his collar in an attempt to feel less claustrophobic; not that it helped. Tyson couldn't bear to look either and watched Kais' face for a flinch or to react in some way to the horrid object stabbing to his vein. There was no reaction of course... and Tyson felt thankful that in this moment in time, his friend was completely out of it and wouldn't remember a thing.

"All done." Said the male nurse as he walked away with the crimson liquid in a vial. He exited through the pink curtain and dragged it closed behind him; concealing Kenny, Tyson and Kai inside.

Tyson inspected where the nurse had drawn blood and the small patch of gauze that had been newly taped there. He lifted his left hand and hovered it close to Kais' limp hand on the blue blanket. He hesitated. "I've never held his hand before. Kai hates being touched. Would he mind?"

The Chief had stopped wigging out and turned back to sit normally on his seat. "Just take his hand Tyson. I think given what we've been through, we can hold each others' hands."

Dragoons' wielder took encouragement from Kennys' words and ever so gently cradled Kais' hand in his. He was mindful of the cannula and IV lines coming from it as he felt Kais' cool fingers and ghostly palm wrap into his hot tanned ones.

The bluenette felt tears prick his tired eyes as a wave of emotion overcame him. Kai, his best friend reduced to this. His mind began to run wild and tears stung as they streamed down his hot plush face. "He never asked for this. He doesn't deserve this. And this is all my fault. I couldn't help him. It should be me in this bed. I.."

"Hey Tyson, do you remember the first time we met Kai?" Kenny broke the silence and subsequently Tysons' downward emotional spiral.

Tysons' head pricked up to see The Chief with his tiny hands wrapped around Kais' right hand. He too handled Kai carefully so as not to disturb the blue glowing oximeter clipped onto his index finger.

Tyson rubbed his tears away with his free arm and sniffled. "I do, how could I forget. Oh man back in the day just before my 13th birthday and the Japanese regional tournament. It was late afternoon on a river bank." His spunky tone resurfaced. "I had just kicked that dude Carlos' butt and then he showed up throwing his weight around. I knew straight away that Kai was a bad ass."

Kenny – "Yeah he was a total street thug. A real Hollywood tough guy. He didn't take too kindly to you beating him in the regionals."

Tyson – "Yeah well I didn't take too kindly to him smashing my beyblade to pieces in our first ever beybattle."

Kenny – "Oh yeahh I remember. He got under your skin big time. You growled every time I mentioned his name." He impersonated Tyson as best as his nasally voice could. "That Kai. Who does he think he is?!"

Tysons' spirit picked up. "And he's been under my skin ever since."

Kenny smiled warmly. "Yeah... he's not the easiest to get along with but he's one of us. A Bladebreaker, a member of G-Force and G-Revolution.

Tyson quipped. "Yeah we won't mention the other teams he has ALSO been on. *cough* Demolition Boys *cough* Blizkrieg Boys *cough*BEGA*cough."

Kenny and Tyson whole-heartedly chuckled for the first time in what felt like days. Their rib muscles were not prepared and jarred sharply with each laugh.

Kenny wiped 2 heavy tears away from under the rim of his glasses. Memory lane was hitting him in the feels. "We have travelled the world and faced some dangerous rivals together. As a team we saved the world from evil, not many people can boast that in their lifetime. Oh Kai we sure have had some adventures together haven't we." He reminisced staring at Kais' expressionless face.

Tyson smiled warmly. "And hopefully many more. When Kai gets better I think we should hang out alot more. You, me, Kai...all of us. The last few years has shot by in a flash. We've got some making up to do. Do you think Kai would wanna go catch a movie with us? Or go to a festival? Orrr what about a theme park?"

Kenny sweat-dropped and cursed the fact he had to be the grounded one. Tyson was getting dangerously optimistic again. "Let's not get too carried away Tyson. Pleaassssse one step at a time."


Ray and Max.

"Hey Kai buddy. It's Max." Whispered the blue eyed blonde in khaki ¾ length trousers and a baggy olive-green t-shirt; a yellow star sewn on the front. Max sat at down on the closely placed seat and took Kais' right hand. He wrapped his animated fingers around Kais' un-reacting ones. The same hand which had been held by Kenny only minutes prior. His deep blue orbs gazed lovingly but sadly at Kais' ghoulish face and felt grateful to finally spend some proper time with him.

"Hey Kai, I know you can't hear me but I just wanna tell you that I'm here ok. We are all here and waiting for you to get better. Don't you worry about a thing ok. You should see the fuss that's going on around you. You got some good looking nurse chicks caring for you and some kick ass security guys guarding the whole place."

Max glanced over at the empty seat on the opposite side of Kais' bed. He blinked, drew a breath and turned to his friend. The White Tiger was standing cross-armed a couple of feet away from the foot of Kais' bed.

Max – "Ray, why don't you come take a seat. Join us."

Ray gave no reply. He stared with unblinking yellow eyes at Kais' forlorn face. His mind had wandered into a wasteland of regret, despair, rage and the real world was far away. Kais' dead face on the stadium floor haunted him whenever he closed his eyes, whenever he tried to kiss Mariah, whenever he saw Kai... flashbacks of his mortally wounded friend played over and over. He stared rigidly at Kais' sleeping body and dark encircled eyes. Kai was alive, barely. Everything surrounding him went fuzzy. Rays' heart raced, he was trapped in a daylight nightmare. The ventilator noise engulfed his hearing. The heart rate monitor... beep, beep, beep. Louder and louder. So loud the beeps echoed in Rays' echoing chest, his heart pumped harder and harder. His head spun. Dizzy. Heart rate beep beep beeeppp beeeppppppp. It's not Kais' heart rate he could hear. It was his own. Rays' heart raced as he drowned in the memory of that day. He could feel himself dying. Flatlining.

"RAY!" Barked Max with confused freckled features.

Ray immediately snapped his gaze from Kai to Max. The beeps in his head were no more and his heart began to slow. His hands were slimy with sweat as sweat-drops ran down his temples, soaking into his semi-spiky limp black bangs.

Max exclaimed with concern. "Ray I've been trying to talk to you for the last minute. Are you ok? I've been calling your name. You were totally on another planet!"

Ray stammered as he wiped his hands down his white fabric covered thighs. "I'm...fine Max, don't you worry about me." He fake chuckled with a heavy sweat-drop and took the seat where Tyson perched earlier.

Max took Rays' chuckle as a sign everything was ok; his gullible nature was easy to trick and soon forgot about the whole little episode.

Max- "I was just telling Kai how I think that underneath his tough exterior, he's actually a really kind person."

Ray – "Oh yeah?" He half heartedly smiled and fought to usher his heart rate back to a steady pace.

Max – "Yeah like he makes out he's this tough guy but really he's a big softie like me. Remember that time he saved me from the shutting security wall at the research lab in America? He put himself in harm's way to stop me from getting crushed. Also... the time when he let me take his turn in the American championships so that I could prove myself to my Mom? And... I heard from Daichi that he feeds stray cats."

Ray wrapped his muscled arms into a cross and his face softened as his heart calmed in his chest. "Kais' an enigma alright but I wouldn't call him a softie. He can be real meanie when he wants to be and a real grouch sometimes. Hehe. Remember we used to call him Sour Puss? Hehe"

Max lightly chortled. "Haha. Yeah I remember. We used to call him a Wet Blanket too for being uptight and no fun."

Ray glanced back to Kais sleeping face. "I hope we get the chance to call him Sour Puss again."

Maxs' fighting spirit had been resurrected from the dead. "I'm sure we will Ray. Just you watch. Kai will show us just how bad –ass he really is when he pulls through this."

Ray lacked the energy to ground his friends' over-optimism back to Earth... like he had tried to do with Tyson many times over.

Max continued talking to Kai about anything and everything. The blonde loved to chat and whether Kai was awake or not to listen did not make a difference. Max had eaten some skittles of some kind from one of the vending machines and a sugar rush had hit his blood stream. He was in talking hyper drive and hosted consecutive one way conversations about the cute nurses, how bored they were of being in the hospital, that the Saint Shields were looking out for them, that people are out looking for Blake, that the other beyblade teams had wished him better...as if the fallen beyblader was awake and would answer back any moment.

The White Tiger remained still and silent with his arms crossed and staring at Kais' wired and half curled hand as it lay on the blue blanket. Unlike the others; he couldn't bring himself to touch his injured ex-team mate. How could he when he felt had let him down so badly? Ray was plagued with guilt and it was slowly swallowing him up.


Hilary and Daichi.

2 hours later... and Hilary had swapped places with Max; and Daichi with Rays' spot. The youngest member of the group felt out of place, nervous and didn't know what to do with himself. He shuffled on the seat and couldn't get comfortable on it despite its padded covering. After trying numerous positions he finally settled with his legs stretched out straight and crossed his tanned bare arms. It's not the chair he found uncomfortable but moreover the setting of not knowing what to say to his poorly ex- team mate.

Hilary was more socially educated and sat her long legs together, skirt laid out flat on her petite lap and her right hand folded around Kais' much larger one. His hand was rough against her soft moisturised digits. Many years of catching a hot and spinning Dranzer mid-air had calloused his palm and fingers. She couldn't help but blush on first contact and prayed Daichi wouldn't pick up on her now slightly pinker face. She remembered the time she saw a photograph of the Bladebreakers all those years back when she first started hanging out with Tyson. As soon as she laid eyes on Kai she couldn't help but say out loud "He's cute." After meeting him she discovered he wasn't as cute as his image, rather he was rude and his frosty personality scuppered the attraction in 5 seconds flat. But over time... a deep respect and understanding grew and they parted ways after the 3rd World Championships as friends. Over a decade later and her school girlish attraction to him was back. Especially now that he was the CEO of a company and as fit as a gym trainer.

Hilary yabbered onto Kai in the same way Max had done. "I remember the first time I met you Kai. We were on the riverbank and I waited all afternoon for Tyson to introduce us. I said "It's a pleasure to meet you Kai" and you know what you did...you blanked me! That was it buddy I knew right away that you were rude and I thought you were one of the bad guys. I even called you a spy. I didn't trust you as far as I could throw you. With good reason you were not very friendly to put it nicely. It wasn't long though until you accepted me into the team and we've been pals ever since. Right? I love watching you beybattle, the way you handle Dranzer is just amazing. You were open to my training ideas even though I wasn't a beyblader annnnnnd you saved me from a nasty death by rock slide on Battle Island. I think after all we went through with those villains Gideon and Zaggart and that creepy Russian guy Boris... I definitely call you my friend. We've been through alot together huh?"

The brunettes' voice went from chipper to a more pleading tone. She swiped her chestnut coloured hair away from her neck and tucked a bang behind her left ear. Her gaze adverted to an empty space on the blanket and then side eyed Kais' sleeping face. "I've missed you, we've all missed you...especially Tyson. We always save a seat for you when we meet up. When you're better we will go out together. Maybe have a picnic on the riverbank, or beyblade with the guys on the hill...I wanna watch ok?

Silence. Hiss of the ventilator. Beep beep of the heart monitor. Silence. Hiss of the ventilator. Beep beep of the heart monitor. Silence. Hiss. Beep beep.

Hilary could feel tears emerging and her heart tremor at Kais' lack of reply. He couldn't answer and it wasn't fair.

Daichi blurted out. "I don't know what to say to him."

Daichis' sudden words became a welcome distraction from the awkward silence and machinery orchestra. The young lady managed to blink the water from her eyes away. "Just talk to him Daichi. Say anything. Tell him how you feel. Let it allllllll out."

Daichi was no good with emotional stuff and squirmed inside himself. "Me and Kai never talk. I don't even know if he likes me."

Hilary was taken aback. "How could you say that? Of course Kai likes you. He likes all of us...I think."

Daichi gruffly retorted."Oh yeahhhh howd you know?"

Hilary - "Well he...urhhh...he just does ok. Trust me."

Daichis voice dropped all attitude and went as soft as his raspy voice could. "Kai...I'd like to get to know you better if you get through this ok?"

Hilary – "That's nice Daichi. I think we all want to. I have a feeling we're gunna be spending a lot more time together. Whether Kai likes it... or not."


Mr Dickenson and Grandpa Granger.

Nurse Sakura held the concealing pink curtain apart for the man with a cane and bowler hat to pass through unheeded.

"Thank you Nurse" Said Mr Dickenson as he was shown to Kais' bed. He chose the left side and lowered himself with a thump as he relaxed into the seat Hilary had not long left.

"Thank ya lil miss nursey." Quipped Grandpa Granger who mirrored Mr Dickenson on the right side. He had left his broken kendo stick at home and in its place; grasped his straw hat to occupy fiddling hands. The two older gents had arrived late afternoon and had been waiting with whoever wasn't at Kais' bedside in the waiting area for the last 3 hours. They watched Tyson and friends take shifts with Patient in Bay 3 and now...it was their turn.

Grandpa Grangers' heart broke at the sight of the gravely ill youth and gripped his wicker hat so tight the hat rim bent out of shape. "Ohhhh Kai look what they've done to ya! You just rest now ma boy. We'll keep watch over ya."

It didn't take long for Mr Dickenson to start falling apart. Tears began herding their way to the front lines of his tired and wrinkled lower eyelids. "It's terrible. Just terrible!"

Grandpa Grangers' voice became low and his head stooped. "I can't imagine what his Grandmother is going through."

Mr Dickenson retorted with a stern but kind tone. "Ryu you need to stop doing this to yourself."

Grandpa Granger cried. "I can't square with it dude. The guilt of feelin grateful Tyson is ok when K-man paid the price."

Mr Dickenson – "It could have been any of the boys. Ryu, it was just chance that Kai stepped up to the bey-dish and Tyson was late. You are allowed to feel grateful that Tyson wasn't hurt. Any parent would."

Grandpa Granger struggled with his emotions and fought to stay strong. "But it's tough ya know. I gotta soft spot for K-man ya know an watchin Kais' Grandma goin through this, it don't sit well wit me."

Mr Dickenson – "If anyone should feel guilty it's me. Security checks are done on all of our contestants so why did this one slip through the net. How did he get to the beydish with a concealed weapon."

Grandpa Granger – "Stop Mister D. Yourve been runnin these gigs for forever, you woulda done eveythin right. How was you to know dis psycho would pull a stunt like that?"

Mr Dickenson – "I know. I know. Were blaming ourselves when the only person to blame is that fiend. He's a monster and the sooner he is brought to justice the better."


45minutes passed in no time and Mr Dickenson and Grandpa Granger emerged from the bay area. Their faces depressed like many of Kais visitors before. For someone so cold and antisocial, Kai sure had many people who liked him dearly. Nurse Sakura and a young male nurse had asked them to leave for the time being so that they could change Kais' wound dressings and run a few more tests. An MRI scan had been booked and Kai was next in line, after that...more blood tests and a sponge bath.

Tyson and Co were in various states of boredom and frustration. It was early evening; lunch and dinner had been completely overlooked. The stress and fretting from the last 2 days had killed their appetites as they waited to hear fresh news on Kais' condition.

Hilary was colouring in a childs' colour by numbers picture of a dolphin with crayons. Kenny was replying to more emails from other beyblade teams eager to get the scoop on what happened to Kai. Max was hypnotised by the large wall clock, watching the hands tick tick tick round and round the glass and chrome rimmed face. Ray was slumped on the grey plastic chair with his arms crossed and the back of his neck balancing on the rim as he counted the ceiling tiles, anything other than drowning in self pity. Mariah was next to him with glum fed up look shaping her features. She and Ray had a fight earlier on in the day and she was still seething at him although did her best to hide it. Daichi was chewing on a giant fruit and nut bar next to Tyson who was getting pissed with Daichi chewing with his mouth open. Various nurses and doctors glided back and forth as Tysons' grandfather and Mr Dickenson sat down nearest Tyson and Daichi. Another period of waiting... and waiting... and waiting.


2 hours later.

"Maxy?!" Cried Judy as she saw her son looking around like a meerkat for her in the hospital reception lobby.

Max twisted his torso and seconds later was diving into his mothers' arms'. "Mom! Oh I am I glad to see you!"

Emily peeped her ginger head round her elder blonde colleague and stepped out into full view. "Hey Max, how ya doing?"

Max felt his insides crumble as the fatigue of the day and feelings of seeing his mum over-boiled into an eruptive emotional breakdown. He immediately began to lose control and his body felt hot as his face crumpled into a cry. His mothers' arms wrapped tightly around him. "Mooommmm...Emily... you have no idea what it's been like. Kai..."

Judy hushed as her blonde hair tickled her sons' distraught face. "It's ok Max, there's no need to explain. Kenny has filled us in with most of it."

Emily was straight to the point as her eyeglasses sparkled in the brightness of the well lit area. "So what's the latest with Kai?"

Max wiped away both eyes with his fists and sniffled. "They aren't telling us much. He's gone for more tests... He's not good Emily."

Once Max, Emily and Judy had briefly caught up and released embraces; they made their way back to the waiting area to join the others.


"Well I have to say I'm impressed with the level of security here. They could certainly show the BBA research facility security guards a thing or two." Judy retorted as she, Emily and Max had just spent the last 20 minutes liaising/arguing with 2 Team Halo operatives at the doors of the ICU, pleading with Mr Cooper and a phone call to Mr Gottlieb to allow her to enter. Maxs' Mom wore a white pencil skirt down to her knees and a light blue cotton shirt with the top button undone. She had shoulder length sandy blonde hair which curled inwards at the ends and light pink lipstick decorated her lips. She wore a glitzy feminine watch on her right wrist and a small brown bag over her shoulder.

Emily – "Yeah they're impressive alright. Kais' staff are they?...hmmm interesting." The brainbox that could easily take Kenny on in an intelligence test was wearing a light yellow floral blouse with a polo style collar, a leafy green flared miniskirt, ankle socks and sporty orange trainers. She had long pale legs and her ginger hair bounced an inch above her petite shoulders. She had grown into a tall, pretty young woman and thin silver-rimmed spectacles helped reflect her intelligence with style.

Kenny had always had a crush on Emily and couldn't help but stare at her. He could feel the room becoming stuffy. "This is a hospital. Now is no time to get goo goo eyes over Emily. Focus Kenny, focus. Ahhhhh buuut she's soo pretty."

Tyson and Co became animated with the two new USA arrivals. After the initial; "Hey how ya doing?" "Good to see you" "How was your flight?"small talk had finished, more serious chat commenced. Emily and Judy found 2 extra seats and dragged them over to where Tyson and Co had practically lived for the last 2 days.

Emily – "So let me get this straight. The guy who attacked Kai is from some village somewhere in the middle the China wilderness who has been raised by some dark wizard who wants to destroy the world. One of their disciples attacked Kai to gain control of his Dranzer in order to turn him into a bitbeast weapon. And there's more of these nut jobs out there who want Draciel, Driger and Dragoon for the same purpose?"

Tyson - "Yeah that's pretty much spot on Emily."

Judy – "So it would be safe to release a public statement that this was not a terrorist attack or an attack on beybladers as a sport?

Mr Dickenson – "Yes this is an isolated incident surrounding Kai, Tyson, Max and Ray. We have no reason to believe that anybody else is and will be a target. I will be issuing a statement to the press tomorrow. I only learned of the truth behind the attack from Tyson today."

Emily – "That's a relief. You have no idea how this has affected the beyblading community. Regional and International beyblade tournaments have been postponed costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Parents won't let their kids beyblade outside and some are even scared of carrying their beyblades in public. How did you come to learn of it Tyson?"

Max – "The Saint Shields told us everything."

Emily – "Who are they?"

Tyson – "And ol blast from the past they are. They and their ancestors know all about Blake and his posy of bitbeast snatchers."

Emily – "Very intriguing. I would like to meet these Saint Shields. I bet they have some really rare knowledge on old style beyblading and rural battle techniques. I'd love to gather data on them and their bitbeasts.

Hilary – "Hehe they aren't the friendliest of people. They can be stand offish."

Emily tweaked her glasses. "Speaking of stand offish people. I would like to see Kai if that's allowed."

Mariah stood up and brushed off her thighs. "I'll go in with you when the nurses are finished with him. I haven't had a chance to sit with Kai yet. And it'll be good to catch up with you Emily."

Emily – "Mariah. It's good to see you and yes I would appreciate that. Judy are you coming?"

"No I think I'll give Kai his privacy and spend some more time with my Maxy. Our flight back home is tomorrow afternoon don't forget and I want to see as much of my boy as possible." Said Judy as she tusselled her sons' hair and shot him a warm smile.


45 minutes later and Nurse Sakura had announced she and her team was all finished with Kai and he could have visitors again.

Mariah and Emily, like the others... were led to Bay 3 where the phoenix beyblader still lay, asleep and unresponsive as a machine pushed air into his lungs and a heart rate monitor beep dotted the air.

Emily felt weak at the knees and not in the way she was used to when it came to Kai. Her hands clasped tightly over her mouth and her eyes pained at the reflection on her glasses. Mariah wasn't as disturbed as her carrot topped friend, this was an improvement to watching him bleed out on the stadium floor, and the harrowing scene of him being drugged and shocked back to life by paramedics. The pinkette took the left hand side of the fallen bladers' bedside whilst Emily fell to the seat on the right. The girly scientist analysed Kais' face, the dark circles around his eyes, the hospital gown, his shiny skin still wet from the sponge bath, the many wires and IV lines and the tube protruding from his thin white lips.

Mariah – "We are waiting on test results. He could be brain and organ damaged ya know."

Emily – "Yeah Kenny has been keeping Judy and me up to date. I can't image Kai in a wheelchair."

Mariahs' eye contact fell away to look at the side into nothingness. "Yeah...I feel terrible for him."

Emily could feel there was something off with her old rival. "Are you ok Mariah? You seem a bit distracted."

Mariah paused. Her mind fought with her mouth to stay quiet. In the end her mouth won and she could no longer bottle it up. Her tigress eyes began to water up and her pulse quickened as her emotions were on a cliff edge. "It's just...Ray. He's not been the same since. I know Kai has been through something awful and I feel really sorry for him. I do. But we suffered too, in our own way. I think Ray blames himself for not being strong enough to help Kai when he needed it the most. Ray's taking it real hard and he won't let me in. I try to talk to him about it but he just clams up. He doesn't look me in the eye and this afternoon we had a row. Me and Ray never row, he does as he's told and then we get on with it but right now...it's like he wants to pick a fight about anything; with anyone. Tyson said something earlier about Kai and I could feel the rage bubbling up inside him, I gripped his arm to get him to cool down and he snatched it away. Ray and I have always been open with each other. I don't even recognise him anymore."

Emily – "Look Mariah, you've all been through a terrible shock. Ray probably just needs time to work it out in his head. I'd say he could have PTSD."

Mariah – "That's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder right?"

Emily loved bragging about her knowledge. "Yes. I think you could all do with some counselling. Kenny described what you all went through. Rays' got some stuff going on that needs resolving. I can put you in touch with a good psychiatrist who owes me one. She will see Ray right."

Mariah instantly felt uneasy about seeking a professionals help. At White Tiger village there was no thing as psychiatry, more like a long yoga or Tai chi session should do the trick, if only she could get Ray in the right head space to do it. "Thank you Emily but we need to try to work this out on our own."

Emily – "The offer is there if you need it. If things get worse with Ray you let me know ok."

Mariah wanted to change the subject. Discussing Rays mental health with someone she hadn't seen in years felt like an instant betrayal. "Thank you Emily. You're a true friend. Say what have you been up to all these years?"

Emily preened like a peacock as she loved talking about herself. "I play little league tennis now and again but officially I'm the head of a research department at the California BBA Research Facility. I still work closely with Judy ...Max and Kenny work in the testing lab and although we're in the same building we hardly see each other. And nooo I'm not married or have kids yet; no time for that when I have a career to chase."

Mariah - "That's sooo cool. Ray, Gary, Lee, Kevin and I protect our village in White Tiger Hills. We're just happy living day to day in the mountains and valleys. We teach beyblading to kids and do a bit of travelling before we start a family. I'm waiting for Ray to propose ya know."

Emily pulled an exasperated face. "Urhhhh men. Do they have to be told to do everything?"

Mariah cried. "Yeah I feel like I've been waiting foreverrrrrrr."

She paused and her ecstasy at the thought of marriage rock slid into worry. Her yellow cat eyes side glanced to the floor. "I don't know how I'm gunna handle Ray if things if Kai goes downhill. Tyson and Max too. Max jumps at his shadow. Tyson is uber clingy right now. Daichi..he's difficult to read. Hilary puts on a brave face but I know she's struggling to keep it together. I heard her crying whilst brushing her hair in the shower room yesterday. Tysons' Grandpa is all cut up too. I'm ok...I think. I was never that close to Kai. I'm still sore at him after he took Galix from me during the first world championships with his Black Dranzer. I know he was a mixed up with his grandfather and he's a different person now. I forgave him long ago but I'll never forget."

Emily – "Yeah I remember when he took my Trygator. I hated him for a while too but remember he betrayed Voltaire in the end and that must have taken real guts."

Mariah teased. "You just forgave him because you liiiiiikkkkkke him."

Emily - "Urrrrhhh ummmmmm. No. Ummmmm. Ok you caught me out." The two beyblader girls giggled as the ginger scratched her head in embarrassment.

When she finally stopped giggling, the pinkette shook her head. "You have strange taste in men Emily. Kai is not the friendliest guys out there. Not like my Ray... so kind... fun and chilled out." Her feline mouth frowned. "Or... at least he was."

Emily – "Say Mariah. I've made up my mind. I'm gunna stay here in Japan with you guys. I think you could use my help."


Back in the waiting area -Tysons' butt was going numb and his spine felt like it was bruising against the hard shell of the chair. To his left was Max who was on his sugar rush come down; twitching every now and again. To his right; Hilary who had nearly finished her colour-by-numbers Crayola masterpiece.

"Ohhh mannnn this waiting is killin me!" Tyson exclaimed so loud that nurses stopped what they were doing to frown at him for his volume.

Kenny replied from 3 seats down. "Well we did suggest going for dinner but none of us were hungry."

Hilary was signing her name at the bottom of the dolphin artwork. "I think we should go to the canteen anyway. A change of scene would be good for us and we gotta eat something.

Tyson arose from his perch, knees cracking as he did. He took 2 strides forward to a clearing, lifted his meaty arms above his head, interwoven his fingers and extended into a long upward stretch. His back felt instantly happy as his vertebrae unloosened. He was enjoying the feeling when...

"Out of my way sonny" as a sharp jabbing elbow knocked him off balance. Kais' grandmother was back.

The Japanese boy was propelled forward, staggered ungracefully and swinging his arms not to fall over. "Whoooooooaaaaaaahhhh. "

Once righted he twirled around to see the glass automated doors open for Izumi and watched her b-line straight for Bay 3. He watched her body disappear inside the pink privacy curtain and her silhouette meet with the seated Emily and Mariah. Seconds later the 2 younger women emerged and rejoined Tyson and Co in the waiting area.

Emily smarted. "We've just been evicted. I'm guessing she's Kais' grandmother?"

Tyson was nursing his now even sorer back and pouted. "Yeahhhhhhh thats Kais' grannie alright. She's...emotional."

It was now getting on for 7pm and tummies had started to rumble after another hard day of waiting for more news on Kai. They had been asking doctors and nurses throughout the day; not that any had any answers. "We will let you know as soon as we know "and "You just have to wait" left Tyson and Co frustrated, tired and angry...as well as at the discomfort of those damm hard plastic chairs. The party of Tyson, Daichi, Hilary, Ray, Max, Mariah, Kenny, Emily, Mr Dickenson, Mr Granger and Judy decided enough was enough and retired for the evening. Not before making it very clear to Nurse Sakura to call them the instant they have any updates on Kai's progress. Their evening would consist of a light dinner, settling back into the hospital family suites, showers and bedtime. For tomorrow they would do it all over again.

Sorry its been a bit of a drippy chapter and a bit repetitive but its gunna pick up now and it wont be too much longer until the next chapter is up. Im gunna try to do smaller chapters so I can upload them sooner :)

Thankyou to Linvn89 for your uber-lovely reviews!I look forward to reading them! They really do keep me going. To anyone else reading my ficcy Id really appreciate what you think too. xx