Chapter 20.

"It's not fair is it Kai. All this pain. You won't be in this misery for too much longer." Blakes' tall, silver-haired and purple cloaked figure leered over a trembling and bleeding out beyblader named Kai. Deep in a nightmare...Kai was back at the stadium. His hospital gown was gone and he was back wearing his battle clothes; ripped and ruined by Killertiles' shock wave attacks. Around Kai's feet was a pool of crimson on the tile floor, the red goo stuck to his military boots like tar.

All around him, in the audience seating area were onlookers with extended arms; their phones in their hands recorded him as he clutched his crimson and dripping belly. All the while their free hands shovelled popcorn and hot dogs into their insatiable mouths. Their faces were blacked out and flashes from the cameras pricked his eyes. Tyson and the others stood at the side lines watching him on centre stage like he was in a theatre production. They judged and muttered how poor his performance was. Dranzers' master couldn't see his friends' faces but could hear their every apathetic whisper.

Max - "I can't believe how weak he is."

Ray - "He doesn't deserve Dranzer."

Tyson - "I thought he could do better. He's not the blader he used to be."

Flashbacks and a distorted reality engulfed his mind like a dark thunder cloud with lighting ripping through its core. Blakes' voice cracked like a thunderbolt whip, each word took its pound of flesh. "I will bring YOU DEATH so that I may bond with your bitbeast Dranzer and together we will usher in a new world order."The dream space went dark as Dranzers' phoenix call shattered the images in his mind like black glass."KAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW."

Kai snapped awake and bent forward as his chest heaved for air. The nightmare was over; the one he was dreaming anyway. His pale skin glistened with sweat in the daylight of a window to his left and his calloused hands shook. His mouth parted as he deeply panted and his sharp eyes darted around the room. To his right was his grandmother asleep on a chair, her body was contorted into a cat like curl with her knees up to her chin, a blue hospital blanket was wrapped around her shoulders as she snoozed serenely within it. A small amount of drool had escaped her thin lips and trailed down her chin as she lightly snored with her mouth open. Kais' nerves instantly settled. Her presence alone had calmed him as he side-smiled adoringly at her.

As his breathing and mentality settled he scanned the new room around him. He had woken up the previous day in a tight windowless space with a pink drape surrounding his bed. It was noisy with footsteps and beeping machines...but this was not the same place. He was now in a quiet room with just him and his Grandmother. He could feel a warm light from the sunrise stroke his left side through the gaps of blue linear blinds drawn across a large window. Ahead of him was an ajar door. Kai arched his heavy dual-toned head over the beds' edge to get a better look. He could see the rim of a western style toilet seat, a shower head attached to the wall and a drain on the floor which made up a wet room. To his right, behind his snoozing Grandmother was the only way in or out. The words "Patient Room 12" stickered on the opposite side of the frosted glass window part of the door, the rest of it was wooden and stained white. The walls were a sky blue and the floor was light grey linoleum. The room was mostly bare aside from a hand sanitiser pump, medical glove box attached to the wall and a tiny fire extinguisher. Furnished around his bed space was his medical apparatus. The machines had been muted from the incessant beeping noise and silently fed information of his heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and blood pressure to a screen nearby. Neighbouring the monitor were fluid bags hooked onto a metal rack, an IV line connected the watery bags and led to an embedded needle and affixed with see-through tape to keep it in place on the back of Kais' left hand. Patient 12 explored the rest of his forearms and fingered evidence where a cannula used to be near the bend of his right elbow; of which he never remembered being there... a piece of white gauze affixed with sticky tape now took its place. He pulled at the loose gown fabric around his neck line and peered inside at the sticky pads attached to the skin of his white chest which linked to coloured blue and red wires attached in turn to his heart rate monitor. The view further down inside his tent-like dress was a large padded section of thick gauze around 10 inches square tapped down to the area Blakes' dagger had entered him. He wanted to peel it across and meet the injury that nearly ended his life but that would have to wait until he was feeling a little more awake. Further down under his gown was something more alarming...and embarrassing...he was wearing a white padded adult nappy. The thought knotted his stomach...at some point he had been naked for all the nurses to see and his face turned a shade of pink. He wondered how on earth he was so clean when his one of his last memories was being saturated from nave to feet in his own blood. His pink shade darkened and a wave of nausea made him feel giddy with the thought of nurses scrubbing his naked man-bits to clean the blood away. To avoid any awkward questions as to why he was looking at his torso and genital region he abruptly dropped the fabric of his gown and continued his search for other changes to his body. His legs felt heavy but warm and comfortable as he flexed his toes beneath the blue hospital blanket. Wrapped around his right wrist was a loose white plastic hospital band. Amethyst eyes squinted to read the typed black lettering. Printed on it were...

Name – Hiwatari, Kai

Sex – Male

DOB – 02/08/1990

Blood Type – AB

DOA – 10/07/2019

Doctor – Dr S. Temeda

Patient 12 twisted his wrist to find a large bar code next to the lettering, assumedly for nurses to scan for immediate access to medical history. Upon the continued inspection of his hands the lilac eyed man finally noticed a blue glowing oximeter clamped to his right index finger. He repeatedly twisted his hand from front to back; inspecting it.

"Kai baby...you're awake at last." Croaked Izumi as she stirred awake. She began unravelling herself into a seated position as she rubbed the crust of drool off her chin.

He took a second to relax himself back into high pillows. His vocal chords were still raspy from the damage of the breathing tube. "Grammie. How long was I out?"

The arousing grandmother rubbed her whole face awake with two weary old hands, and then sat up straight as the blue blanket fell off her shoulders and down to her lap. "You were admitted around midday on Saturday. Today is Tuesday. You've been out for just under 3 days... But none of that matters now... how are you feeling my baby?"

Kai took a moment to absorb the news and immediately felt a surge of anger for the time stolen from him...and of course the loss of his Bitbeast. He didn't remember much of the day before and his jarred arrival back to consciousness. He did however remember the moment he learned Dranzer was gone and vaguely the despair afterwards...and then nothing more up until this point. His mind snapped back to his grandmothers' question. She had dragged her chair closer and was now holding onto his right hand with the oximeter included. Her amethyst eyes sparkled in the sunrise peeping through the blinds as his youthful hand belittled her wrinkled ones.

Kai hesitated with his answer and read her old loving face. She was bone-tired and dark bags hung under her eyes from lack of rest and worry of the last 3 days. Not to mention the days prior to that caring for her husband; Kais' Grandfather with his leg injury. She had traded one stressful episode in a hospital for another.

"I'm fine Grammie." He said as he glanced away from her.

Izumis' face scowled with scepticism. She knew he was lying from the light sweat on his whitish skin and dullness in his eyes. In reality...he felt sickly, weak and tired like never before. He could feel a tension building in his temples and another flicker of nausea in his tummy. His face met back with hers. Fatigue mirrored in both of their pale faces as well as their identical iris colour.

Kai rasped whilst gently squeezing her hand. "Go home and get some rest Grammie. You look exhausted."

Izumi scolded sharply. "I will do no such thing my Grandson." Her voice then softened into a tired giggle at the end of her sentence as she stretched her arms outwards, her elbows cracking as she did. "Although sleeping on a bed does sound nice."

Kai knew he wasn't going to get rid of his Grandmother that easily but had to try.

Kai -"Where are Tyson and the others?"

Izumi chuckled as she straightened her legs out with more bone cracking. "Your friends are real characters aren't they? I'm so glad to have finallllllllllly met them... despite the circumstances."Kai instantly understood her words were a dig at him for not introducing them sooner.

Kais' voice was harsh and flat. "Yes Grammie. There's a reason for that."

Izumi joked. "Oh they're not that bad. Hilary is a sweet girl; I like her. Kenny is very polite. Ray...he's got some stuff going on but I think he's a good boy, Max he's cute as a button, Daichi...that thing needs a cork in his throat sometimes and Tyson...he's..."

Kai flatly quizzed with a glum face. "Emotional? Intrusive?"

Izumi smiled warmly. "Yes hahah...but above all... loyal. They really care about you Kai. All of them actually...even the ones not on your beyblade team...the pink-haired girl and the American with glasses, Emma I think her name is. Mr Gottlieb too...for the first couple of days he wouldn't leave your bedside...and then...gosh... there's your security staff."

*Knock knock*A mammoth dark shadow could be seen on the other side of the frosted glass pane of the door.

Kai's head pricked up and his heart rate elevated. He didn't feel ready for guests and hated the thought of anyone seeing him like this...in a hospital bed... secretly wearing an adult nappy, practically useless and feeling like rubbish with soreness in his waist and back, a growing headache, grogginess from painkillers and with the knowledge that he hadn't had a shower or brushed his teeth for the last 3 days.

Izumi sweetly sung like all old ladies do. "Come in."

The doorknob twisted and in walked the human tank known as Mr Cooper. The mahoosive African American man with a lighting strike scar down his face wore classy black glasses and his frame was almost as tall as the low ceiling. His black Kevlar uniform was crisp, clean and on point. Behind his back were a bunch of pink and yellow flowers; their stalks being crushed in his hand.

He stepped closer to the bedridden Kai Hiwatari who was bemused and slightly outraged that his employee had seen him in anything other than a designer tailor-made suit. And what was worse...this employee had abandoned his post to give him...*Kais' eye twitched* flowers.

Mr Cooper brought the floral bunch round to his front and handed them to Izumi who was already reaching for them with a delighted grin. She loved flowers and took no time in burying her face into their scented petals.

Mr Coopers' voice was naturally deep and rolling with each syllable. "I just wanted to say on behalf of myself and the team...how happy we are to hear you are awake and doing well Boss. If there is anything you need...just holler. There are 30 of us operatives on site and you don't need to worry about a thing Boss. I will leave you in peace now."He bowed flawlessly. "Get well soon Boss." With his last words, he turned on his heels with rubber steel toe capped boots squeaking on the lino with each stride. He opened the door, walked through it and silently closed it behind him. For a hulk like man... he knew how to be gentle.

Kai had hand-picked Mr Cooper many years ago and the man had earned his merit as Kai's Head of Security time and time over. Kai liked him for his preference for action over words, and the words he did used were often short and to the point. The man came in, said what he needed to say and left. Direct, simple and not terribly emotional. Mr Cooper was easily one of Kais' most trusted and favourite employees, not that Kai told anybody that.

Izumi cutely sneezed from the pollen and said. "Mr Cooper and your security team have been wonderful. They've been quite a spectacle and the nurses have loved having them around. Mr Cooper has been personally over seeing your protection and has never been more than a few meters away."

Kai did his best to hide a side smile and thought how lucky he was to have such a dedicated employee; despite Mr Cooper being paid very well for the privilege.

Kai watched as his grandmother picked through the bunch of flowers, identifying each species and sniffing their rosy, sweet scents. She was relishing something other than the smell of hospital disinfectant and watching her enjoy herself brought a sense of calm to him too. The beyblader crossed his arms carefully so as not to un-clip or tangle wires, pushed his stiff backbone into the mattress, closed his heavy eyes and serenely began to drift off back to sleep.

Meanwhile a corridor away...

"Come on guys hurry up! Kai's waitin' for us."Complained Tyson as he stomped in front of the gang comprising of himself; Max, Ray, Hilary, Mariah, Kenny, Emily and Daichi. They had just scoffed a quick but plentiful breakfast and were now frog-marching to the private rooms of the general ward. Nurse Sakura had called them from a telephone in their family suite in the early hours to tell them Kai was being transferred to the General Ward and they had been buzzing ever since. It was official; Kai had left the ICU and was no longer in a life threatening critical condition. They had spent so long at the hospital now; they pretty much knew the hospital layout like the backs of their hands and knew exactly where to head.

Daichi shuffled his legs as fast as he could to keep in line with his blue haired pals' longer gait. "I wanna see Kai first." He demanded whilst his full stomach squelched. He and Kai hadn't much to do with each other in the past and after nearly losing one of his very few friends...Daichi was determined to change that.

Max was sweating with the warmth of the poorly ventilated hospital corridors; combined with speed-walking to keep up with his over eager team mates. "Wait up guys! I wanna see Kai too ya know!"

Kenny was forever the sensible voice of maturity. "Just remember guys. Kai's been through a lot and he might not be up for much chatting today. Try to rein it in a little... ok guys?! Tyson, Daichi and sometimes you too Max can be a bit...err over-excited."

Tyson retorted as he huffed with exertion. "Yeah yeah I hear ya Chief. Kai gets a bit touchy when we overcrowd him I know. But he needs us… even if he doesn't know it yet."

Ray didn't sweat nor pant. He was fit as a fiddle and kept up with Tyson with ease. "Remember Tyson, what we agreed at breakfast."His long hair braid whipped behind.

Tyson retorted. "Yeahh yeah I know. No mention of Dranzer or Shadow Vale in front of you know who."

Hilary felt knots in her stomach with the thought of seeing Kai again...only this time fully awake and prayed the TyDai duo to behave themselves. "You too Daichi! I know how your brain kicks in after your mouth. Keep your mouth shut about Dranzer or Blake or his creepy brotherhood family, got it?!" Despite her slim long pins she lagged a little behind with the other girls and Kenny.

Mariah was just as athletic as Ray but lacked his lengthy stride. "Kai's gunna have enough to deal with without worrying about brainwashed psychos coming to kill him at any moment. So make sure you watch what you say."

Ray turned to his love and nodded with agreement. Her pretty rounded face lit up as finally, he had acknowledged her after days of being prickly and emotionally unreachable. They hadn't held hands since forever and the bed they shared was ice cold. This morning however, the weather between them had changed as he shot her a stray smile at the breakfast table. The pinkette was hopeful this was the start of her Ray-Ray returning to his ol' wise an' chilled out self.

Although Emily was a full time tech geek now; she was still pretty nimble from years of tennis practise. Despite not being in the pro league anymore, she still had her athletic edge as she sped walked with the crowd of G-Revolution and the two White Tigers. "Exactly. He needs to focus on getting better and Dranzer is a sore subject. There's nothing he can do for Dranzer until he gets well anyway."

Daichis' legs looked like a road runner bird and his face was going as red as his hair with the effort. He and Tyson were clear front runners now. "I'm not gunna let you beat me this time Tyson."

Tyson gasped for breath. His lungs were heavy with how unfit he was. "Ohh...I didn't know it was a race Daichi. Well ok. It's on. I'm gunna be first to Kai if it's the last thing I do. Kai is MY best friend and MY HERO."

Daichi sweated more as the adrenaline hit his blood stream. "Oh yeah? Well you were last years' model. I'm gunna be Kais' NEW best friend."

Tysons' legs propelled faster in competition despite the dull ache in his ham strings and calf muscles. He grunted. "Yeah? Well we'll see about that!" A flash of fiery glances were exchanged between the panting duo, they growled at each other like dogs and then...the two ex BBA Revolution bladers zoomed off like two high powered race cars; leaving the others in their dust.

"Huhhh oh no you don't!" Hilary turned into an Olympic runner despite how flimsy, flat and unequipped her plimsolls were. "You two get back here this instant!

Max chuckled with a sweat drop and shrugged shoulders. "Ohhhh nooo. Tyson and Daichi are in for it now."

"SLAM." The door flung open and hit the wall behind. Izumi jumped out of her skin, shrieked "Gahhhhhhhhhh." And threw the bunch of flowers clean in the air. Kai was instantly wide awake as his folded arms shot up in surprise. His nerves were instantly shredded and the pulses of adrenaline returned his nausea tenfold and sent his head spinning.

He knew this was coming. Tyson and Co never made a quiet entrance and he felt immediately anxious about seeing them properly for the first time since...that day. His mind flashed back to his last clear memory of them. They and their bitbeasts' crashing on the wall of an impenetrable glass shield that none of them could even scratch. He remembered seeing them cry and scream and beg at him, only he could not hear a word of their calls. They had a front row seat to his agony as he bled out on the stadium floor and lost consciousness. His throat tightened as he wished they would go away. He wasn't ready for this reunion. Regardless; it was happening... and now.

In burst Tyson and Daichi, unannounced and battling each other with elbows... physically straining against the other to be first through the doorway. They ran to Kais' bedside, their trainers squeaked harshly as they stopped themselves from actually falling onto Kais' legs hidden under the blanket. Tyson's brown and Daichi's green eyes bore into Kai amethysts. They were panting and sweaty with multiple strands of hair straying out of place. Kai was far from amused. His face sported his classic Kai-special glare with dark grey eyebrows dangerously furrowed, dead straight lips and soul scorching eyes.

Grandmother Izumi was livid and instantly shot to her feet, her wrinkled hands were in balls and shaking by her thighs. She erupted before Kai could say a word. Her senior voice dripped with disgust. "How dare you two! My Kai is in a very fragile condition and the last thing he needs is you bursting in here and disturbing his rest." Her face was scarlet with anger as she snorted like a dragon. She rolled her lilac cardigan sleeves up ready to dish out a penalty for waking up her "baby" but was beaten to it as the "sweet and lovely Hilary" had run in from behind the pair, grabbed them both by their earlobes and smashed their heads together.

Kai felt the vibration of their bodies hitting each other and then the floor through his bed frame. He peered with a scowl over the side to see Tyson and Daichi seeing stars, drooling with sizeable ball shaped lumps growing from their hair. Tysons' favourite cap lay upside down on the floor all crooked and bent from the impact. Hilary towered above them with her slim arms on her hips, foot tapping, her floral top and mid length brown hair billowed in the open window breeze.

Izumi jumped back in admiration and gazed at the pretty brunette who had just knocked two boys unconscious with one swoop. "For such a skinny girl she has monster strength...I like her. She reminds me of me in my younger days." All anger simmered away as the disgruntled grandmother maniacally leered over the two young men twitching like road-kill on the floor and pursed her lips into an evil smile... pleased that punishment had been served.

The room was soon filled further by Max and Ray, followed closely by Mariah, Emily and finally Kenny.

The goggle haired tech-head knew this was going to happen and sweat dropped. "I'm so sorry about those two. They've clearly had a little too much sugar this morning and well, seeing Kai was all they've talked about since we received the call from Nurse Sakura."

Ray and Max headed straight for Kais' bedside. Max walked around the half dead Tyson whilst Ray stepped over a twitching Daichi effortlessly with his agile, white clothed legs. Kai was now met with a new set of blue and yellow pair of orbs. They looked fraught and just as nervous as he was. Only Kai was better at hiding his anxiousness and despite how crap he felt and ghostly pale he was... he held up his trademark stoic facade with his arms crossed and a straight face. Hilary, Mariah, Emily and Kennys' heads popped up behind Draciels' and Drigers' guardians, their eyes too filled with worry and begged for their chance to speak with him. They had all discussed at the breakfast table not to crowd him but it was difficult not to. Given all they had been through the last few days...they longed to be stuck to his side like Velcro.

Max trembled as he placed a tender hand on the edge of the mattress. "How are you Kai?"

Ray remained quiet, trying to analyse Kais' often hard to read face. All visitors held their breath waiting for an answer.

Kai turned his head to his left side to seemingly gaze out of the window and murmured with a raspy tone. "I'm fine I guess." It was a complete lie of course as his head spun and the sick feeling grew. As well as grieving for his lost Bitbeast; he still hadn't come to terms with a deep body wound and itched to explore the true damage beneath the dressings.

Out of the whole gang aside from Kai of course; Ray was the most observant and he knew instantly Kai was not fine. The thin shimmering layer of sweat and tired streak in his face told Ray all he needed to know.

Hilary piped up. "It's good to hear your voice finally Kai."

Emily was quick to test her boundary. "It's ok if you're not fine Kai. What you went through medically was a big deal. It's ok if you don't feel great." She knew her comment should have prompted a reaction from the tough as nails beyblader. Any mention of him being weak and he would have verbally put her in her place. When he didn't...she knew. He's not himself and perhaps his grandmothers' right; he needs his rest.

Izumis' eyeballed the many concerned faces in the room, analysing each one and once deciding none would do him harm; she relaxed with gratitude that Kai had so many friends who cared about him as if they too were family. Her creaky body was aching from days of sitting and sleeping in chairs and she begged for a few hours of decent slumber. The thought of a mattress, a stack of pillows and a thick duvet was heaven. She flexed her back into her tummy with a crack, yawned and turned her head to her Grandson. "I'm going to head back to my family suite now to get some proper sleep and I'll be back later my love, if that's ok with you?"

Kai turned his head to lock eyes with her and felt a tug of contentment that she was finally going to get the rest she sorely deserved. He nodded and gave her a discreet smile.

She picked up her black rectangular hand bag and flung the strap across her body. Super Grandma took form. She produced a long arthritic index finger and poked at every one of Kais' new visitors like a witch about to cast a spell. Her voice was warning and rough. "Now if I hear that any of you have upset my Kai in any way, I will punish you. Do you hear me?" All heads furiously nodded to humour her. Tyson and Daichi especially took her deadly serious as they clambered to their feet, nursing their newly swollen bumps and cried "Yes Maaam" as if addressing a drill sergeant.

All heads watched as the Jekyll and Hyde senior scooped up the bouquet she had launched earlier from behind the door and adopted the flowers into her arms. She then walked out the room backwards, gave Kai a soft and fluttering wave with a sorry looking face as her motherly instincts screamed not to leave him... and with a whimper; closed the door.

Tyson straightened himself, slapping any debris off his jeans and retorted. "Phew your Grandma is scary Kai. Now I see where you get some of your traits from." The bluenette spun his torso to see Hilary, Ray and Emily un-amused and quite frankly getting real tired of Tysons' jesting and it was only just past 8am.

The bey-champ was straight in with his questions. He hadn't heard Kais' earlier answer due to his time spent semi conscious on the floor preceding Hilarys' very justified beating. "How ya doing buddy?" He quipped as he replaced his dented in shape red cap.

Patient 12 wasn't going to answer the same question twice and appeared to close his eyes with disinterest. A headache was beginning to take hold and closing his eyes helped with the throbbing intensity of it.

Tyson retorted with a light joking tone. "Your patented move huh? I never thought I'd say this but I've actually missed your cold shoulder routine."

Kai felt a fresh wave of nausea hit his already frangible senses. Tyson had poked him and he was in no mood to jab back... or in any condition to up and walk away like he so often used to do.

Max was not having any more of Tysons' mockery and had to say something before somebody with stronger words did. He chuckled but had a serious message. "Tyson... cut Kai a break will ya. He's probably very tired ya know. You burst in here unannounced and you deserved that bump to your head. Kai said earlier he's feeling ok so let's just move on."

Kai detested Max speaking for him but felt secretly grateful for his comment... the "let's move on" part. His nerves were on a cliff edge and his pale sweaty skin was losing grip. His nausea feeling was peaking.

Hilary was the last to notice but the first bold enough to say something about it. "Say are you sure you're ok Kai?" Her delicate features expressed concern for her old team mate. Kais' face had gone pure white, his face muscles relaxed, his bottom jaw slightly hung as he opened his dull eyes and clutched his tummy...all the signs of somebody about to throw up.

Ray exclaimed with a rushed tone. "I don't care what he says, he's DEFINITELY not ok!"

Max sweat dropped and began rubbing the back of his head and chortled. "Oh noooohoooo somebody is a little green around the gills."

Daichi double sweat-dropped with panic. "Errrrr Kai you want us to ya get a bowl or somethin'?"

Emily ordered with higher panic. "What are you waiting for Tyson? Go call a nurse!"

Tyson took no time in rushing to the door, thrusting it open with his sweaty tanned hands with such force it clashed against the back wall. His head popped out to the nurses flitting about the other rooms and General Ward reception desk...his bellowing voice dripped with urgency. "NURSE! WE NEED A NURSE IN HERE!"

"There now that should make you more comfortable." Said a young female nurse in a dark blue uniform with black hair in a bun, with brown eyes and tanned asian skin. She pulled a now empty syringe away from the port of Kais' cannula on the back of his hand. She briefly analysed his vitals, jotted them down on paper, and folded it away in a grey file, then finally backed away to join her patients' on looking fretting friends.

Moments earlier... This same nurse had rushed in and thrust a hard brown paper bowl under Kais' chin; just as he ejected the contents of his practically empty stomach. Kai had never done anything so undignified in his life but felt too ill to care. The nurse offered him a small disposable plastic cup with water to wash away any nasty taste in his mouth and laid him back into his pillows. As the newly injected medication started to work and his nausea swept away, he settled into a quiet slumber. Vomiting; as well as the humiliation had drained him.

Tyson and Co had tried their best to muffle their various cries of "Ewwwwww" "Poor Kai" and trying not to vomit themselves with the smell. They opened the window as wide as it would go and proceeded to question the nurse whilst their sickly friend napped before them.

Tyson – "Miss...What's wrong with him? I thought he would be alright now that he's awake."

Nurse – "I'm afraid Mr Hiwatari has quite a road to recovery ahead of him. He's on some very strong painkillers for his injury... and one of the most common side effects of Morphine is nausea so don't be too concerned. This can be quite normal especially if the person is not accustomed to taking painkillers."

Emily – "Oh I see he's on the really good stuff then huuh. He should be pretttttty comfortable then."

Max – "Oh Yeah I remember when Kai cut his hand once whilst training before a tournament during the First World Championships. Dranzer returned to his hand with a chipped attack ring and slashed his palm. He barely made a sound as the first aid team at the stadium stitched him up. He took it without any numbing or painkillers and he even returned to training straight afterward. I can't imagine Kai takes painkillers or medicine for anything unless absolutely desperate. I wish I was as tough as he is."

Kenny – "Yeah he's a tough cookie our Kai. Tough as old boots. Kai will be back on his feet in no time."

Nurse – "I'm afraid he's gunna be laid up in that bed for a while. Kai has lost some of his muscle mass already due to not moving much for the last 3 days and the extensive blood loss has really taken it out of him. He will need physiotherapy to build enough muscle back up to walk again." She paused and glanced at her open notes in the file. "He is anaemic too which will make him feel extra tired. Combine anaemia, dehydration and the physical trauma with the cocktail of antibiotics, painkillers and now the anti sickness medication he's just received...he will not be doing much today or for the rest of the week for that matter. Mr Hiwatari is not going to be discharged from this hospital any time soon."

Daichi – "Oh maaaannn, that really sucks for Kai...and us. That means were stuck here until he gets better right Tyson?"

Tyson hung his head with his fists clenched. Daichis' question went unheard. "Oh Kai. This is just not fair."

Ray warned with his arms crossed and a fraught face. "He's not gunna like this news...not one bit. Kai is not the type to sit in bed all day."

Kenny – "I have to say how alarmingly skinnier Kai now looks. He's certainly lost a few pounds in the last few days.

Max nodded. "I agree Kenny. Kai never had any fat on him to begin with."

Nurse – "That'll be muscle atrophy for you. It's quite common for bedridden patients, even for short periods of time. Especially for patients with low body fat and high metabolisms. When the body goes through trauma and doesn't get enough calories, it takes energy from fat and muscle, resulting in muscle loss. In your friends case I'd say the ICU massively underestimated his energy needs. We just need him to eat, eat, eat and he will regain his strength in no time."

Hilary felt the mood lowering in the room and she bounced to rectify it. "Look guys, Kai's gunna be fine. He's never been one to take a fight lying down. He just needs a day or two to rest up and he'll be back to his old self before we know it."

Daichi snorted. "Whaaat? Hahaha back to his old self?...What...quiet and miserable? HAHAHA." His insult to Kais' nature landed him in instant hot water with a triple attack from the 3 girls. Hilary sharply kicked her plimsoll heel into his shin. Then Mariah clammed a hand over his mouth to silence his scream, followed by a glare from Emily. The ginger mouthed the words. "You make any more noise and I'll throw you out of the window." He fought for breath under Mariahs' tigeress like grip and muffled."I'm Soowwwwrrryyyy" through her fingers.

The nurse rolled her eyes at Mr Hiwataris' strange visitors and fought with herself as to whether her patient was safe to be left alone with them. "I'll leave you now as I have other patients to tend to. Just remember... Mr Hiwatari needs peace and quiet." she sternly warned and exaggerated the PEACE and QUIET words as she exited the room.

3 hours later.

Kai had been in and out of slumber for the last hour or so. His eyes flickered open and closed, he would drift off and then arouse again. He lay flat on his bed with the thin blue blanket covered up to his torso. The window was wide open and a warm summer breeze tunnelled through his slightly open neckline of the hospital gown and over his chest. His cannula itched the top of his hand and his mind wandered as to when he might be able to remove it. He hated the thought of something invading his body but understood that medically he probably still needed it.

It was nearing the middle of the day and the blinds were still drawn so that the room wasn't too light for Kai to sleep. He felt deeply disorientated for not knowing the exact time; not that it mattered. For once he didn't have a business meeting or conference call scheduled and secretly liked the new freedom from a usually packed diary. He would have slept for longer if it wasn't for ...noises in the room. Kai could barely hear himself breathe over the irritating sounds engulfing the room. His eyes remained shut as he determined what each of the sounds were and who made them. TAP TAP TAP the unmistakable sound of Kennys' fingers smashing away at Dizzis' keyboard. Phone message sounds as Emily received WhatsApp and Facebook messages and hadn't the sincerity to silence them. Scribbling noises as a pencil or pen scratched at the semi rough surface of paper...that would be Hilary drawing or writing. More tapping...a foot perhaps from somebody with restless leg syndrome...Ray? Daichi? Or both? Cloth being waved back and forth making a swishing noise; that had to be Tyson fanning himself with his cap. Lastly; chewing...the most irritating nerve crunching sound on the planet. Daichi or Max chewing on a candy bar...nope it had to be both of them. The chewing sounds were coming from separate ends of the room.

Kai could bare it no more. Each chew and gulp of a bite of whatever they were eating, each tap on a key board, each scribble noise, each woosh of a foot or breathing other than his own had royally irked him and if murder was legal he would have massacred the whole lot of them with his bare hands. His bloodshot eyes opened, he creaked his head to the right like Dracula coming back to life... and death-glared at them. Tyson and Co had settled on the floor of his tiny room. Each and every one of his predictions was correct.

His friends had each "quietly" occupied themselves. By the door sat on grey padded chairs were Ray, Mariah and Daichi. One of Rays' long legs was extended whilst the other bounced up and down on his heel. His arms wrapped around his chest as Mariah snoozed with her head rested on his shoulder. Daichi was in fact eating a Lion bar whilst his foot tapped the floor with excess bodily energy. Tyson was next to him, sat on the chair Kais' Grandmother was found sleeping on in the morning, and Kai was right...Tyson fanned himself with his cap whilst resting his eyes in the heat of the room. To his left by the end of his bed was Max, Hilary, Emily and Kenny; each sat cross legged on the hard floor. The tech head was naturally busy on his laptop, Emily was on her phone...as another distinct notification sound popped up, Hilary...yep colouring in. And lastly... Max...chewing on skittles. For such a tiny room there was very little floor space left and surprising that they all fit in, especially as they weren't skinny teens anymore.

Max was wired and well awake. The skittles were doing a grand job as the sugar and window breeze kept him alert and fresh. "Oh Kai you're awake. I know you're gunna get sick of the question real quick but I have to ask. How are ya feelin? Any better?"

Kenny quipped as his fingers never ceased typing."Poor choice of words there Max. "Sick of the question?" Hehe sorry Kai I had to pick up on that one."

"Come on guys. Kai's gunna get sick and tired of all this jokin' around. Hehehe." Tyson couldn't help himself either and chuckled at his own immaturity as he ceased fanning himself.

Kais' eyebrows and lips stretched as flat as a ruler. He was most unimpressed with his friends corny puns and jokes at the best of times. The blue oximeter slapped against his forehead and as he face-palmed and let out a deep sigh. "This is gunna be a long day" he muttered under his breath.

He felt vulnerable laying down with so many people surrounding him, not a position he was used to or liked and sought a more seated position. He used his weak trembling arms to hoist his body upwards and then stretched and dragged his torso up the bed. Despite the heavy painkillers he moaned in pain with the movement. A ripple of hurt had awakened at the stab site where his torso had just stretched and promised himself not to move anymore unless absolutely necessary. His waist wound now throbbed and Kai detested how fragile it made him feel. On the up side...his head felt clearer now, his skin wasn't clammy anymore and the nausea had completely disappeared. For the first time in days, he was coherent and able to think straight. He watched as his friends put boredom breakers aside, staggered to their feet, stretched, yawned and surrounded his bed. They drew closer to inspect him.

Emily – "You certainly look a little brighter."

Hilary – "Yeah and you have some colour back. Kai you went as white a sheet."

Tyson – "Kai doesn't wanna hear that Hilary. Kai you're looking much better now dude. Just goes to show how important sleep is. Now you know why I have alot of it. Hahahah."

Mariah – "Yeah it's good to see you sitting up Kai. You feelin better?"

Kai despised that fact Mariah and Emily were there. It was one thing for the guys... his own team mates to see him bedridden and hooked up to painkillers but it was outright unacceptable for his beyblade rivals to see him... weak.

He gritted his teeth as he began to feel enclosed and watched like an animal in a zoo. To be pitied for its lack of freedom. Kai stared at the windowsill and remained silent, his face bolt straight and difficult to read.

The gang including Kai felt awkwardness so thick they could slice it with a knife. Hilary wondered if her "white as a sheet" comment had upset him. Kai was an anti social person and not the friendliest guy but Tyson and Co hoped he would open up to them a little more; especially after all they had been through. Kai on the other hand just wanted them to leave.

Kai cleared his throat with a couple of closed mouth coughs and finally spoke his mind with a sore but stern voice. His eyes clenched and his arms crossed. "You guys can go now. Leave me be. I don't want you seeing me like this."

Hilary had a disgusted tone. "Huhhhhh no way Kai. You're stuck with us for good. We..are..not...leaving you."

Max was alight with defiance and patriotism as he extended a thumb up. "Yeah Kai we promised your Grandmother we wouldn't leave you alone and were sticking with that promise."

Rays stance was towering. "Yeah nice try Kai but we're not going anywhere. You're stuck with us whether you like it or not."

Tyson – "Yeah dude. I'm not gunna do anything to upset your grandmother. She's scary when she wants to be."

Kai side smirked and then quickly covered it with a dis-satisfied pout. He knew they weren't going to leave but had to try anyway. He was too weak to argue with them and they were right...if they broke their promise to his "Grammie" there would be hell to pay for them... not to mention he too would get it in the neck for sending them away. Between upsetting his grandmother and putting up with Tyson and friends bad jokes...the latter was the lesser evil.

Mere minutes had passed when the door knob turned and in walked the petite black haired nurse from earlier. "I see you're looking much perkier now Mr Hiwatari. I have some lunch for you." She carried with her a thin silver tray held at her waist height with a couple of blue plastic bowls complete with lids, a pair of chopsticks, asian style soup spoon, sachet of soy sauce, a small pile of napkins and a plastic cup of water.

Instantly there was a round of "Hmmmmmmmmmm" "Ohhhh I'm starving" "Ohhhh me too!" "Is it lunch time yet?"

The nurse wiggled her way through the room of young people with noses in the air and in varying states of drooling.

Tyson teased. "MMMMMmmmmmmmm no fair Kai. Why do you get to eat in bed? Hahaha."

Emily retorted with a smirk. "Might be something to do with the fact you can walk your butt to the canteen and get your own meal Tyson."

Max rubbed his belly and licked his lips. "Hmmmmmm it must be lunchtime by now. What have you got Kai?"

Daichis' belly squelched. "Heyyy nursey. Where's mine? Hehehe."

The Nurse placed the tray table onto Kais' flat lap and pulled the tops off the bowls to reveal one with miso soup with pieces of leek floating and the other had plain rice with some sesame seeds and shredded cooked egg in it.

Tyson, Max, Mariah, Ray, Kenny and Daichi hawk-eyed the freshly cooked food; of which was to a very high standard given it was served in a hospital. Wispy steam emanated from the bowls as the culinary aroma filled the air.

Kai took a glance down at the uninvited meal that now sat on his groin area. He jostled his crossed arms tighter, his face pointed away from it and murmured in a low voice. "I'm not hungry."

Tyson exclaimed as he half lunged onto the bed. "Whatd'ya mean you're not hungry. You haven't eaten in days!"

Rays' hands perched on his hips. "Yeah Kai you gotta eat to get your strength up. You wanna get outta here don't you?"

Hilary begged as she clutched her hands together. "Come on Kai. Don't you wanna eat just a little bit?"

Emily added. "If you don't eat Kai, you will only delay your recovery."

Mariah guessed maybe Kai didn't like rice or miso soup. "Is it the food? Do you want anything else?"

Max was more than eager to make another visit to the vending machines down the hall. "I can get you some candy if you would prefer that. Chocolate bar? Peanut bar? Gummy bears?"

Kais' lips pursed and his face veered away from them to look through the gaps in the slat blinds. His eyes were half open and his voice was dripped with agitation. "I said...I'm not hungry."

The nurse produced a collapsible wooden tray table that was stored beneath the hospital bed. It was just high enough for patients to reach the table easily to rest things like food trays, cups of water and books on. She folded out the table and took the tray from Kais' lap and placed it there. She replaced the lids back on the steaming dishes and crossed her arms as her gaze bore into her patients head side on. Kai made no effort to communicate with her but silently felt grateful she took his unwanted meal away from him.

The Nurse had some home truths for her stubborn patient. "It's quite normal for some patients not to be hungry right away after sedation but your friend is right, if you don't eat...you will only get weaker and have to spend longer in this hospital. If you haven't eaten by tonight I will have to put a note in your file that you are refusing food... and I'm afraid a doctor will have to be called to examine you."

Kai clenched his teeth at the words "examine you" and felt a flicker of nausea return. His hands clenched tight around his deflated biceps in their stoic folded position. He felt her presence walk away and she exited the room.

Tyson joined Ray with a "hands on hips" stance and sighed. "Oh Kai... what are we gunna do with you dude?"

Kai offered him no reply or changed his eye direction from his small window of the outside world through the blue hanging slats. He saw clouds float by and birds catch insects on the wings. He wished to be one of those sparrows and fly away from his hospital room prison... and over-bearing friends. Kai liked his peace and solitude and felt increasingly frustrated for being denied it.

Minutes later... another visitor came knocking. Kai wanted to yell at whoever it was to go away but opted for a disgruntled huff and a lip twinge as his grumpy eyes rolled over to the door frame; where a familiar face had just appeared.

"Mr H?" Questioned a sweet posh voice. In walked a very pretty 30 year old-something Japanese lady with long wavy black hair that lolled over to one side and trailed down her chest. She was wrapped in a tight grey ribbed office dress with black high heels. Her figure was tall even without the footwear. She was lean, well kept and clearly had a thing for Pilates. She had a small dark beauty spot above the right side of her top lip. Her lips of which were glossy and plump...as was her cleavage which was clearly a D cup and covered up beneath the cloth of the high chest dress. She wore a rose gold silver Rolex on one wrist and a loose rose gold chain on the other. Her right hand held a briefcase and from her left elbow hung a waxy red designer hand-bag. As she stepped inside, her perfect ebony hair shimmered and bounced in the half-shaded light of the room.

This woman could have been a lingerie model and the boys couldn't help themselves from gawping. Tyson, Max, Kenny and Daichi fought to stop themselves panting like dogs as love hearts emanated from their eyes. They were not little boys anymore and the opposite sex was just as interesting as beyblading.

Hilary, Mariah and Emily grimaced with disgust at how gross and desperate the boys were behaving. Tyson ran his hands through his hair and pulled the front of his t-shirt straight in a frantic attempt to tidy himself. Max had rushed to the bathroom to check he had nothing stuck in his teeth and check his hair in the mirror. Daichi leaned up against the wall and tried to look seductive but was failing pathetically and... Kenny just blushed and whispered to himself "She's an angel". Ray couldn't help but cheekily look up and down at her hourglass figure, coughed himself out of his infatuation and reminded himself of how swift his death would be if he was caught looking. He shuffled back to stand next to the only lady his heart truly desired... his pink haired lover and one day...future wife. Mariah side-eyed him with a golden eye and smiled. "That's my Ray. Good boy."Mariah and Emily shot each other a side look which said "Hnnmmp she's nothing special." Their jealousy was bubbling as they tried their best not to turn their noses up. Hilarys' interest was piqued and guessed ..."Is she Kais' girlfriend? She certainly looks like his type. Classy and I bet she's well educated... that or she's a high end escort."

The newcomers' voice was sweet and smooth. "Mr H? Oh I'm so so glad you are alright. You really had us worried." Water drops tucked in her eyelids sparkled as much as her diamond stud earrings. She took no notice of the others as she floated urgently past Tyson and Co. Her heels clip clopped on the lino as her expensive Lady Million perfume overpowered the smell of Kais' abandoned lunch. She took immediate command of the chair nearest to the hospital bed, sat down, leaned her handbag and briefcase against the chair and folded her legs wearing black tights under her seat.

Kai was peeved and rippled with embarrassment as yet another employee had come to visit him whilst in a hospital gown, wired up to monitors, had vomited less than an hour ago and couldn't be sure if he wasn't going to throw up again. "Megumi. What are you doing here?" He scowled with a flat croaky tone.

She leaned forward...her autumn amber eyes locked onto his stern amethyst ones. She leaned forward and placed a tender hand onto the side of his locked and crossed right arm.

Hilary felt excited as assumptions ran through her thoughts. "Oh my goodness she is his girlfriend. She's touching him. They're so close. Is she gunna kiss him?"

Emily scowled and fought not to make a disgusted face. She thought with sarcasm. "Oh great! She is his girlfriend. There goes my shot!"

Tyson gawped at the very attractive woman touching his best friends arm; tenderly and lovingly gazing into his eyes. He swiped his thumb across his nose. "Well Kai we want alllllllll the details later buddy hehehe!"

Max had returned from the bathroom with newly picked clean teeth just in time to see the scene unfold and thought. "Dammm she's your broad Kai. You lucky guy! You pulled a hot one there bud." He beamed with pride at his ex-team mate.

The lady named Megumi leaned in further and thus nearer to Kais' firm body; her amber eyes and lip gloss glinted. Her tears tipped over the edge of her perfect face and fell down her flawless complexion. Kais' face had relaxed from his scowl and didn't shy away.

Megumi - "Oh Mr H. I..."

Tyson and Co were on tenterhooks. Their eyes wide with anticipation and held their breaths so tight that their chests swelled and mouths dropped wide. Emily was seethingly jealous but had to watch...was they about to see their elusive and ever private Kai... and a girl...kiss?

*BANG* Slammed the door to the wall behind it. How the wall hadn't collapsed from the many impacts of the day was a miracle. However the structure did have crater-like indent marks from the door knob and cracks in the plaster.

"MR H! OH MR H!" The giant German COO of Hiwatari Enterprises had returned and was a tad emotional to say the least. He strode in without invitation with long demanding legs to behind his colleague in the chair. He wore fine grey suit trousers, a long-sleeved white office shirt with gold cuff links, shiny black shoes, Omega wrist watch and a dark brown tie. His greying brown curly hair was curled tight to his skull as always and his moustache was thick and in shaven order. It was hot and he had taken his suit jacket off which now hung over one arm and in the other... clutched a teddy bear wearing a tiny yellow t-shirt with the words "Get Well Soon."

Tears twinkled in his monolithic blue eyes. His face beamed down at the unhappy and scowling younger man in the bed. Kai stared with a flat expression up at the man who was officially his sub-ordinate and then at the gift in his hand*eye twitch* the teddy bear.

Mr Gottliebs' lip quivered and his moustache shook as streams of joyous tears befell his high cheeks and gushed onto the floor. "It's so good to see you awake. And up and talking nonetheless Mr H."

The young CEO tried to look as authoritarian as he could in a billowing hospital gown with a fatigued ghostly face. His voice was still raspy and sore. "What are you doing here Gottlieb? Megumi? Why aren't you at the office? Don't you have work to do?"

Gottlieb had straightened himself up and wiped a final tear away with his great european paws. His professional self would not allow him to whimper anymore and pulled himself together in timely fashion. His words were exact and posh with a slight undertone of German accent. "I'm afraid it is only a fly in visit Sir. Megumi and I are here on business and personal matters."

Gottlieb paused and locked eyes with his employer. Kais' intense gaze bore into him.

Gottlieb - "You need to know that I have been appointed the role of Acting CEO and as such... I have taken over your role within the company. As soon as you are fit and able to return to work; you will resume your title. As for the engineering department, I have pulled resources with Megumi, Midoria and Haruka and of course the senior engineers to keep things ticking over until your return. Turn-over has slumped but it's nothing we can't handle. We are postponing any new contracts from being finalised until you return also."

Kai understood the protocol in place to protect the interests of the company and yet it still burned that his title had been stripped from him; if even temporarily. "I see... How do you find being CEO?" He said with a twist of venom to his words.

Gottlieb picked up on Kais' disdain instantly. "Terribly hard work and quite frankly Sir, I cannot wait for you to return. Zhou is..." He stalled his last sentence as Megumi had snapped her neck round with lighting speed and shot him a dangerous look. She silently mouthed "SHUT UP" in a way Kai would not see her lips.

It was too late. Kai had already heard the name that caused his earlier years at Hiwatari Enterprises a living misery. "And what about Zhou? I deserve to know."

Megumi was now sat back straight in the chair and tried her best to smile reassuringly. "Don't worry about Zhou Mr H. We are watching him. He's just being obstinate as always. We have him under wraps, don't you worry about a thing."

Kai gave her a glare which telepathically said "I see straight through your mask Megumi."

She shuffled nervously as sweat trickled down her neck as she fake smiled and nervously chuckled. She thought."Who am I kidding? He sees everything. He knows there's something wrong. Quick...I must change the subject."

Gottlieb had seen Kai do this many many many times before; usually in a board room or his office. Kai would glare and barely breathe with his fingers locked together as he mentally picked people apart looking for weaknesses and lies. Those people were usually business associates, new suppliers, new interns and employees that stayed at the office a little longer than expected. Management especially were always examined under Kais' mental microscope.

Gottlieb coughed as Kai released Megumi from his psychological interrogation and was now aiming both barrels at him. "Umm Sir. I have other news. The conference call you had scheduled with Limited in Perth for 3 days ago was rescheduled and will resume when you return to work in a few weeks. The Sheikhs' son in Abu Dhabi sends his very best and wishes you a speedy recovery. He is more than happy to wait until you are back in office so to speak to continue with our agreement. And finally; I cancelled your flight to Berlin for tomorrow. I spoke with one of the nurses and she assured me you will be in the hospital for some time."

Kai became immediately peeved and his headache began to resurface with the fresh tension in his body. Anger began to bubble beneath his skin as his heart rate elevated. Blake had not only robbed him of his Bitbeast but threatened his family business too; add to that... the embarrassment of being pitied by business competitors. Kai wanted nothing more now than to be left alone to brood. He ground his teeth as he looked down at his empty lap. His voice rasped with anger, his head bowed low and hidden in the dark of his trailing thick hair. "Thankyou Gottlieb. Is there anything else?"

A tension rose in the room with Kais' downward switch in demeanour. His near-white fists gripped his bed sheets as the room began to feel claustrophobic, and sickening taste of self-pity made him want to vomit again. He could feel all eyes on him and hated every second of it.

Megumi had worked with Kai for long enough to know when he was raging inside and figured now was a good time to give him his space. "Sir we have one more thing to tell you."

Kai picked his head up and turned his head to his Chief Financial Officer. The woman who had been there from the day he inherited the keys to the Hiwatari Enterprises kingdom. His eyes were sharp with anguish but she knew they weren't aimed at her. He was a proud man and she knew this must be torturous for him to be laid up in hospital after nearly dying and hearing his crown has been taken away.

Megumi – "Only..." She rose from her seat, leaned over his bed, lifted her arms and embraced him as her chin brushed against his grey hair. Her boss, superior and...in her eyes a...friend.

"Only get better soon Sir."

It was an awkward embrace. She hugged him side on and he didn't make any attempt to embrace her back. He was too angry to even think about anything other than how sorry he felt for himself and fought not to throw up again. He could feel her hands curl around his head and neck as his face brushed up against her bosoms. Seconds into the "hug" he realised the side of his face was directly touching her breasts and what's more, his friends were watching. Her actions were inappropriate and although he largely hated it, he couldn't help but feel a little comforted by her gesture. He was felt like a physical and mental mess and was glad when she finally released him.

She picked up her briefcase and red hand bag and made towards the door.

Gottlieb stepped forward. His German colleague was the touchy feely type and Kai immediately leaned back towards the window so as to make it difficult for Gottlieb to do the same. He was not going to let another person hug him...least of all another of his subordinates. Man-on-man hugs were too weird and Kai point blank drew a line with them. He had seen other business associates do it and the French and Italians would even kiss each other on the cheeks. Kai could barely stand handshakes with some let alone hugs and kisses.

Gottlieb closed in next to his bed. "Here Sir. I got you this. I knew you would hate it." The giant corporate man placed the bear with the "Get Well Soon" t-shirt on Kais' lap and waited for a retort or for Kai to launch it across the room at him.

The beyblader scowled and his eye twitched. "And what am I supposed to do with this? This is weird Gottlieb. It's a grown man buying another grown man a present." He then smirked whilst fingering the ridge of the yellow bears' ears. Kai shook his head with how quirky his colleague was sometimes and looked up with just enough time to see Megumi and Gottlieb standing by the door and smiling at him.

Gottlieb – "Don't you worry about a thing Mr H. We'll take care of everything until you get back."

Megumi – "Take it easy boss and remember don't you come rushing back. You have weeks of holiday entitlement that you still haven't used up. Take some time for yourself for once. We can handle things at the company. Ok?"

Kai gave them no answer and only nodded and felt grateful they were finally leaving. He didn't know how much more he could take; the mushiness only added to his sick feeling. The young CEO watched as his two underlings bowed and opened the door to leave. His peripheral vision took sight of Tyson and Co standing to the foot of his bed; their eyes were scarily transfixed on him like a hawk on a rabbit and were brimming with questions.

Kai rubbed his tired face, sighed into his palms and thought. "Here we go. A million questions."

The second the door clicked shut, Tyson launched himself half onto Kais' legs under the blanket and burst. "WHO THE HELL WAS SHE? Kai?You had better start talking buddy. I want allllll the details!"

Hilary begged with bulbous brown eyes. Urgent for information. "Yeah Kai. Who was she? You have to tell us!"

Hi Guys! I was hoping to do this chapter in one shot but with 10600+ words so far; I thought I would break it down into 2 chapters. Chapter 21 coming up soon and will be building up for Chapter 23...for when it all kicks off ;P Thank you to all my new followers and new reviewers. And of course you Liven89 and the newbies following my storyxx