Hi Guys! Sorry its been a while. Hopefully back on the fanfic writing horse now and will hopefully have another chapter for you soon. Stay Safe and thankyou to everyone that leaves me reviews. I seriously am so grateful and I love re-reading them. Thankyou!
Chapter 32.
Blake's demonically twisted face ceased further as his snarling pupils shrunk to pin-pricks in their orbs of glowing scarlet. His brain and body froze as he quickly registered what Kai meant by "turn around." The cocked gun click chorus was unmistakable. The duo now had company, and lots of them.
The regal beyblader emotionally sighed of relief, a breath of solace even the knife pressed against his windpipe could not prevent. His private cavalry had finally found him at last. He dropped his eyelids for a long blink as he lightly smirked. He wasn't about to die just yet and if Blake was to take his life right here and now, this time...there would be no escape. Justice at least would be served by the hands of his employ. There would be no jury and no trial; he'd likely be executed on the spot or at least dragged to a military black site and interrogated under Mr Coopers' direction... and most importantly Dranzer would be safe. The young tall and handsome CEO cockily hissed. "Say hello to my security team...Blake."
Keeping sure to hold pressure to the phoenix guardians' throat with his would-be murder tool, the Shadow Vale blader slowly cranked his head like Frankenstein to the left to peer at the uninvited crowd behind him. His heart drew to an almost non-existent beat as his blood ran cold, and a sharp shiver of electric adrenaline jolted through his core. His distinctive purple cape, usually so flowing with malicious energy lay limp at his back and hung between his parted legs like a dog with his tail tucked under.
Blakes' world became stifling and small. Newborn sweat drops quickly grew and slid down his tanned cheeks, tickling all the way down from his forehead... for behind him stood Kai Hiwataris' private militia; whose sole purpose was to protect the life and safety of whomever they were deployed to. The man he held hostage had handpicked, trained and paid every one of them well. Nobody could be higher on the list of top priority assets as their very employer. The one christened with the call sign "The King."
15 security operatives of different race, gender and hair colour, each wearing uniform black sunglasses and the crispiest, professional military clothing blocked the entire corridors' width like a giant shadow of muscle and combat expertise. The mass of black Kevlar soldiers with batons and handcuffs hanging from sleeves on their belts stood in rows of three, with five guards in a line allowing just enough room for the operative behind to have eyeballs on their target. Their black shiny boots stood firm with parted legs as the front wave of them extended muscled arms outwards, some of which were decorated with war wound scars or tattoos like Mr Coopers' arm... inked with a faded United States Marine crest with a world image, American flag and bald eagle with a knife in its talons.
Each member of the squad had the hard black grip of a hand gun nestled in the crutch of their palms and a single finger wrapped around a trigger, poised and cocked...ready to go and heavy with a full cartridge of bullets. The two rows behind them too were locked and loaded too but pointed their firearms towards the floor so as not to point their guns at the backs of the heads of their comrades. Still, they readied to move and shoot if the front liners needed backup. Blake would not be going anywhere in their direction.
Intermingled in the front row of stab proofed and scarily intimidating wall of ex military with backgrounds ranging from the US Marines, to SAS, Ex Yakuza, to Israeli freedom fighters, to decorated army heroes... stood four casually dressed beybladers. One, wearing a baseball cap with jeans and sneakers, another with red spiky hair, wearing an open orange chequered lumberjack shirt and the other two adorned in red, orange and grey ethnic wear. In each of their palms and digits were other kinds of launchers complete with ripcords, they were ready to fire with an arsenal just as ballistic, and far more destructive than a single bullet...beyblades.
To the far left by the corridor stood a male with black hair, a Nepalese Ghurka pin on his black shirts' lapel around 40 years of age and around 5ft11. Next to him on his right was Ozuma with the much taller Dunga at his side. To his left stood Tyson, then the giant Mr Cooper with tall Tala at the far right of the wall. The Beychamp, Saint Shield duo and single Blitzkrieg Boy had argued and barged their way through to the front line of battle despite Team Halos' opposition. Mr Cooper had tried to hold all four of them back for their own protection and the safety of the negotiation but the quad were having none of it. Especially Tyson, whose loud mouth in protest risked giving away their surprise advancement and close to ruining their silent creep into position. The front row of Kais' operatives hung close to the beyblading boys with their pistols aimed clear over their heads.
Mr Cooper naturally stood charge in the centre front. He had some experience dealing with terrorist negotiations during missions and tours abroad but nothing like this and certainly not on home turf in Japan. He'd given strict orders to operatives not shoot any weapons and that included the beybladers unless absolutely necessary and at his order. The guns were to act as a scare tactic and visual deterrent rather than to enact a cowboy style shootout. The CEOs' safety was the pinnacle of the operation and given how small the corridor, the risk of a bullet ricocheting and hitting Kai or back at one of them was too high. The tight stuffy windowless corridor was a powder keg of danger and everyone was under strict instruction to do as exactly Captain Cooper said.
Prior to their rescue formation the four beybladers were unceremoniously dragged by the scuffs of their clothing to a corner for their own stern and special civilian debriefing. Tala was almost ejected from the team but after a quick background search showing his history with Kai as a Blitzkrieg Boy and with much pleading from Tyson that Tala could be trusted; he was accepted into the fold. Each of the young men were issued a deadly warning. Mr Coopers bull-like form knelt and took off his black shaded glasses so that he could gaze intimately and coldly with each member. He silently took his gun out of a hidden compartment in his belt, cocked it and placed the tip against Tysons' knee, assumedly with the safety catch on.
In a deep and masterful voice he sprayed the quad with a warning. "If you do anything to bungle this operation that results in Mr Hiwatari being injured or killed I will shoot all four of you in your knee caps. Do you hear me? I will go to prison, I'll do my time but I swear to fuckin' god himself I'll have you all in a wheelchair for the rest of your lives. Is this understood?"
To which Tyson and Dunga nodded profusely so hard they were like a toy head bangers and whispered "YES SIR!" in unison. Tala and Ozuma gulped, then nodded, they knew the professional brute was under a lot of pressure. All four were grateful they'd got their way in being allowed to be involved in the delicate critical standoff. They weren't going to just sit back and twiddle their thumbs until the whole thing was over, not whilst they had sharp edged beyblades to aid "negotiations" if things went sour.
Daichi and Hilary hung at the very back of the troop. As Hilary didn't have a beyblade she would only be in the way and resigned to stay protected at the rear. Daichi still suffered the painful spasms in his core exacted by Harkans' cruel attack from earlier and like the brunette, would only hinder the operation; there was no room for bystanders. He grouched and groaned doubled over whilst clutching onto Hilarys' grey skirt to hold himself as upright as he could without pulling down her clothing. The young sideliners stood behind the furthest back operatives...Mr Kovalenko, Ms Ghazi and a tall eastern European male. The trio of highly trained guards watched over the rear of the troop in case of a sneak attack from the allies of Kai's captor.
Shortly after Team Halo pulled their firearms into view out of concealed holsters and various hiding places in their uniforms, Hilary whispered a question. Despite her worry for Kai, her curiosity got the better of her. "Hey I've got a question. I thought you guys couldn't carry guns in Japan. It's against the law right?"
Mr Kovalenko whispered with a thick Albanian accent. With his shades on and his towering stature she wasn't even sure if he was looking at her as he spoke. "There are loop holes for Defence Contractors young lady."
Ms Ghazi stated with the same statuesque body language and stoicism in a feminine Middle Eastern accent. "Also we have comrades in the security CCTV room turning the camera as we speak."
Hilary muttered within herself with a scared sweat drop. "So not that legal then if you don't want to be seen carrying handguns. Oh Kai, you do like to bend the rules."
Daichi gawped in awe at the two guards and thought how fun it must be to be the CEO of Kais' company with all his rare and outlandish resources. "Oh maaaaan Kai has all the cool stuff. I want my own security team!"
Meanwhile, the rest of the corridor inhabitants, as well as poor Kai were on a serrated edge.
The Young CEOs' demeanour was steely and brave despite the golden blade pressing a shallow cut along its length on the left side of his delicate throat. His emblazoned lilac shaded eyes however were beginning to dull as his inner fire was running out of kindle. His face drew paler as the exhaustion begun to take its toll on his appearance, his body begged for rest, to just shut down and heal whilst his mind soldiered on, keeping his brain somewhat alert through the fog of Morphine, and fatigue of dealing with a deep almost life-ending wound that was still fresh and weepy beneath the bandages. He was rapidly running out of time as fainting became a close possibility. He had pushed himself too far already and the day was still young. Still, he hung on with a stoic cold scowl and waited intently for Blakes' or his security teams' next move. The arrival of the latter should have reassured him but he wasn't so naive to believe he was safe now. If anything... Blake was about to become more desperate. Kai watched him eyeing the newcomers one by one and every move he made after. Whatever would happen next was out of his control and he hated every second of it, like swallowing vinegar, and it made him feel just as violently sick.
Team Halos' features were stern and straight lipped with thudding chests hidden behind the bulk and thickness of their stab proof vests. Their shielded eagle eyes were transfixed on every flinch Blake made and the shimmering golden knife pressed to their employers' neck. The operatives analysed the situation and Kais' physical condition, he was alive with no new injuries apart from the stab wound on his left flank delivered days ago. They watched and waited for their commander's say so. They avoided any sharp movements so as not to frighten the villain into a rash decision and spoke nothing so as not to antagonise. The highly trained professionals were of course still human and despite their statuesque appearance they too worried for their employers' well being. Not only did Kai hand pick each of them through piles of applicants and offering them life changing salaries, work permits to live in Japan and company benefits. He made sure to meet with his security team at least once a month to connect and resolve any issues they may have had in their work life, something unheard of in the Voltaire era of Hiwatari Enterprises. Kai wasn't the friendliest of fellows but he was as real and human as they were, with no falseness or bullshit and they respected that. The young CEO even went along to training days to ensure they were being given the best and paid them well for their time and efforts. To them, despite his age and lack of experience, Kai was the best employer they had ever had and would do anything for him.
Tysons' features tried to scowl like a tough guy to cover how he really felt, but red coloured worry bled through to his face like tissue paper. His eyebrows involuntarily creased in their middle and his jaw clenched, his tightly gripped teeth glistened on display as he worried for one of his oldest friends... Kai... and his fleshy jugular held hostage. Dragoons' chipped and scratched beyblade rattled in his launcher as the fear for his former team mates' safety caused the bluenettes arms to tremble. He fought with himself to stop shaking as sweat rippled down his forehead from the lack of air and hot dread. "Ohhhh Kai! Don't worry bud, well get you out of this! Just hold on ok! I won't let anything happen to you."
Blake locked eyes with Tyson momentarily and shot him a look of disgust with a slanted upturned sneer and poked his nose in the air. "Brother Harkan failed to obtain the Blue Dragon of Wood spirit I see. How could he have failed his mission?! The boy is a has-been and should have been defeated easily! Grrrrraaaaaahhhhh!" His inner voice was hasty and screeching with frustration.
The silver haired bladers' gaze skimmed over each head, sweeping sporadically over each of the new arrivals. His cold vindictive stare stopped at Tala for a brief second... then away. The Russian was chalked down to being an unknown blader not worth bothering with. His brother Harkan would beg to differ.
Tala was equally indifferent. He knew nothing of Shadow Vale or who this guy was or his history with Tyson, or to Kai and the others. To the Blitzkrieg Boy, he was nothing but a maniac with a blade. Tala was confused, uneasy and fretted for the much older and taller Kai that he remembered as much as Tyson or any other there. He, like the other soldiers remained calm and collected on the outside and focused on everything Blake did. He and Kai were never really close but like any member of his beyblading pack, whether he or Kai liked it or not, Kai was a Blitzkrieg boy and Tala would do anything to defend him...regardless of how many years had passed. Wolborgs' icy telepathic power tickled his fingers tight around his rip cord as the frosty energy surged throughout his senses. His wolf Bitbeast felt his masters nerves on tenterhooks and together they readied for a split second snow storm.
Finally, the Shadow Vale bladers' gaze arrowed over to Dunga and further left to land on Ozuma. The grey and red haired Saint Shield scuffled internal growls as best he could as he clenched his jaws shut in self controlled muteness. He had much he wanted to say to his arch enemy but liked his knee caps too much to risk it. Not to mention and most importantly Kais' safety and consequentially the fate of Dranzer and the world hung in the balance. He called to Flash Leopard, heating up like a burning coal at the end of his launcher, the flaming cat inside was desperate to ignite with fury and unsheath all of his ebony claws.
Blake and Ozumas' egos wrestled in an intense face off. Ozumas' fingers twitched, itching to release his Flash leopard straight into his adversaries face but his sensible streak rung true. He growled in his throat with venomous emerald eyes as Blake leered back with piercing malicious rubies. Much like Blake, if Ozuma failed at his mission to protect the Sacred Spirits, he too would be ashamed by his village. They were two sides of a coin. Good versus Evil.
A few tense seconds pass and the stare-off lost its fuel. The surprise of the newcomers had worn off and there was a task to be done. "The mission!" shouted Blakes' heart as it jumped from almost beat-less to thudding in his ears. His sacrifice was still alive and that needed remedying; as well as the need to make a hasty escape after the act. Question is... could he do both? His mind raced. "I'm guessing I'd be shot the second I slash the phoenix guardians' throat .And if I just let him go they aren't going to just let me leave peacefully to hunt him another day. I could run, now and fast but that dammed Ozuma moves quick and his apeish friend would be there to back him up. I'm out numbered with just those two let alone the brutes in black behind them. There's only one thing to do."
Mr Cooper boomed with a thick authoritarian voice. His syllables were rolling and distinctly African American. "Let Mr Hiwatari go. We have been authorised to use deadly force if necessary. Just release him and you have my word you will not be harmed."
The tattooed assassin sharply swivelled his head back to Patient 12. Something in the way he twisted his neck spelt something sinister, like how a snake behaves before delivering a venomous strike to a defenceless rodent. Precise, deadly and without a shred of compassion.
Kais' was clearly not well as he neared his limit, his sight began to blur again and his stance wilted. Still, his tongue worked just fine and despite his raspy throat and highly stressful situation, his attitude was still awake and kicking. "Give it up Blake. You're not getting away now. One wrong move and my security team will put more holes in you than a cheese grater."
Blake couldn't help but briefly snigger at Kais' spunk. His face returned to a satanic sneer as he whispered. He didn't want Kais' security hearing the heads up and reacting. "Hhahah. Nice try Kai. You think they're gunna save you? Think again. There's only one way we're getting out of this...and that's together. You know I like my shields..."
Before Kai could react and Blake to finish his sentence he swung himself around to Kais' back in a microsecond.
He rapidly locked one arm around the breadth of Kais collar bone and his knifing arm around the front of Kais' throat.
The blade of the dagger returned back to where it sat when Kai was last standing and in prime position for slashing, all whilst loosely choke holding his neck like ready to slaughter livestock.
He finished his cruel one liner. "...well you can be my human one."
The savage inked blader dominated the weak and wounded Kai to a harsh and merciless kneel by sharply knocking out the backs of his knees and gravity did the rest.
Patient 12s's knee caps, hidden within dark blue jogging pants smashed the tile floor with a soft dual thud.
Blake had ripped Kais' already waning frame off his feet so fast that his left grey slipper flew off, bounced and landed upside down steps away from Tysons' trainers.
The CEOs' neck muscles pulled and twisted as his body fell but his head was forced to stay at the height Blake dictated. Kai's skull was cleverly positioned in front of his captors' heart and neck. Kai's security team would never risk shooting now...just how the terrorist had planned.
Kais' face lost all cockiness and instead grimaced and wheezed with sheer panic. A face not many people saw from the stoic and emotionless Kai Hiwatari. His sorry lilac eyes drew wide like a trapped animal as his body bucked with a fresh surge of nauseating adrenaline and fought desperately not to be over ruled. His battle to regain his freedom was short lived as Blake only increased his grip with each fruitless wriggle like a snake coiling around its prey. Kai was completely at his mercy and worried for his life all over again. If Blake wanted to end him... it was going to be here and now. Blake had done it before after all and without care for watching bystanders.
"Arhhhhhhaaaarrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kai painfully whined as he bucked in his kneel trying to free himself. Blake instantly scuppered his victims' futile escape attempt by tightening his grip around Kais' collar bone further to choke him, reminding him of who had the power and sharply twisted the greynettes' tender abdomen to induce pain to subdue him further; punishment for his resistance.
"Ahhhhhhh *gasp* Ahrhhhhhh *gasp*hhmmmmmm. "Kai quietly panted for air as well as immediately fretted for the condition of his stitches. His newly healing gash felt like a red hot poker had been jammed into it and allowed to stay there to simmer his flesh. The muscles around his wound ached and cramped as he fought not to pass out with the sharp staggering pain even the morphine in his system would do nothing to numb.
The dual haired toned hostages' torture was far from over as he felt the cold golden knifes' edge press firm against his pale perspiring skin. Kai writhed and twitched with fear beneath the grip of Blakes' tight muscled arms and fought with whatever scraps of energy he could conjure up...which wasn't much. He pried his cool pallor fingers around the outer sides of Blakes' forearms and did his best to pull so that that he could free his neck for more room to move his head, and to breathe a fraction easier with little success. Blake allowed him that wiggle room, after all he didn't want to strangle him...it was the phoenix guardians' sacrificial blood he needed.
Mr Cooper bellowed with high alert, not a sliver of detectable worry laced his tone as his helpless employed struggled in distress before him. "NO BODY SHOOT! EVERYBODY STAY CALM!"
The scuffle animated the room as Team Halos' trigger fingers twitched, their pulses raced, and the operatives were wired and ready to go. Sweat of pressure dewed their skin as they watched their helpless employer writhe helplessly before them. Their crosshairs locked squarely to Blakes' forehead but one wrong move and it would be Kais' brains all over the ceiling, not the perpetrators. They were used to atrocities and high pressure situations like this during tours of duty, and despite their feelings for their CEO they remained calm and professional. The soldiers in black polo shirts inhaled deep breaths through noses and remained as objective as they could be. Getting emotional wouldn't help, staying focused and ready to deliver a well placed bullet would be.
The beybladers however were not so hardened to the horrors of a hostage situation.
Ozuma and Dunga had heard of the malevolent behaviour of Shadow Vale from their elders but seeing it up close was another thing all together. Their missions were to protect the Four Guardians of the sacred spirits. One of those guardians was before them with a blade to his throat and possibly seconds away from having his neck sliced open. Not to mention guardianship of Dranzer to be lost forever to the dark side. Dunga looked down at Ozuma, his team leader and friend who always had the answers no matter how bleak the situation. However...Ozuma stood frozen, his piercing unblinking green eyes transfixed on Kai and the dagger threatening to take his life. He didn't know what to do. He was powerless and stupefied, trying...and failing to think of a way of getting Kai out of his capture unharmed.
Tyson fought not to run forward and begged aloud. "Nooooooooooo! Don't do it! Please don't hurt him! He's my friend. PLEASE!" He wanted so bad to run forward and grab the knife out of Blakes' hands but if he was too slow...Kais' veins would be spraying out onto the walls before he'd even get close. Dewy tears formed in the bottom of his eyelids as he kept Dragoon aimed in case he needed to shoot. "Please don't! PLEASE!" His words were pleading and heartfelt.
"Tyson! Stay back! Stay cool. You rush at him and Kai's dead. This guy isn't messing around. No sudden moves!" Tala snapped at Tyson in his peripheral vision as he remained focused on aiming Wolborg and tensed fingers around his ripcord. Talas' piercing blue eyes were wide with equal panic to that of the Japanese cap wearer. The Russians' face turned into a snarl as he too held himself back. Although Tala had the cooler head he was seething underneath. His chest rose and fell sharply as he too wrested with what to do in the stress.
"Gahahhhmmmmmmmmaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kai wailed louder as he frantically fought in another burst of defiance...and immediately groaned in agony afterwards as his wound scolded further.
This painful cry echoed throughout the tight hallway and heard by everyone including Hilary and Daichi at the back, who immediately begged to run to his aid; however, were quickly restrained by Mr Kovalenko and Ms Ghazi for their own safety.
Kai was in so much agony in the kneeling position, he tried to bend forward to alleviate some of the misery, but the cruel nature in Blake torturously jerked him straight again with a knee jab in his aching spine. For the Shadow Vale blader, it was vital his human shield stayed in place. "Gahhhhhhhhahhhhhhrrrrrrrr!" Poor Kai struggled to hide his suffering as he bit his lip from the backward jerk and sudden wrenching of his neck. His audience comprising of employees and allies, could do nothing as he scrunched and snarled.
All the while, Blake gleamed as he held his hostage tight, his inked arm clenched warm and sweaty around Kais' neck and enjoyed every fruitless struggle Dranzers' weak guardian made. He was no match for him, not in his state. He gripped tight and proud of his new human shield and sly -eyed every aghast onlooker in the room.
As Kai started to get used to the pain his cries reduced to low animal like growling. Against the bare skin of his tattooed arms, Blake felt the rumbling in Kais' throat, the bubbling of rage and pain all in one fire ball of emotion like a demon about to huff smoke with every sharp pant.
Blake held his quarry tighter and further teased Kais' throat with the sharp metal. He gazed squarely at Mr Cooper, knowing he was the one in charge. "You want him to live any longer than the next 20 seconds you'll drop your guns."
Mr Cooper bellowed sternly as his fingers relaxed the tension on his trigger. He slowly lowered his gun. "Everybody stay calm! Lower your weapons. Do not fire!"
He needn't tell his staff the ins and outs. There was too much risk of hitting Kai. The assailant had Kai prisoner and they needed to think their way out of this. Blake had all of the control.
Dunga begged with a furious snorting face. "Come on Blake you don't have to do this. Let him go. Come on, just let him go!"
Mr Cooper discreetly coughed. Was he just clearing his throat...or something else?
Kai immediately ceased his struggling and rose his head whatever fraction Blakes' tattooed vice grip would allow, locking a gaze with his black shaded protector. The secretive cough was for his attention only.
Mr Cooper directed sternly and calm. "All units, stay calm and remember your training. Remember...your...training..." He delivered a sly nod as Kai drew confidence from his words, his panicked struggling relented and a quiet new focus steered his actions.
Ozuma gingerly lowered Flash Leopard and stabbed a private order to his fellow Saint Shield. "Watch my back Dunga." His heart thumped wildly as he fought with the pressure to keep a cool head. Diplomacy was the only non risky solution he could think of as he allowed his feet to inch forward. As a future village leader...he had to try something.
Blake instantly reacted to Ozumas' tiptoed advance. "Ah ah! No closer Ozuma! Just where do you think you're going?!" He hissed with twinkling red orbs on high alert. He immediately tightened his grip around Kais' neck for ultimate control and cruelly pressed his blade against the flesh of Kai's neck a touch harder causing a small line of red to bleed out beneath it.
The former Blitzkrieg Boy immediately squirmed with the claustrophobia and grimaced with one eye shut with the sudden pressure against his windpipe. His thick grey eyebrows furrowed in discomfort as he fought to draw a full breath. One feisty open eye remained locked on his head of security and recited his words in his fast clouding mind. "Rem...ember...my...train...ing."
Ozuma instantly ceased and in a flat calm tone, he pleaded. "Just think about this for a second. You kill Kai and his employees aren't just going to let you escape. Just. Let. Kai. Go. Your goal is to rule the sacred spirits right? You can't do that if you're dead or in prison. Let him go, run away... and maybe... just maybe you have a chance at completing your mission. Is this what destiny has foretold to you? You're either going to die with a lot of holes in your chest in a hospital corridor or a forgotten old man in a prison cell in a land far away from your home. Is this the glorious path to becoming a guardian of a sacred spirit your elders wanted of you?"
Blake retorted with a calm sneering look. "Oh save me the spiel Saint Shield. You know nothing of my destiny."
Ozuma retorted in a darker louder tone. "I do know this. You have no way out of here with Kai. You can't carry him or run with him. You're all alone with no back up. You're vastly outnumbered and out-gunned. What is your plan now Blake? You stalling in the hopes the rest of your team will come to aid you? Mariam and Josef will be giving hell to Darcel and Garnetta and I know Harkan got beat. So what are you waiting for?"
Whilst Ozuma kept Blake distracted and talking, another, more important discussion was taking place. A whispered exchange with sharp shuttlecock-like glances between Mr Cooper, Tyson, Dunga and Tala snuck under Blake' radar of attention.
Mr Cooper watched Kai like a daddy eagle with talons still wrapped around the grip and trigger of his weapon. "Remember don't make any sudden moves yet, not until Mr Hiwatari gives the signal."
Tyson squeaked with confusion and heavily sweat with fret as Dragoons' weight tested his arms in their upheld position. "What signal? What do you mean!?"
Mr Coopers' voice was calm and to the point. "Kai is the CEO of a large and successful company, and as such is at risk of kidnap for ransom. Mr Hiwatari has under gone special training to help him survive and escape from these types of situations. He knows what to do."
Talas' ice blue eyes blinked to inspect Kai and any signs of this so called hostage training and sure enough, inch by inch Kais' hands had inched from the crook of Blakes' dark skinned inked' elbows, down to his forearms and edging still to his wrists; all without creating too much attention or making it obvious to the owner of said arms his moving was anything intentional.
Flashbacks of combat training at BIOVOLT prickled the Demolition Boys' mind. Russian Systema, a type of Russian martial art used for hand to hand combat, joint manipulation, self defence and weapon disarmament to name a few modules. The practise was drilled into each BIOVOLT soldier alongside modified versions of Krav Maga, Kung Fu and Boxing. The aim was simple. Defeat to the enemy. Victory is life. The boys of BIOVOLT were to be skilled in all manners of combat whether that be with beyblades or their fists. Tala, Kai and the rest of the Demolition Boys were no exception and could hold their own in a fight no matter the arena. Russian systema taught the boys how to properly fight, how to inflict pain, how to apply pressure points and how to escape choke holds not to dissimilar to what Kai was currently prey to.
The scuffles and grunts of his former team mate dragged the red haired blader back to the present as he writhed uncomfortably and bucked sporadically in the purple draped captors' grip, but in doing so, Kais' near white fingers were in fact sliding closer into place for the perfect spot for leverage and ultimately...escape.
Tala shot Mr Cooper a worried glance and a hurried whispered statement. "Smart. Joint manipulation is easy to pull off in training and even practically but right now... Kai doesn't have the strength to levy Blake or whatever his name is, off his back. This could be a huge mistake. The second Kai gets himself out his choke hold he's just gunna get captured again... or worse. That silver haired creep over there could act out and Kai will be in even more hot water than what he is now."
Tysons' tone dripped in urgent fret too. "Tala's right Mister. Kai is all washed out. I don't know how well trained Kai is in martial arts but he's gunna have to be Superman to get himself out of this situation with his injury. Kai is real weak right now. Our guy can barely stand to get to the bathroom without help let alone fight!"
Mr Cooper remained stoic and unperturbed. "If Mr Hiwatari can take hold of his captors' arms and thus take control of the knife in his attackers' hand, he will give us enough time to rush in, subdue then arrest. Boss has just gotta give us the nod when he has a firm grip and we'll go on 3."
Tala wasn't convinced. "I don't like this plan one, not one bit. It's way too risky."
Mr Cooper fought not to bellow with frustration and just about managed to keep his voice quiet. "What other choice do we have? We can't shoot the guy in case we miss and hit Mr Hiwatari. If we get too close we risk him slashing Boss' throat. It only takes a second to cut the carotid artery and a handful of seconds afterwards to bleed to death. I've seen it happen and it ain't pretty.
Negotiations won't work as its clear he doesn't want money or anything we can bargain with. We have nothing that he wants. I could send operatives to the other end of the hall and have them sneak up behind but that could trigger a rash reaction. We could wait for back up in the form of police but there's nothing they can do that we can't, in fact they would just get in the way. We have no choice but to trust Mr Hiwatari has the strength to separate himself from his attacker and take some control of the weapon, or at least get the blade away from his throat. Only then can we rush in and assist. It's not ideal but the only option we have."
Tyson tried to keep his animation to a minimum as a light bulb moment excited him. "It's not the only way. You forget we have beyblades. We have a control over our beyblades that you don't have over bullets. When Kai give us the nod that he's' good n' ready, we can launch our beyblades in the air or towards him to distract and confuse Blake whilst Kai breaks free. That will give Kai a chance to get away and us a chance to push Blake back right? All Kai would need to do is get a step or two away from Blake and we can use our beyblades to ring a protective circle around him. Or Tala, you could use Wolborgs' Novae Rog ice wall like you did for me."
The red-headed Russian blader huffed in frustration, and then whispered with a rushed tone. "That's a good plan Tyson but it's still too risky. We would still have to rely on Kais' ability alone to break out from Blakes' grip and get the knife away from his neck in one action. And to be honest, he's not looking to well. He's paler than I am and that's saying something. He's exhausted. He's panting just kneeling and if you look hard enough you can see him shaking. This whole plan is a major gamble for sure. Yes, if we could separate Kai and Blake physically I could Novae Rog another ice shield if I had the time. It would take seconds for Wolborg to get enough gyration speed to exact an attack and longer still to whip up the power to launch the attack. Our beyblades could certainly circle around him for protection but that's not going to do much good if Blake throws his dagger at Kai again. There's another way we could use our beyblades. It's not exactly legal and it's going to take some skill to get the job done... and that's attack Blake directly. Give the coward something else to worry about other than holding Kai hostage. Give him an injury of his own and it might give Kai the advantage he's frankly going to need."
Dunga whisper jabbed. "No way! If you mess up and miss or your plan doesn't go the way you want, you could panic Blake and kill Kai. You'd have done Shadow Vales' dirty work for them. Wait for Ozuma to come up with something; he may have a better plan."
Tyson almost barked loud but shrunk his tone back to a whisper at the last second. "We don't have time to wait Dunga! Every second that passes, Kai runs out of more energy. We don't know how much longer Kai can hold it together. We've got to do something and quick. Kai is running out of time."
Mr Cooper took a moment to ponder before exacting a question to the former Japanese and Russian beyblade champions. "How much control do you have over your beyblades? A precise strike? Precise enough to cut Blakes' hand or wrist? Or even cut off a couple of fingers?"
Tyson gulped. "Well I can't say I've ever been asked to cut off another beybladers' fingers before. I'd like to say I'll give it my best shot but Dragoon is all banged up from my last battle. Dragoon is so badly chipped I'm not sure I can aim him straight. His gyration might slightly be off with the uneven weight. I could create a distraction no problem but a precision shot... I wouldn't like to risk Kai's life on it." He peered to the ground momentarily with frustration. "Drat! If only I had the Chief here he would fix me up a new attack ring in no time! I'm sorry Kai, I'm not gunna be much help right now."
Talas' scarlet furred eyebrows furrowed in battle mode. "I'll do it. I don't like the plan what choice do we have. It's the only plan we've got and Tyson's right...Kais' not going to be able to tolerate this stress for much longer." Wolborgs' bitchip shone like frosted starlight as her master agreed to the plot.
Dunga tested the Russian bladers' nerve. A childish jab but a fair question given the circumstances. "You done those sortsa shot before right? Striking the blader...in Russia...at BIOVOLT?"
Tala long blinked without a word then nodded as if to say "Yes. I have."
Attacking beybladers or boasting about it wasn't something to be proud of in the beyblading community but a fact of the Blitzkrieg Boys' past none the less.
Dunga had his answer and nodded back. As much as he didn't agree with how the children at BIOVOLT were raised nor liked the Russian bladers personally, Talas' taboo skills could prove useful today in saving one of the guardians of the sacred spirits, and a spirit he himself was charged with protecting if Kai ever faltered. "Fine, you'd better not mess this up. Kai's depending on you." He snorted begrudgingly and re-aimed Vortex Ape in his battle stance.
Mr Cooper sensed a familiar darkness in Talas' silent reply. A darkness a person carries when they live with things they aren't proud of. Mr Cooper knew what that felt like because he carried it too; the loss of innocence and heaviness of their militia past. A quiet understanding befell the security head as he looked down at the tall Russian blader, looking for any waver in conviction.
Mr Cooper blinked, and then averted his sights back to his boss's situation. "Mr Ivanov. I need you to aim for his hand. His natural reflex should be drop his weapon and retract his hand to guard it. Even better... aim to cut the tendons of his right wrist nice in deep so that he hasn't the reflexes to use his dagger. Whatever you do, don't go for his face or head, he may pull Mr Hiwatari in closer to protect himself. But only agree to this if you think you can pull this off. If not, we're going back to Plan A."
Tala broke ice cold eye contact with the man in Kevlar to adjust his crosshairs and aim Wolborg for its new specific target. His red antennae-like hair sharply wisped with the movement. "Got it. I'm going for his wrist. His fingers are wrapped up around the dagger and I haven't got a clear shot. The side of his wrist however will be an easier hit. I'm ready whenever you are Kai."
The Head of Hiwatari Enterprises security team murmured within himself. "Well in that case beyblader you maybe the ace in our hole."
A thick sweat drop cascaded down Dungas' forehead. "You better know what you're doing Blitzkrieg Boy."
Tysons' forehead cascaded two as his stomach knotted tight with the anxiety and endless worry for Kai's life. His gentile face screwed and twisted with pity as he held on tight to hope as his old team mate writhed and fought for breath. "Yeah! Come on Tala, you can do this. It won't be long now Kai. Just hold on buddy."
Talas' piercing misty blue orbs were transfixed on his squirming, panting ex-team mates' chin and in close proximity to it...Blakes' right hand. The tall athletic blader clicked his neck to the left, stretched his arms out and flexed his fingers around Wolborgs' grip. He took a long cool breath through his tight thin lips and held it like a hunter before launching an arrow and envisioned where his cold Wolborg beyblade was going to land its strike. "I may not have been the most ruthless beyblader at BIOVOLT but I never missed my target. Come on Kai. Just give me the signal and were good to go."
Mr Cooper readied his gun in his sticky palms as backup in case things went sideways. "Okay beyblader." He side eyed Tala for the shortest second. "I hope you're ready. Kai's nearly in position."
"You know nothing of my clan or my ambition!" Blake spat. "Dranzer is mine and mine alone to wield. I've wasted too much time already arguing with you Ozuma. I might just do him right here n now and take my chances and afterwards... I'll use Dranzer to incinerate you all to ASHHHHH."
Blake was starting to lose his cool under the pressure and severe agitation caused by Ozumas' questions and lecturing. The Saint Shield had certainly kept his attention long enough for an alternative plan to be hatched by the other bladers and Mr Cooper. But that time had just run out.
Without Blakes' knowledge, Kais' fingers had squirmed and hooked on top and around both of his ink decorated wrists and clamped them there. His lilac coloured eyes glittered with a hint of red at the lid line from the pressure of being captive in a head lock for what felt like hours. The brave young CEO locked a gaze with his head of security almost ready to deploy his signal. Little did Kai know...Tala, would be the first to act on his nod.
Patient 12 wriggled his neck free a fraction, taking in a harsh hoarse breath. His face suddenly relaxed and his amethyst eyes drew steely and serious. All eyes were on him as he subtly lifted and dropped his head in the nod everyone had all been waiting for. With a raspy voice he hissed in reply to his hosts' threat. "Why wait, get it over with... coward."
Blakes' face upturned into a vicious pout with wide open eyes as a malicious surge of bloodlust coursed. "As you wish!" He venomously hissed. The Shadow Vale blader was going to finish the job he started, regardless of the possible deadly consequences at the hands of Kai's private army. His arms flexed to exact a slicing motion to gruesomely put an end Kai's life and bond with his Sacred Spirit Dranzer once and for all.
But...the tattooed assassins' butchering arm was stopped instantly with an unwelcome and infuriating resistance. He couldn't extend nor bend his arms causing his heart to skip a beat and his blood to spike with adrenaline as a nasty metallic taste assaulted his mouth.
Simultaneously and without command, at exactly the same time Kai signalled, Tala ripped Wolborg out of its launcher like a sniper. The shimmering silver beyblade shot into the air for Blake and Kai at bullet speed and looked like one too.
In the single second that followed, Kai had levered his left arm away from his collar bone, enough to allow a full breath and to inhale his first full lung for what felt like a millennia. The phoenix blader had done more than that as his captor was about to discover. The dual haired hostages' hand had clamped hard like cement around Blakes' wrist and so rendering any slashing motion mechanically impossible. It took all of Kai's strength but he did it, and in doing so saved his own life.
*SLASH*
Wolborgs attack ring connected and sliced the back of the silver haired villain's' hand, narrowly missing Kais' fingers and cheek in the process. An unnoticeable tuft of Kais' long grey bangs was cut and lost in the air, as too did an outward spray of blood from the back of Blakes' freshly gashed hand.
Blake instantly shrieked from Wolborgs' slicing surprise. "GAAHHHHHHHH!" His body's' involuntarily reflex from the strike caused his hand to shudder, his fingers to unfurl and thus dropped his heavy golden dagger. The ritualistic slaughter tool loudly chinked and clanked as it hit the tile before stopping and spinning like a hockey puck nearby. The silver haired blader gasped "URRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" the second he realised what he'd done. His raging crimson eyes stretched wide with a toxic mix of petrified and rage. Not only had he dropped his weapon but Kai, his important sacrifice had wriggled free of his clutches.
As soon as the purple shrouded assailants' chokehold unfurled with thanks to his newly vivisectioned right hand courtesy of Wolborg, the brave prisoner took his chance and with one limp shove to Blakes' torso... he bolted. Like in a slow-motion action movie Kai staggered with jellied legs to the pumped protective arms of a Mr Cooper and a herd of five Kevlar-clad agents who ran to meet him half way. Wobbly and faint Kai put up little protest as Mr Cooper gently but quickly scooped him up like a damsel in distress, and briskly queen carried him back to the gang of friends and mob of employees who couldn't be happier to see him alive and in one piece.
Once back into the protective human cloud of security staff and a safe distance from the dagger wielding terrorist, Kai, with only one slipper on his right foot was gently set back to the ground. Unsurprisingly he was dizzy, dehydrated and lightly coughed from the soreness of his throat that had been held partially closed for too long in Blakes' restraint. He was eager to investigate a damp patch at his side and hoped to the Shinto gods he hadn't ripped his stab wound stitches.
In the short few moments since they were reunited, Kai was made quite a fuss over. All the while Blake freaked out vocally over his slashed hand only meters away and was watched like a hawk by any operative not assisting "the King" with guns drawn and ready to fire at will should he make any advance towards their employer or attempt to pick up his dagger.
Brave Patient 12 was soon handed a small bottle of orange juice. "Please drink that Sir. The sugar will help take the edge off the shock." Pleaded a female operative. To which Kai gingerly took 2 large sips from and handed it back. He hadn't the appetite to finish the bottle.
Another agent handed him a piece of tissue to dab a weeping bleeding neck wound and handed him a mirror and bottle of antiseptic, then offered to clean it for him. Kai didn't even know he'd been cut and decided to deal with it later. He handed back the tissue, antiseptic and the mirror. The cut didn't look deep anyway.
Mr Cooper radioed through their location to the teams' medical officer who was close to arriving on the scene. Whether Kai wanted it or not, he wanted him checked over and soon. He didn't believe Kai when he said he was fine. His employers' clammy and flat cheeked face said otherwise and the head of security was taking no chances. He was surprised his Boss could even stand given what he'd just been through.
Once Kai had parried his staff away one by one, it was his friends turn.
Tysons' eyelids glittered with dew of pure relief for Kai's safe return. Dragoon was nestled back into his pocket leaving his hands free to finger grip at the looseness of Kais' loose black t-shirt. "Hey Buddy. How you feelin? You okay dude?" His caring words urgently begged for an answer.
Tala chose to hang back and muttered behind the emotional Bladebreaker. Kai was not one to appreciate being crowded and would be surprised if he opened up to him anyway. It had been over 10 years since the two Blitzkrieg Boys last saw one another and their goodbye was hardly heart felt. Pleasantries and reintroductions can wait thought the Ivanov man as he moved away to space to recall Wolborg, and in doing so muttered. "Give him some space Tyson. Give Kai a minute to breathe."
Dunga was just as bad as Tyson and rubbed shoulders with the beychamp as he too gruffly boomed. "Yeah Kai. You alright?"
Ozuma, like Tala, retained his distance and instead kept his watchful emerald eyes on Blake. The day wasn't over and he knew with Shadow Vale, anything could happen.
Meanwhile. Blake recoiled his hand to his torso with the intense sharp stinging agony that followed; and immediately cradled his bleeding appendage. Blake was seething as he inspected the depth of fresh open wound to the back of his hand, of which was going to need several stitches in order to heal properly. Wolborg had almost cut down to the bone. Red dripped into the cup of his other palm and dribbled through his fingers to spot the grey hospital flooring below.
"YOUUUUU! LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MY HAND! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" His scream echoed demonically throughout the tight hall. Any and all bodies would hear his cry several departments away.
Mr Cooper stomped forward with heavy booted feet and a raised gun. "Put your hands up behind your head and turn around." He bellowed with professionalism and dominance.
"What?!" Blake spat in shock with pin-prick pupils. His long silver bangs drooped forward keeping his face shadowed in the dark of his hair. Mere seconds ago Kai, his sacrificial lamb was in his choke hold, blade to his throat and about to take his life to rule the power of his sacred Spirit Dranzer. It all happened so fast.
"You said what to me?!" He cranked a lividly snarling face away from his wounded hand and upwards at his pitiless audience. His spine crooked and heaved with rage, and his face simmered ruby with embarrassment as he furiously stared through the parting of his silver mane at...Kai.
The ex phoenix guardian stood upright and lofty posture with his left hand clamped tightly over his side. Blood from his wound had seeped through the bandage and moistened crimson a small patch of his black t-shirt. A thin red line decorated the left hand side of his neck, around 2 inches in length where Blakes' dagger was pressed and shallowly cut. Another gory parting gift courtesy of the Shadow Vale blader. Kais' features were icy cold, his eyes dulling from visible exhaustion and scowling bitterly with wry lips and bushy grey eyebrows.
Clustered around the regal and stoic blader were equally displeased and judging faces of that of the other beybladers and robotic shaded employees.
Tyson stood stocky and strong at Kai's side with Dragoon ready to launch with an unusually mean glare from the friendly blader. Tala waited close with his arms folded and chin high with Wolborg also cocked and ready to Rip. Ozuma and Dunga clustered tight to the right with Flash Leopard and Vortex Ape ready to go in their launch devices too, sporting deadly serious faces, and readied to do what had to be done to apprehend their long time adversary and retrieve precious and sacred Dranzer.
Finally and by no means least, to finish the ensemble was Mr Cooper who guarded his boss in front like an African American Terminator as well as 14 other Kevlar suited and booted security operatives ready to rush in, arsenals cocked and ready to offload a clip at any point.
The Shadow Vale bladers' dark blood simmered at the sight of Kai leering back at him. "GRRRRRRRRRR" his whole body shook with animosity, even his pupil vibrated as his teeth clenched. "I was sooooooo close to completing my mission!"
Ozuma stepped forward readying to release Flash leopard should Blake flinch in a way he didn't like. His green eyes leered and his thick grey eyebrows furrowed as he ordered. "It's over Blake. You're coming back with me to face justice for your actions."
Mr Cooper overstepped and presided beside the tiny by comparison Ozuma, casting him in his shadow. "You can do whatever you want just as soon as were done with him. He will be arrested and turned over to the authorities for the attempted murder of my employer. Although I think you'll be waiting a long time until he's released, that's IF he gets released. "
The clean shaved head of Hiwatari Enterprises Security sharply turned attention to the purple caped assailant cradling his injured paw and bellowed a second order. Blake would not be getting a third. "Now. I won't ask again. Hands up behind your head and turn around."
Blake could almost see the twinkling bullet with his name on it peeking from inside Mr Cooper's barrel. "I'm out numbered. Kai, my insolent sacrifice is completely protected. I'm finished today. Grrrrrrrrrrr I have no choice. Time...to get away."
Blake took a ginger foot backwards and straightened. He raised both arms and hands outwards as if to catch rain. His dense purple drape fell behind his shoulders and his eyes glowed red like a sinister warlock. "Hands up you say? Okay. Fine. If that's what you want." The black tattooed lines on his tanned skin immediately lit up florescent green and glowed ethereal.
A familiar scene for two G-Revolution bladers. They'd seen him do this before. Kai and Tysons' faces drew fearful with parted gawping lips. Blakes' Ultimate Shield instilled horror into the pair as flashbacks of the day they first encountered it were still painfully fresh. For Kai especially as his wound ached and twanged at the sight of it and the idea of being trapped inside one again was torturous.
Ozuma knew exactly what was going down. Blake was plotting something. He cried out. "No don't!"
"Too late Ozuma. Ultimate shield!" Barked the silver haired sorcerer. "Mhhhaahhaaaaaaaa. You will never detain me Saint Shield."
An overwhelming burst of green light blinded all in a flash, leaving twinkles and spotty vision for seconds to follow. Everyone from security operative to beyblader squinted uncomfortably until the light dissipated to reveal something novel and solid in its wake.
"What's that?!" "What's he doing?" "What's going on?!" "Sir! What do we do?" "I can't see!" Hiwatari Enterprises staff cried out in various tone and accents.
The sea of security agents cocked heads with confusion and shifted nervously in tough booted feet as their dotted vision subsided to find a thick crystal wall gazing back at them, its flawless shining surface mirrored their reflections in the florescent lighting of the hallway. It was perfectly smooth and see-through, extending from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. There was no climbing under it or over it. Confused and a little wary. the mini army lowered their weapons not quite knowing what to do and looked to their superior for answers.
Mr Cooper was as spooked as the rest of his team. He could deal with terrorists, bank robbers, drunks and kidnappers but magical glowing flashes of light that materialise into glass walls were a bit out of his skill set and experience. "Just what the hell is goin' on?" He cried in disbelief whilst removing his glasses to get an untainted view of the mystical barrier.
Tala demanded answers too as he stepped twice forward for a better look and half wanting to touch it. "What on earth is that thing?!"
Tyson quipped in reply to Mr Cooper who was busy scratching his baby bald head. "Oh that's just a magical impenetrable glass shield everyone. I don't know how he does it but I've seen Blake make one of these before. It's unbreakable. I tried with my Dragoon alongside my friends with their bitbeasts and we still couldn't punch through it. Whatever it's made of it is mega tough. I wouldn't shoot that thing or your bullets will probably bounce right off it."
Mr Cooper replaced his glasses and urged for another quick and to the point answer. "Okay so it's a shield of some kind I get that much. But is it a threat?"
Ozuma lowered his shoulders and in turn Flash Leopard and launch gear as he consoled the high alert security buff. "Right now, as long as Blake is that side of his shield there's no need to worry. He can't walk through it and were not trapped behind in any way. The glass can only be dissolved by his clans' black magic or counteracted with a stronger force."
Mr Cooper raised a single eyebrow and allowed his top lip to curl upwards in a corner in a mix of confusion and bewilderment. "Ohhhhhkaayyyyyy." He sheepishly replied then shuffled back to his employers' side to guard him should any more new and strange surprises arise. "You keep some strange company Sir. Reallllll strange characters."
Kai remained quiet and humourless. His body was close to crashing and just standing upright was a challenge. He longed dearly for a bed and some much needed sleep. That luxury however would have to come later as movement from the other side of the crystal barrier stole his attention.
The fascination and novelty of the wall sharply broke as Blake stepped forward into motion. His every action was watched and recorded by all. His glass wall was a TV screen and him the star actor.
*Drip* *Drip* Blood dramatically cascaded down Blakes' tanned and inked fingers and dripped off the tips of his fingernails onto the grey tile floor. He staggered, hissing and cursing as his gashed right hand swung and stung in the light breeze caused by travelling. He ceased cradling his injured paw to utilise his other hand to scoop up his golden dagger and quickly replace it to the darkness of an inside cloak pocket.
Before his good hand saw the light of day, it retrieved something else from a high breast compartment. It was small enough to cup into his bloodied palm. A brown beyblade.
His purple shroud wavered as he cockily strode to his enchanting walls edge and placed the beyblade with the bit chip facing outwards flush to the un-scratchable window pane surface. His cruel features smirked as he stared maniacally and unblinking at the previous owner of the hostage spirit inside the spinning top, clamped firmly in the tips of his red stained digits.
The object was no other than Dranzer.
A sudden pity befell Tyson. Ozuma had to look away to the floor and growled with anger. Dunga fizzled with fury and had to cross his arms to stop his fists from shaking. To take someone's Bitbeast away was cruel as it is, but to then taunt the ex-guardian was just disgusting.
Kais' poor tired heart instantly tugged as he took a deep breath and strode out from the protective ring of friends and security. He could barely stand as his knees knocked from fatigue. He soldiered on, shuffling with 1 slipper on his right foot and a bare left.
"Sir?" Mr Cooper tried to recall his employer back to his side but Kai was having none of it.
The employed Hiwatari army waited with lowered guns. Their weapons and man-power were useless right now.
All bodies held their breath as they waited to see what Kai would do. Cry, scream, bash the glass, swear, beg? The latter, never.
It took the battered and bruised Patient 12 a while to reach the glass edge, stop, straighten his aching spine, curled his palms into fists and harboured a chest so heavy with anger he could barely breathe. Kai's amethyst eyes were tired and bloodshot, his thin lined neck wound glistened in the artificial lighting and his face was bitter and glaring. His thin lips resisted a snarl as his stare bore into Blakes'.
Blake smirked filthily as Kai met the barrier edge to mirror his stance. The Shadow Vale blader enjoyed every second. It was time for him to leave but not before a last cruel gesture to his very lucky to be alive sacrifice.
Blake enjoyed toying with the power. "Say Goodbye to Dranzer Kai. This is the last time you will ever see your precious phoenix again. The next chance I get, your life... is mine."
Kais' top lip twitched, his head ducked a tad and clenched his teeth before laying his right hand over the spot where Dranzer was held against the glass. He pressed his fingers and palm firmly flat against the cool surface in the hopes of feeling something emanate from Dranzers' bitchip mere centimetres away in the other side of the pane. No feeling of warmth emanated but a phoenix cry telepathically broke through only to him.
Dranzer - "KARRRRRRRWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Kais' irises were set on fire. His words were warning, husky and deadly slow. "No, you are wrong. This isn't goodbye Blake. You know why? Because I will hunt you down for...the...rest... of... my... life... until I have my Bitbeast back. And you...will pay, for all the pain you have caused me and MY Bitbeast."
Tyson gripped Dragoon tight regardless of the pointy broken shards that poked into his thick skinned palm. His autumnal coloured eyes expressed sorrow and pity as he watched Kai reach out to his stolen Bitbeast. "Kai. I can't imagine how painful this must be for you to be so close to Dranzer and not be able to help him."
Before he could retort to Kais' threat with retaliation and tease, Blake was interrupted by a familiar call. He immediately broke his eyeballing to glance back and over his shoulder, dropping his arm with Dranzer within his hand in the process.
The threatening blader turned CEO also broke form, he stepped back, wary and cautious. He proceeded to guard his flank wound with his left hand again as Mr Cooper ushered him back further for protection. New bodies had arrived and they were not allies.
"Brother! We must go now! Shouted a deep and authoritarian voice from the low lit end of the hall.
A tall, broad, hulking figure almost equal in build to Mr Cooper marched at fast pace to meet with Blake from behind. He too was clad in black and blue ethnic wear, black open toed boots, a purple cape and short spiky silver hair, red coloured eyes and had dark skin with tattoos in rings circling up his bare arms which stopped at the neck.
"Harkan!" Tysons' cry and features expressed uneasiness and distress at the sight of the man who was so close to taking his life less than an hour earlier.
As the Shadow Vale blader only known as Harkan came storming into view, it was clear, he wasn't on his own. Closely and speedily following him were two others.
Dunga felt riled instantly. "Oh great, we've got more company, and not the good kind."
Mr Cooper ordered to the troop. "Everybody stay alert. Whatever you do, don't shoot at the glass barrier. Stay calm and wait to see what these newcomers do next."
Team Halo rustled and stretched trigger fingers as they switched onto high alert mode and watched everyone's' movements like hawks. The four closest officers guarding "The King" circled him in a tighter protective formation, Mr Cooper included. Kai reeled in anger but subdued by exhaustion. There was nothing he could do to save Dranzer in the state he was in and resided to the safeguarding of his well paid and loyally frightening security team.
Ozumas' eyes grew wild on high alert and reminded himself to steady his breathing. If Blake dissolved his barrier, all hell was about to break loose. He worried for where Mariam and Josef were and subsequently, the safety of Ray, Max and their bitbeasts.
A short in stature male with crazy spider leg like bangs stomped into view next to Blake and Harkan. He smelt like he'd been rolling around in the garbage inducing a nose pinching sneer of disapprovement from his brothers. A portion of his day was spent hunting in the car park and bin area of the hospital for a certain shelled Bitbeast and his blonde haired guardian.
Finally, a girly figure finished the Shadow Vale collection. She skipped and leapt into line next to her shortest and currently stinkiest brother. She wore similar style clothing to her clan members but was altered for a feminine fit. She was filthy too, her tunic, the uncovered flesh of her skinny legs and a thin line of her cheek were smudged with blood, most of which was not hers.
Ozuma growled but regained composure enough to speak clearly. "Say hello to Shadow Vale." He turned to Tyson, Kai and Tala. These guys are the bladers I've been warning you about. Get a good look because they will be hunting you and your sacred spirits relentlessly until me and my clan stop them.
The serious tone in the air was immediately sliced in half as Hilary and Daichi had elbowed their way through the beefy and rigid front line of Team Halos' security formation like a rabbits squeezing their way out of a thick rose bush. Hilary quickly and comically frog marched straight past the Saint Shield duo, past Mr Cooper, ignored Tala and launched herself at Tyson and not in the way he would have liked.
She cried out whilst grabbing the scruff of the beychamps' yellow t-shirt and shook him. Dewy tears of worry glittered her pretty orbs. "What have I missed?! Is Kai okay? Please tell me he's okay! Nobody is telling me anything!"
Daichi simpered behind her whilst clutching his belly but at least able to talk. "Yeah Tyson, Tala? What's the latest? We've been tryin to get answers for houuuurrrrss. We heard alotta noises and some screaming and we haven't been told anythin'!"
"Look Hilary." Tyson turned her head like a doll with a swivel neck. "You too Daichi. Those guys...are Shadow Vale. Remember their faces okay. We've gotta be more vigilant from now on. I don't think they're sticking around but they'll be back."
Hilary and Daichi turned to face the assassins behind the glass wall. Analysing and taking in their appearance.
Chat between the Shadow Vale clan and Saint Shield commenced without a flicker of sincerity and respect for the other.
Harkan crossed his arms and bellowed. "What a disappointment to see you so soon Ozuma!"
Ozuma too crossed his arms and glared. "It's never a pleasure seeing you Harkan. Causing mayhem I see."
Harkan – "You're never any fun either Ozuma. Ruining my match earlier with Dragoons' guardian. It's only postponed his judgement. The Blue Dragon spirit will be mine. It's just a matter of time... and you won't always be there to protect him."
Dungas' pupils drew small as he noticed the smeared dried blood on the females' legs and tunic. "Garnetta! Tell me you didn't. Tell me you haven't hurt anyone."
Garnetta played with a long thick silver bang hanging over her left breast. "Oh you know me Dunga, I like to play and sometimes I play a little too ROUGH."
Ozuma was terrified of the answer but he needed to know. Ray? Josef? An innocent bystander she took a disliking to? "Tell me Garnetta, who exactly did you play rough with?"
Garnetta flicked her hair back and cocked her hips. "Ohhhh, nobody important. Just someone who needed knocking down a peg... or three."
Dunga stamped his foot with agitation. "Show us then, did you manage to capture any of the sacred spirits?"
Garnetta pouted like a plump lipped goldfish, her eyes harpy like and angrily. Darcel looked to the floor sheepishly, frowning and Harkan could have blown steam from his ears with how angry that question stoked him. Blake grunted with mild satisfaction that he was the only one in possession of a sacred spirit, and the only one who half succeeded his task.
Dunga smirked and relished the easy jab. "Pah! You weren't successful. Oh well!"
Ozuma released a tightly held breath with the knowledge Driger and Draciel were safe. "Well that's a pity. You should go home and nurse your broken egos! One of you has a hand to stitch up anyway."
Before Shadow Vale could shuttle cock a remark back, a speaker phone box high and behind on a wall had an announcement to make.
"Thankyou for your cooperation. The fire has been located and made safe. Everyone may re-enter the building." Then a short jingly tune played for 3 seconds before drawing silent.
"Come! We must go now." Ordered Harkan, the obvious leader of the team of malevolent beybladers.
Darcel warned in a nasally voice. "Yeah, they'll keep. You guardians of the sacred spirits will wander off sooner or later and when you do... we'll be waiting for you in the shadows, in the alleys, in your gardens, in the malls when you go shopping, we may even be at your Grandmas' house."
Garnetta twirled on her heels ready to bolt. "Yep...we'll be watching you alright! Tell Ray and Marrriiiaahhhhhh I said Hiiiiiiiiii!"
Blake sneered and locked eyes with Patient 12 nestled in a safe ring of security guards. "We'll meet again...Kai." He then took a blood dried finger from his slashed hand and wiped it across his neck, as if to threateningly gesture cutting his throat.
Kai shot him a frosty snarl before voicing with a raspy tone. "I'll be waiting!"
Harkan was ready to take flight too but not before saying his piece to Tyson as they too locked in an unsettling stare. "Dragoon, I'll be back for you I swear it."
Tyson stamped a foot forward. "Yeah? Good luck to ya pal! Dragoon isn't goin' anywhere and neither am I. You can come back anytime. Me and my friends will be ready for ya." His big mouth and attitude were somewhat bolstered by the arrival of Tala, the promise of backup from the Saint Shields and multiple security officers at his back. Without them he would not have delivered such a boastful taunt, especially after the crushing defeat he suffered from the same man earlier.
Harkan continued his long sneer as if not to take anything his blue haired quarry said seriously. He gazed down at the former World Beyblade Champion and grimaced at him, detesting the fact he was leaving without the Dragoon spirit still lovingly clutched in the Grangers' hand.
Tyson began to feel uneasy at being glowered at for so long. Tala, hard yet deceptively sensitive, noticed and stepped forward to block some of Harkans' predatory view, making himself centre of his dark intended attention instead.
The Black Ursus blader scrunched his nose, hocked and spat on the floor at the very sight of Tala for his insolent interfering.
A split second later and Blake, Harkan, Darcel and Garnetta were sprinting fast in the opposite direction down the hall. Four purple capes flew at nifty footed speed as they turned a corner...and vanished.
Mr Cooper pointed to four staff members already surrounding his CEO. He then bellowed an order in his usual deep rolling toned authority. "I want you four to stay here with me and the Boss. The rest of you, I want you in two teams of five to retreat back down this hallway and cut them off from their escape. Radio through if you find them and use any force necessary to apprehend. Do not let them get away!"
"YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" "YES SIR" Cried the private army as they set off on their new mission to capture Blake or any member of Shadow Vale. Each pounded the floor with steel toe capped boots under the weight of heavy Kevlar uniforms and muscled bodies. With varying levels of bulk they stampeded off like bison.
Ozuma and Dunga darted off behind Team Halo without word or invitation. They equally needed to see Shadow Vale apprehended or at least hope to bump into Mariam or Josef. The brother sister duo hadn't been heard from for hours and they prayed the blood on Garnettas' clothing was not from one of their own, and at the very least was not Rays' or Maxs'.'
Shadow Vale had fled with Hiwatari Enterprises' best and brightest hunting them like a pack of dogs with the Saint Shields. Blakes' mystical glass wall had begun to reduce to crystallized dust and disintegrate into nothing allowing a welcome breeze to flow through the corridor at last; the stuffy halls were stifling to begin with. The hospital was about to fill up with residents, doctors and patients alike after the false fire alarm and attention was returned to Patient 12, who was not looking too perky.
Kai stood frozen like a statue, semi circled by security and closed in by friends, his aching, tortured body was on the brink. One foot was frozen cold, he was dizzy, nauseous, his ears rung, and his vision was blurred then cleared as he fought not to collapse.
Tyson placed a supportive but unhelpfully heavy hand on Kais' shoulder. "Hey Kai, how ya doing bud? You feelin' okay?"
Hilary wanted so badly to hug him as she lurched in close to inspect his sliced neck line. "Kai we were so worried about you! What a horrible thing to go through! Is your throat okay?"
Daichi was still partially doubled over with one eye wincing. "Hey Kai, why don't we go to the office and see if we can get looked at by some hot nurses. Huh what'dya say? My tummy could do with seein to and urrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhh on man you don't look too fresh either."
Tala chose to skip the pleasantries after not seeing him for over a decade in favour of concern. Kai's body was about to tap out. "Kai? Talk to me. You're not looking good."
Mr Cooper swooped in as he noticed his employers' face lose all expression and his eyes begin to roll into the back of his head. Suddenly, Kais' legs gave out as he lost all consciousness and flopped like a rag doll. Luckily Mr Cooper and Tala noticed before he hit the ground and managed to catch him mid air.
Tyson yelled out in panic. "MEDIC! WE NEED A MEDIC!" Before being shoved out of the way by the four security staff who were selected to remain at Kais' side. Each of which were first aid trained at the very least and two were dedicated first responders... furthermore, one was an experienced field medic who served for 15 years in the US Army.
Mr Cooper was not having any argument as he literally shunted the beybladers and Hilary into a corner despite their protest. The bald bullish brute charged with Kais' wellbeing was not asking nicely, however, offered a nugget of reassurance. "He's just exhausted; give us some room to work. He'll be fine I promise. Now give us some space and wait here."
Tyson, Tala, Daichi and Hilary were planted in a row, cross-legged on the floor with their backs tight to the wall. They watched and worried as Kais' security squad diligently served and cared for him. They worked fast providing airway and circulation management, found him a gurney and within a few short minutes had him allocated a private room, a small team of nurses and Kais' private healthcare doctor was en-route.
It was clear; Kai was in safe hands and only needed rest and checking over.
Talas' voice was stern and to the point as he turned to face the cross-legged Japanese man beside him. "Okay Tyson you've got some serious talking to do. Kenny was vague to say the least in his emails and I deserve some answers. He asked me for help but wasn't terribly specific. What have I gotten myself and Bryan into?"
Despite Tysons' exhaustion from his own near death beyblade match, he still had the energy to sound excited. "Bryan's here too?! Sweet. I mean yeah there's a lot we have to fill you in on."
Hilary butted in. "It's probably best we all get together and ask Ozuma to explain everything again and plan what we're gunna do next."
Tala rolled his ice blue eyes at Ozumas' name. They were not the best of chums since butting heads in their match to save Tyson from Harkan.
Tyson cricked his sore neck."Yeahhh he can be a bit serious but he's a friend and he knows more about Shadow Vale than we do. But right now. I'm worried about Ray, Max and Kenny. We've not seen them in hours and its way past lunch time."
Daichi unfurled at the thought of food. "They've probably already had lunch Tyson. I bet they're scoffing their faces at the nearest hot dog stand."
Hilary added. "Yeah Mariah and Emily too. I just hope they've not had the kinda day we've had."