Chapter 38
Day 3 of the Granger dojo lockdown.
It's 9am and the Granger household was awake with playful bickering between friends and excitement for the day ahead. After a hearty breakfast and leaving the kitchen in a mess and dirty dishes piled high in the sink, the beybladers gathered outside in the rear garden near the fish pond and Tyson's cerulean beydish. Hilary, Daichi and Emily sat cross-legged with bare feet high on the warm yellow wood veranda overlooking the others. Tyson, Daichi and Max wore trainers and suitable summer wear in the form of loose vests and t-shirts with shorts, their fingers itched and were eager to let beyblades rip. It was unanimously decided over breakfast that they weren't going to gain anything with another day spent on the XBOX. With Shadow Vale out there they needed to start shaping up...the sooner the better if they ever wanted to defeat their foes.
"Huuhhhh? What's this Chief?! This doesn't look like my Strata Dragoon! The parts are different colours!" Complained Daichi after inspecting what used to be his trusty purple beyblade.
"Quit complaining Daichi. It's the best I could do with the limited spare parts we had. Your battle with Harkan didn't leave me much to work with and I'm afraid were gunna need to completely reconstruct your beyblade. For now you'll just have to make do with what I put together last night." Kenny said pointing at the multicoloured beyblade in his ungrateful companions' palm. "You do want to train today don't you?"
"It's okay Daichi well just do the best with what we've got. The Chief and Emily need time to fix our blades up. Cut em some slack." Added Tyson as he inspected whatever the goggle wearer had just handed him by way of a budget upgrade for Dragoon. "Heyyyy Dragoon doesn't have a pink attack ring! What is this Chief? Emily is this your idea of a joke?"
The queen of know-it-alls huffed then tweaked her glasses in a hunched posture behind her laptop. She and the Chief sat cross-legged and watched everyone from on high like judges. "Quit your bellyaching already. Dragoons' old attack ring was terminal Tyson, it literally snapped in my fingers when I took your beyblade apart. I constructed your new practise blade with the closest replica I could find in Kennys' spare parts box. Don't worry we won't have you blading with a pink beyblade forever...we wouldn't want to damage your fragile male ego."
Max held his newly thrown together Draciel up to the sun and then down again. "It's good to have you back in my fingers buddy, even if you are red and white. Still, it's you Draciel in the heart of it and that's all that matters. Zap Arachnid did a number on your blade but we're still standing. Thanks Emily, I'm stoked to get training again!"
The ginger haired scientist warned. "Just make sure you don't overdo it Max. You may look fine on the outside but you're still recovering."
The cap wearer hooked a chummy arm around the blonde bladers' neck and squeezed playfully. "Max is fiiiine Emily. Ollll Maxie is back and in action. I'll keep an eye on him. Now...you ready to blade or what?!"
Max winced and giggled silly. "Hahaha yeah that's right Tyson. Draciel and I sure are ready to hit that beydish! And you better watch out cus I won't be goin' easy on ya."
"I hope you don't think you're gunna win today boys because you'll be in for some serious disappointment." Smarted Mariah as she and Ray emerged from around a corner. The duo were ready to sharpen claws and smash some beyblades. Their faces were alight with excitement and seemed happier in themselves since days before. Ray's emotional outburst the night prior had done him the world of good. His steps weren't so heavy, his face was calm and his soul a little less tortured... however, the need for revenge was still there, simmering like lava under a volcano.
Daichi was instantly riled as he stamped on a patch of rare grass under his trainers. "Oh ya think so do ya?! Right on Pinkie! Let's see what you got!"
The pinkette sweat-dropped and produced a beyblade from her pocket. "I don't know what to call it hahah. It looks nothing like my old Galux but it'll have to do for a training blade. It has a blue attack ring and a purple base. But make no mistake, that's Galux in the centre and no sticker substitute."
Tyson turned to the tall and poised male White Tiger. "Hey Ray. You ready to put Driger through his paces with me and my Dragoon? You won't be training on your own today buddy."
The red gloved Chinese blader smirked for the first time in days; he lowered his head and then flicked it back to make his black bangs swing. He toothily smiled as he brought his Driger blade up to view. "You bet Tyson. I'm ready...I just hope you are...ready to eat my dust that is."
The G-Revolution blader widely grinned back at him. "Yessss he's back! Our heart to heart last night musta helped him lift a load off his mind. That's it Ray. We're a team and we're all here for each other."
Hilary stamped her foot and clapped her hands. She stood lofty as she dictated over the excited bladers. "Ok everyone just to make it clear that today is a gentle practise day. You all need easing back into beyblading so don't go overboard! Tyson, Daichi, I'm looking at you."
Kenny straightened his red tie as he joined Hilary's announcement to the bladers, whom all itched to pull at rip cords. "I know some of you aren't happy with your new beyblades but they are temporary. Emily and I need time to re-engineer some of your blades, and some of just need spare parts. We're working on Mariah's and Ray's first. Then Tyson's, Max's and Daichi's. Just you need to be patient. In the meantime however, enjoy your Frankenstein beyblades because they're all you'll have for a while."
Tyson interjected. He hated the thought of any of the old Bladebreaker team being left out. "Aren't you going to work on Dranzer? Kai's going to need a new beyblade too!"
The brunette with goggles stabbed back as if Tyson had offended him. "Of course we're going to re-design Dranzer." He softened his tone after realising how snappy his first reply. "I just haven't had a chance to clean his old one yet and take it apart for analysis... Besides, I don't think Kai will be up for beyblading for some time. It makes sense to kit out those who are already fighting fit."
Everyone except the latecomers Emily and the Blitzkireg Boys knew what Kenny meant by "clean his old one." The last they saw of Dranzer's beyblade was covered in Kai's blood as it was pried from his cold blue-tipped fingers. Kenny had stashed it somewhere safe and out of sight so as not to upset anyone with the object straight out of a crime forensics box. Seeing Dranzer's empty bitchip would be too difficult to bear, like looking at a collar of a beloved dog that had passed away. The iron rich liquid from Kai's body would have dried in all its grooves and between parts, cleaning would be no quick task and that's if, the blood hasn't corroded the metal.
The mood was soon lifted with a precession of rip cries from 5 bladers circling Tyson's garden installed beydish.
Tyson - "Let it RIP! Go Dragoon!"
Mariah –"Go Galux! Ehhh nooooo it's not spinning right!"
Ray – "Go get em' Driger!"
Daichi – "Yahooooo go Strata Dragoon! No! You're going the wrong way!"
Max – "DRACIEL! Urghhhhh Draciel...you missed the beydish."
Hilary shook her head and sighed as she fanned her face in the warm daylight. "Urghhh today is going to be a loooooong day...PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT TYSON!"
Kenny had just returned from the kitchen and re-joined Emily's left side with a fresh cup of milk for himself and iced coffee for her. Like two ducks in a row they sat cross legged and hunched over as they sipped cold beverages keeping their sugar levels right and mouths watered. His laptop hummed as the internal fans worked overtime from the heat, and the fact it hadn't been shut down for days. His hard drive was cooking on a permanent basis, as was Emily's whose fingers pounded her keyboard harshly like a mad pianist. With little to no battle footage to work from, it was going to take all of their wit and experience to build the best chances of keeping the remaining sacred spirits safe and their friends' lives along with them. Their work could mean the difference between winning and losing against Shadow Vale, and the responsibility was a heavy boulder for them to shoulder.
Hilary swung her legs over the edge of the veranda in front of the tech-head pair, watching and scrutinising everything the bladers did. "Concentrate!" "Don't over launch!" "You nearly got it!" She was more like a strict take-no-crap sports coach than a cheerleader. After a while she grew bored of heckling and turned to the Russian duo slobbing it out further down the yellow wood veranda.
Tala and Bryan dressed like tourists at the beach sporting black sunglasses and lying sprawled out on the deck with no shoes or socks. They wore loose ¾ length cargo trousers. Talas' was orange and Bryans' burgundy. Edges of their fleshy albino pectoral muscles poked from the sides of their baggy loose vest tops of which Tala wore white, and Bryan black. The Wolborg blader sucked on a red ice-lolly whilst the master of Falborg licked at the top of a chocolate Cornetto. The duo had found the only spot on the veranda covered with an expanse of shade with thanks to a large cherry blossom tree nearby... and immediately claimed it as new Russian territory.
"Ummm Tala? Bryan? Aren't you going to train with them?" Quizzed wide-eyed Hilary with mild disgust.
Emily's ear pricked up and joined in the inquisition. She smirked and taunted. "I thought you boys came here to help Tyson fight his new enemies. Not eat all of his food and sunbathe. What do you think this is here? A holiday camp?"
Bryan laid on his side with one knee in the air and with his head upright supported by a palm so as not to get ice-cream down himself. "I'm not beybladin' in this heat. And besides, does it look like we make a hobby out of lying in the sun all day. Do you see any tan lines?"
The Wolborg blader righted himself into a seated position and dangled his legs over the edge to mirror Hilary. He took his lolly out of his mouth and internally cursed how muggy the air so early in the day and the sun was only just warming up. "Who says we're here to do anything right now? We're here for one thing and one thing only and that's to help see off any threats you can't handle. Right now, you have enough protection and to be honest we're debating staying at all." He returned his sweet, glistening ice lolly to his mouth and sucked it without a care.
Emily was taken aback and scoffed. "Oh really? Aren't you here to support Kai? Your team mate?"
Tala huffed with discomfort of the heat and topic of conversation both. "Kai and I aren't exactly close. He's fine, you're fine. We have things to tend to back home and frankly, we're running out of reasons to stay."
The ginger PPB Allstarz blader smarmed and pressed further. She didn't so much care for the bond between the secretive yet mildly attractive boys but curiosity drove her to poke on. "And here I thought you and Kai might be good friends given your history; being both Demolition and Blitzkrieg Boys and all."
The Russian leader leapt up to re-take his post next to Bryan, a half eaten ice-lolly in hand. His back slid down a wall edge until his butt crashed softly to the deck. His gaze was as cold as ice as he stared at the ginger through black shades and gave her his answer. "It's a long story and one I'm not happy sharing. Now why don't you go back to picking apart beyblade data and leave my history with Kai where it's meant to be...in the past."
Emily quipped with a snotty tone. "Geeze someone's antisocial in the heat. You go back to being helpful licking your lolly-pops. We'll deal with the enemy. Maybe you should go back to Russia. You're just a waste of resources and space if you're not going to help."
Before anymore spit-balling between the red head American girl and Russian guy could fly, Kenny peeled his gaze away from his screen to ask a favour that would require some choice words. "I know something you guys can do to help, that's if you wanted to help that is. It won't require any strenuous lifting I promise... I want to have a look at your beyblades. I've never analysed a Russian engineered beyblade in the flesh before. I hear from Tyson that you defeated Harkan without much trouble Tala, and you kept Garnettas' beyblade at bay too Bryan. It might have been just pure luck, or that their beyblades were already damaged, or the beybladers already tired from their battles prior to engaging with you. Orrrr, and here's what I'm hoping, there's something special about your beyblades. I'd love to decipher their form to determine why you two seemed to have an upper-hand that we didn't have. It could be a real help to us. Your blades could be the key to us winning against Shadow Vale and with little casualties." He began to crawl towards them with his hands in a begging pose. "Pleaseeeee...I wouldn't ask if it wasn't central to my work."
Tala and Bryan looked at each other through dark eye protection; the visible areas of their stoic faces gave nothing away. Tala's ice-lolly dripped cherry flavoured sugar water onto his white bare foot, and Bryan's ivory ice-cream dribbled over the side of the cone onto his hand. The duo was thinking about it and telepathically confirmed with the other with just a look.
The grey haired Demolition Boy cocked his head smarmily. "What's in it for us? Who's to say you're not gunna use our data against us later."
Kenny added with cock-sure attitude and ceased his grovelling stance to adopt a snide authoritarian one. "There's a free upgrade and new magna cores in it for ya. They are expensive and limited edition. Only BBA employees can get their hands on them... But if you don't want them, I'm sure I can give them to someone else."
The Chief held Wolborg close under a magnifying glass. He'd lost his mind and his voice shrieked high with excitement. "Wow! Tala, I've never seen this kind of metal before. It's not titanium or aluminium is it? There are only a few metals that don't crack with minus temperatures and the others are gold, bronze and copper. Your weight disk is silver in colour. Is it a hybrid? Is it some other kind of unknown element? I bet is Adamantium isn't it? Like in X-men? PLEASE TELL ME IT'S TRUE!"
Emily clipped apart Falborgs' base to reveal ball bearings inside. She analysed and rapidly quizzed its owner who watched her like a hawk over her shoulder; he didn't trust her not to steal a part if he took his eyes off her. "You still use ball bearings, that's so old school. We're light years away from those now. Engine cores and magna-tech is the future. Have you always battled with ball-bearings? I need to know what drives the speed in your beyblade. Is it the way you launch or your Bitbeast that powers the spin? I've seen the damage Falborg can do to...various targets... and I NEED TO KNOW how it works with great effect with such old technology."
Bryan and Tala huffed and shook their heads at the other. Within a minute flat they regretted ever handing their spinning weapons to the beyblade mega-geeks; their quiet, relaxed day sucking on cold desserts on the deck was dead in the water. A gazillion questions about their techniques had better be worth the extravagant upgrades they were promised... or Russian Airlines were about to have two new passengers.
Kai's pale hands trembled as he pressed his phone alive with a button on the side. The light of his device softly illuminated the space around him in the gloomy room with the curtains closed and window shut. He didn't want anyone to peer in and see him like this, nor was he interested in the outside world either. His thumb scrolled through a contact list on the screen of his Smartphone causing a wince as his pupils contracted tight in reaction to the sudden artificial light. He blinked a couple of times to un-blur his straining vision, his poor sight was the result of sitting in semi-darkness day and night, not eating or drinking anything substantial, and a chronic lack of decent sleep. The phoenix blader sat cross legged on the floor with a black pillow wedged between his sore back and Hiro's closed wardrobe door. His stab site on his left flank as usual was aching and it nagged him with every twist of his torso. It was just easier and less painful to pick a position and stay in it and so, remained in that position for as long as his skeleton would allow without dead butt or leg cramping.
Kai pressed the call icon after finding the contact he wanted and swiftly adopted his Samsung to his ear. He waited for the recipient to pick up. A couple of ringtones passed until the man on the other end accepted the call.
Detective Takamichi – "Yes."
Kai – "Takamichi, I need a progress report."
Detective Takamichi – "Nothing yet Mr Hiwatari. I've canvassed the area that Blake was last seen and it's like he's a ghost. I've got old buddies in the force and believe me, all eyes and ears are looking for this guy."
Kai – "Just keep searching, he has to be caught. Dead or alive."
*BEEP*Kai ended the call and began dialling another, then another and finally his last bounty hunter all with similar fruitless news.
*Dial*
Mr Dawson – "I'm sorry Sir but I've come across nothing yet. This Harkan fella, he's skipped town. I can tell ya this, he's nowhere in Tokyo. If he was, I'd have found him by now."
*Beep*
*Dial*
Ms Kheermani – "I'm afraid Sir I haven't found a shred of evidence pointing me in the direction of the female beyblader. Garnetta was last seen near the Manabu family shop and that was the last time she was picked up on any cameras in any streets or train stations, and she definitely didn't fly anywhere though an airport. She's gone with the wind Sir."
*Beep*
*Dial*
Mr Chobu – "Sir, this fella knows how to evade cameras like a pro. I'm afraid to say, if they were still in Tokyo, or Japan for that matter they would have popped up somewhere. If we don't find him or any of his team within the next 24 hours the chances of us finding them are slim to zero. I fear they've either gone underground which is unlikely given their visa status and lack of social support. Or simply...they aren't in Japan anymore."
*Beep*
Kai allowed his hand muscles to release his phone mid-air, allowing it to drop and bounce to an empty space on Hiros' tatami mat flooring. His bereft expression was of one who was giving up. His hands dropped to his sides, knuckles facing down to the floor as he threw his head back until his skull hit the wardrobe behind. "I hired the best of the best in the world. How can they fail to capture four distinctive targets? It's all my fault. I lost to Blake and now he has my Dranzer. MY Dranzer."
The piteous beyblader emptily gazed up at the plain plasterboard ceiling as he recanted Mr Chobu's words in his mind. "If we don't find him or any of his team within the next 24 hours the chances of us finding them are slim to zero."
"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Another phoenix cry reminded Kai of why he was so desperate to find the purple caped fugitives, Blake especially. They had his Dranzer whom screamed for him day and night like a baby crying for its mother. Kai wasn't eating. He wasn't sleeping and soon...he would lose his mind.
The broken man with dual grey hair and amethyst eyes wanted to try to nap...that's if his fire-bird's screams would allow. He crawled onto his futon with several winces and gasps of pain. He lay down, pulled his soft blue covers over his weak body and shut his tired eyes that stung briefly as his lids closed.
"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
"I know Dranzer, I know... I'm trying." Kai whispered his sacred Bitbeast a reply. A tear fell from each of his bloodshot eyes which trailed from the corners of his eye sockets, to his ears, then soaked into his unkempt dark grey bangs. He opened bloodshot eyes to view the ceiling tiles as a point of focus. "I'm trying Dranzer. I'm trying."
Later that day...
Like a professional waitress, Hilary carried four plates of sandwiches from inside the house to greet the beybladers and bystanders on the high yellow veranda. "Lunch time! Come and get it guys! I made us all some grub. But don't forget to dust yourself off first. You guys are filthy."
Tyson's butt was the first to hit the deck with his red and blue trainers dangling over the edge of the wooden boards, he removed his dust covered cap and damp with sweat fingerless gloves. "Oh mannn what one to eat first?!" He grabbed the closest one too him without care for what was in it. He and his taste-buds were going to regret that decision.
The sandwiches were made from white bread, cut into perfect triangles with the crust cut off and stacked like a pretty picnic display-piece on four different coloured plates. Each colour indicated a different filling.
Draciel's blader dusted himself off before jumping onto the deck like Tyson. Sweat patches on his green t-shirt showed just how hard he'd worked in the sun and this treat was well deserved. He picked a breaded delight from a yellow plate. "Hmmmmmm my favourite! Mayo and ham! Just what I like. Thanks a bunch Hilary. You're the best!"
Within seconds, Daichi joined to make a trio with his legs too dangling. He took a sandwich off the blue plate, then the yellow plate, then the green plate...inhaling and struggling to swallow before reaching for the red plate. His greed was about to catch up to him...in an explosive way.
Mariah and Ray had removed their shoes and jumped up to join the others but now without footwear were able to sit more relaxed and cross legged against the building wall. They could smell which ones were meant for them. The duo each took their triangular lunch from the blue plate...tuna paste was puurrrfect for them.
Emily picked at a mayonnaise and ham one. She wasn't a lover of mayonnaise but since working with Max, he'd put it in everything at the BBA research office and she'd no choice but to grow to like it.
The brunette brain-box could see what was in the sandwiches on the green plate. Something sweet and fruity to keep his brain going. "Nice Hilary, I love jam. Just what I fancied."
The skirt wearing hostess picked up the yellow plate, walked over to camp "Shade Blitzkrieg" and offered them a sandwich. "Would you like one Bryan? Tala? I made them for you boys too." She cocked her head to the side and smiled sweetly at them. She'd overheard their threats to go back home and wanted to help change their minds. Like it or not...the Blitzkrieg Boys beyblading skills were very much needed. And the more friends surrounding Tyson and the others...the better...and the safer they'll all be.
"Urghhh okay, why not. What harm could it do?" Bryan gingerly took a bite out of one and was soon pigging it down and grasping for another. Turns out...Bryan loved mayonnaise too.
Max beamed with pride at his new soviet pal. They had something finally in common. He gasped a bite down before goading. "See how much better life is with mayo hehehe. Tala you should try one!"
Tala climbed to his feet and swanned past Hilary offering him the mayo and ham luncheon. He scooped up the last of what was on the blue plate and returned to his shaded patch. "No. I'm good. I'd rather have the mushed up fish."
Whatever was in the sandwiches on the red plate was about to kick in...3...2...1...
Tyson screeched with a throat full of bread and... "CHILLI! WHY HILARY! I KNEW I SHOULDNT HAVE TRUSTED YOU! AHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" The red skinned beyblade champion flew off the deck and ran around like a headless chicken for darting out of sight yelling "WATER! WATER!"
Daichi fanned his face that was turning a magical shade of cherry. He burped and a small puff of fire exhumed from his mouth. "CHILLI HILARY?! YOU PUT CHILLIPASTE IN SANDWICHES?! GAAHHHHHHHH ! TYSON! WAIT FOR MEEEEE! SAVE SOME WATER FOR ME! LEAVE ME SOME WATER WILL YA!"
The floral loving brunette muttered without much care for the situation. "But I thought they liked chilli? Hmm oh well. They'll get over it."
Emily paid no attention to the fire breathing pair who were somewhere swallowing hose water or gulping mouthfuls out of the fish pond for relief. It was too hot to fuss over their antics and had she something more pressing on her mind. "Say, we should let Kai know we are having lunch. Maybe he'll join us? It can't be good being cooped up in that stuffy old room all day. It's no good for his health."
Hilary replied as she began clearing the plates away. "I knocked on his door just after I made lunch and invited him to sit outside with us... but he didn't answer. I left a plate outside his door though. He'll eat it when he wants to Emily. He rarely ate with us any way back in the day when we were team G-Revolution. He does everything by himself and that's the way he likes it I guess. Kai will be Kai after all."
That evening.
Its 7pm and the dining table in the Granger kitchen was almost full with guests. Condiments in the form of mayonnaise, chilli pepper flakes, ketchup, sweet and sour, and soy sauce were placed in various shaped jars and squeezy bottles in the centre of the cream wooden dining table large enough for 12x. 10 plates were laid out and beside each lay cutlery in the form of chopsticks; however for the Russians was a silver knife and fork. Tala and Bryan didn't know how to use chopsticks and weren't about to learn anytime soon. 10 chairs were set behind each place mat and 9 guests were seated.
On the menu tonight was some sticky brown and white rice cooked to perfection in a rice cooker; in 5 minutes time a lever would pop upwards signalling the rice was ready to be scooped out. A hearty serving of fried tinned mackerel with shitake mushrooms and seasoning crackled and spat in a frying pan, the dish was covered to keep it hot until the rice was ready; a simple meal which Tyson and Hilary smashed together. They wanted to offer something quick, healthy and relatively light after a hot day of beyblading, laptop pounding and...whatever the Blitzkrieg Boys were bribed into doing.
Ray and Bryan were strategically seated on opposite ends of the table in order to not face each other. Another argument like the previous night would be most distasteful. The White Tiger promised his Granger host there wouldn't be any more trouble and the Falborg blader promised not to kick anything off either...he was too hot and lazy to want to start anything anyway.
Tyson sat at the head of the table, with Bryan to his left, then Tala, then Daichi and finally Kenny trailing up to the other end of the wooden dining structure. To Tysons' right sat Hilary, Emily, then Mariah, and Ray up the far end opposite the one and only Chief. A lonely seat sat empty at the other head of the table.
Emily sarcastically quipped. "So is Kai joining us tonight or is he going to make that 3 nights a no-show?"
Tyson ceased swinging back and forth on his wooden chair legs. As of late, any topic about Kai was usually a serious one. "Say has anyone spoke to Kai today? He knows dinner is at 7pm right?"
Hilary's tone was that of concern. "He didn't touch any of the sandwiches I made him earlier. I'm kinda worried about him now guys. We haven't actually seen Kai eat since the hospital. We all know how fussy he can be but he needs to keep up his strength."
The bluenette took his chin in his fingers. "Now you mention it. I haven't seen the old sour puss much let alone talk to him. He took over my brothers' room, and ever since we haven't seen him for dust."
Draciel's blader announced. "I saw him briefly this morning when we crossed paths to the bathroom."
Kenny quizzed. "And how'd he look Max?"
Max - "He looked tired I think. I was busting so I only passed him for a second. I said good morning but he didn't reply. By the time I was finished in the bathroom, I guessed he was back in his room."
Mariah – "There are used bandages in the bathroom bin that aren't mine. So he is taking care of himself. I'm sure you're worrying over nothing. Give him some space."
Bryan – "I wouldn't fuss over Kai. I'm sure his goons are all over him. I bet they've been bringing him gourmet food on a silver platter and spoon-feeding him too."
Kenny's voice raised a notch in his reply to the silver eyed Russian. "But how do we know that for sure? We're either in the dojo or the back yard, we only venture into the house when we want a shower or the kitchen. We don't know for sure if anyone has been checking in on Kai."
Daichi crossed his arms behind his head and leant back. "Oh chill out Chief. Kai is a pretty tough cookie. He can take care of himself. We tried to be helpful at the hospital and he kicked us out of his room, remember!"
Tyson – "Kai's hell-bent on finding Dranzer. I bet he's so wrapped up with his task force...he hasn't got time to hang out with us. As soon as they find Dranzer and bring him back, Kai will be his old self again. I'm sure Mr Money bags offered to pay his detectives a mega tonne of cash and I bet they're working hard around the clock. We'll have Dranzer safe and sound in no time with King Kai on the case."
Max – "The last thing we want to do is smother him like we did at the hospital. We thought we were helping him but in reality...we were stressing him out and that's the last thing he needs."
Said Ray relaxed. "I have to agree with Max. Give Kai some space to breathe. He knows where we are. If I was in Kai's shoes, I'd need some time to accept everything that's happened too. He's been through something terrible and he needs time to come to terms with it. And he's healing from a real nasty wound...and coping with the loss of his Dranzer. That's a lot to process. I'm sure Kai will emerge when he's ready."
Tyson – "What do you think we should do Tala? You've been his team mate too."
Tala crossed his arms and didn't appreciate being put on the spot. Kai's perfectly independent, even when wounded and he won't accept being babied. If you disturb him when he's busy, he won't thank you for it. But that's just my opinion. But you do what you have to do Tyson."
Hilary's worried tone increased. "And what if Kai isn't doing very well. What if he's, you know, feeling a bit blue and that's why he's locked himself in a dark room on his own all day."
Emily's tone matched the brunettes'. "After what Kai's been through, it would be understandable. Near death experiences like that can really take their toll on mental health. Kai could be depressed and if he's not eating or talking to people, he could be in real trouble."
Hilary kicked her chair back in order to stand and gently slapped her palms to the table. "I don't know about you guys but I would feel better if we quickly check on him. Maybe he just needs reminding its dinner time and who knows, maybe he'll join us tonight. Maybe he just needs a little convincing. He needs to know we're here for him. What'dya say? Kenny, Emily, are you coming with me?"
Without protest, Kenny and Emily promptly joined Hilary in sliding back their chairs too and quietly marched down the short corridor to Hiro's/Kai's room. The rest of the diners waited silently for their return with crossed arms, buttoned lips and fiddled with cutlery. The rice maker lever popped indicating the rice was ready to serve, but nobody sought to begin dishing up. They silently promised to wait until the trio returned, and hopefully, with another member to fill the empty head of the table.
Tyson sat in deep thought about what Emily mentioned about Kai's mental health and whether he'd had made the right choice to leave him alone for so long. He had so much to deal with himself with his own personal trauma at the hands of Shadow Vale that he neglected to give any thought to how Kai was doing, which was easy to do...out of sight out of mind. And Kai would have pushed him away anyway.
Guilt and worry took all of them in varying levels. Bryan and Mariah not so much, they weren't close to him and looked forward to their fish and rice dinner. Others at the table like Max and Ray trusted Kai to seek help if he needed it and hoped he would reach out to them when he's ready. Tyson however, dreaded the thought of Kai feeling depressed. The beychamp had experienced the blues himself after spending seasons alone in his bedroom, sulking and without company or life direction after his friends dispersed to start new lives post the BEGA tournament and in spates after graduation from college. Depression was not a nice state to be in and he hoped with all his heart Kai would join them tonight, to see him and have the slim chance of cheering him up...however he could.
The most confident of the three, Emily spearheaded the trio's expedition to "Kai's room". They reached the closed shoji doors and it was clear the room inside was in pitch darkness. No shadows of anyone moving around and no sound apart from a humming fan. Hilary picked up the plate of sandwiches she'd left earlier in the day from outside the sliding door in order for Emily to get to the door gap unhindered.
Hilary shook her head with dismay as she looked down at the untouched food she took the time to make him. "He's not taken a single bite."
Kenny whispered nervously. "Let's just get this over with. You ready Emily?"
Emily knocked her knuckles twice against the wooden frame.
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
Emily cleared her throat. "Kai, it's Emily. I need to speak to you for a moment. It's important. Can I come in?"
Silent seconds passed with no answer.
The trio shuffled and huffed nervously.
Hilary elbowed Emily out of the way in impatience. "Let me try."
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
She grasped at a clump of her grey skirt anxiously. "Ummmm Kai. It'sssss Hilary but I guess you already know that. I made you some sandwiches earlier and you didn't even try them. I'll make some more for you tomorrow and I expect you to try at least one. Its 7pm now and dinner is ready and we're just waiting for you now Kai. You going to join us? We'd all like to see you."
More silent seconds passed with no answer.
Kenny stepped forward and took charge, not something he often did. "I wouldn't usually suggest this but I think we should just go in. A guy's privacy is sacred but in these circumstances, I think it's warranted. I'll do it. You girls take a step back. We don't know what state he's going to be in... or how clothed he is."
The girls immediately understood and backed away a few feet. A guy with his door closed in privacy could be doing...private things or living commando for all they knew. They didn't know what to expect when they pull that door across.
Kenny announced before beginning to drag the sliding door across. "Kai, it's your old pal Kenny. I'm coming in."
*Schreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* was the soft noise of the sliding door as it dragged across its runner. A rectangle of light from the hallway illuminated some of the pitch black room. The spectacle wearer needed a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the areas of dark through the thin door gap just big enough for the width of his face. His gaze turned high to all of the pin-boards still in place then downwards to the floor where a human shape lay on a futon. His eyes focused better with each passing second and before long, he could make out the back of a dual grey haired head on a pillow and the blue blanket laid over his resting body. Kai was lying on his right side and rested a hand over his left flank. His legs didn't twitch under the covers, he didn't stir and his head never lifted to greet the brunette in the doorway. Only hum of a fan blowing and swivelling made a sound.
Kenny backed up slowly to announce to the worried females on tip-toes desperate to peer over his shoulder. "Kai's asleep. He must be in a pretty deep one because he hasn't even woken up; which is odd because he's usually a really light sleeper."
Emily shoved past to get a peek herself, she too leered over the Dranzer blader's sleeping and still form in the lonely darkness of the room. She backed herself out again so Hilary could sneak a look. She whispered to the Chief in the hallway. "Hmmmmm yeah he's pretty out of it alright. I wouldn't worry though; I bet the painkillers the doctor gave him are knocking him out cold. That would explain why Kai has been even less social than before. And one of the side effects of painkillers is nausea which would explain why he won't have much of an appetite. It all makes sense."
Hilary finished her gander over the resting man and gently slid the door all the way shut. She whispered to her companions as they trailed back to the kitchen. "I feel better now I've seen him. He'll be okay I think. Like you say...the painkillers are doping him up and he's probably sleeping quite a lot. And that's why he moved to Hiro's room, so that he could sleep more without being disturbed by the rest of us in the dojo. His task force are likely keeping him real busy. I bet he hits the hay early because of how wiped he is."
The trio returned to the dining room where they were greeted by their hungry yet patient friends.
Tyson was on edge for a reply. "So? He joining us or what?"
Hilary swayed her head. "No, Kai's out for the count. We knocked and he didn't answer, so we peeked into his room and he's asleep already."
Ray exclaimed. "At 7pm? That's early! Even for him."
Emily shrugged nonchalantly. "Well he is on pretty strong painkillers. I'd be surprised if he even knows what day of the week it is."
Max fought not to giggle. "So that's why he he's been so quiet. He's high as a kite. Maybe it'll do him some good and chill him out a bit."
Bryan stretched his arms up towards the ceiling and yawned. "See,*yawn* nothing to worry about. Kai will grace us with his presence when he's ready."
Tala wasn't convinced. "I'll drop in on him tomorrow at some point. He won't appreciate it though."
Kenny – "Good idea Tala. I'm with you on that one. I'll do the same. Perhaps we can go together."
Hilary – "Count me too."
Daichi whined loudly. "Now that we know Kai isn't coming for dinner. Is it time to eat yet?! I'm starrrvvinnnggggg!"
Tyson pounded the table with his excited fist. "Yeahhh lets eat! And tomorrow... I'm going to drag Kai to breakfast, and lunch, and dinner whether he likes it or not."
"KKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Kai was not asleep as his friends thought. He wished he was but the phoenix screams wouldn't allow him the pleasure.
"KKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Kai - "I don't know how much more of this I can bear. Dranzer calls for me day and night and I feel like I haven't slept in weeks. Dranzer, I WILL find you but you need to let me rest. The guys are going to know something is happening to me and I don't know how to tell them. They're starting to notice my absence and if I tell them what's going on they'll think I'm going mad. I definitely feel like I'm going mad. I don't know what to do Dranzer...you won't let me sleep."
"KKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Kai flipped over from lying on his side to his back and gazed at the spot that Kenny, Hilary and Emily peered over him just minutes ago. His face scrunched in sorrow as his eyes turned watery, he blinked and two bulbous glittery tears emerged, ticked down his horizontal lying head and soaked into any hair they came into contact. Crying in the dark was a new and regular thing. A week ago he was a hot shot CEO with endless power and money but none of it felt as amazing as it was to be Dranzers' blader. He had his health, his freedom and was conquering the business world by storm. Blake and his actions on that fateful day had temporarily robbed Kai of his position in his company, he'd lost his beloved Dranzer and was chronically disabled by his wound...something Kai had never experienced before...physical weakness. He wanted to fight, to return what was his...his Dranzer but his wound shackled him to soft furnishings and could barely walk around the house. What more, the screaming...endless screaming in his head was literally driving him into despair.
*KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*Dranzer screamed as he tried desperately to break free from his chains. His ankles, wing joints and neck were shackled with black slave clasps so tight they buried into his feathers and skin. At the Arch Mages will, the Great Spirit was zapped with dark energy that emanated from his cruel shackles and behaved like black electricity. Each time the regal fire bird attempted to fly or attack...the magic structures would punish him with another shock. Dranzer was grounded, forced to stand on the dusty floor like a common bird whose wings had been clipped. Dranzers' bitchip glowed golden on the floor at his tawny coloured feet, his body refused to yield to his captors and so, the torture...was ongoing.
Another shock. *KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
And another. *KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*Poor Dranzer screeched in agony continuously.
In the dead of night and far away from any civilisation, the Shadow Vale clan had gathered their highest mages. Dark magic was afoot and had been since the previous morning. Forbidden magic, one that was hidden in old scriptures that should have been burnt eons ago; but thanks to the ancestors of one rebellious sect, the spell survived and was now in the hands of the Arch Mage known as Rochimaru. With long dank silver hair, sharp fingernails like talons and an ankle long purple tunic, he was playing the hand of the devil.
He and his brethren had gathered in a lost canyon as yet unmapped and un-trodden by explorers, only those born of the Shadow Vale clan knew of its existence and its sacred history as a birthplace of black magic and sorcery.
The canyon was wide and baron dust bowl with little life. Only lizards, spiders, snakes, buzzards and bats inhabited the rocky outcrops and savaged each other for survival. The only flowers were those of rare cacti and even they didn't last long in the bareness, like the soil itself rejected life. The night sky was peppered with stars and was without any moon. The atmosphere was dry with a smell of sand and warm limestone. For two days no wildlife dared venture out of their hiding places, the animals could sense the evil energy in the air and would rather go hungry than mix with it.
20 figures were arranged surrounding an intricate spell circle with patterns lined in the sand in red, the lines were not made from paint nor dyes...it was goats blood...copious amounts of it. The figures held hands as they chanted a dead language over and over for hours, only stopping for toilet breaks, half an hour naps and short mealtimes. They had been in the canyon chanting like so since the morning before and wouldn't be returning home until their mission was complete or the Arch Mage chooses to abandon it. The chanters were faceless, but in the right light their eyes shone like rubies in the shadow of their hoods. The only variation between them was height; some were possibly female or young or old. Whatever their age or gender, they had been summoned for one purpose and that was to perform a spell at the orders of their clan leader, all to fulfil a twisted destiny.
Garnetta, Blake, Harkan and Darcel were present and stood in a line behind their Lord and master Rochimaru. They'd been called back to their homeland to partake in the ceremony of pain and for Blake to be an eventual participant should the first half of the curse bear fruit. For the best part of 48 hours they'd witnessed endless chanting, enjoyed little sleep and chewed on rare flowers from their home village to stay alert.
*KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR* Dranzer screeched again. His red feathered body fizzled and twitched with agony after another wave of dark electric. The fire bird however showed no signs of relenting to the mage's will as he attempted to lunge and snap at the silver haired sadist.
Lord Rochimaru raised his arms and his thick lined black tattoos glowed with sinister energy. To exact his torture on Dranzer he only had to outreach his arms and aim the electricity as if it was coming from his fingertips. To keep his subjects focused he delivered speeches periodically to inspire and remind them of their duty to the clan and their destiny.
Arch Mage Rochimaru bellowed aloud for all to hear. "For too long have we waited to control one of the sacred spirits. Thanks to one of our own we have possession of one. However his guardian still lives. I seek to right this wrong and sever their bond once and for all. Only then can we forge a new one with my Grandson, Blake as the new Master."
Blake was indeed his progeny who waited at the edge of the circle of mages with his brothers and sister.
*KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
Dranzers' screams were non-stop and regular. And for those who cared...heartbreaking.
Garnetta whispered to Blake at her side. "Lord Rochimaru means to break Dranzer this way huh. He was never very patient...or kind. Dranzer is in agony, poor poor thing."
Blake snapped with distain in his tone. "It's our own failings for not completing our mission. I did everything I was trained to do and still Dranzers' guardian lived."
Darcel overheard and interjected, he broke rank to add his piece. "It's not our fault that those heathen Saint Shields showed up when they did, or those foreigners. They ruined everything. Take them out of the picture and we would have all four of the Sacred Spirits in our possession, no question about that."
Blake sneered and spat with snarling features. "And those security men. Why did my spirits' guardian have to own a security company? Most vexing."
Harkan's voice carried in the light breeze for all his siblings to hear. They all turned, and looked up to him in more than just physical ways. "I just hope Dranzer breaks sooner rather than later. I hate to see something so majestic reduced to a screaming mess. However the longer he holds out the more impressed I am. Dranzer truly is a wonder to behold. You are lucky brother Blake. You were destined for the Blue Dragon but fate decided otherwise, and all it took were Tyson Granger to be late to the battle dish."
*KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
Dranzers' high pitched cry interrupted their conversation, causing them to pause. The ear bashing scream took a moment to cease and when it did, the uncompassionate siblings carried on.
Harkan - "I don't know where our Lord found the scripture needed but I'm grateful that he did. It'll mean that when he is done. We will have a sacred spirit in our arsenal and we will be able to use him to defeat the other guardians when the time comes. This will help secure our futures as new masters of the White Tiger, Turtle and Blue Dragon spirits too."
Garnetta – "Is anyone else bummed out that we were chased from Tokyo. Those cops, detectives whoever they are came too close to catching us."
Darcel – "Take it easy Sis. They didn't catch us and they aren't going to catch us. This little break back home will do us some good. Max, Tyson, Ray and Kai will be lulled into a false sense of security. They'll believe we've given up and left them to live out their lives in peace. We'll be back, they just don't know when."
*KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*His yellow beak stretched wide and his godly avian eyes contracted in torture as he screamed again. His magnolia coloured mane flared as he bucked his head back and forth in pure agony with each vicious lash of the black current exacted by the Arch Mage. Red phoenix feathers littered the blood soaked sand and carried in the wind for miles.
Dranzers image reflected on Blake's red irises. "Oh Dranzer. I promise you, you are not alone. Your guardian Kai hears everything you cry...and... I bet it's almost as painful for him as it is for you."
Arch Mage Rochimarus' face was alight with malice as his lips curled back to reveal pointed old teeth. He felt no compassion for the screaming phoenix trapped and suffering at his will. Five black shackles zapped and fizzled painful currents of black sorcery throughout his feathered body...and there was no sign his captor was going to stop anytime soon.
He sneered. "The Great Red Phoenix is strong willed but for how long? I wonder who will break first...you or your guardian. HAHAHAHA."
