Kai was frowning.

The lot who would be joining the World Bey Blading Championships were a REALLY tough group.

"Netherlands…Iceland…Sweden…Finland…Greece…Spain…Switzerland…?…" Kai blinked. "A special exhibition involving Bey Masters Team…"

He was looking at the itinerary posted at the official Bey Blade Registration Center in downtown Paris, which was a few blocks away from the hotel. Takao and the rest of the Blade Breakers Team, along with the –Auran- and the microbe, went somewhere and left him all alone in the hotel room. He didn't really mind; in fact, it was good riddance. He couldn't do much work with Lei moping around looking at his Driger.

But…

Who are the Bey Masters Team?

"A penny for your thoughts, Hiwatari."

Kai turned around, becoming tense at that same voice. Shao was looking at him, a small smile on his face.

"What…"

"I KNOW a lot of things about the Blade Breakers Team that I SHOULDN'T ought to know," the leader of the Black Tigers Team said, his smile going wider. "Want to know what I've known about all of you so far?"

"…" Kai's eyes narrowed. "You're here for the championships…I guess I shouldn't be TOO surprised."

"We wouldn't miss this for the world." Shao now grinned. "Well, do you want to hear?"

"I'm in NO mood to play games." Kai was becoming quite annoyed. "Why don't you go pester somebody else for a change? You're doing a very good imitation of the world's greatest pest, if you OUGHT to KNOW."

"Same old Hiwatari." Shao looked over at the itinerary, then his eyebrows shot way up. "Oh? Exhibition match of the Bey Masters Team. Do you know who they ARE, Hiwatari?"

"I've no time for morons like you," Kai said gruffly. "Good EVENING."

He turned to walk away. But Shao managed to stop him dead in his tracks.

"They're the 'specimens' you've been hearing SO much about. –Aurans-, if I may be MORE precise. They're called Bey Masters because they're that GOOD. Efficient assassin service if I do say so myself. Got a lot of money to squander…? Give 'em a ring, and they'll do the splattering for you EXTRA good. EVERYTHING from killing 5 year-olds to a WHOLE village."

"5 year-olds…?!"

"I was just exaggerating, but those damnable whitecoated freaks don't care as long as those 5 year-olds are hindering their plans. They're even worse than the ABBEY. Of course, you remember THAT, don't you, Hiwatari?"

Kai's eyes widened.

"It's been a known fact the the Abbey and the Guild have been sworn enemies for YEARS. I wouldn't be too surprised if they're also into –Holy Beast Weapons- like they, the Abbey, used to be SO engrossed in. But…as you clearly saw what happened back at the White Tiger Village in China…I AM that weapon."

"…"

"They're all weapons waiting to be let loose, Hiwatari. BEWARE. That –Auran- with you isn't quite what she SEEMS to BE." Shao grinned. "Good EVENING."

Kai was left standing there, his scarf whipping behind him, as he stared at the man who looked like he single-handedly decimated the entire White Tiger Village. He was just kidding…right?

But whatever the reason, he knew he had to keep an eye on her movements.

He definitely didn't want to get on her bad side.

Kai returned to a very quiet hotel room later.

Takao blinked at him sleepily as he walked in. "Hey. We were beginning to worry if you'd actually ran out on us."

"Never on your worst nightmare." Kai looked around. "Where are the others…?"

"Max and Professor are over at the balcony, typing in new information for Dizzi. Tsukiyo's sleeping, and…Lei…"

"What happened to him?"

"Got busted wide open by Llewelyn Falstaff. You know, that guy who's really friendly back at the airport…"

"?!" Kai was surprised. "What happened?"

"He challenged Lei to a duel of sorts. It was really AMAZING. Kai, that was one hell of a –Holy Beast- I've EVER seen. It was…what did Professor call it…? Oh, a lich. And Driger sort of didn't make it out alive. I mean…he GOT out, but barely. Lei's Bey is a total wreck. Asaya's doing whatever she can to fix it."

"She's…a Bey technician?"

"One of the best Profesor had ever seen. She and that grumpy Pierre both. Lei's in his room, sleeping from the beating he took. Asaya's in there with him." Takao turned SD. "Gee, some guys have ALL the luck."

"Beating…"

"Oh, I forgot to mention…Driger…uh…he sort of…EVOLVED. You know, like Pokemon? Only this time…he became really AWESOME. He could've mowed through Yuri's Foulvogue (is this right?! I stand corrected HERE!) several times over and still won't stop attacking. If Lei didn't faint a while ago…I shudder to think what could've happened."

"He fainted?"

"Yup. Driger became totally out of whack as he attacked Zerzens…by the way, that's Llewelyn's Bey…then he fainted." Takao bit his lip. "Driger could've easily destroyed the whole clubhouse if he wanted to."

"…thanks, Takao." Kai went towards the direction of Lei's room. "I'm going to check up on both of them."

Takao blinked. "Did something happen? You look pale."

"It's nothing." Kai nodded. "See you in a sec."