"I tell you, Takao, we don't stand a chance against the Black Tigers Team if we just continue on with the PLAN!" Profesor was saying at breakfast buffet in the hotel restaurant a little while later.

"What plan?" Takao spread more freshly made jam on his over-buttered toast. "Haven't you realized we went through EVERYTHING then with nary a plan we could safely say that helped US? Well…that's different from Dragoon's strategies…Max helped a lot with that…"

"You're right, Takao, but Professor's got a point. We have to do some SERIOUS overhauling." Max started gesturing with his croissant. "If Lei didn't manage to defeat Llewelyn last night, that's without a PLAN…we'd end up being fodder for the Finals teams. Lei's already one tough Blader, as we all know."

"What really happened last night?" Kai asked. He stirred his coffee before taking a sip and continuing on. "How the heck did Lei faint?"

Tsukiyo looked at him suspiciously, then resumed nibbling on her cinnamon roll. SD Kai had a huge sweatdrop on his head. "I wasn't planning to ask you, microbe."

Takao blinked. "He was…well…quite overwhelmed. That was one hell of a –Holy Beast- power surge I've ever seen in my entire life."

"He acted as though we weren't there, too," Professor put in, slicing up his sunny side ups. "His eyes were creepily GLASSY."

"He acted as though he was also one of THEM." Max looked over at Kai. "You KNOW what that means, Kai?"

"He's a zombie?" Takao asked, blinking.

"No, he's the TOOTH FAIRY." Kai had a gargantuan twitch on his head. "Kinogu, sometimes I WONDER how you became that world's youngest Bey Blading champion 4 years ago."

"That's scary." Professor looked down at his plate. "What if…he becomes berserk or something?"

"He won't." Max became serious. "He wouldn't let whatever power that's holding him captive get him bad. It was really scary. Remember Boris?"

"Yeah." Takao shuddered. "But I have to admit, Lei almost died back there. I don't blame him."

"???" SD Tsukiyo was blinking. Kai sighed. "Lei Kon almost died 4 years ago because of a raving lunatic. Any more questions?"

"Good morning children. Or should I say…gentlemen?"

They all looked up. Takao's eyes became sparkly.

"Chairman Daitenji! WOW! It's been 4 YEARS…where were you?"

"Doing a little bit of Bey Blading promoting all around the world. After you guys defeated the Russian Team, everybody wants to Bey. Well, ALMOST everybody." Chairman Daitenji grinned. He still looked the same, with his bowler hat and walking stick, but instead of the brown suit and bowler he wore, he now wore a deep gray one. "How are things?"

"Doing great! I'm an incoming sophomore at Sendouji Senior High School…I'm finishing my last term as a freshman…Max is home for the holidays from the United States…Kai is an 'untouchable'…while Lei is back from his trip around the world!" Takao grinned happily. "Professor goes to Sendouji with me. And…oh! I believe you haven't met my childhood best buddy? She's Tsukiyo Shinohara."

"Shinohara? Of the Shinohara clan?" Chairman Daitenji asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Yes sir," Tsukiyo answered politely. Kai blinked.

"This is something…it's a known fact that both the Kinogu and Shinohara clans are very respected samurai families dating back to feudal Japan. Well, who could've guessed their descendants would become the best of friends? It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Lady Tsukiyo."

"Wha~~~?! A LADY?!" Takao was surprised.

Chairman Daitenji laughed. "Of course, you're also of old samurai stock, Takao…or should I say, LORD Takao. Your families decided to go incognito so they wouldn't be harrassed by imperial etiquette. Or so they say."

"Lord Takao…" SD Max had a silly grin on his face. "For some strange reason, I just CAN'T imagine it."

"HEY!"

"I believe…you also have Asaya Ninomiya with you?" Chairman Daitenji asked.

"Oh, yes, Chairman Daitenji, but she's having a lie-in. She only got to sleep this 6 in the morning. She's with Lei," Professor replied.

"I see. That's good." Chairman Daitenji looks over at Kai. "You DO know about her family, right, Kai?"

"Only daughter of a well known scientist and an only daughter of a well-known industrialist of Japan," Kai replied. "The Ninomiya are high-class society, but they have noble blood in them, as well. They're staunch imperialists in the days of the bakufu; but they're pacifists. Dr. Junji Ninomiya, Asaya's paternal grandfather, is a philantrophist and is Takao's father's mentor in archaeology. He researched on the –Forbidden Holy Beasts-, and is the first one who actually discovered –Aurans-."

"Good, good. You're doing your homework well," Chairman Daitenji said with a small smile.

SD Takao, SD Max, SD Tsukiyo, and SD Professor all blinked.

"Excuse me…-Forbidden HOLY BEASTS-..?!"

"It'll take a lot of explaining to do. Why don't you head over to the Bey Blade Registration Center? There's someone I want you to meet. He'll explain those –Forbidden Holy Beasts- to you." Chairman Daitenji nodded. "Of course, with Lei."

"Of course! We'll drag him out of bed right after breakfast!" Takao said.

"…" Kai was quiet as the rest of them erupted into excited chatter.

***-Forbidden Holy Beasts-? This I've got to SEE…***