Kairox: hi! Sowwy for taking 4eva to update! Damn english HOD. Tell me honestly, does my writing merit a C6?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Kai: damn, yur back.

Kairox: AAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!

EKR: just ignore her, she got back her report card today.

Tala: good. Does this mean she can't write the fic?

Kairox: hmmm. let me see. NO! mwahahahaha I don't own Beyblade.(sob) now on with da fic!

Ria: O_o should we be worried?

~ Haunted by the past. ~

Kai pulled out the key and opened the hotel room door. He suddenly was struck with the impresssion that someone else was in the room. He cautiously stepped into the room when something hit him hard on the back of his head, causing him to crumple to the floor.

# Ria's p.o.v #

kai stepped into the hotel room and stiffened. Suddenly a figure stepped out from behind the door and brougth a stick crashing down on his head. I gasped as Kai crumpled on the floor.

The person stepped into the light just long enough to pull us Ray and me into the room, but it was long enoiough for me to catch sight of his face.

He looked vaguely familiar.

He slammed Ray and me against the wall and hissed, "where's Max?"

Up close I suddenly realised why he looked familiar. He was a spitting image of Max, only much older and looking the very personification of stressed.

"who are you and what do you want with Max?" Ray demanded.

The man just shoved us against the wall harder. "where is Max?!"

Not wanting to give him away, I choked out, "we, we don't know!"

The man snarled and dropped us. "if you see him, tell him that Daddy says hi." He growled, before stepping over Kai's prone figure and stalking out.

~ normal POV~

Ray scrambled over to Kai and checked the older boy's pulse. Thnak god, he was fine, just stunned. Ria joined him a second later.

" who the hell was that?" she asked.

" I don't Know. Help me here will you. I can't quite get Kai onto the sofa by myself you Know."

Together, the two teens half carried the realatively heavy Kai to the couch.

"whaat do we do now?' Ria asked, looking to her older brother for guidence.

"let's revive Kai first then go find the others and tell them what happened." Ray suggested as he started towards the mini bar for smelling salts.

Five minutes later, Kai groaned and started to sit up.

"Kai, are you okay?" Ria asked in concern. Kai just stared blankly at her.

"Who are you?" he asked.

# Ray's POV #

Shit! First Ryan,then Kai catches us trying to run, a mad guy looking for Max and now this! Kai had lost his memory!

Ria was desperetely telling him stuff, trying to make him remember, but it waasn't working. The only thing Kai seemed to remember was Dranzer and Beyblading.

Leaving Ria to talk to Kai, I went to the bedroom she and I shared to think.

We would definitely need to tell the others about this and the crazy guy who hit Kai, but what ti do after that? With his memory shot and Ria and I leaving, the team would fall apart.

On the other hand, if Ria and I stayed, there'd be hell to pay after the tournament when Ryan came to collect his 'dues'.

Then there was that crazy man. Who was he and why did he look so damn much like Max?

I sighed. The team needed us, Kai needed us. Ria and I could not leave, yet.

# Normal POV#

Ria rocked back on her heels and sighed in frustration. No matter what she said, Kai simply didn't remember. How coul the etam manage without him now? Especially since Ray wanted them to leave.

The bedroom door behind her creaked open and Ray stepped out. Ria looked at him questioningly.

Ray nodded, "we're staying." He said quietly.

Ria smiled, loyal to the end. But if Ryan caught them, it might really be the end.

-outsied kenny, Max and Tyson's bedroom-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. " guys! Open up! It's us! Hurry up it's urgent!" Ray called softly through the door as he hammered on the door.

Finally it was opened by a tousle haired Max. "what is it guys? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"max, we need to talk. Gowake the others." Ray commanded. Looking a little surprised, Max shufled off to obey.

" so that was Max" Kai asked.

"yep. He's the one the guy who whacked you on the head is searching for." Ria confirmed.

Ten minutes later, the Bladebreakers were all assembled in the sitting area of the hotel room.

"so what did you wake us at one a.m. to tell us about is so damned Important?" Tyson asked irritably, somewhat grouchy at having being roused so early.

Ray quickly explained every thing which had happened. The others just stared at him in shock.

Irritated by their astounded stares, Ray quickly asked, "so Max, do youknow who that mad guy was? He looked a lot like he could have been your dad."

Max stared at the carpet with such intenseity that it was surprising the floor didn't burn.

"he was my dad." Max said quietly.

~End~

Kairox: yaaay! Chappie 8 done!

Tyson: I thought Max's dad was a nice guy!

Mr. Mitzuhara: but I am.!

EKR: (snorts) right.

Ray: whatever. R&R people.