Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. This is as obvious as the sun rises from the east. Here on Earth at least. The sun rises from the west in Middle- earth, any Tolkien fans realize that? LOL.

When Tyson, Kenny and Shea reached the hospital, things seemed to be much quieter. Kai, Max and Ray were in one large room. Max was sleeping on the inner most bed. He was very pale, and an oxygen mask covered his mouth. Kai was on the middle bed. He was lying on the bed rigidly and staring at the ceiling. Ray was on the bed nearest to the door, lying propped up against three pillows. He seemed to be a sleep, but his golden eyes snapped open as soon as his three teammates stepped into the room.

Tyson asked, "Are you guys all right?"

Ray answered, "I am fine. Kai will need to stay rested for a week"-here he ignored the death glare from his team captain and continued-"But Max is not too well. He is sleeping right now."

Tyson walked up to his teammates. He handed the red stone to Kai. The team captain said nothing and clutched the stone tightly in his palm. Tyson walked up to Max quietly and put the green stone in his pocket gently. There was a flash of violet light, and it seemed some colour returned to the fair boy's pale skin.
There was silence for a long while. Everyone was thinking instead of speaking, for none of them dare to speak too rashly just now. So many things were mysterious and unclear to them.

Finally Kai spoke in a deep and bitter voice, "Voltaire did this, as sure as my last name is Hiwatari."

Silence again. Everyone was hesitant to speak.

Shea said uncertainly after a while, "But Kai, that is murder we are talking about! Are you certain? You grandfather would not kill you, would he? After all blood is thicker than water."

Kai laughed dryly, "Blood is thicker than water! I wonder why no one ever taught my 'grandfather' that? You do not know the old man, Shea. He will do anything for victory and success. And Boris is no less in cruelty and ruthlessness."

Shea looked at her teammates helplessly, as if asking someone to object to Kai's words. Kenny avoided her eyes, Tyson looked raged beyond boiling point, it was a wonder he did not explode yet.

Ray sighed and said, "Of course it is just a speculation on our part. It might be otherwise."

"Speculation? Otherwise?" Kai doesn't know whom he was angry with. He knew his teammates inside and out: they are people who would defend their enemies. He said with irritation, "There is no otherwise! Even a blind man can see it!"
Suddenly there was a bustle outside the door. They heard the voice of young woman, most likely a nurse, explaining something hurriedly, "Now sir, I don't think it's adequate for you to come in just now. I shall ask the patients first, then perhaps the doctors."

"It does not matter, my dear woman." An impatient but sly voice countered, "I am a very old acquaintance of those children, they will want to see me doubtlessly, especially after what happened to them."

The voice moved near all the time, and then the door burst open to reveal a man with a stone carved face, a eagle hooked nose and sharp and shrewd eyes.

"Greetings, Blade Breakers!" The man said casually, "It's good to see you escaped such a horrifying incident."

"Boris!" Tyson leaped up, alarm and spite in his voice, "What are you doing here?"

"I rest my case." Kai muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear including Boris.

"Now, now, children." Boris said kindly, "We must have an understanding between us."

"We understand you enough already, Boris." To everyone's surprise, it was Kenny who cut him off mid-sentence, "Haven't you done enough harm to us? Now you try murdering us? We don't need you here feigning sympathy and pity; you are the source of our misery! And don't you feel so satisfied with yourself, you will be punished one day!"

The small boy was white with fury, and his tone was adamant. His teammates looked at him with amazement. They had never seen Kenny so brave and determined before.

Boris glared, now his tone much sharper, "You can prove nothing against me." He lowered his voice, but still loud enough for everyone to hear, " You are lucky once, you can't be lucky forever. You will all have an early dismiss, I guarantee you that."

The Blade Breakers were silent. And the young nurse standing by the door looked on with amazement and fright. She was obviously very nervous and much mystified.

Boris straightened himself and said mockingly, "But of course, I am not here for fortune-telling. I am here to talk business. I must say I feel sorry for your forfeiture in the world championship tournament final, and I congratulate you on your admirable playing this year. Good luck next year. Another team will replace you against the Demolition Boys in the final."

"What!" Tyson jumped instantly, "We are not forfeiting the game! And what business is that of yours to tell us all that?"

Boris laughed, there was an evil gleam in his eyes, "Of course it is my business. As a sponsor of the tournament and a BBA member, I care a lot about the contestants of this noble sport. Your team will have to forfeit, I fear. You see, you only have two players that are able to play in the final, and the game begins tomorrow."

There was silence. Tyson was gritting his teeth and glaring like a mad bull.

"You scum! Too coward to face us, so you use this kind of dirty trick." He hissed, "You are not human!"

Boris shrugged, "What ever you may think, my boy, is not going to change the fact. Another round at the tournament without your Blade Breakers would be much more rewarding."

Tyson shouted, "But you tried to hurt us! Your team should be disqualified!"

Boris smirked, "You can't prove a thing, boy."

Kenny was white like ash. He muttered, "He is right. We can't do this anymore, we must forfeit."

Boris laughed. A triumphant, twisted hideous laugh. But he stopped abruptly and the laugh died in his throat. For Ray, who had his eyes closed and said not a single word the whole time, was now standing straight before him, a dangerous fire in his golden eyes.

"We will not forfeit the game, Boris, not to the likes of you." He said calmly, "Tyson and Shea will play, and so will I. Get ready to face us in the final tomorrow."
Boris's face suddenly turned a shade green. He veins throbbed.

"You will play?" He said in a threatening voice, "Hardly. You can barely stand."

Ray stared back at him forcefully, accepting the challenge. "Watch me carefully then." He said, pronouncing every word with might.

Boris looked enraged and ready to shoot the Blade Breakers anytime. But he said nothing, and with a swish of his cloak he was gone, as fast as he had come.

When he vanished completely, Ray breathed and sat down on the bed again. He looked drained.

Kenny asked worriedly, "Are you alright, Ray?"

Ray sighed, "I am fine."

Tyson stared at the Chinese blader and shouted, "You can't beyblade, Ray! Boris was a jerk, but he was right this time. You can barely stand!"

Ray looked at him, "You got a better idea? I am listening here."

Tyson opened his mouth wide as if trying to say something but nothing came out.

Ray said quietly, "Look, I won't risk my health for nothing. But we can't forfeit. We just can't let them win this one. You guys don't need to worry about me too much. After last year's match against Bryan, I think I can handle anything."

Kai said abruptly, "We don't want to see what happened last year play again, I don't believe you can take it all over again."

"You worry too much, Kai." Ray said casually, trying to lighten up the mood, "Everything will turn out fine, as long as we stick together."

Shea suddenly laughed, "Did I ever tell you guys you say too much? Really! Why don't we stop arguing and start to make a plan? Chief, we need a line up."

With business and works at hand, Kenny seemed a little calmer and more certain. He opened up his laptop.

"The first match is tomorrow morning, the next two will be on the following days. I am thinking sending Tyson first. What do you say?" He asked.

"Yeah! I am ready to kick some serious Biovolt butt!" Tyson shouted enthusiastically, still a shade angry.

Shea said, "I will go second then, so Ray can have one more day to rest."

Kenny nodded, "That would be good, Shea. Tyson, I can take a look at your blade and upgrade it a bit. Shea, you should get some practice. Just launching maybe. You have great speed and accuracy, top spin rate too, but you can try to put more aggressive power in your launch."

They all nodded at Kenny's plan.

"We should phone Mr. Dickinson and my aunt." Shea said, "We must tell them what happened. And I don't think we can go all the way back to Surrey now. It's very late."

In the end they stayed in the hospital that night. They were all tired, though none of them slept too well. There were too many things on their mind. So a restless night passed, and then dawn came, though it seemed less welcoming than usual, but fraught with dangers instead.

A/N: Sorry for this update. There were (and still are) some problems with my computer and internet. But anyway it's here now. Kinda boring, all talk, but oh well. Hope you enjoy! Review! And tell me why you like it (or hate it).