Disclaimer: I ON'TDAY OWNAY EYBLADEBAY!!!

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The plane descended slowly through the thin and wispy white clouds, finally touching down on the runaway with a small bump.

It sped along, gradually slowing to a stop as it reached the chinese airport.

It's great to be home, Ray thought as he and the BladeBreakers made their way through the busy airport. Some people would wave at them, recognising the Beyblade world champions.

Tyson was left with carrying the BladeBreakers luggage, due to the amount of snoring he did along the way. He was whining things like "I'm HUNGRY!" or, "I can't take another step!"

Finally he sat down in the middle of the airport and started sulking. The rest of the team sweatdropped, Ray especially. ("Stop acting like a baby!")

Suddenly, Ray heard a yell from his right, and he turned, just before he was rammed to the ground. His team mates leapt back in shock, except Kai, who muttered, "Why am I not surprised....."

"Mmriahmm!!" Ray mumbled at the pink haired girl hugging him tightly. "GET...OFF!"

"Huh?" The golden eyes looked up at Ray's slitted ones. "Uhm...ah, sorry, Ray..."

Mariah got off Ray who stood up, rubbing his head, but his slitted eyes returned to normal. "It's good to see you, Mariah." He said, smiling.

Mariah smiled back, blushing.

Ray's team mates sniggered. But they shut up when Ray glared back at them. Kai was still smirking. ("That won't work on me, Ray.")

"Well, well, if it isn't the traitor!"

Ray spun around in surprise, reacting slightly from the voice coming from straight behind him.

"DON'T DO THAT!" He yelled at the grinning Lee.

"Aww, c'mon, Ray! Where's your sense of humour?" Lee was laughing at the look on Ray's face. "Lighten up! At least you're here!"

Ray sighed, and smiled. "Yeah, I guess...."

"Well, let's go to the village, then. We're already late for the first match."

"ALREADY!?" Tyson cried. "LET'S GO, THEN!! WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!?" He picked up all the luggage effortlessly and ran out of the airport and onto the bus at full speed.

Everyone stared. Then fell over, except for Kai, who sighed.

"NOW, he's panicked...."

~~~~~~~~~

After everyone had clambered onto the bus, Tyson had started snoring loudly again. So everyone piled their luggage to form a wall around him, blocking the incredibly annoying sound from their ears.

Mr Dickenson had taken a seat right at the front, while Kai did the exact opposite, taking a seat in the far back. Lee had seated next to Kenny, for he was very curious about the laptop, due to the lack of technology in his village. Mariah had wanted to take a nap, so she'd found a seat all to herself.

Ray had a window seat. Like Mariah, he was incredibly tired. He took in a deep, long breath and closed his eyes.

"You tired, Ray?" His eyes reopened to see Max taking a seat right next to him.

"Yeah," Ray yawned, revealing his fangs. "I didn't really get much sleep on the plane, or the night before...."

Max nodded, then stared down at his Draciel blade, which Kenny had recently modified.

Ray sighed, then gazed out his window.

The terrain outside was getting more rocky and wild. Good. That meant they were close to the village.

The bus kept driving up the hill, slowed by the steepness and uneven surface of the terrain. The trees were swaying nearby. Ray stared at them, remembering when he, Mariah, Lee, Gary and Kevin used to climb them.

His breath came fast, as something from the very back of his mind pushed forward into his main circle of thoughts, dominating them and becoming the main subject on his mind.

But it wasn't pleasant.

"Kevin...." He whispered as he stared out the window. Suddenly, he didn't feel safe or happy at all.

He stared down at his bloodstained bandage, and gritted his teeth, his pupils slitting in fear.

Yes, it was good to be home.

Just not as great as it used to be.....

~~~~~~~~

A loud and pained roar echoed outside, waking Kai from the easily penetrable depths of slumber.

His crimson eyes shot open, and he sat up, abruptly, forgetting that Max and Oliver were sleeping in the same hut. (A/N: Don't ask me WHY the softies are with the coldblooded member of the BladeBreakers, okay?)

Max stirred comfortably in his sleep. "But Idunwunna go traiiin......." He mumbled as he turned over, then continued snoring softly.

Kai sweatdropped and slowly got up, quietly this time. He didn't want to see another result of his harshness towards the BladeBreakers. He could almost imagine Max mumbling-"Gimme back...Draciel, Kai....."

Slowly, he crept over towards the front door and opened it, silently. He stuck his head out, outside, and scanned the area for any signs of the source of the roar.

But there was nothing in sight. Absolutely nothing.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he silently walked outside, grabbing his beyblade and launcher as he slid past the open door, shutting it behind him. Unfortunately, the close ended with a small squeak. Kai cringed, but he didn't hear Max mumbling.

He walked out through the village, careful not to disturb anyone in the nearby huts. One of the huts he passed by had a bunch of squealing girls, while another had someone yelling out, "MY CHEESEBURGER!" in his sleep.

'Tyson.' He thought, rolling his eyes.

He looked up into the sky to admire the sky.

And froze.

The moon was glowing red. Bright red. Evil red.

It glowed amongst the glittering stars, which seemed to fear this once gentle giant's new look. As a result, some of the stars beside it even started fading out.

Kai remembered that this was the same thing that happened in the BBA building, when the white tiger had been rampaging the lamplit streets.

But why was it happening here?

He slipped past the last hut in sight, when he heard the crunching of gravel behind him. He froze, but the crunching gravel noise kept getting louder. He whipped out his launcher and spun around,

"YAAAAHHH!!!!"

"Dieu! Kai, it's only us!"

Kai lowered his launcher, realizing that his followers were none other than Max and Oliver. He grimaced. So they did hear the squeak on the door.

"What are you doing out here?!" He whispered harshly.

"Looking for you, of course!" Max said. "We heard you leave. Why did you—"

Suddenly, another roar echoed around the village, making Oliver and Max freeze, pale-faced. Kai chucked his thumb over his shoulder, sighing.

"Hear that?" He mused. "That's why."

"K—Kai?" Max asked. "C—Can we go, now?"

Kai scanned the area, cautiously, before he saw a shadowed movement behind Oliver.

"OLIVER!!" He yelled as the French Majestic cried out in pain, and collapsed to the ground, heavy wounds in his back. They looked like tiger slashes. Blood seeped slowly out of his wounds as Oliver slowly tried to get up.

"Oliver, stay still!" Max said, running over to him. But then, a flash of white leapt effortlessly over the wounded boy, heading straight over to Kai.

Kai dodged just in the nick of time, narrowly avoiding the white tiger's attack.

He spun around and whipped out his launcher, pointing it to the vicious cat, who snarled mercilessly.

'What the—' Kai stared at the tiger's eyes. They were glowing bright red, and slitted.

Kai studied the tiger harder and realized that there were three slashes on its front leg.

This was the same tiger they'd seen in the streets. But how did it follow them all the way out here?

The tiger roared and leapt forward, speedily. Kai didn't have any time to back or dodge.

Instead, he yanked the ripcord with all his might. Sparks flew as Dranzer whizzed forth from the launcher and dug into the tiger's shoulder. Blood splattered onto the ground as the tiger roared in major pain.

But then, something strange happened.

As the tiger roared in pain, he heard a scream. It echoed around his brain. He gasped as it pierced his mind. It sounded so familiar....

It sounded like....like....Ray!

He was so caught up in his thoughts, that he didn't realize that the tiger had recovered from his attack and had leapt forward again, fags bared.

"KAI!!" Max cried as the tiger slashed across his torso. Kai's look of horror turned to pain as he fell to his knees, breathing hard.

Unfortunately, Max's cry had captured the tiger's attention. It lost interest in its prey and turned to him, Oliver barely conscious in his arms.

Max paled. He hadn't even brought Draciel with him.

Staring at the tiger, Max's blue eyes were widened in fear. He gripped the half asleep Oliver in fright, knowing that despite his state, he was as freaked as Max.

Suddenly, a flaming Beyblade whizzed straight onto the tiger's right leg, singing it mercilessly. The tiger roared out in pain before backing away from its prey and dashing past, straight into the bushes. The leaves were stained red, as blood splattered onto them.

Max turned to see who their saviour was, and saw Kai, halfway up on his knees, beyblade launcher smoking.

His eyes flickered, then closed, as he collapsed, unconscious.

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NG: Sorry I had to leave it there. Wait until I update!

Kai: It's so obvious who the tiger is, NG. I don't even know WHY you keep it a secret!

NG: Why YOU---

**Experiencing Technical difficulties. Please Stand By...**

**Until then review!**

2BC