Okay! Sorry for the wait!
Thanks for all the great reviews last chapter, and as I said, the action picks up a little here.
This chapter is kind of long, so hopefully you won't get bored with it...lol I'm finally done with those cursed book reports for school, so I will hopefully start updating soon from now on, but don't take that as a promise heh'
enough blabbing, here's the next chapter.
Enjoy!
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The music slowed to a stop, signaling all that were dancing to return to their respected seats. The lights were turned back on, causing everyone to moan at the sudden change of brightness.
"Good evening everyone, I hope that you have enjoyed the festivities so far." The elderly voice of Mr. Dickinson sounded over the speakers.
Everyone in the room cheered and clapped, welcoming the BBA president to the stage.
After settling the crowd, Mr. Dickinson proceeded with his speech. "After some conflicts with the scheduling, we have decided to start the qualifying rounds of this year's championship in two weeks. These battles will be held in your home countries, but the championship rounds will be held here, in Japan this year. Each of you will have plenty of time to prepare yourselves and your beyblades...."
"As last year's champions, we don't have to participate in the qualifiers, do we?" Hilary asked in a hushed voice.
"No, but we still have to be there.....to watch...." Kai sighed. He couldn't think of a bigger waste of time than watching amateurs try and beyblade.
"You don't sound to happy about that Kai." Kenny stated, earning a glare from the blue haired captain.
"Of course not! No one can beat the Great Kai." Tyson replied sarcastically "...let's give a warm welcome to the returning champions, who, after going through a stressful ordeal recently, have pulled together to fight again!" Mr. Dickinson's voice broke up the BladeBreakers' conversation as everyone around them stood up and applauded them.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Tyson jumped to his feet, waving his arms in the air.

After Mr. Dickinson finished his speech, everyone filed out of the room, scattering into groups in the main lobby once again, waiting for their rides away from the large building.
Hilary rushed over to Mariah and Emily and the three immediately began gabbing about different topics, mainly boyfriends.
Tyson joined up with Max and Rei and they filled each other in about events that took place while they were away.
No one seemed to notice that Kai had disappeared into a different part of the building.
Tala jumped slightly, almost dropping his drink as a strong shiver ran through his body. Something wasn't right.
"Kai?" He asked mentally, looking around the crowded lobby for his childhood friend.
Unable to locate him, he walked to Hilary.
The group of girls were laughing, when Emily pointed a shaky figure behind her, signaling the brunette to turn around.
"Oh, hey Tala." She smiled up at the red head, but it immediately drooped into a small frown as she saw how serious his face was.
"Have you seen Kai?" He asked softly, his voice as dead serious as his face.
"No...." Hilary paled slightly. "Is....is something wrong?" Mariah asked fearfully.
"Sorry, but I'll have to talk to you guys later." Hilary said to her friends, rushing off to the back of the lobby, Tala following close behind.
"What happened?" Hilary asked once they found a more quiet place.
"I don't know....Kai just seemed to disappear for a moment. I couldn't sense his presence."
"Come on, let's find him."
Together, the two teens concentrated their minds on Kai, trying to pinpoint his location. Their feelings led them to a staircase, which ascended to the roof. They looked at each other before Tala opened the door, allowing Hilary to proceed into the dark stairwell.
"Kai?" She asked as she opened the door and stepped out into the open air.
The blue haired teen was standing on the ledge, looking out into the starry sky. The dark clouds were rumbling softly, and lit up in the distance, warning everyone of the impending storm.
"What the heck are you doing?" Tala asked.
Kai turned to look at his friends, giving them a sad smirk. "I guess you felt it when I blocked myself from your mind...."
"Hell yeah! You scared me half to death!" Tala snapped.
"Would you calm down?" Hilary placed her hand on the red head's shoulder before turning to her boyfriend. "What's wrong Kai?" She could feel his grief now. He was stressed over something.
The blue haired teen sighed, turning back around to look at the stars. "Everything's happening so fast. We won't be able to win again."
"What?!" Both of the teens were shocked at Kai's words. He had never talked like that in his whole entire life.
"What are you talking about Kai? The BladeBreakers are unstoppable! Of course you'll win!" Tala said.
"Kai...." Hilary walked over and pulled him off the ledge. "We've all be through alot this past month, and we need you to help us through it. We all know that you're hurting deep inside, but you have to realize that your friends are here for you!"
Kai looked away, clenching his teeth. "I know that....it's just....nevermind." He sighed and brushed past her, heading back inside the building.
"Kai!" Hilary rushed after him, but Tala stopped her.
"Leave him be for a while. He'll snap out of it in a few hours." "But...."
"Don't worry....he was like this in the abbey as well. He'll be back to his normal self in no time." He gave her a reassuring smile.
"What are you waiting for?! We're leaving!" Kai's voice exclaimed from inside the stairwell, Tyson's voice calling for Hilary.
"See, what did I tell you?"
Hilary giggled slightly as the two walked back down the stairs, where they were greeted by Mr. Dickinson.
"Are you all ready? The limo is waiting outside.
"Bye Tala." Hilary gave the red head a tight hug before rushing over to her team.
"See you later." Kai nodded at his friend, who nodded in reply.
"Alright! Fans!" Tyson exclaimed as they walked out the glass doors and into a screaming crowd of reporters and beyblade fanatics.
As the team neared the door to their car, they were suddenly stopped by a reporter and a cameraman.
"There he is!"
"Kai! How does it feel to have inherited the Hiwatari fortune? Will you return to Russia after the world championships this year?"
The blue haired teen's eyes went wide, and he took a few steps back away from the microphone shoved in his face.
The reporter continued to ask him more questions, but Kai seemed to go deaf. Everything around him went dark, and all he could think about was Nikolai's voice from the day he died.
"You're all alone now Kai. You will always be alone."
"He...he was wrong, wasn't he? I still have my friends, don't I?"
Suddenly, he felt someone push him, and the darkness disappeared, and the noise of the crowd returned.
"He has no comment!" A familiar voice yelled at the reporter.
It was Mr. Dickinson. The elder led Kai to the car and hurried him inside, away from the reporters and crowds.
Hilary, Tyson and Kenny followed in shortly, and the car drove off from the BBA building just as it started to pour down rain.
"Are you alright?" Mr. Dickinson asked Kai in Russian, earning a nod from the teen.
"I am all alone....I'm the last one...everyone but me is dead...." His thoughts swarmed around in his mind, always going back to what his uncle had told him.
Suddenly, something snapped in his mind, and he yelled at the driver to stop the car.
The limo screeched to a halt, nearly throwing everyone out of their seats.
Kai opened the door and ran out onto the sidewalk.
"Kai!" Mr. Dickinson yelled behind him, getting out of the car.
Hilary followed him, a worried look plastered on her face.
Kai stopped for a moment and turned around, fear in his wide crimson eyes. He shook his head slowly, breathing hard.
Hilary reached out to him, but he backed away. "N...no!" With that, he turned on his heals and fled in the opposite direction, water from the sidewalk splashing as his feet connected with the ground.
"Kai!" The brunette started to run after him, but was stopped by a hand.
"Let him go. He is at war with himself." The elder's voice was sad, but serious. "Let's get you all home, and I'll go and look for him."
After a moment, Hilary nodded and got back inside the warm car, her hair and dress now clinging to her skin.

Kai ran as fast as his legs would carry him, not knowing were he was going exactly, but not caring either. He wasn't even sure why he was running in the first place! It was almost like he was trying to run away from the thoughts in his head, but not getting anywhere...like he was stuck on a tread, running in place.
Finally, his legs couldn't take it and buckled beneath him, sending Kai to the sidewalk. He moaned and got to his knees, not caring that he was completely soaked now. There was a loud crackle of lightning, lighting up the darkness around him.
Kai looked up and a house, highlighted by the flash of light, and gasped. He recognized it from somewhere in his past....this was the house he used to live in when his parents took him down to Japan for the summer. Both his parents loved Japan so much, they decided to build a house there, and live in it until the fall, then travel back to Russia.
Mesmerized by the building, Kai walked past the open gate and up to the door. Something was pulling him toward it, but he didn't know what it was. He swallowed hard and pushed the door open.
He walked slowly into the main hallway, small pools of water forming on the wooden floors as he proceed deeper into the house. Everything was covered with plastic sheets, showing that life had once been present here. Kai looked into the living room and gasped.
He remembered this place. He remembered running around that coffee table, his father chasing him playfully. He caught him and immediately began tickling the young boy's sides. The child fell to the ground in a fit of laughter, as his father laughed along with him.
"Dad...." Kai felt tears well up in his eyes at the memory. He looked to the stairs and saw his mother descending, a crimson dress flowing gracefully behind her. She walked over and picked up her young son, holding him close to her. "There there..." She patted his back softly, trying to comfort him.
The young version of Kai sniffled and wiped his tears on her shoulder. There was a loud crack of thunder, causing the boy to jump and nestle closer to his mother.
"...maybe this time tomorrow...the rain will cease to follow...and the mist will fade into one more today...something somewhere out there keeps calling..." Her voice sounded beautiful, and soothed the young boy into a peaceful sleep.
Kai closed his eyes, his lip quivering slightly. "They're dead, because of me...."
The visions of his family disappeared as another voice entered Kai's mind.
"That's right. Because of your birth, they had to die!" The voice belonged to his grandfather.
Kai's frowned and narrowed his eyes. Voltaire had said that to him so many times, Kai had lost count.
"You're all alone now Kai...." Nikolai's voice said again.
The blue haired teen fell to his knees, about to agree with the negative voices when suddenly, another one pierced his thoughts.
"Kai!" It was Hilary's voice. "What were you thinking? You had me worried sick!"
"Hilary...." A vision of his girlfriend appeared in his mind, hugging him as he stood next to his burning house.
It soon faded, and turned into a beyblade arena, his team standing behind him, cheering for him.
"We're all here for you buddy!"
"Don't give up!"
"You still have a chance!"
"We'll always be there for you Kai." Hilary's voice said.
Kai gasped in realization, but Nikolai's voice appeared once again. "You're all alone now....you have nothing left." He said.
Kai's crimson eyes went wide as he heard Hilary, replying to the evil voice.
"No! He's not alone! He has his friends with him!"
"Hilary!" He gasped. She said had said that.
Kai took a deep breath. She was right. He did have his friends with him. "I was a fool to think otherwise...." He smiled sadly and shook his head.
He walked back outside and looked up at the sky. "Thank you for leading me here." He smiled to himself and started his walk back home.

"There he is! Stop the car!" Mr. Dickinson exclaimed as the limo approached a blue haired teen walking down the sidewalk.
The car pulled past him, stopping at the curve. Kai looked up as the elder got out of the car, and stood directly in front of him.
Kai blinked a couple of times, before realizing who it was exactly.
"Mr. Dickinson?"
"My word, what has gotten into you my boy?! Everyone was extremely worried about you when you took off like that!"
Kai's gaze fell to the concrete. "I'm sorry, but I've got it all worked out now...." He felt something above his head, shielding him from the cold drops of water raining down from the dark sky. He looked up to see Mr. Dickinson holding and umbrella.
"I'm glad to hear that. Let's get you home. You'll get sick out here."
Kai huffed, giving the old man a smirk. "Thanks...."
The two got inside the limo and drove off toward Kai's apartment.
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wow....that was long!
Don't forget to review!