Phoenix Fallen: Hey minna; I'm back! And domo arigatou; I love getting reviews. They get me pretty genki, and then I'm like that for the rest of the day. [grins widely]

Answering your questions; yes, the BladeBreakers will be in this story, and Hilary makes a small appearance next chapter. There will be more of her though, so don't worry! It's just taking a bit of time. And the guy that found Kai, well… [coughreadthischaptercough]

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Disclaimer: I hail the ground Aoki-san walks upon; I don't own BeyBlade, he does, I only wish I did. Kami, why can't I? [sighs]

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For Those Who Are Beaten

Chapter Three: To Awake in Familiarity

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"... and I thought I'd bring him here because..."

Kai stirred, opening his crimson-brown eyes, and shutting them down tightly once the light of the day near well blinded him. Blinking rapidly as his pupils adjusted, he looked around him in confusion. It seemed that he was sitting in the passenger seat of a car, but whose was it?

Then he remembered. That man must have put me here when I passed out, he told himself, but then, where is he now? How am I going to get out of this mess?

Shifting a bit in his chair - which had been adjusted so that he was almost lying down horizontally - he found that he was nestled quite comfortably under a few layers of thick, woolen blankets that had helped his body retain a healthy temperature, although he was still in his damp clothes.

"He's not looking so good; he was ice cold and had thrown-up just before he lost consciousness, and he's been bleeding all over my seats."

The same soft, gentle vocals of the man floated to him from somewhere on the outside of the auto, for they were slightly muffled and distant. He strained his ears, trying to catch his words that he spoke. Who was he talking to?

"If it's not too much of a hassle for you, I thought that I'd leave him here. I'm a complete stranger to him, and I know hardly anything about him. I mean, I can take him if it's too much trouble - "

"No trouble at all my homie! It's cool if the man camps here! The little dudes will be glad to be seeing him again!"

Kai's eyes snapped open, and his heart skipped a beat before speeding up a notch in his chest. That was the voice of Tyson's grandfather; that means he took me here to their house! He swore under his breath, sitting up and peering tentatively out the window.

He recognized the place almost immediately, although much to his dismay. It was the street just outside the boundaries of the Kinomiya dojo, and it seemed that the two adults were talking on the inside. He glanced down the road, and seeing as it was deserted, began to shuffle towards the door.

If I make a run for it, he thought as he valiantly forced his body to move, I'll be able to get away from here. When they realize I'm gone, I'll be far, far away, and they'll never be able to find me again. He rolled onto his side, his body pressed uncomfortably against the car entrance, as he was practically lying on top of it.

That is... if I can make a run for it.

Stretching out his arm below his torso, he touched the handle, and with a quick tug, the door opened, and he dropped painfully onto the asphalt, an afflicted gasp escaping his lips upon contact. Grunting, he pulled his arms out from under him and stood up, but as soon as he did, dizziness forced him back down.

Leaning his head against the side of the auto, he cursed himself again. Damn it to hell, Hiwatari! Why won't you stand?! Have you become weak during all that time you've spent with those "BladeBreakers?" How could you have let that happen, after all the years of training you've done? How could you have allowed it?

He frowned, using the car as support as he tried once more to lift himself to his feet, and this time, triumphed. But although he had accomplished this, his legs were shaking noticeably, and when he lifted his hands from the metal of the vehicle, he found the same, familiar, crimson liquid dripping down it.

Ignoring the jabs in his palms, and wiping the sight of his blood from his mind, he turned. Now, he wondered, which was the fastest way out of here? A thought line crinkled his brow as he searched his recent memories. I should avoid the beach and the lookout; Tyson and the others spend a lot of time there...

He took a few, wavering steps forwards, and grabbed hold of a nearby street lamp to steady himself when he found he still couldn't find a way to balance. Was it his body with the problem, or was it all in his head? Testily, he let go of the cold, smooth pole, beginning to start walking as best as he could manage.

"So, dawg, did he give you a clue about how he got so banged up?"

There was a short pause.

"No, he wasn't too keen on the subject. But when I told him running away wasn't going to solve any of his problems, he said that it wasn't his decision. Someone - a "he" - told him to go."

Great, Kai groaned inwardly, watching his feet carefully as they raised and fell slowly and repeatedly, now they're going to use what I've said against me. They're going to try and get inside my head to figure out what happened. I'll have to watch everything I do or say from now on...

Suddenly, his right leg collapsed underneath him, giving way to the pain inside his hip socket. Despite all his attempts not to, he gave a loud yell when gravity pulled him down onto the sidewalk, and his body slammed against it. It felt like he was landing on millions of tiny needles...

The vibrations and the sounds of Tyson's grandpa and the man who had brought him there found their way towards him, and he rolled over, just in time to see them bounding towards him. Their expressions were that of worry... and surprise.

"Lordy, kid! How in the world did you manage to get up?"

Kai rested his gaze on his face; he could actually see him clearly now. He was quite handsome: he had rich, dark, brown eyes, neat, jet-black hair, and slightly tanned skin. Had he met him before? Why was he so familiar?

The man knelt down beside him, looking - no, staring - at him intently, and the young teen found himself averting his view. It was nerve wracking having him gape like that, as if he was trying to see right through him. But that wasn't what made him uncomfortable, having him try to see past his facade. Many people had tried to before, and all of them had failed. But him... it was like he could look into him and find out everything...

Suddenly becoming aware of his shuddering body, Kai shifted on his back, wondering faintly why there were warm streams of red staining his shirt and pants, and why he was sounding more and more like a dying bird whenever he dryly tried to suck in more oxygen.

"Dawg, yo! You told me he got worn down pretty badly, but I never thought he'd be like this!"

Tyson's grandpa was standing at his feet, and bending over slightly, a kendo stick in hand. For once, his face was without merriment, and there was no hint of laughter crouching at the corners of his lips. He was completely serious; he was never serious... ever.

"C'mon kid," the young man slipped his arms gently under his neck and knees, lifting him upwards and close to his chest, "We've got to get you inside."

A spark was issued from Kai's brain, and it jarred unpleasantly down his spine. "No!" he leant to one side so that he was teetering dangerously off the edge of the man's arms, "No, you can't! I don't want to go there! Put me down! Put me down! I don't want to! Let me go!"

He began to struggle, and the man's hold on him tightened. He kicked, and threw his body around wildly as a haze of anxiety clouded his mind, crying out sentences that he wasn't sure even made sense, but he yelled them out anyway.

"Calm down, kid!" the young adult proclaimed, "It's okay, it's just a house, there's nothing wrong with it!"

"No, you can't take me in there! He'll never let me go back if you do!"

"Who? Who won't let you go back?"

"He won't! He'll be so angry with me, and then," his voice was becoming higher as he grew in hysterics, and he began to cough, straining for breath, "Then I'll never be able to see him again! He won't let me go back to him if you bring me there! He won't let me return..."

Kai finally fell limp; it was useless to try and fight. That man was just too strong for him, and it had gotten him so tired already, this trying to get away. What was the point? They could overpower him easily... he just didn't have anymore energy left inside of him. No matter what he tried to do, they'd still get him inside there.

"He won't take me back," he muttered sluggishly, "He'll never take me back. And it was my fault this time..."

Grandfather, believe me when I say, that I don't want to go in there. I know you'll never forgive me if you ever find out that I've found shelter at my teammate's house. The only reason I joined that team in the first place was to capture their Sacred Spirits for you. Remember how much you wanted them?

You're practically the only reason for everything I do. I told myself I'd steal the Sacred Spirits because it would make you proud of me, and it would make you happy. Ever since Grandma died, you've been so sad, and that's why I promised that I'd do anything for you; I wanted so badly to see you happy again. And that's why I let you send me to the abbey...

"Hey," the man bounced him mildly, "Kid? Are you still here?"

He blinked, "Wha... what?"

"You zoned out on me for a moment there," he smiled as the young teen's head drooped and inclined on his chest, "Did you hear what I said?"

Kai closed his eyes halfway. He was completely exhausted; jaded; weary. Why must you be so kind to me? he wondered. Why do you remind me of someone I hardly knew? Why do you allow me to access these faint memories of a woman cuddling me when I was just a baby; the warm embrace of her arms around me, just as you have me now? How is it that you do this...?

"Kid?"

"I didn't..." he slurred almost immediately, "I didn't hear... what you said..."

There was short chuckle as his eyelids dropped entirely, "Nevermind, then. You need to rest."

Kai sighed, relaxing his tense, wounded muscles, "Fine," he whispered just before he drifted off, "I'll go if I really have to... I'll go if you tell me to... I'll go..."

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Phoenix Fallen: There's the week's wait of chapter three. As before, I really hope you enjoyed it! Oh, and I promised to keep this short last time… so I will. Besides, I'm running out of things to say (woah, that's a first).

Arigatou gozaimasu, mina-chan! Chibi-Kari, you taught me a new word (muah, PRODiGiOUS!). Gomen, Libe! I didn't mean to make you cry (although that's a good thing… I think). Ellen, I was online when you reviewed – it was funny to see my MSN alerts pop up one after the other. Lastly, mystic-water – I can't wait 'till you update either. ;)

And now, a final warning: next week's chapter might be a bit late. I'm having a bit of trouble with it… I don't know why it doesn't like me! =P I'll try hard to make it on time, though.

L8er days… and don't forget to review!

Please?