Hello All! I was a little off when I said I'd update next. But I still intend to so. This story has been going so well and I hope it continues to be that way. Christmas is fast approaching those of us who celebrate it, and I can't wait. Anyway, here's the latest chapter. Enjoy! Oh, and just a friendly little reminder to review. Please do; I love getting the feedback on what I've written.

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Chapter 12- Captured Away

It wasn't easy keeping up with Sanka. She was a fast runner, even while pulling Kai along at the same time. Tyson and Ray managed to keep her in sight as they ran not far behind. Max paused when he heard this wheezing sound. He looked back to see Kenny, out of breath, trying to keep up. Kenny was a scientist, not an athlete. Max smiled and slowed his pace to that of his friend to help him along.

"Thanks Max," Kenny puffed.

"Don't mention it." Max said. "We can be the slowpokes together."

They ambled off together up the sidewalk, Kenny leaning on Max's shoulder for a bit of support. Max looked ahead and saw that Ray had stopped to wait for them. Kenny finally regained his breath again when they caught up.

"Where'd Tyson go?" Max asked.

"He went on ahead to catch up to Sanka and Kai," Ray answered. "Sanka doesn't know where Tyson's house is, so he ran to lead her there."

"But doesn't Kai know where it is?"

"He does. But he wasn't exactly in the mood to go now, was he?"

"Yeah, good point. Well, if we want to make sure Tyson doesn't scoff all the food, we'd better catch up to them ourselves."

"Ok."

Awhile later, they arrived at Tyson's house, with the meal already in progress. Sanka was busy yelling at Tyson that she didn't need a baby-sitter to help her find her way around town. Tyson, who was munching on a bunch of baked potatoes, wasn't listening. Kai was over in the far corner on the floor, with a frown on his face and eating in silence. Ray, Max, and Kenny smiled slightly, sat down at the table and started eating. Sanka stopped her shouting at once and was very surprised to all of sudden find them sitting there.

"When did you guys get here?" she asked.

"Just now," Max said, smiling at her. "You seemed to be giving Tyson quite a lecture and didn't see us come in."

"Oh, yes, I suppose I was," said Sanka. She shot a glare over at Tyson. "And he deserved every word he got. I don't need somebody telling me what to do everywhere I go."

"I'm sure you don't," Ray agreed. "But I think Tyson was just trying to help. He knew you were new in town and probably didn't know how to get to his house, being as you have never been here before."

Sanka nodded, turning a bit pink. "Oh."

Tyson looked up at them from a plate of noodles he was eating. "What's going on?" he inquired. "Why are Sanka's cheeks all pink?"

Sanka turned to face him. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I didn't know that you were only trying to help me find my way around." She bowed her head. "Thank you."

Tyson was confused. "You were yelling at me? When was that?"

Sanka picked up an empty tray and hit him over the head with it. Tyson frowned at her and they started to argue. The others all groaned and went "Oh brother." The rest of the meal continued on in complete silence. They were in good spirits again when it was done and decided to have a few fun beybattles. Tyson and Kai each won three matches apiece, and had a tiebreaker sort of thing between the two of them. Sanka was impressed at how well they went at each other in battle. It was hard for her to imagine that Tyson and Kai could be friends and rivals at the same time. Max just said it was a motion of opposites attract. Tyson and Kai tied in their little battle and were too tired to try again. So, everybody gathered some sodas and bags of chips, and went to watch television.

Elsewhere, over in Balkov Inc. Headquarters, Boris was busy plotting up other ways to get Kai to join him. He had already tried bribing him with a beyblade that is more powerful then Dragoon or Black Dranzer. But Kai had refused. Arek was getting impatient. He wanted Kai working for them as soon as possible or the plan would be a complete failure. Boris knew by now that there was no way Kai was going to join them willingly, so that left only one other option. An evil smile crossed his features and his goggles flashed dangerously as an idea formed in his mind. He knew just what to do; and this time Kai could not escape. He went down to his lab and began mixing up a potion.

"You're not getting away this time, Kai. This time, I'm making sure you'll join me, forever!"

Once he was done, Boris poured his concoction into a small beaker and exited the room. He hopped into his limo, along with four guards, and drove off in the direction of the river.

Back over at Tyson's, Sanka and Kai decided it was about time for them to be heading back to the Shelter, before Miss Kelm started to worry. They said good-bye to their friends and set out into the night. They walked along, not saying a word. Cars could be heard in the distance and the stars twinkled brightly above in the sky. Soon, they were at the bridge. Sanka paused for a short bit to look at the glimmering water of the river underneath.

"Isn't it beautiful out here tonight, Kai?" she asked sweetly.

Kai nodded his agreement. Sanka smiled, put her arm around him, and started to point out all the constellations she knew. Kai winced slightly at the contact, but soon relaxed. It was indeed beautiful out here at night, so peaceful and calm. Then, suddenly, Kai grew very tense. Sanka stopped talking and looked at him in concern.

"Kai, are you all right? What's the matter?" she asked.

Kai didn't answer. His face was scrunched into one of intense concentration. Sanka looked around, frantically into the dark. But she didn't see or sense anything. Yet Kai looked as if he could tell that danger was not far away.

Just then, a limo rolled up, and out got a man wearing a brown trench coat and goggles. Sanka screamed, as she was all of sudden grabbed from behind by one of the guards. Kai picked up a heavy stone and threw it at the guy's head. He fell to the ground unconscious. Sanka quickly got to her feet again. Two more guards closed in on them. She noticed that the man was just standing there, not doing anything. Kai glanced briskly around, looking for something to defend him and Sanka with. A branch lay nearby on the bank, so he decided to use that. He picked it up and got quickly into a fighting stance. The two guards drew out their guns, continuing to advance on the two teenagers. Kai charged at the first one, dodging lots of bullets, and hit him in the gut with his branch. The guard collapsed to the ground. Kai swung the branch around in a circle, catching the last two guards across the chest and over the head. He turned to face the man and pointed the branch at him like a sword.

"Why did you attack us? What do you want?" he demanded.

The man shrugged carelessly and said, "I just want you."

"And what do you want with me?" Kai questioned, making sure to continue pointing his branch at the man. He didn't like the vibes he got from the man at all. He and Sanka were in serious trouble.

"I've come to make you join me. I'm through waiting!"

Kai frowned. 'Boris' he thought. 'I should've known.' He lowered his branch just slightly, but still kept a firm grip on it. "All right, Boris, enough of your games. Show yourself. I know that's you."

Boris grinned and revealed it was indeed he in the trench coat. "Very good." he said calmly. "Not much could ever get past you."

Kai glared at him. "I thought I told you I was never going to join up with you again. I'm through with being your puppet in your crazy plans, you hear me? I have my own life now and I don't you stuck in it, like a stupid shadow. Now, get lost!" He pointed the branch at the man's chest again.

"Now, now, let's not get testy." Boris said, still grinning. "I knew you would still give me a hard time about joining me, so this time I came prepared. Guard!"

The first guard had woken up and drew out his gun, advancing on Sanka. She rubbing her sore head while watching Kai and Boris and didn't notice. The guard smiled nastily as he snuck up on her, his finger on the trigger of his gun. He got ready to pull it.

"Sanka, watch out!" Kai cried.

Before he could stop himself, Kai ran forward, grabbed Sanka around the waist and pushed her and him out of the way. There was a gunshot and the bullet just grazed along Kai's shoulder. Kai didn't notice though. Sanka was in a trance of stunned shock. He picked her up and put her down against the bridge wall. He then grabbed the branch again, and with a yell, charged at the guard. He swung the branch down in a whoosh, but missed. The guard grabbed Kai in an arm lock from behind and held him tight. Kai struggled against his grip, but couldn't break free. Boris came over and sneered triumphantly at his captive, bringing his face right close to Kai's. Kai spat in his eye defiantly and glared at him. Boris ignored it and took out the potion he had made earlier.

Kai looked at it. "What's that?" he asked, not really sure he wanted to know the answer.

Boris continued to sneer at him. "Oh, just something I made, just in case you continued to resist. You won't feel a thing, now hold still." He corked the beaker of potion and moved it closer to Kai's lips.

Kai started to struggle even harder. He mustn't drink that potion. The guard held him tighter. Boris grabbed a hold of Kai's head and started to force the potion into his mouth. Kai spat most of it out back into Boris face. But some did get down his throat. Kai felt his vision go hazy. He fell to his knees. Boris's potion was already starting to have an effect on him. The world span around and around, until Kai couldn't resist any longer and fell into the realm of unconsciousness.

Boris nodded at the guards, who had all regained conscious now. "All right," he said, "we got what we came for, and now it's time we weren't here."

They tied a still stunned Sanka to a lamppost, put Kai in the limo, and drove away into the night. The riverbank remained quiet once more; with no trace that a fight had ever taken place there.

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And I think I'll leave it there for today. Have a great holiday everyone, and I'll see you next time. Ciao!