Thank you for the review Darkest illusions and heres the update!

Disclaimer: Praise be to the wondrous ones who created Beyblade for i will eternally worship them because unfortunately it was not me and i do not own beybladesigh

One day, one day when i rule the world hee hee hee. IT WILL BE MINE

A/n: the dude with shark fin tattooes in the last chapter wasn't Kai( hmmmmm...drooling)

Chapter 2 - Unexpected Guests and News

Present Day

Spartica was not sure what had woken her up, but she was pretty sure that it was something that needed her attention. That was the way of those who are typically aware of their surroundings, although, Spartica Haughton always seemed to make a point of looking completely aloof.

Dr. Haughton often exclaimed that she had 'eyes at the back of her head' and 'the ears of an elf'. In all honesty, it might have had something to do with Spartica's network of connections throughout the beyblading world. Or just that she was an extremely good actor.

Carefully sneaking down the wide staircase the mansion, Spartica mentally scolded herself for being so silly, as having to creep about in her own home.

The door to the living room was ajar, and inside she could see the small flickering shadows of a lit fire. She frowned; did she have guests? At this hour? She did not remember any such late time meetings, but then…it could only be…

A smile suddenly adorning her normally emotionless face, she pranced towards the door, and flung it open, to look upon the face of…

'Grandfather! Oh Grandfather what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you but…' Spartica gabbled happily, but soon turned embarrassed at having done so.

Dr. Haughton's face was a mask of seriousness as he exclaimed, 'Less youthful enthusiasm if you please, young lady, I'm an old man and cannot dance around and do the hula as I once used to.'

Spartica searched his face, and found the teasing twinkle and barely controlled smile that threatened to increase at any moment, which she had been expecting. Playing along she tried to tease him back, 'And did you used to dance around and do the hula sir?' She asked in mock formality.

He spluttered on a small sip of brandy as he sat up straighter in his chair. 'I most certainly did not…' He seemed to consider this for a moment, before deciding to turn this little hula confession time to his advantage.

Smiling in a thoughtful demeanour, her gently sat back and placed his hands on the chair arms as he said, 'Mind you there was a time, when old Galdim and me…'

'No please anything, but the stories! And anyway, it's Galdim and I.' Spartica broke into a small smile, one she saved just for the ones she loved, and sat down in the cushioned chair opposite her Grandfather's, placed conveniently either side of a chess board.

The smile on her Grandfather's face reached past his eyes and into his fast receding hairline, where his eyebrows were trying to pose instead. 'Alright we'll call that battle of words a draw, but maybe we can find the winner through a game of logic instead'. He gestured at the chessboard before searching his Granddaughter's face for acceptance of the challenge.

Only one of Spartica's dark eyebrows lifted at this. Her grandfather was a master of chess, and had won many competitions, she was a good player, but not that good – there was only one way this could end. Him winning, her losing.

Doctor Haughton was in his early seventies, he had completely white hair, or at least what was left of it – it encircled his head, rather like a halo. He was a lean, but was obviously strong in his youth, now he looked to his walking stick to help him win any tussles he might get into, which, with Cosmo, a cynically sarcastic, but otherwise very wise dog bitbeast that stayed by his side loyally – and annoyingly most of the time, not that Ponti Haughton (a.k.a Dr. Haughton) would ever admit to it.

He now studied his Granddaughter with kindly, brown eyes; Spartica was of an average height for her age, she was not stick thin, but was of a perfect weight for a teenager of sixteen, and slightly toned but only because of her strict regime and training programme that she managed to keep up. Her long black hair was swept back from tired green eyes, which now looked up at him in a look of a person who had already accepted defeat, but seemed used to it.

'Why the look?' He asked her, although he already knew why, and she answered back in same.

'You know why.' She answered, a small smile twitching at the side of her mouth, but that did not quite reach her emerald eyes.

He sighed and once again sat back in his chair, he closed his eyes and began to think, chewing his lip as he tried to think of the right words to reply with.

'Then why do you still play, if you know that I will beat you?'

'Because I will play, in an attempt to show that I am not afraid to face your challenge and lose.' She said, her body resigned, but her face void of emotion.

'A noble act – good in theory, but not in practice.'

She raised the eyebrow again.

He sighed and tried again, his granddaughter listened well, but she thought him a little nutty at time, he knew. 'The wise old nut', as Cosmo would say.

'You see, Spartica, no matter how many times you face me in a game of chase, I will always beat you, until you realise that you can win.'

She frowned, no the message was definitely not understood.

He tried again. 'You see the world is made up of possibilities, even the chance of being born with your exact mind, is that of a lottery. When you blade, you know you have flaws and weaknesses just like everyone else, but it is only that yours are harder to find, or are less. I have a greater chance of winning this game of chess against you, only because I am the better chess player, but it does not mean that you do not have a chance of winning. Yes, it may be a small chance, but it is still something, it is…possible.' He did not know how else to put it.

Spartica tried a response, but could only come up with, 'meaning?'

'Meaning if you enter this game, with a knowledge that the outcome would only be that of me as the victor, then you have already lost. Therefore the game would be pointless, and a waste of both my time and yours, because you will then learn nothing. However, if you believe that every time you play me, you become that much better, then your chance of winning might increase for next time.'

She considered her grandfather's words for a few moments, and slowly nodded thoughtfully. Chess was like blading in the respects that they were both a game, and that you could only become better through training, learning and experience. Blading was never about the winning, but about the journey to winning, the competition, the learning and the experiences you might encounter.

She looked at her grandfather with piercing, green eyes 'Then teach me.'

He smiled at that, 'so you can beat me? I think not!'

She laughed, she would just have to learn off of her mistakes then, one of the best teachers in the world.

A couple of hours and brandy glasses later, Spartica's prediction proved true; the old man had won – again. Although this time she had noticed some flaws in his strategies, and once she pointed them out, he said that maybe she should not have told him, because now he could go away and correct it – and she would never win. She just stuck her tongue out at him at that. Cosmo said it was probably not wise to mess with her mind like that. The comment was ignored.

'Hmm…I think I shall stick to rum thank you very much.' Exclaimed Dr. Haughton inspecting his empty glass. 'If you ever begin drinking Spartica, don't.'

Cosmo flicked her tail off the ground a little, a slight sign of irritation. 'Now even she knows that made no sense' she growled between under her breath. Spartica giggled a little, which was a rare occurrence for someone like her.

'Well now we have been entertained' He glared over at Cosmo 'and my mind is too confident with alcohol, to back out now, I have a favour to ask you Spartica…'

'Oh…?' She pulled her eyebrows down into a frown, she was confuse, what in the world would her grandfather have to tell her, which would take up his confidence? He knew she would do anything for him. Well maybe not having to live with other people, that would be a no no.

'Well…Maybe I should start from the beginning, yes?' He glanced back down at his brandy glass. 'Cosmo had another vision…' That was nothing strange, her Cosmo was always having visions of the future… 'But the thing is, I had the same one.'

'About what?'

'Well four girls actually, of around the same age. They were all thrown out of their own homes…'

'Or will be…' Added Cosmo.

'Through unfair judgments or events. Their lives are going to change, but I do not know how for sure.'

'Then why are you telling me this?' Spartica was getting tired, it was nearing two in the morning and all she wanted to do was go back to bed.

'These four girls are in possession of…'

'Or will come into possession of…' added Cosmo, glaring at her master (honestly humans found it just so hard, talking in the future tense).

'Ahem, thank you Cosmo…Four bitbeasts, which have been passed down so many generations of their families that the bitbeasts' names are the same as their owner's surname. It is as if their families knew of the power behind the trapped spirits within.' A small look of awe crossed Dr. Haughton's face.

Spartica looked at him, again with her eyebrow raised. 'I'm sorry, but I still don't know what this has to do with me.'

'Okay Spartica I will try to be as blunt as possible; I need you to take these girls in and train them, teach them everything you know about blading…and life…'

'What?' Spartica looked at him in an icy way. He knew that she hated company, she did not like to talk with people she did not know, be with people she did not know, and she had never trained anyone in her life. Why? Why her? 'Why me?'

He sighed again and cocked his head to one side, fixing her with his pleading eyes. 'You know why. These girls are special Spartica; they may possess skills and powers we have never seen before. If anyone else…if they fall in with the wrong people, we may have to face a problem in the future. Spartica these girls are alone…'

'Will be alone…' Cosmo sighed in exasperation.

'Will you shut it Cosmo! They will be homeless, they will be alone, and they will need someone there for them.'

'But why me grandfather? You know I'm not a people person...' As cruel as she knew she was being to these four girls, well not directly, but still cruel, she did not know if she could handle such responsibility.

'Because you are the only one I know that has enough power to protect them right now. Spartica please, you know what it feels to have lost everything, to be alone…now you can help those who need you. Spartica please?' Dr. Haughton had never had to plead with his granddaughter for nearly seven years.

Seeing his desperate need, Spartica nodded reluctantly, she did know, she knew everything…those poor girls. She sighed, looked down at her hands and looked back up. 'Alright, I'll do it.' She gulped 'Tell me everything I need to know…'

By three in the morning, Dr. Haughton had given every last detail he knew of these girls to his granddaughter, as well as quickly booking some flights out of the country for her, and Spartica was impressed by the his resourcefulness; he must have been planning for quite a time.

Spartica, weary with exhaustion, stood up groggily and rubbed her eyes, before exclaiming that she was off, once again, to bed. Dr. Haughton took her in with proud eyes, before accepting that weak hug she had managed to give him, without falling sleepily over the chessboard.

Just before she left, he called her attention. She looked back at him with questioning eyes.

'Don't look for me in the morning Spartica. I won't be here.'

She nodded solemnly, they all left…