Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. If I did, I'd have to suffer with Daichi's...annoying-ness 0.x

Claimer: I own (from this chapter): Susi, Haine and the Soul Catcher Beyblade.

Replies to reviews:

Lookintomyeyeswhatdoyousee: Uh...thanks for the review, I was sitting at my desk thinking that no one was going to review today but then I read yours and I was so happy I think your review alone makes me want to keep writing. I have been told I should be a writer, and I write novels in my spare time. I never post them online because they are too important to me and I don't want any of my work stolen – but if you go to my account at , then there's one I have there, but it's seriously crappy and discontinued. Anywho...thanks again, and there's going to be a full chapter dedicated to answers, don't worry.

SchoolBoredom: Thanks for reading my story as well as the sucky old one!

MidnightBallad: I don't care that I'm not getting many reviews, I just want to finish this damn story! It won't be long (hopefully). I was also wondering if anyone could give me a stack of info on Tala, or direct me to a website that has a stack of info. Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hold my Hand

Chapter Five: The Soul Catcher

Later that day, after a heavy lunch and a serious nap-time (this one absent of dreams), Kai sat outside the dojo, watching the day pass by in a chorus of birds tweeting, cars honking and Tyson and Hilary fighting.

By now, Kai had told his team about his strange dream, but he knew that they all had their doubts.

As usual, a large bicker between Hilary and Tyson had shot up again.

'Well, it's not my problem!' Hilary shouted, stepping out the door. 'If your Bey-thingie's not working, talk to Kenny about it!'

'Gee, Hilary, thanks...' Tyson muttered. Huffing, Hilary slid the door shut and noticed Kai sitting on the porch, watching her with a raised eyebrow and a small smile.

Hilary beamed. 'Hey, Kai. How are 'ya feeling?' She sat down next to him, tucking her arms under her knees.

Kai shrugged. 'Okay, I guess.'

Hilary continued to smile, but then her face fell. 'When you were in that dream...I thought you were dead.'

Kai looked sideways at her. Hilary looked seriously worried, and her eyes were rimed with tears. Great, Kai thought. She's going to cry on me. Better say something...

'Hey, it's okay,' Kai said seriously. 'I'm not going to die on you.'

Hilary snapped to look at him. 'I know. You're stronger than that.' With that, Hilary stood up and went inside, leaving Kai feeling very uncomfortable indeed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It was later that afternoon, when the Bladebreakers had decided to go to the park for some training, that Mariam and Josef approached Kai, who was sitting down on a bench. Kai looked up, and saw Mariam and Josef looking quite upset about something.

'What's up?' Kai asked without even greeting them. Mariam whimpered a bit, so Josef answered for her:

'Dunga didn't come back from looking for Ozuma. We...don't know what's happened to him!'

Kai knew what had happened immediately – the dark spirit possessing Ozuma had obviously got a hold of Dunga somehow. Maybe he had hurt him and stashed him away somewhere. Whatever the case, Kai knew he was responsible. After all, wasn't Ozuma/Haine after him?

'Have you got any idea where they went?' Kai asked, frowning slightly. Josef shook his head, and Mariam knelt down on the ground so that she was eye-level with Kai. 'Please...can you help us, Kai?'

Kai hesitated, before nodding. 'Sure.' He got up off the bench, stretched wide. 'Where was he last?'

'That's the thing, we don't know.' Mariam said. Then she bit her lip. 'Why don't we check our hideout?'

'Good idea.' Kai said, moving to leave with the Saint Shield duo, but someone grabbed Kai by the back of his shirt.

'Where do you think you're going? We have practice, remember?' Hilary said snappily. She was out of her sensitive mode and back into her agro mode. 'You can't just go running off, Kai!'

Kai shook her off and said, 'Hilary – something serious has happened. Dunga's just vanished, and it has something to do with that guy who attacked you and the others last night.'

Suddenly, Hilary was all sensitive again. 'Oh...right. Well – you go, and be careful.'

Kai just nodded and hurried off with Mariam and Josef.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Saint Shield's hideout was very quiet, only the sounds of rainwater dripping into a large metal barrel broke the possible silence. Josef slid the warehouse door open, and gazed around inside. He took a deep, shaky breath and called, 'Dunga? Ozuma?'

No answer.

'Haine!' Kai called loudly and boldly. 'Get yourself down here! You've caused enough trouble already!'

Zip! Kai slammed himself up against the door as a Beyblade went flying past him, and returned to its owner's hand with a loud slap. Ozuma/Haine hopped off of a large crate, his body covered in the shadows. 'Hello, Kai. I see Neblina bailed you out of that dream I sent you to.'

'Why did you do that?' Kai demanded, forgetting why he was really here.

Ozuma/Haine smiled. 'There is a reason...but why don't I show you?' He held out his Beyblade, and instantly Mariam and Josef knew it was not his own. It was made of a clear black stone, and its inner depths glowed faintly. 'This is the Soul Catcher blade. Observe.'

He launched the Soul Catcher, and it landed silently in the ground, the inside of it growing brighter and brighter –

And then it exploded in light, and Kai, Mariam and Josef were thrown against the wall. When they opened their eyes, they saw a remarkable sight indeed: Ozuma and Dunga, standing mindlessly beside the Soul Catcher, eyes half shut, they bodies pale and translucent.

'Ozuma!' Mariam gasped.

'Dunga?' Josef muttered questioningly.

'They're ghosts.' Kai whispered. Ozuma/Haine just smiled. 'Not ghosts; souls. Souls without their bodies.'

Mariam's chin shook. 'No! What did you do to them?' she screamed, running straight for Ozuma/Haine –

'Mariam, no!' Josef shouted, when light filled the warehouse once again, and Mariam was slammed up against a pile of crates. She flopped to the ground, unmoving and silent.

The possessed Ozuma cackled loudly, when he noticed Kai raise his Beyblade. 'Don't touch her!' Kai spat. 'She has nothing to do with this!'

Ozuma/Haine muttered, 'Well, everyone has something to do with this, Kai. I told you that I collect souls for the Prince of Darkness? I need to collect a thousand before I may sit with him, even speak with him like I am to you now.'

Kai cast his eye over Mariam. She still wasn't moving. 'How many do you have?'

Ozuma/Haine said quietly, 'Nine hundred and ninety six.'

And then, beside the hovering bodies that were Ozuma and Dunga's souls, appeared Mariam's own. She just stared at Kai with lifeless eyes, and he felt his stomach twist.

Ozuma/Haine stepped forward. 'Make that nine hundred and ninety seven. Now I only need three more. I think you and Josef can help me there.'

'Run!' Kai said, spinning around and fleeing, Josef close behind. Ozuma/Haine laughed and shouted, 'There's no use, Kai! You'll stop running once I tell you what I have in store next...I plan to take Susi's soul too, for my Prince will love that dearly.'

For a full second, Kai forgot to run. Then Josef seized him around the neck of his shirt and dragged him away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kai arrived back at the dojo as another rain shower fell in, and he found the rest of his team sheltering on the porch. As soon as they saw Kai's face, Max and Rei rushed forward to him.

Kai slipped on his own feet, falling to his knees in a nice deep puddle. Max held an arm over his face as he asked, 'Kai? What happened?'

'We can't let him do it!' Kai said, looking up at Max with fiery eyes of anger. 'We just can't!'

Rei felt a chill down his spine. 'Can't let him do what?'

Kai leapt to his feet, grabbing Rei by the collar of his Chinese shirt-thing. 'That guy who attacked you the other night! He tried to take my soul and now he's going to take Susi's!'

'Who's Susi?' Rei asked, and then he paused. 'That girl in your dream? How's he planning to take the soul of a dream?'

'Susi's alive, she lives in Russia!' Kai snapped. 'We have to go find her!'

Max said quietly, 'How, Kai?'

Kai released his grip on Rei. 'What?'

'How? You don't even know where Susi is. You said that vision you had was set in the past – Susi could be anywhere by now. Someone could have adopted her.'

Rei thought for a second. 'The home would have to keep records of who went where –'

And then he noticed Kai's sullen face. 'What now?'

'In the memory...the home was falling apart. It was going to be sold. I don't even know if it's there anymore.' Kai muttered, closing his eyes. 'You're right – it's stupid.'

Rei narrowed his neko-like eyes. 'No, it's not. Let's risk it and go – it's worth flying to Russia and being really confused, then standin' around and throwing away Susi's life.'

'Yeah,' Max said confidently. 'And one good turn deserves another.'

Kai looked up and between Rei and Max. They both gave him the thumbs up. Kai smiled slightly.

'Hey, guys...' Josef said weakly from his spot on the ground below Kai. 'If it's not much trouble...do you mind if I hang with yous? That bad guy possessing Ozuma could come for me at any time!'

'No need to worry,' Rei said, clapping his back. 'Kenny will look after you.'

'Great...'

-End chapter five-

MidnightBallad: I have nothing to say but review, thanks for reviewing and so forth. The next update won't be too far away, hopefully.