Chapter 2

"OH SWEET MOTHER OF … KAI!" Tyson's outburst was followed by a heady silence as everyone stared agape at their former captain. Kai watched amused as the Blade Breakers did perfect fish impressions. Hilary was the first to come to her senses. She squealed, run around her still stunned friends, launched herself at Kai causing him to stumble a little and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. A muffled cry came from her as her face buried in Kai's shirt.

"Oh Kai! You made it! I was so worried when I thought you weren't coming!"

Kai, who was a little taken aback by such a reception, stood stock still for a moment and blinked. This was new. He'd never really been hugged before and had little idea what to do with the little women imbedded in his chest. Hesitantly Kai laid a hand on her head cleared his throat, "Hilary…"

She peered up over his chest, eyes growing large as it dawned on her what she was doing. Releasing her hold on Kai, Hilary stumbled backwards a little apologizing awkwardly. "S-sorry. I-I I shouldn't … I didn't-"

The Blade Breakers had watched stunned as the brunette flung herself around Kai. Had they not still been shocked by his sudden appearance they would have laughed at Kai's expression. Now however, the bladers soon realized that their captain was indeed there and was feeling a little more than awkward. Rei sensed this and invited Kai in.

"So where were you all these years Kai?" he asked once they were again settled on the couches. Everyone in the dojo looked to Kai expectantly, they all wanted to know this.

Kai looked back at Rei and answered plainly, "Around."

"Oh come on Kai, four years and all you can say is 'around'?" Tyson teased.

"Yes." His mild glare and tone of finality dissuaded them from pursuing the issue further.

Rei eyed Kai suspiciously clearly not accepting Kai's response. Rei was reluctant to let it slide but grudgingly said nothing.

"Oookay then…so. Who wants desert?" piped in Tyson trying to relieve the strain in the situation. "I know I do!" Well, maybe he also wanted some desert. They all followed him to the table where they enjoyed the delicious desert together in relative silence.

Despite what they had previously thought, Kai's appearance had not alleviated the slight strained feeling that group felt in his absence, instead a new stress seemed to be entered into the equation.

Hilary watched him over her desert. He was obviously still as antisocial as when she'd last seen him; he just sat quietly as the others talked. Hilary knew that he was listening intently though, he always was. He seemed different however. He looked physically stronger, his hair longer and seemed healthy enough. But Hilary noticed a slight slouch in his posture. He's tired, she thought, I wonder where he's staying.

"…So I graduate this year, the highest in my course!" exclaimed Kenny. "I mean I couldn't have gotten so far without Dizzy but – "

"Where is Dizzy?"

Kenny seemed a little surprised by interruption and even more so by the fact that it was Kai doing so. He took a moment to compose himself before he addressed Kai. "Ah, she's here with me of course. I don't go anywhere without her. I'm sure all of us feel that way about our bit beasts… why do you ask?"

"Hn. Just wondering." With that Kai withdrew from the conversation again, leaning back into his chair and closing his eyes.

"Ah…OK then" replied Kenny, a little confused and disorientated from loosing his train of thought.

With dessert finished the old friends again sat around reminiscing. Gladly submerging themselves in the sentimentality of the situation. Hilary looked around her at the people whom had been missing from her life for the last four years, this felt better, it felt right, but there was still something wrong. There was an emptiness in the room, the same one that she had previously attributed Kai's absence. That emptiness was slightly alleviated with his presence but still something was missing. Hilary frowned in thought, what could be causing this uneasiness she could feel within the group?

Deciding to think on this later she watched as the bladers interacted easily with each other, even with Kai who sat of to the side, eyes shut. She'd missed this more then she'd realized. When they were all in their teens they'd spent hours like this every afternoon in the lead up to the championships. It felt like being home again. In a sudden urge of sentimentality Hilary spoke, interrupting Tyson's vain attempts at gaining Kai's attention.

"You should all stay here tonight", she said bluntly.

"Huh?" came the eloquent reply from Max.

"Hil, this is my place, not yours. Anyway I'm sure that Rei, Max, Kenny and Kai all have places to stay already organized," Said Tyson, "Not that I don't want you to stay here guys but – "

"I don't. I think we should all stay here." Kai said, standing up from his position on the edge of the group.

"Wha- really?" stumbled Hilary, blinking confusedly at Kai. The others appeared to be doing the same thing.

Kai stood facing them unfazed and with a slight nod to Hilary he said with a tiny smirk, "for old times sake."

"Aw, Kai, Gosh I never you were a sentimental old fool!" said Tyson with a grin joining Kai standing and throwing his arm around his shoulders.

In the training room of the Granger's Dojo four men slept. The table had been moved back into the kitchen and the chairs set aside. The night was quiet and crickets could be heard chirping outside the dojo doors. The air had a slight chill but was pleasant; perfect for a good nights sleep. However not everyone slept within the dojo.

Kai stood, silhouetted by the moonlight outside, watching his former team sleep. Tyson lay draped over the couch snoring softly. Max lay at the base of the couch inches from being knocked on the head by Tyson's foot. Rei was curled up on a futon next to Max. Hilary was sleeping in the guest room as any respectable woman would. His own bed lay relatively untouched.

Creeping over the sleeping figures he made his way around the room and stopped. Checking again that the others were asleep Kai took what he needed and swept from the room.

Hilary was having trouble sleeping. The excitement of the day had had its impact on her and she was too wired to lay still. She kept thinking over how everyone had changed. How good they all looked, all grown up. The impressive figure that Kai had cut in the Dojo doorway was most prominent in her mind. She couldn't believe how … big he'd become. He was big before sure but…

With a frustrated sigh Hilary hauled herself out of bed. She couldn't go on thing these things in the middle of the night. She'd go for a walk, get a glass of milk and clear her head. She'd just reached the fridge when she heard voices through the kitchen window. Forgetting her midnight mission she crept closer to eaves drop.

"…years and no hello. Not so much as a "Jee it's great to see you Dizzy", no. You just waltz in here with your big biceps and stea-"

"Would you shut up?"

What's going on? Hilary knew those voices, that was definitely Kai's and the other if she wasn't mistaken was Dizzy. Why was Kai of all people talking to a computer imprisoned bit beast in the middle of the night in Tyson's backyard?

"Well, you may have grown but I can see your great disposition is still in tact."

"Listen, I only want to know one thing; Where –"

Hilary moved around the kitchen wall and to the front door. Pushing it open she peeked through the gap to get a better look. There they sat. Kai with his back to her and Dizzy in front of him on the veranda. Kai was as tense if not more so than he was earlier.

"I mean seriously how many hours did you work out to become the hunk-of-spunk you are now? Because you really do loo-"

"Dizzy…" Came Kai's warning as he clenched his fist.

"- quite fantastic. It's enough to melt my circuits really. You know if only I were human I'd-"

"ENOUGH!" Kai slammed his fist on the wooden flooring of the dojo with a loud bang. Hilary gasped she was sure she'd heard the sound of the wood splintering. A groan came from the training room. For once Dizzy was silent. Kai tried again after a deep breath. "…now. Tell me, where is-"

"W-what's going on here?" came a yawn from behind Hilary, scaring her half to death. So riveted by what was happening outside she hadn't noticed that the others had awoken and come to investigate.

"Shh… guys be quite" she whispered. "I want to know what Kai-"

But it was too late. They'd been spotted.

Dizzy gave a nervous laugh. "Well, looky here. All the blade-breaking buddies back together. Why didn't you bring me out to see them Kenny. I mean I'd barely recognized Kai; it wasn't until he started demanding that…" she trailed off that Kai sent her a glare.

Kenny gave Kai a look of horror. "You stole her from my bag!" He was incensed. No one steals his laptop from him, even his old captain. His old captain who suddenly looked real big and imposing as he stood up. Well that certainly took the wind out of Kenny's sails. He gulped.

Kai looked down at them and regarded them. Tyson being the brave (or stupid one) spoke first.

"So you stole Dizzy, from Kenny's bag, in the middle of the night, for what? A good ol' chat?"

Despite herself Hilary spoke up. "He was trying to ask her where something was." She regretted it immediately as Kai's intense stare turned on her.

"Where what was, Kai?" Rei asked turning on Kai. "It must have been something terribly important for you to sneak out here in the middle of the night." He fixed Kai with a calculating stare. "What are you hiding?"

At this they all turned to look at Kai. He seemed to bristle under the attention and tried to walk straight past them and back into the dojo. He was caught however by Max and Tyson who'd grabbed both of his biceps to stop him passing.

"Oh no you don't, Buddy"

"Yeah, and besides, we could just ask Dizzy what you were talking about. You know how much she likes to talk. Or you can tell us yourself." Added Max.

This made Kai pause. He frowned. He must have decided that him talking was better than Dizzy because with a growl he wrenched his arms free and said, "fine" and stalked inside. They found him sitting on the couch, arms crossed and staring defiantly ahead. Gathering around him they sat and he spoke before they could ask anymore.

"They're gone"

His voice was deathly quiet and held a hint of something Hilary couldn't fathom. He continued to stare ahead. The others were gazing at Kai with confused expressions. Hilary inched forward and placed her hand on his knee. "What's gone Kai?" she asked gently.

He looked at her a moment then at the others. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his beyblade and threw it on the floor amongst them. Looking at it the men went pale and each sprang up from their position and ran to their belonging. Tyson found his blade first in the display cabinet, then Rei and then Max. Coming into the center of the room they each held out their blades for the other to see.

"My god, it's the same with them all." Gasped Kenny.

Hilary was confused. What was all the fuss? She looked more closely at the blades and something terrible dawned on her.

"Dranzer. Dragoon. Drigger. Draciel. They're all gone!"

Well that's chapter 2. Bet you all thought I wasn't going to update didn't you:P

Anyway, thankyou to all those you reviewed, it forced me to add another chapter.

I wouldn't wait around for the next one, it's bound to take me as long as this one did to get down and actually write it.