Ayamari: Notes!

1) Somethings have been rearranged so a new Chapter must be recreated.

2) I do not own Beyblade

Chapter 4: Eight Days

"Day two, no Tyson….no demands, nothing." Max mumbled into his blankets. He was comfortably wrapped up in several comforters as he suffered from a minor cold. Last night he'd been sent home to sleep when he couldn't stop coughing. His father had called his mother and then spent the evening looking after him. Max couldn't deny that he was happy with the attention, but he still wished he was healthy enough to help out the search party.

'Max, Tyson's still alive,' Draciel murmured as she sent soothing waves towards Max in an attempt to lull him back to sleep. Max nodded and wriggled deeper into the blankets

"Draciel, what if something happens? I mean, what if Tyson comes back different? Kai said something about Tyson losing his heart, but he was so vague that I don't understand." Max said with a sad sigh.

'I can't change how Tyson will return. We can only hope he's strong enough to keep his heart, a lot depends on that. He's in a fight he wasn't meant for, and beyond our reach. We can feel his strength, and we can feel it weakening.' Draciel said.

"I don't understand, Draciel," Max whispered as his father walked into the room. Max grinned when his mother walked in and quickly rushed to his side.

"Oh, Maxie, I'm so sorry to hear about Tyson. I'm sure he'll be just fine," Mrs. Mizuhara said as she hugged Max. Max wriggled out of his blankets a bit so he could return the hug.

"Mom, what does it mean when someone's heart dies but they stay alive?" Max mumbled.

"Max?" Mrs. Mizuhara asked as she pulled back. She studied Max's face for a moment before she sighed and said, "Max, some people stay alive but they feel no regret or remorse for their actions…. Like Voltaire…"

"Will Tyson?" Max asked softly.

"No, he's got a good heart, he'll be alright. Don't you worry Max," Mrs. Mizuhara whispered as she pulled the blankets close around Max. Max smiled and slowly drifted off to sleep as his parents walked from the room. "Poor Max."

"He'll be alright, he's got good friends and a good heart. Our Max will be just fine," Mr. Mizuhara said as he led the way back to the shop. His wife slowly walked behind him and gently his hand and tried not to cry.

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"DAMMIT!" Rei swore as he paced around his hotel room. Max was still in bed, Kai was sulking at home, Kenny was searching for any information on Dizziara, and Mr. Kinomiya was staring at his phone like it held all the answers to the universe and he was stuck in a hotel room. The police had asked the four boys to go home and wait for them to contact them, or just in case Tyson tried to contact them. Rei knew he wouldn't.

'Day three, and still no word,' Driger said. Rei turned to glare at his beyblade and was only slightly surprised to see Driger's image sitting beside his blade. 'What shall we do, partner?'

"He's not coming back. We've lost." Rei murmured unhappily. "Hey Driger, why are you still here? I mean, you aren't bound to the bit piece, so why not leave like you said you would?"

'I have a purpose. It's not yet time to leave, and besides the four of us our bound together and we're all here.' Driger said.

"But, Tyson's beyblade, if he was in trouble he'd have grabbed it, right?" Rei mumbled as he walked over and rested a hand against Driger's fur. Driger gently rubbed his head against Rei's hand and purred softly.

'Dragoon is here. Chief has him I believe.' Driger said.

"But Chief gave him his blade the other day," Rei argued unhappily.

'Perhaps, but I can feel his presence close by and we know Tyson's not anywhere near us, we'd have found him yesterday.' Driger replied as Rei knelt beside him.

"Driger, what do we do? We can't go on like this, any of us. We're losing ourselves… I think it's time I went home," Rei mumbled.

'Not just yet, Little partner. There is still one issue to deal with before you can leave. And you must remember to watch over what is dearest to your heart; you'll need that light to walk once I'm gone,' Driger said as he gently pushed Rei to the floor and curled up around Rei.

"Then I'll lose you before I can go home. That's not very comforting, but Driger, you're my best friend and I'll miss you." Rei mumbled as he drifted off to sleep. Driger watched his partner for a few moments before he laid his head beside Rei's and drifted off to sleep.

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'Five days,' Mr. Kinomiya thought as he walked across the empty dojo. 'Tyson come home safe, please.'

"Tyson's going to be fine Dad. He's managed to survive a lot in his young life, he can survive this." Professor Kinomiya said as he walked in the dojo and hugged his father. Both men silently brushed aside their tears and walked into the kitchen for a glass of tea. "My son's had the best mentor I could ever hope for, you."

"And I let him disappear. I failed both of you," Mr. Kinomiya said as he lowered his head to his hands. Professor Kinomiya hugged his father tightly for a few moments before he stood and made some lunch.

"You never failed me or Tyson. You'll see when he returns, everything's going to be just fine. Tyson's a lot stronger than he acts or looks. Let's not give up on him yet, okay?" Professor Kinomiya said.

"I lost my grandson," Mr. Kinomiya said sadly.

"I left him… I, I couldn't help myself after the divorce. I used the excuse offered to me by Mr. Dickenson and I left. I should have looked after my two boys, but I failed them both." Professor Kinomiya said.

Mr. Kinomiya looked at his son and said, "Tyson never felt betrayed, or as though you failed him. He was a little confused, but he understands. And Hiro (1), well, he loves his mother, and is happy to be with her. Don't think you've failed either child."

"But I… I think it's time I stopped ignoring my family. Dad, will you be alright for a while? I think it's time I went to see Hiro." Professor Kinomiya said as he looked to the door, guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders. Mr. Kinomiya nodded and took over the cooking while his son wandered from the room and started to pack.

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Kai stared dismally at the beystadium in front of him. Over the last eight days they'd heard nothing from Tyson, the people who may have taken him, or the ever obnoxious Hilary. The police had no leads yet and Kai had asked Mr. Dickenson if he'd hire a private investigator to look into the matter. Mr. Dickenson had done just that, and the investigator was stumped. Kai growled low and asked, "Dranzer is Tyson still alive?"

'Yes, but he's beyond your reach,' Dranzer said softly. Kai frowned and stared at his beyblade. If Tyson's persistence had faltered during their last year together Kai was certain his grandfather would have won. The thought of all that could have changed was a frightening concept that Kai hated contemplating.

"Is there anyway I could get to him?" Kai asked as he softly as he walked into his room and stared at the desk.

'He is beyond you… I'm afraid the way to salvation is beyond both of you." Dranzer replied. Kai walked to his desk and pulled out a small silver chain with a small silver locket dangling gracefully. Kai sat at his desk as he placed the necklace down and grabbed a pair of scissors and a group picture. Kai slowly set to work cutting out Tyson's face to place it in the locket.

"At least this way I'll be able to keep his smile with me," Kai murmured as he finished his task and pulled the necklace on. He opened the small book-shaped locket up and smiled at the picture of Tyson and the other picture of his parents. "He belongs there."

'Maybe, Kai...' Dranzer whispered. 'Maybe you have the chance to save Tyson. You just have to let go of the anger and regret if you're to make him smile. But you must be careful with how you do things; his Heart's strength has faded.'

"To save Tyson, I must sacrifice my way of life?" Kai asked. A soft wave of agreement met him so he sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I… I can't guarantee how I'll do, but I think I'll try. Will you help while Dranzer?"

'While I am near, I shall protect you,' Dranzer said.

"Protect him, if you can protect Tyson," Kai said as he drifted off to sleep.

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"Nothing!" Kenny yelled in frustration. He hated being unable to find information, and this current string of bad luck was starting to aggravate the young genius. "Dizziara where are you?"

Kenny slammed his computer lid closed and a small bitpiece fell to the floor. Kenny knelt beside the bit piece and gasped in shock. "Dragoon. How, when? I gotta talk to Kai!" Kenny grabbed the bitpiece and raced from the room. He quickly raced over to Kai's house and arrived as Rei and Max walked away from the house.

"Kenny, Kai's not allowing visitors," Max said sadly.

"This is important," Kenny wailed miserably. "It's about Tyson!"

Kai's front door opened seconds later and Kai quickly walked to the group with a deep scowl across his face. Kenny bent over and clutched his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Rei scowled as he looked away and spotted a white van parked a few feet away watching their group. He had an ominous feeling that he was about to lose another friend.

"It's Dragoon. I have the bit piece, but you were all there when I gave Tyson his blade. Dragoon was there, but look," Kenny said as he held out the bitpiece. Kai scowled at the blade as Rei grabbed Max's arm. Rei slowly pulled Max closer to Kai's door, his eyes still focused on the white van that was slowly inching forward. Kai watched Rei, turned to see the van and pulled Kenny towards the door, keeping Rei and Max behind him.

The van pulled close and a side door rolled open to reveal a tall, strong man with a menacing grin. Kai pushed Kenny behind him and glared at the man as the four boys continued to walk backwards towards the front door. The man just grinned wider and said, "The Bladebreakers. I figured one of you had what we wanted. We want the bitpieces, all four if you don't mind. In return, we'll give you you're little friend."

"No." Rei growled angrily as he tightened his grip on Max. Rei reached forward and grabbed Kenny who was started to edge forward. Kai turned and growled low at Kenny before he nodded to Rei.

"Oh, I guessed that would be your response," the man said as he grabbed something from a sack. The four boys gasped as the man threw a tattered red jacket at Kai. Kai wrinkled his nose in disgust as he felt something wet, so he turned the jacket over and held his breath; blood. "I guess we could give you a few days to consider, but we're getting rather bored with him. Well, my sister was talking about wanting a new pet… maybe she'd like him, though I'll warn you she ain't got the best reputation around."

"Here," Kai said as he tossed the man his beyblade. The man looked it over and smiled before he shoved it in the bag that had held Tyson's bloodied jacket. Rei looked at Kai for a moment before he grabbed the bitpiece from Kenny and took Max's blade. Rei cautiously approached the van, Kai at his side with one hand firmly on Rei's shoulder, and handed the man the two beyblades and Dragoon. "Give Tyson back!"

"By tonight." The man said as he closed the door and the van drove away. Kenny and Max had collapsed on the floor in fear. Kai helped Kenny to his feet as Rei assisted Max and the four boys huddled inside. Kai immediately phone Mr. Kinomiya to tell him what had happened and within an hour a police officer was at the door asking questions.

'Eight days, and maybe, just maybe Tyson will be alright but at the cost of the bitbeasts. I'm not sure Tyson will approve, but we had no choice. It's been a long week,' Kai thought as he slowly slid down the wall to sit on the floor beside his teammates.

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Ayamari: Note on Hiro:

Hiro will be in this, but as I haven't seen G-Force so his role will be different. As far as this fic is concerned Hiro and Tyson's parents are divorced. Hiro went with his mother and she got remarried so he would have a normal family environment. Hiro has two younger half-sisters (twins) who will be mentioned but likely play no part in this fic.