Ayamari: Notes:

1) I do not own Beyblade

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Chapter 7: Kidnappings, Confusion, and Dating Dilemmas.

"Kenny slow down. What happened?" Kai yelled into the phone, hoping Kenny would finally hear him. Kenny had called an hour ago to talk to Kai about Emily. All Kai had been able to gather was that something was wrong with Emily, but every time Kai said anything to get clarification Kenny would start speaking quicker, making him even harder to understand. 'Kenny's been talking at a thousand words a minute, I can't keep up.' Kai thought as he set the phone on the tabletop as gently as he could.

This was the second phone call Kai had suffered through. The first time Kai had hung up after twenty minutes of nonsense babble that consisted mostly of the words "Gone" and "Why". Kenny had called back ten minutes later.

After a quick trip into the kitchen for some pain killers and a glass of water Kai returned to interpreting Kenny's inane babble. Kai stopped halfway to the phone when the doorbell rang. Thankful for the delay Kai quickly went to answer the door. Kai stepped back in slight shock when he saw Ozuma and Dunga standing at his door. He quickly motioned them inside and led them towards the phone. Kai softly explained, "Come on in, I got Kenny on the phone, so I'll be just a moment."

Ozuma and Dunga nodded in response as Kai picked up the phone. A dial tone greeted his return. Kai thankfully smiled and hung up, turning to his guests. Dunga and Ozuma were quietly whispering to each other as they leaned against the wall. Kai asked, "What's up?"

"Mariam and Joseph are missing. It's the same group that took our beyblades about a week and a half ago. Dunga watched those men drag our friends into a van," Ozuma replied.

"I was too far away to help." Dunga added.

"That may have been a good thing. If you'd tried to help, you probably would have joined them. I wonder if…." Kai said as he started to stare off into space. Ozuma and Dunga glanced at each other and slightly shook their heads, pity barely visible in their eyes when they looked to Kai again.

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'We have team All Starz, and Kenny of team Bladebreakers. None of them seem to understand the reasons behind Dragoon's continued refusal to leave his prison, commonly referred to as a bitpiece. Two members of team Saint Shield are in interrogation, but initial reports show they have no answers. All captured Bladers are resting in our only cell.'

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Max stared intently at Mariah as she flirted with Rei. Max tried to keep his good-natured smile in place while he tried to contain his rage. Murderous thoughts raced through Max's mind as Mariah 'fell' into Rei's lap. Rei helped her up and smiled gently at the flirting girl. Rei failed to notice Max's unease at being ignored or the hurt dancing through Max's blue eyes. Max watched Rei talk happily with his old teammates and slowly drifted farther away from the little group.

Lee noting Max's retreat tactfully stepped forward and whispered in Rei's ear. Rei glanced up at Mariah, smiled and walked off with Lee. Max's scowled ever so softly as he watched the two boys quietly conversing. Mariah was staring dreamily at the two boys, more Rei than Lee. Max was reaching the breaking point when Rei turned around and looked at him.

A small frown crossed Rei's face as he took in Max's soft scowl and defensive stance. Rei had spent enough time among the Bladebreakers to be able to interpret Max's expressions at a glance, but this was new. Rei knew instinctively that Max was mad, but he'd never seen Max look quite the way he looked now. Rei tried to look closer at his love to interpret the meaning behind Max's odd behavior but Lee continued to talk. Rei nodded distractedly to Lee as he started back to the group.

Rei watched Mariah smile, and lowered his eyes for a moment trying not to blush. Rei understood that Mariah had a crush but he was happy with Max, he just wasn't sure how to break the news of his relationship to the pink-haired girl. Max noticed Rei's slight blush as Rei looked at Mariah and hung his head. He had been watching the group of friends for a week, feeling as though he was an outsider but this was the worst moment of his trip. He felt as though he'd been betrayed by Rei as he watched Rei stop and talk with Mariah. Max felt his anger drain away as he watched Mariah launch herself into Rei's arms. Max quickly ran away while Rei was still sharing a hug with Mariah, who had tears of anger and betrayal running down her face.

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'The team White Tigers, and Rei of team Bladebreakers have joined their colleagues in the detaining cell. None of the children understand Dragoon's motives; however, one thought might assist us. Rei, of team Bladebreakers, demanded to know if taking away Dragoon was reason enough to kill their friend. I answered yes, but even I have my doubts. Perhaps Dragoon is resentful of our techniques, but even that idea is unrealistic. Dragoon's persistence to stay within his cell led us to drastic measures, and yet we failed. The two members of team Bladebreakers seem to believe we deserve our unlucky circumstances. I, for one, do not agree.'

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"Max!" Kai exclaimed in surprise as he noticed the drenched blond boy sulking on his steps. Kai had just stepped outside for a bit of air when he'd spotted his friend. He had known it had been raining for almost and hour and it now appeared hid friend had spent the entire time sitting in the rain. Kai sighed deeply and said, "Max, why didn't you ring the bell, I would have let you in."

"I think Rei loves Mariah." Max stated as he stared off into the rain. Kai sat beside Max, allowing the heavy downpour to soak into his clothes. Max stared at his hands and waited for Kai to respond to his admission. He'd been thinking on the issue for a long time and he figured Kai would have the answer he needed to hear, even if Max wasn't going to like it.

"Judging by Rei's reaction to you hugging me, I would highly doubt that Max." Kai reassured as he hugged the boy a little uncertainly. Max nodded slowly as he considered Kai's words before he leaned against Kai's shoulder and started to shake. Kai whispered tentatively, "Max?"

"I left yesterday, caught the first flight back and went over to talk to Tyson….then I remembered Tyson's gone. I was so caught up in my own stupid situation to remember that me best friend had been kidnapped and most likely murdered over something as simple as our beyblades. I forgot about Tyson, I'm a terrible friend. I miss Rei, And Tyson!" Max said as he pulled back. Kai notice Max was crying as he stood, pulling the depressed blond to his feet as well. Kai dragged the blond inside and called out for assistance. Ozuma and Dunga wandered down the hall and spotted the two friends just inside the door.

"You okay Max?" Dunga asked when he was close enough to avoid yelling. Ozuma carefully shifted Max's weight so the blond was leaning on him instead of Kai then walked down the hall. Kai walked upstairs and grabbed an extra pair of clothes and a couple towels. He quickly made his way downstairs where he handed the clothes and towels over to Ozuma before he walked into the kitchen to make Max some soup thinking, 'Thank gods above Ozuma's here, I have no idea how to calm Max down. I can make soup though, Thanks Gods Above….This is definitely worse than Kenny's inane babbling.'

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'The remaining members of team Bladebreakers and team Saint Shields arrived this morning. It appears none of the children know anything. Doctor Willst has decided the children can not be allowed to return to their normal lives, and will be released in the morning to roam the Island. The children seem to be handling themselves well. By sunset tomorrow all the children shall be deceased. Three more weeks of work wasted on the Dragoon Project. We will continue with the extraction experiments: Success Doubtful.'