Chapter 2

Tiko stared up at the apartment building. He looked down at his spell book and smiled to himself. It would be nice to see Travis, his partner again. "All right Travis, guess who is back."

Meanwhile, at the airport, Alex walked out of the terminal and looked around the airport. "Alex!" her father called from the baggage claim, "Come get your bags." He said. She walked up to them and gathered her two duffel bags filled with clothes and other assorted accessories. "Al!" a new voice called. She turned to the owner of the voice, "Momma!" she said, hugging her tightly.

"How have you been, baby?" her mother asked.

"Good. I missed you." She smiled as she hugged her mother. Spotting yet another familiar face, Alex released her mother and ran over to her mamodo. "Shade!" She said picking him and whirling him around, "I've missed you! How have you been?"

"It's good to see you Alex. I've got a present for you." he said pulling out his navy blue spell book. Alex accepted it and flipped through the pages.

"What's happened? Kiyo didn't mention anything in his email. He just said you were back."

"It's easier to show you." Shade said slipping his hand in hers.

"All right." They turned to leave but Alex stopped, "Oh wait. Let me tell my parents." She ran back to her parents and kissed them both on the cheeks, "Sorry guys, but I've gotta go catch up with some friends of mine."

"We're going out to eat for dinner." Her mother said.

"Okay." She replied hurriedly.

"Meet us at your mother's apartment at 3:00. We're serious Al." her dad said as she ran off after Shade.

"Okay Dad." She shouted over her shoulder.

Once at Kiyo's house, Alex found Zatch still lying on Kiyo's bed. "How is he?" she asked, getting on her knees and looking him over. His normally tan skin was now pale and his beautiful blue eyes were now dull and weak. She touched his cheek and it felt clammy and hot.

"He's getting worse. His fever went up. I kept this cold cloth on his forehead to try and help bring it down. But it's not really that effective. I'm not sure what to do for him." Kiyo replied, "Some genius I am. I can't even figure out what to do for my best friend."

Eion, Marina, and Travis were all there. The room went eerily quiet. Yume was sitting on Kiyo's desk, "What are we gonna do?" She asked sliding off the desk and looking around.

"We need to find out who poisoned him." The group turned toward the door. Standing there was boy about their age.

"Rahkshi!" Zero said happily.

"Hey." Rahkshi strolled into the room and greeted his mamodo, Zero.

"As much as I love cheery reunions," Shade began, "I don't want to see my friend die."

"Shade's right." Travis said.

"Of course I'm right." Shade said throwing his arms up.

"Stop being rude." Alex whispered nudging him.

"Zero, your captain of Zatch's guardsmen. Do you have any idea who might have wanted to get rid of him?" Amore asked.

Zero stood thinking for several minutes, "There was this one mamodo that I didn't trust. He was really weird."

"Did he say what his name was?" Eion asked but Zero shook his head.

"Sorry, I don't remember. But he kept hanging around the kitchen, claiming he was the new chef."
Alex glanced down at her watch, "Oh my god! I'm late. Come on Shade."

"Where are you going?" Kiyo asked.

"I gotta meet my parents. Sorry guys. I'll catch up with you later. I promise! Come on Shade." She said running out the door. At 3:05 she met her parents outside of the apartment building. "You're late." Her dad said in a scolding tone.

"Sorry Dad. I got caught up with my friends. You remember Shade?" she asked pointing to the boy standing behind her.

"Are you joining us Shade?" her mother asked.

"Yes ma'am." Shade said.

At the restaurant, everything was going off without a hitch. Alex looked up just in time to see Tiko get thrown through a window of the restaurant. The shattering glass disrupted the scattered chatter as the screams of the customers tore through the air. "Tiko?" Shade stood and ran over to the mamodo lying on the floor, "What happened?"

"Get out of the way, Shade!" Tiko said pushing Shade away. Travis, Tiko's partner ran into the room carrying Tiko's open spell book. "Tiko are you all right?" he asked.

"Read another spell!" Tiko ordered, getting ready to attack.

"Rishai!" Travis yelled. Tiko fired his fire-based attack outside. After several seconds they heard a sinister chuckle. Dae and Lawrence appeared as the dust settled, "Give it up." Dae said raising his hand.

"Sorry, I gotta help them!" Alex yelled, grabbing Shade's spell book andjumping from her chair.

"Wait Alex!" Her parents called after her.

"Daezuk!" Lawrence shouted. A bright ball of light fired from Dae's hand.

"KaShield!" The dark shield gathered around the two mamodos and their partners as Alex read the spell from Shade's book.

Once the light died down, Dae could get a clear view of the new mamodo. The spell had confirmed his suspicions, "Well, well, well how are you?" Dae asked.

Shade's eyes widened, "It can't be…" he said.

Alex was just as confused as Shade was, "How?"

Lawrence looked at the team, "Who are they, Dae?"

"That's Shade. He's my younger brother." Dae replied smirking at Shade.