Oh boy, this is a long one!


The four boys stood in the entrance hall of Kai's hotel suite surrounded by their suitcases.

"Wow," said Bryan, he was nodding his head in approval. "Nice one.. So this whole place is yours?"

Spencer was examining the marble sideboard with interest.

Tala turned to Kai with his hands in his pockets, "are the Bladebabies here?" Tala had taken to calling the Bladebreakers the Bladebabies during the last world championships despite the fact that no one had actually competed as the Bladebreakers the entire tournament as they had all swapped teams.

"No, they've got their own rooms," Kai sighed happily.

"What, like this one?" Spencer asked, awed. He was now examining a decorative mirror that hung on the wall opposite. Kai shook his head and comprehension seemed to dawn on Tala's face.

"Voltaire?" he asked.

"That's the one," said Kai bitterly.

"Well!" Bryan rubbed his hands together enthusiastically, "we ought not to complain if Lord Hiwatari wishes to grace us with such gifts," he said and traipsed off down the hall, pushing doors open as he went and peering inside. Spencer took this as permission to start roaming around too and followed him.

"There's four bedrooms," Kai explained to Tala, "so take your pick, but the one with the balcony is mine. I'll need something to throw myself off after spending a month with Tyson." He added.

Tala smirked, "understandable."

"Hey!" Bryan shouted from the kitchen, "I found the vodka!" He popped his head back out into the hall, "I can open this, right?" waving a large bottle at them.

"It's not even 7am Bryan!" said an exasperated Tala.

"I don't see why not," Kai shrugged, not caring about spending Voltaire's money.

"That's what I like to hear!" Bryan said in a celebratory tone followed by the sound of the bottle seal breaking.

Kai shook his head with a little smirk. Maybe it was that they had spent so much time together, but he couldn't deny that he was fond of the Blitzkrieg Boys and their quirks.

They spent at least an hour looking around the suite together and filling Kai in on what life in Russia was like for them now in their post-BioVolt world. Apparently Bryan and Spencer had a job in the same bar and were renting a small flat in Moscow. Tala on the other hand had managed to land a job tutoring some rich kid. He said it paid quite well, especially as he was allowed to live on site, plus the kid was interested in Beyblading and Tala had promised to train him in his free time.

Kai wasn't surprised by Tala's new venture into tutoring. Despite looking and acting like an idiot, Tala was actually pretty clever and he had received a ridiculously good education at the Abbey.

Kai didn't say much as the rest of them talked, but they must have known him too well to be surprised, plus they appeared genuinely grateful to him for allowing them to stay in his room.

After having chosen their respective bedrooms, they were all sat in the plush living room with the bottle of vodka placed in the centre of the coffee table, almost half of it was gone. They were each holding a shot glass and Spencer had a little pink glow to his pale face.

"Well I guess we'll go down to the arena in a bit, I wanna get there early and figure out what's going on," Tala explained placing his glass firmly on the table. "They wouldn't even say what it was!" he said angrily. They had all been over this at least ten times by now but Tala continued regardless, "they just said that we can still compete… but that they wont sponsor us..." they all lapsed into silence again, "weird isn't it?" he mused.

"Maybe it was that bar fight the other day," Bryan wondered aloud, holding another shot up to eye level and surveying it as if it were to blame.

Kai raised an eyebrow.

"Don't ask," Tala said shaking his head, "we should probably go now if we want to get there early," he continued.

"Dickinson said the shuttle buses start at eight, so you should be able to get the first one if you go down now," Kai said. Mr Dickinson had explained during the taxi ride the previous day that there would be shuttle buses to and from the hotel to the arena every half an hour during the tournament.

"Nice," Bryan said as he knocked back the last shot and Spencer stood up.

"Thanks for this Kai!" Spencer called as they left the suite.

"Don't make me regret it!" Kai called back.

Half an hour later, Kai headed down for breakfast.

"Morning!" Hilary said running up to him outside the buffet. Kai didn't respond and instead gave his room details to the man on the door. "Have you been.." Hilary moved closer to him and sniffed. Kai swerved away but he needn't have bothered, "drinking?!" she looked scandalized. Kai rolled his eyes and sped up into the buffet hall where he spotted the rest of the team.

"Kai!" said Max excitedly, "aw man! Look at us, all together again, about to enter a new tournament!" Kai rolled his eyes again and sat down next to Tyson who was too busy eating to offer a greeting. Kai picking up Tyson's orange juice and downed it in one, hoping that it might mask the smell of alcohol.

"Hehyyyy!" Tyson said with his mouth full. "Get your own damn juice!"

"Fine." Kai said, getting up and slouching over to the buffet to refill Tyson's glass.

"So how's your room?" Max asked once he had returned.

"Fine." Kai repeated, conveniently failing to mention that Tala, Bryan and Spencer were staying with him. He knew he couldn't hide it forever but he simply could not be bothered to explain it at the moment. Luckily enough for Kai, a distraction came along in the shape of Daichi who was padding across the tiled dining room floor looking distinctively dishevelled, as if he had just rolled out of bed.

"Daichi, where are your shoes and socks?" Hilary asked.

Daichi glanced down at his feet with a look of surprised, "uhhh… I guess I didn't put em on today, haha!" he chuckled and headed off to the buffet.

Hilary let out a heavy sigh, "w-wait- Daichi! Oh wow, please tell me he has his Beyblade!" she spluttered at Kenny.

"Errr…." The chief swung his backpack onto the table and began to furiously search it's contents.

"OBVIOUSLY!" Daichi called happily as he picked up a plate with one hand and waved his blade with another.

Everyone sighed with relief.

"I guess that's what's important…" she mused, taking a sip of coffee.

"Where's Ray?" Kai asked looking around the room, noticing that he was the only member of the team who hadn't joined them.

Tyson let out one of his little giggles, "he's in Mariah's room!"

Kai looked annoyed, Ray was cutting it a bit fine, "and how long has he been in Mariah's room?" he asked with disapproval. All he needed was for Ray to get distracted before the competition even started.

"Since last night!" Max said, also giggling, "its ok, he said he's gonna meet us at the shuttlebus!"

"Riiight." Kai said resigned.

After Daichi and Tyson had finished third helpings and Hilary had ran back up to the room to get Daichi some shoes and socks, they departed the buffet hall. As promised, Ray was waiting at the stop in front of the hotel. Kai was surprised to see that Ray looked, well, pretty awful. There were dark bags under his eyes and his clothes looked like the same ones he had been wearing the previous day, but it was the defeated way in which Ray was standing that made Kai frown.

"Dudddde!" Tyson said loudly in greeting, "up all night, eh?"

Ray shook his head with a miserable look on his face but Tyson seemed not to notice and started prodding his friend in the shoulder, "eh, eh!" he said excitedly, probably hoping that Ray would reveal what Tyson must have thought would be a racy story about his eventful night with Mariah.

Max seemed to have picked up on Rays mood because as Tyson began to open his mouth again, Max stood on his foot. Tyson let out a sharp yelp, "What was that for?" he demanded.

Max cut in front of him, "you alright?" he asked in a low voice.

Ray shook his head and gave a blunt, "no."

"Oh.." Tyson said, his grin faltering, "what happened dude?"

"Come on, lets get on the bus," Hilary said gently, putting a hand on Rays back and giving him a gentle push, "you look tired, we'll try and find you some coffee when we get to the arena," she smiled.

Ray nodded, "thanks Hil."

"So what happened Ray?" Tyson asked again after they had taken their seats.

"Zip it Tyson!" Kai snapped.

"Fine!" Tyson retorted, crossing his arms.

Max grinned sheepishly at them both from a gap between the chair and the headrest and Ray looked relieved.

It didn't take long to get to the arena. It too was decorated like the hotel and outside there was a crowd of people that looked to be made up of reporters and fans. They were all standing behind two barriers that had been placed along a red carpet that led up the the entrance. Kai could see Mr Dickinson stood just beyond the doors smiling and waving and holding a clipboard.

"HELLO! HELLO!" Tyson waved at his fans. Most of them were calling his name but occasionally someone would yell RAY or MAX, someone at the back was even screaming HILARY WE LOVE YOU! Kai could hear his name being called too, although their voices sounded different and he realised with a jolt that most of the reporters had their cameras pointing at him.

'KAI, KAI FACE THIS WAY!' they called, which made Kai do the exact opposite, 'KAI DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR GRANDFATHER?' one of them yelled over the crowd. Kai pulled an aggravated face, why did they always want to bring up Voltaire? He sped up.

"No questions please!" Hilary said, falling back in an attempt to shield him from the reporters, "and NO PHOTOS!" She yelled as one photographer leaned forwards and tried to get a shot of his face.

"Wow they get worse every year," Max laughed.

They were almost through the doors when one of the reporters shouted, 'KAI, WILL YOU BE TAKING OVER THE COMPANY NOW THAT YOUR GRANDFATHER HAS BEEN ARRESTED?'

Kai froze a few steps before the open doors and turned, "what did you just say?" he called back.

There was a skirmish among the reporters and the one who had shouted pushed his way to the front, "your Grandfather was arrested earlier this morning, what do you have to say about it?" he demanded, holding out a microphone. Kai must have looked horrified as all of the cameras began snapping away furiously. He was about to start asking questions when Hilary grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him through the doors. He made to turn around but then he heard Mr Dickinson's voice.

"Kai? Kai!"

"What's going on?" Kai asked hurriedly, "what's Voltaire done now?"

Mr Dickinson looked disapprovingly at him, "your Grandfather has been arrested, it happened twenty minutes ago. I've only just been informed, trust the press to know before anyone else!" he said indigently.

"Why?!" Kai demanded.

"Please Kai, if you would go register for the tournament, we're running out of time," he said checking his watch, "I can fill you in afterwards," but Kai didn't want to wait.

"Fill me in now." He demanded.

"Please don't be difficult Kai." Mr Dickinson sighed.

"Come on!" said Tyson, Max and Hilary and they tried to shepherd Kai away towards a desk with a large sign behind it that red 'Beyblade World Championship Registration!'

He noticed all the other teams were already there. He was starting to get really agitated.

"No!" Kai pulled himself free of their grasp just in time to hear Tala, Bryan and Spencer calling his name from across the room. He was surprised to see that they were still there but quickly asked, "do you know what this is about?" in a demanding tone, gesturing towards Mr Dickinson. In response, Bryan pointed upwards to one of the large TV screens mounted on the wall high above them.

Kai's mouth fell open as he watched a short news video of Voltaire being pushed into a police car in handcuffs with the headline BREAKING: VOLTAIRE HIWATARI CEO OF HIWATARI ENTERPRISES ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

"Oh no," whispered Hilary and the rest of the team let out flabbergasted noises.

"Something must have happened. This must be the reason why we got dropped this morning!" said Tala mutinously.

The rest of the Bladebreakers looked puzzled by this, of course as they didn't know that The Blitzkrieg Boys had called him early in the morning for help. Kai nodded still reeling at the clip playing on TV. He could feel everyone's eyes- all the other teams staring at him.

"Come on man, we've gotta sign up," Tyson had placed his hand on Kai's shoulder, "it wont take long, then we can figure out what's going on."

Kai glared at him and Tyson raised his eyebrows. Would no one let him get the answers that he wanted?

"Well fuck me I guess!" Kai said angrily but relented and stomped towards the registration desk. Tyson gave a small consoling grimace as if to say he knew how Kai felt. Kai let out a furious grumble and thrust his hand out wordlessly to the BBA representative, waiting for them to pass him a form attached to a clipboard. He snatched it away aggressively when they finally did and sat down on a nearby chair with the rest of the team.

Distracted, it took him much longer than it ordinarily would to fill out his form, even Daichi was done before him.

"Here," he threw the clipboard back onto the desk and stalked off to where Mr Dickinson was now stood with Tala, Bryan and Spencer. It sounded as if they were bombarding him with questions and Mr Dickinson looked rather overwhelmed.

"Kai, yes hello-" he said, noticing him approaching but he stepped back from them all abruptly as if he had smelt something bad, "have you.. Have you all been drinking?" Mr Dickinson asked with his eyes narrowed.

"Fermented orange juice." Kai said deadpan. Bryan smirked.

"Right…" Mr Dickinson clearly did not know what to make of this. He must have decided not to press the matter as he said, "well, lets go in here," and all four of them began to walk away from the crowd of teams behind them. Mr Dickinson led them into a room filled with desks, chairs and computers and they all took a seat in one of the isles and turned their chairs to face each other.

"Now I must impress upon all four of you that what I'm about to say is not to be repeated to anyone else." They all nodded, "good," continued Mr Dickinson.

"I've learned a few more things in the last few minutes. Voltaire is currently being held over a multitude of charges, all of which sound as if they're related to the BioVolt investigation - unless he's got any other similar ventures in the works that we don't know about.."

Kai didn't think his Grandfather had any other investments in BioVolt-like institutions but then again, he wouldn't put it past him.

"Yeah and what about Boris?" Tala demanded, "this has got to have something to do with Boris!"

"Ah yes, Boris.." Mr. Dickinson said, "Boris is currently missing."

"MISSING?" Tala shouted in outrage.

"Yes, missing," the old man sad sadly, "this is, I believe- I may be wrong- but from how it was explained to me, this is the reason why you were dropped by the Russian BBA," he told them, "you see, Balkov Abbey burned down last night." Tala raised an eyebrow and there was a small silence followed by a sarcastic 'wahoo' noise from Bryan.

"The Russian police are treating it as arson."

Kai was surprised but wondered what this had to do with Voltaire. Surely burning down the Abbey would mean any evidence against him would be gone forever. In fact, Kai wouldn't put it past either Boris or his Grandfather to burnt it down themselves if it meant freeing themselves of anything incriminating.

"So what does that have to do with us?" Tala asked sharply, crossing his arms.

"I know you boys broke ties with the abbey when you left at the end of the first world championship, but I believe- or more- I've been informed that the authorities intend to bring you in for questioning in regards to the case." said Mr. Dickinson, looking nervously between all three of the Russian boys.

"Wha-why! Like, they think we did it?!" Tala demanded looking outraged.

"We've got nothing to do with it!" said Bryan angrily.

Spencer merely sat on his spinny computer chair looking anxious.

"Well I'm not entirely sure what they meant by bring you in for questioning," said Mr Dickinson, "I would assume it would be to act as witnesses,"

"If we're only witnesses, then why did the BBA drop us?" Tala asked fiercely.

"I'm not sure Tala, it does seem a bit odd. Perhaps they want to question anyone connected to Boris.."

"Great!" Tala exclaimed loudly, "we haven't done anything!"

"It might not be that Tala! You're getting ahead of yourself!" Mr Dickinson tried to say in a calming voice. "but you've got to understand that the authorities have no idea where to start, so it makes sense that they'll question you first," He nodded tentatively towards him, "anyone with a known grudge against Boris Balkov is of interest to them, you've never been particularly quiet about your hatred of the man."

Bryan and Spencer were looking worriedly at each other now.

"They'll be questioning a hell of a lot of people then! This is fucking ridiculous, I have better things to do with my time, I have a championship to win!" Tala spat.

Kai couldn't help smirking at that.

Mr. Dickinson smiled, "that's all very well Tala but I'm afraid this is more serious than the Beyblading championships."

Tala didn't seem to care, "I've waited a whole year for another chance at the title and you're telling me to just throw it away for something I don't even want to be- and wasn't- involved in!" he demanded.

"I am not saying that!" Mr Dickinson sighed.

Kai hadn't spoken this whole time. It was all very well that the Abbey had burnt down and that Boris had gone missing but, "so what does this have to do with Voltaire?" he asked.

"Yes well in regards to Voltaire.. Unfortunately there is more. As you know, after the first world championship police investigated the BioVolt Corporation thoroughly, however, they found no wrongdoing had occurred at the Abbey."

"Yeah right." Muttered Bryan.

"Yes, quite," Mr Dickinson nodded and continued, "all of the evidence had, at the time, been removed without a trace!"

"Yeah, we already know- Voltaire hushed it up." Kai said. He knew, because Kai had helped him to hush it up, by lying to the investigators. Once again, that warped sense of loyalty was coming back to haunt him.

"Well," continued Mr Dickinson, "someone, somewhere, has acquired the evidence, and they've handed it in to the authorities just last night. An anonymous tip off it seems! This is what has led to Voltaire's arrest."

The four of them stared at the old man.

"Justice!" Bryan hissed, mockingly raising his fist into the air, which was quickly withdrawn when he saw Spencer's worried face.

"It's not a joke!" Tala snapped.

"So chances are-" Mr Dickinson continued, "that all of you may also be called in to help identify and provide information to back up any evidence," all four of them groaned, "I just had a quick call with the investigation team and they said it can all be done here during the tournament, someone is flying over right now, so hopefully you wont have to take much time out!" Mr Dickinson said cheerfully.

"Much time out?" Kai said with his eyes narrowed, "I'm not taking any time out!"

"Yeah me neither!" said Tala.

"Well boys, you have to understand this investigation is very important!" Mr Dickinson tried to impress upon them.

"I'm fine with just, letting it go.. To be honest.." Mumbled Spencer, as if this would halt the investigation. Mr Dickinson gave him a small smile and they all lapsed into silence.

Kai wasn't sure what to feel. He knew that this was something that Tala and Bryan had wanted ever since their departure from BioVolt. Spencer however was a much softer character, like a docile bull terrier, he probably wanted to forget about it. If Kai had to consider it- and he felt his stomach do a little somersault as he did- Kai didn't particularly want to reopen this part of his life either.

"Well boys, I'm very sorry to bring you all this news but I thought it was better you find out from me than the newspapers," he said with finality. "I think its time for me to head off, I have lots of last minute tasks to complete!"

"Thanks Mr D," Spencer said miserably.

Mr Dickinson smiled, "if you need me, you can call me any time, or call the office, they'll know where to find me," and with that he hurried out of the room.

Kai stared at an extension lead on the floor and no one spoke for a while.

"This is ridiculous!" said Tala.

"Hnmh." Replied Bryan heaving a heavy sigh.

There was another long pause.

"Right, well!" said Bryan in a matter of fact tone, "I'm going back to the hotel, I'm gonna drink the rest of that vodka, and then pass the fuck out."

Tala and Spencer looked at him, "yeah. Sounds like a plan. I need sleep anyway. You coming Kai?"

Kai shook his head.

"Alright, we'll talk about this later!" Tala said as they too left the room.

Kai sat there for at least ten minutes, he had no desire to get up. He was dimly aware that his heart was racing pretty fast.

Kai had meticulously planned his entire life for the past three years around avoiding his Grandfather.

Three years ago when the first world championship ended, the BioVolt investigation began.

Kai had been subjected to months of tedious questioning whilst he lived in the mansion. Ultimately, the investigation had materialized into nothing, no doubt thanks to Kai's helpful lying, he was sure. The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence and Voltaire and Boris once again roamed the earth as free men, and then of course Kai had been packed off to boarding school. Voltaire was really considerate like that. He didn't have any friends at that school, apart from some annoying kid named Wyatt.

Eventually, as the summer school holidays had kicked in, Kai had ended up at Tyson's house. It wasn't necessarily his first choice of places to stay, but it was a lot better than having to go home and face Voltaire. He had been pretty sure that by not returning to the mansion he was probably making things worse, but at the time he hadn't cared, and Voltaire certainly hadn't come looking for him. Kai actually felt that, that had been the happiest time of his entire life; he had spent a lot of time with the Bladebreakers, and it had actually been fun (well, kind of). He was at least willing to talk to them all on a daily basis. In fact, one night he had even bought Tyson pizza because he thought he looked sad. He laughed bitterly just thinking about it.

After the second world championships, everything changed. Kai had intended to go back to Tyson's; he only had a week before he was sixteen. For the past year he had scrimped and saved every last bit of money that he could get his hands on, which wasn't much. He had taken on a few jobs around town, and, although he wouldn't admit it, he had maybe got involved in a few questionable beyblade matches that ended with handsome, and very illegal, rewards. Either way, He had amounted enough to be able to pay for a deposit and two months of rent on a small flat, and intended to do so as soon as he turned sixteen.

He had signed all the paperwork and his deposit was meant to be paid, but in the early evening he received a phone call from the bank to say that actually, his account had been emptied earlier that day. Of course it was Voltaire.

Kai had spent that entire summer living in an abandoned warehouse near Tyson's house. He was too embarrassed to tell his teammates he hadn't moved into the flat. When they asked, he merely explained that it was too small for them to all visit, so they may as well just meet at Tyson's dojo as always. Well that was a downright lie, he thought.

Gradually, he stopped visiting the dojo and training with his team. When the third world championships came around and he got paired up with Tyson in a tag team, he realised that, that wasn't what he wanted. It was then that Tala, Bryan and Spencer offered to group together to pay for his plane ticket to Russia. Kai felt like he needed to prove himself, and his only option was to defeat Tyson.

He wasn't sure why he was thinking about this, but he was. He seemed to be reassessing his life up until the present. It wasn't exactly a fun activity. Then he heard laughter coming from outside of the door and realised that most of the teams must still sat at the registration desk, getting to know each other or catching up.

Kai couldn't help but notice that his heart was still racing and shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it. It didn't work. Finally he dragged himself out of the chair and staggered out of the room. It didn't take long for him to find a bathroom and he rushed over to a sink, splashing his face with water.

A loud squeak from the door told him that he was no longer alone, he looked up, face dripping wet and was greeted by a familiar blond haired boy.

"Kai!" Max said enthusiastically. "Man, Tyson's really worried about you, he's gone to find you!" Max's voice as always was way too happy.

"Hn." Kai replied, stepping away from the sink and grabbing a paper towel.

"Hey man are you ok? I guess the news about your Grandfather's really got to you! You're so pale…" Max was peering at his face, much too close for comfort, "and why is your face wet?" he asked curiously.

Kai flinched away, "I'm always pale. Mind your own business!"

"Heh heh, if you say so!" but he continued to stare at him, concerned. Kai wondered if Max was going to keep talking about Voltaire but he seemed to decide against it.

"Oh hey, guess who I just met at sign-ups?" Kai shrugged and Max jabbered on, "one of the new teams! Remember we saw them checking into the hotel? Well, they're called Duality- I think- yeah definitely Duality!" Max looked excitedly at him in the mirror and Kai stared back blankly thinking about how much he didn't care. "Have you seen the girl? The small one, black hair…."

"I've seen her." He replied. I've stared at her ass, he thought to himself.

"SHE'S SO CUTE!" Max was practically jumping up and down. Kai wondered whether or not Max was actually going to use the bathroom, or had he come looking just for him?

Kai inhaled a deep breath. He couldn't believe he had gone from thoughts of how his life might be about to go up in flames to 'hey, this girl is cute!'

"Hn." He said as he dried his hands on the paper towel and threw it angrily into the bin.

"She's so nice! I'm thinking of inviting her to my room tonight to ask her about her team, maybe we'll learn a thing or two!" he sounded like a excitable puppy.

"Great." Kai said sarcastically.

"Do you wanna come too?" Max asked innocently.

Kai surveyed his teammate and then replied bluntly, "I'd rather throw myself off my balcony."

"Don't say that, she's lovely, apparently she's an amazing blader too! And wait, you have a balcony? I don't have a balcony…" Max trailed off.

Kai bent back down to the tap for a final gulp of water; maybe if he stayed there long enough he would be sucked into the plughole, never to be seen again. He straightened up, and alas, he was still in the real world, and Max was still talking.

"She even let me call her Izzy!"

"Max?"

"Yeah Kai?"

"Shut up."


I hope this wasn't toooo long! Many fun things to think about mehehehe, if you liked it pls leave a review!

Thank you to the two anons who left reviews on the previous chapter!