After a while... a long time, here is a new chapter. Enjoy and do review :) Hopefully I'm not rusty.

Chapter 3: Dilemma

Kai was sitting on the bench at the park next to lamb which was lighting the pathways through the park. It was already dark enough for Kai be without hood but he didn't have energy to take his jacket off. His neck still slightly hurt which made Kai rub it softly. Who on earth attacked him earlier and why? Sighing Kai leaned back and looked up at the sky. Moon and stars were glowing behind the clouds and there weren't any sounds besides few cars. And the familiar voices he hadn't heard for few months. Thanks to the party Bladebreakers came back to China, Ray's home country to honour him.

Kai glanced behind him and saw Tyson running towards him with others right behind him. What were they were up to now?

'There you are!' Tyson panted and was trying to catch his breath. Kai recalled his neck and hid the strangle mark with his jacket's colour, kept his posture and straight face.

'Why are you here?' Kai asked.

'I wanted to have match with you,' Tyson stated.

'Match?' Kai looked puzzled.

'Yeah. Beyblade match. Since you watched us on TV apparently and came to honour Ray, I though you would like to have match with me and maybe take the championship title from me,' Tyson explained happily before calming down, 'And maybe get you feel better after what happened with Michael and that guy from earlier.'

'That's… Just forget it,' Kai turned away and stood up to leave but Tyson jumped in front of him.

'Can we have a battle though? Pretty please!' Tyson clapped his hands together and begged with his usual style.

'Give the guy a break Tyson. If he doesn't want to play, you can't force him,' Kenny pointed out chuckling.

'Sorry dude. When Tyson wants to battle someone, he will do it,' Max added.

'Don't I know it. He hasn't changed a bit,' Kai thought and sighed, 'Alright, for a moment.'

'Yes!' Tyson jumped happily,' Where do you live?'

'You just wanted a bey match. Let's leave it at that,' Kai said after thinking for a while. Just to be save, he wanted to leave it to this.

'Oh come one. Please?' Tyson asked again but Kai ignored him. Tyson was disappointed but Kenny pulled him out of it as usual. As they went to their places in front of each other Kai quickly gazed around at the park and it was empty. He turned back to Tyson and saw him get ready. Kai knew Tyson had gotten much better after last time they saw each other but it didn't mean Kai hadn't practiced beyblading himself.

'Ready?' Tyson sounded arrogant.

'Looks like the win has gone up to his head,' Kai thought and took Dranzer out. As he put Dranzer on the launcher he saw Kenny take Dizzy out and Max next to him.

'Is Tyson getting into trouble again?' Dizzy asked.

'No. Let's just analyze this battle this battle for training purposes,' Kenny stated.

'Let's go! 3… 2… 1… Go!' Max counted down. At the same they released their blades and like old times they clashed against each other with a clash.

'Go Dragoon!' Tyson called out to attack but Kai defended the attack easily. One of the reasons was that he knew Tyson's old moves well. Kai's counterattack caught them off guard.

'What happened?' Tyson was baffled.

'Chief?' Max asked curiously.

'That guy is strong one Chief,' Dizzy added.

'I can see that,' Tyson blurted out.

'Keep your eyes on the battle,' Kai called out. Tyson turned quickly back and evaded Kai just in time.

'That was a waste. You could have won that one,' Michael appeared behind the trees. Others were not too far behind him.

'And what do you mean by that?' Tyson asked.

'Yes, my boy. You weren't concentrating but it looks like this time your opponent was considered and warned you,' Tyson's grandfather said.

'That's why I said it was a waste,' Michael said.

'You mean by winning with cheap tricks are fine for you? Luckily, he's better person than you,' Tyson said and gazed at Kai who kept still and quiet. It was getting too crowded since it would attract attention. He was still thinking what to do when another voice came after a whistle.

'Hey, it's that jerk,' Tyson stated and got hit behind the head by his father.

'You shouldn't speak like that,' Bruce said.

'But dad, you should have heard what that dude said to him back at the party. He said… You don't belong here.' Tyson exclaimed.

'Why can't he ever keep his mouth shut?' Kai thought and looked back at Mike.

'Funs over. It's time to go back,' Mike pointed behind with his thumb. Without a word Kai took his blade and began to leave but of course Tyson wasn't having it.

'Hold on! You can't just leave. Battle isn't over yet.'

'I did say "for a moment". I didn't mean after whoever wins… Have fun,' Kai added to the end but hesitantly.

'Hold on!' Tyson ran and grabbed Kai's hand. Everyone was watching them puzzled.

'Kai…' Mike sounded annoyed now.

'I catch up to you,' Kai simply stated. Mike shrugged his shoulders and continued walking. Kai turned to Tyson with annoyed look.

'What?' he asked sighing.

'Why are you leaving with that jerk?' Tyson tried to keep hold on Kai's hand but in vain.

'You have your fun and leave me be. I don't belong here anyway…' anyone could tell there was a hint of sadness in Kai's voice.

'But…' Tyson began but felt a hand on his shoulder, 'Dickenson?'

'Calm down Tyson. We can't force things upon people,' Dickenson said.

'I know that but…' Tyson protested.

'Tyson. That's enough,' Bruce said calmly. Tyson quietened down and gazed back at Kai.

Before Kai could walk away Dickenson grabbed his hand and put a card on his palm, 'I don't know why you think you don't belong here and I'm not sure what you or your friend mean by it, but remember that you're always welcome here.'

Dickenson let go and stepped back a bit before adding, 'Anyone who beyblades does belong among other bladers and can have fun.'

'I wish that were true,' Kai said before turning away and started to follow Mike's path.

'Again, what does that mean?!' Tyson was pulling his hair.

'Calm down little dude. Pulling your hair doesn't help,' grandfather said.

'Let's go back Tyson already. Let's have more battles inside. Why did you even come here?' Lee laughed.

'I was worried that Kai was feeling offended thanks to Michael,' Tyson explained.

'Hey! I said sorry,' Michael defended himself.

'Aah, don't worry. Tyson wanted to also battle against him since he was a new blader. To test his strength,' Max revealed.

'And almost lost,' Kevin teased.

'No, I didn't!' Tyson attacked back,'… Okay, fine. But I wasn't concentrating and he caught me off guard!'

'Kenny?' Emily pondered.

'I admit Tyson is right too. I wonder how strong Kai would be if he fought with all of his strength,' Kenny examined the stats he was able to get from short battle. Kai's strength exceeded Tyson's easily during those basic attacks. Thanks to Tyson's grandfather though their thoughts got interrupted.

'It looks like you need more training with concentration,' he pulled out his kendo stick and chased Tyson around the park while everyone laughed. Even Mariah was laughing after a long time. Ray was dear to her and she hasn't been smiling for months. Then she felt presence around them and glanced around.

'Huh?' she rubbed her eyes again but didn't see anything.

'Something wrong?' Lee asked.

'I thought I saw something behind that tree but… Forget it. Let's go and have a battle inside,' Mariah said. With that they left the park and went back inside to pick an empty dish to fight in. Many other kids were having battles of their own.

Behind the tree the familiar beautiful eyes looked the big group leave.

'She sensed me? Well, that takes all odds,' Sara thought. Christian had allowed Mike to check on Kai but since they were taking up their time Christian had finally asked Sara to see what they were doing. There wasn't anything wrong by staying out all night but he was concerned about the influence the meeting among humans would have on Kai at the end.

Sara met up with Mike and finally found Kai battling with his old buddies. Mike had stepped forward to pick him up since he had been seen already. Sara stayed behind to see what the humans were doing.

'They either act like to everyone or unconsciously try to be friends with Kai again just like in the past. It won't matter much. They won't remember the past,' Sara thought without a worry and also headed back.

Back at the mansion in the deep darkness Kai was greeted with quietness. He still felt Anne's missing presence, not to mention Marko and Jack. Lara stayed in her room and when she was out, she either glared at him or even at Christian but more carefully. Kai snapped out of his thoughts as big doors closed after Mike.

'Where's he?' Kai asked.

'Who?' Mike smirked.

'I assume he's in the office,' Kai stated. He wasn't used to call anyone "Sir" whoever it was. Not even… big brother. Kai didn't wait for the answer and just went upstairs.

'I wonder how long Sir allows you to behave like that,' Mike let out small laugh and dropped down on the sofa.

Christian was sitting on his office chair turned towards the window while Christian was looking at the moon. He's had a headache for the last hour after getting another scene from the future but it was just a few seconds. Christian hadn't tried to find about it yet, mostly because of the headache. And then he heard steps come towards the door and with a small knock Kai came inside.

'Didn't expect you to knock,' Christian kept his eyes on the full moon.

'Did you tell Mike to come tell me I don't belong there?' Kai asked annoyed.'

'No,' Christian said bluntly.

'Then why did he come there? Any ideas since you run this place?' Kai was slightly surprised by the answer.

'They can do mostly whatever they want. When it comes to the business, that's where my control is,' Christian sighed deeply at the end and turned towards Kai a little bit. His chair was still mostly towards the window.

'Something wrong?' Christian asked.

'Kai here just doesn't want to be told what he already knows.' Kai saw Sara lean against the doorframe with a smile.

'You knew?' Kai pondered.

'About Mike saying for you to get rid of your morals? Yes and no. I knew he thought like that but I didn't know that he would expose himself around your little friends to tell you that. Which reminds me…' Sara stepped forward, 'Are they White Tigers psychics or something? That pink haired girl almost saw me… well, she "sensed" me or something.'

'You were there?!' Kai asked angrily.

'Chees man, I only came there since Sir asked me since you two took your sweet time,' Sara replied.

'And here I though you said "do whatever they want"?' Kai didn't know why he was getting angry at them… or something.

'Mostly whatever they want. As soon as you can control yourself, you get the same… freedom,' Christian said the last word quietly, 'You don't want to hurt them, do you?' he added before Kai could say something back.

'You just have to point that out, don't you?' Kai growled and sighed, 'No, I don't want that… But that doesn't mean I'm going to give up on…'

'Being human?' Christian stated.

'No… I know I'm not like them… anymore,' disgusting think to thought about.

'I think what Mike meant by morals was that. As long as you hold onto your morals, you don't belong among us but you don't belong among humans either,' Christian let out small chuckle, 'Interesting dilemma.'

'And what that supposed to mean?' Kai grabbed the edge on Christian's table. Sighing Christian turned entirely towards the window.

'I give you one example. You don't want to kill humans, do you?' Christian asked. Kai's eyes widened when he realized what Christian meant.

'That's the moral you need to get rid of to be one us even slightly. You cannot survive without blood and you need it from humans. Even an idiot knows how we get it,' Christian continued.

'You… kill humans? Directly?! Is that what you meant at the police station when you said… you have killed people?' Kai was in dismay.

'It's Rick mostly nowadays but yes, I have,' Christian stood up and walked to the window, putting his hand against the cool glass, 'I don't like it but it's our nature.'

Kai saw Christian's stern and serious expression as he turned around. It was clear he wasn't in joking mood at the moment even if he ever had been.

'I understand you need time to accept this and I won't stop seeing your friends even though I think it's pointless. But remember what you are now. Faster you realize this the better,' Christian rubbed his forehead, 'Leave. Both of you.'

Sara took Kai's arm and led him outside. She has seen her brother like this before and knew to stay away. After Sara had closed the door Kai grabbed her arm next.

Was he speaking the truth back there?' he asked.

'Pretty much. Was that so big of a surprise? It's not like we are humans anymore,' she patted Kai slightly on the shoulder, 'Take your time. I know what it was like when I was first turned. Everyone has felt the same before. I wish I could say you won't be forced to kill anyone but since your positions seems to be getting the things, like money back, I can't. '

Sara went to the stairs before adding, 'Maybe Sir could consider different position for you.'

'You didn't seem to like me earlier,' Kai snorted.

'You're right about that. I'm tired of your sulking or whatever you do. Even this dilemma is annoying… but understandable. But word of advice, don't take too long. It will only bring trouble,' with that Sara left Kai stand alone in the hallway.

At the end of the party few beybladers had fallen asleep after so many battles against fans and other friends, like Gary, Kevin, Steven and Tyson.

'They partied a bit too hard,' Max laughed. He was sitting next to his mother Judy who was also smiling widely at the scene. The clock was almost 1am but they didn't hurry to sleep.

'Main point is that they had fun,' Kenny stated and others agreed with him.

'Are you still watching that short battle?' Emily asked and peeked over Kenny's shoulder.

'Aa, yeah. Dizzy and I analyzed the video couple of times and Dizzy said that… There might be power inside Kai's blade,' Kenny explained.

'Like a bitbeast?' Lee wondered.

'Most likely. It would certainly explain his power levels against Tyson earlier,' Kenny told.

'Do give it a rest. Ask him next time you see him,' Michael pointed out.

'If we see him and we aren't going to stay here to wait for that to happen, are we?' Kenny stated too.

'If you're meant to meet, then it happens. Destiny does weird things,' Tyson's grandfather said proudly.

'Father,' Bruce chuckled, 'Since when you have begun to talk about those things? Are you getting old?'

'Who's getting old huh?' grandfather blurted out but hit Bruce with the kendo stick. Everyone laughed at that. It was familiar scene with Tyson as well.

Walter and their police apartment had gotten a call. There had been a murder last evening and they were elbow deep in questions. Woman had been killed but what autopsy was strange. There were teeth marks on her neck and almost no blood in her body. It was suspected that killer had drained the blood somehow but motive and reason were missing. Faith was still shivering from the thought of that the method.

'Who would do that and why?' Faith wondered.

'We shall find out. Who was she?' Walter asked.

'Lisa Harrison, 25 years old and married. Her husband has been notified,' Dylan answered.

'Husband?' Walter asked.

'Tom Harrison and he's 28 years old. They were on the phone when the killer struck. He heard thumb but nothing else. It's assumed it's the sound of his wife's body falling down,' Dylan explained.

'Let's start with checking everything around their house and question people around her,' Walter said.

'Considered done,' both of them noted and went to work.

End was a little jumpy there with the police. But it's basically at the same time as the party.

I'll try to get the next chapter done. I got big plans for this story series. Hehe XD

Thank you for reading