Authors Note: Thanks to the people that have read and/or reviewed this fic!

Irn2 - I really should say thanks - for reviewing twice and giving me the whole Aton POV thing. And sorry for taking so long. (Mum just decided to be mean and ban me from the computer until my room was tidy.) Just ironic as it's the school holidays. Thanks for reviewing... Twice.

DancerInTheDark101 - -cackles- Yeah... So many questions - though I believe if I answer one... Then it'll give the game away and everyone will know who it is. I think it's in about five-four more chapters and everyone will have a rough idea who it is. Thanks for reviewing.

Devi 17 - Kai will be getting much more... Hrm... Kai like in the next few chapter. I'm looking forward to writing a particular chapter in this. I can't wait to move on to it. Well, thanks for reviewing!

kavbj - Yeah, needed to add Tundra in, thankfully not everyone has forgotten about the creepy bitbeast that came to be in a moment of madness. -coughs- Yeah, she'll be appearing from time to time. Thanks for reviewing!

Just a little thing I need to say... I will be updating as fast as possible. (2 weeks off school, minus one for studying.) So I'll be trying to update maybe every night... Hope that works out, as I'm trying to actually get this fic finished. (Doubt I will! Though I'll try anyway!)

Chapter 22
Tyson was worried, not just because Enya was in hospital; but Kai had not returned to his dojo. No one had seen him. Even Rei had said that he woke up in the middle of the night and had heard a noise; thinking it was Kai he went off to find him. Though as Rei had explained rather timidly - mostly thinking that he would be labelled insane - about the bitbeast he had met. About everything they had spoken about.

The thing that worried Tyson most was not that Kai had been hurt, just that he had disappeared - there had been a storm that night too. Kai wouldn't let himself get caught, Tyson shook his head. There was no time to waste on that. Everyone was up-tight, of course they all wanted to go out and search. The fact remained that Boris was planning something and he would achieve something with this new blader. Whoever it was; like Kai had thought, it must have been someone strong to make someone as factual as Boris mock the BBA. Not after getting beaten so badly last year, not after his whole company got completely destroyed.

Tyson sighed, it was stupid to spent all of his energy on thinking of what lay ahead. Instead of preparing himself of what he expected the new threat would be capable of. It didn't help much when Mr. Dickenson had found 'something,' out and needed to speak with the BladeBreakers directly. It was the main reason why they had all sat down for a rest.

Even though no one spoke of what happened to the Hiwatari mother, no one would dare bring it up. It was just Aton in the house and he looked to stressed, too frayed to deal with everything. It wasn't surprising though, the happy, Max had even withdrawn slightly. Not knowing of what to speak to his fellow team or friends.

Selene had disappeared on a few occasions, which Lilita and Kenny became increasingly aware of. She was questioned about it. The only answer she gave was that she was looking for Kai. It settled quietly in everyone's mind.

The sudden chap at the door caused the BladeBreakers to freeze and glance at one another, they would be the ones to try to stop the plan of Boris; which had never been good. Tyson walked slowly to the door, the living room to the front door was one of the longest walks he took. For some reason he dreaded to think of what Mr. Dickenson had to tell him and the others.

"Hello Tyson." Mr. Dickenson nodded grimly at the World Champion, whom he hoped would retain his title for another year. Then at least he would have defeated the mystery blader.

"Hey, Mr. D." Tyson causally opened the door and let the elderly man walk into his abode. The fellow BladeBreakers gave a happy, yet nervous greeting. They all knew it was not good news.

"I'm afraid there...Has been some...Newly developed...Incidents." Mr. Dickenson selected his words carefully not wanting the room to burst into a raging up-roar. Apart from that he wanted to think on how he could place the goings-on into plain words.

"What do you mean Mr. Dickenson?" Kenny looked at the BBA manager, hoping it wasn't too bad. Though the logical side of his brain told him that Mr. Dickenson would not be here of all places if it were not important.

"The rules...They have changed." The man sighed as he could still remember his underlings telling him that they had all voted against him and for the new rules. Which Mr. Dickenson had no idea where they had come from, no one had owned up to them. But the worst thing was, this years tournament would only get harder and harder.

"What's changed exactly?" Rei asked, hoping that the trusted adult was only exaggerating what was really happening. The man visibly tensed; noticing that the others did also.

"What I tell you, must not leave this room." He had given the BladeBreakers advice and help, simply because they were nice and good kids. Still he had seen the type of people that entered the World Championships and couldn't help but want the BladeBreakers to win because of their never giving up attitude. The bladers nodded, staying quiet as the man announced what was going to happen in this years tournament.

"There are no teams." The BladeBreakers gasped. Surely they had heard wrong? No teams? What?

The man sighed sadly when he had realised that he would need to tell them all everything, and would

possibly cause their last shard of confidence and hope to shatter. He hoped not.

"What do you mean, 'no teams!'" Tyson was angry more than shocked; he'd always been in the BladeBreakers, he'd even come up with the name!

"How can we enter without a team?" Rei was worried, he had never been a lone blader, he'd always

been in a team. Mostly because he needed someone to tell him that he should have a little more

faith or should try harder. He didn't like to push himself to far - just in case it was all for

nothing. What was he going to do if he was meant to be alone?

"That is the thing Rei... You all here, are competitors... You all must enter the tournament alone." Mr. Dickenson watched as the, now disbanding team looked at each other with confused and concerned looks. They may all be competitors but they all were friends. Even if they had betrayed or hurt one another at one point, they needed to be near each for support. Mr. Dickenson wasn't expecting them all to go against each other, not after their captain and his family had been through such a harsh time, surely not?

After a few moments the words sank in; each of them thinking of the situation differently. Max was his normal self, though slightly mixed up of the identity of the mystery blader. Rei was his own balanced self thinking that he had as much chance of beating and winning as much as anyone else in the room.

"You mean...Go against each other?" Tyson had been in that position before, he hadn't liked it to honest. Yet when the whole thing was over he felt better; that he knew he was the best because he had beating so many people he trusted and respected.

Mr. Dickenson let out a breath, thinking of everything that the boys would need to know. Mr.

Dickenson wasn't sure on how strong this new opponent was, though Tyson and everyone else entering

would need to be on their toes.

"No, not only that but against everyone else as well." The man watched as the faces on everyone in the room dropped, some had their mouths gaping wide as if trying to catch a breath that did not want to come to them.

"Everyone else!" Max and Tyson exclaimed loudly as if they had not trusted what the man had said. Tyson was beginning to feel incredibly pressured into doing well in this tournament. What if he choked and mucked up his chances of being the Champion and also beating Boris's mystery blader. Mr. Dickenson had been completely against the idea himself, but because he could not cancel or stop the rule, he quickly had added in his own.

"Do not worry too much. There was also another rule, placed in to help the bladers as last years competition was so intense." The BBA manager had not known of the rule change until he had went to a board meeting, which was strange. Usually the were held a few weeks before the tournament not two months before it.

"What's that?" Kenny was wondering about the changes, hoping that the new rules would not completely go against them. Even if, as Mr. Dickenson explained, they only had one rule for any kind of safety then at least, it was something.

"The tournament will commence over three days." The man sighed as he saw a few faces turn confused. It was the first time, that the Championships had ever had placed a number of days, normally it would be over - at max in two. Certainly not three.

"That's hardly a rest." The old man knew that very well; though in the long run it would do everyone who was blading a favour of being able to rest and prepare for up coming matches.

"It was the best I could do. Even though most of the board seemed to hate the idea I managed to

gain some sympathy from some of the higher members." Mr. Dickenson had thought for a moment that maybe he should just leave things the way they were. Though when it was decided that it was everyone verses everyone, then there had to be some sort of rule to stop a massive bloodbath from occurring. Too many people, last year, were hospitalised.

"So…What was with the change?" Kenny frowned, the BBA usually was the most fair and understanding - since it did have Stanley Dickenson, the founder as it's head chairman. So it was a huge shock to everyone that such an odd tournament would now be taking place.

"I do not know, though I believe the board members are scared. Of Boris and his boasting. However..." Mr. Dickenson took a deep breathe and paused he didn't want to sound totally in agreement to the new rules.

"However...?" Rei frowned, the pause had made everyone a little less nervous in some way. There would have to be a good point to all of this.

"This may be the best way to stop Boris." Mr. Dickenson saw the reaction this had on Tyson, and knew that may have come across wrongly to the World Champ.

"It is not that we are telling you all to stop speaking to one another, just that there will be more matches and more opportunities that will make it possible for this mystery blader to be stopped." Mr. Dickenson had placed a few phone calls and emails, and even went to more experienced bladers that were taken part in this tournament. Just to tell them all to be aware and ready.

"So this is all the help we get...The rest we have to do on our own?" Max stared at the floor; sure the BladeBreakers had had a few rough years and then everything went well again. Though how were they meant to prepare and win against someone they had no idea was or what they were capable of.

"You can help each other as you done through the years. Though matches will become more and more straining. I would advise you all to get some rest before the Championship starts." In fact, Stanley thought it was the only way of getting through and any of them winning any sort of battle. Since they had always had someone to back them up - now they were alone. Though it did not mean they had to completely cut all ties off with each other.

"Wait...How many matches for each battle is there?" Kenny wanted as much information about the rule changes as possible since he was going to have to devise new plans. Though would he just have to do it for Tyson, or would he do it for the rest of the team? They were all friends, yet they were all rivals aiming for the same goal.

"Until...Someone stops spinning for the second time." It was the usual, it was the one rule he had managed to keep the same, some of the board members were evening trying to chance it to five matches each. That just couldn't happen, three last year was more than enough - five would kill anyone that didn't have enough stamina.

"So…How many people have entered." If there was just a few then it wouldn't be too bad, yet it was the complete opposite if too many had. It would cause each and every blader a problem if some newbie's decided to take on the challenge.

"I believe... that over thirty bladers have entered." Mr. Dickenson hadn't checked the list of entrants that would be taking part for the past few weeks. He hoped that it was true that the words on the street would discourage people in taking part. At least the younger and less experienced bladers, they were the ones that wouldn't be able to keep up with the three day competition.

"What!" Tyson and the others almost fell of their chairs, hoping they had heard wrong they looked at one another, seeing each others shocked faces - they knew it was true.

"I still think a few more will enter along the way." The BBA manager didn't want to cause any false hope, or crush any, he had a job to do and he was trying to protect the bladers from whatever corruption the other members of the board had come by.

"So how can I keep my title? Beat all thirty-odd of them?" Tyson stood up, looking at Mr. Dickenson wondering just how much he really did do to try to help them.

"No, no one will have to do that. Just that names will be randomly selected. The winner goes through to another round." The loser would just not be able to advance, two matches if lost in the same round, would cause the blader to be knocked out. On the other hand, the people that advanced would need to play again and again until they were the last person standing. Of course, in one of the rounds someone would be the 'odd one out' and would have the right to challenge anyone they wanted after the selected matches were done. In other words it was a very good position.

"So that's about three rounds..." Kenny muttered to himself as he took the amount of thirty-two and decided to see what would happen.

"The problem is that the more bladers that enter the harder it will become. The less there are the better."

Tyson looked down at the floor, his red cap covering his eyes, everyone looked at him when he began talking. "It's fine..." He shrugged off, as if it were a simple statement. Mr. Dickenson looked between Rei and Max wondering if they knew what was going on.

"How so?" Mr. Dickenson pondered over the small fact that maybe, Tyson would not enter the competition yet that seemed… To strange.

Tyson grinned and his head snapped up, he stated loudly, "Because...I'm going to beat you all again anyway and take my title for another year!" The others smiled in the room as Tyson's answer registered in their brains. "Not if I can help it Tyson!" Max stood up; now not caring about his aching body from the long running they had done.

"Hey, Max leave the soon to be EX-Champion alone." Rei smiled, a comical and serious glint in his eye as he waited on Tyson's reply.

"Come and try to take my title Rei!" Tyson laughed, hoping that it would be a good year, and a happy one without too many of his friends getting harmed too much.

Mr. Dickenson chuckled as the three beybladers began to boast and taunt each others skills in a encouraging manner.

It's good to see that they are in high spirits. After a few seconds of laughing and boasting, Rei turned and gave a serious look, "Mr. Dickenson... Could I ask...Do you know anyone named...Lotan?" The name that the bitbeast had spoke had made Rei wonder and worry about it since he had heard of it. He was sure the name meant nothing to him, maybe an adult would?

Mr. Dickenson stood up and frowned he did know the name, well, he had heard it before but he couldn't place where or when he had.

"No, although the name is... Somewhat familiar. I must go, I have to meet some of the other BBA members to see if we can change any of this." Before leaving the middle-aged man turned around and glanced over each teenagers face, he looked around trying to find the so-called captain.

"Oh yes, where's Kai?" He frowned when he was given no direct answer, only frowns and worried faces, Kenny sighed and Max answered. "He's missing,"

"Since when." The BladeBreakers shifted uncomfortably under the man's gaze, and Aton decided to answer, hating the long silence that was being caused.

"Last night." Mr. Dickenson didn't seem too concerned about Kai's disappearance, he smiled and decided to tell the room; hoping it would take some of the weight off their shoulders.

"I believe I saw on my journey here. He should be fine." With that the whole room sighed in relief, yet most of them began to wonder why he had still not returned to Tyson's Dojo - he certainly knew he was welcome to come at any time.

Author's Note: I must be ill… There was no Kai in that chapter… Oh well, there was everyone else… (it seems that less and less Hiwatari's are in the chapter eh?) Anyway, please review!