Author's Note: Ha updated within 24 hours! -cheers loudly- Anyway thanks to the people that read last chapter and reviewed!

isthatnecessary - Yeah the rules were similar but the only reason for that was because; the last story didn't have one so I just ended up making it getting run on a later date. So the rules sort of stayed the same... I guess -.-'' Well, I'm updating daily so you won't need to wait too long through this week for any updates. I won't say if it is or not because of simply you only have two more chapters till you find out so there would be no point. Kai is back, no worries! Thanks for reviewing.

d1bontemp - A mess...? -cackles!- -breaks into coughing fit- Yes... It shall... Thanks for reviewing. You'll get your Kai fix in this chapter.

DancerInTheDark101 - Yup, Kai is in this one (Wooo... why am I wooing I wrote the chapter -.-'') Yes the mystery blader... I know only two people that have guessed, and got it right. (Not telling though that would spoil it for the others ) Thanks for reviewing.

Irn2 - I think that the tournament will be so fun. (Already have ALL the matches set and planned -cackles-) Anyway Kai and Lilita... Hmmm probably not, hinted at most. Though she isn't in it to take up space. She does play an important part soon enough... Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 23

His muscles ached, as he lifted himself from the cool ground. He had to keep going if he was going to be able to defeat anyone and gain information about his family and the attacks. Kai grabbed his beyblade as it came flying towards him, he was happy now that Dranzer seemed to be able to operate. Not very well, though that was probably because he hadn't tried to launch Dranzer in months. His skill level had plummeted, he hoped that he would have enough time and strength to not only get it back to normal but increase it enough. Enough to do something.

His breathing got less strained as he recovered slowly, he was not leaving until he could leave with something... That gave him more satisfaction than he had started with. His looked around him, seeing no one out was not strange, not at this hour. The sun had just risen and so far he'd only seen one person. That one person didn't even notice him laying on the ground, crouched over.

He sighed feeling weak and knowing he would need to stop soon, though he also knew he couldn't stop - he just couldn't give up so easily. If he failed, what would happen? Would the Hiwatari's continue to be picked off one by one? Or would he have to place more pressure on Tyson to win for him?

The idea was selfish, preposterous, he would not be given help - not to help his own family. The Hiwatari's were proud and in the past few months, they had been weak the media's eyes. How dare they! Kai placed his blade back into the launcher, his eyes narrowed, hoping he had enough energy to walk back to the dojo where everyone, hopefully was training.

He had wondered why he had not went into the dojo, last night it was cold and raining heavily. But Kai managed to find an old factory, so he may have been colder than normal but nothing he was not used to. Still, he had not been far from the house of Tyson, in fact he was sure he had stood outside in the pouring rain deciding whether to go in or not. Something had told him that if he went in more bad news would surround him. Kai didn't need bad news; he just needed time. Time to get ready for the tournament, time to recover, think things through.

Kai wasn't too sure why but he felt more content, at peace than he had been over the past few months - had those chips finally gone? Or had they just stopped malfunctioning. He needed something, something that would gain an advantage - now that Boris knew everything and he, what felt like, knew nothing. He needed a new tactic, something; a plan, anything that would gain an upper hand on the competitors of this year.

He launched Dranzer, the blade spun quickly digging and leaving marks in the sandy gravel that lay beneath the trees. He didn't care if he'd have to come up with a new move or a completely new way of blading. He'd do anything to win. Anything to help his family.

He looked around; he'd have to leave, he was hungry and tried, and probably the BladeBreakers would be worrying, not to mention Aton and the girls too. They would most likely ask him where he was and if he was okay. Those questions were going to be answered themselves if anyone seen the ground that Dranzer had been manoeuvring around on.

Kai was satisfied as he picked up his blade, from what was the millionth time. He couldn't just practise launching, he'd need to battle people. The thought of Tyson came to mind, even if he did end up exhausted it would be good training.

Kai slowly walked back to the dojo, gazing at the ground that was not interesting in the slightest. Kai sighed as he heard someone yell. Not just anything but his name. His head jerked up to examine the area around him. In the distance he could see what looked to be the BladeBreakers. Kai smirked, it definitely was, the whole different styles of clothing and culture caused each of the bladers, Max, Rei & Tyson to stand out from each other. Kai slowly made his way towards the now running bladers.

The group had decided to search for their captain - not captain, competitor they kept reminding themselves. There were no BladeBreakers this year, there would be no teams... Just bladers. Tyson shouted a loud, "Hey Buddy." Which caused much pain to the blondes ear since he was running just beside the yelling bluenette.

"Kai!" Rei smiled, a huge relief came over the group, knowing that nothing had happened. Though when the group of friends came closer they noticed the small cuts and tired look on Kai's face. Though he remained emotionless, even though he was tired he was counting on himself to stay strong. He could have a breakdown after the tournament was over, at least that way no one would know.

"What happened?" Kenny had appeared from behind Rei gasping for breath as he looked at the older teens arms. Kai just looked at him; should he tell them that he had been training? Kai shrugged lightly, and muttered a brief "Nothing."

Tyson and Max frowned at each other knowing something was a little off, though Rei knew that Kai would tell them if he was in serious trouble. Kai may not like to get help but he was not a fool and could - maybe - admit when he was wrong. Hopefully.

Still, the group were happy that they had found Kai; the fact that he still needed to be told about the current change in rules crossed their minds but they soon thought it would be better to let the elder boy rest.

Tyson came into his dojo exclaiming loudly, "Kai's back!" Without much retaliation Kai walked into the dojo. On the other side Aton, Selene and Lilita sat and waited to see if Tyson was just playing a cruel joke.

Of course Aton, Selene and Lilita had totally different personalities that unfortunately Kai had to put up with as soon as he had walked through the door.

"Where the hell where you! Going off like that when you could easily be killed." Aton huffed hating the nerves that had slowly eaten away at him through the remainder of that morning. Kai was expecting someone to give him that lecture - it just surprised him it was Aton that gave it. He didn't know Aton held him that dearly. Though now that Kai though about it, Aton and Kai, were the only Hiwatari's that were healthy and could be located...

"Good to have you back." Selene muttered not caring if anyone, or even Kai heard it. She was kneeling on the floor not even looking at the people that had come inside. Lilita grinned and said nothing but still; if anyone did look at her they would know that she was very happy that Kai had come back - not that she believed Kai would just leave and not come back.

"You should go to bed, you look tired." Tyson had noticed, among with a few others, that Kai was not speed-walking as he usually did, he was much slower and dragged his feet occasionally he half-stumbled but rebalanced himself swiftly. Kai thought it was pointless to go to bed at this time; if he did then he would wake up at night. He did not have time to turn nocturnal.

The feeling of tiredness caused his eyelids to become heavy, he shrugged it off, he was sure that a nap wouldn't hurt and cause too much trouble to his sleeping pattern.

"Kai?" Rei wondered if he could ask him if he knew who Lotan was. Rei having a peaked curiosity with this strange subject decided to go to Kai since he valued the teens answers, if he did know then it would stop the annoying worry at the back of his head. If Kai didn't then everything would be fine anyway.

A small acknowledgement was made as Kai opened his eyes, he had rested for a few hours but had remained in a dreary and sluggish state when he had awoken. The others had made him stay inside and not to use his beyblade. From what he had heard through the thin walls was the beybattle of Max and Tyson; his Dragoon must have been working again...

"Do you know...Anyone called Lotan?" Kai frowned he had heard the name before, though it was an odd thing to ask. Kai nodded his head, his eyes searching for an answer to his own personal question. Why would anyone want to know about that? Rei blinked. So Kai knew? Kai knew who this Lotan was? His heart-rate quickened a notch as he wondered who it was, so he could finally fine out what that bitbeast had been talking about.

After some time had pasted, and no one had spoken about the subject Rei started again trying to get anything Kai knew out of him. Rei knew that if Kai did not want to tell him then he wouldn't hear anything. He just hoped when Kai was tired he was more trusting.

"So...Who is it?" Rei frowned, as he saw Kai's own frown deepen and his eyes glazed over as if he were recalling on a memory. There was another pause, but one Rei did not want to end as he hoped that the silence meant Kai was reconsidering telling him who Lotan was. Kai on the other hand was thinking of everything, slowly he now knew why Boris had been so confident. Anyone would be confident.

"It is not a who, Rei." Kai muttered, his head was resting against the headboard as he looked straight ahead not giving into the intense look he could feel Rei was giving him. Rei sighed and sat on the end of the bed, and tilted his head while raising an eyebrow getting slightly irritated he had to ask so many questions for one simple answer that he wanted.

"Then what is it?" Kai this time gave a cold look at the neko-gin wondering why this topic had suddenly sprung up - had Rei known something that he didn't?

"Lotan is... An it. A creature." Kai narrowed his eyes as Rei looked down at the floor unaware of what he saying he began to think out loud giving Kai a chance to try to catch on what had caused the conversation to take place.

"Why would a bitbeast worry about an animal..." Rei sighed at shook his head still not understanding, a bitbeast - would not cry over some little creature, bitbeasts were powerful. Kai obviously wasn't telling him everything.

"What do you mean, a bitbeast?" Kai was now glaring wondering where Rei had been to gain some information.

"Oh right... When you were...Gone. I woke up and...well found a bitbeast crying over the fact... Something named Lotan would be created..." Rei summarised the night that had kept coming to him at any spare moment. He had almost added lemonade to his cereal because he had been so preoccupied.

"What did...This bitbeast look like." Kai had a feeling; Tundra would be involved, and would make much more sense since he had left her in his room. Of course that bitbeast was unruly and probably decided to wander around before breaking down. Tundra certainly had many personalities... It wasn't surprising.

Rei started speak, "A woman,--" Kai cut him off, thinking that if Rei agree to his own description then it would be much easier and quicker to conclude if the bitbeast in question was Tundra or not.

"--with green skin and eyes?" Kai added receiving a look of confusing and a slow nod, one of which made Kai sit up a little more as he felt more awake knowing that something important had been said to Rei.

"Yeah how did you know?" It was Rei's turn to narrow his eyes wondering why Kai looked annoyed. Surely he wasn't annoyed by just being asked a few questions? Though maybe he was still tired Rei sighed hoping he hadn't picked a bad time to ask so many questions.

"Her name is Tundra." Kai answered, he knew that if Rei knew he knew the bitbeasts name then he would drop it since - Kai obviously knew who Rei was talking about. Rei said no more to that, and waited to see or rather hear if Kai would tell him what Lotan was. A creature, that made a bitbeast shiver in fear? It wasn't a good sign and by the look on Kai's face it certainly wasn't another victory for the good side...

Silence had overcome the two teens. Kai had hoped that Rei would not ask about it, or even try to research it, he hoped that it would be forgotten about. Rei on the other hand kept the question running in his mind so he would not forget.

"So, what is Lotan." Rei asked again much more firmly, letting Kai know he was not liking the patronizing act that Kai had placed on him. He wasn't going to forget so why didn't Kai just answer his questions.

Kai sighed and from his slouched sitting position on the bed sat fully up, looking seriously at Rei for a second before looking away and frowning. What had he got to loose if he told Rei. He trusted the neko-gin, though the thing was would he tell the others? Kai looked down at his arms there were still cuts and grazes all over them; he decided he'd tell the neko-gin.

"You have heard about the creature Leviathan?" Kai raised an eyebrow at Rei as if he awaited an answer that had a condition attached to it. Rei frowned, luckily he knew what Kai was saying - if he hadn't know what Leviathan was, then he wouldn't be told the whole story. He mentally thanked his elders for telling stories about the beast.

"Yeah the big Sea Serpent that killed and destroyed things...?" Rei was slightly confused, when he saw Kai blink and then sigh himself. He'd never seen Kai so drained before, or was it just that his questions were getting nowhere?

"What is it?" Rei pondered on whether he had said the wrong thing or not put when Kai moved off the bed and stretched he turned around and looked at Rei straight in the eye.

"Here's a history lesson Rei..." Kai didn't look to happy or sound it.

Minus the two oldest BladeBreakers, the rest were out in the garden, helping each other train. On the occasion Selene would help but be beaten within a few minutes, her pride would be beaten too much

and then she would stop, only to have another go a few moments later.

"So who do you think the mystery blader is?" Kenny typed on his laptop trying to find out who was

registered for the tournament.

"It can't be Brooklyn, I heard he got banned." Max wasn't surprised, he had felt sorry for the boy but when he had decided to rip buildings in two like they were nothing it had freaked Max out.

"No wonder." Aton had seen the match, and had been shocked when the younger boy - Tyson had won. Of

course he hadn't even met the boy by then.

Tyson frowned and came to Brooklyn's defence not liking the fact they were all talking badly about

someone behind their backs. "They shouldn't have banned him. It wasn't his fault. He was consumed by loneliness and darkness because he thought he had to win everything." Tyson watched as his Dragoon blade spin, it had been for twenty-minutes and already Tyson was getting rather tired.

"I suppose; so... I wonder why the board members keep changing the rules?" Max groaned, he had

hated the first time he had heard 'a slight change of rules,' it was strange - they seemed to have added the extra one or two rules in since the last announcement.

"Yeah it happened last time, before it got postponed." Kenny was still typing away hoping he could find something on the blader that Boris was boasting over.

"I think... Maybe Boris, has some connection to that." Tyson answered truthfully; he was slightly grateful that Kai was not out with them training.

"How come?" Max wondered why they had suddenly come back onto the purple-haired man that had tried to take their bitbeasts on so many occasions.

"Well it can't be Voltaire - he's dead..." Tyson muttered, how he was truly grateful that Kai was not out training with them.

"I could be someone we haven't met yet..." Tyson answered thinking about all of the evil, maniacs they had met all over the years.

"I think we would have met them by now." Max chuckled at the face Tyson pulled and decided he was rested enough to get back to training. Kenny came to Max's side of the argument, hoping that they could go onto a topic of stats or something that he knew inside out. The fact of not knowing anything for certain made Kenny slightly uncomfortable.

"I agree, the chances of some other criminal mastermind popping out of no where when Voltaire died is slim." Kenny didn't even look back up at Tyson, thinking that the argument had been settled. Max smiled as he launched Draciel into the dish knocking Dragoon out.

"But not impossible." Tyson shot back as he re-launched Dragoon into the dish to meet head on with Draciel.

Rei sat on the bed as he replayed the facts Kai had listed off one by one at a fast speed, he shook his head slowly trying to get the information to fall into the right place.

"How do you know all this..." Rei muttered looking down at the floor, his last hope had been - well - crushed. Not just crushed but broken into tiny pieces then stamped on by a herd of elephants. Kai shrugged, "Just some random facts I know." He knew that the information he and Rei had exchanged would leave one or maybe even both of them without any hope of courage to enter the tournament.

"Kai... I don't believe you." Rei mumbled, though Kai decided not to answer until some of the shock had passed Rei's system.

"One thing, in return for getting all the information you wanted. You cannot tell anyone about this." Kai couldn't let the others hear this - it would cause them all to collapse, hell even Tyson might fall under this knowledge and false hope was all they had left. Everyone that would be blading at this years championships would have to hope lady luck was with them.

"Okay. But...Why?" Rei watched as Kai shifted around, he could have told Rei the truth, he knew about Lotan. Though Kai knew that Rei could only handle so much, he would be terrorised by the knowledge that he had and the others didn't. He was in Kai's mind simply too nice.

"I have my reasons Rei. Now do we have a deal?" The neko-gin nodded and slowly made his way to the door, taking in one deep breath trying to calm the rising feeling of despair that was about to be unleashed upon him.

Kai watched as the raven-haired boy walked out of his room. He wasn't sure if he should have told him. Though he did trust him... He hoped that Rei would keep his mouth shut - it was the best he could do.

Rei closed the door quietly behind him wondering what he would do, would he tell anyone? Would his conscience eat him up - or would he stay loyal? Keep his word and not open his mouth to the others about Lotan?

"Hey, how's Kai?" Tyson grinned. Rei noticed he was out of breath; Tyson had been training non-stop since the announcement of the world championships. Since last year he had wanted another year that was certainly entertaining.

"Resting..." Rei forced a smile as he remembered Kai almost yelling at him telling him what he had asked to know. Oh how he wished to have kept his curiosity to himself and not asked Kai. Tyson noticed the distant look in Rei's face - he was usually fairly alert and happy.

"What's up?" Tyson gave a concerned look, but Rei's mind was already at work covering himself up for any uncharacteristic actions. "Nothing, I'm fine just..." Rei cleared his throat as his mind had a relay lapse and forgot what he was going to say, as quick as he forgot it he remembered his excuse. "...A little worried about the tournament that's all." It wasn't a full lie, in fact now that he knew more than he had, he was even more worried about it.

"It'll be fine!" Tyson punched Rei on the arm and walked back out; thanking that the inside of his house was cooler than the outside. "Yeah Tyson..." Rei mumbled, he suddenly felt that going to this years championships was not a good idea. Maybe he would back out. He just didn't know anymore...

Author's Note: Ha! Sorry I couldn't help it… Sorry… ANOTHER CLIFF HANGER WHAHAHA! Okay… Bit hyper there… And yes… You will find out what Rei was told - I'm not that mean… I think… -cackles!- Anyway, review since the next update will be tomorrow!