Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. Don't sue me, I've got no money to spare at all. XD

'….' Spoken
"…." Thoughts
italics bitbeast/master talking

Chapter 4

'I'm telling you Takao…Tyson…he must be the prince, or at least someway related to the royal family.' Said Max. 'Do you realise how much more difficult it'll become!'
'Calm down buddy. I know. I'll find a way.' Said Takao calmly.

I agree with Max-sama. Be careful Takao-sama. And don't expect anything from him, you never know…

'You too Dragoon? How often was I wrong with judging people before I even knew them?'

None that I know of, but even so, be careful.

'I will Dragoon, I will.' Said Takao. Meanwhile they arrived at the gate.
'I wonder what's taking them so long.' Wondered Max. 'Surely they could be here before us since they're inside the palace walls…'
Suddenly the both of them were disturbed by one of the two guards standing at the gate.
'This is royal ground. Please remove yourselves.' Said one of them.
"He can't be much older than me…" thought Takao
'I'm sorry, but we were called.' Said Takao.
'I haven't had any notice of that. I cannot let you pass.' Said the red haired teen.
'Tala, let them in.' came a voice from behind.
'But…'
'Let them in.' repeated Kai demanding.
'As you wish.' He said sheathing his sword. So did his partner Brian.

Takao and Max cautiously entered the palace grounds.
'No need for caution, I'm unarmed at the moment.' Said Kai . 'Let's go over there so we can't be overheard.' Added he prince. 'I'll properly introduce myself then.' He said turning around to go to the place he'd pointed out earlier. 'O, and your dragon can come out of hiding once we're there. No one will see him.'
'How do you know?' asked Tyson slightly surprised.
'Someone told me.' Said Kai absently, wondering what took Kenny so long to get his sword. He hoped the boy hadn't run into Boris.

When the three teens reached the spot Kai had pointed Kenny reached them.
'Thank you Kenny.' Said Kai while he fastened his sword to his belt.
Although it was visible for mere seconds, Takao could see the dual haired teen bandaged torso.

"The sword is for show. He probably can't fight in his state, probably can't even run…"

Kai sat down, leaning against a huge willow, his sword still at his hip. He gestured the two other teens to sit down as well. Kenny already sat next to him.

The wounded prince sat cross legged, Dranzer had perched herself on one of Kais knees, eying the other two teens carefully.
Takao took of his cape and let Dragoon out.
'Wow!' said Kenny. 'I've never seen a dragon before! I…' he suddenly stopped because Kai raised his arm in front of him.
Kenny apologised and kept quiet. He knew Kai was more strict when they weren't alone. Kai would probably apologise to Kenny later on.

"So the brunette is a slave then. Then Max must be right about him being of royal blood. The guards listened to him, so there's no doubt about it, but what is he/ the crown prince? Second in line? A cousin?"

'Before I state my name, I'd like to know yours.' Said the prince.
'Why?' asked Max. 'Why don't you introduce yourself first?'
'Max!' reacted Takao. 'You can't just say something like that!'
'Precaution only.' Answered Kai. 'By now you must've figured out who I am, or at least you must have an idea by now.'
'I'm Tyson Granger. My friend here is Mizuhara Max. His name…' he said pointing at Dragoon who sat in his lap, '…is Dragoon.'
'Dragoon?' repeated Kai. 'Sounds familiar…' he whispered more to himself.
'What about you?' asked Takao.
'This is Kenny, my name is Hiwatari Kai. As you have probably already guessed, I'm the crown prince. Her name is Dranzer.' Said Kai patter her softly on her head. Dranzer and Dragoon were starting at each other, trying to read the spirit in front of them.
'Why did you call us on the palace grounds?' asked Takao, dying fro answers. He wanted to know if the prince was drawn to him in the same way he was drawn to the prince.
'Dranzer spotted you three. She'd told me earlier that you were new in town and that you interested her. I think because of your dragon.' Said Kai calmly, showing none of his emotions. It wasn't the truth, and Takao and Max knew it, but didn't react on the lie. 'What are you doing in the city? Your family names don't sound familiar to me, so I assume you're not from around here.'
'No, we're not. We're searching for someone.' Answered Max. 'What do you want from us?' added the blond.
'Nothing.' Answered Kai.
'Then why did you want to talk with us?' asked the blond. Max nudged Takao to pay attention when he saw that he was staring at the
prince.
Kai had noticed that the bluenette was staring at him, and he had difficulties not doing so either.

Dranzer? What's with the bluenette? Why am i…drawn…to him?

I'm not sure Master Kai. I feel the same about the dragon…

'Do I need a reason to want to talk to someone?' answered Kai to Max earlier question.
'No.' said Max.
'But a prince doesn't invite someone on the palace grounds just to talk.' Said Takao. Max sighed inwardly, happy his friend finally entered the conversation.
'Are you scared of me? Afraid I'll attack you?' answered Kai to that question.
'No.' said Takao. 'You won't, because you can't.'
Max looked confused, Kenny a bit scared

"Did he see Master Kais bandages? For as far I could see Master Kai didn't show the bandages." Thought Kenny. He looked at Kai, trying to read him, but he couldn't find a glint of surprise or anything else.

'You're wounded…badly. You've been unconscious not too long ago. In the last few days.' Said Takao.
'What!' reacted Kai. He quickly stood up and winced as he backed away from Takao and Max. His wounds weren't ready for fast movement yet. 'How do you…are you…are you a wizard? Psychic?' His hand instinctively reached for his sword. Dranzer, who had hopped off Kais knee just in time now flew up to his shoulder.
'I'm not a psychic, nor a sorcerer…' said Takao.
'There's a difference between a sorcerer and a wizard.' Said Kai on a defending tone. Takao couldn't guess a reason why he would say that, but he ignored it for the time being. He stood up, slowly. He never reached for his sword. He picked Dragoon up and placed him on his shoulder. The dragons tail curled loosely around the bluenettes throat.
'Excuse my. My fault.' Said Takao sincerely. 'I've never seen a wizard nor sorcerer, so I don't know the differences, but I can assure you, I'm none of them. I've had dreams…'
'A psychic then.' Concluded Kai quickly. 'What do you want from me?' he asked.

"We just asked him that question…" thought Max confused. 'And why is he so scared of wizards and psychics?"

'Nothing. I'm not here to harm you. Like we said earlier, were just looking for someone.' Said Takao calmly. He couldn't make himself say that he was searching for him right now. The crown prince was too scared. He knew it would be very difficult for the two of them to have a normal conversation now.

Dragoon? Do you perhaps know why is can be so afraid of wizards and psychics?

I can't read minds Takao-sama. I don't know, but my guess is that he had an unpleasant situation in his youth…

'Please leave.' Said Kai lowering his sword a bit.
'We…' tried Takao, but he was stopped by Kai.
'Leave. Before I call the guards.'

Takao looked at Max. The blond thought exactly the same.

"We can't do anything more today. Let's go, give him some time to think."

'Kenny, walk them out. I'll see you again in my private bath chamber.'
'Yes Master.'
Kai turned around and left towards the palace.

'You could better go, my Lords.' Said Kenny. 'You don't want my Master to call the guards.'
'Right. Coming.' Said Takao while watching the crown prince disappear inside the palace. He turned around and left together with Max and Kais slave.

Are you okay Master Kai? Asked Dranzer concerned while Kai took out his clothes to take a bath.

'Yes…no…who were they Dranzer?' he asked while he slid into the pool. The water was heated from beneath in the basement. Servants made sure that between certain hours all baths in the palace were heated by enormous fires.

I do not know Master Kai, but I'll find out. At least I'll try. If you are sure you are okay I'll go and follow them.

'Yeah, I'm fine. Don't stay because of me.' He suddenly noticed he hadn't unwound his bandages before he entered the water, but he didn't really care. 'Besides, Kenny is coming this way in a few moments.'

Are you sure Master Kai? If you want me to stay I will. I can find them later on.

'I'm sure. Go. Try and find out as much as you can.' He said smiling friendly as he patted the phoenix who was sitting on the princes shoulder. Dranzer hopped onto Kais offered hand, and spread her wings.

I'll come back as soon as I know more. Take care Master Kai.

'I will Dranzer, don't worry about that.' Answered Kai while the phoenix left the bathroom through a small window.

'Master Kai? Can I come in?' asked Kenny carefully.
'Of course.' Answered Kai. 'What do you think about those two?' he added while Kenny made his way to the side of the pool where
Kai was. He sat down on a bench, not entering the water at all. He wasn't allowed to.
'I don't know. They seem nice enough, but on the other hand… I really don't know.' Said the brunette. 'I do know that the blue haired teen didn't like me though.'
'Didn't like you?'
'He looked at me with … I don't know… disgust written over his face…' said the younger teen, looking away.
'Kenny, I really don't think he doesn't like you. He's probably from a country where slavery doesn't excist anymore. I wish it was abolished here too, but sadly it's not. But to come back on the blue haired teen, he's probably more loathed with me that with you. You shouldn't worry about that.'
'I'll try and remember that master Kai.' Said Kenny, his mood suddenly a lot brighter than before. He really was bothered with how the
blue haired teen had looked at him.

Kai swam towards the side of the pool where Kenny was. 'Kenny, could you help me unwind my bandages?' he asked.
'Of course.' Said the teen. He sat down on his knees next to the water and helped the dual haired teen with the first part of the bandages. When the bandages reached underwater Kai signalled him he could stop.
'I can do the rest. Thanks Kenny.'
Kenny smiled, and let the prince unbind the bandages himself. He knew that Kai didn't like to be depended on someone, especially not to persons he didn't know, or persons he hated, like Boris, even his grandfather Voltaire.

After a few minutes of silence Kenny suddenly asked: 'Master Kai? May I ask a question?'
'Of course Kenny. You know when you may and may not. What is it?'
'I was…I was just wondering why you reacted how you reacted when the blue haired teen started with saying he had had dreams, and…'
Kai was silent for a while, his face had gone blank.
'Master Kai?' asked Kenny carefully.
'Yes, I've heard your question…I was thinking about a way to explain. It isn't easy.'
'You don't have to answer if you don't want too.' Added Kenny immediately, thinking he'd asked completely the wrong question.

Kai pulled himself out of the water and sat down, his legs still in the water. 'Kenny, look at me.' He said gently making the brunette look at him. 'You didn't do anything wrong. I'll answer the question, I was just thinking how I could best answer it.' He said firmly, but not angry.
'I'm sorry.' Apologised Kenny.
'You don't have a reason to apologise Kenny. I'll answer your question, but you need to promise me never to tell this to anyone…ever. Rei knows about it, so you can talk about it with him if you need to, but no one other, do you understand?'
Kenny nodded.
'Good. Then let me take on my pants, this will be a long story.' Said the crown prince as he stood up. He took on his favourite black coloured loose fitting pants. He didn't take on a shirt or something like that yet.
'What I'm going to tell you will probably be difficult to believe, but trust me, what I'm going to tell is the truth.' Said Kai while he sat down on the bench Kenny sat on earlier.

'I…I'm half phoenix.' Said Kai after a few seconds of silence. Although Kennys hair hid his eyes, Kai could see the disbelieve written over Kennys face.
Kai let out a small sigh. He had predicted Kenny wouldn't believe it immediately. He didn't really want to do it, but he decided to show
the proof of his half phoenix blood.
He closed his eyes, and concentrated on his back. Kenny watched in awe as the princes back began to glow in a reddish colour. Only a few seconds later two enormous red wings materialised from out of his shoulder blades.
'…Wow…amazing…' stammered Kenny. He rose to his feet and approached Kai when the prince had opened his eyes again. 'It hurts, doesn't it Master Kai? The wings?'
'Not normally. It hurts a bit now because my back was badly wounded, but it's nothing serious. But do you believe me now I'm half phoenix?'
'How couldn't I!' said Kenny smiling. 'May I?' he asked his hand reaching for one of the wings.
Kai smiled and sighed softly. 'Of course.'

'What do you think about that Kai?' asked Max while he and Tyson made their way back to the inn.
'He's interesting. I will come to the castle tomorrow again, when he picks a new slave.' said Takao staring at the sky as they walked on.
'Tomorrow you'll go...wait, you're not going to...are you?'

TBC

I am SO sorry for the late update, but I've got a weeks vacation, and I'm at home at the moment, with a computer that doesn't have my notes for this story...aaanyway, I managed to remember more than enough for this chapter, it only took a while longer…

Reviews are more than welcome!