Beyblades and Blood: The Attack of Shadow Vale

by IloveDranzer

Its been 10 years since the World Championships and the BEGA threat. Tyson, Max, Ray, Kai, Kenny, Hilary and Daichi are older with a new set of challenges in life. They are thrust back together as a new enemy threatens the safety of the World, bitbeasts and the old Bladebreakers/G-Revolution. Highly descriptive. Contains friendship, injury, violence, threat, angst and beyblading.

40. Chapter 40

Hiya Guys! Mainly Vlissan you legend! Sorry its taken me soooo long to get this chapter done. Its my longest chapter to date and its a bit of a read. I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review if you do :) Love and peace! Kelly xx

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Chapter 40

Day 5 of the Granger dojo lockdown.

Another beautiful Japanese summers' morning graced the earth and sun-drenched the Granger residence and its yard in golden light and warmth. The local birds were fat and silent having had their fill of Grandpa Grangers' seed and old bread, and the odd lizard basked in hotspots of daylight on tree trunks nearby. Outside the garden walls, standing guard and patrolling the perimeter were Hiwatari Enterprises operatives. The night shift had gone home and the replacement day shifters were already perspiring, tugging at close necklines in clean black uniforms and heavy bullet proof vests.

The dojo inhabitants were busy washing up after another noisy, messy and hearty breakfast, and preparing for another day of hardcore beyblade training and yelling continuous trash talk at each other. Hilary styled her brunette hair with straightening tongs and serum after her morning shower in the main bathroom. Bryan dispassionately washed up in the kitchen using a yellow sponge and placed clean wet bowls hap-hazard on the drainage rack. Mariah flexed in wide legged yoga poses on the deck overlooking the koi pond. Daichi brushed his teeth in the wet room and Max tweaked Draciel's beyblade cross-legged with Kenny in a sunny spot on the veranda nearest the house.

Tyson, Tala and Ray had gathered close outside the dojo entrance. They were dressed, hair combed, bellies fuelled with breakfast and ready to blade with their palm sized weapons and launch devices poking out of pockets and holsters. But their beloved sport of spinning tops was going to have to wait...they had a concerning matter to discuss and once again, the one and only Kai was the centre of topic.

The bluenette partially shut the wooden sliding dojo door so as not to disturb his slumbering team mate whom was still stretched out on the sofa inside. He harshly whispered to his scarlet and raven-haired friend and gestured with disbelief. "It's been over 14 hours since Kai crashed. How can he still be asleep guys?! This isn't normal! I don't think I've ever slept that long before and I'm a champion snoozer."

The soviet blader crossed his arms regally. Scarlet tendril hair swayed in a light breeze before his ice blue eyes. "Judging by how Kai looked yesterday, he clearly needed the rest but sleeping this long is definitely excessive."

Ray spoke up with a stern face. "We can't pussy foot around this guys. We had a late start this morning and it's almost 9am. Kai missed last night's dinner and today's breakfast. With how thin he is, he needs some nutrition soon or his body could give out. We can't just sit on our hands with this one. We need to do something."

Tyson rubbed the back of his head before exclaiming in frustration at the end of his sentence. "Daichi stubbed his toe on the door rail this morning and howled the roof down. I thought for sure Kai would wake up but he barely stirred!"

The White Tiger added. "Maybe we should call a Doctor. The old sour puss used to wake with the creak of a floor board. Something isn't right. In all the years we've trained with Kai, all the hotels and camps we've shared, he's never been this much of a heavy sleeper."

Up the veranda from the house strolled Emily with an iced tea in her Breaking Bad drink bottle. The ice sloshed around in the brown caffeinated beverage as she joined the trio. She barked. "There you are. You should know Kenny and I are set up, and Mariah, Bryan, Daichi and Max are already at the beydish. Juuust waiting on you three." She tweaked her spectacles and inspected them like a detective. "What's with the concerned faces? What drama do we have to deal with today?"

Tyson straightened his cap on his fast perspiring head. "Kai isn't up yet. He went down around 7pm last night and it's almost 9am! We've all been checking in on him through the night and this morning, and none of us has seen him up the whole time, he hasn't even been to the bathroom! I'm super worried. Kai never overslept back in the day. We don't know what to do. Should we call a Doctor Emily?"

Emily tweaked her glasses again and smirked. "I wouldn't panic guys. I gave him something yesterday to make him feel more comfortable. Let him rest. His body needs it. And don't forget he still has a wound to heal, sleep is the best thing for tissue repair after all."

The red-head Russian lunged toward her and interrogated. "You drugged him?"

The American girl jumped to defend herself. "The painkillers I gave him wouldn't have knocked him out like this, plus they would have worn off hours ago. But I agree, he shouldn't still be asleep after 14 hours. And I'll have you know Hilary gave him medication too!"

Tala quipped with agitation. "And what did she give him? Horse tranquilizer?"

Ray face palmed. He wasn't a lover of pharmaceuticals and thought it mad anyone would take drugs for sleep. He released his face from his red gloved palm. "Has anyone actually tried to wake him up?"

Silent seconds passed as eyes rolled between the quad of bladers. Kai wasn't the most approachable person as of late and especially so after his tantrum the day prior. Tala and Ray could handle themselves in a fight but didn't fancy the chances of facing Kai in his fragile and unpredictable state...or run the risk of hurting him should they need to deflect him.

Tyson puffed out his chest and announced. "I'll do it. I'll give him a gentle shake. And maybe I'll stroke his hair and kiss forehead while I'm at it too. Hahahah."

The beychamp turned on his heels. He stopped to gulp for a moment before pulling the partially open sliding door across.

"GGGAHHHHHHH!" He shrieked and immediately jumped back.

A tall gaunt grey-haired figure appeared suddenly on the other side of the runners like a spectre.

The Dragoon blader exclaimed with a surprised heart. "Dude you're up! Finally! Do you have any idea how worried we've been? You've been out of it forever!"

Kai's amethyst-tinted eyes were the brightest and clearest they'd been in days. He yawned with one hand over his mouth and the other clutched over his wound. His healing gash was yet to wake up as it didn't feel inflamed or throbbed for the first morning since its deliverance. Kai's level of pain throughout his torso and tissue surrounding was strangely less and for the time being he moved with a delightful sense of ease. "What? What time is it?" he asked with semi-confusion whilst his pupils adjusted to the strong daylight outside.

Tala shot his comrade a blunt toned reply as Kai stepped over the sliding door runners, and swan- walked through the group like they hadn't just spent the last few minutes debating his welfare. "It's past 9am. You missed dinner and breakfast. Give it another couple of hours and you would have missed lunch too."

Ray kindly asked as Kai passed his person. "You feelin' okay? It's not normal for anyone to sleep that long. I've heard of beybladers fatigue but 14 hours has to be a new record."

Kai gave the worried friends no answer as he walked on down the yellow wood veranda towards the bridge like they never asked him a question. With orange earphones and a blank screened iPod wrapped inside his fingers, he strolled away from them softly smiling. For the first time in days he felt like a new man. No headache, no dizziness. His eyes felt less like stones in his skull and even felt a small bounce in his careful footed steps. The phoenix blader was fully rested and optimistic, like he was ready to do something with his day...but what he hadn't planned yet. Tysons' iPod's battery had died sometime during is slumber, and without music relief, Dranzers' screams echoed in the back of his head...but today, he could handle it. He was in control and could drown them out any time he pleased with the right audio equipment.

Tyson called out with a touch of amusement. Kai was behaving typically antisocial and beamed at the flicker of his old friend back. "Hey Kai! Where ya going now?!"

The phoenix guardian stopped in his tracks. He took a second before half turning to bluntly reply with sass. "Shower..." He held the audio devices up high for all to see. "And charge this, it's out of juice... if that's okay with you."

In Kai fashion he didn't wait for the Granger to give him permission and continued his path to the house and bathroom within. On his travel he passed Max heading in the opposite direction on the yellow decking. Kai said something to him causing the Draciel blader to stop with wide eyed astonishment.

The two old Bladebreakers crossed paths and as the blonde rallied with the group, Kai disappeared out of sight.

Tyson begged with alert. "What's with the face Max? Did Kai say something to you?"

The Draciel blader beamed sweetly. "Kai...he said good morning to me! I see someone finally got the rest he needed."

Tyson smiled back before leading the group to their training ground at the beydish where the rest of the household waited. "Kai's gunna be alright. I can feel it. Now...let's get ripping guys! We've got some serious blading to do."

---

"Would ya cut me a break Bryan! Back off for a second will ya!" cried Tyson with frustration as Dragoon smashed against the fringe of his cerulean beydish. Sweat careered down his already moist neck and cheeks from the pressure and balmy heat.

The turquoise coloured beyblade Falborg was relentless at its launchers command. "No can do Tyson. You think those cape wearing creeps are gunna give ya a second to breathe...think again." Smarted Bryan with a cold smirk. "Go Falborg, attack his left wing!" The fuzzy haired Russian commanded with haste as he too shimmered with moisture from the Japanese heat.

*CRASH* *BASH**SMACK* *METAL GRINDING* *METAL GRINDING* *CRASH* *BANG* *BASH*

It wasn't long before Dragoon was lying dead in the dirt as Bryan leered over his crest-fallen host with victory.

Kenny left his cross legged seat to jump to his un-clothed feet. He yelled through hands in the shape of a tunnel. He was clearly angry and disappointed with Tyson's performance. "TYSON! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Do you even remember how to beyblade? What's wrong with you! Dragoon was all over the place!"

Tyson snapped back as he ripped his cap off his head and threw it to the ground. "AAAHHHHH! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BLADE WITH THIS PIECE OF JUNK?! When am I getting the tune up for Dragoon you said you were doing to get me? Huh? I can't blade with this thing!"

Meanwhile, in a dusty patch nearby, another onslaught was afoot. It was a free for all. The last blade spinning was the winner. Wolborg, Strata Dragoon, Galux, Driger and Draciel ripped trails through the sandy dirt of the yard, and whipped up mini tornados of leaf debris and dry soil in their path. The 5 beyblades smashed and collided and grinded with each other randomly. The White Tiger pair toyed with the others in a secret tag team and planned to be the last blades standing. Emily presided over their flat earthy stage like a judge and her opinions were not well received.

A white and chipped Driger beyblade collided with Strata Dragoon with dangerous fury. The multicoloured blade that made up Daichi's arsenal ricocheted against the stone wall and wobbled dizzily for seconds after.

Daichi screech ranted and pointed a sharp finger at the Chinese couple. "GIVE OFF WILL YA! YOU TWO ARE CHEATIN! IT'S NOT FAIR! MARIAH AND RAY ARE TAG TEAMIN' AGAINST ME!"

Emily smarted as she tweaked her glasses like a school teacher. "Do you really think Shadow Vale play fair either Daichi. Suck it up and work on your evasion better."

Daichi raged hot under his collar. "What did you just say Ginger nut?!"

Max gripped his hair with frustration as Draciel struggled to regain ground against a rapid smashing Galux. Despite its construction of Frankenstein parts, Mariah knew how to handle her temporarily beyblade in a way the blonde American struggled. Max was never one to lose his cool easily but today he was unusually short fused. "NOOOOOOO! DRACIEL! YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!"

The American female fanned herself with a limp hand whilst her laptop at her feet recorded everything. She smarmed. "Well Max I did say you were getting sloppy and this is what you get for not getting your training in. Too many days at the beach with your girlfriends and this is the result."

Max growled at her in instant retaliation and spat. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW EMILY! You never left the office! At least I have a life outside of work!"

To add insult to injury, a hard metal silver beyblade with frost billowing in its wake careered straight for the battle weary Draciel. The wolf spirit in the beyblade had sniffed out a vulnerable victim and Tala supported its attack wholeheartedly.

Smirking Tala enjoyed the battle...for now. With an extended arm he yelled. "NOW WOLBORG! KNOCK HIM OUT!"

Mariah leapt into action as she commanded her Galux to zip-zag lightning fast to abandon one target for another. Draciel and Max would have a minutes reprieve. "I don't think so! My Galux has changed her mind. She's bored of turtle and wants doggie for lunch instead."

As she said the last word of her warning, Galux intercepted Wolborg and the two locked into a vicious one on one attack. *SMASH* *SMASSSH* *GRINDDDDDDDDDD* *GRINNNNNNNND*

Tala was geared up and ready. "Oh yeah, you wanna play rough. Fine with me. I can play rough. I've been itching for a match with you for years. Let's see how you handle this! GO WOLBORG!" Wolborg's inner core grinded into hyper drive and its spin intensified tenfold.

Suddenly...from above... before Tala could move to strike...Driger ricocheted off a tree trunk out of nowhere...and smashed into Wolborg with such force a shock wave cracked a part of the stone wall nearby and knocked him clean off kilter. Then... *SMASH* Galux and then Draciel took their turn at hammering the soviet beyblade. Driger's attack followed by two more hits killed Wolborgs' momentum and within seconds of the final strike, ground the Russian built beyblade to a halt in the dusty clearing.

Emily quipped knowing she would receive backlash, yet bravely said it anyway. "And that's what you get when you're not aware of the battlefield around you. Ray used the environment around him and surprised you, that's your fault Tala. You think Shadow Vale aren't going to use tricks like that? I urge you to think again."

"Whatever Emily!" The Blitzkrieg Boys leader spat, shaking and growling with anger. He never learned to hold his tongue when he lost his temper and wasn't about to start now. He aimed his next stare at the girl dressed in pink and white. "WHAT WAS THAT?! I THOUGHT THIS WAS BETWEEN YOU AND ME! I thought for a moment this was a fair fight. Just goes to show you White Tigers have no integrity."

Rays' feline ear twitched. He was in no mood to roll over for the sake of peace. Being cooped up at Tyson's house was not doing his mentality any good and he too spat venom. "WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT US? NO INTERGRITY? Wanna talk about your past conduct as beybladers. Demolition Boy?"

The Falborg blader, who still gloated over his victory nearby caught wind of Ray's razor-sharp words and stormed over to Tala's side defensively. His tone was warning and peppered with danger as he stared unblinking at the male White Tiger less than a yard away. "What did you just say?"

Tension spiked between the group as Emily continued delivering tactless observations about each bladers performance. Mariah gripped onto Ray's arm to hold him back should he fly for Bryan again. Tala held a straight arm in front of Bryan's way should his comrade want to lunge for the White Tiger with one more mention of their past at BIOVOLT. Max picked Draciel up out of the dust after it stopped spinning shortly after colliding with Wolborg and grumpily wiped it clean with the scruff of his shirt. On the sidelines...Daichi and Kenny stood sweaty, tense and uneasy in the heat, holding their breath and hoping something wasn't about to kick off. Tyson was inside himself, too cheesed off after Kenny's grilling and depressed at how poor he handled his new, albeit temporary Dragoon. And...Hilary was in the kitchen oblivious to it all as she cheerily made lunch with Grandpa Granger with the radio playing pop music in the background.

A grey-haired Russian and golden eyed Chinese blader stared the other off. Despite others trying to diffuse the situation by ways of distraction and taking steps to block them should they seek to advance, the male duo were not backing down. The White Tiger's unresolved feelings towards the Demolition Boys disgraceful past was evident and resurfaced like hot lava with the new insult from Tala's lips.

The Blitzkrieg Boy's urge to pack their bags today and leave for Russia...was back. They were sick of the unbearable Asian heat, and the constant uneasiness from living with others with unsettled beef. A long heart to heart explanation of past sins was needed to clear the air; a conversation neither of the Russians wanted to have but would be a necessary one if they wanted to bury the hatchet with the White Tigers.

Bryan sneered. He was hot and bothered already and fighting was as easy as breathing for the rough raised blader. "You have something you want to say Ray?

Mariah tugged at Ray's arm with tightly gripped hands. She wasn't going to let him go. "Leave it Ray, it's not worth it."

A breeze whipped through the standoff. Ray's bangs swayed in front of yellow slit eyes as Bryan remained grey haired and eyes cold, his body statue still.

Tyson stepped forward. This was his home and he didn't want any punch ups here. Grandpa Granger certainly wouldn't allow it. He stepped forward to spew something about friendship but didn't have the words in his mouth ready.

A voice bellowed from behind Kenny and Emily on the yellow wood veranda. All heads turned to the figure and buttoned their lips tight whilst he spoke.

Kai, with a blue blanket draped around his shoulders like a cape, his hair wet from his shower and dressed in grey jogging bottoms and a dark navy t-shirt. He stood tall, fresh faced and more authoritarian than ever. He'd watched the goings on for the past few moments and he had something poignant to say. His voice was husky and quieter than usual but still emanated confidence and conviction. "Get back to training. Don't waste time bickering like children. You have a job to do. You said you we're going to train hard to help rescue my Dranzer. Do what you promised."

Kai said his piece and took a clear spot on the veranda a few steps away from Kenny's left side. He gently lowered himself down to sit on the hard wood flooring in a spot bathed in the sun and like a reptile, and basked in it with his back resting against the wall of the house. He placed his earphones donated from Tala into each ear and pressed play on Tysons' newly charged iPod. He side gazed the group who watched his every move with awe. The Kai they knew and sometimes loved...was still in there and every inch the boss, the team leader and the world class beyblader they all knew him to be. Kai's words were not wasted as the group picked up their beyblades and with a series of metallic clinks, they were re-loaded into launchers. Kai glared at his ex-team mate Bryan and then Ray in turn. Glances bounced between the men, followed by a masculine nod from Kai. Something mature and beautiful happened next.

Ray pulled his arm out of Mariah's grip and slowly walked to the centre of the dusty beyblade combat area with his head high and his cat like eyes boring into the grey soviet ones like a predator. His biceps were flexed and his head low. Bryan side stepped and partially shoved past Tala's arm to meet the offending male White Tiger in the middle. A few seconds of breathless silence passed as their gazes bore intently into the other. Then...a red fingerless gloved hand was extended. The Falborg blader glanced at it for a moment as if to think about it first. This put Ray instantly on edge, and so too for the on-looking friends surrounding them. Was Bryan going to accept a truce? Or was this encounter about to go horribly wrong?

The Caucasian blader raised a clammy warm hand and gripped the Asian man's hand tight and shook it. Bryan dropped all scowling in return for a stern but calm face. "I want peace between us Ray. We should have a chat sometime, man to man, clear the air."

Ray responded with relaxed features but his pupils didn't dilate all the way. The wind blew through his black bangs causing them to sway delicately. "Sure Bryan, I think that will be good for us...and the team."

"Whooooo's hungry?!" Chirped Hilary as she burst through a pair of shoji doors carrying coloured plates in each of her hands, followed by Grandpa Granger who also played waiter carrying plates in assistance.

The presence of lunch instantly broke the steaming hot tension between the bladers and brought rejoice to those with rumbling stomachs...mainly Tyson, Daichi and Max.

"GRUBS A 'SERVIN' KIDDOS!" Shouted Grandpa Granger who hardly ever spoke quietly unless he was ill. He placed the blue and green plates gently onto the veranda surface near Emily and Kenny's laptop camp. "Listen up! On the red plate we have salmon sushi rolls, and on the green ya got onigiri triangles with nori seaweed and chicken filling. Dig in kids! There's plenty more if ya want em!"

Grandpa Granger took a couple of the salmon sushi rolls in his fingers and wolfed them down in no time. Today, he was joining his young'ens for lunch and to keep a special sly eye on Kai after Mr Gottlieb sincerely asked him to.

The old hip geezer would have to be quick if he wanted anymore of the lunch he helped make. Within seconds trainers and boots were kicked off and lay in a pile as their owners ascended onto the yellow wood decking to eat like a flock of greedy pigeons.

"Ohhh mannnn these look delicious! I hope there's no hidden chilli in these Hilary?!" Tyson warned playfully but with some hint of seriousness. He snatched an onigiri triangle and began devouring it bite by bite regardless of Hilary's answer.

"Noo, noo there's no chilli in these today. Well, maybe in your one there." She chuckled but was simply winding him up, not that Tyson could hear her over his inhaling of the rice and chicken dish. "Oh and on the yellow plate guys is tuna sushi rolls and the blue one has pumpkin onigiri filling."

"THESE LOOOK AMAZING! HMMMMMMM SOoooooo good!" Daichi snatched the closest thing to him which happened to be the tuna sushi rolls. He wolfed down two in one go and went red faced immediately as one blocked his windpipe. He turned and choked and spluttered until he could breathe again, then returned to eat more in the same manner.

Ray and Mariah delicately dug into the tuna sushi and salmon sushi rolls in turn. The duo was still on the come down from the tension and gratefully ate the yummy distraction.

Emily partially typed away on her laptop whilst taking small bites out of the pumpkin onigiri as she worked.

Kenny smiled and rocked side to side with mouth-gasm at the taste of the rich and flavoursome chicken onigiri.

Tala and Bryan had never tried sushi before and the thought of raw fish wasn't appealing. The Russian pair glanced at the other and took a gamble with the chicken onigiri. Tala was fussier with his food than Bryan and so held off his bite to watch his comrades face should it taste nasty. Falborg's blader was like Tyson in that he would eat anything and so was not the best guinea pig for Tala to observe. Bryan took a brave big bite into the triangle shaped pressed rice with bits of sesame seed and a seaweed wrap and chewed for a moment for before swallowing. "It's good Tala, you should try it." He murmured with a mouthful of rice and mashed bird meat.

The blue-eyed ice blader was dubious but decided to give it a go. He took one ginger bite and instantly his eyes glittered star struck. He loved it and was quickly consuming it as ravenously as his team-mate.

One more hand reached out to take a salmon sushi roll. All eyes watched as two index fingers and a thumb pinched a roll and recoiled his arm to put the food item to his mouth. He gently bit into it, softly chewed many times and then swallowed with low level effort. He took another bite and then another until the sushi roll was no more. Kai Hiwatari was finally eating again! He made no eye contact with his friends as he took another sushi roll, this time a tuna one and repeated the process. He could feel the wondering gaze of his friends to his side as he slowly nibbled at his now second sushi roll and gazed serenely at the garden whilst a mixed playlist of Taylor Swift, BTS and Eminem drowned out Dranzer's bloodcurdling screams. Despite his gawping audience he was awash with momentary peace and finally stepping onto the path of recovery.

Hilary smiled as she felt a rush of relief and pride in the broken man who was clearly fighting to live. "Oh you wait until your grandmother hears about this Kai. She's going to be over the moon."

"If you're fighting Kai, we have to fight too and even harder than we ever have in our lives. We have to get Dranzer back at all costs. Don't worry Kai. Consider my game stepped up dude." Tyson rose to his feet and felt Dragoon vibrate in his pocket. "Say guys, who's ready to go back to work?"

With four empty plates discarded and satiated appetites...training was again the No.1 agenda. Max, Tyson, Daichi, Ray, Mariah, Ray, Tala and Bryan soon returned shoes to their feet and beyblades to launchers. Multiple cries of "Let it Rip" was belted aloud from the garden. Training hit a new intensity and a deeper level of focus was delivered by all. Kenny and Emily worded their criticism more constructively with the aim to boost confidence instead of ridiculing. The heat, cabin fever, and pressure had gotten the best of them all and each pledged to stay calmer, work harder, communicate and learn from their mistakes. Especially with Kai watching them; he had most to lose should they fail to do better.

---

A little over an hour passed when amateur beyblade coach Hilary raised from her dangle legged position on the edge of the veranda to head to the kitchen for a refreshing drink. She'd spent most of her day so far playing waitress and drill instructing the boys beyblading under the hot sun...this was thirsty work. She stopped to ask Kenny and Emily if they too wanted anything before she set off but their ice beverages were still half full in their tumblers. A few feet the other side to the Chief sat Kai with his arms crossed, his back rested against the wall in a mottled patch of shade and sun. A soft tune emanated from his earphones, his eyes were closed and appeared to be napping.

Soon she was inside the Granger kitchen. With skinny arms she pulled open the heavy American refrigerator door and glittery air flowed out of it as the cold air met with warm. Tyson's so called baby was a grand thing with multiple shelves and compartments...albeit empty looking today. She let out a little yelp of surprise as there was no more juice. It had all gone. "Hmmmm it's looking a little bare in here." She pulled out a couple of vegetable compartments to find nothing but a single shrivelled carrot. "Hmmmmmm." She murmured. She bent to open the freezer compartment below and drag out the usually heavy drawers packed with bags and boxes of frozen food. She was surprised as the drawers were light to exhume with nothing but half a bag of green peas in one and two stray chicken nuggets loitered loose, hard and dry at the bottom of the other. "Ohhhhhh, this isn't good." She sung as she dashed to the pantry doors. She swung the wooden doors across to find the shelves low in stock of everything. A food cupboard usually rammed with dry food like pastas, rice and noodles including their beloved lunch favourite Cup Noodles was almost bare. The pasta was completely gone, 5 cup noodles remained on a shelf and quarter of a 10kg bag of rice lay slumped on the floor.

Hilary emerged from the shoji doors and took point on a corner of the raised wooden platform and announced loud for all to hear. "Ummmmm guys! We have a problem!"

Tyson remained transfixed on his training with Daichi at the beydish. He barely turned to look at her. "Gooo Dragoon! Oh yeah...what now? Your favourite hair clip go missing? Hahaha."

Hilary crossed her arms and smarmed. She knew her next words would hit home and hit hard. "We're almost out of food Tyson."

The chunky bodied host lost his balance whilst Dragoon shot out of the dish in a skewiff direction. He cried with horror. "Whatttttt?! What do ya mean we're out of food!"

Hilary chuckled and leered down to him at her high level on the veranda. "I see I have your attention now."

All bladers in the yard ceased what they were doing immediately. They recalled their beyblades to their palms with haste and gathered bellow Hilary like she was a village leader about to address her people.

Kai stirred from his nap as if he could sense the impending crisis like a 6th sense. He paused the iPod resting in his lap and removed his earphones to listen intently.

The leggy brunette announced on high from her podium. "You heard me right guys. We're practically out of food! We don't even have enough for dinner tonight and we can't order take-out every night. It's not healthy not to mention expensive."

Tyson shrugged off the panic as he thought of a solution. "Don't sweat it guys, I'll just send Grandpa out to go shopping for us. Anyone see where he went?"

Mariah interjected as she stepped forward in the small crowd. "I wouldn't bank on that Tyson. Your Grandpa pulled his back earlier lifting one of his plant pots. He said he was going to bed to rest it."

"Oh Grandpa, he forgets his age sometimes." The younger Granger face palmed and delivered another idea. "Okay, the Seven Eleven store is just around the corner. We could just go shopping ourselves, it's not that far. It's a 5 minute walk tops. Shadow Vale hasn't been spotted for days. I'm sure it'll be okay. What do you all think?"

As if he could smell Tyson's plan to leave his guarded compound, Ozuma jumped down from the rooftop and landed with the stealth of a leopard on a patch of beyblade shaved grass. The Saint Shields leader was quick to correct the blunette as his golden ear pendant swung from the action. "Aren't we forgetting something Tyson. Shadow Vale are still out there. You wanna risk your life for a cup of soup and a pack of jelly beans?"

A moist skinned male White Tiger snapped back. "We need supplies Ozuma. And we can't live in fear of these bladers forever. We are going to have to face them sometime."

Dunga landed with a larger thud than his smaller team mate. He lifted a tanned, muscled arm and pointed directly at Kai with the blue blanket loosely draped around his shoulders on the veranda. His voice bellowed with a hint of smarm. "That's what happens, when you don't see Shadow Vale coming. Just look at what they did to Kai. Sorry to use you as a victim poster boy Kai, but Tyson and Ray need reminding of what could happen to them, if they let their guard down...and that goes for all of you."

Kai glared back at the Vortex Ape blader with a resting bitch face and a tiny unconcern-able upper lip twitch of annoyance at being called a victim. He knew he was one, but to be labelled publicly was salty to the taste.

Max exclaimed with open gestured arms. "We know all the dangers. We've done what you advised and stayed confined in the safety of these four walls ever since the hospital. It's been 5 days since we saw the outside world. We all know why but how long are we going to have to stay cooped up? Days, weeks, years? I've already missed my Uncle's birthday party in lockdown here."

Kenny wished for some encouraging news to bring hope to the team. He interjected before Max could receive an answer for his complaint. "Any progress finding Shadow Vale's hide out or Dranzer?"

Ozuma felt a tension headache arising from hours of sitting on the scorching roof tiles and the fresh onslaught of questions combined. "You know we can't put a time limit on this Max. I don't have a date for you. And no I'm afraid no progress finding Dranzer. Our best trackers are still on it, day and night." He turned to face the wounded phoenix guardian on the decking. "You'll be the first to know if we find anything Kai."

Kai subtly nodded in appreciation.

Daichi went ballistic shaking his fists. They still had a dilemma to solve. "But what are we going to do about the food?! You can't make us starve Ozuma! That's inhumane!"

Emily added with crossed arms, backing up the youngest and frantic behaving blader. "If we can't leave Tysons', how do you expect us to get supplies?"

Tyson had another light bulb moment. "Here's an idea. How about we ask Kai's security guys if they'll go shopping for us? They must be bored stiff out there guarding the house all day. I bet they'd appreciate a break in an air-conditioned store."

Kenny nodded and turned to the CEO seated with his back against the wall to his left. "That's not a bad idea Tyson. What do you say Kai? Surely your security guards can do some of shopping for us?"

Kai took a moment to blink before delivering his stern reply. "My security staff are here to do a job, and that's to protect this property and everyone in it from intruders who seek to harm us. To assign them to something other than what they are contracted would be an abuse of power. Mr Cooper is the only operative assigned to me personally and he's on night shift tonight. You're not using my personnel as errand boys. Come up with another idea."

Mariah cocked her hands on her hips and quipped. "Well that plan's dead in the water. Why don't we get food delivered? Like from a supermarket directly."

Hilary snapped her phone shut with an edge of frustration. "That's a good idea...buuuuuuut I've just looked online and the soonest delivery slot is in 2 days. Unless we're happy to share a very small amount of rice and a tiny shrivelled carrot between us until the delivery arrives...we need a plan to get food. TODAY."

Ray knew the Saint Shields would not take kindly to his idea, yet relayed it anyway. "Bottom line is, we need supplies and there's a Seven Eleven store 5 minutes walk away. If we run, we could make it half that time. I say a small group of us go and we'll be back in less than half an hour. Shadow Vale hasn't been spotted in the area for days. I think we'll be safe enough."

Ozuma glared with seriousness. "You willing to risk your life and Driger on that Ray?"

Tala couldn't help but take a jab at the bladers he disliked as much as he distrusted. His tall frame mooched to the front of the crowd. He announced to all. "As the Saint Shields are so opposed to you leaving, perhaps they could go shopping themselves. There are four of them after all. I'm sure Kai's security can handle things while they're gone."

All eyes were on Ozuma for an answer to Tala's sensible suggestion. The Wolborg blader's stance was smarmy with a sharply raised, furry left eyebrow.

Dunga instantly bowed low to whisper into his team leaders' ear. "That's not a bad idea Ozuma. Those roof tiles aren't comfy and my back's killin' me! I could do with a walk and enjoy that sweet air-conditioning."

Ozuma huffed after taking a few moments to consider the plan. He crossed his arms with authority. "I don't like the idea of all four of us leaving you here unguarded. If Shadow Vale do turn up, Kai's security won't know what to do."

Bryan chortled. "I think they'll manage just fine. Raise their guns and shoot. Bye-bye crazies!"

Ozuma wasn't budging. "Kais security won't know how to deal with dark magic and their bullets will do nothing against black bitbeasts."

Dunga threw out a suggestion of his own with a painted smirk. "I say we send the Russians to go shopping. Shadow Vale want nothing from them so they're the safest of you bunch." His words dripped with sarcasm. "And being so tough and all I bet they'll be able to handle Shadow Vale all on their own."

Tyson was quick to add with passion. "Oh I wouldn't say that Dunga. Harkan has a serious bone to pick with Tala for rescuing me. I wouldn't feel good sending the Blitzkrieg Boys out on their own, no way!"

Bryan broadly grinned with pumped biceps crossed over his chunky muscled chest. "Don't worry about us Tyson. Tala and I can handle ourselves. We've dealt with bigger monsters than Shadow Vale. I'm happy to go. Tala, you up for it?"

Tala hooked a hand on his hip and smirked. "Yeah. I'm game. I say we head out now. Get it over with. Any requests I suggest you write it all down on a note pad. You have 5 minutes to list what you want and then we're leaving. And Tyson, don't expect me to pay for it. I'll pay my share of the food but I'm not feeding everyone for free."

"Hahahaha yeah sure. Hey bud thanks for this. I'll go get my wallet! You'll need some Yen anyway." Said Tyson before he scampered off into the house to retrieve things. Money, a notepad, a pen and some carrier bags.

Emily gestured dis-pleasement. "Wait wait wait. I don't know about you guys but I don't like the idea of you two going out on your own. I say two of the Saint Shields go with you." She sharply pointed a finger at Ozuma and Dunga beneath her on the lawn.

Hilary nodded and chirped aloud. "I agree. I'd feel safer if Tala and Bryan had back up. Just in case Shadow Vale are out there and they sneak attack them from behind."

Max exclaimed. "Yeah me too! Tala and Bryan are just as much targets as we are. They've rocked Shadow Vales boat too much for them not to be targets too. I don't like the idea of them alone out there. I say the Saint Shields should help em out."

Daichi joined in the heckling. "Me three! The Saint Shields go with em, or nobody's going. And the Saint Shields can buy us allllllll take-out for breakfast, lunch and dinner until the proper food delivery gets here. And boy oh boy! That's gunna be pricey feeding everyone here!"

Ozuma cradled his face and deeply sighed before lifting his head to peer at the other two bodies of his team brooding down from the rooftop above. His tone was droll and un-amused. "Miriam. Josef. I need another volunteer to go shopping."

---

Less than 10 minutes pass and four young men gathered by the front gate ready to embark on a wondrous journey to the local supermarket. The thrilled entourage comprised of Tala and Bryan of the Blitzkrieg Boys, and of the Saint Shields...Dunga and Josef. The latter had beaten his sister in a game of rock, paper, and scissors for the golden chance to leave the Granger compound and experience the delight of powerful air-conditioning of a convenience Store. Days atop a rooftop hawking for purple caped assailants was a testing and uncomfortable job, all under the unrelenting hot gaze of the Japanese sun. Mariam bitterly cursed her brother for winning with many swear words and punched him hard in the arm for gloating over his victory.

Tyson entrusted Tala to be in charge of a wad of his money. Bryan and Dunga held a pile of lists from each of the Granger residents and guests. And Josef carried a bunch of recycled carrier bags Grandpa Granger insisted they re-use to help save the environment.

The brave shopping volunteers send off was not quick.

Emily - "Don't get lost boys!"

Ozuma - "Be quick about it. Don't be any longer than you have to!"

Hilary - "Make sure you don't forget my shampoo!"

Grandpa Granger - "Organic bananas. Remember! I want Organic!"

Max – "I hope you don't run into any trouble! Come back safe guys!"

Tyson – "Don't forget my Oreos guys! And we need those AA batteries if we wanna game tonight!"

The quad were waved off through the gates and with a slam of heavy wooden doors, they were the other side of the Granger walls. Exposed and vulnerable like baby birds who'd just left the nest for first time. They eyed Kai's statue-like security who uttered not a word to them as they passed into the wilderness of residential urban Tokyo. They started down the street and were highly suspicious of anyone behind or in front. Cyclists were watched with unease as they approached fast and sometimes without warning around a corner. It was late afternoon and school children would soon be making their way home and would fill the little streets and crossing roads nearby like ants. If they hurried, the beybladers could miss the madness of sharing their path with masses of locals. The quieter their journey, the better. Josef and Dunga were on high alert in front of the troop and were the most jumpy, hawking at anyone they passed, analysing stranger's faces and clothing for any similarities to Shadow Vale members. Bryan and Tala however were exact opposites and mooched calmly and silent from the rear with their hands tucked in their ¾ length trouser pockets. They absorbed the beautiful view of urban Tokyo and were astonished at how clean and well maintained the streets were in Japan compared to Russia. Talk was non-existent between the pairs. The Saint Shields solely focused on people watching anyone and everyone whilst the Blitzkrieg Boys enjoyed a wordless tour of the Asian backstreets.

The quad gingerly checked around every corner before they turned... before finally...they reached the local Seven Eleven store. The sliding doors parted and...

...HEAVEN!

Tala, Bryan, Josef and Dunga each let out a groan of pure pleasure as the ice cold air blasted their hot sweaty faces as they entered the shop. A welcome little gush of arcticness was everything they hoped it would be. The relief from the heat was pure magic and the quad of young men stood blocking the way in pure ecstasy with agape mouths and closed eyes; that was until an elder lady rammed over Dunga's toes to get to the first aisle where the baking items waited. The thick bodied Saint Shield was literally hopping in pain and howled until his foot stopped throbbing like an infant.

It was time to do what they came to do. Operation Food Gathering would commence.

Tala was used to taking the lead. With his hands on both hips he delivered a plan of action. "Okay we made it. Now, let's get this done. We'll take 2 or 3 lists each and work through them one by one. We'll meet at the cashiers to pay for everything all together with Tyson's cash. Got it?"

Dunga puffed his chest out and poked Tala hard in the sternum with a stiff finger. The Sun had clearly boiled his manners and cooked his tiny patience. "Who do you think you are, orderin' me around? Ozuma and my Mom are the only people I let be the boss of me."

Bryan warned as he stepped into Dunga's personal space. Grey and green coloured gazes locked fiercely. "Fine. You can tell the girl why she ain't got her special shampoo and Tyson why he ain't got his biscuits. Me and Tala will get our stuff. And when we get back to the dojo and we're asked why we only got our stuff, I'll tell em its cus you didn't want to work with us."

Josef didn't have the energy to fight. He was tired from being roasted outside all day and didn't harbour the same resent his team mate did. He didn't mind Tala, and had grown a rapport with Bryan back at the hospital after joining efforts with him to save the White Tigers from Garnetta. "We got our half of the lists. Come Dunga. We'll meet em at the cash register." He said as he tugged at a loose flap of grey fabric at Dunga's waist.

Dunga snorted as he broke his growling leer with Bryan. "Fine! Yeah let's just get this done. See you at the tills and don't take too long. We haven't got all day...tourists."

The warring teams split off after each obtaining a cart-on-wheels from a small trolley bay by the front of the store. Team Blitzkrieg worked through each list thoroughly and tried to get the closest to whatever the writer wanted. If an item was out of stock, they took the time to find the closest thing even if it meant a different brand. Mariah and Hilary both noted they needed tampons and were just as embarrassed writing their requests as Tala and Bryan felt reading them. The boys had never lived with girls before and so tampons were an alien gadget they'd never had to think about, let alone pick one off a shelf. They picked up three of each colour and hoped at least one of the boxes was suitable. The rest of their comrades shopping lists were easy to work out. Assortments of fruit, vegetables, meat, fresh fish, frozen meals, noodles, rice, sauces, cereal, sweets and body products like deodorant, shower gels and can't forget Hilary's expensive hydrating shampoo. After several trips up and down aisles looking for a particular item of food or sundry, the Russian's mission was a success with a full trolley as evidence. The Blitzkrieg Boys headed for the checkout and there already waiting and cocky was the Saint Shield pair.

Dunga scoffed. "Heheh, what took ya so long? You get lost or something?"

Tala held his tongue for he knew once he unleashed it, there would be no holding it back. He was still silently reeling from Dunga's poke into his chest earlier. He promised if the Vortex Ape blader was to touch him once more he'd bite his finger off. One more poke physically or verbally and fur was going to fly in the form of brawling bitbeasts. An ape versus a wolf in the middle of the pretty little neighbourhood would not serve them, buildings or bystanders well. Instead, his maturity won out, and Tala focused on loading the conveyor belt with items of shopping for the waiting cashier to scan.

Bryan however, was always up for an argument and held the trolley still while Tala did all the work. "We can't read Japanese asshole. I think we did pretty good considering our lists were longer than yours."

Josef joined Tala with loading the conveyor belt without any particular order to the items. He frizzbeed most of the flat boxes narrowly missing the Wolborg blader on multiple occasions. "Don't start guys. Let's just pay for this and get outta here. We've already been over an hour. Ozuma's gunna be stressing big time already. You know how he gets Dunga."

With several beeps of the cashiers scanner and each item rammed into plastic bags, the boring but necessary task of grocery shopping was almost done. Tala paid the middle aged female cashier with curly black hair and a chubby face with a flapping pile of Japanese Yen notes, and in return she gave him a mix of coin and paper with an exceedingly long receipt. The "team" readied to go with each of the men taking two stretched bag handles each. In single file they headed to the exit with Josef leading the way, followed by Dunga, then Bryan and Tala at the rear. They were feet away from leaving the store when Bryan called out.

"Hey Dunga you missed off somebody's list." Bryan stated, causing the line of four to stop marching and pay attention. Their fingers already began to turn blue at the tips from the weight of their bags and all three huffed loudly. They just wanted to get their cargo home. The Falborg blader was seemingly right. One list hadn't been shopped for as he held out the small rectangle of paper in his right hand, his spine crooked to the left with the weight of double bags in the other.

The quad backed away to a clear area between the cashier conveyor belts and the exit. They placed their heavy bags filled with shopping at a cool clearing on the tile floor where they wouldn't get too warm or trip over any other shoppers. They couldn't wait too long, ice-cream and ice-lollies were at serious risk of melting before Tyson's American freezer could safely harbour them.

Dunga twisted bitterly on his heels to gaze down at Bryan who stood a foot shorter than he, and snatched the paper from pale Slavic fingers. "Gimme that!"

Bryan smarmed with gloating features. "You missed someone's list. I just plucked this outta your back pocket!"

Dunga's face was a mix of frustration and confusion with a dash of embarrassment. He scratched his head, sure that he'd completed them all and with Josef's supervision. "I didn't miss no lists!"

Bryan poked at the paper in Dunga's giant fingers. "See for yourself! It's the same kinda paper and written in the same ink. Somebody forgot to write their name on the top."

Dunga stormed off without taking any proper note of what the contents were. "Grrrrrrrrrrrrr wait here!" He set about to shop the last list. One item at a time.

Josef loudly huffed again as he threw his back against the wall and looked at his pocket-watch. Ozuma would certainly be doing his head in with worry he thought. "I can't wait to have a tall glass of orange juice with ice when we get back."

Tala was equally un-amused with the delay and brushed his long tendrils straight from being a little frizzy in the heat. He was eager to get back too and suck on his favourite ice lollies now that he'd bought more of them. "Yeah, something ice cold. No more beyblading today that's for sure." The unlikely duo engaged in small talk for the first time ever.

Bryan felt the giggles surge through his core as he watched Dunga hook a shopping basket and with heavy feet stomped down each aisle like an elephant. His bandana and blonde hair was easy to see as his head poked above the height of the aisles. First, the vegetable aisle, then dessert, and then the pharmacy aisle. He selected each item on the relatively short list in order they were written. Each product slammed into the metal basket with force as Dunga chucked them in it with complete disregard.

The grey-haired Russian couldn't hold a straight face anymore. His lips trembled like they were made of jelly.

Red faced and grumpy Dunga arrived back at the same cashier who served them just minutes ago. He tipped the metal basket upside down, dumping all three items directly in front of the cashier without waiting for the conveyor belt to transport them.

Bryan felt his heart race with joy as the cashier looked up at the ape blader with a judgemental look. He bit his bottom lip as his white skinned face crumpled with humour.

The cashier's lips developed into a grin and then struggled not to snigger with each item she scanned.

A girthy cucumber

A can of squirty cream

A box of extra-large condoms

Dunga took a moment to realise why the cashier was scoffing and struggling not to giggle. The contents of his basket were all ingredients for a fun night in the right circles of lust and naughtiness. The skin around the edges of his eyes twitched. His fury was igniting like a rocket as he spun to see Bryan sniggering his head off. His already tanned face turned scarlet red and blood vessels in his eyes popped.

The greynette sniggered so hard that it was impossible for Tala not to notice. Even other shoppers glanced at him nervously, wondering what was so funny.

Tala stole one glance at his comrade, then spied Dunga and the contents before him and the pink-shaded cashier. His tone was a mix of disappointment and hilarity. "Bryan. You just couldn't help yourself." The red head tried his best to control his facial muscles not to smirk and failed. This was not the first time Bryan had pranked someone this way. He'd done Spencer and Ian once each and both times Tala himself was in on it.

Tala began picking up his shopping bags...and Bryan's. He side smirked as he watched his brother-from-another-mother take off and exit the open sliding doors in a shot. "Enjoy your run in this heatwave Bry. I'm not helping you out with this one. You brought this on yourself. AND YOU OWE ME FOR CARRYING YOUR LOAD!"

Dunga stomped past like a rhino in a china shop. He blast past the wiser Blitzkrieg Boy and his own fellow team mate whom had no idea what was going on. "WHY YOU SLIPPERY BASTARD! YOU'RE GUNNA PAY FOR THAT! You WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!"

Josef shot off outside the Seven Eleven after Dunga into the street. He watched as Bryan run circles around Dunga. The hulking blader was too slow for the smaller, nimbler fellow and eventually their chase gave way down the street towards Tyson's dojo. "What the hell is going on?! DUNGA! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CARRY YOUR BAGS TOO! GET BACK HERE!YOU WAIT UNTIL OZUMA HEARS ABOUT THIS!"

---

In the quiet clean privacy of the Granger's main bathroom, a beyblader tended to his dressings. Tyson's iPod had run out of battery again and was charging in its owners' bedroom. After the14 hour sleep Kai was blessed with, he could handle some of Dranzers' cries for an hour or two and so busied himself with whatever he could. Wound care was important, as well as something to do.

Bathed in the strong summer light through a small window, Kai exposed his torso in front of the mirror by holding the loose fabric of his oversized t-shirt out of the way with a pinch of his left canine teeth. With great care and gentle fingers he peeled a gauze patch away from an area to the left and above his belly button. Some of it remained stuck around the edges and required a slight tug to free it from the sticky residue needed to glue it in place. The white patch dressing was almost clean, save for a smear of clear residue and a rusty red patch from the area protecting the thin scab. The inches long cut had closed nicely and was now at the stage where it needed air to breathe. The dissolvable stitches itched as they began to disintegrate inside and out. Heavy bruising surrounded the small area in patches of green, yellow and purple. The injury that Blake so cruelly left him with was healing well on the surface but internally, muscle repair would take a whole lot longer. Still, this was the last plaster his wound needed and was discarded to the darkness of a flip-lid bin beside the toilet; a medical milestone.

Kai took a moment to gaze at his body in the mirror with a hand instead of his teeth now holding his black shirt up to reveal his flat tummy where his abdominal muscles used to protrude giving him a 6-pack. His pectoral muscles had deflated just as much and his biceps too. He was thinner than he'd ever seen himself and it frightened him how gaunt he looked in such a short space of time since...that day. He barely recognised the face staring back at him in the mirror as he pawed at his different facial features, and dabbed the dark circles that hadn't improved much since his ordeal.

Despite his extreme weight loss and kidnap of his beloved Dranzer, today...the phoenix master felt the best he had since the attack that almost cost him his life. Optimism alighted his amethyst eyes as he began to think of his future.

"I wonder how the business is getting on without me. I should show my face back at the office." He fingered a dip of flesh down his cheek where a thin layer of fat used to sit giving him a healthy complexion... without it, he looked ill. He dropped his head and grasped at the edges of the sink. "No, I'm...not ready. I dont want anyone at work seeing me like this..." The stoic beyblader lifted his head to gaze at himself once more. "Gottlieb can handle things for a while. I need to get strong again. However long that takes. It could be weeks or even months before I'm ready. The business is in good hands. Besides, I have to get Dranzer back first. I won't be able to focus on work knowing Dranzer is out there somewhere. Just hold on Dranzer. Just...keep fighting them."

Dranzer screamed in the back of Kai's mind like a haunting echo. "KKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

*BANG BANG BANG* The sudden noise make Kai nervously jump and immediately turned 180 degrees to face the door.

From the other side yelled a familiar voice. "Hey Kai! Kai! You in there bud?!" It was 1000% unmistakably...Tyson.

"Yes Tyson. What do you want?" Kai replied a little peeved he'd been disturbed. He glared at the closed sliding door as he leant backwards on the rim of the cool porcelain sink with his hands gripped to the sides of it.

"Hey Kai. Whatdya say about hanging out in the dojo with us. It's a heatwave today and we're all takin' the afternoon off blading. We're gunna just chill in the dojo and play Xbox. Tala and the others will be back from the store soon and we'll have plenty of snacks. Come on dude. Join us! It'll be fun!"

Kai sighed then took a moment to consider the offer. No task force to run, no business meetings to attend. No conferences to endure. No paperwork to look over. No beyblade to clean. His adopted iPod would be on charge for at least the next two hours for full battery and hearing Dranzers' constant screaming without a distraction would only lead to feelings of endless distress.

His old team mate called through again from the other side of the wooden door. "So Kai...whatdya say huh?! You comin'? We're all waitin' for ya."

---

All members of the Granger residence except Grandpa, whom was busy with his dry soiled bonsai, were scattered around the dojo with its doors open wide and every fan and air conditioning unit plugged in and on full power. The heat outside was overbearing as grasshoppers sung in the dry grass and lizards gaped to cool down in the shade. All beybladers resigned themselves to doing very little for the rest of the day. The TV was already commandeered and hooked up to the XBOX. Max sat cross-legged and engrossed with blue eyes locked on the screen with a controller tight in his hands. He was busy playing a fantasy quest game collecting gems and swinging a sword to slay goblins in his path. To his left, sat Daichi, who quietly watched the virtual adventure unfold with one leg bent in half and the other out flat in a relaxed open legged posture, the spiky red-head sat on a crimson pillow on the floor with his back to the sofa. Tyson's empty red floor-pillow sat to the blondes right, ready and waiting for him to return. Behind them sat Hilary, Ray and Mariah high on the broad heavy brown sofa. Naturally, Emily and Kenny were nearby on their laptops busy rapping away at keyboards and low key debating the design of Driger's next upgrade.

The Blitzkrieg Boys and half of the Saint Shields were still at the store and everyone couldn't wait for their arrival back with snacks and iced desserts...oh... and to know they were safe of course and that Shadow Vale hadn't slaughtered them in the streets.

"Look who's come to join us guys." Tyson boasted excited from the open doorway. He stepped in and hunted for another floor-pillow for the newcomer to rest upon.

Kai skulked in behind him like a school pupil who'd joined a club because someone made him, not because he wholeheartedly wanted to be there. Tyson nagged and nagged at him from the other side of the bathroom door and Kai had nothing else better to do and so, here he was.

Max immediately paused the game with a tap of a button on his game controller. "Heyyyyyyy Kai! I think it's awesome you've come to play with us. You've never joined us before. This'll be fun."

Daichi grinned cockily and swiped a thumb across his nose like Tyson often did. "Yeahhhh another guy for me to beat! You wait until we play Forza Kai. I'm gunna give you a thrashin!"

"Chill out Daichi. Kai's never gamed before. We gotta go easy on him!" Exclaimed Tyson as he threw a pillow down next to his. "Here ya go Kai. Here's your throne. I'll go get us the other controllers. We can only play four at a time so that's perfect. Ray we can switch out later if you want to play."

The Driger blader stretched his arms high and when his arms fell, one stopped in his lap and the other rested around Mariah's shoulders. The White Tiger duo rested back into the plushiness of the sofa and fought not to nap. *Yawn*"Nah I'm good Tyson. I'm happy to watch you guys a while. I'm beat from training this morning."

Whilst Tyson was busy swapping batteries around from remotes and other controllers to work the 4th Xbox control pad, Kai gingerly and gently took his place on the pillow next to Tyson's vacant one and like the others, rested his back on the sofa with Hilary crossed legged on the seat behind his head.

"KKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Dranzer cried in the back of his skull so loud it made the blader shudder. Patient 12 took a breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He promised not to let it disturb him further as his face fought not to screw with distress, his jaw clenched.

The wounded CEO's shiver prompted an observant and kind-hearted Hilary to produce a purple fleece blanket that was half folded over the back of the sofa. She pulled it from behind Mariah's back, unfolded it and without invite she draped it around the cold beyblader's shoulders and over his back to warm him.

The dual grey-haired man was startled at first before realising the harmless nature of the object around him. He turned his head to shoot the brunette a look of acknowledgement and nodded with a faint smile like cool guys do. She cocked her neck with a bigger warmer smile and the two said no more about it. He grasped the extra fabric and pulled it close around his cross-legged body and momentarily blushed with embarrassment for needing a blanket in a 40C heat wave.

Tyson, having finished faffing about with odd batteries, tossed a black controller to Daichi at the end of the row of gamers. The beychamp landed on his pillow with thud as his weight hit the floor between the bodies of seated Kai and Max. He dropped a controller into his own lap and then passed one to the newbie Xboxer at his right.

Kai had never held a game controller before and was quick to inspect it. The various tabs, buttons and two joysticks were foreign tools of life. Most young men, especially Japanese ones grew up gaming on various consoles produced by Nintendo, Xbox, Playstation, Atari, GameBoy to name a few. It was a part of their culture and most kids, especially boys, played from school age right through to adulthood and beyond. Tyson spoke what Kai perceived to be pure jibbersish as he explained what each button and tab was for. The young Hiwatari liked to work things out for himself and a lot of what the Granger said fell on deaf ears. Kai humoured him with a series of well timed dispassionate nods and "Hnnnn" noises.

Tyson wiggled his butt into the pillow until optimum comfort was achieved. In a bent over position and his hands locked around his controller, he announced. "Okay, I think Kai's got the gist of it. Let's play an easy racing game to start him off with." He began setting up the game on the TV using the control device and changing the settings on-screen to include 4 players.

While the room waited, small talk ensued.

Daichi glanced over at the thin framed greynette player at the end of the row and quizzed. "Say Kai? This seriously your first time playing the Xbox? Or gaming or anything?! Didn't you play as a kid?"

Kai regretted joining in already and wished his iPod could run on infinite battery so he'd never have to be without it. The real reason he never owned or played a games console as a child was a dark one, and he wasn't about to openly and casually share why. From the age of 6 until 12 years old, Kai was raised to be a human weapon in a Russian abbey a continent away. There was no room for fun of any kind...only rip drills, learning to harm others with beyblades, physical exercise and psychological conditioning. Had Kai been allowed to grow up in Japan with his Grandmother, he would have been just like them, spending his pocket money to buy the latest game release, trading Pokémon cards in the school playground and beyblading for fun with his friends. The original Bladebreakers knew a little of his past at BIOVOLT and understood he suffered a far from normal upbringing. They learned never to ask him about his past because when they did, it resulted in a slammed door or Kai aggressively telling them to leave it alone. Daichi however, didn't know the same boundary.

To everyone else in the room, it was a fair question. Ray, Max and Tyson glanced nervously at Kai, waiting for his answer. Daichi had tread on trip-wire ground and they hoped all parties would get away unscathed. Kai's childhood was not a normal one, a black box of secrets, and Daichi had just pried into a corner of it.

Kai answered the mouthy redhead with decorum and poise. "I prefer to spend my spare time reading books than play childish games."

Tyson, Max and Hilary scoffed internally. Kai's answer was so typical of him. Punchy, dismissive, yet intelligent and a little rude. Feisty old Kai was definitely still alive and kicking.

Daichi stropped back. Reading was an evil chore due to his dyslexia and lack of adequate schooling in his village. He would defend gaming for fun over books any day of the week. "Oh yeah, well gaming is the best! You'll see! Books will be soooooo boring after you've got a taste of this!"

The racing game Forza was finally set up and ready to play.

"Stop ya face flappin guys and pick your cars. I'm gunna go for the Ferrari again. I think I'll have it in bright blue too." Cried Tyson as he thumbed the joystick to the right and pressed A and then selected the colour he wanted it.

Max whined. "Not again! Fine, I'll have the Lamborghini, I'm gunna go for the metallic green this time."

Daichi was quick to thumb and click the controller to make his choice too. "That's ma baby. The white McLaren. It's miiiiiine! Hehehehe."

Tyson turned his head to check on his side-kick. "What are you gunna pick Kai? Urghhhh Kai? You okay bud?"

The trio of players eyeballed newbie gamer Kai with anticipation. Daichi sucked his lips inwards with amusement; Max held his hand over his mouth to cover his giant smirk. Tyson's face crumpled with humour and held his breath to stop himself from sniggering. Even Ray, Mariah and Hilary behind were pursing lips trying not to giggle at the man who clearly had little idea of what he was doing with such a simple piece of tech.

Kai, who was master at everything, pressed buttons slowly and carefully like the controller was some fragile alien gadget. He was wary of the action of every tab or button he pressed then looked at the screen rapidly to see what he'd done. He learned that the joy stick selected left or right. The A button selected things and the B button unselected things. Progress was slow. With a chuckling audience he eventually learned how to navigate the page of virtual cars. He clicked on each shiny digital vehicle and its stats to deduce the best selection.

Time passed slowly as mockery grew to boredom with the lack of action on screen. Mariah and Max yawned and Hilary opened her phone to flick through Facebook.

Finally. Kai selected a vehicle.

Tyson beamed with optimism at his friend half buried in a blanket. "Wooooo a red Bugatti Chiron aye. Niccccccce choice bud." He sounded almost sarcastic.

The mega host pressed all the necessary buttons to start the game, and delivered a hyper brief crash course in the seconds running up to the opening scene of the race track. Tyson's tanned finger pointed and poked Kai's controller in nestled in pale hands. "Your car is the bottom right hand side of the screen, you see it? You need to press this tab and the press the joystick at the same time. It's that simple. Aim of the game, be the first over the finish line. We've picked an easy track until you get the hang of it okay. You got this!"

The phoenix blader had no time to ask questions.

"3.2.1. GO!" A piercing horn sounded off and three of the cars on screen shot across the start line at speed.

*NNNEEEEEEOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!* Tyson's blue Ferrari cut past the metallic green Lamborghini around a corner. "Hheheheheh eat my dust Max!"

*SCHHHHRRRRRREEEECCCHHHHHH NEEEEEEEOOOOOOWWW!* Daichi's white McLaren almost bumped Max's Lamborghini from behind. "NO WAY! How'd you get in front Tyson! Watch your back Max! I'm comin for ya. Right behind ya!"

*NNEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW* Max's onscreen vehicle accelerated down a straight and was hot on the Ferrari's tail. "Oh yeah, come and get me Daichi! And Tyson...Dude, I almost had you!"

Tyson quipped. "Ohhh we quotin' Fast and Furious now huh."

Max smirked. "Yep, rest in Peace Paul Walker. That guy was a legend."

Tyson didn't take his eye off his corner of the screen for a second. "How ya doin Kai?! Where's your car on the track. I can't see it."

Kai's car was miles behind. He was driving the digital Bugatti carefully like it was a real car. He took his time around track corners and quite frankly drove like a little old lady. He wouldn't allow it to crash and smash into the sides of the track like the others. However, the new gamer was rapidly getting to grips with the controller and the buttons all whilst focussing on the screen. He was getting an in-depth feel for how his actions on the controller affected the car in the game. Within a few short minutes he was getting better, more in tune with the virtual scenario and as he grew in experience his car accelerated.

Tyson sweat-dropped as he realised how far behind Kai's car. "Oh man, I hope he doesn't lose his temper like Tala. I've already got one controller with a crack in it because someone was a sore loser."

Kai remained silent and ultra focused on everything he was doing. He relished the learning of the game so much that Dranzer's cries were easy to push to the back of his mind. This game was the perfect distraction and possibly a substitute for the music keeping him sane from his bitbeast's unrelenting screams.

*NEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWW* Max's metallic green Lamborghini passed the finish line first.

Max cried out with arms stretching upwards with joy. "YES! I won!"

*NEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW* Tyson's blue Ferrari came second.

Tyson pouted before discarding his controller into his lap. "Oh maaannnn! I came so close!"

*NEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWW* Daichi's white McLaren crossed over the line third.

Daichi screeched and smarmed at the end of his sentence. "Drat! Oh well, at least I'm not last."

But the race wasn't over. Tumbleweed blew across the room as all eyes were on Kai and his red Bugatti on the TV. It never drove over the edges of the carriageway, or bumped any walls or edging. He drove it almost to perfection and was gaining speed with every virtual mile it travelled. Despite coming last in the race, Kai was glued to the game. His focus remained locked on the screen and barely breathed. Each turn, each corner he took, he learned to slow down and when to speed up in order to avoid skidding and safely accelerate for maximum speed without danger of going off track.

Finally... his red coloured car crossed the finish line.

A victory tune played, Max's name and his metallic green Lamborghini steed were showered with confetti and a golden race cup mascot jiggled and danced on screen.

Tyson tapped Kai's purple clothed shoulder with a flat hand condescendingly. "Well ya get points for trying Kai. You did well for a first timer. You'll do better next time."

Hilary added with tucked up legs so as not to kick Kai in the back of his head. "Yeah I think he did really well. I get the sense you are a really careful driver Kai and there's nothing wrong with that."

Daichi jabbed. "You do know it's a game right Kai?! You can smash the side up and drive through things to get places quicker. You can even ram your opponent off the track if you wanted to."

Max beamed. "Who's up for another round?"

Kai smouldered with his words. "Set up the next game. Let's go again."

Tyson became animated and relieved Kai wasn't a sore loser. "Alllllright! I bet you'll get the hang of working the controller in no time Kai. In the mean time, don't get too hooked up on winning. Just practise and one day you may be able to beat me. Hehehehe."

Daichi playfully shoved Max in the arm. "I won't be last...I mean 3rd this time guys! Max, your ass is miiiine."

Max playfully shoved back. "We'll see about that Daichi! Hahah."

Tyson announced. "Same cars, same track. We'll keep it nice and easy for Kai."

Kai gulped. The pressure was on. His perfectionism cursed him to do better. His focus was 100% on the screen and his fingers and thumb poised for action. Dranzer's screams were inaudible. The game was all that mattered.

Daichi and Max were equally pumped and ready for the countdown as Tyson tapped a button to start the next race.

"3.2.1. GO!"

"NEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" Tyson's blue Ferrari was the first off the start line.

"NNNNNEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!" Daichi's white McLaren was a millisecond behind it.

"NNNNNNEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!" Max's green Lamborghini was a fraction behind Daichi's.

"NEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW!" Kai's Bugatti was hot up the rear.

Tyson cried in surprise at the red flash at his blue car's rear. "WHOOOOAHHHH Kai! Where'd you come from?!"

Max quipped and smirked. "Someone's a quick learner. But you won't catch me Kai."

Daichi screeched. "Ohhhhhh man! No way! You're supposed to be miles back by now!"

Kai could do nothing but give a little smirk. He hadn't won the race yet and focus and discipline was everything to get him there.

Hilary, Mariah and Ray sat up from their slumped positions on the sofa.

Hilary – "What a turn around. He really is a fast learner. Tyson and the others had better watch out."

Ray – "Go on Kai. Teach us for laughing at you."

Within seconds Kai's red car overtook Daichi's white at a bend.

Daichi cried angrily. "NOOOO! OH NO YOU DON'T!" His car skidded into the grasss verge and took a few moments to straighten and get back on tarmac. After that, he struggled to keep up and lagged in 4th place without a hope of catching up. "NOOOOOOO!"

Another bend approached and the red Bugatti hovered close to the green Lamborghini's bumper.

Max exclaimed. "Ohhhhhh sneaky sneaky Kai. I see you behind! Think again if you want to get past me!"

Kai thought with sly eyes. "I don't have to get past you Max. I just need to wait for you to slip up. You have a habit of prematurely turning for the bend and skidding. Once you do, I'll nip in on the inside of the track and lose you in the straight."

A corner approached, the green sports car turned too quick at the start of the bend. It skidded. It created a gap, the red Bugatti snuck past and accelerated whilst Max's was still in skid. Just as Kai predicted.

Max yelled in astonishment. "NOOOOOOOOO! NOOOO WAY!"

Kai smirked dangerously. "Sayonnara Max. I'm coming for you next Tyson."

Tyson felt his palms begin to sweat on the double as his heart raced faster. "Crap! He's right behind me! How'd you do that?!"

Sure enough, Kai's Bugatti was almost neck and neck with Tyson's Ferrari in a straight stretch of virtual track. One more bend and then it was a short flat race to the finish line.

Kai and Tyson gritted teeth as Kai's Bugatti drew neck and neck with the Ferrari in an even drag race. A bend was sharply upon them. The two championship level beybladers sweated with sticky fingers and sweat drops dribbled down their cheeks and temples. The Ferrari overshot the carriageway line by a tyre width, whereas the red Bugatti remained on the road perfectly. This cost Tyson the race. Seconds later a red hood crossed the finish line. Then the blue Ferraris, then the white McLaren and finally the green Lamborghini.

A victory tune played. Kai's name and his red Bugatti were showered with confetti on and a golden race cup mascot jiggled in a dance on screen.

Tyson was stunned with a hung jaw and stuttered loudly. "Urghhhhhhh. Whaaaaaaaaaaa? How?! Did you do that?!"

Daichi jumped to his feet and pointed bitterly at the winner. "He's a liar! Kai's not new to gaming! He's a fraud. There's no way a beginner can beat us. We're lifestyle gamers and he barely knows how to hold the controller! Not possible!"

Max was wide eyed with disbelief "How? Just how did that happen?! That's not possible, nobody can learn that quick! How did you just beat us?"

Ray looked to the victor with suspiciousness. "Spill the beans Kai. How did you just do that? Or is Daichi right and you have gamed before."

Emily and Kenny abandoned their keyboard bashing momentarily to eavesdrop on Kai's analogy. The others were about to get schooled.

Kai smirked then dropped it to give a serious lecture with his arms crossed. He sat bolt straight and passed eye contact in turn with everyone in the room who cared to listen. "Hnnnn." He looked down to his lap and then up again with a cocky grin. "It's pretty simple really when you break it down. You need to understand the principles of what you need to win. Then you practise those principles to perfection which as you can see, didn't take me very long to do. Once you have achieved that, you seek to improve your performance and speed whilst maintaining the same level of discipline. When you drive into obstacles and career off course you lose time and speed. If you don't hit a bend at the right speed, you skid, causing a loss of precious time and momentum. Swerve and try to overtake someone aggressively like you do and you run the risk of your vehicle losing control. To win a race you need speed but also pace yourself when hitting a challenge, in this track...that's the bends. You need to decelerate and accelerate at the perfect moment to reduce skid and stay on the road. Once I knew how to work the controller it was easy to master. This is a simple game which doesn't require a lot of thinking. Just well timed execution of speed and when to use a bend to your advantage. I waited for you to make mistakes and then I made my move with a well driven vehicle.

Also, in a flat track race you need something with maximum horsepower. I chose the Bugatti for its superior speed which aided in my victory. The others are just flashy models with inferior engines. The Bugatti model I chose was the Chiron Super Sport 300. It's called the 300 because it broke the record for being the first car to ever to exceed 300 miles per hour. It's a basically rocket with wheels."

Hilary was speechless and very very impressed. Kai was more intelligent than she'd ever imagined and turned away as she felt a blush turn her cheeks pink. Did she still fancy Kai?

Daichi whined. "What bullshit Kai! You made that up."

Max scratched the back of his head. "Well. Kai. I'm impressed and gotta say a little intimidated. I guess we've got a thing or two to learn from this. I'm gunna try changing the way I drive and see if I get a better win ratio."

Tyson tweaked something and decided to press on it. He scooted closer to the interrogated phoenix blader. He was edging a little too close for Kai's comfort. "You sure know a lot about cars and driving. I bet you have your own sports cars don't you. We all know you make a lot of money and you can afford them. I bet you Tokyo drift them around the city. Come on! What cars do you have? Don't hold out on me Kai."

Kai turned his gaze away and pulled in his lips with awkwardness and crossed his arms tighter. He didn't want to be one of those rich snobs that boasted about their private helicopters and mansions. But truth was...he was one of them whether he liked it or not.

Max crawled closer on all fours. "You do don't you! Come on Kai, tell us. What do you have?!"

Kai tried to change the subject. "Put another game in Tyson. This time, a different track. I want a challenge next time."

Tyson narrowed his eyes into a leer. "Sure, right after you tell us what car you drive? We're not playing another round until you tell us."

The male Chinese villager was growing bored of waiting for answers. "Yeah Kai, share. We know you earn a lot of money as CEO of a company so we aren't surprised to hear you own sports cars. We won't think any differently of you. They are just cars."

The highly paid executive retuned his gaze and listed matter of fact what he owned. "Okay. You asked. I have a Bugatti Mistral, a grey Lamborghini Adventador, an Aston Martin DB11 and a blue Honda Civic Type R for domestic travel."

Tyson erupted with excitement and bubbled internally with jealousy. "Where the hell do you drive them! I don't know of any German Autobahns round here! Or landing strips for you to play on. Don't tell me you dodge the cops in the city and actually drift race like they do in Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift."

Kai tried not to sound too smarmy and rich. He detested those that were. "I own a private air strip. I take them out for a spin there if I have the time. They spend most of the year in a high security garage."

Tyson was close to wetting himself. He'd always dreamed of having a ride in a super sports car. He humorously begged. "Are you kidding us! You HAVE to take us out for a drive one day Kai! When all of this is over with Shadow Vale. I'd love a ride in your Aston Martin. James Bond drives those you know!"

Max crawled over Tyson's body to get close to Kai. "YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE US OUT IN YOUR CAR KAI! PLEASSSSSSSEEEEEEE! Lamborghinis are my favourite!"

Kai sighed. "One day. Maybe... Now, change the topic. My cars aren't joy-rides."

---

A Hiwatari Enterprises security guard approached the dojo. A tall, crop black haired, big built man of European heritage. The edges of his shiny black sunglasses twinkled in the daylight as he stopped at the boundary of the wooden sliding door. His large and somewhat robotic presence similar to that of the Terminator was instantly clocked by the gamers, tech heads and Hilary. His arrival incited a feeling of curiosity and worry. The guards never approached inside the dojo, they strictly guarded outside the walls but this one had wandered in and made himself known. "Sorry to disturb you Sir." He aimed his announcement to his CEO with a purple blanket around his shoulders and stoic face. "We have a situation."

With creaky legs Kai struggled to his feet, threw the blanket from his shoulders and barked with urgency. "What is it?"

"It's your friends Sir. We found them fighting on the street outside the gates." The guard minced no words.

---

"Tyson! What's going on?" Ozuma called out as he and Mariam leapt from the rooftop and landed effortlessly on grass like ninjas.

"I haven't a clue. We know as much as you do." Said Tyson as he and the rest of the team followed the guard to his home gates. They hurried, anxious and excited to know what was going on.

Kai and Tyson led the group with Ozuma and Mariam at their sides. The White Tigers, Kenny, Emily, Max and Daichi herded behind them, all eager to see the drama unfold.

As the bladers neared the gates they could hear very loudly and gruff who was involved.

Bryan's voice. "GET YOUR PAWS OFF ME!"

Dunga's voice. "UNCUFF ME RIGHT NOW OR YOU'LL BE SORRY!"

The guard and one other opened the heavy wooden twin doors with a low pitched creek. They held the gate doors open like kings guards with their backs holding the doors flush to the wall behind.

There, handcuffed, hot blooded and sweating, covered in dust with red marks and blood on their faces were Bryan and Dunga. The Vortex Ape blader had a bleeding nose which trailed a thin line of red over his lip and down his chin. And Bryan's lip was fat with swelling and split with a cut, crimson too dribbled down his chin. The pair of warring beybladers had two guards each holding their arms in restraint.

Tyson and Co, Kai, Ozuma and Mariam were stunned and needed a minute to ingest the madness unveiled before them.

With the arrival of an audience, the Blitzkrieg Boy and Saint Shield kicked off further.

Bryan struggled and fought against his captors. "Unhand me! Kai! Call your dogs off!" He ordered spitting with fight.

Dunga kicked his legs out and battled against the hold of Kai's staff. "LET ME GO RIGHT NOW OR YOU'LL BE SORRY!"

The Saint Shields front-man stomped to the front of the crowd. His tone was grouchy and to the point. "Dunga! What's going on!"

Kai stepped forward and calmly addressed his protectors. "Why are they handcuffed."

The guard with a black haired buzz-cut answered. "Protocol Sir. We are to negate any threat until deemed safe. They ran down the street like lunatics cursing. The big one yelled obscenities at the other until the shorter one turned and assaulted him in the face. They rolled around on the floor attacking each other until we pulled them apart and restrained them. Would you like us to expel them from the property and the immediate area?"

Kai held all the power. With crossed arms he gave Dunga and Bryan a stern cold glare each to ensure they knew it too. He took him time giving the command. "No. Release them. They won't be any more trouble."

With their superior's word, guards immediately reached for keys in Kevlar breast pockets. The operatives holding the bulbous arms of Dunga and Bryan dropped their vice grip and backed away. Guards unlocked hand cuffs one wrist after another until the duo brawlers were free. The majority of the highly trained and deadly employees then soldiered back to their watch positions around the property whilst two gate guardians remained. To ensure maximum safety, they hushed all Granger residents back into the garden and closed the gates.

Ozuma shot forward and grasped the scruff of Dunga's red and yellow vest with panic. "What happened?! Where's Josef?!"

Mariam was just as furious and scruffed him twice. She was frantic. "Dunga you better tell me quick. Where's my brother?!"

Dunga, with a line of blood still drawing down his lip he cried and pointed a sharp finger at the lone Russian. He was still geared to punch Bryan some more. He spat with fury and red eyed with bitterness as he shook his team mates off his clothing. "It's all his fault!"

The Blitzkrieg Boy was quick to retaliate before the bandanda wearer could get another word in. He stopped nursing his lip with a white cloth he produced from his pocket to jab back. Bryan was barely emotional. "It's your fault you can't take a joke! All this is on you asshole."

Before Dunga could fly at him and Round 2 of Beyblader Boxing could kick off. Tyson threw himself into the way, blocking the fighters from view.

"Bryan! Where's Tala?!" Tyson begged loudly to the soviet with worry painting his usual friendly warm features.

Dunga and Bryans' lack of answers were driving everyone stir crazy, their bodies were still in fight or flight mode from their scuffle out on the street and could barely string a sentence together until the adrenaline dissipated in their blood. All Tyson and Co could think of, was the worst.

Dunga wiped the drying line of blood from his top lip, only to smear it more than clean it. His eyes were transfixed and livid whilst pointing his finger at Bryan like it was a spear. "I'll tell ya what happened. This bastard embarrassed me at the store and I chased him to give him what for."

Mariam screeched. Her hands twitching and her fingernails ready to use like claws. "So you left Josef by himself out there...because you can't hold your temper?!"

Emily sassily added her deduction of the situation. "So let me get this straight. You two fell out over a prank gone wrong, and you left both of your team mates out on the street alone, when an enemy is out there looking for any of us to pick off or take hostage. Great. What a couple of Einstein's you are."

The soviet blader dabbed the last of the blood from his swollen bottom lip during Emily's speech and returned the bloodied rag back to his pocket. "Tala's not in any danger. You seriously think I woulda let him outta my sight if I thought he was. The store is a short walk away and they were right behind us. They were barely out of view. Besides, those Shadow Vale creeps have run for the hills. They ain't comin back. Now, outta my way."

Tyson ordered with haste. "Where are you going now?!"

The fuzzy haired greynette stated as he headed to the gates. "To find Tala. But he won't be far, I'll tell ya that for free. And no doubt your green haired little buddy will be with him."

Mariam added with venom as she nagged behind his every step. "You best be right Russian blader. Because if anything has happened to my brother, I'll be holding you and Dunga responsible."

"I'll deal with you later Dunga."Ozuma warned with a volcanic hot leer. He was livid and could barely talk let alone look at his ape-ish team mate. He turned and announced to the crowd. "Okay, Mariam and I are heading out to find Josef and Tala. The rest of you. STAY HERE! The last thing we need is to spoon-feed Shadow Vale another victim.

The familiar creek of the huge wooden gates of the Granger residence caused all to stop what they were doing.

Bryan stood the other side of them and would be the first to see who was about to enter. Mariam still gassed threats at his back if her brother had come to harm. She peered over his shoulder with wide emerald eyes and a growling pretty face.

"Josef! You're safe!"Mariam cried out as her younger sibling was revealed as the doors parted.

Bryan sighed with relief and smiled with a bruised and throbbing bottom lip. "Hey Tal. Sorry I left ya back there. Gorilla boy just wouldn't quit..."

Before the Falborg blader could say anymore he was bowled backwards by the weight of four heavy blue shopping bags as the furious red-head aggressively shoved them into his arms with all his might. Bryan struggled and juggled with the weight and awkwardness of the bags that puked things out all around him. Pizza boxes, a bag of sugar, box of tampons, a pack of bacon, bumper pack of potato chips and a loaf of bread fell to the gravel yard floor.

Tala was a sweaty mess. His usually pale face was a shade of sore red and a little sunburnt. His scarlet hair was frazzled and his temper raved. He pushed his face close to his comrades and barked orders. "Take the shopping inside. I've carried both loads long enough in that fucking heat. Don't speak to me for the rest of the day. Annnnnnd you can do the laundry and washing up until I stop being pissed at you."

Bryan pouted with a bulbous lip. He crouched to pick up all the fallen items to return them to the carriers. "Fine. Where you goin' now?"

"Shower! To cool down!" Tala snapped sharply as he stomped down the path towards the house. His arms swung angrily and his fingers throbbed from the tightness of the plastic handles.

The Saint Shields leader dragged the large framed offender over to Josef by one ear... which was impressive given Ozuma's short stature compared to Dunga's hulking one. Ozuma cut to the quick before releasing a tightly pinched earlobe. "Apologise to your team mate. You put him and our mission at risk, all because you couldn't keep your temper in check."

Dunga grunted an apology. "I'm sorry Josef. You know how I get. Someone pisses me off and I JUST lose it. And those smug Russian bladers...they naturally piss me off just for breathing."

Mariam spent a piece of her mind too. "You call that an apology! The worst could have happened! But it's okay everyone...because youuuuu have an anger problem!"

Ray and Hilary approached and tiptoed around the fire breathing Sharkrash guardian with long whipping hair like a shark's tail.

"Want me to take you through for you?" Asked the male White Tiger as he gestured to take the bags from Josef's red lined fingers.

"Here lemme take those off you before it all melts."Said Hilary who too took two bags each from his other hand. The pair then scampered off with the shopping to rescue anything melting and pack away things where they needed to go.

Josef held his hands up for Dunga to inspect. "Screw your sorry man, look how my blue finger tips are! You know how un-cool that was...leaving me like that and to carry almost everything."

The green eyed siblings made for the house to pour an ice cold glass for the shopper with injured digits, leaving seething Ozuma to reprimand Dunga.

Ozuma was shaking with rage and struggling to come down from it. He spewed his rage at Dunga full flow. "Do you have any idea what you did today? You left your team mate out there alone with a blader we don't trust. Remember, the Blitzkrieg Boys are not our allies. You embarrassed the Saint Shield clan by your rampantly brutish behaviour. And worst of all, you put our mission at risk. If anything happened to Josef, that's one less of us to defend the Sacred Spirits. If any of us, including the Russian bladers are taken hostage... that puts us in a weaker position to defend the sacred spirits. So help me, if this happens again Dunga. I will send you back to the village and a replacement member found. Do you understand?!... Now go clean your face up and drink some water. I don't want you dropping down with heat stroke after your...exertion in the sun."

Dunga hung his head low and daren't say a word back until his captain had calmed down. He skulked off to the house to do as he was told.

Tyson approached and placed a kind hand on Ozuma's shoulder. "Hey chill man. No one got hurt. Everyone's just a little hot under the collar in this weather. Everyone's brains getting fried haha."

Ozuma batted Tyson's hand off his person. "Show's over Tyson. Go back to your games and toys and keep out of my teams' affairs. I'll deal with my people and you deal with yours. And if you can manage it...keep a close eye on the Blitzkrieg Boys too. Bryan is much at fault for inciting Dunga into the ugly display we saw today."

The Beychamp and super-host didn't like the way his guest-protector spoke to him and smarted back. "Yeah yeah. I'll go back and play with my toys. I suggest you go get a cold drink and cool off. The sun's definitely roasted your manners." Tyson and Co trail back to the dojo to pick up where they left off. The Xbox awaited and now...they had snacks and plenty of them to enjoy.

---

Hours flew by as the young adults lazed around the dojo to escape the heat wave of the outside world. The air conditioning units and fans were in constant use and on their highest blow setting keeping everyone moderately comfortable and cool. A marathon of Xbox games fuelled by sweets, cookies, popcorn and potato chips was the only agenda. The campaign of play, friendly bickering and snacking would go on until dinnertime. Even Emily and Kenny broke away from their laptops to have some fun and chill with the guys.

Kai included himself in some of the games but mostly watched. Since returning from the garden after the Dunga/Bryan fiasco he struggled to concentrate as Dranzer's screams were oddly more intense and uncomfortable to hear. He probably needed a nap he thought. Once Tyson's iPod charged to full battery he used them to bring peace of mind once more. He even picked at a bag of salt and vinegar crisps and nibbled on half a raisin cookie as the boys played several noisy rounds of Mortal Kombat.

Ray and Mariah left to have showers in the late afternoon which freed up more space on the sofa. Kai took the vacant plush throne seat and curled up with the purple blanket pulled tight around his shoulders. He was careful though not to kick Hilary perched ladylike at the end as she watched the boys play Mario Kart. The soft furnishing allowed him to get a little too comfortable and with his body begging to take a nap to heal his wound, he drifted to slumberland with orange earphones buried in his ears, playing random songs on shuffle.

---

6:45 arrived and Kai's shoulder was gently shaken.

Tyson begged tenderly. "Hey Kai. Kai! It's almost dinner dude. We've made some grub for ya. Go get freshened up okay and meet us in the kitchen. We got a surprise for ya. And don't make us come lookin' for ya dude cus you're NOT missing another mealtime. Don't make us call your grandma okay."

Kai groaned before slowly opening his amethyst crystal coloured eyes to see Tyson leaving through the dojo doors and down the yellow wood veranda in a hurry. "Hmmmmmmmm." He groaned again in discomfort as his wound tweaked with the movement of uncurling to a seated position on the couch. Kai wasn't particularly hungry and could sleep another hour or two at least. He wasn't impressed he'd been woken up and fought with the idea of curling back up and returning to nap-land in protest. But...the threat of Tyson calling his Grandmother was enough to fuel him to get up and at least try to eat at the dinner table. With two pale hands he rubbed his face awake and massaged his eyelids to un-blur his vision. With a stagger and another groan he got to his feet. Kai yawned with one hand covering his mouth, and the other guarded his aching, itchy wound at his side. Wobbly and half awake, he aroused and walked straighter with each step. The sun was setting outside and he yawned once more as he calmly paced down the veranda with the iPod wrapped securely in his palm and the cord around his fingers.

The injured beyblade wandered silently and gently footed through the floorboard corridors of Tyson's house. The aroma of fried salmon and freshly cooked rice filled the air. The smell drifted from the kitchen and excited a feeling he hadn't felt since before the "event"...an appetite... and it raged for a proper hearty meal. A sure sign Kai was doing better physically and mentally.

Kai's first destination was the main bathroom where he placed his iPod in his pocket. He had a wee standing up as men do, washed his hands with cherry blossom scented soap, rinsed them, and then splashed and massaged his tired face with cool water. After drying his hands and face with a soft yellow towel he produced the shiny black iPod from his pocket to check the battery. His heart sunk to his bowels...the music player responsible for helping him eat when Dranzer's distressing screams wouldn't allow him to...was again dead. "No. No. This can't be happening again. I only charged it a few hours ago." Kai pressed the middle button again with hope but it would still not alight. The iPod played all afternoon before and during his nap and simply run out of juice again. Kai felt sick instantly and all appetite was replaced with a belly full of dread. "They're all going to expect me to eat with them. I'm going to be under pressure in front of everyone and if Dranzer is in pain right now, I wouldn't be able to tolerate chewing let alone swallow. It's going to be the cup noodle situation all over again. I have the desire and need but if I can't swallow there's nothing I can do. And what if I throw up?!" The thought of going to dinner was suddenly overwhelming and nauseating causing his palms to perspire and mouth run dry.

Dranzer's bloodcurdling cry in the back of Kai's mind echoed. "KAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR."

"No, I have to try." Kai ran his fingers through his dual toned hair to calm himself and took a deep breath. "I'll eat what I can. It'll be fine."

With a skulking stance and one hand on his wound, Kai made his way to the kitchen. He reached the doorway and looked up at the room of diners all sat around the table. Tyson, Hilary, Max, Ray, Daichi, Mariah, Bryan, Tala, Kenny and Emily. In front of each of them were round blue porcelain bowls filled with fish covered in teriyaki sauce atop sticky white rice. One empty wooden chair on the opposite side of the table to Tyson was pulled out and ready for him. A bowl of his favourite dish, teriyaki salmon and rice sat piping hot and waiting for him at his place. Clean white plastic chopsticks waited at the side.

Dranzer's bloodcurdling cry in the back of Kai's mind echoed again. "KAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR."

Emily smarmed. "Look who's joined us for dinner for once. Nice to see you at the table again Kai. We've arranged this just for you."

Ray added with a relaxed smile. "Take a seat Kai. We know this is your favourite dish. I did most of the cooking so I promise its safe."

"KAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR."

Kai gingerly seated himself in the empty chair at the head of the table and shakily picked up his chopsticks. The action alone kicked nerves in. Pressure was built high with so many faces watching.

Dranzer's cries were fast and frequent tonight. "KAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR."

The food looked amazing and smelled amazing and if Ray was its chef, it was going to taste exquisite. But hearing Dranzer going through so much terror...eating was not going to be possible at least not right now and there was no iPod to rescue the situation. Kai was considering putting his chopsticks down and bolting from the room right then and there. He almost did until...

Tyson arose from his seat. Instead of tucking into his fishy culinary treat, he had a plan. Seemingly everyone else was in on it as they too held off digging in. "Hey Kai. We thought we'd do dinner differently tonight."

Kai stared at him with glassy eyes, a glum face and a twisted stomach. He wasn't in the mood to be toyed with.

"Just gimme one sec." Tyson pulled out a retro portable stereo with large built in speakers from under the table and placed it on the kitchen side by the drying rack. He plugged it into a socket on the wall, pressed a button to flip open a flap to check the disc was in, shut the flap... and pressed play. A bit of static as the old machine hummed and spun the disc inside.

Then...

The intro kicked in and Tyson spun the volume dial to increase the volume.

ACDC – Shoot to thrill began to play.

The lyrics rocked the house in more ways than one as plates and glasses shook on shelves and all bodies at the table moved shoulders, nodded heads and tapped feet with the beat.

Tyson yelled over the music as he re-took his throne at the other head of the table. "We're gunna eat and rock out tonight. I hope that's okay with you Kai."

"Yeah we thought your battery might be dead so we improvised. I hope you like rock n roll Kai because we certainly do!" Max cried aloud before diving his chopsticks into his meal.

Tyson shout announced. "Without further ado. Dig in guys. Bon appetit!"

Chopsticks and forks of the Blitzkrieg Boys picked and dug at their steaming aromatic meals. The food was incredibly tasty thanks to years of Ray's schooling of gastronomy in Paris and Hong Kong. The music was an amazingly fun touch to the diners as they head banged the air, jiggled their shoulders and trunks with the beat and lip synced with and without food in their mouths.

Kai steadied his fingers and with the pair of chopsticks pinched a chunk of salmon and rice within them. He took a deep breath in through his nose and slowly out of his mouth with his eyes closed and he didn't care who saw. He focused on the music to get through what he had to do to live. His fellow diners were too distracted with mouthing "Shoot to thrill" and "Pull the trigger" and "Shoot you down" lyrics to notice Kai and his eating problems. Dranzer's sorrowful cries were muted under noisy thrashing layers of drum, base and guitar solos, and a high pitched lead singer screeching down a microphone. Kai levered the precious nutritional fish and rice into his mouth and chewed as if it was the first time he'd learn to do it. The flavour caused a mouth-gasm and he swallowed without any resistance from his throat. His body accepted the lump of protein, carbs and salty savoury sauce like it was oxygen. He took another and another and enjoyed every single bite. He was halfway through the bowl when he looked up to see Tyson staring back at him. With a grain of rice stuck to his shirt and teriyaki sauce smeared in a corner of his mouth which he quickly licked, the amazing, kind friend winked at Kai with a cheeky grin. Kai exchanged a subtle nod and a short-lived smile back; that was Kai language for "Thankyou."

Then... without warning. Shoot to Thrill ended and Fall Out Boy's cover of Michael Jackson's Beat It started and sent the room wild. The scene became an energetic foray of fun and silliness. Daichi, Tyson and Hilary were on their feet punching the air and strummed pretended guitars. Ray twirled Mariah around 1950s style and Max used his chopsticks like a drummer against the table. Tala and Bryan loved the atmosphere but didn't feel comfortable enough to join in dancing, although they did lip sync a lot of ACDC at each other. Grandpa Granger entered the disco with a mop and a two household brooms. He tossed Tyson the mop and a broom to Hilary and the three made out they were guitarists and strummed them in time with every beat with disciplined accuracy. Granger Senior and Junior had done that before. Daichi pretended he was the lead singer and actually sung out loud cracking a glass tumbler with his screechy voice.

Kai didn't have the energy or flexibility to join in the dancing, nor would his wound allow anything of the sort but he enjoyed watching them anyway. Kai didn't know it but at that moment he was beaming happy and all thoughts of Dranzer and Shadow Vale were far far away.

---

"JUST BEAT IT! BEAT IT! NO ONE WANTS TO BE DEFEATED!" Fall Out Boy lyrics boomed throughout Tyson's ancient home. The beat and volume vibrated beams and shook dust off cobwebs and light fixtures. The Saint Shields on the rooftop could hear every tune and syllable.

Dusk in Japan was a stunning portrait in the sky with oranges and pinks dashed across a dark creamy blue canvas. Two Saint Shields overlooked Tyson's garden for murderous intruders whilst perched on a blue tile ridge shinobi style.

Mariam side-glanced her team leader and old friend. She sounded jealous. "Sounds like they're having a whale of a time."

Ozuma, who'd calmed down considerably after his fit of rage at Dunga earlier, replied flatly. "Yeah. Let them enjoy their selves for now. Because soon... Shadow Vale will be back and there'll be no fooling and smiling when they do."

---

"KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Dranzer screamed as he threw his mighty feathered head back in agony. Black lightning zapped and zinged painfully at the great fire bird's neck, ankles and wing joints through giant metal collars attached to heavy chains. The thunderous misery coursed through every tendon and cell causing spasms and unimaginable suffering. After days of torment and distress, the living god resisted still, with every feather and muscle and fibre of his ethereal body. His cries carried for miles, not that anyone would hear to rush to his rescue. Dranzer was trapped and tormented in the middle of a dust bowl desert with no ally for help and his heartbroken guardian was a country away.

"KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

The goats' blood circle, essential for the entrapment ritual, had dried and seeped into the sand or wind swept away; meaning more hoofed innocents were slaughtered by means of exsanguination...all to produce more of the iron rich liquid to keep the ring fresh and powerful. Clan members dressed in long purple hooded cloaks remained in place at the circles edge, though suffering from wobbly legs and sore dry throats after days of endless chanting in the moisture-less arid landscape. Fire pyres burned bright and crackled in the night as they did every evening until dawn at the ritual site. Four days had gone by and their flaming Spiritual prisoner was showing no signs of breaking.

"KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

The Arch Mage Rochimaru had lost his patience days ago. He exacted the harshest, most painful spell he could muster from the oldest forbidden scriptures. The black magic he currently employed was as evil and powerful as it gets, there was nothing more torturous he could deliver to break his captive... and it frustrated him to no end that it wasn't working."YOU INFERNAL CREATURE. STOP THIS INSOLENCE AND! YOU HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO SO BEND TO MY WILL!"

"KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Despite his agonising lashes, Dranzer kept fighting continuously for his freedom. The cunning fire bird had even tried to attack one of the chanters who bowed to close into the blood circle. He was saved by a fellow clan member who noticed Dranzer eyeing him up like a falcon does a mouse, and yanked him backwards by his hood before a great yellow beak could behead him. The imbecile felt a tickling up his leg and thought it might be a scorpion.

"KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

The Arch Mage and his stooge of Shadow Vale clan members were running out of time. Chanters were beginning to faint during the day from dehydration and lack of decent sleep. Their ritual was physically and psychologically taxing and food supplies were running low.

"KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Blake approached his malicious intended Clan leader and Grandfather with an idea. He whispered it into his ear like a dark secret. His elder beamed cruelly with pointed fangs and gaunt cheeks. "Yes. My Child. Try what you must." He hissed. The man with a satanic heart let his arms drop to his sides and ceased his black magic-born assault to allow words to cut through the air. These words would do more damage, cause more agony and imbed deeper than any arrow, blade or bullet. The Arch Mage was going to enjoy seeing them burn and sear into Dranzer's heart and poison him with grief.

Blake's red eyes twinkled from the light of the fire pyres as he stepped forward into a clearing, as close as he could safely get to the floating battle bird. He pulled the hood of his cape off to reveal shimmering spiky silver hair. The tip of his open toed boot touched the goats' blood circle edge. Any nearer and his life was in jeopardy. Dranzer had already tried to decapitate one man and to send Blake's head rolling would be a pleasure for the scarlet feathered prisoner. Cloaked underlings carried on their repetitive chants to keep the feathered beast safely trapped in the bloody sphere. If they stopped, Dranzer could fly away, or worse...burn them all alive in revenge.

Blake called out to the Bitbeast he came so close to controlling already...if only Kai died when he was supposed to. His voice was cold and emotionless. "Oh great Red Phoenix, Dranzer! Listen to me! I have something to say and trust me, you need to hear it."

Dranzer thrashed and tackled the side of the golden glowing dome with grills like a giant bird cage. Each time he did, he screeched as the frame zapped him like an electric fence. "KAWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Blake cried again but louder this time and with open arms. He'd only just begun what he wanted to say. "There's no way out of this Dranzer. You are only delaying the inevitable!"

Dranzer continued skull bashing the side of the electrified avian cage. He cared not for anything Blake had to say. "KAWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Blake lowered his arms as he smiled maliciously, his white teeth glistened with nasty intent. His words were about to get to the good stuff. "You see Dranzer, I don't think you see the whole picture. Your Guardian Kai... He's suffering... and he's running out of time."

Dranzer heard his masters' name and turned his head sharply like a dog responding to a whistle. Like a hawk being called back to a glove, the giant fire bird left the sky to adopt the ground. Upon landing he used his great ruby feathered wings to slow before the hitting earth, and in doing so, whipped up a cloud of red and yellow sand, blinding any chanters close causing them to groan and blink as grit stuck to their eyeballs. Dranzer lowered his head and turned it to gaze close with one eye at Blake like a velociraptor inside a cage, he watched intently, waiting for him to slip an arm or a foot over the threshold for him to rip off. The Shadow Vale blader had what he wanted. The furious phoenix was listening.

Blake smirked and his face twisted into a fake display of concern. His words feigned care for all involved. He paced and gestured as he delivered his ultimatum. "Your precious guardian, Kai...he can't sleep...he can't eat... he has no joy in his life... And that's all because of you... You see you are still connected to him spiritually and he's pining for you. He feels everything you feel, including what we put you through.

Kai is growing sick and weak because of it... His wound is infected and he isn't getting better. Your beloved guardian is in so much pain emotionally and physically he can barely stand it.

He's drowning in agony and depression and it's only a matter of time before he takes his own life. And when he does...my clan with have mastership of you anyway. But you... Dranzer...you, can...set him free before that happens. The bond you share is literally killing him... but you can save him. Come now...end this pain and suffering for you both...before it's too late."

Dranzer whimpered as much as godly bird could. A sad and sorrowful sound vibrated from his avian throat. "SQQQQQQQQUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

The great bird shook his magnolia coloured mane as he turned his back so Blake couldn't see...the bulbous aqua tears cascading from his eyes downwards towards the ridge of his beak. Two glassy balls of sorrow hit the sandy earth and soaked into it.

Blake added hastily as he walked around to face the crying phoenix. "It's up to you Dranzer. We can either wait for your Guardian, Kai to die in pain, malnourished and insane...or you can give him a fighting chance. It's your choice."