Chained To Trouble

Daichi was holding a magic show for the other kids in town. Hilary's school had arranged for a charity show and everyone had to contribute to it. Tyson as usual wanted a demonstration beybattle. Hilary wanted to sell home made food and things which could be reused. Kenny, Max and Ray decided to have a little schooling of eager young bladers. The proceeds from their fee were going to charity. Kai surprisingly helped Hilary with her odd jobs. Hilary having long forgotten that fatal day when he had confessed her love for her, found nothing unusual about it. It was sweet little Maxi who first began to guess what was going on between them. Ray being too preoccupied with his own Mariah had little place for his friends relationships. Kenny and Tyson were totally blind to all that went around them. One was trapped in a virtual world of his own and the other cared only for his bit beast. It came as a surprise for Hilary when Daichi claimed he wanted to put up a magic show.

"Magic show?" Hilary asked uncertainly "I am not sure we can fit an entire act into a stall, Daichi."

"Oh but I was hoping so…"

The red head devil seemed so put out by this rejection that Hilary managed to find him a good spot for his show.

"Thanks, Hilary" Daichi had shouted then.

But little did they know what he had been planning. He may be small but he could smell out trouble faster than anyone else. He could feel the strain the Bladebreakers were suffering and quietly laid out a plan. All he hoped that the others wouldn't find him out. It was important to him that the others did not stop him from pulling his prank. It would ruin everything then. Stage one of the operation had been complete. Hilary had fallen for his trick…. Now it was time for Stage Two.

"I need volunteers for my next trick" called Daichi after the storm of clapping subsided after his 2nd last act. "Two of you will do…come on don't be shy."

Hilary had wandered over to them by now. Daichi spotted her and dragged her to his stall. "First volunteer here…need another one!"

Tyson had just finished his game and came up to Hil to demand some food of her. He had no idea he had walked straight into a trap laid by Daichi.

"And the next volunteers here!"

Tyson's mouth was slightly open. Hilary stared at him in surprise.

'What's this freak planning now?' she thought 'I've a bad feeling about this.'

"What are you doing, Dai?" asked Tyson, bewildered.

"Shut up and let me do my job, Tyson!" was the reply.

He took out one of those magic handcuffs and chained Tyson's right hand to Hilary's left. They didn't protest knowing it was part of his silly magic trick.

"And observe, as I without a key free my two slaves from enchainment!" she cried.

"Slaves?" echoed Tyson.

"WHAT?" shouted Hilary.

Daichi ignored them and carried on with his own work.. He covered their hands' with a cloth. Then he shouted, "KA-FISH!" his usual cry for any magic.

He removed the cloth. But Hilary and Tyson were still chained to one another!

"No way" said Daichi "I'll try again…"

But try as he might the chain wouldn't come off their wrists. Hilary was growing impatient.

"Daichi, I have a stall to attend." Hilary said.

"Yeah, and I have a battle to win." Tyson complained.

"It won't come off. I don't know what to do, guys…."

"Get the keys you jerk" said Hil. She was running out of patience.

So was Tyson. "Daichi, where are you keys?"

For the boy was looking all over the place for his keys. It was no where to be found! Not on the grass, or the stall table, in any of his pockets or anywhere!

"Impossible" he said, frustrated "I can't find it anywhere!"

"WHAT?" shrieked his prisoners "YOU'RE SO DEAD DAICHI!"

"C'mon – I'm trying to think you guys…"

"Lets all look…" said Max, who had been present during the demonstration.

"Great, I'll be in my stall." Hilary said.

"And I'll be at mine" asserted Tyson.

They went different ways. But since they were still chained to together, the handcuff stretched to its maximum point – then both of them were jerked back into their initial places. They collided into one another.

"Great" muttered Hilary "Great going, Daichi."

"Hey, I'm sure we can find the key." Max assured her.

"Sure, Maxi" said Tyson, darkly "And till you do we're chained."

"Yeah – I am chained to trouble!" Hilary rolled her eyes to the sky.

While the confusion went on in Daichi's store. A boy of 16 broke from the crowd and walked away from the fair. He had the air of some very important person about it. As he went his way, he thought:

'I am doing this for their good. Either they must learn to live with one another or they can die trying!'

Needless to say, his name : Kai Hiwatari.

"I'm bored Hil" said Tyson after watching her stall for half an hour "Can't we give up the stall?"

"No" she said "Think about the little kids…not of yourself all the time, Tyson!" she scolded.

"Fine" groaned Tyson

He hated keeping stall. He looked about and suddenly spotted Miss Heifer coming towards them.

"Ah-oh!" he said, and ducked out of sight.

Hilary felt a sudden jerk in her left wrist but before she could put herself in a much better position, Miss Heifer came to her.

"How's the stall going, Hilary?" she questioned.

"F-fine" gasped poor Hilary. The metal was really cutting into her wrist. It was with the huge effort that she didn't cry in pain.

"I'm so glad you're all doing this, Hilary. And it's nice to see Tyson working hard for a change….the beyblade idea was a good idea for fund raiser. Give him my congratulations when you see him. I can't find him!" she went on.

"I-I definitely will!" smiled Hilary, though tears had began stinging her eyes.

"Daichi's idea was good too…and – Hilary dear are you crying?"

"N-yes…these are tears of happiness… I'm so glad we could help."

"Good job all of you! I think you should wrap up now. It's five minutes to get over."

She walked off and Hilary pulled Tyson to his feet with an impatient pull of her chained hand.

"OW…my hand!"

"Think what I went through then!"

Tyson was silent. He shouldn't have sat down like that. It had nearly cut poor Hilary's hand into two. And would no one ever find the darted KEY?

"Hey I've and idea…" said Tyson. "We can free ourselves."

"Can you?" Hilary raised an eyebrow.

"Sure I do…"

He reached to pull out his blade, but his right hand being changed he couldn't manage it at all.

"DAICHI!" he yelled furiously.

Hilary sighed deeply….

'This will be a bad day – and I'm chained to trouble!'

Ray was teaching some of the younger children to launch their blades when Max came up to him with a worried expression on his face.

"What's up Maxi?" asked Ray.

"Daichi's chained Tyson and Hilary together!" said Max.

"Serve him right." Ray said.

"No, it didn't. 'Cause of they are eating my head, and Kenny's to search for the lost key!" Max said "And we've to look for it now!"

"Ah-ah-ah-ow-ow-ow!" said Ray "I was really getting into this!"

Max frowned at him. Ray sighed.

"Fine! Wrap up, kids" he called, commandingly.

Groans of disappointment were heard, some of the children objected. But there really was no help for it. They had to go and look for the key. It was no secret to them how dangerous Hilary could be when provoked! And Tyson was no exception.

Within a few minutes, Ray and Max were free.

"Where do you propose we look first?" asked Max.

"Um…how about near the place Daichi had his stall?" Ray suggested.

"We've looked there already" said Max "But still – we might find something there. Let's go…"

Kenny was working feverishly on his laptop. He was pleading with his bit beast to help him track down the key to Daichi's magic handcuff.

"Please Dizzie! You've got to find that key!" he said.

"Sorry, chief…I only track bit beast and humans…no non-living things!" said Dizzie.

"But if we can't find the key, Dizzie, Tyson's carrier might be jeopardized!"

"Have you tried going to an ironsmith, Chief?" asked Dizzie.

"Good idea, Dizzie! I'll go tell the guys."

"Me is always the Brains, Chief"

Kenny shut his laptop with a smart smack and rushed off to tell the others.

Kai was standing alone in the dock. He remembered what Hilary had said to him.

'Tell her before its too late.' He had told her…but now he came to realize it that it was already too late. Hilary's heart belonged to Tyson now. There could never be some one between them now…he should have told them earlier than this. He should have stolen her heart before he ended up breaking his…

"Tyson's meant for her, perhaps" he said. Then his voice hardened "Serve him right to be chained to her!"

Poor Kai. Torn between his love for Hilary and his duty towards her as a friend, he didn't know what to do.

For the first time in his life, Kai was confused.

Hilary and Tyson were tired after searching all around the grounds. Hilary didn't want to give up and Tyson wanted to eat.

"C'mon, Hil" he said "We've got to have something to eat!"

"Eat? Tyson how can you even think about food?" Hilary scolded "We have a situation on our hands!"

"Yeah well…I can handle the 'situation' better if we had something to eat!" he thundered. "This is entirely your fault anyway!"

"May fault?" asked Hilary.

"Yeah, yours! You were the one who allowed him a magic stall!"

"Don't you blame me…!"

"You just can't accept you're not perfect!"

"Are you?"

A boy a little younger to Tyson came to them now. He was accompanied by another girl. She looked about Hilary's age. They walked up the chained duo. Tyson and Hilary forgot their fight for the time being.

"Look, Hilary's actually wearing the World Champ as her charm bracelet!" commented the girl.

"What d'you want girl?" asked Tyson, roughly.

"The name's Kat" said the girl. She did look like one: with her large green eyes and rather deep shade of red hair.

"ME-OW" said Hilary, rolling her eyes "Who's the shorty?"

"You talking to me?" the boy asked.

"Yeah…"

"My name's Zach. And I've come to challenge Tyson to a battle." He announced.

"Oh-oh!" said Tyson.

With his hand chained to Hilary's wrist he couldn't launch his blade let alone battle with it! He turned a worried face at Hilary.

"Tag team match?" she asked.

Tyson considered. She was a good blader and all she needed was constant patting. She got nervous too soon…

"Alright" he agreed "Listen, I need you to take out my blade."

Tyson took Hilary's blade from her pocket and Hilary arranged Tyson's things for him.

"We'll blade you" said Tyson "but the Kat's gotta battle too!"

"Agreed"

Kat jumped forwards, blade ready. Zach was ready too. The chained duo were prepared too.

"3-2-1 LET IT RIP" all four of them yelled.

The battle became intense with the simultaneous releases on both sides. Hilary and Tyson both battled really well. Kat and Zach were both strong. Tyson grinned.

"It's good – but you're gonna have to do better than that!" he shouted. He turned to Hilary "Tag team attack, Hil."

Hilary nodded.

They placed their arms around each others shoulders and screamed, "GO – Tag team attack!"

Their blades came together and with a tremendous force knocked over both Zach and Kat's blade.

"Yes!" screamed Hilary "We did it, Tyson!"

"Yeah – we did…" said Tyson, flinging himself on her "Nice going, partner!"

Hilary blushed crimson. Tyson could really embarrass people sometimes…especially her!

"Sorry to break up the romantic act – but we demand another battle!" Kat cut in. Zach nodded in agreement.

Tyson released his grip on Hilary and turned to face them, furious.

"What-?" he goggle.

But Hilary had had enough of their silly challenges.

"You have no idea of what a terrible day I've been having" shrieked Hilary "I have a teacher who thinks we have worked hard, when we didn't I. And that devil Daichi Sumeragi's chained me to this 85 pounds of useless flab and my friends can't find the key. On top that I had to battle and not a minute I got to myself this day. Having the WORLD CHAMP chained to my wrist – so unless you want a taste of what I've been through today, I suggest to better clear off!"

The furious glint in Hilary's eyes, the high-pitch of her voice and the way she brandished the chain at their faces was enough to make the two clear off at once. Tyson watched the progress open-mouthed. When they were out of sight he turned to Hilary.

"That was brilliant!" He breathed "How did you come up with such a speech?"

"Never mind" said Hilary, quickly "Let's go get something to eat."

"You're speaking my language." Tyson grinned.

Max and Ray met Kenny around the bend of the road, which led to the restaurant Tyson and Hilary had chosen to come to.

"Any luck?" asked Max of Kenny.

"None with the key" said Kenny "But we can take them to an ironsmith."

"Sure" said Ray "Lets go tell them."

They walked right past the duo tucking into their food. Max was the one who spotted them first.

"Look aren't those two-?" he began.

"Yeah, they are -!" said Ray.

"Tyson and Hilary" breathed Kenny "Ah, well – they're finally getting along!"

A little hurricane rushed past them and into the stall. It came up to Max and Ray's waists' and had red hair. There was no mistaking the little mischief maker Daichi.

"We should go in too" said Max, worried.

"Agreed" said Ray.

Kenny followed the other two in. Daichi was standing well away from Tyson and Hilary's table and saying, "Believe me – I can't find the key anywhere! I think I've lost it!"

"What?" called Tyson, angrily "I've to spend the rest of my life with her?"

"I'll have this useless flab chained to my wrist forever?" shrieked Hilary.

"Now, now – don't get paranoid" said Daichi, trying to calm her down and backing away at the same time – I'm sure we'll free you…"

Hilary tried to take a swipe at him, but the chain pulled her back. She was growing more furious by the minute!

Max rushed in and pulled Hilary back. "Hurting him won't free you, Hilary"

Hilary sighed. "You're right."

"Well, we can go to an ironsmith?" suggested Kenny.

"But where do we find one?" asked Ray.

Behind him the counter door opened and Zach and Kat walked in. Tyson groaned at the sight of them. Why couldn't they just leave him alone? Zach spotted them and began walking towards them. Hilary broke free of Max's grip and shouted,

"Take another step forwards and I'll show you what it's like to have your wrist chained to 85 pounds of useless flab!"

Zach backed off at once. The others turned admiringly at Hilary except Tyson.

"Did you just call me flab?" he thundered.

"So what if I did?" asked Hilary, turning away from him "You were all flab once!"

"Now I'm fit!"

"Cut it out!"

The fight continued…and for sometime all of them forgot that these two were chained to one another.

Kai decided that he had given the pair enough time to get along with one another. He went off to the restaurant where he knew the Bladebreakers often went. When he entered he saw Tyson and Hilary sitting, facing opposite directions and the others tucking into the food laid in front of them. Daichi was the first one to notice Kai.

"Look who's here!" said the monkey boy "Sour puss Kai!"

Luckily Kai did not hear him. He came right up to them and then said in his deep voice, "I found something belonging to you"

He threw the Kai at the pair of them. In a reflex action both of them raised their hands to catch it. Hilary caught it and then turned a smiling face at Tyson.

"Guess I'll be free of you" said the girl happily and unchained themselves.

"My arm!" said Tyson rubbing the red mark around his wrist.

"Good to be whole again!" Hilary sighed. "Thanks, Kai."

Kai kept quiet.

On their way home, Tyson walked beside Hilary.

"Hey, Hil?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for the way I acted when I got chained to you. You really are a true blader and thanks for defending me with those weirdoes."

"Well, forget it. For my behavior wasn't all that good either, Tyson. I was horrible to you. Sorry I said awful things to you." Hilary smiled.

"We are meant for each other, then?" Tyson said.

Hilary looked at him. Feeling a sense of foreboding. Would Tyson finally realize he loved her dearly?

"Meant to be true friends for life!" he laughed "Well, bye Hil!"

He walked off. Hilary stood in the moonlight alone for sometime. Tyson's last comment had both disappointed and hurt her. she knew somehow that Tyson would never face the idea of loving anyone let alone her.

She wasn't the only one hurt by this thought. Kai watched from the shadows and was equally hurt as well.

'When you don't love her – why give her hope, Tyson? And make me give up mine?'

But it was only the spirit of the night air who heard his heart-rendering question. No one else came to know of it as yet.