RTC: I know what you're thinking; she's updating this quickly? Something is up. Well, I'm getting back on track, so I'm trying to update more frequently. Oh, my friend told me that posting review responses here is not a good thing, so I'm going to respond with the reply link. Please leave an email if you're going to review anonymously. So, here are this chapters review responses:
BloOdY-JoKeR: Thank you, I think I'm finally over my writer's block. I know Hiro's appearance surprised people; I don't think anyone expected him to show up. I don't think anyone picked up on the hints I was dropping, like Tyson saying he was worried about Hiro. (Don't worry; the hints were very hard to notice!)
Iluvbeyblade: Well, I am a very random person; I'll do and say the most random things. There are quite a few reasons for the chapter; torturing Max, re-introducing Hiro to the plot, bringing in another OC and hinting at the pairings. I know you'll probably approve of Max- torture, though most of the torture is to set up for something in future chapters. (Hint, hint!) Thank you for understanding about my updating predicament, and not getting angry.
Phoenix from the flames 1978: You're going to spoil me with all those compliments! (I appreciate it!) The writer's block is gone, I think, so... I'm glad you liked the POV switching, because there's an awful lot of it in this chapter too. (However, I will go back to just two or three POVs in the next chapter.)
Sakura-Moonlight: Thank you for understanding. I had written seven chapters before I posted this, but I ran out of prewritten work. Also, I posted a second fic about three weeks ago and I haven't updated that yet. (Sigh.) I'll get it done eventually.
RTC: Guess what! I got Kai un-chibified!
Ray: Really? Thank goodness, he was driving me crazy!
Kai: I heard that!
Ray: Opps. So how'd you fix him?
RTC: Dumped cranberry juice on him.
Max: And how did you come up with that solution?
RTC: Um, well...
Kai: It was an accident. She's just a klutz!
RTC: Shut up and do the disclaimer! (Kai protests.) Hey, remember who un-chibified you!
Kai: Well, we all know Ray-Tiger-Cat still does not own Beyblade, 'cause if she did, I'd have committed suicide by now!
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An Unexpected Visitor
Kenny's POV
"Who's there?" I called. I just heard someone talking, though I couldn't make out the words. I followed the sound to a clearing. "Maxie! What happened to you?"
Max looked at me and said, "I don't know, but my head really hurts."
"Well, what else is wrong?" I asked.
"Blurry vision, nausea, dizziness and it feels like my head has been cracked in half!"
"I think you've got a concussion, Max. Come on, we can't stay here alone," I said grabbing his arm and helping him up.
"Okay, let's go!" he replied and we both walked out of the clearing, Max leaning on me.
Tala's POV
"Kai, are you okay?" I asked. We'd been walking for three hours, night had fallen and Kai didn't look very well.
"Fine, fine."
"Maybe you should take a rest," I advised.
"I can do that after we find the others and get out of here," he replied. Oh well, I hadn't really expected him to listen to that anyway. He had refused to rest and I was beginning to fear that he might faint or something. About an hour later, Kai fell.
"Now will you take a rest?" I asked.
"No, a little pain and dizziness aren't going to stop me," Kai said.
"You're not going to stop 'till you end up dead!" He is my friend, but he can be so stubborn sometimes. I think Tyson's rubbing off on him. Great, exactly what the world needs. I guess we'll keep walking until he keels over or we find everybody and get out of here.
Hilary's POV
"How are you doing, Ray? You look really tired and as though you might faint," I remarked.
"It's no big deal." Boys are way too stubborn! Ray had insisted on carrying me because my right ankle swelled up a lot and he refuses to take a break. Honestly, he's getting worse than Tyson. Ray has been acting stubborn and sort of... secretive ever since he got bitten by that snake. Maybe it's just me.
"Okay, that's it. We're going to take a break. It's already dark and we should catch a few Z's," I told him. "Hey, what's wrong? You've been so irritable," I added, glancing at his face.
"Never mind. It's just that I, um, I'm not feeling well, so I'm sorry," Ray said.
"Are you still on medication?"
"Yeah."
"And let me guess, you don't have it here with you," I said.
"You hit the nail on the head."
"No wonder you're so out of it! Take a break. You'll feel better."
"Okay, you sleep and I'll keep watch. We'll switch later." Finally, a small victory. I'd better get some sleep now, though.
Kai's POV
I was awoken by Tala shaking my shoulders hard. I'd only agreed to take a rest to shut him up and now he's waking me.
"What!"
"Someone's nearby. I can hear footsteps."
"Let me go!" yelled a voice.
"That's Daichi! We'd better see what's going on," I whispered.
"Do we have to rescue the monkey midget?" Tala complained.
"Yes. You're just sore because he beat you in beybattles," I mumbled.
"Hmpf! I am not!" Tala retorted, but he ran of towards Daichi' cries for help, nevertheless. I limped along behind him. When we caught up to Daichi's captor, we saw that it was an adult who was also wearing a black cloak. Talk about unique fashion sense. He was holding Daichi in a head lock and dragging him along.
"Let him go!" ordered Tala. The cloaked figure walked on, ignoring him. "Fine, you want to be difficult. Two can play at that game," he said and launched his blade. The figure ducked, let go of Daichi and launched his own blade. Daichi quickly ran towards us, climbed a tree and launched Strata Dragoon.
Much smashing and bashing later, Tala's blade was the only one still spinning.
"Yay!" yelled Daichi. "We won! No one can beat us!"
"I don't think so," I said.
"Huh?"
"What Kai means is that those battles are too easy. They must be after something else," Tala said. "You know what?" he continued, "The others might have ended up at the meeting place by now. There are others to gather everyone. So, I think our best bet is to go there and hope everyone is alright." We agreed and headed out.
Tyson's POV
We arrived at a clearing where three jeeps were parked. No one else could be seen.
"You guys better eat something," Hiro said, pulling some food out of a jeep.
"I'm not hungry," I stated, earning a stare from Hiro.
"Right and I'm the queen of England. Tyson, you're always hungry." I was spared from having to respond by Daichi jumping out of a tree and landing in front of me.
"Daichi, are any of the others with you?" Kari asked, undoubtedly worried about Kai.
"Yeah, they're coming," he said and at that moment, Tala, followed closely by Kai, ran into the clearing. Kari ran over, hugged Kai and then Tala. When she let go of him, they were both blushing.
"Kari? Kai didn't tell me you were here," Tala said, trying to break the awkward silence and glaring at Kai.
"I thought you knew," Kai replied, smirking. Then he caught sight of me.
"Um, Kai," I began.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Kai asked confusedly.
"For getting mad at you. I know you don't always want to tell us things, but I know it's hard..." I trailed off.
"Hn." I guess that's his way of saying apology accepted.
"Well, what now?" Daichi asked.
"Now we wait for Ray, Hilary, Kenny, Max and whoever else Mr. Dickenson sent to find you guys," Hiro directed.
Ray's POV
"What's that?" Hilary shrieked, pointing to a person who was moving through the trees very quickly. The person heard her and ran towards us. They looked like they were carrying something heavy and a second figure appeared, trying to keep up with the first.
As the people came closer, I identified them. Kenny, my cousin Mary Anne, with Max on her back.
"Mary Anne, what are you doing here?" I asked, surprised.
"It's a long story. Anyway, we have to get to the meeting place. I bet your team mates are already there," she said.
"Um, who are you and how would the others be able to find and gather at this meeting place? And what happened to Max?" Hilary asked.
"My name's Mary Anne. I'm Ray's cousin. The others will have found the place because Mr. D. sent other people to get you out of here. Max here seems to have a concussion and he's having a hard time walking or moving without getting really dizzy. So, any more questions or can we go?" Mary Anne asked.
"Nope. Let's go," Hilary replied while I got her back on to my back.
"Ray, are you sure you can handle that much weight? You don't look well," Mary Anne remarked. I wish she wouldn't worry so much.
"That's exactly what I asked him! He said he doesn't have his medicine and that was all," Hilary exclaimed. Mary Anne gave me this look that said, 'We'll talk later and you'd better have a good explanation for this.'
Pretty soon, we found the trail and it led us to a clearing where the rest of the team, Tala and Hiro were gathered.
"You guys finally made it! Who's she?" Tyson added, seeing my cousin. I waited for her to explain, but she was oddly silent and staring at Hiro.
"She's my cousin, Mary Anne," I replied for her.
"Max, are you okay?" asked Daichi.
"Concussion, that's all," Max said, barely able to keep his eyes open.
"Well, let's get out of here!" yelled Tala.
Later, when we were at the airport to take us back to New York, Mary Anne corned me.
"Why don't you have your medicine with you? You know how important that is!" she scolded.
"Relax, I have it. I just told Hilary that so she'd have a reason as to why I was so tired. You understand, don't you? So, want me to pull out cupid's arrow?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, though she was blushing tomato red. "However, I came here for something important. Ray, your mom wants you to come home for a few days. She said she had something urgent to tell you. So, you're taking a second plane when we get to New York to go home."
"What! Don't I get any say in this!"
"I know you're angry, but she sounded frantic. She said it would help you and your team a lot."
"Okay, I'll go, but I still don't like this. I'd better break the news to the team," I said. I wondered what could be so important. I guess I'll just have to find out for myself.
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Ray: She just can't stop torturing me!
RTC: That's not fair! I've tortured Kai a lot and I just gave Max a concussion!
Ray: You're still evil!
RTC: So, did anyone get the pairings? Please feel free to guess in your reviews. (You are going to review, aren't you?) I would really like to get 100 reviews by the end of this. (It seems like a lot, but I'm already at 65 and this fic will be about another 10 chapters.) I don't feel like rambling on and on today, so I'll shut up soon. Hopefully, I'll have the next chapter up soon too. See ya!