As always a mahooosive shout out to Vlissan for leaving me such lovely reviews! Here's another chapter for ya. For anyone else that's reading, I hope you enjoy my very slow burn fanficcy :)
Chapter 41
Day 6 of the Granger dojo Lockdown.
Soft purple coloured sand seeped through Kai's toes with each naked footed step. He wriggled them like a child at the beach to feel the gritty texture between each digit. For as far as he could see were valleys of nothing but purple sand, much like the decorative sand found in play pits and was the same shade as his Grandmother's favourite lilac cardigan. There was no wind, no rivers, no buildings, no trees or structures of any kind. Just an empty plane of pale violet sand and a single man with two toned grey hair and amethyst coloured eyes standing in the middle of a field of it, alone, wearing nothing but white boxers beneath a white hospital gown patterned with little blue diamonds…exactly like the one ICU nurses dressed him in after a certain Shadow Vale blader stabbed him almost to death. Kai inspected his body and upon pulling up the fabric of his gown discovered a wound on his left flank hidden under a white sticky gauze dressing, despite the apparent injury he oddly felt no pain associated with it. Kai felt completely at ease in his weird wonderland and imagined this was how it would feel to eat magic mushrooms or smoke weed. His blissful dreaming sharply ended when a red feather with a smear of blood on one side of it dropped from the sky and landed at his bare feet. The gowned man picked up the feather and inspected it. It was Dranzer's feather without a doubt. He blinked and another appeared a few steps away. He dropped the first feather and adopted the second into his fingers and twirled it for inspection. It too, was wet with blood. Kai smelt the red moisture and its metallic scent confirmed it. He felt worry disease his bones, for his Bitbeast somewhere was injured and bleeding. Urgency to find Dranzer took over as the greynette called out loud and frantically scanned the expanse of purple sand dunes for a glimpse of his beloved maimed phoenix.
"Dranzer! Dranzer! Tell me where you are!"He looked up at the completely white cloudless sky where he eyed another feather twizzling in the air as it fell. He chased it over a purple sand hill where he lost his footing in soft running quicksand. He stumbled and righted himself like a drunk person to climb over a bank where...a line of bloodied feathers trailed into a dark circular smooth edged cave like it was made for a film set. The dreamer, driven by the desperate need to find his injured Bitbeast sprinted to it as well as he could with no shoes atop the deep sand; following the line of red stained crimson feathers until he reached the mouth of the cave.
"Dranzer?!" Kai called. His heart pumped harder as he stepped into the darkness. Fear clubbed his chest like a boxer's punch as a threatening rumble emanated from the back of the cave. Not the growl of a cat or a bear or a dog but the throaty dinosaur-like noise of something avian. Kai stood frozen at the opening of the cave, too frightened to walk in further but would not run away either. "Dranzer?" Dranzer, like the cornered elemental beast he was, ignited with fury like a fire ball and screeched like a wounded animal with a stretched open beak and his wild eyes wide with insanity.
"SCCCCCRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE." Blood and tar dripped wet and sticky from his regal feathers, his yellow beak and golden detailing was smeared with dirty with black ooze. His triple tails were messy, and half of one was severed off trailing blood onto the cave floor where ever it whipped or dragged. Dranzer's eyes were maniacal shiny rubies and not the colour they used to be. His magnolia mane dripped fresh crimson and sticky tar tangled bunches of it unkempt.
Kai begged as he wearily stepped closer. "Dranzer! What happened to you? Let me help you!" The phoenix guardian took a step too close.
"KKKKKKAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Dranzer, the wounded animal reacted as if the human approaching was there to harm and lunged at him aggressively and with malice. The mauled fire bird screamed again like a monster that had lost its mind.
"KKKKKKAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Kai didn't stand a chance. Dranzer's sharp gargantuan beak bit down on his guardian's feeble human body and snapped his backbone in half like it was a mere twig. His ribs instantly broke and mangled inside his chest cavity within the crushing force of his giant phoenix's jaws. Iron rich liquid burst all over the purple sand floor and sprayed up the cave walls and ceiling as Kai screamed, gargled and choked, fighting for his last breath. His body went limp as his heart failed to produce another beat and his eyes rolled to the back of his skull. Dead.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kai cried out as he jolted back to conscious reality. He remained laid on his back and panted for as long as it took until his breath calmed. He stared up at the high wooden beams of the dojo and the spider webbed ceiling still shrouded in the shadows of night. The back of his neck and the hair behind his ears felt moist. His torso felt sticky with sweat as his grey night shirt clung to his skin. He briefly groaned with gritted teeth as he used his elbows to raise his torso half way, and then manoeuvre further to sit up properly. His stab-wound ached and protested the entire affair.
The vast open-plan dojo was bathed in a shade of misty silver from the moonlight pouring in from a small window, allowing Kai to inspect the room and all its corners. He peered to his left and at his right at the bodies of his friends still snoozing the night away and thankfully none had stirred. Tyson and Daichi were dead to the world snoring and snorting breath. Ray spoon hugged his girlfriend from behind with their futons pushed together. Hilary mumbled something under her breath as she drooled into her pillow; she had hair curlers tied into her bonnet and wore a glittery pink eye mask. Max slept like a starfish with his t-shirt riding up exposing his belly. Emily and Kenny charged their laptops nearby and resting close to their pillows were glasses cases. Tala and Bryan slept on the opposite side of the room, sprawled out on a pile of futons each and multiple fans blew across their bodies to keep a notch cool in the Japanese summer night. No purple sand on the floor. No cave. No bloodied feathers raining from the ceiling. Kai wasn't wearing a hospital gown...and Dranzer was nowhere to be seen.
"It was just a dream." Kai sighed with relief. He closed his eyes, took in a calming breath through his nose and slowly exhaled before opening his orbs again. "It...was..just..a..dream." Kai soothed himself further by running both hands through his dual toned hair starting from his forehead and raking all the way to the back of his skull; his bangs to fell back to their hanging places naturally. Still tired and with no idea what the time was, Kai set himself up to go back to sleep. He felt around atop his duvet in the low light for his earphones that had fallen out sometime during his slumber. Having found them, he replaced the buds back to his ears, then hit shuffle and play in the classical music playlist he'd put together from Tyson's game soundtrack albums. With more screaming protest from his sliced abdomen muscles and bruised wound area, he lay back down and nestled his head back onto a plush dark blue pillow. Kai had sadly grown up having many nightmares. His time at BIOVOLT was nothing short of traumatic for the first couple of years. He'd suffered many horrendous experiences at the hands of the institution, all to mould him into a soldier, a weapon and erase the 6 year old child inside who just wanted to be with his beloved Grandmother and play with the family dog in the garden. Nightmares of being betrayed, attacked, experimented on and punished for failures were common. Boris Balkov, the abbey guards, the scientists and his own Grandfather haunted his nights many times in his life. Dranzer attacking and killing him however, was a new one. But this...was just another dream. And without further thought, Kai drifted back to sleep.
Its 8am and the Granger kitchen is bustling with sounds, smells and beybladers. Toast popped up in the toaster. Rice cooked in the rice cooker. Daichi was still taking his morning glory in one of the small toilet rooms and Hilary was finishing styling her hair in the main bathroom. Max poured honeynut Cheerios into a bowl and then splashed milk on them, his spoon clinked on the side of his bowl as he smashed into them from a seat around the table. Mariah sipped a glass of milk Ray had just poured her before pouring one for himself from a plastic carton. Emily crushed ice and coffee in a blender for herself, Kenny and Tala. Bryan was frying bacon next to another frying pan with spitting eggs and oil; he was master-chefing the two armed with a single metal spatula wearing an apron with the caption "Kiss the Cook" printed on it. Grandpa Granger read a newspaper in the corner of the kitchen with a steaming mug of green tea on the kitchen sideboard nearby. Kenny was on the phone in the hallway to a beyblade parts supplier with a stock query. Tyson buttered the toasted bread that had just erupted from the toaster. Daichi soon arrived having washed his hands prior and set a pile of bowls and plates out on the table for all to use once the breakfast items were ready to slap together...which wasn't going to take long. Hilary soon too joined the clan, she smelled of perfumed hairspray and gathered cutlery from a drawer.
And for the first time since moving in...Kai graced them at the breakfast table.
Hilary was the first to notice the tall bladers' entrance as she laid pairs of forks and knives down at various places atop the yellow wood table. "Good Morning Kai. I hope you slept well." She said politely and with grace.
The phoenix blader took his seat where he sat the night previous at the head of the table. He replied with nothing more than "Hnnnnn" and accepted no eye contact from the well wisher. She wasn't expecting any more from the anti social beyblader anyway. It was just his manner and they way he'd always been from the first day they met many years ago.
Tyson approached the table carrying piles of buttered bread on plates. He exclaimed excited by the new arrival. "Heyyyyy look who's joined us! Nice to see you this early Kai. Want some breakfast? There's plenty to go around."
Emily took her seat with a glass of iced coffee and with delight gave the newcomer her full attention. "Nice to see you're showing your face more often Kai. You're eating better too and it's starting to show."
Tala sat opposite the American girl with a batch of the iced beverage she'd just made and gratefully received it. She knew how to make the perfect caffeinated drinks that's for sure he thought after trying this morning's concoction. "I agree. You definitely have more colour to your skin. Keep it up Kai." He said before crossing a leg over the other and taking another dignified sip.
Bryan was appointed breakfast king since he was a dab hand frying things and did most of the cooking in the Blitzkrieg household. "Breakfast is ready. Getcha plates. Kai, you having some?" He grunted as he turned off the hobs and started levering the eggs out of the cooking oil onto a waiting plate.
The health conscious CEO wanted to avoid the bacon with its excessive fat content. "Just the eggs and toast will be fine."
Everyone took their seats and host Granger Junior dished out other plates, napkins, salt and pepper shakers, and planted a squeeze bottle of tomato sauce in the middle for anyone who wanted it. He then shared out the buttered toast to Tala, Bryan, Kai, Mariah, Ray, Daichi and himself.
The rest of the group...Emily, Max, Grandpa Granger and Hilary either didn't want a fry-up breakfast or had already eaten cereal or toast, or simply only drank coffee to start their day. The Chief was still busy on the phone and would opt for cereal when he was finished with his call.
The silver eyed soviet dished out two rashers of crispy cooked bacon to Tala, Mariah, Ray, Daichi and his own plate. Then it was the eggs turn, cooked sunny side up with runny yolk. Two eggs were shovelled off onto plates aside the bacon, except Kai's which were slapped hot and dripping straight on top of his toast. Mr Healthy detested the excess oil on his plate but figured he could use the extra calories.
Scoffing noises erupted from the diners Bryan, Tyson and Daichi like pigs, their knives and forks harshly scratched away at the porcelain until their meal was demolished without even a rind of bacon fat left. Mariah, Ray, Kai and Tala however, ate like human beings with decorum and took their time neither eating with mess nor grunting.
Kai, without earphones in his ears was incredibly able to eat just fine. No ACDC or belting rock music was needed either. Dranzer, for the time being was oddly quiet. Shadow Vale were taking a break from torturing his Bitbeast he figured. This gave Kai a golden opportunity to eat undisturbed without the screams of violence in the back of his head, nor the need to muffle them with constant playing tunes.
Before long, all plates were clear and any pig fat juice or egg yolk was mopped up by the toasted bread.
The beychamp began clearing the cutlery and dishes to dump into the wash basin. He picked up the others plates first and then Kai's at the end of the table. His former adversary's plate was almost spotless. He exclaimed. "Whoooahh someone was hungry. Good to see ya finally eating good Kai. You'll be back on your feet properly in no time."
The Trygator blader quipped as she tweaked her glasses after taking another sip of her iced beverage from a glass tumbler. "Like I said. You need lots of rest and eat well and you'll recover quicker. Make sure you keep at it Kai."
The former Blitzkrieg Boy despised the attention and especially those taking note of his eating habits. He was offered a glass of orange juice by Grandpa Granger as he was getting a glass for himself from the fridge. Kai respectfully said yes, and after drinking it he grabbed a pink apple from the kitchen fruit basket to eat on the veranda shortly. He then swiftly left the kitchen to retrieve Tysons' iPod charging in his bedroom, for soon, he would need it. Shadow Vale wouldn't let him enjoy the peace for long and Kai intended to consume anything he could in the meantime.
Kai's day was not going to be much different than the day before. A schedule of sun-basking and listening to music on the warmed yellow wood veranda; whilst nearby, Hilary, Kenny and Emily harshly judged and scored beyblade performances of those training in the yard. Tyson, Max, Daichi, Mariah and Ray's agenda consisted of rigorous practise to get to grips with Frankenstein assembled beyblades unfit for their blading styles. The mish-mash team of bladers had no choice but to wait for the BBA Tech-heads to finish designing their killer upgrades... all in aid of eventually destroying Shadow Vale. Tala and Bryan...could spend their day training in the sun too...but instead they opted for a day off the searing Japanese heat, to suck ice-lollies and crunch ice-cubes in shaded spots dressed in their loosest summer wear.
Ex-Patient 12 arrived at a sun-drenched spot on the deck with mottled areas of shade beneath a tall sakura tree near the veranda's edge. He parked a soft red pillow down and then pulled the purple fleece Hilary gifted him yesterday around his shoulders snuggly and gently lowered himself to the floor. His stitched-up gash ached and pulled with the action but soon settled as he stopped moving and relaxed with his back leant against the wall. All was peaceful as he overlooked the yard. Butterflies and lizards and bees busied themselves around flowers and tree trunks. Grandpa Granger maintained the garden well and had long finished sweeping for the morning, zen-garden like grooves remained in the dry soil surface from his bamboo rake. All was tranquil as Dranzer's screams still hadn't returned. Shadow Vale must be having a lie in Kai thought as he took slow and relishing bites out of the sweet crisp pink lady apple he stole from the kitchen. Tyson's iPod waited beside him with the orange earphone cords wrapped around it tidy, its shiny screen remained black and switched off to conserve its battery for when he really needed it later...it was only going to be a matter of time.
Soon, the yard wasn't so serene. The fellowship of young adult beybladers were ready to train. They filed out of the Dojo like a disarrayed army, playfully bickering and pumped for the days training. They grouped near the blue beydish neighbouring the koi pond, their shoes were tied, their beyblades clicked into launchers and multitudes of "LET IT RIP!" soon chorused the air.
The Blitzkrieg Boys decided against training today after Tala's suffering in the heat post-shopping the day prior. Bryan was lucky his wolf loving comrade was still talking to him after leaving his team mate to carry his share of the groceries home after his prank went sour. They found a patch of shade beneath a maple tree on the opposite side of the decking to their former Japanese team member. They wanted cool whereas Kai wanted the sun and its warm embrace, as much of it as he could get.
A couple of hours ticked by and Kai found himself feeling bored and restless. Watching the others beyblade was no fun if he couldn't join in and hadn't the energy to play coach like Hilary; she had that angle covered tenfold anyway and she didn't need a sidekick. Tyson and the other boys were being caned enough without their old team captain adding criticism too.
Kai didn't need a nap despite the nightmare that awoke him during the night. He wasn't hungry either after his breakfast of eggs and toast, orange juice and the recent apple snack. With Markus Gottlieb as acting CEO, nothing at Hiwatari Enterprises was Kai's responsibility and so had nothing work related to fuss over. He considered asking the guys where Dranzer's beyblade was so that he could clean or tinker with it but he didn't want to disturb their training...for right now they had a focus rarely seen. Tyson especially today, like he had the wind behind him, he was beginning to master the default Dragoon beyblade he'd previously struggled to control.
The phoenix guardian felt odd. Like something was out of place. Like something was amiss but couldn't put his finger on what. He began to ponder. "Last night, what was that about?... I've never experienced a dream so trippy and then for Dranzer to attack me... What does it mean? Was it a premonition? No, I shouldn't read too much into it. It doesn't mean anything. It was just a dream, my mind playing on things that seep into my subconscious when I sleep. No different to any other irrational sleep trip I've had in the past. Still, why do I feel so weird about it? It's really starting to bother me. Or is something else making me feel uneasy? I haven't heard Dranzer's cries, not once this morning and it's getting on for midday."
Lunchtime rolled round quicker than expected. Grandpa Granger, dressed in his best Hawaiian shirt with comical hula girls on it and blue shorts, made grub for everyone all by himself.
"Luuuuuucccccchhhh time! Come get it kids!" Yelled Grandpa Granger after emerging from the doorway onto the veranda. He insisted on calling them kids because in his heart, they were still...kids.
The kind elder Granger with a long grey tendril moustache delivered his work on a large silver platter and on it were rows of a super simple dish of plain rice onigiri with a seaweed wrap, sprinkled sesame seeds, and soy sauce in a bowl for everyone to dip in. After the sudden panic yesterday of the food running out, the household agreed they needed to be more frugal with the food supplies, especially with so many mouths to feed.
All beybladers, the Blitzkrieg Boys and Kai soon congregated around the platter. Those beyblading kicked off shoes to either sit cross-legged or hang legs off the sides of the decking. A pile of different coloured trainers and oriental shoes littered the dusty and grass shaven earth. The white triangles of carbohydrate delight speckled with sesame seeds were gratefully received with no complaints about the taste or lack of filling. Kai had surely found his appetite and was busy tucking into his own triangle of rice as quick as the others. Still, despite his healthy urge to eat...something was bugging him and was completely disengaged with the group. Whilst his friends were engrossed in small talk and munching, Kai was going inside himself with thought. He tried to think back to what Ozuma said about his bond with Dranzer. He was a mental mess after his outburst trashing Hiro's room that he didn't absorb everything Ozuma had to say at the time. Only, that he didn't want the Saint Shield's shaman involved, nor was he going to stop fighting to keep his bond with Dranzer and would endure anything necessary to save it.
Kenny mumbled before swallowing a bite of onigiri. "Ohhhhmmmuuummmmm! Oh exciting news Mariah, your parts have arrived. Emily and I are assembling it as soon as we finish lunch."*Gulp*
The pinkette squealed with delight after swallowing her last bite of onigiri. *Gulp* "Oh thank you thankyou. You hear that Ray? Galux is going to have a new set of claws sooner than we thought. Oh I can't wait to try her out."
Emily finished swallowing before adding. *Gulp* "We have some great news for you too Ray. Kenny and I have finished designing Drigers' new blade and already put in the order for the replacement parts. I'm pleased to say your redesign was a synch thanks to stacks of Kenny's data. His time with you during the World Championships and training over your beyblading career gave us a detailed insight to how you beyblade. We've best matched parts to improve Driger's strengths and yours."
Tyson wiped a stray grain of sticky rice off his chin and ate it. "Does that mean Dragoon is next on the slab?!"
Kenny smiled and tweaked his glasses. "It sure is Tyson. We'll have a session tonight after we've constructed the new Galux. We need to see how damaged your core is and if you need a new one before we place a new order with the manufacturers."
Tyson tussled Kenny's hair playfully with the same hand he used to eat with. "Ohhhhhhh Kenny you're the best!"
The carrot haired brain-box coughed. "Ummmmm UuhhhHuummmm. I played a part too I'll have you know. And don't even think of messing my hair up. Keep your sticky fingers off me Tyson." She warned playfully.
The beychamp cheekily smiled and extended a thumb. "You're the best too Emily. Thank you both! Soon we'll all have awesome new beyblades. I can't wait to see the new designs you have for Draciel, Driger and Dranz..."
A dark shadow of awkwardness befell the gathering as Tyson couldn't finish his sentence. Without Dranzer, there would be no sense in hurrying to fix up Kai's spiritless beyblade. An empty blade versus Shadow Vale with their powerful black-magic riddled bitbeasts...the empty beyblade may as well be made of origami paper. And even if Kai still wanted to beyblade without Dranzer in his bitchip, his original blade was still un-cleaned, tucked away from view in a state of macabre, an upsetting memento of a traumatic day, the day its launcher bled to death in front of them.
Kai's body was statuesque and his skin drew pale. His legs dangled over the decking edge with his back to all. His almost-white fingers pinched around the half eaten onigiri but had no desire to eat it further. A stray breeze swayed his bangs as he stared off into the yard in deathly silence.
Tyson gulped and sat up straight. "Kai? Was it something I said? Me and my big mouth sometimes. Of course you're gunna get an upgrade too even though you don't have Dranzer right now. We're gunna have it ready for when you get Dranzer back. Kay?"
The phoenix guardian took a moment to respond and when he did his voice was solemn and certain. He didn't even turn to face them. "Guys...I don't hear Dranzer anymore."
Before anyone could say anything in reply… Kai jumped down off the veranda ledge and in the same motion discarded his half eaten onigiri triangle to the floor; the garden ants would happily dismember it and drag away in parts to their nest.
"Arrhhhhhhhhhhh!" He cried in a thump of pain as his feet hit the earthy terrain and the rest of his body awkwardly absorbed the landing. His wound sharply tugged with the use of abdominal muscles that hadn't healed yet and now throbbed bitterly in revenge. He immediately clutched a hand over his wound instinctively for all the good it would do it now.
Ray jumped to his feet in surprise and scolded. "Kai?! What do you think you're doing? You know you shouldn't jump down anything, not in your condition!"
Hilary begged close to the edge where the greynette had just leapt from. "Oh Kai. Are you alright? Go get yourself checked out this instant. You could have ripped your stitches!"
Kai hadn't time to answer his friends' whims. The dual toned greynette straightened from his crippled posture, regretting his action but it needed to be done. Wordless, he took off marching bare foot across the dusty patches shaved by beyblades and ridged hard soil. His destination was a clearing on the grass half the garden away.
Tyson climbed to his feet too with alert and called out. "Kai? Kai! What's up? Talk to us buddy! What do you mean you don't hear Dranzer anymore?"
Tala ordered but knew it would fall on deaf ears. He placed half of his onigiri triangle back on the platter to follow his old comrade. "Kai. Stop! Where are you going?!"
The wounded beyblader reached a spot and spun to glare up at the roof where he last remembered the Saint Shields guarding atop the ornate blue tiles. He bellowed with one fist curled and the other clutched over his angry pulled injury. "Ozuma! I need to talk to you."
The Dragoon blader caught up with the CEO and placed a soft hand on his shoulder. He gripped for a moment before letting his fingers peel away. He begged. "Kai! What's going on?!"
Max quizzed as he rallied close. "What did you say?...You can't hear Dranzer anymore?"
Kai had no time to answer his housemates as they clustered nearby, confusion and concern painted their youthful and multicultural faces. They would have to wait as long as he for answers to questions only the Saint Shields knew.
Ozuma leapt to Kai's attention without delay. After an athletic vault from the roof ledge, the red and grey haired leader was soon facing him on the lawn a mere couple of feet away. Within seconds he was joined by Mariam who loitered at his side with her hands on her sassy hips and her long blue ponytail swishing lightly behind her back. Max couldn't help but eye her up but now was not the time to make googly faces.
Ozuma was serious and straight to the point. His breath was laced with anticipation. "What do you need Kai?"
Kai's face was scowling serious and needy for clarification. "I can't hear Dranzer. His screams only I can hear...they're silent. What does this mean?"
Tyson and the rest of the gang held their tongues and listened intently to Kai and Ozuma's important and urgent conversation. By the sounds of it, the situation with Dranzer had changed and it wasn't going to be good.
Ozuma enquired. "When was the last time you heard Dranzer's cry?"
Kai was quick to answer. "Last night before I went to sleep. Around 10pm. I haven't heard anything since I woke up this morning around 7am."
Dunga and Josef somersaulted from the roof and gathered in a line. Josef beside his sister and the Vortex Ape blade beside their leader. They'd overheard some of the exchange so far and closed in to listen further with straight lips and concerned frowns.
Ozuma grasped his chin in thought momentarily and looked to the ground. "So it's been at least 5 hours. 14 hours at most."
Tyson was just as agitated to know more as much as Kai as he stammered closer to the four. "So what does that mean? What's going on with Dranzer?!Tell us already!"
Ozuma took a long hard breath before starting. The news was going to be especially hard to swallow for the stabbing survivor, and for anyone who cared about the welfare of the stolen phoenix. He spoke firmly, calmly and slowly for everyone to understand and absorb.
"There are two scenarios of what has happened to Dranzer.
One. Dranzer has stopped screaming because the Arch Mage has ceased torturing Dranzer into submission. It's possible he will continue his brutality in a few days once he has resupplied his camp and his mages rested. However, the time they've wasted trying to break Dranzer has been exhaustive and if Dranzer hasn't broken by now...he's not going to. If the Arch Mage can't bring Dranzer under control, he will seal him away in a rock forever... so no one in this world can use his power. Once sealed in the rock, Dranzer will be silent to the world and to Kai."
Kai butt in before the Saint Shield leader could continue. His heart raced in his chest as he mentally struggled to digest the terrible prediction. The thought of his beloved Bitbeast being sealed away, never to see him again made him feel sicker than any hospital anaesthesia. He sneered with glaring lilac eyes. "And the second scenario is?"
Ozuma lowered his tone a touch but remained serious. What he had to say next was an outcome just as sad. "I'm sorry Kai, this isn't going to be easy to hear…Scenario 2...Dranzer has ceased fighting his captors and Shadow Vale now has him in their arsenal. Your bond with Dranzer has been severed and they have bonded him to a member of their clan, most likely Blake who defeated you in battle. Dranzer will never recognise you as his guardian again. He will attack and kill you if ordered to."
Kai was wide eyed and his heart thumbed harder. His throat closed tight with emotion as he fought to remain composed and tough. His facade was standing strong so far. "And which is the more likely scenario."
Josef added in a low slow tone with heavy frowning dark-green eyebrows. The situation was a glum and sensitive one. "Dranzer can call to you any time. Like, I can hear Vanishing Moot in my pouch and Dragoon to Tyson from his pocket via telepathy. The fact Dranzer has been so quiet for so long is a baaaaaaaad sign."
Ozuma stated sternly with a stiff upper lip. His mission in life was to protect all of the Sacred Spirits at all costs… the news today…meant they'd failed one of them. "To surmise. We've lost Dranzer. He has been sealed away...or he's submitted to Shadow Vale's will."
The news hit Kai like a freight train. His heart felt like it had stopped all beating in his chest and his head went dizzy as the blood drained from his face. His eyes were dead pan in his skull. "Dranzer...no. This can't be true. Sealed in a rock? Given up? No...not you. Not...you."
Ozuma stepped close and placed a heavy hand on the shocked business leader's right shoulder. Kai did not raise his gaze to greet him. "You stood your ground Kai and you suffered to keep your bond with Dranzer alive. But some things were neither in yours, nor our control and sadly the worst has happened."
Tyson raised his fists and verbally snapped in one motion. "Yeah. And? How do we get Dranzer back? That's all we need to think about now!"
Kai's eyes drew dry from unblinking and gulped as the devastating reality set in. He brushed off Ozuma's arm without a word or change in facial expression. He slightly bowed his head down and to the side to hide some of his emotionless features in his drooping dark grey bangs. One fist hung at his side, clenched and trembling close to his shivering thigh and the other pressed so hard on his wound he could feel its thumping pulse. Sorrow seeped into his heart like dark blue ink soaking into tissue. "Dranzer...I..couldn't... help you...They have you now...and it's all my fault."
Mariam answered the rapidly emotionally escalating group. "To rescue Dranzer we need to find Shadow Vale's hideouts and their village and raid it. If Dranzer is sealed away in a rock we will have to interrogate their clan members for the rock's whereabouts until they reveal its location. Our village shaman can release Dranzer from his rock prison. That's one problem we can solve...that's only IF we get our hands on the rock in the first place. But…if Blake has Dranzer and he's not sealed away then all we would need to do is defeat him in battle, destroy the chains around Dranzer's neck and return him to his rightful owner."
Dunga added without a thought for how his next words would cut Kai clean to the bone. "But even if we return Dranzer to Kai. A new bond would have to be forged and that's if Dranzer accepts Kai back as his guardian. As soon as we release Dranzer from Shadow Vales control, he may just fly off into the sunset...literally."
Ray crossed his muscled arms and gave a serious yellow eyed gaze. "Bottom line is, we have a chance of getting Dranzer back?! Right?!"
Mariam sweat-dropped with the heat and high pressure. "Yes. Sorta. A slim one. We still don't know where Shadow Vale's hideouts are. All we know is its in China and China's a pretty big place. Just think about White Tiger Hills and our home village, both secluded civilisations untouched by the mainstream world and we don't ever accept outsiders. Our communities are untouched and unmapped by even the world's best explorers. And even if we find Shadow Vales bases, the rock Dranzer is sealed in may not even be in that location. They'll likely hide it somewhere...anywhere...in secret and that could be anywhere in the nearby mountains, forests or even dropped to the bottom of a lake. If they can't use Dranzer's power they'll make damn sure no one else does."
Ozuma's next words were aimed to all. "The best hope we have is that Blake has Dranzer in his possession and is not locked away from the world. Blake is no doubt going to sidekick along with Garnetta, Darcel and Harkan when they finally rear their ugly heads to take Draciel, Dragoon and Driger. If we can get to Blake, we can take Dranzer from him in battle...but don't for a second think that is going to be an easy task. We would be facing not only Blake's nasty Killertile Bitbeast but Dranzer too. A dangerous combination and not one I'm looking forward to."
Daichi was getting frustrated with all the heavy talk and uncertainty surrounding their immediate future. "So, what's the plan of action now? What do we do now to help Kai and his Dranzer?!"
Ozuma ordered. "Nothing's changed. You all need to stay here where it's safe. We cannot put the other sacred spirits and the lives of Tyson, Max and Ray in danger...or any of you. Trust in my clan hunters who are working tirelessly to find Shadow Vales' hideouts. If Dranzer has been sealed away we will do everything necessary to retrieve the rock and free him. If Blake has Dranzer then we will know for sure when he and his team re-surface...when that happens…WE, the Saint Shields will deal with them."
Tala piped up with a bossy hand on his hip. "Just so I have this straight. You want us to sit and wait for your clan to find Shadow Vale's village...which by your own admission will be like finding like a needle in a haystack the size of China. You plan is to wait for those cloak wearing psychopaths to return and strike before taking them out yourselves? Even though your team is outnumbered now they have Kai's bitbeast too." He changed his posture to a cross armed one."Well I have a bit of free advice for you. Your enemies aren't going to give away their whereabouts until their targets are out in the open and they think they have a clear shot. That's basic military tactic. How do you intend to draw them out?"
Mariah added backing up the blue-eyed Blitzkrieg Boys' stance. "That's assuming they don't get bold and cocky now they have Dranzer as a weapon too. What if they don't hide away now? What if they attack us straight out? Attack the dojo one night when we're all in bed. What's the plan then? Huh."
Mariam couldn't help herself but taunt. "Oh don't be scared Mariah. With Kai's security out there, us four, and a handful of you who do have beyblades still good to let rip...the balance still weighs more in our favour. Take us and Kai's goons away though...and you're screwed."
Mariah smirked and verbally kicked back. "Oh I'm not scared. My new Galux blade is going to be up and spinning tomorrow and there's one blader in particular I intend to make quake in her boots."
Mariam cocked her head back with a smarm at the pinkettes touché. She wasn't sure if the female White tiger meant Garnetta...or herself.
Max jumped into the verbal debate. "If Tala's right, we need to venture outside at some point to draw Shadow Vale in. If we don't appear to be viable targets, they'll wait in the woodwork forever and we'll never have the chance to get Dranzer back."
Dunga stomped a hefty foot forward so hard it left a deep imprint on the green lawn. He bellowed and swung his arms with disbelief. "Absolutely no way are we using you as bait. You've clearly forgotten how dangerous these bladers are. Kai has a nasty scar to show you if you want a reminder."
Emily stepped forward into Dunga's space and gave him an up close piece of her mind with a sharp finger poking him in the belly with each sentence. "We might not be ready to face those bozos right now. *Poke* But when Kenny and I are finished tuning them up...*Poke* Tyson, Ray and Max will hardly be defenceless. *Poke* And...They'll have the rest of us around to back them up. So wind that neck in before I do it for you."
Before the hot collared Vortex Ape spinner could give the sharp fingered American a piece of his mind, further discussion distracted him.
Kenny coughed before saying his piece."UhhhHummm. Our upgrades aren't like anything we've ever done before. The beyblades we're designing for the guys are on a whole other level. Seriously I wouldn't like to pit against our guys once they've got a handle on their new beyblades. And Max is right, besides, we can't stay cooped up here at Tyson's forever. I have a job in California to return to and I'm sure others here have responsibilities too. We haven't got heaps amount of time to sit and wait."
Bryan finally had something to add. His tone as always was metallic and droney. "Four-eyes is right. I've got a job too and so has Tala. We're already running outta time. When our travel permits run out and we're gunna have no choice but to fly on home. I suggest you make use of us while ya got us."
Ozuma didn't like the direction conversation was going in. He sternly delivered his thoughts on the matter and was clearly beginning to lose his temper as sweat trickled down the back of his neck. "Don't even think about going outside these walls. You understand. Stay put! I won't hear anymore about it. It's for your own safety! Don't you get that?! We haven't left our home to protect you and this dojo. We haven't sat in the boiling Sun on the roof for days… all so you can waltz out to play with those assassins and get yourselves killed. Add to that; threaten the future of humanity because they took your Sacred Spirits as well as your lives. For the last time… give my village and my people a chance. We've been rivals to the Shadow Vale clan for generations. We know what we're dealing with. "
Tyson whined with a raised voice. The tension in the air was thick enough to slice with a beyblade. "We get that Ozuma. You've told us a hundred times already but until when can we venture outside? Until we're all old and grey?! I'm not spending weeks, or months or years trapped in my house. It's been 6 days since we've been locked down and we're all starting to get cabin fever in here!"
Hilary pondered. She glanced at Kai's wordless and forlorn state and hoped the answer to her question would perk him up a bit. "Doesn't this mean Kai is free to leave now he's less of a target? They have what they wanted from him now. If there's a silver lining to this, has Kai got his freedom back?"
Ozuma stroked both his bushy red eyebrows with a thumb and finger in one movement and sighed before lifting his head to answer. "It's true in theory Kai is less of a kill target now. There would be no need to take his life now if they've forged their own bond with Dranzer. That's not to say they won't use him as a hostage, so he still needs protection and cannot let his guard down for a second."
He turned to Kai. "Blake's mission was to take your life to obtain Dranzer; he did half the job because you were too stubborn and refused to die. Blake may want to finish the job to prove he can and all because you embarrassed him in front of his elders."
He continued his speech to all. "So no, Kai isn't free to come and go as he pleases. He's got to remain safe, here, like the rest of you."
With his sorrowful head still bowed, Kai lifted a naked pale foot from crushed green grass and landed it forward. Then another with his opposite foot, and repeated again and again. He slowly simpered away from the group. He'd heard all he could. His legs trembled for a rest as they weren't used to standing for so long after his dramatic weight loss and muscle deterioration. His heart felt heavy in his pale-skinned chest and any peace in his mind burned black. Melancholy took over as he started to process Dranzer's fate. The precious and loving bond with his trusty fire bird was no more. The bitbeast he'd had since he was an infant was now imprisoned in a rock, or squarely in the control of the villain who tried and briefly succeeded to take his life. The spirit-less guardian headed to the far edges of Tyson's garden for some privacy to drown in self pity and blame.
The gang watched as the grieving beyblader meekly strode away. They didn't know what to say to him that he hadn't already heard. "We'll get Dranzer back." But what good would that do. No words right now could comfort him and they too were in a state of shock and despair. Dranzer was a loved member of the Blade breakers, V-Force and G-Revolution team and the thought of him fighting against them under the colours of Shadow Vale's flag was sickening, and deeply unsettling.
Tyson however, rushed to do say something, do something, anything to make Kai feel a fraction better or at least try. He left his spot to trail after him. Sensitive Granger junior couldn't just leave it when one of his friends was low. "Kai! Wait up buddy!"
"Leave him Tyson." Tala warned as he abruptly grabbed the Bladebreaker's upper arm and yanked him back to his starting position with force.
Tyson fought against the Wolborg blader's grip and cried with urgency. "Hey let me go Tala! Kai needs me!"
Both men gazed into the back of their heartbroken team mate as he sulked away in sorrow as if he was walking to the gallows. Kai neither turned or was interested in what Tyson had to offer and continued his lonesome journey to the other side of the garden.
Tala urged to the emotional cap-wearer. "Kai needs to be on his own for a while. Trust me. Chasing after him won't serve you, or him any good."
Tyson burst. "Ahhhh drat! I feel so helpless! Why does rescuing Dranzer have to be so complicated?!"
Ray stepped forward to join Tala and Tyson in a semicircle. His long hair braid swished as he crossed his muscled neko-jin arms. "We all feel useless Tyson. But there's nothing we can do for Kai or Dranzer right now. We just have to hope Shadow Vale and their hideouts are found soon. That, or hope Blake and the others re-surface so we at least know for sure where Dranzer is. We have to deal with each challenge as it comes. Right now, Kai's got to accept what's happened to Dranzer and try to see past it. Not all is lost. Things can still turn around."
Emily joined close to the boys and added with her usual nasal voice. "Kai needs his space I agree. He's not the type who needs hugs and a chocolate bar to cheer him up. He'll come to us when he's ready. As for Dranzer...there's nothing we can do here. It's all on you Saint Shields."
Josef interjected. "Believe me, we feel as shitty about this as you do and our clan will do everything to put it right."
Hilary watched Kai as he passed round a corner and out of sight. She frowned with concern before turning back to the others. "Poor Kai. He's been through enough. Can't the universe give him a break? Poor Dranzer, stuck in a rock or worse...made to live with those creeeeeeps." The latter of her sentence was shrieked with shaking fists.
Max tried to lighten the mood. "The whole thing about Kai's bond being broken...I don't buy that for a second. The bonds we share with our bitbeasts aren't something you can just snap. It's in the heart. Dranzer won't turn his back on Kai I know it. Kai loves Dranzer and Dranzer loves Kai and that's all there is to it."
Ozuma warned. "I hope you're right Max. That's a romantic notion. If you're wrong however, Kai will not only have to fear Blake...but... his own Bitbeast... and friend."
That night, a hearty delegation of pasta was on the menu. Eleven plates piled high with penne pasta smothered in a rich and thick cheese and tomato cooking sauce, lumps of chopped up Italian sausage and button mushrooms peeked through the creaminess. A small sprig of parsley decorated the top of each pasta pile which chef Ray insisted on to make it look authentically Michelin star. Hilary took a photo of her dish and posted it to her instagram with the hashtags #RayKoncooking and #foodgasm. The aroma in the kitchen was phenomenal and intensely saliva inducing. Pots and pans and colanders stacked high like a bad game of jenga in the sink, and flakes of grated parmesan cheese which dodged plates during serving littered the middle of the dining table. The meals billowed steam and delighted nostrils in front of each diner with silver cutlery waiting aside their plates; no chopsticks were necessary for tonight's meal. Tyson, Max, Bryan, Ray, Mariah, Emily, Kenny, Tala, Daichi and Hilary were parked on wooden chairs in their usual spots. The male White Tiger and grey haired Blitzkrieg Boy still sat at opposite ends to avoid any chance of bickering, nor a fight sparking off with a misintended glance. The young Granger, as always sat at one head of the table, whilst the chair at the far end opposite remained...empty...and a lonely plate of perfectly served pasta waited at the vacant diners post.
Emily checked her watch and announced. "Well its 7:10 guys. Kai knows we have dinner at 7." She wasn't totally surprised at his absence.
Max looked to Tyson with a solemn face. He knew the answer; he just needed to his Japanese bestie to confirm it. "He's not coming...is he Tyson."
The man with long dark blue hair tied back in a short ponytail glanced lowly at Kai's empty chair. "No Max, I don't think he is."
Ray was clearly irate as he gestured with frustration. "This is crazy; Kai can't just skip meals in his condition. He's started to look much better the past couple of day and he's going to undo all his progress if he starts this again."
Daichi piped up with his usual screechy tone. He was itching to dig in to the Italian delight just under his nose. He banged the ends of his knife and fork against the table top with frustration. "We should just go get him! Tell him dinner's ready and were waitin' for him!"
Tala announced with crossed toned arms and stern soviet lips. "No leave him. I'm sure he'll join us tomorrow. He's had a shock today. He needs some space to accept what's happened to his bitbeast. Besides, missing one meal isn't going to kill him."
Tyson slammed a chubby hand on the table causing a rattling of cutlery and plates to jump millimetres high before crashing back to the table surface. Luckily the sticky saucy pasta stuck together on the plates like glue. "Urghhhhhh! So what are we going to do? I can't just sit here until who knows when! I can't just sit here and do nothing like Ozuma wants me too. Dranzer is out there and we need to find him...For Kai!"
Without word or any indication of what she was about to do...Emily slid her chair backwards causing a screech against the floorboards. She marched wordless to the kitchen windows and proceeded to pull them inwards by their handles, and with a click of a pair of levers, locked them closed. She then approached the stereo player Tyson used the night prior which remained plugged into the power supply on the kitchen side-board, and pressed a button to play the radio. Talk about the weather and latest local news between two female radio hosts created ample background noise...of which was her whole intention.
Tyson and all neighbouring him were confused. They watched her every scheming step as she returned to the table. "What are you up to Emily?"
The PPB Allstarz female returned to her seat next to Tala, their food growing cold before them. With a straight finger momentarily pressed to her lips. "Shhhhhh keep your voice down dummy. I don't want the Saint Shields to hear us!"
Mariah tweaked and winked to the only other female beyblader at the table. "Oh I see what you're up to. We're going to come up with a plan behind their backs. That's pretty sneakkky."
Emily shot her a smirk and pressed her glasses squarely up to the bridge of her nose. "Precisely. We haven't got forever and a day to wait until Ozuma's clan get the job done. Tala and Bryan have time restricted tourist visas to remain in Japan, and so do I. Kenny and I manage a team back at the California research facility and we can't just extend our stay indefinitely. We have projects waiting for us and a work load that is piling by the day. We're good to help you guys for a while but certainly not months on end. We need to come up with our own strategy, one that can produce results fast without compromising safety."
Max added. "I have to agree. I have dual citizenship to America and Japan but I'm not going to just sit and wait either. Kai needs answers. His mental state is going to suffer the longer he doesn't know for sure what happened to Dranzer. If Draciel was in the same position Dranzer is in... I'd be going out of my mind!"
Tyson crossed his arms with a seriousness he rarely showed. "I get it Max, I really do. I'd feel the same if Dragoon was stolen. It would killllll me if we didn't know where he was. Tala was right earlier; we need to use ourselves as bait and draw them out. It's the only way we are going to go face to face with them again and the only chance to save Dranzer. If we don't, they may never show themselves again. "
Emily quipped. "That's assuming Dranzer isn't locked away in a rock of course."
Ray barely glanced over his wonderful culinary creations losing their heat by the second, but right now serious talk took precedent over eating. "If Dranzer has been sealed away in a rock then that's what's happened and there is nothing we can do about it. The only thing we can do is work on the assumption Blake and his team has him on their person. The way we get Dranzer back and ensure our future safety is this...we need to take them all down, one by one and defeat them so badly they never want to beyblade us again."
Kenny felt a shiver run up his spine before saying. "That's not a notion I'm looking forward to Ray. I hate to remind everyone they bled Kai dry, and Max barely had any energy left in his body to breathe when Shadow Vale were done with them. I have nightmares about what I saw and I don't ever want to be on the sidelines to that again. I agree we need to take them down one by one in a methodical calculated manner first and foremost. If we don't do this safely and with a water tight plan all we're going to do is put your lives at risk. You'll be chickens walking out of a chicken coop and straight into the fox's mouth. You understand Tyson?! We can't be reckless about this no matter how badly we want to rescue Dranzer. I don't want to see any more of you get hurt." The Chief's latter words hit home as his voice urged and turned pleading.
Ray urged with passion and confidence. "I think we all hear you on that Chief. What they did to Mariah was despicable and I was a witness to it all too. I can't...I won't go through that again. I promise you all here and now, Driger and I will stop at nothing to put Garnetta down for good...And any of the others if Driger and I get a chance."
Tyson felt his guts twist in his belly as the thought of facing Harkan again suddenly filled him with a black glob of dread. The anxiety of going toe to toe again with the man who reduced him to his knees, and forced him to say goodbye to the world and everyone he loved in it was immense. He grew envious of Ray's unshaken confidence as his own was shattered so badly like a vane of punched glass, but then, Ray had never begged for his life before, nor was inches away from a bloody death. Dragoon's guardian was suffering from psychological trauma... Still he needed to put on a brave face for his friends. He was the great beyblade champion Tyson Granger after all. He gulped to settle himself and shook his attention back to talk of the table.
Bryan leaned back on his chair precariously with one thick-set arm loping over its back in a laid back manner. "Anyone got a plan? It's not like your anally-retented buddies up top are gunna let you stroll on outta here without their blessing."
Max argued back. "No, we've got to be more tactful than that. We have to swing the Shields round to our way of thinking, or if they still aren't okay with us leaving then they're just going to have to square with it. They can't keep us prisoners here! And I dare say we could sneak out without their knowledge, they're too sharp for that."
Hilary added like a politician. "I think we're jumping the gun a bit here guys. Your beyblades right now aren't anywhere near ready for a fight! You've been practising well enough but you'll have new beyblades soon. You'll need lots of time and practise to master them before you can ever dream of facing Shadow Vale again."
Emily flicked a lock of ginger hair away from her shoulder with sass. "I'm glad you raised that point Hilary. I have an idea. To cut down on wait times I'm going to send some of the outlining design work to some of our best interns back at the lab. They can do some of the easier grunt work and email their findings over to Kenny and me. That should reduce our redesign time by half combined with Kenny and I working around the clock...as if we aren't already. If the suppliers have the parts, we should have all of your beyblades revamped and ready in around...what do you say Kenny...10 days? Galux is done, Driger is in the works, and we're starting on Dragoon tonight. That leaves us Strata Dragoon, Draciel...and Dranzer is in the maybe club. Wolborg and Falborg and of course my Trygator are up to scratch as they are."
Kenny scoffed but excited at the challenge. "That's at a push but we'll give it a try. No more sleep for us for the next few days."
Emily quickly added. "If Kenny and I are going to pull more all-nighters I want to see something from you guys too. I'm talking no more x-box marathons. Strict 12 hour training days and this includes physical exercise too. You guys need to be on point. This will be a military operation from now on."
Hilary waved a motherly finger. "Yep no more staying up late. You need a full 8 hour sleep every night... And no... more... junk food."
Emily harped on like a drill sergeant to deliver the message hard and clear. She stood leering at everyone in turn around the table. "We can't leave these walls until we are 1000% sure you are beyblading killing machines. You need to be the strongest, sharpest, smartest beybladers you could possibly be. You and your newly designed beyblades need to be in sync like clockwork. The last thing we want is for the Saint Shields to say "I TOLD YOU SO" and come running back home with our tails between our legs.
Kenny warned. "Them saying "I told you so" will be the last of our worries if we aren't prepared. We need to remember those cloaked bladers want your blood and will spill all of it to get your bitbeasts. This is as serious as it gets and if I'm being honest, I'm not completely behind the idea."
Tyson hid his insecurity to play leader. "I get what you're saying Chief. Trust me I hear you loud and clear but...we will be prepared. We'll make sure we are."
Mariah glanced down at a newly forming pink scar on her right bicep, a forever memento of the viciousness of her Shadow Vale opponent. She added with a serious tone. "We could do with some training against body attacks. Shadow Vale has harmed nearly all of us physically in some way and they aren't going to think twice about doing it again. We need to learn how to defend our bodies in battle."
Emily quipped with a sly smirk as she glanced over at the Russian pair. "If only we knew beybladers trained in body attacks."
All attention sharply shifted to Bryan and Tala. The soviet brothers in arms shot each other an affirming glance before giving their answer to the ginger girl's snide request.
Tala crossed his arms tight with discomfort at the thought of taking charge of any of their training. The stakes were too high, and besides, all he and Bryan could teach them was...a beyblading taboo. His ice blue eyes were narrow and his pale face was stoic as he gave his dark response. "We weren't trained to defend from body attacks, but delivery...we learned that in depth. There's not much of a science to it. It's more of a mental thing you have to accept and be okay with. If you want training to attack the blader I guess we could help you, but you have to have the tough stomach for it. Don't waste our time and effort teaching you a skill you don't have the guts to utilise. Really think about it, could you do it...attack a human being with your beyblade? No matter who they are or what they've done."
Bryan allowed his chair to return to four feet with a slam. He pointed a stern finger to all. "If we do this, teach you how to attack the bladers you hate so much...you forfeit your right to sneer down at us about our past. The skills we'll pass on to you were taught to us by Boris Balkov himself. Are you sure you want to taint your perfect image with what we have to teach you. You'll be as sordid as us if you do it right."
Uneasiness about the topic and what was on offer spread around the kitchen like an airborne disease. Tyson and Kenny gulped. Max glanced anxiously at Ray for assurance he didn't receive. Hilary gripped onto a piece of her skirt beneath the table. Emily shuffled with discomfort in her seat. Attacking other beybladers was a sin in the eyes of the beyblading community and categorised as assault with the use of a deadly weapon. If ever convicted of it in a court of law, their professional lives would be over and their clean criminal records marked forever. From a moral standpoint too, it was all out wrong. Beyblading was meant to be fun, not warfare.
Daichi didn't need to think twice. He knew the ramifications of it and wanted it anyway. He pushed his chair away behind him to stand, puffed out his chest and stood up straight, every inch of his stance was demanding. His emerald eyes were alight with desire and slammed his balled fists on the table to ensure he had the Blitzkrieg Boys undivided attention. "I know it's wrong but I want you to teach me Tala. I want to know how to dish out body attacks. If they can dish em out, so do I. Harkan almost killed Tyson, and he was only in that pickle protecting me. I want to do the same if that situation ever happens again. I want to protect my friends and if that means giving those Shadow Vale chumps a slice or three then so be it."
A surge of emotion choked Tyson like a hand around his neck. "Daichi..." He shook it off as he pondered. "I want to protect my friends too...but I'm not sure I have it in me to go against my morals. My honour as a beyblader...would it still be intact after I attack another blader with Dragoon. No matter who they are .But in another life or death situation, would I feel differently if I had the skills to pull it off? I'm gunna need more time to think about this."
Another chair abruptly scraped backwards from the opposite end of the table nearest Kai's empty one. The feisty White Tiger woman had something to say as she too arose from her seat and glared directly into Bryan's stony cold eyes as she half crouched over the wooden top to lean close. She demanded and didn't see fit to run it by her love beside her. "I want to be trained how to attack the blader too. I won't use my new skill on anyone but Garnetta. She has what's coming to her. See the scars on my body, my neck, my arms, my legs...everywhere. Garnetta has to have some of her own if I'm ever going to move on with my life. I know you might not like this Ray but I want revenge for what she did to us."
As she settled back to her seat, she and all expected her long term boyfriend to have something to say on the matter. The White Tiger couple had always vocalised how disgusted they were with beybladers who didn't battle with honour and always followed the golden rules of sportsmanship. So for Mariah to request the training to do something so unacceptable in the beyblading world was shocking, and even more bewildering is that Ray didn't have a word to say. He closed his eyes with crossed muscled arms much like Kai would do. No one knew if he was in support or opposition to Mariah's decision. His body language gave nothing away and remained silent. Tyson and Mariah secretly pledged to pick his brains later, what was Ray thinking?
The grey fuzzy-haired Russian broke the silence. "Well that settles it. When your blades are up to scratch, Pinky and Pipsqueak you have a training session with Tala and I. We'll go to the secluded corner of the yard with some straw mannequins and teach you what you need to know."
Daichi and Mariah glanced at the other, and then nodded once and firmly to their new mentors with confirmation.
Emily was eager to sway away from the shameful talk of learning to harm people with their beloved spinning tops. "Onto another subject, we need to gather as much data as we can on each of your opponent's battle styles to formulate the best method of protecting you. Max we need to work out the best way of stopping Zap arachnid from using his zapping attacks. I'll go over the footage and see if Darcel has an Achilles heel. We can't just focus on your beyblades to get through this, how you beyblade, your strategies are just as vital."
Kenny added. "We also need to get to the bottom of why Tala and Bryan had an odd advantage against the shadow vale bitbeasts in your battles. Was it their battle styles or their beyblades? Once we've completed and perfected everyone's beyblade upgrades, we can focus on tactics."
The plate of pasta before Tyson was cool to the touch and would need to go into the microwave to make it tantalising again. He announced to all of his guests. "So that's it then. We have a plan. Revamp all our beyblades and train harder than we ever have before. We've got to be ready. We've got to be better beybladers than we ever have before. And when we are, we're going to set a trap and lure those bozos out...whether the Saint Shields like it or not. Ozuma and his clan have their chance to do it their way but if they don't, we will go out and find them ourselves. For our freedom, for Kai ...and for Dranzer."
Hiro Granger's old bedroom, albeit in recent years turned storage space...was an entire mess. Two days prior Kai emotionally snapped under the pressure of those who cared. He'd been driven insane by his phoenix screaming in the back of his head day and night, robbed of precious sleep, unable to swallow food and lived in constant pain from a deep stab-wound that was not healing as quickly as it should. Subsequently, the mentally tortured beyblader unleashed a blind rage to rival the force of a demolition wrecking ball to the order of the room. Boxes previously neatly stacked were tipped or thrown over and the contents regardless of their value were launched to all corners of the room, behind and beneath other things such as a metal bed frame and box shelving units. Objects victim to Kai's fury included flurries of loose private investigator paperwork broken out of flap-over cardboard folders, scores of broken kendo sticks, five cork pin boards ripped from the walls, Tyson's dad's travel journals strewn over the tatami floor, as well as one of many baby photo albums of the Granger brothers growing up. Drawing pins scattered over the floor like spiky mines just waiting sinister to stab a toe or impale a foot. Scarlet coloured string from the CEO's CSI re-enactment flowed over objects like party popper streams. All printed images of Shadow Vale had long been ripped into chunks of confetti and thrown to the other side of the room where the pieces fluttered behind things and out of his sight. Some prints were stained red on their edges where Kai had paper cut his fingers with aggressive tearing and not all of them were destroyed two days ago, some were savaged that very afternoon.
It was barely dark outside and the small window provided little light as Japan's sun bedded down for the evening and the country turned to dusk. A body with dual grey hair lay barely unmoving if not for breathing in the foetal position in the centre of the room. He'd made a clearing just big enough for his curled form and all around him were high quality gloss photos of Dranzer, of which were once pinned to a board for his detectives to study. Undamaged and holy, they surrounded his body like he was the centrepiece of a shrine. Pinched delicately between two of his right hand fingers and a thumb, was a still of his beloved fire bird majestically mid-flight in battle. He rested silently on his right side, guarding his flank injury with his left hand and lay unblinking with his neck cricked and head touching the floor. He was exhausted and had been there some time. He sought no comfort from a futon, nor bed covers or pillows, and shivered intermittently from the lack of blanket or extra layers to keep warm. The flat and cold of the floor was a form of self punishment he felt he deserved.
The wooden sliding door was completely closed and the great Kai Hiwatari had shut himself away from the world again. Depression was re-taking hold like black vines strangling the life out of a flower. His stomach rumbled but he wanted no food. His amethyst orbs were half open and the rims of his eyelids were red puffy from battling back tears for too long. His skinny face was glum and sorely melancholic. His sore heart beat heavy with grief and regret. The broken Phoenix guardian gazed sorrowfully at the photo clasped in his pale dry fingers. "Dranzer...I've let you down. I couldn't find you, I tried... And now you're gone and it's all my fault. I wasn't strong enough to defeat Blake that day...and this is the consequence of my weakness. I don't know what to do now. Do I go back to work, to my business? No... how can I be a leader if I can't keep my own Bitbeast safe. I don't know what to do with myself. Who I am anymore...Your painful cries stopped me from sleeping, from eating but...I'd give anything to hear you one more time...Just to know you're there...to know...I haven't lost you for good...Dranzer..."
Dranzer's avian eyes were pitch black and soul-less. He bucked his head and lurched forward crazily as his blonde mane tangled under the tight and heavy golden shackle around his red feathered neck. The unearthly collar forged with forbidden magic was placed there to control him the second he submitted to Blake's will. He screeched over and over without cause like a trapped beast in pure terror. He burned and screamed with anguish so intense he sent terrified wildlife fleeing for miles from the area as fast as wings or legs could carry them. Dranzer was mindless and wild as he thrashed against the side of the glowing electric cage structure imprisoning him. The ritual was almost complete and Blake needed only say the words now to bring him to heel. Chanters raised their draping purple cloaked arms to protect their faces from gritty and abrasive air torrents of dust and sand whipped up by great wings in Dranzer's rabid state.
Blake's deception had worked. His news about Kai dying of an infection and slowly starving to an early grave was lies. Tragically, Dranzer believed him and with an act of love for his guardian he'd bonded with since Kai was an infant; Dranzer gave up his fight and relented to the cruel Shadow Vale blader.
With an open toed boot, Blake stepped inside the goat's blood circle and edge of the glowing bird cage which neither zapped nor stopped him from entering it. The trap was magically designed for imprisoning bitbeasts only, thus humans were entirely unaffected. A few moments ago, Dranzer would have stomped him into a bloody mangled pile of bones and flesh with one talon, instead, the collar formed with the Arch Mage's spell and with Dranzer agreeing to its placement, his regale and self control was lost to become the mindless beast he now was.
Blake called out with the knowledge he had all the control. Confident and maniacal he strode forwards and launched a brown beyblade to spin beneath Dranzer's floating and thrashing form. "Dranzer, I am Blake of the Shadow Vale clan. I am your master now. You have submitted to my will. The bond with your previous guardian has been severed forever. You bond to me now. It is done. The ritual is complete. I own you. Now be quiet, come to me...and return to your beyblade!"
The great flame bird's mindless tantrum was instantly silenced with those words. He immediately ceased thrashing at the electrified dome bars. He flapped his giant scarlet feathered wings to hover close before dropping to the ground in front of his new bipedal ruler...and then lowered his avian head to human head height. His eyes were stone black with no love for life.
"Good boy." Blake grinned with newfound power as he pressed a cruel hand on the beak Kai Hiwatari once caressed with devotion and respect. He rubbed the smoothness of Dranzer's shiny beak and breathed in the sheer beauty of its form. The golden shackle around his giant feathered neck glowed as it helped control the mighty captives' behaviour.
With a bright flash of red light and a sad phoenix cry, Dranzer returned to the brown beyblade spinning strong beneath his body. The silver haired, tattooed assailant strode over to the ancient spinning top and scooped it up with hooked fingers. He pridefully held it high for all to witness as the bitchip glowed yellow before losing its light in his fingertips.
The ruby eyes blader cried with excitement as he spun to face his leader, mentor and grandfather. "I've done it my Lord! Dranzer, the great Red Phoenix spirit, Dranzer...is under my control."
"Silence! Rest now my people." The sneering elder ordered with a raised arm gesture, his pointed clawed fingers poked out of the end of his dark purple cloak.
The circle of exhausted and dehydrated mages did as they were told and the dust bowl valley fell instantly silent as the glowing bird cage fizzled away, and their throats were allowed to finally rest after days of endless chanting. The only light illuminating the gathering of purple caped figures now were pikes of fire on sticks which flickered in the low wind and crackled as the kinder burned through.
Arch mage Rochimaru placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled with cheek bones as sharp as his pointed teeth. His cold red eyes glittered with demonic delight. "Finally...with some of my help you have, my child. With some of my help."
Blake immediately broke into a kneel of respect and lowered his gaze to face the dusty earth. "I will wield the Red phoenix spirit with honour my Lord. I will show you I am worthy of your teachings. I will do our ancestors and our brotherhood proud."
Harkan, Darcel and Garnetta rushed from a high sand bank nearby to stand in a line behind their peer, all to offer twisted words of congratulations.
Large framed Harkan bent the knee. His villainous red eyes simmered with jealousy. "Well done brother. You won't be bathing in the glory on your own for too long. I will command the Dragon Sacred Spirit and soon."
Garnetta bend her knee in unison. She leered with spine tingling promise. "Good job my brother. I'll have the Great White Tiger spirit soon enough and join you in joyous celebration."
Darcel too mirrored his siblings and bent his knee too. "You finally have him brother. It won't be long until I add the Great Turtle spirit to our arsenal. His guardian's days are well and truly numbered."
The Arch Mage spun on his bony ankles to sneer over the crouched assassins he'd raised from the cradle. His tone was hissy and villainous. "The rest of you. Go. Get the other three sacred spirits and don't come back until you have them. Make sure you finish the job properly this time. No more mistakes. I want the rest of the sacred spirit guardians removed permanently from this world...and those mangy Saint Shields with them should they get in your way. You have the upper hand now my children...you have the Dranzer spirit at your disposal and I bet he's dying to see his old friends. Hahhhaahaaaa."