"Come on guy's, Hyoma's house is not very far from here." Said the smiling redhead as they walked across the village hidden amongst the mountains. It was beautiful really; half of the houses were made of a well conserved and clean marble rock, while the other half were made of a creamy stone colour; some of them even had arches that resembled Greek constructions. As they walked on the stoned floor the clouds were slowly gaining a darker colour of grey. "Here it is." Ginga stopped in front of a house, one like any of others, with the exception that this one had a small little garden in the front yard on one of its sides; deep blue curtains waived outside as the wind pull them softly.

"Aww… how sweet… there's a little garden." Said Hikaru with a smile. "Did his mother plant it?"

"…No" He said slowly. "He did it himself… He really likes to have the nature close to him haha." He laughed scratching his head. Climbing the front steps and knocking the door. "Hokuto? It's me, Ginga. Open up!" Slight paws with claws where heard from the other side as they approached to their spot.

"I thought you where making guard…" Said a white dog as he pushed the door wild open. "Hu?" He looked at the mob behind the boy.

"Hehe…" Laughed the Pegasis blader, already knowing what the dogs reaction was going to be.

"You… brought outsiders!" Shouted furiously the animal. "I can't believe it, you're worst than Hyoma! Damn you boys! You're suppose to know the rules # $%! I told you already you # $%!" I won't lie, they where all very stunned at the colourful language that Hokuto possessed, that surprisingly, went on and on for some looong time.

"Hokuto! Don't worry…" He assured with a smile. "Look at them, you've already know them silly dog." The beast took a second to notice the familiar faces, his fur turned slightly red (If that was even possible) at his unjustified rudeness.

"Well what are you waiting kids! Come in!" He shouted to smooth the situation.

"All right." Accepted the redhead, funny smile in his lips and a big sweat drop on his forehead.

They all entered the modest house; there were not many things which were worth to mention, it was just the most simplest of houses; no photos, no ornaments; just white walls, a wooden floor and some furniture.

"Hokuto, we were wondering if we could pay a visit to Hyoma?" Asked Madoka with a smile.

"I'm afraid he is asleep and waking him up wouldn't be a very good idea." Said the dog with a frown. "Although, if you are very silent, I can't let you give him a quick look."

"We'll be silent! Promise!" Exclaimed Yu enthusiastically, getting a glare of the white beast because of his not-so-quit response. "Oh, sorry." He apologise making his cheeks flush. "We'll be silent." He whispered.

"You better." Hokuto warned. "He's really not in the state to be disturbed."

And as quietly as they could, they walked to the back room, Hyoma's room. Ginga took the handle of the wooden door and opened it…

The first sight they had of the lilac-grey haired boy...well...it really wasn't one you'd like a friend to be in. His body was thin and his bones showed lack of nutrients. His eyes were sunk in their sockets and had dark circles under them, giving him a cadaverous look. His skin was so pale; you might think it was impossible for a boy who was already pale enough to look even more so, but it seemed it was not. His breathing was uneven and his forehead sweaty. He looked beaten up and to be honest, on his deathbed, although that was far from true.

Hokuto, about to tell them to leave, watched as the thin figure moved slightly. Ginga approached to his best friend on the bed in the floor, just in time to see his eyes crack open; they where indescribably tired, but even so the lips of the boy gave him a small smile.

"Hey bud, how are you feeling?" Asked the redhead in nothing more than a whisper as he crouched beside him.

"As good as new." Joked the boy. His voice, surprisingly, was not affected by the illness of his, just a bit quiet for the lack of straight. "I swear I heard Hokuto shouting his repertory of profanities." He added amused.

"No surprise there, right? Haha!" Hyoma's eyes watched the mob that was staring intensely at him.

"Guys…" His eyes lit up at the sight of his longed mates; but as quick as he had woken his eyelids shut again, sleep dragging the teen to it's depths.

"Come on kids, we have nothing more to do here." Said the white dog; everyone following behind him out of the room.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

The seven bladers where now sitting in the comfy living room, although small, very pleasing. The three couches where of a beautiful sea-blue and the walls had two o three paintings on them of animals; there was a ticking clock over the fire place and a small table in the middle of everything.

"So… what's the story? What does he have?" Asked finally Tsubasa, releasing the question that everyone had been holding back.

"It's quite complicated…" Said Hokuto with frustration. "We don't know for sure." He sighed. "It started like a month ago… I began to notice that Hyoma wasn't as lively (and odd) as always; he began to be a little more silent even if he himself wasn't noticing it. So one day I decided to ask him what was wrong…

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"It's noting Hokuto, really. I… I've just been feeling a bit sick recently, that's all…" He had assured with a smile.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"And so, I let it go but a few days later he just looked worse; he seemed tired, even a little weak." Explained the dog to his guests. "I decided enough was enough one day that he was going out to make his usual patrol in the forest."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"I'm leaving Hokuto, see you later""

"Take care kid!" I answered without much interest, reading the newspaper in the kitchen, but something seemed weird. Subconsciously I had expected the sound of the door closing… but it never came. As strange as that was I went to check if it had been just my imagination. When I arrived…

"Hyoma!" He was lying unconscious on the porch. "Hyoma! Are you all right? Answer me boy!" He opened his eyes just slightly.

"I… feel really tired Hokuto…" Said barely able to stay awake. He snuggled in the floor to stay a bit warmer.

"Come on kid, don't you dare falling asleep!" I said unsuccessfully, the boy long fallen in the arms of Morpheus.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"After that I went looking for help. We went to the doctor of the village but he couldn't tell what Hyoma had; he could only tell that he needed lots of rest, that was the thing that would do him best. Time passed and we all thought he would get better within time." He sighed again "Hyoma just got worse and the village could no longer afford having no guardian, that is when a week ago I called Ginga so he could take his place."

"Have you tried to take him to a doctor of the city?" Asked Hikaru with her arms crossed.

"We thought of it but it was already too late, Hyoma's state was very delicate and moving him around would only get him worse."

"What about someone coming here?" Asked Benkai hopeful.

"Yeah, we tried that too but the people we contacted refused to come this far…" Hokuto lowered his head. "Now all we can do is hope he gets better in time and with constant cared."

"We'll help you to take care of him!" Assured Kenta.

"Yeah, he's right!" Agreed Madoka with a big smile. "Anything you may need us to do, we'll do it!"

"That is kind of you children, but I'm afraid there is nothing much you can do… just maybe take turns to watch over him."

"Watch over who Hokuto?" Everyone turned to the new voice. "I don't need anyone to watch me." He said with a bright smile.

"Hyoma!" Eight surprised kids and one dog shouted.

"Hey, guys." Waved the tired boy, a blanket wrapped around his thin body...

"What in the name of beyblade are you doing here?!" Shouted the angry dog. "Standing on your own, and bare foot!"

"Suddenly… I started to feel better…" He said with a smile. "I wanted to see you guys, it has really been a long time…"

"That is no excuse stupid boy! You need to get better, off to your room!"

"All right, all right, just let me…"

"NO!"

"…have a small…"

"NO!"

"..talk with…"

"Hyoma. NO." And that was Hokutos final judgment, another word coming from the death-like sight boy and the reason for his pain might not just be the unknown illness.

"…them. Okay, don't get mad. I'm going right away. See you later guys." He said hopeful, despairing through the corridor.

"Ginga, make sure he gets to his room…" Said the white dog, glaring at the lavender haired blader. "I don't want him to try and sneak away like last time."

"Hokuto!" Responded the boy with a frown.

"Don't pay him attention." Said the redhead behind his childhood friend, directing him to his room. The animal giving an angry growl.

"He tried to sneak away?" Asked the silver haired with confusion.

"Like four times."

Now, everyone knew Hyoma had incredible skills while acting; he could lie about almost anything, pretend to be someone he was not; and of course, some other weird skills ninja-like that god only knows where or who he learned them from. The fact is, just people who where extremely perceptive and observing would see through his façade. Although Hyoma arrived to the living room with a bright smile on his face and a calm atmosphere, two of the eight people and dog notice something wrong in the boy. It hadn't been the fact that he was in more pain that he let them see, nor the fact that he was more tired than he would ever admit, but the fact that he was anxious, almost distressed. The question that Tubasa and Kyoya had was obvious, what could have him that way? He had no reason to be? It was almost as if Hyoma was desirous to run… but why?

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Abril: Well Hi there! Like I said I took a long time and I'm sorry (Mostly because this was already done like 2 weeks ago hehe) But I really do appreciate all your reviews, I hope I'm not disappointing anyone.

Hey, will someone like to guess what's wrong with Hyoma? If you do I'll… I'll… give you a psychological hug? … Yep… I guess that would be nice n.n

Any way, special tanks to The-Silver-Butterfly1500, SkylarkOfTheMoon, and Angelfromheaven2012 for reviewing, you know I appreciate it a lot as well as you all who are reading n.n thank you a lot!

Have a nice weekend you all!