With the tournament coming Rei knew he had to train hard however right now training wasn't on his mind as he entered the dojo. It hadn't been his goal in life to someday live with his lover in his grandfather's house but sometimes things just happened. Rei was glad that at least he had given them their own room with a larger bed.

There was a quiet sound as Rei placed his bag down and stepped closer to the pad on the ground and the infant sleeping on it. Kneeling down he placed a hand on the child's back, smiling briefly at the tiny child clutching at a blanket with his thumb in his mouth. Wrapping the blanket around him he lifted up the child into his arms, cradling him close to his chest.

The infant had caused quite a problem for him even before he was born but it was well worth the stress of being a teenage parent and it had been a good reminder that he had friends to help him out. Rei smiled as he remembered all Takao's grandfather had done for them. It was good to have a family. In the end he still wondered if Takao would ever marry him. No doubt if he didn't his grandfather would have a few choice words.

"Rei-man!" The neko-jin turned quickly, arms holding the child close but then relaxed as soon as he realized it was just Takao's grandfather.

"Hey Grandpa," he said as he gave a smile, settling down onto the ground.

"The little man went down about an hour ago; he should be waking up soon."

There was a brief nod in response. In that case he would be awake once the others arrived for training. "The others should be coming here soon. We're having a training session tonight."

"Need me to watch the little man this evening too?" The elderly man leaned on his kendo stick as he gazed down at his great grandson still sound asleep.

"No," Rei gave a quick shake of his head. "We ask you to do too much already and I'm sure the others want to see him. Isn't that right Kouji?" The infant didn't wake up or respond, nestled in his mother's arms. Finally Kouji began waking up, giving a stifled cry as golden eyes opened up. Slowly Rei struggled to his feet as he walked past the man to step into the kitchen and start preparing a bottle. Kouji squirmed in his arms, obviously not patient enough to wait for his mother.

"You have an appetite just like your father," he scolded lightly as he struggled to ready the formula.

"You stuff your face just as often," Takao stepped forward, mixing the formula in the bottle before sticking it in the microwave. Rocking Kouji in his arms Rei softly began to sing a lullaby he had learned as a small child in China. Takao grinned in response, loving his lover's voice and it was a rare treat to hear him speak, much less sing, in his native tongue.

"Shi shang zhi you mama hao
You ma de hai zi xiang ge bao.
Tou jin mama de huai bao
Xin fu xiang bu liao.

Shi shang zhi you mama hao
Mei ma de hai zi xiang ge cao
Li kai mama de huai bao
Xin fu na li zhao."

Takao smiled as he listened to the soft voice of his lover before handing him the bottle, watching with a large grin as he saw his son happily drink the milk offered him. It was moments like this Takao wouldn't trade for anything, watching the tiny child created by them, eating in his mother's arms.

But when things were so peaceful someone always interfered. As the door fell shut Takao turned to see Adam for a moment. "Where'd the kid come from?"

Rei and Takao just glanced at each other before a quiet laugh escaped from the neko-jin at Adam's confused expression. "Seriously guys… where'd you get the kid?"

&&&

Standing on either side of the rock 'dish' they were using Matoko took a deep breath as he focused on Rai, preparing his own beyblade as Rai took a step back, holding his launcher out. Glancing over at his giant lover he shut his eyes for a moment, letting the sounds and feel of the nature around him empower him. Training was a time of bonding with his lover and it was something Rai truly enjoyed.

Gold eyes still shut he shut the outside stimuli out from his mind and focused on one attribute. Across the dish he could pick up the scent that was very much his lover, of waterfalls and fresh air. Rai knew that he smelled like a fresh mountain spring and tasted like nature. He could hear the long green hair rustling and could imagine the immovable mountain that he alone had seen a softer side of. Rai slowed his breathing so that it matched Matoko's and once he was certain that they were as much as one as they could be while standing across from each other he launched his beyblade and then opened his eyes.

Galeon spun alongside Sirius as if in an ancient dance and Rai couldn't help the smile that cracked. His breathing was slow and even, his own golden eyes locking on Matoko's. Once rivals they now fought side by side in an unsurpassable peace. This peace was something Rai enjoyed but it didn't last. A single beyblade was shot from above, knocking Galeon out of the dish as Matoko narrowed his eyes, Sirius going on the attack.

"Show yourself!" Matoko yelled as he glanced around searching for the source of the beyblade. The sound of the voice almost made Rai shudder, knowing well enough that it was foolish to try to hide when Matoko was angered. The imposing giant was frightening to hear but when added to his sheer size he was a terrifying prospect to face.

Fangs were bared as Sirius circled the purple beyblade, clashing hard against it. Though the beyblade was playing defensively it was obvious to Rai that Matoko had the power position and was running the battle. As a figure in black gray protective jumpsuit with lavender colored tubes on the ribs, with purple lightning markings on the shoulders and long zipper in the middle, dark gray gloves and boots with purple trimming and red patches on the top, and his face covered by a black mask with purple goggles and red lenses Rai glanced up at him. No matter whom this blader was, if he chose to battle Matoko he was in over his head.

Suddenly the smirk dropped from Rai's face as the man leaned forward intently. "Lizardborg, come forth!"

"Matoko! His bitbeast!" Rai yelled to his lover, seeing a black lizard with sharp teeth, purple markings, yellow curved fins on the back and purple curved spikes on the forearms emerge. Matoko however was ahead of him, having already planned for this. The black beyblade ground against the purple one, circling before coming in for another powerful attack. The beyblade glowed for a moment before a large black wolf leapt from the bitchip, howling.

"So, this is the infamous Sirius," the mysterious man said as he glanced down at Matoko. "I have heard much about your bitbeast, but I have to say I have trouble believing it."

"Then believe this! Sirius! Attack!" Instantly the bitbeast went on the attack, the black beyblade gaining in power as it charged only for the purple one to dodge it, the two beyblades crashing against each other and causing sparks to fly. In power Sirius still held the advantage.

"Lizardborg, defend!"

Rai clenched his hands, silently cheering and urging the stranger to carry this battle out. Deep down he knew when battles became long and dragged out that was when Matoko's real power emerged. So distracted by the battle he didn't notice that the team had started gathering.

"What's going on?" Rai turned, glancing over at his pink haired sister.

"Some guy is going to get his ass handed to him," Kiki pointed out, familiar with Matoko's style of power play. Rai had to agree with him as Matoko hadn't lost control of this battle even once. Whoever this was was playing right into Matoko's hands and Rai couldn't have been prouder to be the man on his arm. He wanted others to see his skill and wish it was them.

"Rip him apart!" Rumiko cheered from beside Mao, smirking as she watched her teammate skillfully control the battle. She wanted this to be finished so whoever this guy was could tell others that the Predatorials weren't to be messed with.

"That isn't very nice Rumiko."

"Oh, like the rest of you aren't thinking it," the ginger haired inu-jin just rolled her eyes though Rai had to agree with her. They were all thinking it. Matoko was one of their own and a win by the Predatorials would be celebrated against this mystery blader.

"Sirius! Starhell!" Matoko called the attack and beams of light struck the dish repeatedly, the opponents' beyblade trying to dodge each of them but each that hit caused the beyblade to wobble more until Sirius went on the attack, slamming into the purple beyblade and knocking it out of the dish.

Matoko caught Sirius and glanced up, his eyes boring into his opponent.

"Disappointing," the stranger said as he reached into his bag he carried, throwing an envelope at Matoko like a discus. Matoko caught it, looking at the blank envelope. "I had hoped to see your infamous Black Hole, but I suppose it was not meant to be. I came to invite you to Jin's tournament."

Rai stared at him like he was crazy which he was starting to think. What type of blader wanted to be hit with the Black Hole? It was a guarantee that the opponent's beyblade would not even be found afterwards. Rai could still remember the wreckage it had caused to the arena and his Galeon the first time it was used.

Opening up the envelope Matoko took a glance at the paper with the details and handed them over to Rai. The neko-jin leader glanced over them quickly before looking up. "We accept," he said as he held Galeon tightly in his hand.

At that Drake jumped down, picking up his beyblade and walked away, doing a double take as he walked past an inu-jin that hadn't bothered to watch the battle. "This isn't you," she said, the blindfolded female tilting her head.

"And who are you?"

There was a smile at that. "My name is Shizuka, but I think the real question is who are you?"

"Drake Sparrow," he glanced over at the girl, seeing the cane she carried. Deep inside him it ached to see this girl, blind as she was.

"Then we'll meet again, Mr. Drake Sparrow," Shizuka said with a smile. "I look forward to facing you in the arena."

There was a sudden pause as Drake stared at Shizuka in shock. She was a beyblader? But she was blind, wasn't she?

&&&

"He's yours?" Adam was still staring in shock at Kouji, still trying to comprehend the news that the child in Rei's arms was Rei and Takao's son. He couldn't even comprehend having a child now; much less having one at fourteen and it just broke his brain when he compared Rei and Takao to Hitoshi and Inu-Yasha. He would have been afraid for any child they had.

Max had stared at Adam, having been the last member of the team to get there but quickly ran over to Kouji, pleading with Rei to hold him. As soon as the neko-jin gave in Max took Kouji and sat down, blowing into his belly and eliciting a giggle.

"Adam, you've said the same thing for the past half an hour," Takao pointed out. "Yes, he's ours."

He just shook his head, not believing what he was seeing but didn't question it again in fear that the whole team would be answering him soon. It was true that he hadn't known Takao later in his life, but wouldn't something like this have been plastered all over the news?

"Alright," Kyouju said as he glanced up from his computer. "Why don't we show Adam how the Bladebreakers do things during training. Any volunteers?"

"I'll go Kyouju," Jonouchi said as he stood up, glancing around as he waited for a volunteer opponent. Takao jumped up as he flashed a grin, slapping Jonouchi on the back. Kyouju nodded his head as they all headed outside, Jonouchi and Takao standing on opposite sides of the yard and Adam leaned down, staring at Kyouju's computer.

"They'll be doing a practice battle and if they feel up to it you may even see Kuroiryu and Dragoon," Kyouju glanced over at that. "If that happens you better hold onto your hat." He typed a few things into the computer, bringing up a diagram. "Yours hasn't been updated to this point because it would take quite some time to learn to control it but both Takao and Jonouchi use metal system beyblades," he pointed at the diagram and Adam nodded slightly.

Glancing at the design of Kuroiryu he was shocked again at how similar it looked to his Aster however he knew Jonouchi had become famous years after he was off the circuit and a bitbeast had chosen him.

Max and Rei sat on the steps, Kouji on a thick blanket between them as he pulled himself up, his mother offering a pacifier but he wouldn't take it, wide golden eyes staring at his mother's hair before giving a squeal of delight as he crawled over and tried to reach for it, sucking on a part of it. Lying on his stomach Kouji happily sucked on the end of his mother's hair, forgetting the stranger for a moment.

Glancing over Rei gave a smile as he placed a hand down. "You see your dada Kouji?"

The big golden eyes looked up and he broke into a huge smile. "Mama!" He gurgled happily as Rei pulled the child into his lap. Glancing over at mother and child Adam couldn't help but grin at the little black haired boy. Things may have looked bad and he was worried about Hitoshi but seeing this child reminded him that nothing was over yet. Holding him in his arms Rei glanced over at Max.

"Can you get the cheerios from the dojo?"

The blond flashed a grin and hurried off before returning with the open container. Sitting next to Rei he held up the container as Kouji clumsily grabbed some and stuck them into his mouth with his fingers. He squirmed in his mother's grip until Rei let him crawl around on the large blanket.

"3… 2… 1… Go shoot!"

Kyouju had turned his camera to the battle as he watched Jonouchi and Takao. Takao was on the attack with Dragoon but Kuroiryu met every strike, exchanging blow for blow. "That's good, now give them more power!"

At that both gave a nod and a dangerous game of tag began, trading blows as the beyblades moved around the yard, over rails and through the cans, weaving around the obstacles. "You're both looking great!"

Adam leaned forward, watching keenly. If all of them were this good he knew he would have trouble keeping up but he had known that ahead of time, agreeing to join the World Champion team. A part of him was happy, knowing if Slade was picking a fight with this team he would have a time keeping up. Glancing around he noticed Kai was gone and he frowned a moment. There was something about his student that he never seemed to want to stay in one spot.

"So Rei, how soon until he wins a championship," Adam asked as he glanced back towards Kouji who currently seemed to be looking for something to put in his mouth.

"Not until he learns that beyblades are not to be sucked on," the neko-jin smiled as he glanced over at his son, trying to save Draciel from baby drool. He coughed a minute and Max looked up to see his teammate point at the beyblade Kouji was currently sucking on. The blond just laughed before rescuing his beyblade from Kouji's mouth.

"Hey Kyouju!" Takao called back as he caught Dragoon before loading it in the launcher once more. "Wasn't Daichi going to come over and help us find a tag team for the tournament?"

There was a quick nod as Kyouju pushed his glasses up. "That's right; we do need to find a tag team pair for this tournament. Adam we had hoped you'd be willing to try with Jonouchi. Your bitbeast reminds me a lot of his so I think it would be a good matchup."

At that Adam shrugged in response. "Uh, sure," he said, glancing over at the team. It had been a long time since he had done a tag team match but he was willing to try and from what Kai had told him Jonouchi seemed to be an old hand at them. He also remembered seeing Takao as a tag team in the last tournament, thinking his partner had to be the previously mentioned Daichi.

&&&

There was a clash of cans as the blue beyblade sliced through each one, knocking them down and sending them flying as the blader focused intently on his practice. Kai would rather train on his own than sit and watch with the others. Unlike the others he didn't see the fascination of the drooling baby. Sure, for Rei and Takao it was a reality but for him that prospect was a long way off. Besides, he had to wonder what type of father he'd make. He knew his own father wasn't the greatest and neither was his grandfather. With a track record like that there was no way he was even thinking about kids.

Besides that he was only fifteen. Most boys his age worried about acne, getting a date for the next dance, and whether they'd leave high school a virgin or not. But not Kai, he had never entered that phase. They were things he never had to worry about and never would if things stayed the same.

Those things most teenage boys dealt with never even approached Kai's mind, instead focused on whether or not he would defeat Takao, Dranzer becoming her strongest and still being able to control it, and most importantly on when the next bill was coming in.

"You had such promise, but I suppose that is what you get for turning traitor," Kai turned, Dranzer shooting towards his hand as he saw the man in the distance. "Have you ever been loyal to anything?" Glancing over towards the team training the man smirked slightly. "Or anyone," he added as an afterthought, eyes lingering on Jonouchi who was talking with Adam, explaining to him something or another. He said something and Adam laughed.

In an instant Dranzer had been launched, just flying past Slade's head before circling back to her master, a glare landing on the man before him. "What do you know?"

At that Slade smirked. "I've watched you Kai, watched you grow. You leave and come back at your own convenience, willing to take out anyone. You aren't loyal to them, aren't loyal to Neo Borg, and certainly weren't loyal to BEGA," he tsked quietly. "Is there anyone you are loyal to other than yourself?"

"I wasn't the only one to leave," Kai snapped, watching closely as Dranzer continued to circle, as if waiting for an opening in battle.

"Yes, yes, you all left that year didn't you… I have to say the only loyal one here is little Kyouju. He outshines the rest of you. Never mind the team, you all are creatures of circumstance. You all wanted to call that glorious title your own…"

Kai turned away at that. "Better than being a coward. You take potshots in the dark, afraid to face me."

Slade laughed quietly at that. He had watched Kai for some time and now he was putting up that infamous wall. "At least they came back when he really needed them, not like you. You were willing to enslave yourself to Borcloff for one more shot. It was the fate of beyblading and you just turned your backs on them."

"Well, it seems you know everything about me, why don't you bother introducing yourself?"

"My name is Slade and my goal is to take everything you have, starting with him," Slade pointed towards Kai's lover who currently had taken Adam's launcher, Adam's hand in his own as he tried to teach him something. "Have you ever really opened up to him? What type of secrets are you keeping from your lover? Wouldn't he be better off with someone that isn't going to use him, who will be there to open up, no matter what?"

Kai turned with a growl but Slade was gone as soon as he looked but then his attention was returned to the practice. Clenching his hand around Dranzer he felt an unfamiliar emotion as he watched his once coach interacting with his lover. It took him a moment to place the emotion as sheer, intense jealousy.

&&&

It felt good to return to the place he had begun calling home, and removing his gear from his waist he let it drop to a table as the door shut. He knew what the next conversation would be and he knew he was ready for it. As he took one of the spots on the edge of the couch he glanced over towards Kai for a moment, waiting for the conversation he knew would start.

The purple jacket was dropped over a chair, followed by the white scarf and Jonouchi sighed, eyes on him.

"So, what did you talk about with Adam?"

It happened just as Jonouchi expected, straight and to the point as always. "On my run, I ran into the same man I met in China," he explained, glancing up at Kai. "He called me a traitor and accused me of leaving my 'family'."

"The Silver Wolves?"

There was a brief nod at that as Kai sat next to his lover removing his gloves and letting them rest on the arm rest. Leaning forward he took Jonouchi's hands in his own; both calloused from years of blading. "Katsuya, you aren't a traitor," he began but was stopped by the hand on his cheek and lips upon his, kissing him. All jealousy disappeared from Kai's mind as he leaned back, his fingers burying in the blond hair. A part of him wanted to shove away everything Slade had just told him but another part of him knew it was the truth. Despite it being the truth he wasn't about to let go, instead kissing Jonouchi back.

Kai knew his face paint was smeared but he didn't care as he kissed the other back, lips parted and tongue pushing past the soft lips. With eyes shut he could hear Jonouchi's tail stop its constant movements and feel the body pressed against his own. An arm went around his body, feeling the lean body against his own.

A moan escaped against Kai's lips as he pulled back slightly, standing up and holding the other close. After much mental debate Kai led him up the steps to the shared room. As long as he was required to live under adult supervision they would stay there in the 'care' of his butler. He was paid not to ask questions. Mentally he made the decision not to tell Jonouchi that Slade had been there again, not wanting to worry him.

Pulling Jonouchi into the bed he kissed him, just holding his lover as if trying to reassure himself that he was still there.

&&&

Takao stretched his sore muscles as he covered a yawn, pulling the sleep shirt over his head before sitting on the edge of the bed. It had been a long day of training and Takao was more than ready for bed. Glancing over he noticed Rei was already settled on his side of the bed, only wearing a pair of sleep pants and laying against the pillows with his arms behind his head.

He collapsed onto the bed next to Rei with a groan, glancing over towards his lover for a moment. "Man, I can't wait for this tournament. It'll be great to see who enters. It's going to be serious fun, blading as a team again, and everyone is looking great."

Rei frowned slightly as he glanced over at Takao. "Takao… will you ever leave me?"

At that Takao rolled over, pushing himself up on an elbow. "Of course not Rei, where'd that come from?"

"Then when you're eighteen will you marry me?"

At that he stared for a moment, trying to figure out what exactly Rei was driving at. Why ask this now of all times? "Rei… that's a couple years off still, a lot could happen."

At that the neko-jin sat up. "It's a simple question Takao, will you or won't you? Kouji needs a father and I want some sort of promise that as soon as you can you'll own up and marry me."

"Own up?" Takao stared at Rei for a moment. Why did marriage have to be brought into the equation? He was already a father to Kouji, wasn't he? And now Rei wanted to know if he'd marry him a few years down the line? He hadn't even thought of marriage and when he was ready he'd be ready. "Rei… I love you, but I can't tell the future."

"Then what's the point of me sticking around if you can't give me a simple promise?"

"Rei… Kouji's going to wake up if you yell," Takao stared at his normally calm lover, disbelieving that they were even having this argument. If it happened it happened, right?

At that Rei rolled over his back to Takao though the world champion knew better than to hope he would be falling asleep. Rei never went to sleep angry, instead letting it gnaw on him all night. Getting up he gave a groan, heading outside. He knew he wasn't going to sleep either than that but practicing with Dragoon was better than letting it chew away at him all night.

&&&

Note: Jou-Kai-Mokie typed this chapter and I uploaded it.