"3… 2… 1… Go shoot!" Jonouchi launched his small beyblade, letting it skid across the ground as it matched Adam's blow for blow. Unfortunately for Adam Kyouju could tell that the inu-jin was really trying yet and still the older boy was taking a beating. Of course Kyouju wasn't expecting a miracle, especially with Adam as rusty in battle as he was.

He almost felt sorry for Hitoshi's rival but when he thought about it Kyouju realized that he really didn't. Eyes focused intently on the raven haired blader as he nodded. "Okay, go!"

There was a nod from the inu-jin and Adam visibly swallowed. "Kuroiryu! Go!"

Adam watched the huge black dragon emerge from the beyblades, seeing its angular head and cruel red eyes as he stood in shock. It didn't share the spikes or the red but the sight of it reminded him of his own Aster.

"What's the matter Adam, shell-shocked?" Jonouchi asked as he watched the others' reaction to his bitbeast. "Kuroiryu! Blazing Striker!"

Adam was knocked back, skidding across the ground as he did a quick double take. The smaller beyblades was pushing back his own and he knew he had to act fast or he would be out of this battle before it even really started. His beyblade was having trouble, struck repeatedly by the smaller one.

"Aster! Defend!" Adam wiped at the sweat on his brow, trying to hang on to what pride he had left. He knew he needed to recover from his shock or risk losing this battle. He needed to clear his head and give himself time to think because as he stared at the other dragon bitbeast Jonouchi continued to pummel his beyblade. He knew he had to recover soon.

"Vulkanus Rush!" Aster attacked but Jonouchi just smirked in response as if he had been expecting it.

"Kuroiryu! Finish this!" With that the other beyblades went flying and Adam knelt down, picking it up as he shook his hand from the heat. Glancing up he couldn't say he wasn't shocked by the type of power Jonouchi had just shown him and he wondered if the rest of the team had been going easy on him. To this point during all of his practices against Kai he had never had the blazing phoenix brought to bear against him.

Everything fell into place, seeing the power of these bitbeasts and Adam realized why more than one group had tried to steal them from this team in the past and as he watched he realized he may have gotten in over his head.

"Hey Jonouchi, good match," the inu-jin nodded in response, flashing a grin.

"You're getting better Adam, I'll give you that."

At that he shifted slightly from foot to foot, staring at the inu-jin that was his student's lover. He knew he had to forget about the teen, knowing if Kai even caught wind of this he would be dead. Besides, thinking the inu-jin was attractive wasn't betraying Kai. He just admired him.

"Hey Adam, we usually go to a club once a week. Want to come with tonight?" Jonouchi glanced back over at him as he fixed his hair, smiling towards him.

"Uh, sure…" he said as he gave a nod. Going out to a club sounded like a very good chance to relax.

&&&

A white beyblade cut across a well kept garden, zigzagging through close obstacles and turning as if it was actually thinking for itself rather than being given commands from its master. Its master was a tall man with groomed brown hair and blue eyes that held an intense light in them. He was a gifted beyblader even though he had never been seen in any tournaments.

Everything about him was calm until another beyblade was launched. Even though it was common for any beyblade to be knocked out at such a shocking attack the beyblade recovered quickly, returning the attack at double the power. The blond that had shot the beyblade stood there in somewhat normal clothing with a smile on his lips. This was Europe and he hadn't wanted to stand out trying to find the blader he had been searching for.

"You absorbed my attack and returned it… you really are what rumors say," Slade glanced over, giving a smirk towards the brunet as another set of footsteps approached from behind.

"Now, now. Let's not scare him before he has a chance to hear us out," there was a constant smile behind a mask that completely concealed him. Catching the white beyblade he glanced up.

"Talk fast."

"That's no way to treat your guests Mr. Kaiba. We have a proposition for you. Perhaps there is somewhere to sit and discuss it over a game?" He stiffened slightly before nodding, leading the pair into a study inside the castle that had served as his home as well as his lover's for the past months.

Taking a seat at one side of a chess board the masked man took the other side as Slade grabbed a random book from the shelf and paged through it, collapsing onto the couch. Opening it up in the middle he practically laughed at the ridiculous language.

"I am Dr. Zero and I have come to invite you to a beyblading tournament, Mr. Kaiba," he began as the first pawn was moved.

"I have never entered a tournament and do not plan to. Come up with something better," there was a broad grin from Zero, pulling at his scarred cheeks.

"Well, I am certain we can convince you… with the right… what's the word I'm looking for…" he paused as if thinking and then continued, placing a small video player on table and pressed play. "Ah yes… leverage… that's what I was looking."

As the video began playing it displayed a boy of thirteen giving stifled cries. He was blindfolded and his wrists were tied but the pleading voice and hair was enough to recognize. There was a voice in the background. "Come on, say hello."

"Please, let me go… let me go…" there was a slight sniffle and it was obvious that the boy was trying to remain strong. "Seto… big brother? Big brother help me…"

The screen flickered off and Seto Kaiba stood up, overturning the chess game as eyes filled with hatred. "You have no idea who you're messing with," he growled. "Let my brother go and I'll kill you quickly."

There was a slight tsking sound as Zero looked up with a smile. "I'm afraid I can't do that Mr. Kaiba. You must join this tournament with your… team… and fight my team. If you perform well enough your dear little brother will be returned to you. If not…" he let the threat hang as he sat there, hands folded. "And if you try to harm me I will make sure this deal is called off."

"This is no deal; it's ransom," hands clenched tightly but Seto didn't make any move to attack him, hands instead clenching at the edge of the table. He let his head drop as he nodded. "We'll enter your tournament."

"Good to hear!" He clapped his hands together as he placed an envelope on the table. "Here's the specifics for the tournament. Now remember to do your best. Your brother's fate depends on it," with that Zero stood up, motioning for Slade to follow him, leaving Seto to stare at the wrecked study and process things over in his mind. How had they gotten Mokuba? How had they manipulated him so easily?

&&&

It had seemed to take forever, squirming through the large crowd and feeling the pulsing music nearly vibrate the floors. The lights were low over the tables, flashing beams over the dance floor and a bright light over the main feature of this night club, a polished beyblade dish with people on each side, cheering on a small time tournament.

He finally found his new team away from the crowds at a large table and realized why he hadn't recognized them. Feeling underdressed he noted that they were all dressed for what seemed to be a night of clubbing. Adam's glance was first drawn to Max who shocked him by leaning across the bar, whispering in some boy's ear. His fishnet shirt hung around his body, barely reaching his tight pants. In Adam's mind the boy had no idea of modesty with the shirt that didn't really serve to cover anything, His blond hair was still the same but he had a collar around his neck that set off the look of the non-innocent blond.

As he felt someone brush past him Adam jumped slightly, turning before finally noticing it was Rei. He regarded the neko-jin that in the past days he had seen as a world class blader and a mother, now needing to reassess his view of him. His eyes traveled over the heeled boots and tight pants and then up to the black and red shirt held together only by a button in the middle.

"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Adam glanced back, eyes on the golden ones as he shook his head.

"No, I was just shocked. I think… I'm a little underdressed." At that Takao laughed as he stood up. Adam was relieved to see that he looked somewhat normal with ripped jeans and a t-shirt but gone was his usual hat.

"Hey Adam, no one cares as long as you don't come naked."

"They might not even care then," Adam turned around again just in time to see Daichi come up. He was somewhat relieved to see him dressed similar to Takao. The large red head was followed by Kyouju in a nice white shirt and a pair of slacks.

"Well, at least some of you are dressed," Adam said before shooting a glance at Max who was now sitting on the bar, leaning ever closer to the server. He crooked a finger and Takao laughed.

"Maxie! Quit seducing the poor boy! You know he can't do anything on the clock." At that the blue eyed blond jumped down, returning to the table.

"Hey Adam," he said with a grin before pausing. "If you didn't have any clothes you could have borrowed some of ours."

"Maybe he wanted to wear something a little less revealing," Adam gave a sigh of relief as he turned around to see Kai and Jonouchi. His eyes lingered over the blond's body, his pants unbuttoned and leaving a hint of what lie under the pants, his t-shirt tight over his body, stopping just past his abs and a leather strap around his right wrist with cloth beneath it.

He had barely recognized his once student, now standing there without his scarf or usual blue facepaint. An arm was wrapped possessively around Jonouchi's waist, his red eyes scanning the area as Adam glanced over him, noting the tight pants rather than his usual tight one and the sleeveless purple shirt clung to him like a second skin, long gloves going from one finger to just above his elbows.

"Kai, I barely recognized you," he turned at that, taking a seat and pulling out one for Jonouchi as the server passed out a round of drinks, winking at Max before he left, giving an intentional shift of his hips as Max slapped his ass as he walked past, Adam choking on his drink. These were not the Bladebreakers he was used to.

"I can't believe you got drinks without me!" Adam choked on his drink again as he turned to see a brunette girl and a short skirt standing there with her hands on her hips. He raised an eyebrow, having seen her on tv before with Takao and Hitoshi but couldn't remember her name. "And aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?"

Takao rolled his eyes in response. "Adam this is Hiromi," he said as he glanced over. "Why didn't you tell us you were back from Rome!" He shook his head in response. "Hiromi finally found someone to date that was big on money, short on brains. Exactly what she needs."

At that the brunette stalked over and grabbed Takao by the ear. He whined in response, giving Hiromi a miserable look as she finally sat down, taking Takao's drink. "This isn't alcoholic, is it?"

There was a quick shake of heads in response. "We can't be giving Rei alcohol, you never know when he might have another one in the oven," Takao grinned as he placed a hand over Rei's middle just to get swatted at as Max's eyes widened in shock.

"You're pregnant again?"

"No," he turned towards Takao, scowling at him. "See what you've started?"

Adam had to crack a smile at the petty arguing, relieved that things had pretty much returned to normal. Feeling a hand on his shoulder he glanced up, grinning up at Jonouchi.

"Want to dance with me? Kai refuses to dance," Jonouchi explained as he held his hand out. There was a brief nod and Adam let Jonouchi drag him out onto the dance floor, stumbling a little behind the inu-jin. As he listened to the song he rested one hand on Jonouchi's hips, the other creeping towards his ass.

&&&

Kai was silent when the others left him, staring down at his drink. It wasn't that he couldn't dance, it was that he wasn't about to make a fool of himself but seeing his lover with his teacher nearly made his blood boil. He knew they had been chosen as tag team partners and he didn't blame Jonouchi for wanting to danced with someone but Kai's eyes lingered on that supposedly innocent hand. There was no reason for Adam to be touching him and moving against him like that.

"You know, he would be far better for him."

Red eyes narrowed as Kai gripped his drinking, tossing the liquid towards the offending voice to splash Slade in the face. He turned and glowered at the now wet blond as Slade wiped away the soda from his face, the sticky liquid dripping off his face and onto his clothing that was now wet and uncomfortable but instead of an apology there was a snort from Kai. In his mind he wished he had done far worse to the blond that had become a constant source of agony.

"I'm very close to placing a restraining order on you."

"Now, don't be that way Kai, just because you know the truth…" he smirked slightly in response. "I'm just making conversation. They do look so good together, don't they? Like a perfect couple and perfect for each other. Jonouchi needs someone that will help him grow, not a backstabber that will hold him back. Now tell me, have you even talked to him? I'm sure he's told Adam everything."

"Enough!" The red eyes of the dual-haired blader turned on Slade, one hand clenched into a fist.

"You're going to hit me now? That's a great way to solve your problem," he smirked as he stood and Kai stood as well, the eye contact not breaking. He wasn't about to turn his back to Slade, considering him an enemy. Finally glancing back he had noticed a slow song had started and he stalked off, grabbing Adam's arm. Adam was about to say something but Kai just shook his head before taking his place. Wrapping his arms around Jonouchi he relaxed slightly as the arms went around his neck, the inu-jin leaning his head against Kai's chest.

"You should dance more," Jonouchi murmured as he pressed close. "You're not that bad at it, just a little unpolished."

"Katsuya…" his voice froze in his throat as the brown met red and he felt his heart pounding, reminding him of the time they first met, that day their eyes had first met, when he had crushed Takao and he had seen those eyes watching him from the crowd. Though he knew he had Takao to thank for this he would never say it out loud.

Glancing up Jonouchi kissed him softly before resting against his body. "I love you."

At that his heart pounded harder and he knew what he had to do. He knew what Adam was doing, what Slade was doing, and to keep this he had to cut off the head. It was time to remove Adam from the equation. He had taught him in the beginning but in order to keep Jonouchi he knew he had to turn Adam into his enemy. One thing he was sure of. Adam Banks would rue the day he made an enemy of Kai Hiwatari.

&&&

When Ralf walked into his study, tired from a day entertaining members of the high class with a dinner he was forced to blink for a moment. This was not the way he had left his study and his lover was impeccable as he was. It made no sense, a book laying haphazardly on the couch Johnny usually sat on and the chess board on the ground, pawns scattered over the ground as Seto was kneeling before it, staring at the few pieces on the board.

"Bad day?" He asked as Seto quickly glanced up and slowly stood, leaving the checkmate position on the board. Seto handed over the envelope and Ralf looked it over, staring at the blank white paper.

"It won't kill you," stepping over he collapsed onto the couch as Ralf read over the paper inside.

"A tournament? But you've never entered on in your life. And we should discuss this with the team."

There was a slight sigh in response. "I've already accepted," Seto said as Ralf stiffened in response.

"I believe one of the deals of this joint team was that all decisions must go through both captains if I am-"

He was cut off mid sentence as Seto spoke. "They kidnapped Mokuba."

There was a sigh from the purple haired European in response, sitting on the couch next to him. "Well, I'll contact the others and inform them," he said as he patted Seto's knee lightly. "Whoever has done this will rue the day they messed with us. We should all start training as soon as we can. We have a tournament to win."

&&&

After wandering around for a while Adam collapsed on a chair at the bar next to Max. He was slightly shocked that the blond wasn't surrounded by a group of both boys and girls wanting to dance with the world class defense blader. He was pretty sure this was the first time for the night. It seemed Takao and Rei had disappeared and when he had asked Hiromi she had just rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the boys that she had dubbed her 'fan club'. Kai and Jonouchi had left soon after he had been separated from the inu-jin and Kyouju was getting data at the beyblade dish where Daichi was going against several bladers.

Out of all of them that only left Max unoccupied. Glancing at him Adam smiled. "Wow, if I didn't know better I wouldn't have recognized you."

At that the blond blinked his blue eyes. "Why not?"

"You're just so… I don't know… different."

At that there was a cheerful laugh as Max shook his head. "I'm the same I've always been. You're just like mom; you can't see me as anything but the little kid."

Adam scowled in response to that. He couldn't remember having been told by anyone that he was like their parents and as cool as Judy was the idea made him shudder. Deep down he wondered if even Slade knew what Max was really like.

"So Max, you ready for this tournament?"

At that the blond grinned broadly. "Oh yeah, I haven't bladed in competition since I tied against Mystel! Now that one was really great. He was jumping all over the place and I tied with him," leaning against the bar his smile grew. "We are so going to clean house, the Bladebreakers are back in action!"

There was a brief smile at that before Adam glanced around. "By the way, what is this place?"

"Oh!" He grinned at that. "This is a night club for older bladers to hang out and meet up. We can't really be hanging out in the playground, now can we. Some of Takao's other friends were bragging that they knew the world champion after the Justice Five tournament so we were dragged here. We've been coming here every Friday ever since. It's really cool and serves both teenagers and adults… but once there were a few bladers that didn't like us and they spiked our drinks."

At that information Adam sweatdropped, suddenly having a bad feeling about the story behind that. He couldn't even imagine Takao drunk and he suddenly didn't want to. Even worse was the image in his head of a drunken Max. Quickly he decided the change the subject.

"Have you seen Takao and Rei? Hiromi just rolled her eyes when I asked her."

Max's face split into a huge smile and Adam felt his heart flutter in response. He was fully aware of how the young blond could use that innocent look to get anything he wanted.

"They're in the back room."

"The back room? Is there something special there?" Adam blinked his eyes in confusion, staring at the other.

"Why don't I show you?" Max stood up, stretching slightly before reaching out and pulling Adam off the stool. He stumble slightly, practically falling on top of Max.

"You won't have your virginity if you go there with him!" Hiromi yelled as she squirmed away from her own group, rushing over to Adam's aid. "Assuming you still have it.'"

He flushed in response, staring at the girl like she was insane. "You do?" She asked and gave a slight giggle. "Well you're the only Bladebreaker that does."

That caused an even brighter flush. True, he had known Takao and Rei couldn't be but it had just hit him in realization just what that meant. He did not want to think of his best friend's younger brother doing that. Then his mind traveled to his own student and his face paled slightly. He certainly did not want to imagine Kai or any of the others doing that. "Even little Daichi?"

There was a ring of laughter from Max and Hiromi as Adam decided it was time to call it a night while images of the Bladebreakers naked and having sex was scarring his mind. They were kids… and while he had probably thought of Jonouchi that way the realization had hit hard. He suddenly wanted a return to the days when babies were delivered by storks and fourteen year old blonds didn't talk idly about sex.

Stepping outside Adam froze in his tracks, seeing the red eyes focusing on him. Had Kai been waiting for him?

&&&

Note: This chapter is typed by Jou-Kai-Mokie.