DISCLAIMER:

Me: I DO NOT OWN METAL FIGHT BEYBLADE OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

"I'm awake." Ryuga blinked drowsily and rubbed his eyes, the yellow irises seeming larger than usual. Yu eagerly pounced on his former idol, whilst Kenta stood rooted to his spot, unsure if it was safe to hug him, even though he wanted to.

Ryuga hissed in pain, trying to shove Yu off him. Tsubasa carefully lifted the young boy off his chest. "Yu!"

"Sorry," Yu said apologetically. "I forgot..."

"You're twelve! Quit jumping on people!" Tsubasa snapped. Ryuga glanced around the room, confusion and panic gracing his features for a few seconds, before his usual scowl took over again. He met each person's gaze with his own, as if trying to extract an explanation from them. Gradually, his trembling right hand traveled to his left arm, stroking the smooth, tanned surface. He frowned. "Where's L-Drago?" he asked, sitting up.

But his eyes said otherwise.

He knows, Kenta realized. He knows, and he wants me to prove him wrong. But... I can't lie to him.

Every person in the room exchanged helpless glances; they didn't know what to do either.

"Where's L-Drago?" His eyes grew desperate. Kenta just shook his head, unable to speak.

"Don't you remember?" Madoka said, her voice tinged with uncertainty and a little fear. "It disintigrated-"

Ryuga growled. "That's not true," he snapped stubbornly. Gingka stared at him, pity evident in his honey-brown eyes. "But-"

"That's not true, that's not true, that's not true!" Ryuga yelled, his fingers digging into the edge of the couch. "L-Drago can't be gone!" Kenta reached out and grabbed his hand, trying to soothe the panicked teen. "It's gonna be alright, Ryuga," he said. He didn't know what else to say to comfort him.

"You know we're not lying," Kyoya said. "Don't deny it."

At the blue-eyed blader's words, Ryuga looked down at Kenta's hand, still gripping his own. His yellow eyes burned wildly with fury and grief; closed them tightly and gritted his sharp teeth - bit his lip until blood dripped out and slid down his chin. He's trying not to cry. Kenta suddenly felt a pressurizing pain in his hand, and realized that Ryuga was crushing it in a vise-like grip, as if it were his lifeline. But strangely, he didn't mind at all; his friend was hurting, and he wanted him to feel better.

"Shut up!" Ryuga snarled, like a child throwing a tantrum. "Just shut up and leave me alone!" He pulled his long legs closer to his body and laid his head on his knees.

For a moment, the room was deafeningly silent. "Kenta, is it okay if I prepare some food?" Madoka asked. Kenta nodded. "I'll get you something to eat and drink, 'kay Ryuga?" she asked, heading to the kitchen. Ryuga only grunted, as if he didn't care whether he ate or not - as if he didn't care about anything and anyone, including himself.

"It's like he lost his will to live," Kenta murmured, half to himself. Ryuga opened an eye, glared at Kenta half-heartedly, then closed it again in defeat. "Ryuga..." Yu's voice cracked and he reached out tentatively, and laid his hand on Ryuga's arm.

"Beyblade's everything to you, isn't it?" Gingka collapsed onto the other couch beside Benkei. Looking into the Pegasus-wielder's dark, shining eyes, Kenta could tell that he wanted Ryuga to answer. But instead, the golden-eyed teen pretended not to hear Gingka; he probably didn't even hear him at all.

They stood (and sat) in silence until Madoka came back with a steaming bowl of soup. She set the tray on the coffee table. "You want me to feed you?" she asked.

Ryuga scowled. "I'll do it myself."

Madoka backed off in surrender. "Just trying to help."

Ryuga tried to hide his pained grimace as he swung his legs over the side of the couch and put the bowl onto his lap. He lifted the container to rest underneath his chin and slowly brought a spoonful of the hot broth to his lips, then another one. Kenta noticed that his friend's eyes never left the shiny utensil, as if he was putting all of his concentration into not letting a single drop fall.

As the former blader brooded on the couch, the others started conversations of their own, unable to continue the silence. Kenta joined in, engaging himself in a heated argument with Benkei about the winners of the previous Beyblade tournaments.

They ate lunch quickly, then snacked on goods from the bake sale.

Suddenly, they heard a strangled yelp. Ryuga was sitting up, clutching at his throat and gasping for air. Sweat beaded his face and the irises of his eyes seemed to be tiny dots. He looked around quickly, then realizing that he had an audience, he calmed down and presumably went back to sleep.

Kenta stared at his mentor in concern. Ryuga never had nightmares when they were traveling.

"Are you okay?" he asked him. Ryuga pulled the blankets over his head in response, but Kenta could still hear his slow, heavy breathing. He sighed.

"How long are you gonna stay like this?" Benkei asked. "BU-BU-BULL!"

Ryuga rolled over on his side and glared at him. "You shut your trap, before I shut it for you."

Madoka scowled at Benkei. "He needs time; his Beyblade just disappeared, remember?" she snapped. Benkei nodded. "If I lost Bull, I don't know what I'd do," he admitted. "Exactly!" Gingka exclaimed. "You need to think about how you'd feel if it happened to you."

"Well, Ryuga's not exactly the most... nicest... person..." Benkei stuttered.

"He's still here!" Kyoya grumbled, noticing how the three were talking as if Ryuga wasn't awake; it was nice that he was coming to his defense. Both teens were listening to every word being said, wearing identical expressions of slight irritation.

Kenta and Yu exchanged a glance and grinned in amusement.

Gingka, Benkei, and Madoka closed their mouths, transferring their gazes to Ryuga, who rolled his eyes and burrowed underneath the blankets again.