When Hiro finally came too, immediately before even opening his eyes he became aware of 2 things. First was that his head was absolutely killing him. The second was that he was laying on something somewhat soft. As he finally opened his eyes he immediately recoiled at the light as it exacerbated the pain in his head greatly. Was it the drug doing that or had he hit his head somehow?

"It'll pass. Don't worry kid. Just keep your eyes closed until the pain eases up some."

The voice sounded feminine. Strangely, it was slightly familiar sounding too. Maybe she was one of the bot fight announcers?

"My boss will be in soon to talk to you. If you're cooperative you'll be back to your hotel in time for your interview."

Hiro took a few breaths through his mouth trying to calm his stomach. Was he panicking? Or was it just the drug? Hiro wasn't sure but something was making him feel sick and it was one of the two.

"Can I call my brother?" Hiro grimaced at the sound of his voice. It was weak and scratchy. Was that the drugs too? Hiro didn't think so.

He was greeted by silence for a little while after he asked his question. He couldn't open his eyes due to the light but if he could he thought the lady might be looking at him.

"Are you stupid kid? We'll drop you off at the conference center when we are done and if you don't want the cops knowing about you're bot fighting you'll keep quiet about it."

Hiro sighed. That sounded about right. Why did he tell them his real name? God he was stupid. They knew too much about him now.

Tadashi glanced around the lobby growing more irritated as time passed. Hiro was really starting to tax his patience. He's been a brat pretty much all morning and now he'd disobeyed his explicit direction to remain in the lobby. At this rate he was going to have to ask the front desk if they could intercom him. Given that they even had an intercom. Actually thinking on it they probably didn't. Aunt Cass was going to kill him.

Tadashi stopped when he realized he was pacing around the lobby like an idiot. He'd wait here for a little while. Yeah that would work… hopefully. What if Hiro didn't show up? What if something happened? Tadashi felt dread start to bubble in his chest. He had to do something right?

Biting his lip Tadashi glanced up at the woman behind the front desk. Maybe she saw where Hiro went. At that slight inclination Tadashi walked up to the counter and tapped his hand anxiously on the counter.

The hotel clerk looked up at him her expression was slightly annoyed. "Is there something I can help you with sir?"

Tadashi nodded quickly. "I was just wondering if you had seen my brother. I was supposed to meet him here a couple minutes ago? He's about this big." Tadashi gestured with his hand and took a breath in an attempted to quell his anxiety.

The brunette woman looked over Tadashi curiously. The kid seemed pretty worried. She considered contacting hotel security. "Your younger brother fell asleep and was carried out of the hotel by a man in a suit. Was that your father?"

Tadashi felt his heart flutter in his chest. Where did they take Hiro?! Was he ok? Was he alive? Overwhelmed by shock Tadashi's legs nearly gave out on him but the woman behind the counter grabbed the front of his shirt keeping him upright.

"Come on kid snap out of it. I'll call the cops and we'll find your little brother alright? Come back behind the counter ok?"

Tadashi nodded numbly still trying to calm himself after hearing what happened to Hiro.

Hiro finally managed to open his eyes without exacerbating his headache too much. When he did what he saw before him was rather frightening. Was he in another hotel? If he was it certainly wasn't as nice as the one he was staying at before. The wallpaper looked terrible. That soft thing he was laying on? That was apparently a half made bed with dingy white sheets.

"Ah so the kid's finally woken up! That took forever. Tony why'd you have to go and use the hard stuff? Couldn't handle a little brat like that without it?"

Hiro looked up and studied the man before him curiously. He was dressed very nicely. He was a kind of portly man but he wore his fat well and clearly had good taste in clothing. "Are you the boss guy I've been hearing so much about?"

The man looked up and grinned. "Clever kid, so what I've been hearing is true! I go by Cadillac." Cadillac took a cigar from his pocket and lit it. He took a puff and blew the smoke in Hiro's face.

Hiro coughed a little at the smoke.

Cadillac laughed. "Big bot fighter Hiro Hamada, hustler extraordinaire, chokes on a little cigar smoke."

The woman from earlier looked over. She was one of the bot fight announcers. "He's an odd brat to catch at the scene but it's true the kid had some skill in the ring."

"I don't doubt you Hina. You did good work telling me about this kid." Cadillac looked Hiro over carefully. "I've brought you here because I want your help with something."

Hiro looked up at Cadillac. "What is it?"

Cadillac smiled the kid was so innocent it was funny. He didn't seem suspicious at all. Not that the kid needed to be. Cadillac just figured after Hiro got drugged he'd be a little more freaked out. "Do you know of the Red Meta rings?"

Hiro nodded. They were a less popular association of bot fighting rings run by another gang. Hiro figured Cadillac ran the Black Viper rings.

Cadillac nodded and handed Hiro a slip of paper. "The leader of the Red Meta association is going to be watching this fight here." Cadillac flicked the piece of paper in Hiro's hand. "I want you to get in with him by beating the fighter written here. Cadillac indicated to another place on the paper.

"You've only been to a few black viper fights and prefer red meta rings when you meet him ok? You are going to be my little spy and pretend to be Antonio's friend. I know he happens to have a soft spot for kids so you make the perfect candidate. Don't do as I ask and I'm afraid you and your family will be in terrible danger." Cadillac opened his pocket knife and inspected the blade. "Will you do it?"

Hiro swallowed. He was getting into some serious stuff now. They had to much dirt on him for Hiro to turn them in. He didn't have a choice in the matter. "Yeah, fine just next time you wanna talk find me at a bot fight not while my brother is around."

Cadillac grinned. "Good boy. Hina take the kid back to his hotel."

Hina nodded and yanked Hiro up off the bed. Hiro stumbled slightly the effects of the drug still overwhelming his small body.

"Hurry up kid." Hina kicked the back of Hiro's leg making him stumble again. "Can't you walk?"

Cadillac laughed. "Easy Hina, carry the kid to the car he's a lightweight. Tony gave him to much."

Hina pulled Hiro up to his feet and carried the boy over her shoulder.

"Hey what put me down!" Hiro squirmed slightly in the woman's grasp.

"If you want me to put you down don't be a clutz."

It didn't take long for Hiro to be returned to the hotel and when he came back what he saw made him groan. Tadashi, Aunt Cass, hotel staff and even police officers were all crowded in the lobby. He figured that might be the case but this happening so quickly amazed him. What time was it anyway? How long had he been out?

"Hiro?"

Hiro looked up and saw Tadashi staring at him from across the room.

"Oh my God, Hiro are you ok?!" Tadashi ran up to his younger brother as quickly as he could and was soon followed by nearly 6 police officers and Aunt Cass.

"Hiro sweetie what happened you aren't hurt are you?" Aunt Cass asked.

Hiro looked tiredly at Tadashi and his Aunt and shook his head. "I'm fine." His voice was strangely weak. Whatever they gave him clearly wasn't helping with whatever it was he caught earlier. Hiro needed a fake story to tell the cops. There was no doubt he would be questioned.

"Hiro is it you wouldn't mind answering a few questions for us would you." One of the officers asked.

Suddenly a medic from behind the crowd of police made his way through. "Calm down Nate he's just been through a traumatic experience. You can question him tomorrow after he's been checked over, rested and completed his interview for the convention.

Tadashi put a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "Are you up for doing the interview? The film crew is only going to be here for a few more minutes. It's required for the competition."

Hiro looked up at Tadashi and then back to the medic. "Um yeah is it ok that I do that real quick?"

The EMT nodded and Tadashi hurried Hiro to where the interviews were taking place.

The interviewer was clearly tired from a long day of interviews but gathered up the last of his energy for a particularly interesting interview with the youngest freshman high school student at the convention. His questions were thought provoking and made Hiro, despite his fatigue interested.

Once the interview was done the doctor from earlier quickly ushered Hiro into a comfortable lobby chair before performing checkup protocol. The doctor informed Aunt Cass and Tadashi of a few minor issues he had discovered before leaving. Sometime during the week Hiro was to be brought in for questioning by the police. He was also to be monitored for symptom in case the drug he was given had any negative effects.

After all of the commotion died down due to Hiro's arrival Tadashi and Aunt Cass hurried Hiro up to the room. They wanted to know what happened but offered to let Hiro tell them in the morning after he slept. Hiro took the opportunity to go to bed. His day had been tiring enough as it was. As he laid down he looked over at Tadashi and frowned.

"I'm sorry."

Tadashi looked at Hiro with some confusion. "Why are you sorry?"

Hiro sighed. "I can't tell you. I just want you to know I'm sorry."

Tadashi shook his head. "You can tell me anything Hiro. You know that."

With some reluctance Hiro nodded. "I might tell you later but for now it's better that I don't."

Tadashi put a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "You need to sleep now Hiro. I can wait but if you're scared or need help I want to know even if you think it will make me upset."

Hiro nodded. "I'll tell you when we get home." Hiro was tired of lying.

Tadashi gave a small smile. "That's good."

"Hey Tadashi?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't feel very good."

Tadashi gave a small laugh. "I know Hiro. I knew that this morning when you went to the lobby."

"You did?"

"Yeah, now go to sleep knucklehead. You'll feel better."

"Night Dashi."

Tadashi smiled. Hiro only called him that when he was really tired. "Night Hiro."

(What'd you guys think? Sorry for the late update. This chapter was pretty long though. I didn't want to skimp on this one. More robotics convention and brotherly fluff to come! Stay tuned. Review review review. Reviewers are my favorite people!)