Beyblades and Blood: The Attack of Shadow Vale

by IloveDranzer

Its been 10 years since the World Championships and the BEGA threat. Tyson, Max, Ray, Kai, Kenny, Hilary and Daichi are older with a new set of challenges in life. They are thrust back together as a new enemy threatens the safety of the World, bitbeasts and the old Bladebreakers/G-Revolution. Highly descriptive. Contains friendship, injury, violence, threat, angst and beyblading.

43. Chapter 43

Hiya guys! Sorry its taken me so long to get this one done! I've been trying to start my own dog walking business as well as suffering terrible writers block. There were bits I wasn't happy with and urghhhhhh went back to change and urghhh it's just got to the point where I just needed to publish it and be happy with what I've done or I'm still going to be writing this ficcy when I'm a pensioner! Hahaha. Anyway I hope you like it, even though there are still bits I feel I want to change and may visit again one day...just detail tweaks because I'm a nerd. Big thanks to you especially Vlissan, you amazing lady and thankyou endlessly for your so well thought out and kind reviews. They really do keep me going as well as the love for this story. Love and Peace!

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Chapter 43

With little starlight in a pitch black sky and no silvery moon glowing on high, Tyson's neighbourhood was a stark and shadowy scene as midnight fast approached. The only light came from street lamps illuminating narrow passageways and alleys, residential porch lights, and glowing screens behind closed curtains inside neighbouring houses. The wind was almost non-existent and everything was still aside from a staggering beer breathed worker returning home after late night drinking with work colleagues; whilst in the shadows, local street cats hunted for mice and ravaged bin-bags open with their claws, rooting for dinner scraps and delicacies of discarded meat or fish.

Inside the dojo walls no light emanated from anywhere except a warm bathroom light bulb in the house which someone had forgotten to switch off. Everyone had gone to bed. Grandpa Granger was fast asleep in his bedroom, snoring loudly away with his legs splayed in a loose pair of white boxer shorts. His chummy Grandson and friends camped in the dojo all together like they'd done for several nights before. Kai and his dog chose to join them, much to the other's amusement of having a pet come to sleep with them. Some protested to have the pooch sleep outside on the ridiculous grounds he might pee on them in the night or give them fleas, but Kai, Max, Tala, Bryan, Daichi and Tyson were having none of it, and so, won a majority vote of 6 over 5 for the pup to stay inside.

The team mixed of G-Revolution, White Tiger X, Blitzkrieg Boys and PPB Allstarz bladers had spent the whole day hardcore beyblade training in the Sun and with the excitement of the arrival of Kai's dog, they were royally pooped. Their self imposed strict regimen of 12 hours training a day dictated early rises and early nights, and tonight was just the same.

The beybladers fast snoozed away in various positions making an array of noises from almost silent breathing to nasal trumpeting. Most lay out flat like starfish wearing as little clothing as possible or half covered with the thinnest of blankets in the stuffy warm Japanese night. Fuzzy haired Victor laid splayed out at the foot of his owner's futon; with the only sleeper who needed a duvet due to his bazaar new condition of feeling cold all the time. Tyson wanted to sleep next to Kai from now on in the hopes the excitable and funny pooch would visit his bed and sleep with him instead, but to his childish disappointment Victor was too loyal to jump ship and stuck close to Kai's slumbering body like glue.

---

All were not asleep, as just outside of the dojo walls worked the night shift of Kai's security team. The highly trained operatives worked in shifts round the clock and ensured there was never a lapse in patrol or guardianship, the whole property was to be protected from wall to gates and every corner in between. Their client for this operation was no other than their own employer and Chief Executive of the highest order...if there was ever a protection detail to keep impenetrably safe and go the extra mile, it was this one. All operatives stood to attention and eagle-eyed like royal guards at their posts in various places at each section of wall and gate. Ear pieces and radios kept them all linked and communicated anything they see that had potential to be a threat. Examples of the daily call ins included...a man taking photos of birds out of his window, which on the surface seemed innocent enough if not for the possibility of photographing the dojo's entry points and thus a security concern. A school girl wearing a purple hoodie resembling Garnettas' height and build...and a shiny crumpled crisp packet in the wind mistaken for a beyblade shooting in the air were both raised as immediate security threats. To say the team wearing bullet proof vests, black military style clothing and weapons holstered at their sides were professional, alert, and outright intimidating was a giant understatement.

"I see movement behind the red Nissan up the street." Announced a tall, male, Japanese security operative with his back to the east wall of the dojo. He relayed calmly through a radio channel by clicking a button attached to his earpiece.

A Caucasian female operative stationed at a corner closest to the rouge car in question replied. She used the same equipment and wore the same uniform but fitted especially for her slim feminine body. "All units stay on alert and watch my position. I'm going in to investigate. Stand by."

Like something dangerous loomed in the air all guards readied to act at any second, their fingers twitched above holsters, threads of adrenaline dragged through their veins and their skin glittered of sweat under street lamps in the nights' heat and tension.

The Kevlar clad woman bravely strode over to the red Nissan Micra with a torch turned on and shone at the vehicle as she approached. Her previous vocation was as a bomb disposal expert in the British military, she'd served abroad in warzones of Afghanistan and Iraq and so civilian protection work in a low crime rate country like Japan was a breeze to her. She was fearless as she bent down to shine the strong light under the car to see...a plump tanuki eating half a cooked prawn tempura it had stolen, probably ripped from a bin bag at the back of a local restaurant or dropped by a tourist. It looked at her, hissed angrily with dark beady eyes and pointy teeth, and then scampered away into a dark alley carrying its semi-devoured fried seafood delight tight in its jaws.

The stoic operative privately chuckled to herself before letting her team know of the "threat." "False alarm. Only a racoon dog."

A young American operative who was well known for his humour on the same radio channel had to quip a reply. "Ohhh man, that's the 3rd one this week."

Mr Cooper, head of Team Halo and Kai's personal body guard relayed a response in a dark thick African American accent. "Good work Ashby. All Units...we have it on good authority our targets are likely back in the area already. STAY ALERT and if you see anything no matter how small or insignificant. Call it in."

Perched high upon Tyson's ornate blue rooftop sat Ozuma, Dunga, Mariam and Josef like gargoyles, crouched and stone like as they watched Kai's security for any indication they'd seen something alarming. The Saint Shields had noticed the female security operative leave her post to investigate movement in the darkness behind a car and noted her colleagues' agitated and tetchy body language. All four bladers gave a sigh of relief as they watched the officer return to her position to guard the wall without a fuss. The Shadow Vale assassins were coming back for Dragoon, Driger and Draciel...it was only a matter of time and Kai's security would likely be the first to detect them at the outer ring of their protected hub. The Saint Shields, like the Hiwatari Enterprises staff would not let an hour slip by where the house and yard weren't watched over for any intruders that may sneak in. That was the agreement, Kai's security guard the outside of Tyson's home and the Saint Shields keep an eye on everything inside the walls. The Saint Shields were human beings too and each worked on a rota basis. One would have a few hours in the day to sleep, shower, eat and then return to watch duties...but at night however...all four were to work... when Shadow Vale were most likely to return... and when the former Bladebreakers were at their most vulnerable.

---

Darcel, the Zap Arachnid beyblader, dark skinned and tattooed with sharp crooked teeth and jagged chunky silver hair which looked like spider legs dangling from his crown, grunted as he dragged himself through a pipe just wide enough for him to crawl through. He was the only one of the Shadow Vale assailants small bodied enough to take advantage of the underground pipe jungle running beneath the neighbourhood, and with it, the chance of hostile invasion into the Granger property for the sacred turtle spirit destiny promised from the cradle. The old sewer pipes were last used decades ago thanks to a Tokyo City regeneration programme in the 1950s, which saw a new system replace the primitive and corroding one. The pipes inside were rusty orange, dry and flaky, and musty aired like a tomb from the lack of oxygen, lined with trails of rat urine and forged into the metal was the hint aroma of human faeces. He shuffled on all fours with his shoulders, hands and knees tight through the close tunnels with nothing but a head torch and a blue-print map to guide him. After a while, he stopped, crawled up vertically, and hit something...the underside to a rusted shut surface cover.

"Hehehehehe I found it! I'm as smart as I look hahaha." He cried aloud in weasly screechy rejoice.

He scuttled up a rusted iron ladder affixed to the side of a vertical pipe and produced a silver crow bar from inside his now dirty and putrid smelling purple cloak. He rammed the tip of the metal tool into the gap between the pipe wall and lid and began to pry the two apart with as much strength as he could, but equally, with great care to make as little noise as possible. Should any of Kai's security or the Saint Shields catch him, his mission would surely be over, he would be arrested, held prisoner at his despised adversaries' village, detained and interrogated for the whereabouts of the Arch Mage and the rest of his "family". Disgrace would befall his name forever in the eyes of his Shadow Vale clan members... a fate as worse as death.

With immense difficulty and with much cursing he managed to slide the heavy metal lid a fraction...just enough to get his blackened fingers into the gap and slide the lid across to produce a waft of clean fresh air his lungs and face enjoyed instantly. All the while adrenaline kept him sharp, aware and anxious as he broke into unknown and potentially dangerous territory. The residents of the property had more than enough man power to take him on alone and for what he did to Max in the hospital loading bay, they'd need no encouragement to do him harm in revenge.

With filthy digits, chipped dirty finger nails and abraded palms he dragged the rusted metal across some more. *Scraaaaaappppeeeee* *Scraaaaapppppppppeeeee* He paused sharply. Had he made too much noise? He thought. With wide ruby eyes and a frozen stature he prepared to lever himself up. Like a mouse he popped his head out of his rat hole and took his first glimpse of the inside of the dojo he and his siblings had fantasised about breaking into for days. The chance to finally get up close to the Sacred Spirits they needed to bring about a New World Order with their Lord and father figure at the mast...and the unfortunate guardians destined to be removed from their path with the sharp edge of a dagger. Darcel's red irises scanned left to see groomed trees and thick bushes, to his right were more trees and even denser bushes. The spider hole he'd emerged from could not have been in a more perfect spot, in a shadowed corner of the yard and completely hidden by unkempt shrubbery. He leapt out of the dank tunnels to land on all fours onto a small patch of weeds between a thicket of rhododendron bushes. He was entirely out of sight in the dark of night and thick leafy cover...it was perfect! Darcel stifled an evil cackle erupting from his belly. "I'm in! I've done it. Now...where are you Maxy Maxy Maxy."

Suddenly! From up on high. Mariam patrolled atop the dojo rooftop. Her emerald eyes scanned like a predator for movement in the stark yard below, her long dark blue pony tail flopped forward as she leant over the roof ledge.

Darcel backed up and hid behind a tree trunk in a flash. His heart pounded as he waited to see if he'd made it in time. His glassy scarlet eyes watched as she peered over to his direction and...cat walked by without any alarm of his arrival. He'd evaded her...this time.

"Hehehehehehe. This is going to be like taking candy from a baby." The silver haired intruder devilishly grinned in the black cover of the Granger yard's shadows.

The purple cloaked blader with the evilest of intentions tip toed to a tree like a cartoon bank robber, then to another, then another without making a sound. His silent steps were thanks to the sandy patches of terrain which helped pad his soft open-toed black boots. He ensured to stay hidden in the cover of dark and with no full moon or stars in the sky his task was going to be easier than expected.

Darcel scuttled low and fast as he approached the edge of the high veranda and climbed aboard swiftly and soundless. Suddenly! He spotted Dunga stomp around the corner at ground level. The Shadow Vale stooge backed himself around a corner of the dojo building and out of sight right as the Vortex Ape blader turned his head in his direction. One second too slow and Dunga would have caught sight of him and all hell would have broken loose. Luckily for the tattooed invader...he got away with it and smirked as the heavy built Saint Shield continued his hourly patrol with swinging arms and a grumpy tired face.

"Bye bye Dunga. Make sure you keep up the good work. Hahahahah!" He cackled again in thought.

The knife wielding blader tip-toed back along the veranda as soon as Dunga was out of sight and turned another edge of the building. Before him now...was the wide open door to the dojo.

He poked his head in like a hawk and scanned the room for his slumbering prey. His sharp scarlet eyes locked straight onto Max's blonde headed body snoozing softly in a line of futons. Darcel took one more look behind him to ensure he hadn't been spotted and then...like a quiet fox with violence on his mind, snuck into the hen house with all the unsuspecting chickens fast asleep. With the quietest of footsteps he walked through the dojo taking the time to peer over each blader to ensure they were indeed fast asleep.

Bryan and Tala first to his left. The Russian duo lay sprawled out atop a layer of 4 futons each wearing loose shorts and vest tops. Two fans each breezed cool air over their bodies on full power. Tala barely made a noise, whereas Bryan snored lightly with a thin line of drool escaping his partially open thin pale lips.

"Great, all these fans will help with noise cover. Thanks Blitzkrieg Boys...for your help." Darcel sneered as he moved onto the other side of the large wood-beamed room.

9 other futons were arranged in a line. Emily lay next to the far wall with Kenny at her side. LEDs on their laptops blinked green in the dark as they charged by their heads. Their spectacles too, lay nearby in glasses cases for the night as their tired eyes rested.

Darcel's heart leapt. Next to Kenny was alarmingly...an empty futon. A thin yellow bed cover with daisy print lay uninhabited. "The girl, Tyson's chick. Where's she gone off to?!" He swung his head fast side to side to see if she was elsewhere in the room. She was nowhere to be seen.

Next was Mariah, she snoozed deeply wearing a pink nightdress and needing no bed cover due to the warm night. Naturally spooning her from behind in a loving sleepy cuddle was her boyfriend. His long luscious ebony hair was un-braided and flowed over his back and futon like a silky jet black river.

Neighbouring Ray wearing a shorts and t-shirt pyjama set was...Max. The prize. The golden goose. Draciel's guardian...and his intended victim. The happy-go-lucky blonde blader was cutely curled on his side and snoozing softly into his light green pillow.

The next bed over was...empty... and knotted the Shadow Vale assassin stomach further. The bed sheets were dark blue and thick, too thick for a summer duvet. Panic set in... "That has to be Dranzer's old guardian's bed. Where the hell is he now?! Crap crap crap!"

The next beds sported the Dragoon blader snorting the night away and his red-haired spunky mini-me. The pair snored with equal ferocity and slept shamelessly with open legs wearing loose fitting pyjamas...and completely unaware of the murderous villain lurking just feet away.

Adrenaline kicked in and ravaged Darcel's pulse like wildfire. "Crap crap crap. Where are the other two?! I needed them ALLLL to be asleep! Gotta hurry! I've gotta find Draciel and take his guardian's life and quick!"

The cruel tattooed blader tip toed over to Max's pure innocent form and stood over the foot of his bed. For a long second he absorbed the sight of Max's sweet freckled face as he drew long peaceful breaths and involuntarily twitched in his dreams. However, Darcel felt nothing for the other young man, he saw him only as a job, much like an abattoir worker sees a farm animal, or a hit-man to his mark.

Each slumberer had various belongings nearby their futons as they slept; piles of clothes, backpacks, duffle bags, toiletries and beyblade tool kits. By Draciels master's feet were a pile of clothes ready for the next day and a dark green rucksack in the shape of a turtle shell, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle paraphernalia he just had to treat himself to at a Comic Con last summer.

Darcel's scarlet orbs twinkled with malice as he gazed down the backpack. The coveted Sacred Spirit in Max's beyblade would surely be inside. He took no time to crouch, snapped a gaze around the space to make sure Kai or Hilary hadn't returned, and then stealthily unzipped the main compartment of the turtle shell backpack. His fingers dug around in Max's dirty laundry not yet put in the laundry bin and pulled out something that was the size of a beyblade. He unfurled his fingers to reveal...a yo-yo. "Who the hell plays with yo-yos nowadays?! Urghhh moron!" He cried internally.

Tense pressure built in his fibres, flustered Darcel re-dived his hand back into the bag to fish for anything else that felt like a beyblade...apart from the yo-yo, a box of hair dye and stinky clothes...no Draciel beyblade could be found. He gingerly unzipped the front compartment and jabbed his hand into its darkness for a desperate rummage. Spot cream in a tube and a set of earphones was all he discovered. "Urghhhhhhh where in Seven hells is MY Draciel!"

Beside the Turtle shell backpack was a pile of neat clothes. Darcel padded the folded garments aggressively to feel if there was anything hard in between the layers, then, violently and with pure frustration he picked them up and flung them about to see if anything fell out of a pocket. This produced no results other than the noise of flailing fabric and was lucky the fans blowing and snoring of the Dragoon bladers covered his racket.

"AHHHHHHHHH WHERE IS DRACIEL YOU EMPTY HEADED SPOILED AMERICAN BRAT!" Darcel fumed frantic. He wanted to yell, punch, scream and stamp on Max's face until he smashed his skull in until...he caught a glimpse of a beyblade shining in a patch of stray light. Dragoon...lay out in the open on a pile of Tyson's folded clothes. Then another blade caught his eye...Driger, waited by Ray's pillow as it rested next to a pink one. Their precious beyblades and two sacred spirits within them were on full view...just there for the snatching.

"I...could take one of theirs instead. I could master the Great White Tiger or the Great Blue Dragon spirit. Harkan or Garnetta could hunt down Draciel later. They won't be happy about it but at the very least we will have two Sacred Spirits before dawn. But which one? No. Harkan and Garnetta WILL kill me. But so will our Lord if he finds out I missed the opportunity to nab one, any of the Sacred four. I have to choose quickly. I haven't got long. Kai or Tyson's squeeze could be back any minute and any of these chumps could wake up. Gotta think fast. He gazed over Ray's body cuddled around Mariah's...then over Tyson's splayed out one with his jugular vein nice n easy to see and reach...back to the male White Tiger's then back to the beyblade Champion. His vicious red-eyed gaze darted from Ray to Tyson until he made up his mind who his slumbering victim shall be.

"Dragoon it is." His eyes glinted like the devil as he reached down to grasp his fingers around Dragoon with one hand...and the other began to extract a dagger from a sheath inside his cloak. One hand would take the young Grangers' Dragoon bitbeast and the other...his life.

As the sinister assassin closed in for his kill, words stopped him in his track. He froze like a statue with his dagger close to Tyson's snorting and spluttering throat.

"Ewwwww what's that smell?" Mariah groaned barely awake as she lifted her head off her pillow with her eyes still closed.

Darcel darted behind the sofa like a ninja, skilful, silent and with lightning speed. His heart pumped madly as he held his breath. The thought of getting caught and captured was far more terrifying and adrenaline rushing than taking someone's life. Murdering Max or Tyson was just something that had to be done, and something he always knew he would have to carry out as a part of the ritual to become the new guardian of a sacred spirit. Getting trapped by the Saint Shields and dragged back to their village would be nothing but embarrassing and torturous...that's if Kai's security didn't get him first and who knows what they would do to him once he was in cuffs, he assumed military black site or an unmarked grave if their employer saw fit.

"I smell it too Mariah." Mumbled Ray as he groggily unfurled the hug around his girlfriend, then sat up to gaze around the room with bleary yellow eyes to scan the dark for anything to explain the putrid poo and urine smell lingering in the air. He yawned then laid back down, too tired and sleepy to properly investigate. "It has to be Victor. We'll tell Kai he has to give him a bath tomorrow."

Darcel pulled a piece of his tunic up to his nose and soundlessly sniffed, his face recoiled and his nose screwed with how bad his clothes reeked. The sewers had left their mark and he stunk of its rancid perfume. "Oh mann I stiiiiiiiink. And what's Victor? Oh well I haven't got time to worry about that! I can't linger in here anymore, not smelling like this. I'll wake them up just with my stench. Those damm White Tigers have stirred enough. I know...I'll go check out the house. Maybe Draciel is in one of the bedrooms. I've come too far to turn tail and run empty handed now."

Darcel waited a couple of minutes to allow the neko-jin bladers time to drift back off. Their sensitive feline ears and noses would surely pick him up if he stayed much longer and so, committed to his new plan. He tip-toed backwards, past the Blitzkreig Boys and back out the dojo door where he scampered like a weasel down the walkway, ducking and diving if he caught a glimpse of any of the Saint Shields patrolling the garden or rooftop above.

---

A shoji door leading to the inner workings of the Granger house was left wide open in the heat of the summer night and the nasty cloaked thief needed no invitation to sneak right in. Hoping he would find Draciel lying around somewhere, he began his hunt in the dark and silence of Tyson's home and soon found himself in the corridor leading to the bedrooms. Firstly he hit Hiro's bedroom, or as of late, Kai's sulking room. The smelly silver-haired blader gingerly pulled a door across to find an empty room full of stuff in neatly stacked boxes. "It doesn't look like Draciel would be in here."

Onto the next room. Tyson's parents old room. "Nope, won't be in here. The dust is so thick I can tell no one has been in here for a while."

Grandpa Granger's room was next, where a kendo master and owner of the property were fast asleep and snoring his walls down like a blowing hurricane with every breath. The likelihood of Max's beyblade being in an old man's bedroom was slim, and Darcel didn't want to risk waking another of the dojo household, especially a skilled martial arts teacher. The risk was way more trouble than it's worth.

Tyson's sliding bedroom door was conveniently left wide open and the sinister beyblader snuck straight in like a thief without a hitch. Darcel set straight to work foraging for the great Turtle spirit locked inside a spinning toy. He peered around at the manga collections on Tyson's shelves and was utterly enthralled by the metallic shining souvenirs of victory in the form of cups and medallions in a display cabinet. He pulled a couple of drawers out to find comic books of a different variety, gazed upon them and flicked through a few pages looking at the saucy content before haste took over. Time was running out and if he didn't find Draciel soon he would have to abandon tonight's mission and come back another night, and hope then, Max would have Draciel somewhere close to his body.

With a frustrated swing in his arms and pressure of lost time, Darcel marched out of Tyson's room back into the hallway...where...he was finally discovered.

The two figures in the dark froze to the spot. Their eyes were open wide with shock. They gawped speechless. Like deer in headlights they were momentarily stupefied.

Hilary had got up in the middle of the night for a wee in the main bathroom of the house and then fumbled around in the dark kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. She was on her way back to the dojo, and back to bed.

Petrified, she rapidly looked up and down the shorter statured intruder before her in the lightless corridor. Her large auburn eyes were wide awake with sudden fear of the ruthless blader whose purple cloak stood out in the low light, the black ring tattoos around his fingers, hands, wrists and neck...his silver hair and ruby red eyes filled with unkindness. Her arm and neck hair stood on end as her stomach turned. His attire and characteristics were identical to the blader who stabbed Kai to death at the beystadium, and Harkan, the man who wanted to take Tyson's life too; only saved in the nick of time by Tala and his Wolborg.

"HUhhhhh! You're a Shadow Vale beyblader!" She gasped and immediately began to fret and for good reason. She stammered backwards with terror after analysing who he was and what he could do.

The silver haired assailant predatorily stared back at her for a long second. She wore pink frilly night shorts, a loose white vest top with a bunny holding a flower printed on the front and a white un-padded bra underneath. She had nothing on her feet and her bouncy brown hair dangled over her shoulders and a little down her back. Her bangs were messy from sleeping and despite wearing no makeup she was still pretty faced.

Hilary felt a scream develop deep from inside her lungs but before her mouth could expel it, a dirty and unhygienic hand clamped over her mouth to silence her and a sharp object jut into the fleshy side of her throat. In shock she dropped the glass of water causing aqua to splash up the paper shoji walls and the clear plastic tumbler to roll away.

The nasty blader with no honour had dragged a knife to the girl's neck and pressed with the pointy end. He warned low enough not to wake the karate sensei a wall away. "You make a single noise and I'll kill you and I'll kill the old man too. Understand girly? You resist and I'll have you gushing all over the floor before any of your friends rise for breakfast. You're coming with me and you're going to come quietly. I came for Draciel but you'll have to do for now. Congratulations birdy! You're now my hostage and you're going to help me get Draciel one way or another."

The shaking brunette whimpered with bulbous tears threatening to fall from her terrified brown orbs. She knew he could take her life at any moment with the jagged edge of the knife held close and the sharpness she felt on her delicate skin. This savage almost took Max's life once and given the deadly reputation of the Shadow Vale bladers she wasn't about to fight back until she knew she had a decent shot of escape. Kai had already been captive with a knife to his throat by a member of the same clan, and he had a team of highly trained security operatives and corporate counter-hostage training to assist him...she, had neither.

The cruel smelly clothed man several inches shorter than his prey pushed her forwards in the direction he wanted her to go in with the dagger's serrated edge pressed hard against her gullet and his filthy free hand still clamped over her lips. She daren't try to scream as they stammered passed Grandpa Granger's room, although undoubtedly he would do something to help her if she managed to wake him. She whimpered some more as they passed the hip old geezers bedroom as he snoozed the night away oblivious of the terrible situation unfolding just outside his door.

Darcel shoved and dragged the terrified slim leggy brunette across the yellowwood veranda and down onto the grass and dust patch training area. Each few calculated steps were made after scanning above and around so as not to catch the sight of the Saint Shields or Kai, who was still unaccounted for. Darcel was constantly watching his entire circumference all the while making sure enough pressure was applied to Hilary's sore growing neck. The threat to end her life was unrelenting and just how it had to be if Darcel didn't want her to scream the dojo down. Now the Shadow Vale blader had her in the dark shadowed corner of the yard it was an easy home run. All he had to do was drag and push her through the trees and bushes of the far side of the garden, jab her into the manhole cover, make her drag the lid across behind them and then deliver his unusual looking "beast" to his siblings where she would most certainly be a bargaining chip for the remaining three Sacred spirits.

---

Meanwhile on the other side of the yard...

It was gone midnight and Kai was perched on the veranda with his meek pale arms crossed limply in his lap, and his long navy clothed legs parted and dangled over the wood's edge. In the scant light his eyes had adjusted well and serenely watched his dog snuff patches of grass and cock his leg urinating up the Granger's decorated ceramic plant pots. Victor was bored, unsettled or needed a pee and had woken his two-legged buddy during the night for attention. Dog-dad Kai abandoned his futon to lead him to a quiet place he could relieve himself and stretch his paws without disturbing the others. The only light bathing the yard was from lampposts outside of the dojo wall making the majority of the garden a dark pit of a scene with only outlines of tree trunks, bushes and plant-pot rims visible to adjusted visions. Kai could tell where his pooch was by the twinkle of his metal ID tag hanging from his collar, and his four legged friend's sniffing silhouette between the foliage.

The recovering beyblader yawned with one hand covering his mouth and sleepy dew expressed from the outer sides of his eyes. He then massaged his face briefly with both hands, before climbing down to ground level carefully so as not to inflame his healing wound with anymore unnecessary athletics. Oversized white slippers on his feet dragged atop the dust and shaven grass as he approached his pup in the dark. "Come boy, let's go back to bed?" He softly ordered.

Like boy dogs do, Victor cocked his leg up another potted plant for the 18th time and once he finished squirting drops of urine from his sheath, he returned to four legs again... and then suddenly...froze.

The CEO dog owner drew close and knelt to stroke his pooch's back and tussle his head. "Victor, we're going back now...Uhh what's up with you?"

The pup was deaf to his human best friend as he stared off at the far corner of the opposite side of the yard. His body was rigid under Kai's patting hand, his hackles stood on end, his intelligent brown eyes transfixed, his grey and white neck hair raised and his wet black nose sniffed the air over and over. The smell of something foreign and dangerous was in the air and his sharp canine senses were telling him something was awry. He gazed into the dark corner eerily before suddenly...*BARK* *BARK*rushing into the shadows and shrubbery before his master could stop him.

Kai stammered forward with an outreaching palm whilst his other hand guarded his wound. "Victor! Come back!" "Oh no. I bet he's seen a cat." Kai muttered the latter of his sentence as he shuffled as fast as he could after his mutt through the pitch black jungle of Tyson's garden; his torso injury, loose fitting slippers and moon-less night hindered his speed considerably.

*BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK* *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK* *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Victor's barking was ballistic. The tone of his canine cry was unlike the excited noise of earlier in the day when he made best friends with Tala, Tyson, and the others. No, this bark was laced with warning and an emotion rarely displayed by the hound... aggression.

*BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

The lovable pooch had found his target whatever it was. He stood with his hackles raised barking relentlessly at a silent dark corner of the yard harbouring nothing but closed flowers and shadows...or so it seemed.

*BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

It wasn't long before the frustrated dog owner caught up with his hairy comrade. Victor's loud and booming barks guided his master through the black to a clearing on the lawn.

"Victor! Silence!" Kai hissed bitterly as he exacted a slicing gesture in the air with his hand as he drew closer behind the pup. Victor was such a well behaved dog and for him to misbehave like this was extremely unusual.

"VICTOR!" Kai gruffly cried louder with the uncomfortable societal pressure to quieten his dog in the middle of the night in the well-built urban neighbourhood. Barking like that was bound to wake up half of Tokyo and Tyson's Grandpa would surely revoke Victor's right to stay another night should he carry on.

*BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK* *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

With Kai's arrival behind, Victor changed his demeanour from barking to a low menacing growl which increased in intensity and fury with each canine breath. He no longer needed to alert his master, but protect him. His head dipped, the grey and white patches of fur running down his back was erect like spikes, and his lips peeled away to reveal white incisor and canine teeth, as many as his lovable floppy chops could exhibit. His eyes were raven stones and nothing about his body language was friendly. *GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*

Kai scolded again as his vision punched through the starkness of the night garden to see whatever his trusty dog was so alarmed about. "Leave it Victor! It's just a...cat."

Electric threat shot through Kai's body in a second. What he saw looking back at him from the dark...was not a cat. His eyes opened as wide as they could stretch, his heart dropped into his groin, his veins thickened with cold adrenaline and the dreaded sickness that came with it. He stood rigid and forgot to breathe that very instant, until finally, his bottom jaw hung and he took a hissing gasp.

His stunned amethyst orbs paired with weeping auburn... and then locked with sinister rubies.

*GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

Poor Hilary's dainty legs trembled as she writhed beneath the slicing dagger pressed so harshly to her slim throat. A red line of blood dribbled down her neck like runny jam where he'd already cut her in struggle. She was firmly in the deadly clutches of Darcel from the Shadow Vale clan and it was going to be one hell of a task to get her out safely. Kai knew he would have to think through every one of his moves and words carefully; or Hilary would surely pay the price with her life before any ambulance could arrive on time to save her.

The skimpy dressed captive whimpered with mixed emotion as she struggled not to pee herself in unbridled fear. Her arms dangled helplessly to her sides, she daren't try to fight him off or her jugular vein could be spraying out scarlet all over the lawn in a second flat. Darcel made it crystal clear if she tried anything there would be bloody consequences, and she had no reason to disbelieve his threat. Upon seeing Kai standing behind his growling dog, her soft thin brown eyebrows twitched with a flicker of relief, for finally she was not alone in her predicament. If anyone was going to use tact to help her escape...it was Kai Hiwatari.

Darcel smirked filthily with all the power he'd cowardly and ruthlessly obtained over the young meek woman too terrified to fight back. It bloated his ego and under the weight of his knife he moved the blade again causing her another painful slice just because he could. Tears streamed from the side of her moist eyes as her head was forced to arch upwards with the pressure of his weapon and filthy hand clamped tight over her lips. Hilary's relief dissipated like melted sugar into burnt dread as she fought not to all out sob in his cruel grasp. Hilary was a tough girl but even she had her limits; being held at knifepoint was one of them, and an understandable one.

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

Seeing another line of injury dealt to Hilary's neck, Kai instantly snapped out of his stunned stupor to attempt to take charge. His face was low and stern, his furious eyes glared and his jaw clenched. He ordered over the noise of his pup's unrelenting growling. His tone had a sense of calm despite feeling terrified for her safety. He outstretched an arm in command. He meant every word and was fully prepared for the consequences. "No! Don't hurt her! She's not the one you want. You want one of us right? Let her go and take me instead."

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

Darcels' spider-leg looking bangs bounced and jiggled as he cackled aloud maniacal, the whole time ensuring Hilary's throat remained under the pressure of his knife. "Hahaha and why would I want you?! You have nothing to offer me! You have no Sacred Spirit. Max on the other hand...has EVERYTHING I want. Bring him out here and then we can talk about a trade. Just him! Quietly. Anyone else shows up and I'll end your pretty little brunette cheerleader right here."

---

A few moments ago...

*BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Victor's booming and incessant barking bounced off the garden walls like a concert at a dome. His canine alarm instantly aroused attention and grievance from all guards, those wearing Kevlar surrounding the perimeter...and four certain beybladers patrolling the rooftop.

Kai's security knew of their CEO's dog staying at the Granger residence and to hear the pooch barking was nothing to be alarmed about. However, for the well mannered dog to bark so relentlessly in the dead of night and not be silenced when ordered was something to covertly investigate. Mr Cooper and a selected few waited and listened on the other side of the wall. Anything untoward would surely be raised by the watchers inside the compound...the Saint Shields or by their employer himself.

*BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

The quad of bladers high on the rooftop peered over the guttering edge and hawked down at the untamed canine making a racket in a clearing on the lawn. Kai's form appeared to stand there, doing nothing behind his pet and silently gazing into the shadow covered bushes as if in a trance.

Victor – *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Dunga side-eyed his team captain with pumped crossed arms. He grumped, tired from the stuffy and boring nights of patrolling. "What the hell does Kai think he's doing? Seriously, he's just gunna let his dog bark like that at this time of the night?! His mutt is gunna wake up the whole neighbourhood at this rate!"

Josef closed his orbs and crossed his arms behind his head carefree. "Sure looks like it. Some people just aren't cut out to look after animals."

Mariam narrowed her eyes and turned her head to Ozuma. She seemed pretty sure of herself. "I dunno boys. Something's going on down there."

Ozuma stayed silent for a moment as he watched with his hackles raised as high as the barking pup's. "Something's definitely up. I don't like this. Dunga. Get down there and check it out."

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

Dunga took no time to leap to the lawn causing a minor earthquake as he hit the ground. He strode over all cock sure to where Kai remained like a statue to complain. "Hey Kai. You gunna shut your pooch up or what? He's gunna wake everyone up!"

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

As the Vortex blader approached and his emerald eyes adjusted to the black and grey shadows...he too...saw what... or more like who lingered in the shadows. He ceased his march immediately. His feet settled a few steps back and to the side of Dranzer's past guardian. The bulky man wearing a steel grey bandana absorbed Hilary's frightened form, tears rivered down the sides of her face as she was forced to look up at the empty starless sky. Darcel, with the blade tightly pressed to her throat grew instantly agitated with Dunga's arrival to the scene. He released Hilary's mouth in order to grab her slim left arm tightly with chipped dirty fingernails, and gripped the handle of his dagger so hard his knuckles turned white. He yanked Hilary's body to position her squarely in front of his like a human shield and his face snarled red. He was like a cornered fox with no escape but ready and willing to bite if pushed an inch. Being discovered and trapped was not part of the plan. The panicking Shadow Vale blader had the awful feeling in his spine that the duo was about to become more before long...and he would be right. Darcel's nasty little world was about to get a lot smaller and as it did...his dainty hostage's safety grew in risk.

"Kai... What are we gunna do?!" Dunga whispered with a sweat drop cascading down his tanned cheek and another on his thick neck. He didn't know Hilary as well as the others but she was a pitiful sight which pulled hard on his heart strings. She was a true damsel in distress and he wanted to help.

Kai sternly replied with a calm edge of authority despite his own dread-filled sweat drop decorating his temple. "We aren't going to do anything. Don't move a muscle. One wrong move and we could get Hilary hurt or worse. He's already threatened to kill her. He wants two things and that's Max and Draciel. Grrrrrr. I need more time to think!"

Victor continued growling at Darcel with his paws glued to the spot and hair puffed up with grievance. *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

Ozuma appeared from nowhere at Kai's opposite flank to Dunga. He spoke low so the blade-wielding intruder would not hear clearly. "I've ordered Mariam and Josef to keep Max, Ray and Tyson inside the dojo at all costs. They are not to be put in jeopardy for anyone. We'll handle this ourselves. Call upon your security Kai, they can end this clean and quick. Your staff have weapons they can use to disable him and when they have, we'll take him back to our village where he will never be a problem again."

Kai slammed back with a cold backward glare. "You mean rush in and put Hilary at greater risk? Think of something else."

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

---

A few short minutes ago. Inside the dojo, the team stir in the darkness of night.

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK* *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Emily complained as she pulled her orange eye mask off with fury. "That does it. I'm officially a cat person. Dogs are just too noisy!"

Ray unfurled from cuddling Mariah from behind and sat up rubbing one eye. "Why all the barking? Doesn't Kai know it's the middle of the night? Just how selfish can he be?"

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Mariah grumped as she pulled her pillow over her face aggressively; her bitter words stabbed through the plush polyester filling. "The dog has to go! How are we supposed to train well if we don't get a decent night sleep?!"

Kenny stirred dozily and put on his glasses in the blackness. He gazed a few futons over, his vision adjusted clearer with each passing second to eventually witness Kai's bed uninhabited and unkempt duvet cover. "I have to agree on that Mariah. Good sleep is vital to your training...That's Victor barking outside alright but where on earth is Kai?"

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Emily sharply placed her glasses on her face to inspect the other vacant bedding. "Hilary isn't in bed either. Where's she gone off to? And when is Kai going to shut his stupid dog up?!"

Daichi stirred too from all the chit chat and complaining in the room. He yawned before coming out with something obscene, grinning cheekily as he did. "How much you wanna bet Kai and Hilary are doing the dirty behind the wood shed? HAHAHA!"

Tyson, who had also aroused from all the talking and fuss was not amused and shot Daichi a filthy scowl. The thought of his on-off girlfriend getting sexual with former opponent and best bud Kai was downright unthinkable. "That's a disgusting thought Daichi. Why would you say that?! Say where are they? Kai?! Hilary?!"

Max sat up in his grass coloured futon covers and rubbed his eyes cutely. "Keep it down guys. What's all the racket about?"

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Bryan cradled his dozy head as he too slowly awoke and groggily complained. "What's the noise about huh? Why's the dog barking? Someone get him to pipe down already."

Tala had gotten to his feet and stumbled half asleep and uncoordinated like a drunk to the far wall. Without warning he flicked a switch and a dangling bulb sharply illuminated the room. All bodies groaned as their retinas were attacked by intense light they weren't prepared for. His own crystal blue eyes winced as they adjusted. He announced staggering as his body struggled to wake up as quickly as his mind. "Victor's barking at something... and he's pretty upset at whatever he's found. I'm going to check it out."

The Dragoon blader quipped as he cupped his face tight. His sarcastic words pushed through his fingers. "Geeee thanks Tala. I didn't need my eyeballs or anything!"

Dazed and panicked Daichi ran around frantically in a small circle with his arms in the air. "HELP! ALL I SEE ARE SPOTS! IM BLIND! IM BLIND!"

The ginger tech-head winced with one dark-blue eye open. "Calm down, your eyes will be fine Daichi...eventually. Yeah thanks for the warning Tala." The latter of her words too dripped in spiky sarcasm.

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

As the rest of the room hid themselves under linen for sweet nocturnal darkness to nurse their light pricked eyes, curse Kai's noisy pooch, and put pillows over their faces in an attempt to go back to sleep...the Russian leader headed to the dojo door and for the yard outside of it.

The Blitzkrieg Boy's leader pulled the dojo door across which was oddly never closed at night and was met with a duet barricade of green orbed Saint Shield's siblings. They stood with their arms crossed blocking the exit with serious faces and iron convictions. They guarded the door to protect the dojo from persons getting in and... to stop anyone... from leaving.

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Tala stood close in front of the pair with the assumption they were going to step aside and let him pass. "Kai's dog's barking. I'm going to see what's going on."

The brother and sister beybladers didn't move an inch with a serious "take no bullshit" gaze.

Josef ordered lowly so the others at the back of the dojo wouldn't hear. "Stay inside Tala. Trust me. Stay put until we say otherwise."

Tala's face twisted with surprise and anger both. He was not someone who liked being told what to do. His voice raised as he gripped the edge of the sliding door and placed his free hand on his hip. "Who do you think you are? Let me through. I don't need your permission to do or go anywhere."

Bryan needn't any invite to join his comrade and was soon tight at Tala's back like an army cadet. He was tired, grumpy, his eyes were bloodshot and he was in no mood for niceties. "What's the big idea? Let him through before I make you move."

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

The Saint Shields female begged with steely stoic green eyes. Her tone was desperate and orderly. "Please Tala. Bryan. Stay inside and help keep the others safe."

Tala's features creased some more and his fuzzy red eyebrows furrowed as he read her face. His smart mind took a moment to put things together. Kai's dog barking with distress, Kai and Hilary missing from their beds, Saint Shields keeping them from leaving the dojo... "Those Shadow Vale bladers. They're here aren't they?" He snapped with stunning sharp ice blue eyes.

Mariam subtly nodded twice as she and the red haired Russian blader locked in an unblinking stare.

Pointy neko-jin ears twitched. Ray's hearing was too feline sharp for the private exchange to stay private. He'd heard every word. He stood up and marched from his futon at speed. His long ebony hair swished and swayed behind him like a shiny, silky haired cape.

"Ray?!" Mariah grasped Galux swiftly from her resting place before following fast after her lover and team mate. She knew instantly from his body language something worrying was afoot.

Tyson quizzed as he watched his fellow ex Bladebreaker frog march to the sliding doors. "Hey Ray? What's up dude? What's happenin'?"

The male White Tiger X blader pulled the Blitzkrieg Boys apart rough by their shoulders to push through them and squared up to Josef and Mariam in seconds flat. His tall frame towered over them as Driger glistened and growled in his palm in anticipation for a blood clawed fight.

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

The raging male White Tiger blader blurted furiously with razor thin cat pupils. "Shadow Vale are here?! Why are we only finding out now?! Where's Garnetta?! Speak up...we deserve to know."

Tyson, Daichi, Emily, Max and Kenny were fast done rubbing their eyes, ceased all yawning and in seconds crowded behind the pairs of White Tigers and Blitzkrieg Boys. Each fired rapid questions of their own whether Josef and Mariam were ready or not.

Tyson urged for answers. "Hey weren't you guys watching from the roof? How'd those Shadow Vale clowns even get close with you and all Kai's security folk out there?! Is Harkan here? Say, have you seen Hilary?! And Kai? Do they know Shadow Vale have broken in too?"

Emily begged with a nervous sweat drop down her cheek. "Is the whole Shadow Vale team here? Tell us? We need more information?!"

Kenny screeched as he yanked at his own hair in madness. "TELL US! I'm going to die of anxiety if we don't get some answers right now!

Mariam and Josef glanced nervously at each other. The task Ozuma had given them was surely going to be futile. They were outnumbered and there was no way they would be able to keep the gang inside with any lie or pleading. Still, they had to try.

The Sharkrash blader tried to hide a gulp but failed. "Yes, Darcel of The Shadow Vale clan is here. We don't know how he got in and if he's alone. We strongly believe he broke in for Draciel and attack Max. Or at the very least conduct surveillance inside your home."

Vanishing Moot's master gulped the same as his sister. "We beg you. BEG YOU. Stay inside where we can keep you all together and safe. We don't know if it was just him who's snuck in. Garnetta, Harkan and Blake could be inside the grounds too for all we know. That puts Kai, Tyson, Ray and Max in grave danger. So please! Do as we ask and stay put until we've dealt with the situation. You all need to be in here together where we can easier protect you."

Outside - *BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK*

Tyson squeezed through his friends to take point with the Saint Shields duo. His eyes were partially covered in the darkness of his blue bangs and his eyes glittered with seriousness. "You still haven't answered my question. Where's Hilary and Kai? I'm not staying put anywhere until I know they're safe."

Mariam and Josef gulped again and twice as hard. Their faced dropped a shade paler and their eyes couldn't hide the truth any longer.

Tyson and the others... read the guarding duo like a book. The sibling's lack of clear answers caused the crowd's blood to run ice cold. Eyes of different colours and origin parted wide with panic.

Josef rushed an answer. "Kai is okay...Ozuma and Dunga are with him. They're dealing with it."

Tala barked with frustration, fearing for his ex-team mate. "And what's that supposed to mean?! Dealing with what exactly?!"

Tyson exasperated with urgency. "AND HILARY?!"

Mariam gulped again with a solemn face and shiny skin. "She's...She's..."

Before Mariam could finish her drawn out and painful sentence she and Josef were rammed out of the way by a four pronged attack consisting of Tyson, Ray, Bryan and Tala in one forceful and brutish shove. The Saint Shield pair could do nothing to hold them all back and the dojo's precious residents flooded out onto the surrounding veranda. In the darkness of the starless and moonless night wearing their nightwear and pyjamas, they followed the relentless sound of Victor's noise which was no longer barking but had morphed into aggressive growling nearer the back of the yard. After long and dread filled moments...they finally made it to the harrowing scene the Saint Shields leader didn't want them to see, let alone be a part of.

Josef ensured he stayed at Ray's side whilst Mariam joined Max at the hip. Tyson would no doubt be watched over by Ozuma upon arrival and Dunga was already presiding close over Kai.

Tyson, Max, Ray, Daichi, Emily, Kenny, Tala, Bryan and Mariah each flooded out onto the lawn barefoot, confused, adrenaline pumped and ready for a fight behind the trio of Ozuma, Dunga and Kai making up the front lines. The newcomer's eyes needed time to adjust to the dark. Each peered into the shadow soaked shrubbery...and then...they too...saw.

Ozuma peered over his shoulder briefly before turning his attention back at the unfolding hostage situation. "Dammm it. They never listen! Now I've got the other Guardians to worry about. Grrrrrrr."

Loyal pup Victor remained loitering close before Kai's slipper clothed feet. His teeth bared and ready to bite the garden intruder in between the bushes should he come near to his master. *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

Cornered Darcel immediately panicked with the sudden arrival of the en-mass residents gathered on the grass before him in a wide spread semi-circle. His ruby eyes rolled and darted around the scene desperately looking for any bolt hole to run...and failed to find one. He needed to get back to the manhole cover and rat tunnels hidden in a neglected weed-overgrown corner of the yard some feet away without being followed. But with so many aware of his arrival, that task was going to prove immensely difficult. His heart beat increased tenfold and his adrenaline spiked as he sweat profusely in the summer night's warmth, add the closeness of his heavy sewer stinking clothes, and gaze of the alarmed crowd with motive to turn very hostile. This was not the plan. He was losing control of the situation and the only way of gaining some of it back was to exact what little power he had over his frightened victim. He pressed the knife harder against Hilary's neck causing her to yelp and her pretty Asian face to twist in more terror. He could slash her throat in an instant and wanted everyone to know he could. "Any of you take one step closer and I'll slaughter her like a pig!"

A series of gasps filled the air as the newly arrived group froze stiff to the spot with horror at the sight of their girly, funny, kind, feisty Hilary with a shimmering dagger pushed tight to her delicate throat. She whimpered so terrified, so vulnerable, and possibly moments away from having her carotid artery sliced open at her captor's whim. She would rapidly bleed to death just like Kai; only she didn't have a phoenix Bitbeast to gift her a second chance of life.

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

A divide of expressions were evident. Kenny, Max, and Emily's faces were that of wide eyed terror, gaping jaws, hands cupped over their mouths and trembling chins. Ray, Mariah and Daichi panted with twitching features and snarls of rage like crazed animals and their fingers twisting to imitate claws. Tyson was a mess of petrify, dry mouthed and shaking with fury and fear rolled into one. The Blitzkrieg Boys remained stoic and focused and waited to do whatever was necessary to help the poor girl in any way they could when the time came. Each onlooker battled with the need to rush in and pry his dirty digits off Hilary's clean perfect beloved skin, but the action would highly likely result in her demise as the cruel assailant promised...and so, their feet stayed absolutely rooted to the ground.

The hostage wearing a vest with a bunny rabbit on it rasped out a heartbreaking cry as loud as her compressed throat would allow. Hot tears trickled down her cheeks. She was reaching her limit and desperate for escape. "Ty...sonnnn!"

"HILARYYYYYY!"The emotional beyblade champ burst forwards blindly upon hearing her call. Dagger or no dagger, threat or no threat, his heart overruled his head and had to get to her, the girl he loved. With all his bulk and drive he charged forward but was tackled back before he could make more than two steps. Tala and Ray grabbed an arm each like rugby players and Bryan pressed a flat hand on his chest firm. Tyson wasn't going anywhere with the well-meaning trio attached like limpets. He urgently cried out as he fought hard to escape his muscled friend's restraints. "IM HERE HILARY! LET! ME! GO! GUYS! I GOTTA HELP HER!"

Ozuma screamed with an open flat palm. "HOLD HIM BACK!"

Kai half turned his head to order. "STAY BACK TYSON. DONT MOVE!"

Victor - *GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRR GRRRRRRRRRR*

"Cool it Tyson. Cool it." Begged Ray despite his own blood bubbling with scarlet coloured rage and peppered blue with concern for the helpless female of his old G-Rev team. He loosened his gloveless grip on Tyson's arm to adopt a hug as a means to both comfort and restrain the Dragoon blader from rushing. Their chests collided close and Ray wrapped his muscled arms under Tyson's pits to hold him tight; the White Tiger then hooked his chin over the bluenettes shoulder as the kendo student fought him all the way. Long raven bangs blendedwith dark blue as their ears touched in the embrace. He warned kind but stern to his frantic friend. "Listen to me. We've got to be smart about this Tyson. Any sudden moves and that creep could do something to Hilary we undo. I know it's hard. Trust me Tyson. I KNOW how difficult this is."

Dragoon's guardian whimpered and whined as he fought not to weep through pure bitterness and utter powerlessness. "But I have to do something Ray! It's Hilary. We can't let him hurt her. I...love...her. *sniff* *sniff* If he does anything to her...I'll show him what I can do...I'll hurt him back Ray...and I don't care how much trouble I get in. I'll kill him if I have to Ray. I'll kill him."

With razor-sharp cat eyes Ray gripped hard as he felt his team mate's body quiver with wild emotion. "I know Tyson. I hear you. Just hold back. Right now, she's okay...okay as she can be. We just need to keep her that way." With his last words, the White Tiger peeled his embrace away but kept a firm clasped hand around the bluenette's forearm should the he decide to blindly lunge into another dangerous rescue attempt. Bryan remained in front ready to push him back, and Tala stalked at his right side for the same reason... to keep their host put.

Ozuma barked at Kai. "It's time to call on your army Kai! Stop stalling. End this right now and arrest him before he has the chance to escape. We can't lose this opportunity!"

Darcel's weasly words stabbed back from under the darkness of Granger maple trees and rhododendron bushes. "NO! If I see a single security guard I'll end her quicker than they can draw their weapons. Goodbye girly! You'll be planning her funeral come sunrise. Your choice!"

Hilary pipped like a chick with the new menacing threat and extra pressure he exacted with the blade across her thin-skinned neck. He'd cut her deep enough this time to produce a thin waterfall of blood which slowly dribbled down her neck, pool at her sternum, and river to her breasts where it would soak and stain her white night vest and bra forever. Her skinny and terrified body shivered as her thin legs quaked with stress and fatigue and from the awkward angle she was bent due to her captor's shorter height. Her helpless and needy wet brown eyes rolled and locked a gaze with Tyson's who didn't break his stare off her for a second. He could only watch, pinned by his friends and the jeopardy of killing her should he take a single step closer.

Tyson burst with a plea. "NO! DONT DO IT KAI! DONT PUT HILARY AT RISK! KAI!"

Nobody knew what to do next. It was all up to Kai. He had the means to end it all with one bellow to his high calibre security team just waiting behind the dojo wall, every one of them pumped and ready for his orders...but at what cost? Surely there was another way out of this.

Kai's high intellect ran through the very limited options."Grrrrrrrrr. This isn't a typical hostage situation that I can pay off or negotiate. He has no political or financial motive. He's backed into a corner with only Hilary for leverage and the only thing he wants in exchange for her freedom, is an impossible trade. My security team could attempt a rescue but we run the risk of Darcel doing something hasty the second they rush in. If he knows he can't escape then why is he holding onto her? He thinks we will still give him what he wants...or he's stalling. It's possible the others of his clan are nearby and could arrive anytime to assist him in his retreat. At least with my security outside we can ensure he won't get the backup he needs. The only other way out of this is if Hilary could break herself free, but judging by her current state she lacks the physical strength, nor the training to escape...at least without the possibility of serious injury or worse. As much as I hate this, we're at his mercy because right now we have nothing to offer other than what he came for...Max's life and Draciel and that is a proposal we can't have on the table."

Kai knew his security staff would be no doubt listening from beyond the stonework. The team heard Victor's barking some time ago and sent a single operative into the property quietly and covert to survey and report back to team leader Mr Cooper. As soon as Hilary's situation was alerted they initiated hostage protocol and kept presence low so as not to alarm the assailant nor place the victim in further danger. Medics, a private ambulance and a prisoner transport van were on their way in preparation for the aftermath of the night, whatever it may be.

Team Halo's top priority, Kai's safety, was assessed from afar and he was deduced as in no immediate danger with Dunga and Ozuma close to his side. Priority No.2 as stipulated by an umbrella Protection Order issued by Kai Hiwatari himself, was all the current residents of the Granger household. Hilary had jumped rank to No.1 as soon as her situation became known and all operatives awaited Kai's instruction ready to move at a seconds notice. They were pumped and ready to do anything he ordered with weapons already drawn and cocked.

Kai yelled loud for his staff to hear. His words were booming and authoritarian. "NO SECURITY! ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING...STAND DOWN!"

Ozuma grouched to the corporate leader with anger and frustration in his tone. "You're making a mistake. You think he's just gunna let her go? Think again! How much longer do you think Hilary can hold out for? Look at her. This is for her own good as much as ensuring the arrest of a Shadow Vale member...a member who broke in tonight to murder your friend and steal his Sacred Bitbeast in his sleep."

Kai side-eyed the Flash leopard blader. He calmly, and with stern conviction gave his answer. "My team and I are trained to deal with hostage situations. Right now Hilary is alive and in one piece and I intend on keeping her that way. SHE is the priority. Arresting the Shadow Vale blader is secondary. We wait until we have a better plan. We need to negotiate with him so that Hilary walks away from this."

Ozuma grouched wearing a dark scowl in reply and swung an animated punching arm. "Yeah and what do you propose? Offer him Max and Draciel? Because that's all he wants Kai!"

The smelly caped and cruel invader smarmed, he was clearly enjoying the growing friction between his enemies. However, his joy was short-lived as he snapped back to reality. "Look at them bickering like fools. Hmmaaha. But what have I got to laugh about? I need to get out of here, there's too much heat and the manhole cover isn't too far of a dash. Grrrrrr! Those annoying security guards and Saint Shields... why don't they just mind their own fucking business! Zap Arachnid can't protect me from all of them. Without poor pretty Hilary as my human shield those degenerates Dunga and Ozuma and the others will call upon on their mangy Bitbeasts and then I'll be in real trouble. With another Bitbeast in my arsenal...a certain shelled Sacred Spirit and all its glorious power would be enough to ensure my escape. Time to give them an offer they can't refuse."

Darcel's spiky white teeth glinted as he grinned insidiously in the dark. His ruby red eyes glazed like Lucifer himself as he spoke. "Dear Hilary here is getting tired, her legs are shaking like leaves. How about we end this? How did you put it...we need to negotiate? Then how's this for a deal?...Max relinquishes guardianship of Draciel to me. None of his blood will be spilled...and Draciel will be mine forever. Do this...and the girl lives."

Dunga slammed his foot to the earth and shouted his thoughts with flailing raised fists. "Out of the question! You won't be getting away with Draciel today, not ever CHUMP!"

Ozuma sneered and swiped an angry muscled arm across his body. "Nice try but you're never getting your hands on Draciel. Max knows the consequences of giving up his Sacred Spirit and will never accept your offer. I won't allow it!"

All heads turned and all eyes fell on Max in the middle of the line of bladers. His slight frame froze solid and his life blood turned to icy liquid of dread in his veins. His cerulean orbs were stretched painfully wide; he held all breath as the weight of the devastating offer began to crush the bones of his soft shoulders to powder. Give up his Draciel Bitbeast, a battle partner, companion and Sacred Spirit of great celestial power and importance who must stay out of evil intending hands at all costs...or save Hilary, a childhood friend, a scared young woman, and human being with her life on the line. He stood petrified with a knotted stomach and with it a wave of green-gilled nausea. His stare met with Hilary's and she began to sob again under the knife... It was all up to Max to save her at the cost of giving up his beloved giant Turtle. Question was...would he do it?

A heavy and suddenly placed hand jolted the Draciel guardian's gaze from the weeping hostage. Ray was solemn but supportive as the two ex-teammates read each other's familiar faces. The White Tiger had been in this situation before and was still haunted by the memories of his own high stake predicament. "Max, you do what you have to do. There is no right or wrong choice here. There'll be no judgement from me."

Max begged him answers with watery eyes. His arms remained dead and hanging at his sides. The burden of choice weighed so gargantuan on his body that he could barely physically move. "You agreed to trade Driger to save Mariah right? Would you do it again...if you had to?"

Ray answered back without needing long to think about it. "Yes...to save Mariah if she was in a bind like Hilary right now... I'd do it in a heartbeat. Then when she was safe, I'd dedicate my entire future to retrieving what's mine. If you make the trade Max, know I'll do everything I can to help you get Draciel back. And that's a promise."

Josef added with haste and bitterness at the tall Chinese blader's side. His finger pointed up at the loftier blader as sharp as his words. "And thank your lucky stars we stopped you Ray! You have no idea of the potential world destroying consequences of giving up Driger to them. Count yourself extremely lucky the Blitzkrieg Boy and I showed up when we did, or else Shadow Vale would now have two Sacred Spirits to wreak havoc on the planet with. Garnetta was a finger's width away from achieving just that if it weren't for us. You can't advise Max on what to do here. You never went through with losing Driger. You walked away with Mariah alive and Driger safe. Max doesn't have that luxury in this situation. If Max goes through with the trade, he will have to live with his choice... unlike you. He will be grieving for something that's for sure. And don't think getting Draciel back will be a piece of cake...just ask Kai."

Mariam stepped into the blonde American's space to place her hands on shoulders to shake and scold. "Max. You have to think this through! You are the guardian of a Sacred Spirit. Its bad enough Shadow Vale have Dranzer. You can't give them another! I know you have to think of Hilary but trust me. Shadow Vale with two sacred spirits...they'll do more damage to the world and harm to more girls just like Hilary than we can ever imagine. We have to think of another way!"

Max's pained face glanced over the female Saint Shield's shoulder as Tyson drew close with begging tortured eyes. The terrified Dragoon blader's words hit like arrows through the young Tate's soft heart as he too placed hands on his shoulders and rocked his stiff posture. "It's Hilary Max. You gotta save her. Please Max. I promise you I'll do everything I can to help you get Draciel back. I just...can't lose her Max. I can't."

Emily, Kenny, Mariah and Daichi stayed deathly quiet. Max had enough to process without them butting in and saying their piece. Draciel was so incredibly precious to the World and to his guardian friend...but so was Hilary. An impossible choice. They remained in stunned silence waiting for the verdict.

Tala and Bryan too were wordless bystanders. The affairs of the old Bladebreakers were none of their concern. However, they strongly leaned into the pro-save-Hilary team. Human life trumped ownership of Bitbeasts they can find and fight to return.

The torn Draciel blader looked to one more person for advice. A single bulbous tear of aqua over-spilled from each of his bottom eyelids as he and Kai's strong gaze connected. He needed one last nugget of reassurance from a guy he respected above most. His voice was nasal from the uncomfortable high pressure and deep despair bottled up inside. "Kai. You know what it feels like to lose Dranzer...what would you do?"

The dual haired blader looked to the grassy ground...then looked back at Hilary and her pitiful form, the blood seeping from her neck wound and frantic tearful look on her pale face, then back to Max again. He spoke with steely certainty he was saying the right thing. "I'd save her life Max. We'll get Dranzer and Draciel back together."

Ozuma begged with fire in his eyes and his fists in balls ready to swing. He mentally prepared to block Max's way and to take Draciel by force from his guardian's hands should he have to. He was willing to do anything to make sure the transaction never takes place. His elders would sacrifice him in an instant to keep any Sacred Spirit from falling into the Shadow Vale clan's claws, a philosophy Ozuma agreed with. "Don't even think about it Max. We will find another way!"

Max shoved Mariam and Tyson aside from their begging blocking positions. The Sharkrash blader reacted by grabbing Max's arm...only for him to yank it out of her grip in a second and with defiant force not typical of the soft happy-go-lucky boy. She yelled with panic and implored. "MAX! NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THINK ABOUT THIS!"

Max had made his decision. With a heavy heart and lowly hanging head he advanced to stop close to Kai's side. Everyone held their breath. The tension in the air was thick enough to be sliced by a bat's wing in the dense darkness of the terrible night. The blonde slowly lifted his mop to gaze squarely into Hilary's hauntingly frightened brown eyes. Her heart stopped in her chest, her legs trembled, and her feminine lips and chin quivered with fear and hope both. She was about to find out if she was going to bleed to death on the lawn before any of her friends could save her...or be allowed to live.

Max blinked causing more tears of emotional agony to fall heavy and ripple down his soft freckled face. Sorrow spiked his heart like a bayonet. He was about to lose someone he loved. He sniffed before bucking up his attitude and one by one wiped the thin salty rivers from his cheeks and jaw line with the bony parts of his palms. Once he'd finished cleaning his face he called aloud with grief drowning his lungs. "I've... made my choice...I"

---

Max...was suddenly interrupted! His next words choked in his throat never to be heard.

A loud mouthed elder wearing white flared boxer shorts, a thin white flimsy vest of which his grey curly chest hair poked through, and blue oversized slippers surprised all souls with his ninja-like arrival to the scene. Clutched in one of his wrinkled hands was a flashlight with a huge 100 wattage halogen bulb with the lumen capacity to brighten half of Tokyo.

"WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THE HUB-BUB MI HOMIES! CAN'T A HIP YOUNG GUY LIKE ME GET SOME ZZZZZS. YOU HAVIN A LAWN PARTY OF SUMTIN'? WHERE'S MY INVITE? AND WATCHCHA DOIN IN THE DARK?! SUMTHIN IN MA BUSHES? A RACOON DAWG? HERE! WHY DONT I SHED SOME LIGHT FOR YA!"

Completely unaware of the deadly situation, the clueless dojo owner impressed a button and aimed the strong stream of light directly to the spot... in between his rhododendrons...under his maple tree... where little lady Hilary whimpered for her life in the venomous clutches of a cloaked tattooed assassin.

"NO GRANDPA! NO!" Cried Tyson with futility. He was a millisecond too slow to stop his ancestor's clumsy actions.

In slow motion everyone recoiled in horror, gasping, jaws dropping...and could do nothing but watch as everything changed in an instant. The scene became an immediate tornado in a teacup.

"ARRRHHHHHHHHHH!" The extremely bright beam instantly blinded Darcel causing him to shriek as his pupils boiled in agony. In that split second he shut his eyes, his body recoiled and involuntarily lost control of his arms and hands. His filthy left hand and jagged fingernails unfurled their grip around Hilary's arm, and his right hand flung his bloodstained weapon sideways in the air. His dagger crash landed with a *CLINK* sound beside a ceramic plant pot a meter away and now lay discarded out of view under the cover of leaf and shadow...where it would now stay undiscovered until daybreak.

This was Hilary's chance. She felt the slicing sharp pressure of the blade she'd endured for what felt like hours disappear from her neck; his poking fingers and tight hold leave her left arm, and the heat of Darcel's body fall away from her back. Her inner lioness lashed out as she reacted with a wild backward swing of her elbow like a martial arts move. The bony part of her arm connected to the middle of her captor's chest...HARD. Partially blind and now winded in the chest...Darcel staggered back a step further creating an even bigger gap between he and his prior hostage. In the bold light of Grandpa Granger's torch Hilary bravely bolted for the safety of her friends. Barefoot and with her legs wobbling like jelly she ran for her life as fast as she physically could into the arms of whoever would envelope her first.

Heart thudding seconds pass and with spotty vision and gasping for a breath Darcel realised what he'd done. He'd lost his leverage and the only thing from keeping the residents of the household he'd royally pissed off from giving him a good kicking, and then placing him under citizen's arrest where Ozuma would no doubt have his way with him in chains. "NOOOOO GET BACK HERE!" The tattooed villain shrieked frantic and angry whilst lunging after her. He couldn't let her go so easily and gave chase hot at her naked heels. His booted feet stamped the grass and dust with each lunge as he grabbed the air for any of her clothing or hair to yank her back into his deadly clutches.

With his would-be attack dog Victor madly barking in front like a baying hound, the Phoenix blader sprinted with swinging arms towards Hilary to catch her, shield her, whatever she needed now she was free. His healing flank wound with all muscle and tissue surrounding hotly protested the action but Kai ignored any and all twinges, aches and pain no matter the intensity. He raced to get to Hilary before her torturer by any means and whatever the cost to himself. There was no time to yell her name.

"KAI! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Dunga's gruff cries fell on deaf ears as he too entered the heart stopping race with heavy thudding feet on the shaved lawn. Not only to help rescue Hilary, but to stop Kai from clashing bodies with the Shadow Vale blader. Darcel could seek to retake a hostage and injured weak bodied Kai would be a perfect replacement.

Ozuma was jet set ready to go the second Hilary was released and with leopard speed joined the party. He sprinted for the action with one serious agenda in mind. Catch Darcel and detain him...no matter what.

Max, being the next closest behind Kai and the duet of Saint Shields called as he too dramatically rushed to the front lines like a soldier into battle. "HILARY!"

It took a moment for their brains to catch up but when they did... the gang including Tyson, Mariah, Ray, Kenny, Daichi, Tala and Bryan with varying speeds and caution galloped to protect and surround Hilary. She was going to need a hug or two and the more bodies around her the better.

Desperate and emotional Tyson yelled as he heavily sprinted across the grassy dusty terrain with no shoes. "IM COMING HILARY!"

Before nasty Darcel could grab and claw at any more of Hilary's clothing or body parts...

...his victim crashed...

...into the safety of Kai's chest and hugged him tight for dear life.

In her terrified state she forgot all regard for his sensitive torso but he didn't mind, he wouldn't peel her away for anything right now despite the discomfort and soreness she inflicted. Hilary buried her face white with horror from her ordeal into Kai's flattened pectoral muscles before her legs collapsed with relief and depleted energy. The tall blader held her with what little strength and stamina he had in a princess carry.

"Kaiiiii." The exhausted brunette murmured before she passed out in his arms.

"Hilary, I've got you. You're safe now." Kai whispered before preparing to shout.

Meanwhile...good Boy Victor had instinctively blocked Darcel from advancing any further. He defended his master and Hilary both. The protective pooch barked so aggressively with gnashing teeth Darcel had no choice but to stop dead in his tracks through fear of being savaged. His face twisted with sour bitterness and disgust at the loyal and brave animal keeping him from his targets. Add to the pesky mutt, Ozuma and Dunga were fast approaching thundering towards him with every intent of beating him half to death and binding him in rope. Darcel knew the game was up and with one last chance of escape he sneered at them all before dashing for the corner thicket of weeds and the long forgotten manhole cover the residents never even knew existed.

With the long length of sewer stinky purple cape flailing behind him, the Shadow Vale rat scampered as fast his feet could sprint for the darkness and pipe work where the exposure of Grandpa Granger's halogen light would not follow. He would not be fortunate enough to be alone however with Kai's dog barking and snapping at the trailing cloth of his garment and Ozuma and Dunga mere steps behind.

The four beings disappeared into the dark foliage and shadows. Time would tell who would re-emerge...and in what condition.

---

Meanwhile –

"SECURITY!" The dual haired CEO yelled aloud for his security to finally enter and carry out what they were there to do. His commanding voice bellowed so loud the neighbouring houses heard too. A number of local residents turned their bedroom lights on and peered out of windows to investigate the noisy drama so late at night.

With Kai's orders 20 or so Team Halo security officers busted through the gates and climbed over the dojo walls with grappling hooks and rope like Navy Seals...in fact, in a former life many of them were just that, deadly skilled and highly trained in the art of warfare, combat, tracking and surveillance. The Kevlar suited and booted employees soon flooded the inner property with their presence. They storm troopered into the bushes in teams with weapons drawn and all dark corners were interrogated with bright torch lights. They rigorously hunted the Granger grounds high and low for the intruder matching a certain description leaving no stone, plant pot, cooking pan or pillow unturned. Mr Cooper, head of the team and its operations, and personal body guard to his CEO marched directly for Kai's side for a de-brief and any new orders.

Mr Cooper would have to get in line however, as his Chief Executive was surrounded at all sides by his ex-teammates and fellow dojo residents with an unconscious bleeding girl in his arms.

Tyson begged as he inspected the limp body of Hilary in Kai's rapidly aching hold and longed to take her into his own embrace, she was his on-off girlfriend after all. "KAI! IS SHE OKAY?! HERE LEMME TAKE HER."

Kai winced as his body struggled to carry her much longer and was grateful for the takeover. He levered the sleeping sliced girl into Tyson's willing and sturdy arms. "She's unconscious Tyson. She needs a medic. My team will have one already on the way."

Ray gasped as he hawked at Hilary's wound. "Look at her throat! She needs to go to the hospital."

Mariah whined with compassion. "She's gunna need stitches by the looks of that cut. That's way too deep to just bandage."

Emily added with alarm. "She's as white as a sheet and bled a fair bit too. She's gunna need some medical attention alright."

Daichi yelled with dew in his eyes and standing on tiptoes. "Hilary! Hey Hilary wake up! Please tell us you're okayyyyyyy!"

Grandpa Granger leaned in close to the girl he hoped would one day be his Grand-daughter in law and whose life he unbeknownst played a part in rescuing with the use of his flashlight. His bushy grey eyebrows were heavy with fraught. "Hilary. Ma Lil lady?! Oh please wake up ma girly!"

Pure concern laced Max's face and voice. "She's out cold guys!"

Mr Cooper but in to convalesce with his superior. His towering form belittled the beybladers by many inches. They had to arch their heads up to the night sky to peer at his great stature. "Sir. We have a medic crew and a doctor on standby. I'll order them in. However, we can have Miss Tachibana delivered straight to a hospital. We can have the chopper and landing spot authorised here in less than 10 minutes."

Hilary momentarily stirred. She opened her glittery tired eyes half way and murmured with a croaky voice. "No hospital. I want to stay here...with you guys."

Tyson's bottom lip quivered and his eyebrows danced with relief to see she was at least talking again. "Sure Hilary. Anything you want. I've got you okay. I'm right here."

Kai answered his giant underling. "We'll let our doctor take a look at her first. Medically assess her then we can make a decision about the hospital."

Mariah, complete with her own scars from being attacked with a slicing blade at the hands of Shadow Vale, encouraged close to the newly awakened trauma victim. "Hey Hilary, you were so brave. I bet you could do with a nice cup of hot chocolate and your fluffy gown. What dya say? A nice treat after you've seen the doctor?"

The diced and bloodied brunette was barely awake when Tyson and the crowd began making their way for the house and decent lighting. "That sounds great." She muttered groggily.

Emily, always the ultra observant one turned to see Kai, Tala and Bryan not following the pack. Mr Cooper led the way with the three beybladers following close behind him in the direction of the darkest part of the garden. She yelled from the back of the entourage. "Hey, where you boys going? House is this way!"

Bryan partially turned mid walk and quipped. "We gotta find Kai's dog. And hopefully a Shadow Vale blader in his teeth."

---

The former Demolition Boys and security team leader followed the sound of Victor's high pitched and relentless barking to a shadowed and heavily unkempt corner of Tyson's yard. They arrived to find several security operatives shining torches at an open man-hole cover behind a wall of dense bushes, and partially covered by vines and overgrown weeds.

Dunga and Mariam paced nervously back and forth nearby waiting for Ozuma and Josef to re-emerge. Dunga was too heavy built and Mariam too tall to safely fit and manoeuvre through the tight tunnels, and so, it was all up to the smaller bodied Saint Shields to pursue and hopefully capture their twisted and evil intended adversary in the maze of grimy pipes.

Victor barked his floofy topped head off at the hole's entrance with a piece of torn purple cloth stuck on his bottom left canine tooth. Upon seeing his master, Victor ran to his human best friend to show him what he'd done, before darting back and forth until Kai himself peered into the black of the sewer opening. The grey-haired dog owner gingerly knelt with a hand guarding his warm and thudding wound and the other tussled his pooch on the head. "There's my good boy. Show me what you have there." Kai said in a gentle tone before gently plucking the remnant of ripped cloth about the size of a tissue square from his pup's jaws.

Dunga was clearly worried. It was written all over his grouchy face as he paced the earth hard with rigid pumped arms and balled fists. "Josef and Ozuma have gone in after him. Dammm my big body! What if they get in trouble down there and I'm stuck up here?! It's driving me insane! Why aren't they back yet!"

Mariam felt the need to argue a case to the newcomers and pointed into the open drain. "This is where Darcel got in. There was no other way he could have snuck in past us and Kai's security guys. We had every inch of this place covered."

Bryan smarmed with crossed arms. His response was bound to aggravate feelings but said it anyway. "Well...not every inch."

Before Dunga could take a swing at the smart mouth Russian blader he hated just for breathing...the sound of someone crawling back out of the manhole stopped all inbound arguing and fisty-cuffs. The onlookers of security guards, beybladers and a dog, peered with thick anticipation into the mouth of the hole with the aid of torch-light to see who was about to surface. Hiwatari Enterprises security officers had guns and cuffs at the ready.

---

"What's taking so long?!"Grouched Tyson. Agitated and fretting he paced back and forth so much his feet were wearing through a stretch of lounge tatami matt flooring. Separated by a closed sliding door to his kitchen Tyson was going mad waiting. Just the other side of it worked a small medical team and a private doctor on Hiwatari Enterprises payroll, his poorly and pained Hilary, and Mariah to hold her hand for emotional support whilst they examined and stitched her up.

Ray leaned up against the far living room wall with crossed arms. Tyson's overstated pacing was starting to irritate him in his sleep deprived state. He too worried about Hilary and was just as rattled about the night's events... only he kept his feelings under better wraps. "Try to chill out Tyson. Getting all worked up isn't going to help anyone. Hilary's a tough cookie. She'll be alright. She's more conscious now which is a really good sign. They just need to check her over. Don't worry they'll take good care of her, Mariah will make sure of it."

Daichi grasped at a handful of peanuts left in a small glass bowl on the low coffee table. "Hilary's tough Tyson. You know that. Come sit down and eat some nuts with me your grandpa left us. You'll feel better with somethin' in ya stomach. Call it a really really really early breakfast. "

Tyson stropped back and paced harder. His face turned a shade darker with his rising blood pressure. "I don't want to sit down. I want to put my hands around Darcel's neck and squeeze until his lips are blue and his eyes pop out of his ugly head."

Emily perched squarely on a large red floor cushion with her legs crossed in her silky teal pyjama suit. "I want to know how that creep got in. And are we still safe here...because if we're not then we may need to think about other living arrangements. A CIA safe house or something. "

Kenny sat on a yellow cushion on the other side of the room nearer Ray. "I've been wondering the same thing too. If Shadow Vale are that desperate and brazen to get to Tyson, Max and Rays' Bitbeasts then exactly how safe are we? One of them attacked us in our own home with guards all around us. We thought we had more than enough security and tonight has proven that theory very wrong."

The ginger-haired American took a sip of water from a glass she stole before the kitchen became a temporary nurse's office. "I want to know how that caped creep captured Hilary in the first place. Assuming she just woke up in the night for some water. That could have been any one of us. How do we know that won't happen again?"

Tyson ceased his pacing to deliver a speech with pumped fists. "All I care about right now is seeing Hilary back on her feet. Shadow Vale will get what's coming to them. Just as soon as Dragoon and I are killing machines...they'll be the ones sleeping with one eye open."

Ray calmly left his leaning post to stride close to his blue haired buddy itching for revenge as much as he. He rested a forceful hand on Tyson's shoulder to stop him pacing. Their gazes connected. "I hear ya Tyson. I know exactly how you feel."

A dark understanding shot between the White Tiger X and G-Revolution blader. Black electricity shot from Ray's golden feline eyes and zip-zagged into Tyson's cinnamon coloured. They both wanted blood and it would only be a matter of time before they'd seek it out in pints delivered by the edges of their new Driger and Dragoon beyblades.

Emily peered over to the corner of the room where Max sat crouched with his knees up to his chin, arms wrapped around his legs and looking very melancholy. She placed her cup on the table and gave him a worried look with a cocked head. "Max? You're unusually quiet. You had a pretty stressful time out there too tonight. You want to talk about it?"

Tyson broke his serious gaze with the Chinese to re-focus onto his American friend clearly suffering in turmoil. "Hey Maxie...You okay bud? You can talk to us you know that right?"

The Draciel blader was carrying a heavy burden...the choice he made...to save Hilary or give up Draciel...only he knew which choice he made and the guilt of that choice was eating him up like a cancer. He failed to answer any of his worried pals and feeling their overbearing eyes on him he climbed to his weary feet. With his blonde haired head low and hands hidden in his shorts pockets he declared. "I need some time by myself."

Kenny jumped to his feet and cried as his glasses almost fell of his face. "Max? Are you sure that's a good idea?!"

The mayonnaise fanatic ignored his BBA colleague's concern. He wordlessly and without a glance back sleeked out of the sliding dojo door to the veranda outside...and out of sight.

The one and only Chief with a habitual anxiety disorder exclaimed. "Shouldn't we follow him? He shouldn't be on his own and what if Shadow Vale are still out there? Remember he was target no.1 tonight."

Emily pouted with obvious distain for the whole night's events. "That yard is crawling with Kai's security. Right now, this placed is Fort Knox; a mouse would have a challenge breaking in with that brass bunch out there. Shadow Vale won't be coming back tonight, they'd be asking for a bullet sandwich if they did. They don't have a hostage now so Kai's guys will have no reason to hold back. As for Max, give him a moment's peace to work through his feelings. We'll quiz him later. I'll get to the bottom of what's going on in his head but I have a pretty good idea what's upset him."

*BARK BARK BARK* Hairy Victor with grey and white fuzz and a wet nose scampered in alone from the veranda sporting a happy wagging white-tipped tail. At least someone had enjoyed himself tonight. The joyful pup did a random running loop of the living room with excitement and then ran back out, only to walk back in seconds later with his master at his side.

Kai and the others...were back.

Soon, the small Japanese style living room became rather cramped. Kai, Tala and Bryan joined the far side of the wall nearest Tyson and Ray. Emily, Kenny and Daichi rested their butts on giant red or yellow floor pillows in the middle of the room by a low brown coffee table. Mr Cooper guarded at Kai's right side with crossed beefy arms and brick-set facial features. Good boy Victor sat gazing upwards with big brown eyes at his bipedal buddy, waiting by his feet for any instruction or offer of a treat.

Then entered...the Saint Shields. All four of them, and they were not the happiest of bunnies. Ozuma and Josef particularly, who wanted nothing more than to strip off and sink themselves in deep water for a week, all the while scrubbing their bodies with the closest sponges to sandpaper and lather themselves in the most perfumed soaps on the bathroom shelf. They reeked of the same sewer system Darcel used to enter and escape from the Granger property and they seethed bitterly under its stench of urine and other excrements. Mariam and Dunga comically pinched their noses and kept a body's width away from them so the smell wouldn't rub onto their clothes too.

Tyson wasn't known for his patience or manners and tonight he was understandably extra tetchy. He gazed with pin-point accuracy like a brown eyed laser pen at Kai and then Ozuma for answers. "Well...what the hell happened out there?!"

Ozuma pouted with crossed arms and a dark expression. Kai wasn't his favourite person right now. "You wanna to enlighten them...Kai"

The young CEO started without affording the spiky Flash Leopard blader a second glance. "The Shadow Vale blader we know as Darcel has got away. It looks like he broke in through an old sewer pipe at the back of your yard Tyson and that's how he escaped." Kai coolly produced something from his trouser pocket, a small jagged square of purple fabric soaked with dog saliva with a hint of rodent urine pinched linearly between two fingers and raised it for all to see. "Victor came close to catching him."

Mr Cooper stepped forward with his hands folded at his front with sincerity. He added in his thick rolling African American accent. "We were not aware of the old sewer system leading into your property Mr Granger. I apologise on behalf of my team. It was an oversight. A number of operatives will guard the manhole cover all night, and a team of blacksmiths will be drafted in tomorrow morning to weld the metal cover permanently shut."

Emily climbed off her pillow to her feet and swished a finger side to side. "No No No Mr Cooper. You weren't at fault here. It was my understanding anything inside Tyson's walls was Saint Shield jurisdiction. If anyone's at fault here it's them."

Mariam lunged forward and jabbed at the air surrounding the Tygator blader. She screamed with pure angst close to Emily's face. "How was we supposed to know about an old sewer system leading into the yard?! Who do you think you are?! Blaming us?! All we've done is stick out necks out to keep you all safe!"

Dunga couldn't hold his temper anymore and aimed his rage at Dranzer's ex guardian. He slammed a hefty foot forward into the middle of the room. "Bottom line is less than an half an hour ago, a Shadow Vale blader took one of your pals hostage. We had a 20 plus strong army at our disposal to stop him from getting away and you didn't use them did you...Kai. And now all we have is a shred of his cloak to show for it. Your mutt did more than you did. At least your pet showed some teeth."

Mr Cooper gruffly replied with a dominant tone. "Mr Hiwatari and my team followed hostage protocol to the letter. Miss Tachibana is still alive and relatively unharmed due to our conduct tonight. "

Kai closed his eyes and smirked before opening them again with his body guard towering close to his side. His tone was confident with a twist of bitter as he aimed his words to the Saint Shield whiners. "My inaction kept Hilary safe. Your goal was to apprehend the Shadow Vale blader whilst he was alone and I understand why, but mine was to keep Hilary alive. Our main objectives were not aligned and my staff were never at your disposal."

Ozuma argued back with a raised punchy tone. He was spitting feathers angry and stormed a couple of strides in Kai's direction in order to drum his harsh words home. Mr Cooper watched him like a hawk and would offer only a single warning should the hostile blader travel any closer towards his frail framed employer. "Yes you helped save Hilary and we're all glad she has walked away from this... but what about the next time Shadow Vale show up? What if Darcel finally gets close enough to take Max out and gains Guardianship over Draciel? That's Max's blood on your hands Kai! You put the fate of the world in jeopardy because you didn't have the guts to do what had to be done. You had everything you needed to stop Darcel once and for all from ever being a threat again and you missed that chance...we may not get another!"

Dunga grumped loud and booming at his leader's side as he too neared too close to Kai's personal space for Mr Cooper's comfort. The bold black body guard readied to strike like a panther in the grass should his "client" be in any danger or distress. He'd joyfully pin Dunga to the ground just for fun. "Yeah and if Draciel is taken that's one more Sacred Spirit Shadow Vale have...all because of you Kai. More destructive power to the bad guys as well as your Dranzer! You had the means to take out a high value threat and put him in chains and you didn't. That's on you! We also could have interrogated him and maybe...just maybe found out where they have your Dranzer...you didn't think of that did ya?!"

Ray strode away from the wall to defend his fellow G-Rev blader figuratively as well as physically. His voice rose too with how disgusted he was with the unjust onslaught. "You can't throw all this on Kai. We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe, our Bitbeasts included. You had a chance to catch Darcel yourselves and you failed. That's on you too. We all did the best we could and Kai made the right moves to keep Hilary safe. You can't penalise him for that! Or put somebody's life at risk for something that may never happen in the future. Hilary isn't just a pawn to be thrown aside because something more important was in the picture!"

Tyson stormed to the middle of the room to hash his own gripe at the Saint Shields. "Just hold on one stinkin minute. You're saying Hilary's life is worth less than Max's because he has a Sacred Spirit and she doesn't? Its okay to put Hilary's life at risk today to ensure Max's safety tomorrow. I'm sorry but that's twisted logic! No one here is worth more than the other."

Ozuma gritted his teeth before chomping out his words. "Well like it or not Tyson your life is worth more than anyone's without a Sacred Spirit. That's what it means to be a guardian of one and if you can't accept that then you should think about handing Dragoon over to someone who understands the weight of responsibility you shoulder. Like it or not. Whoever's in possession of the Four Sacred Spirits can either save or destroy the world. You want to pick and choose who survives then?"

Josef huffed before trying to lighten mood so dark and damp that mushrooms could grow. "STOP! STOP! STOP GUYS! LISTEN! Screaming at each other isn't going to get us anywhere. We just need to count ourselves lucky Tyson's Grandpa turned everything on its head with his...entrance and his flashlight. We still don't know what choice Max made. Max could have given up his Draciel tonight or, we would have seen how far Darcel was willing to go with his threat. Either way we were going to lose in that situation. Mr Granger gave Hilary a fighting chance. Let's be grateful for that and try to move forward. All this finger pointing isn't going to get us anywhere guys. We needed to be united against Shadow Vale to stand the best chance of defeating them. So come on guys...let's not fall out."

Bryan spoke up which surprised everyone, even Tala. He wasn't one for speeches but randomly delivered this one. "The green haired fella's right. Tyson's girl is still alive and the intruder is gone in the wind, and everyone still has their bitbeasts. Shadow Vale will crop their heads over the parapet sooner or later and we'll be ready for em when they do. We'll sniper em...one by one."

Despite the mood of the room simmering down somewhat after Josef and Bryans' heartfelt and somewhat comical speeches, plenty of growls and sneers lived on. The relationship between the Old Bladebreakers specifically Kai, Ray and Tyson, versus Saint Shields Ozuma and Dunga...was fracturing and how long they would continue tolerating each other was anyone's guess.

---

*THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD* The sound of sticky naked feet rapidly beating wood as a body sprinted frantic and urgent down the long veranda back to the house.

Max suddenly appeared at the open living room door heaving, sweating and close to tears. He bent in half gasping for breath, his hands clasped on his knees for support whilst he choked, struggling to deliver his upsetting message. He lifted his head, his orbs swimming in hysteria.

Tyson stammered close towards his trembling pal. "Maxie? What's up? What's wrong bud?!

The blonde bleated in reply. "I CANT FIND DRACIEL! MY BEYBLADE...IT'S GONE! DARCEL MUST HAVE...TAKEN HIM!"

A wave of pure horror washed over the room in an instant as a flood of gasps and cries of "No!" and "Draciel!" washed the air...then...stunned silence as their loss began to sink in. The Saint Shield quad sank into a murky pit of disbelief so thick they too, needed a moment to comprehend the fact...a second Sacred Spirit was now lost to the dark order. Ozuma, Dunga and Josef were speechless but the female of their group had plenty of go in her heart. She couldn't and wouldn't accept it. The first stage of grief – denial.

Mariam clawed and grasped at Max's night wear with need. Her eyes were sorrowful yet wild. "Are you sure?! You've looked EVERYWHERE?!"

Max's eyes and voice blubbered as his legs gave out, leaving Mariam holding him from crumpling into a ball on the floor. "I always put Draciel near my bed. *sniff* I've turned the dojo upside down looking and I can't find him anywhere! I've flipped everyone's futons over too. Draciel isn't in the dojo! He's been stolen Mariam!"

The White Tiger X male growled furious with cat-slit eyes as he marched over to rub Max's sorry back in an effort to comfort him."GRRRRRRR! So that monster got away with Draciel anyway, after all he put us and Hilary through. I'm so sorry Max. We'll hunt him down if it's the last thing we do, right Tyson."

Tyson responded with the same empathy and compassion. He placed a gripping hand on Max's shuddering shoulder and raised his free hand in an upturned fist. "You bet Ray. Dragoon and I are at your disposal Max. You'll see Draciel again and that's a promise dude."

Emily pondered gripping her chin then releasing it. "Hang on a minute! Why would Darcel hold Hilary hostage for something he already had?"

"WAIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT!" Kenny burst and shouted as loud as he could, overriding any new speak and stopping anyone else from further talking. "WAIT WAIT WAIT! Hold your horses everyone! Max I owe you a huge apology! I've just remembered...I have Draciel!"

Max's bottom lip quivered and his eyes blew up with aqua and wobbled with hope. "Huuuuhhhhhh. You...have Draciel...Chief?"

"Yes Draciel is in my tool box! Wait here! I'll be right back!" Answered the brunette goggle box in a hurry as he scampered off to the dojo to retrieve the coveted beyblade with the precious turtle spirit inside.

Confusion swept the room as all bodies lost composure and raised sharp eyebrows. Emotions were about to do a 180 degree turn for the positive. Nervous glances were exchanged between friends as they quietly watched the situation evolve.

---

Moments later...

Kenny presented the Draciel beyblade in his open palm to the exhausted and crestfallen blonde blader who was only just able to stand on his own again. Draciel's bitchip, the purple turtle image faced upwards and glittered like a diamond. "Here! He's all safe and sound. I'm sorry Max. I was lying awake in bed last night after lights out and something was bothering me. So I got up, took Draciel from the foot of your bed and did a bit of midnight tweaking with your magna-core system. It just needed a little adjusting until I was happy with it and then without thinking, I put Draciel in my tool box, and then went back to bed. I'm so sorry to have worried you Maxie. I hope you can forgive me."

"Urghhhhhhhhhhhh!" Mariam threw her arms in the air before throwing her hands on her sassy hips. She pouted deadly at the Chief. "So you had Draciel this whole time! I don't know whether to strangle or kiss you four eyes!"

Max didn't know what to say as he plucked his beloved Draciel from the tech-head's caring hand. "Chief...I..." Max's legs finally gave way and he sunk to the tatami mat flooring cradling his beloved Draciel in two paired hands like his beyblade was a delicate and beloved reptile egg. Relief abashed his soul with the reality that Draciel was totally safe and sound. His face finally relaxed and slowly his heart-rate returned to normal.

Ozuma piped up with flat eyebrows and a bitter expression. "You want to count your lucky stars Max. If Darcel managed to break into the dojo where you all sleep with your beyblades in easy view next to your pillows...how easy do you think it would have been for Darcel to take any of your Sacred Spirits and slit your throats while you slept? Very easy and convenient I'd say. Like taking candy from a sleeping baby. You wouldn't have stood a chance."

Ray sheepishly stepped forward for all to listen. His words were going to unsettle many but they had to be said. "He did get in. Mariah and I stirred after smelling something gross in the room. We dismissed the smell thinking it was coming from Kai's dog and we rolled over back to sleep. I can smell the rag Kai took from Victor from here...and that was Darcel alright. He was in the room with us while we were all asleep and none of us had a clue. We were in so much danger it makes my stomach turn just thinking about it."

Emily sweated with disbelief. "He was in the room with us?! Leering over me in bed?! That's so creepy!"

Tyson exclaimed. "No way! So he was watching over us while we were sleeping. What a sicko."

Kenny shivered and hugged himself at the thought of their deadly adversary so close when they were so vulnerable. "Well that's just given me the major heebie-jeebies."

Tala quipped with a sickened feeling in his tummy too. "That seals it. No more arguments. Victor sleeps in the dojo with us indefinitely. If Kai's dog had been in the room when our caped creeper waltzed in I'm sure he would have barked all about it. I'd sure sleep better knowing we had a proper guard on duty." He smirked pleased with his filthy dig at the Saint Shields for their protection shortcomings.

Ozuma shot the Russian leader a dirty sneer back for his riling comment and promised to snipe back later.

Tyson replied with animation as he pranced to the pup sat at Kai's feet. He knelt, scratching behind the pooch's ear which the animal gleefully enjoyed. "Yeahhh you bet. Victor would have warned off Darcel before he could set one toe in the dojo. Say, why was you and Victor not in bed Kai?"

Kai replied matter of fact. "Victor was whining so I took him outside. I didn't want him to wake the rest of you. In another stroke of luck it was Victor who alerted me to our intruder and Hilary. He was dragging her in the direction of the manhole cover. I have no doubt he was going to abduct her."

Ozuma shook his head, pinched the bridge of his nose and released before delivering a snarky speech. "Are we learning yet? How dangerous Shadow Vale are and the lengths they're willing to go to get to you? All I have to say is you should all get a lottery ticket, especially Max, Ray and you too Tyson. Because you're incredibly lucky you're still breathing. Darcel broke into your dojo, into the room where you slept, with your Driger and Dragoon blades out on full view for him to snatch. He could have just as easily abandoned his pursuit for guardianship of Draciel, and opted to take your lives with his dagger instead.

Max, Kenny saved your life tonight by not returning your Draciel where you left him. Darcel broke in for YOUR Bitbeast specifically. Had Draciel been next to your body...we wouldn't be having this conversation...we'd be planning your funeral. Hilary owes her safety and probably her life too to Kai's mutt for barking the place down; she also owes Grandpa Granger for his haphazard entrance and his ridiculous flashlight.

Max, you lucked out the most tonight because on top of all of that, Grandpa Granger helped you out of a pretty big bind. You never had to go through with whatever choice you made. Save your friend or protect the state of the World. You dodged a big bullet my friend. I'm curious, what did you choose?"

"Ummmmmm I." Max writhed with a hot collar under the discomfort of the judging quad of Saint Shield's eyes on him, and the dark looming question he was too ashamed to answer. He gulped. "I..."

Ray stormed in close to the blonde to defend him. "You don't have to tell anyone what choice you made Max...not even us. That was your choice and you had your reasons whatever you picked. It's all irrelevant now anyway so I don't know why Ozuma feels the need to ask."

Tyson abandoned stroking Victor to stick up for his downtrodden pal. He blurted meaning every word. "You don't have to answer Max! Ozuma's just being a bully and he's about to outstay his welcome if he carries on."

Before Ozuma and Tyson could pick scabs off the other, the sliding door to the kitchen gently slid aside and... Hilary and Mariah emerged.

---

Mariah was still healing from her many slicing wounds delivered by a Shadow Vale stooge...and tonight was Hilary's unfortunate and painful turn through the mill. The skinny brunette reappeared to the household completely forlorn and so visibly exhausted she couldn't lift her head to make eye contact. Her unusually bright, intelligent and alert auburn eyes were the stark opposite, hollow and dopey. The trauma of her captivity at knife point had made her jumpy, anxious and unwilling to be touched and so was given a mild sedative by the doctor to help her settle for the night. She was encouraged to drink something sugary to take the edge off the shock but she refused anything other than tiny sips of water. Her meek body begged for nothing more than to go to bed, sleep and forget everything that had happened. The beloved G-Revolution sidekick sported a large sticky gauze pad covering her throat wound half the circumference of her petite neck. She smelt of antiseptic the medics used to sterilise her wound area and wash most of the blood from her chest. The scarlet liquid that had soaked the neck area of her cute vest had started to dry causing the thin fabric to turn stiff, but she was too worn out to even think about changing clothes, and too bankrupt to have a shower to wash the lingering scent of Darcel and the sewer pipes from her pure skin; Mariah promised to help her with both in the morning. Hilary barely mustered a smile as she was reunited with the gang, and words were out of the question. The abduction victim could barely stand and only did so with the toned female White Tiger blader holding her around the waist.

Tyson exclaimed and rushed towards her. He begged with nothing but kind intentions. "Hilary! At last! How ya feeling? Did you need any stitches? Can I get you anything?!"

Kenny stalked close to offer his support too. "Hey Hilary how are you feeling? I see they patched you up real good."

Ray watched over his shorter team mates shoulders. "Hey Hil...Urhhhhhhhh Mariah...is she okay? What did the Doctors say? She's doesn't look right to me."

Emily quizzed as she grew worried by Hilary's vacant expression. "Yeah Mariah...she doesn't look too spritely. Are we sure she doesn't need the hospital?"

Daichi tried and failed to make her smile with a jestful approach. "Heyyy! Motor-mouth! Urghh you doing okay? You wanna hug or somethin', cus' I know you've had a rough night and all. Dear ol Daichi will look after ya!"

Kai, Tala, Bryan and Mr Cooper opted to give Hilary her space. They could tell a mile off she'd been sedated or exhausted on the fringe of collapsing...or both, and needed to get to a bed right away.

Tala had to say something for the girl's welfare as he approached Tyson's rear. Despite not being close to Hilary or having much to do with her in the past, he cared for the person who took so much time to feed everyone and was always respectful and pleasant to him. "Tyson she needs her rest. I think you should get her to the dojo and in bed. We can play 20 questions in the morning when she's had some sleep."

Tala was of course right and it prompted the many heartfelt questions to stop and a plan to get her to bed was steamrolled ahead.

Tyson jumped to the task as he neared and put his arms around her ready to lift. "Here Hilary, let me carry you."

Like a dead eyed doll, Tyson scooped her up without any protest. She nestled her heavy head under his chin and fell asleep in the short time it took him to carry her to the dojo. The rest of the team scampered around him to fix her bed as quickly as they could. In Max's frantic search for Draciel he'd messed the dojo sleeping space up like a twister had blown through and destroyed all order to their bedding, bags and piles of neat clothing nearby. Everyone's futons, pillows and any duvets were thrown around wildly in his tantrum. As a team the boys and Emily found Hilary's yellow futon, then organised her pillows and shook out her thin duvet cover with daisies imprinted on it. Tyson wasted no time in placing her in bed where she fell asleep right away flat on her back. The sedative drugs the doctor gave her played a key role in her peace...for the time being.

Before long all pillows, futons and sheets were gathered into piles of who previously slept on them and reconstructed back into beds. It was 2:42am and fatigue hit the remaining awake residents hard. Mr Cooper returned to his staff to manage them outside the dojo, leaving Kai, Tala, Tyson, Bryan, Daichi, Emily, Max, Kenny, Ray and Mariah to pick up where they left off before Victor woke them up a mere handful of hours earlier, and before the horror of the Shadow Vale blader's terrorising intrusion started.

---

Its 3:15am and four male beybladers stared up at the high wood beamed ceiling, unbeknownst to each other they weren't alone struggling to sleep in the dark. Their minds just wouldn't shut down for sleep as heavy thoughts, flashbacks and decisions plagued their ability to rest and drift off.

The ruckus of extra security staff patrolling the garden played a part in the boy's disturbance. New boots drafted in to ensure absolute safety for the residents and their CEO created unfamiliar noise as they soldiered up and down the wooden veranda with heavy military boots, and swaying flashlight beams like prison guards searching the yard. The inflated private army were now a sound nuisance as much as a saviour. This could not be a permanent solution, or one the resident beybladers could live under for too long. They were already suffering with cabin fever and the over-drafted personnel were only going to exacerbate their feelings of entrapment.

Ray lay flat on his back with his long ebony hair trailing beautifully all over and around his body like a silky river. His lover, Mariah snoozed deeply and snuggled up tight next to him with her head peacefully resting on the left side of his pectoral muscle, and her shoulder nestled under his left armpit. He peered up at the wooden beams with golden cat eyes as his mind prowled through the night.

"We came so close to losing Hilary. I can't stop think about how helpless she was. No, I can't linger on it. She's alive and she's going to be okay. As much as I hate to admit it, Ozuma is right. We were super lucky no one was seriously injured or worse. All our Bitbeasts are safe too...but for how long? And how much longer are we going to have to live under lock and key here. I'm going out of my mind daily. I've never missed home so badly. I miss the mountains, the waterfalls, the forests, the food, and our villagers. Usually it's Mariah that gets home-sick first but I've beat her to it this time. Though I bet if I asked her, she would jump at the chance to go home. Maybe going back to the Hills wouldn't be such a bad idea. The elders have always said they'd defend Driger with all out clan war if they have to. Shadow Vale hasn't crossed into our lands for centuries and they'd be suicidal to start now. With Driger back safe at White Tiger Hills I can ensure he stays out of Shadow Vales hands, and our lives can go back to some sort of normality again...for Mariah and I anyway. Tyson and Max will still be hunted and it's forbidden to bring outsiders back home to our village. I can't just leave them when they need me. And Kai...I promised him I would help him get Dranzer back."

---

Tyson fidgeted and grouched under his breath. He simply couldn't get comfortable with any position, starfish or otherwise. He punched his pillow a couple of times before throwing his skull back on it with a light thud in the dark. He turned his head to peer at Hilary at his left side; she was still completely out and barely twitched under sedation and slumber. He peered at her neck plaster and the small amount of red staining seeping through delivered by Darcel's dagger. He grimaced with how pale her face was and felt a giant hot bubble of anger raise from his belly and bloat his chest, his heart inside simmered and cooked for how much he wanted to find Darcel and hurt him as much as he'd hurt Hilary...only more. Darkness in Tyson was growing at an alarming rate and it was this black fire that was keeping him from sleeping. His mind burned with rage as he watched over Hilary's pitiful soundless form. She appeared dead with how white her complexion and how shallow she breathed. Her blood stained vest with the bunny motif poked from under her bed sheet with flowers on it, and it just reminded him how close he was to losing her. He'd seen enough of his friends covered in blood to last a lifetime.

"GRRRRRR Darcel, if I ever see him again I'm going to make him wish he never even looked at Hilary let alone touch her. If we ever get a chance to cross beyblades, Dragoon and I will make sure he's too afraid to set foot in Japan again, let alone my home-town. I'll get revenge for what he did to Hilary and to Max. I promise them both. Ozuma is starting to get under my skin. How dare he make Max feel like crap about giving up Draciel to save Hilary. I swear he's on super thin ice, protecting our Bitbeasts and us Guardians or not...we've got Kai and his security to do that, and with the extra boots outside we have plenty of them. The Saint Shields can go jump for all I care. I'm sick of their constant lectures about Sacred Spirits and protecting the world. We know all the that stuff! He's not having Dragoon and that's the end of it. I promised Kai to help him get Dranzer back and I will. We just need more time training and we'll be ready. Sooner or later we'll be able to protect ourselves. With our Bitbeasts, Tala and Bryan, Max, Emily, Ray and Mariah, Daichi and I, we outnumber Shadow Vale 2 to 1. Soon, we won't need the Saint Shields protection or Kai's security and then we can have our lives back...but we have to stay together."

---

Max rubbed his freckled face cutely with his hands wrapped in balls like a child. He then yawned so wide that a single bulbous tear seeped from the corners of his tired eyes. He was knackered and begged for sleep that his brain just wouldn't let him have yet. He too fidgeted and sharply kicked a leg out in frustration. He sported a glum face and a tortured heart. He peered up at the shadowed corners of the ceiling and gripped Draciel's beyblade with Frankenstein parts tight in his right hand, despite the discomfort of spiky edges of his attack ring digging into the softness of his palm and fingers.

"Oh Draciel. I feel awful. I almost gave you to that monster. I had to save Hilary though, she was in real terrible trouble and I couldn't let that animal do anything more to her. I hope you can forgive me Draciel. Ohhhhh this is so much to bear! I feel like I'm going crazy and its all starting to make me feel depressed. Maybe the Saint Shields are right. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a Guardian. Maybe I should give you to them for safe keeping, to protect you from ever ending up in Shadow Vale's evil hands." *Sigh* "I miss home Draciel. I miss my Mom, I miss surfing at the beach with my California pals, I miss going to the store and buying an ice-cream and never looking over my shoulder. I'm sick of feeling trapped here at Tyson's, I'm tired of being watched all day by the Saint Shields, and that suffocation is only going to get worse with Kai's security patrolling inside as well as outside the dojo. With Shadow Vale willing to take hostages as bold as they have I think maybe handing you over to the Saint Shields may be best for everyone. I have so many friends and family to think about. What if Hilary is not the last person they put a knife to? Will that be my fault too? And if someone gets killed, will their blood on my hands? I have a chance to make myself and the ones I care about less of a target. Question is...could I do it. Give you up to the Saint Shields, Draciel? Mariam would let me have you back when the threat goes away...right?"

---

Kai stared with intense amethyst eyes at the cobwebs above. He lay flat on his back with a soft hand on his wound instinctively protecting it. His other hand gently stroked Victor's fuzzy head as he lay stretched out linear to his owner's side. The pooch snoozed and made adorable low woofing noises as he dreamed. Kai wanted nothing more than to be in the same little world as his pup but instead he had no choice but to remain in the realm of tedious consciousness of human life. The weight of a life changing decision rested on his chest which crushed his ribs every day the deadline drew nearer. Add to that, trauma of watching helpless Hilary pinned under the sharp edge of a dagger left him rattled with fury... among other things prickling his mind and preventing him from restful slumber.

"We were so close to losing someone else tonight. Darcel, so bold to break in with so many eyes watching. I've doubled the number of security personnel patrolling here and I'm confident we're safe for now. But for how long can we keep this up? If we weren't feeling claustrophobic before, we will now. The friction between Tyson and the others as a team, as well as the Saint Shields is growing every day. Peace will be impossible soon and when some of us snap...and we will... it's going to be tough to live with. We can't keep living like this and need to think of an alternative living arrangement...but where?

That's one problem.

Another is my career.

I have 3 days to pull myself together and get back to the office, or I'll permanently lose my position as CEO. I can't let that happen. I've given up too much to get where I am now. But what about Dranzer? I can't focus on anything else. I don't hear him scream in my head anymore but I can still feel him crying in my heart, maybe it's real...or the grief talking. I can't just go back to work while Tyson and the others put themselves on the line to get Dranzer back. Then...there's Black Dranzer. I'd forgotten about him/it for all these years and now he's back in the forefront of my mind like a stone in my shoe. Black Dranzer will be powerful enough to take out any one of the Shadow Vale Bitbeasts singlehandedly and could be the key to getting my Dranzer back...but can I be trusted with it. I have the bitchip locked away safe where I can reach it, but I NEED the beyblade BIOVOLT built too. That beyblade is key to unleashing Black Dranzer's strength to it's full potential. It was so long ago since I last held it, I remember launching it at a computer system at Balkov Abbey before I defected back to the Bladebreakers. I need to track down Boris and ask him what he did with it. He must have locked it away somewhere in a vault or sold it. I wont know until I ask him. Its a long shot but I wont know until I try. Boris was last seen in Japan after the BEGA tournament but last I heard he somehow crossed borders back into Russia, probably under a new name. My Grandfather would know where he is. No... I can't go down that road. I shouldn't. There has to be another way...to rescue Dranzer."

---

On a distant rooftop neighbourhoods away from the Granger dojo, awaited two cruel hearted young men and their devilish sister wearing purple cloaks and sporting varying shapes of silver hair. Sunrise was a few hours away yet, so the sky was still hauntingly dark, moonless and barely peppered with any stars. The only light illuminating them was an EXIT sign above a heavy metal door atop a nightclub, of which was just closing up and throwing out the last of their drunk and rowdy customers at ground level. A cluster of humming electric cabinets and air-conditioning units lined the edges of the tarmac roof of which Garnetta and Blake leaned relaxed upon, whilst Harkan's bull-like body slowly paced with frustration waiting for his little brother to return from his violent expedition.

Finally, the smallest and stinkiest sibling made his entrance by climbing up a gutter pipe and leaping onto the flat roof area. His cape swished in the low wind as he swaggered towards his clan members looking pleased with himself.

Blake coolly leant away from the air-conditioning unit from which he was perched to greet him. "Finally you're back. Urghhh and you stink! I don't see any blood on your clothes Brother. You failed...didn't you? Or did you obtain Draciel another way?"

Garnetta wailed with hilarity. "Hahahaha you complete fuckin' screw up Darcel! Lemme guess you didn't even make it into the yard did ya. I bet you got lost in the sewer pipes, you useless little moron!"

Harkan bellowed with his usual deep tone. "So? Where is Draciel, the Turtle Sacred Spirit? Hurry...Show us!"

Darcel smirked at his less than kind welcoming party. He threw his arms across and readied to be judged but first he needed to tell them about his night. "I don't have Draciel...yet. I came so fricken close though. So close! I took Tyson's girl hostage and Max was gunna trade her straight up for Draciel. He was gunna relinquish his Bitbeast right there N then the spineless wimp. It all turned to hell when the old man showed up and blinded me. I lost my dagger and barely got away. If it wasn't for that blasted dog I would be presenting you with dear lady Hilary as our new pet and hostage. She would have made a nice little bargaining chip for the other Sacred Spirits." He pulled the flailing tail of his cape round to show off the chunk of fabric missing ripped off by Kai's dog. Dog tooth marks were clearly discernible. "See...the mangy mutt ruined everything!"

Harkan snorted with fury before picking up his tiny brethren clean into the air, and then dropping him due to his stench from two trails in rat urine lined sewer tunnels. "Urghhhh you smell revolting Brother! Why do you look so content with yourself? You FAILED to obtain Draciel. You should be hanging your head in shame! Wait until the Arch Mage hears about this."

Darcel twirled before singing his thoughts in his weasely nasal voice. "My simple minded brothers and sister. It's true I don't have Draciel...yet...but I've achieved something that will pave the way to obtain all three of the remaining Sacred Spirits in the near future and with ease. You want to be thanking me...and here's why. I've made Tyson, Ray and Max emotional, verrrrryyy emotional and emotional people make mistakes. I took their girl hostage and that's going to eat them up every time they look at her and the cut I left deep enough to permanently scar her neck. They're going to blindly seek revenge and when they do, they'll make costly mistakes, mistakes we can take advantage of.

I also shattered their sense of safety. I broke into their home while they slept with a force of security guards and the Saint Shields watching over them. I'd be surprised if they sleep well at all for a while. That's going to have an impact on their mental state and no doubt affect all the pointless training they've been doing.

But wait, there's more...

Ozuma promised them they were all safe under his guard and tonight I proved him a liar. How long do you think it will be until they get tired of his boring lecturing? I've damaged the relationship between the Saint Shields and the other beybladers and soon they will fall out if they haven't already. I witnessed them bickering over the importance of dear little lady Hilary over Draciel and believe me a rift is already there and growing, poisoning whatever friendship they had. Mark my words, one day soon Tyson and Ozuma and their teams will part ways and when they do...Driger, Draciel and Dragoon will be easy pickings.

Those confined behind the false safety of the dojo residence are going to feel more caged in than they ever have before. They can't go out and before long, staying in will become a daily torture. It's only a matter of time before cabin fever becomes unbearable and they miss their own homes and families. They'll start to take that bitterness and hatred and turn on each other. Then when they can't stand it anymore they will disperse without any protection from the alienated Saint Shields or those annoying security guards. They'll be completely vulnerable, out in the open and then we'll strike one by one until we have all four of em. Then wont the Arch Mage be pleased?!

You see...I've helped our plan along considerably. They call this psychological warfare and I've just completely bazookad them."

Harkan, Blake and Garnetta were completely enthralled and downright impressed with what the shortest and evidently one of the most cunning of their team had delivered.

Garnetta smarmed as she pat him on the head condescendingly for her own amusement. "You devious little thing Darcel. You twisted, nasty, stinky little monster and I sorta ove you for it. Now...I assume we watch and wait until everything falls apart at the Granger house? I like the phrase you used...Driger, Draciel and Dragoon will be easy pickings. Ohhhhhh I CANT WAIT FOR THE DAY!"

Blake was busy gloating over Dranzer locked in a dull brown beyblade in his hand. He turned it in his fingers so the red phoenix in the bitchip shimmered in the low artificial light of the EXIT sign. "Yes...one day soon you'll all have your own Sacred Spirit...just like I do. Patience...it sounds like everything is in motion. As soon as they split ways...Tyson, Max and Ray resign as Guardians and their lives are at your mercy."