Chapter 19.

"Whaaatt's taking so long?!" Grumped Daichi, who was never well-known for his patience. His outburst was so loud that his friends surrounding him jumped an inch clear off their seats. Each expected an angry nurse to rush in and tell him to be quiet or leave.

The computer whizz sharply scolded with an unusual amount of aggression for him. "Shhhhhhhhhhhhh Daichi I'm trying to work here." Then quickly returned to tapping away on Dizzi. The Chief had taken it upon himself to email all the beyblade teams that had asked for progress reports on Kai and new info on his assailant. He was now in the middle of updating Mr Dickenson and days of tiredness had made his temper very short.

"Urhhh Daichi! What's wrong with you now?!" Exclaimed Hilary almost as loudly; as she leapt to her feet, her fists were in balls ready to swing.

The spiky red-head squirmed for comfort like a child on the hospital seat, flung his arms crossed and pouted. "Kai should be awake by now. Nursey said he would be 2 hours and it's been 5 hours already!"

Emily pushed her glasses up to her nose and crossed one leg over the other. "No if you had actually listened, the nurse said anything from 2 to 12 hours before Kai starts to wake up. We just have to be patient. Now belt up already before a nurse kicks you out."

Mariah bent her neck over to see past a line of vending machines to a corridor nearby; where Ray was pacing back and forth like a caged animal. His muscled arms tightly hugged against his chest with a face lost in thought. His long black bangs swung back with each stride and his Chinese footwear barely made a sound.

Emily was never one to be subtle as she eyed her ex PPB Allstarz teammate. "Hey Max. Are you ok? You've been real quiet today?"

The blue eyed beyblader gave no response. His head was lolled back to allow him a splendid view of the white ceiling panels and air conditioning unit above him. Like his pacing friend...he too looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Emily didn't like being ignored and jabbed harshly. "Maxxxxx? Hey Maxy?"

The young American finally reacted as he snapped his heavy blonde head forward. "Oh erhhh yeah sorry Emily."

Emily scowered. "What's up with you? You are unusually quiet. Didn't you hear the news earlier? Kai is doing just fine. He's out of the woods now. You can relax. You're gunna see for yourself very soon. Just a few more hours and Kai will be up and talking in no time."

Max did his best to paint a smile and scratched the back of his neck with discomfort. "Yeah I'm sorry Emily. Yeah I'm sure Kai's gunna pull through...but I'm nervous. What are we gunna say to him?

"Urrhhh and you say us girls are the oversensitive ones." Quipped Emily as she playfully rolled her dark-blue eyes.

Rays' delicate neko-jin ears had heard Max and Emilys' conversation crystal clear despite being a fair distance away. He stopped pacing and returned to the group with just enough time to watch Max continue with his fake happy facade. He watched Draciels' guardian laugh off Emilys' insensitive remark with judging yellow eyes and whispered to himself. "I know Max. I know...how are we going to face Kai; after we failed to help him when he needed us the most?"

Tyson was bored of watching and hearing the same thing over and over again...Kai's Grandmothers' incessant fussing... for the last 5 hours.

"Come back to me my darling." Whispered Izumi as she kissed Kais' sleeping grey and blue haired head, brushed a loving thumb over a grey eyebrow and then...returned to stroking his limp hand for the hundredth time.

Nurse Sakura had asked for 2 volunteers to be there for Kai when he came round. Kais' grandmother was a given and Tyson put himself forward as the other candidate. Izumi wanted "that sweet girl "Hilary but the brunette insisted that he go instead. Tyson would have never forgiven her if she hadn't allowed him to take her place. So here he was. Dragoons' master was sat on a familiar padded hospital chair at Kais' left bedside and Izumi was on the right. The pair watched nurses check on Kai every now and then but would only quickly observe, write notes in a file and draw the pink curtain back...leaving the three together in the peace and chorus of Kai's breathing machine and heart rate monitor. The smell of antiseptic and strong soap they had used to sponge bathe Kai earlier that afternoon; invaded their noses.

Tyson analysed Dranzers' masters' face and wires trailing from under a hospital gown. He gripped a cool limp hand gently and forever mindful of the cannula and IV lines. Kais' hands were rough and calloused from launching and catching spinning blades... like his...they were the hands of a beyblader.

Izumi rose from her seat, stroked her thumb over Kais' right cheek and sat back down. Her voice was optimistic. "He's looking better today."

Tysons' big brown eyes met with her amethyst. "Yeah. His fingers and lips aren't ice blue anymore. That's gotta be good right?"

Izumi – "Yes I think so and his eyes don't look as sunk. He's still so pale though."

Tysons' voice lowered a notch. "He looks like he's lost some weight too."

Izumis' tone lowered more. "Yes now that you mention it...he does look like he's lost a few pounds."

Tyson rebounded to being cheeky and upbeat. "Not a lot gets past me maaam. Me and Kai are best buds didn't ya know."

Izumi jabbed without a second's hesitation. "Oh yeah?...He doesn't mention you much."

Tyson was equally sharp and raised a thick blue eyebrow playfully. "Well he's NEVER mentioned you."

Izumi glowered knowing she had already won this argument. "When was the last time you saw him; before all this madness with the tournament? Hmm?"

Tyson pouted like a fish and shot his opponent a side glance. "Yeah well ...Kai's been busy."

Izumi glared at the blue-haired cap-wearer and sniggered. There was something about this tubby Japanese boy that brought out the competition in her. He was so smug and she got a real kick out of putting him in his place. She wondered if this is how Kai feels about him... whether he too enjoyed wiping that smirk off Tysons' face. Like it was pathological. Kai couldn't be friends with this guy because he "liked being around him" surely? A loud-mouthed over-enthusiastic joker like Tyson... wasn't who she'd imagined as Kais' best friend. She expected someone far more dignified and with a higher intellect...still she had never actually met any of Kais' friends to compare him to anyone; not that she would admit that to the young man sat opposite. Before she could say anything else and jibe "Kais' BeSt FrIeNd"...

... she felt a twitch in her hand and like a bolt of electricity, her heart beat flashed erratically.

Izumi looked down at her small withered hand clasped under the weight of Kais' larger pale one with an oximeter (device that measures blood oxygen level) clipped on his index finger, glowing a radiant blue. She waited...did she imagine it? No. Another movement arrived as 3 fingers flexed inwards to his palm and then relax again.

She stammered with a mix of disbelief and joy. "Did did you see that?"

Tysons' orbs were transfixed on the hand he cradled instead. He stuttered harder. "I I thin thin think Kai is waking up maam." He said as Kai curled all the fingers and thumb on his left hand inwards around Tysons' thick tanned palm and then out again.

Kais' Grandmother leapt to her feet, nearly banging her knees on the bedside as she did with excitement. Tyson remained hooked on Kais' hand and willed it to do the same again. For days he had hoped to see some sign of life and finally...Kai was coming back.

"Kai? My baby? Can you hear me?" Begged Izumi as her face closed in near to her grandsons'. She repeatedly stroked his right cheek with the back of her soft elderly hands. "Come on baby. Wake up my love."

Kai replied with a small eyebrow twitch and his eyes moved under his eyelids.

Tyson felt overwhelmed and cried "I knew it! I knew he would make it! Come on Kai, if you can hear me grip my hand again will ya."

Izumi – "That's it my darling, come back to Grammie."

Seconds pass without any more movement. Tyson and Izumi shot each other a concerned look, held their breaths and watched for anymore movement from Kais' face or hands. Then...

Kais' hand wraps around Tysons' and keeps a semi-firm grip. The bluenette felt his heart burst and two bulbous slow-travelling tears befall his padded cheeks. He and Kai... were holding hands. "He...hes'" Tyson was too emotional to finish his sentence.

The grandmother was too preoccupied with her own miracle as Kai's eyebrows were furrowing and relaxing.

Tyson stood up careful not to disconnect from Kai's gripping digits and whispered tenderly. "Kai, buddy...I'm here dude." Before yelling at the top of his lungs using one hand as a half trumpet. "NURSE! NURSE!"

The gang of waiting and bored friends didn't need the cat-like hearing of the White Tigers. Tysons' loud mouth and bellowing for nurses echoed throughout the ward for all to hear.

"Looks like our wait might be over guys." Said Kenny as he hit "send" for one final email.

Hilary wrinkled a clump of her skirt in her feminine hands tightly. "Come on Kai. You can do this."

Ray and Max shot each other a stern look which said telepathically "Here we go." And a mix of dread and hopeful anticipation hit their bloodstreams.

Daichi breathed an over the top sigh of relief. "Finally. No more nappy byes Kai. We're rootin' for ya."

Kai could feel a warm weight clamped around his left hand but was too tired to find out why and so... let it lay limp and accepted the comfort he got from it.

"Kai my darling, Grammie's right here ok?" The half sedated man could hear a familiar voice. His brain was too foggy to recognise who it was. Regardless, the voice calmed him in his sleepy black world.

"I'm right here for ya bud." Came another familiar voice echoing in his ears.

. . . .Hiss.Hiss. "What are those noises? Thought Kai as he struggled to lift his eyes.

Kais' thick grey eyebrows creased and his perfect nose scrunched up. His face ached and his jaw felt terribly uncomfortable. He tried to bite his mouth closed but something was preventing him. His throat...there was something in his throat. This alarmed him and the beeping noise quickened as his heart rate raced.

Kais' eyes wearily flapped open for a sharp second and shut them again. The bright luminescence of the room stabbed his pupils and he screwed his face up with discomfort. Instinctively... as if outside on a sunny day, he lifted his right arm to shield his face from the piercing light. His arm felt weak and heavy but still he fought to lift it, until it snagged on a wire. He tenderly opened his eyes again, they screamed with pain at trying to focus and when they finally did...more panic. His heart pumped like a frightened deer. Little needles imbedded and taped to his skin were attached to thin tubular lines and an alien clamp on his finger greeted him. Different coloured lines emanating from under clothing he didn't recognise. His line of sight followed the tube to the machines he was hooked to and analysed the bags of fluid hanging... also attached to other parts of his body. He fingered his lips with his right hand and felt the tube invading his body. This thing...in his throat...he had to get it out. He tried to scream but instead; a hysterical moan escaped him. BEEP. .BEEP. Adrenaline hit his nervous system like a rocket and the beeping noise sent nurses in a frenzy. Kai's eyes were bolt wide as fright took over his mind.

A male voice – "We need to ex-tubate but give him something to calm him down first. Stat."

All around him were blurry figures saying things that he didn't understand. The terror of waking up covered in foreign objects nullified anything else around him.

A female voice. "Hello Kai, my name is Nurse Sakura. You are in the hospital. Everything is going to be ok. You need to stay calm alright." She assured. Too many times had she seen patients come round from sedation this agitated and rip out their IV lines; only needing to have them put back in later or caused fresh injuries to themselves in the process. She placed a caring arm onto Kais' left but he snatched away their contact, flustered and terrified and did not want to be touched.

Izumis wept as she watched her beloved grandson struggle to come to terms his new reality. "Kai baby you are in the hospital. Everything is ok. You are ok. Relax my darling. Grammie's here."She begged.

Tyson had never seen Kai so frightened before. The great Kai Hiwatari reduced to a shaking groaning wreck. "Kai...dude." He murmured not knowing what else to do or say. He felt his sweaty back graze against the pink curtain as nurses had demanded he get out of the way before Kai harmed himself. A nurse flew across the blunettes body; her feet missed his by millimetres. She held a syringe containing clear fluid and made straight for Kais' IV bag. She took no time in flicking out an air bubble, attaching the end to a port in the bag and pressing the plunger.

Kai was freaking out. His eyes were open wide as he held his shivering hands out in front of his face. No words were calming him as his fight or flight instinct whispered to rip everything off and run. . . His flustered lungs ached and fought against the slower pace of the ventilator.

Kai clasped a jittery hand around the tube protruding from his lips and readied to yank it out...2 seconds later...his plan failed. His grip completely relaxed and his hands bounced to his sides on his blue blanketed bed. His heart rate steadied and his breathing synchronised back with the machine. Half of the bed rose with a mechanical noise as a nurse had levered him into a near seated position as 3 nurses clustered around him. All panic had gone as he relaxed into a sea of drug induced peace despite now having strangers huddling close. Kai hated being touched and would not have tolerated being surrounded seconds before, whether they were nurses or not. They had to re-sedate him for his safety and theirs. Their patient was still awake, he could see and feel and hear but his body was now a heavy suit that he could barely move.

Izumi was trembling. It was horrendous for her to watch her Grandson in such high distress. Her hands were clasped over her face as tears rippled down her withered features, running into creases and hitting the floor. Tysons' tender heart wanted to comfort her and so; shuffled around the curtain edge to Kais' tearful grandmother and put an arm around her, not knowing how she would react. If she was anything like Kai she would shove him off immediately and tell him not to touch her. He wished hard for his own Grandpa to be here to hug and to his relief... and without prompting...the elder lady clutched onto his torso like a koala. Together they watched as the medical team worked and the bluenette felt a tiny piece of fresh comfort.

Moments pass as they turned off the machine, unconnected the pipe-work, leaving just the tube dangling from between Kais' white teeth. They arched his neck and head at an angle and instructed him to cough. Kai was calmly compliant and with a spluttered hack they pulled the tube free from his lips, placed it in a tray and allowed Kai to spit and dribble into a brown paper bowl. Nurse Sakura placed a cup of water to his lips which he relished to help relieve the soreness of his throat, wincing as he swallowed.

Male Nurse – "Good job Mr Hiwatari, we're all done now." He said as he took the tube and soiled bowl away for disposal. Another nurse unplugged the ventilator from the power supply on the wall and wheeled it to a corner.

Kai continued to cough as a middle-aged female nurse with short curly hair wiped his face; much to his disgust and embarrassment. He wanted to push this stranger away but hadn't the strength to do it. Each cough was pure agony. He threw his chin into his sternum in discomfort and groaned with a gritted mouth and sharply furrowed eyebrows, his eyes tight shut. The pain in his throat was nothing in comparison to his waist. Each cough brought on a new torture as his stomach muscles rippled and tore at the newly healing penetration wound. Every twist and bend was torture and as Kai fought not to cough; his face turned a new shade of pink as he dug his nails into his hospital bed sheets.

Dr Temeda was quick to notice a patient suffering. "Mr Hiwatari needs some morphine quickly please Nurse."

The middle aged female nurse immediately disappeared through a parting in the pink privacy curtain and hurried to the drugs cabinet.

Tysons' heart thumped so wildly he was sure Izumi; still clamped around his torso, would be able to hear it. In all the years he had known Kai...all the rough beyblade battles, all the injuries, cuts, bruises and even twisted ligaments and bone fractures of being thrown back by beyblade shock waves...he had never seen Kai in this much pain. The guy was like The Terminator. For Kai to recoil and writhe in agony; it had to be bad.

Kai groaned with pain as another cough quaked his body. Izumi could take it no longer, climbed off of Tyson and threw herself to Kais' side. She began tenderly rubbing his back as he hunched over trying to negate any movement in his torso with each cough he failed to stop.

The middle aged nurse returned with a bag which she hooked up with the other IV fluids with the words MORPHINE on it. She un-wrapped the long line and attached it to one of the cannula ports on the back of Kais' left hand, of which... was still gripped onto the bed sheets. No more than 10 seconds pass and Kai finally relaxed. The drugs had clearly kicked in and he was comfortable at last. Kai un-dug his nails from the fabric of his bed and unfurled back in the seated position. His face was expressionless, calm and his misty-purple eyes were dull.

All nurses broke away to their usual stations or to tend back to their rounds; all apart from Nurse Sakura and Dr Temeda.

Izumi immediately cradled the pale face that Kai could barely lift himself in both of her shaken hands. "Kai my poorly baby, please say something." Her eyes bore into his, their orbs colour a mirror image of the other. Kai knew immediately who she was and felt reassured he was safe for the first time. His face looked like he was about to cry. "Grammie." His voice was raspy like he had swallowed razor blades and didn't sound a thing like his normal tone.

Despite how infirm she was, the doting grandmother jumped on the bed with him and buried his head under her neck. His hair lolled forward and his face hidden in the dark. "Oh my sweet baby, don't talk if it hurts. I'm right here and I'm not leaving you ok."

Tyson stepped forward with tentativeness. "Kai?" He'd waited for this moment for over 3 days and wasn't even sure if Kai acknowledged he was in the room yet.

Before Tyson could go any further ...the Doctor blindsided him, stepped forward with an open file and pen at the ready. "How are you feeling Kai?"

The dual-tone haired man gave no response; he was completely out of it. Izumi carefully laid his head back onto the pillow with his eyes closed serenely. He was getting heavy and couldn't hold him up any longer ...no matter how much she wanted to cradle him further. She turned his head to face her to the right so that she could continue stroking his beautiful face from her visitors' chair.

Tyson was sweating and wondered if the worry was ever going to end. "Why isn't he talking? Is he ok?"

Nurse Sakura – "It's the painkillers, the residual sedation and the medicine we gave him earlier. He's absolutely exhausted now and he just needs to rest."

"I'll be back in a little while to check on him." Said the medical professional as he tossed open one side of the curtain to leave Bay 3... only to be instantly slammed with a stampede of young people; 8 of them to be exact. They pushed past him like he didn't exist and one even trod on the toe of his expensive shiny black shoe and dented it. He side hopped, cursed under his breath, his face an angry red and before he could yell at them to adhere to the ICU rules of 2 at a time...a nurse called to him, begging urgently for his help in another Bay.

The 8 newcomers clambered and fought to be closest around Kais' bed. Completely invading any privacy Izumi may have wanted with her grandson and filled the air with scuffles as they fought with elbows to get closer. Daichi irritatingly screeched for Emily to stop stepping on his foot which led to him being smacked on the head by Mariah and Hilary both. Tyson had held his ground and maintained the prime spot next to Izumi on the far right side. Daichi next to him; then Hilary, then Mariah, Max, Kenny, Emily and finally... Ray on the far left.

Nurse Sakura loitered at the back. She knew how dedicated Kai's friends were and given how loyal they had been in the waiting room; she thought she would allow them 5 minutes of grace and then embargo any more visits for the day. She figured it would be kinder to let them see him now and then they can relax for the rest of the evening. For Kai...he was going to be out of it for the rest of the day and 5 more minutes wasn't going to harm him.

Daichi – "Hey I thought you said he was gunna be awake."

Emily stabbed. "Shhhhhhhhhhh idiot can't you see Kai's asleep."

Izumi went in super-grandmother mode, her face displayed a fury they had never seen until now and snapped with a harsh whisper. "WILL YOU BE QUIET! BE SILENT OR LEAVE." She ceased brushing her "babys" face in order to keep a sharp eye on the new and somewhat irritating newcomers. Her stabbing gaze aimed straight for Daichi and Emily.

The sight before them was not what the gang had hoped for. They had expected to walk in and Kai would be up, alert and talking or... not talking much in Kai's case, but awake none the less. Still. They were pleased to see a change in his appearance at least. A tube and machine was no longer breathing for him and he was no longer lying like a mummy in a sarcophagus, bolt straight and lifeless.

Ray couldn't take his eyes of Kai as flashbacks plagued his mind. The images of Kais' dead ghostly face with blood painting his chin; ran through the White Tigers brain and his heart began to run rapid. Nausea hit and the Chinese man felt like he needed to throw up. The guilt for feeling responsible for what happened to Kai riddled his being. He felt enclosed, suffocated and was seconds away from bolting out of the bay when...

Kai swallowed his sore throat making a gulping sound and furrowed his thick eyebrows with the discomfort. For all except Emily...this was the first time they had seen him move of his own accord since before succumbing to his injuries and subsequently, his temporary death at the bey stadium.

Hilary let out a tiny gasp and had see if he was coherent. "Hey Kai. It's us. We're here." She clutched her hands together as if to pray. Izumi liked Hilary quite a lot. If anybody else had uttered a word she would have thrown them out, but... as it was the sweet brunette...she got away with it.

Slowly and peacefully, Kai opened his orbs. His rare and stunning amethyst eyes had made their appearance at last. He levered his head from the side to straight. His sight travelled around the room to each hopeful and emotional face. Hilary, Max and Kenny each had streams of happy tears cascading down their features. Ray was turning a shade of pink as he fought to keep the water inside but failed and began to snivel as hot tears escaped him. Mariah, Emily and Daichi beamed with reassuring smiles and despite their clash in personalities; they put arms around each other. Tyson had cried enough already today and was exhausted after the last hours' events. He wanted desperately to sit down with Kai for a proper chat but knew he wasn't going to get one today and instead... felt happy to just be near him and felt privileged he was there for Kais' return to the world.

Precious moments pass as Kai slowly remembered who they were and produced a barely distinguishable smile. A smile none the less and finally after gathering the strength... he murmured with a raspy and pained tone. "Hey guys."

Max – "Hey Kai, how ya feeling buddy?"

Hilary – "You sure had us worried for a while Kai."

Kenny - "Do you need anything Kai?"

Kai remained still and his face fell. His eyes contracted wide as if he had just remembered something important. Tyson felt his heart plummet as a look of panic returned on Kais' already exhausted features.

Kais' voice sounded raspier than before. "Dranzer? Where... is... Dranzer?"

Awkwardness engulfed the air space as 9 young heads looked at each other with unease and cursed not having earlier discussed what they would tell him when he asks where his Bitbeast was. Kais' last memory was trying to save Dranzer from being taken by Blake. Dranzer was still in his possession before he "blacked out" and was unaware of anything after the fact. Do they lie to him now and tell him the truth later? Or... Do they get it over with and risk upsetting him in his fragile state?

Kai might have been doped up but he wasn't blind or brain damaged and read their faces like a book. The lack of answer was all Kai needed.

Kai whispered huskily. "I see."

The beyblader turned CEOs face reduced to a crumple, brought his wired and trembling hands to his face and began to sob into them; using his fingers to mask some of his despair. His bawling and sound of his heart rate monitor echoed within all bodies in the confines of Bay 3. Kai Hiwatari was crying. One of the toughest, most emotionally distant people they had ever met was whimpering and grieving into his palms. Tears seeped through his fingers as he sobbed for the loss of his beloved Dranzer.

Izumi immediately put a soft clothed arm around his shoulders and kissed his head as she dropped tears of her own into Kais' grey hair. She knew Dranzer was important to Kai and now worried intensely for his mental state. The last time she had seen Kai cry like this was when Biscuit died several years ago. He was inconsolable then and inconsolable now.

Guilt, pity and sorrow overcame each of Kais' friends in varying degrees and not one of them had a dry face now. Seeing Kai cry was too much and they had no idea what to do or say next other than try to comfort him, but how?

Nurse Sakura was very stern and took it upon herself to give Kai the privacy he sorely needed now. "Ok that's enough for today. Mr Hiwatari needs his rest." She strongly gestured to them to leave through a parting she made in the curtain. "This way... You can see him tomorrow."

The gang did as they were told. What could they say to him anyway and they doubted Kai would have let them hug him. They slinked out of Bay 3 one by one with their heads low, giving Kai one last tearful look as his grandmother stroked his hair as he sobbed harder. Their feet shuffled them away, they wiped away tears with accumulated old tissues in their pockets and before long...were back at the waiting area and finally too far to hear Kai sob anymore.

They stood quiet with hands in pockets, hugged themselves for comfort, sniffled back more tears and blew on tissues as they struggled to accept what had just happened. The giant U-turn of emotions from the day. They woke up this morning believing Kai could to die, to hearing fantastic news that he was going to pull through without life changing disabilities, to being told he was going to wake up and then the emotional downward spiral of watching Kai fall to pieces with the grief of his bitbeast...all in less than 12 hours.

Nurse Sakura cut to the chase. "That's all for visitation for today now guys. Kai is very tired as you can see and he needs his rest. Try not to worry about him. It's normal for sedation patients to wake up tearful and out of character. Kai just needs the night to sleep off the rest of the drugs and he will be feeling much better by the morning. Kai is through the worst of it now. From now on it's just pain management, physiotherapy and good ol rest.

Speaking of rest...you guys could do with some yourself. It can't be good for you to be stuck in this hospital for days on end. Try to get some fresh air will you and make sure you look after yourselves. Kai's going to need his friends fit and healthy to help him through this. Okay. Take this evening to chill out and go get an early nights rest. You deserve it."

The pretty nurse Sakura was sickly optimistic but her words were true and caring. Tyson and Co dragged themselves out of the ICU with their moods drenched low and made their way back to the family suites. The samey corridors were an eye sore and they were sick of how dreary they were despite being quite a modern hospital.

Tyson was ahead of the group when he abruptly stopped in the middle of the hallway and threw his cap aggressively to the floor. His face was hidden in the dark of his hair and his back to his friends.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Dragoons' wielder yelled as his words bounced against the walls.

Hilary whimpered as she dabbed a tear away. "We know Tyson, we know. Kai didn't deserve any of this."

Max's posture was bent over and his hands in his pockets. "Seeing Kai like that...I've never seen him look so... sad."

Daichi rubbed his arm in uneasiness as his head veered to the side. "I feel terrible for him."

Ray grinded his molars and couldn't make eye contact with anyone. He was seething to the back teeth.

Kenny – "I hated seeing Kai that upset too Tyson but we've gotta keep it together. We knew this was coming and its better that Kai knows now... than to keep a secret from him."

Mariah – "It was sad to see Kai fall apart like that but he's gunna get better now, ya know."

Emily – "Yeah it's like the Nurse said. It's normal for patients to come round from sedation not themselves and to be a bit tearful."

Tyson swung round on his heels quicker than an Olympic ice-skater and leered at the spectacled American girl. His voice was dangerously futile and unlike him. "What did you say Emily? A bit tearful?!"

Emily instantly knew she had trodden on sensitive territory and immediately went on the defensive. "I didn't mean it like that Tyson." She stabbed.

Max was never one to jump into confrontation but Emilys' blasé remark riled him as much as Tyson. "Kai is upset because he's just learned he lost Dranzer. You weren't there to see what we did and you can thank your lucky stars that you weren't. What we saw that day at the Metropolitan dome will live with me forever. What Blake did was disgusting. Kai is the bravest guy I've ever seen. He literally gave his life to defend Dranzer and he lost him anyway."

Ray stepped in with a gaze that sent shivers down Emilys' soul. "Be careful Emily. Be real careful with what you say next."

Emily was not a girl to back down and her feisty attitude was not used to being challenged in this way. She immediately went on the offensive and bit back." Or what Ray? Whatcha gunna do? I just repeated what the nurse said earlier, that's all."

Hilary was secretly appalled by Rays' hostile threat towards a woman and whispered to herself. "What is up with you Ray? This is not like you at all."

Kenny pleaded. He knew all too well how hot and heavy Tyson, Max and Ray were when they were all on the same side and felt Emily needed someone in her corner. "I have to side with Emily guys. You need to back down a little. I know you are angry and upset...we all are... but we can't turn on each other. You have to calm down guys."

Mariah didn't know where to turn. To jump into defend her friend who clearly didn't mean to cause offence... or jump to her boyfriends' side, who she would protect at all costs despite being in the wrong with his threatening behaviour.

The ginger ex-tennis star didn't want to fuel what was already an out of control fire and decided to stay quiet and glower into retreat. She knew the guys were emotional and not thinking straight and just this once, she was gunna let it slip.

A Mexican standoff between the gang left emotions even more frayed and glares were pointed in all directions. Emily; with Kenny and Mariah in her corner against Tyson, Max and Ray who were clearly struggling with Kai's breakdown.

"I hope you aren't arguing with each other. You're gunna need all the friends you can get." Came a familiar voice from a ventilation shaft above the group.

Tyson immediately dropped his bitter stance and his body loosened as he arched his head upwards. "That you Ozuma?"

*CRASH* the ventilation cover dropped to the dark grey vinyl floor.

*THUD* *THUD* *THUD* *THUDDDD* As 4 Saint Shield dropped from the dark hole in the ceiling and landed like ninjas. Although Dunga made a louder thud as he was heavier but just as agile. The four straightened and got straight to talking.

Dunga –"Hey guys. We want you to know we've had some progress."

Ozuma – "Yes our scouts from the village have located one of the Shadow Vales' hideouts. They like to travel around the land a lot, that's how they have managed to remain undiscovered all this time. Shadow Vale clan members move from camp to camp, hideout to hideout randomly throughout the year and have multiple training grounds. Unfortunately the hideout was empty but it's in indicator our search parties are on the right track. Its only gunna be a matter of time before we catch up to them and those responsible for what happened to Kai.

Kenny hugged Dizzis' closed laptop. "And what about Dranzer?"

Mariam – "Yes it goes without saying. If we find the main Shadow Vale hideout...we will undoubtedly find Dranzer with them."

Tysons' eyes were alight for the first time in what felt like forever. "So we have a chance to get Dranzer back?"

Ozuma – "Yes Tyson, don't worry we will focus on finding Dranzer. You have enough on your plate with Kai. Dranzer is gunna need him later, so get him on his feet asap."

Max – "Speaking of Kai. There's something you should know. He's awake now and the doctors said he should make a full recovery."

Mariam – "Thanks for telling us but we already know."

Daichi – "Urhhh you do?"

Josef – "Yep. We have eyes and ears all over the place. Nothing gets past us."

Mariah smarted. Too sharp for her own good. "Except Shadow Vale...weren't you guys supposed to be watching them? Where were your eyes and ears then?"

...

After tearing Mariam away from ripping Mariahs' face off... and the cat girl from pulling long blue hair out in retaliation... the 3 male Saint Shields dragged their female member down a hall whilst Ray queen carried his lover in the opposite direction towards the canteen.

They decided they should really get some food inside them. They had completely skimped on breakfast, hadn't had any lunch and the vending machines made no money out of them today.

Once finally at the dinner hall, they silently gathered their trays and cutlery and queued. They lumped small amounts of rice and various flavoured curries or chicken cutlets onto their plates and sat down without speaking a word to each other. They picked and poked at their food and huffed with fatigue and frustration of the days' events.

Hilary eyed her friends one by one around their cheap metal table. Their cold low mood was getting her down and she had had enough. She lightly coughed as she prepared to give one of her famous Hilary pep-talks.

"Guys, I know today was a toughie." She started as all lifted their heads from gazing droopily into their dinners. Ray, Tyson and Max formed one side of the table whilst Emily sat at the furthest away seat; Mariah, Kenny and herself in the middle played neutral ground.

"It's been a really hard few days. The hardest I have ever faced. I've seen things that I hope never ever to see again in my life. But come on guys, Kai has pulled through something that should have killed him and he is still here. Kai is going to make a full recovery physically but he is fighting a new battle now. Yes he has lost Dranzer and ohhhhhh boy are we gunna make Blake pay for that BIG TIME. We have to trust the Saint Shields to find Dranzer and Shadow Vale's evil hideout and then they will be sorry. But in the meantime we need to pull together and be there for Kai. Nurse Sakura is right. We need to look after ourselves so that we are fit and strong to take care of Kai and protect him from anything else that we have to face."

Tysons' eyes were trembling and his chin wavered. "Hilary... that's.."

Hilary over-spoke her interrupter with a sharp tongue. "Urhhhh I'm NOT finished Tyson..."

Hilary took a deep breath and re-started. "Come on guys we need to pull together. We need to love and support each other through this. We've all been through the same horrendous experience but don't forget... we watched what happened to Kai. He went through it. Kai is going to need us meshed together like an unbreakable wall of friendship."

Kenny was eager to say his piece. "I'm glad someone finally spoke up. Thank you for that Hilary, that was very touching. I think it's important not to forget that those creeps from Shadow Vale are still out there and could strike at any time. Knowing Kai is going to be ok is a blessing and its time we pull our socks up and get sharp again. We shouldn't waste our energy on fighting each other when the enemy is at the gates."

Max admired his feminine brunette companion and smiled at her with warm eyes. "Hilary, you know just what to say don't you. We are so lucky to have you."

Hilarys' speech has stoked Daichis' fire and he felt a boost in his emotional engine. "Yeah wotserface. You can be really nice when you wanna be. Thanks for the uplift missy." As he shoved a large chunk of chicken cutlet into his mouth with chopsticks.

Hilarys' eye was twitching but forced herself to show some nice reciprocation to "monkey boy." "Thank you Daichi...I think...And Max...don't mention it." She winked to her blonde friend from across the pond.

Mariah - "I think that was a beautiful speech Hilary. It would be nice if everyone put their pride aside and said sorry...don't you think?" Said the pinkette as she shot a glare to the trio she had dubbed "TYRAYMAX" and then another at the incredibly stubborn Emily Watson at the opposite end of the table. The latter with her nose in the air with her arms crossed and an abandoned meal in front of her...sulking.

Kenny placed his cutlery neatly to his plates' side. "Yes Mariah. I agree. We need to get any bad feelings between us out into the open so that we can come together as a stronger team. Like it or not...we are all we've got right now. And Kai is gunna need all of us to face what's coming."

Max was the first to roll over like a puppy. He put his cutlery down too and aimed words at his carrot topped colleague. "I'm sorry for having a dig at you earlier Emily. It's been an emotional day and we were too quick to jump to Kais' defence when it wasn't called for. We haven't been sleeping or resting much. I'm sorry ok. I hope you understand."

Tyson added. "I'm sorry too Emily. Kai is a touchy subject and like Max said... we haven't been eating or sleeping too well and we took our frustration out on you and that was out of line."

Emily lowered her nose stuck in the air and her crossed arms loosened. Her face sported forgiveness. "Apologies accepted Max, Tyson."

An uneasiness hung in the air as she and all at the table were waiting for one other to speak his sorry too. Eyes wandered and the tension rose as Ray and Emily eyeballed each other until...

A small thud could be heard from the beneath the table despite the noise of the diners surrounding. Mariah had stamped on Rays' foot and he immediately blurted with gritted back teeth, his toes were throbbing. "I'm sorry too Emily."

The American lady decided to give the White Tiger a break. After all, his girlfriend had just inflicted pain on him and she needn't make his evening any worse. "It's fine Ray. Don't mention it. Consider the hatchet buried." She smiled sincerely but noted to put him in his place if he ever threatened her again.

Kenny wanted to give a pep-talk of his own. "This is great guys. Although it's been an emotional rollercoaster today, I say it's ending in a high. Kai is gunna get better real quick, I can feel it in my bones. The Saint Shields are closing in on Shadow Vale and we WILL get Dranzer back. We have each other and as long as we work together we can beat anything."

Tyson slammed down his empty plate on the table, causing all glasses to vibrate and many neighbouring tables to turn heads. "Well that settles it guys. From now on we are one big team. Welcome to the squad Emily and Mariah. I say we eat up, get showered, put a movie on in the hotel and go to bed nice n early. HEHEHE but first I wanna get another plate. I'm starved."

Daichi jumped up from his seat, hitting his knees as he did and this time causing Emilys' juice and Mariahs' cup of milk to spill over the table top. With glares from the two beyblading women, he chased after Tyson for another plate of his own.

By the end of the evening there were cleared plates and full bellies. They were terribly tired but with newly inspired mindsets. The group of beybladers did as Tyson suggested...they showered, most fell asleep through watching a Disney movie and had an early night. Tomorrow...Kai was going to need them.

Outside the hospital walked two ICU nurses whom had just finished a 10 hour shift each. It was night and the sun had gone down hours ago. The air was muggy and calm as street lights and billboards illumined the area. They walked pass a row of thick bushes outlining the front of the hospital reception. They were deep in conversation as they made their way home towards the train station.

Young brunette nurse with her hair in a bun. "Can you believe that stab victim, that beyblader, Kai Hiwatari is awake already."

Young nurse with black hair with her hair in a pony tail. "I know right. I've never seen a recovery from that kind of condition so quickly. Considering he came in on deaths door...he's a medical miracle. I really thought he wasn't going to make it. "

Young brunette nurse with her hair in a bun. "I know right. A God somewhere was really looking out for him."

The pair continued down the path and was soon out of sight.

Four purple cloaked figures were crouched beneath the undergrowth, watching, waiting and listening. All that could be seen of them were their red eyes glinting from the street lamps beaming over head as their hoods broke any distinguishable features.

Female voice -"Did you hear that brother? That confirms it. Dranzer's guardian is indeed still alive."

Deep Male voice – "How could you fuck this up Blake?"

Blake – "I'm sick of being reprimanded and I will not take it anymore from the likes of you. For the last time, I followed our Masters teachings to the letter. I struck my opponent with deadly force, he succumbed and I took his Sacred Spirit as Mage Rochimaru instructed. I did nothing wrong. It must be a special ability Dranzer has...to extend the life of their guardian at times of death. Something we didn't foresee."

Weasely male voice – "That's right Blake... make your excuses."

Female voice – "I believe you brother. Otherwise you would not have chosen this humiliation in front of the whole clan."

Blake – "We just have to be patient. If Kai is getting better then it is only a matter of time before he leaves the hospital...and when he does...I WILL finish the job."

Deep male voice – "And we will be there to make sure you do."

Weasely male voice – "Ha I won't be babysitting you Blake. I have my own prophesy to fulfil. I am destined for the great Purple Turtle of Water and once I have a shot at his guardian...I'm going to take it." He played with a small throwing knife in the dark of the bush.

Female voice – "I hear you brother. I can't wait to feel the White Tiger of Earth purr in my fingers."

Deep male voice – "Dragoon is mine. I've heard his current guardian is a simpleton. Taking the Blue Dragon of Wind will be like taking candy from a baby."

Weasely male voice – "If it wasn't for those pesky Saint Shield watching over them...we would have our Sacred Spirits already... and the Arch Mage would be most pleased.

Female Voice. "We just need to bide our time." She stroked an arrow with her dark skinned tattooed hands.

Blake – "It doesn't help that that place is crawling with security."

Female voice – "Yes and they've got friends around them too. Another female beyblader from America and the girlfriend of the White Tiger Guardian."

Deep male voice. "I wouldn't worry about them. Or the red head child. They are not as powerful as the sacred spirit guardians and will be nothing more than an irritation. Swat them away like flies if they get in your way. They are no match for us and our bitbeasts' strength. Kill them if you must. They are of no consequence to us and our destinies."

Blake – "Dranzer. I will be worthy of you. As soon as your guardian parts this world for good. You WILL heed my command or I'll die trying."

Yeah so I've been DEDICATED to writing you another chapter these past couple of day.

Thank you Liven89 and Guest 11 for your reviews!

I'm doing very well Liven89 and I hope you are too with all the madness in this world atm. Stay safe and Let it Rip! xx