Hi new peeps who have started reading my fanficcy! and Hi to Livn89 and my usual reviewers! I'm so glad you are enjoying it! The next chapter is gunna be ALLLLL action dawgs!

Chapter 23

The next morning...

After another mundane but full-faced breakfast comprising of multiple helpings and rotund stomachs, the ex-Bladebreakers and friends returned to Patient Room 12 to administer Kai another heavy dose of friendship...whether he wanted it or not.

Kenny grasped his auburn hair through stubby fingers as his glasses tilted diagonally across his head from the pulling. "Whhhaa where could he be?!"

"Chill out Kenny, I'm sure he's here somewhere. Hey Kai! Where are ya buddy? The bluenette peeped under the empty hospital bed. Blue blankets were neatly folded on top of the mattress and the medical machinery was switched off.

"Maybe he's in the bathroom?" Said Max as cool as a cucumber. He skipped over to the closed bathroom door and knocked. All eyes were on him as he rapped on the door with his knuckles. "Hey Kai are you in there?"

Anticipation filled the room. Silent seconds pass with no reply from the aqua coloured room. The blonde nodded to Tyson and then Hilary for approval.

"Okay I'ma comin' in." The blonde turned the knob and pushed the door wide to reveal emptiness. "Uhhh Kai's not in the bathroom." He announced.

Hilarys' bright brown eyes scanned the empty space on the bed with crossed delicate arms. "He can't have gotten far on his own. He can't even walk yet. Right?"

Tyson, Ray and Max shot each other glances as they remembered one of the last things Kai told them the previous evening..."Hey guys...I'll be walking tomorrow." The cap-wearer gulped and wished he'd taken Kais' statement more seriously.

Rays' thoughts ran wild as his stance widened. "He can't be. No he could barely stand yesterday let alone walk."

Hilarys' ears pricked up. "What was that Ray? What do you mean Kai could barely stand? When was this? He shouldn't even be out of bed."

Ray immediately sweat dropped as the cat was getting out of the bag proverbially speaking. "Never mind Hilary. I'll tell you another time." Although he never would as they promised Kai their little episode of helping him to the bathroom would be a brotherly secret... and punishable by friendship death if they ever broke the pact.

Emily smarted as she tweaked her delicate glasses. "He's probably been taken away for more tests. We should double check with the nurses. They'll know where he is."

Daichi twizzled a finger in his ear with his eyes shut. "Kai's had enough of us. I told ya we should leave him alone today but ohhhh no..."

Kenny stabbed anxiously. "We discussed this Daichi. We were only gunna say hello this morning and then give him his space. Let's go ask Nurse Hina where they've taken him."

Ray hugged his muscled arms tightly across his chest as his cat senses tingled that something wasn't right. Mariah knew something was up with Ray from the hairs standing on the back of his neck and mirrored his guardedness.

Tyson peeped a cap-crowned head out of the door frame and yelled into the hallway with no consideration for other patients in neighbouring rooms. "Hey Nursey! Where are you? What have you done with Kai?"

The disgruntled nurse appeared briskly; only to quieten the loud young man disturbing her ward. She clutched a pile of grey folders to her chest and her hair was perfectly wrapped into her usual neat bun. "Will you pleaseeeee be quiet?!" She scolded with a peeved gaze as she stomped into the room causing the bluenette to sharply jump out of her way and almost fell backwards as he did.

Tyson sweat-dropped and rubbed the back of his head. "Hehe I'm sorry maam but we've come to see Kai. Is he ok? Where have you taken him?"

All eyes were on the medical professional as she glanced at the vacant bed. She sighed as her head fell. Her features and tone were as flat as a pancake. "He's not in his bed I see." She sighed again. "Mr Hiwatari refused another bed bath with Nurse Sayako yesterday evening. He did however eat a little food after negotiating for his medication to be dispensed as tablets. He was very adamant. As for his whereabouts I'm afraid I don't know. His Grandmother left for Hiroshima by helicopter at around 5am this morning, something about needing to be there for her husband before he goes into surgery today. Mr Hiwatari hasn't been formally discharged so he's got to be in the hospital somewhere."

Emily stepped forward with her hands on her hips with a condescending tone. "How can you not know exactly where your patient is?"

Nurse Hina stabbed back. "Mr Hiwatari is one of the most stubborn patients I've ever dealt with. He should be in bed but you try telling him that. I don't know how he's done it but he's on his feet already. I've quite simply given up arguing with him. Now if you don't mind, I will now tend to my other patients who are grateful for my help. Hmmmmphh." Nurse Hina stropped out of the room with her nose in the air and feet slapping the floor with each step.

Hilary face palmed and sighed heavily. "Oh Kai... why do you have to be so difficult? The nurses here are only trying to help you."

Rays' haunches were up and his stance more alert. "Not good guys. Disharged or not...what if Kai has left the hospital?!"

Kenny cried clutching his hair and pulling it away from his brain. Rays panic had infected him and cried in the same tone. "Ohhhh no! What if Shadow Vale has got him? Ohhhhhh noooooooooo!"

Emily flicked a strand of carrot hair back in place. "Chill out guys. Kai's got no shoes, no money, no phone and is wearing nothing but a hospital gown."

Mariah propped her back against the wall. "Yeah Mr Suit-n' Tie wouldn't be caught dead outside wearing just a gown. The paparazzi would have a field day."

Max's voice echoed from the bathroom. "Urhhhhhh gggguys...you might wanna come see this?"

There was only enough room for Kenny and Tyson to enter the small wet-room with Max crouched down by the metal drain on the floor. Ray, Mariah, Hilary and Daichi could only pop their heads round the door frame as Emily hogged the centre of the doorway.

"Somebody is on his feet alright... and he's had a busy morning." The freckled American pulled out a mid-length grey hair which had been caught by the drain plug and held it up for all to see.

Tyson scanned the small tiled room around him and swiped a thumb across his nose. "Looks like Kai finally got his own way and had that shower the nurses told him he couldn't have. Typical Kai."

The floor of the bathroom was partially wet; a bottle of shampoo, hair conditioner and shower gel stood in a row on the floor by the wall. Two different toned grey hairs were trapped in the circular shower drain nearby and soap suds lined the edges of some of the blue tiles on the wall. A tooth brush and newly opened tube of tooth paste waited by the taps on the wash basin, as well as a newly used razor and a can of shaving foam.

Kenny turned to the right of him where something peeped out of the waste bin. Curiosity riddled his being and his brown eyes widened as he popped the lid and riffled through its contents. "Hey guys...I think I may have found something."

Dragoons' master bent down to Kennys' level. "What is it Chief? Don't hold us in suspense. What do you have there?"

Kenny dug past the toothbrush packet and discarded sticky-back heart rate monitor tabs which adhered to the plastic liner of the bin. What he found sent chills to his spine...clothes tags. He plucked out a small pile of them and held them out in his palm.

"Just what is it Chief?!" Tysons' patience was short at the best of times.

Emily took a step forward. "Yeah come on Kenny. What do you have there?"

The brain box splayed the tags like they were a deck of card in his hands and read them out loud. "Underwear...T-shirt...slippers...jogging bottoms...K..kkkai has been shopping. Ohhhh nooooo!"

Max sifted through the bin too and pulled out his own papery discovery and examined it. "Hey guys, I've found a receipt. Whoaahhhhhhh he's got expensive taste... Georgio Armani. Look at the prices!"

Hilary gasped and held a hand in front of her mouth. "Oh gosh. The nearest shopping district is at least two stops away by the metro. And besides...Kai has no money. I wonder how he got them."

Mariah – "I bet he paid one of his underlings to go shopping for him."

Ray exclaimed with a heavy sweat drop and a frantic tone. "What if he did go to Hiroshima with Izumi after all? He's completely unprotected without us!"

Emily rolled her dark cerulean eyes. "Oh you guys really get yourself into a tizzy don't you? Look at the time stamp on the receipt. What time were the purchases made?"

Kenny and Tyson chorused in unison. "Good idea Emily!"

Maxs' blue orbs scanned the receipt with trepidation. "They were bought at 09:05 this morning. That's waaaay after his Grandma left for Hiroshima if she left at 5am. It's nearly 11am now. He couldn't have got far. Let's just calm down and go look for him. Ok guys."

Kennys' anxiety had climbed to new heights. "How can we relax Max?! We have no idea where he is! If he sets one foot outside this hospital...he's..."

Ray butted in with a treading pulse and his hands in fists. "Yeah and you know what Kai's like for wandering off. He could be anywhere by now!"

A familiar voice whined from the open doorway as four new bodies entered the tight room.

Ozumas' tone was demanding and serious as his dagger-like earring swung from his right lobe. A dark scowl painted across his features. "Please tell me you told Kai not to leave the hospital."

Tyson, Max and Kenny emerged from the bathroom as Mariah, Ray, Emily and Daichi spun on their heels to greet the disgruntled voice and his entourage. Dunga, Mariam and Josef were equally un-amused with straight lips and arms crossed.

Josef thrust his hands to his hips as his dark green hair bounced with the movement. "We couldn't help but overhear your yapping from down the hall. So come on then...where's your buddy Kai at huh?"

Max held his hands in front of him in a feeble defence with a sweat dropping from his temple. "There's no need to jump the gun here. Kai's gotta be in this hospital somewhere. We just gotta go find him. Okay."

Dunga snorted and stamped one foot forward. "And you know that for SURE? 100% that he's here? Cus we've just overheard you saying you don't know where he is."

Mariam mirrored her little brothers' hand on hip stance, her long dark blue bangs swayed with sass. "You did tell Kai that his life is in danger the second he steps outside these hospital walls right?"

Tyson sweat-dropped and laughed nervously as he straightened his cap. "Hehe...Not exactly."

Dungas' nostrils flared. "I don't think this is time for laughing Tyson. And what do you mean...not exactly?!"

Hilary stepped forward with fisted fingers, eager to defend their actions. "No we didn't tell Kai yet. The nurses said he would be bed-bound for days and we thought we had time. We wanted to let him rest up a bit first, get stronger before telling him. We didn't want to upset him...he's had enough of that already."

Mariam retorted. "Juuuuuust brilliant. You guys have no idea what you've done. If Kai gets killed that's one tragedy but if Shadow Vale takes full guardianship of Dranzer like they planned...it'll be catastrophic for the world or have you forgotten what we told you?!"

Kenny bowed his puffy brunette head with the shame. "We know. We know all that. You don't need to remind us. It's not like we meant for this to happen."

Mariah sneered in attack with a smarmy look. "Say...weren't you guys watching over the whole hospital. Surely you know where he is?!"

Mariam reacted like petrol and fire as a small vein popped. "Say what?! Do you know how big this hospital is? We spend our time patrolling the parameters outside to keep those evil bastards OUTSIDE. It's your job to keep an eye on each other inside. A simple task but even that was too much for you."

Mariah retreated; satisfied she had a reaction from her blue-haired adversary. "Tell us how you really feel huh."

Daichi snorted as he pointed a stabbing finger at the quad of beybladers. "We don't have to explain ourselves to you."

Mariah lightly bashed an elbow with Daichi in agreement. "Right on short stuff."

Dunga shouted a warning with crossed ape-like arms. "If Kai gets hurt it'll be on your head. You shoulda' told him at the first opportunity."

Hilary snapped back with equal ferocity despite her smaller frame. "Hey that's not fair. We thought we were doing the right thing!"

Ozuma cradled his forehead in his palm momentarily and then snapped back. "This is wasting time. We need to find Kai and now! We will do a full sweep of the outside and then work our way in. I suggest you pray to whatever god you believe in that he hasn't left the premises. We know Shadow Vale is watching this hospital and if Kai has left...you can bet that they have him or have already..."

Tysons' pulse raced with the dark tension in the room. "Okay Okay we understand. We've got it loud and clear Ozuma."

Dunga made a club like fist and retorted with urgency. "Good! We haven't got a second to spare."

Ozuma ordered to all around. "FIND HIM!"

With those words the Saint Shields' twisted on their ankles and darted out of the room splitting into various corridors with worried angry breaths. Time was of the essence and Dranzers' guardian was in grave danger if they didn't hurry.

Tyson and Co were quick to follow suit as the severity of the situation hit home. They darted in a herd around the entirety of the general ward and its adjoining corridors. They conducted a clean sweep search of several waiting areas, under chairs, behind doors, checked every room despite disturbing the unhappy occupants and interrogated every nurse for Kais' whereabouts. The challenge they faced was that when describing Kai they had little idea of exactly what he was wearing. If only they read the clothes tags better they would have realised beside the bar code on the tags was a brief description of the clothing ie Boxer short briefs, black t-shirt, dark blue jogging trousers. 15 minutes of frantic running back and forth had them working up a sweat and panting heavily despite the air conditioning units scattered throughout. Finally, they stopped to catch their breath in a quiet hallway as their necklines became saturated and no temples were dry. Hearts began to throb and their stomachs twisted as the realisation that Kai not knowing the truth, could have cost him his everything.

Maxs' baby blue eyes swelled up with the gravity of guilt as he lent against a white wall, and threw his head backwards to gaze at the ceiling panels. "We messed up guys. What if something has happened to Kai?"

Tyson wiped dew away from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Don't think like that Maxie. Kai's around here somewhere I can feel it."

An excited Kenny fingered his shirt pockets frantically. "Emily...Can I please borrow your phone."

Emily gingerly pulled her iPhone 7 out of a hidden pocket in her lime green skirt. "Uhhh sure...Can I ask why?"She said as she unlocked the security screen and passed to her Japanese colleague.

Tyson exasperated with closed fists. "Chiiiiieeeef! Now's not the time to play Candy Crush!"

The tech geek pulled out a luxury designed business card with thick silver lettering from his breast pocket. "Before we spend any longer on this wild goose chase...I think we need to make a call to Kais' right hand man at Hiwatari Enterprises. If Kai is gunna call or speak to anyone...it's gunna be Markus Gottlieb. Maybe he will know where he is...it's worth a try at least."

Tyson punched the air. "That's a great idea Kenny! If anybody knows Kai as well as we do then I guess it would be that old stiff."

In no time flat Kenny had punched in the number from the heavily embossed business card and tapped the phone on loud speaker as it rang. All breaths were held as they huddled in a circle around the phone in Kennys' bony extended hand. The call tone dialled and the phone rang...and rang...and rang until...

"You have reached the voicemail of Markus Gottlieb. I am in a meeting right now. Please call the main office number and leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Danke."

Daichis' face was glum and un-amused as he crossed his arms in a strop. "Well that was a waste of time."

Emily ordered. "Call the main office and tell them it's an emergency."

Kenny found the office number on the reverse of the business card and repeated. All breaths were held again as the call went through. *Ring* *Ring* Fresh hope rippled though all members as a smooth and calm female voice answered.

Voice - "Hello Hiwatari Enterprises. You are through to the main reception desk. How can I help you?"

Kenny – "Hello Maam, I need to speak to Markus Gottlieb right away please."

Voice – "I'm afraid Mr Gottlieb is pre-disposed right now. Can I take a message?"

Kennys' voice escalated. "It's an emergency. I need to speak to him right away please maam."

The voice remained flat and unconcerned. "I'm so sorry Mr Gottlieb is in a very important meeting right now. What is the nature of your emergency?"

Emily nudged Kenny in the side and whispered into his ear. "Tell them it's to do with his family."

Kenny stammered. "Ittttt itttsss his family. I need to speak to him right away."

The voice remained un-phased. "Ohh and what is the problem?"

Kenny began to sweat profusely. He was a bad liar and knew he wouldn't fool anyone. He stuttered and froze. "Urmmmmmm ahhhhh."

Tyson head butted into the awkward silence. His patience was in tatters and spat with a demanding tone. "Look lady we really need to speak to Mr Gottlieb right away. It's real important!"

Voice – "Just who is this? Is this a prank call? Because it's not very funny."

Despite Kennys' smaller size he shoved Tyson with such force the bluenette fell backwards hitting the floor with a thud. He begged. "Noo noo Maamm. It's just that we really need to speak to Mr Gottlieb. It's about Kai errr Mr Hiwatari. We are his beyblade team and Mr Gottlieb isn't answering his phone."

Voice – "Ohhh ok well it's like I said, Mr Gottlieb is in a very important meeting right now. I can drop him a message and get him to call you back. I have your phone number on screen; what's your name?"

Tyson had a bad history with Kais' companys' message handling from years of "He'll call you back" fob offs. The cap wearer jumped back to his feet and snapped as he yanked the phone from Kennys' palm and roared despite still being on loud-speaker. "The NAME is TYSON from the Bladebreakers. Kais' best friend and you get Mr Gottlieb to call us back ASAP. You hear?!"

.Beep. The phone line went dead as the call receiver put the phone down.

************************************************Tumble weed wisped past all.************************************************************

Max cried as he threw his hands in the air. "Oh maaan she put the phone down on us."

Hilary shot the blunette a harsh look and wrapped her arms into a cross. "Great job Tyson. That really charmed her."

Tyson had no reply for her as he grunted and turned his head away with a duck face pout.

Ray – "Let's just keep trying Mr Gottliebs' phone. And in the mean time let's try asking his security what they know."

"Ahhh mann why didn't we think of that earlier? That's a great idea Ray."Maxs' enthusiasm bounced back and gently slapped his Chinese team mate on the back with excitement.

Emily – "Yeah now you mention it that is a really good idea. Mr Stroppy was bound to pass some of his own security on his travels to wherever he went. We need to find Mr Cooper; he's surely got to know where his boss is."

"Look, there's one of Kais' men down there." Hilary pointed down the hall to a statuesque being guarding a fire exit near a stair well.

A beefy bald Caucasian man wearing black sunglasses and a black Kevlar uniform, in his late 40s with thin brown eyebrows, plush lips and large nose found himself surrounded. Tyson and Co peered up at him in awe like he was some kind of gladiator. The Hiwatari Enterprises logo shimmered in the daylight of a nearby window and the edge of his sunglasses glinted as much as his waxed bald head. He looked a little like Vin Diesel and sounded like him too. Ironically his name was Vinny Kovalenko, a Ukrainian with a deadly military background and had the words " " embroidered in silver on his top right breast plate.

"And how can I help you?" his voice rumbled from a meaty thick throat as he lurched over the smaller bodies.

Tyson sweat dropped with the instant intimidation. An impatient Daichi with deep-seated "little man syndrome" jumped in before his blue haired team mate could open his mouth.

Daichi screeched. "Urhhh excuse me mister. Have you seen Kai anywhere? Do ya know where he is?"

Vinnys' Ukrainian accent was matter of fact and blunt. "I am not authorised to disclose that information."

"Annnddd whattttt kind of an answer is that baldy?!"Daichi instantly fire balled and went rabid, growling like a dog and punching and kicking the air as Mariah effortlessly reined him back by his clothing.

Hilary stepped forward flashing her eyelashes. "Ummm excuse me Sir. We are trying to find Kai, er Mr Hiwatari. Have you seen him? Do you know where he went? We've been looking for him for a while and we know he must have come past you at some point this morning. Can you please tell us if you've seen him Sir?"

Vinny – "Little miss; I'm not authorised to disclose that information."

The beybladers wrestled with an awkward silence with various reactions ranging from sweat-drops, blinking repeatedly, raising singular eyebrows and a disgusted scowl from Hilary.

Emily demanded as she extended a frustrated pointed finger. "So how do we get authorisation? I want to speak to your boss."

Vinny – "You would need to contact Mr Gottlieb. Only he can authorise any passing of information."

Kenny hung his head in dismay. "But we've tried that already. Mr Gottlieb is not answering his phone."

Tyson tried his best to stay calm but failed spectacularly with closed fists as he lunged forward. "So you can't tell us anything? We just need to know if he's still in the hospital!"

Max laid a supportive hand on his the cap-wearers shoulder and pulled himself into line so he was closer to the guard. The Ukrainian hulk peered down over the thickness of his bullet proof vest and into the aquatic blue eyes of the half American youngster.

Max held his hand out to shake the guards' hand in an uber friendly gesture and smiled sweetly. "Hi there my name is Max. I'm one of Kai's team mates and closest friends. Kai has gone missing from his ward and we would really like to know where he is. Can you please tell us if you know if he's safe? We don't need to know anything else. Just wanna know if he's still here. Or better yet, can you tell us where we can find Mr Cooper?" The team listened to Max's plight and twinkled with hope; they were sure his excellent people skills, politeness and general cuteness would have won the giant over.

Vinny ignored Maxs' hand shake with tightly crossed vanilla bulbous arms. "I'm not authorised to disclose that information. Now go away."

Ray put his hands in his deep puffy pockets and made for the opposite direction. "Come on guys. This guy isn't gunna help us. It looks like we're on our own." Mariah was quick to his side; she stuck out a cheeky tongue and pulled one lower eyelid down at the unhelpful man in black.

"Sure thing Ray. That guy gives me the creeps." Kenny jogged to join the White Tigers and was more than happy to move away from the scary android-like man.

Emily ran a thin fingered hand through her bouncy carrot-coloured hair as she too departed. Her face was screwed up in annoyance. "Sheeeeshhh what a grouch! It seems that all of Kais' staff take after him...cold with poor communication skills."

Tyson was fuming. Steam billowed from his ears as he stomped. "That guy could not have been less helpful. What is he? A parrot? *imitates Vinnys' voice in an accent*I'm not authorised to disclose that information. I'm not authorised to disclose that information."

Max let out a giggle at Tysons' impersonation which was spot on as always. "Hehehehehe. Cool it Tyson. The guy was only doing his job. He's probably got strict security protocols to follow. We have them at the BBA research facility. You can't be too careful what with terrorists and stuff nowadays."

Daichi screeched whilst his fists punched the air mid walk. "So what do we do now?!"

Kenny stopped and clamped his hands against his cheeks. "I just can't take this guys! Kai might really need us and we keep getting stone-walled."

Emily pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose with one finger. "On the plus side I don't think we need to be too worried. If Kai's security aren't running around frantic trying to find him then they probably already know where he is."

Tysons' pace slowed until he stopped dead in the middle of the walkway. "Now you mention it Emily ...Dominic Toretto back there didn't seem worried when we said Kai was missing."

Ray remained on edge as he stopped and turned to the Bey-champ. "That may be the case but that could change at any moment. Kai does what he wants when he wants and there's nothing to say he won't leave the hospital any minute. We still need to find him as quickly as possible and tell him everything before it's too late."

Hilary - "Ok we need to keep a sane head. Let's think this through. Ohhhhhhh ohhhhhh nooooo what are we gunna do? This hospital is huge!"

Mariah – "We're gunna have to find him the old fashioned way and split up into groups."

Ray – "Yeah we will cover more ground that way. Mariah and I will take the peace garden."

Max – "I think I'll check out the basement and car parking lots. Kai's probably gone somewhere quiet where there aren't a lot of people."

Emily – "I'll go with you Max."

Kenny – "Me too. I'm with you Emily."

Tyson - "Cool! I'll take everything in between and the canteen. Daichi...Hilary I guess you're with me then."

The beychamp twisted his neck to bellow behind him as he ran down yet another corridor. "Come on Hilary. *Heave* How can you be so slow at a time like this?"

Hilary panted a breathy reply with an outstretched hand. "Don't wait up for me Tyson! I'll catch up with you."

Daichi was the front runner ahead of Tyson. As his shoes pounded the tiling he turned his head to jeer. His red hair flared and bounced with each bound. "Come on slow pokes. You wanna find Kai or not? Heheh!"

Tyson heaved as his chunk body struggled with the pace. "Don't call me slow! *Heave* At least I'm not as slow *heave* as Hilary."

The trio trailed down another long corridor no different to the last in the hopes for a glimpse of their elusive team mate. Every nurse and doctor was quizzed and all reception desks were interrogated. "No I'm sorry we haven't seen him" were the only answers they received and the gang begun to feel dizzyingly desperate with each failure for information.

Hilary was tiring as she lagged steps behind the boys. Her plimsolls were not built for running; her heel and hocks throbbed from the impact her footwear's' thin lining did nothing to soften. She yelled. "Let's try the left corridor this time Daichi...Tyson!"

Tyson veered down the left corridor instead of right at a T-junction. "Sure thing Hilary but haven't we been down this one already?"

Daichi gruffed. "I'm sure we've already searched this one Tyson!"

Hilary fought with her tired pins to keep running. "Ohhhhh this is so frustrating! I'm gunna wring Kais' neck for making us worry like this. My poor sore feet!"

Tyson scoffed. "Oh I'd love to see that Hilary. You're too short, you couldn't reach his neck. And it's not Kais' fault he doesn't know what danger he's in. Ozuma's right...we should 'a told him."

The nimble and light Daichi held his place as forerunner no problem and shot a warning scowl at the lagging duo. "Are you two ever gunna shut up and keep up already."

The trio whizzed past a line of benches where a young girl was sat with her mother. An ordinary sight on waiting room seats... if not for what the little girl cuddled in her arms.

Hilary eyed the yellow plush object whilst running as her brain recognised it and stopped abruptly. "Hey guys! Stop!"

Tyson and Daichis' trainers squealed harshly as they braked and whipped back to her side in seconds. Tyson panted with excitement. "What? What is it Hilary? Have you found him?" The bluenettes' head swivelled and lurched as he scanned the corridor around and down a nearby waiting area.

Hilary pointed a dainty arm at the child beside her mother and whispered. "That little girl...she's holding Kai's teddy bear...remember the one Mr Gottlieb brought him...with the "Get well soon" on its shirt."

Tysons' brown eyes honed in on the pair from under his cap. "Ohhhhh yeah you're right. Good eyesight Hilary. Let's go ask her if she's seen Kai."

As the trio neared, the mother wearing a red floral dress and long brown hair in a plait eyed the newcomers as they approached and felt perturbed. Her daughters' hair was in black pig tails; she wore a blue dress with a large daisy pattern on the front, jelly pink shoes on her tiny feet and was no older than 6 years old. The mother gripped her daughters hand and pulled her closer protectively.

The mother raised an eyebrow with scowling auburn eyes. "Ummmmm can I help you?"

"We wanna talk to your kid." Blurted Daichi without considering the rudeness of his tone and how inappropriate his approach.

The mothers face dropped as Hilary dragged him away by his ear with much resistance and grunting.

Tyson stepped in with a friendly face. "Ignore him; he's not good with words. I'm Tyson of the Bladebreakers. You probably know who I am from the TV. I'm looking for my friend Kai, he's also a little famous but not as famous as me. Heheheh."

Hilary gritted her words as Daichi fought to break free from her harpy grip on his red throbbing earlobe. "Get to it Tyson..."Her eyebrow twitched.

The cap-wearer bent down to the little girls' eye level despite the mothers' unease. "Our friend was given that bear as a present. Have you seen him? We just wanna know where he went and when you last saw him."

The little girl clutched the bear as if she feared it was going to be taken away from her and looked to her mother for reassurance. The mother released her grip on her daughters' hands and her face relaxed. Tysons' kind and friendly tone had done the trick and memory told her she had in fact seen him on TV somewhere before...a beyblade commercial.

Mother – "Go on Mei, you can answer him."

Meis' big brown eyes glistened as her thin short arms wrapped around the soft yellow bears' neck. She bounced on her bottom with each sentence. "He was tall and nice. He gave me Mr Teddy for jabby jabby."

The mother added as she laid a reassuring hand on her daughters' back. "She's just had her vaccinations and we're waiting for some blood test results. Your friend...had grey hair? Tall? Good looking?"

Tysons' eyebrows went flat like dead caterpillars and stuck his bottom lip out. His voice was flat and un-amused. "Ya...that's the guy... although good looking is a matter of opinion."

Hilary released her prisoner as she and Daichi sniggered uncontrollably with how much Tyson would have hated the woman's' statement.

The female Bladebreaker fought to cease chuckling. "Heheheheh Did he say anything? Did you see where he went?"

"He didn't talk much. Mei was crying from the blood test early this morning and he just walked by and handed her the bear. He said he hates needles too and didn't say much other than that. He headed in that direction." Said the mother and pointed the way the trio was heading before they stopped.

Tyson straightened. "Last question maam. Did he have anyone with him?"

Mother – "We were called in moments after your friend gave Mei the bear. We didn't take note of who he was with. But this was around 10:30am; it's nearly noon now."

Daichis' ear throbbed red and looked lopsided with how swollen it was. "Looks like he could have headed to the canteen. Let's go."

Hilary bowed sincerely to the pair. "Thank you very much, you've been very helpful."

"Feel better kid and thanks." Tyson extended a grateful thumb up and a friendly wink.

A whoosh of air caused the mothers' hair to wave with the g-force of the trio taking flight. "You're welcome." She murmured too late for them to hear as little Mei cutely waved and shouted. "Bye bye mister!"Tyson, Hilary and Daichi soon dashed around a corner and out of sight.

Meanwhile...

"I don't think he's here Ray." Exclaimed Mariah as her yellow cat eyes scanned the open lawn area of the peace garden. People dotted around the leafy green yard with various ailments and clothing. A thin young woman with no hair was pushed around in a wheelchair by a female nurse, a dark skinned gentleman hobbled on crutches with his lower leg in a white cast, a middle aged woman cradled a baby wrapped in a pink blanket on a bench and a beefy asian guy with tattoos smoked a cigarette in the corner had a black eye, bruised lip and two front teeth missing.

Ray pointed as the wind lightly swayed his black bangs and plait. "There are some more benches under those trees at the back there. Let's go take a look."

Mariah nodded as she broke her optical scanning. "Sure thing. This garden may not be huge but there are so many places to hide. These bushes and flower beds have lots of nooks and crannies. It's hide-and-seek heaven. The kids back in our village would love this place."

The couple strode down a concrete slab pathway, past the koi pond, round a rhododendron bush with blooming red flowers, past a flower bed high with a tall growing lilac lavender plant which scented the air and continued into the middle of a semi sun-bathed clearing under a maple tree. There, an elderly man wearing a hospital gown had been parked and abandoned in a wheelchair next to an empty bench in the partial shade. A cannula was buried and taped in the back of his arthritic left hand and a blue blanket warmed his legs. He had a bald tanned head with liver spots and spare white hairs pricked from his chin and upper lip. He was clearly in his 90s or even older the duo thought.

The elder sat up straight in his wheelchair and watched the world go by from his little corner of Eden beneath the lush summer maple. A green lawn separated him from a flowerbed of blue hydrangeas and butterflies of all colours flitted in the air. He stared off into the distance with grey lensed eyes and seemed to be oblivious of his new visitors.

Mariah bowed having felt she had just intruded on the old mans' space. "Sorry to disturb you Mister. We didn't mean to disturb your peace. We are just looking for our friend."

The pinkette took only a minute to conclude. "Come' on Ray. He's not here."

Drigers' guardian felt a tightening knot in his belly as his mind ran frantic. The more they looked for Kai and failed to find him...the worse the knotting became. "Where are you Kai?!" he gritted his teeth growling and clenched his paws. He threw his head back to gaze at the blue sky and fought not to yell Kais' name in frustration. He regained his composure after remembering relaxation techniques the old Zen master of his village had instilled into him from a young age. He deeply breathed in through his nose and out of his mouth three times. "Okay let's try somewhere else. We can't give up no matter how long it takes. We will find Kai if it's the last thing I do. Come on Mariah let's keep going."Ray made for the gap in the bushes they had emerged from and with white covered legs he strode away with a determined face...until Mariah cried out.

"Hang on a minute. Is that what I think it is?" She pointed sharply to behind the elder.

The male Chinese blader snapped his agile neck back to Mariahs' direction. His face was startled as he felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. "What? What is it Mariah?"

Mariah pointed and said with a mystical tone. "The balloon, Ray. Look at the balloon."

Sure enough from a handle of the wheelchair was a light blue string and on the end...jostling in the summer wind was a dark blue helium balloon with the words "Feel Better Soon" in silver lettering.

Rays' heart jumped as his legs stance split wide open. "It...it can't be the same balloon surely. It has to be pure coincidence?"

Mariah gripped her chin in thought. "Come to think of it I don't remember the balloon being tied to Kai's bed this morning. Maybe Kai gave it to him. We should ask him who gave him the balloon." With those words the female White Tiger carefully crept to be directly in front of the old man and bent over to be at his eye line. Ray watched and waited eagerly for answers with crossed arms, giving Mariah the space she needed to work without overcrowding the fragile pensioner.

Mariah was such a true people person and knew how to speak to her elders. Her tone was kind and sweet. "Hello my name is Mariah and this is Ray. May I ask your name?"

The old mans' face came alive as he grinned with an open gummy mouth with only three remaining bottom teeth. His leathery face sagged with deep wrinkles as his face fought with gravity to smile at the White Tiger youngsters. He didn't seem to comprehend the question and merely reacted in the friendliest way he could.

Mariah guessed maybe he was hard of hearing and asked again, only a little louder and pronounced. "My...name...is...Mariah...What's...your...name?"

Ray leant down to peer at the elders' face for any sign of understanding. Having found none he mumbled quiet enough for only her to hear. "I don't think he's the full ticket Mariah."

Galuxs' master was determined. "Let me try something else." She turned her head to face the elder once again. "Who...gave...you...balloon?" She then agilely straightened herself and pulled the balloon round to face the elderly patient. She held it close to her and knelt again. "Ballllloooon...whooooooo...gave...itttttt...to...you?"

The elderly man cocked his head and seemed to be thinking. The rusty cogs in his head were cranking into motion as he looked upwards at the sky with a protruding side pout.

Mariah clutched into the string tight in excitement. Ray crept forward two steps, gripped his chin with inspection and held his breath as the old man scraped information out of the cobwebs of his centurion brain. The memories were bubbling to the surface or so the duo thought. Then finally his lips pursed ready to speak... Mariah and Ray felt electrified, they ceased blinking or breathing...Mariah clutched her hands together and held tightly. What was he going to say? They edged closer as if waiting for a magic trick.

The old man lifted his hands pressing his thumbs together and flapped the fingers; his hands imitated the shape of a bird. "Tweet. Tweet hahahaha. Tweet tweet. Tweeeeeeeeet tweeeettttttt."

Ray and Mariahs' legs gave way as they both nearly fell over; flabbergasted. Seconds later they recomposed and sighed heavily in unison with their hands on their hips.

Old man wittered to himself as if the bladers weren't even there. "Tweet Tweet *Flapping his hands together like a bird*Tweet Tweet."

Mariah huffed and said. "At least we tried."

The male placed a reassuring hand on his girlfriends' shoulder. "No you did good Mariah. Asking gramps was worth a shot. That balloon may not have even been Kai's. Those things get mass produced in gift shops all over you know."

Mariah started for a parting in the bushes to continue their expedition. "Yeah I guess. It would be a major coincidence though." She paused mid stride. "I wonder what he meant. Tweet tweet."

"I guess we'll never know." Whined Ray as he shrugged and rubbed the back of his head in dismay.

Meanwhile...

"Just where are you Kai? Grrrrrrr! This is doin' my nut in! I'm runnin' out of places to look." Huffed the hefty Saint Shield named Dunga as he bound up concrete steps whilst swinging his chunky arms for momentum.

Ozuma had tasked him with checking all corridors leading to and off the fire escapes and back entrances. Dungas' feet which were clad in red and black striped boots from his village, stomped heavily up another seemingly endless grey concrete staircase with thin metal hand rails. The musty cold staircases were dimly lit with cheap florescent tube lighting which blinked on and off. Maps of fire exits were hung in frames on bare concrete walls and red fire extinguishers dotted the landings. Vortex Apes' master had trekked 6 levels up from the basement; checking each level... one by one for any signs of the phoenix beyblader. He bluntly asked nurses at reception desks if they had seen Kai, to which he was met with short unhelpful replies back. In sheer desperacy he bellowed Kai's name in each levels' public toilets in-case he was hiding in a cubical.

Dunga passed at least two Hiwatari Enterprises' security staff at each level as they stood guard at points in the corridors. Kai's private employ glowered dark stares of scrutiny and distrust through black sunglasses at the strangely clothed Saint Shields blader whenever they crossed paths. Dunga retorted of course; stabbing back at them with furrowed straw coloured eyebrows and glaring green eyes. He stomped by them with curled fists ready to give them a piece of his wrath, his blood still boiled with the memory of his first encounter with them and the moment they detained him in handcuffs days earlier.

Having cleared level 6 he climbed the same cold boring staircase to greet Level 7...but on this level he had surprise which other levels lacked. On the left; a door which would lead to the corridors and wards of Level 7...and on the right; an ominous side door on the opposite wall.

"Eenie meanie miney mo. That one." Dunga took no time in picking the door on the right using the childish rhyme to help him decide. He felt like Alice about to fall down the rabbit hole in Wonderland as he pushed down on the metal horizontal bar otherwise known as a panic bar on the door; causing the locking mechanisms to unlatch and bolts to recede. A blast of fresh warm air swung the heavy metal door open furiously and sent it crashing onto the brick wall outside with a mighty smash. Before he could take a step over the door rim, he paused as a heavenly light engulfed Dungas' dark tanned face causing him to squint uncomfortably; as if somebody held a lamp to him in an interrogation room like in the movies. He lifted a chunky yellow haired arm over his eyebrows to protect his screaming eyes which needed time to adjust from the dimness they had grown accustomed to. Moments pass and Dungas' green orbs relaxed and his arm lowered as he took a long precise stride over the high door rim. He stood silent as he absorbed the scene of an open rooftop with fenced humming power cupboards and ventilation units complete with groups of pigeons cooing and preening.

Before the Saint Shield could explore further; a dark shadow of a man blocked his view like an eclipse.

"Can I help you?"Bellowed Mr Cooper with his arms bolted across his black Kevlar chest as the rims of his sunglasses glinted menacingly.

Dunga jumped 2 inches clear off the ground in surprise as arms flailed in the air. "Whatd'ya think ya doing creepin' up on people like that! Asshole you nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Mr Coopers' tone was demanded from a thick rumbling throat. "I'll repeat my question. Can I help you with anything?"

Dunga clasped one hand to his chest whilst the other extended to inches away from Mr Coopers' nose. "If you must know I'm looking for Kai. Not that it's any of your business! You work for him right? Where is he you must know where he is?!"

Mr Coopers' wide flat lips pursed with annoyance at Dungas' finger in his face; not something usually he allowed and fought with himself not to snap it in half and the rest of Dunga with it. "Well he's not up here so it's time for you to leave."

Dunga dropped his finger and adopted a smarmy stance with a grouchy tone. "Ohhh and what are you doing up here huh? Answer me that."

Mr Cooper gulped as he fought not to lose his cool. "I don't have to answer to anybody but my employer. Now I suggest you leave before we have a problem."

The ape-like beyblader extended a jabbing finger once again and angrily frowned with dark blonde eyebrows. "Oh we already have a problem buddy. Your boss is missing and neither you nor your mates in black know where he is. How embarrassing is that huh?! Don't worry, I'll find him myself!"

With his last words, Dunga dropped his arm and adopted a swaggering stride over the high door rim back to the damp hollow of the staircase to continue his search. Once his feet were clear of the door frame...Mr Cooper slammed the door shut with a metallic crash and squeak as the bolts realigned and locked.

Mr Cooper stopped just meters away from a male figure sitting in the shade with his long legs extended outward; his arms tightly crossed with his back leant against a silent and faulty air-conditioning unit. "I'm sorry if that moron disturbed you Sir. But I really think we should let your friends know where you are."

Mr Cooper was met with no answer as the figures head was lolled forward into his sternum and his face half hid in the shadow of his light grey hair. The figure wore a baggy black t-shirt at least 2 sizes too big for him, dark blue jogging trousers which were puffy around his legs and dark grey backless slippers hooked over his bare feet. The younger man breathed heavily and rhythmic as the rest of him barely flinched.

Mr Cooper lowered his tone with the realisation. "Urhhh ohh...he's asleep."

1 Hour Later...

A cluster of cotton fluffy clouds floated past on the clearest sky-blue backdrop, birds chirped and zipped through the air to their nests and families of pigeons softly cooed nearby on the rooftop ledge. A warm summer breeze tickled and brushed the beybladers' hair as he rested quietly in his little patch of shade.

As Kai began to stir he felt a stretched tension in his neck and soreness in his lower-back from the unnatural position; of which he had been for the last 2 hours at least. His spine and tail bone ached from the prolonged pressing against the hard roof flooring and metal side of the air conditioning unit during his slumber.

With groggy amethyst eyes he glanced to over to his left where, several meters away in the distance stood the loyal and statuesque Mr Cooper guarding the rooftop door. Kai stretched himself awake to alleviate the pressure points under his butt and to get some blood pumping around his cool numb limbs. His fidgeting for a more comfortable position caused his stab wound to cry out painfully and screamed like a child throwing a tantrum; as if it too, was just waking up and wailed for attention.

A dual grey haired beyblader reached into his deep right pocket to produce a white pill bottle with the words "Morphine" on a printed label; the spoils of a hard won argument with Nurse Hina. He popped open the lid with one thumb, chugged 2 pills into the back of his throat, popped down the lid with the same thumb, replaced the container to baggy blue depths and swallowed a swig of water from a plastic bottle Mr Cooper had brought him earlier. With a grimace from the chemical taste and the remaining tenderness in his throat; he swallowed the tablets.

As patient 12 waited for the pain medication to kick in and for his senses to fully awaken, he gazed out at the vast blue puffs of white around him on his rooftop haven. The gentle breeze swayed his fringe, his thick grey eyebrows furrowed as he fingered the rim of his hospital band on his right wrist. For the first time...he began to mentally process what had happened to him...so many questions.

"Where are you Dranzer?" Kai murmured softly as his glittering eyes scanned the clouds for any signs of a red flash or a stray red feather dancing in the wind.

"Why you? Why us? Were we the targets all along? It all makes no sense." His eyes narrowed as anger flickered like a candle. His voice grew husky as his hands gripped and scrunched the fabric of his newly bought designer joggers.

"Just who is that mysterious blader? What was his name?" He deathly hissed as his eyes turned steely. "...Blake."

"I have so many unanswered questions...What does he want with my Dranzer? Why just attack me? Why now? And more importantly...where is Blake?" He growled and kicked a leg out in frustration despite his tender wound yelping at him from the move. "Grrrrr I can't stand this. I need to know where he is in order to get my Dranzer back. But where do I start? In the past we've always known who our opponents were but this time..."

The wounded beyblader lowered his head and turned it to one side with contempt. "Why did he have to do what he did? And in front of the whole world to see. Was his attack politically motivated? No...This was more personal...but I've faced opponents before whose sole intentions were to steal my Dranzer away but none have attacked so viciously and to me physically."

Already pale knuckles turned bloodless as he squeezed his fists tighter with animosity. "And how was I beaten to easily? I know I don't practise as much as I used to but I always kept sharp. I underestimated my opponent perhaps? No...I know I was prepared. It was his Bitbeast; Killertile. That thing was the most savage Bitbeast I have ever seen. What he did to me and Dranzer...I'll never forgive and he will pay for what he's done."

His face settled and his tone softened after taking a deep breath and expelling the bubbling anger. He wrapped his arms crossed and rested his upper back against the large metal box. "I'm sure Gottlieb is on the case with his crack team of private investigators but I have a feeling he's gunna come up empty...Speaking of Gottlieb...I wonder how he's doing in my position. I bet he's pulling his hair out... another problem...and then there's Zhou and the shareholders."

He heavily sighed down to his empty lap with melancholy and worry as his stomach knotted from the uncertainly of everything. The immediate future of Hiwatari Enterprises and the companys' state of affairs in general...And more importantly the welfare and whereabouts of his Bitbeast weighed painfully on his mind.

He raised his head to gaze high at the Sun. "Dranzer...I just hope I haven't lost you for good. You wait. I'll find you. I promise."

*NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW*

Kais' thoughts were cut short as an alarm harked harshly from a speaker on the brick wall by the roofs' only door.

*NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW*

Mr Cooper immediately rushed to Kais' side and held out a hand to assist his much smaller employer to his feet. "We need to evacuate Sir. That's the fire alarm and I don't believe this is a drill."

The basement of the Tokyo University Hospital was cold, dark and reeked of rubbish and car fumes. This place was the hospitals' dirty concrete underbelly and the hub for deliveries and refuse disposal. Deliveries were usually taken and sent first thing in the early hours of the morning and late evening; so the area for the moment was quiet if not for the squeak of the odd city rat and rustle of crows picking at the contents of split bin bags. From the high ceiling hung florescent tube lighting which lit up most of the basement, however a few broken ones provided many dark cubby holes and concealed tunnels; perfect for the homeless to camp in at night.

Max led the way as the two beyblade brainacs' followed close behind.

Kenny clutched Dizzi tightly under one arm whilst the other kept it from slipping forward. He felt his trainers sticking to the filthy floor and couldn't wait to leave. "I think it's time to give it up Max. We've searched all 5 levels of the car park including the fire escapes annnnd almost the entire basement. There's nothing left down here but recycling containers and trash bags. Ohhhh and not to mention rats too! Eeeeeeeeepppp!"

Shivers ran up Maxs' spine after stepping on something soft and prayed it wasn't dog shit. He scrapped his foot on the floor to remove most of whatever it was and carried on. Time was of the essence and he was determined to be the one to find Kai. "But Chief we haven't searched the whole area yet. Back in the day, Kai would often disappear to train in secluded spots like this. I would put money on it that Kais' down here, just you wait n see."

Emily nearly tripped on a discarded drink can and kicked it aside. The can then bounced off the wall with a metallic chinking and sent a grey mouse scuttling away in fright. "I see your point Kenny. It is pretty grimy down here. I doubt Kai would train in a place this gross and besides...Kai can barely stand up, let alone beyblade right now. I think we should re-group with the others and try Mr Gottliebs' phone again. I've tried down here but there's no signal."

The blonde pleaded with a light tone. "Just 5 more minutes ok guys? One last loading bay and we can safely say we've cleared the entire basement. Kai can't hide from us. Hehehehe"

Kenny whined and then sniffed his limp bare arm. "Okay Max. Just as long as we make it quick. I'm sure if we stay down here any longer the bin men will mistake us for trash bags. I can already feel the smell of garbage on my skin."

Emily stopped in her tracks, leaned forward and pointed with a long tennis players' finger. "Hey look over there in the corner... is that Kai?"

Max and Kenny immediately halted their patrolling to squint their eyes in the direction Emily urged. Sure enough in the corner of the very furthest wall of the basement... a human shadow stood facing them.

Max bounded forward like an excited puppy. "Seeeeee guys I told you Kai would be down here!"

*NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW*

Emily clasped her hands over her ears and shouted to Kenny at her side. "THAT'S A FIRE ALARM. WE NEED TO GRAB KAI AND GET OUTTA HERE FAST!"

Kenny clasped one hand over an ear hidden in his hair whilst the other naturally clutched Dizzi. "I couldn't agree more Emily! HEY MAX! TELL KAI WE GOTTA GO NOW BEFORE OUR EARDRUMS IMPLODE!"

"HEY KAI! I AM I GLAD TO SEE YOU BUD!" Yelled Max with joy as he leapt forward with arms spread wide. His feet were like they had wings and fluttered happily to the figure in the dark.

But it wasn't long for his intuition to scream at him something wasn't right. With each flying leap nearer his view of the figure became clearer. The figure loomed over him atop a stack of wooden shipping crates. This person was much shorter than Kai. Red eyes sparkled from the darkness of cloth.

Maxs' legs grounded to an immediate halt. He stammered as his blood ran cold and fear tricked down his back and mixed with sweat. "Yourrrreee...not...Kai. Just who are you?!"

The figure flipped his hood back to reveal long thick spiky bangs that lopped from his head like spider legs and ruby red eyes glinted in the dim light. A young man with dark skin wearing a deep velvet purple cloak cackled sinisterly with two sharp teeth protruding slightly over his bottom lip like upside down fangs.

"Well hello at last Max. We finally meet. HAHAHAHAH. Kiss goodbye to your Bitbeast Draciel! The Great Purple Turtle Spirit will be mine at last! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAH!"