Chapter 13

It seemed like yet another normal average day, and Hilary was on her way to school, not paying attention to her surroundings as her mind was up in the clouds thinking of her gymnastics. "Miss Toshiba is gonna be there to check us out, I've never been this uneasy before."

"Calm." Hilary tried to tell herself, taking a sip of the fruit smoothie she'd bought earlier at the train station.

Setting her gaze away from her phone screen, she recalled their coach telling them they'd have a special visitor. A recruiter for the very college the young woman intended to go to. But that's not the only thing; there was somethin in her mind she couldn't remember, uneasiness that was soon interrupted when she bumped into someone. "Sorry", she mumbles as she bumps into one of her friends. She glanced to see it was Sara. "Are you okay? Today is-" she starts saying but Hilary interrupters her, "I'm fine, thank you. We should hurry-" However, Sara could tell there was something else going on in her friend's mind.

Eventually, they arrived at the locker room to get changed. Hilary's hands were shaking slightly when they exited the room and into the gym, where one by one, everyone performed and expected their best to do the same. Hilary was the next person and also the last person to perform. "Hilary Tachibana"

"You'll do fine," Sara said from beside her with a gentle smile, taking a deep breath as her name was called. Hilary walked into the middle and began her performance. It was silent the whole way until she had finished where clapping could be heard around her.

"Good job, Tachibana", their coach said before everyone was dismissed back to the locker room. While Hilary was changing with that worry off her mind, a pair of arms wrapped around her with the culprit snuggling their cheek to her own. "Wh- Oh, Aya", Hilary greeted her best friend without having to look back. "You were amazing as always, that backwards somersault and then the balance into an aerial cartwheel it was like watching a swan! I dunno what you were scared of." Aya said with happiness. A bright smile appeared on the girl's face as she let go of Hilary and sat down on the bench beside Hilary's stuff. "Do you want to go out with the rest of us later? Now that the pressures done with-" Aya asked with hope shining in her eyes that maybe today was the day that Hilary would join them.

"We're going on a study date on an online greet. It'll be fun, trust me", Aya added while Hilary glanced away from the girl and carried on changing back into her school uniform.

"I'm sorry, Aya. I can't come. I have to rehearse lines for that play project" Hilary didn't dare look at the girl. "Hilary, you never go out. Why can't you come out this one time and relax?" Aya stood up and moved to stand in Hilary's way so she would look at her. Hilary didn't say anything as Aya let a sigh escape her mouth, placing a gentle hand on her best friend's shoulder before speaking. "Is it because of Tyson?" her best friend asked as Hilary stayed silent. "It's been a year since what happened to Tyson, and I think it's time for you to move on. Hilary, you can't keep living in the past." Even though Aya was just trying to be a good friend, Hilary didn't like what she was saying.

A frown was painted on the girls face, "Stop it, Aya", she mumbled, but the other girl carried on speaking. "Tyson was a great guy, but he's gone, and you're here. Hilary, you shouldn't throw your life away like this" Aya tried to be comforting, but it felt like anything but that. Each word of truth she spoke felt like knives stabbing Hilary's heart.

Another girl moved in between the two of them; Aya noticing it was Sara. "Aya, how could you say that so loosely; that's my ex-captain you're talking about. We're still hurting," she says, defending her and Hilary as her hand unconsciously moves to her kendo blade. Aya raises her hands in surrender, not wanting to fight as the other girls getting changed stopped what they were doing, "It's just not fair; you're alive, so act like it." Aya said winking at Hilary before going over to Sara and wrapping one arm around her neck, "Sara's going too." The girl still trying to persuade Hilary to join them.

Hilary still didn't say anything as her eyes drift to her feet, "Think about it, or else your social life's as good as over." Aya pauses before walking once more over to Hilary and patting her back, "I'm only doing this because I'm your friend, and I care about you."

"Don't we all?" She sought the assurance of the other girls present in the locker-room, who all agreed in unison, offering words of support.

It was enough to send Hilary into a spiral of thought. She sat down on the bench, thinking about all the possibilities before another friend jumps in. "Before you make up your mind, I think we should specify that we're going to all hang out as friends, but." Hilary looks up at her friend, "don't be around Claudio too much, even if it's for a school project. People might get the wrong idea-" Hilary nods her head at the warning as the girls let her think of her decision.

"Fine, I'll go."

And that's how she found herself walking home with a gloomy expression on her face. Stopping outside of one of the shops to see a Tv on, however, a whine escapes her at what's playing. It was a couple getting married. A frown appears on her face before carrying her way home.

Once she arrived home, she immediately jumped into the bath. "Don't worry, Hilary. I'll find him for you," a voice plays inside of Hilary's mind. It was a memory of the day Seita promised her that he would found Tyson. Letting out another sigh before sinking into the water just so her eyes would be out of water.

Glancing to the edge of the bathtub to see a ring sat there. It was her ring, Hilary's engagement ring. Sitting back up in the bath, "Sorry girls, but" she mumbles to herself as she pulls her knees close to her chest. "I have to wait for him to come back to me. He won't die; Tyson is too stubborn for his own good." She paused as memories of his stubbornness flash through her mind.

"He'll be back, and if he doesn't in a year-", stopping her scary thoughts as her eyes began to swell up in tears, but she wiped them away, trying to be strong. "Kai", Hilary whispers as an image of the boy appears in her mind.

"Hilary!" She heard someone call for her, Seita. "Someone's on the phone, and they're asking for ya," he shouts as she stood up from her bath and grabbed from dressing gown before drinking water from a glass she had near her ring. "Coming", Hilary shouts back before exiting the bathroom to find Seita, who was sat glaring at the phone in the kitchen.

"How many times are you gonna call? This is the fifth time now. What do you want from my sister? She already has a boyfriend, so-" before Seita could finish his sentence, Hilary had flicked the back of his head, causing a groan to escape him. Seita handed the phone over to his older sister. He observed her covering the mic as she whispered to Seita, "Who is it?"

Seita stood up from the chair, "It's duck lips." Hilary tilted her head to the side, still confused as to who she was about to speak to.

"Who's that supposed to be?" She blinked.

"Claudio", Seita finally answered before heading to the living room. Hilary's mind wandered back to the warning from earlier. Seita sat down on the sofa with Squishy on his shoulder, "Where's Mari? She was here a moment ago," he questioned his little friend. "She went out", he answered back as Seita stood up, "Great, let's go! I have to keep my eyes on her until preliminaries." A whine could be heard, "The movie was just getting good, partner! Wait till after the commercial break, at least!" Squishy complained.

The boy ignored Squishy and made his way upstairs to grab his shoes when he heard Hilary shout from the kitchen. "Claudio is coming over" Seita squinted his eyes before changing his plans. "Squishy, change of plans my friendly friend. We're staying", he stated before heading downstairs to eat cereal's waiting for the man to arrive. He quickly finished his food before putting on the Tv, switching channels until he found a cartoon show but the thought of the odd man kept him from concentrating on the show until Seita stood and went out to wait by the front gate.

Seita found his bat and headed outside, standing by the front gate with the bat on his shoulder. Ready for when Claudio would show up. Hearing the sound of a car, Seita turned to the left to see a blue sports car pull up outside his house. "Just a director, huh?" Seita mumbled to himself as he watched Claudio get out of his car with a bouquet of flowers. Rushing to the gate, Seita opened it and reached for the flowers. "Flowers? Are they for me?" Seita sarcastically spoke, tossing his bat into a bush to grab the flowers with a fake child-like smile. He tried sniffing them however, Claudio pulled the flowers just in time before the younger boy could do so.

"No, not for you, cute boy. These beautiful flowers are for you, stunning sister," Claudio spoke with a small smile on his face, thinking about the girl. He bent down and pinched Seita's cheeks before walking past him. Seita glared at his back as he rubbed his cheek in annoyance; his eyes move to the bat with a sigh before going back inside after retrieving it.

Hilary's eyes narrow at her younger brother, "What were you doing outside?" Seita hides the bat behind his back, but before he could say anything, Claudio spoke. "This adorable boy was just waiting to greet me, my sweetie" Seita glared at the taller man as Hilary still looked at her younger brother with suspicion. "Are you ready to go?" Claudio asks, and Hillary nods her head; all three of them head outside.

"Seita, you're gonna have to make something for you and Mari tonight. I'll be back in a few hours, and Hiyori is at a friends house." Hilary spoke while looking directly at Seita, so she knew he understood. He nodded his head as Claudio opened the car door for her, and she got in. Hilary waved goodbye to her younger brother, and once they had started moving, Seita sprinted to the backyard, where he grabbed his bike.

"What's that dumb sister of mine thinking?" Seita mumbled to himself as he sped down the road. He was in a rush, so as he cut corners, he made sure he was careful not to fall off his bike. Seita was hoping he could keep up with the car or at least stop them. He worried for his older sister; she could end up doing something she'd regret. "I don't trust that guy, Claudio. There is something up with him," Seita whispers as his eyes focus on the road ahead.

He swerved his bike, desperately trying to catch up to his sister; Claudio glances at his rear window to see the boy speeding after them on his bike. A smirk forms on his face as he makes sure he wasn't going too fast so the boy could keep up. Seita's pants were increasing as he had used a lot of his energy getting this fast. However, he had lost the blue sports car as Claudio had gone too fast for him to catch up with on his bike.

"I wish I had more stamina- gah!", Seita whines as he tries to push himself more, "I should have used my bike more", he complains to no one but himself. Carrying riding straight ahead when he spots Gronk and his posse heading towards him on their bikes. "Ay it's Seita!"

"Sup Sato"

"Yo Seita, wanna go to the park?" Gronk asked among the talking as the group quieted down. Seita shook his head. "I can't; I have an emergency right now," Seita says in between breaths.

"She's been taken by that creep" Seita takes deep breaths attempting to put more cool air into his dry throat. "Who was taken by who?" Gronk glances at the boy, confused, "My sister was taken by Claudio!" The boy's eyes expand as they all follow Seita. "Did you see a blue sports car on the way here?" Seita questions the other boy, who nodded his head, "I saw a car like that parked on the way down the hill." Gripping the handlebars as his eyes narrow, "lead the way."

Gronk takes the lead and slows down his pace, making sure Seita doesn't lose him. They end up stopping outside a restaurant, where they spot the two in front of the building. "I've got your back if that guy tried anything on that sister of yours", Seita nods his head until Gronk laughs, "She's extremely hot for a friend's sister; you should introduce us sometime." Sato gulped, his face begins to heat up while Seita looks at his friend with disgust, "She's way too old for you. Stop being weird guys!"

"I thought she was going to a studio, not a restaurant", Seita mumbled to himself as he watched the two chat. The boys remained perched, watching the pair have an evening dine. Following closely behind them till they reached a motel. Suddenly, another guy gets into the car with his older sister. He looked as if he belonged to the mafia and was growing concerned for Hilary.

The six boys followed to a studio that wasn't too far. "What exactly's going on?" Seita wondered. She'd grown less talkative after the third appeared, raising his concern. The boys moved closer, slipping beside some cars in the parking lot. Rain gently drizzled against the concrete they knelt over. Hilary went in with the two, only to cry out a short second later as the kids ran to the door. To Seita's shock, Claudio smirked his way as he began closing the door. Try as they may, the steel door was shut. Two pushes, then three but not even Gronk could tackle the door effectively.

"HEY! OPEN THIS DOOR!"

"Hhkehehehe, find another way in if you really want her boys-"

"Damn you!" The boys all stared at each other.

"There has to be a way inside, over here!" One of them found an opened dusty window near the building and they decided to go in while two of the other boys went to call officers and the last stood in front of the entryway.

Seita and Gronk along with Sato made it into the studio, slipping onto a dusty rug that laid in what seemed to be a dimmed hallway. From afar, they could hear what sounded like two talking. Though the eeriness set in. What if there were more than just the two? Seita glared. "You guys have your blades right?"

"I left Chales Bear at home" Gronk responded with a frown. :"Ahh- great" Seita sighed, headed down the hallway. He carefully stepped over an open rotting pipe that stuck out of the ground. They tried one door, then a second until finding they were on a second floor upon entering the room.

They were hit with a wafting smell of cinnamon. Was it they were in a sort of factory turned studio? Walking over to peer down at the first floor, Seita was utterly shaken by what he saw.

The boys shared confusion, glancing down to the two who surprisingly had Seita's sister tied. They revealed themselves to be bit-beast upon the mafioso removing his hat to show a strange aquatic squid bit beast while Claudio took off his jacket and it showed one attached to his rib specifically.

Both possessed.

"Those meddlesome brats should be here as planned"

"I can feel the Poseidon nearby"

The two squid like creatures chattered.

"Nhm- hey you two bone heads! Why'd you tie me up?!" She reflected on how she'd found herself in the predicament.

"Stop the questions and undress quickly!" Said the bit-beast controlling Claudio as it brought out a knife. Hilary let out a scream, glancing for a weapon but by the time she turned around, her hair was tugged back when she tried to turn for a dash.

"Cooperate if you know what's good for you!"

The bit-beast tossed her aside as the other tied her down.

"Stay calm, calm!" She told herself, squinting her eyes shut until she was startled by the sound of a shout from above the steel second floor, where she spotted Seita glancing down at her. "Seita?!"

"SIS!" He carefully jumps over the railing and onto a box before trying his best to move down from the box, whereas Gronk shouts, "I'm too big to do this carefully; how did you do it?" He questions the other boy.

"We have bigger problems to worry about. Just find a way, Gronk" Seita hisses at Gronk

"Damn Sato not you too! Guys wait for me!" Gronk complained, watching Sato maneuver down from the other end.

Upon landing, Seita sighed.

"That's a good boy, you followed."

"See, Fontis. I told you he would come."

"Ahh yes, Ardreous's going to have to give us rewards for this" Responded the other transparent squid, wrapping it's tendrils along the Mafioso's chin as though it were a helmet.

"Tracking you wasn't a complete waste of time. Now hand over Poseidon to us and we'll be gentle with your deaths"

"As if! Let my sister go monster!"

Seita growled, bringing out Squishy. He aimed it as the mafioso slipped a knife out of his coat packet, giving Seita a grin. Seita's eyes widened in fear. He adjusts his Augmented Reality Glasses.

"Partner, you might want to watch out. That one's possessed by a bit-beast"

"I know that Squishy, we're gonna do this together-"

Seita let's his beyblade rip as it shot for the guy but the guy slashed his knife at it, rushing for Seita who widened his eyes and jumped out of the guys way as the guy motioned over, having stabbed his knife against a crate. He tugged at it and aimed to swipe the knife down, though Squishy struct the guys wrist, causing him to let go of the knife.

Seita hastily jumped for it and turned over to see the guy trying to run at Seita but Squishy got in his way.

"SQUISHY BOOOST!" Seita shouted.

With Squishy's beyblade spinning rapidly, the manifested portal that allowed Squishy to materialize, grew stronger as the spinning became one with the very spinning that occurs around 'humans' at a planetary level though they don't feel it. Squishy in his Poseidon Archstar form, locked the trident against the human as the small spider bit-beast grew in size, letting go of the human as the human body flopped onto the floor and Seita noticed Claudio had oil and a firematch, he smiled telling Seita to tell Poseidon to stand down but Claudio soon found one of the boys had snuck behind him, tackling. Sato breathed uneasily, in shock that he moved on his own.

"Agh! Where'd you come from?! Stop that" The bit-beast had Claudio say as the boy tussled.

Claudio struck Sato in the face, causing the boy to let go as the spider bit-beast tried lunging at Seita though Poseidon whacked it aside.

Both bit-beasts grew in size. Thei tendrils grabbing at all they could while Poseidon slashed at the tendrils, sending pieces flying all throughout the room, though the tendrils soon came back together in clumps and sought to tie Poseidon.

Poseidon held them both back while the rest of them were squeezed.

"Ghhaaah!" Even Gronk was grabbed, being levetated up towards the ceiling before being swung down to the a dashboard. To the surprise of the boys, officers burst through the main door. Three in total, followed by Gronk's other friends. All drenched in the rain from outside that'd started an hour prior throughout the whole town.

Both aquatic bit-beasts quickly pulled into two beyblades used to imprison them as the officers reached the group. Seita sighed.

Mafioso like person had woken up after passing out before asking Claudio, "what are you doing here with this girl?" His eyes drift to Hilary. Soon Claudio jumps at the Mafioso, revealing their formality. "I'm sorry, baby," he says as both boys watch in confusion.

"I don't know what came over me; I'm sorry, Hilary", Claudio suddenly apologized as he untied Hilary. "It was a corrupt bit beast that got you to attack me", Hilary explained as the Mafioso looked at Seita, "thank you." They spoke with a smile as Seita nodded his head towards them. Claudio gestures to the mafioso, "this is my boyfriend, and Hilary is one of my friends." He introduced the two as the two kids fell over in complete shock by the outcome.

Hilary turned to glare at her younger brother, "so Seita, why did you follow me?" She crossed her arms as Seita scratched his head, "I think you should let me off this time since I kinda helped you out." Hilary lets out a fake laugh before narrowing her eyes at him, "you're not funny, but I'll reward you for helping me." She says with a bright smile, and she pulls her younger brother into a tight hug, "thank you." Hilary whispers into his ear as Seita blushed.

She pulled away from the hug and glanced at Gronk, "and I'll buy you an ice cream." Gronk's face lit up with red when he saw Hilary was speaking to him. "There's still a corrupt bit-beast after us, though," Seita mumbled to himself as the BABA officers arrived to question Claudio. "I remember I encountered a bit-beast, and it somehow possessed me" Claudio took a pause. "I started feeling funny after I visited the beach and touched the Beyblade," the police wrote down all the information that he was saying.

"I thought of getting to my boyfriend," he said, glancing at his lover that stood by his side. "He likes them, but I ended up getting possessed" Claudio glanced down as it continued to rain hard. Officer Morie passed all the information that he had received and gave it to detective Kon.

Both aquatic bit-beasts brought in for questioning by the officers.

In another building, Kon sat inside his office with his eyes glued to the screen, trying to figure out any possible explanation when there was a knock at his door. "Come in" his voice held authority as the door opened slowly to reveal an Officer. "Sir", he greeted the detective before placing the box on his desk.

"What is this?" he asked the Officer but didn't get a response as he opened the lid to see two aquatic spider bit-beasts. "We managed to catch two bit-beasts that tried attacking that Tachibana boy who accompanied your son sir-"

The detective eyes wide with shock as they began to shine with hope. "This is perfect; now we can get more information on these."

He recollected all of the interviews of people saying they heard voices that controlled them to do gruesome things. "Now we can actually get to the source, these don't seem like they'd disappear too soon"

"Thank you, Officer," he dismissed the man as his eyes were focused on the two new objects. They remained in the jar as the squid bit-beasts materialized yet again, banging their small tendrils against the glass.

"I take it you two are acquaintances of that Ontarious from our reports?"

No answer.

Officer Mori soon came in with three other officers, one of them releasing their hound like bit-beast to try and scare them, though the Squid bit-beasts clarified telepathically to all who were in the room. "We'll be out of this box soon, but we can't say the same for you humans"

"What?..." Growled one of the officers.

"Just what is it you want from us?! What have we ever done to you? Your kind has attacked all of humanity!"

"Kishi- relax" Interrupted Mori, only for the officer to shove him aside.

"No! Being casual won't work here! Do you know how many people have died this week?! A school was just recently shot up in Kobe! Not to mention- damn it! So many homicides, why are you doing this?! Tell US!" The young officer tried to reach for one of the jars, being grabbed by two others who tugged him back.

"Kishimoto you're stepping out of line!"

"My daughters on her way! How can you all be so calm when those things are killing us!"

"Kishi, please restrain yourself!" Detective Kon placed a hand to his chest, moving to face the two bit-beasts whose jars remained on the table. The light flickered above them.

Detective Kon turned on a small television, adjusting it to face the bit-beasts as he turned a video on of Sakura announcing on the news her plans for ARG.

"The ARG is finally under commencement. This tournament is not one like the past sports, this one is to stop this world from crumbling. It is a fierce battle to protect this earth against forces that wish to destroy life. The best warriors of all continents that revel in this cause, join with certainty of potential death. To stop those seeking to hijack the waves of change-"

The video was paused by the detective, who waited for a response from the aquatic bit-beasts.

"Were you aware of the challenge Sakura had sent you? Those Key-Blades are what you're after, why not halt your assaults and focus there? The best bladers around the globe will be there. Wouldn't it be easier to get what you want?" Kon asks as he sat back down in his chair with his arms crossed.

"Hekekeke, why would we play your stupid human games when we can wipe you all out ALL AT ONCE? Foolish humans, the tides are upon you- to wreck you parasites oh so blind to your own undoing-"

"Are you comfortable in that seat? Do you feel you have power?" The purple smile formed, opening to reveal the rows of teeth the squid had as it attached itself to the front of the jar. Bubbles fluttered forming smaller squids.

Detective Kon raised a confused brow.

"You think you're in control, do you? That you have us contained? When it is you, who is contained." Said the bit-beast.

"This room is your box. In the end it is you who is contained, awaiting your fall. Even now within the confines of what you call your fragile human society, can you not say your kind has repeatedly spread like a plague of death until now!"

"The human disease of wanting to conquer without knowing why. The very fact you call yourselves humans tells thy of how lost you waves are. You have no room to speak innocent when you have monsters among your ranks killing life in the ocean, responsible for the hells made!"

"But wh-" An officer tried to interrupt the telepathic voice.

"You'll all be swept away soon and that's all needs be said- run as far away while you can, but remember for I Fontis will be at your heel ready to tear you into my JAWS HHhekekekek" the bit-beast snickered, the two bit-beasts let out excited sick laugher, leaving the five in shock.

"D-Did you hear that?! Those monsters! They're beyond reasoning at this point! Let me go!" shouted the officer, being pulled out as detective Kon spaced out.

"So eh- you were out where exactly?" Seita, observed Mari who sat beside him on the sofa. She'd been waiting for the two to arrive home. Hilary all the while found herself in the kitchen making food for the two kids.

"Taking a stroll"

"And that cut?" Seita squinted.

Mari frowned, pensive. The top pink cowlick on her head flicked slightly with her turning to stare at him. She stood up, lifting her hood but found Seita took the back of her hand.

"I think it's best I get out of your hairs-"

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Someone attacked me earlier today while I was in thought. It's the one's that attacked the hospital. Whoever it was, seemed possessed by the way they acted but I didn't stick around to find out... I-"

"I don't even know if I killed who it was-"

"What?"

"They attacked me with a pipe and I defended myself with the blade- I could have sworn I was being watched. Probably got followed here." She tugged her hand from Seita, grabbing the slightly shattered beyblade Seita glanced was on the living room table.

"Whoever it is probably knows we're here already, I should leave before I bring trouble to your family. I'm not okay with being a burden."

"No. You aren't at all- It actually works out for us. If you go, it'll be easier to pick us off. I feel at ease knowing you're here too-" Seita assured her.

"We'll ring up Simon and tell him what happened to you so he can tell us what to do"

"I'm bothering you, I can live somewhere else." Seita shook his head quickly, "Nope Mari! It's best we stick together right now" Seita affirmed with her, spacing out.

"Even still, I have to find Tizara- I can feel her pain..." Right then, her stomach grumbled, making her blush as Seita was surprised but soon laughed.

"Can she feel your stomach? Right now Tizara would want you to eat something probably."

"You build up your strength if you're gonna get her-"

"and you can't do that with no help, so I have a useful idea! Let's train and get her back when the chance shows Mari."

Seita placed his hands on her shoulders, tugging her back onto the couch as he grinned.

"Guys the foods ready" Said Hilary. "After dinner Mari, you can sleep in ease since Hiyori won't be in her room tonight." They both stood, headed for the kitchen, where a pourage was made by Hilary who adjusted the heat on the stove.

"We'll go to a Beyblade training center that I know to start that training; the center's owned by Mimi. A friend." Seita explained.

"I did cardio the other day with Simon, thanks to a certain someone." He had a smile on his face as Mari stares at him, knowing exactly who he was talking about. She silently went about eating.

Seita eventually stood from his chair, having finished first.

"We'll go to that center tomorrow then."

"Sure"

Her gloominess, Seita squinted while making his way to Hilary's room. Knocking at her door, he patiently waited until she allowed him in.

Seita opens the door to see her sat on her bed, having placed her small weight beside her thigh. "Can I have some money that dad left for me? I wanna go to the Beyblade training center that Mimi's mother owns." Hilary narrows her eyes at her brother, "They said there was no school because it's raining."

"I thought you said you didn't like going there," Hilary asked as Seita pulled out his beyblade. "I have my own beyblade now so I can finally go and beat a score," Seita says with determination. Hilary lets out a smile before bringing a box out from under her bed. Opening the box and taking out a slip that had Seita's name written on it. Hilary counted the money before handing him some; Seita grabbed the money carefully before bouncing.

However, just before he was about to leave, Hilary spoke, "be careful with it."