Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Running Scared ❯ The Reason Is... ( Chapter 13 )

Authoress' Notes: Sorry for the wait, but this chapter got so long that I had to play around with it until I finally gave up and just decided to leave it longer. *sweatdrops* Oh well…

Warnings: Same as Chapter 1. See chapter 1 if you're that concerned about it.

Disclaimers: I still don't own anything, and that includes The Reason Is…, by Hoobastank. They own it.

Reviews: *sniffles* Ah! All your reviews are so appreciated! Thank you!!!! @ Mediaminer: Flamable_Devil (Jen!), & Kailovr; @ AFF.Net: Mystik, RYO (x2), Xzanyu; & @ my group: Weeping Sweeti.

blah - normal speech, blah - thoughts, {blah} - telepathy, //blah// - electronic speech (com-links, computers, etc.)

Chapter 13: The Reason Is…

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Tyson pushed his plate off to the side and I eyed both it and him.

"You didn't eat much." I observed. He sighed and leaned back in his seat, giving me a weary look.

"I'm not that hungry anymore, Kai." He told me. I frowned at him in concern.

"When you don't eat, I know it's time to be worried." I folded my arms on the table in front of me and nudged the plate back at him. "Besides, I've noticed you're entirely too skinny. Put some meat on those bones, love."

He pouted at me and sighed again in defeat, obediently taking a chicken wing and nibbling on it. Satisfied with that, I turned my attention on the reason we were all sitting around Enrique's library in the first place.

The Spirit Squad's Founding Five: Mr. Dickenson, Judy and Max's father, and Gramps and Tyson's father.

I let my eyes roam around the table at those five faces, stopping when I landed on Mr. Dickenson. He returned my accusing gaze gravely and even managed to look slightly ashamed. My eyes narrowed. "There is so much you are going to explain that I don't even know where to start. And that goes for the rest of you." I stated, making sure they understood my intentions.

"I'll remind you of who works for who, Kai Hiwatari." Judy said, a hint of anger in her voice. I glared at her.

"And I'll remind you, Director, that I do not take money from you for what I do, and that if I choose to walk away there is nothing any one of you or all of you together can do to stop me." I returned, and it sounded like the threat it was. If they didn't cooperate, I'd walk - and take Tyson and Rei with me because I knew they'd follow me whether I liked it or not.

"Judy, he has a right to know why we've kept ourselves and our affiliation with the Squad secret." Mr. Mizuhara laid a hand over hers on the table. "And why it is we're revealing ourselves to him now."

"And what about me?" Max suddenly spoke up from my other side, his voice unnaturally serious and quiet. Rei, on his other side, scooted his chair closer to Max and regarded the blonde's parents coolly with his own intimidating golden eyes. There was a great deal of confusion and pain on Max's face and I felt badly for him.

"I'm you son. I've worked with you, Mom, for years now. And Dad…" Max closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again there was a growing anger in those brilliant sea-blue depths. "All this time I've been lying to you about pretty much my entire life - not to mention believing I was helping protect you from Mom's life in the process - and you've let me! You allowed me to believe that you knew nothing of any of this and yet you've known all along." He laughed with absolutely no humour and plenty of bitterness. "Well, you both deserve acting awards then, because you sure had me fooled. Congratulations. I guess this is what it really takes to play the spy game. The ability to lie for whatever amount of time to your own child."

"Maxie, sweetheart, we didn't tell you because we wanted to protect you. It's not that we don't trust you because we do." Judy tried to explain, looking very distressed now. "And we love you."

"We're so proud of everything you've done, son." His father added. "When your Mother and I agreed to help form the Squad we had to make the decision to tell you or not. At the time, we didn't think you'd be recruited or even be interested if approached so we came to the decision that it was best for all of us if you didn't know. And then you were recruited."

"I couldn't stand hiding everything from you Maxie. So your father and I, and Mr. Dickenson, agreed that I would reveal my job here as Director of Research and Development and then at least I'd have the peace of mind of always knowing where you were and what you were doing and you'd be able to relax a little around me, at least, because you wouldn't have to continue to lie to me about yourself." Judy was giving her son a pleading look for understanding and Max was just looking back, completely numb.

"It doesn't explain why you never told him about being a founding member, Mrs. Tate." Rei glowered at her, taking Max's hand in his and holding it firmly. "That all happened years ago. I've seen how secrets can affect people and I would have thought that two people who are obviously intelligent enough to have formed the Squad and be in this business in the first place would know that." At Rei's words, I couldn't help shifting uncomfortably and guiltily, since I was pretty sure he was talking about me.

"I had to learn that lesson the hard way." I said, deciding that what the hell? Everyone in the room pretty much had a good idea what I was talking about anyway. "It nearly cost me the most precious thing in my life several times over." I felt the old shame and guilt well up once more and forced it down again. "No matter that I thought I was protecting him from the evils of this world - and from me. It was a mistake. And I never make the same mistake twice."

Judy glared at me and abruptly stood up, slapping her hand son the tabletop and making Max jump in startled surprise. "What do you think you know of this, Hiwatari? You are not a parent and I find it questionable that you even know how to feel anything let alone love and loss. Stay out of other people's family business!"

Okay that threw me for a loop. What?!

Before any of the others (being my team, that is) could say anything, my defence came from someone I hadn't expected at all.

"If you truly believe that, Judy, then you haven't been paying attention and though you might think you know Kai from his files and all that extensive data you've collected, I'll be the first to inform you that you know squat." Gramps said, dropping his usual teenage-slang speech pattern completely. "Machines, technology, and science are all well and good when it comes to beyblading but they're useless when you're dealing with people - especially those who are as complex as the young Phoenix, there." I saw his wily slate eyes glint with the same feisty spirit I saw in my lover all too often. "If I didn't believe in Kai - not to mention my grandson - and if I didn't know how much Kai truly loves him, I guarantee he'd never have gotten near Tyson, let alone have been allowed to let him believe he was dead for the last six years and for him to go through all that he has because of it."

Tyson was staring at him, tears welling up in his eyes, and he'd dropped the fork he'd been using to pick at his salad. "Gramps…"

The eldest Kinomiya looked at the youngest with a small smile. "I owe you huge apologies, Tyson. I helped hide Kai from you, helped to perpetuate a lie and I did it because I love you and was trying to protect not only you but Dragoon as well. Even when you gave up on…everything I continued to lie to you - despite wanting to tell you it all right then and there when I got to the hospital after Hilary's frantic phone call." Gramps sighed, suddenly looking his age. Tyson made a small whimpering sound and I didn't care who else was in the room anymore. My dragon was suffering and damned if I'd sit there and do nothing. So I pulled him out of his chair and down on my lap, wrapping my arms around him as much for my comfort as for his, and he let me, settling against my chest and leaning his head back against my shoulder gratefully.

"Forgive me, Grandpa, if I don't thank you for that." I said over Tyson's head. "Perhaps things could have been different if you had told him."

"Maybe. Maybe not. The damage was already done and I'd say you're both on the way to healing each other of the past." The old man gave us a grin. "You're exactly what my grandson needs, Hiwatari, in a partner. I've known that since I met you for the first time all those years ago. You were what? Ten? Eleven? And I knew then, too, that you needed Tyson just as much - maybe more. You were too old for your age, Kai. Children should live and you simply existed."

I nodded. "Yes. Tyson is the best thing to ever happen to me - besides Dranzer." I added as an after thought and got a mental eye roll from her in response. {What? It's the truth!}

{Thank you, chibi. I'm flattered. But you would do just fine without me. You wouldn't last five minutes without Tyson.} She replied, not one bit of sorrow or jealousy or anything of the kind in her voice. She was simply stating the truth as she saw it. I hugged and decided accepting that was easier than arguing with her about it.

"Um…please excuse for butting in where I probably shouldn't, but…" Max was looking a little confused about something. "What is Tyson's grandfather saying about a hospital?"

Tyson shivered in my arms and looked up at me for guidance. I gave him a reassuring smile and kissed him on the forehead.

"It's your decision, love. Tell them or don't. If you don't then no one will ask about it again." I gave all those not in the know a solid warning stare that plainly spoke of pain if any of them dared make a liar of me.

I guess me silently threatening bodily harm to protect him made him feel better or something because he actually smiled and swatted my arm playfully. "Alright, love, quit glaring at everyone. It's okay. Help me get these off, would you?" He held out his right wrist to me and I undid the clasp and took the wristband off, setting it on the table in front of us. Tyson took off his left band and put it on the table with its twin then nudged me to make me swing the chair in Max's direction, holding up the inside of his wrists for our team to se, since they were all at that end of the table.

Max's eyes went wide in shock and Rei made a low noise of anguish while Kenny went pale. Oliver and Enrique gasped and there was pity and sorrow on their faces now. Even Bryan looked surprised.

Tyson dropped his hands back to his lap and stared down at them, fidgeting.

"Oh, Tyson…" Max began but couldn't say anything more.

Hilary, who had been sitting on Tyson's other side, sniffled and I hid a small smile in Tyson's hair as Kenny got up and brought her a handkerchief, sitting in the chair Tyson had abandoned and holding her hand loosely.

"There! You see? That boy is not to be trusted." Judy said firmly, and rather triumphantly, as if she'd just proved some great point. "Look at the harm he causes people he supposedly cares about."

Ouch. That one hit the mark. I winced and my arms involuntarily tightened around my lover. I buried my face in his hair and yet again fought back a flood of guilt.

It also succeeded in snapping Tyson out of his memories and pissing him off. My head jerked up as I felt that curious tingling along my arms, making my hair stand on end, and then a sharp jolt a split-second before the flat-screen television hanging on the wall behind Judy and her husband started sparking and exploded, smoke curling from the shattered screen in lazy tendrils. Everyone but Tyson and I jumped and Judy yelped, moving away quickly from the smoking machine. No one suspected Tyson was the cause, though.

"That is enough. You know nothing about Kai if you can say that." Tyson seethed and even I was a little surprised at his anger. "Now you listen to me…"

I began running my hand up and down Tyson's arm trying to calm him. "Tyson, baby, she's not entirely wrong." I said, taking his left hand and raising it to place a soft kiss to the inside of his wrist. "These are partly my fault."

Tyson was trembling with either anger or repressed memories and turned in my arms, cupping my face in his hands. "No, Kai, they aren't. These are my weakness. I did this to myself, love. You have to let go of that unwarranted guilt and forgive yourself. We've been through this, haven't we?"

I closed my eyes and nodded, leaning my forehead against his. "I still haven't had a chance to put it aside, love. I made a huge mistake in letting you believe I was dead and I don't know how long it will take me for me to forgive myself but I'm trying." I whispered, opening my eyes and looking into his. "I love you."

"I know." He murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead and making me sigh. Then he turned around once again and settled back into my arms comfortably. He may have been in my embrace, but the way he had his arms lying over mine to hold them in place, the way his fingers twined with mine, and the way he was situated in my lap with his butt on the seat between my legs and one of his casually draped over one of mine spoke volumes about the true nature of our relationship. I was his and no one was taking me away from him ever again - especially not me. Tyson would defend me and fight for me even when I wouldn't do so for myself.

Glancing across the table I could see that Gramps certainly understood that. In fact he looked downright pleased - and not a little bit smug about it, either. Tyson's father I couldn't read at all. He was keeping his expression carefully neutral and had yet to say anything at all - which was very wise of him, I thought.

"I don't understand why you're so distrustful of Kai, Mom." Max was looking at her in puzzlement, still very sad and subdued. "I've worked with him so many times now and I've never felt safer on a mission no matter the danger I might have found myself in. He's never hurt me or anyone else but the bad guys and he's always had my back. You should know better than anyone, being a founder, how much he's done for the Squad, for Sacred Spirits and bladers. So why?"

"Yes. Excellent question, Max." Enrique spoke up, sounding vaguely like the lawyer he was - in this case, my defence attorney. I resisted the urge to point that out and tease him, since now was hardly the time and place for it. He folded his hands in front of him and gave her a cool stare. "Kai is one of the most honourable people I have ever met. I trust him."

"We all do." Rei agreed. "With the exception of Tyson I know him better than anyone. And there is no one I've ever trusted more."

"You are all deceived then! He is a Hiwatari, raised by that vile grandfather of his to be just as bad. Boris was his trainer! How can any of you believe for one second he won't turn out to be just like Voltaire and go rouge?" Judy demanded, and I frowned. I could see the desperation in her face for some reason and what's worse there was fear, too. But despite what she was saying, that fear was not of me.

Now I was really confused.

Even her husband was looking puzzled, not to mention the rest of us.

"All right." I said decisively. "You don't like me for some reason, Director Tate, and quite frankly, I don't care. But for Max's sake I want to get to the bottom of this irrationality so we can move on to more important things."

"I just told you, Hiwatari, my reasoning. Did I speak to fast for you? Perhaps I should repeat it more slowly." She shot back, still standing with her fists clenched at her sides.

I ignored that and asked Tyson, "How are you feeling, my love?"

"Better, Kai." He gave me a wry smile. "The food helped."

"I won't gloat." I promised. "Are you well enough to put an end to Judy's protests and tell us what's really the problem?"

He leaned back against me and gazed over at her coolly. "Hmm…so you picked up on that, too? You're better at reading people than you give yourself credit for, Kai." Tyson was absently stroking the back of my hand as he spoke, a gesture of familiarity that showed how comfortable we were with each other. "I think I'm strong enough for this."

"If you need a little more then feel free to borrow from me." I offered and he smiled.

"Not necessary, but it's nice to know you're here." He responded and I waited as he fell silent, staring at Judy. I knew without looking he'd already begun to dig around in her mind for answers, and by the expressions on Gramps', Max's, and Rei's faces they could see his eyes go blank and distant, knowing what that meant he was doing.

Judy couldn't continue to return his solid stare and looked away, demanding, "What's he doing?"

"Tyson?" I inquired. "What did you find in there?"

"She wasn't really lying about what she thinks about you, Kai. Judy truly believes all her data points to you betraying us all someday. However, she is only using it as an excuse to hide her fear." My dragon responded in a faraway voice. Judy's head snapped back to stare at him in shock and apprehension.

"My God. He's a telepath." She gasped.

"You bet. Tyson is also empathic." Gramps informed her proudly. "My grandson has many talents. Beyblading is only one of them."

"Extraordinary." Mr. Dickenson murmured. "I'm glad you reached him before Boris could, Kai. That boy is truly a marvel."

"I've known that all along, sir." I replied. Tyson gave my hand a squeeze and I turned my attention back to him. He appeared to be struggling now, a bead of sweat trickling down the side of his face. "What is it, love?"

"She's resisting me now. I can get past her attempts, Kai, but if I do, I will knock her unconscious for a while."

"Stay out of my head." Judy hissed. "You have no right…"

"Mom, either you tell us what the hell is going on or I will ask Tyson to take the answers out of your head." Max declared stiffly, his ultimatum hanging heavily in the silence.

"Thank you, Max." Tyson said. "What you just did made her thoughts perfectly clear long enough for me to see them before she threw up her shields again." He sagged against me wearily and I reached over and grabbed a can of soda from the table, handing it to him.

"Have some of that and tell us." I coaxed. He sipped gratefully and sighed.

"She is afraid to lose Max." He began slowly. "Judy fears that by lying to him she has lost his trust and even his love and that he'll be driven to do something dangerous and rash on this mission, maybe even be careless and get hurt. She's using Kai's 'untrustworthy' data and background to try and keep Max from continuing to participate on the mission."

Judy burst into tears and abruptly dropped down into her seat again, burying her face in her hands. Mr. Mizuhara sighed and draped a comforting arm around her shoulders and handed her a tissue.

Max made a sound that was partly exasperated and partly annoyed, overlain with sadness. "That's what this is about? You're being overprotective again! What's worse is you're using one of my friends to do it! When are you going to realize I've grown up, Mom? I'm not a child and I can take care of myself." He held up his hand when she looked up and opened her mouth to speak. "No. I don't want to hear it. I will always be your son and I will always love you but you have to let go. I am an independent adult, not a ten year old kid in overalls anymore." The blonde stood up. "Excuse me. I need to get some air. I'm just too worked up right now." He excused himself and strode out with angry strides.

Rei got up to follow and I said, "Half an hour, Rei. We'll take a thirty-minute break. Bring him back then."

"Sure." Rei nodded and gave me a small smile in thanks before hurrying after Max.

"I agree with Kai." Mr. Dickenson stated, getting to his feet. "Let's take a breather, everyone."

Tyson and I went back to our room as Enrique and Bryan cleaned up the broken television. When we arrived, Tyson flopped down on the bed with a moan. "Gods. The emotion in there was making my head ache. And then when Judy started blocking me…"

"I'm sorry, love. I shouldn't have asked you to do that." I went to the bathroom and got him a glass of water and a couple of headache pills.

"No, it's okay, Kai. I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't wanted to. I just hope it was able to help Max and his parents somehow so they can work all of this out." He accepted the medicine and water and I sat beside him on the bed, soothingly running my fingers through his hair.

"So…" I began after a moment. "Do you always blow things up when you're angry?"

Tyson cracked open a blue eye and snickered. "I try not to. But she really got on my nerves, trying to put you on a major guilt trip like that."

I sighed dramatically. "I guess I owe Enrique a new television." He snickered some more. "Good thing we weren't in his office. I might have had to buy him new computer equipment and a new photocopier, too." Tyson lost the fight and started laughing aloud. It made me grin to hear that happy sound out of him again. I lay down on my back next to him as he laughed so hard he was curling into himself. "It wasn't that funny!"

Still giggling, he rolled over on top of me and sat up, straddling my hips. "Sorry. I guess I needed to let off some tension." He looked around the room curiously. "Hey, this is pretty nice. I didn't really take a good look before. Look at all this marble! And hey! Is that a balcony?" Clambering off me he bounced over to the floor-to-ceiling draperies and pushed them aside, opening one French door and stepping out. I sat up and yawned, wishing I had time for a nap and watching Tyson walk along the balcony and admire the view of the city spread out around us for miles.

Then he turned suddenly and motioned me to come out there quietly. I stood and went over, asking, "What?"

"Shh…look over there - in the gardens." He whispered and pointed. I followed his directions and stared out over the railing at Enrique's rather extensive garden and courtyard, and spotted two familiar figures standing under a tree.

"Well, well." I smirked. "Rei and Max."

"Do you think one of them will ever actually make a move?" Tyson asked in a low voice.

"They'd better. Rei needs to settle down with someone." I muttered. "Max would be good for him."

"Oh! Oh! Look!" Tyson's hand latched onto my arm and we both watched as Rei took a step closer to Max and leaned down to brush his lips against the blonde's tentatively before stepping away. Max said something, though we couldn't hear what, and it made the neko-jin whirl in surprise. Even from that distance we could see the blushes spreading over both their faces as Max reached up and brought Rei's head down to kiss him firmly and Rei's arms wound around the blonde.

I heard Tyson sigh in delight next to me and I rolled my eyes, gently pulling him back into the villa. "Come on, nosy. Let's just give them some privacy, shall we?"

Tyson pouted and grumbled, "You have no sense of the romantic, do you?"

"Not at all."

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After our half hour break, we re-gathered in Enrique's sitting room rather than the library. For one thing it was more comfortable. And for another, it made me quite happy because I could sit on the settee with Tyson leaning against me, curled into my side with my arm around him and his legs tucked under him and off to his other side.

"I've sent all the servants home for the day." Enrique informed me quietly before we got the rest of this meeting underway. "Not that I don't trust my staff but it's as much for their protection as our own if they don't know anything about our conversations here."

"Very cautious of you. Good thinking, Enrique." I commended him. "Let's get this over with, shall we?" He nodded and went to take a seat. I wanted this done and I wanted answers. I could feel the tension in Tyson's body that had returned almost as soon as we entered the room and he spotted his father again.

Before I could open my mouth to begin, Judy appeared, Max's father right behind her. She came over to me slowly and I regarded her silently and coolly.

"I wish to apologize, Kai, to you and to Tyson." She said, quietly. I could hear her embarrassment and guilt in her voice but it didn't really affect me much. "Those things I said, how I've treated you both today…I shouldn't have projected my fears for my son on you. I know better. I let my judgement be clouded over and I hope you'll forgive me." Judy gave us an abject bow of apology and Tyson sighed. I had nothing to say to her so I let my lover speak for us both.

"We accept your apology, Judy."

She gave us a small smile and let her husband guide her away to take a seat next to Tyson's father on the couch. Max sat with Rei and though he still seemed sad and angry with his parents, I could see that genki spark back in his eyes. He'd apparently regained some of his strength and spirit now that he'd found support in Rei, for which I was glad - though I'd never admit to it aloud.

"All right, people. Let's get back to things." I took control of the meeting and I looked solidly at Gramps and Tyson's father. "Max and his parents can work out the rest of their situation later. You two, on the other hand, are going to explain to us what's going on right now. I suspect it has something to do with the mission, else you," I pointed at Tyson's father, "Would not have revealed yourself."

"I see everything I've been told about you is true." The man observed. "Mr. Dickenson told me you were highly intelligent as well as powerful."

I just looked at him impassively.

"Tyson, my man, I want to explain something right away, before we tell you everything else." Gramps spoke up, regarding his grandson carefully. "Up until six years ago when Stan approached me about forming the Squad, I'd believed my son was dead, too. And then, after I learned why he had faked his death and let us believe it for so long, I had no choice but to continue to pretend he was dead."

Tyson gripped my arm. "I see. And why, then, was that? Why did he just abandon me as a child and why does he think he can just waltz back into my life like this?" My lover demanded in anger, confusion, and grief.

"Because of everything that I know about the creatures we call bit-beasts and the incredible forces they control." Tyson's father answered softly.

Mr. Dickenson nodded, fiddling with his cane absently. "Mr. Granger, you see, is an archaeologist. His life has been devoted to the search for knowledge about Sacred Spirits."

Tyson flinched and stared at his father sadly. "So devoted that you abandoned your family and even changed your name?"

I never wanted to, Tyson. I know you're not inclined to believe me, but please listen to what I have to say." The older man rubbed a hand over his face then clasped his hands in front of himself, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "You see, when you were just a baby, I went to work for a university on a new project that was being sponsored by a relatively young, but incredibly successful, company that dealt with the game of Beyblade. At the time, I didn't really know who I was truly working for. Turns out the company was Biovolt."

My eyes narrowed and Tyson sucked in a breath. "Go on." I said. He had my attention now and I suspected Tyson was just as eager to hear this - not to mention everyone else.

"The university was one I'd worked with before so I'd had no reason not to trust them. And looking back I don't think they did know who they worked for. When the university's president contacted me he told me he had a project for me that he was sure would interest me greatly and perhaps even gain me recognition among the world's top archaeologists and anthropologists if I made the kinds of discoveries the project's sponsors were hoping for. So I went and met with the president and a man the sponsors had sent to oversee things. That man was Boris."

"Why am I not surprised?" I heard Rei grumble. My sentiments exactly.

"To make a long story shorter, I went to work on the new project. After a few years of researching and boning up on everything I could get my hands on that had even the slightest bit to do with Sacred Spirits, I followed some of the information to Egypt. There we began a series of digs. On one of them we found some ancient hieroglyphs and scrolls of papyrus that spoke of how great creatures of power were used in ancient contests of skill and power, and how these games began to change when those who played them grew greedy and power hungry. The contests grew out of control and so many of the most powerful of the creatures were sealed away in rock and stone. Some few remained in the care of certain families, tribes, etc. for protection and such." Tyson's father reached into his pocket and drew out a beyblade. "Those spirits not sealed away retreated to objects of power and importance - symbols, basically. Things like swords, armour, jewellery, and some went into the bit-pieces of blades."

Tyson took out his blade and stared down at the bit-piece. "Dragoon. He was in our family sword in the dojo until one day he left it and entered my beyblade."

"Yes." Gramps smiled. I hugged Tyson and he cuddled into me, handing me Dragoon's blade, which I obediently studied.

"So what happened next?" Enrique asked.

"I took extensive photos of the scrolls and catalogued the hieroglyphs on the walls of the room we found them in. Then we sent them off to the university and resealed the room. I came home, worked on the new information for about four months until I figured out the clues there and discovered where one such rock could be found.

"I went with a team of researches to a spot in Mesopotamia just outside of the ruins of Babylon. We found the rock but we also found another chamber full of scrolls and texts, and after repeating the process we used in Egypt we sealed that room again and I did more examinations back at the university. I never knew what the university did with the rock but I suspect our generous 'sponsors' took it someplace."

That made a whole lot of sense to me. "Well, that explains where Boris and his mad scientists got the bit-beasts to experiment on at the Abbey." I closed my eyes, feeling a lot of sorrow at the way those spirits had been treated. It was only one of many reasons I did what I did everyday. I wouldn't allow any other Sacred Spirit to suffer as those at the Abbey had.

"And that hardly surprises me." Tyson's father drawled. "Now, anyway. I was quite naïve back then."

"Tell them the rest of it, son." Gramps urged.

"Well, it's fairly simple, really. One day I went back to the lab to pick up some papers and books one evening long after everyone else had gone home for the day. When I got there, I discovered Boris had dropped by and he brought his boss, Voltaire, with him. He was in the lab showing the old man all the research. I overheard a portion of their conversation." He looked at me solemnly. "They were discussing their plans to create mutant bit-beasts and how they would do so from he spirits in the rock, then how the mutants would be put into the hands of the army of brain-washed children at the Abbey." I gave him a short nod of acknowledgement. "I snuck away before they caught me and I immediately called some contacts I had in the government. They put me in contact with Mr. Dickenson. He was able to help me arrange a way to take the next big discovery we stumbled on and put it out of Biovolt's reach."

"Another discovery?" Oliver inquired. "What was it?"

"A second rock. We found that one in Central America in a chamber beneath one of the ruined temples of the Aztecs." Mr. Granger revealed. "We did it on a holiday, when everyone was returning to their homes. That way I could take the rock and it wouldn't be discovered missing until everyone returned a week later. Or at least, that was the plan. I didn't realize that Boris had left behind a guard to keep an eye on things and he saw me steal the rock. Biovolt sent out assassins after me but I managed to avoid them long enough to get the rock to Mr. Dickenson. And then, not only to protect myself but Tyson, Gramps, and Hilary, too, we arranged for my death to faked - so convincingly that no one would question it and come after my family."

"The car explosion." Tyson whispered. "No one could have survived it and all the papers and whatever with you would have been destroyed."

"Yes, Tyson. You were only six years old by that time. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I have missed so much of your life because of all this." The man suddenly looked weary and far older than his age and I couldn't blame him.

Apparently my lover couldn't either because he pulled out of my embrace and got up, walking over to his father and throwing his arms around the older man's shoulders. He looked a bit surprised for a moment but returned the hug quickly and firmly.

Now, I'm not a sappy kind of guy, but even I had to sniff a bit. Hilary was crying into her handkerchief she'd gotten from Kenny and Max was sniffling into Rei's shoulder. The sentimentality of the moment was enough to smother.

"You're back now. That's all that matters any more." I heard Tyson say in a watery voice, muffled by his father's shirt.

"Okay. So now we know how all that happened. But why come back now?" I asked, trying to get the meeting back on track and the emotional level down again. "Have you discovered some new information or something?"

"Yes, in fact, we have." Mr. Dickenson spoke up. "You see, I took the rock and up until we formed the Squad - and then after as well - Mr. Granger continued to research and analyze all the information he'd gathered for us. He even went back and had those chambers reopened. The scrolls and the rock are now in the vaults here at the main base. Judy has been working with him as much as she can to help learn more about the rock."

"And what did you find?" Max questioned. Tyson came back to me and I took his hand in mine, rubbing it between my palms.

"You okay?" I asked in concern. He nodded and I kissed the back of his hand. "Good."

"It's very serious, Max." Judy told him, her expression reflecting her statement. "But it didn't come from the rock or the scrolls."

"We had an email come in a day and a half ago from a contact in Belgium." Mr. Dickenson said. I frowned.

"That's where those hired thugs at that club in Moscow told me Boris was going."

"Ah. Well, he's been and gone now. Our contact told us he'd brought some rather exceptional diamonds with him and sold them."

"That jives with the thugs' story."

"He's returning to Moscow, briefly." Mr. Mizuhara added. "And from there he's heading for Australia."

"Australia? What for?" I had no idea what could be down under that would interest Boris.

"We think that's where he's set up his new operations base." Judy said.

"Great. At least we have a direction to go, now." I muttered.

"You will follow him, then?" Oliver asked me. "Do you not think it would be best to wait until we have more information?"

"It doesn't really make a difference to me." I stated. "I have had enough of that demon. I am going to stop him once and for all."

A sudden ringing of a cell phone made all of us jump a bit. Mr. Dickenson pulled out his and got up, walking away from the group to answer it.

I leaned back comfortably in my seat and Tyson looked up at me.

"Tired, love?" He reached up to run his fingers through my bangs. "You look like you could use a nap."

That, of course, made me yawn.

"I'm fine, Tyson. We can sleep later."

He chuckled and he said in my head, {Much, much later, I hope. I intend to wear you out tonight, lover.} I felt a pleasant jolt at the heated statement.

"Oh, really, now?" I murmured next to his ear. "I look forward to it."

Mr. Dickenson returned at that point and he was looking rather worried and distressed, his face pale.

"Boss? Everything alright?" Rei got up and led him to a chair, checking over the old man carefully with his own abilities.

"No. The last of our reason will have to wait, I'm afraid. It appears that Tala managed to sneak out a message to the Squad. And along with it came detailed data and schematics for Boris' base. The data is of Boris' plans." Mr. Dickenson informed us.

"And…?" Kenny wanted to know. I was dreading the answer.

"He isn't trying to make another Black Dranzer, as we had thought. He's out for revenge." The old man wiped his brow with a tissue from his pocket. "Boris is developing a virus - for bit-beasts. If the virus gets out and works as he wants it to, all the Sacred Spirits everywhere could be destroyed."

The only thing that could get through my shock was…

Why can't anything go right?

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Authoress' Notes: I cut it off here cause it was just getting so freaking long!! *gasps for breath* Hope you enjoyed it! All 24 pages of handwritten fic…Please R/R!