Tortured Soul

Well, here's the next installment. I'm not comletely happy with this chapter, I'm not sure why. I was going to put more into it but it started getting really long and I try to keep my chapters below 4000 words. Hope you all like it.

ASOTA - thank you for reviewing, and thank you for noticing. I was wodering if anyone had. I hope this chapter answers your question.


Chapter 11

There was a knock at the door of Kenny’s office, momentarily distracted from his current computer search, he lifted his head. Mr Dickinson was walking towards the door to see who was there, when he opened it, Kenny saw a smile form on the older mans face.

“Come in boys, please, take a seat” he moved to the side to allow the two boys entrance into the soon to be full room.

“Mr Dickinson, it’s good to see you again” Garland said rather formally, he was still a little uncomfortable around these people, owing to his actions of the last year. When he noticed Kenny sat looking at him from in front of a computer, he offered a small smile and was taken aback when Kenny smiled quite warmly at him.

“Please Garland, there’s no need to be so formal. Especially not when I explain the reason we invited you here.” Garland looked sharply at Mr Dickinson, confusion evident in his eyes.

“Sir, why have you asked us here?” Garland asked, “You said something about a problem and needing our help, but nothing else. Honestly, we’re a little confused.” Kenny stopped what he was doing at the computers, deciding now would be a good time to join the conversation. He turned his chair around and wheeled himself closer to the other occupants of the room.

“Sir,” he looked at Mr D, addressing only him, “should we tell them before the others arrive?”

“I think that may be best Kenny, that way we can be ready when they do.” Mr Dickinson replied.

“Um,” Garland said tentatively, not wanting to interrupt but needing answers to questions he wasn’t quite sure of yet. When both Kenny and Mr D were looking at him, he continued, “tell us what?”

“Well, you see,” Kenny began “there’s been a little problem. Um…Tyson’s kinda…”

“What about Tyson?” All heads turned to look at the fourth occupant of the room who, until now, hadn’t said a word.

“Well, Tyson’s been…kidnapped” Kenny said, looking into Brooklyn’s eyes.

“What??!!” Brooklyn asked, complete disbelief in his voice. Garland’s eyes had widened to almost impossible proportions and his jaw had dropped. “How long has he been gone?” Brooklyn asked.

“A few days” Kenny replied, his voice so small, the other three men had to strain to hear him.

“Why didn’t you contact us sooner? Who took him? Have there been any demands? What have you been doing to find him?” Each of Brooklyn’s questions was like a dagger being driven into Kenny’s heart and he winced with each one. Mr Dickinson saw the pain the young man was suffering and decided to answer the questions himself.

“Brooklyn, you need to calm down, you know what happens when you get agitated.” The words entered Brooklyn’s head and he slowed his breathing enough to try and get his emotions in check. When he felt calm enough, he nodded for Mr D to continue. “Tyson’s only been gone a few days, and granted, I was a little upset myself that Kenny and the others waited so long to tell me too, but I understand why. We don’t know who took him and there have been no demands.” At this statement, Brooklyn and Garland looked at each other even more confused.

“No offence sir,” said Garland, who had finally centred himself again, “but how do you know he’s been kidnapped then?”

“There are signs which lead us to believe that.” Mr D said calmly. “None of his things are missing, and he hasn’t been in contact with anyone.”

“Ok, so you know he’s missing, but taken?” Garland couldn’t stop the question, he needed to understand.

“He would have called, we’ve looked everywhere. Kai, Max, Rei and Daichi have hardly slept. I’ve had Dizzy looking everywhere, he’s not in a hospital on this entire continent, no police stations have any reports about him and he would never neglect his grandfather’s bonsai trees.” Kenny finished on such a loud note that everyone in the room had to lean back to avoid going deaf. Mr D put a calming hand on his shoulder.

“Breath Kenny, I’m sure our two friends have gotten the picture.” Mr D didn’t move his hand until he was sure that Kenny had calmed sufficiently. When the tension seemed to have drained from the young mans shoulders, he moved to sit in a chair close to Brooklyn and Garland.

“We’re sorry Kenny,” Garland offered the boy “we just…don’t understand.”

“Why Tyson?” Brooklyn asked thoughtfully.

“We don’t know,” replied Mr D “but someone has him and we need all the help we can get to find him.”

“What about Tyson’s grandfather?” asked Garland, “does he know what’s going on?”

“I contacted Mr Granger last night,” replied Mr Dickinson. Kenny looked like a deer caught in headlights. He hadn’t contacted gramps straight away, he hadn’t wanted to worry the old man. Mr D saw Kenny’s expression and smiled reassuringly. “He’ll be back as soon as he can get a flight. Don’t worry Kenny, I’m sure he’ll understand you all wanting to wait and not worry him.” Kenny gulped, he wasn’t so sure about that, and the kendo training stick that gramps often hit Tyson with looked like it would hurt.

There was a small knock on the door, the person on the other side didn’t wait to be invited in. Hillary came into sight as the door was pushed open and she stop suddenly at the sight of the two new faces. Her hesitation didn’t last long however and she smiled warmly at both Brooklyn and Garland as she fully entered the room.

“Good morning everyone” she said brightly, though not as brightly as usual.

“Good morning my dear” replied Mr Dickinson kindly “did you sleep well?”

“As well as can be expected” came the girls reply. “Hello Brooklyn, Garland. Have Mr Dickinson and Kenny filled you in?”

“Yes, they’ve told us what’s happened. What can we do to help?” Hillary smiled at the grey haired blader again, understanding now why Tyson had gone through so much to try and get them to understand the spirit of blading.

“Well, until the others arrive, there’s not much we can do. Everyone’s searched a different area and we need to see where in the city still needs searching.” Kenny interjected.

“Do we know when they’ll get here chief?” Hillary asked the young geek kindly.

“Not sure, everyone’s sleeping patterns have been rather scattered as of late, so…” Kenny stopped when he realised that everyone was staring at him, “What?”

“Trust you to analyse everything chief” Hillary said with fondness. Kenny looked abashed, he couldn’t help his analytical mind, he’d been told it was his best asset.

“Well I guess we just wait” said Brooklyn, interrupting the moment that passed between Kenny and Hillary.

“I really hate waiting” grumbled Garland.

They weren’t waiting long, only minutes later a slightly bedraggled Rei Kon was walking through the door.

“Rei!” Hillary exclaimed, concerned at the appearance of the usually well turned out nekojin. “Are you alright? You look like hell.”

“Didn’t get much sleep” it seemed that was all the dark haired blader was going to say to explain the state he was in.

“Any sign of Max or Daichi on your way over?” asked Hillary.

“Nope, they probably won’t be too much longer though.” Rei said, stifling a yawn. He sat down on the closest chair and leant his head against the wall, his eyes closing.

“Rei, are you sure you’re ok?” The concern in Mr Dickinson’s voice made Rei’s eyes open and his head turn towards him.

“I’m fine Mr D.” When the older man continued to watch him carefully he added “honest, it’s nothing a little sleep wouldn’t cure.”

“If you are sure” Rei smiled, touched by the concern in Mr Dickinson’s voice. He looked around the room and took in the concerned looks from everyone present.

“Look, guys, it’s not like we’re not all sleep deprived. When we find Tyson, then I’ll sleep, ok?” Rei emphasised the when, he was not going to admit that they might not find him. They would, and that was that. He was grateful when the door burst open and attention was taken from him and instead focused on the blond boy who looked like he’d just run a marathon.

“Max?” questioned Hillary as she walked up to greet him. Something was wrong, his eyes were looking around the room, searching for something. When he didn’t seem to find it, his normally bright eyes darkened.

“Has anyone seen Daichi?” He asked quickly, still trying to take in enough oxygen.

“No, we thought he’d come with you” Kenny said.

“When I got up this morning I noticed he wasn’t in his room. It’s not like him to get up before 7am, usually he has to be dragged out of bed.” Max spoke, worry tinting his words.

“Maybe he couldn’t sleep and went out early to find Tyson.” Suggested Garland, deciding it was time to include himself in the discussion.

“That’s what I thought at first” Max said, turning his attention to the two new members of the group. “But I’ve looked everywhere he may have gone, I’ve tried all the places that he might be looking. Well, at least all those I can think of and he’s nowhere. I thought maybe he would come here. He knows we’re working out a new strategy today.”

“I wouldn’t worry” Mr D said calmly, “I’m sure Daichi will turn up, he’s not likely to get caught. He’s a lot cleverer than we sometimes give him credit for.”

During the discussion about Daichi, Kai had been standing outside the door. He’d heard every word and a new frown creased his features. ‘Could Daichi have been stupid and managed to get himself caught too’ he shook the thought away, something else was bothering him. There had been a new voice, one that Kai thought he recognised. He pushed open the door and walked into the room.

“What was that a…bout” he stopped short when he saw two familiar faces sat staring at him.

“What were you saying Kai?” asked Hillary, seemingly oblivious to Kai’s sudden reaction.

“What are they doing here?” Kai pointed at Brooklyn and Garland while rounding on Mr Dickinson.

“We’re here to help Kai” Garland said quickly.

“We want to find Tyson as much as you. He helped us and now we’re returning the favour.” Brooklyn said, unconcerned by Kai’s outburst.

“Oh, you want to help?” Kai spun around, he fixed his flaming red eyes on Brooklyn. Brooklyn stared back, unflinching at the intensity of the glare.

“Yes!” Was Brooklyn’s only reply.

“We don’t need help from the likes of you. Tyson may have forgiven you for what you did, but I haven’t.” Kai continued to stare Brooklyn down, as he did Rei walked over and placed a hand gently on Kai’s arm.

“Kai, calm down. We can use all the help we can get, this is a big city.” Rei’s words did nothing to sooth the Russian blader.

“I will not calm down Rei,” Kai yanked his arm free of his friends grip and turned. Before he stalked from the room, he turned back to add one last comment. “I will not work with the likes of them. I’ll find Tyson on my own.” With that, he stalked from the room, his white scarf billowing out slightly behind him.

“Kai, come back” Hillary pleaded, moving to follow the angry teen. Rei gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back shaking his head.

“I’ll talk to him. You never know, he might listen.” Rei started to leave the room but a question stopped him.

“He’s never gonna trust us, is he?”

“He might, one day. You’ll just have to give him time Brooklyn.” Brooklyn sighed at Rei’s answer, knowing it was true. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Rei said to his friends, and with that he left to find, and fight if necessary, a very angry and in love young man.

--::--::--::--::--::--::--::--::--::--::

It didn’t take long for Rei to find Kai, he was sitting on the hill not too far away from the BBA building. When he didn’t acknowledge Rei’s approach, the nekojin sat down beside him and waited for Kai to speak.

“We don’t need their help.” Kai stated flatly.

“Kai, you know we need all the help we can get.” Rei responded, carefully keeping his voice neutral.

“There are other people we could ask.”

“None that could get here in time.”

“Why didn’t you warn me?” Kai rounded on the nekojin, his voice sounding hard and unforgiving.

“When Kai? We only decided this last night after Max came to get us. You would have known had you not disappeared like you did.” Rei’s voice was accusing, “Why did you disappear?”

“You know why.” Came the cold reply, “and I was listening outside the door, you never mentioned bringing them in.”

“How long were you there?”

“Until after you told Mr Dickinson about Tyson. Then I got a little tired and went home.” Kai sighed as he realised that he must have missed that part of the conversation. “I guess I should have stayed a little longer.”

“Might have helped.” Rei pointed out. He looked at his friend in concern, taking in his haggard looks and the black marks that seemed more prominent under his eyes. “Kai, are you ok?”

“You’re one to talk.” Kai indicated Rei’s own appearance, pointing out the messy hair and dark circles.

“Well I guess none of us have had much sleep lately.” Rei concluded.

“That’s just it, I got a solid six hours last night, but…” Kai looked thoughtful and seemed to be considering whether or not to continue with what he was saying.

“But what Kai?” Rei encouraged kindly.

“I had this dream.” Kai looked away from Rei, seemingly embarrassed by that statement.

“Everyone dreams Kai, that’s nothing new.” Pointed out a rather confused nekojin.

“Yeah, but this was different somehow.”

“How? Was it a nightmare or something?” Concern entered Rei’s voice and Kai almost told him to sod off.

“Not at first,” he admitted instead. “It was nice.”

“You and Tyson huh?” Rei asked, knowingly. Kai scowled at him and he smiled, ‘did he know Kai, or did he know Kai’ he thought.

“Oh…sod off.” Kai said, still scowling at his friend. Rei just smirked and dodged quickly when Kai went to swat him.

“Sorry, couldn’t resist.” When Kai didn’t continue with his explanation, Rei got a hold of himself and apologised again. “I really am sorry Kai, I’ll listen properly, carry on. Please.”

“Fine” Kai said, the scowl disappearing slightly. “The dream was nice, and yes it was about Tyson” Kai glared at Rei, daring him to say anything or smirk again. When Rei didn’t, he continued, leaving out certain parts of the dream as unnecessary information that Rei didn’t need to know. “We were here, on this hill, just being together. He asked me if it was a dream, if it was really me. We were…preoccupied…when I asked him where he was.” Kai stopped, needing a break before he continued.

“It’s ok Kai, take your time.” Kai took a deep breath, then another. When he was ready, he continued.

“There was a scream. It turned into a nightmare. There was a room, and Tyson was hanging by his wrists from a metal frame. They were torturing him Rei, using a red hot poker against his skin. I could feel the pain like it was happening to me. He just kept screaming and screaming but they ignored it.”

“Kai, it was just a nightmare. You’re just really agitated, that’s all.”

“No Rei, I don’t think it was. I heard crying behind me so I turned to see where it was coming from. Tyson was stood there looking at me. Looking at me Rei, not through me, like he could see me. He pleaded for me to save him, told me they were killing him. I tried to ask him where he was, who had taken him but the only answer I got was him screaming my name.” Kai was barely holding back the tears that threatened a flood. He hated showing emotion, but right now he could have cared less. He would cry a river if it meant finding Tyson.

“Kai, I…”

“It wasn’t the first time Rei”.

“What? Why didn’t you…?”

“What, tell you all I’d been dreaming about Tyson? As if.” Kai snorted in derision.

“What were the other dreams like?” Rei asked, genuinely intrigued.

“One was more like a vision. I was here, Tyson hadn’t even been missing a day, none of us had even noticed” Kai said a little sadly. “I thought I heard him call my name, and I felt something touch my shoulder but there wasn’t anything there. The second time, it started out nice again but became cold, evil. Something grabbed me and I heard a voice say something about treatment.”

“Kai” Kai turned to look at his long haired friend “there may be a way to explain the dreams.”

“How?” Rei looked a little reluctant to voice his opinion, until he saw the look in Kai’s eyes.

“Well, sometimes people are connected. They can see or feel what someone else is going through, but usually it only works with twins.”

“Could it work with beyblading spirits?” Rei thought a moment, working the idea through his mind.

“What are you thinking Kai?”

“During the world championships, when Tyson and I were battling, we seemed to have this…I suppose you’d call it a psychic connection. We seemed to be able to read each other, know what the other was thinking.” Kai had never confessed that to anyone, it had seemed so private but if finding Tyson meant he had to put his pride and isolationist ways aside, then so be it.

“So you’re saying that you think Tyson’s calling out to you?” Rei asked tactfully.

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. I think he’s calling to me, trying to tell me where he is. All I have to do is work it out.”

“Anything’s possible” Rei pointed out, “after all, you even admitted you loved him so…ow” Rei rubbed at his head where Kai had smacked him. “There was no need for that you know, I was just saying.” Kai smiled, he felt calm. All the worry and confusion about the dreams had been weighing on him and now, after sharing it with someone he knew he could trust, he felt unburdened, lighter than he had.

“I suppose we should go back and work out a new plan now” Rei pointed out.

“I still don’t like the idea of working with Brooklyn and Garland.”

“Kai, live with it. We need there help to find Tyson, that’s all there is to it. If you have another dream that tells us where he is, great. But until then, this is how it has to be.” Rei was forceful but kind, he knew it would take a lot for the Russian blader to trust the two ex Bega bladers, but they didn’t have the time.

“Fine, let’s go back.” They both stood, Kai walked past Rei heading for the BBA building. He stopped when he realised Rei wasn’t following him. “Rei?”

“Thank you Kai.”

“For what?”

“Trusting me, telling me about Tyson and your dreams.”

“Hn”

“I know you try to bottle everything up Kai, but that’s not healthy. Even you know you need an outlet every once in a while. Thank you for trusting me.”

“It’s no big deal, now come on.” Rei smiled at Kai’s back as he walked away. Then hurried to catch up when he realised that Kai was leaving him behind. Kai didn’t trust easily, it had taken three years, but Rei had finally earned that trust.