"The arrangements have all been made," Kenny said as he reached the table where the Bladebreakers were eating dinner. Ray was just about the only one eating normally as Max was bouncing all over the place as a result of the endless cola drinks. Tyson was, as usual, shovelling as much as he could of his fifth portion into his mouth. Their new recruit, Kai, was attacking a large slice of apple cake like a ravenous animal although he did seem to keep at a certain distance to everyone else. "Mr Dickinson was able to get us five tickets for another plane but it does mean that well have to get to the small airport in Khabarovs. He also provided us train tickets to get there."

"Cool," Tyson said after swallowing a large slice of pepperoni pizza. "Hear that Kai, youre going home."

Swallowing the last of his apple cake, Kai gave a small sideways smile. He couldnt believe that it had been so easy to get over to Japan without resulting to something drastic.

"When do we leave?" Ray said to Kenny.

"First thing tomorrow morning," Kenny said as he returned with a small plate of food.

"COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!" Max cheered as he slurped another countless glass of cola.

***

A soft chugging noise could be heard as the train speed down the tracks, but it went un noticed by those who occupied each carriage. At the very back of the train, the Bladebreakers occupied the seats and generally were able to stretch out as no one else had settled there. Everything was basically normal for them.

Max was on one of his continual happy moods and was charging up and down the aisle in a never ending race with a hyped Tyson.

Ray was generally relaxing, able to block out the sounds of the two energetic boys, and had settled down with a book he had been reading.

Kenny was, as usual, updating his beyblade files with Dizzi.

Kai wasnt really paying attention to what was going on. His attention was on his Dranzer beyblade as he gently rolled it around in his fingers, his gaze fixed on the large phoenix engraved on the top.

"Stop fiddling with that," Tyson said, taking a seat next to Kai after becoming tired of his endless races. "And sit up straight. Remember, youre meant to be the grandson of some upper glass guy."

"And how is it you know what upper class people do?" Kai frowned, slipping further down into his seat just to be annoying.

"While youre travelling with us, I make it my business to know," Tyson smiled at him.

Ray glanced up from his book and rolled his eyes with a low groan. Putting a marker in his book, he pulled a score sheet of Kai and Tysons arguments that he had been keeping. So far, Kai was beating Tyson with twenty two wins to three.

"Tyson," Kai said, siting up. "Do you really think I might be this upper class grandson?"

"You know I do," Tyson said, somewhat suspicious.

"Then stop bossing me around!" Kai snapped before turning on his seat to gaze out of the window.

"Hes certainly got a mind of his own," Ray smiled at Tyson, pencil at the ready.

"Yeah," Tyson muttered underneath his breath. "I hate that guy."

Ray smiled as he saw Kai turn his head and poke his tongue out at Tyson, indicating that he had heard. Ray returned to his score sheet and marked two more points under Kais name, making it twenty four wins to three.

***

As the train came out of a long tunnel and into a winding valley, no one saw the figure standing against the afternoon sun. With his almost claw like fingers he gripped a black beyblade, ready in its launcher. His keen eyes spotted a flash of familiar blue hair in the end carriage and a cruel smile spread over his lips.

"Arise Black Dranzer!" Repulsant demanded as he let the beyblade free with a clever flick of his wrist.

An ear shattering shriek was heard as the jet black phoenix rose from its spinning fortress and hovered above his master, beyblade spinning underneath.

"Black Dranzer," Repulsant addressed the ancient spirit, pointing to the passing train. "Go and finish the mission that you were given. See to the end of the Hiwatari family once and for all."

Giving an obedient chirp, Black Dranzer speed away to complete his task and destroy the blue haired teenager once and for all.

***

Kai sat alone in the carriage as the others were still in the dining cart. He was reading the book that Ray had let him borrow but didnt really focus properly on the words in front of him. His mind was still an utter blur as he struggled to remember at least one thing from his forgotten past but drew a blank every time. He didnt notice the door to the carriage slide open and Tyson nervously step in.

"Ummmm. Listen," Tyson said nervously. "I think that we got off on the wrong foot back there and..."

"I think we did too," Kai said, looking up from the book. "But I appreciate your apology."

"Apology?" Tyson sat out. "Who said anything about an apology? I was just..."

"Look," Kai interrupted again. "Just dont say anything else. Youll only upset me again."

"Fine," Tyson said stubbornly, folding his arms. "Ill be quiet if you will."

"Fine," Kai shot back.

A moment of awkward silence passed between the two teenagers as Tyson shifted nervously in his seat and Kai tried to get into the book.

"Do you miss it?" Kai said after a while, unable to concentrate.

"Miss what?" Tyson said sarcastically. "Your talking?"

"No," Kai snapped, annoyed. " I mean do you miss Japan when you have to go to your tournaments."

"Not really," Tyson said, casually resting his head in his hands.

"But its your home," Kai said with a touch of sadness. "Surely you must miss it a little."

"What is it with you and homes?" Tyson said, beginning to become impatient.

"Well for one thing, its what everyone else has," Kai shot back, anger over taking him. "And its where you....forget it!"

"Is everything all right in here?" Ray said as he, Max and Kenny came back from dinner. "We heard shouting."

"Would you just please remove him from my sight," Kai cried, aiming an angry finger at Tyson.

"What have you done now?" Max said to Tyson.

"Me?" Tyson lightly exploded. "It was him!"

An angry growl was heard from Kai as he sat himself down at the far end and stared at the passing scenery. There was a moment of tense silence before things returned to normal as Ray went back to his book and Kenny occupied himself with Dizzi. Max and Tyson giggled between themselves as they shared stories based around the subject of "embarrassing things me and my family have done."

***

As Black Dranzer drew closer to the train, he shrank back inside his beyblade to prevent himself from being seen. As he speed up to the back carriage at an amazing speed, he managed to get his beyblade to jump up onto the thick bolt that connected the carriage to the rest of the train. Without wasting a second, the powerful beyblade began to spin rapidly and with such force that the bolt was soon worn down and would brake at any minute.

***

A sudden jolt took everyone by surprise as the carriage came away from the train. It came at such a force that everyone was thrown off their seats and into a pile on the floor.

"Whats going on!" Ray demanded, reaching to grab his book.

"I dont know," Tyson said as he managed to get to his feet and peer through the window at the train that they were no longer attached to. "But there goes the dining cart."

"I dont understand this!" Kenny cried frantically. "The train was so secure! How could we come apart from it? Were doomed! Doomed!"

"Relax chief," Max smiled nervously. "Weve got plenty of track. Well just cruise to a stop."

***

Black Dranzers keen hearing picked up Maxs comment. As luck would have it, the train was just coming off a bridge and the slowly travelling carriage not far from it. Down below was a long drop down a raging waterfall and whatever fate waited below was hidden by thick mist.

Forcing the beyblade off the train, Black Dranzer released himself from the fortress and flew down at the bridge to deliver his deadly assault.

***

Kai, unfazed by the sudden situation, froze when he saw a large bird, as black as the night, rise out of no where and destroy the bridge with a single powerful beat of its wings before vanishing again.

"What was that?" Tyson cried, seeing it also.

"The black phoenix," Kai answered him. "I keep seeing it and every time it brings misfortune. Now its taken the bridge and we cant stop the carriage. Were going to fall over the edge!"