DZ: Yo! *smacks herself on the head* I have got to stop saying that...

Max: Why? Yo is a very acceptable greeting.

DZ: But I'm starting to sound like Blood.

Blood: Yo! Someone say my name?

Ishuca: Hello!

Max: DZ, who are these guys?

DZ: Eh...It's a long explanation. I'll explain while they go and read the fic.

Max: Ok ^_^

Takao: *clinging to Kai* DZ does not own Beyblades, or...Koori no Mamono no Monogatari. Wow, that was a mouthful.

DZ: ^_^;; On with the fic.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Max woke up when he felt something, wait, no, someone moving beside him under the covers. He lifted the covers slowly to reveal Draciel in human form cuddled up to Max's side. Max smiled figuring Draciel would do something like this. Draciel was never comfortable in new places, and would usually seek familiar company. Namely his master.

"Draciel..." Max said softly. "It's morning already. Genbu-sama should be arriving today."

Draciel just moaned and hugged Max tightly like a human teddy bear. Max sighed exasperatedly. Draciel was always a heavy sleeper in his human form. Mumbling revenge, Max tried to pry himself out of Draciel's grasp. "Tried" being the key word. Draciel's embrace was like a vice grip. Max sighed once again. It was evident Draciel wasn't going to let go any time soon.

"Aww, c'mon..." Max tried once again before giving up. He relaxed against the bed and studied the body next to him. Draciel's bright green hair was all over the pillow, but still managing to frame his elfin like face. Max wondered why Draciel opted to look younger than the other sacred spirits, even though Draciel was the oldest. Max sighed again. Draciel, always the one full of mysteries. Of course, what would a person expect from an old (like thousands of years old) sacred spirit. It's a sure thing they'd have secrets. And even though Max was Draciel's master, there's more than a whole lot Max didn't know about Draciel.

"Hey Max? Are you awake, yet?" A quiet voice said from outside the door. Max could have shouted for joy. Rei had come to save him.

"Rei! Help me!" Max cried out, once again trying to get out of Draciel's vice grip. "Rei!"

"Uh...are you alright Max?" Rei sounded concerned.

"Just get in here and help me!" Max shouted. The doorknob moved, but the door itself didn't open.

"The door's locked. I-" Rei was cut short by someone else. Then, a flash of light went through the door and there stood Drigger in human form. He looked ready for a fight, but when he saw Max with Draciel around him, Drigger relaxed and chuckled.

"Ack! Drigger help me! He won't let go!" Max said. Drigger just opened the door for his own master, and then walked over to Draciel's side. Max gave Rei a sheepish look and explained, "Draciel get uncomfortable in places he's not used to, so he usually seeks out familiar company."

"Ah...I see." Rei said trying not to smile. Max blushed furiously. Bad enough that he was caught in this predicament, but it was Rei who caught him like this. He looked at Drigger standing beside the bed. The earth-type spirit was staring at Draciel in deep thought. Max cleared his throat to snap Drigger out of his thoughts.

"Well, the only thing that would probably snap him awake is if we poured hot water on him." Drigger said. "At least that's how we used to wake him."

"Eh?" Both Max and Rei blinked and stared at Drigger.

"We, Dragoon, Dranzer, Draciel and I, used to all live together in the same limbo. As sacred spirits, I mean." Drigger explained. "Now, we should really get that hot water. I believe Byakko-sama and Genbu-sama will be here soon."

********************************

An hour later, Rei and Max entered the training room. Takao and Hikaru were already there, working on some kendo katas (1). Max and Rei took themselves on the floor mat and sparred with each other. They practiced until a lesser monk came into the room and told them that it was time for lunch. They left for the dining room enthusiastically, finding Kai already in there being served.

"Heya, Kai!" Takao greeted taking a seat next to him. Kai merely nodded and went back to his food. Not discourage, Takao continued to talk to Kai. "So, how are you today?"

"Fine"

"Where were you this morning?"

"None of your business."

"How come you weren't training with us?"

"I didn't want to."

"Why are you so aloof?"

"I want to."

"Why do you want to?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why? Why? Why? Why?! WHY?!" That last one came out as a shout. Kai didn't even stop eating and only answered detachedly.

"Because, because, because, because, because." Kai then leveled his gaze at Takao. "Anymore questions?"

Max looked at Rei, grinning. He leaned over his seat and whispered something to Rei. Rei looked at Takao and then at Kai and then back to Takao again. Rei turned back to Max and raised an eyebrow. Max nodded vehemently and giggled. Rei looked at Takao and Kai once again, and chuckled, but neither Takao, who was pouting at Kai, nor Kai himself, who was glowering at Takao, noticed.

"Hmph. Fine be that way." Takao went back to his food, thinking, 'Why do I even try? What a jerk! Grr...and why's he getting into my skin so much? Argh, I should eat. Mr. Sourpants is making me mad, and I get hungry when I get mad.'

*Anything makes you hungry.* Came from Dragoon.

'I resent that remark.'

*Nope, you resemble it.*

'Dragoon!!!'

Takao only heard Dragoon's chuckle and concentrated on his food, picking at it with much fervor. Even his own spirit was against him. Then Takao looked up from his food, smiling evilly. Oh, yes...Takao was scheming...

"Takao...?" Hikaru waved his hand around Takao's face.

Max had also noticed the look on his friend's face and started to get worried. "'Ello? Anyone there? Then again, I'm sure nothing's really up there but air."

"Hey! I heard that."

"Oh good. You were spacing out, and the look in your face told me you were scheming."

"Scheming? What are you talking about?"

Before Max had a chance to respond, the door opened to reveal a lesser monk. He gave Takao a small piece of paper and quickly left. Takao read over the paper and gave it to Max.

"Hmm, so all the Shitennou are finally in the castle." Max said, handing the paper to Rei.

"They arrived this morning?" Rei asked, reading the paper. He handed it to Kai after he was done.

"It seems." Takao said. "Well, we better finish our lunch. It says after we're done."

"Yea, so hurry up Takao." Max chuckled. Rei smiled and they finished their meals silently.

*************************************

Mao felt anxious to see Rei again. It had only been a couple of weeks since they've seen each other, but it felt like years to Mao. Rai sat on her left side, she felt him also restless, shifting positions every couple seconds or so.

"Be patient." Genbu's voice said. His calm air soothed Mao a bit. Rai was still restless. "They'll be here soon."

Mao looked around the room. Seiryuu and Suzaku sat in the corner, whispering to each other. Byakko was perched on a windowsill, looking out. Genbu sat in the couch facing Mao and Rai's seat. There was something unnerving about sitting in a room with four very powerful gods. Maybe it was just Mao, or maybe the fact that those powerful gods in the room could kill you with just a glare.

The knock on the door startled Mao out of her thoughts. Genbu calmly stood up to open the door. First to enter was Max, followed by Takao, then Rei and last was Kai. Hikaru was not with them.

"Ah, finally." Seiryuu spoke. He motioned for the boys to sit down. They did so, taking their places next to their own masters (Takao and Kai had to sit next to each other since Suzaku and Sieryuu were already sitting together). "Well, I take it everyone knows of the certain events that have been happening."

The others nodded and Seiryuu continued. "After Dizzara, Amaterasu-sama's sacred spirit, briefed us of what exactly Amaterasu-sama wants us to do, we, the Shittennou have come to a decision."

"Hold on." Takao spoke up. "What exactly is going on? I mean, we know about the stuff happening in Ryukku and the demons and stuff, but it seems like there seems to be more."

Seiryuu smiled and nodded. "You are right, that is why all of us are here. We would like to send you to Ryukku to investigate why the demon barrier is down, but we also need to send you off to investigate in the Asota Empire. We have heard several rumors that the Asota Empire might have one of the sacred items of the gods."

A collective surprised expression came from around the mortals of the room. Having a sacred item of the gods could make an empire so powerful, they could conquer the world. It would cause big trouble if it fell in the wrong hands, and the Asota Empire wasn't exactly what one would call good.

"And so what are going to do about this?" Kai asked.

"We," Seiryuu said eyeing all the Chosen around the room. "We, of the Shittennou shall send two Chosen to Ryukku and two Chosen to Reingrin, the capital of the Asota Empire."

Takao stood up with a grin. "All right, let's go. I'll take Max."

Seiryuu smiled and shook his head. "No, Takao, we have already chosen as to who will go to who. Rei and Max shall go to Ryukku with Mao and Rai. And so you and Kai will go to Reingrin."

Takao looked at Seiryuu in horror. Then at Kai, who had an impassive face. He looked back at his lord again, opening his mouth to protest, but Seiryuu gave him a look that said his decision would not be changed. Sighing Takao resigned himself to sulking in his seat. (A/N: ^_^ Takao so cute pouting!)

"So when should we move?" Rei asked.

"You shall need to be ready by the day after tomorrow." Byakko spoke up. "We are also waiting for more news, so until then we shall stay here and the day after tomorrow, you shall begin your journey."

Then Max spoke up, "So what do exactly do after we investigate or find something out?"

"Well," Genbu started. "The Shittennou shall be here as long as necessary, so if you do find something out, you must go back here and report to us. Then we shall decide on what to do, yet again."

The knock on the door disrupted everyone from their thoughts. When the door opened, Kyojyu with Hikaru entered the room.

"And I forgot to tell you." Seiryuu addressed the sulking Takao and the impassive Kai. "They shall be traveling with you."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DZ: -_-;; I know I cut it off at a bad part. I'm sorry. Anyways, I'm totally sorry that was long, I have thousands of reason, but I'm sure no one really cares, so yea...

Blood: She has been very lazy.

Ishuca: That's not a very nice thing to say. You should apologize, Blood.

DZ: But it's the truth, so I don't really mind. Eheh...yea, so Max, do you get the situation now?

Max: I think so...but why is Rapunzel a guy?

DZ: I went over that already! Argh, I'm just going to make you read the manga. Anyways, thanks to:

Obsidian Obscurity: I love your fics too!

Chibi-chan: Kai will be nice soon...I think ^^U

blank #1: *blushes* Ah thank you! Well now it has 13, so that's an improvement.

Shadow Shi13: I shall continue, as you wish. ^_^

blank #2: Thanks!

Max: Lookie, 5 reviews for chapter 5.

Rei: Nice observation.

DZ: Anyways, um, ok, I know Rei and Rai are very close, so I might mix it up sometimes. I'll be very watchful around those scenes.

Rei: I'll help!

Max: Me too!

Takao: Same here.

Kyojyu: I guess I'm in too.

Kai:...

DZ: *sweatdrop* Mmk... Uh, oh yea, I soon as I find the files I need look out for a new series from me and two one shots (they're all Beyblade ^^). Um...yea, ok. Ciao!