When the rest of the team got back, Bryan and Miles told the other seven members what was going on. They were in various states of reaction.

Before Miles let them speak, he handed them all a piece of paper.

"I want to see a vote on this..." Miles said. "I want an honest answer from all of you about this..."

Not questioning this method, the seven others voted whether to keep it or not. By a vote of 6 to 1, most of the gang agreed; Miles and Bryan would be fine together.

"Thanks for liking this idea of us, guys..." Bryan said. "I'm glad. I was worried you would react the opposite way..."

After giving "Thank You's" and "You're Welcome's", Miles and Bryan went back upstairs.

"I can't believe it, Miles!" Bryan said. "They like the idea! All of them do!"

"All except one..." Miles then said.

"Oh yeah. Who could that've been?" Bryan asked.

"Let's find out..." Miles said, pulling out the votes. They looked at their handwriting.

R-Dev's scribbled handwriting was an easy "yes" vote. As was Devin's sloppy-written "yes".

Dan's and Bri's were easy to see in cursive. "Yes" From both of them. Even Cloud, who hadn't seen many relationships, said "yes".

"It was either Daisuke or Kiku..." Bryan said. They pulled the last two votes. Kiku said "yes", Daisuke said "no".

Bryan gasped, and started tearing up. "Daisuke... The one I had been friends with for almost forever...." Bryan couldn't believe it. he covered his head in the pillow.

Miles got up and went looking.

In the downstairs guest room, he found him. He closed the door. "Alright, Daisuke..." Miles said. "You voted "No". Gimme a reason why..."

Daisuke stammered a bit, but finally took a breath. "I don't know, Miles... I guess I'm just not used to something...different... I'm happy for you and Bryan, don't get me wrong, but...I'm just too uncomfortable to, I guess...accept it...."

"So, just because you were uncomfortable with it, you'd make Bryan cry his eyes out knowing his best friend didn't like it..."

Daisuke gasped and realized what he did. "Oh my god. You just made me realize. I'm such an idiot!!!!" Daisuke opened the door and made a dash upstairs. He spotted Bryan, laying face-down in the pillow, crying...

"Bryan..." Daisuke said. "I just realized what wrong I have just done..."

Bryan wiped away his tears and listened to Daisuke. Miles stood by the door.

"Bryan, I let my feelings get to me. I let what I wanted control my decision for you and Miles to be together. I'm sorry..."

Bryan looked up at him, and nodded. "I forgive you..." Bryan said, and he got up and hugged Daisuke.

The hug was interrupted when Miles got a message over his transceiver.

"Miles, it's Dan. They're back, and the captain's here!!"

Miles dropped the transceiver, grabbed Pegasis and rushed off. Daisuke and Bryan followed quickly. They arrived outside, and the nine members of P.T.A. were staring down the nine members of A.E.M.

"Why are you here?!" Miles demanded.

"I have a proposal for you..." the captain said. "How about a big face-off, best five-of-nine? We each match up, and the team with five wins first wins the face-off..."

"What's in it for us...?" Bryan asked.

"If you win, our gang dispurses, never to form up again. Along with that, if we make it to round nine, I let you see my face, and I will leave this country for your victory..."

"And what if you win...?" Dan said.

"That captain of yours comes with us..." the captain said, grinning.

Miles knew what was going to happen if his gang lost. He would either become a slave to A.E.M., or he would be executed.

Miles looked at the risks and chances. He took a glare at Bryan, who looked back, concerned and scared, but nodding...

Miles turned back, and replied. "Bring. It. On..." he said.

"Excellent..." the captain said, grinning. "Let's start. Round one! I choose Dark..." Dark stepped forward.

"I choose Cloud..." Miles replied, and Cloud stepped forward. Round one was about to take place, right in the road in front of them...

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

Gargoyle Orojya AD145WD and Spiral Sextans CH120RF landed in the stadium. and then started circling. This battle could go either way. Aside from the Captain's Dragoon^2, Cloud's bey was the heaviest at 62 grams. However, Dark has a history of KO-ing heavy beys, which he did once for Germany...

"Come on, Orojya! Hold up!" Cloud commanded.

"Keep attacking, Sextans. Don't let him sit still!" Dark commanded as well.

Orojya took every single hit that Sextans gave out.

By this time, storm clouds started coming over. All of the bladers started getting worried. Even the captain was getting concerned. He did not want to be electrocuted. Considering how many have already been struck in Princeton, the captain and Miles agreed that after this match, it would be done for the day.

"Go Sextans, Special Move!! Sprial Meltdown!!!" Dark shouted.

One hit of that Special Move would melt everything on a beyblade, even the metal. Cloud waited, and dodged at the right time. Orojya as close to touching Sextans than you could imagine.

"Quick, Orojya, Special Move!! Unforgiving Bind!!!" Cloud commanded.

At first, Miles had no idea what Cloud was thinking. That move involved self-KO-ing. Then, he saw the magic happen.

Orojya entangled Sextans, then flipped to toss Sextans out of the stadium. Orojya, now airborne, landed by catching the edge of the stadium, and sliding down to the center.

The P.T.A. cheered. Then, the groups dispersed when rain fell and lighting struck.

That night, about 9:45pm, the storms hadn't let up. Leading 1-0, everyone on P.T.A was in bed, and Bryan was on his way.

Once he got to the bedroom. he noticed something shivering under the blanket.

"Miles?" Bryan asked. "Is that you?"

Miles slowly peeked his head out, looking scared out of his mind.

"Are you scared?" Bryan asked.

Miles nodded.

"What are you afraid of?"

Miles pointed out the window to the storms.

Bryan remembered the finals matched for USA VS Russia. Miles was traumatized by how many lightning strikes he risked during that match.

"Don't like storms anymore, huh, Miles?" Bryan said.

Miles shook his head. "They scare me now..." Miles said, still covered up.

"Awwww...." Bryan said, laying beside Miles. "It'll be okay. Come here..."

Miles grabbed onto Bryan in a hug. As another strike landed, Miles clenched onto Bryan.

"It's okay, Miles..." Bryan said, comfortingly. "I'm here for you..."

Miles calmed down, and eventually fell to sleep. Bryan covered him up.

"Goodnight, Miles..." Bryan whispered, and then he fell to sleep on his own...

Since the groups didn't all want to be caught in one spot, the next day, the two gangs decided to let one go at a time to a stadium in town.

With the score P.T.A. 1, A.E.M. 0, Miles sent Devin with his Scythe Corona 230D to fight.

Devin arrived to find his opponent waiting, CD Collins, fitting his Flash Draco S130MF with a new MF and MF-H. The Yellow Pyxis wheel was now a bright red with the black decals. CD attached and was ready to launch. Devin attached Corona.

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

Corona and Draco landed, immediately with Draco attacking and Corona dodging every attack, just like the first tournament.

"Seems that you haven't learned your lesson..." Devin jokingly said.

"I wouldn't joke around too much..." CD replied. "Draco isn't done yet..."

Corona was hit once, and started fleeing. Coronaand Draco were going the same speed. Draco couldn't gain ground. Then ,Draco went into a flower shape, cutting the circle. That made Draco gain ground.

One tap almost KO'd Corona. Corona hit the wall and struck back into Draco, destabilizing it quickly.

"GO Draco, Special Move!!!" CD yelled. "Dragon Soaring Bitestrike!!!"

Panicked, Devin was going to let this hit determine the victor. "Special Move!!!" he said. "Rainbow Gemstone!!!!"

The two hits landed, causing a white light to engulf both bladers and their beys, then an explosion.

At A.E.M.'s base, they were all quiet, waiting.

CD busted through, stumbling a bit. He grinned towards the captain, raising his Draco in victory.

The Captain grinned, but the grin turned serious when CD then stumbled and fell face down, not unconscious, but unresponsive...

Meanwhile, back at the base, Devin fell through the door, unconscious and unresponsive.

Miles already knew the result, but he didn't care right now. He ran to Devin and checked his pulse.

Nothing.

He started doing CPR and pushing Devin's chest, trying to jump start his heart again.

He started crying. "Please Devin!" Miles said. "Please don't give up on me! Don't leave!!!"

With one more hard push on his chest, Devin jolted up, gasping for air.

"Devin! Are you okay?" Miles asked.

"I...I lost..." Devin said, gasping for breath, hanging his head.

"That doesn't matter right now!" Miles said sternly. "Are you okay??"

Devin shook out of it. "Uh, oh, y-yeah... Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you..."

Miles felt relieved and concerned at the same time.

On one hand, he had just saved his childhood friend from dying...

On the other hand, it was 1-1...

Round three was up. R-Dev was waiting at the stadium for his opponent. Who did he get? The guy he fought in the gang tussle...

Star approached the stadium, His Lupus in hand. Star smirked at R-Dev as he walked up.

Unamused, R-Dev attached Impaler, while Star attached Lupus.

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

Impaler went to the center, as usual, and started with many small taps with Lupus, who had the same idea.

Neither blader made a command to go stronger. They wanted this to be up close and personal, not letting up a bit...

R-Dev focused his stare on Lupus' mesmerizing spin, which was dizzy and looked as if a zombie took over.

He analyzed the bey he was facing. Fang Lupus... He crouched down to see the bottom. S130 Track..

Then, the tip was too hard to tell. It was either WD, EWD, W2D, or SWD.

Then, as Lupus started weakening, the answer was obvious, W2D. But for some reason, despite being drastically slowed, Lupus just wouldn't die.

"How in the hell are you still spinning?" R-Dev said.

"I'm technically not..." Star said grinning. "Look closely..."

R-Dev looked. Lupus wasn't spinning, but was moving as if it was. Impaler crashed into it several times, but no luck. Even Apocalyptic Nightmare was a failure. His dark moves were of no use...

R-Dev then psycho-analyzed Lupus as if he was a machine. He knew the special moves, wins, losses, every statistic you could think of. He then knew what to do...

Catching Star's overconfidence, he made his move.

"Special Move!! Crossover to the Light!!!" R-Dev commanded.

It was enough. A perfect smash on the recoily Fang wheel tossed it out of the stadium...

Panicked, Star broke for it. R-Dev picked up Impaler, which was glowing white.

As P.T.A. sat in their building, a white glare caught Miles' eye. He looked out the window. He got excited, running out the door. His friends followed.

There he was. R-Dev, holding his glowing Impaler in the air. Miles and his friends swarmed R-Dev and they cheered.

Miles knew it wasn't over, but he was confident. P.T.A. 2, A.E.M. 1...

Round Four started late that night.

Bri couldn't see who was up there ahead at the stadium. She had to walk all the way in to spot who it was. It was Jakester, with his LLD ED145FB.

Jakester didn't say a word. He just attached his bey. Bri attached her L-Drago too...

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

Both LLD and MLD hit the stadium. Both had a vital disadvantage; they were facing a left-spin opponent. It would all come down to clashing.

"Come on, L-Drago!! Show em what you got!!!" Bri yelled out.

Jakester stayed quiet, but fully concentrated as his bey clashed with Bri's.

After Much clashing, Bri let out her Special Move. "Dragon Fire Rampage!!!" She yelled out.

MLD flew up and charged right at LLD. It looked as if she had it.

Then, right when it seemed MLD would hit, LLD moved on its aggressive FB tip. MLD crashed into the ground.

Jakester rose his hand as LLD rose into the air, covered in purple. He threw his hand down as the strike landed perfectly, KO'ing MLD.

Bri picked up MLD calmly and began to walk away. She hesitated and turned when she heard a winding sound.

-CLICK-

Then, the sound of bullets entering a weapon. Bri then broke away in a run.

She looked back. Jakester was chasing her, carrying a .357 magnum, a revolver basically. He was firing shots at her, reloading and firing more every time. Bri's sudden evasive movements made it difficult for Jakester to land a hit.

Bri saw the house. She screamed out. Miles and Daisuke were at the door. Miles again knew the result, but once again, it didn't matter right now. They hurried her inside. Jakester was still shooting, breaking windows.

Dan and R-Dev looked at each other and nodded. They went to a secret weapon case they had hidden in case of emergencies. They ran to the window, Dan carrying a Barrett M90 sniper rifle, R-Dev with his standard 12-round Pistol he called 'Pic-12".

As Jakester took cover, Dan and R-Dev fired, while Jakester continued firing back. Everyone else crouched or took cover, scared.

Dan and R-Dev each whizzed a bullet by Jakester's head. After that, he retreated...

Dan and R-Dev waited until he disappeared from view before putting the guns away.

The score was 2 for P.T.A, 2 for A.E.M.

It was 10:30, and the team started going to bed. Bryan and Miles laid in the bed, thinking.

"Oh my gd, Bryan..." Miles said. "I am to tired to go to sleep. I dunno whether I stay here or get taken away... It's too stressing..." Miles sighed, holding his tears back.

I know, Miles..." Bryan replied. He turned to him. "Come on, Miles. Let them out..."

Miles shook his head, still straining.

"Miles... Please, it will help both of us. You can be silent if you want, but please, just let it out.

Miles finally let out his tears, hugging Bryan.

"There we go..." Bryan said. "That's it..."

Miles stayed latched onto Bryan until he fell asleep. Bryan covered him up, and then Bryan went to sleep...

....


or did he???

Bryan waited until Miles was completely passed out. He slowly snuck out of bed, and went downstairs. Hetook his newly improved bey, Death Ara BD145DS, out of the cupboard and slowly left out the back door.

Miles would come downstairs just a few moments later, wondering where Bryan went. He assumed he had went to the bathroom, and went back to bed.

Meanwhile, Bryan walked down Quarterhorse Road, took a right at the end, and took a left onto Old Smithfield Road. He walked for about an hour, eventually getting onto Ash Street.

Bryan turned left at the construction on Center Street and walked down. He finally arrived on Bain St. He looked for 709, the house he wanted to target. He found the house, aimed his bey at one of the windows, and fired.

Ara crashed through the window, landing on the floor in the room.

"Come on out, ya wimp!!" Bryan remarked. "Round five's starting now, and I said so!!!"

The door opened, and Alashion V. Kixon, otherwise known as Lashie, exited the door. His golden-colored eyes grew bright in anger. Without a word, He readied his bey, Saramanda Saramanda B : D.

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

Nobody woke up at those clashes at 11:45pm. Lashie and Bryan battled with might against each other. Saramanda delivered a few hits, but the aggressive B : D made it too easy to be smashed out. Bryan's Ara clashed against it, coming close to flipping it every time. Lashie took better offensives, making Saramanda^2 clashing harder and knocking back Ara.

Then, as it seemed that Lashie was going to win.

-WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO-

Police Sirens. The Red and blue lights turned the corner. Lashie freaked, losing concentration.

Bryan took over and finished it. "Special Move, Rising to the Peak!!!" he yelled out.

Ara smashed into Saramanda^2 flipped out, getting KO'd. Lashie picked it up quickly and ran.

"You, hands up, NOW!!!" the officer yelled to Bryan. Bryan calmly put his hands behind his head and stayed calm.

The police officers came to him and recognized him.

"Oh, sorry about the inconvenience..." The officer said. "Thank you for distracting him..."

"No problem...' Bryan kindly said. "I try..."

"You need a ride home?" the officer asked.

Bryan nodded, and the officer drove him home.

That morning about 8am, Saturday, Miles woke up, and Bryan was still not beside him. He was worried.

Being the first one awake, with everyone upstairs, Miles went downstairs, and was shocked at what he saw....

It was Bryan, sitting at the couch, watching TV, and writing on a notebook.

"Bryan?? Where have you been??" Miles said confused.

Bryan looked at Miles, and grinned, he turned his notebook around. It had writing.

"I went out tonight...", is what the notebook said.

"H-Huh???" Miles said, more confused.

Still grinning, Bryan turned the page again. "Lashie's done..."

That was all that was needed. Miles then covered his mouth in awe. He hugged Bryan.

"Thank you so much, Bryan..." Miles said. "I'm glad you did that. But one thing..."

"Yeah?" Bryan asked.

"Don't sneak out on me like that!!! I was so worried, I mean, you have no idea what it's like to not have someone there, my god man!!! Seriously, you had me freaking out all night!!!"

Dan and R-Dev looked from upstairs, grinning and trying to hold in laughter.

"Uh..." Bryan hesitated. "Well, uh, ya see, um..."

Miles rambled on again. Dan and R-Dev couldn't help but laugh. Devin saw it and joined in, and eventually the rest of the gang was watching from upstairs.

"Miles, Miles, calm down!! My brain's hurting!!!" Bryan said jokingly. "I'm here now. That's all that matters..."

Bryan kissed Miles' cheek, and the two hugged.

They were interrupted by a group "Awwwww..." at the top of the stairs. Miles and Bryan looked up at them, smirks on their face. The group ran down the stairs, almost tripping over themselves, and gave Bryan and Miles hugs.

The score, P.T.A. 3, A.E.M. 2...

Dan headed out for Round Six of the face-off.

When he got to the stadium, He saw everybody's favorite nemesis, G-A Walton. He readied Lynx. Dan readied Shade.

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

Shade and Lynx hit the stadium. Lynx moved in an almost perfect flower shape, while Shade's aggressive SB tip made it very evasive.

Despite that Shade was lighter than Lynx, it was somehow quicker. That didn't help with getting hit, though. Each hit flung Shade into a wall.

"Go, Shade! Arisen Dark Fog!!!" Dan commanded.

A dark blackish-purple fog covered the stadium. Shade was the only thing to be seen in the fog. Lynx was engulfed, and G-A had no idea where it was. Dan had this...

However, G-A spotted his bey, just barely, but spotted it, and went into attack mode.

"Special Move, Lynx! Lynx Fang Tornado!!!" G-A yelled.

A tornado formed from Lynx and sucked Shade in, along with all of the fog. It was over. Dan was just waiting for when it would let go of Shade.

It would let go earlier than expected, hitting Dan right in the forehead with about as much pressure as a rock. Rattled, Dan fell to the ground. G-A laughed at him, called him some words not worth mentioning, picked up Lynx and left.

Dan painstakingly got up, grabbed Shade, and trudged back home, in a lot of pain. Getting home, Daisuke, Kiku, and Devin took him to his room to help him heal.

About one hour later, Bryan couldn't find Miles. He went to Miles' room and spotted him, silent.

"Miles..." Bryan said.

No response.

Bryan laid down beside Miles, shook him once. "Miles?" he asked again.

No response. He then felt a tear on the pillow.

"Miles... Are you...crying?" Bryan asked.

Once again, no response.

Bryan grew worried. "Miles, please, answer me..." he asked one more time.

Miles finally answered with a nod.

"But, why??"

Miles quietly answered the question. "I still have confidence..." he started. "But the suspense...wondering when is it going to end. It's...hurting me... I...can't take it anymore..."

"Oh, Miles..." Bryan said, and he wrapped his arms around Miles. It was at that point Miles cried more tears.

Bryan kissed Miles on the cheek, holding him. "It'll be okay, Miles..." Bryan said softly. "I swear, we'll get through this. We will be victorious, and you will stop hurting..."

Miles held onto Bryan and let out his emotions. Bryan stayed by his side, not leaving him until he felt better, just like two lovers should...

During the day, Miles trained with Pegasis as much as he could. He needed to make Pegasis able to stand up to that heavy Dragoon^2 combination.

While he did, the two teams decided to send out their last two players out.

P.T.A. sent out Daisuke and Kiku out, while remaining on A.E.M. was Jackie Eskuwe, using Spiral Compass AD145WD, and A guy referred to as "Sour", using Kreis Disaster SW145D.

Daisuke and Kiku went out for their battles.

Throughout the course of about 45 minutes, large clashing and explosions echoed through Princeton.

Miles just laid in the bed, listening to those sounds, making his guess, and fearing for it.

"I am so scared. I don't wanna have to go to a Final Round..." Miles thought. "But...I want to have a fighting chance to defend myself, to show that I'm not hiding behind my teammates.

About an hour later, the clashing stopped, and both Daisuke and Kiku arrived back home. Miles and the group looked at them, waiting for the result.

It was what Miles DID and did NOT want; Daisuke won, Kiku lost.

It was 4-4, and the last match for Miles' life would be Miles VS that captain.

"So, when do we meet up?" Miles calmly asked.

"Midnight..." Daisuke said. "It's going to be a late night battle..."

So it would be Midnight, the day turning into November 18th, would be the final match.

Miles checked the clock. Three o'clock. His destiny would be in nine hours.

Miles went upstairs to his room, shutting the door.

After several hours, the gang started getting worried about Miles. R-Dev went up to his room, and came back five minutes later.

"Bryan?" R-Dev said. "I think somebody needs you...

Bryan quickly got up and went to Miles' room. Bryan knocked on the door. "Can I come in?" he asked.

Miles hit the wall inside twice, which Bryan took as a yes, so he entered. He saw Miles sitting on the edge of his bed, looking at him. Bryan instantly saw what Miles felt like when he looked into Miles' eyes.

Fear, anxiety, sadness, determination, hesitation, fury, aggravation, every emotion inside Miles' body. Bryan saw it. Miles was too hurt by his emotions.

Bryan laid Miles down on the bed, laid down beside him, and held him.

That was it. Miles calmly broke into tears. Bryan tried what he could to keep him calm, but Miles couldn't stop crying.

Bryan had to try something else, so he tried what he never thought he would.

He turned Miles towards him, and gave Miles one long, soft kiss...on Miles' lips.

Miles' eyes widened, but he instantly started calming down. He took in every moment. Bryan finally pulled away, and looked at Miles.

"Do you feel better now?" Bryan asked.

Miles' tears stopped, and he wiped off the ones on his face. Miles then smiled and replied. "Yes, Bryan..." he said. "Much better..."

The two hugged, and then they both fell asleep. It was 8pm, and Miles was going to need some rest for his match...

Luckily, he feels better, with Bryan next to him...

Miles was woken up by a small shove on his shoulder. He woke up and turned over. It was Bryan.

"It's time..." he said seriously. Miles got up, grabbed Pegasis, and started down the stairs. All of the gang was waiting.

They gave Miles their hugs and goodbye's. Miles was ready to head out the door.

"Wait!!!" Bryan said.

Miles turned. "Yes?" Miles asked.

"I'm coming with you..." Bryan said. "It's too hard for me to stand back and have you go all alone. I want to be there..."

Miles looked into Bryan's eyes. He was desperate to go.

"Sure..." Miles said, smiling. "I need you there..."

So as Miles and Bryan left, the rest of the gang waved goodbye and good luck to them.

Minutes later, they arrived at the stadium. The Captain was waiting.

"I'm here, Captain..." Miles said. "To fight for my destiny..."

"You're a determined blader..." the captain said. "Just like every weak blader i demolished in battle, stomping into the ground..."

Miles growled. "How about you use your words a little less on remarks, and a little more on the battle!!" Miles readied Pegasis and attached it to his launcher.

The captin silently put his Dragoon^2 on his launcher.

3! 2! 1! LET IT RIP!!!

The two beys clashed in the center of the stadium, neither giving an inch.

"Go Pegasis!!" Miles commanded. "Show him what we can do!!!"

Pegasis actually started forcing Dragoon^2 back a little.

"It's too bad that's only a little bit of force I'm putting against you..." the captain said. "Here's a little more..."

Still only exerting a little bit of energy, Dragoon^2 slammed Pegasis deep into the Wall. Pegasis was still spinning, barely damaged. The stadium was a different story.

Unphased, Miles stayed focused. "Attack again, Pegasis!!" he said.

Pegasis then delivered many back and forth hits to Dragoon, pushing it to the edge. However, Miles aborted that when Dragoon^2 rolled around and almost pushed Pegasis clean out of the stadium.

Pegasis and Dragoon^2 collided many times, with each attempt to KO each other failing.

Both beys were slowly being tuckered out, but they could not stop. A winner had to be decided here.

To throw off the focus of Miles, the captain shapeshifted, turning into Bryan.

"What the?!" Miles said, shocked. "He was right! You are a shapeshifter!!"

"Exactly..." the Bryan clone said, in perfect voice. "I have the ability to copy anyone, and anything..." He shapeshifted again, this time into Miles. "Even you.." the clone said, once again in perfect voice..."

Miles growled at this taunting the captain was doing.

Then, Bryan remembered the deal the captain made.

"Wait a minute..." Bryan said. "You said if we mae it to the final round, you'd show us your face. Show us...NOW!!!"

"Oh yes, I did..." the captain said, shifting back. "Well, here's your opportunity..."

The captain got ready to remove his hood. "Also, for my name..." he said, pulling the hood off. "It is Dylan Wolfeh..."

Miles and Bryan looked astonished and completely in awe. They couldn't believe it. What R-Dev said was true.

Bryan was in more shock. He was broken. He couldn't believe that the person causing the torture to the best friend he ever had...was his brother...