Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ A Sense Towards Life ❯ A Sense Towards Life ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A Sense Towards Life

Author notes: This will be my thank you for all the lovely reviews that you have sent me and the wonderful story that you made for my enjoyment. This is my way to thank you back for all the wonderful things that you’ve given me thus far. I hope that you enjoy this one as much as I didn’t do work in school trying to finish it. You asked for one, and here I am delivering. As a second note…I’m returning Michael’s hair to its original state of red because he looks horrendous as a blond…>__< can’t see it, not at all.

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Kenny grumbled something as he pushed through the waist deep snow after his blue haired friend pushing through the icy substance as if he was a bulldozer. Hell, at this point, Kenny figured that the city of New York should hire his friend and flat mate as that said thing at the rate Tyson refused to slow down as he rushed through the snow like it was water. Then again…Tyson did have the advantage of height over Kenny.

In the last seven years since the BBA Revolutions defeated the BEGA organization ran by Boris, not only had he, Kai, Tyson, Rei, Max, and Daichi moved to the States, but Tyson had shot up to nearly being six foot, along with Max, and surprisingly enough, Daichi was almost a full head taller than Kenny already and the kid was only eighteen now. Tyson and Max were always teasing the now twenty-two year old computer programmer that it was his destiny to be the shortest member of the team, even though Kenny stood well at five foot eight.

“Tyson, did we really have to tread out in the snow as if we don’t have cell phones and couldn’t have just called Rei, Kai, or even Max. All of which would have come and picked us up from where our car was stuck on the side of the road in that patch of snow,” Kenny voiced, breaking the silence which had settled between them since they started this little fiasco. The much taller young man tilted his head back, grinning one of those familiar smiles that Kenny was so use to when they were still traveling the world together.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Tyson beamed. “I mean, sure we could have had them come pick us up, but it’s not really that far and besides, I like the snow. So come on, it’s just another block.”

“Just another block, you have got to be kidding me,” Kenny groaned, pushing aside more snow, and following in Tyson’s wake. “If I didn’t need the rent money for next month, and knew someone who needed a room, I would kill you.” The remark received a light series of laughs, all of which Kenny continued to threaten his flat mate about being serious towards.

“You know,” Tyson said, breaking the silence after the laughter died down. “Sometimes I think you’d willingly follow me into the pits of hell itself, my friend. You know you could have called Rei, Kai, Max, even Daichi and got a ride from them, then left me to walk in the snow by myself.”

“And then I would never hear Kai’s mouth about letting you get mugged, dragged into an alley, beat, and rape, I think that’s something I can do without, thank you very much,” Kenny replied, not missing one shade which crept to Tyson’s cheeks.

“I-I-I don’t know what you’re talking about at all,” Tyson stammered, another shade aptly named candy apple red, tinged Tyson’s cheeks, the blush traveling to his ears and crept further up to his hairline.

“You know, you keep up that red, they are going to be able to see us coming down the street. Not to mention that red nearly beats out Brooklyn, Johnny, Michael, and Tala’s hair colors,” Kenny smiled lightly.

“Ha ha, funny mister comedian,” Tyson said, turning to stare at his friend. True, it was no secret amongst friends that he and Kai were finally deciding to go out instead of being an on and off again item, but Tyson still managed to feel just a bit of youthful giddiness when it came to that particular subject and Kai. “I didn’t think you had time to notice us with all the sulking you’re always doing over a certain friend of my lover’s.”

“What?” This time it was Kenny’s turn to sport a shade of red himself.

“Ho ho, you didn’t think I didn’t notice,” Tyson grinned. “Everyone under the sun who’s around you can tell that you have a thing for Tala. Hell, you’ve had a thing for Tala for nearly six years now. Maybe even more than that, you just are too stubborn to admit that piece of information. Now you can’t tell me that you don’t get hot and bothered whenever he comes around.”

“I don’t,” Kenny shrilled. “We’re just good friends and…’

“Oh give it up,” Tyson shook his head, the smile on his face growing while his blush diminished. Taking a backwards glance at his blushing, but scowling best friend of nearly ten years, Tyson waved off the look. “Put that stare away, I swear, you hung around Kai too much growing up. Why don’t you just admit that you want a little hot Russian action every now and then?”

“I don’t,” Kenny repeated, his tone rising higher with embarrassment.

“Yeah…oh sure you don’t,” Tyson nodded, the smile on his face never going away as he nodded his head. “And I’m sure that when I’m walking by your room late at night and you’re moaning Tala’s name in your sleep, that’s just my imagination, right? Lately is that why you’ve been washing your own sheets?”

“I…” Kenny’s face broke out in a full vermillion shade before he hid his face with his long bangs. So, okay, yes he did want Tala, maybe for about as long as he’s known the Russian. Something about Tala always managed to send a shiver up his spine whenever the red head looked his way.

Sometimes at nights or in the mornings, he did wake up with Tala’s name on his lips, recently that accompanied a feeling of being spent by the orgasms that rocked his body during the night. The brunette realized that he could never approach Tala towards his feelings there was no way that someone as great as Tala didn’t already have a partner tucked away that he hadn’t let anyone know about. There were more than enough people, and if Bryan wasn’t with Rei, there would have been a strong suspicion those two were together.

“Are you going to admit it now?” Tyson asked, noting his friend’s silence.

“Okay, okay, so I do want to have him pin me to the bed, while I’m writhing in ecstasy under him. Happy now, you pervert,” Kenny finally said with a pout.

“Yes, very happy that you’ve finally started admitting to me that you do get hot and bothered by Tala and the prospect of him screwing you into the mattress has played in your mind. So, now that we have that understood, how about we get you two hooked up tonight?”

“What do you mean have us hooked up tonight?” Kenny’s voice rose even higher than the previous levels of panic he was suffering from.

“Just as it sounds, how about we get you hooked up? After all, he is going to be at the party tonight. What’s not great about ringing in the New Year, than with a good New Year’s fuck?” Tyson declared. “I mean…reminds me of last year’s New Year’s party over in Scotland at Johnny’s place when Kai–”

“Please, don’t say another word,” Kenny stated. “I get the point. But I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“And why not?” Tyson said.

“For one, he might have come to the party with a date this time,” Kenny started.

“He wasn’t with anyone last week when I saw him, and I think Kai said something about the red head being single. So what’s your next excuse?” Tyson countered.

“You never know if he hooked up with someone between now and last week!” Kenny argued.

“I bet he’s still single from the last time I saw him,” Tyson snorted. “You know, you need to get over this little fear of yours and be more assertive. You’re never going to get laid again if you bottle up after that nasty little breakup you had with that guy Kylie. He was a jerk if you ask me.”

“It was more my decision to break up with him, because I lost interest,” Kenny reminded.

“But not before he thought you were cheating on him with another guy, and then had that big scene outside the flat with him calling you a fucking good for nothing disgusting whore and then I had to go outside and kick his ass. Followed closely by Kai and Rei having to come bail me out of jail for kicking his pussy ass,” Tyson countered.

“And then you had me place that restraining order against him,” Kenny added in. “It was only messy because you couldn’t just ignore everything he was saying. You always were backwards like that. We tell you to listen, you don’t, we tell you not to listen and then you do.”

“I can’t help that his voice was disturbing my favorite TV show and the things that were coming out his mouth were less than appropriate for someone his age,” Tyson huffed. “And besides, after that, he knew better than to come around and call you things you are not, and will never be.”

“You’re impossible,” Kenny chuckled, looking down the street at the All Starz complex that was now coming into sight. Outside the complex, some people were sitting on the stairs talking and laughing. One or two of them held cups in their hands, and maybe speaking a little bit louder than sobriety allowed unless they didn’t know the word volume control. “Finally we made it.”

“Ey, what took ya guys s’ long t’ arrive?” One of the people standing outside that was more than a bit tipsy by the way they were hanging against the banister was none other than the youngest member of the BBA Revolutions: Daichi Sumeragi. Accompanying the partially wasted Daichi on the front steps amusingly watching the drunken teen was Ian and Kevin. The two twenty year olds were grinning ear to ear as Tyson and Kenny approached the scene.

“Ian…Kevin, how many times have we told you not to give Daichi anything alcoholic because it’s going to go straight to his head and then we’re going to have to hear him bitch and moan about a hang over when he’s sober?” Tyson remarked, listening to Daichi say something, his words slurring together before he began singing his high school anthem.

“We couldn’t help it,” Kevin grinned, the tips of his fangs poking out as he lifted his cup to his lips, taking a drink from the glass in his hands. “Do you know just how amusing he is when he’s liquored up?”

“Do you know just how annoying he is when he’s liquored up?” Kenny countered, remembering a time when Daichi crawled into he and Tyson’s flat with his first hangover and proceeded to stay there for nearly two days until he felt better. Of those two days, Kenny had to keep Tyson from tossing Daichi out on his ass, and babying the youngest member of BBA Revolutions.

“Well, we can’t help that he has such a low tolerance for alcohol,” Ian voiced, turning his eyes to Daichi who was by now dancing along with singing to his heavily slurred words. Occasionally he weaved on the steps, continuing to hold onto the balcony and his cup.

“But you can help supplying him the alcohol,” Tyson said, shaking his head. “Just make sure that if you let him drink that much, don’t let him come over our place. He’s your room mate after all.”

“Oh don’t worry, when he wakes up, he’s not going to mind having a hang over at all,” Ian said with a grin on his face. Tyson rolled his eyes, thinking about the strange threesome going on between Daichi, Ian, and Kevin since the three began living in the same apartment together nearly a year before.

“Refrain from having him unable to walk for the next week,” Kenny replied to what was in Tyson’s head.

“You take all the fun out of New Year’s sex,” Ian complained.

“Besides, Daichi never minds it,” Kevin added in.

“Thank you for letting us know that,” Tyson said. “Just make sure that he doesn’t come crawling over to our place complaining about hangovers and being unable to walk because you decided to double team him.”

“As you wish captain,” Kevin and Ian replied concurrently before mock saluting the older and pushing themselves up from the steps, each taking Daichi by an arm and pulling the drunken red head off the steps. Tyson and Kenny watched the two support their inebriated room mate from falling over as they headed down the stairs.

“Where we goin’?” Daichi questioned, shifting his blurry vision between Kevin and Ian.

“Home,” Kevin said. “And then when we get home, we’re going to bed. You’ve had too much to drink love.” Daichi mumbled something else that Kevin and Ian nodded towards. Tyson and Kenny only watched the two until they were down the street.

“They are definitely an interesting trio,” Kenny smiled, walking up the stairs to the door to the complex. Tyson walked up the stairs behind his friend, shaking his head.

“Interesting is definitely an understatement,” Tyson said. “I would call them incongruous. Come on, let’s see what’s happening inside.” The two went inside the complex the sounds of music from above seemed to vibrate through the floor. Tyson and Kenny walked to the elevator just as it was opening to reveal Mariah getting it on with Rick. Quite surprising to both men--well partially shock and the other half horror seeing as how Rick already had Mariah halfway undressed in the elevator.

“Oi, get a hotel,” Tyson said, covering his eyes. “If I want to be blinded for New Year’s I would have stabbed myself in the eyes with a knife already.”

Rick turned to stare at Tyson with a cocky grin curling the corners of his mouth. “Well, nobody asked you to watch, now did they Kinomiya?”

“And what do you mean if you want to be blinded for New Year’s, you would have stabbed yourself in the eyes with a knife?” Mariah questioned hotly, picking up her top from the floor of the elevator and putting it back on, once her skirt was twisted back around to its rightful setting. “Are you trying to say that you wouldn’t want to see me naked?”

“Hm, what gave you that impress? Me covering my eyes, or me shuddering in terror at the thought of you displaying parts of yourself to me that I would rather not see and might need psychiatric help because my mind was just sullied due to your disregard of everyone else’s poor virgin eyes.”

“When has your eyes ever been virgin?” Mariah retorted with an angered flush. “The last time I remember, you were no where near that line.”

“Before you both start in on each other, let’s remember that it’s the time to start a new year and this year shouldn’t be started off with you two arguing,” Kenny said, assessing the fight before either could really get fired up. “Tyson, even you mentioned before we got here that New Year’s sex is what starts the year off right.”

“But--” Tyson began, and then stopped. “Fine, I won’t say another word. I hope you two have your fun.”

“And may you get laid tonight too, though I’m sure you get enough throughout the year anyway to last for one or two extra years,” Mariah winked, the mood between the two lightening once more. Kenny sighed, seeing as how for some reason, Tyson always tended to form sibling relationships with people and bickering was a sign of just how much he liked the person.

“Come on Mariah, let’s go back to my place,” Rick remarked, tugging the woman out of the elevator. “Later boys, don’t drink too much and end up in someone’s bed not remembering what happened.”

“I plan to get in a bed tonight, but I’m not going to mind one bit,” Tyson smirked. He made eye contact with Rick who shook his head a bit too knowingly, but refrained from saying something as he ushered Mariah to his Ford Focus. “Well, well, looks like I’m not the only one who plans to get some New Year’s sex in this year. This means that you can’t be the only person that doesn’t get a good New Year’s fuck this time around.”

“Tyson,” Kenny commented a sigh escaping. “Let’s not start this up again. Tala is probably with someone at the party already. I doubt that he’s going to be alone.”

“You doubt, but I know he’s not going to be with someone at the party,” Tyson said in a matter of fact tone, entering the elevator and pressing the button to the second floor where the party was going on. “If you want, I will bet you a hundred dollars on it, so what do you say?”

“I’m not betting you money on that,” Kenny stated.

“Oh come on, you seem so sure that Tala’s with someone at the party, make the bet with me. If I lose, then I will not only give you a hundred dollars, I will do the housework for the whole month of January without complaining,” Tyson grinned.

“Is that so?” Kenny felt a smile curl the corners of his mouth upwards, looking over at his housemate. “You must be sure of yourself to make a bet like that.”

“Oh, I am definitely right about this one,” Tyson nodded. “So, how about making the bet with me?”

“Out of curiosity, say you are right and he’s at the party by himself, what do I have to do besides give you a hundred dollars?” Kenny leaned against the wall of the elevator as the doors closed, and the lift pulled the metal box up towards the second floor. “You aren’t the type of person who just wants the money.”

“You know me too well by now buddy,” Tyson laughed. “If you lose and Tala’s by himself at the party as I predict, you have to make a move tonight with no complaints.”

“I’m not making the deal with you,” Kenny shook his head.

“Why?” Tyson grinned deviously. “Afraid that you’ll have to fess up to him that you like him, want him, and need him in your life and you want a little bit of New Year’s sex to bring in the new year. So, do we have a bet?”

“No!” Kenny flushed.

“Stop being so negative. Either way, you win. If you’re right, you get a hundred dollars and I do the housekeeping for the entire month, you lose, you get to keep your hundred because that’s not the point of this bet, and you get hooked up with Tala,” Tyson pointed out. “It’s a win-win situation any way we go with it.”

The elevator jerked to a slight stop at the second floor, the doors opening, and the sounds of the party raucously pulsing from behind the door. Tyson turned an eye on his friend and housemate, raising a dark blue brow. The coloring spotting Kenny’s cheeks did not vanish.

“Make your decision now,” Tyson said, stepping out of the elevator and holding the door so it wouldn’t close. His eyes burrowed into the honey brown ones lined with the light green that quickly averted, another shade of candy apple red accenting Kenny’s face. “Either you keep running from it for the rest of your life until he really does wind up finding someone else, and you regret not saying a word, or you take charge and discover that maybe there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Tyson, he could--” Kenny begun again.

“I’ve heard it like a broke record,” Tyson rolled his eyes. “Stop being so pessimistic over it. You’ll never be happy thinking that way, now come on. Are you going to make this bet with me or not?”

Kenny stared at his housemate, then the elevator wall. His eyebrows furled together into a frown as he contemplated what Tyson was betting him. He got to keep his money, and he might have a chance with Tala that night if he lost. If he was right, Tyson would do the housework and there would be an extra hundred in his wallet. There were only two cons in this bet. One, Tala being with someone and Kenny being alone, and two, Tala being alone but feeling that he and Kenny could only be acquaintances.

“Kenny, what’s your answer. Are you going to make this bet with me or not,” Tyson repeated.

“Fine,” Kenny sighed, finally giving in to his best friend’s nagging. “I’ll go along with your bet, if it will stop you from your ceaseless badgering.”

“Ceaseless badgering?” Tyson laughed. “That’s what my concern over your love life is?”

“Yes,” Kenny voiced. “Now come on, the others are expecting us to be there.” Tyson said nothing, his face sporting a triumphant grin, stepping aside to allowing his flat mate off the elevator. Saying nothing more on the subject, Kenny got off the elevator, walking with Tyson to the door barely containing the ruckus going on behind it. Tyson pulled open the door, setting free the torrent of sound which had been brimming through.

Many of the bladers attending the party were standing around with glasses in their hands, watching the few that were bothering to dance to the music played. Tyson looked around to find if Kai was amongst the people standing around and the people dancing, but failed in spotting his boyfriend.

“Hey Tyson, I thought you and Kenny decided on staying home, Max and Rei were looking around for you earlier,” Johnny replied, leaning against one of the walls near the door sipping on his drink that Tyson could guess was a choice between Scotch and Rum; maybe it was even a mixture of both drinks. Tyson strolled over to the red head member of the Majestics with a welcoming smile.

“Our car got stuck in the snow and Tyson decided he wanted a job as a bulldozer while we were treading here on foot,” Kenny replied to the question that Johnny had posed. Johnny laughed at the joke, Tyson turning his eyes to glare at the brunette with him.

“Cute,” Tyson snorted. “You keep this up and I’m going to have to do you harm, my friend.”

“You wouldn’t lay harm to me,” Kenny commented. “As well as you know me, I know you just as well, Tyson. Correct or not?” Tyson made a move to say something before giving up the sentence to turn his eyes on Johnny who was entertained by the whole transition between the two teammates. “As I thought.”

“Hey Johnny, have you seen Kai anywhere around here?” Tyson asked giving Kenny a leveled look, though he knew it wasn’t going to do anything. Kenny was right when it came to Tyson; he wouldn’t do anything to Kenny if the devil himself rose up from Hell and told him that his life depended on his ability to lay harm to the brunette.

“Kai…” Johnny thought for a second, tapping a finger on the side of his glass. “If I’m right, he’s in the other room playing a game of poker with Tala, Bryan, and Michael.”

“Thanks a lot,” Tyson replied, dragging his friend towards the other room with a smile. “Let’s find out if I’m right or not.” Without waiting to hear a protest, Tyson continued dragging Kenny through the crowd of people, saying hi to a few before continuing on his way. In the other room, Lee, Rei, Steve, Eddy, Max, Emily, and Hilary stood around a table watching the game of poker between the fore mentioned young men. Pulling Kenny to stand beside Lee and Rei, he looked at the game. “So, who’s winning?”

“Oh, Tyson, Kenny, where have you two been?” Max said, looking around Emily’s side at his two friends. “I was about to wonder if you weren’t coming or not.”

“Car got stuck,” Tyson beamed. “So, we decided to just walk, since it was such a lovely night and all.”

“He wanted to freeze us,” Kenny corrected.

“Oh be quiet,” Tyson said. “You followed me regardless. I told you that Max or Rei would have came and picked you up if you had called. Bet you would follow me into the pits of Hell too if you saw me going.”

“You should know Tyson by now Kenny,” Kai said, looking up from his hand with a smile.

“Yeah, I should,” Kenny shook his head. “Sometimes I think he would change.”

“Good luck with that wishful hoping,” Tala joked, putting in another chip in the pile that was started in the center of the table.

“It’s just like saying you’re going to get a boyfriend sometime in the next three years too,” Tyson retorted. “Good luck with that huh? I see you’re alone again this year.”

“You know he’s picky about who he dates or screws,” Bryan stated, tossing in a few chips in the pile before picking up his cup and drinking from it.

“Yeah, I kind of figure that, I just would have thought that this year was going to be different that’s all,” Tyson shrugged, side glancing his friend who had turned dark red. “As I was telling Kenny earlier, New Year’s is always better when you get to have a bit of New Year’s sex.”

“Don’t you get enough sex year round to keep you sated for the next year though, Tyson?” Emily responded.

“That’s a good one, Emily” Tala laughed, placing his hand down to show his cards. “Three kings and an ace, let’s see you boys beat that.”

“I fold,” Michael said, placing down his cards.

“So do I,” Bryan said, giving in the battle.

“What about you Kai?” Tala replied, looking over at the dual haired man who had a devious smirk on his face. Tala didn’t have too good a feeling about that and waited for his friend to place down his cards.

“Royal flush,” Kai said with a wicked grin. “Looks like I win again, Ivanov.”

“Damn you,” Tala scowled, getting up from the table. “Seven loses against you is my limit in poker. I’m glad that we decided not to bet any real money on this game, or I would be coming into the new year a poor man. I’m going to get a drink.”

“Who’s staying and continuing the game?” Kai inquired, gathering the cards up and shuffling.

“And someone that doesn’t lose as much as Tala,” Michael laughed, as Tala playfully swatted at his head. “What, you lost more times than we did.”

“Screw you, Parker,” Tala said, moving away from the table.

“Tala,R 21; Kai started, sitting on the windowsill looking at the figure Tala was staring at on the other side of the room talking with Oliver of the Majestics. “Why are you still standing over here when you really want to be over there?” Kai accentuated the statement by pointing at the figure with the honey brown eyes Tala continued to stare at.

“Because,” Tala replied.

“Because isn’t an answer,” Kai answered.

“Yes it is,” Tala argued.

“No, it isn’t,” Kai countered. “Look, he came alone to the party, which means he’s single. From what Tyson told me last, he’s still single and hasn’t been looking for anyone as of yet. Now is the time to make your move. You like him, don’t you?”

“I don’t like him,” Tala corrected. “I’m in love with him, and have been for a very long time now.”

“All the more reason to make your move tonight,” Kai pointed out. “Maybe if you show a little bit more interest in him, then he will know how you feel about him, and then you can figure out if he will return your feelings. It’s not like he’s going to screaming in terror and run away.”

“Oh, that just makes me feel so much better about it,” Tala sighed, sipping on his Vodka, turning his eyes to the outside where snow was starting to fall once more. Kai shook his head, not knowing what he was going to do with his friend. A while ago Tala confessed to Kai that he wanted to be with Kenny, but couldn’t scourge up the courage in telling Kenny how he really felt. In a way, Kai could understand how Tala felt, he had been a bundle of nerves telling Tyson how he felt, but he was fortunate his blue eyed dragon felt the same way.

“Stop being pessimistic,” Kai stated.

“I’m not, I’m being realistic,” Tala said. “He’s not going to want to be with me.”

“And why not, you’re already good friends.”

“So, that means nothing,” Tala frowned. “He could think of me as nothing but a friend. And how does Tyson know every little thing that goes on in Kenny’s head? He might not have told Tyson that he has someone in mind to hook up with. You know, to keep his housemate from teasing and such.”

“You might be right,” Kai thought.

“I probably am right,” Tala nodded.

“Probably right about what?” Kai and Tala nearly jumped, having not heard Kenny’s approach while they argued over Tala’s feelings for the said brunette. Kenny shifted his glance between the red head and dual haired men. “Sorry if I broke up the conversation, you two were so isolated over here, I came to find out what you were plotting.”

“Plotting?” Kai quirked a humored brow up at the statement. “You make us sound like terrorists.”

“Well, do I have to remind you that you have the mind of a terrorist,” Kenny said sweetly, causing Kai to swat at him, but Kenny moved out the way with a laugh. “Did I hit a nerve, Kai?”

“You think you’re cute don’t you?” Kai responded.

“No, I think I’m sexy,” Kenny winked, another smile curling up the ends of his mouth. “So, what were you two doing over here in your own little worlds?”

“Just discussing what our New Year’s resolutions were going to be. We haven’t decided yet,” Kai lied.

“Oh.”

“So, where’s Tyson,” Kai said, changing the subject.

“Your boyfriend is somewhere around here, I left him last in Michael, Enrique, Garland, and Spencer’s company. Though you might want to find him, he was drinking his fifth cup of Cognac the last time I spotted him and talking about wanting to play naked Twister. Right now, I think he’s off trying to find a large Twister mat,” Kenny answered, taking a sip on his Bloody Mary.

“You aren’t serious…are you?” Kai felt a bead of sweat roll down his neck watching his boyfriend’s flat mate nod his head in confirmation. Pushing himself off the windowsill, Kai sighed. “Later you two, I have to find Tyson.”

“Have fun talking him out of his game of naked Twister,” Kenny waved. Kai would have swatted at the brunette again, but a shout about mats and nakedness drew his attention and he shot off to stop his boyfriend from making an ass of himself, leaving Kenny with Tala. Silence for a moment fell between them, caught up in their own thoughts.

Tala looked down at the shorter man, his eyes dancing over the soft features of the person he has been in love with for nearly four years. Back when the teams were first starting out and the Japanese team and met up with the Russian team in the first world tournament, Tala never paid attention to Kenny. He was just some unknown kid on a small time team. Tala doubted after that tournament, he was ever going to see any of them again, so he never second-glanced the brunette.

Yet fate wasn’t going allowing it, he met up with Tyson and the others again when Kai became a member of the Blitzkrieg Boys. And during that third tournament, Tala found himself faced with the boy again; his arrogance at the novice blader almost got the best of him. Kenny almost won the match, but it wasn’t just that which seemed as if the blinds were finally drawn away from his eyes. The way Kenny continued to fight against Tala despite the odds, the red head had to respect that sort of determination, if not admire it.

Who really knew that the match was going to lead to more? That the two of them would become close friends over the course of the next seven years, or that four of those years Tala would feel as if he had found his soul mate in the two year younger male. Yes, some people claimed to find the person they want to spend the rest of their life with. That one person who completed them, only to end up separating a year later due to differences, however, Tala was certain Kenny was the one he wanted to be with.

Sure he dated while he was in love with the brunette, but no one had ever come close to fitting as neatly to Tala as Kenny had. It was probably safe to say that no one was ever going to come that close ever. Over the last two years, Tala had been battling with jealously and temptation to tell Kenny how he felt, more often than not jealously reigned over his emotions; relief when Kenny broke up with his boyfriend of nearly a year.

“Tala,” Kenny said, breaking the red head out of his fragmented thoughts.

“Sorry, you say something Kenny?” Tala shook his thoughts free, turning blue eyes to meet those honey brown eyes as sweet as the holder of those shimmering orbs.

“I really didn’t say much.” Who was he really fooling but himself to think that Tala was standing there thinking about him? Not only that, but he was very dubious of the red head still being single after so much time. If looks didn’t get him a bedmate, there was always his charisma, brilliance, wit, and loyalty. Those traits not only qualified him never to have a cold bed, but to face loneliness.

“So,” Tala started. “How have you been?”

“Fine.”

“So…anyone at the party you have your eye on going home with?” Kenny blurted out of the blue. In the back of his mind, he was kicking the hell out of his ass for such a dim-witted thing to say.

“Do you have someone in mind to go home with tonight?” Tala counter questioned, watching his friend turn red then lowered his face from sight. That only meant that he already had someone in mind. So it was best if Tala gave up on his asinine thought of trying to hook up with Kenny for New Year’s.

“Well…” Kenny trailed off, trying to come to a decision of what he wanted to say. “Hey Tala, do you want…to go for a walk.”

Tala didn’t say anything about the sudden change of topic, instead nodded. Maybe that was a sign he wasn’t trying to hook up with someone at the party. Pushing away from the wall, he set the cup down on the windowsill. “That sounds nice. I would like that a lot.”

“Good, I could use some fresh air,” Kenny smiled, setting his drink down next to Tala’s, then went to get his coat from one of the coat racks near the door. Tala followed Kenny over to the door where his coat also hung on one of the coat racks

“C’mon Kai! Let’s play naked Twister!”

“Tyson, you’ve had way too much to drink, you’re not playing naked Twister.” Kenny turned his attention over to where Kai was pulling a very intoxicated Tyson to the side, and seating him in a chair. Kai had a light scowl on his face, his fingers buttoning up halfway unbuttoned shirt Tyson had on. “And try to keep your shirt buttoned you’re going to make me have to kill you if I lose track of you in this complex, then you wind up waking up in someone’s bed with no knowledge of how you found yourself there.”

“Ez fine,” Tyson laughed, playfully swatting at Kai’s hands.

“No, it’s not fine,” Kai scolded.

“Kai,” Tala called over to his dual haired friend.

“Where are you two going?” Kai questioned seeing Tala putting on his coat.

“Getting out of here to get some fresh air,” Kenny replied. “You might want to walk Tyson around outside to clear his head some.”

“Ey Chief!” Tyson slurred, continuing to swat at Kai’s hands to leave his shirt alone while turning alcohol hazed stormy eyes on his friend. Seeing Tala standing beside Kenny only spurred a wide drunken grin to plaster itself across Tyson’s lips. “Oh, gonna get it from--”

“Come on Tala, let’s go for that walk now,” Kenny hastily interrupted Tyson, pulling Tala by the hand towards the door before he allowed Tyson to embarrass him with what he knew was on the tip of the bluenette’s tongue. Ushering Tala out the door, Kenny heard the last tail end of Kenny and a bed just as he was closing the door behind him. Once safe, the brunette sighed with relief.

“Kai certainly has his hands full with Tyson,” Tala remarked.

“If he doesn’t shake him sober first,” Kenny commented, which Tala chuckled at, zipping up his coat.

“He’ll be fine. Come on, let’s go for a walk, it’s almost close to midnight, I want to see how many people act like idiots tonight,” Tala said, taking Kenny’s hand in his and pulling the brunette away from the door. Kenny lowered his head to hide the flush on his cheeks as Tala turned his head towards the elevator to conceal the one that plagued him. This might be the only time he really got a chance to find out if Kenny was involved with anyone else.

“You love finding amusement in people making fools out of themselves, don’t you?” Kenny teased as they entered the elevator. Tala let go of Kenny’s hand, though they both (in their own thoughts) wanted him to hang on a little bit longer because it felt so natural for their hands to fit comfortably in each other’s embrace. Tala pressed the button for the elevator to descend to the lower level.

“Is there any other means of entertainment in life than watching individuals make fools of themselves?” Tala replied. “The world would be such a dull place if there were no fools to keep me entertained.”

“You are devious,” Kenny smiled. The elevator lowered to the first level, the doors opening to allow their exit. Fastening up his coat, Kenny walked in stride with the red haired Russian, the two of them heading outside the complex and into the streets once more covered with a powdering of snow.

“People use to say I was the devil, you know,” Tala joked. He turned his eyes down at Kenny while they walked. Kenny tilted his head to the side, glancing up at Tala, laughter filling his eyes. No matter how many times he stared at the younger, Kenny only seemed to become more attractive with each glance.

“That explains the devil horns and tail,” Kenny grinned. He didn’t know what it was about Tala, nonetheless, every time he was around the red head, Kenny felt like a teenager again the way butterflies raced in the pit of his stomach. Something about Tala brought out the giddiness within him, something he couldn’t control if he wanted to. “So, where are we going to see the drunks ring in the new year?”

“I don’t know, how about we just walk around until we find some drunken idiots,” Tala suggested.

“That has to be the craziest idea you’ve ever posed,” Kenny stated.

“Thank you so very much,” Tala beamed. Kenny didn’t say anything while continuing to walk. For a while the two remained silent, just enjoying each other’s company, allowing their legs to carry them along the snowy night. Both of their minds were on their problems of romance, unknowingly thinking similar thoughts of whether or not they were actually going to be able to hook up with one another, or if it was already too late due to someone else coming along that no one knew about. It wasn’t until about thirty or so minutes later that Kenny finally got up enough courage to hold up his side of the bet with Tyson and make his move.

“Tala…I was wondering…by chance…would you like to come back to my place and get a drink. Maybe watch the ball drop in Time Square?” Kenny looked at his watch, seeing that it was another forty minutes before midnight, giving them just enough time to get back to his and Tyson’s New York flat. “And it’s not too far away if we keep going in this direction. Or we could head back to the party now if you want, you will need a ride home after all and I know I’m going to have to call a tow truck to pull my car out of the snow, hopefully nobody will-- ”

“I like the sound of that offer,” Tala interrupted with a warm smile.

“Okay.” Kenny returned the smile, sure that by now his face was redder than Tala’s hair, and praying that Tala thought it was due to the weather. Sure it would be perfect if Tala felt the same way and returned his feelings, however, there was the possibility Tala only wanted a friendship in the long run. Of the few dates and two boyfriends Kenny accumulated since meeting Tala more than half became friends after going out with him, the other percent consisted of guys wanting to get into his pants. His first boyfriend-a second year college student majoring in Bioengineering-was the one who took his virginity, though that fight had been hard won considering he and Kenny went together for nearly six months before Kenny let his guard down enough for it to happen. After that, the relationship seemed to lose its spark, causing them to break it off a month later.

Kylie Grauer, a twenty-two year old student history teacher for a local high school, was the next choice to date after Kenny’s first, though Kylie didn’t come into the scene until nearly two years later. Kenny then twenty met the twenty-two year old through Emily who was in the same student teaching program as Kylie. Things for the two hit off immediately; Kylie didn’t push their relationship, Kenny was grateful for it, leading to a nearly perfect two year relationship. Sometimes Kenny questioned what went wrong for them, only to realize that disinterest settled in, even with the good sex between them. Perhaps reality set in for Kenny, that he would never really be as happy with Kylie. That his heart would always been for Tala no matter what.

“Kenny.” Tala broke through Kenny’s thoughts, noticing how silent his companion went after the offer to go to his flat for a drink. A ball of dread sunk inside Tala’s stomach, wondering if Kenny was now having second thoughts of it.

“Sorry I went so quiet on you,” Kenny apologized immediately, sensing Tala’s apprehension. “My thoughts got away for a second. I was thinking about Kylie. You remember him, don’t you?”

“He was the one you broke up with last month that Tyson was put into jail over?” Tala questioned.

“Yeah,” Kenny nodded. “I was thinking about how our relationship went sour. It’s funny. We were together two years, perfectly happy. Sure we had our arguments, all couples do, and I paid it no mind because we always made up. Those last two months though…before I ended the relationship…the fights got more heated.”

“And thought you were cheating on him because you lost interest in the relationship?”

“Yes, though I never wanted to hurt him, it’s just that…well, I was having dreams before we broke up, and he took them the wrong way. Maybe I was cheating, those dreams weren’t exactly about him, and Tyson says I have a tendency to talk in my sleep,” Kenny flushed.

“So, you were dreaming of another man?” Tala asked.

“Yeah.” Another shade darkened Kenny’s cheeks, looking down at the snow slick sidewalk as they continued their walk. Tala fell silent as did Kenny, neither bothering to continue the conversation. Tala would have liked to dismiss it all together, make Kenny his, then worry about it later, except things never unfolded for the better in situations like this. At times you didn’t get what you really wanted in life, so you had to learn to move on and set what you love free to allow them a chance to be happy.

“He was an idiot,” Tala replied when they were heading up to the flat Kenny shared with Tyson.

“What?” Kenny blinked.

“Your ex-boyfriend,” Tala said. “He was an idiot. He didn’t take your feelings into account when you broke up with him. He jumped to conclusions, he didn’t try to understand. His retaliation was to think of the most hurtful thing to say to you to feel better over your decision.”

“I don’t have hard feelings over it. I don’t like that we broke on such bad terms, but there’s not much I can do if he doesn’t want to listen,” Kenny shook his head. The elevator stopped on the third floor, opening. Kenny pulled out his key when he was at the door, inserting it in the lock, and disengaging it. Opening the door, he let Tala in, then himself and cut on the lights. Unlike most flats in New York, it was done in the same fashion of a two story apartment. The living room linked directly to the kitchen, which also contained a small mini bar. Stairs to the upstairs bedrooms was adjacent to the living room and a small studio Tyson and Kenny took turns using.

Hanging their coats on the coat rack settled by the light switch, Tala made his way over to the bar while Kenny walked over to the couch were a remote to the flat screen television was balanced on the arm of the dark blue leather couch. Flipping on the TV, he immediately got the broadcasting of Time Square, the count down ready to start up.

“I hope you don’t mind drinking Rum with me,” Tala called from the bar, filling two glasses full of the burgundy colored liquor.

“Sounds fine to me,” Kenny said, sitting on the couch. “I’m surprised you aren’t drunk though, you’ve had how many glasses tonight?”

“Let’s see, two cups of Vodka, three cups of Gin with coke, one shot of Whiskey, two shots of Brandy, and three cans of Heineken,” Tala grinned, walking over to the couch, handing Kenny the drink in his left hand before sitting down next to the brunette.

“I feel for your liver if you keep that up. I’m astounded you’re still walking straight, I would have been blitzed out of my mind if I had that much alcohol in my system at once,” Kenny shook his head, taking a sip of his Rum.

“Back to the conversation,” Tala reminded, sipping on his Rum. “He’s an idiot. If I was in that same situation, I wouldn’t fly off the handle like that. I would have listened to what was said, and if I really loved him, then I would understand and allow us to part on good terms.”

“You never know how you’re going to react in a scenario, until it happens,” Kenny pointed out, setting his drink on a coaster on the glass table in front of the couch. “Sure you can say you will do this or be like this, but you have to remember he was hurting. We were together for two years, and then all of a sudden I lose interest, not to mention moaning some other man’s name out in my sleep. I refuse to accept you can just be unaffected on such a deep level.”

“I can,” Tala assured.

“I don’t believe it,” Kenny argued. “If you and I were dating for that long, and then I told you I couldn’t be with you any longer because I was in love with another man. Or you won’t up to find me moaning another man’s name in my sleep, you can not sit here and tell me you can just smile and let go so easily. You would be hurt, much the same.”

“I’m telling you, I wouldn’t,” Tala countered, placing his drink on the table next to Kenny’s.

“You’re impossible.”

“Yep, I am,” Tala agreed. “So enlighten me, this person you’re in love with…were they at the party tonight?” Tala sat back on the couch, his eyes fixed on the television. In his heart, despite all the fun and games, Kenny’s mind was made up towards his next lover. Nothing was going to change that. Looking down at his beautiful love, Tala’s heart sank seeing Kenny turn his eyes towards the Rum which sat on the table.

“Tyson said I should stop being so pessimistic. He made me make a bet with him that I lost. I have to tell that person how I feel,” Kenny bit his bottom lip, chewing nervously on it. He couldn’t do it, he just couldn’t.

“Maybe…we should go back so you can tell them,” Tala said softly.

“There’s no need to,” Kenny whispered. He couldn’t, yet he promised Tyson he would say it, he couldn’t go back on his word. Tyson would never stop nagging him for it. Not until Kenny got the courage to say what was on his mind. “The one I have to tell isn’t at the party anymore.”

“I’m sure he’s--” Tala started.

“Don’t worry Tala…the one that I need to tell…he’s right here…with me,” Kenny announced. Silence followed his declaration, ebbing away his courage to look up and face Tala. The last thing he sought was his friend turning him away and leaving. In spite of that, the words tumbled one after another, the pinned up emotion collapsing the fragile dam around the walls of his heart. “I’ve loved you for a while Tala, I wanted to say something, however…I felt you would only turn me away as only a dear friend. I broke up with Kylie due to the fact I had dreams of you. He was going to approach you once with questions of our relationship, I stopped him, nevertheless it didn’t help things for the better. Forgive me, Tala.”

“Forgive you…for what?” Tala exclaimed, lifting Kenny’s face up with his hands. His eyes softened, seeing the tears shimmer within the honey brown orbs which mystified his soul. “Loving me, or turning into a fifteen year old on me?” Placing his forehead to Kenny’s a smile curled the corners of his mouth upwards. “Or should I forgive you for scaring me into believe you loved someone else?”

“Are you saying?” Kenny inquired.

“That we fit so perfectly together without trying. I told Kai tonight, you were my soul mate, Kenny. That is no lie I can not fathom any other in my life, except you. I’ve loved you for more than four years now, more each year that has passed without words. It does make life easier knowing your heart is mine,” Tala mumbled. “Now cheer up, ringing in the new year crying is no way to open the year.”

“It’s not twelve yet,” Kenny voiced.

“So true, but I feel like celebrating early,” Tala grinned, kissing Kenny on the forehead. His soft lips traveled down, resting on the tip of the Kenny’s nose with a light kiss. “As proclamation to our new relationship.”

“You know,” Kenny flushed. “Tyson told me that there’s no better way to bring in the new year than…”

“New Year’s sex?” Tala finished. “I’ve heard that one before. In fact, I think it was your house mate’s boyfriend who stated that fact to me.”

“Those two belong together.” Kenny rested his head on Tala’s shoulder, a great weight of relief removed from his shoulders. He didn’t have to carry it any further, Tala accepted him, and sought after the same affections.

“I agree with you there, love,” Tala nodded, lifting Kenny’s head from his shoulder. Leaning down, Tala took the cherry red lips for his own, hearing a moan of approval out of his lover. Kenny’s eyes fluttered close, opening his mouth to the tongue skimming his bottom lip requesting entrance. Tala reclined Kenny back on the couch, climbing over him, but retained his kiss, combing his tongue over the warm area, slowly persuading Kenny’s tongue in exploration of its own.

Another muffled moan waft the air when Kenny felt Tala’s fingertips inch under his shirt, the cool touch burning against his skin. Tala’s skillful fingers pushed up the shirt, roaming over his upper body in a random, though sensual way.

“Tala…” Kenny gasped, breaking the kiss.

“Yes my love,” Tala questioned, moving his mouth down to kiss Kenny’s jaw line.

“Upstairs…” Kenny breathed, his head falling back, giving Tala an opportunity to kiss his way down to the cream colored skin of Kenny’s neck. His mouth enclosing around the pulsing vein; Kenny yelped when teeth came down on the skin Tala was sucking on. “Tala!”

“Now I’m ready to go upstairs,” Tala replied, removing his mouth to eye the newly made dark red mark gracing Kenny’s neck. Climbing off Kenny, Tala pulled the brunette up into his arms to carry him up the stairs. Kenny’s room was the first one on the right, Tyson’s further down the hall near the bathroom.

Pushing the door open to the dimly lit room silhouetted by the moon coming in from the eastern wall’s window, Tala walked over to the bed, lightly placing his bundle down on the edge. Kneeling down in front of Kenny to remove the shoes and socks he wore. Kenny peeled off his shirt, dropping it on the floor subsequently unbuckling the belt on his pants. Kenny conceded to another kiss, this one more passionate than the first, Tala’s skillful fingers finishing the job Kenny started with the clothes, before moving to remove his own.

“Kenny,” Tala mumbled, breaking the kiss to peel off his shirt.

“Yes,” Kenny said, pulling Tala on top of him, reveling in the feel of their bodies against one another, wrapping his arms around Tala’s neck to bring Tala in for another kiss. Kenny immediately opened his mouth, moaning when he felt the warm tongue combing a path gently over every area with the utmost love and care. While kissing the brunette, Tala allowed his hands to run lightly up Kenny’s sides, feeling a shudder ride up his love’s back. Tala's mouth gently kissed a path downwards, Kenny's back arch, a moan escaping his kissed bruised red lips; his hands moving from Tala's chest to rest on his shoulders for support.

Tala’s hands roamed a path downwards past Kenny’s waist until his fingertips trailed along the inner warmth of Kenny’s thighs, lightly prying them open. Once that task was done, Tala broke the kiss, listening to the moan escaping the back of his lover’s throat when he let his thumb stroke the inner warmth of Kenny’s thighs. The hands moving upwards to the nestle of dark curls surrounding Kenny’s erection.

Tala leaned down once more, starting a path at his neck before moving down, his tongue trailing down his collarbone. Momentarily, Tala stopped when he reached the two small rose color buds which had recently sprouted. Using his tongue to lick the sheen of perspiration around the taut buds, Tala flicked his tongue over the left one, receiving a hitch of breath from the brunette under him. Moving to the other one, Tala did the same, the body under him arching against his, causing Tala to moan at the friction occurring between their bodies.

“Tala…” Kenny’s head lobbed to the side, his back arching up once more when a skillful hand wrapped gently around his member, pumping slowly, Kenny’s hips rocking to the motion, needing more as the addiction for the red head’s touch became more and more. He cried out Tala’s name again, his body melting under the gentle ministrations of Tala’s hand gliding slowly up and down his arousal in a slow, torturous pace which sent every nerve in the brunette’s body in a wild frenzy. “Please…stop teasing me.”

“Do you have any lube?” Tala’s voice was low and silky, lust coloring each one of his words, only succeeding in turning Kenny on even more than he was.

“Nightstand,” Kenny panted.

Tala said nothing as he moved from over Kenny-who shivered at the lost of contact between their bodies-to reach over into the nightstand table by the bed, pulling a small bottle from the top drawer. Moving back to Kenny, Tala opened the bottle, turning the bottle upside down to let some of the oil dribble down over two of his fingers. “Just relax now.”

“Okay.” Kenny watched Tala set the bottle down, climbing back over him. Relaxing his body, he felt Tala moved his hand down to his small puckered orifice, lightly stroking the outer area which caused a shudder to ride up Kenny’s body, his back arching off the bed. His hands clenched the cover as his head lobbed to the side when the first finger finally managed to slip pass the tight ring as the second finger began working to stretch the hole. Crooking his fingers upward, Tala pushed in deeper, searching for that one spot which would send his love to a whole new place.

“Tala!” Kenny all but screamed as Tala’s seeking fingers brushed against his prostate. Another wave of pleasure swept over his body again as Tala continued stroking his fingers across the small bump, hearing his name cried out more wanton than before. After a minute, Tala pulled his hand from the hole, looking down and watching his love pant heavily.

“Shall we start love?” Tala questioned, pulling his lover’s legs up to his waist, awaiting an answer. Kenny turned lust hazed honey eyes upwards to his love.

“Please,” Kenny nodded, reaching up to stroke Tala’s cheek.

Tala smiled, positioning himself at Kenny’s opening before pulling the brunette’s legs up around his waist to get better access to the orifice which awaited his entrance. Guiding the tip of his erection to the hole, Tala slowly pushed upwards, hearing a hitch of pain escape Kenny’s mouth. “Kenny…are you okay?”

“I didn’t realize you were this big,” Kenny flushed, lightly gripping Tala’s shoulder as the red head continued to slowly push into him. “I guess I should have expected this.”

“Maybe I should let you be on top then you can control the depth,” Tala murmured.

“Tomorrow, I want every last inch of you tonight,” Kenny moaned, his back arching once more when his body finally accepted the new change and took Tala in to the hilt. Waiting for a long minute to do anything to allow Kenny to get accustomed, Tala sated himself with the honey sweet lips now his very obsession, moaning whilst Kenny’s hips rocked a little, needing Tala to move.

Pulling out, Tala slowly slid back in, Kenny’s hips reacted to the motion, meeting the slow, even thrusts as he kept taking Tala deeper until he was buried to the hilt within the body under him. Pulling out once more, Tala pushed back in with a deeper thrust, hearing his name tumble from the red lips of his lover. Kenny was already seeing stars from the spot that Tala’s fingers had managed to graze minutes ago. Tightening his hold on Tala’s waist with his legs, he arched up, allowing the red head over him to sink in deeper, another thrust rubbing against Kenny’s prostate, signaling another scream from the brunette.

“Tala…! Faster…please,” Kenny begged. Obliging the request, Tala rocked his hips faster, bracing himself over Kenny. The rhythmic creaking of the bed rivaled only by the moans wafting. The pace sped up, Tala unable to keep himself from moving lazily anymore least he go mad with lust and need. Kenny didn’t complain, he was lost in his own ecstasy, his nerves like liquid fire coursing through his veins, pushing him further to the edge.

With each stride that Tala made, he drew both himself and Kenny closer to the edge. Bringing his hand down around his love’s arousal, tenderly pumping with each loving thrust that he made into the brunette under him. Perspiration trickled down Tala’s back, as he continued moving against the brunette. Tala’s thrusts seeking desperately to take him over the ledge, the fire expanding outwards craving release.

“Tala!” Kenny screamed, his back arching up off the bed completely, his head digging into the bed under him whilst releasing his seed into Tala’s hand and a path up his stomach. Tala groaned, the muscles around his erection constricting, bringing him over the ledge simultaneously with his lover. Releasing himself into the body under him, he eventually wound down, completely spent. Collapsing against Kenny’s shoulder, he smiled, feeling arms wrap around him, neither bothering to move, in fact.

“Happy New Year’s, Kenny,” Tala said listlessly.

“Happy New Year’s, Tala,” Kenny repeated, just as listless as his lover. Tala turned his head, kissing Kenny’s cheek. “Thanks for ringing in the new year with me.”

“You’re always welcome.”

Kenny was awoke to a light knock on his bedroom door. Lifting his head from Tala’s chest, Kenny blinked his sleep blurry eyes, finding a blob of blue. Eventually his vision cleared, revealing Kai standing in his doorway with a smile. “Kai…what are you doing here?” Kenny yawned.

“Taking care of your whining housemate who regrets how much liquor he consumed last night,” Kai chuckled, listening to the sounds of Tyson throwing up in the bathroom.

“Have fun.”

“Speaking of fun,” Kai smirked, his eyes studying the clothes littering the fun. “Did you have enough fun last night? He was complaining about you so much last night, I’m surprised he made a move.”

“I think we both were a bit too pessimistic last night,” Kenny admitted.

“Well, it turned out for the best at least. You’ve already met your New Year’s resolutions after all,” Kai said, exiting the room hearing Tyson’s voice whining for him to carry him back to bed. “I better go take care of my baby. I’ll talk to you when you get up.” Listening to the commotion across the hall, Kenny laid back down in Tala’s embrace, the red head’s arms wrapping back around him automatically.

“I guess we have…haven’t we, Tala?” Kenny smiled, closing his eyes to drift back to sleep.