Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Endure ❯ Back To You ( Chapter 6 )

Authoress' Notes:  Things may seem like they're going pretty fast, and that's deliberate. The whole point of this was started around me wondering `what if?' - what if Gramps died, what if Kai disappeared then reappeared, what if everyone went to university and had a reunion of sorts, etc. Because I intended for this to be a small romance-type fic that revolved around these kinds of questions…hence the speed of the plot. *shrugs* Call it an experiment.

 

Warnings:        Yaoi, adult language, angst, & probable lemons.  Specific warnings will be given each chapter if relevant.

 

Disclaimer:       I do not own Beyblade, its characters, or anything else to do with it.  I do not own any of the songs from which I borrowed to make chapter titles. They belong to whomever they belong to (which isn't me!). I own only the OCs that will appear in this fic.

 

Pairings:        & nbsp; TyKa, Rei / Mariah, Max / ?, Kenny/Hilary, Tala / ?, others TBA.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 06: Back To You

 

“Oomph!”

Tyson let out a huge sigh as he flopped down onto the couch, his book bag sliding to the floor unnoticed by its owner with a thunk. Kai looked up from his own pile of books and notes on the other side of the coffee table and raised an eyebrow in question.

“Long, boring day.” The bluenette responded. “And for all that boredom I get more homework than I've ever had in my entire life. I had no idea university was so…so…”

“Intensive.” Kai provided, rolling his eyes and returning to his own studies. He'd heard this complaint many times before.

“Yeah. Intensive. Maybe I should reconsider my major.”

“Tyson, what else would you take? You want to be a teacher, right?” Kai put his pen down and regarded the other teen steadily.

“Yes.”

“Then you'd still need to major in something. So if not English, then what?”

“I don't know!” Tyson growled in frustration, running his hands through his hair. “I'm not very good at any of the sciences…well, maybe chemistry. But I hate math anyway, and I'm not interested in knowing as much about computers as Kenny is.” He tried to think of all the subjects in school he might consider teaching. “Gym class? Or…”

“What about history, or maybe a language teacher?” Kai suggested. “You seem to pick up other languages fairly easily.”

“I suppose. I don't know. I have to think about it anyway. Besides, this year's classes are all general sorts of things so it isn't like I'm wasting a year if I do decide to switch majors.”

“There is that.” Kai nodded and picked up his pen again. “Don't worry about it, Kinomiya. You have all the time in the world to choose something.”

“Yeah.” Tyson sighed again and got up, wandering to the kitchen to get something to drink.

It was nearly the middle of October, and midterm exams were right around the corner. Studying absorbed much of their time these days. Still, Kai kept a watchful eye on his roommate, looking for signs of continued depression. Fortunately, however, Tyson seemed to have begun to return to his cheerful self - maybe not as energetic or talkative as he had been, but that Kai equated with the bluenette maturing rather than his depressed state.

Tyson, though he didn't mention to Kai or his friends that he even suffered from them, noticed his panic attacks had become less frequent and less intense. He attributed it to Kai's presence, of course, especially when the panic attacks did occur it was usually because he couldn't find Kai anywhere. It was just taking some time to get used to the fact that Kai was around, but also that he wasn't leaving. He had promised to stay, and as much as Tyson wanted to believe him - and in a way, he did - it was still taking him time to get used to it and fully believe Kai meant it.

And he still had yet to tell Kai about Gramps.

The phoenix hadn't asked, despite the burning curiosity. It was mostly because he decided that he trusted Tyson to tell him about whatever had been bothering him when the dragon was ready to tell.

Setting a can of soda in front of Kai, Tyson flopped down on the floor with his own soda, across the table from his roommate, and opened his book bag to pull out his books.

“Thanks.” Kai said, not looking up from his textbook.

“What are you studying?”

“Sociology.”

“Huh.”

Kai glanced at him. “What?”

“Nothing. Just can't see how interesting people's minds are. There's too much I'd rather not know.”

“That's psychology, Kinomiya.” He rolled his eyes and flipped a page.

“Whatever. I would have pictured you as more of a math or science person.”

“It is - sort of. My advisor said I have to take a certain amount of pure science or social science credits for my degree. I prefer literature to science, but if I have to, I'll take it.”

Tyson made a face. “Yeah, they told me the same thing.”

“Kinomiya?”

“Yeah, Kai?”

“I'm trying to study. Be quiet.”

“Sorry.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

A week and a half later, Kai came home just after noon to find the apartment uninhabited.

“Tyson? You around?” He called, slipping off his shoes and going to the kitchen. There was no answer, but he found a note pinned to the cork message board next to the telephone.

“`Kai,'” it read, “`Gone to write my last midterm. Sorry about leaving my stuff all over the living room. I was going to be late. Will clean up when I get back. Tyson.'”

Shrugging, the crimson eyed teen checked their voice mail (finding one from Max reminding them that they had plans for the evening), then made his way to the living room to watch TV and give his tired brain a rest now that he was done his own midterms.

He stopped and place his hands on his hips, staring at the whirlwind disaster the bluenette had left behind.

“Kinomiya…you had better clean all this up.” Kai sighed and shoved a pile of books off the couch so he could at least sit down. Then he had to dig around to find the remote for the TV.

As he was stacking books next to the coffee table and shuffling papers aside in his search, he came across a small, leather-bound book that was out of place with the rest of the texts and notebooks and papers. He picked it up, not really thinking anything of it, and flipped it open to see what it was.

The page he saw first was in Tyson's handwriting - in Japanese. Intrigued, he read the first few lines, eyes widening as he realized it was a journal - Tyson's journal.

“`…I graduated today - with honours, no less. I know a lot of people weren't expecting that, but it happened.'” Kai read aloud. He had to smile a little because what Tyson had written was certainly true - though Kai had learned almost immediately not to underestimate the dragon. Having found something infinitely more interesting than the TV, Kai settled down and flipped to the beginning of the book to read.

His conscious told him he was seriously invading his roommate's privacy like this, but logic also told him Tyson would never have left something so personal where anyone could find it - if there was anything in it he didn't want people to know.

Okay, so he was trying to justify it to himself. Still, he flipped through it, skimming past entries made during the last World Championships, and from times where he'd still been around.

He finally came to a page dated to just before the one he'd first opened it to. He blinked, realizing it was more of a letter than anything else. The first part of it made him frown and his heart tighten in his chest.

Today was the day of the funeral. I stood with Dad and Hiro as words were said and people cried and left flowers for Gramps.

“My God. Oh, Tyson…” Kai had to close his eyes and just breathe for a moment. Now he knew, and even though it hadn't been his fault that he couldn't have been right there for the one person in his life he wanted to be with, he felt more than just a little guilty. Opening his eyes, he continued to read.

But what I really needed was you, Kai.  If I knew where you were, I'd have gladly begged for you to come here and…I don't know, exactly, but just your presence would have been a balm.  I don't know where you are or what you've been doing all this time, but Gods, Kai…I miss you.  I miss the other guys a lot, but you…it's always you.

Kai's throat felt thick and he swallowed hard. His conscious, by now, was screaming at him but he couldn't put the journal down.

Especially when he read the one line that glared off the page more brightly than any of the others.

You'll never know how much I love you, Kai.

Heart pounding, his breathing heavy and fast, the dual-haired teen abruptly shut the book and clutched it desperately. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be true.

“He…loves me?” Kai whispered to himself in a strange voice, so absorbed and preoccupied that he didn't hear the door open or someone come up behind him.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Kai turned around so fast the room spun a bit. Tyson stood there, tired-looking, and staring at the book still gripped in Kai's hands, paling with every second in the silence.

“Tyson…I…you left it sitting out…I…”

“My journal.” Tyson stepped forward and snatched the book from Kai's unresisting hands. “You read it! How could you…” he paused and a look of pure horror passed over his face. “Oh gods…oh my god…I…you…” he stuttered in shame, backing away slowly.

Kai leapt off the couch and hurried around it to catch the dragon before he could run away. “Wait! Please wait a minute, Tyson!” He caught him by the shoulders and spun him around to face him. “Please…just…”

Tyson shook his head frantically, struggling against Kai's hold. “Let me go!”

“No way.” Kai wrapped both his arms around Tyson and held on tightly. Despite the panic rushing through him at the situation, he knew one thing with absolute certainty.

He was never letting go of Tyson again.

Startled, Tyson froze, trembling slightly.

“I can't let you go, Tyson. I don't want to let go. I'm sorry I read your journal like that. It was an invasion and I am truly sorry for that. But…”

“Don't! Just don't bother!” Tyson resumed trying to wriggle out of Kai's arms, futile as the effort was. “You read the truth and now that…you know how I…hate me all you want, Kai but let…me…go. Please!”

“I can't! I don't hate you, Tyson!” Kai cupped Tyson's face in his hands and forced the bluenette to look him in the eyes. “Look at me and listen! I do not hate you. I could never, ever feel that way for you because I love you. Do you hear me? I love you.”

Tyson stared at him in disbelief and shock, frozen in place. Kai dropped his hands slowly back to the bluenette's shoulders, this time holding on gently as he searched Tyson's silvery blue eyes, shiny with tears, for a response.

“Kinomiya?” He asked tentatively, suddenly very unsure and afraid. “Tyson? Say something. Anything! Please?”

“You…for real? You're not just…I don't know…saying that?” The younger blader croaked hoarsely. If Kai started laughing and said it was all a joke now, he was going to throw himself off the balcony because he just couldn't take it. To his surprise, a deep blush bloomed on Kai's cheeks and the older blader looked away, unable to meet his penetrating gaze. “You're serious. You really do love me…”

“Of course I do. How could I not?” Kai managed to murmur, retracting his hands and stuffing them in his pants' pockets. He gave Tyson an awkward smile and a quick glance. “I…I hope you haven't…changed your mind since you wrote that.”

He'd forgotten he was holding the journal still. Tyson looked down at it for a moment, then threw it in the general direction of his books, not caring where it landed. He stepped up close to Kai until they were toe-to-toe and there was mere centimetres separating them. Through his blue-black bangs he looked up at Kai, heart pounding in his ears.

“No. I haven't `changed my mind,' as you put it. I really do love you, Kai Hiwatari. With all my heart…”

Kai closed his eyes against a dizzying wave of relief and a flood of what he could only describe as joy. When he opened them again, he was smiling, and Tyson smiled back - his old smile that Kai hadn't seen for so long and that he loved very much.

That smile turned to a grin and a laugh bubbled up out of Tyson as he threw his arms around Kai's shoulders and hugged him tightly. Kai wound his arms around Tyson's waist in return immediately and held him as close as he could.

“God, Tyson. I wasn't sure I'd ever have been able to tell you. I wanted to, so many times, but I just…couldn't.” Kai said quietly, burying his face in Tyson's hair.

The dragon's arms tightened. “Me, too, Kai. Me, too.” He held on a minute longer than pulled away reluctantly, giving Kai a mock-scowl. “Still, I can't believe you read my journal! You're a snoop!”

Embarrassed, Kai frowned and blushed again - which Tyson thought was absolutely adorable. “I said I was sorry, Tyson. If you don't want people to read stuff like that, then don't leave it lying around.”

Punching Kai lightly on the shoulder, Tyson rolled his eyes. “Oh, relax. You know I wouldn't have if I hadn't been in a hurry when I left.” He winked and grinned again at Kai's exasperated growl. “But I can forgive you.”

“You're such a moron.” Kai sighed, with no heat to his words. Tyson tilted his head to look up at him again with a tiny smile on hi face, and it was suddenly as if a magnet was drawing Kai closer. He leaned down, his lips hovering just above the bluenette's - so close they could feel each other's breaths.

The air grew charged and in the near silence all they could hear was the sound of their heartbeats pounding and their breathing becoming ragged. Eyes sliding closed, Tyson raised his mouth a little more to meet Kai's as the dual-haired teen dipped his head further. Their lips collided in their first kiss, trembling, at first too hard, and then not hard enough. Tyson raised his arms again, one curling around Kai's neck while the other slid his fingers through Kai's hair and suddenly the kiss was just perfect.

Kai made a noise deep in his throat and angled his head just a little, enough that the kiss deepened, his body flushing as heat poured over them both. Tyson groaned and as his lips parted, Kai took the opportunity to flick his tongue over the full, pouty bottom lip and nibble on it, shuddering at the taste of his beloved dragon after years of dreams and wondering. Clutching at Kai's shoulder and fingers fisting in his hair, Tyson opened his mouth fully in invitation, letting Kai inside to explore and entice. Hesitantly, he met Kai's tongue with his own and felt his knees grow weak and shaky, his head going pleasantly fuzzy and kind of dizzy - though that could have been from lack of oxygen as much as the kiss.

Out of nowhere, the phone began to ring, and it made both of them jump, startled. They broke apart and stared at the phone, blinking numbly for a minute until their brains began functioning again. Tyson laughed, grinning and blushing at his phoenix wryly.

“Ah…shall I get that or do you want to?”

Kai coughed, a swath of red painting across the bridge of his nose. “Uh…it's probably Max. He left a voice mail earlier. You can answer it.”

Tyson snickered, feeling on top of the world at the moment, and just a little bit giddy, too. He ran to the kitchen and snatched up the phone to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Tyson! Are you done exams, too?” It wasn't Max, but Hilary.

“You bet! Are you and Kenny done, too?”

“Yep! I was just calling to remind you and Kai that we're all going out tonight, so you'd better get started on deciding what to wear.”

Rolling his eyes, Tyson turned and made a face at Kai, who crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry.

“Yeah, right, Hil. I'm not a fashion diva like someone I could name.”

“Oh really?” The brunette's tone was heavy on the sarcasm. “I seem to remember standing in the dojo for nearly twenty minutes waiting for you and Kenny to hurry up and get dressed for the grad party. And then there was the time we…”

“Alright, already! Point made. I'll start right away, Hilary. Go kiss Kenny or something.”

He heard her laugh. “Oh, don't worry. I will. See you later, Tyson.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

He hung up and blew out an annoyed huff of air. “She drives me nuts.”

“`Fashion diva,' huh?” Kai smirked, eyes travelling down Tyson's body then up again appraisingly at an indecently slow rate. The bluenette blushed hard and planted his hands on his hips.

“Stop that! You've got this look on your face that's kind of scary.”

“Oh?” Kai mused, lazily stalking toward him with gleaming crimson eyes fixed firmly on Tyson's wary blue ones. He got closer and licked his lips. “What sort of look?”

Tyson shivered and looked up at him, returning the gaze steadily.

“Hungry.” He responded huskily. Kai nodded, one arm encircling Tyson around the waist while the other hand grasped the back of Tyson's head, fingers tunnelling through his hair to do so, as he pulled his dragon in, pressing the fronts of their bodies together forcefully. It stole Tyson's breath and his hands came up to grip Kai's muscular upper arms just before Kai captured his mouth once again in a kiss that scorched. This time it wasn't slow, or careful, or exploring. This time it was passion, heat, need…lust.

But under that burning intensity that was igniting their blood and pooling at their cores, both could still feel the other's love like tangible threads woven in amongst the rest of their emotions and the chaotic sensations rushing through them. The moment just felt so good, so perfect, so right, it didn't seem possible that there had ever been a time where they hadn't felt like this.

Once he was sure Tyson was completely mush in his arms, Kai slowly wound down the kiss and separated enough to rest his forehead against the bluenette's while he sucked in much needed oxygen.

“Uh, wow.” Tyson managed to say, smoothing his hands up over Kai's shoulders to curl his arms around his neck. “That was intense.”

“Hmm…I have wanted to do that for a very long time.” The phoenix responded, smiling to himself. “Keeping my hands off you now is going to be hard.”

“Heh.” Tyson chuckled. “You're always up to a challenge, Kai. But I don't mind if you give in to the urge.”

“Tease.” Kai kissed him on the cheek and let him go. “I'll go shower while you clean up your mess in the living room, okay?”

“Sure.”

Tyson watched Kai walk into his bedroom and close the door, admiring the view. Because, after all this time, he was finally his.

~~~~~~~~~~~

After nearly an hour of cleaning, the apartment was spotless. Kai had merely sat back and watched the bluenette go off on a cleaning frenzy, especially after he'd gotten this look that said, “Stay out of my way or meet the wrong end of my mop.”

Collapsing next to his boyfriend on the couch, Tyson heaved a sigh of relief and contentment.

“What in the world brought that on?” Kai asked, a barely concealed laugh in his voice.

“Well, I was picking up stuff anyway, and since we haven't really cleaned much since before midterms started, I figured it was as good a time as any to do it all. Now we don't have to worry about it for a while.”

“Uh huh. And now that you've worn yourself out, you won't want to do much tonight, will you?”

“I'm not that tired.” Tyson gave him an arch look and suddenly smirked, getting onto his knees and crawling onto Kai's lap to drape his arms around the dual-haired blader's shoulders.

Kai blinked at him. “What are you doing?” There was agleam in Tyson's stormy blue eyes that made him wary.

“Nothing.” Was the innocent reply. Tyson smiled and gave him a small, quick kiss on the mouth. “I love you.”

Experiencing a strange melting sensation, Kai smiled back, crimson eyes softening. “I love you, too, Tyson. Even when you are being weird.”

Tyson stuck out his tongue. “Jerk.” He reached up and ran his fingers through Kai's lighter-shaded locks absently. “You smell good. New cologne?”

“No. New shampoo.” Kai let his hands rest on Tyson's hips, slowly rubbing back and forth over them. “You're all sweaty from running around cleaning.”

“I'll shower soon. I just wanted to sit with you for a bit.”

Kai slipped his arms around the dragon's waist and pulled him closer to snuggle against his chest. “Stay as long as you like, love.” He murmured into Tyson's hair, his head tucked under Kai's chin.

Pleased, Tyson made a contented noise and closed his eyes, listening to Kai's strong heartbeat.

“Hey, Tyson?” Kai broke the silence after a few moments.

“Hmm?” The bluenette inquired lazily.

“About your journal…”

“What?” Tyson looked up at him. “Don't worry about it, Kai. It doesn't really matter anymore.”

“No, not that. I just…when were you going to tell me?”

“Tell you I loved you?” Tyson frowned, confused. “I don't know. If the opportunity came up, I suppose. Which it did…”

“Well, yes… but I didn't mean that. I meant…about Gramps.”

Tyson stiffened, sucking in a breath and letting it out slowly. Kai tightened his arms around his boyfriend, not wanting to let him run away - just in case he tried.

“I..I was going to, Kai. I mean, it wasn't like I was deliberately keeping it a secret. And…actually, I thought one of the others would have told you by now.” Tyson finally said, relaxing and staring off across the room at nothing as he spoke. “I also didn't really know how to tell you. I wasn't sure what sort of reaction to expect.”

“The others all seem to think it wasn't their place to tell me anything. They've been all cryptic and secretive since I got back.” Kai scowled at the thought. “That drives me crazy. As for the rest, Tyson, I'm not sure I understand what you mean.”

“Well, you hated Voltaire, after all, so I guess I thought…I don't know, really.” Tyson sighed, leaning his head against Kai's shoulder again wearily. “It wasn't that rational a concern, I suppose.”

Kai kissed him on the forehead lingeringly. “Maybe not.” He agreed. “But it's understandable, Tyson. I'm so sorry, though. I know how much he meant to you.”

Tyson turned his face into Kai's chest, sniffling. “Thank you.” He whispered. “But you're here with me now, and that's all that matters. I've been trying to get on with my life, like Gramps would have wanted me to.”

“Yes. And he'd be so proud of you.”

Tyson smiled a little and nodded, silence falling over them once more.

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

Authoress' Notes: There's not much more to Endure, I'm sad to say. This fic is beginning to run dry on me. It happens. *sighs* But stay tuned for what's left! Don't miss it! Please R/R!!!!