Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Have You Ever ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

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Warnings: Yaoi, Lemon(s), language, angst, violence, etc. and that cavity warning I mentioned before. Rated NC-17. This chapter: nothing to say…

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Kali: Hey! chases after Tyson. Gimme back my keyboard!

Dryad & Kai: ^-^;;

Tyson: I wanna write something! I did a good job as a muse!

Kali: You're the muse! I'm the writer! Gimme back my keyboard!

Dryad: whips out spare keyboard from behind back. While they're busy, what do you say we get on with things, Kai?

Kai: nods. Sure. None of us own Beyblade, so don't sue.

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Pairs: Tyson/Kai, Rei/Max, others to be decided.

FYI: {telepathy}, //bit-beast speech aloud//, thoughts, normal speech

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Chapter 18

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"Ah…Hong Kong!" Tyson stretched lazily and grinned at his team. "It's sure great to be back, huh?"

"Yeah! I only hope the city is ready for your stomach this time, Tyson." Rei laughed, remembering Tyson's appetite the last time they'd been in town.

Tyson scowled. "Whatever, Rei."

Kai squeezed his hand. "He has a point, Ty-love. However, you don't eat quite as much as you used to, so there's not much to worry about."

Max, Kenny and Rei laughed as Tyson just scowled more.

"So what should we do, you guys? We've already registered and there's no battles for us until tomorrow." Max asked. "We've got all this free time…"

"I say we go get some training in." Kai stated. He received four withering looks. "No, really. We may be the best, but everyone is sure to have improved, too. We can't afford to underestimate our opponents."

"We won't. But we deserve at least some time to check out this fabulous city, Kai. We didn't have much of a chance last time, since we were running around chasing after you as I recall." Tyson gave him a meaningful look.

Kai had the grace to look abashed.

Kenny shook his head. "Oh leave him be. He hadn't gotten to know us well, yet, Tyson. Kai was still a loner back then and we annoyed the hell out of him, after all."

Tyson smiled ruefully, sliding his arm around Kai's waist to keep hold of him. "Yeah. As long as he promises me not to go running off on his own again, I'll leave him alone."

Kai draped his arm over his lover's shoulders as they continued walking. "I'm not going anywhere, lover. Besides, you all manage to get into serious trouble whenever I leave you alone for too long."

"Us? Trouble?" Max giggled. "Nah…"

Kenny glanced back over his shoulder at Rei. "Why don't you take us on a tour, Rei? You know your way around Hong Kong better than any of us do."

Rei shrugged. "Sure. There's way too much to see in one day, though."

"Let's stick close to the hotel, guys. We don't want to be running all over the city, either." Kai said.

So Rei took them on a short sight seeing tour of Hong Kong. They walked down Bird Street, stopped to gawk at the Bank of China, and went shopping at a few small stores to pick up souvenirs.

On the way back to the hotel, they cut through a beautiful, green park. The day had grown hot and the trees of the park provided a great deal of welcome shade from the bright, blazing sun.

Well, for the others anyway. Kai didn't seem to be affected at all by the scorching heat. It didn't affect Tyson as badly, or Rei and Kenny, and poor Max felt like he was melting.

"Remind me, next time, to wear shorts instead of jeans." He moaned. Rei eyed him in concern.

"Maybe we should grab something to drink and rest for a bit, Kai." He suggested. "We're all pretty hot and tired. It would be bad to get heatstroke before the tournament."

Kai nodded. "Good idea. Anybody spot a vendor?"

Kenny pointed farther up the path. "Yeah. Over there. I'll go get us some water, okay?"

"Thanks Chief!" Kai handed him some money and the brunette went ahead to buy five bottles of spring water for them all as the others grabbed a park bench in the shade and sat.

"Whew! Man, I forgot how hot it could get." Tyson wiped his sweaty brow with his shirtsleeve. "I hope the beystadiums are air conditioned tomorrow."

Max sighed and leaned back in his seat, stretching out his legs. Rei smiled at him and brushed a thick lock of blonde hair out of his mate's eyes. "Kenny'll be here soon with that water, Max. That'll fix you right up."

"I really need it." Max agreed. "Why am I so much worse off than the rest of you, anyway?"

{It's our element, Master Max.} Draciel answered. {The heat is evaporating the water in you more quickly than the others. That's why you are feeling it more. Kai probably doesn't notice the heat at all, since his element is Fire.}

{Oh.} Max nodded, weakly. {That makes sense.}

Tyson glanced over at him, having heard every word. "There's a lot to learn about our powers, huh, Max?"

Max blinked at him. "Yeah. How'd you…?"

The Dragon tapped his head with a finger. "I heard Draciel."

"Oh. I forgot about that."

Kai closed his eyes and enjoyed the quietness of the park, ignoring the conversation. He'd heard it, too, through his connection to Tyson. Draciel was right - he barely felt the heat. In fact, it just seemed to energize him rather than wear him out.

When Kenny returned clutching five bottles of water and Dizzi, he opened his eyes and excepted one, taking off the cap and sipping slowly. He glanced over at Max and gave him a mild warning. "Don't guzzle that water, Max. You'll make yourself sick if you do."

Max nodded and slowly sipped his own bottle of water as Rei watched over him.

Tyson took a swig of his water and scooted over closer to Kai to make room for Kenny on the bench between himself and Rei. He leaned on Kai with a sigh and without even knowing it began rubbing his palm up and down Kai's thigh slowly.

Kai glanced down at that hand and set one of his own over Tyson's to stop it, linking their fingers together and gripping it loosely. {Any reason you were feeling the need to pet me, lover?}

Tyson blinked in confusion. {Huh? Was I? Sorry, Kai.}

Kai gave him a mental eye roll. {I wasn't complaining, lover, just notifying you of your actions. Touch me all you want.}

His boyfriend, who had just taken another sip of water, nearly chocked at that comment since it made him laugh when he was trying to swallow. He spit the water out, spluttering.

Kai chuckled and pounded him on the back while the others stared at them in surprise and confusion.

"Kai!" Tyson gasped out, coughing.

"What?" He grinned at Tyson's red face and scowl, shrugging. "Like I said, you can…"

"Oh, shut up." Tyson cut him off. "I get the point."

Kenny scratched his head. "Ah…maybe this'll sound stupid, but what are you two talking about?"

"You don't want to know." Tyson shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Kenny." He gave Kai a fiery, warning look.

"Okay…"

"Hey, Rei?" Max asked, studying Tyson and Kai with interest. "Think we could ever have telepathic conversations, too?" His voice was a little wistful.

Rei picked the blonde up and settled him on his lap, purring and nuzzling his neck affectionately. "Who knows, Max? Someday…"

Kenny looked back and forth between the two couples in amusement. "Gee…on one hand, I wish I had a girlfriend." He looked at Max and Rei cuddling. "On the other, I am quite glad to be single." His gaze swung to the glaring match between Tyson and Kai.

They all started laughing and Tyson gave Kenny a one-armed hug.

"Sorry, Chief! Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Huh?" Kenny blinked at them from under his hair. "Oh, no! Not at all, guys! I meant that I kind of wish I had a special someone like you all do, but that I'm glad that I don't at the same time because I don't have to argue or fight with anyone." He hastened to explain.

"Whoa! Easy, Chief!" Kai smiled. "We know what you meant. Breathe, kid." He patted Kenny on the knee.

Kenny sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.

Still smirking, Kai stood up, tugging Tyson up with him. "Come on, guys. Let's get going. You alright now, Max?"

The blonde nodded. "Yes. I'm fine. I just needed to sit for a moment and the water really helped."

"Good. Then let's get back to the hotel."

The others got up and followed Kai and Tyson. On the way through the park, they cut through a grove of trees, following a well-beaten path.

When they reached a small clearing, Tyson suddenly stopped and looked around, a slight frown on his face.

"Ty? What's wrong?" Kai studied him. He could feel Tyson's power swell and in his mind he sensed Tyson searching for something. It was a technique Dragoon had taught his blader that day on the roof at school. Kai kept silent and waved at the others to do the same as he watched Tyson close his eyes and start to glow softly.

"There is someone here. And they feel just like that Jael guy did." Tyson murmured, reaching for Kai's hand and grasping it firmly. "Close your eyes. Can you feel that?"

Kai did so, and felt a rush that made him just a little dizzy. {Gods, Tyson…is this how it feels for you all the time?} Kai moved closer to Tyson unconsciously, feeling unbelievably attracted to his lover at that moment and for some odd reason had the urge to pull Tyson into his arms and just release his own power - to meet Tyson's power, merge with it and see just how deep they both could go.

Tyson shivered, feeling just as Kai did - and through their link, knowing exactly what Kai was feeling. {Lover, as much as I would love to explore this…focus, would you?}

{Uh…yeah. I feel it.} Kai shook himself slightly. {Where? I can't pinpoint it.}

Rei pulled Max close to his chest protectively, growling a little. "I feel it, too. He's coming through the trees - over there." He nodded in one direction and stared with golden feline eyes narrowed to slits.

Kenny flipped open his laptop. "Dizzi! Wake up!"

"Chief, it's too hot." Dizzi whined. "Close me, please!"

"Dizzi!" They all chorused in exasperation.

"Guys." Max shushed them. "Look."

At the edge of the clearing, just in front of the tree line, a dull, shadowy form slowly appeared. The figure materialized into a girl, about their age, and just as colourless as Jael had been.

Kai eyed her. "We wondered when the next challenger would show." He said, voice ice cold. "What's your name?"

"My name is insignificant. I was sent for the Earth Spirit." Her lifeless eyes looked each of them up and down and stopped on Rei. "Ah. You."

Rei stepped forward, blade and launcher ready. "Me. You aren't getting Driger, you know. The White Tiger is my partner and I am his Guardian."

"Be careful, Rei." Max cautioned, not taking his eyes off the girl.

"Don't worry about me, sprite." Rei smiled, though it was all teeth and held no humour.

The girl waved them all away. "Put that away, Cat. Today is not the day you and I shall battle."

Rei didn't lower his launcher. "And I say it is." He twitched at the name.

She frowned at him. "I was not to engage you today."

"Oh really?" Tyson crossed his arms over his chest. "And why is that?"

The girl wouldn't look at him, still staring at Rei without expression or emotion.

"She was just supposed to size up her competition." Kenny spoke up. "We weren't supposed to see you, were we?"

Still not taking her eyes off Rei, she inclined her head in acknowledgement frowning. "Correct. I do not know how you knew I was here, however. That little human is quite intelligent." She commented.

"That he is. But he isn't the one you need to worry about." Rei growled as Kenny paled and moved closer to Kai and Tyson. Tyson nudged Max back out of the way, giving Rei space to work.

"Don't hold back, Kon." Kai advised. "Don't worry about us or Max. Just do what you have to so we can get back to the hotel."

"Aye, aye, my captain." Rei smirked.

The girl pulled out a launcher and blade, setting it and taking up a launch stance. "You should not have insisted on challenging me, Cat. We were told by Jael you are not ready for this battle."

Rei snorted. "And he wasn't prepared for Max, was he? I'd say your friend wasn't a particularly reliable judge of a person's strengths or weaknesses." Rei studied her. "Kai asked you a question earlier, and you didn't answer. So I'll ask you. What's your name?"

"What is it with your kind and names?" She inquired. Rei raised an eyebrow. Was that…curiosity?

"It's just a thing we have. We like to know who we're fighting." He answered obliquely. "Well?"

"My name is irrelevant. But if you insist on knowing it…" She paused. "You may call me Atla."

Tyson snorted. "Such a pretty name for an evil…" Kai slapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish. {…bitch.} Tyson scowled. {Kai!}

{Don't antagonize her! We don't know what she's capable of yet.} Kai removed his hand.

{It's called 'trash talk', Kai.}

{It's called 'stay out of it' Tyson. It's Rei's fight.}

{No fun.}

Rei smiled, having a pretty good idea what Tyson had been going to say. "Ready?"

"Yes."

"3…"

"2…"

"1…"

"Let it rip!" Their cries rang out and the blades clashed, sparks flying as the two blades hit the forest floor and ground against each other.

They backed off of each other and circled, each testing the other's capabilities.

"You have some skill, Cat. But you have little power. You can not defeat me without your Sacred Spirit - and even then, I doubt it will be enough."

"Mistake number one." Max murmured, watching the battle carefully.

"Never underestimate Rei." Kai agreed.

Tyson smiled. "He's got this one in the bag."

"Don't celebrate yet, guys." Kenny warned. "We haven't seen her full power yet, or her bit-beast."

{Okay. He's more of a wet blanket than you are.} Tyson grumbled.

{Gee. Thanks.} Kai replied, vaguely insulted. {He has a point, though.}

"You want me?" Rei grinned, flashing his fangs. "You have to catch me." He sent his blade off in one direction and Atla's blade followed, a blur of grey shadow.

"You can't outrun me." Atla's eyes narrowed and before Rei could blink her blade had slammed into Driger with enough force to create a loud BOOM of sound that echoed in the quiet. "I have had enough. Foolish Cat. You should not have challenged me." She raised a hand. "Come forth my beast! Hydra!"

The bit-beast that emerged had them all gawking and speechless. Atla took note of their stares and silence and her laugh could only be described as evil.

"Ha! Look at them, Hydra! They are afraid! Go! Take out that blade and capture the Tiger spirit of Earth!"

Rei shook himself slightly and glared hard at the nine-headed monster. "No way."

"What…is…that?" Tyson wanted to know. "I don't recognize it."

Kenny was typing away furiously at this keyboard. "I do. A hydra is a creature from Greek mythology, just as Jael's minotaur, Thanatos, was. I don't recall the exact myth, but Dizzi and I are looking it up."

"Easy on the keyboard, Chief! I'm not made of titanium!" Dizzi complained.

Rei frowned at the monster. {Driger. I know that myth, too. And if I'm right, we have to cut off all nine of its heads to defeat it.}

{I'm ready when you are, Kitten.} He got a mental image of Driger flexing his claws - very sharp, pointy claws. {That's what these are for, after all.}

Chuckling, Rei grinned and his golden eyes went totally feline, his body slowly being consumed by the glowing green light that pulsed different shades.

"Driger! Let's show the Void that Earth is no push over! Go!"

His team watched in wary anticipation as the two blades went for each other and the two bit-beasts attacked.

The pulsing Rei heard constantly in his mind - what Driger had called the planet's 'heartbeat' - grew louder, pounding away. Rei listened, suddenly realizing that there was a message in the beating.

And then he knew. {Driger! I know what to do…} He outlined his plan silently and quickly while continuously dodging Atla's blade.

"REI!" He heard Max's urgent call and looked over. The Hydra had gone after his team.

That was mistake number two. Nobody threatens my team, and no one harms my mate and gets away with it. Rei's growl was feral and he called on his element.

"Earth! Hear me…" The green aura surrounding him grew brighter and settled on a leafy shade of it. The ground trembled for a moment, then shook violently, knocking everyone but Rei and Driger to the ground. "ATLA! You and your little horror there made two mistakes and they're going to cost you." His voice growled out. He stood straight, crossing his arms over his chest as the ground continued to shake and shudder. Rei's golden eyes flashed and out of the earth rose the thick, strong roots of the trees around them, reaching out and wrapping around the Hydra's nine necks and immobilizing the monster.

Atla shook her head in disbelief. "No! This can not be!"

"The first mistake was underestimating me and Driger." Rei glared hard, tightening the roots' grip on the Hydra as it struggled to free itself. He glanced over at his team and saw Tyson check Max over then help him to stand. The ground shuddered again with Rei's anger. "The second was attacking my mate and my team. Driger! Take that ugly monstrosity out! Vulcan Claw Attack!"

{With pleasure.}

Driger attacked in a burst of speed fuelled by his partner's anger, so fast and furiously that the Hydra suddenly had no heads at all - due to Driger's sharp claws slicing through it like tissue paper.

Atla screamed as the Hydra collapsed to the ground and dissolved like smoke. She stared down at her hands, dropping her launcher, in horror and pain as she, too, began to fade into a hazy, shadowy fog. "No! Master…forgive…" her voice faded away as she disappeared.

Rei stood there for a moment, his blade coming to a stop in front of him as the ground stopped quivering under their feet. In the fight he'd gained a few wounds from the Hydra and the roots that had whipped up from the ground.

But it was done. He'd won. Driger was safe and Max was okay.

"Rei!" Max cried, stumbling a little as he rushed over. "Oh God, Rei!" He watched as Rei collapsed to the ground, passing out from exhaustion and mild shock.

Kai knelt down on one side of him and Max pulled his lover into his arms, brushing away the raven hair from his face. He looked up at Kai in worry. "Is he alright?"

"He'll be fine, Maxie. His life force is strong. He needs rest, that's all."

"Let's get him back to the hotel." Tyson agreed. "We can patch him up and he can get a good sleep tonight."

Max scooped the neko-jin up and Kenny grabbed Rei's blade from the mossy, leaf-covered ground. "Driger seems to be okay. Except his defence ring is totalled."

"Minor repair job, Chief." Kai nodded.

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Back at the hotel, Max took Rei to their room and stripped of his torn and bloody clothes. Kai helped him patch up the worst of Rei's wounds then left them together to sleep, since Max refused to leave Rei's side.

Kenny was sitting at the small table in the living room going over the data he'd collected from Rei's battle and Tyson was sprawled out on the sofa, channel surfing on TV when Kai came out.

"How is he, lover?" Tyson asked, shutting off the TV.

"Resting. Max won't leave him. Did anyone order supper?" Kai lifted Tyson's legs and sat next to him, draping them over his own lap.

"I did." Kenny said, not even looking up from his screen. "It'll be here soon."

"Oh, good. I'm hungry." Tyson's stomach growled for emphasis and Kai laughed, rubbing a hand up and down Tyson's bare leg (since he was now wearing shorts that he'd changed into as soon as they'd gotten back).

"You could have ordered, too, Tyson." Kenny grumbled. "You're just too lazy."

"So what?"

Kai sighed and interrupted before they could start an argument. "Okay, you two. Cool it. Thank you, Kenny, for ordering for us." He looked at Tyson pointedly. {Not a word, lover.}

Tyson sighed and sulked, turning the TV back on. {I just wanted to…}

{You're grouchy when you're hungry. Patience, Ty-love.} Kai grinned when the sulk deepened. {You're adorable when you're pouting.}

Tyson glanced at him. {Adorable?! Get outta here.}

{Well, you are!} Kai slid his hand up Tyson's leg just under his short's leg and stroked a thumb over the soft skin of the Dragon's inner thigh. {What do you suppose that was between us out in the forest, love? That was more than just my natural inclination to jump you.}

{Hmm…not that I'm complaining.} Tyson grinned and purred a little as Kai's hand snuck further up his leg. {But you have a point. It's our powers, lover. Fire feeds on Air, after all. It needs oxygen to burn.}

Kai thought about that and nodded slowly. {Yes. I think I understand. My power is attracted to yours for that reason. But it doesn't explain why yours is attracted to mine.}

{Oh, I think it's just you.} Tyson laughed. {Every damned thing about you attracts me and turns me on.}

Kai rolled his eyes. {Hentai.}

{You wouldn't have me any other way.}

{Not at all.} Kai leaned over and kissed him softly, but thoroughly.

The doorbell to their suite rang musically and Kenny got up to let in room service. Tyson sat up eagerly as the rich aromas of their Chinese food drifted through the room. "Alright! Chow time!"

Removing his hand from Tyson's leg, Kai got up and went to pay the waiter. "Go knock on Max's door and let him know the food's here, Tyson."

"Sure." Tyson went off to do that. When he came back, smiling, Max was behind him carrying a wide-awake, bandaged and bruised Rei.

"Rei! You're awake!" Kenny exclaimed.

"Yeah. I could smell the food…I think I can stay awake long enough to eat something. I'm starved, guys!"

Everyone laughed and sat down to refuel after the long day.

As Tyson drifted off to sleep, Kai curled against him and wrapped securely in his arms, he couldn't help having a moment of concern about the next day.

What will the tournament bring, with Rei out of commission for tomorrow's matches - at least?

And will it be me - or Kai - who has to fight the Void next?

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Kali: o.O Well, that was longer than I'd expected it to be.

Tyson: Things are heating up!

Dryad: Seriously. At this point, I'm not really sure where you're planning to go with this, Kali.

Kai: Wherever it's going, I think the readers still love it!

Kali: Yeah… sniffles. Man, I love you all! showers readers with plushies of Tyson, Kai, Dragoon, and Dranzer.

Dryad: R/R!