Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Have You Ever ❯ Chapter 21 ( Chapter 21 )

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

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

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

Kali: ^-^;; I know it's been a while, but I've been busy.

Dryad: Very, very busy…

Kali: Stupid essays… >_<

Kai: So we're finally getting on with things?

Tyson: YAY! ^-^

Dryad: I had no idea it would go this long.

Kali: Strange, considering you're my muse.

Dryad: Ain't it though?

Kai: impatiently. Kali doesn't own Beyblade.

Tyson: So don't sue her.

Kai: Can we please get on with it?

Kali: Alright, alright! Sheesh! Demanding aren't you? flinches away from death glare.

Authoress' Notes: Just so you know, I'm not going to go into detail for the battles in the tournament. It's just not that important to anything in the story. Sorry to disappoint!

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

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

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

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

Chapter 21

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

Tyson slouched in his seat next to Kai, still pouting.

Kai glanced at him. {You're such a child sometimes.}

Tyson glowered and turned away, folding his arms over his chest, and not answering.

Kai sighed. {Tyson…come on. What are you really mad about?}

{It's bad enough that you shut me down like a kid but you invited her to come with us? What's up with that?}

{I was trying to be nice…or at least polite. Besides, in case you haven't noticed, I think Hilary and Kenny are getting along really well.} Kai gestured surreptitiously over his shoulder wit ha faint smile. {I think she's good for him, Ty. And he can be very good for her. Look.}

Tyson looked at him for a moment then reluctantly glanced back at the Chief. He was sitting in between Wyatt and Hilary with Dizzi open on his lap. He was pointing at the screen and explaining something quietly to the teens. The only difference was that Wyatt was not leaning over Kenny to stare at the screen as Hilary was, nor was Wyatt asking questions and listening with avid attention.

{That's…weird.} Tyson blinked and turned back around. {They are kind of cute together, though.} He paused. {But doesn't Kenny have a thing for Emily?}

{Honestly? I don't think it would go anywhere. I think Emily intimidates him a little. And I think if they did get together it wouldn't' last. They're both too intelligent and things would get boring for them.} Kai replied. {Kenny needs some one who can benefit from his knowledge and learn what he has to teach and someone who teach him about things you can't learn from textbooks or a computer.}

{What's that?}

{Life. Love.} Kai shrugged. {He knows about those things - to a point. Someone like Hilary can keep his head out of the clouds and grounded on Earth.}

{I guess you've got a point there.} Tyson smiled. {So, how do you keep grounded oh mighty captain, Kai?}

Kai snorted and draped an arm around Tyson's shoulders, drawing him against his side. The younger teen snuggled in and leaned his head against his boyfriend's shoulder. {I'm firmly planted, thanks. But you know what? I needed someone to make me fly and get up off the ground once in a while. You do an excellent job of that, my love.}

{That was…uncharacteristically sappy, love.} Tyson slipped an arm around Kai's waist and hung on to him with a sniffle.

{Good sappy?} Kai inquired, sliding off Tyson's hat and resting his cheek on the bluenette's head.

{Mmm…} Tyson hummed, his hand moving over Kai's bare stomach. {Romantic, even…}

{Geez…don't you dare tell anyone.} Kai grumbled, blushing a bit. {You'll ruin my reputation.}

Tyson rolled his eyes.

In the seat ahead of them, Max was still softly stroking Rei's hair as the neko-jin lay spread over the seat with his head pillowed on Max's lap as he dozed. The blonde just continued to pet him, watching over him as he slept. He was a little bit worried about his lover, knowing how tired he himself had been after his battle with Jael. But he knew Rei would be fine, despite that.

The van came to a halt out side the hotel at a side entrance, at Kai's insistence, to avoid the press and fans. Max gently shook Rei awake.

"Rei? Love, we're back at the hotel."

Opening his golden eyes and looking up at Max sleepily, Rei yawned and sat up. "Wow. Talk about power-napping. I feel quite well rested." He glanced over his shoulder as a hand came down on it.

"Take it easy for a while yet, Rei. Don't push it." Kai advised, then stepped out ahead of Tyson. Kenny, Hilary, and Wyatt piled out after Max and Rei and the group of teens headed indoors.

"You know, I had no idea so much science and technology went into this game you all play." Hilary was saying to Kenny as they stepped onto the elevator. "I can't believe how technical it really is!"

Tyson sneered and Kai elbowed him none to gently in the ribs.

Rei gave the brunette girl a small smile, his fangs flashing a little. "I'm glad to see you're beginning to understand it all, Hilary."

Wyatt sighed. "I wish we could stay for the finals tomorrow, guys, but my father has to go back to Japan tonight so Hilary and I have to go to."

Tyson patted him on the shoulder sympathetically. "Sorry to hear that, Wyatt."

"Why don't you and Hilary come visit us for a while before you go?" Max suggested, looking over at Kai for permission. Kai shrugged indifferently.

"Really? Wow…sure! Okay, Hilary?" Wyatt asked her.

"Yeah! I'd like to learn more. Um…you think you could explain some more to me, Chief?"

Kenny smiled at her. "Sure, Hil. My pleasure."

Tyson exchanged a knowing look with Kai and they stepped off the elevator, leading the way to the Bladebreaker's suite of rooms.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Wyatt ended up going home alone because Kenny invited Hilary to stay with the team and go home with them after the finals. They'd invited Wyatt, too, but his father wouldn't allow him to stay and so he'd gone home sadly.

Kenny even did the gentlemanly thing and gave Hilary his room, saying he'd sleep out on the couch - it was very comfortable, he'd insisted.

Tyson just shook his head and grinned as he watched a budding romance between them take place right before his eyes.

The White Tigers came over for a quick visit that evening, though they didn't stay long, not wanting to keep Rei awake, when he needed to rest (although no one had told Rei's old team the reason why he wasn't well).

Rei and Max went to bed first, soon after Lee and his team had left. Kai and Tyson stayed up a little longer, watching a movie on TV with Kenny and Hilary but the minute it was done they got up and said good night before hurrying off to their room.

Hilary watched them go, blinking a little. "Gee…was it something I said? They disappeared quite quickly."

Kenny smothered a laugh, having a pretty good idea why they'd run off. "No, Hil, it wasn't you. They do that." He closed Dizzi after hooking up her adapter for the night to recharge. "I suppose we should get to sleep, too. After all, the final round is tomorrow."

She smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before getting up and heading to Kenny's room. "Sure. 'Night, Kenny! See you in the morning!"

Kenny blushed red from head to toe and flopped down on the couch in a daze. One hand came up to lightly touch the pads of his fingers to the spot where she'd kissed him.

She kissed me! Was the only thought, for once, in his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kai was on Tyson immediately when the door clicked shut behind them and he heard the lock turn.

{Hmm…how will I go about keeping that promise I made…?} He wondered teasingly, his mouth devouring Tyson's hotly. Kai drove his fingers through Tyson's hair, making the elastic band holding it back snap and releasing the silken blue-black strands to flow over Tyson's back and shoulders. The Dragon shivered and ran his hands up under Kai's shirt to play with his nipples. Kai groaned into the younger blader's mouth and from there the clothes began to fly.

Once naked, Kai lifted Tyson easily and dropped him down on their bed, grabbing some lube and something else from his bag before going back to torturing his lover. Tyson was oblivious to anything but the heat and pleasure of Kai's hands and mouth on his body, purely enjoying every moment and Kai's dominance this time. "Oh my God! Mmm…yeah, right there. Oh!" He moaned loudly and Kai smiled against his inner thigh, nipping lightly as his hand worked Tyson slowly.

"I see you like that." Kai murmured. "Just you wait, Ty-love. I've got something even better in store for you…" Kai moved away briefly, then dangled a pair of purple, velvet-covered handcuffs in front of Tyson. "Remember those other 'items' I picked up? Well, here's one of them."

Tyson's eyes widened and he giggled. "Really, lover! You seem to have a thing for restraining me somehow. First our scarves, now these?"

Kai's smirk was a touch evil. "You won't hold still when I want you to and I didn't want to wreck our scarves so I grabbed these instead." He ran the velvet lightly over Tyson's arm, over his collarbone and down his chest to rub the material across his hardened, sensitized nipple. Tyson arched under him and gasped, reaching up to grab the headboard.

"Do it. I'm all yours tonight, lover." He said, eyes gone stormy grey-blue and glinting in the moonlight that flooded the room. Kai nodded once and clasped the handcuffs around Tyson's wrists, securing them to the headboard.

{If at any time you want me to stop, say so.} Kai told him, sliding down until he covered Tyson from head to foot, staring his lover in the eye and capturing his mouth for a languorous, heated kiss. {I'll stop.}

{I'm not…ah, Gods! I'm not real worried.} Tyson sent back, wriggling under Kai in an effort to get closer…get more…

{Maybe not. But I figured I'd offer anyway.} Kai moved on to his Dragon's neck, trailing his mouth over the pulse that sped frantically under the skin. He sucked lightly and Tyson moaned, one leg hooking around Kai's waist. {Patience, lover. I'm not going to rush this time.} Kai slid further down Tyson's form, forcing his leg to fall away.

Tyson made a noise of frustration and watched with heavy-lidded eyes as Kai continued to play with him. Since he was pretty much helpless (not that he particularly minded) he decided to just sit back and enjoy it - which wasn't really that hard to do.

Eventually he became too immersed in sensation to keep his eyes open anymore and his whole body felt like one massive, sensitive nerve. Every touch, kiss, lick…everything was building the pressure up past the explosion point.

And the heat…Tyson arched up off the bed as he felt a sudden bolt of burning warmth that pooled in his groin and spread outward slowly, making him unbearably, almost painfully hard. He couldn't stop the cry that escaped and threw his head back on a moan of Kai's name. "Kai!"

Kai smirked in satisfaction, resting his cheek on Tyson's stomach and running his hands over the bluenette's sides soothingly - and yet at the same time he was shamelessly using his control of heat to keep Tyson on a heightened level of sensation. He patiently waited for the body under him to stop trembling and vibrating like a plucked string.

His gaze was drawn up and he looked into dazed, hot blue flames that had swallowed up Tyson's eyes. Kai felt an answering tug deep, deep within himself and he smiled. Tyson smiled back but continued to glare at him.

{Having fun?} He inquired archly. {That's cheating you know. I can't fight back and you know I can't resist the effect your power has on me.}

Kai's smile spread to a grin. {Want me to stop?}

{Don't you dare!} Tyson wriggled in demand. {I just want…}

{Oh, I know what you want…} Kai replied, turning up the heat just a little. Tyson whimpered, feeling the sweat build on his skin as he strained against his bonds. {But I won't give it to you until you stop holding back.}

{I…I…ah! I'm not!} Tyson stuttered as Kai rubbed his thumb across his throbbing, swollen tip. {Gods, that's so good…}

{Yes, you are. I can feel it, Tyson.} Kai increased the heat at his fingertips just a little and Tyson gasped and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. {Let it go like you did this morning, lover.} He encouraged the Dragon with hot fingertips, leaving a path of tingling warmth as he moved his hand over Tyson.

{Uhhhn…shit! Kai, please!} Tyson moaned raggedly, writing against his lover. {If I do that I might set off lightning bolts in here or something!}

{No, you won't.} Kai purred, pressing his mouth to Tyson's pelvis and branding him with a hot, wet kiss. He let his own power go, the air shimmering with the heat rising off of him, glowing a hazy reddish-orange. The Phoenix looked up to meet Tyson's stormy blue-grey gaze with burning, ruby red eyes. {You have the control and I just want to find out how deep we can go...}

There was a flash in those midnight blue pools and suddenly his power was competing with Tyson's - heat versus electricity, Fire verses Air. Their energies slammed into one another and both bladers shuddered and cried out. Kai clambered upward and desperately crushed his mouth to the Dragon's.

"Ahh…yes." He rasped. "That's what I was looking for." He drew circular patterns with his heated fingertips over Tyson's chest and nipped at his earlobe playfully. Tyson mewled and burst into a steady rumbling purr, twisting against his bonds with a needy growl and thrusting the length of his body against Kai's. Kai gave a shaky chuckle, feeling just a bit swamped with sensation - just as he always did when he was near Tyson's power or at least, whenever he was near Tyson. "I told you so…see?"

"Sweet Gods above!" Tyson whimpered. "Nothing that feels this fantastic can be good for us." He let out a sigh as he felt Kai's hardness nudge and slide against his own and he rubbed his leg over his lover's hip. "Mmm…Kai? I can't take this much longer…"

"Wow…" Kai rested his forehead against Tyson's shoulder, absently licking away a drop of sweat as he tried to get his bearings back. He could feel the static electricity dance along his skin and then waves of heat that pulsed through his nerves. "I think I just ran out of patience." He grabbed onto Tyson's hips to hold him still against himself.

"Thank God!" Tyson struggled to hold still. {Fuck me, Kai. I want to feel you inside me.}

Kai shuddered and reached up quickly to uncuff his lover. "Here. Your arms are probably getting sore." The second he was free Tyson ran his hands over Kai feverishly in an unbearable need to touch Kai and immerse himself in the other teen. Kai groaned and nuzzled Tyson's neck affectionately, breathing harshly.

Tyson tangled his fingers in Kai's hair and rocked his hips against the Phoenix's. {Kai…} He moaned, their groins grinding into each other.

{Mmm…lover, turn over.} Kai commanded, levering himself away long enough for Tyson to do so before lying back down over the bluenette, covering his back with his own body. He placed a soft kiss to the nape of his lover's neck and brushed his hair aside. The older teen slicked his hands down Tyson's sides and grasped his hips, drawing him up onto his knees. Kai flipped open the lube and squirted some out, letting it drip down over his lover's entrance. He slicked up his aching erection and gently sipped a finger into Tyson, stroking deep.

"Uhhhhhhhhn…aaaaah!" Tyson licked his suddenly dry lips, gripping the sheets of the bed in his fists and unable to stop himself, moved against Kai's fingers as his lover continued preparing him. "Oh, fuck, more! Kai, please…just take me now!"

"With pleasure." Kai removed his fingers and guided himself to thrust forcefully into the bluenette in one hard movement.

It wrung dual cries of passion and need from them both and their powers flared, then merged as the two bladers had. Kai sat back on his heels, forcing Tyson to move with him so that he was situated on his lap, legs spread wide on either side of Kai's. Kai wrapped both arms around Tyson, holding him against his chest and leaving him able to explore Tyson's naked, sweaty form with his free hands. He buried his face in the crook of Tyson's neck and breathed in the Dragon's scent, beginning to move inside of him slowly.

{Ungh!} Tyson grunted, his hands twisting the sheets into his fists at his sides at the increasing pressure in his groin and the super-intense feeling of his mate filling him so completely he couldn't tell where he left off and Kai began. {Oh my God…oh my God…sooooo good…KAI!} In this position he could feel every single inch of Kai inside of him and it was one of the most amazing things he'd ever experienced.

{Yes, love…ugh, shit, you feel good…} Kai's hands roamed over Tyson, slicking up and down his upper legs, sliding upwards to grasp his hips and guide his movements for a moment, kneading with his fingers as he thrust deeply. Tyson cried out sharply and dug his own fingers into the mattress as Kai's hand wrapped firmly around him and began to stroke. "Come for me…" he whispered darkly in Tyson's ear.

Tyson arched into Kais' hand, tossing his head back against Kai's shoulder and laying one hand over his lover's as he continued to pump his erection and drive him nearer and nearer to loosing it. "Uhhnn…oh fuck! I…shit…Kai…can't take anymore!" He moaned incoherently. He felt Kai's mouth press wetly against the frantic pulse in his neck and jerked as his thumb licked over the head of his weeping sex. The Dragon let loose a burst of pre-cum into Kai's hand with a whimper, his hips rocking in time with Kai's thrusts and strokes. Kai growled and raised his hand to lick away the whiteness, then scooped up a little more on it and brought it to Tyson's lips.

"Taste yourself, Tyson." He commanded, nibbling on Tyson's ear as the teen obediently opened his mouth and darted out his tongue to lick Kai's finger clean. "I love how you taste." Kai slid his hand back down to Tyson's erection and gave him a few more quick, rough strokes and gave one final, hard thrust before Tyson yelled out his name and orgasmed, his body jerking and trembling uncontrollably as his essence burst from him to coat Kai's hand and legs under him. Kai held him as he shook and went limp in his arms, letting himself plunge after Tyson over the edge and filling the bluenette with his own essence.

He clung to Tyson for a moment, breathing in the scent of their passion and running his hands over the Dragon. Their heartbeats pounding in sync in their ears and minds, their breaths coming in gasps and pants. The swirl of their blue and red auras pulsed rhythmically along with their hearts.

"Uh…Kai? Are you okay?" Tyson wearily raised his arms and laid them over his lover's, hugging them around himself, leaning back against Kai's chest and turning his head to the side to brush his lips against the Phoenix's cheek and jaw.

Kai shivered and sighed, feeling immensely satisfied and complete. "Hmm…I'm just perfect, my love. You?" He placed soft kisses over the Dragon's shoulder, grazing a sensitive spot with his teeth lightly.

Tyson giggled and wriggled his hips, earning a gasp from Kai and whimpering a little himself. "Oh yeah. I'm fabulous. Mmm…I don't want to get up but if I don't my legs are going to cramp up."

Kai chuckled and grasped him by the hips, carefully lifting the bluenette off his lap and withdrawing from him in the process. They both let out low moans and Tyson moved back up to flop onto his back and watch Kai lethargically as he crawled up and draped himself half over his boyfriend and curl against him, burying his face in Tyson's hair that was spread over the pillow with a satiated sigh.

"You're all sweaty." Tyson observed, finding a good spot on Kai's collarbone and sucking on the skin.

"And you're not?" Kai muttered, unconsciously moving against Tyson. "Ah…shit. Tyson…what are you doing?"

"I can't get enough of you, that's all." Tyson said against his skin. "You know, I really like it when you get all dominant on me. It gets me all hot…" He grinned when he felt Kai's hand travel down his stomach and between his legs. He retaliated by slicking a hand of his own down Kai's back and cupping one butt cheek, squeezing. Kai growled and bit down on Tyson's earlobe a little roughly.

"Aren't you tired? Gods! After that orgasm, I don't know how you have the energy to…oh yes…do that again!" Kai thrust back against Tyson's finger as it penetrated his entrance easily. "Holy crap!"

"Yeah, lover, I know the feeling." Tyson shivered, his erection coming back to life with a vengeance. "Fuck me again, Kai. No powers this time…just you, inside me. Take me, claim me, make me yours." Tyson stared into Kai's darkening russet eyes. {And don't go slow or be gentle this time, Kai.}

He watched those eyes narrow and gasped aloud when Kai grabbed his wrist and drew them up above his head, pinning them with one large hand. {So you wanna be fucked, little Dragon?} He growled darkly, smiling as Tyson struggled a bit instinctively against his hold. {Why are you so determined to drive me crazy like this, lover?}

Tyson rolled his eyes. {I can't force you to fuck me, Kai. I'm still horny as hell, that's all.} He gave Kai a sultry look and wrapped both his legs around Kai's waist, hooking his ankles together at the small of Kai's back. {Oh! Well, from the feel of it, you need some relief from that hard cock of yours, too.}

Kai made a strangled noise and thrust deep with a snarl. He crushed his mouth to the bluenette's and kissed him roughly as he plunged in and out of him. The Phoenix swallowed Tyson's mewls and cries, his tongue tangling with his lover's and mimicking the movements of their bodies.

{Ah! Ah…ah…ah…FUCK YES! KAI!} Tyson moaned loudly in Kai's mind, already close to coming again. {Oh, Gods, that's…mmmaaaahhhh! I'm gonna come!}

{Then do it!} Kai sucked on his bottom lip and bit hard enough to draw blood. Tyson whimpered in pain but it was lost under the waves of pleasure as Kai's erection slammed against a spot that had his vision turning white behind his eyelids. He nearly screamed as he came explosively this time, loosing pearly essence all over their abdomens and chests. Kai cried out harshly and came hard inside him, Tyson's slick walls milking everything he had left.

"Ah, fuck! Two orgasms like that and I'm totally spent now." He panted, pulling out of his lover and rolling to the side as Tyson's legs slid bonelessly away and the Dragon went totally limp in his arms. They looked at each other with slightly goofy grins.

"Yeah." Tyson agreed, breathing hard. "I could sleep now." He yawned expansively and turned over onto his stomach, stretching out comfortably. Kai moved closer, stretching like a cat and snuggling against his side, his cheek resting on one of Tyson's shoulder blades. He slowly ran his hand up and down the Dragon's back, tracing the blue dragon tattoo idly.

"So sleep, then, lover." Kai pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "I'll wake you up early enough to have a shower in the morning, okay?"

"Mmm hmm…" Tyson murmured sleepily.

{Ty-love?}

{Yo?}

Kai smiled at the lazy, weary response. {Thank you for tonight.}

{You don't have to thank me for sex, Kai. I love you.} Tyson's voice was heavily laced with amusement. {Besides, it was my pleasure.}

{And mine. I love you.}

{I know. Now shut up and sleep.}

{Yes, Master.}

{KAI!}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Across the short suite's hall, Rei and Max were jolted awake by the sudden flare of Kai and Tyson's powers.

Rei scowled when his own abilities confirmed that the two teens were…engaged in activities that didn't involve blading.

"Are they okay?" Max asked, his voice a little throaty with sleep. He blinked his blue eyes owlishly at Rei.

"Yeah, sweetheart." Rei rolled back toward him and snuggled him close. "They're going at it again. I swear those two are worse than rabbits." He muttered, nuzzling Max's blonde hair.

Max sighed. "Oh well. They'll do it, wear each other out, and drop off soon enough. Let's go back to sleep, Rei."

"Hmm…'night, my love."

"Good night."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning they all gathered in the sitting room and wolfed down breakfast - well, the four bladers did. Hilary just watched with wide eyes, forgetting about her own plate and Kenny had Dizzi busy while he was typing a mile a minute.

"Aren't you going to eat, Hilary?" Max asked her when he noticed she'd barely touched her food, his fork hovering over his plate.

"Oh! Uh…yeah. I just…do you guys usually eat so much?" She was staring at Tyson and Kai, who were fighting over the last few breakfast sausages.

Rei sweatdropped and continued cutting up his pancakes. "Not normally, no. But during tournaments we need the extra energy." He waved a fork at Tyson and Kai, who were still squabbling. "After last night, though, those two are probably running on empty."

The two teens paused in their fight and looked up at him. "What are you talking about?" Tyson asked, confused. Kai just raised an eyebrow and nabbed the last sausage. "Hey! Gimme!"

"Nuh uh. Too slow."

Tyson scowled.

"Rei's right, guys. After waking us up playing with your powers last night you two must be starved." Max agreed.

Kai nearly dropped the sausage, turning pink under his crimson shark fins. "Uh…sorry about that, guys."

Tyson affected a sigh and shrugged. "It's all his fault." He stated, pointing at Kai. "He can't keep his hands off me…Ow!" He yelped when Kai smacked him upside the head. "Well, it's true!"

"Like you were any better. I didn't hear you complaining." Kai muttered, eating the sausage.

Tyson flushed and grinned sheepishly. "Well, no…"

Kenny looked up from his screen briefly. "Guys, I really don't think Hilary wants to hear all the sorted details of your sex lives."

"Actually, this is getting interesting. What powers are you guys talking about?" Hilary was sitting on the edge of her seat, now, listening avidly.

"Max…" Kai gave him a mild glare. "Way to go. How are we supposed to explain this?"

"Um…oops?"

Kenny sighed and closed Dizzi with a 'click,' adjusting his glasses because he had yet to put in his contacts. "I'll explain it to her. Right now, though, we need to get to the match. So finish eating, you guys!"

The remaining breakfast disappeared in a few minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hilary stared around the stadium with awe and a little nervousness.

"Is it always like this when you come out to a match?" She asked, unknowingly moving closer to Kenny.

"What? Noisy?" Tyson shrugged. "We're used to it."

"No! I mean, don't all these people make you nervous?"

"Maybe a little." Rei answered, Max's hand firmly held in his own. "It goes away once we get into a battle though."

"After that, there's nothing but you, your opponent, and the blades." Kai agreed softly, a far away look in his eyes. "Nothing but the spin, the power, the adrenaline rush…"

Tyson shivered slightly and picked up where he left off. "…and the excitement, the challenge, and the test of your skills and your bit-beast's connection to you."

"And the screaming of the fangirls in the audience." Max grinned.

They all groaned and laughed, taking their seats in the blader's pit.

"Alright. Let's decide who'll blade today." Kai studied Rei. "You think you're up to it? These Saint Shields aren't going to be pushovers if they got past the White Tigers."

Rei took out his blade and flashed his fangs in an eager, feline grin. "Let us at 'em, Kai. Driger and I are up for some action!"

Tyson heard Driger's growl of agreement and got a mental picture of the Tiger Spirit flexing his claws. He started laughing and nodded at their captain.

"They're good to go, love." He chuckled.

"Okay. Then you're up first, Rei. Take the first round!"

"No worries, Kai."

Rei went up against Dunga of the Saint Shields, a massive, mountain of a guy whose bit-beast was an ape that wasn't much smaller than Dunga was.

The match was short, and Rei won. He waltzed back to the blader's pit and sat, smiling peacefully. He could hear Driger purring with satisfaction in his mind.

"Feel better now, Rei?" Max inquired with a laugh, sliding over on the bench seat so they were hip to hip and Rei could drape an arm around his shoulders.

"Yep! Who's up next?"

"Dizzi says Kai should go." Kenny gave his bit-beast's opinion. "I say Tyson should have his turn next, though."

His laptop 'humphed' in indignation.

They looked at each other and Kai shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me who I fight. I'll win."

Tyson rolled his eyes and played with the end of Kai's scarf thoughtfully. "Oh, just go win it for us so we can go back to the hotel and lounge around the pool for a while before our flight home."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Kai tugged away his scarf and went up to the dish, where he faced off with the Saint Shields' captain, Ozuma, and his bit-beast, Flash Leopard.

Surprisingly, the battle actually took some time, and a bit more effort than Kai had believed he'd have to exert.

He still won though.

"Yeah! Alright! Way to go Bladebreakers!" Max cheered, bouncing up and down then glomping his teammates in excitement.

After a short ceremony where they were presented with the trophy and their medals, the group went back to the hotel and did as Tyson had suggested - they lazed around the pool for the afternoon.

A BBA van took them and their luggage to the airport and they hopped on a plane to fly home in time for midterm exams.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A month passed quietly for them and for the most part it made the Bladebreakers quite grateful and relieved. On the other hand, they grew anxious, wondering when and where the Void would show up next and if it would stick to the rules it seemed to have to follow.

During that month, they trained hard, kept up with their schoolwork, and watched the romance continue to bloom between Kenny and Hilary. She became a part of the group quickly, sitting with them at lunch, even joining them for their practice sessions after school when her own duties as class president didn't require her. She and Tyson still continued to feud on occasion but it wasn't the malicious, hateful sparring it had once been. Now it was almost…affectionate - much to everyone's amusement.

Then came the day that they got on another plane and flew to America once again for the American Tournament - the next major competition on the Beyblade circuit - Hilary included.

It also just so happened that while they were in the States, Tyson would celebrate his 18th birthday. His friends came up with a few ideas on how to do this sneakily, conspiring when he wasn't around - a very difficult task since the bluenette could read their thoughts without any effort. Keeping anything a secret around Tyson was a huge challenge. Not to mention that he and Kai were practically Siamese twins and hated to be apart from one another longer than absolutely necessary.

It was on the plane ride over that Kenny suddenly flipped out, realizing he was probably going to be seeing Emily at this competition.

"AH! Why me?! How am I supposed to explain that I'm going out with Hilary, now?" He wailed. Lucky for him, his girlfriend was at the front of the plane visiting the pilots.

Tyson and Kai turned in their seats, sitting on their knees and peered over them at Kenny. Max and Rei did similar from their places behind the Chief and Hilary's seats.

"Man, Chief, you've become quite the stud!" Tyson teased, grinning at his friend. Kai shushed him, trying not to smile with difficulty for once.

"What do I do?!"

"Tell her the truth, Chief. Emily will get over it. If she gets mad at you, that's her problem. You can't force yourself to feel something for her that isn't there." Rei pointed out.

"But…I do care about her. I don't want her to be angry or hurt."

"We know, Kenny. And she will, too. Maybe not at first, but she's smart and she'll come around." Max added, patting Kenny soothingly on the shoulder.

"Besides," Kai said, "It's not like you two have dated at all or made promises or anything to each other. There's no commitment between you."

Kenny thought about that for a moment then nodded slowly. "You're right. Guess I'm getting worked up over something that doesn't really need it." He looked around at them with a small blush. "Thanks."

That crisis averted, the other four teens sat back in their seats just as Hilary returned from the cockpit, and the plane's captain came over the intercom.

"We are now landing in Seattle, Washington. Welcome to the United States of America…"

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

Kali: @_@ Ugh…my hands hurt.

Dryad: @_@ My brain hurts.

Kai: shakes head.

Tyson: More coming soon! R/R!