Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Have You Ever ❯ Epilogue ( Epilogue )

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Warnings: Yaoi, Lemon(s), language, angst, violence, etc. and that cavity warning I mentioned before. Rated NC-17. This chapter: Fluff & the final lemon…and enough goodbyes to make you sniffle. Kleenex, anyone?

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Kali: Well, everyone, the day has arrived…

Dryad: This is the final chapter of HYE.

Kai: We hate to see it done.

Tyson: I suppose it had to end sometime.

Kali: Yes. But don't despair!

Dryad: Because we're planning a sequel! ^-^

Kai & Tyson: O.O

Kali: ^-^ Yep! So look for that coming out sometime in the near future…

Dryad: Until then, let's cap off this fic with a few more little details that require explaining.

Kali: mysterious smile. And something I bet no one saw coming… not even Ranma & Glay! grins.

Kai: We'll do the honours…Kali doesn't own Beyblade.

Tyson: So don't sure her!

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Pairs: Tyson/Kai, Rei/Max.

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

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Epilogue

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"Well, everyone, I think we should get back to the hotel, don't you?" Robert declared. "For one thing, we're all really tired. And I'm sure some of us have duties to perform this last day of exhibition matches before the tournament."

There was a murmur of agreement and a few groans and grumbles.

Rei and Max helped Tyson and Kai to stand up but the two refused to let go of each other, their hands remaining clasped together firmly and fingers linked tightly. Max shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to Tyson, who huddled into it gratefully.

"Thanks, Max."

"Sure. Don't want you to catch a cold after all."

Kai glanced to the side when he felt Dranzer settle on his shoulder. "I guess you're stuck with me for a while longer, huh, old friend?"

//I wouldn't have it any other way.// Dranzer replied, ruffling his feathers softly against Kai's cheek and ear.

"Hey, guys?" Kai looked around, frowning, as he noticed something. "Where's Drisana?"

Tyson blinked and frowned also when the others shuffled their feet nervously and exchanged sad, worried glances. "Yeah?" His tone was suspicious.

"Kai…you wanted to know why you're alive?" Dizzara, seeing that no one else wanted to break the news to the reborn captain, stepped forward and took his free hand in hers. "Drisana offered herself for you. She said that what you had done hadn't quite been enough and so she sacrificed herself for the sun and for your life." She sniffled and released his hand when his eyes went wide and filled with tears. "She's gone. I'm sorry, Kai."

Dranzer nudged his partner with his beak in sympathy and equal grief.

Tyson squeezed Kai's hand and let go to wrap his arm around Kai's waist, supporting him silently. "I'm sorry, Kai, for your loss. I wish I could thank her for giving you back to me."

//She wasn't evil. Not at all.// Dragoon added, rising up to curl his long, sinuous body around Tyson and rest his head on his partner's other shoulder. //Do not mourn her, for she has proven to be of great heart.//

Kai nodded and wiped at his eyes, not saying anything.

Tala came up behind them, and tapped Kai on his other shoulder. Turning, Kai looked at him and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Was that really Black Dranzer, Kai? You've had her all along, and you didn't tell anyone?"

"Yeah. Really, though, Tala, can you think of any place where she'd have been safer than with me?" Kai shook his head. "There's a lot we thought about her that was a mistake. She was no more a bad bit-beast than I am a bad person. Her name was really Drisana, and she was actually Dranzer's little sister."

Tala's ice-blue eyes widened and he smiled faintly. "Well, after today, I won't assume anything is impossible. I'm sorry, Kai, that you had to lose her. She would have made a powerful addition to your team, I imagine."

Kai shrugged. "She already was." He looked down at his feet for a moment, and as his eyes travelled down, noticed that Tala's hand was firmly held in someone else's. The Phoenix blinked, thinking he was seeing things, but he wasn't. Tala's fingers were twined with Bryan's and neither seemed to be aware of it - or else they were and they didn't care who noticed. He looked up again and smiled a little at Tala. "So you did take my advice."

Kai had to grin when a faint blush spread over his fellow Russian captain's cheeks. "Shut up, Hiwatari."

Tyson smiled serenely, having read both Kai's and Tala's minds to find out what the heck they were talking about.

Then suddenly there was a sound like the ringing of a church bell echoing and catching everyone's attention. They all glanced back towards the edge of the bluffs…

To see a bright, white stream of light pierce the lingering clouds and punch the ground, casting a luminous glow on everything it touched. And then a figure appeared, at first looking like a burning white Phoenix, but then its form shifted into a petite young girl, swathed in flowing white robes, her golden skin glowing with an unseen source of light. The sea's breeze came up, ruffling her clothes and blowing her long, jet-black hair up and away from her to fan out around her like wings. He r face remained in shadow as Kai and Tyson moved toward her slowly.

Kai stopped when she raised her head and her gaze met his. Piercing, shiny gold eyes met flaming, weary crimson.

"Greetings, my Master." She smiled and curtsied deeply. "You look surprised to see me."

The captain of the Bladebreakers stood there gaping at her, his mouth hanging open in shock - not that the rest of the group was much better.

Dranzer squawked in Kai's ear and he winced. //Drisana?!//

She had the grace to look abashed. "Yes. I'm sorry, Revered Older Brother. I didn't mean to upset either of you." She stepped down off of the large rock she was balanced on in her bare feet and swayed toward them. "I wish I could stay long, but this form will not last."

Kai sensed his teammates come up beside himself and Tyson, still gripping his hand, spoke first.

"So why have you come back?"

The white Phoenix Spirit smiled gently. "I am merely an avatar, young Dragon, for the sun. I came to thank you on our behalf, Master Kai, for what you tried to do." She glanced over at Dizzara. "And you, Dizzara, we wish to thank you for the guidance and wisdom you provided our warriors."

Dizzara blinked at her, a little confused, but nodded. "It's what I do, after all."

Kenny tilted his head at Drisana in question. "I think I get it. I just have one question: what was all that about portals?"

"Oh! Yes…I realize that must have been a little confusing. You see, the Void's plan was to capture the four Sacred Spirits and use them to open a doorway to Its realm - a place of absolute nothingness. No light, no time, no love, no Creation. It is the anti-Universe, I suppose you could call it. These portals are all over the place. In fact, there's a rather large on at the centre of this galaxy."

Kenny snapped his fingers. "Of course! Black holes!"

"I believe that's what you call them, here, yes." Drisana nodded. "Don't ask how it would have been done, though. I'm not sure that I could explain it satisfactorily."

Kenny chuckled. "It's okay. I don't need to know everything."

Kai's hand absently went to his stomach and he brushed his fingers over the tattoos that were circling his navel under his shirt. "So what happens next?" He asked her softly. "You're as much a part of me as Dranzer is."

"That I am. You will go on with your life, Kai, with your mate. I will always be with you." She stepped up close, laying her hand over his on his abdomen. "I marked you once and it was permanent. We are all energy that cannot be destroyed, only altered."

He felt a little bit tingly and then felt a flash of heat that disappeared so quickly he almost didn't know if he'd felt it at all. "Drisana…" he began.

"No. Don't say anything more." She cut him off gently, laying two fingers over his lips. "I have done what I was supposed to, now. It is time for me to leave you." She stepped back and looked at Tyson. "You will take care of them, won't you?" She asked, indicating Kai and Dranzer.

"Always." Tyson's arm around Kai's waist tightened, and Dragoon nodded.

"Then I will go now, and be with you every day and night. When you look up at the sun, I will warm you. When you see the moon, I am protecting you in dreams, as I have always done." They watched as the air began to shimmer around her and she regained her Phoenix form briefly before fazing out as her last words were whispered on the wind.

Goodbye! Live and love well, Bladebreakers.

And then she was gone.

"Goodbye, Drisana." Kai whispered back. He hung his head as their bit-beasts flickered out of sight, returning to their blades, and let his lover lead him away, their team right behind them and the other four teams of their friends following silently.

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Once they reached the hotel, the group split up and went to their own suites to rest after notifying Mr. Dickenson of the night's events (though in no great detail) and cancelling any of the duties and events that were supposed to happen later that morning and afternoon.

Kai and Tyson walked into the Team's suite behind the others and Tyson had to stop and look around the room when he saw the decorations.

"What's up with the festive decorations, guys?"

"Oh man…" Max groaned and smacked his forehead. "We forgot about all this!"

"Um…" Hilary shuffled her feet. "We had this surprise party planned for you, Tyson."

"Yeah, but then things kind of got derailed…" Rei sighed.

"A surprise party? For me?" Tyson looked around at them all in confusion. "Why?"

Kai smiled then began to laugh, remembering a time when something very similar had happened not to long after he had first met Tyson, in fact. "Tyson, lover, I'm glad you haven't changed."

"Huh?"

Kenny's eyes got wide as he caught on and remembered the same thing Kai did, walking over to a wall and banging his head on, muttering under his breath, "Baka! Baka! Baka!"

Max began to laugh his head off. "Gods, Tyson! I can't believe you forgot your own birthday, again! Once was bad enough!"

Tyson blinked then blushed sheepishly and grinned. "Heh…oops!"

Everyone but Kai fell over with laughter.

"We might as well eat the food, at least." Kai mused. "It can't just sit here all day."

Tyson lit up like a neon sign and went for the buffet table they had set up eagerly. "Great! I'm starved."

The Team joined him in filling their plates. After they had all eaten their fill and had some of the three-layered triple chocolate birthday cake, they cleaned up everything and went to bed yawning out 'goodnight's' to each other.

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Kai and Tyson walked into their room and locked the door behind them. Before Kai could even open his mouth, Tyson was wrapped around him, clinging almost desperately to his lover and shaking with emotion. Kai buried his face in Tyson's hair and curled his arms around the Dragon in return, just holding onto him for now.

{I lost you…Gods, I lost you! I nearly died without you…} Tyson whispered brokenly in his mind. Kai shivered and sniffed back tears.

{I know…I'm sorry, love…}

{I woke up expecting to see you and hear you and instead I watched you die! Kai, I love you so much! Don't ever do that to me again!} Tyson let loose his own tears, sobbing his heart out into Kai's chest as his mate walked backwards and sat on the bed, dragging Tyson down with him to straddle his waist and sit on his lap.

{I'm so sorry…} The Phoenix chanted that phrase over and over. Kai felt the tears spill over from his own eyes and they sat there, clinging and crying together for what seemed like an eternity.

Eventually the weeping stopped and they just held one another, exhausted beyond belief. Tyson pulled away and got up long enough to strip off his dirty, tattered clothes and to crawl into bed wearily. Kai piled all their wrecked clothing in a bag, intending to just throw everything out later, and joined his mate in bed. He lay on his side facing Tyson, and trembled slightly as the bluenette cuddled up closer, one of Tyson's legs slipping between Kai's and forcing Kai's leg up over Tyson's hip. Tyson pulled him close until they were practically sandwiched together, their faces close enough that their noses brushed against each other and their foreheads were pressed together as they stared into one another's eyes, arms wrapped firmly around each other.

In this position, the two lovers closed their eyes and let sleep finally claim them.

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Every night from that fateful day on until they got home to Japan, Tyson woke up gasping and crying Kai's name in despair. Nightmares of what he'd seen when he'd regained consciousness that night plagued his sleep and each time Kai had to spend a good hour or so calming his mate down and reassuring him that everything was all right. Kai himself had a few bad nights, too, reliving the moment when he'd watched helplessly as the horn from the Cyclops impaled the Dragon as it was destroyed. And when that happened it was Tyson having to calm Kai down and reassure him.

The rest of the tournament went by quickly. The Bladebreakers, after much deliberation, decided not to participate after all, since, as Kenny pointed out, they didn't have to in order to earn a spot at the Worlds. Instead, they sat in the audience for once and cheered on their friends enthusiastically. The Demolition Boys ended up winning - barely - against the All-Stars in the final round.

Everyone except Kai and Tyson had been pleasantly shocked and startled when Tala walked up to Bryan and kissed him quite passionately in front of the thousands of people in the stadium and the millions watching on TV at home around the world.

Since Tyson's party had been interrupted before it had even gotten started, Kai arranged for their friends to come to Bay City on the next weekend where they would have another party - minus the decorations and party favours this time, though.

The plane trip back was long and quiet, which was perfectly acceptable to them all. They'd had enough excitement in their lives to last them for a long, long time.

As soon as Kai and Tyson had walked into the dojo, they were assaulted by a stressed out and worried Gramps.

"Little Dudes! Are you both alright?! Stan called and gave me the skinny on what went down in Seattle." The spry old man announced, gruffly hugging both boys tightly.

"Ack! Gramps…need…to breathe!" Tyson gasped out, gingerly hugging back.

"Sorry, T-man!" Gramps let go and led them into the kitchen where he started brewing a pot of tea. "So spill it, dudes! Tell me what happened."

And they did, leaving nothing out. At the point where Kai had died, Tyson had to stop and collect himself again. Kai stood behind him and drew him back against his chest in an embrace, rocking the younger blader slightly and murmuring softly in his mind to soothe. Eventually, Tyson was able to continue, and when he'd finished, Gramps shook his head in amazement and relief.

"I'm glad things turned out well, dudes. I'd have hated to bury both my grandsons so early."

Kai raised his head from Tyson's hair and stared at the wily Gramps in shock. "Wha…what?"

Tyson grinned at his grandfather. "Gee, Gramps. You really know how to drop bombshells don't you?"

Gramps blinked at them - or more specifically, Kai. "Little dude, you didn't think I considered you my own family? After all this time? You need to wake up and smell the coffee, K-man!" He winked at Tyson and sauntered off to the garden to take care of his bonsai trees.

Kai watched him leave in stunned silence, his heart filling with an indescribable feeling.

{Welcome to the family, Kai.} Tyson smiled and turned in his arms, leaning up a bit to press his lips to Kai's in a soft kiss. {Wanna go make sure our bed still works?} He inquired mischievously, letting his hands trail down Kai's back to slip under the waistband of his jeans and underwear to cup his butt and squeeze suggestively. Kai shivered and moaned a little against his mouth then pulled back slowly.

{Yeah…}

Tyson removed his hands and took one of Kai's, leading him back to their room, closing and locking the door behind them. He turned to face Kai and reached for the hem of his shirt, ripping it off over his head and dropping it to the floor.

Kai watched with russet eyes beginning to heat up, pulling off his own shirt and his scarf. He would have started on his jeans, but Tyson prevented that by closing the distance between them and gently pushing him back onto the bed, covering Kai's lean, muscular form with his own body. His mouth swooped in to capture Kai's and the older teen's hands came up to remove the hair band in Tyson's hair and run his fingers through the blue-black strands as they kissed passionately, tongues delving into one another's mouths and tasting each other, tangling, thrusting, duelling for dominance. One of Tyson's hands cupped Kai's face as he continued to kiss him, the other stroking bare skin and tracing circular patterns over Kai's chest until he found a nipple, teasing it into a taut nub and making Kai wriggle under him and moan his name softly in need.

"Tyson…uhn…more! I want you…" His voice was dark and husky. "Please…"

"Shh…you'll get more, lover. Patience." Tyson reassured him, moving his mouth away from Kai's and pressing light, butterfly-soft kisses along his jaw and down over his neck, sucking on the skin there while his hands slipped between them to go to work on Kai's belt. When he got that undone, he undid the button and unzipped Kai's jeans slowly, letting the heat of his hands seep through the barrier of the denim and tease the sensitive area of Kai's body under them. Kai made a needy little mewling noise and bucked his hips against Tyson's touch in urgent demand. "Shit, Kai…you're so hard already…"

"Ah! Gods…" Kai moaned again and helped Tyson peel the tight jeans off his hips and legs impatiently, sighing in relief as the pressure on his groin decreased with the loss of the confining denim material. "Much better…"

Tyson chuckled and got up off the bed and Kai to strip off his shorts and boxers quickly, tugging off his socks while hopping around on one foot as he did so. Kai propped himself up on his forearms and watched with a burning gaze, snickering when Tyson lost his balance and hit the floor with a THUD.

"Ow! Damn it!" Tyson rubbed at his rear as he got up and clambered back up the bed toward Kai. "Quit laughing at me, lover. That hurt."

"Aw…poor Ty." Kai smiled up into his stormy blue eyes and rolled them over so he hovered over Tyson seductively. "I know just how to make it feel better…" He bent and kissed his lover briefly but thoroughly then proceeded to kiss downwards, leaving a wet trail on heated skin exposed to the cool air as he did. Tyson moaned and let out a shuddering sigh as Kai took one nipple into his mouth and teased it mercilessly, drawing out exciting little noises from his mate that turned him on even more, moving on to the other taut nub as Tyson's fingers tangled in his hair and kneaded his head in time with the sucking motion of Kai's mouth on him. The blunette shifted restlessly under him as Kai descended further, dipping his tongue in and out of his navel and letting his fingertips glide up and down his sides lightly.

"Hmmm…Kai, don't stop!" Tyson groaned and spread his legs farther apart to let his mate settle in more comfortably between them, feeling Kai take his throbbing erection in hand and stroke excruciatingly slowly, his thumb flicking over the swollen tip occasionally and generally driving Tyson crazy. Kai smiled wickedly and watched his hand give untold amounts of pleasure to his lover for a moment longer, then dipped his head and took Tyson into his mouth as far as he could, fighting back his gag reflex to deep-throat him. He made a sound of satisfaction as Tyson yelled and tried to buck his hips upwards and thrust more of himself into Kai's hot, wet mouth. "Uhhnnnggghhh…fuck! Kai!"

{Mmm…you taste so good, lover.} Kai rasped, sucking harder as he slowly moved up and down Tyson's length, nipping at the ultra-sensitive skin and licking away the pre-cum forming at the tip then licking his lips and looking up at Tyson with heavy-lidded eyes gone bloody burgundy red with lust. {I can never get enough of you.}

{Kai…you'll never have to.} Tyson replied, purring quietly. He gestured to Kai to get up and take off his underwear, which the Phoenix quickly did before laying back on the mattress. Tyson slid his hand down between Kai's legs and took him into his hand, pumping him slowly with an irregular rhythm, enjoying Kai's quiet moans and sighs of pleasure. {You turn me on so much that I won't ever stop wanting you.} He let go of Kai, who made a sound of disappointment and took up that task himself, grasping his erection firmly and stroking as Tyson reached over to grab a tube of lube from their bedside table. Tyson watched him for a moment, pushing Kai's legs farther apart and settling between them as he used the lube on his fingers and rubbed some on Kai's entrance before slipping one finger into him, thrusting as deep as he could. Kai grunted and his hand moved a little faster on his weeping sex, unconsciously in time with Tyson's fingers as he slid in another and another. Feeling close to the point of no return, Kai forced himself to take his hand away and let it grip at the sheets underneath him instead, his hips moving now to meet the motion of Tyson's fingers. His eyes slid closed and his breathing quickened to soft pants as Tyson found his sweet spot and continuously brushed it just enough to send shock waves of pleasure shooting through Kai's system.

Tyson removed his fingers and hastily slicked up his swollen, dripping length, getting impatient himself. He positioned himself and Kai, moving his legs so that they were up over his shoulders and bracing himself on his palms on either side of Kai as he stared down at his lover's face from inches away, droplets of sweat that had formed on his skin trickling down his spine. "Kai…my love, look at me. Open your eyes and look at me."

Kai pried open his eyelids and stared up at him, drowning in the emotion-filled midnight blue pools. "Now, Tyson…don't wait any longer and fuck me." He growled, raising his arms to wrap them around his mate's back and waist, one hand burying itself in Tyson's hair. The Dragon shuddered and thrust deep, bumping his prostate on the first stroke and making the Phoenix cry out and toss his head back in pure need. "Oooooooohhhhhhh shit! TYSON!"

Tyson let out a slightly euphoric giggle and withdrew partway before slamming back in again, this time kissing Kai hard and swallowing up his cries that sounded with every thrust. Their tongues duelled and parried each other, mimicking the movements of their straining, sweaty bodies as they rocked together in an age-old tradition of passionate mating. Kai clutched at Tyson's shoulders, feeling the pressure build up and pool in his groin and throbbing sex until he just couldn't take any more.

"Gods…fuck, I'm going to…Ty! Can't…" he moaned incoherently, running his hands desperately up and down Tyson's sweat slicked back. He shuddered once more when he heard Tyson whisper darkly in his ear, "Come, my Phoenix. Come for me." and cried out as he fell over the edge into oblivion and flew high, vision going white and body trembling and shaking with the force of his orgasm as his essence burst from him in jet after jet of pearly release all over their stomachs.

Tyson felt him let go and moaned long and loud in Kai's ear, his whole body shuddering with the feeling of Kai's internal muscles clamping down on him and squeezing tightly as he followed the Phoenix into and ecstatic release, milking him of his own essence insistently. He collapsed on top of Kai, his face burrowing into the pillow under Kai's head as he gasped and panted for breath, his heart pounding in his ears. "I love you." He breathed raggedly, purring happily as Kai's arms banded around him.

"I love you." was the quiet response.

Eventually Tyson felt a light slap on his ass and groggily raised his head to look down into Kai's amused crimson eyes. "What?"

"You're heavy, lover. Get off."

Tyson rolled off him with a grunt and sprawled next to him with a lazy yawn and sigh of contentment. "Happy?"

"Yes. Now I can breathe." Kai stretched lethargically and turned onto his side to study Tyson. "So what should we do after graduation, Ty-love?"

Tyson, who had closed his eyes intending to doze for a while, cracked one open and looked at Kai. "What? After graduation? I don't know…it's still a fairly long time away, love. I hadn't really thought about it." He yawned again and sat up, propping himself up with the pillows and leaning against the headboard. "Where'd that question come from?"

Kai shrugged and absently stroked Tyson's leg since it was right there and he always felt the need to be touching his mate in some way. "Seemed like a good time to talk about it, I guess. It's not that far off, really. Only a few months. And I don't think we want to live here with Gramps for the rest of our lives, either."

Tyson grinned. "Well, no. When you put it like that…" He ran a hand through his hair. "So…what? You want to get an apartment or something?"

"Hmm…or something. I had this idea…but it'll take some inquiries and planning before I can tell you about it." Kai got a distant look in his eyes and Tyson slowly shook his head, recognizing it as the one his lover wore when he was dreaming big.

"Well, whatever it might be, I'm sure it'll be perfect." Tyson told him, reaching out to play with a lock of Kai's hair that was spread over his pillow. "What about university? We are going to go through that, aren't we?"

Kai smiled. "Damn right. You still planning to run this place someday?"

"Of course. If I don't, no one else will." Tyson chuckled. "My dad's too busy with his archaeology, Gramps will be too old - someday at least - and my brother…well, he's never been all that interested in owning a dojo." Tyson shrugged slightly. "Someone in the family has to keep the place in good shape."

Kai's hand stilled on Tyson's leg. "Wait…did you say 'brother?' Since when did you have a brother? And how come I've never met him?" He looked up at Tyson with not a little bit of panic in his eyes. "What if he doesn't like me? Or accept us being together? Or…"

Tyson stared at him wide-eyed. "KAI! Easy, love. You worry way too much. Geez…" He looked faintly puzzled for a moment. "I thought I told you about Hitoshi…"

Kai just glared at him, a little annoyed. "No, Tyson. You haven't mentioned him at all. EVER."

"Huh. I'm sorry, Kai. You have nothing to worry about, though. My big brother is a pretty cool guy and I don't think he'd have a problem with us. Besides, I haven't seen him in years. Last I heard he was at some fancy college in the States on a scholarship. Dad said he's doing really well there." He blinked in amusement when Kai actually pouted.

"Yeah, well, forgive me if I'm worried about how your older brother might react to someone like me getting involved with his baby brother." Kai grumbled, allowing Tyson to pull him into his arms until they were cuddled up together comfortably. The Dragon just chuckled and kissed him on the forehead.

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June came quickly and with it graduation. The Bladebreakers plus Hilary gathered at the dojo after the ceremonies were all done to get ready for the prom. Kai left Tyson in their room agonizing over his wardrobe because he couldn't decide what to wear, snickering to himself as he walked down the hallway to the spare bedroom where Rei, Max, and Kenny were getting changed. Hilary was in the bathroom with Dizzi who had adamantly refused to be left behind. In fact, she didn't go back into Kenny's laptop again at all. She'd decided she liked her human form and that she wanted to remain that way from then on - much to Kenny's consternation. He'd had a great deal of fun trying to explain to his parents why he was bringing a strange girl home to live with them. They hadn't believed she was really Dizzi until she shape-shifted just for a moment into her Sphinx form.

Kai knocked on the door and heard a "Come in!" before pushing it open and walking in. The three teens were in various states of dress (or undress - depending on how one looked at it). Max grinned at their captain, taking in his appearance.

"Looking spiffy, Kai!"

"Hn." Kai shrugged indifferently, though he was smiling inwardly remembering how hard it had been to keep Tyson's hands off him when he'd finished dressing. "Rei? Did you get them?"

Rei finished buttoning his shirt and nodded. "Yep. You want them now?"

"Please. I think I'll do it before we leave. He'll want to show it off."

Max and Kenny looked back and forth between them curiously. "Okay, you two. What are you up to now?"

Rei just grinned a feline grin of knowing and Kai couldn't help smiling just a little. "You'll see." Was all he would say.

The neko-jin walked over to his bag and dug around, pulling out a small box and handing it to Kai. "Here. I think that's pretty much what you wanted."

"Thanks, Rei. I owe you."

"Nah. I had fun using your credit card." Rei's grin widened, if that was possible. Kai rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. As long as you didn't go too overboard."

"Would I do that?"

"Hn."

Kai pocketed the mysterious box and waved at them all before leaving. "Hurry up, guys. We've got to get going."

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They gathered out in the training room of the dojo. It was quite a sight to see them all once again dressed up in their leather outfits, with a few little variations this time, and all wearing their scarves. Hilary, who hadn't seen them in the clothes before, had to stop and shamelessly drool for a moment, then went shutter-happy with her camera. Kai ignored it, for the most part, Tyson and Max hammed it up, and Rei was just naturally camera-friendly. Kenny, who hated having his picture taken, kept trying to avoid his girlfriend's aim and succeeded most of the time.

Kai fingered the box nervously in his pocket, watching Hilary chase her boyfriend around the dojo with her camera trying to catch him, before clearing his throat and saying in his captain's voice, "Can I have your attention, people?"

Everyone immediately shut up and looked at him.

"Ah…Tyson, there's something I want to give you." He pulled out the box and walked up to his lover, who was looking at him strangely, and he could feel Tyson trying to read his mind and figure out what he was doing. Lucky for Kai, he'd figured out a long time ago how to keep Tyson out of his head when he didn't want him there - though that was a very, very rare thing. He smirked when Tyson made a frustrated noise and tilted his head at him instead.

"What's that?"

"This." Kai dropped to his knees and opened the box, taking out the two items inside and tossing the box over his shoulder. He held up the two little round objects, watching them glint in the light, and looked up into Tyson's wide, blue eyes.

"We share something that no ceremony or prescribed speeches can possibly capture or explain. And even though most of society would shun us, despise us, hate us, I could care less. I want to give you this, and I'd be more than proud if you would wear it for the rest of your life, spend the rest of your life with me, be the wind beneath my wings…I love you, Tyson."

Tyson blinked the tears that were blurring his vision out of his eyes and held out his left hand, sniffling noisily and blushing as Kai slipped the simple platinum band onto his ring finger. "You know I will. On one condition…" He plucked the other ring from Kai's hand and went down on his knees, too, grasping Kai's left hand firmly and sniffling again. "That you'll wear yours the rest of your life, spend the rest of your life with me and all my faults, be the fire in my soul…I love you, Kai."

"I don't think that'll be a problem, love."

Tyson grinned a slightly watery grin and threw his arms around his mate's neck, burying his face in the crook of Kai's neck and hanging on as Kai wrapped his arms around the Dragon and held him close, oblivious to the clapping and cheering and happy well-wishes of their friends and teammates around them. Tyson began to laugh, for no real reason other than his joyful emotions at the moment, and found himself being thoroughly kissed by the Phoenix.

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FIN OWARI ENDE

Kali: sniffles. Well…what could I possibly say?

Dryad: wipes tear from eye. I don't think we need to say anything else at all.

Kai: I agree with that.

Tyson: It's been one hell of a ride though.

All: nodding in agreement.

Kali: I guess I'll just extend my biggest thanks to Ranma, Glay, and Jen for all your input, your friendship, and the occasional smack when I went off on a tangent. And more thanks to all of you who have continuously extended your interest in this not-so-little fic that came out of my chaotic mind.

Dryad: We hope you liked it and we hope you'll continue to read anything that Kali and all us muses happen to come up with.

Kai: We liked it…surprisingly.

Tyson: ^-^;;

Everyone: See ya soon! R/R!!