Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Majesty ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Authoress' Notes: I know it's been a while… *hangs head in shame* I'm so bad. (Dryad: My fault! I made her work on RS and Mission: TyKa!) Well, that's true. Anyway, here's the next chapter! Hope you don't mind a little angst.

Warnings: Yaoi, language, violence, lemons, dramatic angst, etc. Need more? Too bad, 'cause there isn't any! Rated R - NC17.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or anything to do with it. Only this fic and it's OC's (if any).

Pairs: TyKa, ReMa, Hilary/Tala? or Kenny?, Lee/Mariah, others to be decided.

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Chapter 11

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When Tala awoke once more, it was afternoon and Hilary had been replaced with Kai.

"Hey." The prince greeted his cousin quietly. "Thirsty?" He held up a glass of water.

"Hey." Tala rasped, nodding slightly. "Please?" Kai helped him sit up a little and held the glass while Tala cautiously sipped. "Ugh. Thanks."

"Easy, Tala. You're in pretty rough shape." Kai put the glass aside and watched the red head warily. "I've got a good idea about how you ended up in this condition, but I don't know why you risked your life to come looking for me."

"I came because I had no choice. I mean…I had to. You're needed at home, Kai."

Kai regarded him steadily and grunted, not believing that for a second. "Right. Who needs me? My grandfather? After all the dark magic Boris has piled on him I doubt he even realizes I'm gone. Oh, and I know Boris 'needs' me. Too bad he doesn't know he's being used and that there's no way he can ever get what he wants from me or Dranzer."

"The Emperor is dead, Your Highness." Tala snapped, wincing in pain and annoyed with Kai's ranting. "Ow…I'm sorry to inform you of it, but you had to know."

Kai stared at him, stunned. "He's…Grandfather?" In that moment, seeing the truth in his cousin's eyes, he felt like a lost little boy all over again, as he had when his parents had died in the fire. "How?"

Tala sighed, feeling sorry for his cousin as he answered quietly. "It happened just after Boris found out I helped release the Kinomiya's grandchildren. As far as I know, the Emperor went to sleep one night and simply didn't wake up again. Whether or not he had any help dying, I don't know. I'm sorry, cousin."

Kai closed his eyes and got to his feet, fists clenched at his sides. "And Boris?"

"He took the throne." Tala confirmed the dual-haired prince's fears. "Then he declared Bryan and I traitors to the Empire and had us beaten, taken to the border, and dumped there, exiling us should we survive." He felt his eyes closing again, and fought it long enough to get the rest of it out. "We split up to look for you. Had to…find you…Kai…"

"You did. Now rest." Kai laid a hand on Tala's forehead and waited until his cousin had dozed off again before he bolted from the room, seeking the one person who had always been there for him.

He found her in the sitting room near the fire, knitting something, while Dragoon lay sprawled on the settee, lightly snoring. The moment Kai walked into the room, Dranzer sensed his presence and his despair and looked up in concern.

"Kai? What is wrong, little one?" Dranzer asked, setting aside her knitting. Tears silently streaming down his face, the Imperial heir let out a low sound of anguish and stumbled blindly toward her, dropping to his knees and burying his face in her lap, his arms curling around her waist as he began to sob harshly in grief.

Dragoon, woken by the sudden waves of sadness in the room, sat up and blinked sleepily at the weeping teen and his mate, who was stroking his hair with one hand soothingly and murmuring nonsensical words meant to reassure him.

"Dranzer?"

"Dragoon…bring Takao, please? Kai needs him very much." She raised her eyes to meet his and the flaming golden red depths were shiny and glistening with unshed tears.

The other deity rose and nodded, hurrying off to get his descendent.

"Kai? Chibi, please tell me what's troubling you so much?" Dranzer continued stroking his hair and produced a handkerchief for him when he raised his head and sniffed noisily. "Shh…there now. Blow your nose, little one."

Obediently, he did so, though the tears just refused to stop coming. "He's dead, Dranzer! Grandfather…" Just saying it aloud tore at him and he broke down again. It was his childhood all over again, and he just felt so alone…

"Oh no…" Dranzer felt her own tears slip down her cheeks and she held the lonely human that was her descendant close.

A few moments later Tyson came rushing in, looking around for his lover in worry. He spotted Kai with Dranzer and hurried over immediately.

"Kai?! Beloved, I'm here…" the bluenette gently curled an arm around the prince's shoulders and knelt down next to him, rubbing his arm with his free hand. Tyson could feel the shudders wracking Kai's body as he sobbed. "Oh, Kai…Dranzer? What happened?"

"He said his grandfather was dead." Dranzer told him over Kai's head, a deep sadness filling her voice. "Tala must have woken up."

"I'm so sorry, Dranzer. I know you…ooph!" Tyson was cut off when Kai turned and threw himself into Tyson's arms. The dragon held his lover close, rocking him lightly and rubbing his back in small circles.

"I'll go up and sit with Tala, if you want, Takao." Dragoon offered and Tyson nodded. Dragoon gave him a small reassuring smile and left the room. Dranzer stood up, too, twisting the material of her skirts in her hands.

"I will go get some tea for us, young dragon, and give you some time alone." She said softly, walking away.

When he was alone with the grieving prince, Tyson let out a sigh and felt Kai snuggled into his arms, turning his face into Tyson's chest with a shuddering sigh of his own. The bluenette gently stroked his cheek with a finger. After a moment of silence broken only by the sound of Kai's hitched breathing as he calmed, the dual-haired teen spoke up in a hoarse voice.

"I'm sorry, Tyson."

"What for, beloved? You haven't done anything."

"For breaking down and becoming a pathetic mess. I'm being such a child…"

Tyson pulled away and brought his hands up to cup Kai's face in his palms, forcing Kai to look him in the eye. "Now you stop that and listen to me, Kai. It's not wrong to grieve. It isn't wrong to feel. Maybe there are times when you can't show others that you really are human but when you're around me you never have to hide your emotions, beloved."

"But I'm…that's not what I was taught! I can't…" Kai protested, feeling confused, humiliated, and exhausted. He couldn't think very well right now, either.

"Hey! I realize you've been taught differently. But I know you pretty well, by now, and I think somewhere in here," Tyson patted Kai on the head then lay his hand over Kai's heart. "And in here, you know that what you were taught wasn't exactly…human. You don't honestly believe all that anymore, do you?"

"No…yes…no! I don't know…" Kai sagged against his lover, worn out. "I just don't know anything anymore, Tyson."

"I guess I can't blame you for that. Will you at least promise me something?"

Kai looked up at him and nodded slightly.

"Promise me that you'll let me be the one person who you can be yourself around? That you won't hold back your emotions from me or pretend everything's fine when it isn't?"

"Okay." The Imperial heir promised softly. He let Tyson hug him tightly and wipe away his tears.

"One more thing, beloved…" Tyson smiled, tilting his head a bit as he studied the other teen.

"What?"

"You are far from being a child, Kai." The bluenette leaned down and brushed his mouth across Kai's briefly, whispering against his lips seductively, "I couldn't feel for a child what I do for you, and no child could make me feel the things that you do."

Kai felt Tyson's hand slide up his arm, over his shoulder, down across his back and over his sides until he reached his hip, where that hand slowed and smoothed down his thigh, gripping and rubbing suggestively. The crimson-eyed teen shivered and released a ragged moan that was swallowed by his lover's mouth covering his once more. Their tongues twined, tasting one another in a slow, passionately primal duel. Kai reached up and his fingers tunnelled through blue-black locks, tangling as Tyson's hand on the side of his upper leg began to rub up and down it's length restlessly.

In his mind, Kai distantly acknowledged Tyson's point, even agreed with it. The sensations and emotions he felt right now did not belong to a child. He tossed his head back, gasping Tyson's name on a sigh of pleasure and revelled in it as Tyson kissed his way over the exposed column of that pale throat.

After a final, reverent kiss placed on the pulse there, Tyson simply held onto Kai, his face pressed to the hollow curve of his lover's neck and shoulder, breathing in his slightly spicy scent deeply. Kai wrapped his arms around Tyson's neck and hung on, trying to calm his heartbeat and his rapid breathing.

"You feel a bit better now, beloved?" Tyson inquired, nuzzling with his nose.

"A little." Kai answered on a deep, weary sigh. "I don't even know why I'm taking it so badly. I've never really liked my grandfather and the Gods know we never really got along that well, either."

"True. But he was your grandfather, all the same. He may not have been the greatest - partially not his fault - but he did what he thought best for you. He was family."

Kai listened and considered it. "I suppose so."

"Come, beloved." Tyson untangled himself from Kai and stood, holding out his hands to offer the prince help getting to his feet, too. "Let's get you up off the floor. I don't want you to catch a cold."

Kai allowed him to give him assistance then walked to the settee and dropped down onto it with a huff, giving his lover a raised eyebrow. "Kinomiya, we sleep on the floor every night. If I haven't gotten sick yet, chances are pretty slim that I will after spending only a few minutes on one."

The bluenette gave him a mock pout. "Just looking out for your health, beloved."

Dranzer came bustling back in with a tray of cookies followed by Kenny, who carried another tray with a teapot and several cups. The two set everything down on the coffee table and Kenny began pouring the tea for everyone.

"Are you alright, chibi ichi?" Dranzer asked in concern, brushing her fingers through his hair in a motherly gesture. Kai winced at the endearment but assured her he was fine.

"I am, Dranzer, but could you please not call me that? I'm too old for childish names."

Tyson hid a smile behind his teacup. There's my Kai.

"Humph." Dranzer sat back in her chair and rearranged her skirts. "I think I have a considerable amount of years on you, little one, and I think I can call you whatever I wish."

"Is that so? Well, then, great-grandmother," Kai smiled at her mischievously - and with not a little satisfaction when she cringed and gave him a hot glare. "Call me that if you wish."

"I am not a wrinkly old woman." She declared, temper flaring (along with the fire in the fireplace).

"Did I say that?" Kai drawled amusedly, eyeing her. "Well, if it bothers you so much, I'll make you a deal. I will refrain from addressing you as 'great-grandmother' if you will stop calling me those child's endearments."

"Fine." Dranzer agreed, sipping her tea. "I agree to that."

"Deal." Kai accepted his tea from Kenny and nabbed a cookie. "Thank you, Kenny."

"So did Tala say anything else?" Tyson asked gently, watching Kai's expression go hard and angry. "Oh…not good news."

"Boris has assumed the throne." Kai growled, accidentally breaking his cookie into pieces. "Tala said he and Bryan had been ordered beaten and dumped over the border into exile for betraying the Emperor and that they've been declared traitors to the Empire."

Tyson frowned. "I guess we should have expected that much. But at least they survived. Tala will be fine, and…should we go and search for Bryan?"

Kai shook his head. "I'm sure he'll find us soon. Bryan's pretty good at tracking and hunting so…"

"Yes, he is. But he was badly injured just as Tala is." Dranzer reminded him. "And Bryan doesn't have a pet wolf to help him out. We needn't worry about Bryan, however. He's made it safely to Marchantria and has had enough sense to seek out medical attention."

The three teens stared at her.

"You just know these things?" Tyson blinked at her in awe. "Wow. Sometimes I forget you and Dragoon are deities."

"Why, thank you, Takao." She thanked him for the compliment as she picked up her knitting again, giving him a fond smile.

"Should we go get Bryan and bring him here?" Tyson asked Kai, who nodded.

"If he's getting treatment for his injuries, then let's give him a couple of days of rest first, though." Kai snickered. "Since I just know when he gets here he'll immediately start fussing over Tala like a mother hen and won't rest himself."

Kenny smiled and said plainly, "I can't blame him. He was Tala's squire and body-servant for a long time. It's one of the reasons he's so fiercely loyal to his Lordship."

"I know. Old habits die hard, I suppose, even if he is a Knight now in his own right." Kai shrugged. "I just get a kick out of seeing my cousin get flustered and annoyed by it all." He glanced at Tyson with a slightly wicked grin, explaining. "Tala hates being coddled."

"Ah." Tyson smiled back, pleased to see his lover was finding some sunshine in the shadow of Voltaire's death.

Hilary came in, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Oh! Hello, everyone! I wasn't expecting to see everyone this afternoon." She tilted her head at her cousin curiously. "I thought you were helping Max in the workshop today, Takao."

"I was." Tyson shrugged. "I'm going back out in a few minutes."

"Okay." She looked at Kenny. "Did Tala wake up again?"

The brunette gestured at Kai. "Yes. Kai was with him."

"Oh good. He's been really anxious to talk to you, Kai."

Kai nodded and looked down at his hands, clasped tightly in front of himself as he leaned forward, resting his elbows over his knees. He felt Tyson lay a hand on his lower back and rub circles in silent support.

Hilary gave Tyson a questioning look and Tyson sighed. "Tala told Kai what's been happening back in the Empire, cousin. It wasn't good news. The Emperor has died and Boris has assumed the throne for himself."

She gasped, raising a hand to her mouth in horror. "Oh, that's horrible! I mean…I'm so sorry, Kai, for your loss!"

"Thank you, Hilary." Kai managed to say. He blinked suddenly at Kenny, who came over and dropped to both knees before him and bent his head. "Kenny? What are you doing?"

"Pledging my continued loyalty and allegiance to my Emperor, Your Majesty. Please allow me to be the first to do so?" The small teen requested without looking up. Kai winced at the form of address.

"I really wish you wouldn't, Kenny. I already know you're loyal to me - not to mention the fact that I haven't been coroneted yet, remember?"

"You are the Imperial heir and if His Majesty, Emperor Voltaire, has really died, then you are the Emperor now. The rest is mere formality." Kenny argued quietly, still not looking up.

"Kenny…" Kai closed his eyes and sighed, holding out his hand. "Fine. If it means so much to you…"

Now Kenny looked up, taking Kai's hand and pressing his forehead to the knuckles. "Thank you."

Kai waved it off. "Yes, Kenny. Now get up, would you please?" The brunette did so and Kai stood, feeling restless for some reason. "I'm going for a walk. I need…I can't sit here any more." He headed for the front door.

"Do you want me to come along?" Tyson asked, following behind and watching with worry.

"I'm fine, Kinomiya. Go back and help Max out, alright?" Kai paused at the door, slipping on his boots.

"Okay…but Kai, just one thing?" Tyson laid a hand on the older teen's shoulder, gently but insistently turning him to face him.

"What?" Kai looked down at him and the dragon leaned up a bit to plant a solid kiss to his mouth. The prince helplessly responded, kissing back for a moment before pulling back with a ragged sigh of Tyson's name. "Tyson…"

"Shh…" the bluenette placed a finger of his lips. "Don't say anything. Just remember what I told you before, okay?"

"I'm not likely to forget, my dragon." Kai grasped the back of Tyson's head with one hand and dragged him in for another hard, passionate kiss - which made him absolutely melt. This time they broke apart more slowly, with a few smaller nips exchanged, before Kai let Tyson go and smiled at the younger teen's goofy, slightly dazed expression. "I'm not going far and I promise I'll be back by supper."

"Uh huh…" Tyson hummed, watching him walk away with his hands shoved in his pockets at a leisurely pace. When he was out of sight, Tyson sagged against the doorframe with a little shudder of pleasure, pressing his fingertips to his lips.

"I hope you figure things out soon, my love." He whispered to the air. "Because I don't know how much longer I can hold back…everything."

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Several days later, Kai took Wolborg into Marchantria and went to get Bryan, bringing him back to Max and Rei's.

"You look better than I expected, Bryan." Kai commented as they rode toward the group of building sin the distance.

"No doubt, Your Highness. I had a good healer and I had enough time to heal some." Bryan sighed. "And I'm afraid my injuries weren't as severe as Tala's."

Kai remained silent, wincing slightly.

"Have you spoken with His Lordship, Your Highness?"

"Briefly. Tala's been sleeping a lot and Hilary has been watching over him like a hawk, I swear. The girl hasn't let anyone but Wolborg and Kenny into the room since he first woke up and I last spoke to him - and Kenny only because he's been her helper, of sorts."

Bryan glanced at him with a raised eyebrow and Kai saw a flash of jealousy in his face before he hid it carefully. "That's good that he's resting." Was all he said, voice neutral.

When they arrived, Hilary was waiting for them. Kenny took their horses to the stables, and Wolborg followed the other three humans inside.

"You have good timing, guys. Tala woke up a few minutes ago and he's complaining about being bedridden." She smiled, rolling her eyes. "Men are such children when they're sick or injured! No patience, I'm telling you!"

"Will you let us up to see him?" Kai wondered, folding his arms over his chest.

"I suppose. Just don't stay long, please. It wouldn't do to wear him out. He needs his energy to heal."

Bryan huffed indignantly and Kai merely nodded. "Sure, Hilary. We understand that." The prince steered Bryan toward the stairs. "Where is everyone else?"

"Tyson and Max are in the workshop, Rei's outside in the garden with Tabi, and…I have no idea where the ah…Guardians are." Se corrected herself when she had been about to name Dragoon ad Dranzer as deities. Kai didn't notice and shrugged.

"They'll show up eventually."

"Probably. Go on. I'll be up in half-an-hour with some clean bed linens." Hilary waved them off.

Kai led Bryan up the stairs and to the room where Tala was resting, opening the door and poking his head in to see if the redhead was still awake. He was, and sitting up staring out the window in dejection, absently scratching Wolborg's white head (since the wolf was lying next to him on the bed, wagging his tail slightly at the attention he was receiving).

"Bored, cousin?" Kai inquired, strolling into the room, Bryan following silently behind. Tala looked over and pouted, not noticing the lavender haired teen yet.

"Gods, yes! All I've done is sleep, eat, sleep, eat…for what now? Two weeks?!" Tala complained. Kai sighed as his cousin continued. "I hate being stuck in a bed like this, Kai! Even if I could just sit outside in the sun for a while I'd feel better, but no! That hellion that calls herself Hilary insists I'm not well enough for that yet!"

"Oh please, Tala." The prince scoffed, grinning wickedly. "You love being fussed over by a woman - especially one as pretty as Hilary is - and you know it. Besides…" Kai said softly, voice becoming more serious. "She's saved your life. If it hadn't been for her constant care, you might have died not only from your injuries but from fever."

"I know." Tala looked away, staring out the window again. "I know."

"Hn. Well, now you'll have someone else to fuss over you, cousin." Kai let it rest and changed the subject to lighten things up some. He motioned Bryan forward. "Look who I found!"

Tala turned his head and blinked in shock. "Bry!? That you?"

"Hello, Tala." Bryan went over to the bed and sat on the edge beside Wolborg, studying the other teen critically. "I am so glad you're alright, my Lord."

"As well as can be expected, I suppose." Tala nodded, looking his friend over. "You seem to have healed up some, too."

Bryan nodded with a small smile. "I found a good healer and got some rest in Marchantria. I should never have left you at the border, Tala." There was a wealth of guilt in his voice. "If I'd stayed and made you get help immediately for all your wounds, perhaps you wouldn't be stuck in this bed, now."

"Oh, nonsense. I ordered you to go, and you obeyed. We had to find His Highness, here." Tala jerked a thumb at Kai.

Bryan just looked at his hands in his lap.

"It doesn't matter any more. You found me, told me what you needed to, and we're all relatively safe for the time being." Kai stated firmly. "You two can use the time we have to heal up, while I try to figure out how I'm going to go about kicking that bastard off my throne."

Bryan smiled, but Tala's grin was vicious. "I do hope you're going to let me help." He said, shifting a bit uncomfortably. Bryan promptly fluffed his pillows for him, so that he could sit up easier.

"Of course, cousin." Kai acknowledged.

"And not without us, either." A new voice added. Kai just smiled without looking over his shoulder at Tyson as the bluenette stepped into the room. "Hi, Tala! Glad to see you're better."

"Hello, Kinomiya." The redhead returned the greeting. He was staring wide-eyed at the teen. "Is that a dragon curled around you? And since when does Dranzer let anyone but Kai near her?"

Now Kai turned to look at his lover, extending his own arm to let the firebird hop off Tyson's arm to his. "Where were you two, Beautiful?" He asked, stroking her feathers. She cooed at him and he placed her on his shoulder.

"We were all hanging out at the workshop, watching Max be busy." Tyson replied, yawning. "I got bored and heard you were back from Kenny, so we came to say hello."

"Ah." Kai eyed his dragon. "More like you wanted to snoop."

"Hey!" Tyson protested, scowling cutely. A lock of his hair flopped into his eyes. "I'm not nosy!"

"Oh, relax." Kai rolled his eyes.

"So…uh…what's with the dragon and the bird, cousin?" Tala inquired again.

Kai and Tyson exchanged twin looks of 'should we tell them?'

{Dragoon? Do we tell them the whole tale?} The bluenette asked his companion.

{Go ahead. They'd figure it out - most of it - on their own, anyway.}

{I guess.}

"Well…it's a very long story." Kai finally said, running a hand through his hair. "It began when…"

Hilary appeared then, cutting him off before he could even begin, carrying an armload of bedclothes. "Takao! Take these, would you? I need to change Tala's sheets."

Tyson took the pile from her helpfully. She looked at the bed and sighed.

"Wolborg! How many times have I told you to keep off the bed, pup?" She scolded. Tala frowned at her and the white wolf raised his head and wagged his tail at Hilary in greeting.

"He's used to sleeping with me on my bed at home, Lady. Besides, he won't listen to anyone but me." Tala declared smugly, patting his furred-friend on the head. "Right Wolborg?"

Hilary looked at him impassively, then snapped her fingers once, pointing at the floor in front of her. "Wolborg! Off!" She commanded.

To Tala's shock and annoyance, the wolf immediately rose and jumped off the bed, padding over to Hilary to sit at her feet obediently. "Hey! Oh, that's just great. First you won't let me out of bed, now you've usurped my wolf!"

"Good boy." Hilary scratched the white wolf's ears fondly. Kai couldn't help snickering and Tyson grinned over the pile of linens. Bryan looked like he was torn between laughing and being angry on Tala's behalf. "Get over it, my Lord. Now, if you gentlemen will give me a hand and lift my patient gently out of bed, I'll change everything quickly and be out of your way."

"Now…wait just a minute!" Tala began to protest, blushing madly. "I'm not…dressed. I…"

The brunette made an exasperated sound and planted her hands on her hips. "For Heaven's sake, Tala! Who do you think dressed and undressed you while you were unconscious? When I had to dunk you in that ice bath to break your fever?"

"Urk!" Tala sunk down under his covers in extreme embarrassment.

"Argh! Fine." She turned toward the door. "I'm not looking. Move him, please, and I'll be as fast as I can."

Bryan, who was reluctantly beginning to like the girl despite his previous jealousy, pulled the covers off his friend and gently scooped him up. Even so, the redhead made a noise of pain and Bryan could feel him tense up.

The stocky, lavender haired man held Tala in his arms and stood off to the side, while Tyson helped Hilary strip off the old bedclothes and put on the new ones. Finished, Hilary took the pile of dirty linens and stalked off, muttering under her breath about misplaced modesty.

"Men." She grumbled on her way out the door.

After getting Tala settled once more, Kai and Tyson took a seat and Bryan sat on the end of the bed at Tala's feet to listen as Kai restarted his tale.

"As I was saying, it all began a long time ago…"

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Authoress' Notes: Aren't these little spats between Tala and Hilary interesting? You know, the more I think about it, the more I start liking that pairing…even if there isn't much of a base for it in the actual show or the manga (since, I believe, Hilary doesn't even exist in the manga). *shrugs* What can I say? Please R/R!