Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Majesty ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

Authoress' Notes: What to say about this chapter…? Fluffy moments. And a few pesky details that need taking care of. Yeah, that's about it. *shrugs* Besides, who doesn't love TyKa make-out moments? I also want to thank you all for your reviews and your comments so far, and for sticking out this fic that is, once again, running away on me faster than I can catch it. *sweatdrops* I have a response to a couple of comments I've gotten recently:

One was from a reviewer about the reality factor of this fic. My answer? Yes, I know some things in my fic aren't completely accurate. I'm a history major so of course I know a few things aren't accurate. It's deliberate, you see. That's the beauty of writing…especially fanfiction. One can be as accurate or inaccurate as one wants! ^_____^ If one has read most of my other fics before, then one would know that I don't put anything in or do anything without a reason in my fics - either that, or I just don't think it's all that important. I'll leave it to the readers to keep trying to figure out where I'm going with things… *mysterious grin* Besides, it IS an AU fic…

Another comment I had was about the relationship between Kai and Tala. I realize cousins (at least in my experience) don't always act this way toward each other, but I took into account their personalities, their lives in general, and their characters. As with the accuracy comment, I have the same answer: it's deliberate. I have a point to their relationship as I'm writing this…which, hopefully, you'll see by the time I'm done this fic. What is the point? That despite not always getting along and having fun poking at one another, and despite Tala's tendency to not really care about anyone else but himself, he is and can be loyal and trustworthy and generally a good person. Don't understand it? Then I guess you'll just have to keep reading to see the story unfold, won't you! ~_^

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 its OC's (if any).

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

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Chapter 14

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Four months after Tabitha's birth, Rei's cycle of shifting kicked in once more. And, as he always did, he took a spare change of clothes and some food, packed it up, and went off into the wilderness. This time, however, Max went with him, reasoning that if Rei returned and went into heat again there would be no privacy at all for them. Although Rei wasn't particularly worried about it, having lived among his fellow neko-jins for most of his life and gotten quite used to such things, Max wasn't nearly so calm about it.

So the couple left their daughter in Hilary's capable care and went off on their own, saying they'd be back in a week - maybe less.

Kai decided that when the two returned, it would be time for the rest of them to pack up themselves and head back to face the future. To that end, Kai, Tyson, Tala, and Bryan quietly began preparing to leave.

The night the full moon was at its peak triggered Tyson's change as well. This time, though, he was expecting it, and sat outside in the cool evening air, in his nightclothes, among the gardens that Hilary and Kenny had taken such good care of over the summer, waiting for it.

Dranzer and Dragoon sat together nearby, staring up at the night sky and the vast expanse of stars in perfect silence. Glancing at them, Tyson felt a wave of sympathy.

They must miss their families terribly. He thought, looking away and drawing his knees up to his chest to ward off the chill. Just like I miss Gramps, and Dad, and Hitoshi…everyone. Tyson heard the front door of the house open behind him and immediately felt a wave of warmth wash over him, knowing who it was without even looking. I have Kai, now, though. And we need each other more than we've ever needed anyone or anything else.

"You're going to catch a cold out here like this, Tyson." Kai admonished as he draped a throw blanket around his dragon's shoulders and sat next to him, settling an arm around Tyson's waist comfortably.

"I didn't want to get one dirty, dragging it out here for a short time. I won't need it when I shift, after all." Tyson cuddled himself up to Kai's side wit ha soft, rumbling purr. "Besides, you're more than enough to keep me warm on the coldest of nights, my love."

Kai smiled to himself and ran a hand through Tyson's hair, pushing it back from his face.

"Where are the others?" Tyson inquired, resting his head against Kai's shoulder.

"Kenny's gone to bed and Hilary was just putting Tabitha to bed when I came out here." Kai sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid you're going to have an audience tonight, love. Tala and Bryan are both letting their curiosity get the better of them and they're coming out to see you shift."

Tyson let out an exasperated sigh. "I suppose one can't blame them. Still, I don't want that to happen every single time I have to shift. I'm not something on display for the public's amusement."

"Of course not, Kinomiya." Kai agreed firmly. "I'll make very sure that it will never happen and you'll never have to feel that way."

"Thanks, love."

Hilary, Tala, and Bryan came out of the house then, joining Tyson and Kai in the gardens. Just in time, too, because Tyson began to feel that mysterious tingling sensation all over his body once more that he recognized from the last time he'd changed.

"Did we miss anything?" Tala asked, cheekily. Hilary shook her head at him in amusement. Wolborg trotted out and sat at attention at Hilary's feet. "See? Even Wolborg is curious."

"No, you haven't missed anything, Tala." Tyson said, moving away from Kai and shrugging off the blanket. Then he stood up and walked a little way away. He heard several hastily drawn breaths and turned to face them again.

Kai, even though he'd seen it before, watched in wonderment as an intense blue light surrounded his lover and as Tyson's eyes were lost to the light, glowing blue-white like the stars above them.

Tala and Bryan stared, their eyes going wide as they, too, watched Tyson. Hilary just observed quietly, slipping her hand into Tala's and squeezing.

The moon overhead disappeared behind an enormous black storm cloud as the wind suddenly picked up, swirling around Tyson and flapping his clothes and hair with its strength. Tyson felt the pull of the moon and cried out, dropping to one knee and shuddering as he felt the change begin. He heard Dragoon in his mind, a soothing purr of a voice, say, {Don't fight it, Takao. Let it happen.} Tyson's form disappeared as he forced himself to relax into blinding, blue-white light from the others' sight and he experienced that amorphous state once again before he solidified into his dragon form and opened his eyes as the light faded away.

"Oh my God!" Tala breathed, awe-struck, despite himself. "That's totally unreal."

"That is certainly something one doesn't see every day." Bryan agreed.

Hilary curtsied to her cousin and Tyson made a sound halfway between a purr and a mewl, winding over to her sinuously. He used the tip of his tail under her chin to draw her back up to her feet and shook his head.

"I'm just paying my respects, Kinomiya-sama." She said. Though she couldn't see it, Tyson winced mentally in embarrassment, not really liking the formal address even though it was appropriate.

Tala glanced at her, then at him. "I think I'm missing something here."

Kai got up and came over leisurely, taking in the sight of his lover's other form appreciatively. "Tyson still hasn't accepted that he's the Kinomiya, that's all. Hilary keeps forcing it on him in the hopes he'll get over it and start taking it seriously."

"I see." His cousin stared at Tyson.

{I take it seriously!} The dragon protested in Kai's head rather loudly, making him wince. {I'm just not used to it yet! I wasn't supposed to be the Kinomiya. My father was! And Hitoshi after him…}

"I know, Kinomiya! I know." Kai laid a hand on a loop of Tyson's coils and stroked soothingly. The blue-white dragon couldn't stop the immediate rumbling purr that escaped at the gesture and moved away from Hilary to wind himself around Kai loosely, rubbing up against his lover lethargically and with an almost feline pleasure.

{Hmm…do that again, Kai. It felt really, really good.}

"Urk! Tyson no hentai!" The prince chastised, crossing his arms stubbornly in refusal. He felt a swath of heat spread across his face.

{I didn't mean it like that!}

"Uh huh. Right." Kai scowled and with the blush Tyson thought he was adorable.

"I don't even want to know." Bryan shook his head. Tala nodded in agreement, though he wouldn't have minded knowing what was going on just for the chance to tease Kai about whatever it was.

Hilary just sweatdropped.

"Is it over now?" Kai asked Tyson. The dragon tilted his head at him curiously.

{Why? Don't you like seeing me this way, love?} Kai heard the slight pout in Tyson's voice. Kai rolled his eyes.

"You're gorgeous and you know it, Kinomiya." Kai sighed, conscious of the fact that the others were only getting his side of the conversation. He was trying not to blush harder. "I just want to know because I'm tired and because it's getting really cool out here."

Tyson beamed mentally. {I'm gorgeous? Why thank you, beloved!}

"Hn."

"Kai has a point. It's kind of cold out." Hilary pulled her shawl on tighter around herself and Tala slipped an arm around her, drawing her close to his side. She gave him a shy smile of gratitude. Tyson noticed this and, in a protective manner, gave Tala a warning growl.

{Hands off my cousin, Tala.} Lightning lit up the sky as he spoke directly into Tala's mind, echoing the warning.

Blinking, Tala slowly removed his arm. "What did I do?! Come on, Kinomiya, she was cold."

Hilary stamped her foot and planted her hands on her hips. "Now you stop that, Takao! He's just being considerate."

Kai sighed and stood out of the way as another flash of light surrounded his lover and the dragon reappeared as his human self. Tyson scowled at Tala for a moment then looked at Hilary, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You want me to be the Kinomiya, cousin? Fine. Here's my first decree then: since you are not yet eighteen years of age, and therefore still a maiden, you cannot accept any overtures or courtship from anyone without my approval - just like anyone else, Hilary. You want Tala to court you? Then he can do it formally and ask my permission sometime. Until then, you are not to be alone with him, understood?"

Hilary, torn between fuming and being pleased with her cousin, settled for simply curtsying again in acceptance.

Tyson glanced at Bryan, who was shaking his head and trying not to laugh at an insulted Tala. "You're not having aspirations on my cousin, too, are you Bryan?"

"Hell no. Even if I liked girls that much, it would be too much trouble." Bryan held up his hands. "I'd have to fight Tala and I don't want to do that. He fights dirty."

"Is everyone against me?!" Tala complained. Kai smirked at him, enjoying the torment of his cousin.

"Good. Since you're not, I'm appointing you as their chaperone. Keep them out of trouble, Bryan, or you'll deal with me." Tyson's eyes were hard and told everyone that he wouldn't accept any excuses or arguments.

Hilary sighed and Tala groaned, giving Kai a pleading look for help.

"He can't do that, can he? I mean, Bryan's not one of his people…"

Kai considered that for a second. "True enough…for right now, anyway." After casting a sideways glance at his lover, he continued quickly to avoid the glare Tyson was giving him, saying, "However, you're both still subject to me and I say…whatever Tyson says goes."

"Thank you." Tyson sniffed and nodded.

"Hn." Kai shrugged. "They might as well get used to taking orders from you, Tyson. Now, can we please go inside, at least? I'm freezing." He turned and strode toward the house, a dejected Tala following behind with Hilary and Wolborg next to him.

"I really don't think it's necessary, Kinomiya." Bryan expressed his opinion quietly. "Tala can be honourable when he wants to be, and I think that he thinks highly enough of Lady Hilary to want to be."

"I have to agree with Bryan on that, Takao." Dragoon put his two-cents in, joining them with Dranzer at his side. "A chaperone?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Tyson frowned stubbornly. "She's my only living relative, and she's underage yet. It would make me feel better to know there's someone keeping an eye on her whenever I can't."

Bryan nodded and gave him a short bow. "Then I will do my best to keep your mind at ease, my Lord, as His Highness has declared."

"Thanks, Bryan." Tyson gestured to the house. "Now let's go in, shall we?"

Once inside, they settled into comfortable seats around the fire in the fireplace to warm up before going off to bed.

"I just have one question about all this." Tala spoke up suddenly. Everyone looked at him curiously. "If the Kinomiya is a demi-human, then what does that make my cousin, here?" The redhead gestured at Kai. "I mean, since they're both descended from the Gods in nearly the exact same way…why has only Tyson transformed and not Kai?"

Tyson and Kai exchanged startled looks, since they hadn't even thought about that before.

"Well…my family did pretty much the same thing Dragoon's did and sealed away that part of my line - and to be honest, I don't know what would happen if I took away that seal now." Dranzer had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Perhaps nothing would happen and perhaps he would be demi-human enough to become a Phoenix. You've really given me something to ponder, Tala. Let me think about it some more and then…we'll see."

"All right."

Kai wasn't so sure he liked the sound of that, but figured he couldn't really do much about it, so why bother worrying? Besides, he was having a difficult time staying awake by this time and that didn't help his thought processes much.

Giving Tyson a nudge and covering his mouth to stifle a yawn, the crimson-eyed prince got up and tugged his lover to the door. Tyson, beginning to feel the after-effects of shifting twice within a short period of time, stumbled wearily after him, giving the others a sleepy wave over his shoulder.

Dragoon shooed Bryan after them. "Go on, Bryan. Dranzer and I will look after these two for you." He gestured at Tala and Hilary, who gave the deity twin scowls, and Bryan nodded in acceptance, getting up and walking to the door.

Halfway across the yard, Tyson lost the fight to stay awake and managed to get out a "Kai…" before slipping into unconsciousness and collapsing.

Kai turned and caught him awkwardly before he hit the ground with a grunt. "Ooph. Okay…I forgot about that." He sighed and tossed the bluenette over his shoulder. "Sorry, love. Maybe it's not the most dignified way of carrying you but it's only for a moment."

Bryan hurried over as he came out of the house and saw Kai catch Tyson. "Need a hand, Your Highness?"

"No. I've got him, thanks." Kai slowly climbed up the stairs behind Bryan to the apartment. The lavender haired teen held open the door for him and Kai hauled his lover inside, taking him over to their bunks and carefully lowering him to the bottom one to lay him down.

"Is he okay?" Kenny sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He'd been woken up by the opening door, being a very light sleeper.

"He's fine. Just knocked out by the shifting. Go back to sleep, Kenny."

"Okay." The brunette curled up again and fell back asleep.

Kai tucked his dragon under the covers and brushed the hair from Tyson's face fondly, smiling a little at the tiny sigh that escaped him. Then he climbed up to the top bunk and slid under his own covers, yawning and burrowing into the warm blankets.

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The next day dawned dark and rainy. Tyson woke up slowly, shivering a bit. Prying an eye open, he realized he'd kicked off most of his blankets during the night.

He sat up and swung his legs out of bed, stretching lazily and looked up at an awkward angle to see if Kai was still in bed, too. He could feel the prince's presence, but he wasn't in the room as far as Tyson could see.

Then he saw the open door to the hayloft in the stables and smiled, getting to his feet and padding over.

"Kai?"

"Here, Tyson." The prince's deep voice replied. Tyson found him lounging on a hay bale, staring out the open loft doors at the rain and chewing absently on a piece of straw. "Awake?"

"Hmm…" the bluenette went over and sat in front of him, shifting about until he found a comfortable, warm position lying mostly on top of Kai with his ear pressed to Kai's chest. Tyson purred in contentment and felt himself being lulled back to sleep by Kai's warmth and steady heartbeat. "Much better." He mumbled into the crimson-eyed teen's chest.

"Were you cold? You should have taken the covers off my bed." Kai told him, his fingers automatically combing through Tyson's hair lethargically.

"Wanted you." Tyson rubbed his cheek against the soft leather of Kai's vest. "Better."

For some reason, Kai was ridiculously pleased about that, and snuggled his dozing lover closer.

"Where's everyone else?" The bluenette wondered aloud. Kai's shoulders shifted slightly in a small shrug.

"Around. Indoors, I'd imagine. The weather doesn't really make one want to be outside that much."

"Oh." Beginning to wake up more fully now, Tyson lifted his head and regarded his lover with sleepy blue eyes. "Does that mean I get you all to myself for a while?"

Kai smiled and traced his dragon's features with a fingertip. "I suppose you do. But I would have thought you'd be starved by now, my love. You slept right through breakfast and lunch."

"I can eat later, love. I don't get much private time with you around here, after all." Tyson pointed out, dropping a soft, affectionate kiss on the exposed patch of skin at Kai's throat above his shirt. Pushing himself up a bit more, he nuzzled his face into Kai's neck, still purring lightly, and breathed deeply, taking in his scent.

"That's putting it mildly." Kai agreed dryly, his eyelids drooping closed with slow, muted pleasure at Tyson's continued attention to the sensitive spots on his neck. "Mmm…and what better way to spend a rainy day like this than here with my sexily mussed and rumpled lover making love with little chance of interruption."

"None better that I can think of." Tyson grinned, flicking his tongue across Kai's pulse and sucking lightly. The prince groaned and slipped a hand under the hem of the bluenette's sleep shirt to find the soft, smooth skin of his back, letting his hand roam over Tyson's back in appreciative caresses. He felt a shiver run through him at Kai's touch and Tyson nipped playfully at his dual-haired lover's earlobe. "Only one problem, gorgeous."

"Ah…mmm…what's that?" Kai inquired, struggling to stay coherent under his dragon's pleasurable assault on his senses.

"You're wearing way too many clothes, lover." The bluenette complained, sitting up a bit to begin untying the ties of Kai's vest quickly. "Wear less."

Kai smiled, watching Tyson work as he simply lay back in total relaxation and let his lover attempt to undress him, only moving to help take off the vest and drop it on a bale negligently. His shirt didn't last very long after that either and it was followed swiftly by Tyson's own shirt, joining the increasing pile of clothing. "But it's so much fun watching you strip me, my dragon."

Tyson rolled his eyes, giving a short laugh and laying his palms flat against Kai's chest. He leisurely rubbed his hands up and down the older teen's front, feeling Kai's heartbeat strong and even in his chest and the silent strength contained in his muscular torso and abdomen. Tyson felt those muscles ripple with contractions under his touch and smiled, looking down into Kai's darkening crimson eyes with a lusty, stormy gaze of his own for a few moments.

Staring up into the pair of deep, sapphire blue and silver eyes that he'd gotten lost in from nearly the first time he'd seen them, Kai caught one of Tyson's roaming hands, linked their fingers together and held their joined fists over his heart.

"I love you." He said lowly, squeezing the dragon's fingers tightly. He watched Tyson's eyes go incredibly soft at his words and the open emotion behind them.

The passionate fires burning through Tyson's system a few minutes earlier were tempered and banked by the sudden need to simply wrap himself around this complex young man he'd fallen so deeply in love with and just be with Kai, holding him, immersing himself in that hidden warmth. The bluenette made a low sound and replied in a raspy voice, "I love you." Then he leaned down once more and place his mouth against Kai's, raising their joined hands and pressing Kai's against the pile of straw his back was resting on next to their heads. The prince gave a small whimper and returned the pressure of Tyson's lips on his, immensely pleased that Tyson was finally kissing him.

Kai felt his lover's other hand in his hair and shifted restlessly, bringing his free arm up and curling it around Tyson's back to grasp at his shoulder as they continued the uncomplicated kiss with slow, savouring movements of their lips and the occasional flick of their tongues. The kiss lasted seemingly forever and neither felt any urgency to separate, even to breathe.

Eventually, Tyson left off kissing Kai in favour of lying against him and snuggling in, his face buried into the curve of Kai's neck and shoulder. The bluenette was perfectly happy to remain where he was and enjoy their closeness. Kai rubbed his cheek against Tyson's forehead and closed his eyes contentedly.

Tyson smiled against his neck and purred quietly, a soft, calm rumbling of sound that Kai could feel as if he was the one purring - the vibrations were that strong. The Imperial heir thought about all this time he'd been away from home, with Tyson, and among strangers that he had reluctantly and warily begun to consider - dare he say it - friends. It wasn't something he'd ever expected to happen in his life - nor did he ever think he would meet people as honest as, not only Tyson, but Hilary, Max, and Rei, too. How ironic? He thought wryly.

Tyson, on the other hand, was enjoying every minute of his private time with his would-be lifemate. He realized he hadn't really gotten to see and know Kai as a prince, though he had gotten significant glimpses of that part of him. He had only ever seen Kai's human side - the side that he knew Kai hid from the world deliberately - even defensively. In his mind, Tyson knew that the future Emperor would be very different from this Kai he'd gotten to know. But in his heart and maybe even his spirit, Tyson knew it was just another facet, another piece of the enigma that was Kai Hiwatari.

And it only made him love him more, if that was possible.

After a long period of comfortable silence, Kai suddenly broke it.

"I've been thinking…"

Tyson raised his head at that, giving him a wary look. "Last time I heard that, you suggested breaking up."

Kai sighed and rubbed a thumb across Tyson's bottom lip, feeling a pang of guilt even though he knew his dragon hadn't meant to cause it. "Well, that's not going to happen again. I swear." He buried his face in the mass of midnight blue hair on his lover's head. "I couldn't leave you now, my dragon. And nothing could make me."

"I know. Good." Tyson kissed his neck lightly, raising a hand to play with a lock of Kai's hair. "So what were you thinking about?"

"Well…it all depends on everything working out when we get back and face Boris, of course…but I had an idea about what happens after - to us and to our countries."

"And that would be…?"

Kai tipped Tyson's face up so they could look directly into one another's eyes with a finger under his chin. "From one ruler to another, Kinomiya, I'm swearing to return all the lands my grandfather took from the Dragon Clans to them and to relinquish all ruler-ship of those lands to their rightful leader - you. I'll give you back your sovereignty, love."

Tyson stared at him, eyes glistening. "Kai…" He sniffled and broke out into a watery smile. "Thank you, Your Highness." He said softly in gratitude.

Kai smiled back and kissed the tears that slipped down Tyson's cheeks away gently. "Not one blade of grass nor pebble will remain in the Emperor's control."

"I wasn't really worried about that so much." Tyson chuckled, blinking away his tears. "I knew we'd work out something…"

"Yes. But I like this idea better." Kai gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Tyson…"

"What is it, beloved?" Tyson asked, taking not of the uncertain quality of Kai's tone as he said his name.

"I want to suggest something to you, and I would like you to think about it for a while. I don't want an answer from you until we know for sure that we're going to come through this dark tunnel we're in and back into the light."

"Okay." The dragon's brow furrowed.

"Um…before I tell you that, though, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Where would you rule from? I mean…would you rebuild the Kinomiya castle and return to it or would you move someplace else and start over from scratch?"

Tyson tapped his fingers against Kai's chest thoughtfully. "I hadn't really thought that far ahead, yet, to tell you the truth. I would, of course, rebuild my family's home…but I can keep my eye on my lands from pretty much anywhere, I suppose." He glanced up at his lover. "Why?"

"Well…I've been trying to think of hose you and I can be together - lifemated and everything - and still be together even though you need to be with your people and ruling there…but then there's the problem of all the duties being lifemated to the Emperor would add…" Kai trailed off, extremely hesitant about the whole thing.

Tyson listened, nodding on occasion. "Yeah…you have a point. Because once we're lifemated, Kai, you have to understand that for my people - let alone me as a demi-human - when we form that bond with someone, it's for life. And I don't just mean their life-span, either. We of the Clans literally will not survive without our lifemates once that bond is formed because it's as if a piece of each person's spirit has fused with a piece of the other's."

Kai's eyes widened and his arms tightened around Tyson's shoulders. "Gods…I didn't know that lifemating was so strong a bond for your people, love. No wonder you've been so worried about it."

"Yes." Tyson whispered, eyes downcast. "Now you see why it's so hard for me to see a future with us together." He felt tears sting his eyes and buried his face in Kai's chest, clinging. "I don't know what to do! The bond is already mostly formed as it is…Gods! I love you so much, Kai, and I…"

"Shh…Tyson." Kai quieted the dragon gently, his own heart aching at the entire situation. "You know I love you, my dragon. And I made you that promise that I would do whatever I could to see that we at least got a chance to make it work, remember? Listen…if you can lead the Clans from pretty much anywhere, then you don't need to be actually among the Clans every day, week, or month, right?"

"No. The Dragon folk are a very self-reliant people, really, so I suppose not."

"Okay, then here's my idea that I want you to think about: whether you accept or not I intend to help you and your people rebuild what you've lost, but in our case, I would be so very honoured, Kinomiya Takao, Lord of the Dragon Clans, if you would be my lifemate…and if you would be co-Emperor and rule with me, side by side." Kai proposed in complete seriousness, lifting Tyson's hand and liking their fingers together firmly. "We could divide the year up and spend half of it in Bay City - in the Empire - and then spend the rest in the lands of your people, at your home. Or we can figure that part out however it will suit us best later but however it's arranged, you and I would be together, equals in it all. Of course I would defer to you in all matters pertaining to the Clans and your lands and whatnot, and you'd have the final say in those times - just as I would on matters of the Empire's concern. And we'd work together just the same…"

Tyson sat up, staring at his lover in shock. "You…you want me to be a co-ruler? To…to rule the Empire with you?" He was perfectly stunned. The idea had never even occurred to him before. Yet, as Tyson mulled over the whole idea in his mind, he had to admit…there was a great deal of merit to Kai's plan. "Could it work? Would…would we really be able to make it work like that?"

Kai squeezed his hand and looked at him with an anxious expression. "I can't tell you that it will or won't work for certain, love. There will probably be a few bumps and stumbles along the way, but I'm sure you and I would be able to overcome any obstacles. As selfish as it is of me, I want you, love you, need you too much to give you up." The prince, a fury of passionate emotion burning in his smouldering crimson eyes, let go of Tyson's hand and reached up with both of his own to cup his dragon's face between his palms. "You are the best thing in my life - to have ever happened to me. I was barely existing before you came along and now…these last few months I've spent with you, just being me and learning so much about not only you and these people here who were your friends first and whom I would dare to call my friends, too, but about myself as well. I wouldn't trade it for anything and I'm so grateful…"

Tyson made a low sound and a silvery trail of tears slipped down his cheeks. Kai rubbed them away with his thumbs and sucked in a quick breath just before the bluenette bent and kissed him hard, a firm pressure of lips upon lips and the silent conveyance of emotion that went with it.

When the dragon pulled back, panting slightly, he said in a raspy, tender voice, "Yes."

Kai opened his eyes dazedly, blinking at him, not quite sure he had heard correctly. "Huh?"

"I don't need to think about it. My answer is yes to it all." Tyson gazed into the prince's eyes, love shining in his own azure orbs. "I accept, Kai Hiwatari, Emperor and Majesty, my only love."

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Authoress' Notes: ^_________________^ Heh. I don't think there's anything I really have to say about it. Please R/R!

PS. A couple last things I've been getting comments about. One: Tala/Hilary. I realize a lot of people don't like Hilary. Truthfully, I'm not that fond of her either. But I like her better than most of the female Beyblade characters so far. Besides, I think she's significantly different here in my fics than what she is on the anime. But that's just MY opinion and intention. Treat her as an OC if it really bothers you that much. Two: The back relationship between Tala and Bryan. There's a function there, too…and yes they did have a fling back in the day. It's not serious between them, however, and they're just friends. Got that? JUST FRIENDS. In this fic, at least… Maybe someday I'll write a Tala/Bryan fic, but not for a little while. I've got too many other projects underway right now and classes to worry about.