Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Running Scared ❯ Hold Me ( Chapter 4 )

Authoress' Notes: Hmm…what to warn you about? A seriously ticked off Kai, people getting slightly sloshed, and…the moment you've all been waiting for…

Warnings: Same as Chapter 1. See chapter 1 if you're that concerned about it.

Disclaimers: Nope. Still don't own anything. Don't own either of the song Hold Me, either. It belongs to Savage Garden.

Reviews: A huge thank you to all of you who reviewed! At FF.Net: Joce, Dragi, Nancys-little-Obsession, Dreamer, Yuki Tenshi, and Bloody Mary! At Mediaminer: Flamable_Devil (aka Jen)! At AFF.Net: XZanayu, Yami Dranzer, & L! And at my group: kirei_16! Thanks everyone! *huggles all*

Chapter 4: Hold Me

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//He WHAT?!//

"You…they've tried to recruit you?" Rei winced and prayed fervently for Kai to hold onto his temper. Max was looking a little pale at the steady stream of cursing that flowed over their com-links. "That's…"

"Not going to make a difference now." Max stated, thinking quickly. "Ah…it'll make things easier to explain, at least."

Tyson was giving them strange looks and Hilary was glaring at them.

"What's to explain?" She said angrily, placing her hands on Tyson's shoulders and hovering protectively. "So you figure because he's more stable now you'll try recruiting him again? Over my dead body! Tyson is…"

"In danger." Rei interrupted, his eyes glinting at the insult in Hilary's tone. "That's why we're here. Not to recruit him! We didn't know an attempt to recruit you had ever happened, Tyson. We're here to ask you to come with us for your protection and for Dragoon's, possibly to help us."

//Someone's going to die when I find out who the hell okayed his recruitment!// Kai was snarling now. Max and Rei heard him fling an order at Kenny. //Chief! Find out what's going on. NOW!//

Rei winced again. Things just got worse.

"I'm in danger? Why? I haven't done anything. I hardly even blade anymore." Tyson looked confused.

There was abrupt silence on the com-link. //He…doesn't blade anymore?// Rei sighed at the total disbelief and guilt in Kai's voice. He dug out his cell phone and dialled Kai's.

"I'll just be a minute, Tyson. Then I'll explain what I can."

"Uh…sure." Tyson watched him, still confused, as he went into the kitchen.

As soon as Kai answered, Rei growled at him. "Do you mind? I'm getting a headache from your cursing in my ear so much. Calm the hell down before you scare the Chief too badly."

"CALM DOWN?! Are you insane? Rei, he said they tried to recruit him! I made a deal with them when I joined. They would stay away from him if I would help them!"

"Something's screwy then. We'll figure it out later, okay? Just suck it up for now and prioritize. Save him first and deal with the rest later."

"Argh!" Kai sounded like he wanted to explode. "Do it, then!" The line went dead as Kai hung up on him. Rei shut off his cell and sighed. "Take a few deep breaths and count to a hundred if you have to."

//Just get back in there.//

"Going."

Max looked up as he came in. "Everything okay?"

Rei made a face. "I really don't think so." He dropped back down onto the couch and faced Tyson. "You wanted to know why you're in danger, Tyson? I've been told to tell you something that you'd understand."

"And that is?" Hilary demanded.

"The demon is still alive."

Tyson flinched and paled. "That's impossible, Rei."

"That's what we've all thought since the explosion, Tyson. But we've recently gotten proof that says otherwise. And he's starting over. He'll come after you soon."

"You mean he'll come after Dragoon." Tyson dropped his head into his hands. Hilary looked ill and she rubbed his back soothingly, as much for her comfort as his. "I won't let him take Dragoon, Rei."

"I know. But you can't stay here. You're probably already under surveillance."

"But…I can't leave Hilary and Gramps here alone, either!" Tyson looked up. "Boris is ruthless. He could do almost anything to them to get me to do what he wants."

"Hilary can come with us." Max assured him. "And say the word and we'll have Gramps transferred to a BBA hospital where he'll be protected."

Tyson was quite for a while, trying to assimilate everything. Hilary hugged him from behind, lending her cousin her strength and support. Finally, he looked at both agents and nodded. "Okay. We'll come with you if you can promise me Gramps will be safe."

"I swear." Rei nodded back. "Max."

"Phoning it in now, Rei." Max pulled out his cell, calling the Chief to make the arrangements.

"Pack whatever you need, Tyson, Hilary. But don't pack a lot. We need to move around quickly and the less baggage we have to worry about the better." Rei blew out a breath in relief as they went to their rooms to get packed.

"It's done." Max said. "Gramps is being transferred immediately."

"Good." Rei smiled wanly. "One less problem to worry about."

//Only to be replaced by another. What the hell is going on, Rei? How could they lie to me?// Kai sounded so lost it made Rei want to kick a wall in.

"I don't know. Like I said, we'll deal with it later."

//I'm going radio silent now, Tiger. You and Daredevil keep a sharp eye out for trouble.//

"Believe me, Phoenix, we will."

Ten minutes later, Tyson and Hilary appeared carrying one suitcase each.

"You've got Dragoon?" Rei asked.

Tyson nodded.

"Good. Let's get out of here." He led them out to the car.

Max popped open the trunk and put their luggage in before getting behind the wheel.

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POV Change

Okay. I'll admit it. I was pissed off as all hell about this. Mr. Dickenson was going to have a lot of explaining to do.

I was also going out of my mind with worry. Tyson had loved blading so much! Was he that distraught over me that he'd even stopped that? If that was the case then I had better super-size my guilt meal. I was never going to forgive myself for this.

The Chief stuck his head into the cabin and warily informed me in a slightly freaked, squeaky voice, that Gramps was being transferred and the others were on their way back.

Not trusting myself to not bite his head off if I opened my mouth, I made a noise of acknowledgement and waved him away.

I ended up pacing again while I had the plane refuelled and worked on getting us cleared for take-off as soon as possible.

I was in the middle of an argument with Air Traffic Control about letting us take off before a commercial flight when Chief popped back in again, waving at me frantically.

"Look, it's extremely urgent that we leave as soon as my party returns, which will be any moment now. I don't care what has to be done to clear us, but find a way or else!" I slammed the phone down and glared at Kenny in annoyance. "What?"

"Max is on the phone. He says they're being followed."

"Well fuck." I cursed and took the cell phone from him, fighting the urge to crush it into scrap plastic and metal. I was now wishing I hadn't turned off my com-link. "Max! What's the situation?"

"We've got an admirer, Phoenix. They're trying to be clever about it, but they're amateurs."

"Can you tell who it is driving?"

"Ah…I don't recognize the driver. There's a guy in the passenger seat that looks familiar but I can't place him. Oh! Wait…Rei wants to talk to you." There was a bit of static and rustling as Rei took the phone from Max.

"Spencer's driving and the guy in the passenger seat is…Tala." Rei hesitated and I knew why. We didn't know whose side the guy was on anymore.

"Shit. I was afraid of that. Look, just tell Max to loose them. Now would have been a good time to set up and ambush but I don't want to risk it with Tyson and Hilary there."

"Yeah. Hold up. Max…lose 'em." I heard him say. Then I heard Max in the background laugh delightedly and reply, "Alrighty then!" in a really bad Ace Ventura impression. I winced as Rei gave a startled yelp that told me Max had just done something worthy of his code name. I listened for a few tense minutes. Until…

"Gods, Max! Where the hell did you learn to drive?" Rei groaned. "Ah…I think we're safe now. Max, you can stop doing 170."

"That's no fun."

"Hurry back, Rei. We should be able to take off as soon as Max straps himself into the pilot's seat." I ordered and hung up. I glanced at the Chief and asked, "Can you keep an eye on them?"

"Yes, sir."

I sighed. "Please don't call me that, Chief. I'm sorry I freaked out on you earlier."

"No problem." He looked surprised at the apology. But it was hard to be sure when you couldn't see his eyes through his hair.

I went back into the passengers' cabin and paced again.

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When I heard them come trooping up the stairs to board the plane, I did the cowardly thing and hid in the kitchenette out of sight.

I heard Tyson for the first time in seven years, without any sort of electronic equipment between us, say, "Nice plane, Rei."

Oh Gods how I'd missed the sound of his voice.

He was here. I was here. And I think I was working toward a full-blown panic attack because I nearly couldn't breathe, my heart was pounding, and I was shaking like a leaf.

I listened to Rei get them settled in and felt the plane lurch suddenly as Max began taxiing us down the runway in preparation for take-off. I took a seat and belted myself in, listening to the sound of Tyson's voice - not his words, just the sound of it, the melody of it - and fought back tears and nerves.

In defence I dug out a bottle of vodka from the little fridge and poured myself a double shot, downing it in one gulp. I gasped as it burned a path down to my stomach.

It burned going down but at least I could breathe again.

When we levelled off and Max informed us over the intercom it was safe to walk around now, I heard Rei ask if he could get Hilary and Tyson something to drink, their replies, and then his reply as he came into the kitchenette.

He eyed me and the bottle. "Well, I see you found the wet bar." Rei observed, quietly, grabbing the bottle from my unresisting hand and taking out a couple more glasses. "How are you?"

"Shitty. Fuck, Rei! I had a panic attack the moment I heard his voice. Me! I can't do this…I can't go out there."

"You can. You will." Rei set the bottle and glasses on a tray and began brewing tea, setting up another tray for that, too. "I'd offer to tell him myself, but I think it's best that he hears it from you."

Just the thought of it sent my stomach off kilter and I bolted for the lavatory where I was rather sick.

When I came back, Rei just handed me a damp cloth for my face. Dranzer clucked at me in concern and I gave her a wan mental smile.

As he poured the hot water into the pot from the kettle, Rei said, "I gave him Boris' file to go through. I thought if he has an idea what's going to happen if we don't stop that psychopath then maybe he'd be more willing to help us."

"Okay. That's fine. As long as you don't show him my 'autopsy report.'"

"No. I put that away." Rei looked at the tea tray, then at the bottle of vodka. "Why am I even bothering? Tea's useless. We should all just get loaded." He dumped out the tea and rooted out a bottle of good old Irish whiskey from the fridge.

Before he picked up the tray I grabbed the vodka, took a long pull from the bottle and set it back. Rei sighed and went back out to the others. I watched in concealment from the doorway as he set it down and poured a round of shots from the whiskey bottle.

"Uh…Rei? Don't you think it's a little early?" Hilary gingerly accepted the shot.

"On any other day but today…probably." Rei downed his shot and shuddered. "Gah! That burns…" He looked at Tyson. "I'd drink that if I were you. Trust me."

Tyson's look made me want to giggle (which I blame on the vodka swimming in my empty stomach, by the way). But since I do not giggle, I refrained and waited.

"Rei, are you feeling okay?" My beloved blue-eyed bishonen inquired slowly.

"Oh hell no. That's why I'm currently trying to get alcohol poisoning." Rei replied, somewhat cheerfully actually. I was going to have to do something really nice for him when this was over. "Do me a favour, Ty, and drink that shot."

Tyson sighed and carefully dumped it in Rei's glass instead, grabbing the vodka bottle and refilling his glass. "If I'm going to drink with you, then I'd prefer the vodka. You drink the whiskey." Tyson downed his shot. God I loved him.

"Whatever." Rei tossed that back, too.

Hilary frowned disapprovingly at them. "Men. Things go a little bad so you hit the hard liquor." Since Tyson and Hilary were sitting with their backs to me, and couldn't see me standing in the doorway behind them, I felt safe enough to wave impatiently at Rei when he looked in my general direction.

Besides. I didn't want Tyson totally wasted, just mellowed and somewhat relaxed.

Rei must have took the hint because he downed one last shot before pushing the whiskey bottle at Hilary. "Either join us or keep that away from me, please. I'm going to go over there and pass out in a minute." He rubbed his eyes sluggishly as the alcohol became the driving force in his system then pointed a finger at Tyson. "But 'fore I do…you thought I was hiding something from you earlier?"

"That's the impression I got." I could hear the suspicion in Tyson's voice. "Why? Is there a reason you felt you had to hide something from me?"

"Bingo!" Rei saluted Tyson, downing another shot.

"What?"

"I want you to know I tried talking him out of it back then but he honestly thought it was best. He only wanted to protect you."

Tyson angled his head at the tipsy neko-jin in a gesture so familiar I wanted to cry (and I was sure I wasn't going to be able to avoid that much longer). What had me swallowing back a sob, though, was that I only just noticed that he had cut his gorgeous hair that I'd been itching to run my fingers through for so long it was ridiculous.

"What in the world are you talking about?" Tyson wanted to know, tone not only suspicious now but confused.

"What and the reason I was hiding is standing behind you ready to kill me for taking so bloody long." Rei finally said, gesturing over their shoulders. "Holy hell. The shit's gonna hit the fan now! Come on, Hil! How's about we go bug Max and the Chief while these two either kiss and make up or kill each other?"

Tyson shook his head at Rei and began turning around in his seat as he spoke. I held my breath.

"You're so wasted, Rei, you're babbling…" He stopped talking and went stark white when he saw me. I felt my eyes fill with tears and I fidgeted under his gaze, staring into and drowning in his dark, fathomless blue eyes once again.

Hilary whipped her head around to blink at me and gasped, paling nearly as much as her cousin had. "Oh my God!"

Tyson got up slowly, clutching his seat when he trembled visibly. I let the tears fall, watching him watch me and there was total silence in the room.

Rei gave Hilary a wordless toast and held out his glass when she grabbed the whiskey bottle. "What the hell. May 'swell have another. Drink up, sister!" He said as she poured then took a healthy swig of the liquor straight from the bottle.

I ignored them as he got up unsteadily and tugged Hilary with him, heading for the cockpit to give us some time and space. I just stared at my love, drinking in the sight of him with the thirst of a dehydrated man.

"Tyson…" I croaked after an entirely too long moment of unbearable quiet. "Gods, Ty…I know it's a shock, but…"

"You…you're not real. You can't be! You're dead…they told me you died!" He cried, hugging himself as if he was suddenly cold. "It's not real…it's not! I've cracked up again…" He dropped to his knees and I was down there with him so fast I don't even remember moving. I put my hands on his shoulders and shook him gently.

"Tyson, love no! Look at me, please?" He did and his eyes were a bit wild. He was shaking violently and I didn't even notice I was still crying steadily. "Listen to me, okay?

"I'm sorry, Tyson, so sorry for so many things. But you have to understand! I did not die in that explosion in Russia. The Spirit Squad…they helped me to escape, to let the world forget about the Abbey, Boris…and me."

"You're…real. Alive…here?" He whispered, staring up at me in shock, fear, confusion, and a need so great I wondered if I wasn't seeing myself in his eyes. I took one of his hands and pressed his palm to my cheek, holding it there. He jerked slightly, not expecting my touch or that I'd be solid to his. I let his hand go when his fingers began tracing my features with a ghostly light touch. "Kai…Kai!"

"Ooph!" I grunted as he flung himself at me, knocking me over and wrapping himself around me to cling desperately and beginning to sob harshly. I sat up with him in my lap, my arms hugging him tightly to me and I buried my face in his hair, still weeping.

I'm not sure how long we sat there clutching one another, even after the tears dried up.

When he pulled away from me reluctantly, I let him. I didn't want to ever let him go again, but I knew he would need some space to figure everything out.

I should have known he was digging around in my mind by the way he was staring into my eyes but I was just too numb and occupied with being in his presence again.

I also should have seen the warning flash of pure fury in those sapphire orbs. If I had it would have saved me a broken nose and Rei the loss of energy it took to heal it when he sobered up enough to do it.

Tyson's fist came flying at me quick as lightning, connecting with my face and snapping my head back. I lay on my back staring up at the ceiling of the plane in a daze for a moment then sat up slowly and flinched.

"Shit." I moaned in pain. "I think you broke my nose."

"Yeah, well, I'd beat the crap out of you, you lying, deceitful…agh!" He screeched in frustration and anger. "I don't even have a decent name to call you! How?! How could you do that to me?" He got up shakily and kicked the bench seat. I winced, glad it wasn't me he was kicking and at the same time wishing it was me, my guilt overwhelming me again. I grabbed a napkin from the tray on the table, stuffing it up my nose gingerly to halt the blood flow and sitting woozily again when the room spun.

"Tyson…" I tried. It came out nasal sounding.

"Oh no. You're not talking your way out of this!" He slammed both hands on the tabletop and I jumped a bit. "I already know why you did it. I want to know how."

I just looked at him miserably, guilty and full of self-loathing. Tyson closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them he bellowed, "REI! GET YOUR FURRY ASS IN HERE!"

I flinched at the volume since it added to the pounding headache I already had. I whimpered pitifully and grabbed another napkin.

Rei came rushing in, followed by Hilary and the Chief, looking like he'd been on a month-long bender and was just coming out of it. "Well, geez." He sighed when he saw me feebly trying to keep my blood where it was supposed to be. "Couldn't you have broken a limb instead? They're easier to heal and they bleed less."

"Just do something." Tyson scowled darkly as Rei slapped at my hands, removing the napkins from my nose and shaking his head. "I can't yell at him like this."

"Have you worked this out yet or are you just going to break his nose again after I heal it?" Rei grumbled, raising his hand but lowering it again, seeming to rethink the action. He grabbed the bottle of vodka and handed it to me. "Drink that. This is going to hurt."

"Can't hurt more than it does." I mumbled and drank from the bottle several times. When I felt pleasantly numb and couldn't feel anything anymore I sighed happily and slurred, " 'Sat's good vodka!"

"Uh huh." Rei eyed me, pretty much stone cold sober himself now. He got behind me and pinned my arms behind my back. "I have to set his nose back into place before I heal him completely. You still mad?" He asked my furious beloved.

"As hell." Tyson, without hesitation, walked up to me, pulled back his fist, and let fly again. I didn't feel a thing.

Of course, he knocked me out cold this time - and I was looped.

That probably had something to do with it.

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Authoress' Notes: Just a couple of things: first off, no one's guessed the secret of those numbers! I'll give you a hint…they spell a word. If you can tell me what the word is and how the numbers add up to that word, you'll win something! *sweatdrops* I don't know what, yet, but I'll come up with something. Secondly, in case you're a little confused with all the powers, here's a little help for you:

Kai - pyrokinetic (the ability to create/control fire/heat)

Rei - healing and shapeshifting

Tyson - telepathic (the ability to read others' minds and/or speak mind-to-mind) and empathic (the ability to read/feel others' emotions) and a surprise power I haven't gotten to yet *winks*

Max - I haven't gotten around to his powers yet, and yes…he's got one or two.

Kenny - his brain is his power. I really don't think he needs another, do you?

There ya all go. Make more sense now? Besides Tyson, the only way any of the others might be telepathic is with their bit-beasts. Tyson's the only one who is a true telepath. Okay, I'm done blabbing. Please R/R!