Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Running Scared ❯ Breathe ( Chapter 8 )

Authoress' Notes: I know it's been a long time since the last update. Sorry! I was away for the long weekend (where I am anyway) and nowhere near a computer. But I'm back now and into this fic hip deep. >.< Why do I always have to complicate my life? *sighs*

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

Disclaimers: I still don't own anything, and that includes Breathe, by Michelle Branch. Obviously, that's her song.

Reviews: Wow…thanks to all of my reviewers!! @ FF.Net: Weeping Angel, Kai-lovr, Flamable-Devil (Jen!), Bloody Mary, Dragi, & Dannee-san; @ AFF.Net: XZanayu, & Brickwall; @ my group: Yami Dranzer, Salima, & Kirei_16; & @ Mediaminer: Flamable-Devil (Jen!). *showers all with TyKa plushies*

blah - normal speech, blah - thoughts, {blah} - telepathy, blah - electronic speech (com-links, computers, etc.)

Chapter 8: Breathe

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Groaning, I rolled over, away from the bright sunshine pouring in through the curtains, and yanked the covers up over my head. Tyson made a noise and wriggled backward until he was snuggled against me. I automatically curled myself around him, spooning him from behind and draping an arm over his waist.

"Ugh…too damned early." I heard him mumble. Is it any wonder I love him so much? Tyson's as much of a lazy ass as I am in the morning.

"Yeah. Sleep." I agreed with him, burying my face in his hair. Just as I was drifting off again, he threw back the covers, waking me up once more. "Wha?" I inquired, my voice sounding gravelly with sleep.

"Hot." He informed me. "You're warm enough." Tyson let his arm rest against mine, his hand covering mind and holding me there with a little sigh of contentment.

"Mmm…one sheet?"

"Why?"

I was beginning to wake up enough that I could think properly, much to my disgust. I'd rather have been asleep. "Cause Rei'll come to wake me up and we'd rather he didn't see us naked."

"Oh. Okay." Tyson groped down at his feet for a sheet and pulled it up to our hips, covering everything necessary to cover. Then he promptly dropped off like a rock.

I, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. Damn. I was awake now, and in desperate need of coffee. I glanced at the alarm clock over Tyson's shoulder and grimaced. It was 6:30 and I'd hoped for at least a couple more hours of rest. However, I knew that the early rising neko-jin would no doubt be around to wake me up in the next half hour sometime, something he did on missions we worked together because I wouldn't wake myself up otherwise. Ironic that with all the training and stuff I've gone through, living my life, that I'm actually a complete lazy ass - especially in the mornings. One of many reasons I'm a grouch in the morning, by the way.

I was, despite being annoyed at not being able to return to sleep, quite comfortable and content at the moment with my slumbering lover in my arms. So I closed my eyes and managed to fall into a light doze.

My happy peace didn't last long, though. Clever cat that Rei is, he figured out (probably with Kenny's help) how to use the call system in the house. His entirely too bright voice split the air in the room and jolted me awake again.

"Kai! Wake up!" I ignored him with a growl and there was a pause, then, "Wake the hell up you lazy firebug!" He yelled. He knows I hate that name. 'Firebug' that is, not 'lazy.' Well…that, too.

I muttered a few unflattering expletives in various languages and Tyson stirred, opening his eyes and glaring at the speaker that Rei's voice came from.

And it suddenly just…exploded. I blinked at the scorched place where it had been. I hadn't done that - though the idea sure had crossed my mind. I looked down at Tyson, who'd rolled over and slung an arm around my waist, muttering about noisy neko-jins under his breath.

"How'd you do that?" I asked him, brushing his hair away from his face.

He sighed and opened his surreal blue eyes to look up at me. "Electricity. I can control it. Any form of it." Tyson placed a finger on my shoulder and I felt a tiny jolt, making me jump slightly. My eyes went wide and I gasped as he trailed that finger down my arm and left little sparks of static in his wake. It didn't hurt - actually it felt really cool. I shivered at the sensations making my nerves dance and the hair on my arms stand up.

"Wow." I captured his hand with my own and brought it to my lips. "When did this happen?"

"The day I caught the news report on TV announcing your 'death.'" Tyson replied solemnly. I winced and Tyson laid his palm against my cheek. "You have to learn to forgive yourself, love. Or, if you can't do that, at least let it go."

"I'll try. I am trying." I sighed and snuggled up into him. "I just got you back yesterday…and we'll both need time to adjust."

"I know. But not apart." He brushed his mouth against mine. "Never apart." He whispered against my lips then pressed harder, lips parting under mind in invitation. I accepted and kissed him quite seriously. Then…

"KAI!" Rei's voice interrupted my happy moment once again. I was rethinking that beach house as I snarled and the bedroom door was flung open, the anxious neko-jin rushing in. "Kai! I went to wake up Tyson for breakfast and he's not there and we can't find him…" He stopped babbling and stared at Tyson and I for a minute. "Oh boy."

"Rei. You have five seconds to get lost before I roast your ass." I growled the warning. He flinched and backed out the door nervously, hands held up in defense and his face was an alarming shade of red.

"Sorry! Silly me! Don't know what I was thinking…" He slammed the door shut after hurrying out.

"Uh…maybe I should have left a note." Tyson mused.

"No. He should have known you wouldn't go wandering off any place." I flopped back against the pillows. "Great. I guess we should shower and get dressed." I eyed him with a considering look. "Then I think we should have a bit of practice, don't you?"

"I suppose. I'm really rusty, though, Kai."

Getting up, I rolled off the bed and held out my hands to him. "That's okay. I'll whip you into shape in no time. Come on, lover. Let's shower, dress, and eat."

He sat up, frowning and shifting slightly in discomfort and grabbed my hands, allowing me to pull him to his feet and lead him to the master bath.

"Sore?" I asked in concern, turning on the water to let it heat up.

"A bit. But…it's a pleasant kind of ache. "He sat gingerly on the side of the huge jet tub and watched me grab towels, soap, and hair stuff. "I don't mind at all."

I set everything aside and climbed in. "The bath should help." I told him as he followed me in. He hissed a little as he lowered himself into the water but sighed and relaxed after a moment. "Water too hot?"

"Nope." Tyson grinned at me and dunked himself under the water briefly to wet his hair.

We washed each other up, scrubbing clean. I enjoyed every second - savored the intimacy of it. My hands on him, his hands on me - it was sensual rather than sexual. Although…that was there too. But where there had been urgency and lust last night, both had been replaced with a need for closeness. All we wanted at the moment was to be together and to forget the world existed beyond us. When we'd gotten clean, the jets of the tub making the water swirl around us, Tyson crawled onto my lap and dipped his head down to capture my mouth in a heart-stopping kiss. I pulled him closer and kissed back, gaining a happy little noise from him in response. The kiss went on for some time; a long, slow, languorous kind of one.

Eventually the water grew cold and we reluctantly broke apart, albeit slowly and with frequent - but no less intense - smaller kisses as we did so.

"I guess we should get out now, huh? The water's chilly." I sighed, letting him stand up and crawl out of the tub to grab a towel for himself.

"I'm hungry." He said, smiling as he dried off. "What do you suppose Rei whipped up for breakfast?"

"As long as there's coffee, I really don't care." I replied, rubbing my hair dry with a towel as I sat on the edge of the tub. I dropped the towel in the laundry basket and blinked at Tyson when he started giggling at me. "What's so funny?"

"He he he! Sorry! It's just…" He broke down into a fit of barely contained laughter. I scowled at him.

"What?!"

"Look…look in the mirror!" He gasped out between giggles. Still scowling I looked and saw my hair sticking up in all directions in a more spiky way than normal. Pouting, I wet my hands and tamed my wild dual-shaded locks.

"Oh…shut up."

Tyson snickered some more and dropped a quick kiss on my shoulder as he walked past to go get his boxers. "I'll be back. I'm going to get my stuff and bring it here." He paused, uncertainly. "Um…if that's okay with you?"

I looked at him in surprise at the tone of his voice. He sounded so unsure of himself. I went to him and raised his downcast gaze to meet mine by tipping his chin up with one finger. "Tyson? What's wrong love?"

"It's nothing. I just wasn't sure if you'd want me invading your space." He shuffled his feet and I smiled gently.

"Of course you can. Tyson, everything that belongs to me is yours. You could never 'invade my space,' not when I want you in it more than anything else." I combed my fingers through his damp hair and he sighed, relaxing into the touch.

"I don't want your stuff, Kai. I just want you." He slipped his arms around me and snuggled up. I hugged him close and kissed the top of his head fondly.

"Well, you've got me, little dragon." I promised. "Now go get your stuff."

He flashed me a grin and disappeared out the door.

I got dressed leisurely, feeling no real urgency for once in my life. I knew Rei and Max were probably getting restless, wanting to get out there and get on with the mission. Don't get me wrong! I did, too. But Tyson was my priority now.

As I thought about it, I realized the Tyson's new abilities had always been there - they just hadn't been so apparent and he probably didn't even realize he had them before. It was probably the emotional trauma I'd caused him with my 'death' that made whatever it was holding his powers back snap. For that, also, I felt guilty and was sorry for it. Just another screw up for me to add to the list of things I had to make up for.

I couldn't imagine what it must be like to be surrounded constantly by not only your own thoughts and emotions but all of those around you, too. I couldn't have handled it, I knew. I've never understood people as Tyson does, and never will. And here, I found a great deal of irony. Everyone is always telling me how strong I am - physically and mentally or emotionally. In a way, that's very true. I can and have done many things - some that most would shudder from and horrified with - without feeling more than a tiny twinge of conscious or batting an eyelash. The irony is that while I am strong to be able to handle such things, I say Tyson is stronger because each of us only has to deal with our own emotions - our own demons and ghosts that haunt us. My beloved deals with his and everyone else's. To me, that is strength far greater and more pure than what I have.

I was pulling on my shoes when Tyson returned with his bag, fully dressed. He dropped it down beside my own and sauntered over as I began putting on my blading gloves, a pair of black, fingerless leather ones with special grips on the palms and finger pads.

"Nice." He approved, taking one of my hands and studying the glove with interest. "I didn't know they made them like this."

"Yep. Want a pair? I think I have a blue set you can have." I went to a drawer and dug out a pair of gray-blue blading gloves like my own and handed them to Tyson. "Try them on."

He pulled them on with ease, the movements of a long time blader, even if he was out of practice. They fit him well, the wristbands I'd given him not interfering at all with the gloves or vice versa. "Thanks, love."

"Sure. Later, when I've given you a little test, we'll get Kenny to modify your blade if it needs it and come up with a launcher to suit your needs."

He looked skeptical at that but didn't say anything, following me downstairs instead to get breakfast.

We found the others sitting around the kitchens chatting. I didn't even look at them, walking past and heading straight for the Espresso machine. Tyson grinned at them and headed happily for the food on the counter.

"Good morning everyone!" He greeted them, cheerfully, while filling his plate. "Sorry I worried all of you this morning."

"No, Tyson. I should have thought about it a little more before freaking out." Rei glanced back and forth between us. "Everything worked out now?"

I grunted in a non-committal kind of way. I knew there were still going to be some things that were likely to pop up that could very well fuck everything up again. But I would deal with those when the occasion arose. I stood staring at the machine, willing it to brew my coffee faster. "Damned slow piece of…"

"I had some made before, Kai." Rei informed me with a put-upon little sigh. "But you took so long that it got cold so I had to dump it." I shot him a glare then turned back to the espresso. I could smell it now and I shivered as I inhaled the aroma.

"So what's the plan for today, Kai?" Max piped up, folding up a newspaper and watching me expectantly. I wasn't going to answer until I got my coffee. Tyson shook his head at me and joined the group at the table, digging into his full plate of food.

"I see his coffee fetish hasn't changed." The little minx commented.

"Fetish?" I protested. He grinned evilly at me.

"Fetish."

Rei began to laugh his ass off. "Oh yeah! Good one, Tyson! Finally someone else who can deal with the grump every morning!" I flushed and refused to look at anyone. Thankfully the machine pinged and I grabbed a mug, creating my espresso coffee and taking my first hit desperately.

"Uh…about my question?" Max reminded us, seeming to sense I was not going to answer him until I'd had my coffee - which was really quite sensible of him. "I was thinking that it's probably a good idea if Kai was not seen here in Moscow. Too many people here know who he is - even if they think he's dead. It could be to our advantage to keep his identity a secret."

Sipping my coffee, I silently agreed with him and praised the blonde for that insight.

"I think you're right, Max." Rei nodded. "Especially when we don't know how much Tala's told Boris."

"Does Tala know who Kai is?" Hilary asked.

"Yes. They were in the Abbey together for quite some time." Rei informed them all. He gave me a quick glance, silently asking me how much to tell them. I gave a brief nod and went back to my espresso. "Tala doesn't know, however, that Kai is Phoenix at the Spirit Squad. No one but us in this room and Mr. Dickenson know that."

"Mr. D and the other founding members, that is." Kenny corrected.

I polished off my first cup then poured myself another, feeling much better now as the caffeine hit my system and woke me up completely. I moved over to the table and sat next to Tyson, my hand trailing over his shoulders as I passed. I found I couldn't be that close to him and not touch him somehow.

He pushed his now empty plate aside and folded his hands in front of himself on the table. "Glad you finally deigned to join us." He teased. "You awake now?" He was looking at me with this mischievous twinkle in his eyes. So he wanted to play, huh?

Smiling wickedly back at Tyson, aware of the others' stares on me (because I was smiling), I said quite pleasantly, "Fuck you, Kinomiya. You're no more a morning person than I am." before taking another sip of coffee.

Tyson grinned at me. "You already did that last night, lover." He purred. I spluttered a bit and felt my face heat up, the others watching our exchange now in rapt fascination and with smothered giggles. I gave my clever mate a warning glare but I could see it was useless. He was on a rampage and I'd just have to suck it up and deal with it. But not without getting a comment or two in myself.

"Yes. So I did. And from the volume and frequency of your moaning, I'd say you rather enjoyed it." I drawled, satisfied that I'd gotten even for that fetish comment earlier when he blushed hotly.

"Hmm…and by the way you moaned over that coffee a few minutes ago, I'm not sure if I ought to be jealous or not." He leaned over and plucked the coffee cup from my hand. "Let me taste this and see…" he sipped cautiously, thought for a second, then shook his head and handed the mug back. "Nope. You definitely taste better than the espresso."

Max had just taken a drink of his orange juice when Tyson made that comment and burst out laughing, spitting the juice out all over the table. Hilary and Kenny were looking at us with amusement and twin expressions that said, "Too much info." Rei just rolled his eyes at us.

Not about to let Tyson get the last word in, I bent close to him and whispered in his ear, "So do you, lover. And if I'd had a taste of you this morning I wouldn't have needed the coffee, I'm sure." Then I nipped at his ear playfully and felt a tremor pass through him.

"I'll remember that." He said, huskily. Satisfied, I sipped my coffee again and the banter ended in a silent truce.

"Okay. Here's what's going to happen today: Max, you and Hilary are going to check out the blading gossip around Moscow. I'm sure you know all the best places to go looking. But I want you to be careful." I warned. "This is fact-finding only. Don't blade if you don't have to, and do not accept any challenges from anyone who makes you feel the slightest bit suspicious." I looked at Rei next. "That'll be your fun. You know the underground blading nearly as well as I do. However, should you run into any of the Demolition Boys, Rei…"

"I won't engage them, Kai. I'm not stupid." He sniffed. "That lot tends to run in a pack. Where there's one, there's likely to be one or two more."

"Good. I'll be here with Tyson. We're going to do some training and some work on his blade." I glanced at Kenny. "You can help us out with that, Chief. And there's some research I could use a hand with, too."

"Um…Kai?" Tyson looked over at his cousin. "Are you sure it's safe to send Hilary out?"

Hilary nodded fervently in agreement. "Yeah! I'm no agent, Kai!"

"I know. You're tough, Hilary. I know you've had the same training benefits that Tyson has had living with Gramps. You can defend yourself if you have to. And you'll have Max with you." I took Tyson's hand in mine and squeezed. "We don't call him Daredevil for nothing. Like I said, you're not doing anything dangerous, just picking up the gossip."

"Still…" Tyson didn't look convinced.

"I won't let anything happen to her, Tyson. I swear on Draciel." Max held up his blade, his bit-piece flashing once at his words.

"Well, okay."

"Should we go wired, Kai?" Rei asked. "Well…them anyway. Not me. I really shouldn't, going to some of the places I'll be."

"Yeah." I agreed. "It wouldn't hurt. Max and Hilary can go wired. You, Rei, will go with a tracking device on you somewhere. For my peace of mind."

He sighed. "Whatever. I'll be just fine, Kai." He flexed his fingers and waggled some rather sharp nails at me. "I'm not named Tiger for nothing, after all." Rei's grin became very feline, his fangs flashing. I rolled my eyes.

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I grabbed a piece of toast on my way out, leading Max, Hilary and Rei downstairs. Tyson and the Chief came along too, just out of curiosity about what I could possibly have in my cellars.

Boy, were they in for a surprise.

"Kai, why are we getting a tour of your wine cellar?" Rei inquired, studying the rows and rows of wine bottles along the walls as we walked past.

"I'm going to get you wired up." I told him. "Everything we need is down here." I stopped at a particular rack and reached up, pushing in the cork on one bottle. The cork was actually a button and a panel beside the rack slid open, revealing a palm plate and a retinal scanner. I pressed my right hand to the pad after removing my glove then let the scanner read my eyes. I stepped back and put my glove back on while the computer decided it was really me.

Then there was a swooshing noise behind us and another wine rack swung to the side, revealing a staircase that led down even farther underground.

"Cool!" Max exclaimed. "Secret passageways! Hidden staircases!"

"You're easily amused, aren't you?" Kenny observed, adjusting his glasses.

I started down the steps and snapped my fingers once. Lights turned on, illuminating the stairwell and the room at the bottom of the stairs. I looked back up at the group. "Come on, people. We don't have all day."

They followed me down and I let them gawk at the array of equipment and technology as I walked to the shelves where I began choosing some appropriate communication devices for Max, Hilary, and Rei.

"Here, Max." I held up two tiny ear-pieces that resembled hearing aids. "Two way digital communication. You and Hilary each put one in your ear and you can speak as if I was standing right next to you from anywhere within a fifty mile radius and I'll hear you. And I can speak to you, just the same - well, the Chief will." I handed him one ear-piece and the other to Hilary, watching them put them into their ears. "And when you're out in the field, don't forget to use my code name and not my real name." I reminded them.

"So what about me, Kai?" Rei asked curiously. I held up a tiny little object and he blinked, squinting at it. "A microchip?"

"Yes. It's the smallest tracking device out there so far. It can also monitor your vital signs and brainwaves." I held it out to Kenny. "Chief? You know how to program one of these?"

"Of course I do. I created them." He sounded vaguely insulted.

"Oh. Right. I forgot." I coughed. "Sorry. I'm assuming you're planning on using your laptop to monitor everyone?"

"Yep. Why? Want me to program that special?" Kenny took the chip gingerly.

"Please - so that only your computer can read that chip's signal from the satellite. That way if Rei's scanned for bugs nothing will be picked up."

"Got'cha. I can do that. Just give me a second here." He set his laptop up and went to work. It only took him five minutes - two to program and three to triple check that it was functioning properly. I took it back and studied Rei critically.

"So exactly what are you planning on doing with that?" The neko-jin inquired warily. I guess he didn't like how I studied him.

"Is your tail the only part of you that doesn't change when you shift?" I asked. He frowned.

"Yes…"

"Then that's where this is going to have to go." I nodded, glancing at the chip briefly.

"Oh no. Uh uhn." Rei shook his head and backed away. He had his tail held protectively in his hands and was watching me nervously. "No way in hell."

I narrowed my eyes at him and stood up straighter. "Yes, Tiger, you will. It will just go under the skin at the very tip and you won't even know it's there." He twitched at the use of his code name but bravely chose to ignore it.

"It's my tail, Kai! Do you know how much it's going to hurt if you put that thing in my tail?!"

"You shouldn't be able to feel it if it's in the tip, Rei." Kenny pointed out.

"It's not the having it there that will hurt!" He mewled, his tail lashing back and forth in agitation. "It's the putting it in and taking it out!"

"So we'll numb the area with a local anesthetic…"

"You can't!" Poor Rei looked absolutely horrified. "I'm a neko-jin, Chief! My tail is just like a cat's - an extension of my spinal cord. You put anesthetic in my tail and I'll loose all feeling…right up my back! What's more, I won't be able to move because my balance will be thrown out of whack! So no!!"

"Rei, I'm not letting you go out there without some way to keep an eye on you. It's the chip or you'll stay here and be useless to this mission. Your choice." I hated to do it, but I had no choice. I knew I sounded cold and dispassionate and that I couldn't help either. Rei gave me his most pathetic, adorable, kitten look - huge watery golden eyes and this pout that would melt glaciers. "Uh uhn. Not going to work." I said impassively, gazing at him evenly.

"The chip." He finally chose, his voice nearing a whisper. I winced inwardly. Have you ever accidentally stepped on a cat's tail or gotten it stuck in a door as you closed it? There's a reason that cats absolutely freak when damage is done to their tail, and it's not wonder they screech like they're dying when it happens. Their tails are nearly as sensitive as their whiskers, and on neko-jins, since most don't have whiskers, their tails often replace the function of a cat's whiskers - whatever that is. No one has figured that out for certain yet.

I nodded. "Good choice. Come along. We'll do it upstairs." I ushered them out and snapped my fingers again twice to turn off the lights.

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Authoress' Notes: And once again I'm booted from FF.Net! *scowls* Ah well. Everyone else still gets the benefit of my fics! LOL I'm rather mean to Rei sometimes, aren't I? Please R/R!