Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Running Scared ❯ Back To You ( Chapter 15 )

Authoress' Notes: *ominous music* It's the last full chapter. That's right. It all comes down to this. Hence the extremely long length of this chapter. It was so long, I had to type it up in stages! XD Hope you brought coffee…though I also hope you won't need it. ^_^;; Oh! And this would be where I drop the one of the final two plot twists on you - the larger of the two really. You'll see…

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 Back To You, by Bryan Adams. He owns it.

Reviews: Thank you so much to all who have continuously reviewed. *huggleglomps* @ Mediaminer: Shanny the Great, Eddie Frank, Flamable_Devil (Jen!), & Kailovr; @ AFF.Net: XZanyu; & @ my group: Yami Dranzer, & Nightsangles.

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

Chapter 15: Back To You

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The next morning (early the next morning - like 5:30 am early), we met up with Robert and Johnny at the airport. I ignored the MacGregor and he bestowed the same courtesy on me.

After he got over the shock of seeing me alive, that is.

We split up into our two teams then - Tyson, Max, Rei, Bryan and I would take my jet to Sydney and the former Majestics (as their team was once named) and Kenny would take a BBA jet. This made me immensely happy because I wasn't going to be sharing the same air in the same confining space as that arrogant Scot. I don't think it hurt his feelings much either.

If I were asked where the end of the world would be, I would have to say Australia. Why? Because it takes forever to get there from nearly everywhere else in the world, and also because it's the one place that is just so visibly separate from the rest of civilization. Not to mention the difference in seasons, climates, geography, and way of life down under compared to everywhere else.

In other words, the flight was long and I was restless the whole time. We only stopped once to refuel and it wasn't long enough to even bother getting off and taking a look around - much to Tyson's disappointment. He's always liked Hong Kong.

"When this is all over we'll come back, love." I promised him. He gave me a look that said he'd hold me to that promise.

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We arrived in Sydney twelve hours before the battle was scheduled for, giving Max time to 'park the jet' as he called it (not me rolling my eyes), and for everyone to get to the hotels we'd booked ourselves into and rest as much as we could before it was time to put our show on the road.

I did manage to sleep for a couple of hours. Tyson, too. I was glad he wasn't as anxious about this as I was - or at least it didn't seem like he was. If it was bothering him he was hiding it pretty well.

I had gotten up before he had, and deciding to have a nice warm shower to try and relax, I slipped into the bathroom. I came out towel drying my hair with one towel and with another draped around my hips. Tyson, by this time, was awake, though he hadn't gotten out of bed yet. He lay on his side, one hand tucked under his cheek on the pillow with the other fisted next to his head. His midnight blue hair flopped into his smoky blue eyes that watched me move to my bag and pull out clothes with a smouldering intensity.

"That has to be one of the sexiest sights…" He purred and I glanced over at him, smiling in amusement. "Watching you move around in nothing but a towel, damp and dripping, looking relaxed…" I saw him lick his lips and felt an answering sharp tug in my groin.

"Is that so?" I left my clothes in a neat little pile on top of my bag and walked over to the bed as Tyson threw back the sheet and rolled onto his back, giving me a heated, steamy gaze and looking extremely delectable in just his boxers. Being careful not to lose my towel just yet, I knelt on the bed and swung myself over him so that I was straddling him and sitting on his legs. I let my hands wander idly over his sides and chest, making him squirm under me with these sexy little sighs, and then an unrestrained moan when I accidentally brushed my arm against the growing tent in the material of his boxers.

"Uhn…" Tyson gave a grunt of pleasure and tried to push his boxers off - but since I was sitting on his legs it was kind of difficult. "Move, would you? I want these off…"

"Hmm…and what if I don't want to move?" I inquired playfully, my fingertips tracing circles around his hardened nipples teasingly, occasionally flicking across them and making him arch up into the touches.

Tyson gave me a challenging grin and before I knew it he'd grabbed my towel and yanked it away, tossing it aside carelessly. "There. Much better." He decided, one hand gripping my thigh and kneading while the other didn't hesitate to wrap around my rapidly thickening cock and slide up and down a couple times quickly. I let out a startled moan and couldn't stop myself from bucking into his hand. Okay…two could play this game. With a short growl I moved away from him and practically tore the silk material off of him, throwing them over my shoulder and covering him with my body, my mouth hungrily capturing his and beginning an all out war.

He made a low sound and opened his mouth for me willingly, allowing my thrusting tongue to invade and explore. Then his tongue met mind and his hands were in my hair, holding my head in place while he turned the tables on me and ravaged my mouth until neither of us could continue without stopping to breathe. Tyson pulled back a bit, leaving us both gasping for air momentarily. He stared at me with heavy-lidded, lust-filled blue eyes and panted, "Fuck me, lover. I need you so badly…" in this needy, commanding voice that really left me no room for argument. Then he hooked a leg around my waist and rocked his hips into mine, his now rock-hard erection rubbing against my own and jabbing me in the stomach, where I felt a slight wetness spread. I think my eyes might have crossed at the wave of pleasure from that contact and I gasped, one hand sliding down to grab his hip and hold him still against me in defence.

"You're sure?" I managed to rasp, studying him closely as I ran the fingers of my other hand through his blue-black hair. I blinked when his hand slipped under his pillow and pulled out a tube of lube.

"I asked Max to pick this up for us when he went out shopping earlier this week." Tyson explained at my questioning look. "Now's a really good time for us to use it, don't you think?"

I took it from him. "Well, yeah…haven't you ever heard of foreplay?" I protested when he started placing desperate, wet kisses along my collarbone and his other hand reached for my ass and squeezed. I groaned and shifted against him. "Ah…ummm…Tyson!"

"Screw foreplay. I'm beyond that, lover." He nipped at my earlobe. "Take me, Kai. I want to feel you inside me." My lover tilted his head just enough to mash his lips to my own demandingly, thrusting his tongue against mine then sucking on my bottom lip before taking it between his teeth and tugging gently. "Ah…there you are." He laughed huskily when he saw the flare of his challenge in my eyes. "Do it. I want to know just how dominant you can be."

Unable to speak without growling, I accepted his primal challenge and rolled off him long enough to flip him over onto his stomach and draw him up onto his hands and knees, taking the lube from his unresisting hand. He whimpered and bit into his lip to keep from crying out as I used the lube on my fingers and dribbled some over the slit of that tight, sexy ass, rubbing it over and into his rosy, puckered entrance. Unable to help it, I leaned in and set my teeth to one lobe and bit carefully as my first finger slid in, leaving a marked imprint and making Tyson mewl in pleasure.

"Ooooh yes! More…" he pleaded, pushing his hips back and digging his fingers into the bed. Since I was beginning to lose my own patience, I obliged, and in went a second finger. Now he was making the most erotic, interesting little noises as I scissored my fingers in and out of him, gently but forcefully, stretching him out a bit more. When he reached for his dripping, swollen cock I slapped at his hand.

"No." I growled. "Mine." He wanted dominant from me? Well, he was going to get it. He whimpered my name achingly and twisted his hands in the sheets to keep himself anchored in reality. I smiled and lightly smacked him on the other ass-cheek, earning a startled yelp that ended on a low moan when I added the third finger.

"Not…enough!" He keened, glancing back over his shoulder at me. "God…Kai! Please…" Tyson was on the verge of begging he was so desperate now. For some reason I was quite pleased with it and sought his prostate, finding it and pushing that button in a type of reward. This time he nearly screamed, and his arms gave out on him, dropping him forward to face-plant into the pillow.

I couldn't stand it any more and removed my fingers from him, moving up behind him and using the remainder of the lube on my throbbing, continuously leaking cock, gasping a little at even that slight stimulation from my own hand. Then I took Tyson's hips in my hands and pulled him towards me as I sat on my knees on the bed behind him, positioning us both.

"Sit up, lover." I commanded and he eagerly obeyed, trembling with frantic desire. With one hand I guided my glistening tip to his swollen entrance and steadied him with the other. Then in one fast, smooth motion I thrust up into him as he pushed himself back and down onto me, impaling himself on my length and crying out in pure delight. I hissed in my own pleasure, feeling him surround me in that tightness and the walls around my cock contracting rhythmically. "Fuck, Ty…so tight…"

"Move, Kai." He moaned hoarsely, laying his hands on my arms as I curled one around his abdomen to anchor him in place and let the other hand rest on his thigh, my fingers stroking and caressing the soft skin toward the inside. He wriggled impatiently and I nipped at the pulse in his neck in warning.

"I'll move when I'm ready, lover." I grinned into his shoulder and he gave a frustrated snarl. I could feel his whole body vibrating on and around me with the effort to hold still. I closed my eyes and fought for a little control before I simply fucked him silly - which I would do…just not right away.

"Please…" he whimpered. "Oh my God, Kai…please! I'm so hard it hurts…"

That did it. Tyson was begging and I couldn't stand holding out on him any more, his hands on my arms rubbing and stroking encouragingly. I bucked my hips and he cried out sharply. I did it again and his head lolled back onto my shoulder, his lips parted in ecstasy and little droplets of sweat rolling down his cheek. Again, and again, each time feeling more intense than the last, his hips beginning to rock in my lap in accord with my movements. I began kissing and sucking on the dampening skin of his neck and shoulder, the taste of him and his scent intoxicating and flooding my senses. The pressure in my groin was building rapidly and my breathing turned harsh. I wasn't going to be bale to hold out too much longer.

And then I had a perfectly wicked idea. Well…it was more of a sudden desire, really. I decided to prolong his torture and see just how much he could take from me - or how much I was willing to make him "suffer." Depended on one's point of view, I suppose.

Why did I suddenly want to do such a thing? Because the little minx dared to try and force me to end the fun sooner rather than later by clenching his internal muscles around me and releasing - and it was deliberate. So in retaliation - and punishment - I wrapped the hand on his leg around his straining erection, cutting off any chance of his orgasm, and simply took him hard and fast, pounding into him until I couldn't hold on any longer and let myself fly. My orgasm had an intensity I'd never felt before. There was a buzzing in my ears and I swear I saw stars as I emptied myself into Tyson, shivers wracking my body. When I could hear again, my dragon was moaning my name in a desperate, agonized plea of frustration. He was literally shaking in need he had to come so badly.

"No! Kai, what…?" Tyson gave a low, whimpering wail of protest as I withdrew from him but didn't remove my hand from around his throbbing cock that was so swollen it looked like it was turning nearly purple. "Uhgn…Kai!! Why did you…?"

"Quiet, love." I shushed him, smirking evilly and pushing him down onto the mattress, relishing in the glazed, hazy gleam of his eyes that had gone almost totally silvery-blue in lust. He mewled when I none-to-gently shoved his legs apart and settled down between them, my hand still keeping him in a state of desperate need. With the other hand I stroked the sensitive skin along his pelvis and planted a wet, open-mouthed kiss to his novel, dipping my tongue into the indentation. Immediately his hands were in my hair, fisting handfuls, and trying to push me lower. I raised my head up a bit, looking up at him, hovering oh so close to his barely restrained need for me and said huskily, "Grab onto the headboard, my sexy little dragon." before flicking the tip of my tongue over the glistening head of his cock.

Tyson pried his hands out of my hair and away from my head, reaching back to wrap his fingers around the wooden slats. He stared down at me, shivering uncontrollably. "Kai…need…can't…"

I guess I made him suffer enough, the way I had him writhing under me in a quivering mass of nerves. So without any warning at all, I took him into my mouth, completely engulfing him and proceeded to suck and massage his length. In sudden shocked pleasure he made these interesting noises that sounded like mixtures of yowls, whimpers, and cries. I loved every sound and shudder, and the taste of him was just the icing on the cake for me.

"Mmm…so good." I hummed around him, and, as much as I was enjoying this, I wanted him to come. To encourage that I worked him up higher and higher with tongue, teeth, and the rest of my mouth while my hand continued to pump his cock in time. "Go higher, Tyson. Let go and fly…"

What poured out of his mouth now was a litany of incoherent pleas, and prayers, and curses. "Shit! I…uhn…God… please, Kai! Oh, fuck, just…more…have to…aaaaahhhhhh…" I couldn't help chuckling. There was one final push I was going to give him. My free hand slipped down farther to play with his balls and I felt him tense up, shouting to the heavens of how good it felt for him. I left that part of him alone and gently slid my fingers into him again, searching for his sweet spot and using it ruthlessly to shove him over the edge. His spine arched and a high wail came from him, his ever muscle tensing for one brief moment before he let out a strangled cry of my name and gave me his release in waves. I had to hold him down to keep him from thrusting right down my throat - I was having enough difficulty managing to swallow the impressive amount of thick, slightly salty and sweet essence Tyson was pouring into my mouth.

Even after he stopped jerking under me I continued to hold him in my mouth, swirling my tongue around his tip and milking him completely, catching any missed drops. When I felt him simply go totally limp in a dazed, ecstatic stupor, I released him and began slowly crawling up his body, dropping soothing kisses here and there and running my hands over him, feeling not only my own immense satisfaction but his. It flowed over my every nerve like waves of cool water. I lay alongside him and he rolled onto his side and curled into me, tossing an arm and a leg over my chest and arms as he kissed me solidly and for a very long time.

I realized he was emoting. Everything he felt at the moment he was impressing on me so that I felt it, too. And what we were feeling was a refreshed, relaxed, sleepy satiation. There was smugness under that and…my God. Love. Such love. It was a rather humbling thing to experience really.

"So…" I yawned, feeling perfectly lazy at the moment, and idly traced his spine with a free hand.

"Ughn." My beautiful dragon grunted, rubbing a hand over one of my pecks in appreciation.

"Did I meet up to your expectations?"

I swear his eyes crossed as he let out a groan.

"Remind me not to challenge you at sex, lover."

I smirked. I admit it! But hey - when you're good, you're good.

"Just one problem." I sighed melodramatically and he glanced up at me suspiciously.

"Huh?"

"Now I gotta shower again."

Tyson snorted with amusement and began to laugh - so hard that he rolled right off the bed.

Still smirking and quite pleased with myself, I got off the bed and helped him stand up. He winced a little, but managed to straighten.

"A little sore?" I asked with a hint of concern.

"More like well-used." He replied dryly. "I feel good though." Tyson glanced over his shoulder, trying to look at his butt, and twisted a bit. Then he sighed and gave me a raised eyebrow, patting himself on the cheek that had a nice, small bruise that was an impression of my teeth. "Except for that bite mark."

In apology, I stepped up behind him and wrapped my arms around him. I nuzzled his neck with my nose and lips. "I guess I got a little carried away, staking my claim."

"Nah…" Tyson snuggled into my embrace contentedly. "It's just a little tingly, that's all." He smiled, letting me walk him into the bathroom and kiss him lingeringly before I turned the shower on for us. "I love that you marked me."

I wiggled my eyebrows at him. "Kinky."

He rolled his eyes and dragged me under the spray.

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After my second shower in under an hour, we sat around in our bathrobes eating the meal we ordered from room service. I wasn't all that hungry so I only ate enough to keep me going until I really was. My beloved dragon, however, seemed to have regained his appetite and dug in with gusto.

While he sampled everything and considered ordering desert, I was on the phone with Kenny, making sure everything was set for the meet and Tyson's battle, which was in a mere three hours or so. The Chief and the Majestics were in the hotel across the street and down a block from ours, and were currently in the private parking garage outfitting the SUV we'd gotten from the BBA's 'Outback Branch' (as the Aussies called it) with surveillance and communication equipment. As Enrique pointed out, in very lawyer-like fashion, Boris' deal stated none of us were supposed to be wired - he hadn't said anything about our vehicle. Lucky for us, the battle was taking place in an area where we could drive the SUV and have it right there with us the entire time. This way the Chief could monitor the situation perfectly and be ready to give the signal to the Majestics to move in if - when - it became necessary.

I hung up with Kenny and set my cell phone aside, getting up and going for my clothes to start getting dressed. Tyson watched, fascinated for some reason, while he polished off his second helping and contemplated a third - or desert.

One thing I've learned in this career of mine is that clothes can make a huge difference to whether one succeeds or fails in their mission. Clothes, while they don't define who one is, do make impressions and do provide other people with glimpses into one's character. They are tools to be used for whatever situation one might find one's self in. To this extent, I have taken great care in selecting my "work" wardrobe - and I keep it very separate from the clothes I wear on a normal, everyday basis.

So for this mission, there were a few things I planned for my outfit to say about me and for me and I hoped what I'd chosen today would get my message across. One, I was running the show and in control - but in a behind-the-scenes capacity. To accomplish that, I was putting on a black pair of jeans that were just loose enough on me that I could move about freely and comfortably. With the jeans I put on a black, sleeveless, leather, high-necked shirt. I'd have worn the black leather pants I'd brought along but then I would have been screaming, in your face, in charge. I had to explain it to Tyson this way, too, when he asked about the pants curiously. He sounded a little disappointed about it, really.

"Why?" I wanted to know, setting out my accessories on the bed and glancing over at him.

"Because, my fiery Phoenix, after that wonderful display of dominance you provided me with earlier," I flushed at his heated, smug look. "I think you'd do leather very, very well. Not everyone can wear it, you know. Not and look like they are the way that sort of material implies the person wearing it really is."

"Yes. I know. But that's why I'm not wearing the pants. I might be the team leader on this mission, love, and I still have to look the part, but I'm not the one doing the real work this time. That's all you." I pointed out, and picked up the first set of accessories - mini-black leather belts that were meant for straps for weapons like knives. I thought they made very interesting armbands and wore them as such instead of their intended purpose. Besides, I didn't use weapons like that. I had two on each upper arm when I was done, and then I picked up two more, slightly longer sets that I strapped around my upper thighs. I also strapped on a wide, gold-studded and buckled black leather belt that was more for decoration than to hold my pants up.

I pulled on a pair of those leather blading gloves - also black - and put on my Bulgari Chronogram (which is a very expensive, very high-tech watch). I slid my wallet into my back pocket and dug out a pair of sunglasses. Then I sat on the edge of the bed and stuck my feet into a brand new pair of black running shoes that were from some fancy Italian designer that looked more like a casual pair of dress shoes than something I would go jogging in and were twice as comfortable.

You'd think with all that I'd be ready to go and ready for anything, but I added one last piece - something no serious blader should be without. It was almost like a gun holster - a shoulder harness - but it was for one's launcher rather than a gun. I slipped that on and placed my launcher in the holster, pocketing my blade as I stood up.

Finished, except for my jacket (which I would grab later), I turned around and held out my arms to the sides, silently asking Tyson to what he thought of me.

"Wow." His jaw dropped open and he stared with unabashed lust, a slow, wicked grin crossing his face. "Mmm mmm good. Damn you're hot, lover."

"Hey, I just put all this on, Kinomiya. Quit looking at me like you're about to tear it all off me again, you fiend." I had to admit, his reaction pleased me on a personal level. "So other than the need to get into my pants, how do I look? Is it too much?"

"Uh…" My beautiful bishonen had to shake himself out of fantasyland visibly to answer me. "Well, you look very authoritative, Kai. Confident. 'Leadership' is written all over you." Tyson looked me in the eye, a gleam in his. "And dangerous."

I nodded my acceptance. "Okay. Good enough." I picked up my cell and dialled Rei's cell number. "I'm going to take Max and get the car. Rei and Bryan can stay here with you until we get back, okay?" I asked him, waiting for the neko-jin to answer.

"Sure. Rei can help me pick out my outfit for the party." Tyson shrugged.

"Who and what?" Rei's voice in my ear demanded grumpily. I smiled evilly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Rei. I've interrupted something. Perhaps you'd like me to postpone the battle for a later date so you can…"

"Get stuffed, Hiwatari." He cut my highly sarcastic mocking sentence off. "Max and I weren't…you know. Busy. I was asleep and I didn't look at my phone to see who it was."

"Hn." I grunted, not really believing that but putting it aside. "Whatever. Get yourselves up, shower, whatever and come over to my room, and tell Max he and I are going to go get the car Kenny's tricked out for us."

"Okay. Want me to get Bryan?"

"No. I'll do it. I want to talk to him before we go any farther."

"Right. Max and I will be there in…half an hour?"

"Fine. But not one second longer, Cat." I warned. "Keep it in your pants. You can play with each other later."

"Ha ha. Yes, mother." He hung up on me.

I called Bryan next and since he was already awake and anxious to hurry up and go, came over immediately.

"Are we leaving?" The pale, lavender haired blader asked when I let him in.

"Not yet. Max and I are going to go get our transportation when he gets here." I told him. "I want you and Rei to stay here with Tyson until we get back." I led him over to the sitting area, taking a seat next to Tyson on the couch. My dragon was still in his bathrobe, lounging comfortably and watching TV.

"Because you think I'm too…emotionally attached." He stated in a disgruntled tone. I frowned at him.

"No. Because I want someone who knows Boris and his tactics guarding Tyson when I'm not here to do it myself." I readjusted his thinking and he sighed, staring down at his hands.

"Sorry, Kai. I guess I'm worried."

"Hn." I couldn't help feeling sympathetic toward him, even if I never really had gotten along with him (or the rest of the Demolition Boys) before. Then again, it's not like I really had a chance to get to know them better and to try and get along. "I know." Was all I said in offer of comfort.

"I'm getting bodyguards?" Tyson grinned at me and I rolled my eyes. "Gee…I feel like a celebrity or something!" He grabbed my sunglasses from on top of my head and put them on. "I'm a superstar!"

I snickered, since he looked ridiculous in a bathrobe and shades. "You're wacky." He stuck out his tongue at me.

A few minutes later, Rei and Max showed up and I took the blonde with me to get the SUV, leaving my lover behind with his two 'bodyguards.'

~~~~~~~~~~POV Change~~~~~~~~~~

Tyson watched Kai and Max walk out, feeling just a little wistful. He didn't like being left behind but he understood the need for it. He also knew his lover wasn't happy not being right next to him and was worrying a great deal.

Rei settled into an easy chair and Bryan took a spot near the curtained window, pulling out a newspaper to read.

"You okay, Tyson?" Rei asked, noticing the bluenette's sad gaze on the door. "If you're worried about Kai, you don't need to. He'll be fine."

"Oh, I know. It isn't that. I just feel very alone when he's not with me and I don't like it much." Tyson sighed and got to his feet. "Too close to what I went through before." He murmured as he walked over to his bag.

The neko-jin's face fell, feeling bad for even bringing it up. "I'm sorry, Tyson. I shouldn't have…"

"Don't, Rei." Tyson shook his head and dug through his bag. "What am I going to wear anyway?"

"Clothes, hopefully." Bryan drawled from behind his newspaper.

The sarcastic comment won a small laugh and a slight smile from Tyson. "Ha ha. Good one, Bryan." The bluenette pulled out some clothes from his bag, then began digging out accessories. Rei watched with slightly wide golden eyes.

"Uh…Tyson? Is that leather?"

"Yes."

"I didn't know you wore leather."

"I never used to. Then…after these," he held up the inside of one wrist for Rei to see. "I went through a phase where I wore nothing but. Not sure why, really. Since then I wear it every now and then just for fun." Tyson flashed a smile. "Hilary hates it. She says she can't go anywhere with me when I wear leather because I look so much hotter than her and no one looks at her anymore."

Rei chuckled. "I suppose. Are you going to be able to move around in the pants though?"

"Oh sure. They're quite flexible and I've trained with Gramps wearing them, too."

"Then I'm sure you can handle anything."

"And the accessories?" Bryan asked, listening in and observing quietly.

"They're for effect - and fun." Tyson winked, a silvery glint in his eyes. "Tell me, Rei, do you remember Kai ever seeing me in leather?"

"No…" Rei snickered. "You're evil, Tyson. The poor guy's going to be so distracted."

"Yeah, well, like the feeling's not mutual." The bluenette pouted in annoyance. "Do you realize how long it's going to take me to get him out of those belts and bands again?"

A snort sounding suspiciously like a smothered laugh came from Bryan and Rei doubled over with laughter.

"Go on, Ty, and get dressed. I'm sure they'll be back soon and Kai'll want to go right away."

Tyson nodded, disappearing into the bathroom. Five minutes later he came back out, going to his and Kai's luggage and dropping his shirt on his bag before pawing through Kai's with a growl of displeasure at his own wardrobe.

"Problems?" Rei inquired glancing over.

"I didn't bring the right shirt. I guess I grabbed the wrong one when I was in a hurry to pack…oh yeah." Tyson pulled out Kai's long-sleeved, turtleneck shirt, black, made of a stretchy, clingy material that had a slight gloss to it like leather and yet, wasn't. Tyson hummed in approval and tugged it on over his head, discovering the shirt fit him nearly perfectly, though it was a little looser on him than it probably was on Kai.

Satisfied with his find, Tyson returned to the bathroom once more.

When he came back out again, five more minutes later, he was fully dressed and very much looking like he was about to go clubbing rather than to a bey-battle.

"Kai is either going to flip out or die on the spot when he sees you, Tyson."

"Is it dominant enough, do you think? I don't want…Boris thinking he's really in charge." Tyson amended his statement carefully, not wanting to upset Bryan any more than he already was with the situation.

Rei gave him two thumbs up. "If I am feeling like I should do whatever you say and do it immediately, then yeah, I'd say so."

"Great." Tyson yawned and stretched. "I'll just clean up the mess I made in the bathroom." He glanced at the door before going back.

"He's different." Bryan observed quietly, setting aside his newspaper. Rei looked over at him. "Not changed…just different."

"What do you mean?"

"I remember what Tyson was like six years ago. He was innocent, yes, but it was naïve innocence. He believed everyone in the world could be saved - all they needed was a friend. He tried to be everyone's friend. He's still innocent, but he's not naïve anymore. And the kid had a temper that was quick as lightning and often just as unrestrained and untameable. Tyson was the very definition of a storm."

Rei smiled. "Yes. I guess I have to agree with that. He's just learned to control it all, though. He had to, really, what with his abilities."

"Being telepathic and empathic, you mean?" Bryan mulled that over. "I suppose so. But then, I don't have any special talents as most of you do. None of us did - except Kai. Quite frankly, he scared the hell out of us."

"I don't blame you, Bryan." Rei was about to say something else when the door to the suite unlocked and opened.

~~~~~~~~~~POV Change~~~~~~~~~~

I walked into my room behind Max, and from the silence and the looks on their faces, I could be pretty sure we'd just interrupted a conversation - probably about me.

Ignoring it, I looked around. "Where's Tyson?"

"Right here, love." He came strolling out of the bathroom with a few items of clothing and other things in his arms, going over to his bag to dump them in.

I think my jaw hit the floor and I nearly swallowed my tongue when I said, "Nice outfit." My mouth went dry and I couldn't help staring at him.

Tyson left his bag and slowly walked toward me. I just stood there meeting his silver-blue gaze dead on, though I did take a step back from the spark of pure hunger for me in his eyes. That brought me right back up against the door I'd just closed.

I don't know what sort of expression I had on my face, but it made Max snicker and shake his head as he went over to join Rei and Bryan in the sitting area.

My dragon was the definition of authoritative in the leather, all of it black and glossy, that conformed to his legs and…were those my boots? Yep. They were. And I never thought my shirt had ever looked so good as it did on him. The clingy, shiny material hugged his body and defined his musculature quite well - enough that there wasn't much left to the imagination, almost like a second skin. Around his waist was a wide, black leather belt with a large, circular, silver-coloured buckle, and draped around his neck he wore a thick silver and gold choker-style necklace. Tyson also wore his wristbands and a pair of black blading gloves he must have borrowed from me, too.

As he stalked me purposefully, I licked my lips, sure I was drooling, and let my eyes feast on every single inch of him, watching the way the materials slid sensuously over his skin the way I wanted to run my hands over him. Tyson slapped a hand on the door on either side of my head and leaned into me, trapping me there. I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes, knees feeling weak. His scent was heady and really, really unfair. He knew my weaknesses all too well and this was one of them.

"Oh God…you smell like vanilla…" I breathed. "That's cheating."

"Ha. No, no!" Tyson grabbed my wrists when I reached for him and pinned them to the door. I resisted, out of instinct, but without actually hurting him I couldn't free myself and he knew it. I gave him a smouldering look and he grinned. "Not this time, my fiery phoenix." A lock of his hair flopped into his eyes and he regarded me consideringly through it.

"Um…guys? As extremely entertaining as this is," Rei spoke up, sounding very much like he was trying not to laugh. "We have places to go and things to do."

"I know, Rei. I'm just making a point." Tyson said, not even looking over at the neko-jin. His grip on my wrists released and he slid his fingers across my palms and up to twine with my own, holding tightly. I let myself lean back against the door and he leaned into me more, the front of his body pressing to mine and his nose brushing mine. I could feel his warm, minty breath on my lips and my eyes slid closed on their own accord and I distantly heard a small noise like a whimper come from myself as my beloved pressed his lips to mine gently. The world ceased to exist beyond this for me.

He kissed me slowly, parting my lips with his tongue and hinting that he wanted inside. I let him in and my fingers tightened around his, involuntarily flexing with the sensations he caused in me.

And then he was in my head. {I know you're worried about me, Kai. And I know there's nothing I can say that will make you stop. I can see what you fear most and that is something I can do about.}

I felt him break away gently and rest his forehead against mine, and I opened my eyes to stare directly into his. {How? We can't predict the future and if anything ever happened to you…} I thought at him.

{I'm not leaving you, Kai. If anything does happen I will fight with everything I have to come back to you. No one and nothing will ever separate us again, my love.} I saw the fierce spark of determination flash thorough those gems and shivered, believing him completely and almost feeling sorry for who or whatever dared to get between Tyson and me. {You hear?}

{I hear.}

{Good. Love you.} He gave me another quick smooch and pulled away, releasing one of my hands but keeping other firmly held in his.

"I love you." I replied aloud, not caring anymore that the others were there and had witnessed our entire moment.

Tyson grinned widely and said, "Let's go kick some ass!" with eager enthusiasm. Rei grabbed my jacket and tossed it to me with one hand.

"I'm all for that, Tyson." He agreed, a very feline, fang-filled smile echoing his words. "I'm in the mood for a hunt."

Turning, I led my team out the door.

It was time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride to the place we had arranged for the battle to take place, a spot on the bluffs just outside Sydney, was short. On the way over, I had a brief conversation with Kenny, who was monitoring the area via the BBA satellites. He confirmed that Boris, Tala, and two other people were already there and that only a kilometre away was a suspicious group of people that were pretending to be tourists - Boris' backup.

"I won't show myself right away." I decided, thinking the situation over. "Or at least, I won't make my presence known right away. Max, when you drive up, make sure one side of the SUV is to our opponents so I can sneak out the other side."

"You got it."

We passed the 'tourists' on the highway and one look at them as we went by was enough for me. I whipped out my cell and sicced the Majestics on them.

I put my phone away as we slowly pulled up to where the other vehicle that Boris and his people had arrived in - that being Tala, and who I could now recognize as Spencer and Ian. Just as I'd suspected. With the windows of the SUV tinted so darkly, no one could see in but we could see out. Therefore, no one could see me as I slipped out while Tyson, Rei, Max, and Bryan exited the vehicle.

"Welcome, boys." Said a voice I recognized all too well and that sent cold shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes and leaned against the side of the SUV for a moment, willing myself to get a grip. I wasn't a child and Boris couldn't harm me anymore. I moved silently to the back end of the vehicle and peered cautiously around the corner as I heard him continue. From my vantage point, I couldn't see him, but I could see Tala, Spencer, and Ian. "And Bryan! How interesting…you not only betray me and your team by taking up with our enemies, you chose our worst enemies, too. Tsk, tsk, Bryan."

"We owe you nothing but pain, rage, and years of suffering, Boris." Bryan responded, as calmly and bravely as he could, though I could hear the fear in his voice. I had to give him credit for trying though. "I don't know how you talked my teammates into rejoining you - or perhaps I should say what you threatened them with? Because I know they wouldn't done so willingly."

"However it happened doesn't matter." Rei interrupted. "We can get answers, later, Bryan. Let's just do what we came to do and get it over with."

Since I couldn't see my team, I watched Tala instead. He hadn't said a word yet, and from what I could see, he wasn't in the best of shape either. I could see bruises on his pale arms and there was a fading one on his cheek. Rage poured through me and Dranzer clucked soothingly at me in my mind, telling me to calm down silently.

I watched everyone take up flanking, defensive positions. I could see the back of Boris now, since he'd moved off to the side a bit to watch, and, deciding I didn't like not being able to see everything myself, I made sure everyone's attention was on the bladers and each other before quietly climbing up the side of the SUV and laying on my stomach on the roof, peering over the edge.

Tyson and Tala took up their launching stances and stared at each other with little expression on their faces, both cool and collected as could be. And my lover, being the good sportsman he is, gave his opponent one last chance to stop.

"I'm giving you a warning, Tala. Once and only once. You think you know me, know my skill and what I am capable of. But I assure you that you know nothing."

"I'll keep that under consideration, Kinomiya." Tala answered, giving him a short nod. Even from a distance, I could see Tyson's eyes go slightly blank, signalling his search through Tala's mind, while the red haired Russian remained oblivious.

I nearly fell off the SUV when Tyson said in a rather relieved voice in my head, {Kai…Tala's in no way loyal to Boris.}

{Ah! Good God, Tyson! Don't do that.} I complained. {You're sure?}

{Sorry, and yes. One's thoughts can't lie, love. Best you remember that, should you ever even think of trying it on me.} He gave me a mental wink and I suppressed a groan.

{Great. So what about the other two?}

{They aren't loyal either. They're only with him out of fear.}

I thought about that for a moment and decided to just end it without even bothering with a battle. {Call them on it, love. I don't think you need to battle today.}

{Aww…}

I swallowed a snicker.

Suddenly the SUV's horn honked in rapid succession a few times and the headlights blinked on and off. I ducked down as much as I could just in time to avoid detection when everyone looked over at the noise.

"Sorry about that." Max gave an innocent, bright, apologetic smile. "I guess I forgot to turn off my car phone." He held that expression like a champ when he got several suspicious looks.

Good cover, Max. I praised him silently. The horn had been the Chief giving us the heads up that the Majestics had cleaned up the 'tourists.' With them out of the way, we were set.

Tyson sighed and lowered his launcher. "You know what? I don't feel like blading right now. Why are we even going through this charade, Tala? Tell Spencer and Ian to put their launchers down and turn themselves over, why don't you. We both know this battle is unnecessary."

Tala gave him an odd look, then looked over his shoulder at Bryan. "Bry?"

"Telepath, Tala."

"Oh." The redhead sighed, too, and put his launcher away with a shrug. "No point in keeping it up then. Spencer, Ian, stand down."

The two looked at each other, then at Tala, then at Boris, then back at Tala again.

"You will do no such thing!" Boris snapped angrily. Gee…I think we made him mad. "If you know what's good for you, you'll…"

"Now, now, dude." Tyson waggled a finger at him. "Temper." He turned and looked directly at Boris, giving him the full-fledged telepathic treatment. His stormy blue eyes became lost to his abilities much as mine usually do, turning a solid, steely blue, the pupil disappearing. I felt the hair on my arms stand up and couldn't help grinning idiotically as even the wind picked up around us.

"You know, as soon as I lay my eyes on you, I got suspicious. There were just too many inconsistencies about you." My beautiful dragon said, taking a step toward Boris - who, by the way, was still standing with his back to me. "The first and biggest being that you're even alive. Now, after the last couple of weeks, I'm a little wary of anyone who's supposedly died in my lifetime still being dead. And yet, if you did somehow manage to survive the explosion at the Abbey, I would have thought you'd at least be more physically damaged - yet you look pretty much the same as I remember you six years ago."

"He has a point." Rei agreed. "And the Squad has been very curious about it ever since we found out you were still lurking around."

"Especially Phoenix." Max added.

"I was lucky, that's all." Boris growled, then he sneered. "And the BBA must not consider me a very big threat if they didn't even bother to send their supposed 'best' out here. I've heard of this Phoenix. How pathetic."

Tyson's eyes flashed and I winced, praying to whatever deity was listening for him to hold onto his temper. "Watch it, buddy."

Tala was quick to add, "He didn't hear it from me, guys. I swear." Then he gave a small flinch and took a step back when Boris looked at him.

"So I have a spy in my camp? Tell me, Tala, how much have you given the BBA?"

"Enough to know you'll never succeed. Oh, and by the way, I set a few rather potent charges here and there around your little laboratory where you're keeping the virus and all the DNA and data. They're set to go off in…" Tala glanced at his watch. "Oh! Look at that! They already have."

Boris sputtered and lunged for him but Tyson was ready. He let loose a violent flare of pure electric energy, knocking the man to his ass in the dusty ground, and waited until Rei and Max had him securely placed between them. Bryan let out a laugh and his grin was positively vicious, looking at his lover fondly. "There's the Tala I know and love. Sweet."

The icy blue-eyed blader blew him a kiss. "I always cover my ass, babe."

This was getting to be a really good show. All I needed now was a bag of popcorn and a soda. Boris was visibly trembling in anger. It warmed my heart to witness how his scheme was falling apart at the seams. I slid my sunglasses onto my face and sat up on the edge of the roof, draping one leg casually over my other knee and folding my arms over my chest.

Spencer and Ian noticed the movement and stared at me in shock, both going deathly white - not that Boris noticed. He was too busy raging at Tala for his 'betrayal.'

"Oh, shut up." Tyson snapped loudly, fed up. "And did any of us ever say Phoenix didn't come with us? You know, you really shouldn't make assumptions without all the facts."

"What are you babbling about?" Boris snarled.

"Uh…sir?" Ian pointed at me with a hand that shook violently, eyes impossibly wide. "There's…he's…"

"A ghost!" Spencer cried. I rolled my eyes. He always was the superstitious one.

Tala rolled his eyes, too - until he turned to look and saw me. Then he nearly fell over in shock, and would have if Bryan hadn't moved quickly and slipped an arm around his waist.

"Bry…that's…it can't be!"

"I know. I said the same thing. But it is."

"Holy shit!"

I raised a hand and waggled my fingers at him in a wave of greeting. He leaned into Bryan heavily, as if he couldn't even stand up on his own anymore.

Boris had turned around too, on his knees, and was looking at me with a slightly puzzled expression under the fury and annoyance. I frowned and tilted my head to the side as I studied him. He looked the same as I remembered…

And that alone gave off warning bells of suspicion. Tyson was right. Something about the demon was seriously off.

"What's the matter? Don't you recognize your worst nightmare?" I taunted, jumping to the ground lightly. "Really, Boris. That was very sloppy of you to not make sure that your opponents came alone."

"I've had enough!" He growled, pulling out a cell phone from his pocket. He pressed a button before Rei or Max could slap it away from him. "My backup will be here soon and you'll all regret having double-crossed me."

"Yeah, yeah. Hate to break it to you, but your 'backup' is currently otherwise engaged. You're on your own, asshole." I informed him with a smirk, looking around him at Spencer and Ian. "Did you not hear your captain order you to stand down? Or do I have to remind you?"

They dropped their launchers and blades immediately, surrendering. Max went over and collected them.

"Ah ha!" Tyson suddenly crowed, startling all of us. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Care to elaborate, Storm?" Rei asked.

"I got through the rest of his mental barriers!" Tyson exclaimed.

"Whose? Boris'?" Max blinked. "And?"

"It makes sense! It all makes sense now…"

"Tyson, lover, quit holding out on us, please?" I sighed and held out my hand to him. He grinned at me and strolled over, grasping my offered hand tightly.

"It's not him." He said, simply. I gave him a confused stare. The little minx rolled his eyes and gestured at Boris, who had frozen in his spot and was trying to glare my dragon to death. "That's not Boris. See, I dug around some while you were distracting him and I got a few answers."

"Enlighten us." I pleaded. He smiled at me.

"His real name is Gideon (1) and he's actually Boris' half-brother."

I blinked and glanced at…Gideon in shock. Well that did explain a lot. He looked enough like Boris that making a few adjustments here and there to his own appearance rendered him a Boris-double - not to mention that those infernal goggles he wore (exactly like the ones Boris had always worn) hid his eyes, so if they were different, we'd never know.

As for his voice, it probably wasn't much of a stretch for him to mimic Boris'. They were even about the same height and build.

No wonder we'd believed it was him.

A slow smile slid across my features and I'm willing to admit it was an evil one, too.

"I didn't know he had a brother." Tala shook his head, ice blue eyes wide.

"I don't think anyone did." Rei frowned. "Well…twist my tail." Said appendage was restlessly tapping against his upper thigh, his hands planted on his hips in disbelief.

"So, Gideon…" I drawled, eyeing him consideringly while he spluttered. "I'm guessing you really don't know who I am."

"No." He spat angrily and with a healthy dose of fear. He was sunk and he knew it.

"They call me Phoenix at the Squad." I informed him. "Since you've apparently heard of me in that capacity, you know what I'm capable of."

"What's your point?" He demanded brazenly.

"My point?" I let go of Tyson's hand and slowly began leaking my powers. The air began to waver around me hazily as heat poured off me in waves, even taking on a burning copper-orange tint. I knew my eyes were gone bloody-crimson red, an inferno of my abilities smouldering there. "No point. Just a statement of fact. And here's another: I am the cause of the explosion at the Abbey. I am the source of the fire that killed Boris and Voltaire Hiwatari." I bent in close as he tried to sneak away backwards from me in pure shock and terror. "I am the Phoenix and if you or anyone else dares to try and harm my lover and/or his Sacred Dragoon ever again, you'll get a first hand demonstration of what I did to that demon you call a brother." I hissed the warning and he fell over onto the dusty ground, staring at me in abject fear. I straightened and dangled a pair of cuffs over him. "Rei? Why don't you put these to good use so we can get back."

The neko-jin came up and took the cuffs, roughly forcing Gideon onto his stomach and pulling his arms behind his back to cuff him. "Just some friendly advice, Gideon." I heard him say with a great deal of satisfaction. "Play with fire and you'll always get burned. Up!" He yanked the guy to his feet and let Bryan and Tala escort him, Ian, and Spencer to the van they'd come in.

The rest of us piled into our own SUV and followed the van back into Sydney. I let the Chief know it was over, everyone was fine, and we were coming back in. He reported that Johnny had twisted his ankle in the skirmish with the 'tourists' but otherwise no one was hurt.

As mean as it is, somehow that just made my day complete.

**********Tale Ends***********

Authoress' Notes: (1) Explanation: I was watching reruns of V-Force (Isis knows why) and I just had this rather wacky insight. Boris and Gideon kind of look like each other, not to mention they have the same kind of personalities (evil), and so I thought, "Why not?" Hence, the biggest plot twist I've come up with yet. Hope you weren't disappointed!

^_____^ And that's all I wrote, people! I know you're all sitting there with shock on your faces (at least, that's what I was going for), but just so you know, there IS an epilogue. It'll be out soon! So stay tuned for the tying up of a few loose ends. Please R/R!