Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ The Truth Behind Demons ❯ A turning point ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter 17.

Tyson grabbed a towel from off the top of his gym bag. Track was over now and he still didn't see his boyfriend. Where is he? Wiping the sweat from his face, he frowned knowing where Rei might be at a time like this and who he might be with.

That little sneak. He totally lied to me! He's probably off with that clown haired guy making out, taking turns between him and this Kai I keep hearing about. Tossing his towel onto his bag, it nearly missed and lands a bit on the dirt below. Tyson shook his head, he needs to stop thinking that way about his boyfriend, but it's hard- especially now, when HE himself thinks the guy is good looking. But, then again, he IS Tyson Granger and he's the number one hot guy in middle school.

"Hey Tyson!" Waves Max. The cute blond is hurrying past the other exiting runners heading over to the moping Japanese boy. "Great run! You got first in two, that's not bad." He added at the last minute thinking that the down expression on his friends face was due to failure to win every run he was in. Looking left then right, he cocked his head. "Hey Tyson," he placed a hand on the boys shoulder. "Where's Rei, I really wanted to meet him? I thought he was gonna be here."

"Hmph. I would have thought so too, but I guess the jerk had other plans." He snapped the dirt from his towel, folded it up, then dropped it into his bag bending over to pick the thing up. Hoisting it over onto one shoulder he held the strap with one hand and slid his arm around Max's shoulder.

The blond smiled, leaving the track field with his friend. "Maybe Rei just had to go to work tonight. You said he has two jobs right?"

"Yeah, but he said he was free!" He watched out for a passerby. "I'm tired of making up excuses for the guy, at least mine are more believable."

"Uh huh." Said Max with a bit of sarcasm. "Wanna go to my house and celebrate? I've got a case of ginger ale that needs to be cracked open." Max poked Tyson on the side with his free hands index finger. "How 'bout it?"

"Weellllll, let me think about it."

"Don't tell me you'd rather waste an entire night hunting down your lost boyfriend?"

That sunk in. "You're right! Why the heck should I even care where he is, or who he's with. I'm not some loser who can't easily make plans of my own."

"That's the spirit!" He looked over his shoulder, then back ahead of them. "What about Ozuma? I thought he was coming too."

"Oh, he's off listening to Zeo at the concert hall." He tilts his head back a bit and laughs out, "the guy flipped for him or something- I can't think of any other reason why someone would wanna sit around like a 'stuffed shirt' and listen to band geeks."

"Hmm. Guess it's just the two of us then."

"Yup. And two is always better than one."

The two boys laughed about nothing as they walked out of the school to their homes. But in the back of Tyson's mind, he still wondered where Rei was and why he decided not to show up to watch him run. He guessed he could always ask when he sees him at school tomorrow. No use crying over something that might not even be a big deal.

.....................

Dinner that night was great with Kai over; he took some of the pressure off about the broken mirror, though, Rei thought that a lot of that had to do with the black eye he is now sporting due to his boyfriend popping him in the eye during his fight with Tala. Rei told his uncle he was fine and that he didn't even feel it, because he didn't; but the man still insisted that he hold an ice pack over it so the swelling didn't get worse.

Kai talked about his family and how they were so successful in Russia because of his grandfather being a big shot in the governing field. It sounded like gibberish to Rei who knows nothing about politics. The Chinese boy did notice one thing weird though, that his brother kept giving him secret glances across the table. He figured he just wanted to ask him something and didn't know how to approach the subject with out hurting his kid brothers feelings.

"Lee, do you wanna help me clear the dishes?" Asks Rei, sparing his brother the trouble.

He blinked as though he were out of it for a bit, but he nodded, and helped Rei clear the plates. Junpei has the night off. The brothers walk into the kitchen both carrying two plates in one hand and glasses in the other. When they left the dining room and entered the kitchen, Lee set his dishes into the sink then looked at his brother while he fixed up the water to clean them.

"You wanted to ask me something?" Says Rei, trying to keep his eyes on the task of dish suds. He really didn't feel like talking about anything serious right now, especially when he's feeling so good. It's been a while since he actually felt a smile coming on and right now any bad news would just defeat it without resistance on it's part.

"I just.... wanna say that.... I love you."

Rei laughed at that. "Aaawww. I love you too Lee, but, I'm not dying or anything."

"I know." His voice was low and sad, his curious gaze never waning from his brother. Something seemed off about the younger boy now that he looked at it. He hadn't seen that lost expression since he lived back home in China. A lot of Lee just hoped that his younger brother wasn't seeing that man again. It would make sense, though, why he's still seeing Miki Ito, and why she would want him to come in and talk about Rei. It's because he told her about the man from back home and now she's concerned just like everyone else had been. Well, he would tell her, but he'd be damned if he let that woman hurt his brother- her, or anybody else. He was the one person in life he's never once gotten mad at- even over his parents! So to have Rei hurting grated on him and he would hurt anyone and do anything to stop the pain.

Just wish I knew how to get him to open up to me about it. I'd even settle for hearing it second hand because he told someone else. He reached out and smoothed a piece of the boys hair from his face. He may be fifteen, but to Lee, Rei would always look like that little seven year old clinging to his arm. Lowering his self a bit, he wrapped his arms around his brother from behind and rocked him back and forth.

"Lee! You're embarrassing me!" Shouts Rei, though, he has a small smile on his face. "What's with you?" He shoved his shoulders back to free himself. "You going all loopy, soupy on me?"

"Loopy-soupy?"

Rei blinked to that and countered with, "Coo coo-bananas?"

Lee laughed, shoving his brother on the head. "Just wash the dishes cabin boy." He opens the dishwasher, unloading the dishes that were sitting inside now that they are finished drying. The two of them worked quietly for a bit; Rei snuck glances at his brother, wondering what would inspire such declarations of love from him- not that he didn't like it, he's his brother after all and as far as he knew the only family he's got.

"What's with the fur ball in your room?"

"His name is, Raion, and he's not a fur ball."

"Lion? Why the heck did you call him that?" He placed a large punch bowl into the glass wear cabinet. "And when did uncle say you could have a pet? I've been milking him for a dog for months when I was a kid. He always told me to use my imagination if I wanted a pet."

Rei shook some water from the dish before setting it onto the counter top. "He... kind of doesn't know about it yet."

"Ooooohhhh," he laughs. "Well if he asks, I don't know nothin'."

Gasping in shock, he turns around. "What happened to you loving me?"

"I love you, but trouble is trouble and I've got places to be."

Rei thought that over, he was ready to grab the sprayer and shoot his brother into submission as a back-up for his 'pet capades', but then Kai walked in, looking rather smug.

"Your uncle said you can keep Raion, Rei."

"He did? You talked to him?"

Kai nodded, walking over to where his crush stands. Taking a cookie from the jar he spied next to the toaster, he bit into it and watched the brothers work. It was weird actually seeing them beside each other; one Kai once considered a friend, now looking more and more like the love of his life, and the other fading into the background as... maybe a friend; unless Lee still thinks he's a weird creep for hitting on a straight guy. He doubted it, plus Lee is nice anyway, a little arrogant, but nice.

When all the dishes were put away, Lee loads the dishwasher with their few plates then closes it up for the night. Turning to the smaller people in the room, he cocks a brow and asks, "So what are the two of you doing for the rest of the night?"

"That's a loaded question." Says Kai, finishing his snack. "I actually can't stay, I have to be home now." Looking at the person he's now speaking to he adds. "See you tomorrow, Rei."

"Bye." He followed him out with his eyes. Looking back at Lee, his face falls into question. "What?"

Imitating Kai, but with a sexy flare. "See you tomorrow, Rei."

Chuckling; he swung a hand out at his brother. "Shut up. I think its sweet."

Lee shrugs to that. "You better see him off before he goes upstairs and steals something from your room."

"Like he would." Though he walked out of the kitchen into the dining room, living room to the main entrance of the house. Kai stood there, hands in his pockets as though he were waiting for him to show up. "Can I see you out?" Asks Rei, when he got to the door.

"Yeah. I wanted to say goodbye."

They left the house together, closing the door for privacy. Kai didn't waste anytime as he placed a hand to Rei's cheek leaning in toward his lips. "I know you don't like to be kissed by surprise, so I thought I should ask."

Rei looked down, clearly embarrassed, but when he looked back up he surprised himself by nodding. Smiling, Kai leaned forward and nuzzled his forehead to the Chinese boys, leaning forward a bit, he pressed his lips to Rei's giving him the quickest, sweetest kiss, he could offer. The blessed boy was thrilled that the front light wasn't on, he couldn't bare to have anyone see him getting a kiss right now. It would ruin his family for sure, he never even got this bold with Tyson, but as Kai trailed the kiss to his jaw, he gasped and broke away.

"Sorry. I got a little carried away."

"Just don't do it again."

Kai only smiled. "I won't. But I'll tell you this, you and I will be together.... I promise." Touching his cheek one last time, the Russian started away.

.....Kai...... Placing a hand to his lips, he brought it away and looked out after him one last time before going back into the house.

Meanwhile, in another part of town. Zeo and Ozuma are walking down the dark streets of the city. Zeo's driver asked to take them home, but they declined saying that they preferred to walk. They have been outside for atleast a good two hours until they finally reached Ozuma's house.

"You wanna come in?" Asks the boy with two toned hair.

"Sure. If your parents don't mind."

Waving a hand, he then pulls the keys from his pocket. "Naah, they're asleep anyway. The real person you have to watch out for is my sister." Walking into the house, he holds the door for his secret crush to enter.

Zeo looked around the kitchen with help from a dim light over the stove. They came in through the back door. Smiling, he turned to Ozuma and said. "You have a nice kitchen. I can see everything right off the bat."

"Huh?"

"I sometimes have to strain my eyes in our kitchen, but yours is small enough to locate everything easily. It must be great on the eyes."

Cocking a brow, wondering if the blue haired dream was complimenting or insulting him. But since he witnessed him walking around the table touching this shaker and that, he assumed it was a compliment. "Thanks." He replied. "You wanna see my bedroom? It's right down the hall."

"Yeah!" Ozuma placed a finger to his lips. Getting the hint, the boy placed a finger over his lips as well, saying. "Right. I'd love to see your room."

"Come on."

They walk into the dark hall; Zeo looking this way and that, wishing he had brought his camera. He has never been in a house that has no stairs before so seeing Ozuma's place was a real treat for him. The journey ended briefly when they turned, right, entering the spacious bedroom. Ozuma walked into the darkest part of the bedroom; there is a click then the lights came on.

"Cool!" Shouted Zeo in a hushed tone. He took in this poster and that, touching anything his hands fell upon. "This room is so you!"

"Isn't yours?" Asks the other boy, laying out on his bed, grabbing a pack of cigarettes.

Zeo shook his head, turning to face his friend. "No. My dad said adolescent posters are shameful and the only ones that will go on my wall will be of great composers." Throwing his hands into the air, he states. "Like I'm all about music!" Sighing, in sadness he perked up and asks. "I really like it over here. Can I spend the night?"

Ozuma had to hide a smile. "Sure. If your dad is all right with it."

"Who cares, he's not at home and probably won't be until morning. He's always like that." Explains the boy without a hint of sadness. Zeo looked over at his friend, stretched out on his bed about to light up another cigarette. Joining him on the bed, he looked at him and smiled. Ozuma blinked, a blush tinting his cheeks causing him to look away.

"What?" He asked unable to take being looked at by his crush.

"How much do you smoke?"

"Huh?"

"I was just wondering, because you had one on the way here and now you're lighting up again. So I was curious."

"Oh." He dabbed the item into the ash tray beside the bed. "I didn't know that it bothered you so much."

"It doesn't! I just wanted to know how you could enjoy something that's gonna kill you faster."

Ozuma could only look at him from that. Sighing, he relaxed by stretching himself out in a more laying down type position. The two of them were silent for a bit. Zeo was still looking at the posters and items in the boys bedroom as if he had never seen such things before. Turning his head now, he looked down at Ozuma and smirked. Scooting his legs down so that he was laying down as well, he sighed to get his voice started.

"Ozuma?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I see it?"

Sitting up quickly, he looked down at the blue haired dream. "You wanna what?"

"No. Not that. I wanna see your tattoo."

Now the shorter boy was getting curious. How long has Zeo been into him without his knowing it? Did this just start or has it been going on for a while, because he will lose his sanity if he could have had Zeo at some point in time but he messed up by ignoring the boy because he was too shy to just say, 'I think you're good looking, wanna go out'. He didn't care about being superficial, he just wanted to see him naked.

"H- how do you know I have a tattoo?"

"I saw it once, a little peek, last year during gym class when we had to shower afterwards." Explained the boy. Sitting up now, he looked closely at Ozuma's chest as if he could see through his shirt right at the paint on his skin. "So can I?"

Shrugging; Ozuma pulled his shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor. "See."

Zeo did see. He zoomed himself in on the crest with two words; one above and one below, written in a language he couldn't read. "Cool." He traced his finger slowly around the crest and it's inner twist and turns of red and orange. Then he ran his finger over the gray words with a smile. "What does it say?"

"It says: Honor and Pride, in Indian." He pointed at each word when he said it. "Our last name is actually, little shell. Like a shield for a turtle."

Zeo's smile widened to a grin. "That's awesome!" He looked up into Ozuma's smoldering green irises. "Zagart doesn't mean anything, just- Zagart I guess."

Ozuma scratched the back of his head. He was feeling more than uncomfortable with Zeo that close to him and no sign of.... Well, forget about that because it obviously wasn't gonna happen. With Ozuma, his heart has always been single, but his body dates freely. Then there's Zeo the one person who can make the thing beat out of control and he's too afraid to touch him. If it were anyone else he would have moved on them instantly.

The shorter boy couldn't help but notice that, even though, Zeo was done looking at his tattoo; the younger boy was letting his fingers linger on his chest. His warm hands leaving heated trails over his chest, until they moved up to his neck then cheek.

"Ozuma," says Zeo, with a dreamy expression in his eyes.

"H- huh?"

"I was serious when I said that... I like you."

"You were?" He was looking into Zeo's blue eyes, wishing that he had less self control so this moment wouldn't be so awkward.

"I've always thought you were cute but... I don't know, you changed after third grade." He shrugged. His words seemed sad, but his voice spoke indifferently. "One minute we all played together, then we hit middle school and it was just: you, Tyson, Kane and Max. Then that just became You, Tyson and Max until eventually it was just you and Tyson."

Ozuma knew why. He had heard about how Lee's friends made up some dumb grading system when they were in middle school. Beautiful people got an A, but if you weren't good enough to be an A you became a B. Touchable but you would never talk to them longer than a little bit. And if you were neither A nor B than you were a C as in, 'See if anyone will talk to you.' Then there were D's, people indifferent to either letter so they were just ignored, come and go as they please kind of people. He didn't know that anyone cared about that.

"I'm sorry."

Shaking his head, he continues to smile. "No, it's great. Besides, I'd rather have a lot of friends than just two or three."

"I guess that's true." They were silent a minute, but Ozuma had to send out an offer. "Zeo, if you ever wanna sit with Tyson, Rei, and me, you can."

"Haha, thanks!" After a second thought, Zeo asked. "Rei. He eats over at the high school, so he must be really smart right?"

"Yeah."

"......He does that a lot. Are you guys gonna replace him or something?"

"No. I don't think so."

"Tyson seems like he's been mad at him a lot lately. I see him asking Kenny about it all the time."

"He's just suspicious."

Zeo hummed a second, then said. "I wouldn't worry about him."

Well, Zeo brought him up so he may as well ask. "About Tyson,"

"I know you think I have a crush on him, I did, but.... I don't know, you said all that stuff to me and it really got me thinking that maybe I am out of his league...." He takes Ozuma's hands. "Have you ever kissed him?"

Slept with him three times. "Once or twice." He replied.

"Cool."

"Yeah.... It is."

"....So anyway... If you... wanted to sleep with me... I'd really like that!"

"With me?"

Nodding, the blue haired boy suddenly blushed for being so forward about it. He lived a sheltered life, he wanted to be out there and crazy with the rest of the boys. Not stuck inside learning this instrument and getting ready for that concert. And he truly does like Ozuma so why not give him an offering, he may even like him back.

The half Japanese boy swallowed hard. The only thing he could do with this new found information is-... Zeo stopped his thought train by finishing his sentence with a kiss, that broke quickly as if it were just getting a taste before he kissed him again a lot longer than before. The shorter boy pressed a hand to his crushes chest to lay him on the bed as he climbed on top of him.