Disclaimer: I do not own beyblade and do not make any money out of it. I'm writing pure for my and your fun
Don't own the song and lyrics to: you want to make a memory sung by Bon Jovi from the album Lost Highway. (which, by the way, is a GREAT album )
Summary: Song fic. Ten years. What happens when Takao sees Kai again after ten long years of not knowing where Kai was? Pairings: TyKa RayMax. Yaoi.
My first attempt in trying to write a song fic, let alone a One shot. (Constructive) criticism is welcomed
Make a memory
"Really Max, why should I go to a party where I don't even belong?" wondered Takao while looking at himself in the mirror. He had to admit that a tux didn't look too bad, but it just didn't feel right. "Why should an archaeologist need to go to a party where there is no-one to talk with except for you?" complained the young adult. "It's not like I understand business language." shuddered the blue haired adult.
"Because I told my mother you would come. Rei and Kenny are coming too! It'll be fun!" replied the blond, as energetic as ever, even though ten years had passed since their last world championship together. "Besides, you haven't gone out in ages! You should have some fun more often." replied Max.
"That's the point buddy, I don't think I can have fun in a place where no-one knows me, and I know only you guys. I'd rather go to a bar or something like that." whined Takao while sitting down on his bed .
"But every time I invite you to go to a bar you decline, telling me you've got work to do." teased Max. "C'mon Takao buddy. It's been way too long since we had fun together. We don't need to stay at the party the whole time. We could go somewhere else afterwards."
Takao sighed deeply. He wasn't going to win this. "Okay then, but no later than twelve. I do have to give guest lectures tomorrow." he sighed. 'If only Kai were still here...'
Max quickly disappeared in the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He called Rei.
"Yo, plan worked. He's coming. Are you sure Kai's coming too?"
"You're mother has sent the invite, I reckon he'll come, becauseit was your mother who invited him. We'll just have to wait and see. I'll see if I can find him during the party, and lure him to you and Takao, okay?" planned the neko-jin.
"Sounds like a plan to me. See you in fifteen minutes." said Max happily. "Love you."he added and hung up. He flushed the toilet to make it look he actually went, and left the bathroom.
"You ready Takao?" he called, playing with the car keys he was holding in his hands.
"Yeah, let's go." said the blue haired man, his mood brightened somewhat. For some reason he was feeling like a schoolgirl on her first date. He didn't know why, but he felt excited.
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"Sir?" called a cautious female voice through the intercom."Hnn." grunted the Hiwatari enterprise CEO.
"Need I remind you that there's a party tonight in the city opera?"
"Who's party?" asked the man, remembering there was some sort of fashionable party, but not who was giving it.
"Judy Tate sir."
'Right.' thought Kai. 'No way getting myself out of this one.' "Prepare the limo. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes."
"Yes sir."
Kai sighed, leaning back in his soft, comfortable, huge leather chair behind just a enormous desk. 'I wonder if Max will be there too...Last time I was at Judy's I managed to avoid him...Perhaps...he will come...no, impossible. He's probably in Japan, and even if he's here and he probably doesn't know I'm coming, and even if he does know, I doubt he wants to see me...'
The dual haired man sighed again and made his way to the bathroom, adjacent to his office, to freshen up. He wasn't wearing his trademark paint anymore. He'd stopped after he'd quit (official) beyblading, ten years ago.
Again.
He'd disappeared, not letting the blade breakers know where he'd gone. Not even Takao knew. Kai had betrayed his team again.
"Ten years..." he said to himself, watching himself in the mirror, water drops running down his cheeks. "It's been too long Kinomiya...but I just can't...I cant..."
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Whilst entering the opera house Takao immediately regretted giving in to Max. All those people in suits and ties... he clearly didn't belong here.
Max noticed the hesitation in his blue haired friend and pulled him along. "C'mon. It's gonna be a party to remember, trust me." he said hinting a deeper meaning. Takao heard the hinting, but he couldn't figure out what the blond meant.
"Mom! Nice to see you again!" called the blond, hugging his mother. Even though they lived only a few blocks from each other they rarely saw each other thanks to Judy's work and Max's beyblade school.
"Max! How have you been, and hi! Takao, haven't seen you around in a while. What brings you to New York?" the blond haired woman asked.
"School. I'm giving a couple of guest lectures tomorrow and the day after. You seem as healthy and beautiful as ever, Judy." he added smiling.
Takao had grown up, the last ten years. Too fast, some thought, especially Rei and Max were concerned sometimes. Even Hilary had noticed, and she was travelling around the world and was rarely back home in Japan. The sudden leave of Kai had hurt Takao more than anything else ever had in his life. He pretended to be fine, but everyone who knew him could see he was still in pain, and still waiting. Takao had dated a couple of times, the last few years, but had never really started a relationship, let alone a serious one. Max and Rei were getting worried.
One day, about four months ago, Judy called Max. She'd found Kai. She'd seen him on a convention in Russia as representative of Hiwatari Enterprise. The blond had been quite shocked. Kai wasn't even trying to hide where he was...That's when Rei came up with a plan to hook Takao and Kai up again. They couldn't stand it that Takao tried to look happy, but on the inside their friend was broken, perhaps beyond repair. They wanted to help him in the best way they could, and this was the only option left. Confront them with each other. They knew it could backfire completely, but knowing each other they figured that they would at least give each other the time to explain things.
Especially Kai.
"Have you seen Rei yet mom?" asked Max, scanning the crowd.
"Not yet. I... Oh, hey, there he is." said Judy pointing to the entrance.
The neko-jin was wearing traditional Chinese clothing, no tux. He blushed when he saw that even Max had dressed up.
"I hope I don't stand out too much..." he whispered after he'd given Max a hug.
"As long as no-one else but I gets you tonight I don't mind." teased the blond.
Takao sighed. "Let's go somewhere where it's not as crowded as here... You two draw too much attention." he teased.
"You two go ahead." said Rei. "I'll get us some drinks. I'll find you." he said, smiling when he realised that Takao was doing exactly what he and Max had planned.
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Rei deliberately took his time getting the drinks, eying the entrance as if his life depended on it.
Suddenly he saw Kai.
'He's changed...but I guess we all have.' thought the neko-jin. He approached his former team-captain.
"Kai? Is that you?" he asked carefully. "It is you, isn't it. You look different without your face paint." Rei said. "Long time no see! How have you been?" he added.
"Rei..." was the only thing Kai said. He certainly didn't expect to see him here. "Hi." he managed to say. "Fine I guess. Are you here alone?" wondered Kai. 'Takao is not here...is he?'
"No. I'm here with Max. Coming along? He's in the back somewhere..."
"I need to speak with Judy first.""Sure. I'll wait." said Rei smiling.
Kai sighed. 'This is not feeling right. He's up to something. Did he bring Takao here?'
When Kai found Judy they made some chit-chat before Rei pulled Kai away.
"Sorry Judy, I'm borrowing him for a while."
The blond woman smiled. "Sure. Thanks for coming Kai." she added.
Kai nodded and was pulled along with Rei, wondering why he was all hyper upped. He couldn't think anything else but that Takao was also on the party.
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Kai sighed inwardly when he saw only Max waiting for Rei. He didn't notice Rei's suprised look though , and Max signalling not too worry."Guess who I found!" played Rei.
"Kai! It's been ages!" said Max, making Kai flinch inwardly. He knew though that the blond didn't mean any harm with the comment but even so... "How have you been? Where have you been?"
"Everywhere and nowhere. You've grown a lot."
"So have you." replied Max.
"Hey." pouted Rei. "You didn't say that when you saw me just now?" he played.
Kai sighed with a smile on his face. Max and Rei hadn't changed at all.
"Max has always been the smallest in the group, he's longer than me now! You on the other hand are still at the same height as you were when we were younger. Compared to me."
Max grinned. "Very true." he said accepting the drink from Rei.With Takao in the men's room, Rei gave the third drink to Kai.
"I heard from Judy that you're head of Hiwatari Enterprise nowadays. Decided to take over your grandfathers work?" asked Rei to break an awkward silence.
"Yeah." replied Kai, sipping the wine. He'd never really liked wine, but he had to admit that it didn't taste too bad. Suddenly though, after taking another sip, he froze. He couldn't swallow. It felt like someone was staring at his back intensely. Max, who was standing opposite of Kai saw who was staring at Kai, and Rei noticed soon too. They murmured something about needing to go to the bathroom...together...at the same time...coincidentally...and quickly left.
Kai slowly turned around, staring into storm blue eyes.
"..."
"..."
"Hi." said Kai eventually after he managed to swallow the wine.
"...Kai?" asked Takao.
Hello again, it's you and me
"...It's me Kinomiya."
"I...where have you been?" asked Takao, fighting his tears.
"Around..." came the quick reply.
"You're avoiding a straight answer as usual Hiwatari."
Kinda always like it used to be
"Where have you been the last ten years." Takao said, emphasising the last part.
Kai winced. He put away the glass of wine and said nothing for a while. Neither did Takao. They just stared at each other, thinking what could've happened in the others life in ten years. Thinking of how they coped with the situation.
Sippin' wine, killing time
Trying to solve life's mysteries
"...How are you Takao?" asked Kai after an period of silence. He was surprised sound came out of his voice. He was feeling extremely nervous, and was at a loss of words. "It's been a while since the last time we saw each other..." the CEO thought, not noticing he said it out loud.
How's your life, it's been a while
Takao blinked his tears away. "You were the one that left, not telling us where you'd went." he managed to say, his voice thick with emotion, trying to sound angry, but it didn't work.
"I know... Shall we go...somewhere more private?" offered Kai.
Takao didn't reply at first. 'Do I want to make it up with him? He's caused me so much pain...' "Sure." Takao said eventually. "Where to?" he added. "Your place?"
"Hnn." nodded Kai. "Sure." he said leaving the building together with Takao.
"It's not far to my apartment. Let's walk." said Kai, not wanting to call his driver to get him back to his apartment.
"I can drive us. Max can take a ride back with Rei."
"Okay..." Kai said.
The short ride to Kai's apartment was silent. Neither spoke except for the occasional 'right' or 'left'. Both had to sort out their feelings.
"Good evening sir." called the receptionist. She smiled and gave Kai some letters. "These came in for you earlier today. There has also been a call from mr. Dion, he said he would call back later.""Thanks. May someone ask for me, I'm not here." said Kai accepting the letters. He made his way to the elevator and signalled Takao to follow him.
"Have a pleasant evening mr. Hiwatari." said the blond woman just before the doors closed.
"How long have you been living in this apartment?" asked Takao, trying to break the silence.
"Just a couple of weeks. My grandfather had apartments all around the world, and I inherited them all." he explained, not looking at the blond.
"He died then? I thought he was sent to jail for what happened in Russia?" asked Takao.
"He was. He died of an heart attack while doing his time."
"When?"
"Ten years ago."
"..."
Takao was about to respond when the elevator doors opened. Kai stepped out first, unlocking the door to his apartment, which was close to the elevator. "Come on in. Shall I make some tea?"
"Yeah, I'd appreciate it." the blue haired young adult said.
"Make yourself comfortable."
While Kai disappeared in the kitchen Takao observed the apartment. The first thing he noticed when he was in the living room was the wall of glass, giving a beautiful view of the city.
'He's got a penthouse apartment! I should've known...' thought Takao. He opened one of the sliding glass doors and stepped on the balcony, which was bigger than the living room itself. He shivered slightly when he felt a cold breeze but didn't go back inside just yet. He leaned on the railing and admired New York in it's night glory.'I remember standing on some buildings roof in the first year of the blade breakers. We had such fun back then, although Kai tried to distance himself. He was there, and that was all that mattered. He supported us through thick and thin, may have given up too soon sometimes, but he never strayed from his goal. I still admire him for that.'
"Takao?" called Kai, standing in the glass door. "You should get in, it's quite cold outside."
Takao turned to the former team captain, looking at the two mugs of steaming tea in his hand.
He observed Kai. Even though Kai wasn't wearing his face paint anymore he still looked the same. Older, but his main features hadn't changed. And gods, his eyes. His eyes were as fiery as ever. Though at the moment they watched him in concern.
Takao smiled. Sincerely.
God it's good to see you smile
Kai smiled back. "You coming in?"
"Yeah."
Takao sat down on the couch, his knees pulled up to his chest. He accepted the offered cup of tea and warmed his hands with it.
"Cold?" asked Kai
Takao shook his head. "Not really."
There was an awkward silence again, neither knowing what to say, not knowing where to start. Kai took out his coat and untied his tie. Takao didn't bother to take out his jacket. He didn't think he would be staying long anyway.
Kai was the first the spoke, he had more to tell. He was the one who left.
"Takao...I..."
"It started with your grandfather's dead, didn't it?" interrupted the blue haired young man.
Kai nodded, sipping his tea. "Right after our last battle as bladebreakers, I got a call from Mr. Dickinson. He received all information what happened in jail. He called me, asked me to come over and told me what had happened. It didn't really matter to me, I never liked the man. But then Mr. D started about Hiwatari enterprise. Even though grandfather didn't think too highly of me, I was the only heir, and thereby inherited the company."
"So you took over the company?"
"I didn't want to at first. I hesitated. I'm not a business man, back then I didn't even know what exactly Hiwatari Enterprise was doing. Mr. Dickinson was given all information about the company that could be important to me. The Russian state more or less made him my unofficial guardian." explained Kai before Takao could ask.
"He told me to decide on my own, that he would support whatever decision I made. I could take over the company, or I could just let it go, let someone else take my place. If I had done that I could've continued with my life as it was. Biggest problem was where to stay. Grandfather made the will so, that if I didn't take over the company, I couldn't use Hiwatari property. Money, houses, etc. The money I didn't care about. Mr. D was willing to support me financially. A house I could find on my own too, but when I found out how many people in and around the company had suffered thanks to my grandfather's actions, I decided to take over the company and do a better job than my grandfather."
Takao smiled. Even though Kai seemed cold and ruthless on the outside he definitely had a soft side. Somewhere, Takao would've been disappointed if Kai hadn't taken Hiwatari Enterprise. But...
"Hiwatari Enterprise is positioned all over the world, right?"
Kai nodded.
"Japan also."
Kai nodded again.
"Then..."
"I...I had to start in Russia, where all things started. I intended to stay just a little while, but it eventually took me two years before only the company in Russia was back to normal again. I've wanted to contact you, apologise for leaving without saying a word, but every single time I found some time to make a call I was either disturbed by Kenny calling me, or it was in the middle of the night in Japan."
"You could've woken me at any moment of the day Kai...""I realise that now, I guess I used that excuse for myself because I was too scared to call..."
Both men were silent again for a while.
"Kenny knew you were in Russia then?" asked Takao, drinking some of his tea.
Kai nodded. "He helped me hook up all the computers to one database. He's got access to it, so has my laptop. Don't blame him for not telling you anything..."
"You asked him to not tell me?" asked Takao carefully. 'How can Kenny not tell me? I thought we were friends...' thought the blue haired adult.
"No. I never asked him to lie to you, or to not tell. I couldn't ask such a thing of him. He must've decided it on his own."
Takao didn't know how to reply. He really felt betrayed by Kenny, for he had asked their 'chief' often if he had heard anything about Kai, if he had received a call or an email or so, but he never told him anything. On the other hand he admired Kenny for keeping quiet for such a long time.
"It must've been very difficult for him to not tell...but it all makes sense now...the three weeks he was suddenly on a vacation, and he couldn't tell us where...He never takes a vacation!" sighed Takao. "I should've know..."
"No. No you couldn't have known. The first few months I wanted to contact you so badly, but I couldn't. I wanted to see you, but something stopped me. After a few years I even tried not to think of you anymore. I hid myself from the world, working form sunrise to late in the night, not allowing myself any free time. At one point I even stopped asking Kenny how you were doing. Last thing I heard was that you were starting to give lectures at universities. That's...three years now?" asked Kai, not remembering the correct span of years.
Takao nodded.
"I really wanted to see and speak with you Takao. I can understand if you don't believe me...I can understand if you hate me...I..."
"Wait..." said Takao stopping Kai. "Let me tell my story before we start accusing ourselves." said Takao.
Kai nodded, drinking the now almost cold tea.
"I...when I noticed you were gone I immediately went to Mr. Dickinson to ask if he knew where you were." started Takao, closing his eyes as he recalled that day. "He told me that he didn't know where you had run off to this time. I didn't believe him. He always knows where someone is, especially you. No matter how hard I tried though, he wouldn't say a word, and eventually I stopped asking him. The others didn't know where you were either, safe for Kenny, who was on his 'vacation.' We guessed you'd went to some other school or something, escaping the commotion of beyblading for a while, like you did a year before. I didn't feel betrayed. Yet." said Takao leaving a short pause.
"When we still hadn't heard anything about you mid-term I started wondering if something bad had happened. 'What if he had some sort of accident, wherever he is,' I thought. The thought of you just having left somewhere without saying us because you didn't want to know us anymore came to my mind once, and it scared me. I was sick of myself, not believing I could think about you like that."
"The others though, had already given up hope, I think. They tried to support me as best as they could, but after we graduated everyone went their own way. Max started his own beyblade school, Rei went back to China for a year before he came to New York to be with Max. Kenny started his own business, and I now know he also 'worked' for you. Hilary wrote a book, became famous in an instant, and is constantly travelling the world, meeting people who have read one of her books. She's written fifteen already. I was at a loss what to do after my exams, so I contacted my father and helped him with work. He's in Egypt at the moment. Hiro is at the BBA in Tokyo." continued Takao.
"I never gave up upon you Kai. I've always waited for your return, not wanting to believe anything else than that you had a reasonable explanation for your sudden departure."
"Takao.." said Kai, slight disbelieve, concern and love in his voice. His eyes were getting teary, his body yearned to cuddle up next to Takao, to feel the warmth of his body.
"I don't hate you Kai. I don't feel betrayed. I...I just...I've missed you so much!" the blue haired man said, his eyes teary.
Kai set down the empty mug on the table and approached Takao. Said teen nodded when Kai signalled if he could sit next to him. Kai hugged Takao softly.
"I've missed you too. Can you forgive me Kinomiya Takao?" asked Kai, trying to keep his voice steady.
Takao leaned into Kai, closing his eyes, inhaling Kai's scent he'd missed for so long. He ran his hand through the dual coloured hair, which seemed a lot shorter than he remembered. Kai almost purred. Oh how he had missed their physical contact.
"If you promise you'll never disappear from me again I'll forgive you. Don't you ever dare leave me alone again. I need you Hiwatari Kai."
"So do I...so do I." Kai said, not bothering to hide his tears anymore. He buried his head in Takao's lap, too many emotions running through his body. He was relieved, but still felt guilty.
Both men just sat on the couch for a while, Takao's hands slightly rubbing Kai's back until his sobs had disappeared. Only then Kai noticed that Takao was crying too.
"Takao...love..." he said, slowly getting up. "I love you." he said, his amethyst eyes locking with sapphire ones.
"I love you too." replied Takao. They kissed, carefully and short at first, both men not wanting to rush.
Suddenly though Takao's cellphone buzzed. The teen sighed.
"Let it be. Whoever it is will call back." complained Kai. He didn't want to miss another second together with Takao.
"It's not someone. It's my alarm clock." answered Takao. It's 1 AM already...I set the alarm so I wouldn't stay on the party too long. I've got to give two guest lectures tomorrow on the university..."
Kai groaned softly. "Call the university tomorrow morning that you're sick. I don't want you to leave Takao."
"Neither do I, koibito. But I really have to go." Takao said apologising. He reached for the keys in his pants. "Do you have something to write on?" he asked, reluctantly standing from the couch.
"On the kitchen table. There should be a pen and paper there...why?" asked Kai confused.
"I'll write down the hotel and room number. Oh, and my cell too. I..."
I see you reaching for your keys
Looking for a reason not to leave
"Will I see you tomorrow?" asked Takao carefully.
"If you want to. Of course." said Kai smiling faintly.
Takao smiled. "I've got a lecture from nine to eleven thirty, and one from twelve to two thirty."
"Pick you up at two forty five then?" asked Kai.
"Sounds like a plan."
Kai stood from the couch, and approached Takao. He hugged him for behind.
"I've got a better plan. Why don't you stay here tonight? The university is not far from here." he said inhaling Takao's scent.
"I don't know Kai..." hesitated Takao. He knew that if he would stay that they would hardly get any sleep that night. They still had a lot to catch up, let alone that Takao hadn't slept too well the last few days. He really needed his rest.
"I want to stay, but I don't think it's wise...not yet..." said the teen.
If you don't know if you should stay
'Truth is...' thought Takao. 'I want nothing else but be with Kai. Forever. I never want to let go of him again. But it's all too soon. So much has happened.'
"You're hesitating..." observed Kai.
If you don't say what's on your mind
Baby just breathe
"You should do what seems best to you. I'm not going anywhere anymore." said Kai. "What difference does it make if you stay here or go to your hotel room. You probably won't fall in sleep over there. Here we can perhaps make each other sleep." offered Kai. "Sleep is perhaps the thing we need most at the moment. I'll wake you in time for college. I'll even make you breakfast if you want. Spend the night with me Takao."
"..."
There's nowhere else tonight we should be
"All right. You got spare pj's?" asked Takao, turning to Kai, kissing his lover again. "No wait. Never mind. I've got a better plan." said the older of the two, his eyes glistering with lust. He didn't really care what happened tonight anymore. He wanted Kai to be a part of him forever.
You wanna make a memory?
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Authors note: That was quite difficult to write. Tell me how I did.
Oh, and for those who noticed, Yes, I didn't use all the lyrics because I thought it would be appropriate to end it here.