I'm so sorry I've kept you fellows wait so long. My dear beta reader is busy since her school has started, as lot of by us, so. Still, I decided I wouldn't keep you wait any longer and update my next part of this chapter, if you don't mind reading my little grammar mistakes here and there. But when my beta and I are finished with grammar correction I will replace this chapter to the corrected one. ;)
Anyway, I'm not planning to write more than 6 or 7 chapters of this story.
Now then, let's move on.
Disclaimer: Beyblade does not belong to me. Except Jilian and Masaru who are my OCs.
Warning: those who's read my story this far already know it's a love story between boyXboy, but no lemon. You have been warned.
Note:
- I know this chapter has been created very long, but the next will be shorter, and I try to not keep you waiting for ages. ^ ^"
- Below the chapter you will find a little info about the upcoming chapter. ;)
- I also recommend LazyLuck13's Tyka stories, they are very sweet I think. ^ ^
I wish you a nice time reading,
and for those who have school persistence.
But now, read and enjoy it! :D
2. Chapter
Please come home
(part 2)
"So you were the one who wrote that letter." said Rei while all of them were sitting at a wooden table, in a small room. During, the brown haired woman was standing at the kitchen counter and was making tea for four.
"Yes. A good friend of me has contacts and he managed to find out the address." she told while poured off the seethed by special flower-petals tea and shed it in four cups.
"This sweep of flowerbed is wonderful. I have never seen anything beautiful as that." complimented Max, but not only with politeness, and he even bent forward a bit on his seat to have a better look from the window. It wasn't like he was so interested in flowers, that was rather girlish, but the sight was so fascinating that it held even him spellbound.
Something inexplicable calmness, serenity and cheerfulness descended upon him that had been so terrible missed from their lives under these few months. And not just he, but all of them felt the same way. Still, Kai was incapable to giving himself to his feelings. Seemingly he sat calmly on his seat with his arms folded, his leg across the other one, and his face was showing the usual expression that could be only peculiar to Kai Hiwatari. But in fact, inside he was waiting with big impatient when would finally happen something. He didn't want to be disrespectful but this many wait and doubtfulness were just nerve-racking.
"My grandfather had planted these flowers when I wasn't even born. He made it to my grandma because he loved her so much, and he knew how much she loved flowers. I pray for that till the day of the sale don't come another storm." the brown haired woman looked contemplatively towards the window and a fond smile found its way on her lips.
She placed the salver on to the table before she portioned out the teas. She handed a cup to Kai who thanked it tactfully then she gave one-one to Max and Rei, too. She took a seat among them, set her long dress carefully beneath herself, and raised her own tea to her mouth.
"Please, forgive us that we've broken in upon you just anyhow, Miss..." apologized Rei.
The woman looked up from her cup and smiled prettily. "Just call me Jilian. After all, I'm not that old yet, am I?" Rei nodded and lowered his head a bit, blushing. Kai rolled his eyes. "Don't trouble yourselves, I was knowing about your coming. Your director, Mr. Dicenson, sent me a telegram. For that matter, it rarely offers occasion when I have visitors. I live so far from my village that I go there only on the sale days where I meet people. I'm happy for your visitation."
Kai looked around in the small room. In the neat, built of lath house could be seen that people lived in small way here. Although they weren't rich, they didn't seem unhappy, leastways Jilian. The house had more rooms, even a rise level, which meant there must be lived a big family. Even a photo was telling about that stood on the mantelpiece; the two parents, beside them a young man who was definitely their oldest son. In the middle stood Jilian in her teenager years while she was hugging her youngest little brother. However, it very seemed that currently Jilian was the only one who lived here.
"Where is Tyson? When can we see him?" Max asked agog. He just couldn't stay still anymore and wait. He took an inquiring look around the room as if he hoped that he would spot his best friend one of the corner of the room, or that he would just walk in the kitchen all of a sudden.
Kai unobtrusively sipped his tea while he gave a mental concert to Max for finally saying a smart question.
"Tyson?" Jilian looked at the blonde teen.
"Yeah. Tyson Granger."
Jilien thought for a moment then smiled appreciatively. "So it's Tyson. A very nice name. It means explosive – I wonder if he hides something like that." she chuckled. "You sure love him very much if you've come so far for him."
Max ducked his face sheepishly, and murmured a 'yeah'. But so did Kai and Rei; they both were overcome by emotions.
"Takao is very lucky that he has such a good friends like you." said Jilian.
Kai looked at the grandfather-clock that stood in the corner, beside the mantelpiece, and watched as the long pendulum swung left and right.
"In the letter you wrote precariously about Tyson's state." took over the subject Rei again.
"Well, yes. It has to do with the circumstances of his accident." Jilian responded and suddenly for the three friends observation she loured. Even Kai, who snapped his gaze off from the clock instantly, was now looking just as intensely and anxiety. "Before you meet him, there is something I have to tell you."
The woman's voice was ominous and the three friends listened tensely. They all feared of another misfortune that was waiting for them, and the brown haired woman was going to tell them now. Neither of them had enough dare to urge her on for further explanation, which clearly seemed that it had become a problem for her, because she'd stopped speaking and stared worried forth.
But then, Kai was braver to go on. "Please, tell us what happened on the day of the accident." asked her amiably.
Jilian looked at him, and when their gazes met she went nap on that this guy wasn't the man of emotional revealings. She put down her cup and rested her hands on the table. "You must know that we found Takao miles away from the impact of the location."
"What?" the three boys said in union.
"For long we didn't even assume that he also belonged to the other missings until we heard about the disaster. Only after this we'd searched Mr. Dicenson." Jilian pinned her gaze on her half empty cup of tea while she evoked the memories in her mind of that certain day again. "I can never forget the day when we've first found him...
It was on Friday afternoon, when we were walking home from the sale. Masaru was helping me carry home the left on hand window-boxes. I wanted to hurry home to my flowers because I felt that storm was coming. It was quite weird because it was sunny in the whole morning. This way the weather is usually calculable. If he hadn't been with me then... He was the one who attracted my attention to something strange.
"Hey, look! Over there!" we stopped and he pointed among the dense trees. And really, I also saw a blue light that was beaming above the shrouds. I didn't want to believe for my own eyes.
"What do you think, what can it be?" Masaru asked me.
"I don't know." we had no idea what kind of light could that be. "We better hurry back." I told him. I didn't know why but somehow it started causing me misgivings what we saw. Even in my childhood I was always afraid of strange phenomena.
But Masaru got very keyed up and he ran in to the deep forest. I cried after him but it was no use; if he took something into his head. I never liked going off the beaten track, still, I was worried for him that he went alone. So I went after him.
By the time I managed to catch up with Masaru the blue light had vanished. But then, the sight that unfolded before my eyes made me utterly shocked. Masaru was kneeling beside an unconscious boy who was covered in blood. His clothes were completely burst above his lots of scarring he had. Even on his face was a bigger cut. The blood had totally covered up his hair and his face that he was unrecognizable.
I didn't understood it; there was no one and nothing hereabouts. Where did he come from?
The sight had shaken me so much that I thought I wouldn't be able to stand it. However, I couldn't take my eyes off him. I was so sure he was dead, but when Masaru placed his finger on his neck... "He's alive." he stated, looking just as dumbfounded. "But he is very weak. He dies if we don't take him to hospital right away. Come on!"
After that we took him quickly to the nearest hospital which was actually the only one in the village."
Jilian's face rose from the table and was met with three pairs of painful gazes. Even Kai, though, he didn't wear those crocodile eyes as did his other friends, but his own eyes had become misty, too. In the quiet room only the soft sound of the ticker clock could be heared for awhile.
"Takao has spent one month in hospital. Thank goodness, he recovered completely from his injures. But at the same time he'd lost his memory that made a big problem. We were hoping that someone would start searching him soon, but no one came." Jilian told them.
"So, he doesn't remember anything or anyone?" Rei looked at her as if he didn't want to believe if he wouldn't hear it with his own ears. It was like as if they were standing on the brink of depths while they were swaying back and forth.
"I'm very sorry, but no." the brown haired woman shook her head sadly. "The doctor who cured him is an old classmate of me. He was very nice all the while and did his best endeavour, but... he couldn't come upon what could have caused him the amnesia." Jilian sighed. "He said we should wait patiently that his memory might came back again, one day."
"I'm very surprised that the media hasn't made a dart on him yet." the raven haired snorted ironical, and he wasn't the only one who got suspicious by the fact.
Jilian smiled bitterly while she watched her fingers as they twirled pointlessly left and right the cup, but couldn't hide her sadness just that she thought back what had they gone through. "Masaru disposed everything tactfully that Takao wouldn't be harmed not in the least. We feared from an occurrent media rush if it would get publicity that he was the only survivor. We tried to keep this private till Masaru looked up to Mr. Dicenson. I didn't want to put Takao to such a craze." she shook her head in a way as if she wanted to proclaim silently that how could some people be so indiscreet in these situations. They are so selfish bothering only with their big sensations and didn't respect others privacy.
"We went down to the sale on every Friday. He is so like an angel; he gladly helps me in everything. During, I always hoped that somebody in the crowd would recognize him. I was dearly hoping for long. Till now."
Kai stared sullen-browed before himself and couldn't help but sympathize with the young woman. She was just talking about Tyson the same way as Kai felt towards him, too; he knew Tyson's kindness and his full love heart, even if they argued a lot in the past. Kai even missed those moments, how funny. But now that they were here, and the thought that he could have that wonderful man by his side again gave his heart such warmth what Kai thought had burnt out in him long before.
Then Kai frowned. Suddenly he remembered something that had caught his ears before this. "You said Takao before. Why?"
"Takao; he chose this name for himself?"
"He chose it?" Rei looked dubiously at her.
Jilian leant over he cup once again, this time some of her escaped locks fell forth compassing those emotion engulfed brown eyes. "I've stayed with him all along, since that day. When he awaked to that he had no idea who was he, or about his whole foregoing life he totally gave away to despair. I dare say that he sank in himself. Although, I'm none relative of him I still couldn't leave him behind. I just... couldn't do it. Seeing how scared he was, and the pure thought how lorn and naked he must felt in this unknown world around him, made my heart shatter. Because I know how it feels to be all alone." she didn't notice how her voice had become intense.
"I know. When I lost my father and my two brothers all at once, I felt like the whole world had crashed down around me. That there was nothing left for me to live anymore. I've become feckless for the world... but I have my home. I have the memories about my family and keeping them in my heart to this day I restarted my life. I resumed what my grandfather had bequeathed to us and I decided that even if it's hard I won't give up.
That's why I couldn't give up on him, either. That's the reason I couldn't turn my back on him. Because I wanted to give him protection and care what he needed that he could take strength for a new beginning. And to have faith on himself.
I was only one from the lots of strangers around him. I went to him every day and very soon he'd become like a little brother for me... One day, he sighted the book I carried with myself and asked if I would give it to him to read. When he took it in his hands and saw the drawing about the phoenix on the bookjacket his face suddenly lighted up." Kai snapped up even more at this part and was now looking astir. "His eyes were shining, so beautiful, and since then there's been a mysterious glint in his eyes. He reads every book that falls into his hands, but for some reason this book is his most special one. He reads it over and over again, and can't put it down."
"Tyson and the books?" Max raised his eyebrow funny. "They are on bad terms with one other." he said facetiously but he was the only one who laughed.
Jilian, then again, was serious. "He reads a lot because he wants to learn."
"Learn what?" Rei looked questioningly at her.
"Everything." she answered simply. "Since I live far from my village he is not able to meet so many people here. Reading is his own way how he tries to get to know the world, again. Just imagine it; you wake up one day and realize that you don't know who you are, where do you come from, and people who were once part of your life and who you loved don't mean anything to you anymore. Because you don't remember of your feelings you felt for them. You still have the knowledge in your head what you learnt, but have no idea what to do with it if you have no dreams."
"He wanted to be a beyblade world champion." cut in Max argumentatively. "That was Tyson's dream, and he did it when he was proclaimed as three times world champion. And then he wanted to teach children to play beyblade with heart."
But the look that Jilian showed broke all their hopes. "Takao has no ambitions, because he doesn't know what's his path in his life he should follow." she said with sincere regret. "He looks at this world with admiration like a child, but at the same time with fear, too, because he doesn't find his way about."
The three boys lowered their gazes shattered and none of them spoke for a long while. In the background the grandfather clock belled and Kai gave a start internally as if he'd been shaken up from a bad dream.
"I know it's very painful for you right now," the brown haired woman looked sympathetic at them while she was trying to find some comforting words, but it was hard. "but the only medicine in this state if we are patient. And of course the affection."
Affection. The word rang in Kai's head as he gazed at her. It was the only thing in his life he knew the least about, and even so, people always kept referring it as the greatest power in the world that nothing could surpass. How? How could he get Tyson back if he didn't possess this power?
When the silence was lasting quite long that it was almost awkward, Kai, Max and Rei both thought it was time now to move to the next stage, and let come what may. Jilian, however, was quicker once again.
"Please," she spoke begging, and her eyes suddenly filled with tears as she looked at them all. "If it's really him, who you are searching, then please, take him with you." the bladebreakers looked shocked. "Bring him home to his family because that's what he really needs. Under these three months I've taken care of him as if he was my full brother, and if I could... I would take him as it. But I can't. I can't take the role of being his family." she shut her eyes, and the soft hands on the table clenched spastically.
Sad looking pair of eyes surrounded the poor woman while simultaneously they felt big respect towards the one person who was beside their friend when they weren't able to. In the end Rei could say just one thing. "We will do it. Don't you worry."
Jilian rose her watery gaze at him and let go a weary smile as appreciation.
"Does he know about us?" the question broke out from Kai this time, and in a rare gentle tone.
Jilian nodded and she'd wiped away some fat teardrops before they could roll down on her round cheeks. "I told him you were coming... but I didn't tell the details about your purpose."
"Why?" Rei asked.
"I think, this is your lookout to tell him."
Kai nodded silently, understanding.
- O-
The three bladers trooped out in front of the house and looked upwards. On top of a hill indeed stood a sakura tree in itself as Jilian said. The tree seemed very-very old, still, its shroud was enveloped opulently by little, pink flowers. Rei, Max and Kai started clambering up on the brae.
They barely went halfway when they suddenly stopped. Under the tree a boy was sitting on a bench and was reading. They all gasped; the shrouds moved by the soft breeze and it fluttered the boy's long hair which happened to be midnight blue. Some free locks that were escaped from his ponytail fell over his face.
Kai thought his heart was going to stop when Max all of a sudden exclaimed. "Tyson!" and he already made a run towards the teen, but Rei caught his arm just in time.
"Shh... Max, no!" hushed him the raven haired and with a determined gentleness pulled him back. "Remember what Jilian said. It's better if I go first. You guys come when I indicate to you."
"Why you? Why can't we go together?" repined the blonde.
"Two reasons. One: it would definitely cause him a panic if all of us thronged around him. Second: if you go it's sure card that you won't be able to hold back yourself to not fall upon his neck, which wouldn't be a lucky hit. If Kai goes it's sure enough that Tyson will get a heart attack when he sees Kai's scary face paints." Kai was nodding vigorously before the last comment hit him and a vein popped on his forehead as he glared at the nekojin. "I'm the calmest – and the most normal looking, so I go."
With that Rei turned and started upwards while Max and Kai stayed behind. The blonde boy was still pouting cutely with disappoint while Kai growled grudgingly. "Who is he calling normal with those cat-fangs."
The raven haired walked until he got in under the shadow of the tree. There he stopped and took a deep breath. Carefully, he came round the bench to not scare the other teen by misadventure. He stepped to the boy's sight whose head was still lowered, read intense. "Hello." Rei greeted friendly, his voice faltered.
The boy looked up and Rei nearly lost his breath. He knew that the first meeting was going to be unsettling but he didn't think it would be like that. God, he is... he really is... He had to pull all his strength together to hold back his aching emotions that intensely wanted to burst out from him. God, how he just would like to do that; to break down, grabbing his friend who he'd missed so much under these three months, and pull him into a tight hug. If he could only do that. But he couldn't do it. Even if it was hard.
Considering the serious injures he'd obtained in the accident Takao had really recovered completely; he had no single scar on his body. He may had lost a little weight that gave some reason to worry, after all, the bluenette no matter he was a good trencherman but he was never fat. But his skin was just as tanned as before, his hair too, discounting that he didn't have his dear cap on his face, and his attire was also different. He was wearing dark jeans and a common dark blue T-shirt.
Yet, everything was the same about him... except the fact that he didn't remember of anything or anyone at all, and another thing that Rei couldn't put his finger on what was but it made Tyson look somehow... different.
"Hi." greeted back the blue haired boy, a bit unsure. He was quite surprised because he hadn't met so many people, yet, but this odd hairdo stranger looked the most bizarre sight. He rose from his seat. "Who are you?"
Rei swallowed and tried to sound as casual as he could, but at the same time dependable. "My name is Rei Kon, nice to meet you." and he took out his hand to him smiling.
Takao hesitated, and even though doubtingly, but he accepted the gesture and took Rei's hand. There was another shock, like something of a sort electric wave ran through Rei's body just to feel his friend's warm hand again. The hand they didn't hope to shake ever again. The hand of the person whom they'd thought to be dead. "I'm Takao. Ugh, I don't know my other name."
Rei would like to hold his hand a little longer but he had to content himself with a short handshake when Takao pulled away his hand. The nekojin smiled at him though his eyes were shining with sadness. "It's okay. Jilian has told us everything. We came here to help you."
"We?"
"Me and my friends. We are the Bladebreakers team, and we've been playing in a great sport which name is beyblade. You're also a member of our team." the taller teen was watching tensely if the name might generated some reaction from Takao. Like a tiny realization. A flash, or something. But it failed. Takao nodded politely but on his face could be clearly seen the fuzziness that he didn't understand what was Rei talking about.
This had broken Rei down quite badly, yet, he tried further. Maybe the beyblade team should wait a bit. "Tyso – em, Takao?" he said to catch the bluenette's eyes again. "We've terribly missed you. We all. We came because we would like if you would come home with us... if you want, too, that is."
"Um..." the blue haired boy lowered his gorgeous eyes while he was rubbing his arm as sign of nervousness and unsure. "I... I don't know."
Rei bit his lower lip in desperate. That was what he feared; ever since Takao lost his memory he had no emotional attachment to no one, except Jilian. In this case it wouldn't be so easy for them to persuade him to come with them. "You don't want to come home? You don't want to know how was your life before you... You don't want to meet those people who always surrounded you and loved you? And they still do. Your family?"
"I have a family?" the bluenette snapped up at him with marvelling gaze.
"Of course you have!"
Takao looked meekly at him. "You mean, I really have a mother and a father?"
"Em, well... not much." Rei's enthusiasm abated suddenly. Somehow he didn't count on that question. "Your mother... well, she died when you was very little. Your father is archeologist which attendant on that he travels a lot and therefore you see him seldom."
"Oh." was all Takao said and wilted down his head with down in the mouth. That melancholy look gave Rei a wince and he couldn't blame the bluenette for it; getting to know that you came from a gammy family wasn't a very soul-stirring news. Damn it. This conversation wasn't working on the right lines, but he couldn't lie to him, could he? If he wanted to make blue haired teen to trust him then he had to be as honest with him as he was able to.
At the same time this whole theme was rather uncomfortable for the raven haired. He didn't feel like it should be his job to tell Takao the circumstances about his family. But if it had to be him to tell then he would make it the nicest way he could. "But you have a grandfather and an older brother, Hiro. They are also terribly worried about you, and wait for you to come home."
"They why haven't they come?" Takaos asked and this time Rei could detect some misgiving in his voice. This boy is not dumb, thought the raven haired. No wonder; even Tyson way quite smart on specific occasions.
A few meters away Kai and Max were still awaiting, very impatient now. Kai was having his arms crossed fairly tight, a wonder they weren't numb. During he watched with a deep frown on his face the outcome of a conversation between the two teens. But what annoyed him principally was that he couldn't see clearly the blue haired boy because of that flake nekojin who was covering him out of Kai's sight.
Max, the other hand, was beyond impatient as he was pacing up and down beside Kai with a sulky expression. He stopped right beside the dual haired and looked over the two talking persons. He took his hands on his hips. "What takes Rei so long?... Aw man, this is so boring. Just standing here and waiting for nothing. Why does not happen nothing?... Mmm, I can't stand this anymore. I have to see this closer." the short blonde quickly made a dash forward.
Kai, who was very deep in his thoughts, had awaken late that Max pissed off. "Max, no! Come back here!" he reached after him but it was useless. What else could he do? There was no use for him to loiter further in his place, so he went after him...
"...and that's why Mr. Dicenson has sent us here and not them." Rei had just finished explaining when Max and Kai joined them.
The next second a new twist set in. As if even the old tree watched wonderingly the little assembled young company; how interesting, it thought. Together, these four humans seemed like they were more than friends, like soul-brothers, but one of them seemed to not know who were these other three.
Rei stepped aside and decorously introduced his friends. "Tyson, this is Max Mizuhara, one of my teammates and friends."
Max stepped forth and looked with big teary eyes at his so much missed best friend. "Oh God..." he squeaked as they both watched each other a bit, then Max couldn't take it anymore, - no wonder, after all he was the one who overcame by his emotions the easiest, and how could he not when seeing his long lost best friend after so much time - and he jumped on the bluenette's neck crying. "Tyson!"
Rei and Kai startled, fearing from Takao's reaction, but the blue haired teen didn't do anything. Actually, he looked rather confused at the weeping shorter boy on his shoulder. Who is Tyson?, he asked in him. He didn't know who was this blonde boy who had such an incredible ocean blue eyes, or that why was he breaking down so much, but something still agitated him internally.
For no known cause his heart suddenly filled with warmth and pain. Why does it hurt? He didn't know why but he couldn't make himself to push away the other boy, even though he felt dizzy in his whole body by the lot of emotions that were swirling criss-cross. Gingerly he raised one hand on the blonde's back and gave him tentatively a comforting tap. Upon this Max let him go to leave him a comforting space again, but he couldn't help smiling at Takao with his watery eyes.
Rei then intervened again. "And this is Kai. Kai Hiwatari, our team captain."
All this time Kai had been swallowing his breath as if he was thirsty or something. He couldn't get enough of the sight that was standing in front of him. And when Takao finally turned to him their gazes had interlocked at one go as if a magnet was holding them together, firmly.
They both stared hard at each other in silence. None of them moved. Kai didn't know if he was still breathing. God, he couldn't feel anything else only his wildly throbbing heart which somehow had leapt in his throat; but then it meant he must have been alive. He didn't even dare to blink because he funked that he might lost something. Kai hadn't realized till now how much he loved that soft look on him. God, he's more beautiful than before. But, at the same time there was something about the bluenette that Kai observed, too, but couldn't dope out what made Takao look different.
Takao, the other hand was shocked, confused and fascinated. Dark crimson eyes, they were so deep, and still, they shone brightly. The same eyes he'd seen in his dreams. 'His eyes... they are like...' As he was lingering on them the poor heart in his chest was beating harder and harder while something was diffusing in him, as a hot wave he'd never met before, and it scared him. What more, the blood rushed up in his head, heating his face and he hoped desperately that he wasn't blushing visible.
Takao didn't get what was happening to him. Why was he reacting this way? This very new feeling in him made him uncomfortable. Even though he found this dual haired male very gorgeous there was still something about his appearance that frightened Takao.
Kai hadn't even noticed when he reached out his hand to Takao, he felt it numbed. "Hi." a quiet word left his mouth.
The younger male looked at the greeting hand of Kai uneasy. He didn't know what to do; one part of him wanted to take the hand gladly, but his other part was telling him else. He was mistrustful. Takao hesitated for a bit then his face lowered dolefully, and drew apart from Kai's overtures.
This reaction caused everyone a shock, but mostly for Kai. Never. Tyson had never refused nothing that was given from Kai, mainly because formerly Kai'd done such rarely. It was always Tyson who gave these friendly gestures, and cares which had been returned by Kai after some time. Kai wasn't used to show his feeling openly, so it meant to be special occasions whenever Kai dropped that fake mask from his face, and Tyson never hesitated to catch those moments. But now...
Kai looked with mixed frustration and stunned at him while he didn't notice that his hand was still reaching out for Takao, as if it froze. Rei had a good grip on the situation right away, and before it would have turned to irreversibly embarrassing he intervened quickly with a nervous grin, showing Kai gently away from the sight. "Well, now that the debut has happened we can come to the point then... Anyway, what are you guys doing here? I thought I told you to stay back until I call you."
"Blame Max." grumbled Kai and he bobbed towards the blonde. "He was the one who was on top of sugar-high again."
"Hey, it was not only me!" retorted the younger male, who up to now had wiped off the half dried up tears from his cheeks. "What are you doing here then?"
"I'm your team captain, remember?"
"And therefore you are the one who should have kept an eye on him." scolded him Rei and crossed his arms.
"Yeah, you should have attended to m..." Max shut up instantly when Kai's gimlet eyes landed on him, and he quickly changed subject. "Em, but it doesn't matter now... So, what have you figured out? Is Tyson coming back with us?"
"I had been just on it, if you wouldn't have cut in." said querulously, even reproachfully, the raven haired with a small sweatdroop falling from the back of his face.
"Then ask him now... Where is he anyway?" Max started searching around and Kai followed his example.
Rei sighed deep and long. His head fell back by brain-fag that he was getting enough now. "Guys, if you wouldn't have noticed yet he'd long bunked off."
"What?" cried Max and Kai. Rei pointed towards the house, his friends followed his hint, and really, they saw the blue haired teen was skittering downwards on the brae.
Rei sighed again while he was shaking his head tiredly. Why did he have a feeling that this wouldn't be so easy?
- O -
"Takao, what's wrong?" Jilian stroked fondly her young foster-brother's hair. They were sitting now on Takao's bed, up in one of the bedrooms that had belonged ever Jilian's older brother. The blue haired boy had his face buried on the woman's shoulder, searching for comfort and safe by the one person who he trusted. By the one who he ran to when he was scared from something, and the one who was both his mother, sister, friend and his family during this three months.
"Jilian tell me. Do you want me to leave?" she heared the muffled ask from Takao. Through his despairing voice she could tell that Takao was fighting back his cry.
Jilian's lips curved up in a smile as if she was about to laugh, but the beads of emotion in her eyes were telling different. "How can you say such a silly thing? Of course I would be glad if you would stay here with me forever. Still... I would be more glad if you were with your family and your friends again. Seeing you happy is more important to me than anything else, because that would make me happy, too."
"But I don't even know them."
"Because you don't remember of them. But the doctor said your memory would come back again in time. Don't worry, everything will fall out well in the end, you'll see." gently she pulled Takao away, just that she could look at him. When she saw the tears in his eyes she gave a smile and wiped them off before they could have run down his cheeks. "They sure love you. Otherwise, why would they come so far if they didn't missed you. Don't you think you should give them a chance?"
"But what about you? If I leave you'll be alone again."
Jilian laughed sunnily. "As if I haven't got on well alone till now." she ruffled Takao's long bangs playfully which she had learnt fast under this short time that he didn't liked it. These times he always gave that cute pouting expression, which was meant to be fretful, but he couldn't keep being serious, because he wasn't able to hide the fact that then again it always cheered him up.
"You don't have to worry about me, my flowers are with me. And I suspect Masaru is going to visit me more often after this." she winked. Takao nodded in a sigh and Jilian tapped his hand reassuringly. "Now, what if I call them before the poor things go over-excitement?" Jilian stood up to leave but she turned back immediately when Takao suddenly grabbed after her hand, stopping her.
"Jilian?" he looked at her meekly.
"Yes?" she asked and sank back on the bed.
The bluenette bent his head a bit, but the impish smile on him could be still detected when he peeked up under his long bangs. "You know, maybe you should assume Masaru's offer to move with him to the town."
"Ooh, since when have you become so adept in love things?" Jilian took her hands on her hips and smiled slyly at him.
Takao didn't understand why but suddenly he felt his cheeks flushing like red rose. "Oh, I'm not." his thoughts digressed towards a very new feeling which was warm, nice, and tickled his stomach, something he had never felt thus far. A very familiar gaze appeared in his mind and he wondered loudly. "How could I know anything about love?"
Takai didn't catch the way Jilian looked at him with an interested smile. The brown haired woman had a faint suspicion that her foster-brother maybe really did have an affection for a certain person. Maybe this could be the key to bring back his memory, she thought. "You know what? I promise that I consider to might move with Masaru if in exchange you promise me something too."
"And what is that?"
"That you'll never give up, no matter what."
"Of course I won't, you can count on it!" Takao punched on his chest proudly which surprised Jilian because she hadn't seen him like this before, and it seemed she wasn't the only one. Takao got surprised by his new attitude, too. "But the same goes for you then." he said after then.
Jilian smiled in agree and nodded. "Alright."
They both rose their hands and linked their little fingers together as a signet of their promise.
- O -
Outside, on the little hall, up on the staircase, the Bladebreakers were waiting while Kai and Rei had been conducting an argue.
"Why do I have to do this myself?" hit the roof Kai.
"Because you were the one who scared him away." replicated Rei with his arms folded majestically over his chest, and looked rigid.
"Me? It was Max who jumped on his neck!"
Rei gave the blonde a black look who quickly ducked his head, knowing he was guilty, too; he was grinning sheepishly while he played with his fingers. True that Kai had a point but Rei still persisted. "Maybe, but I saw the way he looked at you when he saw your face. It's a wonder the poor thing hadn't freaked out on you." Rei raised an eyebrow coolly.
A big nerve popped on Kai's face. His left eye twitched visible as he fought with the urge to not punch the raven haired on his nose right there and then before he tied his mouth with his long hair. "Like you're any better, pussycat."
"That doesn't change the fact." said back Rei with played calmness. His own small nerve was forming at the back of his face, too. "Anyway, he always listened the best to you. So, if there is someone who can convince him then it's you."
"I agree with Rei." Max was nodding keenly.
"Sorry Kai, but it seems we've polled you here."
A big sweatdroop fell from Kai's face. Isn't there a regulation about that the captain can have exculpation?
After a minute the doorknob turned and Jilian came out. The three friends stared silent as she started walking towards them. Kai stepped forth and he met her halfway. The woman gave him a brief nod which Kai understood and returned. Stepping to the door he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then his black gloved hand grabbed the doorknob decidedly and without any further hesitation he went inside.
- O -
Kai stopped on the doorway and found hard to go farther in the room. He still hadn't got use to it. It was just so unbelievable to him. He really was here, alive, not just some kind of ghost, or phantasm, but a man taken from life. After so much time... as if a dream had come true. A beautiful dream after finally awakening from that nightmare.
Tyson. He was only a hand-stretch from Kai, and the dual haired male wouldn't like anything better now if he only could rush to him and grab him into a strong embrace. Just holding him tight what he'd never done to him and telling all those things he'd never said out loud to him; to tell him how much he missed him, how much more he meant to him than that he'd ever showed towards him, and how sorry he was that he hadn't been there for him when he needed him. And that... he would never leave him ever again and he would be always be by his side from now on, as his true best friend, because... he loved him.
Giving all the promises.
However, when Kai remembered how did Takao refuse his friendly overtures it burnt sore in his heart. He felt the same crack between them that had severed their friendship in former times. Now Kai knew how must Tyson really felt when Kai was constantly dismissing him. He shivered by his own coldness. The question was how could he get back the blue haired's affection again?
Kai gulped. Man, while he was always so self-confident on other things he was so not clever in these emotion stuff. He rather would like to escape fast behind that door and leave Rei to do this mushy business. But the other side he would never give that pleasure to that naughty nekojin to ever see him, Kai Hiwatari, running away.
Takai's gaze suddenly turned towards him and he swore his heart gave a flip under that look. Though it was the same with the bluenette, too; in that moment when his own eyes met crimson orbs he felt that familiar electric shiver running through his spine just like before. God, he is so affected by that look. He tore his gaze off instantly and instead he hid his flushed cheeks under his soft, dark bangs while his fingers fidgeted on his favourite book he was holding in his lap. Kai blinked confused, not understanding the younger male's weird attitude, though he admitted he found nice how Takao was blushing.
Then again, something else caught Kai's attention too. Something he had already sensed earlier but he couldn't come home to it then. But now, just when their eyes met at that very moment it had hit him. His eyes... they were... they were blue! Not mahogany. Does this have something to do with his accident? pondered Kai as he walked slowly to the bed and sat down.
Takao slid away immediately to leave more space between them. Kai frowned slightly. Is he really afraid of me? For a brief moment it turned in his mind to ask him but then he rather decided to not. For a while they simply sat in completely silence, each of them being lost in their own thoughts.
It was very awkward, and distressing too. It was so strange sitting here like that after they had finally found each other again, and even so, there was nothing they could say to the other one. Or leastways they didn't know what to say. It's weird how people can miss the good old days from their lives, even the least things, and it was just the way how Kai felt, too. He missed listening Tyson's constantly babbler voice in his ears, and it might sounded funny, but mostly he missed those annoying, little disputes from their lives. He would have never thought but now he would give anything if he could bring back those times. Just one more time.
He went so deep in his thoughts that his body almost gave a jump when Takao's angelic voice suddenly spoke beside him. "So, are you a relative of me?"
"Huh? No, I'm your team captain of our Bladebreakers team, but we are friends, too."
Takao imperceptibly shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea what sort of Bladebreakers – if he got it right at all – they kept talking about all the time. He wasn't member of any team, and anyway; what was beyblade?
Kai, as if he could read his whirling thoughts, tentatively placed his hand gently on the bluenette's to get his attention on to him. It was the first time Kai'd ever touched him like that and he couldn't help but shudder inside by this sensual contact to be so close to another human. That Kai was actually able to touch him and not the other way as the bluenette always used to huge and cuddle with his friends, it was somewhat very intimate for Kai... but felt nice.
"Takao." Kai spoke in a husky tone and Takao looked surprised at him by calling him in his chosen name, not the other one. "I know that everything is strange and troublesome to you now. I wish I could be by your side that you didn't have to face with this alone, but I wasn't, and I'm sorry for that. Still, I would like you to come home with me... with us." it wasn't often that the dual haired let go of his pride to show sincerity in his eyes when he asked a favour, but if it was for Tyson then it worthed for him.
However, the spell broke when the younger male pulled out his hand mistrustfully from Kai's soft hold, and he turned away from him gazing into the distance. This gave another ache to Kai and to divert the pain he bit on his lower lip. Never hurt like this before. He felt so alone and abandoned, like when he lived estranged from the world and from his friends, but it still was not the same. Now he understood exactly how must Tyson truly felt whenever Kai was leaving him, or rejecting his approach... and above all, Tyson never got to hate Kai.
Kai understood now why did the bluenette love so much teasing him... merely because that was the only way he could reach Kai and make him show his emotions. Tyson's own way to Kai's soul. And how fool he was. If he had realized it sooner... then maybe, they could be now...
"Why?" Takao broke the silence after a couple of minutes. It wasn't like he had changed his mind, but he wouldn't leave with them until he got a convincing point from the dual haired male; that they didn't feel just pity for him. By the way, Takao had a feeling that this slate haired teen was a kind of person who held back his own emotions only to save his pride. But why? What could make this gorgeous crimson eyed man so reserved? So sad?
"Why do you want me so much to go with you guys? I feel home here. Jilian is my family."
"Because you belong to us." Kai let the words come out from his mouth as he really felt, and he even got surprised on himself how easy it was. That he can simply let go without feeling ashamed of them. "I promise you that from now on everything will be different."
"Different?" Takao moved his gaze at him questioningly. He tilted his head a bit. Why was he talking as if he was in fault, Takao wondered. "Why are you so nice to me?"
"Because if I hadn't been so selfish you wouldn't have ended up in this place. I should have taken better care of you." Kai sighed heavily. He looked down at his hand that was grabbing the cover nervously and hated himself for another mistake he'd made in his life. He could have avoid this. It shouldn't have happened.
His attention had wandered so much that he completely missed the soft look of Takao, who was lingering his gaze hard at Kai now, with something bizarre admiration. He didn't even notice when a hand started moving towards him. Kai's eyes went wide and he almost gasped by the sudden dearest touch he'd ever felt when a tanned skin, the hand of Takao, came onto his cheek. Crimson eyes met silvery blue, and Kai found himself under the spell of an angel, as the fingers slowly began their journey over Kai's face.
Kai shuddered as the thin fingers skimmed through his cheeks in a very slow, ghost touch that made the dual haired addicted. He could never imagine to be touched like this before. It was magical, the way Takao was looking at him, as if he'd never touched human previously. He mapped with soft exactitude every details of Kai's features while his bright blue eyes stared into his. He is so... beautiful. The fingers stroked over the slate bangs above his eyes.
"Your eyes." Takao murmured fascinated.
Kai blinked at him a little dazed, after his whole mind was still hazy. Every nerve in his body tingling. "What?" he managed to rasp a question.
"They are the same."
The dual haired male frowned uncomprehendingly, but before he could ask what did Takao mean by that the bluenette showed Kai the book he was holding in his lap all the time. "This is my favourite book."
Kai took it in his hands and pored on it. "The reborn of the Phoenix." he read out loud. On the bookjacket there was a drawing about a fiery phoenix and Kai eyes suddenly lit up with joy. This had to be the book that Jilian mentioned Takao liked reading while he was in hospital. Was it possible that it was inevitable that he and Takao fell for the same phoenix?
Kai's crimson orbs had overcome by emotions as he stared at the book. He didn't notice the small smile which wandered up on his face involuntarily, unlike Takao. "I remember this. I also liked reading this book when I was little. Actually, it was my Mother who always read it for me at bed time... when she was still alive." then he snapped out of his trance and looked at Takao who was looking back at him with open curiosity. Simultaneously, Kai felt embarrassed that he'd told something very personal about himself, but when he saw Takao breaking into a fond smile to him for the first time he didn't regret it. That smile. It always warmed up his heart.
"I don't know why, but since for the first time I read this book I've had dreams about those eyes of yours... And when you came, it was like I was there again." a faint flush ran across Takao's nose and his cheeks, and he turned his head away. He didn't know why did he feel so shy in the presence of Kai but he couldn't keep his eyes on the older male long.
"Takao." Kai spoke mildly and looked resolutely at him. "Please come home." his hand started once again towards Takao's, but he wasn't able to try again to take his hand. Instead he let it rest close beside the other one's, only a few inches away.
Then, in the end, the tanned hand moved, and closing the small gap between them clasped the pale hand. Takao watched their joined hands and spoke. "Kai."
The older male snapped up his head, hope filling him that the bluenette might remembered to him, but his enthusiasm gave up soon when he realized that Rei'd told Takao his name when they introduced.
"Kai?" Takao met his eyes finally, smiling coyly.
"Yeah?"
"Are you... are we friends?"
They were looking at each other.
It was the time now for Kai to give Takao what he'd held back till now. He smiled back in a small, friendly way and turning their linked hands he clasped them tighter, and gave him a fond squeeze. "Friends."
3. chapter is coming up! I can't tell when will I be able to update again, since I'm also very busy, but I try my best. ;)
Here are a few infos about the upcoming chapter:
- Takao is home with his family and friends again, but things won't be the same anymore.
- Beyblade practice resumes and here comes trouble. Takao's/Tyson's first blading after his accident... funny scenes, contains embarrassing moments and Kai will be hacked. ^ ^"
- scoffing scenes between the older Granger, Hiro, and Kai.
- Tyka: yep, the love between Kai and Takao/Tyson starts evolving. *wriggles eyebrows*
Okay folks, that's it. No more infos, you have to wait the next one. ;P
Till then, I wish everyone a very nice September and we will meet next time. Thank you that you read me. See'ya! *waves*