I drew in a tight breath, I was so afraid to tell Tyson why I had run away but at least someone would know the truth.

"I ran away from home, because" my voice cut off a bit and I had to stop talking for a few seconds. His eyes were fixed on me with intensity making me quiver, awaiting the hand of judgment.

"Well its not like I'm perfect either" I stammered. Tyson let out a sigh

"Koojiru, its okay you can tell me" he said placing his fist on his chest. I smiled from the encouragement and kept going

"Well, you see my grandma, she uhm..." tears filled my eyes now "she drinks a lot, and smokes a lot of weed and its not like I'm against all of that but she... she gets mean and sometimes we fight over it." I had to gather myself again before continuing. "Blading was my only outlet, she can be so vicious, screaming at me stomping towards me hair a mess and face all red, spitting profanities like you've never heard them when I cross her" I was trembling now "she hit me once... because I came home too late and got snarky with her because she was high, again. She told me to leave when I legally could but until then I was hers" . I looked up to see Tyson's reaction, and to my surprise his eyes had tears in them too, but an anger as well. I gulped and couldn't stop talking now.

"So, on the day of the tourniment back home, when I was offered a spot on the team I knew it was my escape. I called her all happy and she tried to make it so I couldn't go but I did anyways". I stopped again to breath before finishing "that's it, that's the whole truth". Tyson stayed eerily still for a few long minuets, I couldn't read his expression, same tears, same fierce anger in his eyes. I drew back and closed my eyes just waiting for him to call me a lair, a freak something, anything horrible, maybe even tell me I was the one who was wrong but...

He hugged me again, tightly this time. I blushed and then, broke down for what seemed like hours in his arms. Suddenly we heard a rustling in the bushes. I jumped up and stood in front of Tyson without thinking and put up my fits. From the shadows emerged our team. They all (but Kai) had tears in their eyes but encouraging smiles.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Max spoke his voice gravely as if he had been tearing up for a while

"Seriously Kooji, I would have helped you sooner" Ray told me. My heart skipped a beat and then I glanced at Kai. His eyes were unreadable as usual but he nodded in my direction before he spoke stepping forward as I came face to face with him. Tension was palpable as the wind blew between the inches that separated us. I flushed as he raised a fist until I realized he was uncharacteristically giving me a fist bump. I smiled and gave him one back. And for the briefest second I saw...

An understanding in his eyes? It was soo brief before he turned around, was it all in my head?

"Lets go to the bus team" he said with his usual coolness "that means you too Koojiru" I smiled

"Damn straight!" I pumped my fist into the air.