Reviews: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed!

Sorry for taking so long to update. Writer's block and work is getting in the way. Well, I hope you enjoy!

Claude trails behind Hiro nervously as the older male leads him away from the dojo and towards the park. He chews on his bottom lip as he recalls the exact words Hiro said to him moments earlier.

"We need to talk."

That's never a good sign, is it?

"Claude."

Claude shakes his head as he snaps himself out of his thoughts. He glances at his surroundings and notices that they are at the lookout overlooking the ocean. He soon realizes that this is the very place where he shared a very brief kiss with Hiro all those months ago.

"Claude," Hiro says again, placing his hands on his shoulders to get him to look at him. "I have to go a way for a while."

Inwardly Claude begins to panic. He can't he left alone here with Tyson. Who knows that he could do. "You're leaving me behind?" he whimpers.

"Let me finish," Hiro says quickly, shaking his head slightly. "I need to go to America for business on the behalf of the BBA. Mr. Dickinson said that I can take one person with me. I usually don't, but I want you to come with me this time."

"You…" Claude stutters, speechless.

"Think of it as a vacation," Hiro continues, a warm smile gracing his lips. "It'll just be the two of us. No one to bother us. What do you say?"

"What do I say?" Claude repeats before a smile appears on his lips and he throws his arms around Hiro's neck, hugging him. "Of course I'll go with you!"

"I thought you would say that," Hiro chuckles as he wraps his arms around Claude's petite waist. "It's a long time coming, I know."

Shaking his head, Claude leans back to look into Hiro's eyes. "It's the perfect time. Barthez is gone and Tyson is weak from hunger."

Hiro laughs. "True. Couldn't have timed it better myself."

Slipping his fingers under Claude's chin, Hiro gently tilts his face towards him. A light blush settles upon Claude's delicate features as he lets his eyes slip close. Hiro smiles warmly before leaning forward and placing his lips on top of Claude's, running his tongue over the soft rose petals before slipping inside. Claude slips his arms around Hiro's neck to pull himself deeper into the kiss. Hiro's hand travels tantalizingly slow down the lithe teen's back, attempting to slip under his shirt…

"Holy crap!"

The cry of disgusts causes the two males to spring apart from each other and spin around in a somewhat of a daze to stare in complete shock and humiliation at a very familiar and large group of teens.

Claude's heart begins to pound violently in his chest from fear as he can do nothing but stare at the expressions of shock on his fellow bladers' faces. He stumbles a couple of steps back, but stops when Hiro wraps a protective arm around his shoulders and presses him into his chest. Claude turns into the embrace and buries his face into the soft fabric of Hiro's shirt.

This can't be happening…

Tyson immediately steps forward, his arms flailing around at his sides as he splutters incoherent words of anger and disgust. "I knew it!" he bellows after a moment of incoherent nonsense and points an accusing finger at the two. He then spins around to face the group. "See?! I told you!"

The sound of pounding feet reaches Claude's ears and he wills himself to peek out at the group. A moment later a very familiar two tone blue hair enigma appears, Miguel and the other two Russians following just behind. Kai's eyes widen in shock and a snarl escapes his lips as he stalks threateningly towards Tyson.

But before he can reach the world champion, the sound of a very belated squeal causes the group to just slightly in shock.

"Oh my god!" Hilary squeals happily as she grabs the timid pink hair girl's hands in hers. "See, I told you they make a cute couple."

"Yeah!" Matilda agrees happily, a light dusting of pink on her cheeks. "I'm just glad that Claude is happy."

Lifting his head a little higher, Claude blinks slowly in confusion. This isn't the reaction he was expecting. He tilts his head back to look up at Hiro who is wearing the same expression that he is. Complete bewilderment.

But there is also a sense of relief. Looks like Kai won't have to kick everyone's ass after all.

Aaron suddenly pushes past the squealing two girls and quickly makes his way of to the newly oust couple. He whips out his camera and points it right in their faces. "How about an interview with the happy couple?"

Ray appears next to the boy with the dreadlocks, a sly neko grin on his face. "Ok, spill. How long have you two been dating?"

Hilary suddenly jumps on Ray's back to get a closer look at the two embracing teens, her face bright with elation. "Please tell me you've been dating secretly for ages. That is so romantic!"

"So Claude," Aaron starts as he turns his attention to his silver hair teammate. "How was your first kiss? Come on. Don't spare any details."

Claude immediately blushes a deep shade of red and he fights the urge to bury his face in Hiro's chest again. "I…" he stutters as Aaron leans the camera in closer. "Well, I…"

"Oh, he's blushing," Max chuckles as he suddenly appears the left of Aaron. He lifts his hand and playfully pokes Claude's red cheek. "Isn't that cute?"

King lingers in the back ground, his own blush marring his cheeks. "Is that what Tala meant before…?" he muses out loud to himself.

Daichi pushes his way into the group to stare up at the two towering teens, folding his arms over his chest as the frowns in thought. "I don't see what the big deal is," he says. "I've seen this stuff on TV all the time."

"This is better than TV!" Hilary squeals, happily bouncing on Ray's back.

"Argh, Hil, get off. You're heavy."

"What did you just say?!"

"Are you guys insane?!" Tyson cries out, his arms once against flailing around at his sides. "This is wrong!"

How can this be happening? He brought everyone out here to show them that Claude is trying to take Hiro away from him. Can't they see that?

"Don't bother," Tala suddenly clamps his hand on his shoulder and hisses into his ear. "They're not listening."

Bryan casually throws his arms over to the back of his head. "Couldn't have asked for a better reaction, I guess."

"It would have been better if they had a bit of a warning," Kai sighs as he shakes his head. He then turns his attention to his porky teammates and narrows his eyes. "Now will you leave the two alone?"

"It isn't over yet," Tyson huffs, trying his best to sound defiant, but sounding more in denial. He folds his arms over his chest and sticks his nose haughtily into the air.

Kai immediately bristles and raises his hand as if he wants to slap some sense into the teen, but he lowers his hand when he hears his boyfriend's voice trying to shoo the other bladers away from the new couple.

"Ok everyone, that's enough," Miguel says as he steps in front of Hiro and Claude, raising his hands in front of him. "Lets leave them alone. I'm sure they're in shock at the moment."

Moans of disappointment echoes through the park. "But we want details," Aaron whines.

A smiles twitches onto Miguel's lips as he shakes his head. "Lets give them time to compose themselves, ok?"

"Actually," Hiro speaks up for the first time since the confrontation. "I have a little announcement to make."

The group immediately becomes silent and all turn their gazes towards the older male, staring at him in anticipation of what he has to say.

Hiro clears his throat. "Claude and I will be going away for a couple of days. I have business I need to attend to in America and Claude is coming with me."

"What?!" Tyson cries, elbowing his way through the group of spectators to glare up at his older brother. "But you never take anyone."

Hiro tightens his arm around Claude's shoulder, holding him closer as he smirks. "I decided to make an exception."

"Why can't I go?" Tyson asks, sticking out his bottom lip in a pout as he folds his arms again.

Hiro's eyebrow twitches. "Because you're grounded until further notice. We'll be gone for about a week. Hilary, you and Kenny are in charge of Tyson's training."

Hilary gives Hiro a mock salute. "Of course."

"But-" Tyson begins to protest, but Kai cuts him off.

"No buts," he says, resting his hands on his hips as he moves to stand by Miguel. "And enough of the questions from the rest of you. What Hiro and Claude do in their personal lives have nothing to do with you. Now off you go."

"Yes, Kai," the groups say in unison and turn to leave the park. As the teens trudge home, Ray and Aaron lag behind, Aaron still holding his trusty camera.

"This is fantastic!" he says happily. "It all makes sense now."

Ray tilts his head to the side in question. "What does?"

"All the pranks and incidents that has been plaguing Tyson for months now," Aaron explains as he waves his hand about in front of him as if proving a point. "Think about it, Tyson hates the thought of Hiro and Claude together, and knowing him, when things don't go his way, he'll chuck a fit and try to interfere."

Ray nods his head slowly. "I understand the last bit, but what does the pranks have to do with anything?"

"Well, it's obvious," Aaron says with a hint of arrogance that Ray hasn't picked anything up yet. "Someone else must have wanted what was best for Claude or Hiro and decide to interfere as well, keeping Tyson out of their way for a bit."

Realization suddenly flickers across Ray's face. "Oh, I get it now. But who would that someone be? It has to be someone clever, but also very sneaky."

Aaron taps his chin in thought. "Well, we can rule out Hiro and Claude. Tyson is Hiro's brother, so their family. Besides, Hiro seems the type to just take Tyson aside and tell him that if he interferes, he'll kick his ass."

Ray folds his arms over his chest and nods his head in affirmative. "That's true. Claude can also be ruled out."

Aaron also nods his head. "Definitely, he's too shy to do anything so bold and out there, and not be worried about the consequences."

"Tala is definitely the type of person to do this, but he arrived well after the pranks started," Ray muses out loud, focusing his eyes to the front. "Now unless he has some cool, mystical powers we don't know about, it can't be him."

Aaron starts to mentally go through the list of suspects. "Max and Kenny wouldn't do this. It doesn't seem in there nature. And Matilda? Forget it. She's as shy as they come."

"So that leaves…" Ray trails off. The two suddenly stand stock still and turn to stare at each other, wondering if the other is thinking what they're thinking.

"Kai," they both say at the same time.

Aaron suddenly starts laughing, almost hysterically. "Aw man, that's freaking awesome!"

Ray nervously scratches the back of his neck, going through the achieve of memories stored in his mind, searching for a moment where he came close to annoying Kai sometime in the past. "Remind me not to piss him off in the future."

"Same for me," Aaron says between laughs. "I can't believe it, I mean that's bloody brilliant!"

Yay! Chapter 35 done. More Hiro/Claude fluff in the future!

Please review.