Disclaimer: I do not own the series Beyblade or any of its characters featured in this fan fiction. Nor do I own the song "Hope Leaves", it belongs to the band Opeth.

Well, I'm back again with the next installment. I tried to bring this out for you as soon as possible, but my exams got in the way, not to mention my computer crashed on me!

Well, anyway, this is one of my favourite chapters (though all of them are sort of my faves). I actually had this one planned out when I was writing the second one … I like to think ahead.

I also get the feeling that some of you will not be particularly pleased, especially at the beginning of this chapter, but remember, this is a Tyson/Kai fic. Trust me on that one, okay? It is TYKA!

Oh, and I forgot to mention, each chapter name is the name of the song I use in the chapter, sort of like a central theme. Hope that helped a bit if there was any confusion.

Well, enjoy.

Hope Leaves

~In the corner, beside my window

There hangs a lonely photograph~

The feeling was so delightful to him, exhilarating. Every movement was a momentous event, the friction causing the most delicious sensations all over his skin. The heat radiated from them both in thick intense waves.

            Tyson pulled back slightly, gasping desperately for air, then plunged back into the feelings, losing himself again in the other boy.

            These feelings … they were so real, he could almost truly feel them again, reaching out to wrap him up in thick delectable tendrils, love, lust and desire feeling them, making them stronger, strong enough to almost hold him. Tyson reached out to them, hoping that this time he could finally touch them, know them, accept them.

            But he couldn't reach. He frowned against the soft hungry lips pressed against his. He pulled his tongue away from the gentle stroking of the other boy's. He tried to be rough, to rush things again, but he was always brought back to the languorous licking and sucking, the gentle, loving sensations.

            He didn't want that though, he wanted the fast fiery passion of the other one.

            He wanted Kai.

            Tyson pulled his hands from the long silky strands of raven hair and pulled back from the boy beside him, lowering his own body heat and desire as he did so. The friction between them was gone, no longer causing more sparks of gentle warmth.

            The cold completely hit Tyson as he pulled away from Rei's lips and looked down at the lonely and somewhat sad boy before him. Those deep golden eyes looked at him accusingly before closing and turning away.

            "You're thinking about Kai again," Rei commented.

            "Yeah."

            Rei got up off the bed, still not looking at him. "You know I'm always here for you Tyson," he told the boy as he walked to the door. He stopped after opening it and finally looked directly at him, his eyes hard. "But I will not be a substitute."

            "Why do you think I stopped?" Tyson replied harshly. Rei shook his head and left the room, the door slamming as he did so.

~There is no reason~

Tyson.

            God, I love you so much, why can't you see that? Why can't you finally accept that? Why can't you just live your life and let the past stay in the past where it belongs?

            I'm not sure how much more of this I can take, it's tearing me apart.

            Last week … I knew it was too good to be true, but that first kiss … he was just so tortured and sad, I didn't know what else to do. I could feel his surprise, then I was lost as he kissed back. In that instant I knew that I had fallen hard and I couldn't get myself back up.

            Love's funny that way. I don't even know why I love him so much. Physical attraction has some part, but I was caught by more than that. I saw his pain and it affected me. Tyson was never one to let things get him down, but when he was cut so deeply by Kai, I just couldn't help myself, I wanted to be near him, I wanted to ease his pain.

            I wanted to love him and I wanted him to recognise that and love me back.

            The way he loved Kai.

            Correction. Loves. I know I'm bitter, but don't I deserve to be? He did nothing but hurt Tyson, he almost destroyed us all because of that. Tyson was the heart of our team and by destroying him, he almost killed us all.

            Yet Tyson still loves him, still believes there is hope.

            I have to face the facts. He will never love me and he will never want me as much as he wants Kai. I can never be with a person unless I know I am theirs, heart and soul.

            I can't be with Tyson.

~I'd never notice a memory that could hold me back~

I sighed, lying sprawled on my bed.

            It was wrong, I knew that. Using Rei like this. But hey, he offered first and he is the perfect way to get my mind off everything. Sometimes I even wish I could let go of everything and just lose myself in his warm loving embrace, but I'm not quite sure how, or even if I really want to. It's probably just my insecure side of me talking, wanting to hold onto anything within reach.

            I'll bet Kai was never like that. He was always so strong, he never needed to hold onto anything.

            But sometimes I wonder if that's true. Why did he always come back to us? He could have left us at any time, he could have gotten everything he wanted by himself, but he stuck with us. Why? Perhaps that is why I continue to think that he can still be with me, that there is some part to him that we have touched ... that I have touched.

            I know the others think I'm hopeless and slightly deluded, but I could feel it, Kai does care for me, I know it. I have to keep believing it, because else he will be completely lost to us all. I won't let that happen.

            I see that same picture beside me on the table. Our team, whole and happy right after the World Championships. There's Max grinning with his hands pumped exuberantly in the air. Kenny just beside him, blushing slightly but grinning at the display, his laptop with him as always. On the other side there's Rei, his huge smile on his face, one arm slung around me, the other around Max. I'm in front, smiling my dopey smile at the camera, but I don't care what I look like, I was happy. And there, to the side and behind a bit as always, was Kai. I love this picture, it's one of the few I have that has Kai smiling, actually smiling in it.

            He looks so peaceful, as though for once everything that he worried about had disappeared. It was rare to see that with Kai, he was always concerned about something. He used to be concerned about us, despite how he would deny it, but I could tell.

            It's funny, he and Rei used to be close, well as close as someone could be to Kai, yet now whenever someone mentions Kai's name, Rei gets this strange look on his face. I think I'm not the only one who hasn't let go of Kai and his memories. I suppose it takes a lot for Rei to get over betrayal, I know it hurt him when Kai left in Russia, it hurt all of us. But this is different, and so much worse.

            I just wish that something would happen to sort things out. I don't know how to deal with this.

~There is a wound that's always bleeding

There is a road I'm always walking~

Max looked around curiously. Tyson was nowhere to be found. He and Kenny had come to the dojo at Rei's summons. He'd sounded so serious on the phone that Max had rushed over immediately. Kenny wasn't far behind, looking at him worriedly as they ran through the entrance and up to the main house where Rei was waiting for them.

            Now he looked cold. There was no other way to describe that expression. Max shivered seeing it on Rei's face. He reminded him so much of Kai with that distant look. He stared out the door, waiting for the last member of the team to arrive. Max looked over at Kenny and knew that the same thought was running through both their minds: What had happened?

            Finally they heard a sound coming form the hallway. Tyson approached, yawning slightly, still pulling on his jacket.

            "Jeez Rei, what's up? You'd better have a good explanation for waking me up this early."

            "Tyson," Kenny said with some exasperation. "It's almost noon."

            "Like I said," Tyson yawned. "Early." He stretched out and sat down heavily beside Max, the blond giggling at the sight of his half-awake friend staring around blearily.

            Rei's gaze softened slightly, then he looked away. Max frowned. He could see a large amount of pain hidden in the older boy's eyes. He looked between him and Tyson curiously, wondering what had happened. There was definitely something going on, Tyson seemed a bit strained as well, though it was harder to see with Tyson. He was able to cover things like that up so easily now. Just another change that they had seen in him of late.

            "So Rei," Kenny asked, "Why did you call us all here?"

            Max frowned as Tyson sat up straighter and looked around a bit, noticing the chilly atmosphere. He stared at Rei in concern as the neko-jin took a deep breath and looked around at them all.

            "I'm leaving guys."

            Kenny looked a bit upset at this and Max's face fell. It was finally time for Rei to go back home. They'd known it had to happen, but hearing the words coming from his mouth and faced with the reality of it, it was still hard to consider.

            "That's too bad," Max said with a small sad smile. "We'll miss you. When are you leaving?"

            "Tomorrow." The others looked shocked at the suddenness. "It was the only plane I could get. I'm heading off to France first to visit Oliver then maybe over to Italy to see Enrique with Oliver if he can't make it to visit then I'll be heading back to China. It's a long way to do it, but I promised Oliver I'd see him. I called him up last night to make sure everything was arranged."

            Max and Kenny nodded at this, wishing him well, but the golden eyes were fixed on the stunned silent figure across from him. Tyson had not said a word, because he knew that there was something else behind the reason for his teammate's departure.

            Throughout the rest of the team's tearful goodbye to Rei, Tyson never said a word to him, his eyes never leaving Rei's face.

~And I know, you'll never return to this place~

It was a cold night, the wind howled hauntingly and Tyson sat in the training room of his dojo before his family's sword, meditating quietly, ignoring everything around him. Yet he knew when Rei entered and sat down beside him.

            "You broke your promise," Tyson whispered harshly after Rei had sat there uncomfortably for a while.

            Rei hung his head. "I know."

            Tyson whipped his head around to face him. "Why?"

            "I can't do this any more Tyson," Rei told him desperately. "I don't think you realise how much I love you. I can't stand staying here knowing that you love someone else … knowing that you love Kai." Rei spat out their former captain's name with disgust.

            Tyson's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I never asked you to love me," he hissed quietly.

            "That's what friends do, maybe not always as deeply as I care for you, but they do care for each other." Rei glared at him. "Do you really think that Kai can ever love you? Kai loves no one, he cares about nothing, he's proven that to us over and over again."

            "You're wrong," Tyson hissed, shaking slightly.

            Rei just continued to gaze at him calmly. "You know I'm right. You more than anyone should know how deeply he can hurt a person and how he doesn't give a shit about it. If he did, he'd still be here. Tyson," Rei sighed seeing the dark look on his friend's face, "I only wanted to help you, but I was wrong in saying that I wouldn't get hurt."

            "I never wanted to hurt you Rei," Tyson told him truthfully.

            "I know, and I'm sorry I couldn't help you move on. But I don't think that's all my fault. You could have moved on anytime, if you really wanted to." Rei laughed sardonically. "I guess I'm not much compared to Kai, it's no wonder you couldn't love me."

            Tyson stared at Rei guiltily. The older boy looked close to tears. "Rei," he whispered and looked away, pained. "I wish none of this had happened. I know I could have been happy with you if it hadn't."

            Rei nodded and smiled softly at him. "Thanks anyway Tyson, but it did happen and I don't have a place in your life. At least, not the place that I want. But that doesn't mean I'll stop being a friend." Rei got up. "Maybe I'll see you around."

            "Thank you Rei," Tyson said as the other boy left, leaving him completely alone in his cold dark dojo.

~Gone through days without talking

There is a comfort in silence~

The days passed in quiet contemplation for Tyson.

            It was strange to be so alone at the dojo, he missed Rei's friendly presence. But then, every time he thought of the older boy he would feel guilty and turn to other things to draw his attention away. It became habitual for him to avoid things.

            At first Kenny and Max often came around to keep him company, but their visits soon grew sparse and few once they realised the futility of their efforts. The two friends watched sadly as they became powerless to do anything for Tyson as he slowly drew himself back into a cold shell, hiding everything away. It was only a short matter of time before Tyson barely even recognised their presence when they came over.

            When that finally happened, Max couldn't take it any more, he ran straight out of the dojo in tears and never came back to see Tyson again. He couldn't stand seeing his best friend be like that and it hurt even more to know that nothing he did could help Tyson in any way.

            Kenny was not deterred until the next time. When he came over alone, trying to find out what happened with Max, Tyson acted so coldly to him that he got up angrily and walked out on his friend, realising why Max had run out. He was amazed that anyone, much less someone like Tyson could act like that. He worried about the change in him.

            While Max slowly sunk into a depression, Kenny tried to help him as much as he could while at the same time, tried to figure out a way to help Tyson as well. It hurt, the way that Tyson now acted towards them, but Kenny was determined to help him, just as any good friend would. Max, seeing his determination, rose back and started to help. Tyson meant too much to them to just leave alone.

            The dragon in question was completely unaware of any of this.

            He was too busy training himself to become stronger. Now that Rei had left, Tyson had to rely on himself to stay strong. He could not let himself fall again, he needed to prove to Kai that he was worthy of him. He had to prove to Kai that he was more than strong enough to be with him.

            He wanted to be good enough for Kai.

            That thought alone fuelled him on and not once did he ever stop to consider that he was slowly sinking into the same pit that he was trying to save Kai from.

            So who then would save him?

~So used to losing all ambition~

"Rei!"

            Rei managed a bright smile as he stepped off the plane to meet Oliver. The gaudy boy gave him a huge grin then enveloped him in a very tight embrace. Rei laughed at the exuberance, but also took comfort in the other boy's closeness. It was nice to have someone so happy to see you and who was able to show that gladness.

            "How are you Oliver?" Rei asked once they'd let go and were walking into the airport main areas.

            "Quite well, and yourself?"

            Rei sighed and managed a small smile. "I suppose things could be better, but we can't have everything."

            Oliver frowned at Rei's attitude. It didn't seem to fit his mood. "How are the others?" he asked cautiously. His eyes narrowed as Rei looked a bit strained when he answered.

            "All right I suppose."

            "Max?"

            "Doing great as always."

            "Kenny?"

            "His usual intelligent self."

            "Tyson?"

            Here Rei hesitated before answering, "He's been a bit off lately, but things were looking better when I left."

            Oliver nodded and frowned as he noticed Rei's sudden tensing as he realised what was coming next. "And Kai?"

            Rei's eyes glittered dangerously as he heard this question. "I haven't seen Kai for almost eight months."

            Oliver's eyes widened. Guess I've found out the main reason for his attitude. "Oh, I see." Oliver decided to change the subject. "Well, I suppose none of that matters much, I'm just glad the others are well. Here, Enrique is waiting in the limo for you. He was so excited to see you again, as I was and couldn't wait for the plane to arrive."

            Rei grinned at this, glad that Oliver decided to let things drop. He was here to relax after all and thinking about the others was not a way to relax right now. He looked over at the excited French boy and decided to have a good time, no matter what.

            Getting to the limo, Rei was again enveloped in a hug as Enrique jumped out and greeted him. Rei laughed at both of them and their enthusiasm. It was good to be around someone else for a change, especially exuberant, happy people like Enrique and Oliver. Rei was sure he was going to have fun with these two. He needed a bit of an escape from everything.

            Yet, as Rei looked outside the window of the sleek car, he felt a bit guilty and sad thinking about his friends. He'd left Max and Kenny behind to deal with Tyson alone. And Tyson ...

            Rei turned away sharply, berating himself for thinking about that. He could not afford to fall apart now. Sure it hurt, but he'd get over it, he just needed time. He'd messed up with Tyson and he could only hope that by leaving Tyson he was doing the best thing for both of them. Getting involved any further would just cause more harm.

            "Rei?"

            Oliver was looking over at him curiously, a slightly worried glint in his eyes. Rei shook his head and smiled reassuringly at him.

            "Yeah?"

            "Uh ..." Oliver looked a bit taken aback by the cheerful response. "What did you want to do first?"

            Rei shrugged. "You chose, I wouldn't know where to begin."

            "Sure."

            He'd be able to move on, he just needed a bit of time. Hopefully, by then, Tyson would have healed too.

            Hopefully.

~And struggling to maintain what's left~

It's not working.

            They see it, my struggle to stay in control, that's why I couldn't let them stay close. I didn't want them worrying. I didn't want them knowing just how fragile I am.

            No one can know about that, I can't afford to look weak again.

            I think I'm slipping again, it's probably not a good thing, but I can't help it, I'm not as strong as I pretend to be. I never was. Maybe everything I ever was is false. Am I really like this? These last few months have been a real eye-opener for me. I consider everything now, who I am, what I can do and I still wonder if this is all that I am, just a cheerful face?

            Well, one thing I do know is that I am no quitter. I will get through this, I will stay strong, I will prove to everyone that I can be strong. I will prove to Kai that I am worthy of him.

            I'll prove to him that he can be saved from himself.

            I don't think he knew that I saw it, his trap. He hides away pretending to be strong so he doesn't get hurt. Why does he do that? Didn't he trust us not to hurt him, even after all this time? Maybe he started to and freaked out, that was why he ran.

            But I won't let him go, not now, I have to get him back and I'll do anything to do it.

            I have nothing left to lose.

~And once undone, there is only smoke

Burning in my eyes to blind~

Max sighed and looked over at Kenny, who was falling asleep as he typed on his laptop.

            "Kenny," he whispered gently shaking the boy. Kenny started up from his doze and looked back at Max. Max smiled at him. "You should get some sleep, you've been up working this out for ages."

            "But I'm close to a breakthrough Max," Kenny protested. Max just looked at him sternly and Kenny sighed. "Fine, I'll go to bed."

            "I'm not sure we'll be able to make a break through this time Chief," Max said with a sigh. "We've looked at everything, tried everything, nothing's working. Tyson's gone."

            "I refuse to accept that," Kenny yelled, startling Max with his vehemence. "We can't give up, not on Tyson. You can't give up on him Max, we have to believe there is a way to get him back to what he was before."

            "Didn't we do that?" Max yelled back, looking close to tears, his anger taking over. "We thought we got him back before when we almost lost him, but that wasn't true. If he was back to normal, this wouldn't be happening again. Face it Kenny, for once we failed, we're not invincible, we just thought we were. World Champions or not we're still human and we're just as fragile as everyone else."

            Kenny looked away. Max was right, but he couldn't give into despair. "Maybe we just didn't see everything. Maybe Tyson hid from us that he still wasn't totally all right from the last time."

            "You think he's still affected by Kai's leaving?"

            Kenny nodded. "That's the only thing I can think of that would spark such a huge reaction in him. This is exactly like before, he's depressed, not talking, avoiding all of us, concentrating on anything that will make him forget. Only this time we're not there to pull him out, and neither is Rei. God, if we give up now we won't get him back Max. We can't stop trying."

            Max nodded. "Let's find out more on his mental health. Do you still have the number from that doctor?"

            Kenny nodded and got up to search through some of his stuff, looking for his phone book. Meanwhile Max sat looking out the window at the darkened sky outside thinking about everything.

            It's hard Tyson, why do you do this to us? We're just trying to help and we will, whether you want it or not. But why do you need it in the first place, where did we go wrong? What happened to make you like this?

~To cover up what really happened~

Tyson gripped his shooter tightly, staring intently at the ground before him and the blade spinning there.

            He'd messed up again with this shot, the velocity wasn't enough for the strength of the attack he wanted to use. He berated himself and called Dragoon back to him. The blade almost seemed reluctant. Tyson didn't notice, his attentions were focused on his thoughts and desires.

            I have to become better, I have to prove to them I can do this on my own, that I am strong enough to deal with anything. I have to prove to Kai that I am worthy of being with him. I still have to save him from himself, I'm the only one who can do it, I'm the only one who has seen how much he does care. I have to save him.

            Tyson set Dragoon in the launcher again and pulled on the rip cord with as much force as he could muster. He smiled, seeing how much better this launch was compared to the one before. He would achieve the strength he wanted, without anyone else's help. Truthfully, he wasn't sure if they even could help. Rei had been the only one who knew anything about what happened between him and Kai, and Tyson had still kept some of the details from him. Sometimes he let himself wonder on what it would have been like if Rei had made a move before everything had happened with Kai.

            Tyson shook his head and glared, snatching his blade up off the ground. He didn't have time to waste on foolish thinking like that. He had to concentrate on his skills. He still wasn't even a good enough blader to satisfy Kai. He had to keep working.

            And so he did, continually, pushing everything else aside, refusing to even acknowledge when his body had told him it had enough. Even Dragoon was resisting at times, but Tyson would not be deterred. He had to do this and nothing would make him change his mind.

            Unbeknownst to him though, he had been watched very closely and the watchers felt that it was time that a decision about him should be made. One that would change everything.

~And force the darkness onto me~

AN: Well, I'm not really sure about that chapter, it's kind of shorter than I'd hoped and the ending … well that follows on into the next chapter.

Still I hope you all enjoyed that chapter as well and again I'm so sorry for the major delay … almost a month! Wow.

Well, until next time,

Laters.