[Disclaimer]
Beyblade and all it's likeness does not belong to me. No profits are being made off this story.
[Chapter 1] The One Who I Unknowingly Crushed On
The dreams are always the same.
He comes to me when the night is cool and the stars manage to break through the ever-lying fog of pollution and clouds in the night sky.
"Tyson…" His voice goes breezy and it sends shivers down my spine. The way that his tone caresses my name so uniquely, shaping over the syllables so that it sounds… it sounds…
And then I'm in his arms. It happens differently every time but it still feels the same. Warmth. Kindness. Protection.
I never want to leave his embrace, because anything else is cold and lonely like the space between stars.
I wake up.
The resolve to find Kai is even stronger than before as I look up to the stars from my position in the back of a pick-up truck full of hay. I'm hitchhiking my way east.
My destination is him.
I want to be able to have what's in my dreams. There must be a way to achieve it, and if following a blind path across the world is the right thing to do, I'll do it.
I want him to know my feelings and to take those feelings in any way he wants. He doesn't have to like me, doesn't have to acknowledge me, but I need this. I need to let him know… I can't let it wait. I won't let it wait, because I don't know if I'll ever see him again and if I do, I won't allow my feelings to fade. It's too raw, too embedded in me now for me to forget about.
I need him.
He has always had my heart.
It all started a long time ago, when I was still immature and carefree. When Kai was someone who lit up my days and I hadn't a clue why.
It all started, when I was just beginning to realize that I crushed…
****
"So we walk in right? And Kai says, get this, he says-"
"Did you ever notice how much you talk about Kai?"
It was a bright and windy autumn day in Bay City, Japan - Tyson Kinomiya's hometown. The sky was a vibrant blue and colourful leaves scattered the sidewalks and roads.
Hilary looked at Tyson out of the corner of her eye, a knowing expression planted on her face.
"Okay… what?" Tyson, world champion Beyblader, ate another fry. "Not this again."
They were sitting beside each other in a large booth waiting for the rest of Tyson's Beyblade team to join them.
"All I'm saying is you that you have a very healthy Kai-vocab." She grinned and sipped up more of her cola. "It's interesting to listen to."
Tyson rolled his eyes. "Kai-vocab?" He asked dryly.
"Y'know, Kai-this, Kai-that, I-love-Kai…" Hilary said in a singsong voice, smiling.
The young man sighed and squirted more ketchup onto his fries. "Where have I heard this before?"
"Me." The brunette grinned and stuck out her tongue. "You know you're totally gone on him, right?"
Tyson coughed, a blush unknowingly coming to his cheeks. "Um, no, I'm not. Maybe it never occurred to you that I always talk about the same stuff?"
"Oooh no." Hilary waved her hands. "Nope. I've known you for a long time and this Kai-thing only recently started. You used to treat him special but now you practically worship him like a religion."
Blue eyes squinted at her. "I don't remember ever being like that…" He flicked a ketchup-drowned fry at Hilary, who scowled. "And I don't worship Kai. He's just a friend."
"Now where have I heard this before?"
Tyson laughed. "Give it up, Hil."
"Oh, but c'mon. You're blushing!" At that, blues eyes widened and the boy frowned.
"I'm not, am I?"
Hilary giggled. "Yes, you are. God, you're acting like one of my girl friends with a crush." Her expression became devious. "A really big crush."
"Guys don't have crushes." Tyson countered with superiority. "We have… interests."
"Which brings me back to the first point." Hilary exclaimed as she stole some of Tyson's fries. Tyson slapped her on the hand. "You're really interested in Kai."
"That's a matter of opinion." The midnight haired teen said looking away. "I still don't see how you could think I like him."
"Don't blame me Ty, it's written all over your face."
Grumbling, Tyson huddled over his fries so that Hilary couldn't steal any more. They were in a little American-style burger joint that had opened the previous year. Sitting at a table with greasy food and talking with Hilary seemed to be what he'd been doing for the past few months.
However, Hilary insisted on talking about his love life every minute.
And then the love of his life walked in. Tyson just didn't know it yet.
The rest of the members on the Bladebreakers team all made their way to the table that he and Hilary were sitting.
"Hey Tyson! Hilary!" Max and Kenny chorused as they slid into the booth across from Hilary and Tyson.
Ray grinned at the pony-tailed boy and slid in next to the blonde. "What's up, you two?"
"Hey guys. Nothing much!" Tyson replied happily and then he saw Kai. The tall young man looked like he was in a good mood because there was a slightly relaxed way he held himself and his lips were turned upwards a bit. Kai's lips curved a little more as he locked gazes with Tyson, his strong auburn eyes were dark and striking.
And…
Wow.
Okay, stop.
Hold up! Hold up! 'Cause, as me, Tyson, I have to get everything straight here.
Everyone has that special someone, don't they? At least once in your life, you've hafta of known someone, met someone, hell even seen someone and thought:
…Wow.
For me, that person was Kai Hiwatari.
He completely blew me away! The first time I met him the bastard totalled my only beyblade and made me look like a complete idiot. I didn't even get to avenge my friends either!
But… wow.
Anyone who's seen Kai got the wow factor. He's in your face with his amazing Beyblading skills, his powerful attitude and his good looks. He's in my head every second of every day!
There's no way to explain it. It's just plain incredible.
That's my guy. All right, everyone knows how I feel now, but a year ago? I didn't even know it myself!
So, let's keep going.
Tyson watched as Kai slid into the seat next to him with wide eyes. He hoped that Hilary was lying when she said he had been blushing.
A grin immediately stretched across his face and something danced inside him. "Hi K-Kai!"
The taller boy looked down next to him and nodded in greeting. Then he had the nerve steal one of Tyson's fries. He smiled around the fry and Tyson couldn't help but feel something flutter in his chest.
Subconsciously, the world champ pushed the carton of fries closer to Kai when he wasn't looking. It's a really special feeling when Kai Hiwatari is willing to share your food.
"So! Everyone, get your reports out and show me the stats!" Kenny exclaimed happily.
The reason why the Bladebreakers were together again after a year of separation – well Max was usually in America and Ray in China – they'd called a meeting to see how their progress was coming. After settling down from competing in big tournaments, Tyson and the gang went back to teaching youths about the game. Actually, it became something of a job because they sent data back to the BBA and taught youth in BBA gyms closest to where they lived. Sometimes they even recruited outstanding bladers for the BBA's trainee program.
Several folders were flopped onto the desk and Kenny picked them up, sorting them out. Everyone immediately could tell which one was Tyson's.
"Eheh," Tyson sweatdropped. "My dog ate it?"
"You don't have a dog! You never did!" Kenny sighed but slipped the folders into his briefcase with a smile.
Max pumped his fist in the air. "Now that we did all that hard work, let's go have some fun!"
"You said it." Ray commented with a grin. "Let's hit the BBA office building first though. I have some names for potential trainees to drop off."
"Oh, just give them to me Ray." Hilary said. "I'm heading that way now."
The Chinese blader's eyebrows rose at his good fortune and he passed the girl an envelope. "Just hand that over to the front desk."
"Right."
Tyson picked at his fries, pondering on what types of fun things they could do and absently reached for his strawberry milkshake.
He grabbed thin air.
Confused, Tyson looked up and saw something that caused his mouth fall open and his shining blue eyes to blink cutely.
Kai was drinking his shake - with the same straw - and looked like he was enjoying it.
Tyson gaped and then the other teen tilted his head slightly to look at the world champ. This time, Tyson could feel his cheeks burn brightly.
Kai stopped sipping and swallowed, Tyson unconsciously doing the same thing.
"You don't mind, do you?"
"N-no!" Tyson was shocked. Did he always stutter around Kai? "Have the rest and then we can go!"
The slate haired teen nodded and resumed finishing up the last of the shake.
The blue-eyed young man's heart was beating fast and he felt embarrassed at being caught staring. Tyson looked away from Kai and received a poke in the side.
"You're blushing~!" Hilary whispered into his ear.
And…Dear gods… He was.