[Disclaimer]

Beyblade and all it's likeness does not belong to me. No profits are being made off this story.

[Chapter Two] The One Who Made My Heart A Butterfly

The cool mist hits my face as I stand at the barrier looking down into the breathtaking wonder. I'm in Niagara Falls now. That gigantic waterfall crashing so loudly and creating rainbows in the air makes my heart flutter with excitement yet at the same time I know I am sad.

He was here.

I missed him by two days.

Nearly crying in frustration I had run from the hotel not bothering to follow through with the strict routine I'd maintained these last two months.

It was always so uniform; I could hardly believe sometimes that I was so organized in my search for Kai.

The first thing I did after I found a room that had been occupied by him, that was cold now because I was again too late, was tell Dragoon.

Now, my hand wouldn't even stray to the pouch I kept my beyblade in.

So many times the thought of quitting entered my mind - too many times to count. Kai would come back, wouldn't he? Eventually he would. I could wait, couldn't I? Following someone all around the world seemed insane and I'd been called crazy by many of my friends before I started.

But I had to.

I have to continue doing so.

Even in those lonely days when I was hungry and dirty and cold because I'd been travelling by foot and got caught with bad luck… I held on.

Because there's just something inside me that's pulling… Tugging on my soul and urging me to follow this person I care so much about. If I stopped now, would I kill something invisible that is growing between us? There's an unexplainable buzz you get from chasing something you want so badly and then when you catch it…

I just want to believe in my dreams.

I had calmed down after an hour of being hypnotized by the majestic scene of the great falls.

He had been here, possibly stood staring at the sparkling water like I was right now.

The thought comforts me as I plot out my next course of action. I won't have to book a flight. An ethereal presence is making me think of my past adventures in the Big Apple – New York City. That's where he is.

Silently, I thank Dragoon.

Closing my eyes and letting the mist caress my face I try to remember what it was like when Kai was in close range – close enough to touch – and how it made me feel. The memories aren't nearly as electrifying as in the moment they had taken place and fear strikes me when I realize:

What if I never feel that way again?

Kai made me feel like I had a butterfly for a heart…

****

Ten Months Ago

A little after his revelation in the fast food restaurant Tyson found himself gradually becoming incredibly and hopelessly distracted.

Every time someone mentioned a certain blader's name he went red in the face and stuttered badly. His heart would beat lighter and more quickly, as though it were a butterfly taking off for flight. Once as a joke Hilary had yelled out his name and Tyson had walked into a wall because he'd looked around wildly and hadn't paid attention.

It was only Hilary who knew and Tyson didn't think he, himself, understood this… this crush as much as she did.

Girls.

Go figure.

"Do I look okay?!" He hissed at Hilary as he pulled her into the corner of the Kinomiya household's living room.

Hilary looked irritated. "For the last time, yes!!"

Kenny looked at them curiously before going back to the task putting up decorations.

"But…" Tyson gulped and his eyes glanced across the room for an instant before flitting back to the girl in front of him. His hold on her arm tightened.

"Tyson…" The brown-eyed girl sighed and she smiled good-naturedly. "Don't worry. I know how much you want this party to go smoothly, but please!" She tugged her arm out of his grasp. "Whispering to me all the time won't score you any points with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome when he gets here."

The world champion sighed and brushed his long dark bangs out of his eyes for the millionth time. He had forgone his baseball cap and red jacket – the season didn't allow it. Instead, he adjusted the dark blue sweater Hilary had given him.

Now, I gotta tell you before anyone jumps to conclusions. I've never really thought of my appearance before. Well, other than it being so cool and awesome but, er, yeah…

So, when I look back on this memory, when I was so… Everything was just so new to me. It's like this: I was walking head first into new territory with this feeling I had for Kai. First Love is an overwhelming thing. It's so pure and idealistic. It was so powerful a feeling that it made my body and mind work against each other instead of together.

I never fell out of love with that feeling. I never fell out of love with my first love.

But, god… There was just this insecurity that was so foreign to me around Kai. I cared about my hair. I cared about my clothes. I cared about what I said. I just cared about Kai.

And whaddya know? I let that insecurity hold me back. There's a reason why they call it "The One Who Got Away."

It was the one person you were too chicken to say anything to. And when I finally wiped the shock off my face, the guy dropped off the face of the earth…

C'mon…Let's keep going.

The usually bossy girl smiled and made her way to help Kenny put tinsel on the merrily twinkling Christmas tree set up in the corner. All of their parents were in the adjoining room making loud noise over eggnog and sharing stories of the year's passed events.

Tyson watched as serene, fluffy white snowflakes floated down from the sky through the window.

The doorbell rang and Grandpa went to answer it. He was fully into the spirit of the holiday and was decked out in a Santa Claus costume… Well, he topped it off with a pair of shades too.

"Merry Christmas!!" Max, Ray, and to a lesser extent, Kai chimed.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Hey little Dudes! Whoa!" Grandpa said excitedly as they stepped into the foyer, shaking off their winter coats and taking off their shoes. "You boys sure have gotten big!"

Ray rolled his eyes. "Well, we are seventeen now."

"Yeah," Max agreed but his eyes were bright. "Though hopefully we're still young enough to get presents from Santa." He winked.

Grandpa smirked and lifted his sunglasses up. He reached for a bowl by the door and plucked up three candy canes. He handed them each one and smiled.

Behind the blond his father and mother walked up.

"Hey Grandpa, how have you been?" Mr. Mizuhara said jovially and grasped Tyson's grandfather's hand in a shake. Judy shook some snow out of her scarf. "Hi, Max has told me so much about you. Thanks for inviting us…"

Tyson ran to the entryway with a large smile on his face taking in the large crowd. "Hey everyone!!"

The Kinomiya home was teeming with life and laughter as the snow on the ground piled up. Soon it was getting late and Max began prodding the world champ.

"I have to leave early in the morning! Please open your present now Tyson?"

"Oh, okay!"

"Mine too!" Hilary, Ray, and Kenny all commented as well. Kai raised an eyebrow and then looked directly into Tyson's eyes.

Tyson gulped and faint tints of pink were starting to appear on his cheeks.

"Wait for the morning to open mine."

The midnight haired teen adopted a curious look and then he asked hopefully, "You'll be here in the morning?"

Kai face softened and he crossed his arms loosely. "Yes."

The fluttery feeling invaded Tyson's chest powerfully, leaving no room for anything else as they all ripped through their presents giving each other thanks, praise and love.

Kai's little present to Tyson stayed under the tree next to the gift that Tyson had gotten him, all night long.

Tyson woke up early, which was nothing short of a miracle, and raced to the living area where the tree was. Kai was sitting on the couch watching more snow float down from the bright white sky. The world champ froze in his tracks and just watched the scene. Kai was silhouetted against the whiteness of the snow from outside, which was visible through the large bay window, and the lit Christmas tree was twinkling at the side casting pretty glows.

Then Kai turned and smiled at Tyson. The butterfly in his heart fluttered so desperately that it was incredible he didn't lift off the ground.

"M-Merry Christmas, Kai."

"Merry Christmas, Tyson."