[Disclaimer]

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

[Chapter Seven] The One Who Could Have Loved Someone

There was a time when I didn't know anything about you – didn't want to. I lived day to day without your presence because I didn't know that someone like you existed. You were nothing to me.

And I was nothing to you.

Tyson sat silently at the table and felt his breath catch as Kai reached in front of him to throw away the strawberry shake's container. His strong arm brushed the collar of Tyson's red jacket, briefly, but it shook Tyson all the same.

The Bladebreakers plus Hilary all stood from their seats and made their way out of fast food joint. Kai briefly glanced at the unusually quiet world champion and walked up so that they were side by side in stride.

"You're acting odd."

"Oh," Tyson said startled. Hilary was watching him out of the corners of her brown eyes. "Urm…"

Kai looked a bit guilty but it was partly covered by a sour expression. "I didn't know my eating your food would bother you so much."

Shocked, the midnight haired teen started to deny it but Kai sped ahead, his arms tightly crossed.

But then one day I started to notice… I liked you. I wanted you to be near. When those feelings had developed… I had no idea. All I felt for you – all the little things that made me like you even more were built upon each other. They formed a ladder to open a door in my heart.

Somehow I'd made a little feeling out of what seemed like nothing before…

"So…" Tyson smiled as he grabbed up his and Kai's presents from under the tree. Max and his parents had left late last night and the others had stayed over. He cautiously stepped over the sleeping forms of their friends, trying to be quiet.

He sat down on the couch next to Kai and handed him the present he'd gotten the ex-team captain. "For you!"

"Open mine first." Kai looked nervous as he peered at the simply wrapped present. It was silver and blue and the package was stiff.

"Okay…" The smaller teen hooked his thumb underneath the ribbons and pulled them off. He accidentally ripped the paper when he tried to get the tape off but didn't care. Anything Kai would give him was exciting – he'd value it forever.

He pried away the glittering paper and uncovered the present Kai had given him.

His eyes widened. "Kai…" Tyson's voice cracked and sounded a bit gloomy.

"Sorry." Kai replied roughly, averting his eyes. "Didn't know what else to get you."

"It's okay… Kai, I like it a lot! Actually… I've been meaning to put our team photo up." Tyson set the empty picture frame covered in cute pictures of Beyblades beside him and pointed to the present in Kai's lap. It was kind of sad – to look into a picture frame that was empty. It reminded Tyson of the hole in his heart that Kai would probably never fill.

"Your turn."

Kai opened the gift and stared at it in what looked like a blank expression. The world champion sweatdropped. "Hilary helped me, but it still came out pretty crappy."

"T-…Thanks, Tyson." The slate haired teen said quietly, and he reached up to replace his silky white scarf with the scraggly half-crumpled red one that it seemed Tyson had made. However, when he threw the end over his shoulder, the scarf frayed dangerously and began to unravel.

"AH! No!!" Tyson shouted, making the others wake around them. He got close and took the end into his hands, more threads pulling out. "Aw, man…"

Kai looked to the end of the scarf in Tyson's hands, a strange light in his eyes as he watched it unravel.

I never back down from a fight. If someone beats me – I'll jump right back up and beat them. It's just in me to do this.

But you.

I could concede to you.

Because you aren't an enemy when I fight you. I don't want to crush you or brush you away. If defeat is loss… I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to lose me.

You'll never lose me.

"Best two out of three?" Kai echoed thoughtfully. His mouth turned into a smirk. "We don't have time for that…"

Tyson laughed and nodded at Kai. He could accept defeat this once… well, for now. "Toss Dragoon for me, Kai!"

The crowd around them promptly fell over, sweatdropping. They began to disperse back to their previous activities.

Dragoon had tipped outside of the dish on Kai's side a little after it stopped spinning. Kai picked up the familiar white beyblade and it felt weird in his hand. He'd seen and handled so many Beyblades before – it shouldn't have mattered.

But Dragoon was a comfortable weight in his hand as he held it on his palm. It was smaller and lighter than Dranzer; it's attack ring larger and more fitting for Tyson's style of Beyblading and weight disk small in comparison.

Kai, being cautious, walked around and handed the beyblade to Tyson. He cocked his head.

"Did you let me win?"

Tyson blanched then cracked a grin. "I wish I did."

Giving the world champ a long searching look, Kai leaned in close. He had minty breath that made Tyson's mouth tingle and water.

"Next time, let's do it without the crowd."

Tyson nodded dumbly as the slate haired teen walked away. Max appeared by his shoulder.

"You okay, Ty?"

"Hm?" The boy with the backwards cap shook himself out of his trance. "What?"

"You totally zoned out during that match. That's not like you…" The blond looked confused. "Did something happen between you and Kai?"

Tyson sent a glance to where Kai's group was – absorbing that tall figure and it's handsome features.

"Aw, Max…" His voice was wistful. "I wish something did."

Oh God… I… Somehow the door of my heart had been thrown open, and I shoved you in there. I want you and only you.

I want you to want me too.

There was never a moment in my life before you when I believed that I would willingly give away a part of my heart. Love is spontaneous, isn't it? Then why did it feel as though you'd been stealing my heart, piece by piece?

They say that you must give something away in order to never be stolen from.

It's all yours.

"Popcorn?" Tyson asked in disbelief. He'd been watching the movement of Kai's soft lips so closely that what words they formed had dumbfounded him.

He looked down and saw their hands resting together next to the empty popcorn bag. "Oh," The teen glanced at the screen quickly, seeing that it was at a boring part.

"Want me to go get some more?"

Kai shifted uncomfortably, and then quickly retracted his arm from around Tyson's seat. "Actually, do you like the movie?"

Confused, Tyson replied honestly. "Not really since-"

"Let's skip the rest then." Kai immediately said.

A couple sitting behind their seats shushed them, making them hunch in embarrassment. Tyson leaned closer to talk into Kai's ear; his chin became buried in the soft fabric of Kai's scarf and his breath tickling.

"And do what?"

Kai was shaking slightly and he angled his head to whisper back. The theatre was dark, and their silhouettes melted together, making it seem as though they were sharing kisses.

His eyes were staring into Tyson's blue. "Anything."

Tyson bit his lip, unable to stop unbidden thoughts from running through his head. "Sure."

They ended up going back to Tyson's dojo and Kai walked him up to the front door. Tyson was laughing loudly at some story Kai had told, his face lit up with amusement.

The two stood awkwardly when they reached the end of their night and Tyson unconsciously played with a button on his shirt. "So, I'll see you soon?" He asked hopefully.

Kai crossed his arms and looked across the yard to the beautiful koi pond. He nodded silently.

"Okay…" Tyson said with a smile and laid his hand on the doorknob, knowing it would be open. "'Till then, Ka-"

He was cut off when Kai's hands dropped onto his shoulders. Tyson's blue eyes widened and Kai looked a bit uneasy. "Hey…"

Kai bit his lip and then looked away. He slipped off his coat and draped it over Tyson's shoulders. It was big for him and warm from Kai's body heat making Tyson practically melt.

Kai shoved his hands into his pockets and spoke tensely. "Just… take that. I don't want your Grandpa to think I let you get cold or anything."

At Tyson's open-mouthed stare Kai stiffened and briskly walked away, leaving the dojo without a second glance.

I wonder many times if you could see right through the veil I had over my eyes. Because my eyes tell the truth.

I began to want you badly. I yearned for a touch or lingering glance. Would you be disgusted with that? Why wasn't I?

Sometimes, Kai… you'd give me these signs. I got so hopeful – hoping you'd feel at least a tiny portion of what I was feeling for you. Maybe you cared… Maybe you didn't. But there were moments when I knew something was lying beneath your mask, trying to break free…

Were you in love with someone?

Tyson couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "C-Come… Come again?"

"Never mind." Kai quickly dismissed. He shifted away, putting distance between them on the bed. He looked uncomfortable.

"No wait," Tyson blurted out, twisting so that he was leaning close. "I… When I told you about the carnival a few days ago… You said you weren't going."

The taller teen blew out his breath. "I changed my mind."

The world champ's heart plummeted. "It's a group thing now, though."

"It shouldn't be." Kai muttered, taking Tyson by surprise. As if realizing a mistake Kai coughed into his hand. "Fine, whatever. I'll just come since we planned it last week."

"Well… thanks," Tyson replied uncertainly. Why was the other guy so hard to figure out?! Feeling the need to reassure the taller teen he smiled. "We can ditch them later, if you want."

"Anything." Was the reply, and for an instant Tyson thought he knew exactly what Kai meant before the revelation was lost and he was just as confused as ever.

He nodded. "Right."

Kai moved to stand up but his scarf tugged tight and he looked like he was choking because his face was red. Tyson hastily let go of the scarf, the feeling of it slipping through his fingers making him shiver.

"Let's go see what the others are doing then." He said, covering up his discomfort, but Kai was already out the door.

No more running away, Kai. I just need to know. I just need you to know.

I love you.

That's it.

"How'd it go?" Hilary asked, poking Tyson in the side once he'd walked back into the swing of the anniversary party. "Did you tell him!?" She handed him a drink of punch.

Tyson gritted his teeth, the paper cup in his hand crunching together. "Oh, no." He said. "No, I didn't."

Kenny looked uneasy but decided to brave the question. "What happened?"

"He's gone."

Max and Ray blanched, looking at each other before searching Tyson's face for any other sign of what the reason might be. The way Tyson was acting only pointed to one conclusion.

Ray's face creased into fury. "You mean, Kai left?!"

"Bingo."

"No way." Max said, eyes wide. "As in, out of town? Out of the country?"

"Worse." Tyson's voice was tight. "For good."

"WHAT!?" Kenny and Hilary yelled, earning themselves a few curious glances.

"Don't tell me you're serious!" The brunette girl asked shrilly.

"Don't worry." Tyson's expression darkened and the others' faces all slipped into grief and sadness for their good friend.

Another tear rolled down Tyson's cheek. "I'm going to follow him."

I've been searching for him

His moves are always the same…

This is my vow

His touches told me…

Find Kai

Him…

The one who got away

***

I make my way down the wooden plank floor – the rug looks old and worn. His room number is sixteen. I turn the corner and pass a shady looking man who looks as if he wasn't shaven in days and brushed his teeth in more.

Room sixteen.

My hand curls into a soft fist and it rises to the old wooden door that looks as if it will fall off its hinges. He must have been running low on money. So have I.

Lightly, my knuckles tap against the door. Number sixteen is the only thing in my line of vision as I stare unseeing into the grain of the wood. Then, the number blurs out of focus and I'm only seeing in a haze. My knocking hand is unrecognizable to me.

More tears slip down my face as I hear footsteps and my hand falls away.

The door is opened and, I just…

"Hello Kai."