[Disclaimer]

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

[Chapter Eight] The One Who Isn't Gonna Get Away

Sometimes two people find each other at the wrong times. Sometimes their paths cross and one isn't ready to change their ways – to acknowledge love.

Sometimes you can be so in love – so hopelessly gone on this one person – that you will hold on. You don't ever want to let go in hopes that they will find you one day in the same way you found them.

With your heart.

"Tyson!" Kai yelled in shock. He stumbled backwards into the room. His voice was disbelieving. "Tyson, what are you doing here?"

"Kai…" Tyson clenched his fists at his sides and gritted his teeth. His bangs were falling messily into his face and salty tears were rolling down his cheeks. "I…"

Feeling wheezy, the midnight haired teen rested his arm against the doorframe heavily, his breathing hard. Kai was paralysed at the sight.

Tyson didn't look so good.

He was haggard, and his clothes were hanging off him in disarray. His hair was more dishevelled than usual; his typically exuberant face was dull. Unable to stop himself, Kai took Tyson by the wrist and directed the boy into his room. He came without protest, weakly.

Kai lightly pushed Tyson to sit on the bed while he took a seat in the only chair in the small room. It was hard and uncomfortable. The ex-team captain shifted his eyes.

"You… why are you here, Tyson?" He asked a bit rudely, instantly regretting it as he watched the smaller teen's shoulders flinch.

Tyson gripped at the rough linen, feeling extremely lost. But the determination to find Kai – the love he felt for him – was spinning around in never ending circles inside of him. He had to tell Kai.

This is your vow.

Find him.

He's never gonna get away. You can't let him. He doesn't have to be alone.

You love him.

Sitting there, Tyson looked small and tired. His knees were bent to his chest, his feet resting on the iron frame of the bed, which supported the mattress. His long dark bangs were falling into his face and…

Kai bit his lip.

Didn't Tyson know how much he loved him?

Silence, except for Tyson's harsh breathing, hung over the room as Kai became lost in his emotions.

God, he loved Tyson. He didn't know exactly when he'd started feeling so strongly towards his former teammate but it seemed it had been an eternity ago. Every little touch or smile… soft word or action…

It set him on fire.

He'd thought about all those things and more for every single day for the past… He didn't even know anymore.

Kai had tried to show his love. He didn't want to hold it in – couldn't – because it was just too overpowering. Some days he would purposely avoid Tyson. The need to tell him would be too much.

Gods, but he was in love. He didn't know what else it could be.

It had carried on like that for at least two years. The only way that Kai could curb himself from acting on his desires was to cut Tyson off, or walk away. Tyson was innocent and happy and carefree… He couldn't be tied down so early in life by someone so needy.

Kai couldn't do that to him.

And the worst part was… Kai knew that Tyson would never want him like that anyway.

Just the thought of rejection would make Kai reel back in terror and humiliation after getting a little too close. Sometimes he would say or do something that must have given him away – but Tyson never noticed.

He was thankful for that.

And then… Kai left.

He had to. He had seen Tyson on that podium that day – his face was shining so brightly and the smile he wore could have put any star to shame.

He was happy.

Tyson didn't need Kai, but Kai knew he needed Tyson.

In those few days where Kai had gotten dangerously too close he had decided. He had to leave the midnight haired teen alone and get on with his life. If he wasn't around then maybe it would help Kai forget the only love he'd ever felt for someone so strongly – the type of love that shot you full of passion with each glance. He didn't dare let hope enter his heart again because he knew that it was futile.

Yet, letting Tyson slip through his fingers untouched had made his heart break in two…

"Tyson…" Kai tried again, his eyes sad.

The teen in question sighed. "I followed you after you left."

Kai's mouth resembled a goldfish's. "What?!"

"Please," Tyson said. "Come back with me."

Oh, he wanted to say yes. But why did Tyson…?

"You… You followed me?" Kai suddenly felt hope return to his heart and tried valiantly to squish it down. "Everywhere? For that long?"

A ghost of Tyson's charming grin appeared. "Of course." The smile disappeared suddenly and Tyson looked nervous. "I… I have some unfinished business with you."

Kai remained silent, unsure of how this was going. Tyson had been following him across countries for two months, because of unfinished business?

It must have been that unfinished Beybattle they had yet to complete, then. Tyson had to beat him, didn't he? To remain undefeated…

"Okay." Kai's voice was low and bitter. "Hold on, I'll get Dranzer."

A strangled, "No!" came, making Kai whirl around, from his bag. "No Kai." Tyson stood, swaying slightly before catching his balance. He walked over and grasped Kai by the forearm of his muscled right arm with two hands.

Kai dropped his beyblade and it clattered to the floor.

"Tha-…That's not the reason."

The voice was so quiet that Kai had to strain to hear, but he couldn't do much else. The blood was rushing around in his veins from Tyson's touch.

Blue eyes went to his chest, and the ex-captain could feel his cheeks flush.

"You're wearing my medal…" Tyson said in half awe, half wonder. "Kai… I have to tell you. Now or never."

"What is it…?" Kai felt a lump form in his throat. All he could see were those lips.

Tyson unknowingly stuttered over the same words Kai had that faithful night at the reception, "I'm… Kai, I'm… I'm in l…" He replied hesitantly, but he couldn't continue.

Tyson's confession was cut off when Kai's lips were suddenly pressed over his in an overwhelming kiss. His hands fell away from Kai's arm in shock, freeing the tall teen to wrap his arms around the world champ's middle, pulling him close. The pressure of the kiss was hard but Kai was not being forceful. It felt like he was shaking.

Tyson's blue eyes widened in mind-numbing shock as Kai's soft lips broke away from his own and then swept back in again for a softer, sweeter kiss. His back was arched slightly because of Kai's height, and the soft press of their chests made the butterfly in Tyson's heart come to life. It hammered around doing aerial tricks inside him, sending sparks flying across his body in all directions.

He moaned softly. "Wha-…K-Kai?"

Unadulterated terror rose in Kai's heart.

In a flash he had let Tyson go. "Tyson-" He choked. "Oh, no… No, I'm sorry Tyson…"

Two months without seeing the midnight haired teen. Two months without hearing that voice or feeling his touch.

It drove Kai crazy with heartache and loneliness.

"How-…" Tyson paused, his breathing unsteady again and his posture slanted. He looked up, breathless. "How long?"

How long had he felt that way?

Kai hung his head in defeat, turning his body so he was not standing directly facing Tyson. So that he was not vulnerable. Unconsciously, his hand went up to close over the medallion hanging from his neck.

"Our first World Championships." He replied, closing his eyes in pain. "I couldn't stop."

Tyson's heart melted.

It seemed that when he had been oblivious to where his heart had lain, Kai had found his in Tyson. And now… Now, Tyson was desperately in love with Kai – who had been waiting alone and cold.

"Kai…"

The slate haired teen spared Tyson a quick glance as he leant heavily against the wall of the room. His chest was rising and falling rapidly.

Tyson slipped to his knees on the ground, a smile spread over his face and happy tears pooling in his eyes. He shook his head, amazed, confused, sad, blissful, delirious, and excited all at once.

"Kiss me again."

Astonishment propelled Kai downward making him drop to his knees in front of Tyson as well. His mouth was open – no sound was coming out. Love-coloured eyes were shining with a light that didn't come from the lamp on the wall.

Tyson never knew happiness could be so silent yet still so powerful.

He leant up so that their lips were only a feather's breadth away, eyelids low. A fierce blush was taking over his face. "Kiss me… please." He whimpered, voice soft.

The slate haired teen went nearly completely irrational at the request – his head seemed as if it was floating in the clouds.

Kai's hands immediately rose to hold Tyson's soft damp cheeks. He tipped his head downward, their bangs splaying together as his lips touched Tyson's in a hot kiss. Kai felt firm hands curl into the front of his shirt, pulling him closer with a small tug. His tongue glided from between his lips to taste Tyson's open mouth. Slowly slipping it into the hot opening, Kai leaned more into the kiss making Tyson bend further backwards.

"Kai-" Tyson gasped. "I…" He stared deep into Kai's eyes.

"I love you. I'm in love with you."

An invisible weight lifted right off of Tyson's shoulders and a warm feeling settled into his chest. He had told him. He felt fulfilled.

Slowly untangling himself from the smaller boy, Kai sat back on his heels.

He voice was soft and full of adoration. "You don't have any idea how much that means to me, Tyson."

Lips still tingling from Kai's kiss, Tyson nodded lethargically. He rested his head on his shoulder, making his hat fall off.

"Come back with me." He implored, taking Kai's hand and lacing their fingers together tightly. The tension broke when he let out a few chuckles and wiped at his eyes. "Chasing after you was such a pain to do… What did you do in Canada, America, France, Russia…?"

"Uh…" Kai looked unbelievably sheepish. "I trained."

Tyson fell over sweatdropping.

"THE WHOLE TIME!?" He yelled.

"Pretty much…" Kai's mouth cracked into a half smile as he stared at that sweet face. "I'm sorry."

"Just come home." Then longhaired boy replied, grinning. He pulled their clasped hands into his lap. "I'll train with you all you want."

Kai's eyebrows quirked, "All I want? What if I want to skip breakfast? Lunch? Dinner…?" He joked weakly. God, his heart was still pounding. Tyson wanted him.

"Er…" Tyson looked chagrined. "Maybe not all…"

"Tyson," He picked up his Dranzer blade with his free hand and shot a disgruntled look around the shoddy room. "I left Japan because… I knew you would never want to be with me in that way… but now that I know you lo-…" He felt the world champion squeeze his hand and for the first time in ages, Kai felt his heart lighten.

"There's no place else I'd rather be."