DEDICATED TO:
1) Rumi-chan: Whose fics inspired me to write in the first place.
2) Peeps Inferior: Wow! What a MaRa writer!!
3) I luv Yugi and Daisuke so :p: For supporting me through and through!!^_^
4) Angevar: Who's been patient and helped me throughout every fallout I've ever had.
5) Asa-chan and Lunare Valhart: Dedicated Tyka writers. Can't live without their stories!!!!
ME: The prequel's here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Max: Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!
Ray: Wuhoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kai: (grumbles) No fair…I wanted more Tyka.
ME: Well, we all can't have what we want, can we Kai-fuu[1]?
Kai: (glares at Timmy) Don't call me that!!!
CS: You pushed his buttons well.
ME: Thank you.
DISCLAIMER: Sheesh, the same thing again and again. I think I'll hire a parrot…
I don't own Beyblade and if anyone does, I'll steal it from them. ^_^
Chapter One
What was never meant to happen
Ray stood in front of Tyson's door. His amber eyes darted from side to side, as if trying to detect some hidden threat. Tyson had been really worried when he had called and even though the blunette had confirmed that he was fine, there had been a layer of panic and fear underlining his voice. Ray rushed immediately with no stops whatsoever.
If anything happened to Tyson, he didn't know where he'd be.
Slowly the door opened, revealing a bedraggled Tyson whose striking smoky-eyes were bleary and dull. Ray gasped. This was not the Tyson he knew. The Tyson he knew was always smiling and ready to lend a helping hand to those who had none.
What had happened?
"…Tyson?" Ray said, hardly daring to believe it.
"Ray," He said quietly in a voice that never began or ended a sentence, "Come in."
Ray dragged himself inside. Tyson's house was fairly simple in decorative terms. No heavy upholstery or large sofas crowding the living room. In the corner was a small T.V and music system.
"Sit down Ray," Tyson offered in a tone that seemed to say he preferred something else. He went into the kitchen.
Ray made himself comfortable.
Or, tried to.
His thoughts kept on drifting as he thought about Tyson. He was majorly depressed and for some reason, it upset Ray as well.
"Biscuits?"
Ray jumped as Tyson appeared behind him. With a yelp, he landed on the floor.
THUNK!
(ME: Scaredy cat. Ray: (blushes) I didn't know he was there!!)
"Ray? Are you all right? You took quite a fall," Tyson said, chuckling at the neko-jin's reaction. Ray was still looking quite dazed and a little bump was rising from his head.
"I'm fine Ty," Ray muttered, rubbing his head self-consciously.
He regretted saying that as Tyson immediately sobered up. Ray mentally kicked himself.
Great work Kon.
"Tyson I…" Ray tried to grasp the words, "What happened?"
"Kai left."
"Yes, we all—WHAT!!!!!!!!"
"He left Ray. Without a note. Or phonecall. Or a WORD! He just got up and left!!!! HE LEFT." He said each word slowly and deliberately, as if each syllable was twisting him, not even allowing him to breathe…
Finally, Tyson broke down and sobbed, desperately clutching a cushion.
Ray didn't say anything at first. Anger was coursing down his veins.
How DARE Kai do that to Tyson. After all Tyson gave up for him…
After Ray gave up so much…
He growled and looked down at the younger teen. Tyson was still crying and didn't look like he was going to stop. Slowly, Ray put his arms around Tyson. The teen cried harder.
"Tyson, he wasn't worth it," Ray gently cleared the tears off Tyson's face, "He wasn't worth it."
Tyson didn't say anything. He leaned his head against Ray's chest, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. Ray hushed him and kept on repeating the same thing, rocking Tyson gently.
"He wasn't worth it. He never was."
- - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Max was sitting in his garden, gently plucking out petals out of a delicate marigold.
He loves me.
He loves me not.
He loves me.
He loves not.
He loves…me!!
Max sighed, dropping the now petal-less flower. This just wasn't helping and he knew that. It was frustrating the way you tried to reach for the thing you wanted so much, but you always draw back when you're nearly there. He had managed to live with this crush for so long, always hiding his feelings under a sickeningly sweet grin.
But lately, it's become intolerable.
Max got up and looked at the sky. When he was a child, he had always wanted to fly. Now, at an age of fifteen going on sixteen, he held onto the same wish.
Birds had so much more freedom than humans did. Birds flew while tortoises stayed in the ground, hiding in their shell.
Always too afraid to take flight.
Always afraid to take the risks.
He had none of the bravado Tyson possessed, nor did he have Ray's collected calm thinking or clear logic. He wasn't Kai who was a pure risk taker even though he doesn't show it, nor was he Kenny who knew of the reality around him better than the average human.
He his in his shell, waiting. Always waiting for someone to free him. To give him wings to fly.
"Max!!"
Max turned around to see Ray running towards him. His breath caught as it always did when Ray came. He struggled to reassemble himself before Ray can notice anything.
(ME: [snickers] You're practically falling into pieces over him. Max: [blushes])
"Hi Ray," he said in a cheerful tone of voice, "Whassup?"
Ray stopped and tried to catch his breath. Max looked at him, slightly disconcerted.
Why was Ray here anyway?
Not that he didn't want him here…
But still…
Ray looked into Max's sky-blue eyes. His world was a tumble of emotions and yet he felt he had to come to Max first. Why, he had no idea.
"Kai left."
"Kai left, as in for a day?" Max said hopefully, knowing that wasn't true.
"Kai left, as in never coming back trip." Ray's voice was flat, hinting at some violent menace. Max shuddered. Ray was really angry.
Then a thought hit him. His cerulean eyes widened, "But…what about Tyson? How is…"
Ray cut him off impatiently, "He's fine. He was in bad shape, but he'll be okay. I had Kenny watch over him. He's getting some well-needed rest."
Max left out his breath in relief. He looked up to meet Ray's cat-yellow eyes and said in a hushed voice, "Do you know why? Why he left, I mean."
Ray sat down on the grass next to Max. He hesitated.
"I really don't know…I mean, this is Kai. I don't think he knew the word 'share' or 'help'."
"There must have been some reason. Kai never does anything without a reason. Ever." Max stated firmly, his jaw set.
Ray's eyes never left the sky, "He probably DID have a reason, but right now I really don't know what it is."
Max nodded and they both sat there, watching the clouds pass by.
They only wished their problems and troubles passed away as easily as the clouds did.
ME: Angsty.
CS: As always. So what's new??
Kai: COME BACK HERE KON!!!!!!!!
Ray: For the last time, I DON'T LOVE TYSON KINOMIYA!!!!!!!!
CS: Well, in the next couple of chappies, you do.
Tyson: He's right, you know. Timmy made him do it.
Max: How did she do that?
Tyson: He wouldn't be allowed to use the closet.
Kai: TIMBERWOLF220, COME BACK HERE!!! YOU FUR-BALLED NOSE…..
CS: Wow. He is pissed off. He used her full name.
ME: Reviewers receive—
CS: Ray's closet keys!!! Enjoy!! I'm sure your bishies will!!
Ray: HEY!!! Those happen to belong to me!!!
ME/CS: (on their bike, driving away at high speed) Review!!!
[1] Kai-fuu = sea wind in Japanese.