Okies, first off, thanks to everyone who told me about the mix up, that's happened twice to me now, I really don't know what's up. But things should be fixed now, if not I'll be annoyed.
Second, I really did try to stick to normal ages, but they'll just screw things up for the story, so Wyatt's a year younger than Kai and a year older than Tyson, but both he and Kai are in Tyson's grade in public school. Confusing … know what, my story, my rules. Deal. Easy. I just want Kai and Tyson in the same class, so I can manipulate the story any way I want. Okay then.
Oh, and Feeling Glayish, don't worry, Rei's more of a best friend, not a love interest for Kai. I just needed a bit of a plot development.
Well, on with the next chapter.
Chapter Two
Kai looked up at the huge school before him.
Whitney Prep School was a typical rich boarding school just outside of town. Kai would have been going here if his grandfather hadn't been taken into custody and he hadn't been recruited by Mr. Dickinson.
He and the Demolition Boys were the main investigators for the BBA concerning Biovolt and its many companies. With the removal of both Boris and Voltaire, the company was disbanded and shut down. However, some members of the company had been keeping things going in hopes that the directors would be set free eventually and would bring the company and it's experiments back to life. Kai's and the others' jobs were to track down any hints of these people and send back reports to the BBA. The Majestics and All-Stars sometimes helped, given their superior financial and technological power as well as numerous contacts everywhere.
Kai sighed as he walked into the building. It was a hard job, but they had gotten most of the snakes still involved, but there were some who just reused to be found and stop causing trouble. Like the guy pressuring Smithwright to continue investing, hence the reason he was called in to help rather than the police or someone else.
"May I help you?" a pleasant looking receptionist asked once Kai reached the administration desk.
"I'm here to speak with Wyatt Smithwright."
The receptionist nodded and looked through the computer files. "He's in gym class right now over in the block by the fields."
Kai nodded. "Thank you. We also have an appointment with the principal at eleven. My name is Kai Hiwatari."
The receptionist checked this up. "Of course. When you return, it's just through the door to the left and you'll have to wait until he's free, though he should be by the time of the appointment."
Kai nodded his thanks and headed off to the gym block, a long walk from the administration block. He heard the sounds of cheering as he approached the building. Coming around the side, he saw why.
A group of students were gathered around a beyblade dish where two boys were battling. One looked worried, the other, a handsome boy with rich brown hair and eyes, looked confident and happy. Kai immediately recognised the boy winning.
Wyatt punched a fist on the air and whooped as he knocked the other beyblade out of the dish. The crowd applauded him loudly and cheerfully. Wyatt grinned as he looked around receiving congratulations. He paled though as he caught sight of Kai striding towards him. The teacher came over and Kai told him something. The teacher nodded and let him through.
"Wyatt Smithwright?"
The class turned at the sound of the strange voice. Some gaped and stared and more whispered as Kai walked past them to stand in front of Wyatt, who looked a bit ill.
"Yeah?"
"I do believe we have an appointment." Wyatt's eyes narrowed and he nodded and followed Kai back to the administration block.
"I'm surprised the BBA sent someone like you," Wyatt said in an attempt to start a conversation.
"You're one of our top priorities, of course they send the best. Not to mention I know the area well." Kai looked over at him. "Your father did tell you what was going on right?"
Wyatt shook his head. "Not everything. He just said something about being in danger and that the BBA was helping out." He looked pained. "This has something to do with Biovolt doesn't it? Why else would you be involved?"
"Yes. Your father was involved in investments. It is altogether possible however that before the downfall of the company he had no idea what Biovolt was really like."
The slight reassurance seemed to help Wyatt a bit and he looked a bit less worried. "So they're using me as a hostage."
"It's a possibility. They're desperate and even before that they would stoop to any methods possible. I wouldn't put it past them."
Wyatt nodded again. "So where are we going?"
"Into town."
"What?"
"We're trying to confuse them, by staying so close to your school, they'll probably overlook the town, not to mention we'll be hiding in plain sight among the general populous. It's the best cover we have. Besides, if worse comes to worse, I'm not leaving your side and I'm one of the best protections you can have." Wyatt didn't doubt it.
They reached the administration block and went in to see the principal and finalise the temporary transfer details. The story they'd fed the principals of both schools was that Wyatt had been chosen for a transfer program sponsored by the BBA.
After going over everything with the principal, Kai went with Wyatt up to his dormitory to gather his things.
"It's weird," Wyatt said as he placed thing neatly in his suitcases. Kai looked at him but didn't say anything, Wyatt went on anyway. "I never thought something like this would happen to me." He laughed. "Actually, I never thought I'd ever meet you either, but here you are, the great Kai Hiwatari."
"You would have met me eventually," Kai told him quietly. "I was supposed to come here this year."
"But your job got in the way." Wyatt grinned. "That would be so awesome, being a world champion and working for the BBA. The most I'll ever achieve in that area is managing to be school champion." Kai noticed that he held a blade in his hands, which he packed away. He could work that into the cover story somehow. Why else would Kai be socialising with him?
"Ready?" he asked gruffly. Wyatt nodded. Kai opened the door for him and grabbed one of the suitcases for him.
"Thanks." They went down to the dormitory entrance where a car was waiting for them. The driver took the bags and opened the door for Kai and Wyatt. They closed the door and were off.
Wyatt glanced nervously at Kai throughout the journey. The silent beyblader was intimidating, but the quiet was staring to get on his nerves a bit.
"So, do you want to battle me one time?"
"Why bother?"
Wyatt looked hurt at the harsh response. "Well, you might want to train a bit."
"I don't blade that much any more. No one's worth my time."
"What about your teammates?"
Kai stilled and a flash of pain crossed his features. "I don't talk much with them any more." Wyatt didn't dare ask any more hearing the chill in his voice and decided that silence might be better for the ride back to … wherever they were going. Actually, Wyatt had no idea where they would be staying or who with.
"Err, Kai?" The blader looked over and Wyatt grinned weakly. "Where are we going exactly?"
"A small house in town purchased by the BBA, we'll be using for now." Kai frowned again and looked away, thinking of something. Wyatt nodded and decided to keep quite, for real this time.
I just wish Mr. Dickinson has purchased it somewhere on the other side of town. But Kai got the feeling he hadn't. Looking out the window, his heart sank as he realised the house was actually down the street from Tyson. Damn, my life cannot get any worse.
* * *
Luckily for him, Kai had not run into Tyson at all, having enough to do with the house.
It hadn't been opened in at least a month and was in dire need of a cleaning. Especially since it was autumn now. Kai stared at the dusty rooms and shuddered slightly.
He was a perfectionist with everything, not just beyblading. This weekend would be dedicated to cleaning the house out. Wyatt seemed not to notice though.
He nodded his approval. "Where do we sleep?"
"Down that hallway there are rooms. Take your pick." Kai was still wandering around finding out what needed fixing and cleaning to care what rooms to choose.
Wyatt shrugged and followed the orders. He chose a room near the back, leaving Kai to chose between the other three. Then he walked outside to see what the grounds were like.
"Wow," he breathed upon seeing the garden. It was slightly overgrown, having not been tended for a month, but it was still breathtaking. It was almost a forest, the house actually backed up onto the edge of the park and the edge of the nearby reserve. The trees formed two of the sides to the small property. There was a water garden in one corner bristling with plants around it. A small walkway wound through the back yard.
"It's impressive," Kai commented, coming up behind Wyatt, "though a bit too easily accessible for the situation."
Wyatt frowned at his housemate's attitude. Living with Kai was going to be a chore, that much he knew.
* * *
It was late, but Kai couldn't sleep. He paced his room for a while then went out into the living room and sat down, wondering why he was so agitated.
He snorted. He knew exactly why he was so jittery. Tomorrow he would be seeing Tyson again after over a year of not seeing him. He wondered if Tyson still hated him for leaving like that, especially after the confrontation. He probably did. Tyson forgave easily, but he wouldn't forgive this. Kai always seemed to do things that Tyson never forgot or forgave. Recalling the look on Tyson's face when he discovered he'd switched sides in Russia, Kai winced.
He'd finally admitted it to himself somewhere during the time he'd been away. He loved Tyson, he had for a while, before he even got together with Rei. He'd been so freaked out by his feelings that he'd turned to the only person who seemed to understand him at the time, and Rei was only too willing to help him out.
Would he do so now too?
Kai's hand hovered over the telephone for a while. It would still be afternoon over there, he thought, looking at his watch. That decided, he dialed a number he'd memorised.
There were only two rings before someone picked up. "Hello?"
"Lee, it's Kai."
"I'll get Rei."
"Thanks." Kai waited for a while then he heard someone else pick up.
"Kai?"
Kai smiled slightly. "Hey Rei."
"Hi, how are you?"
"Fine … actually, not."
Kai could almost see Rei's surprised look. "Uh hey, you know you can talk to me about it."
"That's why I'm calling," Kai said dryly.
"Oh … yeah, I guess so." Kai shook his head and smiled. "So what's up?"
"I'm back home."
"Really? Since when?"
"Yesterday. I've got a job to do, looking after this kid Biovolt might be after for a hostage. We're going to be hiding out at the high school pretending we're normal." Rei laughed. Kai frowned at the sound of it. "You don't think I could be normal?"
"At high school? No, sorry Kai, but I can't picture it. Actually, you just in high school is kind of funny."
"You know, I call for help for the first time ever and you laugh at me. That's not very encouraging, now is it."
"I'm sorry. Continue on."
"You do know who would obviously go to the local high school."
"Tyson." Rei finally understood. "You're freaked about seeing him again. You shouldn't be you know, Tyson's a forgiving guy. Hey, if I forgave you for running off, he should too."
"No, that's not all."
"So I thought." Rei went quiet all of a sudden. "You caught up with him that night."
"Yeah."
"I lied before, Tyson hasn't forgiven me yet."
"For what?" Kai was confused. Why would Tyson be angry with Rei? He hadn't done anything.
Rei paused and Kai realised he was hiding something. "Just for something I did. Look, I'm sure Tyson doesn't hate you, believe me, you'll be fine. The most you should have to worry about is him tackling you so hard in a hug you crack some ribs."
Kai smiled at the image. "Yeah, I guess so." He looked at his watch. "I should get some sleep, I have to get up early so I'm not late."
"I'll bet Tyson'll be late."
"I won't take that bet, I know I'll lose." They both laughed. "Thanks for this Rei."
"Any time."
"Sure. Talk to you later some time."
"Yeah. Bye." They hung up. Kai sighed and got up, heading back to his room, slightly more relieved than before. After all, there was nothing like talking to your best friend about your troubles to relax you.
He didn't notice Wyatt watching him. I wonder why he's so reluctant to meet with Tyson again? He shrugged and closed his door. I guess I'll find out eventually.
* * *
Rei frowned slightly as he hung up.
Kai had thought right, he was hiding something. Tyson was still mad at him for sleeping with Kai. When Rei had left for China, Tyson hadn't even come to see him off. It hurt, but then Rei should have realised that was the sort of reaction he would get from Tyson. He loved Kai and Rei had known it and still was with him. Towards the end, after he found out about Tyson's feelings, he'd felt so guilty that at times he couldn't even bear to be in the same room as either of them. He'd realised Kai had feelings for Tyson just before they broke their 'relationship' off.
He'd never forget it. They were at the castle, just arriving by bus with all the others. He'd gotten off after Kai and stood staring at the castle, as everyone else did when they got off the bus. Tyson however, had started staring before he even got off and accidentally tripped on the bottom step. He would have gone sprawling all over the pavement if Kai hadn't caught him. Rei watched the two of them and noticed both their blushes. But most importantly, he noticed the way that Kai continued to watch Tyson from the corner of his eye with a slightly softer expression on his face. It was obvious to Rei then that he'd gotten himself in the middle of a very serious situation.
What was worse was that he didn't even like Kai in that way. Sure he was gorgeous and a great kisser (among other things), but he didn't want to get too involved with him. It was just a bit of fun. But Tyson didn't know that. He thought they were serious and refused to speak to Rei after Kai left. He thought that the two of them had talked and Kai said something to Tyson. What was really frustrating was that both of them liked each other but didn't know it and refused to act on their emotions. Kai because he thought Tyson hated him now and Tyson because he thought Kai liked him. Rei felt like screaming.
"Argh! I wish I'd never slept with him!"
"You slept with KAI?!" Rei whirled around to see Lee standing in the doorway, his eyes wide. "When … how … why …?!"
Rei sighed. "Long story with a pointless ending. To put it simply, he's in love with Tyson, Tyson likes him, I got in the middle without even realising it and now they won't get together unless someone pushes them." Rei sighed again. "Guess it'll have to be me, no one else knows about all this."
"You're leaving again?" Lee looked sad. "Make sure you write." He grinned. "And keep me updated on the unfolding drama."
Rei rolled his eyes. "I will." He looked around at the place that had he'd called home again after so long away and felt a pang of homesickness already. But he had to do this. The two of them were his friends and he wanted to see them happy.
"Guess I'm off to Japan again."
AN: How was that? Soon I shall have everyone in the fic. But next chapter is definitely the most interesting.