title: Just Out Of My Reach
pairings: Tyson/Kai
disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. Yet. –shifty eyes-
author's notes: I was listening to "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from the Lion King so there'll inevitably be fluff. Fluffy as cotton candy. I have an idea for where I'm going to go with this story, and be warned that it'll no longer follow the episodes and start going off into my own little ideas…
---
It had well and gotten out I'd spent the night by Tyson's side in the hospital. But Ray (who, bless his soul, is understanding and observant) covered for me. He merely told lectured them all in that tone, that one where he talked like he was explaining to a little kid, about 'how wouldn't they have done that if someone close to them had been in the hospital?'. Most hung their head in shame and scuffed their foot against the ground, but Hillary remained a little prick.
I really hate that girl.
But Tyson was pretty much indifferent about the whole thing. He saw nothing wrong with the fact I slept in a chair beside that hospital bed and held his hand while he slept, but he was all drugged up on painkillers and such so I'm not sure if he'll still believe that later.
It seems so.
But Tyson's not like everyone else.
Let's not go there right now.
Ray, Max, Chief, and I are all sort of sitting near that area where we usually train, the one that faces the ocean. Max is at the ledge, letting his feet dangle over, Kenny's on a bench, typing away at his lap-top, Ray's in a tree, eyes closed, and I'm just sort of standing in the middle of it all. It's quiet.
Too quiet.
It bothers me, darnit.
"It was really nice of you to stay with Tyson, Kai," Max says suddenly, but quietly. He picks up a pebble and throws it towards the water half-heartedly, watching it fall for a minute before it actually hits the saltwater. Max is most certainly not his perky self today. "I kinda wish I had. Makes me feel bad I didn't. I mean, he's one of my best friends, ya know?"
Everything fell silent again, and then Kenny sighed.
"I agree, Max. He's our friend. We should have stayed longer…"
"You're very thoughtful when you want to be, Kai," Dizzy piped up, and if computers could smile, I know she would have.
"Yeah. But hey," Ray opened his eyes and leaned forward, smiling at us all. "At least someone stayed there."
All their eyes now focused on me. Oh great.
"Yes Kai, you've been awfully quiet… anything you'd like to share?" Kenny asked, tilting his head at me.
"Not…" I stop. Oh, there's a lot. But let's stick to something noble and vague. "It's not a bad thing that you guys didn't. Really, though. If you stop to think about it, we're all equally concerned about Tyson-- " Lie. Lie. I love him, I'm more worried. " – I just chose to act on it. You shouldn't feel any guilt. Just because you didn't stay doesn't mean you don't care for him any less." Yes it does. I'm just not voicing that.
"Yeah…" Max smiled. "Thanks, Kai."
I just nod.
There's a soft thump and my head turns a little. Ray's just jumped out of the tree. That's nice.
"But wait," he smiled a little. Oh. Devious smile. Bad. "Maybe Kai does care a little more than we do, hm? Whadda ya say, Kai? Any extra feelings?"
Kenny caught that and replied faster than I could. "Wait, Ray, are you implying that-- "
"I'm not implying anything," Ray defended, raising his hands into a surrendered position. "I'm just saying." He winked at me and walked away, followed closely by Kenny, who persisted in asking questions. Poor boy. He didn't understand much that wasn't found in a book and thoroughly explained.
And that leaves Max. He's just sitting still, staring down at the water, silent. Finally, he flops backwards onto his back, staring up, then his attention switches to me. "So? Is that it, Kai?" he grins. "Do you like Tyson like that?"
My cheeks turn scarlet and I open and close my mouth, but no noise comes out.
"Aw, come on Kai! I won't tell! Really, I promise. C'mere. Sit down."
I shuffle awkwardly over and sit cross-legged next to him, blushing like crazy.
"So…?"
"So what?"
"Oh, don't act like you don't know! Do you like Tyson?"
"Sure, he's my friend--"
"Like that?"
Long, awkward pause.
Hey, I can trust Max, right? And if I don't tell someone, I'll freaking explode.
"… yeah …"
"That's so awesome!"
Before I can figure out what's going on, Max has sat upright and is hugging me.
"Trust me, Kai, I won't tell anyone!" Well, at least he's all gleeful-like again… "You guys would be really cute together." Bubbly once more, Max stood up and waved a little. "I gotta go, but hey—best of luck to ya!"
Well, I officially have one supporter.
We're back at the hospital. Tyson is supposedly doing much better and I can't wait to see him, but Max gets to go in first. If he spills anything, I swear I'll wring his little neck…
"You may go in now," a tall, blonde nurse smiles and bows a little, then holds the door open to us. Ray and I walk in, Ray smiling more. Hey, Tyson didn't need to know I was absolutely overjoyed that he was healthier.
When we got in there, Tyson was already babbling about how he was feeling a lot better, but it was nice here and he got to stay out of school and whatnot. Aw. Adorable. Not that I let on that I think that, of course.
In a surge of happiness, he bounces on the bed, proving his ankle is well and healed.
"Tyson!"
Not that annoying, whiny, voice that could only belong to…
"Hillary?" he questions, looking panicked. Chief is behind her, too. Tyson immediately drops down to the bed and scurries under the covers, glaring at her.
"Just what do you think you're doing?"
"I had a leg cramp, geeeeez!"
Oh, hey, I give him credit, that was good.
"You better have, mister, because if you're faking…"
"I'm not!"
Liar. Oh well. Hillary's a brat, she deserves it. She shouldn't get to know the truth.
"Well, I brought someone I know you want to see…"
Tyson's eyes flicked to me and I turned pink. Me? He wanted to see me? I know that's not what Hillary meant, but was I really the first thing that came to mind?
"Tyson?"
High voice, and very nervous. We all turned to see a brown haired woman blinking at him.
"Ms. Kincaid?"
Oh. His teacher.
Tyson suddenly put on the sick act, slinking down underneath the covers and letting his eyelids droop and look all around ill. If I didn't know he was faking, I would've tackled him in a big hug to make it better. Which would be very unlike me…
"Oh, Ms. Kincaid, I'll I've thought about is school and how I'm missing so much." Fake cough. He's really bad at this.
"Hillary told me so. So I brought you a present…" She held out a pink box with yellow ribbon, smiling a little.
"Oh boy!" He sat upright, taking the box and grinning. "Thanks, Ms. Kincaid! I bet it's a cake! Bet you guys it's a cake! I get the first—huh?" He blinked at what was really in the box. Papers. "Geometry?"
"W-Well, Hillary said it was your favorite subject…"
"Ohhh…." Tyson groaned, sliding back down on the bed and pouting.
So he wanted a cake, huh?
Later that night I showed back up at the Hospital, a paper bag in my hands. Tyson was going to be happy or else. The nurse smiled, recognizing me, and showed me in. All the other kids were sleeping. Not Tyson though. He was turned on his side, facing the door, and blinked curiously when he saw me come in. "Kai…?" He sat up, tilting his head, not understanding. Yet.
"Hey," I murmured, moving and sitting at the foot of his bed.
"Whazzat?" he nodded at the bag, head still cocked to the side.
I reach inside and pull out a small cake, chocolate with white frosting, decorated with little candy roses.
"A cake?" he asks, then suddenly lurches forward. At first I thought he was going to steal the cake out of my hands, but then his arms are wrapped around my neck and his cheek is pressed against mine… and… and… ohhh. So nice. "Thank you," he mumbles happily, and does something he did once before, just not in the same area. He presses a kiss to my cheek, the same innocence and pureness there as the one to my forehead after the mine. Then he pulls away and goes to hyper, hungry Tyson mode. "So…? We gonna eat it or admire it?"
I laugh a little, blushing, and reach back into the bag, pulling out a fork. It's just for him. No we. This is for Tyson and only him.
"Kai, you're--" chomp, chomp, chew. "--thoughtful. I mean--" chomp, swallow, another bite. "---no one else has ever--" chew, chew, chew. "--been so nice to me."
He paused, then held out a forkful of cake to me. "Want it?"
"No, Tyson, I got this for you and--"
And he's pushed the cake to my lips. Not past them, but to them.
"Kai, you gotta. You bought it for me, you should get some. And it's really good, Kai. Kaaaiii…"
"Fine!"
I open my mouth and close it around the cake, chewing and swallowing.
"Are you happy now?"
Tyson giggled. Yes, giggled. He leaned forward, brushing a crumb off the corner of my mouth.
"No, Kai, you got the frosting… all over… your… lips…"
Everything fell quiet as his face hovered mere centimeters away from mine. His breath is falling across my lips and his cheeks are bright red and he looks so… so…
I don't know. Beautiful. Amazing. I just… want… to… kiss…
"Tyson…?"
No!
No, no, no, no!
God back to bed, you dumb kid!
Tyson jerked back and smiled at the little redhead, one bed over, who's blinking at him.
"What're you doing…?" he mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
"My friend here, Kai, brought me cake. I was just eating some. Nothing big. It's okay, dude, go back to sleep."
The kid nods a little, only half-awake, and tumbles back into dream land. I sigh, standing.
"I should get going…" I say softly, collecting the bag. "I'll leave the cake here for you and…"
"Kai, look at me."
I turn my attention to Tyson, who's suddenly very, very close.
"There's frosting on your lips."
And then Tyson's mouth pressed against mine and held there for a moment, until I responded to him, wrapping my arms around his smaller frame. He licked my lips and it's not like I don't know what he's doing, but it's still really nice…
He pulls back and smiles dreamily, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck and I hear a soft purr.
Wait, the purr was me. Aha… ha… embarrassing.
"Stay with me…?" he lifted blue eyes to meet mine and I couldn't help but agree to stay by his side. Just one more night.
And while I sit there, my head resting on the pillow near his but my body in the chair next to the bed, I suddenly realize my new appreciation for cake.