Disclaimer: Beyblade and all its likeness does not belong to me. No profits are being made off this story.

story written by: Glay

LOSING KAI AGAIN

[Chapter 4: Forgotten With Sleep]

If it was one thing that Tyson prided himself in, excluding his Beyblade talent or eating talent, it was his sincerity.

Right now he was standing outside of Kai's hotel room, hand poised over the door for a knock. Of course, Ray and Max were hiding behind a corner to make sure he got into the room.

The only thing troubling Tyson was the fact that he was going to show Kai extreme affection because of a dare. And really, it shouldn't have meant anything to him, but it did.

So he tried to make himself really want to hug and kiss Kai just for the sake of wanting it, and found that he didn't have to try very hard.

That kind of disturbed him. Well, he supposed, it had been a very long time since he'd been in any kind of contact with Kai. It was almost as if he missed the way he'd try to comfort the other teen, or try to persuade him into joining in on the fun. In a way, this was something that would coax an interesting reaction out of the other.

"Pssst! Get going, Tyson! We don't have all night!!" Max whispered from behind the corner.

Rolling his eyes, Tyson knocked.

And knocked. "Kai?"

Inside the room, Kai jolted from his slumber. Disoriented, he fumbled around and found the light switch for the bedside lamp. How he had fallen asleep?

Looking around he spotted the clock and read the time. 'About ten after ten. Hn.' Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he wondered briefly what had caused him to wake.

"Kai? Are you in there?" A voice questioned from outside his door.

Kai jumped in surprise. He walked over to the door and looked through the peephole, shocked at who he saw.

'What's he doing here?'

"Are you okay, Kai?! Kai!" Tyson began to knock louder. Max and Ray sweat dropped.

Ray hissed, "He's probably sleeping!"

"Well he sure won't be with the noise Tyson's making." Max replied wryly.

Quickly composing himself, the tall teen ran a hand through his sleep rumpled hair, and straightened his shirt.

"Who is it?" He asked in an imposing voice.

"It's me, Tyson!"

Gently placing his hand over the doorknob, Kai opened the door.

The hotel door creaked open making Tyson's hand stop in mid-knock. "Kai!"

"Tyson." The other said in a slightly tired voice. "What are you doing here?"

It came out more agitated than he intended, and for a moment Kai became nervous that Tyson would leave him alone.

Around the time he had been awake before unknowingly drifting off, Kai had made a promise to himself to show his appreciation of Tyson more. If the team captain couldn't have the same affection from the other as before, then he'd try to balance it out himself. Of course, he knew it would probably make him look silly and he would drop the whole plan if it backfired but it was worth a shot. The only thing was that Kai had no idea on how to go about being more… affectionate… to Tyson.

Tyson smiled at Kai. "Can I come in?"

The smile sent a now all too familiar zing down his spine causing Kai to step back from the doorway. "Sure…"

From behind the corner, Max and Ray's eyes widened. They looked at each other in surprise.

"Kai just let him in there! No questions asked!!" The blond jabbered.

"Yeah, I don't believe it!" Ray exclaimed in awe. Kai never let someone go into his room! Unless they were sharing it, at least…

Max suddenly yelled, "wait a minute!!"

"What?"

"Just how will we know if Tyson does it or not?!"

Ray scratched his head. "Uh, I guess, we'll know when Tyson is thrown outta the room with Kai yelling at him to 'Never do that again, or else!!!'"

"Still," Max contemplated, "I think we should get some water glasses and try to listen in anyway. Oh, and some snacks… this may take a while."

"Right." The other agreed and they quickly ran back to their rooms to grab the glasses.

~*~*~*~

Tyson walked further into the hotel room. It looked exactly like his only it was a lot neater. Kai's suitcases were arranged in an organized way at the side waiting to be unpacked. In Tyson's room, his clothes were already all over the floor from earlier when he and Max had torn through his suitcase looking for the photos he brought along to show them. Max had wanted to see what the World Champion had done in Japan while he had been in America with his mom.

Kai walked slowly pass the other and sat on the bed while strange emotions pooled in his stomach. He didn't know why Tyson was in his room, but he was going to make the best of this opportunity. The good thing was that the others weren't there, so he wouldn't have any other witnesses to him trying his hand becoming closer to the World Champion. Now he just needed a good place to start…

"Soooo, Kai…" Tyson started off.

His palms were getting a bit sweaty at the prospect of putting them on Kai. He felt kind of awkward just standing in the middle of the room, but didn't think Kai would like it if he just flopped onto his bed.

It was taking every bit of willpower Tyson had to be careful of his actions. This had to be executed perfectly – or he would end up being turned into fish food!

"Yes?"

"Uh, well I just came here to, y'know, tell you that I'm glad you've come back."

The other nodded. "Being retired is boring."

Tyson grinned. "Yeah, I know what you mean! I can't wait for this tournament, I mean, I am totally stoked! Uuuuh, wait, I've said that already, haven't I?"

Kai couldn't help the small smile that made its way across his face. He stretched out onto his side in what he hoped looked like a relaxed manner.

"So you came here to talk, then?"

"Uh, yeah. Sorry, were you sleeping?" Tyson said sheepishly.

"Yes," Kai saw the other's face fall so he quickly continued, "but you can stay. Sit down." He gestured to the bed.

He didn't notice Tyson gulp.

'Oh MAN, Kai is being way too nice. He probably knows that I'm on a dare!!' Tyson thought frantically. He lifted his thumb to his mouth and started to bite on the nail. 'But how? He can't know! Aw, all right, I better keep at it to make sure… Besides, I hardly ever get to hangout with old sourpuss.'

Tyson grinned and jumped on the bed making Kai bounce a bit. To his delight, the taller boy's smile didn't falter. So, the world champion hesitantly stretched out on his side like Kai, facing him, and curled his arm underneath his head.

Their gazes locked.

~*~*~*~

"Quit with the chit-chat Tyson and get with the – OH MY GOD! I think I heard the bed bounce!!!" Max yelled as loudly as he dared. He and Ray were right outside the door with their ears to glasses pressed up against it.

The Chinese boy shushed him and pointed at the door, indicating to keep listening.

They quieted with excitement and curiosity bubbling in their stomachs.

~*~*~*~

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"We've all changed a lot though."

"No way!" the pony-tailed boy smirked. "I'm still the same!"

"You're joking! I think you've changed the most." Kai said, eyebrow quirked. He continued mentally, 'you've grown up. And I think I like you even more for it.'

"Oh yeah? Name one thing!"

"Well…" Internal alarms went off in Kai's head. This was potential compliment territory. He bit his lip; he didn't want to come off as too strong. "You're not so chubby anymore."

"Hey!" Tyson yelped indignantly. That was the second time this night that he'd been picked on about his previous flabbiness.

Still, Tyson was surprised at the other teen's friendly teasing. "So, at least I'm not so attached to a dumb scarf!"

Kai frowned. "I'll have you know I didn't wear it for a long time. You wear that baseball cap everywhere you go. I've never even seen you without it unless you're sleeping."

Tyson sweat dropped. "…Oh yeah." Then the team captain did something that totally knocked his socks off.

He reached over slowly, and removed Tyson's baseball cap. Midnight blue bangs fell around and into his surprised face.

Kai wasn't watching the other boy in fear of his reaction, so instead he pretended to study the hat intently. It was really ordinary and plain. Somehow it made his heart do flip-flops.

"Is it lucky?" He questioned still looking at the hat.

"You could say that." Tyson smiled, rubbing his hand over his head. The burgundy eyed boy glanced over Tyson's shoulder.

"Your hair has also gotten a lot longer too."

"Well, yeah, but so has yours!!" He pointed to the grey bangs on Kai's head. They were all over the bed spread and messed up. "I was so surprised when I saw it. It's darker and so big!! I would have thought you'd like it better the way it was before."

Kai huffed. "Well, I guess it got darker over the time I spent away. I didn't really notice and I haven't thought about cutting it…" Inwardly he was hacking his hair off.

How had this conversation gone to their hair? Tyson thought frantically of a way to change it so that he could get the dare over with. It wasn't as if he wasn't having a good time with Kai, but Max and Ray were probably waiting out in the corridor and plotting his demise if he didn't come out soon.

'Oh maaan, I'm being killed on both ends!' He thought forlornly.

While Tyson had been thinking, Kai decided he'd go for another compliment.

"Hey, Tyson, I-I..ah…" He trailed off, eyes going wide.

The World Champion's attention shot towards the other on the bed. Kai was clutching at his side in desperation.

"AHHH!!!" The teen yelled in pain.

~*~*~*~

"Uh-oh, that yell did not sound good." The two Bladebreakers outside of Kai's door paled, their muscles clenching in panic.

"Let's get outta here!" Max shrieked, his teeth chattered in fear.

Thinking that Kai's yell of pain had been one of anger, the two bolted down the corridor back to their rooms.

~*~*~*~

Tyson jumped in shock. "Kai! Are you okay?! Say something!" In a split second he was by the other's side. Kai was curled up in agony, breathing raggedly.

"Please, tell me what's wrong!"

"I-It's nothing." The team captain bit out through his clenched teeth. However a new pain settled in Kai's heart as he saw the deeply concerned look in Tyson's eyes. The only thing that seemed to ring through his mind was that Tyson still cared and was trying to help him.

Slowly Kai's breathing returned to normal and he unclenched his teeth. He went to remove his hand from his side when he noticed that there was a heavy warmth resting on top of it.

Tyson had his hand over his own, tenderly trying to make the pain in his side go away.

"What happened Kai?"

The teen's worried voice shot Kai full of an emotion he could not identify.

"I…It was just cramps. Stress and overworking do that to me…"

The blue-eyed boy didn't look too convinced with Kai's explanation but none the less, he relaxed a bit, sinking down onto his side again, closer to Kai than he had been before.

Shaking, Kai interlaced the fingers of the hand that was on his side with Tyson's, moving the World Champion's hand off his side. His hold lingered before he let go and his hand coiled into a fist.

He absolutely hated showing weakness, and this was the first time he'd had to deal with one of his pains in front of someone else. Closing his eyes in humiliation, Kai realised that his face was burning and how much he wanted to close the distance between he and the other teen.

How much he wanted to hug Tyson, and… and kiss him…

He rolled onto his back, his arm coming up to over his eyes.

Tyson was thinking the exact opposite.

'I have no idea what that was, but Kai doesn't look all right to me.' His brow furrowed. 'I guess, I'll have to keep an eye on him then… oh man… the dare! He'd kill me for sure now… but then again, he's kinda out of it, I could just – what am I thinking?!'

He looked at Kai's face, which was half hidden by his long bangs and his arm. All his could see was his nose and lips.

Tyson decided. 'I can't go through with it.'

In Kai's mind he could see the horror and disgust that would undoubtedly be on Tyson's face if he tried to fulfill his desire. It was probably best if the other boy left so that the intense feelings running through his veins could cool. He opened his eyes with regret; he didn't have the heart to tell Tyson to leave.

He didn't want him to leave.

"Tyson…?" He ventured.

"Yeah?"

"Could you do me a favour?"

Tyson sat up from his reclined position. "What is it?"

"Get me a glass of water…"

The pains were probably worse than the team captain let on, Tyson realised as he went to the bathroom to retrieve the water. The other boy looked so tired that the World Champion immediately felt guilty for barging in to complete a dare when he had been sleeping.

When he re-entered the main area, Kai hadn't moved and looked very still. Panic rose within Tyson before he noticed that the other had just fallen asleep.

A small smile climbed over his features and he set the glass down on the night table.

"'Night, Kai…"

He grabbed his cap twisting it back onto his head, turned off the light, and left.

The night passed quickly for the Bladebreakers as they all lay in their beds in separate rooms. And an uncompleted dare was forgotten with sleep.

~*~*~*~

Aw man, Tyson couldn't go through with it!! But he cares about his friends too much to be dishonest with his feelings!

For those of you who want to SEE a picture of Kai hugging Tyson from G-Revolution then go here (take the spaces out):

http:// www. webpost. net/ ty / tykai / HUG.jpg
http:// www. webpost. net/ ty / tykai/ ghug.gif (Animated gif of it, I made for LJ icon)

And please! All Tykai fans please go to Techno Ranma's and My site!!! The name is HUG ME. It's all about Ty/Kai! We need some content (heavily under construction) but please visit! We want all Ty/Kai fans to know that there IS a site for them out there!!


http:// www. geocities. com/ tykai4ever (take the spaces out! All images used in layout were drawn by me - more everything coming!)