Chapter 21
Castles in the Sky: It's winter here, yes, so it's kinda cold. Rarely snows where I live though. And Lee needs to do something alright!
Kappy Locks: A month in a half? Internet withdrawal. Had that. Wasn't fun. But think of it this way: plenty to read when you come back! :p
Ashla: Food? I skipped lunch today. I slept in til 10:30 and had a late breakfast, so I didn't eat again til tea. Yummy home made soup, I did have. And I let my mother do most of my cooking. Not that I can't cook, it's just that I'm the one who has too feed that animals. Takes time that. Look, now I'm rambling.
russle: If only it were that easy. And it would make the story a whole lot shorter, wouldn't it? :p
dead yet a love sick puppy: Poor Lee indeed.
LingXiaoyu: Thank you so much. That thing with the flowers just came out and I thought 'wow'.
the tigris: Keep reviewing and I'll never hate you :D :p ;)
Koneko no Rei: Oliver has made an appearance? Goody! And don't worry about not updating. I took a while too. Been busy. Hopefully reviewers will understand we writers have lives outside the net. ;)
Dancing Wolf: Marking as a favourite is always good for finding a fic. Either that or adding a fic to 'author alerts' so you can catch the next update. All tricks I use myself. Glad to have you, and I'm looking forward to your 'proper' review as you called it.
Chibi Wingzero: At least he won't starve to death, agreed. That's one thing we can be thankful for.
KuronekoHikage: Pouring here too. But it is winter. And I wouldn't mind clinging to Lee either. :D
You've got to feel sorry for Lee. I just wish someone would give Kevin a good earbashing.
"Look Kev, you're really starting to get on my nerves."
The day was clear, the five bladers walking through the park as Kevin had joined them for his day off, not wanting to spend it home with Lee who had in turn gone out. Max had his arm linked through Tyson's, Oliver flirting relentlessly with Enrique, trying to get the elder to snap and admit that he did like the Frenchman.
Max patted Tyson's arm with his other hand. "Easy, Ty."
Tyson growled, shaking his head. "I can't take it easy. Not anymore. I've had it." Tyson raised his eyes toward the neko-jin, blue eyes blazing. "Kev, this thing you've got against Lee is completely and utterly ridiculous! It's not Lee's fault Mariah raped you! What is it going to take to get through that thick skull of yours that the man still loves you!?"
Kevin shot a glare at him. "But he don't love me. Maybe he did once but not anymore. Hell, the guy doesn't even like himself. If he can't look after himself, then how the hell can he look after me, hm?"
Enrique sighed. "Kevin, the reason Lee isn't looking after himself is because he is so busy pining over you."
"He ain't pining. He's sulkin', that's what he's doing. He can't have his own way so he's throwing a wobbly. And it ain't me he's pining over. He's pining over that #1 placing Ray has."
Tyson let out an infuriated yell, lunging himself at Kevin. "That's it! I'm gonna do what Kai said in the first place and beat it into you!"
Max grabbed his arm, Enrique and Oliver moving quickly to restrain the Japanese teen to stop him from reaching his target. Max gritted his teeth. "Ty, cool it."
"No!" Tyson's eyes flashed, teeth grinding as Kevin stood back, eyes wide with surprise. "Can't you see you're killing him, Kevin? He can't eat, he can't sleep, he can't concentrate! He wants you back!"
Kevin turned away. "He can want me all he wants, but I'm not getting involved again. Hell, I don't even know why I'm still living with the guy." He grunted. "Maybe its time I moved out, struck out on my own. That was the plan anyway. I'd stay with him a while until I could stand on my own two feet, and move on. Getting involved with him was never part of the plan."
"Who cares about the plan!?" Tyson's eyes narrowed. "You still love him, admit it. You're going through a bad time and you're shutting him out just when you need him. Why? Why are you doing that to him?"
Kevin growled, jaw tightening. "I'm not doing anything to him. What's happening to Lee he brought upon himself. I had nothing to do with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, but I've got somewhere I need to be."
They watched him walk off, releasing their hold on Tyson once he was out of sight, Max shooting him a glare. "Well that was clever."
"You made things worse, I believe," Enrique agreed, nodding after the neko-jin. "Now he's thinking of moving out."
"He is, isn't he?" Tyson slumped in Max's arms, dejection washing over him. "Aw man, if Kev moves out Lee will kill himself, and it'll be all my fault."
"Actually, it'll be Kevin's fault," Max said. "But you'll have a hand in it."
Tyson glared at him out the corner of his eye. "Thanks for nothing."
Max helped him straighten, leaning forward to brush his lips against the youngers. "Its not over yet, Ty. Not until the fat lady sings."
Tyson pointed over his shoulder. "Like that one?"
They looked up, spotting the obese woman walking through the park, headset on as she sang along to a song they couldn't hear. Max shot an unamused look at Tyson before he reached out and took his hand.
"Come on, I want to show you something." Max led the way through the park toward a place by the lake. The reeds were high, Max pushing his way through and stopping near the edge, crouching. "Look."
Tyson, Enrique and Oliver all peered toward where he pointed, smiling as they spotted the mother duck sitting on her eggs.
Max smiled. "I've been keeping an eye on her since I came back from America. They're due to hatch anyday now. They're the last eggs for the season."
Tyson frowned. "Max, I didn't know you liked ducks."
"You kidding? I love ducks." He paused, smiling seductively as he leant closer to Tyson, sliding a hand over his chest. "Not as much as I love you, though."
Tyson grinned, pulling Max into a fierce kiss, the elder moaning softly. Enrique and Oliver exchanged a look, moving away as the two fell into and got lost in the reeds, hands roaming each others bodies.
"Maybe they should lend what they've got to Lee and Kevin," Enrique said as he and Oliver moved around the edge of the lake, finding a log and settling down on it. "I mean, Kevin and Lee cannot get together, while Tyson and Max can't keep off each other."
Oliver nodded, still able to hear the soft moaning coming from their friends. "Or keep out of each other."
Enrique grinned, looking toward the water and watching the tiny fish swimming underneath the surface.
Oliver shifted in the silence. "Enrique?"
"Yes Oliver?"
"About… about us…"
Enrique looked down at him, a small frown on his handsome face. "There is no us. We've discussed it many times. Our social positions and family traditions do not allow it."
"Maybe, but would it not be the same for Kai?"
Enrique's eyebrows rose. "Kai?"
Oliver nodded. "He is now one of the wealthiest men in the world and the last in the line of a great family. It would be important for him to marry and have a son or daughter in order to keep his family line strong. And yet he has chosen to commit himself to Ray." Oliver closed his eyes thoughtfully. "And if what I've heard is true, Tala would be the same. The Ivanovs' are not as well known as the Hiwataris', but in Russia few within the beyblading industry do not know the name. Tala is the last descendent, and he is with Bryan."
Enrique frowned, looking into the water and seeing his reflection and Oliver's, the one he had admired for so long. "And the need for an heir?"
"IVF." Oliver nodded, remembering their previous discussions. "We can hire scientist to create a child of our genes and therefore have an heir. Not only that, but the Giancarlo and Polanski lines would finally be united. Our fathers would be able to see the profit in this union, I am sure."
Enrique nodded, knowing that his father had often remarked to friends that it was a pity that either Enrique or Oliver had not been a girl, else the families could have been united in marriage.
"Enrique?" Oliver opened his eyes, noting the thoughtful look on the others face. "Enrique?"
Enrique turned to him, reaching up to brush back the hair from Oliver's face before lips descended to meet the youngers. Oliver sighed in contentment, parting his lips and granting Enrique access as his fingers reached up to clutch Enrique's shirt, kissing him harder, tension draining from the air as they let down their guard and threw aside their values.
In the reeds there came a harsh moan, Max and Tyson reaching the pinnacle as one.
Oo I think someone really needs to tell these guys to 'get a room'. sweatdrop