Disclaimer: No, I don't own Beyblade…

Author's notes: Arghh! Sorry for the delay again… I have so much homework these days. Damn grade 12… Oh and also… I didn't realize Wyatt appeared in another episode _, I don't think it should of altered this story very much though.

Impossible

It has never been easy for me to talk with people. Even though I own Biovolt and I regularly give presentations or meetings, I was never talking with those individuals. The faces that surrounded me day in and day out heard what I said, but they knew that it was never addressed to a single person exclusively…

And when I realized this too, I think back a decade or more to him, always him, and try to recall the little things he said to me, and me alone. Those remarks that, even before I had these feelings, made me stop and wonder where they were coming from. Surely this kid couldn't believe half of what he said… But, now that I remember, I want to know what he thought when he looked at me. What did he see? A teammate? A friend?

He called me both in those times, but… There is always something more behind our words that we wish to say. And I wonder how much Tyson has not told me.

****

Sitting in the small but comfortable living room of the Granger household, the two guests and former Bladebreakers waited patiently for their host to return. It had not been long- maybe ten minutes at most, and Max knew he had to finish talking with Kai before Tyson and his grandpa came back.

"How did you know?" Kai asked, still uncomfortable about the blond's deduction.

"I may not have spotted a lot of things, but I'm not blind." Max grinned. "I saw you looking at him once… when he bent over to tie his shoe."

Kai's face reddened considerably and a deep scowl formed on his forehead. "I did no such thing!"

"Maybe, maybe not… but the point is, you weren't a complete statue Kai. Sometimes I even noticed the… other looks you gave him. They were so full of compassion."

The owner of Biovolt looked away, training his eyes on a piece of ink artwork framed on the wall. If Max had seen it, then surely Tyson would of…Kai's eyes snapped up. "And Tyson, did he- does he-?"

The blond shook his head. "I don't know… I don't think anyone else could see it."

Kai's hands clenched into fists. He had been wearing his heart on his sleeve and he hadn't even known…

"Tyson told me something once-" Max started and then paused, as if he were unsure of himself. "I remember it was one of those stupid conversations we always had. Y'know, the kind where the subject went all over the place… well, somehow love came up, of all things, and I know it was probably a passing comment, but I'll never forget what he said back then."

The coach of the new PPA team sat back into the living room chair. "He told me that love was like you, Kai."

He said that…? Kai thought in wonder. For Tyson to compare him to something like that… Could it be that he truly did have a chance? He felt as though a weight, that he hadn't known was there, had been lifted off his chest and hope filled him with lightness. The owner of Biovolt sat forward in his seat. "Did he say anything else?"

Max closed his eyes and held up his index finger, quoting. "Half the time you think you understand it, but for the other half you're completely lost. And even if it goes away for a while, when it comes back, it'll be stronger than before."

Kai could only sit still, stunned.

"Yeah…" Max smiled ruefully. "I was pretty surprised too. I think I asked him if he was high when he said it." The blond's tone became concerned. "I don't know if he still feels that way… it has been a long time. And don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to break up Tyson's wedding, but feelings like that wouldn't fade, right?"

"Why are you doing this Max?"

"I guess, because…sometimes people marry for the wrong reasons. I don't want to see that happen this time."

Kai shook his head, running a hand through his hair in agitation. "Since when have you become an expert on relationships?"

"My parents were separated, remember?" Max grinned at the roundabout compliment. "I've heard it all."

Suddenly the sound of a car engine pulling into the dojo driveway jolted the two young men out of their conversation, and pretty soon the thumps of the car doors slamming shut were heard. Tyson's loud voice wafted through the courtyard and reached their ears from outside as he and his grandfather came up the walk.

"Who's this you've got over, little dude?"

"I told you already. About twenty times!!"

The noise of keys rattling and being shoved into the front entrance spurred Max and Kai to stand and walk to the small foyer.

"Hey guys!! We're back!" Tyson stepped through the door, along with his old grandfather…and then Kai noticed someone else had entered too.

It was a girl.

The girl was holding a plastic bag with takeout food cartons stored inside. Her short black hair was cut in a plain bob style, and her dress was a simple pale pink coming just past her knees.

If he had seen this girl in a crowd somewhere, in the busy streets of Japan, the former team captain would not of spared her a second glance. There was nothing outstanding or eye-catching about her… and yet, there was a reason that Kai could not tear his eyes away.

Tyson had his arm around the girl's shoulder.

And it looked as though it had been there a hundred times before…

"Hey!! Guess who I found!" Tyson grinned and steered the girl in front of him.

"Naomi," Max exclaimed, surprised. "Did Tyson go and pick you up?"

The girl, Naomi, shook her head and smiled. "Actually, I was at the market and I saw Grandpa at the herbal medicine shop, so I waited with him. Oh! And we brought dinner!" The plastic bag was hefted.

"Here, let me take that for you." The blond reached out and took the bag from Naomi.

"Thank you… It's nice meeting you again, Max."

"You too." He smiled.

"You're still here Max?" Grandpa Granger asked. "Well c'mon homeboy, let's put that chow in the kitchen!!" The old timer waved a hand in the right direction, and the two departed from the room.

The three remaining people were left in the silence of the foyer. The girl's attention turned onto the owner of Biovolt and her face held a mildly curious expression. Kai glanced away from Naomi to Tyson and noticed with some nervousness that the man with the baseball cap was staring at him intently. Kai found himself captured in that gaze.

"Hello there…um…" Naomi started unsurely.

Tyson slipped his arm from around her shoulders and walked closer to Kai until they were only a few centimetres apart. The longhaired young man placed a hand on the taller one's shoulder and turned to his fiancée. "Kai, this is Naomi Walker. Naomi, I'd like you to meet Kai Hiwatari."

Naomi's dark eyes suddenly went wide with awe, and she stepped forward too then, reaching out swiftly to take Kai's right hand. "You're Kai?" She questioned earnestly.

And Kai could not speak.

Looking into those eyes, Kai wondered what Tyson saw in them that he had never seen in his. What is wrong with this picture? Kai's thoughts whirled. The girl who now had the heart of the one he loved was holding his hand, as if he were some kind of long lost brother. There was something inside of him that made him want to rip his hand away from her. He wanted to shove her aside and walk out of the house, because she didn't belong there. She couldn't love Tyson half as much as he did…

But the world moves in mysterious ways. Of the billions of people living and breathing on the planet, emotions exist in every one of them. But feelings can die, and some lives are more valued than others. Kai looked hard into Naomi's eyes, accusations in his stare. How can you measure our feelings? Can't you see that it's me that's loved him for so long… or is my love measured differently than yours because of who I am?

There were no answers to his silent questions, and Tyson's hand was still a heavy weight on his shoulder- a reminder, of whom he would be brushing off as well if he fell back into his old routine. He couldn't do that.

"I've… I've heard so many great things about you, Kai…" Naomi said quietly and let go of Kai's hand. She glanced at Tyson for help. Tyson released Kai as well then, to glance back.

"I…" Kai hastily said, breaking up the look. "I'm sure I'll hear great things about you, too." He finished.

"Oh, w-well," She floundered. "There's not much to tell!" Naomi smiled and backed away. "I'm going to go help Max and Grandpa set the table. Join us?"

The former team captain said nothing, watching as she walked swiftly towards the kitchen. Kai moved to follow, but Tyson quickly grabbed his arm.

"Hey… you'll stay for dinner?" The world champion asked.

"Yeah…"

Tyson's face burst into a grin. "Good!" He let go of Kai's arm. "I also…just wanted to say, thanks…for not snubbing Naomi…" Tyson said softly. "I guess you've changed a lot, Kai." A tender look crossed over the shorter man's face before they both began following Naomi's route into the kitchen for dinner.

No, Tyson. Kai's thoughts went unspoken. You're the one who changed me.

****

A few minutes later and all the food was laid out on the small but cozy dining table. Kai ended up sitting between Max and Grandpa and directly across from Naomi. Dinner started and for a while it was mostly quiet with the sounds of the group eating, but soon a conversation started up about the most interesting topic… the wedding.

"We've already booked the priest to marry us. We thought if we had the ceremony in the dojo, it could double as a reception hall afterwards." Naomi explained as she passed a container of noodles to Grandpa.

Tyson, in his seat beside Naomi, paused in his eating and gulped down some water. He patted his chest and set the glass back down. "Yeah! We'd save a lot of money, pluuus we don't really need a big fancy wedding anyway."

Naomi smiled at Tyson then looked at Max and Kai. "I know it must all sound so old-fashioned…being an arranged marriage and all, but I'm really grateful that you, Tyson's friends, will be helping. It means a lot!"

"Hey, I would've helped with any kind of wedding you two had!" Max exclaimed, then his eyebrows turned up into a thoughtful look. "How was it arranged anyway?" He voice became teasing. "Heh heheh…Tyson had too much trouble popping the question??"

Naomi suddenly looked a bit uncomfortable, and Tyson choked. "Max!!"

"I can handle this one, little dude!!" Grandpa Granger shouted loudly, and Kai beside him had to move slightly to avoid the old man's wild gestures.

"Y'see, my homegirl here's got a real good momma- mfffhhmrh!!!" Tyson had lunged forward and covered his grandpa's mouth with his hand, sighing and sweatdropping.

"Uuuuh what's he's trying to say," The young man with the cap began, "is that it was Naomi's mom and him who thought it was a good idea."

"I took some amateur kendo lessons with Tyson and Grandpa a while back… so we were already pretty close, and we've gotten a lot closer… " Naomi said, and then stopped when she noticed Kai looking at her. She had sounded as if she had wanted to say more about their relationship, but for some reason she chose not to go any further.

The two guests from abroad watched as Grandpa and Tyson settled back down, and Kai didn't miss the stern look the old man had shot his grandson.

"You should have told me you were coming, Kai." Tyson said, his blue gaze landing on the businessman. "We could've worked it out so that you stayed here!" He snapped his fingers. "You could stay in the dojo!"

"Tyson, the dojo is what we're redecorating…" Naomi started worriedly. "How can Kai stay there if-?"

"That's alright," Kai cut in. "I can afford to stay at a hotel for two months."

"Oh yeah… you're a big shot now." Max smiled.

The conversation rolled into a different direction, and the owner of Biovolt realized just how tense it had been before. It wasn't long however, until the last of the food had been eaten, mostly by Tyson, and Grandpa retired to his room to catch some sleep. The remaining three former Bladebreakers sat around the kitchen table not really feeling like getting up.

"It's getting late…" Max said, stretching out in his chair.

Tyson rubbed his stomach and then adjusted his cap. Naomi came over and cleared his plate. "Yeah it is…" The young man yawned, then suddenly sat up. "Kai you must be really tired! You've been travelling all day!"

Kai was torn. He wanted to stay as long as possible with Tyson, even if it meant that his fiancée would near by… he would take anything… but he could not bring himself to lie to Tyson. He was very tired. "Yeah, I should probably get a cab back to the hotel…"

"Hey, no! Don't worry about that, Kai." Tyson stood up from the table, and Kai followed suit. "I can drive you if you want."

Still so generous…Kai thought. He was still so… Tyson. This was the man he fell in love with. But, even as he was faced with the same caring attitude and smile, Kai knew that this Tyson was also different. He's hiding something… why else did he tiptoe around certain subjects? Tyson and his…future wife did not want to talk about the circumstances of the marriage arrangement… he wanted to find out more, but Kai was not one to push.

"It's alright Tyson… I can make my way there on my own."

"You're sure?"

At Kai's nod, the old world champion turned to his other guest. "What about you, Max?"

"My dad's place isn't too far from here, remember? I'll walk! How about we come over here around 9am tomorrow? Ray's flight should've gotten in by then, and I told him that I'd probably be at the dojo." Max got up from his seat too. "So, tomorrow?"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Tyson grinned

"Tomorrow." Kai agreed, smiling gently at the longhaired man. The three former Bladebreakers didn't notice Naomi's eyes dart between Tyson and Kai, a troubled expression on her face.

****

The taxi ride home was not as long as it was the first time. And maybe leaving was not as hard to do, either. For the first time in years, I am not living according to a timetable, calendar, or on the date of an important meeting. I have no idea where the future will take me. Tomorrow I will be in his home…near him…

And yet tomorrow always seems to bring me one step closer to an ending I'm not quite sure I want to reach…

When I get there, I'll stand beside you. Even if it's to look on as you let a ring slide onto your finger, giving yourself to another… I won't back away. Not this time, because for me… love is like you, Tyson. Any and all obstacles don't stand a chance since, in the end; you'll always be the winner.

****

Stay tuned for Ray and if you liked this chapter, review please!