Chapter 17

"I'm sinking slowly, so hurry hold me. Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on."

-Michelle Branch

It sat in front of him, almost mocking him. Tyson held back the urge to scream as he glared at the bowl of rice Max had made for him. Days had passed and he hadn't eaten anything, and it was starting to scare everyone. It was as if Tyson had died and all that was left was the body.

When Kai had returned with Tyson in his arms, Max knew what had happened, or at least he thought he had. He knew Kai had caught Tyson and brought him back, but what he didn't know was how Hiro unintentionally broke Tyson's spirit. Growing up Tyson had always had this small doubt that his older brother didn't care about him, and after months of torture they finally saw each other again, and Hiro left him.

As the days passed Kai, Rei, and Max all tried to make Tyson feel better, but none of them could pull it off. Getting so much unwanted attention from the three made Tyson lash out at them, and often after Max tried to talk to him the blond would be found seeking comfort from Rei.

All three boys silently watched as they waited for Tyson to eat his rice, only to receive a heated glare. Scowling, Tyson shouted, "I'm not hungry, so why won't you guys just let me leave and go to my room. If I remember correctly that was the place you originally wanted me to be in." The last comment was directed mostly at Kai.

"Tyson," Max tried to coax. "Please eat. You haven't eaten in a long time. If you don't get some food in your stomach then you could starve to death."

"What's your point?" The serious look on Tyson's face showed he meant what he said, which sent a chill down everyone's back, and the haunted tone to his voice didn't help either. "You have no idea what I went through. You don't know the feeling of hurt and betrayal, and you never will."

"Then tell me!" Max determinedly stared down Tyson. "Listen Tyson, I know you already got a brother, but I don't, so you're like a brother for me, and I want to help you. If you tell me what happened then maybe I will be able to understand and help you."

Letting his rage take control of him Tyson picked up his fork and with all the strength he hurled it at his best friend. "Shut up! You'll never understand!"

Before the fork could hit Max on the head, Rei grabbed it midair, inches away from Max's eye. Baring a fang at Tyson, Rei glanced at Kai to see anger glowing in his own eyes, but there was hint of sadness in there too. Fury growing, Rei waited to see what Kai would do before doing anything that he might regret later.

Taking deep breathes, Tyson tried to sort out what had just happened. It was all a blur, all he could remember was feeling anger rising in him, making him want to scream and hurt people. The next thing he knew Rei was glaring daggers into him, holding a fork an inch away from a shocked Max. Too preoccupied with figuring out what happened he never saw Kai sit next to him and take his rice bowl, until he felt teeth biting on his bottom lip.

Taken by surprise Tyson unconsciously opened his mouth to have it filled with what could only be rice. Swallowing the grains down, Tyson aimed his glare at Kai, who was glaring right back. "Were you trying to kill me!" Tyson snapped.

"I was trying to make sure you ate something, and you more than anyone should know the answer to that question." Kai retaliated. Without giving Tyson time for a comeback the dual haired vampire left the room.

Exchanging glances with Max, Rei motioned for the blonde to go after Kai. Hesitantly the blonde left the room, Leaving Rei alone with Tyson.

Sorry Tyson, Rei thought, but it's time for a little tough love. Standing up straight, Rei made sure he was towering over Tyson as he spoke venomously. "What on earth do you think you're doing! We all know something happened and it's devastated you, but you have no right to be giving us all this crap!"

Trying to defend himself Tyson opened his mouth to speak but Rei stopped him. "Don't even think about talking until I'm done! You're not the only one with feelings here. I know you gave Max your blessing to do the blood bond, meaning you were able to see someone else's feelings at some point, but now you only care about yourself. We all want you back to who you were. Maybe we will never understand what you're going through, but can't you just enjoy what you have right now, or tell us what happened to make you this way!"

"Do you know what it's like to want someone to accept you so much it kills you, then only to find out they don't give a damn about you?" The solemn expression on Tyson's face made Rei ponder what Tyson was talking about, but he couldn't figure it out. "I always just wanted my brother's friendship, or at least his acceptance, but I don't think I'll ever get it now."

Sighing to let out his frustration, Rei looked at Tyson with pity in his eyes. "I did know what it was like, but now it's a faded memory, but I know Kai still does." The room was filled with silence as Rei let the words sink into Tyson's head. "I don't know how your brother got involved in this conversation, and I'm not going to ask cause it's personal, but it sounds like you and Kai have a lot more in common than you ever thought."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X

Kai sat alone in his bedroom, sitting in his soft velvety armchair with a book, but like a few nights ago he couldn't read it. He knew force-feeding Tyson the rice had been a bad idea, but he was angry and frustrated. Putting the book down on a nearby table, he rubbed his temples as he tried to rid his mind of negative thoughts. Things were just becoming too complicated.

The sound of soft footsteps padding down the hall made Kai stop his movement and wait to see what the person was going to do. The footsteps stopped at the door, and it slowly opened to reveal a sheepish looking Tyson standing in the doorway. Staring at the boy before him Kai waited for Tyson to make the first move.

Blushing furiously Tyson walked up to Kai," So, um, Kai what are you doing?"

Raising his eyebrow questioningly at Tyson, Kai answered, "I was reading. Why do you ask?"

The blush only seemed to darken at the words. "Can I join you?"

Acting calm Kai replied, "If you want to." Picking up his book Kai was about to open it and read it when something sat on his lap, or more precisely Tyson sat on his lap and snuggled his face into Kai's chest, to hide the darkening blush on his face. "Tyson, what are you doing?"

Growling Tyson gave Kai a soft glare. "Look I'm not used to all this romance stuff, so just humor me and put the book in front of our faces so we can read it." Bewildered and not fully aware of what he was doing Kai did as he was told. Hours later Tyson was asleep in Kai's arms as the vampire stroked his hair.