You guys are seriously going to hate me. This is a very, very, very short chapter. I figured I'd just do a little baby one before finishing it all off. So this is purposely only about a thousand words long. PLEASE don't kill me.
Once again, I've screwed up Kai's character, but he is difficult to write. Also, Tala's in this one…no, I don't know why. Hey, he's hot, OK?
Beyblade belongs to some rich Japanese dude, and I imply very fluffy shonen-ai. Have fun.
Everything around me felt utterly unreal, from the shimmering, pale yellow sunlight spilling down through the cold air, to the icy, stinging streak of thin pain that still sliced up and down my leg whenever I moved.
It was like some sort of soft-shadowed, senseless dream filled with clear light and blurred birdsong. My eyes felt sore and tired, and my entire body ached with cold and stiffness, but I was already growing numb; everything was already becoming insubstantial and insignificant.
Everything, that is, except him.
His small, warm hand was cupped heavily in my own, his cheek pressed against my face. I could feel his hot, shivery breath sighing against my skin like silk. His heartbeat was slow and soft, but steady. I could feel a strand of his hair tickling the back of my ear ever so slightly. He was solid and warm and real – everything from his quiet, sleeping face to his tousled, frost-touched hair was important. In that moment, he was more vital to me than life.
He was everything.
I'd always wanted more than almost anything to defeat him. If I could beat him, it would show him that…that I was strong. I wanted to prove to him that I could do anything. I wanted to show him how good I was. I wanted him to believe in me, to trust me. I wanted him to be proud.
Why? Why, of all people, Tyson?
I didn't know.
All I knew was that he had to keep on breathing. As long as he was breathing, I had something to hold on to.
"Tyson!"
"Guys! Can you hear us?"
"Kai!"
I started, opening my eyes fully to the dazzle of early-morning sunlight. The world was coated in a thick frost that sparkled and glittered in the light like crushed glass, powdery and brilliant. A thin layer of chalky ice clung to my clothes. I was so cold that I no longer had the energy to shiver. I just lay there, staring down dully at my fingers, which were blue-white and bloodless, and at Tyson's, shorter and softer, looking horribly fragile, meshed with my own.
"Kai!"
I knew that voice.
"Kai! Where are you?"
It was Tala's.
Gently, slowly, I forced myself to move, pulling my fingers from Tyson's, slipping out from underneath his soft, slow-breathing weight, dragging my aching legs aside, ignoring the fierce twinge in my right calf. Kneeling beside him, I shook his shoulder, and said, finding my voice cracked and hoarse, said, "Tyson."
His peeled open very, very slowly, and he said, "What?"
I snatched my hand back from his shoulder, and said, looking away, "Get up. We're leaving."
"I'm tired."
I ignored him, concentrating on pulling myself up. It was difficult. My body was stiff and cold, and the pain in my leg wasn't going away, but I managed to stand eventually, and stood, my arms crossed, my back turned, for Tyson to come bouncing up behind me.
He didn't.
I turned to see him leaning against the earthen wall, his eyes closed, his mouth frowning unhappily, his breathing sounding painful. "What are you waiting for? Let's go!" I snapped, trying to ignore the frantic worry taking hold of me.
He rubbed his face and blinked up at me. "Sorry, Kai," he mumbled, steadying himself and taking a few steps forward. "I'm just…whoa, I'm just…cold."
I was on the verge of turning away again, when from the corner of my eye I saw him stumble and sway. I wheeled round to face him as fast as I could, and he collapsed into my arms, his body slumped against mine, his head lolling against my shoulder. I fought the dizziness and pain that shot through me, and forced myself to stay upright, holding him as tightly as I could.
"S-s-sorry," he muttered, embarrassed, looking up. "Just…tired…"
"I heard voices," I gasped, still dizzy. "Come on."
"Your leg…?" he asked,
"I'll be fine," I said, fighting to keep my eyes open. "Here…come…"
So, supporting each other, each step slow and excruciating, we limped, cold and tired and stiff, down the frost-covered road that glittered in the sun. The ice broke and crunched beneath our feet, and the thin, chilling morning breeze whistled around us and raised goosebumps on our already freezing flesh.
I could hear him crying, quietly, harsh, dry, jerking sobs of sheer exhaustion. I could taste the dark bitterness of blood in my mouth; I had bitten my lip through. My leg felt as though it were being torn to shreds by a cold, slow, poisonous pain, but I dragged it forwards, pulling Tyson with me. The world was blurring again into a haze of agony and relentless, brutal cold. We had to keep walking. All we had to do was keep walking. I had to get him home. I had to keep him safe.
If he dies, it's my fault.
Take one step, feel him take another, breathe, listen for his breath, take one step, feel him take another, breathe…fight the cold, keep walking, ignore the pain, keep walking…keep walking…
"I've found them!"
Tala?
"Quickly! They need help!"
I couldn't stand any longer. My knees buckled, and I dropped to the ground, feeling frost crackle and melt at the touch of my skin. Tyson fell with me, and lay there, sprawled on the cold, hard earth, his eyes closed, his hands crushed limply beneath him. Was he breathing? I couldn't tell.
If he dies, it's my fault.
"Kai!" An arm slipped underneath my own, and pulled me up to a sitting position. I gave a little grunt, and gritted my teeth together as my injured leg was twisted underneath me. I looked up to see Tala's face, apparently emotionless, gazing down into mine. "Are you alright?" he asked, as though it were a business question.
"Yes," I rasped, looking back down to Tyson's pale, mud-spattered face. "Tyson needs help."
"He'll be fine," Tala told me crossly, supporting me with an arm behind my back, his hand clutching my elbow. "Kai, listen to me. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" I almost shouted, pulling away from him. "Worry about Tyson, not me!"
"He'll be OK, Kai," a softer voice – Rei's -said in my ear. "You're both going to be fine."
I watched Max and Hilary kneel down next to Tyson's body. I watched Kenny feel for his pulse. I watched Daichi come running up with Tyson's grandfather. I felt Tala pull me back and make me lie down as I tried to push forward. He tucked something soft under my head, and I lay, helpless, drained, staring up at the empty sky, listening to the sounds of the world fade away as I slipped into unconsciousness.
IF he dies, it's my fault.
It's my fault.
No, Tala was not hitting on Kai. Sorry, TaKa fans. Also, apologies for the insane shortness. Feel free to curse me into oblivion. The next chapter, whenever I get it up, will be double the normal length to make up for it, and jam-packed with shonen-ai. That is a solemn promise.
A million gazillion huggles go out to the following oh-so-extraordinary people:
TechnoRanma: (jumps up and down screaming like a maniac before tripping and breaking an ankle) OMG, where to START? That was the nicest review anyone's ever given me! You have no idea how psyched I got. I was squeaking so much I practically fell off my chair Oo;; It really and truly made my day! You've been so supportive during this fic! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! (breathes) OK…right…I think I better calm down now…
FeelinGlayish: Hey there! Yep, I love the Japanese names, but the dub names are easier to use for general purposes. I never really liked Granger – Kinomiya suits Tyson so much better. It's just more…Tyson-like. I'm sorry, I've been in such an abstract mood recently. Before I bore the world senseless with my random ramblings, I need to say a HUGE thank you! Luvvies!
Destruction Devil: Hee! I love being immature. Thank you for the review!
Mikin Ishida: Have I told you yet how utterly in love I am with Frozen Love? I have? Well, I'm telling you again! Keep them updates coming! Thank you so much for your reviews. I'm really glad you like my story! XD