April II
By Timberwolf220

-"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning or frost from fire"-
—Catherine Earnshaw from "Wuthering Heights"

A/N: Yes, I am blatantly displaying my intelligence by showing off these literary quotes. Marvel at me! Still hopelessly Saiyuki-hooked. Hope I rectify that situation when I buy some of X. That show is almost worse than Saiyuki when it comes to the shounen-ai hints.

On a happier note, this is the next chapter that solves the problem with Tyson/Kai/Rei (or is it Kai/Tyson/Rei?), but we have many more mysteries to go.

The first chapter in two parts. I knew this story wouldn't finish at twelve…

-XX-

Warm. He wanted to be warm. It felt nice. In Russia, the cold wind would rattle the shutters and should some cold wind enter in the night, it stole your warmth away much like a murderer would steal life. He couldn't ever remember being warm in Russia, despite how many bundles of clothes he wore. He remembered how he hated the cold and cursed the snow when it fell. Now, he didn't bother anymore, but sometimes the resentment lingers like over-used medicine.

Kai stirred slightly and opened his eyes. Immediately, the bright light hit him square in the eyes and he squinted. Waiting until his pupils could adjust to the glare; he turned and realized that he was in a room. Blearily, he got up and surveyed his surroundings. Nothing looked the least bit familiar and Kai wondered if he had gotten dumped onto some alternate universe.

"Sleeping Beauty's up," Tyson said jovially, sliding the door open. He put a tray onto the desk beside the bed, while Kai blinked at him quizzically. On the tray was a bowl of tomato soup and a glass of water. Kai was suddenly aware of how dry and parched his throat felt and grabbed the glass and swallowed the water with one gulp. Tyson smiled as he watched Kai.

Kai set the glass down and clicked his tongue experimentally.

"What happened?" Kai winced when he heard the scratchiness of his voice.

Tyson was quiet as he fiddled with the end of his sleeves, "You passed out," He said quietly, "So I brought you here," Tyson looked away, unable to meet Kai's eyes as he admitted, "I-I was really worried."

Kai mentally cursed himself for giving into his weakness like that. Tyson reached out to grab his hand, Kai suddenly pulled it away. Tyson blinked and tried not to let the hurt show.

"…I can't do this," Kai whispered, "I can't do this to you anymore,"

Now Tyson was thoroughly confused and he showed it, "What?"

"I can't keep hurting you like this," Kai said softly, hoping the wind would carry away his words to sink them in the ocean, "I don't think I can handle it anymore."

Tyson's eyes glimmered with understanding, but there was something else building up in those stormy eyes and Kai recognized it despite the fact he didn't see it often.

Anger. Pure unadulterated anger. Tyson was angry at him.

"What makes you think you can say that? What makes you think I am being hurt?" Tyson hissed, his eyes flashing, "What makes you think that you're the only one who can decide whether this ends or not?"

Kai's hands gripped the bed-sheets tightly, his knuckles white.

"I—," But he was caught off once again by Tyson whose eyes flared out like a dragon's flame and he noticed that Tyson's hands were clenched into tight fists.

"You need to understand this, Kai," Tyson said slowly, "That I get a say too, and my opinion over this matters as much as yours does."

Silence reigned over them with a dark smile and a flourish. The Silence vanished as Kai said, his throat seizing up, "I won't make you cry again."

Tyson blinked, his anger dissipating as quickly as it had appeared, "Me crying?" His voice did nothing to disguise his emotions. Kai wondered idly if Tyson ever felt the need to hide himself from the world, to protect himself? Did Tyson have any hidden wounds at all?

"Rei told me," Kai couldn't stop himself from blurting it out and clamped his mouth shut before he said any more. Tyson's face darkened and for the first time, Kai felt mildly afraid of Tyson.

"Rei told you," Tyson said flatly, "I see," Another silence had dropped over them and Kai felt unusually tense as if awaiting the outcome of the storm. Tyson's storm, he thought ironically.

"Kai," At the mention of his name, Kai jerked his head at Tyson and was momentarily blinded by his Tyson's smile. Tyson, who had no harsh quality in his smiles, no corners to run to. Something so open that it terrified Kai.

"Give me your hand," Tyson said. When there was no movement, Tyson spoke again, "Please." Slowly Kai extended his hand and Tyson held it. Tyson let his eyes flutter slightly and smiled with remembrance shining through his eyes, "Do you remember this?"

"The ice," Kai mumbled avoiding looking at Tyson.

"When I took your hand, I knew that I was binding myself to you. And I knew I was devoting my life to the pain that will eventually come," Kai jerked and nearly pulled his hand away, but Tyson kept it in a firm grip. Kai felt like running away, but he bit his tongue and stayed in place, "But I also know this. Pain is something we give each other and we can take it away. And you held my hand as well," Tyson's eyes were smiling, painfully so. Kai felt himself break inside once more, "So, take away my pain Kai."

Kai tightened his hand and Tyson simply smiled.

There was nothing left to be said.

They sat there, mulling over each other's words and Tyson got up suddenly. Kai blinked quizzically. Tyson noticed and his face was drawn into a frown.

"I'm going to see Rei," And Kai could still see remnants of Tyson's anger dwelling in his face, "Stay here."

Kai felt inexplicably stronger now, "I'll come too."

"You don't need to."

"Doesn't matter," Kai said pushing the white sheets aside and stepping onto the floor. He winced as the cold seeped into his feet, "I'm still coming."

Tyson nodded and smiled. Kai wondered how he could smile so easily all the time. Were there no troubles in that mind to weigh down Tyson? Truly enigmatic, Kai mused.

They walked down towards Rei's apartment and it was along the way that Kai realized that Tyson was holding his hand. And gripping it rather tightly. He glanced at Tyson and noticed how unusually pale Tyson looked and how grim and set his mouth was. He squeezed Tyson's hand and Tyson started. Looking at Kai, he noticed once again that the anger seemed to dim when Tyson looked at him.

Did he really have that much control over Tyson's life? Kai felt a surge of power rush through his veins and he felt himself tremble. He knew the answer to his own question.

Rei's apartment was fairly close by and they had reached there in no time. Tyson hesitated slightly and then turned to face Kai, "I want to talk to him alone."

Kai fidgeted, "Are you sure?" He said softly.

Tyson nodded and went inside the elevator. Kai stood there wistfully and sat down in a bench near by, his eyes darting towards the buttons on the elevator (A/N: Y'know, the ones that tell you what floor the elevator is on?). With a final sigh, he leaned back and closed his eyes.

XX-

"Explain this to me, Rei," Tyson may be known as the warm lovable blader, but right now his eyes were sharper than daggers of ice and nothing in his manner seemed to suggest he was feeling warm and lovable today.

"He told you," Rei couldn't remove the edge of bitterness in his voice.

"Damn right he told me," Tyson's eyes were narrowed and almost glowing with unholy power, "And even if he hadn't told me, I would have figured it out eventually. Who else would it be? Max? Kenny? Those two wouldn't even hurt a fly. But I know you Rei," And the honesty was even sharper, "I know you."

Rei sucked in his retort and looked away, his amber eyes glinting slightly, "I was only looking out for you," He said, trying to seek his lifeline.

"That kind of help I could do without," Tyson said, standing next to him, "Do you know how long I've waited for him? Do you Rei?"

"I do," Rei murmured, "But I don't want to see you cry again."

"You and Kai are the same," Tyson smiled gently, "Both of you'll don't want me to cry. Am I that endearing when I am teary-eyed?"

"Very," Rei smiled as well, recalling how distraught he had been when he saw Tyson leaning by the balcony, his choked sobs filling the air and mingling with the screaming wind. It was something that gave Rei grief, to see someone so strong crumble so easily. Kai was Tyson's foundation, his earth. Tyson was the sky, always reaching further and further, the infinity universe open to him.

They were bound to each other, Rei thought sadly, more than I was.

"He won't hurt me Rei," Tyson's eyes looked so old that they belonged on some old gemstone in an aging museum, "I'll probably get there first."

"You haven't told him," It was a statement, but there was grey horror behind Rei's eyes, "Tyson, how could you—,"

"I don't want him to fret and moan over something that is beyond his control," Tyson said tightlipped, "Carpe Diem my friend."

"That's useless," Rei said snarling, "I don't know why you say that."

"If I can't believe in that," Tyson's eyes were like mist on the moors, "What do I believe?"

XX-

Kai was patient, very patient, despite the fact it's not his nature to act like that. But as he kept glancing at the elevator status, he realized that this kind of conflict would take a lot longer than he anticipated.

He was well rewarded for his patience as the lift door opened and Tyson stepped out, not looking no worse for wear. Kai left out a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding inside.

"Are you okay?" Kai asked, "What took you so long?"

When Tyson raised his head, Kai was struck by the sadness brimming behind those eyes. It was overwhelming how that sorrow swept against him. Tyson trembled and he hugged Kai. Kai stared at him, "Tyson?"

"Just. Stay like this. For now. Please," Tyson said softly, clutching Kai like a lifeline on the sea. Tyson buried his head into Kai's chest, sniffling, "Please?"

Without thinking, Kai wrapped his hands around Tyson and rocked him gently. Tyson bit hislip as he cried into Kai's shoulder and Kai was the one who said nothing this time.

­-XX-

A/N: I didn't like this chapter….I don't know why, I just didn't. Maybe because this thing dragged on for too long. But there was some foreshadowing in this chapter.

Four more chapters to go…but did you guys like this part? I feel sorry for Rei. Tyson did do a lot for him as well.

-You look the other way-
-Why can't you see me?-
-I'm right here-
—Author's Observations

Yukiko-Angel: Of course, TyKa rules over all. But I like messing with other pairings. Plus, I've been reading some very good TyRa on Livejournal. Beautiful stuff, almost makes me cry…

Luvyagal: He doesn't get in the way, he's just concerned for Tyson. I don't blame him really. I would not like Kai because of what he did to Tyson.

Queen Phoenix: I wanted more team involvement. If Kai and Tyson get together, it would also change things for the team, so I wanted to show that.

Yami FireKali: It was a very nice shot. And what a nice butt it was…(drools as well)

xXxAngel xVxXx: Not, a multi one-shot. Still works as well though…

Yazzy: That's a good theory, one that works! I'll put it up with the eternal principles of TyKa.

Dark-She-Deivl: Thank you. Here's your update.

Kaay-chan: I'll do that. I hope you like this chapter better.

Minako Mikoto: I love cliffies! Cliffies are an author's best friend! Really!

Rose in the Shadows: Checking everyday? This story is still on work on progress, so no need to check everyday. You could put on a story alert though.

Lay Kirei: Woah, you're crying. (gives you a kerchief) Now I'm really proud of myself.

JadesRose: I know. But it still bugs me all the same. Maybe I should get a beta.

Plushie Heartless: Are you talking about your previous review for 'Walk on Fire'? I thought it was you. You have a sister on Sweet!

Mikin Ishida: Here's your update. Oh, and good work for 'Frozen Love'. You wrote that right? It's very good.