AN Well, after long thinking I finally managed to write a second part for this story, with a third in the making, though that one is still too short to be published. I don't know when that will be finished.
In the meantime, be warned for extreme angst. Really extreme angst. And massive Kai mental torture. What am I doing to the poor guy? If I mess him up any more, this can never be a TyKa, because he'll be too traumatized to try on a deeper relationship than superficial friendship. That's not a good thing, is it?
Kai slowly disentangled himself from Tyson's arms. He had calmed down nearly an hour ago, he estimated, but Tyson hadn't seemed to mind Kai's holding on. It felt good, to be enveloped in such warmth, to be unconditionally accepted even for just a while.
He leaned back against the wall, legs stretched out in front of him. Tyson settled next to him in a similar position, his socked feet reaching Kai's ankles.
Odd, Kai mused, that he had found comfort with someone so much smaller than him. And with the added emotional strain and mental scars the shorter teen looked frailer too.
He hesitantly closed his hand around Tyson's, palm to palm. Their skin-tones contrasted starkly, yet the built of their hands was so alike. Rather slender, Kai's interphalangeal joints slightly more pronounced, calloused from beyblading, they were almost of equal size.
A gentle weight settled against his shoulder. He looked down past a mass of dark hair to see Tyson's eyelids drooping. Still, the teen fought to stay awake.
"Tyson?" he murmured softly, unwilling to startle him.
"Hm?"A soft squeeze of his hand proved Tyson was listening and not just answering in reflex.
"I agreed to go training with the others for a bit at the beach tomorrow. Would you like to join?"
Silence. The head on Kai's shoulder shifted a bit. "I don't know." Tyson's voice sounded very small all of a sudden. "Do you think it's safe?"
Kai smiled softly at the question he subconsciously still asked himself daily. "I think so. No-one can approach us unseen. It's a rather deserted spot too this time of year. It will only be for a couple of hours in the morning. No crowded streets, no alleyways, no night. Just the five of us."
Kai felt the tension in the body next to him build. He realized the enormity of what he was asking, and he wasn't sure now was the right time. Then again, he wasn't sure any time was the right time to ask.
"Don't feel obligated. It's a proposal, not an order. You don't have to say yes."
The tension faded. "Thanks. For the offer as well." Tyson sighed. "I still don't know, though."
Kai looked at the time. I have to go now. I have some library books to return. We'll be at the beach from ten till twelve. If you want to come, I'll see you there. If you don't, it's alright." He started to rise, only to be tugged down again by the hand. Blue eyes looked into his own, a smile hesitantly touching them.
"Thank, Kai," the teen murmured, a faint blush painting his cheekbones.
Kai reached out with his hand, unsure whether the gesture would be accepted, and lightly brushed his fingertips along that rosy color. "Thank you too, Tyson," he answered softly.
The corners of Tyson's mouth lifted a bit, as if to say, 'you're welcome'. He then released Kai's hand, so the taller one could rise to his feet.
Kai retreated formt he room on silent feet, looking back at the door. Tyson was still sitting on the carpet, a thoughtful frown on his face. His mind seemed a million miles away.
The Russian young man turned away with a smile and walked down the landing. Down the stairs, through the hallway, he exited the front door and headed down the road.
The digital clock on the microwave showed the time. Nine forty-three a.m.
Seventeen minutes. Seventeen minutes to put on his shoes and coat and get his beyblade and walk tot he beach. He only needed eight.
If he left now, would he be too early? What if the others weren't there yet? He'd be alone. All alone at the beach.
He shuddered.
Footsteps alerted him of his grandfather's approach, the old man's slippers making a distinct tapping noise on the wooden floor. Gramps didn't sneak up on him anymore.
"Hey, T-man, you leave any food in the pantry?"
A faint smile played around Tyson's lips. Gramps had been great. The old man may not know how to help him, at least he didn't tiptoe around his grandson.
The beyblade champion got up from his chair. He walked past his grandfather, who was fixing himself a snack at the kitchen counter. The teen briefly clutched a still muscular upper arm between his hands. "Thanks, gramps. You're the best," he murmured and exited the kitchen.
Slowly putting on his shoes and coat he walked through the front door. When he turned left to go down the street, his grandfather was still frozen in place at the kitchen counter, a tear in his eye and a dazed, goofy grin curving his lips.
His watch told Tyson, he had arrived at the beach two minutes to ten o'clock. His ears told him the others were already there.
"Draciel is just fine Kenny. Just because I don't polish him three times a day, doesn't mean he's in-..."
They'd seen him. How would they react? Had Kai told them of the invitation?
"Tyson! You came!" Apparently, he had.
The three rushed out to meet him, big grins on their faces, Max's outshining them all, of course.
Wait, all three? Where was Kai? Maybe he was running late. He gave a hesitant smile in return at his three friends. "Hey guys."
"Oh, Tyson, we missed you!" Kenny exclaimed, clutching Dizzy to him in happiness.
Max was tense, his weight on his toes. He looked about ready to pounce. It had been safe yesterday. Kai had been safe. Surely he'd be alright with others as well, right?
Resolutely, Tyson stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his best friend. "Hey, Maxie."
The blond promptly burst into tears. His hands twisting in his friend's jacket, his boyfriend hesitantly embracing them both.
It took a while before everyone had calmed down enough to disentangle themselves. Kenny picked up the laptop from where he had dropped it in the sand and immediately started fussing over the little machine. Max and Rei stood with an arm around each other's waist.
And Kai was still missing. With a frown at his watch - it said ten twenty-one - Tyson glanced at the others. Still no sign of Kai. He would come, right?"
That's what he said," Kenny answered.
"Maybe he... overslept?" Rei's face said he didn't believe his own words.
"Let's fo check in him," Max suggested.
"What if he comes here and finds us gone?" Tyson's eyes flicked from one to the other.
"I'll stay," Kenny volunteered, his hands pausing at their work. "If Kai shows up, I'll tell him you three went looking for him."
Tyson swallowed nervously. He didn't want to say it, but the idea of his youngest friend alone at the beach, didn't rest well with him. Luckily Max noticed his best friend's sudden fidgeting and suggested he stay as well.
And so Rei and Tyson set out for their captain's apartment. Tyson felt jumpy the entire way. The wind and the sun felt nice on his face, but the half crowded streets made him nervous. He fought the urge to either latch on to his silent companion, or run back home as fast as he could.
Amber eyes glanced at him, them smiled. A hand was stretched out to him and he grabbed it without a thought, grateful for the support.
The apartment building was as plain as Tyson's jeans, greyish plaster, long rows of unpainted balconies. The elevator was out of order. Climbing the stairs they encountered a mechanic working on the door of the second floor.
Kai's apartment was on the fifth floor. The stretching balcony with the front doors looked like any other. The door looked like any other. There was no nameplate, only a number.
They rang the bell.
No answer.
Neither on the second or the third ring.
Frowning, Tyson tried to look through the kitchen window. Nothing seemed out of place. He looked at Rei, then back through the glass. Nothing seemed out of place? Shouldn't there at least be some dishes? A cup, a plate or bowl. Something as a leftover from breakfast.
"How do we get in?" he asked Rei.
The Chinese blader lifted an eyebrow. "You think he's home?"
Tyson shrugged. "I don't know. I just wanna get in."
Rei conceded and pulled out what looked like a Swiss army knife. He pulled two pins out of it that Tyson didn't think were standard issue for an army knife. Crouching down in front of the door, Rei inserted first the straight pin, then the one ending in a little hook. Tyson wasn't sure what his friend was doing, but after five minutes of wriggling them around a bit, the door opened.
"Where'd you learn that?" Tyson asked.
The other smirked. "Kevin."
Yes, Tyson could see the green-haired member of the White Tigers knowing sneaky little tricks like how to pick a lock. He was silently grateful Rei had learned them too.
The apartment was silent. The kitchen was indeed untouched, the sink dry. The livingroom window was still curtained. Tyson turned to the third and last open door of the square hall. The bathroom. The white tiles were clean. The sink, plainly visible on the left, held a cup with a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, some obscure brand from the local supermarket. The cabinet above was closed, the top rim of the mirror still slightly fogged.
As Tyson entered the small bathroom, he felt a trace fo humidity touch his skin, like somebody had taken a long hot shower. A white towel lay crumpled in the middle of the floor, out of place in the pristine bathroom. He picked it up slowly, holding it out in front of him. Damp spots of water showed which parts Kai had used to towel off his hair. Pink traces disturbed the white unity, almost like it had been washed wrong. Tyson's eyes were drawn to the shower stall. It was a simple standard sized stall, with a square, low tub of three by three as its base and an unfrosted door standing open. ON the bottom of the tub laid a bar of soap and a nail brush, one of those hard ones with a wooden grip. The white hairs were blotched pink. Thin pinkish lines ran over the small soap bar and on the white surface of the tub towards the drain.
Regret welled up in Tyson's chest as the towel fell from his limp fingers. Then his eyes widened when he remembered his oblivious companion. He rushed out of te bathroom and through the now open bedroom door, panic surging through him.
His hand clamped down on the arm stretched towards the sleeping figure underneath the bed covers. Rei looked up in surprise. 'What?"
"Let him sleep," Tyson murmured. "I don't think he's feeling well."
"What do you mean?" Rei was obviously confused, but kept hsi voice low.
"He showered this morning, but since he's back in bed, I guess he felt sick."
Rei pulled back his hand. "Oh, I see." He stared at their sleeping captain for a moment. "Should we stay?"
Tyson hesitated. He didn't want to leave Kai alone, but he didn't think Kai would like anyone being there. "Why don't you go tell the others there won't be training? I'll call if I need something."
Rei shot him a worried glance. "You sure?"
"Yeah. Maybe I'll call gramps and have him drive us both to the dojo."
"If you say so." Rei straightened and retreated. "Call us, okay?"
"Will do," Tyson assured him. He figured his friend wasn't comfortable leaving an emotionally unstable boy to look after a grouch with the flu. He couldn't blame him.
Except that Kai didn't have the flu.
As the front door closed behind Rei, Tyson settled himself on the only chair in the room, his gaze fixed on the sleeping young man.
He had recognized the symptoms and could perfectly diagnose Kai's condition. Past traumatic stress disorder. This episode, nightmare induced cleaning ritual.
Kai had scrubbed his skin till he bled underneath a burning how shower. That would sting for a week, Tyson knew. He just hoped Kai wouldn't be having continuous nightmares.
No such luck.
AN And that's all for now folks. Sorry to cut if off like that, but it was the only spot I could make a cut. The next part, as I wrote, is not done yet, but I'll try to work on it and get it out faster after this update than the second part after the first. Don't hold your breath though. I can't make any promises. I should be studying for a big test tomorrow, right now. I'm heading back to that now.
Please leave a review on you way out?