A/N: I'm not sure if you want it or not, but I decided to send these alternative endings as I feel you should be offered a choice. After all, many of you voted for someone else than Hilary and I believe that you should all be appreciated.

Well, all TyKa fans who've been patient enough with me to make it this far, this is for all of you – and especially to you, Miako6! I hope you read this! Hope you'll all enjoy!


Just like so many times before during the past three weeks, Kai again sat on the porch of the cabin, admiring the stars shining above him. Before the desire for power and glory had corrupted him, Voltaire had always told him stories about them. One of the stories was particularly well in the young Russian's mind. According to a tale, great and courageous souls would become stars after their mortal path was through. From the skies they'd be shining for people, who'd never forget about their heroes. For a longest time Kai had dreamt about becoming a star one day, but Voltaire had soon enough shaken the childish dream out of his grandson's head. (A/N: I'm not sure if I read thistale from somewhere, so I can't take full credit.)

A small, bitter laughter escaped from Kai.

" What a courageous soul I am", he muttered sarcastically to himself.

" But you are!" a voice said behind him, startling him. Turning his head, he saw Tyson standing behind him with a soft look upon his face. " You are the bravest person I know, Kai".

Giving a hint of a smile, Kai once again turned his attention to the stars.

" Hn", he commented.

Sighing, Tyson hesitated for a moment, then walked up to him and sat beside him, not asking for or needing a permission. For a longest time silence occupied them.

" I'm sorry. I'm so sorry", Tyson suddenly whispered, tears evident in his voice.

Kai gave the Dragon a quick look, confused.

" For what?".
" Are you kidding!" Tyson snorted, first glittering tears rolling. " I… I hurt you so badly, worse than I've hurt any of my opponents! You… You almost died because of me!".

For a while Kai pondered whether to comfort the Dragon or not. Eventually, he chose not to. They weren't at the point where they could soothe each other just yet.

" You did hurt me. Badly", he admitted bluntly, eyes on the stars. " But it wasn't your fault that I almost…". He paused. " It was my own stupidity".

Tyson looked at him with teary eyes, seeming to debate whether to believe him or not.

" I wouldn't lie to you, Granger", he assured the bluenette.

Deciding to believe him, Tyson nodded and lifted his head to look at the stars. A new silence fell on them as they both drifted into their thoughts.

" I lost you for a while", Tyson suddenly whispered, looking at him, eyes in tears again. " You have no idea of how horrible it felt, how much it hurt when our connection was cut". Tyson looked away, tears rolling to his cheeks. " A part of me died as well".

Kai felt something in his heart shift as he looked at the Dragon beside him. His eyes softened, and giving in to the temptation he took Tyson's hand in his, giving it a small squeeze.

" You never gave up on me, Tyson", he whispered.

Tyson's still teary eyes were widened with disbelief as the boy looked at him, not thrusting the message his ears were sending him. They looked at each other in silence, and after a second fresh new tears, this time not ones of sadness, shone in Tyson's midnight-blue eyes.

" You never called me by my first name", the Dragon whispered. " Not even when were together, not even once".

Kai smiled softly, letting his cold mask slip off completely. It was a huge chance he was taking when bearing himself so completely for Tyson to see, but for once he wasn't afraid of letting someone see the real him.

" Lets call it a sign of a new start", he suggested gently, so quietly that Tyson barely heard him.

Tyson blinked, seeming deeply confused.

" 'A new start'?" the Dragon repeated, hope clear in his tone. " A new start of what?".

Kai looked away from Tyson, letting his gaze wander up to the stars as if seeking for strength, then looked back at Tyson again.

" I don't know", he whispered.

Tyson nodded. Even tough a well-trained smile appeared on his face soon after, for a brief moment Kai could see the hurt on the Dragon's face. Tyson could fool anyone else with that mask of his, but not him.

" Funny", he murmured after a small silence. " I thought I was the only one wearing a mask, but apparently I was wrong".

Tyson blinked in confusion once again, then looked at his hand still holding Kai's.

" Look, I wasn't expecting any miracles", Tyson muttered, taking a quick glance at him before looking away again. " We have tons of things to sort out before we're even friends again". Tyson looked at him in the eyes, and this time the smile on his face was a real one. " But I'm ready for it. I can wait, no matter for how long it takes". Tyson's smile widened. " And I know that we'll make it in the end. I thrust on the bond between us".

Kai couldn't help smiling. Still, after everything they'd been through, Tyson was so filled with optimism and hope.

" You really are something special, Tyson", he whispered.

Tyson beamed when hearing the name Kai was still getting used to using. Another silence fell on them as both drifted into their thoughts once more.

" Kai… There's something I've been wanting to ask you", Tyson suddenly announced, almost shyly.

" Hmm?".

" After all I put you through, after I'd been so stupid… How is it possible that you still love me?" the Dragon whispered the question.

Kai grinned.

" Because there's no other dragon in this world to take your place", he replied.

Smiling brighter than the stars above, Tyson gently let go of his hand and shifted closer to him. He also shifted a little, so that they were facing each other. They were so close that they could feel each other's warm breaths in the cold night. After hesitating for a long moment, Tyson wrapped both of his arms around Kai's waist and pulled the Phoenix even closer, placing his head against Kai's warm chest. It wasn't until then Kai noticed that Tyson was shivering from the cold, and, eyes softening, he removed his smooth, warming white scarf and gently wrapped it around Tyson. The Dragon gave him a surprised look, but seeing the gentle look in his eyes smiled and snuggled closer to the Phoenix. Smiling as well, Kai wrapped his hands tightly around the boy and buried his face into Tyson's navy-blue hair, closing his eyes.

And so they remained for a longest time, enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies. They both realised that future wouldn't be easy for them, but neither was afraid anymore. For now they both knew that no matter what was to come, they'd never let go of each other again.


End.