P'g: Hazzah! Here is part 3…It takes place after Takao's battle with Brooklyn.

The wind blew softly as Takao and Kai stared up at the sky.

"So Kai," Takao turned to his friend, "are you ready?"

Kai looked over at Takao and smiled. He knew exactly what Takao meant. Letting a long stream of grass out of his mouth he got up and walked down the hill he was resting on towards a more even ground.

Rei stood looking out at all the bladers near the river. He was very pleased with the events following their win against BEGA. The BBA organization was back and kicking! Kids from all over the world were participating more than ever before.

"Hey Rei," Max intentionally backed into him with a smile, "Have you seen Takao around? I'm sure he'd love to see this."

"No, I haven't."

"He and Kai left awhile ago," Kyoujyou cut in. "They took their blades with them."

"They what?" Daichi shrieked, "No way! They're going to battle!"

Daichi, Kyoujyou, Rei, Max, and Hiromi took off running in order to see Kai and Takao's match. Other kids began to catch on and followed them. As they approached the battle scene Jazzman officially declared the match, then resigned his microphone until the match was over stating that he, too, was a fan and wanted to enjoy the battle.

After an intense battle the gang of seven relaxed. Kai and Takao were once again on the grass still panting from their extreme battle, only this time Takao was sitting up rather than lying down. Hiromi was down by the river dipping her feet in to cool down, while Kyoujyou updated his laptop. Daichi was off in his own little corner looking at bugs. Rei and Max had found a bench to sit on not too far away. Kai then sat up and looked over to where Max and Rei were. They were laughing with each other. Kai frowned. Max and Rei looked so cute together. Rei's a very loyal person. He'd be much better for Max. Kai couldn't help but think of Max. He wanted his love obsession to be happy, and he doubted that he could provide that happiness. I constantly let my team down…I'd probably just let Max down too.

Max noticed a pair of eyes watching him. Unintentionally cutting Rei off, he trailed off looking at Kai. Max smiled at Kai and waved. Rei looked over towards Kai and then back to Max. Hmmm….He raised an eyebrow, but quickly brushed it off. Max was an overall good person; it made perfect sense for him to wave at Kai, much less anyone. Rei had always admired Max's positive attitude.

Kai fought hard to stop himself from blushing. Max…he waved…he smiled at me.

"Hey Kai…are you ok?" Kai was caught off guard by Takao who was looking at him in confusion.

"I'm fine," He looked down at the grass. I've really got to stop chewing that stuff…

Takao's look began to sadden. I've got to tell him…I've got to tell Kai how I feel. "Um…Kai…" Takao started.

"Hey guys!" Hiromi stood up, cutting Takao off, "It's getting late so I'm going to get going now. Bye!" She waved goodbye to the gang and left. Kyoujyou got up too, "Yeah, I need to get going as well." The two walked together leaving the green scene to the BBA bladers. After Hiromi and Kyoujyou left Kai returned his attention to Takao.

"What were you going say?" Kai looked Takao deep in the eyes.

Takao shivered at Kai's hard glare. "Nothing." He looked down at his shoes. His depressed glance turned into one of sheer determination. He would tell Kai, and he would do it at any cost.

A soft orange painted the sky as the BBA bladers finally deemed it late and time to go. Max stretched before getting up. He almost whacked Rei in the head, but Rei blocked with his arm just in time. "Sorry Rei," Max giggled.

Rei partially laughed with a smile, "That's ok Max, just be more careful."

Kai and Takao joined the two at the bottom. Takao called over to Daichi telling him it was time to go.

"About time!" Daichi yelled. "I was getting really bored!"

Takao glared at him. "He could have just left," he let his sentence drift in the midair.

This time it was Rei's turn to stretch. He yawned then turned to Takao, "I'm getting tired Takao, I hope your grandpa has some extra blankets. I heard it was going to be cold tonight." Rei was staying over at Takao's while he was visiting from China.

"Leave some for me!" Daichi whined. He was also staying at Takao's dojo.

"I'm sure there's plenty." Takao said as the three of them took off. He gazed back to his two remaining friends, "See you guys tomorrow!"

Max smiled at Kai, as he did often, "Well, I'd better get going. Dad promised he'd have some ramen and mustard ready for me."

Kai, who didn't feel worthy of even looking at Max replied, "I heard you liked ramen and mustard together."

"Oh really? What do you think?"

"I think it's gross."

Max laughed, "Yeah, a lot of people seem to think that. Maybe you should try it before you judge it." He laughed again, "Oh well, it doesn't matter. See you later Kai."

"Max."

"Yeah?" Max stopped looking at Kai once again.

"I go by your place…so if you want a ride…"

"Wow," Max beemed, "That'd be great Kai! I'd really like that!"

Kai lead the way towards his black Mercedes Benz.

"Wow! This is a really nice car!" Max said as Kai held the door for him. "Oh thank, Kai!" He noticed Kai's action. Kai just nodded and followed behind him.

The first half of the car ride was done in silence until Max commented on Kai's battle with Brooklyn.

"I was really worried about you, Kai." He frowned.

Kai looked at Max in surprise. "You were worried?"

"Of course!"

Kai returned to his calm expression, "You don't need to be worried about me."

"But I really was!" Max shot out at him. Noticing Kai return to a surprise state he added, "We were all really worried!"

Max looks serious. Almost like he was scared or something...Was he really that worried?

"Max," Kai softly called his name hypnotically.

Max's blues eyes glistened as the sound of his name. He was dying to hear Kai call it out again…

SCREECH! The car came to a halting stop. Kai and Max went flying into the seats in front of them.

"HEY!" Kai bolted out.

"Sorry sir," a clueless old man who was sitting the front responded to Kai's anger. "I almost missed the house."

Max sweatdropped with a smile, "That's ok." He opened his door and got out. He wished Kai a goodnight and closed the door heading off towards his home.

As the car pulled away Kai sighed and gently bent his head back on the seat. He was so close to having Max. Than again…would Max have him? Probably not. It was better that nothing had happened.

It was nearly ten o'clock when Takao called Max. "Hey Maxie!" He shouted with enthusiasm.

"Takao, don't you know what time it is?" Max said looking at the clock on his microwave. He had just finished getting a drink of cold water from the tap in the kitchen. The blonde was already in his light blue pajamas.

"Sorry about that," Takao said forcing a bit of a laugh out. "Anyway, the reason I called was because I need your help."

"Look, if you need help with math you're getting off asking the chief." Max blinded. Takao was always asking him for help with things like Math and Science; probably because his mother was a scientist.

"No, that's not it." Takao sounded more serious now. "I was wondering if maybe…you could set Kai and me up…so we could at least talk."

Max froze. Takao…and Kai?

"Max? …Max are you still there?"

"Uh…yeah!" Max regained his composure. So it's true…Takao does love Kai… "Why do you need me to do it?"

"Rei already gave me advice,"

Rei? Rei's in this too? Isn't anyone on my side?

"I don't want to rub off to obvious, you know? If I asked Kai straight out to meet me he might think something strange is up. I don't want him to run from me!"

"But if I ask for you then he might be even more suspicious,"

"No way, Rei and I planned this while Daichi was in the can. That guy would probably spoil it. We decided that we'd have a 'team meeting' than you and Rei would 'race off to the bathroom' or something." Takao acted as though he were a genius.

Max frowned trying to think of a way to explain himself to Takao…but Takao seemed so excited. He didn't want to ruin it for his best friend. Besides, Kai seemed interested in him too. Max agreed to help and hung up the phone. He turned and leaned against the wall. Sighing he wondered if him and Kai would ever be together. The earlier car scene is probably the closes we'll ever get. God, if you're out there, please, if Kai feels even the slightest thing for me…please give me a sign. Just then the grandfather clock in the living room struck 10 o'clock.

P'g: Oh the suspense! Will Max and Kai be able to overcome all the drama and end up together? I guess you'll just have to keep reading! R&R!