The One I Can Never Have

P'g: I very well think this may be the last chapter…Hmmm… I know if fairly short but...yeah...it's cute.

"Meeting?" Kai asked. The next day after Takao called, Max made an effort to ring Kai up. It took him a few deep breaths and some you can do it Max's, but he had finally dialed the number.

"Yeah," Max answered cheerfully, "something about a team practice."

"Why? Kai seemed demanding, "There are no tournaments coming up."

"I dunno," Max sounded cheesy, "but it never hurts to practice."

Kai noticed that Max sounded a bit worried. He told Max that he'd be there. Max gave him the time that he was supposed to show up. Three o'clock at the park. Kai hung up and looked at the grandfather clock in the hall; one-thirty. Kai sighed.

Three o'clock finally came. Max, who was anxious, showed up early. He had been there since a quarter after two. Takao and Rei also showed up early. They showed around two forty-five. Kai showed up late. The group waited an extra ten minutes for him. The first words out of mouth were, "Where are Daichi and Kyoujyou?"

"Oh, them," Takao said with a smile, hiding his true intentions, "they'll be a little late. Daichi's helping my grandfather and Kyoujyou is working at his parent's restaurant."

The group of four headed off and practice for an hour. Then, as planned, Rei made up an excuse and dragged Max along with him.

"So Max, what do you want to do now?" Rei said with his hands behind his back. Rei was a few steps ahead of Max.

"Aren't we going back after awhile?" Max seemed concerned.

"Why would we go back?" Rei continued in front of him looking in different shopping windows. He heard a sad hum come from behind him and turned around, "Max?" Max had stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't hold back any longer; he began to cry. "Max," Rei repeated removing his arms from behind his head, "are you ok?"

"No," Max rubbed his eyes, "I'm not. Takao's going to tell Kai he loves him and then…"

Rei cut him off, "but what's wrong with that? I'm sure things with the team won't change that much." Rei assumed Max was upset because he and Takao were best friends, and that if Takao became too close to Kai he wouldn't be hang out with Max as much anymore.

"Don't you get it, Rei?" Max screamed as tears crawled down his face, "I love Kai too!"

Rei gasped. Max? And Kai? Sometimes it seemed suspicious but I never really thought it was true! Rei stood still not knowing what to do. If he had known Max also loved Kai he would have never agreed to the plant. Rei pivoted on his heels. He knew that from the beginning Max had admired Kai…but loved him too? "Run."

"What?" Max looked up. Rei's head was down, his hair covered his eyes.

"If you really love Kai, you'll run after him."

Max nodded, "Thanks Rei." Max flung himself around and took off running down the street towards the park.

Meanwhile, Takao kicked some dirt. "So Kai, how has your day been?"

Kai, who was far from oblivious, calmly responded "Get to the point, Takao, why did you call this 'team meeting'?"

"Kai…I just…" Takao peered up at him in the eyes. He shut them real tight and boldly blurted out, "Kai! I love you!"

Kai's eyes widened. Takao…he…loves me?

"Kai! For the longest time, I just…"

Kai sympathetically looked at Takao. If he wasn't good enough for Max, then maybe he should settle for what was the next best thing.

Takao's eyes searched Kai's for an answer. Kai could see how sincere Takao. Kai took a deep breath and let his words flow out…

Max came running around the bend. Upon seeing Kai alone on the bench he stopped and breathed heavily. Am I…Am I too late? He ran up to Kai. "Hey Kai! Where's Takao?"

"Takao left." Kai said looking down. He looked up to Max. "I couldn't do it, Max. I don't love Takao."

Max walked over to Kai and patted his head. He pulled Kai's head close to his chest. "That's ok, Kai."

"Max, I want you."

Max laid his head on Kai's. He breathed softly. Finally, they could both be in peace together.

As Rei entered Takao's dojo when he noticed Takao sitting in the backyard on the outdoor hallway.

"Takao?" Rei blinked.

Takao's head was buried in his knees, "He said he loves Max."

Rei looked at Takao a little shocked. He then sighed and laughed. "Be happy for them then."
Takao looked up at Rei a big confused.

Rei smiled, "Max. He loves Kai too."

Takao gave Rei a weak smile. Life would go on…

P'g: Well…that's it! Or at least I think it is…Yup, that's it. Maybe I'll write another Max/Kai fic sometime in the future. If you guys have any ideas let me know. Right now I'll leave it up as "in-progress" in case I come up with any other ideas, but as I see it it'll probably end here.