Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, and I'm not making any money off writing this… ahh I probably wouldn't make very much anyway.

Ranma's Author's Notes: Okay third part… er….I'm so sorry, this was supposed to be finished for TWO Christmas' ago! ARGH you have my permission to attack me. I can't believe I've neglected my fics for so long… I hope people are still interested in them… if you guys are, never fear! Beyblade is the only thing I'm able to write hehe.

Merry Christmas, I Love You

Tyson finished putting the final piece of tape on his present for his Grandpa and let out a sigh of relief. Picking up the impressive pile of wrapped gifts, the world champion promptly stuffed them under his bed where they'd be safe until the BBA Christmas get together when he could give them to his friends. He'd managed to get a little something for almost everyone, and today he planned to finish the rest of his shopping.

Stretching, the pony-tailed teen flopped onto the mattress and pulled something out of his pocket. Tyson flipped the small slip of paper around and around in his fingers. He stopped and looked up at it. His thumb covered up all except the first letter so it read 'K'…

'Kai…' Tyson finished the thought automatically, with the first name on his mind. Tossing the paper on his beside table, it obviously read 'Kenny' but that was besides the point…. Kai was the one Tyson didn't know what to get for this Christmas. And… a bit selfishly, Tyson realized that Kai was the one he'd wished he'd picked to be Secret Santa for. A couple years ago he would've taken the opportunity to play jokes on his former team captain to have some holiday fun, but now, Tyson saw it a completely different way.

He would've taken the opportunity to really show Kai how grateful he was to have him around, and that their relationship meant a lot to him. He wanted to spend time with Kai, and make him see this Christmas that he could do other stuff during the holidays than just act the fool, in order to make Kai smile. He was all set to do it too, especially to try and eradicate that indecision between them for which team the older teen would play on in the upcoming season.

But it was discouraging knowing that his gift wouldn't be the one Kai was anticipating at the BBA party. Somebody else had gotten him. Tyson made a scrunched face and his eyes picked out a slightly misshapen silhouette of Kai's head in the ceiling stippling. 'Sourpuss… he never let anyone close…'

Kai was… important to him. More important than anyone else.

He just wanted Kai to be around, always. If he joined the BBA revolutions for good, if that was all that ever happened between now and the next championships – even if they didn't win – Tyson wouldn't ask for anything more. All he really wanted was to know that Kai would be there.

'I guess… all I really want for Christmas is Kai.' Tyson smiled to himself.

-THWACK!-

A snowball pelted his window and the pony-tailed teen jumped, scrambling off the bed and running to slide the fixture open. "WHAT- Woah!" Tyson shouted as another snowball zinged through the open window and smashed onto his bed sending the cold flakes all over it, where they quickly began to melt.

"Tyson! Come on!" Kenny and Hilary shouted up from the ground.

"HEY! Great! Now Gramps is gonna think I wet the bed!" Tyson griped at his two brown-haired friends, surveying the mess.

"Hurry, or we'll tell Kai you actually did!" The Chief shouted with a mischievous laugh, already running from the yard. Hilary guffawed and quickly followed the shorter teen.

"WHAT? NOOoo!" Tyson bellowed flinging a random shoe out the window before racing to get out the front door.

The three friends were out and about, and this time, Tyson had actually been really enthusiastic about going out for Christmas shopping – but it might've been because Kai had agreed to join them until it was all done. The Chief had woken up feeling the pain of yesterday's fighting for their purchases, but had bundled up anyway for the next expedition. Hilary had stayed up late pouring over the newspaper for the best places to go for all kinds of gifts and the four of them were destined for downtown where all the best shops were.

When the teens stepped off the city bus after collecting an aloof Kai, they were met with the downtown shops lined up all the way down the street, side by side, decorated beautifully for the season, with even the streetlamps covered in tinsel!

"Isn't this great!" Hilary asked, already zooming to enter one of the quaint stores.

"That one looks good!" Tyson announced, heading for a different one.

"Aahh wait up!" Kenny exclaimed, following his long-haired friend close behind.

Kai paused before following in their general direction at a slower pace, though, he was distracted…

Tyson's teasing of the day before still bothered him, making him think about it over and over and it made him wonder just how he had gotten into this whole thing in the first place.

'But you love me anyway, Kai!'

Again… the memory, so fresh in his mind, caused that same confusion – that same feeling – to well up inside of him, shaking him like the sparkles in a snow globe that just refused to settle down...

The dual-haired blader frowned slightly to himself. It was Christmas time, and everyone said things and acted loony like that… But still, he knew… if it had been anyone but Tyson… he wouldn't have given it a second thought.

Kai stopped and suddenly glared harshly at his reflection in a frosted shop window. Why did it matter so much, anyway? It wasn't like a simple gift would change anything. Nothing he might buy could.

"So why should I even bother?..." The holder of Dranzer muttered to himself, his breath becoming visible in the cool air.

Even as he said it, his treacherous thoughts reminded him why he did. It was those certain times, those times when it had become gradually revealed to Kai that there was something running deeper there between them than just the beydish on the ground.

Like the way, after defeating Brooklyn, Tyson had caught him and held him pressed close to his chest, and everything else, the noise, the stadium, the pain – everything – had dissolved away, except for Tyson's warm arms, and the sound of the quickened beating of the baseball-capped teen's heart…

He had lingered there for a while because it had felt good and safe… he had forgotten what it was like to be caught up in a caring embrace.

Even now Kai was lingering, joining Tyson and the others in their shopping, reluctant to end it by just choosing some arbitrary Secret Santa present.

'…you'll know just what to give to Tyson, in time.' Mr. Dickinson had told him.

And Kai hated to admit it, but… this was turning out to be a challenge that he had no idea of how to win.

Deeper into the street, where the more popular stores were, Kai had caught up to Tyson on the now crowded part of the sidewalk. Kenny and Hilary weren't in eyeshot so the midnight blue-haired teen stuck close to his slightly taller companion to avoid getting everybody separated.

Weaving around various other shoppers, Tyson amused himself by trying to step perfectly in Kai's larger footprints in the faint layer of snow on the ground. Just spending this quiet time with Kai made Tyson glad for the holiday season. As the midnight haired teen thought about it, subconsciously, Tyson began to smile widely.

Kai looked at Tyson out of the corner of his eye. "What're you smiling about…?" He muttered half to himself.

Tyson's mouth quickly snapped out of it and it took on an unexpressive line. "What? Who's smiling? I wasn't smiling…" The baseball-capped teen trailed off with a completely serious expression.

Kai gazed at Tyson skeptically. "…."

Tyson gave Kai an outraged yet amused look. "Can't I smile?"

Kai's mouth twisted sourly and he shoved his hands lower into his jacket pockets. "Not around me."

"Aahh but don't you guys know!" Kenny piped, suddenly popping up between the two taller bladers from behind. Tyson and Kai turned to look at him.

"Tyson only smiles that much when he's around Kai!"

Tyson's face flushed a cherry red that had nothing to do with the cold air and his eye began twitching. "Uh… What?" He finally stated flatly, staring down his short friend.

Kenny smiled smugly and gave a wink at his baseball-capped friend, although it was lost since his unruly bangs covered up half his face, Tyson still got the message from that sly look.

"See ya later you guys! Ahoo!" The Chief grinned cheesily and promptly beat it down the street, quickly getting lost in the crowd.

"That little-!" Tyson started in shock.

He – He made it sound as if-! Like he had some sort of… weird crush on Kai… And that wasn't true! Was not true! Wasn't… true at all….

"What's that supposed to mean." Kai's voice was hard.

"N-nothing!" The shorter teen stumbled and then raged. "Rrrrgggh! CHIEF! He is SO not getting that MingMing poster I promised!" Tyson yelled so that the escaping brunet would hear him. Other shoppers looked over at the two at Tyson's outburst, but the baseball-cap wearing teen didn't notice as he tried to will away the burning in his cheeks and the quickened beating of his heart to subside. It didn't seem to be working though, and he held back a groan as his symptoms increased to sweaty palms, even with the chilly air. Tyson quickly turned around to face Kai with a hand behind his head trying to act like Kenny's stupid comment hadn't made him so embarrassed...

"Ah ha haha… Don't listen to him Kai, he's just had one too many candy canes." Tyson explained scientifically, and finally looked straight at Kai.

Kai's expression was clearly pained, before it quickly descended into a familiar sour one. "Is there something… funny… about me being here?" The dual-haired blader crossed his arms sharply and suddenly looked out of place on the snowy sidewalk.

"What?" Tyson gaped. "No way! Of course not Kai!" The baseball-capped teen got closer to his former team captain imploringly. "We really want you here! You know that!" Tyson exclaimed, trying to convince the put-off blader. "I mean, there's no place that I'd rather be than with…" Tyson paused, momentarily anxious at how it sounded. "…you…" He finished, smiling weakly.

Kai stared at him with an angry yet unreadable look before he stalked past the slightly shorter teen. "Whatever…" He muttered.

Tyson's good-mood meter dropped a level as he watched Kai's retreating back, and he kicked some slush in frustration. "Great…" The world champ mumbled to himself and looked up at the sky.

He didn't want to give Kai the wrong idea, but… Kenny's remark hit closer to the truth than he'd like to admit.

He just felt… indescribable… when he was with Kai. It felt like he could just soar right off the ground to the clouds above with the lightness that entered his heart at a smile from Kai. He was sure he wouldn't need any help from Dragoon for that. There was no sense explaining it that way to anyone though. Even Tyson himself didn't quite know what he could call his feelings for the broody blader – all he really dwelled on was that it would hurt… unbearably… if Kai left the team again. And there was no way he was going to let that happen again…

"Kai!" The world champ called, running after him. "C'mon buddy, wait up!"

Christmas was a time to spend with your family and loved ones, and Tyson was determined to do just that.

The world champion had caught up to his elusive former teammate further down the street and the two walked in a mutual silence.

Tyson stopped short in front of a window they had almost past and drew close to it, peering at something inside. Kai reluctantly paused and followed suit, wondering what had been so special.

Various toys and glittery ornaments were strategically placed in the window, but the main attraction was the thing that was captivating Tyson's attention so completely. The shimmering lights danced off the figurine in the display, its sweet music muted from behind the glass as it twirled slowly. Kai looked closely and recognized the elegantly sculpted woman as an angel.

"It's amazing." Tyson said in awe, his eyes wide at the total peacefulness of the scene.

Kai's eyes found Tyson's reflection in the frosted window and he found himself thinking the same thing. 'Amazing…'

"There's something magical about this time of year…" Tyson looked at Kai with a smile.

"….There is something…" Kai finally agreed, softly.

'But you love me anyway, Kai…' The memory rose unbidden in his mind suddenly, and the taller blader forced his thoughts to something else, his eyes swiftly going back to the moving angel figurine.

'Would Tyson want that for Christmas?' Somehow, he doubted it. Tyson did admire material things like this, but the pony-tailed blader would readily sacrifice even his Dragoon beyblade's condition, just to keep beybattling a little longer, to win. He much preferred gifts you couldn't touch… But that only made it that much harder to come through with being Tyson's secret Santa. How could you give someone a gift that you couldn't hold in your hand?

Unless…

Kai's eyes widened momentarily and his hand in his pocket gripped Dranzer, feeling the beyblade that he had sacrificed to win against the BEGA challenge.

There was something…

A gift that had meaning.

Even as Tyson finished admiring the window decorations and ushered Kai to follow him to less trinket-oriented shops, the dual-haired blader kept his grip on the blade in his pocket.

Maybe he did know what to give Tyson after all.

"TYSON! OVER HERE Ahh!" Kenny's voice traveled across the snowy street to where Tyson and Kai were waiting at a crosswalk. Tyson looked around wildly, and when the crowds parted enough, the familiar mop head of hair and glasses came into view.

The three teens quickly met up. "Yo Chief! Mission shopping complete! Everything's here." Tyson dangled a bag with a grin.

"Ahh lucky!" Kenny eyed the bag with envy. "I've still got to pick up some pills from the drug mart."

"Pills?" Tyson asked.

"Funny, you don't look ill." Kai noted, crossed his arms.

"Oh I will be!" The Chief groaned. "Fruitcake, fruitcake and more fruitcake! Ahhh, my parents love the stuff, please say I can have dinner at your place tonight Tyson!" Kenny begged.

"Woah woah! Calm yourself Kenny! Sure you can!" Tyson laughed and then leaned sideways to hastily whisper in Kai's ear. "Don't tell him about the specialty fruitcake I got for dessert!"

Kai rolled his eyes.

"HEY YOU GUYS!" Hilary waved as she jogged to where the three boys were standing. It looked kind of difficult for her to do too, since she was carrying a load of bags on her arms.

"Wooo… looks like you bought a lot, Hilary." Tyson whistled. "How much of it is actually NOT for you?"

"Har har." She replied crabbily, and then immediately brightened. "Oh WOW! I thought this would be happening today! Look you guys! Sleigh rides! With real horses!"

The small group looked over to the park where, sure enough, sleigh rides were being given. Everyone perked up at the sight, more than ready to get off their feet and just relax.

"Last one to the sleigh rides is a fruitcake!" Tyson cheered.

A new sleigh came to a stop beside the waiting group and Kai slipped in first. Kenny started climbing the carriage steps next when Tyson quickly and squeezed his way on, knocking the bespectacled teen out of the way. "Hey I call this one!" Tyson shouted with a grin, plopping down in the cushiony leather seat beside Kai.

"Ack! Tyson!" Kenny, hastily straightened his glasses, disorientated for a second.

"Tyson you are such a pain." Hilary shook her head and grabbed Kenny by the jacket. "C'mon Chief, we get the one with the beautiful horse!" She gestured to the next carriage where a sleek white horse with elegant bows in its mane was harnessed to it.

"Hmph… I happen to like the handsome ones!" Tyson boasted. Kenny and Hilary suddenly cracked up in laughter. "What...?" The long-haired blader looked confused. "Hey guys, WHAT?" He yelled to the other carriage behind them.

"Just pipe down already, Tyson." Kai barked out, staring obstinately ahead, a small swatch of red over his nose as their oblivious host clicked the horse into starting down the road.

The two sat in reasonable silence for the majority of the ride, enjoying the simple pleasures of the winter season. It was so calm that it came as a slight surprise when Tyson turned and leaned into Kai's face.

"Kai, what do you want for Christmas?"

The taller blader looked sharply at his companion in mild astonishment.

"To be honest… I've been trying to think of something to get you, but you're not exactly the easiest person to shop for." Tyson explained with a lopsided grin.

What did he want?

His entire focus had been on what it was Tyson's gift should be that he hadn't stopped to think about getting anything in return. Kai's expression became somewhat scornful. He didn't believe in this holiday, he hadn't even wanted to participate in this Secret Santa game. He didn't want anything more than he already had…

But…

Slowly the tense lines on Kai's face smoothed out as he stared at the scenery passing by.

But… there was… something… he longed for. Something he had silently admitted to himself a long time ago at the last world championships against Tyson, and had fought hard to get every since...

It was… That moment. The moment when they were beyblading and it felt as if there was no one else around in the world at all – when it felt like the whole universe belonged only to them.

He didn't know quite how to explain it – he still wasn't sure of what it was enough to put it into words. But he did know one thing for certain. He had been experiencing that same feeling more and more often around Tyson these days, outside of the beystadium. What that meant was a mystery to him… but right now, with Tyson close beside him, his gentle warmth doing dizzying things to his cool skin, Kai didn't want anything else…

"Nothing." Kai said evenly.

"What?" Tyson blurted, having been waiting for Kai's reply to his question so intently he had missed it when he finally answered.

"I don't want anything for Christmas, Tyson…It's not important."

Tyson scowled. "Hey of course it's important, Kai." He argued with frustration. "Christmas time is a time for loved ones! If somebody gave you a gift that they really –and I mean really! – put their heart into, you wouldn't even care?"

Something in his tone set Kai off and he abruptly looked at Tyson with a fierce glare.

"Of course I would care, Tyson! Haven't you learned that by now? Every time we beyblade, can't you feel it? I don't need something bought from you, what's the point of it then?" Kai forced out, trying to explain what he meant in irritation.

"Oh." Tyson's face was open, a grin slowly spreading across his lips.

Kai was caught off guard by it; his scowl disappeared and was instantly replaced by a quietly alarmed look.

"I understand." The midnight blue haired teen smiled.

Kai looked at him a moment longer.

"Say no more, Kai!" The world champ clapped his hands and rubbed them together like he had a scheme. "I think I know what to get you now."

Kai eyed him incredulously. "You do."

"Yup, but first…" Tyson scooped up some snow that had been collected on the carriage over the day and shaped it into a ball in his gloved hands. He took sight of the other sleigh that their friends were in and carefully aimed. "Watch this!"

"Revenge!" Tyson battle-cried and threw the snowball. It hit its mark, spraying snow all over his two brunette friends.

The pony-tailed blader cracked up when the two started looking around wildly for where it had come from.

A cool hand around his shoulders made Tyson pause and he turned his head to find himself face to face with Kai.

Kai closed his eyes briefly at Tyson's close gaze and felt the baseball-capped teen's warm breath on his face.

"Betrayal." Kai said, and shoved snow down Tyson's jacket.

"WARGH!" Tyson sputtered and rolled around in his seat madly, trying to shake out the cold flakes. "Ah Ah COLD! Ahh! Kai, nooo! You were supposed to be my partner!"

Kai thought about Tyson's joking words and felt the weight of Dranzer in his pocket. Finally, when Tyson had stopped flailing madly, Kai took in the other blader's disheveled and harassed expression, and smiled.

"We'll see about that." Kai replied, already readying another handful of snow. "But for now, you and I, are still at war."

Tyson met Kai's eyes with a grin, and grabbed up some snow. "Bring it."

End Part 3

Part 4 will conclude this, and will upload shortly! Like it? Don't like it? Review please!