Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to this magnificent anime...

A/N: Hi everyone!

It's such a lovely day - how do you feel about some drama? ;) Sorry for the long wait. Here's why: first, this is still really tricky to write and second, the weather has been sooo nice it was impossible to get in the right mood to write this. Sunshine makes me happy. Happy doesn't go well with drama. :D

Let me just give a quick thank you before we get strated. Thanks to jodasparx, , silverfox45, andzia16118 for their supports and especially to Sensless, Cutetyhil and Little A Granger for their amazing reviews – when I read them I felt somewhat guilty that I made you guys suffer through this, but also incredibly happy that I could get the emotions across. Thank you so, so much!

A Promise Is a Promise

Chapter 5

48 hours

Looking back later, Tyson couldn't say how he'd gotten through the next 48 hours; they went by in a kind of blur.

Monday morning he went to school because Gramps insisted on it. However, he was only physically present. His mind was somewhere far, far away. With these two days being so crucial it just wasn't possible for Tyson to focus on anything but Kai. It was fair to say that Tyson was on auto pilot.

Besides Kai's recovery, there was one other thing that occupied Tyson's thoughts: it was what he'd said, or rather not said, to Kai that Sunday afternoon. "Because I-..." he'd begun and then interrupted himself. Because I love you, was what he'd wanted to say. But he hadn't and it had been on his mind ever since. Why not say it? Of course he loved Kai! He also loved Ray and Max, and Kenny and Hilary, too. They were his friends and he cared for them. It was such a natural thing to say to one's friends.

But with Kai... it felt different. He felt drawn to Kai like he never had to anyone before. He now realized that the mere thought of Kai made his heart beat faster, the memory of moments they shared put a smile on his face and in turn, the thought of what could happen if Kai's condition didn't improve soon felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs.

Sometime around four in the morning on Sunday night, just before dawn when the night was at its darkest, Tyson had set up in his bed and been able to see things as they were: without noticing it, he had gone from loving Kai as a friend to being in love with him. Tyson knew deep down in his heart he was right about this. It had not been one special moment that made him fall in love. It had been a slow and subtle development, so subtle not even he himself had noticed the change. Until now!

So when he'd rushed to the hospital Monday after school, Tyson had found himself standing in front of Kai's door for what seemed like an eternity. Somehow he could not get himself to open that door. He was afraid. Afraid of how he'd react, seeing Kai like this, knowing the true nature of his feelings. Could he bear the sight? Would he break down? Or would it maybe not be different at all? When he felt the nurses start to give him strange looks, Tyson mustered all his courage. He slapped his cheeks a couple times, took a deep breath and then went inside.

Curiously, it didn't feel much different approaching Kai not as his friend but as the boy he was in love with. It had been painful before, and it still was. It was only that the pain was now accompanied by a sense of nervousness Tyson hadn't felt before. He took his usual seat by Kai's side and put down his school bag. Then, slowly and with shaking hands, Tyson reached out and took Kai's fingers in his. A tingly feeling spread from his fingertips all through his body and his heart skipped a beat. He started to gently stroke the back of Kai's hand with his thumb.

"Hey Kai," Tyson said in a soft voice. "Last night I came to realize something – something very important that I gotta tell you! So please, hang in there, Kai. You've got to fight your way back, ok? I just have to tell you this, and I have to look you in the eyes while I do. Come back Kai! Please. Come back to me."

Carefully he placed Kai's hand back on the mattress. Then Tyson leaned over to get a better look at Kai's face. His skin was white and smooth - no traces left by the cuts and bruises that had covered his skin not too long ago. Even with the breathing mask covering part of his face, one could see that Kai was very handsome. Tyson felt the sudden urge to scoop up Kai and hold him in a tight hug, but knowing the risks, he refrained from doing so. Instead, he reached for Kai's hand again and brought it up to his mouth. Gently he placed a kiss on the back of Kai's hand. His heart pounded quickly and slightly shaking he continued to stroke Kai's hand with his thumb.

Tyson didn't know how long he'd been sitting here like this. Only when he heard footsteps approach the door, he put Kai's hand back down. The door swung open and Tala strode in. His clothes were rumpled and his usually neatly styled hair stuck out in all directions.

"Hey man, what happened to you?" Tyson asked.

Tala dropped down on his chair and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I fell asleep," he growled. "Part of my furniture hasn't been set up, so when I finally got that done last night I went to lay down for a short nap and woke up twelve fucking hours later!"

"Hey, it's all good, nothing happened in the meantime."

"But it could have, and then I'd have been in my bed, fucking sleeping, and Kai would have been alone while he…"

Tyson thought that he'd never seen Tala so unnerved before. It proved once more just how much he cared about Kai. Only, Tala was incapable of showing affection. In some regards, Tala and Kai were very much alike. They both hid behind a cold façade and kept everyone at one arm's length, but gave everything to help those they cared for, even if that meant putting themselves in harm's way. Then again, there were huge differences: while Kai was usually very tactful, Tyson had learned over the past weeks that Tala just blurted out what was on his mind, including the occasional insults and profanities. Also, Tala talked more than Kai. A lot more! At least ten times as much!

Tyson smiled a Tala.

"You're a good guy, Tala."

Tala murmured something incomprehensible and … was he blushing?

Then Tala growled, "Don't you have homework to do or something, Granger?"

Tyson chuckled softly. At least, no matter what would happen to Kai, he could say that during this time of worrying and praying he'd won a new friend.

Then Tuesday came. In school, Tyson was on auto-pilot again. The teachers didn't even try to get him to follow classes anymore. After school he made his way to the hospital, like he had countless days before. With every step he took, he felt more anxious. Yesterday, they couldn't get the doctors to say anything about Kai's condition. It would be too soon, they'd said. Today, the critical 48 hours would run out. Had Kai's body responded to treatment? Tyson prayed he did. Otherwise the odds were not exactly in Kai's favor. He felt his stomach turn at the thought and his pulse speed up even more. His heartbeat had been nervously racing all day with no way to slow it down. Finally he'd reached the hospital. Tyson got into the elevator and with a shaking hand he pressed the button next to the sign that read intensive care unit. As the elevator slowly carried him upwards he took a couple deep breaths to calm himself. It didn't really bring down his heart rate, but at least it settled his stomach a bit. Walking down the long corridor Tyson tried to spot Kai's leading physician, but there was not a single white-coated person in sight. They'd have to go looking for him later. When he came into the room, Tala was already there. Today he wasn't laid back in his chair with his feet on Kai's mattress, no; today he was pacing up and down the room. Clearly Tyson wasn't the only one who was freaking out about Kai's prognosis.

"Hi Tala," Tyson said.

He went over to his usual chair to set down his bag and as he passed Tala he gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"They haven't said anything yet, have they?" Tyson asked.

Tala just shook his head and kept on walking a ditch in the floor. Tyson felt really bad for him. It was never easy seeing a friend suffer. Still, knowing he was not going through all of this alone was quite soothing. So far, they'd walked this rocky path together, and Tyson knew they'd continue down this road together to the very end. Neither he nor Tala was the type to quit when things got hard. He just prayed they'd take the uphill path from here and not walk further down…

"Hey Tala?"

"Hn?"

"I'm glad you're here."

For a second Tala just stared at him, those blue eyes as unreadable as ever. Then the look in his eyes softened for a moment and the redhead nodded.

"Yeah, me too!"

Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps. Tyson glanced at the door and back at Tala.

Then Tala cleared his throat and said, "It's time."

Only moments after the door opened and a team of doctors and nurses walked in.

"Good afternoon boys," Kai's leading physician said. "May I ask you to kindly leave the room while we examine Mr. Hiwatari."

Tala nodded.

"C'mon Tyson."

With one look back at Kai, Tyson followed him outside. They stayed right outside the door, neither of them feeling calm enough to sit down in the waiting area. In the hallway, there was much more room for Tala to pace around anyways.

The minutes ticket by without them exchanging so much as a word. Tyson just listened to the sound of Tala's footsteps and kept hoping and praying for good news: tap, tap, tap… Kai will be alright… tap, tap, tap… please, let him be alright… tap, tap, tap… Like a mantra he repeated that thought in his head. At some point, Tyson completely lost track of how much time had passed. It could have been five minutes, ten, or two hours.

After what seemed like an eternity the door opened and one after the other the doctors and nurses walked out of the room. It was impossible to tell anything from their faces. Kai's leading physician was the last to step out into the hall. When he did, Tala came to an abrupt halt, his face as white as the wall behind him. Tyson figured he didn't look much better. He certainly didn't feel like he looked any better. The blood was rushing in his ears, his heart was racing and he felt cold sweat forehead. His breathing had long been reduced to a shallow panting and his stomach felt like he'd just taken a couple punches. He'd never felt worse.

The Doc's face was unreadable. Tyson nervously gnawed his bottom lip. Why didn't he say something? Was it bad news? Oh please, no. No, no, no, no, no…!

Then a smile spread across the Doc's face and he said, "He's responding to treatment!"

Again, it took a couple seconds for Tyson's brain to process the information. When Tala slammed his fist against the wall and yelled "About fucking time!" it clicked. Kai was responding! He was finally responding to treatment! This meant, even though there was no way of saying how far he'd recover yet, that he was most likely going to survive! Tyson thought he'd never heard any words more beautiful than these. Kai's condition was improving - he was going to live! Oh, what a beautiful day this was.

Suddenly Tyson felt light, almost as if he was floating. A whole swarm of butterflies went crazy in his stomach and a huge grin spread across his face. He'd never felt this happy before. How was this even possible? Only moments ago he was feeling as bad as he ever had and right now he couldn't be happier. Not that he cared much. He was just glad that he had finally a reason to smile again.

Tyson took a step towards Tala, who took a step back.

"Don't you dare hug me again, Granger!"

"I wasn't going to..."

"I can see that," Tala snorted and rolled his eyes.

Tyson could see the little smile he was hiding. Yeah, Tala was quite good I hiding his emotion, but he knew the Redhead well enough by now to tell that Tala was beyond happy! A low chuckle escaped him and earned him a nudge to the shoulder from Tala.

Tyson looked the Doc and said, "I really appreciate what you're doing for our friend. Thank you, Doc."

The man nodded and smiled, "I do believe that he has a realistic chance now. Once the swelling of the brain has receded we will start reducing his medication and thus begin the wake up process." With a look at Tyson's excited expression he added, "It is a lengthy process though."

The corners of Tyson's mouth slightly dropped but then he nodded. The long wait wouldn't be easy. For Kai though, he'd wait an eternity.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter - well, as far as that goes for a drama... But it wasn't too bad this time, right? ;) Let me know what you think and have a great weekend! :)

NoEarlyBird