Disclaimer: See previous

A/N: Hi guys!

Most exciting news: many hours spent looking at mountains and riding around on trains paid off and the first draft of the rest of this story is written out. We're on our final 5 chapters! I am so thrilled that I will actually get to give you guys the ending to this story, even if it took forever.

Thanks to all of you still with me on this journey, especially Tyka lover 4 ever, Tyka's Flower, Guest11, kaidatinuchan, SouthernDragon, Random Fan, siliana blue, vainilladulce. I know I've said it before, but I wouldn't have gotten to this part without your support. As much as I still love this story, my motivation would have disappeared by now. So big thanks!

Okay, here we go:

Chapter 26

The Cold

"AAAACHOUUUU."

"Bless you."

Monday morning Tyson had woken up with a major headache, a sore throat and a runny nose. By mid‑day he'd also begun to cough and was running a fever. He felt lousy. Tuesday morning Tyson woke up feeling even worse. He hadn't thought it possibly, but it was. He kept drifting in and out of feverish sleep, filled with bizarre dreams. By Tuesday night Tyson was convinced he was going to die and he loathed the thought - what a stupid way to go this was.

Then Wednesday morning came and when Tyson opened his eyes it was the first time in 24 hours that he was fully conscious. His fever had finally begun to go down. He, Tyson Granger, would live to tell the tale. Kai had been there, putting a cold cloth on Tyson's sweaty forehead. The dark circles below those crimson eyes told Tyson that Kai had probably been doing that for a good part of the past two days. Kai hadn't said a word about it, though, and had gone to get him a bowl of soup and even walked him to the bathroom so that Tyson could wash away some of the feverish sweat.

Now that Tyson had his stomach full of warm soup and was somewhat clean (Kai hadn't allowed him to take a bath, according to him fever and bath didn't mix well), he felt almost human.

"Do you want another tea?" Kai asked.

Tyson smiled. Kai was being incredibly sweet and considerate. He brought him soup, an extra blanket and more tea than he could possibly drink – every time it went cold, Kai brought a new one, because according to him a sick person should not have to drink cold tea. Tyson wanted to throw himself at Kai then and there, but he knew he should keep his distance, and frankly, he just wasn't able to move. The trip to the bathroom had taken up all his energy. A bit pathetic, really.

He shook his head.

"No thanks, I'm good. I think I'll take a nap. I feel a bit exhausted. Why don't you go and get some sleep as well? You look beat."

"If you sure you're okay…"

"The fever's gone down loads. I'll live. Go on, get some sleep."

Kai nodded. He gently brushed Tyson's head, then got up and left the room. Before the door fell shut behind him, Tyson had already dozed off again.

Next time he woke the sun was already setting. He felt more feverish than he'd had this morning, and his nose tickled. Compared to the day before though, he was health itself.

"AAAACHOUUUU."

"I'd ask how you were, but I don't think I have to because you look like shit."

Tyson rolled around and stared up at a very familiar face. He scrambled to a sitting position.

"Gee, I'm sure glad you decided to swing by, Tala," Tyson said and blew his nose.

Tala grinned and took a seat.

"How did..." Tala pulled a face and gestured up and down Tyson. "...this happen?"

Tyson shrugged.

"Was outside."

He'd rather swallow his tongue than give Tala the truth.

"Outside? To get this sick you'd have to jump into the pond, then dance around in the snow for at least an hour, all of it butt‑naked!"

Tyson frowned.

"Why would anyone do that?"

"Oh after sitting in a sauna the snow feels wonderful against your hot skin. Of course you gotta be careful not to freeze off your-..."

"Thanks, I got the idea."

Tala smirked.

"You're such a prude. You sure you want to gun for Kai Hiwatari?"

What was that supposed to mean? Tyson was tempted to ask. But he didn't want to give Tala the satisfaction, and he was also kinda worried what Tala had to say would freak him out. What he'd learned these past six months was that he didn't need to know everything. Ignorance was bliss, as they said.

So he tossed the first thing he could reach at Tala (a cough drop, unwrapped and sticky) and said, "Shut up." Suddenly remembering he added, "Where is Kai by the way?"

The smirk fell from Talas face almost instantly. He slowly plucked the cough drop from his lap and wordlessly put it on Tyson's nightstand. No retort. Something had to be up.

"He's in his room. He remembered some more stuff about, you know, that place."

Tyson's stomach dropped.

"Is he alright?"

Tala shrugged.

"He will be. Nasty shock. I'll go talk to him in a bit."

"In a bit? Go now."

"One could almost think you want to get rid of me."

Tyson gave him a look that said more than a thousand words.

Tala raised his hands defensively.

"On my way," he said and got up.

With his hand on the door handle he hesitated.

"Tyson, you..."

"Huh?"

Tala slightly shook his head.

"You get better soon."

And then he stepped out into the hallway and left Tyson scratching his head. What had that been about? Was it Kai? Did he need him? No. Tala would have told him, if Kai needed him. He wasn't that sick anymore. Also, Abbey stuff was nothing Tyson could help with. As much as Tyson wished he could, only Tala could help Kai fit those memories into the puzzle. So for now, all he could do was wait and get better fast. He had a feeling, Kai was going to need him these next few days.

"Kai? …Kai?"

Kai kept staring into space.

A little louder Tyson said, "Oi, Kai!"

This time, Tyson managed to get through to him.

Kai slightly shook his head, as if to shake off the thoughts he'd so obviously been lost in. Then he turned to smile.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

Tyson couldn't count the amount of times he'd heard Kai say those words these past two days. Those two days, after Kai had regained another childhood memory. Tyson didn't know what it was. He didn't dare ask either. He knew it must be a dreadful memory. He'd known the moment Kai had first come to his bedside after he'd remembered. Kai's mind had been elsewhere ever since. His previously calm and kind manner had turned to a brooding, somewhat distant one. It was like the old Kai had returned, only… darker. And somehow… hurt. Tyson guessed Tala had tried to give him a heads‑up that day, but not found the words to explain whatever horrible thing Kai had remembered, nor how much regaining this memory had affected him.

What had rattled Tyson most was how hurt and vulnerable Kai was. He'd never seen the great Kai Hiwatari that way. After a restless night of tossing and turning and occasionally drifting off into an exhausted, feverish sleep he'd realized that it was likely those exact memories that caused Kai to, brick by brick, build up a wall around himself. A wall to protect his vulnerable self. Something new Kai didn't have, because he had no need for it. He began to understand what Tala had said to him some time before: The new Kai was the person Kai would have been, if it hadn't been for certain events in his childhood.

Tyson had no doubt Tala was right. The proof was sitting right there, right by his side. He had wondered, though, what this meant for the future. When Kai's memories returned, he'd know who he had been up to his accident. But was who he had been also who he was now? This question was deep enough for Tyson to spend the entire day and the following night on the thought. When Friday morning dawned, Tyson rolled onto his back and as he watched the first beams of sunlight fall through his sloppily closed curtains he came to the conclusion that as much as he loved the old Kai, he wished he would take on some of the behavior he'd fallen in love with of the new Kai. Not because Tyson felt he'd miss the new Kai - which he probably would. Gee, what a complicated mess it was when one was dating an amnesia patient. No, the reason was a lot more simple: new Kai seemed happy. Tyson hoped that Kai, once he had his memories back, would see how happy he could be, if he would manage to break down that wall. Brick by brick. Tyson would gladly hand him the hammer. He was sure others would help him as well. Tala, who had been working on tearing his own wall down for some time now. Tala would probably hand Kai dynamite though, not something as mundane as a hammer. Or maybe, instead of tearing down the wall, he could at least open the gates to some of them and let them see behind the wall. Because Tyson could not imagine one could be happy, alone behind that wall. And he wanted nothing more than for Kai to be happy. Tyson had the bad feeling that more dark memories were to resurface and face before then.

When the sun had been high enough in the sky that it was unsuspicious for Tyson to be awake, he tossed aside the blanket, grabbed a change of clothes and took his long-awaited bath. Once he'd scrubbed himself clean from head to toe and soaked until he got pruney Tyson got dressed and strolled into the kitchen in search of food. A very thorough search of fridge and cabinets had produced a remarkable pile of goodies, which Tyson had carried into the living room, where Kai was sitting in one of the big chairs.

And here they were now, a couple hours later, with the pile of goodies reduced considerably, huddled together in front of the TV. Both of them pretending to watch, neither of them really following the movie. Kai lost in thoughts, Tyson worrying. And hurting. He couldn't help it. He knew it wasn't personal, he knew Kai was battling his inner demons, and he knew Kai tried. When Tyson started a conversation with him, he answered like he always had. He smiled, too, held Tyson's hand whenever Tyson's grandfather wasn't around and stroked the back of Tyson's hand with his thumb. But then he'd go quiet again. His mind would wander off, to where Tyson didn't even want to know, despite his overwhelming curiosity. Kai's mood was like weather in fall – constantly changing, and getting darker and colder by the day.

My cold is gone, but there's a different kind of cold creeping up on me now, he thought. How ironic.

"Tyson?"

Now it was Kai's voice that brought Tyson back to the here and now.

"Oh, err, I just wanted to ask when Tala is coming over."

Tala had barely left Kai's side after he'd regained those memories. Tyson was thankful. Tala could help Kai in a way he never could. But Tyson could be there, hold him and love him; and he thought that counted for something, too.

Kai glanced at his watch.

"In about an hour."

"'Kay, thanks."

Kai nodded and gave him a smile. A smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. It made Tyson's heart sting. Patience. Once more he needed to be patient with Kai as Kai was healing. Only that it wasn't his body this time, but his soul. Tyson smiled back. His smile probably didn't reach his eyes either…

Be there, hold him and love him, he told himself.

This was not the time to be selfish and wine about feeling lonely or rejected. He'd sworn himself he'd be there for Kai and he would see it through. If it was space Kai needed to figure things out, it was space Tyson would give him. He'd just have to suck it up – for Kai! If he needed him to hold him, he'd be there.

Later that day, Tyson was sitting by the pond. Dragoon lay beside him. When Tala had shown up, Tyson had gone outside to give them some space. He'd tried to take his mind off things with a nice little Bey-practice, but ended up on a stone by the pond, brooding.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Huh?" Tyson looked up.

Tala sat down next to him. His face was unreadable.

"Is he shutting you out, your lover?"

"Yeah, but how could I blame him. I mean, I can't even imagine what-… Wait, you know?"

Tala snorted.

"Oh please – 'we're thumb wrestling'?"

"I thought it was pretty genius."

Tala shrugged.

"Wasn't a complete failure. I mean, I can see you two doing something like that."

"Why do I feel insulted right now?"

Tala ignored him.

"You totally blew with your secret-not-so-secret looks and smiles and… everything, really."

"Why didn't you say anything then? I'd at least expect one death-threat from you."

"That comforts me," Talal grinned. Then he said, "Kai looked like he wanted this. There is no point getting between Kai and something he wants. I doubt the amnesia changed that."

"True," Tyson mumbled and blushed.

"So, he shutting you out?"

Tyson hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Why hide the truth from Tala? Tala had become one of his closest friends and was currently the only person that knew the entire truth about Kai and him. He was also the only person to know all about Kai's past. Now that Tyson thought about it, Tala was the person who knew most about this entire complicated mess! Well, damn.

"Yeah," he said and sighed. "I know it's not because of me, it's something he has to deal with himself... Still hurts though."

Tala nodded. He picked up a handful of snow, carefully formed it into a perfect ball, only to toss it into the pond. It sank at once. The thin layer of ice covering the surface stood no chance.

Finally, Tala said, "He'll need time. He's like a child that is confronted with too many bad things. The old Kai had years to deal with his past. We cannot expect the new Kai to do it over night."

"I can't even imagine what it was he remembered," Tyson muttered.

"I'd tell you... but I have a feeling Kai would want to do that himself. And he will, once he's regained his full memory."

Tyson locked eyes with Tala for a moment, then nodded. It meant a lot to him that Tala was willing to share those memories with him. After all, it was his past, too. He knew him well enough to know he didn't want Tyson to say those things out loud. He'd seen it in those blue eyes.

"Don't worry," Tyson said. "I will give him all the time he needs."

And he meant it. No matter how hard it would be, it was something he'd have to endure. For Kai.

Boy, Kai owed him a really nice dinner, when he fully recovered - five courses at least.

A/N: I know, I made him suffer again. Both of them. I don't like it either. But who knows, maybe next chapter things will start to look better again? ;)

Guys, have a wonderful, wonderful weekend and I'll do my best to proof-read at the speed of lightning. ~Bird