Disclaimer: see all previous
A/N:
Dear all,
this is it - the last chapter to this story, on the last day of this year. It has been quite a journey! 30 chapter, 3 years, many wonderful people out there who supported me in this project.
So thank you, to you, who is reading this! A big, huge thank you!
Now all that's left for me is to wish you a happy new year. Stay safe. ~Bird
PS. Bonus content will follow in a seperate chapter in the new year.
Chapter 30
Epilogue
The Old and the New and a Promise
It was a lovely spring day. The sky was clear, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was pleasantly warm. It was a perfect day to graduate.
Tyson would sometimes look back and wonder how he'd managed to get through his final year of school with all that had been going on – but he had. And so here he was, standing together with Hilary and Kenny and his fellow classmates, one last time in the uniforms they'd worn countless times over the last three years, in these halls they'd walked through so many times that they seemed to know every corner, every chip in the paint.
Tyson glanced at his two friends and smiled when he saw their proud, happy faces. Honestly, if Tyson had graduated top of the class like they had, he'd be doing a whole lot more than just beaming proudly, probably risking expulsing at the very last chance he had. Not only were Hilary and Kenny graduating with top marks, they were also graduating with offers to the local university they'd wanted to go to so badly. Tyson of course had failed the entrance exam – everything else would have been unfair, regarding his complete lack of preparation. But despite his graduating more at the bottom of his class and his (royally) screwed up entrance exams, Tyson smiled as he accepted his diploma. Because he had everything he needed. His smile grew wider as his look fell upon a group of people in the audience. The first he spotted was Gramps, who was clapping and cheering so loudly that he was impossible to miss. Next to him were Max and Ray, who had shown up completely unexpected at his front door last night. They were cheering at least as loud as Tyson's grandfather and waving at him. Tala next to them pretended not to know them, but he, too, gave Tyson a smile and a little wave. Tyson was thrilled to have them all here with him today, but he only had eyes for one person. Not waving but smiling slightly, arms crossed and blue paint on his face: Kai.
Kai had made a full recovery. He had first recovered his memory, then Dranzer, and then his muscle. Tyson found that unfair, considering the short period of time, but when occasionally Kai's shirt came off he found he didn't mind as much anymore. Things were back to the way they had been. With slight variations.
Tyson and Kai had come out of the closet, both figuratively and literally. Gramps hadn't been surprised. He probably wasn't a senile as Tyson sometimes made him out to be. Their teammates were happy for them. Hilary had happily clapped her hands and said, "Oh good, you'll complement each other well: Kai can teach Tyson to read, and in return Tyson can teach Kai to talk." She had been banned from the Dojo for a week. Tyson knew that Kai had told the other Blitzkrieg Boys but vowed to die without ever knowing Bryan's reaction. Tala had attempted to tell him many times. He'd been banned from dumplings nights three times in a row and never tried since.
Kai had stayed at the Dojo – Gramps had pointed out that he didn't have much reason to object, being that they couldn't get each other pregnant, in one go with a formal complaint about his meager prospects of great‑grandchildren. Tyson had reminded him of his other grandson, while Tala had pointed out that the world was better off without their offspring anyways. Kai had said nothing and hit Tala over the head. Along with Kai the Dojo had gained another permanent resident: a small, white furball had one day appeared in front of Kai's windows, and she had stayed. Kai had finally bought her a collar and named the cat. Blanche. French for white. Hilary thought the name delightful, Tala uninspired and Tyson complicated. Regardless, Blanche was there to stay.
Along with his memory Kai had also recovered much of his attitude. Still, he had not re-built the wall around him as high as it used to be, and Tyson felt it come down more and more as the weeks went by. Tyson still didn't know what had caused this wall in the first place, but he knew Kai would tell him, someday, when he was ready to. And it seemed there really was a doorway just for him: when they were by themselves, Kai could still be very considerate and sweet. Of course, he could also still be a moody and grumpy old sourpuss. Old, new, Kai 2.0… whichever it was, Tyson loved him with all his heart.
So when the ceremony was over and they were joined by family and friends in the courtyard, it was Kai he first flung his arms around. And he beamed a proudly and happily as Kenny and Hilary when Kai wrapped his arms around him as well and placed a kiss on his cheek.
And later, when the sun was already low in the sky and the celebrations at the Granger Dojo were still going strong, Tyson and Kai exchanged secret looks, then snuck out the door and a little while later they found themselves standing on a hill by the river side. The setting sun was coloring their surroundings in it's beautiful red light and a light breeze was ruffling through their hair.
They didn't take their eyes off each other once. Then, slowly and without breaking eye contact, they both raised their Beyblades, ready to launch.
"Seriously?" Kai said, a brow raised. "This place?"
"I have fond memories of it," Tyson replied with a big grin. "Oh, should I explain?"
Kai frowned.
"Thanks, but my memory has fully returned."
"You sure? I could-…"
"You wanna blade or not, you insufferable brat?"
"Of course I want to blade. We promised, right?" Tyson said and smiled. "And a promise is a promise."
And they launched their Beyblades.
The End