Author's Note: So... since the last update I've really only had two sensible reasons for not getting this chapter done. One is the oh so typical school issue. Two is that I had surgery at the beginning of the month – I am officially without a gallbladder. Yay, I guess?
Should also mention the slight change in deadline plans I have for this story: I intend to have the whole thing finished and uploaded by the end of January 2012. I'm really only saying not by the end of the year because of how busy December typically is due to the holidays, though I'm confident I'll have the next chapter done within December.
Anyway! Allow me to thank Dragon Reverb, cartoon-watcher-4-eva, XxGoddess-Of-LovexX, sheneverupdates, Shiningheart of ThunderClan, FallenTenshiXO , Sony89, ayushi, imma-pink-buble, Just Mein, Kenrai, xjoinxthexclubx, Kashel, sanaa, MePo, DayDreaming0f_y0u, ToraHimeSama, and Lakhi94 for the reviews! As always, always appreciated for reading and leaving your thoughts! You are all amazing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
Chapter Thirteen: Fallout
When Tyson's shoes met the dojo's grounds the stars were bright in the sky. It was a clear night, giving off a serene atmosphere. Well, for most people. Tyson was managing to both drag and stomp his feet upon the arrival at his home, ignoring whatever serenity the night wanted to hold.
His jaw was beginning to hurt from clenching his teeth together, grinding them with every raw thought that moulded in his brain. He kept replaying everything over in his head from the past few days, finding new notions to be upset about preying in every memory. Tyson desperately wanted to hit something, feel the contact of his knuckles against whatever hard surface was provided for him. He decided that he would also throw something as far as he could if that opportunity presented itself.
Tyson was known for his temper. He knew he had a low threshold for frustration and that sometimes it got the best of him. This time, however, his threshold was nowhere to be seen, left in the dust as betrayal and outright fury skyrocketed into his being. His emotions left him tensed and built like blocks onto each other, mounting into an immeasurable amount of stress digging into his shoulders.
He felt like he was on the warpath, following the well-travelled route to the main hall of his dojo. Passing the area him and his friends typically trained, Tyson kicked a rock hard before watching as it crashed into the pond scattering the fish.
It was at this point that Tyson could hear voices from within the dojo speaking casually. He let out a breath of air marching onto the veranda with solid steps. His hand had barely rested on the door before he pushed it open with a single motion causing a thud in the process.
The light from the room then washed into the night allowing Tyson to stand briskly in the doorway with his features accented. The people he once called friends were all gathered in the room. Kai was sitting against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed as per usual. Ray, Kenny, and Max were seated not far by, gathered around Kenny's laptop as he typed. Daichi was lying on his back, seemingly not involved in whatever conversation had been taking place.
When the door had opened Ray, Kenny, Max, and Daichi had diverted their attention in Tyson's direction. Silence then sank unsettlingly into the expansive room as each teenage boy read into the dark expression of their friend.
Daichi was not one to take a tactful route in conversation, however, and turned to lay on his side with a smirk. "Nice tux, Tyson." The navy haired boy watched as Max and Kenny cringed at the comment.
"Shut-up, Daichi." Confusion washed over the young red haired boy's face; he hadn't heard the usual growl in Tyson's voice when they argued. Instead his voice had been cold and distant.
"What's your problem?" Daichi retorted, disappointed with the lacklustre response from his team mate.
Kenny coughed nervously, hoping to catch Tyson's attention instead to diffuse the possible situation. The genius knew all too well what type of aggravation Daichi brought to the table and the arguments between him and Tyson were known to be explosive. "You're home early...?" Kenny said indecisively, not knowing where about the discussion should start.
Tyson's stare moved to his small friend that was lurching over his computer almost as if he was about to try to hide behind it. "Is that really a big surprise?" His question came out rigidly taunting, asking for one of his former team mates to respond. When nobody did, Tyson continued, "So who won the bet...?"
Still standing in the doorway, he watched as Kenny looked uneasily at Ray and Max as subtly as possible. Daichi, on the other hand, sat up from his spot interested and a little frazzled. "There was a bet and you guys didn't tell me?" The red haired boy scowled at the news and pumped his fists into the air, "No fair! Just because I'm new...!"
"Shut-up, Daichi," Tyson repeated. His gaze was still hardened in the direction of his oldest team mates, completely ignoring the young blader.
"You can't just boss me around, Tyson!" Daichi jumped to his feet, fists still flailing in the air.
"Daichi," Ray said calmly, "This isn't the time. I think it'd be best if Tyson talked to us alone."
Just as Daichi had opened his mouth to complain, Max jumped in carefully. "Ray's right, Daichi. Just go out for a little while, don't worry about it."
With a frown, the red haired boy began to stomp out of the room. As he passed Tyson in the doorway, the older boy continuing to pay him no attention, he grumbled about telling Grandpa in the morning about how unfair everyone treated him. Tyson hadn't even rolled his eyes in annoyance like his usual self would, instead he waited for somebody to open their mouth and present him with more lies and excuses.
Yet the navy haired boy was brought more silence, much to his frustration. He had dealt with this enough with Hilary and it merely built onto his rage. "Don't tell me you guys didn't make bets about how early I came home? I thought you guys loved doing stuff like that at my expense."
"You know that's not true, Tyson." Max frowned at the subject, having a sinking suspicion he knew where this conversation was going. The blond couldn't help but cringe again when his friend turned his dark stare toward him. Tyson's eyes were full of anger and they managed to pierce through whoever was on the receiving end of them.
"Guess you lost then," Tyson deduced, switching his attention to Ray and Kenny. "How about you guys? Who thought I was this stupid to not figure out things sooner? Maybe that's what you were talking about when I was outside?"
"Nobody called you stupid," Ray sighed as he kept his calm demeanour in place. From the flare that was growing in Tyson's voice he knew this conversation was going to turn explosive and he wanted to negate the situation as quickly as possible.
"Really?" Tyson shot back, fists clenched at his sides and turning his knuckles white. "What I just heard from Hilary tells me the opposite."
Ray quirked an eyebrow, "So she told you the truth?"
Tyson snapped, smacking his fist hard against the door frame with another resounding thud. "You guys knew this whole time!" his voice came out as a snarl as the hard hitting news came from his friends for the first time. "I found out because of her Father, who hates my guts now by the way, and you guys knew the whole time!"
"Tyson, did Hilary tell you the whole story?" Max's voice was soft in wonder, hating that one of his best friends was so upset.
"'Cause that would make everything perfect, wouldn't it?" Tyson shook his head in frustration. "What exactly am I supposed to be understanding here? That everyone I considered to be my friend went behind my back...? I'm a laughing stock at that wedding, congratulations guys! Why is it that no one thought it would be a good idea to let me in on things?"
Ray stood up from his place on the floor as he stared at Tyson intently. "That's enough, Tyson. You're not letting anyone else speak."
The navy haired boy glowered, moving from his spot in the doorway. Tyson approached Ray, who had crossed his arms, before he shrugged his shoulders flippantly. "I've already heard what Hilary had to say," he stated unimpressed, "All I heard was excuses."
"Listen," Ray said, "I didn't agree with Hilary, but..."
"Then you should've opened your mouth," Tyson interrupted in frustration. "I don't see how that could've been so hard! Hilary doesn't control your life, does she?"
Ray's eyes flared in mutual anger. "Tyson," the teenager began again, his voice becoming more intense so it was heard. "Hilary felt like she couldn't tell you because of how you might react."
"I can see why this reaction is so much better..."
"You need to listen to me," Ray warned. Though he often considered himself one of the more patient members of the Bladebreakers, Tyson often found ways to break through his reserve. "She lied to her family first and foremost; she felt that if she told them the truth they would..."
"They would take it out on her? Have some type of consequence for her actions...?" Tyson rolled his eyes in clear annoyance. "I guess I'm just not seeing the point where it is okay if things get taken out on me instead. And if you're trying to lead into some chivalrous crap it probably would've been a little easier if I knew beforehand what I was getting into."
"You're hurt, okay? I get it," Ray reasoned, sick of being interrupted. "You can't honestly say you would've gone along with the idea perfectly if things had been different. I believed you would've gone to the wedding if you had known and I don't believe that."
"What a surprise, you guys don't believe in me."
Pushed from aggravation, Ray grabbed a hold of Tyson's tuxedo to show that he was serious. "Grow up."
"I'd let go of me if I were you..."
"Guys!" Max and Kenny jumped to their feet in unison, alarmed with how the argument was escalating. The two boys put their hands on Ray's arm and shoulder, pulling on him to release his hold on Tyson. Ray let out a sigh, removing his grip from the tuxedo, but keeping his hardened expression focused.
"I don't get why when it comes to Hilary, no matter the situation, I am at fault?" Tyson stated, countering Ray's dark expression with one of his own. "I'm not fourteen anymore, I don't act the same. She's done something to hurt me this time and you guys are climbing over yourselves to come to her rescue. So don't get all over me Ray because I don't see you as being on my side when it is pretty obvious you're on hers."
"That's because we know your history with Hilary," Ray reminded, glancing toward Kenny and Max who were still nearby and on watch for any drastic movements. "We know where she was coming from."
"And I'm the bad guy again!" Tyson exclaimed, bringing his arms with a jolt in the air out of irritation. "How hard is it to say that she should've just come to me? That she made a mistake?"
"Nobody's saying Hilary didn't make a mistake. All of us thought she should've told you...," Max reasoned, the soft tone of his voice pleading for this whole event to just come to an end.
"We're just saying we know her reasons for it," Ray continued with a nod.
"They're excuses to me, not reasons. All I kept hearing from her was that she was sorry and that she didn't mean to," Tyson countered, pointing out each detail with his fingers. "If she didn't mean to, it wouldn't have happened like this. She meant it."
"Maybe you should start listening instead of just hearing." Tyson's gaze flashed angrily to the person that had finally decided to enter the conversation. Kai. Ray, Max, and Kenny also turned to look at the teenager who was still seated against the wall.
"If you got something to say Kai, just say it," Tyson challenged, his fists once again balled down at his sides.
Kai opened his eyes to stare at his rival passively. "Did you even ask her why she said your name?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Tyson spat, "I'm the joke here. She could have said any one of your names and things would've been different. She wouldn't have lied. Why? Because all of you guys have qualities she likes. I'm the jerk, the bad guy, the idiot."
"Tyson...," Ray started.
"No, listen to me," the navy haired boy said, his voice considerably more tame since his arrival. His eyes, on the other hand, still held the sting of betrayal. "Kenny's a genius. He does well in school. He always wears ties. Ray, you're patient, quiet, a good listener. You know the differences between all those forks. Max knows how to treat girls, doesn't mind dancing in public, and has table manners."
Tyson's gaze then shifted back to Kai, who had yet to get up from his spot on the floor, and looked genuinely confused. The dual haired boy frowned, "Realize something?"
"Why didn't she say your name?" Tyson's eyebrows crumbled in thought. "That's what I don't understand. Out of everyone, I would have thought she'd pick you. You're... like... her dream guy. The way she talks about you...?"
"But she didn't say my name," Kai closed his eyes again, "She said yours, so I guess you better deal with it. Hilary said your name for a reason and instead of finding out why, you had a tantrum."
Tyson glared at him, a scowl once again forming on his face. "And what do you expect me to do, oh great one?"
Kai smirked at the sarcasm. "Go back."
Tyson snorted. "Yeah, like that's going to happen. I'm sure you want me to apologize too. Hate to break it to you, but her Dad kicked me out."
Kai let out a sigh, finally standing up from his spot on the floor; he gave Tyson a disapproving look. "Then go back to your childish little arguments, I don't really care. I'm done with your whining."
And, with that, Kai headed for the door of the dojo that was still ajar from the navy haired boy's arrival. "Whatever, Kai!" Tyson called after him, "Maybe you should just jump on your white horse and go rescue the poor damsel in distress!"
When Kai didn't respond, Tyson instinctively reached for his head with one of his hands and brushed through the blue locks. It was at this moment that the teenage boy froze in realization before kicking the floor. How could he have been so stupid?
"What's wrong...?" Kenny asked cautiously.
Tyson grumbled his response as he made his way for the door. "Now, I have to go back..."
"Tyson?" Ray called after him.
Halting in the doorway, Tyson looked over his shoulder at the three remaining boys in the dojo. "Kai's not right about this," he warned, confusing his former team mates, "I'm only going back because Hilary still has my hat."
