Note: This chapter has not been proof-read.

Disclaimer: I do not own beyblades in any sort of fashion. This is merely a fanwork by a fan to express her love for the series. I also do not own the lyrics of the song.

Until You Catch Me

Chapter 22

Disease

-Recap-

"Oooh no. Don't drag me into the equation too. I did NOT cause you any problems, so don't you dare patronize me like you did to Mariah and Lee! I did nothing! There's nothing I could possib-"

"Kevin, I love you!"

"What?"

... ... ...

For a moment, the two boys could only hear the rapid beating of their hearts. Kevin's violet eyes stared steely back into Rei's amber ones. Neither was backing down, yet neither was advancing forward. Kevin didn't know what just happened. Did Rei really say something so... ridiculous? Kevin wasn't sure, and because he wasn't sure, he didn't know how to react. He tried searching Rei's expression but there was not even an ounce of shame.

"You're... shitting me, right?" Kevin said slowly. Rei couldn't have said that with a straight face if he was telling the truth. He must have said that to throw Kevin off, how gullible did Rei think he was?

"No, I'm telling the truth."

Something dropped into Kevin's stomach. It was heavy like lead. His heart was hammering in his ears and his lungs forgot how to breathe. His mind: a blank.

'Disgusting.'

-End Recap-

(flashback)

Kevin was already a well known troublemaker by the age of 11 (going on 12). And, when one is a troublemaker... he tends to meet other people of his trade. Usually... this takes place in detention, and today was no different.

"Kevin Chen… Ming Woo ... ah yes... and Tian. Why am I not surprised to see you three?" Mr. Tao sneered while he paced slowly in front of their desks.

"Cuz we're your favorite students, obviously." Tian scoffed. He was a handsome, roguish boy of fourteen. Though he had fashionably spiky hair and a roguish smile, the most prominent feature was the scar on his left cheek. It was rumored that he got it in a brawl with the triads in the city. His face suddenly connected with his desk.

"I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR CHEEKY BEHAVIOUR IN DETENTION!" Mr. Tao warned while using his foot to hold down his student. Spit practically spewed everywhere in his outburst. There was a dramatic pause before hysteric laughter erupted from another boy.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA –OH MAN – Ha. Hah. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah... so... much... spit... AHAHAHAHA!! Tian, your hair!!" Ming sputtered out while clutching his gut in mirthful pain. He was the same age as Tian, but that's where most of their similarities stopped. While Tian was cool, Ming was the loud pranker of their class. He always dressed in shabby clothes, and his hair never looked cared for (but somehow it never looked greasy either). He was known for his untamable cowlicks and really bad jokes. These two boys were complete opposites; however, there was one other thing that made their names a pair: fighting. Most of their detentions were because of the bloody brawls between the two.

THWAP.

"OW!! THE HELL?" Ming cried before nursing his throbbing brow. Mr. Tao growled in contempt while gripping his wooden pointer harder. 'Kids these days... why do they get brattier every year?' He eyed Kevin to see if he would act up as well. Surprisingly, Kevin didn't have anything too say... but that was because he was too busy wiping the Tao-spit from his face like it was SARS. Let's just say that the wooden pointer-stick became wooden pointer- slivers.

"I'm going to call your parents – and let me make this clear to you now," Mr. Tao said in a dangerously low voice, "By the end of this day, all of you won't even be able to CRAWL home, got it?" And with that, he slammed the classroom door shut... no doubt locking it as well.

"Gaah, it burns! I can feel the bacteria cultivating!!" Kevin whimpered, rubbing his cheeks raw.

"You think you got it bad, kid?" Tian said while gingerly touching his ruined spikes, "it's all in my hair and down my neck... fucking bastard I'll-"

"Awwwwwwwww, Kevin, you're so CUTE! Your cheeks are all red!" Ming gushed after butting in front of Tian... figuratively and literally.

"OWW, shtop pwinching my chweeeks!!" Kevin complained while trying to rip Ming's offending fingers away.

"Hehehehe, I can't help it Kevin! You got so much baby fat!" Ming cooed. He was so wrapped up in Kevin, that he didn't notice the murderous intent behind him.

"You little shit! What makes you think you can butt into my conversation! HUH?" Tian had Ming in a surprise headlock.

"Gah, that's a dirty move, fuck-face! Let me go!" Ming shoved his elbow into Tian and made his escape while the other regained his breath. "And what makes you think that Kevin would want to listen to YOU? You're nothing but a dog for the Triads!"

"A dog, eh?" Tian gritted out, "If' I'm a dog, then you're a rat living in the dumpster. What? Your family can't afford plumbing? If anything stinks around here it's you, dirt face." A shadow passed over Ming's face.

"... Guys..." Kevin's small voice suddenly flittered through the tension. "I dunno how to say this but... SHUT UP ALREADY!" With a huff, Kevin folded his arms rolled his eyes. It was like this EVERY TIME he had detention with those two. Even Kevin, who was smaller and younger, found it annoying.

"Awww, Kevin" Ming cooed, "Shorry fwor scaring you with scary words. Butt ugly over there just has that effect on me." Ming wandered over to Kevin and promptly began messing with the younger kid's hair.

"Wha- HEY! I'm three years younger than you, not ten! Stop it!"

"Awww, but you're so cute! Even fugly over there will tone it down for you!" And sure enough, Tian had wandered over to the windows to brood safely.

"I am not cute!"

"Oh, yes you are, tee hee! Especially when you're trying to be all badass" Ming emphasized his point with...er... a poke. "So whatcha in for? Tardiness? Cutting Class? Oh, wait – I know – STEALING! Am I right or am I right?

Kevin blushed. "Uuuum... actually... I kinda... set my classmate's hair on fire." Ming's eyes grew big.

"Woooooah! Hey, Tian! Did ya hear that? Kevin's more badass than we thought! HA HA! HAWT DAWG! Kevin, who knew you were so HOT HEADED! Hahaha, get it? Hot headed?"

... and so... Ming's bad jokes made themselves apparent.

"Shut up, Ming. You're choking the kid." Tian grumbled, but he was obviously interested in Kevin's story.

"No I'm not! You're just jealous that I get to hug such a cute kid!" Ming stuck out his tongue and cuddled the green haired boy. Oddly enough, something akin to jealousy flitted into Tian's eyes. "So, tell us the whole story, Kevin!! I'm dying to know! What could possibly have pissed you off enough to go all pyromaniac on us?"

"W-well... We were using fire for science... it was an accident – really – this girl's hair was so long, and it caught on fire. I was kinda standing behind her at the time... so they all thought it was me. Honestly! I didn't do it!"

"Sure kid, of course you didn't." Ming agreed sarcastically.

"Really, I didn't!!"

"For the last time, stop teasing the kid." Tian grumbled in annoyance.

"Aw, don't get jealous because of a kid."

"Tch, what makes you think I'm jealous? Quit dreaming, dumb ass."

"If you're not jealous... then why are you pouting so much over there, eh?"

The whole room grew heavy with tension, but this time... even Kevin understood that it was different.

It left him feeling a bit perplexed.

Kevin was let out early because his dad assured Mr. Tao that Kevin would be disciplined. A heaviness known as dread filled Kevin's gut – making him sluggish on his way out of the building. By the time he got to the entrance, his mind was made up. If he was going to die today, then he might as well enjoy what little life he had left. He hopped onto the nearest tree and got comfortable.

He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew, the sun was now setting and the sound of footsteps were brought to his attention. Kevin peaked through the leaves and saw the source of the footsteps.

Ming and Tian: and they looked pretty worn out.

"So-" Started Ming.

"Shut up... I don't want to talk to you." Tian hissed. Ming had a very annoyed look on his face and promptly stopped walking (conveniently right under Kevin's tree).

"I'm sick and tired of your attitude! You know...You're really starting to piss me off! This is your fault you know! You and your shitty attitude make me want to slam that face of yours into a pile of dog shit!"

Tian also stopped walking and turned to face his classmate with arms folded. A scowl graced his handsome features. "It's who I am, and if you don't like it, then just leave me alone. It's not like I'm making you bother me – or anything."

"Fuck you! H-how am I supposed to pretend when you- when you're always talking shit about my family, HUH? IT FUCKING HURTS, ALRIGHT? ...There, I said it."

A heavy silence fell between them.

"... I'm... Sorry." Tian fell quiet. Kevin leaned forward to see and hear better. He'd never seen these two so... so serious. He was curious now... What was going on?

"SORRY? Do you think that makes everything better? Does it make us–"

"What part of 'shut up' don't you understand?" Tian's voice held a panicky note to it.

"Fuck you." Was all that Ming said, and it was the last thing Kevin heard before his eyes went wide.

Two boys in the sunset... where anyone could see them...

Were kissing.

Ming had started it... and it didn't look like Tian wanted to end it... well... not at first, anyways. Kevin held his breath... This was... What the heck is this? Were guys even allowed to do... THAT? A million thoughts went through Kevin in an instant, and most of them were questions.

"You idiot" Tian hissed when he came to his senses, "Anyone could see us here!"

"This is the problem. You're always so paranoid! This is why we always have to act so horrible at school. Do you know how much it hurts? I hate hurting you, and I hate it when you hurt me! Look, man... sometimes I don't even know if you..." Ming ran a hand through his messy hair in frustration.

"No. Don't even think that." Tian said quickly.

"Ha. What am I supposed to think, you cold hearted bastard? Look, if this scares you and shit... then yeah, I'm okay for walking away and pretending it never happened. Then you can go on pretending to be normal and shit." Ming proposed, his tone of voice made it clear that he did not like this option. "Meh...you know... that Kevin kid is pretty cu-woaah! Ow!" Tian grabbed Ming by the shoulders and slammed him into the tree.

"Don't. Fuck. Around." Tian gritted out. Kevin was surprised to hear Tian's voice cracking with emotion. "This thing... whatever it is... it's not accepted by everyone... Look... I-I only have you for this... and you only have me. So... you're mine, 'kay? You're the only one that I can..."

Kevin held his breath. Ming was silent for awhile... but slowly he raised his hand and guided Tian's head onto his shoulder.

"You can't even say it." Ming whispered. "I say it to you all the time... but..."

It disturbed Kevin to see such a fearless person like Tian reduced to a shaking mess. Was this thing really that wrong? What was this thing anyways? Tian always came off as a tough guy... was this that much of a taboo?

"You can't even say 'I love you'..." Ming whispered. The soft sobs of Tian were the loudest that Kevin had ever heard of in his entire life.

Kevin would be taught a hard lesson a few weeks after.

Why?

The answer was simple: Kevin wasn't the only one who saw them that day. A certain Mr. Tao had spotted the incident on his way home from work. Being such a star citizen that upheld village morals, Mr. Tao promptly notified a village councilor of what he saw. Now, had particularly conservative politics – especially concerning homosexual topics. In other words, he was VERY Anti-gay. His name was Long Feng.

Upon hearing the allegations, he ordered that these two boys to be arrested until a village meeting could be called upon to decide the fate of the "infected". Despite it being called a "village meeting" it was clear that only a select portion of the village attended. Most were like Long Feng – holding the same politics as he. Despite the majority being against homosexuality, there were a few opposition members in the crowd. However, Kevin did not notice these things... He did not notice that he was the only child that attended the village meeting (his father made sure that he came). Nor did he notice how Mrs. Kon clenched and unclenched the hem of her shirt at the injustice of it all. Nor did he notice how the village elder's frown ran deeper than usual.

What Kevin did notice was the comments his father yelled out in his drunken state. That and the almost murderous intent directed from the male homophobes towards the two boys at the front of the hall.

"Fucking Faggots! Get them outta here!"

"They'll spread the disease to my kids!" a woman called out.

"Calm down everyone. We all know that outsiders from the city are responsible for this! I suggest we increase border controls!"

"Oh, shut up! We should make an example of these kids so that the other kids don't get any ideas!"

"You're all being unreasonable! They did nothing wrong! They're just boys!" a voice that was distinctly Mrs. Kon called out, but was drowned out by the other, more hysteric voices.

"A fucking disease is right." Kevin's father agreed out loud. He turned to Kevin. "If we don't get rid of these faggots now, then you might get infected, eh? Grwahahahaha" He laughed as if he made the funniest joke of the year. Kevin, however, felt a cold stone drop to the bottom of his stomach. Ming always said that he was cute... No. He couldn't think about that right now... his detention mates were in big trouble. Kevin, despite everything going around him, secretly hoped they would get out of this trial unharmed. What's the worst that could happen? The jeering and yelling of men answered Kevin's question for him.

"ORDER," Long Feng's deep and powerful voice called, "before we call for a vote, I'd like to give my own two cents about this issue. Ahem. By law of nature, men and women were made to bring harmony for each other. As we should ALL know, Yin is the feminine power while Yang is the masculine power, and together they create harmony. However, these two BOYS have disturbed harmony, and the gods will surely reprimand us for allowing such a disaster to occur. Yang and Yang cannot create balance. Our very village is in danger now that these BOYS have angered the gods! We should do all in our power and in our religious teachings to right this wrong... not just for our own sakes, but for the very spirits of these two young children as well."

There was a pause of silence. Kevin heart felt heavy... like it was dropping... but at the same time, his heart was racing too. And then...

"These boys are endangering us! We need to get rid of them!"

"It'll spread! I sure as hell don't want to become a faggot! Get rid of them!"

"Stop this madness!" Mrs. Kon cried out.

"STOP!" cried a young voice. Everyone turned to Ming who, even though he was shaking like a leaf, held determined, brave eyes. The bravest that Kevin had ever seen on the boy.

"Stop it... Stop it. You're hurting me. You're hurting him! Please! Why is loving him considered so wrong? There, I said it. I LOVE TIAN, AND NONE OF YOU FUCKERS CAN EVER CHANGE THAT!"

The crowd erupted in uproar. Kevin only saw the hatred and the fear among even the most sensible of men. It caused him to fear as well. Kevin did not see how Ming's mother and father hugged each other in fear for their son's life. Nor did he see Tian's father turn his head away in shame and disgust. And Kevin still did not notice Mrs. Kon trying to talk sense to the mob mentality of the crowd.

Kevin was afraid.

"SEE HERE! HE'S TRYING TO INFECT US NOW! GET RID OF HIM!" Long Feng cried. Long Feng, in his power trip, made a bold move and took the ceremonial sword that rested in the middle of the hall. Even the Village Elder knew that he could not bring order among the crowd. He could only bow his head in solemnly.

"You shall not infect us!"

"Ming, tell them you don't love me. You can still-"

"Tian, it's no use!" Ming cried as he turned around. The ropes that held him (which signified his arrest) inhibited any chances of him running. "Tian... you were right." Those were the last words Ming would utter as his head was separated from his body.

"MING!!" Tian screamed. How did this happen? It was completely illogical – uncivilized. How could – how could mindless fear drive society into doing something as stupid as... as...

But it happened.

It was real.

And Kevin stared wide eye... taking it all in... how could he not? It was burning into his retinas. The smell of blood was choking him. He wanted to throw up. And yet... why was his mind so calm? How could he acknowledge his father, who was hollering encouragements to Long Feng, when his friend was dead?

His friend was dead.

His friend was DEAD.

His friend was DEAD.

(( Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge
And I'm thinking
Maybe six feet ain't so far down))

Tian was clutching onto Ming's blood soaked shirt. Kevin couldn't look at the tears that streamed down his friend's face. They looked too much like blood to Kevin.

"WHY? WHHHY? H-He was hurting already, damnit. All of this – All of this is because of you FUCKERS! YOU SCREW US UP IN OUR HEADS, AND THEN YOU SCREW US UP LIKE THIS!" Tian pointed to Ming. "We didn't do anything! We... didn't... do... anything... wrong..."

Long Feng shook his head, but a part of him realized that he might have taken things too far. But it was too late to stop now... much too late. "I already stated, young boy. You have disturbed the harmony within this village. We must rectify it at all cost."

"... We only kissed..." Tian whispered.

Long Feng looked at Tian with pity. "I understand that you are a very brave warrior, and so... I suppose there can be hope for you yet. Perhaps if you were to be... shall we say... re-educated, then perhaps you could move on with a lesser punishment. Is that understood?" Long Feng looked to the crowd. "This also goes for everybody in the village. This is an act that is deemed unnatural by the five gods. It does not coincide with the laws of nature of any sort, and therefore, we cannot allow this to continue. Do you understand, Tian?" He looked to the boy. Tian just sat, staring at his dead lover. "Why do you not speak?" Long Feng almost purred. The crowd was considerably quieter than earlier. No one was really expecting the death of a child.

Then Tian raised his head, deliberately disrespectful. Uncontrollably insane laughter bubbled out between gasps of breath and tears. "Why do I not speak? Hahaha, well let me tell you..." and then... Tian did it. He said the words that he could not say... "I am silent... because I loved him."

The man narrowed his eyes. "Insolence. Then you too will be made a martyr." With that, another head rolled to the ground. Kevin will always remember how the two heads seemingly stared at each other lovingly... even though their bodies lay bleeding headless.

Kevin's father sneered. "See that, Kevin? It's like a disease. It started with that Ming kid, then notice how quickly it was passed to Tian? Hmph, and did you hear that kid's laughter? Fucking faggot. I'm glad he's dead. They're the most disgusting things on earth." His father turned around and staggered towards home. And Kevin...

Kevin was taught a lesson.

Homosexuality was something to be feared.

It was dangerous, and it will kill you.

It must be avoided with all cost because it was considered disgusting.

It was a disease.

This was one lesson that would haunt Kevin for a long time afterwards. Because of this lesson, he forced himself to believe that Mariah was the most beautiful girl in the world even though he could care less about crushes and such. In fact, Kevin found himself unable to like anyone in a romantic way... Why? The answer was simple: love had killed two of his friends. Therefore... love was dangerous – especially homosexual love. Kevin didn't want to take any chances... If he had it his way, then everyone would be kept at a safe distance... and yet...

Somehow... there was always one person who was the exception... but it was okay! It was okay because this person was safe. He was perfect. And he would lead Kevin towards a safe future...

He was Rei Kon of the White Tigers.

'Faggots... are the most disgusting things on earth'

Suddenly, the cool night wind and Kevin's own heavy breathing became all too real again, yet the memory of his father's words clung to him like a suffocating wisp of smoke...

Rei may have been Kevin's salvation -his hope- over uncertain years...

"...Disgusting..."

But now... Kevin wasn't sure if it was okay anymore...

A/N: Sorry about the loooong wait... here's what happened since last year: My laptop fell out of a 3 story building... from the top floor... and smashed into itty bitty pieces along with all my fics and homework. Because of that, i had to re-write this chapter, and it was a HORRIBLE experience since I'm the type of writer that can only make a fic sound good if it hits me at that moment. That coupled with the fact that i do not make very much money at my part time work place... it...uh... took awhile to buy a new computer. Yes, I now have a desktop again!

Anyways, a HUGE shout out to XChewy for being sooooooooo patient. I'm really sorry... life just likes to throw me curve balls.

Please Review! I'd like to hear your thoughts... any thoughts ;D