Chapter 22

The next stop of the World Championships was the Italian capital Rome. After the last fight had ended in New York, the teams left on the next morning to fly to the European city. Some of the teams were happy because they scored a victory at the first tournament; some teams were sad and/or upset because they lost; and there was one team where its members were irritated although they had won.

Tala was anything but unhappy to leave the American metropolis behind, where he felt he had lost Kai once and for all. And what him upset the most was the fact, that he had told him to leave. Needless to say, the dual-haired teen hadn't slept in their shared hotel room the last night. Like in Moscow, he had showed up at the airport where he had boarded the plane in complete silence. Not once did he look at his captain, while the redhead darted glances at him more often than not. 'Did he spend the night with the blue-haired trainer from BBA Revolution?' Tala wondered. After the eight-hour flight he still had no answer to this question.

While waiting for a special bus that would bring all the teams to their hotel, he noticed Kai walking away from the group to the males' restrooms. He wanted to follow him to talk to him, to take back his words from yesterday. Yet when he turned towards the restrooms himself, he saw Hitoshi, the blue-haired trainer from BBA Revolution, walking straight there as well. Tala stopped in his motion and just stared. Inwardly he counted the seconds until both reappeared together. He made it to about 300 and … was this a smile on Kai's face? The bus arrived and he was forced to focus on his other teammates, who had apparently asked him a question. Of course, Bryan and Spencer weren't stupid and knew that between their captain and Kai it had only taken a turn to the worst after yesterday. For none of them it was a surprise that Kai didn't enter the bus. 'At least Hitoshi is here', Tala thought. The imagination of what both had done in the restroom was killing him, but not as much as the feeling of jealousy blooming inside him.

In the hotel room, Spencer and Bryan still refused to change the sleeping arrangement, he flopped down on his bed. A long sigh filled the space around him. "What should I do?" He closed his eyes and drifted off into a much-needed sleep.

He could feel plump lips on his own. He knew the feeling of those lips, had felt them before. They felt soft and demanding at the same time; requesting entrance. With a soft moan he granted permission. A wanton tongue slipped inside, caressing his own lavishly. Another soft moan escaped his lips, becoming a witness to the passion. Slowly he opened his eyes, revealing a hint of blue. The haze of lust over those eyes thinned out gradually. Before them, burning crimson became visible. With a gasp Tala awoke.

He was alone, the bed next to him empty and unused. 'A dream', the redhead thought relieved. But his relief was only short-lived when he noticed his erection. He growled quietly. "Tala, don't you have any dignity left?", he asked himself in a low voice. "Why do I dream about him? Why do I dream about him kissing me? And overall, why am I aroused?" Tala sighed audibly, not knowing what was going on with him. Of course, it wasn't the first time he awoke with an erection. He wasn't void of sexuality. However, never had a dream or thoughts about a real person caused such a bodily reaction. He willed it to go away, to no avail. In the end, he decided that a shower might help.

It was only shortly after midnight anyway, a halfway decent time to take a shower. Tala undressed on the spot and entered the adjoining bathroom naked. His erection throbbed almost painfully demanding his attention, still the redhead refused to give in to his needs. Instead, he turned on the ice-cold water. The liquid rained down on his head and shoulders, freezing the places it touched, but his erection remained steadfast. Tala endured the icy water for another minute, but his little friend remained as it was. With another growl he switched to the hot water. His skin turned red under the steaming liquid; however, his little problem didn't want to leave him alone. Eventually he gave up and changed the temperature to a pleasant one.

Inadvertently Tala's thoughts wandered back to his dream. The feel of those lips against his own. He closed his eyes and bathed in the tingling sensation the fictional kiss left behind. One of his hands wandered down to his crotch where his dick was still desperately waiting for his attention. At first his fingertips only ghostly graced the tip of his pulsing length. The slight contact forced a moan out of the redhead's parted lips. In his imagination another pair pressed against his own lips, sucking lightly on the bottom lip until a tongue slipped inside, continuing to caress the velvet cavern. The light press of fingertips was replaced by a firm squeeze. His hips started their own life and thrusted into the hand so tight around his dick. Another moan escaped his still captured lips. The pace of his thrusts sped up. He could feel the tongue withdrawing from his mouth, letting him inhale some much-needed oxygen. A second later the lips were back, smiling against his own. Tala felt his climax nearing fast. He wanted to scream, but the sound was muffled by another hungry kiss. Everything felt so real and unreal at the same time. With a drowned cry he came; white liquid spurting from his tip and washed away immediately by the warm water running down his trembling body.

He could feel the lips withdrawing again. Gradually Tala regained his senses, the dreamlike state disappeared back into the haze of the night, but the redhead wanted to remain in his fantasy just a little longer. A fantasy where Kai was with him; a fantasy in which they both shared pleasure. He felt the water rinsing off the last traces of his imagination, yet he could still sense the presence of the dual-haired teen. He opened his eyes slowly, denying the reality now displayed before his ice-blue orbs. Was he still dreaming? He didn't know. Crimson eyes were watching him intently.

"Kai?" Tala asked, voice hoarse.

"Hn."

A pale hand shot up to touch the other teens face. Grey and black hair stuck to the skin, totally soaked. "You real?"

"Hn."

Not yet convinced Tala did something he never imagined he would do. With a step forward he brought their lips together. Kissing Kai of his own accord for the first time. Although the younger teen was taken by surprise, he stayed were he was, having the feeling that any action would repel the redhead. The kiss only lasted a moment, before Tala pulled away again. He saw the disbelief in the blue eyes. "No dream." A stutter escaped the kiss-swollen lips.

"No dream," Kai reassured the other.

"How long have you been here?" Tala's voice was no more than a whisper. The redhead was still comprehending the whole situation.

Kai's gaze slid down the naked figure in front of him. His eyes lingered a little longer at the other's crotch before wandering to Tala's face again where a blush bloomed on the otherwise pale cheeks. Yet the redhead remained where he was, he made no move to cover himself or to step away. Kai grabbed Tala's hand, squeezing it tightly once. Realization hitting the red-haired teen. "Long enough to be part of the action."

The blush on Tala's cheeks deepened, but apart from that the teenager showed no reaction to the statement. To escape the scrutiny of the crimson orbs, the redhead's own gaze started to wander down the dual-haired teen's body. Kai's clothes were soaked and clung to all the right places. The outline of the other's dick showed its hardness. Tala could imagine how painful it was and yet Kai made no move to get closer. He remained unnaturally passive; like he was scared of ruining the situation. With a swift movement Tala turned off the water. Without the clattering sound of the shower, it was almost completely silent in the bathroom. Minutes passed in which none of the teenager's said or did anything except waiting for the other's response.

Eventually Tala was the first to find his voice. "Let's get dry before both of us catch a cold." The redhead turned around to go back into the bedroom where he had forgotten his bath towel earlier. He heard a rustle of clothes behind him and without looking he knew that Kai had undressed, leaving his wet clothes in the shower behind. The redhead grabbed two towels from a sideboard and threw one of them at the dual-haired teen who just exited the bathroom. Shamelessly Kai used the towel to dry his hair first.

Tala finished drying himself and put on a fresh pair of boxer shorts while he kept his back to the other. When the rustling of clothes stopped, he felt safe enough to face the other teen once more. Kai had mimicked his action and was now dressed in a pair of black boxer briefs. A yawn escaped the redhead's mouth that he tried to stifle in vain. It was long after midnight by now.

"We should sleep." Kai said, while watching the other intently. "The tournament continues today and we don't know who we have to go against yet."

"Will you hold me like in the night in the little guest house in the mountain village?" Tala asked ashamed and hopeful at the same time. Now that not only Kai, but he himself as well, knew of his innermost desires, he felt a lot more lighthearted and confident than before.

"Sure."

When a strong arm wrapped around his hips, the redhead relaxed and before drifting off into sleep he whispered: "Don't go to that Hitoshi-guy again. Promise me."

As an answer Kai nuzzled the crook of Tala's nape. "Hn."

In the morning the draw for the matches in Italy took place. Rei's team, the White Tiger X, would have to face Barthez Battalion. Then it would be PPB All Starz against F-Dynasty. That meant the Blitzkrieg Boys had to fight Takao's team.

Kai smiled. "So I'll be able to finally beat Takao."

"Who said that you will go against him." Tala said seriously. "I want to get my revenge as well!"

"You've had your chance last year. This time it's my turn!"

They stared at each other for several seconds until Tala started to laugh. "For someone determined to lose the World Championships, you are quiet eager to beat this blue-haired monkey. We don't know in which order they will start. Why don't we determine our order now and whoever gets to fight Takao is lucky."

"Fine. I'll go first", Kai replied.

"Don't cry when Takao goes second", the redhead said mockingly.

Instead of a snide reply the dual-haired teen just glanced at him thoughtfully. It was the same look he had in the night under the shower. Like he didn't know what to make of the situation.

When Kai entered the hotel room last night, he had anticipated Tala to be asleep. Yet the other teen wasn't lying in his bed, although he had clearly been there some time ago. Kai could hear the shower running in the adjoining bathroom. First he didn't want to pry into the redhead's private affair. Their last talk in New York had clearly showed him, that Tala didn't fell for him and his charm. However, he couldn't resist the urge to see the red-haired teen naked. 'In the end, he will be mine. It won't hurt to examine the goods before I reap them.'

He opened the door just enough to look at Tala's naked figure. The older teenager stood under the spray of water, eyes closed and in total bliss. Crimson orbs immediately fixed on the straining erection between almost snow-white thighs. Long fingers ghosted over the shaft, barely touching. He was drawn to it; without noticing he opened the door and slipped inside, making his way up to the pale male who was so engrossed in his fantasy that he didn't sense the intruder. Even when he touched and kissed Tala, the redhead didn't awake from his dreamlike state. Never in his life had Kai ever had to muster so much restrain like in this situation. He wanted to devour the other, take him right on the spot, until he was no more than a bundle of nerves whose only purpose was to feel pleasure.

When Tala came with a cry muffled by their kiss, Kai knew that he would wait. He would wait for the day the redhead would come to him; and with the most recent events that day might be sooner than he dared to believe.

The next morning was awkward. They awoke in a tight embrace. Neither wanted to talk about what had happened in the night, so Tala turned the TV on to watch the latest news about the Beyblade World Championships. And here they were, bickering about their upcoming match, like the last few weeks hadn't occurred at all. Their past arguments seemed forgotten.

Of course, the changed atmosphere around them didn't go unnoticed by their other two team members. By now Spencer and Bryan knew better than to comment on it, but the smiles on their faces showed their recognition.

Their match started in the late afternoon. When they entered the arena, Tala and Kai instantly noticed that Takao was missing from the opponent's team. "What the fuck, Kai", the redhead whispered in disbelief. Said dual-haired teen fixed the BBA Revolution's trainer with a fierce look.

D.J. asked the first participants to get ready. Kai stepped on the stage, his gaze never leaving Hitoshi. For the other team Daichi jumped on the stage, prepared to give it his all. When they launched their Blades, they collided in midair and while Daichi's Gaia Dragoon landed in the Bey Dish, Kai's Dranzer went straight to the BBA Revolution's bench. It crushed into the pillar just centimeters away from Hitoshi's head. For the first time during the match the blue-haired man looked at the Dranzer Blader with a sneer.

Kai went back to his own team's bench, where a speechless Tala was waiting for him. Without saying anything he sat down. The redhead had to go against Kenny and to the surprise of all he struggled more against the young technician than anyone would have thought. In the end, he was able to win the match and destroyed his opponent's Beyblade completely. The third round would be him against Daichi. If there was someone that reminded him even more of an ape than Takao, it was this young boy. The more it bugged him that he eventually lost against said monkey. Although the Blitzkrieg Boys lost at the second tournament, Tala enjoyed the time in the Italian capital more than the time in New York.

After another night in Rome, all the teams went to Madrid on the next day. Since they had a day off before the tournament would continue, Kai decided to go on a date with the redhead. Despite the action between them on the first night in Rome, in the following nights they didn't repeat it. They continued to share a bed, but Kai never tried to kiss or touch the other and Tala didn't start anything on his part.

Having been to Spain's capital several times before, the dual-haired teen wanted to go to Madrid's most famous market: El Rastro. Of course, even on a day off, his red-haired captain's only thought was to train. Especially after losing to Daichi, Tala was even more determined to perfect his Beyblade skills. But Kai could be stubborn as well. In the end, the redhead agreed to go with him, if they would train together later that day.

The market was truly overwhelming. There were more than three thousand stalls. Locals mixed with tourists from all over the world bargained about the presented goods. Tala was drawn to a little stall with alcoholic beverage. The bottles glistered in the sunlight. An old woman stood behind the goods, smiling at the two strange looking teenagers. She said something in Spanish, watching them curiously. Kai, who was fluent in Spanish, answered her with a twinkle in his eyes. The old woman laughed heartily and poured them a shot glass of the transparent liquid. "Try," she said in English. Tala looked at Kai skeptically, but the dual-haired teen encouraged him to drink it. He nipped at the glass briefly before he chugged the substance.

"Uh." He coughed. "What is this? Vodka?"

"Yes. A Spanish brand," Kai answered.

"You should try it as well. I didn't know there were other countries who could make vodka as good as Russia." Tala tried to persuade Kai, but the younger teen refused. They bought a bottle for Spencer and Bryan and continued their stroll. Whenever the redhead saw something that provoked his interest, they stopped and took a closer look. Kai conversed with the vendors who couldn't speak English and Tala was amazed at the other teen's language skills. In the end, the redhead bought a lot more than he had planned. Well, the other had paid for everything.

Around midday they stopped for lunch at a small restaurant. They ordered a vegetarian paella pan for both.

"You smiled a lot today," Kai stated while they were waiting for their food.

"Well, I really enjoyed our little trip." After a moment he added. "How come you speak Spanish?"

For a while it seemed that the younger teen didn't want to answer the simple question. "I was taught at a young age." He eventually responded.

"By your parents?"

"No." When Tala's eyes looked at him with sincere curiosity, he felt the need to explain further. "My parents died when I was five. I was brought up by someone else." Before the redhead could ask more, Kai added. "I don't want to talk about it." With that they spent the rest of the wait for their food in silence.

A mere ten minutes later a young waitress brought the paella. A vegetarian variant, so that Kai would eat it as well. Tala didn't know why someone would willingly refuse to eat meat or fish, but he accepted the younger's decision. The vegetarian paella was delicious nonetheless.

"We are fighting the PPB All Starz tomorrow." Tala said after finishing his meal.

"Back to Beyblade," Kai stated with a hint of irritation in his voice. "I would rather discuss something else." The redhead waited for the other to continue. He knew that this conversation had to happen sooner or later. "How do you want this to continue?"

"I don't know," was the captain's automatic response.

Kai sighed. "Sleeping in the same bed is nice, but it's not nearly enough for me. For now, I can restrain myself, but I don't know for how long. Tala, I want more."

The redhead took his time to answer; thinking carefully about his next words. "Me as well, but I'm scared. Scared about my own feelings." A hand grabbed his chin, so that he couldn't look away.

"There is no need to be scared. You can trust me."

"Can I? I feel like I don't know anything about you. Until today I didn't even know you speak Spanish."

It dawned on the dual-haired teen that Tala meant a real relationship; that the redhead wanted sex, but only with the person he was in a relationship with. The complete opposite of himself. Kai wanted sex but without the boundaries of a relationship. At least not the kind of relationship the other meant. He could see himself and Tala having a relationship like he and Lien had: friends with benefits, but the relationship Tala had in mind meant monogamy. He could never limit himself to just one lover, could he?

Thankfully Mao and Rei appeared right around the corner. The raven-haired teen greeted them politely while the pink-haired girl remained reserved. She was still wary of the Blitzkrieg Boys, especially Tala, after what had happened last year. "Good luck with your match against Max' team." Rei said while waving his goodbye.

During this morning's sports news broadcast the draw for the Spanish matches was announced. First White Tiger X had to go against F-Dynasty. After this it would be Blitzkrieg Boys versus the American team and the third battle would be BBA Revolution against Barthez Battalion. With a win they could secure their participation in the finals at their next destination: Egypt.

"We should go now," Kai said. Tala was surprised that the other dropped the topic so easily after he had brought it up in the first place. However, he was happy to escape expressing his confusing feelings towards the other and the redhead had the feeling it was mutual. The dual-haired teen kept his promise and trained with his captain for the rest of the day. Spencer and Bryan joined them after some time and as a thanks Tala handed them the bottle of Spanish vodka he had bought this morning.

The next day came fast; the night was spent like the previous in a tight embrace with neither teen pushing it further. Surprisingly Rei and Lee lost against Julia and Raul in a team-match. With this win the siblings of F-Dynasty could even make it into the finals. Also, their own match didn't go like they had predicted. Although Kai won against Max, Tala lost against Rick. The dual-haired teen had to fight a deciding battle against the tall American. Of course, he and Dranzer won in the end, but the redhead was in a foul mood after the tournament. He had lost the last two matches and that not even on purpose.