Of Boys and Blades
Part Two
Chapter 26
xXx
Kai
xXx
The second day of the tournament had arrived. I woke up early, the match on my mind. I was ready. The tournament was starting at ten. Tala and I had taken our time at breakfast and were now getting ready in the bathroom. I'd barely eaten. I always ate light before a battle and today I was actually kind of apprehensive. I'd never taken Rei on like this before.
"You remember when we used to do this at the Abbey?" Tala was asking. "We'd sneak in the supply room and steal all the candles and blue markers."
He was spiking his hair up with pomade and I was drawing in my triangles. "Yeah, I remember." Tala would melt down the candles and use the wax on his hair and I'd draw the triangles with marker as a child. I burned my fingers on that wax so many fucking times. I was surprised I still had fingerprints. "Remember when we got caught?"
"Yeah." Tala paused. "What was our punishment for that?"
"We had to sit at the head table and watch everyone else get to eat for two days."
"Why do you still do the triangles?" Tala asked after a moment. "I mean, Voltaire and Boris aren't here to piss off. Still hoping Daddy will find you?"
I shook my head. "No. I just want him to know who I am." Fuck my father. I tried not to think about him much. He was nearly non-existent even when he was around. I figured he had to know who I was by now. He'd been a blader. If he still had any interest in the sport he would know who the Bladebreakers were.
"I gotta take a piss," Bryan muttered, brushing past to the toilet, peeing right in front of us.
The Abbey had seriously lacked privacy, but this I would never get used to. I glared at his reflection in the mirror.
"Aww, aren't you guys cute, doing your hair and makeup together?"
"How much did you fucking drink, Bryan?" Tala continued working on his hair as Bryan peed nonstop for over a minute.
Bryan finally finished and left the bathroom without washing his hands, but not before wiping them off on Tala's shirt.
"You're disgusting!"
Bryan just gave him a knowing smile.
After we finished getting ready and Tala changed his shirt we headed down to the stadium. It was packed. It seemed like the crowds were getting bigger and bigger at each leg of the tournament. Everything had been a lot more organized and given more press than in years past. Beyblading wasn't a niche sport anymore.
The first match of the day was F Dynasty vs. Barthez Battallion. F Dynasty had certainly come a long way since our battle in New York. It was impressive. And they won, tying with us for three wins.
After a short interlude we were up. White Tiger X. They sent Lee up first. With a smirk Tala stepped forward.
Lee went straight on the attack. He was relentless but he was doing little damage to Wolborg. Tala was confident. I knew he would win this.
I took a seat beside my teammates and tried to relax. I needed to prepare myself for Rei.
"No! Finish him off, Wolborg! Nouvae Rogue!"
The match concluded just as I had predicted.
I had my eyes closed, concentrating. Maybe I was a little nervous. Rei was good. Rei was very very good. But I needed to win this. I heard Tala approach the bench.
"Nice move, Tala," Spencer complimented him. "Congrats."
"Thanks. But considering how close Lee came to almost beating me, there's nothing really to celebrate at all. Especially since we face off against Rei next. Are you ready to beat the best of White Tiger X, Kai?"
I could feel him watching me. The match was nowhere near that close. He was doubting himself again. Opening my eyes, I raised them to the beydish. Standing, I left to meet my opponent in the stadium with singleminded purpose. No matter who gets in my way, I will be victorious.
Both of us were completely focused on the other. Not breaking eye contact, we readied our blades.
Jazzman counted down. "Three! Two! One! Let it rip!"
And it began. You could cut the tension with a knife. No time for wasted movements. Every single one had to count. I went straight on the attack. "I'm coming for you, Rei!"
"Bring it on, Kai!"
He hid on a bamboo pole. I would just have to bring him down! Concentrate. He can't win. Not after this move. With Dranzer I disintegrated the pole. "Deal with that, Rei!" I continued my rampage, dealing out enough damage to the other poles he couldn't use that trick again.
"I'm tired of running away, Kai. Attack, Driger!" Rei screamed.
"It's all going to come down to who blinks first," came the announcers voice. "The first mistake will be the last."
Yeah, no kidding. Rei and I were so evenly matched. Too evenly matched. This wasn't good.
xXx
Tyson
xXx
My eyes were glued to the screen in our meeting room as we were preparing for our battle. The Blitzkrieg Boys verses White Tiger X. Tala and Lee stood at the dish and the match began.
"Did you see any of that interview with Tala?" Hilary was asking me. "I never imagined his life was so sad."
I hadn't watched it. I'd left the moment I'd seen Kai on the screen. The press loved him. They called him the heir to the Hiwatari Legacy. A millionaire? He was a fucking millionaire? I knew he came from money but that was insane. The boy who hung out in alleys and abandoned warehouses and liked to nap in bushes and feed stray cats and screw with my heart. Kenny and Hilary had been talking about it nonstop. "No."
"Apparently he grew up in some school for orphans in Russia. It made me feel bad for him."
"Yeah, I've been there. Creepy place. Kai grew up there, too."
"What?"
The battle between Tala and Lee was quick. Lee had exhausted himself on attacks that Tala withstood with ease. When he was left drained, Tala went in for the attack. He waited him out.
Next up was Kai and Rei. My stomach tightened in nervousness just at the thought. I wanted to wish them both luck. I wanted them both to win.Their match carried an intensity to it that I'd seldom witnessed, and I wished I was seeing it in person. It was... perfection? Each move they made was perfect. Each attack, each counterattack. It was like... a dance. Kai and Rei were both perfectionists, both obsessed with balance. I'd never seen them in a real battle against each other. It was mesmerizing. "Yeah!" I cried out. "Rock on! This is awesome! Rei and Kai are on fire today!"
They were both so totally amazing. I found myself excited at the prospect of facing either one of them. Was this how they saw me?
"Do you think Rei stands a chance, chief?" I heard Hilary ask.
"I wish I could answer that question, Hilary, but Rei and Kai are just too evenly matched."
Boy were they ever.
"And that's not always a good thing," my brother continued. "Take a really good look at them, guys. What do you see?"
"Whoa!" Kenny exclaimed. "They're both exhausted!"
He was right. You could see it in their breathing, in their faces. "They can't take this kind of pressure."
"Right, Tyson," Hiro told me. "They're both completely stressed out. In a match like this, when both players feel like they have to prove something, everything is on the line. Victory relies on perfect execution. You see, both Kai and Rei are waiting for each other to make the smallest, tiniest slip. At that moment, one player will finally have the advantage and use it to take the match. We just have to hope that player is Rei, and that Kai isn't as confident as he looks."
"Talk about high pressure," Kenny said. "Rei can't let his guard down for even a second."
"That's right," I agreed. "Poor Rei. If he even blinks, there's a chance he'll mess up. And Kai will be on him like superglue."
It'll come down to who wants it more. Rei had better technique, but Kai was tougher. At that moment, if I was a betting man, I would put my money on Kai. Holding my breath, I continued to watch.
xXx
Kai
xXx
I was running out of steam and I could see Rei was, too. I needed to end this quickly. "Blazing gig!"
"Gatling claw!" Rei countered.
Our attacks went head to head and when the smoke cleared Rei was on the ground. I listened closely. Dranzer and Driger were both still spinning. It gave me a moment to catch my breath. I watched Rei laying motionless. Driger was still in it so he must be all right.
Jazzman was about to call the match. I didn't really want to win this way. Come on, Rei. Get up! I wanted to finish our battle, not win on a technicality. Luckily, Mariah and the other White Tigers intervened, They held him off long enough for Rei to get to his feet.
Good.
Jazzman looked on in amazement. "Rei's up and the match is back on!"
The crowd went crazy.
Rei went straight on the attack, his strength renewed. "Kai!"
Rei was back and he was good, so good. He was throwing everything he had at me. It took all my strength to keep up. "Watch out, Dranzer!" He threw one last fierce attack at me, resulting in an explosion. I crouched to one knee to hold my ground. This was getting close. This was getting really close. I managed to keep Dranzer in the dish and still spinning.
"You'll have to do better than that, Rei."
"Don't tempt me, Kai. Don't tempt me."
Hardening my eyes, I got back to my feet. I had a move I was saving especially for Tyson, but it looked like I would have to break it out early. "You might as well give up, Rei. You see I'm done with playing around. Now it's time to try out my new move. " Time to get serious. I ripped off my weighted scarf. If I wanted the win, this was the only way. It would take all my energy.
Rei was pulling from his own. The electricity was palpable. "Feel the power, Kai! Of White Tiger X! Driger, attack! Go, Gatling Claw, maximum!"
Driger was moving so fast it could barely be scene by the naked eye, but I could follow it. I could feel the adrenaline pulsing through my veins, the power of Dranzer within me. A feeling only blading gave me. Once I had his attack pattern down I was ready.
"Blazing gig, tempest!" With razor sharp precision my phoenix feathers struck and Rei was out of the dish. Out. I did it. We were officially in the finals.
Rei and I had both reached our limit. Rei fell back into his teammates arms. It took everything I had to stay on my feet. Once the match was called, I returned Dranzer to my palm. I had to get out of there before I fell.
"Kai!"
I paused. "Yeah, Rei."
"I wish you good luck in the finals."
I felt myself smile. "Thanks." I raised my fist and the crowd roared.
"Good game," I heard Bryan's voice.
I walked past them without a word. I refused to fall. I had to get out of sight. I couldn't show them how weak I really was.
My eyes were on the hall, my goal to get there. Away from the lights, away from the noise. The world started to shift and I fell against the wall in the darkness, trying to catch my breath. Now that one was way too close. I stared at my battered Dranzer, Rei's tiger scratches clearly etched in the metal. I would have to completely rebuild it before the next match. Rei, you were an excellent opponent, and I think that now, I'm finally ready for you, Tyson.
I inched down the hall. Had to get back to the room. Had to lay down.
xXx
Tala
xXx
I watched Kai pass us with growing concern.
"So what's his problem?" Bryan asked me. "He seems to be so unfazed."
"He's got a bad attitude," Spencer told him. "He's too used to winning all the time."
They don't trust you, Kai. And frankly, neither do I. It can't possibly be as easy as you make it look.
Joanna was back in my face. "Congratulations on your win, Tala. How does it feel to be the first team advancing to the finals."
I turned on the charm once again. "It feels great, Joanna. I'm really excited. I can't wait to find out who we'll be battling."
We talked for a few minutes. I smiled, I blushed, I acted coy. I will be popular! After she got her statement, Bryan and Spencer wanted to grab a bite to eat before the next match but I was more concerned with where Kai had ended up. He'd been so quick to get out of the arena. I told them I would see them later.
I didn't have to search far. Kai was in the meeting room, freshly showered, changed, and laying on the couch with his eyes closed.
"Why are you hiding? Reporters want to interview us. We're the first team with a guaranteed spot in the finals."
"I'm tired," he groaned.
I smirked. My eyes fell to the table beside the couch. Dranzer. "What the hell?" I picked it up, examining the damage with wide eyes. He'd endured that much damage to his blade and still won? "Rei put up a hell of a fight, huh?"
"Yeah. He did."
I watched him for a moment. Yeah, that match had been a lot closer than Kai had let on. He was absolutely exhausted. I set Dranzer back down. I would let Kai rest. He'd earned it. Even though I was still kind of pissed he hadn't told me about the technique he'd used to win. Kai had all kinds of secrets. "BBA Revolution's up in half an hour. I'm sure you don't want to miss seeing Tyson screw up again."
"Wake me up for it."
"Sure." I snickered to myself. Bryan and I often joked about Kai's obsession with Tyson. When he was out of earshot, of course. Tyson had won one match this entire tournament. One! And he was the world champion. Yeah, he'd been good two years ago, but all he seemed now was washed up. I didn't understand why Kai had such a high opinion of him.
I was hungry. I wanted a snack. I left the room in search of a vending machine. My quest led me to the other side of the stadium and I indulged on a meal of soda and potato chips. On the way back to our meeting room I ran into a certain redhead.
Daichi was exiting a bathroom, drying his hands on his shirt when I stopped in front of him. He might possibly be the most gifted blader at his age I'd ever met, Kai included. And I wanted a rematch.
"What? Tala?"
I smirked at him.
"What are you doing here and what do you want?"
"I need you to make it. To the finals." I went to walk away.
"But we haven't even qualified for them yet, Tala."
"I understand that, kid. But you need to win to advance, right?"
He looked confused. "Me? I don't get it."
What did this kid not get? Wasn't I being obvious? "I need a favor."
"What?" he asked angrily. He was as quick tempered as Tyson. "Are you serious?"
"Do this for me because I have a little score to settle with you."
He groaned. "I've had enough of people pushing me around! And of you think I'm going to do just whatever you say, you're dead wrong!"
I smirked. Little hothead. "Oh, and don't look now, but your fly is farther down than Australia." I heard him groan in embarrassment as I walked away. That should fire him up. Hopefully he'd be able to carry Tyson through another round.
It was almost time for their match. I had to go get Kai.
xXx
Tyson
xXx
I found myself excited at facing Max. Kai had won his match. If I were to have any chance of facing him in the finals, I now had to beat my best friend. This was the first match I'd actually been excited for this whole tournament. I hand't felt this way since last year. It felt good.
Daichi was getting jealous of all the attention being on me again and stormed off. I guess I hadn't really been fair to him. Kenny was right, he'd done everything we asked. Every battle he'd fought on his own he'd won. I guess it must be hard in his shoes, being put on a team with me.
All the worrying was for nothing. He returned, hyper as ever to start the match. I wondered what had gotten into him.
The time came. We headed into the stadium as DJ Jazzman made his announcement.
"Welcome, beybladers, to beautiful Sydney!" his voice echoed throughout the building. "As we continue the Australia stage of the world team beyblading championships! Make some noise! Let's get this tournament started by introducing the first battle between two teams that don't really need an intro. It's the BBA Revolution taking on the PPB All Starz, for what could possibly be one wicked grudge match!"
Thousands of eyes and dozens of cameras were on me. Aw, man, I never thought this day would come. Who'd have thought I'd have to get through Max to be world champion again?
I saw Max across the arena with his team. He smiled as he caught my eye and I smiled back. I hoped this match would be awesome.
Rick and Daichi were up first. I took a seat on the bench with my team to cheer him on. My eyes searched the stands. There he was. Kai was sitting with his teammates watching. He looked a little tired. That match with Rei had been something. I was surprised he wasn't passed out somewhere. Well, good. I was hoping he'd watch my match.
Rick turned on his music and the battle began. I was watching the clash of two powerhouses. Rick was insanely strong. At first I wasn't sure Daichi could win. The power of their blades was so great it caused the bridge of the dish to completely collapse. And Daichi was still spinning! I was starting to see him in a new light. He was stronger than I'd ever given him credit for. But then he started to falter.
"What'cha doing, Daichi?" I called. "We need you to win to advance into the next round!"
He snapped back into it, his focus completely on Rick. They both went full power on each other, breaking the dish completely.
"No way!" Jazzman yelled, voicing our thoughts. "That dish was built with carbon fiber concrete, and they're cutting through it like a hot knife through butter!"
Unbelievable.
Rick and Daichi both unleashed their strongest attacks, Daichi breaking through Rick's rock wall, sending him out of the dish. Daichi was the winner.
But he was completely exhausted. "I told you," Daichi got out between breaths, "I'd beat you...Rick... But you wouldn't listen... because you thought how could a little kid like me..." he collapsed to the floor.
"Daichi!" I rushed to my teammate's side. "Daichi?" I pulled him into my arms.
"I'm ok," he told me with his eyes closed. "But I'm the one who's gonna beat you... Tyson... I am..."
"Beat me?" Why was everyone so obsessed with beating me? Hiro helped me lift him to the bench. A medic came over but we sent him away. Daichi was fine. Just pushed to the brink.
"Now I get it," Kenny was telling me. "When Daichi came to, he thought it was you he was fighting in the finals, Tyson."
"Boy, he sure put out a lot of energy," Hilary said. "And I'm amazed he came through it without a scratch."
"Hey, I'm sure he'll be just fine," I told her. "But he must've been dreaming if he thought he could beat me."
Daichi snapped upright. I knew that would get him.
"Who won the battle?!"
"Take it easy, Daichi," Kenny calmed him. "Don't you remember? It was you who beat him."
"I've never seen a blader with so much stamina before," I admitted. Daichi was really something. And he was fine. Now it was my turn. I stood to face the dish. I'm going to win the next battle. Even if it's you, Max.
"Don't blow it, Tyson!" Daichi called to me. "I won my match, so you'd better win yours, too."
I smiled. "Don't worry. I've got this one, no problem." I paused, looking back at him. "And by the way, I'm glad you're on my team, Daichi." I meant it, too. Nothing lasts forever, not even the Bladebreakers. I think I'd finally come to terms with that. Max wasn't my enemy, just another opponent. It was time. My teammates wished me well and I headed for the dish.
Advancing to the finals, maybe another world championship title. Those things aren't what really matter now. I'm fighting this one for my team. I'd acted like such a child this whole time, and they'd stood by me; Kenny, Hilary and Daichi, and my brother, in his own way.
We all worked so hard to get here. We fought some of the toughest bladers in the world. Even if Max is my friend, I'm going to give this everything I've got. I know Max wants this as bad as I do, but only one of us can win.
Max stood before me, looking so determined, but still...Max. I remembered the kid I first met by the canal, back when we'd both been clueless idiots. We'd come a long way since then.
The dish was unveiled. Themed after one of Australia's most famous landmarks, Ayer's Rock. Max and I looked at each other with respect and determination. "Do you remember what I said yesterday?" I asked him.
"Yeah, of course I do, Tyson. How could I forget?" His face hardened. "But this battle is all mine."
"That's what you think!" We readied our launchers. It was time to begin. "Let it rip!"
Max went straight for the rock. I circled around him, deciding on what my best tactic would be. Attack was my strength and defense was his. I knew he'd be prepared for an attack but I couldn't wait around forever. I approached the rock and started, pummeling Draciel relentlessly.
I continued my attack. Max's defenses were strong but he wouldn't last against this. "Now it's time to finish you off, Max."
Max was confident. "Go ahead and try it. Okay, Draciel, GO!" Switching his tactics, he went on the attack.
"What?" He'd taken me by surprise. I'd never seen Max attack like that.
"It's time to make my move," Max exclaimed. "Now! Attack, Draciel!"
"Max, do you really think you have a chance at beating me by going on the attack? No way, you're wrong!" I knocked him back. One surprise wasn't going to catch me off guard. "Watch and learn. This is what a real beyblader does when he goes on the attack!"
We attacked each other move for move. Max was stronger than I'd thought. He was keeping up with me. Enough so I couldn't use all my power. I could hear my teammates yelling for me. "Okay, that's enough, Max! I know you won't be able to stop my special move! Engine gear, full force! Go, Galaxy storm!"
Max looked excited. "Tyson, I've been waiting for this. Now! Go, Draciel! Engine gear, full power!"
What?
"Listen, Tyson!" I heard my brother shout. "You have to finish this battle! Now!"
"Okay!" The storm was powerful, one of the most powerful I'd ever summoned. It took nearly all of my strength to try to knock Max off that rock. "Dragoon Galaxy!"
Max was expecting it. And he pushed back. "Go, Draciel! I can't lose!" Max summoned the water. It was a storm of wind and waves. Max came back with a vengeance, hitting me with such force it knocked us both off the rock.
When I'd heard people compare us on the Bladebreakers most assume that Max is the weakest. That's not really true. We were all just different. My biggest strength is attack and Max's is defense, with Kai and Rei both somewhere in between. He's also very smart. He's a brilliant strategist. I knew all that and he was showing even me a new side to him.
"I've never seen anything like it," Jazzman commented. "Max's special storm attack has kept him in the game. Watch out, Tyson. Another strike like that and you and your blade will be swimming with the fishes."
My hands were shaking. "I wonder when Max learned how to do that move," I said to myself.
Max was still in it. He got back on the rock, challenging me. I needed to reevaluate my strategy for him. He'd cost me a lot of energy. I could hear Daichi yelling from the bench. "Quit bugging me, Daichi! I know what to do!" I looked at Max. "Okay, there's only one way for me to win this. Let's go, Dragoon!
I went back on the attack but Max's defense was iron-clad.
"What's the problem, Tyson? You running out of power?" Max thought he had the upper hand. Good.
"Attack!"
Max was resolute. "The PPB All Starz will win this tournament and after today I will be known as the best blader in the world!"
I smiled. "You're really good, Max. This match is turning out to be on of the best I've ever fought. Too bad it has to end." I got ready to make my move. "Okay, I'm going to show Max what a real championship battle is about," I told myself. "Then we'll see if he's really got what it takes. I'm still the champion! And I plan on keeping my title!"
Max had read me like a book. Well now it's time to turn the tables on him. I knew exactly what move he would use to finish me off. I was ready.
"Get him, Dragoon!"
"That's it!" Max yelled. "You took the bait, just like I planned! Now I've got you!"
He used my attack to gain momentum and went back on the attack with his move. "Gravity control!"
He surrounded me with a whirlpool of water. Yeah, this attack worked on other people, but he was dealing with me, and my specialty was wind. I just needed to go fast enough. I just had to concentrate. I sent Dragoon right into Max's whirlpool.
Max looked surprised, he didn't realize what I was doing yet.
"What do you think of that?"
"What? But how?"
With my energy and the momentum from Max's whirlpool I sent Dragoon in to the air, fast enough to summon a storm. "Now for the attack. Galaxy storm!"
"Impossible!"
I turned his waves into a wind storm and Max was out of the dish.
He looked shocked. He hadn't counted on that one. I wasn't the champion for nothing.
DJ called the win and I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear. I collected my blade. It was in bad shape. Max bent down to grab his blade and I stepped forward. "Hey, Max."
"Tyson?" He glanced up.
"That battle was just like old times, wasn't it, buddy?" I smiled at him. "Now that that's over, can we be friends again? You know what, Max, I missed blading with you just for fun. Honest."
Max got to his feet.
"Come on, we haven't hung out in a while."
"That's true." Max smiled back. "Yeah, all right, but you'll have to show me how you and Dragoon got past my special attack. Bye the way, I'm glad a friend of mine won."
"I hope I don't sound like i"m bragging, but I couldn't have done it without you." He reached his hand out to me and I took it. I'd really missed him.
Kenny and Daichi ran over to congratulate me and Max returned to his team.
We were surrounded by reporters. There was definitely a lot of excitement in the air. We were tied with F-Dynasty for the finals. I still had a shot at being a three-time champ.
xXx
Tala
xXx
After dragging Kai out of the meeting room we reunited with Bryan and Spencer and grabbed some sweet seats in the mid-section of the stands. Right in the middle, close enough to see, but far enough up where the dish wasn't at eye-level.
"A thousand rubles on Max," was my wager.
Bryan nodded. "What about Rick and Daichi?"
"That's a hard call," Kai yawned.
"They both have power," I said. "But Rick's probably got more endurance"
"You would know. You lost to both of them," Kai said with a smirk.
He could be such a fucking asshole. "Fuck you, Kai."
"Yeah, right back at you."
Bryan flicked the back of his head. If Kai's glares could kill. "I'll bet Daichi wins, and then Daichi will have to go fight Max and carry Tyson through another round."
"Okay." Kai sat up a little straighter. "I think Daichi can win. Rick will probably underestimate him because of his age, much like someone else we know."
Fuck him fuck him fuck him!
"And I don't think Max will win against Tyson. He'll put up a good fight, though." He glanced back at Bryan. "What's a thousand rubles? Like, five hundred yen?"
"Something like that."
I watched the teams get started. "What makes you so sure Tyson will win?"
"His title means too much to him. He's got his head straight now, he won't let Max beat him."
"What? Did you talk to him?"
"We exchanged words."
Never a straight answer from that boy. I looked at Spencer. "Care to make a bet?"
"No. Too uncertain for me."
Daichi was up. He gave me a knowing look before starting the match. Kai seemed to think it was funny. I glared at him. The battle started and it annoyed me that Kai was right. Rick did underestimate him. They were both incredibly strong but in the end Daichi was victorious. Then Tyson and Max were up. I noticed Kai straighten up for this match. He watched Tyson very intently.
Tyson surprised me. For the first time in this whole tournament I saw the kid I'd fought two years ago. He impressed me. Especially that last move where he turned Max's attack against him. He was still a formidable opponent. I didn't doubt he'd make it through the next round to battle us.
"I think I won the bet," Kai commented.
"Fuck you, Kai," Bryan told him. "Let's hurry out of here to beat the crowd so we can get ready for that dinner." Bryan rose and headed up the aisle, Spencer not far behind him. Kai and I took our time. He was tired. He would probably want to go straight to the room. We got stuck by the crowd near the exit and paused to wait it out. The noise was finally dying down.
"So looks like the BBA Revolution are still in it," I commented as we watched them from above.
"Of course," Kai replied.
"Max fought well, but Tyson made quite a comeback. You better watch it."
"I will." Kai smiled. "In fact, I look forward to fighting Tyson."
I watched Kai carefully. He had watched the match so closely. His eyes never left Tyson as the BBA Revolution left the arena, the smallest whisper of a smile playing on his lips. It was almost tender, like when he used to feed the stray cats—
"So," I started, "does Tyson know you're in love with him, or do you just stalk him creepily from afar?"
Kai whipped his head around with a glare. "What the hell are you talking about?"
I smirked. "Touched a nerve, did I?" I asked with growing realization. Oh, this was too good! "That's why Tyson was acting like a jilted lover that day, because he is a jilted lover. Tyson was your mistake. Aww, Kai, you're human after all."
xXx
AN: hahahahah! I fucking love Tala. Yeah, this chapter ended up a little long, but I really wanted it to end here. Cliffhanger!
