Tie that binds.
Chapter one: The smooch.
''No messing with Hiromi.'' It had been the one rule, the only rule Kai had given the Blitzkrieg boys as the requirement to stay over at Tyson's family place. They could mess with each other as much as they wanted, but never with Hiromi in any way. She had become a good and trusted friend of most beybladers, but for some reason, Kai especially had taken to her. Not in a romantic way, but if someone would mention him being her big overprotective brother, they wouldn't be mistaken.
So far it had been a good rule. Still, Tala found himself sitting on the kitchen floor next to the brownhaired girl on a random evening after having kissed her senseless. They hadn't gone too far yet, but the intense makeout session could hardly be called innocent. Even though it had started so innocent, they had been exchanging Japanese and Russian phrases whilst doing the dishes, and somehow, at some point, the sentences had gotten pretty flirty. ''Suffice to say you are good at this too.'' she panted, her cheeks flushed.
''You aren't too bad yourself.'' Tala told her. ''Thanks, good to hear, considering it being my first kiss and all.'' she said, staring at the ceiling. 'First kiss… Kai was definitely going to kill him.' That was if the other bladebreakers didn't beat him to it. ''I hate to be that guy, but you're not going to tell the others, right?'' Tala asked, looking at her uncertainly.
She gave him a look. ''I wasn't planning to. Kai is probably going to kill me for kissing his best friend. And I don't even want to think about the hissy protective fit Ray can and will throw at such an occasion.'' she laughed. ''Or a famous Hiro tirade.'' Tala joked. ''Gosh, the boys can be so dramatic. But, no telling on my part.'' Hiromi promised.
''Good, next thing you know they tie me down to you. Wolf being tamed and all.'' Tala said. ''Nah, got too much dirt on them. It'd blow up in their face.'' Hiromi said with a grin. ''Cool. So.., that first kiss, want to make it a second?'' he asked, after all, she had been really good at it. ''Seconds sounds good for just this once.'' she said, leaning forward.
The next day he found himself in the garden, before the old man came up to him. ''A maiden's heart on your mind.'' he said, clearly amused. Tala gave him a look, but Ryeu Granger didn't seem to be taken aback. Had Hiromi really told him? They were close after all. ''I had the same look on my face when I met my wife long ago. Though you are quite young to already want to get settled.'' Ryeu said.
''I don't.'' Tala said, and clearly the elderly man didn't believe him. ''It's not my place, but I sure do approve.'' he stated, before tending to his garden. Tala rolled his eyes, before making his way back inside. Kai, who had happened to see the conversation, walked up to him. ''Anything he wanted?'' he asked. ''His usual mumbo jumbo. I see why you need the girl to translate everything he says.'' Tala said.
''Her name is Hiromi.'' Kai said sharply. ''Hiromi.'' Tala repeated, as if he hadn't said it a hundred times when kissing her the night before. Kai nodded at that. ''Bryan mentioned we should go out tonight. Blitzkrieg times, celebrating escaping Boris, that sort of stuff.'' Kai told him. ''Not that bad an idea. Just us right?'' Tala asked.
Kai nodded, the bladebreakers were far too innocent for their type of evenings. ''Sounds good.'' Tala nodded. But when they had found a joint that evening, and the girls were swarming (a result of them being famous and quite good looking) Tala just couldn't focus on any of them. They had lost their magic, and just gotten downright annoying.
Mainly he just ignored their advances, though he was usually the most approachable person of the group. 'A maiden's heart in your mind.' the words popped up and he immidiately thought of Hiromi, and those very big ruby eyes she had. ''Fuck.'' he swore out loud, he had truly broken his friend's only rule in perhaps the worst way possible. The girl next to him seemed to be taken aback by his loud outburst, thinking he was going for perhaps a very direct approach. ''You are usually more classy.'' Bryan told him.
''Oh, no, not like that.'' the girl seemed dismayed at those words. ''You are very lovely, just not tonight.'' Tala said. She seemed even more dismayed by that. ''What's wrong with you?'' Ian asked. The girl walked off, but it was no issue as the next one seemed to be happy to take her seat even closer to the now very quiet red-haired Russian.
Back at the dojo, the bladebreakers now that they had an evening without Kai, decided they too should let loose a little. Whereas Max opted for a boardgamenight, and Kenny for just chilling for once, Ray and Tyson were convinced it was a good night to go out and do something. ''Clubbing!'' Daichi said, having overheard the other team talking about it, but not fully aware of what it was.
''Idiot.'' Hiromi scolded, slapping the back of his head. ''They are not going to let us in. We are too young for that. Only Ray and Kai are old enough to get in.'' she said. ''You are an old hag, you could get in.'' he bit back, only to receive a snappier slap. ''How about the cinema?'' she suggested.
''It's been a while. And Kai doesn't even like it, so we most likely won't get another opportunity.'' Max agreed. ''I don't know, Daichi's point of clubbing sounds like fun.'' Tyson said. Kenny shook his head, still convinced his best friend at some point starting sharing his one and only braincell with Daichi. ''And impossible.'' Ray added, to remind his friend again.
''But still, just the cinema is kind of boring.'' Tyson complained. Hiromi rolled her eyes, she was sure if someone else had suggested it, the cinema alone would have been sufficient. ''How about we go for drinks afterwards. Maybe we can get the feeling of clubbing if we get adventurous with drinks.'' she suggested. ''No drinking underage.'' Ray sternly warned, a warning that was of course taken with a grain of salt.
Tala for now had found solace in his one cup of Vodka. Most of the girls had dragged the others to the dancefloor, where they and the world found out that a drunk Kai turned out to be a terrible dancer. Only Bryan had stayed seated with him, watching in amusement. ''You should let loose a little too. Nothing holds you back from having fun usually, so what's the hold up today?'' he asked Tala, as he spotted Kai tripping over his own feet.
''There's no hold up. Just, don't feel like it.'' Tala said. ''Bull.'' Bryan said, and Tala had to hand it to him, it was a load of bull. ''So, if it's not feeling like it, are you getting serious about someone? Because you've never told us about meeting a chick in Russia, and the only place where you do meet them is during beyblade tournaments or places like this. And I haven't met a bladerchick you're interested in.'' Bryan said.
''Fishing much?'' Tala replied. ''And catching the first traces of a fish being present. Now for the bait.'' Bryan said. Tala rolled his eyes. ''You are terrible at metaphors.'' he said. ''True, I just like words spoken as they are meant to be. So?'' Bryan asked. Tala thought it over. ''Silence is just as much of an answer. That much to be embarrassed over?'' he asked.
Tala rolled his eyes. ''I am not embarrassed.'' he said. ''Sure. Wait, is it that little popstar? Ming Ming?'' Bryan asked. ''Hell no.'' Tala scoffed, she was annoying. ''Then miss pink? Mariah? Man, Ray is going to kill you and so is her brother.'' Bryan laughed, the prospect of it annoying the crap out of Ray was kinda cool.
''Please. I am not going to meddle in that mess, and no.'' Tala said. ''She is plenty cute and kind of cool. Not going to lie.'' Bryan said, and Tala looked up at that. ''But we are fishing for your crush, not mine.'' Bryan continued. Tala just groaned, this was going to be a long evening.
As did Hiromi, as she sat back in her chair, being annoyed out of her mind. There had been a good selection of movies, some action packed spy movie, a horrific one about a cult, even a history based one about one of the largest events. And then there was the one that they, or rather the others, had picked, a movie called Princess Beyblade, with a minor role in the background being Ming Ming.
And it was cool that Ming Ming got a part, even if they didn't get along, her getting an acting career next to a singing one and being a blader was very cool. Hiromi would admit that any day, except to the girl herself. But the mind numbingly bad plot, just to make a quick buck on the fact that beyblading was hot and hype nowadays, it was terrible.
And she had expected her friends to be smarter than that. Ok, some of her friends. Instead Kenny and Daichi were fully singing along with heartfelt cringy song of Ming Ming's character on screen, as Tyson was keeping up with tallying the blading score and Max and Ray seemed impressed with the entire thing.
''Seriously.'' she muttered to herself. She was sure the Blitzkrieg boys would be just as bored as she was in the same scenario. Especially Tala. She blinked her eyes a few times. Did she really think specifically about Tala? It had been just one incident, an escapade. He had even requested she wouldn't tell a thing, so it couldn't mean much, if anything at all.
And yet, being present at this very shiny movie about a beyblade princess singing in a pink tutu, she couldn't stop thinking about the very handsome, taller boy kissing her like there was no tomorrow. She turned pink at the thought of it. Crimson at the fact that she figured she kind of wanted to do it again. Impossibly red when her mind went to places that she herself wasn't ready to visit. ''Wow, you're into it too?'' Kenny asked, as he broke his singing to see if his friend was still amusing herself. ''Y-yeah, really into it.'' she whispered hoarsely, sinking even deeper in her chair in embarrasment at turning into a fangirl herself.
It didn't get better when the movie was over. It was fortunate that the rest had already left as the bladebreakers kept gushing about the movie being good. ''Even Hiromi was moved.'' Kenny said at some point, and the eyes of the group turned to the very, very red girl, sitting awfully still in her seat. ''See, told you it was a good movie. Now who has better taste.'' Tyson boasted, but the girl didn't even react, as the others were sure she was ready with some comeback.
''Are you alright?'' Max asked, the first to grow a bit concerned. She nodded quietly. Max and Ray gave eachother a look, as the others shrugged it off, and continued gushing about the princess Blader. ''Are you sure? I mean, we can skip the drinks if you're not feeling well.'' Ray offered. Hiromi shook her head. ''A drink sounds good about now.'' she said, ''Can it please be something strong?'' she nearly begged.
Kai's dancing got so bad at one point, that the entire group unfortunately had to leave, for the safety of others. The ladies in the club had been dissappointed, but the lads at least seemed to appreciate them leaving. As Ian and Spencer were supporting the wobbly Kai, Bryan was still going through the list of Beyblading Ladies in search of Tala's crush.
''Miss Tate. I mean, she could be a nice and lovely cougar. Great legs.'' he stated. ''What is he on about?'' Spencer asked. ''He thinks I like a beyblading girl.'' Tala informed him. ''Ah.'' Spencer asked dumbfounded. ''There is no prettier beyblading girl than Hiromi, and she doesn't even beyblade! But she can't date.'' Kai screamed out, voice control was also something he was bad at while being drunk apparently. ''She's very pretty.'' Ian said, trying to console him, but received an angry look. Bryan rather took in Tala's reddening cheeks when the girl was mentioned.
''No way.'' he said laughing, as he was catching on. ''Shut it.'' Tala hissed, as Kai started ranting to Ian why his little 'sister' was off limits. ''Did you two, you know?'' Bryan asked, and Tala closed his mouth for him. ''Not a word.'' he said, and could just feel Bryan grin. ''We should find another joint, maybe something to just drink coffee.'' Spencer said, trying to keep the peace.
The bladebreakers had found a nice cafe, where they could be seated, and Ray promised Hiromi to order something strong. She was stunned that when he meant something strong, he meant tea that tasted a lot like dirt. ''Imagine going to a movie so good it took you out of it.'' Tyson teased again. ''Or so bad.'' she said, finally regaining some of her own composure.
''Ming Ming was amazing in it.'' Kenny swooned. ''So, did you like it, Hiromi?'' Max asked. ''It wasn't my cup of tea.'' she admitted. ''Really, but you were so red during the movie.'' Kenny interjected. ''I wasn't red because-'' she stopped herself there. ''I was. It's a good movie, just not my type of movie.'' she laughed it off.
Most of the others shrugged it off, and still talked about the movie being amazing, but nothing went past Ray. ''You were red because?'' he asked. ''Nothing.'' she tried, her voice turning higher. ''Try again.'' Ray said. ''I ehr-'' she turned red again at the thought. She really couldn't admit it out loud that she sort of couldn't keep an undressed Tala out of her perverted mind, now could she.
''Hey, that's the color you were at the movies.'' Kenny said. ''You couldn't have possibly seen that. It was dark.'' Hiromi bit back. ''It's almost like she is glowing.'' Tyson added. Trust her friends to make the wrong comments when neccessary. ''Are you sure you don't have the flu?'' Max was such a kind soul, she now really couldn't tell her true thoughts, nor strangle him.
''I am positive.'' she replied, perhaps a bit too loud as she was getting aggravated. Unbeknownst to her, exactly at the time that the Russians had entered the place. ''You are positive?'' Kai suddenly cried, running up to her, nearly crying, ''Hiromi- no, you can't be pregnant.'' he wailed and ran up to her, embracing her belly as he bent down. ''What in the world…'' she said, utterly confused. ''He got drunk.'' Spencer told her, as the boy continued to cry about someone tainting her, and that he would be there for the kid.
''Come on Kai, you're going to get us kicked out of a second place.'' Tala told him, trying to pry him of Hiromi. But the usually cold and stoic captain wouldn't budge. ''Second place?'' Hiromi questioned. ''He is an awful dancer.'' Spencer said, just sitting down at the table. ''Kai dances? Wait, please tell me you took video's?'' Tyson asked.
''Naturally.'' Ian said, sitting down as well. ''Kai, please. You're drawing too much attention. It's a really too much, and I really don't need more embarrasment tonight.'' Hiromi begged him. ''Princess Beyblade wasn't embarrassing, it was the best movie ever.'' Daichi told her. ''You guys went to Princess Beyblade?'' Spencer scoffed. ''And they liked it.'' Hiromi added.
''Wait, why were you embarrassed during the movie?'' Ray asked, still focusing on the subject they were talking about before. ''It doesn't matter.'' she told him. ''It does matter, Hiromi, you're pregnant.'' Kai cried. ''She isn't, buddy.'' Tala told him. ''Well, she could have been, right Tally?'' Bryan teased.
''Excuse me.'' Kenny said, nearly choking on his drink. ''You are?'' Max asked, in confusion. ''I definitely can't be pregnant.'' Hiromi said, giving Bryan a weird look. ''Oh, sorry. I thought you and Tala-'' ''Shut it.'' Tala told him. ''Wait, you've told him about what happened last night?'' Hiromi asked, connecting the dots.
''He guessed.'' Tala replied. ''What happened last night?'' Ray's voice grew pretty stern. ''Ok, wait, this is growing too chaotic.'' Bryan said, and everyone turned silent for a moment. ''Let's start at the beginning, Kai, she isn't pregnant.''he told the drunk boy. ''Oh, good.'' Kai said, finally releasing the girl.
''You all enjoyed a terrible movie.'' Bryan then told the bladebreakers and before they could throw a fit, he added, ''Terrible, but that's fine. Everyone is allowed their own taste.'' The bladebreakers took that in for a moment, as he turned to Hiromi. ''Girlypop, more embarrassed?'' he asked. She turned red. ''Care to share?'' he asked. ''I turned into a fangirl, and one with unholy thoughts during a terrible movie.'' she admitted.
''Whatever happened between you and wolfcub over here didn't make you a fangirl, and I highly recommend not turning into one. Also, you are seventeen.'' he said. ''Sixteen.'' she told him. ''Sixteen, whatever, you're a teenager. It's fine to have certain thoughts. I can assure you everyone at this table had them at some point.'' Bryan assured her. Everyone's heads suddenly turned to Max, doubting.
''What happened between her and… wolfcub?'' Ray asked in a stern voice. ''Getting there, Kon. Bit more patience would suit you well. Well, Tala? What happened?'' Bryan asked. The red-haired boy was silent for a bit. ''Kai is drunk, he's not going to remember even being here.'' Bryan added. ''We kissed.'' Tala admitted.
''Cool, was it nice, would you do it again?'' Bryan asked. Tala nodded. ''And you girlypop?'' Bryan asked, and she nodded too. ''Go on a few dates and see where it goes. God, it's so simple.'' Bryan said. ''But, Kai's rule...'' Tala protested. ''It's a dumb rule. She was going to date at some point.'' ''What is Kai's rule?'' Hiromi inquired. ''Not important. Now, that the drama is over, tell me about the horrid movie.'' Bryan said, ending the subject there for the time being.