Of Boys and Blades

Part Two

Chapter 16

xXx

Kai

xXx

My alarm went off at four in the morning. I heard Tyson groan. He was half in my arms, with a leg thrown over me, his hair everywhere.

"Too early," he whined.

Shutting off the alarm, I settled back into the bed with my arms around Tyson, pulling him closer, allowing myself to enjoy the feel of him for just a little longer. I stroked his head. "We have to get up. The bus leaves at six."

"That's two whole hours."

"And you have to go home. I bet you haven't packed a thing. Then go to the BBA Headquarters. That's all going to take time."

"Well you're the one who's always late."

"I'm not always late, you just don't always see me."

"Hmph." He pulled himself off me. "Fine." Getting out of bed, he started to dress.

I stretched with a yawn, watching him. We'd gotten pretty close to sex the night before. That was probably the best night's sleep I'd had in months.

He blushed when he noticed my eyes on him.

Getting up, I pulled on some clothes and made the bed.

Tyson went into the bathroom to wash up. "Can I use your toothbrush?"

"Hell no."

He poked his head out. "Dude, you let me come in your mouth last night, are you really worried about a toothbrush?"

I threw a pillow at him. "Fine. I'll buy another one."

I walked him home. We didn't say much on the way, he just kept giving me little glances and blushing. With every step I was feeling worse and worse.

I could stop it. I could change my mind. And what if I did? What if I fought alongside Tyson? What if we won every battle and at the finals our team was crowned champion? The problem was he would still be the champion. And I'd resent him for it. I knew myself well enough to know that. And I didn't want to. I wanted to win. I wanted to beat him. And I couldn't do that here. I needed to do this for myself.

"You're quiet."

I shrugged.

"Is it because of last night."

"No."

By the time we came to the Kinomiya Dojo the sky was lightening in the east, the clouds streaked with pinks and oranges. I followed Tyson into the courtyard. The sky looked beautiful reflected on the surface of the pond. The light almost created a golden halo around Tyson as the sun prepared to rise.

"I'll see you later," he told me. He started to walk away.

I grabbed his hand.

He looked back, surprised. "Kai?"

I pulled him against me, slipping my arms around him and kissed him deeply. He kissed me back, his fingers combing through my hair. It felt good and right and I wanted it to last forever. I kissed him until I was breathless. Pressing my forehead into his hair, I just breathed him in. I never wanted to let him go.

"I wish we could just stay here," I whispered. "Where nothing else matters but you and me. Be in our own little world."

Tyson stroked my back tenderly. "Kai, are you alright?"

I stepped back, letting go of him. "I'll be fine," I said quietly. "I'll see you, Tyson."

He nodded. "Yeah. I'll see you later." He smiled at me with a blush. That cute, goofy, dumb Tyson smile.

I turned and began walking away. I could feel him watching me, but I couldn't look at him again. If I did, I might not go through with it.

I hurried back to my apartment and took a quick shower. I sent the formal withdrawal I'd already typed up to Mr. Dickenson and began to pack quickly. There was no going back now. And I had no idea how much time I had until Tyson found out. Hopefully he would already be on his way to the training camp by the time Hiro would get the news.

I didn't need much. A few changes of clothes, a couple things to sleep in, and all my blading equipment. One small carry-on was all I needed. As I rifled through my desk drawers I knocked out the framed picture I had of the Bladebreakers I'd been given after our win in 2001. The glass cracked. I picked it up, marveling at how different things had been then. The picture was taken the day Tyson had kissed me for the first time. I threw it into the trash. That was over now.

I called a cab to take me to the airport. Tala had supplied the ticket. As I waited I called Lidiya. I suppose I should inform her I was leaving the country.

"Well, this is a surprise," she greeted after two rings. "You never call me."

"I need to change my number."

"Hello to you, too."

"I decided to go with a different team for the world championship. I leave for Russia in a few hours."

"Russia?"

"That's where they're from. I was briefly a part of their team during the 2001 championship."

"Wait, Kai, are you talking about Boris's boys?"

"They have nothing to do with him now."

"And why exactly do you need your number changed?"

"Does it matter?" I was getting annoyed. She seldom asked so many questions. "Can you just get it changed for me?"

I heard her sigh. "I don't like the thought of you being with those boys."

"I didn't ask what you thought."

"You sound like Voltaire."

Instantly I regretted my choice of words. "Look—just please do this for me. There's nothing for you to worry about. I promise."

"I don't like you having anything to do with Boris," she repeated firmly.

"Look, Boris ruined their lives, too. We used to be friends. It will be fine. I need to do this."

"What about Tyson? Aren't you supposed to be partners with him? You're just going to quit?"

"I know what I'm doing, Lidiya."

She took a deep breath, clearly annoyed. "Fine. Don't make me regret this."

As I hung up the cab came into sight.

For the first time since my grandfather's arrest I had a purpose. I had a goal. I was going to move forward, to put the mistakes of the past behind me. I would no longer wallow in indecision. It felt good. I clenched my hand around Dranzer. Tyson would hate me, I knew. Maybe he'll understand. Yeah. Right.

xXx

Tyson

xXx

I snuck back into my room through the sliding door. I was surprised I'd made it back before Grandpa got up. I slipped my jacket off and threw it on the bed. I needed to shower before we left.

"Where were you?" a voice asked.

I darted around. Daichi was sitting on the floor near the door. "What are you doing in my room? Didn't Grandpa give you a room to sleep in?"

"I was waiting for you." He grinned. "I wanted to get in a battle before we go."

"No way. Get out. I have to get ready."

"Why do you have a bruise on your neck?"

I ran over to the small mirror I had in there. A fucking hickey. Well, things had gotten pretty heated with Kai the night before. "Umm.. I guess I must've gotten hit with a rogue blade or something. No idea." I laughed nervously. "Now get out. I have to get ready to go. You should make sure you have all your stuff."

He left with a groan as I headed to the bathroom and took a shower.

I looked closely at my reflection in the mirror as I pulled my hair back. I didn't like what I saw. The boy looking back at me was tired and unsure. Nervous and anxious. Not the Tyson I was used to. With the Bladebreakers I wasn't so worried about the win. I knew my best shot was winning with them and even if we didn't, we were together. They were my family. Now I was feeling the burden of being the two-time World Champion alone. Everyone expected me to win again. And at the same time everyone wanted to see me fall.

Daichi was banging on the door, ranting and raving about having a turn. I washed my face and brushed my teeth again.

After I finished I examined my neck in my reflection. I could see two hickeys. I blushed, thinking about the night before. Things had gotten intense. I thought Kai was going to push me for sex, but he didn't. If he had, I just might've said yes. I was scared of where this was going. I knew I loved him, and it terrified me.

The hickeys were low on my neck and would probably be covered by my jacket collar. Probably. Hopefully, nobody would ask.

How the hell was I going to keep control of myself around Kai?

This was the first time I'd actually gotten to be alone in days. I hadn't had time to process things. I'd been so busy with training and with Daichi at my side at all times. Max and Rei leaving. Hiro being back. The news he'd dropped on me yesterday. It almost didn't feel real, like I was just having a weird dream. I didn't even know how I felt. I was angry at Max and Rei. I had no idea they were so jealous of me. I thought they were my best friends. Now I wondered if that had ever been real. And Hiro... I loved my brother, but it was weird having him here and as our coach. He still hadn't really explained where he'd been or why he left. I'd tried to ask him a couple of times and he changed the subject. And every conversation he had with Grandpa turned into an argument. Just like the old days. Back when I was a fat little kid with no friends.

And I still had no idea what was going on with Kai. He'd been aloof, and distant. He barely talked to anyone at practice and it was painfully obvious to everyone that he and my brother couldn't stand each other. This was going to be a long season.

I hated tiptoeing around him. Like he would snap if I said or did the wrong thing. I hated when everyone else did it and now I was doing it. I wish I had some idea what he was struggling with so bad. I knew Wyatt was a part of it but I had a feeling it stemmed a lot deeper than that.

At least last night had been somewhat normal. It was nice to see Kai acting a little more like the Kai I knew when he'd been acting so weird lately. And then this morning there was the strange, oddly romantic moment by the koi pond. That was so unlike him. I'd give anything to know what went on in that gorgeous head. At least he was still here. Maybe we could sneak away during the trip. That was the one silver lining in all of this. That he was still here with me.

I forced a smile on my face. Couldn't let the others see me falling apart. Nope, not Tyson Kinomiya. Nothing can break him. Now it was time to train so I would be ready to face all my backstabber friends.

Kai was a no-show at headquarters but that was nothing new. I was positive he'd show up later. I sat next to Hilary and left Kenny to suffer with Daichi. Hiro was in the row behind us.

I was staring out the window, excited about the weekend.

"Tyson, what's that on your neck?" Hilary asked.

I shrunk down in my seat, pulling my jacket collar up higher. "Nothing."

"Tyson has bruises on his neck," Daichi added to the conversation.

Hilary yanked at my collar. "Do you have a hickey?"

"Leave me alone."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Then who—"

"No one you know." Hiro was watching me.

"What's a hickey?" Daichi asked Kenny.

Kenny opened his laptop quickly. "I have data to analyze."

"Tyson was out all night. Is that how you get a hickey?"

Dammit, Daichi! Letting out a growl, I sunk lower in my seat.

"So where were you all night, Tyson?" Hiro asked from behind me, his tone seething with disapproval.

"I wasn't out all night."

"He didn't come home until almost five. I was waiting for him," Daichi added.

"You can't afford to be getting distracted. Especially not with sex."

I turned and glared at my brother. "I'm not distracted. And we are not discussing my sex life."

Hiro did not look happy with me.

Thankfully, we arrived at the camp site. I grabbed my duffel bag and headed off the bus, excited to start training and end this embarrassment. On our way I ended up in yet another argument with Daichi.

Hiro was clearly getting annoyed with us. He scoffed at Kenny struggling with the huge backpack he'd brought. "What do you know about roughing it. You're a bunch of softies, but i'll have you whipped into shape in no time. Now let's get back to work."

Hilary paused. "But Coach Hiro, shouldn't we wait for Kai to arrive?"

I let out a snort. "We could be waiting all day for that. Kai has a habit of arriving at the last minute." Clearing my throat, I slipped into my best Kai impression. "I'm Kai. I'm better than you. I show up where I want, when I want. I'm king of the world. Hail to the king, baby."

Kai would've kill me for that.

"Kai quit the team."

It took a full thirty seconds for me to process what Hiro had said. I stopped talking and stared at Hiro. "You're kidding! It's a joke, right? Am I on one of those weird hidden camera shows?" There was no way. He wouldn't do that to me. Not after everything!

"Kai's gone. He sent an official notice of withdrawal to BBA Headquarters just this morning."

I couldn't breath. It felt like the world was collapsing under me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell. I wanted to deny it. Kai quit?

I could hear the others talking but couldn't make out what they were saying. Kai left? Kai, my first kiss, the love of my life, my utter obsession. My Kai? I just needed to talk to him. This had to be a misunderstanding. He wouldn't leave me like this. No way. Not after last night.

I tried to breath. I felt numb, my chest tight. I was close to panicking. I couldn't lose it, not in front of the others. My friends gone, my boyfriend gone, my title on the line. I wanted to convince myself it was a mistake, but I knew in my heart Hiro was speaking the truth. That was why Kai had been so weird. What the hell was last night and this morning? What did I mean to him, anyway? He didn't say a word. Not one fucking word!

Hiro was watching me carefully. "Forget Kai. Let's just concentrate on your training."

"Forget Kai?" I repeated. "Forget Kai!" There was no way. He had no idea what Kai meant to me. "It's not that easy!" I screamed.

"Well, he's already forgotten you," Hiro went on without a second thought. "He walked away, and nothing you say is going to bring him back. "

"Then I quit, too!" I couldn't think. The world was turning too fast.

Hiro grabbed me by the arm and I tried to punch him. In retaliation he threw me to the ground. "You don't think you're good enough to win without Kai's help," he taunted.

I rubbed the side of my face, angry. "I didn't say that."

"Yes, you did. Not in so many words, but your actions tell me you've become so dependent on Kai that the thought of beyblading with anyone else at your side scares you. Want to prove me wrong?"

I pulled myself back to my feet, glaring at him. Fuck him, what did he know. Maybe I was a little dependent on Kai. Well, more than a little, but I was still the world champ!

"Fine," Hiro went on. "Choose who will be your new partner. "

In the end I had to choose chose Daichi. We ran off to begin our training together but all I wanted was to talk to Kai, try to talk some sense into him and coerce him into coming back. I was kicking myself for leaving my cell phone at home. There wasn't one at the camp.

After we returned home, the first thing I did was find my phone. I'd left it on the charger. I still wasn't used to carrying that thing around with me all the time.

"What's you're problem, Tyson?" Daichi was asking me.

I ran into the bathroom away from him. I tried to call Kai. He didn't pick up and he didn't have voicemail set up. I tried to call five times in a row. Each time it just stopped ringing.

That fucker. How dare he do this to me! The anger enveloped me. I texted him. Over and over and over. No response. I sunk to the floor, my back against the door, and my anger evaporated into sadness. I felt the tears sliding down my face. He left me. Just like everyone else. Like I was nothing. Maybe I never meant anything to him in the first place.

"Kai..." I whispered. How could he do this to me?

xXx

Kai

xXx

The plane was getting ready to land. Russia. Was I really prepared to do this? Even if I wasn't, it was too late. I'd burned every bridge. I pulled my phone out of my carry on, preparing to text Tala. Taking it off of airplane mode I was greeted with five missed calls and ten text messages full of obscenities.

you no good fucking son of a bitch cocksucker—

So Tyson had gotten the news.

With a deep breath, I promptly deleted the texts without reading the rest of them and blocked his number. Let him be mad. I wanted him mad. I wanted him to put his all into the championship.

Tala confirmed the location we were to meet at. I took in my surroundings as I exited the airport. It was weird to see Moscow not covered in snow. It had still been cold the last time I was here. It was like seeing it again for the first time. This time I had my childhood memories of the place. Rather, the little slice of Moscow we got to see from Balkov Abbey. It was like walking through an old dream.

We were to meet at a docking pier near the Moskva River. I spotted Tala's bright red hair in the distance as I walked.

"I always knew you would come to your senses eventually," Tala said with a smirk as I approached him. "Welcome back to our team, Kai."

He offered his hand and I took it.

"Welcome home."

"I don't have a home."

xXx

AN: In the anime Kai and Tala meet at a harbor that looks like they're at the ocean. Moscow is inland and the Moskva River seems to be the most prominent waterway in the city so here we are. Fun facts! So in my research, I discovered Lake Baikal is like 10 hours away from Moscow by plane, and 3-4 days journey by train. The original writers did absolutely no research apparently. There's no way that would've worked in the first season. I am really struggling to make this make sense, but this is one of those weirdnesses I think I just have to ignore. And this was the last Kai and Tyson seen for a whiiiiiiiiile (minus confrontation). I promise I will make up for it with Kai and Tala scenes.