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Have You Ever	By : Kali Category: Beyblade > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 11978 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
************************************

Warnings:
Yaoi, Lemon(s), language, angst, violence, etc. and that cavity warning
I mentioned before. Rated R �
NC-17. Chapter 16 & 19 - Lemons!

*************************************

Pairs: TyKa, ReMa, others to be decided.

FYI:
{telepathy}, //bit-beast speech aloud//, thoughts, normal speech

*************************************

Chapter 16

*************************************

The next
morning dawned dark, cloudy, and pouring rain.
Kai had an interesting time waking his boyfriend up, considering the
previous day�s excitement and the night�s activities.

�Tyson��
Kai kept tapping him on the nose with one finger until Tyson got annoyed enough
to slap at his hand, though he didn�t open his eyes. �Love, I know you want to sleep more, but we�ve got to go to
school, and it�s raining out.�

�So we stay
home.� Tyson mumbled, burrowing deeper
under the covers and slinging an arm around Kai�s waist, pulling him closer.

�I said
rain, lover, not snow. Get up.�

�No.�

�Don�t make
me resort to drastic measures.�

�Hmm��

Kai sighed
in exasperation, then slid down completely under the covers. He placed butterfly soft kisses over Tyson�s
stomach, his tongue flicking out to dip into Tyson�s navel. He heard the Dragon gasp a little and smiled
when Tyson rolled over onto his back.
Kai dragged his mouth lower, nipping lightly at sensitive skin and
purring in satisfaction when his lover�s morning erection twitched and grew
larger.

Tyson flung
back the covers and glared hotly at him.
�This is your drastic measure?�

�Nope.� Kai grasped his length firmly, stroking
Tyson teasingly. Before Tyson could
inquire what was then, Kai bent his head and took him into his mouth, sucking
hard.

�Wha�.aaaaa!!!!!�
Tyson moaned, tossing his head back against the pillows and shuddering with
little burning sparks of heat racing through him.

Kai watched
him as he worked, driving him higher and higher until he could tell Tyson was
nearing orgasm.

Then he
abruptly released his lover, licked his lips and got up off the bed, striding
over to the closet and picking out his clothes for the day.

Tyson
didn�t notice immediately that he was gone.
When he did, he sat up on his forearms with a whimper and looked around
dazedly. �Kai? Where�d you�hey!�

�You�re
up! Good. I�m taking a quick shower.�
Kai flashed a grin at his seriously turned on and frustrated lover and
quickly dashed out of the room.

Tyson
stared at the door for about ten seconds before yelling at the top of his
voice, �KAI! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!�
and getting off the bed to go chasing after the Phoenix.

Tyson flung
open the bedroom door, stuck his head out and looked both ways to make sure his
grandfather wasn�t around, then dashed across the hall to the washroom. When he discovered the door wasn�t locked,
Tyson smirked and snuck inside, closing the door � and locking it behind him.

The room
was already steamy and Kai was barely visible through the fogged glass door of
the shower, washing his hair.

Tyson yanked
the glass door open and slipped in behind Kai.
�Jerk.� He growled fondly in
Kai�s ear, wrapping his arms around Kai from behind. �Don�t start something you don�t intend to finish.� He pressed himself firmly to Kai�s back,
sliding his hands up and down the Phoenix�s chest then lower over his stomach
to stroke the sensitive skin where the two images of the firebirds circled
Kai�s navel.

Kai smiled
and leaned back into him, bringing his arms up to lay them over Tyson�s. �Who said I wasn�t going to finish?� Kai gasped out as Tyson let his hand descend
lower and lightly stroke his sex. �Ah
yes�Ty�don�t stop!� he moaned.

�I ought
to�just to get back at you.� Tyson
nibbled on his earlobe, then abruptly grabbed Kai by the hips and turned him
around, pushing him up against the wall and kissing Kai hard, grinding his hips
against his lover�s. He plunged his
tongue into Kai�s mouth, battling against Kai�s tongue as the water continued
to beat down on them, their bodies moving against one another slickly. �Mmm�Kai!
I need you�right here, right now.�
Tyson slid his hands down over Kai�s ass to grasp the backs of his
thighs.

Kai made a
low sound of needy agreement, grunting a little when Tyson lifted him up and
Kai wrapped his arms and legs around his beloved Dragon. He gasped at the cool tile on his flushed
and heated skin when Tyson moved and braced his back against the wall. �Gods!
Ty-love�I want you inside me.�
Kai�s fingers tangled in Tyson�s blue-black wet hair while Tyson
attacked Kai�s neck and shoulders with his mouth, sucking and nipping with
expert knowledge of his lover�s most sensitive areas. �Ungh�please!�

Tyson
licked water drops from Kai�s skin and positioned himself. Kai tossed his head back against the wall
and clutched at his lover�s shoulders as he sank down onto Tyson�s weeping
erection. The Phoenix whimpered and
Tyson�s fingers flexed on his hips.
�Kai! You feel sooooo good�uhn��
Tyson moaned in his ear as he began to move, sliding in and out of his captain�s
welcoming heat until he was pounding into Kai at a near frantic pace.

Kai cried
out, his eyes closing tightly and his hands kneading Tyson�s shoulders as
mind-numbing, toe-curling pleasure raced through him. �Uhnnn�.aaaaaaaaahhhhhh�. yesssssss!!!!� Kai brought his mouth down to meet Tyson�s
as they swallowed each other�s cries, coming together, plunging over the edge
into release.

The two
clutched desperately at each other as they came down out of the clouds. Kai unwrapped his legs from around Tyson�s
waist and carefully set his feet back down.
He leaned heavily against the wall and Tyson leaned against him, both
breathing hard and feeling their hearts pound like galloping horses in their
chests.

�Mmm�� Kai
purred, letting out a satisfied chuckle when his leg muscles trembled and
threatened to give out from under him.
�That was fun. Feel better now,
lover?�

Tyson
laughed and kissed him deeply for a moment then pulled away reluctantly. �I guess we should get clean and go have
breakfast, huh?�

Kai smiled,
grabbing the shampoo and dumping some into his hand. �Turn around, lover, and I�ll help you wash your hair.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weather
made the walk to school seem longer.
They stopped to pick up Rei and Kenny along the way as usual, and met
Max inside the school at their lockers.
The genki blonde smiled and waved when he saw them with his usual
enthusiasm, though they all noticed the dark smudges around his eyes that meant
he hadn�t quite regained all his energy yet.

�Hey!� Max greeted them. �Some weather, huh? Did
Tyson lose his temper again?�

Tyson
mock-scowled at him and opened his locker to get out his books. �Ha ha, Max. Very funny.�

Rei laughed
and closed his locker, leaning against it and eyeing his mate with a definite
glint in his golden eyes. �Gee,
Max. No hug or anything? You didn�t miss me?�

Kai and
Tyson rolled their eyes and grinned when Max lit up and glomped Rei in a flash,
wrapping around the neko-jin like a monkey and capturing Rei�s mouth with his own
for a passionate �hello� kiss.

Kenny bit
his lip to keep from laughing at the shocked stares of the students around them
who stopped to stare as yet two more members of the Team hooked up
publicly. He had to giggle, though,
when Kai sent his patented glare at the gawkers and they scurried away to
spread the news.

The two
broke apart to breathe and smiled at each other. �Better?� Max asked,
huskily, his bright blue eyes shining with love, desire, and humour. Rei�s answering grin was decidedly feline, a
quick flash of fang and golden eyes narrowed to cat-like slits.

�No,
because now I just want to drag you off somewhere and make out.� He purred, rubbing his cheek against
Max�s. �Too bad we have to go to class
now.�

Max pouted
and nuzzled Rei�s neck affectionately, playing with his wrapped ponytail
absently. �Too bad.�

�How are
you feeling, Maxie?� Tyson asked as
they began walking towards their classrooms.

�I�m
fine. Still a little tired, but
otherwise, I�m great.� Max yawned a
little, his hand firmly grasped in Rei�s as they walked leisurely.

�That�s
good.� Kai nodded. �We won�t train tonight anyway. I think we could use a small break after
yesterday and we should concentrate on coming up with a strategy to defeat
those bladers when they show.�

�Dizzi and
I have been working on it, guys. We may
have come up with some interesting information on that Jael guy.� Kenny informed them.

�Great job,
Chief!� Tyson exclaimed. �I knew you�d do it!�

The
Bladebreakers broke up to go to their separate classes then, agreeing to
discuss it some more at lunch.

When lunch
came, Tyson and Kai waited for the others by their lockers, since the roof was
closed due to the weather. When Kenny
was the only one to show right away, Kai frowned and kept glancing at his watch
every so often impatiently.

Tyson
grinned as he looked at his watch for the twentieth time. �Twenty says Rei and Max couldn�t keep their
hands off each other and ducked into the nearest janitor�s closet.�

Kai raised
an eyebrow and shook Tyson�s hand.
�Fifty says it was an empty classroom.�

�You�re
on.�

Kenny just
shook his head.

When the
last two members of the Team finally did show, looking rather rumpled, Kai and
Tyson each raised an eyebrow at them, chuckling when Max blushed deeply and Rei
just smiled with feline satisfaction.

�So what
kept you?� Kai drawled, his voice full
of uncharacteristic humour. Tyson
slapped a hand over his own mouth to smother his snickering.

�None of
your business.� Max replied, trying
very hard to quit blushing � though it wasn�t working real well.

Kenny
straightened and asked, �Closet or classroom?�
He just wanted to get to lunch and figured this was the easiest way to
get there.

Rei and Max
stared at him incredulously. �What?!�

�You heard
him! So which was it?� Tyson demanded as they began walking to the
cafeteria.

Max
muttered something unintelligible. Rei
sighed and finally replied, �Both.�

Kai and
Tyson blinked in shock and stopped almost at the exact same time. �BOTH?�

Max avoided
looking at them, instead studying a poster on the wall. �We started off in the janitor�s closet near
the gym, but we got caught going in and someone ratted us out.�

�So we
found an empty classroom.� Rei
finished, his arm banding around Max�s waist.
�I have to tell you, the floors in this place are unnaturally clean.�

Their
teammates goggled at them for a moment, then cracked up. Even Kai had trouble containing his laughter
at that.

�I guess��
Tyson chuckled, �I guess this means neither of us won!� He elbowed Kai.

�Nope. It�s a draw.� Kai agreed.

�You had a
bet on us?� Max blinked at them. �Guys!
Come on!�

�Sorry
Max.� Tyson apologized, still giggling.

After Kai
had death glared a table free (which made Tyson sigh and the others laugh),
they sat and got down to business.

�Okay,
Chief! Awe us with your wisdom.� Tyson invited.

�Well, I
think I�ll let Dizzi explain. She�s
better at it than I am when it comes to story telling.� Kenny flipped open his laptop and woke up
Dizzi, turning her to face the group.

�Kenny!� Dizzi whined. �I was up all night!
Can�t I have a break?�

�You can
tell us, Chief.� Max said, feeling
sorry for the trapped spirit. �Let
Dizzi rest. She deserves it.�

�Oh�fine. But don�t complain when you�re all bored.� Kenny sighed, closing his laptop again. �Alright.
Here�s what Dizzi told me last night.

�You four
are the destined Guardians of the four Sacred Spirits, each of whom are of one
of the four elements. This we already
knew, right? Well, turns out that a
long, long time ago, your bit-beasts were created for one purpose: to protect
this world from and on going battle between the two greatest powers in the
universe � Creation and a place Dizzi called the Void.�

His
teammates stared blankly at him.

�Uh�could
you break that down again, Chief?�
Tyson asked.

�It�s like
this: there are two main forces working to control the universe, and in doing
so, bring balance to everything. One is
good, and one is evil. Those two forces
continually battle one another for dominion over parts of the universe. The way Dizzi explained it, most of the time
there is a balance between good and evil � no one is winning and no one is
losing. When the battle started,
certain rules were laid down and agreed upon by both sides. So far, those rules are being followed
carefully.

�Now, as I
was saying, our bit-beasts were meant to protect our part of the universe and
help those who would eventually fight the battle on the side of Creation
against the Void � Evil. Um�I think she
means us.� Kenny fidgeted under their
gazes. �She said Jael and his minotaur,
Thanatos, were from the Void and that the battle for this world is approaching. Our bit-beasts weren�t expecting it to come
so soon, and that�s why they were all so shocked yesterday.�

�My
God.� Rei shuddered, pulling Max into
his lap and tightly embracing his mate.
�I had no idea it was so��

�Apocalyptic.� Tyson stared at Kenny, his hand reaching for
Kai�s automatically, finding and gripping hard. �You�re saying we�re going to be fighting something far bigger
and more powerful than anything we�ve ever fought before.�

�Yes. Dizzi said she knows all about this, but for
some reason, she can�t remember it all.
She�s extremely frustrated about it.�
Kenny hugged his laptop. �Guys�I
don�t know what to tell you. I�m�I�m
scared.�

Kai
squeezed Tyson�s hand. �So are we,
Chief. But if this is what we�re
supposed to do, then we�ll do it. We�ll
take it one battle at a time, one step at a time. We have our blades, our bit-beasts, and each other.� Kai looked each of them in the eye, a glint
of determination in his expression that gave them all a confidence they weren�t
sure they�d had before. �I�m sure we�ll
learn more, eventually. And I, for one,
refuse to give up Dranzer � or Drisana � to anyone.�

Max leaned
against Rei, shivering. �I�m glad I
didn�t know this yesterday when I battled Jael. I think I might have panicked or something.�

�But you
didn�t.� Rei stated proudly. �You kept cool, and you won. Now that we do know, we can prepare
for the next battle, when and where it should occur.�

�Rei�s
right.� Tyson agreed. �Chief?
Think you can come up with a training program for us?�

�You
bet!� Kenny nodded. �Anything to help!�

Kai drew
out his blade and studied it. �Let�s
keep this among ourselves, guys. No one
else really needs to know about it � not even Mr. Dickenson. For now, at least.�

Everyone
agreed as the bell rang, signalling the end of lunch. The Bladebreakers gathered their stuff and went their separate
ways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After
school they headed over to the dojo and gathered in Kai and Tyson�s room to
think things over some more.

That is,
after Rei, Max, and Kenny marvelled over the bed.

�Holy
shit! Talk about spacious!� Max exclaimed, bouncing in place. �Seems pretty comfy, too!�

�Nice.� Rei agreed, grinning at Tyson�s blushing
face and Kai�s indifferent expression.

�I don�t
even want to know how much this thing must have cost.� Kenny shook his head. �It�s really nice, though. Great craftsmanship on the headboard and
footboard.�

Kai smiled
slightly, glancing at Tyson, who leaned against the headboard comfortably. �It was appropriate, I thought.�

Tyson met
his gaze with deep midnight blue eyes, a smile playing over his face as he
remembered the night before. �In more
ways than one.� He said, quietly.

Kenny
grinned at them and proceeded to go through his data again.

�Max, love,
quit bouncing!� Rei grabbed him and
pulled the blonde into his lap. �Don�t
want to wreck the springs in the mattress and have to buy Kai and Tyson a new
one, do you?�

�Nope.� Max snuggled in contentedly. �Can�t afford one, that�s for sure. Hey!
Can we bring out our bit-beasts?
They should have some freedom while they can get it.�

�Good
idea.� Tyson nodded. �You think, Kai?�

�Sure.� Kai crawled over to sit next to him, hip to
hip, his back against the headboard.

�Great!� Max clapped his hands happily. {Draciel?
Come out for a while.} He
called.

The ancient
tortoise appeared on the bed and bobbed his head at them in greeting. //Hello, everyone.// Draciel inched over up onto Max�s lap and
the blonde rubbed Draciel�s head affectionately.

Rei didn�t
even have to call the white tiger.
Driger just suddenly appeared at his knee, golden eyes surveying them
and a soft purr rumbling throughout the room.

�Driger!� Rei complained. �Warn me, would you?�

//What
for? You were going to invite me out
anyway.// The Tiger Spirit pointed out,
settling down comfortably on the bed like the feline he was, his tail slowly
twitching back and forth metrically.
//We can appear without being called, Kitten. We just prefer being invited.//

Rei sighed.

Dranzer and
Drisana appeared next, settling down to perch on the posts at the head of the
bed. Kai didn�t say anything, just
smiled at the two great firebirds.
Tyson held out a hand and Dranzer fluttered over, nudging the World
Champion with his beak.

//Hello,
Tyson!// Dranzer greeted him. //Good to see you again.//

�Hi
Dranzer! You, too!� Tyson stroked his feathers as Dragoon
suddenly appeared, his long, sinuous body curling and wrapping around both
Tyson and Kai.

Kai blinked
when Dragoon suddenly raised his head to look directly into his eyes from
inches away and began purring nearly as loudly as Driger was.

�Uh�hi,
Dragoon.�

//Hi!// The dragon angled his head at Kai
curiously. //You seem different. Did you cut your hair?//

�No��

�Dragoon!� Tyson laughed. �He�s just wearing different face paint, that�s all.�

//Ah! That�s it!// Dragoon nodded and slithered over to Tyson so that he was
stretched out over both their laps and his tail hung off the other side of the
bed. He glanced up at Dranzer. //Hey Dranzer!//

//Hey
�Goon!//

//How many
times do I have to tell you not to call me that?//

//Until you
turn blue�oh wait, you are blue.//

Kai and
Tyson exchanged glances and sweatdropped.

The others
goggled at the two bickering bit-beasts.

�That�s
just spooky.� Max commented.

�They sound
just like Kai and Tyson.� Rei observed,
grinning.

//We share
many of the personality traits our Masters do, Rei.// Draciel told him. //Which
is why you and Driger get along so well.//

�Not that
I�d noticed.� Rei muttered. Max giggled and patted Rei�s leg.

�Hmm��
Kenny suddenly hummed. �Interesting.�

//�What?�// Everyone asked, looking at him.

�Well,
after studying Max�s data from the battle yesterday, I�ve come to the
conclusion that all of you have yet to manifest your full powers. We�ve seen what Max is capable of already,
though I suspect there�s a lot more he could do with his power. Tyson, too, when he caused that impromptu
thunder and lightning storm the other day.�

�Makes
sense.� Kai replied, thoughtfully. �I haven�t really done anything yet. Neither has Rei.�

�No. Rei made the ground shake, remember?� Tyson reminded him. �And Dragoon told me he has the ability to
heal and stuff.�

�I
do?� Rei asked, surprised.

//Yes. Didn�t I mention that?// Driger opened a golden eye and looked at
Rei.

�No, you
didn�t. Must have slipped your
mind.� Rei�s tone was vaguely
sarcastic.

//Must
have.//

Kenny
continued to type at his keyboard. �Kai
hasn�t done anything much yet, though.
He�s right about that.� He
looked up at Kai, a serious expression crossing his features. �Be careful, Kai. You�re element is Fire and has the most potential for harm and
destruction.�

Kai nodded
gravely. �I�m always careful, Chief.�

�I�ll watch
out for him, Kenny.� Tyson
promised. �We all will, won�t we?� He asked Dranzer, Drisana, and Dragoon, who
nodded in agreement.

�Good.� Kenny said.
�I don�t know how or when his power will manifest itself, and its
potential worries me.�

�You worry
too much, Chief.� Dizzi scolded.

�It�s my
job! It�s what I�m supposed to do!�

�Hey
guys? It�s getting dark out. We�d better get going, don�t you
think?� Max said, glancing out the
window.

�Yeah. We�ll see you tomorrow.� Rei, Kenny, and Max left together, Driger
and Draciel in their partners� arms.

�Did you
have any homework?� Tyson asked Kai, sprawling
out over the bed.

�Nothing
important. You?�

�No.�

Dragoon,
curled up on the pillows, raised his head sleepily. //Aren�t you two going to bed?
It is getting late.//

Drisana�s
laugh was a musical trill of sound.
//Dragons really are lazy like cats aren�t they?//

Dragoon
grunted and disappeared. Dranzer
sweatdropped and flew over to Kai to perch on his offered wrist. //You will be careful, Master Kai, won�t
you? The young one with the glasses was
very perceptive.//

Kai stroked
the firebird�s soft feathers affectionately with one finger. �I will.
I promise, old friend.�

Dranzer
nodded in acceptance of that and disappeared.
Drisana circled Kai and Tyson once in farewell then blinked out of
sight, too.

Tyson sat
up and began pulling off his clothes.
�Get ready for bed, lover. I
don�t know why, but I�m actually rather tired.� Naked, he crawled beneath the covers and watched the older teen
strip off his clothes.

�I don�t
know why, either.� Kai shrugged,
sliding in with Tyson and sighing a little when Tyson pulled him into his arms,
their legs tangling together.

�Hmm�this
is nice.� Tyson murmured after a while,
idly stroking Kai�s spine with one hand.
�I love having you in my arms like this.�

Kai smiled,
eyes closed, a faint blush painting his cheeks. �I love being here.� He
murmured back. �Although I�m a little
surprised you haven�t jumped me yet.�

Tyson
opened one eye and looked down at him.
�I do have some control over my libido, you know.�

�Oh
really?� Kai�s hand slipped under the
covers and slowly slid up Tyson�s leg toward his hip. �Since when?�

�Is that an
invitation, Hiwatari?� Tyson shivered
when Kai�s hand drifted over his ass and pinched one lobe playfully.

�Tyson, you
and only you will never need an invitation to fuck me.� Kai said, huskily. �I do like cuddling though.�
He added, snuggling up again and tucking his face into the Dragon�s
shoulder.

�Tease.� Tyson chuckled and kissed the top of Kai�s
head. �Going to sleep now?�

�Yeah.� Kai nuzzled Tyson and kissed him softly for
a moment before resting his head on Tyson�s chest and closing his eyes for
sleep. � �Night, lover.�

�Sleep
well, my love.� Tyson held him close
and closed his own eyes, lulled to sleep by his mate�s even breathing and the
sound of their heartbeats beating steadily as one.

**************************************

~ End Chapter 16 ~

**************************************

Chapter 17

**************************************

Kenny
turned out to be right about their powers not being fully manifested yet.

For Rei, he
finally got to use his healing powers (that everyone had told him he had and
that he hadn�t really believed them about) when Tyson had tripped over a ball
in gym class, spraining his ankle quite badly a few weeks after Max�s battle
with Jael.

Then he�d
had to wake up the school�s nurse when she�d fainted.

Max, on the
other hand, had great difficulty learning to control his newest power. His physical strength had increased
dramatically and for a couple of days he found he couldn�t hold on to anything
without breaking or crushing it. He
broke a lot of dishes at him, much to his parent�s exasperation. It took the combined efforts of Dizzy,
Kenny, and Draciel to help him learn to control that strength in one solid
weekend of practice.

Kai�s
powers, strangely, didn�t do as Kenny had predicted at all. In fact, everyone nearly forgot he even had
powers, since he used them rarely and never for anything large. He�d lit a few candles with a mere glance,
even called a flame to dance merrily in the palm of his hand from nothing, but
nothing to show how truly powerful he was.
His bit-beasts, Tyson, and Dragoon still kept an eye on him anyway,
though.

As of yet,
Tyson hadn�t developed any new powers by the time the team was preparing for
the first tournament of the circuit in late April. The Bladebreakers trained hard and did their best to get ready
for the Asian Championships, this year being held in Hong Kong over the Easter
holidays.

It was the
last Friday before the tournament when it happened.

Tyson, Max,
and Wyatt were working on their assignment in chem class, as usual, when Tyson
started to hear a faint buzzing in his ears.
He shook his head, frowning, and tried to ignore it, but when it
increased from buzzing to a sudden cacophony of voices in his mind, he couldn�t
help gasping loudly in pain and clutching his head, trying desperately to block
them out.

Max looked
at him when he gasped and frowned.
�Tyson?� He asked. �What�s wrong? You�ve gone all pale��

�Agh! Oh God�I hear them�in my head�� Tyson moaned
and dropped to his knees next to their lab station, still covering his ears and
feeling the overwhelming painful sensation of hearing too many people�s minds
at once.

Max got down
beside him, really concerned now. He
correctly assumed it was some new ability making itself known. �Tyson?
Who? What are you hearing?�

�Can�t�make
it stop!� Tyson cried out, curling into
a ball on the floor and whimpering. Max
looked up as the teacher came over to see what was going on.

�Wyatt? Go get Kai, please? He�s in physics right now.� Max asked.
A wide-eyed Wyatt nodded and bolted for the door. �Shh�hang on Tyson. Just hang on.�

{Draciel? What�s going on with him?} He asked, firmly keeping everyone, even the
teacher away from the teen on the floor.

{It�s one
of his powers, Max. Right now he can
hear everyone�s thoughts in this building.
When he learns to control it, he�ll be able to read a person�s thoughts
with very little effort and even communicate mind to mind with some.} The Water Spirit replied.

{It seems
to be hurting him! Can�t Dragoon help
him?} Max rubbed Tyson�s back in slow
circles, trying to soothe and calm him.

{Dragoon�s
trying, but it�s too hard for him to break through so many voices all at once.}

Max�s frown
deepened and his head snapped up when Kai burst into the room and headed
straight for them, Wyatt following behind.

�What
happened, Max? I could feel
something a few minutes ago.� Kai knelt
down on Tyson�s other side and pulled him into his arms. �I ran into Wyatt on the way here and he
said you�d sent him to get me.�

�Draciel
says it�s his powers.� Max whispered,
conscious of everyone around them. �We
have to get him somewhere quiet and away from all these people.�

Kai nodded
and stood, the trembling form of his boyfriend in his arms. �Lead the way, Max. Wyatt, do us a favour and get the rest of
our team and send them to the roof.
Please.� He added as an
afterthought, following Max out the door.
Wyatt sighed and ran off to do as he was asked, ignoring the protesting
teacher and the curious, confused faces of their classmates.

Up on the
roof, Kai set Tyson down on a picnic table and watched over him in worry. He didn�t know what to do.

{Dranzer! Drisana!
Come out please? I need help
here.}

The two
Phoenixes appeared and settled down net to Tyson on the table.

//Ah�I
see. His telepathy has kicked
in.// Dranzer observed.

//With so
many people around it must be very painful for him to be suddenly swamped with
other people�s voices like this.//
Drisana shivered slightly.
//Poor little dragon.//

�What do I
do? We have to help him somehow.� Kai asked, again.

Dranzer
clicked his beak thoughtfully.
//Perhaps if you kept calling him with our thoughts, Kai. If he hears your voice � someone
familiar and with whom he has a strong connection to � then perhaps he�ll be
able to focus on it and be able to block everything else out so that Dragoon
can get through to him also and help.//

Max watched,
wringing his hands helplessly as Kai nodded at Dranzer�s suggestion and lifted
Tyson, sitting down and resting Tyson�s head in his lap and brushing away the
hair that flopped over his face.

Kai closed
hi eyes just as Rei, Kenny, and Wyatt showed up, hurrying over in concern.

Max quietly
told them what happened and Kenny opened his laptop to consult Dizzi.

Ignoring
the world around him, Kai concentrated on Tyson. He could feel his lover�s pain as if it were his own, though he
was sure it was nothing like what Tyson was suffering at that moment.

{Tyson?} He called, tentatively. {Tyson, lover, if you can hear me I want you
to focus on my voice and follow it back to me, okay?} Kai kept talking, saying pretty much anything to give the World
champion something to follow.

In Tyson�s
mind, he was surrounded by people and beginning to feel a little claustrophobic
about it. Unaware that tears were
pouring down his cheeks in the physical world, he felt unbearably alone �
strange it seems since he actually wasn�t.
(A/N: Gives new meaning to
�alone in a crowd� huh?)

Then he
heard someone familiar, a voice that spoke louder than all the others, a voice
that had power behind it, and Tyson called out desperately to that voice. {KAI!}

Kai jumped
slightly at Tyson�s voice in his mind.
It was weak, and filled with pain, but it was him. {Tyson!
Thank the Gods! Follow my voice,
lover, okay?} He rambled on, and
clutched Tyson�s hand in his own, unaware that they were both glowing now, intense
auras of blue and red surrounding them.

Tyson
pushed his way through all the people, searching for his Phoenix.

And then he
found him. Even in his mind Kai was
engulfed in an aura of power and majesty.
Tyson ran forward and threw himself into Kai�s arms, sobbing and shaking
in relief. As soon as Kai�s arms came
around him, the crowd disappeared and there was silence � blessed silence.

{You okay,
love?} Kai asked, gently, tenderly
stroking Tyson�s hair to soothe. {I�m
right here, Tyson. And look! Here comes Dragoon.}

Tyson
raised his head and watched the blue dragon swoop in and skid to a halt beside
them. {Tyson! Oh God, I�m so sorry I couldn�t help! Are you okay?}

{I have a
massive headache.} Tyson replied,
leaning heavily on Kai and closing his eyes.
{I want to go home. Please?}

{Yes. We will.
Right now, though, you have to learn to block out everyone�s minds while
I�m here to help.} Kai wanted to cry at
Tyson�s pain-filled expression to Dragoon�s words, but was so proud of him when
he nodded and looked up at Dragoon.

{What do I
have to do?} He asked in a weak voice.

The others
waited impatiently while Dragoon instructed Tyson and Kai helped out as much as
he could. Kenny ended up having to
explain about Dranzer and Drisana, who were still perched next to Tyson and
Kai, to Wyatt. Rei massaged Max�s neck
and shoulders to ease the tension in his mate�s body caused by worry over
Tyson.

When Tyson
finally got the hang of it all, he slowly opened his eyes and stared directly
up into Kai�s crimson orbs. He gave the
Phoenix a small, tired smile, feeling the connection between them strengthen
and solidify with this last bonding.

Kai smiled
back, stroking Tyson�s hair still and helped him sit up, though Tyson had to
lean heavily on his lover. He just
didn�t have the energy to hold himself up anymore.

�Tyson!� Max cried, rushing forward and taking one of
the bluenette�s hands in his own.
�Hey! You okay?�

�Yeah. I will be.
I need to sleep though. And
eat.�

�I�m taking
you home, Ty-love. Right after you let
Rei get rid of that headache.� Kai
promised.

Rei came
forward and set his fingertips to Tyson�s temples, closing his eyes and calling
on his element�s healing power to soothe away the agony in Tyson�s head. He shone brilliant green for a moment then
dropped his hands and smiled at his friend.
�There. Better?�

Tyson
nodded. �Yes. Thanks, Rei.�

Kai helped
Tyson down to their lockers and got their stuff. The others went back to their classes and Rei, Max and Kenny
promised to look in on them later.
Wyatt said he�d get Tyson�s homework and drop it off after school, and
Kai took his lover home to crawl into bed and rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next
morning, Tyson definitely felt better.
He yawned and snuggled into the warmth next to him with a sigh, his arm
draping over Kai�s waist and immediately falling back to sleep.

Kai smiled
at him, listening to Tyson�s even breathing and stroking the hair out of his
face. Sleep in today, lover. I can pack our bags for Hong Kong. He pried himself reluctantly from Tyson�s
arms and slid out of bed then tucked the sheets around his slumbering boyfriend
and went to the closet to get dressed and pull out their bags for packing.

When he�d
finished loading up his own bag, he opened up Tyson�s and began neatly folding
clothes into it for him. He glanced at
the bed when he heard the sheets ruffle and smiled as Tyson sat up, looking
around groggily, his blue hair draped over his shoulders all mussed and
flopping over his eyes.

�Good
morning, sleepy head.� Kai tucked a
pair of jeans into the bag. �How are you feeling?�

�Terrific!� Tyson replied, sliding out of bed with a
huge, cat-like stretch. Kai licked his
lips and tore his eyes away from the sight, digging out clean boxers for Tyson
and stuffing them into the bag, too, completely missing Tyson�s knowing
smirk. �Hey! You didn�t have to do that, Kai!� Tyson protested when he noticed what Kai was doing. �I could have done that!�

�Yes. But I wanted you to sleep. So I did it for you. I didn�t get your stuff from the bathroom
yet, though.�

�I�ll get
it. Did you eat breakfast already,
too?�

�No. Gramps ran out to the grocery store when he
discovered we�re out of food.� Kai
glanced at Tyson just as he was pulling on his boxers and got an eyeful of his
lover�s exquisite ass. Why do I just
want to reach out and pinch that tight, sexy�

�Kai!� Tyson interrupted that thought, blushing
slightly and laughing. �Honestly,
lover. And you call me hentai?�

�What?� Kai blinked at him for a moment then
flushed, grumbling, �Stay out of my head if you don�t like it, Tyson.�

Tyson
grinned and walked up to him, backing Kai up against the closet doors and
purring seductively, �Who said anything about not liking it?� before crushing
his mouth to Kai�s and kissing him senseless.
Kai moaned softly and kissed back with equal fervour.

They broke
apart as an amused voice penetrated their little world.

{The others
are here, Tyson. They�re heading up the
front walk.}

{Dragoon,
can�t you see I�m a little busy here?}
Tyson responded, his hands sliding under Kai�s shirt and skimming over
his sides teasingly.

Kai stared
down at Tyson, blinking away the fog of lust clouding his mind.

{Well, yes,
I can. I just thought you�d want to
know when someone � or many someones � are about to walk in on you and the
young Phoenix, here.} Dragoon
snickered. {Oh, and good morning, Kai!}

{Ah�good
morning, Dragoon.} Kai responded, a
little stunned.

Tyson
growled and pulled away. {That�s just
great. They�re early!}

{Tyson�}

{What?}

{Why can I
hear you? And Dragoon?}

Tyson
stared at him. {Holy crap! I didn�t even realize we were talking like
this!} He sighed. {Sorry, Kai. Want me to stop?}

{No. It�s all right. It just surprised me, that�s all.} Kai shook his head.

{Sorry. Um�you�d better go let the guys in. I�ll get dressed and finish packing, okay?}

Kai headed
for the door. {Don�t take too long.}

Tyson
flashed him a thumbs up and finished dressing.

{Is this
permanent?} He asked Dragoon.

{More or
less, yes. You and Kai are bonded
now. You just have to remember to talk
to everyone else with your mouth, that�s all.}

{It�s
interesting. I can feel him now � as if
he was right beside me.} Tyson
observed, walking into the bathroom and gathering up his toiletries.

{I can feel
you, too.} Kai�s voice replied,
startling Tyson badly enough that he dropped his toothbrush in the toilet.

{AH! Shit!
Don�t do that!} Tyson fished out
his toothbrush and sighed, dropping it into the garbage. {Great.
Now I need a new one.} He heard
Kai�s snickering. {Shut up, Kai. It�s your fault!}

{Sorry! Can�t help it!} More snickering.

{Try
harder.}

In the
dojo, Kai was leaning against a wall in his typical pose, snickering
aloud. His team was staring at him with
curious gazes.

�Um�Kai? What�s so funny?� Max asked.

Kai opened
his eyes and grinned. �Oh nothing. Tyson�s having some difficulty packing
that�s all.�

�How�d you
know that?� Kenny wondered, watching
him carefully. Kai just shrugged.

Tyson
eventually came out, hauling his and Kai�s bags and dropping them next to the
others�. He looked over at Kai and
glowered at him. Kai merely glowered
back, unperturbed.

{You owe me
a new toothbrush.} Tyson grumbled.

�Get over
it, Tyson. It�s just a
toothbrush.� Kai advised. �You done packing?�

�Yes. Gramps back with food yet?�

Kai shook
his head. �We can eat at the airport if
he doesn�t make it back in time.�

�I
guess. I�m really hungry though.�

Gramps did
make it back, just in time to hand Tyson a snack for the road � aka breakfast �
and see them off.

They
boarded their plane and were soon in the air and flying towards Hong Kong and
the Asian Championships.

************************************

~ End Chapter 17 ~

*************************************

Chapter 18

*************************************

�Ah�Hong
Kong!� Tyson stretched lazily and
grinned at his team. �It�s sure great
to be back, huh?�

�Yeah! I only hope the city is ready for your
stomach this time, Tyson.� Rei laughed,
remembering Tyson�s appetite the last time they�d been in town.

Tyson
scowled. �Whatever, Rei.�

Kai
squeezed his hand. �He has a point,
Ty-love. However, you don�t eat quite
as much as you used to, so there�s not much to worry about.�

Max, Kenny
and Rei laughed as Tyson just scowled more.

�So what
should we do, you guys? We�ve already
registered and there�s no battles for us until tomorrow.� Max asked.
�We�ve got all this free time��

�I say we
go get some training in.� Kai
stated. He received four withering
looks. �No, really. We may be the best, but everyone is sure to
have improved, too. We can�t afford to
underestimate our opponents.�

�We
won�t. But we deserve at least some time
to check out this fabulous city, Kai.
We didn�t have much of a chance last time, since we were running around
chasing after you as I recall.�
Tyson gave him a meaningful look.

Kai had the
grace to look abashed.

Kenny shook
his head. �Oh leave him be. He hadn�t gotten to know us well, yet,
Tyson. Kai was still a loner back then
and we annoyed the hell out of him, after all.�

Tyson
smiled ruefully, sliding his arm around Kai�s waist to keep hold of him. �Yeah.
As long as he promises me not to go running off on his own again, I�ll
leave him alone.�

Kai draped
his arm over his lover�s shoulders as they continued walking. �I�m not going anywhere, lover. Besides, you all manage to get into serious
trouble whenever I leave you alone for too long.�

�Us? Trouble?�
Max giggled. �Nah��

Kenny
glanced back over his shoulder at Rei.
�Why don�t you take us on a tour, Rei?
You know your way around Hong Kong better than any of us do.�

Rei
shrugged. �Sure. There�s way too much to see in one day,
though.�

�Let�s
stick close to the hotel, guys. We
don�t want to be running all over the city, either.� Kai said.

So Rei took
them on a short sight seeing tour of Hong Kong. They walked down Bird Street, stopped to gawk at the Bank of
China, and went shopping at a few small stores to pick up souvenirs.

On the way
back to the hotel, they cut through a beautiful, green park. The day had grown hot and the trees of the
park provided a great deal of welcome shade from the bright, blazing sun.

Well, for
the others anyway. Kai didn�t seem to
be affected at all by the scorching heat.
It didn�t affect Tyson as badly, or Rei and Kenny, and poor Max felt
like he was melting.

�Remind me,
next time, to wear shorts instead of jeans.�
He moaned. Rei eyed him in
concern.

�Maybe we
should grab something to drink and rest for a bit, Kai.� He suggested. �We�re all pretty hot and tired.
It would be bad to get heatstroke before the tournament.�

Kai
nodded. �Good idea. Anybody spot a vendor?�

Kenny
pointed farther up the path.
�Yeah. Over there. I�ll go get us some water, okay?�

�Thanks
Chief!� Kai handed him some money and
the brunette went ahead to buy five bottles of spring water for them all as the
others grabbed a park bench in the shade and sat.

�Whew! Man, I forgot how hot it could get.� Tyson wiped his sweaty brow with his
shirtsleeve. �I hope the beystadiums
are air conditioned tomorrow.�

Max sighed
and leaned back in his seat, stretching out his legs. Rei smiled at him and brushed a thick lock of blonde hair out of
his mate�s eyes. �Kenny�ll be here soon
with that water, Max. That�ll fix you
right up.�

�I really
need it.� Max agreed. �Why am I so much worse off than the rest of
you, anyway?�

{It�s our
element, Master Max.} Draciel
answered. {The heat is evaporating the
water in you more quickly than the others.
That�s why you are feeling it more.
Kai probably doesn�t notice the heat at all, since his element is Fire.}

{Oh.} Max nodded, weakly. {That makes sense.}

Tyson
glanced over at him, having heard every word.
�There�s a lot to learn about our powers, huh, Max?�

Max blinked
at him. �Yeah. How�d you�?�

The Dragon
tapped his head with a finger. �I heard
Draciel.�

�Oh. I forgot about that.�

Kai closed
his eyes and enjoyed the quietness of the park, ignoring the conversation. He�d heard it, too, through his connection
to Tyson. Draciel was right � he barely
felt the heat. In fact, it just seemed
to energize him rather than wear him out.

When Kenny
returned clutching five bottles of water and Dizzi, he opened his eyes and
excepted one, taking off the cap and sipping slowly. He glanced over at Max and gave him a mild warning. �Don�t guzzle that water, Max. You�ll make yourself sick if you do.�

Max nodded
and slowly sipped his own bottle of water as Rei watched over him.

Tyson took
a swig of his water and scooted over closer to Kai to make room for Kenny on
the bench between himself and Rei. He
leaned on Kai with a sigh and without even knowing it began rubbing his palm up
and down Kai�s thigh slowly.

Kai glanced
down at that hand and set one of his own over Tyson�s to stop it, linking their
fingers together and gripping it loosely.
{Any reason you were feeling the need to pet me, lover?}

Tyson
blinked in confusion. {Huh? Was I?
Sorry, Kai.}

Kai gave
him a mental eye roll. {I wasn�t
complaining, lover, just notifying you of your actions. Touch me all you want.}

His
boyfriend, who had just taken another sip of water, nearly chocked at that
comment since it made him laugh when he was trying to swallow. He spit the water out, spluttering.

Kai
chuckled and pounded him on the back while the others stared at them in
surprise and confusion.

�Kai!� Tyson gasped out, coughing.

�What?� He grinned at Tyson�s red face and scowl,
shrugging. �Like I said, you can��

�Oh, shut
up.� Tyson cut him off. �I get the point.�

Kenny
scratched his head. �Ah�maybe this�ll
sound stupid, but what are you two talking about?�

�You don�t
want to know.� Tyson shook his
head. �Don�t worry about it,
Kenny.� He gave Kai a fiery, warning
look.

�Okay��

�Hey,
Rei?� Max asked, studying Tyson and Kai
with interest. �Think we could ever
have telepathic conversations, too?�
His voice was a little wistful.

Rei picked
the blonde up and settled him on his lap, purring and nuzzling his neck
affectionately. �Who knows, Max? Someday��

Kenny
looked back and forth between the two couples in amusement. �Gee�on one hand, I wish I had a
girlfriend.� He looked at Max and Rei
cuddling. �On the other, I am quite
glad to be single.� His gaze swung to
the glaring match between Tyson and Kai.

They all
started laughing and Tyson gave Kenny a one-armed hug.

�Sorry,
Chief! Didn�t mean to make you uncomfortable.�

�Huh?� Kenny blinked at them from under his
hair. �Oh, no! Not at all, guys! I meant that I kind of wish I had a special someone like you all
do, but that I�m glad that I don�t at the same time because I don�t have to
argue or fight with anyone.� He
hastened to explain.

�Whoa! Easy, Chief!� Kai smiled. �We know what
you meant. Breathe, kid.� He patted Kenny on the knee.

Kenny
sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.

Still
smirking, Kai stood up, tugging Tyson up with him. �Come on, guys. Let�s get
going. You alright now, Max?�

The blonde
nodded. �Yes. I�m fine. I just needed
to sit for a moment and the water really helped.�

�Good. Then let�s get back to the hotel.�

The others
got up and followed Kai and Tyson. On
the way through the park, they cut through a grove of trees, following a
well-beaten path.

When they
reached a small clearing, Tyson suddenly stopped and looked around, a slight
frown on his face.

�Ty? What�s wrong?� Kai studied him. He could
feel Tyson�s power swell and in his mind he sensed Tyson searching for
something. It was a technique Dragoon
had taught his blader that day on the roof at school. Kai kept silent and waved at the others to do the same as he
watched Tyson close his eyes and start to glow softly.

�There is
someone here. And they feel just like
that Jael guy did.� Tyson murmured,
reaching for Kai�s hand and grasping it firmly. �Close your eyes. Can you
feel that?�

Kai did so,
and felt a rush that made him just a little dizzy. {Gods, Tyson�is this how it feels for you all the time?} Kai moved closer to Tyson unconsciously,
feeling unbelievably attracted to his lover at that moment and for some odd
reason had the urge to pull Tyson into his arms and just release his own power
� to meet Tyson�s power, merge with it and see just how deep they both could
go.

Tyson
shivered, feeling just as Kai did � and through their link, knowing exactly
what Kai was feeling. {Lover, as much
as I would love to explore this�focus, would you?}

{Uh�yeah. I feel it.}
Kai shook himself slightly.
{Where? I can�t pinpoint it.}

Rei pulled
Max close to his chest protectively, growling a little. �I feel it, too. He�s coming through the trees � over there.� He nodded in one direction and stared with
golden feline eyes narrowed to slits.

Kenny
flipped open his laptop. �Dizzi! Wake up!�

�Chief,
it�s too hot.� Dizzi whined. �Close me, please!�

�Dizzi!� They all chorused in exasperation.

�Guys.� Max shushed them. �Look.�

At the edge
of the clearing, just in front of the tree line, a dull, shadowy form slowly
appeared. The figure materialized into
a girl, about their age, and just as colourless as Jael had been.

Kai eyed
her. �We wondered when the next
challenger would show.� He said, voice
ice cold. �What�s your name?�

�My name is
insignificant. I was sent for the Earth
Spirit.� Her lifeless eyes looked each
of them up and down and stopped on Rei.
�Ah. You.�

Rei stepped
forward, blade and launcher ready.
�Me. You aren�t getting Driger,
you know. The White Tiger is my partner
and I am his Guardian.�

�Be
careful, Rei.� Max cautioned, not
taking his eyes off the girl.

�Don�t
worry about me, sprite.� Rei smiled,
though it was all teeth and held no humour.

The girl
waved them all away. �Put that away,
Cat. Today is not the day you and I
shall battle.�

Rei didn�t
lower his launcher. �And I say it
is.� He twitched at the name.

She frowned
at him. �I was not to engage you
today.�

�Oh
really?� Tyson crossed his arms over
his chest. �And why is that?�

The girl
wouldn�t look at him, still staring at Rei without expression or emotion.

�She was
just supposed to size up her competition.�
Kenny spoke up. �We weren�t
supposed to see you, were we?�

Still not
taking her eyes off Rei, she inclined her head in acknowledgement
frowning. �Correct. I do not know how you knew I was here,
however. That little human is quite
intelligent.� She commented.

�That he
is. But he isn�t the one you need to
worry about.� Rei growled as Kenny
paled and moved closer to Kai and Tyson.
Tyson nudged Max back out of the way, giving Rei space to work.

�Don�t hold
back, Kon.� Kai advised. �Don�t worry about us or Max. Just do what you have to so we can get back
to the hotel.�

�Aye, aye,
my captain.� Rei smirked.

The girl
pulled out a launcher and blade, setting it and taking up a launch stance. �You should not have insisted on challenging
me, Cat. We were told by Jael you are
not ready for this battle.�

Rei
snorted. �And he wasn�t prepared for Max, was he? I�d say your friend wasn�t a particularly reliable judge of a
person�s strengths or weaknesses.� Rei
studied her. �Kai asked you a question
earlier, and you didn�t answer. So I�ll
ask you. What�s your name?�

�What is it
with your kind and names?� She
inquired. Rei raised an eyebrow. Was that�curiosity?

�It�s just
a thing we have. We like to know who
we�re fighting.� He answered
obliquely. �Well?�

�My name is
irrelevant. But if you insist on
knowing it�� She paused. �You may call
me Atla.�

Tyson
snorted. �Such a pretty name for an
evil�� Kai slapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish. {�bitch.}
Tyson scowled. {Kai!}

{Don�t
antagonize her! We don�t know what
she�s capable of yet.} Kai removed his
hand.

{It�s
called �trash talk�, Kai.}

{It�s
called �stay out of it� Tyson. It�s
Rei�s fight.}

{No fun.}

Rei smiled,
having a pretty good idea what Tyson had been going to say. �Ready?�

�Yes.�

�3��

�2��

�1��

�Let it
rip!� Their cries rang out and the
blades clashed, sparks flying as the two blades hit the forest floor and ground
against each other.

They backed
off of each other and circled, each testing the other�s capabilities.

�You have
some skill, Cat. But you have little
power. You can not defeat me without
your Sacred Spirit � and even then, I doubt it will be enough.�

�Mistake
number one.� Max murmured, watching the
battle carefully.

�Never
underestimate Rei.� Kai agreed.

Tyson
smiled. �He�s got this one in the bag.�

�Don�t
celebrate yet, guys.� Kenny
warned. �We haven�t seen her full power
yet, or her bit-beast.�

{Okay. He�s more of a wet blanket than you
are.} Tyson grumbled.

{Gee. Thanks.}
Kai replied, vaguely insulted.
{He has a point, though.}

�You want
me?� Rei grinned, flashing his
fangs. �You have to catch me.� He sent his blade off in one direction and
Atla�s blade followed, a blur of grey shadow.

�You can�t
outrun me.� Atla�s eyes narrowed and
before Rei could blink her blade had slammed into Driger with enough force to
create a loud BOOM of sound that echoed in the quiet. �I have had enough.
Foolish Cat. You should not have
challenged me.� She raised a hand. �Come forth my beast! Hydra!�

The
bit-beast that emerged had them all gawking and speechless. Atla took note of their stares and silence
and her laugh could only be described as evil.

�Ha! Look at them, Hydra! They are afraid! Go! Take out that blade
and capture the Tiger spirit of Earth!�

Rei shook
himself slightly and glared hard at the nine-headed monster. �No way.�

�What�is�that?� Tyson wanted to know. �I don�t recognize it.�

Kenny was
typing away furiously at this keyboard.
�I do. A hydra is a creature
from Greek mythology, just as Jael�s minotaur, Thanatos, was. I don�t recall the exact myth, but Dizzi and
I are looking it up.�

�Easy on
the keyboard, Chief! I�m not made of
titanium!� Dizzi complained.

Rei frowned
at the monster. {Driger. I know that myth, too. And if I�m right, we have to cut off all
nine of its heads to defeat it.}

{I�m ready
when you are, Kitten.} He got a mental
image of Driger flexing his claws � very sharp, pointy claws. {That�s what these are for, after all.}

Chuckling,
Rei grinned and his golden eyes went totally feline, his body slowly being
consumed by the glowing green light that pulsed different shades.

�Driger! Let�s show the Void that Earth is no push
over! Go!�

His team
watched in wary anticipation as the two blades went for each other and the two
bit-beasts attacked.

The pulsing
Rei heard constantly in his mind � what Driger had called the planet�s
�heartbeat� � grew louder, pounding away.
Rei listened, suddenly realizing that there was a message in the
beating.

And then he
knew. {Driger! I know what to do�} He outlined his plan
silently and quickly while continuously dodging Atla�s blade.

�REI!� He heard Max�s urgent call and looked
over. The Hydra had gone after his
team.

That was
mistake number two. Nobody threatens
my team, and no one harms my mate and gets away with it. Rei�s growl was feral and he called on his
element.

�Earth! Hear me�� The green aura surrounding him
grew brighter and settled on a leafy shade of it. The ground trembled for a moment, then shook violently, knocking
everyone but Rei and Driger to the ground.
�ATLA! You and your little
horror there made two mistakes and they�re going to cost you.� His voice growled out. He stood straight, crossing his arms over
his chest as the ground continued to shake and shudder. Rei�s golden eyes flashed and out of the
earth rose the thick, strong roots of the trees around them, reaching out and
wrapping around the Hydra�s nine necks and immobilizing the monster.

Atla shook
her head in disbelief. �No! This can not be!�

�The first
mistake was underestimating me and Driger.�
Rei glared hard, tightening the roots� grip on the Hydra as it struggled
to free itself. He glanced over at his
team and saw Tyson check Max over then help him to stand. The ground shuddered again with Rei�s
anger. �The second was attacking my
mate and my team. Driger! Take that ugly monstrosity out! Vulcan Claw Attack!�

{With
pleasure.}

Driger
attacked in a burst of speed fuelled by his partner�s anger, so fast and
furiously that the Hydra suddenly had no heads at all � due to Driger�s sharp
claws slicing through it like tissue paper.

Atla
screamed as the Hydra collapsed to the ground and dissolved like smoke. She stared down at her hands, dropping her
launcher, in horror and pain as she, too, began to fade into a hazy, shadowy
fog. �No! Master�forgive�� her voice faded away as she disappeared.

Rei stood
there for a moment, his blade coming to a stop in front of him as the ground
stopped quivering under their feet. In
the fight he�d gained a few wounds from the Hydra and the roots that had
whipped up from the ground.

But it was
done. He�d won. Driger was safe and Max was okay.

�Rei!� Max cried, stumbling a little as he rushed
over. �Oh God, Rei!� He watched as Rei collapsed to the ground,
passing out from exhaustion and mild shock.

Kai knelt
down on one side of him and Max pulled his lover into his arms, brushing away
the raven hair from his face. He looked
up at Kai in worry. �Is he alright?�

�He�ll be
fine, Maxie. His life force is
strong. He needs rest, that�s all.�

�Let�s get
him back to the hotel.� Tyson
agreed. �We can patch him up and he can
get a good sleep tonight.�

Max scooped
the neko-jin up and Kenny grabbed Rei�s blade from the mossy, leaf-covered
ground. �Driger seems to be okay. Except his defence ring is totalled.�

�Minor
repair job, Chief.� Kai nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the
hotel, Max took Rei to their room and stripped of his torn and bloody
clothes. Kai helped him patch up the
worst of Rei�s wounds then left them together to sleep, since Max refused to
leave Rei�s side.

Kenny was
sitting at the small table in the living room going over the data he�d
collected from Rei�s battle and Tyson was sprawled out on the sofa, channel
surfing on TV when Kai came out.

�How is he,
lover?� Tyson asked, shutting off the
TV.

�Resting. Max won�t leave him. Did anyone order supper?� Kai lifted Tyson�s legs and sat next to him,
draping them over his own lap.

�I
did.� Kenny said, not even looking up
from his screen. �It�ll be here soon.�

�Oh,
good. I�m hungry.� Tyson�s stomach growled for emphasis and Kai
laughed, rubbing a hand up and down Tyson�s bare leg (since he was now wearing
shorts that he�d changed into as soon as they�d gotten back).

�You could
have ordered, too, Tyson.� Kenny
grumbled. �You�re just too lazy.�

�So what?�

Kai sighed
and interrupted before they could start an argument. �Okay, you two. Cool
it. Thank you, Kenny, for ordering for
us.� He looked at Tyson pointedly. {Not a word, lover.}

Tyson
sighed and sulked, turning the TV back on.
{I just wanted to�}

{You�re
grouchy when you�re hungry. Patience,
Ty-love.} Kai grinned when the sulk
deepened. {You�re adorable when you�re
pouting.}

Tyson
glanced at him. {Adorable?! Get outta here.}

{Well, you
are!} Kai slid his hand up Tyson�s leg
just under his short�s leg and stroked a thumb over the soft skin of the
Dragon�s inner thigh. {What do you
suppose that was between us out in the forest, love? That was more than just my natural inclination to jump you.}

{Hmm�not
that I�m complaining.} Tyson grinned
and purred a little as Kai�s hand snuck further up his leg. {But you have a point. It�s our powers, lover. Fire feeds on Air, after all. It needs oxygen to burn.}

Kai thought
about that and nodded slowly.
{Yes. I think I understand. My power is attracted to yours for that
reason. But it doesn�t explain why yours
is attracted to mine.}

{Oh, I
think it�s just you.} Tyson
laughed. {Every damned thing about you
attracts me and turns me on.}

Kai rolled
his eyes. {Hentai.}

{You
wouldn�t have me any other way.}

{Not at
all.} Kai leaned over and kissed him
softly, but thoroughly.

The
doorbell to their suite rang musically and Kenny got up to let in room
service. Tyson sat up eagerly as the
rich aromas of their Chinese food drifted through the room. �Alright!
Chow time!�

Removing
his hand from Tyson�s leg, Kai got up and went to pay the waiter. �Go knock on Max�s door and let him know the
food�s here, Tyson.�

�Sure.� Tyson went off to do that. When he came back, smiling, Max was behind
him carrying a wide-awake, bandaged and bruised Rei.

�Rei! You�re awake!� Kenny exclaimed.

�Yeah. I could smell the food�I think I can stay
awake long enough to eat something. I�m
starved, guys!�

Everyone
laughed and sat down to refuel after the long day.

As Tyson
drifted off to sleep, Kai curled against him and wrapped securely in his arms,
he couldn�t help having a moment of concern about the next day.

What
will the tournament bring, with Rei out of commission for tomorrow�s matches �
at least?

And will
it be me � or Kai � who has to fight the Void next?

************************************

~ End Chapter 18 ~

*************************************

Chapter 19

*************************************

Rei woke up
slowly to a gentle stroking along his spine.
Max was running a hand over his back, petting him like a cat.

The
neko-jin lay sprawled on his stomach, his long raven locks spread out behind
him. He sighed, purring in contentment
and shifted a bit to get comfortable.
Rei heard a soft laugh and felt Max�s weight on the bed next to him move
closer and a light kiss pressed to his shoulder � where a slash from a tree
root had left a cut that Max and Kai had patched up the day before.

�Morning,
my love. This cut�s nearly
healed.� Max kissed it again. �It�s hardly even a bruise now.�

Rei smiled,
purring louder at his mate�s touch.
�Hmm�� He opened his eyes and
blinked sleepily at Max, whose bright blue eyes stared back. �Hi.�

�Hi! How do you feel?�

�Not
bad.� Rei yawned. �Still sore and weary, I guess.� He reached out and slid his fingers through
Max�s blonde hair. �Excited for the
tournament today?�

�Yep. But I�m trying not to think about it.� Max grinned. �My nerves are already buzzing.�

�Want me to
take your mind off things?� Rei purred,
a wicked glint lighting up his golden eyes.

Max leaned
in and pressed his mouth to Rei�s in a light, teasing kiss. Rei�s arm snaked around his waist and he
rolled over onto his back, pulling Max with him until the blonde was sprawled
over top of him, never breaking the pressure of their lips. When Max wriggled and made pleasant little
mewls, Rei ran his hands up and down Max�s arms and teasingly trailed
fingertips over his sides.

�Ah�� Max
gasped and shivered at the little thrills from Rei�s touch, shifting against
the body under him restlessly. ��Rei��

�Oh
Max.� Rei broke away and ran his
fingers through Max�s mass of blonde hair again, gazing up at his lover�s
flushed expression. �I�ve missed you,
sprite.�

�I know
what you mean.� Max cuddled into his
mate, rubbing his cheek against Rei�s and burrowing his nose into his neck with
a sigh. �I�m a little envious of Kai
and Tyson. They�re able to be with each
other 24/7!�

�At least
while we�re on the circuit we can be, too.�
Rei nuzzled Max back, inhaling deeply and rubbing the inside of one leg
against the blonde�s hip, his mouth seeking out Max�s again for a long,
passionate kiss. �Mmm�yeah��

�Rei��
Max moaned his name softly, pulling away and sitting up, panting just a
little. �We shouldn�t. You�re still healing and you need your
energy��

�I�m okay,
sweetheart.� Rei smiled up at him reassuringly,
lightly tracing patterns on Max�s upper legs with his fingertips. �Honestly.
And right now, I need you more than I need my energy. I want you, Maxie.� His voice went low and dark, reflecting his
desire for his mate.

�If you�re
sure�� Max leaned back down so they were chest to chest again, and captured
Rei�s mouth with his own. The groan he
wrung out of Rei he chose to take as assent and he ran his hands up and down
Rei�s sides, making the neko-jin shiver as Max had earlier. In response to the sweet fire burning in his
veins, Rei rolled them over again, plundering Max�s mouth with his tongue and
reacquainting himself with its interior.

Max made a
needy noise in his throat, his own tongue tangling with Rei�s and a quiet sigh
issuing from him when Rei moved away from his mouth and kissed along his jaw
and down his neck, nipping lightly and carefully here and there. Max clutched at Rei�s shoulders and back as
Rei�s hands stroked and caressed bare skin wherever he found it. �Uhn�yes.
Ah!� Max cried out, his back
arching a bit in an effort to get closer to Rei�s hot, wet mouth as it covered
a taut, sensitized nipple and sucked.
�Rei�more��

After
purring loudly and lavishing like attention on the other nub, Rei kissed and
licked his way down Max�s stomach, inhaling his mate�s scent and pausing
briefly to let the pheromones swim around in his head. Then he sat up and crawled back up Max�s
wanton form, kissing him hard for a moment before breaking away to ask, �Did
you bring anything?� in a slightly growling voice.

Max pried
his eyes open and blinked dazedly.
�Huh? Oh�� He wriggled out from
under Rei and shakily got up to go to his suitcase. Rei rolled over onto his back, watching with eyes gone molten
gold and totally feline as Max dug out a bottle of lube and came back to the
bed, crawling up so he straddled his lover�s waist and could feel Rei�s hard
length nestle between the lobes of his butt.
�This what you wanted?� He
inquired, dangling the bottle in front of Rei�s nose with a giggle.

�Yeah.� Rei plucked it from his grasp and motioned
for Max to turn around, which the blonde obediently did. This put him in an ideal position to see if
he could drive Rei a little crazy and speed things up some. Max grinned and grasped Rei firmly in one
hand, slowly pumping his erection and taking just the tip into his mouth,
lightly running his tongue over the head that was already glistening with
pre-cum. He heard Rei gasp and the purr
increase to a steady rumble of pleased sound.

Then he
felt Rei�s slick fingers, obviously coated in lube, rub against his entrance
and Max whimpered, wriggling slightly in eager anticipation and sucking hard at
the sensations of first one finger, then another, then another being thrust
into him, stroking deep and gently stretching him in preparation for something
much bigger and harder than Rei�s fingers.

�Ah,
Gods! Max�� Rei moaned as his mate�s
mouth worked him up to the point of near release. �Shit! Stop, sprite! I can�t take much more of that�� He removed
his fingers and felt Max release his erection with a whimper of protest. �Turn around, my love.�

Max quickly
turned, taking the lube from Rei and using it on him impatiently then
positioning himself and slowly sinking down onto Rei�s weeping sex with a low,
keening moan. Rei groaned, eyes
narrowing with want and hands gripping Max�s hips to keep him from moving right
away as he filled his lover completely.
Max, flushed with his passion and need, stared down at his lover,
sapphire blue eyes gone dark and glazed over.

�I love
you, Rei.� He said hoarsely, bracing
himself with his hands on the neko-jin�s chest. �So much��

�I love
you, Max. With everything I am�� Rei
replied, his voice little more than a growl.
He held up one hand and Max took it, placing his palm to Rei�s and
letting their fingers link together and grasp tightly. Rei�s other hand on Max�s hip gripped and he
thrust upwards, earning a tiny cry of pure pleasure from his mate as Max took
the hint and began to move, at first up and down until the pace grew
desperate. Then he simply rocked his
hips in time with Rei�s thrusts.

Moans,
gasps, mewls, and the occasional cry filled the quiet of the room
musically. The heat built up to the
point of explosion and Rei tugged Max down to his chest, though the blonde
needed little encouragement to do so, collapsing on Rei�s chest and frantically
seeking out Rei�s mouth with his own.

With his
own dripping erection trapped between them, the friction of their sweat-slicked
bodies� movements added another stimulation that was too much for Max. He managed to moan out Rei�s name and it was
the only warning Rei got before Max cried out sharply and came hard, his
release covering their stomachs. Rei
wrapped both arms around Max s he shuddered and whimpered in ecstasy, the
clenching and contracting walls around Rei driving him over the edge into his
own blissful oblivion with a cry of Max�s name.

They clung
to one another for a while in recovery, panting with the effort to take air
into their lungs and willing their frantic heartbeats to slow. After a moment, Rei began to purr,
stretching a little under Max with feline satisfaction. Max smiled contentedly, burrowing his face
in the pillow next to Rei�s head and turning his head just a bit to the side to
nuzzle his lover�s neck. �Hmm�I needed
that.�

Rei
snickered. �Feeling pretty good are
we?� He returned the affection with a
nuzzle of his own, trailing fingertips up and down his mate�s sweaty back. �We certainly worked up a sweat.�

Max sat up
and grinned down at him. �It�s a good
workout, isn�t it?� Rei laughed and
pulled him down for a lazy kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Across the
hall in another room, Kai was doing his very best to block out and ignore his
lover, who was uncharacteristically awake first, and incessantly chattering
with an energy Kai had no idea Tyson even possessed � especially at 7:30 in the
morning.

�Kai! Come on!
Get up! We need to go practice
before the tournament, don�t you think?
Get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up,
get up, get�OOPH!�

He was cut
off by a very hard WHAP to the head by a pillow.

�Tyson! Shut the hell up! It�s too early for practice and it�s definitely too early
for your annoying energy!�

Tyson
flopped on the bed next to him dazed and with ringing ears. �Ow.�
He managed to say.

Kai sighed
and pulled the covers back up over his head, burrowing into the warmth of the
bed intending to go back to sleep. Then
he felt a chill blast of air as Tyson lifted the sheets and crawled in with
him, cuddling up against Kai�s back, an arm curling over his waist and a leg
tossed over his hip. He sighed again
and smiled reluctantly as Tyson brushed his lips over the nape of Kai�s neck
over and over. �Why are you
awake anyway?� He mumbled.

�It�s the
day of a tournament, lover.� Tyson
replied between kisses. �I couldn�t
sleep. Nerves, I guess.�

�Are you
serious?� Kai opened his eyes, giving
up on sleep altogether and capturing Tyson�s hand with his own as it slowly
drifted down his stomach. �Since when
do you have nerves?�

He didn�t
see the Dragon�s pout but he felt it against his neck. �I�m only human, Kai. I get nervous, too.� He tried to move his hand again but Kai just
clasped it tighter and held it over his navel.

�Well, it�s
news to me! Are you going to be like
this before every tournament?�

�No. I don�t think so. I just need to get back into it that�s all.� Tyson sighed. �Kaaaaiiiii�.�

Kai felt
something hard nestle between his butt-cheeks as Tyson pulled him closer and
pressed every inch of bare skin along his front to Kai�s back. The Phoenix let out a little groan and
shifted his hips restlessly.
�Tyson�you�re bound and determined to keep me awake aren�t you?�

�I�ve got
all this energy�� Tyson moaned, doing his best to sound pitiful and sexy at the
same time. �If I don�t do something
with it, I�ll go crazy and drive you crazy too!�

Kai
smothered a laugh and rolled over to face Tyson. �And I suppose you have an idea on how to get rid of that excess
energy?� Kai traced Tyson�s facial
features with a finger, smiling at the wicked gleam in those midnight blue
eyes.

{It�s this
or practice, lover.} Tyson ran a hand
down Kai�s side, across his hip and over his butt, rubbing his palm against the
soft, smooth skin and leaning in so close they could feel each other�s warm
breaths on their faces. {You know you
can�t resist me.}

{I can
resist you just fine, thanks.} Kai
grinned. {You�re just lucky I don�t
really want to resist.} He
leaned in closer and rubbed his lips over Tyson�s softly at first, then harder
as Tyson�s hands tangled in his hair, grasping the back of his head and holding
him in place while his lover ravished his mouth.

{Ah�Gods!} Tyson moaned mentally and aloud as Kai�s
hands swept over his back and fingertips danced up and own his sides, leaving a
path of heated nerves in their wake.
The World Champion trembled at the rising heat that surrounded him,
burned through his veins and threatened to explode in his mind. {Gods!
Kai�I need this. I need you!} He gasped as Kai rolled them over so that he
was propped up on his forearms above Tyson, gazing down into smoky blue pools
with flamed eyes and panting slightly.
{You make me burn�}

{It�s
always been you�} Kai returned, shifting until he lay between Tyson�s legs and
could feel his erection, already weeping and slicked with pre-cum, jab him in
the pelvis. {I want�} Kai swooped down and kissed his mate hard, his
tongue sweeping around the inside of Tyson�s mouth and battling him for dominance. {Shit!
You taste so good�} His thoughts were chaotic, their bodies rubbing and
rocking against each other in all the right places making it extremely
difficult to form coherent sentences through the hot, lust-filled fog in his
mind.

{Kai!} Tyson moaned. {Lover, just do it already!}
He demanded, sure he as going to explode if Kai didn�t do something � anything
� soon.

Kai broke
the kiss to suck in much needed air and kissed his way down Tyson�s neck,
finding a good spot and biting gently, hard enough to leave a mark. It made Tyson cry out sharply and whimper
with need. �Ty�lover, I can�t. Not this time.� Kai whispered in his ear, trembling slightly. �I can�t explain it but this time I��

�Shh��
Tyson pulled him up and kissed him again, trying his best to devour his lover�s
mouth, rolling them over again. {No
explanations necessary, Kai.} He
reassured the Phoenix, who relaxed slightly against him. {But I can�t hold out much longer�} Tyson told him as he moved down to Kai�s
neck and marked him in return with his teeth, making Kai mewl softly.

Taking
control again, Tyson pushed away from Kai and sat up, getting up to dig through
his bag for a bottle of lube while Kai watched from the bed, blinking dazedly.

Tyson�s
dark gaze glittered with unrepressed need as he crawled back over to Kai,
taking in his naked, muscular, sweaty form and flushed face and neck. �Fuck, you�re so gorgeous, my love.� He growled.
Kai suddenly smiled wickedly at him, and Tyson made a strangled noise as
he watched the Phoenix touch a finger to his own lips then slowly,
tantalizingly trail that finger down his body.

Tyson�s
eyes narrowed as Kai circled one nipple with his finger, his lips parting on a
quiet sigh of pleasure. He gripped the
bedsheets in his hands, fisting them in his hands to keep from reaching out to
the wanton display before him, sensing that Kai was up to something. {Are you trying to kill me? Or just drive me insane?} He licked his lips as Kai moved on to the
other nipple, his back arching almost imperceptivity into the touch.

{Hmm�} Kai
replied. He could feel his need rising
as he watched Tyson watching him, those gorgeous eyes Kai loved so much glued
to the scene he was performing for the younger teen. {I just wondered if I was as irresistible to you as you are to
me�} Kai�s smile widened as his hand
moved lower and he traced the Phoenix tattoos on his stomach, Tyson�s gaze
following every movement. {Watch me, Ty-love. See how you turn me on�make me burn�}
His hand slid lower.

{Oh�shit�} Tyson
swallowed hard, twitching with the effort not to pounce on Kai. {Do it, Kai. Touch yourself�} His eyes nearly crossed when Kai�s large hand
wrapped around his equally large sex and slowly slid up and down, his hips
jerking a bit and a low moan coming from Kai�s throat at the touch. {Dear Lord�Kai�}

�Uhn�oh
my�Tyson!� Kai fell back against the
bed, his hand increasing speed and pressure.
�Ooooohhhhh��

�Fuck
that�s hot!� Tyson rasped, not even
noticing that he�d reached for his own erection and was stroking himself as he
watched Kai. He could also tell how
close the Phoenix was to coming.
�Kai! Stop! Don�t come��

It took
willpower, but Kai managed to still his hand and move it away from
himself. He whimpered and stared at
Tyson with glazed crimson eyes. �Ty�I
need�have to�uhn��

Tyson
shuddered at the blatant need that turned his lover�s voice dark and hoarse,
quickly using the lube on himself as he asked, �How do you want it, lover?�

Kai got up
and rolled over, kneeling on all fours on the bed and offering his backside to
the Dragon. �Hard and fast!�

Wasting no
time, Tyson moved up behind him, grasping Kai�s hip firmly with one hand and
using the other to guide himself to Kai�s puckered pink entrance. With one swift motion of his hips and a cry
of pure pleasure he thrust into Kai hard, both hands holding Kai�s hips still
for a moment.

Kai cried
out sharply at a small spike of pain at the sudden intrusion but it was quickly
washed away by a flood of heat and pleasure as Tyson began to move until he was
literally pounding Kai into the mattress.
Kai began to moan in ecstasy, his arms giving out on him and making him
drop forward face first into the bed.
He reached out with both hands, grasping desperately at the sheets as
his moans turned to pleading mewls of intense need, a fine sheen of sweat
building on his skin.

Tyson
continued to slam into his captain over and over, the slick, tight walls
surrounding his throbbing length gripping rhythmically and driving him closer
to the edge of release. �Oh fuck,
yes! Mmmmaaaaaaahhhh�Kai! Soooooo g�goooood!� He wrapped a hand around Kai�s dripping
erection, feeling him near orgasm, and cut off the possibility of it just as
Tyson gave one last thrust and came hard himself, emptying himself into his
beloved Phoenix with a force that wracked his whole body, moaning Kai�s name
long and loud.

Kai felt
him come and whimpered in agony at the throbbing, aching need for release. {AH!
No! Tyson�I need to come�please!?} He was too far gone to care if he begged and
did so as Tyson withdrew from him, his hand still cutting off any chance of an
orgasm for Kai. {Please, love! Make me�}

Tyson
released him and Kai collapsed to the bed rolling over onto his back with
another whimper. �Hold on, my fiery Phoenix. You�ll come when I want you to.� He settled himself between Kai�s legs once
again and bent his head to take Kai into his mouth, swirling his tongue over
the tip that was so swollen it had turned an angry red, glistening with pre-cum
that leaked continuously. Kai�s whole
body shivered and his back came up off the bed, his head tossing back with a
high moan that sounded suspiciously like a wail.

{Now,
Kai!} Tyson decided not to torture his
lover any more, preparing himself for what he knew was on the way. He could feel it through his link to Kai and
with his powers. {Let go, baby, and
come for me�} To give Kai a little nudge over the edge, he called on his
powers, letting it surround them both in a blue aura, little frissions of
static electricity sparking along every nerve ending in their bodies and
swallowing them whole. {COME!}

�AH! HOLY FUCK!
TYSON!� Kai
yelled, unable to contain it and simply not caring if anyone heard him. His body shuddered once and, as he came,
suddenly burst into a bright burning red glow as his power responded to Tyson�s
and swept over them, merging with the blue of Tyson�s aura.

The World
Champion gasped and sucked harder on Kai, milking every last drop of his
essence from his mate as he basked in the euphoria that followed the power
rush. Tyson let out a laugh as he came again, shuddering with the orgasm�s
force in response to Kai�s release.

When he
thought he could move again, he slid up to drape himself around Kai, nuzzling
with affection and smug satisfaction.
Kai just lay there, totally spent and dazed as their auras toned down
and faded away slowly along with their frantically beating pulses and gasps for
air.

{Oh�} Kai began.

{My�}

{Dear�}

{Gods!} Tyson finished. {That was�}

{Fucking
amazing!}

{Hell,
yes.}

{I don�t
know where that came from.} Kai
mustered the energy to wrap his arms around Tyson tightly with a sigh of
contentment. {But fuck!}

{Ditto.} Tyson agreed. He cuddled Kai closer and lazily licked a wet patch where he�d
bitten his lover earlier. {Hmm�}

Kai pried
his eyes open in surprise when Tyson began to purr � really purr � like
a cat. Or a dragon. He thought with sudden realization.

�What�s
like a dragon?� Tyson inquired
sleepily, his voice muffled against Kai�s neck.

�You�re
purring, Ty-love. I think you�re taking
on some of Dragoon�s characteristics.�

Tyson
raised his head and blinked down at him.
�Does it bother you?�

�No! Actually, I kinda like it.� Kai smiled softly as the purring increased
in volume and Tyson snuggled back down.
�We should take a shower, you know.�
He said after a while.

Tyson
sighed. �Yeah. But I�m comfortable right here.�

Kai
chuckled and delivered a light slap to the Dragon�s bare ass. �So am I!
But we�ve got a tournament to prepare for. And we haven�t had breakfast yet.�

�I am kinda
hungry�� A loud growling from Tyson�s stomach agreed with that statement. �Problem is, I don�t think I can move!�

�I guess we
succeeded in getting rid of that excess energy of yours, huh?� Kai laughed.

�Oh�shut
up.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rei and Max
were just coming out of their room to go find breakfast after their shower when
both bladers suddenly felt a blast of power that they quickly recognized as
Tyson�s from their teammates� room.
They stopped in the hall outside the door and looked at each other,
unsure what to do.

Kenny came
running in from the suite�s sitting room where he�d been hard at work preparing
for the tournament that day.
�Guys! What�s going on? Dizzi got all excited! She said something about Tyson�s power being
used just now!�

�Yeah,
Kenny. We felt it.� Rei glanced at the door then back at
Max. �Think we should check on them?�

�Uh�maybe. I mean, what if they�re battling one of the
Void�s minions? We don�t know when or
where they�ll strike next.� Max pointed
out, unsure.

�You�re
right, Max! I�ll be right back. I�m getting my laptop.� Kenny rushed away.

Rei turned
to the door and lifted his hand to knock but froze when Driger said, {I
wouldn�t do that if I were you, Kitten.}

{What? Why?}

His
neko-jin abilities allowed him to hear quite well, and when another, incredibly
powerful energy joined Tyson�s, Rei turned a little pink as his ears picked up
� just barely � through the near-soundproof walls and door their captain�s yell
of �AH! HOLY FUCK! TYSON!�

Max frowned
in concern, since he could feel what he correctly assumed was Kai�s power, just
suddenly explode. �Rei! I think we�d better�what? Why are you shaking your head and blushing?�

�Um�I think
maybe we ought to just leave them alone for now, Maxie.� Rei sighed and the blush deepened just a
bit. He could feel their frantic
heartbeats and a distinct sense of pure euphoria from them on the other side of
that door. �They�re�busy.�

Max scowled
� bless his innocent self � in confusion.
�I get that, Rei! But they might
need our help, and��

Rei made a
strangled noise and gently ushered his mate down the hall to stop Kenny from
barging in, too. �No, Max. I really don�t think so. Trust me.
They�re both fine.�

Kenny was
fighting with his power cord when they came in and looked up in near
panic. �I�m coming! I just can�t get this stupid thing
unplugged!�

�Don�t
worry about it, Chief.� Rei waved him
off. �They�re okay.�

�But how do
you�oh.� Kenny noticed the pink
staining Rei�s face and how he refused to meet his or Max�s eyes. �Oh.�
There was a pause�and then realization hit. �OH!� Kenny coughed and
flushed, too, as Rei nodded ruefully and flopped down on the couch, pulling Max
down with him.

�Would
someone please explain to me what�s going on?�
Max demanded.

Rei leaned
over and whispered something in his ear and Max blinked then laughed with a
blush of his own. �Oh. Silly me.�

�You�d
think they could warn us or something before they do that.� Kenny muttered, going back to his work.

Max giggled
some more. �I don�t think it was
entirely planned, Chief.�

�How are
you feeling today, Rei?� Kenny asked,
changing the subject.

�I�m fine,
Chief. I might not be 100 % yet but
much better than yesterday. I think I
can blade today, too.�

Kenny
looked at him carefully. �Well, I
wouldn�t recommend it, Rei. You should
sit today�s matches out and rest. Kai
can blade in your spot as substitute.
He is one for the team as well as our captain, after all.�

�I�m really
okay, Kenny. I�m up to it! Honestly!�
Rei tried to reassure him. He
didn�t want to be left out of the tournament.

Kenny
sighed. �We�ll see. Kai will decide anyway. If he benches you, though, you�re sitting it
out.�

Rei
frowned. He didn�t like this at all.

Sensing an
argument brewing, Max intervened.
�We�ll see how it goes, okay?
So, Chief? Do you know who we�re
fighting first today?�

Kenny shook
his head. �No. It�s a random draw that�s supposed to be
posted at the Stadium soon. We won�t
find out until we get there.�

�Oh! Cool!
It�s a surprise then!� Max
smiled his trademark smile. �Great! It�ll make it more interesting.� He got up and went over to the little table
to peer at Dizzi�s screen to see what Kenny was working on.

Rei picked
up the phone and called for room service, fairly sure that when Tyson and Kai
surfaced from their room, they�d be hungry.

By the time
the food arrived, the two teens had emerged freshly showered and appearing
quite calm and relaxed. Kenny was
immersed in data and blade parts and Max was helping him.

Max took
one look at them as they sat on the couch (and joined Rei in raiding the food)
and started giggling again.

�What?� Tyson asked, spoon hovering over a large
dish of scrambled eggs. Kai arched an
eyebrow at him when Max kept giggling then looked at Rei in question.

�How much
sugar did you give him this morning?�
Kai asked suspiciously.

Rei gave
him a fang-filled grin. �None of the
kind you mean.� He replied waiting for
Tyson to figure it out since he was sure the bluenette was already in Max�s
head looking for answers.

Sure
enough. �ACK!� Tyson spluttered, spitting out his orange
juice that he�d just sipped. He turned
pink and stared down at his plate in embarrassment. �Oh Gods��

Kai blinked
as Tyson relayed the information, a small patch of red staining the bridge of
his nose. �Okay. Enough Max!
Quit laughing your ass off and eat so we can get going.�

Still
snickering helplessly, the blonde obeyed.

Kenny just
ignored them all.

Rei kept on
grinning, though. He had a personality
trait that made him keep on poking at his friends when he really should have
kept his mouth shut. �So, Kai? How much �sugar� did you and Tyson have this
morning?� The innuendo wasn�t lost on
Kai or Tyson.

Kai
muttered something under his breath that made Rei burst out laughing. That set off Max again, who actually fell
out of his chair and rolled around on the floor laughing.

Tyson
looked over the arm of the couch at the blonde. �Cut that out!� He glared
down at Max.

Kai set his
empty plate aside and stared coldly at the chuckling neko-jin. �Max is insane. What�s your excuse?�

�Just a
hint for the future, guys: try to remember that even soundproof walls can�t
block all sound from a neko-jin�s ears.�

Tyson�s
head snapped over to stare at Rei and Kai�s jaw clenched visibly.

�You�heard
us?!� Tyson asked incredulously. �Seriously?� He glanced at Kai, who hung his head and was hiding his lobster
red face � even more visible since he hadn�t put on his triangles yet. Tyson�s lips twitched and he couldn�t stop
the snigger that escaped.

Kai glared
at him, eyes flashing fire. �It�s not
funny!�

Chuckling
uncontrollably, Tyson put his plate on the coffee table and crawled into Kai�s
lap. �Oh, come on. Yes it�s embarrassing but it�s still
funny.� Kai scowled darkly at him when
Tyson leaned in and whispered in his ear so the others couldn�t hear him,
�Besides. You did get a little loud
when you came��

�Shit.� Kai wanted to sink through the couch, the
floor, and right down through the ground he was so embarrassed.

Max managed
to get up off the floor and go over to Rei, sitting next to him on the arm of
the chair with a wide grin. �Okay. We�ll stop teasing you, Kai. It�s not a big deal. I�m just glad you and Tyson get along so well
� and it�s not often we have the opportunity to tease you about
anything.�

�Hn.� Kai gripped the arm of the sofa, the only
sign he was still peeved at them. He�d
had to dig deep and dust it off a bit but he�d found his cold, indifferent mask
somewhere and put it on as fast as possible.

Tyson, of
course, could see right through it just as well as he ever could. {Hey�Kai?}
He began, wanting to smooth things over.

{Leave me
alone, Tyson.} Kai warned, picking the
Dragon up and depositing him on the sofa next to him before standing and
heading for their room. Tyson frowned,
staring after him. The others fell
quiet at the tension in the air. �I�m
going to finish getting ready. We leave
in ten minutes. Be ready or be left
behind.� Kai stated, icily, before
disappearing down the hall.

�You know,
he can be such a drama queen sometimes.�
Rei scowled. �He has got to
learn to laugh at himself and not take everything so damned seriously!�

Tyson
pinned him with a glare that rivalled Kai�s in coldness. �Watch it, Rei. He�s no drama queen. He
may have loosened up a lot in the last few years and he may have gained a sense
of humour, but there are still some things � emotions � that he hasn�t learned
to deal with yet.� The Dragon
stood. �Yes, Kai needs to learn to
laugh at himself and loosen up a bit more.
I agree. But he needs time for
that. It doesn�t come as easily to him
as it does to us.� He smiled wryly,
though is dark azure eyes were still hard as stone. �I never thought I�d be the one lecturing anyone about
patience, Rei, but in this case � when it comes to Kai � I have all the
patience in the world and you, obviously, do not.�

Rei
flinched guiltily, even though he was still angry with Kai�s departure � which
he still thought was overly dramatic.
Max looked about as guilty as Rei felt and when he reached for Rei�s
hand and squeezed it, Rei squeezed back in comfort and took his own from his
mate.

�I�m sorry,
Tyson. I guess I got a little carried
away.� Max sniffled.

�We�re
sorry.� Rei amended. �I pushed his buttons and I did it knowing
full-well he�d get mad. I shouldn�t
have and I don�t know why I did it, but I�m sorry.�

Tyson held
up a hand with a sigh, his temper draining away fast and being replaced with
concern over his lover, who he could sense was sitting on the bathroom floor
with his knees drawn up to his chest, arms folded over them, and head buried in
his arms. �It�s not me you�re going to
apologize to.� He said. Then he winced. �I poked at him, too. Look,
I�ll go talk to him � grovel if I have to.
You guys just get ready to go, alright?� Tyson didn�t wait for an answer he just strode off quickly.

There was a
moment of silence that was broken by Kenny, who�d opted � wisely � to remain
silent throughout the whole thing.

�No wonder
those two are meant for each other.� He
said, quietly. He was a little in awe
at the depth of Tyson�s understanding of their captain.

�What do
you mean, Chief?� Max glanced at him
curiously.

�I think I
see it, too.� Rei said, meeting Kenny�s
gaze solemnly. �Tyson was right. I don�t have the patience for Kai�s
emotions that he needs. Those two truly
are two halves of each other�s soul.�
His golden eyes widened in sudden realization. �They balance each other in every way possible, don�t they?� At Kenny�s nod, Rei groaned and smacked his
forehead. �Agh! I can�t believe I didn�t understand that
before! I�m supposed to be Earth � the
element that�s all about balance, for crying out loud!�

�Don�t be
so hard on yourself, Rei.� Kenny shook
his head. �You�re still learning, just
like the rest of us. Not even I can
know everything.�

�Um�I get
this whole balance thing.� Max frowned
in thought. �But I still don�t think I
see what you meant, Kenny.�

�I meant
that there�s no doubt that Kai and Tyson are a mated pair � life mates, soul
mates, whatever. I see now that they
were�I don�t know�destined for one another, I suppose is the way to put
it. Don�t get me wrong! I don�t mean that the only reason they�re
together is because Destiny put them together!
There is always the element of chance that affects everything, and
there�s always choices involved that would have affected it, too.� Kenny spoke as he began gathering up his
equipment and Max and Rei tidied up the breakfast mess. �It�s as Rei said: they balance each other. Light and dark, yin and yang, etc. etc.
etc. They are the very embodiment of
it.�

Max
smiled. �I guess you�re right. They do kind of, don�t they?�

Rei sat
back down on the couch and Max joined him after rolling the breakfast cart out
into the hotel hallway. Thinking about
it all now, Rei had a sudden epiphany.
�Hey, Chief?�

�Yeah?�

�You said
Kai and Tyson were destined for each other, right? Ask Dizzi if she knows anything about that.�

�I heard,
thanks.� The trapped Ether spirit�s
female voice spoke up before Kenny could open his mouth. �And I�m not quite sure what you want to
know, Rei.�

�Let me
tell you what I think and then you and Kenny can tell me how far off-base I�m
going here, okay?�

�Make it
quick though. We�ve got a tournament to
go to, after all.� Kenny reminded him,
glancing at the clock on his screen.

�I think
that them being together really is destiny.
And I don�t just mean all of us being on the same team, having the four
Sacred Elemental Spirits, Dizzi, and Drisana.
You know � all that. Tyson and
Kai love each other, we all know it. I
don�t think Destiny can say �alright, this person and this person will love
each other.� I do think Destiny can set
things up and give us each the opportunity to find love and accept it �
as well as return it. How am I doing so
far?�

There was a
pause before Dizzi said, �I think you�re onto something, Rei. Finish it off, now.�

Nodding, he
continued. �Right. So basically, Destiny can�t force us to fall
in love or control our emotions but it can nudge us in the right direction.� Rei looked at Max with a smile. �Max and I being together is evidence of
that. And our roles in this fight with
the Void�we�ve battled and won but we�re still needed. It�s not over yet. While Max and I love each other just as much as Tyson and Kai do,
our relationship isn�t quite the same, is it, Dizzi?�

Max
frowned. �I think I see what you�re
getting at, Rei. Our getting together
is like�a reward of a kind for doing what we were supposed to do � or maybe
even a chance occurrence that worked out in our favour. But Tyson and Kai�that power we felt
earlier��

�Yes.� Kenny sighed. �They are both incredibly powerful, strong individuals. Kai has power and a lot of it. Has to, after all, to be able to support and
control two bit-beasts as powerful as Dranzer and Drisana are. He�s probably the absolute best technical
blader ever � but he doesn�t have the emotional base or sheer stubborn will
that Tyson has. The word �can�t� isn�t
in his vocabulary.� Everyone chuckled a
little in agreement with that statement. �Put them together and they are very nearly unstoppable,
indestructible, unbeatable � in a word: INVINCIBLE. Almost. No one is
perfect, after all.�

�Yeah. But here�s what worries me, Chief.� Rei�s expression became very grim
looking. �They love each other, they
balance each other, and they�re the next best thing to invincible in battle
together�but doesn�t that mean that more is going to be expected of them? Does it seem to any of you that whatever Kai
and Tyson are going to face in the battles we know are coming will be
harder, more power, more clever�hell, just plain more dangerous than what Max
or I faced?�

Max
shivered. �Gods. That�s a horrible thought.� A sudden flash of intuition made him go
pale. He could almost see� �You�re
right, Rei. Their fights will be harder. But�their battles will test their bond to
the snapping point and beyond. And in
that will the true battle between the Void and Creation be decided.�

Kenny and
Rei stared at him, shocked.

�How did
you�?� Kenny gaped.

�It�s his
element, Chief. Water is connected to
vision just as Air is to communication.
Max�s intuition allows him to see an occasional flash of the future in
possibilities.� Dizzi explained. �He could, if he wanted, focus his powers
and get a full, clear picture of it.�

�Wow.� Max blinked his blue eyes in surprise. �What do you know? I�m psychic!�

His comment
relieved some of the tension and made them all laugh.

*************************************

~ End Chapter 19 ~

*************************************

Chapter 20

*************************************

Tyson went
into their room, quietly closing the door behind him and going into the
bathroom.

Kai was
standing again, having scrambled to his feet when he heard Tyson come in. He leaned over the sink, his makeup kit open
to one side, though he had yet to put on the triangles.

{I thought
I told you to leave me alone.} Kai
said, trying to sound angry and annoyed.
He failed miserably, though, because Tyson just came up behind him,
wrapped both arms around his stiff from and buried his face in the back of
Kai�s neck.

{Never
happen. I came to grovel.} Tyson told him softly. {I shouldn�t have poked at you like
that. I know better � even if what I
said was true and all, I should have kept my mouth shut. I�m sorry, Kai.}

Kai
shuddered at the sincerity and guilt in Tyson�s tone. He went limp with a sigh and turned around to face his boyfriend,
dropping his forehead to rest against Tyson�s.
{Forgiven. God, Ty! I don�t want to fight with you. I don�t like it.}

{Neither do
I.} Tyson ran his hands up Kai�s chest
and let his palms rest over the muscles there as Kai�s arms curled around his
waist and drew him closer. {I love
you.}

{I love
you. I�m sorry, too.}

{For
what? You didn�t do anything.}

{I�m sorry
for always being such a serious jerk that I can�t even laugh at myself. And I�m sorry for getting all embarrassed
over something so stupid.} Kai felt a
tear run down his cheek. {I try not to
be but�}

{Oh,
Kai.} Tyson interrupted, kissing away
the salty drop from his cheek. {I know
you do. I�m so proud of you for it,
too. Don�t ever be sorry for
your emotions and especially not for feeling them, Kai.} He ran his fingers through dual-shaded hair.

{Tyson�Gods,
what would I do without you?} Kai
murmured, letting himself curl into Tyson�s arms. {I�ve been fighting against depending on anyone for anything for
so long, and yet, here I am needing you � and I don�t even mind.} He smiled wryly. {Oh how the mighty have fallen.}

Tyson
snorted and looked into Kai�s eyes, smiling and eyes laughing. {Mighty, huh? Well, your Mightiness, we have a tournament to get to. Put on your war paint and let�s go.}

{Yeah. Hey, Tyson?}

�Hmm?� Tyson made a questioning noise.

�Do
you�need me?� Kai asked, hesitantly.

Tyson
stared at him. �Of course I do! Who else is going to keep my ego in
check? Who else would put up with me
and my shit all the time? Who else,
Kai, can know exactly how to push me to try harder, be better, and grow stronger?�

�I�I do all
that? For you?�

�Yep.� Tyson stepped up close. �But most importantly? Who, but you, Hiwatari Kai, can love me like
you?�

Kai�s
breath caught in his throat and he bent to capture Tyson�s mouth in a
breath-taking kiss. {No one. You�re mine.} He ran his fingertips gently over the hicky
on Tyson�s neck hidden by his shirt collar.
The Dragon shivered and moaned a little, his hands delving into Kai�s
hair and grasping his head as Kai kissed him boneless � all his love conveyed
in that simple act.

Tyson broke
the kiss reluctantly with a final quick peck on Kai�s mouth then backed out of
the bathroom. �Ah�I�ll just get out of
temptation�s way before I do something to make us very late.� He scrambled out the door, hearing Kai�s
silent laughter in his head � along with a statement that sorely tested his
willpower � not to mention his hormones.

{Save it
fore later, lover. Because when I get
through, we�re going to find out just how loud you can be when you come�}

Tyson had
just stepped into the sitting room when Kai said that and he got so flustered
that he stumbled and did a face plant, hitting the floor with a THUMP.

He pushed
himself up on his forearms and scowled at the smirk he received from his
lover. �Sadistic jerk!� He yelled over his shoulder down the hall.

Kai poked
his head out the door and grinned evilly.
�Duh. You love me anyway.�

Tyson�s
answering smile blazed like the sun. �I
do! We�re both perverted masochists
aren�t we?�

Kai laughed
and disappeared again.

Rei, Max,
Kenny stood there staring at Tyson as he picked himself up and straightened his
clothes a bit. He looked up still
smiling and noticed them gaping at him.
�What?�

�Ah�nothing.� Kenny shook his head, smiling faintly. �Ready to go?�

�Yep!� Tyson grabbed his jacket and shrugged into
it, slipping Dragoon�s blade into his jacket pocket and tucking his launcher
into the waistband of his shorts at the small of his back. He turned and yelled down the hall again. �Kai!
It doesn�t take that long to put on your makeup! We�re going to be late!�

Kai came
out wearing a different shirt than he had been wearing earlier. He now wore a tank top underneath it that
was showing off his toned stomach and the Phoenix tattoos. �It�s not makeup.� He protested.

�Why�d you
change your shirt?� Max asked. They left the hotel suite and went to the
elevator.

�I�m not
complaining.� Tyson muttered, his arm
around Kai�s waist and that hand pressed against his bare stomach.

�My tube of
blue paint sprang a leak and I got it all over my shirt.� Kai shrugged.

They found
a BBA van waiting to take them to the stadium when they got outside. They hopped in and made the short trip in
relative silence. It was a calm,
peaceful quiet though.

The
Bladebreakers were welcomed at the stadium by a crowd of screaming, cheering
fans as they stepped out of the van and made their way inside, where they were
met by Mr. Dickenson.

�Well,
boys! You made it! I was beginning to worry.�

�Sorry
about that, Mr. D.� Tyson apologized.

�No time
for chatting, kids! Hurry to your
locker room now and check out the main screen.
That�s where the matches will be shown as we draw.� The CEO ushered them down the hall toward
their locker room. �Good luck!�

Kai pushed
open the locker room door and led them inside.
�Okay, guys. Let�s find out who
the unlucky team is.�

Tyson was
turning on the flat screen TV on one wall and searching for the tournament
listings.

�When we
find out, we�ll have to decide our beybattle order.� Kenny sat at a small table and flipped open Dizzi.

�Oh! Hey!
I found it.� Tyson sat down on a
bench and studied the screen. �What?! Them first?!�

Kai stood
next to him, arms folded over his chest.
�Interesting. I see Tala and his
boys decided to do the circuit after all.�

�Wow. What a way to start off the
tournament.� Max stared at the screen.

�No
kidding.� Rei sighed. �With a bang.�

�Okay
then. Now we just need to�� Kenny was
interrupted by a voice over the stadium intercom system.

�Attention
bladers! Would all teams please report
to beystadium immediately!�

�Alright! Let�s do it!� Max jumped up and led the way out to the main arena.

�Hey,
Kai? Do you think it�s odd that we�re
battling the Demolition Boys first?�
Tyson inquired, waving at all the screaming fans as the World Champions
emerged in the stadium.

�Not
really. It�s a random draw,
remember?� Kai replied, ignoring the
fans � as usual.

�Doesn�t
matter.� Rei said as they took their
seats in the blader�s pit set aside for them.
�No matter who we had to face first, we would have had to fight them
eventually anyway.�

�
�We?�� Kai raised an eyebrow at
him. �And you think you�re blading
today?�

Rei
scowled. �Yes. For the millionth time, I�m fine! I�m not missing a match, Kai.�

�Oh yes,
you are. I will not risk your health
just because you don�t want to be left out.�
Kai stated. �You�re sitting out
today�s matches, Rei, at the least.
You�ll battle me in the morning and I�ll see how you fare then. If you do all right you�ll be back blading
tomorrow.�

Rei
growled, golden eyes flashing. �No
way! Damn it, Kai! You can�t bench me! Especially not against them!� He gestured across the stadium at the
blader�s pit where Tala and his team were sitting.

Max frowned
at the implications in that statement.
�Hey! What am I? Chopped liver?�

Kai looked
at Rei. �I can and I have. You�re not blading today, Kon. If you don�t care about yourself at least
have a little consideration for your bit-beast. Driger deserves a rest, too.�
He held out his hand. �Hand over
your blade, Rei. Kenny will watch over
it for you.�

Rei stood
up angrily. �How dare you? First of all, my word about my health means
nothing to you. Secondly, you imply
that I don�t care about Driger. And now
you just�just order me to turn over my blade? I don�t think so.�

Kai�s
crimson eyes narrowed as he slowly rose to his feet, arms still crossed, to
face Rei.

Kenny edged
away from the two bladers as Dizzi�s readings warned him that their powers were
rising rapidly. Tyson just stood by
watching carefully, ready to jump in if he had to. Max laid a hand on Rei�s arm in an effort to calm him down.

�Rei? Hey, you know Kai didn�t mean it like
that. He�s just looking out for
you. He�s our captain, after all.�

�Oh
really? Well, maybe I don�t think he
should be captain anymore!�

Kai�s
temper flared. �If that�s so, Kon,
you�re shit out of luck. You�re stuck
with me. If you have a problem with me
� and I have noticed that you seem to be challenging me an awful lot lately �
you and I can discuss it later. After
today�s matches and not in front of everyone in the stadium.�

Rei�s power
swelled visibly and the ground shuddered under their feet with Rei�s anger.

Kai glared
at him. �Cool it, Kon. We aren�t doing this here. Stop glowing and ease off.�

Rei growled
something very unflattering and turned on his heel, stalking off back
toward the locker rooms. Kai watched
him go then relaxed, swallowing back his own power as the ground quit
shivering.

In his and
Tyson�s heads, he heard Driger say, {I�ll talk to him.}

{Thanks,
Driger.} Tyson replied as the White
Tiger�s presence disappeared.

�Shit. Damn his temper. Let�s hope not many people noticed that little display.� Kai sighed and sat back down next to Tyson.

�I�� Max
was staring worriedly at the direction his boyfriend had gone. �I should go after him.�

�No,
Max. Leave him alone for now. Let�s just get through the battles today and
then we can worry about Rei�s hormones.�
Kai looked at Kenny. �You
monitoring?�

�Yes. That was very close, Kai.�

�I know
it.�

DJ Jazzman
appeared finally. �Alright Beyblade
fans! Welcome to this year�s Asian
Tournament! It�s time to get it on! In our first battle of the semi-finals we
have the White Tigers against a new team to the blading scene � the Saint
Shields!� He gestured at the two teams
in question as the spotlights highlighted them.

�The Saint
Shields?� Tyson shrugged. �Never heard of �em.�

�Chief?� Kai looked at him.

�Sorry
Kai. I�ve got nothing on them, either.�

�Hmm�then
this could be interesting.�

And it
was. Whoever this new team was, they
weren�t half-bad. In a best of three
matches, Gary won against Joseph of the Saint Shields, Miriam of the Saint
Shields won against Mariah (which had her steaming furiously) and in a
tie-breaking all out battle between the two team captains � Lee & Ozuma �
Ozuma defeated Lee and the Saint Shields advanced.

On their
way back to their lockers, the White Tigers stopped by the Bladebreakers� pit
to wish them good luck and to find out what was going on with Rei.

�It�s
difficult to explain, Lee.� Kai sighed,
running a hand through his hair in frustration. �We�ll deal with it, though, don�t worry. Why don�t you stop by our suite after dinner
tonight and visit?�

�Yeah! I�m sure Rei will be glad to see you all
again.� Max smiled.

Lee nodded
and shook Kai�s hand. �We�ll do
that. Thanks, Kai. Good luck with the tournament, guys � though
I�m sure you�ll do fine.� With a final
wave, the White Tigers left the stadium.

�On to our
next match! We have the World Champions
� the Bladebreakers!!� This was
followed by a roar of cheers and screams.
�They�ll be battling their worthy foes � the Demolition Boys!!� More cheers rang out, though in slightly
less volume.

The first
match saw Max pitted against Spencer.
After a lengthy battle, Max and Draciel lost to Spencer and Seaborg �
but just barely.

�Whew! That was close, guys!� Max exclaimed as he bounded back over to his
team. �If Kai would have let me use my
powers I probably could have won that easily.�

�Sorry,
Max.� Kai shook his head. �But no powers. For one thing, it�s not fair to the competition. For another, we just plain don�t need
our powers to win this.�

Tyson nodded
in agreement. �Besides! It�s more interesting to test out our skills
and those of our friends this way. We earn
the Asian title, too.�

�Yeah�I
suppose you�re right about that.� Max
sat next to Kenny looking sheepish.
�Sorry.�

�Don�t
worry about it, Max.� Kai watched their
competition decide on the next blader to try and win. �Hmm�Tyson? You want this
one or shall I take it?�

�Who�s
up?� Tyson looked over his
shoulder. �Ian, huh? Sure.
I�ll take this one.�

The battle
was fairly short. And Tyson won, of
course.

He came
back with a wide grin. �That was fun!�

Kenny shook
his head, Max giggled, and Kai rolled his eyes.

�Oh boy��
Max�s eyes widened. �Looks like Tala�s
decided to get into things himself.�
They watched the red-haired Russian walk up to the dish.

�Have fun,
lover.� Tyson grinned at Kai
mischeviously. �And try not to do too
much damage to his blade.�

Kai snorted
and went up to face off with Tala for a battle that was unprecedented and
eagerly awaited by fans everywhere.

�Tala.� He greeted his nemesis.

�Kai.� Tala returned.

As was to
be expected, the battle between the rival team captains was furious, explosive,
and vastly entertaining. However, it
had to end sometime and with one final blazing attack, Kai and Dranzer defeated
Tala and Wolborg.

The
Bladebreakers advanced to the finals to meet the Saint Shields, which was to be
held the next day.

They met up
with the Demolition Boys outside the locker rooms.

�Great
battles, guys!� Tyson congratulated
them, ever the good sportsman. �Man,
you gave us a run for our money!�

�As
usual!� Max added.

�Maybe. But I get the feeling we had no chance of
beating you, Tyson.� Tala smiled
faintly. �We�ve got to get going, but
we�ll see you at the American Tournament, I�m sure.�

�See ya
around!� Tyson waved goodbye. Kai just nodded a silent farewell. Max and Kenny waved, too.

They walked
into their locker room in wary silence to find Rei sitting on a bench seat
watching the matches on the flat screen TV.

�Rei?� Max went over to him immediately and sat
down beside him, curling against his side and taking one of Rei�s hands in his
own.

�Are you
still mad at us, Rei?� Tyson asked with
a sigh. Rei looked up at him, squeezing
Max�s hand, and then glanced towards Kai.

�No, I
suppose I really can�t be.� He looked
really ashamed. �I�m sorry, Kai. I think I overreacted out there, didn�t I? I have no excuse for it. And you were right. I wasn�t being very considerate toward
Driger.� He smiled, though there was
little humour in it. �He gave me a
scolding for that already.�

Kai closed
his eyes and sat down on his other side.
�I�m sorry you couldn�t be in the game today, Rei. But I really was only trying to look out for
your health. I can tell you�re still
tired.�

�I
know. I�m sorry.�

Kenny was
packing up their equipment with relief.
He hadn�t wanted to break up a fight if it had been necessary. �Well, now that all that is settled, can we
get going? I don�t know about you guys,
but I�ve got a headache from all those screaming fans out there and I could use
some peace and quiet.�

Tyson
nodded. �I could go for some down
time. Why don�t you head out and see if
the van�s ready for us, Chief?�

�Sure. I�ll ask if they can pick us up at a side
entrance so we can avoid the press and the fans outside.� Kenny slung his carry-bag with Dizzi
ensconced inside over a shoulder and walked out.

�As much as
I like pleasing the fans,� Tyson laughed, �I have to agree with him this time.�

�Yeah, but
you�re such a spotlight hog, Ty-love.�
Kai pointed out.

Max
giggled.

�I�ve been
a real pain in the ass lately, haven�t I?�
Rei suddenly stated. �I�m not
sure why. Maybe I�m finally getting
used to the fact that you all have become my family and I�m learning how to
deal with being a part of one again.
Even if it is something I�ve always wanted, I haven�t truly belonged
anywhere until now.�

�But
Rei!� Max protested. �You�ve been our friend and teammate for
years now. And before that, what about
the White Tigers? And your home
village?�

�Yes. Part of me agrees with you, Max. Part of me doesn�t. I lost my parents when I was very
young. They were the only family I
had. But the elders of my village would
not abandon a kitten such as me to fend for myself. So the whole village took over my upbringing. I was taught, clothed, fed, and given
shelter by the communal charity of the village � Lee�s family in particular
which is why we grew up so close.

�When I was
given Driger and I left the village�it wasn�t just to see the world and learn
new blading skills, though that was a big part of the reason I left. I was searching for my place in the
world. I needed a family � a position
where I was needed and where others would fulfil my need to belong. Something told me I�d found it when I met
all of you and Mr. Dickenson put us together to form the Bladebreakers.�

�Now you are
a part of a family, Rei, just like I am.
Your place is with us.� Kai
stated firmly.

Rei
sniffled and buried his face in Max�s mass of blonde hair.

�Hmm�we�re
too serious, guys.� Tyson grinned at
them. �Group hug!�

Everyone
groaned and Kai grabbed him in a headlock.
�Smart ass!�

�You know
it.� Tyson muttered from under his arm
and sneakily ran his fingertips over Kai�s bare stomach, tickling him to get
him to release him. �Lemme go!�

�Make me!�

�AGH!� Tyson began struggling but he was laughing
and so was Kai. They ended up rolling
around on the floor, a tangle of flailing limbs as Kai continued trying to make
his lover give in, although he found the Dragon extremely difficult to pin
down.

Max and Rei
watched with vast amusement.

�Should we
help?� Max wondered idly.

�No�I think
we should just let them battle it out.�
Rei chuckled at a startled yelp from Tyson.

Tyson
growled in frustration then blinked when he noticed a slightly evil glint light
up Kai�s crimson eyes. �What are you
going to�� He was cut off as Kai swooped in and captured his mouth in a slow,
teasing kiss, their tongues stroking one another and battling to see who would
break first.

The Phoenix
didn�t let up until he felt any and all resistance from his lover�s body
beneath him dissolve and Tyson went limp, one hand tangling in Kai�s hair with
a tiny sigh of pleasure. Kai drew back
and grinned down at Tyson�s flushed face, glazed, stormy eyes, and swollen lips
from the kiss.

�That�s
cheating.� Tyson finally grumbled when
he could speak coherently again. �Not
fair.�

�Quit
complaining.� Kai rubbed the pad of one
thumb over Tyson�s lips, eyes narrowing as they parted slightly and Tyson�s
tongue snuck out to just barely lick it.
{Damn. I wish we were alone
right now. It�s amazing how we still
have the energy to turn each other on�}

{Hmm�I hear
that. You are going to keep that threat
that you made before we left this morning?}
Tyson inquired, eyes hot as he stared up into Kai�s flaming crimson
gaze.

{Oh yes�}
Kai�s other hand lazily trailed down Tyson�s neck and over his shoulder,
brushing lightly against the hidden bite mark.
{You�re all mine tonight, lover.} He cuddled into Tyson and they lay there on the floor comfortably
attached to one another.

�That�s
kind of spooky how they go all silent and still like that when their talking
mentally, huh, Rei?� Max observed,
turning in his boyfriend�s arms.

Rei smiled at
that and looked down into Max�s crystalline blue eyes. �I�m sorry if I hurt your feelings at all
today, Max.� He bent down and kissed
the blonde softly in apology.

�Shh.� Max shook his head and placed a finger over
Rei�s lips to silence him. �You didn�t. Can I just hold you now? I was worried about you, my love.�

�You never
have to ask, little sprite.� Rei sighed
in peacefulness as Max cuddled him close and lightly stroked Rei�s arm. The neko-jin began to purr again, quietly,
and closed his eyes in weariness.

After a few
minutes, Kai reluctantly rolled off Tyson and stood, helping him to his
feet. He looked over at Rei and Max and
frowned a little when he saw the dozing neko-jin.

�Is he
alright, Max?�

�He�s
tired, Kai. I think we should hurry and
get him back to the hotel.� Max told
him softly, continuing to stroke Rei�s arm slowly.

Kai
nodded. �We will.� He glanced over as the locker room door
opened and Kenny poked his head in.

�Van�s
ready. But I ran into some people we
know on the way back here.� Kenny
stepped inside and allowed his team to see the people behind him.

�Wyatt? And�HILARY?!� Tyson stared at the girl, shocked and already feeling
annoyed. �What the hell��

Kai slapped
a hand over his mouth. �What he means
to say is, what are the both of you doing here? In Hong Kong?�

Tyson
scowled at Hilary over Kai�s hand. She
glared back silently.

Max sighed
and shook his head. Rei opened his eyes
and blinked sleepily. �What�s all the
commotion about? Oh��

�Hey guys! It was so great to see you battle in the
tournament today! I�m sorry to intrude,
but I had to come and congratulate you all when I ran into Kenny.� Wyatt smiled at them. �You see, my father was coming to Hong Kong
for a business meeting and he said I could bring a friend if I wanted to go to
the tournament while we were here. So I
invited Hilary because she told me that she wanted to know what all the fuss
was about over some �stupid spinning top game� since you all got special
permission to miss so much school.�

Hilary
winced and nudged Wyatt in the ribs with an elbow. �Wyatt!�

�Leave him
alone, Hilary.� Tyson scowled some
more. �We all know your opinion of our
existence and our sport.�

She
frowned. �What are you talking about,
Tyson? You never make any sense.�

Max stared
at her. �Come on, Hilary. We�ve all heard on the grapevine at school
what you�ve said about Beyblading and us.�

Kenny was
watching her with a keen gaze. �She
doesn�t know, guys. The rumours�she
hasn�t got a clue what we�re talking about.�
He stepped up to her and studied her.
�So I guess that means you don�t think of us as stuck up, lazy,
teacher�s pets?�

�WHAT?! Where did you hear that I ever said anything
like that?!� She yelled
indignantly. Rei winced.

�Ow! My ears��

�Keep it
down, Hilary.� Kai advised. �Rei�s not feeling well and your yelling
isn�t helping anything. As for the
gossip, forget about it. It�s just that
� gossip. Now that we know it�s not
true, we can just continue as we were.�

Tyson
looked confused. �I�m lost. You mean Hilary hasn�t really been being an
irritable, PMS-ing bitch after all?�

She death
glared him, walked up and smacked him hard over the head. �Ass!
You know nothing about me, Tyson!�

Wyatt
watched this with apprehension. He
leaned down and said to Kenny, �I�m sorry, Kenny. I didn�t know that there was problems between Hilary and any of
you. If I had known, I wouldn�t have
brought her back here.�

Kenny shook
his head. �It�s okay, Wyatt. Those two in particular have been battling
each other for a long time now.�

Hilary
turned to him. �Hey Kenny? Do you think you�d be able to explain this
whole game to me? I still don�t think I
understand it.� She glanced at
Wyatt. �Sorry, Wyatt, but despite your
efforts to teach me, I still don�t get it.�

Wyatt
smiled. �No problem, Hil. I�m not very good at teaching others
anyway.�

Kenny
flushed. �Ah�sure, Hilary. I can try to��

�Great! Do you mind if we catch a ride back to the
hotel with you? Since we�re all staying
in the same place, I mean?�

�I
suppose��

Kai rolled
his eyes. �That�s fine. We have more than enough room in the van for
all of us. Let�s go.� He shot Tyson a warning glance. {Don�t start feuding with her, lover. I don�t want a migraine tonight.}

Tyson
pouted cutely and followed along behind him as they left.

Max helped
Rei up and stuck close to him since he was still a little shaky.

************************************

~ End Chapter 20 ~
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