Phantoms

Tyson unlocked the front door and stepped back to allow Kai to pass by him and go inside.
Turning he quietly shut and locked the door behind him after he had entered.

Kai stood looking around in silence then turned to the navy haired man with questioning eyes.

Tyson "Gramps died a few years back in his sleep... Dad and Hiro hardly ever come home."

Kai "You live here alone?"

Tyson turned and walked from the room smiling and speaking over his shoulder as he went "Until now."

Kai slowly followed him down the hallway watching the lithe way the younger mans body moved appreciatively.
Tyson "If you want to shower you still remember where everything is right?

Tyson turned his head to look at Kai when he did'nt recieve a verbal reply. Kai merely smirked and nodded his head while he walked at a steady pace behind him.

Tyson "Help yourself to some clothes from my room if you want.
I doubt any of your stuff in your room would fit you now. But it's all still in there if you want to check and see.."

Kai "My room? You mean you did'nt just throw all my shit out of that guest room? It's been years.."

Tyson stopped walking and jerked around to face him. His eyes fleetingly showing his emotions for a split second.
He sighed and shook his head and turned back around with a shrug and continued walking slowly.

Tyson "Ten and a half years to be exact.."

He stopped outside the guest room that Kai had used when they had been younger and he had been staying at the dojo.
Reaching out he unlocked the door with the key that hung on a chain around his neck with Dragoons bit chip. Kai eyed both the key and Dragoons bit being used as a pendant in confusion.

Kai "What's with making Dragoon into a necklace? And the key?"

Tyson looked at him and shook his head. "It's a long story and to late to fully explain. I'll tell you later though I promise."

He went to walk away but Kai reached out and grabbed ahold of his forearm.

Kai "Tyson can I ask you something?"

Tyson "If you want. I may not answer though..."

Kai "What happened to you?"

Tyson "Time Kai. Time happened... I'll go make us something to eat now. Go have a shower if you want."

With a sad smile he turned to walk off towards the kitchen. Kai spoke to his back making the other man freeze in place.

Kai "You're don't talk much now do you?"

Tyson's gaze snapped up from his deep thoughts and the floor and around to Kai's face. Kai immediatly felt regret in saying something so gruff to the cobolt eyed man. The obvious pain that flickered deep within his emotion filled eyes made Kai's heart twist painfully.

Tyson "No.. I guess I don't.. Have'nt had much reason to talk for years, until now."

He turned and continued on to the dojo's kitchen moving so quietly that it left Kai wondering is it really was Tyson.
With a sigh he turned the doorknob and walked into the quest room that had been his in his youth.
The room was clean but everything was still exactly as it had been the day he had ran out to rescue his team.
The desk drew his attention though because on it was a thick book he had never seen before and two gifts.

In confusion he walked over and picked up the top one. It was a semi small box but kind of heavy andwas wrapped in shiney metalic flame print foil paper with a fancy sheer gold ribbon around it. He turned it over in his hands staring at the tag that read "Happy Birthday Kai" He sat it down and picked up the other one that was wrapped in a blue holographic paper with a blue ribbon. It's tag simpley stating again in Tyson's slanted writing "Merry Christmas Kai."

Shaking his head he sat it down and pulled out the desk chair and slumped into it.
Running his hand through his hair with a sigh he turned his attention then to the large book.
Inscribed on the dark red leather cover in gold leafing by itself was his name and a emblem of a phoenix.
Curious he flipped it open and sat completely and utterly stunned. Inside was newspaper clippings, song lists, photos, and more importantly tons of pain stakingly written notes. And journal entrys of dates and details. Thoughts and random things of that sort. He flipped back to the first page and read over Tyson, Max, Rei, and even Kenny's slanted handwriting.

Kai

We know you'll come back to us someday, you always have before right?
We all wanted you to know that even though you may not have been here with us.
That you never EVER have been forgotten about. This is the Blade Breakers memory book.
This is YOUR book Kai. Our book to and for you when you return from the ashes. We love and miss you.

Your blade brothers: Tyson, Max, Rei, Kenny.

Wind, water, earth, and soul.
without your fire, life seems cold.

Kai smiled and ran his hand over each of the signed names.

Kai "I missed you guys too."

Flipping to the next page he read the contents and flipped to the back of the book.
And stared in shock at the pictures of the people there as he flipped through the photo album pages.

Kai "Jesus.. This thing is huge Tyson.. This must have taken you forever to make and maintain for me.."

Kai could feel his eyes begin to water while he stared down at the picture on the very last of the photo album pages.
Sitting at the right side of the bench in the park under their tree was the Tyson of now. Dark circles marred his face under his eyes, he sat unsmiling as he looked up at the camera and it's holder. Kai felt his stomach flip and twist at the dull empty look in those deepfathomless eyes that looked so dead and empty. He looks like someone ripped his heart and soul out, but his body did'nt die..

To Tyson's left, stood a tall well built extremely pale blonde man, with blue and green color streaked hair. He had hard and deadly cold blue eyes. Hehad multiple peircings and tattoos obvious and visable. With a sick realisation of who he was looking at Kai felt his stomach lurch again. His mind could'nt handle who he knew he had to be looking at. The angry and cold eyed man dressed in black leather in the picture was the once happy go lucky Max Tate..

Kai "What the hell happened to you Max? To Tyson?"

The last man in the picture was beside Tyson on the bench, bent over his knees looking down at the ground. His face almost completely hidden by his long black hair, a brown bag clutched white knuckled in his fist. It was almost like he was trying to fold himself up and away so no one would even notice he was there. Kai focused on the necklace that openly hung around the man's neck and felt his stomach churn even more.

Kai "Good god Rei.. Just what the fuck happened to you guys?"

Kai closed the book and stood back up feeling confused, torn, and sick with guilt. Then he picked the gold papered gift back up with nervous trembling hands. With a sigh he tore the ribbon and paper off and turned the soft leather box over in his hands confused.

Kai "Jewelry?"

He pried it open and nearly dropped it in surprised shock. Setting the box down and steadying his hand.
He pulled out one of the most beautiful gauntlets he had ever seen in his entire life. A silver dragon and gold phoenix wrapping around each other seemed to swirl over the black leather they adorned.

Tysonmade his way down the hall and stopped at the open doorway and stood in silence watching over Kai's quivering shouders as he held up the gauntlet he had made for him a few years back. The highlypolished metals glinted in the light beautifully. It was the best and last piece he had made. And probabally ever would make even though others had asked him to make more. He had made some other peices for Max, Rei, Kenny, and even Tala. But never gauntlets. Those alone he made for Kai no one else. Nervously he swallowed before quietly asking what was on his mind.

Tyson "D-Do you like them?"

Kai jumped and nearly droppedthe one he was holdingand turned around to look wide eyed at Tyson who was standing in the open doorway. He raised his eyes level to meet the hopeful shining midight blue ones and with a nodand real smile he answered.

Kai "They're beautiful Tyson.."

Tyson "I'm happy you think so. I seen the design at a tattoo shop when I went in with Max a few years back.
It made me think of you. So I decided to use it as a outline to look off of."

Kai ran his hand lovingly over the gauntlet he was holding as the words sank in. Tracing the dragon and phoenix's forms slowly, admiring the tiny delicate details beneath his fingertips. He could feel ever scale and feather. Swallowing hard a few times and forcing his heart to slow down he finally trusted himself to speak.

Kai "You made these for me?"

Tyson gave him a small sad smile and shyly nodded.

Kai "I-I don't deserve anything like these Tyson.. These are to good for someone like me.."

Tyson's eyes seemed to flash with a unknown emotion and he shook his head with a quick jerk.
His eyes reflecting a deeply sincere and fierce intensity that surprised Kai.

Tyson "No. You DO deserve them Kai. I wish I could give you more then those..."

Kai "Just saying that means enough to me Tyson. More then you know. Thank you."

They both stood in a easy silence for a few moments before Tyson broke it.

Tyson "Anyhow I heated some water for coffee and made some pancakes, if you're interested that is."

Kai "Sure. Just let me take a quick shower."

Tyson went to turn and walk out but froze and stared in horror at Kai's naked back as he pulled off his shirt.
Two long red and black mangled and broken tattooed wings ran the length of his spine. Jutting out and down from his shoulder blades. Ruining the beautiful pale flesh of his back. Kai turned to look at Tyson and shrank back, quickly pulling his shirt back down when he seen his horror stricken face.

Kai 'Oh shit.. I forgot about those.. He looks completely discusted with me now.'

Kai "Uh.. I.. Umm.."

Tyson "You can tell me about it later Kai, it's okay. I'll go keep everything warm for us."

With one last quick but confused glance and a smile Tyson turned and quietly left the room.

'Damn he's so quiet now it'll be hard to keep track of him. It's kind of creepy how he moves so silently. Wonder if I used to weird him out like that?'

Kai sighed and pulled off his shirt then started to open the drawers and rummage around his old clothes in the closet.
Finally frustrated he gave up and made his way across the hall into Tysons room in hopes of finding something that would fit. Pushing open the door expecting to have to battle his way in, he looked around in surprise. The room was spotlessly clean and barely furnished, it somehow seemed to even feel empty and sad. His room felt more lived in then this one.. He shook off the thought and went back to the task at hand. The stereo in the corner was on but barely audible. He walked over and turned the volume level up, poked the cd players skip button a few times before stopping on a famillar song. Then he walked back across the room and flung open the closet doors. After quickly scanning it's contents he quirked a eyebrow and began pushing around the hangers randomly. Finally he pulled out a dark almost black red button up shirt and a pair of simple black cargo jeans.

'Tyson really HAS changed alot. Him owning a pair of leather pants is proof enough. I never would've imagined that he'd own any! I bet those look really good on him too..'

With that thought he smirked to himself then turned and made his way into the bathroom humming along with a song that he had'nt heard in years. He never noticed how underneath the skin on his back things seemed to ripple, shift, then settle.