Heartless: WE ARE NOT DEAD YET! It's only a flesh wound.

Ryoku: Yay! I finished! Finally! Now ye rabid fanpeople, don't kill us! And I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter done, but I'm a slow writer, and I've been doing dedication fics for reviewers (my main ones) of 'To Love a Demon', my Naruto fic.

Heartless: (jumps in front of axe-weilding demon, er, friend, waving arms and screaming like she saw in a Mad TV skit once,) No PLUGS! (accusing glare)

Ryoku: (glares back, then swings Axe of Doom at friend. She stops one inch from the plush toy's face) OH! (Heartless: O.o;;) Disclaimer...we don't own Beyblade or Eiffel 65, so don't bother to sue.

Chapter 2: The Referees

A barefoot Kai was laying down, stretched out on the soft grass of the park. To an observer, he might seem peacefully sleeping, but rest was the farthest thing on the Russian's mind. He was thinking of, of course, the bet he and Tala had recently made.

"I bet," started Tala, his voice growing louder, "I BET you can't even do it. I bet a conversation with Kenny and I could last longer than one with you and Tyson."

'And I agreed to it! I must be going f-ing insane, agreeing to something like that!' Kai was too wrapped up in his own angst that he didn't even notice the furry body of his cat rubbing against his leg.

"Ow!" Kai did notice, however, when it bit his big toe. He sat up and glared at the feline, who now dug his claws into his foot. "Kitty..." he threatened more than warned, watching as said kitty unlatched its evil talons, little trails of blood seeping from the wounds.

Kai sighed and pulled a handkerchief from out of his pocket, proceeding to clean the blood from his slightly throbbing foot.

"Meow."

Kai looked down at his cat (He had finally taken it in, after all) and smirked. "You have really weird ways of catching my attention, Kitty." He reached out and scratched the little monster behind the ears.

The Russian heard a sound in the bushes and jerked his violet gaze upward to see...

Tyson walking toward him, grinning. "Hey, Kai! What'cha doin'?" the navy-haired boy asked, before stopping at the sight of the cat.

"Nothing, actually." was Kai's reply. He arched an eyebrow. "Umm, why are you so rigid?"

Tyson quickly glanced at Kai before tuning his gaze back on the cat that was now watching him with curious eyes.

"I-I'm not a big fan of cats. They tend to, heh, heh... freak me out..."

'Kitty' slunk forward and rubbed against Tyson's legs. The boy jumped slightly and backed away from the kitty, only to have the cat follow in hot pursuit. Pretty soon, Tyson was running around in circles, scream for Kai to call the 'evil thing' off him.

Before Kai could do anything, however, Tyson tripped and lunged forward. Tyson closed his eyes and wait for impact of the hard earth, but met something soft, yet firm (very firm!) instead.

Hmmm... Tyson's hands experimentally roamed over this strange thing. Last time he checked, the ground did not have abs like this...

"Tyson!" Kai said in a tight voice. "Get up and stop...that!"

Tyson opened his eyes to see Kai laying beneath him, a slightly pained, mostly embarrassed expression on his face.

"Oh my god, Kai! Are you okay?" squeaked the Japanese boy, scrambling to his feet.

Kai rose more gracefully shortly after. Tyson looked Kai over, making sure he wasn't hurt. He blushed under Tyson's intense gaze. When the champ was sure that no injuries adorned Kai's extremely sexy body, he looked into Kai's widened eyes.

Easily, Tyson was lost in those dark purple depths... that is, until he felt the cat brushed against his legs again.

He jumped and crashed right into Kai, instinctively wrapping his arms around Kai's neck. The Russian kept his balance, his blush coming back tenfold. He slowly brought his arms up and wrapped them around the 'freaked out' boy. He felt Tyson tense before completely relaxing in Kai's embrace.

Minutes later, they were frozen in that position. Both were sweatdropping, unable and unwilling to suggest they break apart and even more unwilling to admit that.

'We are not talking...' Kai's eye twitched. Perhaps there was some truth behind Tala's angry words...

"I'm blue...Da ba dee, da ba die,da ba dee, da ba die..." They sprung apart, Tyson grinning sheepishly.

"Sorry. It's my cellphone- Hiro got it for me." He flashed the small, ringing perpetrator before flipping it open. "Hello? Oh! Gramps! Wha-You need what? You have 'the need for fig seed'? Oh, peach buns. I see. I'll pick some up if I can. Now? Ugh, fine. Later." Tyson hung up and shook his head. "Damn Ray for getting him into those." He blinked, then looked at Kai shyly. "Umm, I've got to go. I'll see you later?"

At Kai's nod, Tyson smiled happily and left humming a tune.

Wistfully, Kai watched his crush go. He flopped back down onto the grass and closed his eyes, a smile on his striped face.

"Who knew? Kai the softie!" came a sarcastic voice from behind. Kai didn't even have to turn around to see who it was.

"What do you want, Tala?" Kai spat, annoyed and plotting murder. Tyson was the only one who got to call him 'softie' – and live.

"You haven't forgotten our bet already, have you?" The taller Russian questioned, stepping into Kai's view. "I just thought I would introduce our little referees." Tala's electric blue eyes glinting, he gestured for the two people hidden behind the trees to come forward.

Kai sat up. "What the hell do you mean- Max? Ray? Tala, what the xxxx!" roared Kai, jumping to his feet.

Max squeaked and hid behind Ray, only to peek over his shoulder a second later. Tala just stood there smirking annoyingly, watching his childhood buddy fume.

"They overheard everything, our whole conversation... So I decided to put them to use. They'll secretly follow us on our dates with Tyson and Kenny."

Kai stood there, taking this in, the line, 'What the xxxx did I get myself into?' coming back to him.

"So, have you decided who will go with who?"

"Yes." Max and Ray shared a blink. Apparently they had not been told. Tala's smirk grew. "Ray goes with you, Max with me."

Max squeaked again. Clutching Ray, he whispered loudly,

"I don't wanna go with Tala! Raaay! Don't make me go with him! Please, Ray! He scares me..." Kai and Tala turned their full attention onto the two teens.

Ray smiled at the scary Russians. "I'll be right back. C'mon, Maxie." The neko-jin ushered the frightened blond back behind the trees.

"Maxie, Maxie," Ray put his hands on his friend's shoulders. "What's wrong? Why are you so freaked out?"

"I don't wanna go with Tala. He scares me." Max looked up at Ray with his best tear-filled puppy dog eyes.

The Chinese boy sighed, smiled slightly, and pulled Max into a comforting hug. The blond completely relaxed in Ray's arms and brought his own up to wrap around Ray's waist.

"Correct. I said it would be a fair fight. Ray!" Tala's eyes narrowed with distaste. "If the little puppy is calmed down, c'mon out!"

Tala and Kai waited a few moments before Ray came out with Max at his side, arms wrapped around the Chinese teen's waist.

"It's time to go. Ray, you're going to follow Kai. The scared little pup will come with me." Max twitched and clutched Ray tighter.

Ray looked down at Max, who had his face buried in his chest, and smiled. He gently pushed Max back and took his face in his hands. "Don't worry so much- I'll see you later tonight, promise. It's not the end of the world."

The last bit made Max smile. "No, I guess you're right, but it sure feels like it."

"Well, then, maybe I can help." Ray offered. When Max looked at him, confused, Ray leaned over (they were almost the same height, after all) and placed a gentle kiss on Max's lips. He pulled back and gave the blushing American a grin and thumbs up.

"For luck." He added, when Max's blush only intensified. But it was worth it, to see the brilliant smile now lighting the blond's face.

"I..." He glanced at Kai and Tala, who were watching with identical smirks. "I'll see you later, Ray-chan." He finally said, adding a wink at the end. Ray smiled and gave him another peck on the lips before shooing him off to go stand with Tala.

"We're leaving, Max. I need to talk to you." An amused glint entered his electric blue eyes. "Oh, Kai? I'm having coffee with Kenny tomorrow." Kai's eyes widened in shock as Tala walked away with a reluctant Max in tow.

When Tala and Max were out of sight, Kai turned to Ray and did the unthinkable-

"Will you help me ask Tyson out to lunch for tomorrow?"

Ray's eyebrows rose. "You just asked for my help?"

"Yes. I can't do this without a..." Gray bangs shifted to hide his expression. "...friend."

"Weeeeell, when you put it that way, I guess I can help you."

"Thanks." said Kai, gratitude showing in his violet eyes. "Well, then," the duel-haired Russian shifted his feet. "we should get going."

"I agree." replied Ray, lips curving upward.

The two started to walk out of the park together. They were headed over to Tyson's, so Kai could ask him (somehow) out to lunch for the next day.

The peaceful silence was broken by Kai. "So, you and Max?"

"Hmm...we'll see." The neko-jin glanced at his friend. "But I never though I'd see the day when badass Kai Hiwatari admitted to being gay. And in love with Tyson, of all people."

"H-hn."

And Ray started to laugh merrily because Kai was a blinding red.