Blissful Ignorance
By: Ruriko L. Minamino

Disclaimer:
Beyblade is not my original creation and rightfully belongs to the brilliant animator who came up with the serial. This story has been created for non-profit reasons.

Warnings:
This story contains shounen-ai and will contain yaoi (slash, homosexuality) as the story continues.

Author's Notes:
1. In case no one's noticed, I haven't specified what pairings there really will be in this story – aside from (the somewhat cliché yet nice) Kai/Ray. I urge readers to keep an open mind and have fun guessing not who but what in this story. After all, there are so many ways to fall in and out of love – especially with an amnesia-stricken boy involved.
2. The views in the sections of this chapter are sort of written in 'inner limited' POV. So, I will be using third person, but I'll stick to revealing only the thoughts of the 'focus' person in each segment.

Any questions, please, don't hesitate to ask. I will try to answer everything – as much as I can afford to at the current point of the story. Enjoy! And don't forget to leave a review!

04. Getting to Know Me

"Almost there, buddy," he said, turning at the corner on the dusty road. He'd managed to read the map right and he could see the city just around the corner.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a large crack appeared in the car's side window. Another bang and another crack, this time just inches from his head. Before he could react, there was yet a third bang and the right front tire was hit. He'd only just then realized that someone was shooting at him.

He lost control of the car and it started skidding out of control on the road. Two more tires were shot and the last one gave way from the friction of the slide. The steering wheel was useless now. The car went over a ledge.

Tumbling, rolling. Only the seatbelt was keeping him in place. His head was spinning.

The car hit the side of a tree. He could feel the ripping of the fuel tank as the vehicle rammed into the side of a tree.

Call for help.

Another gunshot.

His cellular phone went flying out the half destroyed window.

Danger. He had to get out of the car.

He knew one thing for certain: someone was trying to kill him.

0 – 0 – 0

Tyson sat bolt up in bed, eyes wide. He clutched tightly at his chest. A thin bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face.

'What the hell was all that?' he wondered, pulling his knees up to his chest and hugging them tight. He looked out the window and sighed. The dreams had never been so vivid. Hell, he hadn't even been able to remember most of them before. But this one was different. It was – terrifying.

From what he could gather, someone had been out to get him. But was that a long time ago, or just before he lost his memory? But there had been someone in the car with him. Was he the target, or his passenger? And just who was his passenger, anyway? Tyson's head started spinning again, and he lay back down in bed. He shoved all thought of his strange reminiscence to the back of his mind. Things were just not going his way at all.

After a while, he tried to stand up again. There was no sound in the flat, but that didn't mean Tala wasn't around. The redhead rarely watched T.V. or listened to the radio. The only time he made noise was when he was cooking, in the shower, or talking to Tyson or Bryan. No one else ever came to visit, anyway.

Tyson walked up to the window, thinking sunlight would clear his head a bit more. He yawned and rubbed his sleepy blue eyes. He blinked just in time to see a long black car slowing down by the sidewalk just below his window. 'Just a limo…'

"Limo!" the brunet boy yelped, pressing his face closer to the glass. He squinted his eyes to get a better look. There was a little blue flag on the hood of the car, and Tyson could just make out the red and gold in the center. When the driver got out – that same tall, grim-faced man from the day before – Tyson was certain it was the same car. 'Gotta tell Tala! Hope he's here.'

He went running out of the room barefoot and into the hall. He pulled open the doors to Tala's room, the spare room, and the bathroom. There was no one there. He could hear voices in the living area and went running in that direction.

"Tala, you won't believe what I saw outside! It's that limo that nearly run me over yesterday and – "

He froze mid-sentence. He should have less brash. Tala was home. And he had guests.

Very familiar guests.

Tala started speaking. "I suppose I should introduce you. This is my roommate – "

The world started spinning. Tyson took in the sight of oversized spectacles and unruly orange hair, deceptively sweet bronze features and well-worn white clothes, and finally, a pale face with burning hellfire-red eyes.

The three visitors got to their feet and cried out his name in shock. He just barely noticed Tala's icy-eyed gaze turning towards him when everything spun out of control and his mind went blank.

Tala watched as Tyson wobbled o his feet and fell to the ground, unconscious. Before he could make a move, Ray and Kenny rushed past him and knelt at the younger man's side.

The doctor held up the brunet's wrist and felt for a pulse. "He's fine. He just… fainted."

"He was just here all along," Ray breathed in wonder, cradling Tyson's body gently in his arms. Tala felt a spark of jealously welling up inside him. But just as quickly as it came, it disappeared. The Chinese lawyer turned immediately to his fiancé. "Kai, this is unbelievable!"

Tala and Kai walked over, frowning down at the unconscious figure. Tala resisted the urge to take his young roommate from his guest and cradle him himself. Beside him, Kai let out an explosive breath.

"Always troublesome," the businessman said with a slight smirk, "Isn't he, Tala?" All eyes turned to the redhead.

'This is bizarre,' Tala thought, chuckling. "You don't have any idea – but then again, I supposed you do."

"How did Tyson end up with you?" Kenny asked, his voice less hesitant than before. Tyson was obviously someone important to him.

"It looks like we all have some stories to tell," the redhead detective noted.

"We should get him somewhere more comfortable first, don't you think?" Ray suddenly interjected. He looked anxious. "We can talk after." He brushed the younger man's hair affectionately and looked up at Tala in amazement. "This is really a miracle."

'What would be more of a miracle is if someone would tell me what just happened here.'

Tala and Kai took up Tyson's unconscious form. "His bedroom's that one over there," the detective said, gesturing back down the hall. "We'd better put him there instead."

"Alright," Kai agreed, allowing his friend to lead the way. He looked over his shoulder at his fiancé. "Ray, no phone calls."

The young professional froze in the act of flipping open his cellular. "But – "

"I mean it. You and Kenny just wait here."

The frustrated attorney whirled around and sat back down on the couch.

Tala tried to stifle another bout of chuckling. Kai hadn't changed at all. The same brusque manner of speaking he'd had since childhood; the redhead welcomed the familiar mannerism. He kicked open the bedroom door with his foot and led the way in. "I suppose there's a lot more to this than meets the eye, hm?"

"You have no idea," Kai said, eyes dropping slightly as he regarded the young man they carefully arranged on the still-rumpled sheets. "Let's just say Tyson has been more than a little trouble since our paths first crossed."

"How interesting."

"I'll tell you the rest when Bry gets here. I assume he knows?"

Tala nodded. "He was just parking so he should be – "

RING! RING!

Tala had left his cellular phone in his room. He made for the door. "Probably my boss."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Of course… I forgot. You answer to someone higher than you."

The icy wolf's eyes narrowed. "We'll talk about that later." He strode out of the room angrily and across the hall, grabbing his phone off the bedside table harshly. "Hel – "

"About time!" Bryan's voice gasped out. "Ambush. Corner alley. Five of them. Crowbars and chains."

Tala's eyes narrowed. "I'll be right down."

The redhead hung up and reached for the small pistol he always kept right under his pillow. He grabbed a small box of extra bullets from a drawer and bolted out of the room. Kai was just outside, in the hallway, expression tensing at the sight of the weapon.

"Bryan's in trouble," Tala said tersely, slipping into a coat and trying to brush past his friend. As he tucked the gun into an inner pocket, Kai reached out a hand to block his path. "Move."

"I'm going too," came the slate-haired man's reply, allowing Tala to glimpse the automatic in his suit's inner pocket.

The two raced out the door with barely a yelled farewell and ignored the elevators in favor of the staircase. Just as soon as they reached the main door of the building, a hand reached out to grab at Kai's shoulder.

Ray's flashing amber orbs glared at his lover. "I thought we already talked about getting into a fight without me." His expression was determined and Kai just nodded for him to follow.

Tala would have contemplated the marvel of a trouble-seeking lawyer, but he was more worried about what he was about to face. Since the boy-doctor hadn't followed them down, he didn't have to worry about Tyson. It was Bryan who was going to get his goose cooked if he didn't get there quickly. The sometimes-crazy man was almost family to him, and there was just no way he was going to let him get himself killed.

The trio rushed down the semi-deserted sidewalk. No one paid any attention to the three men as they spread apart and started moving rapidly but casually towards the corner.

"There's a whole circuit of alleys and back streets near the end of this block," Tala told his companions. "I don't know which one he's in."

"Someone's there!" Ray suddenly pointed, darting forward and across the street. Sure enough, there was a flash of lilac in the shadows of one of the buildings.

Tala and Kai narrowly missed a taxi speeding their way. The pair slipped into the alley and searched for other signs of life. Halfway into the dark pathway, something heavy went flying at the redhead's left shoulder. He raised his two hands and caught a five-pound crowbar midair. There was a rush of feet and a man in a ski-mask rushed at Kai from behind. The Russian man locked arms with the brute and successfully smashed his fist into the man's face, grabbing the crowbar from Tala to knock his opponent to the ground.

Just ahead, the pair could make out six figures locked in a struggle. Ray had just managed to knee one of the ski-masked thugs in the groin and was trying to get the other one off his back. Bryan was on the ground, wrestling with the other two men who were trying to choke him with a thick metal chain. It was hard to tell who was winning or losing. Tala jumped into the fray and threw off the man on Ray's back while Kai smashed his crowbar into the skulls of Bryan's would-be murderers. One of them didn't get up, but the other threw a blind punch at the slate-haired man's face. Kai stepped backwards and Bryan lashed out heavily with his leg, kneeing the assailant in the rib.

"Enough!" the shortest of the attackers yelled to his companions. "Let's get the bloody hell out of here!"

Before the four friends could do anything, the man had thrown a can of gas at his feet and the entire alleyway became too foggy to see.

"Get back here, you Goddamned bastards!" Bryan yelled, bumping into Tala in the darkness. "Come back and finish this!"

"Bry!" Tala said firmly, grabbing his over-eager partner by the arms and holding him back. "Just stay put. Let them leave."

The falcon growled as the smoke faded away and he ripped himself out of the redhead's grasp. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one who almost got the living daylights choked out of him!"

"As brash as ever, hm, Bry?" Kai commented coolly, folding his arms across his chest.

"Shut it, Kai! You can't just show up here and – YOU!" Bryan's eyes suddenly went wide and his mouth fell open in a rare display of complete surprise. "You're…"

Ray started laughing. "Kai, love, if I'd known coming to London would help both of us meet old friends, I'd have suggested the trip sooner."

"Love?" Kai raised an eyebrow at his fiancé and exchanged a puzzled look with Tala.

"Ray Kon!" Bryan burst out, laughing outright. He pulled the lawyer into a rough hug. "You're Kai's fiancé? Jesus, this planet's too small for its own good!"

"It certainly is," the tiger agreed, laughing and dusting off his clothes. "We have quite a bit of catching up to do. If everyone's alright, we should get back to Tala's flat."

Kai shrugged at his fiancé and flexed his shoulders. Tala stretched his neck while Bryan groaned and massaged his reddish neck. "Damn bastards. This is going to bruise by tomorrow. Otherwise, I'm okay."

Tala nodded in satisfaction and cleared his throat. "Alright, then. If there aren't any more lunatics trying to kill you, Bry, we should get back to the flat. I'll draft in a report and drop it at the station later. It looks like there's more than one explanation that needs to be given – and it shouldn't be given here."

Half an hour later, the four of them were sitting in Tala's living room, having coffee and piecing together the strangely entangled story. Kenny had declined to join them and was instead keeping vigil over the still unconscious Tyson. It was such a comfort to Tala, and Bryan too, perhaps, to hear other people speaking in their mother tongue. Kai's solemn voice was very familiar to them, and Ray, apparently, was fluent in Russian, having taken it up in his college years.

"Let me get this straight," Bryan said, scratching the back of his head. "Tyson's a Japanese boy who you got shackled to because Uncle Vassily happened to know his father – who died in an excavation accident a few months back?"

"Yes," Kai replied, putting his cup down on the table. "The late Dr. Kinomiya was a friend of my father's, apparently. They'd know each other when Father went to Harvard for his Ph.D. He was Tyson's… godfather."

"Unofficially, of course," Ray commented. "Kai's dad exchanged several letters with Dr. Kinomiya even after they graduated. From what the letters said, they'd promised to take care of each other's children in the event that either passed away before said children reached 21 and there were no living relatives to help sustain them."

"So Kai was trying to carry out Uncle Vassily's wishes," Tala concluded. When Ray nodded, he frowned. "Where do you come in?"

"I started working at my cousin's law firm after I graduated from law school," the attorney said with a slight flush. "I passed the BAR around the time Kai hired the firm to look into taking custody of Tyson – though, since he is nineteen years old, he's of legal age. That's how I ended up meeting Tyson, and of course, Kai." He smiled tenderly at his impassive fiancé.

"Spare us the public display, though," Bryan smirked, earning himself a glare from his old friend.

"Those letters made things complicated," Tala observed.

Kai snorted. "Not until I actually met the troublemaker." He shook his head wryly, but Tala saw steely glint in his eyes. There was more to the story than that, but it looked like the businessman wouldn't be sharing the secret any time soon. "He's an oversized ten-year-old."

"We know," the two investigators almost chorused. "A pig, too," Bryan added.

Kai smirked in amusement and Ray laughed, tossing a pillow at Bryan's head.

"Last time we saw each other, you were a horned devil," the lawyer remarked to his old pen pal. "Have you managed to grow a tail now too?"

"No chance of that happening," came the mocking reply. "The ladies wouldn't love me as much."

"Still a perverted bastard, I see."

"Damn straight."

As it turned out, Kai's Chinese betrothed had gone to the high school where Bryan had been sent for three months in a cultural exchange program. They'd gotten to be friends in that time and had kept up correspondence for a while. It ended when Ray's e-mail account had been deleted and Bryan had gotten preoccupied with girl hunting and eventually forgotten about the whole correspondence. Ray knew who Kai had been planning to introduce him to, but since the lilac-haired Russian hadn't exactly explained much about his family background, the amber-eyed man hadn't thought that his old pen pal and Kai's close friend were one and the same.

"Now that you have an idea about where he came from," Ray said, "maybe you can tell us how you found him? He was supposed to be in Wales as part of his course's field study, but he… disappeared a week after he got there – two months ago."

The two detectives looked at each other for the longest time before Tala took a deep breath and explained.

"It's actually a short story. Bry and I were out on a case in the countryside and we found Tyson floating along in the river. He had a bump in his head – nothing major – and his jacket and jeans were partially torn. There were a few scratches on him, but that entire aside, he was fine."

"Physically, that is," Bryan continued for his partner. "He's got amnesia. When he finally woke up, he couldn't remember anything but his given name."

"Not bad," Kai muttered, "for someone who was reported to have died in a car crash."

"Car crash?" Tala echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Just then, Kenny appeared in the hallway. "He's starting to stir."

All conversation was forgotten as they all trooped into the dimly-lit bedroom. There was one question on the redhead's mind: would Tyson regain any of his memories? Tala didn't know if he wanted that to happen or not. Since Tyson knew Kai, there was a chance that they'd meet again. However, how and when that would be, there was no way of knowing.

The nineteen-year-old was just cracking his eyes open when they all crowded around the bed. The second he could see clearly again, his gaze landed on Kai. Sapphire eyes narrowed angrily and, without warning, he'd struck out and punched the older man squarely in the jaw.

"He's gotten a bit stronger," Kai remarked, touching his jaw gingerly.

"Tyson!" Tala admonished, taking the teenager by the wrist. "What is wrong with you?" True enough, Kai hadn't made a move to block the punch, but still – why had Tyson hit him, anyway?

The firm grip on his forearm seemed to jolt Tyson back to his senses and he blinked in confusion. "Who – How – What happened?"

"You tried to rearrange someone's face," Bryan said wryly, "that's what. Care to explain?"

Tyson just blinked again and turned to face the person he'd struck out at, who was now rubbing his chin with his thumb. "Hey, uh, sorry, pal. Dunno what came over me." He looked around the room, noticing Ray and Kenny. "This is gonna sound real stupid, but who are you three and what are you doing in my room?"

"You really don't remember us?" Ray asked, frowning worriedly, stepping closer to the bed. "Tyson?"

"The only guys I know in here are Tala and Bryan." The young man shook his head. "You look familiar, but I can't figure out who you are cause my head feels like it's gonna explode if I try!" He clutched at his skull and shut his eyes. "I don't feel so good right now."

"Tala, help him stand up and get to the living room," Kenny said, suddenly taking charge. "He's been lying down long enough and he needs to walk to get the blood flowing properly through his brain again. It should ease the headache, too." When the redhead detective regarded him curiously, he frowned. "What are you waiting for? Do it, now!"

'Who knew the little geek could actually turn drill sergeant,' Tala though, smirking as he pulled Tyson to his feet. He took secret pleasure in placing his hand on the younger man's back and leading him out of the room. Just being close to the young brunet sent a pleasurable shiver up his spine.

"Someone go brew something warm for him," the diminutive doctor ordered. "Not coffee, though. We can't risk him getting heartburn on top of everything else."

Bryan raised an eyebrow at the tone and wordlessly waked off into Tala's kitchen.

"Are you a doctor or something?" the bewildered Tyson asked as he was walked into the living room and deposited in one of the armchairs.

"Don't sit!" Kenny stamped his foot in outrage. "You have to keep moving!"

"Yes sir!" Tyson practically jumped out of the seat.

"I think you're scaring him even more," Ray chuckled. He laid a hand on Tyson's shoulder with a warm smile. "My name's Ray Kon."

"Are we friends?" the young man asked, frowning slightly, though he didn't move away. Tala marveled at the child-like sound of the question and the defenselessness of the asker.

But Ray just laughed a little more and nodded gaily. "Yes, we are. And so is Kenny and Kai over there – the man you punched." He indicated the other men in the room.

"You're Kai?" Tyson asked incredulously, staring the crimson-eyed man in the face. "Christ! Figure's Tala and Bryan's friend would be a tin-man too!"

Said tin-man exchanged a quick glance with his redhead friend and nodded to the bewildered boy.

"Kenny Fujiwara," the doctor introduced himself. "We were friends back in junior and senior high in Okinawa, Japan. Oh, and I am a doctor – a neurologist, to be precise."

"So I am Asian," Tyson punched up into the air gleefully. "Tala, you were right! Hey, so exactly who am I, anyway? Are my folks still alive? Do I have any brothers or sisters? Why do I sound American – Tala says I do and – "

Kenny and Ray started laughing while Tala and Kai turned to cover up discreet smiles. Bryan walked out of the kitchen area and handed the brunet boy a steaming cup of tea. "Drink up. You know, for someone who said his head hurts, you ask a lot of questions, little baby."

"Don't call me that!"

Ray shook his head. "You're still as noisy as ever."

Tyson blushed slightly. "Will someone just answer me? Please!"

His full name was Tyson Kinomiya. He was nineteen years old and a sophomore at Harvard University in the USA. He and his father, Ralf Kinomiya, had moved to the United States right after Tyson had graduated from high school. Dr. Kinomiya had been an archaeologist who'd died in a tunnel collapse several months ago, in Central America. His mother had died after childbirth. Tyson had no siblings.

"So I've been alone ever since?" Tyson queried. "Wait – What happened to me after my dad died?"

"I took custody of you," Kai spoke up suddenly. "You've been living in my townhouse near the university."

"Why the heck would ya do all that?"

"Dr. Kinomiya was a family friend. I was trying to fulfill my late father's wishes." The older man's eyes were steely.

Tyson clutched at his head again. He leaned on the back of the couch. "My head's starting to spin again."

"Just drink you tea," Ray said soothingly, helping the young man raise his cup to his lips.

Tala felt so out of place as he looked on. What had started out as a visit from a friend had quickly turned into something infinitely more serious. He still had the problem about the ambush on Bryan to deal with. Right now, it was the case of Tyson's lost memory that was fast coming to a close – if the young man could consciously begin to recollect. 'But why does he keep having headaches? Is there something his subconscious doesn't want to remember?'

Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling sound.

Tala snapped out of his reverie and focused on the – predictable – source. It was 11:15. Tyson was hungry.

"Hey! A guy's gotta eat sometime, right?"

'This is totally insane!' Tyson's head was still trying to process everything that had happened. 'Okay, so I'm a Japanese student from the States – How'd I get into Harvard anyway? The red-eyed guy on the phone is Kai, Tala and Bryan's friend. The nice guy with ultra-long hair is Ray – Kai's fiancé – and the little dude is Kenny, who I went to high school with back in Japan. Now I just have to figure out what the hell is with the high-class ride I'm in!' He was sitting inside the very Mercedes that had almost run him over the day before. That was just the appetizer. Over the last hour, Tyson had found out a bit more about his recent history; about the trip he'd taken to Britain as part of his archaeology course – and the accident that had taken place in the middle of it.

Instead of a simple welcome-to-London lunch, the group was on their way to the Elizabeth Royale, the hotel where the newcomers were lodged. Tyson may still have had amnesia, but he wasn't stupid. The place he was headed was one of the priciest hotels in the city. They were riding in a limousine with 'the works' and there was a dark van following them, which, Tyson had found out from Kenny, was the vehicle of Kai's bodyguards.

'Just where the hell did Tala and Bryan meet this guy?' the stunned young man wondered, not trusting himself to start speaking. He'd already established that Kai whatever-his-surname-was was as grouchy as Tala had been when they'd first met – if not worse. Besides, for some reason, he was confused: why had he hit the older man? And why did he have a nagging feeling that there was something really important he should be telling him? At least he now had an explanation about his headaches over the past week: he really did know Kai. Ray was cool, he thought, but Tyson was still a bit stunned whenever the amber-eyed man leaned in to snuggle with the slate-haired Kai. It was even harder talking to Kenny. What were you supposed to say to long-time friend who you couldn't even remember being friends with?

Tyson just decided to keep quiet. Tala and Bryan were chatting away easily with Ray and Kenny (saying more than they usually said in an entire day!) while Kai was talking on his phone in a low voice. From what Tyson could tell, the stoic man was speaking in Russian.

"Kai," Ray addressed his betrothed as soon as the paler man had hung up. "Don't you think we should call… you know…" He cast an uneasy glance at Tyson. The brunet boy blinked in confusion. They were trying to hide something?

Kai shook his head firmly. "She probably already knows."

"That's not who I meant," the raven-head said, frowning slightly. "I wanted to know just when you were planning to let Max know that we found Tyson – alive."

"I'm supposed to be dead?" Sapphire-blue eyes widened in alarm.

Bryan hit him on the head. "Weren't you paying attention earlier? What part of 'car crash' don't you understand?"

"The rest of our friends think you died," Kenny said. "When we all heard about the accident and that there was an unidentified body found in the wreck, we assumed the worst."

"Who's this Max guy?" Tyson asked. For some reason, the name was nagging at him.

Kenny rubbed at his glasses with a piece of plain cloth. "Max is one of the other guys who went on the trip to Wales. He's also your best friend, Tyson."

For some reason, a flash of blond shot through Tyson's head. "Any chance he's blond with sky-blue eyes?"

"Why, yes! Do you remember something?"

Tyson's head started spinning again, leaning back in his seat. He tried to push back his nauseous feeling and smiled weakly. "Know what? At the rate my head's splitting open, this amnesia thing's gonna be gone before bedtime!"

The bathroom lights were dimmed and the occupants of the large sunken tub were snuggling together, languidly picking at cherries from a silver bowl by the edge. A man and a woman, their faces were obscured by the shadows.

There was a polite rap on the doorway.

"What is it, Nastya?" the woman asked in a beautiful Nordic accent, shifting slightly in the soothing waters. One pale arm rested lightly on the gold-tiled edge.

"Word has reached the office that Mr. Hiwatari has arrived safely in London, Mistress," the respectful voice on the other side of the door said.

The woman relaxed again. "Very well. Carry on with your duties."

"There's more, ma'am."

"Continue, then."

There was a momentary shuffling behind the door. "Mr. Hiwatari has found the Kinomiya boy."

The woman was out of the tub, robed, and at the door within moments. "I want details, Anastasia. Then, have the plane readied for a flight."

Her face was still hidden by dim lighting, but the thick robe she tied around her waist did little to conceal the lush, womanly curves, the swell of her breasts. Her skin was as pale as marble, her arms and legs as smooth as satin. Her hair was long and dark, but its true color was hard to tell because of the lighting.

"What about the meeting you have to attend tomorrow in Strasbourg?" the woman's companion asked, getting out of the water, trying to wrap an arm around her waist.

"Get a towel and cover up." A manicured hand slapped the man away. The assistant standing in the equally dark bedroom handed her employer a slim white folder. The robed woman leafed through the papers and began to laugh melodiously. "Nastya, have my meeting with Mr. Heidelberg cancelled. I have something much more important to attend to – in London."