It was nearly six in the evening when Kai woke up the next day. His head felt clearer than it had in days, his limbs lighter. It had been ages since he'd slept this deeply.

But the good mood didn't mean that the betrayal wasn't lost on him, despite how well-meaning Jason's intentions had been. It was a good thing Jason wasn't home—Kai didn't want to see his face and spoil his mood just yet.

A peek into the spare bedroom showed Jason had made himself right at home. Clothes spread out, laptop placed neatly on the study table. A look around the kitchen showed he'd cooked himself a nice breakfast and even saved some for Kai. Like hell he'd ease him out of his guilt by eating his food.

On the counter, though, sat a folded scrap of paper. Jason's handwriting, sharp and casual.

"Don't break anything while I'm gone. PS: You're welcome for the sleep."

Kai crumpled it in his fist, jaw tight. Jason had been right—annoyingly so. Kai had no strong connections to officials, not much weight in legal circles. His expertise lay more in threats whispered in alleyways and deals struck under the table. Admitting it alone tasted like ash in his mouth.

The images still flickered unbidden in his mind—Hillary's muffled cries, Laura's amused laughter. The way his heart had dropped when he realized Hillary wasn't breathing anymore. Those agonizing minutes while Laura performed CPR and Hillary still didn't respond still sent shivers down his spine.

But today, after the first real sleep he'd had in a long time, the memories hit differently. It didn't mean that the anger had vanished—if anything, it simmered sharper now, cleaner. What Laura had done to Hillary was carved into his mind. He just wasn't breaking under it anymore.

He slumped back into the couch, remembering Jason's face as he he fell asleep yesterday—the calm, practiced guilt in his eyes. Kai had trusted him enough to share what happened in that alley, how he'd found Hillary half-dead, how Dev had pieced together that it was no ordinary mugging.

And Jason had repaid that trust with a drugged glass of milk.

Kai exhaled sharply and pushed to his feet again. He had to get out of his house, needed something else to worry about. He'd go mad otherwise.

*****

Tyson had been having a great weekend so far. After having a good day with Max yesterday, the entire gang had decided to join him today at the dojo. Even Mariah had decided to tag along with them for some fun.

After laying about and watching comedy shows throughout the day, Mariah convinced them to all play monopoly during the evening.

Tyson had only agreed to this because he thought a casual game would be relaxing. Now, three hours later, he was knee-deep in colorful plastic houses and constant rent payments.

Max had already mortgaged half his properties in a desperate gamble. He was now muttering curses under his breath as Mariah ruthlessly collected rent from his hotels.

"I didn't know Mariah had this much of a mean streak," Tyson muttered under his breath, glaring at the gleaming hotels lining her properties.

Max leaned over, whispering with a wry grin, "People weren't wrong when they said money brings out a person's true colours."

Mariah's head shot up, eyes narrowing. "Hey! Everything is fair in Monopoly!" she declared. "If you land in a place, you pay. That's the rule!"

Tyson groaned. Across from him, Kenny chuckled quietly, stacking his cash. He was clearly the richest amongst them all now, and was now moving around the board just for fun.

Ray, on the other hand, had buried himself in the 'Jail' corner of the board, arms crossed and eyes narrowed, hoping to survive another turn without losing his last meager savings. The sight made Tyson suppress a laugh. Ray really was taking the 'do not spend, do not die' strategy rather seriously.

Max threw up his hands in frustration as yet another rent payment went to Mariah. "I swear, she's going to bankrupt us all before this game is over!"

Mariah leaned back in her place, a smug smile on her face. "Well, that's the beauty of Monopoly, isn't it?" she asked, sticking out her tongue

"I see that you're all having a good time." Said a voice suddenly, startling them all.

*****

Max jumped a little when he heard Kai's voice completely out of the blue. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the wall, a quiet calm to him. He seemed to have gotten a good night's sleep, with his eyes sharp, cold and clearer now. The bags under his eyes also seemed to have reduced drastically.

This was the most 'Kai' Kai had looked in a long time, Max realised with a start. 

But something in his tone that didn't sit right with him. "Wanna join in Kai?" Mariah asked, grinning. She didn't sense Kai's mood like the rest of them did. "I have to say, it would be a terrible time to join in—everyone's nearly bankrupt except me and Kenny, and-"

"Actually Mariah, could you step out for a moment? I have something to discuss with my team."

Mariah stopped mid-sentence, finally reading the room. "Of course." Mariah said, the carefree smile slipping off her face as she got up, briefly locking eyes with Ray. 

"If I were you, I'd leave. Fun time's over for the day." Kai told Mariah as she was stepping out of the Hall. Mariah's frown only deepened, shooting them all a worried look as she nodded and closed the door behind her.

Max swallowed hard, exchanging a worried look with Ray. Why was Kai being so serious all of a sudden?

Kai walked into the hall quietly, his feet soft against the floorboard. None of them even breathed loudly, everyone having caught on with Kai's mood—he wasn't in a mood to be messed with.

"This conversation should have happened a long time ago," He admitted quietly, walking past Ray and Kenny to stand directly behind Tyson. He placed his hand on Tyson's shoulder, making Tyson stiffen at the sudden contact. "I think Tyson has something to tell you all."

Tyson first looked confused at being singled out, before all the color drained from his face. "You said I could tell them when I was ready." He hissed back at Kai, forcefully shrugging off his hand.

"I said you had to come clean as soon as possible." Kai shot back coldly. "Your time's up."

"I never thought you would stoop this low just to get back at me!" Tyson spat, standing up abruptly.

Max exchanged a worried glance with Ray and Kenny. The last thing their team needed was another showdown between Tyson and Kai. 

Kai glared, "News flash idiot, but the world doesn't revolve around one upping you. It's been nearly a month since we've been training to get you past it. And yeah, we've been working on it, and yeah, you've improved. But it's not enough. Not even close to nearly enough."

"Then I only have to train harder!"

Kai shook his head quietly. "No Tyson, it means you need a different kind of support. The kind of support you aren't afraid of losing Dragoon to!"

"I told you I'm not afraid of you anymore!"

"You just flinched when I touched you." Kai deadpanned.

Tyson threw his hands up in frustration. "That's because you're being scary right now. But I'm not scared—like losing Dragoon kind of scared—anymore!"

Max could hardly keep up with what they were talking about, finally interrupting them with the time out sign. "Whoa-whoa, wait there a second there. What the hell are you both on about?"

Kai's gaze flicked towards him before snapping back to Tyson. "Tell them. Or I will."

Tyson swallowed visibly. With three sets of eyes burning into him, there was nowhere left to hide. "During battles... I figured out a way to... protect Dragoon. To take the hits for him."

Max's jaw dropped. "What?"

Tyson wouldn't meet any of their eyes. "It wasn't on purpose at first. Whenever Dragoon was in danger, I just... stepped in. My body did, like it was instinct."

Kenny couldn't seem to believe . "You mean—you've been channeling the damage into yourself?"

Tyson nodded. "I didn't realize it until I started noticing... Dragoon was fine after every hit, but I felt like I'd been knocked out. I started noticing cuts and bruises all over my body with no explanation. And after I realised what was happening, I just couldn't step back. Against Adam, I... I even learned how to control it, but I think I over channeled that day." He admitted meekly.

Ray slammed his palm against the table. "Tyson, are you insane?! You could die doing something like that!"

Tyson's gaze fell to the floor, but this time there was a streak of stubbornness along with guilt.

Kai caught that look too. "Explain that look." he demanded.

Tyson's head snapped up. "Look at you, acting like you're my dad, calling me out for my insolence!" he sassed. "You and I both know you weren't just cursing me under your breath, so spit it out." Kai demanded coldly.

When Tyson continued to stare at the floor, hands crossed, when Kai answered it for him, "Better me than Dragoon." Tyson's eyes snapped back to Kai, looking like a deer caught in headlights. "That's along the lines of what you were thinking, wasn't it?" Kai scoffed. "And don't bother denying it. The answer's written all over your face."

"So what if I was? I don't see how this is as bad as you're making it sound! It's a mean skill to have! I literally fought Dranzer, Draziel and Cerberus together and won due to this. And that was after an intense match with Orthrus and Gordo!"

Max's face twisted in disbelief. Was Tyson out of his mind?

Kai cut across him, "This isn't all that's happened, is it Tyson? Tell them how I found you that night, after your battle against Adam." Max could see Tyson's resolve weakening slowly. "I... I was curled up on the floor. Was bleeding a bit-"

Kai cut him off sharply, "If you won't do that scene justice, then I will. When I came by your window, you looked half-dead." Tyson flinched at the harsh choice of words, but didn't correct him. "Your school shirt was lying beside you, soaked red. Your left bicep had a deep cut. Your back was covered with bruises and welts and was only bandaged halfway, because you had lost consciousness bandaging it midway. Isn't that right?"

Tyson also couldn't bring himself to meet any of their gazes anymore. The stubbornness was still there, yes—but the shame was stronger now. "I didn't... I didn't want you guys to know," he muttered finally, his voice raw. "Because if you did, you'd look at me exactly like you're looking at me now."

"Like you've lost your mind?" Ray snapped. His voice was sharp. "Because you have, Tyson. What were you thinking, bleeding yourself dry for a game?!"

Tyson's head shot up, "It's not just a game!"

"It's not worth your life either!" Max called him out, his eyes shining a lot more than he wanted them to. "Damn it, Tyson! Do you even hear yourself? You talk like you're the only one who cares for their bit-beast. We all care—about our bit-beasts, but more so about each other. You're part of this team. You're my best friend. And you've been hurting yourself right in front of us without saying a word."

Kenny started tentatively, "Tyson... you really need to understand. Redirecting physical impact into yourself... every battle is shaving away at you. Your stamina, your health... your body. This isn't some skill to brag about. This... this is self-destruction."

Tyson's eyes darting between them, searching for a scrap of understanding. But all he found was fear. Anger. Pain.

Kai's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp and merciless. "I want you to hear this carefully. You don't protect Dragoon by bleeding for him. You protect him by being strong enough to fight with him. Anything else is cowardice dressed up as loyalty."

Kenny nodded vigorously. "Yes, Tyson. You shouldn't have to protect Dragoon by hurting yourself. That's not how it works... That's not how it's ever worked."

Tyson looked away angrily, silent tears streaming down his face. For once, he had no quick comeback. Max rubbed his temples then, exhaling shakily. "So what now Kai? If Ty keeps doing this, he's going to end up in the hospital—or worse."

Kai finally looked away from Tyson , his eyes sweeping them all. "And that's why I made him tell you all the truth. If he ever pulls such a stunt again , don't think twice. Just throw in the towel."

Tyson's head snapped toward him, outraged. "You don't get to decide that for me!"

Kai's reply was calm, almost too calm. "I do, and I just did."

*****

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*****

A/N: Hey guys! how are you all? What do you think of this update? I guess a lot of you were hoping for further movement in Hillary's case, sorry to disappoint you, that's gonna come shortly. so, what do you think kai is doing here? how's the whole arguenment scene? It's nearly 12 and i dont have the mindspace to add in more questions, so answer every question you hink i could have asked here?

Thanks for the 16 votes for the previous chap! You remember me telling about crossing 20 votes for an extra update? the offer still stands😉

Vote and comment guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love hearing from you alll!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking, could we come up with another name to call comments (it just has a negative vibe... Or am i the only one feeling so)

Anyway, Happy reading!

Happy Navaratri!