When I was told that I could come see him, Kyoya was laying down at the table, one arm above his head and covering his eyes. The one was hanging from the bed, dipped into a bucket of water.

"You okay?"

Silence. Then:

"Yeah."

The chair made a screeching noise as I pulled it out, sitting down and crossing my legs. Kyoya still didn't look at me, eyes hidden behind his arm.

"Did they treat it well?"

"Well enough."

"You're not providing much for a conversation here."

Finally pulling his arm off his eyes, Kyoya turned his head and squinted at me. I let a mocking smile curve my lips, settling my hand in my open palm.

"Have you ever enjoyed yourself, Kyoya? Or maybe I should call you Kyoyo. Makes you sound less threatening. Kyo. Yo-Yo. How's Kitty-Cat? Kyoutty. Kittyoya. That sounds cute."

"Yeah, just about as cute as you," he snapped. "Not at all."

Reeling, a minute passed before I released a bark of laughter. "I'm not even sure if that's an insult or a compliment, coming from you. You're negative, so probably an insult."

His eyes rolled in response, craning towards me. "'Course I've enjoyed myself."

"Like, enjoy, enjoy," I replied. "Without the whole aggressive thing. Like... you. Smiling. Although it's kinda hard to think about."

The bed creaked as the Leone user sat up, a crisp splash cutting through the air- only to nearly fall over again, face flashing in pain. I rushed forward, my grip seizing onto his shoulder and kneeling beside him.

"Arm. Bucket. Now," I ordered.

"You're not my mother or a protective girlfriend," Kyoya growled, but hesitantly obeyed, instead bringing the bucket up beside him so that he could sit without leaning over entirely.

"What, want me to hold your hand for you?" Making a face, I puffed out my cheeks, only to let concern lace my face. "You okay now?"

"'M fine."

Risking a worried glance at him again, I eased into the bed, hearing it groan beneath me.

"You should come with me later."

Kyoya arched an eyebrow.

My back started to tingle, heat wrapping its arms around my neck. "Like... I dunno, hang out. Chill. I'm seriously wondering how much it takes for you to crack a smile."

No response.

I tilted my head, looking over at him. Instead of the sharp-eyed look I had been expecting, Kyoya was staring at the wall of the room, eyes glassy and unblinking.

"Kyoya?"

He dragged his eyes to me.

"Is there something- I mean, I know I'm nothing much, but-"

"Don't talk about yourself like that, dammit."

The folds of the bedsheets crinkled as his nails dug into them.

"Don't. Stop being an idiot," the Leone user declared, glaring daggers at me.

Biting my lip, I avoided his gaze and looked down at my hands, studying my fingernails, jagged and chipped. "... Sorry."

He only huffed in response, lip curling back to reveal the edge of his teeth. "You're- god, what am I going to do with you?"

I didn't respond, instead letting silence twist into my tongue, and shifted so that my leg was tucked underneath the other.

"Can I make you a promise?"

"Eh? A promise?"

I leaned forward, offering the blader my pinky. "You frown too much. You scowl too much. I think... I think it'd be nice to see you smile for once- and I want to be the reason for that."

Sapphire eyes stared down at my pinky, and I could see the gears click in his eyes. Gears of confusion, gears of someone that had learned to fight on their own and depend on someone else. Kyoya had fought long and hard in the wild that was his world.

"I promise. Can you honor this promise and make sure I don't forget it?"

Carefully, he hooked his pinky around mine then, without words, nodded.

I could hear it.

I could hear the audible thank you on the air. Like his beyblade was whispering, whispering and thanking me to wanting to take care of this man forged in blood and survival.

"... Why?"

I could hardly hear the words that came from Kyoya's mouth. The Leone user stared at me with disbelief on his lips and something in his eyes full of wonder, full of surprise.

"Why what?"

"Why..." he gestured to himself with a hand, gritting his teeth.

Why? Why? Why are you doing this for me?

For a moment, I could see the strings that held Kyoya Tategami together- more importantly, the strings that held up his image of a toughened warrior.

"Why me? I've.... tch, I've done nothing but call you names and challenge you to battle. Why? Why the hell are you here?!"

In the air, a emotion surged, an emotion of confusion and disbelief and surprise and he just didn't understand-

"You're a lone lion, aren't you? Are you asking what you're accepting whatever the hell I am? My company? I don't understand either, Kyoya... why am I doing this?"

I managed a weakened smile.

"Something's there between us, and I'm not sure if it's my desire to defeat you or something more, but I want to make sure that you're not losing yourself either."

Kyoya stared at me, and for a moment, I didn't see Kyoya Tategami.

I saw a boy that had grown up too fast, I saw a man that tried so hard to make sure that he was independent. I saw someone who had claws but stopped himself from hurting anyone, I saw someone that had the wings of childhood stripped and torn from his back too early and too fast.

I reached out, letting my fingers ghost over his cheek. Under my fingertips, his breath hitched and his body stiffened.

"Are you afraid of the story behind this scar?"

A shake of his head.

The air was thick, scrawled with blurred lines, tension, and the past.

Hesitation.

Kyoya jerked away from me, one hand swatting at my own wrist. "Tess!"

I immediately snatched my hand back, right after I had barely touched the scarred skin underneath his eye. "I... sorry. I was invasive today."

I kicked the chair aside, the screech ringing in my ears, but that didn't evaluate to the burning of my neck and cheeks.

I could feel the burden of his eyes into my back.