"Kurenai."

"Hmm?" Shu curled his fingers into a fist and uncurled them, enjoying the feeling of the wind. The wind! He'd barely been able to feel anything for the last three years. It tickled a little, but it felt amazing.

"Why are you still talking to me?"

Shu blinked once, the only sign of confusion he was willing to give. Another thing: he could finally change his emotions and reactions at will again.

"You've gotten what you wanted from the Albino Squad. You beat me, 4-0. So why haven't you gone back to America?"

The albino blader considered it for a moment. It was true, he'd thought of going back to America to the Ragin Bulls, but his instincts tugged at him to stay in Japan. Because it was the only thing he'd ever trusted, Shu stayed.

"I suppose I've formed an unhealthy attachment to albinos," he replied.

Phi smirked. "Really?"

"I also enjoy destroying you in Super Smash Bros. Tournaments."

He shrugged. "That's fair."

They sat in silence for a moment, letting the wind blow through their hair. Shu smiled as he remembered what had happened at this park. Valt had started training here, he'd faceplanted off a skateboard, Shu'd accidentally left a fist-shaped hole through the bench- it was still there- and this was the last place the entire Beyclub had been together.

He glanced at Phi, at his content look, and decided to shake things up. "Have the nightmares gotten any better?"

"A little," Phi admitted, head dropping. It was strange to see him slouching, even stranger to see him without his coat or armor. For some reason, he'd tied his hair in pigtails- just like he'd asked Shu to do for him at school- and put on ripped black jeans and one of Shu's collared shirts.

How he got into Shu's room to get that was a mystery that would never be solved.

"The details started fading, but other things replace it. Almost to the point where I wish I remembered." He huffed an annoyed breath. "You?"

"Red Eye's happy with winning, for now."

Phi hit his arm, then yelped. "Owch! Is your arm made of freaking stone?"

He felt heat shoot up his face, but no pain. That was strange. Even around Valt, the heat had been agony. Why wasn't it now?

"Blame Red Eye. Makes it difficult to not get noticed." He gave a smirk. "Red Eye did everything I couldn't, goddammit. Probably why the nightmares aren't go-"

Phi's head snapped up and stared at him, and his eyes were filled with anger. Shu immediately stopped, cursing himself for divulging too much information. "Stop saying things like that."

"Like what?"

He stood up and started pacing in a very un-Phi way. "Everything good about you isn't Red Eye! Your strength and dedication was your own doing, not his! You're the same person, you did the same things! Red Eye did not break four beyblades. You did! Red Eye did not beat Lui. You did!"

Shu opened his mouth, but froze. Phi was right. That was terrifying on its own, but... god, he'd never realized. Unlike popular opinion, unlike what even Valt believed, he'd willingly merged with Spryzen. He'd taken all the pain and made something out of it. Shu'd made some shit choices, but when he looked at them- really looked, not avoided and ignored them- he knew they were all his own. Destroying the beys- his own. A form of revenge against Free, to prove that he would cross lines they wouldn't. Beating Lui- oh, he'd seen the video of Free and Lui, and he knew what the Dragon blader would think.

"You never bothered to accept it, did you! You thought it was better to pretend it was someone else because of a few mistakes! Maybe some of the mistakes were a good thing!"

Why was Phi so angry at him? He was never angry, not in the two years he'd known the bastard.

"And you know what? I didn't even have to try when I beat you, because you were already breaking yourself! Second-guessing, over and over and over. You couldn't beat me because you couldn't even trust your protege!"

Shut up. Please. Shu squeezed his eyes closed, trying to feel like the sixteen-year old he was, and not the scared kid who was about to get beat up. Ignore it, ignore, ignore...

That would never work. Logic told him that there was a greater chance of preserved sanity if he left now.

But his knowledge of himself told him he wouldn't leave. He would curse himself forever if he didn't stay, for being a fucking coward.

He had to stay. He had to hear this, and he had to fix himself. Otherwise, Shu was going to be a rutting shell for the rest of his life, and he was not going to

"Red Eye did not become even more feared than me. You did! Red Eye didn't catch my attention. Or..." He gulped, voice softening.

"Or my heart, as cliche as it might be."

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

"That... that was you. And I don't care that I don't have a chance, just helping you is enough." He stopped and stared the Chimera dead in the face. Shu felt another strange heat flash explode through his face. But no pain.

"I didn't want to love you. I didn't want to know you, but you interested me. So I came, and it turned out you were just as messed up as me." He smirked and shook his head. "I'm rambling. What I mean is... from one Lord of Destruction to another, being honest with yourself is the only way to make it better."

Shu gaped at him. The effect of Phi being serious was like ocean water at midnight. It was beyond startling, borderline terrifying.

"W-what the... HOW THE HELL DID YOU THINK OF THAT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?"

"That's your only question~" He pouted. "Aww, that sharp tongue of yours couldn't find any other words?"

Shu hissed at him, heat flash burning through his chest. Only an uncomfortable warmth, no pain.

Phi's expression changed. "Is something wrong?"

"Yeah," he replied honestly. "Ever since I beat you, I've been having heat flashes... without heat. It could be emotion spikes, but there's nothing here to make me angry, so that can't be it."

Now it was the Phoenix's turn to gape at him. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. Why."

"It's called blushing, you oblivious, emotionless, turd bucket of a blader!"

Shu tilted his head. "But... why?"

"Because you're embarrassed or something." Phi gave an adorable smile and tilted his head. "Are you embarrassed about something, Shu? Do tell~"

"WELL HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT YOUR CONFESSION FIRST?"

"How about... no."

Shu huffed in impatience. Phi had taken to annoying him to no end ever since the battle, like some kind of petty revenge. The albino kept wearing strange outfits that made Shu look, then quickly turn away. It was confusing the hell out of him.

"Is there a reason you're staring at my collar?"

Shu flinched. "H-huh?" Goddammit, why did he just stutter? It showed weakness!

"Is there something wrong? I know my confession was beautiful, but you don't have to freak out."

Screw the confession, Phi was beautiful.

"You did have some... half decent advice. I'll use it," he said, avoiding his crystal eyes.

He could hear the frown in Phi's voice. If he could hear that, then he definitely knew him too well. "Look at me when you're talking."

"Hmm?" The wind swept past them again, and the corners of his mouth tilted up.

"I'm a year older than you. Look at me when you're speaking. It shows respect."

Shu smirked. "I didn't know you particularly cared about respect."

A hint of defensiveness. "Well, I do now, baka!"

He laughed, looking up, and saw Phi's cheeks flush. Embarrassment, it meant.

"And call me senpai."

"EXCUSE ME?"

"You heard me."

Senpai: a term while addressing someone more proficient in the field of work they were in at the moment. Or someone older at work. In English, it was typically used to show an admiration toward a male. After a while, that transferred over to Japan.

"Fine... Phi-senpai."

"Perfect~"

Fuck, why was his voice so damn seductive? Stupid bastard. He couldn't even remember what they had been talking about.

"Phi-senpai, do you have any Oreos?"

"No." Phi was discreetly examining his face. Shu only noticed it because of Red Ey- uh, his, Snake Pit training.

"Uh... Phi, you're staring at me. Is there a reaso-"

A hand grabbed his collar, tugging him forwards until his chest collided with Phi's.

And Phi had thought Shu was strong? He was an absolute wall of muscle.

Phi's warm breath smelled like chocolate. His eyes gleamed, and Shu felt himself being drawn closer. His instincts tugged him towards the albino. Not dangerous, they told him, pulling him into Phi. Safe. Warm.

The thin, pale hand pulled his tie, tilting his head up. His crystal eyes considered Shu for a moment.

Then Phi leaned forward to kiss him.

"That's senpai to you."

----

Alright! I'm so sorry for the mistake on this one! Earlier, I double-posted the chapter, and im sorry for that.

There'll be a bonus scene if I get around for writing it. It's in teh tell Valt one.

This was the good ending, congrats!!!

Love you all!

Robin out!