When Quon left to travel the world, everyone from the Shakadera dojo was devastated.

Especially Xander.

Out of everyone there, he took the smaller male's departure the hardest. Mostly because he wanted to ask him something really important with the upcoming holiday.

Quon left just a couple days short of Valentine's Day, leaving Xander both in shock and hurt. The tall red-haired male didn't eat, sleep, or train for a while before he finally accepted the fact that the skater blader may not even come back.

The day he actually came back, the Spin Emperor did everything in his power to not hug him tightly and not to punch him. So he kept his arms crossed, and the normal fire that always seemed to burn in his eyes.

         "What's with Xander?" Quon asked Yugo and Ukyo a couple days after his return, seeing the tall male meditating by the stadium. The question caused Ukyo to shrug, not having any idea what was with their captain.
        "He's been a bit... Broken, after you left." Yugo said, crossing his arms and throwing a glance in the red-haired male's direction. "You coming back after being gone for so long, he's still adjusting."

The green-eyed skater thought about what the samurai said and stood, walking to the other side of the bey stadium.
"Hey, Xander. Let's battle." He said, pulling out his launcher. Red eyes snapped open, traveling up to meet green. An unnoticeable blush crossed his cheeks, he shaking it off by giving his signature laugh and standing up.
"Sure thing. I haven't had a battle with you since before you left." Xander said with a wide smile, pain striking his heart at the mention.

He took out Xcalius and his launcher, readying his bey and getting into his launch position. Quon did the same, the smaller male smiling at him. The Spin Emperor froze, his heart beating quicker and quicker than before.
"First battle!" A team member declared. "Ready? Set!" He said, starting the countdown.
"3... 2... 1... Let it RIP!"

~~~

"You've definitely gotten stronger Quon. Your bey held out a lot longer than I thought." Xander said, his hands taking their place on his waist. The green and black-haired male smiled, his green eyes staring into red.
"Thanks Xander. That really means a lot coming from you." Quon said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket. Xander smiled back, his face heating up slightly and his heartbeat increasing.

Yugo and Ukyo spared each other a glance, smiling when they both had the same thought. Xander has a crush on Quon.

~~~

"Who wants to play a game?!" Valt Aoi called when he and the rest of the bey club walked into the dojo. Xander looked over at where the others walked in, raising an eyebrow.
       "Hey Valt. What are you guys doing here?" He asked. The bluenette tilted his head in confusion.
       "What do you mean? You invited us here! Don't tell me you forgot!" He smiled. Xander blinked, looking over at Quon, who just shrugged. He shook his head, laughing once again.
       "Ok Valt. So what kind of a game did you have in mind?" The tall male asked, his smile displaying his sharp pointed teeth.
       "Seven Minutes in Heaven!" Valt declared, throwing his arms in the air.

Everyone stopped and looked at him, confused as to why he would want to play that game.
       "Why do you want to play that?!" Wakiya snapped, a bit of heat rising in his cheeks.
       "Because I want to see what will happen! Now, everyone get in a circle!" He demanded, sitting on the floor. Everyone else reluctantly sat in a circle, wishing they were anywhere else but there. "Alright! I'll start, and I say Honcho and Wakiya!"
        "Hang on a sec!"
        "What?!" They both said at the same time. They looked at each other and blushed, huffing and looking away.
        "Don't complain. Get in the room!" Valt said, pointing at a door. The two blondes groaned, standing and walking into a room. Valt ran over and locked it, starting the countdown of seven minutes.

~~~

        "Times up! You guys can come out now!" Valt said, unlocking and opening the door. Rantaro and Wakiya walked out of the room, both sporting a deep red blush and the slightly smaller male trying to cover his neck.
         "You two look like you had a good time." Xander laughed, making everyone else laugh with him.
         "S-shut up!" Both males snapped, sitting in their appropriate spots once again. The laughing subsided, Ukyo piping up after. 
          "I'll choose next." He stated, sparing a sly glance at Yugo.
          "Sure! Go ahead Ukyo!" Valt replied, clapping his hands together.
          "Xander, Quon, get in the room." The shadow walker said, a smirk crossing his lips.

Xander froze, a small blush burning his cheeks.
          "What?" The tall Spin Emperor asked, his red eyes wide. Ukyo smiled innocently, pointing at the door to the room.
          "Go." He said, smiling at the two males. Quon blushed, standing up and walking over. Xander sighed, standing as well and meeting Quon by the door. The two males walked inside, Valt running over and locking the door once again, leaving them alone together for seven minutes.

The red-haired male heaved another sigh, leaning against the wall and occasionally glancing at the much smaller male.
        "How did we get pulled into this again?" Quon asked, breaking the awkward silence that encompassed them.
        "I get the feeling Yugo and Ukyo are behind Valt and his friends coming to the dojo." Xander replied, glaring through the door.
        "That's what I don't understand. Why of all things did Valt want to play Seven Minutes in Heaven?"
        "To get people together maybe? You seen what happened when Rantaro and Wakiya walked out of here. That has to be it."
        "But why choose us next? It's not like we have a crush on each other, right?" A pain struck Xander's heart, a sad glint crossing his eyes as he looked down.
         "Yeah... Right..." The disappointment was thick in his voice, making the skater blader look up at him.
         "Are you alright Xander?" Quon asked, concern flashing across his green eyes.
         "Hm? Oh... Yeah. I'm fine..." The Spin Emperor replied, looking deep into the other's eyes.

Quon felt heat burn his cheeks, noticing the way Xander's eyes shined in the dim light.
         "Quon... I have something to say to you..." The tall red head said, a darker blush staining his cheeks.
         "Y-yeah... You can tell me anything... We're friends, right?" There was that pain again, making Xander close his eyes and grit his teeth.
         "That's the thing Quon." He started with a growl. "I don't want to be friends anymore."

The green and black-haired male stepped back in shock, a gasp caught in his throat as tears filled his green eyes.
         "W-what?" He asked, wanting to make sure he heard him correctly.
         "I'm tired of being friends! Don't you get it... I love you!" His red eyes wide, the tall male panted as his hands clenched into fists. He moved forward suddenly, grabbing a hold of Quon's jacket and pulling the smaller male towards him, slamming their lips together.

The action left Quon in shock, green eyes wide and staring at the other. But he felt... Happy... The reaction was slow, but he finally kissed him back, standing on the tips of his toes and wrapping his arms around his neck. Their lips moved in sync, Xander's hand releasing their grip on the other's jacket and grabbing his waist.
        "Time's up!" Valt called through the door, making both males pull away with a soft gasp. They let go of each other just in time as the bluenette unlocked and opened the door.
        "Aww! I wanted to see them kiss..." Valt said in disappointment, crossing his arms. Xander laughed, placing a gentle hand on Quon's shoulder.
        "Sorry to disappoint you Valt." He laughed, walking out of the room with the smaller male.
        "Yeah, sorry." Quon said with a shrug, a deep blush still staining his cheeks. Valt hummed, walking back over and sitting down.
         "Who's next?" He asked, his arms still crossed.
         "You guys go ahead and keep playing. Quon and I are going to train for a while." Xander said, he and Quon walking out of the dojo.

After making sure they were gone, Valt smiled.
         "I'm not the only that thinks they got together, right?" He asked, looking at the rest of his friends.
         "They were definitely kissing in there." Daigo said, nodding.
         "Totally." Yugo replied, throwing his arm around Ukyo. "You should've seen the way Xander looked at him. If it didn't scream 'I'm in love', I wouldn't know what would."
          "Agreed. Especially how he was when Quon left. He was a wreck, didn't eat or sleep for two weeks." Ukyo said, leaning into Yugo.
          "Wow, that's messed up." Rantaro said, leaning back on his hands.
          "Yeah... But I'm pretty sure Xander would do anything for him. That's how much Quon means to him."

~~~

         "I love you Quon." Xander said, slipping his hand into the smaller male's. The skater blader looked up at him and smiled, squeezing his hand gently as they walked to Xander's house.
         "I love you too Xander. I have for a while." He replied, a slight blush staining his cheeks. They walked through the front door of the Spin Emperor's house, the two males sitting down on the couch.

Quon cuddled up to Xander, his hand still intertwined with the other's as he laid his head on his shoulder. The taller male smiled and rested his head on Quon's, closing his eyes and enjoying the warmth.
          "Do you think they figured it out?" The green-eyed male asked, rubbing his thumb along Xander's hand.
          "Probably... But I don't care. As long as I have you, I could care less about people's opinions." The tall Spin Emperor said softly, his red eyes opening as he moved and kissed Quon's forehead softly.
          "That's sweet of you..." The skater blader mumbled, yawning softly. "Love you..." Xander smiled, closing his eyes once more.
          "I love you too..."

NightBear15 signing off...