this is something I came up a while back and that won't leave me alone. so why not put it up here. I am not completely given up on code name armada, because I hate the idea of unfinished story, but I have to say that the lack of attention makes it boring to write. and thus I wrote this one up.
Sid, I hope you are there and that you read Kaixrei too. I love your reviews. they cheer me right up and gives me confidence in my writing. do tell, in case you read this, how you like this one. I try putting some emotion there.

to all other readers, welcome to the story, and I hope you like reading this!

He reeled backwards by the force of the blow. It came as a surprise and so he wasn't prepared it at all. He lifted his hand to his cheek to touch the sore spot, but immediately forced the hand down. He refused to show pain, hurt or surprise in front of the shrimp.

So he straightened his back, hands in fists and glared back at Tyson who was glaring at him just as badly.

"What do you think you are doing?" he asked coldly. Tyson's eyes narrow and the guy nearly spits when he snaps back

"What am I doing? What the hell you think you are doing?!" Tyson shakes in fury. "Don't you dare lay a hand on any of my friends. Especially not in my house"

he snorts

"What I do is none of your business" he says back venomously. Tyson shakes his head and points at Rei

"It is if you ambush my friend, my teammate. How dare you!" Tyson hisses, and taking a step closer now points at the front door

"Get out of here. Right now"

he glances at Rei for help, but the Chinese guy just stands there, eyes wide and pale. Feeling betrayed he shrugs like it didn't matter and grabbing his jacket from the hanger walks out the door.

Part of him awaits that Rei would run after him. The cynical and cold part of him that he was slowly pushing away and locking out whispered that Rei didn't really care about him. That all the sweet words and reassures that he was not alone anymore and that the raven haired guy would stay in his side and help him with every obstacle he might face alone or they might run into by being alone.

He was clenching his fist so hard that his palms were hurting, nails digging into his skin.

He was doing it on purpose. Pain usually cleared his head, helped push all useless emotions away but now it did nothing to it.

He growled in frustration and without hesitation he slammed his fist to the concrete fence that run along the sidewalk. The uneven surface scratches his knuckles and pain wave flashed all the way up his elbow.

Breathing hard he leaned his head against the fence and allowed his hand to drop down. Again the pain failed him. Instead of helping him clear his head it broke the emotional barrier inside of him and he felt hot tears pricking his eyes. He was biting his lip to at least keep from sobbing.

He closed his eyes, unable to keep the tears in check. He felt them run down his cheeks and he focused on that.

He wondered what he had done wrong this time. He had done a lot of crappy things in his life, but he had thought that he had made up to them, at least most of them. He had let go of black Dranzer, helped bring down his grandfather and Boris. He had helped Rei get his bit beast back a couple of times already, not sparing his troubles while doing so.

And things had been so good lately.

It had started slowly, with him coming to realize that there was something different in Rei. It wasn't just how much he was willing to do for the Chinese blader. It was that he didn't hate his company. And after he had noticed that he rather liked being around Rei, he had naturally started trying to spend more time with the Chinese guy. And Rei had always welcomed his company with a smile. Sometimes they might just sit in the living room, both reading their own things and he enjoyed it more than being alone in his room in complete peace.

He had done his best so that the rest of the team wouldn't notice his different attitude towards the raven haired guy. And apparently he had done a great job with that, he thought bitterly.

Not long ago he had nonchalantly asked Rei if he would care to go to the park with him. Rei had again smiled, but he had told himself that the smile was wider and brighter than normally. They had just sneaked out of the house in the late afternoon when everyone else had been resting after the day's training. They had been in the bridge over the pond, looking at the gently rippling water.

He could still see it in his mind. The amber eyes were warm and shining. And the graceful face had been illuminated from below with a warm glow of sunrays reflecting from the water's surface. A slight breeze had ruffled the black bangs and Rei sifted from leaning his hands to the railing so that he could brush the hairs from his face. But he had got to it first and carefully pushed the locks behind the slender ears. He had felt his heartbeat all the way to the tips of his fingers. He had been so nervous that he would ruin the one relationship he liked, push away the one person whose company he had ever enjoyed and with whom he could be natural. Or at least as natural as he ever could be.

His lips twitched, nearly drawing into a shaky smile when he recalled Rei's expression after it. The amber eyes had been so large, surprised, hopeful. The golden sparks dancing in the eyes when Rei had slowly lifted a hand and pressed it against his hand that was still resting against Rei's head, sucking in the softness and warmth, savoring the moment in case that it would be last time he touched someone like that. They had stared at each others without saying a word. Then Rei had squeezed his hand and pulled it away, but not without giving it a light kiss.

After doing that Rei had studied him and he had tried to show him how he felt, doing his best to lower his walls that kept him save. He had entwined their fingers and brushed his lips against Rei's. The fingers had some rough patches to them in place where he gripped the blade. But it had still felt good against his lips. And it had smelled of soap and Rei.

When he had lowered the hands, Rei's lips had been shaking and the amber eyes were moist. His heart had stopped, he had messed things up. Cold dread spread through his body and he wracked his brain to come up with something that could fix the situation. And then Rei had let go of his hand and it felt like his chest had been hit with a sledgehammer, like his heart was being crushed and ground into a dust.

He was just about to apologize when Rei had jumped at him, wrapped hands around him and hugged him so hard he couldn't breath. And even though his chest still felt like it was crushed, this one didn't feel bad at all. A bit hesitantly he had sneaked his hands around Rei, and when it seemed to be okay he had pressed Rei closer to himself and buried his face into Rei's bangs. They smelled so good and calming and hidden into them, he smiled for real for the first time he could remember.

'thank you'- Rei had whispered into his ear and he had just hugged Rei tighter.

Finally they let go. He had hidden his smile from his lips, but his face was still open and seeing the joy in Rei's face he knew it was showing anyway. The happiness inside him was precious feeling, nothing like he had felt before. And he wanted to give something back to Rei for letting him experience this, so he allowed a corner of his mouth lift and form a real smile instead of smirk. Now Rei brushed his hand against his cheek, fingers trailing along the blue triangles.

That was all. After they had both calmed down and their hearts weren't racing anymore, they had walked back to the dojo. Life had continued pretty much the same, but they had bit by bit started talking and spent more time alone. And he had started to like his life more with each passing day.

It had been few days when they had kissed the first time. They had never voiced their feelings, but he was sure he could read Rei anyway and that they felt the same. But apparently he had been wrong.

Today Tyson had walked in on them. It had been stupid of them to kiss inn the house the first place, but Rei had just come back from the shop and no one had been around at the moment. With a horrible screech Tyson had run at them and when they had looked up to see what was the fuss about, Tyson had hit him straight into his cheek. It was still burning. The training had been profitable, the shrimp was getting stronger.

He didn't really mind the punch. That he could understand, because who wouldn't want to protect Rei if seeing something not right happening to him.

But what he did mind, what was like a blade in his heart, making his breathing shallow and painful. He wondered if it would have been better never to be happy. Never to have felt anything because this was killing him. He hated being out of control but right now his emotions were at a rampage and all he could notice is the pain and disappointment. Rei had not come to him. He had not stepped up and told Tyson that nothing was wrong, that he wasn't doing anything bad. Nothing that Rei wouldn't want him to do.

Or at least he had thought that Rei wanted it too. But he couldn't understand why Rei had just stand there, letting Tyson blame him for a crime he hadn't done. Unless Rei just hadn't found a way to get rid of him without fearing consequences. Maybe Rei had faked the emotions, lied when he had said that Rei had his back.

He groaned. Nothing made sense now. There was the pain. That was the one sure thing.

After a while he breathed out and pushed away from the wall. Wiping his face dry to his palms he continued walking. He couldn't and wouldn't go back to Tyson. He had nothing in there anymore.

He headed to the BBA building. He needed to ask help for mister Dickinson. He wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to ask for help, but he couldn't sleep out in the street either. It was November anyways, and the nights were cold.

He needed to start over again. And he never did the same mistake twice. He would not trust someone again so easily. If he would trust someone. But he could make it on his own. Not like it was the first time.

Ache in his chest and heavy weight in his limps he started walking. He just had to keep his head up. He would not crawl in front of anyone. He still had his pride and his strength. He would be fine.

I can continue this. all you have to do is ask for it. but I guess this might work as a one shot too... anyways, thank you for the attention you have given to the fic, in case you are reading this it means you have at least scrolled down the page.
;) good night and maybe I will see you again, and even hear from you. it's my sleepy time now z.z

review please!