Warnings: angst; violence; blood; a little OOC-ness; a bit language.

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear and officially declare that I do not own Bey Blade and had nothing to do with it. I'm not making any commercial use out of this writing and it's only for reader's enjoyment. However, the plot, story and anything new belongs solely to me and is not to be touched without permission. And this remains for the whole story.

A/N: This chapter and the later ones are re-edited or more likely written again. I just couldn't help it. The previous really irritated me. They were…not a very good effort. So I simply mingled with the dialogues and description here and there to make some upgrading and somewhat altered the plot. Hey, it's been nearly a year since I've been writing and mind you, I have improved if I may add myself. I have yet to think about yaoi now that I've declared to become a yaoi writer but this remains undecided. It is nonetheless KaRe.

I've also enjoined Chapter 1 and 2 in one chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter. No. 1

A blank oblivion weighted down, shadowing the living presence with its ever growing snares of complete darkness, stretching and reaching out for me. A numbing sensation shot upwards as I too became an innocent hostage to those fiery flames, smoldering my insides and burning them to ashes.

And then, nothing; no pain, no feeling; complete darkness…

Suffocating darkness…

Please, some one, any one. Help…

A head shot up with a gasp, the blankets lying amidst the insomniac as they whirled around to find the something peculiar. No just another dream, nothing else.

And they lay back on the pillows again, breathless and weary and all the same anxious. Something was going to happen and soon

What a day! Man, the raven head stretched luxuriously as he walked out of the shadows of the woods, glancing up at the noon sun. Practice had gone well and Drigger X was ready for action. Now I just have to find him and straight some things up. Cat like golden orbs pried the vast landscape before walking towards the stone bridge. Climbing down the slope with an unwilling trot, he peered around the corner. Surely, there he was with crimson eyes closed and breathing heavily amongst the debris of broken crates and stones scatter around him.

Walking towards where he was crouched against the wall, exhausted after a much obnoxious practice round, Ray once again went over what he was going to say to the two toned head, "Hey Kai"

The said teen did not even register the young neko-jin but gently stopped heaving.

"Do you have to make such a mess?" Ray asked with humor, sitting under the shade on the hard ground. Kai still did not spare him a single glance, head resting against the concrete. As to why did his captain always stress himself out after each practice session was unknown to him but right then he had other pressing issues to deal with, "Ignoring me won't make me disappear you know"

"How unfortunate"

"……You know why I'm here Kai"

"Do I?" Surprising the other, Kai jumped gracefully to his feet, all signs of apparent tiredness vanishing from his façade and the usual 'I-can-hurt-you-in-two-second-but-I-don't-think-you're-even-worth-that' expression back online.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact you do or soon, you will" Ray also stood up and followed Kai out of the cover who had his arms cross while looking over to the calm running river, the loyal white scarf blowing with the breeze.

"If it's about your bandana I tore then I…"

"You are pretty much aware that I don't dwell on such petty issues"

"Says the guy who had a fit when a certain Blondie took all of his ice cream" Crimson eyes gave him a brief amused look

Ray flushed, "I'll have you know that it took half of my allowance to buy that tub and I was really looking forward to eating it on the hot day"

"Indeed"

"Stop steering from the topic"

"I was under the impression we didn't have a topic"

"Kai, would you just listen?"

His captain rarely looked so impatient and it staggered Ray when he was granted a partially annoyed look, "What?"

Ray opened his mouth to reply instead stopped and tilted his head slightly to stare at him for a while. Crimson eyes rose at the gesture and were about to comment when the Chinese spoke, "Can we talk?"

"What the hell do you think we're doing now?"

"I meant somewhere else. How about grabbing some lunch?"

"No thanks"

"Kai-"

"I have some important things to attend to Ray"

"Please…"

To anyone else, Kai would have answered curtly but seeing the look in the golden eyes, he resigned. Through the three years he had spent with the Blade Breakers, he had yet to find a way to build up some resistance to the raven haired prodigy, "Fine I guess. It would prove better to get you off my chest for a while"

Once inside a well to do diner, both team mates took the far end and ordered a light lunch, or more likely, Ray ordered a light lunch. His captain did not seem interested in doing something so time consuming as eating. Leaning backwards and taking his blue blade out, he took the nearby napkin and started to clean that up, actually waiting for the neko to start their tête-à-tête.

They remained silent until the waitress brought the food up. It was not until Ray had placed a spaghetti plate in front of him that the crimson eyes open.

"My treat"

Kai nodded in thanks before taking the fork as Ray grabbed the sauce bowl. The Russian, though did not show, could feel the scrutinizing gaze of the other but did not respond.

"Kai, tell me what's bothering you?"

Not expecting the sudden inquiry and feeling unusually wary about the current circumstances, Kai said out the first reply that came in his mind, "Nothing,"

"Then why do I find you squirming and moaning in your sleep late every night? It's been like this for 3 weeks already."

Kai looked dumb founded but quickly recovered and shrugged, "Just aimless dreams."

"You mean night mares?"

"Look Ray…"

"I know what you're going to say Kai, 'Ray butt out'. But sorry; not this time. You're going to tell me and we're going to straight this out. It's not like you to flare up and actually take Tyson's bawling seriously enough to hit him. I don't believe you realized how much cranky you have been these days."

Kai glared at him. Ray glared backed. After about 5 minutes of that intensive glaring competition, Kai looked away, took his blade and resumed to clean the sharp edges.

Ray then said silently, "Listen Kai, I just want to help. You know that. I might seem like a pain now but I think that I can help because I'm your friend. At least I believe I am."

Kai glanced up at him, this time more softly, but finding nothing suitable to reply, he hung his head again. A few quiet moments passed away then Kai spoke quietly, eyes intent on the bit of the top, "You are my friend Ray, a very loyal friend, but it's better if you stay away from my life and personal problems."

That said, Kai twisted his blade to open it and started cleaning-up the interior. Another couple of moments went by. Then suddenly Ray placed his hand over Kai's, trying to keep him from whatever he was doing. Kai stared at it and then at Ray questioningly.

"Kai, do you trust me?"

Kai frowned in confusion. After all that he expected Ray to ask, this question was not any of those things. An uncomfortable silence settled between them.

"Do you trust me?"

Silence

"Kai…?"

A quiet sigh then a diminutive nod

"Then please tell me what's wrong" Ray said softly

Kai was silent as he decided feverishly against his mind's wishes, "Almost a month ago, I started having a few calls from some strangers. They were talking about… something I own back in Russia and were telling me the price for it, as well as the consequences if I don't hand it over.

"I thought that they might be working for Voltaire. He has yet to recover from the blow the BBA inflicted on him and it could have triggered a few old colleagues of him to act out of desperation. But I guess I was wrong. Even though I ignored the calls and tried tracking them, these dreams of my life back in the Abbey and Russia suddenly started out of nowhere," Sitting there in a public place and talking about his past was as pleasant as having a root canal plunged out without anesthesia.

But nonetheless he continued, "They are simply getting worse every night. I've been having many night mares since I was brought to the Abbey but now I won't account the as mere dreams anymore. Somehow I'm not getting the message."

"Go on, Kai"

He just shrugged, "I just haven't been able to get any sleep. That's why I lash out at you guys more than often now. And besides, whatever you say, it does not make Tyson anything less a pest."

"And about those dreams…?" Ray asked, determined to know more for now.

"It's like I'm going to lose some important things in my life. Something I'm having a hard time figuring out"

Ray could detect some hesitancy behind those words and inquired further, "Even if you do know, would you tell? Any guesses?"

"Its better if you don't know, Ray."

"Any idea who is trying to threaten you"

A shrug, then, "Maybe yes, maybe no"

Ray waited but Kai seemed lost in his train of thoughts, "Maybe…?"

"Maybe it's Boris," was the casual answer, "I thought about him and now I think I believe that it's him behind this"

"Don't jump to conclusions Kai. You're not sure, are you?"

Another shrug

Ray was pondering over what he was trusted with when Kai spoke silently, "I've dealt with such threats for many years Ray. It's these dreams which bother me most"

"Just answer me this Kai," Ray said with a glint in his eyes, "Doesn't it feel better to talk to some one?"

Kai, surprisingly, gave a small yet a rare smile.

Ray chuckled, "Well for now, I think it's better if I help you with putting back together your blade before you break this as well," The bluenette had been trying unsuccessfully to screw the top back again and failed numerously throughout the conversation.

Taking the now disjoined parts, Ray passed Kai yet another grin, "Still it does not excuse you from making up to Tyson. You're going to apologize the moment you see him this evening, alright?"

Kai rolled his eyes but deep down, he knew that his shield had gained a permanent crack, one he was glad to have.

But what he did not know was that he had just put some one's life in grave danger. From where he sat in the diner, light hearted and content, with the Chinese neko-jin silently teaching him, he seemed to have no idea that some thing or more likely some one, had an eye upon both teenagers.

Well, here's the new chapter. Long huh? R&R and I'll bake you some pizza

Till next time!
Neena