Train traveling

By: K

Chapter 1

Rei's POV

The silence was uncomfortable and getting on my nerves.

No one dared to speak. And everybody eyed the others suspiciously.

It was a major coincidence that the Demolition Boys took the same train as we did. Would they also go to America?

They had stepped on only one wayside station after us. And because whole the train was full, and there were just four free places in our compartment, they were sitting next to us.

Bryan, Heaven knows why, was sitting next to me. Tala and Kai in front of us. Separated by the passage, Max and Tyson had the seats next to the Falcon and me. And Spencer and Ian were sitting opposite of them. Kenny was not here. He had left a day earlier. Planning on doing some research in Judy's lab before we arrived.

And like I mentioned before, the silence was really getting on my nerves. Okay, I wasn't really comfortable around the Demolition Boys either, but talking could do no harm, could it?

"So, where are you going to?"

I honestly wasn't expecting an answer, but I could hide my surprise quiet well when Tala answered.

"America. Mr Dickenson invited us. But don't ask why, 'cause we honestly don't have a clue…"

The redhead's soft voice was what had surprised me the most. And his ice blue eyes were not cold and uncaring anymore. Instead they held a gentle shine. I had never seen him like that.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kai smile softly. Also his eyes held that gentle shine.

What was going on here?

I looked aside and saw that Bryan had closed his eyes.

My mind started to wander off. What would he be thinking right now? How is he feeling? What's living inside him?

Unnoticed by me and the others, Kai and Tala changed knowing looks.

After a couple of seconds I came back to reality. Something inside me telling me that if I kept staring at the lilac-haired blader, it would be suspicious.

Tala and I started chatting softly. Every now and then, Ian or Spencer would join. I had never really feared them, but my uneasiness was gone. I could sense that the real them were not the ones we saw at the World Championship. Just as I knew that Kai wasn't really an ice-cold heartless bastard…

Suddenly Tyson's outburst of anger made us shut up, and it surprised us all. Even Bryan opened his eyes.

"What is going on here? How come you're all being 'Mr. Nice guy' all of a sudden?"

Max tried to calm him down, but the Dragon didn't want to listen.

"Weren't you the ones that tried to steal our Bit-Beasts? Wasn't he-" His eyes fixed on Bryan. "-the one that hurt Rei? You could at least have apologized…"

The Falcon, as well as everybody else, remained silent.

I turned to my team-mate.

"Tyson, please, let it rest… It's in the past. Forget about it…"

He looked at me. Stunned. And I saw a smale light of surprise in the lilac-haired blader's eyes.

"What? Rei, have you already forgotten what he did to you?"

My eyes shot fire. I don't know why I felt the sudden urge to 'protect' Bryan from Tyson's harsh words. I don't know why I wanted to defend him after what he did to me. But somehow, I knew that he never meant for me to get hurt that badly.

"Of course not Tyson. How could I forget? After all, I still have the scars to remind me of it. But what's done can not be undone. And I want you to let it rest!"

My voice raised and by the last sentence, I was close to yelling.

I turned away. Using my sweater as a pillow, and laying my head to rest against the window.

Tyson, shocked by the fact that I had been angry and almost yelling at him, said nothing anymore.

Silence fell again and I sighed softly, closing my eyes. What is this feeling deep inside me? Why couldn't I stop thinking about Bryan? What had he done to be in my mind all the time? I took a shuddering deep breath and tried to order my mind. All that feelings… All those thoughts… Could it be? Was I falling for the Falcon?

When I looked up again fifteen minutes later, I saw Ian snuggled up against Spencer. Both smiling and their eyes closed.

Max was lying in Tyson's arm. His head resting on the navy-haired boy's chest.

Kai's head resting on Tala's shoulder.

And suddenly I understood. They all loved each other.

From Max and Tyson I knew. They were a bit obvious. I was surprised to see
Ian and Spencer together. But I was really shocked that Kai and Tala were a couple. Not shocked in the bad meaning of the word. I really granted them that relationship. They seemed to care so much for each other. You could see it in their eyes. The Wolf's eyes softened when he saw Kai. And the same happened when the Phoenix saw Tala.

I smiled at Tala and laid myself back against the window. Deciding to sleep a bit. Unconsciously I curled up as much as I can. It was cold in there…

45 minutes later I woke up again, feeling immediately that something warm and soft was laid over me.

Slowly opening my eyes I recognised Bryan's jacket. My thoughts started racing. Suddenly many questions needed to be answered.

But my heart took over.

I sat up. Took the jacket and laid it over my other side. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Falcon looking at me. Impassive, but I could tell he was nervous.

I smiled and gently laid my head on his shoulder. He tensed up, but after a couple of seconds I felt him relax.

Yes, perhaps it could become something between us. Perhaps. Honestly, I hoped so. But in that moment, I was just happy to be there, leaning against him, sharing his warmth.

Just being near him.

And then I heard him whisper softly in my ear.

"I'm sorry."

TBC

K: Well, next chapter will be the last, and will be Bryan's POV.