Title: Chill
Author: Wyntre de Romanov
Summary: Beyblades, Rei/Kai Slash.
Warning: SLASH. Shonen-ai, yaoi. Ya know the stuff.
Disclaimer: You have lots and lots of money. I do not.
A/N: The colouring of the characters in this fic are based on the animation of V-Force series.
Chill
Even wrapped up in a sleeping bag, Rei Kon was still cold. He could feel goose-bumps running up and down his arms; the tip of his nose was frozen numb and, when he let out a puff of air, he could see his breath fog up infront of him.
Rei dug further into his sleeping bag, twisting around in an attempt to warm up and get comfortable… but to no avail. Instead, he shifted sideways, sat up and leant against the wall.
It was quite dark inside the cabin; the night a heavy blanket of black waves and silence. Only a thin crescent moon offered any light. It peeked in timidly through the window; Rei's amber eyes glinting in its pale scattered beams. Sighing, Rei peered at the other members of the Blade Breakers.
Smack bang in the middle of the room slept Tyson. He was snoring gently, almost inaudibly. His black hair intermingled with the night, and was the only part of him that was somewhat visible – as the rest of him was cocooned in his sleeping bag. Beside Tyson, slept Max.
He'd managed to throw off his coverlet during the night, and it lay bundled up in the middle of he and Tyson. Rei noticed a barely-there smile twitching the corner of Max's mouth.
Ah, good dreams, Max? That makes one of us, atleast.
Abruptly, Max muttered something to whatever dream figure he was conversing with, and turned over on his side.
Rei was pleased to acknowledge that both Tyson and Max seemed more content in wandering the country these days. Less worried about tomorrow, and more concerned with the now – which was appropriate in their Beyblade-Battling-Around-The-Country (and anywhere else they could plant their feet) goal.
Out of the two, Max had probably grown up the most. Whereas Tyson… well, he tended to act more of the 8 year old he used to be rather than the 17 year old he was.
A little further away from Max, near the opposite wall to Rei's, slept Kenny. The first to sleep, Kenny would always be the earliest to awaken. He was constantly the most well rested of the group; Rei envied him that. Close by to Kenny was his laptop – which never left his side – and his round owl-like glasses.
To tell the truth, Kenny hadn't changed that much. Sure, he'd matured alright… but his outlook on life remained the same. Kenny still refused to Beyblade; preferring to be the brain of the outfit. The others being quite happy to grant him that position. Kenny would follow the BladeBreakers to whatever adventure they took up, even if it meant heading into many threats and perils. In retrospect, you could probably say he was a bit brainless in that department – his loyalty being a blinding factor. But that thought was something that brought a smile to your face.
Rei's feline eyes searched the cabin room once more and rested on a figure in the front corner, near the door; on guard perhaps?
Kai's sleeping bag was neatly arranged about him. So neatly that Rei was unsure as to whether Kai actually was asleep. Rei couldn't really make out Kai's features, but a slender shaft of light caught the colour of two-toned grey hair. Indeed, to take a poetic approach at looking at things, the blue-grey of Kai's hair was more so the colour of an open sky on a down cast day; stormy weather waiting in the distance.
Rei rolled his eyes and scoffed at himself. Poetic approach.
But, the most unusual aspect of it all were the darker roots of Kai's hair – it was a freak of nature. Seeing as Kai didn't dye it… well, Rei had never come across him dying it.
To be honest, Rei hadn't come across Kai doing anything these days.
The Ice-King seemed particularly isolated these days – more so than usual, that is. The thing that actually got to Rei was the fact that Kai acted as he always did towards the others (with scathing remarks and sarcastic comments). But with Rei… things used to be comfortable and companionable. Now it was different. That was the only word he could find to describe it… different; an underlying tension in the air. Rei wasn't sure whether the others could tell what was going on, so he kept it to himself, not bothering to discuss things over with Kai. It disturbed him though, for he was accustomed to having little or full-on conversations with Kai. Swapping BeyBlading ideas and tips, or conversing over anything that took their fancy at the time.
On many a rare occasion, Rei's witty remarks would earn him a diminutive grin, melting Kai's winter-like disposition. Like the sun, peeking out from behind a rain-cloud, only for it to start raining again. Theirs had been a firm friendship. He didn't know how it had deteriorated, but Rei suspected the fault may lay with himself. The thought brought a strange feeling of wistfulness, as if he had missed out on something but he didn't know what.
Certainly, to get back to the point, the situation the whole BladeBreaker team found themselves currently in was due to Rei, or so he thought. Stuck in the middle of a forest that stretched on for god-knows how many miles, and kept prisoner by an unknown nut-case.
They'd simply been walking along an obscured path, which'd obviously been used by many a traveller before them. Kenny had been typing away, murmuring to Dizzi and upgrading Max's Draciel. Tyson and Max were walking in the middle, bickering good-naturedly over whom would be the first to take on the next opponent in battle; Rei had been leading and Kai could be seen guarding the troupes back.
Thinking back on it now, Rei figured it was indeed his fault. He'd been leading; therefore it was his responsibility to be on the look out for anything that'd interrupt their progress. Instead, daydreaming with his jet-black fringe in his eyes, he'd been absolutely unaware of whom and what had been around him. Subconsciously, his feet kept on the path, but his mind had concentrated on the wisps of wind that curled cooled fingers around his bare neck and arms, and the smell of wood and wet leaves on the air. It had been incredibly serene and, in turn, that had calmed Rei… almost trance-like.
The attack had been quite sudden. Rei'd only caught a glimpse of a sleek bronze BeyBlade, before a blast of hot wind and choking dust knocked him off his feet, out of his daydream, and back into Kenny.
Max and Tyson, although surprised, had taken out their BeyBlade and taken a defensive position. With Kai's help, Rei had stumbled to his feet and muttered thanks, while Kenny remained on the ground, already questioning Dizzi on the unknown Beyblade's status.
The wind had picked up dust, growing so strong and forceful that it created a miniature whirlwind of sorts, and the BladeBreakers were in the eye of the storm. The trees around them had thrashed against one another, leaves escaping their hold.
Rei had rolled up his sleeves, clenching his fists; Rei crouched down beside him in a defensive position, and Tyson and Max had lingered where they were – waiting for their attacker to present themselves.
Instead, a low husky voice from outside the 'whirlwind' had commanded a one-on-one battle. That alone had sent shivers up Rei's spine, but then the slow stench of death had crept around them. It had smelt of rotten leaves, of decomposed fruit, and decayed flesh. Of things better left undiscovered. Rei had heard, rather than saw, Max dry retch infront of him. The reek had been putrid; it clung strong in Rei's memory.
"With who, and why?" Tyson had demanded.
"The Tiger. And my business is my own."
The Tiger. Everyone knew whom that meant.
Tyson had turned back to look at Rei, a questioning look in his eyes. Tyson's cap had been blown off and had settled in the dust elsewhere, thus his black wild hair was more so than usual, and created a chaotic grungy frame around his face.
Rei nodded in answer. He could do it. He was itching for a good scuffle. He and Driger would annihilate anyone who dared to stand in their way. And that meant anyone.
Tyson had frowned, a pensive look on his face, shook his head and turned around to where he thought their assailant stood.
"HELL NO! I don't know how many of you are out there, but I'm not going to risk one of my team mates out there to battle who knows what!"
Tyson had folded his arms over his chest and stood with legs a part – a perfect picture of rebellion. Rei had distinctly heard Kai snort in amusement beside him.
"It's ALL of us, or NOTHING!"
Rei had been stunned at this refusal of battle. His battle. He was capable of handling things on his own.
"No!" Rei had suddenly cried, "Trust me, I can do this! You bloody well know I can, Ty!"
Rei had felt Kai's hand settle on his shoulder to calm him, but he'd shaken it off irritably.
"It's not a question of trust, man. It's a matter of not knowing who or what we're battling against. You ain't guaranteed a win in this, Rei. "
Rei had taken a breath – nearly choking on the stench in the air – held it to reign back his temper, and breathed out slowly. He knew Tyson was right, which was a first. But Tyson tended to have an instinct for these things, and it was usually only during these times that he'd act his age.
"Fine," Rei had muttered, only to stiffen suddenly when he felt wraithlike fingertips brush his cheek.
"If that is you decision, young Tiger, so be it. Sooner of later your company shall starve and thirst. Then our time will come."
In the blink of an eye, the miniature whirlwind had disappeared, and the festering smell of death had soon dissipated after.
After a moment of shocked silence, Rei had stood up out of his defensive crouch and helped Kenny onto his feet. Both of their clothes were completely covered in dust and grime; and Rei knew that soil smudged his face, as it did the others. Kai had closely resembled a panda.
"Are you okay?" Rei had queried.
Kenny nodded his head, cleaned his glasses using the sleeve of his jumper, and began to reboot Dizzi when suddenly the sound of a great 'smack' could be heard. As if a large object had come in contact with a brick wall at a fact rate.
Apparently, a transparent force-field of sorts – a shield – had been placed in their path, halting any further progress… as Tyson had just found out by sprinting into it. Max, who had tested the sturdiness of the 'force-field' sensibly with a fist, tried to hold back a fit of laughter and seemed to settle on a grin instead.
"Hey, well, I guess that's what he meant by 'Your company shall starve', hey?"
Kai had walked up to investigate the 'shield' for a moment, then –
"It's nearly nightfall. There's nothing we can do about it till tomorrow." Kai had said matter-of-factly. Even covered in dirt, he still presented a suave figure.
"Let's get back to the cabin."
Without even looking back to see if the others were following, Kai had walked off; grey slacks and hair catching the wind. And, of course, the others followed; with Rei lingering at the back, head down and deep in thought.
Tearing his mind away from the recollection of earlier, Rei shifted about his ever-uncomfortable sleeping bag. He knew what he should do; what he had to do. No questions asked.
Rei wormed out of his sleeping bag, and the cool air hit him like winter's gust –a delivery straight from the south. He almost regretted his decision, but the stubborn part of his character kicked in.
Grabbing his backpack and clutching it to his chest, he silently and swiftly stepped into the side room that substituted as a kitchen, and shut the door behind him with a soft click.
Rei rummaged through his pack, found some everyday garments – black cargos, a dark turtleneck, gloves and sneakers – got changed, and chucked the nightclothes back into the pack. He fumbled around for his BeyBlade and tossed it from hand to hand, feeling its sturdy weight and reassuring himself of his purpose.
The BeyBlade was a charcoal grey with speckles of silver and zirconia lined throughout it. The jagged edges of the blade were ivory in colour, a parody of the keen talon-like claws and teeth of a tiger. It was beautiful and powerful. In short, it was a device to be proud of. He slipped it into his back pocket.
Rei crept back into the main room and stuffed the backpack into his sleeping bag; mashing it around so it formed the shape of a sleeping figure.
He stood up slowly, patting his back pocket, and gazed around. He nodded to himself, convinced that everyone was asleep and padded noiselessly towards the door, heart pounding so loudly in his nervousness that he was sure it'd wake the others.
"Rei."
He jumped, startled, and turned towards the voice.
It was Kenny.
He was sitting up and appeared to be gesturing for Rei to come over. Reluctantly, Rei did so and sat beside him; steeling himself for a confrontation.
"I'm aware of what you're going to do, and I know I can't hinder you in your objective," Kenny whispered quickly, "but I believe you should be aware of some of the implications and background concerning our attacker."
He shrugged out of his sleeping bag, and took out his laptop. Flicking it on, he immediately opened a program for monitoring and assessing BeyBlades. A visual of the bronze BeyBlade came up.
"You see this?" Kenny pointed to a blue area highlighted on the BeyBlade.
"Yeah," Rei nodded, eyes closed to slits due to the bright light reflected by the screen.
"Usually it's red, indicating that it possesses a BitBeast. Yellow suggests that it's simply a mechanical device. But here… " Kenny tapped on the screen twice, "It's blue. Generally, when the program uses blue highlights, it's processing a human physical."
Rei raised an eyebrow sceptically.
"I believe, well… we didn't actually see the BeyBlade owner, did we? And do you recall that smell, like a graveyard?" Kenny's noise scrunched up at the memory.
"Dizzi is never wrong. She's highly advanced, one of the best. Therefore… and I know it sounds both incredulous and ridiculous… I think this 'person', or whatever it is, an entity, has taken possession of the BeyBlade. Explaining why the program outlines the BeyBlade in blue."
Kenny peered at Rei hesitantly, expecting him to refuse that explanation. But Rei, running a hand through his fringe in an attempt to flatten it, accepted the account of details and nodded. After all, hadn't Kenny been right about Zeo being an android?
"The thing is, it doesn't account for why he only wants to battle you? Why only you?"
Rei, playing around with the idea in his mind, believed he knew why, and ventured an explanation.
"If what you said was true, then you're suggesting that this… entities' physical body is dead, yeah?"
Kenny nodded and Rei went on:
"Ahh… well, I think, well, it's mentioned in some old traditions that not only are the bones of a tiger a powerful, umm, aphrodisiac, but that if one was lucky enough to capture the soul of a tiger, it would grant life to a deceased family member; of the finder's choice." Rei recited this as if it had been committed to memory; "In this case, it's obvious that this person wishes to use it on himself."
Kenny's eyes widened behind his round glasses; in surprise or sudden realisation, Rei didn't know.
"That sounds like a reasonable hypothesis. But how would this 'entity' have gained possession of a BeyBlade? It's impossible."
Rei gazed at Kenny speculatively, amber eyes glittering.
"How do you think BitBeasts gain control of a BeyBlade?" Rei replied.
"Oh."
The pair sat in a moment of silence, studying the visual of the bronze BeyBlade in the laptop, before –
"I don't think you should go on your own." Kenny whispered haltingly.
"I won't be alone. I'll have Driger with me."
"I mean to say that… it's not a clear-cut win for you, is it? If you lose, and I'm certainly not saying you will, he'll have Driger, and… there's no telling what type of person this entity will turn out to be, and how he'd put Driger's power to use."
Rei sighed…
"If I don't, we will eventually starve, seeing as that force-field is all around the area and seemed rather full-proof. It's my fault. I should have been paying attention. I've got to set things right."
Kenny shrugged, giving in.
"Kai's not going to be happy about this, about you; if he finds out."
Rei shifted, ill at ease, and tugged at the collar of his turtleneck.
"Why would he care? The fact that I'll be getting us out of this situation is all he'll be concerned about."
"All he'll be concerned about?" Kenny repeated, "You could cut the air with a knife between you two lately." He shook his head at Rei's confused expression.
"What do you mean?" Rei asked.
"You're an intelligent person, Rei Kon. You'll figure it out, or it'll just come to you."
Rei remained where he was as he spent the next several seconds in bewildered silence. Abruptly, he stood up and headed towards the door.
"Wish me luck, little Kenny."
"You don't need luck, little cub," came Kenny's whispered reply.
* * *
Rei hurt all over. The cold and wind got into the scratches on his arms, and the stench didn't help matters. He stumbled under a third onslaught, but remained upright. The battle had been on for a good 45 minutes. His opponent's BeyBlade spun at an unnatural speed, striking then flitting away; over and over again in an attempt to wear Rei down. But it also exhausted his opponent, too.
Rei know he was going to win, he could feel it in his bones and flesh. Driger danced and prowled about him, white and magnificent, keeping a multitude of damage at bey.
Rei stumbled again; his cargos were ripped at the knees, his turtleneck torn at the stomach, and he bled from a scratch from the underside of his jaw. But he held his ground and finished the battle off.
Soon, a high-pitched wailing could be heard as Driger ripped into the bronze BeyBlade. The white tiger tore into it unforgivingly, shredding away the mechanics of the bronze BeyBlade. Bits and pieces flickering away until it's spinning came to a stop. It cluttered indifferently to the ground.
A low moan could be heard, rising then falling, until the wind bore that and the stench away. Pieces of metal littered the grounded with tanned-coloured stars. Silence.
Rei heaved, breathing in and out heavily until he caught his breath and waited for Driger to return to his BeyBlade. After a moment, Rei pocketed it and moved forward to search the ground for bronze.
After he'd found every piece he could – ignoring the aching in his joins and the beginnings of a rainstorm spattering his hair – he buried the shattered BeyBlade in the upturned ground that he'd used as an arena. He whispered a short prayer; offering peace to the Unknown's soul, laying it to rest.
He moved again and sat for a moment on the side-grass, then settled for lying down instead. The rain continued to fall lightly, but he was so very tired. Oh, how he ached. His legs and elbows were sore and were starting to stiffen. After a while, several leaves landed on him from above, brushing their course skin against his arms.
Rei figured it was time to move. It would be 6am in three hours, around the time Kenny usually awoke... if he still wasn't up, that was. He forced himself upright and limped back to the cabin; hair soaked but clothes surviving the light rain. He was only a few dozen meters from the cabin when he staggered forward. He held out an arm to catch hold of the tree next to him, but missed. Instead, something grabbed him by the front of his top, slammed him against the trunk of the tree and held him there.
Rei looked up through bleary eyes, knowing he couldn't go through another fight, and met Kai's grey eyes instead; the maroon hints barely noticeable. Rei thought he saw concern there for a moment, but it was quickly replaced with anger.
"Rei, you bloody idiot! What in the name of Hell were you thinking?!? Were you even thinking?!?"
Rei staggered in Kai's grip and muttered:
"I won, atleast."
"You won, did you?!" Kai shook his head in disgust; lips pinched, and looked out over Rei's shoulder, "Half-wit."
Rei suddenly realised that Kai's navy-blue nightclothes were wet from the rain. That can't be right. His thoughts felt tired and strange. Kai's always dressed to the nine's in public.
Rei closed his eyes and sagged a bit more in his grip, returning Kai's attention back to him.
"You're an absolute brainless wreck. You're unbelievable sometimes. How could you? This concerned outr whole damn team, Rei!!! You put Driger at risk. You're a fool." Kai took a breath, and narrowed his eyes, "How can you be so thoughtlessly unaware of others?"
Rei opened his eyes to slits, too tired to rebut this treatment with any ferocity, and settled for a cold reply:
"How can I? How can you? Don't you care for anything, you unfeeling prick?"
If it was anymore possible, Kai's eyes narrowed furthermore. His cheeks were flushed with anger, and his fingers dug into Rei's arms. He could feel the tension in him.
Kai. Was. Pissed.
Rei studied Kai's pale face confrontationally. He noticed the small droplets of rain caught in his eyelashes and the way the cold was probably part of the reason for Kai's rosy cheeks. His eyes were a slate grey, with hidden depths of maroon.
Silence.
Then:
"I don't care about anything."
There was a pause.
"I care about someone."
Rei blinked. He could feel the breath leave from Kai's lips as he formed those words – that was how close he was. He could feel body heat radiating from Kai and passing on to him. VeryClose.JustLikeThis.
Rei rapidly snapped out of his drowsy state as he realised the hidden implications of those words. Adrenaline flowed through him like the rain; starting at the toes, settling in the pit of his stomach and sending shivers all the way up his spine and trailing over his neck. He licked his lips nervously and felt Kai loosen his grip on his arms. But Kai didn't move away, as Rei expected him to. Instead he moved slightly closer, placing two fingers under Rei's chin and shifting Rei's gaze to look up at him.
Kai studied Rei's features, frowning thoughtfully, as if he looked for something and was uncertain as to what he found.
"What are you doing?" Rei whispered.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Came the reply.
Rei's breathing picked up as he suddenly felt Kai's cold lips touch his own. They moved against his slowly and sweetly. Timid kisses, of lips to lips; tasting and testing his own.
Rei tensed up and remained immobile. He hadn't known… or did he? He didn't know what to do! Kai had made the first move, what was he supposed to do next? What was expected? What did he feel?
Kai moved away suddenly, aware of the lack of reaction from the person infront of him.
Rei startled at the sudden loss of warmth as Kai moved away. In that moment, in that one breath, in that passing of a second, Rei knew was to do next, he knew was Kai expected (wanted), and he knew what he felt. What they both felt.
He moved back into the warmth that was Kai (how could someone so cold in emotion be so warm physically), catching the look of relief in Kai's normally enigmatic face… and this time, the kiss was different. It was sure and confident, reciprocated on both sides.
Kai's lips were warm and wet, as the kissing became more intense. Lips meshed, separated for air, and returned again. He tasted of rain and dewdrops, of mint and crisp nights; he tasted of winter. Rei felt the tip of Kai's tongue with his own timidly, and ran it along the inside of Kai's lips and the roof of his mouth; gaining control of the kiss without realising it. Kai, in his ardour, moved Rei back against the tree and ran his hands possessively down Rei's back until they came to rest on his arse.
He squeezed.
Rei jumped, surprised at Kai forward ways, and broke the kiss. He could feel his cheeks burning, but Kai looked as unruffled as before, even as the rain grew substantially heavier.
He shivered, then felt the hands remove themselves from his backside and curl around his waist territorially, and warmth flowed through him. He looked up at Kai and saw a smirk gracing his features. Rei gave a slight smile in return.
"So… what now?" He had to shout to be heard over the rain.
Black bits of fringe had plastered to his forehead and into his eyes. Rei felt Kai smooth his hair out of his eyes – they felt icy against Rei's skin – blinked away the rain and looked up, expecting an answer.
Kai tilted his head to the side, peered at Rei through slanted eyes, and smirked again.
"Getting out of the rain would be good."
"Yeah…" Rei replied slowly.
"But I have a better idea of what 'would be good'."
He proceeded to nibble Rei's neck, ear-lobe and lips for the next hour.
And that was very good.
End of Chapter