Wow I'm back already. See I told you guys I wasn't going to leave you hanging. I'm glad to see people are actually looking at this thing meaning that Kai and me aren't wasting our time by telling this story. Now if anyone- except for my best friend because she doesn't count- can guess what Kai's nightmare's about before reading this chapter you can get a cookie. If you can't read on and find out.

Chapter 2: The Past

The next day Kai was acting stranger than ever. The encounter between Ray and himself had left some tension between the two teens and there was still the pressing matter of the nightmare. Kai wanted to trust Ray, he really did but he simply couldn't bring himself to do that.

I can't let him in. If I do he'll just end up getting hurt like everyone else who has gotten too close to me. And it's not like I can start letting anyone in now especially with that day drawings so close. Not when the visions in my dream last night brought back the pain that I had been trying to lock up inside me. It's just too close now and all too real. The things I did. How I…"

Kai let his mind trail off unable to finish the thoughts as he didn't even want to think about the painful memory. All that day the darkness of his past long forgotten tugged as his heart until he could bear it no longer. Later that night after his teammates had gone off to bed Kai stole away from the hotel. He knew where it was he had to go and what he had to do to ease his torment.

Though unbeknownst to Kai, Ray had watched his crimson eyed captain leave through a single amber slit. Ray rose from his bed and stealthily tracked Kai in silence wondering where the other boy could possible be going. The two shadows stalked the night left the glamour and lights of Vegas to a plot of land at the edge of the vast desert that stretched out for miles before them.

This bit of land on the other hand was different. It was cultivated and lush and green. There was also a beautiful walled off garden surrounding an old looking mansion that appeared to be scarred with the black fingers of old burns. Kai walked straight through the building and out to the garden's heart.

Luckily enough the shadow who stalked his movements was unnoticed by Kai as the blue haired teen was lost in his own mind. His mind was filled with conflicting emotions as he stared up at the tombstone before him. Thinking of the past Kai removed the spiked guard covering his left arm to reveal a long scar down the length of his forearm.

"This scar will forever be a reminder of what I did," he said to himself his mind filled with the memory of the old wound

Falling down to his knees tears flooded the crimson pools as Kai began to weep at the foot of the grave.


Ray's POV

Watching Kai I didn't know what to think. I just wish I knew what was going on through his head. It must be something terribly wrong if he's acting like this. Kai's never been the kind of person to let his emotions get the better of him yet he looks so torn apart. Almost like a little kid who's lost something important to him. That's it, I don't care what it is. Kai needs to know that he's not in this alone. I just can't bear standing here any longer. My mind made up I wrapped his arms around the torn boy in a friendly hug.


End Ray's POV

Kai felt the embrace but he didn't care anymore. The strong leader had been broken down under the weight of his emotions and his defense's had slipped. For a good few minutes the phoenix sobbed into the white folds of the Chinese shirt of whoever held him as he let out all his pain and suffering. After what seemed like a long while crimson met amber as Kai looked up into Ray's concerned gaze.

In almost a whisper Kai wondered, "Ray, why did you follow me?"

"Because I said I wanted to help and as your friend I care about what's been going on with you," the other replied, that concerned feeling never leaving his gaze.

"I can handle myself."

"Why don't you just talk to me, man. It would help you to get it all out."

"I don't know if I can," he replied, sadly.

The tiger would have given his friend another concerned stare but when he looked past Kai and noticed what was written on the tombstone, "Toshiro and Kyra Hiwatari, died September 22nd 1993. They're your parents, aren't they?"

Kai's eyes shifted back to the scar on his arm. "Yeah, it was ten years ago next week. I was only a little kid."

"Is that what's been bugging you?"

"Part of it," Kai replied tartly.

"So what happened to them?"

"You really want to know, Ray?"

"Yes," was the reply.

Kai paused for a long time before answering the question, "I… killed them."

"But why... how?"

"Let's go inside," Kai stated and walked into what seemed like a quiet, little kitchen.

Kai sat down in one of the chairs and the other boy sat across the table from him, lost for words. Once in a more comfortable position the phoenix explained the nightmare that had been haunting his dreams.


Flashback

It was September 22nd and I had just turned five that day. I was really excited as my Dad had just given me my very first beyblade, Dranzer and I was so happy that day- as shocking as it sounds. Everything was going great, that is until my grandfather showed up.

"Happy Birthday, my dear grandson," the old man greeted.

"Hi grandpa," I happily smiled back, "What are you doing here?"

"I've brought a present for you, grandson. Though unfortunately you'll have to wait for that," he smiled, if only I knew how fake it was at the time.

Then my parents came to see who it was at the door. My mother with her bright blue hair flowing as she walked toward me looked at me sadly. The twinkle gone from her blue eyes as she scolded.

"Kai, I thought that we told you to stay away from him."

"But Mommy, Grandpa said he has a present for me."

"And what's that? Making our lives miserable? No, nothing good can come from my father. As for you get out of here and leave us alone," my father replied in a dark tone that I'd never heard him use before.

"I don't think so, Toshiro," the man grinned maliciously and the next thing I knew I was grabbed up by the back of my shirt.

Dad growled, "You leave my family alone."

I looked up at his face framed by his long black hair and saw a stern look in his crimson eyes I didn't know. It was hate. What I did know was that I was afraid and wanted away from my crazy grandfather.

"You know son, this boy has the potential to be strong. Maybe he should take your place," Grandfather grinned.

My dad yelled, "You leave him out of this! Or else-"

"Or else what, boy? If you come back to me peacefully then your son won't have to suffer."

"I'll never go back to you!"

"Pity, that's too bad. Maybe this will change your mind."

I caught a glint of something silver and then I felt a sheering pain in my arm. It hurt so much that tears fell from my eyes as my grandfather merely laughed. I glanced down at my arm and saw blood seeping from the long gash.

Something inside me snapped then and for some reason my hands grew warm with heat. And I soon realized I was the source as fire shot out from me, spreading everywhere. I saw my parents fall from the heat and smoke as my grandfather pulled me away from the hungry raging fire.

He looked at me with shame and disappointment, "Kai how could you? You've killed your own parents."

"Grandpa… I…"

"Shh Kai, it's alright. I'll take you home with me and everything will turn out fine."


End Flashback

"And that's what happened. As you can tell most of the place was saved by the firemen. Though the entryway and the living room are in bad shape," Kai finished too ashamed to look at his companion.

Ray was silent for a while taking in everything that the young phoenix had told him. After some time he asked, "How can you think that it was your fault?"

"Because I started the fire. I didn't fully understand it then but I have this fire burning within me."

"So you're an elemental then. You're Fire?"

"How would you know about that?"

There was a tiny tremor in the Earth beneath them and Ray grinned, "Because I'm an element too."

They sat in silence for a while longer as the sun came up. The time passed as they sat there together but eventually Kai broke the silence as he wondered.

"Now that you know the secret of what I've done how can you not hate me?"

"Don't you get it yet? I'm your friend dude. And there's no way that I could hate you. All I want is for you to trust me and let us help you."

"Alright then, though I've never had any friends before. But I guess you at least I can trust. Just do me one favour and promise me you won't tell the others."

"I promise, Kai," Ray replied holding out his hand.

Clasping the neko-jin's hand the phoenix whispered, "Thank you."

And I know they're acting out of character but as much as I love Kai I had to do it or my plot would be going nowhere. Besides it's so much fun to torture the poor phoenix with his emotions. I know I'm crazy but not being crazy is too dull. So more cookies to anyone who can figure out where my crazy plot is going or if you have your own ideas let me know and you can get cookies too. It would be nice if you left a review on your way out I would sleep far sounder because of it as I plot the many twisting turns this fic is going to go.