White.
An endless field of white lilies.
The sun is warm against his skin and the sound of bells can be heard in the distance.
A woman is sitting on the ground with a sketchbook on her lap. Her eyes are staring intently at the paper as her graceful hand moves with precise movements.
She is wearing a white dress. The only thing contrasting with the field is her long black hair who was gently stroked by the wind.
Rei calls the woman but she just ignores him.
Suddenly the air becomes colder and Rei feels the chill get through his thin shirt.
The sun is gone, and the flowers start to get carried away by the wind. The bells are getting louder and louder, but the woman continues to sketch, not worried about the change of weather or the sound of the bells getting unbearable. Rei puts his hands over his ears, trying to shut out the loud sound.
His head is hurting.
He tries to get closer to her but the earth under his feet is wet and he falls with his face on the ground.
There are no more flowers around, just mud and rain.
Amber eyes finally stare at him but full of sadness.
The woman says something, but Rei can't hear her.
He can't move. He can't breathe. Air! He needs air!
Rei woke up with a jolt and put a hand over his chest. He sighed relieved when he realized he was in his bed.
It has been a while since I dreamed of her, he thought tiredly. A yawn escaped from his lips and he rubbed his eyes.
It was early, the sun hadn't still reached his window. He could sleep a little longer, but the sound of the bells still echoed in his mind.
He stood up and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Lai's letter was still left abandoned on the table. Rei picked it up and read it again, skipping the pleasantries at the beginning. At this point, he had memorized each word of the letter.
Same words as yesterday and the day before yesterday. What did he expect? That they would change during the night? The elders wanted him back to the village. Lai's grandfather, the current clan leader, had decided to retire, and now Rei had to take his place as the chosen one of the White Tiger Bit-beast.
Take his responsibilities. . . Going back to the village. . . Leaving this place and his friends.
Leaving him.
So many things to do, so little things Rei wanted to do, but it was time to put his feelings aside. He couldn't stay just to help the BBA and for some part-time jobs. He had followed his dreams when he had left the village. He had explored the world and met powerful Beybladers during his journey that had made him a stronger person.
It was time to get back now. . .
After breakfast, Rei decided to make a bit of work out before going to the BBA.
Today he had a meeting with President Daitenji. He hadn't told Rei what he wanted to talk about, probably it was something about the opening of the new Beyblade stadium. The meeting was a good opportunity to tell Daitenji about his departure. And he had to tell the others too, he couldn't just disappear.
Rei felt his heart clench at the thought as he made his pushups. He shook his head and concentrated on his training. Dwelling on it wouldn't help.
Once he finished, he quickly took a shower, got himself ready and left the apartment.
After the new beginning in a shack, the BBA was back, stronger than before, but this time there were no other people who could make decisions outside of the chairman. The association had different business partners but there was no board they had to answer to.
Rei entered the building, greeted the secretary and went to the top floor where President Daitenji's headquarters were located.
"Rei, good to see you, my boy," the man greeted him warmly when Rei entered the office.
Daitenji had been absent for a few days and Rei had taken care of some of his work. Now that Rei thought about it the President had given him more paperwork and other stuff to do that didn't really belong to him. Not that Rei minded, he just wondered what the old man was thinking.
"I hope you had a good travel," Rei said politely, taking place in front of the desk.
"Indeed, I did," Daitenji answered. He told Rei about his business trip in New York and Rei told him about the progress with the opening of the new Beyblade stadium.
"That's good, but Rei, I actually didn't want to just talk about this."
Rei frowned slightly.
"You see I've becoming older and I've been thinking about the future of this organization."
"I think you are in a great shape," Rei reassured.
Daitenji laughed. "Rei, there is a reason why I lately gave you more desk work and responsibilities. . . I want you to be my successor."
Rei gasped, staring at the president with wide-eyes. "I- What?" he said, his brain slow to catch up with the sudden revelation.
"I've been thinking about this a lot," Daitenji started. "I've been with the BBA since the beginning. I saw it grow, fall and rise again. I saw who supported it and who wanted to destroy it. The BBA is not just my legacy but my family. Isn't it the same for you?"
"I guess..." Rei's gaze fell on his lap. He took a moment to collect himself, he didn't know what to say. His mind was overloaded with different thoughts, each of them fighting with each other.
True, the BBA had become something precious to him. Especially the ex Beyblade team. Daitenji himself had become something like a mentor when Rei had started to explore the world with just a bit of money, one bag, and his Beyblade.
But caring for something and taking care of something were two different things.
He didn't even know anything about business or how to run a company. He was just a village boy with barely an acceptable school curriculum. Rei was an adaptable person, but he wasn't qualified for something so big. He felt flattered by Daitenji's choice, but there were people more suited than him out there.
"But why me?" Rei asked. "I don't think I'm suitable for such an important position."
"Rei, you are one of the few people I trust the most," Daitenji said, smiling. "You love this sport, you know what Beyblade means for a lot of people and the true spirit of the BBA."
"Loving something isn't enough," Rei mused. "Especially in this case. After all, Takao, Max and a lot of other people would meet those requirements too."
"Yes," Daitenji conceded. "But you are the one who has always been by my side since the rebuilding. You know how things work here. Of course, you will need a firmer education. That's why the BBA will give you a scholarship for a University."
"I. . ." Rei was shocked by Daitenji's offer.
"But I don't want to pressure you, Rei," Daitenji said gently. "I would understand if you are not interested. I'm aware I'm giving you a big burden and I also know about your responsibilities to your village."
"You know?" Rei wondered. "But then why. . ."
"I'm a bit of a selfish man," Daitenji confessed lightly. "I can't just ignore a good chance, your hard work hasn't been unnoticed. Even our partners support my decision, and from what I gather you aren't entirely uninterested."
Rei bit his lip, not having a reply for him yet. "By partners, you mean PPB?" The PPB had helped a lot to get BBA back on his feet. "This is why you went to New York?"
"Not only," Daitenji said, not giving him a real answer. "Think about it, Rei. You don't have to give me an answer now."
Rei nodded numbly and stood up. "Thank you, President Daitenji," he said, bending his head.
"Oh and Rei?" Daitenji called him before he got out of the room.
"Yes?"
"You can have a day off today."
Usually, Rei didn't like to have free days during the week, everyone was usually busy with school, or work in Kai's case. But today he was grateful for it, he doubted he could concentrate on something else. Thankfully he didn't even have to go to the restaurant where he worked part-time.
So he wandered through the streets, lost in his thoughts, unaware where his feet were taking him.
He couldn't still believe it. He, the next chairman of the BBA? It was just too absurd to be even a joke. A part of him felt thrilled by the idea. It was an honorable position and ambitions wasn't something he lacked. He liked his job at the BBA and the opportunity to advance his school education sounded also tempting.
Now that he was older he knew he couldn't just live with beyblading. This was a good opportunity, a new goal to reach. Help younger Beybladers like Daitenji had done with him a long time ago. And... hold your horses Rei!
The clan was waiting for him and he didn't want to leave forever the village, right?
Are you sure about it? A little voice whispered in his mind. A little nasty voice that reminded him of the hard truth that he had always tried to ignore.
That he didn't want to go back.
He had built himself a new life here in Japan and had a new family. Mao, Lai, and the others were good friends, but they weren't enough to keep him in the mountains. Here, he didn't have the unconscious feeling of wanting to escape that he always had back at the village.
Rei took out his bey and stared at the White Tiger. The Bit-beast glittered under the sunlight.
The White Tiger had always taught him to fight with all his strength, to be true to himself and to never give up. The Bit-beast had always supported Rei and never judged him. But the White Tiger was also the symbol of his clan. It marked Rei as the next leader.
What do you think should I do? he asked, feeling torn apart.
The White Tiger stayed silent and Rei chuckled. Of course, he had to find the answer in himself, he couldn't always rely on the Sacred Beast.
He put the bey away and opted to go home but he got distracted when his gaze fell on a flower shop's display, where different flowers were exposed.
A bunch of white lilies stood out above all the colorful flowers. It took his mind back to childhood memories of easier times where he didn't have to make decisions. Of sweet words that told him that there was always a happy ever after.
"Are you going to buy them? A gift for your girlfriend?" A heavy accented Russian voice asked him mockingly.
Rei sighed and turned around. "Boris. . . Are you working here?" he asked back playful. "Did Kai finally fire you?"
"Ah ah funny," Boris sneered. He showed Rei an envelope of baozi, the ones from Rei's favorite shop. "I went to buy something for brunch, was back on my way and found you staring at the flowers like a weirdo for several minutes."
Rei felt his cheeks warm up for the embarrassment. "I wasn't-"
"I don't care," Boris cut him off, walking past him. "Are you going to come?"
"Come where?" Rei wondered.
Boris looked over his shoulder and gave him an unimpressed look. "To see Kai? I thought you were directed there."
Rei blinked and stared down the street. The Hiwatari Enterprise's glass building stood out, being one of the tallest skyscrapers of the city. Even when he wasn't seeking for him his feet brought him there. Should he go? Kai was probably busy with work. . . but if Boris went to go buy food he was probably taking a break.
"Well? I'm becoming old here, Rapunzel," Boris complained.
Rei rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, let's go. I don't want your hair to become paler," he deadpanned.
Boris sent him a glare and walked away. For a moment Rei was bemused for the lack of a reply but then he grinned. It seemed like someone was sensible about their hair.
He and Boris weren't exactly acquaintances, only recently Rei had started to get to know him better after he and Yuriy had moved to Japan and started to work for Kai. Boris's rude comments barely afflicted Rei since he knew they were pretty harmless, especially the one directed to him. After all his tough behavior just hid a scarred heart.
They reached Hiwatari Enterprises in silence. Since Boris was the one responsible for the security they could take the elevator that took them directly to Kai's floor without waiting for permissions.
Rei tensed when angry yells were what welcomed them when they reached the floor. Boris stood stubbornly before him, not letting Rei go past by him.
"What is happening?" Rei asked, worried.
"I don't know," Boris whispered. "Maybe an attack."
"Attack?!"
Boris turned around and gave him the bag of food. "Just get out of here," he said, leaving Rei in the elevator.
Rei stared at the empty place left by Boris and shook his head. "Like hell," he murmured. He couldn't stay here if Kai was in danger.
He stepped out of the elevator, turned the corner that brought him at Kai's office and stopped on his tracks. Kai was there and he was shouting at a couple.
"And now get out of my sight!"
"Kai, please," the woman said, raising an arm but the man hold her back. The man had a fresh bruise on his cheek and the woman was at the edge of tears.
The couple probably was in their early forties. The man was tall, had dark blue hair and a slight stubble. He was dressed in simple clothes. He didn't look like a businessman. The woman, on the other hand, had brown coiffed hair and wear an elegant tailleur. They looked familiar. . .
"Out! I said out!" Kai shouted, raising an arm. Yuriy was there as well and he was holding Kai back from jumping on the man.
Rei realized with horror that Kai was probably responsible for the man's bruised face. It wasn't difficult to get on Kai's blacklist, but these people must have done something really bad to make Kai lose his composure in this way outside of a Beyblade battle, and especially, here at his workplace.
"Boris, finally!" Yuriy said when his icy gaze landed on them. "Bring this two out of here!"
Boris nodded but the man raised a hand.
"We know where the exit is, let's go, dear," the man said, grabbing the woman gently by her arm and leading her away.
"Make sure they really go," Yuriy told Boris who sighed and went after the couple.
Rei met the man's gaze as the couple passed by him and he could see a sense of recognition in the man's familiar red eyes. But how-
"Rei. . ."
Being called, Rei looked away and turned to Kai. He looked less furious but he was still visibly tense. He had gotten himself free from Yuriy's hold and was staring at Rei with watchful eyes. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Rei felt like a child caught with a hand in the cookies jar and raised the bag that Boris had given to him. "I have food?"
Kai's angry expression turned into his typical no-time-for-nonsense face.
Yeah, what was Rei thinking? He wasn't talking with Takao. "Sorry, I assume I arrived in a wrong moment," Rei said, amending himself. "I will go-"
"No," Kai interrupted him. "Follow me," he said, turning around and walking to his office.
Rei stared at Kai's figure, his eyes lingering a bit too long at the lower side of his back.
"Well, what are you waiting?" Yuriy said, giving Rei an annoyed look.
Rei had completely forgotten about him. He put himself together and followed Kai in the office.
So, I hope you are not disappointed by this "surprises". . . see you to the next chapter :)