FOR GOD'S SAKE! IT'S A FOUR-SHOT!

Yes, once again, I wrote twice as much as I bloody planned!

As for the reviews, I can't thank you guys enough. I got so much feedback and it is a real motivation.

Anyway, enough talk from me. Here's the next chapter.


There was a pained silence around the table, one which nobody wanted to deal with but all words seemed to fail. All that could be managed from the four young boys were deep breaths before they would open and close their mouths in attempt to say something, anything.

Tyson was still looking away, his eyes lingering on the floor. He swallowed a lump in his throat but it only seemed to come back seconds later, bigger than before. He felt physically sick, all the guilt he felt before doubled in size. How must have Kai felt when Tyson yelled at him? Called him selfish and inhuman?

Tyson remembered back in China when Max had confided in him that he was a little bit afraid of the dark. He remembered the flash of desperation flicker through those sky-blue eyes. He was so nervous when night came around that he felt like he had to tell someone. What would Max have done if Tyson had reacted badly to hearing that?

Tyson closed his eyes. Kai had swore at him and ignored him since last night. And... and all because Tyson had released his anger at him over something as trivial as a light.

"Boys..." Mr. Dickinson said after a while, noticing how the four young teens seemed lost in their own thoughts. Slowly, they each turned to look at the wrinkled face which was lined with sadness. With their attention back on him, Mr. Dickinson continued hesitantly.

"I need you four to promise me that you won't... tease him or make fun of him."

He was met with four horrified expressions.

"S-Sir! - Mr. Dickinson!" Ray stammered in a hurt voice, "you should know; we w-would never...!"

"I know you would never intentionally tease him, Ray," Mr. Dickinson cut in defensively, "but you must understand that Kai is extremely sensitive about this phobia, as much as he tries to hide and deny it. Even just the mention of it can cause him to retreat into himself... He finds it - humiliating..."

At this, the others blinked, confused. Humiliating? Why would Kai be humiliated about being somniphobic? It was nothing to be ashamed of. But then again... if it was nothing to be ashamed of, why hadn't Kai told them earlier? Mr. Dickinson appeared to read their minds.

"Listen," he said, clasping his hands on the table in front of him again, "somniphobia is quite rare, and most somniphobics manage to overcome their fears with the right help. However Kai has seen many psychiatrists over the years, and nothing has been any help to him. There was a period of months a few years ago when he was placed on a high dose of medication to make him fall asleep because he was so reluctant to do so and it was affecting his health."

"But that doesn't explain why he would be embarrassed by his phobia," Max stated still feeling slightly confused.

Mr. Dickinson sighed. "The truth is boys; is that Kai sees it as childish. Look at his personality. For years he has prided himself on his strength and almost fearless nature, but in fact, he is terrified of something which is one of the most natural aspects of life. Sleeping. How easy is it for anyone of you to fall asleep at night?

"The thing which humiliates Kai the most, is the fact that he knows there is nothing to be afraid of. He knows that falling asleep will not cause him any harm. But somewhere deep in his mind, he cannot get over the feelings that if he falls asleep, he will not wake up. That is why he didn't want any of you to know; he thinks that you would no longer respect him for having such a - and I quote - 'pathetic and childish' phobia."

Eyes locked on his face, Mr. Dickinson prayed they would understand. He found it difficult just talking about this - issue - let alone having to try and explain the unreachable inner layers of Kai's mind. He watched closely as each of the boys were stuck in their own deep thoughts, wondering when and how they would react. Mr. Dickinson was very aware that none of the four would ever dream of using this information against Kai, but he needed their reassurance that they understood exactly why their captain would be so unwillingly to tell them such important things about himself. It was nothing to do with trust. It was all about Kai's insecurities. He was, after all, still a fourteen year old boy with much to learn in life.

"Is - is there anyway we can help?"

Mr. Dickinson jumped slightly, looking up and meeting with Tyson's eyes. The navy-haired teen had been the first to speak up after the long silence. Slowly, the older man shook his head with an exasperated sigh.

"I highly doubt it Tyson," he answered sadly, "Kai has built too many walls up around himself through embarrassment and pride that words barely reach him anymore... maybe - maybe it would be best if you pretended not to know anything."

Mr. Dickinson trailed off and drank the rest of the tea in his cup, remaining silent. With no words spoken, the boys all took this as the end of the conversation. With uncomfortable glances to one another the finished off their breakfast and made the small walk to the training room where they knew Kai would be waiting.


For the first time since they'd met; Tyson was actually afraid to talk to Kai. Usually when Tyson tried to strike up a conversation with the crimson-eyed captain, it would no doubt end up with Tyson scowling and pouting after a) being answered with a cold/indifferent/sarcastic/hurtful remark or b) getting smacked painfully over the head. However, despite Kai nearly always replying to the younger teen with column a) or column b) (or sometimes both), Tyson had never been scared of Kai. Sometimes he felt a little intimidated or nervous around the older boy, but that wasn't something that would ever stop him pushing his luck with Kai.

Yet, right now, as he watched Kai stand only a few feet from himself, thoughts whirling around in his brain, urging him to say something, Tyson found that his mouth would not open due to fear. What was he afraid of? He cursed himself mentally.

He was scared that if he opened his mouth and tried to speak; he would hurt Kai's feelings.

Hurt Kai's feelings.

Before today he had seriously questioned over to whether or not Kai had feelings.

But how, Tyson questioned himself, would Kai react if one of them brought the subject up? How would he feel knowing that Mr. Dickinson had gone against his word and told his team-mates probably his most deepest secret? Tyson shivered. He didn't like to think about the amount of things that would get broken or the amount of ranting Mr. Dickinson would receive or for how long Kai would ignore them afterwards.

Yet, despite all this, Tyson wanted to say something. He wanted to help Kai. And he was pretty sure Kenny, Ray and Max felt the exact same. Tyson had noticed the change in all of them. Kenny was recording their training as usual while summing up all of the data that would be flashing across his laptop round about now, but, the small computer-wizard kept looking up and peering over his laptop at Kai. Max and Ray were both sparing their captain more glances than usual. The same thought running through each of their minds. How is it that this person - their cold, unfaltering, indifferent team leader - how was it that he was afraid of going to sleep?

Max seemed to be the one who was watching Kai the most, and Kai had probably picked up on it, however, it was no secret that Max admired Kai in a lot of ways, but instead of yelling at the persistent blonde, Kai allowed his to look, as long as he didn't speak. Whether or not Kai had noticed that Max was glancing at him more often than normal, he didn't say anything.

Every time Max's eyes locked on Kai's figure, he felt a plunge of sadness within him. There were so many little things about Kai that he had never noticed before. The dark circles around his eyes for one. They suddenly seemed to stand out remarkably against his pale skin. Also, when Kai thought no one was watching, occasionally he would turn away and stifle a yawn with his palm.

Max had never before realised just how much coffee Kai drank either.

After a very silent and eerie morning of training, the group had returned to the hotel restaurant/buffet room and had dinner at 1pm. They ate mostly in silence. Max sat with his head bowed, his blonde bangs falling over his eyes. He was watching his fork as he slowly played with his food, but every now and again he glanced up at Kai. One cup of coffee. Two cups. Three cups. Fours cups...

Five cups of coffee in the space of an hour.

Max cringed as Kai downed the remains from his last cup, and then stood up. He spared his team a look before announcing, "you've got five minutes to finish up."

Ray and Kenny nodded, whilst Max and Tyson barely looked up. Kai left the table with no other words and headed to the training room, vaguely wondering why his normally happy and annoying loud team-mates were so glum. Not once did he suspect that his 'secret' had gotten out.


When night arrived, that awkward silence was still hanging in the air. There were a few moments when things seemed be more normal, like when Tyson cracked a joke and the others (minus Kai) had laughed. However, only one of them had to glance at Kai for the silence to ensue again. Even Kai sat with a curious raised eyebrow, as the abrupt laughter suddenly stopped with everyone looking at their shoes.

Kai watched as his team-mates climbed into their beds. He noticed how, when one of them were to lock eyes with him, they would look away much quicker than usual. Kai shook his head, and laid down on the sofa, pulling his book out from under the pillow. He switched the lamp that was on the floor next to the sofa on. Stretching out, he opened his book with a little sigh and began to read, wishing for his walkman. He quickly glanced at the clock that was held on the wall behind the TV. It was only eleven-thirty.

He would have assumed that his team-mates had fallen asleep quite quickly, as there was no movement behind him. His eyes flickered to the ceiling as he listened carefully; it was almost an unnatural stillness. They - his team-mates - had been acting completely out of the usual all day. Well, since breakfast anyway. During training, there had been none of that stupid cheerfulness. Tyson hadn't argued back with him at all, he hadn't complained that he was hungry, the he didn't want to run laps or do sit-ups. He just done exactly what Kai had told him to do, first time, no questions. Kai couldn't say that this was a bad things... but it just didn't feel right. He'd gotten so used to having these daily battles with Tyson that they had become routine. He expected them, and he had always enjoyed seeing Tyson splutter incoherently when Kai would put him down.

Kai suddenly tensed when he sensed movement behind him. Very close behind him.

He looked up and, speak of the devil, saw Tyson, stood behind the sofa looking down at him, with... concern in his eyes? Kai sent a glare at him, however, Tyson didn't falter. Instead he moved around the side of the sofa, next to where Kai's head was resting on a cushion and crouched down. Kai frowned. What the hell was Tyson doing?

"Kai?" Tyson whispered, only Kai ignored him and went back to his book.

"Kai?"

Kai closed his eyes in annoyance and sighed, "look Tyson, if the light -"

"I don't care about the light, Kai," Tyson said calmly, making Kai look up with a mocking expression. Tyson however, completely ignored this look.

"Kai... why don't you come share my bed?" he said after a while.

The mocking expression on Kai's face turned into one of confusion, but there was also suspicion hiding in those crimson eyes. Kai dropped his book onto the floor and sat up. He glared at Tyson, demanding he explain himself. Tyson, feeling nervous, glanced towards the beds. Kai saw this flicker of the eyes and followed Tyson's glance and saw that Max, Ray and Kenny were all awake and sat up in their beds, watching carefully. Their eyes spoke to Tyson and the Dragon wielder felt reassured, he returned his gaze to Kai, who had fixed his glare back at him. Tyson swallowed.

"Come on, you must be tired..." he said in a voice just above a whisper.

Kai lowered his head a little and peered up at Tyson, trying to find out what his game was. Those stormy eyes... there was concern, worry and determination.

Kai suddenly reeled backwards, shock on his face. Within seconds he understood.

They know. They know!

To his right, Max and Ray exchanged looks, but Kai could only stare at Tyson in utter shock. How? How did they find out? Why was Tyson looking at him with those eyes? Kai felt his body start to involuntarily shake. There was a lump in his throat and no matter how much he tried to swallow, it would not go down. He almost gasped when Tyson leaned over the arm of the sofa towards him.

"Kai..."

Kai watched as Tyson extended an arm towards him, his fingers stretching out towards his shoulder. For one single moment, Kai felt utterly helpless. His team-mates knew his deepest, most hidden secret. The one thing he was so insecure about... they would never respect him again. He would never respect himself.

Kai slapped Tyson's hand away in one furious swipe. Suppressing a growl, he sent his most vicious glare. He couldn't let this damage his pride.

"Whatever Mr. Dickinson has told you..." he hissed, loud enough for the other three still sat in their beds to hear, "it's not true. He knows nothing, and neither do you!"

Kai almost felt himself crumple. Those eyes! Why are they looking at me like that?!

Tyson lowered his hand, sadness etched on his face.

"Kai... we don't care, y'know? It doesn't matter to us, we just want to help."

Kai's head snapped to the right, his glare now fixed on Max. The blonde had moved to the end of the bed he shared with Ray and was leaning forward... as though he was reaching out to Kai.

Kai looked away, "I don't know what you're talking about," he said stubbornly, crossing his arms.

Max bit his lower lip. The last thing he wanted was an argument, after all, they were only trying to help. Was this really something that Kai found so hard to accept?

"Kai is extremely sensitive about this phobia. He finds it - humiliating..."

As Mr. Dickinson's words floated through his mind, Max watched as a red flush seemed to spread across Kai's face and his jaw tensed as though he was trying to control his blush.

"Kai... we know you're embarrassed -"

"Embarrassed?!" Kai snapped, his glare shooting back to Max, who silenced immediately, "who the hell said that?" Kai turned his back on Max and stared at the wall behind the TV instead. "You're talking rubbish."

"Kai please..." Tyson started, "we know all about your phobia and -"

"I don't care! Don't you get it!" Kai stormed, turning to Tyson and looking like he wanted to smack the younger teen, "yes, I'm scared of going to sleep! Are you pleased now that I've said it aloud? Now you can all go and talk and laugh about it! But I don't care!"

Tyson watched wide-eyed and open-mouthed as Kai laid back down, pulled his duvet over his body and switched the lamp off, covering the room in darkness. Although it was impossible to see anything more than silhouettes, Tyson was able to sense the uneasy look that was shared throughout the room.

"Lights off. Happy?"

Tyson bit his bottom lip and inhaled sharply through his nose. He stood up and moved away from the sofa, heading back towards his bed. He cast Kai one final glance.

"Despite what you may think Kai, we're here for you... and whenever you're ready, you can come to bed. I promise you'll wake-up."


The ending was a little - what's the word - sappy.

And as I said at the beginning of this chapter, this was meant to be the final update. But I just kept rambling on and on. I swear it this time, next chapter WILL be the last. And it shouldn't be very long either. I was going to write the ending in this chapter. But it wouldn't go very well with the mood of this chapter, I wanted a bit of a happy ending.

So anyway, please review. I don't know if you'll be happy that there is another chapter, or if you feel it's dragging a bit.

Phoenix-Falling