Chapter Three:

I am falling in love with Lei again... This feeling is very strong here in this reality... I haven't even met Dou-Min-Si of this Reality yet. Something is very wrong with Lei though... I could tell. Chin-Hueh said he was unhealthy, the doctors says they visit the hospital often for his sake... Lei even told me that he sometimes feels too ill to come to school and needs to stay in the hospital! Maybe the feeling is only pity for him but it feels more like love is resurfacing. Lei... I miss you. You were always there for me... Is it my turn to be there for you? even though I am in a differnet reality...

Meeting Old and New Friends:

Finally Xi-Men took out an air tank and mask and gently placed the mask over Lei's nose and mouth. He watched as Lei's breathing settled and a sigh of relief excaped him. Xi-Men checked the time noting that he was going to be late for the meeting he quickly restarted the engiens and drove to Lei's house. Lei was sleeping so peacefully that Xi-Men did not want to wake him up so he got out of the car and went to the door telling Lei's caretakers that he brought their young master home. They followed Xi-Men to the car and gently picked Lei up with the air tank and brought the boy to his room as Xi-Men drove away. That night Ah-Si, Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo met up at Ah-Si's house, Lei was resting. It was around 8pm and the boys has just got off from work. They exchanged news while they ate dinner.

"So How's your sister? I heard she has returned from New York..." Mei-Zuo started.

"She is fine, she's teaching me things about the company. I learned a lot from her..." Ah-Si replied.

"That's good. At least you are learning the dealings and other important matters." Xi-Men interjected.

"Yea but it is boring... What about you? How's your work? You don't sound happy..." Ah-Si said.

"Well I'm doing okay... My father thinks otherwise... That's okay though, I'll try my best to gain his approval although it may mean I would have to spend more time in the company." Xi-Men said.

"You have been working a lot though... At this rate you won't have time to spend with your friends anymore." Mei-Zuo said.

"He's right, especially since our baby doesn't seem to have much time left, I'd want to spend time with him before anything happens..." Ah-Si said.

"Don't talk about this..." Mei-Zuo exclaimed nearly in tears... It was a sensitive subject to bring up.

"We'd have to face it sooner or later anyway... Although I don't really want to talk about this we have to..." Ah-Si pointed out. (note that he is more mature in this reality, more like Ah-Xing.) "How was he?"

"Not good. He looked so weak and tired today... I think he needs to go to the hospital again in a few days. He was struggling for air as he slept... That's why I was late for the meeting today." Xi-Men told them.

"What happened?" Mei-Zuo asked.

"I was surprised though... he had a young girl help him to the car... He told me he trusted her like he should know her but he doesn't but it felt like she knows him... Maybe he was in a delusion so I don't think we should think much of it."

Sancai walked in the streets thinking about Lei as she headed home... Lei looked so pale and unwell when she waved good bye... There was this nagging feeling that something is going to happen to him. Suddenly two cars that she reconized passed her... One of them backed up to her and parked nearby... It was Xi-Men... The other driver did the same and both boys came out of the car and Mei-Zuo gave Xi-Men a confused look.

"Xi-Men, Mei-Zuo... How is Lei? Is he okay? What's wrong with him?" Sancai asked for a moment she forgot that that this was a world that they did not know her.

The two boys looked at each other not knowing what to say and they felt something strange. Xi-Men recovered first and asked "Who are you?"

Realization hit her like a rock and she proceeded with an explaination. "I met him at school today, he asked me for help... I am worried..."

Xi-Men realized that this feeling was the same one Lei was discribing to him... "Do we know you from somewhere?" He asked.

"Xi-Men what are you talking about to this stranger?" Mei-Zuo asked "How could we have met her before?"

"I'm getting this feeling like I should know her... It is like what Lei told me..."

"Boys! I want to know if Lei is okay or not! Please tell me!" Sancai yelled at them.

Shock ran through the two of them for being spoken in such a harsh tone... Nobody other than their family and friends talked to them in that tone before... "fine just fine..." Mei-Zuo stammered out

"I'm so relieved... But... what's wrong with him...?" Sancai asked.

"Why are you so intersted in Lei's condition? It really doesn't have anything to do with you..." Xi-Men pointed out. "We don't even know you..."

"My name is Ying-Hua. I want to know because I care! I want to be his friend, to help him!" She said firmly.

"I warn you now... don't get too close to Lei or you'd regret it..." Xi-Men said gentle yet a bit gloomy and quietly. It wasn't a threat...

"What? Why?" She asked confused.

"It's for your own good... Don't become too attatched like us... or it'd be too hard to say good bye when the time comes." Mei-Zuo said sadly...

"You know, you are not making any sense! I asked you what was wrong with him and you tell me to stay away from him... what kind of answer is that anyway?" She exclaimed angrily.

"Please don't ask us... Lei would tell you if he wants to. Good bye." Xi-Men said and went back to his car.

The two drove away but Sancai caught Mei-Zuo's expression... It was gloomy... She was greatly confused by what they said but she was relieved to know that at least they are similar to the playboys she knew from her reality. She thought about a way to find out since no one would tell her she is getting more worried for Lei's sake. She did not understand what they meant by she'd regret becoming close to him.

The next morning when it was still early Ah-Si went to Lei's house to see that the boy was still asleep peacefully... He instintively asked the caretakers how long had their little master been asleep. Ah-Si wasn't happy about the answer that he had not awoken since Xi-Men brought him home... It was true that he needed rest but sleeping too long means there is a chance he'd be sleeping forever. That also means he did not have dinner which wasn't a good thing for his body. Ah-Si shook Lei gently trying to wake him without hurting him. It took some effort and over an hour but he finally managed to wake up the uncouncious boy. It was a good thing that he arrived very early. Lei was confused and surprised at the bright sunlight that poured into his bedroom. He expected to see the stars and get dinner... Ah-Si told him that it was time for school and they had time to go for a big breakfast since he didn't have dinner he must be very hungry.

Ah-Si helped Lei up and took him to (the) breakfast store. (the same one as the one Ah-Xing works at) After Lei finished his meal Ah-Si drove him to school. Lei tried to get up and walk into the school yard without help but he could barely stand up. He felt very dizzy and extremely cold, he had a high fever. Ah-Si noticed that Lei was shivering and wrapped him in a blanket and supported his weight taking him to his first class. Suddenly Lei started to wave at someone suprising Ah-Si.

"Good morning, Ying-Hua!" Lei exclaimed as she came over to him when she saw him waving to her.

"Good morning, Lei and Dou-Min-Si you too." Sancai said quietly wondering what Ah-Si would say.

"Good morning, miss... um... I don't believe we know each other." Ah-Si replied politely

"I'm new to this school, My name is Ying-Hua. It's a pleasure to meet you." Sancai said

"Come on stop with the formalities... You were the one who Xi-Men was telling me about... The one who helped Lei to the car yesterday right? Why did you do it?" Ah-Si wondered

"Why did I do it? I wanted to, and he needed someone's help! I can't just stand there and do nothing about it and leave him behind!" Sancai told him in her usual annoyed voice since he was being dense asking an obvious question. She expected to hear the boy shout at her in an arguement however the loud and angry voice she was used to never came instead she heard the small voice of graditude... She was once again reminded that she was not in her own reality.

"I see, Thank you for helping him. Do you mind taking him to his first class for me? I am going to be late for work if I stay here a little longer. My sister isn't going to be happy if I'm late." Ah-Si sighed worriedly as he asked for a favor in a gentle tone.

"She won't hit you would she?" Sancai blurted out thinking of Da-Jie of her reality.

"What? Why would my sister do that?" Ah-Si was shocked and asked a loud.

"Nevermind... it's just what I heard of Dou-Min-Zhaun I guess..." Sancai said trying to cover up what she just said...

"My sister isn't like that! Don't talk trash about my sister." Ah-Si exclaimed a little agitated.

"We better get to class, before we're late. Ying-Hua, my class is room 123. Ah-Si, you better go now. I'll see you after school." Lei whispered before tension arised between his new friend and his best friend.

"Are you feeling okay?" Sancai asked Lei a moment later as Ah-Si walked away. She noticed that Lei looked flushed and he was still shivering even though he was wrapped within a thick blanket.

"I think I have a small fever but that's nothing compared to what I felt the other day." Lei told her.

"What happened?" Sancai questioned curiously as she helped him to his class.

"Well... it's just one of the conditions my illness causes nothing to worry about." Lei said. He was a little suprised that he was telling her so much.

"I don't know anything about your illness." Sancai complained.

"I was born with it. I don't know very much about it's origins. Maybe you could ask my brother, he might know more about this than me. Do you want to hang out with me later? I might need some help but I don't want to ask people I don't know. I have the feeling that I might need a lot of help today." Lei said.

"I thought you didn't know me... I mean we just met yesterday." Sancai told him

"Yeah well... I don't know why I feel comfortable when you're around me... I trust you even though I don't really know you. Maybe in our previous life we were best friends or something." Lei analyzed

"Previous life...? You mean another life... then... umm do you believe that there is another reality?" Sancai was suprised at what Lei said and she decided to tell him if he knows of it that is.

"I don't really know. What a strange question." He said laughingly. "I suppose you can believe what you want right? I am guessing that we are friends in our past life or another reality in your words." He said seriously.

"Well... I am from another Reality... One where you are healthy... One where Dou-Min-Si is a bully and leader of F4... One where Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo are playboys..." Sancai mumbled under her breath. "Lei... see you at Third period..." Sancai said as the two reached Lei's classroom and Sancai needed to go to her class next door.

When second period ended Sancai was feeling anxious and she did not know why. She believed that it was because that she wanted to see Lei or she was just worried for him. Sancai waited outside the door for Lei to show up however he did not show up until very near the end of the break. Lei was confused as to why Sancai was not already in the classroom but before he could ask he felt extremely dizzy. Before he realized what was happening he had dropped to the ground in a dead faint. Sancai screamed out his name and caught him as he fell pleading for him to wake up. The teacher heard Sancai's scream and came out to see Lei being caught by Sancai, she quickly dialed his emergency family contact and instructed Sancai to bring Lei to the infirmatory.

Lei held on to Sancai's hand when she was about to return to class and won't let go even though he was uncouncious so she had to stay there. The nurse sent a note to the teacher explaining why Sancai did not return to class. About ten minuets later a man who was in his late twentys or early thirties strolled into the infirmatory with a look of worry plastered on his face. He came over to Sancai and started to ask some questions that Sancai did not know how to respond.

"Tell me what happened to my baby brother!" He demended to Sancai.

"What did you say? umm... Who are you?" Sancai asked.

"I'm his brother, Hua-Ze-Long. They call me Ah-Long. Are you Lei's Girlfriend?" He asked

"No. I am his friend! My name is Ying-Hua..." Sancai answered

"I don't think I asked for your name. I want to know what did my brother do before he fainted. Tell me that!" Ah-Long exclaimed in a very harsh tone.

"I don't know what he did in class. I saw him when he was on his way to third period, he fainted suddenly. I didn't know what was going on... or what's wrong with him." Sancai said a little depressed.

"I see... Sorry I was a little rude and harsh on you... I thought you did something to him. He is so weak that anything can make him faint. Do you know anything else that happened?" Ah-Long apologized.

"That you have to ask Dou-Min-Si. He was the one who brought Lei to school." Sancai informed him
"So you know the F4." Ah-Long asked a bit suprised.

"Yes. Big Brother... Is it okay that I call you that? Can I ask you about Lei's condition? Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo wouldn't tell me anything. I suppose they don't trust me but I'd understand if you don't either. I know I should probably just wait until Lei tells me... He said something about being friends in another life..." Sancai wondered.

"Hold on. I need to get a hold of Ah-Si first." He said as he dialed Ah-Si's phone number. "So he has been sleeping for far too long and he had a fever this morning... I see... He doesn't seem to have a fever anymore. ... What do you mean I should have been home? I told you guys to look after him didn't I? I was needed in Japan and today when I got an emergency call from the school I had to take a copter at full speed so that I can make it back here! Don't blame me when you failed to care for him. Anything else I should know? You're telling me to ask Xi-Men? Fine... Don't come to get him after school, I'll do it." He exclaimed into the phone a bit angrily then he called Xi-Men. "Xi-Men, Xong-Er-Lang, (tried to spell out his full name Chinese.) Pick up the Phone! ... ... ... ... Fine call me back as soon as you get this message! I have importent questions about Lei to ask you." He said then hung up. "Okay... If I know the answer I'll answer. Fire away Miss Ying-Hua." He told Sancai.

"Well... Did you find out what made him faint?" Sancai asked

"Still trying to figure that out... Maybe the second period class can tell us that although I have a feeling it has something to do with what happened yesterday." Ah-Long replied

"I met him yesterday and after school I helped him to the schoolyard and Xi-Men drove by to get him..." Sancai said.

"He usually doesn't have much energy so it is normal that he needs help to get to the car. If he faints he must have been feeling terrible and he would still be like that when he wakes up. He must have been uncouncious for a long while..." Ah-Long explained

"Do you know how he got sick? I want to know if he going to be okay? How can I help him?" Sancai asked.

"I don't really know how he got sick but according to Dad, this is some kind of Virus that gets passed from generation to generation and Viruses are incurable. He said something about Lei's immune system was really weak when he was born so it happened. Lei has been in and out of the hospital since he was a little boy so you can imagine if he is okay or not. I mean in one year he has to spend at least 4 months to 8 months in the hospital for nutrition shots and other helpful things. I don't know how you can help him since you know nothing about his habit, illness and what you need to do for him. I know I can tell you of those things but it is hard to explain besides we don't want any more people to grieve for him." Ah-Long said.

"I think I know enough about him to help him." Sancai said.

"What did he tell you?" Ah-Long asked.

"I uh... well... Do you believe there is another Reality out there?" Sancai asked.

"Another Reality? Do you mean to say that you are from a different Reality? You have to tell me what is everyone like in that place! I have been studying about different worlds and I told Lei little of it however he always mistake it as Reincarnation." Ah-Long said interested.

"If you have been studying it do you know anying about traveling between worlds so I can return to my rightful Reality?" Sancai asked hopefully.

"I believe that someone gets send to another reality to learn something important to them when they are stuck with making a very important decision. They would immideatly return to their original reality as soon as their lesson is over. What decision are you stuck on?" Ah-Long explained and then he asked.

"I am not sure... How did you know though?" Sancai wondered.

"When I was a child after Lei was born I was sent to a reality where Lei would never be born. I found out that having a little brother could be fun. At that time I was angry because I didn't want a baby brother and I was considering running away from home because my parents were so engrossed with talking about the baby. He was ill already but I was jelouse of the attention I'm missing out because he came into my life. In that reality I watched as Mom miscarry the baby and then how regretful everyone was... Some other elder brother told me that he is lucky to have someone to look after... My parents in that reality decided to take in an orphan and I tried to help with the baby and when I feel contented when she laughed as I picked her up or when she pulled on my hair I knew I loved that feeling of being an older brother. When I woke up again I was home with my own baby brother. Now will you tell me what is Lei like in your reality? Tell me your troubles and I might be able to help you figure out what you need to do to get home." Ah-Long told her.

"It started a few years ago. My Parents are poor but they loves to show off so they borrowed money from friends and enrolled me into Ying-De so that I could become a Phinex. It was their dream. In my third year I met them... You might not believe how despicable they are... Dou-Min-Si picks fights all the time and their red slip is almost given to anyone who accidently does anything that they don't like. Dou-Min-Si is their leader. I crossed them when my friend accidently poured dust over his head. He pushed her away and there I was defending my friend and the next day I was tagged. Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo seems to be supportive friends here in this reality like in my reality but they are big playboys, most girls love them in my reality. Anyway I refused to leave school and I met him one day when I went to the rooftop to release my stress. Lei was the only person who helped me although he does not speak much. He saved me a few times from Dou-Min-Si's antiques as pranking me. Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo told me that Lei has a crush on Jing since they were children and that his father was strict with him. By the way, in my reality Lei does not have a brother as far as I know and he is the same age as the others. He is as healthy as anyone too. A lot of things happened... Jing returned and left for paris and Lei went with her... Dou-Min-Si told me to date him... When Lei returned from paris he was heartbroken and he kissed me that agitated Dou-Min-Si... I know I love Dou-Min-Si now but at that time I did not understand my feeling, I had some indiscribable feelings for Lei but I let him go because he seem to still love Jing. When Dou-Min-Si's mother found out that he likes me she created a lot of obsticals for us. Finally with his sister's help we were able to be together but when we went to Barselona he got into a car crash and lost his memories of the past. Lei has always been there for me ever since he returned from paris. So now even though I am in a different reality I want to help him. The last time I talked to Dou-Min-Si he told me he does not want to remember me. I was his girlfriend but he does not want to remember me. I saw him kissing his new girlfriend his new lover since he lost his memories. I decided that I want a break from this so I went on a vacation but I found myself in this reality. It is strange though... I am not used to Lei being so talkative and flirtatious that I am falling in love with him again but I don't want to betray Dou-Min-Si and hurt him again when he remembers me..."

"Running away I see... Your situation is a lot more complcated than mine but it is similar in some ways. Follow your heart and you'll find the answer. Lei has had a pretty sheltered life then?"

"I suppose. I miss them... I"

"Who are you talking to and what are you talking about, Ying-Hua?"

"Lei!"

"How are you feeling squirt?"

"Brother... I thought you're not coming back until next week."

"I had to. You fainted and the school called me. Are you okay now?"

"Yea. I'm oka... I think I'm going to be sick... Oh... I have no energy... I'm getting dizzy too."

"Don't worry I'm here, I'm going to take you home now. You are not leaving your bed until you feel better. I don't want you fainting again. Ying-Hua it was nice meeting you, Help me take care of him when he is at school okay?"

"I will."

Ah-Long picked up his little brother and left the room. Sancai sighed and went back to class. That night she sat on her bed pondering what Lei's brother and Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo said to her. She sat on her bed thinking about Lei's illness in this reality. A virus that is passed down from genrations to generations... If she gets too close to Lei she'd regret it later... She remembers Lei from her reality smiling at her telling her to be strong and telling her to not make him worry... She wished to see that Lei and hear his soothing words telling her that everything would be okay. Ah-Si is a puzzle that has different ways to put together... For some reason she is getting extremely worried and anxious to go back and see her best friend. She missed his quietness and silliness as to fly a kite on a raining day or light fireworks in early morning and his gentle loving gaze. Tears rolls down her cheek as she remembers everything they had done together. Occationally she'd remember Dou-Min-Si and how some of the things he had done to her and her blood would boil as anger overtakes her again.

Lei told his brother of the strange feeling that he had when he is around Ying-Hua/Sancai and Ah-Long explained about the different reality to him once again. He told his baby that Sancai is a friend in another reality that is why he feels comfortable around her. Lei just blinked confused but he said nothing. Ah-Si Xi-Men and Mei-Zuo came around to see him. Ah-Long looked at Xi-Men and asked him why he didn't reply his call suprising Xi-Men. Xi-Men's phone is out of battery so it is at home charging. Xi-Men expained that Lei was struggling for breath in the car and he was sleeping very peacefully so he didn't want to wake him up since he only just fell asleep for about half an hour when he dropped him off. Suddenly Lei started to moan and after a few minuets he threw up... Everyone's eyes widened when they saw red gooy liquid in the bag that he threw up in. Shock and fear ran through them.

End Chapter.

I hope you liked this chapter... I hope I did it right and it covered a little more about this reality's people. There will be more about what sancai was brought to this reality for in the next Sancai's Chapter. There is a huge hint for all of you as of my plans if you did not catch it you might in Chapter Four even though it is not about Sancai. I don't want to reveal too much so I should go. Btw Lei's brother's name I just came up with what I thought would sound okay and I decided it should be Long meaning Dragon. Dunno if it is the right way to spell in English. Please leave a review. I'll be back with more later.