4. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME.

"It had been a nice day actually" mused the young man while he dried his thick mane of bluish hair. Checking upon himself in the mirror with a little bit of narcissism, he thought that he was quite content to have spent the day really enjoying himself. While stiffening his back and stomach muscles he thought, " I need training! I am totally rusty! Tomorrow I'll try those gyms down there"

Upon realizing how happy and careless he had been he felt a pang of quilt. Wasn't he the one who wanted to leave Moscow as soon as possible? Although not sure right then why he wanted to leave, he did not fret long upon these thoughts. Putting on some underwear, "Nothing more is needed in these overheated rooms…" Kai thought and grabbed a book from the side table, dimmed the lights and lay on his bed.

Rei and Kenny, and later on Tyson and Max, whom had forgotten their quarrel for the moment, had had great fun battling in a series of Bowls all day. The best was Rei's favourite, the glass bottom one, upon the last floor, over 250 meters above ground.

All of the Bladers were totally run down afterwards and subsequently had a major dinner. When Tyson found the appropriate words to apologize to Rei for his behaviour, Tyson and Max started to argue again, Kenny and Rei agreed to separate them and have a talk with both. Kenny had to cope with a weeping jealous Max, and tried to persuade him that Rei was NOT interested in Tyson. Nor was Tyson, in his opinion, in love with Rei, he just looked up to him.

Rei on the other hand had to deal with a cucumber-for-brains Tyson who did not see the obvious.

In all, both were advised to be open with each other and were left behind to talk it out while Kenny and Rei said goodnight and went to their rooms.

Rei had fallen asleep right after he dried himself from showering, not even minding to re wrap the silky lengths of his raven hair. Sleep took him leaving a serene smile on his face as he had for some hours not thought of Kai.

In his dream, Rei was back in the familiar jungle of his home village. He felt so fine being back. Sounds, scents and landmarks reminded him of his childhood and flashed by as he found himself running. He was not alone. Soon what seemed only shadows following him appeared to be tigers. White tigers. Strange feelings of pride and security met with him as the tigers run beside him through the dense never-ending jungle. Their silent companionship and the feeling of unity made him think they were ONE, a pack, a team. It did not occur to him that tigers do not run in packs, but this was a dream wasn't it?

Suddenly the tigers took the lead and he found himself surged to follow.

He could no longer recognize the surrounding nature, but perceived that he was being led to a place of great importance.

Unexpectedly the tigers leaped out of sight on either side of him, staying behind as Rei dashed into a greenly lit opening. He turned around to see where they've gone but could only make out the glimmer of their yellow feline eyes in the darkness.

"What is going on here?" he wondered.

That place in all its awkwardness seemed to the uneasy young man to reach out for one's insides revealing all that one may prefer hidden. He sensed being tested as years before during his training by the Village Elders. He tried in vain not to feel lonely, lost and weak when reminded of Kai. The very thought of the blue haired man left him powerless.

"You will never live up to what you are worth with these feelings inside!" a deep awing voice drummed directly into Rei's mind.

Boldly the former White Tiger asked, "Who are you!"

"You already know the answer!" bellowed the voice. And when the echo dimmed far away, went on:

"Your inner Strength, your Worth and you Will, will prove to me, I can appear to you Lone Tiger!"

Disbelieving his own assumption yet recognizing the sacred name he was given at his Rites of Passage only a year ago Rei asked "Drigger?…., You…you can speak to me?"

"Yes, all Hidden Spirits you call Bitbeasts can do so" Drigger replied.

The Hidden Spirit sounded so intelligent, so wise, so humane, that Rei was ashamed for the way most Bladers thought of their Bitbeasts. Some, like himself, respected them as superior ancient spirits and worked with them as partners, but mostly as one would work with a pet as partner. It never occurred to him that they were sophisticated and intelligent as human beings or even more. He wanted to apologize for his aspects but did not know how and where to start.

Without warning the Hidden Spirit appeared out of nothing and confronted Rei in mid air. Drigger mind-spoke without moving his fangs or showing any expression that is.

"I will not remind you of your potential Lone Tiger! Slip yet another time into misery and self-pity and I will seize our partnership for a worthier one!

Our fates are entwined in a destiny you have yet to meet.

Wherever this path shall lead us, will you follow?"

"I will," answered Rei.

Kai half-opened his eyes for no apparent reason. He looked over to his BBA watch on the side table and reckoned it was only 3 am. He turned around to resume sleeping when he turned back abruptly as his eyes had caught something peculiar outside the window. The curtains made sight impossible but a faint green light illuminated the neighbouring balcony outside.

Immediately he swung out of bed and drew the curtains aside and saw Rei!

The young man was standing outside in his pyjamas totally frozen in place.

"Rei you fool!" shouted the blue-marked man turning back, pulling on trousers, pullover and stepping into his shoes in a hurry. He snatched his thick BBA coat, grabbed a blanket and ripped the doors open.

A gust of icy wind struck him as he came out to minus 15 degrees Celsius as he jumped over the small gap between the balconies and caught the falling unconscious Rei in his arms. Kai wrapped the blanked around Rei as best as he could, tossed the package over his back and hurried into Rei's room. After having covered Rei with every available blanket, he reluctantly went out, over the balcony, to gather any blankets he had in his room.

After a couple of agonizing moments where Kai was sitting beside the lying young man, Rei started to shiver and that was a good sign. Kai fixed the blankets and pillows around his shaking team-mate and tried yet another time to call him to consciousness.

Rei himself was not really sure if he was dreaming or not. There he could see his body and a stranger propped over it, calling his name. But the viewing angle was all too wrong. "Am I dead then?" he thought, when he saw the stranger turn around and head for the bathroom, stopping and picking up a small object from the floor. It was Kai! Kai had brought him inside where he had woke up before fainting! Kai had taken care he did not freeze to death! And Kai was now caring for him and checking if he has a fever. "This MUST be a dream!" he thought " A wonderful dream" and wishing he were back inside his body, he returned there.

"Kai?" he whispered almost unheard.

"Easy now" Kai hushed him "Don't try to speak you nearly died out there!"

Seeing the now fever stuck adolescent gain his consciousness he felt relieved and a pang of fear and caring struck him as he realized, or better confessed to himself how much he cared for his friend.

Walking over to the bathroom to get a towel for Rei he looked at his reflection in the mirror and could not recognise himself. "What is happening to me?" The aching in his chest and the sudden fear were all so new to him.

He brought himself to reality as he remembered that Rei was not yet out of danger. Fever was good, but Rei's was burning! " Let's see" Kai thought," If he doesn't cool down in 5 minutes I am calling a doctor!"

Going back into the room he saw Rei trying to stand up. Kai hurried towards the now delirious man and pinned him down.

"What are you doing?" he called out.

"Drigger is out there! He is calling me!" Rei tried to shout.

Kai put the object he had picked up earlier into Rei's palm and placing it upon Rei's chest. "Here he is, and … he is back!"

Rei looked at his hand seeing his Blade and Drigger upon the chip, smiled and then looked Kai straight in the eyes, striking his teammate's heart through and through. "Thank you" he said and fell back exhausted.

The helpful Hotel staff had located a doctor amongst the quests and asked him if he would help in this late hour.

"You saved him just in time young man" the doctor said "He is such a strong fellow that he is coming down only with a strong cold. By the Gods he was really lucky!" and while he packed his gear he turned to Kai and told him that he should stay with Rei for the night, just in case.

After Kai was told what to do, he saw the helpful man out the door and met up with Kenny in the corridor.

"What's wrong with Rei?" Kenny asked in a hushed voice.

"What are you doing out here at this hour?" replied Kai.

Kenny, blushing said "i….i am actually always up for so late every night." And as he could see disbelieve in Kai's face he confessed "You see I am talking with…Emily on the chat and there is the time difference with America…."

"Ok!Ok! "Kai said annoyed and turned around. He stopped, the door handle in his hands and stated "Rei is ok, he has come down with a cold and I am going to watch over him for the night." And walked into Rei's room. Before he closed the door Kenny had come forward and said after Kai " Tomorrow the guys and I will take care of Rei so you can get some sleep. Ok?"

"Fine!" Kai agreed harshly and closed the door.

Standing in the empty corridor, in the crack of dawn, Kenny was slightly confused. Rei had been quite ok all day. How did he catch a cold and how of all people did Kai come to take care of him?

" I hope Rei is ok..." he said aloud, went back to his room and sat in frond of a desk where Dizzy was, eavesdropping all the time and as always added her cheeky comment.

"Perhaps our grim Kai has developed an interest for Rei.."

"Ah Dizzy give me a brake!" and sat down to resume chatting with his girlfriend.

Rei was sleeping serenely now and Kai sat in a chair beside the bed and sighed. He was feeling perplexed, confused and lost for words to describe the happenings. It was as if his actions were conducted by something inert, despite himself, his mind and sense of logic. He sat back into the chair to get some sleep but could not. He was unable to avoid wanting to look at the sleeping figure next to him. Overcoming the limitations he had set for himself, Kai observed the calm face of Rei.

"He even smiles in his sleep" Kai thought smiling himself and felt all warm inside, the way hot cocoa does in a cold snowy morning. Almost frightened of himself he shook his head and inquired himself:

"This is Rei right? The Rei I've been training and travelling with, along with the other fools, right? The annoyingly cheerful, always-smiling,

friend-with-everyone Rei, right?".

Wrong.

He knew he was wrong. Somehow the intensifying feelings inside gave way to no other answer. Rei Kon was an all-new person now. A guy he wanted to get to know better. Be beside him, have fun with him, have Rei smile at him…

"Am I in love with you then?" Kai addressed the sleeping young man, and sat on the bedside turned towards Rei. Feeling an aching like never before inside he reached out in reluctance and brushed some strands of black hair from Rei's face, and as if Rei could hear him Kai carried on his thoughts.

"I have been….i realize….liking you for a long time now Rei. At least I know what's been nagging me, at least I know what I want now.". Abandoned to his feelings he wanted to take Rei into his arms.

Obviously he did not and remained looking at Rei, if not a bit embarrassed too.

Then it hit him!

"What about Rei? Does Rei like me? Had he ever thought about it? What if not? What if Rei did not like me at all? How does he think of me?".

He realized now, that all he had shown Rei apart from some occasional, rare moments, were nothing but rude, angry, irritated, ironic and bossy remarks. Kai also remembered never missing to express his extreme dislike of Rei's and the rest of the Team's company. Especially the last time they spoke to each other came now to mind.

The memory of his actions slapped him in the face. "He must really hate me! But why is he always trying so hard to be nice to me? …Why didn't I just take the stupid letter? Even if I would never have opened it, why didn't I just take it! Ah I am such a fool!" Then he thought in dismay, "What will he say when he wakes up? No! I cannot be here when it happens. I'll…I'll tell Kenny or any other to come over now….But when will I see Rei again? Not amongst the others! How will I tell him? What if Rei laughs at my face?" and after a pause "Then I will leave as I would have in the beginning!".

As if all was enough then, Kai stood up and went for the door. While placing his hand on the lock silently, Kai heard Rei turn on his side in his sleep and thought in retrospect:

"Maybe I should stay a bit longer…."

Kai went back, stood for a moment transfixed at the angelic sight of Rei curled up and in an act of sheer tenderness went about to comb Rei's silky hair and re wrap it, savouring every moment.

"Maybe until the morning comes….."