You know what kinda makes me mad? How Boris is just a replacement in the show. I mean, he gets around the least character development of any of the characters. Now I know Beyblade isn't the best show for char. development, but still... at least they could give him something. I mean... they hardly tell you anything! GRRR! He's just a substitute for Kai. How rude.

Anyway.. I noticed last chapter had a lot of typos, and I am going to blame that on the fact that I was editing it in the middle of the night. Yeah. That sounds about right.
And this chapter? Well... ahhh, beloved cliffhangers. I love them almost as much as I live character death.

Thanks for reviewing, it makes me all fuzzy inside.

Chapter Six
-
In The Dark

I wonder what he's dreaming about.

Those were the words that were flowing through Boris' mind one night. Or, they had been flowing through his head every night the past two weeks that they had lived together. It had actually been two peaceful weeks for the roommates. And 'peaceful' in Boris-language meant; Rei had only had to go to the hospital four times and they had only had to replace three of their windows twice. Rei was pretty pleased with himself. He had a place to stay, a lair which he could subject to his womanly skills and tidy up like no apartment had ever been tidied before, and he could nag at Boris much easier.

They kept going to the meetings, but nothing really changed. Boris still drank, Rei still choked his emotions and ended up crying himself to sleep every now and then. Boris still got into barfights and his asocial behaviour was not improving one bit. Plus, Dr. Grey had not been subtle in any of the sessions. There had been winking, fluttering of eyelashes, tossing of hair, new perfume, even tighter dresses and on some rare occassions she even gently caressed Rei's hair. This only happened during a few seconds and the only reason Rei noticed it was because he was a very attentive person with keen senses. Boris noticed it too, but he pretended like nothing.

Just as he tried to pretend that he wasn't in fact, right that moment, wondering what his roommate and arch rival was dreaming about. He tried to fool himself that he did not want to smack Amanda around for other reasons than that she was a highly annoying, arrogant, know-it-all, bitchy slut. Turning over on his stomach after noticing that there were no more cracks in the roof to discover, he let out a deep sigh.

What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he just think of something else than Kon? At least, if he was going to think about him, then why couldn't he think about how annoying he was?

How he never had his elbows on the table when he ate. Or how he always put the toilet seat down. Or how he always tidied all the rooms and made them look spotless. Or how he never interrupted people when they spoke, how he showered for two hours just to get his stupid hair clean. How his stupid hair got everywhere and how Boris' hairbrush (yes, he did have one) looked like an animal more than an object after the raven haired boy had gone through his sacred ritual of hair combing. He hated how there were always clean clothes and dishes in the apartment now that Rei had moved in. He hated how Rei always stopped by the grocery store when they ran out of something. He hated how he snored, how he sang in the shower with the most tone deaf voice ever. And how the amber always seemed to pierce through you when you met his eyes, with a mixture of kindness and sadness.

The Russian punched his matress with a loud snarl. Gritting his teeth he sat up, flung his legs over the bed and sighed. Running his fingers through his hair, he felt how he desperately needed a beer.

So he got out of bed and casting one glance at the alarm clock on the floor, he half-jogged out into the kitchen. With a bitter look plastered upon his face, as if he had just swallowed a lemon, he glared into the contents of the fridge. Having a staring contest with the cow on the milk-carton seemed like the best occupation at the moment. The litte cartoon animal seemed to sneer at him, almost as if it knew what he was thinking.

''Stupid fucking cow.''

Boris grabbed a hold of the carton and threw the milk in random direction with more force than necessary. He could almost hear the carton moo as it flew through the air and hit the opposite wall with a loud splashy noise. Milk covered the wall like white blood, dripping down onto the floor. The anger bubbled in him, eating at his insides like a parasite. As his thoughts seemed to have the party of the year, vomiting in his brain, his bad mood only increased.

Without any hesitation Boris finally thrusted his arm into the coldness of the slightly humming fridge, grabbed a six pack and slammed the door shut. By the force of the impact several magnets and papers slid off the refrigerator door and landed at his feet. Kon had put those silly things up, and now they seemed to be mocking him from their position underneath. Maybe he had truly gone mad, after all. Since when did magnets laugh? Was he really as fucked up as everyone told him?

Boris cursed under his breath. Why the hell should he care?

What had anyone ever done for him? His only experience of people was not a good one. Even people his own age, no, especially people his own age, had been nothing but cruel to him. Ripped from his family before he even had the time to bind them to memories, he had grown up without any father-figures. The one he had was not a saint. His mother-figures had been even worse. The only friends he ever really had, the Blitzkrieg boys, seemed to never really have cared.

Or maybe they did care, and he just didn't let them in. Boris was a locked door, a vault with maximum security. He was the walking Fort Knox. No one could get inside his shell, underneath his skin or into his heart. Did he even have a heart? If so, did it beat?

He swallowed the first two beers within a minute, and by the time he had finished his fourth he had swaggered out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Glaring at the walls which seemed to glare back, he pointed at the mirror beside the coathanger. There, inside the glass, stood a man pointing back at him. The silvery eyes filled with hatred and fury, the moonlight-grey hair lying plastered with sweat across his snow-white face. There was the thin, sneering mouth, the crinkled and many times broken nose, the clenched, strong jaws. A man dressed in white boxers, his body scarred and marked, a beer bottle tightly clutched in one hand.

Was this the man he was? Was this the great Boris Kuznetsov? Was he the one to carry the name of his family forward? A family he had never even known?
No, Yuriy was his family. Kai, Ian and Spencer was his family. Falborg was his brother in arms, his trusted ally. And even the falcon bit beast he did not completely trust. When you cut down to the bone, in the end, he was alone.

''No! NO! Get away from me!'' Rei's voice suddenly cut through the haze of his thoughts and immediately, Boris head snapped towards the living room.

The beer wasn't even close to getting him drunk, but it had started gnawing at his conciousness a bit. Feeling a slight burning tingle in the pit of his stomach, he turned towards the room where the Tiger was sleeping. At least he had been sleeping only moments before. Boris senses immediately told him something was wrong. Images of burglars and whatnots flashed before his mind and the fury inside of him awakened anew. Clutching the beer bottle tight as a weapon, he silently snuck into the other room. No one was allowed to enter his home and leave it unharmed. If anyone dared to break into his apartment, he would show them the way out through the window.

A sadistic grin fell across his face and his lips quirked in bloodthirst.

Silently getting closer to the couch, he raised the bottle ready to attack. As his heart was pumping adrenaline through his body like burning hot coal, his throat dried in disappointment when he saw that no one was there. Lowering the bottle, he looked around suspiciously. The room was empty, besides for himself and Rei, and not a sound could be heard besides their own ragged breathing. Muttering like a child who had just gotten his candy stolen from him, he drank the last of the beer and tossed the bottle aside. Staring down at Rei he noticed the other man was sleeping.

Just a bad dream, Boris thought. He would have to punish his roommate for that later in the morning.

But as he turned to leave, a thin hand gripped his arm with a vice-like grip. Nails dug into the Russian's skin as Rei's grip tightened. Fear had etched itself into the Chinese's face, cold sweat almost making him shine in the moonlight. Rei was breathing harder, like he was running from something. His eyes were so tightly shut the black eyelashes bent, his teeth gritted and his fangs bared. Boris thought that for a moment he could hear the man hiss.

''No! No! Get the hell away from me! I swear, I'll... I'll...'' Rei half whimpered, half growled in his sleep.

The grey eyed man looked at the hand on his wrist, the skin on his arm turning red. Blood pumped through his veins, trying desperately to get past the blockade but the Chinese man's grip was too tight. He was clinging to the Russian for dear life. Immediately Boris caught himself thinking; I wonder what he's dreaming about, once more.

He was about to smack himnself again, when Rei cried out in fear.

''Get away! I told you to... NO!''

His voice cracked into a high pitched note. Suddenly he begun screaming in Chinese. Boris stood staring as if paralyzed, until he could take no more of it. He gripped Rei's hand and roughly shook the man awake. The golden eyes fluttered open in a snap and the man sat up like a lightning had just struck him. Staring out into the darkness with wide, fearfilled eyes, his breathing sounding like a thousand drums. He looked around, not sure if he was still sleeping or not. When he felt the hand across his own, he immediately swung out his other arm.

The fist connected with Boris' face in a second and the man had to step back due to the impact. Stars exploded across his visionary field and a biting pain blasted off in his eye. Cursing loudly, not caring at all about the neighbours, Boris hit back.

Rei got thrown off the couch, hitting his head in the table he fell flat on his back. Boris cursed even louder, jumping over the couch to grab the other man by the collar. The problem was; Rei wasn't even wearing a shirt.

For some odd unexplainable reason, a blush spread across Rei's cheeks. As blood traveled out of his lip and down his chin, dripping down on Boris' hand, the newly awakened man realized who was sitting on top of him. And that he was wearing only his boxers. Rei blushed wilder, since he was not wearing much more than a pair of pyjama pants himself, and hoped to the Gods that Boris would stepp off of him.

The Russian quickly realized how close and unclothed they were, but he couldn't get himself to move. Breathing harshly, as if the air was rocks in his throat, Boris blinked. His eye had begun to swell up, the hit to his face had been hard.

Silence fell between them like a barrier and the cold sweat on Rei's body turned into warmth. He was sweating out of nervousness now, without really knowing why. He had seen a lot of his friends without shirts, due to sports and bathing in the lake during the summers and all. He wasn't unfamiliar with the bodies of others, but still he felt so dirty. Like he was doing something bad, and he wasn't even sure what it was. The Falcon's heart pounded so hard Rei could feel it against his own chest.

Suddenly, as if realizing what he was doing, Boris got up and threw himself onto the couch. He fixated his bone chilling stare at Rei as the black haired man got up, rubbing his sore head. For a while the only sound in the room was their breathing and pounding blood in their ears. Rei's cheeks were red like the blood on his lip, his chest a turmoil of emotion. The Russian pinched the bridge of his nose, staring because it was the only thing he could think of.

''Boris'' Rei finally said, trying to chase the awkwardness away.

''I.. heard screaming.''

The Russian's voice was toneless and strained, like it was an effort to produce it. Not really knowing what to do or what to say, Rei sat down on the table and nodded in embarrasment.

''Ah... I... had a nightmare.''

''Oh.''

Two dark eyebrows rose.

''Oh?''

''I thought it was a burglar.''

''Really now?''

''Really.''

A Cheshire grin suddenly spread across Rei's face, his eyes sparkling with something. Something much like playfulness. Boris frowned at the sight, feeling irritated at how fast the mood in the room had changed.

''Come to protect me?''

''No.''

''Oh, my own knight in shining armor!''

''Shut up.''

''No, really, Boris, you're my hero! That's so weet! You heard me scream and then you sucker-punched me off the couch! What a nice way to wake up.''

The irritation made the Russian's eyebrow twitch. He crossed his arms angrily and tried to glare the Chinese to death. Unfortunately and much to his disappointment, Rei only smiled kindly.

''You hit me first.'' Boris barked, and Rei laughed nervously.

''Sorry, you startled me.''

''Hn.''

Rei got to his feet and scratched his head again. Looking around the room, just so he wouldn't have to look at Boris, he noticed the broken beer bottle on the floor. Just about to say something though, he got interrupted.

''Not that I care'' Boris said with his most convincing I'm-gonna-break-your-legs-mafia-style-if-you-don't-believe-me-voice. ''But next time you dream, don't wake the whole damn house up.''

''Sorry.''

''Whatever.''

The Russian got to his feet and traveled out into the kitchen. While he was occupied with doing coffee, Rei immediately got into action. By the time Boris emerged in the doorway, the beer and glass shatter on the floor was gone without a trace. Before the grey haired man had time to complain about that, Rei had already disappeared into the kitchen where he found the massacred milk carton on the floor. Quickly cleaning that up as well, he looked somewhat more at ease. Stretching widely, he let out a harsh sigh.

Boris frowned at the kitchen, then at the dark haired man.

''Why do you always have to do that?''

Rei shrugged.

''I guess it's soothing.''

''You're messed up.''

Rei smiled widely, and for some reason it upset Boris. How could the man look so brilliant and glowing when he had just woken up screaming? And to add it all up, his lip was beginning to swell. What was it with him? Was it fake? Was that smile really a facade or had Boris brought it out?

Boris growled at himself. There were those stupid thoughts again that had kept him up all night. And there he was, four in the morning with a traumatised cat who had just made his floor shine. He shook his head and poured some coffee up, muttering in Russian.

Rei watched him amused, taking a cup of coffee for himself. The genuine-maybe-not-so-genuine smile still lingered on his lips.

''That's why I'm here, after all.''

''Yeah, right.''

''What else? I'd come here for you?''

The tone in the Chinese's voice was teasing, yet not mocking. It was another ability he posssesed that agitated Boris to no end. How someone could always be so kind yet so playful and fierce. It was a long time since he saw Rei's wilder sides, years even. During the last two months they had spent together he had been a duller version of himself. Sure, he tried bravely to prove that he was still the same old Rei Kon that he had always been, but in the end of the day he always failed. Still, even though most of his eagerness and pride had subsided, that stubborness and fighting spirit was still there.

Even though Rei was running from his past, he didn't let people step on him.

That was the difference between them, he guessed. Rei had been someone once, a great fighter and soul. Now his heart was only beating half as much, desperately trying to figure out whether to try to get that battlelust back or to simply cease being. Boris on the other hand, had always been the way he was and he hadn't changed, nor did he plan to. He was just there, biting people's heads off, waiting for his turn to go home. Waiting the big wave out but not willing to leave the city unmarked. If a Kuznetsov was going to be forced somewhere, at least he would have his own little fun for it.

''You know, that's really eerie.'' Rei said then.

Boris looked at him like he was a small child who had just discovered the sky was blue.

''What? Missing me?''

''No, that you and I should meet up here, after all these years.''

''That's the cruel way of the world.''

Rei shrugged loosely with one shoulder. He didn't look too convinced.

''Maybe. But... maybe it's fate.''

''Please don't tell me you believe in all that crap.''

Rei wasn't all that trusting, but more trusting than the Russian himself. In two months they had slowly gotten to know more about each other, but not through communication. No, it was the little things you only noticed if you paid attention to it. And Boris didn't have much else to do, so he noticed more about Rei than he had ever done before. There was a part of him that told him it was insane, that he should get Rei to leave because they were enemies. But then that little voice inside of him said; What if?

Rei had a look in his eyes that told him that maybe he was hearing that little voice too, but instead of telling it to shut up he listened to it.

''What if we were never meant to be rivals? I mean, why? You were forced to fight me, I was picked randomly. For all we know, it could've been Max or Tyson in my place.''

''Don't tell me we were meant to be friends because faith decided so. I will hurt you.''

''Maybe not friends, but maybe just... not trying to rip each others throats out. Do you get my point?''

''I'm warning you. I'll hurt you badly.''

Rei took a step closer to him, looking eager. Boris leaned against the kitchen counter, raising his eyebrows at him. He tried to ooze hostility, to keep his shields up with full armor, but it didn't scare the Tiger off. He just kept staring at the Falcon with that shining gaze that seemed to cut through bone. Maybe they could cut through shields as well. At least, Rei weas hoping so.

'''I'm just saying... we could bury the battle axe.''

Boris scoffed. He put the coffee down and turned around, closing his eyes while he felt Rei staring at him.

''Now what fun would that be, kitty cat?''

And with that he left for his room, hoping to get at least a little sleep, while leaving Rei behind. But the Chinese wasn't sad for that, though. Because before his roommate left, he could see a small grin on the pale lips. It was a subtle one, yes, but still it had been there. And maybe, by a slight chance, it had meant something.

X

The sun stood high in the sky while a cold wind rushed some dust across the streets. It was about lunch time and every restaurant and café around was crowded with people. Businessmen, students, un-employed, hard working and not so hard working people eating and relaxing while they had the chance. The sunbeams danced across every building, reflecting in every puddle on the street. Bicycles went past, buses left trails of fumes behind them and cars honked their way through the traffic.

It was a calm and nice day, perfect for shopping. Boris didn't really agree with this, but Rei didn't pay him much attention as he dragged the man through all the numerous of shops there were. The Russian had no idea why they needed to buy more stuff for his home. He liked it the way it was. But Rei thought othwerwise, and it was either that or going to the park. Now Boris had much rather gone off on his own, taking a walk to the bar and drinking but Rei had put on his pout-face. And you just couldn't say no to the pout-face.

Boris moaned. He had become such a doormat. An underdog, a... did he dear think it?
A pussy.

''One of these days Kon, they will find your body in the sewers.''

Rei grinned as he looked around. Sightseeing was a good occupation, and he might as well see the town up close when he was stuck in it. All around people went by, bumping into them, talking loudly on their phones. He noticed interesting outfit after outfit, and cute butt after cute butt. Although he tried to pretend like it was the outfits that caught his eye.

But Boris wouldn't let himself be fooled.

''You know what I've noticed?''

''Hnn?'' Rei was prancing around in La-La-Land.

He slapped the Chinese in the back of the head. Recieving angry predator-like glares, Boris put his arms behind his head in a casual but still abnormally threatening way.

''You only look at guy-asses.''

Immediately Rei flinched, like a dagger had just been shoved up his spine. His pupils narrowed immediately, his gaze nailed on something in the distance. They did not stop walking, but still Boris detected a slight tenseness in the other man. With an unsure sigh Rei laughed sheepishly, scratching his chin.

''No I don't.''

Boris tilted his head with a bemused twitch of his mouth.

''Yeah, you do.''

''No! I don't!'' Rei turned to him suddenly looking very defensive. ''I look at girl asses! Like her!''

He pointed at every passing girl, unconciously raising his voice. Those who heard him, which were almost everyone around, gave him weird looks. As if he was a perverted rapist, the bypassers moved a few steps away from them. Boris wouldn't have been able to hide his wide, wofllike grin even if someone had ripped his mouth off. With a wicked flicker in his eyes, he gave Rei a challenging and devilish look. Rei wanted to throttle him, but he was too busy trying to hide his flaming blush.

''No need to get so loud over it. Geez, you'd think I just insulted your mother!''

Rei pouted like a child, shaking his fist in the air.

''I am looking at their jeans, okay?!''

The beastlike ferociousness in his eyes almost made him radiate. Boris shook his head boredly, shoving his hands down his pockets. The grin was still prancing around his face.

Rei muttered under his breath as they continued walking down the streets. Suddenly the shops didn't seem as tempting as they had moments before. Boris felt pleased with his revenge. It suited the Chinese right for trying to make him go out on a shopping spree.

Still, Rei's tenseness didn't ease. Okay, so he had been checking out the guys and not their jeans. But so? Whose business was his sexual preference? No one's, that's whose, Rei thought bitterly. So maybe he was a bit defensive, but it was mostly to hide the fact that he was afraid. People like Boris could sniff fear in a mile radius, and they lived on other people's fear. Rei would not let himself be a victim. He wasn't ashamed of being, well, gay, he just didn't want his only friend... no, sratch that, his only aquintance in London to run away vomiting. All his life he had only met prejudicement and hatred for his orientation, and he expected nothing less from the Russian.

Okay, so maybe he was prejudiced against people in that way too. But it was just an old habit. He had been cut too many times not to have any scars, if you were going to be metaphorical about it. Rei wasn't afraid of getting beaten up, no. He could take care of himself. He would take on anyone who wanted to beat him just for what kind of people he liked. But he had nowhere to live other than with the Russian, and that he could not risk. When he was younger he would've risked it. Hell, he would have risked anything for his pride. But he wasn't like that anymore. Times were different. Yeah, he was afraid. But so? Who wouldn't be in his place?

Boris watched the other man during their silent walk, trying to read his expression. But all he saw was the determined look in the golden pools, and a slight gritting of teeth. So Rei thought he could hide his feelings from him? Well, they were going to see about that.

''So'' Boris said as casual as if talking about the weather. ''How long've you known you're gay?''

Rei's head did that snapping thing again, which was just as amusing at it was annoying. Boris pinned him with his stare, but the Tiger wouldn't budge.

''I'm not...''

''Drop the fucking pretending act or I'll beat the shit out of you! Seriously, it's sickening when people try to hide who they are.''

''I...'' Rei wanted to say something, but his words faltered him.

Instead he kept quiet, determinedly staring at the Russian. What now?

''Since I was eleven.'' He grunted instead, fumbling with the end of his braid just to keep himself distracted.

Boris nodded slowly.

''Uh-huh. And?''

''And what?''

''Have you told anyone?''

Rei kept quiet, biting his lip. As he fumbled with his hair, his eyes went completely blank. Then something angry woke in them, and he shook his head.

''A few. They didn't take it well.''

''I see. Have you told the others?''

''My team?''

''I'd rather think of them as a bunch of lucid imbecile amateurs, but if you want to put it that way then yes; your team.''

Rei sighed.

''No. I haven't.''

''Because?''

''Why do you care, anyway?''

''Oh, I don't. It's just fun to know what dirty little secrets you have.''

''You're a perverted freak.''

''I bet you must hear that all the time.''

Just like that, something inside of Rei exploded. He stopped dead in his tracks, turning around hr grabbed Boris by the collar. Baring his fangs like a rabid dog, he stared the cold-hearted man straight in the eyes. For a while Boris thought he could almost hear him growl. He waited in excitement to see what would happen. Pushing peoples buttons was one of his many talents, and he always loved the results. Rei on the other hand, didn't enjoy it as much and as he growled Boris in the face the Russian could smell his breath as clearly as flowers in a field.

''You're a fucking bastard Kuznetsov. You know that?'' the Tiger's voice came out in a hiss, any trace of kindness and playfullness was gone.

''So I've heard.''

''If you want to know so badly, no I haven't told many people. The ones I've told I wouldn't exactly describe as 'happy' and if you want to throw me out, call me disgusting and beat me half to death, then fine! I don't fucking care! Just don't toy with me!''

Boris grabbed Rei's hand and nestled it off him as easy as if it had been merely dust. Shaking his head while smiling devilishly, he met Rei's gaze without hesitation.

''Relaxe, Kon. I don't really give a shit who you fuck and how. Have a little sense of humor!''

Rei wasn't amused, and he didn't let his eyes off Boris for a long while of silence. But when he finally did, he relaxed just a bit. As if he had been holding one year worth of air supply in his chest, he sighed and continued walking. Boris snorted and followed him.

They continued past a few stores, into another couple, then just planlessly down a few streets without speaking a word to each other. It wasn't tense though, just mildly edgy. But Boris was getting bored and if he had a kitty to play with, then why not?

Casting a sideway glance at his fellow aquintance, his wolfgrin returned.

''So, Rei, what kind of guys do you like?''

Rei cried out in frustration, grabbing hold of his dark hair he looked like a neurotic five-children mother on a Saturday morning.

''For God's sake, Boris! Shut up!''

''Why are you being so defensive about it? It's not a big deal. Do you know how many homo's there are?''

''Stop snooping in my private business!''

''If you ever wanna get laid it's not supposed to be private business. So come on, blondes? Brunettes? Redheads? What makes little Rei Kon tick?''

''Right now you're ticking me off!''

''Just answer the question already! Damn, if it's that hard I'll go first!''

Rei slapped himself in the face, groaning tiredly. Boris on the other hand, was having the time of his life.

''Let's see...'' the Russian said, thinking with concentration. ''I like my bitches short.''

Rei arched an eyebrow at him.

''Short?''

''Yeah, short.''

''Why short?''

''Why not short?''

''You're short.''

''I'm as tall as you.''

''Yeah! And I'm short!''

''Tsssk. You don't know what you're talking about.'' Boris waved his hand dismissively at him.

As they turned down a hill, disappearing from the crowded square, a lot of looks were cast their way. To say that they were getting loud in their discussion would be an understatement, since their voices could be heard echoing down the streets like a battle-cry.

Even though he didn't want to admit it, Rei felt unbelievingly relieved over how Boris was reacting towards him. Sure, to anyone else it might seem like the two were fighting, but deep down he knew that it was Boris' way of not being a complete asshole.

And in a way, Rei felt like they were accomplishing something. Maybe, slowly, they were starting to warm up. Suddenly that battle-axe seemed like it had been covered in a thin layher of dust. It wasn't close to a proper burial, but at least it was a start.

X

The phone had been ringing for hours. It was the third night in a row that Rei had been screaming in his sleep. Boris who hadn't been able to sleep had to wake him up every time, give him a smack across the head and then let him go back to sleep once more. He hadn't asked about the dreams and Rei hadn't told him. But that was alright with him, because really, he didn't care. It just annoyed him that something scared Rei more than he did and he wanted to know what. So he could laugh at him later.

Or at least he tried to tell himself that.

It was all a very tiring ritual, but not as tiring as the sound of the phone. It was shrill, whining and annoying, shrieking like it tried to cut through the walls. He hadn't picked it up simply because no one ever called him and he had no intention to speak to anyone anyway. Rei didn't seem to want to answer it either, probably because he thought it was Boris' private business. Still, right that night it was annoying him so much he had to restrain himself not to pick up the phone. Taking a couple of deep breaths he tried to remember the calming meditation and elder of the village had taught him in his youth. As he slowly relaxed himself he tried to breathe calmly and focus on something nice, a memory perhaps.

What came up in his head was Boris.

Rei sat up with wide eyes, as if he had just dreamt again. But he hadn't, he was awake. Staring around him, frowning, he wondered if his mind was living its own life. Why on earth did he think about Boris? Maybe it was because they were roomates, he thought. They met everyday so of course they would be on each other's minds. So it wasn't odd, it had a reasonable explanation. There was nothing more to it. Right?

Sighing Rei drew his fingers through his hair, deciding to think of it no more.

As the phone rang stubbornly, he growled a final time before throwing himself off the couch. Slowly and very tiredly strolling into the kitchen, he picked it up. Since he heard no complaints from Boris' bedroom, he took it as a sign to continue the action. Clearing his throat Rei put the phone to his ear.

''This is the Kuznetsov residence, Kon Rei speaking.''

''Please don't disgrace yourself with that hideous language'' a raspy, brittle old musty voice spoke in Chinese.

Rei's heart took a leap so great he almost thought it would jump out his mouth. Pinching himself, as if to see if he was dreaming, he felt miserably disappointed when he notiched he was still awake. Fear took a large bite out of his heart and no matter how hard he swallowed the lump in his throat only grew.

''How did you get this number?'' Rei answered in his native tongue.

He tried to sound friendly, polite even, but the anger that coarsed through his veins like boiling acid made it hard. He just wanted to tear the phone down and rip it apart, yell at the man on the other end to go to hell. He wanted to tell him to go fuck himself or jump off a buidling, but he did not. Instead he waited tensely for the man to answer.

''It wasn't all that hard. Your psychiatrist gave it to me. A really kind woman, she is.''

When Boris realized that the phone had stopped ringing, he breathed out gladly. He was relieved, to say the least, to be rid of the horrid sound. But then the sound of Chinese reached his ears, and immediately his interest sparked up. Climbing out of bed he peeked out through the doorway, listening in intense concentration. Apparently, Rei had answered the phone and the call did not seem to be for Boris. So naturally he continued eaves-dropping.

''What are you calling for? We haven't spoken in months.'' Rei said, and on the other end a snort was heard.

''So I noticed. That is a really rude way to talk to your superiors to.''

''Right now I don't really care. What do you want?''

Irritation and aggression was evident in Rei's voice by then, and it was only fueling the fire of curiosity in Boris' mind. He was wondering who had gotten hold of his number and how the person knew that Rei was there. Maybe it was one of the old Bladebreakers, he guessed. But by the sound of the Tiger's voice, it couldn't be. Rei had said to the group during the sessions that he was sad that the team had drifted apart, not mad. And right that moment he sounded very close to an outburst.

''I thought I should warn you beforehand.''

''Warn me?''

''Yes, Rei. I am visting you soon.''

As the phone fell to the floor Rei tried hard not to scream.