Kai awoke with Hero stuck in his head, he had to admit that it wasn't a bad thing to wake up to. Though, he'd have rather woken up with a clear mind, than one clouded with the music he'd reflected on the night before, he could think of worse ways to awaken. From a nightmare is certainly one of them. He thought, I'd take the song any day.

A sigh escaped his lips as Kai turned to lay on his side, facing the door. Sterile white room. No fun at all. I'd almost like to just get out of here and deal with court. Almost. There are a few things I have to deal with first...but I really don't feel like dealing with th- "Bryan? What a surprise."

"Didn't think you could be surprised." Bryan said tonelessly, taking a seat. "I told Tala he could wait until I got a chance to see you. He'll come by later."

"I can be. On occasion."

"I think your "on occasion" will become very frequently, soon." Bryan said calmly.

"Why do you say that?"

"Perceptions."

"That's your "I'm not going to answer" isn't it?" Kai said.

"Yes."

Kai sighed a little, studying the lavender haired boy. "I think, of us all, you've changed the least."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."

"Neither, really, I suppose, just an observation."

"Ah." Plain, simple, calm, emotionless. Very Bryan-Typical, Kai noted.

"You know, I can see through it, right? I know you care."

"I can see through you, too. So we're even, but I'm curious, why do you think I care?"

"The way you look at him," Kai said evenly.

"You got me." Bryan said evenly. "But, I know you care about the Tiger, and you care about Him too, but not the same way."

"He'll be alright. I know you'll be there for him, won't you?"

"Of course I will."

"I think...when he stops being so blind, and trying to stick to me like glue, He'll realize that..."

"Don't try and get my hopes up, alright? I'm doing just fine not caring." Bryan said, shaking his head a little.

They went back and forth like that for a while. Just talking a little, Bryan didn't pose hard questions, and Kai was careful to keep the conversation lighter, easy to follow and not stressful for either of them. I will have quite enough stress when the day begins properly he thought, again considering what would likely occur over the course of the day.

Just then Tala entered the room, Bryan cast a look over his shoulder and then focused on Kai again. "Impatient, are we?" He murmured as Tala moved a chair over and sat down.

"Ah, come on Bryan, you've been here over an hour, I wanted to see Kai."

Bryan didn't respond, he looked at Kai pointedly for a moment before shrugging a bit, and looking away.

"You're not going to like this," Kai said quietly.

He's really gonna go in so abrupt? He must really want to get this over with. That or he's really pissed at Tala, and won't admit it. Bryan thought critically, listening in to the conversation.

"Kai..." Tala began slowly, watching the Russian. The paint's actually...wearing off. I'm surprised he hasn't either taken it off or replaced it, yet...

"No. Let me speak, Tala." Kai said grimly. "I...I asked you to be careful around Voltaire, and you weren't. I wasn't ready to tell him, and you gave me no choice. I don't appreciate that. I wanted to tell him in my own way, in my own time. Not by him figuring out that my best friend was actually my boyfriend."

"Kai..."

"I said let me finish." Kai cut in harshly, determined to have his say. "That alone, was about to do it. You knew better, plain and simple. Then, Rei comes, and you were absolutely out of line. You were rude and possessive. You know I don't tolerate that behavior. Rei told me, what happened in the hall way yesterday. And that was it. That was the deciding point. You were mad at me, and you took it out on my friend. It was out of line. He didn't want me to be angry about it...and I can't say that I'm not. I'm furious. There will be bruises on Rei when he comes by later, and I'm going to have to struggle to remind myself why I'm not supposed to hit you. But...that...incident, was the last straw."

"What are you saying?" Tala whispered.

"This isn't working for me, Tala." Kai said as calmly as he could.

"You're breaking up with me?"

"Yes."

To give Tala credit, he didn't start crying, nor yelling. A strange expression crossed his face before Bryan stood and grabbed his wrist. "Don't respond. Calm down down first. Whatever you have to say, it can wait." the lavender haired boy said as he tugged at his captain.

------

Bryan and Tala had left. Tala would recover from the break up, and he would understand that had been coming for a long while. He would understand that it was better to cleanly break it now than to try and keep coaxing it along when it was collapsing around them.

Kai sighed, that had been harder than he anticipated. Clearly stating the words, without the taint of his fury – he'd never been as good at that as Bryan. He could cover his emotions – but not his anger. Never his anger. He thought he'd done well, talking to Tala. Only time would tell though, if a friendship would survive the damage caused though.

I bet my paint looks like hell. Kai thought critically, suddenly allowing it to break his train of thought. Reaching over and picking up a small bottle from the table, he opened it. A quick dab, and a couple of moments later, the traces of blue face paint were gone, leaving smooth, pale skin behind.

Kai had been told that he looked innocent without his face paint – still recognizable as himself, but somehow different...gentler even. Tala'd mentioned at one point that it probably had to do with his attitude when he beybattled, as opposed to the fact that no one (other than Dunga and Wyatt) had ever seen him beybattle without his face paint. My thoughts are all over the place today... Kai noted as it occurred to him that Rei, nor any other member of his team, had ever actually seen his face without the paint. They probably think they're tattoos or something..

-----

Rei came in a little after noon. Kai was dozing a little, much to Rei's surprise. He looks so innocent when he...where did the tat-well, I guess they weren't tattoos. But... Even the marginally confused thoughts didn't cause the warm smile to falter. He sat down, folding his legs up under him. Rei knew full well that anyone else would have walked out and come back later, but... he couldn't help it. He liked watching Kai sleep.

Before too long, Kai's crimson eyes flickered open, and he found himself gazing at Rei. "You are entirely too quiet." He said, shaking his head slightly. And I was right. That's a lovely bruise on your shoulder, I'd hate to see what it looks like below your collar, where his shoulder would have hit firmly. You always bruise so badly, kitten.

"I don't like disturbing people," Rei said softly, still smiling a little at Kai, completely unaware of the other boy's scrutiny.

"I've noticed." Kai said dryly. "I guess I'm disappointed I didn't get to see your initial response to seeing me without my paint." Kai allowed his voice to take a slightly teasing tone.

"It wasn't much, I was a little surprised to see it was paint and not a tattoo though."

"The only reason it 'wasn't much' is you were making sure not to wake me."

"Probably."

Kai shook his head a little, looking up at the ceiling. He'd forgotten how nice it was to talk to Rei, and now that he really thought about it, he'd missed it, too. Rei's presence in and of itself was soothing, and he was good for conversations, deep and shallow alike. Voltaire would have hated him. Kai found himself noting absently as he contrasted Tala and Rei in his mind.

"So, you still want to know what happened – or you want to keep it light, today?" Kai asked quietly.

Rei looked down at his hands, studying the wounds where his claws had pierced the skin of his hands for a moment. "I want to know." He said after a moment, raising his golden gaze to meet Kai's wine colored one.

"Very well then..."

"You were about to explain the second part of the fight, you said something about it getting violent." Rei prompted immediately.

"Ah." Kai said, echoing Bryan inadvertently, Why am I not surprised that you remember so perfectly where I was? You probably spent half the night thinking about it.

"Voltaire … when he thinks your not listening, or he wants to make a point – or scare you, I suppose – has a tendency to grab. Usually your arm – wrist or upper arm – and he holds it. It can be painful, if he's grasping tightly." Kai knew he was getting distracted, knew that such details were unnecessary, but at the same time, he felt a strange urge to make Rei understand – is if he were justifying it all to Rei. Murder. A shiver ran through Kai. The same kind emotion that had driven him to attempt suicide, he knew. Taking a deep breath, he moved onward.

"It went back and forth. We were yelling – he wouldn't let go of my upper arm, it hurt. His fingers were probably bruising my arms. He shook me – threatened...I don't remember what he said exactly. I remember...he said I wasn't fit. He said I was tainted that...my time away had damaged me. I can't remember what he said he'd do..."

"Shh, it's alright. You don't have to right now." Rei said, his voice concerned. He reached out, taking one of Kai's hands in his own.

"What ever he said..." Kai began again, hoarsely, as if it were difficult to continue.

"Go on, when you're ready, take your time. No rush." Rei said soothingly, his thumb turning circles on the back of Kai's hand.

"It pushed me over the edge. I...it wasn't my knife. It was his. I don't...I know know how I got it though...I don't remember clearly, if he had it in his hand...or if...I got some other way..." There was a long pause.

"I stabbed him, with it. And I...I'm not sure how I managed a lethal strike...I wasn't trying....I... I didn't mean to...I..."

"I was...terrified. I didn't know what to do. The knife...there was blood. It was...everywhere. I'd never...hurt anyone like that. Never. I didn't even mean to … he was my grandfather...even if I hated him. I … I ran, at first. And I... I didn't consciously make the decision to commit suicide it...just happened. I didn't...there wasn't...I..." Kai wouldn't look at Rei. He didn't want to see the expression on the tiger's face. He didn't want to see the disgust or the hatred. "I understand, if you think I'm a monster."

"I don't." Rei's voice was clear, and calm. "I think you're shaken, you're scared, and you need help. You're not a monster, Kai."

(A/N: So, despite taking a long time to write, I loved this chapter. I felt spot on with everyone (except for maybe Bryan) … which probably means I failed miserably, but still. I really enjoyed it. Writing the break up was a bit...challenging. But I liked it. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. )