Since I took so long before I could update, I thought of giving two chapters in one go as compensation. I'm really sorry for taking too long. I'm being a little too busy these days with all the events that are coming up suddenly. I hope you guys can be patient with me :))

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN BEYBLADE :)

ENJOY!

Chapter 10: When the Heart Contradicts the Mind

Rei woke up to the familiar warmth of his room and to the presence of someone beside him holding one of his hands. He looked to his left to see Hilary sleeping soundly. He reached for her hair with her other hand and brushed it. When Hilary moaned a little, Rei pulled away. He really didn't want to wake her up. Knowing her, she would've probably been there while he was sleeping. He mentally slapped his forehead.

"Not again," he groaned. Rei closed his eyes again and tried remembering the night before. Then the memory of being carried by a certain someone made him abruptly open his eyes and shoot up. Definitely not the best idea to do. A shot of pain quickly came up to his head sending him back down the bed. He cursed.

"Stay still" a voice said. Rei was too tired to open his eyes and didn't see Kai walking over to his bed to check his temperature. Kai placed a cold palm on Rei's forehead. He couldn't see him but Rei was pretty sure whose voice it was. Noticing the younger man turn a light shade of red, made Kai smirk.

"Looks like your fever's gone" Kai said.

"Umm… you were… you were the one who… carried me back here?" Rei asked reluctantly. He was still too embarrassed.

"Well who else?" Kai replied then took Hilary in his arms.

"I'll take her back to her room. I'll be back. Just stay put."

After a few minutes, Rei heard the door click open. He was able to open his eyes this time and saw Kai with a tray of food. Rei blinked a couple of times. Was he dreaming or what? This was certainly a weird turn of events. Kai noticed the look on Rei's face and frowned.

"Julia made this and asked me to take it to you" Kai said.

"O-Oh" Rei stuttered. Kai gently placed the tray down on Rei's lap.

"Everyone was worried last night when you didn't come back to them. I sent Hilary a message that you had a headache and came back to the villa, but you're already better and just sleeping it off. I told her not to worry about it but she insisted in looking after you" Kai explained.

"I see. Thank you very much Kai" Rei smiled feebly.

"Hn," was Kai's reply. He remained seated on the chair with one leg over the other and his arms crossed over his chest. He closed his eyes as if he was going to take a nap; which was actually the case since he hasn't had enough sleep from last night.

"Um Kai?" Rei called cutting the pancake.

"What?" Kai replied without opening his eyes.

"You can sleep on the bed if you want to. I don't mind" Rei offered innocently.

It was actually already taking a lot from Kai not to touch Rei while he was in deep sleep last night and he's exerting great control over himself while being in the same room as him and the fact that Rei was wearing a dress shirt which was slightly transparent and Kai could easily see his whole upper body if he tried was extremely tempting. Kai couldn't believe he was experiencing this kind of desire towards the same sex.

He debated in his mind whether he should accept the offer or decline it. But he doesn't want to risk unintentionally hurting Rei's feelings by saying no. For some reason, he just really doesn't want to see sadness on Rei's face. He sighed deeply finally making up his mind. He got up from the chair and went to the other side of the bed. He gently went under the covers and once again shut his eyes.

Rei smiled inwardly and continued eating his pancakes. He was only partially asleep last night. He couldn't move his body and do anything but he could still faintly hear people's voices. He could remember Hiro being in the room. And then he remembered one particular memory again. How did he manage to drink the medicine when he couldn't even move a muscle? He unconsciously brought up a hand to his lips and his cheeks reddened. He slowly looked to his left to see Kai already in deep sleep.

"Kai was the one who brought me back to the villa. He was also the one who nursed me while I had a fever. It's because of me that he's tired. He must've been awake all night" Rei thought. He stared at the Russian for a while until something finally hit it.

"Hiro was in here last night" he thought. "Did he tell Kai? Is that why he's being so kind to me?"

Rei lowered his head and moved the tray to the bedside table. He pulled his knees up to his chest and leaned his head on them.

"Shit. This is why I didn't want anybody else to know" he mumbled.

"Know what?"

Kai's voice made Rei gasp.

"You're awake?"

"Well I am talking to you right now aren't I? Unless I'm capable of talking in my sleep, which I know I'm not, I believe I'm awake." Kai kept his back turned to Rei.

"So what is it that you don't want anybody to find out?" Kai asked again.

"It… It's nothing…" Rei replied coyly.

"If it's nothing then don't worry about it. Get some more rest. Hiro said you needed it."

"Did… Did Hiro say, um, anything to you?"

"I did say he just told me to get you some rest" Kai replied.

"Oh right, sorry" Rei murmured. Kai looked at Rei. He sighed and sat upright. He reached out his arm and patted Rei's head.

"Don't worry" he said.

Rei smiled inwardly and feebly nodded.

"Since my sleepiness is gone, I'd better go and make sure Tala hasn't destroyed our room yet. I'll come back later. Don't you dare leave this room without telling me, got it?"

"Uh got it" Rei replied.

The first thing that met Kai as soon as he opened the door of his room was a big white pillow. Of course, he dodged it effortlessly and caught it in his hand before it even hit his face. The culprit behind it: Tala.

"Give me one good reason why you ditched us again last night" Tala roared wearing a totally pissed off expression on his face. Bryan was shaking his head and shrugged his shoulders when Kai looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

"I thought you were going to change that rude behavior of yours?" Tala roared again now with his hands on his waist.

"Tala, will you just shut up for one minute?" Kai muttered rubbing the temples of his head. This was so not helping to someone who's had only at least two hours of sleep for an entire day.

"Hey, you look terrible. What happened to ya?" Tala asked finally realizing the small black circles under the other Russian's eyes. Kai walked to the bed and threw himself on it, face first.

Tala and Bryan were both startled.

"Dude, seriously, what happened to you last night?" Bryan asked.

"I had to take care of a sick cat" Kai mumbled.

Tala and Bryan exchanged looks.

"Cat?" they wondered.

Rei stared at the ceiling. He was told not to leave his room and now he's got nothing to do. And to think they were supposed to be leaving now. Julia was just really kind enough to extend their stay for one more day after what happened to Rei. Of course they're still really not aware of the truth yet.

"This can't be happening" Rei said and covered his eyes with his arm. HI placed another arm over his chest. Nope, he's not having another chest pain. His heart is just really beating fast and he's confused why. Kai's charming face kept on popping in his head and the place he just touched (his forehead) was still hot. He could feel himself blushing again. He started thumping on his head again and again. He even started pulling his bangs. Anyone who saw him doing these things would immediately think his sickness is not in the respiratory system but in the mind instead. But who exactly wouldn't go crazy when a multimillionaire hunk is hitting on them?

Rei's not the one to jump to conclusions but why else would the fearsome Kai Hiwatari, whom practically everyone he knows is scared of, and calls him 'the demon' what with his coldness and utter rudeness, care or even take notice of someone with no high social status other than owning a small café? And how would you explain the weird and unexpected kindness and gentleness he's showing him whenever they're together? Why the hell would he receive such special treatment if it weren't for L… Lo...

"Love?" Rei thought. He turned to a ridiculous color of red and steam came out of his ears. That unexpected kissing scene he had with the aforementioned person suddenly kept playing and rewinding in his mind. It was all too much for someone who didn't even know a thing to this thing called 'love'. He unconsciously placed a hand over his lips. He could still perfectly remember the feeling he had when their lips touched. It was wet and hot. If he hadn't pulled away that time, what more could've happened?

"Woah!" Rei exclaimed shooting up when he realized where his train of thoughts was going. He can't possibly thinking of that. Besides, it wasn't even possible. They were outside and in a garden. But then again, he's watched movies with people doing it in places like that.

"Oh god I'm going insane! What the hell am I thinking? Never mind the place, we're both guys for heaven's sake!" he exclaimed. He threw himself back down the bed and sighed deeply.

"This can't be love. This can't be love. This can definitely NOT be love" he repeated, hoping it'd sink in and everything will be back to normal again. As if.

Yeah right, as if that would work :P Right?

Rei's realized his feelings for Kai, well sort-of. How will he react towards him from now on? And what about Kai? Is he still confused or has he also figured it out?

Wait for the next chapter to find out! :))

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it!

Make me happy and kindly leave a review! :D