~ * Obsessions * ~

By Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face

Disclaimer: I repeat, I do not own SM...I am not smart enough to think up something this good.

Chapter Five: Nathan Maxwell

'Damn that old crackpot.' He murmured under his breath. He had managed to break into the temple only to be found by the old man. The old man had put up a fierce battle cracking one of his ribs and only out of desperation did he pick up the broom stick and strike the old guy down. He had thought that everyone was out be he was mistaken. Now the old guy was in hospital with Rei and... and...

He threw the glass he was holding against the far side of the wall. Jealousy raged through his body as the image of Rei...his Rei...was held, and cradled by some jerk. 'Dam it Rei.' He growled pacing the room trying to release some of his anger. Wincing with pain his hand clutched at his ribs as it ached with every agonising breath he took. He fumbled his way onto the couch breathing slowly. In his mind he saw her face, the way her almond shape violet eyes glinted in delight, how she flicked her silky raven hair over her shoulders in defiance or brushed the bangs out of her face, her slim figure perfectly proportioned and well toned, her creamy complexion smooth with a slight tan. He smiled as the image played over his mind...

...Rei, standing in the middle of a rose garden, the red roses in full bloom, its scent in the air, the moon in all its glory shone down on her. She was wearing a pale crimson dress, her hair tied up with a matching ribbon fell loosely at her waist with small lengths of curls at her tips, and she was holding a single rose. She looked up to see him there, she smiled opening her arms beckoning to him to go to her. He did. He walked towards her but the nearer he got the further away she seemed to be. He quickened his pace reaching out to her but she just smiled, her eyes sparkling. Then another image entered his mind, her limp form was under him, his hands around her delicate neck, her eyes wide, lifeless, her beautiful face drained of its entire natural colour, her lips slightly parted were blue then she was gone. Faded away, the only thing left in her place was a red rose...

"No." He croaked. "Come back." Sweating, his breath in uneven gasps, his eyes wide feeling a little disoriented. He was in his lounge, the broken glass still where he had thrown it, he must have fallen asleep daydreaming. Relaxing, he glanced at the clock, 3:16 am. A small groan escaped his lips. With a sigh he moved slowly to his bedroom clutching at his ribs. The pain wasn't as bad as it was before but it still hurt a great deal.

* * *

Rei sat by her grandfathers' side all night into the early morning hours. She grasped his hand in her own stroking it while soothing her nerves. Her eyes showed signs of bloodshot, she was tired, and she knew she was tired but she refused to sleep. She wanted to be awake when her grandfather woke up. She wanted to be the first thing he saw, to let him know how much he meant to her. Losing her grandad was too much, she had already lost her mother, and she didn't want to lose him too. She didn't think she could bear to move in with her dad. A sigh slipped from her lips as she looked at him through half open lids. His normally glowing face was pale, his skull wrapped in bandages. He was hooked up to several machines which recorded his heartbeat, pressure level, anything. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand willing the tears she felt at the back of her eyes not to come out. Her mind wandered to the few excruciating minutes of her life, when the doctor had called to speak to her.

* Flash back *

"Miss Hino?"

Rei looked up at the doctor in front of her, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. "Yes." She managed to squeak.

He flashed an apologetic smile, looking down at her. His eyes taking in the young lady before him. 'So young, such a shame.'

"Your grandad has suffered severe head injury Miss Hino." 'No!' She thought stunned. her heart beat raced as the silence continued. All she could do was nod her head to continue. "I'm afraid..." With a sigh of resignation, "I'm afraid that if, note I said if, he wakes up, he will have no recollection of anything or possibly anyone."

"No." She gasped a hand flying to her lips, her eyes widening.

"The brain damage was too much, and he lost a lot of blood..."

"Are you saying there's a possibility he might die?"

"There is a possibility, yes. He is still unconscious and if he doesn't wake up in the next 72 hours than I'm afraid we can do nothing else but assume he is dead."

The silence in the room prolonged, the tension in the air stiffened. Rei swayed a little feeling light headed.

The doctor continued, "The part of the brain damaged is his memory. His nervous system is working its way around it...if he wakes up, let's just say he will have the mental age capacity of an 18 month old baby."

Rei felt weak at her knees, her grandad an 18 month old baby...No! Her grandad was strong spirited, headstrong. He had so much energy, so full of life...and now, now...no, no. Whoever was responsible for taking his spirit was going to pay, he was going to die a slow, agonising death. 'So help me god," she muttered, anger swirled through her body, fire alighted her eyes.

"Thank you doctor." She said calmly straining herself to keep composed. "Can I see him now?"

The doctor nodded his head before leaving her in front of his bed room door.

* End of Flash back *

Rei had been there since, not once leaving his side, not even to eat. She breathed in deeply as she studied her grandfathers' face. A grim expression on her features, "I promise you grandfather, I will get who did this to you," she whispered. Lifting her granddads hand, she pressed her lips to the back of it then placed it against her forehead still grasping it, 'I will look after you too, and I promise you that. I will not let anything like this happen again. I will not, I can not.'

* * *

"Hey Serena." A familiar voice called out.

"Oh, hey Melvin." Serena replied when she saw the gangly boy walking towards her.

"How are you?" He asked casually.

Serena sighed, "I'm actually really worried about Rei, with her grandpa being in the hospital and everything."

"Oh." Melvin's placid face faltered. "How is Rei?"

"I really don't know. I haven't seen her for ages. I know from Amy's mum that she hasn't left her granddads side, not even for food." Serena shook her head sadly.

"But they're looking after her right." Melvin asked quite worriedly.

Serena eyed Melvin suspiciously, "Gee Melvin, you sure are worried about her, I wouldn't fret so much though. Rei's a big girl, she can handle herself. And you got admire her determination and loyalty." She added a look of admiration shining in her deep blue eyes. "Hey, are you alright?" She asked him as she witnessed him clutching his side a look of pain etched in his features.

"Hmm what? Oh, yeah umm....I got food poisoning from a little Chinese restaurant in central Tokyo." He muttered a bit disgusted at himself for letting her see him double over in pain. "I'm all right now, not as bad as it was before." He knew that was the truth.

Serena still didn't look convinced, her brows furrowed together in the centre, "All right, if you say so." And in a more compassionate voice she said, "hey Melvin, I'm so sorry about Molly. You two made a great couple."

Melvin's eyes narrowed slightly. His face hardened. He ran his hand through his messy chocolate hair pretty frustrated that she had to bring it up. In a controlled voice he said thank you and made up an excuse to leave.

"Okay." Serena said confused, "I'll see you later Melvin."

"Yeah, later." He muttered before moving on.

'Gee, I wonder what got into him.' Serena thought trying to think what she could have said to make him abruptly leave. She couldn't think about it for long as she heard someone's voice calling her out of her thoughts.

"Amy, hi." Serena said smiling at her dear friend.

Out of breath and exhausted Amy stopped in front of her blonde friend gasping for air. Her blue hair stuck to her face wet with perspiration. Her pale blue eyes told her friend they needed to talk.

"Come on Amy, let's sit down. Is anything wrong? Oh my gosh, did something happen to Rei? Her grandad?"

Amy shook her head vigorously, "no but I did find out about something. We need to call the others and have a meeting now."

"But what about Rei, she won't leave the hospital." Serena said anxiously. "We can't have a meeting with out her."

"It's all right, we'll fill her in when we visit her, let's go."

* * *

"Mina look, it's Jason." Lita said. "And who's the guy he's talking too."

Mina studied the two guys who walked in the room over the rim of her milkshake, both a couple years older than her and Lita. Jason was at an average height while his friend stood a head taller than him. Jason with his blonde hair combed and his green eyes was a natural hunk. Mina realised with a smirk that all the girls in the arcade they were eating at were ogling him. His friend was a sharp contrast to him, though not bad looking himself, he had crystal blue eyes and a mass of wavy brown hair that hung loosely down his face just reaching his shoulders. His stride like Jason's was confident and purposeful, both well built and yet...there was something about him that was familiar though she just couldn't put her finger on it. Narrowing her cerulean blue eyes, she looked at her tall brunette friend who sat across from her.

Lita's forest green eyes sparkled in amusement as she observed the two guys sit a little distance away from them, both apparently in a heated discussion. In the corner of her eyes she saw Mina staring at her intensely which made her slightly nervous. Fidgeting in her seat she finally turned to face her friend and ask, "Ok, what's wrong? You're making me nervous looking at me like that."

Mina didn't answer her but kept staring at her. Lita waved her hand in front of her friends face then laughed at her mistake. Mina wasn't staring at her, but merely staring of into space. Mina's brow furrowed deepening as she turned her attention back to the tall stranger who was talking to Jason. From where they were sitting they both looked like they were having a normal conversation but by the frustrated look on both their faces Mina knew they weren't just having a pleasant talk. Suddenly the tall stranger abruptly got up and left, walking briskly out the door, his back stiff. Looking back at Jason, she saw him sigh and lean his head back against the wall his eyes closed, breathing in deeply.

"Hey girls, can I get you anything else?"

Mina looked up to see Andrew at their table, flashing him a smile she politely declined. Lita also shook her head and thanked Andrew. When he was about to leave an idea struck Mina.

"Andrew wait." She called out quickly.

"So you changed your mind?" Andrew's clear eyes shined with humour as a blush slowly crept across Mina's cheeks.

"Well no, not exactly I just wanted to ask you something, if that's all right with you." She stammered.

Brushing his blonde bangs away from his face he gave her a smile, "Sure, what is it?"

Mina bit her bottom lip fighting the urge to collapse in his arms, keeping herself composed even though her insides were melting. "Do you know who that guy was? The one that was talking to Jason a little while ago?"

Andrew felt a wave of disappointment, though his smile never left his face, "Sure that was Nathan Maxwell. He arrived six months ago from America. He use to go to Johnson High a few years ago. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." She replied offhandedly. "I thought there was something familiar about him. Thanks Andrew."

Lita eyed Mina a smirk on her lips raising an eyebrow which suggested something. Mina blushed ducking her head to finish her milkshake, her blonde hair fell loosely over her shoulders covering her face. "Great place you got here Andrew." Lita said politely.

Andrew's face brightened at the compliment, "Thanks Lita, I was thinking of bringing in that new virtual game next month. What do you think?" Andrew had, a couple years ago started his own arcade game shop bringing in all the new latest versions which made the place a popular hangout for school kids. Taking up an advice from an old friend of his, he had an extra room built in turning it into a little cafe, so now kids just went there after school to do one or the other or both in  familiar comfortable surroundings.

Lita's eyes brightened, "Great, I can't wait."

"Well, I'll see you girls later than." He said.

"Bye Andrew." Both girls said simultaneously.

"Oh wow, a new virtual reality game, it's going to be so much fun don't you think?" Lita said excitedly turning to look at her friend. Lita gave an inward groan. Mina had that same expression again. "Earth to Mina, come in Mina." She said waving her hand in front of her face.

Just then Mina snapped her fingers, "That's it." With a triumphant smile on her face she looked at a startled Lita. "No wonder he looked so familiar."

"Why? We know that guy?" Lita asked amused.

"Of course, why didn't I realise before. Remember? High school, we were in grade nine."

* Flash back *

"Get lost creep." Molly said angrily, "I'm not interested so go and pick on someone who is."

The tall sixteen year old boy simpered delighting in Molly's reaction to his proposal. "Come on Molly, think about it. We could be good together." He purred.

Molly shuddered at the thought, "Over my dead body Nathan Maxwell. I'd first kiss a pig's ass before I even consider it."

Nathan's crystal blue eyes turned ice cold as the crowd snickered at him. He was not use to rejections and he'd be damned if he got his perfect reputation as a player ruined over a red haired nerd, a plain looking red haired nerd. In a constrained voice he asked her again, "I wouldn't ask unless I meant it Miss Molly Osaka. You know perfectly well..."

"Yes," Molly snapped interrupting him. "I know perfectly well about your unruly behaviour and..."

Nathan grabbed Molly's arm bringing her closer to him, their bodies almost touching. Gripping her arm he sneered at her, his face inches away from hers, his eyes blazing full of anger. "I won't take no for an answer."

Molly whimpered in pain as his hold on her tightened, her heart stuck in her throat. "Please, you're hurting me." She gasped when he tightened his hold on her.

"What's going on here?" A loud voice barked.

Molly and Nathan snapped their heads towards the group of girls who were walking towards them. Molly pleaded for help in  her eyes and Nathan released his grip on her. A smile plastered across his face he asked, "Can I help you ladies?"

Lita who was standing at the front returned his smile, "You could release your hold on our friend."

Nathan looked from her face to each and every face recognising them all before his gazed landed on the girl next to her. A dark haired beauty whose eyes violet blazed with anger as she saw the bruise he had inflicted on Molly's arm. He cocked his brow at her, "I don't believe we have met?" He said not even glancing at the others.

Her eyes narrowed as he studied him, the corner of her mouth curved ever so slightly. Then she smiled at him, provoking him he thought.

"Rei Hino." Someone from behind him said, a look of interest in his own mocking green eyes.

Another voice from behind him said, "Started the party without us eh Nathan." Completely ignoring the girls a hint of anger in his somewhat cool appearance.

Two more sixteen year old boys showed up beside Nathan. Jason and Darien.

"I was just..." Nathan said.

"Trying to get a head start on us." Darien completed his sentence. Finally acknowledging the girls he nod his head to say hi, his eyes lingering slightly longer on Rei an amused expression in his eyes. Then the bell rang breaking up the crowd as everyone went to class concluding the lunch period.

* End of Flash back *

"Oh yeah," Lita smirked thoughtfully, "The three player wannabe's: Jason, Darien and Nathan Maxwell." Lita laughed at the absurdity of the 'good old days'. "I remember, didn't he get expelled or something?"

"Yeah, something like that." Mina replied thoughtfully.

A little chuckle escaped from Lita's lips, "Didn't Andrew become a player when he left school."

Mina's eyes widened, a smile played across her face. "Yeah, he sure did." A silent pause prolonged as they both remembered the playground incident.

Bored Lita cast a glance around the room when she saw two familiar faces entering the arcade. "Hey look, it's Serena and Amy." Lita said surprised. She waved catching the girl's attention then turned back to Mina. "I wonder what's so important that Serena had to actually run to find us."

Mina just shrugged her shoulders, "We'll find out soon enough."

* * *

Rei was standing in the middle of a rose garden, the red roses in full bloom, it's scent in the air, the moon in all its glory shone down on her. She was wearing a pale crimson dress, her hair tied up with a matching ribbon fell loosely to her waist with small lengths of curls at her tips, and she was holding a single rose. She looked up to see him there; she smiled opening her arms beckoning to him to go to her. He did. She watched him walk towards her but the nearer he got the further away she seemed to be. She saw him quicken his pace reaching out to her but she just smiled, her eyes sparkling. Then she was struggling, gasping for breath, hitting out at her faceless assailant, her limp form was pinned under him, his hands around her delicate neck strangling her, she choked as she tried to talk, her eyes wide at the realisation that she would die tonight, her grandfather's lifeless face entered her mind...no...She managed to squeak but to no avail. She felt a tear drop land on her cheek before everything went black, her beautiful face drained of all it's natural colour, her lips slightly parted were blue then she was gone. Faded away, the only thing left in her place was a single red rose...

"No." She screamed sitting up suddenly, the room spun around her, her head ached. Disoriented and hungry, she focused her eyes on the body on the bed in front of her. She realised she must have fallen asleep. Her breathing was uneven, her heart beat raced, her throat dry and since the day she found her grandfather's unconscious body on the bathroom floor her eyes were wide and full of fear. Not being able to hold it back anymore the tears ran down her cheeks as she wept silently praying, clutching to her grandad for dear life.