Chapter Twelve: Rebuilding Relationships

Rei opened his eyes slowly, squinting a little as bright light spilled into his pupils. For a moment all he could see was scintillating gold reflecting off every object in the room, and he smiled, still sunk in deep, peaceful bliss. Then, as his eyes slowly adjusted and vision became more real, he became aware of a pain in his neck. He had not realized when he had fallen asleep, and his head had dropped onto his chest while he still sat in the chair. Now if he turned his head too quickly a sharp pain injected his shoulder. Slightly amused, Rei sat up, the bronze and gold sunlight flickered onto his face, heating one side, and he yawned and stretched. Morning had come.

Rei stood, swiveling his head a little to iron out the creak in his neck. As he did so he caught sight of the still sleeping Janine, and next to her, the still sleeping Kai. Relieved that he had missed nothing during the night, Rei expanded his arms and clenched his fists, enjoying the little shiver he got when the creases in his limbs died away. Then he saw his hands; blood matted, brown; disgusting. He wrinkled his nose and moved to a small sink - a tiny basin that stood next to the coffee table. He turned on the tap with a squeak and ran his tired hands under the cold tap water, watching the glistening trails trickle between his painful fingers. He winced as the sink turned a dirty shade with bits of hardened blood and dust that had settled into the cracks, and he rubbed one hand over the other with an air of distaste. When his hands were clean, he turned off the tap, and realized the sound of the running water had blocked out the noise of the heart monitor. And with a start, he realized it had changed.

Rei turned hastily to the bed, attempting to locate any change in his friend's pale face. Was it a bad change? It bleeped at random intervals, slower now. His own heart thudding, Rei swung to the other monitors to see if he could find out what was going on. Kai looked unchanged, and Janine still slept on his hand. The infuriating bleeping continued, as if mocking poor Rei, and he spun round in frenzy. Then the thought entered into his head, and he dashed to the door, his teeth grit and his fists, still sore, clenched. He ripped open the door and leaped into the corridor.

Luckily he caught sight of a tall, blond haired doctor.

"Judy!" he yelled, his voice still airy from sleep, "Judy! Here!"

Judy, just about to turn a corner at the end of the corridor, spun around and looked at Rei.

"Rei? What is it?"

Rei beckoned her over agitatedly, his eyes wide and bolting. Judy ran over, her white coat trailing behind her and her black heels clacking. She ran up to Rei and gasped.

"What? What's wrong?"

Rei grasped her arm and pulled her into the room, where Janine still slept.

"Hear that?" he said, the atmosphere tense besides them, "The . . . the monitor!"

Judy listened, and then ran to the monitor. "Maybe I should call a more experienced doctor. I'm . . . I'm not sure . . . "

"Hurry!" cried Rei, panicking, "This might be serious!"

He darted to the bed and looked at Kai's face again. Something had changed - the pale shadow that had rested across his worn features had lifted. Rei felt his stomach twinge.

"Is he gonna die?" he thought frantically, the worst thought of all pulsating in his mind, the infuriating heart monitor bleeping in his ears. Suddenly, he felt his eyes drawn back to Kai's face. He watched in wonder as . . . did he just see . . . what he thought . . . ?

Kai opened his eyes. Just a little, as one waking from a pleasant dream, one who does not want to leave it just yet. He looked upwards for a second, his eyes focusing and becoming accustomed to the light that they had come close to never seeing again. The pupils contracted a little, and Kai blinked, and then looked left slowly, his eyes dragging before they finally met Rei's. He stared at Rei a little before gently moving his head to the left at a slight angle, and he blinked again.

"R . . . Rei?"

His lips barely moved as he said it, the sound was scarcely audiable, but Rei heard it clearly above the bleep of the heart monitor. He nodded, his eyes glittering. Relief broke over him, a wave on the rocks, and he laughed quietly.

"Yeah Kai, it's me. It's Rei."

Kai stared at him for another moment, as if registering the thought. Then, he turned his head back upwards and took a deep, shaky breath.

"I . . . can't feel . . . "

Judy, who had been watching through amazed eyes, came forwards. "Yes, Kai, your legs were damaged. It's to be expected. Don't worry yourself about it. It's nice to have you back."

Rei nodded vigorously, in stark agreement. "You had us really worried there pal! Thought we might . . . lose you."

A small, weak smile curved at the edge of Kai's mouth, and he looked left again, some more brightness shining in his brown eyes. His face, still pale, looked a little warmer.

"I . . . can't feel my . . . hand."

Rei had to lean forward to catch that one, the sound was so quiet, and he let the thought play again in his mind. Then he looked down at the still sleeping Janine, who looked oblivious in her slumber. He smiled.

"Want me to move her?"

Kai looked at his hand, and then rested his head back with a little sigh. He smiled faintly.

"No. Leave her. Let her rest."

Rei nodded, and watched with happiness as Kai closed his eyes again and leaned back into the pillows. When his captain drifted off to sleep again, Rei turned to Judy, who was beaming.

"I gotta make a phone call. See you in a minute, Judy!"

He sprung past the startled doctor with newfound energy, happiness radiating from every look he gave, and with a cheery grin he shut the door behind him.

********

When the phone in Tyson's room rang at seven thirty that morning, the boys were still in bed - well, Tyson was still asleep but was he still in the bed? No, he was drooling on the floor. Anyway . . .

Max startled up out of his sleep. He had dreamt of strange things, stairs and falling and tumbling things.and was frankly glad to wake up. He had no time to rub his eyes; rather he scrambled out of bed, cautious not to bang his arm, and raced for the phone. But Tyson, who had ended up lying on the floor next to the small brown phone cabinet, reached up and pulled it to his face.

"Just ten minutes more . . . "

"Hey, Tyson!"

Tyson woke up with a jump. He sat up, narrowly avoiding banging his head on the corner of the cabinet.

"Rei! Hey buddy!"

He motioned for Max and the Chief, who were clawing over a multitude of bed sheets to get to him, to be quiet. He pressed the phone to his face to hear more clearly.

"Well, Rei? What news have you got?"

He realized that he was shaking - either with the shock of being woken so quickly and sharply or with apprehension and fear. Fingers clutched the phone tight and he didn't see Kenny and Max staring nervously at him.

Well, Tyson . . . "

Tyson twisted the phone cord around his hand. "Yeah? What . . . just tell us, Rei,"

"Kai . . . just woke up,"

Tyson opened his mouth but no words came out. His look of total surprise must have given Max and the Chief the wrong impression because they immediately looked away, their faces etched with pain.

"Why are you upset?" asked Tyson in mischievous glee, "He just woke up!"

Max glanced back at Tyson and sniffed. "You serious?"

"Yeah!" Tyson nodded in exuberance. He heard Rei giggling down the phone.

"So, Tyson, maybe you could come to the hospital today? He's asleep again now, but I think he'll wake up again later on."

Tyson nodded again. "Sure, bud. Thanks for calling! We'll be there at . . . let's say one."

There was a click as Rei hung up the phone and Tyson replaced his end with a smile.

"Well guys?"

Max and the Chief beamed. "All right!"

********

Janine felt a restless stirring underneath her face, and she wrinkled her nose as she was dragged from a dream about nothing. She opened her eyes slowly, squinting as the light filled them quickly. She blinked two or three times in succession, and then moved her head, still not remembering where she was. She looked down at the sheets of the bed, and it struck her that her normal bed sheets weren't blue. Puzzled, she glanced up the bed, letting her eyes trail for a moment. Then she gazed upon the face of Kai, who was watching as he moved the arm in the sling slightly to his right, testing how much flexibility it had left. Janine lifted her head and sat up, and Kai felt the sudden release of pressure upon his hand. He turned his head, still leaning against the pillows, and met Janine's gaze. He was wide-awake now - he was already on his way to recovery.

Janine smiled, brushing a piece of hair back from her face self- consciously, attempting to ignore the hammering butterflies dancing in her stomach.

"Hey."

Kai turned his gaze and looked up at the ceiling. "Hey." His voice was still thin and hoarse.

Janine, puzzled, turned and saw Rei watching from a chair at the other side of the room. He pretended to look innocent and then stood.

"Ok, all right. I'll go!"

He grinned roguishly, and made for the door.

"Want anything?"

Janine shook her head gratefully. "Thanks, Rei."

Rei nodded and looked at Kai, who watched silently. "Want me to get a nurse, Kai? Need anything?"

Kai closed his eyes and shook his head faintly. "No, I'm fine."

Rei smiled and shut the door. It closed with a little click and the room descended into silence.

Janine took the strand of hair from behind her ears and began to fiddle with it again. Then she replaced it - and she unhooked it again, curling it around her finger. She did not look up; rather she kept her eyes on her fingers. She had so many things to say; yet she was not eloquent enough to express herself properly. Kai, by nature silent, stared at the ceiling, his hair falling into his eyes.

Finally, the heavy, oppressive silence weighing on Janine's shoulders disintegrated, and she spoke.

"Feel any better?"

Kai looked at her briefly. "Yeah, a little."

"Does it hurt?" she asked, trying to conceal her obvious concern. Kai shrugged - and then winced.

"Only . . . only when I do anything," he said with a sarcastic grin. He relaxed again, his shoulder throbbing, and returned his gaze to the ceiling.

Before the silence could fall again, Janine stood and spoke.

"I can understand, Kai, why you might be mad at me. What I did was plain wrong. I . . . I apologise. But I'm mad at you for running under that debris. Why d'you do it, huh?" Her voice rose a little higher, "Why? After what I did? You put your life on the line for me, after I treated you like . . . well, like I did."

She paused for a second, and saw Kai watching her out of his brown eyes. Then she continued, her words spinning out like pictures on a film reel.

"You shouldn't have done it. Look how you ended up. It should be me in that bed."

She breathed in deeply and took a seat, her head spinning. She hadn't meant to rattle things off so fast. Gripping her knees with her hands, she stared at her legs and did not move.

"Janine."

She looked up in some confusion - she hadn't expected that Kai would even want to speak to her. Looking up at his face, she saw that same look she had seen a long time ago, when she had needed comfort, and had found it in him, and he had held her close, warm, and made it better. She looked away again.

"Don't, Kai. Don't. I . . . don't expect forgiveness, and I certainly don't deserve it, so maybe I should just-"

"You're forgiven."

Janine stopped, her mouth dry, her words empty. She looked up, shocked.

"What?"

Her blood pounded in her ears as Kai repeated himself, even though it looked like the talking took a strain on him.

"You're . . . forgiven."

Janine looked away, biting her lip. She hadn't expected this. She had been prepared for an argument perhaps, and then she would walk out and go back to work, and things would be normal again. She hadn't expected amnesty.

She mustered her voice. "Um . . . why?"

Kai frowned. "You just . . . are."

He sighed, and Janine spoke again, her eyes prickling but feeling she had already cried far too much and that she should be strong for once. Her heart moved in her chest and she smiled, thankful, relieved, and touched.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice airy. She reached forward and grabbed Kai's free hand gently. She lifted it and clasped it between both of her own pale ones.

"I was so worried."

"You shouldn't worry about me," said Kai, his voice beginning to die out and weaken, "I'm fine."

Janine nodded, pressing her lips together.

"Kai, I only did what I did because . . . because I knew what they were doing. I had to split you from the rest of your team. I couldn't let them . . . "

Kai shook his head barely, his hair moving slightly across his bandage. "Don't . . . talk about it . . . for now."

Janine nodded again, willing. There was nothing she wanted more than to put the awful, shameful, horror filled memory out of her mind, but she had to set things straight. She would not rest at night knowing that Kai was alive in the world and thinking ill of her.

A nurse came in, carrying a plastic bag of colorless liquid, and she took an empty bag from its place amongst the machinery and replaced it with the new one. She glanced at Kai and smiled.

"Better soon, no?"

Kai nodded, and Janine thanked the nurse, who beamed in a motherly manner and exited. Janine followed the liquid with her eyes as it ran down a thin, clear tube into the needle in Kai's hand. She laid his hand back down on the bed, and just gazed at his face for a moment, taking in his features and details and wondering at how blessed she was. Kai, who was looking up at the ceiling again, sighed weakly.

"You tired?"

"Mmm,"

"Probably the medication."

Kai smiled. "Yeah."

There were no more words for a while - both seemed to be happy being in each other's company. Janine kept hold of Kai's hand loosely, and her gaze wandered to the window where she could see the cerulean heavens outside. When he squeezed her own hand she looked at him, startled.

"You know," he began faintly, barely audiable as his medication took effect, "It's better to not be alone, isolated. I always thought I had to be. But it's better this way."

Janine, surprised, smiled and quickly wiped away a tear that was trickling down her smooth cheek, still slightly dusty. She nodded.

"Yeah. And you're not alone. You've got your friends, your team - and you'll always have me." She gripped his hand a little harder.

Kai closed his eyes with a sigh, a half smile curving his mouth, and Janine watched until his breathing became that of the steady, regular rise and fall of slumber. When he finally drifted off, she sat down, wiped her eyes happily, and continued to watch him sleep.

********

"Don't rush it!" hissed Tyson through gritted, tense teeth, "Slowly. Go at your own pace."

How long does physiotherapy usually take? Janine pondered as she watched from a chair, a smile across her face although she was nervous. After two weeks of slowly building up his muscle strength and working the life back into his legs, Kai was going to try walking for the first time. He had healed very quickly - it usually takes at least five or six weeks, doesn't it? - and, although he was by no means in perfect health, was eager to get back on his feet. The tournament had been postponed while the police had gone after Giorgio, Bill and Rio, and the bladers at the tournament were still waiting for their blades to be returned, as nobody but the Blade- Breakers knew that Janine had been part of the shadowy group. Kai, his face pale, glanced over at Janine as he began to slip out of the bed, supported by Rei and Tyson, supervised by a doctor.

"Remember, Kai," said the pretty female doctor, "Ease your weight onto your legs. You'll gradually feel the pressure increasing if all goes well. But you mustn't overdo it."

Kai didn't bother responding. He glanced up at the doctor, his eyes glinting with concentration and anticipation, and, when he felt Rei grip his good arm and Tyson intensify his hold on his waist, he slipped out and placed his bare feet on the floor. Instantly he cried out.

"What? What is it?" said Max as he jumped up. Kai grinned apologetically.

"Cold floor."

Rei and Tyson sighed in relief, and then Rei spoke.

"Ready? We're gonna slowly let go."

Kai nodded, determined. He ached to walk about again. His legs felt tired and useless, as did he. Lying in a bed and having others wait on him was just not his style, and he longed to get outside and just walk, run, anything other than be in a bed or a wheelchair. He looked down at his feet, which were half masked by the baggy legs of his trousers, and smiled.

"Ok. Do it."

Rei relaxed his fingers tentatively from Kai's bare arm, while Tyson took his hands off the bandages around Kai's ribs. Eventually, they moved their open hands away from Kai, inch by inch, until he was standing alone. His fists were clenched with furious concentration but he smiled.

Janine jumped up, beaming. "Way to go, guys! You'll be out of here soon, Kai!"

The doctor spoke. "Good, Kai. That's great. For someone who we thought may not regain use of his legs for three or four months, you're coming along pretty well!"

Kai grinned, feeling a little awkward but pleased all the same. It was as though he didn't know what to do with his legs, but he knew that with practice then complete sensation would return. Without warning, his knees buckled, and he slipped forwards, taken aback, but Rei and Tyson were close at hand and they grabbed him as gently as they could, Tyson careful not to knock the damaged arm. They pulled him up so he was sitting on the bed, and he nodded at them, his face paler than before.

"Thanks. I don't know what happened."

The nurse smiled sympathetically. "It's only to be expected, Kai. Just a simple thing like that puts a whole lot of strain on your body. But that will stop eventually. Next time, you'll stand for twice as long, and you'll just keep on getting better and better. You have to be patient. You can't expect results overnight."

Kai ran his left hand through his hair, brushing it out of his eyes. His hand scraped along the bandage across his head.

"How long till this comes off?"

The doctor peered closer. "Hmm . . . I think you've had it on just about enough. The wound should be healed by now."

She stepped forward and began to unwind the creamy bandage slowly, just in case the slice hadn't started healing yet or the stitches had come loose. Kai winced when she finally pulled it off, and then looked upwards, as if to see the mark.

"Well?"

Tyson leaned forward, scrutinizing.

"Cool scar!"

There was a white line, still a little red in the centre, raised above the skin, which ran for about an inch and a half from the hairline across to the left. When the grey curtain of hair dropped, the scar was invisible.

"Wicked!" exclaimed Max, easily impressed. Kai gave him an odd look.

"Nice to know you like my scar, Max."

Max nodded with exuberance. "Yeah! It's really cool!"

Rei laughed, and Janine joined him. She raised an eyebrow at Kai, who watched, his gaze keen.

"Now everyone'll think you're a bad boy, Kai!"

Kai looked skeptical. "Yeah - if I gel my hair back so you can see it."

Janine giggled. "Don't, please!"

Kai looked over at the doctor, who was smirking. "Well? When can I try again?"

"Whenever you feel ready, Kai. But, like I said earlier, don't overdo it."

She smiled, flicking her flaming red mane back.

"Well, I've got other patients. See you later, guys."

The doctor exited and Kai eased himself back into the bed with a sigh.

"This bites," he said as he leaned on one arm. Kenny was puzzled.

"Of course it bites. Not walking is always gonna be a drag-"

"Not that, Kenny," interrupted Kai, staring straight at him, "Did you forget what day it is?"

Tyson and the Chief glanced at each other warily, the same thought running through each of their minds.

"It's not your birthday, right?" they said simultaneously, and seeing from the looks on Rei and Max's faces they had thought the same. Janine said nothing. She had noticed, as darkness began to close in left and right from the deepening sky outside, the yearning glances Kai had given his Dranzer now and then as it lay still upon the brown table. In her eyes, it was beginning to lose its luster. The shine on the metal seemed dimmer, jaded.

Kai shook his head, his face a little downcast. "It's not my birthday. Tomorrow is the opening day of the tournament."

Rei's face fell. "I forgot. I see now; you're bummed because you won't be battling with us."

Kai said nothing, and the four other Blade-Breakers looked at each other.

"Sorry, Kai," said Tyson glumly, "Man, that's a kick in the teeth. I never thought of it like that."

Silence, a ring of heavy emptiness, and then Max spoke.

"We'll be blading for you, Kai,"

Kai looked up. "What?"

"Yeah!" agreed Rei, "We're gonna win this!"

"We'll remember you every step!" added Tyson with a determined grin, "And when we come out of this victorious, it'll be a team effort. You might be stuck here, Kai, but we're a team! We fight together in spirit!"

Kai stared at each of them, and then smiled gratefully. "Yeah, ok. That's cool. But I'm still Team Leader - and I've got a bone to pick with you guys. It's Friday, four o clock. Where are you supposed to be?"

The nameless authority returned to his voice, and the Blade-Breakers looked at each other, yet again filled with uncertainty. Kai sighed, exasperated, and ran his hand through his hair again.

"Training? You're supposed to be training. Remember?"

The light of recognition illuminated each of their faces, and Kai shook his head, amused.

"I'm gone for a couple of weeks and look at the state of you."

Janine giggled. "You'd better look sharp!"

Rei saluted and clicked his heels together smartly. "Ok, Captain. What should we do?"

Kai couldn't help but laugh at Rei, and he looked out of the window. There was a slight drizzle outside, and the cold could be felt even through the icy glass. Kai flashed an evil smile, a pleasant, mischievous spark in his eyes.

"Well, go on!"

Tyson looked at him blankly. "What?"

Kai nodded to the window.

"Go train."

Max glanced at the window, and then back to Kai, and then at the window again.

"You want us to train? In that?"

Kai looked out again, where the rain was slowly getting heavier and the sky was turning grey. "You wanna win this tournament? Then you need to be in top physical condition. So go run around the parking lot. Twenty times each."

He could literally see each of their jaws dropping. He grinned.

"Ok, ten."

Rei sighed. "You got us. I guess we haven't done any serious training since . . . since those days after Tyson and I fell in the ice. We need some extra practice."

Tyson stared at him in disbelief. "You can't be serious!"

Rei nodded. "Yeah! I mean, Kai has a point! We need to practice!"

Max headed to the door. "Come on, he's right."

Kenny nodded his unfortunate agreement. "Yeah, and I can analyze your data."

Tyson growled. "Don't be dumb!"

"Come on, Tyson!"

"Yeah, it won't be so bad!"

Tyson grimaced, as the rain lashed on the windows. Rei headed for the door, which Max and the Chief had solemnly opened and were exiting from. Tyson sighed.

"Man, it's freezing out there. I'm gonna catch my death."

He turned and dragged himself to the door where Rei waited with an amused grin.

"Tyson."

Tyson turned to the bed, but his vision was marred by a sudden flurry of white. He groped at his face and lifted his head up to find Kai's scarf hanging loosely around his neck. Kai had reached up to the clothes hanger and thrown it at him, and was now smiling.

"Keep warm!" he said with a smirk, while Janine giggled quietly. Tyson grinned and wrapped the warm scarf around his neck. They headed out of the door and Tyson pulled the door closed behind him. As he towed it into the latch, he heard Kai call them from inside. He opened the door again.

"Yeah, Kai?"

Kai smiled. "I was kidding. You don't have to train - not in that weather."

Tyson held up a hand, even though Max had delighted at the prospect of hibernating inside in the warmth of the hospital room.

"No, that's ok, Kai. We'll do it. We need the training."

Kai looked taken aback. "You . . . you sure?"

Tyson nodded resiliently, and Rei agreed from behind the panel of the door.

"Yup! We're gonna win this - no matter what. The training'll do us good!"

Kai looked at each of them intently, confused. He obviously had not expected his team to show such admirable determination and, for a moment, even though he did not like to admit it, he felt exceptionally proud of them. Of course, there had been times when he had been pleased with them before - on the occasions when they had won tournaments with magnificent battles, and the efforts of Tyson and Rei in the warehouse had struck him as commendable (even though to admit it would finally finish him off). But here, in this room, he felt an atmosphere of tenacity, camaraderie and solidarity, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of honor to be part of such a remarkable group.

He gave in with a sigh. "Ok. Do what you like."

Max nodded vigorously, the pleasant atmosphere igniting his sense of hyperactivity. "Alright! Long live the Blade-Breakers! Woo!"

He darted out of the door again and ran down the corridor with his arms spread like some sort of aircraft. Tyson shook his head.

"Mad as a hatter. Don't even know why I'm friends with him. He's bomb happy!"

Rei glanced at him. "Bomb happy?"

Janine quipped in. "It's an old-fashioned English term for crazy. It was used to describe soldiers who had just come back from the war with shell shock, and it's gradually been turned into a slang word for somebody who's lost it."

Everyone in the room stared at her. Rei shrugged his shoulders.

"Whatever you say, J."

Rei didn't mind being corrected by Janine anymore. He didn't mind her at all. During those long hours cramped in the lifeless waiting room where the burden of nothingness held upon them as a steady, increasing force, Rei and Janine had come to some sort of wordless understanding. They now appreciated each other's thoughts and accepted each other. In fact, Rei got on pretty well with her now. He flashed her a grin and she smiled back.

Rei nodded and shut the door, and he followed Tyson, Kenny and the fast disappearing Max down the hallway with a happy sense of satisfaction. All had turned out well, and he smiled to himself as he walked slowly along, his eyes glued to the floor. Everything was fine.

Or was it?

Rei felt a sudden jolt in his stomach as he remembered the image in the mirror, and he could feel the blood resounding in his ears once more, as though just the memory of the event had actually taken him back there. His stomach swayed and he shut his eyes for a moment, imagining the sweet taste of her perfume on the air, concentrating hard on the girl he knew he loved; he remembered slowly unfastening the pink bow that held back her smooth hair, he felt the soft touch of her cheek, the passionate brush of her lips against his own.

Then, again, the forbidden image crept into his mind, and he, defenseless and unable to stop it, could only watch as it grew in splendor and Leanne winked and sparkled at him, unquenchable in passion. He froze for a second and then looked away with intent, longing and hatred stirring in his heart. He shook his head and began to imagine Mariah again, her pretty smile lighting her face.

"Are you a . . . Rei Kon?"

Rei spun around, not quite used to people calling him by his full name.

"Yeah."

A small secretary was peering around the corner. "I thought so," she said, peeping over a pair of tiny pincer spectacles, "You have a phone call."

Taken aback, Rei followed the woman assiduously down the few corridors and arrived at the reception desk. He held the cream receiver to his face, still a little shaken from his daydream.

"Hello? This is Rei speaking. Who is this?"

"Hey Rei."

His eyes brightened at her voice. He smiled happily and relaxed, his stomach buzzing and effervescing.

"Mariah. It's so good to hear you!"

As he waited for her answer, he couldn't help but feeling that she had called at just the right time. Now he could see her clearly in his mind's eye, laughing, hand twiddling away on the phone cord, busy wrapping her finger around the wire, her eyes darting around at nothing in particular.

"How are you, Rei? I hear it's been tough out there."

Rei nodded though she could not hear. "Yeah, but things are getting better again."

"How are the Blade-Breakers?"

"We're all fine. I take it Mr Dickinson told you everything."

"Yeah. So everything's ok?"

"Yeah."

"Good! I . . . I heard about the ice."

Rei had to think for a moment, confused as to what she was talking of. Then his mind reached far back, and he grasped the memory tight and thrust it up to the forefront of his thoughts.

"I can hardly remember, so much has happened since then. Go on."

"When I heard that you nearly . . . well, Rei, I couldn't believe it. I was so afraid. But then Mr Dickinson told me that you had been rescued and I was so relieved. I don't know what I would have done . . . if . . . you know?"

Rei nodded again to nobody. "I get it. You don't need to worry, Mariah. I'm fine!"

"I'm so glad to hear that. Well, Rei, I don't have much time left. This is an expensive call to make. But it was so cool to hear you talk again. I'm glad you're safe."

"Hey Mariah?"

"Yeah, Rei?"

Rei paused, unsure of how to phrase himself. " . . . Thanks."

"For what?"

For callin'. You don't know how much this means to me."

Mariah sounded a little taken aback. Rei was not usually so cordial with her on the phone. However she was not displeased.

"That's ok. I love talking to you, Rei."

"Me too, Mariah. I miss you."

Again, she seemed surprised at this forthright confession.

"I miss you too, Rei. But I gotta go!"

"Goodbye, Mariah."

"Catch you later, Rei. Bye!"

Rei hung up the receiver with a joyous sense of victory in his mind. He had defeated it! He could no longer see Leanne, the disdainful image of the past whose splendor had mocked him for many nights now. He saw Mariah, strikingly clear in his mind, her voice echoing affably in every section of his thoughts. With a grin and a newfound sense of determination, he sped down the corridor and was soon outside with the others, the rain falling but never powerful enough to dampen the unquenchable flames of emotion.

********

"So . . . when are you gonna . . . you know . . . own up?"

Janine flinched at Kai's pert question. She looked at him and tutted motherly. The two of them sat alone in the room while the others trained outside.

"Kai, you look cold. Let me get your shirt."

Kai gave her a look as she reached up and grabbed the loose white hospital shirt from its place on the wall hanger. She rolled it in her hands and moved to pull it over his head.

"Wait a second!"

She stopped, feeling the inevitable question heading for her again. She stepped away.

"Look. I'll tell 'em. But I haven't had time yet. That's all."

She didn't sound convincing. Kai gave her another funny look.

"Ok . . . so when you gonna tell him? Danny won't be mad."

"What if he hands me over to the police or something?"

She looked away.

"This place is my home. It's where I've built my life - honest or not. I don't want my reputation to be marked by this."

Kai nodded. "I know. But Danny'll keep quiet as long as you hand the blades back. He's a nice enough guy. Those kids need their blades back."

Janine nodded, still not convinced. "That's true. But . . . I don't know. What about all of the other bladers? What are they gonna do to me?"

Kai grabbed her hand with his good arm for a moment, something he hadn't done for quite a long time.

"It'll be fine. I promise."

Janine looked down at her hand, a relieving warmth spreading slowly up it and tingling.

"Thanks. You're right. It'll be fine. I'm gonna tell Danny tomorrow. I know the place where they hid the Beyblades. Everyone will get them back soon"

"What about Giorgio? Won't he have already taken them?"

Janine smiled with a glint. "Yeah, you'd think that. But I'm the only one who knows. Because I hid them. So he hasn't got them."

Kai's face lit up. "Really?"

Janine nodded with a beaming smile. "Yup!"

"That seems to be too easy. Too coincidental."

"I wouldn't complain if I were you."

Kai laughed; an unusual occurrence. "Ok then. Now you can definitely tell Danny. Nobody'll mind as long as they get their blades back, Janine."

Another nod, and Janine rolled up the white shirt again, the conversation concluded for now. She pulled it over Kai's head and dropped it gently over the bandages about his chest. She pulled his left arm through the baggy sleeve and lowered it gingerly. The right arm needed no attendance - the shirt was only one-sleeved and the material fell about the sling evenly. Kai didn't look too pleased, and Janine let a small giggle escape her mouth.

"I bet you don't like being dressed by me, right?"

Kai scowled. "I don't like being dressed by anyone. I feel useless."

Janine sighed as she sat down. "Yeah, I know. But be patient. You'll be back on your feet in no time. I never heard of anyone recovering from such serious injuries as quickly as you did. So be glad you've come this far!"

Kai was silent for a while. Janine, saddened, picked at the cuticles of her nails absentmindedly, her lips pouted a little. An inquiring nurse popped her head in with a smile and then left, seeing that there was no problem. And so the silence returned, and both were unsure why.

Then Janine ventured forth a statement.

"So . . . do you know who the Blade-Breakers are facing in their first match-up?"

"It doesn't matter. They'll win."

Janine was surprised. "What? You're so confident that your team is gonna win?"

Kai nodded. "I'm not that confident in their abilities. But I've scouted around and checked out the competition - obviously before all this happened. There's nobody here that my team can't handle - and in the first round the competition is never usually too hot."

Janine nodded understandingly. "Right. So-"

"Janine, um . . . when does the tournament end?"

Janine stopped in the middle of a sentence. "What? Oh . . . it lasts for a week, and then I think you guys go as soon as . . . it's . . . finished . . . "
She stopped completely. The importance of her words hit her like a weight, and she looked down.

"Oh."

Kai stared at his legs for a moment, before realizing that the sun had begun to glow outside and was reflecting from the window and onto the bed. He sighed and looked up at her face, downcast, her eyes shining, and he smiled.

"Don't worry about it. We might not have to go straight away . . . maybe we could even wait a while . . . you know? Maybe . . . "

His voice trailed, and he sighed again, and he turned his head to watch the others spilling into the parking lot.

"I'm gonna miss you, Kai."

At her voice, he looked back from watching the others run around outside through the window. His features were surprised.

"W . . . What?"

Janine smiled. "I thought you might say that."

She stood up, stretched her legs, and, with a backward glance at Kai and a saddened smile, she turned her back and walked out of the room. Kai watched with an open mouth, uncomprehending, and then turned back to the window where he could see his team in the beginnings of a Beybattle in the parking lot, thoughts spinning in his quick mind but none quite piecing together.