Uh, there will be Mariah bashing in this *hides from Mariah fans* I'm really sorry, but she was just so conveniently there and annoying as usual, I needed a bit of drama and tension (not to mention a little Rei angst and torture) So, sorry if you like her, but in this fic she's evil, so you've been warned. Also, Kai might seem s little OOC, but I'm working on that. Also, this story will definitely continue to be R (considering some of the content in this chappie). Anyways, here the fic.

Strange turn of events

"Rei! What the hell were you doing out there?"

"I'm sorry, I'm a bit distracted."

"A bit?! Rei, I warned you before, do not jeopardise our team with your problems." Kai sent Rei and angry glare. "Look, find a way to take your mind off things during the break."

"Give him a break Kai, he's trying his best." Kai sent his glare Tyson's way. The long-haired boy glared right back. "I've already won the first match, it doesn't matter if we lose this one, we can come back. You're blading the third. None of the White Tigers can beat you, so cut Rei some slack."

"No, Tyson. Kai's right. I'm not trying my best." Rei sighed then looked up at Kai. "I'm sorry Kai, I'll try better."

Kai sighed and looked away. "Rei, you've got to tell someone your problems or at least keep them out of the arena."

"I know, but I'm still not ready to talk yet Kai."

Kai thought this over. "Fine. Just know this. You either keep your mind on the match, or you'll face me later for a little training session. Or you can talk. It's your choice."

"I'll blade."

"Remember the consequences. If I see that you truly are concentrating but you lose anyway, I'll go easy on you."

Rei rolled his eyes. "That's so comforting to hear." He looked over at the opposite side of the arena to his opponent and grimaced. Mariah was waving and winking at him. "Why'd I get her?" he muttered as he walked out to the dish to face his old friend.

"Ready to lose Rei?" Mariah smirked from the other side of the blue battle dish, readying Galix for launch.

"You wish." Rei snarled, trying to get her out of his mind. He set Drigger in his launcher and waited for the countdown.

"Okay Beyfans, get ready for the second round of this second match between Rei of the Bladebreakers and Mariah of the White Tigers." Rei winced as Jazzman called this over the sound system in his usual irritating manner. "Okay, bladers ready." Rei focused on his blade and launcher, a small frown coming to his face. "Three. Two. One. Let it rip!"

They launched. Rei circled quickly around the dish as Mariah raced in for an attack, barely avoiding her blade.

"Galix! Cat scratch attack!"

"Damn." Rei avoided her blade again then called forth Drigger. "Tiger Claw!" Instead of maneuvering quickly, Rei went for a frontal assault, taking the pink-haired girl by surprise and knocking her blade out of the dish.

Rei smiled and called Drigger back then walked back to his team with the sound of applause cheering him on.

Kai looked at him with an arched eyebrow. "It seems I've been proven wrong."

"I guess. Thanks for the pep talk earlier."

"Pep talk?" Max muttered. "Sounded like threatening to me."

Kai glared at Max then looked back at Rei. "You all right?"

"Yeah."

"Just try and concentrate okay. You've still got the last battle to go and I know that Mariah won't go easy on you."

"Yeah." Rei looked over at his opponent and his eyes widened slightly. So slightly in fact that only Kai noticed anything. He looked over at Mariah, but didn't see anything that could make Rei nervous.

"Rei?"

"I'm fine Kai. Stop being so worried." Rei moved out of the team area and over to the dish, ready for the next battle and avoiding Kai's gaze.

"Wow, Kai really is worried," Max whispered to Tyson.

"I know. I wonder what's up."

"Guys, be quiet!" Kenny was frantically typing on his laptop with Dizzy making a few comments as he went. "I need to get stats on this match. I need to find out how much Mariah has improved since the last time we battle and we need to know any possible weaknesses in Rei's blade."

"It's not the blade that's the problem," Kai muttered sourly, his gaze fixed on the raven-haired figure in front of him as he stepped up to the dish. Come one Rei, get it together, you can do this. You're stronger than this.

Rei sighed and set his blade in his launcher, trying to ignore the way Mariah was licking her lips in his direction, but failing miserably.

"So Rei, you ready for what's coming to you?"

"Are you ready yourself Mariah?" Rei glanced up with a smirk, which faded as he saw the look in her eyes. His hand trembled slightly, making his aim slightly off as he launched his blade.

"Damn," he muttered and tried to compensate for his mistake. "Drigger maneuver." His blade started circling around the rim while Mariah was waiting for him in the centre.

Rei then went for an assault, but Mariah swerved her blade and smirked. "Patience is a virtue, Rei. You just have to wait for the right time to attack." She paused and grinned. "Like now. Galix, Cat Scratch Attack!"

Rei tried to move Drigger, but the tiger had been off balance from the start and wobbled slightly, allowing Galix to reach Drigger and knock him out of the dish.

"Wow! What an upset! Mariah and Galix have knocked Drigger out of the dish. The second round goes to the White Tiger Team!" There was a huge roar at Jazzman's words and Mariah waved to the crowd after blowing a kiss to the dejected Rei.

"I'll see you later Rei." She winked at him and walked back to her ecstatic team.

Rei walked back towards his own team, his shoulders slightly slumped, but otherwise not showing his disappointment. He walked past his three cheerful teammates, who kept saying, 'It's okay, it's not your fault' and stood before his stone-faced captain.

"I tried."

"I know." Kai gave him a softer look. "Good work."

Rei smiled slightly, returning the soft look and feeling better than he had seconds before. "Sorry I lost."

"I work better under pressure anyway." Kai turned away and walked out of the pit (1) and over to the dish where Lee stood waiting with a ready blade and a feral smile.

The first match was over with in a second. Galeon went flying out of the dish with the impact of Dranzer's furious launch. There was a huge round of cheers as Kai walked back to his team. He looked over at Rei and smirked.

"See?"

Rei laughed. "Yeah, I do." Then he yawned.

Kai frowned. "I told you that you should have went to bed earlier." Rei looked at him apologetically and sneezed. "Now you've caught cold. Go take a shower and wait in the change room until the match is over."

"But Kai—" Kai gave him a glare and Rei pouted. "Can't I even wait until after your match. This is a very important battle you know."

"It's an exhibition match." But Kai saw that Rei would not be put off. "Fine. After this then you go to the change room." He looked over at the rest of the team. "That goes for the rest of you too. Don't think I didn't know about that loud pillow fight you all engaged in last night." The three younger boys looked a bit guilty.

"Uh, that was just …" Max trailed off as Kai set his famous glare on him. "Never mind."

"Showers, food, then back to the hotel for rest." Kai turned away as he was called to the dish. "We'll talk after." He made his way back out to the dish.

The match took only slightly longer than the first, ending in basically the same dramatic fashion. Kai smirked as Dranzer came out and knocked Galeon flying back into Lee's waiting hand. The leader of the White Tigers smiled and walked over to Kai.

"Great Match Hiwatari." He shook Kai's hand before the crimson eyed leader was engulfed in a mass of ecstatic Bladebreakers.

"Yay! Kai won!" Max was clutched to the older blader's back and was grinning from ear to ear.

"Way to go Kai!" Tyson tackled him from the side and grinned. "Mr. Sourpuss here really came through for us."

"Well he is the best blader on our team after all." Kenny approached them at a slower more reasonable pace. He looked at the extremely irritated Kai with a smile. "Your stats are even better than before Kai."

"That's great. Now, get off!" Kai shoved Tyson away and pulled Max off his back then he turned around as he heard a delightfully familiar sound. Rei was approaching them laughing.

He noticed Kai's look and held his hands up innocently. "I just wanted to say hello." Kai arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. Rei smiled brightly at Kai's silent acceptance and turned to Lee and the other White Tigers, who had arrived while Kai was busy being glomped by Tyson and Max. He shook Lee's hand and drew the older boy into a hug.

"It's great to see you Lee."

"You too. Sorry we couldn't meet up before the match, but things came up." He sent a small glare in Mariah's direction. She shrugged it off and smiled at Rei an a way that made him shiver in discomfort.

"Hi there Rei. Sorry you lost, but it's no big deal, seeing as your team won and all."

"Yeah, I guess so." Mariah's unblinking gaze was fixed hungrily on him, making hi even more uncomfortable.

"Hey Rei, maybe later we can catch up with you, if you're available." Kevin and the others seemed oblivious to Rei's turmoil. Rei gratefully used the distraction to tear his eyes away from Mariah's.

"Sure, how about—"

"Tomorrow," Kai cut in, ignoring Rei's glare of protest. "You can see them tomorrow Rei seeing as there is no training. YOU can spend the whole day if you like."

Rei's face lit up with glee. "Are you serious?" he looked over at the White Tigers. "Is that okay with you?"

"Sure!" Kevin grinned.

"Rei?"

"Yeah Kai?" Rei turned back to his captain.

"What are you supposed to be doing now?"

Rei's face fell again. "But Kai, want to stay an talk."

"You can talk later. Showers. Now."

"But—"

"Rei, you've been running a temperature since last night and you've already got a slight cold, not to mention you're tired. I don't want you to get sick, and you don't want to either considering your plans for tomorrow. Have a warm shower and get changed. I'll meet you after to make sure you're all right."

Rei pouted. "Yes mother," he said sulkily.

"And what did I tell you about being a smart-ass?"

Rei rolled his eyes in a childish manner and waved to his old team before heading to the showers, unaware that a lustful golden gaze was watching his every move.

"Wow Kai, aren't you the mother hen." Lee grinned and Kai glared at him.

"I'm their captain, if I don't take care of them no one will. Tyson!"

"What?! I didn't do anything!"

"Head back to the hotel and book a table for dinner at the restaurant. Max, go with him."

"Sure thing." The two cheerful boy headed out, waving to everyone. Suddenly though, Tyson stopped and scratched his head. "Hey, wait a minute! Kenny said that Kai was the best blader on our team! I won the world championships two months ago!"

Max grabbed the boy and dragged him outside before he could attack Kenny. "Let it go Tyson."

Kai watched the two of them leave with some apprehension. "Kenny, you'd better go with them. Make sure that Tyson doesn't get himself into trouble and that Max doesn't eat anything with sugar before dinner."

"Right Kai, but there's one problem."

"That is …?"

"We're out of our team allowance."

"Book the table under my name, I'll take care of it."

"Right. How many people?"

Kai looked over at the White Tigers. "Would you like to join us?"

"Sure, especially if you're paying!" Kevin was grinning. Lee hit him on the back of his head.

"Baka," he muttered and smiled at Kai. "Sure thing. We'd be glad to."

"Yeah." The silent Gary agreed with a nod and grinned.

Kai suddenly frowned as he noticed something. "Where's Mariah?"

* * *

Rei was already sniffing loudly as he entered the change room. Why did Kai have to be right? Rei smiled as he recalled Kai's concern.

The stoic blader had warmed up to his teammates after the World Tournament and started acting more human towards them. It was only a matter of time. Not even Kai could withstand the four of them trying hard to befriend him, especially as they were all so cheerful and friendly. I guess that he finally realised that we'd be there for him through anything, even what happened with the Demolition Boys. Of course now he's being a bit overbearing at times, but it's still nice to know he cares.

Rei took off his shoes and two tops and shivered slightly in the cool air. He moved over to the showers and turned one on, letting steam fill the white room. He moved his hands to unbind his hair, but whirled around as he heard a noise directly behind him.

There was no one there.

"Kai? Is that you?"

No answer.

"Guess I'm being paranoid," he muttered and turned to the shower again.

"No you're not," a smirking voice called out from the side. Rei's eyes widened as he recognised the voice and he turned around with wide eyes.

"M-Mariah! What are you doing in here?"

She smirked and laughed in what was supposed to be a seductive manner. "You know why I'm here." She stepped towards Rei, who stepped back until he was up against a wall. Mariah ran a finger down his bare muscled chest and grinned.

"N-no, actually, I d-don't know." Rei stuttered trying to move away from that finger and the disturbing chills it sent through him. "Mariah, I think you should leave."

"Without getting what I want? She pouted and pushed herself up against him. "But that's not fair." She trailed her finger lower until it reached the waistband of Rei's pants.

"Woah!" Rei gently pushed her away. "Okay, now I really think you should get out of here."

Mariah pouted again. "But Rei, don't you want to have any fun?"

Rei was annoyed now with her. "No, I don't. I want to have a shower and get changed. Now if you don't mind, this is a male change room, so you should leave."

Mariah growled as he firmly grasped his arm and ripped her hand away. The she quickly whirled around and grabbed his arm, her sharp nails digging in far enough to draw blood. Rei gasped at the pain, but she ignored him.

"I'm getting what I want Rei."

"Mariah, please, let go of my arm."

"Fine." She grabbed his shoulder with her other arm. Unfortunately, this was directly on top of one of Rei's old wounds from the battle with Bryan. There hadn't been enough time for them to heal properly, so the wounds were still quite sensitive and painful when pressure was applied. He yelled out in pain as her nails dug in, rivulets of blood trickling down his arm. Whiteness filled his eyes as he registered feeling only pain.

"Oh, is my poor Rei hurting?" Mariah asked in a fake voice. She grinned, knowing exactly where she had dug her nails in. "I guess that he can't stop me from doing this then." Mariah trailed her other hand down Rei's side and slid it underneath his waistband.

"Mariah, please, don't …"Rei gasped as she increased the pressure on his shoulder. His legs trembled beneath him, he couldn't stand the pain. He felt her other hand slide lower. Tears formed in his eyes and he looked at her pleadingly. "Don't Mariah."

But Mariah wouldn't give up now that she was almost at her goal. She smiled viciously at Rei's whimpering form. "You'll be begging for me soon," she promised.

Suddenly they heard voices echoing down the corridor.

"Damn!" Mariah released Rei and let him fall back against the wall. She ran out of the change room and over into the girls one.

"Mariah? Are you in here?" It was Lee. Mariah exited the change room and smiled. He was with Kai.

Lee smiled. "We're heading back to the hotel before going to dinner with the Bladebreakers."

"Great!" Mariah smiled brightly, not a hint of her previous actions and thoughts showing in hr demeanour "Let's get going then. See you Kai. Can you tell Rei I sent my regards?"

"Sure. See you." Kai watched them leave before entering the male change room.

"Rei?" he called out and frowned as he didn't hear Rei answer.

"Rei?" he called again louder this time.

Kai heard a small whimpering noise.

"Rei?" Kai strode over to where he thought the sound was coming from. Then he spotted the raven haired figure sitting on the floor, blood starting to pool around him.

"Gods! Rei!" Kai rushed over and sat down beside him. "What happened?" Kai tenderly touched the boy's arm and pulled back as Rei recoiled.

"Nothing … I uh … I accidentally reopened one of my wounds. It's no big deal really." Rei tried to pull away and stand up without assistance, but failed. Kai caught him and leaned the boy on himself.

"You're a terrible liar Rei. What really happened?"

Rei refused to say anything. He turned his head away.

Kai studied the wounds, his eyes narrowing. There appeared to be deep crescent shaped grooves in the skin around Rei's arm and shoulder. They look like nail indentations. But who would do something like this to Rei? Kai studied them for a bit longer and his eyes widened as he came to a conclusion.

"Mariah?" he asked incredulously.

Rei shrank away from him, but Kai held on tighter. "What happened Rei?"

"She wouldn't let me go. I couldn't push her away, she's a girl and she's like my sister. I couldn't hurt her, but she wouldn't take no. She grabbed my shoulder and I couldn't move, the pain was …" Rei shuddered and leaned into Kai.

"Do you think I'm weak?" he whispered faintly, his voice echoing unshed tears.

"No." Kai answered without hesitation.

"Liar." Rei pulled away. "I am weak, I couldn't even stop Mariah from …" he trailed off and looked away, ashamed.

"Rei …" Kai gathered the boy into his embrace again. "You didn't want to hurt her, but she used your injuries against you."

"I know, and that's what makes it worse. Gods Kai, she's like a sister to me. I knew that she liked me, but lately, she'd been getting more amorous in her attention towards me. Sometimes she felt like a stalker. I should have seen this coming and stopped everything before. But I didn't." He started sobbing. "Gods I hate myself Kai."

Kai looked pained at Rei's words. He could do nothing for the boy but hold him and let him cry his tears out. So he did. He sat on the floor of the stadium change rooms and gently soothed his distraught teammate in his arms with gentle words and a caring presence.

AN: (1) I don't know what those things they sit in beside the dish are called, but they remind me of those baseball pits, or digs, or whatever, so yea, that's what I mean.