Hey there.

Um I should put some warnings in for this chapter: mostly there's LIME, non-consentual lime at that. And all you Mariah haters … well, you'll see. Just remember, this is an essential chapter to the story, no matter how much you hate the content.

Enough then, or I'll give away the story. Hope you like it.

The Night to End All Nights

Rei was smiling brightly at everyone who was talking in the small suite. He was feeling a lot better than he had, mostly thanks to Kai, but also due to the facet that he was so happy.

It was as though this afternoon's strange and frightening events had never occurred.

Rei turned his smiling face to Kai.

The other blader felt a stare set on him and looked over at Rei, noticing the warm smile sent in his direction. He turned the corner of his lips up in return and turned back to the earnest conversation he was having with Lee about techniques and captaining.

Rei felt all warm inside at this simple, yet so meaningful gesture.

Kai is so beautiful when he smiles, Rei thought as he continued to study his captain. He blushed at this train of thought, but quickly shrugged it off as admiration and gratefulness for the boy, although he knew that Kai certainly was attractive.

That was one of the reason's Rei didn't reciprocate Mariah's actions: he didn't swing that way. He found out when he realised he was crushing on Lee when he was younger. Which was why it was so painful for him to leave the White Tigers before, and why it was so hard to realise that Lee was jealous of him.

But he moved on, and now he realised what he felt for Lee now was nothing more than strong friendship for someone he grew up closely with.

Rei yawned behind his hand then looked around to see if anyone would miss him if he took off to bed. Everyone else was occupied in some way. Rei walked over to Kai and Lee. They stopped talking and turned to him in question.

"I'm going to have a shower then get to bed." Lee nodded and shook his hand. "I'll see you tomorrow Lee."

"Definitely, Rei." Lee smiled and watched Kai and Rei talk.

"Make sure you change into something warm. I don't want you to get even worse."

Rei grinned. "You worry too much Kai." He laughed as those crimson eyes widened in horror at the description and so did Lee. Kai spluttered then glared at Rei, who was still grinning. "I'll see you later tonight Kai. Don't make too much noise coming in."

Kai glared at Rei as he walked into their shared room and shut the door behind him. Then he turned to Lee, who still had a huge grin on his face. "Don't say a word," he warned.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Lee assured him with another chuckle. Kai glared again then sighed.

"Damn, he's the only one who I can't stay mad at."

"Rei has that affect on everyone," Lee agreed. "He's such an innocent and so enthusiastic, and he's a great friend. I missed him a lot when he left."

"I can imagine you would have." Kai tried to imagine what life would be like without the smiling neko-jin around, but couldn't. It was too bleak. "I can't even begin to imagine what life was like before I met him, before all of this." He gestured around the room to the Bladebreakers, who were laughing with Kevin and Gary at something on the television. "I hate to admit it, but these guys changed me for the better."

"Are you drunk?" Lee was wondering why Kai was suddenly so talkative.

"No, just pensive." He looked at Lee seriously. "So what was Rei like before I met him?"

"Basically the same. Maybe a bit sadder though. I don't think he was totally happy in the village with us. I know that he loved us all, but he needed something more. And he found it, and in doing so, managed to show us what we were missing out on too. He's just like a cat in that regard, always curious about something, ready to jump at any opportunity, and eager to get into any kind of mischief without warning."

"And he's the calm, reasonable one in the group," Kai muttered, Lee laughed at his comment and clapped his hand down on the phoenix's shoulder.

"I would pity you my friend, but I think you have it quite well off."

"I know I do. And I wouldn't trade it for anything." Kai smiled around the room, then noticed something, much as he had earlier that day. "Hey aren't you missing a member?"

Lee frowned and looked around. "Yeah. Where's Mariah?"

* * *

Rei shrugged off the last of his clothes and winced slightly as his shoulder flared suddenly in pain. He looked down and noticed that he had accidentally reopened one of the wounds he received that day. Kai had done his best to clean them up, and had bandaged them, but there was a small patch of red on the white bandages.

Rei peeled them off and looked at the skin. It was only a small trickle of blood trailing down his arm, but he still shivered at the memory it brought up last time he was about to take a shower in a bathroom.

He quickly unwrapped the rest of his bandages from his arms and unwrapped his hair as well. He turned on the shower and stepped under the steaming spray, relishing in the feel of the water trickling down his back and massaging his body. He ran his fingers through his quickly dampening hair and uncurled any tangles he came across. Flicking it all back, he then proceeded to scrub his body lethargically, his fingers trailing gently over his skin, raising goosebumps and sending shivers down his spine.

This was always a fantasy of his. His lover would be standing behind him, gently trailing his fingers down his body, making him shiver and writhe as those expert touches made their way over the bumps and curves of his muscles, over his chest and down his taut stomach to ...

"Gods," he whispered hoarsely as he felt sudden desire spark in his loins and sent fire coursing through his body.

He hesitantly reached a hand down and trailed his fingers along the taut firm skin of his half-erect member, his eyes closing in ecstasy as that gentle touch sent more shivers of desire coursing through him. He groaned in satisfaction and began to imagine his fantasy as he teased himself with those same gentle touches before he grew impatient and wrapped his whole hand around his erection.

"Would you like hand with that?" a whispered female voice asked seductively and a long-nailed hand wrapped around his own.

Rei's eyes widened and he spun around to see Mariah standing naked behind him. He pushed her hand away and leaned back against the wall.

"What the fuck are you doing in here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She leaned in and licked at his ear.

Disgusted, Rei pushed her away only to hear her growl ferally. He glared back at her. "Get out of here Mariah."

"Or you'll what? You'll hit me? Would you really strike me Rei? That wouldn't go well in your favour when I call out rape."

Rei's eyes widened and Mariah smirked. "You wouldn't ... Kai, he'd ..."

"Kai doesn't matter, would Lee believe you, that's the question. If you so much as lay a finger on me in anger, I'll scream it out and you won't be able to do a thing."

Rei looked at her helplessly. "Why? Why are you doing this Mariah?"

She pushed up against him and grinded her hips against his. Rei shuddered and turned his head away. "Because I want you Rei," she whispered harshly in his ear. "And nothing you say or do will stop me from getting what I want."

Rei shut his eyes as she proceed to then move against him, her hand seeking out his penis, the other occupied with placing his hands on her breasts and rubbing them.

A single tear trickled from the corner of Rei's eye, washed away by the warm water still cascading down upon them.

* * *

Kai frowned, worried about Rei.

Where the hell is she? She wouldn't try anything here, not with me and everyone else still here. Kai looked around. He'd already checked in the other bedroom and bathroom and Lee was checking downstairs in the lobby, in case she had gone for snacks or something.

Not fucking likely.

There were only two places left that Kai hadn't looked and he wasn't quiet ready to rush in there while everyone was still here. The other five were still watching the movie and starting to doze off a bit. Kai didn't want to worry them, but he had to check on Rei.

They look kind of sleepy. I'll risk it.

Kai was about to open his door when the front door opened and Lee came back in.

"Well?" Kai asked impatiently, a wild look in his eyes.

"The doorman didn't see her, neither did the concierge." Lee looked a bit worried himself. "Where could she have gotten to?" He looked over worriedly at Kai and his eyes narrowed as something flickered in the crimson depths.

Why is Kai so worried? Especially about Mariah? I know he doesn't like her, he never has. So why? Unless there's something else to this. What is your deal Hiwatari?

* * *

Rei couldn't help letting out a whimper as Mariah too his hand and pushed it against her wet vaginal entrance.

She nipped at his era playfully and forced his fingers upwards, letting out a huge gasp of pleasure as she did so and tightening her grip on his penis.

"Mariah, please, don't do this." Rei's voice came out as a hoarse whisper. His tears went unnoticed as they trailed away with the water from the showerhead.

Mariah growled and pushed herself up against him harder, causing Rei to gasp in pain as he hit his shoulder against the wall.

"Don't tell me what to do, I make the rules here, not you." To emphasise her point, she intertwined her fingers with Rei's and pushed them up higher inside her. She smirked and sucked at his neck.

Gods, no, please no. Rei closed his eyes again and pleaded within the confines of his mind for anything to stop her. Please, Kai, help me. Someone, anyone, anything. Help.

Mariah gasped slightly and started moving her hands faster. Rei tried to pull back at the unwanted friction of her hand around his penis and the disgusting wet warmness he felt from inside her. Mariah simply drew him closer again and grinded against him in a steady rhythmic pattern.

Mariah seemed to shudder slightly and Rei felt the walls of her entrance clench and a rush of fluid washed over his fingers. Mariah gasped and leaned heavily against him, panting slightly. Her hand uncurled from his penis and she let go of his fingers. Rei pulled back away from her, then her nails dug into his leg.

"Don't move, I'm not finished with you." Mariah smirked at him and knelt down, placing her hands on his hips so he wouldn't move.

"Gods, Mariah, please don't." Rei didn't try and hide his tears now. They ran down his face pitifully.

"You won't be saying that soon." She smiled up at him again and leaned in.

Then they both heard the door to the other room opening.

It's Kai! Rei smiled in relief and was about to call out when Mariah sprung up and covered his mouth.

"You will not say a word of this to anyone." She walked over to the sink where Kai' razor sat and picked it up. She ran it down her arm, wincing slightly. "You do," she gasped through the pain, "and I show them this. What sort of conclusions do you think they'll reach?"

Rei stared at her in horror. "You're mental."

Mariah snarled. "Watch yourself Rei."

"Kai already knows about this."

"I told you before, Kai isn't the one you have to convince. Your word against mine Rei. Those marks on your shoulder won't help either." He looked down and his eyes widened. Nail marks, signs of possible retaliation. He closed his eyes in despair and slid down the wall.

Mariah smirked and quickly bound her arm in one of his wristbands. Then she dried herself and quickly dried her hair with a towel. Then she dressed and pulled on her coat, tied her hair back into a bun and put the hood of her coat over her head to hide the fact it was wet.

"I'll see you later Rei." She opened the door, releasing a wave of steam and stepped into the bedroom.

The minute she walked through the door, she came face-to-face with a furious Kai. She smirked at him and pushed past him, only to feel his hand on her arm.

"Careful, I'm injured. Rei's quite a feisty one." Kai growled and she laughed. "Don't worry, I left enough for you." She broke out of his tight grasp and opened the bedroom door with Kai close behind.

"Mariah." Lee came over. "Where have you been, we were looking for you."

"I was talking with Rei. I got bored earlier, so I decided to wander around. I'm sorry for going into your room Kai, but I'm a curious one, and I usually do what I want." Mariah smiled inwardly as Kai's blazing eyes narrowed. "Then Rei came in and we decided to keep each other entertained. I guess I lost track of time."

Lee smiled, believing every word she said. "Well, we were going to go now. Gary and Kevin look kind of tired and we've got a long day tomorrow sightseeing."

Mariah smiled. "I know. I'm sure Rei's looking forward to it also." She sent a smirk in Kai's direction. "I just hope that he's still feeling up to it."

Kai grunted and turned away.

Lee looked between the two of them, feeling like he was missing out on something as he watched their hostile and knowing faces. Mariah smirk seemed somehow wrong and out of place also. Damn it, but I'm going to find out what's wrong no matter what. He cleared his throat and drew their attention back to him. "We should get going then."

"Right." Mariah walked over to the two on the couch, trying not to wake Tyson and Max, who were snuggled up together cutely on the floor, or Kenny, who had fallen asleep on the armchair with Dizzy clutched tightly to his chest. The three of them walked back to Lee and Kai who were standing in the hallway.

"We'll see you tomorrow then Kai." Lee held out his hand.

"Sure. Hope you had a nice time tonight." Kai shook the other captain's hand.

Mariah smirked at Kai. "I sure did." She walked down the hallway waving behind her. Gary and Kevin followed, mumbling tired good-byes and pleasantries. Kai watched Mariah leave with fire in his eyes. Lee noticed this and reaffirmed again to find out what the hell was going on.

"See you." He called out and caught up with his team, still feeling that cold malevolent gaze fixed on the girl beside him.

* * *

Kai closed the door when he could no longer see the White Tigers down the hallway.

He decided to leave the others in this room for now, they looked too comfortable to move, and he was feeling a bit too tired himself to be bothered with them. He reentered his room and suddenly his eyes widened as he remembered Rei.

"Gods," he whispered and closed the door quickly and ran into the bathroom as he heard the sounds of shattering glass. Kai threw open the door to see Rei standing before the vanity with a thin shard of broken mirror, from Rei's own travelling mirror, held over his wrist. Blood already covered the porcelain sink from his other wrist which sported a thin wound or crimson already.

"No, Rei!" Kai rushed over to him and grabbed his wrist, unconcerned by the blood dripping onto him or the way Rei flinched and tried to pull away. "Please don't so this, it's not worth it."

"Let me go Kai!" Rei tried to futilely pull out of his grasp, tears streaming down his face. "I just want to forget it, please let me forget it all." He sobbed and his struggles became weaker. He leaned into Kai and put his head on Kai's chest, leaning his whole weight onto the older boy. "Please Kai, make me forget." Rei sobbed and his knees buckled.

Kai caught him around the waist and sank to the floor with the boy. He held the frantically sobbing Rei against his chest. He held the distraught boy tightly to him, much as he did before, blood pooling beneath them as before. Rei's hair hid most of the boy from Kai's scrutiny, but a few scratches and bruises from hitting the wall could be seen.

Kai nuzzled his face into Rei's hair, tears stinging in his own eyes.

"Gods Rei, don't ever do that again," he reprimanded in a choked voice. "I don't want to lose you. Please don't leave me." Kai pulled Rei into his lap and sat there on the floor with him, both thinking about what had and could have happened.

AN: Wow, that was my first limish piece of writing I've ever written. Guess you know now why this is R-rated. I did warn you though, so don't flame or anything. Also, sorry for possible spelling and grammar errors, I'm kind of tired.