Disclaimer: I don't own.

AN: This is the last chapter. I hope you all enjoyed this story. A huge thanks to every one of my reviewers.

Bryan picked up the phone on the bedside table and rapidly dialed Kai and Tala's phone number. It rang only three times before it was picked up. Before Tala could start talking, Bryan cut in. "Something happened. Get here as soon as possible." He hung up and went into the living room, pacing the length, trying to stay focused.

Just as Tala and Kai entered the house, the phone next to the door rang. Tala quickly grabbed the receiver. "Hello? This is Tala Hiwatari." There was silence for several seconds. "I see. Thank you for calling."

Tala placed the receiver back down; hand trembling so bad that he almost dropped it. Kai looked over at his lover, mahogany eyes worried. Normally Tala was hard to ruffle, but what ever he had just heard had managed to shake him badly. "Tala, love, what's wrong?" The redhead ran a hand through his hair, tears welling in his blue eyes.

"They found Rei. Oh god..." Tala sat down next to Bryan, twining his fingers with his friend's. He gently stroked the smooth skin; blue eyes fastened on the floor. "It was Danya. She…" The Russian took a deep breath before continuing. "She killed him before shooting herself. One of the neighbors heard the gunshots and called the police. She was obsessed with him. Her house was littered with everything about him. She even had pictures from more recently, like when we were at the restaurant."

Kai had dropped onto the sofa, nails biting into his flesh even through his pants. Tala wrapped his free arm around his lover and pulled him closer. The slate haired Russian laid his head on Tala's shoulder, closing his eyes in a futile effort to keep the tears from falling.

Bryan hadn't moved any; his moonlight eyes focused on the far wall. He felt Tala squeeze his hand and he slowly looked at his friend. "Bry, are you going to be okay?" Bryan pulled away from his friend and got to his feet, running a pale hand through his hair. "That's the stupidest fucking question you've ever asked Tala! I'm going to be just fine!" Sarcasm was dripping from the Russian's comment, filling the room. "I just lost the most important person in my life and you expect me to be fine?"

He stalked out of the living room, slamming the door to the bedroom. Tala closed his eyes and sat back with a pained sigh, a single tear trickling down his pale skin. Kai brushed it away, before laying his head back on his lover's shoulder, mahogany eyes laced with pain and sadness. Tala laid one hand on Kai's leg and rubbed soothing circles, trying to drive away his own tears. "I'm worried about him, Kai. He was never totally stable at the Abbey. I'm afraid this might push him over the edge. Rei was the only person that ever loved him in the way he needed. Bry easily could have lived without friends but… I can't deal with losing another friend."

Bryan sat on the edge of the bed, head hanging, pale hair falling into his eyes. He brushed the strands back, accidentally brushing his eyes. He pulled his hand back, staring down at the crystal tear that sat on the tip of his finger. A strange feeling of being watched swept over him and he looked up, eyes starting to haze with tears.

A wooden picture frame sat on the dresser, dark wood carved with the words Bryan and Rei Forever. Inside the frame was a picture of infinitely happier times. Tala had managed to take the picture secretly. He and Rei had been out at one of Kai's mansions for a short vacation. They had been out on the land, just the two of them. Bryan had his arms wrapped around the neko-jin, chin resting on his shoulder. Rei had been leaning back against the Russian, golden eyes shining with love and happiness. And Bryan had actually smiled, unaware of the hidden Tala. Rei had one too and had given Bryan this one only three weeks ago.

He carefully picked up the picture and ran a finger over the image, silent tears trickling down his cheeks. "I love you Rei. I always will, there will never be another." He set the picture back down and sat staring at it, long into the night.

*****

The day was cold and it had rained during the night, leaving the cemetery wet and muddy in places. Bryan stared out over the horizon, seemingly lost in thought. Tala glanced at Kai before turning to face his friend. He was about to touch Bryan when the lavender haired blader spoke up. "I already know that you're there Tala. And I'm not going to hit you. You had every reason to ask." Tala sighed and moved to stand next to his friend. It had been three weeks since they had found out about Rei and they hadn't talked since then.

The silence between them stretched out until Kai broke it. "Everyone's here you two. We should get over there." Bryan just barely nodded and the three Russians made their way over to the rest of the mourners. They had kept it a small gathering, only friends. Tyson, Max and Kenny were still all in shock, their eyes haunted. The White Tigers had flown in and Mariah was hanging on Li, golden eyes swollen from hours of crying. The Majestics and All-Stars had shown up along with Mr. Dickinson. Bryan's eyes were fixed on the casket, only vaguely aware of the people around him.

Rei's casket was a light, almost sun colored brown. A huge wreath of blood red roses lay on the top, contrasting with the light colored wood. The tombstone was simple grey granite. The inscription was simple

Rei Kon

1987-2009

Friend, Brother, Lover

By the time the service was over the rain had started again, a chill drizzle sending people to their cars. Bryan ignored the drops; eyes riveted on the stone. He pulled out of his coat a single, long stemmed rose. The drizzle collected on the golden petals, he gently touched the petals before setting it to lean against the grey stone, a single bright point. He ran his fingers over the smooth stone, fingers tracing Rei's name with infinite tenderness. He was brought to his feet by the sound of some one clearing their throat.

He turned to find Li behind him golden eyes sad. The Chinese blader watched him for several seconds before speaking. "We found this when we were cleaning out Rei's house. I thought that he would want you to have it." He pressed something round into the Russian's hand, closing the pale fingers around it. Bryan looked down and to his shock found Driger lying in his hand. He glanced up at Li, eyes silently questioning. The neko-jin smiled sadly, fangs barely visible. "I didn't forgive you for what you did to Rei at the tournament. But when I read his letters I could see how much he loved you. Driger is now yours."

Li turned to rejoin his teammates and stopped, pulling something out of his jacket. He turned and in his hands lay something wrapped in black velvet. "We thought you would also like to have these." Bryan took the black velvet and folded one corner back, fingers gently running over the soft cloth. Inside was Rei's copy of the picture, dark wood identical to his. Beneath the frame was small leather bound book, the neko-jin's name spelled out in gold lettering. "I got that for Rei for Christmas last year. It's your choice whether or not you read it but..." The neko-jin's voice trailed off.

Bryan nodded and murmured a slight "thank you" before leaving, pale hair plastered to his head from the falling rain, slight shivers racking his body. He gently placed the picture and book on the passengers seat, black velvet falling back to reveal part of the dark wood frame. Once the windows had defogged, he started off, his mind constantly returning to the small black book that sat next to him.

*****

Tala hung his coat on the rack, watching as the raindrops slid to the hard floor. He placed his shoes on the mat and threw his suit jacket on the couch, dropping his tie on the coat. The light was on in their room and he could faintly make out the sound of running water from the master bathroom.

He tossed his shirt on the bed and made his way to the bathroom, belt dropping to the floor. Leaning against the doorframe he allowed a small smile to appear. Kai was kneeling next to the Jacuzzi tub, one hand testing the temperature of the water. The track lighting lit up the scars that covered the slate haired Russian's back.

Tala moved forward, footsteps silent on the tile floor. He gently brushed one finger down the scars lining his lover's back. Kai leaned back, slate bangs flopping into his eyes. "I miss him so much Tala. It's only been three weeks. I can't imagine what it will be like years from now." The redhead dropped to floor, drawing his lover into his arms. He ran his fingers through the slate hair, blue eyes sad.

"I know. I miss him to, but right now we need to keep an eye on Bryan." Kai slowly got up and took his belt off before moving to the linen closet to get two towels. He placed them on the edge of the tub. "We don't need to watch him. Remain close yes. Rei wouldn't want Bryan to live a half-life and Bryan knows that. He won't do anything. Rei wouldn't want it. Now come on. Our bath's getting cold.

A shadow of Tala's smirk reappeared as he got to his feet. "If you say so." Kai just shook his head and turned the water off before turning the jets on.

*****

Bryan sat on the edge of his mind, paying no attention to the wet clothes that clung to his body. The cover of Rei's journal was soft, the smell of leather pervading the air. He opened the front cover to find a short note that Li had written before he had given the book to Rei. He turned to the next page to find Rei's neat printing covering the pages. Idly he flicked through the book, respecting the privacy of his lover's thoughts.

It wasn't until the last page with writing that he actually paid attention to. The page had been dated three days before the neko-jin had been kidnapped and his name was just below the date.

May 7, 2009

Bryan,

As I sit here writing this, I pray to whatever gods are listening that you will never have to read this. If anything should happen to me, I want you to tell Kai, Tala, Tyson, Max, Kenny and the White Tigers that I love them all. But most importantly of all, I love you.

I want you to remember that Bryan. No matter what happens to me, I will always be there to watch over you. On those odd days I woke up before you, I would just lay there and watch you sleep. Please Bryan, for me, remember that I love you with all of my heart.

Yours From Now until Eternity

Rei

Bryan wrapped the diary and Driger in the black velvet, placing them into the drawer of his bedside table. He placed Rei's picture next to his, a bittersweet smiling curling his lips. He dropped his jacket and shirt on the floor, shivering as the cold air met his wet skin.

"From now until Eternity Rei."