Installment 2 of 'College Life' has arrived. I was a little disappointed with the lack of feedback from the first chapter, but I can be patient. Anyway, I'm still hoping to get some suggestions on what you readers would like to see in upcoming chapters. Right now I have 22 chapters planned, but that could change once I get some feedback. And now on with the chapter.

Same standards apply, this is yaoi. If you don't like it, just click the little back button.

Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade. Little tops that have animals come out of the, yeah, I'm not that creative.

"It was good to see you again." The slate-haired youth couldn't fight the grin that stretched across his face.

"It was good to see you too, Rei. See ya in a month."

College Life

Chp. 2 Moving In

Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!

"Damn suitcase!" Rei spat out venomously, looking back at the cursed black appendage. The stupid thing probably weighed twice as much as he did, and then there were the three boxes still waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. Why didn't this place have elevators again?! Of course there was really no point in complaining about it. He would have to live with it for the next four years, and the neko-jin wasn't going to go home because of a tiny inconvenience. The suitcase 'clunked' with each step, the sound echoing through the empty stairwell. The solitude reminded Rei how much time he would be spending alone. True, he would have Kai. But the stoic captain had never been much of a conservationist in the past, and he doubted that had changed much. A sick sensation took hold of his stomach, and he did his best to ignore it.

"I can't be getting homesick already. . ." the tiger chided himself softly, stopping to look out a window that framed the stairwell. North Carolina's landscape was beautiful, trees for miles...but it was nothing compared to home. Closing his eyes, Rei pictured the sloping hills of his village, the river where he and Mao would get water for dinner, the rocks where he and Lee would have sparring matches. The neko-jin shook his head lightly, and continued up the steps.

The goodbye had been difficult for everyone. After leaving the village to improve his beyblading skills, no one had expected Rei to take leave again. Especially so soon after he had gotten home. Truthfully, the tiger had been having second thoughts about going to college as soon as he got acceptance letter in the mail. A part of him just wasn't ready to leave the comfort zone he had built. But of course, when it came time to make a decision, Rei knew what he had to do. Mao had been the first to object, and the whole village knew why. She was in love with the him; she had always been.

"You can't leave again!" She had pleaded the moment she caught Rei alone.

"Yes, I can," he had stated simply before walking away. What else could he stay. Yes, Mao was in love with him, but he didn't love her back.

"Of course I can't tell her why," Rei mused to himself with a smile and a blush. If anyone from the village found out that he was, well, controversial...a shudder passed through the neko-jin. Let's just say to be gay and a member of his clan was not the safest of combinations. As it were, the goodbyes had to be made BEFORE he left for the airport. Secretly, it had been more for himself than anyone else, but he let them think otherwise. Rei was terrible with goodbyes.

"Finally!" The tiger nearly collapsed in tears when he saw the large number 8 posted on the side of the wall. He had reached his floor. From there, it was the quick process of locating his dorm number, and unlocking his way into independence.

74 degrees was heaven. Not too hot, not too cold. Perfect. North Carolina, Kai decided, was a great improvement over Russia. He hated to be cold. There were a lot of things in the world that he disliked: Takao, Max, losing. But he HATED to be cold. Yes, 74 degrees was just right.

You'd assume that the one-time leader of the blade breakers had something more relevant to think about. But then again, assuming can get you into a lot of trouble. Kai stood from the bench he had been sitting on, silently contemplating his new surroundings, and picked up the large duffle bag and worn guitar case that had been sitting at his feet. After getting off the plane, he grabbed a taxi, and after dealing with the malodorous stench for about 40 minutes he asked for the driver to pull over. From there it was just a 5 minute, stench-free walk to the college.

The duffle bag contained all of his possessions, or at least the ones he cared about. And the guitar case actually had a guitar in it. (Does that surprise any of you?) Despite what people say, Kai was good at a lot of things that weren't beyblading. He prided himself on that fact.

Spotting the college in the distance, Kai stopped one last time to look at his new home. The towering buildings were a semblance of the abbey. A momentary shudder passed through his mind, but he quelled it instantly. This place was completely different. That was obvious to even the dimmest of people. But Kai had a hard time trusting anyone, even a well established college. Letting a sigh escape his lips, he continued on his path, fishing in his pocket for a slip of paper. It had his building number on it: Crescent Dorms, floor 8, room 7B.

"Nothing's ever simple," he muttered bitterly, glaring at the stairs lying before him. Taking one step at a time, trying to ignore the echo of his boots. The silence was growing irksome. Casting a glance over his shoulder to confirm his solitude, the phoenix began to hum softly to himself. Nothing in particular. Just a song he had caught on the radio the day he had left Russia. It was only natural that the humming led to singing, and Kai found the foreign words strangely comforting. Perhaps it was something he had taken for granted while living the frozen country, or perhaps he was growing just the wee bit home sick?

"That couldn't be it," Kai thought ruefully to himself, the words still flowing with ease. So wrapped up in the song, he almost passed right by his floor. With a sheepish shrug he quickly found his room, and pushed into his new home.

Rei looked up from his position on the floor as the door swung open. For a moment, he and Kai merely looked at one another, crimson matching gold.

"Hey," the neko-jin finally spoke, standing to greet his old friend and new roommate.

"Hey," Kai returned somewhat awkwardly, tossing his duffel bag onto the nearest bed. Rei's bed, which was pushed up against the far wall, was currently covered with an array of items.

"Just like old times," the former captain commented eyeing Rei's bed, before unzipping his bag. A blush crossed the tiger's features.

"I never was one to pack light." Out of the corner of his eye, Rei caught sight of the guitar case.

"Speaking of packing, you've never needed more than that one bag. What's in the case? A guitar?" The neko-jin had skipped over to the taller boy, a curious gleam in his eyes.

"Just some useless junk," the phoenix spoke indignantly, his eyes focused on unpacking his clothes. Rei knew very well that Kai NEVER packed useless junk, but he wasn't going to argue for an answer he was never going to get. Not when he needed the energy to lug 3 more boxes up the stairs. He let out a sigh, eyeing the door wearily.

"Do you want some help?" Rei turned to look at his friend, head tilted slightly. "Those were your boxes outside the door, right? You'll need help to get them up here." Not waiting for an answer, Kai left the room and headed down the stairs.

"Hey, wait up!"

"What do you have in here? Bricks?!" Kai staggered under the weight of the larger box. Rei, carrying two slightly smaller boxes, one stacked on top of the other, ducked his head.

"Just a few things to remind me of home," was the embarrassed reply. The phoenix nodded in understanding.

"Do you miss it? Your home, I mean," the neko-jin asked, glancing over the side of his boxes.

"I don't have anything to miss," he thought to himself mournfully. But his real answer was a standard shrug.

"I don't want to miss it," Rei confessed, golden eyes slipping closed. For a moment, they continued up the steps: Kai with his eyes forward, jaw set, and Rei with his eyes closed, a content grin creasing his face. And then suddenly, he felt his former captain stop. Opening his eyes, he turned to face him.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What?" The neko-jin asked innocently.

"You're going up the stairs. . .with your eyes closed...that's not safe." The tiger had to hold back a snicker.

"That's why you stopped? You worry too much." Kai sneered at his former teammate.

"Don't be such a smart ass."

"Hit me."

"What?!" Kai had almost dropped the box he had been holding. "I'm not going to hit you, Rei."

"Fine. Don't." The neko-jin turned and continued up the steps, his braid bouncing with each step. Kai scowled at the retreating back, before following. It was going to be a long year.

Tbc

Well, that's it until next time. Please go review. I could really use the encouragement. ''' Ja!

Thanks yet again to Rizu for previewing this chapter. W00t! XD