Blue: ok, only a short and annoying note to you all *grins madly* HXH_YGO_OtAkU , I'm glad you said that.

'Rei gets hurt again! I've been reading fics that Rei's always the one to get injured'

You are very observant. I commend you *grins* She always DOES seem to get hurt, doesn't she?

~~~~Rei's POV~~~~~~

Tiredly, I open my eyes opened slowly.

Groaning, I close them immediately as everything around me is blurry before sitting up and rubbing my eyes, opening them once more and looked around where the heck I am.

'Huh? Wha...where...where am I?' I take a second look at the room...'Oh, my room'

With a sigh, I throw the warm and soft covers off of me before sliding out of my bed and onto the cold, hard, wooden floor. "And I got up, why!?" I ask myself before noticing I'm still 'Ray.' "Hm...obviously I've only been here a few hours" Taking a quick glace out my window I realize my theory is correct. It's still pouring rain.

With a shrug, I pull off the top shirt and take out the bandanna in my hair before quietly slipping out the door. Jumping slightly as loud and harsh voices are heard arguing in the living room, I begin tip-toeing down the hallway.

"It was a mis-communication!" Lee's desperate voice floated down the hall as she came up to the entrance to the room and hid around the corner, listening to the conversation.

"Nobody was to be hurt!!" a woman's voice argued back with anger and sorrow evident in her cry.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 'What the heck is going on in there?' I wonder to myself as I glance around the corner.

Lee is standing in the centre of the room with a look of frustration and exhaustion on his face, while a woman, about forty years old I guess, hassled him. I started to get angry until I noticed that on the woman's face were trails of recently shed tears glistening in the soft light of the room.

My eyes sweep to the other occupants in the room, all looking either quite angry, upset, or nothing at all. Mariah is sitting with Emily and Michael on the couch in that order, Robert is standing beside Mariah, and Kai is leaning against the wall beside Lee and across from the couch. A few fighters from earlier are scattered about the larger room as well, listening intently to the arguments being presented.

"We know that," Lee said, tiredly. "But there is nothing we can do anymore. This is a two-way battle to test a persons blading abilities and basic combat strategies. We thought there wouldn't be any casualties but we underestimated our opponent and it cost us dearly." he explained.

'Casualties?' I think to myself, 'What are they talking about...I know we battled but it...it's fuzzy. I can't remember anything. How did a casualty occur? Nobody was supposed to get hurt.'

Turning away from the room, I slide down the wall and place my arms on my knees and repeat to myself, quietly, "Nobody was supposed to get hurt.."

~~~~~Normal POV~~~~~~

"I already know that!" the woman snapped, harshly.

"The why are we having this conversation?" Emily asks, her voice full of frustration.

"Shut up little girl and mind your own business" the woman hisses at Emily, who in turn just shook her head.

Kai glanced up at the sound of footsteps slowly marching into the room. Eyes wide he gets off the wall and tries to make eye contact with Rei as she solemnly walked up to the woman, who looked like she was going to hurt Rei very, VERY badly.

"That's my friend and you have no right to treat her like that." Rei tells the very tall, very big woman. "And I am very sorry for your loss, deeply, unfortunately I have no idea what has happened so if you could please inform me.." Rei bows but is thrown to the floor from a slap upside the head. She looks up from rubbing her cheek.

Kai begins to walk over, planning evil ways to hurt this woman badly, when a strong hand on his shoulder held him back.

"Don't get involved" Robert's voice floated through his ears and Kai clenches his fists as the woman begins ranting about her son, Vance.

"How can I not get involved?" Kai growls and clenches his fists even harder so they turn white.

"If you get involved Rei's honour will be shot down and she'll have an even harder time controlling her village than she has right now" Robert explains.

The two watch as Rei tries futilely to calm the woman down and apologize for her son's death, but the older just got worse and worse.

"So there's nothing I can do?" Kai asks as he watches Rei grow more and more exasperated as time passed. Even the few boys around the room who had come in with the woman were starting to get impatient.

"Well...she's going to need some definite TLC after this." Robert ponders then smirks, pulling Kai by the arm and out the door.

Rei watched Kai leave and sighed in relief. She didn't want him watching her at the moment.

~~~~~~~~

Red Rain: Mew (Um..where is this heading?)

Blue: *grins* nowhere's This story is getting too serious so I gotta lighten the mood for a bit

Red Rain: meow! (Oh, that's just great. Make this story more useless than it already is)

Blue: *grins* yup!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kai, hands in his pockets as the rain falls on him in sheets, followed Robert down the road when he suddenly hears quick footsteps behind him and turns.

"Oh, hello Michael. Why aren't you at the house?" he asks, making Robert stop and turn around impatiently.

"Because. If Robert dragged you out of the house than this has to be good" Michael replies with a shrug as the three enter the guest hut. Inside, all the Majestics, Tyson, Max and Kenny are waiting for them around the living room.

"About time you guys got back" Johnny remarks, getting off the couch and pushing Kai down onto it. All eyes in the room turn to him as Kenny hands Robert a piece of paper.

"Now Kai" Robert starts, nodding that the paper was acceptable. "We have reason to believe that you know practically nothing about women. Is that correct?"

Kai opens his mouth to say something then shuts it quickly. "Why does this matter?" he asks as the others grin.

"Kai, Kai, Kai, oh deprived one." Enrique shakes his head and looks at the triangle-faced blader. "It's time to teach you.."

"THE TOP 10 REASONS GUYS LIKE GIRLS!!" All the guys in the room say at the same time while Kai looks at them like their nuts.

"Did you guys get into Max's sugar stash?" Kai asks, folding his arms and leaning against the back of the couch. "I've been telling you all along, Max, that you should keep that out of reach of children."

Max blushes "Seriously, Kai, Rei needs the perfect guys right now and..."

"Your not one" Tyson says bluntly, receiving a death glare along with many smacks upside the head. "YOU KNOW THAT REALLY HURTS!!??"

"We know" came the unanimous reply before the attention turned to a fuming Kai.

"If I'm just here so you all can insult me then I am seriously out of here" he motions to the door.

"Sit down, shut up and pay attention!" Robert tells Kai, scarily enough that Kai just nods and stays put where he is. "That's better. Now we got these off the internet and have all agreed that they are accurate so we will read them out to you so PAY ATTENTION HIWATARI!!"

Everybody looked at Robert weirdly and he just clears his throat.

"Ok, everybody will read out a rule, I'll start" Robert looks at the list.

"1. How cute they look when they sleep"

Oliver went next.

"2. The ease in which they fit into our arms"

(Blue: I don't feel like saying who said what, you can use your imaginations)

"3. The way they kiss you and all of a sudden everything is right in the world"

"4. Because they are always warm even when its minus 30 outside"

"5. How cute they are when they argue"


"6. The way her hand always finds yours"

"7. The way they smile"

"8. The way you feel when you see their name on the call ID after you just had a big fight"

"Like you would know, Tyson"

"Shut up Johnny!"

"Make me!"

"Just read the next sentence you uncouth people!!"

"Grouch" Tyson and Johnny mutter at the same time.

"9. The way they kiss when you do something nice for them"

"10. The way they kiss you when you say "I love you""

"11. Actually ...just the way they kiss you..."

"12. The way they fall into your arms when they cry"

"If they tried to fall into your arms they'd miss. Let's face it, Eddy, your too tall."

"Shut it Mr. Sparrow boy!"

"Trygle's an eagle!!"

"NEXT!!!" Kai shouts, not wanting to hear anymore fighting. Michael glares at Eddy before muttering "An eagle" then reading out the next line.

"13. Then the way they apologize for crying over something that silly"

"14. The way they say "I miss you"

"15. The way you miss them"

Robert looks up from the list. "There they are. Now, there is one last piece of advice we'd like to give you before you go, so please, if you haven't payed attention" Kai glares at him "then just listen to this."

Kai leans forwards, it was obvious that this was important. If it ment that Rei would be happier, he would do it.

(I love Rei and I'll do anything for her) he tells himself as they start.

"The way her tears make you want to change the world so that it doesn't hurt her anymore....."

Kai's mouth goes slightly agape. It was true...whenever Rei cried that was all he wanted for her.

"Yet regardless if you love them, hate them, wish they would die or know that you would die without them ...it matters not."

"Because once in your life, whatever they were to the world they become everything to you."

"When you look them in the eyes, traveling to the depths of their souls and you say a million things without trace of a sound, you know that your own life is inevitable consumed within the rhythmic beatings of her very heart."

(Woah...this is deep stuff) Kai thinks to himself (But it's all true)

"We love them for a million reasons, No paper would do it justice. It is a thing not of the mind but of the heart."

"A feeling."

"Only felt." Oliver finishes seriously and looks at Kai, who looks away, the gears in his head obviously turning. "Well Kai?"

Kai looks up at the rest of the group and with a genuine half-smile, stands up and holds out his hand for Oliver to shake. "Thank you all. But I must be off" he bows, courteously. "I have a kitten to get back to." With that, he got up, his scarf trailing behind him, and strides out the door with an expressionless face staring straight ahead, as Emily passed by him through the door.

After he had left, Robert turned away sharply and went to the study. Closing the door behind him, he sits down on an armchair and put his head in his hands.

"Why does life have to be so hard?" he asks himself, a tear welling up in his eye.

"It's only hard if that's what you make it." A familiar voice floats through the room and Robert looks up. With a sarcastic smirk, Robert looks away.

"It's not what I make it, it's what it makes me." he tells the other boy who sits down cross-legged on the floor in front of him.

"You still love her, don't you? Even after it was you who got them together, you who is giving them the power they need to become a better and stronger couple, and yet you won't mess anything up for the two of them." the person asks, his face hidden in shadow.

When Robert doesn't reply the figure gets up and steps into the feint light from the darkened sky outside, the rain pattering against the windows.

"Whatever your intentions, they are noble and good." the figure puts a hand on the older blader's shoulder. "And yet I wish the better for you, you deserve so much more." he smiles reassuringly as Robert looks up at him, a feint smile toying across his lips.

"Thanks Oliver, I needed to hear that." with a nod, he takes Oliver's hand and gets pulled up before the two walk out to the other room. Robert thinking to himself that no matter what happens, he loves Rei, and nothing will ever replace that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mariah sighs and looks up at Lee after cleaning a cut on Rei's cheek. "This got too out of hand." she looks back to Rei "At least we got her calmed down enough to listen to reason." she tries to look strong and smile but it only comes out as a small one, nothing that could help.

"I agree," Lee starts, looking out the window above the kitchen sink. "I am so sorry you had to hear that Rei" he doesn't turn around but places a hand on his forehead and closes his eyes. "How could this have happened? I screwed up!" he pounds his fist back onto the counter.

Rei looks up, her eyes showing sorrow and slight emotional exhaustion. "It's not your fault, Lee. We couldn't do anything to help him even if we could turn back time." she shifts her position on the couch while laughing a bit. "Turn back time...I wish. If we could turn back time none of this would have happened in the first place." she stands up quickly and angrily.

"If I could turn back time I wouldn't go along with my parent's wishes." she says, head hanging as Mariah stares up at her from the couch. "I'd stop them from coming to the village...they'd be alive and none of this would have had to have happened."

Mariah gets up and puts her hands on Rei's shoulders.

"Don't ever think that way. I am dead serious, think about it Rei!!!" she exclaims, shaking Rei slightly. "If this never happened, you wouldn't have met me or the other White Tigers! If this never happened you wouldn't have gotten Driger and left the village. You never would have met Tyson or the rest of the Bladebreakers and that INCLUDES Kai."

Rei turns away from Mariah, tears welling up in her eyes from exhaustion and the events of the day.

"She's right" Lee steps forward between the two. "Life isn't a walk in the park, and yours is a real showing of that." he looks at Rei in the eyes. "If none of this hadn't happened...I wouldn't have my best friend" Lee smiles and puts a hand out for Rei to take.

Looking from his hand to his eyes, Rei manages a small smile and takes his hand in a gentle grip.

"Thanks you two." taking a deep breath, Rei brushes past Lee and heads to her room. Suddenly, she stops and her face is hidden from the other two. "So Lee....when is the next battle?"

Lee goes rigid when he remembers the smirk on Blake's face when they had won, the way Blake had said when their next battle was going to be and what he expected the outcome to be...they would lose.

"Um....in five days time." He says quietly, clenching his fists. "And he made a rule that as soon as the sun lowers behind Mount Himonayo that both sides are to attack. No horns this time, and it's the side that gives up that wins." Lee closes his eyes tightly in rage. "He knows he has the upper hand and that he can make the rules...sorry Rei"

Mariah just stands up and tries to make herself busy with washing a few already washed dishes as Rei just nods her head and walks out of the room.

As she does Lee walks over to Mariah and leans against the counter beside her. "You think she'll be ok?" he asks.

His girlfriend sets the dishes back down in the sink and looks out the rain riddled window before her, staring at the cloud-covered sky. "I don't know...this is Kai's area, not ours." she says with a growl. "I can't believe she chose him over so many of the other suitors in the village. I mean they are all good, hard working guys who thought she was the most amazing person on Earth as soon as she arrived. But she just HAD to push them away."

Mariah's teeth clench as she continues. "I just don't understand them and I don't trust Kai. Somehow...I just know he's going to hurt her sooner or later."

Lee shakes his head and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close. "We just have to trust them...I have the same problem with you, you know." he smiles as Mariah turns, her head resting on his chest. "You beyblade, and that's what makes people wary." he rests his head on Mariah's, rocking her gently. "But Max could be right...maybe Kai has changed. Let's just wait and see, all right?"

She sighs, taking in his musky scent "Ok, we'll wait."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rei walked into her room in a very bad mood. Tired was putting it lightly and mad didn't even compare to her feelings towards that 'prat' Blake. Closing the door less than gently behind her she faces it without looking ahead and leans her forehead on the door.

After staying there for a few minutes she heads to her bathroom in a daze and takes a long, hot shower that steams up the small, enclosed room, all the while thinking about the day's events. Quickly changing into her normal night-time shorts and tank-top she steps out into a dimly lit room, scented by at least fifty...

"Candles?" she asks out loud, walking to the middle of the room that is surrounded with candles on almost every space available. "What the..."

"You like?" a familiar voice floats from behind her and she spins around to see Kai leaning against the wall closest to the bathroom door. He pushes himself off and strides to her, her face covered with amusement and surprise at the same time.

Opening her mouth two or three times to say something to him, she can't seem to find any words to tell him. Finally she shakes her head with a huge grin on her lips and looks up at him as he comes to stand in front of her.

"How come whenever I think I have you figured out you come and surprise me?" she asks, wrapping her arms around her neck.

He just shrugs and holds her waist, pulling them closer together. "Don't know." a soft smile crosses his face. "I guess you'll never be able to guess what I'm going to do next."

Rei tilts her head to one side. "Oh really?"

Kai smiles. "Yep" he let's go of her and gently pries his arms off him and walks over to the stereo. "A little bird told me that you can dance." he says, pushing play and turning to face Rei who's figure is lit up with a heavenly glow by the candle-light. Kai can't help but blush a bit as she raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms, she looks so good.

"Do you mean a big griffon?" she asks as he just stands there, gawking at her. It's her turn to blush, the light red tinge radiating off her cheeks, as she looks down and drops her arms. "Do I look that bad?"

His eyes go wide and he quickly shakes his head, making his way back to her and lifting her chin so she can look in his eyes. "Never, your so beautiful...I couldn't help but stare." he smiles and steps back. "All righty then, teach, teach me!" he says with a bow.

"Hm...alrighty then. Let's start with the basics. You have a fast song going so lets see what you got already." she starts moving to the beat, shaking her hips and moving her feet gracefully while spinning around him. "Come on."

"...I can't dance"

Rei stops and fake glares at him. "You asked me to teach you I don't know what you know so hurry up before I decide I want to go to bed."

With a smirk Kai starts moving to the beat to the beat as well, while commenting "I don't mind the second choice."

Rei was impressed. For somebody who had never danced before Kai was pretty good. Soon they were very close together, pressing their bodies against one another and moving to the quick beat. A slow song starts and Rei looks at Kai, puzzled.

"You put a slow song on?" she asks as he nods.

"I don't know how to dance, remember." he replies, feeling a little flustered because he doesn't know what to do.

Rei shakes her head. "Man, you are sheltered." She smiles as Kai rolls his eyes. "Ok"

She steps up to him and places his hands on her hips and wraps her arms around his neck. "Just sway and turn" she instructs in a whisper, glancing up at him as he stares down back at her.

They slow-danced while staring into each other's eyes for that song and tried to keep eye contact even with the fast ones. Finally, another slow one came up and it wasn't as awkward as the last. As they moved to the beat Rei sighs and Kai notices her exhaustion. With a small smile, barely noticeable, he asks "Tired, kitty cat?"

Rei nods with a yawn. Suddenly she yells surprised as he picks her up and carries her to the bed. After laying her on it, he goes around blowing out the candles and shuts off the music before crawling over beside her and pulling the covers over them. Facing each other, he puts his arm around her protectively and kisses her forehead.

"G-nite kitten" he says fondly as she looks up at him, tiredly, forcing her eyes to stay open.

"Good night, Kai" she says, sleepily, snuggling closer to get more warmth out of Kai's body. "I love you" she whispers, barely audible but he heard.

Squeezing her gently, Kai smiles. "I love you too" he tells her, staring at the window and watching the rain fall outside of it.

The sound of water hitting the roof, a soft lullaby, sending the couple to sleep with it's soft melody playing throughout the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the next five days, all the captains trained their teams to full physical stamina and together, they were sure to win.

Much tension was in the air, but thanks to the cheerfulness and optimism of the younger Bladebreakers, the All Stars, Oliver and Enrique, it was subdued before anything serious could take place.

~~~~~~~On the third day~~~~~~~~

Dranzer perches on a tree branch in his human form, red hair tied back and swaying in the slight breeze around him. Invisible, he can see everything that's happening in the training area without being seen. His red eyes look up and glance over to Driger who is perched on a tree beside him, trying to keep his balance.

With a smirk, Dranzer leans over and, looking right into Driger's 'Do anything and I'll have to hurt you' expression filled face, he shakes the branch, making the other bit beast hold on for dear life.

"I hate you, you know" Driger tells Dranzer, voice dripping with venom.

Dranzer shakes his head. "Tell me later, right now take a look at Rei." he motions to the heavily in concentration leader of the White Tiger village.

Driger's bright green eyes open warily and try not to look down as he looks over to his mistress, watching her every move as she wanders around the groups giving orders and talking with individuals, giving them advice as she went along where they need it.

"Yeah...so?" he glances over to Kai and watches him for a while. He smiles and forgets his height predicament while watching the youth handle situations arising around him with ease. "Ah, I see Kai's changed, and for the better. Then again.." his eyes twinkle with amusement "we knew that he would, didn't we?"

Dranzer looks over to Kai. "What do you mean? He's still got those blasted triangles I told him to get rid of so long ago...still in good shape..."

"Not physical!" Driger exclaims, almost falling off his branch then clambering back on and sitting on it. "He's got the spirit that he was supposed to have a long time ago. The spirit of the phoenix." Dranzer just looks at him as he continues. "You can't see it, remember? You can't see your own master's emotional change because you were part of him once, but I can. He's got the grace and bravery of a phoenix, and the protectiveness as well."

Driger smiles one of his goofy smiles as he looks at Dranzer's reddening face. "You know I'm telling the truth now that you've taken a second glance, huh?"

Shaking his head, Dranzer leans against the trunk of the tree as if he was on the ground and Driger glares at him.

"That may be true, but Rei's changed so much as well." his eyes gleam with pride. "She's finally picked up on the spirit of the White Tiger. Noble, a fierce leader, yet gentle and caring about the ones that mean the most to her." he looks over to Driger with caring eyes. "She's just like you."

Driger, who nervously looks at his mistress get tackled by a small David and laugh musically with fear filled eyes. "That's what I was afraid of"

Dranzer easily jumps from his branch to the branch beside Driger, steadying his friend as the branch shakes. "I know Drig...but there's nothing we can do. She is and always will be the most compatible with the White Tiger and what we have seen into the future will occur and there's nothing we can do."

A crystal of water falls from one of Driger's glorious green eyes as he watches Rei tackle the giggling David and begin tickling him without mercy. Dranzer sighs as he watches as well and clenches a fist in frustration.

"I just with that we could see what happens after that." he voiced his frustration and Driger looks up at him.

"Your not the only one. We know Rei's fate, but every bodies is unknown and that doesn't make sense. It's all fuzzy..." Driger explains and Dranzer nods.

"I know, I know, but that's what frustrates me...unless.." Dranzer's eyes go wide as a thought pops into his head. "No...no way."

"What?" Driger asks in curiosity and Dranzer looks back at him.

"The end of the human world" Was all he said before looking back at the field. Kai had now been targeted by David and had easily throws the younger boy over his shoulder and spinning around. Everybody was laughing as Robert pokes Kai in the stomach and Johnny catches David as Kai drops him.

A 'Hey! That's not fair!' could be heard coming from Kai as he looks around for a new target: Rei.

Driger ponders for a second as he watches the happy group of people fooling around, like teenagers should, without a care in the world, and repeats to himself with realization and sadness.

"The end of the human world"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blue: hm...I WAS gonna do the second battle, but I guess next chapter will just have to be a little shorter. *shrugs* oh well.

Driger: *yawns and pads in as tiger* tired...sleep...need... *falls over* ZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz

Blue: *sweatdrops* it's only 9 at night you stupid cat!!

Red Rain: ROWR!!! (HEY!)

Blue: it's a hard truth, live with it. RnR people and thank you so far for your wonderful and heart-warming reviews, PRESENTS FOR EVERYONE!! *tosses out virtual cookies*

(Oh, if anyone is wondering, my softball was cancelled until spring...all that training for nothing. Dang)

RnR. Make me feel good!!