Black and Grey

by Queen of Vegetasei

AU RxK,TxCxM Reix[TalaOliver] Four years after the Russian Championships, 5 young men are very different people. Conspiracies have made friends have become enemies, everyone's agenda is revenge. Rei returns to Japan with one mission: To claim Kai.

1. Black and Grey White

Title: Black and Grey

Author: Queen of Vegetasei

Rating: R- NC-17, depending where you're reading

Summary: AU RxK,TxCxM Reix[Tala/Oliver] Four years after the Russian Championships, 5 young men are very different people. Conspiracies have made friends have become enemies, everyone's agenda is revenge. Rei returns to Japan with one mission: To claim Kai.

A/N: This diverts from FIRST SEASON BEYBLADE into this timeline. I like 2nd season beyblade, but that's whole different reality, different people, and even our b-boys are different. Black and Grey assumes 2nd season never happened, and the result of it is this. Just remember this has a plot, there's a reason behind everything... well not really, but by the time you read this there will be a plot and a reason for everything.

Just a warning, even though this IS primarily a RxK fic, watch for the many, MANY odd couples ahead, and so far there is: ReixKai, Rei/Tala, Rei/Oliver, Rei/Bryan, TalaxOliver, TysonxKennyxMax (yes, TOGETHER), Dizzy/Dragoon, and more... some may be prominent, some only hints of, some just convinent, but all make sense in a weird sort of way.

Somewhere along the way I have created the Anti-Max. It came about when I just got sick and tired of the always cheerful and happy sugar high portrayal, so somehow I experimented and invented this... person. A Dark!Max, with good reason of course. Like it or not, there's a reason for this for plot development.

Oh yes, Thank ye Harley for betaing for be in my time of need. Though nto as anal as Opal, there is less screaming too. Um... my only consolation is my writing gets better as I go along. Motivation and smut bunnies are the key!

Fear my bad grammar. Fear it.

Black and Grey

A black haired young man hefted his cumbersome luggage from the airport turnstile. Amber eyes peeked out beneath a crimson red bandana and ebony bangs.

"Che." He looked around with a slight smile, noting the fact he was taller than most people there. Which was pretty amazing, for someone of Asian decent. His quite extensive amount of hair was bound in a white rope, hanging almost to his ankles, totally clashing with his clothes, which consisted of a pair of ordinary jeans and a sweater.

After so many years wandering the world, he was back.

His features had lost their childish chubbiness, smoothing out into the chiseled features that came with adulthood, or as adult as he could be at age nineteen. However, overall it wasn't his appearance that changed the most.

The last 4 years had been a small frenzy of training, learning new techniques, and as a side dish, self discovery. It had been the longest four years of his life, or it had felt like it at least. It was quite an epiphany when he 'discovered' he had been deluding himself.

All of his life had been spent on the run. Family, home, former friends, enemies etcetera. He had barely noticed when yet another thing had been added to his list of things to run from. After all, what was one more thing to run away from? Ironic that it just so happened to be the most important of those things. Even when the epiphany had passed, it didn't stop him from turning coward and keep running for just a bit longer.

Running from his feelings and most of all, from HIM.

Now however, he was sure. Epiphanies do that to people.

Yes, Kon Rei of the Chinese White Tigers and the former Japanese Bladebreakers was flamboyantly gay.

Maybe that was edging things a little too far along the rainbow spectrum, but he was definitely sure that women didn't do anything for him anymore. Now if only that person who was not so subtly following him could understand that.

Rei cast a glance behind him, wincing as they came close to being blinded. The pink mop of hair was like a glaring beacon in the sea of businessmen and parents with their screaming kids.

"Stop following me." One of the many things he'd been chanting under his breathe like a prayer. Not turning around, he pushed passed the crowds of people, valiantly trying to lose the stalking girl in the masses. The pink mess of colour steadily bobbed after him.

Let's backtrack. Now, Rei was a nice guy, he worked hard for a living, he had friends spread over three continents and he was even tempered most of the time. However, he didn't like being followed, especially over the course of three years non-stop with no end in sight, by a girl who he still claimed dubiously as a friend, though that was waning quick. Right now, he could not handle being stalked after transferring three flights and enduring over 20 hours in the air with little to no sleep.

A man could only take so many, "But Rei! Why didn't you WAIT for me?!" before he broke and went utterly insane, and started poking his eyes out with sporks.

"Rei! Why didn't you wait for me?!"

Rei's eyelid twitched. He kept a running stream of expletives flowing from his lips as he practically shoved the other people aside. It never worked trying to lose her in a crowd, Mariah was much too stubborn for that, but he could damn well try.

"Rei!"

The horrified tingle that shot up his arm from contact with so much pink wasn't just a figment of his imagination.

Reluctantly, he turned around, quickly coming up with a plan in his mind to shake her off his trail for a while. The scarily clashing gold of her eyes combined with the hopeful, and kind of obsessive, intent behind them sent the hairs on the back of his neck rising.

Okay, quick decision.

With a sharp distracting yell, he chopped his hand onto the back of her neck, gratefully watching as those eyes widened then dulled into unconsciousness. The ground shuddered as the sheer amount of pink collided with normal, docile, unfortunate cream. Rei looked guiltily at the people staring open mouth at him, prodding the unconscious girl with his foot suspiciously.

Breathing a sigh of relief he spun, and high tailed it out of there.

Drastic situations call for drastic actions.

The people who weren't stunned silent jumped away as he started running, pushing past them with the sole intent of getting away before she woke up and started picking up the trail again. He had a goal to achieve here, and it would work better without an obvious tag along. A fanged grin, full of anticipation lit his lips as he made his way out of the airport. He couldn't wait.

---

A spiky haired young man, his grey hair gone almost shockingly white over the years, red cruel eyes peering out from underneath equally pale lashes, leaned against the cage's wall. A familiar scowl drew on his lips.

"You don't stand a chance."

His hands gripped the wire of the cage, his lips turning into a smirk, watching the dish inside stonily.

"You can't win." Muscles tense and springing for action, he gave a death glare that would've sent any normal person running for the hills, red eyes boring inside the cage at his opponent.

This made absolutely no difference to the white fluffy rabbit inside, which was staring back at him while innocently chewing on its lettuce.

Rabbit and man stared at one another.

"EAT THE CARROT DAMN YOU!!!" The former Captain of the Bladebreakers, Beyblade Champion of the world, Hiwatari Kai rattled the cage menacingly.

Obviously the rabbit won, still chewing on the lettuce and totally ignoring the succulent carrot beside it on the food dish.

Kai gave a tired sigh. His pet was being totally disagreeable. Rabbits were supposed to eat carrots weren't they? Granted, this was his first pet, which he got out of sheer loneliness, not that he would ever tell anyone that. Kind of pathetic really.

Meet Rei the Bunny rabbit.

He didn't know what prompted him to name it that. On a pure aesthetic level, there was a certain uncanny resemblance. The cute white coat was tainted with the dark fur of its ears with a thin streak of black running along its back to its small puffy stub of a tail. It had amused him to no end when the name fit so perfectly, though he couldn't recall the pet's namesake to be this stubborn. Maybe it was demented.

Kai and the rabbit glared at each other.

"Hmph. Fine, be that way." Kai started to walk away, arms crossed before swiftly turning and rattling the cage. "EAT THE CARROT DAMN YOU!!!"

Rei continued to eat the lettuce.

Kai let out a breath. He was getting soft.

After moving from his grandfather's home to his own apartment, instead of being perfectly content to be finally left alone by the old bastard, and growing into an even more cold hearted and antisocial guy, he had become... this. He had retreated from his physical training, centering his one-track mind on beyblading; he was the best after all.

Dranzer and his blade were both almost unbeatable now, the beyblade now shining a metallic dark royal blue with flashes of red in a solid sleek design, contrasting brightly against his pale palm.

The Japanese Tournament was coming up soon. They never gave much competition anymore, but he needed the money so he can get a better cage for Rei... um... for his living needs.

Kai looked down at the slight appearance of flab over his waistline, measuring exactly 1 cm from his calculating eye. His body wasn't used to gluttony, and frankly, the flab was starting to freak him out. He needed to get in shape or he'll start feeling OLD next.

"Besides," he murmured, "It wouldn't do for a bishounen like me to not look my best for my fans." Did he just say that?

Shaking that thought away, Kai started on a set of sit ups to quell the annoying random thoughts. He wondered if Tyson would be at the tournament. He would enjoy beating that guy to the ground in front of the whole country... again.

He was getting soft, he admitted, but he would always be a sadistic bastard.

---

"Director! Are you sure you want to eat here?"

A blue-eyed young man, short blonde hair slicked back in small spikes stepped in front of the nervously twitching, dark suited man. He threw a look at the other man, silencing him immediately. He wore a simple shirt and pants, both in ridiculously bright radioactive green and blue. At full height, he stood 5'7' and still retained the lean form he'd had 4 years back.

"Director you're the Head of a prestigious company, why do you suddenly want to eat here, I thought you hated Chinese food," the man said again.

"Marisato, I never said I hated Chinese food, it's just that you've never seen me eat it." Without looking back, he entered.

A familiar whip like ponytail turned just in time to hear him enter.

"Welcome to..." The waiter that greeted them stilled and stared. "Max?"

"Rei?" The blonde said in return, stunned.

"MAXIE!!!" Amber eyes lighted up as Rei leapt smoothly over the greeting counter and hugged his friend. The man once known as the boy Max, tensed and hesitated before laughing and hugging him back in delight.

"Rei! When..."

"No no, I'm just a waiter here, and you've come to eat. Let me get you a table and food and then we'll talk." The other man suddenly let go of him and sat him forcibly at a comfortable booth near the windows and an indoor fountain before darting off.

"Director, did you know him?" Marisato asked, sitting diligently in an accompanying seat.

"Yes," the now normally ice blue eyes lit up in a smile. "He's my friend."

Shouts came from the kitchen. "OKAY already! I know, I know I shouldn't take over the stove but I'll make up for it later! I'm on break!" Even before the doors closed to the kitchen, it sprang open again, with Rei having at least 5 plates of food and a tub of rice balanced easily in his hands.

Max blinked. "That was unusually fast."

Rei shrugged, carefully laying down the dishes on the table and serving two bowls of rice before sitting down himself.

Max noted how much the other guy had grown. "You're looking good Rei."

The ex-White Tiger bared his fangs just a little. "So do you Max, actually you look different, what happened to the always smiling Maxie I knew? I hardly recognised you with that mean scowl back there. I hope you didn't catch any Kai germs did you?"

Max noted how Rei's breath hitched a little when he said Kai's name. "People change."

"Hm..." Rei looked at his old friend suspiciously. This Max was completely different. Back then he was always the forever happy one, but now..."So how have you been?" He tilted his head toward the guy clad in the business suit who was glaring at him. "And who's this?"

The blonde glanced at the other man. "This is Marisato, one of my business subordinates." He didn't bother to offer the man's given name. He never used it.

Seeing Rei, it made him feel better. Better than he had felt in a long time. "And what, you've been sleeping under a rock or something? I'm the head of the Bladebreakers Corporation."

Rei lifted his eyebrows. "Doesn't ring a bell."

Max and Marisato nearly face faulted. The blonde smiled, almost in relief. "Rei, you must really be out of it. Bladebreakers Corporation is the leading company in the production, creation and research of Beyblades, second only to the BBA. I started it after the American tournament, after all," his tone turned slightly bitter, "Am I not my mother's son?"

Rei looked at him and suddenly leaned over the table grabbing the blonde's shirt. "Bladebreaker's Corporation huh? Then why haven't I seen a yen of all this money you've been making huh? I'm part of the team too y'know!"

Max gazed into the playful amber eyes and laughed heartily, easing back into his chair.

Marisato watched his boss in wonder as the usually cold young man laughed and bantered with this person.

"Oh, yes, Marisato, this fool is Kon Rei." Max was now sitting comfortably next to his friend.

Marisato's eyes widened and suddenly stood, bowing deeply to Rei's surprise. "I am deeply sorry Kon-sama, I didn't know you were part of the Director's team."

Rei put a hand behind his head. "It's okay, sit down Marisato, any friend of Maxie's is a friend of mine."

"Nah, Marisato's too much of stiff to be my friend," Max joked, almost giddy with this old feeling of happiness. "This guy keeps me at meetings for 10 hours straight, and won't even have a drink with me!" He gulped down a mouthful of rice.

The older man flushed at the unexpected friendliness coming from his superior.

Rei turned to Max. "So how have the others been doing? I just got back from touring the world and I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch. I hope you guys haven't been slacking off, I plan on entering the Japan tournament in a few days, god knows I need the money." He waved his hands around for emphasis.

Max smiled. "You know about me already. And I'm sorry to say I haven't kept in touch much either except for Kenny. Tyson, last I heard is lounging around at home, going out at times to beat the reigning champion at so and so individual tournament when he feels like it. Kai, all I've heard is he'll be entering the upcoming tournament. Kenny is working for me in Research and Creation. It's his idea of heaven."

"Haha, no doubt, " Rei added, putting away the shadow that crossed Max's eyes as he said Tyson's name for later thought.

"I don't know about the Japan tournament. I can't enter as my company is sponsoring it and this guy," he gestured to Marisato, "Would most likely keep me in meetings all day. And I have no idea if Tyson is entering."

"So just me and Kai huh?" Rei said, suddenly serious.

"Yes, but it doesn't mean I still can't whoop your arse in beyblading!" Max said, surprised at himself for lifting the mood even though only an hour ago, he would've encouraged it.

Rei smirked, his fangs showing themselves again. "Perhaps. I intend to win that tournament."

Max caught the playful gaze again. He had to admit, this Rei seemed so much... cooler than when he was younger, and even better looking. "You can go past all the easy bladers, but no one can beat Kai. I probably could if I wasn't so busy."

"Oh yeah?" Out of nowhere, Rei pulled a wok out, stunning them both. "You're on Maxie."

Marisato's eyes widened as the two friends stood and pushed the chairs away from the table. "Mizuhara-sama..."

Max smiled. He had not had a decent match in a long time; he never had the time for such frivolous things anymore. "No, I accept. Let's see what you got Rei."

Both took their blades out and customized launchers. Both of them studied each other.

"You customized Draciel. It's... bright." Rei winced a little. At least one thing didn't change, Max still liked those bright colours, and his beyblade was now neon green.

"So have you. This is called Neo Draciel. Drigger seems to have changed from Kenny's last customisation. Very... white." Max replied.

Rei smirked, showing the nearly transparent diamond coloured and many razored beyblade. "Well, you can see where my money went into. This is the Drigger D. The D stands for diamond, since it's covered in a diamond coat, cuts just about everything. Pierces skin as easily as a hot knife on butter." He wiggled his fingers around the edge. A thin red line appeared over his finger tips where the blade met the flesh. "Still hurts, but doesn't cut me anymore. Course, I can barely feel the skin on my fingers anymore."

Max nodded. "Impressive Rei. You must get a lot of attempted thefts." He attached Draciel to the launcher.

"Not anymore. They don't dare."

Max swiveled his gaze to Marisato. "Judge for us."

"Y-yes." The man was chilled as he saw two blank and emotionless faces staring at each other, launchers at ready. He raised his hand. "3, 2, 1..." And dropped it. "LET IT RIP!"

The two blades shot into the wok at once, circling around each other in a web of sparks. Rei looked at Max, and saw the utter blankness of his face, mirroring his own.

"Draciel, light." Max's command was casual coldness, not giving anything away. His face had lost all traces of humour, only s a small tightening of his mouth that could've been a smile but was no where near as pleasant.

Rei's eyes squinted away from his opponent's curious reaction, narrowing into portective slits as Max's beyblade blazed a burning Neon green, blinding all vision to the wok. Max's eyes glinted back at him.

"Cute." Rei adjusted his vision, "But it isn't enough, " He smirked. "I'll show you something special I've devised. Drigger, Tiger Claw revised. Final slash."

Max narrowed his eyes as Drigger started to circle Draciel at high speeds "Final slash huh? I'll repay in kind. Draciel, Volta Attack."

Rei smiled as Draciel started to spin faster in the middle of the wok. "Do it now Drigger."

Marisato gasped as the bottom of the wok started to lift into the air, completely cut from the rest of the metal, with Drigger like a hazy wall around its edge and turning the dish in a furious spinning globe in the air, moving so fast as to somehow reverse gravity.

"That won't work. Even if it's off the ground, that is useless. Draciel!"

"Drigger!"

Rei's beyblade was a barely distinguishable blur around the spinning globe. It suddenly stopped, and charged downward sparks flying from the fray as metal overcharged in high velocity. There was a moment if clarity as the two opposing spins caught the wok piece between them, suddenly shattering as the force of the beyblades collided on the unfortunate metal.

There was a high ear piercing screech as tips of the beyblades crashed against each other before bouncing off.

Rei and Max smiled as each caught their blades in their hands, ignoring the rain of metal bits of the ex-wok.

"A tie." Marisato said.

"Nice, you moved faster to cut the dish so you can crash your opponent's trapped beyblade to the floor, or just shatter it in the air," Max observed, studying his beyblade.

Rei laughed heartily. "I expected no less from you. Your attack was originally done to dig your way around then leave no room for the other beyblade to move except towards your incoming blade, and to spin so fast you seem only a trail of light. But in the air, you just dig through my globe and met me half way," Rei stated.

Max lost the emotionless look and smiled at him. "You were holding back Rei, you could've slashed me in half in the air."

Rei grinned in return. "You held back too Max. That attack is child's play. Anyone would've expected that."

Max laughed. "Perhaps."

A guy with a chef hat came into the dining room and stared at the mess. "What the...WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WOK!?!"

Rei winced and turned. "Aw, sorry Mr. Chan, I just wanted to verse my friend here..."

"THIS IS COMING FROM YOUR PAYCHECK BUDDY!!!"

Max smiled. "No need. I'll pay for it."

"Aw, Maxie, I don't want to trouble you." Rei said sheepishly.

"No problem." The blonde took out a credit card from his wallet. "Here." And gave it to the chef, who looked on glumly. "For the great meal and the wok."

Mr. Chan grumbled and stalked to the cashier.

"Rei..." Max walked toward his old friend. "It's been great seeing you."

"Yeah." Rei looked down at the shorter man and clasped his hand, pulling him in a hug. "Great to see you too Maxie."

Marisato coughed. "Director, it's getting late, we need to be back at the office..."

"Yeah yeah yeah," Max pulled out a business card and handed it to Rei. "Drop by sometime, I want a rematch."

"No problem." Rei took the credit card back from the chef and gave it to Max. "I'll look forward to it."

Max and Marisato headed toward the door. "Oh and Rei," Max opened the door slightly. "You'll do fine in the tournament."

"Thanks." Rei smiled and waved as they left.

"Oi, waiter boy, clean up this mess!"

He sighed, "Right on it." It was lucky it was so late or there would be other diners still there to see this. But as it happened, there wasn't.

Outside, Marisato looked at his superior in the awaiting limo and saw the impassive look on his face. He wanted to pinch himself to assure himself that it wasn't a dream. That Maximilian, the youngest, most ruthless, and cold-hearted businessman was joking and laughing like the boy he should be not 5 minutes ago.

The happy boy before and the man with the icy blue eyes now were two completely different people.

---

A figure draped in black cloth, his identity hidden from the screaming crowds, walked steadily up the short stairs.

They were digging it up even though it's pretty obvious who he was.

Sure enough, the matches leading to this moment were far too easy, it made him think that the caliber of beybladers had gone down, though it was more like he had gone up. Like the other time he was here, the final beyblade dish was surrounded by a cage, with the same announcer, D.J. Jazzman standing outside with a microphone.

It was the finals of the Japanese Tournament. The other matches held no meaning; he had won such battles all over the world, picking up techniques of other beybladers as he went. But the finals...ah the finals would just be...so cool.

HE stood there, leaning against the cage, a stoic figure, a God of grey and black, blue tattooed triangles marking his face as always. A black shirt clung to his toned chest, muscles looking like they were carved out of rock through the skin tight material. Dark grey pants rode low on his hips, showing that tantalizing bit of abdomen.

The cloaked figure tried not to fall into a puddle of drool.

Kai lifted an eyebrow at his opponent. This year's tournament had been very lacking in any challenges. No doubt this would be no different. Tyson was asleep at home, the lazy idiot he was, and Max was busy. And Rei was...

"Hello Kai."

He glared at the cloaked man. As far as he knew this guy had not revealed himself in all his preliminary matches. "Who are you?" That voice was strangely familiar.

"WELCOME to the Finals of the Japanese Beyblade Championships! On the left, we have Hiwatari Kai, a world champion beyblader and on the left, we have the mysterious... BLACK TIGER who has not revealed his identity as of yet!" D.J announced.

Kai focused his gaze into the depths of that hood to try and see who this 'black tiger' was.

"Kai, is a one tough beyblader, having utterly trashed all the blades of his previous opponents in this tournament. The mysterious Black Tiger also won all his matches faster than you could say 'cheese on a stick' by knocking his opponent out before they even touched the dish with his extra expensive blade!"

"Hey A.J., isn't black tiger a type of shrimp?"

"That's right! Shrimp Man is in the house!"

The cloaked figure winced.

"Kai fights with his ultra powerful bit beast Dranzer, but the Black Tiger's bit is still unknown, but hopefully we'll see it in this match."

"And the special dish today, brought to you from Bladebreaker's Corporation, ironically, Kai's former team, is being revealed now!"

Kai and the cloaked figure ignored the rising dish, still studying one another, though the masked man was doing a lot more studying than he should be doing... but who can resist?

"Ahh... can you believe it! Today's dish is actually a recreation of Tokyo Tower!"

"That's a whole lot of pavement there A.J." Brad Best said.

"You got that right!"

A slightly tanned hand emerged from the folds and gripped the black cloth of the cloak. The crowd silenced as the hand tossed the cloth dramatically in the air, letting it fall behind him in a small bundle.

Gasps came from around the audience of those who recognised him. Black bangs, released from the confines of the cloth fell softly over a familiar red bandana with the yin and yang symbol, trailing off into a long rope of hair bound in black cloth. It was thrown carelessly over one shoulder sliding suggestively against the lean muscles outlined by the black Chinese singlet top, rich with silver embroidery. Baggy black gi pants hung loosely around his hips, the silk shifting and bunching with movement like a particularily lewd caress.

Kai's eyes widened.

"Miss me?" Amber eyes smiled at him brightly.

The grey haired man opened his mouth, but the announcers beat him to the punch.

"Oh my goodness A.J.! The Black Tiger is none other than fellow Bladebreaker and Japanese Finalist Kon Rei!"

"This is proving to be quite a soap opera Brad."

Rei met Kai's eyes, enjoying just seeing him again. Damn, the boy still looked gorgeous, even better than back then. "Let's get it on Kai." He purposely loaded his voice with innuendo, shifting his hands to his hips casually.

Kai blinked. "Rei..." Confusion, shock, happiness and annoyance went through his mind all at once, dwindling his usually sharp mind to the intelligence of mud.

Rei laughed a little. "At least I can see you remember me." Actually, he was pretty nervous himself. After all, being the idiot he was, it wouldn't be surprising to find himself blurting he was gay and confessing his somewhat confused feelings about Kai in front of the whole stadium and no doubt Japan.

Rei blushed slightly as Kai just kept staring at him.

"You've grown." Was all Kai managed to say.

Rei sighed impatiently, itching to hug the other boy, though let's face it, it's KAI, and that sort of behavior is deemed an ultimate no-no to the guy's personal space. He hoped he could change that. Starting with beating him utterly in this match. He felt his eyes narrow, pupils dilating as everything became sharper in clarity. His breath quicked, anticipation making him bare his fangs slightly. "Beat me Kai, I dare you." Rei readied his launcher.

Kai registered the innuendo entranced by the fangs that glinted against a moist, peachy and perfectly formed mouth. Dammit, this was not the time for those feelings again. As much as he wanted to become something more than friends, no, even FRIENDS to start out with, that kind of thing was impossible. For one thing, Rei had that annoying Mariah girl.

Shaking the distracting thoughts from his mind, he brought Dranzer and launcher up.

Kai smirked. He may never have what he want, but for now just having Rei back was enough. He would relish proving his skills to the boy again. He met the wild amber gaze with an equal intensity. "Let's get it on Rei."

"3! 2! 1! Leeeeeet it RIP!"

Stumbling slightly in shock over the loaded innuendo, coming from KAI of all people, Rei was relieved that he even launched at all. Thankfully his body had the motions of pulling the ripcord at that exact angle and tilting his shoulder slightly to the right angle to get maximum launch speed as a conditioned reflex. It would be more than embarrassing otherwise.

The two beyblades danced around the looming model of Tokyo Tower, both refusing to make the first move.

"Black Tiger, or should we say Rei's beyblade, Drigger D is a awesome piece of art, custom made and coated in diamond alloy! Yes, you heard right folks. Diamond!" Jazzman announced. "Kai's beyblade, Dranzer X is also custom made, from a new alloy named Gundamium, a tough blade that is more than enough of a match for Drigger."

"Make your move Kai," Rei taunted.

"Hard or slow Rei?" Kai countered, making Rei flush at the unexpected images that conjured.

'Is he doing this on purpose?' Rei wondered, slightly stunned at this new side of Kai. When he looked back, there was nothing in the blank, emotionless face. 'He can't be doing this on purpose, well, not the way I think anyway.' But it was fun to play along as if he were.

Purposely he licked his lips, but kept the rest of his face blank. "Give it to me hard and fast Kai."

Kai blinked and smirked. "Dranzer, attack." He didn't so much as look at his beyblade, keeping his eyes solely on Rei.

"Drigger, dodge and slash," Rei murmured almost absentmindedly, captivated by the heated gleam in Kai's eyes.

In the dish, Dranzer shot straight at Drigger, who appropriately dodged and countered, both beyblades continuing their dance around the dish in an almost synchronised twist of attack and counter.

Everything ceased to exist except them and the dish.

"Rei, you're not paying attention. Not enjoying yourself? Or is this not to your satisfaction?" Kai kept his voice even, speaking softly.

"I'm paying plenty of attention..."

"Dranzer." Kai cut in curtly, waving an arm lazily in motion. Rei's eyes widened as Drigger D was suddenly propelled from the dish to land at his feet. "Is that the best you can give?"

"And the first round goes to KAI!!!"

Rei cursed silently, narrowing his eyes as he picked Drigger up. He really wasn't paying attention. The last time he was beaten that easily was back in his village days! This was unforgivable for a blader of his skill. Kai or no Kai, he came to win. It was NOT the time to flirt.

Kai watched as Rei's face went cold and hard, a total contrast from his earlier mood.

"I came here to win. No one, not even you can stop me from doing that." With fluid motions, Rei attached Drigger to his launcher. Kai had a memory of himself saying the exact words with the same uncaring tone. It was strange to hear it from the usually genial Rei.

"Bladers, get ready!" Jazzman did a twirl. "3, 2, 1, LEEEEET IT..."

"Stop." The voice cut in loudly from the speakers, filling the whole dome. Icy blue eyes filled the wide screen, shadowed slightly with blonde hair, the familiar freckles still on the same pale cheeks.

Rei frowned, staring at the wide screen. "What is it Max? I thought you said you wouldn't come."

"Ah, but I never said I wouldn't watch. Ladies and Gentlemen, I regret to inform you this tournament is over."

"Why?" Kai asked, feeling foolish by asking a screen the question.

Rei gripped his blade, his palms starting to hurt from the piercing sting of the blades into the skin. What was this? A few nights ago Max had encouraged his win.

"The two finalists, Kon Rei and Hiwatari Kai will split the prize money and the match will be a draw." Max went on, his voice not allowing any argument.

"You have no right to do this," Rei said quietly, clicking his Drigger calmly onto the launcher and slipping the ripcord through with practiced hands. Kai nodded in agreement, staring coldly at the wide screen. The audience started to 'boo' loudly.

"Those crowds are getting rowdy AJ, can he actually do this?"

"Well he DOES own the Japanese tournament now..." Brad Best trailed off.

"I'm putting a stop to this tournament." Max repeated, his face showing none of the reasons behind the interruption.

"And I'm putting a stop to you." Rei's annoyance was evident as he launched Drigger into the air. Max knew what the match meant to him. There were no answers coming if that expression was any indication. To stop a match without giving a reason was not only against the rules, but personally aggravating. This was unreasonable.

"What are you doing?" Kai hissed, walking over. He narrowed his eyes at the screen. Of all of the team, Max had been the one that had changed that most. He had heard of the Bladebreakers Corporation's conquests, all of them brutal and ruthless takeovers instrumented by the Director personally. Kai scowled at the thought but brushed it aside for now.

Rei smiled mischievously. "Property damage." A white blur passed over all the screens with Max's face, slicing them all in half easily, but keeping the screens intact enough to not fall into the audience. Rei let the angry scowl fall from his face. He'll have to shake some sense into Max later.

"You've changed." Kai noted, placing a hand on Rei's shoulder.

A shiver ran up from the warmth of Kai's hand. "A little." Rei caught the blade as it returned, glancing at the other man. "Kai... um..."

The audience was leaving, disappointed faces filling the crowd.

"What?" This meeting was strange to say the least.

Rei twiddled his fingers, facing the problem at hand, and the main reason he had entered the tournament. He was flat broke. "Can I borrow some money? Uh, just until I receive the prize money. I've been living in a hotel till now and I don't have the money left to pay for the room and..."

"You can stay with me." What? Kai blinked. Did he REALLY just say that?

Rei looked at him like he had turned into a goldfish. "Kai, did you just say, 'You can stay with me'?"

Like there was some higher being controlling his actions, Kai nodded. "Yes." Huh? He felt the need to hit himself. It was against all his normal principles to invite ANYONE into his home, much less someone who was a practical stranger to him now. Especially when the stranger happened to be Rei. The far too initimate setting of them alone in his home... where he could just... Kai shook the explicit dirty thoughts out of his head with an iron mental shove.

Rei looked confused as Kai shook his head. "So... no."

"You may stay." Kai almost succumbed to the urge of slapping his hands over his mouth in horror. The wince as it was uncomfortably visible.

Rei smiled again, "Thanks."

Kai watched as those temptingly soft peach coloured lips widened in a grin and inwardly groaned. He had to survive living with that!? A hand ran through his hair in a nervous habit he had acquired somewhere along the way.

The black haired neko-jin watched as his crush ran a hand through those soft grey locks. Though ecstatic, Rei was damned nervous. His mind conjured impossible images of an apartment with only one room, and one bed, forcing them to share... breakfast in bed, a sex toy here and there. Unknowingly his grin widened with hentaied thoughts. Bad Rei.

---

A hand ran through the short strands of light, wheat coloured, blonde hair. Blue eyes stared sadly at the flickering screen.

"Did I do the right thing?" Max asked himself, no guilt present in his tone of voice. It wasn't a question so much as a cynical observation.

"No."

He glanced at the other person in the room. A young man, chestnut brown hair falling over his eyes, leaned against the doorframe, a worried purse to his lips. His lean body was covered in rumpled business shirt with the buttons undone and ordinary suit pants, arms folded across his chest.

Max lifted his lips slightly in acknowledgement at the younger man. "Kenny. So you heard."

The other walked towards him, sitting comfortably on his lap, head fitting in the curve of his shoulder. "Max, I'm worried about you. Ever since you and Tyson broke up, you've been a cold bastard to almost everyone. Even me. And now Rei."

The blonde ran his fingers lightly through his lover's hair. "Kenny, if you have a problem..."

Kenny gave a short laugh, leaning closer to the gentle touch. "I have no problem with what we have. The arrangement suits us both. But as your friend, not your lover or business partner, I'm telling you, talk to Tyson. It isn't right to play around with Rei and Kai like this."

"Must you bring him up?" Max whispered in Kenny's ear, wrapping his arms around the other's waist. "I'm just playing a little matchmaker that's all. If Rei had won, and he would have against Kai's current condition, Kai would have resented him. And I want Rei to be happy."

Kenny sighed. "Do you Max? I admit, Kai has gotten weaker in beyblading terms, but Rei has always been the weakest of us."

"I matched with him recently, he may be better than even Tyson now." Max murmured, lips scrapping along Kenny's bared neck.

"Oh?" Kenny said a little breathlessly, "You've been seeing him behind my back?"

Max chuckled. "Jealous?"

"A little. You shouldn't have stopped the tournament. Kai has probably black listed you in his mind. You've said yourself, he is nearly unbeatable." Kenny turned in Max's arms, fingers loosening Max's shirt buttons.

"Almost. All of the Bladebreakers can beat him now. He will need to realise that. He's going soft. I kind of miss the stick up his arse Kai." Max sucked in a breath as Kenny's lips touched his skin.

"Who's stick might that be?" Kenny teased, nipping at Max's neck.

"No more talk." Max pressed his lips firmly against the brunette's mouth. "Everything can wait."

Kenny moaned as their bodies started to grind together. "Dizzy, cancel the 1o'clock meeting."

A female figure stood outside the door, long, almost knee length, red hair floating carelessly behind her slim shoulders. "Sure Chief," She said cheerily, saluting and shutting the door behind her to give the two boys some privacy while processing the command. Her eyes sparkled into hearts as she watched them. "Kawaii..." Not many bit beasts get to see such yummy yaoi action. She was so lucky.

: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :

"Nice place." Rei stood in front of the apartment complex, purposely looking away from Kai. The trip here had been awkward. Both of them just didn't know what to say.

"Hn." Kai grunted. "Let me help you with that." His hand reached for the luggage at Rei's feet.

"No, it's okay." Their fingertips touched, causing Rei to blush pink.

Kai stared at the pretty splash of colour on Rei's face, speaking the first thing that came to mind. "You would make a gorgeous uke Rei."

Rei blinked. "What?" Well that was certainly random.

Realising what he had said, Kai turned away, taking the handle of Rei's bag. "N-nothing. Don't worry about it." Why was he so nervous? He was supposed to be stoic dammit! He had a reputation to keep. With that, Kai started to walk slightly faster.

Rei ran after the other boy. "Wait a minute, did you call me a uke?!" He was slightly miffed. Uke? Since when did he look like a uke?! Sure he had abnormally long hair, but dammit, he wasn't a some easy lay that needed sex!

Kai didn't answer, wanting the blood to pull away from his flaming cheeks. What was wrong with him? He DID NOT blush. He hurriedly went faster up the stairs.

"Stop! Kai! You just called me a uke!" Rei exclaimed indignantly.

Kai stopped on the stairs, sighing, what idiotic parts of his brain made him say that? He turned to smirk at the other man. "You would make a good uke," he stated plainly. Better to live with it than turn coward. With that, he climbed the rest of the stairs and opened the front door of his apartment.

Rei stared as Kai disappeared into the apartment. His eyes started to twitch in annoyance and he slammed open the door. "I AM NOT A UKE!!!"

Kai looked up with wide eyes as he set Rei's luggage down.

Several neighbours poked their heads into the doorway behind Rei, whispering, 'Kai is gay?', 'That's his bitch?', 'Oooh...interesting.'

Kai and Rei blanched, both like deer in headlights as the neighbours gossiped right in the hallway. "Err, Rei, can you shut the door now?" Cheeks flaming, Rei shut the door obediently.

Rei pawed the ground with his feet. "Sorry. I have a tendency to do that."

"Hn." Kai grunted, looking away. "Make yourself at home. The guestroom is down the hallway on the right. I'll be in the kitchen."

"Hai." Rei looked around the small but neat apartment, almost bare of furniture with traditional Japanese floorboards and tatami mats spread on the floor. There was no personal touches he could find, everything was like a sterile showroom for Japanese furniture. It made a shiver run through him that anyone could live in such a cold, empty place.

Taking his shoes off and placing them at the door, Rei picked his luggage up and walked down the hallway to the left. "I never knew Kai was a neat freak," he mused to himself. Though it wasn't unexpected really. The floorboards were waxed to the point of being slippery under his feet and so clean it shined. The unnaturally cleanness of the rooms added to the still silence... which was oddly comforting. There were no disturbances here, he could barely hear the sound of Kai moving about. Loneliness was seeped inch thick into the walls.

Two doors were open at the end of the hallway.

"Right door." Rei turned and placed his bag in the wall closet and noted the futon and blankets folded in there. A large window let in the sunlight on the tatami mats. This room, like all the others, was almost manically clean.

Curious, Rei walked across the hall and peeked into the bedroom, which was obviously Kai's. He recoiled, momentarily blinded as a mess of colour invaded his eyes, and his senses was shot through with smells and tastes that lingered in the air. The room was packed. As if the whole apartment's furniture had been stuffed in the one room, making you feel like you've been sucked into a another dimension from the cold drabness of the other rooms. A bed lay in front of a large screen TV and two bedside tables were packed with electronic devices. A table sat under the window with a computer and many other things on top.

Including a large cage with a large glittery sign painted in green with the words, 'Rei the Bunny Rabbit' in giant letters.

Rei felt a sweatdrop weigh down the side of his head. Sure enough, a fluffy bunny chewed on a piece of lettuce inside the cage. "Well that's kind of disturbing... "

"What are you doing in here?!"

Rei spun. "Kai! Sorry, I was just curious and..." He watched the pink tinge on the grey haired boy's cheeks. Rei's eyes went over to the cage. "Err... you have a pet named after me?"

Kai pulled Rei out of his room. "It looks like you." And promptly shut the door.

"Should I be flattered or insulted by that?"

"Neither. Deal with it. Dinner's ready." Kai said tonelessly, walking away.

Rei smiled. "Same old Kai. You never could tell anyone your weaknesses."

Kai stopped walking. "I am not weak."

"And I'm not a uke." Rei countered.

With his back to the neko-jin, Kai smiled. "But you are. You would be a good uke."

Gorgeous babe or not, Rei suddenly had the urge to flip Kai off. Gritting his teeth, he followed Kai into the main room, where a table had been set up with cushions in the typical Japanese style, steaming plates of food temptingly on top. And with a serving of hot grey haired male at the table too. Needless to say, Rei sat down.

Kai blinked as Rei brought his legs up in a lotus position, which looked very uncomfortable, but severely fascinating. So Rei was flexible. Smiling to himself, he brought the chopsticks to his mouth.

Rei felt the silence growing awkward again as they ate. Why couldn't he talk to Kai at all? He had no problem talking with anyone else. All he had to do was to get his mouth open and his tongue working to get Kai to open up.

Rei almost choked on his rice as the mental command brought up quite different images, his face reddened as his mind took a flying leap into the gutter.

Kai raised a perfectly arched grey eyebrow. "Hot? Want me to turn on the air conditioner?" He gestured to the machine on the wall with his chopsticks.

Rei shook his head. He was hot, but it wasn't the weather. And he doubted central air conditioning could cure his current condition anyway. "So, Kai," he cleared his throat, "How have you been doing? Seen the others lately? I just got back to Japan myself."

"Well. No, I have no interest in them."

Rei almost fell over. Geez it was hard talking to this guy. "Any new hobbies other than Rei the bunny?" He asked.

"No."

"Jobs?"

"No."

"Relationships?"

"No."

"Did you know that the best method of preventing sexually transmitted diseases was using a condom?"

Kai nearly spitted his rice out. "What?"

Rei smiled, finally to get a reaction. "I least I know you're listening."

Kai retreated in his seat. "I don't need to know about your sex life Rei. All I said was that you look like a uke... comparatively." He was pushing back the flood of blood to his cheeks by will alone. He wanted to slap himself for bringing up that slip of tongue again.

The black haired young man put down his bowl and chopsticks. "Hmph. I'll have you know I've never been an uke, since the seme or uke is mostly in proportion to size, most people I've dated naturally take the bottom," Rei stated.

Kai narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Just how did they get into this kind of conversation anyway?

"Are you questioning my... size?" He asked incredulously.

"No, no, just saying that if anyone would make a good uke, it would be you Kai." Rei was quite aware he had no control on what he was saying anymore. In fact, he was expecting a lightning bolt to strike him dead anytime soon. "You have the cold bastard attitude that screams, 'dominate me' in a hot little BDSM scene, full of handcuffs and whips."

Kai opened and closed his mouth. Is that REALLY how he seemed? He was just being anti-social! There was nothing wrong with that!

Rei smiled leeringly at the blushing Kai, the dinner forgotten on the table. "Plus, size doesn't matter, it's what you do with it."

Kai suddenly dived, startling Rei mid-speech as he was pushed to the ground. "I am not an uke." What could have been a fight was quickly driven out of Rei's mind as Kai crushed his lips against the black haired boy's, feeling the other's breath catch in surprise. "And you Rei, are a pervert."

Kai drew back, a hand resting on the floor on either side of Rei's head.

Rei looked like an elephant had just kicked him in the groin.

The moment of stunned shock on both sides evaporated as Rei regained some semblance of thinking, and promptly pulled Kai down again. This meeting of their lips was no less feverish, like a sort of starvation that he had never known before. Rei suddenly needed this more than air, was in fact trading quite adequately for it as Kai's tongue hesitantly flickered over his lips. He felt his hand trapped against the floor in one of Kai's, and suddenly Kai's weight pressing down against his him, their bodies fitting together like two jigsaw puzzles in a haze of heat, and he really couldn't breathe, but it was so good... so very very good.

Rei couldn't help sucking the little breaths from Kai's mouth, feeling lightheaded and just plain needy.

And to think, they've only been in the same room for an hour.

The small noises that came from Kai's throat made Rei's hand tighten around Kai's, the slow grind of their bodies erasing all possibility of rational thought. Rei couldn't help moaning, arching his back and catching the other boy completely by surprise as he found their positions suddenly reversed and with Rei on top.

There was a moment of surreal reality as they caught their breath, sucking in oxygen and panting as they stared at each other, gazes locking. Then Rei leaned down again, his nose making a path down Kai's cheek to his collar, not touching, just sensing, feeling Kai shiver as his breath brushed the skin, and smelling the deeply arousing scent that called to him from Kai's body.

Knock! Knock!

Rei moved his lips to whisper breathlessly in Kai's ear. "Ignore it." His hands busied themselves loosening the scarf around Kai's neck; lips making a hot trail of little kisses and nips.

Knock Knock.

"REI!!! ARE YOU IN THERE!?"

Kai's and Rei's eyes widened at the feminine and horribly familiar voice.

With a defeated groan, Rei rolled off the panting young man he so wanted to jump, standing up fluidly. He gave an apologetic glance at the sexy figure of Kai. "Sorry about this... hold that thought."

A scowl marred his face as he almost ripped open the door, a snarl halfway out before he even spoke, "WHAT!?"

The pink haired girl outside gave a cheerful smile. "Rei! I knew you would be here! I followed you! I found a hotel room for us, but I've kind of run out of cash, so I thought we could share it... " Mariah backed away a little when she saw that Rei's usually annoyed amber eyes had turned into a furious red. "Rei-chan... what's wrong? I only came to save you from Kai, he's such a anti-social guy that I thought I'd be doing you a favour... "

"GET. OUT." Rei growled dangerously, taking a breath, "I don't know how to found this place, but for the last time, LEAVE ME ALONE, AND GO THE FUCK HOME!" And with that, Rei punted Mariah down the stairs and slammed the door closed.

His face softened as he turned. "Kai I'm sorry I... " he trailed off. There was no sexy grey haired bishounen as he should be on the floor. In fact, Rei would bet that the door to Kai's bedroom was now locked. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Damn."

With a disappointed smile, Rei picked up the forgotten dishes from dinner and headed toward the kitchen. At least he knew that Kai had no objections to hot boy on boy action.

Meanwhile, inside the locked bedroom, the same grey haired bishounen was busy hitting his head against the wall in frustration and utter mortification. There was no doubt that Rei had the upper hand in that situation. And to think they had blatantly made out on his nice pristine floor! The horror, THE HORROR!

Sunshine flitted down on his eyes from the open windows. With groan, Kai opened his eyes, got up efficiently and opened the door. The first thing he saw was Rei with nothing but a towel on, juggling dishes in his hands.

The freed mane of hair trailed behind him in soft tresses, still wet from the shower, glistening down a perfectly sculpted chest.

Kai blinked and rubbed his eyes. Was this a dream? What was Rei doing in his apartment?

The black haired beauty, like a god in the morning sunlight turned and smiled at him. "Morning sunshine." Before he could react, Kai felt supple lips molded quickly but heatedly against his, tearing apart conscious thought in his already muddled, half awake mind.

Rei pulled away smiling. "I thought I'll cook breakfast for you before I left for work, to thank you for letting me stay."

Huh? What did he drink last night? More importantly, what did he DO? Kai touched his lips with his fingers while watching the other boy disappear with a tantalising swing of hips into the adjoining guest room, sliding the door shut behind him.

Kai's eyes widened in sudden recollection. He had invited Rei to stay in his house and in the span of an hour they had been... He stared at the spot on the floor beside the dinner table with a slight wince.

Rei sauntered from the room, fully dressed now, hair tied up again, and clothed in simple white shirt and jeans, which somehow still made him look like a sexy bastard.

"Kai, sorry to run out on you like this, but I need to get to work. Here's the restaurant's business card, if you want me or get hungry, whatever. I'll be back in the afternoon."

Kai numbly took the card and was taken completely by surprise again as Rei leaned in and kissed him, sending tingles of pleasure down his back.

"I'm not giving up on you Kai. You'll be mine." Another searing kiss that nearly blew Kai's socks off.

When he got any sort of collected thought back, the former white tiger was gone.

Kai promptly slapped himself out of the daze. "I need coffee." He shook his head just a little, as he drained a ready-made cup on the table. "On second thought..." He pulled out and snapped on blue rubber gloves with 'Kai' inscribed on them from behind his back. He looked determinedly at that spot on the floor. "I need to clean."

Rei smiled as he went down the stairs, absentmindedly tying his headband under his hair. The lobby of the building was bathed with bright sunshine, reflecting off the tile floors with piles of mail on the left and a pink tent on the right.

Pink... tent?

Amber eyes narrowing, Rei peeked inside and sure enough, the familiar and unwelcome face of a sleeping stalker was inside, huddled in a pink sleeping bag, and clutching a pillow that was disturbingly shaped like his head.

He glanced to the left and smiled as he saw a particularly large packaging box. Making as little noise as possible, he lifted the girl out, folded the tent, laid it on the bottom of the box, then dumped the girl unceremoniously inside. Taking out a roll of sticky tape he had for emergencies such as this, he solidly taped the box closed, and wrote quick address on it before sticking on a stamp from the piles of mail with his saliva.

Feeling better, Rei carried the box outside and put it on the curb, Mariah, being oblivious in Rei obsessed dreams, slept on.

"That should get her off my back for a while." Whistling, Rei headed towards the Chinese restaurant for his first breakfast shift.

---

Scarf lifting wildly in the wind behind him, Kai stared at the sign of the restaurant. He had his own business to look after, but since his grandfather still refused to kick the bucket, he didn't really have much to do except do the menial paperwork with the occasional kicking opposition butt. But that was no excuse for him to waste his time here.

Especially since he had been standing outside for at least 20 minutes now.

A scowl touched his lips in sudden determination. Rather than look like an idiot, he would go in, and stop deluding himself. He wanted to see Rei. And he was hungry.

The late afternoon sun reflected his shadow on the glass tinted door as he reached for the handle.

Suddenly it opened from the inside, hitting his hand away.

"Kai? Gee, I would've never thought you would actually come," Rei said, knowing that annoyed scowl all too well.

The grey haired man took out an envelope. "The prize money." Ah, no Hiwatari was so unprepared in the face of possible embarrassment. Kai handed the perfect excuse to Rei.

The black haired man opened it with a frown. "I guess this means I don't have to bother you anymore ne? Is that why you came? To get me out of your place as fast as possible?"

Okay, so he hadn't thought of that. Kai stared at those sad amber eyes. "No," he said hastily, then cleared his throat, his voice back to the toneless monotone he was used to. "The tournament people called me today to pick our prize money up. It is only fair you get it." Kai turned his back, crossing his arms. "I have no problem with you staying." His stomach interrupted his meaningfully stoic act with a loud rumble.

Rei smiled. "Hungry?"

"Hn, I didn't have lunch yet."

"Great," Rei grabbed Kai's hand, walking fast down the street. "I know a great place we can eat, I've had enough of Chinese food for the day."

Kai suddenly found himself pulled along, his hand held tightly in Rei's. "Where are we going?" They turned several alleys in the fast darkening twilight.

Rei didn't answer for a while, turning yet another corner. "Here."

A buffet? Kai turned to Rei with a frown. "I am not Tyson."

The other man laughed. "It isn't THAT bad! We're both hungry, and damned if I'm going to spend money on less than 100% quantity food. My treat."

"Quantity? Isn't that suppose to be quality... oof." With a slight tug, Rei pulled him inside.

A few hours later they stepped out, a toothpick still in Rei's mouth.

"Now that is satisfaction."

"You eat too much," Kai said curtly, taking a mental note to work out the fat he had gained tonight. Flab was something he definitely didn't like.

Rei grinned, walking backwards to face him, the dark walls of the alleyway surrounding them. "You eat too little Kai. I almost never see you eat! You'll become a stick!" Though from where he was standing, that was certainly not true. Kai was perfectly proportioned as he was.

"Hmph."

Amber eyes studied him for a few moments. "I bet you're wondering why I get off early today when I work in a restaurant huh?"

Kai blinked. That was the furthest thing from his mind, what he was thinking of involved skin, leather straps, and Rei in nothing but.

Taking the silence as a yes, Rei continued, still walking backwards carefully. "Well, since I started, I worked a deal with the boss to work late on the weekends, taking the midnight shift, but on weekdays I take the morning and lunch shifts. At least until I get enough money to tide me over." He flicked the toothpick into the darkness. "You can't expect much else when you've been a country boy for most of your life."

'But I can take care of you,' Kai thought, but said nothing to voice it. It was too out of character to say it out loud. Especially for him.

"At least with the prize money I have some extra funds now." Rei suddenly stopped as a sound echoed off the walls near by.

Kai's eyes narrowed, his body tensing.

"Who's there?" The Black Tiger called into the night, his voice hard and calm.

A match struck somewhere in the darkness, and five figures appeared, smoke trails coming from their cigarettes as they walked slowly toward them.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Two little kids with a hefty prize money did I hear?" The leader, a man cast in shadow, face only dimly lit by his cigarette, revealing harshly tanned skin and rough lines around his eyes and mouth, under a mop of dark hair and slanted eyebrows.

Kai's hand went slightly to his side in range of Dranzer.

The four behind the man laughed meanly.

"What do you want?" Rei asked calmly, not making any moves at all. The five were large men, slightly taller than them, with bulky forms and menacing looking beyblades attached to their wrist guards.

Beyblades?

"Give all your valuables over or I'll trash your blade." The leader brought his other hand to his wrist guard's launcher.

Kai sneered and closed his hand around Dranzer.

Rei rolled his eyes. He never did understand how everyone they met always challenged them to beyblade matches, even if they were petty thieves. Just what did they think they were going to do? Clink a piece of metal against their shoes?! It was laughable with his degree of skill.

"Che, another lot of idiots. You couldn't beat us if you tried." Rei jumped and kicked the man in the face, spinning around with the momentum to then slam a fist into the fledging on his right. He smirked, landing softly to bewildered stares.

"Get him!"

Kai scowled, letting go of Dranzer and tornado kicking the larger man in his solar plexus, deeming him unconscious in one blow. These men were far below them in both physical and beyblade skills. They stood no chance. But why would Rei want a fistfight when a beyblade match would be less strenuous?

A flash of white shone in Rei's hand as he pressed the leader into a wall, a hand gripping the man's face viciously. The blade cut a thin line of blood on the man's neck.

"Is this what you want?" He asked. Fangs bared menacingly, lips curled in a sneer. "It's made of diamond you know, cuts everything on the known planet, especially skin and bone. Wouldn't it be ironic for you to die by it?"

Kai felt his fist hit another of the fledgling's face, his eyes trained on this new side of Rei.

The leader shook his head, unable to speak or breathe with Rei's hand covering his air passage. Sweat and fear could be easily smelled off him as well as the crisp scent of blood.

Amber eyes, pupils dilated to black slits against the gold bore down on the man. "Don't try to take us on unless you plan on suffering the consequences."

Fearfully, the trapped man nodded, body heaving for breath.

With a sneer of disgust, Rei let him go; wiping his hands casually on the man's clothes before turning to grin cheerfully again back at Kai. "Let's go home ne?"

Kai saw the glint of a hand knife appear in the man's hands and opened his mouth, "Watch out!"

Rei spun in time to see the blade heading for his eyes.

BAMN!

Out of nowhere the sheathed edge of a sword landed viciously on the gang leader's head, followed swiftly by a hit with the hilt, rendering him totally unconscious, a broken heap on the ground.

Kai and Rei stared in surprise as the owner of the sword rested the sheathed weapon casually on one shoulder, a hand gripping the hilt easily while the other hand took the toothpick from lips that curled in a smile.

"Yo. Long time no see." The free hand tilted the black cap up from his forehead, revealing familiar obsidian blue eyes under a shield of unruly raven blue hair.

Rei gaped. "T-Tyson?! Why the heck do you have a sword?" Tyson had grown taller since he last remembered, standing slightly shorter than him with a black top overlapped by most likely, the same red, open t-shirt and loose belted black pants. Well, at least he got rid of those hideous knee socks.

The young man smirked. "I'm the current master of my dojo's style of Kendo. I succeeded my grandfather a year or so after the world tournament was over."

Rei scratched his head. "Gee, and here I thought you were being a lazy pig like you usually were... especially since you came from the buffet."

Tyson smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "I'm still a growing boy, I need to eat."

Kai glanced at the direction of the restaurant and heard the familiar wails of, 'I'm RUINED! I'm RUINED!! THERE IS NO MORE FOOD LEFT!' and raised one eyebrow delicately.

"Uh... hehehe, it ain't my fault they don't stock enough food," Tyson complained, slipping his sword to hang from his belt.

Rei laughed, "Same old Tyson. Where are you heading? Want to get a drink or something with us?"

The now kendoist shook his head, grinning still. "Nah, I'm gonna go over and rescue Kenny from work. No doubt Dizzy and that guy are slave driving him to the ground."

"That guy?" Kai asked.

Tyson shrugged again. "You know."

Rei looked at their friend knowingly. 'Looks like Tyson and Max has stuff to work out.' "Mind if we go with you?" He asked instead.

"Sure I could use the company." He gave a sidelong glance at Rei. "So Rei... how come you and Kai have been so chummy lately? I hear you're living together. I do hope you guys have protec..."

Kai smacked the back of Tyson's head. "It's none of your business."

Rei felt his face heat up. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Tyson winked. "I dunno Rei, the two of you living together... both of you virile young men with no objections to exploring..." He trailed off with a knowing wink.

Rei blushed and a hint of red could be seen on Kai's face as they started walking down the alleyway again.

Tyson smirked. "Then again, Kai's too much of a grouch to-"

"That's enough," Kai growled in annoyance, the red tint on his face taking away much of the menace of the words.

Tyson laughed, casually studying the changes in both of his friends. "Okay, okay, I'll let off. It's been a while since I've teased you guys though. Ah, those were the days."

Rei chuckled, "You're starting to sound like your grandpa, but he sounds even younger than you!"

"Ugh, don't remind me."

Rei whistled. "They sure have it made here!"

The building with never ending stories of levels stretched to the sky, a pillar of steel and glass, glinting almost menacingly in the moonlight, but no less impressive. The glass doors slid open as they walked towards it, Kai with the usual indifferent, not quite glare, Rei in awe and gawking like a tourist and Tyson walking purposely through.

"TYSON!!!"

A red blur raced toward them, latching on in a firm hug and barreling both to the ground.

Rei stared at the beautiful woman with long red hair and a skintight white dress with an exorbitant amount of frills currently hugging the life out of Tyson. He fought the involuntary shudder from memories of Mariah doing the exact same thing.

The glint of deadly steel flashed through the air toward Tyson's head before they could blink.

A sharp clang echoed through the stunned reception area as Tyson's sword came out of the sheath to counter the attack.

"You'll have to do better than that Dizzy."

The red haired woman pouted, putting the sword away somewhere behind her. "Aw, you're no fun Tyson. But it's SOOOOO great to see you!"

"Ack!" Tyson found himself in another bone crunching hug.

Rei registered the words in disbelief. "Dizzy?" There was no way...

The red head released Tyson with a cry of delight, leaving the boy to crumble to the ground.

"REI!!!"

Glomp.

"And Kai!"

Dizzy stopped, arms outstretched, as she was suddenly the recipient of a death glare. Sweat dropping, she chose to grin instead at the grey haired man.

Rei and Tyson picked themselves up from the floor.

The first thing that came out of Rei's mouth was, "IMPOSTER!!!" He pointed wildly at the normal looking young woman. "You-you-you! There is no way you could be Dizzy!" he started making square motions with his hands. "Dizzy was trapped in a laptop and she was a bit beast! There is no way you could be her unless you have the same name or Kenny is really perverted... but if you do have the same name then how could you know my name and Kai's unless you are a fan of the bladebreakers which is worse since then you're just a crazy fan girl like Mariah! IN ANY CASE! YOU ARE AN IMPOSTER!"

Rei panted for breath, pointing straight at the woman with his finger of truth.

The reception area had gotten deadly silent.

Tyson sweat dropped. "Finished?" He calmly sheathed his sword.

A cheerful smile lit Dizzy's face. "Nah, nothing like that Rei-kun! Well, the part about Chief being perverted is right, and I would know since I've seen what porn sites he goes to when I was still in his lap top..."

"Dizzy!" A familiar voice cried in mortification from across the room.

The girl turned and waved as a familiar guy with hair that always seemed to cover his eyes ran up to them. "Hi Chief!"

Tyson grinned. "Yo Chief, what's this about you looking at porn?"

The pale face under chestnut coloured bangs reddened in embarrassment. "Tyson!"

The other laughed heartily in reply.

Kai studied the red haired woman. "So it's true. Kenny downloaded you into an android body. I heard rumors." He turned to the flustered teen. "That is an act of true perversion."

Rei burst in laughter. "Hahaha! You dog Chief! I bet you designed her yourself eh?"

Kenny's face reddened even more if possible. "Can we take this to a somewhere a little less public?" He urged.

"Sure thing Chief."

Rei and Kai's eyes widened as the area around them suddenly enclosed in a blinding globe of light. A second later as their vision cleared, they were in a lab of flashing screens and wall-to-wall highly complicated looking technology.

"Wha..."

Kenny situated himself on a computer chair, visibly relaxing and happier in this kind of environment. Dizzy stood behind him still smiling cheerfully. "Long time no see guys."

"What are you talking about Chief? And what's with the dramatic chair effect? I just saw you last week!" Tyson ruffled Kenny's hair affectionately.

Rei whistled again. "Quite an establishment you have here. Reminds me of that room they have in the BBA where those fancy computers all were, and we had to pull you out kicking and screaming. You must really like it here huh?"

Kenny reddened at the comment on his less than dignified behaviour back then, feeling Dizzy's arms wound around his neck. "He sure does," Dizzy answered for him.

"How did you get us here?" Kai demanded with a frown.

Tyson answered before Dizzy could open her mouth again. "Dizzy ain't actually some kind of robot. Chief here made her into a program which is directly linked to him and the building so she's like a fancy way of public transport."

Dizzy shot him a halfhearted glare. "You make me feel so appreciated Tyson."

Kenny shook his head. "To put it more correctly, Dizzy is her bit beast self projected in her own human form, which is directly linked to me and the equipment here as a power source."

Rei nodded, "So what you're saying is that she's a projection of your dirty thoughts."

Kenny face faulted.

"Just kidding. She's kind of like that chick in the anime Lost Universe right?"

The others looked confused.

Rei sighed, "Never mind." His eyes narrowed suddenly. "Where's Max?"

Kai crossed his arms. "That's right. I have a few words to say to him."

"Uh..." Dizzy panicked at the menacing looks on the two men.

"He's busy," Kenny said calmly. "Max is currently over in the USA for a general business meeting."

"Good." Tyson muttered.

Rei accepted that, glancing quickly at Tyson before looked around. "Why do you need all of this anyway?"

Dizzy smiled, "Simple Rei-kun. Maxie plans to take over the BBA."

The words echoed in the room at the stunned audience.

Tyson sneered just a little. "He's getting more like his mother everyday. Heartless bastard."

Kenny looked sharply at him. "That isn't true Tyson. You know what Max was like. Everything he did was to seek love and attention, anyway he could..."

Rei got over the shock, silently agreeing with Kenny. His mind travelled back to the days when Max would touch any of them, a hug, a hand casually on the shoulder affectionately, always the happy boy of the group with a smile on his face. It was a shock to find out how he was treated by his mother of all people, who was such a cold and uncaring person. The kind of person it seemed, Max was turning into. But from his dinner with the guy, there was still the same happy Max underneath somewhere.

"He's a fool to think he can take over the BBA." Kai mused scornfully.

"He's halfway there," Kenny clarified. "Right now, none of us can stop him, except..." He trailed off but everyone saw him glance at Tyson.

"He's the one that broke it off," Tyson said quietly.

The silence had gotten distinctly uncomfortable.

Rei broke it by giving in to a yawn. Kai glanced at him quickly. The neko- jin smiled tiredly. "Sorry, not meaning to be rude and all, but it is late and I need to get up tomorrow to work double shifts at another place after I'm done at the restaurant."

Kenny and Tyson looked at him in surprise. "You work two jobs?" The former asked with mild surprise.

Rei shook his head. "Three actually. The restaurant, at a club uptown and beyblading as you know. I do whatever I can to get by y'know."

"Don't," Kai said suddenly. He never knew Rei was that in need of money! "Just stick with Beyblading, I'll handle the rest," he said gruffly.

All of them basically had their jaws hanging.

Rei rubbed the back of his head. "Look, I know it sounds bad, but you get used to it after a while, and I don't accept charity from anyone, especially you Kai, I mean you probably need all the cash you have..." he trailed off as Dizzy, Kenny and Tyson started laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Kai is the heir of the Hiwatari Clan's operations!" Kenny exclaimed.

"That's like the head of several of the world's top companies!" Dizzy explained to the dubious looking Rei.

"Really? Wow, I must have really been out of it then. Max wants to take over the BBA and now Kai is rich? Well, I always knew you were well off but..."

"It's okay," was all Kai said, though he looked suspiciously at Rei. No one could be that out of the loop.

Rei shook his head. "Uh, uh, no way, even if you have the money I'm not going to accept charity from you. Even though I'm staying at your place temporarily," He broke off in a yawn, "Doesn't mean I'm going to freeload off you forever."

Kai looked at the sleepy determination in those fiery amber eyes in silence. Finally, "It's getting late."

Tyson and Dizzy glanced between them quizzically.

Kenny looked at his watch. "It IS late. Tyson, thanks for visiting me, but I still have tons of work to do and..."

"CHEIF!!! HOW MUCH WORK CAN YOU DO!? I came here to rescue you and you will SLEEP damn you!" Tyson yelled suddenly.

Kenny raised his hands apologetically. "But Tyson, Max needs the reports done by the end of the week and--"

"Oh screw that guy, I'm taking you home!" Tyson tugged the smaller boy up.

Dizzy opened her mouth to say something but was cut off abruptly.

"Oh no, Dizz, he needs sleep, HOW long since he slept anyway?" Tyson asked pointedly.

"3 days only, last night I was..." Kenny's thoughts travelled back to a certain blonde's and his...err...activities and blushed. "Well, I was busy."

"THREE DAYS!?!" Tyson noticed the blush and grinned slyly. "Even for you, three nights looking up porn is a bit much Chief."

The blush darkened as Rei and Dizzy chuckled.

"WHAT!?! NO! I was doing... important... stuff."

"Suuure, anyway, I'm taking you home," Tyson's voice held no argument.

"You guys live together?" Rei asked curiously.

Tyson shook his head, a hint of red in his cheeks. "Nah, Kenny basically lives HERE, and his house is too far away so he stays at the dojo a lot when he ain't being worked like a slave," he glared at Dizzy who only smiled in return.

"Friend with benefits?" Rei quipped, causing both boys to blush pink.

Kenny's face receded somewhat in emotion, though his cheeks were still pink with embarrassment. "That isn't your business Rei." His tone was uncharacteristically flat

Amber eyes searched the other boy's curiously and shrugged the sudden change off. "I agree with Tyson, we all need to sleep..." Rei yawned. "And right now."

"I'll call you guys a taxi!" Dizzy volunteered cheerily, suddenly bouncing from the room.

Rei turned to Tyson. "We should have a match sometime."

The sword was hefted neatly back onto a shoulder. "Sure, what are teammates for?"

The Chinese man shook his head. "I don't mean with beyblades. I want to see how good you are with that sword."

Tyson looked uncertain. "But... uh, Rei, that's not fair, I mean, you can't fight. Sure I've seen you jump off mountains, but I'm REALLY good with the sword, and I mean REALLY REALLY good, and it... "

"Jeez, I don't think your ego needs boosting at all!" Rei interrupted with a chuckle. "Fine, a beyblade match then. Oh and another thing, please, PLEASE don't visit the restaurant where I work. We're already overworked, and with the way you eat..."

"Oi! I'm a growing boy!" Tyson pronounced indignantly.

"Still..."

"You realise that now Tyson would definitely be going there right?" Kenny commented.

Rei and Tyson opened their mouths to say something, but a blur of red interrupted them.

"TAXI'S HERE!!!" Dizzy proclaimed, appearing out of nowhere.

Rei had time only for a quick wave before their surroundings changed again as soon as Dizzy's fingers touched his and Kai's skin. Before they knew it, they were bundled into the small leather backseat of the waiting car with an enthusiastic red head waving madly at them as the engine started.

"I liked her better in the lap top," Rei said tiredly, eyes drooping immediately with the rocking of the moving taxi.

Kai made a non-committal grunt, and looked down sharply as he felt the soft press of Rei's body against his chest. "What..." Quiet, deep breathing met his half formed question. Kai let his features soften, making no move to push the other boy away. No doubt Rei had been barely holding back his own exhaustion for Tyson and Kenny.

Making sure no one was looking, Kai allowed a small smile, and brushed the black bangs away from the closed amber eyes, his fingers lingering slightly over those moist peachy lips before shifting away.

"Sleep."

---

Amber eyes slitted open in the sunshine, groaning slightly as the light pierced fully contracted pupils. Warmth surrounded him comfortably in the form of a strong weight on his chest.

Weight...?

Rei's eyes flashed open to see mussed grey hair spread messily over his chest, followed by an sleeping face that was for once, free of all worry lines. Sadly, both of them were fully clothed, but it was enough waking to see this rare expression of bliddful calm instead of the usual rock-like scowl. He took a moment to grin stupidly, hearts shining in his eyes for a second.

'Oh yeah...'

Dimly he remembered what happened.

(Flashback)

"We're here." Kai shook his companion gently, trying to pry the arms that have mysteriously wound around his waist. He couldn't. Panicking slightly, he pulled harder, but Rei's arms only locked around his chest. He considered slapping him awake, but thought better of it. Plus, he didn't have a pepper on hand at the moment either.

Then he considered searching Rei's pocket for one, HE always seemed to have one on hand. But then again, Rei wasn't Tyson.

"Err, he doesn't seem to want to let go," the driver said.

'I realise that.' Kai's eye started to twitch as he struggled from the taxi, slipping a few bills into the driver's hands clumsily while gently holding Rei in his arms.

The young man only groaned sleepily, burying his face into Kai's chest, arms locked around Kai's torso with unconscious strength.

Trying to will the blush from his face, Kai walked up the stairs, sending death glares at curious neighbors who popped their heads out in the corridor.

"Rei... wake up."

The Neko-jin's face somehow buried itself in his neck without him noticing, lips pressed against his skin. Kai stumbled.

His face distinctly hot, somehow they managed to get inside the apartment. Kai made his way uneasily into his room, lowering him to the mattress.

He wouldn't let go.

Eyes darting around suspiciously for onlookers who would think otherwise of their current... um... position, Kai tugged at Rei's arms, which were now wound dangerously low on his hips in a dead lock.

"Rei... let go."

Rei's sleeping face betrayed no sign of awareness even as his hands crept unconsciously closer to Kai's butt.

"Rei..." Kai stepped back, but his legs tangled around Rei's in his attempt, sending both sprawling onto the bed.

Pretty sure his face was steaming, Kai sighed, Rei's weight between his legs and undoubtedly on top of him.

Trapped.

(End Flashback)

Rei allowed himself a small silent giggle. He really had been asleep... well... half asleep, but the fact that Kai actually slept and they had somehow rolled to have him on top rather than Rei, greatly amused him.

The sleeping boy groaned slightly, face lifting from his 'pillow' before dropping back with a small unconscious smile, still caught in the early processes of waking up, soft lips parted with breath.

Rei inwardly groaned. Those lips were too much of a temptation already. It should be against the laws of nature to make someone so sexy. Thank god it wasn't.

With little hesitancy, Rei leaned in closer. Bad Kitty.

It was the exact moment Kai opened his eyes. Pupils widened as the black haired boy captured his lips, and causing an amazing display of fireworks to suddenly take over his mind. A moan escaped his lips as Rei's tongue teased his lips.

Startled, Rei drew back, his face flushed. "K-Kai... sorry... I... you..."

A feral look crossed Kai's face, red eyes gleaming as he pushed the black haired beauty onto the mattress. "What you have done is dishonorable," came the low growl from his lips.

Rei openly gaped as Kai straddled him.

Grey hair tickled his face as Kai leaned closer with a half growl, half whisper. "I demand satisfaction."

Faces leaned in with the passionate promise of a kiss.

"Rei I somehow got lost, but now I'm back and...!" A definite female voice yelled cheerfully from the open window.

...

...

...

...

"Kai! I'm sorry!!! Wait up will you!" Rei ran after the man currently walking stiffly down the sidewalk. "Kai!!!"

The slate haired man scowled and walked faster.

"I had no idea! I sent her to freaking AUSTRALIA for god's sake!" (A/N: And as EVERYONE KNOWS, Australia is practically nowhere since we don't get one crummy beyblade championship or even a BLOODY GUNDAM!!! Mumble, mumble. Don't question the awesome scary powers of Mariah either... err... I'll let you get back to the story now.)

"Ahem," Rei sidelong glanced at the departing, intruding author before his face went back into the distressed and partly annoyed expression it was before. "KAI!!!"

His watch beeped the time, making Rei grunt in annoyance. "Dammit, I don't have time for this..." With a last regretful look at the retreating Kai, he leapt onto the nearest 2nd storey roof, pounding over the rooftops.

Kai started to slow down, realising just how weak and emotional he was being. With a frown he turned around to face his pursuer. "You..." Only Rei wasn't there. The guy had probably left long ago, and here he was, being a total moron by talking to no one in the open public.

With a growl, he spun around again but was faced with the open door of a black limousine.

"Master Kai, you are wanted." A black suited guy said respectfully from inside.

Kai narrowed his eyes, face going blank. "What does he want now?"

"Your Grandfather has just had a heart attack." The man said bluntly.

Kai blinked and waved him off. "Ridiculous. He's the most stubborn man I know, and with no stress or drug problems I know. Who are you trying to kid?"

Eyes hidden under dark sunglasses flashed into sight for a second. "I am deadly serious. He is in hospital under operational care and has sent for you." He drew a photo from his pocket.

Kai stared at the clear picture of his Grandfather surrounded by surgeons with the date in the corner clearly stating it was taken yesterday and silently got into the waiting car. His face was filled with caution as they moved, Rei driven from his mind for the moment. It was impossible. A man as ridiculously keen on clawing to life as Voltaire was... well, it was inconceivable for him to fall under some mere stress or disease. Even if that was true... a small amount of fear struck his heart. Only it wasn't for his grandfather. In his mind, his own future started to blacken.

---

"You're late." Red sharp pointed hair rose into view as he casually dropped down onto the rooftop.

"You just arrived Tala, you can't complain, I had... things to work out." Rei smiled slightly at Tyson's last opponent. It was indeed Tala, the red haired genetically engineered, or whatever, boy, now man who stood there, a small pout on his face.

Rei smiled in greeting, hit with nostalgia over their unusual and drama ridden relationship.

It was after the World Championships.

He remembered how he had found Tala, abandoned like so much cheap garbage in one of the back streets of the dome. The boy, blood coloured hair marred with dirt was twisted in a crumbled heap against the stone wall. His body looked starved yet he made no sound except stare at his beyblade like a broken doll. If it weren't for the flash of red, Rei would have never noticed him.

Rei had stood there for a few moments just staring at him, but got no response or acknowledgment from the boy. Tala's attention was focused only on his beyblade, his eyes a blank azure. From the proud raving Captain to the pitiful wretch that then lay slumped on the ground... there were no words for how sad the boy had looked.

Being the nice guy he was Rei had practically dragged Tala back to the hotel and demanded the BBA officials see to him. Tala was, after all, the best beyblader in that moment besides Tyson. Tala hadn't complained or tried to escape, but the boy didn't do anything else either. Rei became his caretaker. No one else would acre for the boy. At the time, it had at least given Rei an excuse to stay on the BBA's expense just a little more. Run a little longer from his own worldly pressures.

For weeks Rei didn't leave Tala's side, out of some misplaced kind of responsibility, he didn't want to leave the guy alone. It helped he had started to like the former Demolition Boy too. Eventually, even the hotel had its limits of accommodating two freeloaders for so long, and soon both found themselves without money or shelter. With no place to go, Rei started wandering again, and Tala followed. Rei didn't complain, the guy was better company than Mariah, and never spoke as much.

Somewhere along that angst ridden journey, they became friends. Tala was the reason he found out his feelings for Kai to be more than platonic friendship. Both of them were frighteningly similar, and Rei had latched onto Tala like a leech. Tala had been his first.

It was evitable in a way. They shared rooms from lack of money, and spent most of their time together for the first two years after the World Championships, training and travelling. Through some awkward experimentation, Rei realised he had no adversity to a relationship to another male and Tala, Tala didn't know any better since technically, being genetically modified, he was only a few years old.

Tala and him were... complicated. They weren't romantic lovers by any stretch of the imagination but Rei had loved him.

The problem was, he loved Kai more.

Tala had shrugged when Rei told him, and said he knew, and had no problem with it. Both of them had too much emotional baggage then to be serious anyway. Tala needed the strength, both physically and emotionally, to get revenge on his creators and teammates for abandoning him. Rei's problems however, were a lot more drastic personally. Let's just say puberty sucks.

To say they were over would be lying. To say they were still together would be equally untrue. It was complicated.

Back on the rooftop, where the reminiscing was brought back to the present, Rei grinned leisurely. "Good to see you're doing well Tala.

Tala's stoic face melted into a returning smile. "It's good to see you too Rei." The taller guy was dressed simply in only an open white shirt and tastefully tailored dark blue pants, a contradiction to his past anti-goth outfits of white leather and buckles. With the same smile, he stepped forward and kissed Rei without the slightest hesitation.

A moment later, he released the bugged eyed Neko-jin.

Tala winked before his face morphed back into a quiet emotionlessness. "I trust you've made progress with dear little Hiwatari?"

Rei stared. "What was that for? I thought I told you..."

Tala rolled his eyes. "Your little girlfriend is watching. And since she made so much trouble for us, I think it's payback to tell her once and for all, what your sexual preference is." He glanced off into the corner where a peek of pink hair can be seen.

Rei stared, and then broke into laughter. "Forget it, after she's seen me with Kai, and me telling her REPEATEDLY, I was gay and still not get it, you have no chance Tala dear."

The red haired man glared at the tuft of pink. "Figures. I always wondered how she couldn't get it through her head when we were going at it," he said bluntly.

Rei blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Gee, you sure haven't changed."

Tala looked back at Rei, eyes being the only sign of emotion in his face. "A little." Eyes trailed the typical skin hugging white clothes Rei was wearing. "I bet you're wondering why I asked you to meet me today."

Rei shrugged, preening a little at the attention that kai wouldn't express so openly, not that Rei couldn't change his mind later on. "I have an idea." He kept his tone neutral, observing the blank expression that gave nothing away. There really was only one reason they met up anymore. "What's the job?"

There was the slightest twitch of a smirk on Tala's face. "No, I've come to tell you I've completed my 'mission' so to say, only I have one more thing to accomplish."

Rei raised his eyebrows. "Completed?"

Tala nodded, looking serious. "The Demolition boys, are no more, reprogrammed by me and living normal lives."

Rei sweat dropped. "Reprogrammed?"

"I am after all, the ultimate creation made by Voltaire, who is currently in hospital due to a 'heart attack'."

"Heart attack?!"

Tala smirked, "Rei, you're sounding like a broken record here, a little more input please."

"You put Kai's grandfather in hospital!?!" Rei screamed, then sighed in defeat. "As long as you do nothing against Kai, or hurt him, I have no problem I guess."

Tala looked slightly pained. "Rei, the final step, I need your help, we've always been a team since... since, you know, and this last step I can't complete alone. I've got someone who will pay a hefty sum to do it."

"Tala? Look, I don't want anything to do with this, and..."

"Rei, remember when I gave you the diamonds from our last heist? It was a gift and a favour when we broke up. You needed my help for what was the last time to gain them. I had no problem since it was from Voltaire's vaults and a few diamonds is nothing to the thousands there. That time I risked my life for you and your beyblade. This time, will you return the favour?"

Rei squeezed the bridge of his nose, not liking to be reminded. He and Tala, had been poor. So poor they had to steal, and got to be the best at it with their skills. Sure it was against ethics, but he wasn't a stupid child who thought of life as black and white anymore like Tyson had showed him in his own naive way. He imagined himself to be like paint. Once you mix the white with black, you will never turn grey into white again.

And just who could resist those puppy dog eyes Tala was shooting him?

"What's this last part?"

Tala looked deadly serious. "Stealing Black Dranzer. And destroying it."

Rei looked at him sharply. That meant going straight into the Hiwatari mansion.

"Will you help me Rei? For old times sake at least, if not for revenge."

Rei tensed, and asked stonily, "For how much?"

---

"I'm back... Kai?" Rei entered the apartment his eyes widening slightly at the small pack of luggage there. Even after a double shift of work to drain his energy, he could still feel something amiss here.

Kai shot him a brief look before shoving a small pile of clothes in the bag. "Rei, I need to return to my Grandfather's mansion for a while, he's in hospital with a heart attack, and I need to be at home to sort things out."

"Wha?" Rei feigned surprise, but was genuinely stunned at the prospect of Kai leaving him. If Kai was going to be there then..." Rei frowned slightly. "Kai, what happened? Voltaire had a heart attack? Is that even possible?"

Kai met his eyes quickly. "Apparently. You can stay here as long as you want, the apartment is mine and I don't mind... I'll be back in a week, hopefully."

"Do you have to leave?" Rei's thoughts were a mess of new variables. He didn't like the thought of Kai going back to that cold prison and back into Voltaire's clutches. He really didn't like the thought of doing anything that might put Kai in danger, and he hated the thought, and himself, for planning to steal from him. But stealing from Voltaire and stealing from Kai were two completely different things. Worry twisted his lips into a frown as he followed the slate haired man with his eyes. "What happened?" He repeated.

"My grandfather had a heart attack. They believe it was stress from the pressure on his heart rate before it happened," Kai scowled. "Or so they say." He picked up the bag with one hand. "I need to go."

Rei felt Kai grow more and more distant, the cold, stoic exterior he knew so well returning in those crimson eyes. It was disconcerting to see this side again after being so close to a strangely cheerful Kai, if only for a few days.

"Kai..." Rei bit his lip to stop it coming out as a whine. Hated the fact he was so goddamn low as to steal from a friend, hating himself even more for trying to stop Kai from returning to the mansion so he could have an easier task of it. He forced the words out with a hopeful smile. "Can't you stay? At least for me?" He wanted to slap himself as Kai's face went indecisive.

Kai took a quick glance between Rei and the door. "Rei, I need to go." He slung the bag over a shoulder and faced the door.

Rei darted in front of him, and on impulse, quickly closed the distance between their lips before Kai could protest.

Slowly Rei drew back to see Kai looking at him in confusion.

"Rei... I... " Kai started.

"No, go." Rei prompted. Kai nodded and stepped past him. "And Kai?"

He looked back with a glance.

Rei met his eyes seriously. "I'm sorry."

"What for?" Kai responded with a frown.

Rei slid a hand behind his head, replacing the serious expression with a grin. "No, nothing, just saying it so I don't feel so guilty breaking anything in here or whatever, but I won't of course," he added quickly.

Kai smiled a tiny, weenie bit and nodded before shutting the door behind him.

The grin faded as the heavy 'click' of the door resounded in the room. Rei closed his eyes, clenching and unclenching his fists in a futile attempt to calm down, panic and anger warring in his mind. He took one step backward, then another, then completely distanced himself away from the door and picking up the phone, quickly dialing a contact number.

"I can't do this," he spoke softly into the receiver.

"Rei? What's wrong?" Tala's voice came from the other side.

"Voltaire's done for the count, so Kai's gone back to the mansion. Tala, I told you before, I will not hurt him. You know how I feel," Rei said tersely.

"I know how you feel." There was the rustle of clothing. "This is the first time you've gone back on a promise Rei." The casual observation hurt more than any insult Tala could've thrown at him.

Rei ran a hand through his hair. "I can't Tala. Not while he's there."

"We won't get another chance. The house be locked as tight as a box when Voltaire returns." Tala halted, the silence stretched. "Please Rei."

Rei's grip on the phone tightened. It wasn't often that Tala got desperate enough to beg so blatantly. Almost never. Black Dranzer was Tala's closure, he needed it to be gone, one last thing to be done before he could both move on. "Tala, Kai he's... "

"I understand. Was I just a replacement for him?" Tala said in the same monotone.

Rei felt a sharp twinge of guilt. "Tala..."

A moment of silence on the line. "Rei, he won't find out. I know how much he means to you. If he does, I'll personally talk to him, explaining I forced you to do this. I don't want to jeopardize your happiness," Tala said sincerely.

"No. I won't let you be classified as some evil bastard again." Rei bit his lip. "Fine. I'll risk it, but this is the last time Tala, I can't keep doing this."

"I know Rei, and I thank you for doing this last thing for me," Tala responded.

"Tala," Rei's tone softened, "You were never a replacement for him."

"I know," came the soft answer before the line disconnected.

Rei ran a hand through his free bangs. Things were getting too complicated, all he wanted to do was to love Kai and have Kai love him. Was that so much to ask for? It hadn't even been a week since he came back. His life sucked.

END PART 1

A/N: I know I've tampered with all those little hints in the show and exaggerated them. It wouldn't be as twisted and fun otherwise. This fic is almost 3/4 written so I'll have the next bit up really quick.

Reviewing would always inspire me to hurry of course wink wink