Tyson knew he was being watched. He had known so for the past four days. His grandpa was keeping a steady eye on him but he didn't look to worried. The elderly man was also watching Kai, for reasons unknown. Kai was the other person watching him.

Kai looked sick. Tyson may have been the one depressed but it didn't look like Kai was getting any sleep. His skin had a yellowish tinge to it, and his eyes were bloodshot, you could barely see any traces of the whites left. Below the eyes were dark shadows that made the abnormal red colour stand out even more. Tyson may have been pale, but he didn't look yellow.

Why the team captain was keeping a close vigil on him, Tyson didn't know. But he wanted to find out. In order to see if he could find some emotion in them, he dared to look into the cold blader's eyes. And he was shocked at what he saw. Besides the fact that Kai was letting emotions show in his eyes that he had never seen there before, Kai was staring openly at him. Tyson immediately withdrew his gaze as if he had been burned.

Tyson was confused. The wine depths had never shown anything like worry, confusion, stress, or, what Tyson swore was hurt before. They had let triumph, anger, irritation and occasionally impression to show, but never hurt. Tyson's heart started beating heavier. He really hadn't expected anything like that to happen. Kai was openly staring at him. That only happened when Kai was mad at him or he needed to get a point across and the point couldn't penetrate Tyson's thick head. Or in Tyson's dreams. But they hadn't been hurt then. Or confused or stressed. they had been happy and the strict boy was smiling for once.

What if he knows about my depression? What if he knows about the cuts? what if he tells the others? What if he already did? what will they think of me? Probably that I'm weak, worthless and let things get me down to easy. They won't like me anymore if they find out, Tyson's panicked brain thought rapidly, apprehension building every second.

Then his thoughts took a whole new spin. Did I cause the worry? Did I cause the hurt? The sleepless nights? Yes, a voice whispered to him. The voice echoed around his head, penetrating every nook and cranny. No! a louder voice made it's opinion known. That voice had to be the logical part of his brain. It couldn't find a reason, unlike his emotional part, for why he should like Kai.

I can't like Kai. I'll only hurt him.

Tyson's thought's once again switched to a different track, one that turned from what looked like a beach to a dark, old forest with dead, gnarly, old trees that had a sinister look about them. They curled in towards you, crowded around you, forced The Thoughts on you.

The Thoughts were things Tyson had never thought he would have to face. Thoughts about a world without him. From his disillusioned point the world looked far happier and brighter. Grandpa would be able to visit Hawaii more often, a place he had grown to love. Max would be able to mature more without Tyson holding him back with childish acts. Rei wouldn't have anyone to constantly look out for, Max would be able to keep himself out of trouble, and therefore could communicate more with the White Tiger's. Kenny would be able to spend more time on his computer, or with his computer. Hilary would be able to concentrate on whatever it was she liked, she wouldn't have to always remind Tyson to pay attention. And Kai, Kai wouldn't look hurt.

The Thoughts looked so good he almost smiled. Dragoon was alarmed by the negative pulsing from it's owners mind and responded by starting to glow and spin. The whirring made Tyson look up, a startled look on his face. Dragoon had been laying dormant on the table next to the window seat, looking well from lack of use. Now it seemed to be reaching out to him.

Dragoon forced impressions into Tyson's mind, images of what the future would really look like. Grandpa would be grief stricken, Max would be very solemn not even cheering up when he talked to his mom for weeks, Rei would be saddened by the loss of a great friend, Hilary would be a loose cannon with no one else to yell at and Kai would be . . . depressed?

Tyson didn't understand. Why would Kai be depressed because of Tyson's death? He won't be, the tree's responded, none of that will happen. Dragoon id fooling you. He likes to see you like this. sad and alone. Because that's what you are. Alone. It was so convincing and confident that Tyson believed it. Dragoon and the images he had received from him faded. Grandpa, Max, Rei, Hilary and Kenny disappeared. Kai became a distant memory.

His world darkened once again. The rain in his mind splattered to the dry ground. Thunder boomed overhead, lightening flashed but didn't illuminate. The trees grew in size, crowding in even more, pushing in around him, blocking him off from everything. They created a maze with no exit in sight. Their eyes glittered evilly They laughed at his distress and depression but Tyson didn't hear of notice their gaping mouths open up to allow the silent cackles out.

Tyson didn't notice anything but his faults and all the times he had let people down. Especially when he let Kai down. He almost seemed to cave in on himself. Dragoon's spinning and glowing died down and stopped altogether. He had been defeated.

A/N: Well, this story turned out rather nicely. What did I expect, I am an empress after all. I got depressed writing it and the trees seemed perfect for what Tyson is going through. I needed them to be my somebody to pull him deeper into his self-loathing. I hope it worked. Tell me what you thought about it in a review. I'd love to hear what you have to think, pointers, what you think might happen (they could come in handy if I ever go through writers block) and criticism, if it's polite. And if anyone finds this too depressing, live with it. I just lived sixty-five hours without power or heat and very little to eat. I wrote this late at night by candle. I just got power back at one pm. How depressed do you think I felt/feel? Well, REVIEW!

-Empress Mara

Gryphon's wing: The blond boy will be introduced later. Tyson and Kai were semi-friends. Kai was still cold towards Tyson and everyone else. And did you know that blond(e) with an 'e' on the end makes it feminine? Therefore, for the boy it would be blond with no 'e.' Thanks for reviewing.

Marble eyes: Apparently you didn't catch the 'he lied' part after the dog thing. Demanding an empress? Wanna die? thanks for Reviewing!

With other thanks to typhoon14, Xx-PhoenixDreams-xX and FireieGurl.