Chapter Six.

Stupid little games.

Regan sat by the pond, sullenly throwing petals onto the surface of the water and watching as the ripples expanded out across the clear glassy blue sheet. The garden was full of autumn now, the leaves having turned. It was a beautiful sight, the golden-browns and coppery-reds against the crisp blue sky. At any other time, she would probably have been tempted to set up her easel and paint it, but not today. Today, she'd rather just sit and observe.

There was the sound of footsteps behind her, and Regan half turned to see dark jeans clad legs rising like tree trunks behind her. She turned back to the pond and tossed the whole flower head in, staring at it as it sank under the surface, one of the koi darting over to inspect it, before darting away again.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Kai asked. There was an uncomfortable edge to his voice. Guilt maybe? Regan almost laughed. Yeah right.

"Whatever."

Kai sat down and leaned forward, knees up, hands clasped around the front of his legs. He looked down at the pond and sighed.

"Look, Regan. I know I've been pretty nasty lately-"

She cut him off with a derisive snort, rolling her eyes. Kai shifted slightly.

"Okay, I've been a total bastard. Look, what I'm trying to say is… I'm really sorry I said all that to you. It's just, when you were talking about home and… I just… I felt all the old feelings coming back and… I don't know."

Regan didn't speak. Her face remained clouded and dark. Kai ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, I just wanted to apologies. And, if you want to, I thought maybe I could take you out to dinner on Friday?"

Regan stood up and glared at him.

"You'll never learn, will you, Hiwatari?" She said wearily.

"Regan-"

"Forget it, Kai. Just fucking well forget it."

Kai growled and stood up.

"Regan, don't you dare walk away from me." He said angrily.

"Or what?" She snarled, turning on him. Kai felt his temper flaring.

"Listen, I came out here to apologies and try and make things better, but oh no. You'd much rather play the martyr and have everyone worry about you. Tell me, Regan, do you enjoy watching us all pussy-foot around you whilst you sulk?"

"Big words coming from such a stupid little boy," she spat back. "And considering that you spend most of your own life wallowing in misery, you've got absolutely nothing to be getting on my back for!"

"You know, I thought you were more mature than that, but I see you're just as childish and pathetic as you always were." He crowed. At this, any restraint that Regan had been maintaining evaporated completely.

"Listen, Hiwatari. If it weren't for you, my life would be a hell of a lot easier. You've made my life a misery for the last sixteen years because it's the only way you could make yourself feel good. Well, there you go, you bastard. Have I bolstered up your stupid fucking ego enough yet, or would you like me to cry some more so you can be a big man and make me feel better?"

She was screaming now, her whole face livid, eyes blazing dangerously in the sun light.

"Wait one minute-"

"No, you wait one fucking minute. I am sick of you waltzing in and out of my life, stealing my brother away from me, treating me like I'm some kind of sub human and generally being a desolate bastard and expecting me to drop everything and make you feel loved. Because that's all you ever do! You turn up and treat me like a sister for a day or two, then expect me to pay you back double. Well you can forget it, Kai, because I've bloody well had it with you!"

Regan was breathing heavily, her feet planted apart, fists clenched. She leaned right up to him so that her face was less than inch from his.

"I'll let you in on a little secret shall I?" She whispered huskily. Kai glared at her, rage building up at the back of his throat. Regan leaned closer, so close that he could feel her ragged breath against his neck, her voice a tickling hiss in his ear, thick with fury.

"I have loved you, every minute of my life, since as long as I can remember. And all you've ever done is take from me, never given anything in return. Well, if that's what it takes to get you to love me back, then quiet honestly, I don't want it."

The rage evaporated from his body as she met his gaze, eyes glittering with angry tears. Kai suddenly felt incredible empty, his whole body numb with shock. He realized that Regan was waiting for him to say something, but his voice dried up in his throat, words shrivelled and died on his lips. Regan shook her head, and Kai felt a stab of misery. He could see it in her eyes. You'll just never understand , will you?

"Fuck you, Kai. Fuck you and fuck your. Stupid. Little. Games."


Rei looked up as the back door flew open and Regan fled through the house to her room. A moment later, Kai stalked through, his face a tangle of emotion. Rei came to the living room door and reached out to touch Kai's shoulder. The tall Russian swung round and slapped Rei's hand away.

"Piss off!" He shouted. Rei looked at his friend in shock. Kai never swore at him. He saved his nastiness for sarcastic offences against Tyson.

"Kai, just calm down-"

But Kai had already stormed down the corridor and into his own room, slamming the door so hard that it shook the whole wall. Rei's face darkened and he shut the living room door behind him and set of in the opposite direction to the girl's room.

There was a lot of banging on the other side of the door. Rei paused to collect his thoughts, then knocked tentatively. The screen shot open and Regan burst out through the portal, her face streaked with tears.

"What?" She cried hoarsely. Rei stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her and she collapsed against his chest, burying her face in his shoulder, sobs rattling her body. Rei stroked her hair and rocked her gently, soothing her. Her cheeks were hot and damp against his shoulder, the warmth from her skin radiating through his thin shirt.

"You heard all that?" She asked quietly.

"You were shouting pretty loud," Rei replied.

"I was so angry," she whispered, her last words cut up by more sobs.

"Shhhh… It's okay," he murmured.

"No, it's not okay," she sobbed into his shoulder. "I thought it would be but it's not."

Rei guided her over to her bed and sat her down. It was only then that he realised that her large suitcase was out, half packed, clothes flung haphazard into its open belly. Regan followed his gaze and sniffed. She swiped at the tears and straightened slightly.

"I'm going to a hotel tonight, then I'm buying the first ticket back to Russia tomorrow morning," she managed to murmur, chin wobbling, her whole body shaking with the effort to keep her voice calm and steady. Rei gawped at her in disbelief.

"Why?"

"Because I can't stay here now, can I?" She choked, tears welling up in her eyes again.

"Oh, hey… Come here," Rei said softly, pulling her into a hug as she started to cry again. He squeezed her tight and looked up as Mariah entered the room, the floorboard near the door squeaking and giving her away. She surveyed the scene before her, and a look of horror slipped across her face. She wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what had happened without asking.

Mariah crossed the room and sat down on the edge of her friend's bed. Rei let go of Regan and she sat up straight. Mariah looked at her worried.

"Where are you going?" She asked softly. Regan shrugged.

"Back to Russia, as soon as there's a seat available. Until then, a hotel."

Mariah's face fell.

"But… what about all of your plans… and our plans too?"

Regan choked back a sob and closed her eyes, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, Mariah. I just… I need to go home. I can't stay here. Not now."

"Of course you can," Mariah insisted. "Okay. Yes, check into a hotel." Rei gave her a wide eyed look. "But don't go back to Russia," she added quickly. "You came to Japan for nine months, and you'll stay for nine months. Just because you aren't staying at the dojo, doesn't mean you have to leave, right?"

Regan's eyes were blank, her face completely devoid of any kind of expression. Mariah bit her lip.

"Please, Regan," Rei said softly. "We want you to stay."

Regan nodded obediently, her head moving only a fraction of an inch up, then down. But it was something. Mariah wrapped her arms around her friend.

"Promise?" She whispered in her ear.

"Promise." Regan croaked back. Rei nodded and left the room, muttering something about calling a taxi. Mariah gave Regan an extra tight squeeze, then let go and got up to finish the packing. She folded everything neatly and arranged it in the suitcase, than snapped it shut and packed all the other stuff into the large cardboard boxes they had arrived in, just four short weeks ago. Easel, paints, books, it all went in. She emptied the wardrobe of all of Regan's clothes and put them into a hanging bag. The room looked empty without all of Regan's belongings filling it.

"Come on," Rei said, coming into the room and holding Regan's jacket up and helping her into it. "There's a cab waiting outside."

With a suitcase in one hand and the hanging bag in the other, Mariah led Regan down to the cab and helped her put her things in the boot, whilst Rei brought the boxes out. Mariah hopped in the back of the taxi with Regan, Rei getting in the front and giving the driver instructions to go to the hotel. Regan sat in silence, gazing out of the window at the gathering darkness.

Rei turned in his seat to look at her. Her eyes were red, her cheeks puffy from crying. She had lost her sparkle. The shine that had surrounded her, the aura of fun and mischief gone. She looked just like a child. She was sixteen, same as him, but she suddenly seemed younger. Small and vulnerable, like she needed protection against the world and its evils. Rei shook his head and turned back to the front.

How could Kai have done this to her? How could he hurt her like this when it was so obvious that she liked him. Either Kai was very stupid, or very cruel. Somehow, Rei didn't think the former was very likely.

But then again, Rei had never known Kai to be intentionally cruel either. He had been friends with the Russian for nearly threer years now, and they were similar. They shared a silent understanding of each other, each knowing when the other needed to talk about something. They had more in common than even Tyson and Daichi, which was saying something. Sure, Kai was sarcastic, and he could be pretty cutting, and he had a melancholic vibe that surrounded him like a shield, but cruel? No. Kai was many things, but he was not cruel. Or at least, Rei hadn't thought so until now.

The cab pulled up outside the hotel and Regan delved into her wallet and handed over the fare. Mariah and Rei unloaded the bags and insisted on carrying them, refusing to let Regan help. Inside the hotel was quiet. People milled around the reception, talking in hushed tones. The woman behind the desk was polite and helpful. She gave Regan a room on the third floor and arranged for a porter to collect her bags. Regan handed over her credit card in silence. Mariah hovered behind her, worried.

"You're sure you don't want us to stay with you?" Mariah asked as they got into the lift. Regan shook her head.

"I… I need to be alone… I need to think about…" She trailed off and gazed mutely at the oak panels of the little carriage. Rei nodded and gave her hand a squeeze.

"We understand, but maybe you should have someone here-

"To make sure I don't commit suicide?" It was a flicker of her former sarcasm, nothing like her usual vivacious self, but it was closer to normal than she had been in the taxi.

"I didn't-"

"Don't worry, I'm not the type."

A silence descended, broken by the ping as the lift reached the third floor and the doors slid open. They walked down the lavish hallway in silence, the quiet tapping of their shoes the only noise. Regan's room was at the end of the corridor, away from most of the other rooms, the last on the whole floor. The porter had already been and put her belongings in the room, leaving the key in the door for them. Regan took it carefully out of the lock and slipped it into her pocket.

"Are you going to be okay?" Mariah asked cautiously. Regan smiled slightly and nodded.

"Thanks," she mumbled softly. Mariah gave her another hug and Rei wrapped his arms around her as well.

"It'll sort itself out, you'll see," he whispered into her hair. Regan nodded and gave him a watery smile.

"We'll call you in the morning, okay?" Mariah said. Regan nodded. "And don't forget to lock the door." She called as the retreated down the corridor. Regan watched from the doorway as Rei slipped his arm around Mariah's waist and leaned down, kissing her softly on the cheek. She rested her head on his shoulder, and as they rounded the corner, Rei looked over his shoulder at Regan and nodded. She nodded back, then stepped inside the room and closed the door, locking it and placing the key on the bedside table.

At least someone had got this love thing right.


I'm almost finished... I can't keep writing forever, I'm getting no homework done at all. Reviews please. Merci.