Hello everyone!

So, how are you guys doing this lovely Wednesday then? I'm just so happy, I dunno where to go! Also, I'm happy you all seemed to enjoy the chapter, since I was pretty satisfied with it. And thanks for all the analyses you've made! It will help me a lot with my research for school.

max and ray's girl: Hey, cool! And here you have it! It's a total of 19 chapters, plus a sequel. So happy you like it, and your friends as well. Say hi from me will ya!
Mya Ino: I don't mind at all! And I'm happy you review this shit at all :) Thank you so much! Yuck! I wouldn't want some guy to call me just like that…aw well…see ya!
Shihoko: Hiya. Thank you! Yeah…you might say that!
ksumicandy: Hey, whuzzup? So happy you like the story! And I don't mind at all. You're the first one ever to say I'm romantic (smiles) so thanks! I dunno about optimistic though (laugh)
dark-anime-slave: Uhm…no. He left before that…
White-tiger-kitten: Hey, good to see ya again! How are you? Gah, you'll find out Rei's problem sooner or later, kay? I think you are capable to make Tala slap him yourself ;P Yeah, I adore Tala! Soo cute! No, sorry, havn't done that yet, but I will, ASAP!
wingedsolider: okay, maybe…hehehe
Constantine: Uh…about your fight with that girl…sounds scary if you ask me…Then, it also sound's like a little hate-love going on there…maybe not. Oh, I don't think you could read anything from my eyes…even my psychological teacher can do that, so…well…
jak'idiot: …?…!…uuh…did you check up on me or something? You are so right about almost everything, I became happy! Yeah, I love analysing people, even through the net! The only thing that wasn't right, in that sentence, was why I don't like talking with people…otherwise way to go!
Kiko cat: You think? Really? Well, they have a little argument…hehehehe
slipknotrulez: Really? Makes me happy! You think Rei is evil…hmmm…okay!
Reis1gurl: Don't worry, I'll explain…or rather, I'll have Rei explain! You think I have an awesome imagination? Geez, thanks! Maybe I should start writing on the pure fantasy fiction, eh?
Endoh Chiaki: Waah, I'm sorry man! I just thought it was a great place to end! You think I know emotions? Really? Your story sounds awesome! I'm writing about a doctor with a pretty messed up life. He meets this teen who tried to commit suicide, and that starts to bring some memories.
M.S.K: Gah, okay…so Kai…you get to keep for yourself. Hehehehe…
gift-of-the-elves: Hahaha…yeah, slut is a good description, I assume. :)
UlTiMaTe KaI LuVa: Uhm…kay…thanks, I guess. I just are? That's a new way of saying it :) Those bastards! Hope they change that so that it becomes more enjoyable to watch!

Disclaimer: I don't own the anime called Beyblade, nor the characters from the show in any way or circumstances. However, I do own the ideas for Love game…see, I can be correct :P

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:Chapter 17:

:Party people:

The neko laughed at the reflection of himself in the mirror. The clothes was too big, just as Kai had predicted them to be, and he had to really tighten the belt to prevent the dark grey pants from falling off. But still, he looked pretty good in them. The scarf was a little annoying though, because of the length. He still had his hair wrapped but with black cloth so that it didn't show that much. The blue triangles were freshly painted on his cheeks and though he felt a little silly wearing them, he also felt a little strange attitude growing from them. Rei brushed through his hair with his hand and looked at the bottle in his hand.

"Kai!" he called out.

"What?" the Chinese smiled at the wary answer coming from the bathroom.

"Can you help with this damn colour I'm supposed to wear in my hair?"

"…Uh…I'm not sure. I don't know if I want to show myself wearing this. I think that will chop my pride into pieces. Can't Tyson…or Max…or Chief do that? Rei laughed at the phoenix.

"Nu-huh. They are pretty…busy…" he looked over at the grinning dragon sitting beside the others in the couch. They were all done since a long time, and weren't doing something in particular. Kai sighed frustrated.

"Okay, I'll do it…but don't you dare laugh!" Kai stepped out of the bathroom, wearing his angel costume. It was very daring indeed. His stomach showed as well as his shoulders and most of his legs. At the sight of his captain wearing that, Tyson burst out laughing, soon followed by Max and even Chief giggled. Kai blushed really bad and glared at them. "Shut up already. I feel like a total idiot anyway, so just quit rubbing it in!" Rei smirked teasingly at his lover.

"Don't mind them. You look smashing!" he said and kissed the Russian on the cheek.

"Well…thank you. I would say the same about you…but when you wear that, it will sound weird. Like I said it to myself or something…but…you do look gorgeous" the tiger smiled warmly at the compliment and Kai coughed as he took the bottle from Rei's hand. "This is the stuff?"

"Yeah, pretty close, huh? Don't worry, It's something that you can wash away" Rei was right. The colour was almost the exact shade of blue as Kai's hair. The Russian shook the bottle and told Rei to close his eyes then sprayed the colour into the silky black hair. Kai could see Tyson widen his eyes from where he sat.

"Hey, Rei. You look EXACTLY like Kai. I mean it. The only difference is that you're thinner…and that your eye-colour is different…and that you have a different haircut…and you're taller…and your features are different…and your personality…uh…well, almost exactly anyway" Rei laughed as he opened his eyes again.

"Thank you very much…sailor" Tyson scratched his head and looked at his white sailor outfit.

"Don't blame me. It was Max idea" Max laughed at the accusation but didn't say anything. Rei cracked an eyebrow.

"You have a sick sense of…humour, Maxie!" he stated. The ocean eyed teen looked innocently at him.

"…So do you" he replied with a sneer. Kai rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, causing the team to start laughing again, just because it looked so funny. The neko walked over to his suitcase, picked out two small boxes and walked into the bathroom without a word. Tyson sighed and stood up.

"Shall we go…captain?" Kai turned around to answer when he saw Max standing up, putting on a huge blue hat. He was literary a captain…with a sabre in his belt and a few medals attached to the jacket.

"Sure, mate. The party has probably already started!" And with that they were gone. Kai let go of a quiet chuckle as Kenny stood up and followed, wearing the green costume of a parrot. 'They are insane' Kai thought amused.

"You're coming?" the little brunette asked.

"Yeah, in a minute" the Russian replied. The trio closed the door behind them and Kai looked at his reflection in the large mirror in the room. "Tala's gonna freak" he murmured as he chuckled. Then the bathroom door opened and Rei stepped out. Kai eyed him from the feet and up, but couldn't see what he had done different. The neko smiled and walked over to where the other boy was standing and wrapped his arms around his lover's waist. Kai rose his look and locked it with Rei's, and suffered a heart attack. "Your eyes?" he blurred out.

"Yeah. I said I was gonna be you, right? So this is as good as I can do. Is it okay?" the Chinese whispered. Kai nodded slowly, feeling the crimson eyes on him made him a little uncomfortable…even if it only was lenses. "besides, it's such a beautiful colour" Kai blushed at that, not knowing how to react, causing Rei to smirk.

"I like your gold colour better" the phoenix murmured. He sighed and pressed himself against the neko, leaning his head against his shoulder. "…I love you so much, Rei Kon!" the raven haired teen closed his eyes and mentally cursed. He tried to raise his hand so that he could put it on the back of Kai's head, but was stopped by the fuzzy wings. Kai laughed, and Rei did the same.

"Shall we go down, so that we don't miss anything?" Kai nodded in agreement.

"Sure, but remember, you are the one reason I'm coming down there!" Rei was a little dumbfounded but very soon recovered.

Kai eyed the neko-jin as they stood in the elevator. He had a distant look, and though his eye colour had changed from amber to ruby, they were still his, which Kai had learned to judge pretty well. And at the moment, he could tell that something wasn't right.

"What is it?" he asked. Rei came out of his thoughts and looked at Kai, a little startled.

"Huh? Oh…it's nothing! Nothing at all"

"Are you sure about that? Rei, I know something is bothering you…I'm here for you, Rei. You can talk to me!" the neko turned away and his gaze flickered.

"Uh…as I said, It's nothing. Don't worry" from the silence, Rei could tell that Kai was still looking at him. "I mean it it's…" he didn't finish the sentence, as he saw the look in Kai's eyes. They were filled with love, warmth and concern. He couldn't lie to him…He couldn't. Not any more. This was the first time…the first time he actually cared if the guy…or himself got hurt. He couldn't lie about it. That he didn't…couldn't…mustn't…love him. He couldn't pretend that everything was alright. This time, the wounds might never heal. If Kai was just playing him, he wouldn't be able to continue. So, if he ended it here and now…he would be okay. That meant that it was he who didn't love Kai, not the other way around. He opened his mouth, but as soon as he did, he realised what he just had thought. He felt it, he didn't want Kai not to love him…but why…why was that? Why couldn't he bare the thought of another guy playing him? Or was it just…that he'd been with Kai for too long? False feelings…towards someone you know, he had been through that too. That must be the reason this felt so weird. He had to end it…he had to.
Of course, this thought went by in hyper speed in Rei's head, and It had only been five seconds of silence when Rei finally spoke. "It doesn't matter" the confusion was gone, he felt like he always had…as long he could remember. it was the only way to protect himself from what happened to him. "Kai…I…I don't…"

"What don't you? Please tell me!" the phoenix placed himself in front of the teen.

"I don't…I won't…l…"

"Tell me. I will help. I love you, you have to know that"…that was that. How could he possibly say the words now? The neko sighed.

"I won't let Tala have you" he murmured and blushed. Shit, that wasn't what he was gonna say, but it was the first thing that came to his mind. Kai widened his eyes.

"Tala? Wait…are you saying you are jealous…of TALA?" Rei sighed.

"Whatever" he murmured. No, he wasn't…maybe a little…maybe a lot, he didn't know. It hit him at that moment, at that very moment…he hit on Tala earlier. But…he was only doing the normal thing…wasn't he? It had felt awkward, though he was used to it. It was his life. He hissed and frowned then looked at Kai who was eyeing him, worriedly, and realised that he had to say something. "Uh, yeah, I am"

"…Then don't be. Too me, he's just a friend, nothing more. It's you I love. You don't need to worry about that!" the phoenix smiled as the elevator door opened. "Now…here goes nothing. You think they are gonna tease us for the rest of our lives?" Rei laughed out loud, reality, memories and thoughts already safely sealed inside his heart.

"Maybe you. You look too cute!" They stepped out the elevator and walked along the very familiar corridor. Music could be heard clearly as a day from the restaurant. 'She bangs' by Ricky Martin was the song, no doubt about that. They opened the door and stared at the bladers. They all had different costumes, looking like they were having the time of their lives.
Kai soon spotted Tala standing by the stereo, talking to a blushed Bryan. Rei saw them as well and frowned. "I'm gonna go and get something to drink. You want anything?" he asked his angelic lover.

"Yeah, thanks. Just give me whatever you're having, kay?" Rei nodded and walked away just as Tala and Bryan noticed them. Tala leapt towards him, beaming with happiness. He was wearing tight black latex pants, high healed boots, gloves, a tight black latex top with a short jacket and Cat ears…needless to say what his costume was. After him came Bryan, dressed as an police officer, and read as a tomato. At the sight of Rei, he cracked an eyebrow.

"What are you wearing, Hiwatari!" the falcon murmured and shook his head. "Who the hell talked you into that?"

"Guess, my little protector of the law" Tala smirked. "Seems like little kitten has a very strong will indeed" Kai blushed.

"Yeah, it was Rei's idea…dunno why the heck I agreed to it"

"Aw, come on. You look stunning wearing that. I see you even shaved your legs. Hehehe…say what you want about Kon, but taste he has! Wanna dance?" Kai blinked. What was wrong with Tala? He was talking in such speed, he could barely keep up with him. And before he could answer, the wolf dragged him towards the dance floor. Kai turned and gazed at Bryan, who looked a little disappointed. The phoenix jerked his shoulders, meaning 'what to do' and Bryan waved his hand, meaning 'don't worry about it'. As the two teens danced around as one of the few pairs on the dance floor, many who danced by themselves, Rei returned carrying two champagne glasses.

"Bryan? Where did Kai go?" the falcon pointed at the two.

"There he is. Damn Tala!" Rei cracked an eyebrow at that.

"Huh? You want to dance with…Kai?" he asked confused. Bryan sighed realising that that was exactly the way it had sounded.

"No. I want to dance…with Tala" the lavender haired Russian sighed and scratched his head. Rei smiled.

"I see. Then why don't you?"

"Because he's dancing with Kai…and he doesn't know I want to. In other words, I don't dare to ask him"

"Well, if you don't you never gonna have the chance, now would you. Stay true to your feelings and ask that asshole up!" Bryan looked at his comrade and widened his eyes at what he was wearing, but kept his calm.

"And that's coming from the right guy, huh?" the neko blushed and handed over one of the glasses. "Wasn't this one for Kai?" Bryan asked.

"Uh-huh. I believe 'was' is the right term. He is far to busy at the moment" Bryan glanced at his former love and sighed as he put down his glass on the table.

"Do you wanna dance?" he asked and held out his hand. Rei smiled and put down his own glass.

"I'd love to!" he replied, took the hand and was lead to the dance floor. They stopped around the middle and Bryan spun the neko around so that the scarf swayed in the air. Rei laughed from the bottom of his heart as Bryan pulled him closer. "Do you remember the last time we danced?" Bryan nodded.

"Yeah, at that fancy restaurant in Russia, right!"

"Yeah. When everyone was so damn jealous of us it ended with you hitting that guy for touching me, remember?" he had a strange expression which scared the falcon a bit, and he nodded quietly.

"That jerk tried to seduce you, and you didn't want that." Rei looked down at the floor and sighed. "Rei?" the tiger didn't reply, but he smiled and gently brushed his hand against Bryan's cheek. "Rei…I know that something is wrong. I'm not dumb, Kon. I know you have a secret that no one knows about. I just wonder, if you will ever tell someone about that" Rei's smile faded and he stopped the dance.

"…You know what it is?" he asked, extremely wary. Bryan shook his head, resulting in Rei to relax a little.

"No, but I do want to know about it. But not until you are ready to tell. And not before you have told Kai either" the neko swallowed and walked backwards, dragging Bryan with him. When they were off the dance area, they stopped.

"Bryan…how do you know you love Tala?" Bryan cracked an eyebrow and scratched his head. He'd never said that so Rei heard.

"I don't really know. I want to be close to him, at the same time I want to be as far away from him as possible. But it's nothing you 'know', you just do…sometimes it can take some time for one to know. But it's different for each individual, why?"

"I don't know if I love him…Kai…I can't tell. And I'm afraid of the answer!" Bryan stood in front of him, thinking about what to say. The fact was that Rei had never told him anything about his feelings before, ever! He didn't know what to say. Right, so he was older than the boy, but still…was that the only reason he told him that?

"Why is that?"

"What?"

"Why are you afraid?"

"Because it can't…mustn't be true. I'm not allowed to…love anyone"

"Says who?"

"I do. And…it's the way it is. No matter how much I would like to say those words for once…I can't. It's something I can't do. It doesn't work that way." Bryan could se that Rei was feeling uncomfortable, shaking a little, eyes flickering. He sighed and hugged the smaller boy hard.

"Don't worry, Rei. When the time comes, you will know. And you won't consider it to be wrong in any way." the neko nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Bry."

"Any time. Shall we change subject maybe?" Rei once again nodded. "I heard that Tala has been transferred to your team" the Chinese frowned.

"Yeah" he murmured. "And your point is?"

"Can I come too? I'd hate it if I couldn't be with you guys, and with Tala. I can be your supporter or something" Rei widened his eyes and burst into laughter.

"Yeah! That would be fun! To me, that's totally okay. But I do think you have to ask the captain too." Bryan smirked.

"At the moment, you look almost exactly like him, so in a way, I did" Rei then remembered what he was wearing and blushed. That must have felt pretty awkward for Bryan. Not mentioning the dark eyes he now had. He looked to the side as a movement caught his attention. Across the room, Oliver signalled for him to come as he walked out of the room.

"Uhm…I'm gotta go to the bathroom" he stuttered and ran past the older boy. Bryan looked at his back as he disappeared around a corner.

"Yeah, you do that…" he murmured as the other two returned from their dance.

"Whoa, that was way funny!" Tala beamed as Kai sighed.

"Whatever" the phoenix murmured.

"Aw, come on. We had a pretty great time, didn't we?"

"I guess so. Where is Rei?" he asked Bryan, not caring about Tala's hurt gaze.

"At the bathroom. He left just a minute ago."

"Okay, I'll be right back" Kai said and walked away, in the same direction in which Rei took.

"Hey, what about the next dance?" Tala shouted after him.

"I dunno. Why don't you dance with Bryan or something?" Bryan blushed pretty badly at Kai's words and coughed as Tala turned towards him. "Would you mind?" he asked. "It's boring just standing and watch as others dance"

"Not at all. In fact, I had in mind to ask you" Tala tilted his head.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I thought we'd have pretty fun" Tala took his hand and allowed himself to be lead out on the floor. And Bryan sighed with relief as the track was calm and quiet, making Tala lean his head against the taller boy's chest. 'thank you Kai' he smiled to himself.
Rei was walking around on the first floor, looking for the French. He didn't know what he wanted, but something told him that it was something urgent. He opened the door to the garden, and realised he had found the one he was searching for.

"Oliver? What is it?" he asked in a low voice and closed the door behind him.

"Rei, you asshole!" the amethyst eyed blader hissed.

"What?"

"Are you fucking blind, idiot? What the hell was that! Are you as retarded as it looks or are you actually seeing this as an ordinary party of yours?" Rei cracked and eyebrow in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"What I fucking mean is that you not only let Tala snatch Kai away like that, but you also have the guts to go dancing with Bryan? Are you so freaking dumb?"

"…I'm sorry, I still don't know what you mean, and if all you're gonna do is accuse me of a crime I didn't commit, then screw you! I'm going back!" angered, the neko turned to leave, but as he did, he felt someone gasping around his waist and pull him backwards. He yelped as he lost his balance when he stepped on the scarf and fell to the ground.

"They say you are what you do, Kon. And in this chase, that's correct!" Rei stopped squirming underneath the French teen and widened his eyes. "I mean it! You play with him, don't you? Well, if you did it nicely, I wouldn't care one bit! Because you're my friend, and you can do whatever you want. But, at what you did to him and Tala earlier, I don't accept at all!"

"You heard us?" the Chinese was beginning to panic, since he knew where this talk was heading.

"Not only heard you, I saw the whole thing too."

"But…we were alone…you couldn't ha…"

"Well, let's just say there are more than one doors down there." Rei blinked a tear away, knowing he was busted. "What you did, Rei…was low! Very low! Maybe it's none of my business, but I'll still say this, that you can't hurt people like that, Kon."

"Why the fuck do you care, eh? I can't see that your fuck with me was that noble either. I don't think Enrique knows about that? Neither that you actually preferred someone like me above him" at those words, Oliver blinked. Rei's tone had changed in a few seconds from nice to harsh. "You knew what I was the minute you saw me. And still, you agreed to my suggestion without hesitation. So what makes you so saint-like?" He reached up and whispered coldly into Oliver's ear. "You are even worse than me. I didn't do anything wrong, whilst you betrayed the one you loved…with a whore!" Oliver didn't speak at all. He didn't know what to say. This was the first time he had heard Rei say that word, and it sounded really sad. "You paid me well, too. Just because you were mad at Enrique…and you call me low, you son of a bitch! Now, release me!" the French sighed deeply and edged away from the neko. Rei's eyes had turned into slits and he showed his fangs. The amber eyed blader jumped to his feet and started to walk away.

"…Rei" he stopped and turned around.

"You know. That didn't bother me…that you were that. I still don't know why, but I've always known that the reason for you to do those things, isn't out of own will, is it?" Rei didn't answer. "And besides, how come you do it for free some times, since you aren't in love?"

"…I only do it for free with people I think might actually care for me. And those aren't many. But I know it won't ever happen to me…no matter how much I try, I can't love another person, and I don't think I ever will" The French backed away and stared at Rei. His eyes were showing total despair and they were filled with tears. The neko shook his head and brushed away the tears. "I can't Oliver…I can't…I'm so sorry. You're right. I can cause Kai's nor Tala's lives no further damage. It's not right. I'll do what I was supposed to do from the start!"

"You mean you will stay with Kai now?" even if his words were filled with hope, Oliver soon lost it as Rei shook his head.

"No…it means I will end it. That way, even if I actually were able love him…he wouldn't get hurt!" Rei ran away, with Oliver shouting out to him.

"DON'T REI! I KNOW YOU LOVE HIM! I KNOW IT! REI?"

"No…no you don't Oliver. As I said, I can't love anyone…and if I told him about it…about what I do, I'm sure he'd stop loving me too!" he whispered.

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…okay, so now you partly knows the truths about Rei, eh? Well, more to come, see ya next Wednesday!