Thank you for your patience!

(Part 8)

While waiting for their dinner to be readied, Kai's father suggested the boys spun their blades for a little while. Kai had pointed out that he had just presumed that they had their blades on them, so Susumu asked them if they had. Kai had replied 'of course' as it if was the most obvious thing in the world.

Looking back, Rei had noticed this pattern in Kai's behaviour again and again. He seemed to naturally need to be argumentative with his parents, and though Rei knew that sometimes this kind of rebellion was entirely normal, he couldn't help but wonder why Kai had such a problem with his parents. While he didn't seem to hate or even dislike them, he was somewhat dismissive of them, which Rei personally couldn't understand. He knew that something had caused Kai to hate his father in the past, and that they were now slowly re-gaining their 'normal' father- son relationship, but asides from that, Rei was clueless.

On some level, Kai had always given him the impression that he had felt some sort of abandonment from his mother and father, but looking at the here and now, they seemed to be a usual family- albeit one who had several houses- a happily married man and woman, and their cherished son.

It was something that Rei would pay any price for.

"Rei?"

"Eh?" Rei looked up, slightly dazed as he broke free of his revere. Kai didn't look very impressed with his intelligent reply and poked him in the shoulder.

"Where were you then? Somewhere between 1989 and 1995?" He said blandly, the smile upon his lips the only indication of amusement.

Rei gave him a quick half smile, "Something like that."

Kai nodded once and turned back around, catching his Dranzer bey easily as it shot up out of the dish. He spun back around to face the younger. "Since you obviously didn't register that one, mama said that dinner is ready, so recall Drig' and let's get going."

Rei felt himself smirk. "Are you hungry Kai?" He asked, verbally poking the other. Kai didn't do admitting to hunger, or to much else really. For example, Kai was never tired; he only decided that it was his desire to rest. Kai also was never bored, jealous, annoyed or 'in the mood'. The fact that he often acted like he was any of these things was irrelevant, because in acknowledging that he was at the whim of his body meant that he lost. And Kai Hiwatari never lost, so Rei was unsurprised when Kai responded with;

"No."

Rei had to confess, he was going out with a very strange boy. He smiled and shook his head when Kai sent him his cliché scowl. Reaching out with his mind he willed Driger back to his hand and watched as the silver blade circled the dish once more before flying out to land snugly in his upheld palm. He tightened his grip upon the blade and smiled when the Byakko bit resting secure in the centre of the attack ring glowed green in greeting, warming his hand up for the briefest of moments.

By the time they made it back inside, they had already been informed that dinner would be ready shortly and asked to make their way to one of the dining rooms. Since Susumu knew the house so much better, Rei thought it a good idea to follow him rather then Kai, who would probably lead them to the one furthest away. Just to be difficult.

Upon entering the desired room, Rei realised that it was indeed, a different dining room from the last time. The room was less sunny due to the lack of windows, probably due to the fact that the sun had already begun to set. It was, however, far more lavish in its décor. Gold plated lights lined the walls, and a great crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling above the centre of the polished mahogany table, giving the effect of raindrops, frozen in their desent.

The floor too, was of finely polished, dark coloured wood and the walls were a rich terracotta colour. Rei gulped lightly, once again reminded of just how well off Kai's parents actually were. It was easy enough to forget when spending time with them. They were nice and easy going. In Rei's opinion, though obviously not in Kai's, Susumu and Alexia were two fine people, who were well- grounded, if a little odd.

But when confronted with such a display of wealth, Rei once again found himself thinking that somehow, he just didn't belong. Shaking off the feeling, Rei moved to sit besides Kai at the table. Less then a minute later, Alexia bustled in with a wide grin and sat down opposite the pair, next to her husband.

Once they were seated, as if by an unspoken cue two maids entered the room, rolling in trays of food. Rei felt amazement as the girls quickly and efficiently placed food and drink before himself, Kai and his boyfriends parents, and couldn't help but compare the experience to that of being in a restaurant. He glanced over at Kai, and rolled his eyes as soon as he caught the sour expression upon his face. It seemed that Kai wasn't impressed with the show, but then, Rei considered, Kai had grown up around this.

Again Rei was struck by the desire to learn more about his lover.

"Rei, have you ever tried Solyanka?" Alexia enquired.

Rei frowned, scanning through his memory until sudden recognition touched his features, "Is that like a meat soup that's a bit spicier then borsch, and something to do with lemons?"

Alexia grinned in delight, "You really are a good cook, Rei! Has Kai asked you to learn how to cook some of his favourite dishes for him?"

"No, nothing like that. I just remembered trying it a few days back," Rei laughed lightly.

Susumu took in a sharp breath, as if he had just realised something, "Oh of course! You're in Russia for the penultimate leg of the championships aren't you? I'd forgotten." He said, nodding his head to himself.

"Well, we've prepared you that, Pelmeni- I suppose you'd liken them to meatballs wrapped in thin dough, Meat "a la Peter", which- I see that you're surprised, Rei." She chuckled.

Rei nodded adamantly, "My uncle told me that every country has at least one dish that matches French cuisine, and at best four; and that is one of them. He said that it was usually a celebration food as it is extremely hard to cook."

Alexia beamed in glee, "My, you certainly are a find, aren't you, Rei? You are exactly right, which is why I was the one that cooked it. See, even Kai looks pleased at that." She smirked. Rei glanced at his boyfriend and, true to her word, Kai looked extremely interested and almost on the verge of looking pleased. Alexia leaned in close across the table, lowering her voice and pretending to be about to tell Rei a great secret. "Much as I'm sure Kai's loath to admit it, there's at least one thing that he loves his mama for, and that's her Meat "a la Peter". Kai snorted in response, but didn't reply. "Anyway," she continued, sitting back in her chair, "After that we've got Syrniki and tea to finish off." She finished, referring to the sweet, Russian scones.

Rei felt his stomach grumble in agreement.

The meal itself passed quickly, Rei preferring to eat rather then talk. He wasn't about to risk missing out on precious eating time for something as mundane as talking. The food was delicious. So much so, that even he had no problem almost clearing his plates. At least for that time, he could put away his self-consciousness.

Once the main dinner was finished, Mrs. Hiwatari pushed her chair back and stood up. "We'll take the sweet's into the main sitting room thank you girls." She spoke to the maids.

Kai stood up and Rei joined him, deigning to follow his lead. With a brief smile, Kai looked to him, before setting his chair back into place and moving off towards the door. Rei followed, catching the sound of Susumu raising from behind him, obviously moving to accompany them.

After a short walk, they found themselves in the very room that they had initially met in. With a sigh, Alexia sunk into a plush armchair and made a motion indicating that Rei and Kai should sit down too. Kai's father entered last and took up another armchair.

And then it went silent.

Rei twitched slightly, feeling his familiar nervousness creep back upon him as the four sat around, seemingly unsure of where to take it from there. That was until Alexia jumped out of her chair.

"I know!" she declared, before dashing off. Rei blinked in surprise and shot a glance at Kai. Kai raised an eyebrow and shrugged, looking to his father for an answer. Susumu opened his mouth to reply when the sound of someone entering the room snatched their attention.

Kai's mother grinned in triumph and waved what looked like a folder around in the air before making her way over to her son and his lover and squeezing in to sit between the two.

"Mama!" Kai admonished, moving up the settee a bit to get more comfortable.

Alexia ignored him and beamed at Rei. "I've got just what every mother needs to show her child's boyfriend!" She picked the folder up once more and waved it around before Rei's eyes. "Pictures!"

Rei caught Kai's eyes widen in horror just before he lunged at his mother to snatch away the book. Rei, however, was a boy renowned for his speed and sensed Kai's reaction moments before it came. By the time Kai's hands closed to grip around the book, they met only thin air.

Rei flashed him the victory sign as he gripped onto the damning book with the hand furthest away from Kai.

"Too slow Kai!" Alexia crowed as Rei laughed. Kai growled and closed his eyes, shifting up the couch as far away as he could from his plotting mother and lover. He folded his arms and made a show of being pissed off.

Alexia rolled her eyes and reclaimed the book off Rei. She opened it up to the first page.

"Ah, here we go! Kai when he was a week old! As you can see, his eyes were blue, like all babies…" Rei 'squeed' in delight. She flicked to the nest page, "And here's Kai when he was two. He loved that bear!" Rei grinned at the sight of the dazed blue haired tot. Another page, "Kai again at two, with food all over his face." Flick, "Here's Kai when he was four, and another one of him at four. And that's Kai with his baba- she was Soichiro's wife. Lovely woman. Oh, and here's Kai when he was six, trying on my wedding dress-" Kai's eyes twitched from behind closed lids as Rei's laughter erupted, a pink blush settling upon his cheeks. "I guess the signs were there really, Oh, Kai with his cousin. Oooh! And this was when Kai was six and stripped off to jump in the pond." Rei snorted on his laughter. Kai wanted to die. "Ah! Here, Kai when he was seven wearing a little tux for one of his grandad's gala's. Look at him with his hair all slicked back!" she cooed. Rei made a noise of agreement, "Kai when he was ten in another little suit. Kai with his cat, 'Cat'. Oh! Here we go! Kai when he was ten with his first Beylade. Kai and Susumu when Kai was eleven with Dranzer" Rei took a moment to take it in. Kai sitting upon Susumu's shoulder, grinning in joy. They looked so happy, Rei had to wonder at what exactly had happened in three short years to turn Kai from that beaming, happy lad into the grumpy, ice captain that he had been when he had first joined the BBA Revolution. Rei's reflection broke when the page turned again.

The torture continued for a long time, Kai never once talking. Susumu watched with amusement, offering comments every now and again. Eventually the photo viewing turned into easy chatting which- Rei was pleased to note- Kai was interested in inputting his own opinion once again. The discussion covered Beyblading, friendships- which Alexia was surprised to learn of Rei's close friendship with Yuriy of Neo Borg- and possible plans for the future.

Eventually, Rei let out the yawn that he had been fighting off for some time. Alexia glanced at the clock and smiled.

"I suppose it's getting late, and you do have quite a journey tomorrow. How about I show you to your rooms?" She offered. Rei nodded tiredly.

Kai however frowned, "What do you mean rooms?"

All I can say is... poor Kai. >XD!