Yo! I'm so glad you guys liked the first chapter (aside from the Rei dumping Kai part). Thanks for all the great reviews! I appreciate them all.

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Chapter Two

misery

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Beep! Beep! Beep!

Kai groaned as the sound of his alarm clock blared loudly and incessantly on the small table beside his bed. One arm reached out from beneath the covers and blindly groped around for the sound of the accursed noise, only to succeed in knocking it from the stand. It clattered to the ground, still beeping. With an annoyed growl, Kai opened his eyes and leaned over to reach the clock. He hit the sleep button, and silence filled the room.

What a way to start the day, he thought. With a deep sigh, he fell back onto his bed and covered his eyes from the rays of light filtering in through the blinds. He was still for a moment, knowing that he'd have to get up and face the day, but putting it off for as long as he could. He heard a rustle from the other side of the room and glanced over in time to see Wyatt burrowing under the covers. Kai sighed again and asked himself why in the hell did he schedule a morning class.

He got out of bed after a few minutes; he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep anyway. He headed for the bathroom, passing by his desk. The empty space where the picture of the Blade Breakers previously was caught his eye, and caused a sudden ache in his heart to make itself known. He turned his head away, and tried to forget everything that had come to pass yesterday.

Not happening.

Kai went to the bathroom, and about ten minutes later came back out, clad only in his uniform slacks. The private college he attended required uniforms that Tyson complained about almost every day. Kai found them to be tolerable. He had attended a private boarding school in his youth that had similar uniforms, so it didn't bother him quite that much.

His hair was still dripping wet, and his skin was slightly damp. He knew how much Wyatt hated walking on a wet spot in the carpet, so he threw a towel over his head and squeezed some of the water out. He walked over to his closet and opened it, revealing an impressive amount of clothes. He pushed them all to the left, finding the spot where he kept his uniforms. He pulled out one of his many white shirts and slipped it on, buttoning up the front, but not bothering with the cuffs. He found a tie, and pulled it over his head, tying the knot at his throat. Lastly, he pulled out the suit jacket with the school emblem emblazoned over the breast pocket. Shrugging it on, he crossed the room again and went to the bathroom, where he combed his hair and fixed his face.

Wyatt stirred on his bed. "Mmm… Kai?"

"Go back to sleep, Wyatt," Kai called from the bathroom, laying down his comb. "I'm just leaving for class now."

"Mmkay."

Kai emerged and walked to his desk, picking up a slim notebook and a textbook. He went to the door and opened it, grabbing his keys at the last minute. The hallway already had a good amount of student milling about, even this early in the morning. Shutting the door behind him, Kai set off down the hall. His class was on the other side of campus.

"Tyson, I'm going to kill you!" a female screamed from down the hall behind Kai. The slate-haired boy didn't even turn to look. He knew Hillary and Tyson were at it again.

"Aw, c'mon Hillary! I was just kidding!"

"I hate you, you freak!"

"Jeez, calm down, girl!"

"You'd better run!"

Kai rolled his eyes skyward. He really didn't feel like listening to them today. Any day but today.

"Hillary!!"

Kai heard feet thumping down the hall. If they touch me…

"Kai!" Tyson yelled.

BAM!

"Ah!" Kai cried out as he felt Tyson crash into him. He was about to climb up a flight of stairs, and he fell forward right at the base of the staircase, his notebook and book flying in two different directions. He broke his fall with his hands, which he wished he hadn't done.

"Hillary, look what you made me do!" Tyson yelled in distress.

"Why don't you watch where you're going, you idiot!" Hillary shot back. Kai held his tongue and grimaced. Hillary turned around and stalked away.

Tyson was fuming. "Ugh! I can't stand her!" he yelled. Kai sighed and helped himself up, gingerly rubbing his wrists. Tyson turned around and finally noticed.

"Man, Kai, I'm sorry," he said as he picked up the fallen notebook and textbook. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Kai said wearily, taking his book from Tyson's hands. Tyson opened his mouth to comment on how down Kai sounded, but when he looked, Kai was already gone.

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Tyson is an idiot. Tyson is an idiot. Tyson is an idiot.

Kai winced slightly as he stopped by the restrooms. His knee was killing him, and no wonder. He had slammed it against the sharp edge of the first step on the staircase. He limped inside and pulled up his pant leg. He cringed as the cold air hit the large wound. A small stream of blood trickled a few inches down his leg.

With a heavy sigh (he had been doing a lot of that lately), he wiped up the blood and made up his mind to skip his first class. He'd never be able to pay attention anyway, with all that was on his mind. He made his way back to his dorm and unlocked the door. Wyatt was gone, probably out studying somewhere. That kid worried too much.

Kai went to the bathroom and rummaged through the medicine cabinet. Finding what he needed, he cleaned his wound and sat down on his bed to bandage it.

A tentative knock at the door was heard. Kai looked up, wondering who was there.

"Come in," he called out. The door opened slowly, and Tyson stuck his head in uncertainly.

"Kai? Oh, man!" He had spotted the wound. "I did that?"

Kai looked back down. What was he supposed to say? Yes?

Tyson entered Kai's room, closing the door behind him. "I didn't know I hurt you that bad. I'm really sorry."

Kai started wrapping the bandage around his knee. "It's not that bad."

"It looks terrible."

Kai glared at him. Tyson coughed and looked down at the ground with a sheepish expression.

"You know what I mean. I'm really, really sorry!"

"Apology accepted," Kai said stoically, finishing with the bandage. Tyson sighed.

"I feel really bad, though," he mused out loud.

"You'll get over it."

Tyson looked at Kai oddly. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Kai said. He lowered his leg to the ground, and Tyson plopped down on the bed beside him. Kai gave him a look, which he didn't notice.

"I'm going to make this up to you," Tyson said suddenly. Kai looked up, slightly alarmed.

"You don't have to," he said. The last thing he wanted was Tyson hanging around him at all hours of the day.

"But I want to. And I am."

"You really don't have to."

"I got it!" Tyson went on as if he hadn't heard Kai. "I'll take you out to dinner."

Kai imagined sitting at a restaurant with Tyson. Tyson and food. It wasn't pretty.

"Uh, no," Kai refused politely.

"Oh, come on! I owe you."

"No, it's okay."

"Kai! I have to get this guilty feeling off my chest! You have to come."

Kai suddenly found himself growing angry and sad at the same time. "Well, if that's all that matters to you, then I'm not going."

Tyson noticed that Kai's voice was an octave lower, and sobered up a bit. Kai obviously wasn't joking.

"I was just kidding, Kai. I really do feel bad, and I want to make it up to you. I want to show you how sorry I am," Tyson said sincerely. Kai hesitated a moment.

"And," Tyson went on softly. "You look like you need a lift. I'm no psychiatrist, but I can tell when my friends are feeling down."

Kai didn't answer at first.

"Well? Please?" Tyson pressed.

Kai nodded faintly. "Okay… fine. Just this once and just because you insisted."

Tyson grinned. "Great! How about tomorrow night, maybe eight-ish?"

"Okay."

"I'll swing by and pick you up then." Tyson stood and headed for the door, opening it and stepping out. "It's a date!" he called out before disappearing.

Kai stared dumbly at the closed door for a moment.

"It is not a date!"

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To Be Continued

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Haha, chapter two done. Now don't expect all the chapters to get posted this quick. I know this chapter was shorter than usual, and I'll try to make it up in the next chapter. Isn't this a strange story? Review, please and thank you!