Standard disclaimer applies -
'Be careful with what you wish for.
'It is human nature to determine the correct paths by first erring, and sometimes, these mistakes take a toll on our destiny. And through all the ridiculous choices we make and the pitfalls we mark out for ourselves, a comfortable constant in our lifes would be finding comfort in those around us – people whose company we delight in.
'So take a deep breath, open your eyes wide, and never let them out of your sight.'
Chapter 2: Just the beginning
Roughly 70 miles away, Kai stood staring outside the window, where the pristine white snowflakes drifted slowly down from the rapidly darkening sky.
He was staring, but not actually seeing.
His legs were set slightly apart; firmly planted on the ground, arms crossing each other in a defensive stance, eyes bleak and hard, and a slight annoyed frown lightly graced his lips, as was his customary fashion.
But if you knew him, you would notice that his arms were slacker, expression not as bitter and cold, nor as hard. And if you looked really closely, you could almost distinguish the obscure longing in his eyes.
This Kai was not one that was normally seen, not the same person whom everyone thought he was – the self-assured, arrogantly detached captain of a World-class Beyblading team.
He murmured unintelligibly. His voice sounded lost and desperately confused, something that was just not Kai.
He knew that he was supposed to be intelligent, as one of the top subjects under Bivolt. He knew that he was supposed to be manipulative, as the grandson of Voltaire. He knew that he was supposed to be tactful and perceptive, as the team leader of one the greatest teams.
He also knew that he had just committed the dumbest mistake that he could ever make.
'Not could, would,' he corrected himself silently, mentally berating that that would be the last of such a foolish course of action.
He had hurt Rei.
The thought sent a dull thrust of pain within his stomach, almost as if someone had plunged a blunt knife within him, the pain was so excrutiating that it numbed all senses.
He was such a complete idiot. A depreciative smirk made its way to his lips, unbidden, and Kai lowered his head slowly, letting his slate bangs slide forward to hide his haunted eyes that told of his lack of sleep.
The knife within twisted.
Mental anguish, he mused. He had heard somewhere, once, that it was a thousand times more horrible than physical pain. They said it was because it was linked to emotions. That was something to think about. What hurt more – a crashing wave of depression, or a kick to the shin.
If he was not mistakened, what he was experiencing now was regret. Regret.
Regret so great that the ache to do better dominated his mind. Regret so deep that he had to bite his lower lip, his eyes pressing shut painfully as he contemplated his stupidity. He had ruined all chances of a platonic relationship with Rei, and maybe something more, in less than a second.
He knew that it had not been just that one incident, for to fall out with someone whom you knew you had grown a undeniably stalwart bond with on just one incident would have been just plain obtuse.
He also knew that it was not entirely his fault. After all, it took two hands to clap, did it not?
No, it had been more than that. The matter had been something more complex, something that he had yet to figure out properly, to be able to piece the puzzle together. Given normal circumstances, Rei would have taken it in his stride and let the matter drop. However, he had been irritated and on a short leash. That much was clear.
Then there had been a series of events leading up till the point where Rei had gotten so frustrated he was not thinking straight anymore. Events that contributed to the burning animosity that their once comfortable camaderie had warped into.
However, what his mind was going through now was which particular event had sparked everything off – trying to pinpoint the exact moment that had strained their relationship.
He knew that it was unimportant, that remembering would not serve to get Rei to forgive him, or to change the way things had progressed. He knew that it would do nothing to mend the inexorable fissure.
His mind was just naturally stubborn.
He remembered it now. This was probably the one that had incited the rest. How could he ever forget it? It was embedded in his brain, like an obstinate thorn in his side.
He remembered it as if it just happened but a minute ago.
The scene was vivid; realistic; crystal clear.
Too vivid.
Too realistic.
And much too clear.
The Bladebreakers were on holiday as there was a break in tournaments. The BBA had given them a paid well-deserved break and they were currently in Hawaii, along with The White Tigers.
Kai gritted his teeth angrily. Rei had gone to Mao's house for a friendly visit to catch up on the old times. Well, at least that was what she claimed when she came to pick Rei up - a visit.
Kai snorted. He was not fooled. He had seen the predatory gleam in her eyes. It was quickly replaced with a civil smile, but it was probably because he had been glaring murderously at her.
The smile was so saccharine sweet it made him sick.
He wanted to call Rei. Just to check up on him, of course. That was truthfully all he wanted to do. After all, though they were on holiday, it would never do to let their beyblading skills rust, and thusly, there would be training the next day. He had to call Rei and inform him of the new development in the plans. At least, that was how he convinced himself to think so.
However, calling a team mate just to inform him of training went against what was expected of him, and committing such an act would be suspect.
Kai growled deep in his throat. He needed an excuse.
He started pacing up and down the hotel room restlessly, his face set in a deep frown. He paused, tapping his foot lightly but impatiently on the carpeted floor before resuming his incessant pacing.
Across the room, Tyson observed this keenly. Though he did not show it, this openly restless side of Kai was new to him, and he was rather curious. However, this did not stop him from finding Kai's newfound attitude irritating, to say the least.
It was grating against his nerves.
"For heaven's sake Kai! Stop walking up and down! What's eating you?" Tyson finally snapped.
Kai wavered in mid-step and sent a growl in Tyson's direction. And then, completely ignoring Tyson's request, or rather, order, he continued his marching with renewed vigor, seemingly determined to wear down the carpet.
The rhythmic footsteps, slightly deadened by the carpets, reverberated loudly in Tyson's auditory canals.
Tyson was not ignorant of this. He even paused in stuffing his mouth full of potato chips for a moment. But that one moment was enough. The tips of Tyson's ears were slowly turning an interesting shade of pink. It was a sure sign that his temper was building. He could hardly make out what the commentator was saying on the televisionscreen
Max scooted a little further off from Tyson, wisely keeping his mouth shut.
Tyson's ears were an unblemished shade of pink by now, and the colour was slowly but surely making its way to his cheeks, turning it rose
He was going to explode.
Suddenly, Max, who was closer to the television let out a delighted giggle.
If there was one thing Tyson hated more than being deprived of food, it was missing something on screen.
He lost it.
"DAMN YOU KAI!"
He leapt up from his seat and raced towards the prepared Kai, aiming to punch Kai square on the nose when Kenny entered the room, yelling at the top of his voice
He stopped dead, however, when he caught sight of the positions that Kai and Tyson were in. There was complete silence in the room. Kai broke it by coughing and taking one step away from Tyson.
"What were you about to say Kenny?" He intoned.
"Um...yeah...the BBA just extended the holiday by one week, and the last day would be a party that every team has to attend. They booked the club!"
Kai was not one to miss an opportunity, with Rei as an exception, and immediately leapt on this one.
"I'll tell Rei." He growled, before making a hasty exit from the room, leaving three very stunned team members staring after him.
"Now what was that all about?" Kenny asked.
Tyson shrugged his shoulders.
"I have no idea." He offered.
-
Mariah shut the door behind Rei, all the while smirking knowingly at him.
"A crush on Kai huh?" she smirked nastily.
Rei blushed a deep crimson, eyes darted around the room quickly.
"Shush! Not so loud. Promise you won't tell anyone Mariah? You promised right? You -"
"Relax Rei. I'll keep my word. Besides, I chased Lee, Kevin and Gary out of the town. Don't
worry. I know how they would react. Lee would probably march over to your hotel and force Kai to sign a contract stating that he is to marry you or something."
She let out a pleased laugh.
She had known that the two of them were crazy about each other. Call a crazed yaoi fangirl's instinct. She had been waiting for this day. Rei finally admitted it. At long last.
But Rei was the easy one. Kai, on the other hand, might prove to be a bit of a problem, which was still kind of like an understatement.
"Hold on Mariah. I got to go to the toilet. Be back in a minute. Then you can show me the video tape you got from our village."
She waved him away. She needed to plot how to get Kai to admit that he liked Rei as well.
That definitely needed some brains.
"Ring ring ring!"
Her thoughts were interrupted by the insistent telephone
"Hello?" she snapped.
"Rei." The other voice snapped back.
Her eyes widened in surprise. Kai? What was he calling for?
Her mind working fast, scheming how to turn the phone call into an opportunity.
She was pretty learned in affairs of the heart, and it had been proven time and again that jealousy, though dangerous due to the high back-firing rate, was always a good weapon to wield in desperate cases.
When one party was extremely stubborn was enough for the case to be labelled 'desperate'.
"Rei's not available at the moment. He is...getting ready."
There was a short pause at the other line
Then a deep growl.
"I'll wait."
"Oh...I'm not so sure about that. I've heard that some guys take a long time preparing...for these kind of stuff. Especially…"
She let out a short laugh.
"Especially what?" Kai muttered. His voice was low and deadly.
"Especially...," she was chocking on her own laughter now, "especially if they're virgins!" The previously barely concealed laughter escaped from her lips, ringing throughout the room.
The next second, all that reached her ears was the sound of a dead line
"Kai? Kai?" when she received no answer, she smiled amusedly to herself.
People thought he was cool? People thought that he was calm? They were sorely mistaken.
There a flushing sound, and Rei stepped out of the toilet
"Who was that?" he asked, staring pointedly at the phone lying still in Mariah's hands.
"No one."
She placed the phone back in its cradle, before smiling innocently up at him.
"No one at all."
-
It was eleven at night, and Rei had yet to return.
Kai was fuming mad.
What the hell did Rei think he was playing at? They had training tomorrow for goodness sake!
Then, his anger ebbed away slowly, only to be replaced with lingering trepidation.
What if Rei had been raped? What if he had been kidnapped, or abducted.
He knew that he should not have let Rei go in the first place. At the very least, he knew that he should have set a curfew for him.
What if Rei was lying dead beside some god-forsaken ditch right now? He could just picture it: Rei's broken body, stained with his blood, his once happiness-filled amber eyes now lifeless and glassy. No more feelings; no more life.
The click of a door announced Rei's return.
Kai leapt up, anxiety swiftly transforming into boiling anger.
"What the hell do you think you were doing at Mariah's house? Do you even know what the time is now? Do you - "
He was cut off by Rei. "What's your problem Kai?"
"What is my problem? What did you do at Mariah's house?"
"We watched a video-"
Kai snorted in disbelief.
"Sure. Whatever."
Rei shook his head disgustedly.
"Why ask when you don't even care? When you don't even listen?"
He bypassed Kai and stormed to his room, slamming the door behind him, causing the white plaster walls to shake from the force of it.
Kai stared after the door of Rei's room, stunned.
Kai was shaken out of his reverie when the door of his room was flung open and Tyson burst in, clothes askew and hair in disarray.
Tyson paused to catch his breath, before spotting Kai standing beside the window, attention solely focused on him.
"Kai? Kai!"
He swung around and yelled in Kai's face.
"Rei's missing!"
What? Kai felt the world tilt off its axis. He felt light headed, for some inexplicable reason.
"Well? Aren't you going to do something?" Tyson screamed at him, desperation etched plainly on his face.
It was not a question of doing something, it was more of knowing what to do. He stared blankly back at Tyson, face void of emotion, thougths behind the façade swirling ceaselessly in a vortex.
Tyson let out a frustrated groan and sped out of the room once more.
Kai stumbled to his bed, the migraine too much to handle all of a sudden.
-
End Chapter Two