Why is it that after I hit about the third part of a fic, nothing goes right! It bothers me. A LOT. Merda. That's what it is. I'm not particularly pleased with this chapter, but I'm hoping the last part will make up for it.

Tears of Bloody Innocence- Chapter Four

"Alright!" Tyson punched his fist into the air as he jumped up from his seat, his seatbelt doing nothing to hold him in place. Falling back down he clutched his baseball cap tenderly, trying not to aggravate his new bruise via the ceiling. Not to be deterred, he grinned in a manner that made 6308 want to pound him into the floor. "Finally! I mean, jeeze Kai, I thought we were ready weeks ago, but no, Mr. Sourpuss had to test us fifty bazillion times first . . ."

Mr. Sourpuss glowered in the younger teen's direction, imagining his fingers wrapped around the boy's pale neck . . .

"And I dunno about you guys, but I am going to kick some serious boo-tay!" Tyson bragged, brandishing Dragoon proudly before dropping it as the car hit a bump.

Kenny peered up from Dizzi's screen to focus his glasses on the obnoxious bluenette. "I don't recommend that Tyson. It violates the rules for you to be close enough to an opponent to kick him, let alone actually do it. It would most likely result in a disqualification."

The excited chatter from three of the Bladebreakers cut off abruptly as they all stared at the Chief.

If computers had faces to grin maniacally, Dizzi would have at that moment. Instead, she took the opportunity to test out her new sound system. A lone cricket chirruped innocently.

"Wow Kenny," Rei giggled. "For a genius, you sure are dumb."

6308 turned away for the . . . cheerful . . . scene, staring out the window as the car drove through the streets of the town. He glowered to himself, fingers flexing as he debating which object he wanted to reach for; his cigarettes or Tyson's throat.

Mr. Sourpuss indeed.

And they most certainly had not been ready weeks ago. In fact, he very much doubted they were ready now. But when a certain masked individual sends you a letter which can be neatly summarized as 'What the hell is taking so long!' you have to pay attention.

As it was, he was displeased that Boris had tried to contact him, it made his cover harder to maintain. He vaguely recalled Tyson asking who the letter was from, and the first thing he had blurted out was 'My Uncle Boris.' The thought itself was disturbing enough to piss him off. What was even worse was having to ignore Tyson asking the most inane questions about the family he didn't even have.

The only good part about that letter was a note scrawled at the bottom corner, a messy, hastily written 'Write me with news' and a scribble that Kai knew was a signature. 6294's signature. He gained some comfort knowing that he wasn't the only one who couldn't stand another minute of this monotonous waiting.

6308 sat up as the limo pulled up in front of the complex where their competition was to be held. Allowing a small smile of satisfaction settle on his lips, 6308 stepped onto the pavement and into the building, itching to start his battle.

Time Change

Kenny sat perched on the edge of his chair at the kitchen table, staring avidly at Dizzi's screen as she played a clip from the five o'clock news program to him. The worried looking reporter was standing outside a hospital holding the microphone to her rouged lips.

". . . Doctors have yet to diagnose the full extent of the boy's injuries, but he was removed from the ER about half an hour ago. He has yet to regain consciousness, and must be kept in a intensive care unit until . . ." Kenny's glasses looked up quickly as a cupboard shut several feet away from him with a purposely exaggerated bang. Hastily snapping Dizzi shut, he gaped at the shirtless boy before him and managed to stutter, "Um, hey there Kai . . . I, uh . . ."

"Do they know if he'll live?"

"Huh?" Chief asked, flabbergasted that the captain had chosen to speak to him. "They, uh, they don't know yet . . ."

6308 nodded, filled his glass from the sink and left the bewildered whiz staring after him.

Carrying his glass up the stairs, 6308 slipped into the bedroom he shared with his Chinese teammate. A quick scan of the room proved that the other boy wasn't there, which allowed 6308 to climb up into the windowsill once more to watch the city move below him, a breeze tickling over the pale skin of his chest. Taking a sip from his glass, 6308 held it loosely in his hand, gaze fixed on the traffic lights that refracted in its shallow depths.

He heard the doorknob creak as someone placed a hand on it and twisted, and knew by the distinct lack of a heartbeat that it was Rei. He glanced up as the other blader entered the room, turning back to the open night air when he after Rei knew he had seen him. There would be no more throwing teammates out the window.

Looking curiously at his captain, Rei began to get ready for bed, unwrapping his long hair from its ponytail and removing his shirt, tossing it in the hamper. Untying the string on his pants, his eyes were once more drawn to the figure sitting in the window, and he retied his garment, moving across the room to stand next to the window.

Sighing gently, he spoke to the apparently guilt-ridden Kai. "Look dude, it wasn't really your fault. He just wasn't ready for the attack and you can't pull something that powerful. He's gonna be okay, you'll see."

A small breath escaped Kai's lips which could have been either a resigned sigh or a quick, soundless laugh.

Rei focused on Kai's face a moment longer, hesitating only a bit before he put a comforting arm around his shoulder.

The warm skin suddenly touching his cold flesh made Kai freeze, red eyes widening slightly at the contact. He turned in the window to face Rei, who kept his arm around him so he was now in a one armed hug, long dark hair tickling his skin, his bare chest centimeters from Rei's. If he took a deep breath, his chest would brush against the other's . . . Kai stopped himself just in time.

Rei heard the shallow intake of air and stepped forward, so that if his captain lost control, he could cry on his shoulder. The shocked look on Kai's face before he did was enough to let him know that the boy was upset, the gasp only confirming Rei's misplaced guess. "It's okay. It's gonna be fine," he assured, giving the strong shoulders a squeeze, rubbing his warm hands up and down the cold back.

With his empty hand, Kai tentatively returned the hug, his arm loose, but still wrapped around Rei's. When the neko-jin released him, he let out the breath he had been holding and drained the contents of his glass. Shaking his head to clear it, he glanced up into amber eyes, nodding his silent thanks.

Giving the bluenette a comforting smile, Rei retreated to his bag, stooping to grab his brush before leaving the room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, 6308 gritted his teeth, his fist tightening around the glass, fine crack spider-webbing away from his fingers. Glaring at his hand in frustration, he spat out a curse, his skin still tingling where Rei had touched him. "What the hell was that?" he berated himself. With a decisive snarl, he put the glass on the bedside stand before he broke it, lighting up a Salem before turning back to the window, his stormy thoughts black.

Safely outside, Rei leaned against the wall, letting out a breath of relief. What the hell was he doing?