Minna-san Konnichiwa! Gomen Nasai for taking sooo long to update! Then again, you should be used to it now, I suck at updating. Anyway, this is a nice long chapter to make up for it, although I do believe I am losing my touch somewhat. But you guys can tell me if I suck by reviewing ne?
Ok! Thanks to reviewers time! As always thank you very much to anyone who reviews, I love you all very much!
LadyValkov: Yo! Thanks, I'm glad to be back too now. I'm so so sorry for making you wait so long, AS's really do take a lot out of you! I'm really glad you found so funny, I just had to torture poor ikkle Rai, he was being too depressed!
Wild Stallion: Thank you my friend, I hope this lives up to your expectations, although for some reason I don't think it will…
Pickle-kitten: Ah you flatter me so! Really, my head is now too big to fit through the door…
UNISEDIRATA: Ahhh yes people have asked me about that before, I think I chose to spell it that way because I wanted to be different! I'm glad it doesn't put you off though!
Kai Hiwatari1: Thank you! Sorry it took so long!
Trinity of the phoenixes: Ahh! Gomen Gomen! It took me too long! Please forgive me!
Disclaimer: the older Kai doesn't belong to me, but the 5yr old one does! So that means I do own him right? Fine. I don't own beyblade.:P
Payback!
Normal POV!
Kai was bored. Really Bored. To the point of watching a fly buzz around the room and predicting where it was going to go next. He sighed. Where had his raven haired friend run off to? He had exited the room rather quickly when 2 faces appeared in the window of the doorway, an agitated look on his face. Kai recalled he had said something along the lines of, 'be back in a minute, I've just got to…' It was there Kai's memory abruptly let out a large groan and shut off completely. Just got to what? Just got to… get something to eat? No…. Go to the toilet? Nuh uh…. Hold off the nasty nurses? Maybe…. Hold off an entire race of evil alien nurses that are out to get him? Now that's a possibility…. Kai shivered.
"Scary." He muttered, pulling the sheets up around him further. Just as Kai was working himself up, convinced that the evil aliens could strike at any moment, Rai walked through the door with 3 others following him, their eyes fixed to the floor.
"WAH! STAY BACK OR I'LL SET RODGER THE EVIL BEAR OF DOOM ON YOU!"
"Eh?" Rai took a step back, positively terrified of what this '5 yr old' genius could actually come out with. Rai scanned the room quickly, looking for any signs of a mechanical/real bear. Kai slowly opened his eyes, and, on seeing Rai and not aliens, he relaxed from his foetal position and grinned.
"Oh! It's you Rai! Sorry, I thought you were an evil alien nurse out to get me."
Rai let confusion show openly on his face. Evil aliens? Did he look evil? Or like an alien? While slightly hurt at that prospect, Rai took one look at Kai's grinning face and immediately dismissed it. 'He's been thinking up things again.' Rai sighed, his head filled with that grin. Shaking himself back down from the land of sunshine and rainbows, Rai motioned for Kai to look at the people behind him, stepping to one side. All of them were staring at him in shock it seemed, although, when he looked at each one directly, they immediately looked down again. Kai's eyes widened as he recognised the loud, blue-haired boy from before and immediately curled up again, bringing his knees to his chest, dragging the sheet with him, sending a shooting pain down his back. Kai cringed and Rai moved forward, placing his hand on Kai's knee, leaning over, his hair flowing over his shoulder, worry and question in his eyes. This sight calmed the now quivering Kai and he relaxed slightly.
"Don't worry, they won't harm you." Ray whispered in his ear. Not satisfied, Kai looked into Rai's eyes, searchingly. He found the boy was calm, his eyes willing Kai to believe him. And he did. He gulped and nodded nervously.
Tentatively, he moved his head to look at the 3 newcomers. Rai smiled and turned to face them.
"Ok Kai, these are my friends." He pointed at the blue-haired loudmouth.
"This is Tyson. He's a bit loud at times, and is constantly thinking about his stomach, but he's a generally great guy, very loyal." Rai added, thinking back to the times Tyson had stuck up for all of them. He looked at Tyson, his gaze scrutinizing Tyson's every move. He just hoped Tyson could make up with the nervous two-tone blue haired boy behind him. Tyson had made a face at the 'stomach' dig, but smiled as Rai finished. Remembering their first encounter, Tyson slowly approached the bed, keeping his mouth in check.
"Hi Kai." Tyson hesitated, his hand rising in a small wave. Rai jumped as he felt a pair of hands clutch at his shirt from behind and a face was buried in the small of his back.
"Hi." came the muffled reply. Rai blushed and made a face at Tyson which clearly said 'Do something!'. Biting his lip, Tyson tried again.
"Hey listen…" he began cautiously, "I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean…"
"S'ok." Kai whispered, emerging from behind Rai for a brief moment to give Tyson a small smile as a truce. Tyson stopped in his tracks, his mouth slack. Kai blinked, waiting for the strange boy to do something other than a rather good impression of a fish. Rai noted Tyson's face and glared at him. What the hell is he doing? Rai's mind screamed. He had told him again and again….
Flashback
Rai's POV
"What's up guys?" I greeted them, a smile on my face, although on the inside I was dreading what I knew was coming next.
"Hey Rai!" Max bounced, giving me a hug in the process.
"We were just wondering if…" Kenny began, a quiver in his voice. I guess he didn't know exactly how I was going to react, I've definitely not been myself recently… I laughed inwardly.
"If?" I urged him on, fiddling with my hair.
"If you would kinda… reintroduce us to Kai!" Max said, finally finding the right words for it. I bit my lip. To be honest, I was kinda nervous about reintroducing them to Kai, and a bit reluctant. I didn't know how Kai would react to them, and part of me also wanted to keep Kai for myself. He won't talk to very many people besides me and, in a way, that makes me feel…. Special. My possessive side was screaming at my team-mates that Kai was MINE and no one else's. Thankfully for them, my rational side got the better of me.
"Sure…" I said hesitatingly. Kenny noted the hesitation in my voice and cut in.
"We know Kai hasn't been informed of what has truly happened and has absolutely no memory of us whatsoever…" Tyson cringed at that. I had been informed of what had happened on their first meeting and needless to say he had got a few long lectures from Kenny about it. But there was something else in his eyes that stopped me from immediately dismissing his action, something that I recognised… Ah! Yes. I see it every time I look in the mirror. Sadness. Could it be that Tyson cares for Kai more than he lets on? Don't be stupid Rai, of course he does! My mind yelled at me, (it's been doing that a lot recently…) Just like you do, baka! I sighed. Kenny continued.
"But I thought you could maybe introduce us as your friends and we could…um…"
"See how it goes from there?" I supplied.
"yeah, something like that…" Kenny muttered, clasping his hands together. I smiled. How could I not reintroduce them? They're Kai's friends as much as I am, and they deserve to meet the new Kai. Even if the new Kai didn't really want to meet them…I groaned inwardly once again. How am I going to do this? I think I'll have to ask him first… My eyes glazed over, I walked towards the door.
"Um, Rai? Where are you going?" Max asked, pulling on my sleeve.
"To ask Kai" I answered in a daze.
"Huh? You have to ask him?" Tyson screeched, his face shocked. Tyson's loud voice suddenly brought me out of my little reverie.
"Shhhh! Are you completely insane!" I snapped with a hushed voice. Tyson cringed once again.
"Ah, sorry." He hung his head. I slapped myself on the head.
"No, no, Tyson, I think I got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning, sorry." I apologised, wondering where on earth my control over my emotions had gone. Ah, that would be with Kai…
"Heh, you mean wrong side of the chair, you haven't once gone to our room at the hotel to sleep." Tyson reprimanded. I scratched my head nervously.
"Eh heh heh…"
"Maybe you should tell us what not to do in front of Kai, Rai, soon as you're the only person who knows." Kenny said, quickly changing the subject. PRAISE KENNY! My mind shouted, the inner me bowing down to the floor in front of him. Grinning, I nodded.
"What not to do…. Hmm, Tyson, keep your voice down, that goes for Max too…" I began, looking at them both in turn. Tyson grinned sheepishly and Max nodded. I continued.
"Don't stare, he doesn't like that… try not to act too shocked around him, um….don't scare him…" I looked directly at Tyson.
"When have I ever scared Kai? Usually it's the other way around y'know?" Tyson turned to Max for support, who added, "Yeah!". I sighed.
"Trust me, he won't scare you now, but you will scare him if you're not careful, k? Just go with me on this one." I pleaded. Tyson nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, a pout on his face.
"Um, I think that's about it… Just, don't stare. He really does hate that and it gets him suspicious…" I hated not telling Kai exactly what happened. Truly I did. But I just can't bring myself to tell him. And no one else will do it. No one else will tell him. Oh no! Leave the difficult jobs to Rai! Gah, I've gotta tell him soon…
"Rai?" Max said, waving a hand in front of my face.
"Oh right, sorry, what was I saying? Oh yeah, Don't stare." Tyson rolled his eyes. I glared at him.
"Shall we then?" Kenny asked.
"Yeah let's go. Let me talk to him first ok? Follow me." I took a deep breath and entered the room…..
End Flashback
If looks could kill, Tyson would have been dead. No forget that, he would have been dead years ago. Luckily for him, Tyson felt Rai's glare before any bodily harm was inflicted upon him. He blinked, looked at Rai and then looked back at Kai who was now heartily confused. Tyson beamed at him.
"Thanks!"
"For what?"
"Talking to me again."
"Oh." Kai just nodded and looked up at Rai from his hiding spot. A rather difficult task when said hiding place was Rai. Rai looked down and smiled at Kai, thanking him in his own way. Kai beamed, Rai was happy with him!
"Ok, this is Max." The blonde haired boy stepped forward. "Max is almost always happy, NEVER give him sugar otherwise he goes totally insane, but otherwise he's a great person to be around." Rai finished, noting that Max was pouting. Little did he know Rai had ruined Max's plan (Plan?). The pout soon turned into a smile though as he greeted Kai.
"Hi!" He said brightly.
"Hello."
"Um, If you need anything at all feel free to ask ok?" Max tried as an offering. Kai smiled.
"Arigato gozaimasu." Max beamed. Rai let out a sigh of relief. Two down, one to go…
"And this is Kenny. He's a genius who helps us all with our beyblades. If you ever have a question you can't answer, Kenny's the guy to go to!" Kenny just smiled and waved in greeting.
Kai waved back a little tentatively, a little scared of this 'Kenny'. Where were his eyes?
"Rai." Kai whispered and motioned for the boy to bend down.
"Hm?"
"Are you sure he's not an alien?" Kai whispered in his ear. Rai sniggered.
"I'm pretty sure he's not." He whispered back.
"But you can't see his eyes!" Kai half whispered, half moaned.
"Trust me, he's not." But Rai could tell that Kai didn't believe him and so shrugged and smiled. "Don't worry, No one will harm you while I'm around, alien or no." Kai brightened considerably, and hugged Rai's waist. At this point, Rai concluded that he was indeed a traffic light, as he was sure he had turned bright red yet again.
"Um, we'll go now, see you later Rai, Bye Kai!" Kenny stuttered, before grabbing hold of the two other boys, who currently had their eyes bursting out of their sockets, and dragging them out of the room.
The two boys left in the room stayed exactly as they were, neither moving save for the rise and fall of their chests as they breathed. Rai couldn't get a hold of himself. Kai Hiwatari was hugging him and meant it! Again! Trying to compose himself once more, he concentrated on stopping the blood rushing to his cheeks.
Kai was actually not much different from the state Rai was in. He felt warm and safe if he was with Rai, more so now. His eyes snapped open when Rai returned his hug, softly holding Kai close to him. Kai felt so strange. There was a feeling of ecstasy inside of him at the fact that Rai was hugging him but he couldn't for the life of him work out why. It was like his body had longed for Rai to be close for an age and now he was here. Pushing the feeling away, he tilted his head back to look at Rai, who had his eyes closed.
"Rai?" Kai felt Rai jump as he came back from wherever he had gone in his thoughts.
"Hm?" He looked down and Kai almost felt his resolve go. No. He had to ask. Now. He had to know.
"Why did you introduce me to them?" Rai blinked, not expecting the question. Inside he began to panic. On the outside however he calmly (well as calm as one can be in that position!) replied,
"Because they wanted to meet you." Kai fell into thought. Rai sighed in relief.
"Why?" Rai was sharply jolted out of his reverie once again.
"Huh? Why what?"
"Did they want to meet me?" Rai's mind went into overdrive. What could he tell him? He didn't want to lie to Kai…. Suddenly he thought of an answer.
"Because I've talked so much about you." It was true, the only conversation you could get out of Rai for the past few days was about Kai. He hadn't realised up until now, but he was bordering upon the obsessive to everyone else. Rai blushed. I'm so glad they don't know what goes on in my head then…
"Really?"
"Yep." Kai went silent, his face full of confusion. To Rai, he looked absolutely adorable.
"What's wrong?" He asked, hoping that Kai wouldn't ask…
"So then why are you here? What do I have to do with you? Why do you care so much about me?" Kai looked as if he didn't want to ask the question, which was the truth, he thought that by asking it, he might drive Rai away, that he might sound ungrateful, when instead, he wanted Rai to stay with him forever. Kai did a double take. Where did that come from?
Rai looked devastated. What was he supposed to say? He didn't want to have to tell Kai he had lost his memory just yet, he wasn't ready to do it! But at the same time, Kai wanted answers and if he didn't give him them… But wait, did this mean Kai didn't want him around? That was a stupid question Rai, the boy is hugging you! And as if to prove his point, Kai tightened his grip around Rai's waist. Ok Rai, calm down, just give him an answer.
"Because I'm your friend, remember?" Kai closed his eyes, tears were threatening to fall and Kai did NOT want to cry in front of Rai and make himself look like a baby.
"That's just it, I don't remember, not you." This painful truth hit Rai like a knife. Suddenly he found himself holding Kai closer to him.
"Don't worry about it." he said in a calm voice that was not his own. "I'm your friend now, that's all that matters ne?" Kai suddenly relaxed and snuggled closer to Rai.
"Yeah." Rai let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding and silently thanked the gods. He looked down and bit his lip. Kai had fallen asleep. Rai smiled, his eyes softening and attempted to remove Kai's arms from around his waist. But it was not to be. Kai just tightened his grip. Rai sighed but inwardly he was rejoicing. Kai's not letting go! Woot! Carefully, so as not to wake him, Rai turned slightly and moved backwards to sit on the bed, dragging the clinging Kai with him. He marvelled at the sight of the sleeping Kai, it was something that he couldn't take his eyes off of. He looked so innocent and delicate while asleep, and so… defenceless. That was what made Rai love it the most. Mesmerized, Rai lifted his hand to Kai blue bangs, stroking the soft hair. It was what he had always wanted to do, but obviously, Rai was far too frightened of the consequences when it came to their stoic team leader. Jeez, he sure did have a way of picking them… Rai looked down at his hand, painfully noting the loss of his little finger. He glared at it, wondering why it was the only thing he had lost. Kai had lost so much more, and it was all his fault….
AHHHH! No! I can't make Rai go into depression mode once again! Don't worry, I'll try not to take as long over the next chapter, It won't be so difficult to write hopefully, because I'm back to just Rai and Kai. Well, please tell me if I'm completely losing it by reviewing!
Mini Japanese Dictionary (If you don't know these words, where have you been?)
Minna-san - Everyone
Konnichiwa - Hello
Arigato Gozaimasu - thank you very much
Gomen nasai - sorry
Baka - idiot
Oh and just a little note, Rodger the evil bear of doom is actually a character from Guilty Gear X, it's Bridget's bear, and ultimate attack! Someone's been playing too many PS2 games….tee hee hee