REVIEWS

Kazuki_2: We both do Judo, I (Lhune) should have an orange belt by now but I'm still stuck at white. Somehow my sensei and I always forget about the exams. Kana has a blue belt. I'm jealous.

Clover: I'm really sorry but it seems as there's gonna be another cliffhanger. gomen nasai.

The rest of the reviewers, which would be: Krixel, Silver-eyes Magician Girl, Anime Skygodess, Yaoi Angel, Kyllia Kakanto, Yoink Daydurfurits, Cherrii, Tewks, SquirrelOfShadows, Dragonblade, Theoryofangels and Clover. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I wouldn't know what to do without you. And for those who read but do not review, thanks I hope you enjoy the fic.

***@***

Lhune: Sorry for the delay! Gomen nasai. But a lot has happened. Computer virus attacked my computer viciously. I changed school and branch of study this week. And on top of that I'm ill.

Kai: Pathetic excuses.

Lhune: They are not. And I'm continuing this fic alone since Kana is writing a fluffy one.

Kai: Grr fluff. Still, next time update sooner.

Lhune: Kai you DO understand I'm torturing you?

Kai: The sooner it's over, the better.

Lhune: Well, I have to warn you. It is far from over.

Kai: O great //very sarcastic//

Lhune: I saw your match against Johnny this week, I loved it. The way you got under his skin.

Kai: That pathetic brat.

Lhune: Eh yes, that one. I quite liked him.

Kai: //death glare //

Lhune: //swallows// Ok, I think we better get on with the fic.

Freezing Fire

By Lhune and Kana.

Chapter four

*In the crumbling street. The sunset mirrors a silhouette. The blood red sky stains a warping reality.*

Rei gazed at the sleeping teen in front of him.

They had been lucky they were so close to town when Kai fainted and scared the hell out of them. Rei had carried Kai to the hotel they were staying at now, the surprising lack of weight of Kai added to his worries. Takao's grudge had been forgotten and instead the guilty boy was fussing over his leader.

Of course they had been headed for the hospital but before they could have reached it, Kai had woken. The shaky leader had insisted they wouldn't bring him to the hospital, whatever happened.

Kai had leaned heavily on his teammates' shoulders the way to the nearest hotel but refused to be carried again. He had scowled whenever one of his teammates would throw him a concerned look. Luckily, the hotel manager hadn't asked questions when they dragged in the battered Kai. Once Kai had reached the bed, he lost conscious again.

And that's where he still lay, on the bed.

His skin was white as the snow outside, the sunrays falling on the bed didn't seem to reach his body. The floppy bangs of slate hair were spread around his face as a cold crown of ice. The blue triangles stood out even more as they contrasted the fair skin.

Rei had tried to wash them off but realized they were tattoos. He wondered why Kai would've put them on.

The Ice Captain was sleeping peacefully although he would grimace once in a while or mumble unintelligible words.

Rei smiled, he had never seen Kai so vulnerable and innocent. He started rebandaging where the blood had soaked the cloth. The Chinese blader was glad he was alone with Kai, so he could study the sleeping blader in all peace.

A sly grin appeared on his face as he remembered how he got Takao, Max and Kenny to leave the room.

***FLASHBACK***

"Takao could you PLEASE get out of my way, I need to dress those wounds on his chest." Rei said insistent, shoving Takao off the bed.

"Is he still breathing? He looks so. so dead-is!" Takao asked alarmed when he checked Kai's shallow breathing.

Max had gone to the bathroom and now returned with some warm water and fresh cloth. The look on his face was total fright. and guilt. Guilt for noticing his captain's health earlier and for being so mad at him when he hit Rei.

However, this was nothing compared to the guilt Takao felt. The blue-haired blader was trying to make it up to Kai by acting over-concerned. He would take an extra pillow and put it under the head of his prone captain, take his hand and mutter soothing words in a sickly sweet manner.

Kenny was near hysterical and was typing furiously on his laptop searching information about deep cuts.

"We're gonna lose him, oh it's our entire fault! What are we gonna do?! He was our best blader!!" Kenny shrieked anxious.

"He's not dead." Rei assured the frantic boy.

"What do you mean best blader? I won the championships!" Takao exclaimed. Max turned his gaze away from Kai.

"Oh Takao, everybody knows it was pure luck you won." He said matter-of- factly.

"Max! Of all people you-"

"SHUT UP! ALL of you!" Rei yelled.

Immediate silence fell as the three boys froze at Rei's outburst. Rei sighed, it was sure difficult to keep them silent without Kai awake.

"And Takao, release Kai's hand or he's going to kill you when he wakes up." He ordered a bit sharper then he intended to.

Takao let go of Kai's hand with a red flush on his cheeks and looked at Max who was glaring at him.

Rei gently untied the white scarf, adoring the soft fabric. It felt so familiar though he was sure he had never touched Kai's scarf before. Instantly he remembered, the bandage on his head after he had fallen. His heart jumped as he realized something. Kai had bandaged him!

'But why didn't they tell me?' he wondered idly before returning to his task at hand.

Carefully he pulled off the black top, making sure he caused Kai as least pain as possible. As soon as the bloody chest was revealed, the silence was broken.

"Oh My God! It's like a battle field with all that blood!" Takao squealed in horror, his eyeballs popping out of their sockets.

"I'm surprised he' still alive! How could he hide those?!" Max said, averting his eyes from the blood.

The Chief was at loss for words and the color drained from his face.

"Kenny do not faint! It really isn't the time for it!" Dizzy beeped alarmed. Unfortunately that was exactly what Kenny did. He slumped on the floor, creating a chaos.

"Help! Kenny fainted! What should we do?" Max exclaimed anxious.

"This'll help!" Takao said and he threw a glass of water in Kenny's face.

"Oh no, he's gonna die too!" Max sobbed when the Chief didn't wake up.

"NOW IT'S ENOUGH!!" Rei yelled. He had been cleaning Kai's wounds, getting more and more frustrated with every second. "Kenny is NOT going to die and so's Kai." Rei stared at Max who nodded uncertain. "Takao, get Kenny in his own bed and make sure he stays there! Maw, stay with those two and take Dizzy with you or else Kenny'll burst in later. I'm going to take care of Kai and he'll be okay." His heart clenched at this, Kai had to be okay!

Pushing the three of them out the room, he continued with an authorotive tone. "No one of you is allowed to come back until I say so. Understood?" With that he closed the door.

He could still hear muffled fragments of his teammates' complaints.

". he been in learn by Kai?..."

Rei smiled.

'I'll take that as a compliment.' He thought, recognizing the voice as Takao's.

Quickly, he leapt back to the bed. His heart missed a beet when he looked straight into two crimson orbs.

"Kai, you're awake!" He said surprised and felt heat tint his cheeks.

"It's difficult not to when you are yelling." Kai said softly, a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips.

Rei's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry, I.." he stammered.

"It's okay." Kai said so softly Rei had to strain himself to hear it. Kai closed his eyes warily.

Rei felt a twinge of spite because those crimson fires had looked at him with such warmth he'd never seen before. The usual cold glare had been replaced by gratitude and respect, or so he hoped.

***END FLASHBACK***

It had taken him almost three hours to dress Kai's injuries. Most of them weren't very deep but looked horrible.

There was a long gash that was remarkably different from the others. It was deep and had ragged ends. It was the most difficult one to treat because it kept bleeding. But that wasn't the most curious about it, it seemed to have happened the first attack.

Rei growled, he was almost certain that red-head was responsible for it. He wondered how Kai knew him. Rei decided he would persuade Kai to tell him once he was awake.

He frowned as he noted Kai was shivering violently under his quilts. Reaching for Kai's head, he jerked his hand back surprised. It was hot to the touch. His captain was having a bad fever.

He went to the bathroom to get some wet cloth.

~*~

Cold, Cold as the blade in his hands.

The young crimson-eyed boy stared at the wakizachi in his hands. It had been given to him by Voltaire many years ago. The familiar sword calmed him, it had never left his side during the harsh training sessions at the abbey.

Blankly, the boy looked up to the man in front of him. Tall, raging with anger and obviously very drunk. Saliva dropped from his mouth while he shouted at the little slate-haired boy.

The boy didn't understand the words, his attention was fully on the limp body of a frail women in the corner of the room. Her blood was smeared against walls and floor. The crimson eyes were wide in horror but he didn't see a thing anymore. He felt nothing, no rage, no pity, no sadness, just blank.

Vaguely he was aware of a massive hand descending on him. The force behind the blow slammed him into the wall.

"It's your own bloody fault that your pathetic mama died! Remember that Kai! I will make you pay." The harsh words were branded in the boy's memory. He clenched his sword as if it were his last lifeline, crimson eyes unfocused.

He sensed a hand coming down on him for the second blow. Out of reflex, he raised his sword.

The man howled in pain as his hand was cut off. Disbelief mixed with pain and anger shone in his eyes as he clutched the stump that was left. He bound the wound with his T-shirt to stop the bleeding and disappeared into the kitchen.

The boy was frozen as he heard his father opening a kitchen drawer.

The man stormed back into the room with a sharp knife. Driven by hatred, he slashed at the boy.

Unconsciously, the boy dodged, the blade barely missing his skin.

"I'll kill you." The man he once knew as his father gritted between clenched teeth.

The drunk launched at his son, aiming for the heart. On instinct for survival, the little boy ducked and slashed at the man's throat. A stream of blood trailed the boy's pale cheek were the knife had grazed him. Absently, he ran his finger over the cut as he gazed at the man who was bleeding to death. He sheathed his sword as the door opened and two men walked in.

~*~

Kai was of the fact that he was dreaming. He knew what would happen and he knew he couldn't stop it. He was desperate to wake up but his mind wouldn't allow him to do so.

~*~

"I told you my grandson would take care of him."

The little boy recognized the voice as his grandfather's, yet he didn't turn.

"It was an excellent idea sir, it was the ultimate test for the boy." The slimy voice of Boris rang through the air.

"Oh but there are many more tests to come. And with each test he'll become stronger, the perfect soldier." Voltaire commented as if the boy wasn't present.

Kai was disgusted at Voltaire's evil intentions. The little boy, however, didn't seem to register the men's conversation. He kept staring at the dead man in front of him whose blood covered the boy's clothes.

"But how did you know your son would kill his wife, sir?" Boris continued, ignoring the boy completely. Curiosity was written on his face. Voltaire smirked.

"Ah well, with the proper amount of alcohol, some insinuations and lies I can achieve miracles. She was becoming far too annoying anyway, always trying to enter the abbey to search her child. Pathetic." He sneered disgusted, nodding at the boy he added: "Give him the harshest training. He must be emotionless and lethal. Do you understand! He's thee only one strong enough to control Black Dranzer."

The scenery became blurred, Kai hoped he'd finally woken. When is sight cleared again, he noticed he was cuffed to a wall in a dark, filthy cell. Kai was curious what to come next. He'd never dreamt it before and though he hated these visions, he was curious about his past. But how much he wanted to know it, he dreaded it even more.

It confused him even more that he wasn't the small kid anymore. It all felt so real, as if he was actually sitting there. He fingered the cell and the irons gingerly.

"Strange." He murmured to himself. "Is this a dream or real?"

Kai groaned, every single piece of his body hurt. He felt like dying. For the first time he noticed the blood that covered him, assumingly his blood. It felt all so unreal and at the same time frighteningly real because of the pain. Kai felt utterly alone and abandoned. His head lolled back against the wall.

Closing his eyes, Kai tried to understand what had happened. So he was in a cell, cuffed to the walls and suffering numerous cuts. As he reconsidered the facts, there was only one possibility. the abbey.

'But how did I get here?' he thought bewildered.

The door was unlocked and Kai looked up to see his visitor. He wished he hadn't. In front of him stood the last person he wanted to see in this state.

"Boris." He spat, disgust evident in his glare. The evil man laughed at Kai's gesture.

"Still so friendly as ever, young Kai." Kai's glare didn't waver as Boris approached him.

"What do you want?" he snarled, testing his bonds.

"Same as always little Kai, we want you to join the team once more. Oh and do not hope on escaping boy, we've improved the security since you left us. Besides, you don't want to escape if you know what's good for your team" Boris mocked. He cupped Kai's chin. Kai jerked away from the loathsome touch.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped. Fire blazed in his eyes, giving his glare a lethal intensity. Boris shivered slightly.

"You've become stronger, good. As we saw before, Black Dranzer draws its strength from its master. You managed to destroy most of the abbey when you were younger. Now your power will be unstoppable, we will be unstoppable. Whole countries will bow for our power, World domination is ours!" Boris proclaimed.

"You forget one thing." A cold tone cut in. Boris turned to see his prisoner.

"I will never, NEVER obey you. Your plan has failed Boris, you are a failure. Tell my grandfather to take care of his business himself, as I'm sure he's behind all of this. Both of you are insolent fools, to weak to hold me. My decision was made long ago, I will never join your damn team." Kai's tone was low but undeniably clear.

Boris was enraged.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that, young Kai. But since you claimed you have made your decision, a punishment is in order I think." His face contorted in a horrible mask of sadism. "I have a surprise for you." He announced maliciously.

Kai felt a knot forming in his stomach. Surprises meant nothing here in the abbey.

"What are you doing?"

"Let us go, you stupid brutes!"

Instantly, Kai recognized the muffled voices outside. 'No, no, no! This can't be happening!' he thought, the evil smile on Boris' face told him otherwise.

Four struggling bladers were dragged into the cell. Several guards held them forcefully. Rei was the first to notice the slate-haired teen.

"KAI!!" he gasped. The group fell silent as they stared at the battered form of their captain.

"Kai, are you okay?" Rei asked softly.

Kai nodded, he felt far from okay but he had been worse. The pit in his stomach wouldn't go away. For the first time since long, he felt fear clenching his gut. Fear for his team.

"You can dream young Kai, but you can't escape this moment. I'll have to punish you for your misbehavior. And I think I know just what to do." Boris motioned the guards to bring Rei forward. Kai went pale as a ghost.

"What, you don't like my idea young Kai? You haven't heard the whole of it yet." Boris laughed cruelly.

Rei was led to Boris, his eyes fixed on Kai.

"You see young Kai, since you were so rude I'll have to kill this. creature one way or another." Boris said in utter enjoyment. Rei's eyes widened at this annunciation and started to struggle desperately but the guards had secured him well.

"Because you are Voltaire's grandson, I'll do you a favor." Boris eyes glinted maliciously.

Kai feared what would come next, his crimson eyes trailed from Rei to the loathsome Boris. The horrible man seemed to search something under his cloak. Kai's eyes widened in horror as he thought to recognized the item. Boris turned to Kai once more.

"And young Kai, do you remember it?" he mocked as he unsheathed the wicked blade of a well know wakizachi. "I've always treasured it." He said smug, caressing the cold steel.

Kai was frozen to the bone, this could not be happening!

"What is it young Kai? Surprised?" Boris laughed cruelly. "Now for your friend here." He caressed Rei's cheek. Disgusted, Rei tried to bite Boris' fingers with no avail.

"I could kill him. I would take him apart. very slowly." He let the blade touch Rei's skin, leaving a pattern of angry red lines in its wake. Rei stiffened.

"First I'll cut of his delicate hands, then I'll move on to his slender legs. He would die very slowly and in much pain." Boris taunted.

Kai gazed in Rei's emotionful eyes. Pain and fear were evident, but determination not to flinch shone brightly. Kai growled involuntarily, they would not harm Rei. Neither by death or in any other way.

"But since I promised you a favor, there is an other way." Boris said in a low voice. He flicked his wrist so the blade came to rest at Kai's neck, mere millimeters from his tender skin yet Kai did not flinch.

"You can spare him the torture by killing him yourself and giving him a quick, painless death. It's your choice." Boris said. Kai remained impassive, hiding his emotions behind a stone mask.

'I must stop this! This is all my fault. I cannot let Rei die, he means too much to me. Too much indeed, I should never had let him come so close to me. Now I care for him and look what happens. I should've remembered my destiny. Stop it Kai, this isn't helping. I should try and escape. That wouldn't work, I am in no shape to defend five boys and lead them through this labyrinth. I can't let Rei to the mercy of Boris. That monster is not afraid to rape him before torturing him to death. And the last option." Kai locked eyes with Rei. Fire met gold, emotions deepening the color.

'I . care for you Rei.'

'I.'

"Do it." Rei whispered softly, loud enough for Kai to hear.

Kai was dizzy with emotions. Rei this beautiful creature, wanted him to kill him. He couldn't kill him.

'Rei, I.'

.Or could he?

"If I have to die, I want to die at your hands." Rei urged.

'I.'

Kai's face softened and he gazed at Rei intensively.

"I love you, Rei." He said in a husky voice, full of remorse. Surprising everybody in the cell, he stood up, breaking the chains in the process. In less than a second he was at Rei's side, freeing the Chinese blader from the guards. Pulling Rei closer, he closed the distance between their lips. It was a short but tender kiss. As their lips parted, Kai brought the blade up to Rei's throat.

"Please forgive me Rei." He whispered broken and he sliced the pale skin in a swift movement.

~*~

Rei stared worried at his captain. Kai's face was contorted in mortal anguish, soft sobbing escaped his lips from time to time. Rei had done everything he could but the fever hadn't died.

"Should I wake him? He looks so pained and tormented. But he needs his rest.If you can call this rest." Rei murmured indecisive.

He sighed, he wanted to help Kai and relieve him from agony. Suddenly the slate-haired teen jerked and let out a haunted scream.

"That's it." Rei muttered as he bowed over the distressed teen. "I'm waking him." He grabbed Kai's shoulders and shook them gently.

"Kai wake up, you're having a nightmare." He said urgently.

Kai's eyes fluttered open, unseeing fires looking through him. A flying fist came out of nowhere and hit his face hard. Rei was thrown back by the cheer force of it. Clenching his hurting cheek, he picked himself up from the floor. Panicked, he looked at the bed.

Kai sat straight, his eyes wide in shock. 'I. I just killed him, I killed Rei! He can't be here.' Kai thought bewildered.

'I hit him' The realization came down on him. He was trembling all over. Suddenly he jumped out of the bed and ran to the door. Before storming out, he turned to Rei.

"I'm sorry Rei. I have to go, don't come looking for me." His voice was hoarse and broken. The fierce flame of his spirit had diminished.

Dazed by the latest events, Rei was left behind in the room. Coming to his senses, he ran after Kai as fast as he could. But even his feline skills couldn't prevent meeting a deserted street.

A cold breeze played with his long raven hair. Heavy raindrops fell from the dark sky, soon the neko-jin was soaked. He had no idea where Kai had gone to. A flash of lightning illuminated the stale grey sky.

Somewhere out there was a bloody boy lost in his own world, tormented by invisible ghosts from the past.

***_~_***

Lhune: Gomen, gomen, I know another cliffhanger.

Kai: I killed my father? And Rei?!

Lhune: yep

Kai: Damn!

Rei: Where did you run to?

Kai: I have no idea.

Rei: Hmpf, you are violently ill, you shouldn't be out in that kind of weather.

Lhune: Oh, but it's only the beginning

Kai: What do you mean by that?! //death glare//

Lhune: Eh. nothing at all (to readers) I'm still doubting about Tala. Should he be good-in-an-evil-way or just plain evil?

Kai: He's a stupid bastard.

Lhune: I didn't ask your opinion.

Rei: What's wrong with his opinion? Tala tried to steal Kai from me.

Tala: You're not worthy of him, He belongs with me.

Lhune: Tala get out. and you too Kai Rei! I need to write the next chapter.and please do NOT fight!

Kai, Tala and Rei: Yes momma

Lhune: Don't call me that.

Bye bye, hope to see you soon!! MEOW