I'm really sorry bout the whole update thing. I've been really busy and haven't had time to do any writing. It's the whole "Gotta be more responsible with my marks". Any way, here's the next chapter. For those that don't like violence, then you may have to skip a section of this chapter as it contains some violence. Unlike the other chapters, I think this one is longer and much sadder.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Carebear's movies even though I would like to see them again. Also I don't own Beyblades or anything relating to the royalties.
Please remember that this chapter does contain some violent scenes. Thanks and enjoy
"Now can someone tell me what is a Protist is?" Mr Dickinson asked. It was the last lesson of the day; both Rei and Kai were watching the clock slowly tick closer to the end of the day. It was only Tuesday, but at least they would be free of their prison. Kai's current page in his book had a phoenix flying over a blazing fire, while Rei's had a white tiger crouching, waiting to pounce.
"Rei, can you answer as no one is willing to."
"Uh, yes sir," Rei replied, "a protist is a eukaryotic cellular organism which is not included in the other four kingdoms. An example of a multicellular protist is algae while a unicellular protist is an amoeba and paramecium."
Nudging Rei, Kai nodded in approval. Obviously Rei is the overlord of the classroom,he thought to himself. Rei gave him a small smile in thanks.
From the front, Mr Dickinson was slowly nodding in approval, "Very good Rei, very impressive. You even gave examples of multi and unicellular organisms that are part of this kingdom. Right then, Spencer, can you tell me what a Monera organism is?"
"Yes sir," he grumbled, the hair on the back of Rei's neck stood up and sweat started to cover his body. He knows nothing about the kingdoms. If he doesn't get it right then…then…then I'm dead, Rei's thoughts started to get ahead of him.
"A Monera organism is eukaryotic, no wait, prokaryotic. And uh, an example is, uh it starts with 's'. Um, I don't know. They are the only prokaryotic cell things in the world," Spencer answered.
Dickinson was shaking his head from the front of the classroom at the answer, "Okay, some of that was right but other parts were a bit hazy. Monera are the only prokaryotic cells in the world. They include such bacteria as Salmonella, which can lead to food poisoning."
"Yeah, that's what I was trying to say," Spencer muttered under his breath.
Keeping his head close to his book, Rei felt his hand trembling and let go of the pen that he was holding. He watched it slowly fall to the ground where it hit with a thud, which sounded like a gunshot to his ears. Cringing at the sound, Spencer glared at the neko-jin's back.
"Calm down Rei, you look terrified," Kai whispered to him.
"You don't say."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I can feel his eyes throwing punches at me from here Kai. He was told that his answer wasn't good enough," Rei felt a lump form in his throat.
"That's his fault for not doing the homework Rei. He should do it, not you."
The bell rang and the two packed up their books and headed towards their lockers. They walked in silence. Neither had spoken about what had happened a few weeks ago at Rei's apartment. Reaching their destination, they opened their lockers and started to get their homework for the day.
Feeling the cold hand of silence wrap around him, Rei turned to Kai, "Do you think I'm a nervous wreck Kai?"
Kai's hand hovered over his Walkman, "You have been getting really jumpy lately. But other than that, no." He grabbed his headphones and slung them around his neck while stuffing his Walkman into his pocket, "Why?"
Rei secured his locker shut and turned to look at his friend, "Forget I mentioned it. See you later maybe." He stood up and walked out the front door leaving Kai baffled with his question.
Passing his head under his bag strap, Kai made his way home.
Walking home, Rei felt as if a pair of eyes was following him home. Turning around, all he saw was a stray cat walking across the street and an old couple sitting out the front of their little home. A cold shiver ran through his body and he found himself walking faster.
"Why did Mr Dickinson have to ask Spencer that question? He asked me the Protist one, but Spencer? I wish everything made sense in this world," Rei said to himself as he passed a small side street.
"Oi Rei Kon, I want a word with you. Well, more like my fists do!" a voice called out from behind him. He froze. Oh my god, I'm screwed!
Rei turned around and saw Spencer walking down the street, right for him. Turning to face the direction he wanted to go, Rei started to run.
"You can't run from me neko. I'll only make it hurt more."
Upon hearing those last few words, Rei broke out into a sprint down the little street. Turning whenever he could, he found himself stuck in a no through road. A brick wall was facing him, mocking his attempted escape from his predator. It seemed as if his life was over. No school for the rest of the week.
Spencer rounded the corner and looked as if he had just jogged a short distance. He was breathing normally and didn't look fatigued. Anger was written across his face and his lips were curved into a snarl that would make a dog whine in fear. Rei backed against the cold brick. Sweat covered his body from fear and the sprint.
"I thought I said don't run Rei. Unfortunately you ran. And look where it landed you. No one can hear you scream and yell. Only the walls and me. But that's okay; I want to hear you scream. You made a mockery of me in science when I was asked that question. Did you tell someone about our little deal?" Spencer had walked till he was standing over Rei. He threw a punch. Rei felt his spine crush against the wall.
"No Spencer," he coughed.
"Are you sure?" Spencer pushed his knee into his victim's stomach. Rei doubled over, but found himself still standing.
"Because I beg to differ from you're story, whelp," his voice was dripping with hatred. A fist connected with Rei's jaw, it felt as though a bone was breaking under his skin. Tears stung his eyes as he fought the urge to scream build up within him.
"What's the matter neko? Does it hurt?" Spencer let Rei fall to the ground where he kicked Rei in the chest. Spencer looked down on the neko-jin. He was doubled over in pain and yet Spencer didn't feel that he had done justice to his humiliation that he had suffered in class.
Lifting Rei off the ground, Rei winced at the effort of trying to get to his feet. Feeling the wall behind his back again, the cold wall offered some relief. Opening one golden eye, he saw another fist collide with his face. This one breaking his nose. Rei could now taste the blood in his mouth as his punishment continued.
Finally falling to the ground for a second time, Rei felt one last kick to his stomach before he felt a cold draft touch his battered and broken body.
"I said that if you didn't help me with anything then I will break a few of your bones. Today you let me suffer the humility of not knowing what that thing that Dickinson asked me. Now you suffered the consequence. Hopefully it won't happen again," Spencer stood up straight and looked down at Rei.
"He asked you what a Monera was," Rei spluttered.
Spencer turned to look down at sack of bones on the ground, "Did you just correct me Rei Kon? I hope you didn't." He kicked Rei in the side and felt a snap under his boot.
"AGH!"
"Serves you right you smart arse," Spencer spat on Rei before leaving him alone in the street.
Rei stayed on the cool concrete. The cool feeling was soothing on his fresh injuries. Lying there, Rei passed out.
Walking down his street, Kai had shoved his Walkman into his bag, cursing over how crap it was. Pulling his keys out of his pocket he pushed them into the keyhole in the front door. A small click sounded out to the world before the grinding of the cogs to turn the handle over threw it.
Pushing it open, he walked in and went straight up the stairs. Shutting his bedroom door. Kai pulled off his school uniform and threw it on the floor. Standing in his boxers, he found his jeans and pulled them on. He thought back to his science lesson that afternoon with Rei jumping at the dropping pen. It wasn't normal for Rei to be like that.
Finding his belt on the floor with his other pair of jeans, he passed it through the loops quickly before searching for a shirt. As he started to dig through his shirts drawer, he heard a knock at his bedroom door.
"Kai, your girlfriend's at the door," his mother said.
Opening his bedroom door, he looked at his mother, "I don't have a girlfriend. Never have had one either."
"Well sorry for being mother then." She walked off to her room, where she collapsed before entering. Shaking his head at his mother, Kai walked down the stairs without a shirt. He decided to get this over and done with now.
Unfortunately, it was Mariah at the door, "What Mari?"
"What do you mean 'what Mari?" she sounded annoyed. Looking at her face, he noticed her checking him out.
"Stop giving me that look Mari. I'll hit you hard if don't stop."
"I wasn't giving you a look. It's just that I've never seen you without a shirt. You're well built."
"I'm taken."
"I didn't ask you out Hiwatari! Why would I ever go out with you anyway?"
"So why are standing at my door gazing at me?" Kai was not in any mood to be gawked at.
"I was wondering if you knew if Rei would be home? I need some help with Japanese."
Kai looked at Mariah, "No." He shut the door and went up stairs.
"KAI HOW DO YOU KNOW?" Mariah was still standing at his door obviously.
"I DON'T BUT LEAVE ME ALONE MARIAH!" Kai yelled back at her. He walked into his room, found the shirt he was looking for and pulled it on. It was black with a phoenix flying on the left side. Running down the stairs, he shoved his feet into his sneakers, grabbed his phone and keys and left. Mariah was still outside.
"Where do you think you're going Hiwatari?"
"I'm getting away from you, you brat. Now leave me alone. I don't know where Rei is so leave me be!" Kai moved past Mariah and walked down the street.
Left standing at his door, Mariah felt dismissed. She sighed and turned in the opposite direction and walked off home, maybe Lee could help me since he's the year above.
Waking up, a cold breeze brushed over his cheek. Rei pushed himself up against the brick wall. Slowly opening his eyes, he found that he was still in the alley. Looking at his hands, he found that they were normal coloured, same with his legs and arms. As he tried to smile, pain reared its evil head and struck.
"Agh," Rei moaned. That's not a good feeling, he thought. Grabbing his bag, Rei passed the strap carefully over his head, letting it fall to his shoulder. Looking down at his crumpled shirt, Rei carefully lifted it up.
Around his rib cage, large purple welts had come up and it was hurting to breath. Letting it fall back down, he braced himself to get up. Stretching one hand out to the wall, he staggered to his feet. Leaning against the wall, he looked at his watch. It now read 4:45. Normally he'd be at home doing homework and cooking his dinner by now.
Pushing off the wall, Rei started the painful walk home.
Even though he ran through the streets without taking much notice of where he was, Rei managed to find his way out quickly. He was on the main street, which meant that he must have been close to his house when Spencer appeared.
Rei stumbled across the road to reach his street. Falling against a fence, Rei looked around. His apartment was just down the street and no one will even remember that a boy stumbled down the street.
Standing up straight again, Rei found himself walking more normally, but he winced with every step. At least now it doesn't really look as though someone has used me as a punching bag, he thought. Reaching the door to his apartment block, he opened it and stumbled to the lift. Hitting the button, the doors opened and he straight to his home.
Walking into Rei's street, Kai saw a school student walking down the same street. The kid was walking as though he was in pain, a lot of pain. Kai stopped walking to watch the student. As they walked across the street, they fell against a building and opened the door. It just happened to be Rei's apartment block. The kid looked around before slipping through the doorway.
That can't be Rei, can it? Kai thought as he started to make his way up to the building. The guy looked as if he'd been bashed really badly. Running to the building's entrance and opening the door, Kai ran up the stairs. Why don't I ever take the lift? He wondered as he found his heart thumping in his ears. Beside the doorframe was the smearing of the student's blood; their skin had torn to reveal some horrid truth.
Reaching Rei's door, he knocked quietly. He could hear something drop to the floor and the shuffling of the owner inside. What's taking him so long to get to the door? Kai stood there for a few minutes as he heard Rei shuffle through his apartment.
Finally, the doorknob turned and a crack appeared in the frame. A single golden eye could be seen with a slight purple colouring edging towards it.
"Now's not a good time Kai. I'm sorry," Rei said quietly.
"Don't give that to me Rei. I saw you stumble into the apartment block. You looked as though you had a bout with someone and got the short end of the stick," Kai's shirt had started to unbutton itself and had slipped into the gap in the door.
"Look, it wasn't me, I've been home for a while now."
"Then why did Mariah come to my house looking for you? Explain that to me Rei?" Kai questioned him.
"Because she's too stupid to come to my house first? Do you want to try and explain the movements of the pink menace? It's plain impossible!" Rei yelled through the crack in the door, "I don't have the answers for everything!"
Kai pulled back at the last statement, "I never said that you had the answers to everything. Why would you? Last time I checked you weren't an encyclopaedia."
"I never looked like one at anytime. Just leave me alone Kai, I have nothing to say to you or anyone for that matter," Rei started to shut the door. Before he managed to shut it, Kai slid his hand in and around the door. Pushing it open, he watched Rei fall backwards and hit the ground.
"AGH!" Rei cried. Quickly walking in and closing the door, Kai kneeled down to help his friend up. Grabbing his hand, he pulled him to his feet where he fell into Kai.
"Don't touch me!"
Letting Rei go, Kai leant against the door. Rei was panting and two large nasty bruises had formed on his face. Walking into the kitchen, Kai pulled a couple packets of frozen vegetables out of the freezer. Wrapping them in tea towels, he gave one to Rei and gently pressed the other to Rei's cheek.
"What happened to you Rei? You look like you've been through a war zone," Kai spoke softly.
Rei's eyes were dull and red, "Nothing happened. It's nothing Kai. Honestly." Rei avoided Kai's eyes.
"Don't worry, I'll sort him out. He won't bother you again Rei."
Looking up at Kai, Rei tilted his head slightly, "How do you? Never mind and don't bother. I won't go back to school this week. Maybe I won't go back."
"What are talking about Rei? You love going to school, that's one of the things that makes you you."
"School doesn't involve being bullied does it? It's a place for learning and making friends, not being a living hell Kai!" Rei stood up and stumbled to the couch. His white shirt had a pink tinge to it in some areas.
"Take your shirt off Rei."
"You want me to strip?"
"No, just take off your shirt. You look as though you're bleeding," Kai started to undo the buttons down the front and pulled Rei's shirt back. Where Spencer had kicked Rei, the skin had broken and was slowly bleeding. Getting up, Kai walked into Rei's kitchen again and grabbed a bucket of hot soapy water and some bandages. Rei sat on his couch feeling slightly warm in the cheeks.
"What are you going to do with that?"
"Clean you up and bandage them as well," Kai gently patted the hot soapy towel onto Rei's cuts and bruises.
Rei hissed at the pain, "That stings a little."
"You just wait for the antiseptic cream that I'll put on it to stop it from getting infected," Kai added with a slight chuckle.
"Why? What's so fun…damn it Kai, why didn't you say it would sting?"
"Because, you didn't ask fast enough. Plus, you need to toughen up, it doesn't hurt that much. I used it a lot and it hardly hurt after a few weeks."
"A few weeks? Why would anyone pick on you? The great Kai Hiwatari," Rei chided as he let Kai do his work.
"No one use to pick on me. I just had a lot of cuts from stuff when I was younger. You wouldn't understand Rei," Kai busied himself with wrapping a large bandage around Rei's chest.
Rei went quiet as he watched Kai's hands move confidently around his damaged torso. The bandage hid boot-sized bruises and small cuts while keeping his ribs in place till they healed a little. Soon there was complete silence between the two as Kai cleaned up Rei's battered face.
Why would you want to hurt this guy? He's so sweet and kind, it makes me ashamed of myself, Kai thought to himself as he placed some tape across Rei's nose to help it keep its shape. Pulling back from being so close to Rei, Kai finally had a decent look at Rei.
He had a lightly built body that showed some resemblance of a would-be-six pack. His hands were slender and so gentle that a puppy would fall asleep in them. Rei's golden eyes held untold wisdom and sadness that it finally woke Kai up to the real Rei.
"Is everything alright Rei? Apart from the Spencer problem, is something else bothering you at all?" Kai held Rei's hand as gently as he could and he tried to soften his dark crimson eyes, but knew it was a losing battle.
Rei looked at the new expression on Kai's face, it was one that everyone would kill to see. Sighing, Rei pulled his hand back towards himself, "It's nothing to worry about. Just family stuff. One of them told that they actually are alive and that something that has bothered me for a while. And please, stop pulling that face. It's rather scary."
Sitting quietly, Kai let his face return to normal, "What do you mean it's rather scary? I'm trying to give a damn here. Or does it turn out to look as though I'm being tortured? Stupid unsympathetic parents can't do anything right by me." Kai mumbled the last few words so that Rei wouldn't hear.
"Don't play dumb with me Kai. I know that you don't smile for anyone. Not even the camera on photo day. It's impossible for you to even look sympathetic," Rei started to laugh before he coughed and felt the pain spark.
"You know, you should really lie down. It'll at least help with the breathing."
"I've spent enough time lying down for your information. Even if it wasn't as comfy as this couch here."
Nodding, Kai leant against the backrest of the couch, "I saw you a couple weeks ago, looking out a window into the park."
Kai closed his eyes, " Is that so? How would you know where I live?"
Feeling uncomfortable at the response, Rei continued, "Well, I only know one person that has your hair, your steely eyes and your slinky nature that makes you disappear. I knew it was you watching me in the park."
Opening one eye, the Russian searched the neko's face. Mostly pain was present, but troubles hid just below the surface. Hmm, he really is observant. But how could he have possible known it was me from that distance? Kai remembered watching Max and Rei on the swings in the park near his house. Rei was actually happy and bruise free at that point in time.
"Thank-you," came the whisper. Opening his eyes, Kai found Rei sitting on the ground with his legs crossed as though he was meditating.
"It was nothing. Any friend would have done it."
"No. No they wouldn't. I should know. You've helped me a lot Kai. The little things such as helping me with these bandages, it means a lot to me."
Kai stood and sat down beside the battered teen, "That depends on who you talk to." The Russian laid down and stared at the ceiling in all its whiteness. A lightweight hit Kai's stomach and slid under his shirt to tickle the sensitive skin.
"Someone said that everything looks simpler on the floor, but I think it makes it look more confusing. Otherwise, why would we have stood up in the first place?"
"That was off a T.V. program you idiot. One of those shows that Mariah loves to talk to you about."
"Oh, yeah it is too," he laughed it off before returning his full attention to the roof, "is everything alright with you Kai? You always seem so shut off from the rest of us here on earth. I've often thought that there is something that you wanted to tell me but couldn't." Rei turned his head to look up at the Russian's chin. "You have a pointy chin."
Looking down his body, Kai stared at the neko-jin, "I like my pointy chin thankyou."
"I never said anything was wrong with your chin. Just that it is extremely pointy. Don't you notice it sticking out?"
"No."
"Oh, okay then." Silence sank into the room again. Kai laced his fingers on his chest and breathed in deeply.
"Do you want to stay the night Kai? It's the weekend and I don't think your parents would mind if you aren't there for a single night…would they?" Rei's golden eyes held sincere thoughts and were untainted by other feelings.
"No, they shouldn't. I don't think I'll call either. That could lead to World War III," Kai laughed until he saw the worried look on Rei's face, "I'm joking. The drunks won't know I'm not there. Well, they'll notice that the runner is gone, but nothing major."
"Okay. So…what do you want for dinner? I mean it is 6 o'clock and I'm starving," Rei said as he pushed himself off Kai's muscly abs.
"You sound like Tyson. Do you know how weird it is to hear someone other than Tyson say that is?"
"Very. But lets not discuss Tyson, because that can put anyone off their food."
"Hmm," Kai sat up and put his arms around Rei's shoulders, "lets not then."
Rei felt his cheeks heat up at the touch of his friend. What's wrong with me? He thought as he turned to face Kai. Smiling, he carefully unlatched Kai so that he could stand up. Rising carefully, he walked to the kitchen to get the phone.
"Uh…is pizza good? I don't feel like cooking tonight," Rei offered as he pulled the receiver off the hook.
"That's fine by me. I see that you have some movies. SO we'll have a pizza night," Kai said as he stood up, "that is unless you don't have any, then we'll have to find something to amuse ourselves with then."
The neko felt his face turn a deep shade of red before he turned his attention to the phone. This is going to be a good weekend even if it did start out badly, Rei thought as he dialled the number for the home delivered pizzas.
Please don't hate me for hurting him...it's part of the story line. Tell me what you think.
