Disclaimer: I own none of the characters.
I seriously had no idea I left this story so long. I apologize but those who read my note in my story 'It's What I Want' will understand why I'm lagging a bit.
So yeah, I didn't forget about this story but writer's block and issues took over and my stories got pushed to the back for a while. Hopefully I'll get some more done this month. My computer crashed last week (I've finally fallen into that category) and so I'm trying to write without my files on a different computer. And I need the keyboard replaced too…
Now if I can remember where I was in this story I'll try and make a decent chapter.
Chapter Fourteen – Irritation
Rei watched the cheering crowd chant and yell at the two teams. He tightened his fists on the fabric at his knees, biting back the snarl he wanted to give. What right did these people have? They had no idea what it was like to lose a friend like Driger. They were only happy if they got their battle.
Glancing next to him, he saw that Kai and Tala were busy in a conversation. In front of him the rest of his team talked on. Closing his eyes for a moment he opened revealing the honey-glazed eyes watering slightly; deciding not to stay anymore the neko-jin quickly got up and made his way up the stairs in out into the hallways. Almost at a jogging pace Rei found an exit and pressed his entire weight against it staggering as he exited the building.
Taking in the area he noticed only a few people here and there, most taking a smoking break chatting away in small groups. Turning his gaze away Rei headed down the flight of stairs and taking a turn down the street. More aware of this city then when he was in Russia, Rei had little to no problem sniffing out the closest park that was situated in the city.
Walking past the stone wall that bordered the entrance, Rei's pace began to slow down a bit as the surroundings began to calm him down. Rei raised his head a little to appreciate the sight of the park. Nothing better then being surrounded by good times and memories…sadly for Rei those memories usually included friends and Driger by his side. That name alone brought on a flood of memories and the ache in his chest pulsed harder at each thought. The feeling of relaxation quickly left Rei and cause his legs to quickly find an exit to the park quickly.
Not bothering to care where he went, the neko-jin rarely noticed his surroundings and quickly felt the chill of the area creep up on him. Looking up after losing track of time Rei found that he had made his way to the docks where warehouses lined the port, their condition emphasizing the cold that slipped from the stone grey walls. His black bangs filled his vision as the sea breeze came across him. Rei squinted and turned his head to the side a bit before the feel of the wind next his skin crawling and his blood run cold.
The wind didn't come off the shore and it definitely wasn't a gentle breeze. Looking down Rei saw the thin tendril of blood trail down from his mid bare arm. He didn't make a noise at the cut lost for a moment in the familiarity of the mark. Bringing his other had up he let his fingers trail through the blood as to feel that it was real.
Shaking slightly Rei lifted his head and golden eyes widened at the figure a couple of yards away.
"I'm surprised to see you here Kon especially without Kai holding your hand." Bryan sneered standing casually a bit of a distance away from the space of two warehouses Falborg spinning at a constant speed in front of him.
"Just because I'm here alone doesn't give you a reason to use me as a target." Rei said softly, anger slightly laced into each word. Bryan only smirked at the play on of Rei's words.
"Shouldn't you be at the stadium?" Bryan questioned arms crossing over his chest.
"Shouldn't you?"
"I don't see the purpose in surrounding myself with people who will only cheer because it gives them the pleasure of being right." Bryan scoffed light eyes watching the neko-jin unwrap the bindings from his arm and use them to wipe the blood and bandage the wound around his arm.
"Are you afraid to be there?" Bryan asked keeping the slightly menacing look on his face as he asked the question. Rei's ears twitched slightly as he heard the question.
"Why do you say that?" He asked wanting to hear Bryan speak more and try to grasp where he was coming from. Bryan bit back a growl at being asked.
"Why do I say that?" Bryan said slowly, taking slow steps towards Rei (and Falborg). Bending down he grabbed Falborg while he was still spinning and stood up straight.
"It's all that seems to become of you now. No matter where you are whenever I see you, you seem ready to run away and hide under a rock. I don't understand why you put so much pity on yourself. You think you lost something important and then decide it's the worst thing ever and are willing to drag everyone down with you." Bryan said hands clenched in fists as he pushed each word out.
"I'm not making people pity me." Rei said brow slanting and jaw clenching in anger.
"I would think you are. Kai probably does. I remember him telling me while in mid threat that he depends on you, holds you in a much higher position than I think you deserve. You think just because of that you can be tended to for you loss?" He grounded out not sure if he should feel pleasure or something else to the look that crossed the tanned face.
"So go on. Continue to act like that. I don't see what Kai tells me so there's nothing for me to believe. I think what irritates me more is that you didn't even look for your bitbeast." Bryan said turning around and walking back towards the shadows of the space between two warehouses. No angry calls followed the Russian as he walked away.
'Master.' Falborg called out to Bryan.
'Not now. I'm not in the mood.' Bryan told him as he entered the shadowy area.
'But he insists.' Falborg persuaded.
'I don't care.' Bryan said quickly. Rei's lack of reaction was beginning to get to him. He didn't want to turn around with Rei standing there. Another few steps and that feeling was wrapping itself around his finger. Stopping abruptly Bryan closed his eyes for a moment and turned around quickly only to stiffen and suppress the reaction to attack. Standing only a few centimeters away was the neko-jin looking up at Bryan without anger. His amber eyes peered up at Bryan and glistened slightly. Bryan couldn't react fast enough to throw an insult or push Rei away. Even if this surprised him, he was not prepared for what came next.
"You have him don't you." Rei said quietly not showing anything, only allowing the question to reveal his feelings.
"W-what?" Bryan asked a little breathless. This was most unexpected. He never heard the neko-jin approach and what he thought would be a bloody mess was the exact opposite.
"Why?" Rei asked voice picking up a bit and his breath became a little more frantic.
"What are you talking about?" Bryan asked, although he knew what Rei meant. Never doubted it. He tensed when Rei suddenly grasped his arms clenching the material in his fists.
"Why do you have Driger? Why didn't you give him back? You've made me suffer." Rei said frantically, eyes glaring in confusion into Bryan's.
"You took my battle from me." Bryan said emotionless. Rei's eyes flashed before a fist crashed into Bryan's chest.
"All that for a battle! That's all that's ever mattered. Just because you lost? And you said I brought everyone down with how I felt. Look at what you did!" Rei growled out. His eyes roamed through Bryan's searching for an answer. Pale hands came up and grasped Rei's pulling them away from his arms. They stared at each other, neither one speaking.
"Where's Driger?" Rei asked more quietly then before. Bryan sighed slightly and reached into his pocket. A moment later his hand came out and lifted it over his head the moment Rei went to snatch it away.
"Do you really think you deserve him back? After the abandonment you left him in?"
"I didn't do that. I foolishly allowed your intimidation and stupidity to take over me. You…whenever I tried to do something or was starting to stand up again you'd happen to walk in and then everything was bad again. Not to mention you're horrible mood swings." Rei grumbled out. Bryan stared down at the neko-jin mind wheels turning at what Rei was saying. Lowering his arm he opened his fist revealing to Rei the friend of his soul. Driger sat on the pale surface proudly displayed in the chip. Rei's eyes focused on him and he was consumed by the familiar presence.
"Well go on take him." Bryan said a little harshly and a little uncomfortable by displaying this much generosity. Rei looked up at him for a moment before lifting a hand and slowly picking up Driger, fingers dragging across Bryan's palm making the Russian stifle a shudder at the feel of Rei's skin. He focused on Rei and watched the neko-jin stare at Driger lost in thought and probably conversation with Driger. Bryan didn't understand but gave Rei a few moments to talk to Driger.
"I found him a little while before we left Russia. I wanted to get rid of him right away, but the thought of making you suffer after the battle caught my mind." Bryan said watching Rei look up at him.
"You wanted revenge. I think I can understand that. It was wrong and cruel. I won't forget that, but you are human after all. It's a fault that we can't escape, but you gave Driger back. I can at least thank you for that and not destroying him" Rei said quietly not realizing that impact of those chosen words.
'Human…he said I'm human.' Bryan thought eyes focused on the wall in front of him.
Glancing one last time Rei turned and began to walk away. The moment he turned a hand encased his wrist stopping him. Looking down he noticed that Bryan wasn't letting him go yet.
"What now? I'm thankful to have Driger back but—what is it Bryan?" Rei said annoyed but became slightly concerned but Bryan's far off look and the stare into space.
"You-you said I was human." Bryan said quietly. Rei's eyes closed for a moment in thought.
"Of course you are."
"Why would you say that? After everything I've done and what I am." He said looking down at Rei. The dark haired one stared hard at Bryan trying to understand where Bryan was coming for. A thought passed his mind and his eyes widened.
"I…think I get it now." Rei said slowly putting pieces of a puzzle together.
"Huh?" Bryan replied uncertain. A glint of something unknown to him passed by Rei's eyes. A moment later he felt a warm body pressed up against him and the feel of arms wrapped around his neck and his vision filled with massive amounts of dark hair. He froze in uncertainty and almost died of shock when he felt the soft pressure against the corner of his lips. What seemed like eons passed by in a few seconds. He felt the weight and warmth leave and the honey eyes look in him in the eyes.
"That feeling you feel right now, means you're human. Think of it as payback." Rei said and quickly ran out of the alley a smile carved into his face. Bryan stood in silence and stared wide eyed at the direction Rei had just gone.
He was lost as to what happen. He felt…embarrassed, but not in the same way he felt at the tournament. It was almost a welcoming kind…made him uneasy and bordering with a small hint of happy. Leaning against the wall he slowly slid down the wall the memory of the feeling still tickling his skin.
So I hope this length makes everyone happy. I had to refresh my mind with what's going on. I can't remember a few things but I'll make sure to include them.
Reading this I know Rei and Bryan have massive mood swings, but it was intentional because of the situations.
I hope to have other stories updated soon. I wanted to get this one out first.
Next chapter should be soon.
(I know there are mistakes. I'll fix them soon).
Please Review
DevlinnReiko
