I do not own Beyblade or 1992 film "The Crying Game".

Songs mentioned in this chapter:
"Can I" by Kehlani

The Crying Game
-Serial Lover-

- x -

Hi, I'm Hell, it's nice to meet ya.
Know you fuckin' with a demon,
Do 'bout anything to please ya.
Cum inside me, I'm a keeper.

—

His phone had started ringing again.

Kai could tell the sun hadn't made its appearance, he refused the notion of the morning's arrival just yet. He quickly grabbed the device before Rei, who began to stir, woke up. He positioned it by his ear, not even bothering to greet the other end of the line, he allowed the other person to speak first.

"Kinomiya wants to see you, bring the package—you already know where." Click.

He cursed underneath his breath, he brings his phone above his face to check the time on the screen.

3:56am, what the fuck is with people?

It was just the type of move that asshole would make, a petty power move that navy-haired demon would use to round up his 'soldiers'. To show them all that he still owned them, and that they were merely all his pawns on his chess board. If it were up to him, he'd personally walked up the arrogant asswipe and tear out his lungs.

He carefully removed the covers off his body, and then gingerly detaches himself from Rei's tight clutches. He quickly dressed back in his jeans and t-shirt, slipping into his leather jacket and collecting his car key from the dresser.

Kai glanced over at his sleeping beauty, semi glad that she wasn't awaken by that little commotion. He sits by her feet, stroking her legs gently. She looked so peaceful, he'd hate to have to wake her like this.

"Kitten?"

As expected, she grunts in response. She pulls the covers tighter around her shoulders.

Dammit. "I have to go out for bit, baby."

"Go, go where?" She murmurs against her pillow.

"I just to step out for a bit, I'll be right back."

"No," Rei begin to rise up, she latched onto his sleeve, "please stay."

'Damn you, Hitoshi.' "Just go back to sleep, I'll be back before you're up again."

"Kai, please don't leave...stay with me." Tears start to brim at the corners of her eyes, she clutches onto the other's jacket tighter.

"Rei, stop this." Kai detaches himself from her grip, mildly irritated now. "Just go back to sleep, okay?"

Rei watched Kai's retrieving back from where she was left, his frame slipping through the crack of the bedroom door. It wasn't long until she hears the front door opening and locked up again. She curled up, arms hugging around her pillow desperately, tears streaming down her face.

'Should've known better... they always leave... Always, always.'

—

Kai could barely detain his collective composure as he stood in front of Hitoshi.

It was one thing being summoned in the middle of the night, but to be taken away from Rei was an entire ordeal altogether. As if he was going to continue to allow this bastard or this dammed bloodlust institution wedge inbetween him and the only good thing in his life right now. He was willing to take his baby away from all of this. Somewhere they could both live happily ever after together. Away from this fucked up foundation, from these fucked up people, and from this fucked up life.

"Looks someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Julia remarks, knowing the Russian man a little too well. She was virtually indulging a little too much from Kai's bothered disposition.

"I apologize if I've disturbed your sleep...or any personal affairs," Hitoshi starts, "however, the date's been moved and I need to update you. Now."

"Not like it couldn't have been kept until the morning," Kai growls between his teeth.

"Perhaps," the older man sneers ever so slightly, "but what's done is done and you're here now."

"My role in your little scheme is complete, so I don't know why you're going through the trouble of convoking me."

Hitoshi rose a brow at this, "is it now? I don't recall exempting you from this particular operation."

Kai balled his fists, his temper was beginning to boil. "Don't forget, Kinomiya. I'm still my grandfather's grandson, I don't need permission to withdraw. Especially from the likes of you."

The latter chuckles, folding his arms. "I suppose. However we are still Soichiro's underlings, so we're still all in this together. No man can claim innocence if all our hands dipped into the dirt."

"Says the man who bit the hand that fed him," Kai snarls back, his eyes hardened.

Hitoshi's gaze flicked, his amused disposition alters to more serious demanour. "Listen Kai, despite what you might think, I've kept my end of the deal when your grandfather died. Everything I'm doing is for you, so that one day you will take over. We're family, had you forgotten the people who looked out for you?"

"Family?" Kai blurts out, laughing now. "Don't kid yourself, we were never family. My grandfather merely plucked you miserable scumbags off the streets, and used you for his own sick ploy to assemble his little army of pitiful pickpockets to rob from the rich and powerful. Child labour at its finest, I would say."

The tension in room became almost tangible, a needle could be heard if dropped to the carpet. It was almost as though the people in that very room had lost their ability to breathe. For as long as everyone could remember, only Hiwatari Kai had the balls to speak to the older man the way he did. And for as long as they could remember, Kinomiya Hitoshi had always allowed it. Normally insolence as such would've called grounds for a silver bullet through the skull. But this time, Hitoshi bit down his tongue once again and could only match his gaze with the other man.

"You will do this, Kai. It's not up for discussion, we need this operation to go as smoothly as possible. And this cannot be certain if you are not there."

As much as he wanted to scream "no", as much as he wanted to shout it out until his voice became raw, he knew it would not accomplish anything.

"This is the last time," his voice finalized, "do you hear me?! This is the fucking last time, and I am done! Done! You can make this easier by letting me go, but if you insist on killing me before then, be warned that I won't go down without a fight."

Without needing to witness if his declaration to break away was apprehended by the other, Kai storms out. Hitoshi's men made no effort in stopping the Russian man from leaving.

He got back into his car, forcing himself to calm down by inhaling and exhaling deeply before speeding into the night.

The package on Hitoshi's desk, it vacillated between his thoughts and morality. He was angry, he was angry that this was happening again. That he'd decided to join in this foolish operation, that'd he was still associated with these fucking people. In this time of his life... he didn't want this anymore.

He was angry with himself that he couldn't allow himself to let go and be happy.

During what he believed was probably the happiest he's ever been in his whole life, it was beginning to slip away. These tangible possessions, it meant absolute nothing if it meant he couldn't be with Rei.

The week he had been completely tormented over her, he was putting together that same package. It had been a distraction, something to do until night fell for him to head back to lounge to see her again. Since the impulsive decision of living together, he's kept the dammed thing in his suitcase. Away and off Rei's belongings, he kept it hidden away from her all these months. He could only imagine what her reaction would be if she found out... to come and find that she's be shacking up with a former mafia leader.

Wasn't life just so funny? He's worked so hard to acquire this black and white way of living, and yet... karma always had a cruel way of lurking back when one finally reaches the summit of a mountain. No matter how well-hidden a past may be, it will never be completely wiped out. Kai has grown jaded, and he could only hope that Hitoshi will let him go. He wanted to start a new beginning with Rei, but at what cost? He sincerely hoped he wouldn't have to break the one rule he's made.

Not again.

—

As much as he loved being around her, and although he was beginning to suspect that he was falling in love with her. Rei often drove Kai crazy.

Her extreme mood swings were epic journeys brought on what he believed was bipolar disorder. But she would never get tested, so that he will never know.

Kon Rei is such a loving and wonderful girl, such a thoughtful girl, a girl who surprises him daily with her charm and magnanimity.

Around the corner of a twenty-four hour Korean restaurant in front of the Red, there was a homeless man who often picked at the trash bins for leftover food and scraps. After her sets, the pair would sometime stop in for a bite to eat. With the tips she earns, she would always—without fail—place an extra order of food just for the hungry gentleman outside the restaurant.

At first, Kai was concerned about his Rei being a little too kind to strangers, but he's come to realize the man was short of anything harmful to anyone other than himself. In regards to the old man's own health, the poor fellow could only hope to have another filling meal the next day.

Kai found himself making a few stops before seeing his lady perform; gathering a few supplies here and there. A week's worth of food, a sleeping bag, a few change of clothes and soaps for the man. He would've never thought of ever doing deeds as such for anyone.

Another random occasion was the time when they went grocery shopping for dinner. Rei spotted a couple of young kids without their mother, counting whatever spare change they had. Unable to afford meat, Rei offered to buy the youngsters whatever they needed. Normally children should never trust a stranger, so Rei instructed them to go straight home and that she will return with the food she's purchase later on. The pair had come to learn that the mother was sick and unable to do anything for her and her children.

Kai remembered how much this pained his kitten, the tears that'd trickled down her rosy face.

It was these sprees of kindness that held onto him at night, when he found himself stroking her back; comforting her as she cries onto his chest. The tears did not appear often, but when they did, it was a copious downpour that would last for several hours. This would bring him back from time to time, what Rei's past forced her to endure. What sort of grief or sorrow. Who hurt her so badly, and what brought up on this insecurity of her own ability to hold on the people in her life.

"Will you stay?" She often asked him this. The thought never occured to him, but he was way over in his head with the amount of emotions she thrusted onto him. He never knew what to say or do to reassure her, with what seemed like a foreseeable future, she has become the centre of his world.

Although, Rei's mood swings did not stop at the tears.

Kai discovered his little Rei had quite the temper as well.

She would often take offence to the littlest things, a thoughtless action or comment, Kai would find him shacking up in the doghouse without the slightest clue as to how he ended up in there.

She had been in a particularly grouchy mood one day, which made him incredibly barbed. Another downside to her mood swings, they were extremely contagious. On this certain occasion, he didn't possess an ounce of patience to humour or attempt to alleviate her hurricane of 'teenage' angst. Instead, he intentionally wanted to set her off.

"You're such an ass," Rei mutters.

"Yeah, well, you should know, Raymond." He snarled back, wiping off the counter. He knew how much Rei hated that name, and he knew how much it pissed her off.

Kai had barely managed to dodge the flying mug that'd hurtled towards his head, ignoring the smash behind him as he looked at her with disbelief.

"What the fuc... Are you out of your mind?!"

"I hate you," her voice cracked.

"What's that?!" He threw the rag down, stepping from behind the counter.

"Are you deaf, I said I hate you!" she repeats herself, fists balled up.

"Say it again, I dare you!"

"I hate you!"

"Again!" He takes a bellicose stance, needing to remind her who the fuck she was mouthing off to. He sauntered towards her, his built hovering above her significantly smaller frame.

"I hate you!" She enunciates fiercely, tears threatening to brim at the corners of her eyes.

"Again," he leans down, his face undetectable of any sign of emotion.

Rei cries out, reaching her breaking point, she reaches to grab a picture frame on the shelf by their heads but Kai quickly caught her forearm. Wrenching it behind her back, he pushes her against the wall, face-first. His larger body trapping her between him and the wall.

"Again, I dare you." He whispers into her ear, breath so hot and moist.

"I hate you," she barely utters out, wiggling out his iron-like grip.

"Is that why you're always begging me to stay? Pleading for me to never leave you?" he taunts her.

"Bastard," she growls, "I hate you so fucking much!"

It wasn't until Kai found himself lifting up Rei's little red skirt, curling his fingers around the waistband of her panties. He tugs them down before undoing his own fastenings. Wedging himself between her legs, he hoisted her up harder against the wall in front of them. He used his free hand to securely grip around her hip, fingertips preparing to bruise velvet skin.

"Say it again," he presses his engorged tip right against her entrance. Her very tight, little entrance.

"I hate you," she whispers it this time.

Hiwatari Kai was not a gentle man, nor did he pretend to be. Without warning, he thrusts right in. He groans lowly by the hot and very, very tight tunnel, he growls right against her ear. He was disciplining her, he wasn't sure why, but she needed to be punished. Rei did not cry out, she only bit down her lip. He was only able to feel her tense underneath his invasion, and this only enticed him more.

"Yeah tell me you hate me again, go on." He grunts, thrusting harder and deeper. His fingers began to dig into her boney hip, he held her close to his body. He wanted to hear cry out his name, crumble underneath his touch.

"I hate you."

"Again."

"I hate you."

"Again!"

"I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!" Rei chants, she latches onto the wall for support.

All sanity was thrown out the window as he rode out his orgasm. Moving wildly in and out, deeper and harder with every thrust. She cries out, enraptured. Repeatedly exclaiming how much she despises him, while this only compelled Kai to reach his own ecstasy much closer. He could feel it right at his lower belly, he was close to unloading. Rei moved against his rhythm, aiding him to climax.

With one final groan, he spills all of himself inside her. Heavily breathing heavily as sweat dripped, he stumbles back with his belt and jeans at his ankles. He looked down at Rei, sanity slowly seeping back into reality. She held herself against the wall, catching her own breath. Her light pink panties clung around her knees and skirt lifted over her lower back. He could already see where the bruises will be forming tomorrow morning, his fingerprints were bright and red around the swells of her hip.

Repugnance coiled in his stomach. God, he felt like an animal. Perhaps, he was one.

Kai quickly caught Rei before her knees gave out. He turns her around, and hugs her tightly.

"I'm sorry, baby." He whispers, kissing all over her face. "So, so sorry."

Rei held back her tears as she peered up at him, she smiles softly. "I'm sorry, too."

"I'm sorry I said I hated you—I could never hate you. Please forgive me."

Kai tenderly kisses her right onto her rosy lips, resting his forehead against hers. "There's nothing to forgive."

The raven-haired beauty envelops her arms around his neck, bringing him down for another smoldering, hot kiss. They both laid on the carpeted floor, yearning for each other's touch again. As they made their rounds, Kai couldn't help but think of the both of them as being a pair of lunatics. Maybe lunatics in love? He wasn't certain, but he knew he was crazy for her.

And insanity never felt so good.

—

"Can I ask you something?"

The pair decided to go through a few boxes of Rei's old clothes, deciding what could be donated to the Salvation Army before their night out. She looks up from the piles of clothes she's folded, eyeing the other skeptically before agreeing.

"Okay.."

Rei rarely speaks about her family, and this perked Kai curiousity. His kitten seldomly talks about the life she once had back in China, what her life was like before moving to Japan. What made her want to move to another country by herself, what her hopes and dreams were when she came to Japan. It felt wrong to ask, seeing as she's never asked him about his past. His life with Rei was completely off-limits when his other life momentarily takes a stance. He needed to keep the two apart as far away as possible.

"Your friends and family back home, I was wondering if you ever want to go to see them sometime?"

Rei clenches her jaw before breathing out steadily. "No, that isn't an option."

"If it's because of money, I could buy you a plane ticket. Or we could even go together, I'm sure your parents must miss-"

"I no longer have a family in China."

Kai frowned, "I don't understand."

She picks up a pink chiffon dress, her fingers kneading the soft material. It was one of the first dresses she's ever owed, she was almost tempted to put it back in her closet.

"I gave up the right to be my parents' son when I chose to live the life the way I do...that's all."

He could only continue to stare at her, witnessing the layers of her beginning to peel.

"I came to Japan as Kon Raymond, their only son. But when I went back home, I went as Rei, the daughter they never wanted. It took coming here and the expectations they had of me to realize the life I actually wanted. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it was what I wanted more than anything. So they told me to either live in this world where I'll be socially and mortally accepted, or be banished from their family forever. And in the end, I chose to leave everyone I ever knew in China to start anew."

"How long has it been?" Kai asks solemnly.

"Nine years," she replies. "The first and last time I went back home was after my first year of college, and...when they had seen what I'd become, they immediately cut me off. That's why I dropped out of school, and only recently resumed back to my studies. They no longer wanted to pay for my education and I had no money, so I didn't have many options. It was hard at first, but I knew I couldn't stay there so I came back to Tokyo and started my new life as Rei."

Growing up in his household, his own upbringings weren't exactly orthodox. Absent parents and a cruel, manipulative grandfather. But yet... he'd always have a bed to sleep in at night, plates of hot food that'd waited for him at the dinner table, warm shelter to keep him out of the rigid outdoors. No... he didn't have the right to complain one bit.

"And you haven't seen them since?"

"No... only my mei mei, Mao, visited me—but that was only a couple of times since I permanently left the motherland. We try to keep in touch as much as we can, but our lives are always changing, so it gets difficult to make time. She also has a family of her own, so the kids keep her busy." Rei peers down at the beautiful pink dress; funny enough, her mei mei was actually the one who bought it for her. "She's...all I have now."

She silently gasps when Kai scoops her in his strong embrace, holding onto her so tenderly to him.

"Don't forget you have me."

Rei gazed back at the poignant expression before returning his smile, she blinks back the tears that wanted to burst out. "Ugh, you make me so emo." She sniffles, laughing at her moment of weakness.

To which, Kai laughs along with her. A genuine, wholehearted laugh erupting from his belly.

He then watches her venture out to, what he was going to guess, the kitchen.

"Want some coffee?"

"Sure babe!"

As she tended to their coffee, he reflects on Rei's latest revelation. The way she was, so guarded and private—and yet—still yearned to be loved. He's always held a sense of protection for her, but protection wasn't the only solace she needed. It also wasn't the only solicitude he wanted, he wanted so much more and he knew he wanted it to be with her.

He hears her yelp and hassles out of the bedroom.

"You okay, baby? Don't hurt yourself!" He was so intent on reaching her to make sure she hadn't burn herself, he bumped into a side table. Knocking over a few items to the carpet floor, including a meek, little picture frame.

"Shit," he grumbles, rubbing his knee before gathering the fallen possessions. Luckily nothing was broken.

He then notices the brass oval-shaped frame, bringing it forth to examine the photo behind the glass.

Rei didn't usually keep personal possessions out in the open. But judging by low definition photo, he was going to guess this was taken years ago. It was picture of Rei, her arms and legs wrapped around a man with silver-lilac hair. The man looked slightly larger than him, broad frame and muscular arms enveloping around Rei's little waist as he hoisted her up in his embrace. The love in their eyes as he looked up at her adoringly, and she looked down at him with so much happiness.

He's been living in this apartment for nearly six months, why hadn't noticed this picture until now? And why would Rei even keep out, knowing that he was living with her. Jealousy rapidly blooms in his chest, but he knew whatever he wanted to say, he will surely regret later.

Kai closely surveys the photo one more time before bringing it to Rei's attention. That was when his eyes widened, inspecting the picture for the third time to be sure.

That man... he looked so... so familiar. Who the fuck was this man... and why did he looked like...that?

"Rei?"

"Mmm?"

"Who is this... the guy in this picture, who is he?"

Rei perks up from what she was doing, "picture? What pictu—ohh.. that? That was.." she takes a steady breath, "my Boris bear."

"Boris bear..."

"Well, that was I called him. His real name was-"

"Kuznetsov Boris," Kai finished under his breath.

He hadn't taken his eyes off the photo. His Rei was hugging another man, but not just any other man. It was the same man he met nine months ago, the man whom he'd abandoned in the old warehouse, the man who died in the fire, the man who had been riding his woes like a nasty battle scar, the same fucking man he murdered.

Kuznetsov fucking Boris.

By technicality, he was not running away. He was merely doing what he pleased, and no one was going to stand in his way of doing so.

His wretched bastard of a grandfather had been out of the picture for the last four years, so he had hoped this will be the final operation he was going to get roped in. After this mission, he was going to seek refuge back in the motherland or somewhere in Europe. Away from the navy-haired demon for good.

It was simply a favour for Julia. Trash as she may be, she was still beloved by Soichiro and the rest of the organization. Bartering for the promise that she shall leave him alone forever, to quit obstructing his personal affairs and staying the fuck away from him. He and Yuriy were instructed to hunt down Kuznetsov, seeing how the damn witch was unable to complete her own mission in the first place. It was a personal ordeal she took upon herself when she first approached the Russian man one year ago, emerald eyes hungrily lusting for Kuznetsov's sterling repute.

Kuznetsov Boris arose from nobility after all, born into a family of jewelers and gold miners based in Northeast Russia.

When news dilated that Boris was going to be the next heir of the family business, Julia could not pass up the opportunity of snatching extra loot solely for herself. The pair often found cozy refuge in various hotels and lounges, and in turn she would be rewarded with wads of cash and diamonds and pearls.

Kuznetsov had become an endless bounty for the organization. Their affair ran for ten months until the man decided to cut ties with Julia to pledge his loyalty to the woman he planned to marry. Kai recalled Julia's endless carping, the amount of money she was going to lose to some woman the bastard wasn't even faithful to in the first place.

Kuznetsov Boris was most certainly a prevalent figure in the eyes of the public, but not once had the press caught whiff of him being seriously involved with a woman. So announcing that he was going to become engaged was undoubtedly a surprise, indeed.

After much persuading, Kuznetsov still did not budge. Of course this did not please Hiroshi one bit, which was where he and Yuriy stepped in.

"I want you to light the entire warehouse on fire. I don't have to remind the both of you, not a single strand of hair is to be left behind, we cannot afford to get caught."

"I knew you still love me, Kai.." his stomach dropped every time, remembering the proud smirk on her damn face when he became collateral damage in her little ploy.

When the deed was complete, his suitcases were loaded and ready for his flight to Kazan the following morning.

It was all over the news, the warehouse and everything inside burnt to a crisp. He briefly watched 'the tragedy' on a television screen at the airport, Kuznetsov's body was almost unrecognizable. The investigation had quickly gone cold, authorities concluded the case to suicide while there was not enough evidence to point fingers.

Kai walked away after that, from them, from the organization, and he intended to never return.

But it wasn't long until he was hauled back by Hiroshi.

"This was taken six years ago. We met shortly after I began my studies here in Japan, actually. But we were on and off for a long time." Rei says, placing down the tray onto the coffee table. "Unfortunately, Boris bear had the wandering eye from time to time, but he'd always apologized.. and I'd always forgave him. I suppose I just loved him that much. The last couple of months before he died, things were finally looking better for us and he asked me to marry him."

"Y-you were engaged?" Rei was the mysterious woman Kuznetsov was going to marry.

"Yes, happened a few months before I met you. It's ironic, his death occured a few weeks after he proposed. Maybe this was some sick, cruel way of getting out of marrying me in the end, I guess."

Kai gazed over at her, absently watching as she adds cream and sugar to their coffees. Repentance washes over him when she places his mug in front of him, a sweet smile bearing over her pink lips. No.. that smile had altered over time, it wasn't as kinder as it once was. Images of a burning Kuznetsov Boris flashes behind his eyes. The once carefree and innocent Rei, so in love and so jovial.. It was his fault. Why Rei craved for so much love, why she always felt so lonely and unwanted. So alone and damaged, he took away the one person whom she loved more than life.

"Kai, is something wro-"

Said male immediately engulfs her in his arms, sinking his face into her neck.

"I'm sorry... so sorry, kitten."

Utterly confused, she hesitantly wrapped her arms around the other. "What's gotten into you? Kai?"

Her neck began to feel moist, was he crying? She attempted to stroke away the other's woes, taken by the abrupt whelm of tears and apologies. She could hear the other man continuously mutter sorry as he held her tighter and tighter to him.

"Kai...it's okay." She murmurs comfortingly, kissing the side of his head.

No it wasn't, it wasn't okay. He was going to spend the rest of his life to make it up to her. Whatever it was going to take, he was going to love her even more than anyone ever has loved her.

—

yes, i'm still alive. but i won't lie, i've had such horrible writer's block for the past months. until next time, take care! please ignore all errors for now, i shall deal with them later. :)