"Are you done?"

Hiromi hummed. "Just the last touch," she said, showing him a bottle of hairspray.

Rei crinkled his nose. "Is this really necessary?" he asked.

"Of course, it is!" she told him bossily. "I'll just use a tiny bit, don't worry."

Rei closed his eyes and covered his nose in time before Hiromi intoxicated him with the hair product.

"Ta-da finished!" she claimed.

Rei stood up and stretched a bit. He had been still on the chair for like twenty minutes.

Hiromi had tried different hairstyles -he'd refused to just wear his hair down- and she had settled for a simple high ponytail after she almost messed up his hair while trying to do some kind of braid.

He looked at himself in the mirror and, ok, he had to give Hiromi some points. There was no hair out of place. Even his bangs were perfectly framing his face, but they didn't look like pieces of plastic as he had thought.

"Now go, I've to get myself ready," Hiromi said, pushing him out of his own bathroom. "I'll be ready in ten minutes."

Yeah… sure. Half an hour at least before she was ready to go. Hiromi had decided to get ready in his apartment to be sure that the trousers she had fixed for him fit him well. Somehow from there, she had decided that she wanted to do his hair as well.

Rei went to his bedroom to take his dress shoes for the special occasions, aka the uncomfortable ones that you would wear only a few times in your enter lifetime.

As he blindly searched for the shoebox on the top of his wardrobe, something else fell on the floor with a thud. Rei blinked, surprised. The jewelry pouch. He had forgotten about it. . .

Rei took the pouch but instead of putting it back in his place, he sat on the edge of the bed and played a bit with the blue fabric, unsure of what to do. It had been ages since he had seen the content even though had had always carried it with him. With a small sense of dried, he opened the pouch and stared at the old gift. A golden armband with five green jade stones. . . Five likes the virtues embodied with the jade.

Benevolence, honesty, wisdom, integrity, and bravery.

Good job at holding up on them, Rei thought, being disappointed with himself. Lately, it was like he had lost his compass. He just went blindly with the flow and surrounded himself with work. Was he becoming a work alcoholic? Rei chuckled at the thought.

Not only a workaholic but also a serial procrastinator. He had always been good at balancing the opposites. The busy he was, the better he felt. He didn't have time to think or have awkward talks. . . but after tonight the time was over. He had to take his responsibilities and keep his promises.

Rei put on the armband, twirling it around his wrist.

Well, the important thing was going forward, no matter how. He was going to enjoy tonight, and tomorrow would be another day.

"So, what do you think?"

Rei glanced at Hiromi who was lingering at the door. She was wearing a long red dress, soft but tight on the waist.

"I'm sure you'll make a hit with someone tonight," he said with a toothy smile.

"You flatter," she said, and then added quietly, "if only a certain someone would be like you."

"I'm sure this certain someone has eyes too," Rei quipped.

"It's not his eyesight I worry then about," Hiromi said cryptically, coming closer. Her eyes became curious as they fall on his bracelet. "Oh wow," she gaped, sitting beside him. "It's really pretty!"

"Indeed," he said, putting the armband back in the pouch.

"Wait- why are you putting it away?" Hiromi asked him. "Doesn't jade bring fortune?"

"So, I've been told," Rei replied with a vague voice. He couldn't say the same though, it had been years since he didn't wear the armband.

"Then you have to totally wear it, Rei!" Hiromi said, assertive. "I feel tonight will be magical!"

"Magical?" Rei chuckled.

Hiromi nodded. "I read the horoscope!" she exclaimed.

Rei refrained from shaking his head at her and stood up from the bed. "Let's get ready," he prompted. "The car will be here soon."

"And the armband?" she questioned, almost begging. Did she learn the puppy eyes from Max?

Rei fiddled with the pouch and sighed, "fine."

He put the armband around his left wrist and showed it to Hiromi.

"Happy?"

"Ecstatic."

Twenty minutes later their driver arrived and, fortunately, Hiromi was finally ready. Takao and the others were already inside the car, correction, not just a car, but a limousine.

"President Daitenji made us a surprise," Max told him as Rei and Hiromi took place inside.

"Oh, granny looks like a lady tonight," Daichi said cheekily getting a smack behind the head from the said lady.

Rei glanced at Takao who was uncharacteristically quiet. He was staring at Hiromi with big eyes.

"Oh, look at you all!" Takao's grandfather shouted, ruffling his nephew's hair. "It's like yesterday when you all were little shrimps who destroyed my garden!"

"Grandpa, please," Takao groaned as he pushed him away.

"Why is he even here?" the Professor asked Rei quietly.

"President Daitenji invited him too," Rei whispered back. After all, the old man had been with them since the beginning.

"Are you telling me you don't want me here, young men?" Ryonosuke said threatening. "I'm old but my hearing is sharp as my swords!"

Rei gulped. "But of course, we are happy to have you here," he said smoothly.

Daichi and Takao snorted and got hit by a kendo sword. Rei didn't want to know where Takao's grandfather hid it.

The limo drive continued with back and fords jabs between the group and before they knew it, they were at the new stadium. The limo left right in front of the guests' entrance.

"Wow, there are a lot of people!" Takao said, glancing outside.

Everyone slowly got out of the car, but Max lingered for a moment at the door and winked Rei.

"You've to get him tonight, tiger," he said, pointing a finger at him.

Rei rolled his eyes at Max and hoped he didn't have any of his "genial" ideas like the failed plan of leaving him alone with Kai at the arcade.

Once he stepped out of the car, Rei was careful to not get hit by the cameras' flashes of the photographers. There was also a crowd of fans behind the railing who asked for pictures and autographs.

Rei smiled at the crowd and signed autographs like the others, exchanging some words with the fans, like -no, I'm not engaged with Mao- and -I'm sorry – insert awkward chuckle- but I've to refuse the proposal. Some people were truly wild.

Other cars arrived and soon the crowd's attention calmed down towards them.

"Mama! Daddy!" Max called when he saw his parents get out a car with the American team. Even though Judy had got back with Mr. Mizuhara she had still to go to the United States every few months.

Rei smiled fondly when Max hugged her mother. It looked a bit funny now that Max was taller, and Judy looked surprised too at his son new height.

"If you want cuddles you just have to ask, Rei," Takao said playfully, coming beside him.

"Don't tell me you are offering," Rei joked back.

Takao made a funny face. "Never would dream about it," he laughed, "I don't want to lose my head."

"What do you mean?" Rei asked, a little lost.

"Can't say," Takao grinned, rubbing the tip of his nose. This was weird, Takao never spoke in riddles.

"Look! It's Ming Ming!" the Professor shouted.

The idol had just stepped out of the car and now all the crowd was cheering at her.

"What?!" Hiromi hissed and glared at Rei. "Why is she here?!"

Takao muttered a "good luck, my friend" and snuck away. Traitor. What about all the friendship discourses? This was some kind of payback.

"Well. . ." Rei gulped. "She is a singer."

Ming Ming was the perfect person to entertain the audience before the bigger shot but Rei wasn't going to tell this to Hiromi.

"I'm aware of it!" Hiromi said, her feature slowly turning in those of a fire-breathing dragon. "But they're a lot of singers out there! Is this some kind of compatriot solidarity?!"

"You are being overdramatic, Hiromi," the Professor chimed in. "Ming Ming is not only the best singer there is, but she is- she is just perfect!"

Wrong choices of words but at least it wasn't Rei who Hiromi was after now.

After greeting the PPB and some other team, they went inside the stadium and took the lift that bought them to the press room that had been arranged differently for tonight.

The chairs had been all removed and there were two long tables that followed each side of the walls. Food of every kind could be found.

A lot of people were already there. Some face were familiar while others not. Rei looked around and his heart started to beat faster when he spotted Kai. He was together with the full Russian team but he wasn't actually engaging in their conversation. His eyes were closed to the world around him but he still stood out with his white blazer that reached his elbows, matching white trousers and deep burgundy shirt.

How did just the mere sight of the gorgeous young man always made his nerves go crazy? It was like everything appeared in slow motion now. Rei watched as Takao and Max approached Kai with smiles on their faces.

Opening his eyes, Kai said something to them, probably one of his snarky comments, but he was obviously happy to see his younger teammates. Rei could see it in the way Kai's eyes lit up as Takao stuck out his tongue at him and Max laugh lightly.

Why did he suddenly feel so distant from them? He just needed only to take a few steps to reach them over there, but it was like he was stuck behind a wall of glass.

Rei observed his friends' happy faces; how familiar and comfortable they were with each other after all these years.

They had changed, not only physically, but they remained still the same at the core. They had all matured while Rei was. . . the same insecure fool. And now a jealous one too. Seeing Kai happy there without him made his stomach turn upside down. It was scary, and it made Rei hate himself for wanting Kai's attention all for himself.

I'm the worst.

People walked past him, moved forward. Was he the one being slow? Or was the world around him going too fast? Everything seemed all blurred.

Suddenly Kai's gaze shifted to where Rei was. His deep red eyes turn wide for a moment. Desire? No, it must be like a mirror, he was just projecting of his own feeling. But what if Kai wanted him too, what if he allowed Rei touch him freely- what if he would love me back?

Lingering in this kind of thoughts was dangerous. He should focus on what he had and not what could be. He needed to- he just needed a moment. But Kai still kept gazing at him and he raised his brow at him as if to ask Rei what the hell was he waiting for.

He couldn't keep up with this. Like a coward, Rei turned around and went to the buffet. Food was always the best consolation.

Well, he wanted to, but some people of the past tournaments said hello to him and Rei greeted them back, engaging in small conversation.

Somehow, he finally managed to reach the buffet where Daichi and Takao were already making a raid.

He needed something sweet and opted for a beignet stuffed with a ridiculous amount of cream.

"Well, I almost didn't recognize you, Rei."

Rei turned around, a bit annoyed at the interruption but made a friendly smile when he saw who the hecklers were.

"Moses! And Mystel, you are here too!" Rei greeted them.

They looked the same as always. Moses tall like a mountain and Mystel still on the short side.

"It's good to see you, my friend," Moses said, patting his shoulder with his big hand. "I hope you still remember my sister Monica."

Rei had to plant his feet to not fall on the floor and smiled back at the girl who he had met only once after she had recovered from her surgery.

"I'm surprised you come," Rei said to Mystel. Well, the BBA had sent an invitation to all the ex BEGA team but Mystel didn't have a fixed residence, so it had been impossible to contact him.

Rei admired Mystel's way of life. Free like the wind with no roots who hold him back. But he wasn't like Mystel. Home was something he had missed when he had left the village and started to travel and found again when he met Takao and the others. . .

"I was in the area," Mystel asserted. "So I thought, why not? It's been a while since we saw each other. But where are the rest of the White Tigers? I didn't see them around here."

It was a simple question, but it still hurt. Especially since almost everyone was here but his team. Despite everything, Mao and Lai were like siblings to him.

"They couldn't come," Rei answered vaguely.

Mystel nodded and didn't prompt further.

They continued to chat between themselves and enjoy the food. Sometimes Rei felt a gaze behind his neck but every time he turned around, he couldn't catch whoever it was. Maybe he was just becoming paranoid.

"Rei, I think President Daitenji is looking for you," Monica informed him.

"Hm?"

Rei followed with his gaze the direction Monica pointed to him and indeed he wasn't wrong. President Daitenji was waving at him and he was in the company of- fuck all the ancestors!

Rei coughed and almost choked on his tart if it weren't for Moses who patted his back a bit too hard. He was going to have bruises by tomorrow.

"There, Rei, you alright?" Moses asked.

"I think you're contributing to his death, Moses," Mystel said with a chuckle.

"I- I'm fine," Rei breathed, accepting the glass of juice Monica offered him.

"You look like you saw a ghost," she said, concerned.

No, worse, Rei thought as he gave another quick glance at Mr. and Mrs. Hiwatari who were now engaged in a conversation with President Daitenji. What the hell were they doing here?!

"Sorry guys but I've to go."

"It's fine, Rei," Mystel said, smiling. "See you again soon."

Rei looked around worried but there was no sight of Kai. He had to do something. If Kai saw his parents Rei wasn't sure what could happen.

"Where is Kai?" he asked the Russian team as he approached them.

"He said he had to make a call," Sergei answered.

"Tst, it was an excuse," Boris laughed, "the female twin flirted with him and he ran away."

Rei gaped. "Flirted? You mean Julia?"

"What, jealous?" Boris asked back with a smirk.

Rei bit the inside of his cheek. He knew Boris was trying to provoke him and he was not going to play into his hands again.

"Why are you looking for him?" Yuriy intervened.

"It's private," Rei said, glancing at Sergei and Ivan.

Yuriy sighed. "Leave us for a minute, guys."

The two Russian looked annoyed but didn't complain as they left them alone.

"His parents are here," Rei told them in a low voice.

Yuriy's gaze became sharper at his words.

"Shit," Boris muttered. "You better evacuate this place then."

"Aren't you the one responsible for the guest list?" Yuriy inquired. "How could you let this happen?"

"I've nothing to do with this, I didn't know they would be here," Rei responded, frustrated. "But we've to do something, he can't see them!"

Yuriy and Boris shared a look and nodded.

"It's almost time for the match," Yuriy asserted, "we'll look for Kai and tell him it's time to go to the arena while you will deal with his parents."

Rei felt relieved. "That's perfect, thank you."

"We're not doing it for you," Yuriy said harshly.

Still, Rei was grateful as he crossed the room to reach President Daitenji and the Hiwatari couple. Unlike the first time he saw him, Susumu was wearing an elegant black suit and blue bow tie that matched Misaki's shimmering blue dress.

They had Kai's natural charisma -well maybe it was more like the other way around- and Rei hoped nobody who was familiar with Kai would notice the similarities and start to ask questions.

"There you are, Rei!" President Daitenji smiled. "I wanted you to meet-"

"Mr. and Mrs. Hiwatari," Rei couldn't help but say.

Susumu laughed. "Now Rei, Mr. Hiwatari makes me feel old, I told you to just call me Susumu."

"You look great tonight, Rei," Misaki beamed, winking.

"Uhm. . . thanks," Rei answered, embarrassed. Pity that the compliment came from the wrong Hiwatari.

"Ohh, I see you already know each other," President Daitenji said, clearly trying to sound too much surprised.

Rei gave him a long look. What the hell was going on here? He knew Daitenji meant well but sometimes he got overboard like when he decided to trick them at London. Rei realized he must know about the Hiwataris' situation since he was clearly an old friend of them.

"Rei, remember the anonymous donations who got at the beginning?" President Daitenji asked.

"Let me guess," Rei said, staring back at the couple. "It was you."

Susumu nodded enthusiastically while Misaki had at least the decency to look a bit modest.

"President Daitenji helped us a lot after you-know-what," Susumu informed him. "It was the least we could do."

Rei frowned but didn't say anything. This wasn't the time to have this type of talk.

"Oh well, I've to prepare my speech," President Daitenji said with a laugh. "See you in the arena."

He walked away, leaving Rei alone with the couple.

"I don't want to sound rude," Rei started, "but. . . what are you doing here?"

"Daitenji invited us personally," Misaki told him, "we couldn't refuse."

"Kai wouldn't take it well if he saw you," Rei said, worried.

"I assume you didn't have your little talk," Susumu said with no judgment. "My son can be quite difficult, right?"

You have no idea.

"It's been a few busy weeks," Rei replied apologetically.

"Oh, don't worry," Misaki smiled, "it's not like we gave you a deadline."

"Even though, she will not wait to make herself show," Susumu muttered to himself and then winked at his wife.

Misaki shook her head at him but still smiled at whatever inside joke she and her husband were sharing.

"The truth is we can't wait to see Kai on the dish," Susumu revealed with a longing look. "We are tired to see our son battle in a cold screen."

Rei's lips turn up before the sound of glass hitting the ground reached his ears. He turned around and froze.

Kai was there, his eyes were hidden behind his fridge. A broken glass lied on his feet. Slowly he raised his head, his hair shifted a bit and the rage in his eyes made Rei's blood run cold.

Kai didn't say anything, just turned around and disappeared.

"Oh no," Misaki whispered, echoing Rei's thoughts.

Rei ran. He pushed himself through the crowd and went after Kai without a second thought.

It was difficult to catch up with him since everyone was leaving the room to go to the arena and some people shouted after Rei. He could hear Takao and the others asking him what was wrong, but Rei didn't halt to answer.

Outside it was crowded just like in the conference room. The lift was full and there was no space for him. He had to wait. At this point, Kai had surely reached the ground floor.

Rei leaned against the balcony overlooking the hall and he spotted Kai already going to the exit.

Damn it!

"Rei!" Takao called him, followed by the other. "What's going on?"

It wasn't too high, he should make it. He had to reach Kai and stop him. Sure, someone could replace him, but Rei couldn't let him go in this way.

"Sorry guys," he said, taking a step back. "There is no time to explain."

"What- wait!" Max shouted, raising his arm to stop Rei but it was too late.

Rei jumped over the railing and landed on the floor on his feet. Something went wrong. He bit his lip as a familiar pain ran through his right ankle and he fell on his knee.

Not again, why did the damn ankle give always problems?

From the railing, his friends told him to not move (Hiromi called him an idiot for the stupid stunt), but, ignoring the pain, Rei stood up and started to run again.

Adrenaline and determination giving him the strength he needed. There were only a few people outside, mostly staff members, since the entrance for the audience was on the other side of the stadium and he found Kai quickly. He was at the edge of the road, waiting probably for his car.

"Kai, please wait!"

Kai took a brief, minuscule intake of breath and looked at him. "What do you want, Rei?" he hissed, voice dark.

There was still a wild flicker in Kai's eyes that gave Rei goosebumps. He had never seen Kai look at him so furious, not even in his Black Dranzer phase or during their battle in the last the World Tournament.

"Look, Kai, I'm sorry-"

"Spare your worthless words if you came here to take me back in there," Kai said, looking away.

"You just can't go away," Rei pleaded him. "It's not like you to run away like this!"

"Run away?" Kai snorted. "I'm making you a favor, If I get back in there, I swear I will burn down this place with everyone inside."

"So, you will always flee from every room your parents will be in?" Rei countered. "I thought you were stronger than this! People are waiting for you!"

"And tell me, are my supposed parents among this people?" Kai asked sarcastically, taking a step forward. "You seemed quite at ease with them- Actually, with a lot of people tonight. At what kind of game are you playing, Rei?!"

"I-" Rei opened and closed his mouth several times before forming words. "What's that supposed to mean?" He couldn't understand, weren't they talking about his parents two seconds ago?!

"Don't play dumb!" Kai spat. "I'm tired of it." He sounded exhausted and somehow Rei just did this to him.

"Sir?" an employer of the stadium interrupted awkwardly, showing Kai a pair of keys. "Your car is here."

They hadn't even noticed the car arriving in front of them. It was a two-seat convertible. So, Kai did come on his own earlier. . . and he was leaving alone now too.

Kai took his keys from the man and turned away. Rei wanted him to say something, anything, but not leave him like this. He raised his hand but then closed it against his chest as he watched Kai go to his car. Worthless words will not make him turn back.

"Look it's Hiwatari Kai and Kon Rei!"

"Guys, please, look here!"

A few photographers suddenly approached them and before Rei could avoid it a flash of lights hit him right in the eyes. For a moment, he was blind.

Everything was blurry and confused. The reporters took picture after picture, making Rei feel even more dizzy. He had always hated those damn paparazzi. What did they even want from them? They were Beybladers, not celebrities.

One of them got even closer with his damn camera but before Rei could move a finger Kai moved past him and hit the guy in the face with a punch.

The flashes of the cameras stopped for a second before the photographers started to get pictures again with more vigor. The commotion attired more eyes on them, like bees to honey.

"Kai!" Rei gasped, shocked. This could get Kai trouble, what the hell was he thinking?! He could not afford it in the position he was.

"You- you bastard!" the guy yelled, touching his bleeding nose. "I'll sue you!"

Ignoring the photographer's threating words, Kai went to his car and opened the passenger's door. "Get in!" he shouted to Rei, giving him an ordering look.

Rei blinked, eyes still teary for the flashlights as he forced himself to stay on his feet. The car looked like a safe boat and Rei got inside as his ankle throbbed with more pain.

"Kai-"

"Not now!"

Kai closed the door to his face and got in the driver sit. His expression was neutral as he turned the key and started the car. Like a dormant volcano now, ready to blow at any second.

The car's wheels shrilled against the asphalt and they drove off.

I'm a bit too late but Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday! I caught the usual winter cold so I passed my free days in my bed instead of writing (my brain doesn't collaborate when I'm sick) that's why this long delay.

Thank you all for reviewing and following/favorite this fic, it means a lot to me.

So surprise, Kai and Rei soft of ditched, I hope you liked the twist and the anime references. Episode 1 of g-rev is my favorite for just Rei choking on his food. (thank you Daichi) ok, enough rambling.

I don't want to jinx myself but the next chapter should come sooner, I don't want to make you wait too long after this kind of cliffhanger.

Again, happy new year and I wish you all the best!