6. A MOMENT IN TIME

As indicated in the map the way to the gardens led through a 20 meter long archway of plexiglass that was supposed to be underwater of the Hotel's largest swimming pools. At that time though, only the nearest blue tiles of a now empty but for the wind, pool could be seen. At the end of the archway two sets of glass doors that formed an airlock prepared the visitor for the temperature that would follow.

Kai gasped at the unexpected sheer size of the garden. The lush foliage unmistakably Japanese, made his heart tighten as he had a secret affinity for parks and gardens. The placing of foliage and the terraforming was so well planned that all seemed only natural. All pathways led eventually to the centre where the lake was situated. In his wonderment Kai almost forgot to keep track of his pursuit. He got a glimpse of them walking far down the hill where the entrance was, Rei was talking with Kenny, and Max and Tyson followed chitchatting about something apparently mischievous. Suddenly Tyson darted forward snatching Dizzy out of Kenny's hold and hurried towards a thick grove. As expected a laughing Rei and a terrified Kenny hurried after them.

When the running party had vanished behind the thick grove, Kai also hurried after them. Upon turning he came face to face with Rei, who stood by a lamp post and had apparently lost the others.

"Kai!" Rei said surprised. And indeed he was, its was obvious that Kai didn't come hurrying round the corner just by chance, Kai was following him!

"And the way he looked at me" Rei thought, while Kai took a breath, turning his look over the small lake and to Rei's disappointment put on his common expression like clouds hiding the sun.

There he stood and had apparently come for him and was silent.

Kai was also lost for words as he had just set out to follow Rei and had not thought about what he would say to him. There was so much to say and ask!

Before Rei could start to wonder how or why Kai suddenly appeared, Kai turned his look back to him and said as calm as usual, perhaps with a slight coarseness in his voice.

"Sumimasen Rei. How are you feeling?"

"Fine,…..errr… better" answered Rei.

"That's good" replied Kai and after a pause "Nice place this garden…"

"Yes it is nice…" replied Rei.

Another pause.

"Thanks for yesterday Kai."

Hearing that, Kai looked up to him glad that Rei kept that conversation going.

"It was nothing."

"No, really thank you." Rei assured him and smiled.

Another pause.

"The lake is nice…"Kai said

Another pause

" Yes it is…"replied Rei who thought "This is getting nowhere, what is he trying to say? Will he perhaps tell me about yesterday? And why this sudden caring? I have to keep him talking or he'll go away!"

"Lets walk!" he proposed and went on. Kai followed silent.

They had been walking for around 10 minutes on a path following the shore, both silent lost in their thoughts, both equally perplexed.

Rei, because on the one hand he could not grasp that he was walking with Kai in a park as if they were old pals and on the other he had no clue whatsoever on why the other was holding back what he was clearly craving to say. Kai, because he fought with himself whether what he was doing was right or wrong, and even if it was right, why he wasn't saying anything at all.

They walked up a slope and ended up on a terrace overlooking the whole lake and a great deal of the garden behind it. Many other people had gathered there and seemed to wait for something. Still not knowing what to say to each other, the young men stayed amongst the people, curious about what was going to happen there. From what some were saying, soon the hotel staff would turn on the artificial breeze, which would mean…

Something stroked Rei's face, something with a familiar fragrance, but before he could see it, the breeze had taken it away. Then another flew by and another and soon the air was filled with them. Cherry Blossoms. Hundreds, thousands of Cherry blossoms scenting the air irresistibly sweet.

The whole terrace was silent now and only the slight wind could be heard as no one could be left untouched by such natural beauty, by its sheer purity. Both Rei and Kai were transfixed !

Rei had forgotten everything around him and did not perceive that Kai had moved beside him, nor did he notice when Kai took his hand. Only when the crowd all around them came out of their wonderment and began to clap hands, cheer and talk, did he realize. And time stood still.

It was as if the moving people where frozen in place, the falling blossoms stuck in mid-air, everything colourless and immobile except for two pounding hearts.

Kai had turned and faced Rei, crimson eyes looking into black.

"Rei, i….."

"There you are!" shouted Tyson from somewhere behind Rei.

Gone was the hand and gone was Kai from his sight.

"Damn no!" he thought as Tyson's hand grabbed him by the shoulder turning him around.

Rei scanned the crowd almost in panic and located Kai at the terrace fence looking over the landscape.

"Where were you? We have been looking all over for you" Max asked.

"Not exactly" said Kenny who seemed really annoyed "Only after I got to take Dizzy back did they realize you've stayed behind."

"Beautiful wasn't it? So much like home!" said Max.

Tyson and Kenny nodded and the latter said "Today I really got homesick, too bad we are loosing our time here, I would rather spend the rest of the summer at home…"

…

No one seemed to listen to him as Tyson and Max where looking at each other "that" way, and Rei was looking over towards the fence. No he was looking at somebody who was coming closer. And there he stood, Kai. As always he appeared out of thin air with no reason. Removing a cherry blossom that had stuck on his Laptop, he remembered what he wanted to announce.

"Hey guys, speaking of home, have you forgotten that today the All-Japan Beyblade Junior-league will take place in Tokyo?"

"Ah I had forgotten about that" Tyson said disappointed "too bad we can't be there, it would be fun to see all the new generation of Beybladers, all my new fans"

"Hey!" Max said " I bet it will be broadcasted by BBA-net on Tv lets go and ask if the hotel can arrange something for us, whenever MrChamp here snaps out of his drooling!"

"Yeah lets go!" said Tyson and he and Kenny hurried after Max.

Rei who had stood all the time speechless, annoyed, confused and happy was really surprised when Kai had come back. He now set to follow the others and turned to ask Kai

"Do you want to come too?"

Kai simply followed.