Phantoms

Tyson Granger rolled over and sat up in his bed and rubbed his hand over his tired eyes with a sigh. Then glanced at his alarm clock and groaned aloud.

'Three in the morning. Great just great. Wow I got a whole 2 hours of sleep that time..'

The dreams was killing him. The insomnia was getting to him more and more now then it ever had these past few years. It was always the same since ever Kai disappeared. Just bits and pieces flashes that made no sense. The dream he'd been having this time had Kai walking somewhere alone in the snow. In a warped landscape of odd colors and surroundings, a place that seemed bent into impossible angles. There were things in the background that made no sense to Tysons tired mind. Things that he could never explain to himself, or anyone else for that matter even if he had wanted to try. But the one thing with this dream out of all the other dreams over the years that shook Tyson to his very bone marrow was Kai himself. There was a dead look in those once vibrant and flashing red eyes that he had admired so much. Even after ten years Tyson still felt as strongly for the duel haired boy as he had in the past.No matter what had happened he had never been able to forget Kai. No one had ever been able to push him like Kai had. Or jar his soul with a single word, gesture, or comment. Even when he was being cruel or lashing out at them all. Tyson clung to the idea that Kai really had cared. No matter how much he had said that he did'nt, could'nt, and never would. He still lived at the Dojo. He was teaching now that Gramps was gone. On the weekends he gave blading lessons to earn spare cash. And because he still loved it even though it was'nt the same. It had'nt been since that day under the abbey in those forsaken torture labs. The day that Kai had simpley vanished into thin air right in front of his very eyes. And he had been to late and helpless to stop it or save him.

'If I had just got there a little bit sooner I could've saved him..'

He punched his pillow and stood up and shuffled over to his bedroom closet and pulled a battered box from it's top shelf. After taking off the lid he grabbed the photo album off the top of the other things piled inside and smiled sadly at the front picture. There was Chief and ever present Dizzy clutched at his side. Max giving a peace sign and beaming in happiness with his other arm tossed over Tysons shoulder. Rei standing on the other side of him with his fist punching the air overjoyed his golden eyes shining. And slightly off to the side was Kai. The memory and ghost of the past that refused to let Tyson go. Red eyes flashing with silent pride as he looked on at them in brooding silence. His arms folded over his chest and standing his take on the world stance daring anyone to challenge him.

'Oh Kai.. I'm so sorry I could'nt save you buddy. You meant more to me then I ever had a chance to tell you.'

Tyson was jarred from his thoughts when the phone rang beside him. He quickly put the photo album back in it's box. Then shoved it back into the closet with the rest of the ghost to sleep and picked up the phone. At first the only thing he could hear was ragged breathing then a barely audible whisper of his name. He quickly realised it was Rei.

Rei: "Tyson? Are you there? I'm sorry if I woke you. I.. I had that dream again.. But something's different this time."

Tyson: "Yeah I had it too Rei. Don't worry about it buddy. I'm sure its nothing. It never is..

Besides it's been ten years.. If he's out there we would've found him by now."

Rei: "I know Tyson.. But somethings just been bothering me about it all lately. I can't even really explain it.

Anyway how are you?"

Tyson: "I'm fine Rei. Tired as hell, but I'm fine."

Rei: "You know it's actually funny in a way.."

Tyson: "What is?"

Rei: "When we was younger it almost took setting off a bomb beside your head to wake you up.. But now.."

Tyson laughed at the sudden memorys of the things his friends had done just to get him out of bed in the mornings.

Tyson: "Ahaha! Yeah it is pretty damn ironic I give you that. Anyhow I gotta go Rei. Are you still flying in?"

Rei: "You know I am Ty. Max and the Chief should get there after tomarrow I'll be a day behind or so.

You know how long it takes to get anywhere from this village."

Tyson: "heh heh Yeah I know Rei. I never can thank you guys enough for humoring me like you do every year.

Rei: "Nah Ty it's fine. We all miss Kai. I sit and wonder about what kind of a person he'd be today if he was still around. He was our friend after all. Even when he pretended that he wasn't. It's the least we can do for him."

Tyson: "Still thank you so much Rei. I don't know how I'd go on without you guys. I'll see you soon okay?"

Rei: "Same here Ty. We're all brothers in my mind and we always will be. And sure thing. Oh.. And Tyson?"

Tyson: "Yeah Rei?"

Rei: "Take care of yourself."

Tyson: "You know I will Rei buddy. You take care too. Tell the others I said hello will ya?"

Rei: "Will do, bye Ty."

Tyson put the phone down and wandered across his room towards the door. e caught sight of himself in the mirror and flinched at what looked back at him. fter Kai had vanished he had'nt really had the spark he used to have for anything. Not even food. He was painfully thin but well muscled from the classes he taught. His eyes seemed dull and had dark rings beneath them. He had to smile at himself anyway. He had let his hair grow out and he had gotten alot taller then anyone would've thought. He grabbed a shirt and pulled it on then his trench coat and slipped out of the Dojo into the cold winter nights air.

'Maybe if I walk I can clear my head and sleep then..'

Absent mindedly he headed toward the park where he had first met most of his friends. Even the ones that had become phantoms that haunted him day and night, while he was awake and in his dreams. A sudden gust of wind caught the edges of the coat and flared it out behind him. Tyson shivered and pulled the hood of his coat up over his head masking his face and walked off into the swirling and drifting snow. He moved on deep in his own thoughts looking up at the cold winter sky.He never realised that there was a soft pulsing glow from the bitchip he had been wearing around his neck that he had been wearing for almost ten years...