Author's Note: So, after regaining my lost files, I decided to bring back the old Dried Tears. The re-write will be a new story on its own. Just look for Dried Tears Remix again. And now you guys can see how much I progress and what changes, and what stays the same! :) Hope you guys enjoy. For your reading pleasure, here is the OLD Dried Tears.

First of all: Ray. Rei. Who cares what the name is?? As long as it's our gorgeous neko-jin.

Well, after reading so many awesome Ray/Kai fics, I decided to try writing my first fic, which of course is going to be R/K. At first I considered to make this a one-shot, but after seeing the episode "The Fate of the Spark Battle", I just knew I had to have at least one or two more chapters. Oh well... Please, at least take some time to read this, and then, please leave me a review. (Flames will be used to roast marshmallows... mmm...) This fic takes place during V-Force starting in Episode "Rock Bottom", after Ray looses Driger in his fight against Dunga. .

Note: This is MY version of the episodes, not entirely what happened, of course. Most of the dialogue is the same as in the episodes, but I know you'll notice when it's my original one. . And also, I have to mention that in this fic, Kai's eyes are crimson and Ray's are gold, contrary to how they are in V-Force. Jeez... I'm confused... First season, Tyson's eyes are blue, Kai's are crimson, and Ray's are golden. Second season, they change them to brown, gray, and brown, respectively. I mean, poor guys... people messing up with their eye colors...

Disclaimer: Lemme check... (searches through closet where all her lost stuff appears) nope. Don't own Beyblade.

Chapter 1: Dried Kitten Tears

I was sitting on top of a huge stone right next to the pond of Tyson's Grandpa's dojo, gazing at the water. If anybody who didn't know me had walked by, they would have thought I was terribly concerned by the lily pads floating in it or something. I could hear that right next to me, Chief was explaining some things to the rest of the team, but I really wasn't paying attention. All I could think about...

"Driger..." I whispered as I stared into the water's depths. I could tell my friends were sending worried glances my way every now and then... Before I noticed, Chief had come up with a new training program. He had set thick wooden blocks at a specific distance from each other. I unwillingly got up and joined the rest of the team for this exercise. Tyson was first.

"I'll show you how it's done." Tyson said cockily as he stepped up. Let It Rip!" he yelled as he launched his blade. "Attack, Dragoon!" He looked like he was doing pretty well in that exercise. But after breaking eight of the about twenty boards or so there were, his Dragoon came to a halt right in front of the ninth board.

"Rats... I only got eight of them." He whined. Normally I would have said something along the lines of "Doesn't matter, Tyson. It was good for a first try." But I wasn't in the mood today. Next up was Max.

"Let's see how I do." He said, sounding a little bit too confident. The last thing I heard before drifting off into my own thoughts again was "Let It Rip!"

After a while, I heard someone talking to me. Snapping out of it, I noticed it was Tyson.

"Ray, come on, man. You're up." He said, pointing his extended hand to the boards.

"Yeah." I said without thinking, taking my place in front of the boards. "Let it...RIP!" I yelled as I launched my bit-less blade. I couldn't concentrate. As soon as my Driger got to the first board, it bounced back, without causing ANY damage at all. I sighed heavily and closed my eyes sadly. I could hear my teammates sigh as well. Tyson came over to me.

"What'cha bounce it for, Ray? We're not playing handball." He said to me, good-natured.

"I'm... sorry." I apologized, looking down.

"Maybe we're expecting too much too soon from Ray." Hilary commented. She was standing next to Chief, who, as usual, was typing on Dizzi. Kenny and Dizzi concurred.

"Yeah. Give the guy a break. He just lost his best friend." The computerized bit beast added.

Just when I thought they had finished talking about me, Chief voiced his opinion. "Maybe you guys are right. Ray wasn't even able to summon even half of his power."

"Perhaps he just needs more practice." Came Hilary's reply.

Back to me, Tyson was encouraging me to go again.

"Ray, give it another shot." He told me. I looked up, a little hope showing in my features.

"Yeah..."

I launched Driger again, but the results were exactly the same as before. Except this time, Tyson sounded exasperated.

"What do you think you're DOING, Ray? You've gotta get it together and focus!" he scolded at me. Kai was somewhere leaning on some wall, and Max had come closer to see what Tyson was ranting on about now.

"Come on. You want Driger back or not?" he continued. Apparently, Hilary came to my aid, hands clenched into fists and a determined look in her eyes.

"Stop it RIGHT now, Tyson. Why don't you put yourself in Ray's shoes? Imagine how'd you feel if you lost Dragoon!" she reprimanded. She looked really angry. But Tyson, you know how he couldn't shut his mouth, or just let me be.

"Well, I wouldn't waste my time moping around and crying about it! I'd GO BACK IN THERE and TAKE WHAT IS MINE!! Ray can't just give up. He's gotta get stronger!" he spat out at Hilary, and the two were once more arguing heatedly. I didn't know how much more of this I could take...

"Don't you think Ray knows that? You're not helping him by yelling and goading him! It takes time! We have to be patient and let him have his space!"

"Yeah, yeah! And in the meantime, Driger is going to be sealed in a rock!"

Ok, ok! I reached my limits, and this was more than I could take!

"ENOUGH!" I yelled out of frustration, catching everyone's attention. Tyson and Hilary gasped, ending their argument. "You guys have no idea how I feel, no idea how it's like to have your bit beast sealed!"

Without saying anything else, without being able to control myself, I ran. I ran away from them, from my very own friends. I could hear Max calling out to me, but pretty soon I couldn't hear anything at all, but the sound of me running down the cold hard pavement.

"How could I have let that happen? How could I have let them capture you?" I muttered as I gazed at the orange sun set sky, from my spot on top of the bridge. I had my chin resting on top of my arms, which were folded in front of me, on top of the railing of this one bridge over the river, near an area where we liked to train. Images of my battle with Dunga and when I lost Driger kept flooding into my mind. Dunga's Vortex Ape pounding Driger, Driger attacking back with all his might... Driger being sucked into Dunga's blade...

"Will I... ever see you again? Will we ever battle together again?" I sighed and closed my eyes, feeling the pleasant breeze as it toyed with my raven- colored bangs. I needed the comfort the breeze provided me... to tell the truth, I would take ANY comfort coming my way... I still refused to let it sink in... the fact that Driger... my best friend... was gone. I had let that... that... over-grown monkey take away my best friend, and seal him inside a rock!

"Damn it, how could I be so STUPID!!" I yelled, pulling at my hair. It was all my fault, after all. I was the one who volunteered to fight Dunga in the first place... I didn't HAVE to do it. But still, I did. And I lost miserably, letting the hotheaded blader of the Saint Shields take away my White Tiger.

But still, that wasn't the ONLY thing that had me upset. You know what else? Kai. His absence during my battle... Where had he been? Somehow, I can't help thinking that if he had been there, the outcome of the battle would have been different. There was just something about him... that the very thought of him being close to me made me brighter and happier. Whenever he was present at one of my battles, I felt full of energy, invincible, ready to take on any opponent. And I never lost. I couldn't... I didn't want to. Because winning would make Kai proud of me, and every time I won, he would at least flash me a small smile, something rare, coming from him, and I was the only one from our team that received at least that small sample of acknowledgement. But nonetheless, he would never open up to me any more than that... I guess I have to admit it... I think I'm in love with Kai.

I found myself walking down the street, still pensive, confused, but most of all, hurt. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound... of laughter. Something I had forgotten even existed lately. I turned to my left. There, in the park, there was a group of kids beyblading, looking like they were having a really good time. That left me in a sort of shock. All I could do was stare, surprised. Finally, it all started coming back to me.

"Look at those kids beyblading. They don't have bit beasts." I thought, as I observed the kids battling. "But they're having a great time. I've gotta find a way to get that feeling again! But... how am I supposed to do that without Driger??"

Suddenly, I felt ashamed of myself. "What am I thinking? There are a lot of great beybladers out there who don't have a bit beast." I turned again to look at the kids battling. Automatically, I had Driger gripped tightly in my hand.

"A bit beast isn't everything. The heart of the blader matters too!" I said to myself as I went over to them. "Hey, you guys got a room for a new player?" I asked, my voice surprisingly sounding friendly and happy. The kids turned to look, only to gape in awe!

"Oh wow! Ray!" one of them said, and before I knew it, I was hearing lots of "Hi, Ray!" or "It's really Ray!" or "Wow! It's really you!". I felt my cheeks burning with embarrassment, but at the same time, I had a familiar feeling of pride. These kids looked up to me. I wouldn't let them down.

"I'll go first!" one of the kids said excitedly as he took his stance in front of the bey dish.

"Whenever you're ready!" I said as I also got into my stance.

"Battling with you will be the greatest moment of my life, Ray!" the kid said, and I couldn't help but feel proud and happy. I felt better. A lot better.

"The purity of the game has nothing to do with bit beasts." I kept thinking, all the while concentrating as well. The kids were forming the regular chorus.

"Three! Two! One! Let it Rip!!"

"Go!!" I yelled as I launched my Driger, and our blades clashed.

"That feels better... But still, I have work to do! I have to concentrate..." I said as I walked down the same street once more. "But... how am I supposed to do that with these thoughts of Kai constantly nagging in my mind?"

At nighttime, I found myself atop the stargazing hill, leaning on the railing and the telescope.

"Tell me what to do, Driger. I just don't know what I should do." I said, once more feeling helpless, but not because of Driger. But about HIM. I had found out that I could somehow get Driger back... my friends would make sure of that. I believed in them. But Kai... my little thing for Kai, if you can call it a little thing... HUGE thing is more like it, was a hopeless cause.

I had to stop thinking about him. As hard as I tried, I could never seem to get him out of my mind. He was always there: two-toned slate hair, flaming crimson eyes... and that smile he gives me when I win a match. It just hurt me so much that he wasn't there for me... But then again, it shouldn't have surprised me. It was KAI we were talking about, after all. He probably had something important to do at the time. And besides, Kai was not one to open up to others, let alone develop feelings for them. He would never see me as nothing more than a teammate... nothing more than a bothersome little whelp. The sheer thought of that made something take over me, and suddenly, I found that warm salty tears were cascading down my cheeks. Suddenly, hearing someone walking towards me, I swiftly turned around. I was surprised to see who it was.

"Kai?" was all I could say, before quickly wiping the tears out of my eyes. I hope he didn't notice them. What would he think of me if he did? That the little whelp was crying? The Russian walked over to me, his regular stoic expression changing to one of... CONCERN? WORRY? PREOCCUPATION? Oh boy... this whole Driger stuff has affected me more than I thought... I'm starting to see things...

"Ray. For how long are you going to be like this?" he said, his tone no longer the icy, blistering I'm-better-than-all-of-you-put-together one that we had sort of grown accustomed to. In fact, it sounded soft, and worried, and... sad. Great... if it weren't enough seeing things, I'm HEARING things too...

As an only response to his question, I just turned to gaze sadly at the endlessly gorgeous starry sky. I could feel a slight tremble jolting through my body when Kai put his hand on my shoulder.

"Ray... I want you to know, you're not the only one being affected by Driger's capture." He said, and I turned to face him, my watery golden eyes reflecting my sorrow, and I was hardly managing to hold back the newly threatening tears. If I didn't control my emotions, I would burst out CRYING right there and then. I cursed at myself for looking so innocent and helpless. I no longer felt like the unconquerable white tiger everybody thought I was, but more like a helpless, vulnerable little kitten. What would Kai think of me? I didn't want him to see me in this state anymore, so I gave my back to him, bursting to soft sobs.

I couldn't see it, but Kai's eyes widened, and I could hear him gasp softly. Now I felt ashamed... how could I have lost control like that in front of Kai? I couldn't help but gasp when I felt him pull me gently by the arm, and turning me so I was facing him.

"Ray?" he inquired, but I just looked down, taking advantage of my long bangs to shield my eyes from him. Glittering tears fell to the ground, and were absorbed by the ground. But Kai was now really starting to get worried. He grabbed me by both my arms and turned me to face him, his perfect crimson orbs exploring the depths of my waterlogged golden eyes. "Ray, what's wrong?"

I couldn't answer. I mean, yeah, it would sound real smooth, me, supposedly cool and calm, indomitable Ray Kon, saying between sobs "Kai, I'm acting like a helpless little crybaby because I love you, and I know you will never feel the same way about me, I need you in my life, without you I'm nothing." Yeah... REAL smooth...

Before I knew it, I was pulled to his chest, him with one hand on my back and the other one running softly through my hair as he comforted me, letting me cry freely on him, actually encouraging me to cry it all out. I felt a heavy blush creep onto my cheeks for being so close to Kai, but I just hid my face in his chest. It was funny, how the cause of my tears was also the cause of my comforting. He then put a hand to my chin and lifted it so that I had to look at those crimson eyes again.

"Ray, please, tell me what's wrong." He pleaded, his eyes showing how much he needed to know what was bothering me. I then saw his eyes start to quiver, and I noticed what I recognized as tears in the making. "Ray... It's eating me up from inside just watching you cry and suffer..." he half-sobbed.

My drenched eyes widened at his words. It couldn't be... Kai could not actually... CARE about me... could he? I gazed at him, and before I knew it, our faces were five inches apart. I could feel my heart racing at 200 miles per hour, as I felt Kai's breath tickling at my face. What he said next, made my heartbeat and breathing stop.

"Ray... I love you..." he said, and it took me about twenty seconds to process what he had just said to me, while he was gazing lovingly into my eyes. And for the first time, I saw him blush. That slight red that tinged his cheeks... Off guard, I let out a slight yelp as his lips captured mine.

He slowly kissed me, both of us closing our eyes to heighten the sensation. I could tell that he expected me to pull away from him, but instead I felt myself go limp into his arms, holding on to his neck to keep me on my feet. I could feel his hands slowly sliding down until they came to rest on my waist, and then he wrapped his arms around me. Feeling his warmth engulf me, I left out a small sigh, which he used to let his tongue gain access to my mouth, our tongues locking in a wild dance. As my legs regained their former strength, I let go of Kai's neck, and allowed my hands to run through his bangs as he pulled me even closer, if that was possible. For that blissful moment, we stayed in each other's arms... that is, until I started to feel... a bit in need of air.

"Kai..." I gasped into his mouth. "I can't breath..."

Hearing the sound of my voice, he immediately broke our kiss, both of us panting slightly. Kai rested his forehead on mine.

"Kai..." I said once more, my tears long forgotten and dried from my eyes. "I love you too." At hearing my response to his own feelings, his eyes softened even more than they already had. But then, after about a minute, I think he realized the reasons as to why I had been crying before. He realized that I hadn't been crying for Driger, that it had been because of him. Let me tell you... I don't know how he does that... it's almost as if he could read minds. So all of a sudden, he briskly turned away from me, dropping his arms to his sides. I put my hand on his back.

He was looking down, feeling guilty. "I... I'm sorry, Ray. It's all my fault... I'm sorry I made you cry all those tears. If there were any way that I could get you to forgive me..."

I silenced him by capturing his lips with my own. His face softened, and he pushed himself deeper into the kiss. I think he got the picture. And if he didn't, I'd be glad to kiss him again to make my point.

To be continued...

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! Finally, I'm done with the first chapter! Well, I hope that if anybody read this, they'll leave me a review, and let me know if I should continue or not. Please be gentle, my first shot at writing fan fiction. I'm not sure why I named this chapter "Dried Kitten Tears"... maybe it's because kitty Ray was crying, but now that Kai feels the same way about him, his tears are dry? Well, good enough reason for me. Review and get a chibi Ray plushie!

Ruby Hiwatari aka Neko Phoenix Girl