Okay, this story's been sitting in my documents for over a year now, and I've finally posted it! Hope you enjoy it! Warning: yaoi.
Disclaimer: Don't own Beyblade, Beyblade V-force, or Beyblade G-Revolution.
"Welcome to my humble home! Dump your stuff anywhere." Kai unlocked the door of the grubby apartment and Ray stepped inside, legs aching a little from the three flights of stairs. As he swung his bag onto a rickety chair, an all-too-familiar pain shot through his left shoulder. Letting out a muffled cry, he sank to his knees, clutching his shoulder, feeling the roughness of the bandage between his fingers.
"Ray! Are you all right?" Ray could only moan in reply to Kai's concern, eyes half-closed in pain. He felt himself being gently helped to his feet and through another door, and vaguely saw a pair of bright green eyes watching him intently. Great, now I'm hallucinating! he groaned mentally, as he was sat down on what felt like a sofa. Gradually, the pain faded away. Slumping against something warm and solid, he took several slow breaths, trying to pull himself together.
"Enjoying yourself down there?" came an amused voice from somewhere above him. Blearily, Ray opened his eyes. Suddenly, he realised that he was leaning heavily on Kai's chest, almost sitting in the older blader's lap. Blushing furiously, he tried to pull away, but his head was still spinning too much and he couldn't move. Seeing the other boy's embarrassment, Kai quickly eased him off his lap. "What's the matter?" he smirked. "Am I not a good pillow?" Ray laughed quietly and aimed a shaky punch at Kai's head. Laughing despite himself, Kai got off the sofa. "Obviously not. I'm gonna make myself a drink. You want anything? Tea? Coffee?"
"Tea would be good, please." Ray said weakly, trying to lever himself off the sofa. Strong hands pushed him straight back down again.
"Oh no you don't. You're staying right there!" Kai ordered. Pausing to make sure that Ray was obeying him, he strode into the kitchen, where loud banging suggested that he was having some difficulty finding the tea.
Ray leaned his head back against the sofa. He was here, in Kai's flat, because after the World Championships had ended, it was obvious that he was in no state to fly back to China. For almost a week after the match, he hadn't even been able to stand up unassisted. He would never understand how he had been able to celebrate with the others directly after Tyson's astounding win. Adrenaline, he supposed. He had collapsed shortly afterwards, didn't really remember much of the next few weeks. Even after he had recovered slightly, regular shocks of pain from his damaged shoulder registered him as unfit to fly. Because of this, he had needed a place to stay until he was fit to leave again. Tyson, being Tyson, had instantly offered his house for Ray to "crash." as he put it. Surprisingly, Kai had also offered his place, as he was staying in Russia. After much deliberation, Ray had chosen Kai's flat. There were three main reasons.
1. He still got tired very easily, and Tyson was on the go 24/7 (plus, Ray didn't think that he could cope with Tyson's snoring. It was hard enough to get to sleep at night as it was.)
2. He knew that Tyson never felt very comfortable around pain, it made the younger boy feel useless, and given the way he was at the moment…it just wasn't a good idea.
3. The flight to Japan was even longer than the one to China.
Plus, a reason that was so stupid, he wasn't even going to think about it…
Kai opened a cupboard door and took out a battered packet of tealeaves. There you are! he thought triumphantly.
Who's the boy? a voice asked.
Shut it, Ebs. Kai thought back. I'm busy. He tore the top off the packet and set about making tea. He knew full well that Ebony would disapprove of him taking Ray in; she would say that he had quite enough on his plate at the moment. But he couldn't just let Ray suffer, which he would have if he had gone and stayed at Tyson's. He knew his flat wasn't much, but with his allowance from that bastard of a grandfather, Voltaire gone, he had had to make do with what Mr. Dickenson could find for him, and what he could get off his part-time "job". Finishing the tea, he poured a mug of coffee from the pot that he'd made half an hour before, set them both on a crooked tray, and walked into the living room. Seeing Ray apparently asleep, he set the tray down and prepared to walk out again.
"I am awake, you know." Ray opened his eyes and looked straight at Kai.
"Good. Here's your tea." Kai handed the cup over and watched as Ray sipped it. "Feeling better?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he flung himself onto the sofa, which creaked in protest. Ray nodded and replaced the cup on the tray, looking around the room.
The living room, as with the flat itself, had seen better days. Peeling dark green wallpaper hung from the walls and the brown carpet was threadbare and worn. There was as little furniture as possible. The dirty cream sofa that they were sitting on, a side table next to it, a chair that could have been brown or black, it was hard to tell, and a small TV. The single window let in what faint sunshine that there was to be had in Russia. "It's not much, but it's…good enough." Kai said with a smirk. "I promise it's cleaner than it looks!" Ray snorted with laughter. Suddenly, he stopped, on the alert. "What?" Kai asked.
"Do you have a cat?"
"Yeah. How did you-"
He can sense me, can't you? A small black cat stepped slowly into the room, green eyes blazing.
Ray sighed inwardly, straightening up. Great. Just what he needed, a territorial female cat! Kai looked in surprise at Ray. He'd always thought that he was the only one who could hear Ebony, yet Ray had reacted when she spoke.
Of course he did, you stupid boy. Ebony said disdainfully, prowling round Ray. She turned to Kai. Why didn't you tell me that you knew a half-caste?
"A what?" Kai said out loud.
"A half-caste. A neko-jin." Ray said flatly. He looked at the black cat warily. She met his gaze full on, every motion she made indicating her territorialsuperiority.
You speak good Human. he thought matter-of-factly.
Of course I do. You think Kai can understand Cat? It was hard enough getting him to understand mind-talk, let alone teach him another language! Do you speak Cat?
Mind-talk or audible?
Audible. You can obviously mind-talk. I want to see Kai's face.
All right.
"Mrow, Kai-mea, Mau!" Ray burst out laughing at the confused look on Kai's face. It was a very rare thing to see Kai at a loss, and very, very funny!
"What the heck did you just say, Ray?"
He said: Wow, Kai has a cat! the black cat purred. Kai looked, nonplussed, at Ray, who was now rolling around on the sofa, clutching his stomach. "All right, would either of you two care to tell me what the hell is going on?"
This boy is a half-caste, as I said before, a half-blood, with two genetic codes. In your clumsy language, a neko-jin, humanoid-cat. As a result, he can speak Cat, which is, of course, the noblest language in the world-
Yes, I get the point. Kai answered hurriedly.
There's no point in you thinking. Unless I specifically block him, the half-caste can hear our conversations as easily as if we were talking out loud. It's most annoying. You shouldn't have brought him here.
I take it that you blocked that last bit?
Certainly not! He should know what I think of him!
"Nice cat you've got there, Kai." Ray said dryly, confirming what Ebony had just said. "What's the story?"
"Very long, and not particularly relevant." Kai answered shortly. Ray shrugged carelessly, accidentally pulling the damaged muscle. Wincing, he grabbed his shoulder again.
You are injured? Ebony inquired, her tone softening slightly.
"It's nothing…" Ray muttered, massaging the persistent ache.
Let me see. The black cat leapt up onto the arm of the chair and sniffed delicately at Ray's left shoulder.
You did this while doing that ridiculous sport, beyblading?
"Beyblading isn't ridiculous!" Kai and Ray said in unison. Ignoring them, Ebony continued to sniff, wincing at the strong smell of blood and metal coming from the wound.
Looks painful. she commented.
"It's nothing!" Ray repeated, more firmly this time. Suddenly, Ebony brought her head up and, jumping on to Ray's lap, began to nose eagerly at his pocket. Perplexed, Ray looked at Kai.
"I think she wants to see Driger." Kai said, looking just as puzzled as Ray. Reaching into his pocket, Ray drew out Driger and held it out to the cat. Ebony sat abruptly down and stared at the grey beyblade, her tail lashing from side to side. Ray heard Kai groan and turned his head.
"What's up?" he asked.
"She can sense bit-beasts. And by the looks of it, she's got the hots for Driger, big time. Great. Ebony," Kai reasoned, scooping her off of Ray's lap and holding her in front of him. "You can't screw Driger. He's a bit-beast. Plus, he's a tiger, not a cat!" He stared at her for a few seconds, then shook his head in disgust and put the wriggling cat back down on Ray's lap, where she went straight back to staring at Driger. "Are you getting this?" he asked incredulously. Ray nodded, listening to Ebony's love-struck ramblings.
Mmm…big, strong…ooh…warm… The cat started rubbing herself against the blade, purring loudly.
"I think I'm gonna throw up!" Kai said loudly. Striding into the kitchen, he filled a glass to the brim with water and went back in. "All right, you mangy flea bag!" he threatened. "Either you cool off, now, or I cool you down myself!" He held the glass at a dangerous angle above her head. Glaring at him, Ebony regretfully backed away from Driger. "Sex-mad cat!"
Just following your good example. Ebony said smoothly. Kai froze, red beginning to flood his face.
"What?" Ray said, suddenly interested. Kai looked desperately at Ray, who was beginning to smirk.
You mean he hasn't told you yet? Guess he wanted to keep it a secret. Wouldn't have been much of a secret if you'd walked in on him, mind you. One slut after another, that's all he thinks about, not just sluts either, sometimes it's-
SPLASH!
With a yowl, Ebony disappeared underneath the sofa, then came out seconds later, utterly saturated. Shaking herself violently, she spat viciously at Kai.
Urgh…cold…wet…horrible…Kai, you little ----!
"What did she just call me?" Kai demanded furiously, turning to Ray, who was incoherent with laughter.
"A very…bad word…in Cat!" Ray choked. "I'm not even sure that there's a human equivalent! If there is, it's probably unrepeatable." Kai's face darkened and he picked Ebony roughly up by the scruff of her neck.
"You and me are going to have a little talk." he ground out from between clenched teeth. Standing up abruptly, he walked quickly into the kitchen, slamming the door behind him. Ray crept to the door and pressed his ear to the faded wood.
Block us. Now.
But Kai-
NOW!
The rest of the conversation was inaudible, just some low buzzing. Hissing in annoyance, Ray made his way back to the sofa. He loved hearing Kai being angry with someone that wasn't Tyson, Max, or Kenny. Or himself, of course. He sighed, one hand automatically rubbing at his aching shoulder. He didn't want to be like this, he hated being dependant on someone, even Kai…
Suddenly, the door opened and Ebony crept through, casting wary glances behind her as she slunk over to Ray.
Whoa, was he ever angry! she breathed, slipping into Cat automatically. That's the last time I do that for a while!
Bad luck! Ray answered sympathetically. He hadn't spoken to a cat for years. It was good to be speaking Cat, or rather, thinking it, again, and Ebony was far more intelligent than most cats.
Yeah, Ebony continued.I've got to apologise to you for being rude, and for sizing Driger up - that is one fit feline by the way - and for swearing in front of you. So, sorry, I suppose.
It's fine. Where's Kai?
Still in there, being angry. I really don't see-
"Ray, your room's through the third door on the right and your stuff's where you left it." Kai's abrupt speech cut through their conversation. Ray mentally reeled backwards at the controlled fury in Kai's voice.
Hey, I did say he was angry. Ebony said, blinking slowly.
Why is he so angry? You didn't do anything that bad…
I'd rather not say. the cat said flatly, staring at the floor.
You sound a lot like Kai when you say that.
Well, I've got to pick something up from him; after all we've been together for most of our lives.
You have?
Yes. Now then, shouldn't you get to your room? Ray shrugged.
Okay.
