Hey guys. :) After reading my own fic a while after I wrote it, I got terribly embarrassed at my writing. -' I noticed many (and I mean MANY) flaws like too much ooc-ness, especially with Kai and Ray, and I would really like to fix that. It wasn't bad for when I started, but I've been writing for two years now. I know that right now I can do so much better and (since no one is paying attention to Dried Tears II) I thought I might as well just have some fun fixing the original Dried Tears while I have some time. Let's see how it goes, eh?

Expect less simplicity, less OOC-ness, more Tyson x Max, and more descriptive narration. Also, Dizzi is gone. She was just a little bit annoying…

This was my first ever fanfic, inspired after reading so many awesome Kai x Ray fics and watching V-Force, the ultimate Kai x Ray fan girl season. This fic actually takes place during V-Force starting with the episode "Rock Bottom", after Ray loses Driger in his fight against Dunga.

Note: For purposes of my fic... although it's V-Force, Ray's eye color will be golden (instead of brown), while Kai's will be crimson (instead of gray). As for Kai's wardrobe, I would prefer if he wore his first season outfit, as I miss the scarf and his violet outfit makes him look too much like an uke. Kai Hiwatari will never be an uke, at least not in my books.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or any of its characters. I write solely with the purpose of entertaining myself as well as those who are interested in reading my work. So please don't sue. I'm just a poor teenage girl trying to have some fun.

Chapter 1: Dried Tears

Ray sat on top of a huge flat boulder on the edge of the pond in Tyson's yard, his golden gaze fixated on the waters before him. Not once would he look up, seeming terribly concerned by the floating lily pads and playful flapping koi fish that called the pond "home".

The rest of the Bladebreakers weren't too far away, sitting at the dojo's wooden steps while the Chief debriefed them on something or other concerning an upcoming training program and where they currently stood in terms of skill. Ray knew he should have been paying attention, but right now training was not one of his thinking priorities.

"Driger..." he whispered blankly as he stared into the water's depths.

"How could I lose you? Aren't I... supposed to be your protector?"

The rest of the Bladebreakers sent worried glances at Ray every once in a while. The neko-jin had been that way all afternoon, after their heartbreaking encounter with the Saint Shields, where the gruff Dunga had completely dominated Ray in battle and taken off with his sacred beast. They wanted to help him, but right now, all they could do was train and hope for the best.

In light of their current situation of inferiority to the Saint Shield bladers, Kenny had come up with a new training program designed to enhance the blade's control and maneuverability without sacrificing strength and power. He had set wooden blocks of varying thickness at a specific distance from each other, creating a course of sorts that the others would have to navigate successfully in order to break all blocks in one go.

The neko-jin felt unwilling to participate in any ministrations involving blades right now but, out of respect for the others, he got up and joined the rest of the team for this exercise. The others were more than anxious to start, and Tyson was first up.

"Heh. This'll be cake. I'll show you guys how it's done." the dragon blader announced cockily as he stepped up and readied his launcher and blade. "Let It Rip!"

"Dragoon, attack!" he commanded as his blade began to plow down block after block, splinters and other pieces of broken wood flying everywhere. The young blunette actually looked like he was doing pretty well in the 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.

"Man... not cool. I only got eight of them!" Tyson whined, fidgeting with his hat. It was then Max's turn. The hyper blonde stepped up to the plate, but not before sending a furtive glance at the dragon blader before turning away with a slight pinkish tint on his cheeks.

"Not bad for a first try, Ty. Let's see how I do!" the young American blader declared, hiding his jitters with a voice of overconfidence.

Ray was trying his best to pay attention to his friends, but he couldn't help it. The last thing he heard was Max's "Let It Rip!" before drifting away into his own thoughts again.

Max seemed to be doing just at well as Tyson, but his Draciel eventually stopped at one short from matching Tyson's record.

"Aww man! I could've sworn I had that one in the bag!" the blond pouted before turning to the rest of the team. Tyson moved in to snap Ray out of his thoughts; it was his turn.

"Alright. Your turn, Ray."

The raven-haired blader seemed to snap out of his stupor, shaking his head slightly before turning to look at Tyson. The dragon blader had his extended hand pointing to the boards.

"Ray, come on, dude. You're up."

"Yeah…" the Chinese blader said without really thinking, slowly taking his place in front of the boards. He didn't notice, but slightly concerned crimson orbs watched him intently as he readied himself to launch.

"Let it… RIP!" Ray yelled as he launched his bit-less blade. As much as he wanted to, however, he couldn't concentrate. As soon as his Driger reached the first board, it bounced back without causing any damage. The blade then raggedly swiveled to a stop at Ray's feet.

A collective sigh was heard as Ray closed his eyes sadly. Tyson placed a comforting hand on his teammate's shoulder.

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

The raven-haired blader couldn't help but look down apologetically. "I'm… sorry."

"Maybe we're expecting too much too soon from Ray." Hilary commented, the concern obvious in her voice. "After all, he just lost his best friend."

"I think you're right." Kenny was quick to voice his opinion out as he typed away on his laptop. "Ray wasn't able to summon even a quarter of his power."

Tyson encouraged Ray to go again.

"Ray, give it another shot." He suggested. The neko-jin looked up, some hope still present in his features.

"Maybe…"

The Chinese blader launched his silver blade again, but the results were exactly the same as before. This time, Tyson began to lose his patience.

"What do you think you're DOING, Ray? You've gotta get it together and focus!" he yelled exasperatedly at the sulking boy.

At hearing Tyson's outburst, Kai left his position of leaning against the wall and joined Max in the sidelines to see what Tyson was ranting on about now.

"Come on. Do you want to get your bit beast back or not?" he continued yelling, but Ray remained defenseless, not even bothering to look Tyson in the face. It was Hilary who came to his aid, hands clenched into fists and a determined look in her eyes as she confronted Tyson.

"Stop it RIGHT now, Tyson. Why don't you put yourself in Ray's shoes? Imagine how you'd feel if you lost Dragoon!" she reprimanded. She looked very angry, and her wine-colored eyes sparkled in irritation.

The quarrel seemed to snap Ray out of his daze. His eyes widened as he witnessed the heated argument come back and forth between his friends.

"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!"

"Don't you think he knows that? You're not helping him. Instead of showing your support like a good friend, you're simply yelling and goading him! He needs some time to heal. We have to be patient and let him cope with his loss!"

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

That last comment about his Driger was just about as much as the poor neko-jin could stand.

"ENOUGH!" he yelled out of frustration, with beginnings of tears present in his eyes. Tyson and Hilary gasped, ceasing their argument immediately. "This isn't helping me… this isn't helping me at all."

Hiding his face from his friends, he did the only thing his clouded mind told him to do. He turned on his heel and ran.

"Ray!" Max cried out as his teammate ran out the dojo doors. He aimed to follow him but Kai's arm blocked his path.

"Let him go, Max." the crimson-eyed blader said softly, gazing in the direction that the raven-haired boy had just left. The blonde looked sadly up at his team captain before looking in the same direction.

"Do you think he'll be alright?"

"Maybe."

A worried look overcame the crimson-eyed blader's face.

"Ray..."

Ray ran and ran until he regained his senses, and then began to slow down. He took the opportunity to contemplate his surroundings. He hadn't run too far off; he was near the river. He walked towards the bridge's railing. It was late afternoon. It would be dark soon.

The golden-eyed blader rested his arms on the railing as he took a moment to gaze idly at the orange sun set sky.

"How… could I have let this happen? How could I have let them capture you?"

Images of his battle with Dunga and how he lost Driger kept flooding back into his mind. Dunga's Vortex Ape pounding his white tiger; Driger attacking back with all his might, but to no avail; the painful roars as his bit beast, his best friend was being sucked into his enemy's blade…

The neko-jin sighed and closed his eyes.

"You know… it might have been different if YOU had been there…"

Yes… it might have been different if Kai had been there… maybe.

"Damn it, how could I be so STUPID!!" Ray cried out, pulling at his hair.

How could he have been so stupid as to even think Kai would have been there? He wasn't worth his captain's time. He was a nobody. He was weak. He took on Dunga with confidence, and lost miserably. He hadn't even been able to protect his own bit beast! Kai, on the other hand, was strong. He was passionate. He was… pretty close to perfect. So why would Kai want to have anything to do with him?

"But still… I can't help thinking that if you had been there, the outcome of the battle would have been different. Whenever you're watching me, I feel powerful, full of energy. I don't remember a single time in which you had been looking over one of my battles when I lost. I couldn't… because I want you to be proud of me. I want to see you smile at me… I want to receive a small sample of acknowledgment for my existance. But that will never happen, will it? You'll never open up to me any more than that."

The raven-haired boy shook his head sadly.

"You know… this would be a whole lot easier if I wasn't so in love with you."

As night fell, Ray found himself walking down the street, still pensive, confused, but most of all hurt. He had to concentrate… he had work to do if he wanted to see Driger again. But how was he supposed to do that with these thoughts of Kai constantly nagging in his mind? He was almost at the top of a small stargazing hill that overlooked the town. This was his place to think and to run away. With an empty gaze, he leaned on the telescope and lost himself amongst the endless stars.

"Tell me what to do, Driger…" the blader's shoulders shook as he bit back tears. "I just don't know what I should do…"

As hard as he tried, the poor youngster couldn't stop thinking about his slate-haired captain.

"He'll never see me as more than a teammate… nothing more than a bothersome little whelp, just like how he views the rest of the team."

The sheer thought of that was unbearable. Ray gasped when he felt salty tears dripping down his cheeks.

"Please… make it stop…"

"Ray?"

The Chinese blader gasped and turned around to come face to face with his team captain. Kai was standing a few feet away, his alabaster scarf fluttering in the cool nighttime wind.

"K-Kai?" Ray stuttered before quickly wiping the tears out of his eyes, hoping that Kai hadn't noticed them. What would he think of Ray if he did? That the little whelp was crying?

The Russian blader reduced the distance between his younger teammate and himself. His normally stoic expression had changed into one of… CONCERN? WORRY? PREOCCUPATION? Oh boy... this whole Driger stuff had affected Ray more than he thought... He was starting to see things.

"Ray… are you alright?" Kai asked. His tone wasn't the blistering I'm-better-than-all-of-you-put-together tone that the Bladebreakers had sort of grown accustomed to. In fact, it sounded soft, and worried, and... sad. Great... if it weren't enough seeing things, Ray was HEARING things too...

The neko-jin dodged the question, choosing instead to gaze sadly at the starry sky. He could feel a slight jolt through his body, similar to lightning, as Kai rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Ray... Driger's capture is not only affecting you. It's affecting all of us too." The crimson-eyed blader whispered, causing the neko-jin to face him. Ray's watery golden eyes reflected sorrow as he struggled to hold back new tears.

If Ray didn't control his emotions, he would burst out crying right then and there. Kai was so close, yet so far away. He seemed concerned with making Ray feel better… but how could he, if he was the very cause of his tears? Ray couldn't help but feet ashamed… how could he lose control like that in front of his captain?

Kai's eyes widened as Ray gave his back to him, stifling soft sobs. Alarmed, the phoenix blader took hold of the tiger's arm, turning Ray so that they were facing each other again.

"Ray?"

The other teenager just turned his gaze away from Kai's scrutiny, taking advantage of his long raven bangs to shield his eyes from his captain. Kai was now really starting to get worried. He grabbed Ray by both of his arms, forcing the neko-jin to look at him. Perfect crimson orbs explored the depths of waterlogged golden eyes. "Ray, what's wrong?"

"Why do you care?"

The crimson-eyed blader was taken aback by the question. "What?"

"I said…" Ray repeated softly, locking eyes on Kai's. "…why do you care?"

In response, the phoenix turned his crimson eyes away as he bit his lip. What was the answer?

Was he looking out for his teammate? Was he looking out for someone whom he actually considered a friend?

Or was it the fact that the way that Ray made him feel was unlike anything he had ever felt before? That the mere sight of the neko-jin heartbroken was eating him up from inside and that it was taking him all his pride and self control to stop him from enveloping his arms around the other's frame, to hold him close and whisper that everything would be okay?

The phoenix simply took hold of the golden-eyed teenager's chin, locking his eyes with Ray's once more. "Because I care about you."

Ray's widened his eyes in surprise. Kai couldn't actually… care about him, could he?

The thought wasn't entirely farfetched. His captain was here right now, wasn't he? Kai was worried about him. And he was… oh… so… close.

Kai's actions had brought them so close together that he could feel Kai's breath on his skin.

"He's so close to me… he's just a whisper away… I don't want to get hurt… but what happens if I…"

A fleeting desire took over Ray. He leaned forward, getting closer to his team captain. He then brushed his lips softly against Kai's and his knees almost buckled as bolts of lightning coursed through his body.

The kiss was soft… slow. Kai was taken by surprise but slowly fluttered his eyes shut as he let himself be dragged into the moment. Ray couldn't believe it. He felt warm… he was out of it… he was… kissing Kai! Reality hit him like a brick wall. Ray gasped and quickly pulled away blushing furiously, his eyes just as wide as Kai's.

The Russian blader seemed to snap back to his senses as well. What had just happened? Had Ray just…? Did this mean that Ray… had feelings for him as well?

To Ray, Kai's stunned expression didn't look good. He covered his mouth with his hand and hurriedly rear-stepped, until he was leaning against the railing. How cold he have let himself lose control like that?

"Oh my God, Kai. I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to…"

The horrified neko-jin started to apologize before Kai closed the distance between them in seconds, grasping Ray's chin and kissing him again.

This second kiss was harsher as Kai unleashed a little bit of passion. He quickly had Ray pinned against the railing. His arms slid down the neko's sides before coming to rest at his waist, by which he then pulled him closer. Ray was shaking, so he held on to Kai's shirt to keep himself on his feet. The phoenix nipped and sucked on Ray's lips, causing the tiger to anxiously give him access to his mouth. Their tongues locked in a wild dance as the two bladers pulled each other even closer.

For what seemed to be an eternity in a moment, both of them remained in each other's arms. And it would have remained eternity if Ray hadn't started to feel a bit in need of air.

"Kai…" the raven-haired teen gasped breathlessly into the other's mouth. "I can't breath."

In response to the ragged sound of Ray's voice, Kai immediately broke the kiss. He gently rested his forehead against the tiger's, as they both panted.

Whoa… had they just kissed… again?

There was no doubt in Kai's mind right now. Ray definitely had to feel the same way. The phoenix had a feeling that if he didn't express his feelings now, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

"Ray, I care because I love you." He whispered, burrowing his face in the neko's soft raven-colored tresses.

The golden-eyed boy blushed as his heart started beating faster and faster. Kai did care… Kai… loved him. With a sigh, he closed his eyes as he rested against Kai's chest.

"Thank you, Kai… I love you too."

"Maybe getting Driger back won't be that hard after all…"

To be continued...

That was it… the new chapter one. I was satisfied with Kai being a lot less sappy, and Ray being a lot less dramatic. Hope you guys liked.

Re-vamped chapter two will be up in a couple of days.

Don't forget to check out the new chapter for Dried Tears II.

Until next time.

XOXO

Neko Phoenix Girl