Warnings: Language. Yaoi. Violence. All that good, yummy, calorie filled shit.

Author: Brooklyn Peayl

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. I wish I did. But I don't.

Summary: Ray learns Lee isn't who he thought he was. Heartbroken, the neko-jin seeks refuge in the one place no one else would dare to venture. KxR, slight LxR

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Chapter one: White Horse

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Ask anyone and they'll tell you I'm terrified of the rain. But lately, I don't seem to mind it. Sometimes I don't even notice it. I'm so preoccupied lately with things I don't seem to have time to worry. It's nice.

As I stood in the kitchen of my shared apartment, I couldn't help but smile.

Things had worked out so perfectly, it felt like a fairy tale.

Mariah finally gave up on our 'marriage' when she found out that I was gay. She, surprisingly, didn't hate me for it. Instead, she decided to play matchmaker and told me something that caught me off guard. She had told me Lee harbored feelings for me, but didn't know how to express them. I told her that I wasn't sure, that I didn't want to ruin the friendship, but Mariah (being who she is), insisted.

Needless to say, two months later we moved out of China to Japan and into a top-of-the-line apartment complex. The neighborhood was all right; the people were nice enough but they always gave us judgmental looks.

Of course, Lee didn't help their looks one bit. He was almost violently possessive of me. I didn't really think too much into it.

Whenever he grabbed my arm, sure it would hurt, but I don't think he meant it that way. Granted, it did annoy me sometimes. But who am I to say anything? It's part of who he is.

…Another part of who he is also consists of coming home late, intoxicated, smelling like beer, perfume, and other things I'd rather not mention. And any time I would ask him about it, he gets defensive and …violent.

I felt my smile fading slightly, but I shook my head.

He only gets like that because he's always had a temper. I guess it's not really his fault. No one ever called him out on it when we were younger. Actually the elders encouraged it. They said it enhanced his passion and strength as a blader.

On the other hand, I overheard them multiple times talking about how if I had only half the passion he did, I'd be an exponentially better blader.

As I mused these thoughts, I heard the door open and slam shut. A few groans and grunts later, the lion dropped onto a chair and put his head in his hands.

"Lee?"

His head jerked up and those eyes narrowed at me.

"Why are you still awake?" His voice was strained and groggy, and his narrowed eyes were bloodshot. "Why are you always waiting up for me? What the fuck are you trying to do, Ray? Go to bed."

I frowned.

"I was jut worried, Lee. You're never around when I get up."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm there sometimes. Jesus, Ray. Your mothering needs are really starting to piss me off."

"Lee…"

"Shut up, Ray!" He clasped his head, like he had a headache, and stood up quickly. "What the fuck are you up to?! Why are you always around? Why don't you get a life and get out of my fucking hair?!"

I blinked back tears, not understanding what I'd done.

"Lee, what's wrong?" My voice felt small, like a mouse. "I… I don't know what… I "

He closed the small distance between us and moved right up in my face.

"You're really pissing me off." He growled, taking my arm roughly and throwing me back away from him.

My back hit the counter, the corner knocking into my spine and causing me to cry out in pain. I collapsed on the ground and writhed, pulling my knees to my chin as I tried to catch my breath.

Before I got a chance, however, something grabbed my shoulder and pulled me up to my feet. I looked up through my lashes, breathing labored, and met his gaze.

Those eyes weren't his.

Lined with red, bleeding with unexplainable fury. The skin around his eyes was deeply creased with a glare and his lips bared his teeth.

Another hand grabbed my other shoulder and gathered my t-shirt. Jamming me up against the wall, he growled loudly.

"Honestly, get a fucking life, Ray. For once, I'd like to come home and not see your nagging, child face staring at me like that!"

A hand connected with my face and everything went black.

Morning woke me, but I couldn't move.

Every muscle in my body felt stiff and sore and my head was screaming. Opening my eyes was too painful, so I just lay in the familiar folds of my bed. The blankets were cold and the air was thick.

I somehow managed myself to will my eyes open and sat up slowly and painfully. Both hands beside me on the mattress, I relied on them to hold me upright while my eyes adjusted.

I recognized it as our room, doors open, books disheveled and abused on the floor, windows wide open letting in the cold autumn air.

My shoulders shuddered, sending a shot of pain through my body at the movement of the strained muscles. I silently winced and rubbed my forehead. As my head was angled downward, I noted that beside me, the bed was still made.

I sighed. Lee never made the bed. That means he never came to bed.

A ringing echoed through the room and I vaguely recognized it as my cell phone.

Again, somehow willing myself to move, I rose and walked as fluidly as I could so to avoid any unneeded pain.

I picked up my cell and looked at the caller ID. Tyson?

Smiling slightly, I remembered that we had made plans to hang out earlier this week.

I flipped the open and pressed the green button

"Hey, Ty."

"Hey, Ray! What's up? Are you feeling alright? I called earlier and no one picked up."

I frowned. "Oh, sorry. I overslept. Everything's fine."

"Oh! Alright. Are we still on for today? I found this awesome restaurant that just opened and I KNOW you'll love it!"

"That's great! I can't wait."

"Good! I just wanted to make sure, I wasn't after you didn't answer sleepy-head!"

I forced a laugh at his un-funny joke.

"Alright, see ya soon, Ty."

After hanging up, I started my morning routine consisting of shower, breakfast, getting dressed, and leaving a note for Lee just in case he wandered through the door before one in the morning.

As I stepped out of the shower, however, I noticed a large dark circle on my cheek. It engulfed a large percentage of my eye and went as far back to the hairline by my temple.

It was black, purple, blue, and red, so it was bright and very, very fresh.

I sighed and looked through the cabinets behind the mirror. There, hidden behind all of my toothpastes and mouth wash, was my stash of cover-up that I use just for this situation. Since my skin tone was hard to match, I mixed three colors and it blended so perfectly even Lee's sharp eyes missed the absence of his marks left on my face.

I've done this so many times that it's second nature. I'm far past being embarrassed about wearing makeup and being a guy. I'm more concerned about my friends, who I see on a daily basis, questioning them and getting caught up in Lee's fury.

After fixing my face, I proceeded to get dressed and soon left, right on time.

Walking down the street, I glanced upward to the sky and frowned. Dark clouds were gathering in the autumn sky high above the tall buildings. Rain was definitely in the forecast, according to the sky.

When I got to the restaurant Tyson gave me the name of via text, he was already there. Sitting beside him was Max, who noticed me first.

"Hey, Ray!" Beckoning me over with an overzealous wave of his arm, the blue eyed boy grinned from ear to ear.

"Hey, Maxie," I smiled as I strode over and took my seat across from them.

Tyson made a face. "Where's Lee? I thought you said he was coming."

"He went out with some of the old team. They came up this morning and he didn't want to miss them." I lied, smiling.

''Oh, bummer." The blond friend of mine sympathized. "Maybe next time we can actually have a double date and meet him!"

"Maxie, you've met him thousands of times before."

"Yeah, but never as your boyfriend!" To this, Tyson agreed with a nod.

I laughed, and shook my head. Changing the subject, I looked at the menu as I spoke. "Have either of you decided on what you want? I can't decide."

"Their orange chicken is the best around!" Max said exuberantly.

Our waiter arrived then, and that's exactly what I picked. I turned to hand him the menus and heard a gasp.

"Ray! What happened to your face?!"

Wheeling, I blinked. "What do you mean?"

Max reached over the table and touched a spot on my temple I must have missed. As he brushed it, he took off some of the makeup. "Why are you wearing makeup?"

Now, Tyson was interested. "Ray, are you hiding something?" He took his napkin and dipped it into his water before handing it to me.

Wordlessly, I knew exactly what he wanted. I sighed because I knew there was no arguing with Tyson unless you know you're right. And I knew I wasn't.

I wiped off the cover up slowly, the tender skin pulsating painfully under the cool cloth. Once I was pretty sure I'd got all of it off, I met their gaze with a half-sincere smile. They didn't return it.

"Ray, what happened? That looks so painful…"

Tyson had yet to speak.

"I just walked into a door," I dismissed my lie by taking a nonchalant sip of my water.

"Liar." The world champ had his arms folded over his chest. Shit. I sometimes forget Tyson isn't an idiot 100% of the time. "You're not clumsy, Ray. You never have been. What really happened?" When I didn't answer, he got it right away. He lowered his voice and pursed his lips. "It was Lee, wasn't it?"

"…It wasn't his fault."

"Ray," Max interjected, "how long has it been? This isn't the first time this has happened."

I shook my head. "I can handle it, guys. It's nothing to worry about." Despite my words, I smiled. "Really."

My walk home seemed longer than the walk to the restaurant. Mainly because it was raining now, but also because my friend's words rattled me.

They were right. This isn't the first, second, or even third time this has happened. I knew they were right, too. Lee was very abusive, and I was very …accepting. This wasn't the first time that the couple that was my best friends tried to convince me to break up with him. This also wasn't the first time that I denied absolutely every truth they threw at me.

The rain heavied and my heart dropped.

I knew they were right.

I knew I had to end this with Lee. The hard part was …how?

Haha YES! This chapter is named after a Taylor Swift song. Muahaha.

Wow, I live? Imagine thaaaaaaaaat! I missed you aaaaall! Hahahaha I will update soon, it's not like I have anything better to do.

Please review!!