I Hope You Dance

By: Carmen the Hacker

06/10/03

Ray has returned to his small village town in the mountains. Only to find that he no longer has the same feelings for Mariah, and neither her for him. With the two in separate lives now, Ray leaves for a distant smaller lower town. There he meets the ever so familiar Salima, past feelings and conference flood back to them in a rushing river. Will the river sweep them away down the valley of love, or with it pull them under?

Only time will tell…

I must apologize for using characters from the Beyblade V-Force episodes to those whom have not yet seen the episodes.

Another disclaimer, for: I Hope You Dance ~ is by Lee Ann Womack.

Raymond Kon stared out the misty window he leaned against from his seat on the train. Outside it was raining, and the moisture from the rain blurred the view outside. But it was dark, and quite pointless to be able to see anything.

Ray sighed, his breath fogging up a small circular area on the window. He pressed his index finger against it, and the heat from his finger against the cold glass melted away the mist from his own breath. He the leaned back in his seat, the hardback cushion digging in to his spine. He shifted his position, trying to find some comfort so he could manage to get to sleep. Eventually his eyes drooped into slumber, and he drifted into an uneasy sleep full of memories.

He dreamed of when his former teammates and him were battling Team Psychic: Kane, Jim, Gauche, and Salima. Salima. The name echoed inside his empty head, true she was a very good friend, and they had shared a moment before. His dream turned to their sudden abrupt meeting on the bridge. When she pleaded with him to forfeit the match to save her teammates. She meant to give him on of the Cyber Beyblades that Team Psychic had been given, but Kane had stopped her and tricked her into a beybattle, which included the use of the Cyber Beyblades. And then both Kane and Salima were taken over by their Cyber Bit-beasts. Kane by Cyber Dragoon, Salima by Cyber Drigger.

Remembering the horrible scenario of having to battle them all. Max to Jim, Kai to Gauche, Tyson to Kane, and himself to Salima. He had almost lost to her when his feelings for her overwhelmed him. But just remembering it awoke him, and it was now morning.

A few hours later the train pulled into the station. Ray took his baggage off the train, and then he stepped down onto the platform.

'Ray!' His voice was called out.

He turned to see Lee, Mariah, Kevin and Gary running towards him. He smiled as he turned and then ran towards them, willing to greet them quicker.

'Hey guys.' He greeted them with a cunning smile.

'Hi Ray.' Mariah smiled and then kissed Ray on the cheek.

'Psht! Save that for later Mariah.' Kevin huffed.

'You should talk Kevin.' Mariah hissed, making him cower.

'Hey Ray.' Gary said, patting him on the back, a bit to roughly making him cough.

'Hi Gary.' Ray smiled weakly.

'Long time no see Ray. It's good to have you back.' Lee smiled.

'You too Lee.' Ray smiled and extended his hand to him. The two friends slapped hands together in a handshake and then Lee brought him closer into a tight squeeze of "dude to dude" affection. Lee gently patted him on the shoulder and then the two boys separated.

'So… are you gonna tell us what happened?' Kevin asked.

Ray sighed with a tired smile. 'I won the tournament.' He told them

'Oh! I knew you would Ray!' Mariah gazed at him dreamily.

'Who didn't know that was coming?' Kevin muttered to Lee.

'C'mon you two. No fighting.' Gary scolded as he separated Mariah from strangling Kevin. Mariah huffed indignantly and then crossed her arms and swung her body away from him in a twist as she turned towards Ray once more.

'Can we go now? My foots asleep.' Lee shook his booted foot.

'And I'm real tired. I didn't get much sleep on the train.' He yawned, covering his mouth with his hand.

'Crummy seat?' Gary asked.

'Nope. Bad dream.' He sighed.

Soon the five friends were in Lee's car and driving out of the city. Mariah was cuddled up beside Ray and Kevin was sitting as far away as he could on the bench seat. Gary sat in the passenger's seat and Lee drove his vehicle. Ray had his arm around Mariah, who was right up against him, but it didn't feel as natural as it used to be. He stared at out the window, finally getting a glimpse of the scenery, but then Mariah started talking and he was drawn away.

That is all for now, for it is 10: 45 p.m. and I must be going off to bed for I have - what teacher's like to call "School" … my term is "Prison Hold". So the next chapter will be up ASAP. And for those R/M fans out there who are disappointed that I am not a R/M fan… well that's because I find Mariah exceedingly annoying and wish she wasn't in the Beyblade Movie…

Carmen®