Disclaimer: No not me, not I. Not mine. Not mine. No not me not I.

Chapter Six - Affectation

Not long after visiting Tyson, Kai decided to walk back to the apartment. Ray was trailing behind him, still feeling a bit guilty for making Tyson angry like that.

Kai took out his keys and unlocked the door. He walked in and slammed the door at Ray's face. A little shocked by Kai's action, Ray took out his own set of keys and entered the house.

Max came out of his bedroom to greet his two other teammates. With his trademark sunny grin, he started with an exuberant tone "Hey guys, what's up?" but stopped when he sense the tension between the two older boys.

Kai looked away while Ray stayed neutral in his position.

"Er..." Max said, hoping to start a conversation. He looked around and realised that Tyson wasn't with neither Ray nor Kai. "Where's Tyson?"

"Where's Tyson?" Kai narrowed his eyes while repeating Max's question in a mocking tone. "Where's Tyson? I think you should ask Ray."

Max, who was in total confusion, cocked his head to the right, wondering what was wrong. "Er... Ray?" He asked, hoping to get a response from him.

Just then, Kenny came out of his room and saw three of his teammates standing there. To him, they seem to be discussing something so he stayed out of the conversation, trying not to interrupt anything. Although the silence seems to be incommoding the boys, he still remained taciturn.

"He's in the hospital." Ray finally answered.

"What do you mean he's in the hospital?" Max eye widened, showing full concern of Tyson. "What happened to Tyson?"

"Ray happened." Kai beamed. "He could have gotten killed, Ray, killed. He was lucky."

"But..." Ray was having a bad time dealing with Kai. He was trying to help Tyson but instead, he is accused for Tyson's accident. He tried to think of a way to explain to Kai but he knew it wouldn't work so he didn't bother attempting.

"Guys, please stop it. What happened to Tyson?" Max's voice raised, face expression turning bitter by the moment.

"Tyson was angry at me so he ran out of the apartment. He crossed the road without warning and nearly got hit." Ray explained, trying to be as meticulous as possible.

"Oh my... so why is he in the hospital if he didn't get hit?"

"The doctor said he needs to be checked up because he seems to be underweight." Ray said. "I think he has an eating disorder."

"Are you serious? Tyson, an eating disorder?" Max said in total shock. "You can't be serious right, Ray?"

"Yes. I've just realised."

"And what did you say to him that made him run away like that?" Kai squint his eyes dangerously towards Ray.

"Kai," Ray complained.

"Alright now, you two, stop fighting. We need to be co-operative and support Tyson" Kenny, for the first time, said. "If what Ray said was true, then we need to help Tyson."

"Kenny's right. Guys, we need to be supportive to Tyson. Eating disorders are dangerous." Max muttered in a serious tone. "Are you definite, Ray?"

"Well... not really."

"We'll find out tomorrow."

---

The BladeBreakers, excluding Tyson, visited Tyson the next morning.

When they got there, the four boys peered inside the room and saw Tyson in an upright position on his hospital bed. He looked better compared to yesterday. He seemed really bored and let out sighs time after time, playing with the white bed sheets with his fingers.

Max decided to walk in first, followed by the other.

"Ohhh hey guys." Tyson's eyes lit up and smiled happily.

"Hey Tyson, how are you feeling?" Max asked with a benign smile.

"Never been better!" Tyson responded in a sarcastic voice and rolled his eyes. "God Maxie, what do you think? I'm bored out of my skull. I've been sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. Also, the food here is so insipid, no taste at all. How could I eat it?" Tyson complained with a pout. "When can I come out? I'm perfectly fine. Even ask Doctor Sakano. He told me that I was fine."

"Well... Doctor Sakano said you need a check up and then you could come out of the hospital." Ray said.

"Aww man. Why? What for?"

"Just to make sure, you know."

Suddenly, someone came in the door and everyone turned their heads to see who is was.

"Hi Tyson, how are you feeling today?" Kuroshio asked.

"What? Who are you?" Tyson asked curiously.

"He's the one that brought you to the hospital." Kai told him.

"Yea, I nearly smashed you yesterday, and then I brought you here. I'm just checking if you're alright or not. So... are you alright?"

"I'm fine thanks."

"Cool, that's great!"

The doctor came in and... "Wo... Oh hello. You guys visiting Tyson, right?"

"Yea." A few people nodded.

"That reminds me, I've already checked Tyson's weight. It seems that he is a little underweight for his age and height. He also appears to be skinnier than normal 13 years olds."

Kai noticed Tyson's face paled when doctor Sakano said that. He was beginning to realise that it was true. He does have an eating disorder.

"What? Me, underweight?" Tyson laughed but stopped when he realised that everyone was in a serious mood. "Come on. Guys, you don't think it's true, right?"

"Tyson, do you have a problem with your weight?" Kai asked, trying to be gentle and not upset the smaller boy.

"What do you mean, Kai?"

"Do you diet?"

"Well, yea, I'm on a simple diet, that's all. But I'm fine, I swear." Tyson assured with a smile.

"Well, if it's just a simple diet, then he could go now. Just remember, Tyson, don't go too far. If you're on the diet, you better stop now." Doctor Sakano said.

"That's it? You're not going to keep him in here?" Max beamed.

"Oh Maxie! I told you, I'm fine. I mean, I was on a simple diet. Was. I won't do it anymore. So doctor Sakano, may I leave now?"

"Ok, you may go now."

The Bladebreakers and Kuroshio left the room, but Kai remained. "Why didn't you tell him to stay? It's clear he has a problem. "

"Look young man, a lot of people in here are underweight. If we keep all of them in, then we'll be packed with people. I wanted to check his weight to give him advice about eating and dieting. "

Kai walked out of the room without turning back. How the hell did this happen? Kai thought, cursing the doctor inwardly. It's clear that Tyson has a weight problem, why did that Sakano dude let him out? Perhaps he doesn't really have a problem. Maybe Ray made the whole thing up. That Ray... not again? Let's see what he does next time.

---

-DNA [23/10/2003