The train ride back to central London was a slow one. All the express
train's were done for the day and the only one left was the 'slow mo train'
as Kameko had put it, she wasn't wrong about it being slow either. It
stopped at every station along the route
"Are we there yet?" Tyson asked as they stopped at the forth station in a row.
"No where close." Kenny said, checking their position on Dizzi's G.P.S. "We still have a long way to go."
"We're not going to be able to get back in time for dinner are we?" Max whispered in Kameko's ear.
"Far from it," She said, "We'll be there in time for bed with out any supper."
"What was that!" Tyson yelled. "No supper and bed! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Tyson calm down will you!" Ray yelled, grabbing Tyson's arms, trying to stop him from running up and down the train. "We don't want another scene like the one in the dinning room this morning.!"
"But I'm hungry!" Tyson wailed. Just the Ray's stomach growled. "See I'm not the only one!"
"We're all hungry Tyson," Kenny said calmly, "But that doesn't mean you have to make a big deal out of it."
"Kenny," Max said, "Tyson makes a big deal out of everything. Surely you should know that now, after being friends with him for, what, six years?"
"You're right Max I should know that by now but even after six years," Kenny scratched the back of his head, "I still wonder why I'm friends with him." Max and Kenny laughed. A stomach growling interrupted their laughter. They looked over in Kai's direction. Kai went a little red.
"Was that Kai?" Tyson asked, stopping his rampage.
"Like Kenny-San said Tyson-San, we are all in the same boat, we're all hungry and Kai-San is no exception."
"Will you stop that please Kameko." Ray said, sighing. "It's starting to make us feel uncomfortable.
"Well I'm sorry." Kameko said, turning on Ray. "I can't help the way I was brought up RAY-SAN!"
"I think we have it well established that we're all hungry," Kai said, eyebrows raised a little, "But there's no need for us all to turn on one another."
"This coming from someone who decided to join Bio Volt and turn his back on us six years ago? That's rich." Tyson said, turning on Kai.
"You are SO dead for that!" Kai growled out through gritted teeth, scowling at Tyson.
"Now Tyson please stop this." Kenny begged. "I'm sure he didn't mean."
"Why don't you just butt out of this Kenny?" Tyson shouted at Kenny.
"Hey Tyson there was no need for that!" Max said.
"You can butt out of this too blondie!" Tyson shouted at Max.
"Hey!" Max scowled at Tyson. "Watch it you big mouthed jerk!"
"STOP IT!" Everyone fell silent. Ray held his hands up. "Kai's right people. We're all hungry and tiered, it's been a long day but we don't need to start fighting." He sighed. "This all goes back to team work, there's no 'I' in 'TEAM', which is what we are supposed to be." Everyone hung their heads. "I think we've forgotten that somewhere along the line."
"Ray's right," Kenny said. "We HAVE forgotten that we're a team, after all it has been three years and we, the Bladebreakers, have been off doing our own thing with little or no contact with each other for all of those three years."
"Kenny's right." Max said. "Little or no contact has sort of pushed us further from one another then we were before." Max turned to Tyson. "Sorry dude, I guess I'm letting the stress of this whole thing get to me."
"Hey it's OK Maxie, I'm sorry to." Tyson said. Tyson then turned to Kai. "Sorry Kai, I didn't mean to get on your case."
"Just don't mention it again Tyson." Kai said, sitting off in a corner of the carriage by himself.
"I'm sorry Kameko." Ray said, turning to Kameko, "I didn't mean." Kameko put a finger on Ray's lips.
"Don't worry about it Ray-S., Ray." Kameko corrected herself. "It's just hard getting used to western culture." Kameko laughed.
"I can understand." Ray said, giving Kameko a hug. Kai watched them from out of the corner of his eye. He didn't know what it was about Kameko Dickinson but something about her intrigued him, made him feel human, something he hadn't felt in a while. Kai sighed, what was he thinking, how could one woman make him feel human again, especially when he had never felt human before in his life, or had he? Kai shook he head, what was he thinking, of course he was human. Kameko looked over at him.
"Ray?" she said. Ray looked up from where he had just sat down.
"What's wrong Kame?" He asked.
"Why does Kai always have that sad look in his eyes?" Ray saw Kameko's eyes go glassy, like she was about to let tears flow. He got up and sat her down in the seat.
"I don't know Kame." He said. "He's been that way ever since we first met him."
"That's not what I asked Ray," Kameko said, "I asked why does he have a sad look in his eyes, not why does he act like that." Ray thought.
"I honestly haven't really taken much notice to be honest Kame." Ray said. He looked over at Kai and saw it, a sad look in his deep red eyes. Ray stared at them for a long time. Kai must have either seem Ray looking at him or he felt Ray's gaze on him, which ever it was Kai suddenly looked round at Ray.
"What are you staring at?" Kai snapped. Ray didn't take his eyes off of Kai's. He saw it even clearer now Kai was looking at him. There it was, that sadness that Kameko spoke of. Ray couldn't stand it any more and snapped back in to his seat. He could feel tears welling up behind his eyes as if he wanted to do what Kai couldn't. Ray couldn't explain it. He took a deep breath and suddenly felt OK. It was then that he noticed Kameko laying her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair, like someone had done for him once when he was little. Ray lifted his hand off Kameko's head and stared straight ahead, letting her lay there. A little while latter he felt her snuggle in to his shoulder and pull at his shirt as if it was a quilt cover. Just then someone came over and sat opposite Ray and Kameko. Ray looked up and was surprised to see Kai. "I asked to a question Kon." Kai said. "What were you staring at?"
"Why should you care?" Ray said. Ray was stunned at himself, his voice sounded just like.he shook himself mentally; he wasn't like him, or her for that matter, he was his own person.
"I care when people stare at me for no reason." Kai said.
"Who said it was you I was looking at Hiwatari?" Ray couldn't believe his ears. He was starting to sound more and more like him every day, look more and more like her everyday to. About the only thing that remained constant were his eyes. They were the only part of him that had been just like his since the first day of his life.
"What's gotten in to you Ray?" Ray suddenly looked up to see Kai's face. It had concern written all over it. "You've been acting like this for the past hour." Kai indicated Ray. "You've been sitting there like you've got a bad smell up your nose or something."
"Nothing has gotten in to me Kai, if it's any of your business."
"Of course it's my business Ray, you're a member of my team." Kai frowned at the young neko-jin man sitting in front of him.
"In that case nothing has gotten in to me and I'm fine thanks." With that Ray shut his eyes, blocking the image of the young Russian in front of him. Just go away, he thought, just go away and leave me alone. When Ray next opened his eyes Kai was gone. Just then an announcement was made.
"Last stop. This is the last stop. Welcome to London Bridge." Ray shook Kameko awake.
"Kame. Kame we're here." Kameko stirred and opened her eyes slowly.
"How long was I asleep Ray?" She asked.
"Over an hour." Ray said, helping her up. Tyson yawned.
"We back?" He asked Max.
"Yeah Tyson we're back." It was Dizzi who replied. "Man were you guy's having a barney earlier or what, I was actually scared someone would get hurt."
"Yeah, namely yourself." Kenny said.
"Actually I was worried about all of you." Dizzi said. "Hell you guy's are supposed to be friends not enemies."
"OK no need to rub it in Dizzi." Max said. As they walked out on to the platform they spotted Mr. Dickinson and Tyson's grandfather looking around, looking worried. "We're over her!" Max called. The two old men looked over and smiled.
"Thank heavens, I was starting to worry about you."
"Grandpa," Kameko said, "We're big boy's and.girl now." She hesitated about saying 'girls'. "We can take care of our selves."
"That maybe so," Mr. Dickinson said, "But I still worry about you. You boy's are like the grandsons I never had. I'd hate it if something bad was to happen to you, or anything more." He said nodding to Ray and Max. As they all walked towards the exit he noticed the slightly sour look on Ray's face. "Are you OK Ray?" Ray didn't know what it was about the old man that made him say something.
"No, not really sir." Ray said.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Well," Ray hesitated, he looked up at the old man and saw him smile, "I was just thinking about my parents."
"Do you miss them?" Mr. Dickinson said.
"No, well I do, but seeming as I never really knew them," liar, he thought, "I can't really miss them." He went on. "Some people who knew my parents though said to me how much I looked like my mother when she was my age and how much I'm like my father." Ray scowled at this. "I don't know but that makes e feel angry." Mr. Dickinson smiled.
"Let me tell you something Ray." Ray looked up at the old man. "When Kameko was a little girl she was always compared to her father. Everyone said how much she looked like Alec, my son." Mr. Dickinson looked sad for a bit and then it was gone. "She hated it more then anything else in the world."
"I don't understand." Ray said. He felt confused now.
"Let me finish Ray." Mr. Dickinson said as the walked up the ramp from the terminals. "Well when Alec died Kameko was devastated. You see Ray, she loved her father more then anything else in the world to, she hated being compared to him but she loved him just as much." Ray seemed to understand a little bit. "Now," Mr. Dickinson went on, "As for you not knowing your parents and other knowing them, that doesn't matter. Always remember that you may act a bit like your father, or look like you mother or vice-versa you are ALWAYS your own person. Only YOU can decide which course to take in life." Ray suddenly felt better.
"Thanks Mr. Dickinson. Thank you."
"Please Ray. Remember what I said back on the platform?" Ray nodded. "Then just call me grandpa if you want, but not gramps, I loath that name." Ray laughed. He suddenly felt a lot better about his parents. He just wish that he could figure out why they abandoned him on that cold, wet night nearly thirteen years ago. As they got in to the cabs he spotted Kai in the far corner of the back cab.
"It looks a bit squashed in here," Ray said to the others, "I'll ride with Mr. Sourpants." Ray then went to the other cab, pulled the door open, jumped in and had shut the door before Kai could protest. "Mind if we talk Kai?" Ray asked.
"Back to your old self then are you?" Kai asked.
"Yeah." Ray said. "Sorry about being rude to you on the train." He said.
"What did get in to you on that train Ray?" Kai asked; there was genuine concern in his voice. "I've never known you act like that, you had me worried." Ray stared at Kai. Kai worried about me, he thought, man that's a first.
"Well," Ray said, "I get like that when I'm thinking about my parents."
"I get like that when I think about my grandfather so we're even."
"Well at least you had family Kai," Ray hung his head, "My parent's abandoned me when I was five."
"Lee and Mariah said earlier that you'd been abandoned." Kai said. "You're right," he went on, "I wasn't abandoned, but at least you were safe where you were, you weren't beaten for the smallest thing where you?" Ray stared in shock at Kai. "No," Kai added, "That didn't happen to me. It did, however, happen to Tala when he was with a foster family, before he went to the abbey." Ray was appalled.
"Didn't he tell someone? The police?" Kai snorted.
"What makes you think that someone would listen to a kid of seven years old?" Kai looked out at the passing traffic. "Especially one who had lost his entire family to a murderer that no one could catch." Ray stared in dismay at Kai.
"What?" Ray exclaimed.
"Just don't tell Tala I'm telling you this Ray or other wise he'll have my head on a platter and will be eating me for breakfast, lunch and tea." Kai sighed. "Tala lost his family to an arsonist," Kai paused, "As did I, we lost our families on the same night. We were round a friends place when the fire started." Kai got a sad look in his eyes again; Ray had to look away. "We both cried. We cried for weeks, months, at least a year."
"But then your grandfather took you in and taught."
"Forced me Ray." Kai said, turning on Ray. "He forced me to lock away my emotions." Kai put his head in his hands. "Two day's after I turned nine Ray, NINE, I haven't cried, not really cried. I've wept, sobbed, let a tear roll down my face but I've never actually CRIED. Weather it was from pain, sadness, happiness or anything of the sort." Kai looked up at Ray. "I envy you Ray Kon," Kai said, "I really do. You can laugh and mean it, cry and actually know why you're crying; you know when you feel happy, when you feel sad. Me," He pointed to his chest, "I don't know ANY of that now." What am I doing, Kai though to himself, what am I opening up to Ray with my feelings for? Ray stared down at his hands.
"I never knew Kai," Ray said, he felt the tear well up, he couldn't stop them, "I.I.I'm sorry." Ray said, burying his head in his hands He felt am arm around his shoulders and looked up to see Kai sitting next to him.
"Don't worry about it." Kai felt his voice cracking. Something about Ray Kon made Kai feel paternal towards the young man. "Just don't worry about it Ray." Kai felt a hot tear roll down his cheek, another to add to the collection of single lonely tears, he thought.
"We're nearly at the hotel boys." The driver said. Both wiped their tears away, not wanting to make the others think they were weak. "Hey lads," The driver said, "Don't be ashamed to cry OK? Ain't a bad thing you know. This worlds got too many tough types in it as it is without a couple of nice lads like you becoming like them." The driver said as they got out.
"Thanks," Ray said, "We'll keep that in mind." It's almost as if he knew what I was thinking, Ray thought. They walked in to the foyer where Mr. Dickinson and Kameko where at the reception desk. "Anything wrong?" Ray asked.
"Mr. Dickinson's ordering pizza." Max said. "Seeming as we didn't get lunch or dinner."
"He better make it a quadruple order," Dizzi said, "Otherwise Tyson's going to eat everything and still complain that he's hungry." Everyone laughed, except Kai who just smiled and shook his head, although Ray could have sworn he heard Kai chuckle. "I'm serious people!" She said. Once the pizza had been ordered and consumed everyone felt better.
"I think I'll be having an early night." Tyson said, yawning. "Today's been way too long for my liking."
"I'm with Tyson," Dizzi said, "We've all been through a lot. I just feel sorry for Kameko."
"Why's that Dizzi?" Mr. Dickinson asked.
"Because she's been very patient with this lot." Dizzi said. "Especially the incident on the train."
"Oh?" Mr. Dickinson looked at everyone in turn, each bowing their heads.
"Temper's were a bit frayed, that's all. Lack of food mostly and the fact that it was stuffy on that train. Also the fact it stopped at every, and I mean every, stop on the route." Dizzi said. Mr. Dickinson laughed.
"That will teach you to get the earlier train in future won't it?" He said. Everyone laughed a bit. "Anyway," Mr. Dickinson went on, "I think Tyson has the right idea, an early night will do you all good. You have to practice tomorrow, the match is in a weeks time." As everyone made their way towards their rooms Mr. Dickinson sad. "Kameko, Max and Ka can I have a word with you three?" Once the room was empty Mr. Dickinson went on. "Max has actually requested that he not take part in the tournament Kai."
"Why Max?" Kai asked.
"My injuries, though not serious, do have their complications Kai." Max said, indicating the wheelchair. "I should be out of it soon but not in time for the tournament."
"Which means," Mr. Dickinson intervened, "That you are one member down."
"We won't be able to get a player in on time to take Max's place." Kai said.
"There's no need to Kai," Max said, "Mr. Dickinson has asked Kameko to take my place." Kai looked at Kameko.
"Are you any good?" Kai asked.
"Kameko knows the basics Kai and she has a bit-beast. The only thing she lacks is how to call on her bit-beast and the more complicated attacks." Mr. Dickinson said nodding in Kameko's direction. "All she need's Kai," He said turning back to the young Russian, "Is a helping hand, a guide so to speak of. Someone like you Kai."
"Me? Mr. Dickinson are you sure you want me to train Kameko?" Kai asked.
"No train her Kai," Mr. Dickinson said kindly, "Guide her. She has all the means to do thing's it just going about them that she has trouble with. What she need's is essentially a."
"Confidence boost." Dizzi's voice chipped in. Kai, Max and Mr. Dickinson looked over to where Kenny had left Dizzi, sitting on the table. "I think Kenny must have been too tiered to remember me." She said, almost sadly. "That happens quite a bit these days."
"Look at it as you taking a breather." Kai said to Dizzi. "If I remember you're the one who always complained of doing all the work?"
"Yeah, you're right." Dizzi said. "Good-night." And promptly switched herself off.
"As I was saying," MR. Dickinson went on, "All Kameko needs is a confidence boost, don't you Kame.oh!" The three men looked over to where Kameko had been sitting. She was now curled up, like a cat Kai noted, on the couch. "I guess Kame was tiered. Oh I do hate to wake her but."
"Don't worry," Kai said standing up, "I'll carry her." Kai said, gently picking Kameko up off the couch. She's light; Kai thought to himself, almost too light for someone her size and age.
"Thank you Kai. Indeed she's not my little Kameko who I used to be able to carry around on my shoulders." Mr. Dickinson chuckled. "Children," he sighed, "They grow up so quickly these days. Anyway good night boys." With that Mr. Dickinson left the room. Kai carried Kameko down the hall to her room, Max directed him. Once there Kai pushed the door open with his foot so he didn't drop her and carefully lay her on the bed. He stared at her for a while, his keen eyes picking out the detail on Kameko's face, the colour of her hair and the fullness of her lips.
"You're beautiful." He whispered to the sleeping girl. "I'm sure you'll find someone deserving of you. And I'll be happy to teach you to Beyblade." He added as an after thought. He pulled the door to and walked down the hall to his and Ray's room. When he opened the door he saw Ray staring at a photo. "What you got there?" Kai asked. Ray hid the picture behind his back.
"Nothing," he said quickly, a little too quickly Kai thought, "Nothing at all." Ray then slipped the photo in to his bag before Kai could even get a peak at. He shrugged; it must be one of Mariah. Kai got undressed and found out a pair of sweat pants and an old t-shirt. He put them on and climbed in to bed. It wasn't long before Ray had done the same and was lying in the bed next to Kai's. "It was a photo." Kai looked over at Ray. "It was a photo of my parents." With that Ray turned out the light and turned over in bed. Kai thought about it, then turned over and was asleep in seconds. Dizzi was right, he thought before he fell asleep, today has been tiring.
"Are we there yet?" Tyson asked as they stopped at the forth station in a row.
"No where close." Kenny said, checking their position on Dizzi's G.P.S. "We still have a long way to go."
"We're not going to be able to get back in time for dinner are we?" Max whispered in Kameko's ear.
"Far from it," She said, "We'll be there in time for bed with out any supper."
"What was that!" Tyson yelled. "No supper and bed! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Tyson calm down will you!" Ray yelled, grabbing Tyson's arms, trying to stop him from running up and down the train. "We don't want another scene like the one in the dinning room this morning.!"
"But I'm hungry!" Tyson wailed. Just the Ray's stomach growled. "See I'm not the only one!"
"We're all hungry Tyson," Kenny said calmly, "But that doesn't mean you have to make a big deal out of it."
"Kenny," Max said, "Tyson makes a big deal out of everything. Surely you should know that now, after being friends with him for, what, six years?"
"You're right Max I should know that by now but even after six years," Kenny scratched the back of his head, "I still wonder why I'm friends with him." Max and Kenny laughed. A stomach growling interrupted their laughter. They looked over in Kai's direction. Kai went a little red.
"Was that Kai?" Tyson asked, stopping his rampage.
"Like Kenny-San said Tyson-San, we are all in the same boat, we're all hungry and Kai-San is no exception."
"Will you stop that please Kameko." Ray said, sighing. "It's starting to make us feel uncomfortable.
"Well I'm sorry." Kameko said, turning on Ray. "I can't help the way I was brought up RAY-SAN!"
"I think we have it well established that we're all hungry," Kai said, eyebrows raised a little, "But there's no need for us all to turn on one another."
"This coming from someone who decided to join Bio Volt and turn his back on us six years ago? That's rich." Tyson said, turning on Kai.
"You are SO dead for that!" Kai growled out through gritted teeth, scowling at Tyson.
"Now Tyson please stop this." Kenny begged. "I'm sure he didn't mean."
"Why don't you just butt out of this Kenny?" Tyson shouted at Kenny.
"Hey Tyson there was no need for that!" Max said.
"You can butt out of this too blondie!" Tyson shouted at Max.
"Hey!" Max scowled at Tyson. "Watch it you big mouthed jerk!"
"STOP IT!" Everyone fell silent. Ray held his hands up. "Kai's right people. We're all hungry and tiered, it's been a long day but we don't need to start fighting." He sighed. "This all goes back to team work, there's no 'I' in 'TEAM', which is what we are supposed to be." Everyone hung their heads. "I think we've forgotten that somewhere along the line."
"Ray's right," Kenny said. "We HAVE forgotten that we're a team, after all it has been three years and we, the Bladebreakers, have been off doing our own thing with little or no contact with each other for all of those three years."
"Kenny's right." Max said. "Little or no contact has sort of pushed us further from one another then we were before." Max turned to Tyson. "Sorry dude, I guess I'm letting the stress of this whole thing get to me."
"Hey it's OK Maxie, I'm sorry to." Tyson said. Tyson then turned to Kai. "Sorry Kai, I didn't mean to get on your case."
"Just don't mention it again Tyson." Kai said, sitting off in a corner of the carriage by himself.
"I'm sorry Kameko." Ray said, turning to Kameko, "I didn't mean." Kameko put a finger on Ray's lips.
"Don't worry about it Ray-S., Ray." Kameko corrected herself. "It's just hard getting used to western culture." Kameko laughed.
"I can understand." Ray said, giving Kameko a hug. Kai watched them from out of the corner of his eye. He didn't know what it was about Kameko Dickinson but something about her intrigued him, made him feel human, something he hadn't felt in a while. Kai sighed, what was he thinking, how could one woman make him feel human again, especially when he had never felt human before in his life, or had he? Kai shook he head, what was he thinking, of course he was human. Kameko looked over at him.
"Ray?" she said. Ray looked up from where he had just sat down.
"What's wrong Kame?" He asked.
"Why does Kai always have that sad look in his eyes?" Ray saw Kameko's eyes go glassy, like she was about to let tears flow. He got up and sat her down in the seat.
"I don't know Kame." He said. "He's been that way ever since we first met him."
"That's not what I asked Ray," Kameko said, "I asked why does he have a sad look in his eyes, not why does he act like that." Ray thought.
"I honestly haven't really taken much notice to be honest Kame." Ray said. He looked over at Kai and saw it, a sad look in his deep red eyes. Ray stared at them for a long time. Kai must have either seem Ray looking at him or he felt Ray's gaze on him, which ever it was Kai suddenly looked round at Ray.
"What are you staring at?" Kai snapped. Ray didn't take his eyes off of Kai's. He saw it even clearer now Kai was looking at him. There it was, that sadness that Kameko spoke of. Ray couldn't stand it any more and snapped back in to his seat. He could feel tears welling up behind his eyes as if he wanted to do what Kai couldn't. Ray couldn't explain it. He took a deep breath and suddenly felt OK. It was then that he noticed Kameko laying her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair, like someone had done for him once when he was little. Ray lifted his hand off Kameko's head and stared straight ahead, letting her lay there. A little while latter he felt her snuggle in to his shoulder and pull at his shirt as if it was a quilt cover. Just then someone came over and sat opposite Ray and Kameko. Ray looked up and was surprised to see Kai. "I asked to a question Kon." Kai said. "What were you staring at?"
"Why should you care?" Ray said. Ray was stunned at himself, his voice sounded just like.he shook himself mentally; he wasn't like him, or her for that matter, he was his own person.
"I care when people stare at me for no reason." Kai said.
"Who said it was you I was looking at Hiwatari?" Ray couldn't believe his ears. He was starting to sound more and more like him every day, look more and more like her everyday to. About the only thing that remained constant were his eyes. They were the only part of him that had been just like his since the first day of his life.
"What's gotten in to you Ray?" Ray suddenly looked up to see Kai's face. It had concern written all over it. "You've been acting like this for the past hour." Kai indicated Ray. "You've been sitting there like you've got a bad smell up your nose or something."
"Nothing has gotten in to me Kai, if it's any of your business."
"Of course it's my business Ray, you're a member of my team." Kai frowned at the young neko-jin man sitting in front of him.
"In that case nothing has gotten in to me and I'm fine thanks." With that Ray shut his eyes, blocking the image of the young Russian in front of him. Just go away, he thought, just go away and leave me alone. When Ray next opened his eyes Kai was gone. Just then an announcement was made.
"Last stop. This is the last stop. Welcome to London Bridge." Ray shook Kameko awake.
"Kame. Kame we're here." Kameko stirred and opened her eyes slowly.
"How long was I asleep Ray?" She asked.
"Over an hour." Ray said, helping her up. Tyson yawned.
"We back?" He asked Max.
"Yeah Tyson we're back." It was Dizzi who replied. "Man were you guy's having a barney earlier or what, I was actually scared someone would get hurt."
"Yeah, namely yourself." Kenny said.
"Actually I was worried about all of you." Dizzi said. "Hell you guy's are supposed to be friends not enemies."
"OK no need to rub it in Dizzi." Max said. As they walked out on to the platform they spotted Mr. Dickinson and Tyson's grandfather looking around, looking worried. "We're over her!" Max called. The two old men looked over and smiled.
"Thank heavens, I was starting to worry about you."
"Grandpa," Kameko said, "We're big boy's and.girl now." She hesitated about saying 'girls'. "We can take care of our selves."
"That maybe so," Mr. Dickinson said, "But I still worry about you. You boy's are like the grandsons I never had. I'd hate it if something bad was to happen to you, or anything more." He said nodding to Ray and Max. As they all walked towards the exit he noticed the slightly sour look on Ray's face. "Are you OK Ray?" Ray didn't know what it was about the old man that made him say something.
"No, not really sir." Ray said.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Well," Ray hesitated, he looked up at the old man and saw him smile, "I was just thinking about my parents."
"Do you miss them?" Mr. Dickinson said.
"No, well I do, but seeming as I never really knew them," liar, he thought, "I can't really miss them." He went on. "Some people who knew my parents though said to me how much I looked like my mother when she was my age and how much I'm like my father." Ray scowled at this. "I don't know but that makes e feel angry." Mr. Dickinson smiled.
"Let me tell you something Ray." Ray looked up at the old man. "When Kameko was a little girl she was always compared to her father. Everyone said how much she looked like Alec, my son." Mr. Dickinson looked sad for a bit and then it was gone. "She hated it more then anything else in the world."
"I don't understand." Ray said. He felt confused now.
"Let me finish Ray." Mr. Dickinson said as the walked up the ramp from the terminals. "Well when Alec died Kameko was devastated. You see Ray, she loved her father more then anything else in the world to, she hated being compared to him but she loved him just as much." Ray seemed to understand a little bit. "Now," Mr. Dickinson went on, "As for you not knowing your parents and other knowing them, that doesn't matter. Always remember that you may act a bit like your father, or look like you mother or vice-versa you are ALWAYS your own person. Only YOU can decide which course to take in life." Ray suddenly felt better.
"Thanks Mr. Dickinson. Thank you."
"Please Ray. Remember what I said back on the platform?" Ray nodded. "Then just call me grandpa if you want, but not gramps, I loath that name." Ray laughed. He suddenly felt a lot better about his parents. He just wish that he could figure out why they abandoned him on that cold, wet night nearly thirteen years ago. As they got in to the cabs he spotted Kai in the far corner of the back cab.
"It looks a bit squashed in here," Ray said to the others, "I'll ride with Mr. Sourpants." Ray then went to the other cab, pulled the door open, jumped in and had shut the door before Kai could protest. "Mind if we talk Kai?" Ray asked.
"Back to your old self then are you?" Kai asked.
"Yeah." Ray said. "Sorry about being rude to you on the train." He said.
"What did get in to you on that train Ray?" Kai asked; there was genuine concern in his voice. "I've never known you act like that, you had me worried." Ray stared at Kai. Kai worried about me, he thought, man that's a first.
"Well," Ray said, "I get like that when I'm thinking about my parents."
"I get like that when I think about my grandfather so we're even."
"Well at least you had family Kai," Ray hung his head, "My parent's abandoned me when I was five."
"Lee and Mariah said earlier that you'd been abandoned." Kai said. "You're right," he went on, "I wasn't abandoned, but at least you were safe where you were, you weren't beaten for the smallest thing where you?" Ray stared in shock at Kai. "No," Kai added, "That didn't happen to me. It did, however, happen to Tala when he was with a foster family, before he went to the abbey." Ray was appalled.
"Didn't he tell someone? The police?" Kai snorted.
"What makes you think that someone would listen to a kid of seven years old?" Kai looked out at the passing traffic. "Especially one who had lost his entire family to a murderer that no one could catch." Ray stared in dismay at Kai.
"What?" Ray exclaimed.
"Just don't tell Tala I'm telling you this Ray or other wise he'll have my head on a platter and will be eating me for breakfast, lunch and tea." Kai sighed. "Tala lost his family to an arsonist," Kai paused, "As did I, we lost our families on the same night. We were round a friends place when the fire started." Kai got a sad look in his eyes again; Ray had to look away. "We both cried. We cried for weeks, months, at least a year."
"But then your grandfather took you in and taught."
"Forced me Ray." Kai said, turning on Ray. "He forced me to lock away my emotions." Kai put his head in his hands. "Two day's after I turned nine Ray, NINE, I haven't cried, not really cried. I've wept, sobbed, let a tear roll down my face but I've never actually CRIED. Weather it was from pain, sadness, happiness or anything of the sort." Kai looked up at Ray. "I envy you Ray Kon," Kai said, "I really do. You can laugh and mean it, cry and actually know why you're crying; you know when you feel happy, when you feel sad. Me," He pointed to his chest, "I don't know ANY of that now." What am I doing, Kai though to himself, what am I opening up to Ray with my feelings for? Ray stared down at his hands.
"I never knew Kai," Ray said, he felt the tear well up, he couldn't stop them, "I.I.I'm sorry." Ray said, burying his head in his hands He felt am arm around his shoulders and looked up to see Kai sitting next to him.
"Don't worry about it." Kai felt his voice cracking. Something about Ray Kon made Kai feel paternal towards the young man. "Just don't worry about it Ray." Kai felt a hot tear roll down his cheek, another to add to the collection of single lonely tears, he thought.
"We're nearly at the hotel boys." The driver said. Both wiped their tears away, not wanting to make the others think they were weak. "Hey lads," The driver said, "Don't be ashamed to cry OK? Ain't a bad thing you know. This worlds got too many tough types in it as it is without a couple of nice lads like you becoming like them." The driver said as they got out.
"Thanks," Ray said, "We'll keep that in mind." It's almost as if he knew what I was thinking, Ray thought. They walked in to the foyer where Mr. Dickinson and Kameko where at the reception desk. "Anything wrong?" Ray asked.
"Mr. Dickinson's ordering pizza." Max said. "Seeming as we didn't get lunch or dinner."
"He better make it a quadruple order," Dizzi said, "Otherwise Tyson's going to eat everything and still complain that he's hungry." Everyone laughed, except Kai who just smiled and shook his head, although Ray could have sworn he heard Kai chuckle. "I'm serious people!" She said. Once the pizza had been ordered and consumed everyone felt better.
"I think I'll be having an early night." Tyson said, yawning. "Today's been way too long for my liking."
"I'm with Tyson," Dizzi said, "We've all been through a lot. I just feel sorry for Kameko."
"Why's that Dizzi?" Mr. Dickinson asked.
"Because she's been very patient with this lot." Dizzi said. "Especially the incident on the train."
"Oh?" Mr. Dickinson looked at everyone in turn, each bowing their heads.
"Temper's were a bit frayed, that's all. Lack of food mostly and the fact that it was stuffy on that train. Also the fact it stopped at every, and I mean every, stop on the route." Dizzi said. Mr. Dickinson laughed.
"That will teach you to get the earlier train in future won't it?" He said. Everyone laughed a bit. "Anyway," Mr. Dickinson went on, "I think Tyson has the right idea, an early night will do you all good. You have to practice tomorrow, the match is in a weeks time." As everyone made their way towards their rooms Mr. Dickinson sad. "Kameko, Max and Ka can I have a word with you three?" Once the room was empty Mr. Dickinson went on. "Max has actually requested that he not take part in the tournament Kai."
"Why Max?" Kai asked.
"My injuries, though not serious, do have their complications Kai." Max said, indicating the wheelchair. "I should be out of it soon but not in time for the tournament."
"Which means," Mr. Dickinson intervened, "That you are one member down."
"We won't be able to get a player in on time to take Max's place." Kai said.
"There's no need to Kai," Max said, "Mr. Dickinson has asked Kameko to take my place." Kai looked at Kameko.
"Are you any good?" Kai asked.
"Kameko knows the basics Kai and she has a bit-beast. The only thing she lacks is how to call on her bit-beast and the more complicated attacks." Mr. Dickinson said nodding in Kameko's direction. "All she need's Kai," He said turning back to the young Russian, "Is a helping hand, a guide so to speak of. Someone like you Kai."
"Me? Mr. Dickinson are you sure you want me to train Kameko?" Kai asked.
"No train her Kai," Mr. Dickinson said kindly, "Guide her. She has all the means to do thing's it just going about them that she has trouble with. What she need's is essentially a."
"Confidence boost." Dizzi's voice chipped in. Kai, Max and Mr. Dickinson looked over to where Kenny had left Dizzi, sitting on the table. "I think Kenny must have been too tiered to remember me." She said, almost sadly. "That happens quite a bit these days."
"Look at it as you taking a breather." Kai said to Dizzi. "If I remember you're the one who always complained of doing all the work?"
"Yeah, you're right." Dizzi said. "Good-night." And promptly switched herself off.
"As I was saying," MR. Dickinson went on, "All Kameko needs is a confidence boost, don't you Kame.oh!" The three men looked over to where Kameko had been sitting. She was now curled up, like a cat Kai noted, on the couch. "I guess Kame was tiered. Oh I do hate to wake her but."
"Don't worry," Kai said standing up, "I'll carry her." Kai said, gently picking Kameko up off the couch. She's light; Kai thought to himself, almost too light for someone her size and age.
"Thank you Kai. Indeed she's not my little Kameko who I used to be able to carry around on my shoulders." Mr. Dickinson chuckled. "Children," he sighed, "They grow up so quickly these days. Anyway good night boys." With that Mr. Dickinson left the room. Kai carried Kameko down the hall to her room, Max directed him. Once there Kai pushed the door open with his foot so he didn't drop her and carefully lay her on the bed. He stared at her for a while, his keen eyes picking out the detail on Kameko's face, the colour of her hair and the fullness of her lips.
"You're beautiful." He whispered to the sleeping girl. "I'm sure you'll find someone deserving of you. And I'll be happy to teach you to Beyblade." He added as an after thought. He pulled the door to and walked down the hall to his and Ray's room. When he opened the door he saw Ray staring at a photo. "What you got there?" Kai asked. Ray hid the picture behind his back.
"Nothing," he said quickly, a little too quickly Kai thought, "Nothing at all." Ray then slipped the photo in to his bag before Kai could even get a peak at. He shrugged; it must be one of Mariah. Kai got undressed and found out a pair of sweat pants and an old t-shirt. He put them on and climbed in to bed. It wasn't long before Ray had done the same and was lying in the bed next to Kai's. "It was a photo." Kai looked over at Ray. "It was a photo of my parents." With that Ray turned out the light and turned over in bed. Kai thought about it, then turned over and was asleep in seconds. Dizzi was right, he thought before he fell asleep, today has been tiring.