Kai woke the next morning to the sound of sobs. Someone was crying
somewhere close by. Kai turned over and saw Ray's body shaking. Kai got up
and went over to the young man. Ray was sobbing in to the bedclothes,
holding the photo he had hidden from Kai the night before. Kai went to
touch Ray but then thought better of it. Kai left the room quietly and
knocked on Kameko's door. The door flew open; Kameko had a toothbrush
sticking out of her mouth, a hairbrush caught up in her green locks and an
annoyed look on her face.
"Comth I'th helpth youth?" Kai raised his eyebrows at Kameko.
"Huh?" Kameko held a finger up to mean 'one minute'. She was back two minutes later, toothbrush gone.
"I said 'can I help you?'" Kameko said sounding annoyed as she yanked at her hair.
"Yes you can Kameko." Kai said. "It's Ray." Kameko stopped yanking at her hair and stared at Kai.
"What's wrong," she said, "Is he sick?"
"Well I woke up this morning to hear him sobbing." Kai kept his voice down so the others, who were just getting u, didn't hear him. Kameko quickly pulled the brush through her hair and was off down the corridor towards his and Ray's room. Kameko opened the door quietly. There she was Ray, still sobbing in to the bedclothes, holding the photo still.
"How long has he been like this?" Kameko asked in shock as Kai approached her.
"I don't know." Kai said. "I was going to talk to him about it but then I remembered that he was rather curt with me last night before I went to bed." Kai said quietly. "He was staring at that picture when I came in," Kai pointed at the picture, "And when I asked him about it he said it was nothing. He then said a few minutes later that it was of his parents." Kai looked over and Ray. "I thought you might have more luck then I did." He finished off. Kameko walked in to the room and sat down on the edge of Ray's bed. Ray must have felt the bed shift because he peaked out from where his head was buried in the bedclothes.
"Ray? Kameko said, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. "Are you OK Ray?" Kameko raised her eyebrows when Ray threw her hand off his shoulder.
"Goth a fway." Came the reply. Kameko looked shocked. "I said GO AWAY!" Ray shouted at Kameko. He shot Kai ad even nastier glare. "GET OUT!" He yelled. He then got up and pushed the pair of them out of the room, slamming the door in their faces. Kameko and Kai both stared at the door,
"What in the name of all that good and quiet is going on out here?" Tyson's grandfather said coming out of the room he and his grandson were sharing. "Kai my man what's wrong with the Ray-Mister?" Kai looked up at the older man.
"I don't know," Kai said, shocked, "He just lost it at me and Kameko."
"You OK little missy?" Tyson's grandfather asked Kameko. She nodded and accepted the hand that he offered her. He offered Kai a hand to; Kai was so shocked that he just accepted with out a word.
"What is going on out here?" Mr. Dickinson said yawning.
"Where's the fire?" Tyson asked, half dressed. "I heard Ray shouting about someone getting out."
"The Ray-Mister just lost it at Miss. Kameko and Kai here." Tyson's grandfather said.
"You what?" Max asked, coming out of his room. "Ray lost his temper at Kameko and Kai?" Max was as shocked as Kai and Kameko were.
"That can't be right." Kenny said.
"Well that's what happened Chief." Dizzi said from under Kenny's arm. "I heard it all while you were in the bathroom."
"What did you do to upset him Kai?" Tyson said, rounding on Kai.
"KAI DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Kameko yelled at Tyson. Kameko then remembered her self "Kai didn't do anything to upset him Tyson. The only thing Kai did was come to me and tell me that Ray was upset about something." Tyson was taken aback.
"S.sorry Kai." Tyson said slowly.
"That's OK Tyson." Kai said. He was still in shock. The look in Ray's eyes had been pure loathing towards him and Kameko but why.
"Let me talk to Ray." Mr. Dickinson said. "The rest of you go down stairs and get some breakfast, and no silly antics today Tyson." He said as they all left.
"I have some spare clothes if you want to put them on for now Kai." Max said.
"Thank you Max." Kai said. He followed Max in to his room where Max sorted out a pair of jeans that looked like they would fit Kai and a t- shirt. The t-shirt fit tightly against Kai's torso, showing off his well- toned chest and shoulders. 2I didn't know you wore this sort of thing Max." Kai said, pulling the t-shirt down over his head.
"Not very often," Max said, wheeling over to the chest of draws and pulled out a black t-shirt with a green strips down the sides, "Usually when I'm out at the clubs trying to find a date."
"I thought you and Emily were chummy." Kai said, absent-mindedly.
"We were until the attack. I then broke it off with Emily because I was worried about her getting hurt." Max sighed. "I miss her." He said quietly.
"You'll find someone Max." Kai said in an un-characteristically kind tone. "Just treat them well." Kai shook himself mentally. What the hell is happening to me, worried about Ray, giving Max advice on relationships! I'm going mad. Kai thought to himself. The two of them left the room and went downstairs to the dinning room. There they saw Tyson, arm round Kameko's shoulders. She was crying now, well it was more sniffles now. "She OK?" He asked Tyson. "She'll be OK. She's still a bit shaken about the whole, Ray getting mad at her thing."
"Ray-San has NEVER acted that way before." Kameko said, fresh tears rolling down her face. Kai wanted to help her but stopped himself; he had to keep up appearances. "Why would he act that way Kai-San? Why?" Kai went to say something then shook his head.
"I don't know. It's so un-like Ray to act that way towards ANYONE." Just then Mr. Dickinson came down the stairs looking strained. "Did you get any where Mr. Dickinson?" Kai asked.
"No were Kai. I swear," the old man said, looking a little cross, "It's almost as if you and Ray swapped personalities to a degree."
"I doubt it." Tyson said. "Ray's just probably feeling a little grouchy, he'll get over it." With that Tyson went in to the dinning room
"But Ray-San NEVER gets grouchy." Kai heard Kameko say. No one else did. "Something's wrong with Ray-San, I can feel it."
"What ca you feel Kameko?" Kai asked.
"I can feel Ray-San's feelings. He's angry, furious, Kai-San," Kameko turned to Kai, "With us."
"What do you mean by us Kameko? Do you mean the team?"
"No," Kameko said, letting fresh tears flow down her face, "You and me Kai-San, he's angry at you and me." Kai stared at her.
"Why would Ray be mad at you and me?" Kai asked her.
"I don't know." Kameko broke in to fresh sobs. Kai went up to her and pulled her close to him.
"That's it Kameko." Kai said. "We, you and me, are going to go and find out WHAT we've done to him to make him hate us." Kameko stared at Kai. "And how do you know how he feels?" Kai asked as they went upstairs.
"I can feel peoples emotions Kai-San." Kameko said. Kai had heard of such gifts, but very few people actually had such gifts. As they reached the door to Kai and Ray's room Kameko clutched her head and tears began to run down her face again.
"Try and block his emotions Kameko." Kai said. Kameko nodded and took a deep breath. She seemed to concentrate and then her face relaxed. "Good." Kai then hammered on the door. "RAY!" he yelled through the door. "RAY KON LET US IN THIS MINUTE!"
"Go away!" Came Ray's reply.
"We're no going away until you apologise to Kameko!" Kai yelled.
"Never!" Ray yelled though the door. Kai then set his face in a determined frame of mind.
"Kameko do you have a credit card or something?" He asked. Kameko pulled out a plastic I.D. card. "Thanks." Kai then ran it through the electronic card reader rapidly. The door lock then sprung open. Kai gave Kameko back the card and threw the door open wide. Ray was sitting on the bed, fully clothed. "You are going to apologise to Kameko this ISTANT!" Kai yelled. Ray looked up at Kai, fury burned in his eyes.
"GET OUT!" Ray shouted "I WANT TO BE LEFT AONE! ESPECIALLY BY YOU TWO!"
"WHY!" Kameko suddenly screamed. "WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY WITH US RAY? WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WORNG!" Kameko had tears running down her face again.
"You've done plenty wrong!" Ray yelled at Kameko. Kai had had enough now and backhanded Ray across the cheek. Ray scowled at Kai.
"Now I've done something wrong Ray." Kai said. "I've just hit a friend because he's acting like such a JERK!" Kameko had stopped crying now and was just staring in shock at the floor. "Didn't Kameko ever tell you that she could feel other peoples emotions? Your anger was starting to upset her Ray." Kai said. "Now I don't know WHAT we've done to upset you Ray but if it includes being concerned about you then charge us both guilty." Kai stood up straight from where he had been bending over Ray. "Now I suggest you apologise." With that he walked out of the room. Ray looked over at Kameko. He was about to say something when Kameko got up and walked towards the door.
"Save it." She said and walked away. Ray stared after them both, not knowing what to think.
///
The others were standing at the bottom of the stairs when, first Kai, then Kameko, came back down. Kameko had fresh tear track down her face and Kai had a look like thunder on his face.
"What happened?" Tyson asked Kai.
"Nothing for you to be concerned with Granger." Kai said, walking out the front door. Kameko followed, not saying a word but holding a blade and launcher in on hand.
"I don't think this is good." Dizzi said.
"For once Dizzi I'm inclining to agree with you." Kenny said. "This isn't good, especially for team moral."
"What we need is Hillary." Tyson said. "Remember when you, me, Ray and Max had that big bust up about all that practice once?" Kenny nodded.
"How can I forget it Tyson, you nearly clobbered me."
"Well Hillary made us go on that picnic didn't she?"
"That's what we need!" Max shouted, "A team building day out or something!" Just then Ray came down the stairs. A large bruise was forming across his left cheek. "Ray!" Max stared at the bruise.
"Have you quite calmed down now Ray?" Mr. Dickinson asked. Ray nodded mutely. "You not only upset Kameko Ray, which I must admit surprised me enough, but you also managed to upset Kai." Ray looked up at Mr. Dickinson.
"Kai said nothing about being upset." Ray said, his voice horse from shouting and crying. "He only said that Kameko was upset and that I was to apologise to her."
"Kai may not show it but he was upset." Tyson said, glaring at Ray, something he had never done before in his life. "I didn't want to believe it, that you had actually shouted at Kameko and Kai but when Dizzi played back what she had heard earlier I." Tyson stopped. He couldn't find the words to express how he felt without swearing. Ray hung his head again.
"I.I don't know what came over me guys." He said.
"Well my suggestion Ray-Mister," Tyson's grandfather said, "Is you go after Kameko and Kai and apologise."
"I tried to apologise to Kameko earlier and she just said not to bother." Ray said.
"Well try again Ray." Tyson said. "And while you're at it you better do a lot of grovelling to." Ray ran out of the building. He walked around for ages until he came to a park where he found Kameko and Kai practicing.
"LET IT RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!" Kameko yelled, launching her blade in to the dish. Kai launched Dranzer at Kameko's blade. "I'll defiantly knock you out this time Kai!" She shouted. Her blade bumped against Dranzer, knocking it back near the edge of the dish. Ray couldn't believe his eyes. Kameko was beating Kai up.
"You're getting better Kameko." Kai said. "But not good enough! DRANZER FIRE ARROW!" Dranzer spun straight at Kameko's blade knocking it out of the dish on to the dirt.
"SHIT!" Kameko swore. "Not again! Rargh!" Kameko kicked the ground, sending stones flying in every direction. It was then that she spotted Ray. "Oh look," she said, nudging Kai, "It's Mr. 'I'll just be a jerk'!" Kameko scowled at Ray. Ray turned his head away from her eyes. "What do you want?" She called out. Ray looked up to see her and Kai glaring at him. He walked over to them, stood there for a few minutes and then bowed.
"I just came to say that I'm sorry." Ray said, straightening. "I.I don't know what came over me back there." He looked in their eyes, hoping for some little forgiveness. Kameko looked at Kai and nodded. Kai nodded back. Kameko then went up to Ray. Ray braced himself for a slap round the face, which was less then he deserved but instead he found Kameko's arms flung around his neck.
"I forgive you Ray." Kameko said, hugging him tight. Ray couldn't help himself and hugged her back. He cried in to her shoulder.
"I'm sorry Kameko," He sobbed, "I really am."
"We know you are Ray." Kai said, laying a hand on his shoulder. Ray looked at Kai's hand on his shoulder. Kai quickly took it away, not wanting another fight, one a day was enough for even him. "So," Kai said. "What were you crying about this morning? You had me worried." Ray stared at Kai like he was a monster.
"You were worried about me?" Ray said, astonished.
"Of course we were!" Kameko said, facing Ray. "What did you expect?"
"Well I expected you to care Kameko but not Kai, Kai has a habit of keeping emotions locked away."
"Well I'm trying to change that." Kai said. "You still haven't answered my question Ray." Ray looked away.
"I.I.I can't say Kai."
"WHAT!" Kai sputtered out. "WHY?"
"I just can't. I still have to figure it out properly Kai. Nothing is making sense to me at the moment." Ray said, clutching at his head. "Nothing in my life has EVER made any sense to me to be honest."
"If it makes you feel better your life isn't the only one that doesn't make sense Ray." Kai said. "I still can't figure mine out, and suddenly deciding that I'm going to show my feelings after so long is going to make it even harder." Ray looked at Kai. The young Russian man in front of him looked scared for. This is the first time I've seen Kai scared of something that hasn't happened yet, Ray thought. "But that doesn't mean," Kai said looking back at Ray, "That I'm going to take it out on two of my friends for no apparent reason." Ray blushed, making the bruise on his cheek smart a little. He put his hand to the bruise and rubbed it. "Sorry about that." Kai said.
"Don't worry about it. Besides I think we have more important things to deal with haven't we?"
"We have Kai," Kameko chipped in, "I need to train for the match with you."
"In that case we better get to it." Ray said. "If you don't mind me helping out that is." He added.
"Do we have a choice?" Kai asked, rolling his eyes. This made Kameko laugh, which made Kai chuckle which made Kameko laugh even more. When Kai pulled a silly face at Kameko to make her laugh more Ray burst in to fits of laughter and fell backwards on to the floor. "I think Ray's gone mad." Kai said to Kameko.
"That or you have Kai." Ray said, sitting up and wiping the tears from his eyes. "Anyway," Ray said, standing up, "We have work to do if Kameko's going to stand a chance against any of the other teams, or any of us for that matter."
"Comth I'th helpth youth?" Kai raised his eyebrows at Kameko.
"Huh?" Kameko held a finger up to mean 'one minute'. She was back two minutes later, toothbrush gone.
"I said 'can I help you?'" Kameko said sounding annoyed as she yanked at her hair.
"Yes you can Kameko." Kai said. "It's Ray." Kameko stopped yanking at her hair and stared at Kai.
"What's wrong," she said, "Is he sick?"
"Well I woke up this morning to hear him sobbing." Kai kept his voice down so the others, who were just getting u, didn't hear him. Kameko quickly pulled the brush through her hair and was off down the corridor towards his and Ray's room. Kameko opened the door quietly. There she was Ray, still sobbing in to the bedclothes, holding the photo still.
"How long has he been like this?" Kameko asked in shock as Kai approached her.
"I don't know." Kai said. "I was going to talk to him about it but then I remembered that he was rather curt with me last night before I went to bed." Kai said quietly. "He was staring at that picture when I came in," Kai pointed at the picture, "And when I asked him about it he said it was nothing. He then said a few minutes later that it was of his parents." Kai looked over and Ray. "I thought you might have more luck then I did." He finished off. Kameko walked in to the room and sat down on the edge of Ray's bed. Ray must have felt the bed shift because he peaked out from where his head was buried in the bedclothes.
"Ray? Kameko said, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. "Are you OK Ray?" Kameko raised her eyebrows when Ray threw her hand off his shoulder.
"Goth a fway." Came the reply. Kameko looked shocked. "I said GO AWAY!" Ray shouted at Kameko. He shot Kai ad even nastier glare. "GET OUT!" He yelled. He then got up and pushed the pair of them out of the room, slamming the door in their faces. Kameko and Kai both stared at the door,
"What in the name of all that good and quiet is going on out here?" Tyson's grandfather said coming out of the room he and his grandson were sharing. "Kai my man what's wrong with the Ray-Mister?" Kai looked up at the older man.
"I don't know," Kai said, shocked, "He just lost it at me and Kameko."
"You OK little missy?" Tyson's grandfather asked Kameko. She nodded and accepted the hand that he offered her. He offered Kai a hand to; Kai was so shocked that he just accepted with out a word.
"What is going on out here?" Mr. Dickinson said yawning.
"Where's the fire?" Tyson asked, half dressed. "I heard Ray shouting about someone getting out."
"The Ray-Mister just lost it at Miss. Kameko and Kai here." Tyson's grandfather said.
"You what?" Max asked, coming out of his room. "Ray lost his temper at Kameko and Kai?" Max was as shocked as Kai and Kameko were.
"That can't be right." Kenny said.
"Well that's what happened Chief." Dizzi said from under Kenny's arm. "I heard it all while you were in the bathroom."
"What did you do to upset him Kai?" Tyson said, rounding on Kai.
"KAI DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Kameko yelled at Tyson. Kameko then remembered her self "Kai didn't do anything to upset him Tyson. The only thing Kai did was come to me and tell me that Ray was upset about something." Tyson was taken aback.
"S.sorry Kai." Tyson said slowly.
"That's OK Tyson." Kai said. He was still in shock. The look in Ray's eyes had been pure loathing towards him and Kameko but why.
"Let me talk to Ray." Mr. Dickinson said. "The rest of you go down stairs and get some breakfast, and no silly antics today Tyson." He said as they all left.
"I have some spare clothes if you want to put them on for now Kai." Max said.
"Thank you Max." Kai said. He followed Max in to his room where Max sorted out a pair of jeans that looked like they would fit Kai and a t- shirt. The t-shirt fit tightly against Kai's torso, showing off his well- toned chest and shoulders. 2I didn't know you wore this sort of thing Max." Kai said, pulling the t-shirt down over his head.
"Not very often," Max said, wheeling over to the chest of draws and pulled out a black t-shirt with a green strips down the sides, "Usually when I'm out at the clubs trying to find a date."
"I thought you and Emily were chummy." Kai said, absent-mindedly.
"We were until the attack. I then broke it off with Emily because I was worried about her getting hurt." Max sighed. "I miss her." He said quietly.
"You'll find someone Max." Kai said in an un-characteristically kind tone. "Just treat them well." Kai shook himself mentally. What the hell is happening to me, worried about Ray, giving Max advice on relationships! I'm going mad. Kai thought to himself. The two of them left the room and went downstairs to the dinning room. There they saw Tyson, arm round Kameko's shoulders. She was crying now, well it was more sniffles now. "She OK?" He asked Tyson. "She'll be OK. She's still a bit shaken about the whole, Ray getting mad at her thing."
"Ray-San has NEVER acted that way before." Kameko said, fresh tears rolling down her face. Kai wanted to help her but stopped himself; he had to keep up appearances. "Why would he act that way Kai-San? Why?" Kai went to say something then shook his head.
"I don't know. It's so un-like Ray to act that way towards ANYONE." Just then Mr. Dickinson came down the stairs looking strained. "Did you get any where Mr. Dickinson?" Kai asked.
"No were Kai. I swear," the old man said, looking a little cross, "It's almost as if you and Ray swapped personalities to a degree."
"I doubt it." Tyson said. "Ray's just probably feeling a little grouchy, he'll get over it." With that Tyson went in to the dinning room
"But Ray-San NEVER gets grouchy." Kai heard Kameko say. No one else did. "Something's wrong with Ray-San, I can feel it."
"What ca you feel Kameko?" Kai asked.
"I can feel Ray-San's feelings. He's angry, furious, Kai-San," Kameko turned to Kai, "With us."
"What do you mean by us Kameko? Do you mean the team?"
"No," Kameko said, letting fresh tears flow down her face, "You and me Kai-San, he's angry at you and me." Kai stared at her.
"Why would Ray be mad at you and me?" Kai asked her.
"I don't know." Kameko broke in to fresh sobs. Kai went up to her and pulled her close to him.
"That's it Kameko." Kai said. "We, you and me, are going to go and find out WHAT we've done to him to make him hate us." Kameko stared at Kai. "And how do you know how he feels?" Kai asked as they went upstairs.
"I can feel peoples emotions Kai-San." Kameko said. Kai had heard of such gifts, but very few people actually had such gifts. As they reached the door to Kai and Ray's room Kameko clutched her head and tears began to run down her face again.
"Try and block his emotions Kameko." Kai said. Kameko nodded and took a deep breath. She seemed to concentrate and then her face relaxed. "Good." Kai then hammered on the door. "RAY!" he yelled through the door. "RAY KON LET US IN THIS MINUTE!"
"Go away!" Came Ray's reply.
"We're no going away until you apologise to Kameko!" Kai yelled.
"Never!" Ray yelled though the door. Kai then set his face in a determined frame of mind.
"Kameko do you have a credit card or something?" He asked. Kameko pulled out a plastic I.D. card. "Thanks." Kai then ran it through the electronic card reader rapidly. The door lock then sprung open. Kai gave Kameko back the card and threw the door open wide. Ray was sitting on the bed, fully clothed. "You are going to apologise to Kameko this ISTANT!" Kai yelled. Ray looked up at Kai, fury burned in his eyes.
"GET OUT!" Ray shouted "I WANT TO BE LEFT AONE! ESPECIALLY BY YOU TWO!"
"WHY!" Kameko suddenly screamed. "WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY WITH US RAY? WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WORNG!" Kameko had tears running down her face again.
"You've done plenty wrong!" Ray yelled at Kameko. Kai had had enough now and backhanded Ray across the cheek. Ray scowled at Kai.
"Now I've done something wrong Ray." Kai said. "I've just hit a friend because he's acting like such a JERK!" Kameko had stopped crying now and was just staring in shock at the floor. "Didn't Kameko ever tell you that she could feel other peoples emotions? Your anger was starting to upset her Ray." Kai said. "Now I don't know WHAT we've done to upset you Ray but if it includes being concerned about you then charge us both guilty." Kai stood up straight from where he had been bending over Ray. "Now I suggest you apologise." With that he walked out of the room. Ray looked over at Kameko. He was about to say something when Kameko got up and walked towards the door.
"Save it." She said and walked away. Ray stared after them both, not knowing what to think.
///
The others were standing at the bottom of the stairs when, first Kai, then Kameko, came back down. Kameko had fresh tear track down her face and Kai had a look like thunder on his face.
"What happened?" Tyson asked Kai.
"Nothing for you to be concerned with Granger." Kai said, walking out the front door. Kameko followed, not saying a word but holding a blade and launcher in on hand.
"I don't think this is good." Dizzi said.
"For once Dizzi I'm inclining to agree with you." Kenny said. "This isn't good, especially for team moral."
"What we need is Hillary." Tyson said. "Remember when you, me, Ray and Max had that big bust up about all that practice once?" Kenny nodded.
"How can I forget it Tyson, you nearly clobbered me."
"Well Hillary made us go on that picnic didn't she?"
"That's what we need!" Max shouted, "A team building day out or something!" Just then Ray came down the stairs. A large bruise was forming across his left cheek. "Ray!" Max stared at the bruise.
"Have you quite calmed down now Ray?" Mr. Dickinson asked. Ray nodded mutely. "You not only upset Kameko Ray, which I must admit surprised me enough, but you also managed to upset Kai." Ray looked up at Mr. Dickinson.
"Kai said nothing about being upset." Ray said, his voice horse from shouting and crying. "He only said that Kameko was upset and that I was to apologise to her."
"Kai may not show it but he was upset." Tyson said, glaring at Ray, something he had never done before in his life. "I didn't want to believe it, that you had actually shouted at Kameko and Kai but when Dizzi played back what she had heard earlier I." Tyson stopped. He couldn't find the words to express how he felt without swearing. Ray hung his head again.
"I.I don't know what came over me guys." He said.
"Well my suggestion Ray-Mister," Tyson's grandfather said, "Is you go after Kameko and Kai and apologise."
"I tried to apologise to Kameko earlier and she just said not to bother." Ray said.
"Well try again Ray." Tyson said. "And while you're at it you better do a lot of grovelling to." Ray ran out of the building. He walked around for ages until he came to a park where he found Kameko and Kai practicing.
"LET IT RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!" Kameko yelled, launching her blade in to the dish. Kai launched Dranzer at Kameko's blade. "I'll defiantly knock you out this time Kai!" She shouted. Her blade bumped against Dranzer, knocking it back near the edge of the dish. Ray couldn't believe his eyes. Kameko was beating Kai up.
"You're getting better Kameko." Kai said. "But not good enough! DRANZER FIRE ARROW!" Dranzer spun straight at Kameko's blade knocking it out of the dish on to the dirt.
"SHIT!" Kameko swore. "Not again! Rargh!" Kameko kicked the ground, sending stones flying in every direction. It was then that she spotted Ray. "Oh look," she said, nudging Kai, "It's Mr. 'I'll just be a jerk'!" Kameko scowled at Ray. Ray turned his head away from her eyes. "What do you want?" She called out. Ray looked up to see her and Kai glaring at him. He walked over to them, stood there for a few minutes and then bowed.
"I just came to say that I'm sorry." Ray said, straightening. "I.I don't know what came over me back there." He looked in their eyes, hoping for some little forgiveness. Kameko looked at Kai and nodded. Kai nodded back. Kameko then went up to Ray. Ray braced himself for a slap round the face, which was less then he deserved but instead he found Kameko's arms flung around his neck.
"I forgive you Ray." Kameko said, hugging him tight. Ray couldn't help himself and hugged her back. He cried in to her shoulder.
"I'm sorry Kameko," He sobbed, "I really am."
"We know you are Ray." Kai said, laying a hand on his shoulder. Ray looked at Kai's hand on his shoulder. Kai quickly took it away, not wanting another fight, one a day was enough for even him. "So," Kai said. "What were you crying about this morning? You had me worried." Ray stared at Kai like he was a monster.
"You were worried about me?" Ray said, astonished.
"Of course we were!" Kameko said, facing Ray. "What did you expect?"
"Well I expected you to care Kameko but not Kai, Kai has a habit of keeping emotions locked away."
"Well I'm trying to change that." Kai said. "You still haven't answered my question Ray." Ray looked away.
"I.I.I can't say Kai."
"WHAT!" Kai sputtered out. "WHY?"
"I just can't. I still have to figure it out properly Kai. Nothing is making sense to me at the moment." Ray said, clutching at his head. "Nothing in my life has EVER made any sense to me to be honest."
"If it makes you feel better your life isn't the only one that doesn't make sense Ray." Kai said. "I still can't figure mine out, and suddenly deciding that I'm going to show my feelings after so long is going to make it even harder." Ray looked at Kai. The young Russian man in front of him looked scared for. This is the first time I've seen Kai scared of something that hasn't happened yet, Ray thought. "But that doesn't mean," Kai said looking back at Ray, "That I'm going to take it out on two of my friends for no apparent reason." Ray blushed, making the bruise on his cheek smart a little. He put his hand to the bruise and rubbed it. "Sorry about that." Kai said.
"Don't worry about it. Besides I think we have more important things to deal with haven't we?"
"We have Kai," Kameko chipped in, "I need to train for the match with you."
"In that case we better get to it." Ray said. "If you don't mind me helping out that is." He added.
"Do we have a choice?" Kai asked, rolling his eyes. This made Kameko laugh, which made Kai chuckle which made Kameko laugh even more. When Kai pulled a silly face at Kameko to make her laugh more Ray burst in to fits of laughter and fell backwards on to the floor. "I think Ray's gone mad." Kai said to Kameko.
"That or you have Kai." Ray said, sitting up and wiping the tears from his eyes. "Anyway," Ray said, standing up, "We have work to do if Kameko's going to stand a chance against any of the other teams, or any of us for that matter."