4: Last Minute Training

Me again. Still hope you are enjoying this, and I am just going to say that this won't be a mushy fic, so don't worry too much.

Disclaimer: Still not mine

Ray bolted upright, gasping as he fought to regain his breath. That dream again. The one that had plagued him since the eve of the victory at the Asian tournament. He wiped the sweat from his face, glancing to the side as the early morning sun cast its orange glow through the partly opened curtains. Noting that the other bed was empty, Ray sighed and shook his head, pulling himself out of his sheets and stepping into the bathroom to wash up. He knew where Kai would be.

ž ~Ÿ ~= ~Ÿ ~ž

Tugging hard on the rip cord, Dranzer cut through the air and slammed down into the dish. Kai watched as the blade skimmed the surface of the dish, sparks flying from the speed as he pushed the blade to the extremes. He clenched his teeth, the blade jinking hard and slicing down toward the centre of the dish, before climbing the opposite wall and gaining some air.

Kai narrowed his eyes, the edges of his blade glowing red as Dranzer gained energy, before becoming a blur as it slammed down into the centre of the dish. The brick Kai had set up in the centre crumpled into dust at the impact, red debris filling the air, Kai closing his eyes as a slight satisfied smile crept onto his lips.

"Woah man, that was sweet!"

Kai growled as he came out of his reverie, outstretching one hand as Dranzer leapt up into it. "Shouldn't you be eating?"

Tyson rubbed the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I'm so excited about the tournament that I'm not hungry."

Kai crossed his arms over his chest. "So I guess you're just going to let Max, Kenny, and Ray eat all the pancakes, pastries, toast, honey, pop-tarts, cornflakes, porridge, sausages, eggs, bacon-"

"Aagh!" Tyson hopped from foot to foot, spinning on his heel and racing back inside. "Guys! Leave some for me!"

Kai chuckled, turning back to the dish. "Easier then tying shoelaces."

"You don't have any."

Kai sighed, gritting his teeth. "You just can't let me train, can you."

"Not when you should be eating. Besides, you're not blading today."

"I still have to prepare, like the rest of you should."

"I've prepared. I just do it differently then you do." Ray stepped out the shadows and moved toward him, ponytail flicking behind him with each step. "You really don't like him, do you."

"You've noticed."

"Stands out like sore thumb." Ray watched as Kai reloaded his blade, frowning. "Give them a chance, Kai."

"They're not worth my time." Kai turned his back on the other boy. "Now, let me get back to my training."

"Give it a rest, Kai. We know you're good, but it's about time you realised that we're not so bad either. Tyson and I could take you anyday."

"Is that so." Kai turned toward him, looking the other up and down. "Care to blade?"

Ray glared at him, then moved around Kai to come to stand on the other side of the dish, tugging the launcher from his belt. "If I win this, you'll come inside and eat with the rest of us."

"If I win this, you'll leave me alone for the rest of the day."

"Except for when we're blading at the tournament, you have a deal."

The two boys glared at each other over the top of the dish, launchers poised and ready. At a silent signal, they pulled the cord, blades spinning free and slamming down into the dish.

"Driger, Tiger Claw attack!"

"You are so predictable, Ray. Finish him Dranzer!"

The two blades met in the centre of the dish in a blaze of sparks, bit beasts erupting into the air. The White Tiger flared green against the burning red of the Phoenix, Driger and Dranzer dancing around each other, slashing and clawing as the blades continued to slam against one another.

Pulling back, the blades completed a circuit of the dish before blazing down on each other, erupting in a bright flash as they met and causing both boys to turn their heads away to avoid being blinded. A silence settled uneasily into the air as the smoke cleared, and glancing down, they found the two blades lying side by side on the ground beside the dish, smoking as they cooled.

Ray blinked. "We… drew?"

Kai growled, reaching forward to pluck his blade from the ground and visually inspecting it for any damage. Finding none, he smirked. "Not even a scratch. Pathetic."

Ray snatched up his own blade. "Speak for yourself. You didn't even singe the paintwork." Noting Kai's glare, Ray smiled. "Compromise: You eat with us and then I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day unless we need advise during the tournament."

Kai glared at him, causing Ray to shift uncomfortably at the fire that burned in his eyes. Without saying a word, he turned and began heading back into the glass doors that led inside. Ray frowned, quickening his step in order to keep up with him.

"Where are you going?"

"To eat breakfast with the rest of you morons. The sooner I start the sooner I can get it over with."

Well that's another one. Please R&R, and I'll be back soon with another chapter.