7: Round Two… What the Heck?

Round One was predictable, but don't expect everything to go as planned… did you hear something?

Just want to put in a quick thankyou to those who have reviewed this fic so far: akaiciel, Boys-On-Boysenberry, and importantly, devilburns who has showed up for almost every chapter so far. Thank you all for your time and support.

Disclaimer: Forget the rights, anyone know where I can get a great big poster of Ray and Kai?


Max stepped back toward the others, one hand raised in the peace sign as Tyson jumped all around him, laughing. "Man, you were cool! I knew you were planning something all along!"

Kenny sighed, clutching his laptop to his chest. "I tell you to do one thing and you do the complete opposite. Why does everybody do that!"

"Hey, no hard feelings Chief, I just remembered what you said about Kevin and used it." Max stepped to Kenny's side and nudged him with his elbow. "You could say you were my inspiration to that attack."

Kenny blushed. "Eh… thanks."

Ray stood, looking across the dish and locked eyes with Mariah as she came forward. Ignoring the others, Ray stepped toward the dish trying to push aside the feeling of foreboding as he did so. In his mind, his dream repeated itself over and over, but he brushed it aside as anxiety. Nothing like that could ever happen.

"Go Ray!" Tyson called over the cheers of the crowd. "One more and we win!"

Brad: And round two sets up repeat of Asia with Ray from the Blade Breakers matching up with Mariah of the White Tigers.

A.J.: There is no doubt that these two have been sweet on each other since the last round of the Championships, but will we see a repeat of their last battle?

Brad: Well Ray came away from that one with a victory, but only time will tell as we get set for some more action.

Jazzman: Bladers, are you ready?

Mariah looked over the dish, flicking her long pink hair from her eyes as she smiled. "Good to see you again, Ray."

"You too, Mariah." Ray widened his stance. "No hard feelings if I win?"

"No hard feelings if I win?"

Ray laughed, looking down and waiting for the floor to part and their dish to appear. Last time they had battled in the Forbidden City and Mariah had left it and his blade almost in ruins. He didn't plan to allow that to happen again.

Brad: The crowd is on edge as we wait for the next dish.

A.J.: You could cut the silence with a knife, for sure.

Brad: They're taking a long time.

A.J.: Just building up suspense Brad- Woah! What the hell was that!

The blast echoed off the walls of the stadium before it faded to nothingness. The crowd froze, gazing around trying to work out what the noise was and it's origins. Several people screamed as the sound came again; the distinctive sound of a gunshot, amplified by the stillness and the closed dome of the stadium.

Brad: Somebodies shooting out there! Eh… where did you go A.J.?

A.J.: Under the desk, Brad.

Brad: Mind if I join you?

A.J.: Only if you bring the corn chips.

Ray dropped to one knee, body tense as he scanned the crowd. Across from him, Mariah was on hands and knees, making a small target. Glancing behind him, Ray saw Max and Tyson frozen solid in fear, Kenny curled into a ball where he sat in their bunker. Kai leant back heavily against the frame of the bunker, eyes wide and mouth partly open as the blood drained from his face. Ray frowned, knowing that something was very wrong…

"Kai!"

Ray's cry came moments before the third gunshot, Kai's head falling back against the frame before he slowly slid to the ground, leaving a trail of blood behind him on the paintwork. Ray's hands clenched into fists as he realised that this was his dream in full stark reality, and spinning around, he spotted a blur of movement in the stands.

A muffled thump sent the gunman falling from his position by the railing on the second level, down the stairs, under the next railing and onto the bare floor of the stadium. With a war cry, Kevin followed him, kicking the rifle from his grip and slamming a fist into his jaw.

The gunman fought back, kicking Kevin in the knees and sending the young teen staggering back. Reaching for his weapon, the gunman spun around and aimed it toward where Kevin had been, only to be caught fair in the jaw as Lee's punch came in, sending the gunman spinning to the floor.

Kicking the rifle away, Lee clenched his fists as Kevin moved in to back him up. Lee snarled. "That was the last mistake you'll ever make."


Poor Kai shot… you're not going to kill me now are you? If you want to know what happens, come back next update. In the meantime, how about a review…