7: Alone

V-Force is airing in Australia. I'll have to get back to you on what I think. I missed the first four episodes… but I get to see Kai's introduction. And it was awesome!!! Just wish they hadn't taken it off the air _

Chain Gun: Thanks for taking the time to review!

TigerTerror: We're cruel, being so mean to Kai. But it's fun!

sakura9566: Too lazy to log in, too lazy to write a big review. If I turn off anonymous review, what will you do? (Hey! That rhymes!!!)

Sarcasmcat: The wait is over my friend. ^_^

Frostt: I'm going to keep the PG-13, so no need to worry about the shonen ai getting too strong

Rel: Yes, they're cute, and yes, I was waiting for Kai to wake up too! #^_^#

Disclaimer: I think I said I don't own Beyblade. Well, if I didn't, I still don't own it. I wish I could own Ray and Kai though. And Lee. I mean, check out the body in "Bye Bye Bit Beast" *Drools*

"C'mon Gary, you can't eat all those eggs by yourself. Let me have some."

Gary shook his head, pulling the plate closer. "You want 'em, you make your own."

Tyson pointed to the heaped plate in front of the White Tiger. "Why should I make my own when you've got at least two dozen right there."

"These are mine. I made 'em, I eat 'em."

Kenny frowned as he finished pouring his glass of orange juice. "He has a point, Tyson. I don't see why you can't make your own anyway."

"Oh fine! Take his side already!"

"What's going on?"

The group looked up as he entered, Mariah smiling. "Hey there, Lee."

Lee nodded his greeting, looking around the table, eyes falling onto Tyson. "Well? What's happening?"

Tyson crossed his arms over his chest. ""Gary has all those eggs and won't give me any."

Lee looked down at Gary's plate and raised an eyebrow. "You going on a diet or something, Gaz?"

Gary smiled. "Trying to cut back."

Tyson blinked. "Wha-?"

"Gary's only got about quarter of what he usually eats," Kevin explained, spooning in another mouthful of cereal.

Mariah watched Lee as he poured himself a strong cup of coffee, then leant back against the counter to sip it. "Rough night, Lee?"

He smiled faintly. "You could say that."

Gary smirked, shovelling in some eggs so no one saw it.

They looked up as Mr Dickenson entered, paper in hand. "Good morning gentleman, Mariah. I do hope you're ready for today's training session."

"Yeah, about that." Lee frowned, setting down his cup. "Ray and I were discussing it before I came out. Kai's made no improvement, so we thought that maybe we could stay back and keep an eye on him. Take it in turns even."

Kevin looked up sharply. "Then who's going to train us?"

"Mariah can handle it."

"And what about me?" Tyson asked. "I'm perfectly capable of overseeing the training."

"I don't think so, kid." Lee looked down at him. "Heading a training session takes both leadership skill and maturity. While I'm sure you've got a little of the former, you're completely lacking in the latter."

"Why you-"

"I totally agree with the idea of leaving you and Ray alone to watch Kai, Lee," Mr Dickenson said, cutting Tyson off. "That way someone can be with him all the time."

"Ray's watching him now. I'm sure he'll come around sometime today."

"Yes, yes, quite right." Mr Dickenson glanced at his watch. "Well, we'll be leaving in half an hour. You kids had better hurry up and get ready."

"Half an hour!?" Tyson looked around sharply. "That's barely enough time to get through half of my breakfast, let alone have a shower and find Dragoon!"

"I wouldn't bother about the shower," Lee said, plucking an apple from the basket and biting into it. "If Mariah's already had hers, then there won't be any hot water."

"Is that so?" Mariah placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "And you and Ray are any different? I do believe it is Ray who holds the record for the longest shower."

"That's self explanatory." Lee flicked his hair from his face. "It takes forever for him to wash all that hair. He goes through about two bottles of shampoo in one washing."

Tyson looked from Mariah to Lee, and back again. "Why doesn't he just cut it?"

A stunned silence fell over the White Tigers as they stared at him, Mariah finding her voice first. "Because that would be… dishonourable."

"It's against our tradition," Kevin told Tyson. "Our village has it's tradition, and then our families have their traditions, which is why Gary's hair is different to all of ours, and why Ray has his in a wrapping and the rest of us don't."

Max frowned. "How come all your hair is shorter then Ray's then?"

Kevin smiled faintly. "My hair is grown to the length that is traditional for my family. Mariah and Lee are different."

"My hair won't grow any longer," Mariah explained. "And neither will Lee's. It's something we inherited from our parents. It just grows to a certain length, and then stops."

Lee chuckled softly. "There's no way I'm growing eyebrows like my grandfather though."

Mariah smiled. "Those sideburns are enough."

"Don't pick 'em." Lee finished his coffee and set the cup with the rest of the dishes, moving toward the corridor. "Well, I better go see if Ray wants something to eat."

"Lee."

He paused. "Yeah?"

Mr Dickenson looked toward him. "Are you sure you and Ray will be fine alone with Kai?"

Lee shrugged, gesturing toward the group around the table bickering. "Better then looking out for those brats."

Mr Dickenson nodded, smiling faintly as he turned back to the entertainment.

I'm sure you can all see where this is going.