AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Here is another chapter. Just a note,
the next few chapters will be shorter than my usual chapters, due to the
structure of the story. That's about it. Enjoy! And don't forget to review!
I certainly need more reviews.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nanjing was an extraordinarily beautiful city. There were green hills and sparkling lakes about the city, like scattered emeralds and pearls. The city was modern looking, yet not exceedingly so. The streets are never too wide, and the buildings never too tall. Ancient buildings could be sighted time to time: the weather-beaten stone walls that are now 600 years old, the various temples and gates, and the graves of emperors of old. This was a city where the old were not easily forgotten.
The hotel provided for the beybladers was located on one of those larger hills, overlooking the mirror like surface of the lakes. The room of the Blade Breakers was on the south end of the lot, shadowed by an ancient oak tree.
It was a golden morning, with a cloudless azure sky and the early December chill stealing into the city. The Blade Breakers had just returned to their room after their training, resting about. The only one still working was Kenny, who was typing furiously on his laptop. Kai sat against one wall, in deep thought like someone in meditation, Tyson was lying flat on his bed, reading a comic book, and Ray too was huddled with a book in the corner. Max, however, was restless, and he was sorting through Tyson's pile of comic books.
"Astro Boy, Godzilla, Gundam X..." Max said out loud with a laugh, "God, Tyson, you brought all those with you? I can't believe you!" He continued to flip through those books. Suddenly a small black-and-white photo fell from the books. "What is this?" Max asked aloud.
Tyson put down his comic book and moved closer to Max, "What was what?"
Max held up the photo, "This. What is this photo? It looks quite old."
Both Kenny and Ray came to their side as well. Surprisingly, even Kai moved to a position where he could see the photo easily. It was indeed a very old photo. The image was still clear and the paper was yellowed with age. On the photo there was a young soldier, dressed in a very straight and neat uniform. On his chest, many shinny badges gleamed. The soldier held in his right hand a bayonet, glowing with its owner's pride. In the background there was a tall city wall with three giant gates. Above the gates there was three large characters carved into the wall. Above the city wall, there was dark, rising smoke. About the feet of the wall one could glimpse faint shapes of people, running about wildly. In the corner of the photo, written in blank ink, was the phrase, "Taken in 1937, after we finally breached the wall of Nanjing."
"What is this?" Kenny asked with a frown.
"This? It's a photo of my grandpa's friend. It has a really cool story to it too." Tyson said excitedly, "This was taken in World War II. He," Tyson pointed to the young soldier on the photo, "Fought aboard back then. And look at his badges! He was a lieutenant at that time, and he was only 21! When they attacked this city, he did a lot of spying work. And it is all thanks to him that they took the city so fast. This was his souvenir photo..."
He stopped mid sentence, for Ray had suddenly snatched the photo away.
"Hey! Don't hog the photo!" Tyson shouted, oblivious to everything. "Max and Kenny want to see it too! Don't be a selfish..."
Again he was cut short, for he finally noticed Ray's look. His handsome face was distorted with rage, and his golden eyes were smouldering with a fire that threatened to consume everything. He was trembling, like a leave in the wind.
"Ray? What's wrong?" Tyson asked. He had no idea what was going on.
Ray didn't speak. He looked like he was trying very hard to control himself. Slowly his fist closed around the photo and crumbled it. Finally with a venomous spite he threw the crumbled photo out of the window.
"Hey!" Tyson jumped up and cried out angrily. "What was that for! That was my photo."
"You are a fool, Tyson." Ray said in a low, growling voice. "Push it further and you might just make me regret I ever became a part of this little group."
With that he stormed out, and banged the door with a thunderous noise. He was gone like a flash, leaving only a ferocious stir of air behind him. Tyson stared after him, now his expression was of one confused and slightly fearful. "What has gotten into him?" He said in a low voice.
"I think I get it, sort of," Kenny said with yet another frown, "Japan fought against China in World War II. I don't think he is all that happy to be reminded of it."
"Gee. Just for that?" Tyson grumbled, still grudging the fact his friend suddenly turned on him. "He doesn't need to get that angry and threw out my photo too. And it's so long ago too."
When Ray still did not return at lunchtime, his teammates were beginning to worry.
"Where is Ray?" Kenny asked. "How come he is still not back?"
"Maybe we should go looking for him." Max suggested.
But Kai stood up and said, "You guys stay. I will go look for him." He left no room for protests and objections. He just pushed open the door and left. Leaving the others to stare after him rather dumbly.
Finally Kenny said, "Kai will probably find him no problem. So let's not worry ourselves. They will come back soon." Tyson sulked a little, but said nothing in return. The day wore on in a dampened mood.
It took Kai a long while to find Ray, and when he finally did, the light was waning and his patience was wearing thin. He finally found Ray on the other side of the city wall, at the grave of the famous Ming Emperor. He had never set eyes on this ancient building before now. There was a long, straight street that showed signs of modern renovation. The street was lined with many strange looking stone statues. The setting sun cast a yellow glow over their smooth, story exteriors, like a layer of gold on the white marbles. Ray was there, sitting on the grassy ground, his eyes closed, and his head leaning on the stone statue, seemingly asleep.
As soon as Kai neared the dark-haired youth, his golden eyes snapped open, regarding Kai in a cool and uncaring manner. "Why have you come?" Ray asked, still in his indifferent voice.
"To search for you, Einstein." Kai said scathingly, and wondered to himself why he even bothered taking this task in the first place.
There was a long silence, before Kai finally asked, "Just which fine-tuned spring did that photo touch in you?"
Ray sighed, and replied with a question of his own, in a distant voice, "Have you ever heard of the Massacre of Nanjing, Kai?"
"No." Kai's reply was curt.
"I didn't think you would," Ray said, still in a faraway voice, "And sometimes I wished I didn't either." There was a pause, before he continued. "Japan and China have never been the best of friends. There were too many feuds, all horrific and bloody. Coming to this city, at this time around the year, is a mistake in itself. And Tyson just has to have such a picture, and weave an exciting story about it too. Tactless, insensitive fool."
Though his words were cutting, the rage had left his voice. His tone was flat and dull, lifeless in a strange way. Kai listened in silence and responded nothing. The wind rustled the leafless branches, and their quiet murmuring roused an eeriness in the fading light.
Finally Ray stood up abruptly. "Come, let's get back, or they are really going to worry." He said lightly, if the lightness in his voice was somewhat forced.
"You are over it then?" Kai asked quietly yet still in a forceful, commanding voice.
"No. Not yet anyway." Ray replied, an edge piercing his voice now, "Nor will it be likely in the near future. But I am willing to put it aside for now, for the sake of our team. I chose to join the Blade Breakers, and I will stand by my decision, for now at least."
Kai watched him with something akin to fascination in his eyes, before he followed suit and walked down the path leading back to their hotel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Kai and Ray returned to the hotel, not many words were exchanged between the team members. Everyone seemed a little more careful now, not wanting to trigger some other conflicts. Even Tyson was cautiously polite with his best manners. The mood was peaceful, yet awkward. If the drama had ended with the setting of the sun, perhaps the next day the Blade Breakers would be back to their normal antics and laughter. But no, of course that was not the case.
It was in the depth of the night, outside rain was pouring, with peals of thunder and flashes lightning that penetrated the thick shadows of the night sky again and again. Standing, facing each other on the two sides of the old-fashioned beyblade dish, were Ray and Kevin.
"Give the disk back, Kevin." Ray said with a growl.
Defiantly the small boy pulled out his launcher and beyblade and shouted, "Defeat me in a battle and the disk is all yours."
Ray's face darkened, "Don't make me do this, Kevin."
The green-haired boy stared back forcefully, with no intention of backing down his challenge. Ray's golden eyes narrowed in irritation, and in a swing he brought out his own launcher and blade. "Fine then," He said sharply, "If you want a battle you will get one."
Both of them pulled hard on the ripcord, and two beyblades, one pearl white, the other deep purple, both sailed and smashed in mid-air before landing into the stone dish. They circled each other, continuously ramming, crashing, twisting and turning. The purple blade traveled in a bizarre pattern, creating a dizzying visual effect. Yet the white blade was unfazed. In swung in an attack pattern that always hit at the right time, and slowly it was gaining the upper hand.
"I am not going to lose to you!" Kevin shouted. "Galman, come out and trash his blade!"
The purple blade glowed as a golden monkey shaped apparition emerged, screaming and shrieking madly. "Someone has been practicing, I can see. But it's not good enough yet to beat me, Kevin." Ray said coolly as he called. "Drigger, Tiger Claws Attack!" At his words the majestic tiger slowly emerged. It was a beast of ageless glory, a manifestation of a power that is as old as the world itself. The great tiger roared and charged.
"Don't trash my blade, Ray!" At this Kevin squealed, all of his initial eagerness and bravery seemed to fade completely.
"It is too late." Ray said, "You should have known that once the tiger is unleashed, it can't be called back unless the battle is over."
Kevin stared at him for a second, before speaking bitterly, "So this is how it is, huh? You are ready to trash my blade, me, who once was your best friend, over them." Here he pointed an accusing finger at the other Blade Breakers watching from the sideline.
A pained look crossed Ray's face, and he said softly, "You know I didn't mean it like this, Kevin, you left me no choice."
"You had plenty of choices!" Kevin shouted, "Of all people, why did you choose to ally yourself with them Japanese?"
"Don't go there!" Ray said forcefully with a warning tone in his voice.
"Why shouldn't I go there? You are afraid of the truth aren't you?" Kevin was now screaming at the top of his lungs. "You traitor! The White Tiger was the sacred guardian of China, and now you are using his power to defend her sworn enemies, against me nonetheless. You treacherous back-stabber!"
"You are speaking nonsense." Again Ray said quietly, though it was plain to see his control was on the point of breaking loose completely.
"So I am stupid now too, aren't I?" Kevin said with a cold laugh. "How am I speaking nonsense? Take a look at this!" With that he suddenly held before Ray's face a photo, a yellowed photo that showed signs of being crumbled yet was smoothed out carefully. Ray instantly drew a sharp breath and backed up a step.
"Yes, you should be shocked and afraid." Kevin said mercilessly. "That's what your so called friend has with him. 'Taken in 1937, after we finally breached the walls of Nanjing', and I quote. You do know what happened in this city, don't you? And your little friend seemed so proud about it too, he kept that photo with him all those times, and he told a good story about it too, didn't he? And here you stand, on their side? Where is your conscious?"
Ray's composure was gone completely by now. He was shaking, whether from rage or something else was not known. His focus completely collapsed as his thoughts exploded. The white tiger roared again, turned and gave Ray a long look, before he burst into a firework of green and white lights, vanishing into the darkness of the night.
Ray seemed suddenly jerked awake. "Drigger!" He shouted. "No! Don't!"
Across the dish from him, Kevin smirked. "See, even Drigger agree with me. I got you right where I want you, Kon," He said, wagging a finger, before shouting, "Galman, finish this off!"
The purple blade now attacked ferociously. In his crazed state Ray didn't fight back at all, he barely noticed as his blade flew out of the dish, slamming into his shoulder painfully before dropping into his hand. "Drigger." He murmured and stared at the white beyblade in his hand. It looked dull and lifeless, and the bit-chip in the centre of the blade was empty and without a trace of what was once there before.
It rained even harder now, and the thunder was a non-stop drum roll of doom in the distance. Ray hardly saw Tyson battling Kevin and successfully winning back the disk, nor did he see the others left quietly, leaving only Kai still standing in the rain with a face of contemplativeness. Finally Kai broke the monotone of thunder and raindrops, and said, "If you think your bit-beast left you for whatever petty reasons over an ancient war, you are more foolish than I thought."
Ray did not reply. Kai continued, "The only reason Drigger left you if because you lost your focus and will to battle in the middle of a match. You allowed your emotions to be manipulated with some simple words, and completely lost your head. I thought in the beginning that you are a competent blader, different from the others, but I guess I thought wrong."
Again nothing answered him. Droplets of water slid off Ray's face, emerging from the shadows of his raven-dark hair. Was it the rain? Or something else? Kai said no more and turned around, finally leaving Ray alone in the now pouring rain. He stood there, silent and still like a stone statue, pale and cold like white marbles.
"They were not simple words, Kai." Finally he murmured. "They were not."
And still it rained.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nanjing was an extraordinarily beautiful city. There were green hills and sparkling lakes about the city, like scattered emeralds and pearls. The city was modern looking, yet not exceedingly so. The streets are never too wide, and the buildings never too tall. Ancient buildings could be sighted time to time: the weather-beaten stone walls that are now 600 years old, the various temples and gates, and the graves of emperors of old. This was a city where the old were not easily forgotten.
The hotel provided for the beybladers was located on one of those larger hills, overlooking the mirror like surface of the lakes. The room of the Blade Breakers was on the south end of the lot, shadowed by an ancient oak tree.
It was a golden morning, with a cloudless azure sky and the early December chill stealing into the city. The Blade Breakers had just returned to their room after their training, resting about. The only one still working was Kenny, who was typing furiously on his laptop. Kai sat against one wall, in deep thought like someone in meditation, Tyson was lying flat on his bed, reading a comic book, and Ray too was huddled with a book in the corner. Max, however, was restless, and he was sorting through Tyson's pile of comic books.
"Astro Boy, Godzilla, Gundam X..." Max said out loud with a laugh, "God, Tyson, you brought all those with you? I can't believe you!" He continued to flip through those books. Suddenly a small black-and-white photo fell from the books. "What is this?" Max asked aloud.
Tyson put down his comic book and moved closer to Max, "What was what?"
Max held up the photo, "This. What is this photo? It looks quite old."
Both Kenny and Ray came to their side as well. Surprisingly, even Kai moved to a position where he could see the photo easily. It was indeed a very old photo. The image was still clear and the paper was yellowed with age. On the photo there was a young soldier, dressed in a very straight and neat uniform. On his chest, many shinny badges gleamed. The soldier held in his right hand a bayonet, glowing with its owner's pride. In the background there was a tall city wall with three giant gates. Above the gates there was three large characters carved into the wall. Above the city wall, there was dark, rising smoke. About the feet of the wall one could glimpse faint shapes of people, running about wildly. In the corner of the photo, written in blank ink, was the phrase, "Taken in 1937, after we finally breached the wall of Nanjing."
"What is this?" Kenny asked with a frown.
"This? It's a photo of my grandpa's friend. It has a really cool story to it too." Tyson said excitedly, "This was taken in World War II. He," Tyson pointed to the young soldier on the photo, "Fought aboard back then. And look at his badges! He was a lieutenant at that time, and he was only 21! When they attacked this city, he did a lot of spying work. And it is all thanks to him that they took the city so fast. This was his souvenir photo..."
He stopped mid sentence, for Ray had suddenly snatched the photo away.
"Hey! Don't hog the photo!" Tyson shouted, oblivious to everything. "Max and Kenny want to see it too! Don't be a selfish..."
Again he was cut short, for he finally noticed Ray's look. His handsome face was distorted with rage, and his golden eyes were smouldering with a fire that threatened to consume everything. He was trembling, like a leave in the wind.
"Ray? What's wrong?" Tyson asked. He had no idea what was going on.
Ray didn't speak. He looked like he was trying very hard to control himself. Slowly his fist closed around the photo and crumbled it. Finally with a venomous spite he threw the crumbled photo out of the window.
"Hey!" Tyson jumped up and cried out angrily. "What was that for! That was my photo."
"You are a fool, Tyson." Ray said in a low, growling voice. "Push it further and you might just make me regret I ever became a part of this little group."
With that he stormed out, and banged the door with a thunderous noise. He was gone like a flash, leaving only a ferocious stir of air behind him. Tyson stared after him, now his expression was of one confused and slightly fearful. "What has gotten into him?" He said in a low voice.
"I think I get it, sort of," Kenny said with yet another frown, "Japan fought against China in World War II. I don't think he is all that happy to be reminded of it."
"Gee. Just for that?" Tyson grumbled, still grudging the fact his friend suddenly turned on him. "He doesn't need to get that angry and threw out my photo too. And it's so long ago too."
When Ray still did not return at lunchtime, his teammates were beginning to worry.
"Where is Ray?" Kenny asked. "How come he is still not back?"
"Maybe we should go looking for him." Max suggested.
But Kai stood up and said, "You guys stay. I will go look for him." He left no room for protests and objections. He just pushed open the door and left. Leaving the others to stare after him rather dumbly.
Finally Kenny said, "Kai will probably find him no problem. So let's not worry ourselves. They will come back soon." Tyson sulked a little, but said nothing in return. The day wore on in a dampened mood.
It took Kai a long while to find Ray, and when he finally did, the light was waning and his patience was wearing thin. He finally found Ray on the other side of the city wall, at the grave of the famous Ming Emperor. He had never set eyes on this ancient building before now. There was a long, straight street that showed signs of modern renovation. The street was lined with many strange looking stone statues. The setting sun cast a yellow glow over their smooth, story exteriors, like a layer of gold on the white marbles. Ray was there, sitting on the grassy ground, his eyes closed, and his head leaning on the stone statue, seemingly asleep.
As soon as Kai neared the dark-haired youth, his golden eyes snapped open, regarding Kai in a cool and uncaring manner. "Why have you come?" Ray asked, still in his indifferent voice.
"To search for you, Einstein." Kai said scathingly, and wondered to himself why he even bothered taking this task in the first place.
There was a long silence, before Kai finally asked, "Just which fine-tuned spring did that photo touch in you?"
Ray sighed, and replied with a question of his own, in a distant voice, "Have you ever heard of the Massacre of Nanjing, Kai?"
"No." Kai's reply was curt.
"I didn't think you would," Ray said, still in a faraway voice, "And sometimes I wished I didn't either." There was a pause, before he continued. "Japan and China have never been the best of friends. There were too many feuds, all horrific and bloody. Coming to this city, at this time around the year, is a mistake in itself. And Tyson just has to have such a picture, and weave an exciting story about it too. Tactless, insensitive fool."
Though his words were cutting, the rage had left his voice. His tone was flat and dull, lifeless in a strange way. Kai listened in silence and responded nothing. The wind rustled the leafless branches, and their quiet murmuring roused an eeriness in the fading light.
Finally Ray stood up abruptly. "Come, let's get back, or they are really going to worry." He said lightly, if the lightness in his voice was somewhat forced.
"You are over it then?" Kai asked quietly yet still in a forceful, commanding voice.
"No. Not yet anyway." Ray replied, an edge piercing his voice now, "Nor will it be likely in the near future. But I am willing to put it aside for now, for the sake of our team. I chose to join the Blade Breakers, and I will stand by my decision, for now at least."
Kai watched him with something akin to fascination in his eyes, before he followed suit and walked down the path leading back to their hotel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Kai and Ray returned to the hotel, not many words were exchanged between the team members. Everyone seemed a little more careful now, not wanting to trigger some other conflicts. Even Tyson was cautiously polite with his best manners. The mood was peaceful, yet awkward. If the drama had ended with the setting of the sun, perhaps the next day the Blade Breakers would be back to their normal antics and laughter. But no, of course that was not the case.
It was in the depth of the night, outside rain was pouring, with peals of thunder and flashes lightning that penetrated the thick shadows of the night sky again and again. Standing, facing each other on the two sides of the old-fashioned beyblade dish, were Ray and Kevin.
"Give the disk back, Kevin." Ray said with a growl.
Defiantly the small boy pulled out his launcher and beyblade and shouted, "Defeat me in a battle and the disk is all yours."
Ray's face darkened, "Don't make me do this, Kevin."
The green-haired boy stared back forcefully, with no intention of backing down his challenge. Ray's golden eyes narrowed in irritation, and in a swing he brought out his own launcher and blade. "Fine then," He said sharply, "If you want a battle you will get one."
Both of them pulled hard on the ripcord, and two beyblades, one pearl white, the other deep purple, both sailed and smashed in mid-air before landing into the stone dish. They circled each other, continuously ramming, crashing, twisting and turning. The purple blade traveled in a bizarre pattern, creating a dizzying visual effect. Yet the white blade was unfazed. In swung in an attack pattern that always hit at the right time, and slowly it was gaining the upper hand.
"I am not going to lose to you!" Kevin shouted. "Galman, come out and trash his blade!"
The purple blade glowed as a golden monkey shaped apparition emerged, screaming and shrieking madly. "Someone has been practicing, I can see. But it's not good enough yet to beat me, Kevin." Ray said coolly as he called. "Drigger, Tiger Claws Attack!" At his words the majestic tiger slowly emerged. It was a beast of ageless glory, a manifestation of a power that is as old as the world itself. The great tiger roared and charged.
"Don't trash my blade, Ray!" At this Kevin squealed, all of his initial eagerness and bravery seemed to fade completely.
"It is too late." Ray said, "You should have known that once the tiger is unleashed, it can't be called back unless the battle is over."
Kevin stared at him for a second, before speaking bitterly, "So this is how it is, huh? You are ready to trash my blade, me, who once was your best friend, over them." Here he pointed an accusing finger at the other Blade Breakers watching from the sideline.
A pained look crossed Ray's face, and he said softly, "You know I didn't mean it like this, Kevin, you left me no choice."
"You had plenty of choices!" Kevin shouted, "Of all people, why did you choose to ally yourself with them Japanese?"
"Don't go there!" Ray said forcefully with a warning tone in his voice.
"Why shouldn't I go there? You are afraid of the truth aren't you?" Kevin was now screaming at the top of his lungs. "You traitor! The White Tiger was the sacred guardian of China, and now you are using his power to defend her sworn enemies, against me nonetheless. You treacherous back-stabber!"
"You are speaking nonsense." Again Ray said quietly, though it was plain to see his control was on the point of breaking loose completely.
"So I am stupid now too, aren't I?" Kevin said with a cold laugh. "How am I speaking nonsense? Take a look at this!" With that he suddenly held before Ray's face a photo, a yellowed photo that showed signs of being crumbled yet was smoothed out carefully. Ray instantly drew a sharp breath and backed up a step.
"Yes, you should be shocked and afraid." Kevin said mercilessly. "That's what your so called friend has with him. 'Taken in 1937, after we finally breached the walls of Nanjing', and I quote. You do know what happened in this city, don't you? And your little friend seemed so proud about it too, he kept that photo with him all those times, and he told a good story about it too, didn't he? And here you stand, on their side? Where is your conscious?"
Ray's composure was gone completely by now. He was shaking, whether from rage or something else was not known. His focus completely collapsed as his thoughts exploded. The white tiger roared again, turned and gave Ray a long look, before he burst into a firework of green and white lights, vanishing into the darkness of the night.
Ray seemed suddenly jerked awake. "Drigger!" He shouted. "No! Don't!"
Across the dish from him, Kevin smirked. "See, even Drigger agree with me. I got you right where I want you, Kon," He said, wagging a finger, before shouting, "Galman, finish this off!"
The purple blade now attacked ferociously. In his crazed state Ray didn't fight back at all, he barely noticed as his blade flew out of the dish, slamming into his shoulder painfully before dropping into his hand. "Drigger." He murmured and stared at the white beyblade in his hand. It looked dull and lifeless, and the bit-chip in the centre of the blade was empty and without a trace of what was once there before.
It rained even harder now, and the thunder was a non-stop drum roll of doom in the distance. Ray hardly saw Tyson battling Kevin and successfully winning back the disk, nor did he see the others left quietly, leaving only Kai still standing in the rain with a face of contemplativeness. Finally Kai broke the monotone of thunder and raindrops, and said, "If you think your bit-beast left you for whatever petty reasons over an ancient war, you are more foolish than I thought."
Ray did not reply. Kai continued, "The only reason Drigger left you if because you lost your focus and will to battle in the middle of a match. You allowed your emotions to be manipulated with some simple words, and completely lost your head. I thought in the beginning that you are a competent blader, different from the others, but I guess I thought wrong."
Again nothing answered him. Droplets of water slid off Ray's face, emerging from the shadows of his raven-dark hair. Was it the rain? Or something else? Kai said no more and turned around, finally leaving Ray alone in the now pouring rain. He stood there, silent and still like a stone statue, pale and cold like white marbles.
"They were not simple words, Kai." Finally he murmured. "They were not."
And still it rained.