Aouni: YES! I figured it out! I figured out how to do bold italics and underline! YAY!

Dizzy: It sure took you a long time.

Aouni: Who cares? The point is, I figured it out! I can do it! YAY! So I went back and edited the last two chapters of this story so they were in bold underline and italics too!

Ray: Do you have a life?

DISCLAIMER: This is fanfiction. Emphasis on the word FAN, fans don't own. They obsess, sure, but they don't own. They wouldn't be fans if they did. (:

WARNING: (See previous chapters) Yaoi, if you don't like it, then don't read it. (flames on this subject will be eaten by a purple chicken)

Max: Do you really need to put a warning and a disclaimer in every chapter?

Aouni: Uh…

..::Chapter Three::..

Kenny was just about ready to rip his hair out, smash his glasses against the wall (which would have been a very bad idea owing to the fact that he was nearly blind without them), throw all his pillows and bed sheets on the floor, and then cry.

Why would he throw such a tantrum? Well, he wouldn't – at least, not yet. It was nearly midnight, and he had been searching all day, but he couldn't find anything – not one thing – about the Spanish champions. It was frustrating.

Dizzy had told him repeatedly to call it quits, that maybe he should sleep on it and an idea would come to him in the morning, but Kenny refused. He couldn't wait until the morning.

The tournament started in the morning!

Even though there was no possibility of the Bladebreakers facing the Spanish champions on the first day of the tournament, Kenny absolutely refused to go to that stadium without even the slightest scrap of information on them. In Dizzy's translation, the Chief was plain paranoid.

He had tried everything he could think of! What he needed was a bigger search engine – Dizzy was great, but he needed something better. He needed an advanced high tech computer. He needed something like what the All Stars had had in their research facility.

The All Stars!

Of course, they were in the same hotel, all he had to do was find the right room number and then he could contact Emily. She would know all about the Spanish champions and every other opposing team. She always did.

::-::-::-::-::-::

Emily slammed her books on the desk furiously. Nothing! She had worked all day trying to research the Spanish champions, and what did she have to show for it? Nothing! It frustrated her to no end. How could one team, especially the champions of a country, be so elusive? She had never before failed to gain data on an opposing team!

Even the BBA's most advanced computer had turned up no search results! Maybe that was it. Maybe the BBA's computer was simply too advanced. Its search engine was too wide, too broad. What she needed was a simpler version! One that was still very capable, but also didn't turn up such useless junk…

Like Dizzy! She smacked her forehead for not thinking of it sooner. Kenny and the Bladebreakers were in the same hotel! She just needed to find the right room number and then she could contact Kenny!

If anyone knew about the opposing teams, it would be Kenny!

::-::-::-::-::-::

Tyson bounced into the hotel's restaurant eagerly. Max followed behind, attempting to look cheerful. He really had no clue what his navy-haired friend was up to, but right now, he was willing to go along with anything.

"Okay Maxy," said Tyson excitedly, "Here's our table!"

Max frowned, it was empty, "Are you sure Tyson? I don't see the others…"

"Meh... They must be late," said Tyson dismissively, "Sit down!"

Max obeyed, but then he noticed something else, "Tyson, there's only two seats."

"Is there?" he asked, scratching his head, "Gee… We'll have to ask for more. Hey, why don't I go do that? You wait right here Max."

Max watched his energetic friend run off and disappear into the crowd. He sighed and looked around. The table had a very nice view. It overlooked the beautiful garden where he and Ray had…

Max shook his head, he had to think about something else. He glanced around the interior of the restaurant. It was quite fancy, with low hanging lamps and exotic aquariums. There was even a large chandelier hanging from the center skylight. Max had a feeling that in the evening, with all the lights turned on low and that chandelier glowing, the restaurant would be very romantic…

He shook his head again, more forcefully. Why did he keep thinking about that? He focused his eyes back down on the table. There was nothing to remind him of Ray there.

"Uh, is this it then?"

Max's head snapped up at the all too familiar voice. Ray and Kai stood at the table, and Ray had pulled a seat out – the only other seat – and was ready to sit down.

"Yeah, that's it," said Kai with his typical indifferent drawl.

Ray moved to sit, but stopped, avoiding Max's gaze, "How come there are only two seats?"

Kai raised an eyebrow, "Only two? I guess I'll have to get more," he turned to leave.

Max panicked, he didn't want to be left alone with Ray, it would be too uncomfortable, "Tyson already went to get more seats!" he said hurriedly.

"I'll get Kenny and Hilary then," said Kai calmly, and with that he left.

Max stared at the floor uncomfortably. Ray also said nothing, but seemed to be thoroughly fascinated with the garden outside. Time seemed to tick on slowly, and Max began to wonder where the others could be.

He found himself fascinated with one of the fish in the tropical aquarium beside him. It was large and purple, with intricate black markings and huge beautiful fins. It reminded him of Draciel, even though Draciel was a turtle and this was a fish. Maybe it was the colors, he wasn't sure what made him connect the fish with his bit beast.

Then he saw another fish. It was larger than the other, with black and white stripes. It's eyes were large and round and it seemed to have whiskers – it was a catfish. And it reminded Max of Driger, which reminded him of…

Max went back to staring at the floor. Why weren't the others coming? It couldn't take that long to get four chairs, could it? Then again, this was Tyson. He'd probably been distracted by some huge gormet chocolate cake or some other food item.

What about Kai? Kenny and Hilary were awake by now, they weren't the kind to sleep in. So it wasn't in the question that he was trying to wake them up. They should be down here by now.

"Max."

Max froze. Why was he talking? He didn't want to talk to him, he wanted to forget.

"Max, the other night…" he trailed off, as if searching for some way to put his thoughts into words, "… it must have seemed quite sudden," he said slowly. Max could feel those golden eyes on him, causing him to shift uncomfortably in his seat.

Ray waited awhile, but must have realized that Max wasn't going to look at him, so he continued, "I just wanted you to know that… I… It wasn't anything you did," he paused, and Max could feel those beautiful eyes pleading. Ray wanted him to look up. Max frowned and stared stubbornly at the floor. If it wasn't something he had done, then why would Ray not want to be with him anymore?

Unless… there was someone else… Max pushed the idea forcefully out of his head. That couldn't be the reason. Ray would never do that. Would he?

Ray must have given up completely on the blonde looking at him, because he had started talking again, "It just wasn't working."

I didn't see anything wrong. Max allowed his gaze to travel up to the table, so that he was staring at the very edge.

"We were good friends Max, I think… that's all it was, I mean… Maybe we just took it a little too far…"

Max looked up, shocked to see guilt in the neko-jin's golden eyes, "What do you mean?"

Ray hesitated, "Well, I… guess what I'm trying to say is that, it wasn't right…" he trailed off slowly, breaking away from Max's gaze. Max found this slightly ironic, Ray had wanted Max to look at him so badly, but now he could bring himself to look at the younger boy's hurt blue eyes.

It wasn't right, the words echoed in Max's head, "Why?"

Ray sighed and stood up, turning away from Max, he stared across the restaurant, although Max had a feeling that he wasn't really looking at anything, "Boys… shouldn't love other boys Max," he said softly.

Max was stunned, that was what was bothering Ray? There had to be some way he could tell Ray that it wasn't true, then he could have Ray back… but he was at a loss for words. What if it was true?

Ray spoke again, snapping Max out of his troubled thoughts, his voice was even softer, "I'm sorry Max… I…" he hestitated, "I'll go now," he walked away, leaving Max alone.

The fourteen year old bit his lip. This was a public place… he wouldn't, he couldn't… but in the end he finally gave in, dropped his head down and let the tears roll down his face.

::-::-::-::-::-::

On the other side of the aquarium was a large table. It was nearly impossible to see through the aquarium to the people on the other side, the water distorted their images beyond comprehension.

Sitting at the table was a boy in his late teens. Occasionally hushed whispers could be heard coming from the table, often silenced with a sudden thud, accompanied with a glare that the boy sent under the table.

Onlookers staring at the scene received usually received a glare also, as if they had no business staring at a teenage boy with azure triangles painted on his face, sitting alone at a six person table, muttering to himself – or perhaps whatever was under the table – and shooting random death glares at the aquarium.

Kai himself couldn't blame them for staring, but the fact that they did still irritated him. Stupid, nosy, idiotic… he ran off a list of insults in his head every time he caught another person giving him an odd look.

He had a similar list of insults for the occupants under the table, Stupid, idiotic, annoying loud, he kicked them again when Tyson nearly rose his voice so that someone might hear.

He had dropped Ray off at the table – just like Tyson had asked him to – and had planned to go back to sleep. It didn't happen. He hadn't even made it past this table.

Apparently Tyson and Hilary had hidden under the table after Tyson had led Max there because they 'needed' (more like wanted) to see what happened. Kai, just to be annoying, pointed out that they couldn't see anything from under the table.

Big mistake. He was now sitting at the the table, and he was supposed to describe what was happening to the two teenagers crouched beneath the table. They said he was more 'subtle' so he wouldn't be noticed. The problem was, he couldn't see anything either. The aquarium was in the way.

Tyson and Hilary's bickering did nothing to help the situation, only gaining them odd looks. Kai was surprised that Max and Ray hadn't noticed.

"Tyson! You're knee is in my back!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Don't be sorry! Move!"

"I can't!"

Other such arguments had ensued, but Kai managed to shut them up when he told them that Ray and Max were talking. The three teenagers had listened in uncomfortable silence, Tyson and Hilary suddenly aware that maybe this wasn't something they were meant to hear.

Kai could have said 'I told you so!' but it wasn't in his character to say such things. Just like it wouldn't have been in Tyson's character to just sit back and not help his friends. That was why they were here after all, because Tyson couldn't stand to see his friends hurt.

It was just one of the many reasons Kai loved his dragon. Although, at first Kai had found Tyson's friendliness annoying and even confusing – and sometimes he still did – it was what made the younger boy special.

For the longest time Kai had pushed away that friendliness, and everything that came with it. It was so foreign, so unlike anything he had been brought up to know, and it confused him. He didn't need friends, he didn't want them. With friends came emotions, and emotions were a weakness – that was what he had always been taught.

But Tyson wasn't so easy to push away, he was persistant, constantly reminding Kai that they were friends, that he cared, no matter how many times Kai pushed him away, Tyson would never give up. Kai began to warm to the younger boy, and even the rest of the team. He began to feel, emotions that he had bottled up for so long began to seep back into his conciousness.

And it scared him. How could one noisy, annoying, persistant kid do that to him in so short a time? He didn't need or want emotions, they were a weakness. So he pushed them away, again.

When he had taken Black Dranzer and captured the opposing teams bit beasts, he was sure that he had finally done it. Tyson and the others wouldn't care anymore – he had pushed them away for good. This thought should have made him pleased, but instead it filled him with a sort of sadness. Maybe it was that which had possessed him to call them to the frozen lake.

Whatever it was, he brought them there. He told himself it was so that he could crush them for good. Wipe the traces of the feelings that Tyson had awoken out of his head, away, for good. But he had lost. He was shocked, he couldn't move. He felt lost, lonely, he had failed.

But Tyson held out his hand. Tyson still cared, after everything. Tyson always cared. Kai had seen this, over the past few years, how easily Tyson was willing to forgive. He made many friends that way, and Kai was always in awe of how much the dragon could care for others.

He had never met anyone like that before. No one had ever made him feel the way Tyson did, no one had ever cared about him the way Tyson cared. Sometimes he was convinced that Tyson was an angel sent from heaven, because only an angel could care so selflessly for others.

He had once told Tyson this. The midnight-haired dragon had laughed, a sweet innocent child's laugh looking up at him with beautiful storm-blue eyes, "An angel? Me? You're so silly, Kai-koi."

But Tyson was his angel. Whether he thought so or not.

Kai was so wrapped up in his romantic musing that he didn't kick Hilary in time to stifle her dramatic gasp. It did, however, snap him back into reality, in which there were now a great many people staring at him. Kai shot them his worst death glare, making them all turn away.

He then directed his glare down at Hilary, only to find that she and Tyson were crawling out from under the table. If any of the surrounding people had noticed this, they knew better than to stare.

"I can't believe it didn't work!" cried Tyson, in disbelief.

"No, but at least we know what the problem is now," said Hilary softly.

Thinking that the crowded restaurant was not the greatest place to hold such a conversation, Kai dragged the other two upstairs.

"Maybe we should just leave them alone," Hilary was saying doubtfully, "We might only make things worse."

"We can't!" argued Tyson, "Don't you see? They can't break up just because of that!"

Kai listened, wondering, despite himself, why Ray and Max had broken up.

"Well, maybe Ray has a point. Uh…" she searched for some way to put it, "Boys dating boys is frowned upon by the general public."

Kai avoided looking at the other two. So that was why Ray and Max had broken up. It wasn't right… But Tyson had always told him that it was. Tyson wouldn't lie to him, his angel didn't lie.

"Who cares what the general public thinks?" snapped Tyson, "You didn't care before! You even said they looked cute together!"

"I did, and they were, but…" she hesitated, "I'm not the general public, I'm one person. And it's obvious that Ray cares what they think."

"He shouldn't," said Tyson, "It shouldn't matter," he added softly, almost to himself. Kai wondered if Tyson was remembering all those times when he'd had to tell him, Kai, that it didn't matter.

Hilary seemed to sense that there was something more to the situation, because she remained silent. The others didn't know about Tyson and Kai's relationship. It was actually amazing – in Kai's opinion – that they had kept it quiet for so long. Esspecially considering Tyson's habit of blurting things out without a second thought.

Tyson looked up, a familiar light in his eyes, "So we have to get them together, agreed?"

"Yeah," said Hilary, smiling again, the uncomfortable silence floated away.

"And 'we' includes you, Kai!" Tyson reminded him. Kai sighed heavily, he could say no. Tyson couldn't pull anything with Hilary around… except the puppy dog look. He gave them a defeated sigh.

"Yes!" cried Tyson pumping his fist in the air, "This time our plan's gonna work!"

"Oh yes," said Hilary excitedly. The two of them ran down the hallway, trailing Kai behind them.

Aouni: End of chappie! Wow, that took me four days! It's not even that long… I know I haven't updated in awhile, but I've had finals to study for (I hate them!) and like I said this chapter took me awhile.

Tyson: Are you going to answer your reviews this time or do I have to lock you in a room full of rabid purple chickens?

Aouni: 0.0

Tyson: (:

Thank you to everyone who reviewed my ficcy:

Kiina, Blader Fairy Everlasting, Enchanted Crimson Rose, Animegirl171, Maxie's Cute, Feelin Glayish, Fireie Gurl and Flamable Devil!

Blader Fairy - I know I hate sad Maxy too… I can't believe I did that to him! But yes, I will put in more tyka, I love tyka!

Crimson – What are you talking about? You're story's great, I love it! It's really cute, especially all the kawaii tyka scenes. Don't be so harsh on yourself (kinda hypoctritical coming from me :P) Anywho – I'm really glad you like my writing -:-blushes-:- I don't really think it's that great. (:

Glay – You didn't? I didn't know if it was hard to tell or not… Oh well, you know now, ne?

Aouni: Thank yous to all peoples who reviewed! I love reviews, makes me so happy – I can't write when I'm sad -:-winks-:-.

Tyson: All reviewers get candies from Max's sugar stash!

Max: And chocolate too!

Aouni: --U