Here's the thank you list; sorry for the delay.
Angel Spirit: thanks anyways, I'll find out somehow
Iluvrei: thanks.
TNTiggris: good luck getting up early.
Forfirith: The dark angel: nope! Lee's just smart!
ChibiNekoSakura: They are, aren't they?
kero-chan39:thanks!
toboewolf7I understand.
Reis1gurl: I will when I get time.
I took my seat high up in the stands to watch Tyson and Daichi's match against the brother-sister duo called F-Dynasty.
Sure F-Dynasty took the lead when it was a tag team match, but did they really stand a chance battling individually, let alone battling against Tyson?
It wasn't settled, tag-team or individual match, but surely Tyson wasn't so stupid that'd he'd actually agree to a tag team, was he? There's too much at risk for this to happen, Tyson has to have his head on his shoulders and not up in the clouds where everything seems perfect. If Tyson and Daichi fail to come out victorious in this match, they can kiss the finals good-bye.
I look a few short glances around the stadium and noticed two things: Kai and his team were sitting close to the front on the left side, and two; Lee and the others were heading my way with bags full of popcorn.
"Hey Lee." I greeted and accepted the bag of cheddar flavored popcorn I was given.
"Hey." Lee took a seat beside me and grabbed a handful of popcorn, "Did you hear what Jazz man just announced?"
"Nope, too busy collecting popcorn from you."
Lee pulled a face and continued, "Tyson just agreed to a tag team match against F-Dynasty."
"What?!" I croaked, choking on half-eaten popcorn, "But doesn't Tyson realize how risky this is? Why isn't he thinking straight?"
"The audience is pretty surprised also, as am I." Lee continued on, "But I guess I kind of see where Tyson's taking this."
"What do you mean Lee?" I asked, purely puzzled by his wisdom.
"If it were me out there, I'd want to really show them up. Show them who's boss up in the blading dish."
"You mean, Tyson thinks that'd he'd be well respected as a strong beyblader if he beat Julia and Raul at their own game?"
Lee nodded, "Something like that."
I smiled uncomfortably, "Let's hope he manages to pull this off."
We watched intently, Tyson and Daichi's every move, the audience cheering and applauding when thinks went right. And sighing softly when F-Dynasty took the upper hand.
It went on for quite a while, and with every passing minute F-dynasty fed of the crowd's applause, getting stronger by the second. Tyson was panicking slightly and Daichi was jumping all over the place. But in the end, Tyson and Daichi pulled of a floppy move preformed by the brother-sister duo, caught them of guard and went in for the kill.
"Guess Tyson did know what he was doing after all." I whispered to myself.
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I was back in my suite and started smoothing the sheets on my bed when a soft knock sounded.
"Coming!" I called and walked over the large door, "Lee? Mariah, Kevin and Gary? What are you guys doing here?"
"We're going to the market to find ingredients in order to make fruit salad." Mariah explained batting her eyelashes, "You coming Ray?"
"You know, actually I was thinking of calling it a night, it's 9:30 and I'm exhausted." I quickly lied.
"What?!" Mariah protested, "But you'll miss my desert Ray!"
"I know, I know, and I'm sorry, but I need my rest." I sighed to show I was disappointed, hopefully they would buy my act.
I sneaked a glance Lee's way; he always knew when something was up with me. I guess that's what you get when you've known a guy for the majority of your life.
Lee sent me a quizzical look and I yawned to express my fatigue.
"Well alright, let's go you guys, Ray needs his rest." Lee concluded, "I just don't know why you have to train until you faint."
"Thanks Lee. Night guys." I smiled and lightly shut the door. I wasn't going to bed, I had other plans in mind.
The noise in the hotel distracted me to a point where I wasn't able to hear myself think. I always liked the parks at night, not to hot and not to cold and where the only noise heard were the crickets in the shallow pond.
Changing into a breezy white long sleeved shirt and baggy black sweatpants I made my way to the elevators.
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Like I expected the park seemed deserted, the pine wood benches sat no one as a mild breeze gently blew the dark green leaves across the land, slowly circling my ankles,
I let out a breath and proceeded further down the grassy area. I sensed that I wasn't alone and I was right, seated at the furthest lonesome bench, hidden behind a grand tree, sat a figure, creamy white scarf moving ever so slightly.
My instant reaction was Kai. Who else could it be? No one in the right mind that I know of would spend a late Saturday night sitting alone in the dead of night except Kai. I didn't want to disturb his peace but I needed some company, I didn't think I'd ever get scared of the dark, but I was.
My feet moved swiftly until I reached Kai. He turned his head slightly and shuffled closer to the edge, inviting me to sit.
After a long moment of silence I decided to speak, "You ready for Tyson?"
Kai smirked and replied, "I've never wanted to take someone down more than I do now."
"With that kind of attitude I'm sure you'll win." I smiled.
"Yeah, I guess. But I was trained not to underestimate anyone. I almost lost in our battle." Kai started, "Too bad you couldn't be the one to battle Tyson in the end."
"I'd rather loss to you than anyone else." I whispered silently.
"Why's that?"
I shifted closer to the warm body beside me, "You deserve this, plus you're my friend."
I didn't know where I was going with this, I didn't know why I was ok with losing to Kai. I just was.
"How's your wounds?" Kai asked suddenly.
"They've healed completely thanks to you." I smiled gratefully.
Kai turned his face slightly away from me and I swore his pale cheeks were darker in colour. Was the great Kai Hiwatari blushing?
"What are you doing here anyways? If you don't mind me asking." I stifled a yawn that was slowly creeping up on me.
"Not at all." Kai turned back towards me so that we were now face to face, "I come here to think. Tala's too obnoxious to deal with at the moment. You?"
"Same. I needed a place to think and decided this place was perfect." I looked deep into those pools of burning crimson.
"What about your team? Won't they wonder where you are?" Kai moved slightly closer.
"They trust my judgment enough not to bother me too much."
Kai chuckled slightly, "I find it hard to believe that Mariah would let you off so easily."
"She was kind of upset that I wouldn't be there to taste her fruit salad." I laughed softly, remembering her pouting face.
"Fruit salad can wait, that girl's impossible. I don't know how you live with her." Kai scoffed.
"She's like my little sister Kai, and plus I've built up a tolerance for her over the years."
Kai seemed slightly amused at that, "You must have been carved by the angles them selves."
I blushed even though Kai's sarcasm was terribly evident, "You have a pretty high tolerance for Tala. How do you do it?"
Kai leaned against the back rest of the bench and sighed, "I just shut him out and pretend he's not there."
"Tala can't be that bad."
"Tala's nothing but a big baby. I probably liked the old him better, he wouldn't whine as much." Kai grunted, "Bryan's got to be the only sensible one around. I don't know how he and Tala got together."
"Well, like they always say. Opposites attract." I flushed when Kai leaned forward, our noses almost brushing.
"Thinking back, Bryan has always cared about Tala, but it only showed when he thought that Tala was hitting on Spencer." Kai pondered about.
"Jealousy." I stated, "love's greatest enemy.
"Bryan and Spencer weren't on speaking terms for quite a while. Tala grew fidgety with all the weird looks from Bryan he was getting and started avoiding him. Bryan almost lost his mind." Kai explained.
"Absence only makes the heart grow stronger."
"One stormy day Bryan confronted Tala and Tala freaked and called him crazy. Bryan lost his desire for life, but his longing for Tala only grew stronger."
"Persistence is the key to love, once gone it is rarely remembered." I spoke softly.
"The day Biovolt was destroyed, Tala, Bryan and Spencer were forced to get along. They only had each other to seek help within." Kai continued, "Bryan was so sick of putting on a mask, he finally confessed. Tala didn't take it so well, but decided he did have some feelings for Bryan."
"But he wasn't sure of it because of the way Bryan had been acting." I added.
Kai nodded, "After a while they just got so used to being around each other, they gradually opened up alto more. Now look where they're at."
"It's funny how the human heart works; it's such a mystery, yet it beats within our very beings." I smiled and looked up at Kai.
Kai smiled, a true genuine smile which was so rarely seen I blushed against it's intensity.
"All that you say is true, Jealousy is the enemy, absence only leads to longing." With every word that was spoken Kai inched closer till his steady breath could be felt on my slightly parted lips, "And persistence makes you remember."
And with that Kai closed the gap between our lips and we engaged in a kiss so full of longing and love that it ended much too soon for my liking.
"I was so jealous for that split second I thought you were with Tala." I panted slightly, "When you left there was not a moment my mind wasn't on you and I guess persistence does work out for the better."
Kai cupped my cheek and gazed lovingly into my eyes, "You'll never have to worry about that Ray, because I'll always be by your side."
"I love you Kai." I whispered as he leaned down to kiss me once more.
"Me too kitten, I always have and I always will."
NOTE: next chap on the way!