Ray placed his bag on the floor and looked around.
"Man, whoever decorated this place was either mad or blind drunk!" he said to himself. "What's with the freaking green wallpaper again?" He sat down on the low, slightly sagging bed. Automatically, he bent down and looked under the bed, a habit preserved from growing up in a village where cockroaches and rats were a common occurrence. A grin spread across his face and he pulled out a battered portable bey-dish. "Brill!" he breathed. His face darkened as he remembered.
Doctor's orders.
No beyblading.
"Oh well," he muttered. "What they don't know won't hurt them." He drew out Driger from his pocket and unzipped his bag. After much rummaging around, he found what he wanted. Fitting Driger to the launcher, he stood up.
"3, 2, 1, Let it rip!" he cried, careful to keep his voice down.
Kai scrubbed furiously at the dishes, needing a way of venting his anger on something that wouldn't fight back.
What is it that you feel for the half-caste? Ebony asked softly, slinking up behind him and settling comfortably on the counter. A violent splash warned her that she wasn't welcome, and she jumped off. Twisting herself round his ankles, she continued. I've never felt you like you were when the half-caste-
"His name is Ray." Kai grunted.
Fine then, when Ray was lying against you.
"He was hurt. I felt sympathy, Ebony, nothing more." The dishcloth in his hands began to fray at the edges.
Nothing more? Even sympathy, from you, is a rare occurrence.
"So? And while we're on the subject, never, ever, ever mention my sex life in front in of him again, you got it?" The dishcloth ripped loudly down the middle.
I don't see why not. It's a very…interesting one. Why can't I tell him?
"Because I said so!" Kai snapped. In the silence that followed, Ebony's ears pricked up, and she ran out of the room. Irritably, Kai threw the torn dishcloth into the bin. "Ray is a friend, a team mate." he said out loud. "Nothing more." The anger slowly started to fade away. "I can't let him be anything more…" he murmured, eyes suddenly seeing something other than the cramped kitchen. "Why would he want someone like me?" Then, even quieter, "Who would ever want me now?" Shaking himself, he brought himself fiercely back to the present. Wondering what had caught Ebony's attention, he listened. The unmistakeable noise of beyblading came to his ears. He forced a grin, shoving his black mood to the corner of his mind. "So, Ray found the bey-dish, did he?" He turned and strode out of the door.
Two hours later, noticing the increasing ache in his arm, Ray began to finish up.
"All right Driger, right turn!" he ordered. Suddenly, a blue beyblade appeared, crashing headlong into Driger.
Kai! The grey blade skidded backwards with Ray frantically trying to steady it. Looking up, the neko-jin saw the team captain standing in the doorway, a faint smile curving his lips. Kai raised an eyebrow and nodded downwards. Looking hurriedly down again, Ray saw Driger struggling to stay spinning under the barrage of powerful attacks Dranzer was dealing. Suddenly, the blue blade drew back, then rushed forwards, knocking Driger easily out of the dish. Ray caught his blade in mid-air and started checking it for damage.
"It should be fine." Kai said, stepping into the room, Dranzer flying into his hand. "I knew it wouldn't take you too long 'til you found that." He nodded towards the dish. "A month in hospital's definitely not to be recommended for blading, though." Ray laughed, nodding.
"Yeah. Pulling the ripcord again felt really peculiar." he agreed. Once again, one hand went to his shoulder. He pulled a face.
"What is it? Does it hurt?" Ray shook his head, bending down to unzip his bag again.
"The dressing needs changing." he said, voice muffled by the bag.
"Would you rather do that by yourself?" Kai asked, already knowing the answer. Ray's pride was stronger than anything else, including common sense.
"If you don't mind." Ray said apologetically. Kai shrugged.
"No problem." he said easily, turning to walk out of the door. Just before he crossed the threshold, his hand slid casually open. Dranzer fell to the floor.
Ebony watched with narrowed eyes from the corridor. Kai never let Dranzer out of his sight, not ever. She shrugged mentally. At least this proved she was right. As usual.
Ray pulled out a roll of bandages and set about gently unwrapping the ones on his shoulder. Once they were off, Ray reached for some cotton wool. Stopping for a moment, he looked at the injury. A difficult feat, considering he was having to look at his shoulder. A dead straight line, scabbed over and still swollen and red. Bryan had done a good job. The wind from his beyblade's vicious attacks had sliced through the top layer of muscle. Not deeply, just enough to leave him, a month on, with these agonising jolts of pain. Snapping out of his thoughts, he carried on reaching for the cotton wool. Suddenly, white-hot pain shot up his arm again. Doubling over and hissing in pain, Ray mentally berated himself for not stopping his blading practice earlier. Through a daze, he saw Kai come back in and bend down, presumably to pick something up.
"Sorry to interrupt, I left Dranzer here - Ray!" Ray couldn't see, couldn't think, the pain was blinding him, it hadn't been this bad for over two weeks-
"H-Help…"
Kai ran in and sat down on the bed, gently pulling the semiconscious boy against him. Murmuring soothingly, he picked up the cotton wool Ray hadn't been able to get to.
"Ssh Ray, it's all right, everything's gonna be fine, I promise." Going into the bag, he found what he wanted; a water bottle. Tipping a few drops of cool water onto the cotton wool, he drew the damp wool gently across the wound. He'd read Ray's medical notes, the torn muscles contracting caused these spasms of pain. Finishing cooling the wound off, he put his hand on Ray's hot shoulder and began rubbing softly, his breath involuntarily catching as he felt how tightly the muscles were bunched.
Is that really why you flinched? Or is it because-
Go to hell, Ebs! he snarled mentally, seeing the cat crouched in the doorway, eyes gleaming. Feeling the muscles start to unclench, he switched his attention to Ray who was starting to wake up slightly, his eyelids fluttering.
"Huh? W-What happened?" the neko-jin murmured, instinctively trying to pull away. Kai held him still, reaching for the bandages.
"It's okay, Ray. Your shoulder starting playing up again, that's all." He wound the bandages round and round, finally tucking the end neatly away.
"Yeah…I remember…it hurt…it's not supposed to hurt like that - why did it hurt like that?" Kai placed his hand lightly over Ray's mouth, effectively silencing him. Dazed, unfocused amber eyes stared up at him.
"What's happ-"
"Ssh, just try to stay calm, okay?" Nodding obediently, Ray relaxed, his head lolling back against Kai's chest, eyes closing again. Carefully, Kai lifted him onto the bed and drew the covers over him.
"K-Kai? Kai, is that you?"
"Yes, Ray. Try to get some sleep. You need to rest."
"I'm sorry for being such an nuisance…"
"Don't be stupid, of course you're not. Now go to sleep!" Kai ordered.
"Your wish is my command…" Ray murmured, a slight smile on his face. He nuzzled comfortably into the pillow. Smiling back, Kai stood and walked out of the room.
And even after that, you still insist that you feel nothing for this Ray? Ebony asked sceptically, staring up at Kai.
I do. Kai thought back steadily.
Blind, stupid, ignorant…human! Ebony grumbled, stalking away with her tail held high.
"I can't feel anything for him." Kai muttered hopelessly, staring after her. "He deserves far better than me." Letting out a long sigh, he walked in the living room and picked up his wood-carving knife. Ebony jumped up onto his lap and settled down, purring contentedly as he stroked her absentmindedly. He pulled something out and began to chip away at it.
Ray sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. Checking his shoulder, he found that it was already bandaged.
Kai must have done it. he thought. He couldn't remember much of what had happened, just a few vague memories of somebody talking quietly to him and lots of pain. Why is it that Kai has to see me when I'mso weak? He reddened furiously. That's probably how he sees me. As a weak little kid who happens to be his team mate. And how do I see him? No! I promised I wouldn't think about that…He sighed helplessly, flopping back onto the bed, which creaked alarmingly. When he had first seen Kai, back at that Beyblade Battle Tournament, he had thought, as they all had, Whoa, someone got out the wrong side of bed this morning! Then, when he had realised that Kai was like that normally, and apparently couldn't care less about the Bladebreakers, he had kept his distance. But he'd always respected their leader, it had been hard not to, considering the amount of times he'd got them out of scrapes. Gradually, that respect had grown into a wary friendship, with the two of them always choosing beds next to each other so that they could talk when everyone else was asleep, generally about how the team were doing. Kai was still cold and reserved when they were talking, but he had begun to show Ray a much softer side to the "sourpuss", as Tyson called him. Then, when Kai had defected to the Demolition Boys, Ray had become aware that the absence of their leader had left him feeling oddly empty, like he was missing something.
As the others were all feeling something akin to what Ray was feeling, he hadn't really paid it much attention. But when Kai had come back, Ray had started to notice that he was watching Kai a lot more, that every time he spoke to him, his heart rate picked up and he had to concentrate to stop himself from blushing. He had had crushes before, but never on a boy, and never…never on somebody who so obviously wouldn't be interested. This wasn't even a crush, if he was totally honest with himself, it was far worse. Somehow, he had managed to fall in love with the one person who he just knew didn't give a damn about him, except possibly as a casual friend. It wasn't even suddenly discovering that he was gay that was bothering him, it was who had madehim gay…
"Why?" he cried suddenly. "Why'd it have to be Kai? Of all people…why him?" Pull yourself together, Ray! he snapped mentally. It's not the end of the world! Get up, stop acting like a complete idiot, and go and talk to him! Act normal for once! Show him that you're not just a pathetic little kid! "All right, all right, I'm going!" he snapped. "Great. Now I'm talking to myself!" Grumbling under his breath, he pulled himself off the bed. His foot bumped into something. Looking down, he saw his water bottle lying on the floor. "Odd. Kai must've got it out." Shrugging, he walked out of the bedroom.
"Hey, Kai."
"Hey, Ray." Kai answered without looking up. "How are you?"
"I'm fine now, thanks. How long have I been asleep for?" Kai squinted at the clock on the wall, very aware of the bottle that he'd just shoved down the side of the sofa.
"About an hour and a half. It's about eight o'clock." he said, rolling the object he was holding in his palm.
"What you got there?" Ray asked, walking over to stand next to Kai. "Is that Dranzer?" Kai gave a half-smile.
"Take a look." He placed the object in Ray's hand, taking the opportunity to look up and study Ray carefully. The younger blader looked slightly pale, perhaps not fully awake yet. He watched as Ray sat down beside him, a frown appearing on the neko-jin's face as he looked at the item in his hand. He felt a powerful desire to reach up and smooth those frown lines away from the boy's forehead with his thumb, then take him in his arms, see those beautiful, shimmering amber eyes looking at him again with total trust… He scowled and pushed the thought as far away from him as possible. He couldn't have Ray, he wouldn't have Ray, and that was all there was to it.
"Whoa, Kai, what is this?" Ray's amazed voice broke through his self-pity.
"Wood carving. A little hobby of mine." he said dryly. "So, is it any good, do you think?" Forcing a grin, he pulled Dranzer out of his pocket and held it next to the wooden copy. It had taken him over four months to finish it, most of which had been late at night in various hotel rooms when no one else was awake.
"Kai, this is…brilliant!" Ray breathed. The copy was virtually indistinguishable from Dranzer. The only difference was the weight - Dranzer was far heavier - and the fact that the copy's colours looked almost too perfect. "You're telling me you did this…by yourself…wow." He sat back in the sofa, still staring at the blade and its twin. "Wow." he repeated.
"I take it that means you're impressed?" Ray looked at Kai. The older boy had a slight smirk on his face, but there was a hint of nervousness there too, as if he was waiting for Ray's seal of approval.
"Impressed?" Ray said disbelievingly. "If I could do something like this…" He trailed off. "Yes." he said finally. "I'm impressed."
"Good." Kai grinned. "I cut myself to ribbons making that damn thing. It's good to know someone else appreciates it."
"You cut yourself? Where?" Ray asked anxiously. Oh yeah, Ray. Real smooth! he chastened himself.
"It's nothing." Kai said firmly.
"Show me your hands." Ray ordered. Might as well go all the way. Oops, that sounded kinda wrong…Shut up, brain! With a growl of annoyance, Kai stuck out his left hand. Ray eyed it carefully, noticing one particularly deep cut right in the middle of the palm. "Let me see that. It looks sore…" he said, leaning forwards. As his fingers lightly brushed Kai's palm, it was as if a jolt of electricity sizzled up his arm, a bolt of pure attraction shot between them. Both boys paused, then carried on as if nothing had happened.
"So, do you want anything to eat?" Kai questioned, straightening up.
"What? Yeah, that'd be good, I'm starving!" Ray said enthusiastically. Turning on his heel, Kai strode into the kitchen. Still reeling from that split second, Ray followed him in. Ebony stayed outside, her tail lashing from side to side in annoyance. She had never seen two people who were more suited to each other, or more attracted. But they continued to deny their feeling for each other. Idiots. Complete idiots, both of them. Letting out a small growl of frustration, she stalked into the kitchen after them.
"What do you want?" Kai asked, head deep in the fridge.
"Dunno. What've you got?"
"Um…lots of alcohol…pasta…pizza…salad…"
"Pizza sounds good, thanks." Ray said, settling himself down at the small table.
"All right, pizza it is. You drink?"
"Depends what there is."
"What? More listing? Why can't you just come and look for yourself? Kai's voice sounded amused.
"Because your head's in the way." Ray said dryly.
"Fine then, I'll make the decision for you. Catch." Kai flung a can of beer in Ray's general direction and backed out of the fridge with another can in one hand and two pizzas in the other. Walking to the microwave, he gave the instructions on the back of the cling-film a cursory glance and chucked them both in, turning it up to high for two minutes. "If they burn, it's not my fault." he commented, leaning against the counter. He began to "idly" finger the ring pull on the can.
"Uh-uh, Kai, no drinking on an empty stomach." Ray chided mischievously.
"Yes, but once I've started drinking, it won't be empty, will it?" Kai grinned. This new good mood was starting to make Ray wonder just how many of the cans in the fridge Kai had been opening while he was asleep.
Ah, Kai's logic. Can't argue with it, can't beat him over the head with it! Also, unfortunately for him, you can't drink it. Ebony purred. She paced up to Kai and started winding herself in-between his ankles, nearly tripping him up.
"Go away, Ebs." Kai groaned, reaching down to try and detangle her from around his legs.
Well, maybe if you FED me, I might not be so cranky! hissed the cat. Muttering death-threats under his breath, Kai swung around and opened a cupboard. Getting out a tin of cat food, he bent down and scooped it into a red bowl on the floor.
Hurry up, hurry up! Ebony yowled, butting his arm with her head.
"Done. Happy now?" Kai stood up and watched in amusement as the cat dived for her bowl. "Remind you of anyone?" he asked, turning to Ray, who grinned and nodded, hearing a "ping".
"Tyson in a furry coat." he laughed. "Pizza's ready, by the way."
"Oh yeah." Kai opened the door and shoved the pizzas onto two plates, which he put down on the table. "Let's eat!"
Wiping a strand of piping-hot cheese from his cheek, Ray pulled open his can and took a mouthful. Kai was already halfway down his second can, and getting merrier by the minute.
"Hey, Kai?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Exactly how much did you drink while I was asleep?" Kai flushed guiltily, hurriedly putting his can down on the table.
"Not much." he mumbled, refusing to meet Ray's eyes.
"Not much being…"
About a bottle. Ebony told him smugly.
"Flipping heck! A bottle of what?" Ray demanded out loud.
Vodka, I think.
Holy mother of…Kai you…
It's down the side of the sofa if you want to go and see for yourself.
"No, I'll pass, thanks." Ray grinned. Taking another mouthful of his own beer, he looked at Kai, who was bright red with embarrassment and shooting hate-filled glances at the smug cat.
"How did you guess?"
"You don't get tipsy off one and a half cans of Stella, Kai." There was silence for almost half an hour, during which Kai finished his pizza, the second can of beer and started on his third.
If you want to ask him anything, now would be an excellent time to do it. Ebony commented. He's in a good mood at the moment. Ray silently thanked her. There were a lot of things that he wanted to ask Kai, one of them being "what side of the bed do you sleep on?" but he settled for two of the least personal, and least embarrassing.
"Um, Kai?"
"Yeah?"
"Mr Dickenson said something about me being able to phone the guys…"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that!" Kai exclaimed. "The phone's in the hallway, and the numbers are beside it."
"Okay, thanks. Kai, can I ask you something else?"
"Hey, fire away."
"What's the story behind you and Ebony, then?" Ray held his breath, watching as Kai exchanged a wary glance with the cat in the corner.
"Not much to tell, really." Kai said guardedly. "I was given Ebs when I was…how old, Ebs?" he asked, looking at her.
You were one, Kai. I was seven months. Ebony answered. Ray blinked in surprise.
"That makes Ebony quite old for a cat." he said. Kai looked at him in equal surprise.
"It does?"
SHUT UP, YOU LITTLE HALF-BLOOD BASTARD! Ebony shrieked frantically, switching to Cat and blocking Kai from the conversation. She tried to calm down, seeing the confusion on Ray's face. I have never told Kai how long cats live for. I'm the closest thing Kai has to a mother, he isn't ready yet to be told that I'm old. He'd panic. If you dare mention it, I swear I will scratch your eyes out! Her eyes were open wide, glittering emerald with emotion.
Okay, okay! Ray thought hurriedly.
"Ebony has just informed me," he said, thinking fast. "that she intends to beat the record for the oldest cat."
"Which is?" Kai asked, taking a long swallow from his latest can.
"Dunno. I think it's about thirty one or something like that?" He literally saw Kai relax. Ebony was right, Kai wasn't ready to hear about that yet. "So, you got given Ebony. What then?"
"Just that. Apart from when I was with you lot, we haven't been apart since."
"So, she was with you in the Abbey?" Ray said incredulously. Kai nodded.
"Yup." Ray narrowed his eyes at the flippant reply. Kai was never flippant. Not about something like the Abbey.
"Kai, do me a favour. Walk across the room for me, would you?" Shrugging, Kai climbed to his feet and walked unsteadily across the room. Ray watched as the older blader crashed into an open cupboard door, nearly falling.
"Fuck! How the hell did that get there?" Draining the last of his fifth can, Kai sat back down, then started to get back up again. "I need another drink…"
With a sigh, Ray stood up and lazily finished off his own second can. He strode over and put a commanding hand on Kai's shoulder, pushing him back into his seat.
"You've had enough, Kai."
"Oh what…" Kai moaned, trying to push Ray off him.
"Kai, you're drunk."
"Am not!"
"Yes, you are." He looked at Kai. Kai, with flushed cheeks and over-bright eyes, looked defiantly back.
Compared with what he's like normally, he's practically sober. But he could probably do with stopping. Ebony agreed.
"See? Even Ebony agrees with me!" Kai scowled and tried to get up again.
"I'm not drunk!" he snapped.
"I've heard it all before, Kai. I know when someone's smashed. You are not having any more to drink, understand?"
"Go to hell! I'll do what I bloody well want!" Kai snarled. Ray sighed again. It was always much harder to convince people when they were angry. Ignoring the furious mutterings, he reached out and gently touched Kai's flushed cheek. Silence fell. Kai looked stunned.
"No more, Kai." Ray whispered, trying to blank out the feel of Kai's warm skin against his fingers. "No more, you hear?" Slowly, Kai nodded, still looking stunned. He flopped back in his seat, breaking Ray's touch. Ray straightened up hurriedly. "I'll get you a drink of water. You feel hot." He swung round to the sink just in time as a furious blush started spreading across his cheeks. Ebony watched with interest.
"Here." Ray handed the silent Kai a glass of water.
"Thanks." Kai muttered as he pressed the cool glass to his hot forehead. He leaned back and let out a long sigh, tipping the icy water down his throat.
"Better?"
"Yeah." He stood up slowly, holding onto the table for support. "I'm gonna go siddown in the living room. You coming?"
"As if I'd leave you alone in a room at the moment!" Ray replied with a grin. Kai gave him a weak half-grin in return and walked shakily into the living room, still trying to shake off the feeling of Ray's hand resting on his cheek.
Again,I am so sorry for the ridiculous length of this chapter! It's actually been cut in half, it could be almost twice as long!Review, please!
