A/N: Another day, another upload. You have no idea how long I wrestled with Tumblr to get this post to format correctly over there. I'm exhausted.

Day 5 | Lee, mentions of Ray | Rated: K

Rival

Lee had been comparing himself to Ray for as long as he could remember.

It wasn't without precedent. Ray was the golden child of the village and his best friend. It was rare to see one without the other and Ray stayed the night at Lee's house more often than not. The only problem with spending so much time together was that it was bound to invite comparison.

Unfortunately for Lee, no one could compare to Ray. Over time the comments shifted from well-meaning words about how alike they were, to the few key differences that made Ray everybody's favorite.

"Ray is so helpful – Lee, you could take a leaf out of his book."

"Ray wins! Better luck next time, Lee."

"If only Lee would think before he speaks like Ray does."

"Keep your cool, Lee – Ray wouldn't act this way!"

On and on it went, until Lee wasn't sure whether he loved Ray or hated his guts.

For his part, Ray was totally oblivious, which only made things worse. It was hard to be mad at him when he talked Lee out of every one of his self-deprecating episodes. Episodes that were brought on by comparing himself to Ray, because the more he heard it, the more he realized that everybody was right: he'd never measure up to him.

"That's not true, Lee!"

"It is, though!" He blinked back tears, knowing that Ray would've controlled his emotions better. "My own family thinks you're better than me. You should hear them talk. Even my grandfather…" He trailed off and turned his back to Ray.

"Lee…" There was genuine concern in his voice, then a hand on Lee's shoulder; he was more thoughtful than Lee by a mile. "Family can be complicated. Some people are harder on the ones they love the most. Your grandfather cares so much for you – I think he just wants you to be the best version of yourself that you can."

He sniffled in spite of his best efforts.

"You think so?"

Ray jostled his shoulder playfully, earning himself an unsure smile.

"I know so."

A month later, Ray was handed Driger and the legacy of Lee's family along with it.

Lee was crushed. And he could see in Ray's shocked face that he finally understood what Lee had been trying to tell him for years. Only it was too late now for it to make any difference.

The worst part was that his grandfather was right. Ray was worthier than he was. He was a better leader, he was stronger, smarter, more patient. Lee admired all those things. He wanted to embody more of the traits that made Ray an outstanding person. No matter how hard he tried, he always fell short.

The gracious loser was a role that Ray had never needed to perfect. So Lee took a deep breath, swallowed his pride, and congratulated his friend on his achievement. One thing he could do better by default. And Ray really did deserve it.

Maybe if he was on Ray's level, he would have known what the strange look in his eyes that day meant. Instead, he found out when Ray's room was empty the next morning, a note explaining everything and nothing left for his friends to find.

Lee let himself get angry then. What more could Ray possibly want? He already had everything Lee had spent his whole life vying for, right there at his fingertips. How dare he throw it away! What pleasure could he possibly get from one-upping Lee from the time they were children and then absconding with his birthright?

With Ray gone, the village looked to Lee to lead its team. Everything that should have been his suddenly was, but only because Ray was gone. Second best. Ray's were big shoes to fill, and Lee did so in the darkness of his shadow. Even after he'd deserted the village, Ray was Lee's benchmark. No one said it out loud anymore, but he could see it in the vague disappointment on their faces at his every move.

The first time he launched his beyblade with Galeon inside, the lion feasted on his anger, consuming it and growing more powerful. Lee could feel rage and understanding pulsing between himself and his bitbeast, forging a new, unbreakable bond. He knew then that Driger would never have been a good fit.

He and Galeon were both used to being second best. Neither of them were consenting to that anymore.

The longer Ray was gone, the more confident in his own skills Lee became, and the less he was compared to his former brother. Together with his bitbeast and the friends who didn't leave, he tore through the Chinese qualifiers and earned the right to represent his country in the World Championships.

He hoped Ray was watching him become what he could have been and that he regretted leaving. He hoped Ray didn't want to come back, so Lee could be the hero for once. He hoped that he didn't let anyone down and could handle all the weight on his shoulders; being a failure was easier to bear when it was due to Ray's excellence and not his own shortcomings.

When he thought of seeing Ray again, Lee worried that it would be hard to stay mad at him. He was wrong. It was easy.

Ray had a team by his side, his childhood friends too easily replaced. Ray, who had been his best friend for most of his life, had ruined all that history with one selfish choice. His letter had mentioned "earning the honor bestowed upon" him, not spitting in the face of those who had done the giving. If that was who he really was, Lee was glad to see him gone.

They were going to be facing the Bladebreakers in the Championship. Lee was going to take back Driger. Not because he wanted it, but because Ray didn't deserve to be the carrier of a legacy that he'd walked away from. And when he did, the village would see – his grandfather would see – that Lee had been the better of the two all along.

A/N: I love Lee so much. Do I think he could have handled himself a little better in season one? Yes. Do I think his feelings were valid and his constant berating of Ray was his way of expressing his deep hurt at his actions? Yes. Do I think that he's still owed an apology from Ray, especially after how he was treated in G Rev? YES YES YES. And I wouldn't mind exploring this topic more in the future.

Thanks for reading!