Chapter 4 – Explanation Required.

"Uh… good match, Tyson." Ruby said trying not to sound nervous.

Tyson gave a nod as Dragoon returned to him, he started to walk back to everyone trying to ignore the 'amazed' looks they were giving him.

"Ruby!" Kai's cold stern voice was heard saying as she began to walk to the others.

Ruby cringed at the sound of her brother's voice. Here it comes she thought.
"Yes, Kai?"

"Care to explain what you thought you were doing?"

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Beybattling. What'd it look like." She answered partly rhetorical.

Kai gave her a look that said 'you know what I meant' but she decided to ignore it.

"Looks like I could use a little more practice, huh?" she joked as she tried to break the tension.

All Kenny could do was nod. They trained for the rest of the day. On their way home Ruby was fidgety, she knew Kai wanted to know why she hadn't trashed Tyson. For he knew that she was certainly capable of it. They walked into the house and just as she was about to go up to her room, Kai grabbed her arm.
"Explain." He said.

"Explain? Explain what, Kai?" she asked.

"How you managed to lose to someone like Tyson."

She blinked then shrugged, "Guess I'm just having an off day."

Kai increased his grip on Ruby's arm and glared at her.

"Ow. Kai, that hurts."

"That's a poor excuse Ruby. And you know it." He said ignoring her last statement.

She stared at him with angry grey eyes.
"It's not an excuse Kai."

"You expect me to believe that a Hiwatari had an 'off day'."

Ruby sighed and looked down at the floor, he had a point. When she faced Tyson it felt like all those secret training sessions they had. She forgot where she was and just concentrated on him. It was kind of like they were 'making up' after the 'fight' they had that night. Then when Dragoon attacked she was unprepared and shocked, by the time she got her bearings it was all over. She lost.

"Ruby." Kai said bringing out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" she replied meekly as she looked back up at him.

Kai was surprised to see hurt in her eyes and for some reason he felt sorry for her and changed what he was about to say. "You need to improve your concentration." He let go of her arm and headed for the garden.

Ruby stood there for a few moments stunned as to why Kai had said that. She sighed once again and headed up to her room.

-----

Tyson was sitting in the garden looking up at the night sky. He hoped Ruby wasn't getting shouted at too much.

"Tyson?"

"Hm?" he said as he turned to the voice "Oh, hey Ray, Max. What's up?"

"Actually. We were going to ask you that." Max said.

Tyson looked confused "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You've been… quiet ever since your match with Ruby." Ray explained.

"Oh." He said as he looked back up at the night sky.

Ray and Max exchanged worried looks.
"Come on, Tyson. Tell us what's wrong." Max said as he sat next him.

"We might be able to help." Ray added.

Tyson opened his mouth to speak but closed it soon after, then closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Is it because you're going out with Ruby?" Ray enquired.

Tyson's eyes opened instantly, he looked at Ray with pure shock. "H-how did you know that?"

"You mean it's true!" Max said in amazement.

Doh! Stupid Tyson. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He thought to himself.

'They were bound to find out sooner or later, Tyson.' Dragoon said to him.

Knowing that doesn't make it any better, Dragoon.

"How long have the two of you been going out." Ray asked.

Tyson sighed, "About a month."

"A month!" Max exclaimed, surprised Tyson managed to keep it quiet this long. "Why didn't you ever tell us?"

"It was Ruby's idea." Tyson replied looking back up at the stars. "She didn't want Kai finding out. You know, just in case he killed me."

There was silence when Max suddenly asked, "So… do you think he knows?"

"With Kai it's hard to tell." Ray said "But he was sure mad that Ruby lost to Tyson."

"That's because we weren't even trying." Tyson suddenly stated.

"Huh?" Max and Ray said in unison.

"If it wasn't for Dragoon it would've been a while before the 'match' was over."

Silence once again engulfed the three boys.

-----

Ruby looked out her bedroom window. She sighed as she watched her brother train with Dranzer. He was disappointed in her, he wouldn't say it but she knew he was. Disappointed and upset that she let Tyson beat her so easily, especially after she managed to tie with him the day before. She gave another downhearted sigh and sat on her bed. She wanted to talk to someone about her 'problem' but didn't who she could trust with her 'secret'. Max, Ray and Kenny didn't know and she didn't want to take the chance that they might let it slip in front of Kai. Mind you with all the slip-ups Ty and I have made recently, it's a wonder that everyone doesn't know already. Then inspiration hit her. Tanya. She thought and hurried over to the phone to dial her number. Tanya Nicklson was Ruby's best friend while growing up in Russia.

"Hello?" pleasant and light female voice said.

"Tanya? It's me, Ruby."

"Ruby? Ruby who?" she replied, her voice having a playful tone to it.

"Very funny, Tanya. Ruby Hiwatari. How many other Ruby's do you know." She replied sarcastically rhetorical.

Tanya chuckled, "A couple. Though it's pretty hard to forget a girl who has an ice cube for a brother." She joked.

Ruby laughed, "I guess one way of describing him."

"So what's up, Ruby?" she asked.

"I need some advice, Tang." She said calling her by her childhood nickname.

"And you asking me?" Tanya said slightly shocked. "Ruby, you know I'm not very good at advice giving. Remember that time…"

Ruby chuckled at the memory, "Yeah I remember, but I just need someone to listen. Please Tang, you're the only one I can trust with this." She pleaded.

"What's wrong, Ruby?" Tanya was now extremely worried about her friend.

"Well you see it's like this…" Ruby then went on to explain about how she was going out with Tyson, how she was afraid that Kai might kill him if he found out and about what happened earlier that day.

"Wow, Ruby. That's some problem you got there." Tanya said when she was finished explaining.

Ruby sighed. "I know. Tell me about it." She said with a roll of her eyes.

"The only thing I can suggest is that you tell your brother."

"You're kidding, right?"

There was silence for a few moments before Tanya said, "Sorry just shook my head." Giving a slight giggle "The longer you keep it from him, the worst it might be."

Ruby gave a small chuckle at her friend's stupidity. "Hmmm… I guess your right." She looked over at the clock, it had just turned midnight. "I gotta go Tang. It's time for 'secret' meeting with Ty."

"Okay. Good luck in whatever you decide to do, Ruby."

"Thanks, Tang. Speak to you soon." She hung up the phone and crept slowly out of the house. She didn't notice a pair of grey eyes watching her as she left.