Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade in any way, shape or form. But it's an awesome show! More people should watch it.

Chapter 8: The Long Way Around

I am such an idiot. I am SUCH an idiot. I AM such an IDIOT. I AM SUCH AN IDIOT!

I hadn't had the courage to leave the safety of this bathroom stall since my quick (embarrassing) departure and was beginning to wonder if I could get away with living in this cramped cubicle for the remaining three days of camp. Three days was all I had to last. That was nothing compared to the 8 weeks I had started with. Just imagine how things could have been had I decided to act sooner. Three days was nothing!

And it really wasn't that bad. After sitting here for some time now, I was starting to like it. It was quiet (for now), isolated (for now), and I had a feeling not many people would ask me what I was doing there (for now). The space itself wasn't that bad either. Somebody had even written a poem on the wall that made some nice scenery. Enlightening even.

I know this is a completely unreasonable thought. It was likely somebody would come looking for me eventually. I was relieved that Tyson and Max had decided not to. Looking at the time, everyone was probably still in the service singing camp songs and sharing their heart-to-heart moments. Hopefully one of them would cover for me, even if they had no idea what was going on. What would Kai tell them anyway?

Knowing him…probably nothing. I wasn't even sure what he was telling himself right now.

Going over that moment in my head, I had on some level convinced myself that his lips had really touched mine and it hadn't just been my fantasy. There was really no indication that THAT was true except for this stomach knotting gut feeling that I had.

He hadn't seemed different or aware. He had led me back without hesitation or awkwardness. He had neither said or done anything that showed any discomfort.

That was probably more frustrating than musing over any of my feelings for the past few weeks had ever been.

He showed no reaction at all. Not a positive. Not a negative. Nothing.

If it HAD been real, he would have SOME reaction right?

I'd accept a negative. Any indication of how Kai feels about this. About me. About my feelings for him. About anything really. I want my reaction dammit! This is driving me crazy!

It had FELT real, even if it had been quick and could possibly be tossed side as accidental. But had he realized what happened and was feigning denial so that I would be less embarrassed about it, or had it really gone unnoticed? I had to know! How do you even go about asking something like that?

I have time. Let's think about this logically for a minute…

Denial was certainly a more believable option. I had been a complete mess. Even if he had missed the 'almost' kiss, there was no way he missed my openly embarrassed departure. The only way my feelings could have been more obvious was if I had been screaming them as I ran away or sporting a flashing neon sign above my head.

Kai is a smart guy. He had to know. Right?

Taking that route, what now?

Sweeping it under the rug like it never happened was a great way to move past this with the least amount of casualties. Judging by his actions in the past, if I played it out that way, he would most likely follow my lead. That just buried the real problem though. I would have no more answers than I did before it happened. Maybe even less since now I had twice as many questions.

A lot of my dreams FELT real. Maybe TOO real. I really could have just made the entire thing up in my head. Which is a completely different problem. If my mind had no self-restraint and I could no longer tell what was real or fake, how could I keep myself from doing something more (or worse) in the future?

I wonder if they have a psychologist here. I wouldn't mind asking for some advice right about now…

I had been quite concentrated on my thoughts to hardly notice if anyone had been in or out of the room. Time had seemed drained of any meaning and sound was an abstract in the background. But a shadow in my direct line of sight brought my attention back to the room and my actual surroundings.

I took in a breath and didn't release it right away, wondering for a moment if I was ready to face what I had coming. What DID I have coming?

The shadow stays unwavering directly in front of the door to my refuge. I was in a position where it wouldn't be easily known that I was there but after a moment of silence I know that that shadow isn't just anyone passing by.

It's Kai.

I close my eyes and take a few slow breaths in anticipation of whatever he has come to offer me.

Concern? Reassurance? Confusion? Demand for an explanation of my actions? Disgust? Rejection? What would he be asking for? How much did he know?

The shadow tilts as he leans on the door.

From my perch I can't see his feet but I somehow know that one is relaxed on the door and he is crossing his arms. I almost smile at how easily I can picture it in my mind without even seeing him. If I had been in a better condition, I probably would have. But thi…

"Ray. I just want you to know that it's okay," he says quietly. I let the silence after his words sink in and don't answer right away. I had messed up these moments so many times in the past and I wanted to make sure I got it right this time.

What was exactly 'okay' anyway? My feelings? My embarrassment? The fact that for the past few months I had been nothing but a flake? Maybe it wasn't even about this but something else. Maybe it was because I told him I couldn't accept his challenge. I had given a great speech to explain that. He hadn't seemed to be listening but maybe he had been after all.

"Ray? Are you in there?!" Tyson's voice comes shattering through the peaceful exchange. I guess that means the service has ended.

I hear a soft mumble, sort of sounding like an "I'm sorry" before the shadow moves away from the door and the room is overcome with chatter as the boys begin entering for their nightly rituals of face washing and teeth brushing before lights out.

"Kai! Is Ray in there?"

"Why don't you just check for yourself?" Charming as ever. I smirk. I think I love him…

"Ray?" Tyson's voice gets closer.

"Maybe he's not in here…" Max suggests in return.

"Where else could he be? Kai said he wasn't hurt and he's not back in the cabin."

I feel like hyperventilating right now but I guess hiding won't really accomplish getting any closure.

I take in one last deep breath and open the door, stepping out into the room. Besides Tyson and Max, there are only a few other boys around.

"I'm here, sorry…" I start thinking of things to say that will negate them from asking too many questions but I am saved by the sudden (and extremely loud) shriek that comes bursting from outside. Everyone goes rushing to see what it is and we are all front row to a group of girls screaming and pulling at their clothes and hair like they had just walked into a huge spider web.

I exchange looks of delight with my friends and Tyson gives Max a bump to the shoulder as everyone else shares a laugh at the scene. The girls are completely mortified as they start yelling about being attacked and that somebody needs to do something about it. Two of the girl's councilors try to calm them down as a third enters the bathroom to see what the problem is.

She comes out a minute later covered in yellow splashes and with a less than amused look on her face as she pulls the plastic packets from her hair. I look at Max confused and he leans over to me.

"I set up a catapult," he whispers excitedly. "I know it wasn't in the original plan but I saw it in a movie once and had to see if it would actually work. I used Tyson's shoelaces and an empty toilet paper roll." He smiles proudly and goes back to give Tyson a high five. I try to picture exactly how that worked but I suppose the results were proof enough.

"Everybody back to your cabins! When we find out who did this there WILL be consequences!" the councilor vents. "Girls, let's go get cleaned up in the main building…"

"Awe, come on. It's just a harmless prank. Go a little easy," one of the boy's councilors tries to lighten her mood. She sends him a look and he sighs. "Come on boys. Hurry up and finish. We're having lights out early today…" The groups are split up and we are rushed to finish up and return.

No real words are spoken as we return to our cabins and crawl into our beds. A few murmurs go around about how cool it was and how Nicole was so scared of spiders that she was crying and that the girls had never seen it coming but even with our success I didn't really feel all that rewarding. I am sure Tyson saw it differently. He was probably overjoyed at how it had played out. He probably couldn't wait for the next challenge to unfold or for their answer. Although, not getting caught meant that Tyson couldn't gloat or claim it so there was no way of knowing whether they knew it was us or not anyway. It could have been anyone.

I settle in to my bunk and let the whispers die down as Chris orders us to sleep. He turns off the lights before going off to meet the others about what should be done. I thought that Tyson would be the worst at containing himself but it remains quiet as everyone tries their best not to talk about it or voice their pleasure in seeing others so humiliated.

An awkward kind of silence settles in around us but having the excitement out of immediate attention and turned into expectation of some type of punishment, my thoughts (surprisingly) don't keep me awake for long. After everything I had been through in the past few hours, I find myself drifting before Chris even returns with whatever news he had for us.

When morning comes, I bet those councilors were wishing they had waited to make their decision on punishments. Having no real way of knowing who was responsible, they had decided to let it slide. Nobody had been hurt. And what kind of respectable summer camp wouldn't allow some harmless fun?

"Tyson! Tyson! Get up! Come quick!" Our morning wake-up call bursts in and pounces. "You HAVE to see this!" Tyson grumbles a disoriented rejection but Max persists until he and most of the other boys are led by their curiosity to go see whatever it is that's going on.

I hop down from my bunk shortly after, and follow the group outside.

We are met by...clothes? What?

All across the grounds in very random places are various items of clothing. And a LOT of them. Some looked chewed and torn, others were just clinging to trees and bushes, all were covered in mud and leaves. At closer inspection, all were belonging to the girls. Why are the girl's clothes strewn about the grounds as if they'd been carried off by…oooh. The realization hits me.

I spot Kai crossing our line of vision on the left and he sends me a smirk when I catch his eye. He doesn't join us but that look could only mean one thing. He must have taken my idea a step further and hidden the food in their clothes or at least spread the scent of food on them somehow. In the confusion last night it had probably been overlooked and we were now seeing the results.

Looking back at the mess, it was almost like looking at art, and I smile. No doubt there was going to be a storm when these girls woke up.

And a storm there was. Not only were the girls pissed, they were absolutely threatening. Sarah didn't waste any time at all in retaliating. The boys had been banned from breakfast and forced into extra hours of morning service until all were in agreement that what had been done was wrong and that we all promised not to do anything else.

Our activities for the day were also restricted. No morning games and no free time after lunch. We weren't allowed to participate in any recreational activities at all and were only allowed to speak to the girls if we were apologizing. We were to remain in the main meeting hall for group sessions and some weird bonding rituals in which we would 'build up our character' and return to camp tomorrow as 'new saints'. Yeah right. Nice try anyway!

We were allowed to eat lunch, but it wasn't as gratifying as it should have been after already missing breakfast.

"Um, is this supposed to be this color?" Max eyes his food skeptically.

"Who cares? Is there more?!" Tyson of course ignores his wariness. He has already stolen my food and the food of two other helpless victims and is looking for anyone else who wasn't paying attention enough to defend themselves. I wasn't really missing mine all that much since Kai had chosen to sit next to me and I was more concerned with what I should say to him.

I still didn't know WHAT was okay and why HE was apologizing (if that is what I had heard). As far as I could tell, he hadn't done anything warranting an apology. If anyone should be apologizing, it was me. Especially since I was still trying to decide if what happened had really happened or if my imagination had really just been that good.

There was just so many more important things to think about than figuring out which animal our food had used to be or why it looked like it was a little soupy. Actually, that IS quite concerning.

"What IS that?" I ask absently as I study Max's tray.

"If I had to guess, I'd call it revenge," Kai responds, not hiding his amusement. I find it incredibly curious that he doesn't play favorites when torture is involved. He is amused by ANYONE'S pain. Even his own friends. I keep wondering why that makes me want to hug him…

I notice then that Kai hadn't even taken a tray. Which makes me ponder why he had even stuck around. Normally he wouldn't have bothered.

When I start to hear some dissatisfied groans from various places around our side of the room, I catch his amused look growing more amused and I settle on THAT being the reason. This might have moved from confused affection to being disturbed. Would he get satisfaction out of seeing ME in a position like this? Maybe that's why he wasn't pushing me to say anything or explain. He could have been getting off with my discomfort alone. Now that's a scary thought. I really hate my brain right now.

"Are you FEELING okay? You all look a little PALE…" Sarah announces her arrival behind us with her normal condescending tone. I turn slightly to see her and her friend's satisfied looks as a few boys start to look like they might be sick. Having not eaten breakfast had only made most of them more eager to eat. This obviously wasn't a good thing as one boy goes running from the room as fast as he can, holding a hand over his mouth.

"Oh. Poor thing…" Nicole adds her two cents, dripping with her own mock concern.

"I guess tomorrow won't be as exciting as I thought if you've all come done with the summer flu. Shame. I was really looking forward to a REAL competition." Sarah rolls her eyes and tosses her hair back before they return to their own table.

"I don't feel so good…" Tyson frowns and sits back down next to Max, finally taking on a normal response to whatever THIS was. It was clear that our food had been tampered with is some way. I was now happy for Tyson's abnormal appetite. He had saved me from doing something slightly more embarrassing than the things I had already done.

"I'm not so hungry anymore…" Max pushes his tray away. He had barely touched it but he didn't look any better off than the boys around him who were holding their stomachs with pained looks.

And that is about when I snap. I push back from the table angrily, once again catching an amused look from Kai. I can almost feel him watching me as I break away from the group and approach the girl's table. A few girls who weren't a part of their 'click' gasp as I push them away to put myself directly in front of Sarah, leaning my hands on the table and making sure she knows I mean business by meeting her eyes directly.

I have no idea where the sudden urge had come from or how I was ignoring all the attention that was completely zoned in on me, but I decided that even if I had to face them all by myself, it was happening.

"If you think that a little food poison will bring us to our knees crying, you obviously don't know who you are dealing with. It is best you get your beauty sleep tonight because tomorrow will be nowhere close to easy. Oh, but maybe you're right. You should be more concerned with bears and spiders popping up than a few 'under the weather' boys…" I tilt my head to send a look to Nicole, who is trying her best to stay composed at the mention of spiders. Sarah, however, is intimidatingly unwavering.

"That's a nice speech," she replies with not even a hint of fear or even a little take back. For some reason, it felt like she had already anticipated my actions and it was only making me angrier. "I really liked the enthusiasm this year. We could have had some REAL fun." She smirks suggestively. "It is really sweet of you to defend your friends too. I really like that. Too bad for you…" Her smirk changes to a sterner look and her tone goes from playful to something darker. "…you won't be making our meeting." She nods to her left and Nicole nods back but I miss the connection by a split second until a girl who happened to be passing by with a tray of food, suddenly stumbles.

I react by quickly moving to catch her before she falls to the ground, but her tray hits me and she hits the tray, sending food flying everywhere. It hits a few of the girls and the back of some boys, none of which seem too happy about it. The girl I had tried to save, conveniently disappears, leaving me standing with the tray and in a position of guilt. They look at each other and immediately move to retaliate by grabbing the nearest thing from their table and throwing it towards me.

I duck and it hits another person behind me. This person responds in much the same way but instead throws their entire tray. I manage to dodge that as well but it creates a domino effect and soon there is food being thrown everywhere.

How did I get to be at the center of this again? If she had planned all this, we had totally underestimated her. Had I been so distracted that even a battle with some stupid girls was too much for me?

When the room, and everyone in it, is sufficiently covered in mashed potatoes and the weird soupy mixture, we are broken up. I am immediately labelled as the start of the fight and sentenced to spend time in the isolation cabin for the night. Being the great friends that they are, Tyson and Max protest and are ordered to join me as my accomplices. The rest of the boys are ordered to clean up the mess as we are led away and the girls are allowed to leave to shower.

Sarah sends me a vindictive smile as they watch us go and Kai, looking oddly untouched by this whole incident (how does he DO that?), responds by tossing a pudding cup right at her head. After an over-reactive outburst of disgust from the girl, he is sentenced to join us as well. He takes it all in stride and follows us without protest or even disdain. He actually seems quite pleased.

I'll never figure this guy out.

"Hey," I grab everyone's attention as we approach the isolation cabin. "You didn't have to do that. With you still out here, you could have still..."

Tyson wraps an arm over my shoulders.

"Don't mention it, Ray! We're a team! We have to stick together," he laughs and Max agrees by grabbing onto my free arm and nudging me. I look at Kai and he just smirks.

"Couldn't let you have all the fun," he repeats his line from yesterday in much the same manner and tone, and I laugh and shake my head.

"You guys are the best."