Hey guys! This story has sort of been on hiatus. I am back in business and with the next couple of weeks a few updates are in order esp. with Revelations :D

Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy the chapter. Below is a snippet of the previous chapter.

Enjoy!


Kai paced the room. Ray just watched with amusement.

"You're going to wear a hole into the carpet." Ray noted quietly. Kai just scowled at him.

"If looks could kill." Ray just sighed. A knock at the door made them stop. Kai just gave the door a wide eyed look. Rolling his eyes, Ray moved gracefully from the bed and towards the door.

Kai made a dive for the bathroom to check that he was looking alright. This only caused Ray's smile to grow bigger. He opened the door and as he found himself looking at competitor number 36, his heart began to race.


Chapter Two - The beginning of Mishcief


Ray stared at his newest rival gob smacked. 'What is he doing here?' he asked himself wildly, mouth suddenly dry.

Max stepped out from behind the Japanese boy and laughed. "Earth to Ray!"

"M-M-Max. How's it going?" he rasped quickly changing his gaze to his old friend.

Max gave him an amused look before he answered. "Great buddy. I don't think you've met my friend Tyson. Tyson this is Ray. Ray this is Tyson."

Tyson bowed politely to Ray. Ray returned the bow a tinge of red dusting his cheeks.

"Is Kai in?" Max asked breaking the strained silence between the two bladers.

"Yes. Sorry. Please come in." Ray said quickly trying to regain his normally calm and collected composure. He motioned for the others to enter the room before closing the door and staring at it thoroughly embarrassed by his behavior.

He turned in time to see Max give Kai an enthusiastic hug much to the older teen's embarrassment. A small smirk crossed the Japanese fighter Tyson's face. 'He knows!' Ray realized. 'Oh this is going to be fun!'

"Kai." The handsome youth gave a lazy two fingered salute. Ray studied him covertly, noticing the sword for the first time.

"Tyson." Kai replied coolly. He nodded politely to the younger man. Kai turned his attention back to Max and tugged lightly on the blonde's sword. Laughing he acquiesced and let the crimson eyed fighter take his beloved Draciel away and put it safely on the bed next to Dranzer. He flopped down on the bed and pulled Kai next to him. With a glance at his best friend he motioned slightly for Tyson to talk to Ray. Turning his attention back to Kai he gently tugged the older man down and started on the one topic that Kai would talk about. Dranzer.

*ts*

Tyson turned back shyly to the raven haired fighter. He felt slightly embarrassed. Normally he would be talking away loudly and trying to engage the new person in conversation so he could get to know him better but for some reason he felt tongue tied. Blushing slightly as those golden eyes studied him curiously, he looked down at his shoes.

*ts*

Ray studied Tyson curiously. He was a couple of inches shorter than Ray and beautifully tanned brown skin. For the brief time their eyes had locked, he had noticed a gorgeous chocolate in colour looking back at him. The midnight blue locks reached midway down his back. He had a solid build but had no ounce of fat on him. All muscle. The sword slung across his back looked like it was too long for this youngster to wield comfortably. He was curious to see this blade.

"May I?" he asked gesturing towards the aforementioned blade.

Tyson's head jerked up startled. Eyes wide he was looking at Ray nervously. He clutched at the sword almost protectively. Surprised Ray raised his hands defensively.

"Sorry." He said politely and turned his back on the blunette as he made his way to the bed and sat down. He pulled Drigger onto his lap and lightly stroked the sheathed blade before glancing through the bangs that had fallen to hide his face, to watch the younger man.

An embarrassed blush burned on Tyson's face. Hesitantly he came to the bed and perched on the edge of it. He pulled the blade from his back and tentatively offered it to the Chinese fighter.

"I'm sorry. It's just very precious to me and I don't often let people touch her." The bluenette said apologetically.

Ray looked up to study Tyson's earnest face. He realized the privilege he was been given to touch the blade. "Thank you." He replied and gently took the blade away. On the pommel of the hilt was a beautiful sapphire. It was the eye for the ornately carved dragon. The workmanship on the sword was remarkable. He pulled the sword slightly ignoring the hunched shoulders of his companion from its sheath and marveled at the blade. It was made of finely tempered steel that rippled showing the quality of the blade. He put the sword back in its sheath before handing it back to the nervous fighter.

"That is a magnificent sword." Ray told the bluenette who stroked the sword reverently.

"Yes. It is." Tyson agreed softly.

"May I ask how you came to hold this blade?" Ray asked curiously. He studied the man's face.

Tyson raised his chin challengingly. "I inherited from my grandfather. He was a master swordsman and taught me everything I know."

"What's her name?" Ray replied smoothly ignoring the challenge in the blunette's voice.

"Dragoon." Tyson replied reluctantly.

"This is Drigger. I was given him as gift last year." Ray said proudly giving the bluenette his sword. "He is a symbol of my clan. The White Tigers."

Like Tyson's Dragoon the pommel of the hilt had a precious sapphire. It was an unusual yellow in colour. A ferocious tiger was carved into the hilt. It seemed to glare at the younger man. He handed the blade back.

"It's beautiful." He answered softly glancing up shyly into the older man's face. The glow of pride that suffused Ray's face made him smile back in response.

"Thank you." Ray replied. He glanced over at Max and Kai and saw them deep in conversation. Kai's eyes glowed with the same enthusiasm as Max's. He gave a start. It was rare for Kai to hold a conversation with anyone and even rarer for a display of emotion to pass the tightly controlled fighter's guard.

"Wow. Wonders will never cease." The voice of his guest rang with amusement.

He looked back at the fighter with surprise. "How long have you know Kai for?" he asked curiously.

"18 months. You?" the blunette had seemed to gain a bit of confidence.

"18 years." He replied and watched awe fill those alluring chocolaty eyes.

"You've been friends with him for 18 years?" Tyson asked incredulously.

"Yes." Ray said laughingly. "He's not that bad once you get past the thorny exterior."

"Yeah. True." Tyson replied rolling his eyes. "It just takes awhile."

"Max is one of the very few who can get him to open up. I have no idea why though." Ray replied smoothly. He wasn't going to divulge Kai's interest in Max to this stranger even if he did know both of them well enough. Kai was his best friend plain and simple.

"Oh. I have a few ideas." Tyson answered slyly. He gave the black haired fighter a saucy wink. Ray stared back in surprise.

"Maybe it's time that we give them the push they need?" the blunette suggested with a small smirk.

Ray just stared at him dumbfounded.

*TS*


The end...for now. Please let me know what you think. I am really open to suggestions on where to take this. Love to hear from you.

Love Storm