Hey guys. The next chapter is finally here! Sorry it took so long i kind of had a bit of writer's block so I focused on my other stories. :)
I really hope you like it.
"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.
Chapter Three – Studying your quarry
Max wandered out of the bathroom towelling his hair vigorously. He noticed the teams head coach was in deep discussion with Tyson. The DVD of Kai's bout caught his interest. Hiro, the team coach and Tyson's older brother, glanced at him before motioning him over.
"I want you two to study this tonight before lights out. If you both win your match's one of you will be versing Kai in the semis." Hiro ordered.
"But Hiro. What about the other competitors? Why are we only studying Kai? What about the champion?" Tyson objected strongly.
The older man turned his attention to his younger brother with a sharp glare. "Tyson. So far the competitors you have met have not been a challenge to either of you. When you hit the quarterfinals I will give you the DVD's of the challengers that you will face."
"As for the champion he doesn't compete till tomorrow. Max you have competed against Ray. I want you to discuss what you know and have seen with Tyson. The dinner for competitors starts between 6 and 8. There is a team meeting after dinner at 8 in boardroom one. I expect you both to be there. And Tyson. Don't overeat; if you do you will have a double training session for tomorrow." Hiro threatened as he left the room.
Tyson glared at the closed door. He said to Max sulkily. "Geez you'd think I was 12 or something."
Max just gave his friend a small smile. "Tyson. What happened at the National championships?"
Tyson scowled at him. "I made ONE little mistake. How was I supposed to know the match would get moved up a day earlier?"
Max just shook his head. Tyson had been very lucky to win that semi final match. He had been sluggish and gotten quite a few bruises from his older and stronger opponent, Brooklyn. Because of that defeat his brother/trainer had been very strict with him for the next couple of days watching him like a hawk much to Tyson's consternation.
"Ty. We have 15 minutes to get ready for dinner. We want to do it early – besides then we can discuss what you'll be facing with Ray."
"Me? I'll be lucky to get past Kai!" Tyson said sadly. "He's much better than I am."
"Don't sell yourself short Ty. You've improved immensely since that bout two years ago." Max said encouragingly. He wandered into the bathroom and put his towel back on the rail. He heard Tyson talking to him.
"What?" he asked as he walked back out of the bathroom.
"Nothing." Tyson said quietly, with a slightly sad look.
Max sighed. Tyson had been a bit down since just before they came to Tokyo for the competition and no one could work out why. He was usually so happy and exuberant.
"You ready to go buddy?" Max asked with a smile. He got a grunt of acknowledgment. He opened the door and herded Tyson out.
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Ray rolled his eyes at the snide comment Kai made. "Look. I know you don't like Lee or the rest of my team and they have done you the courtesy of not joining us for the meal. Do me the courtesy of not being rude about them." He said seriously to his sour companion.
Kai eyes Ray thoughtfully and then nodded. "Fine." He replied curtly.
Ray lazily had a spoonful of soup. "So. You saw Tyson and Max's matches. What did you think?"
"They have both improved tremendously. I saw that Tyson's older brother is the head coach. I feel sorry for him." Kai said with a shrug.
"Older brother?" Ray asked giving Kai a sharp look.
"You didn't see him? He looks almost identical to Tyson except he's a good few years older. That and he had a video camera attached to his face." Kai replied. "In fact, that's him there with the rest of their team."
Ray turned slightly to watch the rest of the Japanese team enter. A taller version of Tyson sat down at a table. His hair was longer and neat unlike his younger brother. His skin was a little paler and he was not as solid either. Next to him was a tall young man with messy orange hair. Piercing blue eyes studied the room quietly. Next to him sat a short geeky boy with big round glasses and long brown hair that hid most of his face. At the other end of the table was the youngest member of the group. A small red head with green eyes; he watched the door with a hawkish gaze.
"Do you know them?" Ray asked nodding towards the group.
"The one with orange hair is Brooklyn. Very good Kendo fighter. Almost beat Tyson in the semi finals at Nationals. The geeky one Kenny is a close friend of Tyson's and a member of the coaching team. And the shrimp is Daichi. He's too good for his age group so he was put in our grade. He can hold his own." Kai outlined quickly, inspecting his food with interest.
"Tell me a little bit more about this Tyson." Ray said sitting back and watching Kai.
Kai looked up and raised his eyebrow. He gave his friend a sly look. "He's single if that's what you mean.
Ray flushed with embarrassment. "No. But thanks for the heads up." He replied testily. He forgot how sharp Kai could be at times. "So is Max. You plan on asking him out anytime soon?"
Kai just glared. "None of your business Kon. Tyson's a really good fighter. He's been drilled in the art since he was 3 according to his grandfather. Last time I fought against him was two years ago and he was just recovering from a stay in hospital. Max told me afterwords that he had gotten a very bad case of pneumonia and he was there for over a month. His father even came home which is very unusual."
"You like him don't you?" Ray said with a little surprise.
"Hnnn. He's okay." Kai muttered spearing a piece of potato and eating slowly.
"He told me he had only known you for 18 months." Ray said when a memory suddenly popped up.
"We met 3 years ago. I only began to get to know him 18 months ago through Max. Because he was younger than me and in a lower grade I didn't have much to do with him. That and the fact his father banned him from competing till after he was 18." Kai replied.
"You know a bit about his family." Ray said a small glint of mischief gleamed in his eyes. "And for all this time I thought you were antisocial."
"His grandfather is one of the best masters in Japan. I didn't have a choice. That and the fact Max constantly tells me about him." Kai said irritably.
"Chill man. Speaking of Max and Tyson here they are now." Ray said lazily watching with amusement as Kai snapped to attention and watched their blonde friend avidly.
The pair were deep in discussion. The youngster from the Japanese team made to get up and approach them but a sharp word from Hiro had him sitting down and sulking.
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Tyson filled his plate and listened to Max talk about Ray and his fighting ability. The Chinese fighter could be almost considered the perfect fighter. He was reasonably tall, lean but with muscle and had the speed and power in abundance. He was intelligent and very good at strategies according to Max. Slightly depressed he followed Max to a small table for two and continued on his lecture about the raven haired man. He picked listlessly at his food.
Max noticed the fact that Tyson was playing with his food and stopped concerned. "Hey Ty. Are you feeling okay?"
"Huh?" Tyson looked up into worried blue eyes. He gave a weak smile. "I'm fine Maxie really. Just got a lot on my mind is all."
Max just looked. He knew something was wrong. Tyson loved food and the fact that he was playing with it rather than eating it meant that something was wrong. Not good.
"So. You've told me about Ray's fighting style. What about what he's like as a person?" Tyson asked to distract Max.
Max gave his friend a big smile. "Well. Ray is kind, sweet and a great cook!"
Tyson just looked at Max strangely. "Ummm...okay?"
"He's also not dating at the moment." Max said cheekily waggling his eyebrows at his friend.
Tyson blushed furiously. "So? What's that got to do with the price of milk?"
"Well. He's your type." Max said in a sing song voice.
Tyson closed his eyes and rubbed his hands across his face. "Ahh Max. How about you focus on asking out Kai before you try and set me up with his friend." He said patiently.
"But Ty. If you went out with Ray we could double date!" Max exclaimed excitedly.
"Be quiet." Tyson hissed. "Do you want the whole restaurant to hear?"
Max clapped his hand over his mouth blushing madly. "Sorry." He replied meekly. "But seriously. It would be soooo awesome!"
"Max. If Ray is as good as you say then he wouldn't be interested in someone like me, he'd probably go for someone like Brooklyn or even Hiro." Tyson said seriously.
"You don't know that Ty! You're a great person. You're just not able to see what everyone else sees. Even Kai likes you. It would be like pulling teeth to get him to admit it but he does. And that is saying something!" Max said with a decisive nod. "You know how much he dislikes people."
"Thanks Maxie." Tyson replied with a fake smile he shoved a fork of food in his mouth unenthusiastically.
"No really! You know that the day after tomorrow is a rest day for our division right?" Max asked bouncing up and down with his seat with excitement.
"Ye-es." Tyson said cautiously eyeballing his best friend with a growing sense of trepidation.
"Well. We are going to spend it with Kai and Ray so you can get to know him better." Max said with a brilliant smile.
Tyson just stared at Max dumbfounded.
"I know we will have to do morning training but I am pretty sure I can convince Hiro to let us off the arvo session." Max continued excitedly his eyes glowing with enthusiasm.
"One problem there Max. You've forgotten about their teams and what they might be doing for the day." Tyson pointed out with a little relief. The prospect of spending the day with Kai and Ray was nerve racking.
"Easily sorted." Max said airily.
"Have you finished?" Hiro's voice interrupted. Max and Tyson looked up startled. The younger blunette's face drained if colour. He prayed to anyone that would listen that his older brother hadn't heard any of their conversation after all he hadn't yet admitted to his older brother his carefully hidden secret...
"Yes." Max managed to choke out.
"Are you coming down with something Tate?" Hiro asked instantly concerned. "If you are I don't want you to give it to the rest of your teammates."
"Fine. You just startled me is all." Max said still a bit white.
"You have five minutes to make it to the boardroom before I give out penalty training." Hiro warned before sauntering off.
"That was close." Max whispered to Tyson.
"It will be even closer if we don't leave now." Tyson pointed out hastily.
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So. What did you think? Reviews, ideas and constructive criticism are welcome. :)
Love Storm
