A/N: Sorry for the shortness, but please enjoy, I don't like posting chapters that are less than 2000 words, but I felt that this one should stand alone as it is. The next one will be much longer.

Thank you Nice, moonlightclock, Kiscia and MasterExpose for reviewing! Love you guys, you keep me going. :)

-x-x-x-

Being a Champion

After having finished both bottles of the champagne we went back to the Bladebreakers' room to invite them to celebrate with us. However only Ray was there, sitting on the balcony, reading, drinking tea, and what looked like... tanning? He was in his swimming trunks. Ray was a little effeminate, this is just the thing he'd do.

As I mentioned earlier, he was not exactly thrilled when we told him the news.

"I'm so sorry for putting those marriage thoughts in your head Kai. I didn't expect you to do anything like this though, maybe Takao, or Max, but not you. Well, I should have known better, you've always been easily swayed."

I had way too much to drink to have a conversation like this.

"Excuse me!" I yelled, feeling very offended and enraged. I was not the only one to have jumped ship in the past. "I can make my own decisions."

I grabbed Wyatt's arm roughly, and dragged him back inside, just in time to be running into a sweat-drenched Max on his way back from training, walking with Takao's girl.

"What's the matter? I heard you yell?" he asked innocently. He had always been a good soul.

"Ray should stay out of my fucking business from now on." I hissed, as I walked past him. It was directed at Ray rather than at him.

Max flinched again, like every time he heard someone use the f-word. That kid was way too innocent.

"Kai, where are you going now? You're drunk." Ray called after me.

"I'm not drunk, I'm just not in agreement with you."

In retrospect, I probably was more on the drunk than sober side.

"Anyway, I'm off to make some more "bad" decisions I presume. Now that you had to mention it, I'll probably drink some more too. Sound like a plan?

I looked over to Wyatt. He nodded excitedly. Then I refocused my attention back on Ray.

"Yep, looks like that's what we'll do."

He was shaking his head. "You really are a child."

"Yep, sweet sixteen." I reminded him, then I walked out.

I slammed the door to our hotel room and then let myself collapse against the wall.

"That went well." Wyatt said shyly.

I sighed.

"No offence sweety, but you really can't handle your alcohol very well." He said, laughing. "That makes two of us, what will we ever do?"

I laughed. "Sweety? Really? You sound like my grandfather when I was five years old."

"I never took him for the loving type."

"Well, that's what they say about me too, and haven't I proven you wrong?"

I reached for his hand. Our fingers intertwined.

"Nah, Kai Hiwatari is like a rock!" Wyatt mocked me.

We were both snickering when Max walked outside. I expected him to be somewhat shocked, after all, it was the first time he saw us on display like that, but he rolled his eyes instead. And then let out more curse words in a brief sequence of sentences than I have ever heard him say since and before, for as long as I've known him:

"I'm passing on a piece of advice that you would have given me if our roles were reversed. I don't give a shit about your little friendship or love affair. What matters is, you've been out of it. Stop flirting and get your fucking head back into the game!"

My jaw dropped.

Dammit, he was right!

I could not believe that I, the stoic Kai Hiwatari, the rock, the ice prince, the emotionless, training-obsessed asshole, had let myself go, neglected my team and blading to be swooning over Wyatt like that.

Max tossed me a bag of chips.

"They're from the minibar, so you probably owe around 10 pounds. Now sober the fuck up and fight me. Your boyfriend can come watch, as long as he keeps his distance and his mouth shut."

Then he turned around and started walking towards the stairs.

When did Max become so... cool?

-x-x-x-

Max and I were training for about 3 hours until we almost collapsed of exhaustion, though me more likely from dehydration. I was still a bit drunk after all. He had been training all day, so I told him I would be fine on my own. Max nodded and went upstairs to get some rest. Wyatt had been sitting on the side, waiting patiently all this time.

"I've been a distraction to you." He admitted once Max had left.

I nodded. "Sadly so."

"I never meant to change you."

"You've made me happy."

Wyatt put one hand on my shoulder. He had a gloomy smile on his face.

"Happiness makes people lazy and willing to settle for less. I don't want to make you regret. There is only one way." He placed a short, sweet kiss on my lips. "That will be our last one until you win the Championship. Now you better succeed, or you'll be waiting for a long time."

I knew he was right, but it saddened me greatly.

"What about you?" I asked.

Wyatt responded with one of his cheeky smirks. "I don't mind waiting. I married you. I'm here for the long run."

I pulled him into a very tight hug.

"I should leave now." Wyatt said. "We'll see each other again when you return to being the ice cold asshole I first got a crush on."

I embraced him even tighter.

"Now go tell your team you're a 100 %. They need someone to guide them." His voice was cracking.

I kept my arms around him for another minute. His tears soaking my chest. And that is how we parted our ways. I did not say anything. He had already said everything that needed to be said and I was no man of unnecessary words. I also didn't know what to say. What does one say in a situation as such? I just did as he instructed me and told the Bladebreakers I was all in and ready to act as the captain they deserved.