The Trials Of Love And Life

I do not own Beyblade or any of it’s characters. Any side character belongs solely to me and will not be used by another.

Summary: Review to chapter 1.

Writing Style: Review to chapter 1.

A/N: The first chapter was short so I had to make this one longer. Of course it was only the prologue so it sort of had to be short and too the point. I hope this chapter is long enough for those who like to read... a lot (no there is no Lemon in the story just yet).


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Chapter 2.


BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP...

Groaning, Ray flopped the pillow down on his head, drowning out the sound from his beautiful dream. He turned over in bed, the pillow pressed to his ear, the jarring noise blasting into his sleep and growing more and more annoying. His eyes flashed open and he growled, rising from his bed and slamming his fist down on the snooze button, shutting the alarm off.

He flopped back into bed and drearily looked at the clock, reading the buzzing red numbers. With a sinking heart he watched as the minute number ticked to the next and froze on the spot, giving way to the time as he swallowed down the thick lump churning in his stomach.

6:26 am...

“I’M LATE,” He cried.

He dove from his bed, braiding his long knee-length hair and tossed it behind his head, racing through his room and tossing on a shirt and a pair of sweats. He gathered his books and shoved them into his bag, running tot he message board in his room and roaming down the list of his classes to make sure he was on the right day. Withe a quick and almost blurry nod he jumped across the room, picked up his bag, ran out the door and toward his shoes.

‘You’re a newbie so you have to make breakfast in the morning...’

He paused, remembering what Tyson had said to him before leaving. He sighed sadly, knowing he wouldn’t be able to do what the navy haired male had said and decided to write a note. He grabbed a piece of paper from the confines of his backpack and scribbled down his note and left it on the kitchen table.

With mad-dashing skills he darted across the lawn, dodging students who were already coming and going for their morning classes or heading back to their dorms from a very early morning seminar. His throat burned as he checked his watch as the time ticked to just a minute before his class began. Biting his bottom lip with worry he threw open the Defenses and Court’s door and darted down the hall, trying hard to remember what number he was in.

He skidded to a halt at the end of the hall and took the stairs down two at a time, reaching another set of door and throwing them open. With breakneck speed he tossed himself down the hall and landed with catlike ability in front of his class. He gripped his chest and grabbed the handle, opening the door quietly and sneaking through.

“Are you lost?”

He froze, hearing the command come from someone of the utmost power... and they did sound very – very – powerful. He swallowed, turning slowly on his feet to face the class that was sitting around the large round room, all wearing either shorts or sweats for the morning defensive lesson. He was glad he was wearing the proper attire for such a class and let his eyes rove over all the very awake and very watchful people.

He quickly roamed across the room before landing on a very handsome, very well-built man standing before the class, his hands crossed over his very muscular chest, arms toned and sculpted almost perfectly. The mans hair – coloured a deep hue of blue in the back, his bangs a silver white – was tousled across his face, the silver bangs hanging handsomely across his very masculine features. His eyes burned a deep crimson colour, almost like blood, and streaked with greys that highlighted them to look far more mysterious. Though handsome, the mans face was pulled into a dark frown, watching the very nervous Ray.

“I-is this... s-self defense?” Ray stuttered out, a few members of the class laughing behind their hands.

“This is... and you are?” the man asked.

“R-Ray... Raymond Kon,” he sputtered, turning back to the teacher with a shy smile.

The man quirked an eyebrow and roamed down the list of names on his checklist. He spotted Ray’s and looked up with a thin smirk.

“Yes, your name is on the list, Kon,” he said nonchalantly.

“I’m sorry I’m late sir... I was –”

“Your out of the class,” the professor said casually, turning away from Ray. “As I was saying class, this is not some game to be play–”

“What,” Ray gasped, immediately clapping a hand over his mouth for interrupting the professor from his speech.

“I said...” the man spoke calmly, yet his eyes told Ray of his burning annoyance. “Your out of the class.”

Standing stock still, burning with embarrassment and shock, Ray turned stiffly and left through the door, closing it quietly behind him as he heard part of the professors speech drift away. He slumped against the door and sighed, rubbing his hand through the mass of unwashed bangs that framed his face messily. With a shuddering sigh, he stood and slumped up the stairs and out of the building.

‘I don’t believe it...’ he thought, staring at the ground. ‘Kicked out of a class... and a very important one...’

He opened the door to his dorm, sliding through the small crack and dropping his book bag to the floor. He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it to the floor as he made his way tot he kitchen, slumping into a chair and dropping his head heavily on the table with a loud ‘CLUNK.’

“Ray?”

He looked up, staring wide-eyed at a very sleepy Max, his blonde hair messed madly, a long green robe tied loosely around his small frame. He yawned, closing one eye as a tear glittered on his lashes and placed a hand over his mouth to stifle it. He stretched and made his way to the table, slumping in a chair himself and hissing through clenched teeth while rubbing his back.

“What’s wrong,” He asked, settling more softly on the chair.

“I was kicked out of class, that’s what’s wrong,” he muttered to the table.

“Your not serious?” Max gasped.

“Ask Mr Jackass professor of Self Defense if you don’t believe me,” Ray grumbled.

Max was looking at the note Ray had left and smiled at it before tossing it into the trash bin and reaching out to touch the neko’s hand. Ray looked up and Max smiled at him, soft and calm like he had all day yesterday. Ray smiled back, but more weakly and tired as he dropped his head back onto the table.

“Sorry to hear it,” Max said softly. “I see Tyson told you about our little breakfast by the newbie thing, huh?”

Ray smiled. “Yea.”

“Well, don’t worry about it,” Max chirped. “I’ll make breakfast and say that you did. Your in no mood to be cooking.”

“What... no, Max, let me do it,” Ray said, standing up to follow the blonde to the fridge. “It’s the least I could do.”

“What do you mean? We haven’t done anything to make you cook breakfast for us yet?” Max asked, stunned by Ray’s enthusiasm.

“Actually, you have,” Ray said brightly. “You showed me the campus yesterday.”

“But...”

“I’ll cook,” Ray said, shutting Max up. “You go get showered up.”

With a smiled, Max nodded and walked away, heading out through the doorframe and down the hall. Ray watched with a tightly made bright smile until Max’s bedroom door closed before it dropped from his face and he sighed, rubbing a hand across his right cheek as he searched the cupboards for a sauce pan and fryer.

An hour later, Tyson emerged from his respected room, stretching and groaning as his back cracked. He sniffed the air and smiled, licking his lips and heading to the kitchen. He stopped in the doorframe and saw Ray slaving over a mixture of frying vegetables and chicken doused in a very savory sauce that made the navy haired males mouth run.

“That smells awesome,” Tyson said, sitting at the table.

“Thanks,” Ray smiled, tossing the mixture of veggie’s and chicken pieces.

“You like to cook?” Tyson asked.

“Yea. I was thinking about becoming a chef at first, but Law Enforcement just seemed to be so much more enticing to me,” Ray said, smiling and tossing the vegetables again.

“Hey, shouldn’t you be in class?” Tyson asked, looking at the clock. “Isn’t Self Defense a two hour lesson.”

“Two and a half hours actually, and no... I was kicked out,” Ray grumbled.

“Sorry to hear it,” Tyson said.

“Max said the same thing,” Ray grouched, glaring down at the fryer. “Is that professor always like that?”

“Professor Hiwatari?”

Ray jumped at the new voice, turning around swiftly to meet a light blue haired male with wide dark eyes. He smiled at Ray, his dark lashes bowing slightly at the neko-jin as he gave a half-lidded – almost dreamy – look at Ray.

“Hey babe, I thought you were still asleep,” Tyson said, looking up at the new addition.

He shrugged. “I was, but I heard you leave so I got up as well.”

“Aww, did the bed get cold?” Tyson asked, batting his lashes.

“You bet,” Claud whispered, pressing his lips firmly to Tyson’s before pulling away to look at Ray. “So you had a run-in already with the demon professor.”

“Yea,” Ray muttered, turning the fryer down to simmer and flopping into a chair. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Professor Hiwatari?” Claud said, pulling Tyson up from the chair and sitting down himself, pulling Tyson into his lap. “He’s always been like that. Very dangerous to be around when he’s angry.”

“When I looked in his eyes,” Ray whispered. “He was so mysterious... so shadowy.”

“That would be the professor,” Claud sighed, resting his head on Tyson’s back. “He’s a great teacher, honestly, but he’s very edgy.”

“How do you mean?” Ray asked.

“He likes his privacy, and I mean a lot,” Tyson interjected. “His past is practically a mystery to everyone, even the other professors.”

“Are you serious?” Ray gasped.

“You guys aren’t feeding our new addition bogus stories, are you?” Max sighed, entering the kitchen and sniffing the enticing aroma. “Ray that’s amazing.”

He blushed and smiled.

“I thought Miguel was staying over?” Tyson asked, nuzzling into Claud’s neck.

“What? Oh... no, he had a really early class and didn’t want to risk waking me up when he had to leave,” Max said with a shrug. “Maybe another night?”

“Maybe,” Tyson smiled, giving Max a knowing look.

“God, I’m such an idiot,” Claud gasped. “Names Claud. Tyson told be about you. Your names Raymond Kon.”

Ray nodded and shook Claud’s hand. “Tyson told me about you too.”

“Did he now,” Claud said, his voice low and husky and he nipped Tyson’s ear.

“Babe, not now,” Tyson gasped, blushing.

“Listen, if you guys want to romp in the sack for a few, it’s fine,” Ray said with Max laughing behind him.

Tyson blushed impossibly red and Claud smirked.

“Sure you don’t mind?” he asked.

“Not at all,” Max said sarcastically. “Even though you have class in thirty minutes.”

Claud looked at the clock on the wall and swore to himself. He removed Tyson from his lap and stood, running to the navy haired males bedroom and tossing on his clothes. He reappeared only minutes later and gave Tyson a very heated kiss on the lips before dashing out the door with a wave to the others.

Ray dished out their food slowly on three plates and placed the fryer back on the stove. He sat down, Max and Tyson both digging into their food and giving Ray a thumbs up before continuing on with their meal. Ray stirred the contents on his plate, playing with them, but not eating. He sighed and pushed his plate away.

“Naw ‘ungry?” Tyson asked through a mouthful of peas and carrots.

“No... not really,” Ray mumbled.

“Don’t let it get you down, Ray,” Max said, swallowing down his mouthful. “And Tyson, swallow before you talk.”

“How can I not let it get me down,” Ray muttered. “It’s only my first day, I’ve already been kicked out of one class by, what Claud called him, the demon professor and what’s worst of all it’s a necessary class I need to have to pass.”

“Well...” Max said, looking at Tyson.

“Hmm, I know what your thinking Max,” Tyson said nodding.

“What? What are you thinking?” Ray asked, hoping for a ray of light.

“Well...” Max repeated. “You could... try and talk to professor Hiwatari.”

Ray faltered. “Your kidding... right?”

“No, I mean it Ray,” Max said nodding.

“I already tried to explain why I was late... he wouldn’t listen,” Ray groaned.

“There is another way you could talk to him without having to go back to that class,” Tyson said, pushing his now empty plate away.

“What do you mean?” Ray asked.

“Remember when Tyson said it sucked that you have Self Defense and Proceedings?” Max asked, looking at the neko.

“Yea...” Ray said, cocking an eyebrow before it slowly sunk in. “No... your kidding...”

“Nope.”

Hearing them both speak in unison only made him believe them and he groaned again.

“I have another class with him,” Ray cried.

“Yep... and it’s the worst of all,” Tyson said, looking at Max.

“Yea.... Proceedings.”

*~*~*

An hour later, Ray was on the grounds, fully washed and clothed properly for his next lessons. He walked with Tyson and Max, chatting away calmly as the wind brushed over the steeping tower-like roof of the university and down across the grass and into the trees that scattered the surrounding area.

Max and Tyson began to scuffle, arguing back and forth about their classes and the amount of homework they would be getting. Tyson pulled the blonde into a headlock and rubbed his knuckles in the blondes golden hair, making him yell and toss Tyson to the ground and straddle him, all the while Ray laughing at them from where he stood.

“Say uncle, Tyson, say uncle,” Max said breathlessly as Max pinned him.

“No... never,” Tyson gasped.

“Just say it Tyson so we can get moving,” Ray sighed, leaning against a shaded tree.

“No... never... I will never say–”

His sentence broke as he yelped, Max twisting his arm a little further, making him growl. Max smiled innocently. In Ray’s opinion, it looked way too innocent. His baby blue eyes widened almost to a teary state and his bottom lip pouted as he tugged Tyson’s arm farther up his back.

“Okay, okay...” Tyson gasped. “Uncle... UNCLE.”

Max reluctantly released the navy haired youth and stood up, straightening his jeans and blue and green shirt. He smirked and gave Tyson a wink before picking up his and the others book bag and handing it too him. Tyson took it gratefully and hauled it over his back as they resumed their trek down the long freshly cut grass that glistened with dew.

“So what classes do you both have?” Ray asked, looking down his schedule.

“Youth Court, Criminal Recordings and Young Offenders Act,” Max said, reading off his own list. “Well, looks like I wont be seeing you guys till lunch.”

“We’ll save you a seat,” Tyson said, smiling at the frowning Max. “I don’t have it any easier. Course Tracking, Court Drama and Illegal Drug Offenders. What about you Ray?”

“Policing Procedures, Court Marshal Reenaction and... Proceedings,” he said, grumbling at the last one.

“Don’t worry,” Tyson laughed, clapping him on one of Ray’s shoulders. “You’ll do fine. He can’t kick you out of two classes now can he.”

“Wanna bet,” Ray muttered.

“You’ll do fine Ray,” Max said in a bright cheery tone. “Honest.”

He smiled at their encouragement but he still felt like a failure for already having been kicked out of the class he most needed. He slouched along with the others, talking as animated as they did, but with force. He tried to smile a few times, though fake, and laughed whenever the pair started to fight over the littlest of thing.

“I’m going to head to class early and get a good seat,” Max said, looking at his watch. “See you both at lunch, right?”

“You got it,” Tyson said, waving as Max jogged away from them.

“I think I’m going to head to class too,” Ray said, watching as Max disappeared. “Don’t want to get another professor on my bad side.”

“No, I guess not,” Tyson laughed. “See you Ray.”

“See you at lunch,” he said, smiling as he waved to Tyson.

He darted across the grass, checking his watch as he entered the main building behind a group of giddy third year girls who were talking avidly about an upcoming party on their dorm room floor. Ray passed them, giving one of the girls that had spotted him a smile and making her blush as he took the steps upstairs two at a time. He landed softly at the top and raced down the corridor, reading off the numbers and skidding to halt before his own.

He could already hear avid talking and some laughing from within the class and stepped through the door, surprised at how many students were actually already seated around the room. He moved his way down the stairs of the lecture theatre and moved into the third row before flopping his bag down and dropping himself into a chair with a sigh.

He heard someone collapse beside him in the next seat and looked around to spot a rather disheveled looking boy with thick brown hair down to her shoulders and a frilled pink blouse and blue skirt. She let out a breath, billowing back her long bangs that hung in her face and swiped a hand over her brow, cheeks flushed. She suddenly turned to him, almost startled.

“Ohh, I’m sorry, is someone sitting hear?” she asked breathlessly.

“Um, no,” Ray said, also a little frazzle, but shook himself out of his stupor to smile at her and hold out a hand in greeting. “Name’s Ray Kon.”

“It’s very kind to meet you,” she said briskly, taking his head. “My name is Hilary Swank (A/N: No I do not know Hilary’s last name, if you do, tell me and I’ll change it).”

“It’s good to know one person in class,” Ray laughed, giving Hilary a genuine smile.

“Yes, it is,” she breathed, hauling her bag onto the table.

“What have you go tin there?” Ray asked, pointing with his pencil he was twirling in his fingers.

“Oh, just textbooks, binders, notes, a laptop...” she took a pause for breath. “Portfolios, my agenda, pencil case, sketch pad, recorder...”

“Okay, okay,” Ray said, stalling her. “No wonder your breathless.”

She smiled at him vaguely before pulling out a leaflet and a pencil, jotting down a few notes and then placing it back inside her bag. She pulled out her text, a binder and two thick casings of paper, placing them in her binder and closing it before sitting and reading the thin print inside her textbook.

Ray sighed and pulled out his own binder, the bell ringing overhead and the students all pilling into their seats, the noise getting louder with the scraping of chairs and talking. The door above opened and slammed shut as a portly, mousy haired man with thick eye glasses jogged down the stairs to stand at the desk below the class.

He looked up, the long strands of his dark bangs hanging down over his eyes. He scanned the room with a drooped smile and sought out everyone in front of himself before placing his briefcase on the table and opening it, many papers and applications set within. He pulled out a list of names and snapped the case shut and placed it at the foot of his chair.

“Good morning everyone,” their professor said in a tight and shy voice. “I hope you all had an eventful morning.”

‘More than eventful,’ Ray thought to himself with a scowl.

“My name is professor Kenny Dobson,” he said, glancing around at the class. “You may call me Chief, like so many before have called me. When I call your name, please announce that you are present in the class.”

Everyone nodded and some smirked at the professor below, watching him as he scrolled the list before calling out peoples names. Everyone seemed to announce themselves, raising their hands so he could see them and giving each a curt nod before going back to the list and reading off another name.

“Kon Raymond?”

Ray looked up at the ceiling, musing to himself and completely missing his name. He glowered at the fact that he was not going to be able to get back into class and was still going to be having a second lesson with the bastard professor who had so rudely kicked him out of the room without even hearing to reason.

‘Stupid bag,’ he thought with a smirk.

“Is their a Kon Raymond in class?” the professor asked.

He was rudely nudged by Hilary in the ribs and looked over at her with a deep scowl. She glared back equally and nodded her head ot the professor who was looking around the class slowly. With a silent gasp he raised his hand and professor Dobson saw him.

“Thank you Mr Kon,” said the Chief, ticking of his name. “But next time if I call your name, answer me on the first time, will you?”

Ray blushed as some of the students around him snickered behind their hands and looked at him with mock interest. He turned to Hilary and mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ before turning back to the front of the class and concentrating the best he could. It had been difficult to keep on task as the Chief spoke, Ray’s mind flickering back to the professor before, who’s body he could not seem to get from his head.

‘Man he was hot,’ Ray thought, tapping his pencil and then paused. ‘I did not just think he was hot.’

Oh, yes you did.

A voice in the back of his mind nagged annoyingly at him and the corner of his mouth twitched in annoyance.

‘No, he’s not. He’s a prick and a bastard,’ Ray told himself, glaring at the blackboard.

Yea, one that you want to get into your pants, the voice nagged.

‘Fuck off,’ he growled.

Admit it, you think he’s a real looker, the voice hissed venomously. I know I wouldn’t mind him sucking on our...

‘No no no no no,’ Ray thought, shaking his head. ‘Bad thought, very... very bad thoughts.’

The bell rand and Ray jumped from his argument with his own conscience as he watched the other students file out, packing his bag with his books. He waved good-bye to Hilary with a smile and headed on down to his next class, having five minutes to make it over to the Crescent Moon building before the bell rung.

Ray made it to Court Marshall Reenaction only a minute before the bell sounded. He dashed through the door and hurtled himself into a seat just as the professor bustled through the door, glaring at the class before slapping his briefcase down on the table and staring at everyone with little interest. He scanned the room before sitting down in his desk and pointing at the blackboard.

“You will write down everything I have written and then read pages 21-53 and then the assignment at the end,” she said in a sour tone. “Is that clear?”

Everyone muttered, some letting out disgruntled sighs as they unpacked their bags and flopped their textbooks onto the table. He didn’t see Hilary in the class so knew she was probably in another, studying something else. Ray looked down at the sour looking professor below, her dark eyes downcast and a frown creasing her features. She would have looked more attractive if not for the look that made her look ten years older than she really was.

Yea, but not as sexy as that professor Hiwatari, that same voice nagged.

‘Shut... up,’ Ray warned himself darkly as he started jotting down what the professor had previously written.

*~*~*

the staff room was completely empty for the exception on one redheaded male sitting serenely in a rather large armchair holding open the daily paper. He scanned the interior pages lazily and turned the page, reading off a few lines before sighing and placing down the boring news and picking up the cup of coffee that was before him.

The door opened and he looked up, startled some, but then relaxed at the view of one slate-haired professor as he walked toward the coffee pot and poured himself a mug. With a gentle smile, the redhead watched as his fellow professor walked toward him and took a seat on the opposite side of the coffee table and took a long haul of his black drink.

“I don’t know why you always like it black,” he said with a shake of his head. “It’s so gross.”

“It’s the same reason I wonder how you like yours with one milk and two sugars,” the slate-haired male said, picking up the paper. “I wonder how you can drink your with anything at all in it.”

“It tastes good,” the other retorted with a smirk as he, too, took a sip of his beverage. “How was your first class?”

With a sigh, the slate-haired professor placed down the paper. “Just as annoying as all the others... with a hitch.”

“And that would be...?”

“I already got to kick out a student for tardiness,” he said with a smirk.

“Kai...”

“What?” the professor asked with a genuine soft shrug.

“You said you would stop doing that. Some student can be late you know,” the redhead sighed.

“Five minutes late?” Kai asked, raising an eyebrow. “Tala, I thought you knew me far better than that.”

“I do,” Tala said with a smile. “But you said you would stop and you promised.”

“Promise broken then,” Kai shrugged.

The pair gave each other gentle smiles before both sipping their coffee in the silence. It was nothing uncomfortable. Both enjoyed the quite and silence rather than noise and annoyance. With another sip, Tala put down his mug and leaned back into the large leather recliner and closed his eyes, rubbing his temples as he groaned.

“Bad class?” Kai asked softly.

“Unfortunately,” Tala sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Dickinson decided to come in just during the lecture and handed me this...”

Tala held up a brown envelope, unopened, and slapped it onto the table. It slide across the glass surface and landed before Kai, halting in front of him. He cocked his head to the side and picked it up slowly, feeling how stiff it was. With a worried look, he glanced up at the frowning redhead and made a gentle gesture with his hands.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” he said softly.

“Please,” Tala muttered darkly. “Anything that thick has to be bad news.”

“You haven’t even opened it yet,” Kai said exasperated.

“Does it matter,” Tala mumbled.

Kai stood abruptly, glaring down at the sulking redhead and rounded the coffee table. He sat down beside Tala’s mug and held out the brown folder, watching as salty tears formed in the others eyes. He swiped them away almost immediately as they formed and looked up strongly at the slate-haired professor, grey streaked crimson eyes boring down on his own.

“What if its–”

“It won’t be,” Kai interjected in a whisper.

“But he didn’t look happy,” Tala practically whimpered.

“Open it,” Kai said encouragingly.

With a slow nod Tala reached out and took the packet. With trembling fingers – that he cursed for making him look weak – he opened the package slowly and pulled out the long files of papers. With a cry of anguish he slapped the papers onto his knees and dropped his head into his hands, his shoulders shaking gently as he tried to hold back the tears.

“I knew it... I just knew it,” Tala muttered.

Kai frowned, staring down at the forms and accusation papers that had been filed by the district attorney. Kai wanted so badly to comfort the redhead, but thought against it. He knew it would only lead to something far beyond just a simple embrace and he wasn’t going to allow something so easy go so far.

“I’m so sorry,” Kai whispered, his fingers twitching as he restrained from holding the other.

“I can’t believe it,” Tala whispered. “I just... can’t...”

“I wonder who filed the lawsuit,” Kai muttered, picking up the bundle carefully. “His most grotesque honor...”

Tala looked up at Kai’s dark stare – having heard the disgusted tone – and saw him glaring almost inhumanely down on the paper as if to burn it from existence.

“That bastard.”

“Kai,” Tala said in a rough voice. “Don’t worry... I... I can handle it.”

“My own *grandfather* filed this,” Kai hissed. “That conniving bastard.”

Tala said nothing, watching as his fellow staff member dropped the paper unceremoniously onto the table and looked back at Tala with the utmost of anger and pity. He placed a hand gently on the slate-haired males cheek, but Kai pulled away slowly with sad eyes, shaking his head and standing slowly.

“I have a class in a half an hour,” he whispered. “I better get going and set up.”

“Kai...” Tala said quickly as the other made his way for the exit.

“Yes... Tala?” Kai answered, stopping at the door.

“Why did it have to happen?” he asked slowly.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Kai whispered in return.

“Why did we break up,” Tala said quickly as Kai opened the door. “Why did we do it Kai... why did we have to split up.”

Kai gave him a low sigh and turned with dark shadowed eyes, sadness and burning regret evident in his streaked crimson orbs. He looked to the ground before he resumed looking upon the redheads soft complection and then answered.

“I did not break up with you, Tala,” he said, so low it was almost inaudible. “It was you... who broke up with me.”

With that, he left and closed the door with a click, leaving the other to stare at the wooden brick blocking his view of the other as Kai leaned against the door with a low sigh and closed his cloudy eyes, clearing the teary mess that was forming. With haste, he straightened his jacket and pants, brushing away any dust and set off for his class.

*~*~*

The bell ran for the nest class and Ray groaned, having spent and hour and fifteen minutes writing down everything from the chalkboard (the printing having been so small he had to squint half the time) and then reading only a quarter of the pages the teacher had set for them and was unable to begin the assignment like he had hoped.

With a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach, he set off for his final lesson before lunch. He looked over his schedule quickly, seeing as he had double Proceedings and groaned, not wanting to see Demon Professor Hiwatari twice for three hours on his first day. With a low growl, he lugged his way back to the main building and up the stairs to classroom D404.

‘Why the hell does this guy always need to be in the farthest rooms?’ Ray wondered as he opened the door just as the bell rang, some other kids rushing in behind him, slightly red faced from running.

He sat down relatively close to the back as the people around him crowded more to the front. He wondered why this way, seeing as he had heard nothing but bad things about their esteemed professor, and decided to also take a seat closer to the front (though not to much closer) and waited for the lesson to begin.

“I heard he was the best Agent in Russia,” someone whispered from close to Ray.

“Yea, I know. I heard he killed an entire mob with just one gun,” his counterpart whispered in return.

“Think he’s as ruthless as they say?” asked his friend.

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” said the other in return.

Ray listened with great fascination as the two exchanged their stories. He suddenly realized that everyone seemed to be muttering about their professor, each nodding and gaping almost in awe at how amazing he was. Ray suddenly had a feeling Tyson was having the best laugh of his life right now, rolling around on the ground back at their dorm with Max shaking his head and a gentle smirk plastered on his face...

‘Or he’s being fucked to shit by Claud,’ Ray thought with a smirk gentle chuckle.

“Silence.”

Everyone gasped, turning swiftly in their seats to stare stupendously at the front of the room. Almost like a ghost, their esteemed professor practically materialized from the shadows below, stepping into the light like a dark rogue and looking up at the crowd of students. He didn’t at all look happy, and was glaring almost at everyone that gaze him smiles.

“This class is not something to gossip in,” their professor spoke loudly, keeping everyone quiet still. “I will not take lightly to tardiness, late homework or people who spread rumors or squabbles about my class.”

His eyes expanded across the huddling group before they seemed to rest almost knowingly on Ray before slowly moving away from the surprised Chinese boy and moving back down the rows where they stopped on a blonde girl – who blushed mad – and then made their way back across the front row.

“You have probably already gained homework from your other professors, and this class will be no different. My assignments are hard and take a lot of concentration and great dedication,” he said, almost like he was reciting it. “If you do not feel you can live up to my standards and work well... leave now.”

He indicated the door at the back and everyone looked around nervously for a moment. Ray noticed one of the boys who had been swapping rumors began to fidget in his seat, looking rather flushed and afraid as the professor glared more darkly on them.

“Know this,” he hissed darkly as he watched some of the more nervous people. “If you do leave my class... don’t think your getting back in.”

Everyone looked around yet again and someone also coughed. After a long silence that seemed to stretch for hours, their professor moved in behind his desk and pulled out a check board and walked up tot he first row, looking at the long line of students before him. The boy next to him, a short blue haired male with large eyes, huddled away from the leering professor and swallowed hard.

“Just so you all know,” he said, before he started checking his list. “My name is professor Hiwatari... and I demand the utmost respect or you will receive none in return. Name?”

“A-Arthur... Arthur Avery,” the boy stuttered.

Kai nodded and checked him off.

They moved quickly through the list, Ray noted, seeing as everyone was so afraid of their new professor now they didn’t want to get on his bad side, and he seemed quite calm about it. Finally, after much time, he stopped at Ray and waited; not caring to say ‘name’ since everyone knew what to do by now.

“Ray Kon,” he said easily.

“Kon,” professor Hiwatari muttered, looking down at him. “Have we met?”

‘Unfortunately,’ Ray thought, before actually speaking. “Yes, this morning professor.”

Kai seemed to wonder for a moment, staring at Ray and digging in the back of his mind before suddenly finding realization and smirking brightly.

“Yes, I remember,” he said, before his voice became quiet and dark. “You were the one who I happened to kick out.”

“Yes, I am, professor,” Ray muttered.

Kai turned, almost uncaring on the gloating Ray and walked back down the stairs. Try as he might, Ray was unable to not watch as his professors derriere swayed almost hypnotically as he watched him walk away. He swore he started drooling, but shook himself from his stupor in time to hear the beginning of the lesson.

By the time the bell rang he was so caught up in his work he almost didn’t hear everyone shuffling away. He looked up, seeing that almost every person in the room was packed up and quickly stuffed his books into his bag and plopped it onto his shoulder with a heavy heave. He heard Kai’s briefcase click shut and looked down to see the professor replacing his jacket again and straightening it on his arms casually.

‘He really is very good-looking,’ Ray thought as he watched the professor.

Kai seemed oblivious to his presence and leaned over the desk, grabbing a few more papers from with and tapping them softly on the desk before sitting down the swivel chair and sighing almost tiredly. He rubbed his eyes before the feeling of someone in the room made his head shoot up and he noticed Ray almost instantly.

“Lunch is only an hour, you know,” Kai said casually. “You better eat before you return to class for the second half of the lesson.”

“Professor,” Ray said, walking down the stairs toward him rather than up and to the lunch room. “I was hoping to speak with you.”

“I have time,” Kai sighed, resting against the chair. “Yes, what is it?”

Ray seemed to shuffle from one foot to the next nervously, unable to decide what to say. He bit his bottom lip and twisted the white binding in his hair within his rough hands. With a quick, slow breath, he finally gathered as much nerve as he could.

“I was wondering why you kicked me out of class this morning?” he asked, almost to quickly for his liking.

Kai seemed to contemplate this a moment. Ray looked at him with unease and shuffled on his feet again, before turning away, thinking he would not get an answer.

“You ask me why I kicked you out,” Kai repeated, making Ray turn. “And I ask why were you late in the first place?”

“You see...” Ray said, almost crying with relief that he was finally able to explain. “I got to bed late last night since I kept waking up to my roommates coming in during the late hours.”

“Really,” Kai said, almost uninterested. “But what does that have to do with you being late?”

Ray was taken aback by this question. “Well... you see... sir... it was...”

“Mr Kon,” Kai said firmly. “You walked into my class unannounced and expect me to just allow you access.”

“Well...”

“I kicked you out for your lack of respect and judgement,” Kai stated. “You didn’t think before you decided to act... horrible judgement for someone to make when entering unfamiliar, or even familiar, territory.”

“I...”

“You show little knowledge of what it is meant to become a good Law Enforcer,” Kai said, keeping his tone as regular and calm as ever.

“So I can’t return,” Ray finally whispered, a little distraught by his lack of ability.

“You wish to return to my class,” Kai said with ease. “You have already missed a full lesson that will put you far behind the others – if I was to let you return.”

“You mean...”

“I did not say I would allow you,” Kai said, raising a hand in silence.

“Oh... well... I guess I tried,” Ray said with a light laugh, though filled with nothing but failure and sadness.

“You really wish to return that bad,” Kai said, keeping his voice low.

Ray looked up hopefully.

“You will be unable to catch up unless you have a lesson before Monday,” Kai retorted. “But as your teacher that is my responsibility.”

“So... so you’ll let me back in,” Ray gasped, happiness bursting through him.

“I may... if you can catch up in time,” Kai said calmly. “When do you have a free period this weekend?”

“I have one Thursday at two o’clock for an hour,” Ray said, almost jumping for joy.

“Well... an hour wont do us much good,” Kai said, humming softly. “I will only be able to teach you half the lesson.”

“I can wake up early on Thursday and we can do a morning...”

“You have shown me your capabilities for waking up early, Mr Kon,” Kai said firmly. “And so far that has not been great.”

“But I can... I promise,” Ray blurted out.

Kai looked at him with calculating eyes before nodding.

“Alright,” he said, standing up. “Thursday at five a.m. sharp and at two p.m.”

“Thank you so much professor Hiwatari,” Ray gasped.

“Go to lunch,” Kai said flatly. “I need you well for my next lesson.”

With that, Kai turned and walked to the door in the back of the room labeled ‘staff only’ and walked through it without a second fleeting glance. Ray bit down on his knuckles to keep quiet, making sure the professor was gone before bursting with joy, jumping up happily and crying out his glory as he bounded up the stairs and out of the lecture theatre to lunch.

He definitely had news for Max and Tyson... not to mention one very nasty punch for the stormy eyed male when he saw him.

**~**~**~**~**~**

A/N: Long... very long... over 19 pages long. I am so tired right now I am posting this and then flopping into bed and sleeping. Hope you all enjoy and review. Without reviews I will not feel the urge to update, so send me lots. About more confusing parts that people might not understand, do not fear, I will be explaining them as the fic progress and understanding will come later.