The Trials Of Love And Life

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

Summary: Review to chapter 1.

Writing Style: Review to chapter 1.

A/N: My wrists and hands are hurting so much right now. But I promised updates and I’m going to update no matter what. Hope you all enjoyed the last chapter and enjoy this one just as much. Another Kai/Ray interaction scene... but this one goes a little too far.

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Chapter 4.


Two hours...

Ray groaned. He only had two hours before his second lesson with Professor Hiwatari and his body was already sore from what he had learned in the morning. He sat in the cafeteria, stirring his food aimlessly around his plate, Tyson and Claud sitting opposite him, Hilary on his right side. He sighed and rolled his fork in his mashed potatoes, his eyes drooping.

“You look like hell,” Claud said, rolling his can of Cola in his wrist. “How was your first lesson with Professor Hiwatari.”

“Enlightening, scary, painful,” Ray mumbled.

“Scary?” Hilary said quickly, turning to look at him. “How was it scary?”

“Never mind,” Ray muttered, picking up his fork to look at the fluffy potatoes before plopping it back down onto his plate. “It doesn’t matter anyways.”

“Professor Hiwatari is such a dream boat,” Hilary mused, staring off into space. “Perfect body, perfect face, perfect lips...”

Ray listened to her, agreeing with everything silently in his head all the while trying not to at the same time. He felt his back tingle again from where he felt the professors knee pressing against him. He shuddered at the memorable feeling. It was only a training technique yet it felt so much more intimate then that.

His mind slowly wavered, drifting back to the night in his room. He blushed at the memory. Yea, he had pleasured himself before; it was natural. But, one thing really crawled under his skin and made his heart flutter and his pulse quicken. The fact he had actually fantasized about his professor doing that (and making it feel almost as real as it seemed) made him pant from just the memory. It was so intimate and passionate he was trembling afterward, his mind lingering on those pools of dark crimson orbs streaked so mysteriously with grey.

“... Ray...”

His face flushed pink, a blush creasing his nose and he lowered his head, thinking back on that night again and again. He was suddenly aware of his arousal and blushed deeper, placing his hands over his lap to cover any bulge or evidence that Hilary – hell, even Tyson or Claud – might see.

“... Ray...”

‘Who’s calling me?’ he wondered, staring at his potatoes.

“RAY!”

His head jerked up and he gasped, falling back from the bench and landing heavily on the floor. He grunted at the painful contact, his head cracking against the linoleum floor as the world swirled before him. He felt dizzying pain rush through him and placed his head back on the ground, suddenly aware of how tired he was.

“Ray...”

“Are you okay?”

“Wake up buddy.”

“Ray, open your eyes...”

The voices... were slwoly moving away. He his eyes fluttered, the blurriness increasing and the dizziness only getting worse. He felt a headache coming on and groaned at the pain, his temples thumping with the voices around him and the rustle of chairs and feet. Someone lifted him into their arms, but he didn’t know who, nor did he care. He rolled his head onto the person arm and smiled...

‘Sleep... sleep is good....’

“Hilary, find the Headmaster,” Tyson said briskly. “Me and Claud are taking Ray tot he First Aid Ward.”

The three split, Hilary darting through the far right doors in the cafeteria, Tyson and Claud taking the nearest door on the left. They pelted up the stairs to the main hallway, moving through students and around teachers. Claud looked down at Ray, his head rolling along his arm. He frowned, turning another corridor and seeing the sign.

“Open the door, Tyson,” Claud said.

His boyfriend didn’t argue. He pulled open the door and Claud raced in. The nurses station was empty, a sign saying ‘Out To Lunch’ hanging on her desk. Claud gaped madly at it, almost shocked she was aloud to leave at such crucial times when anyone could have come in at this moment.

“I don’t believe it,” Tyson yelled, gripping his hair. “Ray’s hurt and we can’t do shit about it.”

“Calm down, love,” Claud whispered. “Maybe there’s someone on duty. A trainee, or something.”

“Hello?” Tyson yelled, looking around the booth. “Is anyone here?”

No answer.

“Our friend is hurt... we need help...”

Again, no answer.

“HELLOOOOOO....”

Still, no answer.

Tyson rang the bell on the desk a few times, glaring down at the doorways leading off into separate rooms for sick, injured or fatigued students. He turned his head to the right and looked across tot he Staff room, seeing the door closed and a sign saying ‘Empty.’

“What do we do now?” Tyson asked in a whisper.

Claud had placed Ray on the waiting room bench, and stood next to his boyfriend. He leaned over the counter and looked over the booth, hoping to see someone who wasn’t doing their job. With a dark scowl, he looked back at his boyfriend and sighed, shaking his head and shrugging. Tyson lowered his head and looked back at Ray.

“Wow, buddy, don’t close your eyes,” Tyson gasped, falling to his knees beside the neko-jin. “Come on, look at me Ray.”

“Tyson,” Ray mumbled, though he did not open his eyes.

“Come on, Ray,” Tyson said a little louder. “Open your eyes.”

“... I’m taking you in here, Tala,” someone said beyond the door, his voice angry, “whether you want me to or not.”

“Kai... wait... please,” Professor Ivanov’s voice rang, desperate almost. “I’m fine now, honestly, you don’t have to do anything.”

The door swung open quickly, revealing the two professors. Kai held Tala’s wrist tightly, the redheaded males had his legs dug into the ground, trying to stop the other. They looked down at the three boys; Tyson and Claud stared back. Tala, seeing the three boys, immediately straightened up to look more professional.

“What are you three–”

Kai stopped mid-sentence, his eyes straying to the unconscious neko on the bench. He released Tala’s wrist and walked forward briskly, Tyson moving to the side as he watched the professor kneel down and hovered his fingers over Ray’s partially opened mouth.

“How long has he been like this?” Kai asked the two students.

“Umm... well...”

“About ten minutes, sir,” Claud said.

“His breathing is bad,” Kai said, mor to himself. “Tala, we need iodine.”

The redheaded professor nodded and jumped in behind the nurses desk, opening up desk drawers and the cabinet behind it. He reached inside, fumbling through many different bottle, reading their labels as Kai placed a hand over Ray’s carotid artery and felt his pulse. Tyson and Claud watched as he frowned, his brows crinkling.

“What’s wrong with him,” Tyson blurted, staring at the slate-haired professor.

“His pulse has dropped,” Kai said, low and calm. “What happened to him?”

“Oh... um,” Tyson mumbled.

“He was zoning out in the cafeteria so we were trying to call him, but he wouldn’t answer. Finally, Tyson yelled his name and it startled him,” Claud explained, Professor Hiwatari turning to watch Tala. “He fell off the bench he was sitting on and hit his head pretty hard with the ground.”

“Concussion?” Tala asked from within the drawer.

“Probably,” answered Kai, turning back to Ray. “He may also have a mild brain lapse.”

“Those are rare you know,” Tala said, pulling out another bottle before shaking his head and placing it back in the drawer. “He doesn’t seem to be showing any of the symptoms for a brain lapse either.”

“No outward signs, no,” Kai agreed, then added, “but his pulse is dropping, and that is a fair indication.”

“We should move him to one of the rooms,” Tala said, finally turning around.

“No time,” Kai interjected.

He took the offered bottle and slid an arm under Ray’s head, tipping it back slowly. He uncapped the small bottle of Iodine and moved it under Ray’s nose slowly, far enough so not to cause harm. He watched calmly as the neko-jin’s brows scrunched and he moaned, turning away from the small.

“He’s coming too,” Tyson sighed, leaning on Claud. “Thank God.”

Kai tilted Ray’s head up a little farther, handing the cap to Tala and did the same procedure, making the young male breath in the horrid smell. He watched him groan again, eyes scrunching together and slowly flutter open. With ease, Kai laid Ray back down on the bench while handing Tala the bottle of iodine.

“Good to see your coming around,” Taal said while capping the bottle. “How do you feel?”

Ray looked around groggily, his eyes still blurry and the pungent odor he had been smelling still wafting in his head. He felt pain shooting up the back of his skull and a heavy pounding in his temples. He was no longer in the cafeteria, that was for sure, but there were more people around than before.

“W-what happened?” he groaned, placing a hand over one stinging eye.

“You fell off the bench and cracked your head on the ground,” Tyson explained shyly. “I was trying to call you... it seems I’m always the one getting you hurt.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Ray mumbled, rubbing his forehead. “I wasn’t total into it today–”

He suddenly froze, his eyes wide as he stared into the face of his professor leaning down close to him. He felt the rapid increase of his pulse and the thundering in his heart. His throat immediately parched and he tried to swallow, but he felt cotton mouthed. He tried to look away, but he saw concern and worry in those mysterious depths and was unable to turn away.

“P-Professor,” he stuttered out in a whisper.

“Good to see your still with us,” Kai said languidly.

Ray blushed at their close proximity and nodded his head, having suddenly noted that his voice was to shy to speak tot he professors more haughty and smooth tone. Kai stood, much to Ray’s relief and disappointment, and turned to the redhead behind him, giving him a hard stare.

“Now, where were we,” he said sardonically, as if no one else was in the room. “Oh, that’s right... I was forcing you in here to see the nurse.”

“Really, Kai,” Tala snapped, also forgetting the others were staring at them. “I’m fine, it was nothing. Stop acting like you have to protect you.”

“So you can do such a stunt again,” Kai snapped, losing his patience quickly. “If I hadn’t shown up when I did do you know what you would have done.”

His voice had risen several notches, and was now breeching dangerous.

“Yea, I do... and I don’t give a damn,” Tala hissed. “This whole mess would be over with, at least.”

“No, Tala, it wouldn’t,” Kai growled. “They would pin the blame on me then and I would be the one to rot in prison...”

Both froze, suddenly remembering the students kneeling behind them. Kai turned, Tala turning his head down with the blush as he caught Claud and Tyson’s startled gazes. Kai shifted over to Ray, who was watching amiably, though he could see the confusion and slight worry through which their conversation had lead.

It was Tyson who broke the silence.

“Professor Ivanov... you were sued,” he whispered.

Tala let a hard gaze stray to the student. “Yes.”

“Why?” Claud said, standing up. “You’re one of the best teachers at this school. Who would have such nerve as to take you to court?”

“As flattering as your words are, Claud,” Tala said conversationally, “it is to say that this is none of your business. I’m sorry if I sound rude, but it is true.”

“Yes, sir, I understand,” Claud said, though everyone could see the shock still within him.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have a class to teach in twenty minutes,” Tala said, though he was staring at Kai when he said it.

With a sigh, and a dark glare, Kai stepped out of Tala’s way and let the redhead pass. He felt a soft touch to his arm, but paid it no attention. Once the door was again closed, he dug a hand through his silver bangs, letting out a frustrated sigh, looking up at the incandescent lights overhead.

“Professor, what’s going on?” Claud asked, looking at Kai with wondering eyes. “Who’d do such a thing?”

“That is not my position to say, and it is neither yours to ask, Claud,” Kai said blankly, staring at the far wall. “But, if you wish to show your support for our dear Professor Ivanov, I suggest you show up at his trials.”

“I’ll be their, sir,” Claud reassured, nodding his head. “No way is this school losing a great teacher like him.”

“You’re very kind,” Kai said nonchalantly. “Mr Kon... we have a lesson in half an hour. I suggest you get straightened up and ready before two comes around.”

With that said, Kai turned from the room and left, leaving the other three to themselves. They looked around, their eyes questioning. Tyson looked at Ray and crawled over to him, pressing a hand to the neko-jin’s forehead and frowning.

“You’re still rather warm,” he said. “Maybe you should ask to reschedule your lesson.”

“I can’t or I’m not getting back into class,” Ray groaned, sitting up. “God, my head is pounding.”

“You hit pretty hard, “ Claud sighed, kneeling beside his lover. “Listen, Ty, I have class in ten minutes. I’ll pick you up after class again.”

“Alright,” Tyson mumbled, staring at the ground sadly.

“Don’t worry, babe,” Claud whispered, kissing the stormy eyes males forehead. “I’ll take you out for dinner, how’s that, just the two of us.”

“Okay, thank’s love,” Tyson whispered, giving Claud a short kiss before he got up and left.

“What’s up with you two?” Ray asked.

“It’s nothing,” Tyson muttered, staring at Ray blankly. “We just barely have time for each other any more, that’s all.”

“Don’t worry, Tyson,” Ray assured, placing a hand over his friends and squeezing it. “You two are meant to be together, you’ll get through this.”

“Thank’s Ray,” Tyson sighed, helping his friend off the bench. “Come on, let’s get you back to the dorm.”

*~*~*

Max looked up when the door opened, his bowl of lumpy porridge forgotten. He was feeling sick just looking at it and was happy to be able to have a reason to look away. He wasn’t surprised to see Tyson and Ray walk through the door, but he was surprised to see Tyson Helping Ray through the door.

“What happened?” He asked, standing up shakily.

“I accidentally knocked him out,” Tyson said feebly, a blush on his face. “Again, sorry bud.”

“Again,” Max gasped. “Tyson, that’s twice now in less than a week.”

“I know, I know,” Tyson whined. “I was only trying to get his attention.”

“So you hit him,” sighed Max.

“No, guys, it’s okay,” Ray said, his head still throbbing. “I was zoning out at lunch and Tyson yelled my name and it startled me. I fell out of my seat, nothing else.”

“Are you sure your okay?” Max asked.

“Fine, how about you?” Ray asked.

“Better. I can actually get up and out of bed and walk,” he said, smiling.

“Knowing what you did yesterday, it’s no wonder,” Tyson said in a low voice.

Max blushed.

Ray just laughed.

“Thank’s for the help, Tyson,” Ray said patting the others shoulder. “You should get to class. I need to get ready for my lesson with Professor Hiwatari.”

“Sure bud, not problem,” he said. “Later’s Max, say ‘hi’ to Miguel for me.”

“I will,” Max said waving.

The door closed and Ray gaze Max a smile, walking wobbly to his room. The blonde went back to staring at his porridge, sighing deeply and spooning it gently with a disgusted look. Ray closed his bedroom door, sighing and flopping onto the floor, his head resting back on the wooden panel.

‘Why can’t I stop thinking about him,’ he wondered, images of Kai’s face zooming across his mind.

After fifteen minutes, Ray was running down the stairs of the dorm buildings and out into the sunshine, across the long slender lawn in which many students now inhabited, laughing and moving from crowd to crowd with their friends, into the Defenses and Proceedings building and down the stairs to the training room.

He reached out to grab the handle, but it pulled open before he could reach it and Kai appeared before him, his hair matted to his face, sweat glistening on his tight muscled chest, his eyes glazed with weariness. He looked so amazing, the flushed hue of pink across the bridge of his nose standing out against his tanned skin tone.

“U-u-um,” Ray stuttered. “Am... am I late?”

“No, I was doing some of my own training,” Kai said, picking up the towel around his shoulders and dabbing his forehead. “Were going to be outside for this lesson.”

Kai closed the door and walked passed Ray, his hips swaying in the low rise of his sweats, his hair glistening with small droplets of sweat. Ray followed, mouth slightly agape, face red with embarrassment and shock. He smiled inwardly to himself at the sight of his professor, unable to stop staring like a horny school girl. It took him all his known will to realize Kai had started talking to him.

“Now, for this lesson, we will be enacting a situation in which an officer; such as yourself, gets pulled into a situation of defense against his attack. I want you to use the moves I taught you in your last lesson.”

“Moves? Sir, I believe you only taught me one move,” Ray said, shocked to think he would already have to use the reverse spin location move.

“On the contrary, I did teach you two, in fact,” Kai said, smirking with a sideways glance.

“You did...” Ray said stupidly.

“The leg wrap,” Kai said, stopping and turning around to face Ray. “You may have not tried it yourself, but it was taught.”

“Oh, right,” Ray muttered.

‘Come on,” Kai said.

They walked out onto the lawn, many girls giggling as they passed Ray and Kai, staring at the professor with deep blushed on their face. Ray wasn’t surprised to see his professor pay no attention to the ogling crowd, seeing as he wasn’t much to care for ogling. He walked close behind, head down, as they moved away from the school, over and hill, down towards a deep pond and farther still.

“Umm, professor,” Ray said, looking around at their surroundings. “Where are we going?”

“There is a much quieter place I go whenever I train outside,” Kai said, pointing to a lone hill. “Just over that bend and well be there.”

“How far are we from the school?” Ray said, looking back but saw nothing.

“Don’t worry, were not far.”

Ray nodded and turned back around, stopping when he noticed the wide open field, long slender trees, green supple grass and the perfect vision before him. Small hedges and bushes lined the ground, dotting the beautiful valley. The trees provided enough shade in small areas for relaxation and there was no one here but the birds and small butterflies that fluttered around aimlessly.

“Alright,” Kai said in a commanding tone. “I, of course, will be the attacker. You must get me down and immobilized within half an hour, understand?”

“Uh, yea, sure,” Ray said, though he was far from sure.

Kai nodded and walked forward, Ray took a step back as he watched the calm expression flicker to one of pure danger and insanity. He gasped, tripping over his own feet and fell, only to be caught by the wrist. He looked up into Kai’s dark eyes, the hand gripping his wrist tightening. He bit his lip and swung his other arm up, but it was caught.

Together they fell to the ground, Kai pinning him under his weight, forcing both hands over the Neko’s head and crushing his legs together. Ray yelped, pain running up his shoulders to his hands. He writhed, but it got him no where. He opened his eyes, glaring up at the smirking professor.

‘Oh this bastard is asking for it,’ Ray thought angrily.

He twisted his wrists, trying to force them from the single-handed grip, but it was of no use. He turned his head and looked at Kai’s arm, seeing how close it was. He smirked and leaned over, his teeth sinking deep into Kai’s wrist. He heard his professor cry out in surprise and the hand loosen their hold.

He slipped one hand away, forcing Kai’s right shoulder up and took his professor off balance. His legs freed, Ray reached one up and kneed Kai in the crotch, watching as he hissed in pain and fell to the side, his grip completely lost. Ray rolled over, Grabbing Kai’s arm and holding them out to the side, pinning down his legs and smirked.

“For a teacher... your not very... good.. Are you?” Ray panted, smirking.

Something in Kai snapped, and his eyes went darker still. He stopped struggling and stared up at Ray with the blankest of stare. Ray shuddered, watching as the darkness deepened. He felt like he was drowning, the thickness of heat surrounding him like heavy fire. His eyes widened as something flashed across his mind, flames; hot and cold. Flame licked at his feet...

(Flashback)

Ray turned... where was he?

Someone was running, someone was around him. He turned again, the world blurring as he spun. He stopped, his face burning in the immense heat. The fire slithered around him, right at his feet, like boiling snakes. The wood and walls around him hissed and snapped, cracking and breaking. He jumped back, something burning across his cheek.

“Come on...”

‘Who was that?’ Ra wondered.

He turned again, the world blurring a second time, and stopped. Before him, was a much younger looked Kai. His face and lines were darker and younger, his eyes less sharper. He ran across the heated ground, jumping over a flaming board and into another room. Gun fire sounded off and he reappeared, running in the opposite direction.

Blood was trailing down his arm, a smear across his cheek. He flopped onto the ground, eyes squinting in pain. He bit his lip, eyes closing as he fell tot he ground, crimson eyes fluttered. He was staring up at a flaming ceiling, the dark lines of head radiating down on him. Ray tried to call out, but his voice was gone... he couldn’t

Something cracked overhead, and both looked up. With a gasp, Ray covered his head as the long thick board came down on him... but it didn’t strike. He looked down, noticing it had gone straight through him. He cried out in shock, jumping back and looking up again. Kai had his eyes covered and was screaming hoarsely, blood was trickling from under his fingers.

‘Oh no...’

Ray looked around... the building was going to collapse on them. The voices were all around them, screaming something incoherent. Ray looked around, but saw nothing. He saw Kai remove his hands from his eyes and gasped, stumbling backward and sliding down the long wall of the burning building. Kai’s eyes were... bleeding.

“Kai... where are you?”

Another voice... closer this time. Who was it?

The voice was getting closer and closer. Moving toward them. A person appeared, her long silver bangs and blue hair flowing behind her. She looked around fanatically, her black leather clothes scorched and burned, torn everywhere and anywhere. She looked older than Kai, yet exactly the same.

“Kai.”

Her voice was soft. She pulled the man toward her, his face turned into a dark scowl.

They got away,” he hissed.

“Kai, we need to get out of here,” she said quickly. “Come on.”

“No, I failed,” Kai yelled, pulling his arm away. “You go.”

“Kai Hiwatari, I order you to follow me,” she snapped. “As your commander and your sister, I tell you too.”

Ray gasped. ‘His sister?’

He has gotten up, his face streaked with sweat. He walked toward her. They forced their way through the burning wreckage and out into the hallway... or at least, Kai did. The roof cracked and moaned, and before anyone could do something, it collapsed.

Blood splashed everywhere as Kai’s frantic face and scream was consumed by fire, a tangle of long blue and silver hair bloodied on the ground...

(End Flashback)

Ray gasped, shaking out of his envisionment and looking up into the stone face of his Professor. His heart leapt at the cold darkness that was being swirled within the others eyes. He tried to move, but found himself pinned beneath the larger man. His heart sank as he saw the darkness swirl again, consuming his teacher.

“Professor,” he whispered, frightened.

Kai seemed to shake form his daze, staring down with shock at Ray. His breath was ragged and his eyes burned darkly with rage. He was gripping tighter onto neko-jin. He breathe din heavily, eyes like ice as he took in his students frightened face.

“Professor,” Ray repeated, more softly. “Can you move please... your scaring me.”

Kai almost leapt up from the other, backing away shakily, his breath ragged and uneven. He turned away and stumbled, placing a hand on a close tree for support. Cold sweat was running heavily down his face as he heard Ray get up in a scramble and felt a hand touch his shoulder lightly.

“Lessons over,” Kai said, panting softly. “GO back to the school.”

Ray didn’t need telling twice. He let go of his Professors shoulder, turned quickly and dashed from the valley, not daring to look back. Kai heard Ray’s frantic feet and slumped to the ground, burying his head into his hands and letting out a quivering breath, his eyes wide with sudden shock. He had lost control... just like ten years ago... he had lost control.

His mind raced across the memory he had had and knew, just by his students eyes, that he had seen it too.

“Mavra,” he whispered, leaning back to look up at the bright sun. “I’m sorry.”

*~*~*

A/N: I didn’t feel like making this chapter very long since I’ve been sick for the past week and have been unable to write. I’m still trying to get over my fever that has now died to a simple cold, but I hope it doesn’t take as long to update the next chapter as it had to update this one. Again, sorry for the late chapter, and remember to review.