12 The Elites

Since the bus ride was 30 min long, Slippy and Ray tried to figure out a way for Slippy to be able to talk to Ray without anyone else noticing. Otherwise, it would be one hell of an awkward bus ride.

'How about we use earbuds?'

"Earbuds. Oh, that wouldn't work unless we got another phone."

'But we do have a spare phone we could use.'

"Well, then it's settled."

The plan was to keep Ray's cell phone on a call with his spare phone. So that Slippy can talk to Ray without anyone hearing as long he has the earbuds on.

…

Getting on the bus, Ray paid for the bus fare and quickly sat down. He pulled out his earbuds and immediately connected them to his phone.

"BlueTooth connected."

Then he placed them back in his ears.

"Testing. Testing. Can you hear me, Ray?"

'Loud and clear. Maybe a little bit too loud. Let me turn down the volume a bit.'

The bus was about to close its doors and start. When a guy ran inside the bus earning the ire of the bus driver.

"Kids these days."

He mumbled under his breath.

Stepping behind him were three other guys.

Ray glanced at them.

They all wore black leather jackets paired with either black boots and shoes.

"Ray all four of them appear to be part of the Black Menace gang, but I don't think we ever met these guys before. Try your best to not catch their attention."

Ray in his haste to look sunk away from the gang members. Making him look suspicious and scared. This attracted the attention of one the boys causing him to look over, but just as quickly as he noticed him he turned his attention back at the other gang members as they all sat down at the back of the bus.

"Luckily they don't seem to care about us, but next time Ray please try to not act so nervous. It makes you look extra suspicious."

'Fine, I will try to next time.'

Out of the four gang members, each of them has a distinct look that was hard to forget.

The one that laughed at Ray was a blonde kid who had his leather jacket hanging open. Underneath his jacket was a white t-shirt with a cool black feather design in the middle and below he wore red shorts with black Null running shoes.

Sitting beside him was a guy with a white low fade cut. He had his jacket zipped up and had a pair of work boots on and long naval pants.

Across them was the guy who had stopped the whole bus just so they could get in. With deep brown tan skin and his head shaved. He also wore an open light grey hoodie underneath his leather jacket along with dark blue jeans and a pair of black Conserves.

The last guy was wearing nothing under his half-opened jacket beside a white sweatshirt. Below he wore loose black pants that made him look relaxed and uncaring. He looks a bit like Bruce Lee

'I wonder if everyone's genes match up to what they look like.'

To clarify things up. In the current era that Ray lived in. Racism is a thing of the past. Now it's the higher classes against the lower classes, the rich against the poor. The KKK, for example, has been long disbanded since two centuries ago.

Nowadays personal culture, values and ethnicity are overshadowed by personal wealth and skills.

"Hey Ray, I can actually perform a DNA test on them and see where they are from."

'Really?'

"No, I am playing with you. What am I? The DNA testing system?"

'...'

The 30 minutes on the bus passed quickly, but the gang members still haven't left.

"Ray, it's the next stop. Go press the button."

Ray reached out to pull the bus line. When he heard someone else pull it.

He looked around and saw that the gang member was the one pressing it.

'Crap.'

…

Ray got off the same stop as the gang members and quickly headed off to the shop.

'Hey Slippy. Are they following me or what?'

"I don't know Ray. We haven't ever seen these gang members before. There should be no one after you."

…

'Slippy I am scared.'

"Ray…. I am scared too."

5 minutes has passed and the gang members we're still following them.

'What the heck? Slippy why are they still following us?'

"I don't know Ray!"

The gang members were laughing and talking with each other the whole way there. Only the blonde teen paid Ray any attention.

He had a curious look on. Probably was wondering why this wimp was still in front of them.

"Hey Ray, try to lose them."

Hastening his steps.

Ray quickly lost sight of the gang members behind them.

'Great we lost them! Luckily they didn't seem interested in me.'

"Yeah, now that I look back only the blonde boy paid you any attention. Maybe it was just a coincidence that we met them."

'Maybe.'

After a few more minutes of walking, they had arrived at the store. On the glass storefront was the words 'Bushido Martial Arts' printed out in big bold yellow fonts.

'It appears we are here.'

"It appears we are here."

On the door entrance was the white typing of the store hour.

[Open from from 11am-6:30pm]

Ray pushed open the door and went in.

"Ring!"

An assortment of martial art gear was placed around the store.

"Whoa."

'So much… Swords and armour.'

Special shoes, gloves, swords, pads, mitts, and armours, are hanging from the wall. Wooden bokken and other weaponry were sorted within wooden crates.

It was a visually interesting scene which the likes of Ray has never come in contact with.

'This place is kinda intimating.'

"The faster you get the hand wraps the faster we can leave."

'Ok.'

His eyes flickering left and right as he strolled through the store asides.

'I don't see any hand wrap Slippy.'

"Just keep looking, Ray."

With a ring, the door opened again.

Looking over Ray was in disbelief.

The blonde boy from earlier walked in with the other gangsters.

"It's been a while since we last came here."

Said the white-haired boy who was squatting by the ground. He was staring at the wooden crates filled with wooden swords on the ground.

Meanwhile, the blonde boy was looking at Ray with a surprised look on his face.

The tanned boy was looking at some shoes lined up by the wall and the Bruce Lee lookalike was approaching the countertop.

"Hey you were on the bus with us weren't you?"

"Huh, me?"

Ray with a look of fright looked at the blonde boy.

"What a coincidence that you were headed here too. What did you come here for?"

'Slippy help me.'

"Just tell him you're looking for hand wraps for your boxing class."

'Um oh ok!'

"I am here to get hand wraps for my first boxing class!"

Ray stammered out.

The blonde boy smiled brightly.

"Boxing eh? I might just be able to help you with that."