Revelations

Dear Mr Kon,

You are cordially invited to attend the BBA's World Championship reunion. It will be held at BBA headquarters in Beycity and be expected to be held over a period of 14 days.

Accommodation will be supplied. Please find attached a copy of the itinerary. Your presence would be greatly appreciated. I hope to see you there.

Regards

Mr Ian Dickenson

BBA Management

Golden eyes reread the letter again. Snarling softly at it the young man scrunched it up into a ball and threw it at the bin. He turned towards the mirror and studied his reflection.

Long black hair hung loosely around him, almost touching his ankles. Black pants and shoes were finished off by a long, white sleeveless tunic. It had splits at the side up to his waist and was secured with a red sash. Golden trim on the tunic helped emphasise his golden-brown skin. Black fingerless gloves and a red headband with the yin and yang symbol emblazoned upon it finished the ensemble. The sleeveless outfit highlighted his strong muscular arms but hid the lithe figure beneath.

Sighing, he reached for the brush on the nightstand. As he started to run the brush slowly through his hair he gazed at his reflection in the mirror, remembering the last conversation he had had with his best friend Lee just before he had left the village two days prior.

"What do you mean by my "responsibilities" to the clan?" he had snapped.

"Ray! Will you please calm down? I'm only trying to help!" Lee had said exasperation creeping into his voice. "You are just about to turn 21 and as you have still not found a mate, the elders think it would be best if you did go to the reunion."

"Why? What has the fact that I am unmated and about to turn 21 got to do with ANYTHING?" he snarled.

"Because you're a liability that they can't afford! I'm lucky in the fact that I found Miah not long after I turned 18. If I hadn't and had to wait until I after I had turned 21 to find a mate, I would have been thrown out of the village until I had found one. From what I understand at this age your sex drive is so high that your desire to couple with your chosen mate is amplified. Your scent will change which will mean any other neko-jin will be attracted to you as, and as you know that could result in you being forced to mate with someone you either don't want or don't love." Lee had replied.

"W-w-what?" he had stuttered.

"You heard me Ray." Lee had said gently. "I had hoped you would have mated with Mariah so we could be brothers in name. But it wasn't to be. The elders are only thinking of your safety."

Sighing to himself, he put the brush down and began the long process of wrapping his hair back up.

…bringgg, bringgg…

The shrill ring of the telephone interrupted his silent reverie. Fierce golden eyes glared at the phone, angry for the intrusion.

…bringgg, bringgg…

"KON, can you PLEASE pick UP the phone!" Kai, the former leader of the Bladebreakers appeared in the bathroom doorway towelling his hair.

"If you hadn't noticed I kind of have my hands full at the moment." Ray snapped back.

…bringgg, bringgg…

Scowling at Ray, Kai stomped forward and snatched the phone up.

"HELL-O." Kai said forcefully through clenched teeth.

"Is that anyway to greet an old friend Kai?" the gravelly voice of Lee the White Tigers team captain said laughingly.

"Kon. It's for you!" Kai snarled throwing the phone on Ray's bed as he stalked back into the bathroom.

Ray finished tying his hair and flipped it over his shoulder before walking over and picking up the phone.

"Hello?" Ray said sitting on the bed.

"Hey Ray. Just wanted to wish you a ... Happy Birthday." Lee said. "How are you holding up?

"Fine." Ray said curtly.

"Well. Thought I would let you know we fly out in an hour and will be there soon." Lee replied, blatantly ignoring the gruff reply.

"Who's coming?" Ray asked grumpily.

"Miah, Mariah and Kian. Kevin and Gary have to stay behind – Elders orders." Lee said.

'To keep them safe from me.' Ray thought bitterly.

"Sorry Ray. Go to go. Our plane has just been called for boarding." Lee said hurriedly. "We will see you soon."

"Yeah. Okay. 'Til then." Ray said hanging up the phone. Sighing the neko-jin lay back on the bed gazing at the ceiling, lost in thought. He didn't notice the crimson eyes studying him from the depths of the bathroom.

Kai watched Ray with a little bit of concern. The Chinese youth had been hovering between his normal friendly self and an angry, miserable person since he had arrived two days ago. The Russian knew that spring had always been a difficult time for Ray but his friend had never acted like this before. Sighing he walked back into the bathroom.

'Happy Birthday Ray – it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks.' Kai thought with amusement.

How's it going? I've decided to reread Revelations and upload updated versions of each chapter.

Could you please review? Pretty please?

Storm xox