Part Two.

Max lays his head on his arms, staring at the back of Kai's head. They'd been given kitchen-duty because Takao had, the second breakfast was throroughly shoved down his throat, snuck out with the Chief to try and catch the last bus into town, thoroughly destroying any ideas of training. Max is only a little hurt that they left without him, but he didn't really want to watch Takao oogle over a bunch of Chinese women all afternoon anyway.

That, and he's pretty sure Kai needs someone to talk to.

"I've been watching you do this to yourself ever since the first World Tournament. I'm a very patient person, Kai, you know that, but I'm getting tired of watching you lie about how you feel." He blows some of his hair away from his face. "And if I'm getting tired of it, you must be just about ready to jump off the back deck." The blond smiles at him, even though the Russian isn't looking. "Just tell him. Lying is never the way to go, man."

"There's nothing to tell." Kai's fingers fumble with a wet, soapy glass. "I'm not lying."

"Uh huh." Max looks up at the light hanging over the kitchen table. He's glad he has Kai to bother, or he'd be up in his room, studying for his entrance exams and feeling more like shit than he already does.

"I really couldn't care less about what you think," Kai says and accidentally drops the glass into the sink, a loud plop spraying water into his eyes.

Max smiles at the ceiling. "Sure."

Sighing, annoyed at himself for being this weak and pathetic and transparent, Kai wipes water off his face, careful not to smudge his triangles. He pulls the plug out of the sink, dries his hands on the towel hanging over the edge of the counter, and leans on it, facing Max.

"Max, I..." He can't believe he's doing this. "I just got used to being friends with all of you."

"Yeah, like four years ago."

Kai closes his eyes, trying to relax. He reminds himself that this is Max, the same Max that's been around for five years, that it's okay to drop his walls. But he just can't, not when it comes to Rei.

"I don't like him."

Max rolls his bright blue eyes. "Whatever, Captain."

Pissed off, but not worried, Mariah stares at her brother and future husband. She'd followed them here on the second run of the same bus they'd taken into town, and was just about to make herself known when Lee had asked, What was it you wanted to tell me yesterday? Then she proceeded to find out that not only does her future husband seem to think he likes men, but he thinks he likes the worst one out there! Poor Rei. Kai must have really done something terrible to confuse her little nekojin this much. She'd never liked the Russian, espially afdter he'd taken Galax from her, and this is just more proof of what an asshole he is.

But, she's not worried. Rei's just confused and Kai obviously doesn't like him anyway, or men at all. Hell, he doesn't even like people! He's just a stingy bastard who's bored and needs something to play with, and is picking on her poor little kitten for fun. Not that it matters, though, because Rei doesn't really like him, he just thinks he does. He'll probably try to tell Kai becuase he's brave like that. He will, however, get brutally rejected and finally realise that she's been the one for him all these years! So take that, Kai.

Her cell rings, and she picks it up.

"Mariah!" A voice that makes her see red instantly cries.

"Emily? What–"

The American seems to be out of breath. "No time. Big news!" She coughs a little. "You... you know Kai?"

"Yeah."

"He's gay!"

Mariah feels the blood leave her face.

"And you know who he likes?"

Biting her pink lip, Mariah asks, "Who?"

"Rei!" Emily shouts. She takes a deep breath afterwords, relaxing now that she's gotten it all out. "I figured you'd want to know since he's your boyfriend or something, right? Anyway, I over heard Max and Kai talking about it. Kai seemed really upset. Poor guy. He's got some real emotional problems still, huh? Don't tell anyone I told you, okay?"

Extra pissed off and now a little worried, Mariah glares at nothing in particular. "Where are you?"

"In a plain. Why?"

Her glare fades into a wicked grin.

"Perfect. I need your help."

All of these parts are short... :]

Review please~

Inso.