a/n: hey guys like I promised here's the next chapter of the story. I promise Kai will make an appearance it's just previous stories I've read right off the bat they meet, and are instantly connected….i'd rather build that relationship up after another major relationship is already introduced. If you do not like it than you can exit this fanfiction right now.

Warning: this story is based on boyxboy relationships if you do not like it THEN YOU CAN LEAVE you are not obligated or under command to read this fanfic.

Chapter 2

"Ray's blog entries"

"music lyrics"

'Ray's thoughts'

Return of a Friend

March 24, 2012

The annual 'Parent's Night' is running smoothly within the walls of White Tiger Academy's banquet hall; students retouching with their parents, well except for one raven youth. Ray snuck through the crowd out the side door of the banquet hall, and rushed down the academy halls to reach the emergency exit glowing red at the end of the hall. 'Damn it's still bitter cold out, but at least the snow has stopped falling for a moment' Ray trekked through the snow, as he made his way across the school grounds to their indoor skating facility. (Now I believe around this time of the year in northern China its getting cold. So humor me)

A large gymnasium came into view; the glow from the street lamps cast a warm haze around the doors, as Ray made his way inside. He strolled down the "Hall of Honor", which held pictures of famous athletes that walked this very same hall; he walked around the lobby desk to grab a pair of skates and entered the skating zone. Walking inside the complex brought a feeling of hospitality within Ray; the ice was his home, and it just brought him a sense of peace remembering his mother's morning skating sessions that included him. No coaches. No grandmother from hell. No secrets. Just he and his mother, of course his father was there in his distant memory, but Ray could not let go of the feeling of betrayal when his father failed to "collect" him. Just thinking of you as an object to collect, instead of as a child seeking to be found after being lost is heart breaking. With the glaze look ever present in his eyes Ray strapped on his skates, set up the stereo, and stepped out on to the ice.

"Chuckle"

'It's funny...no matter how many times I step foot on the ice...I still manage to get choked up' Ray started in the center, held his right foot on the tip of the skate, and counted to the music before he took off. He was not aware of the pair of eyes that were watching him in that moment….

Back at the banquet hall the party was buzzing, students catching up with parents on the latest news, parents enjoying the free adult beverages, and instructors enjoying a night of relaxation. Just then a peculiar pair walked into the festivities, the older gentleman wore a brown slacks and coat with a bowler hat to match the style of his mustache, and the younger gentleman (looking to be 20 years of age) wore his slate hair in a low ponytail, and his attire included denim jeans with a blue vinyl jacket and a red shirt underneath. They scanned the room looking for a person of interest, but could not spot the youth in the room; the younger gentleman removed his red tinted glasses, and moved towards a young girl dawning hot pink hair.

"Mariah" spoke the slate hair man.

"Yes?" Mariah stood in a shock manner not believing who it was that greeted her. "Oh my gosh, Hiro!"

Mariah hugged Hiro with a bone crushing hug then took a moment to study the now strapping man that held her interest. "What are you doing here? Not saying it's not great to see you but what are you doing here?"

"I'm actually here looking for Ray…have you seen him?"

Mariah's face took on a sympathetic smile, and she glanced around the room, "you know how he gets when it comes to parents night Hiro, so I can't imagine him being here" she turned back to Hiro whose eyes took on a sad sight. "You might find him at the ice rink" Hiro nodded his head and walked back to the older gentleman. "I'm going to go find him; I think I have an idea as to where he is, in the mean time try to enjoy yourself…maybe you'll find other prospective talent while you mingle" The older gentlemen removed his hat with a smile, "Oh I'll most certainly enjoy myself you just let me know when you're ready to introduce me to your friend. I can't wait to see if what you have told me is true" he paused looking forlorn over his next few words "although if his drive is everything that you have told me to be true I can't help but to bear a heavy heart of sympathy towards him." Hiro smiled reassuringly and spoke with assurance "Don't show any signs of sympathy Mr. Dickenson; let him show you that his past pushes him forward, not hinder him in any way", and with that said Hiro pushed past the crowd toward the exit.

As he watched Hiro blend in to the sea of parents and students a like Mr. Dickenson's eyes held a shimmer of happiness. 'My boy could this be the 'other little brother' you've spoke of so fondly?' his thoughts were interrupted by a student carrying refreshments.

"Excuse me, sir, would you care for something to drink?" asked the young student.

Mr. Dickenson smiled with glee over the free offer and exclaimed "Oh yes I would!"

"I wait for the postman to bring me a letter
I wait for the good Lord to make me feel better"

Ray circles the rink once twice, bring forth his left leg shimming down the side of the rink sinking towards the center; wrapping his arms around his shoulder then bring them high above his head.

"And I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders
A family in crisis that only grows older"

He begins picking up speed, his face full of raw anger and frustration he then leaps up in to the air…..

Why'd you have to go
Why'd you have to go
Why'd you have to go

He spins 3 times to land in a kneeling position, and just like his father his agility and speed kicked in.

"Daughter to father, daughter to father
I am broken but I am hoping"

He leaped again with his legs and arms stretched out like a human star, shimming again but in more jagged and rushed lines across the ice.

"Daughter to father, daughter to father
I am crying, a part of me is dying and
These are, these are
The confessions of a broken heart"

He crossed the ice twirling in the center of the rink, reaching out an arm towards an unseen audience while clutching at his chest….feeling the faint scar that resided there…his secret that no one not even Hiro knew about.

"And I wear all your old clothes, your polo sweater
I dream of another you
The one who would never (never)
Leave me alone to pick up the pieces
A daddy to hold me, that's what I needed"

Ray clutched his shoulders, just standing in the glow of the spot lights casting stars on the rink amongst the shadows. His secret...the pain that his supposed family put him through...how he tried to end it the day before Hiro intervened in his affairs.

"So why'd you have to go
Why'd you have to go
Why'd you have to go!"

The pain of rejection the pain of loss not knowing what was going to happen not knowing if you were going to lose another parent; now Ray wished his father was dead. Yes that's horrible to think, but it would be so much easier to miss a dead parent than a parent who does not know of your existence.

No one knew that he tried to erase his own existence out of this world, but of course he wanted to leave a calling card for his own father. Something that would capture the attention of news media, and it would spread like wild fire until his fathers' eyes were fixed on an image of a boy (who could be his miniature version of himself) lifeless on the bathroom floor with his name written in blood smeared on the vanity mirror. He could have done it, just kept cutting

And cutting,

And cutting,

And cutting.

However, he caught his eyes in his reflection and took in his image, he saw the last person he would ever want to hurt in his life. He was in that moment with his hair down, and tears running down his face the spitting image of his mother. In that instance he saw his mother crying for him, he knew that if his mother was watching him her heart would be breaking, and he never wanted to be the reason his mother cried. He never wanted to be the reason for his mothers' pain; he immediately stopped what he was doing and all thoughts of erasing himself from this world ceased, never to re-enter his mind.

Ray began a figure eight gaining speed, his face showing raw emotion of heartache, his arms high above his head clawing out to the ceiling. He attempted a to skate in a lunge position while arching his back from one end of the rink to the next.

"Daughter to father, daughter to father
I don't know you, but I still want to
Daughter to father, daughter to father
Tell me the truth, did you ever love me
Cause these are, these are
The confessions of a broken heart"

Ray finished with a last spin carrying his arms over his head as he lulled to a slow pace...

Ohhh...yeah

I wait for the postman to bring me a letter..

Ray's breath came in a rush, failing to notice he had been holding his breath, his body felt heavy and began to sway. 'Damn…that time I felt it…it still stings' breath 'That's a sign that I'm still alive, but I feel sleepy….really sleepy…' Ray's feet crippled under him when his body gave in to emotional exhaustion, and a voice echoed through the walls, "Ray!"

Hiro rushed out on the ice, slipping a few times with the lack of skates, and lifted Ray's head to find no external damage that required medical attention. "Ray can you hear me? Are you okay?"

"He's exhausted" spoke the stranger from the stands.

Hiro looked up to see a dual hair youth walking towards the pair with wide eyes he asked, "Wha-what Kai? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Moscow recruiting". Kai kneeled down to remove Ray's skates, "he needs to get off the ice take him to the locker room until he wakes up" Kai's eyes lingered on his face, noting the peaceful slumber that was apparent on the skaters' face "he's emotionally exhausted….he'll need you when he wakes up". Kai walked away from the pair with Ray's skates in hand; Hiro stood up with the teen in his arms and quickly walked, with care, off the ice. "Kai wait… I left Mr. Dickenson at the banquet hall"

"I'll tell him you've been held up" Kai turned to face Hiro "besides I'm sure he's enjoying the free refreshments, and talking it up with the dean of the academy" with that said Kai made his exit. Hiro rushed to the locker room. He placed Ray down on one of the benches while he grabbed a towel to drench it in water, and apply it to his forehead. He decided that maybe Ray's attire was restricting his breathing, and began removing the top portion; a scar stopped him in his tracks. Faint white scars going from side to side across his chest, Hiro grazed the tip, Ray's skin shuddered from his touch. Hiro quickly covered him up again, and took a step back from Ray contemplating the meaning behind it, 'that was not made recently…but how long ago was he in so much pain that he would…' Hiro could not even finish his train of thought because it brought about images that he did not wish to think of at the moment.

Ray stirred at that moment to feel a wet cloth resting on his forehead so he sat up to find Hiro standing against the lockers across the room from him. He just realized Hiro is in the locker room with him, in China, at the academy, 'what is Hiro doing here?! ?!'.

a/n: and I am going to leave it there hahahaha!

But seriously guys, I'm typing these chapters while at work so I need to rest my brain while handeling a class of brats! (whom I love….sometimes) anyway I'll have the next chapter up sometime next week