I got more reviews! And more people have been reading it! Yea! -glomps people reading-

Thank you all so much! ( review replys at end, thats where I will always put them )


Different people react to awakening from an anaesthetic slumber different ways.

Some people cling to the darkness and strange visions, enjoying the high feeling you feel. Others flee from it and fight it, trying to wake up, feeling overwhelmed by the shadows that they see.

And then there are the ones that just float around, confused as to where they are and what has recently happened.

Ray was usually one to fight, not because he was afraid, but because he preferred being conscious and alert instead of unconscious and vulnerable. But this was his first time to wake up after being injected anaesthetics, and he was amazed and slightly confused, so he simply floated around in the darkness.

Until feeling started to come back, and he felt the pain that was in his throat.

"...nhm..." He slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the slight pain that the small sound that came from his throat caused. He quickly shut his eyes, though, as bright florescent lights nearly blinded him.

"So your awake, how are you feeling?" A female voice asked as he cracked his eyes open and slowly turned his head.

"...Throat...hurts..." He got out, forcing back tears as he felt his throat throb. It felt as though he had scabs all along his throat, the stinging kind, and that someone was peeling them away slowly, causing the pain to intensify greatly.

"I know, sweety, but we cant do anything about it. Here, can you hold this on it? It should help." He jumped a bit at the feeling of an ice pack being laid on his throat, and looked at the nurse that was sitting beside him. She gave a smile, then turned and started talking to another nurse.

He spotted a sign that was hanging from the ceiling, and frowned. "Recovery Room, Quiet!" If they were suppose to be quiet, then why in the hell did the nurses keep chatting about what they were going to eat for lunch and what they were planning to do during their days off?

"Its been long enough, lets bring him down to his room." A voice said, and he blinked, his mind still foggy from the anaesthesia. He felt the bed begin to move, and amused himself with the way the ceiling seemed to swirl and grow bigger and smaller in spots as he was pushed down the hall to wherever his room was.

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"Ray, buddy! Your back, how was it? Did it hurt?" Tyson asked as soon as he stepped into the room that Ray was in. Ray frowned as everyone else stepped in, he was just starting to doze off.

"...Throat...hurts..." He got out and Tyson blinked.

"Huh? Whats wrong with your voice?" Daichi asked as a nurse stepped in and she smiled at the boys and Hillary.

"Oh he wont be able to talk for a week at least, and he wont be able to eat solid rough or crunchy food for probably two weeks, depending on how fast he heals, and even then it will be three before he should be participating in straining activities, taking it easy for a while even after." She explained as she walked over to Ray, who was frowning in obvious disappointment.

"Aw, lucky you! Getting out of training..." Tyson muttered as Kai scoffed.

"Like you ever actually train anyways." He muttered, making Tyson scowl.

"What?! Why you,"

"Boys! If you are going to argue, then get out of this hospital! Have you no consideration for your friend?" The elderly nurse snapped as Tyson cringed and Kai glared at her in a He-Was-The-One-Yelling-Not-Me way. Hillary planted her hands on her hips and glared at Tyson and Daichi, who shrunk down slightly.

"Thats right. You are all going to be nice and considerate to Ray, or else." She said darkly, as everyone except Kai nodded, and he simply grunted.

"Well, at least you will have someone to keep them all in line. How are you feeling, nod if you feel any better, shake your head if you feel strange." The nurse said as he frowned, then shrugged his shoulders. She frowned, then smiled.

"About the same?" She asked as he nodded, she sighed.

"Well, I doubt that you are going to be feeling any better for a while now. The doctor that did your surgery gave your coach, Hiro, two prescriptions. One is for liquid Penicillin, don't worry, it tastes like bubble gum and goes down easy. The other is liquid Tylenol, not as tasty but not so bad." The nurse said with a kind smile as Ray sighed slightly, then winced. He had opened his mouth to wide.

"You also will barely be able to open your mouth once the Anaesthesia starts to wear off. It will be a while now, though I suppose you will start to feel the effects now...oh, let me take your vitals. If everything is clear, then your good to go." -1-

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"Ray, come on, we're here." Hiro said gently as Ray awoke from his light slumber and let out a small grunt sound, wincing at it. "Don't worry about talking." Hiro said and Ray gave him a grateful nod as he opened his the car door and attempted to stand, only to stumble and nearly fall.

"Whoa buddy, careful!" Max said as he slipped an arm around the neko jins waist. Ray tried to offer a smile, but instead rested on a nod. Hiro sighed as he stood in front of Ray, and bent down.

"Hop on, it will be easier on everyone, and you will be in bed faster." He said as Ray frowned, but did as he was told. The anaesthesia was wearing off, and he was in no mood to argue; or do anything that required any effort what so ever; like blinking.

- - - - -

Ray forced down a whimper a few hours later. He had just woke up a few minutes ago, and the pain was almost unbearable. As a result, he couldn't sleep, and no one had yet to come and cheek on him, assuming him to be asleep.

He pushed the covers back, which took much more effort then it should have, and sat up, whimpering as he grabbed his throat. Tears came to his eyes, and he shut them tightly, not wanting to cry, even if it was in the privacy of his own room.

'It hurts...damn...I never dreamed it would be this bad...' He thought silently to himself and tried to stand, only to get a head rush and fall back on the bed. He sighed through his nose, though even then the air hit his throat and set it on fire.

"Ray?" He jumped slightly, surprised that he hadnt heard the door open. He looked up into familiar crimson eyes, though now they were much warmer then usual, a spark of concern showing.

"You should be sleeping, Kon." He said before he turned and disappeared before Ray could react. He sighed again, and once again, winced from the pain.

"Here." He blinked, surprised, when Kai seemed to reappear, this time with an ice pack and... a pop sickle? He looked at Kai, an eyebrow raised slightly, then frowned a bit as Kai put a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed, making him lay back down. To his surprise, Kai pulled the covers back over his body, then laid the ice pack over his throat. Ray lifted his hand to hold it on, and shivered at the coldness.

Kai then opened the cherry flavored pop sickle, and put it to his lips. He winced visibly as he opened them, and sighed as he held the pop sickle stick at the cold as he gently sucked on it, then looked up at Kai with large, grateful golden eyes, raising an eyebrow at the strange new light that appeared in Kais eyes. It disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, though, and was replaced by the usual cold, indifferent and emotionless mask.

"Hn. Hillary will come in here in a while to help with things. Just leave the stick on the paper." Kai said, motioning to the bedside table. He then turned blazing crimson eyes on Ray, making him try and sink down into the mattress.

"If you try and get up again, Kon, Ill tie you to the bed." He growled, and Ray frowned and opened his mouth to say something.

"B,Bath...room...?" He croaked out, and Kai scowled.

"Someone will walk with you to it." He snapped, making Ray wince as Kai stood and disappeared. The suffering neko jin then sighed as he finished the pop sickle, put the stick on the paper like he was told too, and then drifted back to sleep, the ice pack soothing his throat a bit, though not much.

- - - - -

"Ray, Ray, come on, wake up, you need to take your medicine!" A familiar voice chirped as Ray let out a groan. Why was it when you feel as though you finally get good and asleep, someone comes to prod and poke you until your awake?

"Mm..." He got out as he opened his eyes, then blinked a bit as he saw Hillary standing there, her face practically glowing.

"I've come to give you your medicine, and I ran home and got this!" She said as she held up a pretty pink journal, Ray raised an eyebrow slightly, tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Its so you don't have to try and talk! I even had a matching pen...I know its probably not the most manly color in the world, but it has plenty of pages and isnt so big that you have to carry it around in your hands, you can just slip it in a large pocket or something!" She said as Ray nodded, a thankful smile making him wince in pain.

He took it as Hillary handed it too him, and inwardly sighed as he held the rather fluffy pink pen.

Thanks, Hills. I really appreciate this.

Hillary grinned as she read it, then pulled out two small medicine cups and two bottles; One had something pink in it, the other was a standard red-ish brown-ish medicine bottle. She poured a bit of each medicine in each cup, measuring it carefully, then grinned as she handed him the pink. He took it, and was slightly surprised at the coldness of it.

"You have to keep it in the refrigerator." She explained, sounding smart, as Ray nodded and winced as he took it. It didnt taste half bad, and was creamy and cool, coating his throat. He let out a small smile, it made his throat feel better.

"And heres the Tylenol, that was the antibiotic." Hillary said as she handed it to him. He inwardly cringed, he could smell it already, and it didnt smell good.

Tears came to his eyes from the burning as he swallowed it quickly, it stung the back of his throat like fire, almost as bad as when he tried to talk. Hillary's eyes widened.

"Ray? Ray are you alright? Ray!!" She said, freaking out. He grabbed his throat, then raised his hands trying to calm her, then inwardly sighed as he grabbed the journal and a pen as she begin yelling for help.

Almost immediately Kai and Max appeared, Daichi and the others were off somewhere else.

"Whats wrong?" Kai demanded as Ray inwardly groaned and handed Hillary the journal.

Its alright, Hillary. The medicine just stings really bad when it hits my throat, next time, can I take that first, then the pink one? I think that way, the pink will sooth the pain.

Hillary read over it, then smiled sheepishly. "Oh, of course, Im sorry, Ray!" She said as Kai read it then grunted. Max smiled.

"You had us worried there, buddy. Man, your lucky! You get to eat nothing but ice cream, jello, pudding, man, I wish I was old enough to remember when I had my tonsils out!" Max said as Ray inwardly winced. 'Jell-O' he thought with a visible cringe. 'I cant STAND jell-O...'

His apparent discomfort didnt go unnoticed by the three, and he was immediately bombarded with questions and his blonde and brunette friends concern, while Kai simply raised an eyebrow.

Sorry, its just I don't like Jell-O, but the ice cream sounds good. Not now though, im really not hungry.

Max looked at him, his wide blue eyes making everyone cringe, even Kai, though he didnt show it.

"You don't like Jell-O?? How can anyone not like Jell-O?!" He said in disbelief as Ray shrugged a bit. Kai grunted.

"Hn. Its getting late. Ray, go to sleep." He said, signaling the others to get out before he intensified his glare. The silent threat worked, and Hillary and Max disappeared. Kai then looked at Ray, and dug an expensive looking red cell phone out of his pocket and handed it too him.

"Hn. My number is 1, I have Hiro on two, and put a few numbers in for you. If you need anything, call. If I catch you trying to get up, Ill go through with tying you to the bed, understand?" Kai practically growled, and Rays eyes widened as he nodded, then begin writing in the journal, making Kais eyes lite up with hidden amusement at the color.

Thank you. I will pay you back, how much?

Kai scowled and glared. "Nothing. Now go to sleep."

Out of reflex, Ray opened his mouth to protest, and immediately grabbed his throat in pain. Kai inwardly sighed as he grabbed the ice pack that had mostly melted, and disappeared, then reappeared with it. Ray took it and laid down, a tired but thankful look on his face. Kai nodded, then turned to leave.

He looked down surprised, though, when a hand caught the end of his scarf. He turned and looked at Ray, his look confused, but slightly annoyed. Ray hesitated, then shook his head and rolled over a bit.

"Hn." Ray was surprised when he felt the bed give slightly at someones weight sitting on the end, then smiled a bit when he felt Kai's hand rubbing his back gently, occasionally rubbing his arm and hair. He drifted to sleep, and Kai sat a few more minutes, watching the slumbering Neko jin intently, before he stood and left.


Note 1 - I had my tonsils taken out last year, so everything that im putting Ray through, I've went through myself...well, besides having a hot Russian worring over me...-pout- but anyways. The surgery itself only last 45 - 1 hour, and you stay in the recovery room for 30 min - 1 hour. Then, they take you down to a room, and after about, oh, another 30 min - 1 hour, they let you go. You would think they would keep you...but nooooo...then again, I would prefer suffer in misery and pain then in a strange room that smelt funny.

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Review Replies!

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stZen : Thank you!! And I plan on updating pretty regularly, while I;ve got fresh ideas. Well, as long as my health is up to it... hehe...Thanks for reviewing!

Amber : You liked it? Thanks! I wasnt overly satisfied with the chapter, but Im very critical of my own work. Thanks for reviewing!

decoratedxemergencee : I found it kind of funny too, cant you just imagine Kai standing there with his arms crossed, looking all motherly and sending a pouting Ray to his room? Thank you for reviewing! And yes, Kai and Ray is a nice couple; One of my favs.

Timberstar : Really? Ray and Max are some of my favorite characters too. And I wouldnt wish the pain of having a tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils) on anyone, unless I really, really disliked them. And it is sort of weird when you think about it, how people make characters suffer...hehe...so evil. Who am I to talk though? Look at what im doing to poor Ray! T.T XDDDD Thank you for reviewing!

Sugar-Hype-Queen : Yes, poor, poor Ray. Though I don't know how much Kai will be there for him on the subject of the pink journal...hmm...-snicker- Im so mean! Thanks for your review!

M.S.K : Thank you! And thanks for reviewing!

Kye chan : Im usually not great with the cute scenes, but Im definitely trying! I have Word Perfect, and its just as bad, if not worse, then Microsoft Word. That, plus an ancient and slow computer is not a good combo. And I think that a sulking Ray is just adorable for some reason, meh, guess im just weird XD Thank you for reviewing!

Sacredfoxphoenix : Thank you for reviewing, especially since you say you don't write many. It makes me feel a bit better about this story to hear that. And before last year, I had never had surgery before either, then WHAM! 3 of 'em. One to get my top wisdom teeth CUT out, another a few months later for my bottom ones to be cut out, and then...-shudders at memory- My tonsils were removed. And I will admit, I was scared out of my wits, and did try a few things to get out of it. I tried the medicine thing, but that was quickly shut down...so that was an actually real life attempt...that doesnt work...well, for me and Ray anyways. XDD

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Am I getting the chapters too long? I mean, I just get going, and want to get certian things into certain chapters, and it ends up being longer and longer...hmm...oh well!

All reviews and comments will be read and greatly appreciated, though flames will probably be ignored...so yea...and I will try and respond to all reviews in the next update...whever it may be...hehe...XP