Tyson gazed over his shoulder at the sound of the door, Ray coming in quietly. His eyes were fixated upon the door and once Ray turned around Tyson spoke to him calmly.

"Who was that?"

Ray smiled at him and tilted his head.

"They got the wrong guy. It's alright. I guess they must not have gotten the names right."

"But they said it was you…" Tyson began, getting up from his seated position. He watched as Ray sat down at the living room table now, finishing off the now cold tea that sat on the table.

"Bleh! Did you let my tea get cold?" Ray asked him, Tyson's eyebrows furrowing.

"Ray, what happened? It sounded serious! Who were they looking for?"

"Tyson don't get all worked up over it." Ray replied calmly, getting up to warm his tea on the stove. "They just mixed up my name and someone else's."

"Like who?" Tyson asked. He approached his friend and put a hand upon the sleek but muscular shoulder.

"Ray, if you're in trouble…. You can tell me. Max, I'm not so sure but me, you can tell. You know that right? We're best friends."

The sun was fading into the afternoon now, and as Tyson's hand rested upon Ray's shoulder he could feel a shudder come from Ray's body. Concern buried itself deep within Tyson's heart and he swallowed, narrowing his eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Without a second hesitation Ray chuckled lightly, gazing back at his friend.

"Like I said, nothing to get worked up about."

Tyson's hand came up and off the shoulder, Tyson taking a few steps back to allow Ray access to the pots and pans. His friend boiled his water and sat down again, taking up a newspaper that had been dropped off at the front of the house.

Tyson's mind was fluttering back and forth with different thoughts, but one single thought raced and kept in his mind. He tried to shut out the world, but his brain would still linger on one single thought.

Ray's forlorn eyes.

The day passed them by, and as the sun rolled down in the dusk Ray took a look around slowly. They had spent the entire day at the amusement park, riding roller coasters and petting animals in the little petting zoo. Ray did not partake however and neither did Kai. Kai would go on the roller coasters however, but Ray was always keeping a close eye on his friend.

Ray knew that Kai was not himself lately. His twitchy fingers and his shifty eyes made Ray think that Kai was up to no good. Throughout the day Ray noticed that Kai seemed to staring off into space and didn't really interact with anyone. Kai's behavior was more lonely than usual.

When asked what was wrong, Kai would always shrug his friends off and lead them to think that he was just being the same old Kai that they had grown to adore. Ray was skeptical of this however, as he sensed patterns in Kai's behavior that were off, even for him.

Kai would stare into space and didn't have much to talk about. His expression made him seem as if he were somewhere else in the universe; inside his own little world where he had his own troubles and problems.

Ray of course, had his own set of problems… one that caused someone he knew and maybe even liked to run away and scream.

"Kai?"

His friend snapped up at attention.

"Yeah?"

The lights from the Ferris wheel were lit up behind Kai, and illuminated him in an array of blue and red. Little kids bumped into them frequently, Ray getting used to the feeling of being all around people but not really being there at all. Tyson and Max were off getting some ice cream, making available time for Ray to really talk to Kai.

"Kai what's going on? You've been… acting really strange…" Ray's voice dimmed when he spoke, clear concern seeping from his heart.

Kai gazed back at him evenly, flicking his scarf over his neck.

"It doesn't concern you or the others… I have nothing to let you know about."

"Everyone's got secrets… you know that."

"My demons are my demons… you know that."

"Don't parrot what I say."

"Don't say stupid things then."

Ray took a breath of exasperation and shook his head. The goat behind the fence he was leaning on bleated and nudged his hand lightly. Ray turned around to the animal and smiled down at the goat, staring. The animal however, bleated again once he saw Ray's eyes and ran away into his pen house. Ray pursed his lips.

"You don't have to tell me now… but… eventually… you have to come clean."

At this point Kai turned on his heel, his fists round and ready at his sides. They locked gazes, Ray feeling a sudden pressure on his chest. A small sweat beaded down his forehead and even as he held Kai's steady gaze he felt eyes upon him. Eyes that were not his own, that judged him and hated him.

Eyes that knew everything.

"Sounds like you've got something hiding too." Kai's voice made Ray lose focus of his thoughts, and his voice did not sound like his own.

"I'm not hiding anything!"

He had come across too strong, and judging from Kai's reaction, Ray knew he had made a fatal mistake.

Shit.

The taller man grasped Ray's arm with his hand, squeezing tight and glaring into Ray's eyes.

"I overheard the conversation you and those men were having."

Suddenly petting a goat didn't sound too bad to Ray at all. The kids and the loud noises from the fun booths were slowly drowned out by the sound of Ray's ever increasing heartbeat. He swallowed harshly.

"What?" his voice was high and squeaky.

"I heard it… you're not who you say you are."

His body trembled under Kai's pressure, but even so Ray did not falter again. He had made the mistake once and would not make the same mistake twice.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Kai's grey eyes bore into him, as if looking deep into his soul. Ray blinked twice, trying to get the visions of enclosing darkness out of his eyes and his mind.

"You're not who you say you are… and you say I'm keeping secrets?" Kai's voice was steel, cutting into Ray's heart like a sword. Pain surged up and down Ray's arm, Ray realizing that his fingers were numb.

"Kai let go."

"I'm not letting go unless you fess up."

"But you're hurting me."

"Fess up."

The beat from the overhead music now drummed loudly in Ray's ears, and with one full swipe Ray sent Kai flying onto his back. The latter shook his head and dusted himself off, his eyes full of wonder as he stared at Ray now. Ray did not meet his gaze.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about."

Small birds flew overhead, their song echoing in Ray's mind more than anything else he had heard that whole day. How he longed to be free and rid of the world that hated him and judged him and made his life hell!

"How did you-"

"Guys?"

Out of the corner of Ray's eye he could see his friends approaching them both, Ray quickly helping Kai to his feet and ignoring the glare that his friend gave him.

"Hey Tyson, did you get your ice cream?"

The blond haired man stood behind Tyson silently while his friend spoke.

"Why was Kai on the ground?"

"He had a little trip, that's all."

Ray could feel Kai's gaze upon him, his heart finally calming down and bottling up the feeling of anger that emanated from Kai's body.

"I helped him up. Guess the goat got to him."

Max and Tyson both smiled calmly. They held their cones in their hands, licking away and speaking of things that were menial and frivolous. Ray turned lightly to Kai, who had already been gazing at him for some time now. Ray knew that Kai knew something, but he couldn't tell what.

"You've been holding something in Ray…" Kai's words snaked from between his teeth. "I don't know what you're hiding… but I'll find out Ray."

Ray returned Kai's angry glare.

"Not before I figure out what the hell your deal is."

Kai humped at his remark, flicking back his grey hair and finally walking away briskly, leaving Ray to gather up his other two friends before making his way out of the amusement park.

He had dodged a major bullet.

Crickets chirped when they walked past, the sounds of cars passing them by slowly ringing in their ears. Kai was in front of them of course, his mind racing a million miles an hour. The cool breeze of the summer night sent his body into soft shivers, his boots treading lightly on the concrete. The sidewalk would lead them back to the city, which would lead them back to the bus which would then take them home back to Tyson's place.

What was Ray hiding?

Kai had his own demons to figure out… he had to figure out how to tell them that he had been hiding a secret from them since they had won their final beybattle tournament. He had to figure out a way to tell them that things were going to change…

But he had no idea how.

He pulled his scarf closer to his face and dug his hands into his pockets, hearing his friends call from behind him.

"Kai, wait up! I'm done eating so you can look now!"

"You're so gross Tyson!"

"Hey it was melting!"

Kai rolled his eyes, not wanting to look back at them. He had his own problems to figure out. He had his own problems and the problem that Ray had. Ray was hiding something too, but Kai wasn't sure if Ray was ever going to come clean with them at all. The news broadcast he had seen earlier that day replayed in his head like an old VHS tape.

"Scenes today from yet another bear killing. Yes, you see it right here on News Channel 6, where we bring you live coverage every day! Our breaking news continues with more scenes on the bear killings going on in the area, only for police to tell GH6 that they have no clear evidence of who is doing the killing or what purpose. The scene of the crime was much like the other bears, the entrails dug out and possibly eaten or thrown into a nearby garbage can, though authorities can confirm neither. More witnesses have stepped forward however in the killing spree and have told police that a large black something was reported being seen at the scene, making its way downtown and leaving the area almost as soon as it had come. No video evidence has been recorded yet but police are still hopeful that more witnesses will step forward and provide more evidence."

Kai's eyes dimmed as his mind began to replay the looks on all of his friend's faces when the broadcast aired. Tyson was the first to speak of course, and Max was involved in the conversation as well. Kai remembered hearing them both speak about the murders and how they did not believe that someone of true human nature could have defiled an animal not known to attack humans. Within his thoughts Kai began to see a pattern forming.

Ray wasn't there when they had the first broadcast… he wasn't there when they had the second… and then this latest broadcast… where is he? Had he been sleeping? No… no it can't be… he's too… he usually wakes up early… but then again…

Ray had been acting funny as well.

"I'm not hiding anything!"

His voice… his voice didn't sound like he was calm. In fact… the look in his eye… that was peculiar… he looked as if I had struck a nerve or something… and then what happened to those FBI guys? They left didn't they? Or…

"Kai!"

He heard his name only after he heard the foghorn of the truck approaching him at high speed. Kai's eyes widened.

The lights blinded him briefly, Kai feeling something from the side pushing him over and grabbing a hold of his body. The world around him swirled into a vision of colors and bright intensities, Kai being caught in the middle of the swarm. Through his blinded vision Kai managed to blink back the light enough to see a glimpse of what he wanted.

…. Black?

His body was almost moving on its own, flight overtaking him and numbness spreading. From beneath his hands he could feel moving and living flesh, but something so warm and soft that he could not pin point who or what was holding him.

Wait… wait I saw black… that thing on TV…

His fingers managed to graze a small piece of whatever was holding him, feeling cloth and warm flesh.

Warm flesh… but this is…

His vision and mind were knocked clean when he hit the concrete, the fog horn's blare finally dying into the night. Blinking a few more times Kai could finally make out the starry sky above him, little twinkling dots of fire burning brightly. He breathed twice, feeling now familiar hands upon him.

"Kai! Kai are you okay?"

Their voices sounded distant and far away. He could not tell who was speaking.

"Kai!"

What…

Sitting up roughly Kai felt the strength of human hands holding him tightly. His focus turned to Tyson, who was kneeling down beside him; a look of pure worry and grief all over his face.

"Kai we thought we'd lost you! What happened?"

Kai did not respond and merely stared at the ground, the feeling from his fingers returning and making him less numb.

He was embraced with a warm hug, Kai smelling Max's sweet scent. His breath was hot upon Max's neck, and as he closed his eyes he could feel another presence coming from behind him.

"Kai are you okay?"

With a small turn of his head his eyes reached up to Ray, who was standing above him. Ray looked completely concerned on his face, but as Kai studied his eyes Kai's mind began to fit pieces of a puzzle into an enormous mount.

"Kai, you're not hurt are you?" Tyson's voice was but a whisper to the loud voices echoing in Kai's head, Kai staring firmly at Ray. Ray stared back at him however, and slowly Kai began to see a slight glimmer in Ray's eyes.

He knows.