A/N: Been a while hasn't it? Well after doing four one-shots and updating 'OMIT' and 'PC' (read and review them if you please smiles sweetly) I decided to update this one and then take a break from writing because I have to study (sigh) finals are up and I can't help it! My mom hasn't done anything drastic yet but she may ban me from the pc if I keep this up. Just for your patience here's a decently lengthy chap (I hope) but with a few funfilled pointless things.

My Roomie

By Stunstar

Chapter 6: Life on Campus

Today is Tuesday and I'm so happy because Monday is past. Don't ask me the logic on that I just don't like Mondays which I think I've made clear about a million times and I have said that so many times you probably want to whap me with a rolled up newspaper for the constant repitition but seeing what I went through I think it's perfectly justified. Actually I woke up today to find I could see only out of one eye which reminded me of the insane tiff in the laundry room. Kai's ice pack did a lot to help, it doesn't hurt at all but I probably look like shit.

I finished having my shower and unlocked the door but then turned back and stood staring at the miror examining the damage done to my eye.

"Stupid, idiotic, muscle bound buffoon" I muttered to myself notice how grouchy I am in the mornings, "he damaged one of the assets about me that I really like. My beautiful eye had better get better or he'll have hell to pay. I'll-"

"Much as I love to hear you talking to yourself in the mirror I want the bathroom free for a shower, Ray" I could recognise that sarcastic tone of voice with the mild amusement anywhere. Kai! Gods, did he have to listen to me talk to myself? Now in such a situation I did what any sane person would have done. I mumbled a 'sorry' and ran past him blushing like a Christmas light. A hand on my wrist stopped my motion and I found myself face-to-face with Kai. Does he have more sarcastic remarks in store for me?

It turns out no, he doesn't, instead he uses his other hand to cup my chin and takes a close look at my blackenend eye.

"It doesn't look so bad. Give it time it'll disappear" he says before letting go of my chin (no!) and closing the door to the bathroom. He cares! Isn't he sweet? However just standing outside the bathroom door clad in just a towel with a goofy grin on their face will make anyone look like a complete birdbrain, so I'll deviate and go to my room, change there and then continue grinning. Yep, that sounds like a plan.

I had barely finished dressing when a loud bang announced the gang's arrival. Sigh I wasn't kidding when I said this was going to be a madhouse where privacy is obsolete.

But I guess I can't complain, what would life be without friends? I'll answer that myself, life without friends would mean oodles of time alone with Kai and intense make-out sessions hot enough to steam the windows. But the fact in my life is I have friends (I am extremely grateful for that), extremely annoying ones at that, but still I'm lucky. I guess I really can't complain, I mean they are all great in their own way. But I should remember to get them dictionaries with the word PRIVACY highlightened. You know sometimes my self-contradicting thoughts confuse me. Enough said.

We had a very noisy breakfast, Bryan and Kai were probably the only ones who didn't talk but the former was probably thinking of effective ways to have us all shut up and given his brutal side I think he was planning on chopping tongues shudder I still hope my kitchen knives are where they are supposed to be. But the good part is Grandpa Granger volunteered to cook and I was extremely happy. He's a good cook though I wished he'd stop telling us cucumber jokes (I think that's what he was saying I still haven't got a knack of understanding his lingo, maybe I should opt for some course on that), that's what started the noise with Tyson whining for him to shut up and Hilary telling Tyson to shut up and somebody else told her to keep quiet. Tala threw a 'what have I landed myself into' look and well I'll say I'll sympathise with him since I feel pretty much the same way.

And then we are headed for college -all of us (in case you're wondering, all the cacophony came to a stop when Kai gave a resounding 'QUIET'. The silence that followed that command would have made a Yogi in meditation seem like he was noisy.)

I don't think Kai, Tala and Bryan ever tasted life on campus. The latter two were taught in the abbey (I'm assuming) and Kai was probably home-schooled with the most high-priced tutor money could buy. This was my first taste of campus life being born and brought up in a remote village and all, I'm sure you are familiar with that part of my history so I won't go into detail there. The moment we arrived on campus it was pandemonium. Most of the students had grown used to us, i.e Max, Tyson and me (even though it was chaos the first few days) but seeing the Russian trio they went berseck (even though most people attending this college are a little tamer) and even Emily and Michael have their fandom.

The students in this college aren't that rabid, it consists of more tamer people like I said. But that doesn't mean that they don't get crazy with happiness seeing us famous bladers. But they know how to restrain themselves (thank heavens for small mercies). So well campus life isn't that bad except that is the teachers or atleast some of them, I'm sure every school/college going person will understand what I'm saying.

My first class is economics and boy do I hate it, but it comes as a package deal when you take the art course I've taken. Thankfully I'm not alone in that class anymore, Tala's in it with me. You know what they say, as long as you have to suffer it is better to suffer with someone. I have no idea who said that but it fits. We seated ourselves somewhere towards the end, not the very end because that's where the teacher's tend to look what with all the 'back-benchers being notorious' thing. In the middle its safe, you aren't too close to the teacher and they don't bother keeping an eye on you. That's my code of belief anyway, and it's worked so far, considering that the times I pay attention willingly in this class is close to never. Aren't I the ideal student?

The teacher enters and after attendence starts teaching a, here's where I drift off when she starts blathering on about inflation and its effects on the nation's economy. Boring. Time to think of more important matters (at least in my opinion, the teacher would probably beg to differ).

Now one thing that's been on my mind is why Tala's come, for that matter even Kai and Bryan. I mean what with the cyborg thingy and advanced classes in the abbey I would think that he thought all of this to be beneath him. Come to think of it why did they come from Russia anyway? Considering that Tala and I are on good terms I think it safe to ask.

"Say Tala, mind if I ask something?"

He looks at me with the most bored expression on his face, I think in the first few seconds itself he's realised that this class may be the first to make true the dying-of-boredom myth, "shoot, as long as it's not about inflation, because if it is then God help you" he says lightly.

I grin, "no it isn't about inflation, I'm not that insane" he smirks, "actually I've been meaning to ask you how come you guys came here on such short notice? I thought you'd be settled in Russia."

"Why, Ray are you saying you didn't want us to come? I can't pretend that didn't hurt" he said giving me a mock hurt look, what an actor!

"You know that's not what I meant," I reply taking a swift look at the teacher to make sure we aren't noticed but she's in her merry world talking when half the class is sound asleep, some are staring out the window with their mouths slightly open having glazed looks (probably thinking of a free life) with the rest busy in other work, there was one guy disecting a cockroach (I'd root for him since I don't like those things) and a girl is busy applying make-up to her already painted face, good Lord it's Mini! Remember the girl who answered my ad and scared the pants off me (not literally since that would probably have made her jump me, the thought grosses me out)? I sure hope to Gods she doesn't see me or I'll have to duck under the desk.

"You listening or what?" Tala's voice snaps me back to the world where I don't have to devise ways to run from an obsessed chick.

"Sorry" I muttered sheepishly, "you were saying?"

Tala gave me a slightly reproachful look for not listening then said, "Bryan and I came here to accompany Kai. We didn't know we'd run into you guys."

"Oh, but you guys came the day after Kai came."

"I know he got on the flight before us."

"Okay so you came because Kai did, why did he have to come?"

"I think that's something you'll have to ask him." Something in his voice told me that he wouldn't discuss more on that but I knew he knew. I could try and push him but I know my limits. Tala's nice, if he didn't have a good enough reason for keeping quiet he would have told me. I'll respect his decision.

"Wake me up when this class gets over, if I don't die that is" said Tala sardonically before slumping down on the desk and that left me to my own devises. I have a good way to pass my time. Taking out my economics notebook I opened he very last page, which was blank and decided to write my own Kai Hiwatari relationship ladder. Wondering what that is? You'll know I need it to get a better overview on things. And I'm writing it down just incase.

The relationship ladder- first comes 'I hate you' I don't think anyone is on that step now though looking back maybe Tyson was when he first met Kai. Then comes 'I-dont-hate-you-but-I-would-like-to-kill-you-given-the-chance' ah that's where I think Tyson is now. In so many years that's the progress he's made, but then that's just my opinion from the way those two behave around each other.

Then comes 'cool indifference' not quite sure who might be there, then comes 'tolerance' I think that's where I am (I'm probably up higher than that but I'd like to keep a low self esteem where Kai's concerned so that I'm not shot down too nastily, that make sense?) then comes 'I like you', once again I'm not sure who occupies what place but that's not my problem, my deal is to see how far I can get. Then comes 'I like and respect you', I don't think many people make it this far if they do they should consider themselves lucky (this is where I think I actually may be). Then comes 'my best pal/pals' where I think Tala and maybe even Bryan are (lucky bastards, and once again I mean it in a nice way), and last comes 'I love you' where I hope to be. But see the long climb up the ladder here people? I have to be very careful because I think the ladder works both ways and I'd rather stay where I am than make a wrong move and have a nasty fall to the bottom.

After writing up that much I stared at the page wondering if I had missed out something. I guess I didn't. But it got me to thinking something, when did I get so obsessed with Kai and why? Actually when we had separated and we came here I was a little upset, okay a hell of a lot upset, but then got to wondering if it was just a crush. But when he came back unexpectedly answering my ad for a roomie I think just seeing him bought everything back up and I knew it wasn't just a silly crush. If I had to ask someone's opinion they would probably ask me the same question with a more incredulous tone. Tyson would probably think I'm out of my senses because of course according to them Kai is a cold-hearted bastard.

But is he? I don't think so. And I'm not saying that because I have certain feelings for him. I mean didn't he show a little amount of concern just yesterday, what with me throwing up and getting a black eye? I don't think he did that just for the kicks. The only possible explanation is that he really cares for us despite what he shows outside. Taking that in mind I wonder if he would do the same for others, possibly, but then again Kai has always been a little more open to me. Remember the time before I was to start my battle with Bryan? Kai had referred to me as 'friend' a word he hadn't used uptil then with us.

So getting back to my previous thoughts, why am I so obsessed with Kai? I guess the answer is simple. He's Kai. I said the answer was simple, not logical. I think I should just sit with the fact that I like Kai. Period, and not dwell on why, when and how because it'll only result in a whole lot of mush brained confusion. Mush brained confusion…dunno if there is such a statement but since I've stated it, it stays.

The ringing of the bell brought me back to the world where we have to struggle through classes and where I still have to deal with my feelings for Kai. The class is over already? All the times I've spent in this class it's never gotten over this quick. I quickly stuffed my book away lest Tala see it and prodded him awake.

"The dumb class done yet?" he asked with a yawn and I nodded.

"We survived!" he exclaimed dramatically and gave me a brief embrace as though we were survivors of some brutal war. Sometimes I think he's weird. But then so am I and in a way we make a good friendship pair. Maybe if we get to be better friends I can even let him in on my secret. Actually no, nice as he is I think Tala's got a mischievous streak and he would probably blackmail me or something. I think the secret is better off with me alone.

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The rest two classes in the morning passed by faster. Tala and I had those classes together as well and we managed to pass our time playing games from 'knots and crosses' to 'bingo' in the last pages of our notebooks. We are seriously in need of class counseling or maybe we are being normal students. I think it's the latter.

Then it was time for lunch where our entire gang probably occupied half the cafeteria. Kenny and Emily were involved in a very serious discussion involving their classes. Typical nerds, no offence. Tyson of course needless to see was eating the cafeteria out of house and home. We had a new serving lady today because the last I saw of the old one she had passed out when she had laid eyes on Tyson and took psychiatric leave because she had 'overworked' herself serving him. I truly sympathise with the lady. I wonder how long the second one will last…and then next in line will probably be me. Let's not think about that.

Bryan had on his very first day in campus managed to scare a few first year girls into pure hysterics. He had also I believe got into a fight with someone (rumours are it was a teacher) but they didn't dare punish him, they lack the guts and they aren't insane enough to try it. He is currently scowling at his salad, now what did those poor veggies do to him? They were fresh when they got here but I swear they've shriveled now.

Hilary was badgering Tyson about something. Is it just me or is that all the girl seems to do? She's nice enough to the rest of us but towards Tyson she just acts like his grandmother always badgering him about something or the other, and boy her voice is loud. For the love of God, spare my ears you are sitting right next to us not in Siberia!

Michael and Tala are engaged in conversation, the cafeteria's too noisy for me to hear but I think they are sharing their opinion on this mad group of ours.

Kai had as usual mysteriously disappeared. Bummer. I've had enough of this I think I'm going to go out for some fresh air and maybe do some Kai searching. I excused myself and went out. During lunch breaks the students are sprawled everywhere. It's going to be difficult to find Kai. I mean he prefers solitude so he probably won't mingle with the dreary crowds.

The first place I tried was the library since it is remotely quiet and Kai likes to read. Nope, no sign of an utterly gorgeous hunk among all these nerds. I came out of the library though I did receive a stare from the librarian who doesn't like people to aimlessly invade the sanctuary of her precious library. I swear she was an owl in her previous birth or something from the way she simply stares without blinking.

After scouring practically the whole building I find no sign of Kai. Did he get fed up this fast and take the first flight back to Russia? Nah, that seems a tad farfetched.

Resolving myself to the fact that I'll meet him later at home I make my way to that special place in the school grounds where I spend time to be with myself. It is a small plot of trees in the very far corner of the campus where people don't normally come. I find the place very peaceful, especially if I need to think or draw or need some kind of an inspiration. Since I've been reduced to having my mind only revolve on Kai I'll go do what a very mature lover would do. Pick up a flower and shed petals saying 'he loves me' 'he loves me not'!

I tried that just once before when I was a kid. I wasn't in love then but we had been taken from our village to Hong Kong to watch a movie which was like a once in a lifetime trip for us. I saw a girl do something similar and being the influential kid I was (I was about five then) I decided to give it a try. I wasn't in love I just got this crazy inclination of wanting to shed petals. But I stopped when I got this strangest look from two birds which were perched up on the tree opposite to the one I was sitting under. Being a five year old they creeped me out (I was strange with a very vivid imagination as a kid). Another time I had a strange bout with a bird was when I tried to swallow one as a kid. My mom said it was a phase all neko-jinns went through. There, for some pointless reason I shared the most pointless fact of my past.

I rounded past a small bunch of trees and bushes towards my favourite spot under my favourite tree and there's Kai! You know it's strange how we sometimes seem to be so similar. He is lying down in the exact same spot under the exact same tree. I cautiously approach him. His eyes are closed and he looks like he's sleeping. On his lap I notice the same leather bound book as before. Does he carry that everywhere? What's so special about it?

I kneeled down beside him and I debated. Should I take a peek at the book? If he isn't really asleep then it's a very high risk. As I sat debating this he cracked open one crimson eye to look at him. I settled myself beside him and arranged my face so that I didn't look like I was about to invade on his much protected privacy.

"I'd wondered where you'd gotten to," I said lightly since there's no response I continued, "I come to this very same place everyday. It's very peaceful here don't you think?"

"Why did you think I came here in the first place?" it wasn't really a question so I remained silent. He didn't speak, I didn't speak. I looked up at the sky, the wonderful sun is shining, the birds are twittering and there is a gentle breeze and gah! I'm going insane. Time to take another brave stab at conversation.

"How do you find the place?"

"Hn" I think that 'hn' means fine-I-can-live-without-wanting-to-torch-the-place.

"Tala told me that he and Bryan came here because you did. How come you decided to come here Kai? I thought you would have settled back in Russia now that your grandfather's gone for good."

He closely scrutinised me his face impassive before giving an answer, "why do you want to know?" okay more like a question, but it's still a response, we're making progress.

"Just curious Kai. I'm really glad you're here though. It feels like the old days are back but well I'm just curious…" I trailed off there hoping he would give me an answer. Like I said I'm incredibly glad that he's here but when something arouses my curiosity I tend to want some answers. I think that's just human nature, I'm sure everyone out there is like that and the person you love doesn't make an exception you still want to know, that's the case with me.

I think he's debating whether to tell me or not and how much to tell. Before he has an opportunity however the bell rang, signaling the end of break. Remind me to add bells to the 'I hate these things' list. Right now I want to grab that bell (which, by the way, is still clanging away) climb up the highest mountain and throw it down into the valleys giving a satisfied smirk as I hear it clanging as it hits rocks on the way to the bottom and then lies still never to disturb humanity or in this case Ray Kon's moments with Kai and there it will lie for all eternity… and I'll let out an evil cackle…

Note to self, whenever you muse to self don't lose total awareness of your surroundings and don't smirk to yourself for reasons which other people will never know. Currently Kai is standing in front of me eyebrow raised. I think I'm supposed to get up now. He extends a hand towards me probably thinking I'll never be able to do it on my own. I grab his hand (hopefully not too eagerly) and try to take the longest time to get up (which lasted about two seconds, I think its my fate).

We walk back towards the school building in silence. If Kai had to say something he would have said it by now and I don't think I should push it. The corridors are semi-deserted as students have either gone to their classes or scampered up the compound wall in a mad haste to bunk them.

And then we were ambushed by a very hyper Max as he bounced (literally) towards us. I hadn't noticed what he had for lunch - probably half the city's sugar.

"Guess what you guys, no classes!" he said happily. For real?

"Their taking us to the AV room" he elaborated the Maxie-smile (as I have dubbed it) in place. Sigh I knew there had to be a catch. The AV room is the audio visual room where they have but one lone T.V set. In 'free periods' like these they decide to torture us in a round about way and instead of classes we have to watch some utterly crap programme or movie which range from atrocious to boring to downright pathetic.

We followed the still bouncing Max and enter the semi-dark (they try to give it the theatre feel) room. They have saved seats for us, how nice. Not. If they hadn't I would have used it as an excuse to not watch whatever they were planning to make us watch. I sat on one of the chairs between Kai (goody) and Tyson (I can live with that). In front of me was Tala and next to him was Bryan. Behind me was Michael and the others we seated all around us, basically our group was together that's all that needs to be known. One of the teachers switched on the T.V and inserted the c.d. handpicked by them (that's what scares me). And the movie started, goodness knows how this one is going to be…

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We're still in the A.V room and the movie that they had decided to put for us was a corny musical, you know the ones with a song about every five minutes. Believe me it ranged from atrocious to boring to downright pathetic like I had stated. You know you get that feeling when you sometimes watch a movie and you wonder why you watched it and can't seem to make head or tail out of it? That's what I feel now. Let me brief you on its story, if you have a twisted sense of humour you may just find it funny because of its utter atrocity.

Okay as far as I've followed it's supposed to be romance. The hero ( who resembles a pinched up chimpanzee I once saw in my travels) of this movie falls in love with the heroine who I suppose can be termed 'sexy', I didn't follow their names. Anyway the hero and the sexy girl fall in love and then they sing a song (I'm supposing in celebration of their love, remember this is a musical). After the happy nice song (which made me sick) they waltz hand-in-hand to announce to their parents about their love. The boy's father (who had a square face reminding me strongly of the superman comic and a moustache to rival a walrus) does not agree to it and arranges for the boy to get married to an ugly girl.

The sexy girl and ugly girl were rivals in college (go figure) and the ugly girl feels that this is a perfect time to get back (she says so in a song). The hero and the sexy girl decide to run away and then come across a jungle (once again go figure). They decide to live a life out in the wilderness because it offers respite from the harshness of the modern world. And so they learn to catch fish for food and celebrate their freedom by singing a song (again).

After that song the sexy girl disappears behind a bush and when she doesn't reappear the hero realises she's been kidnapped. Her kidnapper (a bald guy with a mole on his face who keeps scowling at the camera) takes her out to a desert. And lo! The hero comes on horse back to rescue her. He has a fistfight with moleface and then the hero realises this was all staged by the ugly girl who now has his father tied to a chair and is pouring petrol all over him (doesn't this girl know how expensive it is?). She is about to strike the match but then they all pause to sing a song.

End song and they resume their fight (hero and moleface) when about twenty other bad guys appear clad in black from behind a bush which seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The hero is outnumbered but an encouragement from the sexy girl (done in song) revives his confidence and he shoots (where the hell'd the gun come from?) all the men in black who had come from the magically appearing bush. Defeated moleface runs.

They untie the father (who's petrol seems to have dried) and then they sing a song in celebration where the father gives them his blessings. Ugly girl escapes and walks over sand dunes cursing and vowing revenge and comes upon a hut (in the middle of the desert) and frankly I wasn't bothered to see what happened after that.

Entertaining as this movie is (sarcasm) I find that looking at the people around me is far more entertaining. Tyson and Max are looking at the screen mesmerised (for goodness knows what reason). Tala's face I can only see if I lean to my side and from what I see he looks as if he's about to be sick (can't blame him). Bryan is glaring at the screen and I think he wants to make it explode by the sheer power of concentration (I hope he succeeds). Michael who was also disgusted finds it better to pass comments on it which is frankly very funny. I'm laughing my sides out at the moment due to the sheer absurdity. Hilary is shushing him and has tears in her eyes (once again for goodness knows what reason). Kenny I see is not even watching but has his laptop with him (for once I wish I had a personal laptop) and Emily is peeping over his shoulder into it. And Kai is acting like…Kai. He's just sitting there with his eyes closed and his arms crossed.

In front of me I heard Tala mutter, "I swear if they sing one more song I'll…" he didn't have to carry out the unformed threat as the bell rang. This time I was grateful for it because that meant we had to stop watching the oh-so-entertaining movie. Some people were genuinely upset at the idea but I guess that goes to show some people in the world don't have any sense whatsoever.

With a lot of stretching we all file out of the room and after this we'll head back home. It's strangely routine. But then we all know what my problem is – lack of privacy. Oh sure Kai is my roommate and all but you've noticed that we never seem to have a moment alone. How is a guy supposed to confess in such circumstances? And of course before confession I should do a little fact finding I mean what's to gaurantee that Kai is gay? Actually there was a time when I thought I was straight but then my notion was obliterated as Mariah literally threw herself on me and it totally creeped me out. At first I thought it was her (I mean I like her as a sister and all but the fact of being with her creeps me out). Now of course I am convinced of my sexuality and so it all depends on Kai. I'd like to keep all my fingers and toes crossed for a positive response though how I'm going to put forward a question like that is beyond me, I'll think about it later.

Arriving home I glanced at the mail, just out of habit I normally don't receive any (fan mail doesn't count). I noticed two letters which I knew weren't fan mail. I saw who it was from and for some reason it made me nervous.

Tbc…

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A/N: Many times in my life I've countered the situation where I want to talk to someone about something and most invariably I find myself interrupted one way or the other. It's annoying but then I found it made a nice setting for my story. Have you ever encountered anything like that?

And I'm sorry if the ending was a bit rushed I wanted to get this posted as soon as possible and I really couldn't think of how else to elaborate.

Before I leave I have a few fic ideas I want you people to give your opinion on, please?-

1.The bladers want an ideal vacation and Hotel Pentagon seems the perfect place for it, an entire hotel to themselves, just friends who can hang out, no annoying fans and the perfect opportunity for love and confessions. However what they don't know is that the hotel has its own secrets, scandals and ghosts atleast in the eyes of Ray. Drama/horror/romance and a tad supernatural (may contain blood and character deaths)

2.Ray is a masseur, Kai is his client. Their relationship is against the rules, but then again aren't rules meant to be broken? romance/general/humour (short fluff fic with a crazy Tala thrown in grins) in AU

3.Kai is an assassin who kills people without regrets. However when his next victim is a boy named Ray will Kai do what he does best or protect the one he's meant to kill? Drama/angst (will be violent and will contain character deaths) in AU (rating may be high)

4.Kai keeps dreaming about a certain boy(Ray). And his recurring dreams drive him to desperation to find the one haunting his dreams. Supernatural/drama in AU.

So there you have it, please give me your opinion, you can choose any of the above or all of them and you can prioritise them and you are free to ask me more info on them, the parts in brackets are debatable factors. I want to try a variety in genre, something more angsty ('OMIT' is already on the way of becoming a long angsty drama fic) but that doesn't mean I'll ever give up on humour. I have a vague idea for all of them and since I have exams coming up I have plenty of time to think (grins) exams make my imagination go on overload. Also a sequel for 'my roomie' is debatable but I guess I should finish it first, right?

Also I want to ask of my readers if you want me to put extra pairings. If you do let me know, I'm sure all of you know the remaining characters so if there is any character pairing you like let me know, please.

Now I have to go and try to study. Keyword: try. I'm sure all of you know how that is. Sorry for rambling I hope it hasn't bothered you.

Please review, and give me your opinions on the fic ideas and pairings. It really makes me feel happy when I hear from you even if it's just a few words!