Thanks to Fai Senri and latdh1


Hiro gave his brother a measuring look. "I will be back in 3 hours. I except to see you sleeping."

Tyson nodded his understanding and watched Hiro leave. With a patient sigh he slid back into his bed enjoying the comfort. His eyes began to droop despite his best efforts and he fell asleep.


Chapter Six – More Mischief


Tyson sat on the edge of Kai's bed nervously. The crimson eyed man watched him with a smug smirk on his face. Tala one of Kai's team mates and close friends had slung an arm around the blunette's shoulders much to his discomfit. The red head knew how much it was flustering him and seemed to be taking great pleasure in his actions. Ray and Max were talking quietly off to the side with some of the Chinese team. A young woman named Mariah and her older brother Lee as well as the some members of the Russian team Spencer, Ian and Bryan.

"Sooo. Tyson." Tala said quietly in to his ear making him jump. The blunette gave the older man a sideways look. He didn't notice Ray sudden awareness and stiff posture at the Russian's actions but the red head did.

"I heard you got up close and personal with pretty boy over there. And here I was secretly hoping to sweep you off your feet." The red head said teasingly. He flashed the jealous looking Ray a wide smirk as he traced a finger down the other side of Tyson's face. The blunette shifted away from the touch.

"Oh. Don't be like that." Tala teased mischievously. Kai got off the bed and fetched a couple of drinks. With a careless grace he flopped back onto the bed passing them each a bottle.

"Is this alcoholic?" Tyson asked looking at the drink dubiously.

"No." Kai lied neatly. "It's cider."

"Oh..." Tyson said. He missed the smirks that the two Russian's shared before taking a cautious sip. He blinked with surprise enjoying the taste.

"It's nice. Thanks." The blunette said taking another sip. He was surprised at the flood of warmth and glanced up into golden eyes.

Max followed Ray's gaze after a lull in the conversation and spied Kai and Tala's smirks. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Oh shit.' He thought to himself.

"You might want to rescue Ty." He said quietly into Ray's ear. "They are trying to get him drunk again."

"Drunk again?" Ray asked pulling Max off to the side of the group. "Dare I ask?"

"We visited Kai and Tala in Russia last winter. It was quite cold, minus 20 degrees Celsius and he complained one time too many. I had gone out with Bryan and Spencer to get something from the shops and they gave him a 'special' drink that would warm him up. They gave him home made vodka and kept pushing it on him. You know what I am like when I am on a sugar high? Well Tyson is ten times worse. Some of the stuff they managed to convince him to do... And man the hang over the next morning? He was sick for three days after that." Max explained. "While he is a lot of fun drunk; it is not something I want to experience again."

Ray flicked his gaze over to Kai and saw his friend was watching him like a hawk. The Russian gave his friend a smug smile. Max just rolled his eyes and turned back to the small group. Ray took this as his cue to rescue the hapless Tyson and wandered over. Kai pointed a lazily towards the bar fridge which Ray promptly ignored.

Rolling his eyes the Russian got off the bed letting Ray have his place next to Tyson. Kai then walked over to Max and pulled him aside. Ray and Tyson shared a small smile at the older man's actions. Tala snorted. "Still hasn't asked him out I take it?" he said with a drawl.

Tyson gave the red head a look. Tala laughed and gave the blunette a flirtatious smile. "Maybe we should get them drunk and lock them in a wardrobe or something."

Ray smothered a laugh at the image that popped into his head. Tyson looked down and bit his lip. "Good luck trying to get him drunk." He muttered before taking a gulp of his drink.

"It's not as hard as you think Ty." Tala said charmingly. Slowly he let his arm slide down the blunette's shoulders and come to a rest at his hip. Leaning behind Tyson he gave Ray a challenging smile. The Chinese swordsman smirked back shifting closer. Suddenly he grabbed pale fingers and bent them back all the while the cheerful expression never left his face.

Tala shifted uncomfortably as the pressure was increased until finally he cursed at Ray. Once his fingers were released he pulled his abused hand to his chest and shot him a glare. Ray just gave the red head a triumphant smirk. Tyson pointedly ignored the pair and concentrated on his drink instead.

"So. Enjoy the bouts this afternoon Ty?" Tala asked cheekily brushing a hand against Tyson's thigh. The blunette shifted his leg away without looking at the red head. He took another swig from his drink and continued to watch Max and Kai interact thoughtfully.

"Yes." Tyson replied curtly. Max looked away from his conversation towards the blunette and blushed at the smirk and arched eyebrow that was shot at him.

Tyson looked away when a firm hand was placed on the small of his back. He looked up into the possessive gaze of Ray and promptly blushed. Not to be outdone Tala openly placed a hand on the younger fighter's thigh. Without realising the trio had attracted the attention of their team mates and friends. Ray's team mates watched hiding their amusement well. Tala's team were plainly enjoying the little exchange. Kai had a smirk on his face.

A knock on the door caught everyone's attention. The power play between Tala and Ray stopped as Max opened the door. Lounging in the frame was Brooklyn and next to him was a very uncomfortable Kenny. Spying the trio on the bed made the oldest member of the Japanese team straighten; a strange look flashed across his face before it was hidden behind a careful mask.

Max and Tyson shared an uneasy glance. Sensing the sudden shift in mood Tala tapped Ray's hand and shot him a look. The Chinese fighter nodded sharply and the red head took the cue. "Tyson; want another cider?" Tala whispered in the blunette's ear. Chocolate brown eyes looked at him radiating concern.

"I have some in my room. Ray and I are going to get some. Want to come with?" he continued. The relieved look that crossed Tyson's face briefly made him smile.

"We are going for a breath of fresh air. Be back soon." He said with a coy smile at Kai. His friend rolled his eyes at him as he sauntered past. Tyson placed his empty bottle in the bin before exiting the room with Ray close behind him. Max shut the door preventing their team captain from following the three.

Tala slung a friendly arm around Tyson's shoulders shooting Ray a challenging look. He all but dragged the blunette along the corridor. Ray paced beside them ignoring the blatant attempts to gain another rise out of him. Unusually the red head pressed the button for the lift to go down. Confused Tyson gave him a strange look.

"Trust me. You two go into the stair well and wait there." Tala said quietly. Obeying the pair entered the stairs and waited. Tyson opened his mouth to say something but Ray placed a hand over the younger man's mouth and shook his head. The blunette nodded his head to show he understood.

Ray released his hand and placed his mouth directly against Tyson's ear. "He is acting as a decoy." He whispered before brushing a mouth seductively against his earlobe. Tyson shifted slightly causing Ray to grin. He pinned the younger man to the wall and traced his way down the exposed neck. Tyson bit his lip to prevent himself from moaning out loud and giving them away.

Tala walked quietly up the stairs and spotted the pair. He rolled his eyes when he saw the pair wrapped around one another, completely oblivious to their surroundings. He heard the ding of the lift from the floor below.

"Really?" he drawled. The pair sprang apart; Ray looked startled while Tyson sported a look of embarrassment mixed with guilt.

Tala smirked at Ray before resuming flirting with Tyson. "He is on the way downstairs. I sent the lift down every floor. Now...about that drink. My room is on the next floor up. You coming?" he said shooting the Japanese fighter a coy look.

Tyson looked at his watch before shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably. "Curfew?" Ray asked noting the anxious behaviour.

"Yep." Tyson said with a defeated sigh.

"So how about we take it to your room instead?" Tala said smirk widening.

Tyson blinked confused. The red head took pity on him. "Hiro stated that you had to be in your room. He didn't say that you couldn't have company."

"How do you know that?" Ray said with interest.

"I hear things." Tala said evasively.

"You eavesdrop." Ray said with amusement.

"Potatoe Potato." Tala said with a yawn. He returned his attention to the blunette and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you want to?" Tyson asked flustered.

"Of course." Tala said hooking an arm through his. Ray rolled his eyes and followed as the red headed Russian dragged Tyson up the two flights of stairs.

He bit back his amusement as Tala peered out the door looking for Brooklyn. Seeing the fighter wasn't there Tala dragged Tyson out into the hallway with Ray sauntering along behind them.

Tyson opened the room and with a sigh of relief toed of his shoes and collapsed on his bed. Ray sat close next to him with Tala making himself comfortable at its end.

"Didn't you two only meet two days ago?" Tala asked looking at Tyson with his piercing blue eyes.

"Ye-es." Tyson said dragging out the word uneasily. He lowered his head to study the quilt letting his fringe cover his face and hide it from the intuitive Russian.

"Your point?" Ray asked coolly. Golden eyes challenged ice blue.

"You two are moving fast for people who have only just met." Tala said all traces of mischief gone.

"What?" Tyson asked confused. He traced the pattern on the bedspread as he assessed the statement.

"You have gone from not knowing each other to acting like a horny couple." Tala said carelessly.

Tyson looked up startled. He shot Ray an uneasy look before studying the Russian. "Horny?" he repeated.

Ray shook his head. "You never were one to beat around the bush." He said with an amused laugh.

"I love to shock people." Tala said with an evil sounding laugh. Tyson gave him a weak smile in return.

"No one has interested me like Tyson has. I find it hard to control myself when I am near him." Ray said shooting the quiet blunette a heated look. Tyson looked at him and promptly blushed. Tala chortled at the exchange.

"He is ... special. I'll give you that." Tala said laughing as he ducked under the pillow that was thrown at him. Tyson glowered and moved towards the red head. Ray placed a restraining hand on Tyson's clenched fist. The tension seemed to drain out of the younger man at the touch.

A knock at the door was the only warning they had before the door opened to reveal Hiro. He looked surprised to see Tyson there especially with company. The older man studied the Russian and Chinese fighter quietly. "Ray Kon. Tala Ivanov." He said coolly acknowledging each of them in turn.

The pair returned the 'greeting' with a polite bow of the head. "Hiro."

"I was coming to tell you that the organisers have given your division a 'rest' day. Max has approached me and asked for me to allow the team to spend it on team building. We will discuss it further at the team meeting tomorrow." Hiro said calmly. Tala and Ray shot each other a look at the good news.

"You have a bout tomorrow." Hiro said giving his younger brother a meaningful look. "Good night."

Tala took the not so subtle hint giving the pair a wave and a goodbye punctuated with a fake yawn deliberately shutting the door behind him. Hiro gave the young Russian a heated glare and was met with a bland smile. Max chose that moment to walk into the hallway from the safety of the lift escorted by Kai.

Knowing his time was limited Ray snaked a hand out and grabbed Tyson's. Leaning forward he kissed the blunette gently on the lips before sliding off the bed reluctantly. "He is right. I am taking it a bit fast." Ray said with a small sigh rubbing the back of his head.

Tyson bounced to his feet and gave the Chinese blader a return kiss. "I will let you know when I find it too fast." The blunette said with a challenge in his eyes. Ray started a little at the look in the younger man's eyes.

The swipe of the card and the creak of the door interrupted them. Looking up they could both hear Kai baiting Hiro in the hallway. Max entered with a sigh.

"Hey Ray!" he said with surprise.

"Night Max. Good night Tyson." Ray said with an amused smile. "I better go rescue your brother from Kai's caustic tongue."

Max and Tyson held in the laughter until the door closed. After a few minutes the pair managed to get themselves under control. Max gave him an assessing look before opening his mouth.

"Just so you know Brooklyn's nose is a bit out of joint that you disappeared." The blonde said with a warning before grabbing his night clothes and heading into the bathroom. With a sigh Tyson quickly stripped and pulled his own pyjamas on.

"You decent?" Max asked only entering after an affirmative from the distracted blunette. "You okay buddy?"

"I'm fine. Just tired." Tyson replied with a shrug before sliding into his bed. Max turned the lights out before murmuring a sleepy goodnight which the blunette returned. He settled back onto his bed and let his thoughts run wild trying sort out the events from the past couple of days.


Sorry for the length of time it has taken me to update. Please review... :)

Hope you all have a wonderful New Years. Stay safe!

Love Storm xox