Angel: holy crap it has taken me ages to write this chapter

Kai: raises eyebrow no kidding

Angel: I am so sorry for taking so long I hope you all forgive me

Kai: get on with it already I ain't got all day

Angel: okay okay you all know the disclaimer so I don't want to repeat it

Kai: .........

chapter 9 – Despair

"KAI" Max exclaimed.

Kai knelt down beside Ray and put his hand on the raven haired teens forehead. Kai's eyes narrowed, Ray's forhead was freezing.

"I need to take him to one of the bedrooms. I want you two to come with me so you can make sure no one disturbs us." Kai said to the two boys who sat and watched in silence. Kai lifted the young neko-jin into his arms and headed towards the bedrooms. Tyson and Max soon followed their captain, making sure along the way that nobody saw them. They soon reached a bedroom that was inbetween Kais and Maxs, Tyson opened the door so the others had no trouble getting in. Kai placed Ray on the bed and pulled a chair up next to it.

'Dranzer you have to take me back into his mind' Kai spoke out to Dranzer in his mind.

'Okay but it might take a while!' Dranzer squaked.

'Why do I have a feeling that we don't have that long, hurry it up Dranzer.' Kai demanded. Dranzer hooked up with Driger and Dragoon to make the access to Rays mind easier. Shortly after Kai collapsed beside Ray. Tyson and Max sat down on the couch that was in the bedroom.

"Tyson, this doesn't look good. What are we going to do?"

"I don't know Maxie, someone is doing this to Ray and I think we need to find out who it is." Max nodded his head as he stared at Kai and Ray.

inside Rays mind

Kai woke up in the same place as the last time he entered Ray's mind and world. But this time there was no light at the end of the hallway. Kai got to his feet and tried to get his eyes to focus in the dark. As his eyes adjusted, he started to make out outlinings of a door. With fear building in his stomach of the thought of being too late, Kai walked towards the door in a fast pace. He reached out his hand to grab the doorknob, but halted.

'Come on Kai this is no time to get jumpy...... whoever heard of me being jumpy.' Kai shook his head, finally grabing the doorknob and turning it. The door opened and the room beyond the door was dead silent. Kai walked through the door and looked around. Walking further into the room he heard very faint sobbing noises. He couldn't see where they were coming from. The room had a coffeetable in the middle with four large sofas one on each side. Deciding that he needed to look for the noise he started to walk around the sofas. Walking past the first creamy white sofa he found clothes items all over the floor, Kai's insides clenched at the sight. He now knew he was too late, but he needed to know how bad it was. He strode past the clothes and second sofa to see Ray huddled up naked against the back of the second light brown sofa. Kai froze seeing Ray in such a state.

Ray was shaking and scared to death, he heard footsteps. He didn't dare to look just in case it was his stalker and rapeist. Tears were making their way down his smooth cheeks, his main thought revolved around a certain slate haired boy.

'Kai, where are you?'

Kai couldn't budge he was horrified, he had never seen anyone so broken and not only that his promise had been broken already. Red orbs stared at the naked chinese boy with a far away look.

Ray whimpered out loud and softly said "Kai I need you, help me." The weak words Ray had spoken snapped Kai out of his daze.

"Dear God, Ray....." Kai murmured. Getting over the sight that laid before him, he strode over to Ray and carefully slid his fingers through the raven hair. Ray whimpered not really knowing who it was and fearing the answer. Kai didn't like the sound the younger boy had made, he didn't want Ray to fear him.

"Ray, it's me Kai. Look at me!" Kai said as softly as he could.

"Kai?" Ray's voice was panicked, he couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Yes, it's me!" Ray lifted his head and amber meet crimson. A small signe of life sparked through Rays dull eyes as he saw Kai. Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill.

"Shh, come here." Kai whispered. Ray winced as he moved into his captains arms. He buried his head into Kais chest, body shaking with sobs he desperatly tried to hold back.

"Ray don't hold your tears back. I'm not very good at comforting people, but I'll try. So just let go," With those words said Ray did. Kai let his fingers slide through Rays hair, many thoughts going through his mind.

'He is so beautifull..........eh I can't believe I'm having these thoughts and now of all times. I don't feel that way about him or anyone.' Shaking the unwanted thoughts out of his head, he continued to comfort Ray the best he could.

meanwhile in the bedroom

"Max are you okay?" Tyson asked Max who was blankly starring at the two boys by the bed. Tyson got no reply though.

"Hey earth to Max, you there buddy?" Tyson shook Max by the shoulders, ripping Max out of his thoughts.

"uh.......hey Tyson?" Maxs eyes were wide with worry.

"You have been acting strange Max, you spaced out just then. Are you alright?" Tyson didn't quite know why it bothered him.

"Well , to tell you the truth there is something I havn't told you guys about me." Max confesed. Tyson looked at Max like a curious kitten, and gestured for him to continue.

"I don't really know how to tell you this, so please don't hate me."

"I don't believe anything can get weirder than this." Tyson pointedly looked over at the two boys on the bed.

"No, I guess not." Max sighed, remembering the pain he had felt from Ray.

"So what is it Maxie." Tyson had his attention on Max again.

"I have a gift Tyson, I don't know if I feel very gifted with it but I can feel peoples emotions. I believe they call them empaths or something. Ray has been projecting a lot of pain and I can't help but feel it. Yesterday wasn't any different." Max didn't look at Tyson in the end, he felt like a freak.

"Hey, why didn't you ever tell us. Maybe you could help Ray." Tyson beamed a smile towards his friend.

"You think! You know Ray really cares for Kai. It's really strange, but I believe Kai can help Ray more than he knows." Max looked at Tyson who was still smiling at him.

"I believe Kai cares too, but he doesn't even realise it. He might think I'm thick headed but I'm not that thick headed. What can you feel off him Maxie."

"I can't ever hardly feel anything off him, he is very closed up. I do know that he will look after Ray, because we need him Tyson. I know it, you know it and Kai knows it." Tyson nodded his head and they both looked back at the two motionless people.

in Rays mind

Kai still had Ray in his arms, he cradeled him back and forth. Ray sniffled and kept his head burried against Kais chest.

'I can't believe I failed, wasn't the threat enough to keep that sick pervert away.' Kai was very disapointed in himself. During his many thoughts he noticed something out off the corner of his eye. Kai acted as though he was distracted and something moved again.

'What the?' Kai scanned the area until he meet two gleaming purple eyes. Kais eyes narrowed at the creature. The creature held Kais gaze for a while until it decided to run off. Kai didn't quite know what to make off this and decided to ask his bitbeast later.

"Kai?" Ray was looking up at Kai with tears and concern in his eyes.

"Hnm." Kai snapped back to attention when he heard Ray call him.

"What were you glaring at? Are you mad at me? Please don't be......" More tears were starting to pour down his beautifull face. Kai frowned at Rays words.

"I don't really know what I was starring at Ray, but I'm not mad at you just at myself.!" Ray looked at Kai confused and was about to say something, but was hushed by Kai.

"Don't blame yourself, promise me okay.?" Ray hesitantly nodded his head.

"Good, now I think we should return home." With those words said they both disapeared in a flash off light.

back in the room

"Hey Maxie, I think Kai is coming round." Tyson and his blond friend stared at Kai as he stirred. Kai opened his crimson pools and blinked at two figures that were watching him intently.

"What are you two looking at?" Kai spat, he didn't like being watched.

"You know what happened to him and you blame yourself don't you Kai, it's not your fault." Max said shocking Kai and Tyson with the revelation. Ray heard this too and pretended to be asleep.

"How....?" Kai was speechless and you didn't see that everyday. Tyson chuckled when he realised that Kai had had his guard down for Max to read his emotions.

"Max is an empath Kai, he can feel what your going through." Tyson smirked at knowing somrthing before there bleoved captain. Kai starred at Max and silently asked if it was true.

"Yes, I can fell Rays pain too. His pain speaks volumes unlike yours! And I'll inform you if he does." Max smiled gently at Kai.

"Do you mind read now.?!" Kais eyebrow twitched.

"No, Draciel asked me for Dranzer. Danzer can read yours!" Kai mumbled a curse and a thamk you to Dranzer. She chirped in return.

"Max, do you think you could help me?" Everyone jumped out off there skin, when Ray finally decided to let his presence known and speak.

"I don't know but I could try and help you with the pain. But you have to make the first move and stop blaming yourself." Kai shot Ray a death glare. Ray blushed, looked away and mumbled a sorry.

'He promised' Kai growled in his mind.

'Kai please leave it be. Driger tells me he keeps chanting 'I promised Kai, I promised Kai.....' so please.....'

'Okay Dranzer, now leave me be.' Kai had been glaring at nothing, until he heard some snickering. He glared at Tyson and Max in return for there childish behavior.

"Arguing with Dranzer, I hear she always wins." Tyson was living a dangerous life at the moment. Kai growled low in his throat. Ray looked nervously from Tyson to Kai and back. He had a hard time not overhearing the comment the dragon master made. His gaze left the two when his stomach started to make a funny noise. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Ray. Max smiled, Tysons jaw dropped and Kais eyebrow quirked.

"I think I'm a bit hungry." Ray was blushing like crazy.

"No kidding, sherlock." Tyson couldn't help but let slip. Kai thumped Tyson over the head.

"Hey!"

"Well let's go then." Kai picked Ray off the bed and walked out of the room and to the kitchen. Ray was still blushing all the way there. Tyson and Max starred after the pheonix, until they realised that they had left without them. Not much happened when they had their dinner except for Kai sending them to bed because it was late.

Ray was laid in his bed shaking, he didn't want to be left alone. Kai was stood in the door way watching Ray and shaking his head. He didn't know what to do with this tiger and didn't know if he had the patience he need. With a heavy sigh he made a decision. He went to his room got changed and went back to Rays room. He quietly shut the door up and walked over to Rays bed. Kai pulled the covers back, got in and pulled Ray into his arms. Ray stopped shaking and finally with a small and peacefull sigh Ray went to sleep. Kai soon folllowed as well.

Angel: Okay that really sucked but I really wanted to finally get this chapter up I'm really sorry for taking so long

Tala: I'll tell ya she drove me crazy during here writer block

Angel: I think I've gotten over it so enjoy and I hope my next chapter will not take as long

Kai: Don'scold her for mistakes, she couldn't be borthered to look up some words

Angel: blushes KAI, anyway love ya all and I hope to hear from you all