OK here is the final chapter of this story. I'm sad that I got few reviews for the last chapter, but oh well, my own fault for not updating sooner hehe. So I thank every single reviewer that has commented every single of the chapters, and that have given me valuable opinions and support. I also want to thank anonymous reviews that have given me good critism. I know that the last chapter I uploaded had a lot spelling and grammar mistakes, and I am sorry if it was hard to understand. I was in such a hurry to upload; I didn't even notice those mistakes. But anyways, I hope that this chapter is better.

Chapter 20 – Goodbye

Ray couldn't stop worrying. He was angry at himself for being stuck in this hospital bed. Several hours had gone by since he had last spoken with Kai. Was he alright? Did he find Tala? Were his friends safe?

He had called the police and requested them to go were Kai was going. Did they got there in time? Did he do right thing?

"Dammit!" he cursed. All this doubts in his head was already giving him a headache. After a few more minutes, some doctors and nurses rushed by his room. Curious about this Ray carefully made his way out of the bed and looked outside his room.

He saw them running towards the emergency room. Slowly he walked in the direction of the emergency room. He couldn't understand why he was getting a bad feeling about this. He was surprised to see Tala leaning against a wall. As fast as he could he walked towards him.

"Tala!" He shouted.

Tala slowly turned his head in the direction he heard his name. Ray stopped when he noticed his face. Tala's face was pale. Tears were in his eyes. He had an expression ray could not understand.

"Tala what happened? What's wrong?"He noticed his injured arm. Tala didn't reply, he just kept staring at the floor.

"Tala where is Kai? Is he okay?"

"He…sacrificed…for me…" Tala whispered.

"What…?" Ray couldn't understand him.

"He is…dying Ray….all because of me…" Tala looked at Ray, tears once again streaming down his face.

"What? Wait calm down and tell me what happened?" Ray was afraid of what Tala could tell him.

"He …got shot…to protect me…the doctors…just took him into surgery…" Tala was a little bit calmer now.

"He got shot? What about Andrew?" Ray could feel tears swell up his eyes.

"The police…just got him. Ray I'm afraid…afraid Kai won't make it" Tala looked at Ray

"Tala…he'll be fine. I know he will."Ray tried to smile.

Tala slowly looked at Ray.

"Kai is strong. We just need to believe in him." He helped Tala, and led him to a hospital bed.

"yeah…"Tala noded.

"Now tell me from the beginning."

Hours went by as Tala told the tragic events to his friend; a nurse was attending his arm in the meanwhile. After Tala had finished his story a doctor came out of the surgery room. Ray and Tala quickly walked towards him.

"How is Kai?" Tala asked.

"Your friend is fine. He is stable now." The doctor replied.

"Can we see him?" ray asked.

"You can see him as soon as we place him in a room. But not today, he needs to rest. He can receive visits tomorrow."

Both Tala and Ray smiled and sighed in relief. They both thanked the doctor as he left. "I told you he'd made it."Ray said in a happy tone.

"I'll visit him every single day!" he continued.

"I think you should head back to your room, its late."Tala said.

"Oh yeah I guess your right. So I'll see ya tomorrow then?"

Tala nodded and waved as he began to walk.

Days went by, and Kai was slowly recovering. Ray visited every single day, and Tala visited twice every week. One day Tala visited Ray in his room.

"How are you doing?"he smiled as he sat besides him.

"Oh I am so happy, that I am finally getting out of here soon!" Ray replied

"Ray…I….I'm quitting my job.""Tala informed

"What? Why?"

"I need some time…I wanted to have some vacations. Maybe move some place else."

"Oh I understand. Where are you going then?" Ray asked in a sad tone.

"I am not very sure myself. So I came to say goodbye, in case if I didn't see you anymore."Tala whispered.

"Hey don't worry. I can still call you once in a while right?" Ray smiled.

"Yeah." Tala smiled as he stood and stretched his hand at Ray.

Ray smiled once again and took hold of Tala's hand "Good luck then."

"Good luck to you too." Tala said as he began to walk out of Ray's room.

After a few hours, ray thought of visiting Kai. He wandered if he should inform Kai about Tala's leave. Maybe Tala didn't say goodbye to Kai. So he slowly stood and made his way to Kai's room.

Kai was asleep. Every time Tala visited him he would always be asleep. It was better that way. He didn't know what to say when he was awake.

"Well…I guess this is goodbye Kai." He began to caress his cheek.

In that moment Ray was about to walk in into Kai's room, but stopped when he noticed Tala stroking Kai's cheek.

"I never…really knew if you felt the same way I do…" Tala slowly smiled. Ray gasped, from the hallway.

"I love you Kai…but I don't want to hurt Ray." Tears slowly ran down his cheeks.

"That's why its best if I go…." He moved his face closer to Kai's, and gently, trying not to disturb Kai's sleep, he kissed him. A goodbye kiss for Kai. Ray couldn't not believe what he was hearing and watching. He felt angry, hurt, sad and confused. He went back to his room before Tala could see him.

A few seconds later, after Tala had left, Kai opened his eyes. He felt a weird sensation in his heart and a warm tingling feeling in his lips. He could have sworn he had heard Tala's voice. He sighed and looked at the hallway.

A week later Ray was out of the hospital. A few days after Kai was also released. Ray couldn't stop thinking about Tala, of what he heard and saw. Kai had been distant with him lately. Ray was so confused.

A knock on his door broke his thoughts. He sighed and stood to open the door, he was surprised to see Kai.

"Kai? Please come in." Ray smiled and led Kai into the living room.

Kai smiled and walked in, dragging a luggage behind him. Ray noticed and quickly asked him as he sat down.

"Don't tell me you plan on leaving too."

"I just came to give this to you." He handed Ray an envelop. Confused, Ray slowly opened and gasped at the huge amount of cash he held in his hands.

"My way of saying thanks, for everything that you've done for me." Kai said.

"But Kai…this is a lot of money." Ray replied.

"Please accept it. Can give this one to Tala as well?" He handed another envelop to Ray.

"Kai, I don't know were he is. He told me he was going some place else, but he hasn't communicated with me. You think you can try and locate him? It's better if you give this to him personally." Ray explained in a sad tone.

"My flight takes of tonight, I can't see him-"

"Kai, what's going on between you two? You haven't talked to each other in weeks." Ray interrupted. Kai just looked away and stayed silent. He didn't want to accept what he was feeling for Tala.

"Don't leave Kai. At least not without telling Tala how you feel." Ray whispered. Kai looked at him, surprised at what he had just said.

"I know that…you've never loved me the way I do…but Tala does love you."Ray continued.

"Ray…I…"

"Please, if you love him, let him now…before its too late."Ray whispered as he walked closer to Kai. Kai didn't know what to say.

"I just want you to be happy. Go, find him…I'll be alright." Tears began to ran his cheeks.

Kai sighed, and before he walked out of Ray's apartment, he did something, he thought Ray deserved. He gently hugged him, and allowed Ray to hug him back. They stayed like that for a few minutes.

What was he doing? Was he doing the right thing?

Kai thought as he kept running through the streets. His eyes looked in every direction, hoping to find the redhead.

Was it true that he felt something for Tala? He did remember hearing him say 'I love you' before he lost consciousness, when he got shot. But it could've been also his imagination, his mind playing tricks on him.

He knew for sure that Tala loved him….but did he love Tala? He remembered how every time he was him, he felt so calm. And there was warmness in his heart when he was so near him. His heart would beat fast, when he saw Tala smile. And he couldn't stop thinking about him every single day.

Love? Was he capable of loving someone?

Ray was right. If he didn't tell Tala what he felt, he would live the rest of his life lonely, sad. Yes he did love Tala. And he couldn't imagine his life without him.

It seemed like he had been running for hours, but he wouldn't give up. He gave a sigh of relief when he noticed a red haired young man sitting on a bench, gazing at the beautiful sunset. He fastened his running towards him.

Tala sighed and slowly stood, but was surprised to see Kai next to him, gasping for air.

"Kai?...what are you…" He gave him time to recover. After a few seconds, Kai cleared his throat.

"Tala…I…"He paused, not sure he was ready to confess everything. Tala just blinked waiting for Kai to continue.

"I came to thank you. And to…tell you that I'm leaving back to Russia." Kai continued.

"Oh…well…your welcome. And have a good trip then." A deep sadness dwelled in Tala's heart as he replied. He was about to turn and leave when Kai replied back.

"I'm not leaving without you."

"…What?..."Tala's eyes widened.

"I want you to come to Russia with me" Kai took a step closer to Tala. Tala couldn't understand what he was hearing.

"I want… to be with you Tala…" Kai whispered as he took another step closer to him. Then Kai did something that surprised the redhead.

Gently Kai hugged Tala, and pulled him closer to his body. Tala gasped and blushed as he felt Kai's strong arms tighten around his body.

"I've…never been good enough at expressing my feelings."Kai whispered in Tala's ear.

"It was never my intention to be so cold with you. I cannot hide anymore these feelings that I feel for you."He continued to whisper.

"Kai…what are saying…" Tala's voice trembled.

"You once told me that you love me." he released Tala, and cupped his face in his hands gently.

"I've never really told you the way I feel." He paused as he gathered strength to say what he was about to say.

"I love you."

Tala's eyes widened even more, and blushed even deeper. Not believing what he was hearing. Kai smiled. A true genuine smile Kai had not had in a long time. Finally he had been true to himself. His heart began to beat faster as he looked into Tala's face. His eyes suddenly focused in his lips.

Tala just kept looking at Kai also, smiling and not even realizing Kai's movements. Kai was longing for those lips. His face was slowly moving closer to Tala's. He didn't even care what he was about to do. Slowly Kai closed his eyes and his lips met Tala's soft one's.

Tala realized too late what was happening. At first he thought it was wrong. He remembered Ray. He began to tense, and was about to break the moment, but he lost control in Kai's kiss.

Their bodies were so close. Tala could feel Kai's abdomen muscles, and he slowly placed his arms around the back of Kai's neck. Together they ignored the stares that the nearby people gave them. The only thing that existed in that moment was them.

That same night, Kai and Tala waited for their flight, their luggage was beside them. Kai had called Ray, informing him that they would be waiting for him, for the last goodbye.

Kai had explained to Tala that Ray had been the one that had encouraged him to confess his feeling to him.

Together they held hands as they waited for Ray. After a few more minutes he arrived, Tala quickly let go of Kai's hand, afraid to hurt his friend even more.

"So you guys decided on leaving then?" Ray smiled. Kai nodded and Tala looked away.

"Hey come on Tala, don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He walked closer to Tala. Tala only smiled sadly.

"Really, I'll be fine." He took Tala's right hand and Kai's left hand. He pressed them together, making clear that he wanted them to be together. Both Kai and Tala looked at each other, then at Ray, and smiled.

"Just don't forget to call me ok?"Ray smiled. Kai and Tala nodded.

Ray hugged them, and they returned the hug. The said their last goodbyes, and turned to leave towards their fight, waving to Ray as they walked.

Tala sighed and leaned against Kai's shoulder. Kai smiled and leaned his head with Tala's. Finally Kai had exited the labyrinth of darkness he was trapped in and a new life waited for him and his love.

~THE END~

*sniff* the ending made me wanna cry…

Anyways, what did you guys think? Should I have ended it in a different way? So what did you guys think of this story overall? And thank you again for letting me share this story with you guys :)

OH! And I will be uploading a mini sequel. My first rated XXX one shot story about Kai's and Tala's first time. Yeah their first time hehe, what ever your thinking…that's what I mean. SO be on the lookout for it

Special thanks to everyone that reviewed. It really made me happy :D