Progression

by LuxahHeart

A behind the scenes look through the three seasons of the original Beyblade series. Kai and Ray centered, mainly for Kai and Ray shippers. Collab work with PreciousRoy. Yaoi.

23. Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

And here we are, the last chapter for season one. A year later and the first season is officially finished! Bring your tissues!

Also, we finally reached 100 reviews! Thank you all SO much for all the love and support this past year, truly means the world to us.

Not much to say beside all that, once more we're still working on making sure we get V-Force started and ready but no real official date is set for when we'll start posting.

Anyways, enjoy! And we'll see you (hopefully) soon.

---

Somewhere, somehow, during the middle of the night and when the two had fallen asleep, Kai once more reading Ray into a perfect sleep filled bliss, the two were painfully unaware of how close they had been sitting beside each other the entire time. Warm under the covers of the hotel bed, having reveled in their last few hours together until the sun had set and actually making progress on the book, that when Ray had dozed off his head had slumped to the shoulder beside him. Kai wasn't far off behind him, finding it harder to keep reading as his own eyelids had become too heavy to keep open for much longer and his head went to the one resting on his shoulder, the book he had been holding and reading falling to his lap and forgotten.

The serene bliss of the early morning hours were disrupted by a loud banging coming off the other side of their hotel room door. Tyson out in the hall demanding their presence for breakfast, stirring the two slowly awake as Kai's neck strained with being bent to the side the entire night, and Ray's back stiff from having slept upright against the hard wooden headboard. Despite the pain their bodies seemed to be in, it had been one of the best sleeps since being in Russia the two ever had; almost similar to the night Kai had fallen asleep against Ray's chest the night he had come back to the team.

"C'mon you two, before everyone else eats all the food!" Tyson banged on their door again.

"It's all you can eat Tyson; the food will still be there." Kenny's voice echoed after him.

"We're comin'!" Ray groaned, trying to blink the sleep away as he hadn't really registered anything else other than Tyson's fist hitting the door on repeat until he felt the shifting beside him on the bed.

"Morning." He yawned, it finally clicking that Kai's head was still upon his at the moment and couldn't really move without jarring him away and for the moment, he really didn't want to do that.

With the realization of their sleeping arrangement hitting him, so did the terrible cloud that he had been hoping wouldn't come back over his head. This was it, their last day together as a family. In a few hours he was going to be stuck in an airport, watching his babies leave him and then suffer through his own long trip back to the village.

He had tried to promise himself he wouldn't cry, not again, not think about it too hard because he didn't want to have those intrusive thoughts be the only thing on his mind. So he pushed them out, for the time being and as best as he could for the moment. They still had a few hours; it was better to make them count.

"Sleep good?" He mumbled as Kai was shifting again and over another round of Tyson hitting their door.

"Hit that door one more time, I'll do the same to your face!" Kai roared through the door, gaining automatic silence. He too had just been hit with the position they were in. And yet was a little reluctant to move.

"Mmhmm. You?"

"Alright, but hurry up! Mr. D wants to make a speech!" Tyson huffed from outside, this time not touching the door.

Ray held in a snicker, for some reason he was going to miss that. "Yeah, back's kind of stiff though." He yawned, ignoring the heat racing on his cheeks as he tried to subtly stretch out his legs from under the covers and cracking his toes.

"Hn. Same." He replied as he tore himself off, trying to ignore the pain in his neck. He swung his legs over the bed, turning his back to him.

"Guess we'd better..."

"Yeah..." Ray breathed out as he moved, the thickness of what was fixing to happen rolling over them again.

After a quiet interlude of the two of them forcing themselves to at least wash their faces and brush their teeth, the two of them dragged their feet out their room and down the empty halls. Quietly. The elevator silent too.

It wasn't until they approached the dining room that any sound really registered. And suddenly, loud chatter pierced their ear drums. Familiar faces loaded up plates and laughed, seeming in good spirits, which made Kai sick. But he figured most of them were going home together anyway.

"There you two are!" Tyson bounced up to them, beaming with excitement like most of the others in there. "Geesh guys, don't look so down. We're getting to go home!" He laughed, not realizing that was exactly why the two of them were upset to begin with.

Kai's fist twitched. His skill of saying exactly the wrong thing was something that almost deserved applause. Or a smack in the mouth...

Ray tried to smile back, at least Tyson never seemed to get down by anything. Then again, he finally had his own father to go back home with him. His grandfather and eventually Max would be back to live with his dad after his time in America with his mom, hell even Kai was going to be back in Japan. While he, was left to stay in the village.

"Sorry Ty, just still a bit tired since you so rudely woke us up." He brushed it off, not wanting to bring on the water works with so many eyes and ears.

Tyson didn't seem to care, not losing his excitement with the two dark clouds that had floated into the room. "Well let's sit down, Mr. D has that speech and all." He took off towards the table he and the others had grabbed together, much like the day before at the Italian restaurant.

Ray dragged his feet to follow, might as well get this over and done with. As they followed Tyson to their table Mr. Dickenson saw the opportune moment to stand up, ready to make his speech now that all bodies were counted and present.

With a few clinks of his morning glass of juice with his spoon he had the rooms attention, the lively chatter dying away quickly though there was still a buzzing noise in the other two's ears. Whatever was being said wasn't even breaking through to their eardrums, somehow missing them and going through one ear and out the other as their eyes were set downcast on their empty plates.

However long Dickenson held the floor, they didn't know, they didn't really care, only when the room was erupted in a roar of applause did they finally find themselves back on Earth with the rest of the teams.

Tyson and Max were stood, wiping tears off their cheeks. "That was the most inspirational thing I've ever heard." Tyson choked.

Ray just gave a questioning look to Kai, though by the same blank look on his face he had no clue what was said either.

"Guess we should get something to eat..." Ray stood, grabbing his empty plate to take to the line of tables set up at the back of the dining room, decked out with an array of food that had been prepared for them all.

At the tables Ray's eyes scanned over the many different, colorful, dishes on display. Nothing really looked appetizing but he hated airport and airplane food so needed to fill up for the trip home. As his eyes raked over everything they came to stop on a familiar dish, one he had just the day before and that seemed to bright him up some.

"Hey, they got those... How do you say it again?" He questioned Kai beside him, knowing how to say it but just wanted to hear those rolling R's again.

Kai brightened a little at the chance to be knowledgeable. "Syrniki." He told him with as beautiful of a Russian accent as he could muster.

"That's right, think I'm gonna try the blueberry toppings today." Ray smiled for the first time that morning, plating some of the spongy circles on his plate and topping them off with the blueberries that were provided from a smaller dish.

"Great minds..." Kai replied as he followed suit. They didn't have raspberry anyway, and that was his second favorite.

"Don't forget the sour cream."

"Oh, right." Ray paused from walking away and went back, slopping some on top and passed Kai the spoon. "Too bad they don't have the tea, would have made this perfect."

Kai's eyes scanned the drink bar. There had to be some... "I'll go ask someone." He answered monotonously as he took off. His king deserved perfection.

Ray blinked and he was gone, he really didn't have to do that but he also didn't want to stop him. He went back to the table with his plate, waiting for Kai to come back before he started eating as the others were already halfway done with theirs.

"What're we doing before we go to the airport?" He asked.

"What're you talking about, didn't you hear Mr. D? After we eat we're heading there." Max answered, "We have to be checked out of the rooms before eleven or the BBA gets charged for another day."

"Oh..." Ray wanted to kick himself for asking, before a thought passed his mind. "We'll be there all day though."

"They have an arcade, and shopping plazas." Kenny supplied, "The adults think it'd be best if they keep us all together instead of like how it was yesterday, that way we're all there for our flights."

As Kenny finished his explanation, a small clink hit the table beside Ray.

A tall glass cup filled with hot, amber color liquid, slice of lemon and a cinnamon stick. Ray's brow arched, his stomach fizzing with excitement for a moment. Kai was seriously the best knight he had ever had, not that he had many others to start with.

"Who'd you kill?" He asked in a playful tone.

"No one!" He barked back a little too quickly. It only took a threat of complaining and a shitty review on trip advisor followed by some extra Rubels.

Ray just grinned as he stirred in his cinnamon stick before taking it out, "Spasiba." He said low and quietly, blowing on the steam before taking a sip.

Kai felt himself turn a little to goo at that. "You're welcome..." He muttered as he watched him. If he didn't look like that was the best tea of his life, he really would go kill that waiter.

"We're going to the airport right after this apparently." He figured he'd be the one that needed to break it to him, before Tyson jumped in and said something that would result in someone's actual death.

Kai choked a little on the coffee he got himself. "What? But why? It's still early!"

"Because we have to be checked out of the rooms by eleven, and this way the adults can keep an eye on us." Ray answered as he started to eat.

Kai sulkily went back to his coffee with a 'hn'. Because they really needed supervision from people who would let their own son jump out an airplane, or someone who up and left to go dig holes...

"Should be fun though, right?" Ray wasn't sure who he was trying to ask there, because so far there was nothing fun about this morning or what was to come.

Now, they were all going to be stuffed in an arcade, more than likely the adults were going to go off and do their own thing like they had been this entire time. While he and Kai were left to look after the kids one last time, while being painfully reminded by the planes coming and going that at some point they were all going to be on their own planes.

"You two need to hurry up, I swear this is the slowest I've seen you two move in like. Forever." Tyson's voice drawled out across the table from them.

Kai slammed his cup down and dramatically stood up from his chair, stomping off back to his room to get his bags without a word. That wasn't fair. They were supposed to have the day.

"What's wrong with him?" Tyson pouted as their fearless leader left the dining hall.

"Just didn't sleep good." Ray supplied, letting him go on his own and finished his food and the tea Kai had gotten for him quietly.

Once the plates had been cleared, the conversations endless, the bladers were quickly ushered back to their rooms one last and final time to retrieve their bags and quickly shoved onto the BBA bus awaiting them outside; the Majestics in their own private bus. The normal pairs all took up the seats beside each other, some taking a nap on the way to the airport while others had yet to shut up.

From the back, where Ray had followed Kai to sit away from the others, Max and his mother were actually seeming to bond in the row in front of them. Max going over his new blade that she had given him, the same one that he had used when he jumped out of the plane back on the lake. Though between the two, they were quiet as they watched the colorful and pointy domes pass them by on the snowy landscape.

Not even halfway down the road, the silence had finally become too suffocating and unbearable. Shifting where he sat, not wanting to set him off, Ray turned his attention from the window to Kai.

"You made sure to pack your book, right?" He questioned.

Kai's head snapped to Ray's instantly. "Yeh! I promise I'll let you know what happens."

"I'll hold you to it. What about your paint? It was in the bathroom; did you grab that?" Ray fired off another question. Kai had gone up to the room before him so he hadn't known if he just sulked the entire time, or actually made sure to recheck that he had everything.

Kai raised a brow. How could he possibly think he'd forget it? Was like part of his entire being!...Shit, wait. Did he? Yes!

"Of course."

Ray nodded, not sure what else he could ask now and felt the silence creeping back over them. "Out of everywhere we went, where did you like going best?"

"Oooooohhhhh..." He let out in a baffled tone as he relaxed in to his seat. "Um... That's a tricky one." He thought and thought. Really, they all had their highlights as well as disasters. It occurred to him though, the times he found most enjoyable were always when he was with Ray.

"Has to be Paris or Italy."

"Oh, that reminds me." Ray ducked down, pulling his bag out from under his seat and rummaged through it quickly. "Was able to get these back from Tyson, this one was yours." He plucked out the postcards they had gotten from the Sistine Chapel, holding the one Kai had picked and held it out for him.

Kai took it, flushing and looking around to make sure no one was looking before he pulled it out the little paper covering and let out a snort instantly.

"Best rated R tour I've ever been on." Ray chuckled quietly beside him, peeking over Kai's shoulder at the postcard in his hands after shoving his bag back under his seat.

"Will keep me warm at night." He blurted, not realizing quite how it sounded.

"Least one of us will be." Ray snorted, "Oh my god, you know what I'm gonna hate? No more hot water." He half whined; half groaned.

"Surely you have like... Something?" He asked with a cocked brow. Why wasn't he running away with him to France again?

"I mean if you heat the tub up, but you have to chop the wood, light the wood, hope it doesn't go out by the time you're halfway done. And with my hair, it's better to just dunk my head in half the time." Ray pulled the wrap around over his shoulder, playing with the ends that poked out from the red clasp.

"Maybe I'll just cut it this year, so that way it's not such a bother anymore."

Kai's brow twitched. "That would be a horrible idea."

Ray shrugged his shoulders, "It'll grow back." He dropped it over his lap, looking back out the window for a second. "Is yours really natural like that?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes. Why do people keep asking me that?"

"Cus it is a bit odd, cool, but odd." Ray grinned, "Tyson owes me fifty bucks though, he said you dye it."

His brow twitched harder "You bet on it!? And that twerp thought I dyed it!?" He spat out before he touched his hair awkwardly, "It's not odd..."

"Back in China, yeah." Ray chuckled, "I didn't mean that in a bad way, I like it." He shot out quickly, not wanting to upset his knight/newly appointed king.

He brow jolted harder. That was months ago. He'd sock that little shit in the mouth...

"...Really?"

"Yeah." Ray squeaked back, "I mean, it fits you. Ya know..." He hoped Kai knew, because all he could feel was his brain overheating again.

His brow arched higher. "...Because it's odd?"

"NO! That-That's not what I meant!"

Kai folded his arms in a huff. "Then what did you mean?"

The cogs stopped; shit how did he pull himself out of this one?! "Well, I mean I can't really picture you with brown hair, or blonde. So, it just suits you. Like, if I were to cut my hair it wouldn't be me anymore right? So if you didn't have your two-tones, it wouldn't be you." Hopefully that made sense, to him it did. At least, he thought it did.

"Or take Max, can you picture him with black hair?" He gestured to their golden child in front of him, happily passed out on his birth mother's shoulder.

Kai tilted his head and tried to picture it. "I don't know... I think he'd pull it off. Would be real piercing with those eyes of his." He let out before he cringed to himself.

God he was gay...

Ray cocked his head, a little too close to Kai's shoulder. "I dunno, maybe? Would probably make him look older than what he is."

Kai nodded in agreement. "That's true. Baby blonde is best." He said before his eyes went on his eldest ball ache. "He's suit being blonde just for the idiot factor..."

"But it would clash terribly with his skin tone, end up looking like one of those surfer dudes from California." Ray snorted.

"Which also suits him! He already calls everyone 'dude' and is too relaxed for his own damn good."

"Or maybe you're just too uptight?" Ray nudged him in the side.

Kai looked offended. "Me? I'm not uptight!"

Ray's brain thought of the most dumbest thing he had possibly ever thought as a comeback, 'that's right, the only thing that's tight is that tank of yours' though kicked it right out before it kicked out of his mouth.

"If you say so… Here, let's take a vote." He spat out instead.

Kai's other brow raised before the other one got stuck. "About what? And how can you have a vote with two people?"

"What're you talking about, we have a bus full of people." Ray grinned, gesturing out to all the different colored heads poking over the tops of the bus seats.

"We're voting on how stupid Tyson would look blonde?" He blinked, confused.

Ray rolled his eyes, "No, if you're too uptight or not. Here, just watch." He shifted in his seat, taking in a deep inhale. "Hey! Taking a vote, who thinks Kai is too uptight!?" He yelled over the other voices that filled the bus, causing most of the others to flinch in their seats at the sudden disruption from the back.

Tyson shot his hand in the air without hesitation, quickly followed by Grampa Granger. Mariah's hand went up next, Lee getting her other elbow in his side that prompted him to raise his hand. Michael and Steve's hands went up in unison, while Kenny's slowly raised above his seat and head.

Ray sat back with a grin on his face, looking smug as he raised his hand. "Hn, would you look at that."

Kai frowned and folded his arms, snapping his head at him. "What is that noise you've been making recently?"

Ray blinked at him, "What noise?"

"That nasally thing you do! It's annoying. Knock it off." He told him flatly.

"But... I'm not purring?" Ray arched a brow, maybe he let one slip without realizing it.

"No. I mean that stupid smug little noise you make!"

It finally clicked, "Ohhhh, you mean the same noise you make?"

Kai glared, "I do not make that noise!"

"Shall we take another vote?"

"Don't be a dick."

"Got another question for you guys, what's that noise Kai makes when he's pissed?" He called out to the other's again.

Tyson and Max's heads appeared over the seats staring back at their guardians. "HN!"

"That's it!" Steve snapped his fingers as if he had been thinking hard about it.

"I always thought you just had something in your throat." Emily added, "Now I know it's when you're pissed." She jotted it down in her notes.

Ray turned his smarmy, smug, face back to Kai. "Hn, two points for Ray and no points for Kai."

Kai's eyes spasmed roughly. "Don't- don't write that down!" He bit at her sharply. Why the hell was she jotting it down?

"Even if I didn't, it'd be right up in here mister." She pointed to her head.

"Hn. Just like it's right up here that you're fucking annoying and need a life..." He muttered angrily under his breath.

Ray rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. And he said he wasn't too uptight, or made that noise, yeah right.

Tyson's blue eyes seemed to stay on them for a minute, "Are we making bets or something?"

"No, just voting." Ray shook his head some, "And besides, you still owe me fifty bucks young man!" Some reason he always forgot about it, but since it had been brought up on conversation before, he figured now it was time Tyson paid up.

Tyson's blue eyes went innocent, "What're you talking about?"

"Oh don't give me that, Max can do the puppy eyes, but you can't. Where's my money Ty?"

"I um... I spent it yesterday." Tyson sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry 'bout that."

"It's fine, just know that I was right and won." Ray huffed back, of course he'd spent it.

Tyson blinked his big, 'innocent' eyes at the two before they went to Kai. "So, your hair isn't dyed?"

Kai's eyes burned. "No! What's the matter with you?! First you think I have face tattoos and then you think my hair is dyed!? Any other stupid assumptions I need to clear up for you, Shrimp!?" He exploded.

Tyson seemed to think for a minute while Ray snickered behind his hand quietly. "If I think of something I'll let ya know."

The simple questions seemed to have opened a flood gate, next thing they knew all eyes were turned around on them and there were more questions fired off left and right.

"What's with the tight shirt? Shrink in the laundry?"

"Are those contacts?"

"What's with the scarf?"

"Ever cut yourself on your own arm things?"

Ray's ears perked a little at the questions, seeing Kai shrink closer and closer into the back of his chair.

"He refused to take them off one night because I pissed him off and almost cut me, and his eyes are that color. Nuns tried to kick us out of the Sistine Chapel because of them." He answered what he could, hoping they were sufficient answers.

"What's with the paint?"

"Can you smile, or are you afraid your face will crack?"

Kai shrunk even more. He smiled! Hell, he laughed at Ray enough... "I didn't want to scare young children." He bit back as he pulled his arms in tighter.

Just as they were about to start round two, or maybe it was three, the bus came to a stop with a terrible screech. Jerking those not facing forward almost out of their seats, the doors promptly opening and Dickenson was the first to stand.

"Now if we could have an orderly fashion young people." Was all he said before he took his leave, letting the teens gather their things and follow after him.

Kai let out a sigh of relief. Thank god that was over. And then it hit him, making him let out an even deeper sigh.

They were at the airport.

"Last one in is a rotten egg!" Tyson shouted as he bounced out of his seat, intent on climbing over the empty ones in front of him as the others were crowding the walkway.

"What part of orderly fashion don't you get!? Wait!" Kai barked at him. At least he wouldn't have to deal with this shit again...

Tyson froze, one leg over the back of the chair in front of him, the other on his seat. Turning back and flashing Kai a stupid grin. "Whoops."

"And get your damn feet off the seats!"

Tyson pulled the one back over, putting both down onto the floor with his stupid grin on his face. "Sorry dad." He stuck his tongue out.

"I didn't say anything?" His actual father, who had been at the front with his own father, finally looked back and fixing to step off the bus.

Kai face palmed. At least he was making it easier to leave. Ray couldn't hold it in anymore, having been trying to fight himself from laughing for too long it finally broke out of him.

"Don't encourage him..." Kai scolded as he shifted out of his seat.

"I-I didn't do anything." Ray wheezed, trying to calm himself as the line started moving and they could get up.

"You laughing only makes him do it more! You know that!" He spat, looking over his shoulder with a scowl.

Ray stuck his tongue out at him, grabbing his bag and following the line as they made it off the bus in a more 'orderly fashion'. "You laughing only makes him do it more." He mocked behind him in a low, quiet chuckle.

Kai huffed. "Fine. Just keep on enabling him..."

"Oh lighten up, it's our last day."

Kai stayed quiet. Yeh... It was. Not even that now, really. Last hours. They joined the crowd of other bladers outside, all forming a semi-circle around Dickenson and the other adults.

"Now, once you're through the security checks you won't be permitted to come back through. We have the AllStarz leaving at three, then the flight to Japan is an hour after. The gates are right by one another, which also is near the food courts and arcade and a few stores. We want you all to stay in groups of two or more." Dickenson listed off.

Tyson draped an arm around both Max and Kenny, he could taste those cheap Hot Dogs already!

Eddy turned to Kai, "How you gonna get through security with those?" He eyed the red armguards.

Kai rolled his eyes, "I take them off, they scan them. Look, they're not sharp." He muttered as he nudged him in the rib with them.

Eddy almost jumped back into Steve, until he realized that Kai was right. They weren't sharp at all. "Oh..." He blushed a little, "Cool man."

Dickenson cleared his throat, "This way ladies and gentlemen." He tapped his cane, heading towards the glass doors and leading his pack of school children.

Kai followed, trailing along and getting ready for the hassle of unraveling his awesome outfit. He knew the drill. He picked up the tray and took off his scarf, arm guards and then the worst part... His belt.

Why he never wore different pants when flying, even he didn't know. Without the belt, he could fit two of himself inside. Which meant without hands, the staff were going to get an eyeful…

At the back of the line, that seemed endless even without their gaggle of bladers, Ray simply toed off his shoes and set them in the bin followed by Driger and held onto the bin till he could put it on the belt. Off to the side he noticed familiar red, purple, blonde, and green hair walking off to the side outside of the line. Where were they going?

"See you on the other side." Johnny caught his eye, waving almost arrogantly as they by-passed security with their bags being rolled behind them by Gustav on a trolley.

"Rich assholes..." He muttered, stepping barely an inch forward.

Kai turned, fiddling with the clasp on his stupid belt. "Hey!"

Ray's face fell, "I keep forgetting, I'm sorry." He tried to smile, showing he meant no harm. Really he did keep forgetting that Kai was one of them now, or... Had always been one of them? Sure, he was an asshole but now he was a 'rich asshole'.

"Hn..." He sniffed, trying and finally succeeding at undoing his belt, throwing it in the tray with one hand while scrunching up the extra fabric with his other to keep them up.

Ray went quiet after that, stepping again and again until they finally reached the conveyor belts where he could set his bin down. Only a few more people and he'd be able to get through to the other side, where he didn't really want to go but had no choice. Shouldn't have talked them out of running back to Paris.

Kai set his tray to roll on through the scanner and stomped through the metal detector with a face like thunder, which quickly cracked when loud beeping scared the crap out of him.

"S'cuse me son, but can you step back." The TSA agent stepped forward, wand in hand and at the ready to scan him for weapons.

"Kai... Your shoes..." Ray whispered behind him.

The agent's eyes went down to the shoes, "Need to take them off son, put them in the bin with the rest of your things." She grabbed an empty one, practically shoving it into his chest.

Kai took it one handed, trying to balance it as he looked around for somewhere safe to let go of his pants.

"C'mon son, you're holdin' up the line." She barked, not looking amused.

"Yeh, yeh. Just a sec..." He grumbled as he looked around some more. Really!? Not one corner?

The woman rolled her eyes with a loud huff, "Is there a problem?"

Kai glanced over his shoulder to see how close to earshot Ray was. As if he had a choice... He didn't want to get tasered... But he didn't want to flash everyone either.

"I um... Can't let go of my pants..." He muttered, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry?" The woman stared blankly at him, finally seeing that he was clutching his pants in a death like grip.

"Here." She huffed again, jerking the bin out of his hold. "Now can you take your shoes off?"

He crouched down, gripping his pants even harder to stop it slipping over his ass. Could he undo these stupid damn shoes one handed!? The woman's gaze made him feel more nervous than a big tournament.

Come on... Come on... Just... Untie...

Ray could only just stare back helplessly; did this always happen when they went through security? What was taking Kai so long? It wasn't like this was their first time going through these. Behind him he heard an irritable grunt, wishing he hadn't because it only made him feel more nervous for Kai. The line was only getting longer, the others waiting on the other side of them to get through.

"Today son!" The woman finally bellowed out in a louder voice, her patience with him gone.

Kai let out a tiny whimper and felt his face go as red as his armbands waiting to be scanned.

Fuck... He was just gonna have to...

He tore his hand away and frantically went to untie his hell shoes, feeling the waist of his pants falling further and further down until he felt the air against his back. He prayed Ray saw something shiny and was looking at that instead... Or anyone that could see this.

Ray's attention caught to the slowly falling hem of Kai's pants, feeling his breath slipping from him and telling himself to look away but couldn't as the bottom of his tank top became more visible, and then a bit of pale skin peeked before... Were those blue boxers? He wore blue boxers? He said he hated blue on clothes.

As the pants slipped just a bit lower, Ray's face burning and scolding himself harder to look the hell away, there was a pattern on the blue boxers and he found himself staring harder. Were those... Dinosaurs?

Finally undoing the damn shoes, Kai gripped the waist of his pants and jumped up, hoisting them up with him while kicking his shoes off. He didn't dare look at the woman. Or anyone else.

She shoved the bin back out to him, letting him put his shoes in and shooed him back through the scanner and waved him back through to her side. Waving him forward, this time the alarm didn't sound and she shoved him along towards the opposite end to collect his things. Turning to Ray with a look that said she was ready to lay into him too if he set the damn thing off, prompting him to jump forward quickly and quietly without issue.

"Thank the lord." She huffed as he passed her.

Kai glowered at the conveyor belt as he waited for his stuff to roll on through. He hated airports. Bunch of assholes... Finally, his tray came through. He was able to rip his belt out and fasten it before anyone else got a look. Ray silently followed after him, able to easily slip his shoes back on and pocketed his blade. Hoping to whatever higher power that his face still wasn't red.

"What took ya two so long? Everyone's already at the arcade." Tyson whined as they met him just outside the security check, shoes and everything else back in place.

Kai shot him a look. "Airport staff have nothing better to do than pick on people..."

"We got through fine." Tyson gestured between him, Max, and Kenny before he shrugged. "Well, c'mon you two old farts. Been keeping us waiting all day." He was already dragging the other two off towards the arcade, and consequently their gates.

"Where's the actual old farts at?" Ray bit back, not taking too kindly to being called old.

"The bar."

"Lucky them..."

Kai groaned. Not that he knew, but he had a feeling he needed a good, stiff drink after all this and what was left to come. But noooooo. He was stuck yet again babysitting.

It didn't take long for them to reach the arcade where the other teams were crowded in, along with other teens and some rowdy children running about unsupervised from one game to the next.

Ray scanned the dimly lit place; it was almost too crowded for how many people were in there. But he really didn't have a better plan on what to do with their time while they waited and just followed behind Tyson and the others to see what they wanted to do. Making sure not to step on tiny toes or have his own crushed by larger ones.

Kai avoided them all like the plague, finding a bench to sit himself down and look gloomy while he kept a hawkish eye on the others. Just because they were going home didn't mean they couldn't cause him embarrassment.

"Oh crap! I forgot to get money from my dad!" Tyson froze up, letting go of the other two and about bowled over Ray and a few other kids to go find his father.

Kai sighed, fishing in his pocket for his wallet. Since when was he the bank account? Figured, found out he came from a wealthy background and suddenly he was a human ATM.

"Here." He barked as he approached, holding out a crisp, blue 2000 ruble note.

Tyson stopped, blinking a few times. He hadn't meant him, but hell if Kai was handing out free money who was he to correct him?

"Thanks, dad." He joyfully snatched it out of Kai's hand and skipped back to the others, "Should come play a few games with us, dad!" He called back to him.

"Stop calling me that!" He yelled, "And no. I'm good here. A-and I expect some damn change!"

"Okay, okay." Tyson sang back as he fed the note through the coin machine, "You sure, there's an air hockey table over in the corner."

He wriggled in his seat as he glanced over. Did look kinda fun... He didn't know how to play though. Didn't want to look a chump right before he left them. Of all people, not to Tyson...

"I'm fine."

"You sure you don't want to play? There's four... Things?" Ray questioned as he pointed at the table and the two sets of blue and red... Things, sitting on the white surface.

Kai narrowed his eyes at him. Not him, too. "I said I'm good."

Ray frowned a little at him, "But I don't know how to play."

Kai's eyes narrowed even more as he tried to telepathically tell him 'neither do I'.

Ray held his hands up, no use in riling him up more. "Okay, sit there and pout." He went off to join the kids at the table.

Kai wriggled himself in to the bench and did his famous head down, eyes closed routine. It was fine for a while, but the constant noise of the machines mixed in with the sound of people cackling or shrieking was starting to tickle his curiosity.

What was so fun about this crap anyway? Wasn't real guns... Wasn't real cars... Wasn't real guitars.

His eyes scanned the room. He didn't know what Michael and Eddy were playing, but they were sure having a good time. Looked like Eddy was kicking his ass too. Good for Eddy. He didn't mind Eddy.

He frowned at Kenny. He was trying and failing miserably at a grabber machine trying to win... Fuck knows what.

Emily was trying to get Steve to dance on a mat of some kind. Looked ridiculous. And slap bang in the middle were the guys. Looked like Max was showing Ray how to play and going up against Tyson. They looked like they were having fun...

"No Ray, you can't use your other hand to block the goal. You can only use this." Max groaned for the third time, moving Ray's hand away from the slit in the table as Tyson pelted the puck back to their side.

The black disc clinking against the sides of the table back and forth until it just ended back up on his side.

"Sorry..."

"Tyson, quit hitting it so hard. That's the seventh time you've just bounced it off the walls." Max groaned again, sending a slight glare at Tyson on the other side of the table.

"Sorry dude." Tyson hit the puck again with less force, actually letting Max get a hit on the disc and sending it back towards Tyson's side and finally the game got underway.

Kai straightened up in his seat, stretching his neck to try and see it. He smirked a little at Ray, watching his eyes slit a little and his fang slip out as he watched the... Disc thing... Darting around and his free hand twitching, looked like kitty wanted to play with it.

As the puck came back soaring across the table, Max stumbled to move to block it from getting inside their goal when a tan hand slapped the top of the table and stopped the puck dead center.

"RAY!" Both Tyson and Max groaned in unison.

Ray's hand jerked up off it quickly, damn cat genetics... "Sorry guys..."

Just like the time he looked up in the Sistine, Kai couldn't hold it in. "PA!"

Max took a step back from the low growl he could hear rumbling out of Ray's chest, if he had a tail it'd probably be twitching at the moment.

"I can hear you over there!" Ray yelled above the noise and the crowd.

"Good!" He heaved out as he doubled over. Oh my god, it never stopped being funny!

"He... He does laugh!" Tyson jumped around, looking more excited than he should.

Max saw the opportunity and he took it, the puck soaring across the table and slipping right through the crack in the table, causing the score to go up a point and a small ding going off.

"Hey! I wasn't looking!" Tyson spun back around, fishing out the puck from the bottom of the table. "No cheating Maxie."

"Ooooohhh! 'Atta boy, Maxie!" The bench warmer shouted back, a little discombobulated from the laughter fit.

"Don't encourage him." Ray mocked Kai's words from earlier, though was subtly patting Max on the back. It earned them both a point after all.

"That one needs it!"

Max beamed, "Thanks, dad!"

He settled back on to the bench with a content 'hn'. 'Bout time Max played dirty against Tyson. God knows he always did it to him...

"Why don't you come and play with us now?" Tyson shouted over his shoulder, trying his hardest to keep the puck from getting back through his side of the table.

The other two having found a rhythm as Ray had stuffed his free hand in his pocket and clutched his blade to keep himself from grabbing the puck again, though that didn't stop his eyes from slitting fully or the small growls slipping through.

Kai arched a brow. "What? Can't handle them by yourself big guy?"

"Just come help me!" Tyson huffed as he hit the puck too hard again in his agitation, it bouncing randomly from wall to wall before it sunk into his own goal and earning Max and Ray another point.

"Daddddddd."

The moment Tyson turned around to whine, Kai was already there. "I told you to knock that off!" He bit as he snatched a... Thing.

"Now shut up and tell me how to play."

"You just keep the puck from going into your own goal, you can't touch the puck with your hands." Max said, eyeing Ray beside him hard for a second. "And don't hit it so hard it just flies all over the place."

Kai shrugged, seemed easy enough. Tyson smacked the puck, sending it soaring. Oh... Crap. Maybe this was a challenge. He'd have to put all his focus in to this. Time to forget everything. There was only the puck...

The puck bounced from one side to the next, neither making any head way for a good while as the clacking from the puck hitting off the things and the walls was the only noise at the corner of the arcade.

"Mayonnaise is gross." Tyson said as the puck made its way back to his and Kai's side, just before he hit it across the table.

Max faltered for a second, eyes on the puck till they tore away from it to Tyson. "You take that back!"

"Max the puck!" Ray tried to grab his attention, his free hand twitching something fierce to slam it on top of the damn thing again and before either could stop it, it slipped through the crack.

Tyson let out a victorious cry, holding out a hand for a high five. To his surprise, he got one.

"Quick thinking, Shrimp. I got some ammunition for Ray..." He smirked mischievously at him.

"Thought we weren't supposed to be encouraging bad behavior, father?" Ray asked with a hip out, eyes hard on the other two as Max fished the puck out from under the table.

"And I thought you weren't a cat... But here we are." He shrugged innocently.

Max quietly laughed to himself as he put the puck back down on the table, sending it back off towards the other two. Ray too embarrassed for a comeback at the moment, his slit eyes going to the damn irritating thing again. The puck was once again in motion, Kai's eyes following it as best he could while also eyeing Ray. He'd taken a few swipes and missed. Just one more... And with an irate swish, he missed again.

"How are you supposed to hunt birds if you can't even hit this thing? Gotta be quicker than that, Raymond!"

Ray gripped the small handle to the thing and his blade tightly, the growls in his chest getting louder. As the puck came flying back towards him he made sure to hit it, though like when Tyson was hitting it, the damn thing just bounced around the table furiously.

"Oh sweet honey iced tea..." Max palmed at his face.

"It's your father's fault!" Ray bit out, though his own face was blending nicely with the color of his headband.

Kai's eyes went to predator mode themselves, swinging his arm and hitting the puck beautifully to make it soar in to the goal.

He all but jumped, feeling overly excited. "Don't blame me for being better than you!"

Tyson held his hand up for another high-five, bouncing beside him. Adrenaline pulsing through him, Kai turned and smashed his palm to his little pain in the ass. Max fished out the puck again, he wasn't about to give up and neither was Ray. They could do this... Maybe...

He sent the puck back across the table, all they had to do was not pay attention to the two immature kids across from them and they'd be able to do this. As long as they concen- and the puck was back in their goal.

"WOOOO! Nice shot, Shrimp! Suck it, Ray!"

Max had a sinking feeling this was becoming more of a war between mom and dad than a family thing, watching Ray slam the puck back on the table and eyed Kai dangerously across from them.

"I'm sure if you asked the Pixie." He hit the puck across the table, hoping to make him falter.

"Kai!" Tyson fumbled around his stiff arm, missing the puck as it went into their goal.

Max flung his arms around Ray's shoulders; he didn't know who the pixie was but who cared?! "Nice shot mom!"

Ray let Max hang off his neck, a smug grin plastered on his face. "Told you to drop the cat jokes, didn't I?"

Kai's blood continued to flow to his face, all it would take would be Tyson to ask and Ray would probably tell... He just hoped he was as stupid as always.

"Well if you stopped acting like one, I'd stop laughing at you for it!"

"Oh, because it's somehow my fault that's how I was born?" Ray gave him a dull look as Max unlatched himself from him, just in time as Tyson sent the puck towards them.

"Hey, c'mon you two we're supposed to be having fun." Max interjected.

"Could say the same to you..." Kai grumbled back.

Tyson puffed his cheeks out, "How is it you two can room together, and still hate each other after all this time?" He bounced the puck back at Max, since mom and dad were now locked in a staring contest with each other.

Ray's tense shoulders seemed to relax, is that what they thought? "But I don't..."

Kai turned his fiery, flustered gaze to the shrimp. "I don't hate him!" He shrieked.

Tyson just chuckled, wiggling a finger in his ringing eardrum. "Okay, just thought you two were still after each other's throats. Kind of reminded me how we all started, with this back and forth you two were doing."

Kai felt his face combust, "We- never changed!"

"I never hated him to start with." Ray added, the game now between their kids for the time being as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

As Max sunk in another point for them Judy stepped into the arcade, "Alright everyone, time to go."

Ray's body went stiff again, how could it already be time for them to leave?

"Wha!? Already!?" Tyson bellowed at the blonde woman.

"Coming Judy." Emily's voice carried from her game, dropping it without a seconds hesitation and joining Judy at the front of the arcade.

Slowly the boys were a bit more reluctant to pull away from theirs, each about to beat the last high score they had already placed up on the leader boards, but soon enough they moved away and joined the other two.

Max's blue eyes brimmed, bouncing from his team to his mother as he straightened himself up. The puck left forgotten on the table in the middle, his hand loosening its hold on the thing in his hand.

"Comin' mom." His voice cracked, turning to the closest person beside him.

Ray could only look back at him, his own eyes tearing up and wishing they weren't. He knew this was coming, but it didn't feel right. That was his baby, how could he just let him go?

"Gonna miss you." Max wiped the few rogue tears rolling down his freckled cheeks.

Ray nodded back, his throat closing up on him as he fought hard not to break down.

"I promise to write to you though." Max threw himself back around Ray's neck, holding him tight as Ray wrapped him up in his arms.

"Be safe, Maxie."

Max nodded, pulling away slowly and picked up his bag before going to Tyson and Kai on the other side of the table. Ray watched, wanting to hug him again, that went by too fast. All of this did and he hated it.

Tyson's eyes bulged and streamed along with his nose and his wobbling lip. "You'll be back soon enough, right?"

"Y-yeah, of course I will." Max nodded furiously, shifting his bag on his shoulder. "And I'll call you, it'll be over before you know it and we'll see each other again."

"You took my number right?!" He checked desperately.

"Got it right here." Max patted his yellow bag, finally throwing himself around Tyson's neck. "I'll see you soon." He cried into Tyson's shoulder.

Ray's heart chipped away some, happy but envious that they were going to get to see each other again, but would rather have it that way for them than anything else.

Kai shifted his feet and glanced around. If he didn't make eye contact, maybe he'd just go.

Max peeled himself away from Tyson, stepping up to Kai and holding his hand out for Kai. "It was nice meeting you, and thank you... For everything." He hiccupped.

Kai's eyes snapped to him as his heart clenched. That... That was it? 'Was nice to meet you.' What was he!? A chatty old lady at a bus stop!?

He cleared his throat. "Likewise..."

Max's tears poured out harder as he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Kai's stomach and burying his face into his chest.

"I really mean it; I'm going to miss you Kai."

The angelic, red and puffy face slamming in to his chest as well as the pathetic voice made an equally pitiful but quieter whine leave his throat. He stood stiff and still. Ray was the only person he'd ever really had any kind of kinship with. It felt weird with the puppy child. But what was even weirder was that it hit him right that very moment that he was going to really miss him too.

"Likewise..." He repeated, trying to make his voice come out as manly as possible with minimum waiver and making his twitching hands stay where they were.

Max squeezed him tighter, as if he was trying to break his spine, before letting go and wiping his face. "See ya around." He turned back to Tyson for one last hug, practically lifting him off his feet and called to Kenny to say their goodbyes before he was out the arcade with his mom and the AllStarz.

He cupped his hands to his mouth, "Bladebreakers rule!" He shouted back to them over the crowd.

Kai felt his body jolt. Max was going to be gone in a matter of moments. That goodbye didn't feel right...

Maxie was excitable, but always had listened to him and wanted to do better. He was a good underling... If you squinted. Besides, if it weren't for Max, things might have ended very differently. He owed him a lot for that...

Shit, he was a good boy!

Drowning out Tyson chanting their team name as the blonde started to walk off with the American team, he looked around frantically. His eyes caught it.

That'd do! Max left some coins on the side of the air hockey table.

"Idiotlefthismoney, I'mgonnatakeitbacktohim! Stayhere!" He fired out at warp speed, snatching it and bolting.

Ray blinked a few times, tears rolling down his cheeks but he didn't understand a damn thing Kai had said, and before he could ask him Kai was gone. Tyson turned to him with a dopey grin before it fell.

"Hey, it's okay mom. He said he'll write to you."

Ray only nodded back, "Should we try and finish this?" He hoped for a distraction.

The dopey grin came back, Tyson snatching up his beater and got ready for another round of air hockey while dad chased down Max.

Kai hauled ass. He felt a little silly when he realized he didn't really have to. They hadn't gone that far. He saw the orange dungarees and blonde bouncing along within moments.

"MAXIE!" He yelled out, panicked.

The whole group stopped and turned, giving weird looks at Kai as he came charging at them. While Max's eyes lit up, stepping forward some to see what Kai needed.

"What's wrong?"

He skid to a stop, his stupid shoes squeaking on the floor. "Uh..." He froze, getting his breath back from the brief but intense exertion and noticing the eyes on him.

"You uh... Forgot this!" He spat out bluntly as he shoved his hand out.

Max held his hand out with a questioning look and a small sniffle, "Oh... Thanks da-Kai..." He grinned, curling his fingers over the coins Kai had dropped into his open palm.

"Here, I... I wasn't sure where you would be going and stuff. But this is my phone number and address, for America and the one in Japan." He rummaged in his bag, pulling out a folded up piece of paper and held it out.

"If you ever want to just say hi, ya know?"

Kai took it and blinked away the film or salty feels glazing his eyes. "Thanks... I uh..." He hesitated. They were clearly in a rush but... He never did tell him...

"I'm going to some stupid boarding school!"

Max tilted his head. That was... Sudden. He opened his mouth to respond but got cut off.

"So... I don't exactly know my address or anything yet... I'll have to write you once I get settled in."

Max's baby blues shone, but not with the unshed tears. "Okay! I'll be able to just get the address from that then! So I'll talk to you soon, okay?" He bounced, unable to stop himself he lunged forward again and wrapped Kai up in a hug like he had done Tyson, though Kai's feet never left the floor.

Kai gave the AllStarz a glare in warning to look away. What were they staring at? Eddy, Steve and Michael rolled and averted their eyes while Emily kept giving him a smug look.

Kai sighed. God, he hated her.

"Yeh. Promise..." He muttered as he brought his own arms round and gave him a few man-pats to the back. "And keep practicing, okay? I'll know if you don't..."

"Aye, aye!" Max laughed, pulling back and just stared back up at him. "And... Take care of yourself, okay?"

Kai looked down and felt his heart snap. That god damn... Charming face... Made of sunshine...

Urgh! He couldn't take it. "I'll be fine. But thanks, Maxie..." He smirked as he brought his hand up to pat and ruffle the golden blonde mop.

Max giggled a little, "Bye Kai." He waved one last time, stepping back and skipping the rest of the way back to his mom and the others. Waving one last time before they started towards their gate.

"One down, two to go..." Ray breathed out heavily behind Kai, Tyson and Kenny standing just shy behind him.

Kai leapt out his skin, letting out an almost inhuman yelp. Where the fuck had he come from?!

Ray pointed at their two left, "Kids are hungry."

He slapped his palm to his face, the skin feeling clammy from the mix of running, emotions and being scared the crap out of.

"Of course they are..."

"Saw a place on our way to the arcade." Tyson bounced, "Looked cheap enough."

Kai arched a brow. Of course he'd say that... He wasn't paying. "And where would that be?"

"That-A-Way!" Tyson grabbed Kenny round the throat, spinning them around and started marching towards to their next destination.

The older two just followed behind, at least Tyson could still smile and put on a brave face after just sending off Max. Though they knew better, it was just how Tyson worked. Smiled to hide the frown, joked to ease the tension.

Ray figured he'd keep what he had saw to himself though. He knew daddy had a soft spot for their golden child all along, he could only hope Tyson's sendoff was going to be close to the same.

"What better way to fill our stomachs but with some good ol' fashioned hot dogs!" Tyson gestured to a food stand that sat in the walkways, there was a small line of other people there, the smell of the boiled meat filling the space.

Kai felt his insides churn. He should have known the shrimp wanted to eat crap. Kenny seemed somewhat hesitant too. His delicate digestive system had taken a pounding on their travels.

"If you want hot dogs, then go for it." Ray shook his head, he hated airport food and wasn't about to eat that.

Tyson seemed to pout at them, "Well what do you guys want?"

Kenny pointed a nervous finger. He could tell Tyson was lusting after those cheap, grey looking hotdogs.

"There's a Russian restaurant over there. Looks nice. Could be a nicer way to spend the last hour..."

"Okay..." Tyson seemed to sulk, "Not like we just didn't have Russian food before we got here, had it the day before, or the day before that." He sulked the entire time he pulled Kenny and himself out of the line, going to where Kenny had pointed with his arm still around his neck.

"But Tyson! We'll probably never eat it again!" Kenny reasoned as he got dragged along.

Ray just laughed, he was going to miss this, and followed along. Maybe he could stomach something after all, since it was actual food instead of boiled hot dogs from a dirty bin that probably hadn't been washed in years.

They by-passed the bar where the last three adults were still at, drinking without a care in the world on Dickenson's dime. He could have sworn he saw vibrant pink hair above a clothing stand through the window of a store and turned to look the other way to avoid being seen. He'd have plenty of time to spend with them on the plane and when he got home, right now he wanted to stick with the others and didn't want to have to do a stupid tug-of-war.

Not even barely through the doors there was an ecstatic yell a few tables behind the half-wall, followed by a hand being shot up in the air and waving frantically, trying to grab their attention.

"Oi, over here boys! Just in time, you can sit with us." Enrique waved them over before the host had even opened their mouth to speak.

"Hey! Enrique, Oliver, Robert!" Tyson waved back, pulling Kenny along. "And Johnny." He didn't forget, but he had said his name less enthusiastically than the others.

The purple haired owl gave a polite nod with a slight smirk. "Bladebreakers..."

Oliver beamed a serene smile with overjoyed eyes as he wiggled his fingers in a wave.

"Why haven't you guys left yet?" Tyson asked as he made himself comfortable at their table, sitting on the opposite side of Enrique and Johnny. Robert at the head of the long table, that was too big for just the four of them to start with.

"We can leave whenever, but Oliver wanted to go shopping and then Enrique got hungry." Johnny explained in a bored tone, looking like he was ready to just get up and leave but it was Robert's private jet.

Oliver gave a lyrical chuckle. "What? They have some lines that I can't get in France!"

Johnny seemed to shrug, "It's called the internet, and not like you can't come back."

Enrique rolled his eyes, turning to Ray on the other side of him where there had been an empty seat. "So, when does your plane leave?"

"Seven." Ray answered as he pretended to read the menu that had been brought to them, knowing very well that he couldn't but didn't want to talk about it again.

Oliver blinked. "Boy... That's a long wait." He sympathized.

Ray just shrugged, "It's a short flight though."

"Guessing Blondie already flew the coop?" Johnny asked with a slight chuckle.

"A few minutes ago, yes. Should be boarding his plane to the States any moment now." Kenny informed him, remembering how much he disliked him.

"Can only hope he has safe travels, going to be a long flight." Enrique said before he took a sip of his water, "What about the rest of you?"

"Tyson and I take off at around 4. Kai I believe is 5:30?" He said with a side look to his captain for confirmation. He got a silent nod.

Enrique arched a bleached blonde brow, "Why are you on a separate plane?"

Kai tensed up. "Different airport." He muttered at him. Stupid Enrique...

Enrique nodded, that was a good enough excuse.

"Figured you'd have your own private plane like us. Who knew you came from money with the way you dress." Johnny hoped to rile him up.

Kai narrowed his eyes at him. "Not all of us feel the need to flaunt it or feel like it defines them..."

"Then you aren't really living, my friend." Johnny smirked.

"Alright that's enough, just shut your trap and eat your bread sticks Johnny." Enrique jumped back in, hoping to keep whatever he was trying to do from escalating.

Ray put his menu down and slid it over to Kai, pointing at a picture of some meat piled up on brown rice with pieces of what he assumed were carrots cut up.

"What's this?"

Kai looked down at it, feeling better instantly. Fuck that self-entitled 'Knight'. He was the real knight...

"It's called Plov. Like pilaf."

"Is it any good?" Ray questioned, looking up from the picture to meet Kai's eyes briefly.

Kai felt his face heat up. He was reallllllly going to miss those eyes. "Mmhmm..." He let out dumbly as he stared back equally as dumbly.

"What're you getting?" Ray asked, wondering why Kai was staring at him like that all of a sudden.

Enrique gently kicked Oliver's leg under the table, nodding subtly towards the boy on his right.

"I uh..." He stuttered as he ripped his eyes back to the far less attractive menu, "Maybe the ikra..."

"Get whatever you want, bills on me." Enrique nudged Ray a little beside him, jolting him more back into his own chair instead of hovering as close as he had been towards Kai.

"What is that, Kai?" Oliver asked with a smooth, interested voice as he leaned his chin on his hands.

"It's... Well, it's caviar and sour cream on either bread or a crepe..." He explained as he got a little more red. He hoped they didn't think he chose that to be snooty. Wasn't that kind of caviar... And he knew how Ray felt about 'rich assholes'.

"Oh that sounds good, been a while since I've had some fish eggs." Tyson said excitedly.

Robert arched a brow. "You eat caviar?"

"It's similar to what Kai just said, we call it ikura." He made sure to pronounce the a at the end, "But I wouldn't call it caviar, it's not like we eat it on silver plates and have fine wine with it." He laughed.

"Yeh. Ikura... Ikra?" Kai started off, struggling to find which accent he was using, "Comes from salmon whereas the fancy stuff comes from sturgeon..."

"I don't care where it comes from, the stuff is good." Tyson grinned.

Kai felt himself relax for some reason. And for once, actually wanting to ask the shrimp something. "You ever had it on anything other than rice though?"

Tyson tapped his chin in thought, "I don't think so."

"You should get some then. I wanna know if your Japanese taste buds can handle it..." He smirked. As he'd noticed living there, as well as having his Asian side come out at times, if it wasn't on rice, it was blasphemy.

"Always up for a challenge." Tyson shrugged with a dopey grin, "Why don't we all have it? Make it easier on the waiters?"

Ray just stared at their oldest. Who was he and what had he done with Tyson? Kai shrugged. Genuinely curious and a little excited to see what he and the little nerd thought.

"Yeh. If everyone is cool with that?" He asked, looking at Ray. What was it his majesty desired?

Ray gave him a weird look too, who the hell was this and where had Kai gone to now?! Did he somehow stumble into a different dimension? Was it because they were sitting with the Majestics? None of this made sense, but he figured he'd just roll along with it.

"That's fine, never had it before anyways."

Oliver clapped his perfectly manicured hands happily. "I want some too! Can I have the crepe version? Maybe I can serve it in my restaurant!"

Something sparked in Ray's head, "Did you know my uncle works for you?"

Oliver blinked and tilted his pretty head. "Hm?"

"My uncle, his name is Stan. He works at one of your restaurants in Pairs."

Oliver thought hard. He had a few Stans... Ah! But of course! Only one Chinese Stan!

"Stan Kon!?"

Ray smiled, "Yeah, that's him. Has a mustache and beard, didn't know if you knew that or not."

Oliver clapped like an excited school girl. "I love him! He makes the most amazing steamed pork buns!"

Kai folded his arms and smirked. "Puts Cocoa powder in his chilli too like a pro..."

Ray slapped him on the arm, before another spark went off in his head. "You're going to have to send me your recipe, just so that way I can compare the two back home."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "What!? As if I'd give you something so valuable!"

Ray pouted a little, "Oh like I'd sell it on the internet or something. C'mon."

Kai pouted back. "You might..."

Oliver winked at him. "I understand... A chef wants to keep his signature his own..."

"I don't have internet." Ray laughed, shaking his head. "Fine, don't send it to me. I'll just stand by what I said before."

Kai snapped his head back to him. "Hey, no fair! I made it for you! You know it's better!"

Ray put on a smug grin, "Maybe I lied?"

"Wait, you don't have internet?" Tyson cut in, "How are we going to send e-mails?"

"I gave you my address, so you could write to me Tyson. Remember?"

"Oh, yeah I almost forgot." Tyson chuckled.

Enrique tore away the corner of his napkin, quickly scribbling down his address from a pen he had swiped from the waiter bringing their order, courtesy of Robert ordering for the table, and slipped the piece towards Ray.

"If you ever change your mind about that trip.

Kai and Oliver's faces turned dark as they both scowled. Suddenly the ikra didn't seem so much appetizing, seemed more like the perfect weapon. Shove his face in it like the slimy... Man fish he was... Til he stopped moving.

"I'll think about it." Ray pocketed the small slip of napkin in his pocket, not wanting to tell the entire table that he was going back to possibly never see the light of the outside world again.

"We'll all go, just say when." Enrique gestured to the table and everyone sitting there.

Kai dramatically rolled his eyes and let out a very audible sigh. He was the worst. Luckily, any more of that conversation was cut short as the food got placed in front of them all. A platter of blinis, dark breads, sour cream and the all-important orange beads of awesome that Tyson had been salivating over since they'd talked about it. It wasn't long til everyone dug in and plates were emptied as well as bellies filled.

Kai sat back, content. He loved this... "Well? What's the verdict, shrimp?"

"It was pretty good, just... Not the same without the rice." Tyson pouted a little.

「さすが日本人…」(Typical Japanese...) Kai slipped out.

Tyson's eyes fell out his head. 「え！？日本語しゃべるの！？」(huh?! You speak Japanese!?)

Kai blinked before he frowned. He... Of course he... "Why the hell wouldn't I!? We've spoke Japanese before! Did you not notice!?"

Tyson blinked back stupidly, the cogs in his brain turning. "Weren't you born here?"

Kai slapped his face yet again. "Just... Never mind."

Kenny let out his own chuckle before looking at his watch, his invisible eyes bulging out his head. "AHHHHHHHHH! TYSON!" He shrieked as he thrust the face of his watch in his friend's face.

Tyson's eyes widened at the watch touching the tip of his nose, "Is it that time already?!" He shrieked back, shoving himself out his chair and quickly bowed to his hosts deeply.

"Thank you so much for the meal, maybe we'll see each other in another tournament. Would like to kick your asses again."

Ray smiled a little, there he was. His cocky, over confident, child. Until it hit him, they were leaving now.

Oliver laughed behind his hand. "If you're ever in France, look me up! Maybe we can give you and Kenny a decent tour of the Louvre next time!"

"Yeah, yeah sounds good!" Tyson hauled his bag up on his shoulder, "We have to find my dad and Gramps. C'mon Kenny!" He was already trying to pull the shorter boy with him.

"Well, bye Tyson." Ray could only wave to him, just how late were they fixing to be?

Tyson came to a screeching halt around the table, oh shit he almost forgot! "Bye Kai, bye Ray! Safe travels, thanks for taking care of us. All that good stuff, see you back home Kai."

Ray just waved as Tyson hauled Kenny, and ass, out of the restaurant. Turning to Kai to with a 'what the hell' look on his face, though really that was a bit better than them all breaking down in tears again. Especially in front of the Majestics of all people.

"Now what?"

Kai blinked too. He was expecting the little Shrimp to be a little more cut up about leaving Ray. And him...

"Uh... Depends, I guess..." He said dryly as he narrowed his eyes at Enrique. It would depend on when these clowns got lost.

"Can just... Find your gate and sit it out? Don't have that much time really." Ray offered.

Kai stared at him. They really didn't have much time... "Yeh. Okay..." At least he'd get to spend it with him.

"Thanks for the food." Ray figured that was his cue to get up and go, "You guys have a safe flight."

"You too Ray, it was nice seeing you again before you had to leave." Enrique smiled.

"Maybe Tyson's right, we'll see you at another tournament. But we'll be the ones doing the ass kicking." Johnny smirked.

Oliver stood, gliding over to Ray and placing a kiss on each of his cheeks. "Bon voyage... I hope we get to battle again!" He fluttered over to his diamond in the rough, planting a kiss on each of his painted cheeks too.

"You'll write, won't you?"

Ray blushed scarlet, not even really registering Oliver kissing Kai the same way or caring. "Yeah, maybe..." He muttered, grabbing his own yellow BBA bag and hauling it over his shoulder.

Kai flushed scarlet as well, Oliver's pale hands still on his shoulders and looking up at him with waiting eyes.

He cleared his throat. "Yeh, I will."

Enrique cocked a brow, "Wait, when did you give him your address?" He asked as his face turned green.

Both Kai and Oliver looked like they'd been caught in the act somehow.

"At Robert's castle..." He shrugged off.

"Oh..." Enrique's bottom lip went out; he didn't know that.

Ray cleared his throat a little, "Should get going."

Kai fought the smug smirk to stay down. Wasn't just his address. Was a handkerchief with his initials stitched in to it too... Like an old movie or something.

His eyes glittered. Like a princess gives her knight before he goes away to battle... Oliver and Ray looked puzzled at the weird, dreamy expression on his face that showed how deep in his own world he'd gone.

"Kai...?"

"Hn!?" He appeared back with a bump. Dammit, why!? He looked amazing on a white horse...

"Yeh. Right. Should go... Au revoir..."

Everyone just kind of blinked, Ray a few more times than the others. Ready to get the hell out of this weird dimension they had stumbled into quicker. He moved first, let Kai have his time with his boyfriend...

Oliver bat his lashes at him, eyes watering. "Au revoir!"

Kai waited just a few more seconds before tearing himself away. Fuck Enrique. He didn't get a goodbye. It was implied.

Ray waited for him just outside the doors, back out on the tiled floors of the airport. Back to, hopefully, their dimension where things made sense.

"Where's your gate?" He snapped.

The dreamy smile got wiped off his face. "Uh. Number 24."

Ray turned on his heel, his hair wrap snapping against his legs. Yeah right Kai didn't want Oliver, could see it written all over his face. Did Kai think he was blind?! Whatever, not like he cared, wouldn't have worked out anyways.

Kai sank a little like a bad dog. What he do? "Hey... Wait up!"

Ray slowed his pace, would look weird if he lead Kai the entire way to his gate. Didn't want him to think he was just going there to drop him off and leave him. Letting Kai come to walk up beside him, though kept his eyes forward as he looked for gate 24.

Kai felt the cutting tension as he walked beside him, turning his head to look at him every few seconds and squirming. Why was he mad!?

"You um... Like the ikra?"

"Hn? Oh... Yeah it was good. Can see the appeal to it."

"Good... Good..." He said as he sweat. This was anything but good...

He was going to leave with Ray mad at him! What if he never wrote back to him? What if this was where it all ended? He sweat more as they walked silently down the endless walkways until finally the number 24 made an appearance.

"Oh, come on! What did I do now!?" He burst out desperately.

Taken off by surprise Ray turned to face him, though he really didn't have a good enough reason to explain it to him. He hadn't done anything wrong, not really...

"Isn't you, was just... Tyson leaving the way he did, ya know? Didn't even really give a proper goodbye. That's all." He waved it off, hoping Kai would buy it.

Kai finally took a breath. Oh good, it wasn't his fault for once. "I guess... He just doesn't see it as a real goodbye? You know what he's like. He probably saw something shiny. Wouldn't take it personally."

"I know, but still." Ray rubbed at his arm, "Nest is finally empty and it feels weird."

Kai shifted. It wasn't like he had any pearls of wisdom to comfort him with really...

"I'm sure you'll forget about it when you're home?"

"Which part? The months of us traveling together, the battles we all fought. The fact that my ankle got busted, twice, during this whole thing?" Maybe he shouldn't have said anything, let Kai sweat it out longer, because now he was making it worse.

It didn't matter, because he was still sweating regardless. "Uh... All of it?"

Ray rolled his eyes, letting out an irritated huff. "Yeah, sure. If I hit my head or something. Going to be hard to forget all of this..."

Kai panicked. Shit, it didn't work. Had to try harder. "No! What I mean is... You know... Life goes on? Next adventure and stuff... But we'll always have this one!"

Ray shifted; he had a point. "Guess you're right... Sorry."

"It's fine..." He shrugged. Holy shit, did he do good?

"Want to stand by the windows, or find a seat?" Ray asked, realizing they were just sort of standing in the middle of the walkways.

He looked around. There were less people at the windows. "Window sounds good..."

Ray nodded, starting them back off through the small crowd of people to their spots. Dropping his bag by his feet and pulled his arms around himself, his eyes out on the runways and the few planes taking off in the sky.

With each new one that went by, either coming or going that he could see, more of his heart chipped away. The longer they stood there in silence the more he began to panic. Everyone was going home, but was the village really his home after all of this?

He had been alone for a good portion of his life, it wasn't until Lee's family took him in did he really know what a 'family' was, but they were one of the reasons he didn't even have his uncle to start with.

"I changed my mind..." His voice cracked, though he didn't move his eyes away from the window.

"About what?" Kai asked as he turned his head to him from the window.

"I don't want to go, Oliver's still here. We'll just have him drop us off in Paris, we'll figure it out."

Kai's heart skipped a beat. "Really!?" Fuck it, he didn't want to go back either! What for? Trials and constant harassment from the police? Being thrown in to a boarding school and back by himself again? They'd be happy if they ran away. Even if France was just the first stop initially.

"I know it's crazy... But I just... I can't go back, not after everything." He shook his head, finally turning to look at Kai. "Don't let me go..."

Kai's brain exploded. "Okay... Okay..." He breathed out as he tried to make a plan. "We just... Run out and make them let us out the terminal. Wait til 7pm. Go and get another ticket. They're all gone now anyway. It's not like anyone can stop us! Lee and the others wouldn't know where to look!"

Ray just nodded back, it all sounded good. Just had to stick close, follow him, they'd figure this out. Hell, they already did this sort of thing before. How hard would this really be?

"Now?" He could hear his heart racing in his ears, this almost felt like when he had taken those first few steps outside the village for the first time.

A light bulb went over Kai's head. "We'd better go see how much I have in here..." He said as he fished in his pocket for his wallet, pulling out a card.

"Okay." Ray grabbed his bag back up. Oh God, were they really doing this?

What if Kai didn't have enough for the both of them? Wait, he could always bat his lashes at Enrique. Or worse, Kai could bat his at Oliver...

Kai lit up like a Christmas tree. Really!? It was happening!? He knew he had enough for a couple of flights to Paris. But exactly how much he had for them outside of that was another story.

...He'd never really had to check? Who cared! It would be fine!

"Come on!" He exclaimed as he grabbed his wrist and took off down the walkway, back to the shopping area where he'd seen an ATM.

As Kai dragged them through the crowds, Ray was busy keeping an eye out for anyone that might come and stop them. His heart slamming in his chest the entire way, not quite sure how to feel about all of this just yet. It seemed to be happening too fast and too slow at the same time.

Meanwhile, Kai felt high. This was the best thing that had ever happened to him! He could even change his name, start anew! Ray too, he wouldn't have to live under a rock. It was too much of a waste! He gripped Ray's wrist harder as he dragged him around, finally letting out a grin as he spotted the machine. There it was, step one!

He jammed his card in to the slot, glancing excitedly at Ray. It took a moment to read, but it finally asked for a PIN number. He punched it in and pressed the button.

...And waited.

Ray held his breath, still on the lookout for the White Tigers or Dickenson. They would only be their next obstacles to get past, hoping and praying that they would just stay wherever the hell they had wandered off to. Let them have this one thing; happiness.

The screen turned red. /The Account you are trying to access is not available at this time./

Kai's chest snapped. No, no no no...

"L-let me try again! Stupid machines!" He said to Ray as he cancelled it, took his card and wiped it on his pants before trying again.

/The Account you are trying to access is not available at this time./

Ray grabbed his arm before he tried again, or beat up the machine. "It's fine, let's just see if Oliver or Enrique can help us. We'll set up a way to pay them back, scrub their floors or something."

Just as Kai pulled himself away from the ATM, pocketing his stupid card and sending a glare at the machine, Ray's hold on his arm tightened to the point it almost hurt.

"Kai..." He panted in a panic, his eyes catching a gray suit and cane coming their way.

"There you are my boy." Dickenson strolled up to the two, beady eyes bright that didn't match the frown on his face.

"I'm sorry to inform you, but the gate for our flight has changed to the other side of the terminal." He directed at Kai, raising his bushy white brows at the two and clocking the ATM beside them but didn't say anything about it.

Kai's eyes burned as he let out a growl. "What did you do to my card!?"

Dickenson didn't seem fazed by the outburst, "As your guardian now, we've frozen the accounts for the moment until we're back in Japan. It was done for your safety."

His heart began to race in panic. "Well... Undo it!" He demanded furiously.

"I can't do that right now Kai, when we get back to Japan I promise we'll unfreeze the account. This was just done as a precaution in case Voltaire somehow had a way to track where you are, through your card transactions."

Kai only heard the first part. He let out a deeper growl. "No! Do it now! I'm not going back to Japan!"

Dickenson let out a hearty chuckle, "My boy, what're you talking about? Of course you are, remember?" His beady eyes shifted to Ray, who looked frozen but was still clutching onto Kai's arm. For a second, Dickenson tried to piece together the pieces offered to him but there wasn't much to go off of there.

"And we must hurry if we are to make our flight." He reminded in his cheery tone.

Kai's eyes started to water as his fists clenched. How the hell was he going to get them both away without his account?

"I said I'm not going back!" He yelled again.

Dickenson let out a deep sigh, "Come now Kai, let's not do this now. We have to go back, it's what we've agreed upon already and have set up for you. I must insist you come with me now."

Another part of Ray's heart chipped away, his hand on Kai's arm trembling. This wasn't supposed to happen; they were supposed to be leaving, together! Not like this, he wasn't supposed to let him go. What other choice did they have? Even if they were to run away from Dickenson, find Oliver and Enrique, would they really be able to jump on their private jet with them before they were tackled by security?

Kai's anger turned more to upset. "No! It's what you agreed on! I don't want to go there!" His voice yelled with a strong crack.

"Young man! I am not doing this with you, we must leave now!" Dickenson's voice rose to a level neither of them had ever heard before, "It is for your benefit, now come along."

Kai jumped; he'd never heard that tone come out of him before. But he'd had worse. "I said no! You're sending me there because you don't have time for me! You're locking me up there so there's someone to take care of me, but I already have someone who can do that so please don't take him away from me!" He spewed out before everything came out in a huge gush.

Dickenson blinked his beady eyes at the two, not missing the silent tears rolling down Ray's cheeks and finally the puzzle pieces seemed to align.

"I'm really sorry about this boys, it's already been decided. We have your papers, Kai. Ray has to go back to his home; they don't allow outsiders. Now please. Come along, I'm sure you'll see each other again."

Through the inconsolable breathing and tears he grit his teeth. "Fuck the papers! I'm not going! Ray doesn't want to go home either! He's got an uncle in Paris we can stay with! Problem solved!"

"Is that right?" Dickenson rose another bushy brow.

Ray nodded, not even sure if he could trust his own vocal cords at the moment to even try and talk.

"But you are under the Wong's care, you were under mine while on the team and it is best that you go home now. You both knew this was coming, and as much as I don't like goodbyes myself, you two are too young to just go off to Paris on your own like this. Be reasonable here boys, please?"

"Says the guy that let us loose all over Europe!" Kai all but screamed at him.

"But I was there, watching you all the entire time. I told you this, remember? After your match with the Majestics, you really weren't alone." Dickenson said with another deep sigh, "This would be different. So please, say your goodbyes and let's go." He went back to a stern tone.

"No!" He protested pointlessly. On the upside, if he kept this up, the plane would leave without them.

Ray's hand finally fell from Kai's arm, there was no point to keep going in circles with this. It was exhausting just to watch; they wouldn't be able to convince Dickenson even if they both purposely missed their flights. He'd just pay for another set of tickets and more than likely have them escorted on by force.

"It's okay..." His wobbly voice finally cracked out, "It's okay Kai..."

The second he felt him let go of him, he lost it. Because he felt like Ray was letting go of him. He spun around and latched himself on to him.

"No, it isn't!"

Ray grabbed him back, shaking hard. "It is... You tried... We tried, it's okay. There's nothing else we can do about it."

Kai just pulled him tighter into a vice like grip while everything continued to pour out his eyes. Maybe there wasn't anything they could do, but he'd have to pry Ray out his cold, dead hands.

Ray clutched to the back of Kai's shirt, burying his face into Kai's chest as he sobbed just as hard. "I'm so sorry... Should have done this yesterday, I'm sorry. It's my fault."

"This fucker froze my account. Not like it would have made a difference."

Ray just hiccuped into his chest. Maybe so, but they didn't know when Dickenson had done that. Maybe yesterday had been their window, and he was the one that had shut it and reopened it. Gave them this false hope.

"J-Just... Don't forget me... Okay?" He squeezed him harder, being enveloped by his scent and could feel the eyes on their backs but he could care less about them. He didn't want to let go.

"I won't. I'll write as soon as I can, okay? We'll figure something out. Get us out."

"Okay." Ray's voice cracked, his forehead bumping into Kai's chest as he nodded.

Dickenson cleared his throat behind them, they only had a few minutes to reach the other side of the terminal for their flight. Kai gave him a blood shot, pleading look over his shoulder. Who knew Mr. Dickenson could be so cruel? And he'd been stupid enough to trust him.

Over and over, in Ray's head, he kept begging Kai not to let him go but knew that he had to be the one to let go first. Hating himself even more, his fingers released their shaky and vice grip from his shirt. Peeling himself slowly off Kai's chest, not caring how bad his face looked with tear stained cheeks and puffy red eyes. This hurt worse than anything he had ever been through, and that was saying something given his last beybattle.

"Be careful, and take care of yourself. Okay?"

Kai nodded. "Same to you..."

Hearing Mr. Dickenson clear his throat again, he knew he just had to do it.

With a swish of the scarf, he turned and forced himself to stomp off, head down to avoid the stares he'd accumulated.

He made a few steps before he turned back. "I'll let you know what happens in the book!"

Dickenson followed and kept going when Kai turned around a few steps ahead before he turned, just needing to make sure Kai was actually going to follow.

Ray cracked a smile, albeit a weak and pitiful one. "You better!" He called back, his feet itching to move again.

Kai nodded and started to walk again, turning again a few steps later. "And try the cocoa powder thing!"

"I will, won't be as good as yours though!" He laughed a little.

"You're damn right it won't..." He shouted with a forced smile before he turned and admitted defeat.

Ray watched him, getting further and further away until the final piece of his heart chipped away and it completely shattered.

"Kai!" He yelled out for him, kicking back hard and dropping his bag behind him as he rushed after him.

Kai turned and waited as Ray rushed him, getting Ray's arms thrown around his neck. Almost knocking them both down, and not caring for the stares or the tears again. Nor for the irritable sigh he heard coming from Dickenson.

Kai mirrored, coiling his arms around him back. "S'matter?"

Ray's chest clenched, wanting to tell him what he had come to realize but that would have been just another reason to break him down further.

"Just stealing your warmth for the flight home..." Ray chuckled, not even sure what to tell him after that. His feet had moved him on their own, he really hadn't thought that through fully.

Once more he let go, slipping his arms from around Kai's neck and stood there almost awkwardly with his cheeks burning.

"Should let you go, before Dickenson pops a blood vessel. Try not to kill him on the flight, not there to stop you. And… And make friends while you're there. It'll make it easier."

Kai bit his cheek and welled up harder. "Thing is I don't want new friends... I want you."

"Then you better write to me, every day. Promise?" He held up his pinky in offering.

Kai stared at it. Did it hurt or something? "I promise."

Ray rolled his eyes, taking his hand and forcing their pinky fingers to interlock. "Like this, now say it."

"I promise?" He frowned. It stopped the tears for a moment at least. The hell was this?

"There, that's better. Don't tell me you don't know what a pinky promise is?" Ray chuckled, how could he be so chock full of knowledge and not know this?!

Kai huffed. "Of course I do, not an idiot..." He lied through his teeth.

Ray's fang slipped through his smile, "I know. Trust me, I know." He stepped back, breaking the connection.

"Bye, Kai." He waved, stepping back from him some more just so he didn't lunge forward again.

Kai stretched his hand out in a weak wave before an impatient hand clapped on his shoulder and pulled him away. Ray watched until they disappeared through the crowd, pulling his hand back and closing his fist over his chest. Breathing harder until it finally settled to its normal rhythm, though he still felt broken. Alone. Until his own shoulder was hit, hard, by a sudden hand from beside him. Startling him and turning to see Lee on his left, his own eyes piercing and hard at where Kai and Dickenson had walked off.

How long had they been around? He hadn't even heard or smelled them nearby. More importantly, what all had they seen and heard?

---

Kai held it together as he walked away. Barely. The quiet between himself and Mr. Dickenson felt unsettling. It wasn't like him to be that way with anyone, let alone him.

He sulked his way through the gate, shoving his passport and ticket at the perfectly groomed flight attendant as if she was scorning him personally. He walked through the tunnel that connected the building to the plane, the whirring sound of the engine making his guts feel weird. This tunnel felt more ominous than the damn abbey.

He threw his carry on in to the overhead locker and flung himself in to the seat by the window, automatically folding his arms and staring at the window. It wasn't long before Stanley joined him, stopping in the aisle for a moment to take in the sorry, bitter sight of his travel companion glaring at the window and sighed.

He eased himself in to the slightly tight seat, putting on his seatbelt and pointedly staring at his young, adopted grandchild to try and get his attention. He could see Kai tense and knew he knew he was looking. He persisted. He fought hard, but eventually he cracked.

"Will you just leave me alone!?" He snapped.

"No. Would you mind telling me what that performance was about back there?" His kind but firm voice asked.

He couldn't hold it together any more. His eyes immediately threatening to overflow. Performance?! How dare he!

"Why don't you go to hell!?" He yelled as he straightened and leaned over him, not giving one shit about the passengers on the plane, "This is all your fault! None of this would have happened if you hadn't made me join this god damn team! None of it! I wouldn't have remembered anything; I wouldn't have done what I did in front of the whole damn world! And I wouldn't..." His rampage stopped as he felt himself crack.

And he wouldn't have to deal with leaving them all behind and going off to god knows what next.

Mr. Dickenson kept his composure. "...I'm sorry. I really am. I got no joy out of any part of... That particular chapter of all this." He told him softly, "You can blame me for it all if you wish. Perhaps in some ways you're right. I am responsible for a good portion of the pain you've endured. But tell me, was I wrong? Was it not better this way? Have you figure out who you were and fight against it, rather than find out from him when his plans were in full swing and have no way out? When there was no one to bring you back?"

Kai's eyes streamed. "Oh, spare me! As if you knew this would happen! As if you knew it would go the way it did!"

Stan sighed. "No, of course I had no way of knowing for certain... But my faith that you would end up on the right side never faltered."

Kai sniffed. "Why?!"

He turned his twinkling, beady eyes back to him. "Because I knew all you needed was love... I knew those boys would chip at that wall of yours." He smiled as he reached out and wiped a running tear that was rolling down his already red, puffy face.

"And judging by all this, it looks like my faith was well placed."

Kai hiccuped. "But what was the point if you were just going to take it away from me again!?"

Mr. Dickenson sighed and pat his shoulder. "I did no such thing. Yes, we have to go back to our own realities. That is sadly how life works. But your bonds still remain. You'll no doubt have more adventures with them in the future, when the time is right." To his surprise, that didn't seem to comfort him at all. If anything he got more upset.

He rubbed his back harder. "What is it, my boy?"

Kai lifted his head, what was the whites of his eyes the same color almost as his irises. "No we won't! Ray said they probably won't let him out again! Which means we're never... Gonna..."

Stanley pulled him in closer as he became inconsolable and let him cry it out. Lord knows it was about time he did.

He debated whether or not he should tell him about the plans he had up his sleeve... But on second thought, maybe giving potential false hope would be more damaging in the long run.

"Don't worry, my lad..." He soothed as he continued to pat his back, "I promise you; everything is going to be all right.

---

And that's a wrap for season 1! Thank you, again, everyone who has made it this far with us. We do have two sort of in between chapters for 1 and 2, will give ya'll a bit to get over this chapter before we go to posting those and hopefully have V-Force at a better spot in order to get that up for ya'll too within the next month or two. Till then, take care!