With a heavy sigh as the doors to the car closed behind him in the back, Gramps tensed slightly and counted down the time to when the cawing would begin. Was a new record when it had only taken a second before they went off, this time it was Tyson in the back with Kai coming from the shelter, going off and bouncing so hard it shook and rocked the car. Kai was doing no better beside him; phones being shoved in one and the other's face with more baby pictures and of Jack.
As much as he enjoyed the sight, especially seeing Kai and his grandson having a blast together for once, the hyper and excited yelling was something he could live without.
Like always, they didn't stop the entire way home. Gramps pulling the car up in the drive as something caught Tyson's eye, halting the squawking for a brief moment.
"Hey, what's Mr. D doin here?" He asked as his grandfather parked beside the nicer, and newer model in the drive.
"Hm? Oh, he came by to see R-cat. Didn't think he'd have stuck round though." Gramps said amongst the slight ringing in his ears, getting himself out of the car before the squawking could start up again.
Tyson just shrugged, his bouncing resuming as he hopped out of the car with his phone and gushing over pictures of himself with all the animals he'd gone and made best friends with in the past few hours.
Kai's stomach dropped. Hype and glow about his afternoon with Tyson gone in a flash. What did he want with Ray!? Was this about Driger? Or was it about the White Tigers?
Ray said a while back in New York he was waiting to hear back from the Elders. About their decision to let him stay on the outside. The car door flew open, remaining open as a cloud of dust sprinted into the house.
"And look at their itty-bitty paws!" Tyson squealed as he was busy shoving his phone in Dickenson and Max's face on the couch.
"I knowww!" Max vibrated, his voice so high pitch it could crack glass.
All the while Dickenson had a small bead of sweat on his brow from all the explosions going on at once, though was happy to see how excited the boys were over the kittens.
Luckily, Gramps came to the rescue just in time, "Threw some tea on the stove, if ya wanna join me." He threw a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the kitchen.
"That would be lovely." Dickenson chuckled nervously, pushing himself up from the couch and maneuvered around Tyson blocking his path.
Tyson didn't seem to care, throwing himself on the empty and warm spot while Max got out his phone to compare pictures again. With Gramps and Dickenson meandering into the kitchen, the two kids sat on the couch, Ray was busy sat on the last step of the stairs when the door burst open and Kai came rushing in. Ray jumped to his feet while his face dropped, shuffling about till Kai came into view from inside the kitchen.
He gave him a weak smile, while on the inside he was vibrating just as hard as Max did.
"Can I talk to you?" He asked in a less than enthused tone he would normally use when Kai got home from the shelter, head tilting back for the front door behind him even if Kai just came inside.
Kai's heart slammed in his chest, paling already and gulping. Ray always sounded happy. That wasn't his happy voice...
"Okay..."
Shuffling his way to the door out front, Ray stopped far enough away from the windows and door while Kai followed him. The entire time his back was turned to him, he kept fighting with himself not to crack; messing with him was too much fun after all.
Putting on his game face, which consisted of a frown and slightly wet sad eyes, he turned back around and stared at Kai quietly for a minute.
"So... Um... We got word back, from the village today." He started, making sure to get his voice to wobble some and force an actual tear to run down his face.
Kai hadn't taken his huge, concerned eyes off him the whole way, tearing up and feeling his world end in a split second. The dreaded verdict had come. And Ray had tears.
...Maybe he just had allergies? Maybe it was fine. There was no reason to panic just yet...
"And...?"
Ray shook his head at him slowly. The pain he could see on Kai's face kind of thrilling him a little, but he didn't want to hurt him too badly either.
"I'm sorry... But they want me back once this is over." He explained in an even sadder tone, actually making himself choke up at the possibility that it could have been like this and he would have had to leave them.
Kai's heart sped up as it cracked and shattered. Now was the time to panic! It took a moment for it to sink in properly, lip wobbling too as rage and heartbreak radiated out his face as well as tears hanging threateningly in his eyes.
"But why!? That isn't fair!" His voice cracked and wobbled, flaring from cripplingly sad to blind rage from second to second. "And who gives a shit what they want!? What about what you want!? What we want!?"
Ray bit his lip to stop from laughing, trying to keep up the whole charade was harder than he had anticipated after Kai exploded. Though that had been his plan all along.
He reached out, taking up Kai's hands in both his and gave them a tight squeeze. "There's nothing else to do then I guess, just hope you don't get tired of seeing my face around here forever." He said cheekily, his smile finally cracking. He couldn't hold it in any longer, nor did he want to break Kai completely.
Kai threw his hands away. "Yeh there is! If Mr. Dickenson i-isn't going to do anything then I will!" He sniffled hard, getting his phone out with shaky hands, "I'm not losing you again! I don't care!" He all but yelled as tears dropped on the screen, he was staring watery daggers at.
"I can get you a flight now, will have to wait til the end of the month to get mine..."
Ray's slightly excited face fell some, swing and a big miss. "Wait, what're you talking about?" He asked as he grabbed Kai's wrist, slightly panicking himself now. What flight?!
Kai sucked in air and roughly wiped his eyes with the back of his free arm a moment. "Paris! There's one tomorrow night so you'll have to pack tonight, and we'll get you to Tokyo tomorrow morning. If you go to your uncle, they might find you, so I'll get hold of Oliver..." He rambled, elaborate rescue plan in full swing.
"K-Kai! You don't need to do that!" Ray yelled, full blown panic coming over him now. Since when did Kai have this escape plan ready?!
"I'm not going! I'm not, I swear! I was just messing with you." He spewed a bit jumpily and grabbed both of Kai's wrists, not needing a horrible reenactment of their departure in Russia.
Kai blinked, more heartbroken tears falling as Ray pulled his wrists. "Huh? But you just said...?"
"I was playing, was a bit mean of me and I'm sorry, but no. I'm staying! That's why I said I hope you don't get tired of seeing my face around here forever." Ray continued to explain in his jumpy voice, his smile coming back as tears of real joy and excitement filled his eyes.
"I get to stay, I really do. I don't have to go back."
Kai stared back, needing a moment for it to trickle in and douse the flaming panic. His lips wobbled even more as his feet shuffled forward, pulling his wrists from Ray's hold and letting them go around his neck, shoving his face in his shoulder.
Ray pulled him closer, burying his own face in Kai's neck as his eyes slipped closed. "I haven't told the kids yet, wanted to tell you first."
Kai continued to sniffle in his shoulder. "Why did you lie to me, asshole!? Just lost two grand!"
"Why are you so dense?" Ray chuckled back a little, oops. "I'm sorry, was mean of me I know, but thought it'd make us both laugh in the end. Also, I didn't know you had this grand plan of shipping me off into the night either."
Kai pouted into his shoulder. "Of course, I did! Had to be ready, didn't I?"
"Would have been nice to know about it, and really. Oliver?" Ray countered with his nose slightly curling at the name.
Kai finally pulled away. "Don't start! He's nice! Who else do you know in Paris? And it would only be til I got there and fixed us up." He told him, looking at his phone.
"Oooooh thank god, didn't click confirm yet..."
Ray just pouted at him. Oh sure, Kai could get jealous over Enrique but how dare he get jealous over the pretty and petite pixie.
"Good, don't. We need that for when we go on vacation."
Kai lost his pout, smacking his shoulders and shaking him as he lit up like the 4th of July. "This means we can plan our vacation!"
Ray just nodded while he was shaken around like a rag doll, isn't that what he just said? Kai jumped and koala-ed round him, like his very first bowling strike.
"Where we going!? What we doing!?"
Ray's body wobbled a little though held up as Kai latched on, holding him around the backs of his legs.
"Said something about pink sand beaches, right? And we still haven't had a proper festival." He pouted again as their faces were close to touching, "Still want to see fireworks with you, since Japan has the best fireworks."
"We'll go to the best fireworks in the country!" He grinned as he smooshed his forehead on to Ray's.
"Sounds good." Ray chuckled, his face heating up and boiling as he shifted Kai's weight in his arms. Boy was getting a bit heavier now, which was good, but he was already starting to strain his muscles holding him up.
"What else, what do you wanna do?" He asked as he willed the heat in his face to die down a little, along with the urge to just kiss him right now.
"Anything you want!" His eyes sparkled, getting over excited and nuzzling. He wanted to express how him staying felt in any way he could. Even his limited knowledge of Nekojin.
"We have to make it big! Go all out! We can go all over if you want! Just name it and I'll make it happen! As long as it's with me!"
Despite the bout of affection coming from Kai, Ray pouted again. Feeling a tad bit of his earlier jealousy come back and let out an exaggerated huff.
"You sure you don't want to bring Oliver with us?" He asked in a small bite.
"Great idea! I'll message him now!"
"You dare and I'll drop you on your ass." Ray hissed back, that flicker of jealousy actually becoming a large and burning flame.
Kai blinked. "Hn? But you just said...?" Why did he speak in riddles!? "Didn't you want to see them again?"
"Not on our vacation, no." Ray pointedly said as he looked him dead in the eye, hoping Kai would actually catch on that he had been sarcastic.
"Unless you're fine with Enrique being there, then sure. Call them up, kind of miss him anyways."
Kai's face dulled. Fine... If that's what Ray wanted, he'd go with it... Did just promise him whatever he wanted. "Urgh. Fine. Would be good to rub in his face I was right about the fireworks..." He sulked as he got his phone.
Ray would have smacked himself in the face if his hands weren't still currently occupied holding Kai's legs, half tempted to drop him on his ass like he said he would. Till a better idea hit him over the head, going for squeezing the thighs in his hold and pinching them roughly.
Kai almost dropped his phone as he yelped at the sting. "OW! The hell is that for!?"
"Hn? What's what for?" Ray asked as he smirked, squeezing his thighs again. Was about time Kai got down anyways, his arms were starting to go numb.
Kai wriggled, pushing himself off him. "You're a mean person!"
Ray feigned hurt, placing a hand to his chest. "How dare you, I'm a fucking delight and you know it." He chuckled before going serious, putting his hands on his hips.
"But I swear to God if you call them up to join us, I will be a lot meaner, so don't you dare." He warned as he narrowed his eyes.
Kai paled as a bead of sweat dropped. God, he wished he hadn't already hit send…
"...Okaaaay..."
Ray gave him a curious look, eyes narrowing harder at the tone of Kai's voice. That didn't sound convincing enough, but they didn't have all day to keep going over it. He made his point, least he hoped.
With a hard sigh, hands falling from his hips, he stepped back up to Kai and put one hand around the back of his neck and brought their foreheads back together before moving under Kai's chin and nuzzling into it a little.
"I think that's what you were trying to do earlier, so that's how it's done." He explained once he let go and stepped back an inch, still holding the back of Kai's neck and quickly pecked him on the lips.
"Or there's that." He grinned, releasing Kai, and walking around him with a slight bounce in his step.
He was staying! He didn't have to leave his family behind for a raggedy hut and uncomfortable cot again! It wasn't like he could return to the village without Driger right now anyways, they'd kill him for losing their sacred protector. He bet the look on Lee's face was priceless though when they came to the decision, such a shame he hadn't been able to see it himself.
A dopey, wobbly smile went across Kai's face as he was left weak kneed where he was for a moment as the cocaine flooded his system... Oooooooh that was the stuff...
He snapped back, falling over his feet after him. He was staying! The pieces were coming together! Now to just fix himself and he could have the one thing he wanted!
The moment they stepped back into the house, the other two were practically bouncing off the walls. Still not over their high of tiny baby kittens and Jack having the tendency to sniff peoples junk.
Three steps inside the house and Ray's face was nearly smashed with the screen of Tyson's phone.
"Look at him!" He about cried, Max bouncing off his shoulders behind him.
"Yup, I see him." Ray just smiled despite his nose almost getting broken, "Glad you had a good time with them, and Kai." And he said he didn't love his bouncing baby boy, ha!
With Tyson's phone in their faces as a reminder, Kai remembered he hadn't lost his shit yet.
His eyes turned in to stars. "Ohyeh! Ididn'ttellyouaboutit!" He squawked.
"Well then tell me." Ray laughed as he moved around Tyson, heading for the couch while three bouncing bunnies hopped after him and stuffed all four bodies onto the three-seater and phone screens getting shoved and pushed around one another.
"TYSON!" Gramps hollered through the kitchen door, "Come set the table! And set an extra place for Mr. Dickenson!"
Tyson groaned between his flapping, unsticking himself from between Max and Ray on the couch and dashed to the kitchen to follow orders.
Kai looked up and almost hissed. "Mr. Dickenson?" He said to himself mostly.
"Yeah, he came to talk to Ray about something." Max explained in the short breath he had left before he geared up for another bout of squawking, only to stop midway and turned to Ray.
"What did he want to talk to you for?"
"I'll tell ya at dinner." Ray waved his wrist at him, "How was your day with your mom?" He diverted.
"It was amazing!" Max went off again like a rocket, "We had lunch, went back to the movies and she sat through the whole thing with me this time! Best. Day. EVER!"
"That's great, Max!" Kai went back to beaming. Great! A parent or guardian who was finally getting their ass in gear!... Grampa excluded, of course.
"Little dudes! Grubs up!" Said responsible adult called through.
Max was the first to bolt off into the kitchen, Kai and Ray following after him as they sat around the more crowded table.
"So, everyone's had an eventful day today I hear." Dickenson started, grinning under his poofy mustache while his beady eyes glanced around at the boys.
Tyson was the first to raise his hand, using his other to hold himself up against the table some. "You bet it was! Life changing almost too! Who knew taking care of abandoned animals was so much fun? Just a shame we can't bring them all home."
On cue Gramps sneezed at the mere thought of all those cats and kittens running around the house.
"But wait..." Tyson blinked at Ray, "You were home by yourself today, what's so eventful about that?"
"Oh. Well Dickenson stopped by to see me, that's why he's here, and nothing too exciting really. Just get to stay and not have to go back to the village." Ray explained like he was talking about the weather, even throwing in a small shrug of his shoulders.
"Eh. Guess when you get old, going to another house counts as exciting..." Tyson nodded almost sympathetically.
Everyone gave him a weird look, Max's excitement doubling while still holding the weird look in Tyson's direction.
"You really mean it? You're getting to stay?!" He near enough bounced out of his chair, head swiveling from Dickenson to Ray.
Ray was still too busy looking at Tyson, wondering if he'd ever been dropped on his head as a baby.
It didn't matter. Kai could answer for him. "Yeh! He gets to stay with us permanently!" He gushed around Ray.
Tyson looked up from his plate. "Wai-HEY! You mean the weird old guys let you go!?"
Ray finally smiled at him and nodded, trying to contain his own excitement before it burst out anyways. "They did! I don't have to go back!"
Tyson slammed his cutlery down and gave a round of applause. "Way to go, wrinkly cat people! He can live with us, right Grampa!?"
Kai frowned. Back off, T! They were gonna find their cat paradise when this was done.
"We haven't figured out the arrangements just yet, but for the time being he will be staying with you till the end of this whole rock debacle." Dickenson filled in since Gramps had just stuffed his face with food.
Kai turned and flashed a pearly grin at Ray beside him. This was fantastic! There was a clear direction now of where everything was going. The fog was lifting more and more day by day.
Step one, beat the Saint Shields. Step two, get better. Step 3, go on a honeymoon, come back and find a dream home, have twenty fuzzy babies. Their happy ever after was on the horizon!
Ray smiled back at him, the other two going off again a mile a minute before it all came to a screeching halt when Tyson slapped his hand on the table.
"Dudes, you know what this means?!" He asked in all seriousness, making sure he had everyone's attention. "We need to celebrate!"
Kai snapped his head back to him after grinning at Ray for longer than was needed. "YEH! We really do! What should we do!?" He exploded in a way that made Mr. Dickenson startle and stare.
Tyson's mouth opened and stayed that way for a good minute, all that was coming in at the moment was static. He had been so riled up he hadn't actually formulated a plan.
"Why don't we go to the beach again?" Max supplied, making Tyson's mouth finally close before he ate a fly.
Kai instantly sank into his seat and let out an inaudible whine. The beach? But last time had been horrible...
"YEHHH! BEACH!" Tyson hollered.
"We should probably vote on it this time, make sure it's something we all want to do." Ray said more for Kai's benefit than his own, having noticed him shrink down beside him. He didn't want to have a repeat of last time, nor force him somewhere he didn't want to be.
"All for the beach say AYYYE!" Tyson declared as he shot out his seat with his hand up.
Max followed suit, arm shooting up so fast it was a miracle it hadn't popped out of its socket. Ray on the other hand shrunk in his seat too, hand slowly raising up. He really did want to go back, but he had a sinking feeling that if he rose his hand Kai would just raise his because he did. Which is exactly what happened. A pale hand lifted, trying to hide his reluctance. This was Ray's celebration after all, not his.
Tyson's hand slapped the table again, "Then it's settled! Beach party tomorrow!" He announced firmly as he sat himself, only to leap back up the moment his cheeks hit the seat.
"HEYYYYY! You think we can bust Jackie out for the day!? Bet he'd love a run on the beach!"
Kai's eyes went to sparkly goo again at the mental image. Oh, he would love a run on the sand! Maybe he'd even love the water! He'd seen people on TV surfing with their dogs. That could be them!
With the beautiful montage of sharing ice cream on a white, sandy beach and gorgeous sunset with his baby boy coming to a close, he deflated again.
"I don't think so, Tyson... Will probably be too much for him..."
Tyson deflated with him, "Oh, yeah. You're probably right. He still didn't take too kindly to that lab getting too close today." He said sadly as he sat back down.
Kai let out a sigh. "No... Sure didn't... At least he seems to be all right with people. It's the same species that's the problem..." He rambled as he went to pushing food round his plate.
"Some dogs are like that. Yeah, it's not ideal when he's put up for adoption, but at least he's good with people." Max offered, not wanting to see them get so downhearted about it.
"Yeah, and he's such a damn sweetheart." Tyson gushed a little.
Kai sank even more at the thought of him getting adopted. That was the goal, of course. For someone to come take him and give him a safe and loving home for the rest of his doggy days. A forever home. And he wanted that for him, of course. Just...
"Thank you for dinner, Mr. Granger..." He excused as he took his plate over to the counter.
Gramps gave him a nod back, mouth still full but eyes going a bit sad. He had a feeling what just happened, and he felt for the boy.
With Kai gone the others ate at a slower pace, the excitement of the whole day dying down some as they finished their plates and excused themselves not long after. Leaving Dickenson and Gramps along again in the kitchen.
"So, as you were sayin bout that issue?" Gramps asked as he leaned on the table a little, sly grin coming over his face.
The next morning, after the usual round of kendo between Kai and Grampa, the kitchen was bustling as Ray and the older man ran around throwing a picnic together, stocking the ice box with plenty of drinks while the two boys ran around finding toys to play with.
Kai on the other hand, raided his bag for something to wear. He wasn't about to show skin, but it was hot...
After deciding his best course of action was his usual get up combined with tones of sun block, he took himself down to help load stuff into the car. He palmed his face. Was supposed to be a day at the beach. Not moving there! And yet somehow, half the house seemed to be waiting to be loaded in.
"You made sure to call Hilary and Kenny, right?" Max asked Tyson as they were fighting with getting the umbrella into the trunk of the car.
"Yes, yes, for the hundredth time. I called them!" Tyson blushed, finally just shoving the umbrella to the side and as far back as it would go.
"I feel like we're forgetting something though." He stopped a minute and cocked his head at all their gear and other items they were bringing with them.
"Think you might need to go put on your swimsuit." Max said as he eyed Tyson still in his pjs.
Tyson's face fell to a dumb grin, looking down at himself and scurried back into the house to change while Ray and Gramps were bringing out the ice box to load up last.
Coming up to the other two left out there, he paused slightly and did what Max had done to Tyson to Kai as he took in what he was wearing.
"You're going to go in that?"
Kai looked down at himself. "Is... Is that bad?"
Ray did another look over and bit his lip, "I mean... Not something you can really swim in." Or give him the option to ogle his half naked body lying in the shade...
Kai shifted his feet. "I don't really have anything..."
"Oh..." Was all Ray could really respond with, and it wasn't like he could offer him anything since he was going in what he wore to sleep in to start with himself.
"Alright! Don't leave without me!" Tyson hollered as he came rushing back outside, coming to a halt and gave Kai a look over as well.
"Dude, where's your trunks?!"
Kai huffed, not enjoying the ample criticism. "I don't have any! Do I look like a surfer dude to you!?"
"No." Tyson laughed, "But you can't swim in your baggy pants, you'd sink to the bottom of the ocean."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Well, I'm not swimming in my undies!"
Tyson laughed harder, "You don't gotta, I'm sure I can find my bro's old pair real quick. C'mon." He waved him to follow back into the house.
Kai arched a brow. Brother!? Since when!? He followed him in with questions. He was big brother...
Ray watched them go with the same question Kai had running through his head, why was this the first time Tyson mentioned having a brother? Why hadn't gramps said anything about him either? Was he dead?!
"Alrighty, let's see what we got." Tyson hummed as they got inside the spare room, it filled with boxes piled up in the corner of the room.
There was a bed that was made but looked as though it hadn't been slept in for some time. A few posters were up on the walls, but beyond that the room lacked any kind of charm or character to it.
Kai looked around, shiver going down his spine. Oh god, had there been a bigger Tyson that had died!? Was he gonna wear his clothes!? He didn't need any more bad juju!
Tyson didn't seem bothered, going for throwing things out of the boxes haphazardly till he found what he was looking for stuffed at the bottom.
"Ah-ha! Here we are!" He sang triumphantly as he pulled out a pair of dark blue swim shorts. "Good thing Hiro didn't take these with him when he went off, they should fit ya if you just tighten the string all the way." He held the shorts out to Kai to take, spinning back around for a shirt for him.
Kai held the haunted shorts in his hands a minute, feeling the Granger curse take hold until he heard what Tyson had said.
"Gone off!? So, he's just like... Not home!?"
"Nope, took off to college a few months before our first tournament last year." Tyson explained with his head still stuck in the box, tossing out more clothes around him before pulling out a simple loose-fitting light-purple button-down shirt.
"This should work, since you're just gonna take it off to swim in."
Kai eyed it. Ew. Lilac? Nothing dark? He couldn't really say no... Rejecting it would he impolite... Fuck. He hated being such a good person...
"Great... Thank you... I'll just uh, go put these on then..." He said with a forced, crooked smile. Least they weren't a dead guy's clothes...
"Good, chop chop. Aint got all day!" Tyson shoved him to get him going faster, leaving him at the bathroom and heading back outside.
A few minutes later, Kai looked uncertainly in the mirror. The shorts were a little baggy, the string pulled to all hell to get them to stay on his hips. But at least they were dark! This... This color looked like something you'd see on a unicorn's mane. He was Devil Eyes! Not a My Little Pony!
"Yo, K-dog we aint got all day!" Gramps hollered through the house at him.
Kai groaned, looking at himself woefully in the mirror. Was it too late to back out? Feign illness? He hung his head, skulking his way out and down the stairs wearing his lame-ass new outfit...
"Ah, bout time. Was fixin to call the whole shebang off." Gramps grinned at him, letting Kai go first to make sure he didn't try to turn tail and run.
"Alright my dudes, everyone strapped in and ready?" He asked as he slid into the driver's seat, Tyson up front beside him with Max and Ray in the back.
Kai slid into his seat hoping no one noticed he was there, silently pulling his belt over himself. Looked like a damn cupcake... Somehow, he got the impression he and Hiro wouldn't be friends...
Sadly, someone did notice, and having to quickly bite the inside of his cheek so he wouldn't laugh at the ensemble that Tyson had thrown Kai into Ray kept his eyes out the window. Trying not to laugh at the fact Kai was still wearing his war paint on top of it all, looked as threatening as a bunny.
Not even three minutes out of the drive, Tyson began to drum on his legs and bob his head to the imaginary music in his head.
"California gurls, we're unforgettable. Daisy dukes, bikinis on top. Sun-kissed skin so hot, we'll melt your popsicle. Oh, oh, oh, oh! Sing it with me Maxie!"
Max on the other hand just shrunk in his seat, covering his face the rest of the ride seeing as how no one else had joined in the one-man band. Yet that didn't stop Tyson from singing the entire way to their destination, and even when they got out and started to unpack the trunk to lug their haul down to a spot on the hot sand.
"Party Rock! Yeah Wooo! Let's go. Party rock is in the house tonight. Everybody just have a good time, yeah. And we gon' make you lose your mind, woo! Everybody just have a good time. Party rock is in the house tonight, oh!"
Kai hissed in the direct sunlight, hauling ass with the parasol under his arm and jabbing it into the ground as quick as he could.
He looked down at his stupid shirt and hissed more. With his pale ass skin, light shirt and gold sand, the light was dazzling! This was a big reason he didn't wear light colors!
Tyson came up, still bopping away and singing and dropped the ice box in the sand with a hard thud, making the sand kick up and go everywhere. "Last one in is a rotten bitbeast!" He shouted, peeling off his shirt and tossing it carelessly somewhere before making a mad dash for the open water.
"Tyson! We still have things... And he's gone." Ray huffed out as Tyson dived under the water, "He did that on purpose."
Kai sniffed, annoyed. "Course he did. Hope the water is freezing..." He muttered as he got the umbrella opened and immediately got under it. Ahhh... That was better. There was no Kai in UV.
"Probably not, since he keeps going." Ray pouted, digging in the bag he had been carrying and tossed the bottle of sunblock at Kai.
"Before you burn." He would have offered to rub it on his back, but Gramps came waltzing up at the right time with the rest of the load.
"Nice spot dudes, now if you excuse me, I got some foxy ladies to scope out." He wiggled his brows and like his grandson, dropped what he had been carrying and dashed off to where there were more people.
Kai waved at him as the old man moved like an Olympic sprinter all of a sudden, silver foxes in sight apparently. He wished him well on his quest. He deserved some love.
He shuddered at the image of Grampa holding hands with another Grampa in a dress and went to lathering his arms and neck up.
"Hey, I found Hilary and Chief!" Max waved at them as they came from where Gramps had run off to.
Hilary and Kenny waved back, Hilary grabbing Kenny by the wrist and hauling ass to get them over quicker as sand was kicked up in a storm behind her while Kenny nearly flew in the air.
"Hey guys!" Hilary beamed, looking around at the three and frowned slightly.
"Where's Tyson?" She asked with a slight pout on her lips, and to think she went and bought a brand-new bikini all for him not to be there to see it.
"In the water, took off for it second we got here." Ray answered as he shook out a towel to sit on, plopping himself down in the shade beside Kai.
Hilary rolled her eyes. "Course he did..." She looked out to the water. Urgh! He was such an idiot! And a total child! And. And...
Shirtless...
She shifted a little. "So, um. Anyone else going in!?" She asked hopefully. She couldn't go by herself! That would be weird! But if no one else went, she wouldn't be able to talk to him.
"I was, just need the sunblock first." Max said as he waited patiently for Kai to finish bathing in it, not that he blamed him. With that complexion he'd burn to a crisp.
Like the good mother he was, Ray snatched the bottle from Kai's lap and tossed it up to Max who quickly slathered it on his face and neck. Tossing away his shirt and slapping some on his chest before handing Ray the bottle back who passed it back to Kai so he could continue with his bath.
"Race ya there!" Max shouted and bolted like Tyson had for the water.
Hilary held in her squeal, quickly wriggling out her shorts and off the shoulder top to reveal her brand-new weapon.
...Had padding in the bra...
She fluffed up her hair to look a bit more sea swept before skipping along after him. Kenny shuffled after the two of them, not wanting to be left behind.
"You done with that yet?" Ray asked a bit cheekily at Kai beside him now they were alone.
"Nope." He answered dully as he tried to find more exposed skin to cover.
"Think you got everything." Ray chuckled and snatched the bottle from him anyways, peeling off his tank top before lathering up his chest.
Kai's eyes fixed, like a moth to a flame, mouth hanging open. God... Damn...
Ray held in the smug smirk as he felt Kai's eyes on him, making sure to rub in the sunblock slower as he worked his arms. Might have flexed just a little bit too...
And it worked. His mighty Oak tree... Oh goooddddd he was the most beautiful person in the whole world. Absolute perfection. His stomach twisted itself in to knots as he internally fangirled. The embarrassing kind of fangirl.
Just as Ray went to work the other arm, that one flexing just a bit too, long legs began to walk by and stopped in front of them.
"Hey boys." Came the flirtatious giggling from one of the two girls standing before them, Ray's eyes automatically going up at being talked to while he continued to rub the sunblock on his arm.
Being the polite gentleman he was, he gave them a smile in acknowledgement and went back to work. All the while the two girls stalled about to watch, giggling again before sending a small finger wave at the two.
"See ya around."
Ray's head went up again at being talked to, his hand pausing on his arm as he watched the two skip off away from them. And like the perverted teenager he was, his head tilted some to watch back. After coming back from turning to stone, his usual reaction when strangers talked to him, Kai's eye twitched as he grabbed Tyson's flip flop and thwacked him with it.
"Who the hell are they!?"
Ray jumped from his staring, "Who?!" He squeaked out as he turned back to look at Kai.
Kai frowned harder. "Those people! Do you know them!? Are these more friends you guys accumulated!?"
"I don't know who they are. Why would I?" Ray defended, still in a squeaky voice.
"Then why did they talk to us!? Why did you smile at them!?" He spat as his white and blue face turned green.
"I don't know, and I smile at everyone. It's you who does this." He went deadpanned, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kai blinked. "Do what?" He asked, confused.
"Never mind." Ray sighed and shook his head, finishing up his arm and tossed the bottle back in the bag. "Anyways, no. I don't know anyone here but you guys." He informed, leaning back on the palms of his hands and crossed his ankles in front of him.
Kai brought his knees up and hunched over. "If you're so keen, I bet they'd just loooooove to make friends with you... You all have something in common already. Sure love to stare!" He growled, sunblock melting off his skin.
It finally clicked in Ray's head what the problem was, whoops. He may have stared for longer than necessary, but who could blame him really when they were on a beach with people practically walking in their underwear.
"Aww, are you jealous they looked at me or I looked back?" He asked in a teasing tone that would probably get his teeth knocked in right now, though didn't care as he leaned into Kai's arm and bat his lashes at him.
Kai leaned away, growling more. "Neither. I don't care one way or the other..."
"You sure?" Ray asked in a more flirtatious tone, leaning into him harder and slipped his fingers under the back of Kai's shirt to tickle his back.
Kai squirmed angrily, physically shifting away from him to the other side of his towel. "Yes! Why would I care if you're all... Shallow and stuff!? Go ahead! Ogle each other like pieces of meat!" He fired with his voice going up a little more in both volume and pitch.
"You were staring too." Ray pointed out, not taking offense to him moving away. "But if it makes you happy, I'll just put my shirt back on." He grabbed it up, shaking some sand off it.
"I did not! What would I stare at them for!? There's nothing so great about... About..." He fumbled for the right word. "Girl chests! And oooooh, don't let me stop you having such a nice time!" That was a lie. He wanted him to put it back on. That was for his eyes only!
"I meant you were staring at me."
Kai's head turned. Shit. He saw!? "Did not! And even if I did, that's different!"
"I fail to see how, but okay." Ray just shrugged his shoulders.
Kai's face turned sad and pouted, looking around him to make sure the literal coast was clear.
"Because I love you..." He said in a small, sad voice.
Ray shrunk a little, now he could see it, a little, and he felt bad. "I love you too." He copied Kai, making sure he didn't say it too loud in case the others happened to run up on them from nowhere since he hadn't been paying attention to where they were.
"But just cus I look doesn't mean anything, it really doesn't. Same if people were to look back, it doesn't automatically make me love them or vice versa. Okay? If it bothers you, I won't do it again though."
Kai folded his arms. "If that were true then you wouldn't want to look..."
"So I liked what I saw, it's not a crime. Does that mean I want to be with them? No. Only person I want to be with is sitting beside me."
Kai snarled a little, throwing his hand out and gripping Ray's chin to make him look him dead in the eyes. "Then keep your eyes on me!"
Despite the sudden grab, Ray melted a little in Kai's hold and a sloppy grin plastered over his dumbstruck face.
"Okay." He said just as dumbly.
Kai gave him a nod. That was more like it... Ray melted a little more, not even registering what was going on now. He could look at him all day, so what was the problem again?
"Baaaaaby shark, dodododododo, baby shark dododododododo!" Tyson's loud, off key and bellowing voice sang as he bounded back towards the towels, water dripping everywhere.
At the terrible noise coming at them, Ray jerked himself from Kai's hold on his chin as his face went red like he'd been in the sun for hours.
"Already done?" He asked, having to clear his throat like he'd eaten a mouthful of sand.
"Nah! Came back to get a drink!" He grinned, heading to the cooler.
"Oh, okay. How's the water?" If he could get away with just dunking his entire head in the cooler and ice, he'd go with that, but since the ocean was a more proper option it would have to do.
"Cold! Think my nuts went back up!" He cackled, "HEY! Maxie is coming for a break too... And Hils." He cracked before fixing his hair.
Ray deflated at his chance of getting away to cool the raging heat on his skin, would look too weird if he got up now while everyone was coming back.
"Hey guys." He gave a disheartened wave at them, pulling his legs up to his chest and hugging them.
"Sprite please!" Max held his hands out for a can, like he was fixing to catch a football.
"Hut HUT!" Tyson yelled as he jumped at the cooler and tossed the ice cold can.
Max's ready and posed arms flailed, missing the can as it thonked him in the forehead and landed in the sand.
"Owww." He whined, rubbing his abused forehead and snatched the shaken sprite up.
"So, anything exciting since we've been away?" He asked, plopping himself on Kai's other side.
Kai folded his arms. "Not to me. Why don't you ask Ray..."
Hilary's ears twitched at the snide tone, smelling something in the air that wasn't sea water and casually slid up against Ray's side.
"Ohhhh, what happened? Someone come kick sand on you?! Must have been that redhaired brat that kept splashing us."
"No." Ray grumbled as he shot Kai a dirty side-eye glance, was he still salty over those two random girls that had walked by?!
Kai gave him a bitchy brow back. Tsch...
The topic was luckily glossed over when Max opened his can of Sprite, the earlier hurling making it spray all over him, getting a big laugh from Tyson, and just to join in, Ray as well.
Once he'd gone to wash the sticky soda off and come back, there was a nice quietness as they all relaxed on the towels in either the warm sun or the cool shade and enjoyed the peace. Even Kai finally unwound a little, scrolling through some article on his phone and forgetting about the awful light purple shirt.
Though after a little while, a flock of giggling went through his ears that irked him like it was a flock of seagulls. He peered up from his phone. Urgh. More females. Back to the article about parrot fish... But five other sets of eyes stayed up, taking in the salt sprayed hair, cute bathing suits and... Hella cute everything...
"Emma, can you rub sunscreen on my back in a sec, think I'm starting to burn!"
"Sure hun. But only if you do me too..."
Blue, brown, amber, and hidden under hair eyes followed like a magnetic pull, mouths dropping open a little. Hilary's hazel ones twitched. They looked around her age. Why did HER chest not look like that!? Why wasn't her butt that bootylicious!? She did squats! She suddenly moved her gaze and felt rage bubble. Boys were so, SO stupid!
At that moment, Kai gripped his phone harder. It wasn't a big deal... But he had to know. Was he- Oh for the love of Christ, Ray! Wouldn't do it again if it bothered him, he said... Only lasted a total of ten minutes!
What was soooooooo appealing it made them all stare like a group of inbred morons! Was just a lumpy chest! Looked inconvenient if anything. Would be like hugging balloons...
Hilary snapped her head and felt a glimmer of relief. At least Kai wasn't a total hound... Even if he was a big old homo. Ooooh, he didn't look impressed. OOOOOHHHH cause Ray was looking at girls! Of course!
Kai met her eyes back. Somehow, they connected. Bonded. He felt her pain, she felt his. He couldn't outwardly comfort her. Would make a scene in front of the others. But he wanted to comfort her somehow. Hn. On closer inspection she looked different from normal. Oh, of course. He stared at her with his deadpan face.
"You look nice today, Hilary."
All but the blue and hidden eyes snapped towards Kai, while Hilary blushed and put on her best smile.
"Aw, thank you, Kai." She chirped in a sickly-sweet voice, "And don't you just look... Well, different."
Tyson's cheeks puffed as did his chest, trying to think quick on the spot on what to say. "That top really hides that you're actually flat chested." He spit out, gaining another head turn from everyone.
Ray went so far as smacking himself in the face, Max taking it upon himself to scoot around Kai and Ray to smacking Tyson on the head. Hilary gave him a look that rivaled a well and truly ticked off Kai, turning her nose up and taking the chance to swap seats with Max.
"I've never seen you in anything but dark colors. But this suits you. Ah, you're so lucky... You're one of those guys that just looks fantastic in anything..." She said sweetly as she bat her lashes.
Kai arched a brow. He looked like Easter made a shirt. "Um. Thanks?"
"You're welcome." She beamed, sending her own dirty glance at Tyson and his big, stupid, mouth.
"You do look nice Hilary." Max tried to soothe, though at this point with both Kai and Hilary looking pissed off it was probably a lost cause now.
"Thanks." She said without looking up. "So Kai. Does your hair like, change color if you go in the sun?"
"Kind of question is that?!" Tyson spit out before Kai could respond, unable to take it anymore.
So he might have made a booboo, but what else was he supposed to say that topped 'you look nice'? She looked nice all the time! What, cus she was showing some skin now Kai wanted to pay attention to her?!
Hilary puffed her cheeks. "Well, my hair bleaches a little in the sun! So I'm just trying to picture how stunning Kai's would look if it got sun kissed!"
Kai looked between them. The hell was happening? He just wanted to make her feel better! He really needed to stop trying to help people...
"Probably almost white, it's already light in color!" Tyson argued over the others at her, "And you know what!" He stood himself up in a huff, his chest getting bigger.
"You look nice all the time! You shouldn't have to show some skin to get a guy to notice you for once." He shot Kai a dirty look too and turned on his heel, stomping away from them.
Kai threw a dirtier look at Ray, not getting that that was directed at him. Was that why his eyes wandered? He wasn't getting his body out? Perfect. Wonderful. Now he felt like shit. Even if he did take his clothes off, there was nothing impressive. Looked better with it on.
He huffed hard as well, getting to his feet and walking off too. He hated the beach...
"Well, there went that." Max sighed as he sat back, getting a nod from both Ray and Kenny.
"Well if you boys weren't so stupid all the time!" Hilary yelled at them, pulling her arms around herself in an attempt to cover up.
Kai stormed across the sand, not caring if the sun's rays were eating away at his skin. His blood was boiling anyway.
He made his way to the little area of shacks and shops just off the main strip of the beach. He could hide in one of those for a while. He marched in the place that had a big picture of a pitcher of lemonade figuring that was a safe bet.
Oooooo! Bubble tea! Jackpot!
...He'd drink it angrily.
He made his purchase and slumped on a little table outside in the shade, playing with the straw. He had every right to be upset, right? Sure, this was supposed to celebrate Ray being able to stay. Didn't give him a pass to be a dick...
Was he being a dick? Ray wasn't mean spirited. He was kind and thoughtful. One of the ample reasons he loved him. But it hurt. Why did he have to swing both ways!? Everyone was a threat! If he were just gay, he could ward off his rivals. He was outnumbered by boobs and balls...
He sighed. Was this him crossing a line with jealousy again? Taking more steps back from getting to Ray by feeling like this? B-but Hilary was mad that Tyson was looking, so it was valid, right?
He gripped his hair and roughly scratched it in frustration. Who was right and who was wrong here!?
"Kai?" Came a familiar voice that stopped by the table, the shock of seeing him sitting there quickly getting replaced by his earlier anger towards him.
"What're you doing here?" Tyson asked with another pout on his face, his own cup of lemonade in his hand.
Kai looked up and rolled his eyes. Oh, great... More grief. "Same thing you're doing here. Getting a drink." He bit.
"We brought a cooler." Tyson said a bit dumbly, seeing as how he too had gone and spent money on a drink he didn't need.
"But why? Thought you were busy with Hilary and being all mushy together." Maybe he'd come to get her something... Shit! He should have brought back a drink for her!
Kai blinked, frowning out of frustration at the unfathomable thing that just came out his mouth. "What the hell does mushy mean?"
"Telling each other you look nice, her wanting to know about your hair. What gives man? One minute you say you like Emily but then you go and drool all over Hilary." Tyson fumed and plonked himself in the opposite seat from Kai at the small table.
Kai choked. "Drool!? The hell are you talking about!? You idiots were so busy ogling that group of girls and it clearly made her feel bad! Just wanted to cheer her up was all!"
"So what, we looked! She was eyeing some buff dudes down the shoreline playing volleyball." Tyson defended and pouted at the same time.
Kai blinked and twitched yet again. "She did!?" Then he exerted himself giving compliments for nothing!
"Yeah, what are we supposed to do when everyone's walking around in practically their underwear. Isn't like we can just walk around with blindfolds on." Tyson rolled his eyes at him, quickly leaning across the table.
"But be for real with me, did you just say you liked Emily, so I didn't think you actually liked Hilary?"
Kai stopped and stared back at him a minute. Maybe he should just tell him the truth. About himself at least...
"Yes and no. I did just pick a name. But I'm not interested in Hilary either."
Tyson eased back into his chair, trying to read him better. "Oh... Well... Cool then..." He mumbled and swished his drink around with his straw.
"I kinda messed up there, didn't I?" He chuckled nervously at himself.
"Can say that again. You really think she's my type? She's basically a girl version of you but smarter and eats less."
"Hey! She's a lot more than that. She's also very hardworking, and top of the class!" Tyson yelled as he slapped the table, "And she's always there for us when we need her the most. There's nothing wrong with her."
Kai smirked. "I didn't say there was, Tyson. That's why I like her too, as a friend..."
Tyson's face fell again, "Oh... Well... Okay. Good."
Kai's butt shifted in his seat awkwardly. Now what? He had a feeling he was supposed to say something wise and helpful. But he was probably the worst person for this.
"Mm. Yeh. It is. So... Stop looking at other girls in bikinis and go pay attention to her! No one likes feeling second best or lower, Tyson! And what if some other douchebag is already eyeing her up!? She's not ugly! It can happen!"
Tyson's eyes bulged out of his head at the image, his ass shooting out of the chair like a firecracker had went off from under him.
"Y-yeah, right! See ya!" He spat and spun to run, getting halfway before running back to the table and snatched up his lemonade.
"See ya again!" He hollered over his shoulder as he made a mad dash back to Hilary. Kai may not be his rival in love, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be others.
Kai pat himself on the back. Well what do you know? He was great at this.
He sat and finished off his bubble tea, head going back over his own predicament. How could Hilary be mad if she had also been looking at other boys? WHY did they all need to look!? If they cared for each other like they claimed, they wouldn't need to, would they? He wasn't ogling other guys. He had the most perfect person in the world beside him! Inside and out.
He'd stare at him til the world ended. Ohhh and everybody ellllseeeee wanted their little slice of visual pie as well... Well they could all fuck off and drown! He was his not-yet boyfriend and partner for life!
He let out a sad little noise. He may have had something wonderful to look at. Didn't mean Ray did... Who wanted to look at pale, scrawny and damaged?
He tossed his plastic cup in the trash and skulked his way back on to the sand, figuring maybe some sun might actually make him look slightly less grim...
His mind slipped down a darker hole for the first time in a while, going round and round picturing every scenario where some tanned supermodel or buff Adonis stole Ray away from him, when he got a sudden blow to the head.
"The hell?!" He yelled in surprise as he rubbed the side of his head, glaring around to find the fucker who was begging for a punch in the nose. Only to see a ball thud into the sand.
"Hey man! You okay?! I'm sorry!" A voice carried over the soothing sound of waves.
Kai huffed and picked up the ball ready to hand it back. Another reason of many why he hated the... Beach...
He was presented with sun kissed, gradually bronzing skin, shimmering gold hair and very green eyes. His muscular arm decorated in black tribal patterns to his elbow.
"Aw man, I'm so sorry!" The voice repeated.
Red eyes stared back with a flat face, holding on to the ball. The pretty man tilted his head, making a few beads of water drip from his hair as he smiled a pearly white smile.
"You... You okay?" He asked in a slightly amused laugh.
Kai blinked before turning pink around the nose and nodding. "Mmhmm! Yes! Didn't hurt! Here!" He spat as he held the ball arm's length like it was on fire.
He nodded and took it from him. "Good, looked like it packed a punch. You look like you can handle your pain though." He smirked as he eyed the kid.
"I like your face."
Pink turned cherry red. "HN?!"
"The blue markings. Assume that's paint since you don't look old enough for ink. But still, bad ass..." He smirked as he rolled the ball in his hands.
Kai squirmed like a puppy that needed to pee. Silently whimpered like one too. "Thankyoubyyyyeeee!" He sung as he bolted off. BACK! YOU TEMPTRESS!
When he finally got back to the others everything seemed to be at peace on the home front, for now, everyone with a drink in hand and casually talking. The lemonade Tyson had earlier now resting in Hilary's hands while he downed a Pepsi, sitting right beside her as close as he physically could without sitting on her lap.
"Hey, you're back. We were just talking about moving down a bit where the pier is so we can jump off it and stuff." Max voiced as Kai came up to them.
"Whatever you want!" He snapped in a wobbly voice.
Ray gave him a questioning look, taking in the pink that still dusted his face. Was he burning from the sun already?!
While the others seemed to shrug it off and get their things packed up to move, Ray grabbed the bottle of sunblock and handed it over to him.
"You're already burning, here."
Kai looked over his arms, turning and walking in a circle to try and look at the backs of his legs. "I am? Where?"
"On your face, it's getting pink." Ray chuckled a little at the dance Kai had just done.
Kai smacked his hand over his still blushing nose. "Your face is getting pink!" He fired back, hurling himself at the towels and helping pack everything.
"It is?" Ray questioned, not expecting an answer either way. Would be pretty hard to turn even the slightest of pink since he'd been in the shade the entire time.
Shrugging himself, he grabbed what was left and threw the bag over his shoulder along with his tank top. Max and Tyson led the pack, the cooler between them, towards the more populated spot and where the pier and shops sat. And consequently the area where people were playing volleyball, along with the tattooed bronze beauty.
Kai stopped in his tracks as be caught sight and put two and two together. The pier was here!? Oh shit. Of course it was... Okay. Okay. It was fine. That guy was way over there. They were here. They'd never even cross paths. Just to be sure, once they'd laid all their stuff out again, Kai sat on his towel facing the shops, his back turned to the water.
"You're not gonna come?" Ray asked as he saw Kai sit with his back to everyone and everything. Was he seriously still mad at him for looking at boobs?!
Kai craned his neck to look round, like a blue owl. "Come where!?"
"To jump off the pier?" Ray threw a thumb up over his shoulder at it where the rest of the herd had already migrated to.
Kai eyed him before shaking his head. Nah... The water wasn't for him. His paint would run, and he'd be stuck in that stupid wet shirt.
"No... Thanks."
"Okay, well be back in a bit." Ray waved at him halfheartedly, feeling like the whole day had been ruined again and this time over boobs...
Kai watched him go, feeling bad. He probably thought he was still mad at him. And he was... But not enough to shun him. He really didn't want his face to run or to be sat in dripping wet clothes...
He spun on his axis on the towel, watching Ray and the gang skipping off to the pier before his eyes trailed back to the water... But oh so sadly, it seemed, at that exact moment... Green eyes looked back and smiled...
"Hey, you. How's the head?" The bronze babe chuckled nervously as he approached, he knew that face paint anywhere. Poor kid though, looked downright scared of him now.
Kai looked around. M-maybe some other asshole painted their face too? Nope... He was the sole asshole! Shit! What did he do!?
"My friends made us move here!"
The head of gold tilted some at the odd outburst while green eyes blinked a little in confusion. Wasn't the question he'd asked, but maybe the kid had really gotten conked in the head good.
"Ah, where are they? Could use a few more players if you want to join?" He tilted his head back towards the volleyball net where more bronze babes were playing.
"Ha-aaaaaaa! They're piering... And I don't know if I'd be any help to you guys..." He rambled as his face got even more flushed.
"Nonsense, with that face paint the other side'll be quaking in their flip flops. C'mon, I promise not to hit you in the head again." The other just laughed and held out a tan hand to Kai to help him up.
"Names Makoto, what's yours?" He asked as he smiled.
After that ego stroke, anything Makoto wanted it to be... He brushed some bangs out his hair.
"I'm... My name is Kai..." His heart kicked up tenfold at the hand waiting for him. Just like whenever Ray did it. He hesitated a moment before reaching and taking it.
"Kai." Makoto repeated as his smile widened, hoisting the boy up to his feet. "Nice to be better acquainted then. But anyways, you know how to play right?" He quickly let Kai's hand go and was already walking back to the volleyball net as he talked.
Kai stood with a dopey smile speeding. Ohh... That was one strong yet gentle pull... Luckily, a reality arrow struck and brought him back.
"Oh... Um... N-not really..."
"No problem. Pretty easy really." Makoto waved off the nervousness he could hear coming from Kai, going through the rules of volleyball for him quickly until he was satisfied Kai got the gist of it all.
"Alright, ready?" Makoto asked after they had parted some, getting into their positions on the sand as the team opposite did the same and ready to serve.
"If you mess up it's alright too, you'll get the hang of it."
Kai looked around. He was among Gods. Was like standing among a forest of mighty oaks and masculine beauty...
"Uh huh..."
With a hard thwump, the ball was sent flying over the net at lightning speed, strong bronze and toned legs running around in place as the ball came falling from the sky only to get smacked back over the net.
"Kai, heads up!" Makoto yelled as the ball flew over the net again and right at him.
Kai's eyes finally spotted the ball, having been incredibly distracted by the assault of hotness. That wasn't fair, surely. But he had bigger problems right now! He let out a weird sound in panic as his arm swung back, smashing the ball in hopes of not having it crack his nose rather than go over the net.
Makoto let out a cheer that was short lived with the ball coming back, this time coming at him. Taking a running start he leapt into the air and spiked it over the net, the opposite player unable to stop it from landing in the sand in time.
"Yeah! That's how it's done baby!"
He got a few whistles and congratulations from the others around him, those closest coming to high five him.
Kai's jaw hung open in awe. Such prowess... His hands moved slowly and limply to mindlessly clap a little.
"Alright Kai, show us what you can do." And suddenly Makoto had tossed the ball into his slowly clapping hands.
"It's all in the wrist man, you got this."
Kai caught the ball and looked down to it and back to Makoto a few times in a panic. He didn't know how to serve! Did he want them to lose!? Shit. What did the guy do before!? Was like... Hold the ball and hit it up with the other? Right?
Oh nooo... They were all watching him. All the beautiful people were about to watch him embarrass himself. Fuck you, Makoto!
He kept his eye on the ball and just bit the bullet, swinging and smashing it. On the sidelines, dripping with salt water and sand clung to their feet and legs, Ray and the others gave a round of applause at the server. Since when did Kai play volleyball?!
With the ball back in play, it danced over the net a few times again before coming back down towards Kai.
"Get it, Kai!" Ray and the others shouted at him from where they stood and watched.
Kai didn't hear them. He heard nothing now. Nor did he see bronzed and ripped abs, pecs, arms, and legs. There was only the ball!
He leapt up, kicking sand, and smacking the round fucker back over the net. His personal cheer squad clapped and jumped in excitement, the ball coming back and getting another hard smack from another of Kai's temporary teammate and scoring another point as it hit the sand after the opposition fumbled to hit it, eating a mouthful of sand in the process.
Kai bounced from foot to foot. OOOOOOOHHH! They got a point! Eat saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand asshole!
All at once Ray didn't know where to look. At the ball that was getting a beating of a lifetime, or the bronze muscled bodies, or the powerhouse Kai had turned into. There were too many options, but only one actually mattered and settled on Kai in time to watch him slap the ball again over the net and gaining another point for the team.
Makoto lifted an impressed brow. "Damn Kai, you sure you've never played before?"
Kai was too busy bouncing. He did it! He got a point! One more for the team. "Yep!" He fired out, hands rapidly going to the buttons of this god-awful shirt. Could not move properly in this! Shoulda just worn his tank! But shoulda, woulda, coulda! He had a game to win!
He yanked it over his head and tossed it aside just in time for the ball to be played, eyes on it like a hawk. With the shirt going off, Ray's legs near enough gave out on him that he automatically sat in the sand. Not caring that it clung to his still wet shorts or got into the ends of his hair.
Thinking that Ray had just sat cus his legs were tired, the others sat down with him to watch. Their eyes bouncing with the ball as it went back and forth over the net again.
Ray fanned himself a little internally as Kai got a chance to smack the ball again, every muscle in his arms and back on full display and flexing with the movement. He may not be what he was the year before, but it was still a beautiful sight to behold.
The opposing team player stumbled, missing the ball, and having it land in the sand. Again.
"Woooo!" Kai let out, big gleaming eyes turning to Makoto, "I like this game!"
"And look at you! You're a natural!" Makoto praised back.
At that Ray's eyes snapped to the man Kai was talking to, narrowing slightly. Who the hell was that?! But oh... He was beautiful... But why was Kai talking to him? Not that he blamed him, he probably would have too. Seriously though, who was that?!
"Alright, last round. You ready?" Makoto announced as he got into position.
"Mmhmm!" Kai grinned back, excited.
Makoto smiled back, tossing the ball up and jump serving, sending it flying. The ticked off opposite team smashed it back, desperate for a point. But after a few lengths back and forth, Kai wasn't having it. He wanted this! Samurai Spirit!
He ran and took off, flying up into the air like Dranzer on an attack, face grit as his arm swung with everything he had with a loud grunt and sending it hurtling like a meteor. Sand went every which way as the ball smashed into the ground, neither of the opposing team able to even get close to it before it had hit the ground.
All at once Ray and the others jumped to their feet, clapping, and cheering excitedly while Ray's legs threatened to give out on him again. Until Makoto and all the other bronze babes surrounded Kai with their buff bare chests in his face, high-fiving one another and clapping each other on the backs for their win.
Ray went straight as a pole, eyes narrowing and on the verge of slitting.
"That was a-mazing, Kai!" Makoto cheered as he threw his arms around Kai's shoulders, patting him on the arm and showing him off to his buddies.
Kai's soul left his body, about ready to pass out at this... This... Wow...
"H-nnnn..." He squeaked out in a wobbly voice as a wobblier, awkward, and stupid smile plastered across his face.
Ray didn't even know what he was doing, but it was too late to stop himself as he stomped across the sand to where Kai was being surrounded. Barely able to see him amongst the see of bronze.
"Should come and join us for another round sometime, can always use a guy with your kind of fire on our team!" Makoto clapped Kai on the back again, his arm still slung over his shoulders.
"Hey!" Ray barked, grabbing their attentions while his pupils quivered. "He's already on a team!" He spat out the first comeback he could think of when all those beautiful faces turned on him, but he had to be strong. That was his fire wielding king!
Kai tore his eyes away from the wall of nipples in his face and blinked at Ray. "Heyyyyy! When did you get back?"
Ray's hands went to his bare hips, still not fully sure what it was he was doing right now. He wasn't jealous, he just didn't like Kai's face being so close to other men's pecks.
"We've been here the whole time and would like you to come back and spend some time with us."
"Aw, well we'll let ya go then Kai. Don't want to keep your buddies waiting on ya." Makoto released the hold he'd had on the boys shoulders, "Good game though. We'll see ya around."
Kai's wobbly smile came back as he hunched into himself a little. "Thanks I had fun..." He giggled a little and finger waved back at him, stumbling out of the golden forest.
Snatching up Kai's shirt for him, letting him walk by first, Ray's pupils finally slit as he turned back at the other men and bore his fangs a little at them in warning before following after Kai back to their team.
"Here, before you really do burn." He shoved the pale shirt at Kai to take in another barking tone.
Kai spun and flopped on his towel, feeling on top of the world. "Thank you!"
The second his ass was down, the others flooded around him. Going a mile a minute about how awesome and amazing he looked out there kicking ass. All the while Ray had purposely stayed standing in front of him, blocking Kai's line of vision from the men behind him and their vision of Kai with his arms over his chest. Kai drunk it all in, propping up on his elbows with one knee bending up. After how shitty he felt earlier, this was almost orgasmic.
"Naaaaah... Wasn't that great... I didn't do much. Was mostly Makoto..." He was sure glad Ray was stood where he was. Kept the sun out his eyes.
"Ohhh, I've always loved that name." Hilary gushed, finding the perfect chance for some payback from earlier. And knowing all that she did, and not blind to the jealousy seeping out of Ray's pores at the moment, she wasn't about to miss her chance.
"You both were really great out there, and oh wow." She fanned herself a little.
Tyson's starry eyes for his captain fell, if they could slit they would have as he looked at Hilary pointedly. His chest puffing out again along with Ray's as he continued to stand over the top of them.
"Oh please, he's not that wow." Tyson bit in a huff.
"Ohhh he is..." Kai let out mindlessly in a dreamy voice before jolting, "In terms of athleticism! Technique is just wooow..." He covered.
Tyson and Ray rolled their eyes, Ray doing his best to hold his back from slitting again. He wasn't jealous. He wasn't dammit! He just didn't like... Like that stupid dreamy look on Kai's face.
"Since when you do go around and make friends with people?" He finally snapped to, the jealousy seeping out more.
Kai sat up, crossing a leg over the other. "I didn't! I was walking back and got hit in the head with the ball. He came to say sorry and I left. Then when we moved here, he saw me and asked if I wanted to play. You guys were jumping off the pier, so I went! What a great idea to come to the beach, huh?!"
"You got hit in the head? Are you okay?" Max flapped around him.
Ray's eyes narrowed some, not sure how to take that question. Was Kai being sarcastic or was he still gushing over Mark? And oh, if he went and made friends it was all fine and dandy, but how dare if any of them so much as sneezed in the general direction of an unknown stranger. But given how the others were there, he was left with one option and one option only.
"Mhmm. Great idea actually. Now are you going to come and actually enjoy it with us?"
Kai raised a brow. "I'm here, aren't I? Just didn't want to jump in the water and have these run." He said plainly as he pointed at his bad ass paint.
Tyson's cheeks puffed out as he bit his lip some, "Well you're shit out of luck there bud, cus they are running." He laughed.
Kai gasped and sat up. "What!? Where!? How bad!? Why did none of you tell me!?"
"We thought you could feel it." Max shrugged.
"It's probably a mixture of sweat and all the sunblock you applied to your face earlier." Kenny supplied in his all-knowing tone.
"Because you wouldn't shut up about Makoto..." Ray grumbled under his breath.
Kai jumped up to his feet. "Great! Now I have to go wash it off!" He whined and started walking off, bare chest reflecting in the sunlight.
Ray watched him go for a minute and before he could stop himself again, he was following after him to the bathrooms behind the shops up on the pier.
"Okay, can someone please tell me what is up with those two these days?!" Tyson whined after Ray had gone after Kai.
Hilary and Max exchanged glances, trying not to laugh while they both shrugged and shook their heads.
"No idea..."
Kai made it to the bathrooms, glaring in the mirror as he took in the damage. Urgh, what a waste of paint! He got to work, turning on the water and splashing his face.
Like he had outside, Ray came in behind him and stood with his back against the door. Arms back over his bare chest and standing guard.
"What was that?" He demanded.
Kai jumped and turned around. "Hello? And what was what?" He asked before going to get the last of it off.
"Hi." Ray responded curtly, "And all that! You go and get mad at me because I looked at someone, and you go off and surround yourself in half naked men. That's what."
Kai wiped of the water from his face and fought the smirk. He turned and lifted a brow. "I played volleyball. That's different from gawking." He said in a patronizing tone.
"Oh, no." Ray started in a small laugh, stepping up to where Kai was and stopping in front of him where he was pinned between the sink and Ray's body.
"Because if I remember right they were all over you after that, and you didn't do a thing to push them away. Since when have you been okay with other people, people you don't know, touching you?" He finished in a mock tone.
Kai's eyes narrowed, both loving and not appreciating his approach. "Oh please. What was I going to do? Refuse to play unless they put their shirts on? And all he did was pat me on the back. Wasn't about to be a dick about it, was I?"
"Had his arm around your shoulders long enough in my opinion!" Ray argued back, his hand coming out and doing what Kai had done to him earlier and held his chin where they came eye to eye.
"If you want me to only look at you, then you keep your eyes on me."
Kai stared back strongly. "See!? Feels horrible, doesn't it!"
"Really wish you would stop being right all the damn time." Ray responded as he let Kai's chin go, "Yeah, didn't feel too great. I'll admit it. So I'm sorry for doing that to you."
Kai pouted a little and stayed quiet a minute. "And you were right too, I guess. I did find myself looking at him. I enjoyed the attention and the uplift. But I don't feel anything for him... I do only have eyes for you. You believe me right?"
"Do you believe me?" Ray countered, wasn't him that had stormed off earlier in a huff because of it.
Kai looked away from him and shifted. "That's different..."
"How?" Ray questioned in a softer tone, his heart sinking at what Kai had said. Why didn't he believe him? Aside from today, what had he ever done to make it seem like he was lying to him?
Kai shrugged some and kept his eyes down. "Because you're you. You're really friendly and social as well as look the way you do. Anybody with a brain is going to try and get you. And you're... You know. Into all of it. So there's no way I can win..." He attempted to explain sadly.
It was Ray's turn to shift a bit uncomfortably, it wasn't like he asked to be any of those things Kai listed off. But weren't they all the same reasons Kai loved him the way he did?
"You already did win, Kai. I keep telling you this. But if my word isn't good enough for you, then I don't know what is at this point. I trust you, why can't you trust me?"
"No I didn't! I didn't win yet! We're not together yet. It's pending! What if I take too long!? What if someone better comes along before I do! I do trust you, its everyone else!"
Taking in a small, encouraging, breath Ray stepped back up to him and cupped Kai's pale cheeks in both his hands gently.
"Stop, please. I already told you before, as long as it takes. Remember? Nobody is going to come and take me away from you, because there's no one in the world aside from you who makes me feel the way you do. And even better, I don't have to go back to the village. So you're stuck with me, okay?"
Kai turned to butter in his hands, the ocean sounds coming through louder and oh so soothing. His entire face softened, bringing his arms round his hips, and giving him a small smile and nod. He was right. He was able to stay. One more thing in their favor. That should be what he was focused on.
Ray's hands slipped down to Kai's shoulders. "Okay then. So no more of this, for either of us. Deal?"
Kai gave a nod, calm smile still in place as his arms pulled him in a little closer. Ray's skin pricked as their warm bare chests touched, it sending electric shocks down his spine where all of a sudden it became a bit harder to stand.
He knew he should pull away, brush it off and go back out to others. They'd already had too many slip ups to count, but like always there was that magnetic pull that was tugging him closer.
"Kai..." He breathed out, brain liquefying while the cogs short circuited as the warmth of their skin became hotter between them.
"Ray?" He breathed back just as their lips ever so softly brushed together.
That electric spark pulsed and surged harder, his hands that had been casually resting on Kai's shoulders wrapped around his neck as he dived in and didn't give a shit anymore.
For the first time since being on that roof top back in New York, it felt like he could do this forever without a care in the world as his mouth moved against Kai's.
Even if they were in a bathroom at a packed beach, nobody came into them, they used the ocean. Which he was sure Tyson had done earlier, but that wasn't the point. They were alone for once without distractions, and he felt they both needed this after the stupid jealousy feud that had ignited between them.
"Whoaaaaa! My bad guys!" A newly familiar voice chuckled from behind.
Ray growled a little into the kiss, ripping his face off Kai's as his eyes slit at Makoto.
"Get out!" He snarled, his upper lip curling back to show off his fangs again. "Go use the ocean like everyone else does!"
Kai smacked him round the head. "Ray!" He hissed at him before leaning round to look at his earlier infatuation, "Um... Please keep this to yourself?" He asked sheepishly.
Makoto took in the scene a bit more, the long haired one kind of freaking him out a little and held his hands up defensively.
"Y-yeah, no problem man. I'll uh.. I'll just leave you to it." He nervously chuckled, backing away and grabbing the door without taking his eyes off Ray. Looked like the boy was fixing to claw his eyes out.
"I can um. Stand watch if you want a bit more time." He suggested and got a weird growl back from Ray, looking to Kai to translate as a bead of sweat rolled down his face.
"You're the best, Makoto!" He forced a smile, "Just for a minute."
Makoto just nodded back, taking his exit quietly and quickly. Doing what he'd said he would and standing guard in front of the heavy door.
With it closed and them alone again, finally, Ray's head snapped back to Kai's and attacked before they wasted that one minute. Teeth clacking slightly and his fangs scraping against Kai's bottom lip in the process.
Kai let out a startled noise, eyes wide at the sudden aggression and pulled back. "Ray!?" He panted.
"What?" Ray panted back, his whole body burning now that was quickly doused by the bit of blood hanging on Kai's lip. "Shit, I'm sorry. Are you okay?!" He panicked. He really needed to be careful with these damn things, constantly killed the mood.
"Fine. Just. You okay?" He asked back. Not that he didn't enjoy it. Just caught him off guard.
Ray nodded back quickly; they were wasting time dammit! "Yeah, only have a minute!" He reminded; Kai should have asked for at least ten!
Kai laughed a little. Fair point... He leaned back in, capturing his lips again to make the most of it.
With their minute up, they reluctantly pulled away and head back out to the others on weakened knees and with less air in their lungs compared to when they first went into the bathroom. But both with pleased and stupid grins plastered on their faces.
With the coast clear, Makoto traded places with them and jumped into the bathroom. The stall door opening where an elderly gentleman came out slightly pale in the face.
"Guess I should have used the ocean."