Mizu_Tenshi: IMPORTANT! I'm really sorry but someone brought to my attention another option what if I kept Ray single? That way everyone's happy. Not much action right now 'cos I want to show you everyone's relationships with each other and how they differ. Not many chapters left so please bear with me.

"..." Speech

'.' Thought

*.* Implied words

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

*****************

Chapter 15: Problems

Ray was submerged in thought as he walked up and down the carpeted hotel corridors.

"Ray?"

Ray looked up at the familiar voice and smiled. "Hey, Mariah, how are you?"

"Please, Ray, don't be like that!" Mariah put her hands on her hips. "Stop acting like I said nothing, you're not helping at all, if you don't feel the same way just tell me!"

'Great, why did I say that?' Mariah felt like kicking herself. Maybe it was all the tension that just came out in bursts.

"I...I...." Ray stuttered.

"Hey, guys!" Both Ray and Mariah spun round to face Max with his normal grin plastered on his face.

'Damn you, world, damn you,' Mariah mentally groaned.

"What's up, Max?" Ray asked.

"Kenny's thought of a plan, come on!"

~ Hotel room ~

The three groups were once again crowded around a table in the middle of Tori and Sam's room. On the table was a large sheet of white paper with two large squares, one inside the other drawn onto the paper with a green crayon.

"My plan is simple," Kenny said proudly. "After talking with Tori and Ami I know a way we can stop Biovolt. Basically all the data from the many Biovolt branches is all connected to the same system mainframe."

"I get it," Ami caught on. "You want to hack into their computers and delete the data."

"Not quite," Kenny was obviously enjoying his moment in the spotlight. "That takes too long but I can get Dizzi to whip up a virus. Soon, all the branches in the world will be infected and this virus will be programmed to delete everything with no possible way of retrieving anything. All we need to do is get the virus into the mainframe and we're done no mess, no hassle."

"What about the Origins?" Ray enquired.

"Simple," Tori stepped forward. "Another group of us will head into the labs and extract the one in Kai and Tala, if he's alive, then we destroy them."

"Hey wait!" Ami cried out in protest. "If you destroy Tarae that leaves me without a bit-beast!"

"You never liked blading anyway," Minako tried to persuade her friend.

"Yeah but what about the team?"

"We can always find another person with a bit-beast to blade and then you can do what you do best; finding information and thinking up strategies like what Kenny does." Tori offered.

"That sounds really far-fetched and doesn't Biovolt have really tight security?" Max pointed out.

"We managed to break into it once, I don't see why we can't do it again," Tori shrugged.

"Why don't we just call the police?" Sam mumbled, not approving any of his plans.

"The police are corrupt, they'll leave Biovolt alone if they get enough money." Tori continued to defend his idea.

"Well, it does sound a like a lot of things could go wrong," Kenny admitted. "We're bladers not vigilantes."

"Who cares what we are?" Minako shrugged. "I just want to blow something up!"

"Okay, so are you guys in or not?" Tori asked.

"You're the leader, we'll listen to you," Ami shrugged.

"Yeah, course we'll help, we've faced Biovolt before, right guys?" Tyson grinned. The other Breakers sweatdropped.

"I still reckon we're all gonna die a most painful death but we'll go too, someone's gotta be there to stop you messing up, right?" Li flashed his fangs as he smiled.

"You know," Kai spoke for the first time throughout the whole 'briefing' "I'd rather you didn't get involved in my business."

"Come on Kai," Tyson was still grinning happily at the prospect of a new adventure. "You can't do this by yourself and you know it."

"Fine, you can have your happy little field-trip to your impending doom, just remember, I never needed your help." He shifted himself from his place leaning against the wall and made his way to the door. "I suggest you get ready, we're raiding Biovolt tonight."

One by one the rest filed out of the room to enjoy what remained of the day. Only Tori and Sam were left in the room.

"Tori?" Sam touched Tori's shoulder lightly. "We'll get through this." She kissed him lightly just brushing his lips.

"I know," Tori muttered.

"We've been through so much together from the time you ran away from your grandpa to now," Sam murmured. "If you're worried about Kai don't be. I know him too and even if he doesn't remember us at least we know where he is and at least we know that he can take care of himself."

"It's not Kai that's bothering me, it's what we're doing," Tori explained. "I want to see Biovolt gone not 'cos they're gonna hurt anyone but 'cos I want my revenge."

"So? You have that right," Sam assured him. "Biovolt forced you to leave home and live like a vagabond."

"And tonight I'll have my revenge?"

Sam nodded. "Tonight is our night of retribution."

~ Lounge ~

As Kai entered the lounge he scanned for a place to sit by himself and be alone with his thoughts.

'It's not like I need any help, I don't need to get rid of Dryx either, I should be able to master it just like with everything else.' Kai was dragged out of his trance by a loud bang. He looked into the direction of the sound and mentally groaned.

"Du aßen mein Geld, du Dieb!" Minako was screaming at a vending machine, causing many people to turn and stare at her.

Kai contemplated whether he should bother, in the end he decided it would be best to shut her up.

"Was ist los?"

Minako stopped and turned around, grinning when she saw whom it was. "Kai, I never knew you could speak German!"

"I learnt a little, just the basics," Kai shrugged. "So what the hell are you doing?"

"This stupid machine ate my money!" Minako kicked it with contempt. "But it doesn't matter now," she brightened up immediately. "I got something more interesting to talk to than chocolate now!"

"You talk to chocolate?" Kai raised an eyebrow.

"No, I..I eat it, what I meant was..now you're here I - " Minako faltered, she automatically switched to another topic. "Okay, so you speak German? Translate this: Ich bin Minako und ich wohne mit mein Kaninchen, Johnbob, in ein Rechenautomat! Es ist wirklich bequem!" (1)

Kai looked at her as if she had grown an extra head. "You're psychotic," he shook his head, concealing an amused smirk. (A.N. Smirk not Smile! Sounded pointless but it's for the 'Getting him to open up' scene)

"Aww, I'm not that crazy," Minako was still grinning like a fool. "So whaddya think about this raid?"

"I couldn't care less," Kai shrugged. "As long as Biovolt goes down I'm happy."

"After the raid and the tournament what will you do?" Minako continued to question him.

"Go back to Japan," Kai shrugged.

"Oh," Minako's smile drooped a little. "Can I come? I mean Ami's from Japan and Tori's half Japanese so I'm sure they'd love to go there and I always travel with the team."

"You can go where you want," Kai shrugged in his usual, uncaring manner.

'Score!' Minako was practically hugging herself with glee, an answer like that was as good as if Kai had specially asked her to come with him. 'Minako 1, mean people who say it would never work out 0!'

She thanked him and excused herself, saying she was going to talk with the girls.

"Minako," Kai called after her. She turned and was hit in the face by a chocolate bar.

"Thanks," she grumbled a little as she rubbed her sore face.

~ White Tiger Hotel room ~

The four girls from the two teams lay sprawled over the beds and soft velvet chairs of Mariah's hotel room doing one of the many things girls did best: chatting.

The current topic of discussion was an old yet popular topic, one that had survived the test of time for centuries.

"Men," Mariah grumbled.

"Tell me about it," Ami mumbled as she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.

"The world is crazy enough without all these weird emotions and hormones flying about," Ami decided to contribute to the 'discussion.' "It would be easier if we were just like the animals; only getting together for the purpose of reproducing."

"Yeah, but then where would all the fun be?" Minako smiled, happily chewing on a chocolate bar.

"Why are you so happy?" Sam glared at her team-mate. "Actually, don't tell me, I don't really wanna know what happened."

"Being a bit sour, aren't you?" Minako was still smiling. "You should know that me and Kai really click!"

"How?" Ami raised an eyebrow. "You two are total opposites; he's a cold, silent, aloof Russian-Japanese teen and you're a psychotic, hyper bunny from Germany."

Minako stuck her tongue out but remained quiet.

"Can we please stick to the subject?" Mariah reminded everyone.

"So what's your problem?" Minako looked eagerly at the only female member of the White Tigers.

"Ray." Mariah muttered.

From her place on a velvet chair Ami looked at Mariah wistfully, listening carefully to what she was saying.

"I told him how I felt but I haven't got an answer 'cos there's always something there interrupting us," Mariah explained. "I think that if we were really meant to be I would know how he feels by now."

"Well maybe, when this is all over that is, you should get him when he's alone, lock him up in a room and don't let him go until he gives you a straight answer," Sam suggested.

"Hmm," Mariah pondered the suggestion. "Maybe I will."

~ That night ~

They stood in the cold, shivering in the gloomy night's air. They wore no coats or anything that might weigh them down or hinder their progress once they were inside the building.

The three teams lingered outside the hotel, while they were waiting for the rest of the group to arrive they chatted silently, voicing their worries reassuring each other that they would all get out safely.

"Are you sure bout this?" Sam whispered to Tori. "I still find it hard to imagine that were actually going to do this."

"Don't worry, we've got everything planned out."

"But, Tori," Sam protested. "This could be our last night together, doesn't that worry you?"

"We'll make it, I promise," Tori wrapped a comforting arm around her.

The many other whispered conversations were roughly along those lines. Kai was talking to Kenny and the male members of the White Tigers, quickly going over the plans one more time while Ami was with Minako and Max was talking to Tyson. Mariah and Ray were standing a little farther apart, exchanging glances.

Ami would sometimes cast a quick glance at Mariah and Ray but neither one of them looked her way. She couldn't care much about Biovolt anymore; she was sick and tired of everything.

"Alright," Tori broke through the whispers. "If anyone's thinking of quitting they can go back to the hotel, I'm not gonna stop you."

There was silence but nobody moved.

"Okay then," he nodded. "Let's go."

"Hey Kai!" Minako called. She came running up to him as he turned, slightly impatiently, waiting for her to catch her breath. "Kai.before we go in.I want you to have something."

Dangling on a silver chain was a simple heart shaped ruby. Almost violently Minako grabbed Kai's hand and stuffed the chain into his palm.

"What?" Kai looked confused. "Why are you giving this to me?"

"It's my birth necklace," she explained. "It represents the state of my heart, I want you to have it, so don't loose it, okay?"

'What the -' Kai's mind was trying to figure out why Minako was doing this.

"Do you want it back after we destroy Biovolt?" Kai asked.

Much to his surprise she broke out in hysterical laughter. "You don't get it, do you?" She beamed once she got over her fit. "Your meant to keep it 'cos....How do I explain it? Well...just hold onto it, okay? You'll understand what I mean someday."

She winked playfully at the slate haired boy and ran past him shouting: "Hey, wait for me guys!"

***********************

Mizu_Tenshi: (1) Translation: I'm Minako and I live with my rabbit, Johnbob, in a computer. It's very comfortable!

Okay, so let me know whether Ray should stay single or not and if not I'll just count up the votes again and pair him up with whoever has the most. The ways you can vote are:

a) Ray x Mariah

b)Ray x Ami

c) The new one! Ray (single)

By the Stars - Well okay, please update whenever you get the time. Exams are a bugger, aren't they?

starwolf - I know, it amazes me too. I live for chocolate...well some other stuff but mostly chocolate! Anyway, remember to vote if you want Ray single or not.

deon - I'm working towards getting them closer together but I always feel like I'm being too sappy. Was that last part too corny?

heather - Thanks for the idea, I'm gonna let the other people vote and see what they want.

Anime the Fallen Angel - Thanks for the review, remember to vote on Ray staying single or not. I hide my sugar reserve in the piano. No one ever suspects looking there!

rxm fan - Thanks for the review and I will count your vote. If people don't want Ray single he'll most likely be with Mariah since that's the way most people voted. Democracy, eh?

Miekkie - That's okay as long as you don't flame me *looks at a broken shelter* at least not until I've got this thing up yet.

Galux Kitty - Okay, so I did listen to heather but it was a very good point. I know what you're gonna vote for, I'm guessing to NOT keep Ray single and pair him up with Mariah?