HIGHWAY: PART IV

Shaman Wolf: You get to find out exactly how they are in this chapter. ^_^

MadMaddie: You're going to be disappointed I'm afraid.

Gohana: Someone else who doesn't like Mariah? Man, you guys are everywhere. :p

This is the final instalment. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: See first page


One year later.

"You'd have thought they would have at least changed the venue."

"It's cheap to rent."

"Sure it is."

"No joke, Lion. Especially when they own it."

Lee frowned. "I never knew that."

"Not public knowledge." Kai smirked. "Then again, I'm not exactly public."

"Yes oh great dictator."

"Hn. Dictator. I like that."

"Get over yourself." Lee looked up as Kai pulled the Jag into the parking lot. "Looks like we're the last to arrive."

"Yeah." Kai pulled the keys from the ignition. "I see most of them got new cars."

"Most of the cars were write offs anyhow." Lee stretched, wincing as a slight twinge moved through his left arm.

Kai narrowed his eyes. "You skipped going to the therapist again."

"Maybe."

"Lee."

"Hey, I was busy. That paperwork from where the lab blew up took forever. Speaking of which, you won't complain if I punch out Ian, will you?"

"Not if you leave some of him for me."

"Works for me."

Kai leant over, catching Lee's lips with his in a quick kiss. "Better go."

Lee nodded, kissing him back before opening the door. "Yeap."

~~~~*~~~~

"-and then the jerk walked right in and punched me." Michael crossed his arms over his chest, growling. "Took forever for the swelling to go down. I couldn't go in front of the camera for weeks."

Johnny smirked. "Sounds to me like you deserved it."

"I must agree." Robert spoke up. "They had been through much, and you did not seek to improve the situation, but rather worsened it."

"Hey," Michael scowled. "Whose side are you on?"

"Shut up, Mike." Steve glared at him, pointing over his shoulder. "Go preen in front of that mirror."

"Say what!?"

"Boys, please." Judy stepped between them, raising her hands defensively. "Losing your tempers will do more damage than good. Michael, Steven, I need you both, so please come with me."

"Wish I could have been there," Johnny said, crossing his arms over his chest as the All Starz walked away. "Would have been amusing."

"Not as amusing as when the wind catches your dress," Oliver teased.

"For the last time, it's a kilt."

Enrique smiled at him. "You know, the real reason I wanted to install mirrors into the floor of the ballroom wasn't to look up the girls skirts, but rather to see if you wear anything under your kilt. I heard true Scot's don't, you see-"

Johnny dropped him.

~~~~*~~~~

Tyson sat on a chair at the table, staring at his hands. He didn't look up as Max joined him, reaching out to lay a hand on the others shoulder.

"You okay, Ty?"

"I still remember him." Tyson looked up, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. "I can still see him sitting there, typing away on his keyboard."

"I miss Kenny too, Tyson, but we can't linger on the past." Max smiled warmly. "Chief is probably up there shaking his head at how lazy you've become."

"Yeah. You're probably right."

"I tell you someone else I miss. Dizzi."

"I agree with that." Tyson frowned. "I wonder what she would say if we ever saw her again?"

"Did you miss me?" All heads shot around to see Kai and Lee enter the room, Kai reaching forward to set the small computer on the table, a rich female voice emerging from it. "Well don't just sit there like deers in the headlights: did you miss me?"

"You bet we did!" Max laughed. "Dizzi!"

Tyson blinked. "But. you were destroyed!"

"My platform was destroyed, but the hard drive was 100% undamaged," Dizzi replied. "And I've got Kai to thank for my return, my big strong hero."

Kai rolled his eyes as Lee chuckled, poking him in the ribs. "Told you she likes you."

"Oh I get it." Emily grinned. "That's what you asked Bryan to go get from the wreckage when you were being loaded into the ambulance. You wanted Kenny's hard drive."

Kai nodded. "You got it."

"I should charge for my services," Bryan joked, stepping into the room, Tala and a skipping little girl following.

Emily's eyes lit up at the sight of her. "Hello Hanna."

"Hi Emily!" Green eyes sparkled as she spotted the two men standing by the table. "Uncle Kai! Uncle Lee!" She raced forward, throwing herself into first Kai's arms, then Lee's. "Thank you so much for my birthday present! It was just what I wanted! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Lee looked at Kai. "Think she liked it?"

Kai smirked.

"Well it's final," Tala told them, stopping beside Bryan. "The papers came through. Hanna's officially our daughter."

"Great to hear," Kevin said from where he sat near Ray, prodding the elder in the back with his cane.

"You fought very hard to get the adoption approved," Robert agreed.

"Your letter certainly helped," Tala told him. "Though I'm surprised you did it."

"We always help a friend," Oliver told him. "And we're just one big family."

Johnny rolled his eyes, causing Robert to smile faintly.

Mariah looked around them, smiling. "Everyone's here."

Tyson's face fell. "Not everyone."

"Kenny's here," Lee said softly. "In spirit and name."

"And memory," Max agreed.

"And my data files," Dizzi chipped in. "Kai, can you be a dear and clean my lens?"

Kai glared at Lee. "Not a word."

Lee simply smiled and shrugged, eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Would you stop it!" Ray swung around in his seat beside Mariah. "Prod me in the shoulder one more time and I'll shove that cane down your throat."

Kevin's eyebrows rose before he smirked. "Like to see you try."

"That's enough, Kevin." Mariah glared at him. "You're 20-years-old. Start acting your age."

"It's hard enough being my age then trying to act it."

"Kevin." They looked up to see Mr Dickenson enter with a young woman with rich purple hair and sparkling green eyes. It was she whom had spoken. "Mariah's right. Not everyone appreciates a smartarse."

He crossed his legs, smirking. "Can't help it if my arse is educated."

She glared at him.

His eyes widened innocently as he took on the look of a hurt kitten, battering his eyelashes.

Lee smirked. "Stand off."

Her eyes narrowed, the glare intensifying. In return, Kevin sank down in his seat, eyes widening further as his lower lip pouted. She crumpled. "I hate you, Kevin."

He grinned in triumph. "You know I don't believe that, Lakayla."

Mr Dickenson clapped his hands together. "I would like to welcome you all to our annual meeting. It's good to see you all took the time once again to attend."

~~~~*~~~~

"Well that was just a waste of time," Tyson growled, shaking his head as they left the meeting room and stepped out into the hall.

Hana tugged at the leg of Bryan's pants. "Can we get some ice cream?"

Lakayla smiled. "She's adorable. I wish I had a little girl just like her."

Ray smirked. "Somebodies dropping hints there."

"I noticed." Kevin scowled, crossing his arms. "We've discussed this, Lakayla. And speaking of discussions." He stopped, turning toward her. "You never did answer my question."

The others all paused, finding some excuse as to having stopped, but all listening. Lakayla met Kevin's eye. "I told you I would think about it."

He nodded. "You've had a month. And I'm not just going to forget about it."

"I realise that." She smiled. "Fine. The answers yes."

Eyebrows rose faintly. "Yes?"

She nodded. "Yes, I will marry you."

Mariah shrieked in delight, hugging them both. "Now we can have a double wedding?"

"Mariah," Ray's cheeks reddened faintly. "That was suppose to be a surprise."

Tyson grinned. "Does anyone else here have any big news?"

"I got a job," Gary told them. "Official taste tester at big restaurant."

"I've been invited to play football again," Steve said.

"I've moved in with Kai," Lee said.

Tala smirked. "Bryan and I are thinking of tying the knot."

"I won another cooking contest," Oliver said.

"You're always winning 'another cooking contest," Johnny spoke up.

Michael grinned. "I actually let a certain dweeb punch me out because I felt sorry for him, being one handed and all-" He was cut short as the fist connected.

Kevin looked up. "So Lee, when did you start having these anger management problems?"

Lee smirked, rubbing his knuckles. "About the time I met you, I think."

Kai slid an arm around his waist, clutching Dizzi in his other arm. "You enjoyed that."

"Oh yeah." Lee grinned, looking over his shoulder as they began to walk away. "Just get Eddy to kiss it better like last time, loser."

Michael threw himself to his feet, Eddy and Steve holding him back. "I'll get you for that, Yin! I swear upon my name, you will pay for that!"

"Better cancel all your photo shoots," Johnny called. "Looks like another few weeks out of the spotlight."

Michael held his nose, shooting a look at Eddy. "I think he broke it."

Steve sighed, moving away. "I don't know you."

Lakayla slipped her arm through Kevin's. "Since I'm driving, I figured I'd take the highway back to the hotel, what do you say?"

A silence hung over the group as they looked at her, Kevin finally clearing his throat and finding his voice.

"Actually, I was planning on the back road."


Dekiagaru (Finish)

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little piece of work. And I will see you all next time!

Note: My new story Out of the Darkness begins Sunday and is centred around the Demolition Boys. Hope to see you there, and I promise it will be longer than this one.