5: Questions

Has anyone else noticed how hard it is to find good pictures of Lee and Kevin? Anyone want to convince one of the fan artists to draw some? (Not having a go at you Melanie, just saying.)

Sarcasmcat: I'm flattered. #^_^#

TigerTerror: *Hugs Kai* Ooo you're mean, picking on poor Kai... but it is true!!! (Kai: O.o Why does it always happen to me?)

Frostt: Good to here it. Hope you like the next chapter.

Neko Youkai aka Luna Malfoy: I prefer Kai/Ray too, but I also like to experiment. Take a look at my new fic "Honesty" which deals with an interesting White Tiger matchup *shameless plug*

sakura9566: You'll just have to wait and see what he does. ^_~

Disclaimer: I dream a lot. Sometimes I'm not sure when the dreams end and real life begins. But then, Kai and Ray aren't really real, are they.

Kevin sighed, moving toward the fireplace and pausing by the chair. "I made you some coffee."

"I don't want any, thank you."

"Please, Mariah." Kevin set the mug down on the table, kneeling at her feet and looking up at her. "The doctor's left. He says Kai's going to be fine. He's got a couple of cracked ribs, a sprained wrist, and some bad bruising, but nothing really serious."

"But it is serious." Mariah looked up, tears swelling in her eyes. "How could anyone do that to anyone? It's just… it's just not right."

"I know." Kevin reached up, placing one of his hands on top of hers. "Sometimes I forget how lucky we really are, coming from such a tight knit village. I used to find it suffocating, not being able to do anything without someone telling my parents cause they would tell me off… but they only used to do it because they really care about me." He smiled faintly. "They must have been really sick when they found out about the Winton thing."

"I'm surprised my parents didn't send for me to come home," Mariah admitted, turning her hand over so she could squeeze that of her childhood friend. "Thanks Kev."

"That's okay."

She reached down, smirking as she brushed the fringe from his face to reveal his hidden eye. "You really should do something about that fringe of yours. Maybe let me cut it-"

"No way!" The youngest of the neko-jin laughed, shaking his head and letting his green hair fall back into place. "And if anyone needs to fix their hair, it's you. You have this piece sticking up at the top-"

"Where?" Mariah's hands flew to her head, feeling for the bit he was talking about.

Kevin chuckled. "Fooled you."

Mariah glared at him, then smiled, picking up her coffee and sipping it. "You know Kevin, sometimes I'm glad you're so annoying."

"Yeah, me too."

~~~~*~~~~

"It's just not right."

"That's the hundredth time you've said that." Max looked at Tyson and frowned. "Besides, we know it's not right, but these things happen."

"Max is right, Tyson." Mr Dickenson sighed, looking at where Ray was gently cleaning the last of the blood from Kai's face, the other boy still unconscious. "Voltaire is a hard and cruel man. It is my guess that he has been abusing Kai since Kai was a small boy."

Tyson looked up. "But where are Kai's parents? Surely they must know what's going on."

"Only Kai can answer that," Lee commented from where he was sitting cross-legged on his bed, watching as Ray worked. "And then, only if he wants too."

"Aw great, now we'll never find out."

Lee frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ray looked back at him. "Kai has never been much of a talker. We can barely get him to tell us how his day has been, let alone anything about his past or family."

"He'd rather just sit and listen," Max agreed. "Either that or just ruffle Tyson's feathers. He's the only one who really knows what buttons to push."

"He's still a key member of the team." Kenny looked toward Kai. "I have a feeling that if he weren't team captain, we wouldn't be doing as well as we are. If it weren't for his offhand advice, we would have lost a long time ago."

"Say what?" Tyson turned toward him. "You can't be serious."

"I happen to agree with him, which is why I chose him to be Team Leader," Mr Dickenson said.

Max looked at the now sulking Tyson, then back to Kenny. "Want I want to know is what a neko-jin is."

"I can answer that, Chief." Ray looked at Max and smiled faintly. "I'm a neko-jin. And so's Lee, Mariah, and Kevin. It means we have feline blood."

Lee smiled faintly, crossing his arms over his chest. "You can pick us from a mile away. The pointed ears, fangs, and cat-eyes are the biggest give away."

Ray grinned. "We are more flexible and always land on our feet. We also move different."

"Oh I get it!" Max grinned. "You guys kinda glide, or move like you're stalking your prey."

Ray nodded. "That's it."

Tyson frowned. "So what's Voltaire's problem with you guys anyway?"

"It's rather simply, Tyson," Mr Dickenson spoke up. "Many people view the neko-jin as inferior, or simply as being less human. Much like the Nazi's viewed the Jews during the holocaust."

Lee closed his eyes and sighed. "They hate us. Many try to hunt us down like we are game in a hunting expedition, to stick our heads on a wall. Many of our kind have been murdered by those like Voltaire, which is why we travel in groups." He opened his eyes and looked toward Ray. "And it is yet another reason we were so angered when Ray left us."

Ray tore his eyes away from Lee's pained look, returning his attention to Kai. "You know why I left Lee."

"Yeah." Lee pushed himself off the bed and crossed to the window, looking out at the reddened sky as he leaned against the frame. "Well, it's obvious that this Voltaire guy doesn't like us, and if he's really as rich and powerful as he's supposed to be, then we had better be careful."

Tyson looked toward the form stretched out on the bed. "Yeah, Kai might try and kill you."

"Somehow, I doubt that." Mr Dickenson moved toward the doorway. "His grandfather might have a problem with the neko-jin, but I do believe Kai has the upmost respect for them. Especially for Ray and the White Tigers. Now, I do believe we should try to get some rest. Perhaps by the morning Kai will be better. Come along boys."

You know, I'm actually having fun developing these relationships. I hope you're enjoying reading them as much as I am writing them. Review anyone?