21: One Step at a Time

Gothic-Wolf: #^_^# Thank you so much! Yeah, my sisters and I are huge Beyblade fans, and I got a couple of my friends into it as well. And I get a lot of funny looks when I tell people I watch anime like Beyblade, Dragonball Z or Pokemon, but ah well. I'm proud of it!

Imari: You never know. ~_^

TigerRain: You'll just have to wait and see.

Ms Hobgoblin: Sex crazed? Yep. :p

moondragon-1001: Over my rating? Would it? Hm, might have to change it... :p

bmw: Yes, I enjoyed shocking Tyson. ^_^

I went a while between writing these last two chapters and the one before that. No inspiration, just homework. And a whole lot of stress…

Disclaimer: I would get a character to say that I don't own them, but that's a little too cliché.

Ray looked up from where he knelt by the small fire making breakfast, eyes falling upon his lover perched on a rock, elbows on knees, head in hands, frowning into the darkness. Curiosity played through Ray's emotions as he cocked his head to the side, tossing the spatula at Kai, who was finishing folding up their blankets, before standing and moving toward Lee.

He hung back, noting the faraway look in his fellow neko-jins eye. "What is it?"

Lee's forehead furrowed further. "Something's wrong."

"About our quest?"

"No, it's… it's the others." Lee's eyes narrowed. "It's Kevin."

"Are you sure?"

"I-I-I really don't know." Lee straightened, glancing over his shoulder. "You probably think I'm crazy."

"Not at all." Ray smiled, moving toward Lee and wrapping his arms around him from behind, resting his head on his shoulder. "I've been having weird feelings myself. Everytime something goes wrong with those I'm close to, I usually dream it. I dreamt about the hostage situation. That was the first time it was about something really serious."

Lee raised an eyebrow. "Freaky."

"Yeah."

"You think it has something to do with that thing the Elders used to talk about? That at a late point in puberty, some neko-jin develop an extra sense?"

"Hm. You might be right. We are the same age after all."

Lee elbowed him gently. "I'm older by five months, Tiger."

"Dates don't have anything to do with ageing, Lion. Just look at Kevin. He's 14 and still looks about eight."

"He'll grow. My father told me that Kevin's dad was the same, and look at him."

"True." Ray nuzzled Lee's neck. "Also remember, age has nothing to do with maturity."

Lee smirked. "I'm definitely older in that area."

Ray nodded to the side. "And Kai would be older then the both of us, even though you've got almost two months on him."

Lee nodded, shooting a look to the side and spotting Kai poking at the cooking breakfast, shoving another charcoal brick onto the pile. Lee lowered his voice, turning so that he faced Ray, pressing his lips against Ray's ear. "So any idea what to do with the phoenix?"

Ray shook his head, pressing his mouth to Lee's ear, whispering. "None. I flirted with him a bit yesterday, but he didn't seem to notice." Ray smiled. "He's cute without the face paint."

"Heh heh, no arguments here." Lee kissed Ray's cheek, running a hand through his hair. "We might have to take it up a step."

Ray frowned. "Meaning…"

"Accidental brushing. Adding him into spoken fantasies 'just for a laugh'. Definitely a lot more flirting."

Ray frowned. "Lee, do you ever flirt?"

"Sometimes." Lee pulled back, gazing into Ray's eyes, liking the way the firelight played off the others skin. "When I feel like it."

"I've never seen you flirt."

"Really?" Lee leant forward, his lips brushing against Ray's. "I think you have. Sometimes when you watch me, I look at you in a certain way and your eyes will light up. I move to pick up the same bit of cake on a plate, and always let you have, as I never intended to have it in the first place. I seem to absently run a hand through my hair when you're watching, because I know that you are watching. I give you that small smile when no one else is watching us. Are you sure you've never seen me flirt?"

Ray swallowed nervously, the tone of Lee's voice, his closeness, his scent, all causing Ray to feel like he was going to melt. "You're trying to seduce me."

Lee smirked, running a hand down the side of Ray's face, watching the others expression. "I think I already have."

Ray moaned, falling against the rock and allowing Lee to pull him up into his lap. Ray snaked his arms around Lee's neck as the other kissed him, all the while pulling Ray closer, the younger boy feeling like putty beneath his fingers. Lee smiled against Ray's mouth, deepening the kiss. Even after all these years, he still had his touch.

Kai looked up from where he was cooking the breakfast and had to smile. Lee certainly had Ray wrapped around his finger. He just hoped that the two remembered that he was there, or else he would have to do something drastic. Cold water was the first thing to come to mind. From that point on, things became violent.

Pushing the eggs around the pan, Kai added a little extra salt. He didn't make it common knowledge that he knew how to cook. If the Blade Breakers found out about that, Tyson would be wrapped around his leg begging for the next meal three hours in advance. Kai shuddered at the mental image. No, better to let them think Ray was the only cook in the group. It was safer that way.

He stole another look at the couple, scowling at the feeling of being left out. Lee was crossed legged on the rock, Ray seated in the space between his knees, the kisses so hot that it would have made ice melt. Kai's eyes narrowed as at one point Ray's hands begun to wander, only to have Lee fish them back, causing Kai to nod. Well, at least one of them still had a clear head.

Shoving the eggs once more around the pan, Kai sighed and flipped them onto a plate. "Come and get it, kittens."

Lee pulled back from Ray, who hadn't seemed to have heard. "What did you call us?"

Kai shrugged, taking his own share of food and moving away from the fire, settling down beside a rock on the other side, not bothering to answer.

Ray noted Lee's frown as the elder boy watched Kai move away. "What is it?"

"He just called us 'kittens'," Lee answered, eyes narrowing before he smiled evilly. "I think we're in for a chance."

Why did Kai call them 'kittens'? And Ray and Lee seemed to be getting on rather well there, didn't they. :p