30: Food For Thought

TigerRain: Was your capslock stuck on or are you really that desperate for more Kai/Ray/Lee? :p

Anonymous Cherry: Saved sorta? Actually, completely saved... except for maybe Kev, but... yeah. ^_^

Ms Hobgoblin: The first shootout? And I remember someone saying mine was the first major car pileup they had seen... what's going on? Surely this can't be the case. :p

moondragon-1001: Tyson thinking about something other than food... well, I do believe he thinks about blading. :p

Imari: The bad people.... I hope O_o

Jay Kamiya: Like it, hm?

Yoh Asakura: Calm down, calm down. No killing in this fic unless it is done by me, understand? *^_^*

the tigris: Not over, no. But almost.

Gothic-Wolf: A minute alone... yeah right. Like that will ever happen. Meow! :p

Sorry for the delay in updating, but first FanFiction.Net wouldn't work, then my internet didn't work, then I had lots of homework for uni... but anyway, good to see all my readers back. ^_^

Well, they've been rescued, and let's just say that a couple of characters have but one thing on their mind…

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own them.

"Tyson, you're starting to make me feel sick."

"I'm sorry, Kenny," Tyson swallowed, reaching for another leg of chicken. "But I went almost a week without any decent food, and I need to make up for lost time."

Mariah crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at one of her teammates. "Gary, have you ever heard of a fork."

"Huh?" Gary looked up, a sandwich in each hand. "Uh… it's too little. Get more if I use my fingers."

Kai and Lee shot each other sympathetic looks as they sipped their drinks, Ray catching it and chuckling. Returning his attention back toward the layout of food in front of them, he caught something out of the corner of his eye. "Ah, Max, do you really think you should be eating all that ice-cream and caramel?"

Kai's eyes widened.

Max looked up, spoon halfway to his mouth. "But it's so good. Besides, I figured that since it's free, then I should get as much of it as I can. I've already had about three bowls," he patted his stomach. "I think I could get around three more."

As he lowered his spoon toward the bowl, Kai was on his feet, reaching across the table to snatch the bowl away from him, setting it down as far from the American as possible. Kai glared at Max's hurt look, growling. "If I catch you eating any more of this, you'll be training 24/7 for the next month, got that?"

Max nodded, dumbfounded. His hand reached for the donuts, but stopped as Kai's glare hardened. He changed direction, picking up a piece of chicken instead and relaxing as Kai nodded.

Tyson looked toward Kai. "Well, nice to see you back to your old grumpy self."

Kai shrugged, picking up his drink again.

"Mr Dickenson's just finished talking to doctors," Kenny said, joining them. "They want to keep Kai and Lee another night for observation, but the rest of us have been cleared to go home."

Lee scowled. "Great. More hospital food."

Ray smiled. "I'll smuggle you in some chocolate."

"Make sure it's one of those extra large blocks," Kai spoke up.

"With choc chip," Lee agreed.

"And plenty of caramel."

"Got it. Extra large choc chip with caramel. I'll see what I can do." Ray smirked. "Hope you guys don't get sugar high."

"Yeah right." Lee picked up a biscuit. "Like that ever happens."

Mariah frowned, looking toward Kai and cocking her head to the side. "You look different without those blue triangles painted on your face."

Kai looked to the side. "So I've been told."

Ray and Lee looked away, covering their smiles.

"It's good to be able to shave," Ray said, rubbing at his face. "That stubble was starting to drive me mad."

"You should have seen Gary and Mr D," Tyson agreed. "They were scratching all the time. It can't have been that annoying."

"You wait," Lee said, looking across at him. "In a few years you'll be singing a different tune."

Mariah frowned, looking toward him. "Lee, about that gun…"

"My father gave it to me," Lee said, shooting her a warning look. "End of story. So don't you dare mention it to my mother."

"You haven't got a bad aim," Kai said. "It's a little off, but nothing a few hours practice can't fix."

"So you and me have a date with the shooting range then?"

Kai smiled faintly. "Perhaps."

Ray smiled at the hidden meaning to the exchange, changing the 'with' in Lee's question to an 'at' in his mind. He felt a little left out, but mentally shrugged it off. They'd make up for it later. He looked up as Tyson said his name, letting his thoughts slide as he focused once more on the present. "Yeah?"

"I couldn't believe it when I realised it was you who had fired that gun," Tyson said. "It's so… out of character for you."

"Oh yeah? Well that just proves that you should never piss me off." Ray grinned at him, then let his face soften as he sighed. "I kinda hope I never have to do it again. I only did it because I had to. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I had just stayed hidden and let my friends die."

"You did good, Ray," Lee said, smiling warmly. "You did good."

"Thanks Lee."

"Almost time to go, kids." They looked up as Mr Dickenson approached the table, beaming down at them. "It's starting to get late, and visiting hours will end soon."

"Aw, come on Mr D." Tyson looked up, eyes wide. "We've still got all this food to eat. Can't the hospital leave the café open just a little longer?"

"I'm sorry Tyson, but rules are rules." Mr Dickenson looked toward the two team captains. "You boys will be sharing a room with Kevin. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Lee replied, stretching, then wincing as he pulled the muscles on his chest a little too tight. "I would have been ticked off if it had been any other way."

"Kai?"

"Fine."

Tyson snickered. "Heh heh. You've got to share a room with Kai? I really feel for you there, Lee."

Kai shot him a glare.

Max grinned. "Yeah. Just be careful. He might bite."

Ray smiled behind his hand. 'Actually, Lee's the one that bites.'

Kai glared at his teammates. "In case you've forgotten, Lee, Ray, and I have been sharing a room for a few weeks now."

Ray nodded, leaning back in his seat. "That's true. And we spent the last few days travelling through a cave together. We learnt a lot about each other. I mean, you wouldn't believe my surprise when I discovered that Kai can co-" He jumped as Kai kicked him hard in the shin.

Tyson's eyes widened. "Cook? You were going to say 'cook'?" He looked sharply at his team captain. "You can cook?"

Kai glared at him. "Ask me that again and I'll beat you senseless with a frying pan."

"Yeah. Sure." Tyson shovelled some more food into his mouth.

Mariah looked up at Mr Dickenson, brushing her hair back behind her ears. "Is there any news on Kevin?"

"There is, actually." Mr Dickenson smiled. "The doctor informed me that Kevin pulled through surgery excellently, and that all the damage is repaired. He's responding well to treatment, and is now in a stable condition. He's going to be just fine."

Mariah grinned. "That's… that's great! Lee, did you hear that?"

"I heard." Lee nodded, smiling. "He always was a stubborn little monkey. Is he conscious?"

"Not as yet, I'm afraid." Mr Dickenson tugged at his moustache. "They're predicting that he should wake up any day now. At the moment though, it is time for us to leave." He smiled at the whining, trying not to laugh. "Come along then."

They stood, grumbling as they went, leaving Kai and Lee remaining in their seats. The group chorused their goodbyes, Ray hanging back as the others disappeared out the doorway. "Love you, guys."

Lee smiled. "You too."

Kai looked at him, a small smile of his own flickering across his lips. "See you tomorrow… right before you get back to your training."

Lee laughed as Ray shook his head grinning. As soon as Ray was gone, Lee turned to Kai. "You truly are the sentimental kind, Phoenix."

Kai simply shrugged and reached for Max's untouched bowl of ice-cream and caramel.

A little bit of everything in that chapter. Hopefully the next one will be more organised. Anyone like to review? General comments?