31: Whispers in the Night

Anonymous Cherry: Yes, I like noodles too. :p

moondragon-1001: Okay, that's it, you're going on a sugar free diet. ^_~

Lady Snowblossom: He might have killed Ray, yes. But he did it so creatively. *^_^*

Ms Hobgoblin: Mm-hm. Chocolate with choc chips and biscuit flakes. Yummy. Oh, and I don't think Lee would like Tyson, though I'm sure Kai wouldn't mind. Undecided on Ray. -_-;;

Khnum: I skipped the boring bit. Besides, what happened after the army arrived wasn't important, and we never see that sort of thing on the show anyway, have you noticed? And I'm glad you're liking this.

Imari: Kai's just lashing out. Besides, he just gives the orders. Doesn't mean he has to follow them. :p

the tigris: Yep. Yummy ice cream.

Jay Kamiya: Thank you!!!

bmw: O_O Kai is going to kill you!!!

Poor little Ray has to go home to an empty room. Kai and Lee, however, have each other and a poor little hurt monkey. And at least Ray will get some peace and quiet.

Disclaimer: Not yet, either.

Lee lay back in the hard bed, staring at the ceiling. Light poured through the open doorway from the dimmed lights in the corridor, Kevin's heart monitor beeping softly. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, a buzzing as someone hit their attention button yet again, almost driving Lee mad. He growled, draping an arm over his eyes and wondering if it would be possible for him to get earplugs.

"Can't sleep either, hm?"

"Can anyone sleep in a hospital?"

"Depends on how much morphine they give you."

"Morphine? Think I can get some?"

"We should ask. Besides, it would be funny to see you doped up."

Lee opened his eyes, glaring through the semi-darkness toward the bed by the wall. "It's amazing the things you find amusing, Kai."

"I have plans of spiking my teams drinks."

Lee chuckled. "Now that will be entertaining."

They lay in the darkness, a buzzer going off again, causing Lee to growl in annoyance. Hearing a rustling, he glanced to the side to see Kai slipping from his bed. The Russian gathered up his crutches and moved toward the door, closing it gently, instantly halving the light spilling into the room and muffling the noises.

Lee smiled faintly, closing his eyes. "Thank you."

"We really should shove the buzzer button down whoever it is' throat."

"Well, I would say Mariah, but she's not here."

"What makes you say that?"

"Don't tell me you didn't see that male nurse."

He heard Kai laugh softly. "I must have missed him while I was checking out that lady doctor."

"Tease."

The room was silent for a moment, before Kai spoke again. "Got a question for you."

"Yeah?"

"Why me?"

Lee raised an eyebrow. "Guess I like the things I can't have."

"Doesn't answer the question, Yin."

Lee glanced to the side and spotted Kai sitting on the edge of his bed. "Well the real answer isn't any better. I don't know why Ray and I decided to chase you. Well, maybe that's not true. You're as hot as hell."

"Hn." Kai tried to fight his smile but lost the battle. "You're right, still doesn't answer the question."

"Is there any pleasing you?"

"Not really."

"Figures." Lee smirked. "Thing is, we both liked you, we both wanted you, so we decided to go after you. We wanted to keep each other at the same time, so we figured we'd just get you in on our relationship."

"And exactly where do I fit in?"

"That's really up to you." Lee knitted his fingers together behind his head, careful not to pull his chest too much as he closed his eyes. "Where do any of us fit in life?"

"Philosopher, leader, and all round hot-head."

"Look who's talking Mr 'who-gives-a-shit-about-anything-or-anyone'."

"Charming." Kai sat in silence for a while, then looked toward the other bed. "So how did Ray and you get together?"

Lee chuckled. "Ray and I have been best friends since before I can remember. We were inseparable. When we were about nine, we both developed this crush on Mariah, and spent every day competing with each other. Almost ruined our friendship." He paused, frowning. "I'm not sure about Ray, but when I was about 13 I started to realise that Ray was kind of, well, cute. I began to look forward to seeing him, even going out of my way to make sure we got paired together on projects and errands.

"Well, one day I woke up to discover that what I used to feel for Mariah I now felt for Ray. To be perfectly honest I was terrified, because Ray was a…"

"A guy," Kai finished. "You figured it was wrong, that you would get into trouble. That people would call you a freak."

"Exactly." Lee sighed. "I didn't know who to turn to, and I couldn't keep it to myself. I had to talk to someone, and Ray wasn't an option." He shrugged. "I went to Gary. I told him how I felt, how confused I was. He may be a bit slow, but Gary is really rather clever… and a great friend. He told me that I shouldn't feel bad about the way I felt, that I would never be a freak to him. Anyone that said I was just didn't understand.

"One day, while we were on treasure hunt when I was 15, Gary lead Ray and I into a cave to find this rock on our list. We'd been put together you see. Gary usually worked with Kevin but Kevin was sick that day." Lee closed his eyes, smiling. "Gary directed Ray and I into this small nook in the cave, telling us he thought he could see it but was too big to get it. As soon as we were inside, Gary sat in front of the exit and wouldn't let us leave.

"He looked at us and told us that he was sick of our running, that it was time that we told the truth. To begin with I had no idea what he meant, but then it became perfectly clear: he was talking about my feelings for Ray. Me being me, I refused to give them up so easy. Ray and I had the perfect friendship, and I didn't want to destroy it by telling Ray I had a crush on him. I was sure Ray would freak out and never speak to me again. You can guess my surprise when Ray broke first and admitted he had a crush on me.

"Apparently he had done what I had: gone to Gary because there was no one else we could turn to. Gary had through we would eventually tell each other on our own, but we were both to scared so he decided to push the issue. After Ray had finished, he had looked away and said 'I don't blame you if you hate me and never want to speak to me again'. I didn't know what to say. Gary just looked at me and said 'tell him', so I did.

"I told Ray that I was love with him and had been for the last couple of years. Ray was shocked, and we just sat and stared at each other forever. I can't remember exactly when Gary left, but he did. Ray and I just looked at each even after we knew he had gone; though I felt like running away. Next thing I knew, I was kissing Ray, and I tell you it felt good." Lee smirked. "He tastes good too. Almost like sugar."

"I'll agree with that." Kai looked at the elder teen almost hidden in the darkness. "So you went through what I went through: the doubt, the self-questioning."

"All part of the process, Phoenix."

Kai moved across the room, kissing Lee gently. "So what do I taste like?"

Lee thought for a moment. "I really don't know. Tangy, I can tell you that." He smirked. "Yummy."

"Who's the tease?" Kai kissed him again. "You're spicy."

"Spicy, hm? I like that." Lee reached up, trailing his fingers over the contours of Kai's face. "Sweet, spicy, and tangy. Quite a combination we have going there."

"Yeah." Kai stifled a yawn. "Believe it or not, I'm getting tired."

"With the door closed, we might actually be able to sleep." Lee stole another kiss before Kai moved back toward his own bed. "Right about now I envy Ray for his soft mattress and pillows."

"He probably envies the both of us for each other."

"Well if it weren't for the nurses, I'd be over in your bed about now."

"No room."

"We could get around it."

Kai smirked as he settled back between the thin sheets. "As much as I'm curious to know how you would get around it, we'd better not. Get some sleep, kitten. Tomorrow we'll see about getting out of here."

"Works for me. Night, Phoenix."

Two chapters to go…