Chapter 12

LadyOrient: Nice to know I'm not the only one who laughs at strange things. And I'm glad you liked that line.

Senko-sama: It most certainly is. :p

the tigris:

Kappy Locks: Don't worry about the mix up. I do it all the time. #--#

russle: Tala has someone, yes. Actually, out of everyone in these fics, Tala was one of the first ones to hook up. Before Max/Tyson and Kai/Ray in fact. But then, you'll see all that in Overture.

Rayz Kitten: You know, I truly enjoy reading your reviews. They're so entertaining! And yes, that scene is reminiscent of the opening scene in Honesty. It took you bringing it up for me to realise it though. ##

Castles in the Sky: I checked out your blog. Not bad. I like the javascript effect you've got going. But I've got to ask, how the hell do you get a blog to do that!? Set it up like that I mean. I can't get it to do anything. ;;

Avril Fan: You have no idea how bad things are between Kevin and Lee, but I think this chapter should show some of it.

Chibi Wingzero: Multitasking? snigger Tyson is growing up, but we all know it was bound to happen eventually.

Saiyan-Chang: Oo;; You're going to kill me once you read this.

Ashla: Max's giggle will always be cute.

And now back to the Lion…

Lee looked up as he heard Kevin leave, sighing dejectedly. They had hardly spoken in two days, Kevin not even sparing him a glance even when they went to work. Their schedules saw them training different groups, and at lunch break, when they normally met up, Kevin had been absent.

Lee's heart was breaking. He would give anything, anything, just to have Kevin back in his arms. He knew the Monkey was still having his nightmares, he had heard him, but when he had tried to approach Kevin he had been forced to back away to avoid being sconed by flying cushions and objects.

Not only had Kevin put up a wall between them, but it was double thickness, platinum plated, with lasers around the parameter. It seemed that every time Lee tried to approach the younger, that wall grew thicker. Eventually Lee had done something he rarely did: he gave up. He was already so far away from Kevin, and he didn't want to lose him forever.

If he hadn't already.

A burning anger tore through him, Lee grabbing a cushion and pelting it across the room to hit the wall with a 'thud'. It wasn't fair! Why was Kevin doing this to him!? Right when Kevin needed someone he was sealing Lee away, and it was tearing Lee apart. He didn't know how much more he could take.

If Kevin walked out forever, then that was it. Lee wouldn't be able to take it. He just could not live without-

He swore as the phone rang, punching the chair and trying to force himself to calm down. Once he was sure he was in control, he picked up the phone. "Yeah?"

"It's me, Lee."

"Ray?" Lee sank down onto the couch, sighing. "Kev's not here, Ray."

"Yeah, I know. Max arrived back in Japan today and Kev's meeting up with him and Tyson to catch a movie or something." Ray hesitated. "Tyson told me what's happening, Lee. I wanted to see if you're okay?"

"No. No I'm not okay." Lee ran a hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes closed. "I don't know what to do, Ray. I feel like he's shutting me out. Anything I do or say just makes it worse. I even tried talking to him and he just stood up and walked out of the room."

"Has Kevin said anything?"

"Not really. Most of its just variations of 'leave me alone'. So far he hasn't said 'get out of my life' so I guess I'm not totally lost, am I?"

"I guess that's something." Ray paused. "Do you still love him?"

"I never stopped loving him. But he's convinced himself that I have. I tried to tell him that that's not the case but… he's always been stubborn."

"Yes, he has." Ray sighed. "Kai's got this theory that it has something to do with what happened with Mariah. He ran it by Bryan, and Bryan agrees with him. Kevin's at the breakdown stage, and with it comes the feeling that no one could possibly love something that can be used so easily. Kevin feels like trash."

"But he's not trash- "

"Well he's convinced that he is. It's impossible to persuade him otherwise, so don't bother trying. He's going to twist everything you say or have said in the past to use it against you. All you can do for the time being is remain calm and not lose your cool as you tend to do. I mean, you were throwing one of your tantrums before you picked up the phone, weren't you?"

Lee winced. "You know me too well."

"Hey, I'm your best friend. It's my job to know you so well."

"Point taken." Lee frowned. "So what does Bryan know about all this anyway? What's it got to do with him?"

"For starters, him and Kai have gotten to the point that they tell each other everything again. Secondly and more importantly, Balkov raped Bryan, and had been doing so since he was a kid."

Lee felt the blood drain from his face. "Uh… forget I said anything."

"Certainly changes your view of him, doesn't it?" Ray sighed. "Kevin needs to combat this on his own. If you stand by and offer silent support, he'll eventually open up again."

"That's if he's still around."

"Max and Tyson will try to keep him there. They can be very convincing when they want to be." Ray paused. "Lee?"

"Yeah?"

"What would you do if Kevin did leave?"

Lee stared out the window, feeling as if all his emotions had left him, leaving a sense of weightlessness. "I can't go on without him."

He heard Ray intake sharply. "That's dishonourable amongst our people, Lee, and you know it."

"I don't care." Lee shook his head. "I just don't care about anything anymore. All I want is to have him back."

"Lee…"

"He is the one, Ray. I can feel it. My grandfather has even confirmed it. He told me to follow my heart and I am. If Kevin goes, I'm gone, forever."

==================

"Lee, you're scaring me." Tears trailed down Ray's cheeks as he trembled, the air suddenly cold. "Please stop saying that. I'm still here for you, and so are the White Tigers. And what about your sister? Or your parents? They've already lost one son, please don't make it another."

"Guilting me isn't going to work, Ray. Not this time." Lee sighed. "I never thought I'd say it, but I just can't live without Kevin. And the White Tigers would be fine. Kev would take over the leadership and everything would continue as it always has."

"No Lee, it won't." Ray wiped the tears from his face, knowing Kai was watching him. "They won't be fine. None of us would be fine. And if you took your life then Kevin would as well, just from the guilt of it."

"Yeah whatever. Be his fault anyway."

"Lee!" Ray was crying now, Kai moving forward to sit beside him, encircling him in his arms. "Look, promise me you won't do it, okay?"

"I can't do that, Ray-"

"Promise me!!!"

Lee hesitated. "I'm sorry." With an abrupt click, he was gone.

Ray hung up, letting the phone slide from his fingers gasping as his body trembled, feeling as if all the energy had been drained from him. "He's god damned suicidal!"

Kai held him tighter. "Calm down Ray-"

"He wouldn't promise me. He wouldn't promise me!"

"I know." Kai smoothed Ray's hair, kissing away the tears. "Its obvious Yin's feelings are deeper than we thought. We've just got to work out some way to make Ki realise it, that's all."

"If Kevin doesn't want to listen, he won't. If you put on too much pressure, he'll leave. And if he leaves… oh god, Kai." Ray buried his face into Kai's shirt, sobbing. "I feel so helpless!"

"Yeah, me too, Ray." Kai closed his eyes, drawing Ray closer. "Me too."

Oo;; Lee's gonna kill himself!?!?

Ray: Starts balling

Kai: -- Now look what you've done. Comforts Ray