Chapter 14

Koneko no Rei: I won't kill you if you don't give me those reviews, but I will be displeased. As for school... be very careful. Keep your wits about you, and have another window ready to hide what you're really on.

russle: It would be hilarious to see Kai acting like that yes. I'm not even going to try writing that scene.

Ashla: Swords are illegal here. I couldn't have one even if I wanted one.

Death comes to those who wait: Yep, and I love the screen name.

the tigris: You're the sort of person I added that choice for. :p

Avril Fan: I'm not worried about your speech. Always good to get it out now and then.

LingXiaoyu: Kevin is stubborn because... well, he's Kevin.

Chibi Wingzero: Realism is what I strive for. Glad you think I'm achieving it.

Kappy Locks: Just don't bash him too hard. Lee might get upset.

Desi2: You are 100% exactly right. Truer words have not been spoken. :p

Castles in the Sky: Got you thinking? That can't be good. ;;

So Lee is suicidal. And just how is Kevin taking it you ask…

Kai sighed, leaning against the frame of the sliding door, breeze catching his two-tone hair and blowing it across his face as the sky began to lighten with the approaching sunrise. Glancing back toward the bed, he took in Ray's sleeping form, the younger curled up, ebony hair flowing around him. He looked so peaceful, so calm, so… beautiful.

Kai felt his jaw tighten, knowing that behind those closed lids Ray's golden eyes were red from crying, the neko-jin in utter distress knowing that his best friend was so close to the edge. Kai remembered clearly how he and Tala had spent a good amount of time coaxing Bryan out of the reinforced box he had built around himself, eventually bringing the Falcon out and having him testify at Voltaire's trail, and later at Boris's.

Bryan had been close to the edge, and Kai remembered how the very thought that someone had done that to his best friend had made Kai sick. It would be worse for Ray, though. With Bryan, Kai had been separated from him for almost 11 years before they had been reunited at the Russian Finals. Lee and Ray only been separated for that one year when Ray had left the village, and while they were touring with the Championship Ray had been in constant contact with the elder teen.

They were like brothers. There were times Kai would find himself jealous of Lee, Ray was so fond of him. And now Lee was losing the one he loved, he saw no point to continue. If Kevin left him, Lee would take his own life. The threats weren't idle, weren't just something a heartbroken person would say to scare their lover back to them. Lee would go through with it, Kai was certain of that.

Straightening, Kai stepped toward the bed and sat on the edge, reaching out to trail his fingertips over the smoothness of Ray's tearstained cheeks. It pained Kai to see Ray like this, and he wished there were someway he could take Ray's hurt away.

But Kai was helpless, and that was not something he liked being.

He leant down, kissing Ray's forehead before moving from the bedroom. He poured himself a drink, moving to sit down. Sighing, Kai ran through the possibilities in his mind. Ray probably wanted to head straight for Japan, but Kai wouldn't let him. Max and Tyson would work on the Kevin angle, and Ray flittering around Lee would make things worse, not better.

Setting down his glass, Kai hesitated as he reached for the phone, thinking of calling Bryan to update him on what was going on. Bryan wouldn't be home. He and Tala had gone camping, needing to get away from technology and prying eyes for a while. Kai smirked, knowing the other reason they had gone off somewhere alone.

Picking up the phone, he settled back in the chair and punched in the familiar number. So what if it were late. That was their problem…

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

Max and Tyson looked up as the phone rang, Mr Granger moving to get it. Tyson glanced at his watch and raised an eyebrow, seeing that it was almost midnight, and shrugged. Max shrugged back, the two returning to their snack having just returned home from their night out with Kevin.

"It's for you, my peeps," Mr Granger said, holding it out. "It's your great leader."

Tyson almost choked, standing and hurrying to grab the phone. "Kai?"

"Whatever's wrong with Ki, fix it."

"Ah Kai, it's not that easy." Tyson settled into a seat, Max hovering close so he could hear. "Kevin's gonna be a tough nut to crack. He's sealed himself up that tight nothing we say seems to be getting through."

"Well fix it, okay? Get through to him. This is life or death."

Tyson blinked. "What do you mean?"

"It's like this. If Kevin leaves Lee, then Lee's gonna kill himself."

"What!?" Tyson shot a look at Max, who instantly paled. "You can't be serious."

"I'm perfectly serious. Lee told Ray himself. I just spent the last few hours trying to get Ray to calm down. He's been balling his eyes out, and I can understand why."

Max sighed. "Poor Ray."

Tyson sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well this just made things complicated. It's either we win Kevin over or we lose big time."

"Exactly." Kai grunted in frustration. "Look, I know you guys. If anyone can crack Ki's shell, it'll be you two insufferable dweebs. You can be too convincing for your own good, shrimp, and that boyfriend of yours has perfected the cute-and-cuddly routine that's its painful to watch. You get to Ki, you talk to him, and you knock some friggin sense into that moron, got it?"

"We got it." Tyson looked at Max, who shrugged. "I don't know how we'll do it, but we will."

"Good. And the sooner the better. So stop stuffing your faces and start planning."

"Yes sir."

"And Tyson?"

Tyson frowned. "Yeah?"

"You had better be training, or I'm gonna punch in your oversized skull, capeesh?"

Tyson swallowed hard. "Yeah. I understand. We'll be training."

Tyson hung up the phone, turning toward Max. "We've got to get them back together. And soon."

Is Kai doing it for Kevin and Lee? Or for himself…