Chapter 22

Koneko no Rei: I promise I'll get around to reading your fics. Just been busy, that's all. And leave Kitten alone, boys!

Castles in the Sky: LOL. If only it were that easy. :p

russle: A duck that thinks it's a chicken? O-o;; Strange bird. And yes, they really do need to get a room.

Saiyan-Chang: Wow, you've been busy. Nice to have you back, SC. And Lee answered your letter. Took a bit to convince him, but he did. :p

the tigris: Well it's Wednesday, and I'm back! Are you? ;)

dead yet a love sick puppy: They most certainly do. :p

Ashla: Everything turns those two on, trust me. Remember Honesty? All it took was a movie and a room full of people...

LingXiaoyu: They were in the reeds, actually. But I guess it works.

Chibi Wingzero: If I were in Tyson's shoes I'd have punched him out too. Kevin can be infuriating when he wants to be.

KuronekoHikage: That had better not have been a twitch I saw. :D

Dancing Wolf: If you review you get a mention. :p Tala and Kai aren't central to this fic so not many scenes between them, not even in Overture where Kai is a main. However, in Ketsuron, there is a fair amount as Tala and Bryan appear as central characters alongside Kai, Ray, Lee and Kevin. Really need to finish that fic...

Four words: the bitch is back.

"Gary."

Gary looked up, spotting Mariah as she stood in the doorway, Honesty cradled in her arms still hiccupping softly from her crying spell, her nappy freshly changed.

Mariah looked at him, golden eyes narrowed as she regarded her childhood friend. "Gary, you seem distracted of late. You've also been spending a lot of time on the phone. Every time I try to ring its engaged, and your mother told me it was because you were talking to either Lee or Ray. Why is that?"

Gary cringed. "It nothing. Just missing them."

"No, it's not nothing." Mariah's eyes narrowed further. "Tell me, Gary. Is something wrong with Kevin, Lee or Ray? I'm entitled to know."

Gary bit his lip, knowing he had told Ray he wouldn't tell her, but she was putting him on the spot. Knowing that there was only one thing he could do, he gestured for Mariah to sit. She went to the bedroom and placed the now sleeping baby girl in the crib before returning and taking a seat.

Gary waited until she was settled, and then he told her.

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Lee looked up as the phone rang, glancing at Kevin who was sulking on the couch. It was obvious the Monkey had had a fight with the other boys and probably figured it was them ringing. Shrugging, Lee answered the phone.

"Put him on, Lee."

Lee blinked, mouth going dry. "Uh, Mariah, that's not such a good idea-"

"I said put him on!"

"Right. Eh… hang on." Lee moved toward the couch, holding it out. "It's for you, and its not Tyson, Max, Enrique or Oliver."

Kevin shot him a glare before taking the phone. "Hello?"

"You are a conceited, self-centred, cold-hearted bastard Kevin!"

Kevin straightened, glancing over his shoulder and seeing that Lee had vanished to the bedroom for the night. Sighing, he settled into the couch, setting himself. "And why did I deserve that?"

"Do you even realise what you're doing to him?" He could hear the warble to her voice, causing a sense of unease in his stomach.

"Mariah?"

"You're killing him, Kevin! You're really killing him!" She sighed heavily. "When I last saw you both you were so much in love I was jealous. I wanted what you had. I have Honesty, and at the moment that's all I need, but I couldn't help feeling left out. I thought you'd see through all your fights… I guess I was wrong."

Kevin grunted. "What do you know-"

"More than you think." She shot back. "I know you blame him for what I did to you. I know you fear me. But Kevin, realise this, I was not in my right state of mind, and if anyone should be to blame for what happened, it's me. Lee had nothing to do with it. He was as much a victim as you were. We all paid the price for my mistake. Don't drag it out."

He growled. "You raped me."

"I know." She paused. "And you're killing Lee."

Kevin growled in frustration. "Why does everyone keep saying that!"

"Because it's true! Kevin, Lee loves you. He loves you so much that he can't live without you. If you leave him… Kevin, he'll take his own life rather than continue on without you by his side."

Kevin felt as if someone had punched him in the gut, eyes shooting sharply to the side. The non-eating, the non-caring, the drinking… "I'm doing that to him?"

"Yes, Kevin, you are." She sighed. "Ray's been so distressed that yesterday Kai had to take him to the doctor in fear of something being wrong with his health. Kai has been receiving advice that Ray has been forwarding to Lee from Bryan, who was raped by Boris and went through a similar thing, only he shut everyone out.

"Tyson and Max have been trying to get you to open your mind and realise what's been going on, but you refuse to listen. Oliver's been sending Lee food in order to make sure he doesn't starve to death. And both Enrique and Oliver have been helping Tyson and Max. Not to mention Gary has been trying to talk Lee out of suicide. They only just bothered to tell me."

Kevin felt like water, flopping onto his side, stomach threatening to return his dinner. "How could I be so blind?"

"You're stubborn, Kev. You always have been. It's who you are." She paused. "He loves you, Kevin. And now you know the truth, its time to ask yourself: do you love him?"

Kevin closed his eyes, remembering his distress the day Lee wouldn't wake, his protectiveness and jealousy when Tyson and Max had made comments about his Lee that he didn't like them making. He remembered his concern as Lee began to wear down, concern he had pushed away because in his mind he was sure that no one could possibly ever love something that could ever be so easy, so used, unless they wanted to use it themselves.

Kevin felt tears spring to his eyes, body shaking. "Jesus, what have I done?"

Mariah heard the break in his voice, sensing he was crying and softening her tone. "Are you still in love with him, Kevin Ki?"

"Yes." He ran a hand through his hair, mentally kicking himself for his foolishness. "Yes I am. Very much so."

"Then you know what you need to do?"

"I do." He sighed. "But what if he doesn't forgive me?"

"If he loves you, he'll forgive you."

Kevin nodded. "Mariah?"

"Yes Kevin?"

"Thanks."

"Your welcome. Now make it right."

Hanging up, Kevin sat in reflection, his mistakes shining up bright and clear. All along it had been him in the wrong, and the whole time he had fixated the blame on the one he could not afford to hurt, and it had taken the one he feared most to make him realise.

Standing, Kevin cracked the bedroom door open, taking in Lee's sleeping form curled up on the bed. Kevin frowned, suddenly realising how bad Lee looked… and yet so perfect. Lee was worn ragged, and it was Kevin's fault.

Closing the door, Kevin sighed, looking at the phone. It wasn't that he didn't trust Mariah, but that he needed to confirm her story. Grabbing his jacket despite the late hour, he left the apartment and headed for the foyer to have them arrange a car.

Well he's seen the light, but now he must make sure it's really there. Any idea where he's going to go?