Chapter 26

dead yet a love sick puppy: But what's wrong with a beard? :p

russle: Read and catch up, dammit!!! :D

Castles in the Sky: OO Feature Deviation indeed. My my, aren't you a naughty little girl. Got me drooling all over my keyboard. You need a rap on the knuckles.... request for a nude Ray pic? Or any of the other White Tigers save Mariah? Already seen a nude pic of her. :p ;)

Mizuyah: Not quite...

Koneko no Rei: This chapter is why I think you're psychic. Take a look and see.

K: Thanks for the feedback. As you'll see, the rape thing isn't over yet. I haven't forgotten about it. And what did you want with Bryan, Tala and Kai? A fic of their own? I contemplating a triangle between the three. Seen it done before and it works well.

KuronekoHikage: Kai and Ray don't know they're back together yet, however...

Ashla: No one's told Ray yet, no. Emphasis on the 'yet'. ;)

the tigris: Stories not over til the work 'dekiagaru' appears. Remember that. ;)

Still, there are some people who don't know what's happening…

Kai grunted at the sound of the phone, crimson eyes opening as he growled, glancing at the clock. His eyes narrowed as he gently eased Ray's sleeping form off him and sat up, sliding from the bed and reaching out to find his robe. Pulling it on, he heard Ray mutter something in his sleep, and hastened his step toward the offending trill, not wanting it to disturb the neko-jin.

Picking it up, he raised it to his ear and fought to keep his voice cool. "Yes?"

"Hi Kai, its Tyson."

Kai growled. "Tyson, I have a good mind to-"

"I know it's late, but you told me to ring if there were any developments."

Kai paused, eyes narrowed. "And?"

"And we just got a call from Kevin. He and Lee are back together."

Kai let out a long breath, then glanced toward the bedroom door. "Hang on a sec."

"Sure thing."

Setting the phone down, Kai made for the bedroom, moving toward the bed and slipping around to Ray's side, leaning on it and reaching out, gently caressing Ray's face. "Ray. Wake up, baby."

Ray shifted, face screwing up as he was disturbed from his dreams. "Kai…"

"Phone call."

Ray's golden eyes blinked open, looking up at him. "What time is it?"

"You don't want to know. Come on, get up. Time is money."

Ray sat up, taking the robe Kai offered him and letting his feet touch the cold floor, shivering. "You can afford it."

"Maybe, but they can't, so move it."

"Yes sir."

Ray ignored Kai's sharp glare as he past him, stepping into the living area and taking up the phone Kai had left sitting on the table. "Hello?"

"Oh, hi there Ray. How are you?"

"Tired." Ray stifled a yawn, rubbing his eyes. "What's so important that Kai woke me up for it?"

"Kai woke you up? Heartless bastard…"

"Tyson."

"Okay, well it's like this." He could hear Tyson grinning. "After you hung up yesterday Kevin decided to take yours and Mariah's advice and try to make amends with Lee. Well anyway, we got a talkin' – Max, Enrique, Oliver and I that is – and we came up with this plan, see. We all chipped in, making arrangements, running around picking stuff up-"

"Get to the point, Ty."

Tyson's voice picked up, signalling that the grin had widened. "The point is, our plan worked. Kevin rang not even 10 minutes ago to say all is forgiven and he and Lee are back together."

"Man, that's great!" Ray turned, beaming up at Kai who smiled and nodded. "So what was Lee doing when Kevin rang?"

"Shaving, or so Kev says. You should have seen Lee's beard. Made him look like a real hermit. And I thought his hair was spiky." He paused. "Heh, and apparently they had dessert after dessert."

Ray blinked. "Dessert after dessert?"

Kai snorted, trying not to laugh as he caught on.

"Yeah," Tyson said. "You know, a bit of strawberry here, a bit of nookie there…"

Ray's cheeks flushed as he faltered. "Eh… yeah…"

"Sounds like Kev had more in store too. But anyway, they're back together. Now we've just got to hope it lasts."

"Mm-hm." Ray frowned. "Where's Max?"

There was a pause. "Something he ate didn't agree with him. Enrique's the same. Oliver's coming down on the restaurant we had lunch at like a ton of bricks. Apparently he demanded to see their kitchen, and is now setting the health inspectors on the place. He's real touchy over how things are cooked."

"Yeah. My uncle told me that when I saw him last." Ray frowned. "How come you and Oliver aren't sick?"

"Oh, Oliver wasn't with us at that point. He met up with us later. As for me… well, uh, I can eat anything."

Ray smiled. "Yeah, I know."

"Well, I better get going. Grandpa's already going to have my head when he sees the phone bill."

"Catch up soon then. And Ty?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for calling, buddy."

"You got it, dude."

Ray hung up the phone, standing there for a long while, not moving as what Tyson had said took its time to work through his exhausted mind. Kai watched him, frowning as he took half a step forward, reaching out to touch his arm.

"Ray?"

Without warning Ray begun to laugh, turning and throwing himself into Kai's arms. "It's all going to be okay, Kai! It all worked!"

"I know, Ray." Kai grinned, folding him in his arms and scooping him up, carrying him back toward the bedroom. "Everything is going to be fine."

So now they know. Still not over though.