Chapter 29

Castles in the Sky: Oh come on, you don't think I'm that cruel, do you? :p

Platinum Rei: Still a few chapters to go still. And if you thought the last one was funny, you're going to like this one

dead yet a love sick puppy: You'll probably say the same about this one

the tigris: I guess it's raining everywhere then. We'll, except one place...

Koneko no Rei: The making out thing features in Overture. You're going to love that fic. And this chapter is funny. :D

Chibi Wingzero: It's actually inserting additional information into a sentence. Take the sentence you used as an example and remove the middle. The sentence still flows, but is not a descriptive. It's just using comma's instead of brackets and em-rules. Nevertheless, I only use this means of writing a sentence where absolutely necessary, and I will try to avoid them more in the future. Simply a matter of recasting the sentence.

Prozacfairy: Fluff? Eh...

Mizuyah: Kenny can be narrow-minded. And in my eyes, opinionated

Kappy Locks: More than two or three chapters, but nearly there. Good to have you back

BlazingPheonix: Still a few moments to come yet, not saying whose though. ;)

This has to be my favourite chapter in this fic.

In another part of the world, Ray yawned, arching his back and stretching. Smiling, he ran his hands through his hair, looking down at the teen that lay beside him, sleeping. The news of Lee and Kevin working things out had put Ray in good spirit, he and Kai spending the day celebrating, but by mid afternoon they were exhausted, curling up in each others arms in the afterglow of the moment and falling into a deep sleep.

Ray blinked as he heard the phone ring and quickly slid from the bed, wrapping his robe around him and hurrying to answer the phone, wishing for Kai to get more sleep. Kai had spent the last few nights sitting up watching Ray, making sure he was looked after as fever continued to sweep the neko-jin, and holding his hair back as Ray hung over the toilet bowl, stomach threatening to empty its contents violently.

Picking up the receiver, he glanced back at the bedroom before answering. "Hello?"

"Well if it ain't the Tiger. Feelin' better, kitten?"

Ray laughed, settling into the chair. "Thought you were still away, Falcon."

"The one thing you can't fight is the weather. It was either come home or freeze our arses off." He heard Bryan chuckle. "The Wolf gets rather snugly on cold nights, so it weren't all bad."

"I'd say so." Ray smiled, finding it hard to believe he had once feared the 20-year-old he now considered one of his closest friends. Amazing how things change so quickly. "I'm feeling a lot better. Kev and Lee finally worked things out so Kai and I have been celebrating."

"So they didn't scratch each others eyes out then?"

"Nope."

"Pity. Would have been amusing."

"Bryan!" Ray laughed, shaking his head, beaming. "So how's Tala?"

"Caught himself a mild cold, but he's fine."

"Thought you guys didn't catch cold."

Bryan snorted. "I told him the ice on the lake was thin but did he listen to me? Noooo. Let's all ignore the cold-hearted and obnoxious Bryan…"

"Well you're certainly in a good mood."

"I just threw Ian out of a window."

"That's explain it then." Ray grinned. "Did you lock him out too?"

"Naturally."

"Where did he land?"

"Smack bang in the middle of the manure we got for the garden."

Ray laughed. "You're cruel."

"I was aiming for the concrete, but whatever works."

Ray was laughing so hard now tears ran down his face as he clutched his side, stomach muscles aching in protest. "You're killing me here!"

"Death by phone. I like it." Bryan chuckled. "Ready for the Championship?"

"Mm-hm. We're doing Asia, then heading for Egypt."

"Tala just got the message and we're still working it out. We wanted to do America, but they won't let us in. Can't understand why."

Ray grinned at Bryan's mock naivety. "Gee, I wonder. Could it be that you guys trashed their blades, ruined their reputation, bruised their pride, and stole their bit-beasts all at the same time during the last Championship?"

"Hey, that was Kai, and I wasn't there." Bryan was silent for a moment. "We're gonna do Europe, and maybe the Pacific. Might throw in the United Kingdom for a laugh, but we'll see, hm?"

"Completely different circuits."

"Mm. So far we know we gonna battle the Majestics, which could be interesting. I've been itching to battle this McGregor, but we'll see what the time brings. What about the White Tigers?"

"They're doing Asia, but after that who knows. Lee's showing some interest in the Pacific though."

"So we might see them. I can tell you that the American jerkoffs are being very secretive. They're also rather rude. We hack into their system and they boot us out without any explanation. Terrible manners."

Ray burst out laughing again. "Stop making me laugh, would you!"

"Why? I enjoy torturing you."

"Yeah, you would." Ray wiped his eyes. "Any word on where the finals are to be held?"

"Tal asked, but it seems that the location is still up in the air. The Americans want it, but then, they want everything. The BBA spent so much time on the Biovolt thing it forgot about selecting the next location… which means they'll just have to use the old one."

Ray blinked. "Russia?"

"Home sweet home."

"Can you say anything that isn't sarcastic?"

"Oh sure, plenty of things."

Ray bit back his smile. "Well that wasn't one of them."

"I know." He heard Bryan inhale sharply, then growl. "Hold on."

Ray chuckled as he heard Bryan demand something in Russian, then heard Tala's voice answer. Bryan replied harshly, Tala's voice almost a mocking sing-song before Bryan muttered under his breath.

"Do you ever have trouble with a boyfriend with wandering hands?"

Ray grinned. "Must be an Ivanov thing."

"Indeed." Bryan growled again, saying something in Russian before reverting back to English. "I better go before these hands end up in places undesirable to listening ears."

Ray smirked, fangs catching in the fading light, eyes sparkling evilly. "Why? Might be amusing."

Bryan chuckled. "I'm a bad influence on you, Tiger. Catch you in Russia."

"Unless we talk first, Falcon. Now you teach that Wolf a lesson."

"Oh, I intend too."

Ray was still laughing as he hung up the phone.

I love Bryan ##