Chapter 3

Ramen II: Kenny is too straight and perfect that I just had to make him homophobic. However, this is the only fic where I do it, so don't stress. :p

MyHeartBleeds: If you're bored you could always read some of those magazines. Good education, some of those. :p And I'm 'ebil'?

Prozacfairy: So what do you think it's leading up too?

Kappy Locks: The reaction has been referenced in one of the other stories, but it's good. Trust me. ;)

dead yet a love sick puppy: Kenny should, but he spends all his time researching. He doesn't get out very often.

babymar-mar: Eclipse? Boy, I've come a long way since that one. Hope you enjoy this one.

Bluumberry: This fic is slow. Of all my fics this is the one I like the least. And this story is already written, so there is nothing I can do. Sorry. But think of it this way - I update a lot more than some other authors. :p

KuronekoHikage: Ray gives Kenny a lecture in Honesty. And good luck with your story!

Chaco and Lily: Actually, by the timeline, Ray, Kevin and Lee have slept with Mariah. They just don't know she's pregnant yet. And Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith hits Australian screens roughly around 19 May 2005. That's yet to be confirmed. Thanks for the info but.

Koneko no Rei: Yeah, I worry about the age thing a lot myself. I was 17 when I first got a boyfriend, and here are Tyson and Max, 15 and 16, already thinking of getting down and dirty. [[[sigh]]]

Ashla: I assume cold showers have something to do with blood flow. When cold blood returns back to be closer to the heart, therefore if there is a large amount of it in a certain, eh... limb, then it would make said limb... well, return to a supposably normal and more comfortable way of being. And sea sick... damn, I've got to remember to use that in a fic. :D

dewberrygirl: Glad you liked them. Hope you like this one and Ketsuron as well. Enjoy your reading.

The Valkyrie: They should forget Kenny but they won't.

lilmatchgirl007: Max and Tyson know Kenny's a homophobic. The reason they know comes up later in the fic. Dizzi, Ray and Kai know it too, as you'll see as well. And no 'surprises' of that kind in this fic, sorry. But maybe another...

animeandraia: Urgh! Stop getting technical. My head already hurts. :p You have a point, though. I've probably used it in the wrong context, and I'll amend that in Ketsuron. Thanks. And in sequel do you mean Honesty II? Or Ketsuron?

Some mental stuff.

He stood stiffly, eyes closed as he calmed his mind, focussing upon the task. All thoughts were chased away, all sounds and distractions shut out. He was tired, but he ignored it despite the late hour. The lights burned down, chasing away the cold that was the night, most of the city already sleeping, leaving him in peace.

Crimson eyes snapped open as with a sharp movement the blade shot free from the launcher, Dranzer slicing down into the dish and skimming the edge, pulling sharp turns before he sent it up onto the rim, flipping it through the air to land on the opposite side before he recalled it to his hand.

"Perfect."

That final adjustment had done the trick. Not only was Dranzer now more balanced, but the speed had increased by twice its former. Sighing, he set himself down on the rim, looking down at the blade and smiling faintly.

"Thanks for the advice, Bryan."

Hn. Who'd have thought that the cold-hearted Russian could ever have been capable of love. Shaking his head, Kai's smile widened as he looked up toward the stars. It had come as a shock when Tala had approached Kai, a smug look on his face that had made Kai narrow his eyes and question the younger motives.

'Lets just say Iceheart has a heart after all.'

That had drawn Kai's curiosity, the crimson-eyed teen following the redhead for the next hour trying to coax out a meaning. Tala had refused to answer, content on letting Kai dangle before they had come across Bryan perched in the window, expertly carving a statue out of a piece of wood.

Kai remembered his feeling of surprise as Tala had casually moved toward the elder lavender haired teen, leaning over his shoulder and whispering something, drawing a rare smile onto the others face before Bryan had set his art aside, pulling Tala up into his lap, the younger curling up against his chest.

Tala and Bryan? Who'd have thought it would ever be possible. Ever since the conclusion of the last Championship the Demolition Boys had begun working on repairing the damage Boris had inflicted upon them. The Abbey had been disbanded, Bryan personally overseeing the return of the younger boys to their homes.

Ian and Spencer had found their families but had chosen to remain with their teammates. Like Kai, Tala's parents had been killed in a plane crash, making them and Bryan orphans with no home, so the Demolition Boys had established a new home, using the funding the BBA had given them to buy an apartment.

Tala had undergone extensive treatment in an attempt to reverse the effects left by Boris's experimentation prior to the Championship Finals, and now his mind was his own. Nothing could repair the mental and emotional damage that had been inflicted on the backbone of the group, however, and Tala and Kai had taken it upon themselves to reawaken the emotions that Bryan had lost. So far love had been the only one, and that in itself had been a surprise.

Kai shrugged, standing. Well, they did say that love conquers all. Somehow Bryan's love for Tala had buried itself whole, away from the scientists that had sort to remove all emotion but hate. Kai smirked, wishing he could have seen Tala's face when Bryan had first admitted his feelings. The smirk widened as he remembered Ian and Spencer's expressions when they had walked in on the two wrapped in each other's arms on the couch, lips locked in battle.

Too bad Kai hadn't had a camera.

Stretching, Kai ran a hand through his hair, stepping toward the exit and killing the lights as he passed the switch. Deep down he envied Tala and Bryan for what they had. There were nights where Kai would lie awake, staring toward the roof and longing to have someone there, curled in beside him.

Moving back toward his team's apartment, Kai looped his thumbs through his belt, staring down at the floor. There was something at the back of his mind, nagging him for his attention, but remaining just out of sight no matter how hard he tried to focus upon it. He had told Bryan about it, the other shrugging it off.

'It'll reveal itself to ya, but only when its ready. Forcin' it won't make any difference.'

He had jibbed Bryan about the riddled speech the other had a habit of talking and had only got a smirk in reply before the elder had returned his attention back to his carving, not saying anything more.

Stepping into the apartment Kai heard the silence, signalling that his teammates were asleep. Closing and locking the door, he glided silently across the space and down the hallway, hearing the muffled snore of Tyson as he passed that door and thanking Mr Dickenson for getting them separate rooms.

He moved into his bedroom, closing the door and turning on the lamp by his bed. He removed his scarf before pulling off his shirt, spotting his reflection in a mirror and noting the fading scars that worked their way over his back. He frowned. They were nothing compared to Tala's, and Bryan's were almost ten times worse. Ian and Spencer had gotten off easy, but then Tala and Bryan had usually stepped forward to take their fall.

Making his way to the bathroom Kai washed away the blue marks on his cheeks, glancing up and spotting the scars the paint was used to cover. He trailed his fingers over the thin white lines, marks he had gained when he had been a mere toddler. Tala had been the one who had first uncovered the face paint, giving it to the then ashamed Kai to hide the scars that reflected his punishment. He, Tala, and Bryan had all sat around trying out different shapes before they had decided on the shark fins.

Stepping back into the bedroom Kai pulled Dranzer from his pocket, the light catching on the bit chip and causing it to flash, bringing a smile to Kai's lips. "We shouldn't dwell on the past, old friend. There's nothing for us back there."

A faint red glow came in reply, causing Kai's smile to widen before he set the blade down on the bedside table, frowning before he picked up the wooden carving. It had been a parting gift from Bryan, the wooden phoenix's wings stretching majestically toward the sky as flames leapt around its talons, a fiery shield.

"You certainly have a talent, Bry. I've gotta give you that."

Turning it over, he caught the initials B.K. engraved on the bottom below the words 'For Kai, the solitary Phoenix'. Setting the carving back down, Kai finished getting ready for bed, sliding between the sheets and turning off the light.

Loneliness washed over him once again…

One of my theories for the blue-triangles is that Kai is in fact hiding scars, and I've incorporated it into this story. And Kai is lonely. Probably brought on by the fact Bryan and Tala are together. What do you think?

I'm off to the Melbourne Anime Festival (Manifest) this weekend. Yipee!