Chapter 9

Bluumberry: Tyson always winning pisses me off too, which is why he keeps getting his arse kicked in my stories unless it really counts for the team. And don't feel bad. My sister only just turned 16 and she's my main beta, including my NC-17 fics. See, she's just as bad. It's all about the maturity. My other sister can't handle anything like this. You obviously can.

Filter Girl: Yep. You're happy all right. --;;

Ramen II: Learning can be good. I'm learning all about writing proper yaoi. Explicit site. My poor eyes...

Zap Cannon: You'll like this better

Prozacfairy: Yep. Tyson went down. :p

Mizuyah: He's here.

lilmatchgirl007: I know what's more important than either Kai or Ray - Kai and Ray in a steamy room under the blankets... you get the idea. :p

Koneko no Rei: Yes, you have been in Max's sugar, haven't you. ;)

animeandraia: I accidentally taped over all I had of V-Force and have been kicking myself ever since. And it's okay to remember that. After all, key moment in Honesty.

Confuddled: My first yaoi/slash was a Star Wars Hobbie/Janson fic. Read a Luke/Wedge one right after. Not a fan of the latter pairing, but the former is almost cannon. Pity they won't allow real homosexual pairings in the series.

Chaco and Lily: Yes, I was getting sick of the "When's Ray coming?"/"Not now!" thing. Thank the gods it's over.

babymar-mar: Mr Dickenson expects Kai to do him another favour by picking up Ray, which is why Kai had that expression on his face. He figures he's doing enough looking after the "dweebs"

TNTiggris: A lot of reviews vanished at one point, so you may have reviewed it. You may not be going crazy. :p

dwbrrygrl: Just cause Ray's here doesn't mean that the Kai/Ray will start

Sumi-chan The Great: Just hit the review button at the bottom of the page and follows the promps. Simple as that over there. And no make out scene for a while, trust me.

KuronekoHikage: No Kai/Ray yet. Got some more plot spinning to do.

Tariki Rania: No Kai/Ray. Thus far just Max/Tyson. You've got a wait ahead.

Enter Ray.

Ray stared out the window of the plane as the runway came up to meet them, but he didn't really see anything. He let out a shuddering sigh, rubbing his eyes. How? How did he get himself into this mess? What had he done to deserve this?

He looked up as the other passengers began to leave, standing himself and frowning as he realised he was still trembling. It had only been a few hours since she had broken the news, and in that time he had packed his things and contacted Mr Dickenson, the elderly man and old friend arranging for Ray to take the first flight to Japan, assuring him that someone would be there to meet him.

Ray moved to find his bag, moving automatically as he joined the crowd flowing through the gates. Hearing the sound of his name, Ray looked up, spotting the three forms as they tore toward him, beaming.

"Hey guys."

"Ray!" Max threw his arms around his neck, Tyson joining them as Kenny hung back though his grin rivalled the other two. "We've missed you!"

"So I can see." Ray set down his bag, returning the hug. "What are you guys doing here?"

"You're gonna stay with us," Tyson replied. "Mr D called Kai for us to come pick you up!"

Kenny nodded. "We have a spare room at our apartment. The teams going to be all together again."

Ray frowned, looking over their heads. "Kai?"

Blinking, Ray spotted the figure a way off, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest, eyes hidden behind sunglasses. Ray felt his breath catch in his throat. Kai had… changed. And for the better. He seemed more… more perfect… more beautiful…

Ray blinked. Did he actually just think that?

Scooping up his bag Ray moved toward his team captain, the others trailing behind and firing questions at him that Ray didn't hear, focused on the other…

(------------------------------)

Kai looked up as he sensed the other approaching… and did a double take. Like himself, Ray had grown, though not nearly as much as Kai. His shirt was a little tighter of fit and shoulderless, exposing the now more muscular arms. He was longer in the face, and seemed almost lanky in build though he continued to move with a catlike grace.

Something about him… drew Kai to him. At once Kai was glad for the sunglasses, as he knew he was staring, and blinking he brought himself out of his revere. He pushed himself off the pillar, bringing himself to his full height as he nodded his greeting.

"Ray."

"Kai." Ray stopped before him. "Good to see you."

"And you." Kai raised an eyebrow. "Been a while."

"Yeah."

Behind them Max elbowed Tyson, Tyson instantly catching on and shooting him a knowing smile. They had seen it.

Kai turned toward the exit. "The car's in the parking lot."

"Okay." Ray frowned as they moved after him. Ray blinked as they approached the car, seeing that there was no driver. "Kai… who's driving us?"

"I am." Kai shot a look at him as he unlocked the car. "Had my licence for over a year now. Can't you drive?"

Ray shook his head as he climbed into the front passenger seat. "Lee's got his licence, but I never got around to it." Ray frowned. "Who taught you?"

"Driving instructor." Kai waited for the others to get in before he started the car. "Same guy taught Tala and Bryan. Got our licences around the same time."

Tyson straightened. "Bryan has his licence?"

"Hn." Kai glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Bryan's a good driver. Tala's the one who is gifted at road rage."

Tyson snorted. "Figures. 'Feel the might of my all powerful engine! Cut me off and I'll annihilate you!'"

Kai couldn't help but smile.

Ray caught it out of the corner of his eyes, feeling a little strange having Kai being the one who was driving them around. He chuckled, relaxing back in his seat. "Well, guess it'll save on the travel expenses."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're all putting cash in for the fuel."

In the back seat the three younger boys groaned, causing Ray to laugh. Yes, it certainly felt better to be surrounded by his teammates. He'd missed the bickering, the sarcastic remarks, the comradeship. He hadn't seen them since the victory tour, having returned back to his village… where all the trouble had started.

He let out a long sigh, closing his eyes. Max heard it.

"Ray?" He leant as far forward as his restraints allowed. "Are you okay?"

Ray shook his head, running a hand through his hair and looking out the window. "I'll explain later guys. Lets just say things are… complicated."

"Okay." Max frowned.

Tyson felt a tension in the air, eyes twinkling. "Better warn you buddy, Kai's more bossy than ever."

Kenny shot a look at him. "You do realise that Kai is in the car, Tyson."

"Yeah." Tyson shrugged. "Everyone knows that Kai gets off from bossing people around."

Kai's fingers tightened around the wheel. "When we get back to the hotel, you are going to regret having said that, shrimp."

Tyson's eyes sparkled. "Whadda you gonna do? Throw me out a window?"

Kai smirked. "Works for Bryan when he deals with Ian."

"Well Bryan's a coldhearted prick…" Tyson blinked, something crossing his mind. "Oh yeah. So are you."

"You said it."

The smile was once more on Ray's lips, knowing what Tyson was doing and Kai had played along with. Chuckling, he looked toward them. "Thanks guys."

"You're with your team now," Max reminded him, giving him the thumbs up as he winked. "We'll take care of you, no sweat."

"Max is right." Kenny nodded, smiling. "As Mr Dickenson told us: relax."

Tyson snorted. "I don't think Kai heard him."

Kai smirked, glancing at Tyson's reflection. "Say something, shrimp?"

Tyson gave him the finger.

And the whole teams together again. Anyone spot anything within this chapter?