Chapter 10

Bluumberry: The answer to one of your questions is in this chapter. And yes, reading them right through is good. They get better from Overture on, though I really need to make some editing changes to Honesty.

MyHeartBleeds: If you want to write the Lee/Mariah thing go ahead. The two sides to the story are written now. Lee's side is in Honesty II, and Mariah's side is in Ketsuron. I'm sure you see a problem there. However, if you want it, just say the words and I'll email you Mariah's reflections. Oh yeah, I've got another date... ((evil grin))

Tariki Rania: No yaoi for a while. :p

lilmatchgirl007: Like Honesty II the appearance will be over the phone. Two D Boys will do the calling. Not telling who. :p

Prozacfairy: Can you say 'denial'? And Mariah might have done something...

dead yet a love sick puppy: My shortest review ever! :D

babymar-mar: Checking out hot bishounen? Tell me about it. ((drool))

Ramen II: Fork in the eye won't give you a good view. Do something else. Trust me. And nobody said Tyson was smart. He'll probably regret doing that.

Koneko no Rei: Bryan might seem to fit the road rage more, but I see him as being very in control. Meanwhile, Tala seems to be someone with rather unpredictable mood swings...

GemGemJoo: But Kai and Ray are there, so you are seeing them. Just no Kai/Ray action, that's all...

Chaco and Lily: I was unfortunate enough to find myself on a train home when they played a yaoi movie at the Melbourne Anime Festival. Hopefully next year they will have one the day before so I can see it. And did you say yaoi manga? SEND THE LINK!!! SEND THE LINK!!! ((feral grin))

keisan: If you want to spoil it you read the other fics in the saga. But welcome to the family!!!

Mizuyah: After Honesty II, I wanted a light fic here. And you're going to kill me when you finally read Ketsuron...

KuronekoHikage: They noticed a certain amount of staring between two members of their group if you see what I'm saying. ;)

autumnburn: Ray was always coming. Just a matter of when.

Ashla: Hopefully this is a nice part too.

hiwatorilover: When I'm feeling down I go to that description to drool too. Damn Kai is hot. ((drool))

animeandraia: Actually, in this fic, Kai isn't rolling in cash. That doesn't come til later (Honesty II). And I actually have a scene in another fic where Bryan throws Ian off a balcony.

And then Ray tells them…

A stunned silence washed over the group, all eyes staring at Ray in disbelief. He sighed, slouching back in his seat and crossing his arms over his chest, closing his eyes. "And that's the story."

Max blinked. "Wow."

"Yeah." Tyson shook his head, leaning back. "Wow."

Kai frowned, crimson eyes narrowing as he watched Ray's face. "So let me get this straight. Roughly six months ago you slept with Mariah and since then she has been putting on weight and less then a day ago she announced she was pregnant and that you could be the father."

Ray nodded. "That's it."

Kenny frowned thoughtfully. "What I don't understand is why there is some question over whether you are the father or not."

"Oh." Ray looked up. "I forgot to mention. Before I left I spoke to Lee, and he told me that he slept with her the same day I did. She went to him first."

"Ouch." Tyson shot a look at Max who nodded his agreement. "So how come you left, buddy?"

"How could I not?" Ray shook his head, sighing. "It's… all too much. I'm not even in love with her. I thought I was but… I'm not. I just couldn't stay."

Kenny frowned. "Did Lee stay?"

"Yeah. He's pretty upset, so it wouldn't surprise me if he left too." Ray frowned. "Kevin also took it hard. After Mariah announced she was pregnant he upped and vanished." Ray looked up. "Oh yeah, I told Lee I would ring him once I arrived."

Tyson straightened. "You're not mad at him?"

Ray blinked. "Why would I be?"

"Dude, the guy slept with the same girl as you on the same day as you, and he would have known that you were after her."

"You have a point." Ray shrugged. "Lee's my best friend. It came as a shock to both of us, and we need each other at the moment. It's just that… I couldn't stay there." His shoulders slumped. "It's shamed upon to… do that before marriage. We will be shunned."

"That's why you think Lee will leave?"

"Yeah."

Max stood, moving toward the kitchen and returning with the phone. "Here you go. We'll take you bags to your room."

"You're in the room across from Tyson I'm afraid," Kenny told him, genuine sympathy in his voice.

Tyson blinked, shooting him a look. "And what's wrong with that?"

"Oh nothing."

Kai stood, shooting a look at the others. "We'll leave you to your call, right guys?"

The three younger boys nodded, standing and following their captain down the hall. Ray sighed, crossing his legs and leaning back against the back of the seat, punching the familiar number into the phone. It took a while to connect, but he was used to it. It always did when you were calling another country.

The phone rang three times before he heard it pick up, the curious voice of a little girl coming over the line. "Hello?"

"Hi Shina, it's Ray."

He heard a giggle. "Hi there, Ray! I'm missing you already!"

"I'm missing you too, Shine." He smiled. "Is your brother there?"

"Yeah. Lee went looking for Kevin but he's back now. He's locked himself in his room and won't let anyone in. Mummy's not very happy with him. Did you two do something bad?"

"Um…" Ray frowned, not really wanting to tell the 10-year-old exactly what they had done wrong. "I really need to talk to Lee, Shina."

"K." He heard her put a hand over the receiver, but nonetheless her voice rang loud and clear. "Leeroy! Phone call!" A pause. "It's Ray."

There was a shuffling, Ray smiling as he heard Lee's 'shoo' before the sound of a door closing. "Hey there, Ray."

"Hey Lee." Ray relaxed a little at the sound of his old friend's voice. "She's certainly very curious."

Lee groaned. "Tell me about it."

"She said your mother's angry."

Lee sighed. "Everybody's angry, old friend. I can't go anywhere without someone glaring at me down their nose. It's like one minute I was the most respected adolescent in the village, and the next scum they wipe off their shoe. You did the right thing in leaving."

"Mariah?"

Lee growled. "Is simply loving the attention. Everyone's swarming around her saying 'you poor girl'. It's fine that she's knocked up, but the male is a downright criminal. You'd think they'd realise that it takes two."

"Our village is male dominated. The women are always the victims."

"Yeah well she came onto me. Nobody listens when I try to tell them that. They seem to think I'm makin' excuses." He grunted. "In the past my word was unquestionable. It's like I'm living in a completely different village." A pause. "My mother's the worst. I don't think I can stay here, Ray."

"I know what you mean." Ray rubbed his eyes. "Shina said you went looking for Kevin."

"Yeah, I did. You know how he vanished right after the announcement?"

"Mm. I went looking for him to say goodbye, but I couldn't find him."

"He was up on the mountain meditating."

Ray blinked. "By choice!?"

"Said that myself. He's very withdrawn. He can't look anyone in the eye, let alone go in the same room with Mariah."

"He's had a problem with Mariah for the last few months." Ray frowned. "He became very withdrawn around her around the same time he started growing his hair out."

"Come to think of it, you're right."

"I wonder what his problem is."

"Who knows, and knowing Kevin, we'll probably never find out. So where are you?"

"Japan, like I said. I'm with my team. They met me at the airport. Kai has his licence and we have an apartment at a hotel. I'll have to give you the phone number."

"Hang on." He heard fumbling. "Okay, I got a pen and paper."

Ray picked up a piece of paper Kenny had handed him when they had arrived and listed off the numbers, Lee repeating them back to him, Ray nodding. "You got it."

"Right." A pause. "I'm not sure how much longer I'll hang around here. I know I should stay to support Mariah, but…"

"I know exactly what you mean." Ray sighed. "If you leave, call me."

"You got it. Good to hear that you've settled in, Ray."

"Thanks Lee. And good luck."

"Yeah, could do with some of that. Talk later, old friend."

"Sure thing, friend."

Is Mariah a bitch or is Mariah a bitch? Anyone who's read the other stories in the saga should pick up a few things of interest in this chapter. Know what?