Chapter 12
Tariki Rania: Kenny has eyes... just... hidden... ((frowns thoughtfully))
Prozacfairy: Kai's in his room on the phone... ;)
MyHeartBleeds: Did someone say Believe? ((laughs sheepishly)) Yeah, I finish and edit all my fics before I put them up. That's due to the fact I don't like abandoning fics. Too many readers try to kill you ((hides as swarm of Star Wars fans come rushing passed with lightsabers and blasters)) Yeah, like them. Oh, and the date thing... Um... Ray said I'm a really good "friend" and Kev and Lee agreed. Not sure if that's good or bad.
Bluumberry: People get a personal thrill out of flaming other peoples stuff. All it does though is make the flamer look like an ass (ass as in donkey). And I've had a few flames. Take a look at my story list and click the reviews for Lie No More. I'm so proud of those flames. When I'm feeling down it's so nice to know there are people with such low mentalities and closed minds. I have a great laugh. :D
Zap Cannon: I rate my stories high just to be safe. I'm such Eclipse could have been PG, but I made it PG-13 to be safe. And the reason I haven't updated is cause I took my site White Tiger Claw into version 3.0, and it takes a while to get it all right. That's why I haven't updated.
Ramen II: Actually, Ray hasn't gotten around to writing about Kai in his diary. More likely it's about Mariah and what happened, as well as him writing what annoying pests his teammates are. And it isn't until Honesty that they learn about the Kevin/Mariah thing, and Kev's suppressing it, or trying too anyway.
animeandraia: Joseph and Kev are so close to being twins it's not funny. Damned unoriginal creators. Of all the teams to rip off they rip off the White Tigers. And I write everything complete, edit it, divide it into chapters using a word count method (1,000) and then break it up into separate chapter files in .html before saving them onto disk and transferring them onto my main computer. It's so much easier that way.
Mizuyah: Ketsuron is Japanese for 'conclusion'. Unoriginal, but I thought it had a nice ring.
NekoYaoi: No Kai/Ray for many chapters. Got some setting up to do first.
dead yet a love sick puppy: Such short reviews...
Kappy Locks: It was your birthday? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! How old? Have fun? And kill Kenny? This isn't South Park... :p
Dark Riven: Some characters come to you, some don't. I've tried Yu-Gi-Oh but quit while I was ahead. The only fan fics I can write are Beyblade and Star Wars. We all have our niches, and Beyblade just must not have been yours. At least, not at that point in time... ;) :p
keisan: Mariah's story comes out in Ketsuron, and it won't be what you expect, trust me. And yes, Ray is the diary type.
babymar-mar: You'll probably hate this if you've read them. This fic feels like a step backwards... ... ... hang on... ...
lilmatchgirl007: Fan girl is good. ((huge grin)) :p
GemGemJoo: Fine work... ((even huger grin))
Koneko no Rei: Oh poor Ray. Give him back his diary. And yeah, Mariah's not depicted well in this fic, but you know why.
Chaco and Lily: I've seem the Gravitation anime screenshots. There's one on my wallpaper right now ((clicks down and drools at image of Yuki)) Eh... sorry, got distracted. And yes, I know ALL!!! ((evil laughter))
KuronekoHikage: That is the first and only time you see the diary unless I add it to Ketsuron, but think about it as you read all the fics. Interesting what it will contain. Hmm... "Last night Kai and I did this really weird sexual ritual..." Eh..., sorry, one track mind. ((blush))
Ketsuron Status: 120 pages in Word, single spacing with 12 point font. Nowhere near completion. Just completed major battle scene. One side story completed.
Two other characters appear in this story, in which one has a key role. He is introduced here. Guess who.
"Sounds like ya've got a party goin on."
"Personally, I'd rather be at your party."
"Can't have everything, Phoenix. Besides, was your choice to go back there."
Kai smirked, leaning back on the bed. "True, Falcon. Personally, I prefer Tyson over Ian."
"Ian shuts up once you smack him over the head with a large book." He grunted, and Kai knew he was smiling. "Preferably an encyclopedia."
Kai gave a rare laugh. "And they call me cruel."
"You're my best friend, Kai. We rub off on each other."
"Indeed we do, Bryan."
There was a long pause. "Something's on your mind."
Kai blinked. "Pardon?"
"You sound distracted."
"Just can't keep your nose out of other peoples business, can you?"
"Hn." Bryan chuckled softly. "You've always been my little brother, Kai. So was Tal up until I realised he was actually rather hot stuff… so are you come to think of it, but that's beside the point. It's like this: I know you. And I can tell when your mind is elsewhere." A pause. "I'm thinking that there's a certain Chinaman on your mind."
Kai stiffened. "What!?"
"A little neko-jin. A kitten by the name of Ray Kon."
"Hn. Don't know what planet you're on, Kuznetsov. I'm straight. So's Ray."
"Tal used to say that too, you know. Made no difference to him when he slammed me up against the wall and stuck his tongue down my throat, almost suffocating me."
Kai blinked. "Waaait… I always thought it was you who made the first move."
"Technically, yes. I confessed I loved him, and that was his way of answering me."
"Pity he didn't suffocate you."
"You're as charming as your cousin." A pause. "Speaking of which, do you think Tal would kill me if I took him out on a romantic evening?"
Kai's jaw almost hit the floor. "Did you just say what I think you said?"
"Depends if your hearings going or not, now doesn't it?"
Kai shook his head, rubbing his eyes. "I always got the impression Tala was into that kind of thing."
"So did I, but I wanted a second opinion." Bryan chuckled. "I reckon Kon would be a romantic."
Kai rolled his eyes. "Look, Bry, I do not have a thing for Ray. It's just that he's… different, that's all."
"Different how?"
"Well, he's taller for one. He looks a lot older, and I think he's been working out more or something cause his shoulders-" He stopped as Bryan started laughing. "What?"
"Look, Kai, I've been gay for many years, and I can tell when one guy is attracted to another." He chuckled. "You have a thing for Kon."
Kai growled. "And exactly what gives you that impression."
"You were about to go into great detail over his body, meaning you must've been lookin' real good. Hn. Not to mention you went all wistful… You've got it bad, Hiwatari."
Kai sighed, shaking his head. "If I'm the little brother, then you're the big sister."
"How so?"
"Have you even noticed how you're talking?"
"It was your idea to get me to open up more, Phoenix."
"I know, Falcon, it's just…" Kai frowned. "I guess it's just hard getting used to having the old you back, that's all."
"Oh come on, am I really that thickheaded and brainless?"
Kai grinned. "Maybe not, but you're just as nosy, pigheaded and overprotective."
"Thank you."
"And did I mention you're an arsehole?"
"Not recently." Bryan paused. "You know, I don't believe Tala has called me a jerk today. I wonder if he's alright."
Kai smiled, looking toward the doorway. "Oh, I would have called sooner, but Ray was calling Lee."
"Didn't Kon just leave the village?"
"Yeah, but if you know what's going on, you'd understand why…" Kai proceeded to fill him in, Bryan remaining silent until he was finished.
"Not that's what I call putting your life into the blender."
Kai blinked, grimacing. "Interesting image."
"The whole point." Bryan sniggered. "I once chucked a rabbit into a blender and-"
"Bryan!"
"Don't worry, Phoenix, I'm kidding." Kai could almost see that twisted grin of Bryan's. "It was actually a mouse I caught trying to steal some of the food from between the blades, so I put the lid on and-"
"There are times I worry about you."
A pause. "You know, Tal said the exact same thing this mornin', and Spence agreed with him."
"I wonder why." Kai looked up at the sound of the knock on the door. "I'm needed. Call you later."
"Unless I call you first. Oh, and I think Tal's been meaning to catch up, so be warned."
"You got it."
((------------------------------))
Ray turned away from the door and took a step as it opened behind him. He paused, turning back around and forcing himself to appear normal, despite the fact his heart suddenly leapt into his throat. What is the matter with me? This is Kai!! "Um… can I talk?"
"Why not? Everybody else does."
Ray stepped into the room and let his gaze move around it. Typical. Kai had somehow managed to claim the apartments master suite. The queen-sized bed looked ready to fall into; the dark purple patterned wallpaper giving off an antique feel. The room felt cosy despite its size, and somehow Ray thought it fitted Kai perfectly.
Ray's eyes found the phone sitting on the bedside table. "Who were you calling?"
Kai shrugged. "Bryan."
Ray swung around, eyes wide. "What!?"
"Did I complain about you ringing Lee?"
"Lee's my best friend, Kai."
"Well Bryan is mine, Ray." Kai shrugged, dropping onto the bed and crossing his legs under him. "Why is it you wanted to speak with me?"
Ray joined him, telling him everything Lee had told him about their treatment in the village, Kai frowning thoughtfully. As he finished, Ray sighed. "So do you think I did the right thing in leaving?"
"Why do you ask?"
Ray averted his eyes, frowning. "I… I feel like I've abandoned them."
"Ray…" Kai raised an eyebrow. "Sounds to me like Yin is going to pack his bags anytime now. And from what he says, unless you're pink and fluffy, the village ain't no place to be."
Ray snorted. "Pink and fluffy?"
"You'd rather rabid and obnoxious?"
Ray burst out laughing. "Kai!"
Kai shrugged, smirking and crossing his arms over his chest, closing his eyes. "You did the right thing in leaving, Ray. Anyway, now you can help with the dweebs."
Ray wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded, before shaking his head, blinking as he caught something out of the corner of his eye. "Oh wow."
Kai's eyes cracked open as Ray crawled across the bed, picking the wooden phoenix up off the bedside table and holding it close to inspect it.
"It's beautiful." Ray's fingers traced the masterfully carved and detailed lines, the polished smoothness, not one fault to be found. Seeing something, he turned it over, catching the inscription. "'For Kai, the solitary Phoenix. B.K.' Kai, who's B.K?"
Kai didn't answer.
Ray's bottom lip pursed as his forehead furrowed. "The Solitary Phoenix. Well, I guess it's kinda true. You never get close to anyone."
Kai smirked.
"Still don't know who B.K. is…" Ray blinked, a thought coming to him as he swung around. "What's Bryan's last name?"
Kai's eyes drifted closed again. "Kuznetsov."
"B.K. Bryan Kuznetsov." Ray shook his head, the wooden phoenix taking on a whole new light. "I didn't know he could carve."
"He's naturally gifted. Apparently his mother was an artist or something and the ability to bring things from the mind onto wood was passed down to him." Kai shrugged. "Tala can paint."
Ray looked at him. "You?"
"Me? I can sketch. Got an ear for music too."
"Yeah, noticed that during the last Championship." Ray sat back on his heels, gazing fondly down at the sculpture. "Must take a lot of time and patience to make one of these."
"He makes no two carvings alike, and that one took a week." Kai chuckled. "Bryan is very patient… just don't push his buttons."
"Yeah." Ray frowned, looking toward the door. "Kai?"
"Mm?"
"Is there something going on between Max and Tyson?"
Kai's eyes cracked open. "There might be."
"And about time." Ray shook his head, smiling faintly. "Been waiting for those two to get together since the last Championship."
Kai couldn't fight the smile.
Ray frowned. "Kenny doesn't know, right?"
"They think he's a homophob."
"Wouldn't surprise me. I remember some offhand comments he made at one point after he saw a lesbian couple. If I recall he used the words 'filth', 'distasteful', and 'outrages' like a hundred times in the space of a minute."
Kai nodded but remained silent.
"I take it Max and Tyson don't want him to find out, right?"
Another nod.
"Thought not." Ray shifted, the room suddenly feeling a lot smaller. A pale blue strand had fallen over Kai's face and Ray fought the urge to reach out and brush it back. "So… how have you been?"
Kai watched him. "Busy."
"Yeah. You had that whole court case thing, didn't you. So, have they convicted Voltaire?"
"Nowhere near it. Break in the case at the moment." Kai nodded toward the desk, Ray spotting all the papers set out on it. "I gotta work through all that before I can even testify."
"Oh." Ray frowned. "What about Boris?"
"Is walking around free."
"What!?"
"He's a smart man, Ray. They've got nothing on him." Kai shrugged. "Got a feeling I know who can change that."
Ray blinked. "Who?"
Kai shrugged it off, slipping from the bed, both feeling a pang of regret at the distance. "You worry about your problems, and I'll worry about mine."
Ray nodded, setting the wooden phoenix down before following him from the room, the two greeted by the smell of dinner. Thing is Kai, I think you are my problem…
JPC: ((Glomps Bryan))
Bryan: O-O;;
JPC: I love it when you appear
Bryan: Wonderful, now get off me
JPC: ((Hugs him harder)) Why?
Bryan: Because I have acid here that I've been itching to use so if you don't…
JPC: ((lets him go)) Jerk
Bryan: Thank you