Chapter 22
Prozacfairy: Things are hotting up indeed. Just don't expect me to hand out cold drinks. :p
Bluumberry: No, "don't" is correct. Just playing around with Bryan's English, that's all. It is his second language after all. And thank you for thinking it realistic. :D
KuronekoHikage: I love Japanese music. It's just so flowing and beautiful. And throw his problems out the window? ((wide evil grin)) Ooo yeah.
lilmatchgirl007: Yeap, Ian's a playboy in this fic. He's probably getting more than everyone else. :p And I agree with the gorgeous freaks thing. ((looks at Kai and Tala and drools))
Zap Cannon: Oh calm down, it's not that bad. And Ian's okay... in his own way. And while G-Rev isn't on here yet, I'm developing a thing for Garland. He is somewhat... intriguing. And forget Christmas, it's almost my birthday!!! :D
animeandraia: Yeap, and his adopted nickname from Tala is 'Jerk'. Your denial stage? Do tell.
Ashla: You like the shrimp, hm? Yeah, he's okay I guess. Fun to write him.
Koneko no Rei: Liked the 'wakey, wakey' did you? :D And you're probably right about the naked sketches. Kai's probably got some of Ray too... I think I remember seeing them at one point.
autumnburn: Stubborn they are indeed. Read on and you will see what happens.
keisan: I hate how young the whole girlfriend/boyfriend thing starts too, but for some people that's how it is. I was 17 myself when I got my first boyfriend, and both my younger sisters are older than Ian and haven't been on a date yet. No need for them. And Ian disapproves of said gay teammates, and having grown up in the Abbey where it was fend for yourself and pleasure was forbidden, you can really understand what Ian is up too. And yes, it is now Ray's turn.
Chaco and Lily: Bryan is in Moscow, and Kai is in Japan. Six hours difference between them, with Bryan just ahead. So if Bryan rings at 5:30am Moscow time, it is 11:30pm the previous day Japan time. Just an example, I'm not entirely sure what time it is. And Switchblade is the theme of the Demolition Boys Kai. It fits them all perfectly, yes? :D
Mizuyah: A fic about Ian being a male slut would be good. And I agree with Bryan and Ian hating each other. I just get that feeling.
Kit-Cat Caitlin: You're telling people about my fic? Cool. I do that too. I find a good fic and spread the word amongst my friends that might be interested. Plus my sister. I save a fic and she reads it later. Now she's got her own laptop she's getting as bad as me - copy it onto disk from the main computer, put it on the laptop and read it when you're meant to be doing homework. ((whistles innocently))
TNTiggris: I should be doing something else too, but I bet you're glad I'm not. :p
Reason for lateness: On the day I usually update this, I was at a book launch... my book launch. I'm published in an anthology of works that is for sale in my home town. My very first publication. :D
You won't see this one coming.
Ray sighed as he got dressed, eyes drifting back to the picture on the small table by his bed. He didn't know how much longer he could take it. Guilt continued to plague him, to burn through his mind like the fire in his dreams. Had he done the right thing in leaving? Mariah was alone now, with no one to help her…
Shaking the thought from his mind, he stepped into the corridor and made his way to the kitchen where the younger boys had already arrived. He joined them at the table, barely noticing their chorus of greeting as he went about making himself breakfast. He was barely aware of what was going on around him… until he entered the room.
Ray found himself drawn to him, just as he was every morning since he had first arrived in Japan. Kai glanced at him as he made his way to the table, nodding his head in greeting toward his teammates before he joined them, taking his usual place at the head of the table.
"So what was that phone call last night?" Kenny asked, sipping his juice. "If you don't mind my asking, of course."
"No, it's fine." Kai shrugged, reaching for the butter. "It was Bryan. Apparently Boris got picked up trying to leave Russia last night, that's all."
Tyson blinked. "Trying to leave the country? To where?"
"Iran, or so Bryan tells me." Kai shrugged, pulling the corner of his bit of toast. "He's not sure how long they will be able to keep Boris detained, but he doesn't seem to think it will be long."
Kenny frowned. "They still haven't found anything to charge him with?"
"Not as yet." Kai shrugged. "Tried to convince Bryan to testify again, but he won't have any part of it." Kai smirked. "Just hope he doesn't think I'm gonna let him off easy."
Tyson snorted. "You don't let anybody off easy."
Kai smirked, gaze flicking once more to Ray, eyes narrowing. Max and Tyson followed his gaze, Kenny looking up and noting that Ray was picking idly at his food, eyes faraway as he frowned to himself.
Tyson shot a look at the other two, before looking toward Kai. "So what do you have planned for today, Captain?"
Kai frowned, meeting his eye and seeing that Tyson had an eyebrow raised, giving a small nod and smile. Kai returned it. "How does training sound to you?"
"Works for me."
Max nodded. "Me too. When do we start?"
"Fine by me." Kenny looked around. "What do you think, Ray?"
The neko-jin blinked at the sound of his name, head coming up and around. "Huh?"
"We're thinking of training today," Tyson told him. "We were just wondering if you were going to join us."
"Um, sure… I guess." Ray frowned, looking back down at the table. "I'll have to put Driger back together first though."
Kenny lit up. "Need help?"
"No, it's fine. I can handle it." Ray stood, smiling sheepishly. "Well, I'd better get to it. Meet you guys at the dish."
"Yeah, sure buddy." Tyson watched him go, frowning with concern as Ray vanished into the corridor. "Is it just me or is he worse today?"
"He's worse," Max confirmed.
"Hn." Kai's eyes narrowed. "He's been getting worse by the day."
Kenny looked around them, before glancing back down into the corridor. "Do you think training is going to help? If he's so bad, he may not be able to focus."
"So we make him focus." Tyson smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. "I say we take him head on. Knock him clean out of the dish."
Max and Kenny nodded their agreement, Kai simply sipping from his mug and smirking. "Well if you plan to knock him out of the dish, you'd better concentrate. You've been blading like utter crap lately."
"WHAT!?" Tyson bolted to his feet, eyes flashing as his face darkened. "Why I oughta-"
Kai's smirk widened as he finished his drink, standing. "You are so easy to get going. Now hurry up and get movin'. Training starts in 10 minutes."
Tyson blinked, looking down at the table. "10 minutes? But I've only just started eating."
Max rolled his eyes as Kenny slumped in defeat.
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"Shouldn't Ray be here by now?"
Max looked toward Tyson, reaching out and catching Draciel as the blade leapt up into his hand. "It's been almost an hour. Kai?"
The captain frowned thoughtfully, before turning sharply. "Chief?"
Kenny looked up. "Yes Kai?"
"Go up and see what's keeping Ray, will you? He might need a hand with Driger."
"Okay." Kenny set Dizzi down on the bench so she could continue running and analysing her data before he stood and made his way toward the doorway.
Kai turned back to the two younger bladers. "Now lets try that one again. This time Tyson, try to focus on your blade and not on Max. And Max, quit flirting. Distracting Tyson is not the aim of today's training session."
They shot him a hard look before launching again, Kai standing back and watching with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Max, quit skittering around the edge. It's only inviting your opponent to go for the quick knockout."
"Sure thing, Kai." Max looked back into the dish, focusing on the battle as Draciel dove back into the middle of the dish, zigzagging out of Dragoon's path before circling back for the quick kill. "You're mine."
"I don't think so." Tyson's expression hardened into that of iron determination, Dragoon recovering from Max's slam and zeroing in to return the favour.
Kai nodded as he smiled faintly. This was more like it. Once they focused, they were at the peak of their game. Once that focus slipped-
"Guys! Guys!"
All three looked up as Kenny tore toward them, Max and Tyson recalling their blades to their hand as the youngest member of the team came closer.
"Woah, slow down Chief," Dizzi called. "You don't want to have a heart attack."
Tyson stepped toward him as Kenny doubled over, panting as he clutched the piece of paper. "What is it, Kenny/"
Kenny straightened, holding out the paper. "It's Ray!"
Tyson took the paper, frowning as he read. "'I can't hang around any more. Going back to China to help Mariah. Sorry.'"
Max's eyes widened. "He's gone?"
Kai snatched up the piece of paper, reading it for himself before he growled, grabbing his jacket and pulling it on, scarf whipping behind him as he stalked toward the exit, already searching his pockets.
Tyson looked up. "Hey Kai! Where you going?"
"After Ray."
Kenny gaped as the door closed behind him. Max and Tyson exchanged a triumphant grin and giving each other a silent high five while Kenny wasn't looking. Things could not have worked out better.
First Tyson pretty much asks to train, a miracle in itself. Then Ray leaves. The only predictable thing is that Kai went after Ray.