Chapter 24
NekoYaoi: Gee, I wonder what will happen. :p
Mizuyah: Max can cook. Doesn't take much to follow the directions on the back of the pack, after all. Add eggs and water and such into the ready made mix, pop it in the other and bingo, one cake. You just need to add the icing. Great for sucking up to your parents. :p
Bluumberry: You know I only update at certain times, so feel free to go to school... not that you'll concentrate. Oh the joy of knowing what will happen. There are times I love being the author of the Honesty Series.
KuronekoHikage: Yes. Sugar is bad. Especially if taken in large quantities... then again if available ((reaches into her showbag))
Koneko no Rei: That's the quote all right. You know the series well. I commend you... otherwise you went back and found the quote? Which one is it I wonder?
Kai Rei Yin Yang: Gee, now what makes you think that is going to happen. :p
kissybear: I write for the cliff hanger, which is why I've had comments that I should write a television series. But I prefer to torture you with the cliff hanger endings.
Prozacfairy: Well, not happy cause Ray still isn't happy. That's why not happy. :p
lilmatchgirl007: You'd want Max as a brother? I think I'd be driven mad within .35 of a second. And yes, many possibilities...
babymar-mar: Um, I don't think hyperventilating is a good thing. So maybe... stop?
Neko Phoenix Girl: Thank you. I'm so glad you're liking this. And it might be the moment...
Kit-Cat Caitlin: This traffic jam is good too. You'll see why.
Kappy Locks: There are stubborn males all the way through the series. Personally, I think Kai is the worst. Or Tyson. Too close to call. And ITL is currently on hold. Nothing going on there.
animeandraia: Sometimes I feel guilty for prying, but I won't learn anything if I don't, right? Being a heterosexual I have no knowledge in denial or dealing with the people around you. That's why I pry. And love does make you wacky. Sometimes in a good way, though. And that joke wasn't bad. Corny maybe, but not bad. :p
MyHeartBleeds: Don't worry, I know about the homework thing. I finish this year at Uni this coming Friday. I haven't had time to write since I finished Ketsuron. You're forgiven.
Zap Cannon: No, you should not be reading this. Naughty naughty. But you're not the only one. I have other young reviewers here. It's the 'R' isn't it. It draws you. And yes, Tyson would eat the mixture.
huh: Familiar? How is it familiar? ((sweat drop))
Ashla: The sales are flying. Looks like we're going to have to go for a reprint as we're almost sold out.
GemGemJoo: Naruto? I'm into Yu-Gi-Oh and Full Metal Panic. I'm looking forward to Full Metal Alchemist. Heard anything about that one yet?
TNTiggris: Traffic jams have their uses, I'll agree, and they can be funny... depending on the situation.
Tariki Rania: Just because they're there doesn't mean anything is going to happen.
Chaco and Lily: You'll send it to me? Cool. What's it called? And you may be right... or you may be wrong... only time will tell.
Honesty readers will know where this is going…
"Hn." Kai reached forward and snapped off the radio. "Seems we're gonna be stuck here for the duration."
"Mm." Ray looked out the window, shifting in his seat having removed his restraints long ago. "If Kenny goes out, Max and Tyson aren't going to keep their hands to themselves, are they?"
"Not a chance." Kai stretched, removing his sunglasses and setting them on the dash, his seatbelt also having been taken off. "Might as well make yourself comfortable, Ray."
Ray nodded. "Good thing these seats aren't leather."
"Actually, they are. Got sick of burning my arse on hot days so I bought lambs-wool covers for them and a cover for the back seat." Kai frowned. "The other downside to leather seats is what happens when you wear leather pants."
Ray blinked. "You have leather pants?"
"Rather comfortable, leather. Just can be hard to peal off when you're sweating."
Ray swallowed hard. "Yeah… Um, does Tala have leather too?"
"He does. He goes white where I go black. Bryan sticks to the browns. Ian likes denim and Spencer has no dress sense."
Ray's eyebrows rose slightly as he processed this. "So you, Bryan and Tala all wear leather."
"Got matching outfits too." Kai tugged at his jacket. "Thought I'd better dress a little more conservative while I was in Japan. Though I kept the sunnies."
"Do sunglasses come in white?"
"Silver. Tala has silver lenses. Bryan goes black like me." Kai smirked, knitting his fingers behind his head as he leant back. "Born together, raised together, and after all these years, still together. The ultimate unstoppable three." Kai glanced to the side. "Interesting that we all lost."
"Yeah." Ray frowned, shaking his head. "I, uh… can't picture you in leather."
Kai looked at him, still smirking as he reached into his wallet and plucked out the photograph, holding it out. "From Bryan's 20th birthday."
Ray took the photo, looking down at it and straightening as he gasped. The three stood side by side, grinning at the camera in an almost evil fashion. Tala stood in the centre, all three with their arms around each other. Leather pants with tight cloth sleeveless shirts showing beneath long open jackets that seemed to brush the floor. Sunglasses were perched on their noses, and all three had kneehigh boots and fingerless, knuckleless leather gloves matching their colour scheme.
As Kai had told him, Tala was in white, setting off his red hair with its twin strands falling over his face, still sitting perfectly as it they had last time he had seen him. Kai was in full black, blue triangles painted perfectly on those cheeks.
Bryan was the one who had changed the most. As Kai had said, he was in a dark brown, though his shirt was black. What Ray hadn't expected was the long hair, straight lavender strands pulled back in a tight low ponytail that Ray imagined falling down his back in a cascade. His now long fringe fell over his eyes, and the goatee that framed his mouth added to the almost roguish air that seemed radiate from the image.
Ray blinked. If any two words could describe the three, then those words had to be 'hot damn'. "You guys look good."
Kai tapped the picture. "We've grown since then. Tal reckons Bryan's about as tall as he is now."
Ray looked to the side. "And how tall is Tala?"
"Roughly the same as me."
"Woah. That's tall." Ray handed back the picture, nodding to it. "Is that what you guys always wear, or…"
Kai chuckled. "No. We usually ditch the leather pants for tight cloth ones of the same make. Though everything else is the same."
"Why do you dress alike? And like that?"
"Usually, to scare the shit out of everyone, and it's rather effective. As for why we dress alike?" Kai shrugged. "We used to when we were younger. I guess it made us feel more like brothers. Boris brought an end to it though."
"Are you brothers?"
"Not by blood. Just in our hearts." Kai glanced at the picture before sliding it back into his wallet. "Tala's the younger annoying whining one. I'm the middle one who gets the blame for everything and the one the younger one pranks. Bryan's the older one who keeps the middle one from killing the younger one while at the same time looking out for us and generally just being there when we need someone."
Ray grinned. "One big happy family."
Kai snorted. "Tala irritates me. He lives to get on my nerves." Kai smirked. "So I just rile him back."
"I feel for Bryan." Ray shook his head. "I never imagined you three could be like that. You all seem so… so…"
"Cold? Antisocial?" Kai shrugged. "Boris's doing. As I've said, we're only just beginning to undo the damage."
"Looks like it to me." Ray sighed, the smile sliding from his lips. "I'm an only child as well. Lee's the closest thing I've ever had to a brother. We rarely do anything without each other. And when we're not together we're in constant contact. And at the moment I guess… I guess I kinda miss him."
"I know how you feel." Kai crossed his arms over his chest. "Since I've been reunited with them, I miss Tala and Bryan all the time." He chuckled. "I lost count how many times we snuck into each others room and fell asleep talking. And we're meant to be adults."
"It's good that you have such great friends." Ray smiled. "Lee and I are the same. Back before we left the village, we'd sneak into each other's bedrooms through the windows, or go camping, just so we could talk and generally hang out. Not that we didn't want Gary or Mariah or Kevin, it's just that…"
"He's your brother," Kai finished. "And no one else could ever become that."
"Yeah." Ray sighed, then smiled. "You almost feel like a brother. I feel like I can tell you anything, and know I can trust you."
"Mm. Feelings mutual." Kai raised an eyebrow. "I think this is the most I've told any of you guys."
"It is. But I wouldn't tell Tyson anything. Nor would I tell Max, cause he's bound to tell Tyson. And if you tell Chief…"
"Dizzi hears it and she lets it slip to Max who tells Tyson." Kai glanced to the side. "Vicious circle."
"Mm-hm." Ray grinned before it once again slid from his face. "You guys really are my second family you know."
Kai smiled. "Much as I hate to admit it, you guys are family to me too."
"Always said you had a soft spot." Ray sighed and stretched, settling back into his seat. "I guess you guys are one of the reasons why I was undecided over whether to go or not."
"The fact that you even debating over whether to go back or not proves how much of a hold she has on you. They say it's unwise to allow a woman to have that much control."
"Or vice versa." Ray sighed. "She's going to need help Kai."
"Didn't need much help in getting pregnant."
"It takes two, Kai."
"Takes but one to do the seducing."
Ray smiled faintly. "You have a point."
"Hn." Kai crossed his arms over his chest, crimson eyes locked on Ray's face. "She's got her family, Ray. And Gary's still there, isn't he? I remember you saying once that he was great with kids."
"Yeah." Ray sighed, staring at the dash. "I still feel I should have gone."
"You did the right thing in not."
Ray's eyes narrowed as his face fell into a solemn expression. "Give me one reason why."
Kai shrugged. "Your team is here. That, and you'll be treated like utter shit back there."
"We've been over that, Kai." Ray sighed, closing his eyes as his chin fell onto his chest, shoulders slumping. "I'm sure you can't give me any other reason."
Kai watched him, mind buzzing. Sure he could give him plenty of reasons, but Ray would brush them off as well. When Ray got in one of these moods, he rarely listened to anyone, content with wallowing in his own misery. Anything that anyone said would fall on deaf ears, and this time would be no different.
But maybe… there was one thing…
Ray sighed as Kai remained silent. He had been right: Kai couldn't think of any other reason that Ray should have stayed. Maybe Ray had been wrong. Maybe it would have been better if he had just-
Ray's eyes flew open as he felt the hand glide over his cheek and behind his neck, bringing his head around. Before he knew it warm lips were on his, a pleasant jolt shooting through Ray as he closed his eyes again, welcoming the kiss.
Kai drew back, watching him. "Is that reason enough?"
"Sure thing it's reason enough." Ray slid his arms around Kai, returning the kiss.
Well what do you know. The dweebs were right after all. And so were you, Bryan. Just hate the fact you're gonna gloat when you find out about this. Kai bit back a smile as he felt Ray glide his tongue over Kai's lips, silently begging for access. Kai granted him his wish, but fought for the dominance of the kiss.
Hearing the sound of a clunk and the blaring of a horn, they glanced up. The inside lane, which had begun to creep forward, had come to a halt as one car ran up the back of the other, drivers gaping across at them. Kai and Ray chuckled before returning their attention to each other and going back to what they were doing…
A lot of key things occur in this chapter. Remember them all. ;)