Chapter 28
Prozacfairy: Need a sound proof room, yes. Chances of getting it - low.
Kai Rei Yin Yang: Happens. Some songs sound like others. My sister and I are currently debating a couple of songs I just downloaded from the Japanese G-Revolution soundtrack. We're sure half of them are ripped off, one from Bon Jovi. Still trying to place the rest...
Ashla: Yes, those moments are always the best... usually.... :p
Zap Cannon: Thanks for the extra info. I haven't seen Shark Tale... yet. And yes, he's annoying in this fic, but for a reason. :p And I take it you like the bonus chapter. :D
Tariki Rania: Or Tyson broke it, depending how you look at it. Max wouldn't have screamed if Tyson hadn't been... --;;
lilmatchgirl007: It is? Who? Which one would be the screamer? Probably the opposite person to who I'm thinking, methinks.
animeandraia: Numb mouths can be good. When you get punched in the jaw it feels... weird. However, once the feeling comes back it isn't good. Trust me. And who would draw it? And I've been the victim of cold hands and feet. When we were younger my sisters and I would sneak into each others beds, first making sure that said hands and feet were cold... ((insert evil laugh))
Koneko no Rei: Lemon coming later. And I have no idea about that id thingy either. Probably a flaw in the system. Ah well. Happens. And I could see Max as a screamer in any relationship. It's just in his nature. I reckon Kenny would be a screamer too... on second thought, maybe I shouldn't give you mental images of that. :p
babymar-mar: In this fic, Tyson is good, and don't worry about seeming perverted. I am. :p
Kuroneko Hikage: First you bounce off walls, and then you ignore me!?!? :D Carry a tune? And the beta'd work is coming, I swear! Just got to make some final checks and I'll send it to you. I promise. And I mean it this time!
MyHeartBleeds: I like the "scared shitless" line too. And leave Lee alone. Trust me. He just bought a whopping big mallet, and I think I know what he intends to do with it. Oo;;
meow kitty: 13 days til G-Rev hits our shores. Everyone's getting sick of my countdown. :D I'm looking forward to picking out the relationships for my fics. Plans for a Bryan/Garland, and I need Master Tao for another. And I've seen what happens to Dranzer in an Anime Music Video, and what happens to Kai thereafter. Not good, if I've interpreted it right. ((runs to hug the clinically depressed Kai)). And in my mind I think Tyson would be a sex god in bed. There are few characters that I believe would be, and he's one of them.
Kit-Cat Caitlin: Roughly the same as my family, only my dad's a bit taller. My younger sister is 5'5". My youngest sister is almost as tall as me now. I must beat her over the head repeatedly to stunt her growth I think. Either that or buy a stretching rack for myself. And we've had issues with teachers hating the family. Just happened to my sis in maths. Stupid teachers...
Neko Phoenix Girl: Yet another young one. Yes, perhaps you shouldn't be reading them. And I'm so glad you're enjoying this. Hope I can keep up to your expectations.
Mizuyah: Yes, I always pictured Tyson as "good" too. Him and Bryan, anyway. Still undecided about the others. I'm with Level4Chaos (a.k.a. Melanie) in saying Lee would be rough in the sack, though I haven't written that as yet. ;; And it's always good to hear their feelings.
Chaco and Lily: Tsk tsk. You should be working. Get to it! I'm allowed to say that, cause I've finished for the year and on holiday. :p And yes, they're scared shitless. I mean, wouldn't you be?
GemGemJoo: Not really. If you read between the lines throughout the fic you'll notice that sometimes I skip days. And they're just sleeping together - no sex. Nothing major.
Note: I've been working on a little fic by the name of Believe...
And in the morning…
As the sun cracked over the horizon the light worked its way over the world, wakening those within and signalling the start of a new day. In one apartment, though, there was no hurry to awaken. In one room the 15-year-old lay awake, glasses resting on the bedside table as his mind buzzed, trying to work out a solution to his problem. In the room across the hall the two young teens still slept, curled in each others arms, sheets tangled around them following the activity of the night before.
In the main bedroom golden catlike eyes slitted open sleepily, twinkling as they took in his surroundings. Sighing contently, he purred as he cuddled closer to his love, savouring the warmth and presence of the other.
Looking up toward his face, Ray involuntarily stiffened as he saw them. Pushing himself up, Ray blinked as he realised that the blue triangles were absent, something he hadn't noticed in the dark. Reaching up, Ray trailed his fingertip over the marks, realising at once that due to the precision of the scars, the symmetry, they had been no accident.
Feeling the light touch Kai awoke, crimson eyes blinking open as he spotted Ray leaning over him, concern etched into his handsome face. Frowning, Kai realised just what it was that had captured Ray's attention and sighed. Well, he had been bound to find them sooner or later.
Hearing the sigh, Ray looked up, a faint anger burning in his eyes. "Who did this to you?"
Kai looked at him before closing his eyes, the memory bubbling to the surface, unwanted. "Boris."
"What?" Ray's eyes widened. "Why?"
"I did not follow orders." Kai shrugged. "It was a long time ago, Ray. Don't worry yourself over them."
"Is this why you wear the paint? To hide them?"
"Mm. Tala's idea."
Ray's eyes flickered to his. "How come Tala's not scarred?"
"Don't assume anything, Ray." Kai opened his eyes and met Ray's gaze. "Just because you can't see something doesn't mean they're not there."
Ray blinked. "Tala's scarred too?"
"And Bryan." Kai shrugged. "Bryan's the worst. Nine times out of ten he would throw himself into the path of whatever blow Boris sent our way." Kai smiled faintly. "The protective big brother, remember?"
"How? How could Boris do this?"
"He owns us." Kai's jaw tightened as his eyes lost focus. "We're the property of Biovolt. He can do as he damned well pleases with us. And the worst thing you can do is get him angry, because nothing will stop him from taking it out on you."
Ray remained silent as he swallowed. Finding his voice, he reached out, stroking Kai's cheek. "Did he hurt you anywhere else?"
Kai looked at him, mind a blur. Should he…? Yes, Kai could trust him. After all, Ray was his boyfriend now.
Ray sat back as Kai pushed himself up into a sitting position, tugging his shirt over his head. Ray knew he should have been gaping at Kai's perfectly toned chest, but his attention was otherwise diverted. His eyes ran over the network of healing scars that worked their way over Kai's chest, and shifting, Ray found they went down Kai's back as well.
"Oh my god…" Ray shook his head, involuntary tears springing to his eyes. "How can anyone be so cruel?"
"Easily." Kai sighed. "Like I said, Tala and Bryan are worse. I got lucky with Black Dranzer, as it meant I was removed from the Abbey." Kai shook his head. "Bryan has scars from gunshot wounds."
"Holy…" Ray felt weak. "And you say you have nothing to pin on him."
"Scars, wounds, and bruises do not tell the authorities who caused them, only that they were done." Kai scowled. "We were accused of self-mutilation."
"What!?"
"I'm not kidding." Kai pulled his shirt back on, straightening it. "Boris informed them that many of the scars originated from accidents during our training, the others came from fights, and the rest were where we did it to ourselves in order to gain sympathy and attention from our teammates and Boris himself."
"And how did you really get them?"
"There's a dungeon in the Abbey." Kai sighed, shaking his head at the memory. "With full set up."
Ray blinked. "Set up?"
"Torture equipment."
Ray shuddered, the room suddenly taking on a chilling bite. "If the authorities saw it…"
"Boris probably had it sealed off at the start of the investigation." Kai shrugged. "That and they'd need a warrant."
Ray nodded, sliding forward and wrapping his arms around Kai. "He can't hurt you anymore though, right?"
Kai had to smile. "No, he can't. And the D Boys made sure all the kids went back to their homes. Boris can't hurt anyone anymore."
Ray shivered. "Now I understand why you guys are so cold."
Kai reached out and snaked an arm around Ray's waist, drawing him closer. "Just because we're cold doesn't mean we're heartless. Even Iceheart has feelings."
Ray blinked. "Iceheart?"
Kai nodded toward the wooden phoenix. Ray smiled, reaching out and plucking the sculpture from where it sat, bringing it toward them, gazing down at it and tracing the carefully crafted curves with his eyes.
Kai raised an eyebrow, eyes sparkling with amusement. "You really like that, don't you?"
"Mm." Ray looked up at him. "It's so beautiful. That and it's so hard to imagine Bryan doing anything like this."
"He does nothing else… well, except maybe read and spend half his life with his butt parked in front of his computer." Kai smirked. "Tala's forever complaining about that."
"I can imagine." Ray glanced up as he heard a distant door open. "Sounds like somebodies getting up."
"Probably Tyson."
"Mm. Nothing comes between him and a meal."
Kai nodded, sliding from the bed and reaching back to pull Ray with him. "Best we eat before Tyson eats it all."
"Yeah." Ray set the wooden phoenix back down before sliding his arms up and around Kai's neck, kissing him. "I wonder if Kenny will show up?"
Kai offered Ray his arm, Ray sliding his arm through Kai's. "Only one way to find out."
I don't think Ray was expecting the scars. And I think he really loves that wooden phoenix.