Here's the thank you list
Iluvrei: I know, I know! But this fic would end at that chapter if I did decide to let them kiss, or at least the chapter after that one, to show how their relationship worked out. For my other fic, there have been at least two other Inu-yasha crossovers, but no Ray/Kai pairing.
essenceofthedark: Aww! Thanks!
ChibiNekoSakura: Tala does rock!
babymar-mar: he didn't apologize, it doesn't seem too Kai-like, but he tries showing he's sorry in various ways throughout the fic. Like in one chap where Kai said something like, "I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you."
TNTiggris: smart! Come to think of it, I may have written on Halloween day also, how else would I have managed to get this fic up that weekend? Silly me and sorry above not answering your que's last chap, don't know how I missed it. I did notice Miguel cheated, and I haven't seen the whole season of G-rev yet.
kero-chan39: In time, they will kiss. The best of things take time to happen, and they are the most rewarding...I think I've read that in a book--;;
Angel Spirit: I'm not sure about Tala trying to get them together. Maybe in another fic of mine, but in this fic, Tala lives to annoy but Tala will try persuading Kai to do something about his crush, that I am sure of...well almost sure of...
autumnburn: Ray and Kai are the best! And Tala's...second best??
Forfirith on a sugar high: Yes it is yes it IS Tala is too cute, especially in the first season...CUTE! And you weren't TOO hyper, I been worse, believe me
toboewolf7: Actually, none of the above, this chapter is entirely different, but it adds to the plot...I guess??
Reis1gurl: you have got to be the sweetest person ever!!! I wuv you!!!
Out in the open
The phone rang, disturbing me from my sleep. I groaned and cursed. Damn these hotel phones, no answering machines. Rolling to the side I reached out and bumped my hand against the side of the phone. Cursing madly at the newfound pain I hastily grabbed the phone and knocked it into my hand.
"Hello?" I yawned, not caring who the person was.
/"Ray! Buddy how you feeling?!"/
It was Lee, "Great. Why ask?"
/"I was there when that Hiwatiri kid practically killed you, remember?"/
"Lee, don't be crazy, he didn't kill me. It was a few scratches, that's all." Though my voice muffled by the numerous beside me, Lee made out the slight anger that was in my voice.
/"Whoa, don't need to get all defensive on me like that. I know he's your former teammate and all, but you don't need to stick up for him like that."/
I groaned slightly, "I'm not sticking up for him, Kai's more than capable of doing that himself. But what I don't appreciate is when people stretch the truth."
/"Ray come on, you were knocked unconscious."/ Lee sounded like he really was deeply concerned about my well being, but he didn't have to go saying things about Kai.
"Yes, but it wasn't serious, I wasn't even rushed to the emergency this time."
/"Ray, you know I only have your best interests at heart."/
"I know Lee, you're like my older over protective brother or something like that." I laughed softly.
/"And you're the younger, carefree brother who always gets up to no good."/
I heard Lee laugh on the other end and I smiled to myself, I hated the tension between us, even if it was only for a while.
"Back on topic-"
/"There never was a topic."/ Lee reminded, a hint of laughter still in his tone.
"Well then I'll make one. Why'd you call so early in the morning?"
/"You must know that today's Gary's birthday."/ Lee said, a bit more serious this time.
"I don't forget these things Lee." I snorted, slightly taken aback that Lee thought I'd actually forgotten.
/"Yeah, I know. But back to the point, the rest of us were thinking of throwing a small party for Gary in my suite."/
"Sounds great, call me when it starts, I'm tired." I yawned noisily to emphasize my point.
/"Ray, it's 12:30, in the afternoon. What were you doing last night that took so much of your sleeping time?"/
"I...uh-" sure I was at Kai's, simple as that. But how exactly was I supposed to tell Lee that? He made it pretty clear in the beginning of our conversation that he didn't think too highly of Kai.
/"Never mind that. I need you to take care of the cooking. All Mariah makes is tofu salad. And we need cake."/ Lee gagged on the other end and I shuddered, remembering the first time I tried her 'master piece' as she called it.
"Sure I'll come. Give me 20 minutes."
/"Sure, Bye."/
"See you Lee."
Placing the phone back on it's hook I was tempted to catch up on sleep. I shook that thought out of my head and jumped out of bed. I promised Lee I'd come so I would. Besides, how bad could it be?
---------------------
Standing outside Lee's suite I was about to knock when a pair of arms grabbed my collar and yanked me inside.
"Wha?! Lee! What's the big idea?!" I snapped as he dragged me into the kitchen area.
The bowls, spices and ingredients were set before me it a neat line, and the strong smell of the spice caused me to sneeze every 5 minutes.
"Kevin, you can put away the spices, we don't need those. But get out the 3 eggs, milk and butter from the fridge. White eggs, not brown."
"What's the difference?" Kevin asked, from where his head was buried in the refrigerator.
"Brown eggs are used for cooking." Lee answered, but Kevin wasn't satisfied.
"Aren't we cooking now?"
"No, we're baking. Big difference there, the eggs are used for more important dishes."
"And Gary's cake isn't important?" Kevin innocently asked, juggling, the butter jar, milk pitcher and the eggs all at once.
Lee's left eye twitched, signaling that he was pretty annoyed, "Just shut up and do as you're told."
"That doesn't answer my question." Kevin pouted childishly.
"Kevin! Gary's cake is important, but brown eggs are used for different types of cooking."
"I thought you can use them for baking also. They are eggs after all." Kevin dropped the items he was carrying on the counter top and jumped back down.
Lee's patience was wearing thin, "You can use them for baking, but I prefer not to."
"But w-"
"As interesting as the topic of eggs is, we really need to get going here." I interrupted, feeling sick to the stomach with the topic of eggs first thing in the morning.
With a little grumbling we were set back on track.
"Where's Gary and Mariah?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"Mariah out shopping with Gary, she's acting as the distracter." Lee replied, while kneading the soft dough, "I need half a cup of water."
Nodding I reached for a cup and filled it halfway with water and handed it over to Lee.
"Ray, why were you in such a rush to get off that one morning when we met." Kevin asked.
"I-needed to drop of something." I answered quickly, hoping he wouldn't pry deeper.
"Drop of what?"
"Medicine." I said, getting straight to the point.
"Oh ok, who'd you drop it of at?"
I stammered, I didn't really want to tell them, but what harm could it really do?
"I dropped it off at Kai's place."
"Kai?" Kevin and Lee echoed in union.
"Yeah, Tala had a cold and our bags got mixed accidentally."
"How could your bags get mixed, unless..."
"Lee, don't think that way." I defended, this time myself, "I just ran into Kai at the...local drug store that's all."
"What were you doing at the drug store in the first place?" Lee wasn't looking at me when he said this, but instead at the dough.
"Just getting bandaids...for the really tiny scratches."
Thankfully Lee bought that little lie and I was grateful for that.
"So what were you up to yesterday?" Lee inquired, digging deeper this time.
Obviously he thought it had something to do with Kai, and obviously, he was right. But oh well, I guess once it's off my chest I can finally breathe.
"I was at Kai's." Noticing the funny looks I was getting I quickly added, "Nothing happened! I swear!" Of course leaving out the fact that we almost kissed last night. And if it wasn't for Tala that 'almost kissed' would become a 'we did kiss.'
All I heard was Lee sighing and then dragging me over to the couch in the far end of the room, away from Kevin, who was told not to follow.
Sitting me down on the couch, Lee began to speak.
"Listen Ray, you're young and I know you like what you see but-"
"What?! What do you mean, 'I like what I see?'" I stuttered and stammered to get the right words out. He couldn't possibly be talking about...no way!
"I mean, I know the very thought of Kai is tempting but-"
"LEE!!" Right now I was blushing like mad at what was just said.
Lee sighed and gently placed an arm around my shoulders in an comforting manner, "Face it Ray, given all the evidence; not looking twice at the world's most gorgeous girls, ignoring Mariah's flirtiest attempts at getting your attention, gawking every time Kai's in sight...I know your little secret."
I tugged at my long sleeved shirt, glad that the suite was air conditioned, "For one thing Lee, Mariah is like a little sister to me, and plus I don't gawk, I glance every once in a while."
"So you're not denying the truth?" Lee questioned, slightly amazed.
I breathed out slowly and shook my head, Lee had won this time.
A triumphant smile lit up Lee's face, "So I was right all along, you do have a thing for Kai."
"If you tell anyone-" My threatening speech was cut short as Lee silenced me by rudely interrupting.
"Relax Ray, I'm not going to tell anyone, you have my word." Lee promised, placing his right hand over his heart.
"Thanks." I mumbled, still a bit red.
"As a friend I must warn you to be careful, I personally don't think Kai would make good boyfriend material." Lee warned with a gentle tone.
I took it more seriously than I should have, "Lee, Kai's going to make a great boyfriend. You shouldn't judge a persons personality by the way you seem to think. Didn't you once say the same thing?"
Lee's expression softened a great deal, "I'm sorry. You're right, just because he acts like an emotionless bastard on the outside, doesn't mean he really is one."
"Lee! You're not being serious!" I argued when my so called best friend cackled with laughter.
Sobering up a little Lee managed to put on a straight face, "Are you sure he's the one Ray?"
"Positive Lee." I replied, glad that I now at least had someone to turn to in times of need.
"Are you guys done yet?" Came Kevin's very annoyed voice, "I'm not going to do this all by myself you know!"
"We know Kev." Lee sighed and pulled me up with him.
We worked in silence for the rest of the hour, we only spoke when the rich chocolaty cake was out of the oven and ready for the finishing touches.
"Someone get the chocolate tube." I called, wailing my hands in the air. Mariah just called saying they were on their way back and we were in a mad dash to get everything done in time.
"Got it!" Kevin announced tossing the thin tube in my direction.
"Thanks!" I caught the tube with ease and began to layer the top of the cake with it; a delicious chocolaty smell filled the air, making my stomach growl. This all adds to the fact that I still haven't had any breakfast.
"I need vanilla icing." Lee rushed around, opening and closing drawers to find the desired object.
"I have it." Kevin threw Lee the tube and Lee began to write out the words, 'happy birthday Gary!' in big on top of the chocolate paste.
The door bell rang twice, jolting us out of our work. Luckily we were done. Except one more thing was needed, the REAL food.
"Lee?" I asked, panicking, "Where's the real food?"
"You mean lunch?"
"Yeah that."
"The delivery guy was supposed to be here about now with it." Lee checked his watch before realizing the door had to be answered, "hide behind the counter and yell 'surprise' on my call."
Lee casually strolled over to the door and breathed in relief when he realized it was the delivery guy.
"$50.04 please." The guy's nasal voice sounded.
Lee paid the guy and hurriedly bought the food and placed it on the counter.
I was about to ask what he had ordered but the doorbell sounded again. Once again Lee walked over to the door and looked through the peep hole. It was Gary and Mariah. Opening the door in a way that he couldn't be seen Lee jumped aside when he heard their approaching footsteps.
Once inside we popped up from behind the counter with smiles plastered on our glowing faces.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!"
"FOOD!!!" Gary exclaimed and rushed towards the great display of rice, chicken, pasta and salad.
NOTE: I know you may be disappointed that there was no Ray and Kai action in this chapter so I'll put quite a bit in the next, it'll be...a whole chapter dedicated to the world's cutest beyblade couple And who knows? Tala may just drop by in the middle to stop and say, "How you doing?" teehee!
I know there are some of you out there who do read this fic and don't review, I do that sometimes to when I'm too tired to hit the review button --;; But all it takes is a short review whether or not you liked the fic. I do appreciate longer reviews more since I love reading them, but please? It won't take too much of your time. pretty please, the more the merrier!
Review?
IMPORTANT!! By the way, for those of you that has seen the part in G-REV where Tyson and Kai are under the stars, can you PLEASE tell me what happened? And what KAI'S PROBLEM IS that Tyson of all people have to help him out? Is it because Boris is back? BTW what happened during Tyson and Kai's battle and after the battle, what happened to RAY and the BLITZ-boys where'd they go? I REALLY NEED TO KNOW! I MISSED THOSE EPIPIES!!! Damn alarm clock decided not to ring at 8:30 am on a SATURDAY! Also what happened the episode right after Ming-Ming and Boris was introduced?
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!