A/N: Thanks for feedback and votes, I would've never expected them to come this fast!Andan answer to the question... Yes, Ray DEFINITELY likes Kai. I just took that in a
bit more slowly so that you wouldn't drown to the fluffines. grin Anyways, Ray's feelings should become a bit more clear in this chapter, so...
Well, thanks again! Keep voting, people! At the moment, Hilary is winning the Russian... ;)
Two days after Hilary's departure, confused Tyson lay on the couch, eyes closed, trying desperately to clear his head.
After that one magical night when he and Kai became close for a short moment, he hadn't been able to reach the Russian at all. It was almost like Kai was keeping him away in safe distance on purpose. Had he not known his love better, he would've thought Kai was scared.
Tyson frowned. What if Kai was afraid of him? The Phoenix had every reason to be. Gosh, the wounds Tyson had given him… They were unbearable, unforgivable. And that all had happened for his own stupidity.
I had his heart, the thought bitterly. He gave it to me so completely, so freely, and I went and smashed it.
" I love you", he whispered, painfully aware of the fact that Kai couldn't hear him. " If only there was a way, any way, to undo what I did to you… I'd do anything…".
Suddenly he almost yelled of frighten as he felt that he was no longer alone. Panicked thoughts started running through his head. Had someone heard him? Was his secret out? His eyes shot open, and he couldn't help gasping as he saw Kai standing on the doorway, looking confused. The look in Kai's eyes told clearly that he'd heard the desperate words Tyson had whispered.
Tyson gulped. What would the Russian do? Would he do anything?
For a longest time they just stared at each other, both feeling the old wounds reopen. It almost felt like time had stopped.
" Tyson…", Kai finally whispered, so quietly that the bluenette almost missed it.
They both had tears in their eyes, and at that moment Tyson knew painfully clearly that he'd lost Kai. For the look in the Phoenix's crimson, pain-stricken eyes told clearly that he remembered, remembered every single wound Tyson had given him.
/ Kai's eyes opened slowly, and at first all he saw was thick darkness. Then he heard the sound of someone packing and frowned.
" Granger?" he muttered sleepily, turning his head to see the bluenette packing, having his back on him. " What the hell do you think you're doing?".
" I'm sorry". Tyson's voice was strained, filled with unshed tears. " I didn't mean to wake you up".
He frowned again, pulling himself into a sitting position.
" Where are you going?".
Tyson sighed, zipping his suitcase.
" I just… I need to go away… for a while. To think", the Dragon muttered.
Kai felt an ice-cold hand squeezing his heart.
" For how long?" he asked in a choked voice.
" I… I just don't know", Tyson muttered, but Kai knew the real answer.
' I may never come back'.
Then, without saying a words, Tyson lifted his bag and rushed towards the door of their shared room. But Kai wanted one more answer, and he was much faster than Tyson. With a speed that took them both by surprise he graphed a hold of Tyson's wrist. The Dragon stopped, but refused to meet his eyes. In the pail light of moon that shone through the window, Kai could see tears glittering on Tyson's cheeks, which only made his own pain grow.
" Why?" he asked after a long silence, barely getting the words out. " Why are you…?".
Tyson bowed his head a little, and Kai could no longer see his face at all for the dark shadow his cap created.
" 'Cause I don't think I love you anymore", Tyson whispered quietly, but Kai heard the words perfectly.
Kai felt like his entire world was falling apart as he slowly let go of Tyson's hand and watched the Dragon slip out of the door, closing it quietly behind him.
With the door closed, both boys surrendered to their tears, feeling pain beyond human understanding tear their hearts. /
Tyson opened his mouth to say something, anything, as Kai took a step back, face unnaturally pale. But finally he came to the conclusion that no words would do. He'd hurt Kai too badly, and would do even more damage if he'd make the Phoenix stay. So he looked helplessly, tears running down his cheeks once more, as Kai turned and rushed upstairs. After a moment a loud slam of door was heard, which made Tyson's tears fall even harder.
" Oh Kai…", he sobbed, closing his eyes in pain that seemed to rip him apart. " I… I'm so sorry…".
As he heard the door slam, Ray knew immediately that something was badly wrong. Fearing the worst, he quietly knocked the door of Kai's room.
" Kai?". No reply came. " I'm coming in, 'k?".
Slowly, fearing Kai's possible reaction to his intruding, he slid the door open, and felt his heart brake for what he saw. Kai was sitting on the floor, crying harder than he'd ever seen anyone cry before, arms wrapped protectively around his legs. The before so strong Phoenix rocked himself back and forth, like a small child trying to calm down.
A sudden flicker of rage filled Ray. He'd seen Kai like this before. And he knew that the cause of Kai's tears was once again the same. Again he was the one who had to gather the pieces of the broken Phoenix. He grit his teeth to keep himself from screaming.
Tyson… I'm gonna kill him for this…Sighing, he decided that at the moment helping Kai was much more useful than killing Tyson. Slowly, trying his best not to scare Kai, he approached the broken boy and bent down to him. It was just then Kai seemed to notice him, and the Russian's auburn eyes were widened with pain and surprise as he looked at him. Ray smiled sadly, and brushed Kai's teary cheek with his fingers.
" Sh…", he whispered, pulling Kai into a tight and comforting embrace. " It's okay… Sh, don't cry… Everything's gonna work out…".
And that was the way they stayed for a long time, Kai crying his pain into Ray's shoulder and Ray trying his hardest to keep all his pain and emotions inside.
After thinking about it for a moment, Tyson decided to go and check on Kai. What he saw wasn't what he'd expected. The bang of jealousy was harder than he'd wished as he saw Kai in Ray's protective arms. He frowned in confusion as he saw the look upon Ray's face. He'd only seen that look before when the cat-boy was near Mariah.
What the hell is going on!
TBC.
