Chapter 7

Max and Tyson were watching a cartoon when Ray asked one of them to tell Kai he was about to start cooking super. It had been about two hours since Kai had decided to sleep; none of them had seen him since. Max and Tyson played rock, paper, scissors to decide who'd go and get him. Tyson lost. He got up and went to Kai's door. He knocked quietly before stepping in. His angry eyes soon melted when he saw Kai, fast asleep. He didn't look well. Tyson shut the door behind him and walked over to Kai. He was pale. Even more then usual. He debated on whether waking him or not. After a minute, Tyson placed a hand on Kai's arm. He was cold and a little clammy. He shook him gently and spoke to him quietly.

"Kai, Kai wake up man." Kai slowly opened his eyes.

"Tyson?" he said a bit gravely.

"Hey dude, are you alright?"

"Not really," he replied lifting to hold his forehead again.

"Sorry to wake you but Ray's about to start supper."

"I'm not hungry" he said in a weak voice.

"Eating might help. What's wrong?"

"Major headache and feeling a bit sick."

"Well, you haven't eaten anything since this morning; you're bound to feel sick. Look, just eat with us and if it doesn't help, you can come straight back to bed."

"Tyson, I don't really won't to get up."

"Come on Kai, at least get some tablets. And if you don't feel better after you eat something, I promise to be your slave for the next month." Kai let out a small groan.

"How could I refuse an offer like that." He slowly got up and went with Tyson into the kitchen. Max looked back, waiting to see Tyson with a black eye for waking Kai up but instead he saw a very unwell looking Kai, his smile faded.

"Kai, are you alright?" he asked. Kai didn't bother to look at him, hand still glued to his head as if he was trying to stop it from leaking or something.

"m' fine. Don't worry Max." the two walked into the kitchen. Tyson got some water for Kai as the said person tried to get tablets out of the foiled sheet. His hands were shaking a bit and he couldn't concentrate due to the headache. All his strength seemed to have drained from his body. After a growl of frustration left Kai, Tyson snatched the sheet from his hands and pushed two out for him. Tyson's smile was greeted with a small one of gratitude. Kai gulped the two tablets down.

"Go sit down Kai; I'll let you know when I'm about to dish up." Ray said worried. Kai nodded and did what he was told. Although Tyson and Ray didn't like Kai as much as Max, he was still their close friend and they were still worried about him. Kai walked passed Max and sat on the small sofa, head leaning on hand and eyes closed. Max watched him full of worry and sincerity. Tyson came and sat next to Max and they all sat quietly.

Half an hour later, Ray announced that the food was about to go on the table.

"You go in Maxie. I'll come with Kai in a minute." Tyson whispered to Max. The blonde looked at the older teen and followed Tyson's instructions. Tyson got up and crouched in front of Kai, he had to wake him up again.

"Kai? Foods ready." Kai opened his eyes sleepily and nodded. Kai sat at the nearest side of the table and Tyson sat opposite. Max and Ray came over with the two bowls of food. Then Max sat next to Tyson and Ray sat at the head of the table. Kai looked at the two bowls, it was spaghetti bolognaise, one of Kai's favourites. He looked at Ray who had a knowing smile.

"Thanks" Kai gave a small smile back.

"No problem" Ray replied as he started putting spaghetti on Kai's plate.

A conversation started and the three younger teens started rambling on while Kai seemed to be in his own little world, eating quietly.

"You guy's know why doctor's are called quacks?"

"No."

"You're joking! You know don't you Ray?"

"Can't say I do?"

"What? You guy's really don't know? It's like the most obvious thing." Kai lifted his drink taking a large sip, the sauce was a little saltier then he was used to.

"They're called quacks because when they're being trained to be doctors, they practised on ducks and ducks quack, follow?" Kai nearly spat his drink all over Tyson. He couldn't help but laugh. He covered his mouth quickly and ran to the sink. He needed to swallow the liquid and if he looked at Tyson's dumbfounded face he'd just laugh harder. Once the liquid had been swallowed, Kai let out a choked breath. He went back at the table, sat down and wiped his mouth with his napkin. The other three were staring at him, completely shocked. Not only was he laughing but he was laughing so hard that he nearly choked.

"Sorry" Kai said quietly, trying to avoid looking at Tyson.

"So Kai, why were you laughing?"

"Yeah, what did I say that was so funny?" Kai chuckled a little bit.

"Hate to tell you Tyson, but, as plausible as that theory is, that's not why they're called quacks."

"Yes it is! I've known that since I was little!"

"Afraid not."

"Ok then smarty-pants, why are they called quacks?"

"Because of the masks they wore during the 'Black Death'" everyone fell silent. They weren't sure what Kai was on about and they didn't really care. Soon they fell into another conversation but this time, Kai joined in.

Soon, dinner was finished with and Ray brought out dessert, chocolate cake. Just as Ray sat down the phone rang. "I'll get it." He said standing up again and went into the living room.

"I see I was correct then"

"Excuse me?"

"I said that after you ate something, you would feel better, and it's obvious you are!"

"Well congratulations" Kai said in his cold tone.

"And now you're my slave for the next to weeks!"

"Don't think so. You said you'd be my slave if I didn't feel better after eating something, you never mentioned me being a slave." Tyson pouted realising Kai was right.

"Can I at least have a bit of your cake?" Kai shook his head.

"Sorry Ty." Kai put the spoon of chocolate in his mouth and drew it back out very slowly, smirking at the Tyson's upset face.

"Yo Kai, it's for you?" Kai put the spoon down and turned to look at Ray.

"Who is it?"

"Some girl named Rika?" Kai frowned a little and got up and left the room to receive the phone.

"That's weird?"

"What?"

"Kai called Tyson, Ty."

"Why is that weird? We call him Ty"

"But Kai never calls me that, he's more formal."

"He's also a lot happier."

"Are you sure you gave him headache tablets?"

"Positive." Kai walked back in and sat down.

"Well, anything important?"

"No, she just wanted to know what our address was"

"And you gave it to her?"

"Yeah"

"Is that wise? I mean, why does she want it?"

"I'm guessing to post something" he replied picking his spoon up and stuck it in the cake.

"DAMN IT!" everyone turned there attention to Tyson. "I could've taken your cake while you were on the phone!" everyone sighed and Ray and Max went back to there queries.

"So who is she?" Max asked.

"What?"

"Well you wouldn't give your address to just anyone." Ray stated.

"She's a friend"

"A friend? Since when have you had friends other then us?" Tyson said with his mouth full.

"He has a point Kai; you're not the most sociable of people"

"Unless it's a girlfriend!" everyone looked at Tyson and then at Kai.

"Look, she is just a friend. A close friend but still a friend, nothing more." Max mentally sighed with relief.

"So…how do you know her?"

"Yeah, I don't think I've seen you with any girl other than Hilary?"

"I knew her when I was little." There was a slight pause "she lived in Russia." They all fell silent. Although they didn't know much about Kai, they knew his childhood wasn't pain free. Feeling uncomfortable, Tyson decided to break the silence.

"So…what's she sending you?"

"dunno." And so another conversation aroused about post and other pointless things. After washing the dishes and tidying the mess they had made playing cards, they decided to go to bed. They all went to their rooms except Max who was volunteered to put the dried plates away. When he had finished, which didn't take long, he went into his room. Kai was currently in the bathroom. He sat on the bed, he hadn't realised how tired he was. Then, Kai came out. He lifted his eyes to ask Kai a question but was greeted with his bare torso and pyjama trousers resting on his perfect hips. Max quickly took his eyes off Kai's body and onto his face. He felt his cheeks burn.

"Sorry, I forgot to wash my shirt earlier." Kai said quietly and walked to the bed. Max quickly got up and headed into the bathroom. 'Why the hell is he apologising?' he thought.

When he came out, Kai was in bed, muscular arms over the duvet and part of his chest was showing.

"You feeling better now?" Max asked getting under the duvet.

"Yeah thanks. I never thought I'd see the day when Tyson was right" Max chuckled and got ready to turn the light off.

"You ready?"

"Yep" once the light was off, they fell straight asleep.