Okay, here's the next chapter! Thanks to: (this is gonna be a loooong list)

tntiggris

Zoraine

Stunstar

darksaphire

Black Magician Girl3

Lost Flame

BloOdY-JoKeR

keisan

crimsonbloodvampire

The Wicked Witch of Dingl

Kioymiko

AnimeDragonofFire

Crystal-light-27

Anime Queen 48

darkwaterwolf

Little Purple Phoenix

Lady-Nikki

hikari0205

sugar hype queen

chi no hana

Shiva-iceflame

freya kurenai

kat ()

starvingartist24601

SpottedShadow2947

mika()

Kyuusaisha Bleeding

Shin Rigel

essenceofthedark

for reviewing this story, all you guys are the absolute best! If I've made any spelling mistakes or missed anyone out, please tell me.

Please enjoy this chapter!

"Hi, Ray!" Tyson called, bounding out of his seat and running over to Ray, ignoring the teacher's exasperated demands for him to return to his seat.

"Hey, Tyson." Ray replied tiredly, yawning.

"What's up?" the younger boy demanded, his mile-wide grin fading in concern. "It's non-uniform day! Be happy!" He proudly showed Ray his scarlet baseball cap with matching jacket and faded denim jeans and a bright yellow T-shirt.

"Bad few days." Ray said tightly, shrugging off his dull grey coat and hanging it on the back of his chair, revealing a simple white T-shirt and black jeans. A feather-light touch on his bare arm made him look up and meet a pair of bright blue eyes. Max gave him a little smile, tipping his head to one side as if to say are you okay? He was wearing a lime green T-shirt with beige shorts. Ray smiled back in thanks.

"I'm fine, thanks, Max." Max gave him a doubtful look, then wandered away to persuade Tyson back to his seat before the teacher burst a blood vessel. Ray laughed softly, amazed as usual at how Tyson would listen to quiet, shy Max like no one else. Suddenly, a question that he'd been meaning to ask Tyson for a while popped into his head. He opened his mouth to call across to Tyson, but decided against it. It was hard to get him to pay attention as it was, and it didn't help that he absolutely hated English, possibly almost as much as Ray himself. Seeing him, Max got up and went over to him.

"I've finished the work." he whispered, in answer to Ray's enquiring look. Ray's eyes widened.

"Already?" he gasped. Max nodded, going tomato red.

"You were ten minutes late…" he reminded Ray delicately. Ray scowled.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. My Geography teacher's a cow." he grumbled.

"Bad luck." Max said sympathetically. "I'm okay at English, so I work fast. So, what did y' wanna ask Tyson? I probably know most things about him." Sadness flickered across his cherub-like face for a second, then he realised and replaced it with a light chuckle and a smile. Ray watched with interest, almost forgetting his question.

"Oh, yeah, I just wanted to know whether Hiro Granger in the Sixth Form is his brother."

"Oh, Hiro. Yeah, he's Tyson's big brother."

"And is it true…you know…that he's…you know…" Ray faltered, embarrassed and all too aware of the teacher.

"Yep." Tyson replied from across the room, smirking. "He is." Ray blinked at the matching, slightly evil smirks that Max and Tyson were currently wearing. This was the very first time that he'd ever seen Tyson act his age, and he was acting older, if anything.

"You two are freaking me out." he said matter-of-factly.

"Cool." they said in unison, grinning like Cheshire cats.

After the lesson, instead of going straight to lunch, Ray hung around the classroom, waiting for Tyson and Max to emerge.

"So, it's true?" he asked curiously. Tyson nodded.

"Yep, He's screwing the Deputy Head." he said with a grin. His expression changed to one of extreme worry. "Don't tell anyone though, will you?" Ray shook his head and mimed zipping his lips.

"Don't worry, Tyson, your secret's safer with me than it would be in a locked safe!" A thought hit him. "Hey, do you wanna come eat lunch with me?" The two younger boys looked at each other, a mixture of shock, pleasure and doubt clear on their faces.

"I'll ask Miss." Tyson called, already dashing back into the classroom. Max made to follow him, then turned and mouthed thanks. Ray looked on, slightly bewildered at their reactions.

But then, if he thought about it, it did kind of make sense. They were the only people their age in the school, and were only ever in Sp. Ed. lessons, so they hadn't had a chance to meet anyone or make any friends apart from him. They had to be kind of lonely, with only each other...

"Miss says yes we can, as long as we behave ourselves!" Tyson practically yelled, his eyes alight with happiness. "Thanks Ray!" Ray grinned, still slightly taken aback. Suddenly, Tyson hugged him tightly. Reacting instinctively, Ray pushed him off and stepped backwards, every nerve alert. Tyson looked hurt for a second, then shrugged, interrupting Ray's hurried apologies. "It's okay. Max needs advance warning before a hug as well." Ray nodded, hugely relieved that Tyson hadn't taken offence. As he began walking, he shot a glance at Max, only to discover that Max was doing the exact same to him. Their eyes met fleetingly, then Max dropped his gaze timidly. Dismissing it, Ray led the two boys into the hall and looked around for his usual lunch group.

"Ray! Over here!" He swivelled and grinned at the four boys who were waving at him. With a reassuring look at Tyson and Max, who were visibly nervous, he walked over and sat down with a thud, digging in his bag for his packed lunch.

"Hey, guys. Do you mind if these two sit with us?" He addressed the question mainly to Miguel, the self-appointed leader of their little gang, who gave the younger boys an appraising look and nodded.

"Yeah, go ahead." Nervously, Tyson and Max sat down next to Ray. The youngest of the other four boys, a quiet redhead gave them a small grin. Tyson returned it effortlessly, while Max's lips only tipped up slightly at the corners, the blond retreating back into silence where he felt safest.

"Aren't you two the boys that moved up from junior school?" a light green-haired boy with a slight accent asked, giving the two of them a friendly look.

"Yeah," Tyson replied, grinning immodestly. "Teachers couldn't handle me. So, Ray, who is everyone?" he asked. Ray held up a hand and continued munching his way through his cheese sandwich.

"Mmph…hold on a sec…Okay, what did you say?"

"Who's this lot, then?"

"I didn't tell you?" A shake of the head from everybody. He flushed. "Damn. My memory's worse than I thought…"

"Wow, you actually think? When did that start?" a tanned boy with spiked-up blond hair teased. Ray pulled a face at him.

"Right, that idiot who just spoke is called Mystel," Mystel pulled a face straight back at Ray and waved a hand to Tyson and Max. "That's Raul," The redhead smiled shyly. "And those two are Oliver and Miguel. They're actually Year Eights, but prefer hanging out with the kids, isn't that right?"

"Dead right." Miguel smiled. He raised his eyebrows and tipped his head very slightly to one side.

"He's Max, I'm Tyson." Tyson replied, in answer to Miguel's questioning look. "And Ray's got a memory worse than a brain-damaged goldfish!" The little group exploded into laughter, all except Ray, who scowled and threw an empty crisp packet at Tyson's head.

"Brain-damaged goldfish…oh, I like that…c'est trés, trés drol!" Oliver chuckled, shaking his head.

"You're French?" Tyson asked curiously. Oliver nodded vigorously, his neatly bobbed, dyed green hair shifting backwards and forwards with the motion.

"Yes, I am."

"Cool." Tyson took out his own packed lunch and proceeded to eat with almost disgusting enthusiasm. "What?" he protested, meeting five astounded faces unashamedly. "I'm hungry!"

"This is good, for him." Everyone twisted and turned, trying to work out where the near-inaudible whisper came from. Ray raised an eyebrow at Max, who blushed fiercely and shrank even further into the corner of the hall.

"Hey, Ray!" Ray groaned and sent the others a pleading look.

"Hey, Mariah," he replied casually. Time for the daily dice with death... A massive grin on her face, the younger girl sat down right next to him, shuffling as close as she could possibly get. Tyson, unceremoniously barged out of the way, opened his mouth indignantly, but Ray shot him a warning look and he closed it again.

"So, Ray, how about that English homework, huh?" she said breathlessly. "Was that murder or what?"

"It was pretty bad," Ray agreed non-committedly. "It took me ages, and that was with Kai helping me." A heavy lump settled briefly on his chest at the name. Kai... Mariah tossed her head, sending her shoulder blade-length hair cascading over both Ray's shoulder and Tyson's sandwich.

"I'd never ask Lee's help for anything, he's seriously thick sometimes!" She giggled, apparently shocked at her own daring. Ray didn't say anything, occupying himself with watching Tyson stare at Mariah's intruding hair as though it was an alien thing. Max and Raul were laughing at the sight, their faces reddening with the effort of remaining silent. As Tyson gingerly picked up a bright pink strand and held it with the very tips of his fingers, Mystel let out a snort of laughter, making no effort to conceal it. Even Oliver and Miguel's lips were twitching dangerously. Mariah finally caught on to the fact that no one was paying attention to her and swivelled round to see what was so fascinating.

An outraged shriek rang through the hall, momentarily silencing the customary babble as everyone craned their necks to see what was going on.

"You disgusting little...kid!" Mariah screamed, springing upright and holding her hair protectively. The six boys roared with laughter, which stopped abruptly at the sound of an unwanted voice.

"What did you do to my little sister?" Lee asked pleasantly enough, his golden eyes narrowed nastily.

"Th-that...thing there," Mariah pointed a shaking finger towards Tyson, who was grinning too much for any attempt at an innocent look. "tried to eat my hair!" Lee smirked, clearly not believing her in the slightest. Ray let himself relax a fraction. "I'm not kidding you, Lee!" He winced slightly.

"Ouch. She just went up an octave there." he whispered to Miguel, who nodded and grinned.

"What was that, Ray?" Lee asked him softly. Ray's eyes widened and he mentally kicked himself. Dammit, I shouldn't've said that... "You makin' fun of Mariah?" He crouched down until he was only a few centimetres above Ray, staring down into Ray's terrified amber eyes. "You think that having that fucking pussy-hounding weirdo as your big brother's gonna help you?" Ray shook his head, defiance flaring briefly inside him. "Good boy. He's gonna get what's coming to him one of these days as well, just so's you know."

"Lee, that's enough!" Miguel snapped, standing up. Lee stood as well, careless of the fact that Miguel had at least a couple of inches over him, if not more.

"Why, Miguel? You want a turn?" he hissed menacingly. "Ray's got it coming, and he's damn well gonna take whatever I dish out, you got that?" Suddenly, he went down with a cry of pain.

"Got it, didn't believe it for a second." Kai's voice came harshly over Lee's grunts of pain and anger. "No one threatens Ray and gets away with it, and that fucking well includes you, you little dickhead!"

Lee got to his feet and laughed roughly.

"You think you can take me?" he scoffed.

"Yeah..." Kai murmured softly, his eyes narrowing. In a flash, his fist flew into Lee's stomach. Shrugging off their bags, the two boys flew at each other. Within seconds a crowd had gathered, watching in fascination.

Ray watched too, unable to tear his eyes away from the sight.

"All right you two, break it up!" a male teacher roared, running over. Lee and Kai showed no interest in obeying the teacher, if anything, they doubled the ferocity, Lee howling as Kai kicked him in the groin. Two more teachers arrived, and between the three of them, they separated the boys. As they were pulled apart, Lee lashed out viciously, sending his fist straight into Kai's eye with damaging force. Kai went limp in the teacher's grip, both hands flying to his face. The teacher holding him let him go. He stood passively. Only Ray saw his legs buckle slightly, saw him fight to regain his balance. The two teachers holding Lee gingerly let him go, than grabbed hold of him again as he lunged for the motionless boy. Yet another teacher (quite a crowd of them had gathered) went over to Kai and led him away.

Ray shivered involuntarily. As he mentally replayed the brutal fight, he found himself huddling in a corner, covering his head with his hands protectively as if expecting Shane to pop out of thin air.

"Raymond Xiao-Cheung Kon, get out of there right now!"

"How dare you!"

Then, nothing but pain, sickening, blinding, unbearable, feeling Kai's hand leave his and falling into a world of darkness…

Tyson's worried face swam into his hazy vision, casting calculating glances between him and Max, who was chalk-white and curled up in his corner with his face hidden in his knees. He felt a hand stop just above his shoulder, the warmth reassuring. Slowly, as his senses came back to him, he saw all his friends looking at him in concern. Without even waiting to ask, Mystel and Tyson moved forwards and hugged him gently. Ray stiffened for a second, then relaxed, hugging them back. The other four - Max looking pretty much normal once again - all smiled comfortingly at him and/or patted his shoulder. Oliver handed him his water bottle, which he took with a soft "thanks" and gulped a few mouthfuls down, washing the sour taste of fear from his mouth.

By the end of lunch, he was back to normal, eagerly telling everyone about the art competition and colouring modestly at the enthusiastic praise.

(Kai's POV)

"Now, Kai, why did you start it?" the school counsellor asks me delicately. I keep my head where it is, any kind of movement hurts like hell. I hate to admit it, but that shit-head definitely packs one heck of a powerful punch.

"Lee was about to start on my little brother." I explain. Argh, my head feels like…dunno what it feels like, but it fucking hurts. It's like a persistent drumbeat banging on the front of my skull, hitting flat, hard notes on the impressive lump that I can feel coming up round my eye. I don't even want to think about what colour it is. The kind of colour that redefines "black eye", I suspect.

"Was he just threatening, or did he make actual physical contact?"

"He said, and I quote: "Ray's got it coming, and he's damn well gonna take whatever I dish out." That seemed pretty fucking serious to me." I mutter. Her face creases slight in distaste.

"Would you mind not swearing, please?" Yes, I fucking well would mind, you interfering cow. I wince as the drumbeat inside my head picks up a notch, beating a fast, unrelenting percussion. Typical, really. Most headaches are supposed to come and go in waves, aren't they? Gives you a bit of a rest from the pain. Ha. I'm always the awkward exception, I always get the things happening to me that no one should have to deal with… "Would you call yourself a violent person, Kai?" she asks.

Yes, I reply mentally. It's my temper, I just can't control it anymore. As Ray proved…oh god, Ray…why did I do that to you? Forgetting about the dumb bitch sat in front of me for a second, I let out a quiet sigh and rest my head on one hand. The drumbeat's picking up again, and it's hell. Every pound burns white-hot into my brain, implanting even deeper that stunned, horrified look on Ray's face when I punched him. I breathe out slowly, the exhalation shaky.

"What did they say to you down in the medical room?" she asks suddenly, a faint tinge of concern entering her voice.

"They didn't," I mumble. "Just gave me an ice-pack and bustled off to attend to poor old Lee." I make an expression that has nothing to do with smiling, my mouth twisting with dislike and malice. "I musta kicked him in just the right place."

"Where's the ice-pack?" I shrug.

"They took it off when I came here, said they didn't have enough to spare one." Her lips tighten in disapproval. "Anyway, why am I in here?" I ask at last, trying to make my voice sound normal, as opposed to this faint, shaking thing that's taken over my voice box in the last few seconds. The drumbeat's getting faster and faster and harder and harder, and it's all I can do to stop myself from groaning with pain.

"Lee's accusing you of bullying him." I spring to my feet, blazing anger fighting a furious battle with pain.

"What the fuck!" I roar. "That fucking little piece of shit! If I'm a fucking bully, he's…he's a… oh…fuck…" I sway violently, grabbing wildly for the chair and dropping back into it with a thud. "Fuck…"

There's no break between drumbeats now, it's just a deafening hum of agony that changes my sight into something not to be trusted, something that fades in and out and blurs until all I can see is white, brilliant, pulsating white, all I can hear is my own irrepressible, almost feverish moans… Nausea swirls in my stomach, and I vomit and vomit until the world turns to black.

"Entrez!" 7TJR's French teacher called in response to a knock on the door. When no answer came, she shook her head in annoyance and walked towards the door

"!" 7TJR's French teacher called in response to a knock on the door. When no answer came, she shook her head in annoyance and walked towards the door

"Yes, something's finally shut her up!" Ray muttered under his breath to Mystel, who grinned and nodded ruefully from his seat one in front and one to the side of Ray.

"You said it, mon copain!" the tanned blond replied, rolling his eyes. Ray made a retching noise.

"No more French!" he complained petulantly. "It's just a load of pointless shit anyway, if you ask me…" He trailed off, seeing who was at the door. Mystel looked as well.

"Miguel was the student receptionist today, then." he commented. Ray gave him a mocking glare.

"Wow, I would never have worked that out for myself." he muttered sardonically. Mystel grinned carelessly and leaned back in his chair until he was level with Ray, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"In that case, you're even thicker than I thought!" He started laughing uncontrollably and swung his chair forwards, out of the reach of Ray's infuriated swipe.

"Ray!" the teacher called from the doorway suddenly. "Viens ici!" Ray stared blankly, while Mystel started repeating it very slowly under his breath to try and figure it out.

"She's saying come here!" Mariah explained from the other side of the classroom.

"Thanks, Mariah!" Ray replied politely.

"No problem!" Mariah answered happily, grinning in pleasure at the fact that he had bothered to reply to her. Ray got up and walked to where the teacher and Miguel were standing, their body language more than slightly confrontational.

"Okay, Ray, for whatever reason, you have to hear this message outside." The teacher made a bad-tempered face and pointed towards the corridor. "Go on then! Out you go!" Exchanging a wry look with Miguel, he followed the older boy out the classroom and into the corridor.

"Bonjour, mon petit ami!" Miguel chuckled.

"Say that again and I'll hit you." Ray growled, gettingseriously annoyed by the stupid language that he didn't understand. He could barely read English for heaven's sake, how was he supposed to learn another new language with virtually no spoken lessons?

"So?" he queried as soon as they were out of hearing distance of even the nosiest students. Miguel handed him a purple slip of paper, his eyes suddenly serious. Slowly, nervously, he lowered his eyes to the note and began to struggle through it.

"Um…okay, I think that says Kai can't walk home tonight…can't read the rest of it." he said finally, with a snort of exasperation. Miguel looked at him, his eyes warm with sympathy as he read out the remainder of the scrawled handwriting.

"Kai's in hospital, Ray. Rachael and Jonathon are picking you up." Ray stared uncomprehendingly at him, much as he had just done in the classroom to the teacher. Gradually, it sank in.

"Shit…" he breathed softly. "How? Was it that fight with Lee?" Miguel shrugged, than changed his mind and nodded.

"None of the teachers are telling me anything, but it's severe concussion, and I reckon that motherfucker of a punch Lee gave him would be the reason." Ray nodded distractedly. "You can come back with me if you want. I go part of your way, and so does Mystel." Ray nodded again, biting his lip.

"Hey, Ray, Miguel, why the long faces?"

"Tyson, ssh! We're gonna get told off!" Ray smiled despite himself.

"Hi, guys." he called, forcing his voice to sound normal again as Tyson and Max joined them in the corridor.

"Hiya, Ray! What's up? What's that?" Tyson inquired, pointing to the slip of paper Ray held.

"Kai's gone to hospital, so he can't walk home with me." he said casually.

"Oh, are you okay to walk home? Which way do you walk?" Tyson demanded

"Down King's Road, straight through town, then up Miller's Hill." Ray answered automatically.

"That's the way we walk! Where do you live?"

"364 Regent Street."

"Whoa, that's like, just down a bit from me!" Tyson cried enthusiastically. "Way cool!" He brightened even further as another idea hit him. "Hey, why don't you all come over mine after school?"

"Everybody?" Miguel questioned sceptically. "Oliver, Raul and Mystel too?"

"Of course!" Tyson grinned widely and turned to Ray. "What about you? Once you've gone and visited Kai, of course." he added hurriedly. Ray shrugged.

"I'll think about it." he mumbled. His grin fading slightly, Tyson shrugged easily, respecting Ray's (in) decision, and started discussing the practicalities of his plan with Miguel.

"What's wrong with him?" The timid question was uttered in a soft voice, the questioner deliberately refusing to make eye contact. Ray felt his mood lighten slightly, Max's shy sensitivity pulling him back to reality.

"Concussion, Miguel said." he answered quietly. Max frowned.

"Lee." It wasn't a question. "Are you okay?" However, that was… He shrugged.

"I'll feel better once I've seen him." Max nodded understandingly. "So, do you think I should go back to Tyson's afterwards, then?" Max shrugged.

"That's your decision. Just remember, if you get Tyson's number off him, you just need to ring it and we'll all be there for you." He blushed. "That sounded really, really soppy, didn't it?"

"Yep." Tyson said bluntly, clapping his best friend lightly on the shoulder. "Disgustingly so."

"Tyson, don't butt in on other people's conversations! It's rude!" Max scolded playfully, his face gradually returning to its normal pale colour. The bell rang for the end of school. Tyson looked up mischievously.

"Maxie, we have just had the world's longest and most successful loo break!" he announced loudly.

"Missing class is nothing to be proud of!" Max and Miguel reprimanded in unison, exchanged surprised looks and started laughing. Ray joined in briefly, then swung his bag up onto his back and headed towards reception to meet his foster parents.

"Bye, Ray!"

"Good luck!"

"Tell Kai I've got his maths homework!"

"I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear that, Miguel!" Ray called good-humouredly over his shoulder.

Ray fought against the urge to clutch Rachael's hand as he walked down the sterile corridors, his school trainers squeaking on the polished floor. It was the smell that was disconcerting him more than anything, hospitals had a very distinctive smell after he'd spent a good two months in them and it was the same in every single one.

"You okay?" Jonathon asked, giving him an encouraging smile. He nodded and smiled thinly back. The man patted him lightly on the shoulder. Ray didn't flinch for once, his brain too caught up with bad memories and fear for Kai.

"Come on," Rachael's voice broke into his thoughts. "In we go."

Ray stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on Kai. He looked drowsy and uncomfortable, his skin scarily pale, with a waxy quality to it.

"Idiot." It burst out of his mouth unbidden, the last thing that he would've chosen to say. Kai smirked, sitting up and wincing.

"I know you are, but what am I?" He gave Ray a lopsided, crooked smile. Ray simply stared. Finally, deliberately, he stalked over to Kai's bed and looked down at him.

"Idiot." he repeated woodenly. The room was silent. Unable to keep his mask up for any longer, Ray sat down heavily on the bed and wrapped his arms around Kai's waist, hugging him tightly. "You stupid, stupid idiot!" he mumbled thickly as Kai's arms closed around him uncertainly.

It felt wonderful, being comfortable with Kai again. The last week had been like walking on eggshells, unable to go near him without flinching in fear, without seeing the flash of guilt in his eyes.

"You forgive me?" Kai whispered disbelievingly. Ray nodded.

"Of course."

Sorry, butI couldn't stand it any longer! They HADto make up! Did you like the bit in Kai's POV? I was a bit uncertain about changing the character perspective so drastically, but it just seemed to fit so nicely! I also had to add something controversial about Hiro in, so the whole deputy head thing just kinda worked.

The French translations are as follows:

Entrez: Come in

Mon copain: my mate

Bonjour,mon petit ami: Hello,my little friend

If anyone spots any mistakes or things that they think could be better, please do tell me! Oh yes, and which characters would you like to see come into this fic? Mariam should hopefully be coming in at some point, but I'm a but clueless about anyone else, so fill me in, please!

Okay, that's all from moi! (me) See you all next time!