A/N: Hellur ;)

Hope my fellow Brits had a good bonfire night. I spent it cuddling my little pooch since she's not a huge fan of fireworks. Bless her.

So, as mentioned previously we have yet another amazing RP w/ Lux where I was Ray and she was Mariah. Little hoe bag.. xD thanks again mate!

Anyway - Enjoy!

K~

Chapter 10. Hook, line and sinker.

The rain had eased off slightly by the time Ray finally made it back to the White Tiger Village but having been outside for a total of four hours now he was completely soaked to the bone.

He head straight to his cabin, giving none of the other residents a second look as he flung the wooden door open, stormed in and slammed it closed behind him again before snatching his duffle bag from underneath his bed and carelessly stuffing the first thing his hands came in contact with inside.

He was done with this place. Done with everything in fact as coming here had just put an even bigger wedge between him and Kai and he needed to get out of here and on the first plane back home so he could make things right with him.

This whole thing was just a huge misunderstanding. If he was face to face with him he could fix it...

He'd made his decision.

When Kai had asked him if he was ready for home, he should've said yes. He realised this now.

He was ready for home, and nothing could make him change his mind.

Whatever he felt for Mariah would go. It'd pass. In fact, all he felt for her right now was anger! Why would she upload a photo like that?! So suggestive!

Maybe this whole confusion on his feelings had started simply because things were so bad at the time between him and Kai? Literally anyone could've shown him some slither of kindness and he'd have grabbed for it with both hands.

That's all this was! He was mistaking the friendship for something more because he'd been craving something more! Not from Mariah though, but from Kai!

Between his erratic packing and loud thoughts, there came a few soft knocks on his door before it creaked open, Mariah's head poking in before she stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly at what was going on in here.

"Everything okay?" She asked in a timid voice, shifting her feet where she stood.

Ray's back tensed as he heard her. No doubt she'd try and convince him to stay but his mind was made up. This was it.

"Just, leave me alone Mariah!" he barked, refusing so much as to even look at her as he continued to storm around the cabin, recklessly hurling his clothes from his wardrobe towards the general direction of his bags.

Mariah swallowed the lump in her throat, why was he yelling at her?

"I was just asking if you were alright, what's wrong? Talk to me Ray," she pleaded, stepping into the cabin more and closing the door behind her.

He threw some shoes at the growing pile of screwed up clothes before abruptly turning to face her, his golden eyes slit.

The thought of what he was about to say to her killed him as he locked with her own amber coloured eyes. She looked nervous and the thought of him being the one to cause such fear within her unsettled him but he had to keep his guard up. He was leaving tonight and that was that.

"You're what's wrong Mariah. Be honest with me. Why did you upload that photo of us on facebook?"

Mariah gaped at his expression, though she had come prepared.

"Because I was happy you were here, why else would I have uploaded it silly?" She asked in a soft, light, chuckle, "It's not often you get to come home, so I wanted to have it to look at."

Ray's pressed his lips together now as his initial full blown rage began to falter at her unfazed and softly spoken explanation.

He honestly didn't know what to believe. She hadn't even hesitated with that so a part of him wanted to trust in her words entirely, however the other half knew she had a reputation for schemes.

"Well did you not think to maybe ask me first before you put it out there for the whole world to see?"

Mariah shrugged her shoulders.

"I didn't think it'd be a problem, it never has been before. If you're upset about it you should have said something sooner, I would have taken it down if that's what you wanted," she said, though knew the damage was already done. Exactly what she wanted, though refrained from showing it openly.

"I didn't even know you'd uploaded it 'cos I didn't have my phone remember!"

He knew it wasn't her fault that he'd misplaced it but losing that fucking thing had caused a whole boat load of problems for him. He also knew she'd done nothing out of the ordinary here and was just being her typical social media obsessed self.

Realistically it was just his lie about coming here alone that's just come to royally bite him in the ass, and he couldn't exactly blame her for that. He shouldn't have made it seem to Kai that he was just coming here to get away and be by himself...

"I can't help but feel you're mad at more than just a picture though Ray, we've taken hundreds of them before, all have been posted. So, what's actually wrong?" Mariah asked as she stepped up to him, placing a hand on his arm in a friendly gesture. "You can tell me."

He instantly pulled away from her touch and sighed out in frustration as he sat down on the edge of his bed with the mountain of clothes beside him. Running his hands through his wet bangs he then held his head in them, deflated, as his elbows rested on his knees.

He figured he could tell her. The more she knew the more she'd understand why he had to leave and go fix it. She'd support his decision surely.

"I spoke to Kai," he muttered out.

Right then and there it clicked in her head, biting back a smile as she painted on a more concerned look and pat him on the shoulder.

"And what happened?" She asked, moving away and going to the closet for a towel for him, bringing it back over and gently running it over his hair.

He sat up dropping his hands from his face and kept his gaze low in front of him, unaware of her expression as he let her dry him off.

"Well he knows that I'm here with you now, and as I'm sure you can imagine, he's not exactly thrilled about it."

"And why should we care? What's he going to do, honestly? Let him be upset, this is our home too. Did he really not think of that when you left?" Mariah asked in a slight huff, rubbing him down some more with the towel.

"Of course I'm here, we're all here, this is our home and if he has a problem with it he can shove it."

It was then that Ray realised he shouldn't have even brought it up. These two had hated each other for years now, of course she wasn't going to give him sound advice. And it didn't matter anyway he was leaving!

"Well I care Mariah!" He turned to look at her. "You might not see it but underneath his cold exterior he's actually a great guy! He's just insecure about us, but wouldn't you be? We had a connection once and I don't blame him for feeling jealous. He just.. has a hard time controlling those emotions.." He dropped his head in his hands again, this whole situation beginning to mentally drain him now.

He'd had such a great time whilst being here! Was really enjoying his break.

If he was completely honest with himself he'd been too busy during the day helping round the village to even really miss Kai. It was only when he was alone in bed with his own thoughts that the Russian even crossed his mind.

And now he was all Ray could think about.

Mariah rolled her eyes, leaving the towel on the top of his head as she put her hands to her hips and stood in front of him.

"And I'm sure you explained it to him that there's nothing going on, right? So then what's the big deal, it's just a picture, as I said there's hundreds of them of us, and it wasn't like it was just you and me but the others there too. If he's that insecure about his own relationship that's on him, it has nothing to do with you honey."

Ray pulled the towel off of his head and looked up at her.

"Of course I did but it's hard to keep convincing him of that when you're there planting one on my cheek. We know nothing's going on but to an outsider don't you see how that could look?" He said trying to reason with her.

He knew she wasn't stupid. And deep down he had an inkling that she did it all on purpose and like a fool he'd kept allowing it. Kept brushing it off as 'Mariah being Mariah' not thinking for a moment how it would make Kai feel.

But it was all just innocent! Wasn't it?

Mariah rolled her eyes again with an audible huff, "It was a peck on the cheek for heaven's sake Ray, quit letting him make you feel bad for keeping up the friendship we've had for years! We've grown up together, we dated, he knows this and it's about time he got over it. Instead, you let him walk all over you like this instead of making him see reason. And really, he might just not want to."

Ray's eyes then dropped from her gaze as he fumbled with the towel in his hands.

He could see both sides.

He remembered how he felt every time fanboys would throw themselves at Mariah back in the day and it hurt. So he could totally see Kai's point of view when he sees her clung to him like a leech, even if they are just friends.

But then what Mariah was saying was true also. They'd been practically family for as long as he could remember. Sure they dated, but that didn't work out and now they were just back to being friends.

Just friends...

Why couldn't Kai just understand that?

"I don't let him walk all over me 'Riah, I just.." he exhaled, not knowing what to even say.

Maybe he did let him walk all over him? Deep down maybe he'd realised that and him coming here was him finally putting his foot down. He had finally had enough.

"Sure you don't, that's why you're totally not in here trying to pack and leave right this second. Right?" She asked in a knowing and accusing tone. "You were going to stay for another week, to spend time with your family. But because he goes and throws a hissy fit you're packing your bags and running to him like the good little doormat he expects you to be. I'd be more concerned with why he's this insecure in your relationship than you are."

Ray's eyes narrowed as they snapped back up to her.

"How is me trying to fix what I caused being a doormat?!" he spat. "At the end of the day I was the one to leave, hid the fact I had time off work and basically lied to him about my reasons for coming here, he's found it all out so of course he's gonna be pissed! And not to mention I didn't get in contact with him for almost a week after leaving him! What are you trying to insinuate here?"

Mariah stepped back from him as she thought about her answer, though one of his previous statements called for a question of her own.

"What were your reasons for coming here?"

Ray shifted.

Shit... did he really just let that slip?

"Just y'know... For a break, that's all... it doesn't even matter, what are you trying to insinuate about him?" he asked again quickly redirecting and brushing off her question.

Mariah frowned a little though let it go.

"Okay, so he found out. So what? I'm sure he's told a few white lies in his life, it's not the end of the world Ray. But if you run off to him like this, then how is that really going to fix anything? You came here, so I thought, because you couldn't stand to be around him, get away because he wasn't being what you needed and right now it doesn't sound like that's going to change if you go back now or later."

She paused, starting to pace slightly in front of him as she went more into thought about what to say.

"And you really have to ask? He's had countless of flings, you're not his first and you know that, but how dare you have one girlfriend your whole life before him and he still can't get over it. You two have been together for years now, so really, what is it he's got to be so insecure about here? You should have more reason to believe he'd go off and find himself something else more than he has reason to start trying to point fingers and accuse you."

Ray blinked, his eyes following her as she paced in front of him.

All of her strangely over-passionate wisdom slowly sinking in. She sure did have a lot to say on this topic. Almost seemed premeditated.

He'd never thought of it like that before though. Was Kai pointing fingers at him simply due to his own guilty conscience?

"No... He wouldn't do that to me," he shook his head as he spoke, though his tone wasn't an overly convinced one as he stared off and allowed his mind to wander some.

It wasn't as if Kai didn't once have a traitorous streak. It wouldn't exactly be out of his character to do something like that. After a brief moment though he quickly brushed off the feeling of doubt she'd implanted within him and he spoke out more firmly now.

"No, he wouldn't even have the time to cheat, he's barely enough time in the day for me with his work schedule never mind for two."

"Or, he just doesn't make the time for you," she said, her words slithering out of her quickly.

Ray rolled his eyes at her. He wasn't playing this game.

"He runs a multi-million dollar company Mariah, I understand that his time has to be thinly spread.. I knew that before we even started dating so that's something I've just had to accept… Doesn't mean he loves me any less or that he's messing around with someone else." He rest his cheek on a fist, his elbow planted on his knee.

He was growing slightly bored of Mariah's constant digs at Kai now. He got it, she couldn't stand the guy.

"I'm not saying he is screwing around or anything, but look at it from where I'm standing Ray. Why else has he not been able to let this go? He's obsessed with the fact you and I still talk, are still friends. Just because he washed his hands clean after getting them dirty doesn't mean you had to do the same."

Ray sighed out, "I know that. But I don't think it exactly helps the situation when you openly dislike him the way you do either.. You've had a problem with him since we were teens and you make it very clear, so of course that's gonna add to his disliking that we're friends."

Mariah shrugged her shoulders, "And it's no skin off my teeth if he feels the same, that's his problem not mine or yours. I'm not trying, never have tried, to come between you two and you know that. I've always just been here for you, will always be here for you."

Initially Ray held a fraction of doubt over Mariah's true intentions however her words just now caused any scepticism to melt away.

Sure she held a disliking for Kai and she probably always will do but as for him and her, Ray should've known that any deeper feelings she once had for him would eventually fade and they could be truly platonic with one another.

Just simply being there for each other.

No hidden motive, no schemes, just friends.

Whilst his feelings for her were questionable right now, he was sure they'd fizzle back out.

"Thanks 'Riah, I know.. and I'll always be here for you too.. Don't ever forget that," he softly said dropping his hand from his face as he smiled up at her.

She smiled back, a fang slipping through as she stepped back up to him and knelt down to his level.

"I know you are, so please stay?" She asked, putting a hand up on his knee. "Just stay for another week like you said you would."

Ray locked eyes with hers before taking a glance over at his, to say the least, shockingly packed bags.

He knew this would happen. Should have locked his door after he came back. He just knew she'd try and convince him to stay.

But as much as he wanted to sort things out with Kai he did say to the elders he would assist with the village for a little longer. Though he didn't reside here permanently now, he was still Driger's master and was still a member of the White tiger clan. He had a duty to fulfil and was a man of his word.

Besides, knowing Kai he'd just be sulking now for a few days and wouldn't want him around anyway. Would be best just to let him cool down after that phone call.

Let him actually miss him.

Ray turned to face her and nodded as he spoke, flashing her a smile, "Alright, I'll stay."

Mariah's smile widened, clearly pleased with his answer and pecked him on the cheek before he had time to even register that she had bounced up and planted it on him.

"Good."

At the sudden unexpected movement from her Ray's heart skipped a beat, the warmth of her lips upon his cheek sending a tingle down his spine the same way it had at the airport.

He awkwardly laughed it off, not really knowing what to say to her now.

"Guess I'll uh, unpack then?" He announced slapping his knees before rising to his feet and stepping towards his bags.

"Do you want me to help?" Mariah asked as she skipped over to him.

Ray looked down to her with a smile.

"I mean if you want to, sure... I don't know how far I was expecting to get with this type of packing though to be honest," he chuckled out pulling screwed up clothes back out of his bag.

Mariah smiled with a slight twinkle in her eyes, going around him and just dumping one of the bags out on top of the bed. "It's okay, I'm here now."

Silence fell upon them as the two started unpacking his things. It was a comfortable silence, though Ray sheepishly broke it to speak as he lifted out some sweatpants to fold up.

"Hey I'm sorry about snapping at you earlier.. None of this was your fault, and yeah, I really shouldn't have tried to blame you for any of this."

Mariah shrugged, folding up her own piece of clothing.

"Don't worry about it, not the first time you've blown up on me and probably won't be the last. You know I can't stay mad at you silly, love makes you say and do things without thinking. It's really okay." She said as she playfully nudged him in the side.

Ray chuckled as he lifted up another pair of sweats.

"Yeah but it's no excuse... Thank you for being so understanding though," he said cheekily bumping his hip into her and nudging her back.

"What are best friends for?" She smirked, tossing a shirt at his face as she flicked it up off the bed and out of the pile. "Just means you'll have to make it up to me somehow."

Catching the shirt he pulled it from his face, flashing his fangs now as he smiled at her.

"Oh yeah? Lay it on me then, how can I make it up to you m'lady?" he laughed out as he bowed down to her.

Mariah chuckled a little as her cheeks were dusted pink in a faint blush.

"Hmmm, I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I think of something though, keep you on your toes." She winked at him, turning back to the bed and sorting through his pile of clothes.

Ray smirked as he stood upright catching the wink she threw at him, his own cheeks becoming warmer now.

"Well I look forward to it," he said folding up the same shirt she threw at him and placing it on the pile they were slowly making.

Mariah watched him out the corner of her eye as they piled a few more clothes up, the silence welcomed for the time being until she turned back to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I need to tell you something."

Immediately stopping mid fold of some pyjama bottoms Ray turned to look at her giving her his full attention.

"Sure, what is it?"

She paused for second, being careful on how she presented this to him after everything but it had been slowly eating at her after everything that had happened.

"I don't want to upset you, or think too much of this like I know you will, so just hear me out." She started, keeping her hand on his shoulder.

"I.. I still love you Ray, and I know that's not what you want to hear because I still have no intentions of getting between you and Kai and what you have. But I don't want you to be unhappy either, and since you've been here you've looked happier than I've ever seen you in a long time. Why not consider staying longer?"

Ray opened his mouth to speak but no words came as he processed what she'd just said to him.

She wasn't wrong, he had been happier whilst being there. It was a completely different lifestyle than being back in Japan, one that was a lot simpler and one that he was more accustomed to. But stay longer? Agreeing to another week was a hard pill to swallow knowing what would be awaiting him upon his return, so staying even longer… he wasn't sure.

But then there was the L bomb.. Why did she have to drop that.. He'd had his slight suspicions but after all she'd said earlier he really thought he could've buried them.

"I.. I don't know Mariah.." he said, looking a little uneasy now.

"Just think it over, I don't want to seem like I'm pressuring you or anything. I just want you happy." She said gently, her hand still on his shoulder as her feet inched her closer.

He nodded though knew he couldn't stay.

Whilst this was where he was born and raised this wasn't his home anymore. He had a whole new life back in Japan, a job, a house... Kai...

He blinked repeating what she'd just said to him in his mind.

'I still love you.'

His amber eyes now just fixated on hers. He noticed she was getting closer to him and for some reason his feet stayed firmly planted as she closed the distance between them.

"I want to make you happy," Mariah breathed out, their chests now touching as she stepped as close as she could to him.

Ray couldn't help but glance down at her lips, a million thoughts running through his mind as his heart rate increased. He couldn't do this.. could he?

No.

"Don't, Mariah... Don't do this..."

His gaze broke off from hers as he softly pleaded with her, though he didn't move back from her nor push her away, just turned his head away from her.

A part of him really wanted this, but they'd gone through this many a time and it always ended with one of them being hurt.

Mariah sighed and stepped an inch back, her hand falling to her side from his shoulder.

"Okay..."

He swallowed, feeling like he could breathe a little easier now that she wasn't so close to him, though he wasn't sure why but he reached out for her hand and rubbed her skin with his thumb.

"You know we can't… I'm with Kai, and I love him... I couldn't do that to him Mariah it would destroy him."

"I wasn't thinking, it's not your fault." She said quickly, "It's not your fault Ray, it's okay. I'm sorry I wasn't thinking."

Seeing her flustered he placed a hand on her cheek to try and calm her, slowly shaking his head as he spoke to her.

"Don't worry about it 'Riah it's fine.. We've been through enough for me to not hold this against you. We'll just forget about it, okay?"

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

"But how can I? How can I forget when I love you?"

Ray wiped her tears with his thumb as he stared at her. He wasn't sure how to even answer that.

You can forget actions however feelings were a completely different story. The same feelings he'd struggled to ignore also.

He glanced down at her lips again. The overwhelming urge to press his own against them to comfort her becoming unbearable.

And there was the L word tugged at his heart strings every time she uttered the word. Unable to hear it from her lips without him questioning his own feelings for her.

Did he still love her? Was that what he was feeling?

During his short time here over the past several days the two of them really had become inseparable.

From sunrise to sunset, spending a ridiculous amount of time together just like when they were kids, never growing tired of the other, always laughing and joking around never running out of things to talk about.

They'd collect water from the nearby river every morning and fire wood in the afternoon, then just generally hang out afterwards until the early hours.

He'd missed this…

'I still love you.'

Ray placed his forehead down against hers before weakly speaking out to her as his self-restraint was slowly wearing down to nothing.

"Please stop saying that..."

Her eyes slipped closed, her heart thudding in her chest so hard it was almost hard to breathe with him so close now. She hardly heard what he said, her hands coming around on his shoulders again.

"Don't take that away from me, not again. Let me love you... Just one last time."

'Just one last time.'

Her words swirled around his mind, his own heart now pounding in his chest.

Her touch on his shoulders, her breath on his face, it was all giving him goosebumps...

Just one last time...

Ray closed his eyes, tilted his head and without thinking pressed his lips softly against hers.

Mariah fell more into him, the soft touch turning more harsh and demanding as she pressed in harder.

Hook, line, and sinker.

As her mouth worked against his, forcing herself not to smirk into the kiss, she slithered her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts firmly against his chest whilst Ray followed suit; Reciprocating the passion not realising just how hungry he was for her.

Wrapping his arms around her waist his hands danced along her curves instantly becoming reacquainted with her petite frame.

She moaned, loudly, gripping at his hair and grinding against him.

"I've missed you," she panted against his lips, her face already dry from the few tears that had been shed.

It had been some time since Ray had felt a woman's touch. Grabbing a hold of her hips he pulled her in closer with ease, nowhere near using the same amount of strength he was used to using when trying to manipulate a male… When trying to manipulate Kai.

He'd never be the one in control with him.

Not that he minded, he loved being taken by him.

But this.. This was nice. He felt, powerful.

With the sound of her moan ringing in his ears he instantly hardened, parting his lips as she panted against them. He had no control of himself now, his fangs on show as he latched on to her neck and his hands having a mind of their own as they possessively groped every inch of her.

'Just one last time'

That's all this would be...

'Just one last time.'