A/N: Hi there! I know that quite a lot of my readers think I'm dead but guess what? I'm not :D neither have I been suffering a long term illness. I just couldn't write! And I have also noticed a whole lot of people have lost interest in this fandom. I still continue to read fics but I'm swamped when I sit to write. But then inspiration struck and here's the next chapter to a fic I thought I was least likely to update. Surprisingly this chapter was finished in a span of two days. Go figure :D check my profile for any news regarding updates. Excuses for my tardiness are also listed there.

I humbly thank all the people who reviewed my story to encourage me. Hope you keep doing so. And I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as you did all the others.

My Roomie

By Stunstar

Chapter 9: the plan

"Hmm how about spin the bottle?"

"What are we? 9? That is so lame!"

"Truth or dare?"

"Tala when you said you were going to help me I expected something better than spin the bottle and truth or dare!" I said exasperated. I was still in Tala's room and a good half hour had passed since we had both confessed our secrets to each other and Tala had pledged his support to me. We had spent the first few minutes in contemplative silence and then Tala started making these dumb suggestions to get Kai and me together.

"Well you suggest something then if you're so clever," Tala said looking at me from the bed where he had been lying for the past half an hour on his back staring at the ceiling.

"If I knew I wouldn't be asking you for help," I shot back at him.

I sighed. I think we are just pathetic.

"That's it!" Tala shouted suddenly and jumped up from the bed making me jump as well. What's he trying to do? Kill me?

He bounded over to me eagerly and I eyed him warily my heart still thumping wildly from the scare he had given me.

"I know how we can make things easier for you! We find out what Kai thinks."

I stared. Bravo Tala! Well done! How amazingly brilliant you are! Now why didn't I think about that, find out what Kai thinks! I should kick myself for not thinking this myself, after all finding out what Kai thinks is as easy as making Bryan do the ballet in a pink tutu.

While my mind was making up these wonderful sarcastic thoughts I looked at Tala incredulously and said, "Oh thanks Tal, brilliant plan. And it should not be difficult at all as Kai proclaims all his thoughts on the World Wide Web."

Tala stepped back and wagged his finger at me disapprovingly, "now, now, Ray, sarcasm isn't very becoming at this point. I know it sounds stupid-"

"It doesn't sound stupid, it is stupid," I said interrupting him.

"Ray, I know it's difficult-"

"Really?" I said in a mock-shocked voice interrupting him again. "And here was me thinking that it was as easy as getting Tyson to give up food or Max to stop smiling or Kenny to give up his laptop or Michael to stop flirting or Hilary to stop yelling or Mariah to give up pink or Grandpa Granger to talk normal English or Bryan to act human mff-" Tala clamped a hand over my mouth looking annoyed.

"Or you to stop talking?" he said irritably continuing my chain of sarcasm.

"Mmff wa ffmumm-" that's me trying to talk with Tala's hand still clamped over it. Much as tried I couldn't pries it off.

"I will let you go if you allow me to talk without interrupting." I nodded frantically as his hand was also partly blocking my nose and I was finding it hard to breathe. "You swear?"

I rolled my eyes in exasperation how was I supposed to swear if I couldn't talk? But I guess that didn't strike him. Idiot. I put a cross on the left side of my chest with my finger hoping that it would suffice. Thankfully it did and he let go of my mouth and I managed to gulp in some fresh air.

"Right," he said business-like sitting down again on the bed facing me, "what I was saying before you started ranting was that we should find out what Kai thinks. You swore you wouldn't interrupt," he said as I opened my mouth to retort again. I shut it and sulked in my chair. He grinned.

"Okay here's what I think. As far as I know Kai has the habit of writing a journal. We find it and read it." He looked at me triumphantly and I merely stared at him. He stared back. We sat there looking at each other for five more minutes before he snapped irritably, "you can talk now."

I grinned. "I wasn't sure if I was allowed Tala sir," I replied sweetly.

He groaned in frustration. "If you are done being annoying and difficult," he said, "then tell me what you think of my plan."

"What plan?" I replied raising my eyebrows. "You are assuming Kai has a journal stashed somewhere and we take it and read it. That's not a plan Tal, that's stupidity."

"What's so stupid about it?" he argues. "If Kai keeps a journal which I'm sure he does, duh, he will have written his thoughts in it. That's what journals are meant for dear."

"I know what they are meant for. I'll tell you why this will be stupidity – A) Kai will not keep his journal where everybody can read it B) We have absolutely no clue as to what it looks like or where he stashes it C) In the event that we do find it there is only the slightest possibility that Kai bears his soul to it he might just use it to keep track of events or day-to-day occurrences and lastly D) in case point C is contradicted and he does write up all his feelings and in case we do get our hands on the book and read it then the moment Kai finds out they will find our brutally murdered bodies in the alley next to the building." I paused finally for breath. Tala was staring at me wide eyed I guess my points are making their way through to him.

"Mother of God! How in the world can you keep talking continuously like that?"

I almost fell off my chair. "That's not the point!" I all but shouted. "Did you listen to what I just said? We will be in a whole load of shit if we are found out."

He waved his hand as though dismissing the entire thing. "You worry too much. If we are careful enough we won't be found out. Trust me." I'm not sure if that is such a good idea.

"This is suicide," I cried.

"Raymond Kon, do you or do you not want Kai?" he asked fiercely standing up and grabbing hold of my shoulders towering over me his face inches from mine.

"I do," I replied meekly.

"Then get your balls together and let's go for it."

Just then the door to Tala's room opened and Bryan walked in. "Tala I-" he stopped talking abruptly and stood still at the doorway looking at the two of us surprise written on his usually blank face. It disappeared within seconds to be replaced by a menacing frown. It took me a moment to realize why he was glaring like that. Although glaring and wishing my death is his second nature what has him riled up now is the position Tala and I are in with Tala's hands on my shoulder and faces so close. I jumped up immediately pushing Tala's hands away and trying to put distance between us and at the same time making sure to go nowhere near Bryan. A very difficult feat people, but I managed somehow.

Bryan overcame his momentary paralysis and headed straight towards me. He pushed aside the chair that I had been sitting on and it fell over. The last warrior between Bryan and me lay vanquished. "What the fuck," Bryan growled, "are you doing in here Kon?" He made a grab at me I dodged him ducked to my side and jumped over the entire breadth of Tala's bed to land lightly on the other side. I turned to see both Tala and Bryan staring at me amazed. Tala finally woke up.

"Bryan," he said rounding up on said person, "Ray is here on my invitation and that's no way to treat him. And Ray," he said turning back to me, "how in the hell did you do that?"

I shrugged. "I can do all those kinds of things it's one of the traits found in my race."

"Freak." Bryan muttered. My eyes narrowed. What the hell is his problem? I didn't want to be mauled by him; I value my life, thank you very much.

Tala spoke to Bryan in Russian which meant that all I could hear was gibberish. But whatever he said made Bryan leave looking bad tempered. But that's nothing new so I guess all is well for now.

"All right Ray, now time to get cracking," said Tala rubbing his hands together in eager anticipation.

I sighed. I'm so going to die today.

--

Still going over the supposed 'plan' in my mind I made my back to my apartment alone. It wasn't much of a plan as all it consisted was to find Kai's journal and then read it and then think up of strategies to survive if caught. Upon entering I saw Max sitting cross-legged on the floor his chin resting on his hands propped up on elbows which rested on the pillow on his lap alone in the living room right in front of the T.V. watching what looked like the road runner show with rapt attention. I saw Wile E coyote fall off yet another cliff for possibly the millionth time in his life. How in the hell does he survive? Oh wait he is a cartoon. Right! now to get back on track.

"Max, have you seen Kai?" I asked.

He shook his head as the road runner beeped happily and sped off down the road. What is so fascinating about this show? Every time I see it I feel like I'm watching the same episode. I considered asking Max's help to keep a lookout in case Kai comes home when I'm carrying out my plan. But right now Wile E coyote seems to have ordered some kind of bombs from ACME so it looks like Max is going to be too disconnected from this world to be of much use.

"Max, sit up on the couch, don't sit so close to the T.V. you'll ruin your eyesight," I couldn't help adding as I walked towards Kai's room.

Max grinned at me. "Right you are, mom," he said before deserting his position on the floor and scrabbling to the couch, remote and pillow in hand. I rolled my eyes. I guess I did sound like his mom but I couldn't have him hiding those big cute blue eyes behind dorky glasses now could I?

Before proceeding to Kai's room I took a detour to my own grabbed Driger from my bedside table and stuffed him into my pocket. Don't ask me why I did that I'm just going with the flow here and I just feel like having Driger with me on my mission. I proceeded to Kai's room after that and just as my hand drew close to the door knob it opened and Kai stepped out. I jumped back startled.

"You were home?" I said surprised.

"Am I not supposed to be?" he questioned back looking at me curiously.

"Why do you always answer a question with a question?" I shot back.

"Isn't that what you are doing?" he questioned leaning against the doorway his arms crossed. He looked as though he was enjoying himself.

"So what if I am?" I replied not backing down from this ridiculous game of questions.

"What is it that you want?" he asks smirking now as though he was sure I couldn't answer that with a question of my own. But I decided to give it a shot.

"What do you want me to want?" I asked smirking myself and crossing my arms mirroring his actions.

"What do you want me to want you to want?"

I stared at him. His smirk stretched wider and wider. Here goes nothing – "what do you want me to want you to want me to want?" I said having absolutely no idea what I said or how I said. And from the looks of it he doesn't have a clue either. Let's see how he tops that now.

"What?" he asks simply and quite innocently but that glint in his eyes gives it all away.

"Aah," I shouted frustrated. He starts chuckling and I glare at him. I seriously thought I had him there.

"You look so cute when you're annoyed," he said still chuckling. Whoa Kai just called me cute. Sweet. This is so great Kai actually called me cute. Okay he said I'm cute when I'm annoyed. He didn't say I was generally cute. But still he called me cute. He thinks I'm cute. I don't care if you want to shoot me for being repetitive. Kai actually thinks I'm cute!

"Ray."

"What?" I asked snapping out of my reverie.

"I asked you a question," said Kai looking at me strangely.

"You asked about a million of them," I answered pouting slightly.

He smirked again. "I asked you a question just now when you were day dreaming and grinning to yourself," he said with a shake of his head.

"I'm afraid I didn't catch that one," I admitted sheepishly.

"I thought as much," he replied. "I was asking you whether there was a reason you were outside my door or if you got lost or something."

What was the reason I was there again? Oh right to search Kai's room. I thought he had gone out but since he hasn't I can't tell him the truth. But I have to tell him something. What do I do?

"Take your time. We are going to be standing here for all eternity after all," Kai said sardonically.

"You distracted me," I mumbled. "I came here to look for you, to tell you um, that, um…Bryan wants to see you," I invented wildly saying the first thing to pop inside my head.

Kai looked at me curiously. "Bryan? Why?" he asked.

"How should I know why he is looking for you?" I replied as casually as possible.

"If Bryan wanted to se me wouldn't he have come here looking for me himself?"

"Don't ask me to fathom how Bryan's mind works," I replied desperately hoping Kai bought it. Of course, I have no idea what explanation to give when Kai finds out Bryan hadn't asked to see him. Why did I take Bryan's name of all people? If I had taken any one else's name I could have asked them to play along and say something to Kai to avoid suspicion. This is what happens when you don't think a plan through. I'm going to kill Tala. I hope that he at least comes through for me later. His job was to man the corridors and delay Kai from coming in while I searched for the journal. Both of us were too stupid to realize that Kai might have been home all along.

"How do you know that Bryan wants to see me? I don't take it you guys are on very good terms," Kai asked. Is he still here? Man, he is persistent. I think he is catching on to me.

"Tala told me," I replied confidently. This is all Tala's fault for coming up with this stupid idea so let him handle Kai. I'm sure he will be smart enough to catch on even this unexpected event and he is very smooth so hopefully he shouldn't have too much problem.

Kai nodded finally and then closing his room door behind him he walked off I didn't do anything till he was out of the front door which was a good thing because once at the front door he turned to look at me. I simply smiled. He turned and left shutting the door behind him. From the T.V I heard Elmer Fudd shout "oooh I'll get that wabbit."

It's time I got my wabbit, er, I mean Kai's journal. I waited for another minute before opening the door to Kai's room and sneaking in I quietly closed the door behind me. I scanned the room, it was pretty much in the same condition as before Kai moved in except for few clothes strewn here and there. The bed was neatly made; a few books and papers were kept on the small writing table in the far corner.

Before I looked around for the journal a few framed photos on the bedside table caught my attention. One was a group photo of the blade breakers taken right after the first world championships, man we looked puny back then. Another consisted of a group photo of the demolition/blitzkrieg boys. The third one was of just Kai and Tala, with Tala grinning broadly his one arm around Kai's shoulder and the other on his hip; Kai had his arms crossed as usual but he was smiling. He looked nice.

The last photo caught me completely off guard. It was of Kai and me. I was laughing at the camera and Kai was smiling but he wasn't looking at the camera he was looking at me. I remember this photo. It was taken sometime after the third worlds. Max had been testing his new camera taking random photos and not letting the subjects know so that it would come natural. I had been standing against the compound wall of the training area next to Kai. Tyson had done something stupid I'm not sure what that had made me laugh. I saw this photo only once before very briefly when Max had just developed them. It had disappeared later and no one had found it. Looks like I solved the mystery.

I kept staring at the photo lost in thought. And I couldn't help but smile happily. Kai actually had a photo of me stashed in his room. But that doesn't have to mean anything after all he also had one of Tala and the others but still I couldn't help feeling amazed and delighted. I placed the photo back. Maybe Tala was right maybe Kai did rank me higher than I thought on the relationship ladder. Although I don't know what the situation will be like if he caught me spying.

That thought made me feel guilty. Should I really be spying on Kai? Before I could answer myself the door opened and Kai entered. He looked at me stopped short. His eyes narrowed. I gulped.

"What are you doing in my room, Ray?" he asked quietly. Think of something Ray, quick, before he annihilates you. No matter what my status in his eyes I know that I have no right to be in his room without his permission. It's a big no-no. And I don't blame him I wouldn't like that either. He's staring at me I have to say something.

"I was looking for Driger, yeah I kinda launched him and he kinda spun his way in here…" I trailed off lamely. Of course when I tell myself that I have to say something I just have to say something idiotic. If I keep my cool I might still get away with it.

"From under my closed door?" he asks incredulously raising an eyebrow. Okay, so I might not get away with it after all. Oh God, help!

"Hey Ray, did ya find it?" Tala says dashing into the room and stopping next to Kai.

Kai turned to look at Tala and I frantically tried to gesture to him.

"Find what?" Kai asked him looking increasingly skeptical.

"My ring," Tala says promptly as though he had rehearsed it. I resisted the urge to slap my hand to my forehead whilst shaking my head. "Yeah my ring," Tala repeats matching Kai's gaze quite unflinchingly. "I kinda lost it so Ray said he'd help me find it."

"Oh?" Kai said his eyebrow arching even higher if possible. "Pray tell how your ring would get inside my room? Besides Ray just said he was looking for Driger."

I wave my hands wildly but I know it's hopeless more so when I knock Kai's table lamp but I manage to grab it before any serious damage occurred - to me that is.

Tala gave me a 'why didn't you tell me that was going to be your excuse?' look. Now how in the world was I supposed to answer that? Besides searching for his ring? How lame an excuse is that, what like is he married or something? Now Kai is still waiting for an answer and while I am getting increasingly good at rambling to myself have no idea what to say. Besides his question was directed to Tala so he takes charge.

"Well Kai you see my ring was in Ray's blade in the bitbeast chip, don't ask why we were sort of experimenting, so well technically we were searching for both."

Now a person has to be incurably insane, hopelessly moronic or senselessly drunk to accept such a lame excuse. This excuse I declare takes the cake of all lame excuses to have ever been invented in history. Kai of course is neither of the three so Tala and my death will also be a phenomenon that will bypass every other death in history. I must think happy thoughts now in these last moments of my life. Kai is looking from Tala to me. While Tala is looking composed I'm trying my best to be. As the silence continued I stuffed my hands in my pocket and felt Driger. Getting a stroke of brilliance, I removed him from my pocket and bent down suddenly as though I spotted something and emerged and said "found him," a victorious smile on my face and Driger held high for them both to see.

Tala beamed but Kai's eyes just narrowed further. Before he had a chance to say anything I bounded over to them. "I'm really sorry I barged into your room unannounced Kai, it was just to look for Driger. Tala just made up his stupid ring excuse because he must have thought you would get mad at me. You aren't, are you Kai?" I asked with my sweetest and most innocent expression possible. I think it worked because he sighed.

"That still doesn't explain how Driger got through my closed door," he said still looking suspicious.

"You hadn't closed it properly Kai. I guess in your hurry you just pulled it close but it didn't quite click shut because when I launched Driger he sort of pushed his way in," I lied shamelessly looking right at him so as to not appear as though I was lying. I have to tell you, that's probably the most plausible explanation I have ever come up with in ridiculous situations like this. Not that I have been in many ridiculous situations to begin with. This whole week is going weirdly.

Finally Kai nods. "Just be careful next time," he said. I wasn't sure what he implied by that.

"And Tala, I'm surprised at you, I didn't expect you to come up with something so lame," he told Tala with a smirk. "And besides," he continued, "you didn't have to rescue Ray I wouldn't have done anything to him, it was an honest mistake."

I feel guiltier now. But at the same time I was astonished that I had actually gotten away with this through my own means. However I vowed I wouldn't barge in on Kai's privacy no matter how much it mattered to me. But that vow is only till I make him mine then to hell with privacy. I smirked at the thought and caught Kai and Tala staring at me.

"Right," I said. "Let's go Tala, sorry for the disturbance Kai." Kai nodded again. Since he didn't ask anymore questions I concluded that Tala had suitably handled my lame excuse to get rid of Kai earlier. I dragged Tala by the arm and heard Kai shut the door behind us securely and I think he even turned the lock. I continued smirking and knew that Tala was smirking as well although I refused to look at him right then. Our smirks spreading wider we walked fast across the living room passing Max who was still watching Looney tunes on T.V.

We didn't stop till we reached the corridor between both our apartments. Once there we finally looked at each other. Tala broke first; he sniggered softly and I giggled in turn, we started chuckling then finally burst into full fledged laughter. We laughed like crazy clutching our sides.

"That was so close! I can't believe he actually bought all that," I managed to gasp between chuckles. Tala didn't respond immediately. He attempted to talk but was so overcome by laughter that he merely snorted a couple of times.

"We were so – so stupid and got away with it. He's – he's – lost his touch," Tala managed finally. We both collapsed against the wall gasping for breath and chuckling occasionally as we relived certain parts of the incident. That was an amazing experience for the day and I don't think this day can hold anymore, now I could only look forward to tomorrow.

Through the partly open front door I heard Porky Pig aptly say, "Abdi abdi abdi that's all folks!"

Tbc…

A/N: I don't know when I'll be back next but keep the hope alive. Reviews help you know! :D that's a hint by the way take it : )

Now I leave you to leave your comments. Until next time.