It was a few hours before Ray decided he wouldn't be able to get any sleep. He was constantly moving around under the blankets, and he just couldn't find a place that was comfortable for more than a few minutes. He soon let out a sigh of defeat and sat up looking around the dojo. Tyson was now lying at the other end of the room with his back to him while Max still slept alone in the other corner. Ray glanced over at Kai lying beside him. He was unmoving, besides his breathing, and Ray thought he looked very nice in peaceful. He watched Kai for a few more seconds before making himself peel his eyes away. Ray then got out from under his blankets slowly and quietly. He stood up folding his blanket neatly and placing his pillow on it before sliding his shirt on, which he'd taken off after Tyson had calmed down and he thought he could finally get some sleep. Ray then went quickly and quietly to the dojo door. He opened it slowly, so it wouldn't make much noise, and stepped out of the dojo slipping on his shoes and closing the door again slowly.
Ray stood at the dojo's door for a few seconds breathing in the chilly night air. It felt nice in his lungs. He turned and took a few steps away from the door before stopping again and looking up into the clear night sky. The stars were shining brightly making up pictures, the consolations, on a nice dark blue background with the beautifully big moon completing the scene. Ray shivered slightly as a breeze swept by him and snapped him out of his gaze. He crossed his arms and stared walking away from the dojo again. He didn't know where he was going. All he knew was that he needed to get away from this place where he didn't really feel wanted at the moment.
He walked for a few minutes just following the road before sleep started to get to him. It seemed the night stroll had done the trick. But he didn't want to go back to the dojo. Instead he just kept walking to the only other place that he thought was really safe to sleep, even if it was still outside. Ray walked along the road until he got to the river. He took the path down the hill and walked along the riverbank towards the bridge. He let out a soft sigh when he got under the bridge, and walked over to the wall, sitting down beside a crate. Ray brought his knees up to this chest and held them letting out a yawn. He didn't really care that he was on the dirt, or outside, because for some reason he felt more comfortable now than he had in the dojo with his friends. Ray leaned against the crate and shut his eyes. At least he was hidden a little bit from view by the bridge and crate.
Ray let out a groan as he was woken by a poking in his side. It was irritating and hurt, meaning it had probably been happening for a while. He felt stiff and sore all over from the way he'd slept, and he was still a little tired. From what he could tell, as he became a little more awake, it was still fairly dark out, which meant he hadn't been sleeping long. Ray opened his eyes fully, blinking a few times, before trying to figure out what was still poking him in the side.
When Ray looked over to the side of him that wasn't against the crate he had to blink a few more times to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He couldn't believe there was actually a person sitting beside him, who was now giving him a strange look. "I didn't get killed in the night and sent to Nirvana, did I?" Ray asked in a whisper, without realizing it.
"What are you talking about?" Kai asked him in a confused tone. "You're not still half asleep are you?" Ray went a little wide-eyed realizing that Kai had heard him.
"Wait, what? No I'm awake, at least I hope I am," Ray told him laughing nervously. Kai raised an eyebrow at him. "What are you doing here anyways?" Ray asked shifting a little, with a quiet groan, so he was sitting up.
"I went for a walk," Kai said standing up.
"That doesn't tell me why you're here, or why you were poking me," he said. Usually he wouldn't question Kai, and would just take the first thing he said as his answer, but the bet between him and Tyson wasn't over and he knew that Kenny might be sleeping right now, but Dizzy could still monitor him.
"Does is really matter?" Kai asked him crossing his arms.
"Kind of," Ray told him looking away. He didn't want to keep pestering Kai like this, but he didn't really have a say in the matter.
"I saw you sitting here while I was on my walk and decided that I might as well wake you up," Kai told him a little coldly. "Now why don't you tell me why you were sleeping out here?"
Ray bit his lip, and looked back at Kai as he spoke. "Well I didn't really feel welcome back at the dojo, and I couldn't fall asleep so I came out here. Why does it matter? You didn't really want me sleeping in there by you anyways," Ray said cursing the bet. Normally he would have come up with some quick and believable lie. Kai didn't need, or want, to know about his personal feelings anyways.
"That's not the only reason, is it?" Kai asked. Ray had no idea why Kai was continuing with this topic, and it was making him a little annoyed.
"I heard you say you were still babysitting a bunch of kids and it hurt my feelings a little?" Ray told him in the form of a question so it sounded like he was just trying to find another reason for him, even if it was true.
"Hn," Kai answered looking away from Ray towards the road. "Are you coming back with me?"
"No, I'm still tired and I won't be able to get any sleep back at the dojo. I'm going to go take a nap on the grass," he said forcing himself to stand slowly. Kai watched him out of the corner of his eye, and then turned his back on him.
"I'll be back here in a few hours," Kai told him starting to walk away, but then stopped as if deciding on something. "You're still acting a little strange, care to tell me why?" he asked looking over his shoulder at Ray. Ray shook his head.
"Not really," he told him with a chuckle.
"Hn," Kai said, and headed away from Ray again.
The sun shining brightly onto his face woke Ray this time. He let out a groan and sat up on the grass hill blinking and looking around. The area around him was still deserted, and now he was wondering what time it actually was. He let out a sight lying back on the grass with his arms under his head. He wasn't stiff or really sore anymore. Stretching out on the grass to sleep had really helped with that, like he'd suspected it would.
He lay there quietly just looking up at the almost cloudless sky and breathing. It seemed like a few more minutes before a shadow went across Ray's face, and he let out a sigh. He sat up slowly and turned to face Kai standing higher on the hill with his arms crossed. "Here already?" Ray asked him laughing a little. Kai didn't seem to find it funny though.
"Come with me," he said a little annoyed.
"I don't want to go back to Tyson's though," Ray told him not being able to hide the slight hint of a whine in his voice.
"Stop acting like a little kid and come with me. You're going back to Tyson's. It's almost lunch and Max and Tyson have been worrying about you all morning, bugging me to go find you for them," Kai told him a little coldly.
"So you didn't worry about me when you first woke up this morning?" Ray asked him, but he wished he didn't have to. Kai didn't answer him. He just turned his back on him, told him to come one more time, and headed up to the road. Ray sat in the grass for a few seconds before scrambling to his feet and walking quickly to catch up to Kai.
Ray and Kai walked silently back to the dojo. Kai had made Ray walk in front of him a bit so he could keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't run off again. Ray didn't like this idea very much. It made him feel like Kai really was his babysitter, but he didn't complain about it. He didn't need Tyson and Kai mad at him.
They reached the dojo quickly, Kai having made Ray walk fast, and headed to the backyard. When they entered the yard Ray was hit by a surprise, a very wet surprise right in the face. Ray blinked as he whipped the water, which was now dripping down his face and bangs, with his sleeve. But as soon as he lowered his arm he was hit again, right in the chest. Ray glared at the person standing a little ways away from him. Tyson was standing there, glaring at him and holding a garden hose. "What was that for?" Ray asked a little angrily glancing over at Max who was behind Tyson, holding back giggles. Tyson squeeze the trigger on the garden hose head again for a few seconds this time, squirting Ray's chest again.
"Because you just disappeared without telling us where you were going or anything," Tyson told him sounding a little angry.
"Tyson, give me that hose," Ray said bitterly taking a step forward.
"No, bad cat," Tyson said squirting Ray again. Ray took another step forward. "I said bad cat!" Tyson yelled. "Stay back!" He squirted Ray again, in the face this time. Ray glared at him.
"Stop that!" He yelled, and didn't even manage to take a step when Tyson squirted him this time.
"You're being a very bad cat. I'm not going to stop until you behave yourself!" Tyson yelled squirting Ray just for the fun of it this time. Ray smiled sweetly.
"Oh, well that's too bad, because I'm one of those cats that actually likes the water," he told him as he took a step forward. He was very close to Tyson now.
"Are you really?" Tyson asked pulling down on the hose trigger and holding it. He moved the water quickly over all of Ray, and then let go when he looked almost soaked. Ray continued to smile sweetly at Tyson.
"Ok, now it's your turned," Ray told him reaching for the hose, but Tyson took a few steps back and held the hose away from him.
"No thanks, I don't feel like getting wet right now," Tyson told him smiling sweetly back. Ray changed to a glare.
"Tyson, give me that hose!" Ray yelled lunging at him. Tyson laughed dodging him.
"You'll have to catch me first!" he yelled bolting down the yard. Ray let out a little growl. He then started to run after Tyson, pulling off his wet shirt, when he noticed it was heavy and slowing him down, and his wet head band.
Kai leaned against the wall ignoring the two boys having a water fight. He was now occupying himself with the clouds floating by in the sky, trying to ignore Ray every time he ran past him. Soon Kai heard someone coming up beside him. He turned to see Max grinning at him. "What?" Kai asked him cautiously. Max shrugged.
"I don't know," he said nudging Kai with his elbow, still grinning, and looked towards Ray, out of the corner of his eye, as he ran by. He was now chasing Tyson with the hose.
"Shut up," Kai said little coldly turning an unnoticeable shade of pink. Max laughed.
"I didn't say anything though," he said watching again as Ray and Tyson ran by.
"Don't make me push you into the pond," Kai growled.
"I didn't say anything!" Max yelled, jokingly, making Ray and Tyson stop to look at them.
Tyson and Ray were both soaking wet. Tyson had taken off his hat and jacket, and was watching Ray out of the corner of his eye. Ray was still in possession of the garden hose, and he had it pointed at Tyson. Max and Kai looked at the two boys, giving them questioning looks, before Ray turned the hose on them. "I think they look a little too nice and dry," Ray said looking over at Tyson. Tyson nodded.
"I agree," he smiled, pulling off his soaked shirt and throwing it to the side. It had final started to bug him. Kai smirked inwardly as he glanced at Max elbowing him. Max glared at Kai, but then smiled looking at Ray
"I think Ray's too much of a chicken to squirt Kai first!" he yelled laughing. "I know he can, and will, get me with the water. But he doesn't have the guts to get Kai!"
"You really think so?" Ray asked him, smirking as he turned the hose fully on Kai.
"Ray, if you get me wet you will have hell to pay," Kai said glaring at him.
"You're bluffing," Ray laughed squeezing the trigger so some water came out, but not enough to reach Kai.
"No, I'm really not," he growled.
"You won't hit him with the water, I know you won't!" Max yelled trying to push Ray to do it.
"If he won't do it I will!" Tyson yelled walking over to Ray, trying to take the hose from. Ray turn and pulled the trigger all the way backing away from Tyson.
"I will so do it!" Ray yelled turning the water from Tyson to Kai laughing, hitting Max in the process.
Ray let the trigger go, and all three boys looked at him angrily. Max had only gotten a light wet, but Kai was now soaked. Kai uncrossed his arms and moved away from the wall. He started to walk towards Ray with his hand out screeched. "Give me that garden hose, you two are done acting like kids," Kai said coldly. Ray took a few steps back shaking his head.
"You need to lighten up," he told him pulling the trigger again, stopping Kai in his tracks.
"That's it, Ray, you're dead!" Kai yelled running towards Ray, throwing off his soaking wet shirt. Ray laughed and turned running away from him, shooting the hose over his shoulder.
Max moved slowly away from the three soaking wet boys. He'd managed to stay relatively dry and get Kai to have a little fun. He wanted to keep it that way. Max inched away from the dojo towards the cement wall. He felt relatively safe from the line of fire over here. The ground was still dry, unlike the part of the yard Tyson and Ray had been running around on. "I wouldn't stand there if I were you," said a voice from beside Max. Max tore his eyes away from the water fight/chase scene between Kai and Ray, and looked over at Tyson.
"Why?" he asked trying to keep all his focus on Tyson's face. Tyson shrugged.
"I don't know," he said getting closer to Max. Max swallowed hard. "Maybe because of this," Tyson said in a quieter voice. Max gave him a confused look before he realized Tyson had pushed him and he was now falling backwards. Max let out a little yelp as he hit the small pond with a splash, getting completely soaked. Tyson laughed looking down at him and grinning. "Now you're not being left out, Maxie," he said before turning to walk away.
"Tyson, don't you walk away from me!" Max yelled as he sprang up from the pond, grabbing the back of Tyson's jeans and pulling him backwards into the pond beside him. Tyson hit the water with a slightly bigger splash and glared at Max's grinning face.
"Why'd you do that?" Tyson yelled splashing him. Max didn't answer he just laughed and splashed Tyson back.
The water fight went on for the rest of the afternoon making the four boys completely forget about lunch. Tyson's grandpa had come out at one point to remind them, and ask what they wanted, but his only reply was a squirt in the face, with the garden hose, by a shirtless Max. He decided, at that point, to just go into the house and hide until the boys were done. When the boys had finally gotten tired, and felt they were wet enough, they put the garden hose away and found a patch of the yard by the cement wall that, unbelievably, wasn't wet, and sat down taking off their shoes and socks.
The sun was going to start to set soon, which meant there wasn't really light to dry off in, so the four boys just sat with their backs against the wall, Tyson and Ray twisting the water out of their hair. "Thanks a lot guy, my hair looks horrible now," Max whined, although he was joking, as he tried to fix it, only making it worse in his opinion.
"No it doesn't," Ray and Tyson said at the same time. They looked at each other, and Max and Kai stared at them. After a few seconds Max broke the slightly awkward silence with a forced laugh.
"Thanks guys, but it probably really does look bad," he told them, not having the ability to actually see his hair since he didn't have anything to look at his reflection in. Ray was about to answer again, but instead just looked away from Max and leaned back. He was going to let Tyson talk to Max alone and see what happened.
"It actually looks kind of cute," Tyson told Max a little nervously. Ray smirked to himself.
"So guess that means I'm cuter than I was when I was dry?" Max asked, letting out another fake laugh.
"Yeah, kind of," Tyson told him. Ray could see him shrinking against the wall.
"Um, thanks?" Max said in the form of a question. He seemed to be a little uncomfortable.
The boys sat in silence for the next few minutes as they dried off slowly. The first one to get up way Kai, he stood up and started to head over to the house, when Tyson called out and stopped him. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked sitting up from leaning on the wall.
"To make sure your grandfather is ok. He did get hit in the face with water by Max," Kai told him as he tuned to look at him. Ray sat against the wall with one eye barely open, looking at him, and Max looked down at the grass a little ashamed.
"I'll go check on him myself," Tyson told Kai, standing up. "He's my grandpa, and he doesn't need to see a shirtless Kai. He'd tell me I need to work out more or something."
"Well maybe he'd be right," Kai said poking Tyson's flat stomach.
"Just because I don't have abs starting doesn't mean I need to work out more!" Tyson yelled at him.
"Hn," Kai replied walking back over to his spot by Max against the wall, Tyson glaring at him as he went.
"And what are you looking at Ray? I can see your eye open!" Tyson said rather loudly before walking over to the house.
Ray closed his eye quickly and brought his knees up to his chest to rest his head on. But he realized that his pants were still fairly wet, and lowered his knees with a sigh leaning back against the wall. "You ok Ray?" Max asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Ray asked forcing a laugh. Max shrugged.
"You've just been acting a little off lately," he told him. "Same with Tyson," he added after a few seconds. "What's going on with you two?"
"What do you mean?" Ray asked him raising an eyebrow slightly. Max shrugged.
"I don't know you two have just been fighting lots. And then all of a sudden last night Tyson wants to sleep beside you, then you disappear, then you guys start this huge water fight, and then Tyson acts like he's mad at you before he leaves and now you seem a little down. So I was just wondering what's up with you guys," he told Ray innocently. Ray forced a smile.
"Nothing's up with us," he told him, glancing over at Kai who seemed to be in deep thought. "I guess you're just catching us at bad times." Ray looked back at Max, who seemed a little less concerned, and the saw Kai move to look over at him.
"Well with all the fighting and stuff going on it's a little hard to figure you two out," Kai said plainly. Ray raised an eyebrow at him questioning what he meant by figuring him and Tyson out. "So, what do you think of Tyson?" Kai asked. "I've heard you call him many things in the past two days."
Ray looked over at Kai and laughed nervously. "What is this, a two on one thing now? You both just deicide that you want to gang up on me?" he asked.
"Hn," Kai answered as Max frowned a little.
"That's the same question Tyson asked me yesterday, by the way," Ray told them forcing a smile. Neither of them said anything. Ray sighed. "My answers still the same one I gave Tyson yesterday. He's an annoying slob," he told them.
"You actually told him that?" Max asked looking at him wide-eyed.
"Yeah, he was bugging me so I just told him what he wanted to know," Ray said shrugging. "But I guess he's also funny and a good friend."
"What do you think of Max?" Kai asked. Max looked from Ray over to Kai and gave him a look that made Kai shrug slightly. When Max looked back at Ray he was a little pinker.
"Why does it matter?" Ray asked him.
"Well I want to know now too, after what you said about Tyson," Max told him frowning.
"Well I think you're funny and a good friend," Ray told him. "And cute, but you can be annoying sometimes too, just not as bad as Tyson." Max laughed for real this time.
"Oh wow, only one bad thing? Thanks Ray," he said rubbing the back of his head and turning a little pinker. "What about Kai?"
"What about him?" Ray asked quickly his heart starting to race.
"Well you said what you thought about me and Tyson. You should do Kai now," Max said shrugging. Ray bit his lip.
"Since you seem to be in a sharing mood," Kai added crossing his arms. Ray opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by a very loud shout, which drew Max and Kai's attention away from him. Ray let out a sigh of relief and looked in the direction of the yell too.
"Guys get in here! Grandpa wants us to come inside for a bit so we don't catch colds!" Tyson yelled from his house's front door. Ray got up quickly.
"Come on guys," he said racing off feeling as if he'd just dodged a bullet, and would actually need to thank Tyson later. Even if he knew it would make him mad that he unknowingly got him out of a potentially bet losing situation. He entered the Tyson's house, and then waited for Max and Kai who were coming slowly behind.