Another boding scene between Kaizer and Max and how Kaizer sees the tiger cub after the whole mission as a mini-hero.

Chapter 25: Mini-Hero

The next morning comes along and Max slowly opens his eyes and lets out a silent yawn, then stretches himself up and looks at his wolf brother and how happy he is to have him back and then turns to Sierra and smiles at her and that he's really lucky to have those two back. He slowly crept out of the room and did some more limbering up to wake his entire body up and walks around for a little while and sooner or later, he sees Kaizer sitting down on the ground near a river.

He walks closer to him and Kaizer already knew he was walking this way because he heard his footsteps and Kaizer said, "Hey, Max."

"What are you doing out here all alone?" asked Max.

Kaizer lets out a deep sigh and replied, "Just woke up a few minutes ago to think some things over."

Max noticed Kaizer's sandals sitting by a tree and he crossed his legs to make sure he needs some company and he said, "So what are you thinking?"

Kaizer looked at Max for a second and he replied, "This whole journey...mainly you. After everything that happened, I often see a little bit of myself in you."

"You do? How?" asked Max.

"In spite of all the things you suffered, you never let it affect you and you're always one to keep pushing forward even when a challenge is too difficult to face. I sometimes ask myself, 'How does he do it?' and maybe I would've been like you. Just to move on and let the past be the past." Kaizer responded.

Max could tell that Kaizer still wants to be just like him for a bit and he said, "Thanks. I...don't know what to say."

"Here's what I say; to me...you're like my little brother that I wish I had and would be there for me when I needed it the most. You're always sure of yourself and even when you're young, you just live life like no one else could. Me...I'm gonna need a lot of work." Kaizer said, with a sigh.

Max blinked his eyes and he asked, "Be honest, Kai...how'd I do as a leader?"

"Honestly?" asked Kaizer.

Max nodded his head and then, he received a fur rub and a slight noogie from Kaizer and replied, "You're a great leader. You always said that you see me as a hero...but to me, you're my hero."

Max seemed a little taken aback by what Kaizer gave him and he didn't see himself in that label and doesn't make a big deal about it and said, "Aw, stop. I'm not a hero. I'm just a little guy that just wanted to prove everyone that I can accomplish something major."

"And you have. But you are a hero...a mini hero to me. I'm so proud to be in your life as you are in mine." Kaizer replied, his eyes getting a little misty-eyed.

Max smiled at this and he gave Kaizer a hug, in which he freezes in reaction...but has immediately melted into it and hugged him back. Max whispered, "Thanks, Kai."

Kaizer responded with a small purr and that sorta made him a little embarassed that he just did that and he asked, "Did I just...?"

"Yeah, you did. It's okay, though." Max replied.

They let go for a second and Max sees Kaizer get a little embarassed after hearing him purr, assuming that he might think he's a full-on sofite, but he smiles at him and also told him, "I'm not one person to judge anyone."

Kaizer blinked his eyes in response to what Max just told him and fully agreed with the fact that he'd never judge anyone and said, "That's why I respect you a lot."

Suddenly, Takami and Arizona walks by and they see Max and Kaizer bonding a little bit and Arizona asked, "Were we interrupting something?"

Max looks up and sees his wolf brother come in and he immediately ran towards him and hugged his waist and Arizona hugged him back as well and Max said, "Nah, you're good."

Takami knelt down to his level and he said to Max, "You're very special, man."

Arizona looks at Takami and replied, "He's a good kid."

"It's good to have you back, Arizona." Takami said, happily.

Arizona chuckled softly and completely agreed with what Takami said and told him, "It's good to be back. Have there been any problems with Max during the trip?"

"We have had no problems with Max at all. There were a few little issues between him and Tigress though." Takami responded.

Arizona sighed at this and said, "How come that doesn't surprise me?"

"To be honest, Tigress was really bitter about Max's role as a leader, thinking that he's too small or too young to accomplish something majorly big." Kaizer responded.

"But this guy didn't let anything she said get to him. He just keeps it going and he motivates us along the way. Maybe I can learn something from him." Takami added.

Arizona got really amazed that Max did all of this and he looked at his tiger brother and said, "Man, you're growing up, aren't ya?"

"Pretty much. I'm almost 9 though." Max replied.

Kaizer gets himself up with his bare soaked feet and he comes to both Arizona and Takami and he said, "I'll say this...he's considered a little hero to me."

Then, Arizona looks at Kaizer for a second and didn't forget the fact that he brought him back to safety before falling into that lava pit and he said, "Kai, I really appreciate you saving Max yesterday, man."

"He's like a little brother to me too...one I wish I would've had that I can protect and follow his example." Kaizer added.

"Same to me. He just makes me appreciative for everything I have." Takami added.

"I owe you guys big for taking care of him...especially you, Kaizer." Arizona stated.

"Don't worry about it. Like I said, it's no big deal. I just did what I had to do." Kaizer replied.

Max smiles at all three of them and he sees them as his big brothers and he said, "You three ought to be members of the Bushido-Akio's."

Takami chuckled at this and Kaizer just smiled a little bit after making that statement Max just made about being a part of the Bushido-Akio's and Kaizer said, "Sounds pretty cool."

"Very cool." Takami agreed.

Awesome bonding moment, huh? We've got a lot more heading your way! Hazards, weigh in please! Describe a song best fitting for this scene!