16: Echo
TigerRain: The chapters will remain this length for the remainder of the story. However, it is something I have taken note of and corrected in my other stories...
crystalwish: Thank you!
Imari: Ray and Lee are together, yes. And they want Kai together too. :p
Dawn35: Thanks for continuing to read!
TigerTerror: They were fighting like bitches, so he slapped them like one. Kai bitch slapped them! ^_^;;
Last two chapters K/R/L, and now its back to the others
Disclaimer: I'm very good a fiction… then again, this is a fictional story, so that's kinda blatantly obvious
"Hey, anyone out there?"
Silence.
"Hello, I'm kinda getting hungry. When are you guys planning to feed us?"
Silence.
"Yo bozzo's, I'm beginning to get pissed off."
Silence.
"AARRRGGGHHHH!!!"
Tyson turned and leaned against the bars of the cage, anger simmering through him. It had been over a day since he had last eaten, and he was starting to feel weak and grumpy. Gary was the same, the White Tiger's stomach sounding like a real bear as it growled, followed by Gary's apology.
Mariah sighed, looking toward the doorway that the last of their captors had disappeared through. "I don't think they're planning to feed us at all."
"They would have to feed us," Kenny spoke up. "The human body can only last-"
"I don't really want to hear it, Chief," Tyson cut in. "This body wants food, and wants it now!" He swung back around. "GIVE ME FOOOOOOOD!"
Mariah sighed, looking toward Max. "Is he always like this?"
"Mm-hmm." Max's eyes moved toward Tyson. "Actually, he's normally a lot worse. The lack of food must have made him weaken."
Kenny smiled. "And for once, Max, you're not on a sugar high."
"I don't eat that much sugar. I'm just naturally sweet, that's all."
Tyson rolled his eyes. "Oh please."
Mariah smiled faintly. Sometimes the Blade Breakers reminded her of the White Tigers. Lee and Kevin always seemed to be at each other's throats though a deep respect was held between them. She was the one who often had to step in and calm them down while Gary stuffed his face, and when Ray was with them, he would sit back and laugh until he helped her end the quarrel. Yes, just like the Blade Breakers.
Looking down at the sleeping Kevin, Mariah reached out and carefully pulled his hair free of its tie, letting her fingers run through it to gently, working out the small knots. She smiled faintly, remembering how, when they were younger, she had talked him into being her test subject with makeup and hairstyles. Two years her junior, Kevin had thought it great fun, but then he had grown up. Not that she minded.
The sound of approaching steps caused her to look up. Tyson backed away from the bars at the sign of the gun, the man not saying a word as he unlocked a small panel at the bottom of the door and slid in the tray. Locking it again, he turned and moved away to be lost once more in the shadows.
Tyson approached the tray cautiously, inspecting the contents. "Almost looks like watered down breadcrumbs."
Kenny joined him, sampling a portion. "That's because it is watered down breadcrumbs, with honey. Just enough to give us the right balance of nutrients for us to survive."
"Well at least they don't intend for us to starve," Mr Dickenson commented, looking over the tray. "We should try and divide it equally."
"You and Gary will need more," Kenny pointed out. "You both have bigger frames then us, and will therefore need more nourishment."
"I don't need much," Mariah spoke up. "I was never much of an eater anyway."
"Same," Max agreed.
"Nevertheless, you will still need to eat." Kenny set about dividing up the portions into the small paper bowls. "And you'll get the same as everyone else, Tyson."
Mariah tuned out of Tyson's protesting, looking down at the sleeping form in her arms. Caressing his cheek gently, she sighed. "Kevin. Time to get up." He didn't move. "Kevin Ki, if you don't wake up, I'll trash Galmon." Still no reaction. "Kevin?"
Gary glanced back at her from where he had joined the others, frowning. Moving toward her, he knelt down and patted Kevin's head. "Wake up, Monkey. Dinner time. I'll eat all yours if you don't get up."
To Mariah's relief Kevin's eyelids fluttered, then opened. He looked up at them and smiled. "Hi Bear, Mountain Cat."
"Hi Monkey." Mariah smiled warmly at him. "Dinner time."
"They're feeding us?" Kevin allowed them to help him sit up, resting back against the hay with Mariah on one side, Gary on the other. "Guess they really do want us alive then."
"Wouldn't call it food," Tyson said, holding out a bowl for Kevin. "Here you go, buddy."
"Thanks." Kevin took it, sampling it and smiling. "Tastes like that porridge Mariah made us once."
Mariah felt her cheeks warm at the memory of her experiment gone wrong. "You had to bring that up. Besides, Gary liked it."
"Gary likes anything edible." Kevin pulled a face as he ate a bit more. "Honey, right?"
Mariah sampled her own. "Tastes like it." She looked down at him. "Eat it, Kev. I know you don't like honey, but eat it anyway. Or else I'll get Gary to sit on you while I shove it down your throat."
"I'd be a pancake if Gary sat on me." Kevin looked up at Gary and smiled. "No offence, Gaz. It's just that you're big, and I'm a midget."
"None taken," Gary told him between shovelling the food into his mouth.
They continued to eat, Tyson looking around to see if any of the others decided they'd had enough so he could pinch it. Gary was no better, watching Mariah and Kevin knowing they would hand him their bowls once they were sick of it. Max simply sat and stared at Kevin, who, at first, ignored him before he finally became too much.
"What?"
Max blinked, looking down at his bowl. "You look… different. With your hair out I mean."
Kevin's hand flew to his head, noticing that his hair was out for the first time. He sighed, glancing to his left. "Mariah."
She smiled, feeling her cheeks warm as she looked down at her bowl. "I couldn't help it. You know what I'm like with hair."
"Well you're not platting it this time."
Mariah nodded, eating another mouthful so not to answer. She noted that Max was staring at Kevin again and frowned, looking down at him. She tilted her head, trying to see what it was the fascinated the American… and then she realised. She was still seeing Kevin as the little boy she had helped look after as they had grown up. Gary's annoying little cousin who was always so eager to please, yet at the same time recklessly brave and determined.
But he wasn't that kid anymore, just as she wasn't a little girl. Mariah could already see that at even at 14, Kevin had the makings of becoming a handsome young man. He would never be the drop dead gorgeous guy like Ray was, but more the roguish young man who still manages to catch your eye, like Lee. Kevin was at the age where the changes started, and she could already see it in his face and eyes. Kevin was - if you looked at him the right way - cute. Especially with his hair down.
Narrowing her eyes, Mariah looked toward Max, wondering if he had noticed said 'cuteness' as well. Or if perhaps it really was an honest fascination at seeing Kevin with his hair down. Kinda like when they had first seen Lee with his hair down. It made them look different.
Finishing her small meal, Mariah glanced once more at Max, fighting the urge to move closer to Kevin. Why did she feel so protective of the young neko-jin all of a sudden? Probably because he was hurt, that's all. She wouldn't allow anyone to hurt him again.
She reached out and let her fingers run through his hair. He glanced at her quickly and rolled his eyes, causing her to smile. Hurt or not, Kevin would always be Kevin.
Mariah thinks Kevin's cute? Just a general observation, or is there more to it? And what's with Max's staring?