I am really stoked people like this story even with the pairing of Mariah & Tyson. Thanks reviewers!

TEN REASONS

Chapter 2 – Why I'm glad I'm staying at Tyson's

Mariah's POV

The plane boarded at the Tokyo International Airport at seven in the night. I went through customs yet again, then commenced my search in the sea of people to find Tyson.

"Mariah, Mariah Wong!" I hear a bright cheery call. Looks like he found me. I walk over and take a good look at the man standing in front of me. His grown taller, his taller than Ray, slightly tanned, his once stormy eyes now tinted like red sparkling sequins, same old hair and a cheeky grin plastered over his face as if he just stole the last cookie out of the cookie jar. He wore loose jeans and a red shirt stating in yellow with white out lining, 'be afraid McDonald's, be very afraid'. I hold in a laugh, he hasn't changed one bit!

"I thought I would recognise that pink hair anywhere and I was right! Welcome to Japan, Mariah!" he greets, gesturing with his arms stretched out. He seems welcoming and friendly which lifts a huge weight that anticipating nervous feeling off my chest.

"Wow, it has been awhile," I reply softly, he looks and seems so much older. Okay, a little older.

"Yeah long time no see. We must have been fifteen the last time we meet at the last world tournament you competed in and you look like you always have except more lady like." I smile at his brute honesty and shake my head as we begin to walk to his car.

"Well I suppose you look more man like than," I reply, causing him to laugh.

"Do you want something to eat? That airplane food wouldn't even grade one star." I nod, obviously he hasn't changed much mentally. "What do you want to eat,"

"Nothing Asian," I state. Too right that's all I have eaten all my life.

"Mmm, how about McDonald's?" Looking down at his shirt. "We could go through drive through and eat on the way home as it takes about an hour to get there."

"Sure, um Tyson?" I ask a little ashamed, "Could I perhaps borrow some money please?"

"Don't worry about it, Dinner is on me. Besides I'm one of there favourite customers and I have a discount card."

"Positive," I inquired checking that it was okay.

"Definitely. Here is my car, a VW beetle," he beams with pride. I might not know much on cars let alone how to change a flat tyre but this car is sweet. It's bright blue with a dragoon decal much like Dragoon along the doors with stars here and there.

"Nice." Is all I say.

"Nice? I usually get a 'wow that car is so hot!' but nice?"

"Wow that car is so hot!" I mimic.

"Thought you would like it. Check out the number plate." I look down and read the white word 'STOLEN' on the blue plate.

"So that's how you own a top dollar car," he smiles and unlocks it and motions me to hop in. He starts it and we commence to drive.

"Nah, I work for the BBA and they gave it to me. Not to mention Dizzi's advice on the stock market for the money to upgrade it."

"How long have you worked there for?"

"Since the end of High School. What about you, do you work?"

"No in my village I'm expected to get married have kids and became a house wife," I answer extremely pleased that I have left that all behind.

"Fun," he comments sarcastically.

"Yeah, especially with Kevin," extending the joke further.

"Yeah Ray told me. Is it cool with you if I ask you something personal?" He asks turning the conversation down serious street. I had been pondering if he would ask me about this on the plane, pausing for a moment I figured that since he already knew half the story then he could know the other half.

"Yeah, okay."

"What bra size are you?" I whack his arm causing the car to swerve.

"I thought you were going to ask me about the whole marriage thing!"

"You assume too much," it goes all silent, he is right I do assume too much. Like how I assumed Ray and I would get married and how I assumed he loved me. He begins to speak again. "Though I was going to ask you about that but you looked like you were anticipating it and you did grant me permission to ask you something personal, which I did." I sigh.

"You're right, I'm sorry,"

"Yeah I'm sorry too if I offended you. I didn't intend to hurt your feelings,"

"It's cool now, I shouldn't have assumed that, just like how I assumed that Ray and I would always be together."

"I made that same mistake with Hilary," I seem shocked at first, I don't know if it was because they finally had gotten together or that he had made the same mistake I did but then I seemed kind of relieved. I had someone to relate to on the matter.

"I always thought you and Hilary had a thing for each other at the last world tournament I attended."

"You're not the only one, everyone else did too. We got together in the last year of High School and dated till about a year ago. She just grew up so fast while I took my time and we just grew apart, but I still loved her. She broke it off with me and I went all mopey for about two weeks and then six months after we broke up she and Kai hooked up." The words, what the? Ran through my head. And back again and again.

"Hilary and Kai?" I repeat a little astonished.

"Yeah and they have been seeing each other ever since." Then I applied his situation to mine and wondered if he had gotten over it. I feared the answer cause if he hadn't gotten over it would I ever get over Meyong and Ray? Yeah I know I said I only loved him as a brother yesterday but I still like him just a little.

"And are you over it?"

"Yep, it takes time to climb a mountain but eventually you get over it." I smile relieved of the emotional gamble I took for the answer and I have all the time in the world now that I am out of the village and not forced to do anything.

"Wow I never thought those two in a million years," I reply trying to figure out how they cope with one another.

"No one did. See she became a lawyer which suits her perfectly as she is bossy, argumentative and loves to prove to the judge that these people need to be punished for disturbing our society. Anyway six months after we broke up some company was trying to sue Kai's corporation. Hilary being the best in her field was employed by Kai to sought this out and somehow they got together. And that is the biggest mystery of them all."

"I don't think Sherlock could solve that mystery," I then take my turn in telling him about my story including my family's death.

"Yeah Mr Dickinson told us about Lee's death and Ray never told, spoke of it nor did we bring it up."

"It hurt him more than it hurt me, he never spoke of it to me either after their funeral. I think I remind him too much of Lee but at the same time he felt he had to take on Lee's role as my big brother. See Ray use to love me, god we use to make out at the back of my house every spare moment we had together but when Lee died I think he realised he loved me as a sister. Only now am I starting to realise that I love him as a sister. I guess the whole situation has really opened my eyes for me." I finish. I can't believe I just spat that all out. Within less than an hour of Tyson's company I've told him my whole life story.

"Ray never told me or spoke about that you two use to make out either." He snickers.

"Well he wouldn't of. It was our little secret, that was until Mum caught us. Scared the… you know what out of Ray and I. She just walked back inside mumbling something about teenagers and their hormones." I laugh but it quickly subsides when I think of Mum.

"God I miss her, I miss them all." I say louder than the whisper I intended. Like I actually wanted to be sure that Tyson heard it. Usually I would be in tears talking about my family's death but as I recounted my past it seemed that the burden was lifted and it was getting easier and easier to talk about it.

"I know what you mean, my mum died of breast cancer when I was six and my gramps died about one year and a half ago. They were the two hardest struggles I've ever been through in my life. Even harder than winning any world title." He finishes and gives me a faint smile.

"That's life for you no one wins in the end when you die," I state one of my mother's old quotes.

"Right that's why I live life to the fullest, cause I want as many trophies and wins under my belt before I lose."

"And that's why I ain't marrying Kevin." I then hear Tyson's stomach growl.

"Oh man I forgot to go to McDonald's!" He cries in totally disbelief, "Oh my god I was too wrapped up in our chat and I totally forgot! Is pizza okay?"

"It's fine," not really caring what I eat as long as it is not Asian.

"That was some deep chat,"

"To be honest that was one of the deepest conversations I've ever had," I usually only have those with Galux but Tyson seemed to understand what I was going through.

"Same," he replies, a mobile than goes off and Tyson answers it.

"Hello," the person on the other end speaks and I can make out a 'are you talking on your cell in the car cause that's illegal' and Tyson replies with a 'of course not!' More chit chat from the other line. "Yeah that would be wicked! Do you have room for another? Say Mariah?" More chit chat. "Hang on let me ask her. Mariah next weekend Max and Emily are flying in and have booked a unit by the sea. Would you like to come?"

The sea… I've always wanted to stay by the sea although I don't want to be rude and over stay my welcome.

"I'd love to but I can't afford it,"

"I didn't ask if you could afford it and you said you would love to come besides they are inviting you. Well Emily is. See it is going to be a surprise birthday party for Max and all his old friends are hopefully coming and you are one of them."

"Then yes, if it is no hassle of course."

"Yeah she'll come Emily," Emily then speaks. "Yeah cya and good luck with trying to get Kai to come." He hangs up. "Emily says she can't wait to see you and that she might ring you later in the week." I smile, Emily and I patched things over at the end of the World Tournament when Tyson defeated Tala and I can't wait to see her. To think we used to hate each other the first time we met and in the last world tournament I went to we went shopping together and had a sleepover. Actually looking back I think she admitted to me that she liked Max.

"I can't wait! She's booked all this stuff for us to do while we are there like water skiing and it will be so cool to see everyone again." He cheers. I then realise I didn't pack my togs on the words water skiing.

"Um, Tyson I didn't bring my togs." Yet again embarrassed.

"I can buy you new ones,"

"I feel like I'm using your friendship for your money," stating exactly how I am feeling.

"Though you are not and like I said I got lucky on the stock market and I did tell Ray I would look after you." He smiles.

"Hey are Emily and Max together?"

"Yeah, for ages. Oh, here's my crib."

We pull up and I hop out of the car to look at his house. "Why it's a dojo."

"Yeah, come on in," he then gave me a guided tour of the house, showed me my room while we waited for the pizza to arrive. When it did I ate 3 slices, he ate 13. I said my goodnights as I was tired from getting up early and it was getting close to nine. I showered, dressed and went to bed.

I guess Ray was right, Tyson is a great friend to have.

10 Reasons Why I'm glad I'm staying at Tyson's…

1. I don't have to marry Kevin

2. He bought me dinner

3. He has a beautiful house

4. He is easy to talk to

5. He is a great friend

6. He has a wicked car

7. I can relate to him

8. He is buying me new togs

9. He is taking me to the sea and we are staying there for a weekend. Plus I get to swim in the sea!

10. If I didn't stay at his place I would be in Hong Kong most likely sleeping on a park bench.

I hope you like it! Please review and tell me what you think!