Tainted Blood

Chapter 21

by. SilverWolf-Ryuki

A/N: Thanks for everyone who reviewed. xDD

Apologies for the lack of update, although it's not uncommon, this break was pretty long. It's all due to my moving to Houston, and my internet being cut off almost a month before I actually moved. But here is the update, although short, and I will get the next chapters up as soon as possible.

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"Ah, it's so good to be back on the road." Lee stretched on his seat on the airplane.

Kai gave him a lazy glare, before popping two more Advil pills into his mouth.

"Kai, are you trying to murder yourself?" Ren asked as he narrowed his eyes at the half-empty Advil bottle.

"I've got a killer headache." He replied in a un-Kai voice. "It must be the hangover. God, I hate you guys."

"Kai, it's been nearly a week since the alcohol incident." Tala reminded.

"I guess my nervous system kicks in later than it should." Kai mumbled as he put a hand on his head.

Suddenly, he felt a warm hand trailing down his thigh. He saw out of the corners of his eyes that it was Mariam. Suddenly, without any control, his face started to burn and his head throbbed worse than ever.

Laughter filled his ears, and Mariam's hand was gone.

"No, Kai, I think your nerves are working fine." Mariam winked.

Kai slouched a bit in his seat and popped in another Advil. "I'll just sleep."

---

A ringing startled Kai out of his sleep. Immediately, his head started to pound heavily. He looked outside – it was pitch black. Everyone else was snuggled up. It was quite cute, seeing Mariah leaning on Rei's shoulders as they snoozed. But now's not the time...

"Kai, it's your cell phone." Rei murmured in his half-asleep state.

Kai blinked heavily and rubbed his eyes childishly. "Hello?" He answered groggily.

"Hi Kai!"

"Max, how did you get the phone number?"

"Oh, I forget. But when are you guys landing?"

"How about you let us sleep, and we'll call you when we land?" Kai slapped his phone down and walked back to his seat.

Then the phone rang again.

"Kai, shut the damn phone off..." Ren mumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow he was hugging to his face.

"Hello?" Kai said, but the phone continued to ring.

"You have to flip it open..." Mariam reminded him, her voice sleepy.

Kai flipped open his phone. "Hello?"

"When exactly are you guys landing?"

"Around 7 in the morning,"

"Thanks!"

Kai let the phone drop with a clunk onto the floor, and grabbed a pillow and went back to sleep.

---

"You GUYS!" Max's voice could be heard the moment they landed in the rented area in the airport.

"Oh boy, it's Maxie," Rei smiled helplessly. "Everybody cold hearted, brace your-selves."

Ren froze. "Meaning...?"

"It's going to be unpleasant." Tala warned.

"Hi Max," Lee greeted.

"LEE! REI! TALA! MARIAM! MARIAH! KAI! FREAKY GUY WITH POINTY HAIR! OBLIVIOUS-LOOKING GUY! WOW! It's been for-ever!" Max exclaimed, jumping with excitement, waving his arms around animatedly.

"Freaky guy with pointy hair...?" A vein popped out on Ren's forehead.

"This is Ren." Mariah said quickly.

"REN!" Max plastered himself onto the Chinese.

"GET – OFF – ME!" Ren growled and started to wry the younger American off.

"Unpleasant," Tala nodded knowledgably.

Zeo watched with interest as Ren and Max wrestled around. "This Max is surprisingly strong."

"Ah, yes," Rei said, face showing a mix of 'cold and hot', as if reliving a memory he'd rather forget, "The 'Max Hug'."

"A tad dangerous," Mariam agreed.

Kai grunted, an ice pack pressed onto his head.

"I am a magnet to over-friendly idiots." Ren grumbled, with Max hanging off his shoulders.

"So, Max, how's America?" Mariah asked; her voice excited.

"Which city will we be living at?" Zeo asked.

"It's brilliant." Max told Mariah, immediately getting off of Ren, making him crash into a nearby cart. Max spread his arms wide. "Welcome to New York!"

---

"This is certainly one of the busy places," Tala commented.

"Yep," Max answered cheerily. "We're only staying here for a day, before moving off into Canada, where the bit beasts are most likely living in."

"Why Canada?" Mariam asked curiously.

"The natives of North America were more centered up there." Max answered. "Don't know why, since it's warmer down here, but they didn't exactly move down here until quite a bit later."

"You've done your research," Ren muttered.

"Yep." Max spoke, almost like a proud dog barking to show off. A large grin was on his face.

"I wonder how it is like in Canada." Mariah sighed. "Is it going to be as busy as here?"

"No," Kai answered. "Canada's less concentrated."

"Good," Lee coughed. "I might be a bit claustrophobic."

Max waved his hand. "It's just the pollutions."

"You say it like it is nothing." Zeo sighed.

"It is nothing." Max smiled. "They're working on air filters that will purify the air, everywhere."

"I haven't heard of that," Rei said, interested.

"We didn't know they made androids either," Mariam motioned at Zeo.

Tala grunted.

"Wow, android?" Max gasped. "That's really cool!"

"Thanks," Zeo looked down good naturedly, blushing slightly.

Mariam and Mariah immediately started cooing over how cute Zeo was when he did that.

Ren raised an eyebrow at Zeo's behaviour. "Gee, I wonder if father made him to attract women,"

"Just because you can't get any," Lee grinned.

"Oh, and I see many arm candies you've got." Ren retorted back lazily.

"Loosen up," Lee nudged him with a smile.

"We need to get you a girl," Tala made a note.

"Why me?" Ren protested, putting his hands up in defence.

"Because you're the bitterest," Rei put his arms around Ren's neck and pulled Ren into a semi head lock, all the while keeping a mischievous smile.

Mariah and Mariam sighed.

"Boys," Mariah shook her head.

"Will be boys," Mariam finished, sighing.

"Rei –"

"Will be yours."

"You know me too well." Mariah laughed.

"I know," said Mariam, and gave a wink.

---

A/N: Not much, I know. But another it's just another in between chapter. Next chapter – straight to Canada, which I just moved out of. –sigh- Better get my memory jogging.