Tainted Blood

Chapter 22

by. SilverWolf-Ryuki

A/N: Thanks for everyone who reviewed.

BTW, it's been a while since the disclaimer, so, naturally, I don't own most of this stuff. The cities, bit beasts, people... but it is fan-fiction dot net, so... the disclaimer shouldn't really be needed.

---

After the nine people, plus a hired driver, crammed into an 8-person minivan, they were on the road to Canada.

Well, on the road to the train station, with a train that will eventually lead them to Canada.

It was slightly awkward. In order to fit everyone in, they removed all the seats, locked all the doors, and secured everything in place. Even though, they couldn't help cramming into each other whenever there was a turn. Zeo was offered the passenger seat, and he took it, mostly to prevent any malfunctions, technical difficulties or sudden, unknown reflexes popping out when someone bumped into him.

It was actually a pretty roomy van, and everyone could fit in perfectly. Until turning corners, everyone was happy.

But when they turned the corner...

"Get OFF!" Tala choked as Max nearly somersaulted over everyone and crashed into him.

"Gomen!" Max whined. "I can't help it."

"Mariah, you aren't going to die." Rei nudged Mariah, who attached herself very tightly to his arm.

They took another turn. "Yes I am!"

Kai turned to Mariam, who also held onto his arm.

"Two people are heavier than one." Mariam said; her voice flat. Her other hand was clutching one of the seatbelts beside her. "I, for one, don't want to end up like Max."

Ren, however, seemed perfectly normal as crouched in an impossible position to stand on, even on flat ground. It was as if he sat on invisible air.

"What are you –?" Lee looked at Ren, bewildered.

"I did training." Ren muttered as the car took another turn, and he stood, seemingly unaffected.

"I did training too!" Lee exclaimed. "This is gravitational forces we're talking about here."

"You can learn to conquer them."

Ren smirked, and out of the corner of his lips, he wispered a thank you to Bason.

"How long is this ride, sir?" Zeo asked nicely to the driver.

"You're looking at about 20 more minutes," The man grunted.

"Hear that?" Max said gratefully. "20 minutes."

---

"Oh boy, twenty minutes, eh?" Lee stretched as he got out of the van. "Felt like an hour."

"Please don't tell us we're going to be crammed on the train as well?" Kai looked around.

"No, I booked the first class leisure train." Max said, grinning. "It was hard, considering my age, they thought I was joking. Thanks for getting the cash in on time, Kai."

"I didn't pay," Kai shook his head. "I lost financial support from my grandfather, aside from my cell-phone, quite a while ago."

Rei, Lee and Mariah nodded, remembering the event of which Kai's private jet took off without him.

"Well, it said Kai Hiwatari on the envelope for the money order." Max frowned. "Who would have paid for it?"

Silence fell.

"Let's not worry about that." Tala shook his head. "Worry about it when the bill came."

"Good idea," Mariam agreed as they made their way to the train.

"We're quite the crowd, aren't we?" Mariah looked among them. "Nine people... I hope the other people in business class can stand our noise."

"I am sure that they can," Zeo smiled sincerely.

"Honestly," Ren mumbled to himself.

"Oh, and by the way," Rei called as they entered the train. "Be on the look out for a girl for Ren."

"N-nani?" Ren jumped back a feet. "You were serious?"

"You're just too bitter Ren," Tala said in a fake comforting voice as he smirked.

The rest of the seven people nodded almost comically.

Ren stuffed his hands in his face. "Oh, dear God, help me."

---

And from then on, Ren became paranoid and extremely cautious. It was strange, as the teen was usually the most confident and sarcastic, but everyone had their moments, supposedly. Except that this was getting ridiculous.

"Would you like a –"

"No."

The woman frowned with confusion. She put one hand on her cart. "Are you sure you wouldn't like a –"

"I said no!"

"Sorry miss, don't mind my friend."

The attendant looked at Max, who was seated in front of Ren.

"He's a bit jumpy, because of a certain friendly threat that was taken seriously." Max flashed one of his innocent smiles.

"Oh, that's quite alright." The attendant smiled back good-naturedly and nodded before moving on.

"sorry miss, don't mind my friend." Ren mimicked. "He's just a bit jumpy, because of a friendly threat that was taken seriously – seriously, who are you trying to kid?"

"She bought it." Kai retorted from the seat beside Ren's. "And he saved your sorry ass from being reported and thrown off the first class."

Ren cursed.

"It's not like we're going to get someone who's ugly, or annoying," Rei smiled as he looked over his seat, which was beside Max.

Ren opened his mouth, but was interrupted.

"In our standards, that is." Mariah winked from the seat across the isle.

"Just loosen up," Mariam said exasperatedly.

Ren sulked and sank into his seat, which was leather and very pouf.

Silence fell. Everyone looked expectantly at Tala and Zeo in their seat, but they were busy discussing the true meaning of Edgar Allen Poe's poem, and why the world was on a downfall – politics, economics, or human sins.

"You know," A female voice startled them. It was one of the attendants who passed by earlier. "I had a friend who was similar to you. You just need to find someone you're happy with."

"Oh, that's real easy," Ren nodded; his voice a bit higher than usual. His eyes were wide with fake innocence and sarcasm. "Yeah, I'll just go out on the street and love someone."

"Ren's..." Kai paused.

"Cold?"

"Rude?"

"Sarcastic?"

"Sturdy?"

"Strong?"

"Freaky?"

"Different?"

"Queer?"

"Wait," Rei froze. "Isn't queer another word for Gay?"

"Are you gay?" Mariam inquired in a sort of British accent.

Ren quivered. "I. Am. Not. Fucking. Gay!"

"Don't worry," Kai assured, not very assuring, as his voice was deadpan. "They thought I was gay too, before certain things happened."

Everyone raised a suggesting eyebrow at him.

He sighed, exasperated. "Oh, grow up,"

"Well, I'm not sure if I'm much assistance," A male voice said from further behind. "But I am a emotional psychologists, and I could do a quick session, just because I'm interested.

"No thanks." Ren said; his voice suspicious.

"Yes please," Mariam muttered under her breath. Mariah nodded in agreement.

"Yes please?" Lee asked, back from the restroom as he sat down in the single seat behind Mariam and Mariah. "What did I miss?"

---

A/N: Before anything happens, I reread my chapter, and I'm sorry for it's shortness. I'm also sorry if there's any content that offended someone, like the argument about being homosexual. I personally have nothing against gay or lesbian people. So, I'm very sorry if I offended anyone in any way.

Oh, and a big bouquet for everyone who reviewed. I love you all!

OK, I need a vote. Two votes, actually, so please help. The following is the issue voted on, and the choices.

The 'Girl' issue

a) All those in favour of Ren getting a girl.

b) All those not in favour of Ren getting a girl

The 'Who' issue

a) All those in favour of him getting someone we already know, from either Beyblade, Shaman King, or some other anime that's likely. In saying that I mean no one, like Kagome, or something. Which would be terribly gross.

b) OC!

When answering, please, for the sake of my recording down votes, put something like "Ren should get a girl, and he should get –" or "Him, a girl? What a waste of time." I hope I wasn't too confusing. If I was, just put down your opinion on the Ren subject.

Oh, and Review please. xD