Chapter 26------Green Eyes

"Oh sorry." Mai turned to face the group. "These guys are my friends. This is Drex, Mit-chan, Copellia and Riya. Riya's uh…"

"I'm her fiancé."

"FIANCE?"

Everyone's jaw dropped.

"Yep!" Riya confirmed. Everyone turned to face Mai for an explanation.

"Yeah, it's true… Riya's… my fiancé…" Mai turned a shade of pink and looked at her feet. She didn't like people to know she was betrothed, especially not this group of people… Now a certain person knew the truth.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hil asked, surprised.

"Mai, who're these people?"

"Uh..." 'Shit, they're gonna ask so many questions…' "Umm…why don't you guys join us for lunch and I'll explain everything?" The Zeelan nervously glanced at the two parties, awaiting their answer.

"Yeah, you have a lot of explaining to do." Tyson eyed her suspiciously.

"Sure."

The two groups headed back to room 57 and Mai ordered a pizza…

blu: ok, from here onwards it's Kai's POV from when they met Copellia and company…

KAI'S POV

"I'm her fiancé."

"FIANCE?"

I guess everyone's jaw dropped, including mine but what the hell! He's her fiancé?

I don't think I like this Riya guy very much…

Dranzer: I'm sensing rivalry here –in a sing-song voice-

No! Why would I be jealous of a guy like him? I mean look at him! Dark brown hair, tall, nice smile… I admit he does look good, better than Rei…but not as good as me! –quickly adds- And what's with that stupid shirt? 'Nichts' ? What kinda name is 'Nichts' !

blu: 'nichts' is a german word for nothingness

Dranzer: Haha, you should hear yourself. Kai Hiwatari ranting about a pretty boy, ahahahah!

-glares- I'm not ranting! Look! Now he's smiling and laughing along with her!

I watched as the two of them walked side by side, surrounded by their friends, all chatting merrily. We entered the hotel room and sat ourselves around the living room. Mai went off to order the pizza.

I folded my arms across my chest. Everyone was talking but I didn't care what they had to say; pointless chatter if you asked me… I kept looking at him, observing how he acted. Mai rejoined the group and his face brightened up, offering up the empty space next to him. Mai politely refused, HAH! –inner Kai sticks out tongue at Riya-

But I don't understand, they're engaged? His not even that good looking… But… does Mai really like him? She acts so comfortable around him…

What is he to her?

END OF POV

"Ok, start spilling Mai. Why didn't you tell us you had a fiancé?"

"I uh… I thought he was dead. –quickly turns to Riya- No offence Riya! But I thought everyone had died in the fire so… I forgot about the whole engagement." Mai glanced at Riya, his smile seemed to have wavered a bit. 'Is he upset?' She hoped she didn't hurt his feelings.

"That's plausible." Rei said in agreement.

"So Mai, you have yet to introduce us to your friends." Copellia said, eyeing Kai with much interest.

"Uh yeah. This is Tyson, Max, …" Mai went on and on up to the White tigers.

"Well it's nice to meet all of you." The maroon-haired girl nodded politely.

"Yeah, these guys are really great. –smiles warmly at Tyson and gang- If it wasn't for them, I'd be dead by now."

"Nah, it was nothing!" Tyson rubbed his head in embarrassment. This was all too flattering.

"Haha, she must be a handful to control." Drex commented, receiving a playful punch on the shoulder from Mai.

-Ding dong-

"I'll get it." Max ran off and came back with 2 boxes of pizza.

"I'll get some drinks." Mariah left with Rei and Hil to the kitchenette and returned a while later carrying three trays of drinks.

"Yeah, our village was burnt down. When we came back, we found no survivors so we thought everyone had died and— oh thanks –takes drink from Mariah- so…" Drex was engaged in a conversation with Kenny.

"Here Riya" Mai handed the glass of coke to him.

"Thanks."

They're fingers accidentally touched—

"!"

"!"

The glass dropped on the carpet as the two immediately pulled their hands away. They stared at each other in shocked.

'What was that? It's that same feeling!'

"You! You…"

"You felt it too?"

Mai hurriedly nodded her head, her blue orbs wide with disbelief.

"Something wrong?" A look of concern washed over Mit's face.

Riya grabbed his fiancé's hand, "I think we need to talk. Drex, Mit-chan, Lia, you too. –turns to face the rest- Sorry but we have to go. I'll bring Mai back later."

'Wait! Where's he taking her?' Kai suddenly became very alert.

"But she has the Opening ceremony to attend!" Mariah called as the group ran out of the room.

"Where we going?" Mai allowed herself to be taken away, leaving the rest in utter confusion…

-Room 405-

-Bam- The door closed roughly behind them.

"Sit." Riya pushed Mai down onto the bed. He paced back and forth. Mai could tell he wasdistraught from the frown on his face.

"Riya? What's going on?" The raven-haired girl was clueless.

"Just now, when we touched, did you feel it? That pang in your head?"

"You felt it too? But how can—?"

"That's what I'm going to explain now. Do you know about the legend of Eden?"

"Yeah! He got sealed in the rock for causing destruction. Archaeologists found the rock, it was on the news."

"Yes, that one. Before he was sealed, he promised something, that his two souls would reincarnate every 50 generations. Do you know about that?"

"Yes but what has this have to –" Then it struck her, "You mean! You have Eden's soul too?"

"I think so... I get these strange images in my mind whenever my head hurts." Mai felt the bed sink a little from Riya's weight.

"But we can't trust the legend right? We don't even know the full story!" Copellia argued.

"No, I've experienced the same thing… And you may think this is crazy but…I've changed into another self before."

"What?" Riya grew concern. Was something going to happen to him too?

"I don't remember it but Kenny has it recorded in his computer. I sorta subconsciously changed into this…" She hated saying it but she couldn't think of another word. "this thing and it claimed to be Eden."

"You mean you morphed into Eden?" Mit-chan was stupefied. Such things couldn't happen in the world they live in now! They just couldn't!

"That's what they said… but I don't recall any memory of it ever happening."

"But it's strange; usually the souls appear in two different tribes… Now they've appeared in the same tribe, but don't we share a common goal? How can one of you unleash evil on your own people?" Drex placed a hand on his chin, his mind deep in thought.

"Please, can we not talk about this now?" Mai looked up to face her friends. "I mean, we've just found each other and… I don't wanna worry you guys with this issue so, let's just be happy that we're all together again, alright?"

Riya flashed a warm smile, placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. The others joined in the hug.

"I really missed you guys." She mumbled into the brunette's shirt and tightened her embrace…

-room 57-

"What's taking them so long? The Opening Ceremony's gonna start in 2 hours!" Mariah tapped her foot impatiently on the floor.

"Chill will ya? Anyway, Mai's in good hands. She's with her fiancé." Tyson said as he picked out a blue linen long-sleeved shirt from the closet.

'Fiance' Kai didn't like that word though he acted indifferently. He wasn't going to get jealous. Kai Hiwatari has pride. Kai Hiwatari does not succumb to anyone. Kai Hiwatari is supreme.

Kai Hiwatari had lost…

'He's her fiancé, of course she'll love him! Why can't I just accept that! I should just forget it… there's nothing I can do...'

Kai buttoned up the remaining buttons of his crimson long-sleeved shirt.

'And yet… I don't like it that she's with him.'

"Mind passing me that clothes hanger?"

Max had broken Kai's train of thought and he irritably passed him the hanger. He was a bit grateful though, Max had steered him away from Mai and Riya. 'God, I gotta stop thinking about this.' He thought as he ran a hand through his hair.

"You girls should go get ready. I'm sure Mai will turn up at the ceremony."

"Yeah, guess you're right. C'mon Mariah, we've got a lot of work to do!" Hilary playfully tugged Mariah out of the room. "No peeking till we're done!" She called.

-Room 402-

"Hey Copellia?" Mai tilted her head to look at her friend as half her body dangled off the edge of the bed.

"Yeah?"

"You know the Opening Ceremony right?"

"What about it?" The girl sat down beside Mai's head.

Mai turned over so she lay on her stomach. All that blood rushing to her head was making her dizzy. "Must we really dress formally? I hate dresses…"

"They're a pain. You can't run in them."

"Hahaha, yeah. Is there a way we can show up without having to wear those stupid things?"

Both girls thought for a while and then a grin spread across their faces.

"We're gonna have some fun tonight Lia."

"Haha, great minds think alike. Catch ya later guys!" The two mates headed out the door, obviously pleased with their master plan by the smirks on their faces.

This one took a alongtime I know, but I had camp and a lil' writer's block. Excuses excuses... Hahah. Oh wells, hope you guys understand the story so far. It's gonna take a LLOOOONNNNGGG time to finish.

Ciao!