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My parent's finally let me get on my computer. I'm back at home from school but it gives me time to write up 2 chapters for you guys. So don't feel too bad for me. I have a report due the tomorrow and there are no extensions so that's going to be a minus on my story time but this chapter is going to skip about 6 months into the future to when it's almost Mariah's birthday again. Ray took a long time to ask Mariah to marry him instead of 1 month they just spend a few months so if you feel time went fast I know. It's my writing. Remember 6 months from Mariah's birthday is the festival so Ray has to get his courage to stay sometime soon, right?

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Chapter 9: Birthday, needing courage and the engagement

It's 6 months later and Mariah's birthday time again. Ray and Mariah have not yet brought their bit-beasts out of their new blades but the sense the time is very close. Mariah's spirit has never been so cheerful and she and Ray are very close.

Max and Miriam have been hanging out in the lounge a lot together. They're just as happy as the day they first moved together. They feel bad for Ray because he can't keep his courage long enough to ask Mariah to be his wife. Max has been helping and Miriam's kind of getting impacient.

Miriam and Mariah went out to go shopping like every Saturday and now was Max's time to bring up Ray's courage to ask Mariah. "You love Mariah, right?"

"Of course I love Mariah, Max. I've always loved Mariah."

"You want to marry her, yes?"

"I want to but every time I think about asking her. My mind just goes blank and thinks about her beauty, everything we've been through and then I get embarrassed and can't ask her."

"It's hard to keep you're courage when she's all happy and joyful but it's better to know how much courage you can have when she's happy then when she's sad. Just wait until the time's right. It'll be soon; I know it Ray."

"I hope so too. I wish it was a lot easier to ask her but maybe it has to be hard to prove to myself how much work it's going to be to be with her and anyway I might try someday it'll all be worth it. I know it will. I just hope it's soon." Ray was very happy and yet very sad that he hadn't yet purposed to Mariah. Her birthday was in 3 days; maybe then it would be a perfect time to ask.

3 days later. Ray walked into Mariah's room and she slowly awake smiling ask Ray wished him a happy birthday. "Hi Ray, thanks. I'm sure this is going to be the best birthday ever. Even the worst times are made better when I'm with you so being alone with you is going to be the best."

"Thanks Mariah. I feel the same way about being with you. You're always so cheerful. Even when things go wrong you are cheerful and cheer me up." This brought both of them to a blush. Ray, ask Mariah now. It is perfect timing. She's happy, it's her birthday. She is just asking you to. You know you want to, you need to so go on and ask her.

Ray got down on one knee and Mariah didn't show any emotion for a moment and was about to scream but she didn't. "Mariah, will you marry me?"

"Yes Ray, I will." They both had tears in their eyes and she noticed the ring she just was amazed by its glittering beauty. He placed it carefully placed it on her ring finger and they sat on her bed and he hugged her body. "It's amazing Ray, how could you afford all this stuff. I'm just stunned. Thank you so much."

"One friend of mine said that if I wanted to protect you and wanted to make sure someone who loves you was going to marry you; why would I? I had always thought to ask but the idea of actually taking steps to do it had only recently came up. I love you Mariah and I want to be with you forever." Mariah's and Ray's eyes were filled with happy tears. Mariah was going to marry someone who she loved and he loved her. Ray was perfect for her. She didn't care how much she had to go threw to be with Ray; she would do anything to be with Ray.

"Ray, I love you too. You've done it again. You've saved me except this time. You've saved me for the last and final time. As long as I'm with you everything is perfect. There will always be some rough times but I know that as long as I'm with you it'll be perfect in the end." She paused and gasped for air she once again needed from her tears and talking. "I now know that wherever I am you may not be physically but in heart and spirit you will be. I don't fear anymore that you'll leave me; because wherever you are, so am I."

"I never really left you in the first place. I just needed time alone but now I understand; I'm never alone because I'm with you. I never need to be alone because alone means sadness and that's something I don't want." Ray said as he Mariah leaned on Ray. They never said another word for about an hour. Then they departed to get ready from Mariah's party.

Tyson, Kai, Hilary, Kenny, Max, Miriam and Ray had planned a party for her birthday. Mariah didn't know but she had an idea that something special was going to happen today. She had expected a small party from Ray, Max and Miriam but she wasn't expecting Tyson, Kai, Hilary, and Kenny to come. She got dressed up for the day as did everyone else in the house but when she came down stairs everyone with exclusion of Kai shouted happy birthday. Kai smiled to see Mariah almost jump at the sight of this. Somehow they managed to decorate, get everyone there, and setup within the time that Ray went upstairs. It was precision timing from Max and Miriam.

"Hi everyone thanks for the wake up call at 9:00 in the morning. Next time will you wake me up earlier?" She said sarcastically. She waved to everyone. Miriam and Hilary noticed her ring and it was like a mob. This brought a smile to Max's face. Tyson was playful and started talking about how much they belonged together.

Tyson and Hilary had been going together for a while. They argued a lot still but they realized that they argued because they were just acting about because they liked the other. No matter how many times they used to deny it they new it was the truth that Tyson and Hilary liked each other.

Hilary and Miriam spent their time admiring Mariah's ring. They talked about every aspect of everything. They talked about how he asked her, and how she felt. Mariah described everything to them and detail.

Max, Ray, and Tyson acted as though they had never been apart. They acted just like they did when they first met. Max felt glad that Ray had found the perfect time and moment to ask Mariah. Tyson felt that he should have done it along time ago. Ray agreed with Tyson but was glad he waited for that perfect moment.

They ate lots of pizza and cake for a few hours until about 6:30. Ray was going to take Mariah out to dinner and then take her to see the sunset. It would be very romantic for both of them. The newly engaged couple- thought their minds the whole night. They had a wonderful dinner and sat in the lake and watched the sunset on the horizon.

"Ray, this was the best and most perfect day ever. Thanks for making it that. I love you. Thanks for doing everything for me. I'm the luckiest girl in the world." Ray held on to Mariah's waist as she finished telling him how she felt.

"I'm glad I could make it so perfect for you. You deserve only the best. I'm so lucky to have you. I love you too." Ray replied to her wonderful saying. She blushed and just being in Ray's arms made her happy. She couldn't stop smiling. They kissed and for those moments so many thoughts went through their minds. They would be like this forever. They would be together, happy, perfect and in love forever. Isn't that the way everyone should be.

Mariah fell asleep after a few hours of kissing. She was so comfortable in Ray's arms. He carried her home and laid her down in her bed. He covered her with her sheets and kissed her forehead and went down the hall to his room. This was indeed the perfect day. Mariah is 17; engaged to someone she loves and loves her. Ray is 17 almost 18 is engaged to someone who he dearly loves and loves him back. They couldn't be happier.

Mariah and Ray heard sounds like tigers running around their living room. They both ran down the stairs. They stopped in amazement. It was their bit-beasts. Drigger and Galax were playing together in the living room. Ray saw Mariah's smile light up the room as she happily saw the two love tigers playing together. Fate was so perfect and pure for those two tigers.

"Ray it's Galax and Drigger. They're back and out of their blades. They're together; reunited with each other and us again." Mariah felt Ray's arms on her waist and they just sat down on the stairs watching their bit-beasts play around.

"I guess us being together was the power to bring them back together. They're just like us and connected. I'm sure they're happy for us as much as we are for them. I missed them and I know you did." Tears fell once again from Mariah's eyes. They were tears of complete happiness and were worthy of the happiness.

Max and Miriam were going to spend the next few months with the elders of the Saint Shields. Ray and Mariah were sad to see them leave but they'd be okay on their own. They would just spend even more time together. Max and Miriam was a married couple of the Saint Shields and had to be checked on once every few years and this was the year. This was a law. It was very similar to how a prisoner had to be checked on. They didn't have to go because they were an illegal outsider couple but they agreed that it was proper so Miriam could still be accepted.

Miriam also missed the other members of her team. She wanted to go talk to them and see if they agreed to her marriage. She didn't care if they disagreed but it would be nice if someone in her tribe would agree with her. Max noticed Miriam sadness as they went through the tribe. They got odd looks from everyone in the tribe. Miriam started to cry so Max quickly brought her to the tent they had given the two to stay at. It was a very nice house to stay at but everything about the city upset Miriam.

Quickly everything about being in the city annoyed Max and Miriam. They were being judged on everything they did. If they didn't abide by every single rule of the city they'd be punished more. They were like a insect under a microscope. It upset Max and Miriam. Miriam was crying herself to sleep and Max wasn't allowed to go into her bedroom to talk to her because of a rule. Everything was very strict and well organized. The rules were very silly and unusual.

Miriam kept making frequent to Mariah to explain how everything was going on. Max was constantly being battled to check his strength. They had rules about how many times you had to win to be able to keep a wife. It was stupid rules and customs they all had been bothered with their whole life.

Six Months Later- Max, Miriam, Ray and Mariah back at home.

Mariah was screaming and crying. She was a mess. Ray was preparing everything for their trip back to the White Tiger Tribe. She didn't want to go for the festival. It was only for a month. Everyone reassured her everything would be fine.

"Everything is going to be fine. I'm fine from my meeting with my tribe. Max is okay and look through everything he had to go through Mariah." Miriam held Mariah's hope high but only Ray could make her happy and he wouldn't be home for a few hours.

"Come on Mariah, Miriam's right. You'll go there; marry Ray officially be your country and be happy from there on out. You'll rule the area and help make rules and laws that are better for people's lives." Max was right. Mariah had a duty to rule the country and make laws to help her people out.

"I just want Ray." Mariah shouted as she cried.

"Mariah, he's just buying tickets. He'll be back in a few hours. He has to get your passport updated and then his and then you'll be on your way to your tribe with him. Nothing is going to go wrong. If anything does; Ray will stop it." Miriam said hoping that nothing would ever bother her.

"It's not that simple. You don't get it. I won't be able to leave the tribe for years. I won't get to see you guys again. I won't be able to go to your wonderful birthdays for me or anyone else. I'm going to miss a big part of myself. You are my friends and a large part of me." Mariah cried running through all the happy times she had had with them.

"We'll miss you too Mariah. You and Ray have to fore fill your duties to your tribe. It's a big responsibility. I know you don't want to but we'll keep in contact and soon you'll be with Ray and forget about this. You'll adjust to being there. I'm sure of it." Miriam reassured her.

"Maybe you should go help Mariah pack, Miriam?" Max said helping Mariah get up and helping her to her room.

"Okay, I will. I'm sure she'll be fine once Ray comes back. For Mariah's sake, I hope he comes back early." Miriam said and went up the stairs.

Miriam helped Mariah pack up all of her beautiful gowns and outfits that Mariah had made. Mariah had designed a few dresses. She designed one for the wedding, the service, the after party and a few other parts of the special wedding. It was funny to imagine that in a few weeks to a few months that she was going to get married.

Ray came home with all the paperwork, tickets, and things he needed to get the tribe. Mariah had dressed up in a beautiful gown. Ray was taking her back to the forest for the last time in a long time so she could enjoy something from here again.

Miriam packed a DVD in Mariah's bag. It was a recording of every moment Ray and Mariah had spent together. It also included photos from secret moments when they kissed. Max and Miriam had been running around the house getting these so they could give it to them. It was the perfect wedding gift for them.

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My mom says that since I'm sick I can't be on the computer so 1 chap is all I can manage for know. I promise that I'll work up to at least 2 of the missed 3 chapters over time. I wish I had enough time but babysitting my little sister and her friends, watching Beyblade reruns and being sick is a lot of work.

I'm coming to the conclusion of this story. I'm sad but I found the perfect thing to put in its place. It's called "Great Expectation and the Perfectionist". It's the story of Kai's first love and only love. Kai met a girl a long time ago. Her name was Hailey Tate. She turned out to be the long lost sister of Max. She was kidnapped and taken to the abbey with Kai along time ago. This is her reunion with her family and her best friend Kai. She knows the real Kai. Is the world ready for the real Kai?

I need more reviews in my sick time so I feel I need to update some more but it's just a preference. I love these stories but it's very time consuming and I don't have a lot of extra time. I'm returning to school tomorrow so I need to get all my absent work done. Marina