8

Stepping into the cabin Kami pulled away from Kai and Tala doing her best to stand on her own, she hated being babied and this was no different. Stepping on her foot she clenched her teeth barely holding back the scream of pain that was desperately trying to surface. Bringing her fist to her mouth Kami sank her sharp teeth into the side of her thumb muffling any noises that her body cursed her with making. Her ankle had turned a ghastly shade of blue dotted with an ugly black making her wrinkle her nose in disgust. Feeling a stick mess in her closed hand she looked down to find blood seeping from the wounds that had already began to scab over, 'probably leave a scar.' she thought numbly closing her hand again.

Limping back towards her room she passed Bryan who gave her a questioning look his lilac grey orbs filled with concern. She wanted to tell him to stop, yell at them all and tell them to stop worrying over her. They never made such a fuss over each other when they were hurt, hell they had all been punished too so why must they just focus on her. It made her feel weak, feel like they thought she was weak. She wanted to know that she could be left alone without them and would remain fine, she wanted that reassurance. 'The only way I can get that is to become stronger, to become colder.'

Moving past Bryan she managed to her room, turning her head she found them all staring after her Kai even glaring because of her stubbornness. Grabbing the door knob she winced in pain when the metal pressed against the open cuts, where her nails and dug deep into the tender flesh of her palm. Much to the disapproval of her aching hand she twisted the knob and poked her head in her eyes shifting from side to side searching for the occupant she knew was there. Hearing the sound she turned, it was a sound she knew well, one she often made herself. It was a quiet breath, lower than a whisper. The type you make when you are playing hide-and-go-seek and you don't want the seeker to find you. Stepping into the room she closed the door, turning she couldn't help but smirk at the face of the other.

Ian was hanging from the coat hook that occupied the space on the back of Kami's door, he was scowling visibly most likely hating every moment of the humiliation, Bryan had bestowed upon him. Blood red met violet and he gave in, "Let me down let me down let me down!" he complained kicking his legs and throwing his arm around frantically. Smiling softly she moved forward and reached out only to have him stop her his eye focusing in on the dried liquid crusting over on her palm. "What happened to you?" he asked suddenly causing her to yank her arm back.

"Nothing." she replied shying away from the younger for a reason unbeknownst to her.

"What do you mean nothing? Bloody hell you look like you got in a fight with-" pausing he thought for a moment his small mind clicking through all his choices searching for the worst possible thing, "Boris, and he won!" he finished shaking his head with wide eyes. Lowering his voice he narrowed his eyes, "Is that what happened because if it is you can tell me. I won't tell anyone." Seeing her starting to turn he started to shout again, "Wait! GET ME DOWN!"

Glaring she flipped the younger off before limping out and slamming the door hearing a resounding, 'thud' from the other side. Followed by a, "THANK-YOU!" "Bastard." she mumbled wincing at the pain in her hand when the other whipped the door open behind her yanking the knob from her wounded hand. After opening her eyes she almost immediately whished she hadn't. Her violet pools were greeted by the smug smiles of her team; Bryan cocking his head to the side raised an eyebrow.

"Feelin' the burn are we?" he questioned.

"Not half as bad as you are going to be if you don't zip it." she snarled holding her lighter in a tight grasp in her pocket. Glaring she lashed at him her anger getting the best of her emotions. He pulled back instinctively causing her to fall forward without an means of catching herself feeling the pain shoot through her leg.

Kai's crimson orbs surveyed the scene giving him enough time to shoot forward and catch his panther before she ever made contact with the ground. Cradling her close he glared at her although from her position she couldn't possibly see it, "See what happens when you don't listen."

The female turned away sourly her violet eyes darkening visibly, "I was just testing your reflexes that's all." she replied casually before using him to push herself to her shaking feet her knees threatening to give out. "And congrats you passed." she added scowling before pushing past him and heading towards the kitchen with an annoyed team looking after her. "And don't look at me like that." she shot back without even turning around her voice low and dangerous.

"Girls." Ian mumbled causing the others to chuckle, Spencer patting the smaller on the head with a smirk.

"I heard that you little runt." Kami shouted her voice echoing through the kitchen making the said boy pale visibly.

"I wouldn't sit in the dark anymore if I were you." Tala mused his blue eyes shinning. His remark cause Ian to gulp before he took a step closer to Kai knowing that if anyone would calm the other it would be the phoenix. The amused teens instantly snapped straight at the sound of the cupboards slamming shut repeatedly. Exchanging looks they all decided not to enter the kitchen and instead migrated towards the living room their limbs aching from all the beatings they endured.

In actuality Kami was sitting on the ground her back against the stove as she pulled the cabinet closest to her open and closed. Half out of frustration and half as a cover to hide her whimpers of pain her ankle complaining from all her insistent activity. "Damn you. Why do you have to be so weak? Why am I so weak?" she just about screamed but managed to keep it at a regular indoors level. "Just look at me?" whimpering she turned to see her reflection staring back at her, the shining surface of the stove door providing her a good long look.

"Well I see a baby panther cub, what do you see?" an amused tone answered her rhetorical question.

Catching on to the familiar tone almost instantly she groaned in annoyance. "Bryan please!" the teen practically begged the other.

"Alright alright cub don't have a cow." he replied holding his arms up in a defensive manner. Shrugging he let out a heavy sigh before sliding down next to her reaching out and wrapping a long arm around her body and pulling her close. Her aching head fell over to rest on his shoulder as the panther let out a content exhale. "Now listen here. You are one of the strongest gir- strongest people I've ever known." he smiled stopping himself from making a grave mistake. "And the most beautiful woman I've ever known in real life." he added with a grin on his pale face.

"But you never cry like I do. Neither does Tala or Spencer or Kai. Heck even Ian is stronger than me, the only time I've ever seen him cry was yesterday when that guard took it to far." she ended her violet orbs filled with confusion.

"Yeah well I'll have you know I've seen Ian cry tons of times. I had training with him for the past year, while you were off with Wit." he recoiled raising a lilac gray eyebrow at the other.

"Witless." she responded playfully sniffling as she spoke. "But even then it's still okay. He's just a little kid." she wined her heart dropping at the newest resolution. "I'm such a pitiful person. How can I take care of him or anybody else for that matter when I can hardly keep myself alive?" voicing her opinion she sighed sadly before taking in the others scent while rubbing her face against his shoulder affectionately.

"C'mon Kam don't do this to yourself, you're so much better than this!" he groaned closing his eyes to think through all the questions she was spurting out like a sprinkler. "You saved him yesterday, and you saved me from that "bear" all those years ago. We've all saved each other. That is what families do; they take care of each other through anger or sadness thick or thin. They protect each other when they are weak, cure one another when they're sick, cheer when one is performing and give them a kick in the ass when they are being an idiot. So roll over you little baby because you are acting like the biggest idiot I've ever had the displeasure of watching." his tone hitting a serious note before dropping back to a soft one. "Families love each other."

"Do you love me?" she asked unexpectedly her eyes closed as she absorbed his unethical teachings.

Without missing a beat the other smiled, "Of course I do. And if you ever doubt that I swear I'll beat some sense into that thick skull you've got." Grinning his gave his companion a sly smirk, "Oh yes and I forgot to mention. Families cook for one another so good luck with that." Getting up he scampered from the room snickering the entire way.

/Later that night/

The bed shifted quietly as the intruder crept silently onto the bed trying their best to keep their loud breathes to a minimum. The coils gave a muffled groan before quieting as the other lay down across the bed back to back with the other. A soft grunt rang throughout the room until silence once again overtook the curious surroundings.

Long minutes passed until the falcon finally smiled at the thought of his late night visitor. He was almost positive of the others' identity. If he had guessed wrong he would have been a little freaked at the moment the thoughts of any of his other roommates daring to share his bed. Rolling to his side he pulled the other close to him smiling when the smaller form rolled over and fit against his chest.

"I love you too Bryan." the female voice sliced the silence as the girl snuggled closer to the brother that was currently comforting her. A content sigh echoed in the cold air the teen's thoughts bombarding her resting mind. 'You are right. You five are my family now, the only people I have left. I don't care if it takes every last breath from my body, I will protect you all. And Boris can quote me on it.'

A/N

Just so we all are clear this moment is a brotherly sisterly moment. They aren't flirting or anything like that because we all know Kami loves Kai. I'm sorry it took so long to get this up I am a horrible person. -slaps hand- Oh, bad llama. -laugh- Okay I'm sorry I couldn't resist it, I love the Emperor's New Groove and it just popped into my mind. Once again I really am sorry for taking so long to update. Even ask my friend Casey (wolflover7) I was talking about what a terrible person I was for not updating in over a month. I don't know if she'll remember me talking about it but hey that's life. And I'm not just saying that because I may not have really talked to her and want you to believe me and think she just doesn't remember. I really did talk about it and then something else about my sad excuse for a love/fight live came up. Anyway I have a bad cold thanx to my damn little brother -grumbles- -talks with stuffy voice- he got me sick. Okay and now I was kinda thinking of mean girls at that point where she was like, -cough cough- I'm sick! to Regina George. Anyway I'd better stop droning, I'll be off now! Catcha' later.

-Tawnie