What you can't see
Can't hurt you
Chapter 5. Stone"Tala, Zeo! Come look at what Takao found!" Max shouted. The two ran over to the opposite ditch what Takao and Max where crouching. Zeo sat between them while Tala peered over the top of their heads, eyes widening slightly as he realized what it was. Zeo went to pick it up when Tala pushed his way through Zeo and Takao. Zeo frowned at the redhead's rudeness, until he saw the wide-eyed expression he was holding. Tala picked it up and slipped it into his large trouser pocket. The stone was the size of a small book and was pretty thick. Standing up again, Tala made his way over to his panther, Zeo following close behind him.
"What is it?" The turquoise-eyed boy asked catching up to his friend.
"No idea, but I think it's been left by that man in your dream." Was the reply as he walked round to the driver's seat.
"You don't know?" Tala nodded. "You're not just going to take off again are you?" Tala turning and looked at him with the same cold eyes he had done last time they were in the wood.
"Look titch, I've told you not to dig yourself into a hole, and you are. If you come with me right now, you'll probably regret it. Now you can either go home with your friends over there, or you can shut up, and get in the damned car." Smiling at the fact Tala was giving up so easily, he ran round to the other side.
"Hey guys, we have to go some where, see you later, ok?" Zeo called while getting into the car.
"See you later Zeo!" Takao called, turning to go down the other way to the panther. He tugged on Max's hand and pulled him off down the path. Zeo did his seatbelt up and looked at Tala as he punched some numbers into his phone, then started speaking in fluent Russian. He got slightly angry at something the other person, who Zeo presumed was Kai, said something Tala didn't like.
"So not my fault," He heard Tala say, faltering between the two languages. "Whatever, just get down there, unless you want me to smash the thing to pieces." With that he put the phone down and started the engine.
"What's n-" Zeo started before Tala cut him off.
"You're worse than a child, all you ever do is ask questions," Tala said, Zeo puffed his cheeks out, then noticed the smirk that appeared on Tala's face. "You look so funny when you do that." Zeo crossed his arms and looked away.
"I'm not talking to you ANYMORE after that comment." He said, Tala laughed a bit.
"Oh come on, even I know you won't be able to keep it up for long," Tala said, Zeo only turned the radio up, blocking out Tala's voice. Tala sighed slightly, not wanting to admit that he'd gotten fond of the Japanese boy's constant curiosity. "Come on, I wasn't being mean, I was just joking," still no answer, but the younger looked at Tala slightly. Tala grinned. "Would it make it up if I also said it made you look cute?" Tala asked, Zeo looked away, trying to hide the blush.
The word "Flirt." Slipped his lips as he smiled slightly. Tala turned the rock music down a bit.
"Care to repeat that? I didn't quite hear you." He said, Zeo punched his arm lightly.
"I said 'flirt', 'cause that's what you are, one big FLIRT," Tala shook his head, driving a bot faster. Zeo looked at the road as they narrowly missed the curb. "You did that purposely!" Zeo said, glaring at Tala. "I can not talk to you AGAIN if you want!"
"Silence WOULD be nice." Zeo crossed his arms over his chest again and slid back in the chair.
"Meanie." Tala then said the first word that crossed his mind.
"Cutie." Zeo couldn't help bit laugh a little.
"Flirt." Tala grinned.
"Haven't you already used that insult, what, twice," Zeo stuck his tongue out before going back to sulking. The rest of the drive was in silence, both of them listening to the heavy rock music blaring out the radio again, after there small fight over whether it should be loud or not. Zeo would turn it up, then Tala would turn it down, then Zeo would turn it up and leave his hands there so Tala couldn't turn it down. He parked outside a large hotel, turning the key to stop the engine. "Here." Tala said, clicking his seat belt and getting out the car, Zeo following suit.
"Where is here?" He asked, looking up at the fancy building.
"One of the nicest places to go if you want food, and Kai's place." He said, Zeo started at him.
"He actually lives here?" Zeo asked, walking into the hotel, following Tala. He looked around at the mahogany carpet and matching couches.
"Yup, and he should be coming down those stairs in about…now," And as if on cue, the bluenette walked down the stairs, Miriam and another girl behind him. The second girl had white hair that went just passed her shoulders and bright crimson eyes, similar to Kai's, but not as cold. She wore entirely black and silver chains. Tala grinned at them as they came over. "Hey there hot stuff." He said slyly making her laugh slightly.
"Who's your friend? Is it the dream guy." She asked looking at Zeo. He waved shyly; Tala nudged him a bit.
"I never knew you were shy." He said, Zeo folded his arms and looked away again. The girls laughed a bit.
"I'm Kaede," She started, holding out her hand. "And you would be." Zeo took it hesitantly.
"I'm…Zeo." He said. She nodded then looked at Kai.
"Seeing as we'll need to be somewhere private, does this mean we get to have room service?" she asked, Miriam laughed a bit. Kai groaned and turned around. Kaede squeaked a bit and followed him, grabbing Miriam on the way.
"She's…yea, she's like that." Tala said, walking by Zeo who laughed at this comment.
"What? Now look who's at a loss for insults." Tala hned and crossed his arms making Zeo laugh a bit more. When they reached the room, Zeo looked around in wonder. It was a similar style to the lobby, bit it seemed even more tidy. There was a kitchen, three or four doors, and a sitting area with a wide screen TV. Kai walked into one of the rooms, which Zeo suspected to be his bedroom, and the girls went to sit on the couch.
"Big and fancy, isn't it?" Miriam asked, Zeo blushed slightly. He looked at Tala as the older boy walked to the fridge. "Get me a soda will you Tal'?" Kaede looked up at this.
"One for me too please!" she said, Tala sighed and looked at Zeo.
"You want anything while I'm here?" He asked. Zeo nodded and Tala went back to getting some cans out the fridge, throwing one to each of them, Zeo almost dropped his 'causing the redhead to smirk. "Call me when Kai comes out." Tala said, walking into one of the other rooms. Zeo went over to where the two girls where and sat on a chair. Miriam looked at Zeo as he tried to open the can.
"Want me to do that for you?" Zeo nodded, handing it to her. She popped it open with a fizz and handed it back. "So, you and Tala get along pretty well." She said, Zeo almost choked on the drink.
"Not…really," she looked at him questionably. "Well, we're almost ALWAYS fighting." Said, she smirked.
"Yea, but Tala treats you well, I can tell. He never offers anyone anything, he just say's 'if you wanted something you should've asked like everyone else', and he smiles more around you. Tala isn't really one of those to open up around people, he's more like Kai than he seems to be," Zeo looked at his can, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks slightly. "And you have to admit, he IS pretty darn hot," Zeo looked up at Miriam with wide eyes. She shrugged. "It's true." Zeo looked to the door, thankful that Kai chose that moment to come back rather than later.
"Tala!" Kaede shouted, eyes glued to the TV. "Get out here NOW!" She added. Tala come out, Tablet in hand. He walked over; standing next to the chair Zeo was on.
"My chair, get off." He said. Zeo, just to be awkward, snuggled further back into it and beamed up at Tala.
"Make me." He said, but immediately regretted it as Tala picked him up and sat down in his place.
"Now will you move? Unless you want to stay on my lap." Zeo sprang up and sat on the floor next to the TV.
"Don't be so mean Tal!" Miriam said. Kaede was now back to reality as Kai had turned off the TV.
"Whatever, just look at the damned block of mud." He said, putting the stone on the table. It had some weird writing engraved into it and a title underline at the top.
"It's not in…" They all looked at Kaede. "Russian or something is it?" Kai rolled his eyes.
"Do you REALLY think it's in Russian?" She shook her head. "And incase you haven't noticed least two people in this group can read Russian, one being the person who got it." That's when Zeo look note of Kaede's pale skin.
"Alright, shish, no need to get all crabby." She asked, leaning back. Miriam was looking at it intently. Zeo looked at it, eyes focusing on the title.
"Isn't that…like a spell or something?" They all looked at him. He looked round a bit, uneased by the eyes on him. "I mean, it seems like it if you look at the title hard enough." He said, the other went back to looking at it.
"I see what he means, it's like some weird spell thing," She said. "Which means, under NO circumstances, does ANYBODY read it." She finished, standing up and finishing her drink before picking it up. She walked into one of the two doors that hadn't been opened yet. Kai stood, going back to do what he was doing in his room, then Kaede smiled at Tala before going into the room Miriam walked through.
"Do you all live here or something?" He asked, not being able to hold it in Tala looked at him and nodded slightly.
"Technically we don't, but me and Kaede prefer it here to our homes, and so Miriam bunks here as well," He smiled slightly. "Kai isn't too happy about it," Zeo felt a pang go through him at the softness Tala said the other Russian's name. Tala noticed Zeo's sudden change in moods and looked at him. "You ok?" Zeo looked up and nodded slightly.
"Yea…it's just…I had some thing's I needed to do at home for work tomorrow…that's all." He lied. Tala stood and walked to the bin, dropping his empty can into it.
"If you hurry up with that I'll drive you home," Zeo downed the rest of the fizz and shut his eyes as it all went to him nose. Tala laughed at this, but when Zeo glared at him he just laughed harder. Zeo stood, walking to the door to get his shoes and Tala followed. "Taking Zeo home!" He called through the suite. Kaede's head popped through the door of her room and she waved good bye, Miriam shouted a 'see you' and the door shut again.
Zzz
Tala looked at Zeo, concerned at the smaller boy's silence. HE was used to him being shy and quiet, but they practically always argued or something, and now, he was just sitting there. He rolled his eyes slightly as Zeo sighed. Looking out the window, sighing, not saying anything, being generally depressed. He'd dealt with that enough when Miriam or Kaede did it. He turned the radio up slightly, making Zeo looked at him, blinking. Tala didn't even glance at him; he just looked at the road. Zeo couldn't help but smile at the taller male's effort to cheer him up. Reaching for the radio, he turned the music up slightly louder, twisting the knob to his right. Tala looked at him, then at the radio, an amused look in his eye. He then reached for the radio, slowly turning the volume up higher and higher. Zeo eventually reached out and grabbed his hand, twisting it back as the music got too loud. However, try as he might, Tala was defiantly stronger, so he tried something else. Looking at the road with wide eyes, he pointed out.
"Look!" He said, the other looked in curiosity, letting down his guard. Zeo took the opportunity and yanked Tala's hand off, replacing it with his own. Turning the music to how he liked it, he clamed his hands over the controls and grinned at the redhead.
"Evil little minx." Tala said, poking him in his side making Zeo squeal. He did it again, Zeo ducked his elbow down, trying to stop the attacks, but Tala just poked him in his stomach instead.
"Stop it!" Zeo said, Tala put both hands back on the wheel, glancing at a flustered Zeo.
"Then you stop sulking." Tala said. Zeo pulled his arms back.
"I wasn't sulking!" Zeo protested.
"You so were, looking out the window and sighing. You don't like someone do you?" Zeo laughed a bit.
"No! How could you say something so…absurd?" He said in a posh accent. They both laughed. This carried on for a while until they got to Zeo's place. Takao and Max were in the garden, playing with a swing ball. Zeo looked at Tala who was scanning the dojo. "It's actually Takao's. When his grandfather passed away he got it." Hiro and Brooklyn emerged from one of the rooms and started walking over to the two boys'.
"Hey Zeo, you came home earlier than expected," Brooklyn said. Even though he didn't live here, he was almost always here, just like Max. Hiro was glaring slightly at Tala who was glaring back. Brooklyn tapped on Hiro's shoulder, smiling slightly. "Who is your friend?"
"This is Tala. Tala, this is Hiro, and Brooklyn. Hiro's like my big brother." Zeo explained. Brooklyn shook Tala's hand, nudging Hiro to do the same. Takao and Max came running over as Brooklyn got Hiro inside. He may be like Zeo's older brother, but he was very protective. Tala looked at a bouncing Max and Takao with slightly wide eyes. Zeo laughed a bit.
"So, Tala, did you find out what that tablet was?" Takao asked, Max by him nodding.
"Umm…not really, but it's Yume's I think…it's written in her home language." Max stepped forward, and Tala stepped back.
"What's her home language?" Zeo took this chance to step in, seeing as Tala was a bad liar.
"It was Welsh," He said, getting Max's attention. "I best take Tala inside now, I'm quite hungry," He looked at Tala. "Coming?" Tala nodded and followed Zeo into the house. When they got to his room, Zeo couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny, your friends just attacked me!" Tala said, not impressed. Zeo nodded.
"I know, that's the funny part…I never knew you could look so…helpless." He said, straightening and trying to calm down. Tala stood there, hands on his hips, waiting for Zeo to finish. Zeo calmed down and sat on his bed.
"You finished?" Zeo nodded. Tala looked round the small room. It had a bed, a closet with a mirror on opposite a window. A set of draws with a lap on next to his bed and a set of shelves with a few books, ornaments, and a set of beanie toys. "Those toys aren't yours, are they?" Tala asked, highly amused. Zeo blushed slightly.
"No! They were Ana's, and now they're mine." He said, quickly shoving the bear down the side of his bed.
"Umm…yea, I believe you," Zeo's blush deepened. "So why didn't she give them to one of the FEMALE friends? I know lots of people who were fond of those…things."
"B-because…because, I don't know how Ana's brain works…anyway, there's nothing wrong with them." Tala's smirk widened.
"Yea, I know why she gave YOU them, because you liked them most." Zeo frowned.
"No…maybe…yes ok? Is that what you wanted to hear? I liked them most." Tala poked his cheek.
"I know you were soft."
"Hey!"
"It's true, you're such a softy," He walked over to the shelves to look at the collection. "People spend money on these things?" He asked, Zeo laughed softly.
"Yea, it's kinda childish. Don't tell me you haven't had a stuffed animal." Tala thought.
"Not a animal…no." He said. Zeo looked at the door as it opened. Brooklyn walked in.
"Hiro said that dinner is ready. Takao said that your new boyfriend can stay if he wants." Said the teal-eyed redhead. Zeo blushed slightly.
"Tell Hiro I'll be there in a minute, tell Takao if he doesn't stop saying that about almost every new friend I make, I'll hit him until he can't move." Brooklyn laughed slightly then looked at Tala.
"Tala is it?" He nodded. "Are you going to stay? I know Zeo would like it." A small growl was heard from the said boy's direction. Tala smiled a bit.
"Umm…no, I really have to be going or my friend will be wondering where I am," He ruffled Zeo's hair. "See you, titch." Brooklyn smiled at this and stepped out the doorway.
"Watch it!" threatened Zeo as Tala walked out the door. Brooklyn turned to him as he patted his hair down.
"Tala seems nice," Zeo picked up a pillow and through it at the door just as Brooklyn moved. "I take that as a 'shut up'?" Brooklyn asked. Zeo walked towards the door then walked to the eating room with Brooklyn.
Zzz
Kitty: sorry, I just had to have the teasing, but Tala would probably get the same from the girls and Kai he, he! This chapter made them seem a bit immature, and before you ask, it's the weekend, no work for Zeo, but there will be tomorrow. Personally, I preferred the other chapters to this one, but then again, as I've said before, I wrote it. So, off to the shower with me! Joy –note sarcasm-
Caoi .
Kitty-cat