What you can't see
Can't hurt you
Chapter 17 . Please
It had been about two weeks since they went to the beach. What a way to end it, Tala's head started working and he realized what he was doing, pushed Zeo away, apologized and ran off. Idiot, complete idiot. He hadn't returned to see them yet, he hadn't even gone back to the hotel, instead he'd gone straight to the only other place he knew; the bar. Great, wasn't it, how a man's mind worked; if one thing fails, drink 'till it's solved? That's what he was doing right now, drinking at nights, walking around during the day. The bartender already recognized him and what he'd want to drink, giving him a sympathetic look every time he entered and ordered. Oh yea, living the high life. He had enough money to last him another week say, he'd gone back to the hotel to raid it for money, then gone to the cash point and took it all out. He was a walking ATM. Ironic; he'd always thought Kai was stupid to carry around loads of money, now he was carrying around more than anyone. Taking a huge swing of his Budweiser and finishing it off, he put the glass back down on the table and waited of the woman came over to give him another. Her dirty blonde hair was all curly and her thirsty purple eyes looked at him with that same sympathetic look.
"You want a Lemon grass now?" Tala nodded, hiccupping once and breathing deeply. "There's such a thing called 'alcohol poisoning' you know." She said concern in her voice as she placed the new drink in front of him. He nodded again.
"Th'nks of yer c'ncerns." He mumbled lazily before the man next to him threw a hand round his shoulder.
"She little lassie? This man knows the way to heaven!" a roar of laughter and Tala looked at the man darkly.
"Yea, I do, 'n at the m'ment, I ain' doin' much g'd f'r that path." The man looked at him and he smirked, adding to his darkness. "C'll 'God'…I've just bin a bad boy." The lady smiled at him and nodded. He drank the whole of the lemon grass.
"So, what's wrong?" She asked as the man went back to talking to his companions. He looked at her blankly. "You seem like you'd normally be a good man, why are you drowning out your sorrows with a vile substance?" He smirked.
"You w'rk fir that vile substance." He said, she sighed with a nod.
"I know…I didn't have anywhere else to go though, this was the best pay I could find…I have a kid at home, she needs to be looked after." Tala nodded.
"D'n't think you c'n't do 'nethigh…you c'n stop dr'nks like me ge'ing dr'nk." He slurred, eyes getting more glazed. She smiled again.
"You're right. Thanks." Tala nodded, a thump going through his head.
"N'ght." He said, falling backwards. The lady gasped and ran round to see him.
"Sir! Sir wake up please! Sir, please!" One of the people from the other table came over, lilac hair smooth and piercing eyes dead on Tala. "Oh, please! Could you help him into the back room, there's a bed in case this happened." The man nodded and picked the redhead up.
"He is an idiot sometimes." She looked up at him, leading him into the back room.
"You know him?" The man nodded.
"Yea, haven't seen him in a while though, he was looking after some kid," The lady opened the door and let the man take him to the bed. "Go get the first aid kit will you?" She nodded and ran out the room. A groan came from the Russian's lips. Dazed eyes opening slightly, he smiled at the person over him.
"Hey…Bry'n…" He said before going into a dead sleep. Sighing, Bryan shook his head and sat in a chair on the table in the centre of the room. Such an idiot, he thought while he got out his cell phone, dialling a number. Such a complete and utter idiot.
"Hello?" a woman's voice answered on the other end of the phone.
"Hey, it's Bryan, I've got Tala here, drunk, knocked out in a bar." A gasp was heard, followed by a string of curses.
"Thanks gosh you've found him! We've all been so worried!" A few other people were heard in the distance.
"Come to the bar, the one about three blocks away from the Laindi? You know."
"Yea, I can't believe I didn't look there before…thanks so much again, we'll be right there." Then all that was heard was the beeping noise of the hung up phone, putting it away, he looked at the door as the lady came back in. Lighting up a cigarette, Bryan nudged his head towards Tala.
"You know better than me."
Zzz
Miriam rush Kaede out of bed and into the car, much to the white haired girl's disappointment. Sitting behind the wheel, Miriam started the engine of her panther and set off to the bar. Kaede looked around, rubbed her eyes, and blinked at Miriam.
"Eh?" Miriam laughed a little, her partner was so cute half asleep.
"Bryan found Tala, we're going to pick him up." Kaede nodded then look down at herself.
"You could've let me get changed first." She whined. She was wearing a baggy shirt and boxers. Miriam blushed slightly.
"S-Sorry, I didn't think." Kaede smiled and put a hand on the blunette's leg.
"Don't worry babe, anyone would've done the same." Miriam nodded and slowed down as they started to reach their destination point. Stopping outside the bar, she undid her seat belt and stepped out. A few moments later Kaede was also out.
"I think this is the place." Miriam said, walking round to where Kaede was. Kaede nodded and let Miriam lead them in. Looking around, she tried to ignore the strange looks off the women and the other looks of the men. Miriam nudged her slightly.
"What?" She said, rubbing her bare arm. Miriam giggled.
"You're popular." Kaede sent a heated glare at the green eyed girl.
"Only cause SOMEONE wouldn't let me change!" Kaede whispered back, Miriam just laughed and walked up to the blonde waitress at the bar.
"Hey, I'm looking for a Tala and Bryan Kuznetsov?" Miriam asked, the blond nodded, ringlet locks bouncing.
"The drunk and his friend, right this way." She said, coming round and leading them to a door. Miriam opened it and saw Bryan, sitting at a table smoking, and Tala knocked out on the bed. Miriam's eyebrow twitched.
"So that's what he's been doing for the past two weeks…" She growled through gritted teeth. Kaede turned to the lady and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about all this, there was…a few complications at home." She said to the blonde woman, who nodded and gasped at Miriam. Kaede turned round and was her girlfriend, straddling Tala, holding onto the collar of his shirt, slapping him.
"Wake…up…you…stupid…baka!" She shouted between slaps. Kaede turned back to the woman.
"Again, I'm so sorry!" she apologized. The purple eyed waitress smiled and walked away.
"It's ok!" She called back. "Your drunken friend thought me an important lesson!" Kaede sighed and shut the door.
"I'm afraid to think of what it would be," She thought aloud before going over to Miriam and prying her off the Russian, holding her tightly as she struggled slightly. Sitting down with her Miriam on her bare lap, she smiled slightly at Bryan, green eyes glaring daggers at Tala.
"Hey! Haven't seen you in a while!" Kaede greeted. Bryan smirked.
"After you took our party member from us, there wasn't much to do really, I've heard quite a bit of what's going on with you lot from Ozuma." Kaede grinned.
"Yea, sorry about that, it was an emergency. We're one member short though." Bryan laughed a little.
"I heard. I would've called Kai, but remembered unless he could perform a miracle in two seconds and somehow find his way here, there wasn't much point." Kaede nodded and turned to Miriam.
"You calm yet?" She asked, Miriam nodded a bit. Loosening her grip as a test, she immediately tightened it again when the fiery girl tried to run to Tala again. Sighing, she took Bryan's drink off him and took a sip.
"Congratulations for you two though, Ozuma told us all about your new 'friendship' step." Kaede blushed and Miriam looked at Bryan.
"Umm…thanks?" Kaede asked, Miriam sat more comfortably on her lap. "I take it you've calmed down?" Miriam nodded and made no attempt to move as Kaede's arm loosened.
"So Bryan, how's life been treating you?" Miriam asked, knowing it would be a while before Tala woke.
"Fine I guess, not much has been happening for the rest of us, I guess its cause you found Zeo." Miriam nodded.
"You could always join us, we need someone to help us find Kai and Hiro," Bryan raised an eyebrow questionably. "Zeo's…guardian." Bryan shook his head.
"I'm enjoying the 'peace' at the moment; I've just started working at the orphanage full time, I'm not sure I'd be able to fit a rescue into my agenda, I'll tell you if I can though."
"Oh wow! I didn't know that! Good for you!" She said, smiling brightly.
"Tell us if you find a bored party member looking for some action." Kaede said, Bryan smirked.
"I'm sure I'll find someone," He said. "After all, there's a few of my party left, I'm sure one of them is bored with nothing to do." Miriam laughed, and then looked at Tala as she heard a groan. Kaede's grip on her tightened and Miriam wriggled to get out as the redhead sat up. He blinked then back up a bit as he saw Miriam's angry, heated glare. He looked at Bryan desperately, who took a drag of his cigarette, then at Kaede, who just raised an eyebrow.
"You have some explaining to do mister!" The blunette shouted, pointing an accusing finger. Tala looked around for an escape.
"Can we do this later; I have a bad hangover…" Miriam growled. "I'll take that as a no?"
"Where have you been? We looked everywhere! We were all worried sick when Zeo came back and said that you'd run off! How could you do that to the poor boy?" Bryan looked up at the word 'Zeo'.
"I…umm…needed to clear me head so-"
"THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" She screech before Kaede shut her up with a fierce kiss. Tala sighed and looked at Bryan.
"Zeo?" Bryan asked. Tala sweet dropped.
"Yea, you know, that kid, we were at the beach ad I remembered something important." Kaede glared.
"That's not what he told us." She said darkly. Tala looked around again. Three eye on him, one pair curious, one pair stupidly angry, and one pair…scary.
"Umm….well…"
"He told us you ran off after say something like 'sorry, but I can't.' and ran off." Tala laughed nervously.
"Do you see us laughing? NO!" Miriam said, calming down a little. Tala looked around again, he didn't like this situation at ALL.
"I'm sorry ok? I don't know what happened…it just…did." Kaede looked at him pitifully.
"It's ok, you should've just come home though, Zeo said that he was fine with you saying no to him, he just didn't like the fact that you suddenly left. Tala hit his head on the back of the table.
"I'm an idiot." Miriam glared.
"You got that right." She said, the other two glared at her slightly.
"You're not an idiot Tala; I would've done that same." Bryan said, Miriam turned to him and returned his glare.
"Great, now that's done, can I have a pain killer?" Miriam stood and walked to the door.
"No, we're going home. As punishment, you're not aloud a painkiller. Deal with it." She said walking out. Kaede ran after her.
"Sweetie, don't you think that's harsh?" They heard her call after Miriam. Tala looked at Bryan, a long nagging question coming out that he was unable to keep in
"What is she wearing?"
Zzz
Miriam entered the hotel suit quietly, only to see Ozuma on the couch watching TV. She entered and went up to him. He looked up at her and gave her a questioning look. She sat down and opened one of the cans of coke on the table.
"Hey." She said, drinking the soda.
"Where have you been?" Miriam looked at the door, and as if on cue, the three other came in, Tala leaning on them for support. Ozuma spit the drink he was drinking out and started to cough.
"Tala!" He said, surprised, then a small figure exited the girl's room. Tala looked away shamefully and walked to the couch. A chained sigh came from everyone apart from the two. Kaede walked over to Zeo to see how he was.
"What you still doing up?" Miriam asked her brother-like figure. Ozuma turned to Zeo.
"Bad dreams," Miriam ran to Zeo and helped Kaede get him back inside, both of them fussing over him. Ozuma turned to Tala and Bryan, who had taken Miriam's place. "What you been doing for the past two weeks?" Ozuma asked, Tala couldn't help but smirk.
"What do you think, drinking of course?" Bryan sniggered.
"Hasn't slept in two weeks, at night he goes to the bar, who knows what he does during the day." Ozuma laughed.
"I'll have you know I helped people." Bryan raised an eye brow.
"Oh? How?" Tala took a can and opened it.
"Went back to work at the jail. I swear, the amount of people has increased since we went last time." Ozuma shook his head.
"Bet they were happy to see you." Tala nodded.
"The people there said that Crusher had been asking for me. He's a stubborn one, but he seems to have gotten better, he was thrilled to see me." Ozuma laughed and Bryan smirked.
"You do have an affect on people then?" Tala nodded again.
"Hell yea!" Bryan turned to Ozuma.
"He said something to this waitress that made her seems happy and thankful, even in his drunken state he makes a difference." Ozuma laughed again.
"I told her that, even though she worked for that 'vile substance', she could stop people from drinking too much…I used me as an example, amazed she understood what I said to her." Bryan shook his head.
"Amazed you can remember." Tala grinned.
"I'm the great Tala! I was only half drunk you know!"
Zzz
Miriam sighed as she heard the boy's laughter. It was nice to have the redhead back, it livened the place up a little. What they needed was Kai and they'd be sorted. She looked back a Kaede who was listening intently to Zeo. Soon enough, he finished his story and they sent him to sleep, but they stayed in the room, Kaede went over to her desk and sat down on the chair, Miriam just watched the sleeping beauty.
"What was his dream about?" Kaede smiled.
"It wasn't too bad. We now know where Kai is."
Zzz
Kitty: at LAST! Finished! I worked so hard on that, though it was easier than I imagined.
Sorry is there are any grammatical errors, our keyboard sucks
Ciao .
Kitty-cat