What you can't see
Can't hurt you
Chapter 18. Back again
For someone with vibrant hair, he was stupidly lively. I guess it was expected though, how much more work they'd done since he came back. According to Zeo's dream, a purple haired man who Kai once knew was keeping him somewhere. Tala had cut him off before he could continue. He'd got to saying 'a man was holding Kai somewhere…a smaller version of Kai…someone else was there to, oh yes!' and the Tala cut him off. Bryan knew why. That other person was Tala. Bryan was currently phoning some people, so to see if anyone was free to help get Kai back. He currently had no luck; as everyone was busy with this that or the other. Almost giving up, he skimmed his numbers left and found one he thought might do. Dialling the number, he waited as he listened to repetitive ringing.
"Hello? Mystel here."
"Hey, Mystel, it's Bryan. I need you to do me a favour."
"Sure, what's up?"
"Tala's party and Ozuma got themselves in an awkward situation. I can't help them because I have to work; I was wondering if you were free?" He hoped he'd hear a positive answer from the Egyptian.
"Yea, when do you need me?" Bryan let out a sigh of relief. Why didn't he ring Mystel sooner?
"As soon as possible. You know about what happened to Kai and stuff, go to the hotel, they'll all be there. I have to go now, bye." He said, hanging up. Sure, the blonde was helpful, but far too hyper for Bryan, he knew Mystel thought he was too stotic, so it was only fair.
Zzz
"Right!" Hillary said, glaring at the small boy. "If you don't tell me what's going on now, I'll start to hurt you!" She said, Zeo grinned sheepishly, trying to find a way to get out of his current problem.
"It's nothing, really Hillary! Hiro and Tyson went on holiday see! I wanted to stay and look after the dojo." Hillary's glare in tensed. She looked behind him at the redhead and blunette.
"And who is that girl? I don't remember her! And I know Hiro wouldn't leave you here all alone! And what's Tala doing here? And why didn't I know when they left, and what's this story Emily told me?" Miriam growled slightly.
"It's Miriam, and I'm not a child anymore you know! And Tala's my friend!" Hillary was still glaring at Tala.
"We're trying to have a conversation here; you're not helping by standing there!" She said, Tala scoffed.
"Yea, what you're doing is such a great conversation; I'd call it more of a 'heated discussion'." Zeo turned to Tala, his turquoise eyes pleading.
"Tala…don't…" He said softly, the redhead looked away, a slight pinkness in his pale face. Zeo looked back at the brunette and smiled nervously.
"Trust me on this one Hillary, there's nothing to worry about!" The girl didn't look convinced…at all.
"Where's Brooklyn, I know Hiro would let him stay with you." Hillary looked round the place.
"He's out, he'll be back later."
"I'll wait for him."
"No, really, I'll tell him to ring you."
"I want to talk to him in person."
"But he'll be back late!"
"I can stay here for a long time. I'd like to meet your friends better."
"Really, I insist, you must have better things to do!"
"Not really," Zeo sighed and the other two groaned. Hillary had some round to see the three…or…four of them and found a different five home. The girl jumped slightly as a tan hand was placed on her shoulder. She spun round to see a blonde haired man in an Egyptian dress, a mask covering his face. She looked him up and down and turned back to Zeo. "Who's this?"
"Is there a problem?" He asked, lifting his mask up to reveal blue eyes and a cute blank expression. Miriam came over to him and hugged him.
"Mystel! I haven't seen you in ages!" Miriam said, letting go of him. Mystel grinned cheekily.
"Zeo, I haven't seen you in a while, how are you?" The Egyptian asked. Zeo sat there, dumb-found for a few moments before reacting.
"Oh! I know! I've been great! What about you? It's been quiet without you," Zeo said, trying to avoid the eye contact with a fuming brown-eyed girl. Mystel walked up at him and sat on the wooden floor next to him. Mystel looked up at Hillary who was tapping her foot. "This is Hillary by the way." Mystel smiled again and held his hand out. She took it and he kissed the back of her soft fingers.
"It's a pleasure; I've heard some many things about you! But I was never told I would see such a beauty so soon." Mystel said, making the Japanese girl blush. Hillary nodded and looked back to Zeo as Mystel let his hand go.
"Well, I'll be back tomorrow if I can, see you around." She said, drifting out the gate. Zeo turned to Mystel who was smiling joyfully.
"I'm bored, what is there to do around here?" Zeo stared at him.
"You just seduced my best friend," He said, Tala started laughing and the youngest of they turned to him. "What's so funny? It's true!" Miriam giggled slightly and Zeo's cheeks puffed out slightly.
"Sorry about that, but I couldn't sense anything about her, and last time I checked, people like her didn't get involved with missions like this." He said, still smiling, placing the mask back over his eyes. Kaede and Ozuma then came out to see what the fuss was about.
"Mystel!"
"I knew Bryan would find someone!" Mystel grinned at the two. "Nice to see you again." Ozuma said shaking the blonde's hand.
"I've been away, got back the other day, that's when Bryan contacted me to tell me you guys needed another party member. Here I am!" Miriam sat next to him and linked their arms.
"You know you're always welcomed here!" She said, smiling brightly. Zeo blushed lightly at the next question.
"Is it ok with you cuteness?" Zeo nodded and stood.
"I'll go get dinner ready!" He said before scuttling into the house. Kaede laughed slightly and sat in his place. Ozuma nudged Tala who blushed slightly.
"You're still as flirty as usual then?" Mystel grinned then looked at Tala.
"I can't beat the master though, right Tal?" The redhead smirked.
"Nope, 'cause I rule." The other four laughed. With both girls linking his arms, Mystel was dragged into the house to wait for dinner, and to be told what would happen.
Zzz
Zeo hummed as he worked round the kitchen with the things. He heard the door open a few moments ago, but didn't give it much thought. He put some herbs into the pan and mixed the meal together. He looked to his side as a flash of red caught his eye. He smiled at the taller boy and then went back to work. Pushing the spoon into Tala's hand he walked to the spaghetti and checked it. Satisfied, he turned to Tala who was standing there, spoon in hand, staring blankly at Zeo.
"Stir, you know, circle motions?" Tala rolled his eyes and did as he was told. A smile graced the Japanese boy's lips as he stood there, leaning back on the table, watching the blue eyes which were looking into his. He could tell the other wanted to know something.
"Sorry." Zeo blinked, snapped out of his train of thoughts. Tala looked down, a noticeable blush on his face, and a guilty look in his eyes. "I…just…" Zeo smiled.
"Don't worry about it!" He said, waving his hand, walking over to take the spoon again.
"We need to talk about it! It's not right to leave it hanging." Tala argued. Zeo shook his head, before a sad look filled his eyes.
"Right now, we need to focus on Kai and Hiro; we don't have time to sort these things out. We aren't leaving it and forgetting about it, we're just not making it priority one." He reasoned, Tala nodded and looked to the door. He could hear them all talking. Zeo followed his gaze and smiled.
"Sounds loud."
"Too loud."
They both turned back to the dinner and Tala started washing things, while Zeo started to finish up and dish it into a bit pot. Zeo hastily ran into the living room, announcing the arrival of dinner to the table and Tala took it and set it down, getting the plates out and setting the places. Zeo quickly came back in, the others behind him and sat down next to the redhead. Kaede opposite him, Miriam on her left, gave Ozuma and Mystel each head of the table.
"So," Mystel started. "Enough with the blood and guts. I think all you lot have been doing is fighting! What else has happened?" Tala noticed that Mystel had completely removed his mask, letting you see his crystal eyes.
"Not much though some of us decided to runaway and get drunk." Miriam said, sending a heated glare at Tala, making both the red-head and Zeo slightly uncomfortable.
"So I heard, Bryan found you in that old place, right?" Tala nodded. "You used to love going there." Mystel said, laughing slightly.
"We all did, remember when the owner gave us all free drinks for being his best customers." Tala reminded him, Zeo looked at the boys as they talked, and it seemed Miriam knew what they were saying as well. He looked at Kaede who was smiling at him slightly.
"Don't worry; you're not the only one who doesn't know it. I wasn't here when they went to that place." Kaede reassured, Zeo smiled slightly.
"Oh of course! You were in Germany till a few years ago." Miriam said, looking at her lover. Kaede nodded and grinned.
"You were in Germany?" Zeo asked excitedly. Kaede leaned back.
"Yea, I was there for about five years, and then when I finished high school I came over here, to Japan. My dad's job required a lot of travelling; we stayed in Germany for the longest." She said. Mystel looked slightly shocked.
"I didn't know that," He said, blinking. "So, can you speak German?" Kaede laughed nervously and nodded.
"Sort of," She said, and then noticed everyone was looking at her expectantly. "Ich habe eine Lange grune schlange in meine unterhose," Lots of blank stares. "I have a long green snake in my underpants." Miriam sighed as the others laughed.
"That's so like you." She said, poking Kaede in the cheek. The albino girl grinned and bit the tan finger in response.
"You still love me for it." Kaede reminded her, the two shared a kiss, in which Mystel and Ozuma started talking, and Tala looked at Zeo with a slight smile on his face.
"Those two never quit." He commented, getting a small laugh from the violinist.
"I can't agree with you more." Was the reply, the two ate in silence as the other four continued what they were doing, Ozuma scolding the girls for making-out at the table.
"Do you want something like that?" Tala asked, Zeo's heart skipped a beat and his face heated up. Tala just smiled at the reaction, taking it as a yes. "I hope one day you can have that." Tala said, looking into his food, Zeo turned his gaze to the redhead.
"I do too…but I'm patient." Tala looked at the boy, slightly shocked, but smiled after a moment.
"Good." Miriam then stood, getting everyone's attention. Tala looked at her, fork in his mouth, Mystel paused everything, looking like a hamster. Zeo cackled inwardly.
"Right, as you all know, the dojo has but three rooms. There are, however, six of us. Kaede and I will stay in our current room, of course, however you boys will have to sort your own rooms out." She then took her empty plate and put it in the sink, Kaede following with her own. Ozuma then stood, grinning slightly.
"I want to share a room with Mystel; it's nice to hang with someone from my own party for a while. Anyway, there's a lot we need to catch up on." He said, picking up his plate and the center dish, and then following the path the girls went. Mystel swallowed his food and stood.
"Sorted then, I'll go with Ozuma to the room; my bags are still in the living room." He then did the same routine as everyone else. Tala sighed.
"It's like they're all out to get us," Zeo laughed. "Well, looks like I'm on the couch!" He said, standing. Zeo stood as well, chair scraping along the floor.
"Don't worry; we have a spare futon in the store room. You can stay in my room." Tala let his lips curl up gratefully.
"You really are something, you know that?" Zeo blushed and looked down. Tala ruffled his hair, getting a insensible noise in protest. "Come on then beautiful, I need my beauty sleep." Zeo shook his head.
"Flirt."
Zzz
Tala tossed onto his back, a hand behind his head. The moon was full and the stars were out in vast amounts. He sighed. Everyone was asleep in the house apart from him. Looking over at his room buddy, he smiled at the peaceful face. The moon shone down, highlighting the boys' sensuous lips and tanned cheeks. The crystal clear eyes where closed, heavy lids replacing them. A messy and brightly colored fringe fell towards the ground. A pale hand reached out unconsciously and pushed the bangs out of the healthy face. He really was still a child, no matter what is age was, he would always be just a boy to Tala. That's what hurt most, he'd stolen the heart of someone he didn't deserve, and probably who he would never accept. He had to admit, those kisses weren't empty, he wanted them, but in all honesty they were simply on the spur of the moment. He took in a deep breath to clear his head. Sitting up, he quietly pushed the large quilt down his legs and stood, before creeping to the door and sliding it open, then shut. He sighed again and looked out at the garden. Zeo's room was next to the back yard, near the training room. He walked over to the steps and sat, elbows on knees and lips on his clutched knuckles. He gazed at the dark night sky and ran a hand through his messy red hair. He turned slightly as he heard someone walk up behind him.
"You never sleep, do you?" The other smiled as brightly as ever and shook his head. Tala smirked. "What do you want, I'm contemplating."
"You know me, I just wanted some company." Tala rolled his eyes at the Egyptian's response.
"Is Ozuma not enough?" Mystel laughed.
"When he's snoring I'd rather sleep outside…you look troubled." He stated. Tala shook his head slightly, pausing to think.
"I'm just…confused about something." Tala lifted his eyes up to meet the blue ones. Mystel nodded, reading him like a book.
"You're feeling too emotional right now; you'll never get the job out of the way like that. You need to take baby-steps, one by one, don't rush into too many things and get tied down. It's easier to clear everything away, and focus on the task at hand," He said, before sighing and looking up to the moon, Tala following his lead. "It's easier said then done, but everything is, you just need patients." Tala nodded.
"One thing at a time, huh?" Tala grinned slightly. "Which shall I chose?" Mystel got to his feet, putting his hands on his hips.
"That seems obvious, doesn't it? Clear your mind, then think of Kai. Kai is the first thing you need to sort out." Tala quirked an eye-brow.
"How is Kai a problem?" Mystel flashed a grin and then turned his big blue eyes past Tala as a loud scream ran through the halls. Tala sprang to his feet, pale face going even whiter, the tanned Egyptian just behind him. He could hear the whole house wake up and start to panic. He threw the sliding door open and ran to the writhing body on the bed, the covers in a muddle and the clothes tangled, creased to match the failing limbs. Tala ran to his side, his hand racing to the flustered forehead and his other straight to the tanned hand. He felt people by the door and addressed them. "Get a wet towel, water, and a bucket full of COLD water." He felt people running around the house, and soon enough what he'd asked for was beside him, a few other bodies knelt around the room.
"Will he be ok?" He heard a feminine voice ask. Tala picked up the bucket and poured it over the scorching body. There was a slight fizzle before the long lashes gave way to dull eyes. Tala sighed in relief. However, when he looked back, he saw tears quickly brew in the eyes.
"Hiro and Kai…they're…they're." He couldn't say anymore, all his words were drowned out in loud sobbing and muffled by the night shirt of his crush.
Zzz
Kitty: X.x that took forever and a day to write! Ha, ha, ha, I'm submitting this in our school summer project; of course, I'm changing some characters…however, if there is anyone out there who would like to do me a HUGE favor and take a questionnaire about this story, the help is welcome!
Ciao .
Kitty-cat