Chapter 25

As the months passed, Drax found himself gaining more confidence. He has gone back to learning his guitar and became quite good at it. He as found though that Amai has requested more weekends with him much to his father's dismay. Drax however didn't appear to be bothered with the idea. "Why not?" he asked one day. He over heard his dad complain to Melee about the notion, he worried though if he refused Amai's request, he could come back and just take Drax since legally he can. Despite the deal not being too bad, his father was still against it. "How could he be content with one weekend with me dad? It's understandable if he wants to spend some more time with me, is that so wrong?"

His father snarled. Melee sighed. "You need to understand Drax, despite this… peaceful coexistence we have with Amai now, it was never always the case. Before he came after Garou and I. When your father became this, he demanded his resignation from the heroes association along with Lightning Max. When he failed at that, he tried to get the M Class disbarred from the association and attempted to convince your father and Max to retire."

"Not to mention, I am certain he helped stir the pot with that Rush Limbo asshole!"

Melee sighed but nodded in agreement. "It wasn't until recently when he began to change his ways, after trading places with your father and becoming the serpent himself. Still, Amai doesn't tend to change over night like the way he did. Also, I wouldn't put it past him that this is another award winning performance to say the least…"

It surprised Drax. "Really? You don't fully trust him? Even after all this time and what he has done to help my dad and I?"

She nodded. "Amai… has a way of manipulating situations to his benefit. I trust him to a certain point, beyond that, I can't. He hasn't given me reason to."

"Still, I don't mind if he wants to spend more time with me. Dad, it's not that big of a deal is it?"

His father remained silent, there was a look of distrust on his face until he sighed aloud. "I think… Amai wants more time with you, because he wants to raise you." He explained. "I was told later by Melee, back at the beach. Zombieman noticed his odd behavior, it's not like Amai to just show up to a family event of Garou's let alone wanting to participate. But the thing is, with Sweet Mask, when he wants something, he goes and gets it…"

For a moment, Drax paused to digest the situation. Despite the fact before, Sweet Mask insisted that he merely adopted him to help out Snek to make amends for what he did. Yet, he has even started to notice more and more as Amai shows up. His focus is on Drax, wanting to spend time with him, teach him. Hell, he had a nerve to say it before his father that he could teach him how to hunt as a serpent and knew a trick or two. Still, despite it all, he felt he could still trust Sweet Mask. After all, he hasn't given him a reason not to yet.

"Dad… if he wants more time with me, it's fine… but you aren't okay with it, are you?"

His father was silent, he sighed aloud before forcing a laugh. "You're right. I'm not."

"He's not going to take me away from you. You do know that right? I won't let him!"

His father smiled to his words. "Thanks kid."

Melee on the other hand was thinking. "Well, it's not the worst thing he could be doing either. I mean, if Drax is learning well off of him…"

"Yeah, I know… Okay… fine! He wants more time with him, he can have it."

"Really dad? Are you sure?"

"There's no other choice, I don't want to see what happens if he doesn't get his way, let alone the hell he could put us through if given the chance."

He began to feel a little reluctant now, but there was no going back. He watched his father pick up the phone and make the call. The conversation barely last a minute, as he was quick to hang up. "He'll be here in another hour. He's just finishing up on set"

#

An hour later.

A knock came on to the door. Snek went to answer but was too slow as Drax was quick to get to it before him. He opened it to see Amai standing there with the biggest grin on his face. "Oh good, you're home!" he said. "How about we go out for dinner tonight?"

"Or you could stay here for dinner if you wanted to." Called Melee. Yet as she approached the door, she began to stare at him oddly. "Never mind, you're mind is made up." And didn't push the invite any farther.

Drax turned. "Can I?"

"Go ahead. Just have him home before seven,"

Amai bowed and left with Drax that moment. As the door closed, Snek began to look worried. He turned to Melee who was thinking. "You noticed something, didn't you?" he asked of her.

She nodded. "He wants to talk to him in private."

"Wha… what do you mean? What could be there to talk about? You don't think…"

"If he made that big of a dick move, rest assured, we go to war!" she warned. "No, it's something else. He has something on his mind and wants to ask Drax about it before making it known to everyone else. After all, we got three weeks left until November, you two are switching right?" she asked.

"Yeah… is that what it's about?"

"Possibly. I don't know for certain, but it is definitely something he is keeping close to his chest. Best be on your toes… tail…" said Melee. She then sighed. "As for me I am going to check on the patient. He's been asleep for some time, not quite like Garou to say the least."

"These kids are throwing all sorts of curve balls aren't they?" Snek chuckled.

"To say the least. I just wish they would stop pitching them!"