Chapter 9

Persuasion

The energizer bunny had nothing on Rei. The Neko jin just kept going and going and going, unlike the energizer bunny who kept going and going and going, but made a left turn when it saw two hot girls walk past. Darn horny pink bunny with stupid sunglasses. Someone needs to fine that rabbit for playing his drum constantly. People need to sleep, you know.

Ahem. Back to the topic.

Max was panting and out of breath, his cheeks flush, and his feet dragging. Why Rei wasn't taking him by the shoulders and shaking sense and reason into him he didn't know. No, wait, he did. Life was a sadist and it was torturing him by forcing him to run. Well, he wasn't going to let fate rule him.

He stopped, forgetting his shyness, and the laws of physics too. An orbital in motion will stay in motion. Then again, what do does an orbital have to do with anything? Rei crashed into Max! Orbit and physics has nothing to do with it (Actually physics has everything to do with it).

Rei, being very skilled at balancing, caught himself before his body made contact with the hard ground. Granted, he didn't do it gracefully. He failed his arms about and muttered a curse or two.

Luckily, Max managed not to fall either. Unluckily, he felt another blush coming on and was fighting desperately to push it down. Turning, Max pretended to be surprised by Rei's presence. It would have worked too if his voice hadn't shot up two octaves. "Oh, Rei! What are you doing there?"

Oh just chasing the boy I kissed yesterday. Would you have happened to see him? He looks like you. Sounds like you, and acts like you. Rei's mental voice seethed with sarcasm. He may not have looked it, but Rei was exhausted. If he didn't like Max so much, he would have stopped running a long time ago.

He hid his bitterness well, but he would not let Max pretend to have not noticed him chasing the blonde. "Max, I have been chasing you for over an hour."

"Wow! Really?" Max placed his hands on hips and admired his figure. "Do you think I lost any weight?"

"Max, don't give into the stereotypical blonde."

"What?"

"Never mind."

This was not going to be easy. Max had the ultimate defense, fake obliviousness. Rei knew Max knew what was on the Neko jin's mind, but was playing stupid, not that Rei could prove it. If he could prove such a thing he would have no issues getting Max to talk about their kiss.

"Well if you have nothing to say to me-" Max started, turning on his heels, but was yanked back, and forced to face Rei.

"I do, have something to say to you, Max," Rei stated firmly, letting the blonde know he was not escaping. Max was like a mouse, and Rei, being the cat like creature that he was, had him cornered.

It was a desperate move, but Max did the first thing that came to mind. "Hey look! Cat Nip!"

"…"

Max laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. As stated above, it was a desperate move; not a smart one.

Rei's eyes had widened in disbelief. Was Max on crack or something? He may have a few feline features, but he was not a cat! Cat Nip had no effect on him. Sure, there was that one time, but Lee had slipped it into his tea, so it didn't count.

"Hey look! Mariah!"

A plaintive squeak escaped Rei. He spun in his spot, holding his hands up to show he was unarmed to Mariah. "I'm sorry! It was an accident! I swear!"

Silence answered him.

There was no Mariah.

And now there was no Max.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"Are you happy now?" Tyson asked that dictating, son of silly person, Kai. Yeah, he was angry, but you would be too after a workout designed by Kai.

"No."

"What?" Tyson screeched, trying to fathom what demon was possessing Kai. Surely no one was this sadistic. "Well then," he huffed, placing his hands on his hips and glaring at Kai, "what would make you happy?"

Kai's eyes glazed over in a dreamy state, and he hummed in satisfaction as the image of him sitting atop a throne made from the bones of his enemies, and drinking their blood from a black grail filled his mind. In this daydream the sky was red and lightening struck the ground, killing everyone.

"I want to rule the world," he finally answered the question.

"Cool! Can I join you?"

"…" Kai stared blatantly at an eager Tyson. Had he been anyone else he would have shouted, "What the fuck!" at Tyson's face. Wasn't the bluenette the one who tried to save the world?

It was possible that Tyson was trying to destroy Kai's world domination plan by joining the dual haired teen's forces and then destroying it from the inside out. Kai shook his head at this. He was giving Tyson too much credit. Tyson didn't have the brains to think up such a scheme. Nonetheless, Kai answered with a, "No."

"Aw come on, Kai!" Tyson whined, pouting in the process. "I'm tired of playing the good guy! For once I want to be the one to cause havoc and destruction!"

Kai could sympathize with Tyson. He remembered all those times he had to play the good guy, and it sucked. Admittedly, half the time he betrayed Tyson and the other's he did it to fight Tyson, but the rest of the time he was just bored with being good.

It also wouldn't be so bad to have Tyson a part of his plan to take over the world. The bluenette hardly lost, and was extremely loyal. The chances of Tyson turning on him would be slim. Yes, Tyson would be a valuable asset to his plans.

"Fine, you can be second in command."

"Yay!" Tyson whooped, jumping and punching his fist through the air. "And to celebrate, you are going to buy me dinner!"

The ultimate death glare was on Kai's face, but Tyson's shield of happiness canceled out its affects. "And why would I buy you dinner?" Kai asked through gritted teeth.

"Because Kai," Tyson said in an overly sweet voice. "Whose home are you staying at right now?"

"Hn."

"And whose family has been supplying you with meals while you stayed with them?"

"…"

"And who hasn't asked anything in return?"

"…"

Now Tyson was glaring, which was really scary, since he hardly did such a thing. "You better answer Kai, or I'll sing "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child."

"You," Kai said hesitantly. He knew Tyson was a terrible singer, but a part of him wanted to see the bluenette make a fool of himself.

"Good boy." That overly sweet tone was back in Tyson's voice. Tyson took Kai's hand in his, leading the two to a place to eat.

While in Kai's mind some interesting thoughts were occurring. Yes, Tyson definitely has some evil potential in him. He will make a great second in command with more training.

X.X.X.X.X.

Akira: I wonder how many people got the "Same My Name" joke?