A/N: Another chapter! The ;longest yet! Thank you, Desastrus, for your review! Oh, and I meant to do this last chapter but i forgot: A special thanks to SilverKaya, who helped me out a lot. THANK YOU, SILVERKAYA! although she doesn't review any more, she took a lot of trouble trying to help me so yeah, thanks Kaya, you rock!
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There had been a dead calm all through the day. But now the wind was picking up speed; it became faster and faster by the minute. The captain realized that a storm was coming up. He chewed on his cigarette agitatedly. They were not in danger; his ship had been carefully designed and built. He just hoped the passengers had the good sense to get off the deck and go down to their cabins.
On the deck…
Miriam slipped away quietly, leaving the rest of the G-Revolution. She loved storms and she was waiting for it to come. She knew that they would make her go down to the cabins but she didn't want to. She noticed everyone was walking off now. She walked towards the front of the ship, hoping fervently she wasn't being watched.
Down in the cabins…
The G-Revolution was all gathered in the living room along with the Majestics and the Saintshields. Miriam, however, was no where to be seen. Ozuma, Joseph and Dunga weren't in the least worried. As Joseph said, they'd probably earn a thump on the head from Miriam if they tried to make her do something she didn't want to do. But happy, carefree Max was rather worried. 'Storms and ships? Not a good combination.' He thought with a frown.
Standing up, he made his way across the room. Maybe he should go find her. But then he was stopped by someone grabbing his arm. It was Joseph. "Max, I know my sister," said Joseph. "And you do not want to make her angry. She'll come down when she wants."
"No," frowned Max, shaking hiss head stubbornly. "I think it's dangerous and you, as her brother, should be worried. Since you're not, I am."
Joseph clenched and unclenched his fists. "Alright then," he hissed. "Alright. Go ahead. You'll see that I'm right."
Max frowned and left the room, making his way up to the deck. Out on the deck, there was so much wind that the rain could hardly be felt. He couldn't see anything more than five feet away from him. Narrowing his eyes against the wind and rain, he moved forward.
As he did so, he caught sight of someone twirling around, her arms out flung and her hair flying. She was laughing and seemed totally happy. Max squinted, trying to get a closer look at her. It was Miriam. Max's eyes widened. She was never this carefree and happy in front of them! It would be a pity to ruin her fun. Max sat down where he was, waiting for her to stop. Then he'd walk with her back to the rest of the people.
Miriam had no idea she was being watched. She was always affected by a storm this way. She loved the howling of the wind and the scattered raindrops falling here and there. So she kept on twirling around and around, moving wherever her feet took her. Suddenly, she tripped over something and almost fell, but managed to control herself. Standing straight, she saw that what she had tripped on was a someone, not a something. He seemed much clumsier than her, so she bent down and helped him up.
"Miriam," said Max, who had fallen over when she bumped into him. "You should come down to the cabin."
"Why should I?" asked Miriam with a frown. "I was having fun, in case you didn't notice." Then, the reality dawned upon Miriam. "What were you doing watching me?" she hissed angrily.
"I thought that being outside on a ship in a storm was dangerous," said Max with a nervous laugh. Then, he untied the jacket he usually kept around his waist. "Here, take this. You must be cold."
Miriam looked at him suspiciously before taking the jacket and shrugging it on. Then turning around, she started walking in the direction of the cabins and living room. Max ran to catch up with her. "Why don't you ever act that happy around others?" he asked curiously.
"Because that's not who I am," replied Miriam, with another frown.
"Yes it is," said Max. "The you that we see is not who you are." They both fell quiet and walked back to the living room.
As they entered the room, Joseph jumped up gleefully. "Did she pulverize you?" he asked with a grin. Max grinned back and shook his head. "Nah," he said. "How can anyone pulverize me?" He made a puppy face, after which he burst into laughter. Everybody else laughed with him. Miriam gnashed her teeth and sat down in the corner, opening a magazine that had just been tossed aside.
Tyson, who was now sitting beside Max, nudged him with a mischievous smile. "Max and Miriam," he whispered in Max's ear. "Sitting in a- oof!" Max had punched him lightly in the stomach. Tyson, after recovering, gave another evil smile to Max. "So it's true," he whispered, not wanting to raise his voice. After all, he didn't want to embarrass Max!
"It's not!" replied Max hotly, his face going red.
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Break it up," said Ray with a laugh, sitting down in between them. "What're the two of you arguing about anyways?"
"None of your business," pouted Max, folding his arms. Then he muttered under his breath, "Tyson likes Hilary."
"Where'd that come from?" exclaimed Ray, and then, turning to Tyson, "Dude, is he serious?"
"No!" replied Tyson. "He's just angry because I know that he… Argh! Don't punch me again!" Getting up, he left the room at a ruin with Max chasing after him. Ray watched them go with a puzzled expression. As they exited, Salima entered. Tyson passed her bellowing "MAKE WAY!" and Max, "Tyson! GET BACK HERE!" She turned around and watched them go with a faint smile. Then, shaking her head, she made her way to the sofa that Ray was sitting on.
"Hello," Ray greeted her with a smile.
"Oh, hi," replied Salima, looking slightly flustered. "I didn't notice you. I was distracted."
"Oh, by Tyson and Max," said Ray understandingly.
"Yeah," replied Salima with a nod. "What happened anyway?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," replied Ray, smiling again. For some reason, Salima suddenly stood up. "I think I see Robert…" she faltered, walking off quickly to where the Majestics were sitting. Ray stared after her, looking confused.
Enrique looked up and smiled at Salima. It had taken her no time at all to become good friends with all of them. They had all become like brothers to her. "Hello," he greeted her. "Why did you leave Ray?"
Salima frowned at him slightly before returning the greeting. "Why shouldn't I?"
"Because you l—" Johnny began with a grin, only to get a light tap on the head from Oliver. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"Salima should feel comfortable here. Not driven off by your tactlessness," said Oliver, smiling.
"Salima does NOT feel driven off by me," said Johnny. Folding his arms and closing his eyes. Getting no response, he opened one eye and faltered, "Right—Salima?" Laughing, Salima said, "Right." Then turning to Robert, she said in a fake German accent, "Vell, Robert! You haff not spoken much." But she didn't receive the laugh or the word of reproach that she usually got. She looked at Oliver, confused. Oliver smiled mischievously and said, "Robert is thinking about Claire."
"Oh?" replied Salima, mirroring his smile. Oliver was the youngest of the team, her own age, so she got along especially well with him, "Who may that be?"
"Oliver," began Robert. "It is…"
"Uncouth to discuss a person when that person is present and in hearing range," chanted Johnny, Oliver and Enrique at the same time.
Salima laughed as Oliver continued, his smile even wider, "Especially when it considers the said person's girlfriend!"
"WHAT!" Salima exclaimed. "Tell me about her! Now!" she sat down right in front of Robert and allowed an expectant look to cover her face. Robert smiled at her and shook his head. "Some other time," he replied with a smile.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Meanwhile, The girl who had challenged Kai to a beybattle, Violet, had entered the room. She had a box in her hands and she was looking down into it, so absorbed that she almost walked into a wall. Fortunately, though, she looked up just in time to save herself. That was when she noticed all the famous bladers sitting there. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene. "Sorry," she mumbled, when suddenly Tyson came running into the room and seizing her by the shoulders, thrust her in front of him like a shield. Max ran in after him and paused, catching his breath.
"Violet!" squeaked Tyson. "Protect me!" Violet tossed her box and laughingly spread her arms out wide. "Max, what are you doing?" she exclaimed, as she continuously moved from left to right, and right to left in order to prevent Max from getting to Tyson.
"I'm gonna punch him," replied Max with a maniacal grin. Then he noticed Kai coming towards them, and his grin faltered. "Or maybe not," he muttered, hastily stepping back. Tyson, on the other hand, pulled Violet in front of him in such a way that she was between him and Kai, and repeated, "Like I said, protect me!"
Violet couldn't help but grin, but it soon faded as Kai glared at her. "This is a private lounge," he said.
"Yes, I said I'm sorry!" replied Violet. "I'll leave now." Shaking Tyson off, she turned to leave, but then she was pulled back by a pink haired girl. "Hey Violet," she said. "You don't have to listen to Kai, he's a sourpuss! Come, sit with us." She pulled a reluctant Violet with her box along. Kai glowered after them, and then turned to Tyson, who slid behind Max. Max, on the other hand, chanted under his breath, "Kai and Violet…"
"Don't even go there," said Kai through clenched teeth, turning around and stomping out of the room, with Max and Tyson following him, grins plastered across their faces.
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A'N: Yes, i know the ending was stupid but apart from that , how was it? I tried MaxMir for the first time. i don't think it was too bad, do you? i had to think about what to write for ages though. And I thought i'd tell you guys the pairings now(at least, the ones I'm sure of). TyHil(which im having difficulty with) MaxMir, KaixOC, TalaxJulia, RaulxMatilda(which for some reason i think is unbelievably cute!) and probably RaySal!
REVIEW! PLease? -puppydog eyes- It makes me very happy to get reviews And btw, school has started so i won't be updating more frequently than once a week!
Ciao!
MP.