Chapter 44------Fun for Two

She pulled out what seemed like a picture. At the back it wrote:

Dear Max,

Here's a picture of me at the site. Sorry I couldn't visit you for X'mas. Hope you are doing fine.

Love,
Mom.

Mai flipped the picture to the front, 'So she's Max's mom huh?' The blonde-haired woman was standing beside what seemed like pillars but something in the background made her gasp. 'This… This is—!'

Heavy footsteps came running down the stairs, "MAX!"

"Yeah?" He saw Mai cling onto the pillar for support as she caught her breath. She held up a picture in her hand. "Where'd you get that?" He plucked the photograph from her hand.

"Where –huh- -huh- is this place?"

"What place?"

"The place in the picture!" Mai demanded.

"Uhh…America I think," Max scratched the back of his head as he tried to recall, "why?"

"That lady in the picture is your mom right?" Max nodded his head. "And we're going to America for the American tournament right?" Again, the boy nodded his head.

"What're you driving at?" Tyson asked curiously.

'We're going to America and Max's mom knows where the place is. Good, I have a lead, that's good.' But Tyson's voice broke her train of thought, "Hey, we're you listening?"

"Can I meet your mom when we get to America?"

"Sure! She'll be picking us up at the airport. Are you interested in archaeology too?" He looked at her with big bright eyes.

"No, it's not that. I want to ask her about the place in the picture, and if it's possible, I'd like to go there."

"We're going to America to compete, not frolic around with you on one of your silly adventures…" Kai commented.

Mai shot a dirty look at him but didn't say a word. She turned her attention to the rest who were willing to hear her out. "This emblem –points to background in picture-, two snakes intertwined around a staff, is the mark of the Norwings; they come from North America. Maybe that's where we'll find the next jewel, in Norwing country."

"Cool!" Max exclaimed. "Does that make me a Norwing then?"

"Uhh…I don't know…" Mai fumbled.

"That's great then!" Tyson pounded a fist on his left hand.

"Really?"

"Yeah! The faster you collect the jewels, the faster you resurrect Eden and return back to your normal life with Riya." The bluenette explained. "Wouldn't that be great?"

'Riya…' "Yeah," Mai forced a smile, "that'd be swell." Riya was her enemy, the one competing against her to resurrect Eden; it was either her or him who would decide Eden's fate. But…could their lives really get back to normal after everything was done?

Mai couldn't say…

"Hey dudes! Lunch is ready." Grampa Granger appeared leaning on the frame of the paper shoji screen.

And you could've guessed what Tyson's immediate response was. He was the first to sit at the table, "Hurry up! I'm starving!" It was customary for one to wait till everyone was gathered at the table before tucking into the food and the oldest had to take the first bite before anyone else could start.

"Keep your pants on. I'm comin' I'm comin'" Mai laughed at the man as he ambled over to his seat. "Itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu." Everyone chorused.

'Ahh…delicious tamago (omelette). How long has it been since I ate this?' Mai savoured the sweet taste, rolling her tongue over its fluffy texture. In fact, ever since she had been kidnapped, she was never really fed well. 'Wait, did I even eat anything in the first place?' She pondered over the thought but decided to let it slide. "Do you guys have school tomorrow?"

"Nope," Max scanned his plate, deciding on what to eat next. "School's out for us cos' we're going for the tournament."

"Oh yeah, speaking of school. Mai, d'you know how much of your homework I had to do while you we're gone? This much!" Tyson made a wide gap with his arms.

"Why?" She was amused at the thought of Tyson, lazy-and-perpetually-hungry-with-less-than-a-quart-of-human-intelligence-in-his-brain Tyson actually slaving over homework!

"You couldn't expect us to tell everyone you'd gone missing, could you? So anyway we had to lie about why you weren't coming to school…And I got stuck doing your homework for you! If it weren't for Hilary offering to do your Home Economics homework, I'd still be sewing like some Granny in a rocking chair. You owe me, Mai." And he bit off the end of an asparagus.

The girl let out a bemused laugh, "Fine, let me know when I can return the favour."

The rest of the day was spent packing for America. The foursome had a lot of fun packing their clothes. Apparently, there was some strange apparel in the cupboard…

"Ahahaha! Red dragon boxers? (For the Chinese, red and dragons are symbols of good luck) AHAHAH! You're killing me!" Max wiped a tear from his eye as he bent over in laughter.

"Give me that!" Rei snatched the boxers and placed it nicely in the luggage.

"Hey, let's see what Kai's got okay?" Mai smirked as she dug through the pile of clothes in Kai's section. "Oooh, this is nice." She fished out a pair of black baggy jeans, "You should pack this." Se threw the pants over. It landed on top of his head.

Kai: "…"

"Tsk tsk, are you really that small?" Tyson held up something stringy and Mai's face went incandescent with embarrassment. The rest of the guys laughed, even Kai couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"You pervert! Hand it over!"

"Haha, revenge for the homework!" He jumped over the luggage in attempt to get away from the fuming girl.

"No…don't wave it in the air…" The poor girl buried her face in her hands. 'This is so embarrassing…Arrgh!' "Tyson! Hand it over NOW!" She barked.

"Okay." He had tortured the girl enough and threw it across the room. Mai caught it and immediately stuffed it into her luggage. "I didn't know you liked to wear the lacy ones." He smirked.

"I don't!"

The boys had their last laughs and went back to packing.

-Silence…-

"Do you think… Riya's gonna participate?" Mai said it mostly to herself but the boys managed to hear it.

"Maybe," Rei shrugged his shoulders, "You…miss him?"

"I miss all of them," She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I mean, if there's a chance I'd get to see them there then…"

Rei nodded. The orange glow in the room caused Mai to look out the window. Outside, the rooftops were glazed with a golden shine and the clouds were a soft yellow. The zephyr coming in made it all the more breathtaking as she watched the sun set through the curtain frame. 'It's so natural…' Indeed, to see something like this in a concrete city was worth stopping for and admiring its simplicity. And just like a mirage disappears in a blink of an eye, the sky was grey, darkening with every minute that ticked by. A gust of wind kicked up the curtains and Mai took in the fresh smell of mint-y grass, 'Looks like it's gonna rain tonight.'

-Fast forward-

-Dream-

Grandfather…

You were smiling; you ruffled my hair, told me everything was going to be okay…

Spencer and Bryan, they were battling…And Tala, my best friend, the only one I could trust in the Abbey. He smiled too, stretching out his hand, asking me to come join them…

And then I'm running down the corridor, pulling Tala by the hand.

Hurry!

They were coming after us. But I was getting out of here and I wanted Tala to come with me. Behind us the guards shouted while the Abbey burned from within.

You told me you can't run anymore…You were clutching your leg.

No! We'll make it! C'mon!

I heard gunshots. Voltaire was shouting to get us. We were reaching the exit. Soon, soon we'd be free.

I burst threw the door and entered the frosty night.

We did it! We're free!

Running; running through the snow which went up to our knees. And then you fell…

I turned around and saw you lying in the snow.

Tala!

I ran back to help you but saw them coming, shouting for us, carrying guns…They reached you first and I couldn't do a thing. I wanted to save you…but I had to save myself.

You shouted my name but I couldn't come…I couldn't come…I ran ahead, turning back to see you clawing the ground…shouting my name, asking me to help you.

I can't help you…sorry…I bit my lip, forcing back the tears as I heard you shouting

Kai! KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!

-End of dream-

Kai's eyes shot open and immediately, the soft pounding of the rain filled his ears. 'Yume ka… (It was just a dream…)' He sat up and ran his hands over his face.

"Bad dream?"

Shocked, he turned in the direction of the voice. There Mai sat by the window, a blanket wrapped snugly around her. He noticed that the window was a tad open and he knew the reason why. The light from the street lamps outside fell softly on her cheek. Her head was tilted; she was waiting for an answer.

"Yeah…" Kai sat cross-legged and stared at the sheets where the blanket sunk in between his legs.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Mai took Kai's lack of response as a 'no'.

"What're you doing up?" He talked down to the bed, still refusing to look at her.

"Hm?" Mai smiled and rested her chin on the bar of the double-decker bed, looking dreamily outside the window as the rain poured. "I wanted to watch the rain. –chuckles- Actually, I couldn't sleep."

Kai nodded slightly. It wasn't like him, but somehow he wanted to talk to her more. Would she think it strange if he started talking longer than his usual short, sarcastic sentences? Fortunately, Mai saved him the trouble.

"Sorry… if I'm a burden to you."

'!' "No…it's just, sometimes you're so stubborn, you do stupid things." Kai lay back down in his bed, his arms crossed behind his head as he listened to the pitter-patter of the rain.

"I know," Mai turned to face him, "But you're not so easy to read yourself." She got up and returned to her bed.

"Hmph, is that so…"

"If you were out there walking in the rain… and you saw somebody, would you know that person was actually crying? Or would the rain trickling down her face mask those tears?

"It's like that with you. You choose to hide yourself behind this cold outer-image… A lot of people do that to protect themselves. What is it that you don't want people to see? What is it you're afraid of?"

'What I don't want people to see? Heh, there'd be too many to name…so that no one will take advantage of me…I won't go back to being the kid who ran away.'

"Kai?"

The boy turned over, facing his back to the girl. He didn't like this; she was diving in too deep. He wasn't going to divulge everything to her; some things had to be kept private. "Go back to sleep, you won't recover if you keep staying up late…"

Mai sighed, "You're always like that. No one can ever get close to you because you keep pushing them away."

Kai turned his head, a smile tugged at his lips but he forced it down, "So you want to get close to me? Is that what're you're saying?"

"Not close in that way," she huffed. "As in, no one can understand you…If people understood you, then they'd know when to keep their distance, so you don't get cranky all the time… You make people feel like you hate them." Kai watched her turn to her side, her hair spilling over the pillow as she pulled the covers over her legs. "I'm going back to sleep. G'night."

"Close the window."

"Close it yourself if you're not happy…" Mai replied coolly.

Lazy to get up, Kai went back to facing the wall, 'Stubborn girl...' He shifted around in the bed till he found a comfortable position; the springs creaking noisily beneath him. He thought about what Mai had said, she sounded like she really meant every word… 'Hmph, so what if no one understands me…I don't care…'

'Right?'

-Next day-

"Morning, Grampa Granger. Is Mai up yet?" Hilary took of her shoes and placed them to one side.

"Yep, she's watchin' TV in the livin' room."

"Windy card! FLY!"

"Hey, how're you feeling?"

"Sakura! Look out!"

"WHHOOOAAA!"

Hilary waved a hand in front of her, "Heeellloooo?"

Mai swatted it away, "Let me watch this part first." Her eyes were glued to the TV; Sakura had just obtained the Water.

The brunette offered her a box of Pocky and Mai absent-mindedly pulled out a stick and nibbled the tip, "Thanks."

Finally, Card captor Sakura ended and Hilary took this opportunity to pick up on where she left off. "Aren't you a little too old for cartoons?"

"Anime is not cartoons," Mai replied sternly, pulling another stick of chocolate pocky out of the box.

"So how's your arm?"

"Okay. It's getting better I think." Mai glanced at her shoulder and frowned at the thin scar. 'I hope it'll go away…'

"So, where're the guys?" Hilary looked around the house. Not a teenage boy in sight.

"They went to Kenny's."

Suddenly Hilary's face brightened, "Hey! Let's go over there!"

Then Mai's face brightened, "No! I have an even better idea!" The girl's eyes twinkled, "Let's go there dressed up as guys!" 'I get a chance to try on the guys' clothes! AHAHAH!' "Tyson's got some nice clothes, c'mon." And the two girls raced upstairs.

An hour later…

"Nah, tuck it out a bit more." Hilary pulled the corner of her shirt so that part of it hung out, revealing the belt buckle. Mai stood back to examine, "Perfect!"

Hilary and Mai had both thrown on jeans. Mai found a nice brown t-shirt that had eagle wings spread over the front and topped the look with a black wrist band and a beanie to hide her hair. Hilary on the other hand got a belt to hold the pants in place, a black shirt and tucked her hair under a black cap. They didn't care who the clothes belonged to, so long as it looked nice on them.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

The two burst out laughing, put on their shades and walked out the door, "We'll be back soon Grampa G!"

-Kenny's house-

Kenny sat at his desk, tweaking Mai's beyblade with a small screwdriver. "Done." He placed the screwdriver back in the tool box.

"Hey Kenny, whaddya think? Cool huh?" Tyson held up his new blade, equipped with a new defence ring.

"Well, we won't know how good it is till we test it out," the boy replied as wiped his glasses with the flap of his shirt.

"C'mon, we'll train at the same time." Tyson held the door open for everyone to walk out.

"KEN-CHAN! YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE TO SEE YOU!" A woman called from downstairs.

"Huh? I don't remember inviting anyone else…" Curious, Kenny went downstairs, along with the rest of the Bladebreakers.

At the doorway stood two boys, "Hey Kenny! Where's ma blade you promised da other day?" Mai spoke in a gruff voice.

"Who're you?"

"Aww, c'mon. Don't go actin' like ya fergot." Hilary led Kenny out the restaurant door, "We made a deal remember ba? You fix our blades and we'll drop that thing ya did with Susan."

blu: Remember Kenny's parents own a ramen shop?

'Susan?' Mai stifled a laugh but continued with her macho image.

"Susan? B-but I don't even know a Susan! Who ARE you guys?" Kenny was starting to panic as the two boys took hold of his arms.

"Hey! If Kenny says he doesn't know you then leave him alone!" Tyson shouted.

"Stay outta this, tubby! Kenny here owes us our beyblades and we ain't leavin' till we get it." Mai sneered, pulling Kenny away from the guys. "C'mon Kenny, cough it up, give us our blades and we'll let Susan go."

"Who the hell is Susan?" Max leaned in towards Rei.

"Beats me." The neko-jin shrugged his shoulders; he was just as confused as his blond friend.

"I really don't know a Susan!" Kenny wailed.

'HAHAHAHA, this is getting good!' Hilary thought.

"Leave him alone!" Rei pushed Mai. She was a bit taken back by his action. She never expected Rei to do anything like that; it was Kai or Tyson who looked the sort. 'So this is the way guys play it huh?' Mai grinned and directed a punch at Rei who jumped back.

"Gary! Take Kenny back! I'll deal with this." 'Let's see how good Rei is at sparring.' Mai threw another punch, Rei blocked, another punch, blocked again. Mai raised her fists once more but then—

'!' A knee jabbed into Rei's side and he stumbled back, clutching his side.

"REI!" Max ran to help his friend.

"Is that the best you've got, Rei?"

"You know,' the boy steadied himself, 'you punch…like a girl!" At that instant, he leapt behind her and –

"OKAY! STOP! STOP! DON'T' HIT MY SHOULDER!" A familiar voice came out from the boy's mouth as he backed away, his hands raised in defence.

"What?"

The boy pulled off the beanie to reveal a head of long blackish-brown hair which fell to her waist.

"Mai?"

Mai pulled off her shades and smirked, "Gotcha!"

Rei stood there, jaw open…it was Mai? ALL ALONG?

"No wonder that shirt looked familiar…" Max rubbed his chin. Tyson just stood there, not knowing whether he was supposed to be angry or surprised…

The other boy came out with Kenny walking behind him. Hilary pulled off the shades and the cap, "Yoz!"

"You? and you?" Tyson pointed to the both girls, "Hey! That's my cap!"

"My jeans…" Kai muttered.

Mai shook Rei arm, "Hey, you okay? It was just a joke."

"I could have seriously hurt you…"

She smiled, "I'd be an idiot if I let that happen right?" Rei laughed and she laughed too. "Now how about we all go back to Kenny's place and get some ramen?"

"Can't argue with that." Tyson said. Hilary clucked her tongue, "You can't argue with anything that has to do with food…"

"No, I can't argue with anything that has to do with food and you." With that he took her hand and the two of them lead the way back to the shop.

Mai looked like she had been betrayed. What happened to girl power? WHAT HAPPENED? Hilary got swept away just like that –snaps fingers-.

"Can't they just get married already?" Mai's eyes narrowed in irritancy as she shoved her hands into her pockets and walked by Rei's side.

The raven-haired boy chuckled, "Soon, soon."

I know i said i'd update sooner but i've got exams so here, i managed to post it during one of my breaks. Hope you enjoyed it!