I thought I would make this a little romantic between Max and Saori and it shows that both tigers need each other and that their love has been re-ignited.
Chapter 16: Arms Around You
As Max got to his room in Arizona's house, he takes out a clean rag, dipped it in some hot water and squeezed it around to cleanse her wounds and he comes over to her and he said, "Give me your hand."
Saori gives out her paw and as Max looks at it, he told her, "Hold still. This might sting a little bit, but it helps cleanse out the wounds."
As Max places the rag on her arm, Saori groans in response, but sees Max cleaning up the wounds for her and wipes all the blood away and he asked, "How did this guy even find you?"
"He has a dark aura, Max." Saori replied.
That took him by surprise that he has a dark aura and couldn't imagine why he would have those powers, but he asked, "Dark aura?"
"He's a daemon tiger. Each time he gets mad or angry, he transforms into a demon with a very dark aura and creates weapons with that aura...sorta like my brother, except he uses it more on vulnerable girls than everyone else." Saori replied.
"That's brutal. You didn't deserve to be treated like this." Max stated.
Saori sighed heavily and agreed with Max on this one and she had always hated living with Kabishi all those years and he couldn't imagine going through what she went through and as he continues to cleanse all the blood from all over, he breaks in some bandages to wrap around the wounded spots so it can heal.
"Max...I'm really glad that you were here to save me." Saori said, smiling.
Max looked up at her and he said, "Of course I came. I couldn't let anything happen to you...and I wasn't gonna let that slip away."
"Do you wanna know why?" asked Saori.
Max sighed heavily and answered this question, "Because I love you, Saori. I couldn't re-do what I would've done last time...me failing to save you. I made that promise that I would never let anyone hurt you and that night...I felt like I had let you down and that I had let your brother down. And if something like this happened again and I wasn't there, I would never forgive myself."
Saori looked into Max's eyes and she saw them getting misty-eyed and she looked at him and said, "I love you too, Max. You're the reason why I came back...so I can be with you forever. I would never marry that Kabishi jackass when I got someone right in front of me."
"You mean me?" asked Max.
Saori kissed him in the cheek and replied, "Of course me, silly. And I've always loved you when we were cubs."
"So have I."
Saori stood up and she gave him a kiss on the lips again and Max immediately wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back with more passion than ever and after they broke for air, he hugs her deeply and whispered, "I've missed you, Saori."
"I missed you too, Max." Saori whispered.
They let go for a minute and Max scratched the back of his head and said, "I guess I oughta take you back to Akashi before he gets worried about you."
"Actually...is it okay if I spend the night with you?" asked Saori.
Max looked her in the eyes and he was taken aback by what she said and with no hesitation, he replied, "Of course you can. You'll be safe with me."
"Thanks, Max."
Minites later, Max got in his bed and made room for Saori as she got on the other side of the bed with him and Saori looked him in the eye and Max asked, "You okay now?"
"I am...now that I'm with you." Saori replied.
Max sighed happily as he stared at his lady love in the eye and he said, "I hope Akashi doesn't assume that we're doing something."
"Don't worry about Akashi. He knows that we're good for each other." Saori added.
"Yeah, you're right. Saori...I wanna make a promise to you; I wanna be on your side for the rest of your life and mine. And if this Kabishi whack job tries anything to harm you again, I'll beat the snot out of him like the dog he is. Or cat. Whatever you perfer." Max added.
Saori giggled at this and she said, "You're so silly...but sweet. I wish I could marry you."
"Me too."
Max looks at her in the eyes and he stroked her forehead ever so gently and kissed it and whispered, "Good night."
"Good night, Max."
Saori rests her head in Max's chest and she puts her paw on his shoulder and he gently placed her arms around her, which made her purr softly and he softly stroked her side and Saori felt really safe around him...just like she wanted.
They both closed their eyes and fell straight asleep with each other, cuddling in their arms unaware that Akashi's looking out the window and saw the two of them sleeping together and he lets out a smile and whispered, "I always knew you would protect my little sister, Max."
Was that cute or what? Master of Stories; Akashi, Miyo, Saori and everyone else...weigh in on this. Stick around for more!