The Ancient Genes

Arcane Dorms, Academy District.

"Who was it?" Axel asked as he got out of the washroom and saw Lear on his phone.

"It was Max, he is coming…" Lear said with a smile. He had only picked up the call after seeing that it was from Max. After all, he would have never touched his phone suspecting that there would definitely be some cursed sh*t in it.

"So, he is finally coming? Where did he disappear to?" Wilson asked as he continued to work out a sweat while doing push-ups in the corner.

"He didn't say anything, he will be here soon anyway. Just ask him then…" Lear replied.

"Since everyone is here why don't we celebrate?" Kevin spoke with his mouth full of snacks.

"Good idea...that's what I am thinking. Finally all the troubles are over, I need to relax…" Lear said as he sighed. He would be finally having a good night's sleep today.

"Let's go and get something…." Lear said as he decided to bring along Kevin for carrying everything.

Kevin was always ready for this...

Lear then turned around and proceeded to stretch his hands out towards Axel.

"What?"

"Money.." Lear replied.

"Really?'' Axel glared at him before passing out a few bills to him. He had been getting paid by the professor for assisting him after school hours. So he could afford this much.

"Thanks….Umn...did Lisa pick your call? I tried but she didn't…..we should have invited her too…" Lear muttered not noticing the flicker in Axel's expression.

"I only intend to cooperate with her for work. Being friendly wasn't a part of the deal." Axel said with a calm look.

Lear looked at him for a while but didn't say anything. He didn't think that he was at the position to interfere now….he would just tell it to Max who knew both of them longer than he did.

With that, Lear and Kevin went out of the dorms…

Axel sat on the couch and closed his eyes. He seemed to have remembered the sense of discomfort on the day of chaos. The Professor said he had passed out due to his condition…..but Axel was not sure about it…

He laid there for a while before shaking his head and taking out his phone. It's been a while since he last saw Mio chan.

…..

Wilson who was working out suddenly stopped and sat on the floor as he wiped his sweat looking towards the door.

"Click!"

The door opened and Max walked in carrying on a calm face.

Max looked at the two people in the room before taking the seat opposite Axel.

"I heard you were hospitalized? Is everything fine now?" 

"Yeah, it was just a trivial thing…" Axel said with a smile.

"So, who was it? Who sold me out?" Axel further asked with a smile. It had to be Lear. He clearly remembered telling him not to tell Max about it.

"Lisa…"

Those words immediately made the smile on his face to be dimmed down a bit.

"What's with the face? Did something happen?" Max asked with a calm look.

Axel looked at him before replying with a smile, ''Nope….it's the usual...anyways I am fine now...so you don't need to worry…"

"I am not so sure about, especially when you start lying to me…" 

Wilson stared at the duo and immediately understood that something was going on. He decided to not get in between and let them sort it out.

"I don't know what you are talking about…" Axel said as he put his earphones in trying to concentrate on his phone.

Max raised his finger and moved it horizontally in mid-air. The earphones came out of Axel's ears and he turned to look at Max.

"I am not done talking…" Max said as he stared at him.

"Did you really had to behave like that?" Max further asked with a serious look.

At this moment, two jolly voices sounded outside the dorm and soon Kevin and Lear returned. It was hard for them to not notice the odd situation and Wilson immediately signaled them to keep quiet.

Axel frowned at Max's attitude before finally speaking, "Don't you know the truth?"

"Do I?" Max said sarcastically.

"Are you playing dumb?" Axel looked at Max with a hint of anger in his eyes. This was one of the topics he didn't like talking much about and seeing Max acting the way he did only made him angry.

"I don't think so. Why don't you tell me the truth?" 

Axel looked at him with a serious face. In the end, not wanting to spoil the day. He once again spoke about it, "I have every reason to hate her. My brother was framed for drugging her and died of an unknown cause. She was one of the people who could have justified him but she didn't….do you think I could like her after that?"

Max got up from his seat and walked towards Axel before stooping down and grabbing his collar. He pulled him close and stared right in his eyes, "You sure you didn't leave something important? Something you should have said in the very beginning…."

Axel's eyes flickered for a moment but he still returned Max's gaze, "I don't know what you are talking about."

"You know what, it seems you are trying too hard to hate her…."

"Let go…" Axel grabbed Max's wrist and spoke with a threatening tone.

"What? Did I hit the sore spot?"

"Let go!"

"So, you will keep up that facade….I thought you trusted me…." Max spoke, not being able to hide his disappointment.

"I said let go of me." Axel spoke in anger.

"Not until, you say it clearly….you called me brother, I can't leave you like this..."

"Brother? Don't make me laugh….you hid so many things from me….you are in no position to be lecturing me…" Axel said as he gritted his teeth. He didn't know why he was saying these things. He didn't really mean it. But he couldn't stop himself.

"I did it only to prevent you from getting involved in this mess. It's true, that I didn't consider your feelings and that is my fault…." 

"You won't stop then? Why are you taking her side when you are calling me your brother?" Axel asked with a frustrated look. He was desperately trying to avoid this topic.

"Don't tell me you just fell for her when she came crying to you?"

"That b*tch….what did she do to you?''

"Is she trying to charm you with money? Power?"

"Don't be fooled by her….you should have seen her ugly face…'' 

Axel kept bad mouthing Lisa while everyone looked at him with worry. This wasn't his usual self. Max didn't say anything but just looked at him with sadness in his eyes.

"Don't tell me did she offered you her bod-"

"Bang!"

Max's fist sunk into Axel's face. Blood immediately spilled out of Axel's nose as his eyes rolled backward. Max had controlled his strength. If not, there were chances that he would have sent his head flying.

"That's enough…."  Max let go of Axel's collar and he collapsed onto the couch.

"Just to let you know….I am taking her. She will be mine…." Max spoke as he looked at Axel who didn't return his gaze but just looked away.

"Do as you wish. This has nothing to do with me…"

Max sighed. He had been here for solving things. But now, he realized it. An outsider couldn't do anything. Even if he told Axel everything, nothing would change in his current situation and it was possible that the situation might even turn worse.

Max didn't wait any longer and just walked out of the room.

Lear dropped the things he was carrying in his hand and rushed after Max. This was not the time to be fighting amongst themselves.

Kevin looked at Max and Lear leaving and then turned towards Axel who seemed to be going back into his room. He didn't hesitate and immediately went after him.

….

"What's going on? This isn't the time to be fighting." Lear asked with an exasperated face.

"We are not….I am just angry that I couldn't have noticed it until now...." Max replied in frustration.

"Don't lie to me….you clearly punched him...and don't tell me it's because of Lisa…." Lear couldn't believe that something like this was happening in real life. Friends becoming enemy over a girl.

"I only punched him to reduce his guilt. I know he didn't mean any of the words he said. If left like that, he surely would have regretted it...besides, he indeed went too far...." Max replied as he continued to walk with Lear.

"Are you sure?" Lear was doubtful.

Max nodded.

"What was all that about to begin with? And did you really mean it, that thing about making Lisa yours? Do you like her?" Lear asked.

"Hmm….the 'like' you are speaking is different from the 'like' I have. As for whether I will do what I said? It depends, whether or not he just sits like that till the end…" Max said as he tilted his head and looked towards the dorm.

"Care to explain, what's going on?" Lear asked sensing that something wasn't fitting right here.