...those wings...

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:56:53 GMT

I haven't posted in forever! My goshness! Anyways, lotsa new stuff happening, the holidays are right around the corner, and it's still no less than 40 degrees here. Hmph.

Well, I'll start off with this weekend, I guess. Today I get to go see my old choir's winter concert! It'll be the first concert since 2001 that I have not attended. Scary, huh? It's gonna feel so weird not being up on the stage. I'm also supposed to do a report on it for my choir class now. Super easy, and it's worth 7.5% of my semester grade. I know most of the songs the Concert Choir is singing because I sang them when I was in 5th grade. I miss it already! And tomorrow I get to watch the first 13 episodes in English of Ouran High School Host Club! YAY! Even though I've seen them all, like, three times each already, but it's still awesome. :D Kyoya=Amazing HAWTness. Yeah.

Oh, and because we're reading To Kill A Mockingbird in English, I couldn't help but find some sort of reference to Meet the Robinsons. Atticus reminds me of Cornelius, Jem reminds me of Wilbur, and Scout reminds me of Lela! :D Sorry, I couldn't help it.

I'll never listen to the song 'Far Away' by Nickleback the same way. Ever. I don't feel like elaborating.

What else...? Oh, yeah stories! All Im working on right now is my NaNo story, No Petals Fall, and I'll Admit It. That's all I have time for right now. Sorry, y'all!

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:12:53 GMT

FINALLY! Last bit.

Chapter Six:

The members of the Committee were having a much harder time than the four kids on Destiny Islands. Within minutes, Leon had reached headquarters and broken the news about the revived Demyx out in the undeveloped parts of Radiant Garden. For minutes, no one had believed him, thinking it was a joke.

But Leon, of all people, did not joke around. Especially not with something as serious as this.

"Great. Just great. First off, we've got Mr. Emo Depressed Pants up there whining himself to death, we're got to search for Kaede so she doesn't end up as Maleficent bait, a very strong rumor that Maleficent trying to take over the worlds -again-, and now we've got to worry about the freaking Organization all over again?! Didn't they die, like, twice already? Can people just stay dead for once and not defy the laws of nature. Do you know how much easier that would our lives?" Yuffie ranted, pacing around and around in headquarters. She had been pacing for the last hour, at the least, and still did not seem to be dizzy from going around and around in circles. After just a few minutes of watching her, Leon felt sick to his stomach.

"Just hope there aren’t any more Organization members running around here, causing trouble," Leon countered. Aerith looked up at this statement and chuckled softly.

"You haven't been reading any of the updates from the King, have you?"

"...We get updates from King Mickey? Since when?"

Aerith sighed. "Since the war ended. You didn't know that both Axel and Zexion are working for him now?"

All she received from Leon and Yuffie were blank stares. Cid still stared determinedly at the computer and ignored the current conversation, managing to do several things at once.

"What?!"

Aerith laughed again. "You've got to pay attention more, you two."

"Well, where are they stationed? Maybe we don't have to worry about Demyx because he might be working with Axel and Zexion," Leon suggested. At this, Aerith's face fell.

"No, I would have known about Demyx if he had been working with the King, or even Axel and Zexion. I don't know where the two are stationed; the King sent the message so that if we ever saw them, we wouldn't freak out."

“So then that means that Demyx…?” Yuffie started, her voice taking on a more vulnerable tone.

“Yeah. That means Demyx isn’t working for the good guys.”

Yuffie groaned and flopped backwards on the couch. “Shit.”

Silence reigned soon afterward. Yuffie seemed to be talking to herself on the couch, Cid was sending out alerts to the all worlds that had computer access (which was not many) to both look out for the Organization’s return and for any sign of Kaede. They would have to verbally deliver the message to the rest. Aerith suddenly stood from the computer bench next to Cid and ducked her head.

“I’m going to go tell Cloud. He’ll want to know,” she muttered to herself more for confirmation than anything else. With that, she glided to the stairs and jogged up. Once the other three heard the door upstairs close, they all turned to each other.

“She needs to fight for herself sometime,” Yuffie said instantly. “Just because Cloud loves Kaede doesn’t mean Aerith can’t speak out for herself. No offense, but Kaede really could be dead. Aerith needs to get Cloud prepared for that fact, if it ever comes true. And, hey, I think she should jump on the chance to maybe change his mind.” She paused, rethinking her own words, and cringed. “Even though that sounds really awful when I say it like that.”

Leon sighed. Yuffie did not quite understand the inner workings of being in love yet. “I’m all for Aerith being happy, but think about if Kaede does come back. If she sees Cloud and Aerith together, she’ll either flip out and ruin the relationships between all three of them, or run away. She’ll be crushed. To Kaede, Cloud is… everything she’s got.”

“Well, what about us?” Yuffie demanded. Leon looked around, avoided Yuffie’s direct stare. She just did not get it, did she? Yes, the Committee was certainly a part of Kaede’s life, and a big part of it, but obviously, to Kaede, Cloud was all that and more.

"It's different with us, Yuffie. Kaede's risked her life so many times to protect Cloud - and Cloud's done the same for her. She really would do anything for him, and vice versa. It's... complicated."

So maybe Leon was not explaining too much of what Kaede and Cloud's relationship was about - he really did not know about that. Those topics were none of his business. He was thinking of his own relationship with Rinoa. He had not seen her in what seemed like forever, but he knew, he just *knew* that what he had described showed his relationship with Rinoa almost to a T. The only reason he was not looking for her now was that she had told him he cloud not and should not, because it was much too dangerous.

"I'll never understand them," Yuffie finally huffed, and fell back onto the couch once more. Leon paused and had a feeling that the conversation was over. He looked over at the computer and saw Cid on tons of maps and world layouts. With every click of a button a new map would appear on the screen. Every so often, Cid would scribble something down on a yellow note pad and continue working. He seemed so focused that Leon did not want to disturb him.

Leon looked around for something to do and then decided he might be needed upstairs. He trudged across the room, jumped up the steps two at a time, and swung the door open. What he saw was almost exactly what he expected.

Aerith was sitting in the chair she had pulled in, but now that chair was up against the wall and not near the bed. Cloud's expression was devoid of any emotion whatsoever. He was not going to take any news easily. As quietly as he could, Leon shut the door behind him and listened quietly to the conversation at hand.

"Do you know if any other Organization members are around?"

Aerith shook her head. "As I said before, all I heard from King Mickey was that Axel and Zexion have changed their minds about the Organization and are working for him. We would know if any other Organization member was working for him. But other than that, there's been no news."

Clearing his throat, Leon made himself known in the room. Both Aerith and Cloud looked up with a start. To Leon's surprise, their eyes were matching in color. Cloud must have been severely upset by the suddenness of everything. Otherwise, his eye color would be normal.

"Any news yet?" Aerith asked with a hopeful tint in her voice. Leon simply shook his head.

"Cid's working hard, though. I'm sure by tonight we'll have something."

Cloud's jaw clenched and he made to say something that most likely was not going to be too pleasant, but Aerith sent him a warning glance. He was silenced before he ever got the chance to speak.

"You doin' okay?" Leon asked, trying to show some compassion for the injured SOLDIER. Cloud jerked his head in sign of assurance.

"I've been better, but I've been worse, too," was the blunt reply. Leon took this as a good thing. Maybe. Cloud rarely gave straight answers.

Aerith shifted uncomfortably in light of the tension in the air. So many questions had to be answered for them. Too many to keep themselves sane. Gazing from one man to the other, she could not figure out what to say without upsetting at least one of them. Eventually she decided against all words and remained seat and silent. Luckily, Cloud already had a question in mind.

"What if Kaede showed up here with me and Demyx took her before I woke up?" Cloud wondered out loud. His voice sounded forced and oddly deeper than usual. Aerith looked up from her lap, mulling over this event’s probability. Leon shrugged.

"That's always a possibility. And I can always go check around the town for spots he could be hiding in with her, if you want me to. But Demyx really is not that smart and I doubt he would take the risk of waking her up. Injured or not, she could beat him up easily."

Leon’s answer seemed to put Cloud at ease for the next few moments. He relaxed on the mountain of pillows Aerith had set behind him and stared back down at the comforter. Aerith and Leon could only watch. Once Leon had taken a step back, he began to see Cloud’s injuries better.

There were cuts and scratches on his face, and a larger injury on his left cheek. There was still a bit of blood left in Cloud’s hair and at this, Leon cringed slightly. He had not changed out of his clothes from the crash and his memory was still shoddy at best. Even from the way he leaned on the pillows, Leon could tell the gash on his back was not healing well at all. Guilted into it by his own conscience, Leon felt something needed to be said to at least try and help.

“I know you’re having a hard time dealing with this, Cloud. We understand where you’re coming from, and you’ve got stay—”

“You don’t understand. How could you possibly understand?” was Cloud’s instant, snarled reply. Aerith looked taken aback at his sudden change in attitude. Leon stiffened and balled his hands into fists. Touchy subject there – and this was one of the reasons why Aerith had kept quiet before. She had a feeling this was going to happen. Now she just had to stop it from going any further.

“Hey, calm down,” Aerith said, laying a hand on Cloud’s arm, but without thinking, he shook her off harshly. Her eyes widened ever so slightly at his reaction, and she slinked back. Her eyes betrayed hurt, but otherwise, she showed no emotion. Leon’s anger flared when Cloud did not bother to apologize to Aerith. After all she had done for him, he could do no better than shoving her away as if she were some sort of poison?

“You think you’re the only one who’s gone through this, huh? You think I don’t know what this feels like… the self hatred, the hopelessness, knowing the fact that you probably caused her disappearance in the first place?” Leon started darkly, his aura and intent deadly. Cloud did not seem fazed in the least and stared back. His mako infused eyes gleamed a brighter green than Leon had ever seen them before, but he continued.

“I have not seen Rinoa in over five years. I waited the majority of that time not know whether she was alive, whether she had been taken by the darkness or not, whether she was still fighting… or whether or not she just did not want to see me. All that time, I had to live with the last that I could have saved her. I could have gotten her out of our world in my place. One mistake made by me in a moment of desperation led to five years of hell. You… you’ve barely been with Kaede for six months. You hated her not even two years ago. And after one day of her missing, maybe even gone forever, you’re spending it whining and complaining and telling me I don’t know what it feels like?” Leon took several steps forward, his temper getting the better of him.

And without warning, Cloud whipped the covers off his legs and shoved himself from the bed, taking the remaining strides to Leon. The two men stared each other down, each one waiting for the first punch to be thrown. Leon felt in control and felt he had all the power – until he felt a sharp blow to his temple, and all hell broke loose.

So much for keeping calm. He and Cloud were suddenly in an all out fight. Cloud move slowly than normally, thanks to the injuries he had received, but Leon’s vision was still a little blurred from the first punch before. God, the SOLDIER could hit hard. He dodged another blow to the head and stuck his foot out to trip Cloud. He jumped over his leg and nailed him in the stomach. He groaned and nearly doubled over, but kept on going.

Leon soon felt a small fragile hand pulling on his hood and on his arm, but he jerked away. An aggravated groan was heard before a spell was screamed shrilly, ringing over and over in his ears afterwards.

“Cosisto itaque absens!”

A white light burst throughout the room and swept both Leon and Cloud clear off their feet. Leon smacked his head hard against the wall behind him and heard Cloud moaning too, about the now reopened injury on his back. Aerith exhaled, satisfied with her work, and stood over the two accomplished fighter, ready to lecture.

“I absolutely can not believe you two! You are going to cause a civil war, I swear to God! Is this how you sort out your problems normally?” she asked as both Leon and Cloud were sitting themselves upright – Leon against the far wall and Cloud against the end of the bed.

“Yes,” they both answered immediately. Aerith rolled her eyes, but kept her calm long enough.

“Why can’t the two of you just work together? You both are working toward the same thing. So why do you two idiots have to fight over it? Because, you know what? I’ve finally found somewhere I can unleash all my magic on. You…” She pointed at Leon, while Cloud his a smirk. “And you, too. Don’t laugh; you know it was coming.”

The smirk slipped off Cloud’s face.

Leon pushed himself off the ground and glared daggers down at Cloud. “I can’t help it if he’s ungrateful. That’s not my problem and nothing I need to deal with myself.”

Cloud jumped from the ground as well, but before he could get any farther, Aerith seized his arm and hauled him backwards. His expression showed Leon had certainly given him a beating and maybe even gotten under his skin. But before he knew it, Cloud spoke. Those words were ones he never wanted to hear.

“It’s like you don’t care about Kaede or Rinoa at all. You haven’t done anything to help. You just stand by as we work. Sometimes I wonder if you even have a heart,” Cloud spat

At this, Leon felt the sharp sting of hatred – pure, unrepressed hatred. The comment only silenced him, leading to Cloud’s look of triumph. That bastard.

“I’m sorry, Leon, but I really think it would be best if you left now,” Aerith said softly, retaining her grip on Cloud’s arm as he struggled to break free of her. Leon shot his gaze from Cloud to Aerith and back again, but finally nodded. Before he tried to kill either one of them with his bare hands.

“Fine. I’ll go out looking,” Leon growled and turned on his heel to walk out the door. Aerith pushed Cloud back into bed a little more roughly than she wanted to before calling out to Leon again. Cloud could only glare at Leon’s back. He kept his mouth shut unless he wanted to be shot or stabbed in his sleep by the gunblade.

“Don’t go alone!” Aerith pleaded, at least wanting to keep everyone else safe. Leon stopped at the door, but raised a hand to signal he had heard her.

“I’ll take Yuffie with me. We’ll be back in a couple of hours or so.”

Maybe. Maybe not. It depended on Leon’s mood after a couple of hours for searching for people who potentially wanted to kill them – again. He shut the door before Cloud began to swear about the friction he had caused between the two of them. This only made him feel worse for Aerith. He did not know how she put up with him. Leon made his way down the stairs once more and motioned to Yuffie, who was lying on the couch, staring up at the wooden beam ceiling. She seemed to be half asleep, but when Leon came down from the stairs, she perked up and looked at him quizzically.

“You’re coming with me, short stuff. You doing all right, Cid? No problems?” Leon jerked his head to Cid and gazed at the large computer screen. Leon could see eight windows up on the screen at once. He whistled quietly through his teeth.

“Not yet, but I can assure ya, the problems will come up soon. You jus’ don’ wanna be in the room when that happens. Where’re you two goin’ so fast?”

Leon pulled his gunblade from the storage closet and check for any marks or scratches on the weapon before answering. He slung the gunblade holster over his shoulder and cast a glance back at Cid.

“We’re going Organization member hunting. I’m hoping to take some stress out on those idiots. At least, I’m hoping to find Demyx and beating the crap out of him to get information. Maybe we’ll even get some information on Kaede. That way I won’t waste my afternoon.”

Yuffie’s eyes widened and she scrambled to grab her shuriken and its holder from the closet as well, nearly tackling Leon on her way there. She giggled as she put it on, and snapped the shuriken into place. She dug once more into the closet and pulled out a bundle of shuriken throwing stars, and clipped every last one to her belt loop.

“Have fun with that, then,” Cid said, waving them off casually. He returned to his computer. “Be safe, you two. We don’ need another person goin’ missing.”

“Got it! Let’s go, Squally!” Yuffie seemed a little too excited about going out to kick some ass, but Leon was okay with that. He followed her out into the daylight and wondered who they were going to come by. His hand fell to his gunblade, ready for anything to come at them.

Something told him Demyx was not alone.

~~~

“So what were you and Cloud yelling about upstairs? I heard Aerith yelling at you guys, too,” Yuffie said, looking up at Leon for the answers. Leon sighed wearily, running a hand through his hair. Yuffie grinned wider and Leon had no choice but to spill the dirt.

“We… had a disagreement.”

Yuffie’s face and she unclipped one of the shurkien stars from her belt. Flipping it around on her fingers, she stared back up at Leon. “Seriously. Expand on the story! I want all of the details, otherwise it’s no fun. What were you two arguing over?”

“Whether or not I understood what Cloud was going though.” Leon’s response was clipped and brittle. Realization came over Yuffie’s face and she nodded slowly. A cat like grin tweaked the edges of her lips. She flipped her hair back and suddenly did a series of cartwheels to get in front of Leon. She ended with a ackflip and placed her hands jauntily on her hips.

“I got you. Cloud’s so dense he doesn’t realize you’ve gone through the exact same thing for the past five or six years.”

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:11:16 GMT

...

Mera was no longer paying attention to the game. Neither were any of the other girls on the team. Everyone was staring between Mera and Kaede and the suddenly rivalry that had erupted. Mera was prepping herself and getting ready to kick the soccer ball at Kaede’s face, while Kaede just stood there, stiller than stone. Kairi still lay stomach down on the grass, staring wide eyed between the two of them. This was madness.

Kaede did not even blink. She stood like a stick with her fists clenched at her sides and her arms stick straight.

With a kick like a gunshot, the soccer ball left the offensive side of the field and headed straight for the statue that used to be Kaede. There were yells of, “Duck!” and “Are you crazy?” but she did not seem to hear any of them. Kaede did not know what to do. So, she did the only thing that came to mind: let the soccer ball hit her square in the forehead and blow her off her feet.

Gasps were heard from all around. Mera had a confident smirk on her face and simply watched the events fold out. Kairi leapt from the ground and raced over. Kaede lay just as still as she had been: her eyes blank and wide, her body stiff. She knelt on the ground beside her as more people started to gather around them. She could easily hear Mera’s obnoxious laughter above the whispers of the group.

“Nye, come on, you got to start moving. God, did you think you could fly out of the way like Peter Pan or something?” she said quietly enough no one could hear, gently shaking Kaede’s shoulder. No one was supposed to know about the boy who could never grow up – especially Kaede.

But suddenly, she snapped out of it. Without a warning, it was if she had never been in that trance. Whimpering softly, she brought a hand to her forehead where she had been hit – Kairi saw the bruise was already forming. Kaede accepted Kairi’s hand with a grateful smile and stood up to glare back at Mera.

“Aw. Poor thing,” Mera said, walking past her to retrieve the soccer ball. “But you know… purple and black really does suit you.” Her last comment was not sent at Kaede, but sent at the bruise on her forehead. Kaede’s eyes flashed and she turned away, gripping the injury. She was obviously determined to ignore Mera.

“I – I need to go sit down. Kairi… could you…?” Kaede blinked, blocking the glare from the sun. Kairi nodded and took her by the arm, sitting her down in the shade. Kaede groaned under her breath, placing a hand over her forehead, and curled her legs up to her chest.

“What even hit me?”

Kairi stared back at her vacantly, shocked at this question. Had she even seen the soccer ball come flying at her at twenty miles an hour? Had she even heard them yelling at her to move, to duck, or to at least protect herself from the dangerous flying object that had been coming straight at her forehead? Kairi opened her mouth to lecture, but felt it was too late to get anything through to Kaede.

“A soccer ball. After your kick hit Mera in the back, she decided to get you back. Do you really not remember that?” Kairi asked, worried and confused at the same time. “Maybe we should go to the nurse’s office or something. You might have a concussion—”

“No, no, don’t be ridiculous. I did not get a concussion from a soccer ball; that is mental. I’m totally fine and it’s nothing more than a bruise.” Kaede sent her a smile in the hopes that she would leave the topic alone. Kairi furrowed her eyebrows, but waved it off.

“All right… tell me if you need ice or something, then.”

“’Kay, I will.”

“And if the bruise starts to get worse, tell me.”

“I got it.”

“And—”

“God, you sound like my mother. It’s okay. I’m fine, really,” Kaede giggled, meaning to be light hearted with her words, but Kairi simply stopped. Her heart jumped to her throat and she restrained herself from talking. Mother… mother? Kaede – not even the Kaede before she lost her memory – did not remember her mother. To keep herself from hyperventilating and bursting out, ‘How do you remember your mother?!’ Kairi laughed, too. It was the only thing she could think of doing without provoking her memory more.

Riku was going to kill her if she came home today with Kaede Brewings, and not Nye Oriens. Not only would that be a life threatening situation for Kairi, it would be a dangerous situation for Kaede as well. Maleficent would soon know where she was. That idea just sent shivers down Kairi’s spine. She would not let it happen.

“You’re remembering more?” she asked gently. Once more, Kaede blinked, narrowed her eyes in concentration, but sighed heavily after a few minutes of tense silence.

“No…” she muttered running a hand through her hair. “I – I did before. Before… now I don’t. I wish I could. I… wish I could remember everything so I would not be such a burden to you guys.”

“You’re not a burden,” Kairi said upon reflex, but these worse seemed only to make the situation worse.

“Oh, yeah? Riku already has to defend me from Tacey in War Concepts and you need to help me in this class with Mera. I wish I knew more so I could take care of myself, by myself. Just watch, there is going to be a brother who hates me too for no reason and he’s going to be in a class that Sora and I share. Then all three of you will have equal responsibilities.” She sighed, burying her head in her arms. Kaede yelped when she accidentally smacked the bruise she had received.

Kairi placed a hand on Kaede’s back. “They don’t have a brother, so you do not have to worry about that. You know you shouldn’t listen to Mera – or Tacey, for that matter. They just think they’re above everyone else for some reason. And you’re the new kid, so they’re going to take any chance they get to make fun of you.”

“Gee, thanks. I feel so much better,” Kaede said sardonically, rolling her eyes. Kairi laughed sheepishly, realizing her word and example choice may not have been so good. She needed to brush up on pep talks, but pep talks were Sora’s alley of expertise. Kairi was the comfort person, and Riku was the ‘this is your reality, so deal with it,’ type of person. It was a wonder the three of them actually got along.

“Well, it is the cold, hard truth. I had to go through the same thing when I first got here.”

Kaede’s head shot up. “You went through their torture, too? And no one’s stood up to them since then?” She sounded honestly concerned. The mood swings of this new Kaede would eventually just confuse her too much once day. “Really?”

“I… guess so. I never really realized that before.”

“I am going to do something about that, then. It is awful enough people have to go through it, but just watching others go through with it over and over again is even worse. I’ll stop it. Just watch me.”

“Good for you, Nye.”

Kaede simply nodded, reconfirming her own plans, and zoned out once more. She lowered herself onto the grass and gazed up at the sky, resting her hands behind her head. Kairi spent the rest of the time in the class daydreaming as well. The way Kaede had snapped out of that state so suddenly freaked her out a bit.

Had it been something she said?

Kairi inhaled sharply. It was only then she recognized the words that had been mouthed by Kaede before she went into that trance. They were words Kaede was not supposed to know, but there was certainly no mistaking them. Kairi brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, casting a glance at Kaede staring into space. How could it be possible?

She had said ‘Captain Hook.’

~~~

During lunch and against her will, Kairi dragged Kaede to the nurse’s office, asked for a bag of ice and promptly gave it to Kaede. She shoved her away with a scrunch of her nose, but Kairi pushed it back into her hands without a fight.

“Just take it, so the swelling goes down. Right now, you kind of scream ‘disaster magnet,’” Kairi said, smiling guiltily. Kaede sighed heavily, but eased the ice pack on to her forehead. She followed Kairi out the door and towards the cafeteria, but was confused when Kairi turned suddenly and made her way around the building.

Under the overhang on the side of the building were two square, white picnic tables. At the closer table sat Sora and Riku with their food spilled out in front of them. They looked up when the two girls entered and slowly cleared their food from the whole table. Kairi and Kaede took their seats, dropping their school bags to the ground. "Hey, you two." Riku jerked his head as a sign of a greeting. "Um, Nye, what happened to your head? Nothing too serious could have happened in the last hour since I've seen you... right?" He looked from girl to girl, wanting a little backup. He got none, only two stares and two surrendering sighs.

"Turns out Mera Cerobi doesn't like it when certain people kick her in the back with a soccer ball," Kairi explained, pulling out her lunch. Three gazes switched to Kaede, who raised her free hand in defense.

"It was a total accident! I... just have a strong leg is all. And she didn't get out of the way. So it's partly her fault anyways. But then..." Kaede trailed off, ducking her head once more to let Kairi finish up the story.

"But then Mera decided to get a little revenge. Right then and there. She ignored the whole game, took the soccer ball for herself, and aimed right at Nye here. For some reason, even though she was staring right at it, Nye didn't move either. Didn't you here everyone yelling at you to get out of the way? You just froze at let the soccer ball nearly knock you out!" Kairi scolded. "But after that, we just sat out until the bell rang to go back inside. End of story. How was AWT?"

"Hey, you can’t end it that fast! What do you mean, she just froze?" Sora demanded, remembering the details of their little mishap this morning. Kairi shrugged.

"She stopped in the middle of the field. Nothing really more to it," Kairi replied, not wanting to get to into the topic. She had to ask a few questions first when Kaede was not around.

"It's human reflex to get out of the way when something is headed straight for you. It's really hard to resist something if you're looking at danger coming at you or if you don't see the danger, you hear the people around to telling you that it is dangerous. And you resisted all of that?" Riku asked. Nye opened her mouth to respond, but could not find words to explain it.

"I... don't really remember anything. Maybe I hit my head too hard or something," she reasoned. Riku stared back at her timid face and curled shoulders, trying to figure the situation out. She would at least remember...

"Nye, you remember people telling you to move, right?" Kairi prompted, beating Riku to the question, but Kaede simply shook her head no. Riku and Sora shot each other a look. It sounded a little too much like this morning to be a coincidence.

"I just remember Mera mouthing, 'dead,' and then Kairi, you were suddenly hovering over me. Remember, I didn't even know what hit me before... I asked you that." Kaede's voice dwindled down to nothing. With the new attention span of a fly, Kaede suddenly asked, "Don't I get a lunch?"

In all their trouble figuring out what they were going to do with her this morning, the school, the clothes, the identity, the name, the everything, they had forgotten to simply pack her a lunch. Riku was the first to rummage around in his backpack and grab his wallet.

"I'll go get you something. Do you care what it is?" he heard himself say. Inwardly, he cursed himself. If this had actually been Kaede, he would not have even listened to her. But no – he had to take the guilt trip and go get her lunch. But he could use this to his advantage.

“Kairi, do you want something? Come on, come with me,” he said without waiting for an answer.

Riku turned his head back to Kaede. "Do you care what I get you?" he asked, but she simply shook her head. He gave her another smile as she muttered her fourth 'thank you' in twenty four hours. Yes, he was counting, but who cared? Kaede was setting a new record for herself. Riku dragged Kairi off the bench with a slightly more than forceful tug and they headed on their way.

"Okay, you aren't telling me the whole story. What happened in PE?"

"Besides another Cerobi going against Nye? Before she froze she said Captain Hook, and I thought that was really strange. But that's all." Kairi looked back to the ground, but felt Riku relaxed next to her.

"I could see it on your face you weren't telling us something. But now I know why you didn't want to say it in front of her." Riku looked down at Kairi, biting his lip, and keeping himself from saying anything he would regret to her. "But it's weird that it happened again so suddenly..." Riku trailed off, recalling the incident of this morning to himself. Kairi's head shot up.

"What do you mean, 'so suddenly'?" Kairi snapped, gripping his arm. Riku shook her vice-like hold off with a few shrugs, and proceeded to explain this morning's happenings.

"When we were walking to school, she froze in the middle of the path and muttered, 'Hades.' She didn't respond for a few minutes, and when she did, she didn't remember stopping or saying anything at all. It was like the time had passed her by, but Sora and I knew that whatever had happened was strange."

"Why didn't you saying anything earlier?"

"We were too busy with everything else. At that time, I didn't really think it was a big deal, because she forgot right afterward. But I don't know... if it happened again that fast, it may lead to something bigger," Riku speculated. For once, Kairi could find nothing to say. By that time, they had made it to the food.

Riku grabbed a small chicken salad and a water bottle for Kaede, picking up a fork and dressing on the way to the cashier. He dug his money out of his wallet, paid without a word, then waited for Kairi to pay for her energy drink. He groaned when she made it up to him.

"You and Selphie are the last two people in all the worlds who need an energy drink. No, scratch that, you two are the second to last. Sora's the last," he said, earning a smack and laughter. "I'm being serious here. Do you remember that time Selphie had a whole energy drink to herself? I think even her parents were in hiding for at least a week."

Kairi giggled again. "The jump rope of doom. Who knew a child's play toy could be turned into such a dangerous weapon?"

"I sure didn't. I know Sora still had bruises all along his legs. Mine went away last week, finally." Riku grinned, and Kairi just shook her head.

"The things you two go through just to annoy someone. It's no wonder the two of you are best friends."

This comment brought Riku back to the ground and out of the clouds. Here he was, practically flirting with his best friend's girlfriend. How awful could he get? Or, a better question, how awful could he feel? Maybe, eventually, he would get over his feelings and move on. Maybe there would be someone else who cheered him up like Kairi, made him forget everything like Kairi, remind him he had a place in this world like Kairi...

It was a lot of live up to. Riku could only hope.

“We’re back!” Kairi called out, jumping back to her spot without noticing Riku’s decline in attitude. “I got an energy drink and Riku has your lunch, Nye. Tell us earlier next time, because we don’t want you to starve.” Kairi smiled, and Riku placed the food in front of her.

“Aw, look, Nye, you’ve got Riku running around as your waiter. Don’t forget to give him a tip!” Sora winked, implying something more. Instantly Kaede flushed a brilliant pink and Riku socked Sora in the shoulder as he sat down. Sora yelped and Riku gave him a smug, triumphant grin.

“I’m nobody’s waiter,” he stared plainly. “So don’t go getting any ideas. It was just the gentlemanly thing to do.” He grabbed a bag of chips from his lunch and tore them open, almost spilling them all across the table. The pink that had come into Kaede’s face was draining slowly. She pulled open her salad and dug in hungrily.

"So, again, how was AWT today? You guys get your asses kicked yet?" Kairi joked innocently, and Riku shoved her shoulder playfully. She giggled and bit into her sandwich. Riku rolled his eyes.

"No, but thanks for your confidence in our strength, Kai. Real helpful."

“You know you love me,” she shot back, her grin teasing both boys. “But really – what happened today? I want to know.” She waited eagerly for news of some kind. When the boys realized she was not kidding and was not going to give up, they complied.

“Coach Laeton hates us all, to sum it up in five words,” Sora nodded. Riku considered this for a moment, but nodded.

“That is pretty much all you need to know.”

Kairi sighed unhappily, and crossed her arms. Kaede sat up straight, suddenly interested.

"What's the basis for Advanced Weapons Training?" she asked abruptly, setting down her fork and taking a drink of water. When both boys looked at her, confused and not understanding the question, she sighed and explained herself. "What I mean is: what do you normally do in class?"

"Why do you care?" Riku asked rather bluntly. Kairi kicked him under the table and, grimacing, he rephrased his words. "Uh, I mean, why are you so interested? Don't tell you want to get in, too. It's a near impossible class for lower classman to get into. Even I barely got in and I still think Sora bribed his way in."

"No, I'm just wondering," Kaede replied, watching Sora's expression with a slightly smile. He had reacted incredibly negatively to the bribe comment.

"Just because you beat me at everything a year ago, doesn't mean you're better than me now. I would say a lot of stuff right now... but I can't. You just... you know what I mean!" All Sora got from that hissy fit was three blank looks, and then was ignored.

"We cover all sorts of tactics in class. Mainly it is fighting styles, like self defense, boxing, wrestling, and other types of hand to hand combat. I don't think Coach Laeton trusts anyone enough with actual weapons, but we do get to try them soon, I think."

"I know he can trust me with one," Sora muttered under his breath without thinking. Kaede sent him a confused glance, while Riku and Kairi sent him two warning glances. He blinked, suddenly realizing what he said, and corrected himself. "But I may have to kill Riku with it. You never know."

Kaede giggled, ignoring that fact that what he said did not relate much at all. Riku and Kairi inwardly relaxed. This was certainly a touchy subject, seeing as all the training Kaede must have done in Radiant Garden may somehow relate to the Advanced Weapons Training class.

"I wish we could do something like that in our class. Remember, Kairi, I mentioned that today."

"That was before you got yourself smacked in the head with a soccer ball. You don't need to do any more fighting at school, Nye, trust me. Leave it to the pros here." She patted her on the shoulder comfortingly, and returned to her lunch, but Riku watched as Kaede's jaw set in determination. This girl was obviously convinced she could do anything anyone else could. Riku had a bad feeling about how far that determination would take her. She picked at the last of her salad, closed the lid, and then shot it into the trashcan behind her.

It hit the side and fell to the ground. Kaede groaned, and turned around to go pick it up. Kaede certainly was not as coordinated as she had once been.

"Oh! Riku!" She suddenly looked surprised. "I just remembered - we have a race today, don't we? You didn't come out during the last class so I could race you." Riku stared back at her, remembering the bet from this morning. A small smile twisted his lips. Nothing seemed to get this girl down.

"Race?" Kairi and Sora asked at once.

"How about we hold it after school then? We'll take you to the island and we'll hold it there." His eyes flashed with remembrance. "I have the perfect course."

"That is impossible to beat him at," Sora cut in. "Don't race him, Nye, it's a trap. Every single time I tried that course I lost miserably. And then I would get it rubbed in my face, and then I would have to try and again. And then I would lose again. I'm begging you, save your dignity and don't race him."

Kaede simply laughed and returned to the bench. She rested her elbows on the table; the one in the sling balanced a bit more cautiously, and picked up the ice bag again. Placing it gingerly on her forehead, she merely grinned.

"No, I'm going to prove I'm actually good at something. Riku said that I couldn't beat him in a race. I think I can. We agreed to race during our third period, but I guess we both forgot. So for once and for all, I'm going to show Riku he is wrong."

Already, Kairi knew this was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. Now she just had to talk Kaede out of it.

"Nye, look at you already. You're arm is in a sling, you may or may not have a mild concussion, and you want to race Riku, of all people? Aren't you kind of walking yourself into a death trap?" she asked cautiously, wanting to approach this as calmly and as firmly a possible. "And, Riku, seriously, why did you agree to it?"

"Because I know I will win," he replied without a passing second. Sora hid laughter behind his hand and Kaede's eyes widened with the challenge.

"All right, fine. Four o'clock, at whatever course you choose. And I'm going to show you that you're not the Mister Invincible you think you are. Just watch, Riku." Her eyes flashed dangerously and he thought he saw a little bit of the old Kaede show up in her again. "You'll be so surprised when you lose."

And just like that, they were done.

~~~

“Wow, this is amazing. Who built all this?” Kaede asked, gazing up at the maze of tree houses, bridges, and secrets places hidden around the island. Kairi smiled and, after placing the oars back into the boat, gazed around at the structures all over the small island.

"We're not really sure who built it. I came to Destiny Islands way after Sora and Riku, as you know, and no one has ever said anything about them. They've always just... been there, I guess."

The two girls stood in silence for the next few moments before Kairi started up the conversation again.

"So, do you want to see where Riku is going to race you? Practicing a couple times before won't hurt."

Kaede's eyes lit up. "Of course! Oh, thanks again for letting me borrow the jeans. I would not be able to get anywhere fast in a skirt, I know that much." She giggled, fingering a loop on the light wash jeans. They had actually been Kaede's before as well, but Kairi was going all out on the precautions. She had taken them from Riku and dried them so Kaede would have something to wear besides her uniform. She was back in the clothes they found her in, looking... normal. Her hair was carelessly tossed around her shoulders, her bangs mostly hiding her eyes. Kaede kind of reminded her of a sheepdog with its hair in its eyes. The image made her smile grow wider.

"It's no problem. All right, so the course begins up there on that platform." Kairi pointed behind them and dragged her finger in the air across the path. "Then you'll need to get across that bridge. Be careful of a plank in the middle, because if you step on it, it will fall. After that, you have to climb up that ladder and use the zip line. It’s a little less than half the course, but it goes really fast. Make sure you get there before Riku does, because if he gets there first, he's not going to send it back to you. You’ll be incredibly far behind if you miss it. You then have to run up a ramp, jump across a couple of rocks, and tag the tree."

She pointed to the bright yellow star tree sticking out against the side of the cliff. "Then you just have to make you way back here, and tag me. Whoever gets back the fastest wins."

When Kairi turned back to Kaede, she found her chewing her lip worriedly. Kairi laughed and swung an arm around Kaede's shoulders.

"Not what you were expecting, huh?"

Kaede shook her head. "I was expecting some hundred meter dash, or something. Not a race as... extensive as this. How am I possibly going to win if Riku knows this path - and has won in it - dozens of times? What the heck did I agree to?" she moaned. Kairi spun her around and shook her shoulders.

"Hey! Don't lose confidence now!" she said. "You were looking forward to it so much at lunch, and all throughout the rest of the day, too. The course really is not that hard if you think about it. It's simple - run, jump, run, climb, run, hop, tag, and get back. There's nothing to it."

Kaede stared back blankly, and Kairi sighed.

"Just believe in yourself. Riku may seem cocky now, but you don't want to hear him once he's won something. He doesn't shut up. Don't let him get that opportunity to keep shoving it in your face over and over again, whatever you do. I know you can do this, Nye. Keep your head up and just trust yourself. You're more athletic than you think you are."

Kaede contemplated these words, and was about to say something, but thought better of it. She nodded once and gave a terse smile.

"I won't lose," were her only words before they heard the boys pull in at the shore.

"What took you so long? Me and Nye made it home, changed clothes, and made it out here before you." Kairi called out, sidling back to the sand. Out of the boat jumped a wet, grinning Sora and an irritated Riku.

"Sora dropped one of the oars in the water. I shoved him out and made him go get it before it sank a hundred feet down. But, other than that, sorry we're late. You ready, Nye?" He gave her an overconfident smirk, which she proudly mirrored.

"More ready than I'll ever be," she reiterated.

"I suppose Kairi already showed you the course?"

"Yup. It's easy."

Kairi grinned at the confidence Kaede had forced upon herself after the pep talk. Now she had to just wait and see who would prevail in this contest.

"Well, then, let's start. The sooner the better. C'mon, Kairi, you're home base just like old times. Look, Sora," Riku called out, turning his attention to the kid who was trying to get water out of his ear by jumping up and down by shaking his head. "You get to watch this time, and not be trampled again."

"Good," Sora muttered under his breath. "I don't have to listen to you brag anymore after Nye kicks your ass."

Both Kaede and Kairi made 'aww'-ing sounds, giggling afterward. Riku glared at him, and then leapt up to the starting point.

"May the best person win," he said, lending Kaede a hand up. She smiled sweetly back, and took a sudden death grip on his wrist.

"Don't worry. She will."

Kaede hauled herself up roughly, almost pulling Riku back down with her. She wiped off her hands on her jeans, took a starting stance, and waited for Kairi to get herself ready. Sora jumped into place behind Kairi, locking his arms around her shoulders.

"All right, this is it, you two. On your marks... get set..." Kairi held off for a little while, so long that Riku snapped his head in her direction.

"Are you going to start, or what? I do have homework to—"

"GO!"

Kaede took off sprinting, with Riku hot on her heels. They were neck and neck all the way across the bridge. Neither one loosened the piece of wood, but they became suddenly vicious on the climb up the ladder. Kaede had scrambled halfway up, but was now currently shaking Riku off her leg. Once, she had nearly kicked him in the face, and kept going. Riku leapt down from the ladder and dove head first into the water. Kairi and Sora were shocked at this sudden change in pace and watched with baited breath. It was anyone’s race now.

It was Kaede who reached the star tree first, but Riku swung up in front of her, tapping the tree as well so that it lit up. Kaede stared wide eyed and unmoving for a few seconds, and then raced back into gear. She heard Riku panting heavily beside her, his muscular arms swinging and nearly hitting her with every movement. The adrenalin in her veins pressured her to go even faster, determined to win this race. She would not let Riku gloat.

She leapt through the water and dove right in kicking and swimming the desk of the way to the end point of the race. Still, she could not manage to shake Riku. At every moment on the way back, he had been even with her - throughout the running, swimming, the dash to the shore, and now.

Kairi and Sora were less than thirty feet away. Less than twenty feet away. Less than ten. Kairi's palms were held out for both of them to reach. Kaede leapt up on to the stand, and reached forward, bringing her hand down with a painful slap.

Riku brought his down at the exact same time.

Kaede and Riku both flopped to the ground, out of breath, exhausted, and waited for the results of the race. Kairi and Sora stared wide eyed at them both, then at each other, unsure of the winner. There was certainly no clear winner. Both Kaede and Riku looked way too tired to hold the race again as a tie breaker. So, what was there to do?

"Um... tie?" Kairi tried sheepishly. Both Kaede and Riku shot up from their positions on the ground, yelling their objections. Kairi scrambled behind Sora to protect herself.

"There was no winner! I heard the clap at the same time; I felt the slap at the same time, so there's no other way I can determine a winner from that. You both won. Please, let's just leave it at that," Kairi reasoned desperately, earning two very annoyed looks. Riku and Kaede glared at each other for a minute more, neither wanting to admit a tie or defeat. Their gaze stayed locked until slowly but surely, Riku stuck out his hand.

"It was a fair match, I guess. You did okay for a newbie." He smirked again, but Kaede shook his hand firmly.

"Fair. I can agree to that."

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:08:59 GMT

o.0

His voice was no louder than a whisper and he spoke with pure confidentiality ringing in his tone. "You've got to know all of what I say stays quiet. No one else here can know any of this. Got it?"

Zexion nodded, and Riku continued. "Her real name is Kaede Brewings. She's from Radiant Garden, and she's part of the Committee. She crash landed here last night somehow - I still don't even know what happened - and woke up with no memory. We let her rest, and we were going to tell her what happened this morning, but... Have you heard the news about Maleficent?"

One eyebrow raised and Zexion slowly nodded. “I received the called from the King last night.”

Riku calmed down, grateful he did not have to explain that. “I got a voice message from the Committee saying that she was on the rise again – that she was collecting the abilities from the powerful magicians of the worlds, draining their magic – and killing them when she had no other use for them. Kaede is one of the most powerful mages in all of the worlds, thanks to nearly three years of straight training and fighting, and a bit of extra magic given to her when she first arrived in Traverse Town. We knew if she went back to Radiant Garden, where Maleficent knew they were situated, she could be taken captive and killed in a matter of days. We thought it was safer for everyone to not jog her memory, give her a completely new identity, and keep her here.”

Zexion stood like a statue in front of Riku, glaring at him sternly, thinking over the facts, and checking to see if they matched up. “I still wonder how I recognize her,” Zexion muttered under his breath. Riku’s jaw clenched. This was the part of the conversation he feared the most. He feared that something would click inside of Zexion and his Nobody side would overpower him. Riku had no choice but to explain.

“The Organization took her hostage when Sora was asleep. She was a prisoner to be tortured for information about the Committee, but Naminé wiped her memory on Axel’s orders because he said she should feel bad for Kaede. Axel was just undermining the Organization more and did this before anyone could get anything out of her. The Organization then planned to kill her, and I was the one to get her out of Castle Oblivion then.”

Realization came to Zexion’s expression. “She put up one hell of a fight. The girl had Luxord limping around for a week. I remember more now… she was being kept in the dungeon, where Saïx kept Kairi. And Marluxia wanted information out of her, but no one ever figured out what, because half the time she was out cold from Larxene coming in and fighting her, and the other half she refused to talk to any of us without sending fire our way. Axel finally confronted her, and he came back out, her eyes were as blank as a ragdoll's. Marluxia then ordered her execution, but when Larxene went in for the last time, she was already gone. Now I know where she went.”

Riku gave a half smile, and again re-shouldered his bag. Zexion understood much better than Riku thought he would.

"Won't someone realize she's missing?" Zexion asked, his gaze once again sharp. Riku could only shrug.

"If they do, then we'll say we haven't seen her. If they come searching for her here, we'll hide her. It's unfortunate, but for the best."

"And what if she remembers before Maleficent can be overthrown again? Do you have a prediction for her reaction, or a plan?"

Riku writhed uncomfortably under these questions. Zexion was the schemer to beat, so of course he would know every loophole, every question to be asked of a plan in the works. Riku had not had the time to think of these answers yet - he had been a little busy with making sure Kaede did not lose herself in his own house or figuring out just what they were going to do with her.

"I'll wipe her memory again." It was the first thing that came to his mind. Zexion chuckled under his breath, letting loose a rare smile.

"You may find a plan can backfire when you least expect it to. My best-thought out plan was my own demise, thanks to Axel and your replica, Mr. Alcaia," Zexion drawled. "I luckily had an unknown backup - Xemnas was idiotic enough to continue on with his own plan of conquering Kingdom Hearts, but to stop him, Ansem destroyed it. Hearts were returned to rightful owners, and those owners were allowed a choice. I chose to return and change my views - and here we are now. If Miss 'Oriens' regains her memory, and chooses the dangerous path, you may be surprised what she has in store for you. I don't believe you've ever seen that mage truly angry - I honestly don't think you would be standing right here and having this conversation with me now. Don't underestimate her power. You know how I wished her good luck just before?" Zexion made to walk back into the classroom, and had his hand on the door knob. He twisted his head, so that he could see Riku nod his head yes.

"I wish that same luck on you. I will be of help in any way that I can, but memories are fragile and unpredictable things. Memories seem to have their own motives in mind, and you'll never know when one can come back to you at a seemingly unrelated trigger."

He let Riku think over these warnings for a few seconds, and then opened the door to the classroom.

"You only have ten minutes left to finish those paragraphs, Alcaia. Better get working."

And with that, their ominous conversation was over. Riku dropped into his head, yanked out a piece of paper and a pen, and began to answer the questions on the board.

The sense of dread inside him had just quadrupled. So much for this being an easy day - now he had even more to worry about.

Riku glanced over at Kaede, three seats to the right of him. Her pencil was between her teeth and she had already dazed off, staring out the window. He scoffed under his breath and got back to work on his own paper. If Kaede wanted to get in trouble, so be it. She was the one who tested into this class and Riku was not responsible for keeping her up with her own work.

"Oriens!"

The whole class snapped their heads toward Kaede looking blankly out the window. A pang hit Riku hard in the chest. Damn it. The guilt was getting to him. Zexion was going to treat her no differently than any other student. Riku was not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing yet. She turned her attention back to Zexion with an inquiring expression.

"Ah, yes, Mr. Nioze?" she asked quietly, after pulling the pencil from her teeth. Her sling seemed to swing back and forth ever so slightly.

Riku swore under his breath. He should have made sure she was working, or at least made it seem like she was working or something along those lines. Now she was going to her get chewed out for daydreaming and not working. Great.

"If you have time to look out at the clouds--" Riku ground his teeth; he was almost positive Zexion made that point on purpose "--it would seem as if you are finished. Can I check your paragraphs?" Once more, one eyebrow lifted solemnly. Kaede blinked three times quickly, cleared her throat and replied.

"Uh, yeah, sure. I'm worried that I wrote too much for the second question, though." Her voice was still quiet and self-conscious. She gathered the papers she had used in her hands, and walked up to the front of the classroom with everyone's eyes on her. Zexion took the papers, slipped on a pair of reading glasses that made him look twenty years older (it wasn’t a compliment), and began to read the answers to the questions.

His eyes traveled down the papers swiftly. Riku wasn't sure if he was searching for a word, could read fast, or if Kaede had written big, but none of those really mattered. What mattered was he continued to read, flipping to the back of the paper, then the second page, then to the back of the second page.

...She had actually finished in such a short amount of time?

Zexion looked back up at Kaede, rocking back and forth on her heels, and once again caught her staring out the window.

"It's well-written, Miss Oriens. A little brief for my liking, but a perfectly adequate for a first try. Now go sit down and focus on editing your grammar, it's awful."

He handed her back the two pages and she slumped back into her seat. Ouch. Maybe he had been a little brutal with the grammar thing - but Kaede had read countless books. Surely she knew enough grammar from reading those whenever she had the spare time. Riku tore his gaze from Kaede and returned to his own measly two sentences. He had a long way to go – with everything.

~~~

At the end of a long discussion about the new developments in war technology and about ten extra pages worth of notes, the bell rang and the class filed out. Riku packed up, simply shoving everything into his bookbag and waited for Kaede outside the door. He watched her pack up, and when she was not looking, Tacey Cerobi sent all of her belongings to the floor with a single swoop of her arm. Tacey looked moderately surprised for a moment, and then snickered behind her palm.

“Aw, sorry. It just sucks to be you today, doesn’t it? Don’t worry. You’ll get used it,” she snarled. She tossed her curly light brown hair behind her shoulders and sauntered out of the room. Her backpack slammed into Riku on the way out. He was incapable of doing anything other than watching. Kaede poked her tongue into her cheek and bit her tongue, keeping herself from snapping back with a comment not really meant for a classroom, and bent down to gather her things again.

Riku reentered the room to help her out.

“The first day and already someone wants to make me miserable,” she muttered dejectedly, gathering the pens from around the leg of her chair. She looked back up at him with wide eyes. “Tell me, Riku, is this how all new students or welcomed – or did I just get lucky?” The bitter sarcasm made her words sharp.

“You just crossed the wrong person at the wrong time. Pretty soon, it’ll be like you never existed to her… I think,” he replied, trying to keep her in a positive mood. His words did not seem to help a lot. She cringed and stood, swinging her bag over her shoulder. Riku led her back outside, noticing there were not many people left in the halls. “I’ve got PE next,” she said to her schedule. “And I don’t know where that is.” She glanced back up at Riku, suddenly forgetting her whole ordeal with Tacey. He could not believe what a short attention span she had. Riku turned her around and started guiding her back down the hall. They turned left and began their way across a wide, flat area of blacktop.

“You’ve got PE with Kairi, while Sora and I have AWT. That’s Advanced Weapons Training, by the way. We practice around the same area, but the PE class - the girls - is mainly outside and the Advanced Weapons Training Class is normally inside. PE's one of the easiest classes, so you shouldn't have a problem with it."

Not unless her magic suddenly decided to come back in the middle of self-defense training. They would have either a lot of explaining to do, or a lot of lies to fabricate. Riku bit his lower lip, resisting the urge to tell her about her magic. He knew he should not. But for some reason, he wanted to. He wanted her to rediscover the gift he gave her, and maybe even thank him for it this time. Kaede's new life was not only a second chance for her - it was a second chance for him as well.

"Oh, hey, you two!" A voice called out besides the girls changing room. Kairi waved them over, smiling. "I'm happy to see you made it through your first two classes, Nye. What class have you got now?"

"PE, with you, Riku said," Kaede replied, smiling at the mention of her 'real' name once more. The girl really liked knowing she belonged - where the actual Kaede seemed she could care less. "And I've only gone to one class - my placement test took up all of the first hour. But last class, I didn't quite get through so well..." Kaede said, her eyes averting to the ground. Kairi suddenly looked concerned.

"What class did you have last?" she said, her eyebrows knitted, her lips forming a pout.

"War Concepts, with Riku."

Kairi's gaze instantly shot up to meet Riku's. Riku almost knew what she was thinking, but did not want to say it out loud, and then end up being wrong. After all, it was another thing that could trigger Kaede's memory.

"Was it the teacher?" Kairi asked suddenly, gravely. Her eyes had already darkened to an almost black navy color. Damn it, he should have said something before. Riku made slashing motions across his throat before Kaede could respond. Luckily, Kaede made no sign of noticing Riku's actions beforehand and shook her head no.

"No, Mr. Nioze was fine. I actually liked him a lot. But on accidently I bumped into this girl before class, and I think she was a senior." She looked up at Riku for confirmation.

"It was Tacey Cerobi," Riku finished for her, earning a look of recognition from Kairi. She sighed pityingly and just ran a hand through her hair.

"Oh, don't give yourself a hard time about Tacey. She's just rude to everyone. It's in her nature. Just don't let her bother you, and you'll do fine, okay?" Kairi smiled comfortingly, and patted Kaede on the arm. Kaede nodded absently, as if the event had already been brushed from her shoulders.

"Now you can go wait for me by the door. That's our changing rooms for PE. I've just got to ask Riku something first, okay?"

Kaede bounced away without another word. Kairi looked backed up at Riku. Relief shone brightly on her face.

"God, for a second there, I thought she really remembered Zexion. That would have been awful," she breathed out, brushing her bangs away from her eyes. "Did he even notice her?"

"He remembered her a little bit, then called me outside and asked me about her. I had to explain the whole story, but made him promise it could not be repeated under any circumstances. He's working for the King now, so I trust him. I really thought the Organization side of him was going to come back out and provoke her memory, but he didn't. It's fine. But then when we went back inside, there may have been a little jab about her staring at the clouds, but I didn't know if that was on purpose or not."

"I don't see how it could be. I don't think he and Cloud ever crossed paths. I did realize she likes to stare at the sky a lot. Really... more than normal. It almost gets a little creepy, and she zones completely out. I mean... well, look at her now."

Riku and Kairi both turned their heads to look at Kaede, leaning against the wall with her head tilted directly up into the sky - directly at one of the white, puffy clouds decorating that blue oblivion today. Sure it made Riku suspicious, and frankly, it creeped him out a little bit, but no harm could be done from staring up into space a few times, right?

"Aw, she's fine, Kairi. You have got to loosen up a little."

Kairi laughed scornfully at this remark. "You're the one telling me to loosen up. You hypocrite." She slapped him on the arm playfully. "I've got to get going if I don't want to be late. I'll see you... oh, wait, there is one more thing!" Kairi said, and then ran back up to Riku, getting close to him. He felt his cheeks flush instantly. "Should I tell her Tacey's sister is in our PE class?" Kairi muttered into Riku's ear right before she led Kaede inside to the changing rooms. "Just to, you know, warn her about it?"

Riku shook his head brusquely and pulled away. "She'll flip out and make a huge deal out of it. It will just end up being worse for her. Don't tell her, keep the sister away from her, and it'll all be fine. Just don't worry about it." Riku squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

"And anyways, Nye bounces back fast. She can hold her own. I'll see you two later!" He jerked his head goodbye and was off. He had almost reached the second building when he heard Kaede call out one last thing across the grounds.

"Don't forget our little competition, Riku! I'm going to win and you won't be able to stop me!" Kaede's laughter faded as Riku rounded the building to get into the boys' changing rooms. He could not help but smile, ignoring Sora's pertinent questions when he saw Riku in this odd state of mind.

The sense of dread that had been eating away at him had suddenly vanished.

~~~

“I think these are kind of big for me, Kairi,” Kaede said, tugging at the dark blue basketball shorts that almost went three inches below her knees. She was sitting just inside the girls’ changing room on the bench before Kairi, lacing up her new shoes and making sure everything was okay before they went out and introduced her to people. Kairi worried the most – how in the world was she going to react? Was anything anyone said going to jog her memory somehow? Would she mess up and begin to introduce her as ‘Kaede Brewings’? All questions of her utter failure wreaked havoc in her mind.

“Hello? Is anybody in there? Kaiiii-riiii?” Kaede’s curious voice dragged her back down to earth. Blinking rapidly, Kairi giggled to cover up her anxiety.

"Oh, for the third time, you look fine in those shorts. Everyone had theirs that long; they don't come any smaller. And because you're so short, they look even bigger on you."

Kaede rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as Kairi ran off a mental checklist. Check... check... check... check, check, and check. Everything she needed - mentally and physically was with her. "Okay, come on. I want you to meet everyone. They're all going to really like you, Nye, I know it." With one last supportive grin, Kairi took hold of her wrist and dragged her outside. The first person Kairi saw waiting for her was Selphie, balancing on the benches that outlined the gymnasium. She picked up speed and jogged over, leading Kaede behind her.

"Heya, Selph!" Kairi called out. "I've got someone I want you to meet!"

"Is it a hot boy?" were the first words out of Selphie's mouth.

Kaede and Kairi looked at each other, and broke into laughter simultaneously. Kairi continued to drag Kaede forward until they reached Selphie.

"Yes, because a hot guy would totally be joining our *all girls* PE class, Selph," she quipped sarcastically. "No, this is my cousin, Nye. She transferred here this morning."

Selphie leapt down trying to balance on the benches and grinned at Kaede. "Heya! Y'know..." Selphie narrowed her eyes and circled Kaede warily. "I think you look kind of familiar. Have we met before?"

Kairi's eyes widened. Oh... shoot. Bad, very, very bad idea introducing her to Selphie first. Selphie had heard descriptions of Kaede time and time again - and may have even seen a picture or two, with Kaede standing beside Cloud. The dread that had left Riku doused her painfully. She could only wait and watch Selphie's reaction.

"Well, anyways, nice to meet you! It's been forever since we had new kids here! Seemed like they were coming in everything after the town was reestablished, cleaned up, and everything. But now it's really rare." Selphie grinned wildly, making Kaede laugh.

"Has she met Riku and Sora, Kairi?" Selphie asked, pointing her thumb back toward the gym, where the boys' Advanced Weapons Training class was taking place. Kairi nodded.

"Yeah. Nye... um, arrived last night, and the two had come home with me after the Blitz Ball game, and met her then. I think they'll be good friends with each other. Don't you think, Nye?" Kairi smiled a bit too widely, but Kaede nodded.

"Yeah. Riku's in my War Concepts class, and he said that I’ve always got a class with either you, him, or Sora. He mumbled something else after that, too, but I didn't catch what."

Kaede grimaced inwardly. It was probably better that Kaede had not heard what Riku had said. He had looked so relieved when he walked away from Kairi and Kaede. Just... completely blissful. She just did not get why Riku hated her so much. She remember when she had been talking to her on the phone, Kaede had been the one to bring up Riku first. She was the one who was certainly worried about him. Kairi had held back on the information for a moment, and had been thinking if she should tell Kaede or not, remembering Riku had said about her. But everything Riku had said did not ever prove to be true when Kaede was around - before she had lost her memory, of course.

She knew that Riku did not realize his full emotions for Kaede, and had been mistaking those emotions for hatred all this time. What other explanation was there to make up for the fact that he saved her every time no one else could? Why was he just as overprotective of her as Cloud was? Riku always tensed whenever Kaede showed up, but especially was on edge when Cloud was around. Kairi believed Riku felt threatened, but again, was mistaking those emotions for something else.

Maybe Kaede having no memories with the three of them would finally sort things out. Only time would tell.

"Whoa, you got into War Concepts? Seriously? Isn't that supposed to be an upper classmen only class? And they let a new kid in? Your scores on History must have been insane!" Selphie gasped, grasping Kaede's shoulders. Looking slightly freaked out for a moment, Kaede faltered a bit before replying.

"Well, my scores were not bad. I didn't really know what good was, so I kind of overlooked it. The History section on the test had a short essay and then short answer questions. They weren't too hard... I guess. I didn't realize getting into War Concepts was that big of a deal. Riku didn't seem too surprised by it."

"That's because Riku's a junior. It's normal for juniors and seniors to get in that class, but for a newbie sophomore?! It's pretty amazing," Selphie said, nodding, and leaned back to fold her arms. Kaede stared back, wide eyed, at this new discovery. She looked shocked that she was better at something than most other people in her grade. A bright smile slowly found its way across her mouth, lighting up her face.

"I guess so," Kaede whispered.

"Where'd you go to school before, Nye? Some genius boarding school or something?" Selphie asked, interested.

Kaede's eyes widened even further and her head snapped towards Kairi. Kairi's heart jumped and began to race. Oh... they had not told her where she had gone to school before, yet. Well, more truthfully, they had not thought that far ahead. Kairi cringed again. Selphie certainly meant well, but her intentions clearly were not working out in their favor.

"She was homeschooled before. Uh, so, come on, Nye. You might want to introduce yourself to the teacher."

Without waiting for a response, Kairi grabbed her thin wrist once more and brought her over to the area where their class met everything. It was a large set of numbers painted on the ground, labeled one through thirty. Surrounding it were courts painted on the blacktop as well, ranging in all different games: hockey, basketball, volleyball, and others Kairi did not remember. Along the sides, racing lanes were painted. Out in front of the courts, but closed off by a chain link fence, was a large grassy field where football and soccer were held. Two diamonds to the right of that field was where baseball was played.

A group of about twenty girls stood on the painted numbers, no one ready to begin class quite yet. No one paid attention to the fact that an extra girl was in their class that day. The PE teacher, Ms. Germain, stood at the edge of the chain link fence, waiting for the final bell to ring. Kairi pulled her forward until they were standing in front of the teacher. By then, a few girls had noticed the new face.

"Ms. Germain?" Kaede spoke up, her voice near silent. Kairi poked her in the back and gave her an encouraging smile before she continued. "I just joined the class. My name's Nye Oriens. I don't know if you got the message; my last teacher did..."

"Oriens, huh? The name sounds familiar. Let me check." The teacher rifled through a few papers on her clip board and pulled out a light pink sheet of paper not any bigger than a Post-it note. She readjusted the baseball cap on her head and pushed her sunglasses up farther on the bridge of her nose. Kaede could only see the short white blonde hair poking out from under the cap as the distinguishing feature of her. Other than that, Ms. Germain seemed like a normal teacher. She was in her middle thirties, and was wearing a pair of sweats, running tennis shoes, and a black t-shirt. Her hat was sky blue, dark blue, and white, the colors of Fairway Academy. She reread over the note and looked back up at Kaede and Kairi. "Yep, right here. Welcome to the class, Miss Oriens. You are lucky; you have come in at once of the easiest units. When everyone sits down, you will be seated at number twenty eight. That is all."

With that, she walked away and scribbled something down on the attendance sheet.

"That was much easier than War Concepts class. And Ms. Germain didn't take you out of class to talk to you," Kaede sighed, rehashing her morning in War Concepts. Kairi tried to look surprised, but feel she did not manage to quite pull it off.

"You know, Riku never did tell me what Mr. Nioze talked to him about. He looked sort of riled when he came back into class and Mr. Nioze looked at me kind of weird." Kaede sent a quizzical look to Kairi, but then shook her head. She smiled, and released the worry from her shoulders. Kairi was slightly envious of how easily she could do something like that. For a brief second, she wished she could tell Kaede how hard they all had it right now - but that would not work out well at all for them. It would just ruin everything.

"Aw, it's probably nothing," Kaede laughed, and began to make her way over to her number. "If it was something really important that I needed to know, he would tell me. Right?"

Those words almost scared Kairi. They certainly made her feel guilty about what they were doing. Even just through her two last classes, Biology and Algebra 2, Kairi had barely paid attention, thinking over and over if this was what was really best for Kaede - and everyone else who cared about her. She did not want to imagine what the Committee was going through right now. The fact they it was possible that they did not have a clue frightened her even more. The thought of Kaede regaining her memory at a random moment also haunted her thoughts. She knew Kaede well enough, there was one thing she knew she would do - freak out. Kairi suck to her number and rested her chin on her fist. Girls chattered around her and tried to get her attention, but Kairi was out of it today. There was just too much to think about to pay attention to anything else.

Kairi cast a glance at Kaede. Before she even saw her, Kairi had a prediction about what she was doing. Of course, Kairi had been right. Kaede was staring up at the sky, her dark purple eyes seeming lilac in the glare of the sunlight. She seemed entranced by it. This had to be the fourth of fifth time she had caught Kaede staring at the sky and she asked herself the same question Riku had:

What in the sky interested her so much?

"Today, girls," Ms. Germain started, throwing her clipboard to the ground, "we will be continuing with our soccer unit. Split into your teams and continue on with your tournaments. Today Team One is playing Team Three and Team Four is playing Team Two. We do have a new student who will be joining us today, so she will have to join one of the teams. She's over in the back, and her name is Nye Oriens. Please welcome her kindly."

Everyone was now staring at Kaede. If they had not noticed the new girl before, they certainly did now. They looked her up and down, judging her from the start. The only person Kairi noticed who had any other look upon their face between slight interest and boredom was Tacey's little sister, Mera. The girl had her nose turned up and looked as if she wanted nothing to do with Kaede. Maybe her older sister had already caught up with her. Who knew? Whatever it was, Kairi would have to make sure Kaede steered very clear of Mera, unless she wanted to have two Cerobis against her.

"All right, ladies, start warming up. Run a lap and meet me out of the field, okay?" Her whistle rung sharply out and the girls took off leisurely, chatting and laughing, one or two saying hi to Kaede on their way past her. Kaede smiled and said hello back, but stayed behind with Kairi and Selphie.

“This is it? Just running and playing sports?” Kaede asked, sounding confused.

“Yup, that’s all there is to it. Why? Were you expecting something more?” Kairi asked. Kaede bit her lip, but nodded.

“I… I guess so. I was kind of expecting, I don’t know, hard core training or something. Wouldn’t that be a little more exciting?” Kaede asked, speeding up to a run. The three girls were still last in the class, but the teacher did not seem to mind. Kairi tried to hide her uneasiness – it probably was not the PE class she was picturing, but her training in Radiant Garden and Traverse Town – but Selphie just laughed.

“Oh, we’re not like the AWT class, Nye. We’re just a bunch of girls.” She rolled her eyes, but Kairi tensed slightly. She bit down on the side of her cheek, restraining herself from saying anything about how she helping fight off Heartless, about her encounter with Darkness, about how see saved Sora’s life nearly a year ago. But she could not. It was forbidden.

“Well, maybe we should learn stuff like the AWT class. Just because we’re girls doesn’t mean we can’t do anything,” Kaede reasoned. “I bet you I could fight just as well as any other person in that class.”

“You have no idea,” Kairi muttered under her breath, but slapped a hand over her mouth, realizing what she had just said. Before she knew it, she was covering up her actions with a cough.

“What?” Kaede asked, confused. Kairi blinked.

“Hm? I didn’t say anything,” Kairi said innocently. Kaede stared back for a few seconds, but let it slide. Kairi exhaled softly. That had been too close for comfort. She pushed her hair off her shoulders and brushed her bangs from her eyes. They rounded the last bend on the track to see Ms. Germain waiting for them.

“Since you two have already seemed to bond with Miss Oriens here, I suppose you would like her to be on your team?” Kairi and Selphie nodded eagerly. “All right, then, Miss Oriens, you will be on Team Two, playing on field one. Now hurry up before you team starts without you!”

The three girls sent their PE teacher strained, hurried smiles before racing out onto the grassy fields to catch up with their team.

The game started in two minutes with Kairi as a forward, and Kaede and Selphie as midfielders. Kairi scanned the field for any of the good players on the other team and chose a spot where she could break through. On the kick off, the soccer ball shot toward their goal post, but seconds later, with a swift kick from Kaede, the soccer ball flew back to the opposing team’s side and Kairi shot forward. She weaved in and out of the players, and managed to reach the ball quickly, but right as she had aimed herself toward the goal, the soccer ball was kicked out from underneath her. Kairi looked up to a not so kind grin from the one and only Mera Cerobi leering in her face. Right. Mera always played defender and tripped anyone who ever got in her way.

Kairi stared back disgustedly for a moment, but had to turn back around to be ready to retrieve it again. This time, the soccer ball made it to the defenders before it was given back to the midfielders. Kaede gave it another strong kick – but this time a little too strong.

Kairi had to hit the dirt to avoid concussion by soccer ball. Mera, on the other hand, was talking to the goalie. It was too late before anyone could call out to her. The soccer ball nailed her in the back and she nearly lost her balance. Mera whipped around and eyed the whole field dangerously. While Selphie and Kairi were having a hard time keeping their laughter in, Kaede could not keep the horror off her face.

Mera mouthed one word. “Dead.”

Kairi’s grin was wiped off her face. She was supposed to be the one who needed to keep Kaede away from the Cerobi girls, not lead her into the death trap. If it was possible, Kaede’s eyes widened even further, and she froze in her tracks. Her lips moved, uttering two silent words Kairi could not hear or read.

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:05:20 GMT

This is the longest chapter, so I'm putting it in three parts.

Chapter Five: A Day in the Life

"And there's no other information you have for me? No other schools she went to, other places she lived, any other medical information?" The headmaster questioned suspiciously. The headmaster was a man in his mid-forties, and liked kids, but dealing with them and their problems every single say seem to be getting on his last nerves. His once dark hair had been thick and many of the girls at Fairway had swooned over him, including some of the female teachers. But as the years passed by, his hair thinned and was soon speckled with grey. The salt and pepper look did not work for him. Now he just had to get through every day without trying to kill himself.

Riku was in the headmaster's office alone right now, with Kaede's taking a placement test in one of the other rooms; an unused secretary's office. Riku had no idea how much she knew or remembered - but he supposed he would be finding out soon. He supplied as much information as he could about her - her family, her slightly modified medical history, and the reason why she had transferred to Fairway Academy. The headmaster did not seem to care in the least.

"Actually, Nye does have a bad shoulder. She tore it while... um..." He searched for a plausible answer, one that didn't sound like the both of them had been at war for the past year. "While trying to do a couple of flips of the high ramp on her skateboard. It was her first time riding and she turned wrong and landed about twenty feet below the ramp. It was a miracle she didn't need surgery. Her brace was misplaced in the move to Kairi Dalmasca's house."

Although she probably should have it checked out, Riku finished inside his head. His aqua eyes bore into the headmaster's grey-brown ones, clearly bored.

"What a sad story," the headmaster intoned. Yes, he certainly seemed to feel bad about it with that tone of complete uncaring. "We will supply her with a new one then. I'm sure there are extras in the nurse's office."

Riku didn't mention the one Kaede had lost was specially designed for her injury, but it was not like they could get other one just like the maze of elastic bands she had before.

"So, Mr. Alcaia," the headmaster stood and smiled what seemed like a lawyer's smile. Hm. Riku did not like where this was going already. "How does she expect to be paying for her school expenses? With... your means as well?" The headmaster greedily eyed Riku's bookbag. Riku sighed and slumped in his seat.

"She's got a Royal Treasury Account, too, but doesn't quite remember how to use it. So, yeah, I suppose I'll be using my account until she can get the access number from her... um, father," he bluffed guiltlessly.

He hoped Leon would give him the code. One more thing he had to sort out with Kaede - money. He knew that ever though there was more money than he would ever need in his Royal Treasury Account, but he also could not pay for everything Kaede needed. Something needed to be done, and if he called up Leon today (and swiftly avoided the topic of the brainwashed mage) he would be able to get the information from him. He just needed to think of a suitable lie for it.

"I believe that is all, Mr. Alcaia. You can wait outside for Miss Oriens if you like, or go back to your class."

"I think I'll stay," Riku replied immediately, nearly jumping up from the chair and knocking it over with the back of his legs. Because Kaede would be totally lost without him.

"You are welcome to. I will send her outside with her new schedule when she is finished with her testing."

Riku nodded, and strolled out the office door, slamming it harder than necessary on the way out.

Riku thought Kaede was smart, after seeing the millions of books she kept hidden away in her room; he actually did not doubt the fact at all. The girl just lacked common sense. He sat himself down on the hard wooden bench outside the office and instantly felt the beady gaze of one of the secretary's beat down on his head. It was as if to say, 'You are not welcome here. Get out before I give you a detention, you juvenile delinquent.'

Riku crossed his legs and made himself comfortable, pulling out a three ring binder from his backpack. He flipped to his impossible Trig homework that he had not bothered finishing up last night (it was not like him had any time to.) The numbers and variables made him dizzy and he wondered how he was actually placed into the class, when he probably should have tested back into Geometry. But even Sora and Kairi had made it into Algebra 2, Sora squeaking by by a hair. Kairi was the smartest out of all four of them, acing her tests, not even needing to study, getting through school with flying colors.

Was there anything the Princess could not do? Of course, her passing all her classes may have been because she had actually been in school more than any of them. She had only missed a total of two week, where Riku and Sora had both missed well over a year. The only two classes Riku did well in were his War Concepts and Advanced Weapons Training Classes. His teachers for both classes were, well...

Notorious, he could say. Notorious for being unexpected, being missing on certain random days, having a personality a little too familiar for his liking. Sora seemed to know what was going on before Riku had, and had finally explained to Riku who they were.

All of a sudden everything had clicked. At first, Riku had been apprehensive, but Sora had further explained the story. There was nothing to worry about because the King had it all under control. The first thought that had reached Riku’s mind was, ‘He had the Heartless and Nobody War under control, too, huh? Was that before or after we stepped in to save the day?’

After those few explanation sessions, the classes made much more sense. No wonder both teachers seemed to like the fighting, the wars, the undeniable gore that came with both so much. No wonder both seemed to smile grimly when they saw Riku walked into the classroom every day. It was all instantly obvious.

But now all of that put Kaede farther behind than anyone. Maybe - just maybe - she would get into Advanced Weapons Training, but the chances were slim. It was all about technique, not power. Unless the teacher recognized her, too, (he doubted they had ever met, but who knew?) it was sure she would not get in. Kaede had not been to school in at least two years. That was a known fact.

Other than that, he guessed she would be getting into the lower level classes the freshmen usually took first year. An easy science, an easy math, a regular literature, a history class, and physical education. Maybe the headmaster would even give her an elective, but it did not really matter He hoped that their classes, meaning Sora, Kairi, and himself, would all have at least one class with Kaede. He was not sure if some other kid got a hold of her and started hating on her when one of the three was not there to help. Kaede had no idea how to defend herself. She was socially inept, and did not know how to read to those kinds of situations.

It was then Riku noticed that she had not forgotten completely everything about her life. She remembered her favorite foods, she remembered school, she remembered some of the little things, too, like reading, writing, and speaking. Even though they seemed small, it was a surprise that she could remember those things even though her memory had been completely wiped - or so Sora said.

...What if her memory had only been erased in a few certain areas?

It was certainly possible and plausible. Kaede seemed not to remember anything from her social life. She did not remember who she herself was, did not remember of her friend or anything about her current hometown. She remembered nothing about the war and nothing about her magic. All, in some strong way, were connected socially with Kaede.

This revelation sent chills down Riku's spine. If this was true, it would explain why the injury left no damage on her brain, because it would not be the injury that wiped her memory. It would have been a purposeful, magic spell, cast by someone else. Someone stronger than Kaede.

He did not care to think of who.

Just as Riku started to think harder about what Kaede did and did not remember, the headmaster's door swung open abruptly and Kaede came speed walking out, holding several pieces of paper and a dark blue thick fabric in her hands. She shoved the papers into Riku's hands and she unwound what unfolded to be a new brace. Riku looked down at the papers. One was a map of Fairway, another, the rules of the school and classrooms, and the last, her schedule. Riku earnestly read the schedule for anything he, Sora, and Kairi shared with 'Nye Oriens,' the bolded name at the top of the paper read.

Nye Oriens

Student ID #: 456098	Name: Oriens, Nye K	Gender: F
Grade: 10	Date Enrolled: 3-18-04	Date Printed: 3-10-04

Schedule Information

Period	Course	Teacher	Room
1	Algebra 2	Finley	202
2	War Concepts	Nioze	309
3	PE 10	Germain	FIELD
4	Lunch	- - -	- - -
5	Biology	Roux	607
6	Journalism	Vivez	400
7	Literature 10	Alberici	405

Riku was shocked, incredibly surprised that she had made it into many of the regular classes the students her age were taking as well. Kaede was smarter than he thought she was - and had either retained information well, taken classes that he had not known or heard about… or was just very good at guessing.

She had even made it into War Concepts, a senior and junior based class. That class was a little less of a surprise, but Riku was already thinking about how she could remember so little about herself, but remember war strategies like the ones they used in the Committee. It just did not make sense to him. His fingers once again traced over her schedule.

He then realized each class had at least one of them – Sora, Kairi, or Riku - in it with her. The headmaster had certainly arranged it on purpose, no doubt giving her special treatment because of the Royal Treasury Account card. Riku folded the papers and looked back up at Kaede - who was now stuck in her brace. Riku stared back disbelievingly. The girl got good test scores and higher-level classes when she had not even been in school

She giggled sheepishly with her arm stuck above her head and one of the straps in her mouth.

"I need help," she mumbled. Riku snorted, holding back outright laughter and dropped his bookbag and the papers onto the bench. He gently lifted the brace from around her neck (he was surprised she did not strangle herself with it beforehand) and loosened it enough so it would fit easily over her head. Once he had it at the proper size and length, he again held it up for her. Riku hung it around her neck and lifted up her left arm, watching her face closely. The moment he lifted her arm above shoulder level, she whimpered. He easily lowered her arm down into the brace and handed her the bookbag and papers. She took them without a word.

"Thank you," she whispered after a while, sending him a smile. Riku savored those rarely said words, and had to send her back a grin.

"It's not a problem. Did your arm… hurt before?" he asked as non-abrasively as he could manage, leading her out the door and back into the morning sunlight. She nodded without giving him eye contact and walked the tiniest bit faster. She seemed embarrassed admitting it.

"You could have told me," Riku said, spreading out his legs to keep up with her. “I would have helped somehow.” It’s kind of my job right now so I do not get murdered by Kairi. Kaede shook her head rapidly, keeping her gaze to the ground. Her cheeks flushed red. Again, the blush showed another difference from the actual Kaede. This new Kaede was not afraid to show her weaknesses.

"I didn't want to bother you. You seemed… occupied."

And one more difference. The old Kaede would not have cared one bit if she had bothered Riku. He breathed out. He was merely occupied with the fact her had to keep her safe again. There was nothing new about that, but this was the Kaede who could not read emotions quite yet. 'Socially inept,' was the word her used earlier, and seemed to fit quite nicely into this situation.

"It was nothing you couldn't interrupt. It's not like I would have been mad or anything." He shifted his bookbag up his shoulder.

"I'll know that for next time, then," she replied promptly, and looked back at him with that eager gleam in her eyes. Riku blinked at the sudden attitude change, not expecting it once more. He really had to remember that, with her brain wipe, came odd side effects. “Um, so what class do I have first? I was a little busy looking at my test scores and didn’t bother with checking what time it was or really even looking at my schedule. My literature score on that test was awful…” Riku looked to her own bookbag, where he saw a few papers poking their corners out of the flap. She quickly flipped the bag to her other side. He wondered if the test scores were really that bad or if she was just being paranoid.

“You’ve actually already missed your first class. Second hour, you’ve got War Concepts – with me.” The last part of that sentence was supposed to feel like a rush of contempt, but instead, the words sounded more generous than anything. Riku cleared his throat awkwardly. “Come on, it’s all of the way across the school, so you better hurry up. Don’t want to be late on your first day,” he teased, and began to jog ahead of her. When she refused to start running, her excuse was called back with a light tone.

“I don’t want to run because I’m wearing a skirt. You have an unfair advantage!” Kaede tucked her hair behind her ears (Riku just noticed the tie was now knotted on her bookbag strap) and crossed her arms. Riku just twisted around, backpedalled, and grinned at her.

“Right. Because even if you were wearing jeans, you would not even be able to beat me in a race.”

Kaede’s laughter rang out brightly. Her eyes shone of competition and delight. Riku slowly his pace a bit, and waited for her to catch up with him. He wanted to hear what she was going to say. “You are so full of it. Of course I would be able to. Riku Alcaia is going to lose to a girl.”

Riku’s smile faltered for only a brief second, too short of a time period for her to realize it. She had said his full name - Riku Alcaia. He did not remember a time when he had actually told her his full name. There was not a lot of proof to this, because she could have easily overheard the headmaster talking to him. Even still, it frightened him. She needed to stay clueless to stay safe.

He recovered just as soon as Kaede shoved him to the side, causing him to fall off balance. Her laughter pierced the air again as he nearly fell on his back when he tripped. "Oh, yes. I could definitely win. There's no contest."

"You want to make this a bet?"

"You're on. When and where?"

Riku grinned and proceeded to think of a good place to hold it. His eyes caught the papers in her hands once more. The idea struck him.

"You've got PE the same time I have Weapons Training. We'll hold the race then. Sora and Kairi can help time and everyone can watch. It'll be fun." The fun implied in his words was that Riku would beat Kaede. She straightened her skirt and shirt out, smoothing down her hair was well. She seemed to be thinking the idea over, until her head whipped back toward Riku again.

"It's a race." She stuck out her hand and stuck up her nose slightly, staring up at him good-humoredly. Her purple eyes, although filled with the spark of taking the risk of toying with Riku's mind, were still very blurry and very blank. Nothing had returned to her mind. Riku relaxed unconsciously a little more. Riku shook her hand firmly, and then dragged her to walk beside him, continuing on through the last three hallways to their classroom before the bell to get out of first hour rang. They had been lucky so far - no one had bothered to tell them to be quiet. Riku decided a little intimidation was necessary before the set competition.

"I don't suppose you've heard my ongoing competitions with Sora, have you? It's a total of sixty five to four. Can you guess who's winning?"

"Sora. I'm sure of it."

That time, she did not even sound like she was kidding. She actually sounded like she believed that Sora was beating Riku at something. He hid a snicker in his palm and shook his head.

"Nope. Guess again."

"Oh. Is Kairi playing then? Because she's beating you if she was playing." Again, total honestly. It was almost a blow to the gut, until she started giggling once more. Another 'new Kaede' trait. 'Old Kaede' would not just start giggling. He could not even picture it. But here she was, laughing hysterically like a giddy fangirl. Riku had his share of dealings with those types of girls, but it was very strange to see Kaede act this way.

"What's so funny, Miss 'I Can Do Anything,' Superhero?" he challenged. She pressed a few fingers to her lips and sighed melodramatically.

"I don't see you even winning to Kairi even if she felt bad for you. I just don't."

"Well, maybe Kairi and I should go first, just to show you that you have no idea who you're messing with."

Kaede scoffed, pulling out her schedule once more. She scanned it, then stuffed it unceremoniously back in her bag.

"Nope, I get to be the first person to beat you today. Then you can lose to whoever you want," she countered. Riku made a pained sound.

"Ouch. That one burned."

"Good," Kaede shot back. Riku opened his mouth to retort once more, but the bell for first period rang at that second. Riku laughed and ran a hand through his hair, amused. If there was one big thing new and old Kaede had in common, it had to be this - their competitiveness in everything. Who knew Kaede could be so upbeat and lighthearted about winning and still have the determination she had before her memory loss.

Riku and Kaede were standing directly outside the War Concepts room. The doors to at least ten classrooms swung open in the hallways. Students, aging from freshmen to seniors, began to our out of their classrooms talking, gathering books and homework, complaining, laughing... the atmosphere was simply lively.

Riku looked over at Kaede to drag her inside, but noticed she was already gone. Riku snapped his neck around to the right, left, right, left, and spun in circles to figure out the way Kaede had gone.

He found her when she stuck her head out back into the hallway from the War Concepts classroom. Her smile just screamed, 'Idiot, how could you not find your own classroom, and I already did, and this is my first day of school here? Ha, ha, beat that, sucker!'

"My faith in your intelligence is diminishing," Kaede said seriously, the glimmer in her eyes flickering with laughter. "You have to be able at least to walk in to your own classroom without zoning out and losing someone." It was Riku's turn to flush. He felt his cheeks burning and without even a word, he trudged inside the medium sized classroom. His eyes first flicked to the young teacher, Mr. Nioze, at his desk and fiddling with his computer once more. The teacher was barely out of college (as the rest of the class thought, at least) and wanting to find his place in the world. So what did he start out with? Teaching, of course.

So maybe his teacher's ideas were a little different. They were no less ingenious than any other ideas proposed. Riku wondered if he would recognize the young mage as his new student. Half of him hoped he did, and the other half hoped he did not, for separate reasons entirely.

Mr. Nioze had jet black hair that hung just below his ears, with bangs that were swept away from his eyes constantly. His all seeing eyes were a pale grey-blue and could stop a student within a second’s glare. Many students were mildly afraid of the young man, but Riku was simply surprised he had reappeared so quickly. Not that anyone else got what he meant by that.

“Riku?” Kaede tugged on his sleeve and stared at him with blank eyes, her lips pursed. “Um, what do I do?”

Riku stared back at her for a second, wondering what she asking. Did she not know she had to sit down and just wait for class to start? What happened to her high test grades? If she did not know she just needed to find an open spot in the classroom, she really would not make it that far...

"I mean, should I go introduce myself to the teacher? Or should I just wait for him to call out my name and tell me where to go and what to do?"

Riku shook himself from the disbelief, comforted that she was not too clueless. Riku's eyes trailed back of to Mr. Nioze's desk and nodded.

"Uh, yeah, you should probably go introduce yourself and show him your schedule. He may have gotten a notice already and know you're going to be here, or it may just be a surprise to him. We've never had a new student come in before, so I'm not really sure."

Kaede blinked, slightly put off by Riku's doubt, but dug into her bag and pulled out her schedule anyway. She took one step forward, but paused, sending Riku an apprehensive glance back over her shoulder. Mr. Nioze's concentration and the seriousness in his face while he was working on his computer - it was probably broken again - certainly must have thrown her off. Just like sensing Riku's 'brick wall' attitude, she could tell that Mr. Nioze did not want to be disturbed. Riku simply rolled his eyes, and dragged her up to the desk.

"Ah, Mr. Nioze, could I show you something?" Riku said calmly, his hand still gripping Kaede's elbow. She sent Riku a weak smile, then turned back to the teacher. Mr. Nioze looked up from his computer problems and saw the two students standing before him.

"We seem to have a new student," Riku continued, jerking her head towards Kaede. Mr. Nioze followed his gaze, but then began to rifle through the papers on his desk. He had not even bothered to look at Kaede. Maybe he did not recognize her after all. That would make things a little easier - one thing less that he had to worry about getting her memories back.

"Oh, yes, I did get a memo about that this morning, from the headmaster. You are...?"

"Nye Oriens, s-sir," she said, her voice faltering as she noticed his inquiring stare back on her again. Riku swore under his breath; he had jinxed this. His gaze intensified slightly on Kaede. Jaw dropping open, his eyes narrowed the slightest bit and his gaze instantly darted back to Riku with a question in his eyes. Riku balked and winced inside his head. He surely had not expected Mr. Nioze to recognize Kaede.

Mr. Nioze was the ex-Organization member Zexion, member number six. The one member who had died by Riku’s own replica, and had died without putting up a fight. His heart had returned to him when Kingdom Hearts was destroyed. Riku only knew of one other whom that happened to, and just by luck, he was ready to work for Light this time. No one wanted to think of who else had gotten their heart back, because no wanted to face the fury of the Organization once more.

Riku had thought him weird when he treated Riku was a slightly fear and respect at the beginning of the year, and even Zexion himself could not understand why he was acting this way to no one else but his student, although he soon recognized him. From then on, he had been rough, but nicer to him than the other students.

The same thing happened with him in AWT.

“Miss… Oriens. You can take the seat over by the window, the second row. You do have some catching up to do, seeing as you’re entering in the middle of the semester. My class is not easy, especially not for the lower classmen. Your scores were incredible, however, so if the headmaster thought you would do well in here, so do I.”

The man certainly played it cool, not letting on he knew anything about her. Riku still wondered when they would have met.

"Good luck, Miss Oriens. I do think you'll be needing it."

Riku saw this as a sign - and it was a sign that had nothing to do with school at all. Fate was already out of his favor, and now he had a warning message. The day was already turning out worse than yesterday. Hmph.

Kaede slipped away from the desk and, keeping her eyes to her shoes, walked toward her assigned seat. Riku looked back up at her three seconds too late - it was only after she had rammed headfirst into high school senior Tacey Cerobi.

Tacey’s muddy brown eyes focused on the sophomore in front of her. Kaede's head jerked up, and she backed off a little, gasping slightly.

"Oh, I'm really sorry about that," Kaede said urgently, feeling Tacey's gaze burn holes through her forehead. "I wasn't looking where I was going and I didn't see you and again I am really sorry and--" Tacey shoved Kaede out of the way, pushing her to the side like a tattered screen door.

"Stay out of my way, shorty," Tacey hissed over her shoulder while Kaede sunk into her seat by the window, covering her face with her hands, then running her -09bangs through her fingers. "Or you'll be sorry you crossed paths with me again."

Riku could only stare at the sudden unwanted cat fight between the two girls. Well, that was fast. Kaede had not been in class for ten minutes, and she had already made an enemy - no less, her enemy was Tacey Cerobi. Tacey was also in his Advanced Weapons Training class and was one hell of a fighter. She was tall and lean, and seemed to only be made of muscle. She seemed as if she already despised Sora and Riku for getting into the one class made especially for advanced seniors. Tacey was just as brilliant as she was terrifying. She was simply taking War Concepts over again because she had no other, harder class to take. She had passed every other history class with flying colors. And now it seemed Kaede was on the very same hit list Sora and Riku were already ranked one and two on - in less than a day, by only bumping into the girl on her way to her seat.

For some sick, mess up reason, Riku still did not and could not feel the pity for Kaede, even though the girl's face was bright pink and horror outlined her face. He merely felt an impending sense of doom for her. But... that was it.

"Mr. Alcaia, if you do not care to take your seat, would you please join me outside?" Zexion's collected voice snapped him from his thoughts. The class, who Riku had not noticed had already seated and was waiting for the final bell to ring, snickered behind hands and sent him hidden smirks. Riku rolled his eyes and trudged back to the door, not noticing the 'dammit' look Kaede was giving her desk. Now she was all alone in there.

"Please answer the questions I have written on the board. Two paragraphs were question, with at least eight sentences per paragraph. I expect them to be finished in the next twenty minutes. After, we will discuss the answers. Make sure you get them right - this will prepare you for the next quiz. Now, Alcaia, if you will..."

Riku followed him outside, a sullen expression already on his face. He wanted to avoided as many questions as he could, but he did not know what--

"That girl. Where is she from? Riku, I know for sure that her name is not 'Nye Oriens,' and she does not belong at this school. Who is she, Riku, and why is she here?"

All punches to the gut. Riku avoided his teacher's and ex-enemy's gaze for as long at her could until he was a spark of fury flash in his eyes. There was most certainly a reason why Zexion was admitted into the Organization as a teenager, and Riku did not feel like finding that out now. He preferred not to learn anything the hard way anymore. Riku sighed, and tried to figure out a way to word his answer. Here goes nothing...

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:00:53 GMT

This is definitely the most posts I've put up in a day.

"And you waited all this time to tell me this? Waited until we almost died to tell me that Maleficent's on the rise again and Kaede's almost as good as dead?" Cloud asked for what seemed like the millionth time. He was testing her patience and wearing her last nerves thin. She perched gracefully in the chair she had dragged next to the bed with her legs crossed. Her hands lay clasped tightly in her lap and a sober smile remained on her face.

"I didn't want to upset you while you were still weak. It just wouldn't be healthy. You healed much faster than I thought you would."

"Your magic's more powerful than you think," he snapped back. Aerith heard this more as a surprising and slightly unknown compliment coming from him. "I don't get why you don't fight, but unfortunately, that's not the point right now. The point is you purposely endangered our lives - Kaede's life! And you don't even bother to mention it. You tell the kids at Destiny Islands, Merlin, but not us. What were guys playing at?"

Her knuckles were turning white. "First of all Cloud, we did not purposely endanger anyone's life. We didn't think it was important at first; for all we knew, it was a rumor. If we had told you two, you would have taken all precautions and not gone on the trip you had been planning for so long. We did what we thought was best - seeing the both of you happy and together. I apologize if you thought staying here as sitting ducks was a better way to deal with the situation."

Cloud muttered several words under his breath that Aerith may or may not have wanted to hear. They both took another deep breath, knowing how to deal with the other. Cloud composed his tone and Aerith straightened up, replenishing her patience. Both wanted the other to see their side of the story. The only thing getting in their way was both were too stubborn to open their eyes and actually put themselves in the other's shoes.

"All you needed to do was trust us," they both said at once. Aerith cleared her throat, and giggled humorlessly. The one thing everyone in the worlds lacked right now was trust - and it was not something that was built again very easily or quickly.

"We knew what we were doing. It was just that..."

"It was a fluke, a mistake. And that mistake was the thing that may have gotten Kaede killed."

Aerith's eyes suddenly flashed and she stared him down with an overbearing confidence that made him immediately grow silent. He seemed to shrink in the bed like a moody teenager being lectured by his mother for getting bad grades. Aerith tensed and sensed his sudden vulnerability. She took advantage this change to tell him what she really thought.

"Cloud. You say this like we wanted Kaede killed. That in no way is true, or will ever be true. We're worried about her too. But right now, we're worried about you as well. You are just as hurt she could have been, or maybe she is, but if you die, it won't matter if she lives or not, because either way, she'll be gone for you. Remember that you're not the only one who thinks of her as someone you need to protect. Remember that she can protect herself. Remember you're not the only one who cares for her deeply." Aerith stood from her chair and leaned in close, whispering her last words.

"Remember you don't own her. You can't keep her to yourself forever. You never know if someday she'll just... change her mind."

Cloud looked taken aback either at the revelation, or at the fact these words had come from Aerith: sweet, innocent, moral, kind-hearted, Aerith. It seemed to be more of a shock to her she had actually said these things of her own will.

"Get some rest, Cloud. We've got some searching to do."

Just like that the conversation was over – and Aerith Gainsborough had won. She pushed over the door and closed it firmly behind her, feeling three pairs of eyes fall on her at once in the hallway. She gave them a reluctant smile and shook her gravity defying bangs away from her face.

"All taken care of," she answered their questioning gazes. Yuffie threw her head back and laughed, while the two men just shook their heads as if it was a given. Of course they had expected her to prevail in the verbal match with Cloud - no one went up against Aerith without a death wish beforehand. Even Kaede had lost her fair share of fights with Aerith, although she had come dangerously close to winning a few. Aerith began to make her way down the stairs, but before she went to touch the first stair, she threw her gaze back at Cid.

"I also promised Cloud that we'd start tracking Kaede right away, in return for him to at least try and rest. So we have a lot of work ahead of us." The half-innocent, half-‘I've got something up my sleeve that you don't know about,’ look was back and brighter than ever. She blinked once, waiting for the footsteps behind her, and trotted down the stairs for the third time that day. Now just to figure out how to track a mage who could be located in almost infinite dimensions - dead or alive. Well, it could certainly be called a challenge.

"I hope your computer's fully charged, Cid. We won't be stopping until we've narrowed the possibilities down to two worlds," she continued, outlining her plans further. "And then we will need to split up and scour those worlds from top to bottom to find her." She turned on her heel to give them a triumphant smile. Her determined, sunshine-y personality was back. She had purpose once more. She could already see them finding Kaede alone and broken somewhere. She could already picture how happy both Cloud and Kaede would be. She could see already what an accomplishment this would be.

Now just to start.

~~~

Leon was not only unfocused, uncooperative, and way more aloof than usual, but he was just out of it. From eight questions in a row from Aerith, his only answer had been a confused, 'forty-two?' She had rolled her eyes and, after the eighth and final question, told him to go out for a short walk to clear whatever was on his mind. He got up and left without a word, but he knew that it was going to take longer than a 'short walk' to clear what had been on his mind since the very first Heartless invasion. His very first true heartbreak. And he couldn't believe he was stilling mulling over something as trivial as this.

Well... he supposed it could not be called trivial if it was the whole reason he had changed his name, the whole reason he had become so hell-bent on destroying Darkness, the whole reason he had put his life on the line for the many people he cared about.

It was all because he wanted to see her again. Months (what seemed like eternities) ago, he had received the one letter from her. No one had been able to upset him for days. Yuffie even had a hard time figuring out why he did not snap back at her sarcasm towards him.

Rinoa Heartilly, against all odds, was alive and well. She had written to him and in some miraculous fashion, the letter had made it too him. He knew immediately it had been her at first because of the signature butterfly rising from the letter. Rinoa was the only one who knew how to cast that spell, for it was her own. One of many she had made up at Balamb Garden Academy. He remembered her like it was yesterday, and still held on to that longing for her. He wanted nothing more than to see her again and to hold her close. He had planned to go see her, find her the day before the word about Maleficent got around to him.

It was actually through Rinoa's letters he found out. Rinoa Heartilly was a powerful sorceress, easily ranking high over Kaede's and Aerith's powers put together. This left Rinoa as a high target for whatever Maleficent was planning. Therefore, she could not be found - by anyone.

Her letter had crushed him. Beaten his heart to a pulp. Distracted him day in and out, before Yuffie had slapped him roughly and told him to snap out of it. This was before his temper had flared and he had snarled back at her some things he did not care to repeat. Yuffie had screamed back words ten times as worse, and he at first wondered where she had learned words like those - she was certainly, well, eloquent for someone who was barely sixteen. But then Leon realized that Cid was around her more than he was, and his question was answered. He then wondered: what would it take to make Rinoa safe?

The answer: keep away from her.

The price? Self-restraint.

How long would he have to wait to see her again?

The answer: who knew?

The price? Never knowing.

How long could he hold out?

The answer: as long as he loved her, translated to forever.

The price? Trusting that she still loved him, too.

His answers were shaky and the prices to pay steep, but if lives and love were on the line, anything was worth it. Absolutely anything.

And then came the pressures of the elections coming up soon. Someone had anonymously dropped his name into the nominations for mayor. The letter had come in the mail and alerted him that campaigns were going on all month. He had promptly crumpled the paper up and thrown it in the trash. If people wanted to vote for him as mayor of Radiant Garden, then fine, but he did not want to go parading around asking people to vote for him. It was not like he craved the position, anyway. If it was given to him, he would take on the responsibilities, but if not, it was not a major loss either.

It did leave him wondering for days who had slipped his name into the nominations. He had expressed no interest in it what so ever. He was sure the person knew if they revealed themselves, Leon would take all of the anger, tension, anxiety, and all other leftover emotions out on them. It was not a pretty position to be in.

Leon rounded another corner and found himself near the bailey. He found himself wondering where the Gullwings had gone; if they had gone back to their world or stayed in Radiant Garden. Many people who had lost their homes actually did stay in Radiant Garden because of the order it was still in. Other worlds that had just been discovered were still in terrible condition with the Darkness still staining the world destroyed and chaos reigning. The Radiant Garden Restoration Committee had helped out many, many worlds (more than he could even remember) and had restored order to those, but for others it was a hopeless case. Darkness had invaded too much and there was nothing they could do about the situation. The Committee had helped with getting people homes and clearing up debris, but with everything it, it was something they could not just meddle in.

It was not their affair.

Leon strolled out to the edge of the bailey, looking out across the rocks to the old decrepit castle. Maleficent held base their not long ago. It was just now he wondered how they either did not catch that fact before or, if they had, simply not stormed into the castle and raided it. Leon did not understand the basics of it all. They had even seen the Heartless manifesting down in the small valley before the castle and they did not even think of searching at castle at the least?

Maybe it was because they knew no one would risk their lives to go down there when the Heartless were waiting to rip them all to shreds. Maybe it was a little too obvious that their hearts would get torn out if they tried to enter because of the two giant Heartless that had always been standing in the doorway. Maybe it was because they had seen the inside of the castle a year previously and thought it was just too unimportant to go back to again. All of these simple answers led to the fact that Maleficent still resided in Radiant Garden while they were trying to plan Darkness's downfall.

As he looked back on it, it seemed a miracle that they had still won the Heartless and Nobody War.

Leon turned on his heel, away from the Castle, and set his gaze on the ramp leading into the maze of halls, eventually showing the doors to Ansem's study. He needed to check on those computers, anyway. If the one Cid, Aerith, and Yuffie were using to track down Kaede was not enough he would power up the ones Ansem had used for his research.

Ansem the Wise was still nowhere to be found. He had been wiped completely from existence. King Mickey had speculated that the machine Ansem had used to implode Kingdom Hearts also destroyed his own heart, leading to his evident demise. Even Ansem had admitted his research had been foolish. Leon could not help but agree, seeing as something as simple as research could lead to nearly ten years of utter hell for the rest of the worlds. Riku, Kairi, and Sora were now permanently scarred. The Organization, although ultimately Dark, could not help being turned into Nobodies. Even the Committee had their share of problems. All members had no real place in the worlds. Yuffie, a crown princess of her own country, had lost her father, her mother, her entire family and personal wealth to the Darkness. He had heard of a man who helped her out of their world, Gaia, before the Darkness had fully taken over, but had heard no other details. Cid had lost Shera, lost his title as 'the Captain,' lost everything, too. Cloud's heart was more scarred than ever, with Sephiroth never really gone, his friend's death, and now the disappearance of Kaede riding on his shoulders could not be easy to live with day in and day out. Kaede had been a mess ever since the war ended: her shoulder nearly unusable, her emotions cluttered and confused, and her magic more of a burden than ever before. Aerith, it was hard to say, but if he had to choose, she was the one with the most problems. She just didn't know how to face them. Aerith knew what it was like to die. It was something he knew she relived almost every time she went out on the battlefield. It was the major reason she did not fight, only saved her magic for healing others and herself if she was ever hit. Aerith's heart had not been destroyed by Heartless, but broken on her own. She loved Cloud. And Cloud had turned himself away from her to be with Kaede. Aerith had barely put up a fight because she wanted Cloud to be happy. Leon did not know how she could possibly be so strong. He was amazed, when Cloud had been missing to go and fight Sephiroth, how bold Aerith had been. Kaede had been frantic, rushing around and making everyone else nervous, but Aerith had been the complete opposite. She had sat herself on a different high perch everyday and just waited. Waited. Waited. Leon just did not understand her.

And he couldn't forget himself. He had lost his school and what he had worked so hard for: becoming a SeeD member. He had lost love, Rinoa. He had lost his friends, although he had heard Seifer, Fuu, and Rei had ended up in Twilight Town, and Selphie in Destiny Islands. His other friends and teachers... well, like many others, he had never heard from them again. He never expected to.

Leon found himself standing in front of the locked door to Ansem the Wise's study. He pressed his hand to the keypad and watched it flash green. He waited for the lock to beep and click open and the voice to monotone his name. He paused as the handprint detector blinked red. Leon pulled his hand away, confused.

"Unable to match data. Try again."

And so he did, but he got the same result as before. He examined the door after his second failure and noticed that it was a little different than he remembered. Huh. Weird. The door frame was a little thinner and white, and the door itself was a darker silver than before with a different pattern. He ran his fingers along the edges, feeling for a break, a weakness, something that would allow him to get in - a vulnerability of some kind. Leon furrowed his eyebrows - there was nothing he could use against the defense system. He knew if he hacked it open with his gunblade, a warning would go off. He remembered installing that warning system with Cid when they first arrived here. It was so sensitive, the system would go off if someone approached the door with scissors opened outwards at it.

Leon kicked the door grumpily, but had no choice but to get out of there. He could not do much just standing around in front of a locked, protected door. He once more swiveled on his heel and made his way back out of the underground maze. A skateboard or two still lay at a few of the corners. Leon rolled his eyes, and remembered when Yuffie had tried to skateboard circles around Cloud. That had been a dangerous day for anyone to be out in the streets. With Leon caught up in his own thoughts and practically talking to himself, he did not notice the man beside himself in one of the dead ends of the maze. His man wore a deep red cloak, his scarred face shrouded in the door. His deep, gravelly voice, burned his throat every time he spoke. The man only spoke when there was a reason to.

"No one must get the data. Kingdom Hearts must never again be created. The concept itself is too dangerous."

He groaned a painful sigh and uttered three last words, "We were fools."

~~~

Leon braced himself against the midday's sunlight as he walked back out into the bailey. On some odd instinct, he wanted his gunblade at his side. The same feeling of dread that he had felt from the day before had overcome him again, twisting his stomach into knots that seemed to be impossible to undo. He hoped he would not find Kaede's body tossed somewhere in the bailey. The thought alone made him sick and turned his stomach once more to add another knot. Leon looked out at the horizon once more. He let himself be pushed from behind the by cool yet strong wind, and neared the railing. He braced himself on the painted metal and looked out at the whole of Radiant Garden. He wondered what the world had been like back in its prime. They did have royalty, after all. He knew a direct descendant. Of course, the Seventh Princess of Heart, the Princess of Radiant Garden, would never choose to come back here. He knew she would remain in Destiny Islands with Sora and Riku. Leon would be almost disappointed in her if she ever chose this place over a fully restored world like Destiny Islands. Leon bent more over the railing looking down at the miniaturized streets, shops, buildings, people, and transportation. Leon could see everything clearly. It just felt like he was looking through the wrong end of a telescope.

But it felt good standing up above everything. He felt in control up here.

But suddenly, that control was stolen from him. He saw a familiar flash of black and silver, but knew that it was not Cloud. Aerith would not let Cloud out of the second story of headquarters, much less run around unimproved parts of Radiant Garden. No, this figure wore a long, black cloak, black cargoes, and carried what looked like was an electric blue guitar behind him. The man had a mess of dirty blonde hair that touched his shoulders. The glint in his turquoise green eyes showed only mischief. The boy - he was certainly no older than twenty - looked way too familiar to be ignored.

Leon pushed himself away from the railing and sprinted all the way back to headquarters. The - the - it was...

The Organization. Member number nine. Demyx, the one who controlled the water element. And from the looks of it, the kid was back. How he managed to do so - who knew? But if Demyx managed it, so could the rest of the Organization.

Maleficent, the Organization, Rinoa's seclusion, Kaede's disappearance - he wanted to ask himself what else was there to go wrong, but knew even if he mentioned it inside his head, or said it sarcastically, something else would always manage to go wrong.

It was a way of life.

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:59:37 GMT

Doodoodoo...

Chapter Four: Try As We Might (We Still Lost Our Hold)

He did not know what had happened at first. He remembered Kaede's terrified scream, her shaking body, the blood dripping from the cut on her forehead. He remembered the creaking, crashing, and explosions of the Gummi ship before something hit him hard. He remembered the world pushing down mercilessly on his chest, almost believing he would never hear his heart beat again. Worry, pain, and stress had overtaken him and he had given up.

All had turned black after that.

And now he lay useless and barely moving on a concrete ground. Thankful for the pulsing heartbeat in his ears, he did not dare try and sit up, in case some wound was still open or if where ever he had landed was someplace he was not welcome. Cloud struggled with another breath and knew he needed to be found, no matter where he was. With that, he opened his eyes. He strained to clear the blurriness away from his vision. The sceneries seemed very familiar, but he could not make out anything specific. Most of the color he saw was a medium grey making up buildings, he guessed. He tried to shove himself farther up, into a sitting position, but found that even that simple task shot bolts of pain down his back. He let himself fall back down.

Cloud was purely alone and was weakening by the second. Determination lodged in his heart. His head spun at the sudden rush of energy, but he managed to get himself steady on his feet. The only problem with this was that Cloud could still barely see anything, much less walk who knew how far to get somewhere safe. But he had to keep going, figure out where he was, and get help of some kind. And the only way he could do that - the only was he could not give in - was to keep on walking.

He supported himself by leaning against walls, holding onto railings, cautiously taking every step. He felt so defenseless without one of his swords or something to protect him. Cloud froze as he heard voices and footsteps nearing. He wanted to make sure it was safe here before her went around trying to get help. He found the nearest wall, pressed his back against it, and rubbed at his eyes desperately. Cloud's ears perked as he strained to listen.

"It's over, it's over, it's over, over, oveeerrrr!" a young, overly giddily voice sing-songed. There was somewhat of an amused and annoyed groan in response.

"Yes, I think I've figured that out for myself already three months ago, back when we got the call the Organization had fallen and we didn't have to worry anymore."

The first person who had spoken, a girl, huffed at this reply. "You just gotta ruin everybody's day, huh? It feels amazing just to remember that we won! After everything, we really won! You can’t blame me – and the entire population of Radiant Garden – for being excited."

Another impatient sigh. "You haven't read a lot of books, have you? The Good side always wins. It's a law of nature."

Another angrier moan from the girl. Names and appearances were on the tip of Cloud’s tongue, but he could not risky safety just yet. "See, this is what I mean! You just are sarcastic all the time, and you crush everyone's spirits. It’s so obnoxious! It just makes me wanna strangle you, Scar-face."

"Don't get me started on your sugar habits, O Great, Klutzy Ninja. You can’t even talk about being obnoxious."

Cloud let the voices fade from his mind as he began to remember even more. No… no, it could not be. But no other pair talked like that or annoyed each other like that. He knew these voices. He had been so incredibly lucky he simply could not believe it. This was Leon and Yuffie, and he had landed right back in the heart of Radiant Garden. He was safe and Darkness was gone. A sudden adrenalin rush pushed him forward, clearing his sight for a precious ten seconds.

"What the hell…?"

"It's Cloud!"

He collapsed to his knees once more as soon as he heard his name, succumbing to the pain that threatened to take away his consciousness. There was a brief, shocked silence before their footsteps raced over.

"Yuffie, go get Cid or Aerith, whoever's available. Run!" Leon ordered, and Yuffie's rapid footsteps faded away. Simply breathing was becoming harder now. His chest felt as if it was on fire and he was now aware blood caked on the back of his neck. Leon jogged forward, kneeling to Cloud’s stance.

“Out of all the things that could have happened…” Leon muttered to himself, pulling Cloud’s arm over his shoulder and heaving him from the ground. “Everything was going so well.” They walked along in silence - well, Cloud was dragged and half carried along by Leon through the pathways and narrow alleys and shortcuts of Radiant Garden. Leon could not help feel the sense of dread greater now that had been eating away at him since this morning. Cloud could only be reminded of the mako poisoning. After walking a little over a half mile, they heard Yuffie's voice once more, cutting easily through the calm air.

"Come on, go faster! Cloud's, like, dead! I swear, I'm not kidding. And - and I dunno where Kaede is and even Leon looked really worried. Run! Really, it's not that hard to run in a dress!"

Aerith's quiet laughter was the next thing to be heard. Leon swore under his breath at Aerith's naïveté. "Relax, Yuffie, I'm sure Cloud is perfectly fine. Leon knows better than to leave him alone and I'm positive - oh." Aerith stopped short, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of Cloud nearly slung over Leon's shoulder and Leon straining himself to keep from dropping the blonde. Without another word, Aerith rushed forward, anxiety evident in her expression. Emotions she had kept at bay for years broke from their hold.

She cupped Cloud's face in her hands, searching for a sign of life. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes, but Aerith was stronger than that just to let them loose. She pulled away, grasping at comprehendible sentences. None seemed to come for a while. She had only seen Cloud like this once before: when Kaede had found him after defeating Sephiroth. Even Kaede's magic had been too weak to heal him. The young mage had dragged him back from the caverns and begged Aerith to help her. Without a second thought, Aerith had given in, and after a long week, Cloud had fully healed - physically.

None of the Committee members seemed to be healing emotionally.

"Put him down. Just... sit him down near a wall. I can fix him. I just didn't expect it to..."

"Be so bad? Be so sudden?" Leon asked, finding a fitting end to her broken sentence.

"Same with us, Aerith." Yuffie crossed her arms and sighed softly. "He's supposed to be happy - or happier - and with Kaede in Halloween Town right at this very moment. We didn't believe it at first either."

Aerith followed less than a step behind Leon as he made his way to the nearest wall and set Cloud up against it. His head flopped to one side, his eyes half-slit and a pure green. The eye color change was what froze Aerith in her tracks for a moment as she remembered the one-winged angel himself who had that very same eye color. Cloud's pupils, however, were not cat like. Aerith kneeled gingerly next to him, swallowing the lump in her throat. Nervousness seemed to pile on her at once as she searched her mind for the proper spell to use. What if her magic was not strong enough, just like Kaede's had not been. What if he was beyond repair? After all, blood streaked his clothes, his face, his hands; even his hair at the ends had a few dashes of crimson. A sickening thought occurred to her.

...What if some of that blood was not his own?

Aerith felt her stomach turn. She breathed in deeply to focus on the task at hand. She could not scare herself like that now. She carefully chose a powerful healing and cleansing spell from her extensive knowledge and began to chant softly, "Anhelo succurro vigoratus vix. Absentis vulnero. Restituo per pacis. Sedo."

A white green light flashed before them. Cloud's eyelids fluttered open, his vision finally clear. The green was slowly leaving his eyes. Six inches from his face, he saw a breaking down Aerith. Her hand rested gently on his arm, and he felt her shaking as he sat himself up. Yuffie stood next to Leon. Both above the two childhood friends and both looked equally tense. Once Cloud made the one signal that he was alive, Yuffie breathed a sigh of relief and let go of her death grip on Leon's arm. Leon smiled slightly on the outside, thankful his cohort was okay, but on the inside, he was just as relieved as Yuffie. Now to track down Kaede. This brought on a whole new onslaught of worries for Leon, but none of the other three seemed to realize the mage was missing in action. Knowing Kaede, she would have never willingly left Cloud's side.

Aerith helped Cloud stand and steadied him as his steps began to waver. Calmly resisting the urge to simply hug him around the neck, Aerith began to lead the ex-SOLDIER through the maze that was Radiant Garden back to Committee Headquarters. She said nothing, wanting to keep the peace, but motioned to Yuffie and Leon to follow.

Cloud finally scrounged up the energy to speak and when he did, it sounded as if he had just swallowed one hundred nails. His words were ten times as harsh as his voice and twenty times as distressing.

"It was Maleficent. I heard her. Maleficent did this to us."

Those six words were said and Cloud fell once more before the final steps leading up to the doorway. Aerith was brought down with him, but she did not try to resist. Leon and Yuffie rushed to help out, but Aerith was left glassy-eyed as she pondered Cloud’s words. He had said ‘us.’ Not ‘me,’ ‘us.’

“Oh my God,” she whispered to herself, her breath taken away by the surprise of it all. Kaede’s disappearance had just struck her mind. Aerith remained on the steps outside mulling over their situation. The same dread that had been wearing Leon thin had moved onto Aerith, and she did not like it one bit. She felt all of a sudden out of control.

Cloud did not awake until the next morning.

And when he did, he did not remember a thing about the crash or waking up the day before in Radiant Garden.

Their problems had only just begun.

~~~

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't need anything else?" Aerith asked once more, her tone showing nothing of what she really felt for him. Cloud shook his head and slouched further down on the bed, wanting rest. Aerith hovered next to the door and was on her way out, but she could not bear to part with him. All of the blood had been cleaned off him, his wounds either bandaged or healed with her magic, and Cloud was on the road to recovery. Of course, for now, he had no idea what had happened to him. This sudden memory loss was the first thing that had dug its way under her skin and now was making her worry for his already teetering sanity. Other than the cuts, scrapes, bruises, and eerily blank and exhausted look in his eyes, he seemed fine. Aerith only hoped that sooner than later he would return to normal.

"I'll be okay. Been through worse." It had been his response to nearly every question she had asked him in the past twenty minutes. He had awoken this morning after several draining healing spells cast by Aerith. She had just been so worried for him, and had not been able to keep looking at his unmoving body any longer. She had ignored the questions from Leon and Yuffie and glided into the guest room, which Aerith constantly used as a medical room during the war. She never thought that she would use it that way again.

Well, she had thought wrong.

"O-okay. We're out here if you need anything, so just call. Goodbye." There was not anything else to say without making herself sound desperate or utterly alone. She reached for the dull silver doorknob and pulled the wood door open, exhaling softly. Nothing more to say for herself, nothing more to do for him. A wave of regret pulled her heart lower once more. At this moment, she was not sure if she could feel any worse about herself.

"Wait, there was one more thing... I wanted to say," Cloud called out quickly before she closed the door behind her. She poked her head back in just to catch his smile. It was a small smile, one that she may or may not have imagined, but it was a smile nonetheless.

"Thank you, Aerith."

She swallowed the recurring lump in her throat and sent him a forced smile once more. Aerith calmly replied, "What are friends for?"

Her already broken heart cracked a little more at the word 'friends.' Because she had always felt something extra between them. But it did not matter now as long as he was happy with Kaede. It just hurt - a lot. But it was not his problem and it was not Kaede's problem. It was her own emotions she had to deal with for the rest of her life. She needed to move on. But the more and more she told herself that, the harder and harder it was to actually do.

Aerith closed the door gently behind and made her way back down the stairs, only to have a dead silent Yuffie and Leon listening anxiously at the bottom of the staircase. Easily, she pushed past them and sat herself on the couch facing the small back window. Leon and Yuffie sent a look to each other and followed Aerith over.

"Aerith..." Leon started, but the young woman held up a hand.

"Don't lecture me. I know everything you're going to say," she breathed out softly. "'Cloud will be fine. Kaede is safe. We don't have to worry.' Sometimes, it feels good to believe in everything and know the worlds are at peace. But sometimes... I feel bad denying it all. Denying all of the troubles, all the problems, everything we could have done to stop it. I don't think we understand it all. Leon, you've got the message from the King that Maleficent is back. We do have to worry about her. Heartless are on her side, and she will do what it takes to get the powerful magicians of all of the worlds. I almost can't take knowing I'm one of those people."

She rested her head in her hands and breathed in and out slowly, wanting to keep the silence around her. One thing she had not spent a lot of time worrying about was Maleficent's rise - because they knew that Sora could easily defeat her again. And if he needed the help, Riku, Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and the King would all be there backing him up, and anyone else to had the courage to stand up for the Light. But the one thing she could not take was: not knowing. Not knowing where she was, what she was planning, how she would go about executing the plan, or when she would come for them. Aerith felt vulnerable to it all. She felt Yuffie's slim arm wrap around her shoulders.

"Sometimes you just gotta believe. You were so... I dunno how to put it. I couldn't believe the strength you had when you waited day in and out for Cloud. You didn't know about him then, but you kept strong. It was so admirable, because I knew if I had to do something like that, I'd crack after the first day."

"That's because you have the attention span of a fly, Yuffie."

She reached over and slapped his arm before returning her attention to Aerith. “Believe in Cloud, and believe he’ll get better. Believe in Kaede, and believe she is safe. And most of all, believe in yourself, Aerith, because I know you of all people can get through this.”

It was easier said than done. Aerith tried to think, tried to breathe, tried to get a hold of herself and her emotions. But it was all just a little too much to control. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks. Leon and Yuffie fell silent once more and tried to comfort and quiet her. Fear was settling in their own hearts and if Aerith Gainsborough could not take it - well, everyone else was not far behind. The three sat together on the couch for what seemed like hours until her tears ran dry. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, reminding her, at least, she still had something to live for. She still had her makeshift family in Radiant Garden. She still had powers beyond many's wildest dreams. She had friends to support her. And she had--

"Oy, what's going on in here? I get a mess'ge on my phone at work, sayin' that Cloud woke up, and nothin' else? And what the hell--?"

Yuffie stood abruptly reaching down for a shuriken star attached to one her belt loops. Her gleam in her eyes shone death by mini-ninja fists and shut Cid up instantly. "I think you're worse than Leon, Cid. Really, totally ruining the moment like that. And you're not helping at all. Just... gah!" Yuffie threw her hands up into the air and took a few more steps towards the man. Cid now looked wary about what he had just walked into. One glance around the room, a few seconds to comprehend, and he suddenly seemed to realize what was happening. He locked stares with Aerith’s red, puffy eyes and waved her forward.

"C'mon with me, kiddo. These two bozos aren't gonna help one bit."

Leon grunted and shot Cid one of his signature death glares, while Yuffie exploded into another Donald-like rage. Without a word, Aerith stood and, wiping the salty tears from her cheeks, followed Cid into the nearest room.

Which, of course, turned out to be Kaede's. No one was normally allowed in here, at the risk of the little mage biting their heads off and throwing their decapitated body out the window, but since she and Cloud had left, the risk was gone. It felt awkward in here, though... like the room was haunted. By her ghost.

This broke Aerith down once more. She felt awful for thinking like that. Thinking of Kaede as dead so dismissively, treating her with such disregard, knowing that her own linger feelings for Cloud was something Kaede would not stand for, even if it was Aerith who harbored these feelings. Cid raised her chin slightly and looked down at her with stern, steely blue eyes.

"What are you so 'fraid of, Miss Aerith?"' he asked quietly. Aerith once again brushed the tears from her face and thought. She stared right back into those semi-wise eyes and wondered why she was getting worked up. She could be honest with Cid. Her mind raced and placed the facts right in her mouth before she could even censor herself.

"I... I don't want to die," she whispered. And then came the two forbidden words. "Not again."

Cid suddenly stiffened. The topic was not a kind one to any of them, and no one liked remembering it. He had never heard Aerith speak of it herself, though. Her jade eyes glimmered with the remembrance of the swift silver sword running through her stomach, the blood soaking her dress, and the immediate finality of it all. Her first encounter with True Darkness - death. She also remembered how ecstatic she had been when she had awoken once more in Traverse Town and found Yuffie and Cid and Cloud and others who were willing to help the cause.

Aerith let down her walls, laid down her regality, and set her insecurities free. "I don't think I'm strong enough. We don't know if Maleficent captured Kaede yet, and if she took action that quickly, who knows when my time will be up? Cloud can't even remember the crash and it scares the living hell out of me to think that Maleficent could have been at the center of it all." She took a deep, cleansing breath and continued pouring out her soul to the man who she had known for so long.

"And Cloud... oh, God, Cloud... I've loved him ever since I met him. And I can't help myself. But Kaede came along and messed it all up. Screwed up what we had. Kaede's almost like a daughter to me, and I respect her but... She took him away. And all I do is know that he's happy with her." Aerith gasped for air and tried to force herself to continue, but all she could do was cry. Cry her heart out, just like she had wanted so many times to do during the war. This was her much needed emotional breakdown. Cid led her over to Kaede's bed and waited for her to calm down once more. His hand rested on her shoulder and gave her a steady support.

"I just don't know what I'm going to do," she said finally. Aerith regained her slightly-detached demeanor and stared back at Cid with begging in her eyes. Cid pursed his lips and shook his head.

"I'm 'fraid I can't answer that for ya. You gotta find that out yerself. What's yer heart tellin' ya to do?" he asked, running a hand through his short hair. Aerith sighed, wishing she had an answer for that.

"It's telling me to wait. And keep hoping. And do whatever I can to stop Darkness from coming to power again. That's all." Aerith gave him a smile and pulled her long braid over her shoulder.

"It worked last time, didn't it? Give yer all, and there's no way you can lose," he replied, stand up from the bed. "Now I'm gonna go see how tha' idiot upstairs is doin'. If you need anythin' else, you know where I'll be."

"Thanks, Cid."*

"Not a problem. Anytime." He gave her a little two-fingered salute and moved out the door. Aerith sat alone on Kaede's bed for some time after that. Give it her all. The only way to go. She glanced around Kaede's room, truly seeing the inside for the first time. Two walls were completely covered in bookcases that were stuff with all kinds of books on all different topics in all sizes. She wondered when Kaede had found the time to collect this many books. Aerith never knew Kaede was such an avid reader. She stood and made her way over to the first bookcase on the far left. She ran her fingers over titles like, Peter and the Starcatchers, The Keys to the Kingdom, Brothers Grimm, On the Way to a Smile, My Brother Sam is Dead, Finishing Becca, and finally, Winnie the Pooh. Aerith laughed and pulled the book from the shelf. She wondered when Kaede had snagged this from Merlin. He had long since moved back to his home world. As she flipped it open, she found notes scribbled inside in Kaede's lopsided handwriting.

To being a child inside.

Friendship is everything - don't sacrifice it for something you know will turn out to be nothing.

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.

There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book.

If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.

Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies. Nobody that matters, that is.

Property of K. Brewings

All were things she could easily picture Kaede saying. Her fingers traced the leather bindings on the side of the old patched up book delicately, as if she pressed any harder, the book would fall apart in her hands. Absentmindedly, Aerith walked back over to the rumpled bed and sat down once again, flipping through the pages. Every so often, she had come across one of the notes Kaede had left herself or would find a little picture she had drawn.

However, on the back page, she had found something different. It certainly did not look like Kaede had drawn it, but she could never be sure. On the once-blank back page was scrawled in pencil was a gorgeous intricate drawing of a shattering lock. The main part of the grey lock was still there, but at the edges, pieces were flying off in uneven chunks. They few Keyblades they had seen Sora and Riku use bordered the page. Aerith stared at the picture, entranced. She knew it was nothing more than a drawing, but...

"Aerith! We kind of need your help," Yuffie chirped weakly from outside. She jumped, dragged away from her thoughts and slammed the book shut. Yuffie sounded a little too desperate than usual, and that was never a good sign. Maybe she should not have left Leon and Yuffie, and Cid and Cloud alone. That image alone sent shivers down her spine. Aerith pushed herself from the bed, replaced the leather bound book back into its original spot, and dashed out of the room.

When she opened the door, the first thing she heard was Cloud's hoarse voice.

"What the hell, do you mean, 'she's missing'?!"

Aerith sighed, closing her eyes, and shook her head. One more thing to explain - one more lie to keep in. Her palms and back rested flat against the door to Kaede's room. Yuffie sent her a pleading look from the middle of the staircase and beckoned her forward.

"You know how Cid is. And I don't think Leon's going to help things along smoothly, either. And, well, I'm not really sure how well I'd handle things. Aerith, you're the only one he'll listen to somewhat calmly. Come on."

Aerith sent her a weak smile. "Of course," she replied, her head held high and her tone noble. 'Anything for Cloud,' she finished in her head. Somehow, she knew those words would never be heard by anyone else.

Somehow, she knew things were never going to change.

You are sorry!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:42:14 GMT

Okay, okay, so I will explain the title. Gimme a second, and trust me, it's very good, even though it may not sound like it now. I just got the Ghost Hunt Season 1 Part 2 DVD yesterday and just finished up the last of twelve episodes. It really seemed like I had seen them all before, because I've watched all of the eps in Japanese at least five times since January, when I found the series. But I was watching the last episode and loving the last precious seconds of the story when, suddenly, it flips to a new screen that I've never seen before! That scene actually scared the living crap outta me, and it really added to the energy of the story. The episode resumed to what I'd seen before and I kind of blew it off, because it was only about fifteen seconds long. There was another boring new part, and I was like, "Oh, is that it? That's despressing..."

BUT THEN.

A new screen, Naru's laying in the hospital bed and wakes up with, of course, Mai and Masako leaning over him. Being the stupid jerk he is, he doesn't even care that the two girls are really worried about him and asks for John and Takigawa. Everyone comes forwards and they're all happy he's okay, but all of a sudden out of the blue, the screen pauses on Naru's face, and he says, "I'm sorry, guys," in, like, the sweetest voice I've ever heard him speak in.

O. M. F. G.

I screamed my head off and I swear to gawd I'm still laughing in delight. I watched the ep about three hours ago. :D Bwahaha, finally he admits his mistakes and says sorry!!! YAY!!!

Okay. *breathes* I'm good now.

NaNoWriMo is more than halfway over! I'm at 29,799 words exactly right now. I wrote that in only 18 days! I'm sooo proud of myself, because I've never written a story that long. Very awesome.

Oh, if you haven't bought Taylor Swift's new album "Fearless" yet, go do it right now. Right now. Go! Because it's freaking amazing. My favorite song is White Horse, because it reminds me of the relationship I have with this guy. (If you've been reading my earlier posts or you know me personally, you know who I'm talking about. =D) The song starts out like this:

"Say you're sorry, that face of an angel comes out,
Just when you need it to.
As I paced back and forth all this time
'Cause I honestly believed in you.
Holdin' on, the days drag on
Stupid girl, I shoulda known, I shoulda known

That a not a princess and this ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood,
This is a small town
Now it's too late for you and your white horse
To come around."

It's an absolutely gorgeous song. I love it!

Ewww, the Twilight movie comes out in 13 hours. ICK!

Um, but that's about all for tonight.

Luvv y'all!
Later days,
Maddi

Discoveries

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:25:52 GMT

My new awesomeful discovery this week: writing on mirrors with whiteboard markers is incredibly addicting.

My second discovery: writing 50,000 words in one month is incredibly hard.

My third discovery: someone I trust is spilling my secrets, and I seriously need to find out who.

And finally: Harry Potter would be coming out in twelve days if it wasn't for that so-called bestseller Twit-light--I mean, Twilight.

Yes, NaNoWriMo has already driven me insane. Staying up till midnight each night on schoolnights just to get in 1667 words per day. Currently, I'm 1300 words behind right now. But because it's a new day, that would mean I'm 2967 words behind. Lovely. I'm still not able to come up with a good summary for my NaNo story, so I'll just wait. Have I said the title yet? I don't think so. It's called What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You. Basically, it's a fantasy/fiction/romance/action novel. Kingdom Hearts 3-based. Centers around amnesia, magic, and manipulation. That's about as good as I can describe it.

But one thing I've found to help me write faster is writing on my mirrors. It's very fun and makes me want to keep writing more and more of WYD just so I can write on my mirrors, erase it, then write more! :D LOL, I'm such a spaz. Like right now, if I look at my mirrors, they're covered in due dates, important days, and quotes I like. Just because I was bored, I started writing random words up there, too, but I erased those this morning.

Oh, yeah, Michael emailed me back. Said he heard I liked him from his best friend Marcel. I haven't seen Marcel since August, and then I don't even think I liked Michael. So, heh, someone's lying to me. Nice to know I have loyal friends, isn't it? *headdesk*

I might post again tomrrow, because this was short, but I always run out of things to say. So... bye!

Maddi

Writer's Block: Novel Ideas

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:49:59 GMT

NaNoWriMo starts today. Give us a one-sentence description of the novel you plan to write.

View 502 Answers

A girl and her boyfriend get in a crash between demensions, sending the girl to her friend's world without her memory, and the boy back to his hometown.

...That sounds so weird! It's actually a Kingdom Hearts fanfic, and is way more extensive than that, but it said only one sentence, so... you'll just have to wait for the finished project!

does 'no title' work as a title?

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:43:30 GMT

I really don't know how to start this. Hm. Let's see... oh, hey I just did! Yay! :D Anyways, to the news!

I finished watching all the Ouran eps in four days! Yay! Same time it took to watch all of the GH eps... 'cept I wasn't sobbing hysterically during the last ep of GH. Heh heh... well, I thought it was amazing. I knew it couldn't end with Tamaki leaving. Stupid drama queen narcissist. Just like I knew Naru couldn't die at the end of GH. Stupid narcissist. But, seriously it's scary how I can relate Ouran to GH. Like, how Kyouya and Yasuhara look identical, and are both pretty much evil masterminds? Or how Tamaki is a blonde Naru. (Except Tamaki's way more... flamboyant :) That's a good word for it. :D) And, seriously, Lin=Mori. And I couldn't help but find myself calling Haruhi Mai. They've got the exact same character, and look really similar. It was scary. The twins don't really remind me of anyone... and same with Honey. But we end up with that same feeling GH did: they're all one big family, and it's totally adorable!

(Kyouya's still amazing. Except I don't love him enough to be fangirling. Just... I think we're a lot alike. Like... the smartness, the undermining evilness, the crankiness in the mornings, having a best friend who's the total opposite, the wanting to help people whether it's selfless, for merits, or to teach a lesson... and the expectations.)

Okay, so now that I got my inner fangirl out, what else do I have to say? The dinnershow was a success! Standing ovation on both nights! :D So much fun. Oh, and I realized that i have started and never finished over 25 stories. :D About 15 will eventually be finished, but some are just kind of... dead. My imagination is wearing thin on those.

Halloween in less than a week! My costume is finished, I'm still making my friend's and my last friend still needs to get her t-shirt and the stuff she wants it to say to me... (Akky... :D). I'm going with my friend Lauren and Jenna, just like 6th grade! :D I'm so happy!!!

I SAW HSM 3! LOL, yes, I did. And it was way better than I thought it was going to be. Seriously, not as cheesy as 2, but I was still laughing at all of the Troy/Gabriella because it was so freaking annoying! It had one too many twists though... I kind of got sick of it and just wanted it to end. Songs were way good. I liked a Night to Remember, because the guys were so funny. OMG, our friend came in in the middle of the movie, sits down, and yells, "Troy, you're an idiot!" We all started cracking up and shushing her because there were like fifty little girls in the audience.

Hm. I kinda wanna go watch Ouran again. :D Anyways, later!

Maddi

Writer's Block: Secret Crush

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:21:02 GMT

Everyone knows having a crush at the office or in class can make the time pass a little bit quicker. Is it better to keep your crush a secret or tell them how you feel?

View 501 Answers

Wow, this is pretty interesting. Because somehow everytime I get a crush on someone, I manage to tell everyone I know - EXCEPT my crush. Like, this has happened with my last three or four crushes. I guess it's just habit now :D They all find out eventually... when i say the time is right.

Like right now, my crush's ex-girlfriend is asking questions about me. Heh... this may be a very good time to tell him I like him... :D

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:43:46 GMT

Well, it's been another week in the teenage life and everything else is pretty dull. Just some normal updates because I'm just lazy like that. =D

So everyone has heard of the show 'Recess,' yeah? Seriously, how could you not? It ran for nearly 8 years on Disney Channel, has six seasons, two movies, and is still running on Toon Disney. Of course, everything is still running on Toon Disney, so that really doesn't count. =) Anyway, if you still don't recognize it, I'll give a background because I have nothing better to do. It's all about fourth graders TJ Detweiler and his five friends Mikey (poetic, kind-hearted), Gretchen (the brainiac), Gus (the new kid), Spinelli (the tomboy, and Vince (the cool one) It's all about the adventures on the playground XD. It's freaking genius. Anyway, I recently started watching that religiously again. It's amazing, nuff said.

OOOO FOR HALLOWEEN I'M BEING AN ANTI-TWILIGHTER NINJA! Okay, so maybe not ninja, but I am being an Anti-Twilighter. Its gong to be awesome: all black clothes and t-shirts that say: "Anti Twilight - Because Plots Rock!" On the back mine's gonna say, "Edward Cullen: Depressing Tinker Bell Since 2005." My friend's shirt is going to say, "Twilight is my new firewood. (VAMPIRE MARSHMALLOWS!)" Hee hee.

Two yayfull stories from chorus today! :D Okay, so, we were recording one of our songs so Mr. A could practice with the drums and right in the middle of the song, he points to me and mouths, "Do the solo!" This was my exact face: :0 >:| :/ WHAH!? He shoves the music into my hands (because I didn't know the solo), smiles, and motions for me to start singing. :D Death glares on my back... :D I was really happy and shaky after that, but unfortunately it was only for that day. Oh, well, it was wicked anyways. :D Then we had an officers meeting at lunch and one girl, Jessica, wanted to know all our names. So we were all going around and before I even got my name out, one of the seniors (the one who hugged me on orientation, Megan) is just like, "Maddi!" I just smiled and nodded, laughing because the look on Megan's face was so funny. I felt amazingly special, because not many people in the freshman choir knows half the Jazz Ensemble (very, very top choir, all seniors) from DGC :D

And now I ran outta stuff to talk about. :D Well, layta!

XOXO (You know you luvv me)
Maddi

Songs Meme

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:57:28 GMT

Stolen from Robin :D

-

Step 1: Put your iPod player on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 35 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
Step 3: Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly. (Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!)

1. Look at the two of you dancing that way, lost in the moment

2. I was having an affair and my lover's name was Tony Hendon

3. Let's talk this over, it's not like we're dead

4. I've always been the girl that hid my face

5. You've always been a tough girl, but you feel you're about to break

6. Today is so boring, I might as well be snoring

7. Little town, it's a quiet village, everyday like the one before

8. It's 6AM and I'm wide awake 'cuz I can't stop thinking about the stuff you were saying

9. Since the day they got married, he'd been praying for a little baby boy

10. Don't give me no tired act, after you've been runnin' 'round

11. You used to call me your angel, said I was sent straight down from heaven

12. Good news, she's dead - the witch of the west is dead!

13. There are those I suppose think we're mad, heaven knows the world has gone to rack and to ruin

14. Her face is a map of a world, it's a map of the world

15. Hello, I got something to tell you, but it's crazy

16. When you meet the someone who is meant for you, before two can become one there's something you must do

17. Storybook endings, fairy tales coming true

18. Don't wish, don't start, wishing only wounds the heart

19. I see your face, I see your eyes, what you feel is no surprise

20. Little bird, little Chavelah, I don't understand what's happening today

21. Whatever to fair dealing, and pure ethics, and nice manners?

22. The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake

23. Give 'em the old razzle dazzle, razzle dazzle 'em

24. One more kiss could be the best thing, or one more lie could be the worst

25. It's out with old and in with the new, goodbye clouds of grey, hello skies of blue

26. Turn around, turn around and fix your eye in my direction so there is a connection

27. Looks like we found ourselves up against a wall

28. We're soarin', flyin'

29. Stupid cupid you're a real mean guy

30. Whatever you do, I'm doing it too, show me everything and show me how

31. You can't stop an avalanche as it rages down the hill

32. We want Billy, where is Billy?

33. Something just isn't right, I can feel it inside

34. I'm gonna make you bend and break, say a pray, but let the good times roll

35. Come stop your crying, it will be all right

That was totally fun :D Try and guess, people! (I'll give you a hint: there's way too many Hannah Montana songs for my liking...)

Peace out!
Maddi

Realizations

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:07:21 GMT

Heh, okay, just noticed something big. So I just starting liking this guy I've known since kindergarten (we both liked each other then) again, but then I felt really awkward around him, which normally doesn't happen to me. So then I realized, after nonstop cluelessness that I still like the guy I liked over the summer, who's a grade lower than me and goes to a different school. But I get to see him tomorrow! So I'm wondering what I should do, because I'm sure the guy who doesn't go to my school already has a girlfriend and I'm, like, the only one dateless for Homecoming. And I might also be asked out by one of my guy friends who I just found out on Wednesday likes me. Again.

So pretty much: I need advice!

A slightly frantic,
Maddi

Sometimes I Wonder

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:35:17 GMT

I know it's late. But I feel like utter crap right now and I need to rant. Today we had solos in chorus and I was beat out by the girl who told me I was an effin' bad singer. Her voice sucks! But this isn't the main thing that's bothering me. Not really, because I can get back at her any time I want. No, I'm starting to really wonder whether Mr. A actually likes me or not. It's impossible to tell. All of my friends say I'm his favorite. All of them. I take that as a compliment and smile as they say stuff like that. But now I start to see... does he really?

I can't think of more than two instances where he's made me feel really good about me as a singer. One: over two years ago in chorus where he repeatedly complimented me on how well I was doing that day. I sang a 3x3 solo well, I sang the 2nd Soprano part when no else could, and I did something else that I can't remember. Then I got Super Singer award at the end of 8th grade, and that was nice. I got an introduction, a smile and a wink. And a shiny plaque. But that's it. No other recognition. No even an effing solo.

I can think of many, many, many more instances when he's repeatedly made fun of me - my singing, my height, my personality, everything. It hurts. It really does. I'm not sure how much more I can take. In my old chorus, he said in front of the whole class, "Maddi, how in the world did you get in the second row?" And when I was freaking helping him move the whiteboards in front of the class, he says to everyone, "Oh, I hope she's tall enough." And I'm sick of the bloody dwarf jokes already. Seriously, I knew I was short in first grade. I knew I was short in third grade. I knew I was short in seventh grade. Does he honestly think I haven't gotten the bloody message yet? He's made me improve my singing in front of the class. He's told people I was bossy and rude. He's gotten mad at me for something I didn't do. He's done verbally everything to me. I don't know why I'm surprised every time it happens.

I'm just SICK of it already! Can't he just see that I'm trying so hard to impress him and be the best?! Can't he just notice my voice is just as good as someone else's? Can't he notice half the girls in the front row are shorter than me? Can't he just grow up and stop being a fucking bully? God dammit!

But even though I'm saying all of this, I'll know I'll go into chorus tomorrow with a smile and hope for the best, because I'll think something has actually changed. That maybe he's changed a bit, realized that I'm working so hard, and give me a reward. Because everyday, every week for eight years I've somehow believed the same thing. And I don't know how I've put up with it.

It's just too much for me to handle before I explode and get myself expelled. I don't know why I try anymore.

Nite.
Maddi

...Bleh.

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:38:01 GMT

Okay, I'm sick. And I've probably been sick since Thursday morning, too. With a 102 degree tempertature I feel like total crap. And my throat is killing me too. And I'm tired. And I have a Spanish project due Monday which I haven't started yet. This is definitely not going to be a great weekend.

I ordered anti-Twilight wristbands yesterday, four of 'em. :) They say, "Anti-Twilight" on the front and "I Am Not Dazzled" on the back :) Can't wait to get those.

Ordering Ghost Hunt later today! Yes! Been waiting forever to buy it.

As you can tell because of my sparse writing, I'm beat. I'm not talkative at all today, and I have a craptastical headache, so I'm gonna go now... I need sleep...

Byeeee...
(a very sick) Maddi

Has this ever happened...?

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:15:16 GMT

So. I'll get right into it. I'm writing a new songfic, Cloud/Kaede, and to the songs "I Won't Say I'm In Love," "She's In Love," and "If Only," from Hercules and the Broadway Adaption of Little Mermaid, respectively. I know exactly what I'm writing for the first two, but for some reason, "If Only," has me completely stuck. Going absolutely nowhere, around and around in circles. I can't think of a plot line. GRR! It seriously makes me want to rip my hair out! I mean, I guess because I've done so many different plotlines for Cloud and Kaede I've exhausted my imagination for new ideas. I know only one part part the I'm going to do. I'm thinking a masquerade, but then I can't picture Cloud at a masquerade ball. Heh. =) Then I thought of them being on a mission, but I don't know where they'd go. And that's where I blanked. Ugh. I'm trying to think of something original to do, but nothing's coming to me. I guess I'll wait a little longer and see what I come up with. =)

One month - finished! OMG-ness! Again, I have stories from chorus. Always from chorus. =) So I was in chorus this morning, and a pack of Starbursts came for me because I went to the freshman football game last night. Mr. A reads off the note and says, "Wow, awesome, Maddi! Thanks for sharing!"

And this is me: o.0 WAT.

Yeah, so he goes and opens MY CANDY and eats one, right in front of me, then he gives one to our pianist, and then freakin' throws it back at my face! And all this time everyone was laughing. He SO owes me Starbursts now. =p =)

Oh, and yesterday, we played 'Make Fun of the Short People,' in choir. Not. Cool. We're the Seven Dwarfs for our 'Disney Dinnershow.' I'm SO not wearing a beard. But supposedly I'm Bashful. And I'll probably have lines and a personal mic. =D I don't know the full details yet, though. Kind of scared how that's going to turn out. =D

OMG, Kingdom Heart: Re:Chain of Memories is coming out in the US on the PS2 on December, 2nd! Yeah! I am so super excited, because the one of the GBa was a freaking pain in the ass. I could not kill the stupid Riku Replica! Gah!! Heh, I ditched that game... Anyways, I'm sooo gonna get it and beat in and be like, "YAY!" =DDD Cloud is soooo hawt in that one. =D

My last announcement! Happy birthday to Gene Davis, Oliver Davis/Noll/Kazuya Shibuya/Naru/Mr.-I'm-SO-Handsome-And-Arrogant, what ever he wants to be called, from Ghost Hunt. Dammit, Naru, did you propose to Mai yet? R.I.P. Gene <3. And happy 28th birthday to Miss Hermione Granger! From the Harry Potter series of course =D

That's all for tonight!
Layta!
Maddi

shaking

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:16:05 GMT

O-M-F-G. I cannot believe it. I just can't. No. It's not happening. It's not all over. I can't believe it. No. I'm in shock. It's just not possible. I mean, I thought it was her all along, but... like this? Would she really do something this terrible for revenge? And right after she was re-accepted into her world? No.

She can't be dead.

So maybe I'm getting a little worked up about this, because it's only a book. But my God I can't believe it happened! I can't believe I was right all along! Revelation, the Private series. Read Private. It's effing awesome. But I don't believe the ending of Revelation. She. Can't. Be. Dead. Because Josh had to have saved her. Because he's totally effing awesome like that. Now I have to wait until effing FEBRUARY to find out if our little heroine is okay.

Or I can just write a fanfic. Not as good, but hell, it'll give me some sense of satisfaction. Heh, okay, so I already have 300 or so words written, and it's called Irony. From Noelle's POV, 'cuz Reed's kind of KO'd under Josh and that would be incredibly hard to write in normal Reed-first-person POV.

Anyway. Moving on. I have no homework this weekend! That's good. :D I better enjoy it now, huh? I know I'm not going to have this peace for long. But that also means I'll be totally bored this weekend. *sigh* At least next week I have a party. Yay! I still need to buy a present, I'm thinking an iTunes giftcard.

Um, um, um, what else? Oh, yeah. Homecoming in, like, a month. Guess who's totally not going to get asked out? Me! Psh. I wonder why I bother.

OMG, Ghost Hunt Eps 1-3 are online in English and they totally messed up the voices except for Lin's and Ayako's. I was pissed off and going insane and laughing all at the same time as I watched the eps. I'm still getting the DVDs. :D

That's all for tonight, I'm gonna go read Revelation again. Buh-bye!

Maddi

bounce... bouncebouncebounce!

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:50:23 GMT

Okay, that title made me feel like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. I was singing that this morning, actually. "A wonderful thing is a Tigger. Tiggers are wonderful things! Their tops are made outta rubbah! Their bottoms are made outta springs! They're bouncy, flouncy, trouncy, pouncy - fun, fun, funfunfun! One of the wonderful things about is Tiggers is I'm the only one! IIIIIIIIIII'm the only one!" My friends looked like they were going to murder me. :D

Wow, that was so off topic. Anyway, moving on. :)

Skuh-ool. 'Easy peasy, rice-and-cheesy.' (Guess the reference... :D) Geez, I'm chock full of Disney tonight, aren't I? Anyway, as I said, easy. Not a lot of homework. I survived my first two weeks and two days. The only big school news I have is chorus, which totally deserves its own paragraph.

I'll get right to the point. We choose officers for each part in chorus. One for Soprano, one for Second Soprano, and one for Alto. So today every girl who wanted to be an officer had to come down to the front of the class and say why they wanted to be an officer, which technically means you're the leader and in change or your section. Of course Mr. A picks me to go first. Of course =P =) So I'm just like, "Hi, I'm Maddi, this is my first year in Women's Ensemble, and I'm a freshman. I was in DGC (my old chorus) for seven years, Honors for one year, and got Super Singer twice. I was in Leadship for two years at my middle school and a student body officer in 8th grade. I only will get mad if you purposely piss me off and I'd love to take charge. So... vote for me!" It was pretty much like a job interview. In front of forty other people. So now I have to wait until everyone else has gone to sit down and vote. And, even though I knew I already had five votes for me yesterday, i was still freaking nervous. But I didn't need to be. I won! :D Now I get to... like, be special and stuff. Yeah =) It felt really good.

Anything else... oh, me and my friends are doing this Twilight spoof (sometime soon, I hope) and I asked this guy who would do, like, anything for me to be Mike and he said yes! Haha, I'm gonna be Rosalie, my friend Jess is gonna be Bella (Jess is the girl who turned me into a dictator in Just Trust Me, if any of you have read and remember that story). My friend Chiho/Noelle/whatever she wants to be called is the director/writer and Alice. Um, who else... *checks cast list* Oh, supposedly we have this really hot Edward... but I don't know him and he hasn't even signed on yet. So we may be a little out of luck there. And my friend Chandler (who's, like, the sweetest guy ever) is playing Emmett. =D

...

Oh... wait... I just realized...

Crap.

Sorry, just realized that 'cuz I don't read Twilight. My brain died a little when I tried to read the first book and I couldn't stop laughing at how pathetic the romance was ("She smells good and he's hot... true love, ain't it?" ...WTF?) and I wanted to strangle Bella by page three. Moving on, I've ranted enough about the demon book.

NEW ORIGINAL STORY! AWESOMEFULISTICAL! It's for NaNoWriMo, really, but I don't care, I'm starting it now. It's about royalty and it's genre is fantasy/mystery/romance. I like it so far =) I'll post it when I have more than 1000 words.

Other than that, I kinda have to go to bed now so... bye!

Layta!
Maddi

Another Song!

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:37:03 GMT

Geez, it's been a long time since I posted one of these songs on here. May, I think. Well, since I'm back in the swing of things, like chorus and school and all that *lovely* stuff, I thought I might as well take a night off, sing a bit, and choose the one that sounded best to upload. I was thinking about "The Wizard and I" from Wicked, but it didn't sound as good as this one. My voice has more of a soulful twang to it (can I even describe something like that?) so I decided on "A Love That Will Last" by Renee Olstead.

This girl seriously has an amazing voice. The song was also in Princess Diaries 2, so you may recognize it.

So tell me what you think when you've finished! Would love to hear any thoughts :D

Layta!
Maddi

I'm a gasp! ALTO!

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:38:03 GMT

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This sucks, and I didn't even need to be one! I thought I was going to be a first Soprano, but I wanted to be a Second Sop, so I volunteered myself, saying what I was singing felt too high. So I sang for the class and they all thought I needed too move down too. So Mr. A switched me to the other side of the room (where all the supposed seconds were) and had us all sing again in two part.

I was so frickin' stupid.

Now, thanks to my outspoken-ness, I'm a two part alto. *headdesk* Crap. But the good thing is I'm still a second soprano and we rarely do two part stuff. Mainly three part, and I'm a trained second sop, going on five years :D Anyways, on a lighter note...

We're doing Reflection from Mulan for our first concert! I luffers that song! I really want the solo... really bad... :) But, hey, I've got good chances at getting it because not many girls have been trained for seven years with my teacher. Bwaha, I'm special :D

...I have, like, nothing to say now. That's sad. I never run out of things to say.

Oh, well. Bye!
Maddi

A-N-N-O-Y-E-D. What does that spell? Maddi!

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:09:44 GMT

Other than general awesome stuff I normally talk about, like writing and school/homework, I'm gonna touch on something a little different right now. My slightly insane friends. They're totally awesome, most of the time...

And three of 'em have suddenly started to piss me off. Yeah, and they know it. Two of them are probably reading this right now really fed up. (*waves* Hey, Yuki, Akky!) But hey, I get my say, too.

Before you call me out on this, and say, oh, but it's only one lunch a week! You can't tell us what to do! Okay, seriously, I'm not telling you what to do. I'm voicing my opinion. Strongly voicing my opinion. And just because other people don't say anything, too, doesn't mean they don't care. They're just too nice to say anything about it. Me, on the other hand... :D

Yeah, so I'm left there while you guys go be anti-social and not get fresh air and crap like that. Don't say, 'oh, but you can come join us!' Uh, thank but no thanks. No offense or anything, but I'd rather save my social status from plummeting lower than it already is. I'm also not ditching everyone else. I'd feel too bad about it. Caily said she'd get me sushi anyways if I paid her. Don't give us up for sushi, okay? Because that's just lame. Really. Lame. It's food. Good food, sure, but just food nonetheless. Food... or friendship? I really hope that's not too hard.

Hell, I'll probably write a fic about this anyways. It's what I do with most stuff I want to blow off steam with. (Entertainment, Just Trust Me being a few.) I'm not going to let my friendship since 6th grade (or kingdergarten) with you guys fade just because of a stupid club.

So, no, guys, I'm not being a controlling bitch, no matter what Tasha may say about me. I'm being a friend who cares about your social status for the rest of high school. I'm being a friend making sure you don't end up being all anti-socialistic. I want to stay friends with you guys. But I do actually want to talk to you for more than thirty seconds a day in person, otherwise...

Whatever. I'm done with my rant now. Be mad at me all you want. But my views aren't gonna change.

And I couldn't tell you my special news either. Psh. God. Anyway, that's my rant for today.

G'bye!
Maddi

Finally!

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:48:49 GMT

Okay, so after a long month and a whole pack of paper from Office Depot, I finally came up with Ailla's outfit. But unfortunately just her outfit. Her body and face refuse to cooperate with me, so I'm still working on that. So, here you are Robin! Hope you like! (BTW, if you don't like it, I can totally do it over again.)

Voila! Ignore my jacket in the background, I took this pic with my computer and didn't know how to edit it out. Hopefully a full picture of Ailla will come soon.

And because I was bored a couple days ago, I drew another, better close up of Krys.

...Ignore my hand. And bedspread. And Cloud poster up in the corner.

Also my activity for tomorrow and tonight is making playlists for a bunch of books, like Kingdom Keepers, Private, Ghost Hunt. And I have to write... and do my homework. Shoot, that's kinda most important. Hopefully it's easy. :D

Byee!
Maddi

I - Freaking - Survived!

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:03:27 GMT

Yes, I did it, I survived my first week of high school! Whoo! *dances* It was awesome, in three words. Spanish 1, Geometry, Biology, Level 1 Chorus (Women's Ensemble, WE), PE (duh), English 9 (duh), and Health are all the classes I have. English and Chorus are already my favorites.

Spanish feels like I'm back in kindergarten, because the teacher talks so slow and there are a bunch of color posters and alphabet posters and really easy word posters - but, obviously, in Spanish. It's definitely going to be an interesting class.

I got a B on my Geo Readiness test (the average was under 50%) so I was totally happy with that. All the kids in that class are, like, juniors and sophomores! It's so nerve-wracking to be the young one! Of course, it means I'm smart, too, but I only know one other girl in that class, so it's uncomfortable, too.

I took a super easy Chorus pre-test today because I knew everything from chorus for the past 7 years. This class is going to be friggin' wicked. Already my director said we were his favorite class. And he knows my name. Well, he totally better because he's known me for over half my life. All of my friends from my old chorus are in there too and it just feels like another Wednesday rehearsal because we're learning all that stuff again, and we're sight-reading (the yellow books of DOOOM, as we named them), and all that other chorus-y stuff. I get my part on Tuesday (hoping for Soprano 2pt/Second Sop.3pt!) I never realized how high my range is until this week. Yeah, so definitely looking forward to that. :D

Oh, and I was called a short frosh by my own Bio teacher in front of the whole class. Fun, huh? And she freaked me out with nasty pill bugs, that was so not cool. We're doing a lab with those on Tuesday and i don't know how I'm going to keep my breakfast down. Blech.

Those are pretty much all my interesting classes. I've got three classes upstairs (that feels so weird) and my locker is upstairs, too. That's a pain, but it's right across from my first class, so it's a little easier. Four of my friends are considering joining the anime club and they're gonna ditch us at lunch! *sob* That's so mean. I don't want them to leave.

But, yeah, that was pretty much my first week at school. Now just 35 more to go XP.

Oh, but you know what's even better? Smeyer just put Midnight Sun on indefinite hold! Yes! She was 'too upset too keep writing' because people leaked the first 12 chapters. Ha! Drama much? Get over it, Smeyer. It's not like a new HP book was leaked or anything, so you don't get to complain. I had this huge fight-debate-thing with about seven girls in front of my locker today because I was saying it was a terrible book with terrible messages and they were all like, *fake, whiny tears* "But - but Edward's, like, SMEXY!" Yeah, I totally pwned that whole argument. All by myself, too. :D

...Rawr. I'm trying to figure out how to save a DVD to my documents, but I have no idea how. Hmmm... to Google! Dundundundun!

Layta!
Maddi

...those wings...

You are sorry!

Discoveries

Writer's Block: Novel Ideas

*does 'no title' work as a title?*

Writer's Block: Secret Crush

Songs Meme

Realizations

Sometimes I Wonder

...Bleh.

Has this ever happened...?

*shaking*

*bounce... bouncebouncebounce!*

Another Song!

I'm a *gasp!* ALTO!

A-N-N-O-Y-E-D. What does that spell? Maddi!

Finally!

I - Freaking - Survived!

does 'no title' work as a title?

shaking

bounce... bouncebouncebounce!

I'm a gasp! ALTO!