K.h.a

[Coldman9]

Okay, thanks for the explaination SA. I thought the taint was some resentment Sora had for Riku when he turned to the darkness. I can't wait for the next chapter.

I bought all 25 episodes of the Final Fantasy anime and I think it's pretty good. I also got Spiral over the weekend and watched all of them too. The endings didn't make complete sense to me but they were good.

I think you've all had too much sugar. *Pulls out tranquilizer gun.* This is for your own good.

[Silent Avera]

Sorry guys, but this chappie might be a little late on Saturday or Sunday >_< A little bit of writer's block reared it's ugly head ;-;

[Cef]

*was trying to chainsaw Vera's block away*

WHAT DID YOU SAY COLDY?! I COULDN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE CHAINSAW!

[Coldman9]

It's okay SA, although I'm only able to get on here early Saturday so me reading your next chapter will have to wait till next week.

*Shoots Cef with tranquilizer.* Go to sleep crazy fangirl.

[Lectori Salutem]

You kept the tranquilizer! The memories! ^^ Though you could have chosen a better timing to use it. Chainsawing (nice verb, by the way^^) away writer's block is good. *looks at Cef* She's peaceful sleeping like that, isn't she?

It's alright, SA. I might not be able to get on tomorrow, but I'll try!

[Silent Avera]

EDIT: Shonen Bat: *sniff* sniff* Ah yes, we've come around to that time again, epic scew up time!

SA: ._.

Shonen Bat: Ah yes, so, chapter 37 was posted super early on Sunday yes? Yes. But 37 doesn't come after 35. 36 does. So, later on this week, 36 will get posted along with a revamped 37; the writers block has gone, yay.


Sa: I'm sorry everyone, but there's a bit of rough patch I'm going through right now, so please bear with me; my family's doggy Holly passed away after 15 years of living.
.....................................................................................


EDIT: THIS STORY BIT HAS BEEN MOVED! It will reapear again in it's, eh, all of it after 36.

[Cef]

LMAO

Merlin >XD

So funneh.

[Silent Avera]

^_^ I'm thinking of leaving that part alone, but if I add anything to it I'll let you know :3

I mean, like, how can you listen to Merlin's packing song, "Higitus Figitus," and not wonder about his magical capabilites? XD Especially his fighting ones? :p

[Cef]

Well, he did teach Sora some basic offensive magic. I think his spells are more of the 'practical' type, if you know what I mean, and that he knows only enough offensive spells to keep all minor and a few major annoyances at bay when he needs to. I seriously have doubts about his overall offensive skills. I really can't quite picture him chucking *Meteor at various enemies.

[Lectori Salutem]

I'm a bit late, sorry about that. I like the chapter. Merlin's funny^^

[Coldman9]

Great chapter SA, I was hoping Leon and his group would get into the Anime System somehow. And I can't wait to find out what the Stewards find out when they look through the birth records.

[Silent Avera]

Well in the movie, Merlin did change into alot of animals to beat Mad Madam Mim, but, yeah, as for full blown fighting magic, I think he's in trouble XD

Thanks Lectori and Coldman, even though it was only a baby bit, so now, here is a big bit! Totally done and good to go ^0^ I promise, I worked my Mc Keester off for this one!


Disclaimer: PG-13.....Because it's Ouran.........What do you think you'll find.....?

CLICK HERE -> Ouran Host Club group shot! I am just too tired to go and make individual linkies....they're all there, look at them, they're gorgeous...Starting from the right side, Hikaru, Kaoru, (top, blonde hair) Tamaki, (bottom, brown hair) Haruhi, (glasses) Kyouya, (tiny) Hunny, (the tallest) Mori...... X3

Ch 36 The Princess and the….
“Far away, long ago, glowing dim as an ember, things my heart used to know, things it years to remember…..And a song, someone sings~….Once upon a Dece~mber……” – Once upon a December, Anastasia
Solstrom Star: Ouran Academy


Femininity.

A prince and a princess, roots of perhaps the most enduring and endearing stories to enchant the imaginations of young girls.

When the books of bedtime stories close, the trap is sprung and they fall headlong into the realms of dreams, disregarding all subconscious awareness of reality looming on the horizon and what cradles them in their beds.

The silk dress, these smooth shoes, the glorious tiara of cold embellished, sparkling metal and jewels – the charm and finesse of a prince! It looks so real, it feels so real, the mutation of thought into physical sensations, innocence would never understand this ideal world, is what can never be; all too soon they awake to their royalty reduced to porcelain figures and stuffed dolls.

And so some pretend, thus if it can never be, make it so it can. The definition of a princess or a prince is warped to fit the limits of their reality. Plastic or wood is a substitute for metal and glitter or string for magic – a blanket for a dress! Feet with shoes so comfy, it’s as if they’re not even there……

Princess and princess do exist, but nowhere near the fantasy so many want to believe in. Royalty comes with responsibility. Royalty comes with blood. Fairy tales are broken down into the legacies of monarchies and states…

And Systems.

Now with the ways open….and what was restricted to cherished dreams, roams freely among us......

The Royalty are still trapped by their own reality.



“Today is a wonderful day my Lord, the heir to the Sovereign Throne has finally been born.”

“And my wife, how did she fare through the birth?”

“Very well, both mother and daughter are doing beautifully.”

“……Daughter?”

“Yes milord, it’s a baby girl; are you displeased with the outcome?”

“No, of course not Nikkue, heh heh, you Stewards are far too blunt for your own good.”

“We are observant milord. Thus we don’t feel the need to say anything other than the truth.”

“Is that right Nikkue? Yes, of course you are, we made you that way,” the Sovereign Lord’s voice darkened, “Then, faithful Steward, Nikkue of the North Tower……………..what, do you think of my wondrous, loving, caring, wife?”

“I do not hold an opinion of the Sovereign Queen, nor anything else. I call it like I see it milord, when I see it.”

“But certainly you must have an opinion of something. You are a created life, but a life none-the-less – bound to your duty, you still do have a sense of free will, and therefore you have taste. Express yourself to me Nikkue, talk to me on a normal level, just this once. I will forgive anything you say.”

“…….I….”

“Yes?”

“I am glad you both are in the mindset of keeping this child.”

………………………………………………..

Ouran Academy

“Now, everyone, today we have very special guest of ours,” said Tamaki dressed in a traditional royal attire from the British monarchy (think of the attire from the 1900 era and no cape or crown), he motioned with a warm smile, and Kairi stood up from her seat, dressed in a modern interpretation of traditional royalty from Europe, “Hailing from the Islands of Deees” – His voice gave out – “Deees – Deeees, Deeeees – Deeeeeeeessssssssssssssstiiiiiiiiiiii – the-beautiful-Island-that-caresses-the-ocean-of-the-moon Dephthilonia, Princess Kairi!”

“Nice recovery,” Kairi whispered flatly to him as she walked passed giggling girls.

“Thank-you,” whispered Tamaki in a tiny voice, “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Long live Princess Kairi!” greeted the entire music room of enthusiastic young ladies; the guests attending.

“Good will to you all!” hailed Kairi back with a parade wave. *And thus they will all pity me,* sighed Kairi internally. It wasn’t very hard to see that the guests had been explained her ailing situation, and after witnessing Tamaki’s more than pretentious nature in full bloom for preparation for the Host Club’s cosplay today…….


“Seriously? You want to dress her up as Anastasia?”

“Show some sensitivity Tono!”

“I didn’t mean any harm – I, just thought our guests would associate her more with the movie version!”

“Either way it’s in bad taste,” said the twins.

“But the movie had a happy ending,” Tamaki defended, giving Kairi a sad look.

“What happened to her in real life?” asked Kairi.

“She was murdered.”

“……Oh.”

“Hikaru, you didn’t have to go into such detail,” Tamaki sobbed holding a tissue up to his face.

“Oh I’m sorry I meant to say that after she escaped the first line of fire that slaughtered her family” –

Tamaki covered his ears –“LALALALALALALALALA! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!”

“She was bayoneted!” Kaoru called right in his ear –

“GAH! You devil twins! Don’t listen Kairi! Don’t listen!” and Tamaki placed his hands over her ears just a bit too late, “In the animated movie she elopes with her prince and lives happily ever after!”

[Epic foreshadowing?!.....>>; ]


Yeeeeeaaaaaaaah, no ivory walls could contain that drama, and the princess suspected she would be treated as one whom with every step she took risked snapping a leg in half with a chip of the bone shooting up to her heart exploding it and the surge of blood bursting a vein in her brain….before she became blind, deaf, and mute all at the same time, falling down paralyzed.….And the way they all clapped as she walked to her seat as designated by Haruhi (also dressed in a unique take at royal attire) to whom she’d share a table with, kinda solidified the notion.

How the hell did we arrive at this point…….

We haven’t been here that long have we?

Do you feel that connection yet, Kairi?

Oh yeah, it began with just walking out into the court yard from the nurse’s office….


“This place is huge!”

The light white-pink shine of the marble that built the school carried her echoes a little too well, eep. Kairi quickly trotted over and sat down by a fountain carved of the finest stone pumping the clearest water, and from this calm point, she took in the world she had arrived in.

Hm.

A bird was twittering in a tree, a leaf fell lazily through the air, the sweet fragrance of flowers all blending into one serene scent….Kairi looked off to the clock tower of the school and traced its connection with the rest of the school building that seemed to have no break, it was all just one massive architecture elegantly designed and stored in mint condition with the courtyard completely embraced. The long big windows of each story were without a mark or a smudge, the ones she could see well at least, but Kairi wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t all of the same spotless treatment.

Nostalgic……

“What?”

The birdy continued to sing with the trees (perhaps even more so in Kairi’s presence), the wind softly caressing them throughout the courtyard, it sounded like the gentle rustling of a stream, but with leaves….

“This all feels familiar to me, but I don’t know why…”

Kairi’s eyes began to droop, she was slumping down.


From behind a pillar in a walkway, wide green eyes covered in a dark cloak looked on at Kairi……“She must be….real….!”


*Man, I’d probably have a better idea of what I’m supposed to do if I….were like Sora or Riku…. Ooh, I wish I had my letter with me, or at least have read it when I was on the train, then maybe I’d have a better idea on how to handle this, or an inkling on how to find the Keyhole…..Tenchi and the girls opened it up for me last time, but this time, I’m on my own….And I have no idea how they did it……….And I still have to keep my cover up. I bet I can pull off a double life. Vigilante Kairi! School girl by day, and Keyblade Master by night!......Yeah right.*

Kairi felt she was being embraced by something warm, but with no arms –

Down on your luck already?

Kairi was so preoccupied with her other matters, this darkness was no scare, *Misfortune?*

Hello again. I can only emerge into your mind when you are at least in a near dream-like state; I want to talk to you while I can.

*Joy for me, what do you want?*

Kairi felt the enveloping embrace strengthen gently, A word of advice Princess, you can’t do this by yourself. You need allies, you need people you can turn to.

An image of Tamaki appeared in her mind –

*I’m already getting help from him* -

You’ll need more.

*He’s giving me a place to stay, and free healthcare, I don’t need anything more than that.*

Are you trying to be better than Sora or Riku? Not even they are doing this work with such limited resources.

*I can’t be bound by things that might impede me, and I have to stay by Tamaki’s side anyway. The way Chigiri* keeps responding to his presence, I have to stay close to him. He must be someone special that I’m supposed to meet or something.*

My, my, my….How you’ve matured so quickly Princess. Did that small betrayal you did to Tenchi and the girls really scar you that much? Or, you’ve come to accept that nature in you to leap at any moment you get to find what harbors your most treasured memories, what makes you, you, what keeps your identity….

The warmth strengthened.

But, don’t you want an identity for yourself? You’re quite capable of making one, remember Twilight Town? Hayner, Pence, Olette….Now is not the time to forget your past for fear it may hurt your future. You are what you are, embrace it, and start making a path for yourself carved by your own two feet.

*Why are you telling me this?*

Because it is tormenting your heart, said Misfortune gleefully, You’re afraid to walk the path Sora and Riku do for fear you are inadequate.

A flame caught fire in Kairi, *I’m not inadequate, I don’t want anyone to get caught in the dangers that I may face, that is not their place, I’m supposed to protect them now, I’m a Keyblade Master!*

But Misfortune broke out into an all out laugh, You just don’t want to be indebted to anyone anymore! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!

Misfortune 1: Kairi 0

Flame extinguished. Now Kairi felt those claws – Take my advice Princess, don’t go on this alone, I want to dream with you again. Hee hee, don’t look now, but you’re being watched –

“Hey miss, miss!”

“Her name is Kairi, hey Kairi!”

“Wake up–!”

The sensation of sight nearly burned a hole through her, nyeh! –Touching is a no no! – Kairi snapped awake looking right at the twins and that one boy they were both trying to protect, from, her, this, morning…..*Oh, them.*

“That Tono, he should have known better – I’ll go get a nurse –” (says a twin who egged on her “witch” heckling) –

“Oh, no, no, he didn’t leave me here, I wanted to go outside from the nurses office, and she let me, and I came here, um, I, guess I dozed off.” A little breeze blew by. “It feels so good out here.”

I’ve been in a courtyard like this before….

“With all due respect m’am, you should be in bed,” said the boy with the brown hair and big eyes to match.

“I’m alright, really,” said Kairi, “I’m just suffering from amnesia. The nurse said I’m in good health, but she’s gonna run some more tests on my heart, y’know, just to be safe and all.”

“At least nothing else is wrong with you, we were worried that you had become very sick,” said the twin with his hair parted to the left.

“I’m fine, and I’m sorry for stumbling in on you guys and your club like that.”

“Yeah, and weeeee’re,” started the twin with his hair parted to the right putting his hand on the back of his neck, (the boy with the brown hair looked expectantly at the twins like a scorning mother), “We’re sorry, for calling you a, witch and all,” the other twin smiled apologetically.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve forgotten it already.” *Not.*

“That was still an amazing trick you did,” said the boy with the brown hair, “Do you think you might have come from a family of magicians?”

*Trick?*

“Maybe you were recalling an act you performed,” the brown haired boy continued, “You seem aware of yourself now, but when you first walked in the music room, you gave the impression that you were from another world” –

“There is a well-to-do family in the circus business, but I don’t recall if they have any children your age,” said the twin with his hair parted to the left.

“What about any families in the performing arts industry?” asked the brown haired boy to the twins.

“Our mom might know, she sometimes works with them to help design costumes” –

*Oh, whew, so they’ve all dismissed it as a magic trick….Yippie! Fair enough.*

“So, how did you pull off that magic trick anyway?”

“Think you could show us?”

Kairi brightened up, *Play it cool now* “Sure! You really wanna see?”

“Yes!” piped the twins playfully, but the boy with the brown hair looked suspicious at them –

“You two are unbelievable,” he said.

“What? We just want to learn a simple trick” –

“Don’t you think our guests would like Hosts that know a magic trick or two? Magic brings out the best in people.”

“Then you two will need a warlock, each,” said the brown haired boy flatly; Kairi laughed, she really was tickled,

“Here we go,” Kairi put her hand in her pocket, hm, she put her hand in her other pocket, “Um”, she patted herself all over, “Uh oh….”

“You lost something?”

“I must’ve dropped it somewhere….”

“Oh no,” said the boy with the brown hair with a sad look.

“D-Don’t worry about it…..” said Kairi, *Gee maybe I really am from a performing arts family.* Kairi gave a scared expression, “Wow, ah, I, I, I can’t even remember how to do it,” said Kairi with a smile she laced with fear, “But I just did it didn’t I? You said you all saw me…do it…..”

The twins and the brown haired boy became worried, “You should go lie down,” said the brown haired boy.

“Here miss, we’ll take you back to the nurse’s office,” said the twin with his hair parted to the right extending his hand out.

“My name is Kairi,” said Kairi taking it, although they already knew it, *Yes, just keep playing it up Kairi!*

“I’m Hikaru,” said the twin with his hair parted to the right.

“I’m Kaoru,” said the twin with his hair parted to the left.

“I’m Haruhi,” said the brown haired big brown eyes to match.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” smiled Kairi. Back inside the infirmary, the same nurse asked what was wrong and took Kairi to a bed all her own to rest. *Now that I think about it, this infirmary is more like a built in hospital…* With nothing much else to do, Kairi shoved the creeping stress inside her down, and fell asleep.


Princess……Take my advice, you are a Princess, a true Princess, servants will throw themselves at you no matter what, so use them. You must if you are to survive, you can do nothing else.


About an hour later, she awoke, and a giant pink bunny plus tons of exotic candy and flowers was surrounding her, “Holy cow!” A brown bear that was apparently at the head of her bed fell on her; she heard the nurse laughing,

“A present from Mitsukuni-kun and Tamaki-kun,” she smiled, “Your prince came by earlier to check up on you after what the Hitachiin twins and Mr. Fujioka told him; he flew to your aid, yet peacefully you slept.” –

*I hate this nurse so much.*

“For when you awoke, Tamaki has prepared a car to take you straight to his home where the house staff will look after you; do you feel capable of getting out of bed?”

“No m’am, not yet.”

“Let me know whenever you are ready,” and the nurse walked off.

Kairi sighed and her tummy grumbled, *Man, I am a bit hungry,* and those candies looked so good, but before she could reach for one –

“Miss Kairi, how are you feeling?” Appeared a young man at her side; it was the one with the dark hair and glasses, and, the notebook,

“Good, good,” Kairi weakly replied, *Grrrr, soon my candies, soon.*

“My name is Kyouya,” he took a seat next to her bed holding an air of reserved charm that needed no introduction, “That was quite an episode you had when you stumbled into our club.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“The reason I’m here is that we want you to know we’re doing everything we can to find your family, we’ve sent out reports to our police and are contacting missing people centers” –

*Oh god what have I done, okay just focus Kairi, focus, focus, if Sora and Riku can ride World Orders, so can I –*

“But I’m sorry to tell you that we were unable to find the magic device you used to perform your trick” –

*They actually looked for it?!*

“Could you describe it for us?: Kyouya gave a smile, “Obviously looking blind wasn’t smart on our part” –

Kairi gripped her bed sheets, *That tone in his voice, he knows something, he’s got to, he must know I’m lying, but how if this world hasn’t had contact outside it?* “It’s a little star charm that fits inside the palm of my hand, it releases a flash of light so you won’t see it expanding or retracting; be careful if you pick it up, you could hurt yourself.”

He wrote something down in his notebook, “Quite an amazing piece of technology, a charm expanding out into a fully metal decorated sword, or a ‘Keyblade’ as you called it, and then retracting neatly back, it’s something we only would believe exists in fairy tales.”

“You think so?” Kairi couldn’t hide the nervous tone in her voice, “I guess we must live in a wondrous time huh?” *Why is this young man so intimidating?! He’s got nothing on me!*And yet his young mouth looked like it wanted to expose her truth under that smile–!

“I’ll make sure to tell our searchers then,” Kyouya got up to leave.

Whew, but, “You know, you really don’t have to,” said Kairi, “It’s something I can live without.”

“Maybe not,” said Kyouya, “For that charm to inspire you to act the way you did, must have had a significant impact on your life. It could be the key to unlocking your memories” –

*You can say that again….* Kyouya turned to leave and Kairi turned nonchalantly towards the window to suppress her tension – BOMPH –

“AHHH!” The sound of the impact and Kairi’s scream alerted Kyouya and he immediately went to her attention – Kairi was bent over, her hands shaking badly wrinkling the sheets, her hair like a veil surrounding her face – Kyouya put his notebook under his arm and supported her weight so she wouldn’t topple over –

“Nurse!” he called, but Kairi protested,

“I’m okay, I’m okay.” *Why am I crying? Stop it! Stop this!* “A b-bird hit the window! It just startled me, that’s all,” but the tears wouldn’t stop and overtook her throat.

Kyouya removed himself, and was replaced by the warmest embrace, “It’s alright Kairi, there there, it’s going to be alright.”

“T-Tamaki…?” Yep, it was him, appearing like a prince in shining armor; Chigiri* gave another beat but Kairi managed to passed it off as a huge sob, and had no more strength left to cover herself. She cried out the stress that was threatening to drown her; with all the responsibility she had to shoulder, it felt so good to be able to lean on someone…..

Kyouya and Tamaki looked at the cracks in the window rippling out like lightning from a singular point, a few black feathers were stuck on the glass along with a smudged of blood.


Kairi was moved to another part of the infirmary along with all the candy, flowers, and the giant pink bunny and little brown bear, (*Stomach growl*), and treated to lunch in bed.

At the suggestion of the nurse for Kairi to be taken to Tamaki’s home, Kairi instead asked if she could have a tour of the school. “That fresh air made me feel so good; I also got a weird sense of nostalgia from sitting in the courtyard.” *Better get familiar with my surroundings, I might be here a while.*

Tamaki was only too happy to oblige, but the clock tower chimed another hour, and Tamaki and Kyouya both had another class to attend to, so instead, Kairi was given a tour by…..perhaps the corporeal embodiment of cuteness standing at four feet, nine inches with blonde hair and fair light brown eyes, along with his stonewalled companion standing at six feet, two inches with dark short hair and eyes to match.

“Hi Kairi! My name is Mitsukuni Haninozuka, but everyone calls me Hunny ^_^! And this is Takashi Morinozuka, but everyone calls him Mori ^_^! Do you have a nickname Kairi :3 ?”

“No…not that I remember.”

“Do you want to hold Bun Bun ^_^ ?” Hunny held up his pink stuffed bunny, and Kairi, could have sworn it blushed at her!

Ah! X3 “Sure! It’s so cute!”

Like a kid pixie, Hunny with cuteness particles dancing about him happily trotted about leading Kairi and the silent Mori all around campus, Kairi occasionally asking a question or two with Hunny promptly replying –

“So, this school is only for the elite right? Only the super rich?” That left a sour taste –

“For a majority of the part, yeah that’s true; Ouran is a private school unique to the ultra-upper-crust. Lineage counts first, and money a close second.”

And an even more sour taste was left –

“But it’s not all idle play time. It has preparations for students to assume their roles as heads and leaders of their family businesses and empires. Ouran’s reputation has the foundation for educating those who will eventually run major corporations, and even royalty, while simultaneously carrying with it the standards of an Ivy League institution ^_^. And like most private institutions, Ouran has a scholarship program to include people who are not so fortunate, but have the drive to succeed ^_^.”

“Oh, well that’s good,” smiled Kairi.

“Haruhi is a special scholarship student, you met her right?”

OH SNAP O_O –

“Huh?”

“Him,” said Mori, speaking in his deep voice for the first time shocking Kairi, “You’ve met the boy named Haruhi right? Haruhi is a scholarship student of Ouran.”

[Icy wind interference………]

“Tweet, tweet, tweet–!”

“BIRDY! *0* ” expelled Hunny and playfully chased after it as it flew by at close range.

“Ah….” *What the heck was that all about….?* Kairi shifted a glance at Mori who kept his stone face watching Hunny waving at the bird as it landed in a tree. Hm, Kairi looked on at the innocence as well.

……………..[*Shifty glance at Mori*]………….“So…….Haruhi, is a….girl?”

…………….[*Shifty glance at Kairi*]…………. “Please, don’t tell anyone.”

Mmh ‘kay…“No problem,” smiled Kairi, “If it’s a secret that needs to be kept I’ll keep it. What kind of flowers are those?” *I have entered the twilight zone of social apparatus…….*

MOVING ON!

“If you are a real princess Kairi, then maybe princess stories will help your memories come back!”

Kairi gave a defeated smile.

Hunny had led Kairi and Mori into a grand study hall, quite devoid of studying, and plopped right onto Kairi’s lap with a story book, “I love tales about rescuing princesses, here I’ll read to you my favorite one :3 !” Drugged on cuteness overload, and with Hunny reading with such enthusiasm and charisma, Kairi couldn’t help but get into it, it was like being sent back into childhood with children reading to children, making funny voices and sound effects.

All the while Mori just kept a silent lookout towards the windows [just because] with the ambiance of Hunny’s cute talk and Kairi’s laughter in the forefront of his mind.

And before long, Hunny’s voice began to slip and his eyes began to droop, and then the book fell onto his chest without support from his wrists, his mouth slightly askew with silent snoring –

Kairi gave a gentle laugh, “He read himself to sleep; poor thing X3.”

Mori picked up the book and moved to pick up Hunny, but Kairi motioned that there was no need, and she gently cradled Hunny into a good grip, “It’s alright Mori, he’s fine. I don’t mind him taking a nap, he must be tuckered out after taking us all over this place; I’m a little tired too in fact.” Hunny gave a subconscious sigh and pulled in closer to Kairi and Bun Bun.

Kairi looked at Mori again and he looked at her as if to asses her, but that stone glance dissolved into a compassionate smile, and he settled back into his chair, closing his eyes.

*Guess he needs a rest too, I would too if I tagged along with this guy.*

Kairi settled back in her seat…..There was a stableness to this world that was hard to grasp. If normal could be normal, perhaps this place was it. It held that same air of peacefulness that Destiny Islands had, that same air of peacefulness Tenchi’s world had.

And then Kairi didn’t feel so heavy, but still, to think Sora and Riku were out there somewhere fighting a treacherous evil, and she, princess Kairi (*inhale*) had been given a tour of, in Kairi’s opinion, a billion dollar estate turned school academy……And most likely she was about to have a home in one…….

And yet after all this time, who was she to complain? *If this is the path I must walk then so be it, but don’t treat me like I’m helpless,* thought Kairi to existence. *I can handle just as much as they can.*

Hunny started to mumble in his sleep, and feeling maternal, Kairi began to hum a tune to settle him, letting her eyes gaze off nonchalantly again…..

The burn of being stared at…..

“Huh?” And her eyes met the stare. Hiding in the shadows near the bookcases, people just idly passing by – *They don’t notice?!* – Wide green unblinking eyes observed Kairi from under a dark cloak….That same horrible chill she got from being spied on at Destiny Islands crawled up her spine turning her skin cold.…Kairi couldn’t turn away, it registered in her mind what she was looking, and like before, there was more to see – but behind these eyes wouldn’t be a gentle intent, no – behind these eyes – there was evil!

Kairi suddenly gripped Hunny making him give a small squeal – Mori snapped right up on his feet on alert and Hunny looked up at Kairi, “Kairi, what’s wrong? You feel cold! :( “

“Something….No, it was nothing, I’m sorry for disturbing you Hunny.”

Hunny and Mori both looked at where Kairi couldn’t pull her eyes away from, and saw nothing. Kairi had already witnessed the thing disappear with the pass of a person in front of it.

*Shoot, so this world isn’t devoid of darkness…Well, neither was Tenchi’s but we never ran into it…..*

“Don’t worry Kairi.” Kairi broke her glance to look down at Hunny, all cuteness particles traded for glints of bravery and threat, “Any badness that comes to you, we’ll take care of it.”

Eep….Kairi didn’t know whether to be appreciative or scared, such tempered ferocity under that cute exterior…..She looked at Mori who had traded his stonewalled look and compassionate smile for the same glare as Hunny, but he looked like he could deliver on it, and then some……

Kairi felt a strange courage emit from her responsibility, as if it had been immediately transplanted onto her from somewhere deep inside. *Very well, if I absolutely have to give my cover up, then I will without hesitation,* thought Kairi, *I’ll come after you darkness, get ready for Keyblade Master Kairi!....Guess I will have go the vigilante style after all.*

The afternoon bell struck and Hunny (back to his cuteness) led Kairi and Mori (seemingly back to his stonewalled-ness, or, silently on the search and destroy for that mysterious thing) to the top floor of the south wing, heading towards the unused music room at the end of the north hallway. Kairi reaching a place a familiarity, “This is where your club is, isn’t it?”

“Yep! Mori and I have Host Club duties to do, and everyone will make sure that for the rest of today you won’t bothered by any more worries, inside or out, so relax miss Kairi, you’re in good hands! ^_^”

*Who are these people?! Are they frikin’ psychic?!*

No. It’s not hard to see that you’re in distress.

Turning onto the north hallway, Kairi looked down the hall and saw Hikaru, Kaoru, Haruhi, Kyouya, and Tamaki gathering and about to enter the room –

“HI TAMA-CHAN! ^0^”

“Ah, good afternoon Hunny! ^0^” he called back.

“How are you feeling Kairi?” asked Haruhi.

Keep the secret. “Oh so much better, I don’t know how to thank you guys for what you’re doing for me; thank-you from the bottom of my heart,” Kairi bowed and Tamaki looked like he was starting to emit a glow, or something along those lines from Kairi’s praise. “I’m sorry I’m such a burden, so please, if there’s one thing, I’d, I’d like to request to help out your club in any way possible, please.”

[*HEARTACHE*] - “The, burden that was placed on you is not your fault,” said Tamaki quickly and crossing his arms, “Something terrible happened to you, and by a miracle, you were led to us – it’s well within our ability and duty to help you,” but Kairi kept her bowing position, [*HEARTACHE*, but must not give in!]. “Do, do you feel the need to help us that strongly?”

“Yes,” said Kairi, *I don’t want to be burdened by the guilt of lying.* “I swear I won’t be a hindrance, I just want to help, and, at least try to pay back what you’re doing for me, even though, I don’t think I ever can…”

“It’s your health that concerns us,” said Kyouya, “We don’t want to put you through any stress.”

Put “mental” in front of health, and you’ll know exactly where they’re coming from.

“I promise I’ve never felt better,” said Kairi, “Being around you people has given me strength to keep going even though I feel like I’m about to fall backwards into a black pit.”

That was actually kinda true…..but anywho, [*HEARTACHE!*] Tamaki looked like he was grasping his chest so hard, he’d snap himself in half.

“You know, maybe this might just be what she needs,” said Haruhi, “She’s not going to break.” She [he] looked to Kairi, “You’re feeling alright now aren’t you?”

Kairi gave a big smile, *Thank-you Haruhi!*

“What do you think Tono?”

“What should we do?”

“We still have to finalize our costumes for today.”

Kairi could feel their gentle glances trading off on one another in a silent conversation (especially Kyouya’s whom she dared not look to) as Tamaki silently deliberated, save for the grumbling and snickering noises he was making as if trying not let some kind of ejection shoot out of his mouth (and he squirmed). *They must know….they must know I’m faking, and yet they’re still playing along….Heh, is this charity, or pity? Or is it they just don’t know what to do with me? Maybe all of the above – I don’t want to confess….but I think I’ll soon have to….They deserve that from me, but then, I’ll be alone….*

Kairi looked up and Tamaki looked into Kairi’s eyes…..she quivered her lip –

[BROKEN]

“Alright princess you win,” Tamaki squeaked.

“Thank-you –!”

“But remember this, if you feel any pain, any dizziness, any wooziness, stomachaches, headaches, backaches, cramps, if half of you suddenly goes limp” –

“Alright, let’s get underway with our preparations,” said Kyouya pushing Tamaki in the room by the top of his pen.

“Geez, we could’ve saved some time knowing you’d give in by default,” said Haruhi.

“Seriously,” said the twins.

“I believe today we are doing the theme of Royalty” –

“OH! I have the perfect costumes for Haruhi and Kairi!” Tamaki piped.

“So what exactly am I going to be –?” but then Tono grabbed her in a bear hug, “ACK!” –

“Even for someone with no past, there’s always a future ahead Kairi! Release that inner turmoil and be free!”

“I told you I’m fine!” yelled Kairi with the air of a barracuda –

“Costumes Tono,” groaned the twins –

(*Release*) “Right, right, oh, this will look splendid! Haruhi come here! I’ll do you next Kairi, just take a seat on that couch right over there, but be careful for static electricity –”

“It takes a bigger shock than that to cause any damage,” said Haruhi dully.

Kairi as she walks over to take a seat -> *I think I’m being punished….That *******, he thinks I’m mentally challenged, doesn’t he?! They all must think that!…..Oh well…(*SIGH*). I’ll take my cake and eat it.*


[The Host Club is now open ^_^ ]


*Yuuuum-o!* Kairi chewed the succulent strawberry and chocolate cake; it was really good, really, really good. She happily munched on cake as the current bubbly girls in their yellow sunshine school dresses took their turn engaging in conversation with Haruhi, a Host. *Hmm-hmmm! So good, so good!*

Okay, despite Kairi knowing Haruhi was a girl, and passing off as a guy, to flirt with some young girls, she promptly dismissed it with Mori having before asked her not to tell, it wasn’t her job to pry, but Kairi’s detective skills had reasoned that she was seated with Haruhi probably because they’re of the same gender and Haruhi’s aura was so natural, Kairi couldn’t help but open up around her (to help her mental state of course).

[Actually, not really, the conversation went from Kyouya to Tamaki “She’s going to be living with you, let her enjoy some peace while she can” –

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”]

She had also concluded for herself that the Host Club thought Kairi was about to suffer a complete mental breakdown (which is probably not too far from the truth actually) and that was the cemented reason of her more than cautious treatment; she still hadn’t figured out Kyouya though….but that can come later, now was cake time! ^_^


“Hikaru, Kaoru, your outfits complement one another so nicely!”

“All of the designs are plays off of clothing from royalty in Europe right?”

“That’s right,” said, Hikaru, “We’ve been thinking of doing this cosplay for a while, but today kinda prompted it to be put to use.”

“Royalties can have such tragic and conceited love stories,” said Kaoru, “Trying to contain the blood of their heritage within their family at any cost.”

“But of course, to hold something so sacred, you’d want to keep it to yourself,” said Hikaru taking Kaoru’s hand and holding it up to his lips – the girls clenched their fists and sucked in air –

“Hikaru?” Kaoru ever-so-innocently asked….

“And then to share it…I wouldn’t dream of sharing myself with anyone other than you, Kaoru…..” [Moe attack in 3, 2, 1 –] he kissed Kaoru’s hand –

“KYAAAA!” The girls squealed with delight, “EEEEEEEEEEEK! X3 ”


“Mori-sempai! Could it be that you’re dressed up as King Midus?”

Hunny nodded enthusiastically for Mori, who basically kept still, “I’m his little golden nugget!”

“EEEEEEEEEEK X3!” the girls squealed, “So cute!”


“Oh Tamaki, you carry with you today such a valiant aura,” one girl cooed, “It’s like I’m being embraced by your very strength. My heart is all a flutter….”

“I could be nothing less asserting my natural right as King of this fair land [the music room],” Tamaki cooed back, “But in spite of my lineage and heritage, I will abandon it all in a heartbeat to make you my very own queen.”

“Oh Tamaki…..” [Moe melt…. >////< ]


“Haruhi! Are you going to make Kairi your Queen?!”

Caught a little off guard, Haruhi and Kairi (with her fork in her mouth) traded looks, and Kairi got the jump on Haruhi by batting her eyes profusely making Haruhi actually blush a little! Kairi set her fork down, “We come from two separate Kingdoms,” she said holding her napkin over her mouth, whelping up her eyes, “How can we ever be lovers?”

“So it’s a forbidden social romance!” a girl squealed, leading the others into moe fantasies of their own....

*Not bad, but that’s my job!* Haruhi playfully smiled back.


[This truly is the twilight zone for social apparatus….]


And that’s how this club works. It’s a place for girls, with too much time on their hands, to enjoy the good looks and company of these young gentlemen, who also have too much time on their hands; Kairi put another piece of cake in her mouth, *If the only danger here is worrying you’ll miss a scene from your favorite Host, locking this world should be a piece of cake; yum.*

The atmosphere of the Host Club was like a natural high, and it was so silly! All based on these girls just gawking at young men, it’s such a silly notion, but hey, at this age, what lady doesn’t appreciate some eye candy? Kairi had never felt so giddy in her life, except of course for when she was with Sora and Riku….Already with a love in mind, Kairi deflected the rays of “moe” from the Hosts, but the aura of the giddy girls was just too much, and it felt fun. *I’ll get back to them soon enough, I most definitely will (*chomp*) Oh my god this cake is sooooooo good!*

She would be asked a question by one of the other girls that visited Haruhi and she’d answer in just a bubbly state they were in, and with a lie if need be – to keep her current identity, and then sometimes Haruhi would take up the lead and guide the girls back to swooning over her, or they just played it back and forth for a bit; Kairi finished her cake, she knew the Host club’s intentions of making her better, and to play along in their meetings as a “side kick” was actually quite fun; all stress forgotten.

“Would you like some more, princess Kairi?” Haruhi asked with a smile (the bubbly girls damn near melted).

“No thank-you Prince Haruhi, it was very good, thank-you, thank-you,” Kairi happily smiled back, a true smile.

*Bingo.*

The radiant warmth of the lively, gentle souls around her from the flirty atmosphere, consumed any traces of an icy turmoil that tried to emerge like snow settling as her mind wondered through her responsibility, *I wonder if Tamaki is somehow related to this world’s Keyhole, that could also be why Chigiri* keeps responding to him, maybe, but I must find out soon, I don’t have a good feeling about those eyes, not at all, and I won’t let the happiness of this place be destroyed!.....But a kinder sign would sure be nice right about now* – a little blue bird suddenly fluttered over the large window behind Kairi (almost making her leap out of her skin) and Haruhi, trying to get in – all the girls suddenly yipped and chirped –

“Oh look at it!”

“How pretty!”

“Silly thing!”

And the bird chirped away.

“It must’ve been attracted to Kairi, blue birds are always attracted to princesses!”

“Maybe it could also have been attracted to the Haruhi! A blue bird always knows the most kindred of hearts.”

“It was probably attracted to everyone here,” said Haruhi, “We’re sitting so close to the glass, it saw all of us and thought it could come inside.”

Boom, moe melt –

“Oh Haruhi I always had a suspicion our hearts were alike!” –

“It must be destiny that we were all sitting here!” –

“I will never forget this moment, this second when our hearts are aligned!” –

Kairi laughed giving a gesture to Haruhi with a look that said, ‘Hey I knew what you meant’ and Haruhi replied with sighing smile of thanks.

[Romantic miss interpretations are common around Haruhi….Beware Kairi.]

“What do you think of a blue bird’s arrival princess Kairi?” asked one of the girls ever so innocently.

She took a curious pose, “Well,” she then looked out the window to the bright blue sky, “When I was little, a friend told me –” *OH SHOOT! Remember your cover Kairi! Amnesia! Amnesia!* - “Oh!”

“You’re remembering something!” Haruhi piped, and the other girls grew exuberant trying to coax more out of Kairi –

“Don’t let it slip away! Think Kairi! Grab it!”

“Grab it! What does the Blue Bird mean?”

At least the shocked look on Kairi’s face for her blunder made her sell that blip better, but anywho, Kairi made herself look like she was really trying to grab onto that fleeting memory, even though she already had clasped firmly in her mouth on what she wanted to say….Kairi relaxed herself; the girls with their hands clasped before their chests, along with Haruhi, waited tensely, “Kairi?”

*Like a fleeting blue bird….That’s what my longing for him feels like……* She was settling back into that mindset……“Blue birds to me, have always been messengers.”

“Messengers?” a girl asked tightly, holding her fists together.

[Tamaki’s feels a disturbance in the force!]

“Messengers, between lovers.” (The girls gasped. The girls charming girls table is emitting a strange moe wavelength!) –

[The Host Club sense is tingling!]

Kairi sighed, and looked down for dramatic effect….“When two lovers have been separated unwillingly, by chance, misfortune, or because duty calls them elsewhere….If their love is true, and can stand the ache of the lengths of separation, a blue bird will appear, and whisper to them the lost loving vows that they can’t relay to one another,” Kairi’s smile sweetened….Oh if that were true…..“At least, that’s what I remember, my friend telling me….” And when Kairi looked back up, her audience had grown a hundred fold of all the girls and the Hosts all watery eyed (except for Kyouya, Mori, and Haruhi) with Tamaki the most watery eyed of them all – *Eh?! –* You brought this upon yourself Kairi!

“K-Kairi,” Tamaki squeaked –

[HIGH POWERED MOTOR!]

Kairi grabbed the table as the ground shook, and up rose a spiraling platform near the center of the room – her mouth fell open – *WHAT THE HELL–?!*

- Sitting on top of the rising contraption, the back of her hand ever so lightly touching her forehead holding a near-faint pose – was another young girl in her sunshine yellow dress school attire, her light brunette hair tied back in a big pink bow that fluttered with the final turn of the mechanics (rising to at least the height of a small building) releasing her ever so dramatic position – she opened her big light brown eyes – “The blue bird, the bird of spring has revealed to us a true princess –!” [DRAMATIC POINT TO KAIRI!]

Kairi grasped her chest from the mental stab –*HUH?! HOW COULD SHE KNOW?!*

“A true princess?” piped one girl –

“What do you mean Renge?” asked another – (meanwhile Kairi was looking was all over the place for any secret listening or watching devices –)

“I mean just that,” piped Renge and she leaped down opening a lacy umbrella – *float, float*, “A true princess, is not one classified by just the social and financial status of our world, or even the heritage of a family preserved generation after generation, a true princess is much more than that” – Renge landed lightly and closed the umbrella, “Something that has been long forgotten by the masses – but preserved through the immortal desires in the hearts of young women everywhere”– and before Kairi knew it Renge was before her, “A true princess, is not defined by how the world classifies her, but by how she classifies the world.”

All the girls looked greatly mystified by Renge’s words (and Tamaki), but –

“Renge what exactly do you mean by that?” asked a deflated Haruhi –

[I’m not even sure anymore…]

Renge gripped her umbrella, “Even through the misfortune that trails you Kairi – you saw true power of the blue bird of spring without even trying!”

“Oh, that is so true! Kairi regained a lost memory at the sight of the bird!”

“Yes! Yes she did!”

“Renge don’t crowd her,” said Haruhi and Renge retreated a respectable distance though her umbrella was in range of Kairi’s head –

*Wait a tick….is this girl for real?* “True power?” asked Kairi with forced interest.

“You wouldn’t be aware of it, a true princess never is to maintain her innocence – the defining moment of you – yes, your inner heart is only proved through the destiny bond of the one part of the world that her purity can relate with that judges with neither a false eye nor a wooden tongue” – Renge swung the umbrella at the window forcing Kairi to duck – “NATURE!”

And all the girls were abuzz while Kairi sat in a kind of mental stupor, *And you base that logic, all from a blue bird that almost hit the window* –

“Question,” said Hikaru –

“Didn’t you just say that a princess is defined through how she perceives the world, not how it perceives her?” said Kaoru –

“Kairi’s exposition of the Blue Bird of Spring is proof of that” –

“An exposition that I got from my friend?” said Kairi smally but it went un-received –

“We make up those kinds of fantasies all the time,” said the twins –

“But never with a Destiny Article!”

“Destiny Article?”

*Are they trying to cover for me?* thought Kairi, but –

Renge held her umbrella high, “And the only thing missing, but not always necessary, is a magical item!”

Kairi gasped squeaking within – *My Keyblade!*

It seemed the same thing was on the mind of the other Hosts, but dangerous information aside –

“Ku ku ku ku ku ku,” a dark laughter came from behind Kairi, and she turned around into sharp eyes –

“EEEEEEK!” - Kairi jumped back and got a more rounded look at the invasion of space, a little yellow hand puppet doll with sharp ears and big mean kitty eyes and a tiny ever-open mouth, and of course attached to the hand puppet was a young man with dark hair completely covered in a dark purple cloak with barely the bottom of his face showing a grinning mouth; needless to say though, his emergence was from a dark foreboding looking door, and they were sitting so close to the wall, he was merely leaning towards Kairi – and was that door always there? –

“Oh no my dear, my Beelzenef doll means you no harm” –

“Kairi are you okay?” asked Hunny –

“I’m fine, I’m fine!” – *But enough with the random appearances!* Kairi thought grasping her heart –

“Nekozawa-sempai, please be considerate for her!” said Haruhi.

“Do forgive me,” said his shadowy and gloomy voice, “But I couldn’t help overhear Miss Renge’s explanation of a true princess.”

“None of us could,” muttered Kairi – *Hey, this guy is just as dark as what those green eyes were attached to!*

“Why would a story of a princess interest you?” asked Kyouya, “That’s not exactly your field.”

“Normally it isn’t, but in light of current events it does cause, just a pinch of concern for this young lady’s well being.”

“What do you mean?” asked Tamaki stepping up; Kairi’s attention was also thoroughly peaked (as well as everyone else in the room).

“A new, mysterious member of my Black Magic Club has been performing, rather peculiar séances and rituals to open up a portal to another world that she believes coincides with ours, a realm where she can be the princess she’s always dreamed of being.”

“What does that have to do with Kairi?”

“After all her failures, her way of proceeding has taken a turn for the worst” –

“You mean she actually believes in all that hocus pocus crap you do?” said Hikaru.

“It is not hocus pocus crap!” said Tamaki stricken with fear of the highest hyperbole, “There are things in this world that you must never play with!” –

“Exactly,” said Nekozawa now in Tamaki’s face –

“EEEEEEK!” Tamaki nearly jumped back into the girls –

Nekozawa turned to the crowd, “In her rage, she has called upon the deepest forces of darkness to set a curse upon the one true princess she believes to exist that she be damned to a most miserable existence–she has written Kairi’s name on the back of a Beelzenef doll and set it ablaze!”

“Oh no!”

“Poor Kairi!”

“And you did nothing to stop her?” Kyouya asked.

“I was too late, even I fear the repercussions of burning a Beelzenef doll; I was only able to learn of the name.”

“Kyouya, certainly you can’t believe in this type of stuff,” said Kaoru.

“It’s not the dark magic that concerns me, it’s the false accusation,” said Kyouya, “Kairi has barely been here a day, and has done nothing wrong to anyone. This young lady trying to do her ill just because of what she believes Kairi to be must be stopped.”

“Yes, yes, absolutely!” piped Tamaki jumping from fear to bravery – “The innocent must not suffer for the turmoil of another!”

“And thus the Host Club now has a rescue mission!” declared Renge through a microphone, “It must be destiny that our hosts are dressed up as royalty today! They will gallantly go forth and stop this wickedness and save the true princess – for is not the mission statement of the Host Club to make every girl happy and defeat the darkness that plagues us?!”

“Not that last part,” said Hikaru.

“We just make them happy,” said Kaoru.

“But,” said Tamaki gathering his courage, rising up, “It is our duty to protect the smiles of our dear guests!”

“Kairi’s the only one in danger Tono,” said the twins.

“Oh Tamaki, you’ll protect Kairi from the dark magic won’t you?”

“Won’t you?” Nekozawa playfully cooed, Tamaki froze, “The only way to disperse the most powerful curse of Beelzenef from someone, is to trade off the dark curse to another, host,” and Tamaki’s rhabdophobia was never made so prominent under a dire will to try and be calm, and that’s saying something.

Tamaki’s hand went over his mouth, “Is, there, no other way?” he mustered to say, turning every shade of white there could be.

“There is none.”

“Wow Tono, that’s so brave of you,” said Hikaru in a playfully foreboding tone, sneaking up behind him from the right.

“Our noble leader will take on the dreaded curse of the Beelzenef doll,” said Kaoru sneaking up from the left.

“Huh? Wa-wait a minute–!”

“Oh Tamaki!”

“We’ll pray for you!”

“Now hold on –!”

“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to Sempai,” said Haruhi, “I’ll take on the curse” – all the girls gasped yet again!

“YOU MOST CERTAINLY WILL NOT!” yelled Tamaki, “Don’t you understand what we’re dealing with?! I won’t have you anywhere near that danger!”

“But then who else will do it?” asked Haruhi simply.

“I’ll take on the curse,” said Kyouya.

GASP!

“Kyouya,” Tamaki breathed, “So brave” –

“So brave indeed,” said Nekozawa, “Good luck Host Club, there must always be extreme caution in pursuit of the supernatural.”

“Nekozawa,” said Kyouya, “Could you stop by after we’re done with our meeting and give us all the information you have on the young lady?”

“Of course, I will also bring protective charms for all of you….you’re going to need it,” and he slipped back into his dark door.

Needless to say the rest of the Host’s Club’s time was all abuzz with Nekozawa’s words of warning for poor Kairi, and Kairi soon remained all too silent……

“We’ll find this student Kairi, don’t worry,” said Haruhi as the last of their guests left,

“Don’t worry Kairi.”

“They won’t let anything happen to you.”

The innocent ladies were well out of earshot range leaving the room as Kairi finally got feeling back into her throat….

.......... “This has gone too far,” said Kairi in a voice just barely audible.

“Huh? What do you mean Kairi?” asked Haruhi.

“There’s something…..I must confess.” Never had an opening been so clear……*Alright Misfortune, you win.*

Kairi got up and walked to the center of the room, “Kairi?”

“Kairi?”

She waited till all the Hosts had gathered around her, “Kairi, don’t worry, we’re going to find this person” –

Kairi held out her hand, and called Chigiri*; everyone froze.

…….“I lied to you all. I never lost my Star Charm, it’s impossible for me to. I’m also not suffering from amnesia, I’m healthy as a horse, both mentally and physically, but maybe I am a little stressed…..I thought I could take care of things on my own playing by your World Order, since you all acted rather scared when I first introduced myself, but I see I can’t do that. I can’t take advantage of people that way, I don’t want to be that kind of person, although, I realize I can’t do this alone, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me, I don’t want to see any more people get hurt because of me…..I can take care of myself, I’m not as innocent as I look. Fire,*” and Kairi made a tiny flame trickle around her Keyblade, popping into baby embers at the end; she displayed several other spell, before retracting her Keyblade back into its hibernating state.

“This isn’t a trick, or an illusion, and it isn’t pretend. I am Kairi from Destiny Islands, a true Princess of Heart, and a Keyblade Master. True enough though, I don’t have memories from when I was very little, but the ones I do have tell a story about two young men, Sora and Riku, my wonderful friends fighting the same evil that I am to fight and defend against. Originally, I’m only here to lock* this world safe, but this Keyblade keeps responding to you Tamaki, I don’t know why, it makes my heart beat irregularly, but I believe maybe, that’s because, you are what is probably, a, Prince of Heart. I, am a Princess of Heart, which would mean we both hold in our hearts a radiant light that can never give into darkness, so, don’t worry about that curse affecting me. I can handle it by myself. I can talk to this girl by myself, and see if I can’t save her from the darkness that is eating her up inside; I have to try, we, kinda relate in wanting so desperately a happy life that it hurts…….I know I’m being so selfish for what I’m about to do, but, on normal grounds, as what I am so truthfully, this is what I am, I, I ask for your help as I stay here in this world.” Kairi looked dead on at the Host Club…….

Stare.

Stare.

Stare.

Ka-plunk, ah, Tamaki fainted.

“Tamaki?”

“Trust us, he’s actually taking this pretty well,” said Hikaru kneeling down next to him.

“But tomorrow is gonna be something else,” said Kaoru, “We should start padding the room.”

Kairi gave a shriveled smile…….Why did she even ask, *I have to do this on my own…..I’m so stupid….You’re so stupid Kairi!*

She turned to leave, quickly taking off the dress she wore (it was basically something that closed around her, she was still fully clothed underneath with her regular clothes), folded it just as quickly and set it on a chair…….And then a cold metal clasp of displacement closed around Kairi, and locked. Her legs were moving mechanically, the burn in her throat filled with pain that wouldn’t swallow down…..*Please, someone, anyone, give me a sign, what am I supposed to do….?*

Kairi felt a hand on her shoulder, and froze……The metal clasp dropped like new born giraffe. Kairi turned around, and saw, “K-Kyouya?”

Hunny gasped noticing her distance as he helped Mori haul Tamaki up on a couch, “Where are you going Kairi?! Come back!”

“Kyouya, I’m sorry, please tell Tamaki I’m sorry, and that I thank him for his kindness, for all of y’all’s kindness, even if it was pity, and you all thought I was crazy….Sorry, I’ll make it up somehow if I have to sacrifice my life for this world –*

Kairi moved to leave again, but Kyouya didn’t let go of her shoulder, his grip was light, but firm as a rock…….Kairi looked back at him again, right into his eyes, as he did hers…….

“It seems though miss…princess Kairi, that we are in your debt if you have come here to protect us.”

That warmth like no other rose up within her, it was surrounding her, the realization was hitting them, all of them; a connection born....

The twins had snuck up with a look of excitable awe in them, “You’re, really real,” Hikaru trembled with Kaoru latched on his arm playfully. Haruhi came to Kairi’s side too, but had more of a wide eyed curious look in her eye; Hunny and Mori came up rather normally, Hunny so cute and Mori so…

Well, just to sugar coat it, Mori said, “She knows that Haruhi is a girl, and has sworn not to tell.”

Tamaki rose from the dead, “WHAT?!”


END CHAP!


Good lord this chappie was so hard to write! DX I think it’s also Kairi’s longest chapter, yay for her.

I’ll fix that little chapter 37 blip in due time you guys read with Merlin, this chappie drained so much out of me…..37 will get reposted after this in its entirety.

[Cef]

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I do believe that I have become completely smitten by your descriptions, Vera >X3

[Silent Avera]

Yay for smitten =^.^= the Host Club can do that >X3

Channeling Ouran is such a mind numbing yet exhilarating experience *_* I'm glad you liked it ^_^

[Silent Avera]

^ *Plays the omen song* Burn! Burn away double post! DX


To revamp this chappie (most of it, the first part did not change, and the second part got upped a little, but the rest took a big makeover), basically I took an axe and threw it at it, and oddly enough the violent quota went up like 10 fold o_0……And this is supposed to be a talk-a-tive chappie, which it is (for the most part), but the bitty-bit with four crazy people on animals has the most violent thing that has gone down thus far……I don’t know if that’s saying much, but it’s gonna set the bar for the rest of the events to come….

I feel tingly :x

DISCLAIMER: Dark images with as little description as possible, as always, let your imagination fill in the blanks, la la la la la la la la la la la la la la!

Clicky on the underlined to seeeeeeeee~!

Ch. 37 Within Walking Distance
“The heart has reasons which reason knows nothing of” – Blaise Pascal
Car-runitwau Star: Konohagakure Village


Disney System: Disney Castle

“*Dear allies of the Masters, we have arrived,*” said Deity South hovering above the group, “*Please be careful. I will remain here and keep the Way open.*”

The room was vast…White marble with just a single appropriate red carpet reaching to two carved double doors, and underneath them, dried, dark stains….Edward Elric took two steps forward causing the soft rustle of dried carpet. The air about this room, it could only be…The Elric brothers turned around, and there were the empty, desecrated thrones of the Disney Royalty.

Nikkue and Layleri walked up to the vacant thrones, knelt down on one knee and bowed with their right fist over their hearts, “Legacy and Light remains, may your souls rest in peace,” they said in unison.

Before the brothers could decide if they should participate, Nikkue and Layleri walked steadily past them down the carpet.

“Let’s get going,” piped Layleri in much too happy a tone, and the brothers followed.

Upon their exit, Deity South magicked sparkling soap bubbles, and spread them out over the dried stains.


The long hollow hallway they entered touched them with the moan of a low breeze, and opaque windows of darkness; save for the sound of the empty breeze, there was no other noise the world offered except for the settling of its remains (and then there was Alphonse’s clinky armor).

*Creepy…* “How come we can’t see anything outside?” asked Alphonse, “It’s all just, black.”

“It’s the merged world,” said Nikkue, “That darkness is its embodiment. Think of botched stitching, you shouldn’t be able to see the seams in a merge, and well, there it is.”

A faint touch, like the touch of a moth tickled Edward’s neck from the side, he turned, and instead of seeing his reflection within a window, it was broken open right across his head, and boarded all the way up with blackness. For a split second Edward was tempted to put this had through the broken window into the stagnant darkness, but the Stewards were already moving the group on with their sharp footsteps; he trotted up.

“You guys know where you’re going?” asked Edward.

“Yeah, just call it a good sense of direction,” replied Nikkue, she pointed up and Edward looked and saw, frankly enough, a green arrow manifest above them.

“Hmp.”

“Direct*,” said Nikkue, and the green arrow lead the group.

Alphonse took a glance at Edward as they walked through the dead castle, although for its silence, there were signs of a time before….There were hallways that were eerily spotless and clean, a few rooms with cracked doors showing them untouched by damaged, but still boxed in by the black windows.

“Sure are a lot of windows,” wondered Alphonse out loud, “They must’ve really liked looking outside.”

“Well think about it,” said Nikkue, “When it was nighttime, they almost had a constant view of all the stars in the sky, to the worlds beyond and their own. It’s not an uncommon practice in architecture for Royalty Castles to have a lot of windows, it is a staple of the duty they all serve to watch over and guide their systems. The Sovereign Castle has several walkways made completely of glass and crystal, and of course our Castle has skylights, and windows.”

“Wouldn’t a lot of windows, also, kind of leave them open, to attack?”

“That’s what the Keyblade Masters are for, although the Anime Royalty’s murder was special since it was an inside job; typically such is unheard of, but not improbable since the Queen’s kindness left many unfortunate situations to chance. The Disney Royalty were also known for their benevolence, that is, before their system got cut off with a Protection* in exchange for looking after the last surviving Sovereign. Needless to say that did tick off a few Royalty from other systems, but that’s beside the point, we’re all supposed to be separate anyway which makes an interesting paradox for Sister Systems” – she rounded the corner – and the arrow turned red –!

“Flinchera Incinera Smakitus*!”

Layleri whipped everyone back with Southwest Wind* - Nikkue taking the brunt of dodging a fire ball attack that lightly singed her chest – Edward pushed himself up –

“Who the hell was that?!”

“Someone’s here?!” gasped Alphonse –

“Forgive me but the flames kinda compromised my view, ow, but – he wasn’t alone” – the Stewards popped out their little orbs of light from their palms which turned into their decorated gold and twilight spears–

“Can’t you guys sense* something – anything about them?” said Edward transmuting a blade on his metal arm –

“The distortion of the merged world is impeding our Astral Abilities, but one thing is sure – they have the intent to destroy us,” said Nikkue, the red arrow was now blinking in the last spot she had reached in the cross hairs of the perpendicular hallways – “They’re going to attack again” –

“Skiddily iddily scrapit tiem*!” the aged voice echoed around the corner –

A magicked broom began to try and beat the stuffing out of the arrow, but the arrow fended it off and the broom retreated –

Edward and Alphonse blinked, “Was….that a” –

“That jerk tried to cancel my magic,” said Nikkue mockingly –

“Make them pay!” piped Layleri, and both Stewards pointed their spears at the arrow and said –

“Evolutlue areisé*!”

And the arrow sharpened itself into one armed of the elements – becoming an Elemental Familiar in the guise of a decorated sword –


“Oh, now you done pissed it off Merlin!”


“CHARGE!” yelled Layleri and the Elemental sword shot forward spouting electricity leaving the group’s view – SKEEN! The sound of metal striking metal and elemental discharges resonated clearly around the corner along with shrieks and curses and cuts –


“W-wackitu – sciza – WOAH!”

A young woman squealed in pain –

“Tifa!” –


“Give us cover Edward.”

“Sure thing!” Edward clapped his hands and pressed one to the wall next to him – the electricity and molecular grumbling of his transmutation echoed all down the halls – CROUSH!

“AHHH!”

“I’d say that was a direct hit!” Layleri snapped her fingers as the dust from the strike filled the corresponding hallways, “Now’s our chance!” – she jumped up, set her spear into the ground and pole vaulted to the wall of the hallway in combat, kicking back and forth between walls until she found two targets through the dust and twirled her spear in on them like a helicopter! –

Nikkue rushed in low with Edward and Alphonse through the dust, Nikkue pole vaulting up like Layleri – swinging her spear overhead – and with a quick use of Natural Sight*, she spotted the aged magician coughing and pushing himself up – but his colors were neutral! *What?!*

The sight was dismissed as her spear met with another – she flipped onto her feet and defended the oncoming assault –

“Your opponent is me you evil *******!”

“Hold on, we’re on the same side!” yelled Nikkue – she used her arm to block and pivot up the rival spear into her grip – then knocked out his feet from under him, pinned him cross ways with both spears – and came face to face with a wand – “Hurt him and”– but the Elemental Sword swung in above him –

“Merlin!”

“Dissmiss*!” yelled Nikkue, and the sword vanished leaving a ghostly trace to slice Merlin full through with no wound – he nearly jumped out of skin from shock catching his glasses off his nose –

WOOSH! A sudden strong breeze surged through the hallway blowing the dust away and everyone off their feet –


“*WILL I HAVE TO CLEAN UP MORE BLOOD?!*” resonated Deity South’s cry – “*BECAUSE I CERTAINLY DON’T MIND SPILLING IT TO PROTECT THE ALLIES OF THE MASTERS!*”


“Good aim Deity South,” muttered Nikkue pushing herself up.

“But we’re – ow,” Tifa grabbed her side –

“Why, why that was the voice, of – a Deity!” said Merlin through his beard all poofed around his head, he rashly combed it down with his fingers, corrected his glasses catching sight of the intruders, “You, you people….Who” – He caught Edwards’s eyes, their eyes, (Nikkue dully crossed her arms) that ever prominent feature of the–! “Great jehusafed! You’re from our Sister System!”

“WHAT?!” Cid’s cigarette nearly jumped down this throat – “UACK, (*cough*-*cough*-*cough*-)” –

“Huh, well, well, and so are they,” said Nikkue calmly, pointing to the choking Cid, Tifa, Cloud, and Leon, she rubbed the side of her head, “Damn merged world, at least when not covered in dust today, I can recognize our double citizens.”

Alphonse’s armor clinked, “Double citizens?”

“They are what they are,” said Nikkue simply before any of the four could speak, “Radiant Garden is it? Such a wonderful world, and the home of a very famous scientist known throughout the systems, Ansem, is it?” Nikkue’s yellow eyes glinted with neither maliciousness nor glee.

“Who are all of you?” asked Leon, (and particularly eyeing Layleri who so gracefully handed him and Cloud their asses) –

“The two of us are Stewards, and” –

“STEWARDS?!” Merlin squealed.

But that didn’t matter to Leon, “How did all of you get here? We saw you leave the Throne Room, and –”

“Magic,” said Nikkue bluntly throwing up jazz hands, and the sound of eon thunder cracked all around lightly shaking the hallways –

“Of all these years, Stewards, and a Deity,” breathed Merlin –

Nikkue looked blankly over the group and noticed behind them scattered somewhat idly were small luggage, “You all are trying to go to the Anime System, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes madam Steward, we are,” said Merlin.

“Just call me Nikkue” –

“And I’m Layleri, and these are the Elric brothers!” Joy for finally getting acknowledgment.

Merlin introduced his group, Nikkue nodded a greeting and replied, “I must warn you four it is not safe back home, you may be able to live a while longer in peace within the Disney System. Why do you want to return?”

“Well madam, I am also traveling with these friends of mine to the Anime System, and we, wish to help ensure the safety of the Keyblade Masters that were taken from us.”

“You mean Sora, Riku, and Kairi?”

“YES! You know” –

“I am a Steward,” said Nikkue, “And in case you haven’t guessed it by now, the Anime Royalties are dead, long dead, and Layleri and I are two of the three acting Stewards for the Anime System. Sora, Riku, and Kairi, especially Sora, are on the wish list of the Evil Beyonds that murdered your Royalty, Merlin. Sora has been murdered (*HEART STAB*) once by the Riders but revived by a Seraph, (*HEART RELIEF*) and then the three of them were nearly gutted to death during a terrible Key Brawl (*HEART PUNCH*) by the Chrost-Weik that managed to posses an entire world, Tumble-Stop (*HEART STAB*), and not to mention their lives are also being challenged by the Spirit of Reason that sees them as nothing but experimental fodder to Split them (*HEART SLAP*), and both our systems apart (*HEART SLAP*), if the chance arrives in a desperate last attempt to create something that will destroy the Lady and her subordinates. So, all in all, they’re still alive for the time being, and can use whatever help is offered, so your proposal is much appreciated.”

Yeah. Joy. Their subtle reactions made clear what words could not; a heart can crack and still beat, but the Steward had more…. Nikkue inhaled through her nose, “I suspect you, Merlin, being a wizard of high magic correct? – Were planning to arrive within Tumble-Stop? Unfortunately that world is no more” – and the Double Citizens were stabbed in their hearts for a third time –

“That’s not possible” –

“and then your next choice would have been Tokieo Town I suppose? That world has also been compromised with the highly suspicious actions of Seritouge who has rooted himself, and Euphoria and Aurocile there. I’m not sure how Double Citizens would provoke Seritouge’s interest, but since Ansem was the ruler of that world, if you still wish to come to the Anime System, then I ask after my colleagues and I are done collecting what we came here for, for all of you to come back with us to the Anime Royalty’s Castle were you will, for certain, have your chance to make a difference with the Keyblade Master’s safety.” Nikkue gave a small smile, “But first I must ask,” she rested her head on her hand, “Just how were going to try and get to our system, Merlin?”

Merlin cleared his throat, “I am one of the top magicians of the Disney System. There is no realm of magic I will not falter with to have fulfilled our mission.”

Nikkue’s smile vanished, “Even if you were to play with something you shouldn’t? Can’t those Double Citizens tell you that Ansem’s toying cost this system a lot of pain?”

Eh….

“Madam I would not have done” –

“It doesn’t matter now, it all works out,” said Nikkue simply, “Hm, it just all works out.”

Well that’s all fine and dandy but, “Is there really no way, that Tokieo Town is safe for us?” asked Tifa.

“Tifa, my dear, lady Nikkue has” –

“Why? Do you have comrades there?”

“And at, Tumble-Stop,” said Cloud.

……“I see,” said Nikkue, “I’m only concerned for your safety, but if you want to go, I will not stop you. I will ask Deity South to take you there. But, I will, ask in return for you to be our informants of Tokieo Town of any suspicious methods from Seritouge.”

“Thank-you,” said Leon.

Merlin was rustled – “Now wait a minuet” –

“It is settled then,” said Nikkue, “I will ask Deity South to bestow upon you four methods to protect yourself, but if I find that any of you in anyway compromise the Masters’ safety, I will dispatch you four myself.” Layleri happily tapped her spear –

“Le-Lady Nikkue!” –

“Don’t worry Merlin, we can take care of ourselves” –

“You” –

“It is settled Merlin,” said Nikkue, “These four think fast. They will put themselves in the face of the danger of Seritouge to protect the Masters, that is what you desired is it not? So Merlin, what will you do?”

Merlin looked all over the faces of Tifa, Cloud, Leon, and Cid; the windows to their souls was clear, their minds were made up….He gave a defeated sigh, and decided……. “I ask…that I come with you, Stewards, and eh, Elric, Brothers.”

“Grandpa Mage!” Layleri pointed –

Tick –

“Now Layleri,” said Nikkue, “I’ll ask the Deities to train him up and make him worthy of a magician based on Sovereign standards.”

Thankfully Merlin couldn’t see Cid snickering.

“Which reminds me,” said Nikkue, “This world is sealed off from the rest of the Disney System, yes?” –

“Of course!” blurted Merlin, “It was re-sealed after our entry.”

“Re-sealed? I’ll ask Deity South to make sure it was correctly done.”

Ooooooh….!

Nikkue motioned for everyone to up and at’em and follow her, “I’m glad we met Merlin, Cid, Cloud, Tifa, and Leon. Now that we all distinctly know what awaits us, if you five would so kindly follow us,” Nikkue set up Direct* again, “we four have come here for the birth records of the Masters from this system to try and help them through their legacy standards.”

“Right this way,” stuffed Merlin, and took over the lead (never-the-less the arrow stayed on top of him) to the Disney Royalty Records, a vast compiled room filled with books, and books, and books, and more books, and scrolls, and orbs, and models and – “Birth records was it?” Nikkue nodded. Merlin magicked out an almost microscopic four legged stool from his bag which expanded into its regular size, boosting his height by a full four inches…..Merlin cleared his throat and tapped his wand for attention of the room, “Higitus figitus, alla kaziem*! (His beard got caught in his wand motions – he brassily untangled it) I want your attention everything!” The monstrous bookshelves awoke to his call – the inanimate objects of the room suddenly animated at his whim – “Only what encompasses the birth records of the Keyblade Masters, please come forth, and pack yourselves neatly within my bag.” With the kick-off of Merlin’s wand waving, the records promptly began to sort themselves with the correct ones bubbily hovering over to his bag guided by his musical incantations – “Higitus figitus, alla kaziem*! Abbra, abbra, abbernack – sort yourselves from A to Z, make it easy for us to read! – Shrink in size, make it small, keep it to where we’ve got room for all! Higitus figitus alla kaziem, Presta-didja-tariem*!”

“Well, I must say this is fine magic,” said Nikkue plainly, crossing her arms as the others looked on in amazement (however Layleri yawned).

“Hmp,” Merlin kept a pleasant smile on his face as he orchestrated the hovering masses of records within his bag, “Higitus figitus alla kaziem” –

“But no doubt it’s not Sovereign Standards” –

GRR! – “Presta-didja-tari – OOH!” Merlin fell right on his rump as his stool packed itself with the bag closing.

“Thank you very much Merlin,” said Nikkue, as Edward helped him up, “That certainly was a time saver.”

“Your, welcome, Lady, Nikkue,” stuffed Merlin dusting himself off.

“Now, to the Throne Room.”….


By chance or fate, the wandering drops of aid connect. Once idle drips down a window pane, now form into a steady stream.


They walked into the Throne Room, completely restored to its former glory under the charity of Deity South….Cid looked to Merlin, who lightly rubbed his chest and looked as if his throat was choking up.

“Well, till we meet again Old Man,” said Cid holding out his hand, but from their handshake pulled one another into a parting hug.

“You children better take care,” said Merlin departing from Cid, “I want to see everyone back and healthy.”

“We will be Merlin,” said Tifa getting her parting hug, “With Sora, Riku, and Kairi too.”

Nikkue walked up to the hovering “Deity South, I have some favors to ask of you and your kin.”

“*Anything, to aid the allies of the Masters.*”


By chance or fate, the drops will form their own tide, washing away all boundaries and borders of puddled capability and intent; the contract of an outstretched hand.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

In Orbit


Bulma kept a nervous tap on the side of the monitor –

Blip – blip!

“Bulma?”

“It’s from Genkai!”

PUUSCH. Bulma was suddenly crowded in by Goku, Abigale, Pikachu, Mew, and all the Sailor Scouts whilst Spike, Jet, Chi-Chi, and Suicune kept a respectable distance; Mewtwo stood within the doorway –

“What’s it say? What’s it say?”

“Are they okay? Are they hurt!?”

“You all don’t crowd her so much,” said Jet, and they nudged themselves back.

Bulma ruffled herself, then opened the email – splat – promptly squashed down by Mew and Abigale–

“Oh! They’ve found the girl Ed and the others! And they’re okay!” Mew piped.

“Thank goodness,” said Chi-Chi; Goku plucked Abigale and Mew off a flustered Bulma.

“That little girl is in for a lot of trouble,” said Jet, “Her and Ein.”

“Is the World Order screwed up now?” asked Spike, “What kind of consequences will they have to deal with?”

Bulma shrugged her shoulders glancing through the email, “Genkai is trying to simmer that down as we speak. It’s not so much our heads on the chopping block as it is Konoha’s since they’re hosting the Chuunin Exams. Hopefully there won’t be too much negative repercussions, (*reading*), huh, there are rumors going around that our, ‘Star Village’, might be in some way connected with the Emotionless (“Awesome were getting blamed now for **** we didn’t do”); they grew more suspicious after catching wind of the averted second attack” –

“Second attack?!”

“ – outside the village borders.”

“Another Death General?!”

“No, no,” said Bulma calming her own nerves, “(*Reading*) Hm, some kind of, tiny black snake that can grow itself to an overwhelming size, it was described as being capable of swallowing Lugia whole” –

“Damn” –

“But Lugia managed to beat it back, and it retreated into a portal; everyone’s okay.”

“So it attacked Ed, Ash, Pharaoh, and Ein?” asked Jet.

“Yes, but, they’re okay,” said Bulma – blip, blip~!

“Another email?” (Goku still had a hold on Abigale) –

“Yeah,” Bulma opened it, “(*Reading*) Okay, listen up guys, Genkai has…oh, Konoha has been pressured by the leaders to ensure the safety of the exams, therefore, heh, they’re asking Genkai to pull as many of us, ‘Star Shinobi’, as she can call to help safeguard the duration of the Chuunin Exams….” Some others looked a bit excited (*cough*GokuandAbigale*cough*) but Bulma only looked more distressed –

“Well at least that gets more of us down there,” said Raye, “We can look for the Keyhole” –

“Bulma? What’s wrong,” asked Serena.

“Well you remember why we were restricted to groups of three in the first place right?” said Bulma, “There’s an Outsider down there that can change its shape and disguise itself; the limited groups of three was supposed to reduce the risk of exposing our entire group to it.”

“Because they’ve been pretty much wearing targets on their foreheads, right?” said Spike.

“Heritage is a big issue, if not the basis for the world order of the shinobi,” said Bulma, “You must be proud of what you are….And it only gets better,” she said finishing off the first email, “You guys remember when Sephiroth was talking about, y’know, our domestic evils back on Tumble-Stop?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah well, the one brooding around Konoha is called Orochimaru, at least for now, with him having Astral Abilities…..That shape-shifting snake monster that attacked Ed, Ash, and Pharaoh, and Ein was, a pet of his, and, (*gulp*) he also managed to lure Sora, and Shonen Bat down into a deep dark trench with Kakashi and a young genin by disguising his aura under the auras of Ed, Ash, and Pharaoh……But, they’re all okay.”……..

….. “How the hell did he get their auras?”

“Genkai and Vincent think that snake somehow, sampled, their auras, and relayed it back to Orochimaru, telepathically since the two groups were attacked close to the same time.”

Spike crossed his arms, “Hmp, so they were outmaneuvered from the start. With a reconnaissance weapon like that, it’d of been only a matter of time and thankfully Lugia was the one that met it since it fought it off; if anything, Ed’s adventure alerted us to that creature sooner.”

“He didn’t use Ein’s aura,” Abigale whispered to Goku.

“Maybe the snake couldn’t see him, that puppy is rather small,” replied Goku, Abigale’s puppy barked in agreement.

“Well, here’s somewhat good news, if we could only utilize it,” said Bulma, “They found there is a loophole with Orochimaru’s aura abuse, he can’t replicate Astral Traces, what resonates as those with Astral Abilities –”

“Pefect!” piped Mew and looked to Pikachu, but Pikachu looked to Suicune since, “she” could actually speak.

“What’s perfect?”

Suicune stepped up, “If its aura sensing this guy can toy with then we can fight back on his terms and make the village a little safer. I’m sorry this wasn’t brought to your attention sooner, but we recently discovered this ourselves, every pokemon that has left our homeworld can sense* auras, and Astral Traces within them if they have it.” Pikachu gave huge nods. “Hm, I thought I felt something weird when Ash left, I somehow knew he left without, being psychic.”

“Sense*!” smiled Bulma with a smile of hope spreading over her face, “Are you serious? (Suicune and Pikachu nodded) Oh my gosh – that is a perfect sense*! Then all these pokemon come with perfect sense* abilities! This is WONDERFUL!”

“That changes the game plan in our favor at least right?”

“It gives us an edge.”

“They’ll be able to sense* the Outsiders!” said Bulma clapping her hands.

“Are you absolutely certain they all come with the Perfect Sense*?” asked Amy, and Pikachu nodded greatly again.

“Yes,” said Suicune.

“I’ll email Genkai immediately and tell her,” said Bulma already typing away, “Oh, by the way who wants to go down? This information might change if we can stretch our legs or not.”

All the scouts, except for Amy, raised their hands, Pikachu did, all the legends (Suicune and Mewtwo nodded), Goku, Abigale, and Spike –

“We get to go see ninjas?!” piped Abigale –

“We get to go see ninjas!” piped Goku back –

“Oh no you don’t little missy,” said Chi-Chi, “You’re staying right here.”

“Aww….”

“You’re a Key, Abby,” said Chi-Chi, “The bad guys are looking for you.”

“I’m also the strongest person here!” she piped, “I can heal almost any injury, physical or spiritual, and can pummel any stupid head into the ground!” Her puppy barked, “And in being a Key, I can call on the power of any Gate, but like only for short amounts of time, they’re very hard control for me.”

“You can actually call the Gates here? But I thought” –

“I’m not just a medium to fully call them,” said Abigale, “I can only do that once, then after that, I’ll die, but I don’t want to die, so I can just tap into their power instead. Look, if I get caught, I’ll dispose of myself” –

“No, no, no, no,” said Bulma and then Abby latched onto Goku’s leg –

“I’ll never leave his side! I promise! I promise! Please, I don’t wanna stay cooped up in here, I died once trapped on a heart broken world, I don’t want to die so empty again.”

Nyeah, a little awkward and both Bulma and Chi-Chi were left with their hands cradling the headache in their heads.

“You promise not to leave my side, right?” said Goku –

“Promise!” piped Abby. *Heh heh,* Abby thought to herself, *The ole ‘second chance at life’ bit is definitely a keeper.*

“The village will be a lot safer with all the pokemon about,” said Serena; point for Abby.

“And it’d be nice to get all the critters out and about to stretch their legs too, and do, other stuff,” said Spike (and right on que the little pidgey made itself known in the room with a threatening prrrrrriiiiiii-piiiiiiiidgey-coo) –

“I’m sure most will be willing to help,” said Suicune.

Blip-blip~!

“(*Reads*) As many as y’all can get!” Bulma clapped, “They’re, she and the Hokage, are asking for as many as possible – can you, legends gather them up and, like brief them?”

“At once,” said Suicune and she, Mew, Mewtwo (keeping his silence) and Pikachu left.

“What about who wants to go down?” asked Lita.

“And what about the forehead protectors, and don’t we need to, change or something?” asked Goku.

“We don’t have any more of our forehead protectors (Goku and Abigale gave sad faces), but I’m sure we don’t need to advertise the Star Village anymore. (*Reads*) Everyone can just go as is, if anything our clothes will keep up us, labeled, I’m sure,” and Bulma began typing another email to report who was going. “Keep in mind guys, there’s a lot of danger down there, that one Outsider that can take on the form of anyone it sees, Orochimaru, mister disguise his aura, and who knows who else, but, (*clap*) our pokemon are gonna smoke ‘em out! Oh! It’d probably be a good idea if you all had at least one to accompany you at all times as well. Y’all go on and find a buddy, I’ll set up the transporter now.” And they departed – Serena squealed,

“I know just which one I’m gonna get, I think saw a little cute bunny~!”

“I think I’ll find a cat,” said Spike; the door closed.

“Oh my god! That moon shaped one is perfect for you Serena!” came Raye’s voice through the door –

“No way, those eyes are creepy!”

Amy took a seat at a monitor with a curious thought bubbling up under her chin, “You know, her little adventure was well thought out though. (And so Jet’s attention was caught). After I reviewed the computer strokes, they had hacked into Bebop’s mainframe and set up their location transfer to be triggered by a single button right out from under any of Bebop’s system defenses. And, they weren’t teleporting under any fleeting whim, they had scanned for a close location to Konoha devoid of any Emotionless.”

“Hold on, she scanned for Emotionless?” said Bulma, “How –”

“I’m guessing they can’t be tracked?” asked Jet –

“Of course not!” –

“Ed and Ein must’ve written that program themselves, I’ve never seen a type like it before,” said Amy, “There isn’t any piece of technology that I know that can actually detect grounds that are favored by the Emotionless, they are a shifting entity, they can appear anywhere, but the program she used insists they had found grounds where Emotionless shied away from, however…” –

“Then how the hell did she do it with the equipment Bebop has?” said Jet.

“I don’t know,” said Amy, “I need to investigate it further, but it looks like they manipulated the Portal Scanner to pick up some kind of wavelength, one that can somehow relate areas Emotionless favor, if there even is such a thing.”

“What about that thing that attacked them?” said Jet, “They were still attacked so that program was a failure regardless.”

“That thing was not an Emotionless,” said Amy, “The snake could shift its size right Bulma? (Bulma nodded) Emotionless have permanent forms, they can’t change their size or shape.”

Jet gave an uncomfortable inhale, “Well aside from the fact Ed may have written a useful program, she still put herself and others in danger. That can’t go unexcused.”

“I know, but the fact still stands that this program could be of great use, it could possibly help us detect where Keyhole locations are with the sway of Emotionless.” Amy turned to Bulma, “…..At least, report that to Genkai and Vincent.”

………………………………………………..
??????


Listen.

Listen.

Listen.

No one will listen to me. Just as I predicted, when I screamed, the shadows on the shore just watched me fade away in the grip of the current. I will fight against it with all my might, to go back to those silent shadows, but it’ll carry me farther and farther away till the last of my strength gives out, and I submerge underneath the waves……..free at last.


Clop, clop; clop, clop; clop, clop; clop, clop, the sound of the hooves of the steeds echoed sharply all throughout the castle, their wheezing breath growing louder with each inhale, approaching ever so steadily towards a King and his expecting Queen sitting sturdily in their thrones.

Lining the Rider’s path through the castle was the Royalty’s collection of elite guards dressed in full body armor from head to toe – a guard with green eyes and a guard with red eyes, caught a sideways glance from Equos and Eucla respectively; Equos shook its head and snorted.

The two-story decorated doors to the Throne Room opened as their weight would allow, the enormous, ancient hinge’s moan shook the room; and the Riders were revealed to the King and Queen (she absently placed her hand over her bulge). Before the Royalty stood their collection of guards with one prominent young male Keyblade Master dual wielding a blade of the day, and one of the night, standing front and center next to the captain of the guard.

The Rider’s steeds kept an even pace towards the protection on guard; Equos snorting soot and fire and Gnu licking and chomping his teeth; they all stopped just 10 feet away.

“Thank-you for the warm welcome, your Majesties,” said the Black Rider, “But why all the protection? You must know what we’re here for, there will not be any violence if you just give us what we seek, the Birth Records of your Keyblade Masters (the King’s eyes narrowed), and we will gladly be on our way.”

The guards stood tense, the aura of the Riders threatened to completely supersede theirs; it was like standing next to a black hole for souls…..

“Certainly, we have every intention to grant your request, Rebirth per Decessus,” said the King, he stood up and held out his hand, “Here is what you seek.”

From behind the guards emerged an old woman, a little waddling librarian with oversized glasses and undersized feet. She carried a stack of books topped off with scrolls that rose well over her head, and presented them to the Black Rider, “Here, my lords. Each book is presented – (the Black Rider led his hand down to his hilt – the sneak was spotted by the young Master) – with accounts from the” –

– “Granberry–!”

SKEESCK – in a single swing from the Ebony sword, the captain of the guard was knocked through a window, and young Master was knocked to the wall, his Keyblade stabbing stuck into the ground, a lump of flesh hit the wall next to him, fell, and rolled to his leg– “AHHHHHH!”

The steeds roared (Eulca with her silent scream that just emitted pressure), shattering windows and cracking marble, the guards and royalty were almost frozen in shock (though the king managed to use his own body to shield the Queen as specks of marble rained down on them) – the guards snapped up and those present held up their weapons as others began to run in through the Throne Room doors, “Your majesty–!” TOOM. The doors shut with uncanny speed (and upon one unfortunate soul).

The fluttering of book pages from the attack floated down about the Riders, spontaneously bursting into little embers which made the shiny floor seemed decorated with starlight; the steeds and Riders held their ground, the eyes of the steeds slightly glowing.

“That was your first warning,” growled the Black Rider holding his sword straight up letting the drops drop down, “Do you take us for fools?” –

Gnu licked the tip of a guard’s spear.

The body of the little librarian exposed her true colors as the court magician…. – the King stood protectively before his Queen, and their guards before them; the young Master pushed himself up, but a sharp pain across his middle didn’t let him get far –

“You have so much at stake, and you gambled it all on a cheap trick like that?!” the Green Rider yelled, “Your wife is heavy with child! Two pieces of your court is lost! Your Master is, injured!” –

“And our patience grows thin,” sneered the Black Rider acting like his hand was burning by holding his sword, “Typical,” he spat, ““How typical. When you try to do one thing, you humans usually end up doing another” – a glow appeared in the upper part of the Throne Room, it split into two parts and dropped down into two guards before the young Master, each holding a Keyblade –

The Riders merely stood in a blank curiosity, Equos gave a heavy breath. “They hid their auras from us,” the Black Rider said with a little bit of amazement.

“Father please! Just give them what they want!” pleaded one guard with a young feminine voice.

“This bloodshed is pointless!” said with other, her voice practically identical, “We cannot alone stand against them!”

“You fools gave away your position,” said the King darkly.

“Please Father!”

“You birthed Masters?” said the Green Rider, “Quite a rarity.” And the Riders were gathered back to their main objective –

“Your majesty, we are at a lost!” a guard cried –

“Listen to your daughters and subordinates,” said the Black Rider, “Just give us the Birth Records, and under the order of our lady, we will leave peacefully!” Equos stomped its right foot – “Do not provoke us further!”

“Don’t worry big brother,” whispered the guard on the left to the young Master on the floor, “We’ll protect you today.”

“Kema” –

“Great Riders we beseech you,” both guards got down on one knee, “Forgive our Father,” (the king’s eyes narrowed), both guards held out a hand and opened it revealing a shinning tiny cover in both, the covers joined and made a tiny shining book, “Take this token as a” – the King thrust out his hand and the chests of the guards exploded out in fire over the young Master, incinerating the little golden book as well –

Equos screamed and the other steeds became just as panicked – the Green Rider covered her mouth in shock and the Blue Rider had to yank his reins hard to the right for fear of Gnu snapping into all-out insanity…….. “By the lady,” his mouth gagged as he covered it to try and not vomit –

The helmets of the Masters had been blown off, revealing the green and red eyed guards as blue haired young female twins, their faces in an eternal soft state of disbelief, their bodies falling in heavy lifeless thuds near the young Master….*clench*…..for the second time his soul wailed in agony, exponentially defined as he pushed himself to get closer to their charred remains – “No, noooo – NOOOOOOO!”

The Black Rider whipped around to the King – “WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS?! YOU’D KILL YOUR OWN MASTERS?!”

The Queen’s voice finally came up her throat and cried out a scream that cut through the castle and tried to run to the fallen twins but the King held her down – the guards shook within their armor, the Queen’s shrieks resonating the metal by their ears –

The Black Rider grasped his head with one hand and trembled, “A Royalty to murder their own Masters……Never before have we witnessed such madness….”


If every reaction deserves an opposite, equal reaction, then there would be no order –


The Chrost-Weik caught fire within the Riders…….Equos began walking in thick, stomping steps towards the King – CL – CLOP, CL – CLOP, CL – CLOP – he extended his arms wide, “Move aside, all of you, make way for the Rider,” said the King, and the guards did. “Take my life as forfeit, and leave this system with the satisfaction of revenge; the birth records are no more, you have no further business here.”

“And give you the right to be called a Martyr? I don’t think so,” the Black Rider whispered. “Why did you think we were so dangerous? Even after our lady has ordered us to not do any killings? We wouldn’t dare disobey her, not her…….”

“I herby order you Rebirth per Decessus to accept my life as payment for the Birth Records,” Equos walked up the steps to the King, “Under the command of the Royalty Code of the Sovereigns – you must obey me” – the Black Rider swung his sword up high –

“OBEY?!” – CLEEN! – with a swipe of his ebony sword, the Black Rider knocked off the King’s crown dropping him to his knees –

“Wha-what?!”

Single handedly the Black Rider swung his sword back up and – SPSHCK……it was not the King he stabbed.

The image trapped the guards and young Master to replay itself in their minds for a second of eternity.

The Queen couldn’t let out a breath or scream of horror looking down and seeing an ebony sword stabbed through – the Black Rider yanked out his weapon and the Queen was jerked out of her seat landing face down onto the floor……

“No more lives will succumb to your reign,” growled the Black Rider, the eyes of the steeds rolled back into their heads, and they began to gag and spit as if their lungs weren’t getting air – the Rider’s of the End of the World beings were merging with the flames – their cloaks blew as a dark wind kicked up through the room – their robes catching dark fire in yells of ecstasy and fear –

The distraught young Master heard a curling low violin hum from above him, looked up, and saw a grinning fox and rabbit mix head bending over through the wall and looking right down on him; he felt himself be lifted by a ghostly paw with swimming flesh that rose through the ground, the other paw gently clasping down over him –

The inhabitants of the world souls caught fire and a shrill symphony of wails of horror broke the heart of the world -

“Is this how Royalty can be bent to treat the Masters? The Lady has said what’s left must be protected.”

The Kings eyes were wide with the form that was now before him, a burning decaying body of the dark steed Equos – the simple robes of the Black Rider traded in for solid armor looking as if it was molded from the claw marks and grip of Chernabog –

“You are looking for information that will bend existence to the whim of a demon,” said the King, “You are consumed by the walking embodiment of the Chrost-Weik! You will take us down a path to eternal darkness!”

Hmp! Are not.

“And you believe your actions are any different?” said the Black Rider in a double voice, “If two devils are to dominate this physical plain, then our darkness will be lighted by the flames burning the corpses of those who seek to contain it. We’ll burn it all, all limitations – and release the true Nature of the physical plain!” – Equos reared up – “For too long have the cries been ignored! The contained are made dangerous because, you, don’t, listen – and when humans don’t listen, people, get, KILLED!” – WOOSH –

A star shined in the sky and went out, the light of that world turned to darkness. All that remains upon it is a single human with a body burned to live on forever through the scorn of souls ripped from his world to fuel his cursed life, all alone in that darkness, till his soul rots from the inside out.
…………………

Ooh, you better hold your hands tightly together children. It is true little droplets are mighty together, but if those bonds that you are making break away, better make sure that you can grab them back! Nothing is more embarrassing than to be crushed under the weight of your own hand!

…………………………………………………

Konohagakure Village


“Orochimaru-sama, certainly we can’t disregard the Star Shinobi’s efforts to secure the Village? These creatures, they have Perfect Sense* – you and Bakura won’t be able to” –

“They’re banking too much on that ability*,” said Orochimaru coolly, “A bullet can easily penetrate a chain link fence.”

“Then you have a plan?”

“It came with good timing I’ll admit, but I’ve discovered the auras that have been superimposed on me do indeed have the Astral Traces, but for some reason my own Traces, cancels them out if you will.”

“So in other words, we’ll need to make Soul Puppets*.”

“Yes, just a little modified version of the one the Lady is developing, her Death Generals, ours won’t nearly be so advanced though. We’ll take people that have never left this world, shouldn’t be too hard, and super impose auras with Traces in them to lure Sora’s counters away from the main event. Yes, it seems the solution is that simple.” He gave a slippery grin, “No to mention the Village is crawling with Opposite Hearts now, (*wicked chuckle*). Opposite Hearts in this quantity is a rare opportunity.”

“You should be in excellent standing with Nefero and the Lady after this harvest.”

“Indeed, why take a look at this cute little guy,” Orochimaru held up a Vulpix trying to bite him, he wiggled his finger in front of it, “I’ll admit I wish I had caught one of the snake types, but I was in a hurry” – chomp – “Such manners” – KA-CHOMP – Orochimaru bite the Vulpix on the back of its neck – the poor thing went wide eyed yelping in pain as a cursed mark developed where Orochimaru had bitten, its eyes now holding a glossy glint over them; the curse mark laid on the Vulpix’s skin, under its fur. Orochimaru dropped the Vulpix onto its feet, and the little creature sat obediently next to him. “Well, your little heart didn’t take very much to break, now did it?” he smiled.

“Perhaps your powers are growing stronger from your Astral Abilities.”

“My ideal knowledge is growing, but there are still important gaps that must be filled, and I must have a body that will able to take me to those final lengths.”

“So what do you have in mind as of now? The prelims have concluded, and the finals will approach quickly with the preparation we need from the Star Shinobi’s interference.”

Orochimaru looked to the hospital of Konoha, and then the quarters of the Hokage; the little Vulpix cooed. “We must rip apart the bonds Sora and Sasuke have, let their minds open up to opportunities not bound by counters.” Orochimaru felt all the auras he had collected within him, lacing them with his own deadly smile. “Tomorrow, you and Envy will do a little cherry picking, and while you’re at it, take this creature and place it somewhere close to a vein.”

----------


Moonlight set a dull glow upon Konohagakure Village, like the light from under a stretch of skin. Atop a building, Mewtwo kept a careful watch over his portion of the village, utilizing his sense* to its full potential. A Duskull hovered lazily by, doing a loop-de-loop in front of him to show respect, but Mewtwo took no notice, and the Duskull floated off agitated……A cloud came, and slowly passed under the moon..…….. “That’s funny how ghost types can die. How ‘gods’ can die.”….Darkrai wasn’t the only one who felt the disappearance of the thousand arm legend as the world of pokemon sank into a merge….Mewtwo felt Suicune and Mew in their positions.... “…..Hm, and then there were three.”

Within the night sky, like sudden slivers over stars, the flying remnants of Kanto diligently kept patrol as many others kept watch on the ground. Within Konoha’s hospital, an Arcanine and Houndoom yawned within Sasuke’s hospital room. A Salamence and Flygon landed on top of the Hokage’s quarters and somewhere around Konoha’s border’s the ground gently trembled from the monstrosities that dug below.

Suicune stretched her legs; she was stationed at the welcoming gate of Konoha. She sighed through her mouth and looked off into the direction where Mewtwo was stationed, sensing his aura, and nothing else. “Are you still grieving Mewtwo? How long will it take for your heart to heal?....Hm…Not that I don’t harbor scar tissue of my own….You must remember that sacrifices are only worthy if those who survive will it.”

Mew’s little snores could be daintily heard from being curled up in the arms of a Gardevoir near a Ramen eatery.


The rest of that day had seen only the strain of coordinating the new protection Konoha had gained (“Are you kidding me?! Those whiny punk *** country leaders are not even here and they’ve been *****ing all this time?!” “Think of it like a practice run before they get here Shonen. No one wants to die and leave their country in shambles or a power grab.” “Pffft, this world sucks” – WHOP.)

With the Prelims for the Chuunin exams concluding without a hitch, the young genin walked out into a village suddenly invaded by monsters of all shapes and forms –“ACK!” – the orange ninja, Naruto, ducked as a Pigeot suddenly took a blank dive at him – “Hey! What was that for you big chicken!”

“Oh man, they’re everywhere!” exclaimed Kiba.

“Look at that one with giant leaves for wings! Are those bananas around its neck?”

“Freaky” –

“These are creatures from the land of the Star Shinobi,” said the Third Hokage, “They are going to help us beef up security around here for a while, at least until the Chuunin exams have ended, so all of you, treat them with respect, don’t mess with them, and they won’t mess with you.”

“EEK!” – a Lickitung made its presence most known to a girl genin with pale eyes, “Shoo! Shoo!”


Earlier, Lugia had broken the ice of sudden said pocket monster invasion with its less than discrete arrival into the heart of the village –

“Oh my god!”

“What is that thing?!”

“It’s heading straight for the –!” TOOM, Lugia dropped down from a small amount of exhaustion – landing right in front of the Hokage’s Mansion upon spotting Sora – he let out a squeal –

“You guys – you’re all okay!” – he hugged Lugia’s purple chest even though that meant pretty much just leaning up spread eagle against the girth of the beast, Lugia cooed and nudged back –

(A crowd was gathering around them, (“More Star Shinobi?” “Yes! Look at their forehead protectors!” “What kind of creature is that?” “The Star Shinobi must have something to do with it!”) Pharaoh was getting a mixed vibe from the curiosity of the crowd, and Ed kept her eyes away from all contact) –

“Ya caught wind of that huh?” piped Ash as Lugia settled, “Lugi whipped its butt!”– and then Shonen Bat shoved Sora out the way –

“Where is that little brat?! I’m gonna beat her into her ******* grave–!” and then Lugia kicked him up and over, but he quickly scuttled back up to the legend – “How dare you pull a stunt like that!” – Lugia kicked him again –

“I’m sorry, but we were attacked!” yelled Ash (the crowd gasped), “I didn’t have a choice! Look I’ll take whatever pun –”

Ed grabbed his shoulder, “No” –

Shonen Bat scuttled back up, “You idiot! Are you a girl?! I’m talking about Ed! And her little dog too!” [Dramatic point!]

“Ed?” Pharaoh and Ash looked back to her, her eyes still under her goggles; Ein put his ears back. She took her hands off of Ash while Pharaoh put one on her shoulder, “What’s this about?”

Gee, could a crowd of people have been more inconvenient? Thankfully the Jounin and ANBU that were allowed to be on search had arrived and began to disperse the crowd – “They protected us again! Tell the Hokage!” But that praise bounced off the situation.

Sora crossed his arms at her, “Ed, look at me. You too Ein.” They did; Ed lifted up her goggles, and her eyes confessed; Ash cocked his head, but Lugia picked up that hurtful vibe…..And Pharaoh was starting to feel it too……

“I’m sorry, I’m, really sorry Big Yugi, Ash, Sora,” said Ed, sinking with each word.……..Although they weren’t quite sure yet of the reason for Ed’s guilt, something within the both of Ash and Pharaoh began to pulse and sink….Ed squirmed clasping her hands and stretching her arms in front of her looking down. “I’m sorry, I put your cub in danger Big Yugi….” Pharaoh retreated his hand from Ed……..

Shonen Bat crossed his arms as well and quickly tapped the ground with his skate; Sora sighed, “Listen, as soon as we’re done securing the Village, we’re gonna have a little talk, understand?”

Ed and Ein nodded.

Lugia was recalled, and the four of them were sent to be kept within the Hokage’s office.

Up there, in their solitude, Ed told Pharaoh and Ash the truth behind their little adventure……

She had her knees bent up, hugging them. “I never meant to put you guys, in such danger……That program……We were so sure it was gonna be safe, that there wouldn’t be any Emotionless around……but……”

“Emotionless aren’t the only bad things out there Ed,” said Ash strictly, “That thing Lugia fought, it, wasn’t a Heartless, or a Nobody, or, thank goodness, an Untouchable – that didn’t cross your mind?”

“I thought they were all away from here, Nefero, and, the other two, and the Riders were banished.”

“No Ed,” said Pharaoh in just as tense a tone, “Not them, there are other people from within worlds that can do us harm. Even with the dangers of the Lady and her subordinates, and the Emotionless, there are still those domestic evils that we have to worry about – there are dangers everywhere, and steps have to be taken to ensure everyone’s safety. One little mess up can cost people their lives, could’ve cost us our lives.”

Ed curled up on the ground. Both boys could see a fit of abnormal calculation coming through Ed’s eyes; Ein put a paw on her leg.

“I’m sure you had every intention of keeping us safe Ed,” said Ash, “And didn’t mean to miss-interpret the other evils, but you gotta realize we’re doing dangerous stuff. We don’t have time to be messing around, Sora’s got a job to do, and so do we, the least we can do is not jeopardize any of what we are trying to accomplish.”

An icy silence was taking over the room, but, before it could solidify, and perhaps through a defining leap of contact, Pharaoh asked, “Surely, Ed, you and Ein must’ve realized that you were going to get in trouble either way,” said Pharaoh.

“I didn’t care about that. I just wanted to help you make friends.”

Ash was still a bit irked at that odd reason, not that he didn’t understand it but, “You know, that stuff kinda comes nat…tur…ally. We’re all in this together, I mean, I’m sure in due time there would’ve bee –”

“THIS COULDN’T WAIT!”

Pharaoh, Ash, and Ein jumped.

“I don’t ever want to feel Yugi’s door that cold ever again! There wasn’t supposed to be any danger, I just wanted to help protect him too. You only caught the sad part of Lorenia taking the Dark Atone disease from Yugi, but Reaper threatened Pharaoh that if Yugi’s heart wasn’t coaxed by friends from the outside then Yugi would relapse and fall victim to it again! Reaper hurt Pharaoh, how could he have told him he was doing a terrible job with caring for Yugi? He’s in pain too! It’s not his fault! Was he trying to give Pharaoh that disease too?! Doesn’t anyone care to take a step back and listen to what people have been going through?! It hurts! And it’ll keep on hurting for a good while until it vents itself out through the valves of other people, through an outstretched hand. If we’re really in this together, we have to open up to one another.”


That evening, Mewtwo suddenly found Suicune at his post, “What are you doing?! You should be” –

“A powerful Alakazam has temporarily taken my position. Mewtwo….” Suicune walked up to him and rested next to him, she nudged for him to sit down; he did, obediently, childishly pouting. “Why don’t you talk to me, for a little bit, tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Pfft, what are you getting at?” he responded bluntly resting his arms on his legs.

Suicune leaned on him, “I miss them too.”

Mewtwo exhaled through his nose and leaned back against her, “I’m fine Suicune, just a little tired that’s all.”


Ed took an inhale and continued, “I had to do something, I didn’t care if Ein and I got in trouble for it (Ein gave a weird puppy cough), I thought Vincent would stress Yugi more, he’s not exactly Mr. sensitive.”

“Maybe that’s the point?” said Ash and looked to Pharaoh, “I don’t know you guys, that well, but that sounds like he’s trying to toughen him up a little, and Vincent’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.”……Ash and Pharaoh knocked on the floorboards.

“Well there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it,” said Ed like a puffer fish.

“’What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger,’” replied Ash.

“’You don’t use a hatchet to remove a fly from someone,’” replied Ed.

Whelp, point in case, after hearing both arguments, Pharaoh remembered back on Tumble-Stop when they met Sora for the first time, and how people just walked on by as Yugi poured his soul out to Sora. It was none of their business perhaps, still traveling on their way, and Tumble-Stop didn’t exactly have a majority of cheerful people with, well, all of them misplaced from their homes, so someone crying was quite the norm, but still…In regards to an outstretched hand as opposed to a push from one, a push is needed every now and then, it is encouragement in its driest form, and even though Ed was vying for a rather “guided” outstretched hand, they were all shoved in this new direction, and funny enough, still indirectly – perhaps from some mysterious force by the name of “luck”.


Away-a-ways, Shonen Bat skated alongside Sora, “You know I hope the two of those boys give Ed a piece of their minds for putting them through that.”

Sora felt a strange tingle, “You know, I don’t think it’s gonna play out that way.”

“Why wouldn’t it? She put them through hell! They could’ve been” –

“Riku and I did some pretty dangerous stuff together when we were kids, heh, we still do, but I digress. Even if it came from awkward, weird, or even dangerous means, Riku and I always forgave each other.”

Shonen Bat tilted his head at Sora, “And that applies to the three amigos how?”

“I don’t think Lugia was kicking you because you annoyed Ash.”


Ed’s tone fell for one not her typical pitch, she pinched her feet, and looked to the ground, “I don’t want the Dark Atone Disease to come back to Yugi. I thought I could jump start, something....Instead I pr’actically ended it,” she pinched her feet harder, “You’re right Ash, some’ting like that, only comes nat~urally….But then, why does Yugi and Pharaoh have to wait so long?”

There was a silence again. It wasn’t an icy silence……It was more like the silent embracing of a mother’s scorn, hitting all of them with some level of guilt for one reason or another, reasons that were and could’ve never have been their fault, basically, how they could’ve helped one another more, how they all ended up here, and where could they go next…….They…… “Half the battle Ed, is opening up, to those other people,” said Pharaoh…….. “We didn’t help ourselves, or at least start until we had contact with the Masters. It’s foolish to think other people can solve your own problems, and even foolish still to think they can’t.”

“Huh?”

“Sorry, I’m not quite sure how to put this into words,” said Pharaoh, “Hmmm, it is a very weird and sometimes scary tightrope to walk, and it can’t be walked any other way than to constantly fall off moving, in a, forward…direction?” The weird looks from Ash and Ed (and Ein) didn’t help, anywho, “But it sure does help, when there’s someone like you (looking at Ed) coaxing them...to…keep moving.”

Concept grasped :) .

Ash smiled, “Yeah, when it comes to that, they don’t really have much of a choice.” Ed stretched out from her curl, and gave a little chuckle.

That warm affinity began to resonate its truest; the silence was loud with unspoken words in the faces of the three friends.

“Well then, I guess this is how ours started,” said Ash, Ed looked right into his eyes, he gave half a smile. “I used to know a pretty pushy girl, kind like how you’re acting, and when she started something, it always turned out alright, even if the result wasn’t what she expected since eh, most of times she started stuff with me, but I digress.”

Ed looked to Pharaoh, and he replied with the other half of the smile, but then they both blossomed under sighs.

“Oh man, what are we gonna do with her Pharaoh?” asked Ash through his smile.

“I don’t know, she raised a lot of trouble.”

Ed blinked, smiled, then stretched again, “Well, I’m gonna get a spankin’.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll have company to cry it over,” said Ash –

“I don’t cry, but,” Ed stood up and hugged Pharaoh tightly, “I’m sorry Big Yugi.”

He gently hugged back, and took another step, “I forgive you.”

She then whispered to his heart under his hug, “I’m sorry Yugi, when you wake up, I’m gonna show you and Pharaoh and Ash something cool on my computer,” Pharaoh hugged her tighter,

“From both of us.”

Ed gave an open smile, then moved over and hugged Ash, “I’m sorry Ash.”

“Ah don’t worry about it, Lugia and Rayquaza can handle the toughest of them – but now we know what dangers are out there right?”

Ed enthusiastically nodded, “I won’t ever make that mistake again.”


Soon it was night, and all was settled……The moonlight no longer shone through a cloudy transparency, the beams were radiant and clear.

Ed (with her hands respectfully behind her) and Ein was before the Hokage behind his desk, and Genkai, Vincent, Kakashi, Sora, and Shonen Bat; Ash (reunited with Pikachu) and Pharaoh had taken a seat off to the side; Pharaoh lightly rubbing his chest over his heart, and Ash was petting Pikachu down his back.

Inside Genkai’s pocket, her mini-monitor lay warm.

The Hokage gave a sigh, “In light of all this information provided to me about the ramifications of your actions Ed, and Ein. I must say in a weird turn of events some good came out of this near tragedy. We’ve been alerted of Orochimaru’s creature, his Soul Skin* ability, and the pokemon’s wonderful Perfect Sense* ability. Also, if Kakashi had faced Orochimaru alone, who knows what would’ve happened, even if he was only ‘browsing.’ Not to mention some fine Star Shinobi up above us is developing as we speak a Keyhole Location program with the one you and Ein developed to pick out your landing location.” The Third straightened himself, “Whilst I certainly don’t condone your actions of betraying the trust of the two fine gentlemen behind you, and endangering the entire Star Shinobi Clan, I am not the one fit to deliver you your punishment.”

*Oh thank god he’s not gonna kick her out of the village,* Pharaoh, Ash, and Sora simultaneously thought.

“The two young men have forgiven you, as have your fellow clan members.”

*Unwillingly,* Shonen Bat thought, and Sora elbowed him.

“And I on behalf of the Leaf Village forgive you as well.” He tilted his head down at Ed, “Now, don’t you ever do something like this again, understand?”

Ed and Ein cutely nodded, “I’m still getting punished right?”

“Oh you’re gonna get what’s coming to you,” said Genkai, “However we’re gonna split the bill. Vincent and I are also at fault for not utilizing the potential everyone can contribute in safeguarding our people and Konoha’s.” Vincent side glanced Genkai. *What? We both overlooked the pokemon’s potential.* “We’ll inform you about it more tomorrow, you’ll be accompanying a group of us along with Ash and Yugi on a little training expenditure, as for tonight, thank your lucky stars you are alive.”

Ed promptly turned to Ash and Pharaoh and said, “Thank-you!”

Sora smiled and looked to Shonen Bat who inflated his cheeks with air.


Outside the Hokage’s Office’s door, “What kind of training do you think they’re gonna be doing?” asked an excited Goku with Abby by his side (and a Primeape next to him) to the scouts (each with an eveelution ) and Spike (stuck with the Pidgey ).

“Dunno. Why you wanna go with them?” asked Serena, an Umbreon pawed at her leg.

“Yeah!” – the door opened and they all fell through –

“OOF!”

- Spike caught himself on his knees with the Pidgey fling in front of his chest to keep him from falling completely forward –

“Why am I just not surprised anymore?” said Genkai stepping over them with the other exiting out after her.

Spike looked up with Ed hopping right in front of him, he took a deep inhale, “Don’t ever do that again, understand? You’re still gonna get an earful from Jet when you get back up there.”

“Yeah, you have to be more careful okay?” said Lita, “It was noble what you were trying to do, but you’re going about it all wrong.”

“These things happen naturally,” added Serena, “It’ll just fall into place; you’ll see.”

Ed replied with a big grin with Ash and Pharaoh leaving the office after Sora, “Y’know, you’re completely right.”

An ANBU appeared in a twirl of smoke – “COOL!” Ed screamed –

He gave an unsure wave at her and turned towards the Third, “Hokage-sama, the Star units are reporting a retreat of an unknown Outsider that was within the village; unfortunately before we could apprehend him, he disappeared.”

“Heh, smoked him right out!” piped Goku, Abby clapped –

“He was actually inside?” said Shonen Bat…he slipped a glimpse down to the torn Light Cloak….but still! – That shouldn’t have mattered! –

“We had a good hunch after one Outsider was chased out earlier that there might be more. Apparently he was hiding in the Forest of Death, and once he saw an opportunity to escape, he took it.”

“Probably took refuge in there once the other one was ousted,” said Kakashi, “Too bad he didn’t get eaten.”

“Any details on what he looked like?” asked the Third.

“No, they only felt his presence.”

“Well good riddance,” said Raye, “They know we’re onto them.”

“And are probably going for some kind of back-up,” said Kakashi, “Orochimaru is an Outsider and I bet is not too happy with a gate around his playground.”

“The legends definitely have the longest lengths of detection with their sense*,” said the ANBU, “And with a broadcast of Memory Link*, they can alert the others to swarm an area.”

“Spread them out in a triangular position on the village borders,” said the Hokage, “Move a majority of the creatures now to border patrol.”

“What if they’re still more inside?” asked Serena.

“I highly doubt that, and with as much security as we have now, they won’t dare make a move to reveal themselves, if they can still keep themselves hidden,” said the Third, “Just keep an eye out.”

“Sir,” and the ANBU left in another twirl of smoke.

Genkai turned to the Star Clan, “We’ll rotate throughout the rest of the evening.”

They nodded.

Ed glomped onto Pharaoh and piped, “Ed get’s to go on patrol!” –

“No, Ed gets to come with me,” said Vincent.

O_O

“Auuuw, I thought I wasn’t getting punished till tomorrow?”

“It’s not punishment,” said Vincent through a forced face, “But it is a lesson.” He whipped his cloak around her, and the both of them disappeared in a twirl of scarlet cloth twisting into itself (Ein was left behind).

Gulp.

“Now as for you two,” said Genkai turning to Ash and Pharaoh, “Meet us in front of the Hokage’s quarters at 8 am.”

“Yes m’am.”

And Genkai left in a twirl of smoke.

Ah, a brick of remembrance hit Pharaoh’s head, “Sora, there’s something very important that I have to tell you, eh, everyone in fact.”

“Today hasn’t been the best for communication, can’t it wait?” snuffed Shonen Bat –

“Hush, what is it?” asked Sora.

Without any friction of the throat, “Not too long before the three of us came down to this world, Lorenia’s Ghost came to Yugi and I, and explained how she, Ragiel, and Dendjue truly died – it wasn’t by Nefero’s hands, it was Seritouge’s. He weakened them and allowed them to be captured by Nefero for the Lady to experiment on them so he could see the results of her findings.” There, short, sweet, and to the point…..

Stare…

Stare…..

Stare……..

“You…….You wanna repeat that…?” squeaked Sora, but as for everyone else, it seemed like their darkest suspicions were confirmed, for the first part….but the second…..that was a disgusting surprise.


Clasp those hands tightly.


END CHAP


Da-dum!

And so the Riders have a new form….not that it poses any threat as of yet to Sora >>; But it’s sucking a lot right now to be a Royalty.

Anywho, soon it’ll be time to move about some of Sora’s peeps, death or having to leave, it’s time to cut this group down *evil laugh*

Peace and Cloverfield! Phuu, feels like I haven’t said that in forever…..


Oh and, MILKSHAKE MEH! XD


Faye: Where the hell was I in this chappie?! >:(

Team Rocket: And us!

SA: Plot purgatory with Donald and Goofy.

Faye: Oh hell no!