Ananda Gaudior: Welcome to my story Stars and Bars. It's set during the American Civil War. This chapter is in Kairi's POV. SORA! Read the disclaimer!

Sora: Never! Kairi's reading the disclaimer!

Kairi: No, Sora is.

Sora: Kairi.

Kairi: Sora.

Sora: Kairi.

Kairi: Kairi is.

Sora: No, Sora is reading the disclaimer. Wait, you tricked me!

Kairi: Maybe…I knew watching Bugs Bunny cartoons would help me someday! (grins evilly) Well, could I make it up to you with a ...kiss?

Sora: (faints)

Kairi: I think I overdid it.

A.G.: No kidding. Now read the disclaimer!

Kairi: Fine, Ananda Gaudior doesn't have any right to anything mentioned in this story.

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Stars and Bars

Chapter 1

Kairi: Miserable Existence

I was up before dawn taking care of the large farm my family owns.

Even though I'm the oldest of my siblings as well as the oldest girl, I'd much rather do men's work, shooting, hunting, butchering, than sit around the house learning pointless needlepoint like my youngest sister Arabella.

Father says, since I'm a "good-for-nothin', useless girl", I can help by making a good marriage, and that learning "women's crafts" will help.

Honestly, I would much rather build a cabin in the woods and live alone than be a little housewife, always obedient and docile. Just thinking of that makes me sick.

My brother Roxas says he couldn't imagine that I would ever be like that. I'm not sure whether to take that as a complement or an insult.

Arabella would just tell me to try harder. At the table tonight my future was the main topic.

"Really, Kairi, you must get married before all the men go off to battle. It's not going to be long before the Confederacy declares war. And then how are we going to manage the farm? Oh, I know the perfect match for you! You remember Mr. Collins, the banker?"

"Mother! Father! Mr. Collins is more than thirty years my senior, and is quite rotund. He has tried more than once to get his hands on me!"

"LIAR!" His voice boomed through the house. My father was determined to believe that Mr. Collins was the most honorable man in history."He has helped us many times with the harvest."

And tried to get me alone in the fields! I yelled at him in my head.

He continued, "No more supper! You will kneel down away from the table and watch we good and honest people eat. I expect you to presentable for tomorrow. He is coming to call while the rest of us are at Church."

"I can't wait." I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "He will not be welcome here."

"Why, he has taken quite a liking to you."

Mr. Jeremy Collins. He had brought me flowers and then tried to force me, but this time I would be ready to chase him off.

Of course, I can't stay here with Mother trying to marry me off every two seconds. What a miserable existence.

I know, as soon as I scare Jeremy off, I'll have my horse, Midnight, saddled and ready to go.

I'll ride to my aunt's house in and then join the army.

Now, I'm going to need some help.

Roxas will help and will never say a word.

I can trust him.

I trudged up to my room to wait.

Soon enough, Roxas came up the stairs.

Before I could speak he said, "Alright, Kairi, what's your plan?"

"You know me too well. I'm going to need your help."

"What do I need to do?"

"I want you to have Midnight ready for me to ride at any time tomorrow. Also, I'm going to need you to pack a bag of your clothes. It would be hard to run away in a dress. I'm lucky that we're the same size. Oh, and if you tell anyone and I get dragged back here, you're going to be living a nightmare."

"So what's your plan?"

"I'm going to go live with Aunt Jenn and she'll teach me to be a seamstress."

"You? I don't believe it."

"It's better than being forced to marry that creep Jeremy Collins"

"True, true."

"I'm really going to miss you Kai."

"Me too."

"Everything's going to be harder without you."

"Yeah. Well, night Roxas."

"Night."

It really pained me that I couldn't tell him my real plan, but I can't take the risk.

And with that, we started to prepare for my escape.

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Ananda Gaudior