Those Preps, again! why did they always follow me?!

I was swiftly running, hearing their heavy, uncoordinated thumping steps following. They weren't close, but close enough for me to still her their chants of 'looser', witch', and 'freak'.

I pressed harder, doubling my speed, stupifying them at it. Their footfalls faded away.

Suddenly, a form came out in front of me, making me swerve. Tall, covered in black, it followed me, nearly catching me at first.

I raced through a forest, half seeing, half not caring to see.

Explosions, ocean, swimming, and running for my life; which was were I was now. What a day. My head throbbed, making me lose my stride for a moment. Another step closer to being caught by the unknown figure behind me.

"Come back here!" a slightly muffled voice called. No voice I was familiar with, but... why was it every time I pondered this person, my head hurt?!

Suddenly, without any warning, my right leg gave out. I knew it being weaker would one day come back to get me. I tried to get up before it was too late, but the burning pain of the weaker ankle of mine left me helpless.

And then it was too late.

The figure stood over me, hood up on the black trenchcoat. Seeing my inability to move, it flopped down a few feet away and breathed heavily for a while. "You sure can run, Mer."

My head shot up at that nickname. How did he know what my name was, which was the only way he could've called me 'Mer.' Merinda, meaning 'Sea Bright' was my name, but how could he he have known that? And this person was definately a he. No chest that broad could belong to a she.

"But." I snapped out of my split-second ponder when he spoke, "I still gotcha. You're either a lot slower, or can't tap into that power." The man stood up again.

Then he pulled the hood back off his head, revealing his face. Aqua eyes, almost puppy-like, stared at me, light brown hair partly fell over his strong shoulders, the rest up in a half mohawk, half mullet. His tall, lean (but muscular) frame stretched. Strange man. He couldn't have been over twenty-one, either. Taller than me, at my 5' 7" as a fourteen year old, I noticed at the same time.

He walked over to me, and I used my good (but very tired) leg to scoot back. He noticed automatically. "What have you done to your leg, Mer?" He moved foreward until I backed myself aginst a tree, then kneeled down to examine my leg. He pulled my jeans leg up past my ankle, and saw the purpleish tone of skin.

I heard his quick intake of breath. "God, Mer, could you have done any worse?"

Finally, I found my voice. "Quit calling me that! It's not my name!"

The guy looked at my face again, shock written in bold print on his face. "What do you mean, not your name? It's part of your name, Admerxin!"

Lightning struck the inside of my head, or, at least that's what it felt like. I clutched it, feeling the world turn around me. He saw this, and raised a hand towards my head, too.

"Th-that's still not my name, Demyx!" My eyes popped open, and my hand flew to my mouth. "Wha...? H-how did I...?"

The man's eyes lit up. "You do remember me, Mer! They said you wouldn't, but you do! I knew you would! I knew it!"

Demyx, if that was really his name, leaned over and kissed my cheek in joy, then backed off. "Oh, sorry." He went back to my ankle, rambling on about how "Everyone's going to be so exited," especially some guy named Xadin and another called Saix. Demyx said on how he didn't know how Axel (whoever that was) would react, since some kid named Roxas had gone missing not to long ago.

"J-just stop!" I yelled, interupting his talk-fest. "What's going on?! Who are you? What do you want with me, and why haven't you killed me, instead of tending to my leg?!"

Demyx blinked, and I swear I saw a tear appear, then get blinked back. "...Mer, it's me, Demyx. You know, your mentor? I taught you how to fight 'cause Saix wasn't really too good at it, and I... I realized what you..." He took a deep breath. "I don't want to hurt you, I never have since I first met you! I have to bring you back, though. We need you! No matter what Xemnas says!" He added fiercely.

I stared as he continued to wrap my ankle in some kind of medical tape or bandage he had pulled from literally nowhere. When he was done, he picked me up in his arms loosely, making me automatically put my arms around his neck. "Meep!"

He chuckled. "That's my girl."

I glared at him and hissed through my teeth. He just chuckled more, a deep, grateful sound. As if my anger was a relief!

He held me up with one arm and waved the other in front of him. Out of nowhere appeared an oval-like...thing.... that made this whooshing sound when it apeared. "What is.. eep!"

Demyx replaced his grip on me, and walked through the darkness. As its cool darkness surounded me, he watched for a reaction. All I can say is: it was dark. I felt my muscles relax into it, practically soaking it in. A second later, we were in some kind of bluish tunnel, odd symbols on the translucent walls swirling slowly.

I fet my eyes widen in amazement. I'd never seen such a sight in my life! "Wow..." I breathed.

Demyx kept walking, straight into another portal. This one led to a darkened sky and a huge castle-like structure. Without thought, I smiled, closed my eyes...and literally breathed in darkness.

When I opened my eyes, I could tell something about me had changed. My vision became blurred, and I pulled off my glasses to inspect them, and realized I could see perfectly find without them.

And my legs! They felt strong and ready to run for miles! Yet only moments before I'd felt as if I even thought of crawling, I'd pass out from exaustion.

Apparently Demyx saw the difference, too. His soft, lingering, burning gaze collided with my now clear 20/20. My eyes widened as the aqua eyes slid closed as Demyx's lips captured mine softly. My own closed, and my arms wrapped more firmly around his neck. After a moment Demyx released my lips.

"Admerxin, The Burning Rose. Negative Nine of the Followers, you've been found."