Author's Comments: Here I am again! I decided to try writing an AU and I couldn't resist including my OC, Imani. (For those who haven't read The Kismet Scribe, no worries. All you need to know about Imani is explained in this story. Of course, I'm not discouraging you from reading The Kismet Scribe...) I hope you enjoy reading this! I have no idea where this is going or how long I'll keep up this project, but I'll do my best to see it through to the end. I hope you see it through to the end, too!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. I do own Imani.

Kairi huffs, her breath dissipating quickly in the frigid air. "Stop dragging your feet, Imani. You promised you wouldn't sulk."

I shove my numb fingers into my coat pockets and my frown deepens. "I didn't promise that."

"You did, liar." Her reddish-purple hair fans out momentarily as she turns to Namine. "She promised, didn't she?"

Our blonde quiet companion nods, giving me a small apologetic smile. "You did. You remember."

I scowl. Of all the times to remind me of my insanely accurate memory...

"We're having a girl's night out, whether you like it or not," Kairi declares. "You lost the card game last night—"

"Because you pulled Luxord into the game at the last second!"

"You still can't complain. We're having a girl's night out."

"I'm not complaining about that," I sigh, the air scraping like fingernails pressed tightly together and traveling up and down my throat. "What I don't understand is why we're here."

Both Namine and Kairi glance over their shoulders at the pristine entrance to Radiant Garden, the glitziest salon in town.

Pardon my shudder of disgust.

"What's hard to understand?" Kairi whips her head back to me. "We're here to get ready for tonight, silly."

"Why can't we get ready at home?" I protest. "You've always done that before."

She waves her hand dismissively. "That was only for parties."

"But we're going to a party tonight—"

"This isn't just any party, Imani. This is—"

"Kairi," Namine interrupts softly. "Don't ruin the surprise."

I quirk an eyebrow. "Surprise? What're you talking about?"

They flick their identical blue eyes to me, suspicious smiles on their faces. "Nothing."

Before I can claim otherwise, Kairi grabs my arm and yanks me to the glass front door.

"Welcome to Radiant Garden. How may I help you?"

I gape at the receptionist. You could tell me what possessed you to think of styling your hair in such a way that you mask half your face.

Namine checks us in while Kairi gushes over the "totally chic" atmosphere of the salon. "The best part is that Luxord works here!" she giggles. "We get discount and I hear the workers here are hot!"

Whatever. I shake my head. A discount at a salon, no matter how great, is not worth my free veg-out day for the week.

"Would you like to stick together as you move ot the different stations?" the receptionist—Zexion, according to his shiny nametag—asks with mild boredom.

"No," I tell him.

"YES!" Kairi exclaims.

"Whatever will work best on a timed schedule," Namine answers. "We're attending a party tonight at seven so we'd like to finish here by five."

Zexion nods, his silvery-blue bangs swaying just the slightest. "It'd be best if you moved separately, then. Our workers have other customers to attend to as well, so we can fit you with whoever is available."

Kairi's lower lip emerges in a pout. "I want to see Imani get gussied up."

"Too bad." I smirk.

"I can place one of you at the manicurist's table, one at the massage chair, and one at the hair stylist," he informs us, scanning his visible eye over a computer screen. "Please decide among yourselves where you'd like to go."

"Massage!" Kairi's hand shoots up.

"Who's the hair stylist?" Namine asks.

Zexion blinks owlishly before responding, "Luxord."

"I'll start with him then," she smiles.

That leaves the manicurist's table. I sigh. Great.

He steps out from behind the marble counter. "Please follow me, ladies."

"Nitrocellulose-based lacquers last longer than water-based lacquers but water-based lacquers are more environmentally-friendly. However, the nail absorbs some of the water in water-based lacquers—"

Vexen, the blond longhaired manicurist, coats my nails in translucent goo as he talks. Stifling a yawn, I glance over to the clock again and nearly groan. Only a minute has passed since I last checked? I'd have thought at least ten minutes had gone by...

His two thick strands of bangs sway with his every move and almost touch my wet nails. "Tosylamide-formaldehyde resin and stearalkonium hecorite—"

Does he like hearing himself talk?

Without wasting breath, he unscrews the tube cap of a small pink bottle and expertly withdraws the applicator. "Two coats gives the color more—"

A low rumble of a laugh travels to my ears. I shift my eyes to the line of vanity tables and mirrors where Luxord runs his hands through Namine's flaxen hair. Both seem to be enjoying themselves...

I'm sure Kairi's having fun, too. Who doesn't enjoy a massage?

My lips twist into a frown. This is what I get for speaking up last, I guess.

"…while ultraviolet stabilizers like benozophenone-1..."

Kairi sighs in content again and adjusts her pink terry cloth robe. "Oh, Imani, you're going to love it. His hands are like magic."

I flex my fingers, trying to adjust to the added weight on my nails. "Who did you say you had?"

"Lexaeus." She nods to the tall built man with brown wavy hair.

I refer to the schedule on the door to my assigned massage room. "I think I'm with someone named Larxene."

"That would be me." A petite woman grins, her antenna-like bangs bobbing as she steps forward. "You're Imani?"

I don't like the sounds she makes when she cracks her knuckles like that.

"Right this way," she says, holding the door open.

"See you later, Imani." Kairi waves. "I'm headed over to Luxord."

Larxene shuts the door and presents the massage table with a flourish. "Take off the robe, put on the towel, and lie down on your stomach. I'll be right back."

I watch her leave the room completely before snatching the white towel and hurriedly wrapping it around my body. That smirk she wore sent chills down my spine.

Kairi seemed like she really enjoyed this, I concede as I get on the table. I guess I could try enjoying it, too...

"Now, Miss Imani," Larxene purrs behind my back, "I just need you to relax..."

Namine's face scrunches strangely at me. She pushes a wavy strand of hair aside and peers closely. "Are you alright, Imani?"

I nod as little as I can out of fear my head will loll and collapse onto one of my shoulder. All my muscles feel like jelly. I could've sworn that massage girl was trying to send jolts of lightning down my spine.

"Are you sure you're okay? You look so…stiff."

"I'm fine," I mutter quickly, kicking out my completely straight legs in an attempt to walk out to the hair station. If I bend my knees, I think my legs will fall out under me and I won't be able to get back up.

"How was your massage?" Namine asks, flicking her glossy pink fingers in anticipation. "I'm supposed to be with someone named Lexaeus…"

Biting back a growl of frustration, I plaster a smile on my face as I walk past. Thank goodness Larxene didn't "massage" my face. "I'm sure you'll be just fine, then. Kairi really liked him. His hands are like magic…"

"Miss?" a male voice calls. I glance up to find a blond spiky-haired boy in black clothes (just like that receptionist Zexion) power-walking towards me. "Do you need help?"

"I'm fine," I repeat. "The chair is right there…"

"Let me help." He takes hold of my arm and wraps it around his neck, half-carrying me to one of the swiveling chairs in front of one of the wall of mirrors. "Did you just come from a massage session with Larxene?"

I shoot him a look out of the corner of my eye. "How'd you guess?"

He sets me down gently in the chair. "She's new. She hasn't quite mastered 'the touch' that Lexaeus has." The boy grimaces. "I had to help her practice last week and I couldn't walk for days."

A chuckle escapes my lips. "I see. Thanks for your help…" My eyes dart to his nametag. "Roxas."

Roxas nods politely. "Your hair stylist should be with you shortly."

I watch him return to the front desk through the mirror before allowing my eyelids to drop. This entire thing has been so exhausting. I'm too tired to do anything else. I wouldn't be surprised if I fell asleep at the party tonight…

"Would you prefer taking a nap before I start?"

My eyes open drowsily. Arms crossed and smirking without shame, Luxord cocks an eyebrow at me. "If I start now, you can't sleep until after the party tonight. You'll ruin the look otherwise."

A corner of my mouth tugs upward in a lopsided grin. "Just get it over with. If I fall asleep later, I fall asleep. I couldn't care less."

Chuckling under his breath, he rakes his fingers over my scalp experimentally. "You'll care about your appearance tonight more than you ever have before. In fact, you'll care so much you'll do whatever you must to keep yourself awake."

"Such strong predictions," I note suspiciously. "Care to tell me what I don't know about tonight?"

"Not particularly," he says. "You know enough to know what you need to know."

I snort. "All I know is that I lost a bet—because of you, by the way—and now I'm going through all this just for some party tonight."

Luxord laughs heartily, removing his fingers and reaching for a comb. "All is true, but you're thinking too narrowly."

"Too narrowly?" My forehead creases.

He shakes his head and purses his lips, running the comb through my hair.

Slim pale fingers guide the ballpoint pen swiftly across the receipt. "Did you give everyone their tips, Kairi?" Namine asks.

"Yup!" Stray strands of hair sway violently as she nods. Her manicured fingers count off the names. "Lexaeus, Larxene, Vexen, and Luxord, right?"

My own fingers fumble with the bills as I place them on the smooth counter and push them towards Roxas. "That's for you and Zexion."

Roxas gives the bills a funny look. "For what?"

"For putting up with us all day." I smile. "And for helping me earlier."

He accepts the receipt from Namine and flashes me a grateful smile. "Wow, thanks."

We gather our things and exit the salon. Finally. The brisk air caresses my face as we take off down the street to our tiny car.

"He likes you, Namine," I tell her. "Right, Kairi?"

Namine, puzzled, glances between the two of us. "Who?"

"That receptionist, of course!" Kairi squeals. "Roxas!"

Red creeps onto her cheeks. "Him? What makes you so sure?"

"He flinched slightly when he touched your hand," I explain, weaving between our car and another to get to the other side. "When you were handing him the receipt."

"Plus, he couldn't keep his eyes off of you!" Kairi jams the key into the car and opens the doors. "We'll be visiting Radiant Garden again soon, I'm sure! Right, Imani?"

I swing my door open, rolling my eyes. "As long as Larxene doesn't give me a massage again."

Author's Afterthought: I think I made my OC a little out of character. Haha, oh well. She's mine--I can do whatever I need to with her. Please leave a review!