A/N : Hey-hey! It's me again! You guys probably don't remember me and with good reason... I know I haven't updating in almost a whole year and I'm truly very sorry about that! :(
I didn't mean to keep you guys hanging, I know many of you desperatly wanted to read more of this story and I guess I failed you in taking so long... BUT I have updated! Finally!
And I'd like to give a very big special THANK YOU to APRILSHOWERS101 who after soooo long sent me a mail that gave me the courage to start writing again! :) She mailed me and asked me if I was aware of fanart someone drew of one of my previous fanfics (operation DINNER) on deviantart. The pictures were drawn in 2008 and I only JUST found out about it! I went to take a look and I completely freaked out! I couldn't believe someone liked my story so much that they actually drew fanart! Those pictures are amazing and I just wish I could contact Orionstorm and tell her how honored I am! :) but if you guys wanna see the pics, just mail me. :)
Now, because I took so long to update, I'm wondering if everyone can still remember what's going on in the story... If you can't, I think it'd be better if you reread the whole thing, not forcing anyone though, I'm just saying you may be a little lost! :P hehe
So this chapter is a little shorter than my previous one. It's a test round to see if I still 'got it'. So please read it and tell me what you think. Remember, I haven't written for quite sometime now, so I might have lost my gift, if you know what I'm saying! ;P Haha
But, you know the drill, gonna reply to my awesome reviews first!
Imasmurf93: haha I know I sometimes make the silliest mistakes when I type! I sometimes forget to put in very important words or I spell the easiest words incorrectly... that's what happens when you're a fast typer. Hehe but I hope this chapter won't confuse you too much! ;P
Bookworm3: Yeah, I just couldn't see Abby and Daniel go anywhere. I mean, sure they were a cute couple, but I like the Abby/Nigel thing more! :) I loved writing that threshold part, it really seemed like something embarressing that would happen to two people in love! Hehe and you'll have to read this chapter to see what Lizzie is up too... Thanks for your support! :)
DarkXRachel: You were meant to do an English essay? Really? Haha well I seriously hope I didn't cost you any marks? How did you do? If you didn't do too great, I'm going to feel guilty! :P And noooo, I've never tried a 'Hoagie's Hash Brown Hamburger' and I think I never will! Don't tell me you actually tried it? If you did, what was it like? Maybe I'll become a famous chef for my unique recipe! ;) But anyway, hope you like this chapter and please let me know what you think! :)
Super Ario: Hehe I think everyone can see that Wally has feelings for Kuki, except Wally. He is too stubborn to admit it! Thank you so much for all those amazing compliments... You are one of the many people I'm apologizing to for taking so extremely long, but I hope you'll like this chapter too! :)
Joydream: Too good to go to waste? :D Woweeee! Thank you so much! Well, luckily it hasn't gone to waste, depends on the feedback I get for this chapter. Hope you enjoy it! :)
Laurie43: Haha yeah, me and my stupid mistypes... I've fixed it though I think... You must tell me if I have anymore mistypes in this chapter! :P
1000GreenSun: Why thank you! You're very kind! :) I hope you will find the 3/4ness in this chapter adorable too. ENJOY! :)
NinjaxTurtles: Hehe well, it's been almost a year. Does this count as the future? ;P Thank you so much for the great compliments! It means a lot to me! Hope you enjoy this chapter too! :)
jiminxx: I hope I'm going to make your day again! :D Hehe tell me what you think about this chapter! I really hope you like it!
Sstoons3425: Haha! I actually kinda stole the idea from this camp we went to when I was in high school! We had to do that and it was disastrous! The poor injured person kept falling off! But we didn't go through a river, we had to run on some dirt road. Good times... I like how Abby teases Wally. :) I find it very entertaining to write hehe! Hope you laugh in this chapter too! Though it's not really a funny chapter but it's a chapter non the less! :P
Misha Ten: Haha no luckily nobody really had to get hurt, but that would've been funny right? :P Haha I'm being mean... Well, Connor and Wally might just fight sometime hehe you'll have to read to see! :) Anyway thanks for reviewing Misha! And thanks for reading and not giving up on my story! :) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Numbuh310alltheway: Well, Kuki was always kinda out of it... she always seemed so lost and confused, that's what I'm trying to do here! Hehe but I hope you enjoy this chapter as well! :) Thanks for your support!
SparrowJackCaptain: Aww, now I feel guilty for taking so long hehe... but thank you for not giving up on me and I truly hope you like this chapter too! :)
laughyytaffy: Well, I kept it up after almost a year... Hope you still enjoy it though! :) Thanks for reading!
Sarcastic Dreamer: I'm glad you like the 1/5ness. I prefer writing about ¾ because I find other couples kind of difficult, but thank you for making me feel better about the 1/5ness! :) It truly helps! I hope you enjoy this chapter too! :)
Dusty999: Hehe yeah I'm trying to think of all kinds of ¾ fluff, I might just use your idea sometime! Thanks for your support! :)
KNDFANGIRL: I inspired you? Wowwowowowowowowowowowowwww! That's so awesome! Hehe thank you so so so much for liking my story so much! I feel truly honored! :) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Escape my reality: Well, that just... SUCKS! Haha yeah this camp is almost exactly like a camp I had to go to as well! It's where I get most of the ideas from. I seriously hate these types of camps! It's torture! Haha hope you like this chapter though! :)
Pixaria: Well, I've finally updated hehe hope you enjoy it! :)
Rachpop15: Haha Kuki and Wally sitting in a tree! Aw I just LOVED that episode! Hope you like this new chapter! :)
Cheetahkit: Hoagie is... um, American I think? I might be wrong though... Hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
runswiththepack13: Everyone hates Connor, so no offence taken! :P Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it! Here's a new chapter for you... ENJOY! :)
puppylove98162: Well, it took extremely long, but I have finally updated! Hope you're not too disappointed hehe and that you like this new chapter! :)
Cutie100: Thanks! :) And I hope it will still be one of your favourites after you read this new chapter! ;P
wolfishmeow: Hehe just gotta say, interesting name! ;) I love it! I hope you enjoy this chapter hehe I know it took very long and I truly am sorry for that...
MusicPeaceAndCheese: Hehe! Hey no need for that! Please stand up and go read the new chapter! :P I really hope you like this chapter just as much as the previous ones. :)
Cartoonfan135: Hey! :) Sorry it took so long, but the chapter 7 is finally here! ENJOY! :)
MaxandFang101: Hehe sorry for taking so long but I've updated! Yay! :) Hope you like it!
.beautiful: Hehe it's a huge compliment whenever 2/5 or 1/5 fan likes my ¾ness! Thank you for your support! :) Enjoy the new chapter!
Kim Songwa: WOW! Thank you SO much! :) I really really appreciate it! Hope you enjoy this new chapter! :)
numbuh054: I've finally updated hehe hope you enjoy the 3/4ness in this chapter aswell! :)
And nooooow I give you:
Chapter 7 – Missing?
Wally closed his eyes, he took in a deep breath and kept walking down the somehow-familiar street. He can't remember how exactly he got there, nor what on Earth he was doing there, but for some reason it didn't feel wrong. Almost like this place was safe. Almost like this place was home...
He looked down at his white sneakers as he walked down the street. A car drove past him and honked, someone waving frantically from inside the car, like they knew him somehow. He lifted his hand and waved back awkwardly, a confused look on his face.
'Who the...' he thought to himself. When the car disappeared around the corner, he shrugged and decided that it was probably one of his aunt's many friends.
Ignoring what just happened, he looked around him. He really had no clue to where he was, but something felt so familiar. Everything around him, the houses, the fences, the cars, the whole neighbourhood seemed so very familiar. Even the trees... The trees. Wally looked up in total amazement at the enormous tree in front of him. The tree stood about 30 floors high. All kinds of weird objects sticking from its branches. Cars, buses, huge containers, platforms, satellites…The numbers one through five all spray painted on different parts of the tree.
Wally's eyes grew wide as the incredibly powerful feeling of déjà-vu spread throughout his body.
'That is one big tree house.' He thought as his body automatically began moving towards the tree house, as if something was drawing him closer. He walked until he reached a huge metal door, which he assumed must be the only entrance on ground level. The rest appeared to be higher, which could only be reached by flying, or climbing up the tree.
He shook his head. This is just a tree house. Probably made by children. Of course they would have to climb up, there's no way little children can use airplanes or helicopters. He chuckled softly as he slowly reached for the door handle. His hand touched the cold metal and after a second or two, he tried pushing the handle down. The handle was difficult to move, almost like it hadn't been used for years and rusted from old age.
Wally groaned and forced the handle downward with both hands. Finally he could open the door. The door opened with a long squeak, as he slowly entered the abandoned tree house. The air was cold and damp. He looked around him and realized he was in a very large, dark room. The sun outside, shining through the broken windows, being the only light. The room consisted of chairs, couches, a very big flat screen TV on the wall, papers, video games, rainbow monkeys and comic books scattered around the room.
He gulped. The strong déjà-vu sensation making him uncomfortable and yet he'd never before felt so at home. He jerked his head back as he heard a child giggle. His eyes widened as he slowly walked in the direction from which the giggle came from. He gasped as something shifted behind him and turned around quickly, once again facing the eerie room.
"Wally!" He heard someone call his name from somewhere in the tree house. His heart started racing. Who was calling him? The voice was so distant; he could only make it out as a female. Whoever it was knew he was here and knew his name.
'What was I thinking coming into this creepy tree house?' He mentally cursed himself. He could feel the fear build up inside him. What was going on?
"Wally!" He heard the voice again, now a little clearer, as if the person was getting closer. He slowly walked backwards until his back was almost against the wooden wall. What was going on with him? He's Wallabee Beetles. He never gets scared of anything. And now this... this voice calling out to him, as if-
"Wally!" He gasped as he suddenly recognized the voice.
"K-Kuki?" He whispered, his eyes grew wide. What was Kuki doing here? In this familiar, yet very creepy abandoned tree house? She could be in trouble! He took a step forward. "Kuki!" He called out to her. "Kuki! Where are you?"
"Wally!" He heard her call once again, her voice now much clearer. Almost like she was in the next room. "Wally! Wally! Wally!" She kept repeating his name, each cry louder... each cry more desperate.
He didn't know what to do and what to think. Should he run forward, towards her voice or turn around and leave this place and never come back here. Her voice kept ringing in his ears.
Wally. Wally. Wally.
He suddenly felt light headed as the room seemed to spin around him. He covered his ears, desperately trying to block out Kuki's now over bearing voice, ringing in his ears.
Wally. Wally. Wally.
He cried out in frustration as he was unable to block her voice from his mind.
Suddenly something, or rather someone crashed into him. He gasped and looked down at the little girl gripping his legs tightly, quavering. He stared down at her, his eyes filled with horror. Completely speechless.
"K-Kuki...?" He asked, hesitantly. The little girl looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears, which in turn caused his expression to soften, as he could recognize those beautiful eyes anywhere. It really was Kuki, only... Not the Kuki he knew. She was still a little girl. About ten or eleven years old at the most. He couldn't stop staring at her. He could've sworn that, when she called him, she sounded grown up, like the Kuki he knew. It was almost like she turned younger in a matter of minutes.
"Wally..." she once again said his name, but this time she said it in a mere whisper. "You have to stop him, please!" She sounded desperate and afraid.
Wally didn't know what was going on; all he knew was that whoever was scaring Kuki like this, will have to deal with him. He couldn't stand seeing her like this. He looked down worriedly as Kuki started whimpering, suddenly becoming aware of the footsteps, echoing in the hallway, coming closer.
He frowned and pushed the young Kuki behind him, so he could protect her. "Don't worry, Kuki. I'll help you." And with that another person entered the room, a black silhouette standing in the doorway. Wally couldn't make out who the black figure was, only that the person was very tall and probably strong enough to kick his ass, but that wasn't going to scare him.
"Is he trying to hurt you, Kuki?" he asked her, worriedly.
"N-no, Wally..." she whimpered, "He's trying to hurt you..."
Wally glared at the person, pushing back his shoulders, hoping to look more intimidating.
The black figure chuckled, taking a step forward. Wally gasped as the light unmasked his dark face to reveal and all-too familiar face. A face Wally would give anything to get rid of.
Connor...
Wally automatically took in a deep breath, his chest raised, as he tried to look even more intimidating.
Connor chuckled once again, "Beetles..." his voice came out raspy and threatening. "It isn't working, y'know. You are not scaring me. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm scaring you. You and my pathetic little girlfriend back there."
Wally could feel his blood pumping even faster through his veins. The adrenaline causing him to shake slightly. "You stay away from her!" He threatened, but he was surprised when he heard his own voice. It didn't sound like him, it sounded like... He gasped as he looked down at his hands. They were small and still innocent. No scars from punching a wall or attempting to shield himself from glass object his uncle use to throw his way. It was almost like he...
He quickly turned around and looked up at the little girl behind him. Wait, looked up? Kuki was taller than him! How did this happen?
"Numbuh Four...?" She asked, worriedly, looking down at the young blonde boy in front of her.
"Wh-what..?" He asked, again surprised at the difference in his voice. "I'm Wally! Don't you remember me?"
Kuki frowned slightly. "Ofcourse I do! But-"
"Oi! Beetles!" Connor cried, aggravated, "Stop. Wasting. My. Time!"
Wally turned around to face Connor, now seeming bigger and taller than ever. Connor walked towards him, a smirk on his face, making Kuki quiver once again.
"You're not the sharpest tool in the shed, Beetles, but at least you're smart enough to stay away from me. After all, what can you do?" Connor laughed, "We all know you have feelings for her, but do you seriously think she'd go for a guy like you? She's just slipping through your tiny hands!" Connor burst out laughing, as Wally clinched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"You know what's the best part?" Connor continued, as he slowly walked past Wally. "I can do anything to Kuki and you can't do a thing about it!" Wally's eyes grew wide. Helpless and small, he stood still, as Connor whispered in his ear. "Anything..."
Wally's fist came flying up towards Connor's face, only to be stopped as Connor grabbed Wally's tiny hand in his own, crushing it. Wally cried in pain as Connor put more and more pressure on his fist, feeling it would break any second now.
"What are you gonna do, Beetles? Huh? What are you gonna do?" Connor taunted him, his voice raised.
Wally gritted his teeth as Conner started bending his fist backwards, he could hear Kuki crying hysterically in the background.
"You seriously think you can do anything to me, Beetles? You're nothing! NOTHING!"
Wally sat up in bed, breathless, sweat dripping down his face. He looked down at his hands. They seemed normal size, the scars still clearly visible. He sighed a sigh of relief as he realized it had all been a dream. A terrible dream.
He didn't recognize the room he was in at first, but after a few seconds of concentrating he remembered exactly where he was. He automatically jerked his head towards Kuki's bed, where she was sleeping silently.
He fell back onto his pillow, staring up at the roof. He couldn't believe what he had just dreamt. The neighbourhood, that tree house, Connor... and Kuki. Why on Earth would he dream such things? Why was he so young in his dream? It doesn't even make sense! He can't remember his child hood! What if-?
Wally shook his head. No, there's no way his dream meant something. Some people would tell him that dreams have meaning, that the dream realm awakens old and forgotten memories, they even show what you truly feel, even if you can't admit it to yourself. But not him.
What he dreamt had nothing to do with reality. If it did, he would actually be scared of Connor and he could think of a million reasons why that's impossible. He would remember that tree house and the neighbourhood around it. He would've known Kuki when she was still only a child and he would actually have feelings for her. He shook his head, he just can't grasp it. How could he have feelings for her? They are two totally different people and yet he is so protective over her.
He turned in his bed, glancing in Kuki's directions. Maybe she knows something... Something about his childhood. Maybe they knew each other and she just wouldn't tell him. He groaned and looked up at the roof once again.
'Don't be an idiot, Wally!' He told himself. If she knew something, she would've told him. Besides, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to remember his childhood... Perhaps those memories would be best forgotten, or hidden in his dreams. Perhaps his childhood memories would just hurt him...
Wally frowned, 'Hurt... Connor. What in crud's name was he doing in my dream?' he thought, feeling the anger build up inside him, like it did in his dream. He clinched his fists, remembering what Connor had said to him. 'Argh! I hate that guy!'
Suddenly their door swung open and someone came running in. Everyone sat up, their eyes wide as Robert stood in front of them. He turned to Nigel. "Nigel, Lizzie's missing!"
"What do you mean she just vanished?" Nigel asked, glaring down at Robert.
He gulped, "I t-told you! She t-told me she was going for a walk then she never showed up for the Injured T-teammate task. No one has seen her s-since!"
"Maybe she's just taking sometime to cool off?" Abby said, resting her head against the wall.
Nigel shook his head, "No. Lizzie doesn't 'cool off'." He slowly walked past Robert and stood by the window. "She simply freaks out on the spot and then calms down only when I talk to her. She'd never go off alone into the dark to 'cool off', Abby."
Abby rolled her eyes, "Pathetic..." she said softly, Hoagie was the only one who could hear her. He glanced up at her, his eyes half opened, yawning.
"Why didn't you watch her?" Nigel turned towards Robert again, his voice raised, "And why in heaven's name are you only telling me this now?"
Robert blinked twice, stuttering, "I... uh... um... err..."
"Tell me!" Nigel cried, impatiently.
"H-her friends thought that she was just t-taking sometime to c-cool down too." He glanced at Abby, who was casually staring at the floor. "B-but when Becky woke up a few minutes ago, she saw th-that Lizzie was st-still missing and she came r-running to me..."
"So, who are you, her messenger boy now?" Wally grumbled from his bed.
"I'm only t-trying to h-help!" Robert attempted at sounding angry, but whimpered when Wally quickly glared at him. "S-sorry... Um... Ahem..."
Nigel rubs his head, sighing, "Well, I guess I'm going after her."
"Are you crazy?" Abby cried. "We are in some random camp in the middle of nowhere. There are no towns or cities nearby, there's no food out there, no shelter and who knows what animals could be in those creepy ass bushes, huh?"
Kuki nodded slowly, covering herself with her blanket, "And it's so cold!" she shivered.
Wally glanced up at her and couldn't help but smile.
"I know guys!" Nigel sighed, "But I can't just leave her out there. I know it's dangerous, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. It's probably my fault she's out there in the first place."
Abby's expression softened as she stared at Nigel. He was really determined to go...
"Well, I wanna come with you!" Hoagie said, standing up, smiling.
Nigel's eyes grew wide, a sign of relief highlighting his face. "You do? Really?"
Hoagie nodded, "I don't even know what I'm doing in this camp! I don't know about you guys, but I'm not really enjoying anything we do here! I'd do anything to get away from this place!" Hoagie grabbed his back pack and started packing his Yipper comic books into it.
Nigel turned to Abby, "How about you, Abigail? I know you and Lizzie don't really get along, but..."
She sighed, folding her arms. "You do realize this is the stupidest thing ever? It's dangerous, risky and a lot of effort to go through!" She paused, glancing at Nigel, who had a disappointed look on his face. She smiled, "Sounds like my kinda fun! Im in!"
Nigel wanted to smile, but decided to retain his serious face and nodded at Abby, who turned towards Wally, "How about you, Wally? You comin'?"
Wally stared at her with an 'are-you-kidding-me' look. "You're outta your cruddy mind! There's no way I'm going!"
Abby shook her head, "Yeah, of course you're not. Kuki?" She turned to Kuki.
"But it's coooold!" Kuki complained, snuggling under her warm blanket.
"Put on a jersey!" Hoagie said, proudly. "Jerseys are made for cold weather."
Abby rolled her eyes, "Woooow..." she said sarcastically, "Aren't you clever?" and punched Hoagie's arm lightly.
Kuki appeared to be thinking, as she eyed Nigel, who stared at her with a serious look. "Well, if it'll lighten up mister Grumpy-Pants over there, I'm in!"
Abby laughed at the disgusted look Nigel gave Kuki, "Mister what?"
Kuki jumped out of bed and started gathering everything she wanted to take with.
After everyone finished packing their bags, Nigel looked at Robert, who was standing in the corner, uncomfortably.
"We don't want Rick following us, alright? So tell him we decided to go home early and he needn't worry about us anymore."
Robert nodded and stared down at his feet. "G-good luck out th-there..." and with that he left the room.
"Sure you're not coming?" Abby asked Wally one last time, hoping he might change his mind. Wally ignored her and simply rested his head on his pillow, pretending to fall asleep again. Abby rolled her eyes, "Suit yourself..." and left the room with Nigel and Hoagie.
Kuki walked towards the door but stopped before exiting. She glanced back at Wally, a gleam of hope in her eyes. Wally opened his eyes as he could feel someone watching him. He sat up and looked towards the door where Kuki was standing.
She smiled sweetly at him and whispered, "Bye..." and with that she left. Wally stared after her, his tough expression softening, as he fell back onto his pillow.
'Stupid girl...' he thought, 'Why'd she have to go and follow those bunch of idiots? Going into the bushes to save some cruddy Sheila, who cares more about herself than any other living thing! What a stupid...' he sighed and closed his eyes, suddenly remembering Connor's words: 'She's just slipping through your tiny hands!'. Wally's eyes shot open as Connor's laugh echoed in his mind.
"Whoa! Slow down there tiger!" Abby cried to Nigel as she tried to keep up with him. Nigel simply continued his pace towards the dark bushes in front of them. "Hey! Earth to Nigel! Slow down! You aren't the only one on this rescue mission! Cut us some slack!"
Nigel slowed down and waited for the rest to join him, "Sorry..."
"You do know which way she went, right?" Abby asked Nigel, as she glanced back at an exhausted Hoagie, "Dude, really? We left like five minutes ago!"
"I... I know, it's just... tiring... because I was... sleeping before this... and then..." Hoagie replied, trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah-yeah, okay." Abby chuckled and turned to Nigel, still waiting on him to answer her question.
Nigel simply nodded, "Robert told me the way, so yes. Just follow my lead."
Kuki glanced behind her to the sound of footsteps; she was surprised to see Wally running towards them. "Wally...?"
Hoagie, Abby and Nigel jerked their heads back in surprise as they saw Wally. "What's he doing now?" Abby asked, shaking her head.
Kuki couldn't help but smile at him as he reached them.
"I... uhh..." He looked down at his shoes, not having the guts to look Kuki in the eyes again. "I'm sick of Rick telling me what to do. I want out." He said sternly, eyeing Abby. "But don't think now that I'm here, I'm gonna carry your cruddy bags around all day and stuff, 'cause it... uh... it ain't in my nature!"
Abby chuckled, "Yeah Buff-Boy, now come on. We gotta get going before Rick discovers we've gone!"
Nigel glared at Wally, "I hope you're not here to cause trouble, Wallabee."
"Your girlfriend ran away from you and you think I'm the one causing trouble? You need to check your sunglasses, mate." Wally answered, glaring back at Nigel.
Kuki, who by this point could see a fight coming, threw her bag at Wally before Nigel could say anything. "Will you carry that for me?" She smiled sweetly at Wally.
Nigel rolled his eyes and walked towards Abby, who was standing a few feet away with Hoagie, who was still trying to catch his breath.
Wally stared at Kuki, a blank expression on his face. "Didn't I just say...?"
Kuki did her best puppy-dog eyes look, "Pretty please, Wally?"
Wally groaned, "Argh! Alright, fine!" And with that he threw her bag over his shoulder, "But just this once, you hear me?"
She nodded, grinning as she happily walked towards the rest.
Wally stared after her, not knowing if he should be happy that he decided to come or regret it completely. He heard Kuki laugh at Hoagie and smiled. 'Oh come on, it can't be all that bad, right?'
A/N: Ta-dah! And there you have it! :) Please let me know what you guys think. As I said it's a little short and very uneventful, but it's a start right? HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT! You're all so awesome! ;)
