Just trying to get the swing back after two years of hiatus…I'm sure you who have read my previous works notice how I tend to leave my stories unfinished. WELL! I'll complete them eventually…especially pixie girl, when I read it again, it sounds like someone else wrote it! O.o

Aftermath

One little two little three little Indians…and there were none left.

"None left?"

"They were all eaten by creatures that oppose nature."

"I think that's racist! Only Indians?"

"Cause we're different. And I don't mean it in a racist way, it's more of a species thing."

"Because they're a different species?"

"Yes but…"

"But we do have friends of a different species! Bunnies and dogs and mice."

"Yes but…"

"But we do eat others,like cows and chickens…"

"Yes but…"

"Why are we even talking about this stuff?"

"You're out of context dear. Have you ever heard of little folks?"

"Now you're just discriminating size!"

*Sigh…

"I'm so sorry, Namine!" A distraught voice rings out in the perceived darkness. "It's my entire fault."

"You're apologizing for discrimination?" I mumble as I curled to my right. My muscles feel stiff strangely. I bury myself into a warm nest of softness. Mmmm…this smells familiar.

"Disc…rimination?" The familiar bossy tone sounds rather confused.

"Yesssshhh…" I slurred as I curl myself deeper into the warmth. It surrounds me comfortably like a cozy mattress. "I want burgers tonight, mom. Chicken burgers. And nice chocolate cookies with hot chocolate…mmm."

"I think she's hallucinating." A husky voice trickles into my consciousness. I twitched at the irritating tone. Why?

"Mom, can I get gasoline so that I can light Sora's shirt on fire?" I mutter. "I want to prove that just because he's your parent's friend's friend's friend's grandson, I don't want to get together with him. Please?"

There is a snort of contempt. "She even hates me in her sleep. How can they not get that?"

I bristle at that. Slowly and painfully, I lift my eyes open only to face my hands clutching to a handful of cloth. Everything seems really hazy as my eyes travels from my curled fist to the granite floor and towards the colorful human-shaped blobs nearby. I blinked.

Immediately they faces come to focus. Kairi's face is the nearest and tear- stained to match her reddened eyes but not-so-red face. She looks like she has been crying her heart out from a very sad drama. Sora, behind her, merely looks slightly pissed but concern still lingers in his feature. Lastly, Roxas has worry in his eyes and a grim look etched onto his pale face. He is kneeling beside me.

I try to sit up but the warm pillow surrounding me halts my movement.

"Whoa there. You just survived a mini-earthquake in the pool. You got to take it easy for now."I recognize the mischievous tone that is laced with a hint of worry.

"Axel?" I face the ceiling and see a pair of green orbs staring back at mine. This means… "Why are you holding me?" One of his arms I supporting my torso while the other is wrapped around my waist. He is kneeling too and I am sitting on his lap.

I can feel the vibration of his laughter as he chuckles at my reaction. "Because you just happen to look like a cute kitten curling up on the floor of the pool. I just can't resist picking you up." He replies airily.

I detect Sora rolling his eyes with sarcasm and stick out my tongue at him. Roxas stiffens momentarily and I could barely make out a whisper of 'Hmph!'. Aww, Roxas is jealous of my position! Does he want Axel to hold him too?

"On the floor of the pool huh…" A volcano of memories suddenly erupts and its contents trickling down to my mind. That entity…Trixie Pixie…the school curse…

I massage my temple as to hasten the departure of my short-lived memory loss. I turn to Kairi.

"I'm hungry."

…..

"You just had a near death experience and all you want is food?"

I shrug, my mouth full of chicken burger. I try to grin at Kairi's incredulous look. She no longer has tear stains on her face but her red eyes remains. She is starting to sound normal, not ignoring me nor is she bawling her eyes out. I feel relieve at the return to normalcy. While I do still feel a bit miffed at her previous act of 'friendship', I also suffer guilt at making her mother a happy-go-lucky brat (Me).

At least those molecules of air have escaped her. Drama can hopefully be minimized.

While I scarf down food like a beggar deprived from ever getting a whiff of food and Kairi at my side shooting looks of exasperation and fond smiles, the three guys have awkwardly position themselves around the mess hall. Sora is across Kairi, leaning casually onto the wall. Roxas, meanwhile, is staring at Axel all with seriousness and intense concentration. Axel reciprocate his intense look right back at the blond.

I polish off the last crumbs of my burger and start munching on chocolate cookies.

There is another awkward session of silence occasionally interrupt by my chewing as it echoes around the empty mess hall. It is already near evening, at twilight and most students would have already returned to their dorm or off somewhere to enjoy.

The aura around the two guys intensifies further at each passing second. They could have created a magnetic field with such concentration.

"You know," I pipe up, wiping crumbs from my pants. "If you guys kiss I'm gonna puke."

That certainly evokes a hilarious reaction from the two guys. Roxas splutter with embarrassment while Axel initially looks shell-shocked then toss me an easy grin, laughter evident in his smiling eyes. The tension is replaced with an easy-going atmosphere as Kairi and Sora contribute towards the laughter. Axel chuckles and Roxas finally calms down and smile at me good-naturedly. I acknowledge his smile with a two-finger salute. A warm sensation spreads across my chest and I can feel a stir within my stomach. Must be indigestion.

The happy period has to end eventually, curtsy of Sora.

"Since you're all dandy, mind telling us what happen?" His annoyingly deep voice seeps into the light atmosphere. Instantly, the air becomes a little heavier.

I do not answer instantaneously but take my time wiping my hands and mouth with my handkerchief. My brain is still trying to process past events that is getting more surreal in the confines of my mind.

"The pool…"

"Mind telling me why you're there in the first place?" Sora presses on.

Kairi's hand unconsciously curls into a tight fist. I gently place my hand on hers and smile gently at her. It's okay now. I forgive you.

"I heard a voice." I reply, now facing Sora. "And I follow it here. Then the mini-earthquake happens."

"A voice?" Roxas interrupts. He does not sound doubtful. Rather, a curious tone is noted.

I turn to him and feel a bit unsettled with his stern gaze being aimed at me.

"That's what she says, Roxas." Axel cuts him off.

I grin gratefully to him before continuing. "Yes, a voice. Telling about whatsit and stuff. And how luuurve conquers all. I think." I strain my brain further. "Then…"

I caught myself before anything else is said.

"Then?" Sora inquires.

"I fainted I guess." I shrug my shoulders. Kairi squeeze my hand softly. I shot her a pointed look. Kairi smiles grimly.

"Now," I stand up and clasp my hands together. "Tell me how did you guys found me?" I exclaim with a slightly louder voice.

"Axel found you on the pool floor." Sora answers.

"You were surrounded by broken glass and the floor was wet." Axel continues, glancing at Sora. "Before I reach the pool, there was a tremor throughout the school. I ran all the way." Axel remains unmoving from his position.

I frown slightly. Clearly, Axel found the incident highly disturbing.

"He saw you faint I guess." Roxas adds on. "And a black entity on the ceiling."

That got me stumped. "A black entity?"

"The school curse?" Kairi looks shocked. "How can it be?"

"You know, I once thought that the 'spirit' only exist to curse random people." Axel contemplates. "But now, it seems to attack others as well."

That is because it saw me as a kindred spirit, I want to say. ME! A random girl.

"Only Namine," Roxas corrects him. Did he read my thoughts? "We don't know if it wants to hurt others as well."

I panic slightly at his input. Does he know something I don't? I take a furtive glance at him. A cold sensation immediately crawled up from my stomach towards my heart that is beating erratically. He has a knowing look in his feature. Does he know that…

"The whole school is affected by the earthquake." Axel points out. "Surely there are other causalities if not for today being a Saturday."

"But why now?" Sora questions.

The question is followed by disconcerting silence. Slowly, the sky turns dark.

"Well!" I shatter the silence after a moment. Everyone turn to look at me. "It's late and I and Kairi have some girl-to-girl talk to do so if you guys don't mind…" All their faces turn red at the word 'girl talk'.

Taking advantage of their embarrassed state, I grab Kairi's wrist and walk briskly towards the dorm buildings.

Little do I know two pairs of blue and green orbs are trailing after me out of the mess hall.

….

We are at Kairi's room in a jiffy. All the way, Kari walks briskly but silently and I follow her silently too. As we enter the familiar spick and span room, Kairi closes the door behind her and faces me.

"Before you say anything I want to say…" Kairi takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry for being a cold frost."

"Apology accepted!" I reply enthusiastically, giving a little skip. "And I want to say sorry for being a brat about those socks."

"Nothing to do with you, Namine." Kairi says guiltily. "It's just me…" She gives out a big sight and plops onto her neatly-made bed. "I was never angry at you being you. I was just a bit…envious I guess."

"About Mystique's clones?"

"Yes…"

I realize my accusing tone and take it down a peg or two. "It can't be just that right? The Kairi I know would have some deep thoughts about life and how it sometimes stinks."

Kairi giggles at my comment. "Yes, you're right. Its Sora."

Images of me chasing Sora with a pair of scissors dances across my mind. "I see…"

Kairi notes my vengeful look and quickly elaborates. "Sora's not the problem, Namine. It is more of my…feelings towards him."

Despite already showing how she exactly feels towards Sora in front of me many times, she is still acting all jumpy in confessing it. I decide to act dumb.

"You hate him too? Alright!" I cheer. "Let's form an anti-sora group!"

"NO! Nononono!" Kairi exclaims. "The opposite rather." A shy smile forms on her lips and there is a twinkle in her eyes that looks somehow looks different. Unconsciously, her fingers twiddle with the fringe of her shirt. "I think…I like him."

"I do respect him as a human being." I say cautiously.

"No, it's not like that kind of like. It's like-like." She does an air quote. "A crush?"

"A…crush?" The word feels foreign to my tongue. "Like it may lead to a…date?"

"Something like that." Kairi nods.

Could it be…

"You know, despite my 'tolerance' with him, I don't actually actively go against that idea." I smile at her. "My friendship with you outweighs my hatred with him. Just so you know." I lightly touch her shoulder with promise.

Kairi reciprocates my beam with a somber smile. "But it gave me no excuse to suddenly grow cold on you or Xion."

I don't even think Xion notices it much. She's too busy with her 'research'. A minor detail that is not required of her to know.

"I wanted Sora to notice me." Kairi continues. I did an eye roll. "Looking at Mystique, I feel that I may never have a chance with him. If I were to be more like her…maybe I can have a good chance. More confidence is something attractive."

"I sum it up as a glitch with insecurities." I conclude abruptly. "Nothing more, nothing less. It's normal, Kairi." I assure her. "It's just that, you have to remember that I am not your friend all these years for nothing."

This time, her somber smile lights up to a fully sincere one. In the spur of moment, I hold out a hand to her. Kairi looks at the hand, confused.

"Kairi!" I boom in a weirdly deep and dramatic voice. "I, Namine Frontiers, want to initiate a handshake of friendship! Will you accept this humble offer?"

Kairi decides to jump into the rolling cart and stands up. "I, Kairi Fusion, will accept such humble offer!" She grasps my outstretched hand and shakes it firmly.

"Let us celebrate this reunion!" I announce.

"With…?"

"…a prank?" I toss her an easy grin.

Kairi remembers suddenly. "Wait- before this, care to tell be about what really happen in the pool?"

"The pool?"I switch back to serious mode as I tell her of my encounter. A look of disbelief passes her feature which metamorphosis into a face of horror, then concern.

"It knows you?" Kairi exclaims.

"More like Trixie as a whole new person." I confirm. "Like she's my so-called secret identity as a spy or whatsit."

"She is your secret identity." Kairi corrects me. "The major school prankster. But why are you deemed a kindred spirit?"

"No idea!" I throw my hands up, exasperated. "Maybe the spirit likes to prank people too!"

"If so, I think we better lay low for a while." Kairi lowers her voice. "That thing may be attracted to trouble."

"Aww!" I groan. "But I love prankin- Ouch!" Kairi has hit my shoulder with her fist.

"Not major pranks doofus! But I accept minor ones. Beside, your sworn brother and Sora and co. may be suspicious of ya." Kairi strokes her chin thoughtfully.

"I say! You feel it too, don't cha?" I meekly perch on Kairi's computer chair and turn myself around. "Xion feels it too."

Kairi strides over towards the door. She places a hand on the door knob and turns to me. "We better tell Xion about this. Also," Kairi adds on. "She may want to participate in our little prank."

The door opens and closes with a barely audible click.

…..

ANOTHER CHAPPIE DONE! Sorry in epic proportions with the drastic delay. Being on a two year hiatus may cause some changes to the way I write. I totally forgot the story until I reread it several times. Do R&R (I do need a large push now and then :P)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~SeraphineKH