Dean's Note : Some holiday season that was… Sorry for the absolute late update, I lost several technological assets, including the damn internet connection, and that prevented me from doing stuff. My deepest apologies… but better a late update than nothin' right? No matter how hard I try to make fast updates, I get all kinds of bullshit.

If I think about it… This story reached 35 chapters in a short time. 5 months I think… My brain could use some temporary retirement from fanfiction, which it sure did. But! I never abandon a story. :)

Um… to a Guest who reviewed about a Sora Rikku Namine love triangle, I'm truly sorry but there's already a love triangle… but another writer like me (who loves Sora Namine more than other pairings) might use your suggestion. :)

Anyways… important note : We're closing in on the Sora Kairi Namine story arc's ending.

Chapter 36 – Life After Redemption Part 2

~Dawn High School, Disciplinary Office~

"Okay, Roxas. That should be all for now." Said Cissnei as she put away some record books and notes back where they were.

Roxas let out a breathe of relief. "That wasn't so bad. I think I can get used to this." He said with newfound confidence.

Cissnei giggled. "That was exactly what I thought on my first day." the attractive looking girl said. "Then the job got harder and more stressful. But don't worry, Roxas. I'll be there for you all the time." She smiled gracefully at Roxas.

"Um… Okay… Thanks." He thanked and smiled back. The spiky blonde took out his phone and called his cousin. "Hey, dude. I'm all done here."

"Got it. On my way." Sora said on the phone.

"By the way, we gotta go pick some VIPs along the way."

"VIPSs? Who the hell are they?"

"I'll tell you later. Just get here. See ya soon." Roxas hung up and looked at Cissnei. "How will you go home, Cissnei? Do you need transport?" he asked.

"My brother will pick me up. Thanks for asking, Roxas." Cissnei said smiling. The smiles and laughs she was making gave Roxas an uneasy feeling.

'How could a girl who handles discipline issues almost every day be so cheerful? Strange lives…' Roxas thought.

"So you have a brother?"

"Yes. Same school as us, a senior. His name's Cloud."

Roxas and Cissnei exited the disciplinary office and locked it.

"I hope we can be good partners…" Cissnei said and sighed.

"W-what?" Roxas asked startled.

"What?" Cissnei repeated.

"No… you said… Never mind." Roxas said and shooked his head. 'Strange… Hundred percent strange…'

The two of them headed for the gates and along the way they discussed about their duties given to them by Professor Lightning. Out of the blue, Cissnei brought up…

"Would you like go out sometimes, Roxas?"

"H-huh? Go out?" He asked in shock. "What do you mean?"

"You know…" Cissnei paused. "… friends' day out?"

"O-oh. Um… I'll… see if it makes my schedule…" Roxas said.

"It's okay if you're busy, Roxas. I don't wish to intervene."

Roxas nodded. What was he supposed say? Then again, he did say something.

"Is it like… gonna be a date?"

"A… date?" Cissnei said. "Well… I don't think we know each other well for that…" she said.

"Heh. That's what a date is for, Cissnei. Getting to know the other person." Roxas said, then he realized just what he had just said. He tried to convince Cissnei to go on a date. Cissnei again made her graceful laugh.

"You're right, Roxas. I don't see the harm in that. Just say the time and place if you feel like it." Cissnei said.

Roxas' brain stopped processing for a moment. He could not believe that he actually wanted to go on a date with this magnificent girl named Cissnei. But he did began to see the positive things in this. Cissnei is a smart girl, no, a genius individual. She's a well mannered, disciplined person. More to say, Roxas had to admit Cissnei was amazingly beautiful. The blonde then decided.

"Okay then. I'll look into that date." Roxas said. Cissnei smiled at him as a sign of assurance.

The high intellect teens stood at the gates waiting for their pick up. "Are you going to that soccer match on Monday?" Cissnei asked.

"Of course." Roxas said. "Sora's playing, and I'd like to find out how he does with a new team against his formers."

"I see." Cissnei said. She brushed strands of her hair behind her ear elegantly, an action most boys would have drooled at. As minutes passed on, Cissnei's brother arrived in his automobile.

"Oh. There's Cloud." The redhead approached her brother.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend." Cloud said.

"Cloud! Don't embarrass me!" Cissnei scolded her older brother. She blushed and turned to Roxas, who was looking dumbfounded.

"Alright, Roxas. See you on Monday. Bye." Cissnei said with her usual smile that was pleasing to the eye.

"Bye, Cissnei." Roxas said. He sighed. He had known Cissnei for quite awhile now, but those events that came by moments ago, they sure freaked the hell in him. 'Wow… A date with Cissnei. I seriously can't imagine that. Come to think about it, she is just the girl I've always wanted for a girlfriend… Right. Let's see where this unfolds.' Roxas thought.

Shortly after Cissnei's departure, Sora arrived.

'Finally…' Roxas thought. He entered his cousin's car and began to wish his life would go as smoothly as he wanted it to be. Roxas thought he was right, he was just imagining things.

"So? Who are the VIPs you mentioned?" Sora asked while driving away from Dawn High School.

"Rikku and Paine." Roxas said.

"Huh!? What do you mean?" Sora asked.

"Yup. They came here to… my guess is to cheer for you. You know, the match you're in on Monday." Roxas said.

"Really? That's awesome! Are they staying with us?" Sora said, his face lit up brilliantly.

"I kinda convinced them to. Remembering on the number of times those two used to stay back with us back in Dusk, I'm pretty sure Uncle Terra and Aunt Aqua would approve."

"Of course they will! Yes! I'm meeting my best friends again!" Sora started to speed up in excitement.

"Sora! The speed limit! I don't wanna die young!"

Sora laughed like a villain, or at least he tried to.

"Don't worry. You're with the professional." Sora self proclaimed.

"In what? Screwing things?" Roxas joked.

"You know… that's a good question."

~Hotel Ultima, Lobby~

The girls Rikku and Paine were at the hotel's main lobby, waiting for their childhood friend to come pick them up.

"My god… I don't think I can face him…"

"Calm down, Rikku. You've know him for more than a damn decade."

"I can't help myself! It's just so tense!"

Paine sighed. "So tell me. What would you do, if Sora was standing right in front of you?" Paine asked. The question left Rikku speechless. She shrugged, hinting that she was not sure.

"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes." The girls heard a familiar voice, and it belonged to none other than the very Sora they knew.

"Sora!" Rikku screamed in happiness and rushed in to hug Sora tight.

"Sora! I missed you! So much!" Rikku cried out.

"R-Rikku? Err… I missed you too…" Sora said trying keeping himself together. He rarely has seen Rikku crying since he had known her. "Hey, it's okay, Rikku. Don't cry. Come on, where's that smile of yours?" Sora said. Rikku pulled away and blushed crimson red in the cheeks.

"Ahem. Have you noticed me, Sora?" Paine asked.

"Paine! Looking good as always." Sora said.

"Same same."

Sora smiled, obviously excited on the reunion. He then realized Rikku still had her arms around him. "A-are you okay, Rikku?" He asked.

"Yeah…" Rikku said softly. The blonde could not help herself, and again she hugged Sora. "Sora…"

"Um, Paine? Is something wrong here?" Sora asked.

Paine sighed. "There's always something wrong."

"What's that supposed mean?"

"Never mind that. Can we go now, Spiky?" Paine changed the subject.

"Alright, let's go guys." Sora said and led his childhood friends to his car outside, where Roxas was waiting. 'Something's wrong.' Sora thought on the way home.

~Young Mansion, 6.22pm~

Sora, Roxas, Paine and Rikku arrived at the Young Residence. "Not bad. It sure is fancy." Paine told Roxas about the mansion they reside in. "I'm sure your new school is just as fancy." The goth said.

"Right… Oh wait. Sora, don't you have something to tell Paine and Rik?" Roxas said as he went inside the mansion. Rikku and Paine exchanged doubtful looks.

"Huh? What does he mean, Sora?" Rikku asked.

Sora wondered on what his blonde cousin meant. As Rikku and Paine waited for an answer, Sora started to think on what the two girls were unaware of. They know about his role as a new soccer team captain…his relationship with Namine… but they did not know about… Kairi!

"Oh no…" Sora murmured.

"Well? Anything we need to know, Spiky?" Paine asked, her arms crossed. She looked as if she was a dark goddess based on her appearance. This took Sora to a feared state.

"Eeheheh…. N-nothing b-big…"

"Spit it out." Paine demanded, while Rikku blinked her eyes cutely.

"W-well… We have a… permanent company… in the mansion."

"Permanent company?" Rikku asked.

"Who's that?" Paine swiftly followed with a question.

"T-that's…" Sora started, and before he could come up with an explanation.

"Rikku! Paine! It's great to see you girls again! Come on in! It's time for dinner." Aqua invited from the front door.

"Hello Mrs. Aqua!" Rikku ran off, and Paine looked at her brunette best friend in suspicion.

"W-what?" Sora asked.

"Why do I have a feeling that the 'permanent company' is a girl?" Paine said. She and Sora then went inside the mansion. "Who is it, Sora?"

"… her name's Kairi."

….

The wealthy family were having their dinner, together with Kairi, Rikku and Paine. Sora was stuffing his face full of his favorite dishes made by his mother.

"Slow down, honey. You'll throw up." Aqua said.

"This… is… so… good…"Sora mumbled while eating in a joyous fury.

Throughout the dinner, Rikku would eye Sora time to time. Watching him eating cheerfully, his lips… Rikku shooked her head, and mentally scolded herself. 'No! Don't be like this!' Rikku sighed. 'Guess… I still haven't gotten over him…'

Sora's rapid eating forced him to hiccup.

"Sora! Are you okay!?" Rikku rose from her seat and rushed to Sora's side with a glass of water in her hand. "Here, drink some water…" she said worriedly. Sora slowly drank the water given to him, and the hiccups managed to go away.

"Ah… Thanks, Rikku. It's only a hiccup. Nothing bad." Sora said. Kairi, who was just beside him, looked at Rikku's caring behavior towards Sora. The redhead knew they were best friends, but was she starting feel… jealous?

The oldest Young, Terra, was still a lot curious about the new addition to his family. Of course, he had willingly accepted Kairi into his family, but how was she to be related to him? A daughter? That was pretty impossible since he was informed of her relationship with his son, Sora.

"So…." Terra spoke out.

"Anything you wish to say, Terra?" Aqua asked while taking sips of her drink stylishly.

"Err… Let me think about that… Nope. Nothing." Terra said and went back to his meal. He planned not to go to Aqua's bad side tonight, but curiosity took over by the time Terra finished his meal.

"Kairi still sleeping with Brownie?"

Roxas spat out the food in his mouth, and Paine had instantly lost her appetite. Rikku's eyes widened in shock.

"Terra! You're being offensive to the children! Leave if you're done eating!" Aqua scolded. Terra laughed mercilessly and left the dinner room. Roxas followed soon after, leaving Sora with a room full of females.

"Your father is still the pervert I knew back in high school…" Aqua said while washing the dishes with Kairi. Sora was drinking milk, a habit Aqua forced him to have since a little boy.

"But… I still love him." Aqua said smiling, to which Kairi made a small laugh. Paine gave Sora an unreadable look and left for her guest room. "I-I'll… I'll go to bed…" Sora said. "Goodnight Mom. Night, Rikku."

"G-goodnight, Sora…" Rikku said.

"Have a good sleep, honey." Aqua said and continued cleaning the dinner room with Kairi.

Dean's Note : Next chapter will take approximately 5 days. Promise.