DyingofFeels: Haha yep, that's exactly the scene I had in mind when I wrote that "spontaneously combusting" part. And yeah, guys, they're gonna share a paopu – without your help – before the next book is over. Just chill.

Coolmegan123: Girl, I'm pretty sure you're a lot younger than me. Aren't you in college? Isn't that how old most people on Tumblr are? Or maybe I just think that because I'm old lol. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the sneak peek I posted! Also thanks so much for leaving a review on my daughter's story. She got one other one besides that and loved it when I read them to her.

Nevquariel: Yay, I'm glad you liked it! I figured you probably were hoping for a movie from Meli's universe, but since she hasn't really had a chance to get any of those I had to compromise. I kinda do want to write another one where they watch one of her movies at some point, though.

Heyyy I actually wrote a oneshot for you guys this week! But, bad news, this is THE very last one that I have to do. Sooo, unless I get another request in, from now on you're gonna have to keep up with how things are coming on Tumblr. Same username, actress4Him, and I'm tagging everything I post about the upcoming story with "daughter of darkness fic", so that should make it super easy to find just those posts (I mean, if you don't want to see all the other brilliant stuff that I post). Just type that into the search bar on my page! And if you're a Tumblr user yourself, you can follow that tag. So far I've posted a sneak peek of a couple of paragraphs of story, and another little update about what I was writing at the time. Eventually, I also plan on doing a title reveal, maybe a cover art sneak peek, and asking for some input on a playlist I'm putting together for the series, plus more little updates here and there. So come on over and say hello!

EDITED TO ADD: If you haven't yet, check out "A 6-Year-Old's KH Story"! It was dictated to me by my daughter, and is pretty entertaining if I do say so myself. I know she'd love another review or two.

Okay, so for today's chapter we have Lea's perspective of his and Meli's interactions in Yen Sid's tower, right after the boys' test ended and his Keyblade was revealed. And, you know, he tried flirting with her and she threatened his life. Fun times. Requested by Nevquariel!

Inferno's Edge Chapter 24 Remix

(Runs parallel to chapter 24)

Lea's perspective

I always thought you were pretty cute, just throwing that out there? Really, Lea? Man, I was out of practice. I mean, the fact that she already had a boyfriend and hated my guts didn't help matters. But how was I supposed to know they were dating? It's not like they had kissed in my presence or anything. Well, there was the whole watching-over-his-unconscious-body thing, but that could definitely be interpreted as just friends, right? Let's face it, I haven't had a heart for ten years. Interpreting other people's emotions is probably gonna be a little iffy for a while.

The old man was droning on about how I needed to go train in Radiant Garden – like, yay, I was so looking forward to going back to the world full of unwanted memories of my former life – but I couldn't help but notice Meli slipping away from her boyfriend and out the door. Automatically I wanted to follow her. Just, you know, to make sure there was no confusion between us. Attempting to flirt with her was obviously not the solution to fixing whatever issue she was determined to have with me, but maybe I could still smooth things over. I nodded along to the old man's speech absentmindedly until I was sure he was about done, then excused myself.

I decided if I were her, I would be getting some fresh air – seeing as how I kinda needed some myself at the moment – and found her pretty quickly sitting on a little balcony down the hall. "Knock knock," I called, sticking my head out. "Mind if I join you?"

She groaned and turned away from me. "You don't take hints very well, do you?"

"What, that you don't like me very much? No, I got that." I had a feeling an invitation wasn't gonna be coming, so I made myself at home anyway, leaning onto the railing to look out over the sea. "That's why I came out here, in fact. I think I, uh...started off on the wrong foot, so I thought I'd give a try at starting over."

"Why are you obsessing over being on good terms with me, in particular? You're not acting like this with anyone else. Still because I'm 'cute'?"

My cheeks heated a bit, and I turned quickly to find her glaring at me. "No, I just..." Why am I acting like this? "I can't say that I enjoy being hated by anyone. Call me sensitive, that's what having a heart will do to you, I guess. But the rest of them don't seem to hate me as much as you do, despite who I was in the past. Is that just because of somebody I look like?"

"You kidnapped my sister."

Kidnapped? There was only one person I had ever kidnapped, so there was no question of who, but... "Your sist–?" Releasing the breath that I had sucked in at her accusation, I dropped my head down onto my arms. "Of course she's your sister. The identical faces should have clued me in, I guess." Way to go, Axel. Way to ruin a potential friendship before it even had a chance to start. I wasn't gonna even let myself start thinking about having to meet Kairi at some point in the near future.

"Listen, all I really came out here to say was, sorry for, um...whatever I was attempting in there. And, you know, thanks for jumping in to take care of Saix earlier. Not that I couldn't handle him myself, but it was still, you know, cool of you. And it was a pretty impressive fight, too. I mean, he wasn't in berserk mode or anything, but...have you seen his berserk mode? It's ridiculous. If it wasn't so freakin' scary I'd definitely make fun of him for it."

"Please shut up," I barely heard her mumble.

"Yeah, sorry, I got a little off topic there –" and you're clearly still not my biggest fan –"but I'm just saying, it was pretty impressive. Not many people can take on Saix like that."

"Shut up!"

She had gone from a mumble to a pained scream, and I whipped around to face her. She hadn't moved from her spot on the floor, but she was doubled over, her face nearly in her lap, hands clasped over her ears and tears shining on her cheeks. What the...? I didn't think my rambling was that bad.

"Why? Why is he alive?" I could hardly understand the words that were grinding their way out of her throat. "I wasn't ever supposed to have to see him again. I watched him die, so why...is he not dead?"

The heck is she talking about? Or talking to, even? I had a distinct feeling it wasn't me. Who did she want dead? I didn't think she hated me quite that much, but wouldn't have necessarily put it past her after her little speech in the study , she was now rocking erratically and gasping like a fish out of water, so I kinda figured it was time to pass this whole freak out situation off to a professional.

"I'm just gonna...um...go get Riku." I exited the balcony as quickly as possible, not even bothering to close the door behind me, and jogged back down the hall to the old man's study. Peeking my head inside, I saw that not much had changed in my absence. Riku, thankfully, was right there in front of me, and looked my way when I appeared.

"Hey, uh...I think I..." I had no idea what I had done, or even if it was actually my fault, so how in the world did I explain this? "...broke your girlfriend."

His eyes widened. "What?" Before I could even explain, he was moving, pushing past me into the hallway.

"That way." I motioned toward the still-open balcony door. "I don't know what happened, we were just talking and then she..." He wasn't listening to me. He was already gone, having run at full speed to his girlfriend's rescue. "Yeah. Okay. I have no idea what is happening here, but don't mind me."

Creeping toward the door, I leaned in just close enough to be able to catch a glimpse of the two of them. Riku was sitting on the floor right in front of Meli. It almost seemed like he was coaching her through some kind of breathing technique, which she seemed to be struggling to follow. The door had been pushed mostly shut, but every once in a while I could hear a low murmur of voices, Meli's sounding teary and choked up and like she might have been apologizing, and Riku's ever calm and patient. Eventually I backed away. I felt bad for her, even though I still had no idea what her problem was, but they were kinda sweet together. I could definitely see it now, that the two of them worked.

It took a long time for either of them to emerge again. I went back to the office, assured Sora and Kairi that Meli was fine – as far as I knew – and hung around for a little bit semi-participating in conversation before I eventually slipped out again, wondering if everything actually was okay. This time I could see them from a bit further away, since they had moved to a different part of the balcony to sit, and Meli seemed to have calmed down. She was at least talking in what looked like a normal way, no tears or anything. Satisfied, I was turning to leave when the door opened.

"Hey!" Riku was rushing toward me before I knew what was happening, a look of fury on his face. "You!"

Startled, I ran backwards a few steps, but he was right up in my face an instant later, laying an arm across my chest and slamming my back up against the wall. The dude was like a foot shorter than me, and I could have fought him off easily, but he was clearly already mad at me – probably on his girlfriend's behalf – and I wasn't looking to make enemies of any of these people.

"What did you do to her?"

"Nothing! We were just talking, I swear!"

"About what?"

Good question. What were we talking about? "I just told her thank you for earlier, you know, for taking on Sa–"

"Shut up!" He pressed me even further into the wall until I was sure I would have the imprint of his arm across my ribs. Apparently I had hit the nail on the head somewhere in there, but I was still clueless as to what the nail even was.

His free hand came up to point at my face. "If you ever say that name in her presence again, I swear that I will fold you five ways and feed you to a Darkside. Are we clear?"

"Grim." I glanced up to see Meli standing there with her hands gripping her elbows, watching the whole exchange. She still looked like a mess, honestly. Looked like she needed a good nap and maybe something stiff to drink, the latter of which I was starting to feel, myself. How many times am I gonna get threatened by short people today? And...Saix? That's what this is about? What the heck...?

Riku appeared to have been properly chastised by just that one word from her – somebody is whipped – but that didn't stop him from giving me one last dirty look and shove before he finally let me go and returned to her side.

I didn't bother to stick around after that. In the hall, or at the tower at all. It had been one long, crazy, hectic, freakin' weird day, and I had had quite enough of all of these Keyblade wielders and their issues for a while. Holing up in Radiant Garden by myself to do some training was honestly sounding better and better.

Please let me know what you thought in a review, and if you have any special requests, shoot them my way! Ideas for scenes can be as vague or specific as you want. I'll try my best to do whatever I receive!